Tag: communism

THE CAMEL’S NOSE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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HERE COME THE COMMIES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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COMMUNISTS TAKING CONTROL OF THE DEM PARTY

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

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

Below please find the most significant takeaways from these elections:

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

Conclusion

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

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

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

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

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

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KATHY HOCHUL HAS LOST HER MIND

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

In my opinion, current empirical evidence indicates that NYS Governor Kathy Hochul has lost her mind. Recently she gave a speech in which she urged wealthy individuals who previously had relocated from NYS to other locales to return. In what universe does she think there is even a remote chance that will happen? If she honestly believes that, she is delusional. Did she forget that just a few years ago she gave a speech in which she basically told wealthy people and others who objected to her left-leaning policies and her cozying up to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani that if they didn’t like it, they should “get out.” (Like the words from that old-time song, “Get on the bus, Gus.”)

That is just what many of them have done. Recently, NY State Senator Steve Rhoades disclosed the brutal statistic that “one [NY resident] leaves [the state] every 2 minutes and 23 seconds.” Think about that. Repub gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman sarcastically declared that “Hochul has finally discovered what New Yorkers already know. When you raise taxes, drive up the cost of living make it harder to do business, and try to destroy families’ savings people leave.” Moreover, he characterized Hochul’s pleas to the rich to return “the most honest moment of her administration.” In my view, if it’s not number one, it’s certainly in the top three.

Rich people are very astute. That’s how they became rich in the first place. They left primarily because of her governance. They were tired of the deteriorating quality of life, particularly in NYC. They were tired of the outrageously high cost of living, including rent, taxes, food and other necessities. They know that Hochul’s reputation is that she says one thing and then does the opposite, case in point, her congestion policy. Now they can see the handwriting on the wall. Despite her assertions to the contrary at some point, probably after the 2026 election she will give in to the lefties and raise taxes, and not just on the “wealthy.”

The lefties are becoming increasingly creative in ways to confiscate your money. For example, there has been talk of levying a “death tax” on a decedent’s wealth. By the way, in NYC how much annual income defines one as “wealthy?” Is it $100,000, $200,000, more? That sounds like a lot, but any NYC resident will tell you money doesn’t go very far when one factors in the high cost of living and punitive tax base. Now, having experienced the low or no-state taxes of Florida, Texas, Tennessee and other “red states” the rich have no intention of returning.

Furthermore, Hochul and Mamdani have formed a political partnership despite their ideological differences. As you may recall Hochul, in an attempt to unite the moderate and left-wing portions of the Dem Party in NYS, endorsed the socialist/communist/antisemitic Mamdani in his successful 2025 mayoral campaign. She was hopeful that he would support her in her re-election bid. He did, but he can always withdraw it or threaten to do so, and she knows it.

Hochul’s call for the rich former residents to return comes as she attempts to expand the state’s tax base in order to satisfy one of Mamdani’s primary demands that she raise tax rates. Blakeman derisively stated “Kathy Hochul finally discovered what New Yorkers already know. When you raise taxes, drive up the cost of living, make it harder to do business, and try to destroy families’ savings, people leave.” Barstool Sports Founder Dave Portnoy was not constrained by political niceties. He called it “unbelievable arrogance and hypocrisy” to ask wealthy New Yorkers to return home.

Mamdani has already become the dominant partner in the aforementioned alignment. It’s very unusual, if not unique, for a mayor to hold sway over a governor, but that’s how I see it. The left wing is very aggressive. Hochul is desperate to secure its support in her re-election campaign. She won a tight race in 2022, and she needs a united party behind her to win in 2026. As I indicated above already, she has been facing immense political pressure from the socialist wing to raise income and corporate taxes in order to pay for its planned extravagant spending programs, such as subsidizing bus rides and universal free childcare and healthcare. So far, she has resisted, but I expect her to cave eventually.

Conclusion

For New Yorkers the hits just keep on coming. It’s hard for me to feel sorry for them since they elected him. What did they expect would happen? They asked for it (socialism/communism), and they’re getting it.

Mamdani and his crew don’t have the foggiest notion of how to govern. I wouldn’t select them to run a lemonade stand much a large, complex city like NYC. Unless the adults manage to retake control, I fear that NYC, which has always been the crown jewel of the US, will inevitably deteriorate into a communist/socialist hellhole, i.e. an extremely unpleasant, filthy, squalid, miserable, chaotic, nightmarish place in which to live, work or even visit. If you think that is an extreme statement, just wait.

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JFK ASSASSINATION

Few people in history are so recognizable that with the mere mention of their initials one instantly knows about whom you are talking. Such is the case with John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. He flashed across our lives like a comet, brilliant but brief. He was only president for 1,000 days before he was assassinated, yet, even today, people remember him and recognize his name.

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 22, will mark the 62nd anniversary of his assassination. Almost anyone over the age of 70 remembers vividly where they were and what they were doing when they first heard of it. For example, I, a freshman in college, was walking to a history class. (Yes, I did attend classes, even on a Friday afternoon.) I heard some other students talking about the President having been shot. I wasn’t sure I had heard correctly, but unfortunately, I had.

What was strange about the whole incident was the lack of reliable information. It wasn’t like today when news is known and disseminated instantaneously. It might be hard for you youngsters to believe, but there was no Facebook, no Twitter, no cell phones, no Tik-Tok, no internet. Even computers were in their relative infancy.

Communication between New York, where, at the time, all media communications were centered, and Dallas was sketchy. Even worse, Dealey Square, the site of the assassination, was not close to the addresses of the network news’ Dallas offices. Reporters on the scene had to communicate by public telephone, when they could find one. Often, competing reporters ended up sharing telephones. At first, information was incomplete and contradictory.

Eventually, however, we found out the horrible news. No one will ever forget the grim look on venerable CBS anchor Walter Cronkite’s face as he removed his glasses, stared into the camera, and told a shocked, confused and scared nation that the President was dead. At the time, Cronkite was generally considered to be “the most trusted man in America.” When we heard it from “Uncle Walter,” we knew it was true.

The purpose of this blog is not to relate the details of the day’s events, nor do I wish to get bogged down in the various conspiracy theories, some of which persist to this day. Many books have been written on the subject, and I can’t possibly cover these topics in a short blog. Suffice to say, it was a surreal experience. Many emotions swirled through my head – disbelief, denial, fear and uncertainty. Who did it? Why? Was it a single gunman or a conspiracy? Was it part of a larger plot? Would we go to war? These and other questions came to mind.

Most everyone was glued to their television sets for days while events played out – Lyndon Johnson sworn in as the 36th President of the US on Airforce 1, Jackie Kennedy standing beside him still in shock and wearing the blood and brain-stained pink suit she had been wearing in the limo (which, she had refused to remove, declaring “I want them to see what they have done”), Lee Harvey Oswald arrested, Oswald shot live on national tv while under police escort (How in the world did Jack Ruby get access to that corridor, anyway?), JKF’s funeral procession, the “riderless” horse, young John Jr’s salute. The assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy followed soon after. It was a time of chaos and uncertainty, the end of innocence.

JFK had won the Presidency by the narrowest of margins over Vice President Richard Nixon. He had received 49.7% of the popular vote to Nixon’s 49.5% and won several states by the slimmest of margins. In that relatively primitive era of communications the end result was not known until the next morning. In the wee hours, the networks “called” CA for JFK which finally made him the winner. (Ironically, Nixon ended up winning CA after all the absentee ballots were counted.) Many people, including a 15-year-old girl in Berwick, Pa., caught up in the drama, stayed up all night to await the results.

JFK was young, handsome, bright, vibrant, dynamic, scion of a famous and wealthy family, and a war hero. He and his beautiful, glamorous wife, Jackie, seemed like American royalty to many Americans. He gave us hope and optimism. In the eyes of his supporters, he was the one who would transform America. During his inaugural address he uttered the famous line that symbolized the great hope that he would lead us to “A New Frontier,” as his campaign had promised (“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”). Unfortunately, today, many people espouse the opposite philosophy.

JFK got off to a rocky start with the Bay of Pigs fiasco. But he seemed to make up for it when he faced down the Russians and Premier Nikita Khrushchev in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Most of us did not realize how close we had come to nuclear war, but in the end, Kennedy won that round and showed he was learning on the job. His administration was dubbed “Camelot” after the description of the mythical King Arthur’s court.

Unfortunately, Kennedy made a lot of powerful enemies. Many Republicans thought he had “stolen” the election (shades of 2020). Indeed, there had been whispers about voting irregularities, notably in Chicago, which had long been notorious for that sort of thing and where for many years it was said, only partly facetiously, that even dead people voted. However, in the end nothing came of that – no media exposes, no court challenges. Yes, times have certainly changed.

Many conservatives thought he was too soft on communism and too aggressive on civil rights issues. He had made powerful enemies among organized crime and at the FBI and CIA, among others. Fidel Castro hated him for the Bay of Pigs attack. On the other hand, many Cuban ex-Pats thought he had betrayed them by failing to intervene militarily to support the invasion when it fell apart. All in all, he had a plethora of powerful enemies with the motive, means, opportunity and funds to plan and execute a Presidential assassination and cover-up. In retrospect, one should not have been surprised.

CONCLUSION

A favorite speculation has been how American and world history would have been different had JFK not been assassinated. Would he have pulled us out of Viet Nam as has been speculated? If so, would there have been an antiwar movement in the 1960’s with the attendant protests, turmoil and violence? Would MLK and RFK still have been assassinated? Would the civil rights movement have progressed differently, more peacefully? We will never know. There have been many books written about this topic, including one by Stephen King called “11/22/63” about a fictional time traveler who journeys back to 1963 to try to prevent the assassination, which makes fascinating “what if” reading.

Virtually the entire country became immersed in the assassination and its aftermath for weeks, if not months. My recollection is that the news networks covered it continuously. A cloud of conspiracy still hangs over the assassination 62 years later. As I said, books have been written and movies produced dealing with the conspiracy theories. Did Oswald act alone? Was he tied to the KGB or the CIA? How did Ruby get close enough to kill Oswald from point-blank range? Was there an accomplice on the grassy knoll? Why was Ruby killed in prison? What of the roles, if any, of mobsters, like Sam Giancana, Head of the Chicago mob, and Carlos Marcello, Head of the New Orleans mob, as well as the CIA, the FBI, the Russians, and/or Castro? Were the Warren Commission’s findings accurate or part of a cover-up?

At this time, as we mark the passage of another anniversary of JFK’s assassination, we are reminded that these issues, and others, have still not been resolved to many Americans’ satisfaction. Conspiracy theorists maintain that there is much information that has remained classified all these years. If so, perhaps, President Donald Trump’s administration will make it available to the public. After all this time, why not?

For you readers of a certain age, what are your memories of the assassination and its aftermath? Where were you when you heard the awful news? I would like to know.

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LIFE UNDER COMRADE ZOH

So, all you Mamdani voters got your wish. He won, but my message is to be careful what you wish for. You drank the Kool-Aide, but in my opinion, you got suckered. You fell for the mirage of free stuff. You fell for the promise of free buses and subways, rent controlled apartments, government-operated grocery stores and the like.

Consequently, you have elected an inexperienced, antisemitic communist who has continually associated with known terrorists and has exhibited a deep disdain for America, its way of life and its system of government. All of this has been well-documented by Zoh’s own words and actions.

Many of his supporters view him as a panacea for their economic and social problems. Many of them are frustrated by their failure to get a good job, afford a home, and support a family. They choose to blame the system not themselves. Maybe they didn’t go to college or learn a trade. Or maybe they went to college but earned a worthless degree in Asian studies, liberal arts or humanities, etc., rather than one such as accounting, finance, engineering or the medical field that would translate into gainful employment and a career. They not only want what other people have without working for it, they feel entitled to it. They are not cognizant of or choose to ignore the historical failures of socialism/communism. They don’t realize that America does not owe them success; it owes them the opportunity to succeed. Success comes from the individual’s ingenuity, ambition and work ethic.

Zoh is charismatic and articulate, but he is a phony. He tells people what they want to hear, but I assert that he is not the solution to their problems. The solution has to come from within. Such is the basis of America’s free enterprise system.

Astute people know there is no such thing as free stuff. Somehow, somewhere, someone has to pay for it. Don’t expect Zoh to deliver on most of his promises, which I discussed in a previous blog. Some of them are illegal; some are just not practical; others will require the approval of NYS or the Feds. Governor Hochul will probably cooperate to an extent, because she is afraid of the radical left, but she cannot afford to be “all in” as she is facing a tough election campaign next year. President Trump, whom Zoh arrogantly and foolishly has antagonized in an effort to act tough for his base, will likely provide only the bare minimum of money and other assistance.

Where will Zoh get the billions of dollars necessary to implement his policies? He has told us he will raise taxes on businesses and rich individuals to the tune of $8 billion according to the NY Post. This may sound good to the masses, but it is deeply flawed. For one thing, it will cause an exodus from NYC and possibly NYS. This has already begun, and now that he has actually been elected it will increase, perhaps considerably.

In the internet age it is no longer necessary to be located physically in NYC to do business there. Many financial institutions have already relocated much of their business activities to other more tax-friendly states, such as Texas and Florida. Additionally, wealthy people can easily relocate, and those who choose to stay have the wherewithal to transfer their wealth elsewhere. To quote the late Margaret Thatcher, “the problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”

Zoh does not have the foggiest notion of how to administer a city of eight million people. He lacks the requisite experience and knowledge. You, I, and millions of others would be better qualified. His ill-advised policies will adversely affect every aspect of life politically, economically and socially.

His antipathy toward the police and leniency toward criminals have been extensively documented. He has characterized the police as “racist,” and “wicked” and has advocated cutting their funding and curtailing their authority. The exodus of cops has already begun. We have already seen the results of lax law enforcement in other cities such as Chicago and Minneapolis. As I have written in other blogs his administration has the potential to ruin a once-great city that to many is the very symbol of the USA.

As I have written in previous blogs Comrade Zoh is NOT a socialist as he and the media like to portray him. He is an antisemitic communist who hates America and all that it stands for. What is the difference?

Socialism and communism are both economic systems focused on shared ownership of the means of production, but they differ as to the role of the government and the extent of private ownership. Briefly, socialism is characterized by a mixed economy with private property existing alongside public ownership. On the other hand, communism features a stateless, classless society where all property is communally owned, and resources are distributed based on need (“from each according to his ability, to each according to his need”). Historically, communist states have been ruled by autocratic governments that have subjugated the citizenry, eliminated private property and individual liberties and controlled all aspects of life politically, economically and socially. 

Historically, socialist states have developed through the democratic process, whereas communist states have developed as a result of violence. For example, much of Western Europe is socialist; China and Soviet Russia of the Cold War Era are and were communist. These systems have failed everywhere they have been tried. The most recent examples are Cuba and Venezuela.

Conclusion

Lefties everywhere are hailing Zoh’s election as a clear mandate and a portent of the rising tide of socialism. Some of them such as Bernie Sanders and AOC are predicting that this trend will continue through the 2026 and 2028 elections. On the other hand, most moderates and conservatives maintain Zoh’s mayoralty will be an abject failure for all the reasons I have cited and will demonstrate once again that socialism/communism will not work. Who is correct? We’ll see, but for the sake of our way of life and the future of our children and grandchildren I strongly hope it is the latter.

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COMRADE ZOH’S INNER CIRCLE AND POLICIES REVEALED

It is going from bad to worse. It was bad enough that NYC, the nation’s largest city and longtime symbol of capitalism and free enterprise, is on the cusp of electing a communist mayor. Now, we are just learning the depth of inanity that would be in store for the city.

My hope and expectation was that Comrade Zoh, recognizing his radical bent and inexperience in business, finance and basic governance, would, as mayor, attempt to broaden the political scope of his administration by including some more moderate and experienced advisors. Instead, the opposite appears to be the case.

According to the NY Post Comrade Zoh’s inner circle will consist almost entirely of persons who have virtually the same limited experience and radical ideas as he does. The Post has characterized them as “30-something or even younger Gen Zers with little-to-no experience in government – but long histories of radical left-wing politics.” Apparently, there will be no moderating voices in this inner circle, no dissent, no one to try to temper some of his far-out policies. Also, there will be no one with a background of advocating for the wants and needs of the working class and disadvantaged people, which, ironically, Comrade Zoh claims to champion. There will be no healthy exchange of different ideas or courses of action. Rather, everyone will be in lockstep. In my opinion, if that comes to pass it will be most distressing for the future of NYC and its residents.

According to the NY Post Comrade Zoh’s top advisors are not members of the working class. Like him, many of them attended private schools and were raised in wealth and privilege. In addition, they are wealthy in their own right sporting six figure annual incomes, well above the average NYCer’s salary of $58,000. Thus, they cannot possibly identify with the wants, needs and problems of the average NYCer , much less the poor, downtrodden and disadvantaged of which there are many. Their life experiences and attitudes are totally different. As an illustration, many of them have close ties to the radical billionaire George Soros and various so-called elites.

Comrade Zoh and his supporters have gone to great lengths to disguise, downplay and mitigate many of his radical policies. I contend that many, if not most, of his supporters are not cognizant of them. In addition, I contend that most of these policies are impractical, overly costly and/or of questionable legality.

Recently, the NY Post was able to obtain a list of some of them and published it for those who care to edify themselves. They are the following:

  1. Decriminalize all drugs, petty crimes and sex work.
  2. Expunge all convictions for petty crimes including sex work and drug offenses and immediately release everyone who is currently incarcerated for those crimes.
  3. Criminals under 26 would be charged as “youthful” offenders.
  4. Eliminate cash bail and pretrial incarceration.
  5. Close the detention facility at Rikers Island.
  6. Establish a review board that would have the authority to prosecute law enforcement officers for “misconduct.”
  7. Expunge all gang databases.
  8. Allow illegal immigrants to vote and run for political office.
  9. Restrict ICE’s access further and extend and expand sanctuary protections.
  10. Decertify banks that contract with or fund ICE.
  11. Abolish the Board of Education.
  12. Cease the creation of new charter schools.
  13. Eliminate the presence of police and safety officers in schools
  14. Guarantee tenure for teachers and eliminate standardized testing as a basis for teacher evaluations.
  15. Allocate money to promote DEI in public schools.
  16. Reparations for Native Americans and Blacks.
  17. Allow trans-minors access to transition-related care WITHOUT parental consent.
  18. Make all public transportation free.
  19. Establish government-owned and operated grocery stores.
  20. Establish government-owned and operated tech companies and utilities.
  21. Universal rent control.
  22. Avowed antisemite.

According to the most recent polls Comrade Zoh remains the clear front-runner with former Governor Andrew Cuomo as his closest competitor. The results of an American Pulse Research & Polling survey released in August disclosed Comrade Zoh garnered 37% compared to Cuomo’s 25%. However, a recent Tulchin Research poll disclosed that in a two-man race Cuomo would defeat Comrade Zoh 52-41. Will some or all of the other candidates drop out? Your guess is as good as mine.

Conclusion

Voters of NYC, this is the real type of mayor and government you are on the cusp of electing. Is this what you really want? The media characterizes Zoh as a socialist. Not true.

Socialism is a somewhat benign interpretation of his real beliefs. It is intended to disguise or mitigate his real beliefs, which have many elements of communism. Generally, it is characterized by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. Think Sweden. Communism goes further. It is a stateless, classless society where resources are distributed based on need.  Put succinctly, it is a society where everything is owned by everyone, and all members have equal rights to the benefits of society. Think Communist China or the Soviet Union.

Folks, Zoh is a COMMUNIST plain and simple, and also an avowed antisemite.

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CAN COMRADE ZOH BE STOPPED?

We are less than three months from election day on November 4, and all indications are that NYC is on the precipice of self-destruction. And what’s more NYS and the country may be dragged down as well.

On that date Comrade Zoh will likely be elected mayor of NYC. Zoh’s extreme views, which I have detailed in previous blogs are unrealistic, unworkable and, in a few cases, illegal. They will drive people and businesses away to relocate in other states with lower taxes, lower crime and “friendlier” lifestyles. This trend has already commenced, and if Zoh becomes mayor it will only accelerate.

As we all know, Comrade Zoh won the Dem primary for mayor decisively, which in NYC, where Dems hold a 6:1 edge in registration over GOPers, is tantamount to election. How did he manage to win? I have discussed this in previous blogs in detail, and I don’t see the need to regurgitate it all here, but, in summary, in my view there were four main reasons.

  1. Zoh is a charismatic figure and a compelling speaker reminiscent of another rabble-rouser in Germany in the 1930s.
  2. His campaign was well-organized and well-funded by outside leftist groups.
  3. He has been and still is being portrayed as a socialist, whereas in reality his own statements identify him as a communist in the Soviet mold. Voters were unaware of or indifferent to his communist policies and as well as his virulent antisemitism.
  4. His primary opponents, Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams, are unpopular and each is carrying significant political “baggage.”

As I write this, Comrade Zoh has a decisive lead in the polls. For instance, according to Politico he has the support of 35% of registered voters, followed by Cuomo with 25%, Curtis Sliwa with 14%, Adams at 11% and attorney Jim Walden with 1%. The remainder were undecided. Even more inexplicably, a recently published Haaritz, US News survey disclosed that Zoh has a 17% lead among Jewish voters.

The more we find out about Comrade Zoh the worse it gets. The NY Post has reported that he is closely aligned with Mahmoud Khalil, the former Columbia University “student” and known terrorist who was one of the leaders of the pro-Palestinian/ pro-Hamas/anti-Israel/antisemitic protests over the last few years. The US has ample grounds to deport him and has been trying to do so but so far, it has not succeeded.

Conclusion

Zoh has received strong support from far-left Dems such as AOC and Bernie Sanders as well as the left-leaning media and various left-leaning PACs both domestic and foreign. Most moderate Dems, including Senate Minority Leader (Up)Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have declined to endorse him, but inexplicably have failed to speak out against him. In my opinion, this is due to a lack of courage. They are afraid of the small but vocal far left wing of the Dem Party. They will probably be primaried anyway in 2026, so for the sake of the Party they might as well do what’s right. Speak their minds.

At this point, I don’t see how Zoh can be stopped. In my opinion, this election will be a watershed moment not only for NYC and NYS but also for the Dems and America as a whole. Dems will have to run on his record in 2026 and beyond. They will pay for their cowardice.

Moreover, the impact of a communist mayor in NYC, the largest and most prestigious city in the country, will be enormous and far-reaching. Everybody likes free stuff. The problem is that free stuff is not really free; somewhere, somehow, somebody has to pay for it. It’s been proven time and again that communist/socialist policies do not work. Never have; never will. In the words of the late Margaret Thatcher, “[t]he problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”

The financial, political, economic and social ramifications of Conrade Zoh’s election will be incalculable. We may be sowing the seeds of our own destruction.

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MAMDANI AND THE JEWS

To put it succinctly, Mamdani is a communist and an antisemite. I have said this before, and I will say it again. This characterization is not just my opinion. It is not hyperbole. It is gleaned from his own statements. The far-left Dems and their allies in the media have largely soft-peddled or ignored his antisemitic proclivities and opinions and have labeled him a “socialist,” which though abhorrent to most voters, has a more benign connotation than “communist.”

The Dems have been falsely describing President Trump as a ” fascist,” “Hitler,” and a “threat to democracy” for the past ten years. In reality, it is comrade Mamdani who is Hitler reincarnated as a communist and who is an existential threat to our democracy. In my opinion, this is obvious, but many Dems, even Jews, don’t perceive it. Why? This is the conundrum. See below for possible explanations.

Some examples based on M’s own words:

  1. He refuses to acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state.
  2. He has consistently been critical of Israel’s policies regarding the ME. For instance, he continues to accuse it of committing apartheid and genocide in Gaza, according to The New York Times. Furthermore, he believes the US is “subsidizing a genocide” through its support for Israel.
  3. He actively supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which advocates for economic and cultural pressure on Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. 
  4. According to The Forward, he authored a bill to penalize charities that assist Israeli settlements, which some critics say targets Jewish organizations.
  5. He has refused to condemn the chant “globalize the intifada,” a phrase widely interpreted by many in the Jewish community as condoning violence against Israel. (As I have often said, in this context “Israel” is code for “Jews,” much like bigots used “states’ rights” as code for “segregation” in the mid-20th century.) He has also stated that Palestinians have a right to resist and characterizes the war with Israel as combating a “colonial occupation.” 
  6. He has advocated government owned and operated grocery stores, freezing rents, defunding the police, free bus fares, and many other freebies that sound enticing but are, in reality, unworkable and unrealistic, if not sheer lunacy. The allure of free stuff is a mirage; nothing is really free. Somehow, someone, somewhere has to pay for it.

Lately, M has been attempting to moderate some of his extreme prior comments, particularly those regarding the police. In a recent interview he assured reporters “I am not running to defund the police.” Ladies and gentlemen do not be fooled. His current reversal is disingenuous. He is merely following the time-honored strategy of moving toward the middle in order to get elected. I believe his true feelings are those he has been espousing for years before he began his campaign for NYC Mayor, not the current iteration. Tatana Timoshenko, whose son, NYPD Detective Russel Timoshenko, was recently killed during a routine traffic stop derisively characterized M’s reversal as “too little, too late.” Likewise, Grace Machate, the widow of recently slain NYPD officer Robert Machate, dismissed his current promises as “not reality.”

According to the latest polls M has a sizeable lead in the current five-person mayoralty race as well as head-to-head against each of the other candidates. Incredibly, according to the same polls he has a commanding 17-point lead among Jewish voters. There is no logical reason for this. So, as I said above, why? In my view, (1) many Jews are unaware of or ambivalent toward his views; (2) it has become acceptable in some quarters to criticize Israel; (3) many Jews are being gaslighted by the prospect of “free stuff;” and (4) most significantly, the Jewish community in NYC and elsewhere has grown complacent and believes it is safe and secure in America from bigots like M.

In this regard Jews should be more cognizant of history. For example, Jews lived safely and securely in Germany for some 500 years before the advent of Hitler and the Nazi Party. Much like in the present-day US they were an integral part of the financial, economic, and social fabric of the country. We all know what happened then. There is a plethora of other examples, but that is the most extreme one. The lesson is Jews cannot take anything for granted. M is eerily similar to Hitler other than the fact that he is a communist whereas Hitler was a fascist. He is charismatic, glib and connects with the people in the way that few politicians do. His antisemitic views are real and very dangerous. His influence within the Dem Party is growing by the day. At the moment, his appeal is primarily local and limited to the far left, however, there is a real possibility that prospectively it will spread throughout the country like a contagion.

Many GOPers believe that M’s popularity and influence may cause more moderate Dems like (Up)Chuck Schumer to lose in the 2026 primaries to more radical candidates. If that were to occur, I would shed no tears. Readers of my blog are fully cognizant of my opinion of (Up)Chuck, but the election of a far leftie like AOC would not be any better for Jews and the country as a whole. On the other hand, Senate Majority Leader John Thume has opined that if M were to become mayor the Dem Party will be “in big trouble nationally.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that M’s election would change NYC to “Caracas on the Hudson.” I concur as far as the short run is concerned, but as I said long term I have some misgivings.

Conclusion

As the Dem nominee for mayor in NYC where, according to the NYC Campaign Finance Board, registered Dems outnumber registered GOPers by roughly six to one Mandani’s election is virtually guaranteed. In that case, with a far-left city council we can expect most of his policies will be enacted. NYC will be in mucho trouble financially, economically, socially, and every other way. A great city that in many ways is a representation of America, itself, will commence an inexorable slide into oblivion. Furthermore, eventually what happens in NYC affects NY State and perhaps much of the rest of the country as well.

Let the exodus from NYC and NYS begin! Florida, Texas and other low tax, low cost, low crime states beckon and entice.

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JFK ASSASSINATION

Few people in history are so recognizable that with the mere mention of their initials one instantly knows about whom you are talking. Such is the case with John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. He flashed across our lives like a comet, brilliant but brief. He was only president for 1,000 days before he was assassinated, yet, even today, people remember him and recognize his name.

Friday, November 22, will mark the 61st anniversary of his assassination. Almost anyone over the age of 70 remembers vividly where they were and what they were doing when they first heard of it. For example, I, a freshman in college, was walking to a history class. (Yes, I did attend classes, even on a Friday afternoon.) I heard some other students talking about the President having been shot. I wasn’t sure I had heard correctly, but unfortunately, I had.

What was strange about the whole incident was the lack of reliable information. It wasn’t like today when news is known and disseminated instantaneously. It might be hard for you youngsters to believe, but there was no Facebook, no Twitter, no cell phones, no internet. Even computers were in their infancy.

Communication between New York, where, at the time, all media communications were centered, and Dallas was sketchy. Even worse, Dealey Square, the site of the assassination, was not close to the addresses of the network news’ Dallas offices. Reporters on the scene had to communicate by public telephone, when they could find one. Often, competing reporters ended up sharing telephones. At first, information was incomplete and contradictory.

Eventually, however, we found out the horrible news. No one will ever forget the grim look on venerable CBS anchor Walter Cronkite’s face as he removed his glasses, stared into the camera, and told a shocked, confused and scared nation that the President was dead. At the time, Cronkite was generally considered to be “the most trusted man in America.” When we heard it from “Uncle Walter,” we knew it was true.

The purpose of this blog is not to relate the details of the day’s events, nor do I wish to get bogged down in the various conspiracy theories, some of which persist to this day. Many books have been written on the subject, and I can’t possibly cover these topics in a short blog. Suffice to say, it was a surreal experience. Many emotions swirled through my head – disbelief, denial, fear and uncertainty. Who did it? Why? Was it a single gunman or a conspiracy? Was it part of a larger plot? Would we go to war? These and other questions came to mind.

Most everyone was glued to their television sets for days while events played out – Lyndon Johnson sworn in as the 36th President of the US on Airforce 1, Jackie Kennedy standing beside him still in shock and wearing the blood and brain-stained pink suit she had been wearing in the limo (which, she had refused to remove, declaring “I want them to see what they have done”), Lee Harvey Oswald arrested, Oswald shot live on national tv while under police escort (How in the world did Jack Ruby get access to that corridor, anyway?), JKF’s funeral procession, the “riderless” horse, young John Jr’s salute. The assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy followed soon after. It was a time of chaos and uncertainty, the end of innocence.

JFK had won the Presidency by the narrowest of margins over Vice President Richard Nixon. He had received 49.7% of the popular vote to Nixon’s 49.5% and won several states by the slimmest of margins. In that relatively primitive era of communications the end result was not known until the next morning. In the wee hours, the networks “called” CA for JFK which finally made him the winner. (Ironically, Nixon ended up winning CA after all the absentee ballots were counted.) Many people, including a 15-year-old girl in Berwick, Pa., caught up in the drama, stayed up all night to await the results.

JFK was young, handsome, bright, vibrant, dynamic, scion of a famous and wealthy family, and a war hero. He and his beautiful, glamorous wife, Jackie, seemed like American royalty to many Americans. He gave us hope and optimism. In the eyes of his supporters, he was the one who would transform America. During his inaugural address he uttered the famous line that symbolized the great hope that he would lead us to “A New Frontier,” as his campaign had promised (“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”). Unfortunately, today, many people espouse the opposite philosophy.

JFK got off to a rocky start with the Bay of Pigs fiasco. But he seemed to make up for it when he faced down the Russians and Premier Nikita Khrushchev in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Most of us did not realize how close we had come to nuclear war, but in the end, Kennedy won that round and showed he was learning on the job. His administration was dubbed “Camelot” after the description of the mythical King Arthur’s court.

Unfortunately, Kennedy made a lot of powerful enemies. Many Republicans thought he had “stolen” the election (shades of 2020). Indeed, there had been whispers about voting irregularities, notably in Chicago, which had long been notorious for that sort of thing and where for many years it was said, only partly facetiously, that even dead people voted. However, in the end nothing came of that – no media exposes, no court challenges. Yes, times have certainly changed.

Many conservatives thought he was too soft on communism and too aggressive on civil rights issues. He had made powerful enemies among organized crime and at the FBI and CIA, among others. Fidel Castro hated him for the Bay of Pigs attack. On the other hand, many Cuban ex-Pats thought he had betrayed them by failing to intervene militarily to support the invasion when it fell apart. All in all, he had a plethora of powerful enemies with the motive, means, opportunity and funds to plan and execute a Presidential assassination and cover-up. In retrospect, one should not have been surprised.

CONCLUSION

A favorite speculation has been how American and world history would have been different had JFK not been assassinated. Would he have pulled us out of Viet Nam as has been speculated? If so, would there have been an antiwar movement in the 1960’s with the attendant protests, turmoil and violence? Would MLK and RFK still have been assassinated? Would the civil rights movement have progressed differently, more peacefully? We will never know. There have been many books written about this topic, including one by Stephen King called “11/22/63” about a fictional time traveler who journeys back to 1963 to try to prevent the assassination, which makes fascinating “what if” reading.

Virtually the entire country became immersed in the assassination and its aftermath for weeks, if not months. My recollection is that the news networks covered it continuously. A cloud of conspiracy still hangs over the assassination 61 years later. As I said, books have been written and movies produced dealing with the conspiracy theories. Did Oswald act alone? Was he tied to the KGB or the CIA? How did Ruby get close enough to kill Oswald from point-blank range? Was there an accomplice on the grassy knoll? Why was Ruby killed in prison? What of the roles, if any, of mobsters, like Sam Giancana, Head of the Chicago mob, and Carlos Marcello, Head of the New Orleans mob, as well as the CIA, the FBI, the Russians, and/or Castro? Were the Warren Commission’s findings accurate or part of a cover-up?

At this time, as we mark the passage of another anniversary of JFK’s assassination, we are reminded that these issues, and others, have still not been resolved to many Americans’ satisfaction. Conspiracy theorists maintain that there is much information that has remained classified all these years. If so, perhaps, President Donald Trump’s administration will make it available to the public. After all this time, why not?

For you readers of a certain age, what are your memories of the assassination and its aftermath? Where were you when you heard the awful news? I would like to know.

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