Fighting for who?

"I really love Hillary's campaign motto - 'Fighting for you'. Really?"

You gotta love the chutzpah of the Clintons! It never ends. Those who know me, know that I have absolutely NO TIME for any of the Clintons. They are phoney baloney pretenders and posers. And that is all I can say without coming across too harsh.

I really love Hillary's campaign motto - "Fighting for you". Really? This motto is the pinnacle of nonsense. The only "fighting" that the Clintons do is fighting to get more wealth using their government positions. Some call this influence peddling. And I am one of those who call it that.

The Clinton Foundation is nothing more than a shill, a front for the semi-legal laundering of money. And the Clintons are skillful in knowing how to manipulate it. Bill, as we love him, did very well on the speaking tour when Hillary was Secretary of State. Yes, the money flowed in and the number of zeros in their back account(s) grew larger. I can't wait to see what he will charge if this nation is ever dumb enough to elect his charlatan wife to be our President.

Prior to Slick Willie being sworn in, I really did not know much about the Clintons. Then thanks to people like Rush and other pundits, their sketchy history was made known. It is truly a rags to riches story. With only one problem - you are not supposed to get rich while in government service. But the screwy tale of their wealth started even before the White House - back at the Rose Law Firm. In Arkansas, two and two seldom equaled four with the Clintons. And the same holds true today.

After Carly was tapped on the shoulder by Cruz to be his Veep, Carly said something very profound. "Hillary Clinton made millions selling her influence while in government. And Donald Trump made billions buying the influence of people like Hillary Clinton." B-I-N-G-O!
Could not have said that better! Ergo, the problem we have in politics right now. And why so many have "checked out". Why so many have lost faith. This is worse than the sausage factory - it is the sewer with all that flows through it.

Get ready America. This election could be one for the ages. If it comes down to between Clinton and Trump, is there anyone that can answer just one question? Who is fighting for you? Hint - the answer might just be "none of the above".   

Minnesota Men

"And some of them want to help ISIS. And that is who the national media are now calling the 'Minnesota Men'."

  

"Minnesota Men". No - this is not a "knock off" of the movie Monument Men. I really wish it were. This is a term one of the national news networks is using for the Muslim men in Minnesota who decide to affiliate with the Islamic State. Yes, I am talking about our land of milk and honey, our land of 10,000 lakes, the land known near and far as "Minnesota Nice", which all of a sudden has become a ground zero for terror recruiting. What the hey is going on here?

Here are the facts. We have tens of thousands of recently arrived refugees in Minnesota right now. Some say the number could be as high as 100,000. Many of them are of the Muslim faith. Most, the vast majority, are just folks looking for a better life. Why? Because the UN has turned it's collective back on helping them in their home countries. So it has become easier for the UN to make refugees out of them. And then repopulate them elsewhere. So typical of how our current UN operates.

However as sad as it to say, there are a few bad actors who slipped in with this large group of refugees. Same is true in Europe. Some have a tilt towards terrorism. Some want to join the struggle in Syria and Iraq. And some may even want to bring that struggle to Minnesota. 

Over the weekend, a pundit on the national news had an interesting observation when the "Minnesota Men" issue came up. It was right after it was disclosed yet another Twin Cities man was going to plead guilty for helping the Islamic State. The pundit said, "I am familiar with the Twin Cities area. I know how the Scandinavians and Germans settled that place. They all assimilated. Maybe not at first, but shortly thereafter. What in the world has happened with this new wave of immigrants? It seems many are out to change the culture in Minnesota rather than to join it."

Now you may agree or disagree with that point of view. The important thing to note is this came from a pundit who lives in New York, not Minnesota. That is the impression that some folks who do not live here get. And maybe more than we know get the same impression.

To make this work, to make sure the fabric of our society really does not come totally unraveled, everyone is going to have to bend a bit more. Face facts - unless Somalia, Syria, Iraq, or wherever - get safe and functioning governments again, these folks are here to stay. And more might come in the future. 

So when I say bend a bit more, this is what I mean. We can't unring the bell. As I said, they are here. They are legal citizens. They need to assimilate. And we need to understand and accept them more. They need to learn our language, our customs. And we need to understand theirs.

Whether we like it or not, that is reality. And because some of them are not who they pretend to be, they are going to have to get used to the Feds keeping an eye on them. Sorry - call it profiling if you will, that again is reality.

That is all I have. I am ready to ditch the term "Minnesota Men". I don't want any more terror suspects in this state. I don't want to hear that term anymore. Life is good here - enjoy it. We are all blessed.  
  

More on wealth migration

"If Minnesota does not fix their tax issue, they will end up being the California of the north." 

Yesterday I was having my monthly treatment for my neuropathy. During the visit, the doctor comes in to check my progress. As we were chatting about his new location (they had just moved into a new building) he joked about moving to Florida. Then the discussion veered to taxes, on how much better the tax climate is in Florida. We joked that there was a time when Minnesotans moved to Florida just because of the weather. Now it is primarily to escape the confiscatory taxation in Minnesota.

On the way home, I started thinking again about this wealth migration issue all over again. I have been doing more reading and studying on this issue. It is not just Minnesota. It is ALL high tax states. People are leaving. And they are taking their money with them. That is why this is called wealth migration.

I found a very interesting site. Well, actually many of them, but I will quote from this one (how money walks.com). It shows every state in the union on how money has either moved into that state or out of that state. It uses a time period of 1992 - 2014 for its data. And some of the numbers are jaw dropping. Minnesota by itself has lost about $6.5  billion of adjusted gross income! Thing what that money could have done if had been left here in our economy.

If gets worse. The site also shows each county in each state on how money has flowed in or out. Ready for this one? Hennepin and Ramsey, the bluest of the blue in Minnesota are also the reddest of the red when it comes to wealth migration. Because of their confiscatory tax policies and unfriendly business climates, between the two of them they saw 2.7 billion dollars leave during the period of 1992-2014. What say you Mayor Betsy and Mayor Chris?

Here is another data point taken from a 2013 article penned by The Tax Foundation. During the period of 1999 - 2010 (and the Foundation used IRS data for this research), high taxed states of New Jersey, New York and California lost 1.2 million individual taxpayers - and they took their 97 billion dollars of personal income with them. Who gained? Texas, Arizona, Florida. The usual suspects. The states which are business and tax friendly.

One of my friends who is a bit left of center thinks it is almost criminal for people who have made money while living here to leave. They OWE it to the rest of us to just shut up and pay their taxes, no matter how high. Well that Utopian type of thinking may work well on the left side of the street, but in "realville", it does not play. In a free country, people can live where they want. Period. If Minnesota does not fix their tax issue, they will end up being the California of the north. 

By the way, this is for my good friends in Wisconsin. You are not out of the woods yet. During the period of 1992-2014, Wisconsin saw $3.8 billion walk out the door to other states. Illinois, almost $42 billion gone. New York, $86 billion. California, $54 billion. 

Right now our elected representatives are meeting in St. Paul to make more sausage. Make sure they all know how you feel on this issue. I know I sure have.

Days of rage

"Putting them all together, you had a cauldron of trouble, just waiting to boil over." 

The year was 1968. The place - Chicago. The event - the Democratic National Convention. The outcome? Riots and mayhem. The riots replaced the events happening inside the convention hall as the news. It really was the beginning of a very turbulent time in our country. And I think we are about to return to the future by reliving that past.

I was 18 years old, fresh out of high school. I never protested nor rioted. I did however, endeavor to understand why some people my own age did. Some had valid reasons. Like being dragged into a war (via the draft) that was run by political idiots. Others wanted to protest the racial inequality in America. Environmentalists railed against the effluents coming out of corporate America. Some gals burned their bras (seriously). And then you also had folks like Abbie Hoffman and Yipees who just wanted "revolution for the hell of it". Putting them all together, you had a cauldron of trouble, just waiting to boil over.

This summer we have two national conventions coming up in two very troubled cities. And the folks are restless. Donald Trump is calling for "Days of rage" if the RNC tries to snatch the nomination away from him. Others are calling for massive protests outside the convention hall in Cleveland. Some want to protest Donald Trump. Some want to protest the Republican Party. Black Lives Matter want to protest over-policing. And George Soros is rumored to be funding much of this.

However, the biggest problem in my book are many of the people who will not be out in the street. People like me, and many I know. We are mad, we are frustrated. Our country seems to have been hijacked by two different political parties who once in power, look more like the Bobbsey Twins than rivals. We are being taxed to the poor farm only to see our hard earned dollars spent on folly. And even with our confiscatory taxation, the national debt continues to grow like an untreated cancer.

Politicians like the Clintons go to Washington dirt poor and come out eight years later worth tens of millions. The number of millionaires in the House and Senate is staggering. After a career in Congress, many become slaves to the K Street Mafia right down the road. And meanwhile, the rest of us are stuck in a rut. Nothing changes, nothing gets better. 

President Obama has really done a job on this country. He is a man of his word. He said he would transform us, and indeed he did. We are like a fractured vase, just waiting to crumble. Our Constitution is looked at by many as an historical obstacle rather than a road map to a free and democratic future.

Are we in for a long hot summer? Another 1968? More days of rage? I believe the table is set. Trouble is in our future.    

100,000!!!

Hi folks! The Very Angry Bird here! And today, I am anything but angry. Sometime this afternoon, early this evening, my humble blog is going to hit 100,000 views! Now, I am not a crow, but I will crow about that number! And to each and every one of you who has taken the time to read my daily rants, thank you! The number of people in different states and countries keeps getting larger which not only pleases me, but humbles me also.

Here are some current viewing metrics from today. I am viewed in every state in the union except the Bernie state (dang you Vermont!). I am seen in every continent except Antarctica (what gives with you cold people?) 

So again, thank you. I will continue to try to be worthy of the time you take to read my posts.

When to abide by an endorsement

"Can you go to jail if you break your word on honoring an endorsement? Of course not. But you will lose your honor."

For those who live in Minnesota, and are familiar with our grass roots politics, please be patient for a minute. This is for those who live out of state where they do not have the BPOU system. Our BPOU (Basic Political Operating Unit) is made up of friends and neighbors in your area. Out of that BPOU, candidates are selected to represent the BPOU (or House or Senate District). Once people are selected, they are endorsed. Sometimes, more than one person is interested in a position. In that case, an election is held within the BPOU for endorsement.

What normally happens (or should happen) is prior to the vote, all people running for a position agree to ABIDE BY THE ENDORSEMENT. In other words, the losers in the vote would coalesce around the winner to help that person be victorious in the general election. Sounds pretty simple, right?

There are times, albeit rare, that someone would give their word to ABIDE BY THE ENDORSEMENT and then do just the opposite. Go to the primary. Cause the person who won the endorsement to waste time and money on something which is totally unnecessary. 

Here is the real problem(s) when someone refuses to ABIDE BY THE ENDORSEMENT. First, that person is turning his or her back on the BPOU. Those are the folks who elected that person in the first place. It is as looked upon as an total act of betrayal. Second, and this is even a bigger one for me. That person lied. Showed everyone that his or her word is NOT his or her bond. And that is nothing less than shameful. 

Why do I bring this up? Because I want us to get better. Can you go to jail if you break your word on honoring an endorsement? Of course not. But you will lose your honor. If it is BPOU endorsement, a district endorsement, a state or national endorsement, to renege on it hurts everyone on our side. And it can lose elections.

The only time I could ever see someone not honoring an endorsement and being right, is this situation. The sponsoring organization (like the BPOU) would find out through polling or whatever, the endorsed candidate did not have a chance of winning. And the non-endorsed candidate did. Then with everyone's permission and knowledge, and in the light of day, the non-endorsed candidate would be given permission by the sponsoring organization to run. Other than that, I come up empty.

I think we have a good system right now. Not perfect, but good. Let's stick with the principles of it until we come up with something better.  

More convention post mortem musings

"The Republicans are going to continue on with fratricide and purity tests until our herd is culled down to nothing."

I remember getting in a conversation with a Democrat friend not too many years ago (yes, I do have some Democratic friends). The question I asked him seemed like a logical one to ask. How in the world can Democrats win so many races, both statewide and national, when they put forward such flawed candidates? My Democrat friend looked at me like I was the dumbest person on Earth to ask such a question.

He replied that there is plenty of infighting that goes on before and during the convention. But once the convention is over, everyone gathers around the nominee. EVERYONE. He then said, "You folks continue to fight up to, during and after the general election. That is why we beat you so much."

Then I thought back to the last presidential campaign. Hillary and Obama hated each other (many think they still do). They got down and dirty. Some of the old "Clinton dirty tricks" came out against Obama. Then the convention happened, and the Clintons and the Obamas acted like first cousins. Love at first sight. They pulled the party together and beat John McCain like a drum. Then they did it again four years later against Mitt. 

Infighting also gave us the worst Governor in the history of mankind. This guy is so bad, a friend of mine yesterday said he would give his eyeteeth to have Governor Jesse back - and he does not like Jesse. The Republicans have run two very fine gentlemen against this flawed Governor in two separate races. The first time we had a renegade Republican break off and run third party. That was victory number one. The second time we had a very nice man run against our Governor - too nice. He did not go in for the political kill like he should have. That was victory number two.

Now that our convention is over and the state convention has not yet started, I can see the table being set. Not just here, but nationally. We are going to allow a person who has more baggage than a cross country bus to be our next President. Right now, I don't think we have a prayer. The Republicans are going to continue on with fratricide and purity tests until our herd is culled down to nothing. 

And last night when I was trying to digest everything that happened from this past weekend, it hit me. Like a "Duh!" Many of us on the Republican side care more about principle than victory. Even to the point we would sacrifice victory to take a principled stand. By voting third party or not voting at all. Many on the other side care only about victory. Winning at any cost. As the late Al Davis would tell the Raiders, "Win baby, just win!" And then we lose. That is why we see so many flawed people in high positions in this country. 

Right now I am looking forward to the state convention about as much as having a root canal. If the district convention was a harbinger on how the state convention will turn out, it will be painful. If the Republicans don't start to "get it", I can easily not only see President Clinton in our future, but also Governor Tina Smith to boot. And that is a nightmare I don't want to have.