KATHY HOCHUL HAS LOST HER MIND
As always, the content of this blog is a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.
In my opinion, current empirical evidence indicates that NYS Governor Kathy Hochul has lost her mind. Recently she gave a speech in which she urged wealthy individuals who previously had relocated from NYS to other locales to return. In what universe does she think there is even a remote chance that will happen? If she honestly believes that, she is delusional. Did she forget that just a few years ago she gave a speech in which she basically told wealthy people and others who objected to her left-leaning policies and her cozying up to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani that if they didn’t like it, they should “get out.” (Like the words from that old-time song, “Get on the bus, Gus.”)
That is just what many of them have done. Recently, NY State Senator Steve Rhoades disclosed the brutal statistic that “one [NY resident] leaves [the state] every 2 minutes and 23 seconds.” Think about that. Repub gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman sarcastically declared that “Hochul has finally discovered what New Yorkers already know. When you raise taxes, drive up the cost of living make it harder to do business, and try to destroy families’ savings people leave.” Moreover, he characterized Hochul’s pleas to the rich to return “the most honest moment of her administration.” In my view, if it’s not number one, it’s certainly in the top three.
Rich people are very astute. That’s how they became rich in the first place. They left primarily because of her governance. They were tired of the deteriorating quality of life, particularly in NYC. They were tired of the outrageously high cost of living, including rent, taxes, food and other necessities. They know that Hochul’s reputation is that she says one thing and then does the opposite, case in point, her congestion policy. Now they can see the handwriting on the wall. Despite her assertions to the contrary at some point, probably after the 2026 election she will give in to the lefties and raise taxes, and not just on the “wealthy.”
The lefties are becoming increasingly creative in ways to confiscate your money. For example, there has been talk of levying a “death tax” on a decedent’s wealth. By the way, in NYC how much annual income defines one as “wealthy?” Is it $100,000, $200,000, more? That sounds like a lot, but any NYC resident will tell you money doesn’t go very far when one factors in the high cost of living and punitive tax base. Now, having experienced the low or no-state taxes of Florida, Texas, Tennessee and other “red states” the rich have no intention of returning.
Furthermore, Hochul and Mamdani have formed a political partnership despite their ideological differences. As you may recall Hochul, in an attempt to unite the moderate and left-wing portions of the Dem Party in NYS, endorsed the socialist/communist/antisemitic Mamdani in his successful 2025 mayoral campaign. She was hopeful that he would support her in her re-election bid. He did, but he can always withdraw it or threaten to do so, and she knows it.
Hochul’s call for the rich former residents to return comes as she attempts to expand the state’s tax base in order to satisfy one of Mamdani’s primary demands that she raise tax rates. Blakeman derisively stated “Kathy Hochul finally discovered what New Yorkers already know. When you raise taxes, drive up the cost of living, make it harder to do business, and try to destroy families’ savings, people leave.” Barstool Sports Founder Dave Portnoy was not constrained by political niceties. He called it “unbelievable arrogance and hypocrisy” to ask wealthy New Yorkers to return home.
Mamdani has already become the dominant partner in the aforementioned alignment. It’s very unusual, if not unique, for a mayor to hold sway over a governor, but that’s how I see it. The left wing is very aggressive. Hochul is desperate to secure its support in her re-election campaign. She won a tight race in 2022, and she needs a united party behind her to win in 2026. As I indicated above already, she has been facing immense political pressure from the socialist wing to raise income and corporate taxes in order to pay for its planned extravagant spending programs, such as subsidizing bus rides and universal free childcare and healthcare. So far, she has resisted, but I expect her to cave eventually.
Conclusion
For New Yorkers the hits just keep on coming. It’s hard for me to feel sorry for them since they elected him. What did they expect would happen? They asked for it (socialism/communism), and they’re getting it.
Mamdani and his crew don’t have the foggiest notion of how to govern. I wouldn’t select them to run a lemonade stand much a large, complex city like NYC. Unless the adults manage to retake control, I fear that NYC, which has always been the crown jewel of the US, will inevitably deteriorate into a communist/socialist hellhole, i.e. an extremely unpleasant, filthy, squalid, miserable, chaotic, nightmarish place in which to live, work or even visit. If you think that is an extreme statement, just wait.
VOTER ID
As always, the contents of this blog are a compendium of various media reports supplemented by my personal opinion, where noted.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act is a proposed US federal law that aims to restrict voting in federal elections to citizens. Voters would be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate in order to register to vote. Furthermore, it would necessitate anyone voting in person to produce a photo ID, such as a driver’s license, strengthen procedures for on-line voting, and mandate stricter voter roll maintenance by the states to prevent unauthorized persons from voting. President Trump has characterized the Bill as his “number one [legislative] priority.”
The SAVE Act was narrowly approved by the House earlier this year, however, it faces strong opposition in the Senate. The Repubs hold a 53-47 margin in the Senate, but the cloture rules require 60 “yea” votes to pass the bill. The Senate voted 51-48 to commence debate on the bill, but the Repubs acknowledge that at the present time they “don’t have the votes” to pass the bill. Already Repub Senators Lisa Murkowski and Thom Tillis have expressed “concerns” indicating they may not support it. The debate is expected to be lengthy and contentious. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has signaled that he will endeavor to keep it on the floor at least into next week to provide opportunity for a “full and robust debate.”
As I said above the bill is very controversial among the individual congresspersons. I discussed the pros and cons at length in a previous blog, and I don’t see a need to repeat them now. Briefly, the Republicans claim it will (1) eliminate voting irregularities including outright fraud of which there have been many examples in our history, and (2) provide for free and fair elections, which is the cornerstone of our Republic.
In my opinion these are logical and necessary goals. Who would oppose them? Why? Of course, the Congressional Dems. They claim it would disenfranchise minority voters disproportionally. As I explained in my previous in my view this is a load of malarkey. Not only is it fictitious, but also every poll shows that even minorities don’t agree. In fact, many of them take umbrage and deride that argument as racist.
We all know the real reason. Dems want as many noncitizens as possible to be able to vote, because they feel most of them will vote Dem. That is a major reason why they opened our borders for four years. Moreover, loose voter rolls and voting requirements favor them as well. The bottom line is that in the current political climate the only way the Dems can win a national election is by cheating.
Probably, the bill will fail to pass, but at least the Dems will have been forced to disclose their opinions regarding this issue on the record. Some Dems, particularly those who represent districts that Trump won in 2024 or those who are running for re-election in 2026 will have to choose between the lesser of two evils. On one hand, party leadership is pressuring them to vote “no,” but on the other hand doing so will likely hurt their prospects for re-election.
What’s really interesting and informative are some of the comments Dems have made in the past on this issue. In the age of the internet, one can no longer dismiss past comments as “exaggerated” or “taken out of context.” For example, take (Up)Chuck Schumer, aka “dead man walking (politically).” I saw a video of a speech he gave in 1996 in which he advocated voter ID. He made the same arguments that Repubs do today. Once again, it illustrates he is an opportunist, a political chameleon, and not to be trusted.
Conclusion
The polls regarding this issue are as one-sided as any I have ever seen. They are all consistent – Pew, Gallup, Heritage, Rasmussen, Fox, even fake-news CNN. Some 71% of respondents are in favor of the bill, including 69% of independents and even half of Dems. 81% favor requiring voter ID, including 79% of independents and 70% of Democrats. 80% want states to purge non-citizens from voter rolls. 61% support sharing unredacted voter rolls with the Department of Homeland Security. 58% recognize at least some voter fraud exists in elections. The bill is widely viewed as a “common sense” way to combat fraud and protect the integrity of our elections.”
Once again, the Dem congresspersons find themselves on the wrong side of an 80-20 issue. Once again, they will be exposed as not caring about the well-being of their constituents but only about gaining and retaining power.
I urge you to remember this on Election Day.
THIS MONTH IN HISTORY – MARCH
Below please find some of the significant events that have occurred in March.
3/1/1932 – In one of the most notorious kidnappings ever, the 20 month-old son of renowned aviator, Charles Lindbergh, was taken from his home. Tragically, the child was later found dead only a few miles away.
3/1/1961 – President JFK established the Peace Corps, which sent volunteers to developing countries to provide healthcare, education, and other basic human needs.
3/1/1974 – Several senior officials of the Nixon administration were indicted for obstruction related to the infamous Watergate break-in.
3/4/1681 – England’s King Charles, II deeded a huge tract of land in the New World to William Penn in settlement of a debt. Appropriately, the area became known as Pennsylvania.
3/4/1789 – The first meeting of the US Congress occurred in NYC.
3/4/1830 – Former President John Quincy Adams returned to Congress as a member of the House of Representatives, the first, and only, ex-President to do so. [Who was the only ex-President to serve in the US Senate? See answer below?]
3/5/1770 – British soldiers opened fire on a group of demonstrating colonials, killing five, including Crispus Attucks, an African-American, who later became celebrated as being the first American to die in the Revolutionary War.
3/5/1946 – The term, “Iron Curtain,” was first used (in a speech by Winston Churchill) to describe the separation between the free countries of Europe and those that were under the domination of the Soviet Union.
3/6/1836 – The Alamo was overrun by Mexican troops, who slaughtered every last defender, including James Bowie and Davy Crockett. “Remember the Alamo” became the inspirational rallying cry for Texans’ fight for independence from Mexico.
3/10/1862 – The US began distributing paper money in denominations of $5, $10 and $20.
3/10/1880 – The Salvation Army was founded in the US.
3/11/1918 – The “Spanish Flu” first appeared in the US. By the end of 1920 it had been responsible for some 22 million deaths worldwide.
3/12/1609 – The British colonized Bermuda (by accident, as a ship headed for Virginia had been blown off-course).
3/12/1888 – The infamous “Great Blizzard of 1888” wreaked havoc on the northeastern US. In NYC it dropped 40 inches of snow over 36 hours and was responsible for some 400 deaths.
3/12/1912 – Girl Scouts of America founded.
3/12/1938 – In the first of many blatant acts of aggression, Germany invaded, and later annexed, Austria.
3/15/44 B.C. – Julius Caesar was assassinated in the Senate by a group that included his friend, Brutus (“Et tu, Brute?”).
3/16/1968 – American soldiers killed 504 Vietnamese men, women and children in what became known as the “My Lai Massacre.”
3/17 – Celebrated in many countries as St. Patrick’s Day to honor the Patron Saint of Ireland, who is credited with converting the Irish to Catholicism in the 5th century.
3/22/1972 – Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibited discrimination on the basis of gender.
3/23/1775 – In a speech before the Virginia House of Burgesses, Patrick Henry intoned his famous words, “give me liberty, or give me death.”
3/24/1934 – President FDR granted independence to the Philippine Islands, which the US had controlled since the Spanish-American War.
3/24/1989 – The oil tanker, Exxon Valdez, ran aground off the coast of Alaska, spewing forth some 11 million gallons of oil over some 45 miles of natural habitat, creating the one of the largest and most devastating ecological disasters in US history.
3/25/1807 – The British Parliament abolished slavery throughout the Commonwealth.
3/25/1911 – A raging fire in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in NYC killed 123 in just minutes. The tragedy shined a spotlight on the working conditions of immigrant women who were laboring in the garment industry for long hours and low pay.
3/26/1979 – Egypt and Israel signed the Camp David Accord peace treaty, brokered by President Jimmy Carter.
3/28/1930 – Constantinople was renamed Istanbul.
3/28/1979 – An accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant created a controversy over the use of nuclear power that still has not been fully resolved.
3/30/1981- President Ronald Reagan was gravely wounded by a would-be assassin. He recovered shortly to resume his duties and later quipped that he “forgot to duck.”
3/30/1909 – The Queensboro Bridge (aka The 59th Street Bridge) opened.
3/31/1968 – President LBJ, who, for many, had come to symbolize the futility and frustration of the Vietnam War, announced he would not run for re-election.
Birthdays – 3/1/1904 – Glenn Miller, bandleader (“Moonlight Serenade”), in Carilinda, IA; 3/2/1793 – Sam Houston, led the fight for Texas independence, Rockbridge County, VA; 3/3/1831 – George Pullman, invented “Pullman Car,” which improved sleeping accommodations on trains, in Brocton, NY; 3/3/1847 – Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, among others, in Edinburgh, Scotland; 3/4/1747 – Casimir Pulaski, Revolutionary War hero, in Poland; 3/4/1888 – Knute Rockne, football coach, in Voss, Norway; 3/6/1875 – Michelangelo, Renaissance painter, in Caprese, Italy; 3/9/1451 – Amerigo Vespucci, explorer and cartographer for whom America is named; 3/9/1454 – Yuri Gagarin, first cosmonaut in space, in Gzhatsk, Russia; 3/14/1879 – Albert Einstein, physicist who developed the theory of relativity; in Ulm, Germany 3/14/1833 – Lucy Hobbs, first female dentist, in NY; 3/15/1767 – Andrew Jackson, 7th President, war hero in War of 1812, in Waxhaw, SC; 3/16/1751 – James Madison, a Founding Father and 4th US President; 3/18/1837 – Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th President (first president to serve two terms non-consecutively), in Caldwell, NJ; 3/19/1813 – David Livingstone, explorer and missionary who famously went missing in Africa. When he was finally found by newsman Henry Stanley, the latter supposedly uttered the famous line, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume,” although that might have been an example of Hollywood hyperbole, in Scotland; 3/19/1848 – Wyatt Earp, Wild West lawman and gunfighter, in Monmouth, IL; 3/19/1860 – William Jennings Bryan, known for “Cross of Gold ” speech and for the dubious honor of being only person to lose three presidential races, in Salem, IL; 3/21/1685 – Johann Sebastian Bach, composer, in Germany; 3/24/1685 – Erik Weisz, aka, Harry Houdini, escape artist, in Hungary; 3/26/1911 – Thomas Lanier “Tennessee” Williams, III, playwright (“A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”), in Columbus, MS; 3/29/1911 – John Tyler, became 10th President upon the death of William Henry Harrison, Charles City County, VA; 3/30/1853 – Vincent Van Gogh, Postimpressionist painter, in Groot Zundert, Holland; 3/31/1731 – Franz Joseph Haydn, composer, considered to be father of the symphony and string quartet, in Austria, 1732; – Jack Johnson, first AA boxing champion, in Galveston, TX, 1878.
Answer to quiz – Andrew Johnson (TN)
DEAL OR NO DEAL
As always, the contents of this blog are a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where indicated.
Below please find my observations, thoughts and opinions with respect to the war with Iran:
- Here’s a statement on which all sane, rational, objective persons can agree. IRAN CAN NEVER BE ALLOWED TO POSSESS NUCLEAR CAPABILITY! Anyone who cannot endorse that statement needs to have their head examined. Furthermore, they should be automatically disqualified from holding any responsible government political office or leadership position (on the grounds of deficient mental acuity). Apparently, that includes many if not most of the Dem politicians.
- Trump did not want a war. He reiterated that point over and over again. He wanted to make a deal, but a deal the US could live with such as (1) an Iran devoid of nuclear capability, (2) unfettered and independent inspections, and (3) penalties for non-compliance, among other things. The Iranian leadership has been gaslighting us on this for decades. They say they want to make a deal, but they don’t really want to do so. Like I said in my previous blog it’s the Iranian version of “rope-a-dope.”
- A nuclear capable Iran would pose an existential threat not only to Israel, not only to the ME, but to the entire world. Its leaders are religious fanatics. They hate and want to kill anyone who is not a “true believer.” They are fanatical enough to use it, even if it would mean mutual destruction. They simply don’t care.
- The concept that America is protected by two vast oceans is outdated. In a war we would be in range of our enemies’ ballistic missiles. Moreover, there is the threat from within posed by terrorist cells.
- As I write this, the war is eleven days old. Militarily, it has been a success beyond all expectations. In that short period the US and Israel have destroyed Iran’s Air Force, sunken in excess of 60 naval vessels (which constituted most of its navy), and taken out most of its missiles and missile launchers.
- Enjoying complete air superiority, Israeli and US bombers have had free rein to attack any targets they choose. As I write this, they have destroyed more than 5,500 targets inside Iran, and Trump has said there will be more to come.
- They have killed the Supreme Leader, virtually all of the top echelon of leaders and advisors and most of the second tier.
- Trump has made it clear that the Ayatollah’s replacement must have his support, or else he won’t “last long.” We don’t want to end up with a government of more of the same. They have chosen Mojtaba Khamenel, son of the late Supreme Leader, who likely will likely be more of the same.
- Anyone who doubts the urgency and legitimacy of this war should listen to Steve Witkoff, the US’s co-chief negotiator. He told Fox News that at the latest meeting the Iranian negotiators’ first comment was to brag about how they had surreptitiously developed 460kg of 60% enriched uranium. It’s been estimated that Iran could have enriched it up to 90%, which is weapons grade, in a mere ten days or fewer. At that point Iran would have possessed nuclear weapons.
- Iran tried to gaslight Witkoff by insisting its nuclear goals were peaceful, but Witkoff denoted that if that were true there would have been no need to enrich beyond 20%.
- The Iranians told Witkoff they viewed it as their “inalienable right” to develop such weapons. Witkoff responded that it was our “inalienable right” to stop them. At that point it was clear that there would be no deal.
- The Strait of Hormuz, which is just South of Iran, is a vital choke point for oil that is shipped to and from the ME. Some 20% of the world’s oil is shipped through it. In order to disrupt the oil markets Iran has attempted to blockade it and attack ships traversing it. A few days ago, it sunk three oil tankers, and it sought to mine the strait even though Trump had warned them not to do it.
- As a result of Iran’s actions, the price of oil has been fluctuating wildly. A few days ago, it hit a high of $119.50 per barrel before retreating to $90 on Monday. We sunk their warships, which is good, but we’re not completely out of the woods yet. It has been reported that Iran still has a multitude of small boats, minesweepers and sea explosives.
- The International Energy Agency, which for decades has monitored global crude oil supplies and helped to prevent price shocks, announced that its 32 member countries would release 400 million barrels of oil from their respective strategic reserves. That would represent the largest release ever and the first such coordinated action since 2022. However, the IEA has not yet released details about when countries will start releasing oil, nor how much they will be able to put into the market at a time. The goal is to moderate rising oil prices prospectively.
- Hezbollah, in an ill-advised strategic move, has been attacking Israel with barrages of rockets. Israel has responded with waves of airstrikes in Lebanon and an extensive ground campaign. To date, more than 630 people have been killed in Lebanon, and some 1,500 others have been injured.
- The primary critics of the war have been the Dem politicians and their allies in the media. They can’t help themselves. As I have said in prior blogs this war is not one of choice. It is of necessity. This is not a replay of the Bush Administration’s false claims of “weapons of mass destruction.” Naturally the Dems have been critical. First, they claimed that it was illegal since Congress was not consulted beforehand, and only Congress has the constitutional authority to declare war. Nevertheless, precedent for a president starting a war is clearly on Trump’s side. Presidents have been doing so all the way back to Thomas Jefferson and the Barbary Pirates Wars (beginning in 1803). The idea of consulting with Congress on war strategy is absurd on its face. There would be no confidentiality. One does not disclose to the enemy when and where one will be attacking. That claim was thwarted.
- Now, many of them are still claiming there is no clearcut strategy. They just don’t “get it.” For example, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D CT) told reporters, “I emerged from [last Tuesday’s] briefing [to the Senate Armed Services Committee] as dissatisfied and angry, frankly, as I have from any past briefing in my 15 years.” I say, why, about what? Our goals are crystal clear. Chuck Schumer (dead man walking politically) still professes that Trump’s justification for the war is “confusing” and exhibits “blatant disregard” for [the safety of] American soldiers. I didn’t realize he was that ignorant of history. Maybe, he should research the preamble to WWII and read my last two blogs.
- Although Iran cannot defeat us militarily, it does present a real clear and present danger via possible terrorist attacks. It likely has a plethora of terror cells in the US that it could activate if it hasn’t already. We are especially vulnerable since the Dems have caused a government shutdown which is undermining the effectiveness of the DHS and the secret service, which have responsibility for ferreting out and preventing terrorist attacks. I urge Congress to agree on a deal to end the shutdown asap. (Schumer, are you listening, or are you confused about that too?
Conclusion
Iran miscalculated our power and our resolve. They were not the first, and they won’t be the last to do so. They are paying dearly for their miscalculation. Iran’s only hope is to turn American public opinion against the war like with the Vietnam War.
We must exhibit resolve in the face of economic adversity. This war is too important, and I don’t believe it will last a long time. I view it as short-term pain, long-term gain. I repeat, IRAN CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO HAVE NUCLEAR CAPABILITY.
No deals, except unconditional surrender.
THE WAR WITH IRAN
As always, this blog is based on a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.
The decision to go to war with Iran was not a “reckless,” “spur of the moment” decision as some Dems and other critics would have you believe. President Trump repeatedly advocated for a peaceful settlement, but due to Iran’s intransigent negotiating strategy it became obvious that it would never agree to curtail its quest to become a nuclear power. He warned them what would happen, and then he followed through. As I have always said, Trump says what he means and means what he says.
I believe that in retrospect we can all see that Trump began to lay the groundwork for a potential war with Iran in his first administration beginning with the Abraham Accords. Furthermore, he has nurtured a positive relationship with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States most of which are also fearful of a nuclear-armed Iran. So, this was a well-planned, well-thought-out operation. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.
Remember, every war has its underlying causes and an immediate cause. In this case the underlying causes were thousands of years of religious antipathy and 47 years of terrorist activities committed by Iran and its proxies. In 1979 a group of religious fanatics overthrew the government run by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (aka “The Shah of Iran”). Since then, Iran has become the primary source of terrorist activities in the Middle East, the US and Europe. It has been well-funded by oil money and its allies such as Russia and China.
In recent years Iran has engaged in various negotiations with the US and others aimed at achieving a lasting peace in the ME. Lately, however, it has become increasingly apparent that Iran does not really want peace and never did. It has engaged in several negotiations and agreed to various peace deals such as the toothless Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Iran nuclear deal, but it never abided by them. What it does want and has always wanted is nuclear capability, and recently the evidence shows unequivocably that it was very close to achieving that, maybe within weeks. According to Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, currently the US’s chief negotiators with Iran, the Iranian negotiators admitted as much at the most recent meeting, even bragging about how it had achieved that status surreptitiously,
What many have long suspected became obvious. All of the negotiations with prior presidents were just camouflage, an Iranian “rope-a-dope,” if you will. The US has tried to bribe Iran with various concessions and billions of dollars, all of which failed. Finally, in Donald Trump we have a president who was not deceived, who realized that the world was being “gas lighted” big-time, who would not be deterred from what must be done, who had the cojones to do what was right as opposed to what was politically expedient, and who realized that the world was rapidly approaching Armageddon. The timing was propitious. Iran had been weakened by previous attacks, and its citizens were rising up against the government. The feeling was if not now, when?
Simply put, Trump realized what these prior administrations did not or were afraid to act on. Iran, a country that was governed by religious fanatics who were virulently antisemitic, anti-Israel, anti-America, and anti-Christian and had repeatedly openly declared that its goal was to destroy Israel and the US, could never be allowed to possess nuclear capability. Surely, they would not hesitate to use it. Even the mere threat of them using it would destabilize the entire ME if not the world. That realization was the immediate cause. Anyone who doubts the righteousness of Trump’s decision need only recall the preamble to WWII. During the 1930’s European leaders repeated appeased Hitler in the hope of avoiding war. We all know how that worked out.
I am perplexed why any clear and objective thinker would criticize this war. Yet, the Dems have not disappointed. They are predictably consistent, the gift that keeps on giving. The defenders of criminals, illegal aliens, election fraud, and boys participating in girls’ sports cannot help themselves. Their DNA requires them to criticize anything Trump advocates or does. In the words of the late former president Ronald Reagan, “there they go again.”
Many members of Congress are mad that Congress wasn’t asked for prior approval or even consulted beforehand. For example, Hakeem Jeffries said that “the Trump administration must explain itself to the American people and Congress immediately, provide an ironclad justification for this act of war, clearly define the national security objective and articulate a plan to avoid another costly, prolonged military quagmire in the Middle East.” For good measure he opined we would lose the war. Majority leader Chuck Schumer, said this war is “not necessary.” He called for “more information.” In her typically “wishy-washy” manner, NY Governor Kathy Hochul was all over the place, afraid to offend anyone. She “blasted” the Iranian regime as a “global threat,” but then in the next breath she commented that “it is deeply disturbing that we entered a war without an exit strategy.” My response to them is Trump’s actions were no different than those of other recent presidents. Also, once a decision was made speed and confidentiality were paramount to success. You don’t tell the enemy where and when you are coming. Finally, words of wisdom from Senator John Kennedy (R LA), he of the acerbic wit; “We’re not trying to start a war…We’re trying to end it.” And, with respect to the late Ayatollah, “may he rest in ‘pieces.’ ”
Trump is angry with some of our European allies including the UK, Spain and France, among others for refusing to allow the US to utilize their bases to refuel during the attacks particularly since their countries have already been victimized by Iranian-sponsored terrorism, and they are already within the range of Iran’s missiles. He denigrated UK’s PM, Keir Starmer, as “no Winston Churchill.”
Conclusion
An Iran with nuclear capability would have presented an existential threat not only to Israel and the US, but to the entire world. Be honest. Would you have rested easy in that case? I think not.
As I said, already some of its ballistic missiles have the capability to reach parts of Europe. That makes our European allies’ actions even more puzzling. In a short time, Iran would likely have developed enhanced weaponry with the capability to reach parts of the US as well. Heretofore, the nations that have had nuclear capability have exercised responsibility and restraint. They may bluster and threaten from time to time, but they know that using a nuclear weapon would likely provoke an all-out war that would devastate everything and everyone. I and many others believe that the Mullahs of Iran, being crazy, deranged lunatics, could not be counted on to follow suit.
This should be an all-out war. No halfway measures. Finish the job once and for all. Don’t fight not to lose. Fight to win. When Iran loses, and it will lose, I advocate unconditional surrender.
Trump’s critics, which are legion, have characterized this war as a “war of choice.” In fact, in my view it is just the opposite. It is a war of survival. Therefore, Trump should be applauded, not criticized, for his actions. To his critics I say take a deep breath, hold your nose, swallow your pride, suspend your TDS and be grateful he is our president.
STATE OF THE UNION
The contents of this blog are a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where indicated.
In accordance with Article II, Section 3, Clause 1 of the US Constitution the President “shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” The Constitution does not offer any specifics, such as the date and manner of delivery.
President George Washington delivered the initial SOTU in person to a joint session of Congress on January 1, 1801. Thereafter, most presidents chose to deliver a written report. In 1913 President Woodrow Wilson broke with tradition and commenced the practice of delivering the SOTU in person. Later, with the advent of radio, then TV and later the internet, the SOTU began to be communicated live to a nationwide and worldwide audience. Traditionally, presidents have delivered the SOTU between January 1 and March 1.
Typically, presidents utilize the SOTU to present a positive account of their past accomplishments and prospective plans. Political sycophants in the audience frequently interrupt the speech to stand and applaud while political opponents often just sit stone-faced. Most viewers are aware that the SOTU is short on facts and long on politics, hyperbole and theatre. Fact checkers would have a field day. As the expression goes, “it is what it is.” It should be noted that the opposition party gets to offer a rebuttal.
Last night President Trump delivered the SOTU for 2026. Everyone will have his or her own opinion. Below please find my comments and takeaways:
- Trump’s speech was typical “Trump.” That is, he sprinkled the serious content with moments of humor and sarcasm. For example, on several occasions he chastised Dems in the audience for not standing up to acknowledge his special guests, and then when many of them (not Nancy Pelosi) did stand up to show support for the “Stop Insider Trading Act,” which aims to prohibit congressmen from profiting from trading on inside information, he feigned surprise. Undoubtedly, some of his detractors will criticize him for his style, but I loved it.
- Many Dems exhibited a considerable lack of class and professionalism. Approximately 70 of them boycotted the speech entirely; some texted; some interrupted by shouting slogans; one or two nodded off; once again Al Green had to be ceremoniously escorted out of the chamber; and most who did attend mostly sat on their hands even for poignant and patriotic moments.
- He admonished the Dems for their stance on various “80-20” issues, such as gender transition of minors without their parents’ consent or even knowledge, sanctuary policies, and opposing voter ID for elections. As I have blogged previously we all know that the only reason to oppose voter ID is to foster cheating.
- On several occasions he denoted that the Dems’ policies inexplicably favored illegal aliens over citizens, whereas the Repubs’ policies appropriately favor American citizens over illegals.
- He called out NYC mayor Mamdani for his hypocritical stance of requiring volunteer snow shovelers to present multiple forms of ID in stark contrast to his advocating no IDs to vote.
- He criticized Dems for causing multiple government shutdowns in order to defund ICE and to gain Medicare and other rights for illegals.
- He vowed to continue the fight to reduce healthcare costs.
- On the international front he mentioned the many peace deals he had brokered to settle longstanding conflicts and the ongoing negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas. He reiterated that Iran will “never” be allowed to possess nuclear capability. I believe Trump knows Iran is stalling (its version of a “rope a dope”), and he will attack sooner rather than later.
- My one criticism was he couldn’t resist admonishing the Supreme Court for its recent opinion, which struck down his “reciprocal tariff” policy. He characterized it as “a very unfortunate ruling.” He didn’t have to do that, particularly since his Administration is already pursuing alternate pathways to achieve his goal, and most of the other countries have indicated that they will honor their tariff agreements anyway. Moreover, he will need the court’s support on other crucial matters prospectively.
- He emphasized several of his major accomplishments, such as reducing inflation, improving the economy, passing the Big Beautiful Bill, closing the border, and drastically reducing the flow of fentanyl and other deadly drugs. Inflation, unemployment, food prices and gas at the pump are down. Oil production and the financial markets are up. (Remember, the financial markets are a leading indicator, so this bodes well for the economy prospectively.) The BBB will provide the most substantial income tax reduction for the middle and working classes in my lifetime, such as no tax on tips or overtime, reduced taxes on social security for most seniors and the advent of the “Trump Accounts” for children of American citizens.
- On several occasions he repeated the theme of patriotism. For example, he lauded the Olympic gold medal performance of the men’s hockey team. They had been his guests at the White House, and he introduced them to wild and sustained applause (even from some, but not all Dems in attendance). In addition, he presented the star goalie with the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. The women’s gold medal team was also invited. They could not attend due to a scheduling conflict, but it is expected that they will prospectively. He introduced a 100-yer-old veteran of the Korean War and a WWII veteran who will be celebrating his 100th birthday on July 4 and presented them both with the Congressional Medal of Honor.
- He touted America’s upcoming 250th Birthday Celebration on July 4 and its hosting of the 2026 World Cup this summer and the 2028 Republican Convention in 2028.
Conclusion
A sampling of post-speech polls was generally favorable. For instance, 54% believed that Trump was focusing on the right issues; a majority opined that his immigration and economic policies are “in line with the nation’s best interest;” 45% expressed full faith in his leadership; 43% support his using US military power “responsibly;” and a plurality of 38% felt that he would be able to deal with Iran “appropriately.” Respondents were evenly divided on his tariff policy. However, 45% felt he was paying insufficient attention to the cost of living, and 40% expressed “no confidence” that he could make things more affordable. These polls are merely a snapshot. They are informative but no means dispositive.
Since he entered politics Trump has been heavily criticized for many things, but one cannot deny his patriotism. His deep love for America is epitomized by his twin slogans “MAGA” and “America First.” When all is said and done, I, for one, will rest easily as long as he is the President.
HISTORIC BLIZZARDS
We have survived the big Blizzard of February 2026, and now we are commencing the arduous task of digging out. Many secondary and tertiary roads are still particularly hazardous due to ice caused by the subfreezing temperatures. Some parts of the tri-state area, such as much of NYC, have not even been totally cleaned up from the last major snowfall and probably won’t be for several days. More on this later.
The total snowfall at Central Park, which is typically cited as the official measuring stick for NYC, was 19.7 inches, although some tristate areas reported considerably higher totals. For example, according to the National Weather Service northeast New Jersey, New York City and Long Island reported over two feet of snow, and Westhampton reported the highest total I have heard – a massive 27 inches.
This storm was powerful, dangerous and deadly. So far, reported deaths exceed 400. Property damage will likely be massive. All that said, the National Weather Service has ranked the Blizzard of 2026 “only” ninth among the biggest snowstorms in NYC history as measured in Central Park. The record is 27.5 inches in January 2016.
It should be noted that a blizzard is different from a snowstorm. The differentiation is not just due to the amount of snow. A blizzard is characterized by sustained winds of 35 mph or more, near-zero visibility and such conditions lasting at least three hours. Snowstorms, while still hazardous, lack the same extreme wind and visibility factors.
As mentioned above the NWS has ranked the Blizzard of 2026 as ninth on the list of the biggest snowstorms in the recorded history of the tristate area (dating back to 1869). Below please find the top ten. Many of you may remember the frustration of dealing with some of them – digging out your car, trying to get to work and then home at the end of the day, and shoveling your driveway and walkways, all without the benefit of a snowblower.
| Amount (in inches) | Date(s) | |
| 1. | 27.5 | Jan. 22-24, 2016 |
| 2. | 26.9 | Feb.11-12, 2006 |
| 3 | 26.4 | Dec.26-27, 1947 |
| 4 | 21.0 | March 12-14, 1888 |
| 5 | 20.9 | Feb. 25-26, 2010 |
| 6 | 20.2 | Jan. 7-8, 1996 |
| 7 | 20.0 | Dec. 26-27, 2010 |
| 8 | 19.8 | Feb. 16-17, 2003 |
| 9 | 19.7 | Feb. 22-23, 2026 |
| 10 | 19.0 | Jan. 26-27, 2011 |
Even though it did not produce the highest snowfall the 1888 storm may have been the most impactful due to the relatively primitive weather forecasting, communication, infrastructure and snow removal capabilities at that time compared to today. No, I was not alive to experience it firsthand, (but I do remember a bit of the storm of 1947-48 even though I was only two).
The “Great Blizzard of 1888,” also known as the “Great White Hurricane” (March 11–14, 1888), which paralyzed the East Coast from the easternmost provinces of Canada to the Chesapeake Bay, was the deadliest blizzard in U.S. history. Some areas recorded up to 58 inches of snow with drifts of up to 50 feet plus sustained winds in excess of 45 miles per hour.
There was near total paralysis. All emergency services were disabled, some for several days. Fire houses were closed, which resulted in property damage from fire alone in the amount of an estimated $25 million (equivalent to $900 million in 2025). Railroads were shut down; roads were impassable; and people were confined to their homes for up to a week. Telegraph and telephone lines, which at the time were above ground and fully exposed to the elements, were out of service. This likely provided the impetus to move them as well as subways underground. The NYSE was closed for two days for the first time (and not again until Superstorm Sandy in 2012). Along the Eastern Seaboard more than 200 ships were either grounded or destroyed. At least 100 seamen died. Authorities ran out of places to store the excess snow, so there were attempts to push it into the Atlantic Ocean. Afterwards, as the snow melted it produced severe flooding in low-lying areas.
Conclusion
NYC has been doing a terrible job of dealing with the snow. There are still a plethora of places where snow from the previous storm has not been cleared. Once again, Mayor Mamdani’s inexperience and incompetence is apparent. He has resorted to seeking paid volunteers to shovel snow. I find it most ironic that the city is requiring each volunteer to produce multiple pieces of ID. This is the same Mamdani who is a staunch advocate of voting without producing any ID. The Dems’ hypocrisy is endless and priceless.
One final word. Be careful shoveling snow even if you feel strong and healthy. Seniors should not be doing so under any circumstances. Your cardiologist would not approve. Every year we hear several instances of people who do so having coronaries. Don’t be a statistic.
SCHUMER SHUTDOWN
The contents of this blog are a compendium of multiple media reports and include my personal opinion, where indicated.
Here we go again. We have all seen this movie before. We didn’t like it the previous times, and we like it even less now. Welcome to the world of government shutdowns.
This time House and Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and a host of other lefties are blocking funding for the Department of Homeland Security, arguing that reforms are necessary to protect citizens. Republicans generally oppose these reforms and denote that, thanks to the BBB, DHS already has sufficient funding to operate for years whereas a shutdown could affect other agencies, such as the Secret Service, Coast Guard, FEMA, and TSA.
What are the chief causes of this shutdown? What are the Dems’ objectives? Why deprive thousands of hard-working Americans of their paychecks and the rest of us of vital services? I’m glad you asked. Read on.
In my opinion this shutdown has an immediate cause and various underlying causes. The immediate cause is the disagreement regarding ICE’s treatment of the untold millions of illegal aliens that poured into the country during the Biden Administration. I have posted several blogs discussing this issue, in detail, and there is no need to repeat it all here. Simply put, the Dems want to give illegals sanctuary (even those who have continued to commit felonious crimes against American citizens) and otherwise bestow upon them all the rights of citizens (or sometimes, even better), most significantly, the right to vote. The Repubs want to locate, detain, and deport them, especially those who have continued to commit crimes. Dems have focused their ire on DHS and ICE and have continually tried to impede them in the lawful performance of their duties.
The spate of violence that the Dems fomented recently in Minneapolis is the latest example. I believe that the Dems wanted to foment violence, and they have succeeded.
So, what are the underlying issues that have led Schumer and the other far-lefties in the House and Senate to cause the current shutdown? What is their objective?
As I indicated, simply put, they want to reform and restrict the authority of DHS and ICE. Their demands include, among other things, mandating that ICE agents (1) obtain judicial warrants before entering private homes or property, (2) identify themselves, remove masks during operations, and wear body cameras, (3) comply with stricter, enforceable codes of conduct to prevent excessive force, (4) cease operations at “sensitive locations” such as schools, hospitals, and churches, (5) verify individuals’ citizenship status before detaining them, (6) and restrict the use of force.
Furthermore, they continue to advocate for full healthcare benefits for illegals, (which the BBB omitted), maintain sanctuary cities and states, and protect the illegals there. Of course, we have the old standby mantra, oppose anything President Trump does, says, or supports. Read on for details.
Let’s be clear and succinct. As I have discussed in previous blogs, in Minneapolis and elsewhere ICE personnel have been engaged in activities that are mandated by Federal law, which authorizes and requires them to ferret out, detain, and deport illegals. They are all criminals just by virtue of having entered the country illegally. The most efficient procedure would be for law enforcement personnel to notify ICE when they have custody of a criminal illegal, so that ICE can send one person to pick them up peacefully. This process works well in most of the country. Instead, sanctuary cities and states release them into the general population. Thus, ICE has to deploy several agents to hunt them down and extract them from where they are hiding in order to accomplish what one person could have done. As we have seen, this creates an atmosphere that lends itself to tension, conflict and violence.
Cities and states that provide sanctuary to illegal aliens are violating Federal law. Anyone who impedes ICE personnel from accomplishing the above is aiding and abetting contraventions of Federal law. That includes Governor Walz, Mayor Frey, and the protesters/demonstrators. They can stand by peacefully and hold signs, but speeches or actions that incite violence are illegal. All of the above persons crossed the line. The killings of Ms. Hand and Mr. Pretti were tragic, but they were a direct result of the aforementioned illegalities.
This is actually a partial shutdown. Some 95% of the government is already funded. The focal point is DHS, but other agencies such as the TSA, FEMA and the Secret Service have also been dragged into it. For now, most of the employees of these agencies are continuing to work with their pay being deferred. Nevertheless, we can anticipate travel disruptions, and we better pray that there are no natural disasters requiring assistance from FEMA.
Ironically, ICE and other Customs and Border Protection agencies, the main targets of the shutdown, have billions of dollars in funding on hand courtesy of the BBB. On the other hand, FEMA and the TSA face more immediate impacts. So, it would appear that the Dems will be causing inconveniences and disruptions for people for no discernable benefit.
FEMA has reported that its disaster relief fund is currently $9.6 billion, down from roughly $30 billion in December. So far, disruptions of air travel have been relatively inconsequential. However, as we learned in past shutdowns problems tend to build over time, so sooner or later they will occur. Some of you may recall that about a month into last year’s record-breaking shutdown the TSA was forced to close two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport temporarily and direct all commercial airlines to reduce their domestic flight schedules. This time, some observers such as John Rose, the chief risk officer for Altour, a global travel management company, are concerned that problems could start to “pop up” sooner. In addition, weather is always a complicating factor, and there are two potentially historic blizzards on the horizon.
The impact of the shutdown on people and the finger-pointing have commenced and will intensify as time goes on. Recently, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced DHS has suspended the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs, which expedite airport check-in for the many travelers who are members of the programs. Right on cue, critics are complaining that DHS is intentionally “kneecapping” these programs and “ruining [people’s] travel [plans] on purpose.” Of course, that claim is disingenuous since one of the main objectives of the Schumer shutdown was to curtail the DHS’ operations. Noem replied to critics that this is an example that “shutdowns have serious real-world consequences.”
The tragedy is that the average citizen will be impacted most of all. Many federal employees will be deprived of their livelihood and forced to struggle to provide for their families. Travel will be disrupted. Victims of natural disasters could have the federal assistance they need urgently delayed.
Conclusion
These shutdowns have become routine and tiresome and ultimately don’t accomplish much at all. All the inconveniences, disruptions and pain are felt by the average citizen while the perpetrators, chiefly members of Congress, will not feel the effects in the least. They will continue to bloviate and attack each other and “play” to their respective bases. Furthermore, they will continue to get paid. (Why)?
Here’s a novel concept for our congressmen to consider. For the benefit of your constituents why not negotiate seriously and reach a bilateral agreement. DHS has already agreed to implement some of the reforms. Reasonable people can come to an agreement on the remainder. A shutdown is NOT necessary.
Ultimately, as always, there will be an agreement that will not change matters much. Each side will blame the other. The same underlying issues will persist and recur again and again. This is your government at work.
NANCY GUTHRIE’S MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE
The contents of this blog are a compendium of various media reports supplemented by my own personal opinion where indicated.
Unlike most of the commentators who have opined on Nancy Guthrie’s mysterious disappearance and the subsequent investigation I am neither an experienced law enforcement officer nor an attorney. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to offer my opinion on the matter. Feel free to disagree.
As most of you know, Nancy Guthrie is the mother of Savannah Guthrie, one of the hosts of the Today show on NBC. She was last seen on the night of January 31 around 9:30pm. Her pacemaker and Nest Cam were disconnected at around 2:00am the next day. She was reported missing that same day. As I write this she has been missing for over two weeks, and despite extensive law enforcement action and publicity the authorities have no suspects or even persons of interest. The police have detained and questioned five suspects, but subsequently each was released.
Authorities have released a description of a suspect who was recorded wearing a mask and gloves and tampering with the doorbell camera in front of Nancy’s house in the early morning hours of February 1 around the time she went missing. He has been described as a male between 5’9” and 5’10,” with an average build carrying a 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack. To date, the best lead has been a glove containing DNA evidence that was recovered roughly two miles from Guthrie’s home. Said glove appears to be consistent with the glove worn by the aforementioned person who was recorded by Nancy’s doorbell camera on the morning she disappeared. The DNA on the glove is still being tested.
After weeks of searching for evidence authorities found an additional three gloves just off the road a short distance from Nancy’s house. It appears that these gloves were overlooked in the initial search for evidence even though they were in “plain sight.” These gloves are also being tested for DNA, but currently it is not known if they have any connection with the case.
There is a $100,000 reward for information leading to Nancy’s rescue or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. Oddly, after a few days the kidnappers sent a series of ransom notes demanding millions of dollars. That was to be expected. The family was willing to pay, but demanded “proof of life,” which is reasonable and prudent. So far, the kidnappers have been unwilling or unable to comply.
This is the strangest case of an abduction I can recall. Virtually nothing about it makes sense.
For example:
- Why kidnap an 84-year-old person who is such high maintenance. Assuming you want to keep her alive and collect a ransom it complicates the situation immeasurably. Nancy is sick, has a pacemaker, needs to take certain medication daily to stay alive, and has limited mobility, among other issues. That never made sense to me.
- If the goal is to collect a ransom why not work with the Guthrie family, which has readily offered to pay it.
- It bothers me that the kidnapper(s) have not agreed to demonstrate “proof of life.” It is not hard to do. It makes me doubt that Nancy is still alive and well.
- The investigation has taken far too long and has shown very little progress. The Pima County sheriff’s behavior has been puzzling, to say the least. At first, he was reluctant to request assistance from the FBI. Then, when he finally agreed to do so he failed to cooperate fully. The most obvious instance is that the sheriff used a lab in Florida to analyze DNA instead of the FBI’s lab, which is simply the best. As I write this, said lab has not provided an analysis.
- Turf wars between the Feds and local law enforcement is not unusual, but assuming the ultimate goal is to find Nancy alive and well, time is of the essence. As we all know, the FBI has far more experience and expertise in solving this type of crime and far better resources.
- The Guthrie Family has reiterated several times that it is willing to pay a ransom provided that the kidnappers can show “proof of life” beforehand. Savannah has implored to the kidnappers “it is never too late to do the right thing.” So far, the kidnappers have declined to do so, which raises suspicions of Nancy’s well-being.
Currently, law enforcement is attempting to locate Nancy through her pacemaker. Apparently, it emits a ping, and the FBI is employing advanced technology that it is hoped can trace it. It has been using helicopters equipped with a “signal sniffer” device. Amazing technology. I hope it works.
Conclusion
As I said, this has been a very odd case. Some people have speculated that it was not an intended kidnapping but a burglary that spun out of control. The investigation has been inefficient and uncoordinated and fraught with “turf wars” between the locals and the Feds to the detriment of the victim and her loved ones.
I hope and pray that Nancy will be found alive and well, but I am not optimistic. Sad to say, as time goes on a happy result becomes less and less likely. At some point I expect the emphasis will switch from “rescue” to “recovery.”
We Built It Blog by Larry Jacob 