Happy Birthday to Me

Tomorrow, May 8.

Also the birth date of Harry "the buck stops here" Truman and the Catholic Church's greatest orator since Jesus, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen. Regrettably birthdates are all we share..

Next up for me...

the big Eight - Oh!

U.S. national debt now exceeds 100% of gross domestic product

This crosses an almost unthinkable threshold. On the way toward breaking the record set in the wake of World War II. 

As of March 31, the country’s publicly held debt was $31.265 trillion, while GDP over the preceding year was $31.216 trillion, according to data released Thursday. That puts the ratio at 100.2%, compared with 99.5% when the last fiscal year ended Sept. 30. That figure will likely climb for the foreseeable future because the federal government is running historically large annual deficits of nearly 6% of GDP, which add to the debt.

The government is spending $1.33 for every dollar it collects in revenue, and the budget deficit this year is projected at $1.9 trillion. That is little changed from 2025 as Republicans’ tax cuts kick in before their spending cuts take effect. The final tally will depend on Iran war spending, tariff refunds and the strength of the economy.

AI update

Cyber attacks conducted by AI bots increased 10X in the past year.

On the war front, we have seen a glimpse of the future in Iran. A breathtaking exhibition of shock and awe with nary a boot on the ground. From its inception, CME has reported on how wars of the future will be fought. Not with tanks and troops. But with drones and missiles controlled by remote operators, on the ground in the short term, but eventually from space. Boots on the ground, if and when needed, will soon be worn by robots. Unmanned fighter planes and bombers will rule the skies.

But here's a real worry. The day is coming where this awesome firepower will be controlled, not by skilled, presumably principled humans at remote sites, but by AI-driven bots. Studies contend that Bots will be much less concerned about collateral damage and highly driven toward maximum impact. Human reasoning and restraint may soon be in short supply. Oh boy.

The UAE just announced half its government will be run by AI in two years. For my money, all of ours could be.

Ronald Reagan's Words at the American Cemetery in Normandy

"It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country, in defense of us, in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray haired. But most of them were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives—the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for our country, for us. And all we can do is remember."

Man oh man, could he communicate.

Anybody Still Have Doubts if Boys v. Girls is Fair?

Remember when we reported that a Dallas area Boys U15 squad trashed the Women's National Team in soccer. WNST player, Carli Lloyd, explained why..."Bigger, faster, stronger!"

Well, happened again. This time it was an local Under 14 boys team in Washington. They lambasted the University of Washington women's team in soccer. UW is a D1 program. This is a team that is fresh off a Big Ten Tournament win and made it all the way to the Elite Eight last season.

And these are not the only examples.

Couple of Interesting Facts on 250 Eve

On July 4th, we (half of us any way) will celebrate the 250th anniversary of America's birth - even though the Declaration of Independence was not fully signed until August 2nd.

Turns out, at the time of signing, only 40% were Patriots. 30% remained Loyalists and the rest were trying to read the tea leaves. Sound familiar?

The principal architects of the DOI were, undeniably, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. In fact they debated vigorously which one should write it. Adams won and convinced Jefferson that he should. He used the following reasons..."First, you are from Virginia (then the most powerful of the colonies). Second, you are a far better writer. Third, I am unpopular and obnoxious, whereas you are not."

Ironically, these two giants behind America's founding died on the same day. July 4, 1826. 50 years to the day after the DOI was officially signed. Providential?

Endangered Species List

Talk about bogus. As you know "endangered species" often interfere with progress for the most ridiculous reasons. Take the now famous snail darter, which forestalled construction of the much needed Tellico dam on the Tennessee River. Or the delta smelt impeding water flows in the Wildfire state, while it burns.

Turns out once on the endangered list you are good for life. 97% remain on forever. How does that work? If we protect you, don't you recover and flourish? Striped bass did.

But then that's hardly the point, is it? The ESL exists primarily to give leftwing activists another platform from which to impede progress and ruin businesses. I don't know what I'd do without the snail darter, let alone the smelt. Oh I know...have more water to drink, generate electricity and stop my house from burning down.

Alaska is Ready to Go

Severely restricted by the Biden administration, Alaska is ready to turn on the spigot. Can increase from 500K barrels per day to 2 million with a little cooperation and common sense. Why should Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and other SEA friendlies have to go through Hormuz?

This makes as much sense as pipelines from UAE, Qatar and the Saudis to the Med through Israel. Let's get pumpin' in ways the nutjobs in Teheran can't touch.

What is Leftwing Media's Worst Nightmare?

Allowing a Republican to be perceived as a victim. Explains why they besmirch Erica Kirk and ignore four assassination attempts on the President. Ignore, deflect, outright deny. But, under no circumstances, allow Americans to feel sympathy or compassion for Republican enemies. Might cause some to wonder if we're the good guys.

Don't forget - in a 2019 poll of Democrat liberals they were asked which is more important

• electing a President that best reflects your priorities and values, or

• beating Donald Trump?

Beating Donald Trump won - 2 to 1. Isn't there a saying about cutting off your nose?

Sayings Worth a Second Thought

Loyalty is most important...next to honor.

Protect what you've been given. Fight for what's been taken.

Justice is a process - not an outcome. Justice treats equals equally and unequals unequally.

Ohio Joins the Parade

Back to our (2nd) favorite topic - the F word. FRAUD.

This week results of some new investigations into Medicaid fraud came to light. Turns out Gov Walz and the Gopher State may have to surrender the crown to Ohio. Where, incidentally, a Republican governor has presided for most of the past two decades. JD Vance is also from OH. Thank goodness DOGE got the ball rolling on this.

Here are some tidbits

• 93 companies in a SINGLE address bilked Medicare out of $66 million.

• Dozens of totally empty buildings with licenses attached exist. Mostly in Columbus.

• Which, in addition to the State Capitol and Ohio State Buckeyes, has the most Somalis outside MN.

• Columbus must be the UNHEALHIEST city in the US based on Medicaid spending.

• One landlord owns buildings with 300 Medicaid licenses and has billed the federal government over $250 million.

• Most of the fraud has Somali names attached to the licenses.

• Most popular gig? Individuals on Medicaid's dime going to the homes of elderly friends and relatives to provide companionship - on our nickel.

• Heard it called, "Butlers for Somalis".

• Ohio spent a billion $ on healthcare in 2024.

  
  

Now it turns out I know a little bit about Medicare licenses. A while back I had licenses for two Medicare Home Health agencies I started (different counties, different addresses). I can tell you we stressed plenty over our annual surveys by the state. Scared to death our billing privileges being interrupted. The state (here in Florida) was overzealous and could put billing on hold if suspected of even minor infractions. (For the record - we were never put on notice despite our trepidation). Point being some states enforce rules, others quite apparently don't. There is simply no way these states didn't know fraud was going on big time. No way.

But here's a key point. Bear in mind - next year's Medicare funding from the Feds is based MOSTLY on how much a state spends the year before. So you can see why states are not motivated to police. Some people, even Republicans, need to get skewered.

So much for Midwest being the "salt of the earth".

An Ounce of Prevention

Can you imagine what might have been if...

• Chamberlain didn't appease Hitler in 1939?

• Clinton followed through and took out Osama Bin Laden in 1998?

• Obama insisted on inspections of Iran's nuclear in 2015?

Leading the free world requires stones if you hope to keep it free.

Spiking Oil Prices Didn't Kill Spirit

Was just the last bucket of water tossed on a sinking ship. Biden should have allowed the Jet Blue merger.

Caught Red Handed

Breaking news...

UCLA Medical School, whose admissions policy "is merit-based and grounded in a rigorous, comprehensive review of each applicant." has been discovered to strenuously favor Black and Hispanic applicants over White and Asian. How? By admitting with significantly lower GPA and MCAT scores.

Will be steering clear of any MDs from there.

Internet Erupts.

Speaking of the Wildfire state, the internet went bonkers when former Rep Katie Porter whispered the deep dark secret, which everybody knows. The only way California grows (or even stays the same) is with hordes of illegal immigrants flowing in.

Why fret? Because representation, electoral college votes and Fed funding, to name just a few, are based on census.

Told you. Left's love affair with illegals is driven by the power only sustained by staying in office.

Sorry, but I have a Bromance with Ronnie D.

In response to Obama's recent pronouncement that "The White House shouldn't be able to direct the attorney general to go around prosecuting whoever the president wants prosecuted. The awesome power of the state, you can't have a situation where whoever is in charge of the government starts using that to go after their political enemies or reward their friends."

Ron DeSantis commented pithily, "The Russia collusion hoax would like a word."

Sad day if this guy leaves the government scene. Happy day if the other one disappears.

The Hamas Machine

Hamas had a 1500 member team of propagandists hidden in its "command centers", which I presume is code for tunnels under hospitals. They were supported by a 160 person "electronic team". Their job? Push out nonstop tripe saying Israel and US are bad guys and Palestinians are victims.

As one Hamas leader said, "Young people love sensationalized, romantic images and rhetoric. They'll believe anything. Most have been taught next to nothing about the Holocaust."

If this is the manpower little ole Hamas can muster, imagine what the Chi-coms have in place.

Keep Your Fingers Crossed

As expected, Vivek crushed in Ohio's Republican primary for Governor. Election in the Fall will definitely be more contentious. If anyone can clean up the fraud in Ohio, I'd put my money on Ramaswamy. After all, he and Elon got us out of the gate.

As always...Enjoy Your Weekend.