Tag: politics

THE FAILURE OF THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA

We expect or even accept that most politicians will be disingenuous and partisan. Some will even be corrupt. We may not like it, but that is the nature of the beast. However, our expectations are very different with respect to the media.

In order for our system of government to function as the Founding Fathers intended it is essential to have a strong, vibrant, honest and independent media. In particular, we, the people, rely on having the benefit of a media that will ferret out and expose lies, corruption and criminal activities committed by our elected officials. Many of us have been cognizant of the fact that over the last few years most of the media, with few exceptions, has not only been lax in fulfilling its purpose it has been actively biased in its coverage. It has ignored, suppressed, distorted, and outright lied about many stories that would have reflected negatively upon Dems and, in particular, President Biden.

On the other hand, much of the media has perpetuated lies and exaggerations with respect to its coverage of Donald Trump. In at least one case I maintain that the media’s actions likely affected the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. It doesn’t get more serious than that. I will explain below.

To be sure, there have been other times in our history in which the media has “protected” presidents by not disclosing certain health issues and/or character flaws to the public. In recent history, I can recall three such examples, but I am sure there have been many more:

  1. JFK was just 43 when he was elected president in 1960. Tanned, handsome, vibrant and athletic he always projected the picture of good health. In reality, he suffered from a variety of debilitating illnesses the extent of which was kept from the public by the media. For instance, he suffered from various spinal problems and osteoporosis that caused chronic pain; he had Addisons disease, which damaged his adrenal glands and resulted in fatigue and other maladies; and he suffered from frequent urinary tract infections. According to historian Robert Dallek he took as many as a dozen medications to deal with these issues. Additionally, he was a chronic womanizer. Did these impair his ability to function as president? Possibly.
  2. FDR suffered from polio most of his adult life beginning when he was a young man. Basically, he was confined to a wheelchair and could only walk or even stand up with the assistance of braces, crutches or an aide. The media downplayed his infirmities and in the days before the advent of television the public was largely unaware of his condition. Had the public known his chances of a successful political career would have been severely hampered.
  3. During the last year of his presidency Woodrow Wilson was basically incapacitated due to a series of strokes. Unbeknownst to the general public his wife and his personal physician basically managed the presidency in his stead. The media did not report this. Some might view this as a parallel to Biden’s situation.

So, the media’s protection of Biden is not unique, but the extent of it has been significantly more excessive. For example, for the past several years the mainstream media has acted as a strong advocate for Biden and the Dems. It has suppressed or distorted a never-ending series of negative stories, such as his cognitive decline, Hunter Biden’s laptop, millions of dollars in hidden funds received from China, Russia, and several other countries, his weak and overaccommodative attitude toward our enemies such as Iran, Russia and China, his failure to secure our borders, his poor economic policies, and his failure to address crime. Contemporary journalists have assiduously avoided disclosing or investigating these matters either through laziness or reluctance to uncover anything negative with respect to Biden.

On the other hand, as I mentioned above it has created, abetted, embellished and suppressed false stories against Donald Trump, such as, among many others, “trumped up” impeachment trials, the Russia hoax, FISA warrants, January 6 insurrection, 2020 election interference, the NYC “show” trial, and worst of all Hunter Biden’s laptop. Their intense hatred of Trump is so deep it borders on the irrational, hence the term “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” They would rather damage America by propping up a cognitively-deficient Biden than see Trump in the White House.

I have discussed each of these, in detail, in previous blogs, and I see no need to repeat myself. The most egregious of these was the suppression of Hunter’s laptop. The Dems, the media, the FBI and various social media outlets all participated creating and perpetuating the lie that it was a hoax. After the 2020 election when the truth was uncovered a goodly number of those who had voted for Biden disclosed that had they been aware of the truth they would have voted for Trump. The election was so close that that may have swung the election. Of course, we’ll never know.

Now the liberal/woke media is trying to gaslight us with two additional preposterous stories.

  1. If elected, Trump will be a dictator. He will never leave office. Well, HELLO! Trump has already been president. We have seen him in action. He did not act like a dictator, and upon losing re-election he did leave office.
  2. In view of the SCOTUS’s recent decision regarding presidential immunity they are attacking the integrity of the Court and its members. They are saying that Trump will run amok even employ death squads such as Seal Team Six to assassinate opponents. This is inane on many levels. Those who are predicting this are ignorant, delusional, and merely grasping at straws to inflame the public. SCOTUS acted within its constitutional authority. Its decision limited immunity to “official” acts and left it to the lower courts to determine what is “official” on a case-by-case basis.

Now in the wake of Biden’s disastrous performance in last week’s debate his cognitive decline, which most of the media has been hiding from voters, has become undeniably evident. Those voters who have been getting their news from Fox News were not surprised. Fox has been reporting this for years, even before the 2020 election. It is now obvious to all who watched the debate that all of Fox’s expose stories over the last several years are true, and those who denigrated them have been exposed as either partisan liars or incompetents. On the other hand, those voters who have been getting their news from other media outlets were shocked. Even media outlets, reporters and so-called Dem insiders professed to be shocked, although most should have known or at least suspected.

Now, that we have all seen that “the emperor has no clothes,” so to speak, numerous Dems and their allies are piling on, to wit:

  1. The staffers who prepped Biden for the debate are being blamed for not having prepared him properly. Biden never fires anybody but expect some or all of them to be relegated to a lesser role or reassigned.
  2. Carl Bernstein who, along with Bob Woodward, exposed the Watergate scandal in the 1970s has been a staunch supporter of Biden. He has consistently denigrated any stories of Biden’s cognitive decline and exaggerated Trump’s issues negatively (often characterizing them as “worse than Watergate”) playing on his Watergate fame to give credence to his opinions. Now, embarrassed that he missed this issue, suddenly he is piling on. For instance, he advised CNN that Biden’s horrendous debate performance was not unique. He claims that there have been “15 [-] 20” similar occasions in the past 18 months. Nice of him to exposé this now after the whole world has seen it with their own eyes. Clearly, Bernstein is not the same reporter he was during Watergate. Probably, other reporters who cover the White House knew as well. Too bad they did not exhibit the professional integrity to tell the American people earlier.
  3. Biden-excusers such as the NY Times, Axios and Politico are suddenly reporting on Biden’s weaknesses such as lack of stamina and limited schedule. Too little, too late. Where were they four years ago? According to Axios Biden is only “dependably engaged” from 10 am to 4 pm. If true, that is most frightening. Being president is a 24/7 job. Crises can and do occur at any time.
  4. Various Dem congressmen have called for Biden to “step aside as the presumptive nominee.” Those running for reelection are particularly concerned (as they should be). Biden’s “coattails” have morphed into “anchors.”
  5. Multiple “former officials” in the Biden Administration have “expressed doubt” that Biden could go “toe-to-toe” with the likes of Putin in his “present condition.”
  6. Politico has reported that Biden refuses to take advice from all but a small, select group. Moreover, he cannot abide bad news. He is prone to tantrums and to chewing out staffers who bring him any. As a consequence, they rarely and reluctantly tell him anything negative. Obviously, this impairs his ability to make informed decisions even further.
  7. Comedians on late-night talk shows have begun to mock Biden as they used to do with other presidents.
  8. To me, all of the above are indications that the Dems realize he is losing and want to replace him.
  9. One of the few exceptions is “Morning Joe” Scarborough, a leading sufferer of TDS. He has forfeited the last shred of his integrity by declaring “this version of Biden intellectually, analytically is the best Biden ever.””

CONCLUSION

The mainstream media’s lack of integrity has been disgraceful. At times, its sycophantic behavior has more closely resembled what we see in an autocracy rather than in a democracy. They have allowed their blind, irrational hatred of Trump to prevent them from fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities.

    Now, the Dems are in a major quandary. They are panicking because their presumptive nominee has been exposed as not medically competent to be president. A faction of the Party would like to replace him even though to do so would effectively disenfranchise the millions who voted for him in the primaries many of whom still support him.

    Biden has steadfastly refused to withdraw voluntarily. His wife and family are supporting this for their own selfish reasons. However, the pressure is mounting.

    Based on the primary results Biden controls virtually all of the delegates. These delegates are staunchly loyal to him. Getting them to support another candidate would be a very cumbersome, if not impossible, process. Each state has its own election laws and procedures to navigate. Moreover, it is almost unheard of for even one delegate to renege on his pledge on the first ballot, much less a majority of them. Also, Biden controls a substantial amount of campaign funds. The only replacement candidate to whom these funds could be transferred is VP Kamala Harris. Unfortunately, she is very unpopular with most Party insiders, donors and voters for reasons that I outlined in my last blog.

    In my estimation, none of the other possible candidates would do any better than Biden. History tells us that it is still early in the campaign, and things could still change. But, at the present time, it appears that the Dems are stuck with Biden for better or for worse.

    One final comment – Ignore the often-published national poll numbers, which have consistently reported a narrow percentage point difference between Biden and Trump. It’s the Electoral College that matters, and my analysis has disclosed that if the election were held today Trump would garner 310 electoral votes to Biden’s 195 with 33 in a tie. That is why the Dems and their supporters have been so panicked.

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    BIDEN-TRUMP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE. THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH

    The 2024 Biden-Trump debate has been consigned to the annals of history. In many respects it was a real game changer. I think it will resonate among political historians for a long time (either famously or infamously depending on one’s political preference). In my lifetime I have watched many presidential debates, and I have never witnessed one so decisive. Frankly, at times, I was almost embarrassed for Biden.

    Already certain significant patterns and trends have emerged. It is important to realize that the debate was only a few days ago, and generally speaking the full ramifications of it will not be apparent for a while. However, some immediate patterns have emerged, which I will list below as my considered opinion, with which, as always you are free to agree or disagree.

    A plethora of polls and opinions have been published in the last few days. All of them have had negative implications for both Biden and the Dems. For instance:

    1. I could not find any publication or commentator that thought Biden won the debate or even performed well.
    2. Most polls’ results were consistent with the Democracy Corp poll of Dem-leaning voters many of whom described Biden as “confused,” “frail,” and exhibiting “dementia.”
    3. As I reported in my previous blog even media Dem stalwarts such as CNN, MSNBC and the NY Times were in a panic and were calling for Biden to step aside.
    4. John Levine, writing in the NY Post, put it succinctly opining that “Trump crushed Biden.” Although “crushed” may be a rather strong characterization virtually every poll concurs that Trump won, as do I. For example, a poll taken by Schoen Cooperman Research found that 51% felt Trump had won the debate compared to 34% for Biden.
    5. Even more foreboding, 50% of respondents in the same poll said that based on the debate they would be more likely to vote. Guess for whom those persons would be voting.
    6. Other polls reported similarly dire news for Biden. For example, a CBS poll disclosed that 46% of Dem registered voters and 72% of all registered voters felt Biden does not possess the “mental and cognitive health to serve as president” and should not be running. The top three reasons given were his age, decisions he might make as president, and his record as president.
    7. Ominously, the negativity increased among those who actually watched the debate.
    8. According to a Morning Consult poll 60% want Biden to withdraw and be replaced. I will evaluate possible replacements below.
    9. Some respondents replied that Biden’s poor performance was even worse than they expected. Probably, those were persons who got their news from one of the many media outlets that continuously hid or minimized Biden’s deficiencies. Most Fox viewers were not surprised.

    Normally, I am not a proponent of fact-checking. All politicians bend the truth at times, particularly under the pressure of a debate. However, Biden told some outright lies that were too egregious to ignore.

    For example:

    1. “I’m the only president this century that doesn’t have any – this decade – that doesn’t have any troops dying anywhere in the world.” He forgot about the 13 soldiers who died during the ill-advised, ill-planned, and ill-executed withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. We also left behind an untold number of native Afghanis who had worked for and with us who we had at least a moral obligation to take out plus billions of dollars of military weapons and equipment.
    2. “The US Border Patrol union endorsed me.” The union debunked that immediately and emphatically with a posting on X. “To be clear. We never have and never will endorse Biden.”

    Dem party members, fund raisers, and supporters are in a quandary. Many of them are extremely distressed at the prospect of a Trump presidency. They hate him with a passion. Their hate is irrational. There is a term for their feelings. It’s called “Trump Derangement Syndrome or TDS. They truly believe he is evil. Some of them have referred to him as a Nazi. Some have even extended those characterizations to Trump supporters. I have never seen anything like it. Even Richard Nixon, as unpopular as he was by the opposition, did not engender such extreme feelings.

    They put all their eggs in the Biden basket, and now they don’t know what to do. They are in a bind. Biden is insisting he will not drop out. Any alternative candidates were dissuaded or precluded from campaigning. As a result, there is no viable alternative to Biden. The one positive news for Biden was that another poll released by Data for Progress failed to identify any possible replacement that would do better than him. That’s good for Biden but bad for the Dem Party.

    VP Harris’ poll numbers are worse than Biden’s. She has been exposed as ignorant, incompetent and lazy and has no accomplishments on her record as VP. Newsome is young and vibrant, but he would have to run on his dismal record as governor of California. His far-left policies have virtually bankrupted the state. Buttigieg would have to defend his spotty record as Mayor of South Bend and Transportation Secretary. Michelle Obama insists she is not interested. Hillary? Please!

    CONCLUSION

    Most everyone agrees that this election will be crucial for the country’s future. The country is in trouble. It is sharply divided almost down the middle politically, socially and economically. Many feel the media is sharply biased and the scales of justice are tilted. Furthermore, supporters of each candidate have exhibited an intense dislike for the other one. Feelings are so extreme that most people are loath to even engage in meaningful political dialogue lest they evolve into arguments or even fights. For most people the answer to the standard question “are you better off today than you were four years ago is a resounding “no.”

    As I said, the situation is very fluid. Stay tuned for future developments.

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    TRUMP VERDICT – WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR AMERICA?

    So, the Trump “show” trial is over, and predictably, Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts. I’m not going to discuss the nuts and bolts of the trial itself. Anyone who has been following it is fully cognizant of how it was rigged and why. The real issues are what it does it portend for America’s justice system? Will it remain fair and unbiased, or will politics and influence play a decisive role? What does it portend for America? Will there be equal opportunity under the law? Will the Bill of Rights and the Constitution apply equally to everyone or just a chosen few?

    These are not hyperbolic questions. These are very real and serious issues. Read on for my opinion of these matters.

    Today, the far-left progressives and the Trump-haters are rejoicing. I don’t know how many of them really think Trump was guilty of anything or whether or not he got a fair trial, but to them it doesn’t matter. To them the end justifies the means. Now they can paint Trump as a convicted felon. Many of them probably think he should be sentenced to prison for 100+ years or worse. These people are being short-sighted and are missing the main point.

    In my view, there are two transcendent issues here:

    1. If the powers-that-be can do this to Trump they can do it to any of us. If one were to say or do the “wrong” thing prospectively he could suffer the same fate. Any trial lawyer will tell you that even if you are innocent defending yourself can easily bankrupt you and, ruin your life and your family’s. Few of us have the financial resources, influence and mental and emotional toughness that Trump has. If they were to target the average citizen, they can easily break him.
    2. The real goal was and is to taint the 2024 presidential election. Make no mistake about that. The Dems are hoping that branding Trump as a convicted felon or even incarcerating him will cause some voters to vote for someone else. They don’t care about the obvious sham of a trial. They don’t care if it is reversed on appeal, which according to most legal experts, is likely. Their plan is that such reversal will occur after the election, after their man has won. The only saving grace is that this is so obvious to most of us it will likely backfire. Indeed, according to Fox News and various other media outlets since the verdict Trump’s campaign has already received $40 million in donations, and these were small donations, which indicate widespread support. Today, in his speech Trump stated that a new poll showed a 6% jump in support, but we’ll see what additional polls tell us over the next few days.

    CONCLUSION

    I am not a lawyer. I am not an expert on the appellate process. But, like most of you I do have common sense and a sense of right and wrong. If I were a member of Trump’s legal team I would not sit back and wait for the slow-grinding NY appeals process to play out. As I said, that would not remedy the matter until after the election. I would figure out a way to get this matter into the federal courts, ideally the Supreme Court, before the election. I recall that in the 2000 election the SC reviewed the Florida “hanging Chad” issue on an expedited basis, so there is precedent. As I said above, this decision transcends NYC; it impacts the entire country. His team is highly competent and highly paid. Figure it out. I would presume they are planning to do just that.

    This is the first of many blogs I will publish on this matter over the next few months as developments unfold. Stay tuned.

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    TRUMP IN THE BRONX

    A few days ago, Donald Trump ventured to campaign in hostile territory where Republicans traditionally fear to tread. Where did he go? Russia? No. China? No. Iran? No. He went to The Bronx. He was criticized for it by many Dems, notably AOC who in my opinion should just shut up and mind her own business. The Bronx comprises a large part of her Congressional district, but throughout her tenure in Congress she has focused her energies on national matters while doing very for her constituents.

    But back to Trump. Guess what. He received a rousing welcome. Tens of thousands showed up to hear him speak, and tens of thousands more tried to get in but were relegated to overflow areas. Many Bronx residents who were interviewed by the media allowed as they felt ignored by the Administration and expressed appreciation that he demonstrated cognition of their needs, and problems.

    [Quiz questions: (1) What is the etymology of The Bronx? (2) Why is it referred to by The Bronx?

    The conventional wisdom in political circles has been that it is a waste of time, money, and resources for GOP presidential candidates to campaign there. Traditionally, The Bronx is among the bluest of the blue areas. For example, in 2020 Biden got almost 90% of the vote there. Why go into a hostile environment? However, Trump is fearless and confident. Moreover, he anticipates a close election and refuses to concede any area. He will not be dissuaded by the possibility of a hostile reception. He has also campaigned in “blue” New Jersey and yesterday he spoke at the Libertarian Party’s national convention. He received a rousing welcome in Wildwood, NJ and a mixed reception from the Libertarians. He wants to bring his message to a broader audience. His attitude is that New York and other traditionally “blue” areas may be “in play.” Indeed, the latest polls show that Biden’s lead in NY is down to single digits.

    If you place credence in polls, in my opinion, the 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in American history. The latest few polls have indicated that Biden and Trump are in a virtual dead heat nationwide. However, as you know the presidency is decided by separate state results, not a national vote. Typically, each party is “guaranteed” to win certain states, and the election turns on the results in the so-called battleground states. This cycle these battleground states are Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. As I write this blog according to RealClear Politics and most other polls Trump is leading Biden in all of them except Wisconsin in which the two are tied. Therefore, Trump would seem to be in the driver’s seat.

    However, there are a few caveats to keep in mind. (1) Trump’s margin in most of those is only a few points, well within any margin of error. (2) In any election the actual turnout is decisive. Grassroots organization and early turnout are crucial, and in recent elections the Dems have exceled in those areas. (3) The effect of independent candidates RFK and Jill Stein is unpredictable. Even if they only garner a few percentage points that could swing a few key states and hence the election. (4) As in any election a last-minute event, such as a terror attack, economic disaster or a devastating hurricane, could swing matters.

    CONCLUSION

    Biden has been insisting the polls are wrong. Of course, that’s what the projected loser always says. I don’t think he is totally wrong. Like I said, I don’t think they are inaccurate at this point in time, I just think there are many more external factors that could affect the election this year than is normally the case.

    Biden may be right regarding the accuracy of the polls but not in the way he thinks. The enthusiasm for Trump whenever and wherever he speaks compared to that for Biden may indicate that the polls are actually underestimating Trump’s lead.

    Quiz answers: (1) The name is derived from Jonas Brunck, a Swedish immigrant who established the first European settlement in the area. (2) The Bronx is named after the Bronx River. It has been customary to precede the names of bodies of water with the article “the.” Sometimes the “t” is capitalized; sometimes it is not.

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    BIDEN’S SHAM SUPPORT OF ISRAEL

    President Biden has continued to reiterate that the US’s support of Israel in its war with Hamas is “iron clad.” However, his actions have consistently belied that statement. More on this later.

    This disparity between what he says and what he does has been a continuing characteristic of his entire 50-year tenure as president, vice president and congressman. For example: (1) He claims to be a supporter of the working class, yet one of his first actions as president was to halt the construction of the Keystone Pipeline, which destroyed the livelihood of thousands of blue-collar workers. (2) He has continually supported raising taxes on the middle class. (3) His policies have fomented inflation, which has crippled the spending power of the middle class. (4) He has professed to be a friend and ally of African Americans (“If you don’t vote for me you ain’t black.”), yet he was buddies with segregationists like former senators Robert Byrd and Strom Thurmond, and he strenuously opposed busing saying he didn’t want his children to be educated in a “racial jungle.” (5) He was a co-sponsor of the 1994 crime bill, which resulted in a huge increase in the incarceration of blacks. (6) With respect to his foreign policies who can forget his, abrupt, ill-conceived and botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, which led to the abandonment of hundreds of Americans and Afghani allies, who were then likely hunted down and tortured. I could continue, but you get the point. Throughout his career Biden has demonstrated that rather than being loyal to his political convictions he will do anything for political benefit. His mendacity knows no bounds.

    Which brings us to the current situation regarding Israel. Since the advent of the current Israel-Hamas war Biden has been playing both sides against the middle, so to speak. Despite what he has said, his support for Israel has been far from “iron clad.” First, he urged Israel not to retaliate. That had never happened before in the entire history of the world. If a country is attacked, they hit back, pure and simple.

    Then he advocated a two-state solution, which, by the way, neither Israel nor Hamas wants. Hamas has repeatedly stated its goal is to destroy Israel, wipe it and all Jews out. Its slogan “from the river to the sea” makes that clear. Israel, for its part, realizes that it will never have a meaningful peace until and unless it totally destroys Hamas. Otherwise, Hamas will simply resurrect itself as it has before, and the fighting will recur again and again.

    Peace advocates keep pushing for a cease fire and hostage release. A cease fire would only provide a temporary respite. Sooner or later Hamas would break it, and fighting would recommence. I view it as just a stalling tactic to give Hamas time to reorganize and rearm. Also, I hate to say it but after all this time who knows how many unreturned hostages are even still alive. I say, let Israel finish the job.

    When Israel ignored Biden’s “don’t” warning, Biden threatened to withhold aid. Moreover, he directed, or at least influenced, the “Chameleon” to give “THE SPEECH.” Such meddling in the affairs of an ally can only be interpreted as a huge “slap in the face.” Israel, as is its wont, has refused to be intimidated, and has prosecuted the war on its own terms albeit in as humanitarian a manner as possible.

    At the present time, it has commenced operations against Hamas in Southern Gaza, Hamas’ last stronghold, and Biden has reacted by withholding the shipment of war material that Congress had previously approved. This is outrageous! As a further slap in the face he announced this on Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day that commemorates the Nazis’ genocide of six million Jews during WWII. Talk about tone deaf!

    Congressional leaders are viewing this as a blatant usurpation of its authority, and they are none too pleased. Remember, Congress controls the purse strings. I expect them to retaliate at some time in some way, which would cause additional chaos in the Biden Administration.

    Many observers are maintaining that this action is clearly signaling that Biden wants to prevent Israel from finishing the job. That could be true, but it is a fatuous course of action and makes no sense. Israel is our only reliable ally in the dangerous, mercurial and strategically critical ME, while Hamas is a terrorist organization, which would destroy us if it could. I believe his motivation is to placate the far-left radicals in his party, who have been revolting against his ME policy. It’s an election year, and he needs their support. It really is as simple as that. Political expediency trumps what’s right.

    These radicals are fueling the riots with their rhetoric and their money. There have been multiple reports in the media that the rioters are being bankrolled by many of the same groups that have contributed to Biden’s campaign. I believe the college riots are just the appetizer. The Dem convention may be the main course. Remember the 1968 convention also in Chicago? Those riots may have cost the Dems the presidential election.

    CONCLUSION

    So, let’s be clear. All these actions to hamstring Israel’s war effort are designed to garner votes. Biden’s loyalty to Jews, like his loyalty to Blacks and Hispanics, is proving to be transitory. Political expediency is trumping what’s right.

    Everyone claims they want peace. Don’t they realize that the only way to achieve peace is for Israel to win the war decisively and totally. Any half-assed cease fire will just kick the can down the road. In addition, every action to restrict Israel only serves to encourage Hamas to continue to fight thus prolonging the war. In summary, Biden’s attempt to please everyone has, in fact, pleased no one.

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    ANARCHY AND ANTI-SEMITISM ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

    The anarchy we have been witnessing on college campuses is not merely about antisemitism. It is not merely about Israel. It is not merely about the Palestinians. It is not merely about the war in Gaza. It may have begun as such. But it has metastasized into a war on America itself. The anarchists are flat-out announcing their evil and sinister intent by displaying signs with words such as “death to America.”

    Yes, these anarchists, for that is what they are, are out to destroy America, itself. They are not “demonstrators.” They are not “protesters.” Those characterizations are way too benign and grossly misleading. They are criminals and anarchists pure and simple. They have trespassed on school and city property; they have threatened students, primarily but not exclusively Jews, and have prevented them from attending classes. Just listen to the chants “death to America” and “we are Hamas.” That tells you all you need to know, and we’d best pay attention. This is not just about Jews, Israel, the Palestinians, or the hostages. Their aim is broader and more sinister. It is to destroy America, itself.

    One thing we should have learned about Hamas, Hezbollah and all the other radical Muslim terrorist groups by now. Their hatred is not limited to just Jews. They also hate Christians, Blacks, Hispanics, women, gays and anyone else who is not a “true believer,” even Muslims that are not of their particular sect. Wikipedia lists seven different Muslim sects – Sunni, Shia, Wahabi, Salafi, Berelvi, Sufi and Deobandi. Each one hates all the others, and they have been at each other’s throats for centuries.

    If the terrorists get the chance, they will slaughter all of us. Non-Jews beware and heed the famous words of Martin Niemöller who was a prominent Lutheran pastor in Germany in the 1920s and early 1930s. His famous quote regarding the Nazis was true then, and it is still true today regarding radical Muslim terrorists.

    “First, they came for the communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then, they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a trade unionist. Then, they came for the Jews,
    and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew. Then, they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me.”

    These riots are not spontaneous. They are well-planned and well-coordinated through social media. Many of the rioters are not even students. We know this because many of those arrested have produced identification that shows they are in their mid or late 20s. It may have started as a student protest, but it has been hijacked by anarchists, and the authorities need to treat them as such. The truth of the matter is that we have no idea who most of them are. We don’t even know if some of them are even US citizens. Some of them are likely illegals who crossed the open southern border; some of them could very likely be foreign-based agitators looking to foment trouble. We need to stop treating them as misguided, misinformed, rowdy students.

    Where are our leaders? Where are the presidents of these universities? Moreover, where are our elected leaders – President Biden, Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, and Chuck (the “”Chameleon”) Schumer to name a few? None of them has taken any effective action. To my knowledge, none has even condemned the riots.

    Biden refuses even to address the matter. He wouldn’t even answer a question about it at his last press conference. He seems oblivious to the entire matter. It makes me wonder if in his cognitively-challenged state he even knows about the riots. In my view, Biden’s lack of attention to these riots is not an anomaly. It is eerily consistent with his ignoring the loss of American lives resulting from his hasty, ill-advised withdrawal from Afghanistan, his lack of empathy for all those murdered by illegal aliens, his ignoring the East Palestine tragedy for a whole year, his failure to empathize with the families of slain police officers, and many other tragedies.

    Hochul and Adams have been nowhere to be found. They appear to be overwhelmed and incapable. The worst, however, is the Chameleon. It is one thing for the others to exhibit a lack of support and empathy for Israel and the Jews, in general. But Schumer is Jewish, and he represents a heavily Jewish constituency. Moreover, he is the Senate Majority Leader, one of the highest-ranking politicians in the country. He has enormous influence. Unfortunately, all we have gotten from him are empty platitudes and “The Speech.” Frankly, his attitude disgusts me. I wrote a whole blog about him a few weeks ago, and I don’t want to waste any more time and space on him at the present time. (Full disclosure – some governors, notably Governor Abbott in Texas and Governor DeSantis in Florida, have taken effective action, but they have been the exceptions.)

    It is clear to me that the Dems are trying to walk a fine line to avoid offending the radical left wing of the Dem Party in an election year. They are willing to sacrifice America and Israel, our one reliable ally in the volatile and strategically critical ME to win an election. So far, that strategy has been backfiring as they have been offending all sides. All of them have shown a total lack of leadership at a time when we need it desperately. Instead of addressing the matter, they waste time, energy and money trying Donald Trump on bogus, politically-motivated matters. The longer they sit on their hands and ignore the problem the worse it will get.

    Conclusion

    For those of us who know our history these riots are eerily similar to those in Germany in the 1930s. Those, too, were ignored, and we all know how that turned out.

    So, what can we do? What should we do?

    In no particular order, I advise the following initial actions:

    1. Prompt decisive action.
    2. Biden and Congress should express clear, unequivocable support for Israel and condemn the rioters’ actions.
    3. Biden should reiterate that the State Department has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, and anyone who claims to be a supporter, or worse, a member will be prosecuted. If they are a student, their school will suspend and/or expel them. If they are here on a visa or illegally they will be deported.
    4. The federal government has the hammer. It should use it. If these riots were aimed at any other group – Blacks, Hispanics, women, or gays, for example, the government would have cracked down immediately. But with respect to Jews, it doesn’t seem to care.
    5. The governors should consider utilizing state troops to restore order.
    6. Donors should strongly consider cancelling further donations (as a few have done already).
    7. Pressure should be brought on the presidents of these universities to resign immediately.
    8. Schools should investigate whether radical tenured professors who support terrorist groups can be terminated for cause.
    9. Perhaps, schools could require all students to view a tape of the October 7 massacre and even the concentration camps of the Holocaust in order to gain an appreciation of the horror of those events and gain some perspective.
    10. Parents don’t get a free pass either. Any self-respecting parent whose kid is spouting such hateful antisemitic garbage should be horrified. I don’t think they raised their kids that way; at least, I hope not. Also, they should reconsider if they want to continue to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for these universities to “educate” their kids.

    The deterioration of America’s social and moral fabric as exhibited by these riots is most shocking to me. Our college-age kids may be well educated, but many of them are ignorant of history, are devoid of common sense and a sense of right and wrong, have a distorted view of current events, and are easily manipulated by social media and radical professors. It should be shocking to you as well. We’re talking about America’s future leaders. I hope and pray that it is not too late to repair the damage.

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    TRUMP “SHOW” TRIAL – WHY WE SHOULD ALL BE WORRIED

    In my view, it’s important to understand that the Trump “show” trial in NYC is not just about Trump’s guilt or innocence of the crimes for which he is on trial. In a sense, we are all on trial. If the government can prosecute Trump in the manner in which this trial is being conducted it can do so to any of us. I’ll explain below.

    Most of us realize that the charges are “trumped up,” (pun intended). Most of us realize that the main purpose of the trial is to keep Trump bottled up in the courtroom to hinder his ability to campaign. It is voter suppression of the highest order. If he is convicted and imprisoned that would be the frosting on the cake for the Dems. More on that later.

    In following the pretrial proceedings, I feel like a fell asleep and woke up in Soviet Russia circa 1930. “Show trials” with a predetermined outcome were common in that era, and they still are in totalitarian regimes all over the world. Lavrenty Beria, the most notorious and most ruthless head of Russia’s secret police under Joseph Stalin, no slouch himself when it came to ruthlessness, was fond of saying “show me the man, and I’ll show you the crime.” That catchy statement epitomized the manner in which Stalin and Beria operated. In my opinion Alvin Bragg, the NYC DA, is a “Beria-wannabe,” even though he probably doesn’t have the foggiest notion of who Beria was.

    Why do I say that? Bragg campaigned on a promise to “get Trump.” (Show me the man.) He has spent his entire tenure as DA hunting for a crime to prosecute, all the while ignoring real crimes in NYC. The best “crime” he could find was an eight-year-old misdemeanor state crime that had already exceeded the statute of limitations. No matter. Somehow, Bragg managed to bootstrap it into a felonious federal crime. (I’ll show you the crime.) That would have been a neat magic trick worthy of Harry Houdini if it weren’t of highly questionable legality.

    It is important to note that both Bragg’s predecessor, Cyrus Vance, and the Justice Department, neither of which is a fan of Trump’s by the way, had declined to prosecute for various reasons. But that has not deterred Bragg from fulfilling his campaign promise. He is akin to the fictitious Ahab pursuing the big white whale in Herman Melville’s novel Moby Dick.

    I don’t want to get embroiled in a debate on the merits of the case, or whether or not Trump is guilty or innocent. There is a bigger, more serious issue in play here.

    Of course, I am not an attorney, and I will not pretend to be one. Put aside the fact that you may hate Trump personally. That is irrelevant. Under that pesky document known as the Constitution everyone is entitled to a fair trial regardless of the crime. Certain aspects of this case bother me, and they should bother you as well. Most independent observers realize that they are depriving Trump of a fair trial and the voters to decide our next president in a free and fair election. For example:

    1. The case is primarily about politics, which is just plain wrong. That is not how our legal system is supposed to work. The timing of the trial during an election campaign is highly suspect.
    2. The venue is NYC which is as “blue” as it gets. In 2020 Trump got some 15% of the vote there. Most New Yorkers hate Trump for whatever reason. It is highly doubtful that he can get a fair-minded jury out of that pool. In point of fact, there have already been suspicions regarding the objectivity of a few of the jurors.
    3. Juan Merchan, the judge on the case, is clearly biased. He is an admitted Trump-hater. It appears he was selected for that very reason. Moreover, his daughter is a senior executive at a law firm with close ties to Joe Biden and other high-level Dems. Due to that clear conflict, he should have recused himself.
    4. Merchan has required Trump to be in court physically every day. This requirement could have and should have been waived. The obvious ramification of this ruling is to preclude Trump from campaigning.
    5. Merchan has issued a gag order against Trump, but not against any other parties including the prosecution and potential witnesses. This has likely tainted the jury pool, the chosen jurors and public opinion.

    Conclusion

    The state’s obvious goal is to deny Trump a fair trial, secure a wrongful conviction, hinder his campaigning, and steal the upcoming election. This is a new form of voter suppression. As I said, this is an attempt to deprive the public from determining our next president. A few fair-minded commentators such as Alan Dershowitz and Stephen A. Smith, lifetime Dems and not Trump supporters, have criticized this strategy. They want to see the Dems beat him fair and square, not this way. Furthermore, many legal scholars, such as Dershowitz and Greg Jarrett have opined that any conviction would likely be overturned on appeal after the election. Bragg and his cohorts won’t care. They probably even expect a reversal. They probably know that Trump’s not guilty of the crime for which he is on trial. But at that point, the damage will have been done.

    A “show trial” such as this is not supposed to happen in the US. As I said above, “show trials” have long been a characteristic of countries ruled by dictators. In the US we have the protection of the Bill of Rights. The Constitution mandates that the accused is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. Trump’s rights have been trampled. He has already been tried and convicted by the state and the media. The infamous Salem Witch Trials of the 17th century were more equitable than this trial.

    To their credit most voters realize this, especially those who have been bullied by the authorities (e.g. “driving while Black”). They see right through this strategy. Consequently, the Dems’ strategy has backfired. The polls show Trump is more popular than ever. For example, according to The Hill and Emerson College national polls Trump is ahead of Biden by three points. More importantly Trump is maintaining small margins in most of the swing states that will really decide the election. Once again, the average voter is showing we are not as dumb as the so-called elites think we are.

    In the beginning I said there was a bigger issue here than just this trial. The issue is if the state can prosecute Trump just because it doesn’t agree with his politics, if it can trample on his constitutionally guaranteed civil rights, it can do so to anyone. Even if the accused is innocent, it costs a substantial amount of money to defend oneself, and very few of us have the financial resources that Trump has. As I said, in a sense we are all on trial here.

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    I’M NOT VOTING FOR TRUMP

    Thanks to loyal reader, David, for providing the idea and much of the information for the following blog.

    I am not voting for Donald Trump, the man, in the 2024 presidential election. I don’t hate the man as many others do. I don’t know him. I have never met him, but based on what I have seen and observed over the years it is likely that if I did get to know him, I wouldn’t like him personally. He would not be my choice for a dinner companion or any other type of social encounter. He can be abrasive, rude, abrupt, and arrogant. Over the years he has had a plethora of clashes with many people including, subordinates, business associates, and the media, among others. These types of qualities do not exactly endear him to many people on a personal level. No, I would not vote for Trump, the man.

    However, I AM going to vote for the following policies and, by extension, the man who I deem best able to enact them.

    1. Support and defend the Constitution, especially the first and second amendments.
    2. Secure and defend our borders against illegals who we have no idea who they are, where they came from, and their intent. Contrary to what the Dems and the media tell you most of them are NOT asylum-seekers. Many of them are from countries that are our enemies and/or sponsor terrorism and comprise the dregs of society from those countries – criminals, terrorists and other undesirables.
    3. Finish the border wall, reinstitute the “remain in Mexico” policy and deport illegal aliens that break our laws. Until and unless they become citizens they are guests in our country, and they should act as such.
    4. Crack down on the importing of illegal, deadly drugs, such as fentanyl, which are killing tens of thousands of us.
    5. Crack down on the Mexican cartels who essentially control the Mexican government and act with impunity on both sides of the southern border.
    6. Terminate human trafficking and other human rights violations.
    7. Crack down on sanctuary states and cities.
    8. Be the president of all the people, not just some of the people.
    9. Do away with the runaway wokeism and other inane and misguided far-left policies that have been plaguing our country and tearing apart our social fabric.
    10. Stop treating illegal aliens better than our own citizens.
    11. End censorship of differences of opinion, especially on social media.
    12. Restore the traditional justice system. Make the Justice Department treat everyone equally under the law regardless of social status, economic wealth, color, religion, or political persuasion.
    13. Make us feel safe again by refunding the police, ending “no-bail” laws, and demanding that local DAs actually prosecute crimes and judges sentence the guilty to prison.
    14. Appoint judges and SC justices that will follow the constitution.
    15. Resume drilling for oil and gas in order to restore our energy independence and eliminate our dependence on our enemies.
    16. Replace the current administration’s “America last” policy with an “America first” policy.
    17. Stand up to the leaders of foreign countries who are threatening us (e.g. Russia, China, and Iran), disrespecting us and taking advantage of us (e.g. NATO allies and Mexico).
    18. Reinstitute unwavering support for Israel, our sole reliable ally in the critical, dangerous and mercurial Middle East.
    19. Protect our critical industries by equalizing tariffs and preventing the export of jobs and manufacturing.
    20. Support our military and our veterans.
    21. Crack down on the anti-Semites and antisemitism that is running rampant in our schools and in our society, in general.
    22. Reverse the US’s current downward spiral and make us proud to be an American again.
    23. Secure the future of America for our children and grandchildren.

    CONCLUSION

    These are tall orders. They will not be easy to accomplish, particularly since the entrenched powers in Congress and government will resist by any means possible to safeguard their turf.

    Of all the candidates which one is most capable of accomplishing the foregoing? We know the answer, because he did it already in his first term. The policies he has been espousing are precisely the ones we need and want now. Biden and his administration have had their chance, and they have f**ked it up royally.

    In a recent poll people were asked to name the most significant accomplishment of the Biden administration. What was the winner? Was it the economy? No. Was it the border? No. Was it crime? No. The winner was “nothing.” That’s right, “nothing.” So, if you voted for him in 2020 are you happy with the result, or do you have buyer’s remorse?

    My advice is to ignore the bloviators and spin doctors in the media and elsewhere. Your decision in 2024 should come down to the answer to one simple question. There is no deep analysis needed. “Are you better off today than you were in 2020?”

    So, don’t vote for Trump, the man. Hold your nose, swallow your pride, ignore your personal feelings, and vote for Trump’s policies. Ignore what he says. Ignore his character flaws. Focus on his policies. He succeeded before. He can do so again.

    Your children and grandchildren will thank you.

    –

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    CHUCK SCHUMER – POLITICAL CHAMELEON

    Chuck Schumer has been a strong supporter of Israel for all of his nearly 50-year career in public service – until last week. Now, I sense that his formerly strong support of Israel has waned. Furthermore, he has not been as supportive of American Jews as he should be in light of the recent plethora of antisemitic incidents in our schools and in general. He has not condemned, criticized, or even commented. His silence has been most disappointing as he is in a unique position. Many Jews feel he should be more outspoken. What has caused this seminal change? See below for my opinion.

    In my view, Chuck Schumer is the consummate politician, and I don’t mean that as a compliment. He epitomizes what I always say about politicians: their best abilities are to get elected and to get re-elected. He sees the seismic shift in the Dem Party to the left on major issues, plus away from Israel, and toward antisemitism that we all see, and he is reacting to it. Sure, he could stick to his guns and resist the trend. He could continue to espouse unwavering support for Israel, but the politician in him won’t permit him to do it. His overriding instinct of preserving his Senate seat against a possible primary challenge in 2028 won’t permit it (even though four years is a lifetime in politics). Moreover, his desire to maintain his Majority Leadership position in the Senate won’t permit it. And so, we have “THE SPEECH.”

    Schumer began his political career in the NY State assembly in 1975. In 1981 he was elected to the House of Representatives. In 1998 he was elected to the US Senate. Currently, he is serving his 5th term, which makes him the longest-serving senator ever from NY. He has worked his way up to the very influential post of Senate Majority Leader.

    For most of his career Schumer has been a staunch and outspoken supporter of Israel. This was understandable since he is Jewish, and he has represented a heavily Jewish constituency.

    For instance:

    1. In 1994, Schumer joined the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Congress in a campaign to petition the IRS to revoke the tax-exempt status of the Palestinian-American charity the Holy Land Foundation, which by the time it was shut down in 2001 was the largest Muslim charity in the US.
    2. In June 2010, while speaking at an Orthodox Union event in Washington D.C., Schumer expressed support for Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, which was then a controversial topic.  He buttressed his position by denoting statistics to demonstrate that the Palestinian citizens of the West Bank were experiencing “economic prosperity”, crediting this to their government’s cooperation with the Israeli government on combating various terrorist groups.
    3. When the Palestinian citizens of the Gaza Strip voted to be governed by Hamas he advocated for Israel to “strangle them economically until they see that’s not the way to go,” while also stating that Israel should continue providing “humanitarian aid” to Palestinian civilians.
    4. He has steadfastly supported Israel in its various conflicts involving others in Gaza and elsewhere. He defended the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip in 2007 as being justified not only because it kept weapons out of the Palestinian territory, but also because it showed the Palestinians living there that “when there’s some moderation and cooperation, they can have an economic advancement.”
    5. In May 2017, Schumer co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, Senate Bill 720, which made it a federal crime, punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories if protesting actions by the Israeli government.
    6. In May 2018, Schumer praised Trump for opening the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, saying, “I sponsored legislation to do this two decades ago, and I applaud President Trump for doing it.”
    7. In the past he has frequently criticized the Palestinians for opposing a Jewish state or even a two-state solution, although presently he appears to be supporting the Biden Administration’s party line of a two-state solution.
    8. Schumer was a co-sponsor of a Senate resolution expressing objection to the UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned Israeli settlement-building in the occupied Palestinian territories as a violation of international law.

    The US and Israel have been strong allies since Israel’s inception. Some of you students of history may recall that the US under President Harry Truman was the first country to recognize the State of Israel a mere eleven hours after it declared its independence. Over the years through Administration after Administration both Republican and Democrat, both liberal and conservative, the US and Israel have forged and maintained a symbiotic relationship that has worked out very well for both countries. The US has realized that Israel is its only reliable ally in the dangerous, mercurial and strategically critical Middle East, and Israel has realized that the US is its only staunch and powerful defender in an otherwise very hostile world.

    Unfortunately, it appears clear to me that the US’s support has grown tepid in the last few years. It began in the Obama Administration, and the trend has accelerated under the Biden Administration. Both Biden and his administration have exhibited anti-Israel and pro-Iran and Hamas attitudes, particularly with respect to the aftermath of the October 7 terrorist attacks. More on that later.

    Prime Minister Netanyahu has long had a contentious relationship with certain US presidential administrations. Most notably, I recall President Obama declined to invite him to the White House during his 2015 visit to the US in March 2015 to address Congress. Obama’s excuse was that it was policy not to meet so close to an election, but many interpreted it as a snub.

    The Netanyahu-US relationship has deteriorated significantly following Hamas’ terror attack of October 7. Briefly, the Biden Administration has been pressuring Israel to exercise “restraint.” It has been pressuring Israel not to retaliate militarily. It favors negotiation and cease fires. It has been trying to balance its policy between the anti-Israel far left wing of the Dem Party and the majority of the rest of the country. Based on the polls I have seen it is not succeeding, and there is much concern. Many people in the US, particularly Jews, have interpreted the foregoing as anti-Israel and antisemitic. Israel has been adamantly pursuing a strong military response. Its attitude is that Hamas will continue to attack prospectively unless and until it is totally wiped out. It resents what it perceives as US interference.

    Hence, we got “The Speech.” Essentially, Schumer threatened Israel. He said, in part, that “it’s become clear to me that the Netanyahu coalition[‘s reaction to Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack] no longer fits the needs of Israel. … If Netanyahu won’t step down and continues to pursue dangerous and inflammatory policies that test existing US standards for assistance [the US will be forced to] play a more active role in shaping Israeli policy by using our leverage.” President Biden doubled down by calling it a “good speech” that had been cleared in advance by his staff.

    The speech was interpreted by many as blatant and inappropriate interference in the elections of a sovereign nation and a clear threat. “Do what we want or else.”

    Reaction was immediate and fiercely critical. Benny Ganz, Israeli’s opposition leader stated “Israel is a strong democracy, and only its citizens will determine its leadership and future.” Former PM Naftali Bennett, no fan of Netanyahu’s, stated “we are an independent nation, not a “banana republic.” In the US Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader, called the speech “unprecedented,” and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson called it “just plain wrong.”

    CONCLUSION

    I would characterize it in stronger terms as a “sell-out” and “antisemitic.” In my experience such outrageous, blatant interference of a nation’s self-governance should be limited to dictatorships with massive human rights violations, not a staunch and reliable ally. Furthermore, every nation has a right, even an obligation to its citizens to defend itself in a manner in which it sees fit. Think what our reaction would have been if after the Japanese sneak attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 or the terror attacks on 9/11 if the world had urged us to stand down and not retaliate with force. Why should Israel be any different? Because it’s a Jewish state? You decide.

    So why did Schumer give that speech? It was especially odd especially given his past support of Israel. Only he knows for sure, but I think he wanted to ingratiate himself with the members of the far-left wing of the Dem party, many of whom have expressed clearly antisemitic opinions. They are small but vociferous, and they have been pressuring the Biden Administration to scale back its support of Israel. They are particularly influential with the election looming. I don’t think Schumer is antisemitic, but, as I said, he is a political chameleon, and he perceives the trend of his party is to offer only tepid support to Israel in its fight with Hamas.

    I seriously doubt that Israel will allow itself to be bullied by the US or anyone else, so it remains to be seen if the US will follow through on its threat.

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    2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION – TRUMP VS BIDEN

    Trump and Biden are now the presumptive nominees of their respective political parties. Although anything can happen in politics in all likelihood they will become the official nominees at their respective party’s conventions this summer.

    In my view, the 2024 presidential election will be extremely contentious. The campaign will include a surfeit of obfuscations, exaggerations and lies, even more so than usual. It is virtually axiomatic that all politicians are guilty of the above to some degree. We all know this. We don’t like it, but we accept it. A politician who tells the absolute truth all the time, like Jim Carrey’s character in the movie Liar, Liar, would never get elected.

    That said, I maintain that voters should ignore all the bloviations, exaggerations and promises by the candidates and reported by the media. After a while, it all becomes so much “white noise” anyway. Promises are meaningless. Most of them never come to pass anyway. Rather than listening to what they say or promise focus on what they’ve done or haven’t done. You will find that that will clarify matters.

    We can do this because in 2024 we have a very rare situation. Both candidates have actually served a term as president. Therefore, we don’t have to guess. We don’t have to predict. We can see what they’ve each done or not done as president. According to Wikipedia, Trump is only the 7th former president to run again after having left office, the first to do so since Herbert Hoover in 1940. (Only one of the previous six won – Grover Cleveland.)

    The best way to analyze this election is to ask yourself that age-old question – are you are better off today under Biden’s presidency than you were four years ago under Trump’s. For example, is your quality of life better or not? Do you have more money or not? Are you able to provide for your family better or not? Regardless of what the government says, in your personal experience are prices of the necessities you buy, chiefly food, gas and shelter, higher or not? Has inflation impacted you or not? Do you feel crime is on the rise or not? Do you personally feel safer or not? Do you think the world is safer or not? Are you more or less satisfied with the US’s relationship with our friends, notably Israel, and our enemies? Do you feel the justice system is more equitable or not? Are your children’s and grandchildren’s schools educating them better or not? If you are Jewish do you feel the level of antisemitism is greater, lesser, or the same? If you are Black do you feel opportunities are better, lesser or the same? If you are a legal immigrant are you happy with special treatment of the flood of illegal immigrants that have entered the country or not? These are just some of the questions you should ponder. Your answers will make it obvious for whom to vote.

    Don’t pay any attention to real or perceived personality flaws. They are largely subjective anyway. Like I said, follow your objective analysis. If you feel you and the country are better off under Biden than you were under Trump vote for Biden regardless of his cognitive status and legal issues. On the other hand, if you feel you and the country were better off under Trump then vote for him regardless of his abrasive personality and legal issues.

    CONCLUSION

    In my opinion, the answer to all of those comparisons strongly favor Trump. Do I like him on a personal level? I don’t know him. Never met him. But if I were to know him personally, I probably wouldn’t like him. But I say so what? Who cares? We’re not voting for senior class president. It’s not a popularity contest. We’re not going to “hang out” together. We don’t have to like him. We just have to think that he will improve things. Moreover, if you know your history you know that many of our best and most popular presidents had serious physical and/or personality flaws that were hidden from the public. Today, due to the internet and social media virtually nothing is hidden.

    Furthermore, let’s not ignore the empirical evidence. We saw what Trump did as president pre-Covid. The economy was booming. Unemployment was at record lows for all ethnic and gender groups. We were energy independent for the first time in over 70 years. There were no wars. Our enemies feared and respected us. Our border was secure. Yes, some people were put off by his mean tweets and abrasive personality. Well, strap on your “big boy pants,” hold your nose and deal with it!

    On the other hand, Biden’s record speaks for itself. His supporters perceive him as a nice old man. Many of them choose to ignore his cognitive decline and his nefarious, if not treasonous, activities. They voted for him in 2020 and will likely do so again. My question to them is how is that decision working out for you? I repeat, focus on what the candidates do or don’t do, not what they say or promise.

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