A Pure Meritocracy

I do not want an operation performed by anyone except the most competent. I would not want anyone but the best pilots guided by the most capable air traffic controllers flying my family. DEI has no place in society because it compromises safety and our very lives. 

Those Gloating Today

I have seen some online crowing that "no commercial plane crashes happened in America while Biden was President". Be that as it may, those contending this horrible event in Washington proved that Biden was actually competent, and now, it has been demonstrated, Trump is NOT should take long walks off short piers. Trump's team is not nearly fully in place, and his policies are just starting to be enacted. Those saying "maybe the air traffic controllers were worried about being laid off or wondering if they should take the buyout and could not fully focus on their jobs" should realize anyone doing that should never have held a responsible position in the first place. Trump is just beginning to repair or replace a very damaged system and must be given some time and grace to do what is needed. 

The Ratings Draw

If the Titans had Taylor Swift attending games in the town she grew up in and was involved romantically with a Tennessee player, there is a possibility that they would have been in the Super Bowl instead of Kansas City. It is amazing how many games a team wins if somehow they have all the close calls go their way. If the referees are for you, you are bound to win many contests. If controversial penalties go both ways, it is clearly random, but if they only redound to the benefit of a single franchise, it is rigged. 

Never a Doubt

Little girls and women who would never watch a football game now tune into Kansas City Chiefs contests to catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift in the luxury box and see what she is wearing. The NFL would have to pay Swift many millions of dollars to perform at a halftime show to draw in those non-football fan eyes, but secures that same audience more or less at no cost by having her root for her "boyfriend" and having her presence widely publicized at the Big Game. Then, the network will be able to charge even more for ads that were exorbitant before Taylor started boosting the ratings. Was there ever a way that the League would not have dome everything possible to see KC back in the Super Bowl? 

The Trump Pax

Right now, there is much skepticism about and some resistance to Donald Trump. If you want to unify almost every American to support the returned President, do what some in Latin America are saying and seize US assets or even take Americans hostage to protest the hardball Trump is playing in order for you to take your criminals and lunatics back that you foisted on our country. The Chavista-types now being run by Maduro and his Fellow Travelers to the South ought to know America will kill you if you start to harm our interests or our people with Forty-seven in the White House. 

Some Revolutionary Thinking

Not every American President spouts off about taking Panama and Greenland. I had never heard any American leader speak of sending the Gazans to Egypt and Jordan. Trump is the opposite of a conventional thinker. With these recent ideas, some might even think Forty-seven is insane. 

Deal with Devil

Hamas is not and will never be "a partner for peace". It is instead an exterminationist force for terror that in its very charter calls on its adherents to kill every Jew. By dealing with these jihadists, Israel did not show any trust in a neighbor that might suggest future coexistence, but only the commitment of the Jewish State to "redeem the captive" as the Holy Book commands Jews to do. Netanyahu leads a nation and People of law and decency, while those he was forced to make an exchange with are the enemies of humanity. 

Wave of Future

Antioch High School in my hometown of Nashville had eschewed conventional metal detectors in favor of cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence to keep out weapons. It failed miserably. The technology may be there at some point, but it certainly is not ready yet. Old equipment at entry points may have saved lives, but Metro schools want to be early adopters of the next best thing. 

Nashville School Shooting

Another senseless murder has taken place in a school in my hometown, wherein a seventeen year old boy killed a sixteen year old girl he apparently did not even know and wounded two other people before turning the gun on himself. A manifesto he purportedly wrote is circulating online, and he was reportedly a devotee of Candace Owens and a Jew-hater. That being said, his motivation for the attack was his own, and Owens should not be blamed for it. 

Really Means It!

When Trump said he would "drain the swamp", he was not kidding. Have you ever seen anyone achieve more in such a short time as Forty-seven already has? He is eradicating evil before our very eyes. 

Least Worthy Champion

There were a number of national title winners in college football with unblemished seasons. You certainly can't say that about Ohio State who could not even defeat their arch-rival Michigan, which was having a decidedly down year. Not to mention that the Buckeyes lost to another conference member earlier in the season. This is a tarnished champion that probably could not beat the Wolverines if they played next week. 

An American Resurgence?

Will today mark a new "Era of Good Feeling"? There is reason for hope as we watch the second inauguration of Donald Trump. He is NOT a fool or senile, as some might characterize his immediate predecessor. Trump is not the Messiah either though, and I am beyond disturbed that he has just pitched his own brand of cryptocurrency along with a separate one his wife is plugging, and he is selling Trump label Swiss-made watches. Some would say the New York developer has been a scammer all along, with his worthless but costly Trump University scheme. I am not an empty-headed optimist but a realist, who says, "we shall see". 

Chinese Brain Washers

There is little virtue in TikTok. The Red Chinese have used it to stupefy our children and are keeping the data of users, perhaps to blackmail them in the future. Trump is going to restore the platform, but I do not know how that advances safety in the United States. 

Those Most Upset

Males who could not triumph in athletic endeavors competing against men really hate Trump's resurgence. They will not be able to pretend to be women much longer to enjoy success in sports. Those profiting from the sexual mutilation of children are frightened by Trump's rise. Folks who love the Ukraine above all else are disheartened that Trump rose like a phoenix. The ones most put off by Trump reclaiming the Presidency are the pro-baby killing abortion crowd. Finally, Americans who seek to impose Marxism here really despise Forty-seven because they know they will be thwarted during his administration. Greatness is sometimes measured by who opposes it, and in the instance of Trump, it is a badge of honor to have such loathsome foes. 

Israel Stands Alone

Some, including this author, thought (and certainly hoped) that Trump would "have Israel's back". In the first instance, where America backing the Jewish State against the terrorists who seek to exterminate the Jews has been tested, the incoming President simply continued Biden policy with pressure exerted on Israel to surrender to the demands of Hamas. This is disappointing to say the least. Netanyahu and the IDF are the only ones keeping Iran and their many jihadist proxies from realizing their fevered dream of erasing Israel. Trump will likely ultimately be better for Jews than Biden was but that certainly has not manifested yet. 

Such Sweet Sorrow

Biden delivered his farewell address last night. Joe showed himself to be a fantasist. What he described bore little or no resemblance to the America he has mismanaged for four years. The good news is a few days from now Biden will not remember what he said or what his failures have done to Americans. He has no idea what has been done in his now sullied named. 

The Trump Nominees

The United States Senate is comprised of sensible patriots, but only from one political party. The DemocRATS disgraced themselves and sullied the institution with their calumny launched at Pete Hegseth. Their gratuitous obnoxiousness is nothing new. We witnessed it before with their smears of Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh before they both were ultimately confirmed to join the Supreme Court. The DemocRATS conducting their inquisition are so shrill that the process is farcical. The Senate must give Trump his Cabinet as soon as possible, so that he may right our nation, regardless of the theatrics of the histrionic DemocRATS.

Forcing Israel's Hand

The Biden regime on its last legs in the final days is exerting enormous and unprecedented pressure on Israel to surrender in the Jewish State's war of self-defense for national survival. Secretary of State Blinken is the hatchet man threatening to immediately cut off all aid and abandon Netanyahu to the tender mercies of the multilateral bodies that hate Jews if Israel does not give away the store to facilitate the return of 33 "hostages", some of whom are already known to be dead. So with just a few days until the Trump cavalry arrives to change the direction of US policy to the favor of the Western-style democracy that was attacked, Netanyahu is being forced to swallow a loss that permits Hamas to survive, releases terrorists murderers with blood on their hands, and leaves the Philadelphi Crossing between Egypt and Gaza unguarded so that the terrorists are able to be resupplied and replenish their ranks of suicide soldiers. I only pray the fanatics in Gaza refuse the deal so that the IDF can finish them off where none are left to threaten innocents again. 

The Blame Shifters

The so-called political "leaders" in California know very little about preventing or fighting fires but are very skilled at avoiding responsibility for their incompetence. There have been failures at many levels, but evidently, the buck does not stop with anyone anywhere near Los Angeles. Gavin Newsom looks like a matinee idol as he pretends to be talking to Biden on his cell phone about defeating the flames. What a performance- the Governor deserves an Oscar- or a Razzy at least. And the Mayor, she runs from questions so fast, there could well be a place for her in the Senior Olympics. The two questions I have are: 1.)How could sane people out there have voted for such buffoons? And 2.)Will anyone be held to account for criminally negligent behavior in the run up to this tragedy that was mostly if not entirely preventable? 

Of Biblical Proportions

The destruction in certain areas of Los Angeles is so extensive that it looks like it was carpet bombed. Virtually every structure in some places is burned down. It seems like the wrath of the Lord has been summoned. The devastation is so complete that it looks as if someone might be reduced to a pillar of salt. It is no act of God though but blatant incompetence on the part of city and state leadership that exacerbated the losses. 

City Belt Tightening

Los Angeles saved more than seventeen million dollars at the front end by cutting the fire department budget only to lose one hundred and fifty billion dollars at the back end in California's most costly blaze so far. More importantly, to this point, the inferno has killed at least ten people, and before this firestorm erupted, Mayor Bass proposed cutting forty-nine million dollars more from the firefighters. A better idea that the suicidal reductions to public safety might be to recall one blatantly incompetent mayor. 

Climate Change Failure

All those efforts to combat global warming by trying to force folks into electrical vehicles that are not practical to their needs, that they can't afford, or simply don't want did less to "help the environment" than the damage the wildfires in California have brought on with environmental destruction no government mandate will ever be able to counter. Forcing people away from natural gas does not undo the catastrophic damage from a single wind-driven firestorm. The compelled "choice" imposed on citizens by government has imposed cost, denied freedom, and done nothing lastingly positive for Americans. 

Sadly Predictable Outcome

The wildfires devastating the Los Angeles area may be a natural phenomena (unless they prove to be caused by arson or some type of fault in electric transmission lines), but the amount of loss has been magnified by gross negligence in failing to perform sufficient management of forests and overgrowth. The current Mayor of that city also cut over seventeen million dollars from the Fire Department budget, a foolish move in a city so often subjected to wind-driven massive infernos. So the City of the Angels has not just fallen prey to flames but to the leadership of incompetent Leftists. 

Is California Cursed?

Nobody disputes the physical beauty of the Golden State. From the mountains to the Pacific, California offers spectacular views. Even the desert offers a certain (dangerous) charm, but for all the scenery and vast resources, the most populous state may still be cursed. What other state has so many earthquakes? Where else do you see such destructive wildfires with such frequency? What other state has a homeless population so huge? Yes, California is a marvel in some ways, but in other aspects, it is undeniably plagued. 

Value for Money

The residents of Davidson County have already subsidized the Tennessee Titans through our municipal water bills. Nashvillians should receive discounted personal seat licenses and tickets from the franchise we have already had our money confiscated for every time we turn on our taps. Of course, you have to be rooting for the away team or a masochist to go see the woeful Titans at Nissan Stadium anyway. That one home regular season victory is definitely worth a few thousand greenbacks. 

See the Upside

My hometown NFL team "earned" the first draft choice in the upcoming draft. The Tennessee Titans were the benchmark for futility this season in professional football. If losing fourteen of seventeen games this season is not a strong selling point for purchasing thousands of dollars worth of personal seat licenses, I do not know what is. When a team has not been competitive, it can only go up from there, unless of course, the team is just as bad going forward, or possibly even worse (Could the Titans go O-17?). You want to commit big bucks to be at the new stadium in person, don't you? 

Heed the Warnings

If your location is under a winter storm advisory, do not leave the safety of your house unless absolutely necessary. When I was in college, I did not live on campus but drove to class. We had an ice storm warning, but I had exams and was determined not to miss them. On my drive to school, at a stop light, I attempted to brake on black ice I could not see, and my four-wheel drive Jeep Wagoneer lost control and careened across five lanes and onto a median. It stopped just before I hit utility poles. I was amazingly lucky traffic was light, and my vehicle did not hit anyone. I was able to extricate the SUV from the little traffic island it landed on, arrived at campus, and found classes had been canceled due to the weather. I risked my life, health, and safety for NOTHING. Don't be as dumb as I was at eighteen. During this ice and snow, stay home! 

Even the Strong

Elite soldiers are just as vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder as ordinary troops, perhaps even more, with their high operational tempo and exposure to more combat than most service personnel. There needs to be ample resources allocated to these special forces types to ensure they have all the psychological support they require, and beyond routine after action reports, they should have evaluations of their mental state periodically to see if they would benefit from counseling, psychiatric treatment (where appropriate), and/or extended rest and relaxation before sending potentially damaged fighters back to the fighting. 

Trip to Egypt

Those investigating the New Orleans massacre need to look into the assailant's reported recent visit to Egypt. He may not have been directed to attack, but obviously, he was not dissuaded. It is possible that he was not inspired by interaction abroad to act against his fellow Americans during his sojourn but that must be ascertained through investigation of the attacker's travels. 

Domestic Terror Strikes

An American citizen, even a military veteran, might be persuaded by some foreign entity to stage an attack against his fellow Americans. This seems to be the case in New Orleans, where a turncoat murdered folks he did not even know, in service of world jihad. The local authorities could have made better preparation to stave off such an event, but failed to do enough to block vehicle traffic, permitting a traitor and fanatic to launch his killing spree. Not every terrorist assault can be prevented, but with proper defensive techniques, their evil attempts might be thwarted or the damage at least mitigated. 

Somehow Not Terrorism

A vehicle ramming pedestrians took place in New Orleans. At least ten are dead so far, and more than thirty injured, but  the female lead FBI investigator already declared the assault was "NOT" terrorism. As of 8:15 Central Time (just now as I compose this), she was just contradicted by her superiors who say the slaughter was actually a terrorist event. By the nature of the event, it seemed immediately obvious that it was indeed terror.