Tag: history

A REFERENDUM ON THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE

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

Okay. You hate President Donald Trump. I get it. He can be overbearing, brash, abrupt, embarrasing, and offensive on a personal level. However, we should not be assessing him as a friend; we’re not going out on a date together; we’re not seeking a personal relationship in any way, shape or form. What we want, or should want, is a strong leader who is respected (or feared) by all other nations, friends and enemies alike, who is not afraid to do what he believes is right even though it may not be popular, and who puts the interests of America and Americans first. That, my friends, is Donald Trump. You don’t have to agree with everything he does or says. I’ll bet there’s never been a politician with whom you agree 100%. Just recognize and respect his accomplishments. As I have delineated in previous blogs, they have been numerous.

Heretofore, the Dems have been very successful in putting him on the ballot, figuratively, but that is all misdirection, a ruse, a distraction. They want voters to focus on Trump, not their extreme, outlandish, inane, antisemitic, far left, communist policies. They know that if voters were aware, few of them would support their candidates. More on that below.

Various polls have reported Trump’s approval rating to be in the 30s. These historically low ratings are threatening to drag down Repub candidates in the midterm elections, as many voters are blaming him, unfairly, for a myriad of problems, principally high prices, inflation and the Iran War. The Dems are hoping that by focusing on his unpopularity voters will forget that they, themselves, laid the groundwork for these problems. Additionally, they have not offered any viable solutions, because they have none.

I would like to denote that Trump is not on the ballot in 2026, and he will never be on the ballot again. So, all you Trump-haters need to reassess your focus. Rid yourselves of your TDS. A vote for the Dems and against the Repubs will not hurt him on a personal level. He will be disappointed at the result, but he will merely complete the remaining 2 1/2 years of his second term and leave office to do whatever with the rest of his life. Meanwhile, a vote for the radical, far left, neo-communists who are running for office under the guise of the Dem Party will likely render severe damage to you and to all of America currently and prospectively.

Why? How? Read on for the answers.

  1. In case you haven’t noticed or have been getting your news from CNN, MSNBC, the NYT, WAPO, Tik Tok or various fringe podcasters, the radical left has taken control of the Dem Party. The Dem Party we all grew up with is gone. Schumer and Jeffries are leaders in name only. The real leaders, those who are speaking for the Party, those who are driving policy, are Bernie Sanders, AOC, Zohran Mamdani, and various and sundry of their cohorts. The moderate Dems have gone silent. They have refrained from standing up out of fear while the radicals have taken center stage. They don’t realize that that will not save them. Eventually, they too will be attacked.
  2. The “big tent” is a fallacy, a ruse. There is no “big tent.” The “camel” has taken over the entire “tent,” and the formerly moderate Dems, that is, those who remain, are out in the cold.
  3. The Dems have been accusing Trump of being Hitler, a Nazi. Ironically, it is many of them who are exhibiting elements of fascism as well as communism. Read your history. In my view, the parallels to Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia are obvious.
  4. Let’s analyze the Dems’ chief complaints which, other then hating Trump, are with respect to the Iran War and the economy.
  5. Regardless of what some pundits have said and written the war was an absolute necessity. No question! We had to take whatever action was necessary to prevent a nuclear-capable Iran. Trump had the gumption to do what no other president did or would have done. Like I said, he does what’s right, not what’s popular. Anyone who says otherwise is either brain-dead, partisan, or just plain ignorant. You may object to it now, but I predict future historians will applaud it. The evidence was incontrovertible that Iran was only weeks away from attaining nuclear capability. Even the Iranian negotiators admitted it openly. Once it had done so, does anyone think the crazy mullahs who control the country wouldn’t use it? Not just Israel, not just the ME, the entire world, including the US, would be living under the figurative “Sword of Damocles.” I maintain that depriving Iran of nuclear capabilty “trumps” any concerns regarding Trump’s conduct of the war.
  6. With respect to the economy yes, there are issues. Yes, many people are struggling with the high cost of food, fuel, shelter, and other necessities. Yes, we get a “gut punch” every time we gas up the car, buy food, or pay the rent or mortgage. However, it is misguided to place the entire blame on President Trump. We need some perspective. The rate of inflation for the 12-month period ending in August 2026 was 3.4%. For comparison, in 2021 Trump handed Biden an economy with an inflation rate of 1.2%. The Biden Administration’s spendthrift policies caused it to increase to 4/7% in 2021, 8/0% in 2022, and 4.1% in 2023. So, despite the disruptions in the oil supply chain caused by the Iran War, inflation is trending in the right direction. The Fed’s recent rate increase will likely moderate it further. As we learned in the 1970s inflation, once unleashed, is stubborn. It can take years to tamp it down. You oldies should remember; you youngsters should “look it up.” So, I ask you which Party has demonstrated a better ability to control inflation? Whom do you trust to accomplish it? Historically, the answer is the Repubs, hands down.
  7. Moreover, in my last blog I delineated the various signs that the economy is turning and will boom in 2027 and 2028. This is classic economics 101, and it can be tied directly to Trump’s various economic policies, notably last year’s huge tax cut.
  8. The far left radical DSA/communists have managed to obscure their true policies. Their platform includes some very scary and preposterous policies and opinions, such as eliminating the presidency, the Senate, the electoral college, ICE, the DHS and the Pentagon, sharply curtaining the power of the SC, opening the borders again to any and all immigrants, emtying the prisons, and providing universal healthcare cradle to grave to everyone, including illegal immigrants. Not only are these policies unrealistic, they will never work, and some of them are unconstitutional and illegal. Furthermore, they hate Jews and Israel and espouse terminating all aid to Israel, our only reliable ally in the volatile and strategically crucial ME. Basically, they want to shred the Constituion and remake America as a communist state. The DSA candidates for office are denying this, but in running under the DSA ticket they are expressing their tacit support for them. If you doubt me, research their prior quotes and postings.

CONCLUSION

This has been a very perplexing election cycle. As I have blogged before despite the foregoing, the radical, neo-communist candidates are leading or tied in most Congressional races. At the moment it appears likely that they will gain control of one or both of the Houses of Congress. If you had told me this one year ago I would have told you that you were out of your mind, but here we are.

I urge voters not to be gaslighted. In this election cycle you will not just be voting for a person; you will not just be voting for a political party. You will be voting for a way of life for you and future generations. Are you in favor of freedom of choice or government controls? Are you in favor of capitalism or communism? Do you want the government to control every aspect of your life such as your income and wealth, type of job, medical care, food distribution, and your children’s schooling, or do you want to retain control over the lives of you and your family? Do you want to retain the presidency, the Senate and the electoral college or not? Do you want to retain viable borders or open borders? Do you want to incarcerate criminals or let them roam free? These are some of the choices you will have to make on ED. Make the wise choices.

A vote for the Repubs will mean a continuation of the American way of life – capitalism, free enterprise and freedom of choice – that has stood for 250 years. We are not a perfect country, but we are the best. Why else are millions desperate to emigrate by any means, and few elect to leave? A vote for the radicals will be a vote to rip all that up and eventually remake America into a communist state.

As I said in the beginning, Trump is not on the ballot in 2026, but America and the American way of life are. It’s all up to you, the voter. Remember you get the governmnent you deserve.

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9/11 PLUS 25

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

Wow! Has it really been 25 years? As they say, time flies. Those of us who experienced that horrific day will never forget it. We will always remember where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news. It was shocking to learn that a group of terrrorists had managed to hijack four commercial airplanes, fly two of them into the World Trade Center and another one into the Pentagon. A fourth hijacked plane that was headed for Washington, DC crashed when the passengers rebelled and attacked the hijackers.

The WTC was one of the symbols of America and was assumed to be impregnable. And yet, both towers were destroyed and collapsed. The Pentagon, a symbol of our military might, was damaged but not totally destroyed.

Many have compared the foregoing event to the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. I get it. Both attacks were shocking and heinous. Both resulted in thousands of Americans dead, maimed and wounded. However, in my opinion 9/11 was worse, because the victims were not armed forces personnel, but innocent civilians who were going about their daily routine – work, school, whatever. Moreover, it all unfolded on tv right before our very eyes. I was one of thousands who were actually there. I experienced some of it live and then on tv over and over again like the replay of a sporting event I have to tell you; once was more than enough. Like many other people I lost friends. So sad and unnecessary.

I will never forget the sight of office workers who, trapped by fire and facing certain death, actually jumped from the towers, in some cases actually holding hands, choosing one horrible method of death rather than a worse one. Then, we all witnessed the horror of watching on tv as both towers collapsed and hundreds of bystanders on the streets were forced to run for their lives.

For purposes of this blog I will presume that you are all well-versed in the details of the events of that day and ensuing days, and in the interest of time and space I see no point in my regurgitating it all now . Over the years there have been a plethora of books, movies, and tv shows describing all of that in great detail. Instead I would like to focus this blog on this year’s events of remembrance and, in particular, the controversy surrounding Comrade Zoh’s intention to participate in them.

As most of you are aware Zoh, by his own words and deeds, has made it clear he is no friend of America and the American way of life. In my view, he actually hates America and wants to tear it all down. He and his cohorts have espoused the view that America “instigated” the attacks by their policies and actions and “deserved” it.

Consequently, Zoh has no right to participate in the 9/11 remembrance agenda at all. Nevertheless, he has stated he will do so. It’s obvious that he has a political agenda for doing so. It would be a clear insult to the memory of those who perished, and it has created a firestorm of protests. Nobody wants him there, not the former federal, state and local officials who dealt with the aftermath, not their current counterparts (excluding Zoh’s likeminded supporters), not the first responders and other heroes who saved lives and helped clean up in the aftermath, not the survivors who lived through it, and certainly not the families of those who perished.

Below please find a sampling of some of their reactions:

  1. They are cognizant that Zoh has associated himself with and received the support, advice, and political donations from other extremists, such as Hasan Piker, who have condemned America and blame it for provoking the attacks by its support of Israel and other “objectionable” actions (in their view).
  2. Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was lauded for his leadership through the aftermath, opined that Zoh is worse than bin Laden and the actual terrorists because they were upfront regarding their hatred of America, whereas he tries to hide it. I agree.
  3. Over 100,000 of the victims’ families have signed or indicated support for a petition objecting to Zoh’s participation.
  4. Former NYS Governor George Pataki noted that “anyone who has refused to reject the phrase ‘globalize the intifada’ … should not [be allowed to participate in the ceremonies].”
  5. Some of the objections of the victims survivors focused not only on his anti-American policies, but also whom he has hired and associated with, such as Ramzi Kassem, who was the attorney for an al Qaeda terrorist.

In the aftermath, many Americans were shocked, angry and searching for answers as to how this could happen. Over 2,700 innocent persons perished that day, and many more were physically wounded and mentally and emotionally traumatized. Health officials predicted that in the ensuing years many more than that would die from post-911 health problems. Indeed, some health issues, such as cancers and pulmonary-related symptoms would not appear for many years. At the present time, according to federal records nearly 9,770 additional persons have died in the intervening years. Unfortunately, there will be more.

On the other hand, the people were infused with as strong a sense of patriotism as I have ever experienced. They rallied behind their political leaders such as President George W. Bush, Governor George Pataki and especially Mayor Rudy Giulani. Giuliani became known as “America’s Mayor.” One day, I was eating in a restaurant in NYC when he walked in to dine. He recived a rousing standing ovation from everyone. That’s how popular he was.

In a rare burst of bypartisanship we created the Department of Homeland Security to unite all the various federal law enforcement agencies under one umbrella and passed the Patriot Act. We hunted down and killed bin Laden on May 11, 2011.

Alas, that patriotic fervor has not lasted. It began to dissipate under Presidents Obama and Biden. On their watch millions of unvetted illegal aliens were allowed to enter. We don’t know who they are, where they are, how many there are, or their intent. In any event their presence renders us vulnerable to additional terrorist attacks prospectively.

CONCLUSION

Currently, we are being plagued by a far worse enemy, a multitude of far left/neo-communist politicians who hate America and the American way of life. Their intent is to tear it all down and remake it in their own style. This was considered to be unthinkable as recently as a few years ago. In my view this is potentially more damaging than all the terrorist attacks combined, yet much of the electorate remains unaware and unengaged. How ironic it would be for the most powerful nation in the world to be brought down not by another country but by the enemy within.

In the immediate aftermath we pledged to “never forget,” yet there are indications that that is what is occurring. Only two states, Arizona and Florida require a school curriculum that teaches 9/11 in public schools. In addition, according a study published by a group of college proefessors of ME Studies 2/3 of their students are unaware of who attacked us on 9/11 and why. Furthermore, woke educators have introduced a curriculum that omits and distorts facts. Sadly, we are raising an entire generation of people unaware of the real story of 9/11.

Zoh is toxic; and his opinions, policies and deeds are toxic. He has no right to be a participant. He doesn’t care about the victims and their families. He is just trying to score political points. He is a phony and a charleton.

He should STAY AWAY.

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LABOR DAY

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

On September 7 we will celebrate Labor Day (“LD”).  As we all know, the holiday has traditionally been celebrated on the first Monday of September.  It is a federal holiday to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the US economy. It is celebrated in various forms and at various dates in approximately 80 countries.

To most Americans LD merely symbolizes the unofficial end of summer and the impending beginning of the school year.  They enjoy the three-day weekend off from work.  They spend the day with family and/or friends. They enjoy picnics, parades, vacations, shopping, baseball games and other sports activities, and barbecues. They lament, but grudgingly accept, holiday traffic and long lines at airports.

According to multiple sources more people will be flying this year than in prior years. The TSA expects up to 17.5 million travelers nationwide over the Labor Day 2026 holiday travel period. More bad news, airfare is up 23% compared to last year. Saavy air travelers know that there are certain conditions they can control. For example, flying on the “right” day is the number one factor in controlling prices and crowds. Also, one can find bargains by flying economy, and/or by choosing a flight with stops. Moreover, it might pay to rent a car in lieu of flying. Those rates are down about 9% compared to last year.

AAA advises that the worst days to travel on the roads will be the Thursday and Friday before the weekend particularly in the afternoons and evenings as holiday travelers conjoin with commuters. For returning travelers Monday is expected to be the worst travel day. To avoid the heaviest traffic, drive before the afternoon rush on Thursday and Friday, and on Saturday or Sunday. Astute travelers know to hit the roads either early in the morning or in the evening to mitigate problems. Use your GPS to mitigate or avoid unforeseen problems. As always, adverse weather and/or accidents could easily cause further complications, disruptions, and delays.

This year, the cost of domestic air travel will be up some 20%; domestic hotel prices will be 9% higher; and the price of gas at the pump is expected to remain high. In fact, this year could be the first time in history that gas averages over $4 on Labor Day.

Midst all this gloom and doom there is some good news. Major retailers will be running end-of-summer and holiday weekend sales on products such as appliances, technical equipment, clothing, and outdoor gear.

What is the meaning and purpose of LD?  Why do we celebrate it?  How did it come about?  Good questions.  Read on for the answers.

As I said above, the purpose of LD is to celebrate the accomplishments of the American Labor movement.  Whatever one’s political views and affiliations, I think it is important and appropriate to understand Labor’s contributions to the growth and development of the US.  For one thing, cheap labor was an integral component of the Industrial Revolution.  When all was said and done, someone had to build all the roads, railroads, and cars, and operate all the factories and steel mills.  In addition, the labor activism of the late 1800s and early 1900s was largely responsible for the relatively high wages and extensive benefits that are enjoyed by today’s US labor force (compared to that of other countries).

It should be noted that union membership has been declining sharply and steadily.  For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics union membership peaked percentage-wise in 1954 when approximately one-third of the nonagricultural workforce belonged to a labor union. By contrast in 2026 the rate is around 10%. Moreover, the flood of illegal immigrants in recent years has served to depress wages of both union and non-union workers.

The history of LD began in the 1870s in Canada.  Labor Unions were illegal in Canada at the time, and 26 members of the Toronto Typographical Union had been imprisoned for striking for a nine-hour work day.  That action led to demonstrations and rallies and the raising of the profile of labor unrest in both Canada and the US.  Two of the most outspoken leaders were Peter McGuire, founder of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and an official of the American Federation of Labor, and Matthew Maguire, Secretary of the Central Labor Union in NY.

Historical accounts differ, but one or both of these men are credited with being the first to propose a holiday to celebrate labor.  In any event, the CLU planned and organized the first LD celebration in NYC on September 5, 1885.  Approximately, 20,000 workers and their families participated.  The concept spread.  In 1887 Oregon became the first state to sanction the holiday.

The Pullman Labor Strike in 1893 provided the final impetus for a national labor holiday.  The Pullman Company had been founded and was run by George Pullman.  Pullman, IL, where the company operated, was a classic company town.  All the workers lived there and paid rent to the company, which was automatically deducted from their paychecks.  Workers’ housing was segregated according to their jobs; everyone shopped at the Company Store.

Many viewed such an arrangement as a form of slavery, because workers were, in actuality, trapped due to their omnipresent debt to the Company. (Think of the song “Sixteen Tons.”)  In 1893 the country was in the midst of a recession.  The company laid off hundreds of workers and reduced the wages of many others.  Of course, living expenses remained constant.  These actions led to a strike.  President Cleveland declared the strike to be illegal and “broke” it with Federal troops.  Some striking workers were killed in the ensuing violence.

This incensed many Americans, and 1894 was an election year.  So, Congress expeditiously passed a bill establishing LD as a national holiday, and the President promptly signed it into law.  This entire process took only six days, so you can imagine the extent of the public outcry.  Incidentally, this action failed to save President Cleveland’s political career; he was defeated anyway.

Eventually, the government settled on the first Monday in September as the official date.  Many countries celebrate it on May 1 in conjunction with International Workers’ Day, but the Federal government did not want the association with that date for obvious reasons.

One of the supreme ironies of LD is that because it is such a big shopping day, many workers, especially retailers, are required to work.  LD is considered to be one of the biggest retail sales days of the year.  Some people use the day as a benchmark to change over their summer clothes to fall clothes.  Fashion-minded people claim it the latest day when one should wear white clothes (although “winter white,” whatever that is, is still permissible.)

Like other holidays, LD should be a time for all of us to come together and reflect on what makes America, despite its flaws, the greatest country in the world.  Disaffected residents as well as some people in other countries may like to criticize us for our real and perceived flaws, yet foreigners still want to come here, in some cases, desperately.  In essence, many of them are “voting with their feet.”

Despite what you may see on tv or read in newspapers or on social media, most Americans are decent, hard-working, caring persons.  Whenever disaster or tragedy strikes we unite to help those in distress.  Many have donated their time and/or money without being asked and without expecting any payback or even recognition.  If you doubt me, just look at the outpouring of kindness and empathy shown by “average” Americans toward the victims of the catastrophic events in recent years, such as superstorm Sandy, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and mass shootings. Those people, not the destructive thugs and professional agitators one sees on the tv news destroying property, attacking the police, and beating up those with whom they disagree, are the “real” Americans.  It is the proverbial “silver lining” in a very dark cloud.

CONCLUSION

Why does the summer season appear to be so short? Every year it seems like summer has just begun and here comes LD, which signals the end of the season. I believe it is because in our minds, we transfer the approximately three post-Labor Day weeks of the season to Autumn, because the weather gets cooler, summer rentals terminate, and schools reopen.

I hope you all enjoy your LD holiday however you choose to spend it.  Feel free to tell me how you celebrated it.

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ABDUL EL-SAYED

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

Who is Abdul El-Sayed, and why should all those who believe in and want to preserve America and the American way of life that has flourished for some 250 years be concerned about him? Read on for the answers.

Until a few months ago few people had heard of El-Sayed. Now, we all know who he is. Abdul El-Sayed is the far left Dem candidate for US Senate for the State of Michigan. Last week he won the Dem primary over US Representative Haley Stevens by the very narrow margin of 48.5% to 47.5%, a mere 15,000 votes. Senator Bernie Sanders, a leader of the progressive movement who was an early supporter of El-Sayed’s candidacy, characterized it as “the most extraordinary victory that I can think of in modern American politics.” Senator Chris Van Hollen, another progressive leader who endorsed El-Sayed, said the victory “should be a wake-up call to the Washington Democratic establishment.” For once I agree with Van Hollen.

Sanders’ hyperbole aside, the political ramifications of El-Sayed’s victory should not be ignored or minimized. He is a prime example of the alarming shift to the left in the Dem Party. These far lefties hate America and the American way of life. They want to tear it down and reconstitute it as a communist state in the model of Soviet Russia, Communist China, Venezuela and Cuba. They are ignorant of or choose to ignore the historical fact that communism has failed wherever it has been tried.

Like many of his ilk El-Sayed has never held elected office and has very limited, if any, experience in or knowledge of finance, business, economics and history. In his last election in 2018 he lost Michigan’s Democratic gubernatorial primary to Governor Gretchen Whitmer by more than 20 percentage points. This time, espousing an unabashedly far left platform, he won despite being outspent by a huge margin and the fact that his opponent had the support of Chuck Schumer, outgoing Senator Gary Peters, and host of other establishment Dems.

In the intervening seven years El-Sayed had wisely remained in the public eye biding his time waiting for the right situation. For instance, he started a podcast, wrote a book and became a regular presence on YouTube and television. He steadily developed a political base. His opportunity came when Senator Peters declined to seek re-election.

In April 2025 he launched his campaign with a tiny staff. In his victory speech he reminisced how it all began. “I remember talking to a room of five people,” he said. “It was an opportunity for us to share an honest conversation about pain and about purpose. And I’ve been able to have 500 more of those discussions over the past 15 months.”

El-Sayed ran a classic grass roots campaign. He visited some 110 cities and hosted more than 500 events. According to his campaign his volunteer network eventually grew to 12,000 people. Julie Brink, a 29-year-old volunteer from the Detroit area, said the campaign still felt like an “underdog” when she joined in February. From there, she said, it was “gaining momentum really consistently.” El-Sayed embraced his underdog status declaring “what we’re doing is building a movement of the many against the money.”

El-Sayed never let up. He sprinted to the finish line. For example, on Election Day he held several interviews with content creators at Detroit’s Eastern Market and traditional news organizations, such as The Associated Press and MS NOW. Following his upset victory the campaign that had once struggled to fill small rooms packed Detroit’s Majestic Theatre for a huge election night party.

So, I repeat my earlier question. Who is El-Sayed? Now, we are cognizant of his background and work experience, which incidentally does NOT qualify him to be a US Senator, but what are his politics? Read on for the shocking and disquieting answer.

Below please find some of his policies. These extreme positions are typical of those espoused by El-Sayed and other neo-communists of the DSA. The differences between these and traditional American values are not the kind that could be resolved by debate between reasonable persons. They are inane, unworkable, and demonstrate a lack of common sense and historical context. They would destroy America as we know it. Regardless of whether or not he has actually advocated all of them; as a DSA candidate for the US Senate he is tied to them and should be compelled to defend them as well as other similar comments.

  1. Medicare for all.
  2. Open borders
  3. Abolish the Senate
  4. Abolish the office of the President.
  5. Abolish the electoral college.
  6. Abolish ICE.
  7. Favor electric vehicles over gas vehicles. (This would be a particularly “hard sell” in Michigan, which is dominated by the automobile industry.)
  8. His comments regarding the ME are particularly disturbing and not just to Jews. For example (1) He has questioned whether Israel has an “inherent right” to receive American taxpayer money. (2) He has advocated ending military aid to Israel which he characterizes as supporting “genocide and apartheid.” (3) He has been a strong critic of pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC. (4) He has openly labeled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal. These comments are not only highly antisemitic, but also exhibit a lack of awareness that Israel has been America’s only consistent and reliable ally in the volatile and strategically critical ME. The two countries have developed a symbiotic relationship, which is critical to the national security of both countries.

CONCLUSION

The foreboding significance of El-Sayed’s victory should not be underestimated or ignored. Heretofore the establishment politicos had crowed that the far left agenda would only be successful in certain deep blue locales such as NYC. Now, for the first time the far lefties have proven they could win a primary election in a crucial swing state. Even more alarming is a newly released poll, which was commissioned by pollsters Fabrizio Ward and Impact Research, that disclosed that El-Sayed is leading Rogers among likely voters 48%-47%.

Winning a Dem primary in which fewer than half of registered voters bother to participate, is one thing. Winning the election against a Repub opponent supported by moderate to conservative Repub voters is a whole other task. El-Sayed’s qualifications (or lack thereof), policies and prior statements will be heavily scrutinized by the Rogers campaign as well as by objective members of the media and discerning voters. Like most other radical candidates with a narrow base of support El-Sayed will likely attempt to “moderate” certain prior actions and comments to convince mainstream voters he is not as extreme as he really is. He will claim he has “evolved,” was “misquoted” or his comments were “taken out of context.” The “spin doctors” will be working overtime.

Will this strategy succeed? Who knows? Unfortunately, sometimes it has in prior elections, because typically, many voters are lazy, misinformed, stay home, or vote for a certain political party out of habit.

At least there are indications that the Repubs are viewing El-Sayed as a legitimate threat and are taking this election seriously. For instance, the Senate Republican campaign committee has already allocated some $45 million in advertising to support Rogers with more to come. Also, AIPAC, which has already spent more money on Michigan’s primary than on any other contest, has indicated it would continue its financial support.

In my opinion this election will be among the most important in my lifetime. Either the neo-communists will win and demonstrate their program has mainstream support or they will lose and be relegated to a fringe extremist group. My urgent message to Michiganders is VOTE, VOTE, VOTE/

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THE TROJAN HORSE DSA STYLE

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

Did the Trojan Horse really exist? Or is it merely a mythological “tall tale?” Or is there an element of truth to it that has been exaggerated and embellished over the years? Historians have been arguing this forever, but whether it is truth, fiction or a combination of the two is of no consequence for this blog. The salient point I wish to make is that it was a classic example of deception that the radical left has been replicating to great success.

Briefly, after a ten-year war with the city of Troy the Greek army, unable to penetrate the walls of the city, pretended to give up. The bulk of the army sailed away leaving a large wooden horse. The Trojans, thinking it was a gift, dragged it inside the city. Unbeknownst to them, a select contingent of Greeks was sequestered inside the horse. During the night they came out and overwhelmed the Trojan guards. Then, joined by the returning army, they sacked the city.

Over the years the Trojan Horse has become a symbol of deception. I believe the commie/DSAs, aided and abetted by a compliant mainstream media, have been employing this Trojan Horse strategy to hide their true intent from the voting public. So far, it has been one of the all-time successful gaslighting strategies. They and the media portray themselves as “progressives” or “socialists,” and their candidates run under those labels, which, though leftist philosophies, are not extremely radical. Thus, they are fairly acceptable to mainstream Dems and many other voters, particularly those who are dissatisfied and frustrated with their lives and/or envious of others who are more successful.

On the other hand, their radically left communist policies, which advocate for fundamental, structural shifts in U.S. governance, economics, finances, and society would be anathema to a majority of voters. In reality, they despise the USA and everything it stands for. They are disciples of Marx, Lenin, and Stalin. They want to end capitalism and free enterprise and replace it with a stateless society in which the government controls every aspect of life such as in Soviet Russia, Cuba and Venezuela.

Furthermore, the cherry on top is that they are vehemently anti-Israel and antisemitic. They don’t try to hide their policies they’re so arrogant that they come right out and state them. Thus, they are a combination of the two worst scourges of governance – Nazism and communism. As I have blogged many times history tells us American Jews, who have grown comfortable are at great risk, and many of them seem oblivious. I don’t comprehend why.

Once the radicals win an election, typically they disclose their true leftist policies. A good example of this is Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger. During her tenure in Congress and throughout her campaign she was a moderate Dem. Once she won, however, she transitioned to a progressive. Virginia voters were radically misled.

Below please find a sampling of the neo-communists’ policies. In my opinion most of these are inane, won’t work, lack common sense, and illustrate a lack of experience and knowledge of economics, politics, history and finance. Moreover, some of them are unconstitutional and have no chance of being enacted. As you read them, see if you don’t agree. Their purpose is just to feed their rabid lunatic base.

Most of these people have no practical work experience that would qualify them to govern; they have not built anything nor run a business; some are professional students, live at home and/or are supported by their parents. I wouldn’t trust them to manage a lemonade stand.

  1. Political Structural Reform: Radical changes to the U.S. government, including abolishing the Senate and the presidency in favor of a unicameral legislature and parliamentary system, packing or even eliminating the Supreme Court, eliminating the Electoral College, expanding the House of Representatives, adding DC and Puerto Rico as states, and instituting multi-party proportional representation.
  2. Economic & Labor Overhaul: A guaranteed 32-hour workweek without a loss in pay, expanding union protections, raising income taxes, instituting a wealth tax, reducing the power of large corporations, free universal healthcare, tuition-free higher education, canceling student debt, government owned and run grocery stores, free busses, and freezing rents.
  3. Criminal Justice Reform: Abolishing or at least curtailing the power of police and police unions, freeing all criminals from prison, and ceasing the deportation of illegals even those who have committed violent crimes such as murder and rape.
  4. Electoral Strategy: Operating not as an independent third party but rather taking control of the Dem Party to push the membership further left.
  5. Forgive all debt.
  6. Make comfortable housing a “human right.” No rent or mortgage payments.
  7. Publicly-funded retirement.
  8. Eliminate borders. Open the floodgates. Anyone can enter.
  9. Abolish ICE.
  10. Eliminate all foreign aid to Israel.
  11. Mandami wants to arrest Netanyahu as a war criminal and violator of human rights if he comes to NYC. He has no authority to do so, and he conveniently forgets or is not cognizant of the concept of diplomatic immunity.
  12. There will be no such thing as private property. The concept will be you didn’t build it; you don’t own it; and you don’t deserve it. The government will own everything. It can seize your assets and either keep them or redistribute them to those who are deemed more needy or deserving.

Conclusion

I fear that if these people were ever to seize control every aspect of life as we know it would be destroyed. The greatest country that ever existed would be no more. If this were to occur it would not be overnight. It would likely occur gradually over several election cycles, so gradually that most people would not be cognizant of it until it was too late.

What can be done to combat this scourge? Not to simplify, but I recommend two courses of action: (1) stay informed, and (2) VOTE. Pay particular attention to the off-year elections like 2026. Historically, voter turn-out is low and that is how many of these radicals sneak in. They are well organized, well financed and highly focused.

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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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HAPPY 250TH BIRTHDAY AMERICA. HAPPY SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL!

When you think about it, we are an amazing, unlikely success story. History buffs will recall that at the dawn of the American Revolution a small band of patriots were leading a rebellion against the mighty British empire. They had a seasoned, well-trained, well-outfitted, formidable army and navy, perhaps the mightiest in the world. On the other hand, we had no army and no navy NONE.

What we had was a bunch of ragtag, ill-equipped, parttime, inexperienced militias scattered among the various colonies. Our men were farmers and tradesmen, not professional soldiers or sailors. Our military leaders, even George Washington, were inexperienced in the tactics of warfare. What we did have, however, was an unquenchable thirst for freedom.

Seemingly we had very little chance of success. (If there had been a Las Vegas it would have given us infinitesimal odds of success). Yet, we persevered. That, in and of itself, is a great American success story. Then, we followed it up with 250 years of unparalleled achievement and success to become the greatest nation in the history of the world. Yes, we have flaws. Nothing is perfect, but we are continuing to deal with these problems and evolve.

A small, persistent, vociferous, well-funded group of dissidents have been very critical of America, even advocating tearing down our society and remaking it into a socialist/communist nation. They’ve been getting much publicity lately, but they are in the minority. A recent Cato Institute poll disclosed that only 17% characterized themselves as “not very patriotic compared to 70% who described themselves as “at least moderately patriotic.” Even a majority of Gen Z’ers characterized themselves as “at least moderately patriotic.” 63% of all respondents averred they are “grateful” to be Americans. Only 10% expressed an unfavorable view of America’s founding. So, take all the negativity reported in the media with a big “grain of salt.” More on this later.

To honor America’s 250th birthday below please find a brief summary of trivia and notable historic events that have occurred in America on July 4th during the last 250 years.

  1. In 1776 when the Declaration was signed there were but 2.5 million people living in America. The current population is 349 million.
  2. Benjamin Franklyn, age 70, was the oldest person to sign the Declaration of Independence. South Carolina delegate Edward Rutledge, 26 years old, was the youngest person to sign it.
  3. According to Wikipedia it is believed that there were only 200 original copies of the Declaration of Independence printed. Today there are only 26 known copies in existence.
  4. John Hancock was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. His bold signature was so memorable that his name became synonymous with the phrase “put your John Hancock on this form.”
  5. President Warren Harding created the popular term “founding fathers” in his address to the Republican National Convention in 1916.
  6. Independence Day is celebrated annually all throughout the country with parades, fireworks and other events. According to Wikipedia Bristol, Rhode Island’s celebration, which commenced in 1785, is the oldest.
  7. Americans love to eat! Hot dogs are the undisputed most popular food consumed on July 4. According to the National Sausage and Hot Dog Council (NHDSC) Americans consume an estimated 150 million of them on the holiday.
  8. Nathan’s at Coney Island has hosted a famous hot dog-eating contest every year on July 4th since 1916. It is so popular that it is televised in all its gluttonous glory.
  9. Hamburgers are a close second. Who doesn’t like the smell and taste of burgers on the grill?
  10. New Englanders, to be different, have a centuries-old tradition of eating salmon and peas on Independence Day. I don’t mind the salmon, but peas, ugh.
  11. For dessert we have apple pie, the undisputed cultural symbol of America. It has served as the de facto national treat for generations, and it is deeply embedded in the nation’s culinary DNA. We are all familiar with the phrase “as American as apple pie.”
  12. We do love our pyrotechnics. For many of us they are an engrained feature of the holiday celebration. According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, Americans spend in excess of $1 billion on them every year. Out of this, only 10% of firework displays are set off professionally, which probably accounts for the estimated 13,000 firework-related hospital emergency room visits per year. According to Fortune Magazine almost 70% are normally for treating men.
    Most people are sensible enough to view them from a safe distance or on the tv. However, there are always a few irresponsible daredevils who injure themselves. Some of you may recall that some years ago NY Giants star defensive lineman Jason Pierre Paul severely injured his fingers and hand and almost derailed a promising career.

Some of the notable events that occurred on July 4:

1777: The first Independence Day celebration was held in Philadelphia, featuring fireworks, bonfires, and parades as originally envisioned by Founding Father John Adams.

1789: 1st US tariff act signed by President Washington.

1802: The United States Military Academy officially opened its doors at West Point, New York.
1803: The United States government officially announced the Louisiana Purchase from France, which doubled the nation’s size.

1826: Former Presidents and Founding Fathers John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day within hours of each other, exactly 50 years after the Declaration was adopted.

1827 Slavery was abolished in New York.

1831: Former president and Founding Father James Monroe passed away.

1831: The song, “America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)” with lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith, which many supported to be designated as our national anthem, had its first public performance at Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts.

1863: Confederate forces surrendered at Vicksburg, Mississippi, a major turning point in the Civil War.

1870 July 4th was designated as a federal holiday.

1884: France officially presented the Statue of Liberty to the United States.
1946: The Philippines gained full independence from the United States.

1916: 1st Nathan’s hotdog eating contest.

1939: Baseball legend Lou Gehrig gave his famous “Luckiest Man” retirement speech at Yankee Stadium after being diagnosed with ALS

Birthdays of notable persons:

1804 – Nathaniel Hawthorne, author (“The Scarlet Letter” and “House of the Seven Gables”).

1872 – Calvin Coolidge, 30th U.S. President.

1911 – Mitch Miller, big bandleader, “Sing along with Mitch.”

1918 – Ann Landers (aka Esther Pauline “Eppie” Lederer), advice columnist.

1918 – Abigail Van Buren, advice columnist (“Dear Abby.”).

1927 – Neil Simon, playwright and screenwriter (“The Odd Couple,” “The Goodbye Girl,” “Biloxi Blues” and “Brighton Beach Memoirs.”).

1929 – Al Davis, NFL Oakland Raiders owner and executive (“Just win, baby.”).

1930 – George Steinbrenner (aka the “Boss”), NY Yankees owner.

1938 – Bill Withers – singer-songwriter (“Lean on Me,” “Lovely Day,” “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Just the Two of Us”).

1943 – Geraldo Rivera, journalist and talk show host.

1988- Malia Obama, daughter of former President Barack Obama.

Conclusion

To reiterate my earlier comments America has some flaws, but it is still the best nation on earth. Witness the millions that are striving to emigrate. Also, several foreign soccer fans visiting for the World Cup matches expressed their pleasant surprise at the politeness of the American people.

In 1776 few around the world thought we would win our independence, and after we did few thought it would last. After 250 years I maintain we have proven those naysayers wrong.

This country was built by immigrants who came here with nothing but a dream. I’m talking about most of our parents, grandparents or great-grandparents. Most had few possessions, no prospects, and knew no one. Some even came alone as children. Against all odds, they survived and prospered. They built a life for themselves. They sacrificed so that their kids would have a better life.

Others of our ancestors were slaves. Once they earned their freedom, they too strived to attain a better life for themselves and their children. In America there are a plethora of blacks and other minorities who have taken advantage of their opportunities and become successful in business, entertainment, politics and a host of other fields. Blacks have served on the Supreme Court, and we elected a black president, twice.

America is and has been the one country where one can start with nothing and be successful. Our history is replete with thousands of examples of that. Hence the common phrase “only in America.” A prime example is our current vice president, J. D. Vance. To quote the late Winston Churchill- “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all [the others.”].

Tomorrow, July 4th, is a day to celebrate 250 years of independence. Enjoy the holiday, and stay safe.







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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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D DAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONCLUSION

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

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

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

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AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY QUIZ, PART I

In honor of America’s upcoming 250th birthday I will be posting a series of quizzes over the next several weeks. Time to test your knowledge (or lack thereof) of American history. The first one deals with the formation of our country. In recognition of the fact that there are different levels of knowledge among the readers I have tried to moderate the difficulty of the questions. The answers were drawn primarily from and confirmed by Wikipedia and other internet sources and publications.

  1. The Revolutionary War began in what year? (a) 1774, (b 1775, (c) 1776, (d) 1777
  2. The primary author of the Declaration of Independence was (a) George Washington, (b) Thomas Jefferson, (c) Alexander Hamilton, (d) John Hancock.
  3. Each of the following is recognized as a “Founding Father except (a) John Jay, (b) Alexander Hamilton, (c) James Madison, (d) James Monroe
  4. Each of the following states was one of the 13 original colonies except (a) Rhode Island, (b) Georgia, (c) Vermont, (d) Delaware.
  5. The British general who surrendered at Yorktown thus ending the Revolutionary War was (a) Howe, (b) Burgoyne (c) Mitchell, (d) Cornwallis.
  6. Who was known as the “Swamp Fox?” (a) Francis Marion, (b) John James, (c) Jim Duffy, (d) William Tarleton.
  7. George Washington led troops across the frozen Delaware River to defeat the opposition at the Battle of (a) Yorktown Heights, (b) Monmouth, (c) Trenton, (d) Brooklyn Heights
  8. Who was the leader of the Green Mountain Boys? (a) Benedict Arnold, (b) Roger Miller, (c) Ethan Allen, (d) Charles Lee.
  9. Which battle is generally considered to be the turning point of the RW? (a) Lexington and Concord, (b) Saratoga, (c) Albany, (d) Charleston.
  10. Each of the following was a colonial RW general except (a) Henry Clinton, (b) John Knox, (c) Nathanael Greene, (d) Horatio Gates
  11. What is the origin of the term “Uncle Sam?” (a) a famous army general, (b) a meatpacker, (c) a financier, (d) a politician
  12. What is the origin of the term “Yankee Doodle Dandy?” (a) a musical comedy; (b) a term to insult a person, (c) a British army tune, (d) a popular song.
  13. Who said, “give me liberty or give me death?” (a) Patrick Henry, (b) John Hancock, (c) John Adams, (d) Nathan Hale
  14. Who said, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country?” (a) Benedict Arnold, (b) Nathan Hale, (c) Henry Lee, (d) Crispus Atticks
  15. What battle is generally considered to have been the turning point of the RW. (a) NY; (b) Trenton, (c) West Point; (d) Saratoga.
  16. When asked to surrender who said, “I have not yet begun to fight?” (a) John Paul Jones, (b) Ethan Allen, (c) Gerry Mander, (d) George Washington
  17. During the RW many cities served as the capital city. Basically, the capital was wherever the Continental Congress was in session at the time, and it had to move on several occasions to avoid the British Army. Each of the following served as the capital of the colonies except (a) Philadelphia, (b) NYC, (c) Lancaster, (d) Princeton.
  18. Which was the first colony to sign the Constitution? (a) Delaware, (b) Virginia, (c) Rhode Island, (d) NY.
  19. How many signatories of the Declaration of Independence were there? (a) 52, (b) 26, (c) 56, (d) 13.
  20. Who was the first President to occupy the White House? (a) George Washington, (b) John Adams, (c) Thomas Jefferson, (d) James Madison.
  21. France “officially” presented the Statue of Liberty to the US in (a) 1776, (b) 1880, (c) 1884, (d) 1888.
  22. What RW battle was precipitated by “the shot heard around the world?” (a) Lexington and Concord, (b) Saratoga, (c) Yorktown, (d) Baltimore
  23. In what year was the constitution finally ratified? (a) 1787, (b) 1788, (c) 1789, (d) 1790.
  24. Who was the King of England during the RW? (a. George I, (b) George II, (c) George III, (d) George IV
  25. Who was the first colonial fatality of the RW? (a) Crispus Attucks, (b) Jeffrey Kent, (c) Jeremiah Langley, (d) Edward Smyth
  26. Who was the head of the “Sons of Liberty?” (a) James Otis, (b) John Hancock, (c) Paul Revere, (d) Samuel Adams.
  27. Who wrote the pamphlet Common Sense, which was first published on January 10, 1776, widely disseminated and presented the case for American self-government? (a) Thomas Paine, (b) Benjamin Franklyn, (c) Thomas Jefferson, (d) Alexander Hamilton.

Answers: (1) b; (2) b, [Jefferson was assisted by a committee which was appointed by the Second Continental Congress that included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman.]; (3) d; (4) (c); (5) d; (6) a; (7) c; (8) c; (9) b; (10) a.[Clinton was a British general]; (11) b. [Samuel Wilson was a meatpacker from Troy, New York, who supplied beef to the U.S. Army.]; (12) b. [ ‘Yankee” was a contemptuous term used by the British referring to American colonists. “Doodle” was slang for a simpleton, country bumpkin, or fool. A “dandy” was a man who is overly obsessed with his appearance.] 13. a; (14) b; (15) d; (16) a. (17) b; (18) a; (19) c [Few persons signed on July 4. Most signed on August 2 or later.]; (20) b; (21) c; (22) a; (23) b; (24) c; (25) a; (26) d; (27) a.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention the many females who also contributed to the cause in a variety of ways. Some, such as Molly Rinker, Anna Strong, Anna Bates, and the mysterious “agent 355,” posed as loyalists but, in reality, operated as spies right under the noses of the British. In addition, the following deserve special mention for their heroism:

  • Deborah Sampson – Disguised herself as a man named Robert Shurtleff and enlisted in the Continental Army in 1782. She fought in several skirmishes and afterwards became one of the first women to receive a full military pension. 
  • Margaret Corbin – Fought at the Battle of Fort Washington in 1776. After her husband was killed, she took over operating his cannon and was severely wounded. Later she became the first woman to earn a lifelong military pension.
  • Anna Marie Lane – Fought alongside her husband in the Battle of Germantown (1777). She also earned a military pension for her service.
  • Sybil Ludington – Though only 16 she rode 40 miles through the night in 1777 to alert local militia that British troops were burning nearby Danbury, Connecticut. 

Conclusion

As America’s 250th birthday approaches the country finds itself in a state of turmoil. A small, but vociferous portion of the people, who are disaffected and hate America, are finding it necessary to criticize, denigrate and tear down our way of life and what the country stands for. They will likely try to disrupt the various celebratory activities. Yes, America has flaws, but they do not obscure the multitude of benefits, which make it the greatest nation in the world and one to which millions of foreigners aspire to emigrate.

In addition, let’s remember and pay homage to the tens of thousands of patriots who fought and died in various wars so that we may enjoy all the freedoms we often take for granted.

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