The Neutered President

I do not like the Trump tariffs, but I do not want a Federal judge blocking them. The President needs the normal authority of the Office to negotiate for the United States. The Courts are crippling America by limiting the options Trump should be able to use, even if they are negotiating tactics. 

Unemployment Creeping Upward

First time jobless claims rose slightly. This is a good thing in a way as rising unemployment pressures the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates to stimulate job growth. Chairman Powell just had his "come to Jesus" meeting with Trump but was not persuaded and apparently intends to hold rates steady. The Fed seems as much of an impediment to the President as the Courts are at the moment. 

Nolensville Is Lying

The city of Nolensville says it needs to raise property tax because of the need to provide additional services to a rapidly growing community. The necessity of a tax increase now is hokum because the growth has actually broadened the tax base. With vastly more people paying property tax, there is no need to increase rates. The larger number of homes means a greater number of homeowners paying the property tax, which naturally increases the city coffers WITHOUT having to raise tax rates. The argument over this is similar to those who refuse to use dynamic scoring when it benefits them to push for higher marginal tax rates at the Federal level. The politicians and bureaucrats pushing this municipal tax rise always have a rapacious appetite to take more and more of your money. 

No Actual President

If courts issue restraining orders against everything a leader is attempting to implement, a void exists and a country is leaderless. You can't block every action of the chief executive and really continue to have a "President". Trump is apparently not permitted to "preside" over anything. It is all now in the hands of the unelected judges. His first term was marked by being harassed by largely whole cloth investigations launched by political opponents who thwarted Forty-five from saving the nation. Now, the judiciary has taken over where the legislature and the bureaucrats were restraining the President before; so Forty-seven is in a limbo catatonic Forty-six never faced. 

Trump's Tariff Gambit

I know some of the tariff threats are part of the "art of the deal". Trump is using "huge" tariffs as a ploy to soften the position of the other side. Forty-seven also must be aware that the prospect of a trade war is sinking US stocks. I wonder if anyone in the President's inner circle is shorting the market. I would not have thought anything so untoward and ethically wrong could happen, if Trump had not hosted a fete for the largest buyers of his meme crypto-coin. Trump's actions also make me question if he has a vested interest more broadly in pushing cryptocurrency. There may not be a trade war, but in any event, I think Trump's close circle will end up richer. 

For Somber Reflection

I will not be partying today or going to a sale. My uncle by marriage was killed in a Consolidated B-24 Liberator in the Second World War. A cousin died in training. This is not the day for me to open my pool or throw a keg party. Lieutenant Nathan M. "Ned" Hatkoff, Aunt Redi's talented husband, and fearless cousin Ralph Shepard, who kept up with his brother champion diver and later prisoner of war Al Shepard, today I think of you and the noblest sacrifice that kept me from ever knowing you. Dad, I think of you too, trying to join the glider corps, and passing all the mental requisites before an army doctor found your cancer. I guess I was lucky just to have been born more than twenty years after the aforementioned events. Families do not necessarily want heroes, just sons that come home intact (and daughters too in this "liberated" age). The price of freedom is paid in blood. 

John Wayne Attitude

I have always enjoyed John Wayne movies. I also tend to agree with much of his conservative worldview. I only wish he had served in uniform, so nobody could label him a "chicken hawk". Reagan with nowhere near the stature as an actor managed to sign up. Even Henry Fonda, he of the Leftist spawn, fought, while Wayne sat out the Second World War. 

Jews Tried Before

Maybe the idea of Jewish self-defense is NOT actually revolutionary. It has been attempted in the past, but that led to the leaders who organized it dying under mysterious circumstances in Federal prison (Irv Rubin and Earl Krugel of the Jewish Defense League). So the implementation of self-protection of the Jews in America is certainly fraught, but when people are murdering us in the street, the effort is mandatory. The Jewish diaspora must be strong like the nation of Israel and stop relying on "tolerance" by folks that can't stand us as our shield for survival. 

Really Jew Season

All over the globe, it is open season on Jews. We are being hunted from Washington to Western Europe and are under constant threat in the Holy Land. I have a revolutionary notion- fight back! 

Green or Red

The Communists murdered huge numbers of Jews, less than Hitler and the Nazis, but a significant loss of human capital. The International Left, is home to some Jews (in name only, because their practice of religion denies God and is marked not by fealty to Torah and Tanakh but Leftism), but still this side of the political spectrum is dangerous to the Jewish People even if those of Jewish heritage are some of the most outspoken radicals. Muslims have been persecuting Jews since the inception of Islam (Khaybar massacre led by the Prophet). The hostility by Mohammadans to the oldest Abrahamic faith has not abated since. Last night's Washington shooting was NOT carried out by a Muslim, unless the assailant converted, of which there is no reportage, but by a Leftist. You are just as dead if a Marxist shoots you as a jihadist. A world of woe awaits the Jews, not from a particular corner, but from the so-called Right John Birch Society types, the Noam Chomsky kind of Israel-hating Jews, the progressive to radical Left more generally, and, of course, the jihadists fanatics. So the Jews face dangers from turncoat Kapos seemingly inside the tent and are vulnerable from every side. 

Federal Reserve Stymies

It is NOT Trump creating issues for America's economy (although the President's tariffs certainly do complicate matters). It is the FED that is keeping interest rates high to fight the chimera of "inflation" that is. This practice was not followed by the Federal Reserve when Biden was spending fiat currency like a drunken sailor as the greenbacks were flying off the smoking printing presses. It is only when the Donald is in office that the Fed decides to work at cross-purposes to the President and his economic team. 

Weighing the Cost

If Israel accepts a ceasefire to free the remaining hostages, it will be committing national suicide. There are relatively few remaining hostages alive (less than twenty-five), and to stop crushing Hamas now would be opening hunting season on Jews by every jihadist on the planet. 

Marking the Days

The hostages that terrorists seized in Israel on October 7, 2023 have been held in Gaza far too long. This has been no Six Day War glory for Israel or even near tragedy like the Yom Kippur War of 1973, but a national humiliation for the Israelis who have lost their reputation for being able to do the seemingly impossible, and look weak and ripe for the picking by the mad mullahs of Tehran. I am not saying the IDF has lost its edge, only that is likely the perception of implacable fanatics in the Islamic Republic of Iran and their Houthi henchmen in Yemen. There is no deterrence to the Twelvers, who now see Israel for all the alleged might that nation possesses as incapable of stopping incoming missiles and even unable to rescue kidnapped people after over a year and a half. 

Mexican Navy Tragedy

A tall ship of the Mexican navy struck the Brooklyn Bridge last night killing at least two sailors. My initial reaction was "how tragic". My second take was who even knew Mexico had a navy? My third reaction was that it is kind of hard not to notice you are about to have a portion of your vessel plow into an enormous (and incidentally legendary) bridge. I hope the injured of which there are several all recover, and for goodness sake Mexico, buy a craft that is propelled by a motor. The age of sailing ships in combat effectively closed with the Merrimack and the Monitor during the American Civil War in 1862. 

Beyond Faded Joe

The prosecutor interview about the classified document tapes demonstrates conclusively that Biden was not responsible enough to have his hand on the nuclear button, so who did? No longer competent Joe probably could not differentiate between the nuclear codes and his tax return. He reminded me of the dotard who is sent on the harmless mission to go to the corner store to pick up a two liter ginger ale but comes back four hour later, when everybody is frantically searching for him, without the soda but with a light bulb that doesn't fit any lamps or fixtures in the house. Joe wasn't merely the golf ball lost in the tall grass, but someone who you would not trust to watch your three year old for five seconds, but some would have you believe that even as that special counsel was asking those questions, that Biden was directing the defense of the nation. 

New Mideast Partnerships?

Why should America join an Arab state in the Persian Gulf to create an Artificial Intelligence center? If such a hub is going to be constructed, would it not b better for the United States to keep it close to Cal Tech or MIT? Would the data not be more secure here in the homeland? What record of technological achievement makes Abu Dhabi a suitable location for the most cutting edge project? 

Trump Blesses Qatar

Qatar is second only to the Islamic Republic of Iran in the sponsorship of jihad. Qatar has funded Hamas and shielded its senior leaders. Qatar hosts and substantially pays for the Jew-hating liars of Al Jazeera. Qatar is friendlier to the mad mullahs who oppress the Iranian people than the other Arab states. All in all, the only aspect of Qatar that does not shout anti-civilization is that they host an American military base, and now, the Qataris have further tried to ingratiate themselves to Trump by offering him a four hundred million dollar airplane. Did Forty-seven rebuff this "gift" that looks to some like an attempt to bribe? No, he wants the fancy aircraft. I do not trust Qatar or their "good intentions" and am amazed and saddened that the American President did not knock terror-enthusiast Qatar back.  

Trump Kisses Syria

The new dictator of Syria has permitted Alawites, Druze, and Christians to be slaughtered. This butchery was no impediment to Trump shaking his bloody hand. Trump is sadly proving himself to be opposite of a champion of human rights as he removes sanctions against Syria just as that country tries to eliminate its religious minorities. 

The New DemocRATS

The opposition party in America is now composed of ingrates, turncoats, indolent parasites, and the mentally ill. Oh, my bad, I left out Marxist traitors and Islamo-Nazis. 

Blood Libel Approved

The NHL is fine with blood libels against Israel and by extension Jews, but defend Israel, and you are suspended by the League. Doug Cifu, a minority owner of the Florida Panthers, who happens to be a Jewish supporter of Israel, countered the starvation/genocide in Gaza lie so prevalent among the Jew-haters, and for his effort, the powers-that-be in hockey suspended him. Screw the NHL- a bunch of anti-Jew, Israel-hating bigots are in charge of pro hockey. 

Age and Rank

I happened to read an actor only in his forties just succumbed to cancer. Emperors, kings, and business titans have lost the battle with the Big-C. I do not think cancer will be cured in my lifetime or several lifetimes, although the chance to finally defeat cancer will likely be helped by advances in artificial intelligence, which sadly carries huge risk on its own, even as it may help humanity in the war against heretofore terminal illnesses. 

Surprisingly Flexible Trump

Was Trump running a bluff? Were the tariffs just a negotiating ploy? It sure seems that way, if you read translations from the Chinese press (which it goes without saying is state-controlled media). The Reds are crowing about how accommodating American negotiators turned out to be. Were the tariffs merely posturing all along, not meant to break Beijing but to fool Americans into thinking Forty-seven is an incredibly tough guy (who in reality folds like a cheap suit when another country actually stands up to him)? The market futures seem to like the pull back by the United States, but in the event, this did not turn out like brinkmanship, but only a giant show to demonstrate to the domestic base what a fighter we have in the White House, who turns out to give Red China most of what they wanted even though they remain an implacable enemy to the USA. 

The Perfect Game?

Because of inclement weather, the Southeastern Conference will not have a champion in softball but two. These co-champions would both almost certainly have gone to the NCAA Tournament anyway to vie for a national title, which ultimately will be played out on the field and not called for thunderstorms. 

No Vance Communion

After thousands of pro-abortion politicians, who happened to be Catholic, received no punishment from the Church, it has been suggested that Vice President Vance, who is a convert to Catholicism, will be denied communion by the new Pope and his underlings. Why? Because he is an American conservative and opposes Open Borders, which is a position the Catholic Church (as it existed under Francis and now Leo) can't abide. So, to slaughter the unborn in the millions is tolerated, but to keep foreign criminals and mental cases out of your own country is an unpardonable sin under current Catholic doctrine. 

Grading New Pope

The new Pope is an open borders advocate. Is there anything else you need to know? 

Definitely Not Catholic

Does anyone else find it ironic that a bunch of people are getting together to elect "God's emissary on Earth"? Why would the good Lord delegate such a task to mortals? I also heard the "voters" must take a "vow of secrecy" about the proceedings. This should not be too difficult for an organization that hid the largest instance of pedophilia the planet has ever suffered through for generations. 

Carriers Still Risky

At the onset of US Naval carrier aviation after the First World War, a number of pilots were lost in accidents. A century later, off the coast of Yemen, two F/A-18 sixty million dollar planes were just lost to mishaps within a week. Thankfully, no personnel were killed. Aircraft carrier service will always be a dangerous occupation. 

The Arrogant Nation

France will save the Ukraine. Yes, the country that could not defend itself not just once but twice from the Germans will now throttle Mother Russia. France wins, so long as America's military ends up doing the fighting. 

The Indispensable Nation

The United Kingdom gave us the Magna Carta and Shakespeare but that was long ago, and Britain has not done much since, except lose an empire and fail to win any significant wars without help. France produced ballet and some pretty good eating, but without the assistance of a particular country, would be a province of Germany today. Germany produced fierce fighters and good beer, but made my relatives (as I am Jewish) into soap and lampshades, and would have done similarly nasty things to us all had one particular nation not stood to block its path. That one country that has consistently paid the price for freedom is the United States of America, without which the world would suffer under despotism and darkness. 

Never Follow Blindly

Always think critically about who you are going to support politically and why they have earned your backing. I voted three times for Trump and do not regret my choice, not because Forty-seven is perfect, or even good, but because his opponents were so loathsome. 

A Boat Rocker

Donald Trump is anything but a conventional politician. His tariffs are not all positive for America and may end up being not positive at all. The problem with rocking the boat is that sometimes you end up falling off, and there is real potential for recession or even worse as Trump policies take increasing hold of the beleaguered economy of the United States. If everything from abroad, which at the moment remains most of what Americans need and must buy, ends up costing more, wages and salaries must increase. Trump has written the prescription for increasing the inflation that his voters elected him to fix. 

Age of Miracles?

Perhaps in our technological age, we are witnessing ""miracles", but I do not see them. Where are the cures, or even the treatments, and what has this alleged advancement brought us in this age of COVID? Maybe, humanity used up the miraculous in the times of the Bible. 

God Bless Trump

Canada decided to diminish itself and limit the rights of Canadians by perpetuating Trudeauism with Carney. I do not particularly care what these sanctimonious neighbors do to themselves. It just makes me that much more glad to be an American with a great President defending freedom here.