ABDUL EL-SAYED

As always, the contents of this blog are a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where indicated.

Who is Abdul El-Sayed, and why should all those who believe in and want to preserve America and the American way of life that has flourished for some 250 years be concerned about him? Read on for the answers.

Until a few months ago few people had heard of El-Sayed. Now, we all know who he is. Abdul El-Sayed is the far left Dem candidate for US Senate for the State of Michigan. Last week he won the Dem primary over US Representative Haley Stevens by the very narrow margin of 48.5% to 47.5%, a mere 15,000 votes. Senator Bernie Sanders, a leader of the progressive movement who was an early supporter of El-Sayed’s candidacy, characterized it as “the most extraordinary victory that I can think of in modern American politics.” Senator Chris Van Hollen, another progressive leader who endorsed El-Sayed, said the victory “should be a wake-up call to the Washington Democratic establishment.” For once I agree with Van Hollen.

Sanders’ hyperbole aside, the political ramifications of El-Sayed’s victory should not be ignored or minimized. He is a prime example of the alarming shift to the left in the Dem Party. These far lefties hate America and the American way of life. They want to tear it down and reconstitute it as a communist state in the model of Soviet Russia, Communist China, Venezuela and Cuba. They are ignorant of or choose to ignore the historical fact that communism has failed wherever it has been tried.

Like many of his ilk El-Sayed has never held elected office and has very limited, if any, experience in or knowledge of finance, business, economics and history. In his last election in 2018 he lost Michigan’s Democratic gubernatorial primary to Governor Gretchen Whitmer by more than 20 percentage points. This time, espousing an unabashedly far left platform, he won despite being outspent by a huge margin and the fact that his opponent had the support of Chuck Schumer, outgoing Senator Gary Peters, and host of other establishment Dems.

In the intervening seven years El-Sayed had wisely remained in the public eye biding his time waiting for the right situation. For instance, he started a podcast, wrote a book and became a regular presence on YouTube and television. He steadily developed a political base. His opportunity came when Senator Peters declined to seek re-election.

In April 2025 he launched his campaign with a tiny staff. In his victory speech he reminisced how it all began. “I remember talking to a room of five people,” he said. “It was an opportunity for us to share an honest conversation about pain and about purpose. And I’ve been able to have 500 more of those discussions over the past 15 months.”

El-Sayed ran a classic grass roots campaign. He visited some 110 cities and hosted more than 500 events. According to his campaign his volunteer network eventually grew to 12,000 people. Julie Brink, a 29-year-old volunteer from the Detroit area, said the campaign still felt like an “underdog” when she joined in February. From there, she said, it was “gaining momentum really consistently.” El-Sayed embraced his underdog status declaring “what we’re doing is building a movement of the many against the money.”

El-Sayed never let up. He sprinted to the finish line. For example, on Election Day he held several interviews with content creators at Detroit’s Eastern Market and traditional news organizations, such as The Associated Press and MS NOW. Following his upset victory the campaign that had once struggled to fill small rooms packed Detroit’s Majestic Theatre for a huge election night party.

So, I repeat my earlier question. Who is El-Sayed? Now, we are cognizant of his background and work experience, which incidentally does NOT qualify him to be a US Senator, but what are his politics? Read on for the shocking and disquieting answer.

Below please find some of his policies. These extreme positions are typical of those espoused by El-Sayed and other neo-communists of the DSA. The differences between these and traditional American values are not the kind that could be resolved by debate between reasonable persons. They are inane, unworkable, and demonstrate a lack of common sense and historical context. They would destroy America as we know it. Regardless of whether or not he has actually advocated all of them; as a DSA candidate for the US Senate he is tied to them and should be compelled to defend them as well as other similar comments.

  1. Medicare for all.
  2. Open borders
  3. Abolish the Senate
  4. Abolish the office of the President.
  5. Abolish the electoral college.
  6. Abolish ICE.
  7. Favor electric vehicles over gas vehicles. (This would be a particularly “hard sell” in Michigan, which is dominated by the automobile industry.)
  8. His comments regarding the ME are particularly disturbing and not just to Jews. For example (1) He has questioned whether Israel has an “inherent right” to receive American taxpayer money. (2) He has advocated ending military aid to Israel which he characterizes as supporting “genocide and apartheid.” (3) He has been a strong critic of pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC. (4) He has openly labeled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal. These comments are not only highly antisemitic, but also exhibit a lack of awareness that Israel has been America’s only consistent and reliable ally in the volatile and strategically critical ME. The two countries have developed a symbiotic relationship, which is critical to the national security of both countries.

CONCLUSION

The foreboding significance of El-Sayed’s victory should not be underestimated or ignored. Heretofore the establishment politicos had crowed that the far left agenda would only be successful in certain deep blue locales such as NYC. Now, for the first time the far lefties have proven they could win a primary election in a crucial swing state. Even more alarming is a newly released poll, which was commissioned by pollsters Fabrizio Ward and Impact Research, that disclosed that El-Sayed is leading Rogers among likely voters 48%-47%.

Winning a Dem primary in which fewer than half of registered voters bother to participate, is one thing. Winning the election against a Repub opponent supported by moderate to conservative Repub voters is a whole other task. El-Sayed’s qualifications (or lack thereof), policies and prior statements will be heavily scrutinized by the Rogers campaign as well as by objective members of the media and discerning voters. Like most other radical candidates with a narrow base of support El-Sayed will likely attempt to “moderate” certain prior actions and comments to convince mainstream voters he is not as extreme as he really is. He will claim he has “evolved,” was “misquoted” or his comments were “taken out of context.” The “spin doctors” will be working overtime.

Will this strategy succeed? Who knows? Unfortunately, sometimes it has in prior elections, because typically, many voters are lazy, misinformed, stay home, or vote for a certain political party out of habit.

At least there are indications that the Repubs are viewing El-Sayed as a legitimate threat and are taking this election seriously. For instance, the Senate Republican campaign committee has already allocated some $45 million in advertising to support Rogers with more to come. Also, AIPAC, which has already spent more money on Michigan’s primary than on any other contest, has indicated it would continue its financial support.

In my opinion this election will be among the most important in my lifetime. Either the neo-communists will win and demonstrate their program has mainstream support or they will lose and be relegated to a fringe extremist group. My urgent message to Michiganders is VOTE, VOTE, VOTE/

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THIS MONTH IN HISTORY – AUGUST

Below please find a list of significant historical events that have occurred during the month of August.

August 1, 1838 – Slavery in Jamaica, which had been introduced by Spain in 1509, was abolished.

August 1, 1944 – Fifteen year-old Anne Frank, who was fated to be captured by the Nazis three days later and killed at Bergen-Belsen, wrote her final entry into her famous diary – “[I] keep on trying to find a way of becoming what I would like to be, and what I could be if … there weren’t any other people living in the world.”

August 2, 1776 – Most of the 55 signatories to the Declaration of Independence signed the original document (not on July 4, as is commonly believed).

August 2, 1923 – President Warren Harding died suddenly and was succeeded by Calvin Coolidge.

August 3, 1492 – Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain seeking the elusive Northwest Passage to Asia. Do you remember the names of the three ships in his convoy? See below.

August 5, 1583 – Explorer Sir Humphrey Gilbert founded the first British colony in North America in present-day Newfoundland.

August 5, 1861 – President Abraham Lincoln signed into law an emergency war measure to levy a 3% income tax on income in excess of $800.

August 5, 1962 – Actress Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson), symbol of Hollywood glamor and sexuality, was found dead from an overdose of sleeping pills.

August 6, 1945 – The US drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians, destroying the city, and hastening the end of WWII.

August 6, 1962 – Jamaica achieved independence, ending some 450 years of colonial rule first by Spain and then by England.

August 6, 1965 – President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law.

August 7, 1964 – Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which provided legal “cover” for the US’s entry into the Vietnam War.

August 9, 1945 – The US dropped a second atomic bomb (on Nagasaki).

August 9, 1974 – President Richard Nixon resigned as a result of the Watergate scandal.

August 11, 1965 – Six days of racial riots began in the Watts section of LA. The riots resulted in a reported 34 deaths, over 3,000 arrests and property damage estimated at $40 million

August 13, 1961 – East Germany put up the Berlin Wall separating West and East Berlin.

August 14, 1935 – FDR signed the Social Security Act.

August 14, 1945 – V-J Day commemorating Japan’s surrender, which marked the official end of WWII.

August 15, 1969 – The Woodstock festival began in Bethel, NY.

August 16, 1896 – Gold was discovered along the Klondike River in Alaska, precipitating what became known as the Great Klondike Gold Rush.

August 18, 1920 – Ratification of the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote.

August 21, 1959 – Hawaii was admitted to the Union as the 50th state.

August 24, 79 A. D. – The volcano, Vesuvius, erupted destroying the cities of Pompeii, Stabiac and Herculaneum.

August 24-25, 1814 – During the War of 1812 the British attacked Washington D.C. and burned much of the city, including the White House and the Capitol.

August 26, 1883 – One of the most catastrophic volcano eruptions ever recorded occurred on the island of Krakatoa in Indonesia. It produced tidal waves of 120 feet and killed 36,000 persons.

August 28, 1963 – Over 250,000 persons participated in the March on Washington in support of civil rights. One of the many speakers was the Reverend MLK, who gave the famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

August 31, 1997 – Princess Diana died from injuries suffered in an auto accident while fleeing from pursuing paparazzi.

Birthdays – Francis Scott Key (wrote the “Star Spangled Banner”), in Frederick County, MD 8/1/1779; Maria Mitchell, 8/1/1818) – astronomer, librarian, naturalist, educator, and.first American woman astronomer to discover a comet.8/1/1779 in Maryland; Herman Melville (wrote “Moby Dick”), 8/1/1819 in New York City; Ernie Pyle (WWII war correspondent), 8/3/1900 in Dana, IN; Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong (Jazz trumpeter), 8/4/1901 in New Orleans; (Quiz question #2 – Do you know the derivation of his very unusual nickname?); Raoul Wallenberg (saved 33,000 Jews from the Holocaust), 8/4/1912 in Stockholm;; Barack bama (44th US President), 8/4/1961 in Honolulu; Alfred Lord Tennyson (poet, wrote “Charge of the Light Brigade”), 8/6/1809 in England; Alexander Fleming (discovered penicillin), 8/6/1881 in Scotland; Herbert Hoover (31st US President), 8/10/1874 in West Branch, IA; Alex Haley (wrote “Roots”), 8/11/1921 in Ithaca, NY; Cecil B. DeMille (directed “The Ten Commandments”), 8/12/1881 in Ashfield, MA; Lucille Ball, comedian, actress, studio executive, 8/6/1911, in Jamestown, NY Annie Oakley (sharpshooter), 8/13,1860 in Ohio; Alfred Hitchcock (British film director, “The Birds,” “Psycho”), 8/13/1899 in London; Fidel Castro, 8/13/1927 in Cuba; Napoleon Bonaparte, 8/15/1769, on the island of Corsica; T. E. Lawrence, 8/16/1888 in North Wales, Quiz Question #3 – Who played Lawrence in the Oscar-winning movie, Lawrence of Arabia?); Menachem Begin, 8/16/1913 in Poland; Davy Crockett, 8/17/1786 in Tennessee; Meriwether Lewis, 8/18/1774 near Charlottesville, VA; Orville Wright, 8/19/1871 in Dayton, OH; Coco Chanel, fashion designer and business woman, 8/19/1883 in Samuur, France; William Jefferson Clinton (42nd US President), 8/19/1946 in Hope, Arkansas; Benjamin Harrison (23rd US President), 8/20/1833 in North Bend, OH, (Quiz question #4 – He was the grandson of another president. Who?); Leonard Bernstein (conductor and composer), 8/25/1918 in Lawrence, MA; Lyndon Baines Johnson (36th US President), 8/27/1908 near Stonewall, TX; Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (aka Mother Teresa), 8/27/1910 in Yugoslavia.

Quiz Answers

1. Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria
2. The most likely story is as a youth Louis would dance for pennies in the streets of his home city of New Orleans. To prevent other boys from stealing the pennies he stored them in his mouth, which would then become so stuffed as to resemble a satchel. Someone dubbed him “satchel mouth,” which became shortened to “Satchmo.” Many of his friends called him “pops.”
3. Peter O’Toole
4. William Henry Harrison

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A LETTER TO COMRADE ZOH

I received the following from my longtime friend and loyal reader, Larry. It is based on a letter written in France in 1894 by Emil Zola, a French writer of some renown. We believe that the contents of the letter apply to the current mayor of NYC.

In 1894, Colonel Alfred Dreyfus, a French Jew, was falsely accused of treason. The accusation was not justice – it was antisemitism wearing the robes of the state. A courageous writer, Émile Zola, stood up when almost no one else would. He wrote J’Accuse – “I accuse” – and forced a nation to look at what it had done.

Today, the mayor of NYC has turned the Jewish state, the Jewish people, into a collective Dreyfus. In the spirit of Zola, I say to you, Mr. Mayor: J’accuse.

J’accuse you of calling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “the architect of a horrific genocide” – a word chosen not for precision, but for its power to wound and to inflame. J’accuse you of naming a number – of the dead, of the maimed – and offering it as verdict, when the world’s most careful investigators have not yet reached one. J’accuse you of speaking two full minutes about the war in Gaza without once speaking the words October 7th – without once naming the massacre, the rape, the taking of hostages – babies and grandmothers – that began this war. J’accuse you of silence – a silence so complete that anyone hearing you for the first time would never know Hamas exists at all.  J’accuse you of a modern blood libel: accusing Israel of murdering Gazans whom Hamas itself murdered, using them as human shields. J’accuse you, in that same breath, of accusing my grandchildren.

When you call the Prime Minister of Israel a war criminal and an architect of genocide, you are not speaking only of one man in Jerusalem. You are speaking of the many thousands of children and grandchildren, brothers and sisters of New Yorkers who serve in the IDF army that defends the Jewish state.

J’accuse you of painting a target on the backs of Jews and of every New Yorker who supports Israel – because words like yours, spoken from the office you hold, do not stay contained. They travel. They are heard by those who already hate us, and they are heard as permission. J’accuse you of finding words for Gaza but none for Iran’s hanged dissidents, none for the churches burned in Nigeria, none for the Uyghurs vanished into camps in China. A conscience that speaks only of Jews and their state, and falls silent before every other cruelty on earth, is not a universal conscience. It is something else – it is antisemitism.

J’accuse you of holding the highest office in the largest Jewish city outside of Israel, and using it to make antisemitism feel official – to make it feel less like hatred and more like policy.

And yet, Mr. Mayor – we have been here before. We are a people with a long and bitter history of being accused. We have been called poisoners of wells, killers of gods, controllers of banks, and now, absurdly, perpetrators of the very crime that was done to us not one lifetime ago. We have heard every accusation there is. And we are still here. Israel – a Jewish state standing alone in a sea of nations that would erase it – is not the crime you make it out to be. It is what a people builds when it refuses to disappear.

Every Passover, at the Seder table, we say these words: she’lo echad bilvad amad aleinu le’chaloteinu – that in every generation, there rise those who seek to destroy us, but the Holy One delivers us from their hands. We say it every year. We will say it again this year. And Mr. Mamdani – for the rest of my life, when I reach that line in the Haggadah, I will think of you. J’accuse.

CONCLUSION

For years the Dems and their allies in the mainstream media have labeled President Trump as “Hitler” simply because they don’t like him personally nor agree with his policies. That characterization is not only false, it is incendiary and a grave insult to those Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust by the real Hitler.

Meanwhile, we have a real “Hitler” in our midst. Comrade Zoh is a communist, not a fascist like Hitler. But in all other respects he is very similar to Hitler. Like Hitler, he hates Jews (and Israel, which as we know did not exist in Hitler’s time). Like Hitler, he has exhibited extremist political, social and economic views. Like Hitler, he wants a country in which the government controls all aspects of everyday life. And like Hitler, he is a glib, charismatic speaker who can mesmerize his audience, particularly if they focus on the style of what he says and not the substance.

None of his campaign promises will succeed. His promises of “free stuff” are a mirage. There is no such thing as free stuff. Somehow, somewhere, someone has to pay for it.

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SPREAD OF DEM PARTY ANTISEMITISM

As always, the contents of this blog constitute a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where indicated.

I have published a multitude of blogs regarding antisemitism, including its origins, its history, its omnipresence and the danger of the false comfort of American Jews. I don’t wish to regurgitate all of that here and now.is It is readily available for those who wish to find it. Rather, the primary theme of this blog will be to illustrate absolutely and definitively the spread of antisemitism in the Dem Party.

As I have written several times antisemitism is not a new phenomenon. It has been omnipresent for thousands of years. Sometimes it has been covert, lurking just below the surface. At other times, such as now, it has burst forth like an erupting volcano.

The radical left wing of the Dem Party and its allies in the mainstream media have been trying, with some success, to portray itself as “socialist” or “progressive.” This is false. They are antisemitic communists who want to blow up the US constitution and the American values of free enterprise, capitalism and freedom of choice that have been a cornerstone of America for 250 years. This is not hyperbole. This is not exaggeration. This is not political postering. They have blatantly and openly espoused these goals. They have been published all over the internet and are easily researched if one cares to look. There policies are reminiscent of Soviet Russia back in the day and could have been written by Karl Marx.

In that vein the recent primary results are most disturbing. Dozens of radical candidates have defeated moderate, veteran Dems. They are aggressive, well-organized and well-funded. They have taken full advantage of the reality that less that half of voters bother to vote in off-year elections, and even fewer in primaries. In some blue jurisdictions a primary victory is tantamount to election. It’s important to note that although these candidates may differ in some degree regarding the radical nature of their policies they are all united in their hatred of Israel and Jews.

For example, the victor in the Michigan Senate primary, Abdul El-Sayad, boasts as one of his principal supporters prominent social media activist Hasan Piker, a notorious, unabashed antisemite who once blogged that America “deserved 9/11.” In my opinion Piker’s reputation will be a liability in the general election. I am not the only one who feels that way. Commentators such as Neera Tanden, the head of the Center for American Progress, has opined that Piker would “alienate general election voters” and provide GOP Mike Rogers a “path to victory” in the general election. Another of El-Sayad’s supporters is Mohammad Bager Oazwini, a Muslim cleric based in Dearborn, MI, who, in a sermon, celebrated Senator Lindsey Graham’s death, wished the same for President Trump and blamed them for fomenting “genocide” in Gaza.

And then there is the candidate for governor of Wisconsin, Francesca Wong, who has advocated the elimination of Thanksgiving. She is so “out there” that Bernie Sanders has declined to endorse her.

As a final example we have James Talarico, Dem candidate for Senate in Texas. He is locked in a close race with Attorney General Ken Paxton. Apparently, the voters have forgotten or chosen to ignore Talarico’s previous comments such as housing illegals to prevent deportation, denigrating ICE, his comments in 2021 that there are “six chromosome variations” (widely interpreted as “six genders,”) and accusing schools of “Christo-fascism.”

I expect that in campaigning for the general election these three and others will do what extremists always do, that is moderate or “spin” their positions, claim they were misquoted, and deny they said what they said even though it is one tape. Unfortunately, this gaslighting often works, and then following the election the candidate reverts back to his or her true policies. The most recent example of this would be Virginia governor Abigail Spanberger.

Let’s not forget comrade Zo. His latest inanity was threatening to arrest Netanyahu if and when he came to NYC. After he realized he lacked the legal standing to do that he backed off. However, his anti-Netanyahu/anti-Israel/antisemitic rhetoric have stirred up the legion of anti-Israel, anti-Netanyahu and antisemitic activists in advance of the upcoming UN meetings. In my view the result will be massive demonstrations and possible violence.

CONCLUSION

The results of the recent primaries highlight the continuing surge of the radical left wing of the Dem Party. The moderate Dems and the independents continue to aid and abet this by ignoring the grim reality. They are the majority and have the ability to crush this movement, but they continue to appease. This is akin to feeding a hungry lion in the hope that it will not eat you. Eventually, however, you run out of food, and it does eat you.

The much balleyhooed “big tent” theory is a sham. As I denoted in detail in my blogs “The Camel’s Nose” and the “Trojan Horse” the radicals have no interest in sharing. They want nothing less than a complete takeover, first of the Dem Party, then of the country. It’s not too late to stop them, but as Yogi Berra once said “it gets late early.”

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CAPITALISM AND COMMON-SENSE VS COMMUNISM AND CHAOS

As always, the contents of this blog constitute a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.

Finally, we are beginning to get some clarity with respect to the DSA/neo-communists’ radical political platform. Finally, the veil of secrecy and deceit is being lifted, and we are getting a peek behind the curtain. Finally, they are disclosing their scary, radical, insane, inane plans. Megan Romer, DSA National Co-Chair laid it all out very specifically in a recent interview on Fox News. It was pretty consistent with what I had discussed in an earlier blog. Romer cannot claim she was misquoted. DSA spin doctors cannot “clean up” her comments. This was the moment I and many others have been waiting for. Finally, the DSA advocates are no longer hiding inside the “Trojan Horse.” I don’t know why Romer disclosed the DSA’s plans in such a forthright manner. As I stated in an earlier blog the TH strategy was very effective.

Afterwards she was mocked by some conservative commentators, but it will behoove all Americans to understand that she was deadly serious. Speaking on Fox News Sunday Romer responded to criticism by claiming that establishment Democrats are the ones who should be concerned because “they have not been delivering [on voters’ cost of living concerns], and our candidates are and have been, and it’s resonating with voters.”

Below please find a list of some of the DSA’s more egregious policies. Again, the following is not based on guesswork nor my opinion. It is straight from “the horse’s mouth” so to speak:

  1. Its overall goal is to “build a new society from the ground up.” That means tearing down the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and destroying the America that we know and love and that has existed for 250 years and rebuilding it in their own image.
  2. Eliminate the delicate system of “checks and balances” that exists among the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the federal government and which is one of the cornerstones of our republic.
  3. Abolish the Senate. Congress would then consist solely of the House of Representatives in some form. (Students of history are cognizant that the Senate serves two vital purposes. (1) It protects the small, less populated states from being dominated by a few large states as each state has two senators regardless of size. Without that protection the small states would likely not have agreed to join the republic.) (2) Its much maligned rules of debate and 60-vote requirement to pass legislation in many cases serve to make the legislative process more thoughtful and more deliberate and to encourage debate.
  4. Abolish the presidency.
  5. Cripple the authority of the Supreme Court by rendering it subservient to the Congress. Those actions would leave us with a politbureau style of government similar to that in Russia and China.
  6. Abolish ICE.
  7. Abolish prisons
  8. Eliminate our national border; permit anyone to enter.
  9. Grant amnesty and citizenship to all illegals.
  10. Defund the Pentagon and the police.
  11. Make large corporations government-owned and controlled.

Obviously, it is critical that the Repubs and moderate Dems spread the word regarding the aforementioned agenda. The DSA’s policies are off-the-charts radical. They would certainly lead to lawlessness and chaos. I cannot see how any more than a thin sliver of the electorate would support them. These crazies are relying on low turnout, voter apathy and ignorance. I cannot comprehend how any sensible voter could possibly vote for candidates that espouse those policies. Daylight is the best disinfectant.

As the midterm elections approach finally mainstream politicians are beginning to wake up and push back.

  1. GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a post on Fox News, “Read their platform: Abolish the Senate, the Presidency, the Supreme Court and immigration enforcement. Open the border wide. Grant mass amnesty. Defund the Pentagon. The barbarians are inside the gate—and Democrats are WELCOMING them in! Communism is no longer a far-fetched threat. It is here on our SHORES! This isn’t just Common Sense vs. Crazy anymore. It’s Common Sense vs. COMMUNISM.”
  2. TX Senator Ted Cruz, never one to mince words, “told it like it is.” “These people are insane.”
  3. Even the left-leaning Washington Post has weighed in urging mainstream Dems to “find their ‘spine,’ ” and fight back by rejecting the DSA’s platform and policies, and aggressively supporting campaigns against DSA candidates.
  4. So far, the only Dem politician who has taken a stand against the radicals has been PA Senator John Federman.
  5. Most Dems have been reluctant to speak out for fear of being “primaried.” They have been standing by watching the radicals tear their party apart. As I wrote in the blog “The Camel’s Nose” the “big tent” concept is just a form of appeasement, and history tells us appeasement never works. The moderate Dems are “feeding the lion” hoping it won’t eat them, but eventually they will run out of food to feed it, and it will eat them. The radicals don’t want to share control. They want total control.
  6. Finally, some moderate Dems are beginning to fight back, but it’s already a little late. Radical candidates, capitalizing on a wave of antiestablishment sentiment and rising opposition to the US’s strong support of Israel, have already beaten Dem moderates in several primaries notably in House races in NY and CO and in mayoral elections in Washington, D.C., Seattle and of course NYC. Strong, unwavering support of Israel has always been a “given,” but recent polls indicate that support is wavering. For example, a July 2026 Emerson College poll found that 61% of likely voters feel the federal government spends “too much” on aid to Israel, although polls like Ipsos/Washington Post disclosed that only 29% support complete termination of military aid.
  7. In the interest of balance, I feel compelled to disclose that various recent polls have disclosed that even though Democratic socialism isn’t particularly popular in mainstream America, it is slightly less unpopular than MAGA politics. I must say that I question the validity of those polls as I believe many of the respondents were unaware of the real DSA agenda as articulated above.

Conclusion

So, how will all this affect the upcoming elections? Everyone has an opinion, but nobody knows for sure. In my view, the rise of the radical neo-communists threatens the long-term viability of the Dem Party. This election will be critical. The commie movement MUST be stamped out.

I expect the Repubs to characterize the DSA’s radical and scary agenda as communist, not socialist nor progressive. As you know, I heartily agree with that characterization. Unfortunately for the Dems many far left Dem candidates have already won primaries against more moderate Dems who would likely have stood a better chance in the general election.

The Repubs are fighting history. Since 1946, the party holding the White House has gained House seats in only two of 20 elections (1998 and 2002). With respect to the Senate, historically the sitting president’s party has lost an average of four seats. There are 33 U.S. Senate seats up for regular election in 2026, 20 of which are held by Republicans, which gives the Dems more chances to gain seats. Perhaps, the most critical factor will be voter turnout. Generally, it has been about 40% in midterm elections compared to 60% in presidential elections. The country needs a high turnout. Everybody get out and VOTE!

I don’t believe it is hyperbolic to state that in this election the US is fighting for its future viability as a free republic based on capitalism, free enterprise and freedom of choice. The Founding Fathers and all those who have fought and died for this country over the past 250 years will be watching.

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COMRADE ZOH’S FOLLY

As always, the contents of this blog constitute a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where indicated.

My opinion of Comrade Zoh has been well documented, and there is no need to regurgitate it here. Virtually not a day passes in which he, his staff and/or his supporters do not say or do something inane, illogical or illegal. I found two recent particularly egregious examples that illustrate my point.

  1. Zoh announced that he intends to attend the 9/11 memorial ceremonies commemorating those who tragically lost their lives on that date. I find this particularly insensitive and disingenuous. He doesn’t care one whit about the victims. In fact, through words and deeds he has repeatedly demonstrated that his sympathies are more aligned with the terrorists who perpetrated the heinous attacks than with the innocent victims. For example, he has refused to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada;” he has repeatedly spoken out in favor of the terrorists and against Israel; he defended the October 7 terrorist attacks; and he has maintained “close associations” with several known or suspected terrorists. Accordingly, a goodly portion of relatives and friends of the victims object strongly to his attending. They have been circulating a petition to that effect. According to the NY Post currently it has in excess of 17,000 signatures. As I write this Zoh has not been swayed by those persons’ concerns. On the contrary he has brushed them aside as inconsequential. In my view he should demonstrate a modicum of sensitivity to the feelings of the victims’ friends and relatives and stay away.
  2. Zoh’s attempt to comply with his campaign promise to establish state owned grocery stores has been fraught with delays and other problems. He has pledged to build five such stores – one in each borough. Supposedly, the cost will be $70 million. Guess how many stores are open and operating? How about zero. The first store is not projected to open until early 2027. If you believe that I have a bridge to sell you. In my experience these projects take twice as long and cost twice as much money as estimated. And by the way where will the funds come from, and who will be monitoring that the builders’ prices are fair and honest? Easy answer, no one. Moreover, as it turns out the stores will only carry a limited range of products. The discounted prices will likely put many family-owned bodegas out of business. Zoh has portrayed himself as an advocate for the working class, but again, it’s the little guy who gets hurt. The concept of state-owned grocery stores has attracted much criticism. For example, NYC Councilman Phil Wong, a Dem no less, characterized the stores as “something out of Communist China.” He opined “there will be shortages and empty shelves.” That is in accord with what I have been saying; it is clearly a communist idea straight out of Karl Marx, Lenin, Stalin and Castro. Don’t just take my word for it. Listen to those who have experienced this firsthand in communist countries. They know what to expect. They’ve seen this before. For instance, Juan Carlos Santiago, a Cuban refugee, compares it to what he fled to come to the US. He told the NY Post that “in the end it will cost more, and you get less.” That sounds about right.

Conclusion

These are but two examples of the ineptitude of Comrade Zoh’s Administration. I could cite a dozen other examples, but time and space preclude me from doing so. Anyway, I think you get the idea.

He and his staff have no knowledge nor experience in governing. They are committed to a flawed system of government that has never succeeded anywhere else. NYC voters elected him, and now they will pay the price.

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THE TROJAN HORSE DSA STYLE

As always, the contents of this blog are a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.

Did the Trojan Horse really exist? Or is it merely a mythological “tall tale?” Or is there an element of truth to it that has been exaggerated and embellished over the years? Historians have been arguing this forever, but whether it is truth, fiction or a combination of the two is of no consequence for this blog. The salient point I wish to make is that it was a classic example of deception that the radical left has been replicating to great success.

Briefly, after a ten-year war with the city of Troy the Greek army, unable to penetrate the walls of the city, pretended to give up. The bulk of the army sailed away leaving a large wooden horse. The Trojans, thinking it was a gift, dragged it inside the city. Unbeknownst to them, a select contingent of Greeks was sequestered inside the horse. During the night they came out and overwhelmed the Trojan guards. Then, joined by the returning army, they sacked the city.

Over the years the Trojan Horse has become a symbol of deception. I believe the commie/DSAs, aided and abetted by a compliant mainstream media, have been employing this Trojan Horse strategy to hide their true intent from the voting public. So far, it has been one of the all-time successful gaslighting strategies. They and the media portray themselves as “progressives” or “socialists,” and their candidates run under those labels, which, though leftist philosophies, are not extremely radical. Thus, they are fairly acceptable to mainstream Dems and many other voters, particularly those who are dissatisfied and frustrated with their lives and/or envious of others who are more successful.

On the other hand, their radically left communist policies, which advocate for fundamental, structural shifts in U.S. governance, economics, finances, and society would be anathema to a majority of voters. In reality, they despise the USA and everything it stands for. They are disciples of Marx, Lenin, and Stalin. They want to end capitalism and free enterprise and replace it with a stateless society in which the government controls every aspect of life such as in Soviet Russia, Cuba and Venezuela.

Furthermore, the cherry on top is that they are vehemently anti-Israel and antisemitic. They don’t try to hide their policies they’re so arrogant that they come right out and state them. Thus, they are a combination of the two worst scourges of governance – Nazism and communism. As I have blogged many times history tells us American Jews, who have grown comfortable are at great risk, and many of them seem oblivious. I don’t comprehend why.

Once the radicals win an election, typically they disclose their true leftist policies. A good example of this is Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger. During her tenure in Congress and throughout her campaign she was a moderate Dem. Once she won, however, she transitioned to a progressive. Virginia voters were radically misled.

Below please find a sampling of the neo-communists’ policies. In my opinion most of these are inane, won’t work, lack common sense, and illustrate a lack of experience and knowledge of economics, politics, history and finance. Moreover, some of them are unconstitutional and have no chance of being enacted. As you read them, see if you don’t agree. Their purpose is just to feed their rabid lunatic base.

Most of these people have no practical work experience that would qualify them to govern; they have not built anything nor run a business; some are professional students, live at home and/or are supported by their parents. I wouldn’t trust them to manage a lemonade stand.

  1. Political Structural Reform: Radical changes to the U.S. government, including abolishing the Senate and the presidency in favor of a unicameral legislature and parliamentary system, packing or even eliminating the Supreme Court, eliminating the Electoral College, expanding the House of Representatives, adding DC and Puerto Rico as states, and instituting multi-party proportional representation.
  2. Economic & Labor Overhaul: A guaranteed 32-hour workweek without a loss in pay, expanding union protections, raising income taxes, instituting a wealth tax, reducing the power of large corporations, free universal healthcare, tuition-free higher education, canceling student debt, government owned and run grocery stores, free busses, and freezing rents.
  3. Criminal Justice Reform: Abolishing or at least curtailing the power of police and police unions, freeing all criminals from prison, and ceasing the deportation of illegals even those who have committed violent crimes such as murder and rape.
  4. Electoral Strategy: Operating not as an independent third party but rather taking control of the Dem Party to push the membership further left.
  5. Forgive all debt.
  6. Make comfortable housing a “human right.” No rent or mortgage payments.
  7. Publicly-funded retirement.
  8. Eliminate borders. Open the floodgates. Anyone can enter.
  9. Abolish ICE.
  10. Eliminate all foreign aid to Israel.
  11. Mandami wants to arrest Netanyahu as a war criminal and violator of human rights if he comes to NYC. He has no authority to do so, and he conveniently forgets or is not cognizant of the concept of diplomatic immunity.
  12. There will be no such thing as private property. The concept will be you didn’t build it; you don’t own it; and you don’t deserve it. The government will own everything. It can seize your assets and either keep them or redistribute them to those who are deemed more needy or deserving.

Conclusion

I fear that if these people were ever to seize control every aspect of life as we know it would be destroyed. The greatest country that ever existed would be no more. If this were to occur it would not be overnight. It would likely occur gradually over several election cycles, so gradually that most people would not be cognizant of it until it was too late.

What can be done to combat this scourge? Not to simplify, but I recommend two courses of action: (1) stay informed, and (2) VOTE. Pay particular attention to the off-year elections like 2026. Historically, voter turn-out is low and that is how many of these radicals sneak in. They are well organized, well financed and highly focused.

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THE CAMEL’S NOSE

As always, the contents of this blog constitute a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.

Either the mainstream Dems and their allies in the mainstream media are really stupid, or they think the voters are. Their latest spin that welcoming the neo-communists into their party is beneficial because it is creating a “Big Tent” in which all ideas are welcome is inane on its face. The neo-communists have no long-term desire or intention of collaborating with them. On the contrary they have reiterated time and again that they hate America and want to tear it down and remake it in their own image. In addition, they have made their irrational, unconditional hatred of Jews and America’s support of Israel very clear.  In my opinion it is obvious that they intend to use the establishment Dems as a tool to attain power.  Slowly and inexorably, they plan to take control. First, they will continue to primary Dems that are not sufficiently to the “left.” Ultimately, they will challenge Republican office holders for control of the country.

They are disguising their true program of creating a country controlled by the state à la Soviet Russia, Cuba and Venezuela by claiming to be socialists rather than communists. Socialism is more benign and more palatable to voters. They are hoping voters will be fooled. However, their desire to redistribute wealth from the rich to the “needy” and to have the government control all key facets of life are dead giveaways.

One of their central policies is the promise of “free stuff.” The allure of “free stuff” is very powerful.  Many people love it not realizing that, in actuality, there is no such thing. Somehow, somewhere, someone has to pay for it. Their plan is that the billionaires and other rich people will pay for it. This classic plan of income redistribution is one of the major tenants of communism. Of course, there are not enough rich people to pay for all of their programs. Sooner or later, they will run out of other people’s money, and then the system will self-destruct.

Moreover, most rich people have the ability to transfer their wealth to other jurisdictions that do not penalize the wealthy or, in extreme cases, to just emigrate to another country.  This has been occurring in many socialist and communist countries. Communism has NEVER been successful anywhere. Eventually the countries that tried it have all self-destructed. The most recent example is Venezuela, which in a short period of time has deteriorated from one of the wealthiest countries to one of the poorest.

And now for the central point of the blog, I will paraphrase for you the parable of the camel’s nose. A man sets out riding a camel on a trip through the desert. The first night he stops to make camp. He pitches a tent for himself to sleep in and beds the camel down outside in the cold. After a few hours the camel asks if he could put just his nose in the tent because it is so cold. The man acquiesces since he wants to keep the camel happy as he is relying on it to continue to transport him on his journey.

The next night the camel requests to stick his entire head into the tent. It’s a tight fit. The tent is barely big enough, but again the man agrees. This goes on for a few days. Soon, the camel is entirely in the tent, and the man is sleeping outside in the cold.

Folks, in this parable the tent represents the Dem Party; the man represents traditional Dems; and the camel represents the neo-commies. The moral is quite clear. The Dems’ mantra of a big tent in which a wide variety of views can co-exist is a fallacy. The tent is simply not big enough for the traditional Dems to co-exist with the neo-commies. Eventually, the neo-commies will take control of the party. They will keep pushing and pushing until they have either converted every Dem to their radical views or purged them from the party entirely.

It may take a few election cycles, but I fear it will come to pass eventually, unless the moderates nip the movement in the bud. The 2026 midterm elections would be a good time to start. Remember the lessons of communist Russia in 1917 and the Nazi movement in Germany in the 1930s, which I have described in previous blogs. Don’t delude yourself into thinking it can’t happen here, because it could.

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HERE COME THE COMMIES

As always, the contents of this blog are a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my own opinion, where indicated.

The commies are not just coming; they are already here in the US. What was thought to be impossible just a few short years ago is becoming a reality. In the most recent primaries several commies secured the Dem nomination for various offices. In “blue” jurisdictions, such as NY, nomination is tantamount to election, so next year they will likely be serving in Congress as well as various state and local offices.

Essentially, they are “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” They portray themselves as “progressives,” or “socialists,” but their beliefs are more aligned with communism. I call them “neo-communists.” More on this later.

Wikipedia defines communism as a “political and economic system where all property and resources are collectively owned by the public or the state, rather than by individuals. The core goal is to create a classless society where wealth is distributed based on individual need, eliminating the concept of private ownership.” Without delving too far into the weeds what that means is everything you own, your house, your business, your retirement funds, everything, belongs, not to you, but to the state. You didn’t earn it; you didn’t build it (the source of the title of my blogs); you don’t deserve it. The state has the right and authority to seize it for itself or redistribute it to the less fortunate.

If that doesn’t resonate with you think of the old Soviet Union, Cuba, or Venezuela. In those instances, the state controlled all economic activities, the means of production, education, communication, military, and property. The notion of equality was phony. In every case a small class of elites arose to control everything. Inevitably, the system failed as it always has. The old Soviet Union collapsed, Cuba is a failing state, and in just a few short years oil-rich Venezuela has gone from one of the richest countries in the world to one of the poorest. Socialism/communism has never lasted. In the words of former British PM Margaret Thatcher, “eventually, you run out of other people’s money.”

The distinction between communism and socialism can be blurred. In fact, Wikipedia’s definition of “extreme socialism” pretty much matches its definition of “communism.” In my opinion, there is no brightline distinction between the two. I view it as more of a continuum from socialism at one end to communism at the other with different gradations of socialism in between. I associate socialism with the form of government practiced in countries like Sweden. Even in the US we practice some elements of socialism, such as social security and Medicaid. That is not the same as communism, which is far more extreme and adheres to the philosophy of Marx, Lenin, Stalin and Castro.

  1. The neo-communists, such as Zohran Mamdani, Janeese Lewis, Darializa Avila Chevalier, Claire Valdez, Melat Kiros, and Graham Platner, may have subtle differences in their beliefs, but they are united in (1) their desire to tear down and remake America, (2) terminate America’s support for Israel, and (3) their unabashed antisemitism, which they espouse freely, openly and loudly.
  2. Most of them were born outside the US. Their parents emigrated here to secure a better life for them. Rather than be grateful to live here they seek to destroy it.
  3. Most of them have no practical life experiences. They have never built anything. Some of them have never had a real job, are perpetual students, and/or live at home with their parents and are supported by them.
  4. Some of their positions are downright irrational, such as open borders, abolishing ICE, emptying prisons, and ceasing to deport illegal aliens for any reason even if they have committed serious crimes. Those who advocate those policies have truly lost their minds. Any sane person could ascertain those policies would result in utter lawlessness and chaos.
  5. Comrade Zoh is the mayor of NYC, the largest and most diverse city in the US. He was born in Uganda. When he was seven years old his family moved to NYC. He has a bachelor’s degree in Africana studies. He worked as a housing counselor and a rapper. He was elected to the NYS Assembly in 2020. After serving three terms he was elected mayor in 2024. He is portrayed as a “democratic socialist,” but based on his policies, such as tax increases on corporations and those earning above $1,000,000 a year, free buses, universal childcare, freezing rents, and establishing city-owned grocery stores, among others, I consider him to be a neo-communist. What are his background and credentials for the job? Not much. No background in business, economics, politics, law or other practical areas. But he is a glib, articulate, persuasive speaker, which is a major source of his appeal to voters.
  6. Darializa Chevalier is a community organizer, UAW member, and the daughter of Dominican immigrants who has spent years advocating for her community in upper Manhattan. She graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies.  She has been associated with various radical, anti-American and anti-Israel groups. She has denounced Israel as an “apartheid state [that is] committing genocide” against Palestinians. She described her political views as having been influenced by her experiences while living in Palestine and the writings of black radicals such as Angela Davis. Even the NY Times has characterized her as “far left.” Based on her activities I would call her a neo-communist. She disrespected the American flag by once tweeting that she “wiped her hands with [it].” Is this the type of person you want representing you in Congress?
  7. Platner, a military veteran, sports a chest tattoo identified as a Totenkopf, a skull-and-crossbones emblem historically used by Nazi SS guards. He is an oyster farmer whose sole customer is his mother. He claims he got the tattoo in 2007 while on leave with the Marines in Croatia and was completely unaware of its historical Nazi associations. He merely chose the design from a tattoo parlor wall during a night of drinking. Yeah, right! The Dem establishment is supporting him because they think he can win the election, which is more important to them than the fact he is a Nazi. They have no scruples; they crave power. Does anyone else see the irony? For years the Dems have been calling Trump a Nazi, which he most assuredly is not. Now they have nominated a real Nazi for the Senate. [Today, I heard that some Dems are looking to force him to withdraw due to repeated allegations of sexual assault. The deadline to replace him is July 13. I predict he will withdraw.]
  8. These people are not limited to a small geographic area. There are many others with similar opinions and attitudes scattered around the country such as in Colorado, DC and LA.
  9. This group of anti-American, Nazi-loving bigots is ill-equipped to run a lemonade stand, much less the government.

Conclusion

So, what has given rise to this group of extreme radicals, which essentially has hijacked the Dem Party? I believe there are many factors, however, I maintain that the cowardly character of Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries is the major cause. They have no integrity. Neither has condemned the group’s radical, anti-American, anti-Israel, antisemitic comments and policies. In my view they afraid to do so. In fact, they are bending over backwards to curry favor. Even Kamala Harris is “kissing the ring.” They are the leaders of the Party, or at least they are supposed to be. They’re afraid they will get primaried or lose their leadership positions. Well, I’ve got news for them. They will never be “left” enough to satisfy the wolves. It’s analogous to a man who keeps feeding a wild animal in hopes it will not eat him. In reality, eventually he will run out of food, and the wild animal will eat him anyway.

Jeffries and others are claiming that the far lefties are welcome, that the Dem Party has a “Big Tent” philosophy, that a wide variety of ideas and policies are welcome. That is pure BS. That is akin to letting the fox into the henhouse. They should familiarize themselves with the fable about “letting the camel’s nose into the tent.”

Schumer is the worst. I have no respect for the man. He is a coward. He is Jewish; he represents a heavily Jewish state; and yet he has said and done nothing about these lunatic radicals. In fact, no Dem has taken a stand except for PA Senator John Federman. Schumer and Jeffries will lose their leadership positions anyway, and they will get primaried, and good riddance.

The big question is what impact these radicals and their supporters will have on the 2026 midterm elections. Will they help Dems attract young voters and disaffected nonvoters excited by the left-wing candidates? Or, conversely, will it prompt moderates to stay home or even vote Republican? The answer is critical to the future of the country. At this point I don’t know, but it will bear watching.

Currently, the neo-communists comprise a very small portion of the electorate. However, they are aggressive, vociferous, well-organized, and well-funded. I agree with President Trump that we must deal with them now rather than wait until they grow more powerful. History tells us we should have dealt with the Nazis in the early 1930s. We didn’t, and you know what happened. Also, I would remind you that in 1917 there were only 24,000 Bolsheviks in Russia out of a total population of 160 million, yet look what happened.

Democracy, capitalism and free enterprise is engrained in our DNA, not communism. In the words of Winston Churchill: “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others.” I say, wake up and act now before it’s too late. This applies doubly to Jews and those who support Israel.

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HAPPY 250TH BIRTHDAY AMERICA. HAPPY SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL!

When you think about it, we are an amazing, unlikely success story. History buffs will recall that at the dawn of the American Revolution a small band of patriots were leading a rebellion against the mighty British empire. They had a seasoned, well-trained, well-outfitted, formidable army and navy, perhaps the mightiest in the world. On the other hand, we had no army and no navy NONE.

What we had was a bunch of ragtag, ill-equipped, parttime, inexperienced militias scattered among the various colonies. Our men were farmers and tradesmen, not professional soldiers or sailors. Our military leaders, even George Washington, were inexperienced in the tactics of warfare. What we did have, however, was an unquenchable thirst for freedom.

Seemingly we had very little chance of success. (If there had been a Las Vegas it would have given us infinitesimal odds of success). Yet, we persevered. That, in and of itself, is a great American success story. Then, we followed it up with 250 years of unparalleled achievement and success to become the greatest nation in the history of the world. Yes, we have flaws. Nothing is perfect, but we are continuing to deal with these problems and evolve.

A small, persistent, vociferous, well-funded group of dissidents have been very critical of America, even advocating tearing down our society and remaking it into a socialist/communist nation. They’ve been getting much publicity lately, but they are in the minority. A recent Cato Institute poll disclosed that only 17% characterized themselves as “not very patriotic compared to 70% who described themselves as “at least moderately patriotic.” Even a majority of Gen Z’ers characterized themselves as “at least moderately patriotic.” 63% of all respondents averred they are “grateful” to be Americans. Only 10% expressed an unfavorable view of America’s founding. So, take all the negativity reported in the media with a big “grain of salt.” More on this later.

To honor America’s 250th birthday below please find a brief summary of trivia and notable historic events that have occurred in America on July 4th during the last 250 years.

  1. In 1776 when the Declaration was signed there were but 2.5 million people living in America. The current population is 349 million.
  2. Benjamin Franklyn, age 70, was the oldest person to sign the Declaration of Independence. South Carolina delegate Edward Rutledge, 26 years old, was the youngest person to sign it.
  3. According to Wikipedia it is believed that there were only 200 original copies of the Declaration of Independence printed. Today there are only 26 known copies in existence.
  4. John Hancock was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. His bold signature was so memorable that his name became synonymous with the phrase “put your John Hancock on this form.”
  5. President Warren Harding created the popular term “founding fathers” in his address to the Republican National Convention in 1916.
  6. Independence Day is celebrated annually all throughout the country with parades, fireworks and other events. According to Wikipedia Bristol, Rhode Island’s celebration, which commenced in 1785, is the oldest.
  7. Americans love to eat! Hot dogs are the undisputed most popular food consumed on July 4. According to the National Sausage and Hot Dog Council (NHDSC) Americans consume an estimated 150 million of them on the holiday.
  8. Nathan’s at Coney Island has hosted a famous hot dog-eating contest every year on July 4th since 1916. It is so popular that it is televised in all its gluttonous glory.
  9. Hamburgers are a close second. Who doesn’t like the smell and taste of burgers on the grill?
  10. New Englanders, to be different, have a centuries-old tradition of eating salmon and peas on Independence Day. I don’t mind the salmon, but peas, ugh.
  11. For dessert we have apple pie, the undisputed cultural symbol of America. It has served as the de facto national treat for generations, and it is deeply embedded in the nation’s culinary DNA. We are all familiar with the phrase “as American as apple pie.”
  12. We do love our pyrotechnics. For many of us they are an engrained feature of the holiday celebration. According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, Americans spend in excess of $1 billion on them every year. Out of this, only 10% of firework displays are set off professionally, which probably accounts for the estimated 13,000 firework-related hospital emergency room visits per year. According to Fortune Magazine almost 70% are normally for treating men.
    Most people are sensible enough to view them from a safe distance or on the tv. However, there are always a few irresponsible daredevils who injure themselves. Some of you may recall that some years ago NY Giants star defensive lineman Jason Pierre Paul severely injured his fingers and hand and almost derailed a promising career.

Some of the notable events that occurred on July 4:

1777: The first Independence Day celebration was held in Philadelphia, featuring fireworks, bonfires, and parades as originally envisioned by Founding Father John Adams.

1789: 1st US tariff act signed by President Washington.

1802: The United States Military Academy officially opened its doors at West Point, New York.
1803: The United States government officially announced the Louisiana Purchase from France, which doubled the nation’s size.

1826: Former Presidents and Founding Fathers John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day within hours of each other, exactly 50 years after the Declaration was adopted.

1827 Slavery was abolished in New York.

1831: Former president and Founding Father James Monroe passed away.

1831: The song, “America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)” with lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith, which many supported to be designated as our national anthem, had its first public performance at Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts.

1863: Confederate forces surrendered at Vicksburg, Mississippi, a major turning point in the Civil War.

1870 July 4th was designated as a federal holiday.

1884: France officially presented the Statue of Liberty to the United States.
1946: The Philippines gained full independence from the United States.

1916: 1st Nathan’s hotdog eating contest.

1939: Baseball legend Lou Gehrig gave his famous “Luckiest Man” retirement speech at Yankee Stadium after being diagnosed with ALS

Birthdays of notable persons:

1804 – Nathaniel Hawthorne, author (“The Scarlet Letter” and “House of the Seven Gables”).

1872 – Calvin Coolidge, 30th U.S. President.

1911 – Mitch Miller, big bandleader, “Sing along with Mitch.”

1918 – Ann Landers (aka Esther Pauline “Eppie” Lederer), advice columnist.

1918 – Abigail Van Buren, advice columnist (“Dear Abby.”).

1927 – Neil Simon, playwright and screenwriter (“The Odd Couple,” “The Goodbye Girl,” “Biloxi Blues” and “Brighton Beach Memoirs.”).

1929 – Al Davis, NFL Oakland Raiders owner and executive (“Just win, baby.”).

1930 – George Steinbrenner (aka the “Boss”), NY Yankees owner.

1938 – Bill Withers – singer-songwriter (“Lean on Me,” “Lovely Day,” “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Just the Two of Us”).

1943 – Geraldo Rivera, journalist and talk show host.

1988- Malia Obama, daughter of former President Barack Obama.

Conclusion

To reiterate my earlier comments America has some flaws, but it is still the best nation on earth. Witness the millions that are striving to emigrate. Also, several foreign soccer fans visiting for the World Cup matches expressed their pleasant surprise at the politeness of the American people.

In 1776 few around the world thought we would win our independence, and after we did few thought it would last. After 250 years I maintain we have proven those naysayers wrong.

This country was built by immigrants who came here with nothing but a dream. I’m talking about most of our parents, grandparents or great-grandparents. Most had few possessions, no prospects, and knew no one. Some even came alone as children. Against all odds, they survived and prospered. They built a life for themselves. They sacrificed so that their kids would have a better life.

Others of our ancestors were slaves. Once they earned their freedom, they too strived to attain a better life for themselves and their children. In America there are a plethora of blacks and other minorities who have taken advantage of their opportunities and become successful in business, entertainment, politics and a host of other fields. Blacks have served on the Supreme Court, and we elected a black president, twice.

America is and has been the one country where one can start with nothing and be successful. Our history is replete with thousands of examples of that. Hence the common phrase “only in America.” A prime example is our current vice president, J. D. Vance. To quote the late Winston Churchill- “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all [the others.”].

Tomorrow, July 4th, is a day to celebrate 250 years of independence. Enjoy the holiday, and stay safe.







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