He is driven by history

"Donald Trump is driven by history. He is a man of destiny. He can right this ship, correct our course, and put us back on the path to "all ships being lifted by a strong tide." Kamala on the other hand, would continue to slice and dice us. Practice zero sum politics. Winners and losers."

What makes Donald Trump tick? He has done it all, made more money that he would ever need, been President of the United States, and had a near death experience on the campaign trail. In his mid-70's, is it not time just to relax and play golf? What is driving him? Simple word - history. Some might call him narcissistic, but here is the long and the short of it. He is probably the only person who can fix the mess the country is in. Trump knows it; his supporters know it. 

Does it not make sense, should this fact be true, that the entire country would want him back? Yes and no. Yes, as Donald Trump is indeed the fixer this country needs. But no, as Donald Trump has mannerisms and personality traits which drive many on the left crazy. How bad is it? When he wins in three weeks, just like when he won in 2016, many misfits will go outside and howl at the Moon. Yell until they lose their voices. Maybe even stay home from work a few days and weep. 

But - on the other side of the coin, the Trump supporters (MAGA types if you want to call us that), will breathe a sigh of relief. For the second time, we dodged a bullet (so to speak). The first time was when Trump dispensed with Hillary. This time, taking care of Kamala. Both of these women would have taken our country down the road to perdition. Maybe to a world war. But Trump is too much of a peace lover, too much of a visionary, too good of a negotiator to allow that to happen. But that view of Trump is not shared by everyone. To the left, Trump is Satan. To the citizens and patriots, Trump is blessed.

I am going to address this in a subsequent article, but here is a sneak peek. I heard something very disturbing on the news the other day. Today, 18% of the population have no confidence in our voting system. That blew me away. If it is true, that our voting system is corrupt, that it can be manipulated, that winners can turn out to be losers, we have a huge, huge problem. Trump could win, sweep all the "swing states", have over 300 electoral votes, and still lose. We simply cannot let that happen. 

Donald Trump is driven by history. He is a man of destiny. He can right this ship, correct our course, and put us back on the path to "all ships being lifted by a strong tide." Kamala on the other hand, would continue to slice and dice us. Practice zero sum politics. Winners and losers. More takers and less makers. Donald Trump will simply not allow that to happen. A better, more secure life for ALL Americans. He has done it once; he can do it again.   

War (!) or Peace (?) in 2025

"But wait. Is this really going to be all about war? What ever happened to peace? Is peace even possible anymore? It should be. We are on the cusp of some great explorations, some great inventions, some great innovations."

I swear sometimes I have stepped into some kind of vortex and was transported back to the days of the Soviet Union and the Cold War. There are times I really wonder if we will make it to 2025 before something big and bad breaks out. By the same token, there are times I think we are living in an age of great possibilities. Unbelievable change. Peace and prosperity? Depends on who wins the election.

Israel is getting ready to really spank Iran for unleashing almost 200 ballistic missiles on them a few weeks ago. They may target Iran's nuclear program, or their oil fields, or both. Rumors are already flying that Iran set off an underground nuclear test (we read it as an earthquake) and are inches away from having a deliverable bomb. Iran has also threatened the Saudis with some kind of bad outcome should they continue to have a relationship with Israel. Bottom line? Just as the Bible has predicted, Israel is at ground zero for a big (and maybe final) war.

Not to be outshined in the area of death and destruction, the war in Ukraine rolls on. Russia keeps hinting on making this war more than just Ukraine - make it for all the marbles. In other words, just like the Jets and the Sharks in West Side Story, enough of the dancing around - time for a knife fight with NATO. When that war comes, will it be conventional, nuclear, or both? I don't know, but I do know this much. The war birds measure in the legions right now, and the peaceniks are few and far between. All it will take is a match, and Europe will be up in flames (again).

But wait. Is this really going to be all about war? What ever happened to peace? Is peace even possible anymore? It should be. We are on the cusp of some great explorations, some great inventions, some great innovations. Much of what is happening will not be confined to only one country - it (they) will be for all of mankind. The end of hunger, having fresh drinking water for everyone, abundant and clean energy, exploration of the seas and the skies - these are all in the offing.

But this war thing - it is the plague of mankind now as it has been in the past. Why can't we beat our swords into plowshares? Why can't we live in peace? Act as one race - the human race.

We can't for one reason. We, all of us, were born with a carnal nature. That is a fact. It is our duality - the way which we are wired. Part for peace (selflessness), part for war (selfishness). The question is - which part will prevail in 2025? Why is that so important? Because making it to 2026 might just depend on it.

  

   

The Evangelical issue - again...

"With the help of the Evangelicals, this unfair fight would end up as a rout. Think about that. This election is ours to lose."    

Once again, this natty issue was brought up for discussion. Wait a minute - is it natty or just plain vexing? Donald Trump has a voting block which is nothing less than huge. It is a block of 90 million people who vote 90% of the time for the Republicans. Why is this such a big deal? If 100% of the Evangelicals voted for Donald Trump, the election would not even be close. It would be a Reagan type of landslide victory. In fact, if this voting block voted 100 % of the time, all of the time, we would have not had a Democrat president, House or Senate since the 1980's.

So what in the world is the problem? One pastor was on the news the other day and summed it up in one word - fear. About 30% of the Evangelicals don't want to be labeled. Like "Christian Nationals", or some such nonsense. They then practice being meek and weak, and just don't participate. What does that really mean? Donald Trump, with his slight edge right now - could lose the election.

Yesterday Donald Trump was on the stump, imploring Evangelicals to get out and vote. For America to get back on the track of normalcy and virtue, we must outvote the Democrats. Why? They have become more and more secular in every election. This past year in Minnesota, the Democrats took control of the House and Senate (along with Taxing Timmy as Gov) and turned this state into a replica of Sodom and Gomorrah. Do we really want that kind of filth on a national level? I think not! But a Harris presidency would leave us with that kind of wreckage.

As the days to the election tick off, time to act is of the essence. We are on the cusp of having some remedial fixing of what Biden has broken, or we can take this broken machine and break it further. Trump is the fixer, and Harris is the breaker. People who cherish their First Amendment rights, and their Second Amendment rights, NEED TO VOTE. Freedom to practice the religion of your choice is part of the First Amendment. I shudder to think what a secular President Harris would do with that most sacred right.

It really is amazing, is it not? Donald Trump not only has to run against the Democrats, but he also has to run against the Deep State, the remnants of the "Never Trumpers", the RINOs, the MEDIA, and the illegals. Even with the fight being that unfair, he is still holding his own. With the help of the Evangelicals, this unfair fight would end up as a rout. Think about that. This election is ours to lose.    

    

Blowing up the tax code

"Donald Trump learned during his first administration. Some lessons were tough, but he learned. Now he is poised to become a real change agent during his second term. My opinion? Any senior who is on Social Security and votes against Trump is a fool. Getting rid of taxes on Social Security is a real game changer."  

Ever listen to Kamala talk about taxes? The first time I heard her, I thought I had mixed up radio signals with Havana. No American could or should ever have suggested such a soaking of the American taxpayer with new taxes. Talk about an economy killer! But she is a good little Democrat, and to spend the scads of new money she needs for her new garbage, the rich in this country need to "pay their fair share".

Somebody needs to knock on the side of her hollow head and give her some cold hard facts. The top 1% of the earners in America pay 42% of all the income taxes (2023 Federal Income Tax Data). In fact, the top 1% pay more than the lower 90% - combined. So, this talk about paying your fair share is just silly talk - again. It is meant to rile up the uninformed and the undereducated. 

Donald Trump, on the other hand, has a better idea (he usually does). Let's blow up the tax code. What? How? As of late, he has been dropping some pretty large hints. Hints to make the tax code more "user friendly" to the working man and woman. For example, first came no tax on tips. Then, no tax on overtime. Then (in my opinion, the whopper) - no tax on Social Security. There have been others, but the latest one was the ability to deduct interest payments on car loans. 

In the past, the tax code has been used as a weapon by a malevolent administration. Remember Lois Lerner? She was a piece of work. She served in the IRS under the Obama Administration and targeted conservative groups, to yank away their tax-exempt status. That really was the first volley of "lawfare". She got fired, but still has a lucrative pension. What Trump wants to use the IRS for is just the opposite of what Obama/Biden/Harris/Walz wanted to use it for. To help people - not hurt people. Remember - our government is supposed to act "by the people and for the people" (Gettysburg Address).

Donald Trump learned during his first administration. Some lessons were tough, but he learned. Now he is poised to become a real change agent during his second term. My opinion? Any senior who is on Social Security and votes against Trump is a fool. Getting rid of taxes on Social Security is a real game changer.   

 

"All bubble, no soap"

"BTW - I have been reading more and more opinion pieces that to really cement the deal on how bad Kamala really is, is summed up in her Veep choice. Tim Walz. We are well aware of this guy in MN, and think he is a joke. Now more of the country sees what we have to contend with here. And people want to unleash this incompetence on our country? I don't think so!"   

Whomever is coaching this woman should be fired. This entire shtick of hiding in the basement and saying little will not work this time. It is so bad right now, with just going on late night comedy shows or The View and not answering the tough questions, Fox News is almost down on their knees, begging her to do one more debate just before the election. But she won't. Why? Every time she opens her mouth, she has little to gain and much to lose. 

"All bubble and no soap" - oh, how I wish this was a saying which I came up with. But it is not. It is from a pundit trying to explain Kamala Harris. Translated it means, "says many words, none of which matter." Even though many think she is a moron, I think she is sharp enough to know that she is in way over her head. She knows this much - she is one very dumb answer away from having the rug pulled out from under her. And one question she will never answer is this one - "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?"

Kamala is like a mediocre cup of coffee which every time you take a sip, it tastes colder and more tasteless. In other words, the novelty of Kamala Harris is over for many. That is, unless the minions are cowed by the gibberish she spews out of her mouth. For those folks, they might as well be voting for Micky Mouse or Bozo the Clown. What is the bottom line with Kamala Harris? She is an empty suit who somehow, managed to get invited to the "big dance" with no credentials.

I have said before, this race is Trump's to lose. Trump's voting blocks are wider and deeper - especially the Evangelicals and the gun owners. They just need to vote. Trump is outperforming the last two elections he was in. His percentage of Hispanic voters is nothing less than impressive. His percentage of make black voters is like we have not seen for many decades. Why is that? Even though Kamala will not answer the golden question (Are you better off now than four years ago), people are not stupid. They know the answer to that question, and they want Trump.

BTW - I have been reading more and more opinion pieces that to really cement the deal on how bad Kamala really is, is summed up in her Veep choice. Tim Walz. We are well aware of this guy in MN, and think he is a joke. Now more of the country sees what we have to contend with here. And people want to unleash this incompetence on our country? I don't think so!   

 

 

Staring down the monster

"Do we have the resources, the grit to handle the aftermath of two deadly storms back-to-back? This will test our nation's mettle for sure. To minister to the hurting, to make people whole again once they have lost everything - this will be an all-hands-on deck effort."

Then all of a sudden, there it was. In the Gulf of Mexico. A tropical disturbance. Then it seemed like overnight, it went from a disturbance to a storm to a Cat 1 hurricane. But wait - we are still reeling from the effects of Hurrican Helene, which was also a Gulf storm. But this storm is different. It is acting almost as if it were animated. It has grown in strength and ferocity. Cat 1, then Cat 2, then Cat 3 than Cat 4. And now it is a Cat 5 and taking aim at the midsection of Florida. 

Wait. Come on Mother Nature - this is just not fair! We still have mounds of debris from the 6' surge which came with Hurricane Helene. But Mother Nature just scoffed. Fair? I will show you fair she replied. I will double that horrible surge from Helene and give you a 12-to-15-foot surge. Now things got really serious, real fast. The mayor of Tampa Bay warned her residents about this predicted surge coming with Hurricane Milton - "If you stay here, you will die". Not you might die, but you will die.

Many heeded the warnings and packed up their cars and hit the evacuation routes. Shelves in many stores were stripped bare and gasoline became hard to get. The lines of cars in all lanes of the evac routes went on just about forever. But some folks stayed. They decided they are going to face down the monster. To those few, all we can give them now is our prayers. Tonight, will be a night like no other. 

This storm Milton is so strong, and so big, it will still be a Cat 1 storm once it is through Florida and then on the Atlantic side. There will still be a storm surge (although not as big) on the Atlantic side. What most already know but are not talking about, will the aftermath of this storm. The search and rescue, tragically turning into search and recovery. The massive, almost statewide power outages. The months of cleanup and the loss of important services. For Florida to get back to "normal" will take a long, long time.

Do we have the resources, the grit to handle the aftermath of two deadly storms back-to-back? This will test our nation's mettle for sure. To minister to the hurting, to make people whole again once they have lost everything - this will be an all-hands-on deck effort. But it is the people who really have our hearts tonight. With the exception of the memories they contain, every possession is replaceable. People are not. May God be with Florida tonight.  

 

Coming soon: Less work, no work, new work

"Are we stepping into a brave new world? Sure are! Will there be opportunities? Opportunities galore await us all. But most of us who are resistant to change, need to remake ourselves into change agents. Why? People who buck change, will be in the 'no work' or 'less work' categories. Those who embrace 'new work', will fit into our future nicely, thank you." 

For those who put stock in the monthly jobs report - don't bother. It is only a blip on the radar. The real story is what lies beyond those reports. BTW (as an aside) - the Nobel Prize for Physics was just award to a couple of gents for their work in AI. So what? Here is the "what". With all the amazing developments in science this past year, this spooky science of AI is all of a sudden becoming real science with a real future. And AI, along with the coming wave of robotics, is going to reshape almost everything.

Before this decade is over, and if you are fortunate enough to still have a job, working next to a non-human robot will become more ordinary than unordinary. As another aside, I got a kick out of reading about a city in the Pacific Northwest who just raised their minimum wage to $20 and change. What these nincompoops who work in local government do not realize is this - that kind of a wage for unskilled workers, will only speed up the pace of automation to replace those jobs.

Remember the Longshoreman's strike which is now on pause? The membership of that union is scared to death about automation. They know of ports in countries in the Western Pacific which have automated many of their port functions. The upside? They run faster with much less cost or delays. The downside? Fewer humans and much more automation. And that is only the start. The Longshoremen which handle the ports in the eastern part of our nation, want a guarantee that for six years (the term of the contract), there will be no jobs lost to automation. Well, good luck on that one!

I have railed in the past about our public schools not preparing our young kids for the future. Will the future be scary? No, but it will be much different. How so? There will be less work, no work, and new work. All this is dependent on the type of jobs these young folks go into. Jobs which require the least skill, will be the first to go. That is the "no jobs" category. Many jobs which remain, will be on borrowed time. To replace a human with a non-human who can work 24 x 7 with no breaks, no sick time, no paychecks, and no benefits - will be very tempting for many companies. Pink slips will be as common as paychecks once automation really gets rolling.

But - there will also be a plethora of new jobs. I read an article recently about what the "hot jobs" were right now. Eight out of ten had some kind of AI skills required. And that is today. Soon many new jobs will be a wanting and there will be few folks qualified to fill them. What jobs are those? Unknown, as most have not yet been invented. But as soon as they are invented, they will need to be staffed. 

Are we stepping into a brave new world? Sure are! Will there be opportunities? Opportunities galore await us all. But most of us who are resistant to change, need to remake ourselves into change agents. Why? People who buck change, will be in the "no work" or "less work" categories. This who embrace "new work", will fit into our future nicely, thank you.