Happy New Year

China Gearing Up.

China is conducting the largest military build-up seen since that of Nazi Germany during the 1930s, one expert warns, after a new Department of Defense report detailed Beijing's operations including bolstering weapons and psychological warfare. In a piece for The Federalist, Chuck DeVore, chief national initiatives officer at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, referenced the Pentagon's annual report to Congress and warned that the United States has spent $5.4 trillion on its war on terror and futile nation building while the Chinese threat has grown. He urged that Congress get on board with the incoming Trump administration to reallocate resources within the Pentagon to better prioritize naval strength, nuclear deterrence, missile defense, and logistics. 

"China is engaging in an unprecedented military build-up that the world frankly hasn't seen since Adolf Hitler in the 1930s," DeVore, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, told "Fox & Friends Weekend."

"Now the big difference there, is that we focused on land power, which frankly is pretty easy to build up pretty quickly," he added. "Navies are much more difficult to build up. And we are way behind. And, not only do we need to catch up, but we also need to modernize our nuclear weapons and put a lot of effort into missile defense." (We have harped on Star Wars shields forever. Thank God, Israel has them.)

China already has the largest navy in the world but is expected to expand from its current 370 ships and submarines to 435 by 2030.

"They're massively building up their nuclear arsenal. We expect it to expand to at least 1,000 warheads by 2030, only five years from now. Probably going to be bigger than that," DeVore said. "The Chinese Navy, not by tonnage, but by numbers is now larger than the U.S. Navy. China has something like 250 times the ship building capacity that America does." 

The DoD reports that the CCP "incorporates emerging technologies, such as AI, big data, brain science, and neuroscience.  The goal is to achieve what the PLA refers to as ‘mind dominance,’ which the PLA defines as the use of information to influence public opinion to affect change in a nation’s social system."

No Man (or Agency) Should Judge Its Own Case

(More from Neil Gorsuch's book, Over Ruled)

In addition to the oppressive volume of laws, rules and regulations, a big part of our lawmaking SNAFU is traceable to its provisions for adjudication. Bad enough agency dweebs make thousands of rules that permeate daily life, God forbid you should need to dispute one. Virtually the entire process by which an individual or entity can challenge an administrate ruling is totally controlled by the agency who made the rule. Gorsuch's book provides dozens of absurd examples of American citizens and their companies being inextricably ensnared by agency regulations. With little hope of a fair, let alone happy ending. And no hope of a speedy one.

First there is the administrative appeals process, which is controlled entirely by...you guessed it, agency personnel. If you persist, your case will be turned over to a judge for trial.. a judge connected to and often employed by the agency whose ruling you are contesting. Only a miniscule number see the light of federal courtroom.

It is little surprise that the SEC wins 90% of all cases adjudicated in house. Unsurprisingly, the % won by the agency when (the very few) cases actually get to a federal court is FAR LOWER. The story is the same at the FTC. 100% of cases appealed were affirmed in the agency's favor by the Commission over the last decade.

Woodrow Wilson (same guy who created the hugely dysfunctional, completely politicized, monstrously wasteful UN) was at the forefront of this thinking Government Knows Best. Wilson once called the American people, "selfish, ignorant, timid, stubborn or foolish." He consistently sponsored the notion that laws and governing are best left to "elites". He once said universal suffrage (right of all adults to vote) was the foundation of every evil in the country. He supported Jim Crow laws and opposed Women's rights. His plan - avoid complicated, cumbersome lawmaking and rely on the unbiased, apolitical, scientific expertise of "elites". Like whom? Barack and Michelle Obama? Kamala Harris? George Soros?

Even the Salmon are Confused

The Interior Department makes the laws affecting salmon when they are in fresh water. When they are in salt water, the Commerce Department is in charge. But no one seems to be sure who is in charge when they are smoked. Think about that.

One thing Congress Does Get Done

Is making laws. Federal crimes have grown from 50 at the Republic's inception to over 5000 now. Professor Douglass Husak, head of the Masters in Law program at Rutgers, postulates that 70% of all American adults have committed an imprisonable offense and the vast majority don't even know it. Congress adds almost 60 new federal crimes every year. Over 40% of those created since the Civil War came after 1970.

So what have we got to show for this body of work by our esteemed, highly ineffectual representatives? Well, we are now the world leader in incarceration rate. 8 times higher than the median of western European countries. Higher than Rwanda and Turkmenistan. No wonder our prisons are bursting at the seams.

And, man oh man, the bracelets really came off during Covid. States and municipalities were given unprecedented freedom to create laws that suited those in charge. People were being incarcerated for "milling aimlessly", being "on the street unnecessarily with two or more individuals" and even "sitting in front of one's house listening to music". Not kidding. Really happened. The book recounts numerous examples of outright legal abuse. No one is saying felonious criminals, murderers, rapists and the like shouldn't be locked away. Of course they should. But everyday people who unwittingly run afoul of arcane rules? That is wrong. To condemn without fault is barbaric.

Back in my old days of consulting, we used a phrase often - work expands to fill the time available. Meaning? Create excess capacity and it will be filled. Not with useful, necessary tasks, buy with wasteful, often injurious activity. We now have all these dozens of agencies filled with unelected pencil pushers who have to appear busy. Not to mention the bushels of lawyers who need stuff to do. What did they think was going to happen? Duh - regulation, enforcement and prosecution continue expanding to fill the time available. Hurry up DOGE!

One Thing We Learned For Sure

There were many lessons to be learned from 2024 and the Biden legacy. None more important than if you need a teleprompter every time you speak, that's a sign.

Apologies Jimmy.

It is certainly politically correct and just plain decent to pay respects to President Jimmy Carter. While all can agree to laud him as a "good man", let's not forget the facts.

Jimmy Carter was an awful President. I always thought he was the worst in my lifetime. Then along came Barack. And now Biden. But top three that's for sure. Sorry to be socially and politically incorrect once again, but I can't help it.

Carter came into the White House on a high. America was still disgusted by Watergate and had fled to the Democrats. They controlled both houses. The country was all in on the peanut farmer from Plains.

BUT there was a problem, a big one...Carter was clearly over his skis. His natural inclination to trust and give the benefit of the doubt to our enemies caused America significant problems - both during his Presidency and after. During his administration, inflation hit 14%. Interest rates skyrocketed. Russia was emboldened and achieved major advances. Iran took American hostages and laughed at Carter.

Carter had two big flaws. He was weak and he was wrong. He just plain (no pun) got most policy issues wrong. Especially foreign policy ones. In a speech at Notre Dame, he accused Americans of having an "inordinate fear of Communism." Right before they marched into Afghanistan and Central America. Kinda like Obama mocking Romney in the 2012 debates about his Russia warnings. Carter "found it in his heart to forgive Ayatollah Khomeini." Should have kept it in his heart instead of announcing it on the nightly news. Called the Venezuelan election system the "best in the world". Buddied up to Fidel Castro, so they could talk "brother to brother". Undermined Clinton's attempts to rein in North Korea.

While Biden will forever be known as the cadaverous prop, Jimmy Carter must go down as a hapless, weak president with very poor judgment. I will concede, however, he did believe in America. His errors were of judgment not malice. Can't say the same for Obama.

Bobby Jr - Kook or...

Earlier we described several of RFK2's positions regarding healthcare in America. Now that he's going to be in charge as Secretary of Health & Human Services it's worth a revisit. Some are quite startling.

Bobby believes that Americans are in a health care crisis and that collusion among large corporations, the Federal Government and the LSM are at the root. Here are some of the assertions he makes...

• He is not anti-vaccine (as reported), he is "pro-science".

• Americans have the worst health in the free world. We had 16% of Covid deaths and only 4% of world's population. The average American who died from Covid had 3.8 chronic diseases. (obesity, diabetes, etc.)

• 74% of Americans are obese. 70% of Americans kids are physically ineligible to join the Military.

• The most profitable demographic for Big Pharma is a sick kid.

• 70% of the foods bought using food stamps are ultra-processed. Ten percent go for soft drinks.

• We use 1000 chemicals in our foods that are outlawed in Europe.

• When Bobby was 10 (and Unc was Prez) we spent zero on chronic diseases and had virtually no drugs. Today we spend $43 trillion, which is 95% of American healthcare costs.

  
  

Now in fairness, Bobby Jr. is known to love a good conspiracy theory. He is, after all, a Liberal Democrat from birth. He has been given to playing footloose and fancy free with statistics and other so called facts. While his new job is clearly a quid pro quo, it should be interesting to see how this all shakes out. At the very least, it's food for thought - no?

OUTLAWED!

The following terms and names are officially banned from American lexicon starting January 21, 2025

DEI...Woke...Appeasement...De-escalation...Poor Palestinians...Bidenomics...Barack & Michelle Obama...Chuck Schumer & Nancy Pelosi...The View...Oprah...Al Sharpton...Gavin Newson...Kamala Harris. And let's not forget the entire Biden Crime Family.

No Cash Flow Problems

I forgot. Biden exempted Russian sales of gas, oil, agricultural products and minerals from sanctions. What else do they make, besides war?` And do tell...what exactly did we sanction? Caviar and Ushankas? No wonder they're pooping along in Ukraine. Commie cash flow remains strong.

Just In Case You Missed It

Voters threw that bum Soros to the Curb.

The Soros money machine that has propped up progressive lawmakers and district attorneys across the country suffered significant losses in blue California on election night as voters overwhelmingly rejected progressives on the issue of crime.

California voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of Prop 36 that rolled back key provisions of Proposition 47, which was advertised by Democrats in the state...as progressive crime reforms that would make the state safer. 

When Proposition 47 passed in 2014, it downgraded most thefts from felonies to misdemeanors if the amount stolen was under $950, "unless the defendant had prior convictions of murder, rape, certain sex offenses, or certain gun crimes."

Progressives suffered another major loss in Los Angeles, where District Attorney George Gascón, who co-authored Prop 47 and was backed by Soros, was defeated by former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman. Crime was seen as a top issue of the election cycle.

In another loss for Soros-backed prosecutors in the Golden State, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price was recalled, less than two years after taking office, after backlash for her alleged soft-on-crime approach.

Oakland Democrat Mayor Sheng Thao, who faced heat from her constituents amid rising crime, was also ousted from office after her recall effort passed with 65% of the vote.

In San Francisco, where crime has been a major concern with voters, Democrat Mayor London Breed lost her re-election campaign. (Kamala's old stomping ground)

This cannot be interpreted in any other way except a massive mandate and cry for help from the general population that Californians want their state, their counties and their cities back. FINALLY they suck it up and admit that their disastrous social experiments have had enough time, and are an absolute, abysmal failure.

Brainwashing has its limits.

No Need to Go Pro

Darian Mensah, Tulane freshman QB, got $8 million in NIL money over two years top transfer to Duke. Rumors have it Texas QB Ewers was offered $6 mil for one season. Finally - a reason to go to college. (NIL = Name, Image, Likeness). It's the new way college recruiting is done. No more traveling to Bum f___, Iowa and staying in Motel 6. Just pick up the phone and ask, "How much?"

Bernie's Gone Bonkers

Bernie Sanders plans to spearhead legislation on a key Trump proposal. Bernie supporting anything Trump proposed is unbelievable. 'Course. it is to cap credit card interest rates, which is essentially a hand out. It's not like he's backing more battleships or border walls.

Right to the Very End

Kamala Harris, now infamous for her word salads and linguistic flubs, closed out her official duties by botching the Pledge of Allegiance to open the Senate for the New Year. And to think...

Biden issued a sweeping offshore oil, gas drilling ban for 625M acres of federal waters ahead of Trump transition. And I thought the pardons were the final FU. But no, this fool, who didn't put in a 40 hour week for four years, is now working OVERTIME to paralyze the Drill, Baby, Drill mandate Trump was given.

Biden granted Presidential Medals of Freedom to a bizarre assortment of characters. Included was twice-defeated Presidential candidate Hilary Clinton (of Benghazi, Confidential Emails on her home computer fame) and Billionaire Anti-American Anarchist George Soros. Are you serious?

Joe did, however, manage to fell asleep at Carter's funeral with a half dozen Presidents in attendance. Jill was there and nudged him to wake up.

Another Leftie Loser Gets the Boot.

Trudeau resigned Monday morning with a Bidenlike rating of 38%. Same failed policies. Inflation, cost of housing, lawlessness, immigration. Guess dancing at a Swiftie concert while Montreal was being looted and burned didn't play well in the frozen north.

One Didn't Get the Memo.

Last week, the Costco board of directors wrote a message to investors urging them to reject a push to scale back DEI at the wholesaler at the upcoming annual Costco shareholders meeting on Jan. 23.

Fortunately, companies that have since rolled back DEI commitments and/or laid off employees from DEI departments include Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, Zoom, Walmart, Lowe's, Ford, Nissan, Harley-Davidson, Tractor Supply, Molson Coors and John Deere.

Hope other get on board. Along with universities nationwide.

California - A Model for America

Let me wind up by commenting on this wildfire thing. Devasting obviously. Not surprising, but still amazing is how Newsom and his Leftwing allies are handling.

Fires are a way of life in Cali thanks to the annual Santa Ana winds. I remember being at Santa Anita racetrack 20 years ago in November and the tables cloths were covered with soot. So, it's not a once in a while or completely unpredictable occurrence.

But Newsom and California officials guaranteed a catastrophic outcome by:

• Abandoning vital forestry management practices in the interest of climate protection. By eliminating controlled burns and other critical preventions to reduce air pollution, they opened the door wide open for uncontrolled fires. Think there's much pollution with 50,000 acres on fire?

• Despite explicit warning by the leaders of state and local fire departments, they cut the LA fire prevention and fighting budgets by $18 million.

• While, they diverted billions to green energy projects like buying a fleet of green street sweepers at $800K a pop.

Fire hydrants are now out of water. When asked what he planned to do about that, Newsom said it was a local problem.

Meanwhile, despite clear forecasts of imminent disaster, LA mayor Karen Bass went on a boondoggle to Ghana. Obviously essential to the well being of her constituents, because it's a well known fact that LA residents have longstanding ties to Ghana.

When she returned, her solution to the disaster, which still rages on, was...we should all work together. Remind you of Kamala? Mayor Bass encouraged those needing help to reach out to government resources by "visiting URL." Unbelievable.

Here's a best guess of impact so far:

• 10 Dead.

• 5000 plus structures destroyed.

• 180,000 homes abandoned.

• 10 million in LA area told to evacuate

• 40-50,000 acres burned

• Cost? North of $50 billion. (Should we cut fire department budgets again?)

• But - fear not. Reports say fires are 6% contained as of this AM.

Forget a recall or impeachment, Newsom should be locked up.