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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AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY QUIZ PART 3

Below please find the third and final installment of America’s Birthday Quiz to test your knowledge of American History, which covers the years 1900-the present.

  1. Which president was assassinated in 1901? (a) James A. Garfield, (b) JFK, (c) William McKinley, (d) William Jennings Bryan?
  2. On D-Day the allies landed on each of the following beaches except (a) Silver, (b) Utah, (c) Sword, (d) Omaha.
  3. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were (a) entertainers, (b) Soviet spies, (c) Olympic athletes, (d) nuclear scientists.
  4. Each of the following were “muckraking” journalists except (a) Ida Tarbell, (b) Upton Sinclair, (c) Josephine Gibbons, (d) Ida Wells.
  5. According to Wikipedia who was the primary founder of the NAACP? (a) Martin Luther King, (b) Stokely Carmichael, (c) Clarence Weathers, (d) W.E.B. Du Bois?
  6. The derogatory term “Jim Crow” originated from (a) a fictional stage character, (b) a slogan by a politician, (c) a derogatory name for a black entertainer, (d) the KKK.
  7. In what city did Martin Luther King deliver his famous “I have a dream” speech? (a) Birmingham, (b) Baltimore, (c) NY, (d) Washington D. C.
  8. What year did the US enter WWI? (a) 1912, (b) 1914, (c) 1917, d) 1918?
  9. In WWI the allies fought against Germany and (a) Austria-Hungary, (b) Yugoslavia, (c) Russia, (d) Spain.
  10. In what state did the Wright Brothers make their famous first airplane flight? (a) Florida, (b) Ohio, (c) North Carolina, (d) Virginia?
  11. The idea of a Panama Canal dates back to 1513. There were many attempts that were unsuccessful. The US finally completed it in (a) 1910, (b) 1912, (c) 1914, (d) 1920.
  12. When Charles Lindberg completed the first solo transatlantic flight he took off from (a) Roosevelt Field, NY, (b) Teterboro, NJ, (c) Philadelphia, (d) Idlewild Airport.
  13. What city was virtually destroyed by a massive earthquake in 1906. (a) Los Angeles, (b) San Diego, (c) Sacramento, (d) San Francisco.
  14. How many people are estimated to have died worldwide from the flu epidemic of 1918? (a) 5 million, (b) 7 million, (c) 10 million (d) 20 million.
  15. Which state passed a law forbidding the teaching of evolution in public schools? (a) Tennessee, (b) Mississippi, (c) Alabama, (d) Louisiana.
  16. In which city was JFK assassinated? (a) Houston, (b) Dallas, (c) Chicago, (d) San Antonio?
  17. When was the Star-Spangled Banner adopted as the national anthem? (a) 1920, (b) 1931, (c) 1940, (d) 1945.
  18. Who was the first woman to be elected to the US Senate? (a) Carmen Franklyn, (b) Denise Masters, (c) Margaret Chase Smith, (d) Hattie Wyatt Caraway?
  19. Who completed the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight by a woman? (a) Amelia Earhart, (b) Dawn Staley, (c) Eloise Johnson, (d) Priscilla Longbottom?
  20. What event triggered the Great Depression? (a) high tariffs, (b) the stock market crash, (c) the assassination of Herbert Hoover, (d) a severe drought in the Midwest.
  21. What event ended the Great Depression? (a) the New Deal, (b) the discovery of oil in Montana, (c) the advent of WWII, (d) a rise in corporate profits.
  22. FDR was elected to four terms. How many VPs served under him? (1), (b) 2, (c) 3, (d) 4.
  23. What was the primary purpose of the Marshall Plan? (a) help European nations recover from WWII, (b) help the US expand into Central and South America, (c) negotiate a peace deal in the Middle East, (d) bring self determination to former colonies.
  24. What event precipitated the Korean Conflict? (a) a dispute over the sovereignty of Kemu Island, (b) a drought in N. Korea, (c) an invasion of S. Korea by N. Korea, (d) the rise of a new, more militant government in NK.
  25. During the surprise attack of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941, each of the following battleships was sunk except (a) USS New York, (b) USS West Virginia, (c) USS Utah, (d) USS Arizona.
  26. Who was the first female member of the US Supreme Court? (a) Ketanji Brown Jackson, (b) Amy Coney Barrett, (c) Sandra Day O’Connor, (d) Elena Kagan?
  27. What woman sparked the modern civil rights movement by refusing to surrender her seat on a bus to a white man? (a) Fannie Lou Hamer, (b) Rosa Parks, (c) Diana Nash, (d) Ella Baker.
  28. What senator spearheaded the communist witch hunt of the early 1950s? (a) Joseph McCarthy, (b) Sam Rayburn, (c) John Sparkman, (d) Earnest Hill?
  29. What was the primary result of the “Brown” Supreme Court decision? (a) outlawed the KKK, (b) integration of public schools, (c) suspects arrested must be read their rights, (d) unions could not discriminate against blacks.
  30. Who was the first U.S. astronaut to orbit Earth? (a) Alan Shepard, (b) Buzz Aldren, (c) John Glenn, (d) Gus Grissom
  31. Who was the first female Speaker of the House? (a) Nancy Pelosi, (b) Jane Austen, (c) Denise Richards, (d) Julia Morris.
  32. On 9/11 how many commercial airlines were hijacked and crashed by the terrorists? (a) 1, (b) 2, (c) 3, (d) 4.

Answers: 1. c, 2. a, 3. b, 4. c, 5. d., 6. a, 7. d, 8. c. 9. a, 10. c, 11. c, 12. a, 13. d, 14. d, 15. a, 16. b, 17. b, 18. d, 19. a. 20. b, 21. c, 22. c, 23. a, 24. c, 25. a, 26. c, 27. b, 28. a, 29. b, 30. c, 31. a, 32. d

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    COMMUNISTS TAKING CONTROL OF THE DEM PARTY

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

    I don’t know whether to be shocked, ashamed, horrified, angry or scared sh**less by the results of the 2026 Dem primaries, especially in NY. Upon reflection, I am all of the above and so should you be. As recently as a few years ago, this result would have been unthinkable. In my opinion the results were not a big surprise; as I have opined in previous blogs the foreshadowing signs have been obvious for some time if one cared to look. What do these results portend for NYC, NYS, the Dem Party, and the country as a whole? Read on for my opinion.

    Below please find the most significant takeaways from these elections:

    1. Comrade Zoh was the big winner. He backed a slate of far-far-left candidates. By the way, these people are NOT, progressives, nor liberals, nor even run of the mill socialists as they like to portray themselves. Many of the policies they espouse such as state-owned grocery stores, universal childcare, fare-free public transit, wealth redistribution, and increased taxes on wealthy earners and corporations to fund city services, among others, foster government control over people’s lives and are right out of the old USSR playbook. They are COMMUNISTS who hate America. Wikipedia defines communism as “an economic theory that says society should take from citizens according to each one’s ability and distribute to each according to need.” Comports with Zoh’s policies quite nicely. These people not only want to change America; they want to tear it down and resurrect it as a communist country a la Cuba, Venezuela, and various others. More on this later.
    2. Another big winner was Bernie Sanders. For years he was the lone advocate of socialist policies. Mainstream Dems relegated him to the fringes. He was characterized as the crazy uncle whom you hid in the basement when company came over. He has mentored and supported many of these extremists. Now, with their success he has been vindicated.
    3. Zoh endorsed eight candidates for nomination for local and statewide offices. Seven won, many decisively. Remember in deep-blue NYS winning the Dem Party nomination is tantamount to winning the election. Most of you are not familiar with them, but trust me, you will be, and you won’t like it. They and others like them will exert a strong influence on local, statewide and eventually even national politics.
    4. Three of them, Claire Valdez, Avila Chevalier and Brad Lauer, defeated more mainstream Dem incumbents who were endorsed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and much of the Democrat establishment. Valdez and Chevalier are affiliated with the ultraleft, ultraradical, anti-American Democratic Socialists of America. Be advised, as I said, the moniker “Socialist” is a misnomer. In addition, each of them has accused Israel of genocide and has advocated terminating American support for it. These elections make it clear that Zoh controls the Dem Party in NY.
    5. Even Governor Kathy Hochul, who is running for re-election this fall, is afraid of Zoh and his allies. Even though she has acquiesced to many of his policies she is still vulnerable. In their eyes, regardless of how far “left” she leans it is not far enough. The one demand she has resisted so far is to raise taxes, but don’t be surprised if she does that after the election.
    6. They and others like them have openly and repeatedly espoused two primary goals: (1) to “end America,” and (2) to annihilate Israel and Jews in general. Even if you are not Jewish and not a supporter of Israel this should appall you. History tells us that if they were to succeed, they would not stop there. In accordance with the history of extreme radicals, next they would target Christians and all other “non-believers.”
    7. Chevalier, a convert to Islam has boasted of having “wiped my hand on the American flag.” Furthermore, she has advocated for the abolishment of police, prisons, and borders. She has argued that illegal aliens shouldn’t be deported under any circumstances even if they have committed violent crimes. Can you imagine? If those policies were ever adopted, we would no longer have a country. She attended Columbia University where she spent much of her time organizing against the political establishment. She helped found a group called Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), which later caused a firestorm when it posted “Death to America” in Farsi on X. The university, which leans strongly left, nevertheless has since disavowed the organization.
    8. In 2024, the group faced widespread condemnation when it declared that it was “fighting for the total eradication of Western civilization.” Is this the voice of a socialist? Is this the voice of someone you would want to represent you in Congress? Or is it the voice of someone who is wildly unhinged and should not be allowed anywhere the levers of power?
    9. Lander, a Jew, has groveled before Zoh and his allies and toed the party line by criticizing Israel. He is a prime example of a politician who will say and do most anything to get elected.
    10. Valdez is an assemblywoman who “has fought to tax the rich, protect tenants, empower working people,” and “free Palestine.” Furthermore, she has characterized Israel’s military action in Gaza as “genocide.”
    11. Currently, the movement is concentrated primarily in the NY area. However, there are candidates scattered around the country, such as Graham Plattner, the antisemitic candidate for Senate in Maine who sports a hidden Nazi tattoo that he loves to show off. Does anyone else see the irony? The Dems have been calling Trump a Nazi for years, which he most assuredly is not, and here they go nominating a real live Nazi for the Senate.
    12. For now, and in the immediate future I can’t see this movement taking hold in “red” states, but “blue” cities and states, particularly those with longtime one-party rule, are vulnerable.
    13. In my opinion, the genesis of this movement can be traced back to the presidency of Barack Obama. Obama was an obscure but charismatic community organizer who was elected twice. He promised “hope and change.” With both black and white ancestry, he was uniquely positioned to do so. He delivered neither. Instead, of being a “great unifier” he was a great divider. His policies and attitudes fostered division among the people, primarily white vs. black. In addition, I believe he was a “closet antisemite.” Many of his policies favored Muslims over Israel and the Jews. In eight years, his only significant achievements were killing Osama bin Laden and passing the Affordable Care Act, which has proven to be a “mixed bag” of success. His tenure was followed by eight years of Joe Biden, which were a complete disaster on many levels.
    14. In recent years, the Dem Party has been characterized by the weak, ineffective leadership of Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, and the disappearance of the moderate Dems who are either gone, have gone radical, or are cowering in fear of being primaried. They should have used their status within the Dem Party to nip this movement in the bud years ago. Now, it may be too late. Even though the radicals constitute a small minority they are vocal, aggressive, savvy and well-funded. They have moved the Dem Party so far to the left that it is out of the political mainstream. I predict that they will either take control of the party or rip it apart.
    15. There is empirical evidence of the ramifications of the far, far-left loons attaining power and influence. One only has to study the fate Great Britain. Over the last few decades these radicals have infiltrated British politics, economics and culture and in certain locales have seized control, all to the detriment of the country.

    Conclusion

    Those who maintain that “it can’t happen here” are sadly mistaken. Even though communism/socialism has failed wherever it has been tried, the lure of “free stuff” is very powerful. Advocates don’t realize that there is no such thing. Somewhere, somehow, someone has to pay for it. In the words of Margaret Thatcher, “eventually you run out of other people’s money.”

    The disaffected, lazy and incompetent view the wealth that successful people possess and convince themselves that they didn’t earn it, didn’t build it, and don’t deserve it. In their view, they acquired it by greed, favoritism, or nefarious activities. They advocate that the government redistribute it to the masses.

    History tells us it only takes a small, well-organized, aggressive minority to take over a country. Consider, at the advent of the Russian Revolution in January 1917 there were only 24,000 members of the Bolshevik Party. 24,000 out of a population estimated at 160 million! Also, they were competing with other factions for control of the country, but eventually they grew stronger and seized power.

    Another example closer to home would be Cuba. In 1959, the established communist population in Cuba was estimated to be between 10,000 and 20,000. The total population was around seven million.

    In both countries the people were disaffected, the conditions were ripe for a change, and strong, charismatic leaders emerged to take advantage. So, don’t tell me it can’t happen here. It won’t be next year and maybe not even in the next few years, but the seeds are there. Middle aged and young people who believe in America will have to deal with it. Be vigilant.

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    MEDICARE FRAUD INVESTIGATION

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

    As most of you know, the Department of Justice in conjunction with various other federal agencies has been investigating allegations of massive, pervasive, Medicare fraud throughout the US. This problem first came to light some months ago with the disclosure of alleged fraud in Minnesota. Federal and state authorities have been conducting massive, ongoing investigations into Medicare and Medicaid fraud in that state. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office have executed what the media has described as a series of “historic joint takedowns” of dozens of individuals and medical providers allegedly participating in extensive schemes involving false claims totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. It has been further alleged that politicians such as Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and others were cognizant of these schemes but chose to turn a “blind eye” for political reasons. Most of the media has underreported this matter, but now it has burst wide open.

    It has long been suspected that this fraud was not limited to MN. Accordingly, the DOJ has been conducting its own countrywide investigation. Last Tuesday the DOJ announced what it termed the “2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.” This historic nationwide enforcement action charged 455 defendants, including 90 medical professionals, across 45 states for allegedly submitting $6.5 billion in false Medicare and Medicaid claims. Officials said cases were filed in 56 federal districts and territories, with all 50-state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating. The blatant and brazen degree of audacity and greed will make your blood boil especially considering that many of the victims are the weakest and most defenseless among us – the sick, the elderly and children. Acting AG Todd Blanche described it as “the greatest combined federal and state effort combatting healthcare fraud in history.”

    The MN scheme was particularly egregious since it funneled money to Somali nationals, many of whom were in the US illegally to boot, who, in turn, funneled the funds to Somali terrorist organizations located in Somalia.

    These schemes come in many forms, but the most common one is medical identity theft combined with fraudulent billing. Typically, fraudsters steal Medicare numbers, which enables them to bill the government illegally for expensive medical treatments, tests, or equipment that were never needed, requested, or provided.

    A few of the many examples:

    1. Los Angeles is a hotbed of abuse. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. characterized LA as a “hive of hospice fraud” denoting, tongue in cheek, that an inordinate number of hospice patients “never die.” The Anti-Fraud Task Force headed up by VP JD Vance suspended payments to approximately 800 hospices and home health agencies in the city. Additionally, federal prosecutors have commenced criminal charges against ten doctors who were illegally prescribing controlled substances.
    2. Businessman Ibrahim Khaldoon Hilmi is accused of running a medical supply business that submitted $3.7 billion in false claims for equipment that patients never received.
    3. Nurse practitioner Marizel Yukee won the dubious prize for the highest level of fraud. According to the indictment, she is accused of billing $906 million for medically unnecessary treatments. She owned mobile clinics in four states from which she targeted elderly Medicare patients many of whom were terminally ill and under hospice care. Moreover, she allegedly billed for medically unnecessary amniotic wound treatments that were applied to vulnerable patients through an illegal kickback and bribery scheme. Authorities allege the treatments were applied to infected wounds, wounds that had already healed and wounds that were not responding to treatment. Prosecutors also allege that she falsified patient records to make it appear that these procedures complied with Medicare requirements. Authorities seized much of her property that she had acquired through these schemes, including a $594,000 Ferrari and an $865,000 necklace.
    4. Last year the federal authorities recovered nearly $220 million from the State of Texas related to criminal and civil Medicaid fraud judgments.
    5. CA consistently ranks among the top states for total fraud dollars and volume of federal investigations. As a result, federal authorities have taken the unusual step of deferring portions of its state Medicaid reimbursements.
    6. In Illinois Dr. Daniel Robinson billed Medicare for $67 million for “counseling and therapy services.” According to prosecutors obviously, this was a fraudulently inflated amount since his company was not large enough to generate that size of a bill even if all the employees worked 24 hours a day.
    7. Historically, Florida has had a reputation for massive health care fraud schemes involving telemedicine, genetic testing, and durable medical equipment. In a particularly egregious case, a high school basketball player died during practice after his doctor had approved his cardiovascular test results as being normal even though the student had pre-existing cardiac issues and despite the fact that the doctor had only given the test results a “cursory glance.”

    CONCLUSION

    I believe that this story had been underreported by the mainstream media until yesterday. In my opinion, this was partly due to the attention being paid to the more dominant issues such as the war with Iran, the economy, and the upcoming midterm elections. Moreover, the initial story involved MN, which is a state controlled by Dems, and the perpetrators were largely Somali illegal immigrants. I am glad the DOJ made such a huge splash to bring this to the attention of the general public.

    As I discussed above, this widespread fraud is unconscionable on its face. I’m glad that the DOJ is prosecuting the perpetrators. However, I think it should also prosecute the politicians who were responsible for supervising these people. Either they didn’t know about the schemes, which would constitute an abject failure of their duty to supervise, or they did know and aided, abetted and covered it up, which is just as bad.

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    SUMMER SOLSTICE

    What is the summer solstice?  What does it mean?  When does it occur?  Good questions.  Read on for the answers.

    As many of you know, the ss is the date with the longest period of daylight, and when the sun’s shadow is its shortest. Furthermore, in most of the US it is the date on which the sun appears to be at its highest point in the sky. In extreme northern locales the sun will be “out” the entire day.  In the NY area, where I live, we typically get about 15 hours of daylight.

    The word “solstice” is derived from the Latin sol, meaning “sun” and sistere, meaning “to stand still.” As the seasons progress from winter to summer in the northern hemisphere, the sun appears to move north in the sky. On the date of the ss it has progressed as far north as it will get, and it momentarily “stands still” before it appears to begin to slide southward toward the point of its winter solstice.

    Depending on the particular year, in the northern hemisphere the summer solstice can occur anytime between June 20 and June 22.  The 2026 summer solstice will arrive on Sunday, June 21 at 4:24 am EDT. At that time the sun will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees north latitude).

    In most cultures and countries, the summer and winter solstices are intertwined with the seasons.  For example, in the US and many other countries the ss marks the commencement of summer.  (I find it somewhat incongruous that the days grow shorter during the summer and longer during the winter.) On the other hand, in extreme northern and southern locations the solstices mark the midpoint of summer or winter.

    For many ancient cultures the ss was a festive time. Most of them were sun worshippers anyway, and the longest day of the year was a reason to celebrate the renewal of life. The recurrent themes, in various forms, were life, light, femininity, marriage and fertility. (Perhaps, this concept was the derivation of the custom of holding weddings in June.)

    For example:

    1. The pagan holiday, Litha, which is a celebration of light and life, was celebrated on that date.
    2. According to English Heritage, a charity that acts as caretaker for over 400 historic buildings, monuments, and sites, the ancient culture that constructed Stonehenge in about 2,500 BC intended it to be a crude calendar used to mark the summer and winter solstices and the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. The stones do seem to have been placed to align with the sunrise on the dates of those events.
    3. The ancient Chinese marked the date with celebrations of the femininity, the “Yin” forces, and the Earth, itself. This served as a counterpoint to the winter solstice, which was a celebration of the heavens, masculinity, and the “Yang” forces.
    4. Typically, Native Americans held festivals featuring body paint and ritualistic dances.
    5. In ancient Gaul (modern-day France) the celebration was called the Feast of Epona after a mare goddess that protected horses and personified fertility.
    6. Slavic and Germanic cultures celebrated with huge bonfires.

    In modern times the ss is a time to celebrate the arrival of summer.  In many extreme northern areas, such as northern Sweden, Finland and Norway, where the people may not see the sun at all for certain parts of the year, people spend the entire day outside to “reconnect with nature.” Many of them decorate their homes, light bonfires, and dance around Maypoles.

    CONCLUSION

    I have always enjoyed a warm summer day as much as the next guy.  But, truthfully, to me the day of the ss is just another day. Rest assured, I will NOT be lighting any bonfires or dancing around any maypoles. (Wouldn’t that be a scary image.) Depending on the weather typically I play golf, play outside with the kids (or grandkids), go to a pool, or, if it’s inclement, just stay inside.  This year the ss falls on Father’s Day and the finals of the US Open. The weather forecast in my area is sunny and warm, so many of us will be spending the day outside at barbeques, the beach, the pool or other family activities.

    Whatever you do I hope you enjoy the day.

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    U. S.-IRAN MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING

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

    The recently distributed 14-point Memo of Understanding between the US and Iran has drawn significant controversy. Everyone has an opinion. Comments and opinions have ranged from extremely positive (Trump, Vance and Rubio) to extremely negative, if not derisive (among most Dems, much of the media and even some Repubs). All this, and the ink is barely dry on the document.

    In my opinion, people have to take a deep breath and recognize the MOU for what it is and what it is not. It is not a peace agreement. Essentially, what it is is a 60-day cease fire agreement, nothing more, nothing less, and it should be evaluated as such. Moreover, don’t be surprised if the 60-day limit gets extended, perhaps multiple times.

    I believe it would be of little value to delve into the weeds of the MOU at this time. Suffice to say, the wording is vague and needs to be refined. Also, some key issues have been omitted, such as (1) Iran’s sponsoring of so-called “proxies” and (2) Israel’s separate war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, or require clarification, such as (1) the treatment of the $300 billion of “frozen” Iranian funds, (2) the details of the collection, disposal, and/or destruction of Iran’s nuclear dust, and (3) the verification process of various matters.

    I wouldn’t characterize the MOU as “not worth the paper it is printed on” as some have. Rather, it should be evaluated as a first step in the peace negotiation process. I will denote, however, that it is a bad deal for Israel. It doesn’t address its major concerns with respect to Iran or its proxies. Some supporters, including me, would even characterize it as a betrayal of our staunchest ally in the ME.

    I expect all parties to interpret elements of it differently. There is enough in it for both sides to interpret it as a “victory.” Hopefully, these issues will be ironed out sufficiently. Remember, as I opined in a previous blog the “devil is in the details.”

    In the short-term I think the most significant matter is the opening of the Hormuz Strait. It will get the oil flowing, which will produce positive tangible results of lower energy prices for both businesses and consumers and ultimately improve the economy. As I have discussed in previous blogs the mid-term elections are approaching, and history tells us that the number one issue for voters is always the economy. Indeed, recent surveys have identified the number one issue for voters as affordability and the cost of living e.g. putting food on the table, paying the mortgage or rent, and healthcare. The Iran War and other key matters are simply not as important to most voters at the present time. Many of them have limited knowledge of the issues and are blissfully unaware of Iran’s nuclear threat.

    Conclusion

    I have significant misgivings concerning the current iteration of the peace process. I feel like we are missing our one chance to deal decisively with Iran once and for all. I fear that the vague wording of the MOU will yield a long, drawn-out peace treaty negotiation process. This will enable Iran to do what it has always done – lie, cheat, obfuscate, and delay, delay, and delay some more until US public opinion forces us to accept an agreement that does not meet all of our objectives.

    As a means of defending the MOU President Trump has reiterated that if Iran fails to “live up” to its end of the MOU he can and will resume military action. Sounds great, but I foresee problems with that. At what point would an Iranian transgression be serious enough to warrant military action? For example, suppose Iran were to resume impeding the flow of oil through the Hormuz Strait or support a terrorist attack by one of its cells in the US or by Hezbollah against Israel. Would any of those actions be deemed sufficient to trigger additional military action? Resuming military action would be a drastic step and would be very unpopular with our allies and even worse, with the voters especially this close to the midterms. Furthermore, I believe Iran will test the US’s resolve by committing a series of “minor” violations.

    Finally, and most significantly, although Iran fears and respects Trump he will not be president forever. Iran can take the long view. Eventually, the US will elect a president with less fortitude and with a more flexible attitude toward Iran and the ME in general. Then, I fear, Iran will be able to take advantage.

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    IRAN PEACE DEAL. THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS.

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

    Apparently, after several months of fighting and several weeks of on and off negotiations Iran and the US have agreed on a deal to end hostilities. (Sort of, maybe, kind of, perhaps.) Vice President J. D. Vance said the U.S. signed a peace agreement with Iran “digitally” on Sunday. He characterized it as a major step toward peace. He stated the deal “ensures that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened, and none of the frozen funds has been released to Iran yet. He added the deal would “change the Middle East” (predicated on Iran’s compliance with it). Major allies, including France, Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom praised the announcement and agreed “to lift relevant sanctions in response to clear, verifiable steps by Iran on its nuclear program.”

    At first blush, this is good news, however, given Iran’s negotiating history I wouldn’t get too excited yet. I, for one, am skeptical. Even after the final agreement has been signed as planned, I will remain skeptical. I just don’t trust Iran to live up to whatever agreement it signs. In my opinion it will lie, obfuscate and cheat. Moreover, I am not the only one who has expressed that opinion. Independent verification of compliance to the terms of any agreement will be crucial.

    The initial reaction of the financial markets has been very positive. Both US and foreign markets have posted sizeable gains. The price of U.S. crude oil declined over 5% in early Monday trading to around $80 per barrel, while international Brent crude fell about 4.5% to $83 per barrel. For both benchmarks, these levels were the lowest since the first week of March, just days after the war with Iran commenced. Heating oil declined 3%, while wholesale gasoline prices dropped 4%. Natural gas futures fell 3%. This was in addition a 6% decrease in oil prices during last week in anticipation of an agreement. In addition, I have noticed a drop in the price of gas at the pump, which is very discernible to voters.

    Not everyone is so ebullient. For example, various Israeli officials have criticized the deal. Israel has consistently been more aggressive toward Iran than the US and, given their hostile history, for good reason. Prime Minister Netanyahu has yet to comment on it (the word is he hasn’t been provided a copy yet, which is curious since Israel has been our principal ally in this war), but Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that IDF forces will not be withdrawing from Lebanon despite whatever the deal may say. That could be significant as discussed below.

    Many news outlets are referring to the deal as “preliminary,” which is disquieting in and of itself. Even VP JD Vance, in an interview with CNBC, described the agreement as but “a major step towards peace,” not a “done deal.” In addition, he declined to divulge specific details of the deal. Again, the devil is in the details. The full text of the agreement has not been made available yet, which is suspicious in and of itself. But emerging details have suggested that some of the most difficult issues, including the fate of Iran’s nuclear program, have been deferred to future rounds of negotiations. Absent a resolution of the central issues how can the negotiators maintain that there is a deal?

    In my view we are still a long way from a final agreement. There are a plethora of issues and details that still remain to be finalized. I will outline some of these below. As I said in the title, the devil is in the details. For instance:

    1. According to many analysts and commentators it is likely that negotiators on each side will interpret the vague language differently, either intentionally or unintentionally leading to misunderstandings and worse.
    2. It does not address, in sufficient detail, the US’s primary objectives of the war, namely eliminating Iran’s prospective nuclear capabilities, the surrender and disposal of its “nuclear dust,” and Iran’s terminating its support of “proxy” terrorist groups. Those were the main purposes of the war. Any deal that excludes acquiescence with respect to those issues would be worthless.
    3. The United States and Iran have reached a preliminary agreement to cease hostilities for 60 days, but how will the cease fire be monitored, by whom, what will constitute a violation, and what will be the penalties for said violations? And what of the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon? Iran has continually insisted that that conflict must be included in any deal, in which case the cease fire would already have been violated, whereas the US has insisted it is a separate matter.
    4. Since its commencement on February 28, the war has not produced many of the results President Trump had vowed to achieve, such as overthrowing Iran’s autocratic, theocratic leadership and liberating its citizens, which are among the most oppressed in the world. Will those issues be included in any deal or not?
    5. The language regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is extremely vague. For example, when will it reopen? Who will ensure all the mines have been removed or destroyed? Who will govern the passage of ships through it? Will Iran be precluded from charging fees or not?
    6. There are questions regarding the US’s blockade of Iranian shipping. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Group, which acts as the chief point of contact for merchant ships liaising with military forces in the region, warned that the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports will remain in effect until the peace deal with Iran has been signed. The UKTMO then followed up with a memo warning all vessels not to attempt a crossing until “explicit direction is given” (presumably by them and presumably not until the cease fire is in effect).

    Conclusion

    President Trump has invested a considerable amount of military assets, time, money, materials, goodwill, prestige and political capital in this venture. His overriding objective that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon is a righteous one. However, apparently, we are still a long way from a final settlement that the US and its allies in this war can live with. It is crucial that we attain our objectives. This will likely be our one and only chance to resolve this issue. Trump will not be president forever, and there are no assurances that his successor(s) will have the nerve, the fortitude and the domestic and worldwide support that Trump presently has to see this through.

    Due to the foregoing, I would characterize this as merely the first step toward a lasting peace agreement, nothing more. That’s fine as far as it goes, but there is still much to do. The situation is very fluid. By the time you read this it may very well have changed.

    Due to the impending midterm elections, I believe these negotiations need to show tangible results quickly. I further believe that the short-term key is the reopening of the Hormuz Strait. That will lead to the free flow of energy and a reduction of the cost to businesses and consumers alike. The price of energy affects the cost of all goods and services. Remember history has demonstrated repeatedly that the number one issue for voters in every election is the economy.

    .

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    AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY QUIZ, PART 2

    In celebration of America’s 250th birthday I am posting a series of three quizzes. Part 1 covered the Revolutionary War. Below please find Part 2, which covers the 19th century.

    1. Which president prosecuted the wars against the Barbary Pirates? (a) John Adams, (b) Thomas Jefferson, (c) James Monroe, (d) Andrew Jackson.
    2. The land acquired by the Louisiana Purchase included each of the following present-day states except (a) Iowa, (b) Kansas, (c) Wisconsin, (d) Nebraska
    3. The massive Louis and Clarke expedition covered sixteen present day states including each of the following except (a) Oklahoma, (b) Montana, (c) Iowa, (d) Oregon.
    4. Which state was admitted with Missouri as part of the “Missouri Compromise” of 1820? (a) Michigan, (b) Tennessee, (c) Maine, (d) New Hampshire?
    5. Which president was captured and detained by the British during the RW as a young boy? (a) James Madison, (b) James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, (d) Andrew Jackson.
    6. Harriet Tubman was famous for (a) being the first women to attend Harvard University, (b) being a famous “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, (c) writing poetry depicting slavery, (d) being the first female member of Congress.
    7. Who was the first president to serve two nonconsecutive terms? (a) Franklyn Pierce; (b) James Buchanaan; (c) Abraham Lincoln, (d) Grover Cleveland
    8. “Custer’s Last Stand” was fought in which present day state? (a) North Dakota, (b) South Dakota, (c) Montana, (d) Wyoming?
    9. Each of the following presidents was assassinated except (a) James A Garfield, (b) John Tyler, (c) William McKinley, (d) Abraham Lincoln.
    10. Which famous frontiersman perished at the Alamo? (a) Jim Bridger, (b) Davy Crockett, (c) Daniel Boone, (d) Sam Houston?
    11. Susan B. Anthony was known for (a) women’s suffrage, (b) founding the Red Cross, (c) pioneer surgeon, (d) politics.
    12. Who was president during the purchase of Alaska (aka “Seward’s Folly)? (a) Abraham Lincoln; (b) Grover Cleveland; (c) Samuel Tildden, (d) Andrew Johnson.
    13. The “Golden Spike,” which symbolized the union of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads, is located in which state? (a) Utah; (b) California, (c) Wyoming; (d) Colorado.
    14. Who is widely credited with inventing the original, commercially successful electric telegraph? (a) Guglielmo Marconi; (b) Alexander Graham Bell; (c) Samuel Morse; (d) Eli Whitney
    15. When did the “Pony Express” commence operation? (a) 1850, (b) 1860, (c) 1870, (d) 1880.
    16. Who was the first American woman to earn a medical degree? (a) Elizabeth Cady Stanton, (b) Mary Smith, (c) Elizabeth Blackwell, (d) Lucretia Mott
    17. In what city was Francis Scott Key when he wrote the “Star Spangled Banner?” (a) Washington, DC; (b) NYC; (c) Baltimore; (d) Charleston
    18. Which Native American tribe never surrendered to the US? (a) Seminole; (b) Apache; (c) Sioux; (d) Comanche
    19. The Battle (Massacre) of Wounded Knee took place in which present day state? (a) Texas; (b) Colorado; (c) Montana; (d) South Dakota
    20. Who founded the American Red Cross? (a) Florence Nightingale; (b) Clara Barton; (c) Wilma Rogers; (d) Josie Wales
    21. Prior to the Civil War which was the first state to secede from the Union? (a) Alabama; (b) Mississippi; (c) Virginia; (d) South Carolina
    22. Pike’s peak is located in which state? (a) Wyoming, (b) California, (c) Arizona, (d) Colorado.
    23. Who wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin? (a) Louisa May Alcott, (b) Susan Allen, (c) Harriett Beecher Stowe, (d) Veronica Lake
    24. This president had the shortest tenure in office. (a) Zachary Taylor, (b) Chester A. Arthur, (c) William Henry Harrison, (d) William Jennings Bryan.
    25. Which territory was the last to gain statehood during the 19th century? (a) Utah 1896, (b) Arizona, (c) Alaska, (d) New Mexico.
    26. Each of the following was infamously known as a “robber baron” except (a) Andrew Carnegie, (b) Jay Gould, (c) Samuel Gompers, Leland Stanford

    Answers

    1. (b); 2. (c); 3. (a); 4. (c); 5. (d); 6. (b); 7. (d); 8. (c); 9. (b); 10. (b); 11. (a); 12. (d); 13. (a); 14. (c); (15) (b); 16. (c); 17. (c); 18. (a); 19. (d); 20. (b), 21. (d); 22. (d); 23. (c); 24. (c) (31 days); 25. (b); 26. (c)

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    D DAY

    D Day. That’s all one has to say. Most everyone knows what it was and what it meant. Just the very name conjures up remembrances and images of one of the bloodiest battles and one of the turning points of WWII. The battle has been memorialized in numerous books and movies, and who can forget the poignant image of countless crosses and Stars of David neatly lined up in military cemeteries in Normandy.

    Today, June 6, marks the 82nd anniversary of this epic battle. The Allied Forces included 156,000 troops from various countries, including the US, UK, Free France, Canada and Norway, among others, 5,000 ships and landing craft, 11,000 planes, 50,000 land vehicles, and coordinated landings over a 50 mile stretch of beaches code-named Juno, Omaha, Utah, Sword and Gold, truly a massive undertaking. Allied and German casualties have been estimated as high as 20,000 killed, wounded, missing and captured. Many of those brave souls were mere teenagers.

    If you were involved in the actual landing, whether you lived or died was largely a matter of luck and happenstance. Two men could be sitting side-by-side in an LST, and a German bullet would find one and not the other. Think about that for a minute.

    In addition to the German guns the soldiers had to deal with the rough surf.  Wearing their battle gear made them heavy and unwieldy, and many of them actually drowned.  The movie Saving Private Ryan depicts this grisly scene clearly.

    If you were lucky enough to survive the landing, you became a “sitting duck” on the beach. Then, if you managed to fight your way off the beach you had to charge into several thousand heavily armed German troops, which were placed strategically in fortified bunkers. Once you fought your way past those, you were ready to commence the real battle to liberate France.

    Planning for the operation began as early as 1943. Russia, one of our allies at the time (“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”) had been lobbying strongly for a second front to alleviate some of the pressure from the Russian Front. Military leaders on both sides recognized the significance of a second front and expected the Allies to attempt to open one at some point. The question was where and when. The Allies were not prepared to attempt such a massive landing until early 1944 primarily because they needed time to build up levels of men and material. Remember, the Allies were fighting in the Mediterranean and North Africa as well. Plus, the US was involved in the Pacific War against the formidable Japanese. Finally, Britain’s fighting capacity had been severely damaged in the debacle at Dunkirk in 1940.  Only a remarkable evacuation, aided by thousands of small boats piloted by civilians prevented the Germans from capturing or destroying the entire British army on the beach.

    The Operation was code-named Operation Overlord. The landing, itself, was code-named Operation Neptune. General Eisenhower was in charge. Indeed, he was in charge of the entire Atlantic Theatre. As the story goes, when he was put in charge his orders were very simple – “Win the War.” No confusion; no limited rules of engagement, which hampered us in Viet Nam and other future conflicts.  “Just win, baby.”

    The Allies considered four possible landing sites: Brittany, Cotentin Peninsula, Pas de Calais and Normandy. The first two were eliminated primarily because they were located on peninsulas, which would have afforded very narrow fronts that would have enabled the Germans to trap the soldiers in a counterattack. That left Normandy and Calais. Once the Allies decided on Normandy there were many attempts to deceive the Germans into thinking the landings would be at Calais. Historical evidence indicates that the Germans thought Calais the most likely site anyway, possibly because it was closer to England, but both sites were heavily fortified. Indeed, the Germans had planned to fortify the entire coast from Norway to Spain, a so-called “Atlantic Wall.”  This would have included concrete emplacements, barbed wire, booby traps, mines, the removal of ground cover, and, of course, troops and armored equipment. Luckily for us, these fortifications were never completed. Interestingly, although most of the German High Command viewed Calais as the most likely landing site, General Rommel, perhaps the best general on either side, surmised correctly that it would likely be at Normandy.

    Accordingly, he increased fortifications in the area, but, luckily for us he was out of favor for political reasons, so some key elements of his plans for defending the area were ignored or overruled. Most notably, some panzer divisions, which he had wanted to place in the Normandy area were, instead, retained in and around Paris.

    In addition, the German Army was stretched very thinly. Much of its manpower was committed to the Eastern Front and had been depleted by heavy casualties after five years of fighting. Finally, it was relying on captured equipment, which was not of the highest quality.

    One of the biggest unknowns, and one that the Allies could not control, was the weather. Keep in mind, at the time the meteorological instruments were not nearly as sophisticated as they are now. The weather in the Normandy area was very unpredictable. At many times, forecasting the weather was no more than an educated guess. The various meteorologists advising General Eisenhower could not agree on the weather forecasts, which frustrated the military officers responsible for planning and executing the landings.

    Due to the complexity of the operation weather conditions had to be just so, including the tides, phases of the moon and the time of day. Additionally, dawn, which was between low and high tide, was the preferred time of day. That way, as the high tide came in it would carry the LSTs farther in on the beach, and the men could spot obstacles, such as land mines, more easily. High winds, heavy seas and low cloud cover were not favorable. The planners were determined to wait for a day with ideal weather conditions that would satisfy all of the above criteria so as to maximize the chances of a successful landing. Only a few days of a given month satisfied all criteria. In fact, the operation had been postponed several times before June 6.

    On the other hand, the longer they waited to launch the greater the chances of an intelligence leak, which would be disastrous. The Germans had an extensive network of spies. Moreover, despite warnings people talk. (Remember the famous admonition “loose lips sink ships.”), and there was the very real danger of an inadvertent leak. This conundrum was depicted brilliantly in the 2026 movie, Pressure, a true account, starring Brendan Fraser as General Eisenhower.

    As we know, the operation was a success. Some of the major reasons for this were:
    1. The aforementioned missions to deceive the Germans forced them to spread their defenses over a wide area.
    2. The German’s much-ballyhooed “Atlantic Wall” was only about 20% complete.
    3. The Allies achieved air superiority quickly.
    4. Much of the transportation infrastructure in France had been damaged by Allied bombings and the French resistance, which hampered the Germans’ ability to move men and material.
    5. The German high command was disorganized and indecisive, and their most brilliant general, Field Marshall Rommel, believing the forecasted severe weather and rough seas would prevent a successful Allied invasion, was on leave back in Germany to celebrate his wife’s birthday, which by happenstance was on June 6. Thus, he was unable to communicate with his notorious panzer forces effectively. On such minor events are wars sometimes won or lost.

    CONCLUSION

    If, as many historians believe, winning WWII was one America’s greatest achievements, then it can be argued that D Day was one of its greatest victories. Certainly, its success shortened the war in Europe and, in the process, saved countless lives (combatants and non-combatants alike).

    There is no exact figure, but according to the National WWII Museum with the passage of time only a few thousand D-Day veterans are still alive worldwide, which is a shame.  Even the youngest ones are approaching 100 years old.

    In WWII we had a clear-cut goal, win the war; the nation was united in support of the war, our government and our troops; we knew who the enemy was; we knew the Axis Powers were evil (Hitler, in particular, was one of the most despicable men ever to walk the face of the earth.); and there was no holding back. Sadly, we have never had such clarity of purpose again, and, perhaps, we never will.

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