Just missed!

NB: This is the inaugural blog from Caught My Eye website. All future posts will arrive this way (hopefully). If you have any questions, suggestions, etc., please email me directly to George@Gbubrick.com so I am certain to address.

Just Missed!

(Written before RNC was over)

By now the world is thoroughly indoctrinated regarding the assassination attempt of Donald Trump on Saturday in Butler, PA. You know - the one Joe refused to label an assassination attempt "until he had all the facts." What did he think the kid was doing - deer hunting from the roof?

A couple of observations.

First, I hope Trump continues to tone things down and emphasize unity among Americans. He has shown some signs and apparently RNC speakers have been coached accordingly. If I were him, I would start my acceptance speech on Thursday as follows:

"I want to start by thanking the brave first responders who selflessly rushed to my aid and that of others during Saturday's reprehensible attack. They deserve and have all my gratitude.

Next, I want to call on all - my party, my opponent, his party and myself to dial it down. To stop the personal attacks and the fear mongering, Instead, let's agree to focus on the issues. My opponent and I have vast different plans when it comes to tackling America's biggest challenges. There is plenty to talk about. Let's stick to that.

In that spirit, I hereby declare that, if elected, my Justice Department will make no attempt nor condone any to punish any of my political opponents. The lawfare must stop and I promise it stops right here, right now - on my end, at least.

Finally, here is where I and my VP, JD Vance, stand on the issues... immigration, national security, energy, etc..."

( PS: He never did ask my opinion and did not agree to exclude Biden etc. from prosecution. As usual, he rambled on endlessly. Great convention with many excellent speeches. But, did not think his was one. Also, way too many Trump family given air time. Best was granddaughter, Kai.)

Second, there appears to be legitimate concerns about how the Secret Service handled Saturday's event. Not the least concerning of which is the fact that multiple people started screaming minutes before the shooting that someone was bear-crawling across the roof with a rifle. How can lay persons with the naked eye spot a threat who is located only 400' away on a roof and the SS doesn't? Wow. Experts say Trump is extraordinarily lucky because a shot from that distance is a layup.

Kim Cheatle, champion of DEI, is the head of the once elite Secret Service. Her "sloped roof is dangerous" comment was dismissed as "pure BS". We put snipers on mountaintops in Afghanistan. Relying on local law enforcement to form a critical ring of security is very dangerous. As one pundit put it, the Service relying on local police to form one of the key perimeters of security is like asking Andy Griffith to hunt down ISIS. Allegedly a local policeman confronted the shooter going up the stairs and had the rifle pushed in his face at which time he retreated. Guess he let sleeping dogs lie?

Many have called for her to be fired, but as Trump has said many times...

Joe Biden doesn't fire anybody. Jake Sullivan still has his job after saying the Middle East was calm about 10 minutes before Hamas' heinous Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Alejandro Mayorkas is still running the broken and busted border, and now a Secret Service Director’s incompetence and bizarre priorities have come within a centimeter of getting Trump killed.  Zero Fail Mission this was certainly not.

Third, it didn't take the Biden crowd long to get back to their campaign strategy of convincing voters that Trump and his kind are an EXISTENTIAL threat to democracy. They tweeted (or is it X'ed?) right after Trump announced his VP nominee, that Vance is a MAGA extremist. So much for toning it down. So much for the unity Biden called for in his WH address on Sunday.

Biden and the country know Donald Trump is not a fascist nor a threat to our country. How do they know? Because he was President for four years and, as a country, we were way better off than we are today. That's how.

But alas, what choices do they have? Run on the track record? Suicide. Run on the issues? Go ahead - try it.

(Lest we forget. Joe had to step down from running in '88 because he got caught plagiarizing. And his buddy, Obama, dumped him for Hillary in 2016. Talk about damaged goods.)

If Trump is smart and disciplined, he'll tone it down and not give Joe any more openings. Most of the country is disgusted enough with politicians and widely unenthralled by both candidates. Time to act at least a bit Presidential and competent...if you can.

Comments like Joe made a few weeks ago..."It's time to put Trump in a bullseye"...must be stopped by EVERYONE.

More importantly, taking fragments out of context and using them to make totally fallacious allegations is even worse ("Economic bloodshed" became bloodshed. News outlets, talk shows and Biden's staff calling Trump "Hitler" again and again.) This rhetoric, as we have seen many times before, has massive potential to incite morons. I get it. Biden has little else to make his reelection case. But, c'mon man.

To finish this most disturbing event, how about the pundit that said, "It just nicked his ear". The NYT said, "There was a shooting involving Republican Presidential Candidate Trump. But he's just fine." Yup, missed 'im.

2600 years ago Socrates said..."The most ignorant among us talk about people. The most enlightened talk about ideas." True. So true.

Jobs Report Chicanery

Every month or so the Administration crows about the Jobs Report and how many Joe Biden added.

Fact is at least one-third of the jobs added are government jobs. And we are running a 2 trillion deficit. What enterprise addresses cost overruns by hiring and adding cost? How many jobs in government produce goods people can consume or use. Or services for that matter.

Bear in mind the economy lost 20.5 million jobs in April 2020. When Trump left, we were still down almost 10 million.

In the Biden recovery, 75% of the jobs created were in government, healthcare and hospitality. Not that caring for sick people and "a burger and fries" are not good things. But producing things is the core of a strong economy in the long haul - as pretty much every fool and some economists know.

Not Succeeding in Life? Must Be a Victim!

Oh those poor Hamas terrorists and all the good citizens of Gaza who hide and shelter them. Damnation to all those cruel, mercenary Jews attacking them without conscience where they live.

The Left had made a living characterizing the "unsuccessful" as victims and, thereby, waging war against their alleged victimizers. By so doing, the Wokesters portray themselves as compassionate and good, as opposed to the insensitive, evil Conservatives. In the end, of course, it's all about staying in power.

Blacks, Hispanics, LGXYZ, even Hamas terrorists. You name it. If the left can find an identity group that can be exalted as persecuted and then plied with handouts, they are down. Makes no difference whether the group's lack of success is their own doing or, however, obscene their conduct or motives might be.

Ask yourself this, if minorities are truly "victims", how come the Jews and the Asians are so darn successful? Think hard work and tough parenting might play a role? Jus' sayin'.

What Difference Does It Make?

Remember that famous line? When Heartless Hillary, then Secretary of State, was being grilled on Capitol Hill about her desertion of U.S. Embassy personnel in Benghazi. Under siege, she blurted out..."What difference does it make?" Meaning, they're dead, so who cares who's responsible.

The same words apply to the current "stay or get out" controversy undermining the Biden presidency. Who cares? Does anyone think Kamala or Gavin or Gretchen or Michelle will do anything other than double down? Does anybody really believe they will tackle the border, our faltering military, our decaying stature abroad, the desertion of our staunchest allies, the surrender of our energy supremacy - any differently, any more forcefully than the old man who remembers poorly (OMRP)?

There is one exception, however. There is one place it really does matter - make a difference. The election. Please keep saying your prayers that Joe really "ain't going anywhere."

More on the "MAGA" Court

Court watchers, especially those who castigate the "Trump" Court as being disingenuous, if not outright biased, might be surprised to learn that this Court has overturned the Conservative 4th Circuit Court 67% of the time, while overturning the notorious Leftwing 9th Circuit far fewer times. They also reached a unanimous (9-0) decision in 46% of the cases in the 2023-24 term versus 26% in 2021-22 term. Oops.

Crazy question. Could it be that the Court is trying to follow the law? Wouldn't that be unique?

A Lesson in Leverage

Remember when Trump took all that heat because he told NATO members that if they don't pay their share the U.S. won't defend them. OMG. Awful, just awful. In 2014, only 3 of 30 odd members of NATO paid in the agreed 2% of GDP to which they committed (in writing). Today, 23 of 32 meet their obligations. Think Joe Biden made that happen? Not a bit. It's all due to Donald Trump and, of course, Vladimir Putin, whom Joe just called President Putin when referring to Zelensky at the just concluded NATO conference.

Level Playing Field. Fair Play.

Of all the guard rails the Founding Fathers set forth, I postulate none are more important than the notion of a level playing field and fair play. America was designed to afford all citizens the opportunity and the freedom to be as successful as their capabilities and effort would allow. This principal is the cornerstone of our success as a nation. It is also - by the way - why so many millions want to cross our borders every year.

Clearly, there have been times when we did not abide by these intentions. Prejudice ruled and whole groups were discriminated against. Italian, Irish and other immigrants in the early 1800s. Blacks in the age of slavery and well into the 20th century. Asians, Jews, Hispanics and others.

While discrimination against "minorities" has been mitigated substantially, a new form of bias has taken root. Ironically this one targets the majority. White Americans, especially White American Males. Everywhere one turns identity politics are hard at work. Exempting minorities from the same standards as Whites. Granting them exoneration and privilege unfairly and prejudicially. Transsexual men playing women's sports. Qualified white males being denied admission to elite colleges in order to meet quotas. Whites of both sexes losing out on jobs and promotions because of DEI mandates.

Universities, the courts, the DOJ, the media, corporate America and the current administration are all in this together. Up to their eyeballs. Merit has been abolished as grounds for selection, reward and advancement. It is very hard to imagine this ends well. As our standards are eviscerated, our performance will surely follow until we are a second rate competitor.

Again, who is it that will destroy American democracy?

• 11.5 million illegals set free to roam our country in three short years. Many of whom are active criminals, drug dealers and terrorist candidates. Fentanyl deaths soaring. Cities overrun. All with a stroke of the pen.

• Student debt arbitrarily, unilaterally forgiven. Borrowing to pay for college and the better future it forespeaks has long been a legitimate transaction. Wiping away that obligation with a pen stroke robs lenders and taxpayers of billions they are owed. People go to jail for that, no?

• Starves military and deserts allies. Encourages and rewards enemies. Payoff and green lights.

• Squanders our energy security. So we depend on not friends.
  

• Now wants to remake the Supreme Court after using the DOJ to destroy opponents.

• Proposes capping rent increases for property owners. See what that does to supply.

• Promises to add billions in new taxes.

• Increases handouts while ignoring the impending demise of Social Security and Medicare.

• Whose party, after hiding Biden's incapacity for three years, is now ready to dump Joe and disenfranchise millions of primary voters?

So, again, who is it exactly that will destroy democracy and represents an existential threat? Donald Trump? I think not.

Oh by the way, in case you missed, the documents case against Trump/Mar Lago has been dismissed.

I am Useless.

I must admit I've deluded myself as being at least slightly adept at spotting important issues and offering occasionally useful perspective. Alas, when it comes to political prognostication, I have proven useless.

To wit...

• I saw no way Trump could lose in 2020. Wrong!

• I thought Ron DeSantis was hands down our best hope to avoid another term with the Old Man Who Remembers Poorly. Wrong!

• I thought JD Vance was an underwhelming selection for VP because he does not "expand" the map. I thought Haley (I know - unlikely) was the best option. Wrong!
  

So, I officially resign as a tout. I am (practically) as useless as the politicians whose fortunes I try to predict.

I will, however, say I was most impressed by Vance's conduct in his interview with Hannity after his nomination. Sharp, personable, poised and, most importantly, sensible. Hope his acceptance speech is a cracker! Has many DeSantis-like creds.

To close...

Government exists to maximize the well being of those citizens whom it governs. To ensure their security and an equal opportunity to enjoy the best lives their talent and effort can earn.

Sadly, this is no longer the case. Government now exists to enrich its members, who, using any means necessary to stay in power, trade their influence for personal riches. With few exceptions.

Today, government is the living manifestation of Niccolo Machiavelli's famous saying...the end justifies the means.

So watch out this summer. Although I have hope, I have no confidence that civility will suddenly permeate the dialog. The Democrats have no choice but push the peddle to the metal. Things are still headed for the nasty.