Tag: politics

GREENLAND

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

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

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JIMMY CARTER

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S EXTENSIVE CORRUPTION EXPOSED

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

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

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

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

Briefly, it provides conclusive proof of the following:

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

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

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

CONCLUSION

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

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

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

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BIDEN’S FAREWELL GIFT TO AMERICA

President Biden is getting into the Christmas Holiday spirit. I have discussed his shortcomings in vivid detail in various previous blogs, and there is no need to regurgitate them all now. Between his woke, DEI, biased, ill-advised, divisive and fatuous policies, his gaslighting and his family’s corruption and possibly treasonous activities he is sure to be remembered as arguably the worst, most destructive president in history.

However, that is not enough for Biden. Oh, no. On his way out the door he has determined to give Americans a special parting Christmas gift, a figurative “middle finger,” to remember him by, a great big “lump of coal for their Christmas stocking,” the icing on the cake, the cherry on the top of the sundae.

To what am I referring? Glad you asked. Biden has decided to pardon dozens of death row inmates in federal prisons. Yes, presidential pardons are a time-honored right of outgoing presidents, and occasionally there are one or two that raise eyebrows, such as Bill Clinton’s pardon of Marc Rich. But Biden has taken the tradition to a new low. It was bad enough that he pardoned his son, Hunter, however that was expected by everyone except the Kool-Aide drinkers. In that vein, I expect him to pardon other family members as well as himself before he departs. Again, not shocking.

However, Biden’s decision to pardon and/or commute the sentences of some 37 of the 40 inmates currently on death row in federal prisons is beyond the pale. This is on top of the 1,500 pardons he recently issued in one day. These inmates have committed the most heinous of violent crimes, including rape and mass murder. Their victims have included women, children and police officers in the performance of their duties. Moreover, many, if not most, of them are illegal aliens, who should not even be in the country. Biden’s lax immigration policies allowed them to enter the country illegally, sometimes several times, and now he has chosen to pardon them or commute their sentences.

In my opinion, there is no justification for this. These criminals were convicted by a jury of their peers as required by the Constitution. This is a complete disregard for the feelings of the families of the victims who had no foreknowledge of this action and who now feel like they have been victimized twice. It is another instance of putting the rights of illegal aliens before those of US citizens. With the stroke of a pen Biden has overridden the US criminal justice system. Whose is a threat to democracy now?

Why did he do it? Has he completely lost his mind? Is he even cognizant of his action? It should be noted that according to the latest CBS poll 53% of Americans are in favor of the death penalty. Yet, according to multiple media reports Biden was influenced by a small but influential group of “progressive lawmakers and criminal justice activists” who had been pressuring him to take this action. The Biden Administration had issued a moratorium on executions of prisoners on death row in federal prisons, and apparently, it was feared that Trump would reinstitute them when he took office.

CONCLUSION

Biden’s approval ratings have continued to decline since the election. The latest polls put it anywhere from the mid-40s to a low of 34% reported by the poll conducted by the Marquette Law School. Pollster Mark Penn, Chairman of the Interactive Inc has opined that Biden’s recent actions have severely damaged his legacy. I concur. It almost seems like he doesn’t care about it or is oblivious to it.

In any event his administration has been implementing policies that are contrary to the will of the people. For example, everyone knows that the American people have given Trump a mandate to, among other things, cut federal spending and finish the border wall. Yet, Biden has been in a rush to spend as much unspent money as possible to thwart the former action and has been selling off unused border wall parts for pennies on the dollar to force the Trump Administration to repurchase new parts. Either he is being spiteful and doesn’t care, or he is oblivious.

It’s been pretty clear that over the last several months, if not longer, that Biden has been the PINO (President in Name Only). He has been nowhere to be found. Now, suddenly he has awoken from his hibernation and is going out in a blaze of shame. History will not be kind to Joe Biden.

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IRAN’S COMEUPPANCE

What are the three words that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khomenei, and the rest of its leadership group dread more than any other? Repeat after me: it’s “drill, baby, drill.”

In 2020 Iran was on the brink of bankruptcy. The US’s fossil fuel production and exportation and Trump’s sanctions were strangling its economy. But then, the Biden Administration’s ill-advised policy of restricting US fossil fuel production coupled with relaxing sanctions and cash payments enabled Iran to flourish financially. In addition, it provided Iran with the means to finance its nuclear program and provide funding and other means of support to various terrorist groups, such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Trump’s re-election will change all that. Iran’s leadership is cognizant of that, and therefore it is, or should be, very, very concerned. More on that below.

Trump has made no secret of his intent. He has long been a strong supporter of the US fossil fuels industry. He has been repeating his mantra of “drill, baby, drill” for months. It has become one of the cornerstones of his campaign. This will also include building new refineries, power plants, and reactors and reopening the Keystone Pipeline. In conjunction with increasing production he maintains that his policy will “slash red tape” and reverse many restrictions and regulations regarding US carbon emissions.

The US has more oil reserves than any other country, and it has the ability to become the number one producer and exporter of oil and gas. The Green New Deal advocates will squawk, but Trump’s landslide election victory has given him the power to proceed. That was his approach during his first term, and it worked as I noted above. Even more concerning to Iran is that Trump has the reputation of saying what he means and meaning what he says.

Multiple media sources have reported that Trump will initiate his fossil fuel policy within a few days of his inauguration. The people elected him for that purpose, and he will be only too eager to follow through. The likelihood is that Trump fossil fuel policy will exert maximum pressure on Iran (as well as other fossil producing countries).

According to Reuters Trump is prepared to enact a “wide-ranging energy plan” to explore and drill for oil and gas, including off the coast of the US and on federal lands, for both domestic use and export. For example, according to Bloomberg.com Trump has advised that his administration will be “ready within seconds” to do so.

Newsweek and Montana’s Livingston Enterprise reported that Mike Dunleavy, Alaska’s governor, has been urging Trump to commence exploring for fossil fuels in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This would be very controversial. The potential economic benefits would be substantial as the lands sits on an estimated 7 -12 billion barrels of oil. On the other hand, the ANWR is an ecosystem that supports some 700 species of plants and animals. Various environmental groups have long been opposed to developing this area. Their opposition has been supported by a goodly portion of Congress.

In my view Trump’s fossil fuel policy will yield various benefits:

  1. He has claimed his policies will reduce energy prices “in half within 12 months,” which, in turn, will reduce inflation. Exaggeration? Hyperbole? Perhaps, but I wouldn’t bet against it.
  2. It will exert maximum pressure on Iran (as well as other fossil producing countries) to be more flexible in their relations with the US.
  3. Trump will likely exert pressure on Iran to (1) curb its support of terrorist organizations, (2) curtail its development of a nuclear weapon, and (3) and tone down its hostility toward Israel.
  4. Similarly, Russia’s oil revenue would be reduced and with it its influence over our European allies who are presently overly dependent on Russia for their oil. Furthermore, the loss of revenue would impair its ability to fund its war with Ukraine, which might make it more amenable to negotiating a settlement.
  5. It will roll back much of the wasteful and inflationary Green New Deal. He has vowed to “rescind all unspent funds.” Despite its many flaws and wasteful provisions, the GND has many supporters even some among the GOP, so the expectation is that he will direct his staff and allies in Congress to “use a scalpel rather than a sledgehammer” in effecting cuts.
  6. Trump will likely take a hard look at electric vehicles. They have their supporters and detractors, but there is no need to make them mandatory as the Dems want to do.

CONCLUSION

Trump’s overall energy policy is supported by a clear majority of Americans. For the reasons cited above its implementation will benefit the country economically, politically, militarily, geopolitically, and security-wise. Some parts of it will be implemented on Day 1; other parts will take a few weeks or months; still other parts will take longer or may be blocked entirely. However, we can be confident that Trump will follow through to the best of his ability. He has his strong mandate. He will not be deterred.

He will make America united again. He will make America strong again. He will make America respected again. He will make America safe again. Most importantly, he will make America great again.

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A TIME FOR OPTIMISM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONCLUSION

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

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

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

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

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

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TRUMP’S CABINET NOMINATIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    CONCLUSION

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

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

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    THE UNOFFICIAL PRESIDENT

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

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

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

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

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

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

    CONCLUSION

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

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

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

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

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    NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW…EXCEPT THE BIDENS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    CONCLUSION

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

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

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

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

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

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    TRUMP TRANSITION UPDATE

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

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

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

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

    Conclusion

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

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

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

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