Once again, the Cold War

"Now the sub wars seem to be back on. It is too bad Tom Clancy is no longer with us. He could write a doozy about this one."

When people asked what I did in the Navy, I tell them for the most part I was a Cold Warrior. Even though the war between the Soviet Union and NATO never got hot (thank God), there were countless days of cat and mouse. People who had high level security clearances would tell you there were some rare times when the fate of the planet hung by a threat. But for the most part, there were just many, many boring days of being on watch.

Now thanks in large part to Vladimir Putin, the Cold War is back - take two. Putin was never really happy how the first iteration to the Cold War came to an end. And because we now have the opposite to Ronald Reagan as our President, well, you know the old saying. Nature abhors a vacuum. Or sand fills a hole quickly. In any event, we have President "Bystander" whereas the Russians seem to have the most aggressive guy since Stalin. 

Now the sub wars seem to be back on. It is too bad Tom Clancy is no longer with us. He could write a doozy about this one. The once feared Alfa Class of submarines have now been retired. In their place is a new diesel class of attack submarine. Plus the first of class nuclear powered attack submarine. We now have the Yasen Class of nuclear attack subs. And the first one (K-560) is set to enter service this year.

Whomever our next President is will have to deal with this situation. The way that Ronald Reagan used to bring the Soviets to their knees will not work again. To keep another generation of service people from being consumed by the endless cat and mouse game, a new strategy must be tried. And all that by keeping this new Cold War from becoming a hot war.

Thinking about this for a minute, who in the heck would want this job as Commander in Chief anyhow? The War on Terror continues. In fact, on the news this morning was a new terror alert about soft targets (like restaurants) being hit in the United States. And of course we can't forget about the trigger happy North Koreans, who are just itching for a fight with someone. And the Iranians, who are going like gangbusters in developing a nuke. Finally, the Bear and the Dragon. Both who feel they got the short end of the stick in the first Cold War, are now ready for round two.

Is it a dangerous world? I think so. Is it more dangerous than when I served? I think that is true also. Of the remaining five folks running for President, there is not one single day of military service amongst them. And in a world this dangerous, that might be a big problem. 

And so it starts...

"For years (maybe decades), I sat on the sidelines and was only an observer."

A couple of years ago, I went to my first district convention as a delegate. It was quite and honor and quite a thrill. But I will say this - two years ago when we were selecting delegates and alternates to represent our BPOU, it was one of the hardest things I have done in a long time. Why? Way, way too many, qualified people running. Choosing between them was really hard. This year? Just as hard - maybe harder. 

For years (maybe decades), I sat on the sidelines and was only an observer. Other times I was worse than that. I was like Neo in the movie The Matrix when he was offered the blue pill. Neo did not take it - I did. I just floated along like nothing was wrong, living in my bubble. Meanwhile, the rust was decaying the foundation of our great republic. And by the rust, I mean the progressive agenda.

Four years ago a long line friend from my high school challenged me. Oh, I was gripping about stuff, and how I wished things would change. She then asked me what I was doing about it. I told her that I voted. "And...", she responded. Then I told her I had a yard sign in my yard. "And...", she responded. I had no answer. Then she told me about the plethora of things I could get involved with to help the cause. Up to and including this blog site.

Now that I am involved, I have forgiven myself for spending so much time not being so. The point is, I am involved now, and I am loving it. Can I make a difference? I really don't know. But I do know this - win, lose or draw, I am involved. And I am trying to make up for many  years when I let someone else pull the load.

On Saturday, we will be endorsing either our sitting Congressman or a challenger. Then we will be choosing candidates to run for national candidates at the state convention in Duluth. Fun time, but serious time. Even to have a very small part in this process is a big deal to me. I may be a third stringer, but at least I am not on in the bleachers anymore (like I was for so many years), just watching.

The message lost in the noise

"If he is so smart, so grounded, why don't more people know about it? Why aren't more people excited about him?"

As I was reading about the debacle in New York yesterday, there was another article at the bottom of the page. This one was even more disturbing to me. It said if the election were held tomorrow, the three main players would be Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and Ted Cruz. And 6 out of 10 Americans surveyed would vote for "none of the above".

Here is what I find disturbing. I have been a Ted Cruz guy from the get-go. I like the man. I really like his intellect and grasp of our Constitution. He is wickedly smart on other issues as well. I have not met Senator Cruz, but have met his father. I have chatted with Pastor Cruz, I have had dinner with him. The way he describes his son and the way Ted Cruz is described by those who really know him is exactly the same. There is no "which Ted is showing up today" question. He is rock solid.

But two things are haunting Ted Cruz's campaign (in my opinion). If he is so smart, so grounded, why don't more people know about it? Why aren't more people excited about him? I think because of what a zoo the Republican debates became, Ted's message became lost in the noise. With Donald Trump throwing out schoolyard barbs and the press fawning all over him, the clear thinking message of Ted Cruz became muddled or even lost.

The second problem is the Senator's popularity in the House and Senate body itself. He is disliked by many, hated by others. One member said the other day if Ted Cruz was sworn in as President, he would take cyanide. Please, spare us the histrionics! Many say they are not going to Washington or St. Paul to make friends, they are going to get things done. And then they become "clubby" or part of the machine.

Ted Cruz said when he went to Washington, everything he did would be in accordance with our Constitution. And he meant it. He refused to drink the water or the kool aid. He became a pariah in short order. Because of this principled stands, the Washington elites put him on their ten most hated list. But that is EXACTLY what many of us love about this man. As President, he would do the same thing. Govern this country totally in accordance with our Constitution.

When the country needs a savior, a Constitutionalist, a man who is Reaganesque, we have one within striking distance. If we could have two terms of a Cruz Administration, history would judge him as not the most popular, but one of the most effective. And more importantly, the man who saved our Republic.  



  

The debt monster

"Until we learn how to control our "off switch", we will never get better. I don't care whose tax plan is used."

By now, we have all heard just about everyone's tax plans should they become elected. Some sound good, some sound not so good, and one sounds like Armageddon. But I think I might have some bad news for the American public. It does not matter whose tax plan gets enacted (assuming that any of them do), it will not be enough. In fact, if Bernie Sanders had a plan which taxed everyone at 100%, there would still be some in the chattering class who demand more.

My good friend Ben keeps me grounded whenever I talk about taxes. He reminds me it is the spending that counts. Control the spending, and taxes will follow. He could not be more right. If that was the case under a Ted Cruz Administration, where individual tax was capped at 10% and the business tax at 18%, wonderful things could happen. That is, if we lived within our means. However, if we continue to spend more than we take in, this will all just be a fool's folly. We will still be on the road to ruination, bankruptcy and misery.

Case in point. Do you remember that in 2014 we hit a real milestone? For the first time, taxes collected hit $3 trillion! Now that is a chunk of change! I bet we put a huge hole in our debt that year! Not really. We still spent $3.5 trillion. And many on the Left were claiming victory as that number held steady from the year before. However, we did still add 1/2 trillion dollars to our debt. What is the lesson learned? The appetite of the beast is insatiable.

We have a real problem. And I will use the language of people who are trying to kick any sort of addiction. And trust me - as far as debt is concerned, this nation is hooked. Until we learn how to control our "off switch", we will never get better. I don't care whose tax plan is used. Until spending is truly controlled, we will continue to have a huge national debt problem.

One of my long time friends who is a bit to the left of me loves to remind me of what happened under Ronald Reagan. The debt grew. And my answer always is "yes it did". However, it grew in large part due to President Reagan's scotch drinking cribbage pal, Tip O'Neill. Tips seemed to have forgotten the deal. The one about holding spending AND having the tax cuts. So we had economy stimulating tax cuts and run away spending at the same time. The same could happen under a President Cruz if Congress loses its way (again).

The real saviors of this Republic will be us, the American people. It is we who get to elect Congress. And if we continue to elect boobs who flunked basic math and logic, then we get what we get. However, if we elect Constitutional conservatives, then we stand a chance. That is, if the representatives we elect have a functional "off switch". 

  

Where have all the people gone?

"What to do? Call off the games? Bring your own beer (be a heck of alot cheaper). Nope - they are bussing folks in from Wisconsin and Chicago to stand in the gap."

Interesting story on the news yesterday. And then it was repeated in the paper this morning. Plus, it fits right into my narrative recently. Just about EVERY store we go into has a help wanted sign. Now it is the Twins. Our boys of summer. Playing in their nice new stadium, now that the season is in full swing. They can't seem to get enough local folks to work during the home games. For about $12.50 an hour.

What to do? Call off the games? Bring your own beer (be a heck of alot cheaper). Nope - they are bussing folks in from Wisconsin and Chicago to stand in the gap. Like we don't have enough people around here? I thought the latest census showed the population in our seven county area just went over 3 million. 

Now here is an interesting fact. The Twin Cities has a real problem right now with employment. Not so much with white folks if you believe the U3 employment number. That number is about 4%. It is the minority folks, especially black folks who still have a higher than average unemployment rate of about 15%. Then if you look only at black teens, that number is about 25%.

So what gives? The math does not seem to add up. A metro area with 3 million people, having an underemployment problem with minority teens, needs to bus people in from other states? To work at a fun venue for twelve and a half bucks an hour? Huh? 

Someone who was skeptical (not me of course), might think it is because the Twin Cities has become such a welfare magnet. Heck, not that long ago, we would only attract people from the upper midwest. Now we attract people from all over the country as well as the world. So then, is it possible that going to work for the Twins at a home game would be less money for some that not working at all? Just asking the question.

This situation might have happened before, but I sure cannot remember when. When the Twins played out at the old Met, having a concession job was like catching lightning in a bottle. You were the envy of your peers. Today, they can't give those jobs away. 

I am thinking I will need to do some more digging on this one. It will not make sense to me until the math makes sense. That is unless, it is due to the nonsense of our metro statists who hand out tax dollars with great abandon.

  

And which lives matter?

"It has gotten so bad (read the paper on this one), when the gunshots go off, Mothers need to check the bedrooms to see if their kids are okay."

I write this with great sadness today. I was just on a news feed, and it talked about a 12 year old kid being murdered in some American city. No, it was not in Iraq. No, it was not in Syria. No, it was not in the countless of trouble areas in the world today. It was in a town in the USA. It was a young child, who was attending a basketball game to honor her cousin who at age 15, had also been shot and killed.

Now I am sorry. I can't read or see articles like this and just pass them off. "Oh, well, it is them." Or, "Oh well, it did not happen in my town." Or finally, "Oh well, they were not kin." Well, guess who they were? First off, they were kids. Not even able to start their lives yet. And secondly, they were Americans. And we see this happen over, and over, and over again.

Okay - I will say it. I can see the forest through the trees. Have there been some incidents where the police behaved badly that resulted in the death of a young black man (or woman). Yes, that is possible. But here are the facts. The inner cities are becoming a shooting galleries. Killing numerous adults and kids.  Not just in Chicago, Milwaukee, or Cleveland. I am talking about most of the blue cities in America - including Minneapolis and St. Paul. 

It has gotten so bad (read the paper on this one), when gunshots go off, Mothers need to check the bedrooms to see if their kids are okay. Not in some border town in Iraq - in the Twin Cities. And this is not right.

It is becoming more and more difficult for me to discuss this issue without using some kind of invective. Yes - I feel that strongly about it. NO KID deserves to die this young. I really don't give a rat's butt how old he (or she) is. He (or she) deserves a full life. So when someone asks, "Do black lives matter?" My answer is totally yes. When the question is asked about all lives, my answer is the same. 

Folks, we are different than the Islamic Terrorists. They may relish in cutting of the heads of children, or killing them in a different fashion, but we do not. And we think such of an act, of ending a life so young, as abhorrent. So when we also ends lives so young, it makes our words ring hollow. 

What is my "punch line" so to speak? ALL LIVES MATTER! Not my words - read the Holy Scriptures. We need to put an end this carnage and now! No more killing. No more dead kids. No more, no more, no more.  

Death of a train?

"Here is the bottom line - federal dollars are OUR dollars. Rather than waste them, they should be put back into the Treasury."

Oh-oh. This is bad. Even Senator Al has gotten involved. He is in town to join some other local statists who are HUGE choo-choo lovers. Why? They are petitioning those rascally Republicans in the State House to get going on approving state funding for the troubled South West LRT. The only problem is most conservatives in our State House put spending MORE public money on trains somewhere lower than funding shrimp on a treadmill. 

As the good Senator continued to warn us, all that "free" money from the Feds could go to another foolish city (who also is run by statists) to build their trains. If that happened, a huge lynchpin of funding would be gone maybe forever. And the ripple effect could also affect another huge waste of taxpayer money - the Blue Line extension.

Excuse me for a minute - I had to wipe away a crocodile tear. Losing all that "free" money from the Feds! I just love it when some of the Lefties in blue states think Fed money is "free" Like it came from another planet whose main export was dollars. Or money trees which can only grow by the Potomac. Here is the bottom line - federal dollars are OUR dollars. Rather than waste them, they should be put back into the Treasury. These dollars come of many of us being overtaxed at our inconvenience.

One more thing that the mainstream media seldom puts in print. The trains in this town are losers. They are heavily subsidized by us taxpayers. I am not talking about the cost of construction - that is bad enough. I am talking about operating costs. The Northstar is a real lemon. If a passenger in Big Lake riding this train into downtown Minneapolis had to pay a non-subsidized fare, it would be almost $50 round trip. Instead that passenger pays about $5, and us over-taxed citizens get to pay the rest.

There is not one LRT nor Northstar in this area which is paying its own way. The more trains we build, the more we will have to subsidize. In the real world of private industry, how long could a company survive using that business model? I dare say not very long indeed.

So Senator Al, thanks for the pep talk. We did hear what you said, but we are not listening. Could this be the death of a train? I sure hope so.