Author: webuiltitblog

I am a retired financial services executive who worked on Wall Street for 42 years. I established this blog to publish commentary on politics and business as I still follow these areas closely. My hobbies include golf, reading, travel and spending time with my grandchildren.

THE GREAT DEPORTATION

In the words of ex-NY Giants football coach Tom Coughlin “talk is cheap; play the game.” For the past several years various politicians have been advocating the need for a “comprehensive” immigration policy, but for various reasons nothing substantive has been accomplished. President Trump also has been staunchly advocating strengthening the southern border. This includes preventing illegal immigrants from entering the country and deporting the undesirable ones that are already here. Only five days into his presidency Trump has been demonstrating that, unlike his predecessors, his talk was not cheap. He intends to “play the game.” We are witnessing yet another example that Trump “says what he means and means what he says.”

The Great Deportation has begun. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt proclaimed that “President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the world that if you illegally enter the [US] you will face severe consequences.” Officials assert that this is just the beginning of the deportation process. Moreover, the US has already deployed some 4,000 active-duty military personnel to render assistance to inundated CBP personnel. This is an obvious tactic that somehow eluded the prior Administration.

While Trump has vowed a campaign of mass deportations, his White House border czar has repeatedly said that initially they will be targeting the low-hanging fruit, people who have committed crimes. That includes known terrorists, spies, psychos, and criminals, such as rapists, pedophiles, gang members and murderers. (The NY Post has dubbed this phase “pervs and perps,” which is an apt moniker.) Many of these people are relatively easy to find. Law enforcement officials have arrested and released them multiple times. They know where to find them. They are not hiding. Heretofore, they have had no fear of law enforcement. That is about to change.

ICE is now be authorized to seek out illegals in locations that were previously prohibited on the grounds of being “sensitive,” such as schools, churches and hospitals. Some rights groups, such as the ACLU, have launched plans to protect immigrants who are detained at these locations even though border czar Tom Homan has declared repeatedly that ICE operations will be focused initially on specific people who have committed crimes.

According to a survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research there is widespread support in America for beefing up security at the southern border and undertaking some targeted deportations, particularly of people who have committed violent crimes. The same poll reported that most Americans think local police should cooperate with federal immigration authorities on deportations in at least some cases. Support declines when it comes to deporting people in the country illegally who have not been convicted of a crime. Some deportations may be controversial, such as those that split families where some members are citizens and others are not, but for now the public is squarely behind these deportations.

In just five days, Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, has accomplished more than Kackling Kamala did in four years. There have been hundreds of arrests and hundreds more detentions. Fox News reported that this included illegals from dozens of countries. Multiple media outlets have shown the visual of these people boarding C-17s in shackles to be transported to various countries. It’s true what they say: “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

Trump has suspended the entry of all undocumented migrants to the US, and border patrol agents have been instructed to turn people away without granting them asylum hearings. Heretofore, migrants were able to arrive at the US border and had the legal right to seek asylum. He also ended a major Biden-era policy that allowed up to 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to fly into the US on “humanitarian” grounds.

People, both foreign and domestic, are getting the message. As these deportees return to their home country other wannabees are realizing the futility of even trying to come to the US. On Friday, Guatemala received three flights from the U.S. loaded with Guatemalan nationals who had been sent back to their home country. A spokesperson for the Guatemalan Migration Institute told NBC News that two of Friday’s flights were on military aircraft and the other was on a non-military plane. The total number of Guatemalans who arrived in Guatemala City from the three flights was about 265.

In another interesting development the city of Huntington Beach, CA, located in deep blue Orange County, passed a “non-sanctuary city resolution” that basically requires local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE and other federal agencies in the performance of their duties with respect to locating, detaining and deporting illegal aliens. I view this as a direct “shot” at Governor Newsome and CA’s sanctuary policies. Could it be the first of many? We’ll see.

According to the AP Mexico denied a U.S. military plane access to land Thursday, at least temporarily frustrating the Trump administration’s plans to deport immigrants to that country. In a press release, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not go into detail as to why the U.S. plane was not allowed to land. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government has said it opposes “unilateral action” by Trump to implement “restrictive immigration standards,” such as the reinstatement of the “remain in Mexico” policy.

The Administration dealt with that issue with alacrity. A White House official said in a text message that “the flights thing was an administrative issue and was quickly rectified.” Indeed, on Friday White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced, that “yesterday, Mexico accepted a record four deportation flights in one day.” President Scheinbaum added, “Mexico has a very good relationship with the United States government, and we cooperate on a wide range of issues, including migration.” She added “when it comes to repatriations, we will always welcome the arrival of Mexicans to our territory with open arms. Mexico embraces you.”

Mexico is anticipating an influx of migrants pursuant to Trump’s deportation orders and has started building giant tent shelters in nine border cities to temporarily house them. For example, according to Reuters as part of the “Mexico Embraces You” program the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juárez has commenced to construct shelters that will be able to house thousands of migrants and should be ready in a few days. The shelters will provide food, medical care and assistance in getting identification documents. Additionally, a fleet of buses will be available to help transport Mexicans back to their hometowns. Other nations, such as Guatemala are planning to launch similar efforts to absorb their returning deportees.

Another significant development was the scrapping of the CBP One smartphone app, which migrants were able to use to schedule appointments with US border patrol agents. The CBP One app was launched by the Biden administration as a way to organize and streamline the entry of migrants who are fleeing persecution. According to CBS News, some 270,000 migrants who had been hoping to utilize the app to obtain appointments have become stranded in Mexico. The American Civil Liberties Union has since filed a legal challenge against the app’s closure.

In other related news the Trump Administration removed Secret Service protection from Anthony Fauci, John Bolton and Mike Pompeo. Trump, somewhat facetiously, offered to “give them some [telephone] numbers of some very good security people” if they wanted to hire their own.

Conclusion

According to Fox News Digital illegal immigrant encounters at the southern border have dropped significantly since Trump’s inauguration compared to the end of the previous administration. It is refreshing to finally have a president who recognizes a problem and proceeds to resolve it quickly and efficiently. Illegal immigration is but one of many problems Trump has inherited, and my hope and expectation is that he will handle the others in a similarly expeditious fashion.

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PRESIDENT TRUMP’S INAUGURATION

He’s baaaack! The country is ecstatic (most of it anyway, the wokers not so much, but who cares?). Our allies are reassured. Our enemies are wary, or perhaps, even fearful.

Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution states that “The executive Power shall be vested in the President of the United States of America,” and it provided an oath of office for the President-elect’s official swearing-in. This 35-word oath has remained unchanged for more than two centuries, in part because it so clearly and simply describes the responsibilities of the Chief Executive. It says:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” (Washington added the words “so help me God,” which became a permanent part of the oath.)

There is no constitutional requirement that the oath be administered by the chief justice. It has been administered by 15 chief justices (one of whom—William Howard Taft—was also a former president), but due to various exigent circumstances also by one associate justice, four federal judges, two NYS judges and one notary public.

The word inauguration is derived from the Latin augur, which refers to the rituals of ancient Roman priests seeking to interpret if it was the will of the gods for a public official to be deemed worthy to assume office.

Trump’s inauguration took place on Monday at 12:01, yes, the oath of office commenced one minute late, but who cares. There is no requirement that the Bible or any book for that matter, be used to administer the oath, and none is mentioned in the Constitution. John Roberts, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court administered the oath of office to President Donald Trump whereupon Trump officially became the 47th president of the United States of America. Attendees included Trump’s and J. D. Vance’s families, a plethora of other prominent politicians, business leaders, entertainers and other assorted dignitaries, including former politicians Bush, Clinton and Obama and of course Biden, Harris and their spouses.

Biden and Harris, who undoubtedly loath each other, sat side-by-side and listened stone-faced as Trump ripped their failed Administration to shreds. Perhaps, his criticisms were a bit excessive, but I don’t believe he said anything that wasn’t accurate. At the conclusion of the ceremony, they faded away into history. They still have their supporters, but most Americans will breathe a sigh of relief. They depart with one of the lowest approval ratings ever. Prospectively, historians will assess their tenure, and in my view not in a positive way.

For most of us, the resurrection of America has begun. Trump characterized it as the “golden age of America.” The changes will be radical, virtually 180 degrees. For the past four years the country had lost its way. It had morphed from a 250-year democracy into a morass of wokeism, DEI, and divisiveness. The swamp was overflowing and threatening to drown us all. We were unable or unwilling even to defend our borders. The southern border was more akin to a turnstile than a real border. We were wrecking our economy by paying excessively for foreign oil and gas while ignoring a literal ocean of it under our feet. America was being perceived around the world as weak, indecisive, and fatuous. All that changed in an instant at 12:01 yesterday.

There were some unusual facets to Trump’s Inauguration Day. First of all, although Presidential inaugurations have traditionally been held outside and in public, due to the freezing weather it was held indoors. This was to protect the health of the public who wanted to see the festivities. This year’s was not the first one to be moved indoors due to the weather. For example, in 1909, Taft’s inauguration was moved to the Senate Chamber due to a blizzard, and in 1985, harsh weather forced Reagan’s second inauguration to be moved inside. These were wise decisions. History buffs will recall the tragedy that befell William Henry Harrison following his outdoor inauguration. More on that below.

Secondly, over the course of the day Trump delivered three speeches of roughly 33 minutes each, first at the inauguration, itself, then in a separate room to a group of elected officials who had been unable to gain access to the main room, and finally a third speech to a group of supporters. These were followed by a casual impromptu press conference while he was signing some 100 EOs. Unlike Biden, who basically hid from the media, he answered any and all questions. To me, this illustrated the true genius of Trump. It’s not just what he says, which is important; it’s also his style – relaxed, conversational, and transparent.

In his speeches Trump did not say much that was new. Generally, he reiterated what he has been saying for the last four years on the campaign trail, in the debate, and in press conferences. I didn’t object to the repetition. I realize it served a purpose as it was new to some people. Few people doubt that he will follow through. He has demonstrated that he says what he means and means what he says.

As promised, Trump signed a slew of EOs, including, among others:

  1. Reversing 78 EO’s that Biden had signed.
  2. Halt temporarily the Tik Tok ban pending negotiations.
  3. Withdraw from the ill-advised, ill-conceived Paris climate accords.
  4. Declare a “National emergency” at the southern border. This will facilitate the various reforms to our border policy that Trump has been advocating.
  5. Declare a “National emergency” with respect to energy. This will enable us to resume drilling and reopen the Keystone Pipeline.
  6. Designate drug cartels and migrant gangs as terrorist organizations.
  7. Pardon some 1,500 persons who were convicted of crimes related to the January 6 demonstrations at the capitol.
  8. Authorize the creation of DOGE.
  9. Terminate the practice of men competing against women in sports. Prospectively, there will only be two genders – male and female.
  10. Rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, replace Mt. Denali with the original name, Mt. McKinley, and resume control of the Panama Canal.
  11. Terminate the policy of “birthright citizenship.” The success or failure of this will ultimately be determined by SCOTUS’ interpretation of the 14th Amendment.

Some of these will be enacted immediately; others will take some time; and others will face legal challenges. However, as we have seen, Trump is persistent and persuasive.

What was my favorite part of the inauguration? EVERYTHING! I loved the pageantry. I loved the speeches. I loved it all. Mostly, I loved the fact that it took place at all. It was four years in the making and long overdue. To put it succinctly, the country could not have survived four more years of Biden/Harris.

The initial inauguration (of George Washington) in 1789 in New York City, which was the nation’s first capital, was delayed due to harsh weather, which made travel even more difficult than normally. It was supposed to take place on March 4, the day of the year on which the federal government was to begin operations that year in accordance with the Constitution. But it took until April 6 for a quorum of congressmen to make its way to NYC to even count the electors’ votes and officially declare GW the President (unanimously) and John Adams the Vice President.

Washington wasn’t even there. It took several days for the news to reach him at his home in Mount Vernon. He left for NYC immediately, but he didn’t arrive for several weeks. It was probably an arduous journey by horseback, coach and barge. Inauguration Day was April 30. All subsequent (regular) inaugurations from 1793 until 1933 were held on March 4. Martha did not even join him until later.

One issue was GW’s official title. After much debate finally, a congressional committee settled on the title we still use today: “President of the United States.”

The only ones who heard GW’s Inaugural Address were those members of Congress gathered in Federal Hall in NYC on April 30, 1789. Over the years the Inaugural process has undergone various iterations, but the First Inauguration established many traditions that continue today. For example, President Washington followed his swearing-in with an Inaugural Address, a special speech written for the occasion. In 1793 the oath of office for Washington’s second term was administered by William Cushing, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and the first in a long line of Supreme Court Justices to preside over Presidential Inaugurations.

Thomas Jefferson was the first to be sworn in as President in Washington, D.C., the location chosen for the permanent capital and the site of all but a handful of subsequent Inaugural ceremonies. Jefferson showed his taste for simplicity by going on foot to the Capitol for the oath-taking and returning to his boardinghouse afterwards for dinner. Imagine that!

After his second Inauguration, however, Jefferson rode on horseback from the Capitol to the President’s House (the name then used for the White House) amid music and a spontaneous gathering of mechanics from the nearby Navy Yard – a procession that has morphed the Inaugural Parade.

Jefferson’s second Inauguration also began the tradition of the Inaugural Open House, when the executive mansion was opened to all who wished to greet the President after his swearing-in. The popularity of the Open House would later cause our seventh President, Andrew Jackson, to flee through a window after a mob of well-wishers stormed the White House, ruining furniture and breaking china in their eagerness to see him.

James Madison, America’s fourth President, and his wife, Dolley, were the guests of honor at the first official Inaugural Ball, held at Long’s Hotel in Washington, D.C. His inaugural address was the first to be published in the newspapers for all to read. Martin Van Buren’s Inauguration featured two balls.

The most tragic inauguration was that of William Henry Harrison. He was inaugurated as the ninth President of the US on March 4, 1841. The day of the inauguration was overcast with a cold wind, but foolishly, Harrison eschewed an overcoat, hat, and gloves for the ceremony. Furthermore, he delivered the longest inaugural address to date, 8,445 words over nearly two hours. On March 26, Harrison developed a cold, which evolved into pneumonia. In those pre-antibiotic days pneumonia was often fatal. Harrison died on April 4. He was the first president to die in office; his 31-day tenure is the shortest of any President.

James Polk took the oath of office in 1845 while Samuel Morse, inventor of the electric telegraph, sat near him on the platform tapping out the news on his newly invented machine. In 1857 James Buchanan’s Inaugural ceremony became the first to be photographed. Citizens across the country were able to share in the festivities through pictures.

In 1865, despite growing concern about safety, Abraham Lincoln shook some 6,000 hands after his second Inauguration. President Grover Cleveland, realizing that the White House could no longer accommodate such crowds, instead held a review of the troops from a flag-draped grandstand just outside, adding another element to the Inaugural Parade.

In 1897 William McKinley became the answer to a trivia question (Who was the first president to appear in a motion picture?) Most people assume the answer to be Ronald Reagan, but it was McKinley as highlights of his inauguration were recorded by movie cameras.

In 1925 Calvin Coolidge’s oath of office was broadcast on the radio. In 1949, Harry Truman became the first President to whose swearing-in was televised. In 1997 President Bill Clinton’s second Inauguration was the first to feature an official web site and to be seen live on the Internet by people around the world.

Later Inaugurations have featured specially built pavilions for dancing, balls held at several sites throughout the capital, and even Inaugural parties in other cities. Modern Inaugural festivities reflect not only the President they honor, but also the desire to include the many Americans who want to take part in celebrating our nation’s rich history and the transfer of presidential power. Moreover, due to the wonders of modern technology millions of people are now able to view the festivities on television, streaming services or even their phones from the comfort of their own home.

Normally, the content of inaugural addresses is soon forgotten, but there are exceptions. Some examples of enduring moments include:

  1. During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln called on Americans to “…finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds.”
  2. In 1933 Franklin Roosevelt reached out to citizens discouraged by the Great Depression, saying, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
  3. And the one I remember, in 1961 JFK urged, “…ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

Conclusion

At the present time the country is more united than in several years. Trump has a strong mandate, but the people will expect him to fulfill it. History tells us that the public’s patience will wear thin. Winning the election was an important first step. Now, comes the hard part – governing. The GOP has a very slim majority in the House, and the Dems will likely not be inclined to cooperate. Trump will have only 12 or at most 18 months to demonstrate progress before the 2026 midterm elections where history tells us that the president’s Party can expect to lose Congressional seats. We have a great opportunity. Let’s hope we don’t waste it.

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I HAVE A DREAM

On Monday, January 20, we will celebrate the birthday of, in my mind, the greatest civil rights leader in American history.  Of course, I am referring to Martin Luther King, Jr.  His birthday is a national holiday, and as is the case with many of our holidays, we celebrate it on a Monday, in this case the third one in January, rather than on the actual day.

This year the holiday will mark the 30th anniversary as a National Day of Service. The NDS was established to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, and to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Martin Luther King Day has been recognized in all 50 states since early 2000, however, some states, such as Alabama and Mississippi, have combined it with “Robert E. Lee Day” to honor the birthday of the commanding general of the Confederacy who was born on January 19.

This year will mark the 57th anniversary of his untimely assassination on April 4, 1968.  Like the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the assassination of President JFK on November 22, 1963, and the terror attack on 9/11/2001 most of us will always remember where we were when we heard the horrible news.

For some people, the holiday holds no special meaning; it is just a day off from work, a day to spend with family or friends, part of a long three-day weekend.  For many of us, however, particularly those of us who were alive in the 1950s and 1960s, it is much, much more.

MLK was born on January 15, 1929.  In my opinion, he became the most prominent and influential American civil rights leader in the 1950s and 1960s, if not ever.  MLK was more than just a pastor.  He believed that more advancement in civil rights could be achieved by civil disobedience and non-violence than by violence.  He preached peaceful disobedience such as sit-ins, marches and demonstrations, often in the face of wanton violence and cruelty by the police and others, rather than by rioting and violence.  In this regard, he was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.  In turn, he inspired many others such as Nelson Mandela and the Black Civil Rights movement in South Africa.

He also recognized the power of the press to bring attention to his cause and influence public opinion. For example, as many as 70 million people around the world witnessed the police brutality inflicted on the peaceful black and white marchers in Selma, Alabama, in March of 1965, including women and children as well as men.  Those images, broadcast live on TV and radio, appalled and disgusted many people and provided an immeasurable boost to the public awareness of the injustices being visited upon blacks in the South. These events were captured dramatically and realistically in the 2014 movie, “Selma,” which featured David Oyelowo as MLK.  If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it.

Unlike any other African American leaders before or since, he had the ability to unite, rather than divide.  Although he was criticized by some of the more militant civil rights leaders of the time, such as Stokely Carmichael, he commanded the support and respect of a large majority of blacks and many whites as well. In that regard, he was similar to Mandela.

After his death, despite the urgings of some civil rights leaders who wanted to continue MLK’s philosophy, more militant African American leaders, such as Mr. Carmichael, came into prominence. There was rioting in over 100 US cities, and a slew of violent incidents at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago in front of the national press and millions of Americans, which many believe swung the 1968 presidential election to Richard Nixon. 

MLK came into prominence in 1955 when he led a bus boycott, peacefully, in Montgomery, Alabama.  The boycott had been fueled by the famous Rosa Parks incident in which she had refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white person.  She was arrested on December 1. (Most people don’t know that earlier that year in March a similar incident had occurred, also in Montgomery, involving Claudette Colvin, a black girl who had also refused to give up her seat to a white man.  However, that case did not receive the same notoriety.  Civil rights lawyers declined to pursue it because Colvin was 15, unmarried and pregnant. They chose to wait for a case with a more favorable fact pattern, and they were proven to be right.)

Later, MLK became the leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and remained so until his death. He applied his non-violence philosophy to protests in Selma, Ala., St. Augustine, FL, and the March on Washington, D. C., among others. He made it a policy never to endorse a particular political party or candidate. He believed he could be more effective if he were neutral and not beholden to anyone.  Furthermore, in his view, neither party was all bad, and neither one was perfect.  In his words, “[t]hey both have weaknesses.”

Perhaps, MLK’s signature moment occurred during the famous March on Washington in August 1963.  Ironically, MLK was not the primary organizer of the March.  That was Bayard Rustin, a colleague.  The primary purpose of the March was to dramatize the plight of blacks in the South.  Civil rights leaders, including Roy Wilkins, NAACP, Whitney Young, National Urban League, A. Philip Randolph, Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, John Lewis, SNCC, James Farmer CORE, and MLK, wanted to bring awareness of these issues right to the seat of the Federal government.  More than 250,000 people of all ethnicities and colors attended.  MLK was one of several speakers, and he only spoke for 17 minutes.  But, his “I Have a Dream” speech became one of the most famous speeches ever.  The March, in general, and MLK’s speech, in particular, are credited with bringing civil rights to the political forefront and facilitating the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Some little-known facts about MLK:

1. His birth name was Michael King, Jr., after his father.  In 1931 his father changed his own name to Martin Luther King, after the German theologian, Martin Luther, whom he admired.  At the same time, he changed his son’s name.

2. In 1958 MLK was stabbed in the chest after a speech by a woman who had been stalking him, and he nearly died.

3. The FBI began tapping MLK’s telephone as early as 1963.  Robert Kennedy, who was Attorney General at the time and who is viewed as a staunch supporter of civil rights, in general, and MLK, in particular, authorized the tapping.

4. MLK won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 at the age of 35, the youngest age ever at the time.

5. MLK won a Grammy Award in 1971, posthumously.  It should be noted that he won it, not because he displayed a great singing voice, but for a “Spoken Word Album,” “Why I Oppose the War in Vietnam.”  In addition, he won countless other awards and was awarded some 50 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities.

6. Even though MLK was one of the great public speakers of his time, inexplicably, he got a “C” in a public speaking course at the seminary.  (Kind of like a baseball scout saying Babe Ruth can hit “a little bit.”)

7. MLK is one of three individuals and the only native-born American to have a holiday named after him.  In case you’re wondering, the others are George Washington (born in the COLONY of Virginia), and Christopher Columbus.

Some MLK quotes to ponder:

1. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
2. “The time is always right to do what is right.”
3. “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
4. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
5. “Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.”
6. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

In recent years there has been much division among African Americans as well as their leaders.  Some are moderate and want to work within the system; others are more militant.  In my view, many of these militants are no more than “race hustlers,” have their own agendas and look for any excuse to foment distrust and discord.  They do more harm than good. If you doubt me, just randomly turn on CNN or MSNBC and listen to some of the news coverage. The coverage and commentary of some of the guest commentators (and a few of the news anchors as well) are subjective and divisive.

Most often, crimes are viewed through the lens of race rather than the facts, and the media will very often jump to conclusions without regard of the facts. Later, when the facts become known if, as is often the case they are change the narrative, they are ignored or downplayed. (The recent Jussie Smollett case is a good example of this.) “White on black” crimes get extensive coverage while “black on black” crimes, which are far more numerous, are largely ignored.

In my opinion, the weak and feckless Biden Administration exacerbated the problem. I hope that the incoming Trump Administration will be able to reverse the trend.

CONCLUSION

In my opinion, we have made much progress in the area of civil rights.  For example, we have elected an African American president (twice) and vice president; an African American sits on the Supreme Court; and African Americans hold and have held positions of prominence in every field of endeavor, including business, entertainment, sports, and the military.  But it is still a work in progress.  We can do more.

One can speculate whether and to what extent MLK’s assassination changed the course of history.  In my opinion, had MLK lived, the Civil Rights Movement would have been considerably different over the last 50 years, more peaceful and less divisive, with better results.  Furthermore, his assassination had a significant impact, not only on the history of the civil rights movement, but also on the overall history of the country, itself.  I hope and believe that eventually a moderate leader will emerge and bridge the gap as MLK did half a century ago.

Finally, I firmly believe that MLK would have been appalled by the violent, arbitrary and senseless rioting and sharp uptick in crime of the past few years that was instigated, aided, and abetted by BLM, ANTIFA, many Dem political leaders and much of the media.  I find this to be senseless and ironic since most of the victims are themselves poor minorities. How is that helping the civil rights movement?  That is not what MLK stood for.  Furthermore, in my view, he would not have been an exponent of the extreme “cancel culture,” “critical race theory,” DEI, and “political correctness” movements that many see as dividing the country today.

So, as you enjoy the holiday in whatever manner you choose, I ask you to reflect for a moment on where we are as a nation regarding civil rights, where we want to go and how we get there.

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TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDERS

Today is January 14. Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th President of the US on Monday, January 20. For those of you who may be math-challenged, that’s six days from now, or as we used to say in the Navy, “five days and I wake up.” Six days until we cleanse ourselves of the Wokers. Six days until we rid ourselves of all the DEI BS. Six days until we begin to drain the swamp. Six days until, to paraphrase former President Gerald Ford, “the long national nightmare will be over.” Six days until the day of reckoning for America’s enemies. Six days until we have a real country again with real borders. Six days until we begin to expel all the drug dealers, criminals, spies, psychos, and other interlopers that have infested our country. Six days until we begin to “drill, baby, drill.” Six days until we will take back our country. On November 5, 2024 the “deplorables” spoke loudly and clearly. In six days, America will once again be a democracy.

Based on multiple media reports Trump has compiled some 100 executive orders that he plans to sign on Day 1 and implement asap. One hundred may seem like a lot, but other presidents have signed more, many more. For example, FDR signed 3,021 during his tenure.

An executive order (EO) is a written directive from the President of the United States that has the force of law and directs and empowers the members of the Executive Branch of the federal government to take certain actions.  EOs are based on the President’s power and authority derived from Article II of the Constitution.  EOs have the effect of law and do not require action by Congress.

EOs can be controversial. Some people deride them as a means for the president to govern by bypassing Congress. However, EOs are legal as long as they do not “”make new law.”

Much of the damage Biden perpetrated was via EOs, for instance, summarily halting the use of the Keystone Pipeline, so Trump should be able to undo them just as easily. Indeed, Trump has declared “I can undo almost everything Biden did through EOs, and on Day 1 much of that will be undone.”

That said, voters will have to be patient. It will not be possible to enact all changes on Day 1 or even Week 1. Some may require the consent of Congress. Others, such birthright citizenship and transgender issues will likely face legal challenges. But the voters gave Trump a strong mandate, and he can be very persuasive and persistent. I expect most of them to get done eventually.

Below please find a sample of the pending EOs. Most of these are already well into the planning stage and will be ready to be implemented on Day 1:

  1. Secure the border. This will include finishing the border wall, reinstituting travel bans and the remain in Mexico policy, mass deportations of criminals, drug dealers, suspected terrorists, spies, migrants who commit crimes, and other undesirables. Contrary to what many Dems are saying ICE will not be snatching people off the street or separating families. The focus will be on the low hanging fruit as described above. It is estimated that there are several hundred thousand such persons, plenty enough to keep ICE busy.
  2. Rein in sanctuary jurisdictions. These entities are breaking the law, and the Federal government has the power to stop them. For example, the Feds could suspend funding for these jurisdictions and/or prosecute those who adamantly refuse to cooperate.
  3. Resume oil and gas drilling and reopen the Keystone Pipeline. I have discussed this issue many times in previous blogs. The US has access to massive amounts of oil and gas in the ground and offshore. We have enough to not only supply our needs but also much of the world’s. There is a plethora of positive ramifications of this action, such as restoring energy independence, adding good paying jobs, and reducing the price of oil and the rate of inflation, in general, to name just a few of the obvious ones. Additionally, it would confer upon us the ability to impair the economies of Iran and Russia who currently are making fortunes from oil. An ancillary benefit would be to severely diminish Iran’s ability to fund terrorism and Russia’s ability to continue to prosecute its war with Ukraine. You may recall that by the end of Trump’s first term Iran was virtually bankrupt.
  4. Pardon some January 6 prisoners. There are some 1,500 protesters who were convicted of crimes related to January 6. Most of the convictions were for non-violent crimes (or maybe even bogus crimes). Trump has pledged to direct the DOJ to review these on a case-by-case basis.
  5. End the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas Wars and secure the return of the hostages. Trump will employ his influence, strength, toughness, persistence and powers of persuasion. Don’t bet against him.
  6. Terminate the electric vehicle mandate and curtail excessive Green New Deal policies. Many of these are unworkable, unpopular and of dubious benefit.
  7. Ban transgender individuals from competing against women in sports. These policies constitute wokeism run amok. They are extremely inappropriate and dangerous and only favored by a small sliver of voters.

Conclusion

I expect the Trump Administration to hit the ground running. His designated cabinet members and other members of his Administration have already commenced working on their respective programs and policies. Congressional hearings on his proposed Cabinet members have already begun. Some will sail through; others will face some difficulties. Legitimate questioning is appropriate. Lies, innuendo and besmirchment are not.

Yes, the voters gave Trump a strong mandate, but governing is not always easy. In order to fully implement his program, he will have to deal with Congress. Many senators and congressmen will have their own agendas and can be contentious, and the GOP only has slim majorities, especially in the House. The voters will not be patient. They will expect tangible results quickly.

According to former Speaker-of-the-House Newt Gingrich, some of Trump’s policies, such as the continuation of the so-called Trump Tax Cuts, must be approved by mid-2025 in order to have an impact on the economy by the 2026 midterm elections. If the voters do not perceive improvement by then it could be problematic for the GOP to retain its control. History shows that the ruling party often loses many seats in the midterm elections. All in all, 2025 figures to be a very interesting year.

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GREENLAND

In the last few months there has been a profusion of news with respect to Greenland. In particular, Donald Trump has been signaling that the US is interested in purchasing it from Denmark. Is he serious, or is this just another example of Trump speaking off the cuff to get a reaction? Why the sudden interest in an island that had always flown under the radar? I wondered about it myself. Read on for the answers.

Heretofore, most Americans have had only a passing interest in Greenland. They may know it is an island located in the North Atlantic near Iceland, but that is about it.

My research has disclosed that Greenland has actually had an interesting and colorful history. Below please find a brief summary as well as some information that will explain the sudden interest in the island. Please be advised that the following has been gleaned from various media sources except where otherwise noted:

  1. Greenland is the largest island in the world. It is surrounded by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Greenland Sea to the east, the North Atlantic Ocean to the southeast and the Davis Straits to the southwest. Roughly 3/4 of the land is covered by a permanent sheet of ice, the only one in the world other than the one that covers Antarctica.
  2. With a population of some 57,000 over approximately 836,330 square miles it is the world’s least densely populated area. The weather can be harsh; the population is highly concentrated along the more moderate southwest coast.
  3. Generally, Greenlanders are well educated. Children are required to attend a minimum of ten years of primary school. Secondary schools offer both a pre-university and a work education program. Many students may then enroll in a university either on the island or in Denmark.
  4. The literacy rate is 100%.
  5. Most residents speak both Danish and West Greenlandic Kalaallisut, which is actually the official language of the island. Some 12% speak Danish as their primary language.
  6. The most common religion is Protestant.
  7. Greenland has the highest suicide rate of any country in the world.
  8. Greenland has a small, but significant music culture. The drum is the traditional musical instrument. Years ago, people would commonly engage in drum dances for entertainment, to settle disputes, to conjure up spirits or to while away the long winter nights.
  9. Greenlanders engage in a wide variety of sports including skiing, fishing, ice climbing, rock climbing and even golf, however, the national sport is handball.
  10. Greenland was named by the Norse explorer, Erik the Red, who, along with his father and his thralls (slaves and workers), was exiled there from Iceland as punishment for a crime committed by the father. Given the inhospitable climate the name may appear to be a misnomer, but supposedly Erik chose that name purposely in a vain attempt to attract settlers.
  11. It is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. Despite its geographic location as part of North America, since 986 it has been associated more closely associated with Europe, particularly Denmark and Norway, both politically and socially. The populace are citizens of the European Union.
  12. Its capital, which is also its largest city, is Nuuk, which is pronounced “nook.” Nuuk is located on the southwestern coast of the island, which, as I said, is where most of the population resides. It is also the cultural and administrative center of the island. The name translates into “Cape” in the Greenlandic language due to its location near the outlet for the enormous Nuup Kangerlua Fjord – the world’s second-largest fjord system.
  13. Greenland has been inhabited by a variety of peoples and cultures. According to archaeological findings the earliest settlers emigrated from present-day Canada around 2,500 BC settling primarily along the west and south coasts. The Norse arrived in the 10th century from nearby Iceland followed by the Inuit in the 13th century. Inuit is another name for the indigenous people of the Arctic area.
  14. The early Norse settlements thrived for a while, but most of them vanished during the 14th and early 15th centuries most likely due to malnutrition, disease, marauders from Europe, and the climate turning significantly colder.
  15. Around 1000 the Thules began to migrate eastward from Alaska and Canada. They began to arrive in Greenland around 1300. The Thules were responsible for various technological advances that improved everyday life including dog sleds and toggling harpoons. Present-day Greenlanders are the genetic descendants of the Thules.
  16. Dano-Norwegian explorers began arriving in the early 17th century (the two countries were united between 1380 and 1814). When they separated, Greenland became a territory of Denmark’s as it remains today.
  17. When the US purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 it also explored the possibility of purchasing Greenland from Denmark, but nothing came of it. In 1946 the US renewed its interest in the island. It offered Denmark $100 million, but it refused to sell. The governments of Denmark and Greenland have been reiterating that Greenland is not for sale, but as we know Trump can be very persistent and persuasive. In a more conciliatory vein, recently Denmark’s foreign minister said that Denmark is “open to a dialogue with the Americans on how we can possibly cooperate even more closely than we do to ensure that the American ambitions are fulfilled.”
  18. The relationship between Denmark and Greenland is somewhat complicated. Denmark granted home rule to Greenland in 2008, however it has retained control of monetary policy, citizenship and foreign affairs.
  19. Both Denmark and the US maintain various military bases on Greenland.Greenland has an abundant supply of many vital and valuable minerals such as copper, uranium, tungsten and nickel to name a few. In the last several decades much of the permafrost has been melting resulting in easier access to these resources. This has attracted the attention of Russia and China as well as the US. who are now recognizing the value of the island.

Greenland has significant quantities of valuable natural resources including oil, gas, copper, and “rare earth” minerals. Rare earth minerals include a group of 17 metals that are essential for items such as batteries for electric vehicles, electronics, cell phones and even weapons of mass destruction. In conjunction with the melting of the permafrost these resources have become more accessible. Every country needs them; few countries have enough.

For example, consider lithium. Lithium is a key component in batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage.  China and Chile are both major players in the lithium industry. In 2023, Chile possessed an estimated 9.3 million metric tons of lithium reserves, which was more than one-third of the world’s total. China has been importing significant quantities of lithium from Chile. According to available data, primarily due to its dominance in lithium refining and processing China controls a significant portion of the global lithium market, holding between 60% and 80% of the world’s lithium chemical production capacity, despite only having around 8% of the world’s lithium reserves,

China has been focusing on the production of rare earth minerals since the 1980s. According to the International Energy Agency currently it controls 87% of the global rare earth refining capacity. On the other hand, the US possesses and controls minimal amounts of these minerals. In particular, we are heavily dependent on China for lithium. In the second quarter of 2024, China supplied 82% of the lithium-ion batteries imported to the US.  Obviously, this dependence on a potential enemy is an alarming and untenable situation and cannot be allowed to stand. Indeed, China has already signaled the possibility of restricting the export of critical minerals and associated technologies prospectively.

Greenland’s importance is enhanced by its strategic location. It is the gateway to the Arctic Circle. It is fewer than 2,000 miles from Eastern Canada, and a little over 3,000 miles to the US. It would be very dangerous for the US to allow Russia or China to gain a foothold there. President-elect Trump and many others have recognized this. He noted with some concern that Chinese and Russian ships have been cruising around the island. Trump response is that “we need Greenland for [national] security purposes.” Hence his comments regarding Greenland.

Conclusion

Trump has a history of saying outrageous things just to gauge public reactions. However, in this case I believe he is serious. It is interesting that Donald Trump, Jr. recently visited the island where he was greeted warmly by the citizenry.

I don’t think Trump will go so far as to authorize military action to take it as he has hinted, at least not at this time, but the Danes should be mindful of the possibility prospectively, especially if they cozy up to the Russians or the Chinese. In any event, if nothing else, his pronouncements have sent a message to Denmark that we are closely monitoring their governance of the island and to China and Russia that we will not tolerate their intrusion into it.

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PRESIDENTIAL TRIVIA

Good news! Rather than frustrate you with one of my quizzes I will shift gears and present some interesting and informative trivia regarding our presidents.

Did you know that:

  1. George Washington’s dentures were not made of wood as is commonly thought, but rather of ivory,
    gold, and human and animal teeth, among other materials.
  2. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died within hours of each other on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1826. Neither was aware of the other’s demise.
  3. As a teenager, James Monroe was a hero at the Battle of Trenton during the Revolutionary War. He and some 50 other volunteers crossed the Delaware River ahead of Washington’s main force and harassed the Hessian forces.
  4. James Madison, the “father of the Constitution,” was the shortest president. He was only 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighed less than 100 pounds.
  5. Andrew Jackson is the only president to fight in both the Revolutionary War, when as a 13-year-old he was wounded and taken prisoner, and the War of 1812.
  6. John Tyler was the first president to have a veto overridden by Congress.
  7. James Polk was the first president to retire after one term and not seek reelection.
  8. William Henry Harrison delivered the longest inaugural address in history, a
    105-minute speech without a hat or overcoat, on a cold and windy day on March 4, 1841. After
    developing pneumonia, he died in the White House exactly one month later,
    becoming the president with the shortest tenure and the first one to die in office.
  9. Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during WWII, was only an average student at West Point and graduated in 1915 61st in his class of 164.
  10. Millard Fillmore declined to accept an honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law from
    Oxford, saying, “No man should accept a degree that he cannot read.”
  11. Chester Arthur, who acceded to the presidency upon the assassination of James Garfield, was known as the “Dude President” for his fancy attire and indulgence in extravagant luxury.
  12. William Howard Taft started the tradition of the president throwing out the
    first pitch of the baseball season on April 14, 1910.
  13. Grover Cleveland personally answered the White House telephone during his tenure.
  14. Benjamin Harrison was the first president to have electricity in the White
    House. After he once got an electric shock, he was reluctant to touch the light switches and often left the lights on at night.
  15. William McKinley was the first president to use campaign buttons.
  16. Abraham Lincoln was the only president to obtain a patent. In 1849, he
    invented a complicated device for lifting ships over dangerous shoals by means
    of “buoyant air chambers.” (Alas, his patent was never put into practical use.)
  17. Andrew Johnson was buried with his head resting on a copy of the Constitution (ironic since he was the first president to be impeached).
  18. Ulysses S. Grant was born Hiram Ulysses Grant but changed his name because – wait for it …. – he did not like his monogramed initials (HUG).
  19. Franklin Pierce was the first president to cancel his inaugural ball (due to the death of his son).
  20. James Buchanan is the only president who never married. His niece acted as White House hostess while he was in office.
  21. The much-maligned Herbert Hoover, who presided over the beginning of the Great Depression, refused to accept a salary for his presidency and gave all of his federal paychecks to charity. Some would say he did such a terrible job as president that he didn’t deserve to get paid anyway.
  22. Franklin Roosevelt was a devoted stamp collector who kept up his hobby while in office.
  23. The middle initial ‘S’ in Harry Truman’s name is not an abbreviation and does not stand for another name.
  24. Dwight Eisenhower was an avid golfer who installed a putting green on the White House lawn.
  25. John F. Kennedy was the first person born in the 20th century to become president.
  26. Lyndon B. Johnson graduated from high school at the age of 15.
  27. Richard Nixon was the only president to be elected as both VP and president twice, was the first president to visit all 50 states, and the only president to resign from office.
  28. George H.W. Bush was the only president to serve as United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
  29. Bill Clinton was the only president to have been a Rhodes Scholar.
  30. John Tyler had the most children –15.
  31. Washington, Madison, Jackson, Polk and Buchanan did not have any biological children.
  32. The famous “Teddy Bear” was named in honor of Theodore Roosevelt.
  33. Woodrow Wilson’s picture is featured on the rarely used $100,000 bill.
  34. Herbert Hoover was the only president sworn in by a former president,
    Chief Justice William Howard Taft.
  35. Calvin Coolidge is the only president to take the oath of office in his own home. It was administered by his father who was a notary public.
  36. Presidents John Tyler and Woodrow Wilson were the only presidents who had two official first ladies; both remarried during their presidential tenures.
  37. Grover Cleveland was the only president to be married in the White House (June 2, 1886).
  38. President Joe Biden suffered from a serious stutter as a child. Some of his malicious classmates gave him the nickname “dash.”
  39. Donald Trump is the only sitting U.S. president to set foot in North Korea. On June 30, 2019, he crossed the demarcation line in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea after shaking hands with North Korean leader Jong-Um-Kim. Trump is also the only sitting US President to lay a wreath at the Western Wall in Jerusalem (May 22, 2017).
  40. President Reagan appeared in 53 Hollywood movies from 1937 to 1964, although technically Grover Cleveland was the first president to appear in a dramatic film (albeit a silent one) in 1896.

Conclusion

Well, there you have it, a little history and a little fun.

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JIMMY CARTER

Former President Jimmy Carter passed away on Sunday, December 29 at the age of 100. He was the longest-living president. He served as the 39th president of the US serving from 1976 – 1980. His single term was not without controversy, but this is neither the time nor the place to critique and criticize his tenure. Rather, it is a time to evaluate his life and accomplishments positively and respectfully.

James Earl Carter was born in Plains, GA on October 1, 1924. His father owned a grocery store, and his mother was a registered nurse. As a child, he was ambitious. He began working in the store at the age of ten. His favorite childhood pursuits were following the Atlanta Braves baseball team and listening to political radio programs. In addition, he became deeply religious. As an adult he became a born-again Christian.

Upon his graduation from high school Carter entered the US Naval Academy in 1943. He graduated in 1946 and commenced a career in the Navy. Also in 1946 he married Rosalynn Smith. The marriage endured for 77 years until Rosalynn’s death in 2023 and produced four children.

Carter may have made a career in the Navy were it not for his father’s untimely death in 1953. As a result, he resigned his commission and returned to Plains where he proceeded to manage the family’s peanut farm and care for his mother who was ill.

In 1962 Carter entered politics by running for the US Senate. At the time Georgia was a strongly conservative state with powerful and well-entrenched segregationist and racial influences. Nevertheless, despite his relatively liberal views and policies he won the election. In 1966 he ran for governor, but he was defeated by Lester Maddox, an avowed segregationist and overt racist. Maddox’s views, though abhorrent in today’s world, were in tune with those of many white Georgians at the time.

GA governors were only allowed to serve one term, so in 1970 Carter was able to run again. This time he moderated some of his liberal views, and he won. As governor Carter established himself as a “centrist reformer.” After completing his one term he set his sights on the presidency.

Although he was a Washington outsider and began his campaign with little or no name recognition, he won the 1976 Democrat nomination and faced President Gerald Ford in the election. Although Ford was the incumbent he had not been elected. He had been the VP when President Nixon was forced to resign due to the Watergate Scandal. (A bit of trivia: Ford is the only person to have served as both President and VP without having been elected to either office.) Ford had some baggage mainly as a result of his controversial pardon of the disgraced Nixon. This was deeply unpopular with much of the electorate, but in retrospect it was probably the right decision as it enabled the country to move on.

The country was ready for a change, and Carter appeared to be the right candidate at the right time. At first, he had a sizable lead over Ford, but it steadily narrowed as Election Day approached. In fact, in the final days before the election, several polls showed that Ford had tied Carter, and one Gallop poll found that he was slightly ahead.  

Most analysts conceded that Carter was going to win the popular vote, but the outcome of the electoral vote was uncertain. Ultimately, Carter won, receiving 297 electoral votes and 50.1% of the popular vote. Carter’s victory was partly attributed to his overwhelming support among black voters.

Carter was inaugurated as the 39th president of the US on January 20, 1977. His presidency was characterized by controversy. He was an outsider who resisted conforming to DC’s ways of operating. For instance, he avoided phone calls from members of Congress and, at times, verbally insulted them. Moreover, he was often unwilling to return political favors. Predictably, this resulted in a rift between the White House and Congress and hampered the former’s ability to succeed in getting desired legislation passed.

Furthermore, some of his policies and actions were unpopular and unsuccessful. For example, one of his first acts was to issue an executive order declaring unconditional amnesty for Vietnam War draft evaders. This was to fulfil a campaign promise, but it was very controversial. In addition, during his tenure the country suffered through an economic malaise characterized by persistently high inflation, an average unemployment rate of 6.6% according to the BLS, double-digit interest rates, and an energy crisis instigated by a consortium of oil producers called OPEC. These conditions resulted in a steep and seemingly never-ending recession, which the Carter Administration appeared to be unable to resolve.

Then, the final straw occurred on November 4, 1979, when a group of Iranian students, called the Muslim Students Followers of the Imam’s Line seized control of the US embassy in Tehran.  Fifty-two American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for the next 444 days. Carter was unable to resolve this matter either. Diplomacy failed. Finally, on April 24, 1980 Carter authorized a rescue mission to try to free the hostages. The mission failed, leaving eight American servicemen dead and two aircraft destroyed. This entire incident made Carter appear weak and ineffectual. The hostages remained in captivity until Ronald Reagan took office on January 20, 1981.

On the positive side, Carter succeeded in calming various conflicts around the world. For example, he negotiated the SALT II nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia and returned the Panama Canal to Panama. His most significant accomplishment, however, was negotiating the landmark Camp David Accords with Israel’s Prime Minister Menachim Begin and Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat. This resulted in Egypt formally recognizing Israel, and the creation of an elected government in the West Bank and Gaza and served to reduce tensions in the ME.

In 1980 he ran for a second term. He had to rebuff a serious primary challenge from Senator Ted Kennedy. Although he was re-nominated, the support of the liberal wing of the Party in the election was tepid at best. He was soundly defeated in the election by the charismatic Ronald Reagan. Reagan’s historic campaign slogan “are you better off today than you were four years ago” strongly resonated with the voters. Carter suffered a humiliating defeat carrying only six states plus DC. He was the first elected incumbent president to lose a reelection bid since Herbert Hoover lost to FDR in 1932.

Historians have ranked Carter’s presidency as below average, although generally he was viewed as “sincere, honest and well-meaning and “a man of high moral principles.”

On the other hand, Carter’s post-presidency was considerably more successful primarily due to his diplomacy skills. He proved to be a very successful mediator and became a strong advocate for human rights. Various presidents appointed him as a special envoy to mediate disputes regarding (1) Egypt, Israel and the PLO, (2) Northern Ireland and England, (3) North Korea, (4) Taiwan, (5) Venezuela, (6) and (7) whites and blacks in South Africa, among others.

Carter was the recipient of many awards including, among many others, the American Academy of Achievement‘s Golden Plate Award, an honorary membership of Phi Beta Kappa, the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights, given in honor of human rights achievements, the Hoover Medal, recognizing engineers who have contributed to global causes, three Grammy Awards (10 nominations) for the Best Spoken Word, and most of all the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his “decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”

In 1982 he founded the Carter Center, a non-profit organization whose goals were to advance human rights and alleviate human suffering. One of its accomplishments, working in conjunction with WHO was to eradicate Guinea worm disease. Perhaps, he is best known for the Habitat for Humanity program, which was committed to providing housing for the disadvantaged and the Carter Presidential Center, which promoted human rights, which he conceived and developed.

Carter had a variety of hobbies and interests including fly fishing woodworking, cycling, tennis, painting and skiing. Additionally, he and Rosalynn were close personal friends of Elvis.

The Carters, who were already the longest-wed presidential couple, celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary on July 7, 2023. In a 2019 interview with People he said that he never expected to live as long as he had and that the best explanation for his longevity was a good marriage.  

In recent years Carter’s health began to deteriorate. He was suffering from a variety of ailments. He entered hospice care six months before celebrating his 99th birthday at his home. Rosalynn joined him a few days before her passing.

As I said, Carter died at his home in Plains, Georgia, on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. Following his passing tributes and messages of condolence poured in from all corners, including from all four living former presidents. President Biden characterized him as “an extraordinary leader.” Former President Bill Clinton noted he was “guided by his faith and praised him for “working tirelessly for a better world.” Barack Obama denoted that [Carter] taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and peace.” George W. Bush praised him as a “man of deeply held convictions… loyal to his family, his community, and his country.”

The Biden administration has announced plans to hold an official state funeral and a day of mourning for him on January 9, 2025. Rest in peace President Carter.

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NEW YEAR’S EVE 2024

Wow, another year has gone by! That was fast. As we all know, the older one gets, the more time seems to speed up. In my view, NYE is increasingly a night-out reserved for younger people, while people of a certain age, like my friends and I, prefer a quiet night at home with a few friends.

Tuesday night, people around the world will celebrate New Year’s Eve. Although the specifics of the celebration may differ in various countries, it is generally a time of social gatherings, parties, eating, drinking, merriment, and reflection.

The Pacific island nations of Kiribati (aka Christmas Island), which is nothing more than a coral atoll in the Central Pacific, Tonga, which is a Polynesian kingdom consisting of some170 tiny islands, and Samoa, which is the western-most of the Samoan Islands, will be the first to celebrate; American Samoa, which includes seven tiny islands and atolls in the eastern part of the Samoan Islands, and Baker and Howland Islands, which are uninhabited atolls some 3,100 km southwest of Honolulu, will be the last.

New Year’s Day has been celebrated on January 1 since 45 B. C. That year, Julius Caesar decreed that the Roman Calendar, under which the new year occurred in March, be replaced by the Julian calendar. It has been celebrated on January 1 ever since.

As always, the most extensive celebration will be in Times Square in NYC. According to multiple media reports approximately one million persons are expected to brave the elements and inconveniences to attend the festivities. Furthermore, approximately one billion persons are expected to watch worldwide on live TV and various streaming services. A cornucopia of famous entertainers will be performing live both in person and at various venues around the world. Live entertainment has long been a traditional part of the NYE celebration. Some of you may recall, with nostalgia, the most famous and enduring NYE entertainer of them all, Guy Lombardo. From 1928 until his death in 1977 he entertained us from the ballroom at the Waldorf-Astoria, first on the radio, then on TV. 

In 2024 TV will present a plethora of entertainment options ranging from live entertainment to old movies. My personal favorite is Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, which will be televised for the 53rd consecutive year. Entertainment from various venues will likely be featured. If none of those offerings “floats your boat” you can escape with the Honeymooners marathon, featuring Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph, which is offered every year but never gets stale.

Officially, viewers will be allowed into the Times Square area commencing at 6:00 pm, however it is expected that “early birds” will begin arriving early in the morning. After going through a security check viewers will be directed to one of various ‘viewing pens,” and there they will stay until the end. Basically, if you leave you cannot return. NYC police have decreed that items such as backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, chairs, picnic blankets, backpacks, large coolers and alcohol are prohibited. Moreover, all items will be subject to search. Depending on your point of view these people are either, brave, hardy or crazy. They are willing to stand squeezed in for some 18 hours in the cold without food, water or use of a restroom just to be a part of the action. Depends, anyone?

It is estimated that in excess of a ton of confetti and other trash will be strewn in and around the area. I wouldn’t want to be on cleanup duty tomorrow night.

As always, there is a risk that the festivities will be marred by violence ranging from demonstrations to terror attacks. I believe the risk is more serious this year due the high level of crime in NYC and the Israel-Hamas War. Law enforcement claims it has taken the necessary precautions, but who knows? Prepare for the worst but hope for the best.

Many of the hotels in the area typically offer “ball drop” packages, which enable one to view the festivities in comfort protected from the elements and the crowds. Of course, this comes at a steep price. As the saying goes, if you have to ask the price you probably can’t afford it.

Traditionally, NYE celebrations have been punctuated by fireworks. In NYC probably the best one can be viewed from Battery Park City. Many other cities in the US and around the world will have their own fireworks displays as well.

Many other cities and towns will present their own celebrations. Traditionally, NYE is the busiest day at Disneyland and Disney World, which feature Disney-character shows and fireworks. They will be open and will likely present an array of entertainment and fireworks.

As mentioned above, the biggest and most significant celebration is in NYC. Since 1907 people have been gathering in Times Square to watch the “Ball Drop.” The “Ball Drop” has been held annually every year since, except for 1942 and 1943 when it was canceled due to the wartime blackout.

At precisely at 6:00 pm a huge Waterford crystal ball will be raised to the top of the pole at One Times Square.  At 11:59 pm, the ball will be activated by the push of a special button to begin its descent from the roof of One Times Square down a 141-foot-high pole. Exactly one minute later, at midnight, the ball will reach the roof of the building, and huge lights will signal the start of the New Year.

According to the NYT website the original “ball” was constructed from wood and iron by an immigrant metalsmith named Jacob Starr. It was lit with 100 incandescent bulbs. Over the years, it has gone through seven iterations. The current iteration is a geodesic sphere. It is 12 feet in diameter and weighs 11,875 pounds. It contains 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles. This triangular design enables it to support extremely heavy loads. The ball will be illuminated by 32,256 light-emitting diodes (aka LEDs) of various colors – red, white, blue and green. It will look gorgeous on tv. This will be the final year for the current ball. It will be replaced by the eighth iteration next year.

Times Square has been the focal point of NYE celebrations in the US since 1904. That year, the first organized NYE celebration, consisting of an all-day street festival culminating in a huge fireworks display, was held there. It was reported that at midnight the celebratory noise could be heard as far away as Croton-on-Hudson, some 30 miles away.

The celebration was organized by the New York Times owner, Adolph Ochs, to commemorate the opening of the Times’ new headquarters located in the tiny triangle at the intersection of 42nd Street, Broadway and 7th Avenue. The city renamed the area Times Square in honor of the venerable publication.

Quiz questions:

1) What other historically significant event occurred in NYC in 1904?

2) What was Times Square’s name prior to 1904? See below for the answers.

Two years later NYC banned the fireworks display. Ochs’ response was to replace it with the “Ball Drop.” The details of this “Ball Drop” have evolved over the years, especially technologically.

At the stroke of midnight it is traditional to sing “Auld Lang Syne.” I have always been curious as to the derivation of this song and why it is sung at New Year’s. The origin is murky, but it has generally been attributed to the Scottish poet Robert Burns. He wrote it in 1788, but it is likely that some of the words were derived from other older Scottish poems and ballads.

“Auld Lang Syne” literally translates into English as “long, long ago,” “old times,” or “days gone by.” Thus, at the stroke of midnight we bid farewell to the past year and, at the same time, wish to remember the good times. In some areas the song is also sung at funerals, graduations and any other event that marks a “farewell” or “ending.” Sometimes the singers gather in a circle and hold hands.

As with any other holiday traveling is fraught with complications and dangers. The TSA advises to avoid traveling on NYE and NYD. They are among the most expensive and most crowded days. As always during the winter the weather will be a factor. This year heavy rain is forecast for NYC, but it will probably not deter most of the partygoers.  

CONCLUSION

Whatever your NYE plans may be and however you may celebrate, I urge you to be careful and drive safely and defensively. Pay particular care to watch out for the “other guy.” This is one night where too many people celebrate excessively and drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. These people should not be on the road, but, nevertheless, they are, and they are dangerous both to you and themselves.  For this reason, Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson’s long-time sidekick on the Tonight Show and a noted partygoer, used to refer to New Year’s Eve derisively as “amateur night.” New Year’s Day is the second most deadly holiday for drivers. (Thanksgiving is #1.) Moreover, a whopping 42% of the driving fatalities on NYD are the result of DUI.

Answers to quiz questions:

1) NYC’s first subway line opened in 1904.

2) Longacre Square.

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BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S EXTENSIVE CORRUPTION EXPOSED

Like an erupting volcano the extent of Biden’s corruption and influence-peddling has exploded into public cognizance. We now realize that the Biden Family’s various scandalous activities were far more extensive than many of us suspected. They were akin to what one might see in a third-world country run by an autocratic government.

According to the Congressional Committee on Oversight and Accountability since 2009 Biden and his cohorts in crime have received an estimated $20 million from “foreign entities,” including China, Russia, Ukraine and Romania. This timeline includes his tenure as VP in the Obama Administration as well as his own administration. Therefore, it suggests that Obama may have been complicit in some manner.

Much of the credit for exposing the corruption is attributable to a transparency lawsuit filed by the America First Legal Foundation on September 8, 2022 against the National Archives and Records Administration. It was spearheaded by Stephen Miller, soon to be a senior advisor in the Trump Administration. The purpose was to force NARA to release photographs and other information in its possession with respect to the Biden Family’s dealings with China and other foreign entities.

The lawsuit took two years to adjudicate. The judgment required NARA to make this information available to the public by October 23, 2024, but Biden’s and Obama’s lawyers managed to delay its release until after the election. Their obvious intent was to boost Harris’ chance of winning, but as we know, Trump won anyway. This information has now been released and reported by multiple media sources.

Briefly, it provides conclusive proof of the following:

  1. Biden lied when he repeatedly denied having discussed Hunter’s various business dealings with individuals and companies that represented China and other countries with him. He lied to the media; he lied to the public; and most importantly, he lied to Congress. His denials were absurd. They strained credulity, but many people believed them.
  2. We were supposed to believe that Joe accompanied Hunter on a 26-hour round trip plane ride to China and back and never once discussed the purpose of the trip, the meetings attended, the attendees, and the money Hunter received from a certain Chinese bank. At the time the matter never gained any traction with the mainstream media, but now it’s all become obvious.
  3. NARA had copious evidence in the form of photographs of those meetings, including pictures of the Bidens with Chinese president Xi and BHR Partners CEO Jonathan Li that it had purposely failed to release to the public.
  4. This evidence supports the sworn testimony of Tony Bobulinski and others, which Biden’s allies had tried to discredit.
  5. Now, there is no doubt that Joe was up to his neck in it. There is no doubt that he was, in fact, “the big guy.”
  6. One of the more significant deals that Biden facilitated was BHR’s purchase of a cobalt mine from a consortium of US and Canadian companies. It just so happens that cobalt is a key component of batteries in electric vehicles, which the Administration has been pressuring US car manufacturers to produce and consumers to buy. As a result of that deal China stands to control much of that market.
  7. It’s now easier to understand the motivation for Hunter’s extensive pardon.
  8. These revelations lend much credence to the bombshell about Hunter’s laptop first reported by the NY Post prior to the 2020 presidential election. You may recall that the Dems, their allies in the media, the DOJ, the FBI and others succeeding in suppressing the story about the laptop and the information on it. The goal was to facilitate Biden’s election. In my opinion this played a major role.

I and many others have long suspected that Joe’s soft treatment of China and other countries was due to the money and other favors that these countries had bestowed upon members of his family and him. Quite simply, he was compromised and corrupted. On many occasions he did not act in the best interests of the US. I have mentioned in previous blogs that I thought his corruption might even have risen to the level of treason.

That, however, is not the worst of it. It has become apparent that Biden also corrupted VP Harris, members of his staff, notably Merrick Garland, Tony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, institutions such as the FBI and the DOJ, and possibly others that we are unaware of at this time. We would never have known the extent of the corruption had Trump not won the election. Now we see why the Dems were so desperate to thwart his candidacy.

CONCLUSION

In my opinion, we have merely scratched the surface of this scandal. There is so much more to be disclosed. For example, are members of Congress and other officials involved? How about the infamous Chinese spy balloon that Biden allowed to crisscross the entire country before taking action? Why has China been allowed to buy up huge swaths of US farmland and property in the US adjacent to military bases? Let’s expose the whole story about other controversies such as the source of the COVID pandemic and the investigation of the January 6 incident.

This has the potential to become the worst scandal in American history. It is incumbent upon the Trump Administration to get to the bottom of this corruption. Appoint a special counsel. Direct the new Attorney General to investigate. I know Trump will be busy implementing his agenda, but this is important also.

As I’ve surmised in previous blogs, before leaving office Joe Biden will likely issue full-scale pardons to many others including, among others, himself and other members of his family. However, their crimes are now in the public domain for all to see. They may escape criminal prosecution, but they cannot and will not escape the judgment of history.

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BOXING DAY

Today, December 26, many countries, notably the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries that were formerly part of the British Empire, will celebrate a holiday known as Boxing Day.  Many of those who are unfamiliar with this traditional holiday erroneously assume it is associated with pugilism. That is not the case.

In most countries that celebrate it BD is considered a secular holiday; however, some countries celebrate a religious holiday on December 26.  For example, Germany, The Netherlands and Poland, celebrate the day as a “Second Christmas Day.”  In the Catalonia region of Spain the day is celebrated as “St. Stephen’s Day.”

BD’s origins are murky.  There are various theories.  Based on my research it appears that the holiday can be traced at least to medieval England where it was customary for the aristocracy to allow their servants to spend the day after Christmas with their families.  After all, the servants were obligated to serve their masters on Christmas Day rather than spend the holiday with their own families.  Each servant would receive a “box” containing food, clothing, and/or other gifts to bring home to his or her family.

Over time, this practice was extended to tradesmen and others who performed services for the aristocrats.  Perhaps, this was a forerunner to the present-day custom in many parts of the world, including the US, of giving Christmas gifts to various persons who perform services for us on a regular basis, such as mail carriers, doormen, manicurists, and hairstylists.

The earliest mention of the term “Christmas box” was in Samuel Pepys’ diary in 1663. (Pepys was a member of Parliament during the 17th century who was famous for keeping a diary.)  Others believe the day’s roots go back to Roman times when it was customary to place a metal box, aka the Alms Box, outside the church during the “Feast of St. Stephen” to collect donations for the poor.

BD celebrations vary from country to country.  For instance:

1. In the UK it is a bank holiday.  If it falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, it is celebrated on the following Monday.
2. In Ireland it is celebrated on December 26, regardless of the day of the week, as St. Stephens Day.
3. In Australia it is a federal holiday.  In the state of South Australia it is celebrated as “Proclamation Day,” which commemorates the establishment of South Australia as a British province in 1834.  Supposedly, the proclamation was promulgated at “The Old Gum Tree” in what is presently the suburb of Glenelg North in SA.  Originally, December 28 was designated as BD, but, at some point, it was changed to the first business day after Christmas (probably to accommodate those who wanted to create an extended holiday period).
4. In Canada and New Zealand BD is celebrated as a statutory holiday; that is, it is celebrated on December 26 regardless of the day of the week.
5. In Nigeria BD is celebrated on December 26 as a public holiday for workers and students.  If it falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday.
6. In some countries, notably Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand BD is a huge shopping day, akin to “Black Friday” in the US.  Retailers have extended hours and hold sales.  Shoppers line up early just like on “Black Friday.” Much like in the US, retailers have expanded the Christmas shopping season in order to generate additional revenue. Some retailers in those countries have expanded the period of observation to “Boxing Week.” 
7. In addition, normally all of the aforementioned countries hold a variety of sporting events to mark the day (soccer, rugby, cricket, horse racing, ice hockey, even boxing).

CONCLUSION

Like many holidays, the original significance of BD has been lost, and it has become commercialized excessively.  Such is the way of the modern world.

For most Americans, some years December 26 is merely a day to extend the Christmas holiday and, in some cases, to “recuperate” from it.  This year, with Christmas being on a Wednesday, BD will be a normal working day for most of us, although some may choose to use it as a travel day to hopefully avoid or mitigate the Christmas crush. As always, travelling any distance from home during the holiday period will be fraught with delays, cancellations, adverse weather, and other complications and frustrations, so many people will choose to stay local or even at home.   However you choose to spend the day I hope you enjoy it.

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