A TIME FOR OPTIMISM

On November 4, 2024 America was at a crossroads. It could choose one of two paths. It could either continue on the same divisive, destructive path, or it could opt for a new path toward resurrection and a return to greatness and glory.

On November 5, 2024 the voters chose the correct path. They spoke loudly, clearly, and decisively. They declared that they had had enough of the divisiveness; they had had enough of the unfettered wokeism and DEI; they had had enough of the corruption, and possibly treason, that had characterized the Biden Administration; they had had enough of the lying and gaslighting; they had had enough of a biased judicial system that was applied based on one’s political beliefs rather than the rule of law; they had had enough of a weaponized FBI that targeted people based on politics; they had had enough of a President who rarely put in a full day’s work, was inaccessible, and who often fumbled, stumbled and bumbled his way through the day; they had had enough of being demeaned, disparaged and vilified by so-called elites who thought they were superior and knew what was best for them; they had had enough of an Administration that treated criminals and illegal aliens better that its citizens; they had had enough of a ruinous economy characterized by runaway spending and persistent and pervasive inflation; they had had enough of open borders that allowed millions of illegal aliens, criminals and terrorists and copious amounts of murderous drugs to enter the country; they had had enough of the lack of respect for America around the world among both our allies and our enemies; they had had enough of America being perceived as weak and in decline; they had had enough of a government that put America last instead of first; they had had enough of being called racists, fascists, deplorables, stupid and “Hitler” by Dems because they favored traditional values and policies; and most of all they had had enough of the despondency regarding the future America that their children and grandchildren would be inheriting.

Voters wanted a complete reset. They wanted a president who would be the antithesis of Biden/Harris. They perceived, correctly, that Donald Trump would be that person. After all, he had already been that person during his previous term.

As we know, voters elected Trump president in a massive landslide. He garnered 312 electoral votes, won the popular vote, won all seven swing states, made significant inroads into traditionally Democrat voting groups such as Blacks and Hispanics, and provided the coattails to enable the GOP to retain control of the House and win the Senate.

Trump will not be inaugurated as the 47th president until January 20, but he has not been waiting to organize his presidency and influence policy. As I reported in an earlier blog he has “hit the ground running.” In just five weeks he has nominated most of his cabinet and key advisors; he has become the person to whom world leaders have looked to formulate policy; he has already met with many of them and will likely continue to do so; he has become the person that journalists have sought out for interviews; several key world leaders and business moguls have made the pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago to curry favor and “kiss the ring;” and, most surprisingly, the media has been significantly less hostile (partly due to Trump’s friendly relationship with Jeff Bezos and Patrick Soon-Shiong, owners of the Washington Post and NY Times, respectively). At this point, the world views him as the de facto president.

Trump has already accomplished more in this transitional period than any other president-elect I can recall. For example, Mexico has already agreed to help control illegal immigration by keeping caravans of illegals in Mexico; Canada has agreed to improve controls over the illegal migrants crossing over our northern border; sanctuary jurisdictions have been put on notice; plans are being developed to commence the deportation of criminal and other undesirable illegal aliens on Day 1; and the DOGE Department is already hard at work.

There is a significant difference from 2017. In 2017 Trump was an upstart, an outsider, an interloper. He was not expected to be elected. The DC establishment and their allies in the media were shocked, indignant and irate. They hated and mistrusted him. They did everything they could to undermine his presidency both legally and illegally. Now, the opposite is true. He is widely viewed as the great hope for America and the free world. Everyone wants to be his friend. No one wants to get on his bad side.

The strong feeling is that on Day 1 he will begin to undo the damaging policies of the Biden Administration. He will reinstitute strong, unwavering support for Israel, our only reliable ally in the volatile and strategically critical ME. He will address the issue of antisemitism in our schools and in the country as a whole. His administration will be more open, accessible, honest, and trustworthy. He will commence to secure the border, drill for oil, begin deportations, and reimpose sanctions on Iran, among many other actions. His policies will be designed to unify rather than divide. Personally, I can’t wait for January 20.

CONCLUSION

Various post-election polls have demonstrated a continuing divisiveness among the electorate. For example, according to the latest Politico poll 64% of those who voted for Trump are “very optimistic” about the future, whereas 65% of those who voted for Harris are “very pessimistic.” Based on the last four years this is not really that surprising. My expectation is that as people become exposed to the Trump Administration many of the pessimists will become optimists. According to a Schoen Cooperman/GW University poll a 40% plurality of Americans feel that, unlike the previous Administration the Trump Administration will “get things done.”

In my view there is much reason for optimism. Our allies are reassured; and our enemies are fearful. Everyone knows that Trump says what he means and means what he says. There is a new sheriff intown.

I am reminded of the old tune associated with FDR’s election victory in 1932, which symbolized America’s hope to emerge from the depths of the Great Depression, “Happy Days Are Here Again.”

Trump will be the president of ALL Americans. He will unite rather than divide.

Trump will give Americans hope again; Trump will make America strong again: Trump will make America respected again; Trump will make America safe again; and Trump will make America great again.

DRONES? WHAT DRONES?

“Who you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?” Chico Marx uttered those famous words in the Marx Brothers comedy movie Duck Soup in 1933. Of course, he said it in jest, and at the time, I’m sure it was very funny. However, now when essentially those same words come out of the mouths of John Kirby, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, and other Administration stooges regarding the plethora of drones that we can all clearly see in the skies they are not so funny. They are actually insulting. Does the Administration really think we are so gullible and stupid? Perhaps, they do.

On one level, I actually feel a little sorry for Kirby and the other spokespersons the Administration trots out to converse with the media with respect to this issue (or any other issue, for that matter). He has to stand up there and deflect, obfuscate and lie. He has to defend a situation that anyone with a pair of eyes can ascertain is false. It is an unenviable position to be in. But my compassion and empathy for these spokespersons have their limits, and at this point they have been exceeded.

This story has been very fluid. By the time you read this we may finally have unraveled the drone mystery. But as I write this, the status, based on multiple media sources, including CNN, Fox News, the NY Post, Forbes and many others, is as follows:

  1. There have been in excess of 3,000 sightings to date, mostly in NY and NJ.
  2. Alejandro Mayorkas, the Head of Homeland Security, has been doing what he does best – deny and lie just as he did with respect to the border. First, he was dismissive, blaming “relaxed rules” regarding drones. Then, he admitted that although some people may have seen drones many of the sightings were likely “manned aircraft” or “duplicate sightings.” His latest gems include “the drones don’t appear to be linked to [any] foreign governments;” certain agencies within the DHS have the power to ‘incapacitate’ drones;” and “officials have deployed extra resources to look into the sightings and will let the public know if there is cause for concern.”
  3. The Pentagon has assured us the drones present “no known threat.” I don’t know about you, but I feel so much better already.
  4. The FBI and DHS have issued a joint statement that they are investigating, and at the present time they have advised that there is no evidence of “malicious” intent or a “national security or public safety threat.” That is hardly reassuring especially since those same agencies have been lying consistently for years and have been “investigating” the assassination attempts on Trump for months without providing a resolution.
  5. Some of the sightings have been proximate to sensitive areas such as military installations, utility plants, bridges and tunnels, and President-elect Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, NJ.
  6. At the very least, the drones have become a nuisance interfering with air travel. For instance, a few days ago, Poughkeepsie’s Stewart Airfield had to be closed for a few hours. Don’t be surprised if there is a collision between a drone and an aircraft at some point.
  7. NYS Governor Hochul has passed the buck to Congress suggesting that it should enact legislation giving the state the “power to deal directly with the drones.”
  8. Various members of Congress and state and local officials have expressed concern and called upon the feds to act.
  9. Many people are losing patience and have suggested that we just shoot them all down, or at least a few of them so that we can ascertain more information about what they are, where they came from, who launched them, and their capabilities. President-elect Donald Trump is among those who have advocated such action. For the record, I concur.
  10. This is one case where the unknown is worse than the known. Many people believe that the government possesses knowledge regarding these drones, but for some reason it is loath to tell us. The trustworthiness of the government is already at a low ebb. At this point, people are imagining the worst, for example, a foreign power gathering data (like the Chinese spy balloon), an Iranian “mother ship” off the Eastcoast, the prelude to an attack of some sort, or even space aliens. Yes, some of these theories seem preposterous, but they are filling the void created by the absence of facts.
  11. There are nearly one million recreational and commercial drones registered with the FAA. Drones are legal in many states, including NJ where a goodly portion of them have been sighted, but there are regulations operators must follow. For example, pilots are required to be certified, and recreational drones are required to remain within the view of the operator. Normally, the battery life of commercially available drones is about one hour. It has been suggested that many of those that people have observed have been in the air longer. Also, there have been reports that some of them are the size of a large automobile, which sounds unlikely. Unfortunately, due to the surge in their numbers there is an enhanced possibility for unsafe or malicious activity.

CONCLUSION

This is yet another instance where the federal government has failed to respond to a crisis situation in a timely and forthright manner. In the last few years whenever such a situation has arisen the responsible agency has either not responded or responded in an inadequate manner, e. g. the border crisis, East Palestine, various natural disasters, protecting Trump, and now this. The likelihood is that the government knows the full story, but it has chosen not to tell us. Its favorite reason for withholding information is always “need to know.” Well, in this case we, the people, need to know. I say, just be honest and tell the truth.

TRUMP’S CABINET NOMINATIONS

The Dems and their aiders and abettors in the mainstream media are at it again. They are doing what they do best – criticize, besmirch, denigrate, exaggerate and lie. This has been one of their favorite pastimes for the last several years. They have done it to Donald Trump, his family, his friends, his supporters, his supreme court nominees and now his Cabinet appointees. It’s always the same plan of attack – “anonymous sources,” or “unnamed sources,” or a group of “former officials.” They rarely name names, or if they do it is always disaffected, vindictive, vengeful political enemies whose objectivity is severely marred, such as Mitt Romney, Megan McCain, Liz Chaney, or virtually any Democrat.

In some cases, their tactics were successful, for a while. Eventually, however, those smears have been exposed and discredited. Eventually, the voters caught on as evidenced by Trump’s historic landslide election victory. As I have discussed in previous blogs in the wake of said election the Dems and their allies in the media and elsewhere are in shock and disarray. The Party leaders are blaming everyone but themselves, for example, Biden, Harris, the campaign, even Obama, Clinton and the electorate, itself. As I have said before, by failing to ascertain, accept and correct the cause for their decisive defeat, namely their radically woke policies, they will be doomed to repeat their losses.

Their credibility is at the lowest ebb I can remember. Few people trust anything the mainstream media says anymore. (Not many people trusted politicians to begin with.) The media has failed to fulfill its primary responsibilities to the people, that is to be their watchdog over the government and to report objectively. Left-leaning media outlets, such as CNN, MSNBC, the NY Times, and the Washington Post have been attracting significantly fewer followers.

However, that has not stopped them from attacking some of President-elect Trump’s cabinet nominations. At the present time their favorite target seems to be Pete Hegseth, although Tulsi Gibbet, Kash Pitel, and RFK, Jr. have also received some criticism. It would not be surprising if they targeted others prospectively. The specifics may differ from case to case, but the primary motive in each one is the same. These nominees have promised to “clean house” and promulgate deep reforms, and entrenched “deep staters” are terrified at those prospects.

Pete Hegseth is Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense. Pete has been working as a Fox News contributor and a co-host of the popular Fox and Friends news show. He is a combat veteran who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq. He has earned two Bronze Star Medals. For the benefit of the uninitiated, a Bronze Star is awarded to a person who has displayed “heroic or meritorious achievement” in combat.

    Hegseth has expressed a strong commitment to restoring the military to its former level of strength and readiness. He has vowed to weed out the “wokeness” that has infiltrated our military under the current Administration. He has stated that henceforth promotions will be awarded by merit and expertise rather than by DEI, and policy will be dictated by what is in the best interests of the US. Those that disagree with or impede the foregoing will suffer a loss of position and authority and/or be forced to retire. Obviously, this will adversely affect some powerful, well-connected, and well-entrenched people. They are resisting with all their might. Opposition has been and will continue to be fierce.

    For example, NBC News reported that “ten former [co-workers] and Fox News employees claimed that Hegseth co-hosted a weekend show with alcohol on his breath.” Of course, these sources were “anonymous.” The New Yorker reported that according to “anonymous “whistle blowers and former staff at the Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America during his tenure from 2007 – 2016 Hegseth was “totally sloshed and fostered a hostile work environment for female staff.” Moreover, while at a strip club he had to be “dragged offstage after trying to join in with the dancers.” These media stories strike me as way too extreme to be credible.

    Hegseth has many strong allies among the military rank and file and his current and former co-workers, including those him know him best such as Will Cain, Jesse Watters, Kayleigh McEnany and Brian Kilmeade. It is no surprise that NBC News failed to contact them regarding the aforementioned story. Cain, who perhaps knows him the best, opines “Pete Hegseth is exactly what the Pentagon needs: a leader who prioritizes strength over optics and results over rhetoric.”

    A key voice in the nomination approval process will be Senator Joni Ernst, a combat veteran and a victim of sexual assault herself. As the 4th ranking Republican in the Senate, she wields much power and influence, especially with respect to military matters. Initially, she seemed to have her doubts regarding Hegseth, but after meeting with him she has signaled her support.

    Finally, let’s not forget the most important supporter of all – President-elect Trump. He is very familiar with the aforementioned smear tactics, and he will not be intimated or deterred by it.

    CONCLUSION

    I strongly concur that Hegseth would make a fine SD. He has extensive combat experience; he is a patriot and a decorated combat hero; he has the support of the miliary rank and file; and the anonymous charges levied against him have no merit. Traditionally, the Senate has recognized that a president-elect is entitled to select Cabinet members that support his political views and beliefs. Generally, it has approved his nominees absent an egregious circumstance. As we have seen, some have encountered opposition for various reasons. However, let’s not forget that Trump has a strong mandate from the people, which should give his critics in the Senate pause.

    I expect that ultimately most of Trump’s choices, including Hegseth, will be approved. I look forward to the improvements that they will bring to both the government and our lives.

    THE UNOFFICIAL PRESIDENT

    Quick question. Who is the president of the US at the present time? I don’t mean the legal president. Obviously, that is Joe Biden. I mean to whom, is the world actually looking for leadership? Who has been representing the US at meetings with key politicians and world leaders at which future policies are being formulated? Who is representing the US at ceremonial events, such as the reopening of Notre Dame? Who is the person journalists want to interview regarding future US policy? To whose home have world leaders, billionaires and other influential people been making pilgrimages, to show support and curry favor? Whose Florida home has been dubbed the “Winter White House?” Whose opinions now matter? Hint: it’s not Biden.

    In my opinion, we have not had a real functioning president for some time, perhaps since 2020. Biden has generally been unavailable. He works a very short day, when he works at all. I don’t recall the last time he gave a real press conference and took real questions as opposed to prearranged cream puff questions from preselected journalists. His typical discussions with journalists have been very brief as he is walking to or from Air Force One or Marine One. Often, they are unintelligible over the noise of the engines. When he does deign to speak to the media his comments are often inane and fatuous.

    VP Kamala Harris is no better. Since the election she has been largely incognito as well. I have not seen her talking to the press, other world leaders, politicians or anyone for that matter. In short, neither Biden nor Harris has been “presidential” at all. If not the president or VP, who is running the government? Who is addressing our critical issues of which there are many? Who is reassuring our allies and protecting us from our enemies? Many of us have long suspected it is some hidden cadre of unelected “deep staters,” but no one really knows for sure. In my opinion, since the election it has gotten even worse, and that, my friends, is very scary.

    I submit that President-elect Donald Trump has edged into this vacuum and in many ways, he has been acting as the unofficial, de facto president. It was he that French President Macron invited to the ceremonies of the re-opening of Notre Dame. It is he who has met with the presidents of Mexico and Canada to formulate prospective immigration policy. It is he who has held preliminary discussions with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky regarding peace in its war with Russia. It is he who has dispatched envoys to the ME to discuss possible parameters for a settlement. It is he who has threatened Iran with repercussions if it continues to foment terrorism. It is he who has been in demand for interviews regarding prospective US policy. And it is he who is already influencing the actions of Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Israel and other regimes even though he will not be inaugurated until January 20, 2025. Everyone knows there will be a new sheriff in town shortly, and no one wants to get on his bad side.

    I have not seen a president-elect wield this much power and influence in my lifetime. Some may not like it, but I and many others find it refreshing and reassuring. Trump has a huge mandate, and he is already working on it. Many observers have already acknowledged this. For example, according to NBC News, not exactly a friend or a supporter of Trump’s “[he] is already acting like he’s president.” Similarly, Politico, another frequent critic, has acknowledged that the “Trump movement is a powerful expression of democracy.”

    Journalist Miranda Devine has been harshly critical of Biden and Harris and their administration. In her opinion Biden has become a “PINO,” president in name only. There is a double meaning. PINO is an abbreviation for “Pinocchio,” which refers to Biden’s longtime habit of lying, exaggerating and plagiarizing.

    CONCLUSION

    It has been said that one of the ramifications of Trump’s landslide victory was to terminate the influence of the so-called “Five Families” of our political system (another double meaning). We have been under the influence, in one way or another, of the Bidens, the Bushes, the Obamas, the Clintons and, to a lesser extent, the Cheneys for decades. Trump has managed to vanquish them all. In 2016 he wrested the GOP nomination from Jeb Bush and then he defeated Hillary Clinton in the election; Liz Cheney’s association with the Lincoln Project and the since denigrated committee that “investigated” the “January 6” incident exposed her as a bitter, vindictive, has-been and led to her defeat in 2022; Dick Cheney has, in Trump’s words, devolved into an “irrelevant RINO;” and in 2024 he defeated Harris who was handpicked by Obama, Clinton and others to continue the Obama-Clinton legacy.

    Additionally, Obama’s recent speeches have exposed him. He is no longer the slick orator who mesmerizes his listeners. He seems to have lost his touch. During the campaign many black voters did not appreciate his lecturing them to vote for Harris. Furthermore, in his most recent speech he accused the GOP of doing what the Dems, in fact, have done, e. g. rigging elections and weaponizing the justice system.

    The American public has wised up to them. Their time has passed. Devine put it succinctly; they’ve been “consigned to the ash heap of history.”

    Trump will bring a breath of fresh air to America, a new attitude. Trump will make us proud to be an American again. Trump will “make America great again.”

    THIS MONTH IN HISTORY – DECEMBER

    Many historically-significant events have occurred during the month of December. Below please find what I consider the most significant:

    12/1/1955 – Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery, AL for refusing to surrender her seat on a bus to a white man. This action precipitated a year-long bus boycott and many other protests against segregation led by the Reverend Martin Luther King, among others, and was what many consider the seminal event for the civil rights movement.
    12/2/1804 – Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned Emperor of France by Pope Pius VII.
    12/2/1823 – President James Monroe articulated the “Monroe Doctrine,” which, essentially, forbad any further colonization of the Western Hemisphere by any European power, and which became a key element of the US’s foreign policy prospectively.
    12/2/1954 – The Senate condemned Senator Joseph McCarthy for misconduct, effectively ending his irresponsible communist witch-hunt.
    12/3/1967 – Dr. Christiaan Barnard performed the first successful heart transplant in Cape Town, South Africa.
    12/6/1492 – Christopher Columbus “discovered” the “New World,” landing at the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.
    12/6/1865 – The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, which abolished slavery, was ratified.
    12/6/1973 – Gerald Ford was sworn in as vice president replacing Spiro Agnew who had been forced to resign following his pleading “no contest” to charges of income tax evasion.
    12/7/1787 – Delaware became the first state to ratify the US constitution.
    12/7/1941 – Japan perpetrated a surprise attack of the US naval base at Pearl Harbor destroying the US Pacific Fleet and precipitating the US’s entry into WWII. FDR called it a “date that will live in infamy,” and it has.
    12/10/1896 – Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel died. In his will he stipulated that a committee of the Norwegian Parliament award from his estate annual prizes (valued at approximately $1 million) for Peace, Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, Literature and Economics.
    12/11/1901 – Guglielmo Marconi transmitted the first transatlantic radio signal.
    12/11/1936 – King Edward VIII abdicated the English throne in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
    12/13/1642 – Dutch navigator Abel Tasman discovered New Zealand.
    12/14/1799 – George Washington died at Mt. Vernon.
    12/14/1911 – Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first person to reach the South Pole.
    12/15/1791 – Virginia became the 11th state to ratify the Bill of Rights making it an official part of the Constitution. (Ratification of an amendment to the Constitution requires 75% of the states, and Vermont had become the 14th state. The three holdouts were Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Georgia, which did not ratify it until 1939.)
    12/15/1961 – Notorious Nazi SS Colonel Adolph Eichmann was sentenced to death in Jerusalem for his role in the Holocaust during WWII.
    12/16/1773 – A group of Bostonians, disguised as Indians, boarded British ships anchored in Boston Harbor and dumped 300+ containers of tea overboard as a protest to what they viewed as an unjust tax on the product. This became known as the Boston Tea Party and was a part of the chain of events that culminated in the American Revolutionary War.
    12/17/1903 – The Wright Brothers – Wilbur and Orville – made the first successful airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, NC.
    12/19/1946 – War broke out in what was then called French-Indochina. Eventually, the French were ousted, and the US got drawn into war in Vietnam, which did not end well for us.
    12/20/1860 – South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. Over the next few months ten other states followed, and the Civil War ensued.
    12/21/1846 – Dr. Robert Liston was the first surgeon to use anesthesia (in a leg amputation in London).
    12/21/1945 – General George Patton, aka “Old Blood and Guts,” died from injuries suffered in a car accident in Germany. Some historians have postulated that the accident was intentional, but this has never been proven.
    12/23/1947 – The transistor was invented at Bell Laboratories.
    12/25 – Christmas Day when Christians commemorate the birth of Christ.
    12/25/1776 – George Washington led a small contingent of Colonial troops across the Delaware River from Valley Forge, PA to Trenton, NJ in the dead of night, where they surprised and defeated a substantially larger contingent of Hessian mercenaries. This daring and famous victory provided a major boost to the flagging revolutionary war effort.
    12/26 – Boxing Day is celebrated in the UK, Canada, and various other countries that, formerly, were part of the British Empire. It has nothing to do with pugilism. Most likely, it has evolved from the 18th Century English custom of giving a “Christmas box” containing gifts, such as food or clothes, to servants and tradesmen as a reward for good service throughout the year.
    12/26 – 1/1 – Kwanza, an African – American holiday established in 1966, is observed. It celebrates family unity and a bountiful harvest. The word means “first fruit” in Swahili.
    12/29/1890 – The US cavalry massacred in excess of 200 Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee, SD., which became a symbol of the white man’s brutality to Native Americans.
    12/31/1781 – The Bank of New York became the first bank to receive a federal charter. It commenced business on January 7, 1782, in Philadelphia.
    12/31/1879 – Inventor Thomas Edison first demonstrated the incandescent lamp (light bulb) at his lab in NJ.
    12/31 – New Year’s Eve is celebrated throughout the world.

    Birthdays – Charles Stuart, American portrait painter (of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, among others), 12/3/1755; Joseph Conrad, Polish novelist, 12/3/1857; Martin Van Buren, 8th President, 12/5/1782; General George Armstrong Custer, 12/5/1839; Walt Disney; 12/5/1901; Ira Gershwin (wrote several hit songs for “Broadway” shows), 12/6/1896; Eli Whitney (cotton gin), 12/8/1765; Clarence Birdseye (invented process for freezing foods), 12/9/1886; Emily Dickenson (poet), 12/10/1830; Melville Louis Kossuth Dewey (invented Dewey decimal system used to categorize books in libraries), 12/10/1851; NYC Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia,12/11/1882; John Jay (first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court), 12/12/1745; General James Doolittle (led audacious bombing raid on Tokyo during WWII), 12/14/1896; Alexandre Eifel (Eifel Tower), 12/15/1832; Ludwig van Beethoven (composer), 12/16/1770; George Santayana (philosopher) (“Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.”), 12/16/1863; Wily Brandt (Chancellor of West Germany), 12/18/1913; Harvey Firestone (Firestone Tire and Rubber), 12/20/1868; Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvli, aka Josef Stalin, 12/21/1879; Claudia Alta Taylor, aka “Lady Bird Johnson,” 12/22/1912; Japanese WWII Emperor Hirohito, 12/23/1901; Christopher “Kit” Carson, frontiersman, 12/24/1809; Howard Hughes, 12/24/1905; Isaac Newton (theory of gravity), 12/25/1642; Clara Barton (nurse who founded American Red Cross), 12/25/1821; Humphrey Bogart, 12/25/1899; Mao Tse Tung, 12/26/1893; Louis Pasteur (pasteurization process), 12/27/1822; (Thomas) Woodrow Wilson, 28th President, 12/28/1856; Andrew Johnson (17th president, first to be impeached), 12/29/1808; Pablo Casals (cellist), 12/28/1876; Rudyard Kipling (poet, wrote Jungle Book), 12/30/1865; Hideki Tojo (Japanese WWII Prime Minister), 12/30/1884; General George C. Marshall (Army Chief of Staff, WWII), 12/31/1880.

    NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW…EXCEPT THE BIDENS

    All politicians lie, obfuscate, exaggerate, and omit certain information. Otherwise, they would never win an election. Most of us are cognizant of this and accept it. We may not like it, but we accept it.

    Some examples to illustrate my point: (1) FDR and his aides hid his polio from the public. (2) JFK hid a plethora of diseases. Despite his slim, athletic-looking physique and skill at sports such, as sailing and golf, he suffered from a variety of health issues, including spinal problems, osteoporosis, and Addisons’ disease, which damaged his adrenal glands and caused fatigue, digestive difficulties, low blood pressure, severe allergies and urinary tract infections. In fact, he was probably one of the unhealthiest presidents. (3) LBJ continually disseminated false and incomplete information regarding the Vietnam War. (4) During his campaign Bush the elder famously asserted “read my lips. No new taxes.” Of course, once in office he did just that. (5) Bush the younger dragged us into the war with Iraq based on the “certainty” that Saddam Hussein possessed “weapons of mass destruction.” Such weapons were never found and probably never existed. (6) Most politicians engage in questionable deals with people seeking favor or influence.

    Yes, we are aware and accept a certain amount of the foregoing. We may not like it, but we regard it as a “cost of doing business,” if you will.

    However, the Bidens have taken these activities to a whole new level. They have been aided and abetted by a biased mainstream media for the past nine years. Moreover, they have benefited from a huge legal double standard. Those of us who get our news from legitimate sources such as Fox News have been aware of this. The “Kool-Aid drinkers” among us have probably not been and may still deny it. At this point, the mountain of proof of their corruption is evident to all those who care to look. I could write an entire book about this, and someday someone will likely do so. But for purposes of this blog, below please find just the highlights or, rather, the lowlights.

    Trump was not supposed to win the 2016 election. Supposedly, it was Hillary Clinton’s “turn.” The Washington insiders had it all planned out. Clinton would serve two terms, continue the Obama-Clinton agenda, and then hand it over to another Dem Party politician. When Trump declared his candidacy, most of us were shocked and skeptical. Few people took him seriously. We figured he was on a lark and would soon get tired of the process and withdraw. He fooled everyone. He dominated a crowded and weak GOP field, won the nomination, and then, shockingly, upset Clinton in a very close election. Suddenly, the entrenched “deep staters” panicked. Trump was a “wild card,” a “fly in the ointment,”, a “monkey in the wrench” who could not be controlled. He had pledged to “drain the swamp.” They feared that he would. He was a threat to the entrenched, powerful “deep staters.” He had to be thwarted.

    We all know what happened next. In an effort to besmirch his character and hinder his presidency Trump’s enemies conjured up a series of “crimes.” Some of them included the “Russia hoax” and “dossier,” the mischaracterization of the phone call to Ukrainian officials, the FISA warrants, calling him a “fascist,” “Hitler,” and a “threat to democracy,” and the two impeachment trials, among many others. Their goal was to damage his reputation, foil his presidency and/or get him out of office. As we know, eventually they succeeded. In 2020 Trump lost to Biden in a close election,

    When he declared for the 2024 election their plan was to prevent him from winning at all costs. First, they sought to keep him off the ballot in some states. When that failed, they conjured up criminal cases. As a convicted felon they figured he would be incarcerated or, if not, so severely damaged that he would lose the election. They subjected Trump to such an unending spiel of hateful rhetoric that some deranged person shot him and came within a hair of assassinating him.

    As justification for attacking a sitting president and later a former president seeking re-election, they continually spouted the mantra “no one is above the law.” How many times have we heard that from Dems over the last several years? Incidentally, now that Trump has won the election isn’t it funny how all these criminal cases have withered away?

    Meanwhile, the Bidens were and still are involved in a plethora of illegal activities including bribery, corruption, influencing-peddling, human trafficking, and possibly espionage. Much of the evidence has been hidden or destroyed, so we are unaware of the depths of their crimes. Likely, we will never know everything, but what we do know is bad enough. Again, there is way too much to discuss in a simple 1,500-word blog. If you doubt me, I suggest you follow the late Casey Stengel’s advice and “look it up.”

    There is ample evidence that Hunter Biden has been the point-man for these activities. In addition, there is ample evidence that Joe Biden has been deeply involved. The whole point of these schemes was to sell access to Biden first as VP then as President. Like the mafia capos he, the “big guy,” has been getting a “taste” of every deal. Moreover, it appears that other Biden family members may also be involved.

    The media has protected the Bidens. They have not pursued these stories, most notably Hunter’s infamous laptop and “pay for play” deals and Joe’s Biden’s declining cognitive abilities. During the 2020 election they denigrated the contents of the laptop as “Russian disinformation.” The cash payments to Hunter were swept under the rug. The media aided and abetted Biden’s campaign strategy of avoiding the public as much as possible. Had those matters been made public Trump would likely have won the election.

    And now, we come to the current Biden-family malfeasance – THE PARDON. I will stipulate that all presidents issue pardons as is their right under the Constitution. However, the scope of Hunter’s is unprecedented and excessive. Most pardons are issued to convicted persons who have already served some or all of their sentence. Hunter’s covers not only the tax fraud and gun convictions that we know about, crimes for which he has pled guilty but not yet served a day in prison, but also any and all crimes between 2014 and 2025 that he may have committed. Basically, it is an unlimited get-out-of- jail-free card. So much for “no one is above the law.”

    Before the election Joe had continually asserted that he would not pardon Hunter. Many of us knew better. It was a virtual certainty that he would do so. So, the announcement did not surprise us, although the scope of it did. I would not be surprised if he issues pardons to other family members and cohorts as well as himself before he leaves office. His intent is to bury all of his family’s prior nefarious activities, and that would be the only way to do it.

    Donators and other supporters who believed in Joe were shocked, disillusioned and even despondent. Even the DOJ was reported to have been surprised. They all had taken Biden at his word. CA Governor, and Presidential hopeful, Gavin Newsome, who has consistently supported Joe, told reporters “I’m disappointed, and I cannot support the [pardon].” The outspoken James Carvill, who has been brutally honest about the ill-advised direction of the Dem Party, in general, and the 2024 campaign, in particular, was irate. He railed that “Biden’s delusional self-belief, mendacity and corruption [have] wrecked the country and now, on his way out the door, [he’s] wrecked his party.” He added, “it’s hard to see his extraordinarily broad pardon for his son and the lies he told about it as anything but self-preservation.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.

    Many donors and other supporters, who apparently believed his denials, felt betrayed, not just by the pardon but also by the campaign’s missing $2.5 billion. No one seems to know where it went, or if they do, they are not saying. Many of them, particularly the myriad of small donors, feel they were “ripped off.” The Party has some repair work to do there.

    As justification, Joe claimed Hunter, being the President’s son, was “singled [out]” for harsher treatment. Most people recognize that as an outlandish lie. In fact, the opposite has been true. Merrick Garland, the president’s own AG has had hands-on involvement in the case. In addition, the DOJ has bent over backwards to protect the family and otherwise impede the IRS’ investigation. It has consistently blocked any evidence that could have led to Joe’s involvement. Furthermore, it slow-walked the prosecution of some of the more egregious crimes to allow the statute of limitations to lapse.

    In their testimony under oath Joe Ziegler and Gary Shipley, the two IRS whistleblowers, disclosed that they had produced “mountains” of evidence that Special Council David Weiss failed to follow up on. Furthermore, there have been numerous similar cases where ordinary citizens without Hunter’s connections have been penalized to the full extent of the law.

    Mark Scarsi, the federal judge who was about to sentence Hunter, also scoffed at Joe’s claim and strongly criticized the pardon. He commented that “the Constitution provides the president with broad authority to grant reprieves and pardons …. but nowhere does [it] give the President the authority to rewrite history.” Finally, Scarsi denoted that “11 different Article III judges appointed by six different presidents, including [Joe], [have] considered and rejected the defendant’s claims [of harsher treatment].”

    CONCLUSION

    Based on the evidence that has come to light Joe’s corruption and influence peddling can be traced back to his years as VP and, quite possibly, to his time as a Senator. He once described himself as “the poorest man in Congress.” Recently, Forbes valued his net worth at $10 million. Not bad for someone who has lived exclusively on a public servant’s salary for 50+ years.

    The revelations of the past several years have shattered Joe’s reputation as an honest politician who was a champion of the working class (“Joe Sixpack”). According to columnist Michael Goodwin writing in the NY Post these revelations of family-wide influence peddling “proves” that “he’s been corrupt for decades.” Goodwin added that “those who refused to consider the possibility that Joe personally profited from the $20 million foreign sources paid his son and brother [despite having no useful experience or expertise] … simply refused to see the evidence.”

    His pardoning of Hunter was the crowning touch of the demise of his reputation. In my view, the problem was not the pardon, itself. It can be argued that he was within his rights to pardon his son. Rather, it was the extent of it (11 years encompassing acts for which Hunter had not even been accused) and the fact that Joe continually lied about it. As I said, many of his allies and supporters had believed his denials, and they were shattered and disappointed. At the moment, Joe’s standing within the Dem Party and indeed the country as a whole has sunken to a new low. As I said, in my opinion Hunter’s pardon is only the beginning. I expect Joe to pardon any and all others who were complicit, both family and non-family.

    In the words of pollster Nate Silver Joe has been unmasked as a “selfish and senile old man.” Longtime chief of staff Ted Kaufman once labeled him as “an equal-opportunity disappointer.” In my opinion, the extent of his corruptness rivals that of any other president in history. We may never know the true extent of it.

    At some point, Trump will undoubtedly issue pardons to certain people whom he feels have been imprisoned unjustly. The Dems will howl, but they will have no basis for complaining. Now anything goes with respect to presidential pardons. Biden has established the precedent.

    A DATE IN INFAMY

    Saturday, December 7, will mark the 83rd anniversary of one of the most heinous, despicable acts in modern history – Japan’s sneak attack on Pearl Harbor.  In 1994 Congress designated December 7 as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day as a way to remember and pay homage to the 2,400 US military and civilian personnel who were killed and 1,800 wounded in the attack.  The day is not a federal holiday, but flags are flown at half-mast and many organizations hold special ceremonies.   

    Each year thousands of people flock to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and Visitors’ Center to pay their respects. For many years thousands of survivors made the journey to honor their fallen comrades. At the present time it is estimated that there are only a few dozen survivors still alive, and most of them are too old and infirmed to attend.

    The 83rd commemoration is scheduled to commence at 6:55 am Honolulu time, the exact time of the commencement of the attack, following a moment of silence. Various ceremonies are scheduled most of which will be livestreamed. Highlights will include ceremonies at USS Arizona, USS Utah, and USS Oklahoma cites, a parade, and the Blackened Canteen Ceremony.

    Appropriately, the theme of the parade will be “remembering our past while celebrating that once bitter enemies can become friends and allies.” In point of fact, that accurately characterizes the relationship between the US and Japan for the last 80 years or more.

    The annual “Blackened Canteen Ceremony” takes place aboard the Arizona Memorial. The canteen is a relic of an air raid conducted by the US over Shizuoka, Japan in 1945. Afterwards, a local farmer found a blackened canteen amid the wreckage, and the canteen has become part of the annual PH Day Remembrance. US and Japanese survivors will gather on the Arizona, say a silent prayer, and pour whiskey out of a canteen into the water to pay homage to those who were killed in the attack.

    As President FDR forecast, December 7, 1941 is truly a date that has lived in infamy.  It is one of those dates we can never forget.  It is burned into our very souls. Mention that date to a person of a certain age and their reaction will be akin to later generations’ reaction to November 22, 1963 or September 11, 2001.  Most any person over the age of five on those dates remembers where he was, what he was doing and how he felt when he heard the news.  Those are dates that had a profound effect on our lives both individually and collectively.

    On December 6, 1941 America was still working its way out of the Great Depression, which began in 1929 with the stock market crash.  Unemployment was at 9.9%, not good, but a significant improvement from the peak of 25% in 1932.  Americans were not thinking about war.  After all, we had just fought the “Great War,” (aka, the “War to End Wars”).  Sure, there was a war waging in Europe, but we were not involved directly.  We had no boots on the ground, and we had a vast ocean between us and them.  Most Americans were focused on their own lives, not on world events. America was in full isolationist mode.  All that was about to change suddenly, violently, tragically and irrevocably.

    We all know what happened on December 7, 1941.  We know that the Japanese executed a devastating surprise attack on our naval base at Pearl Harbor that precipitated our involvement in WWII.  Approximately, 2,800 lives were lost, civilian as well as military, along with most of our Pacific Fleet and airplanes.  America switched immediately from peacetime mode to wartime mode.  Patriotism and nationalism abounded.  The “greatest generation” was on the march.

    As we all know, America recovered to win the war after four years of intense and costly fighting.  There is no need for me to rehash those events.  The Pacific War has been the subject of numerous books, movies, and tv productions.  The central theme of this blog will focus on the events that led up to the war with Japan.

    Every war has its immediate cause and its underlying causes. The attack on Pearl Harbor was the immediate cause. But, what were the underlying causes? What would make Japan start a war that it had virtually no chance of winning? Glad you asked. Read on.

    Many, if not most, historians maintain that the US actually provoked Japan into starting the war, although we did not intend for them to devastate our naval fleet in the fashion they did.  During the 1930’s we took various actions that, in reality, left Japan no choice, to wit:

    1. The US was providing assistance to the Chinese who were at war with Japan.  This included providing airplane pilots, armaments and other supplies and materials. Japan had been at war with China since the 1930’s.  Its extreme brutality was exemplified by the Nanking Massacre, aka the Rape of Nanking, which began in December 1937.  In a six-week period over 300,000 Chinese civilians were murdered, and there was widespread raping and looting.  This shocking brutality was a portent of the Pacific War.

    2. Along with the British and the Dutch the US military was actively planning prospective military operations against the Japanese in the Far East to counter its aggression.

    3. Japan had few natural resources of its own; it needed to import raw materials, such as coal, iron, oil, rubber and bauxite, from the US and other countries in Southeast Asia to fuel its burgeoning industries.  In the late 1930’s the US began to severely limit its access to these materials by enforcing sanctions, limits and embargoes.  This aided the British and the Dutch, who were concerned about Japan’s aggressive behavior in the Far East, but ultimately it provoked the Japanese.

    4. Thus, one can view the attack on Pearl Harbor, not as an isolated event, but rather, as the last act in a long line of connected ones.

    Many historians believe that FDR provoked Japan intentionally, because he wanted to go to war against the Axis Powers, and the American people were decidedly against doing so. Before you scoff at that notion, consider that we have fought other wars following provocations that may or may not have been fabricated. For example:

    1. The Spanish-American War in 1898 began when the battleship, Maine was blown up in Havana harbor under mysterious circumstances. 75% of her crew were killed. “Remember the Maine” became the signature battle cry of that war.  There is evidence that suggests that the Maine was not blown up by the Spanish but may have blown up by accident or been sabotaged to provide a pretext for us to enter that war.

    2. The legal basis for commencing the Vietnam War was the Gulf of Tonkin incidents of August 2 and 4, 1964. A US destroyer, the USS Maddox, exchanged fire with North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf, which is off the coast of Vietnam. As a result, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which authorized President Johnson to assist any Southeast Asian country that was being jeopardized by “communist aggression.”  Johnson was only too eager to do so.  It was later determined that some key facts, such as who fired first, are in dispute.

    3. President Bush, 43, “sold” the Iraq War to the American people by asserting there was “proof” that Iraq possessed “weapons of mass destruction.” Such weapons have never been found.

    So, if FDR did, in fact, goad Japan into attacking us so that we could enter the war against the Axis Powers, it would not have been the only time the US Government used that tactic. In the 1950’s the renowned historian Harry Elmer Barnes (who, ironically, later lost much of his credibility by becoming a vociferous denier of the Holocaust) published a series of essays describing the various ways in which the US Government goaded the Japanese into starting a war it could not win and manipulated American public opinion.  After the war, Secretary of War Henry Stimson admitted that “we needed the Japanese to commit the first overt act.”

    Most historians agree that even the Japanese leadership in the 1930’s knew it could not win a prolonged war with the US. They realized that the US was vastly superior in terms of men, material and resources, and eventually, it would wear down the Japanese.  That, in fact, is precisely what happened.

    In 1941 the die was cast when a more militant, nationalistic government came into power headed by Emperor Hirohito and Prime Minister Hideki Tojo.  They spent several months planning the pre-emptive strike. In his best selling book, “Killing the Rising Sun,” Bill O’Reilly denoted that the Japanese sought to imbed spies into the Hawaiian civilian population to gather intelligence.  O’Reilly quoted one senior officer who found out that his Japanese gardener was actually a colonel in the Japanese army.

    Many historians believe that the Japanese hierarchy was emboldened, in part, by the successful surprise attack on the Russians in 1905 led by then-Admiral Tojo during the Russo-Japanese War. It had worked once; why not again? Their intention was to neutralize American naval power in the Pacific so that it would be unable to block Japan’s aggression in Southeast Asia. They determined that Sunday would be the best day of the week to attack. They also weighed the advantages and disadvantages of attacking the fleet in the harbor or at sea before settling on the attack in the harbor. Although the battleships were “sitting ducks” in the more shallow harbor, Admiral Chester Nimitz pointed out later that one crucial advantage to the US was that we were able to raze several of them later and return them to active duty.

    Despite its years of provocations, the US was ill-prepared for an attack. In addition, we had failed to confront the Japanese directly earlier when they could have been dealt with more easily. So, instead of fighting a small war in the 1930s we ended up fighting a world war just a few years later.

    One could argue that there were strong parallels between then and our more recent history with respect to various terrorist groups operating in the Middle East and elsewhere. Once again, we have failed to deal with these problems when they were manageable; once again most of the country has been very reluctant to get involved in “other people’s problems (Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq);” and, we are now embroiled in the more costly aftermath (conflicts, refugees, and a likely nuclear-capable Iran).  History, when ignored, does tend to repeat itself.

    CONCLUSION

    Ultimately, the Japanese underestimated the US. Their leaders knew we were in isolationist mode. They did not think we had the “stomach” to fight a prolonged, brutal war.  Also, they knew we would be fighting the Germans and Italians as well. Furthermore, they figured that with our Pacific Fleet decimated, if not destroyed, we would be unable or unwilling to counter their aggression in the Far East.  The Far East was their end game for reasons discussed above; they were not interested in attacking the US mainland, although much of the US civilian population feared that they would.

    Obviously, the Japanese misjudged us.  They were not the first enemy to do so, and, in all likelihood, they will not be the last.

    As an aside, following the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor no one suggested that the US refrain from going all-out to defend itself, to retaliate with full force. Moreover, if anyone had done so we wouldn’t have listened anyway. A nation’s right to retaliate is well established and incontestable. History is replete with instances in which a country that was attacked retaliated against its attackers. On the other hand, I am not cognizant of ANY situation, other than the current one with Israel, in which restraint was advocated. Think about that.

    TRUMP TRANSITION UPDATE

    In a previous blog I posted that following his election Donald Trump has hit the ground running. He is very mindful of his mandate and that there is much to be done in a very short time while the GOP has control of both houses of Congress. There is no time to waste. The extensive public support he has now can melt away quickly like a summer snow.

    There are limitations as to what he can accomplish prior to his inauguration on January 20, 2025. Nevertheless, in a few short weeks he has already achieved more than any other President-elect I can recall. In my view, this is due primarily to (1) his tireless work ethic and (2) his reputation that he says what he means and means what he says. Friends and adversaries alike know that Trump has the hammer, and he will not be afraid to use it. This is a radical change from the current administration.

    Some of his actions have been disclosed to the public, but others have been accomplished privately behind the scenes. Below please find a description of some of the more significant ones:

    1. He has already filled out most of his proposed cabinet and key advisors. Some Dem senators may attempt to delay approval of a few of them, but historically very few presidential-elects’ nominations have failed to be confirmed.
    2. One nomination that has engendered controversy is RFK, Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. He has been criticized for his assertion of a link between certain vaccines and autism. However, he is a strong advocate of improving the overall health of Americans through their diets. He maintains that many of our foods contain too much sugar and preservatives that are banned in other countries.
    3. The issue that has received the most attention is illegal immigration. In the last few years, the southern border has generated the most attention and deservedly so, but Trump has been focusing on the northern border as well. He has already met with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada’s President Justin Trudeau. Both have been less than cooperative with respect to this issue under the Biden-Harris Administration, but after meeting with Trump both have undergone a radical change in attitude. Sheinbaum has agreed to halt the flow of immigrants through Mexico. She assured Trump that various illegal migrant caravans heading toward the border “are being taken care of in Mexico.” This is very significant. Obviously, the most effective way to curtail illegal immigration is to prevent them from reaching the border in the first place. In addition, she agreed to cooperate with the US to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the US. Trudeau has also agreed to cooperate. As I write this it has been reported that he is enroute to Mira Lago to discuss the immigration issue with Trump in more detail.
    4. Apparently, the major reason for this attitude adjustment was Trump’s threat to levy a 25% tariff on those countries’ exports to the US unless they agreed to cooperate to eliminate illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl. Some (including President Biden who awoke from his months-long slumber to advise Trump to “rethink it”) have criticized his proposed use of tariffs, but those critics miss the point. The imposition of tariffs is a bargaining chip, nothing more. Trump would only employ them as a last resort, but in my opinion, he won’t have to. Again, they know he says what he means and means what he says.
    5. As I reported in a previous blog the CDC has reported that in the last three years fentanyl has been responsible for an average of 75,000 fatalities per year. I maintain that this is directly attributable to Biden-Harris’ failure to control our borders. Trump has also addressed this issue with China, which is generally acknowledged to be the major source of the drug. He has threatened China with a 10% tariff on imports should it fail to cooperate.
    6. Part of Trump’s plan to identify, arrest and deport illegal migrants will be to utilize local law enforcement. According to the Wall Street Journal the plan is to deputize them in accordance with Federal law 287(g) to act as “immigration agents.” This law was passed in 1996 during the Clinton Administration. It had been phased out in recent years, but Trump intends to resurrect it. Local law enforcement personnel would be used to “question and detain” suspected illegals during the performance of their normal duties and coordinate with ICE. This would greatly enhance the efficiency of identifying, detaining, processing and deporting illegals.
    7. The first priority for deportation will be criminals, drug dealers, terrorists and others would do harm to America. I fail to see how anyone could oppose that plan. There is a plethora of them to keep ICE and Homeland busy.
    8. Border Czar Tom Homan has stated repeatedly that he will brook no interference from officials in sanctuary jurisdictions in carrying out his duties. The laws, public opinion, and the power of the federal government are on his side. He has reiterated that those who harbor illegals or interfere in any way are committing felonies and will be dealt with accordingly.
    9. As reported in the NY Post and elsewhere Trump intends to declare a “national emergency” and utilize “military assets” to assist in the effort to deport illegal migrants.
    10. A federal appeals court has blocked the Biden-Harris Administration from removing razor wire fencing along Texas’ borders and buoys that Texas had placed in the Rio Grande to prevent illegal migrants from crossing into the US.
    11. Venezuela has been a particular problem. According to the NY Post in excess of 800,000 Venezuelan illegal migrants have entered the US during the Biden-Harris Administration. Many of them are members of the brutal prison gang, Tren de Aragua. This gang has been a scourge. It is extremely violent and has been responsible for a considerable amount of violence and criminality against US citizens. Venezuelan authorities have refused to accept deportees. This is unacceptable. Trump and Homan have vowed to force them to do so by employing of additional sanctions and/or withholding aid. The US has the ability to “crush” Venezuela economically, and the threat of doing so should convince Venezuela to accept the deportees.
    12. Perhaps, Trump’s most ingenuous appointments were Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy as co-heads of a new Department of Government Efficiency. This department will be charged with identifying and eliminating “waste, fraud, and mismanagement” in the federal government. They expect to trim “trillions” of dollars. That goal may be too ambitious, but the idea is sound. Most people believe that this type of review is long overdue.
    13. Suddenly, with Trump on the horizon, Hamas and Hezbollah have become more amenable to negotiated settlements. They are mindful of how he destroyed ISIS during his prior term, and they fear and respect him (unlike the current administration). Once Trump takes office, resumes drilling, and begins to squeeze Iran economically and financially, H and H will lose much of the support of their sponsor. Then there will be a good chance to end the ME wars and secure the return of the hostages.
    14. Florida Governor Ron De Santis has to appoint someone to fill Marco Rubio’s Senate seat. DeSantis is taking his time. There are a copious number of candidates. Some of the qualifications he is said to be looking for is a person who is “strong on immigration and border security, will take on the entrenched bureaucracy … and reverse the nation’s fiscal decline.” Lara Trump is a possibility, but there are many others as well.

    Conclusion

    According to multiple media reports Trump’s victory has uplifted the outlook of the public, in general. People have expressed confidence that he will solve the nation’s problems that have plagued us for four years. One indication is that, as reported by CNBC and other media outlets, shopping volume has increased dramatically, particularly in “red” states.

    It is refreshing that we will finally have a president that will simply get things done. Once again, America will be the pre-eminent power in the world economically and militarily. Once again, America will be respected by its friends and feared by its enemies. Once again, America will be great again.

    As I have said, Trump is fully cognizant that he has to act with alacrity while his party still controls both houses of Congress and enjoys the overwhelming support of the people. History tells us this honeymoon period will not last long, at most, until the 2026 midterm elections. As Trump likes to say, “we’ll see what happens.”

    JANUARY 20, 2025

    January 20, 2025 cannot come fast enough. January 20, 2025 is just a tad over seven weeks away, but it seems like a lifetime. I can’t wait.

    On January 20, 2025 we, the people, will take back our country, which has been hijacked by the small, but vociferous, Socialist wing of the Democrat Party. We will take it back from the haters, the bigots, the special interests, the self-styled elitists, the “wokers,” and the crazy extremists aided and abetted by their allies in the mainstream media who, either intentionally or through stupidity, have created and sustained a national nightmare for four years. In my opinion and that of many others this country has been damaged almost to the breaking point, but on January 20, 2025 the nightmare will end, and the healing will begin.

    On January 20, 2025 Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, and the draining of the Washington swamp will begin. There is a massive amount of work ahead of us, and it will take time to complete America’s transformation. Hopefully, the public will exercise some patience.

    As I said in an earlier blog Trump has already hit the ground running. He knows what needs to be done; he knows what the voters have mandated him to do; and he is not wasting any time to do it.

    For example:

    1. He has already nominated most of his cabinet, subcabinet, and key advisors. Most of them are already at work. A few of his picks have generated some controversy, and the Dems may try to block or delay them, but historically the Senate has tended to approve Presidential appointments.
    2. The notion of a presidential cabinet dates back to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. At the time, some delegates favored a system whereby the president, rather than exercising sole executive authority, should collaborate with a “cabinet of ministers.” Incidentally, the derivation of the term “cabinet” is somewhat convoluted. According to Wikipedia it is derived from the Italian word “gabinetto,” which, in turn, is derived from the Latin word “capanna,” which dates back to the 16th century. The word denotes a closet or a small room. In the 1600s it morphed into the English word “cabinet,” which referred to a small room found in the houses of royalty and nobility.
    3. George Washington was the first president to employ a cabinet. It included four members – the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and War, plus the Attorney General. Over the years the presidential cabinet has grown to 15 members plus a plethora of assistants.
    4. Members of the cabinet are in the line of succession. First in line is the VP followed by the Speaker of the House, then the various members of the cabinet beginning with the Secretary of State.
    5. As we know, cabinet members must be approved by the Senate. As I said, historically, the Senate has generally acceded to the president’s choices regardless of politics. Hopefully, that tradition will continue.
    6. The voters identified the massive flow of illegals across our borders as one of our major problems along with the economy/inflation. For four years the Dems insisted that the border was secure, but anyone with a pair of eyes could see that was a blatant lie. The situation reminded me of the old Harpo Marx line: “Who ya gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?” Records indicate that in the last four years there have been 10.6 million “encounters” between illegals and the Border Patrol plus an additional 1.7 million “gotaways.” But most people believe that that number is considerably understated. It has been estimated that the real number is as high as 20 million. No one really knows for sure. Even worse, it is estimated that there are hundreds of thousands of children that Homeland Security has simply “lost.” No one knows where they are, but it is a good bet that they have been “trafficked” and are being sexually abused.
    7. Trump has commenced negotiations with the presidents of Canada and Mexico to reinstate the “remain in Mexico/Canada” policy to prevent illegals from entering the US. One of his primary tactics will be to threaten them with 25% tariffs on goods exported into the US if they fail to cooperate. Historically, tariffs have been somewhat controversial, but in this case the threat of them is a shrewd negotiating tactic. Many others, including incoming Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent agree. It behooves Mexico and Canada to maintain good relations with the US for various reasons, and their leaders know it. Just tonight Fox News reported that the President of Mexico had agreed to reinstate the “remain in Mexico” policy.
    8. Tom Homan, the tough new Border Czar has already begun to organize procedures to identify and deport illegals beginning with the criminals, drug dealers, known terrorists, and other undesirables. He has already proclaimed that political leaders who resist will be prosecuted as felons under federal law. The feds also have the option to withhold funding for noncompliance. A few politicians have been claiming they will not comply, but in my view that is just bluster. For instance, the mayor of Denver has blustered that he is “willing to go to jail,” if necessary. Homan’s response: “I’m willing to put him [there].” The laws are clearly on Homan’s side, and he fully intends to enforce them, and they know it. Some countries like Venezuela have refused to accept back migrants, but I believe Trump will “convince” them to do so.
    9. Trump has threatened China with a 10% tariff if it fails to curb the exporting of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the US. Fentanyl is extremely deadly, and its widespread use has created an epidemic. According to the CDC during 2022 and 2023 there were an average of 75,000 deaths per year attributable to it.
    10. With respect to the economy, the other primary concern of voters, Trump has reiterated that on day one he will tackle inflation and authorize drilling for fossil fuels. This will moderate price increases, make us energy independent again, and put a “big hurt” on Iran and Russia economically and financially.
    11. He has created a new Department of Accountability under the leadership of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy that will target the federal government’s fraud, waste and mismanagement. Everyone knows that there is a cornucopia of fat to trim.
    12. He has pledged to retain the so-called “Trump tax cuts,” which are slated to expire in 2025.
    13. He has pledged to eliminate federal taxes on social security income, overtime and tips to help seniors and middle-class workers.
    14. He will roll back Biden’s ill-advised, unconstitutional and fatuous student loan forgiveness program.

    Conclusion

    So far, polls published by Harvard-CAPS/Harris and Emerson, among others, have indicated that 59% of the public likes what Trump has accomplished, and they have the confidence that he will fix what he has been mandated to do. His overall favorability rating has jumped to 54%, an unusually high number. Moreover, his favorability ratings among all subgroups, including whites, Hispanics, blacks and youths have remained high or increased as well.

    Most Americans are very optimistic about the future, but Trump will have to move with alacrity and demonstrate real progress in order to retain their support. Hopefully, he will do so.

    THANKSGIVING

    On Thursday, November 28, we will celebrate Thanksgiving. All things considered, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the food, the football, and the four-day weekend. What I don’t like is the traveling. Regardless of which mode of transportation one uses – roads, air or rail, one has to expect delays, cancellations and frustration. And that does not account for inclement weather, which exacerbates the situation.

    According to AAA the Thanksgiving holiday period is the busiest period for traveling. Stacey Barber, VP for AAA travel, proclaimed that in 2024 we should expect “new records across the board from driving to flying and cruising.” AAA predicts that a record of some 80 million people will be traveling in excess of 50 miles, 71 million by car, 5.8 million by air, and the rest by other modes such as bus, train or cruising. Barber added that traditionally this is a time for people to “reconnect with family and friends.” Generally, the worst days to travel are the Monday and Tuesday before TG and the Sunday afterwards.

    Traveling by car? In my experience, regardless of which day and what time you travel, you can’t avoid the traffic snarls. According to AAA typically, the worst days to drive are the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before TG. Surprisingly, the best day is on TG, itself. In any event in my experience any day is bad and has the potential to be catastrophic. Like most of you down through the years I have endured some memorable “FUBARS.” You just have to hope (or pray) for the best and plan for the worst. (I have found you can mitigate traffic delays by relying on a good GPS, such as Waze.)

    Traveling by air? Be prepared for overcrowded airports, overbooked, delayed and/or cancelled flights, lost luggage, and surly people. Need a wheelchair? Expect delays there too. I have found that often there is a shortage of wheelchairs and wheelchair attendants. I suspect some people are requesting them who don’t really need them in order to get priority through the long security lines. Recently, I have waited up to one hour for an attendant. Once I missed my flight, and another time I nearly did. So, while a wheelchair may be more comfortable and convenient than walking to the gate unless you really need one you might be better off walking.

    Traveling by rail or bus is not much better. You will likely be plagued by the same complications.

    In short, any mode of travel could be problematic. People will be stressed, and tempers will be short. But, for most people the positives of the holiday outweigh these negatives.

    Moreover, the weather will likely exacerbate the situation. According to the National Weather service parts of the country will get heavy rains, high winds, cold temperatures and even snow. You have to be cognizant not only of the weather in your area but also elsewhere as problems in one area often cause a rippling effect in other areas.

    Finally, according to multiple media outlets service personnel at the airport in Charlotte, NC are striking for better wages. Hopefully, this will be resolved before TG.

    If you must travel, it will behoove you to follow common sense guidelines, such as:

    1. Book your reservations early.
    2. Avoid travelling during peak periods .
    3. Arrive at the airport or train station early.
    4. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

    Traditionally, TG is a time when extended families gather together to celebrate in large groups. People travel to spend the holiday with relatives that they only see a few times a year. They stoically endure the abovementioned negatives. They don’t like them, but they recognize it is part of the deal. Many people have Friday, Monday and part of Wednesday off from work, and they are able to make a mini-vacation out of the holiday. In the US some of the traditional activities include parades, football (watching on tv or playing), and, of course, shopping.

    Many cities and towns hold parades. The biggest and best is the Macy’s Parade in NYC, which dates back to 1924. It is the second oldest parade (to Philadelphia’s by four years). It is scheduled to run from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm ET. It is televised live on NBC and streamed. Kids love the floats, and many parents and grandparents who accompany them reminisce of when they, themselves, attended as kids with their parents.

    The parade replaced an event called Ragamuffin Day, which had commenced in 1870. Ragamuffin Day had featured children performing an activity similar to Halloween’s trick or treating. By 1924 the practice had fallen out of favor for much of the public, so the parade was considered a better alternative. RD began to be phased out. By the 1930s America was in the depths of the Great Depression, and the site of children begging was considered to be unseemly. The last Ragamuffin parade in NYC occurred in 1956.

    To many, the holiday is synonymous with football. Football games are played at every level, including pickup games, high school, college, and, of course, the NFL. The first TG professional football game was in 1920. For you trivia buffs, Akron beat Canton 7-0. The Detroit Lions have been hosting a TG football game since 1934. This year we will be treated to three NFL games: Bears-Lions at 12:30 ET, Giants-Cowboys at 4:30 ET, and Dolphins-Packers at 8:20 ET. Quiz question: Which is the only NFL team that has never played in a TG football game? See answer below.

    No holiday celebration would be complete without shopping. The day after TG has become known as “Black Friday.” Many merchants open extra early and offer huge discounts. Dedicated (or nutty) bargain hunters line up well before dawn to seek the best deals. Some are beneficial while others are nothing more than “come-ons.” Be prepared for long lines, frustration and rude people.

    As we enjoy the holiday, few of us will stop to think of its origins and meaning. What are they? Why is it celebrated at this time of the year? Read on for the answers.

    Thanksgiving is a national holiday originally celebrated to give thanks for the year’s harvest. It has strong religious and cultural roots. Most people are aware that Thanksgiving is celebrated in the US (4th Thursday in November) and Canada (2nd Monday in October), but few of us are aware that variations of it are observed in other countries as well. In these other countries the holiday has a different meaning and purpose.

    For example, in Grenada it is celebrated on October 25, and it marks the date on which the US invaded the island in 1983 in response to the removal and execution of Grenada’s then Prime Minister, Maurice Bishop. Liberia celebrates the holiday on the first Thursday of November, a tradition that was originated by freed American slaves that were transported there. In the Netherlands a Thanksgiving Day service is held on the morning of the US holiday. Its purpose is to commemorate the traditions of the Pilgrims, who resided in the city of Leiden for several years prior to their emigration to the New World. Japan celebrates a “Labor Thanksgiving Day” on November 23 to commemorate labor and production. It has its roots in the period of American occupation after WWII.

    Like many of our customs and traditions, Thanksgiving is rooted in English traditions. These date from the English Reformation in the 16th century and the reign of King Henry VIII. Apparently, the Protestant clergy had determined that events of misfortune or good fortune were attributable to God. Thus, unexpected disasters, such as droughts, floods or plagues, were followed by “Days of Fasting.” On the other hand, fortuitous events, such as a good harvest or the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, which actually was largely attributable to storms off the English coast, were to be celebrated by “giving thanks” to Him.

    The origin of the Canadian holiday is uncertain, but it is most commonly attributed to the English explorer Martin Frobisher. He had been exploring Northern Canada seeking the infamous and elusive Northwest Passage to Asia. He wanted to give thanks for his party having survived the numerous storms and icebergs it had encountered on the long journey from England. Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated as a statutory holiday in most jurisdictions of Canada.

    Most people trace the American Thanksgiving holiday to 1621 in present-day Massachusetts (although some claim that there were earlier celebrations by the Spaniards in present-day Florida circa 1565 and in the colony of Virginia circa 1610). The Pilgrims and Puritans living in MA had enjoyed a bountiful harvest that year and wanted to give thanks. Their harvest had been partly attributable to assistance from Native Americans, so they invited them to share in their celebration. Records indicate that there were 90 Native Americans and 25 colonists in attendance. The actual date is uncertain, but it is believed to have been between September 21 and November 11.

    Prior to 1942, Thanksgiving was not celebrated as an official national holiday. Rather, it was celebrated periodically by proclamation. For example, during the Revolutionary War the Continental Congress established days of “prayer, humiliation and thanksgiving” each year. In 1777 George Washington proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving to celebrate the colonists’ victory at Saratoga. Following independence, various Presidents continued the practice of issuing proclamations periodically.

    In 1863 President Lincoln proclaimed a national “Thanksgiving Day” to be celebrated on the last Thursday of November. Historians believe that his action was prompted by a series of editorials written by Sarah Josepha Hale, a writer and editor of some renown. (She wrote the popular nursery rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”)

    The practice of annual Presidential Proclamations continued until 1939. That year, FDR broke the tradition. November had five Thursdays that year instead of the usual four. FDR figured that if the holiday were celebrated on the 4th Thursday it would provide a much-needed boost to the economy by enabling merchants to sell more goods before Christmas. (Even then Thanksgiving had become the unofficial beginning of the Christmas holiday shopping season.) Predictably, this action precipitated a spat between the GOP and Dems in Congress. GOP congressmen viewed it as an insult to President Lincoln and continued to consider the last Thursday to be the holiday, so there were two Thanksgiving celebrations in 1939, 1940 and 1941, a “Democrat” one on the 4th Thursday and a “Republican” one on the last Thursday. The individual states split the dates (only in America!).

    Finally, in 1941 everyone got in sync. On December 26, 1941 FDR signed a bill into law that decreed that Thanksgiving would be celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November, a practice that has continued to this day.

    Since 1947 it has been customary for the president to “pardon” a turkey or two. President Biden has continued the custom this year. For those of you that care the names of the lucky turkeys are “Peach” and “Blossom.”

    Enjoy the holiday, and if you’re traveling stay safe!

    Quiz answer: Jacksonville Jaguars