Lifting a Sunken Foundation

At Poly Lift USA...

our business is stabilizing and lifting pool decks, driveways, parking lots and foundations, which have started to break apart and sink. Most concrete structures rest on the earth, which we call the subgrade. When that earth weakens and begins to sink, most often due to precipitation, changes in temperature and soil quality, the concrete resting on it also begins to settle. Eventually the stress from being without support gets so severe the slab starts to facture and sink, creating trip hazards and unsightly appearance.

Whenever our project involves lifting the foundation of a house or other building, we always offer the same caution. The walls and roof resting on this foundation have settled too. They are accustomed to resting on the sunken foundation. Once we start to lift the foundation, everything resting on it is likely to protest. Cracks will likely appear, walls may separate from ceilings and a host of other undesired things may occur.

It strikes me this exactly what is happening as the US tries to reset its trading relationship with other nations. These nations have grown accustomed to the current relationship with the US and all its significant trade and tariff advantages.

As soon as we disrupt the status quo - shift the foundation so to speak - there is discomfort, hardship, consequences. In the end all will adjust to the new foundation wherever it ends up. In the meantime, there will be resistance, recriminations, threats and economic hardship. That's just the way it is.

But, most importantly, if the foundation is not stabilized, it will inevitably continue to weaken until the entire structure collapses and chaos rules.

Government Gangsters: Chapter 7 - Crossing the Rubicon, Mar-A-Lago Raid

Of course, the scandalous behavior of the FBI and its parent, the DOJ, certainly did not end with Russia Gate. Mostly because no one was held accountable. Comey got lucrative book deals. McCabe was not charged despite getting fired (rare). Peter Strzok, who spied on Trump directly, stayed on at the Bureau. John Calvin, who ran the National Security Division at the DOJ, actually did get promoted. His boss, Mary McCord, got a cushy position as Executive Director of Georgetown Law's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Robert Mueller is still regarded as an elder statesman by the liberal "elite". Proving once again - the best way to cloak incompetency and criminal behavior is to reward the perpetrators openly.

In 2016 it was Russia Gate. In 2020, it was the Hunter Laptop Coverup. 79% of Americans say that had voters known the truth, Trump would have been elected. Thank you, NYT. Likewise, thanks to all 50+ national intelligence luminaries who swore it looked liked Russian disinformation. That's really scary when you think these lying clowns were in charge of getting top secret skinny on threats and enemies.

And then there's the raid on Mar-A-Lago.

In August 2022, on a Friday afternoon, the FBI obtained a warrant to search the home of the once and future President of the United States. Even Patel admits being shocked by this most egregious act. The AG, lapdog Merrick Garland, approved the raid personally. After judge shopping, the FBI obtained a search warrant from Judge Bruce Reinhart by phone on his last day in rotation. Late on a Friday afternoon. The alleged rationale - Trump had classified, extremely sensitive documents stored at his home.

First question, why did they wait two years if they suspected classified documents were on the loose? Why did the FBI wait until after the holiday weekend to raid, if danger was so urgent. And why did they bother at all since two months earlier the President himself hosted DOJ agents himself and showed them the documents personally. What action did the agents take after the first courtesy visit? They asked President Trump to put an extra lock on the room. He did.

An uproar occurred immediately after the raid, which shocked AG Garland. How could the American people be questioning the decision of the Attorney General of the United States?

The fact is the President can declare any documents he wants unclassified. Which is why a Judge ruled it was OK for Bill Clinton to hide recordings in his sock drawer. No President has been more transparent than Donald Trump. He unclassified boxes and boxes of documents while he was in office.

The charade was comical. The FBI came in with pre-printed sheets saying classified, top secret. Then stuck them on the files they reviewed. Spreading them all over the room so they could be filmed.

This gambit was, of course, to conjure up widespread feelings of...GOTCHA! See Trump did something really, really bad. In fact, there were likely other objectives. Like getting their hands on the files concerning the Russia Gate and Hilary Clinton email investigations. Those were the real prizes. Not protecting the nuclear codes.

Who ran point on this fiasco? Why the FBI, of course.

So - what can be done to fix the Fibbies? Here's what Kash suggests...

1. Fire the Director (done).

2. Congress must issue subpoenas, exercise the oversight for which it is responsible and investigate.

3. Congress must demand release of internal documents, which the DOJ/FBI are hiding.

4. FBI funding must be restricted until compliance occurs.

5. Stop the Special Counsel nonsense. SCs are appointed when a matter is so potentially incriminating the DOJ and FBI cannot be trusted to investigate objectively. Guess to whom the SC reports? Yup, the DOJ. Fox (no - not the channel) watching the henhouse.

6. Cut through this "matter of national security" BS and investigate all wrongdoing to the fullest.

7. Get the FBI out of the Swamp. Locate HQ far away.

8. Stop Judge shopping.

9. Reduce the lawyers on FBI staff, who are there to see what the Bureau can get away with.

10. Fix FISA.

11. No more witch hunts - only real, physical threats. Not parents at school boards.

Well, Kash, here's your chance. You da man.

Newsflash: Deposed and disgraced ex-FBI director, James Comey, is being investigated for his Instagram post - 86-47. The reference is to the 47th President of the US.

Here's a Stat

In the first 70 days, Trump Border Security released 9 illegals into the country. Four were material witnesses in a cartel trial. Four were in extreme medical distress. One was humanitarian. In the same period last year, Biden released 184,000.

Recommendation for South Florida Dwellers

https://www.lacquaristoranteitaliano.com/

Joe is the owner and Cesar the Maitre D. Was taken there for my 78th last week. Located in Delray. Very enjoyable and best Italian I've found north of Il Gabbiano.

What's in a Name?

Papal scholars point out it is not uncommon, in fact rather likely, that the name chosen by a new Pontiff is a harbinger of things to come.

So does the new Pope's choice of Leo portend similarities? His namesake, Leo XIII served from 1878 to 1903.

Leo XIII was a fierce opponent of Marxism, a fierce opponent of socialism and communism, a great defender of private property and of the market economy. Accordingly, one might infer...Okay, that's a resounding ‘no’ to left-wing economic revolutions. At the same time, Leo XIII came out strongly in favor of the right to form unions and what we call the universal destination of goods.

Papal scholar, Bishop Robert Barron from the Vatican notes, "Pope Leo XIII also said, once the requirements of necessity and propriety have been met in your life, the rest of what you own belongs to the poor. That's not just a standard, boring, mainstream point of view. That was a pretty revolutionary statement. But notice the lovely balance between ‘yes’ to private property, the great ‘no’ to socialism and Marxism, but the great ‘yes’ to the universal destination of goods. The first Leo set the tone thereby for the rest of Catholic social teaching that followed him."

Barron continued saying, "He could have been Francis II, and we would have said, ‘Oh, there he is clearly in the line of Francis.’ He could have been John Paul III, then we would have thought, ‘Oh, he’s very much in that more conservative line.' He could have been John XXIV, and we might say ‘Oh, now he’s a real revolutionary liberal, et cetera,'" The fact that he went back, well over 100 years, to this very interesting and pivotal figure … our new pope was saying, I too, want a critical engagement with the modern world, not simply a ‘no,’ but also not simply a ‘yes,’ not simply an acquiescence to it."

Seems the Centrist label may prove apt, even though he's one of Francis' boys.

The Hits Keep Coming from the Wildfire State

As two major refineries prepare to shut their doors, experts predict Californians could see prices at the pump climb to $8.43 a gallon. Already gas prices statewide are 53% higher than the national average. All thanks to Gavin's failed policies. No wonder the Dems want to run him next. Kamala was only #2 whereas Newsom was the top potato in wrecking the largest state in the union. Bravo.

By the way... Newsom is now trying to figure out how he can dump his high speed, electric train fiasco off on Trump. Ten years, $30 billion and not a single foot of track laid.

Another Lib Winner

Former Biden Press Secretary Jen Psaki debuted on The Briefing which took over Rachel Maddow's "coveted" 9 pm slot on MSNBC. In just two days viewership dropped an additional 53% from its previous slumped rating. More Bravo.

Better Stock Up

Reports say cannabis-infused drinks represent a serious threat to alcoholic beverages. Sales of CBD/THC-infused drinks have skyrocketed from $5 to $16 billion in annual sales. John Taffer (Bar Rescue) is apoplectic!

If You Golf with John Elway...

Make sure you drive the cart. Ok, ok. Not funny.

Lone Star State is Listening

Texas lawmakers are pushing ahead with legislation to halt land purchases by CRINK adversaries. Purchases like the 141,000 acres bought near Laughlin Air Force base by a retired Chinese Army general a few years back. Just doin' some ranching - NOT.

Who are They Kidding?

If anybody thinks Rapper Sean Diddy is gonna do serious time they must be smokin' dope.

The 55-year-old rapper faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

The "I’ll Be Missing You" singer faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars or a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty.

He's being tried in a Manhattan courtroom. Fat chance.

Another beaut - the Menendez Bros who blew their parents away with shotgun are going to be eligible for parole as a result of a recent hearing in Cali. Odds are they're out in no time.

Ha Ha Ha

The disciples of deception got one right. The Democrats tossed David Hoge out as Vice Chair of the DNC. But the salient point is how in God's name did they put this clown there in the first place. Still, as ever, they lie. Said his sacking was not a matter of performance, but of procedure. Ha, ha, and ha.

Now that its over.

From Biden’s steep mental decline, the origins of COVID, the "unfixable" border to children undergoing sex changes, the liberal media has been on the incorrect side of all of it. Suddenly, many are claiming to have seen the light. Or more precisely, to see that what they gaslit the rest of us about for the last few years.

Ever wonder what all the Biden sycophants, including and especially the LSM, who threw Biden under the bus would be saying now...if, God forbid, he ran and won?

Think they'd be racing to give all these interviews about how Ole Joe... was slipping, seemed disengaged, couldn't finish a thought, wasn't the same...if he won?

For example,

David Plouffe, former President Barack Obama’s campaign manager in 2008 and a senior advisor on Harris’ 2024 campaign, details how dire Biden’s run was for the Democrats in a new book, "Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again."

Mayor Pete just conceded Joe running again hurt the party. BTW - this guy, whose accomplishments include being mayor of South Bend, Indiana, presiding over the ATC system for four years and being Gay is running for the Dem nomination for President in 2028. And, and...he is among the top three contenders. Whatta bench.

World renown political analyst, George Clooney, now admits when he saw Biden in late 2024. "The President appeared severely diminished and was taking tiny steps with an aide guiding him." Says he was shocked.

And who can forget "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough insisting, weeks before Biden would be forced to drop out, that, "This version of Biden, intellectually, analytically, is the best Biden ever," and "Eff you if you can't handle the truth."

Finally, in the words of Kamala's campaign managers...Biden "totally f***ed us" by staying in the 2024 campaign until late July, leaving Harris just over 100 days — 107, to be exact — to mount a campaign."

How can you ever trust a Democrat? Or any LSM outlet?

Meanwhile the Donald is playing 18 and traveling all over the world juggling a 1000 balls in the air...at 78. Even walks down AF1 stairs by himself.

Be interesting to see if anybody brings up the Biden Presidential Library. Could never top Obama's boondoggle. $1 billion spent and the first ticket hasn't been sold.

The Art of the Deal

For those who haven't read or can't remember Trump's most famous tome it lays out his strategy for deal-making. Pretty simple. In sales they call it the great takeaway.

1. Ask for the moon. Rant and rave. Scream and yell. Throw in a few threats. Demand 75% of what you want.

2. Never, ever insult, berate or otherwise piss off your enemy. Praise him or her over and over again. You may need them later.

3. Back off and settle for 55%.

   
   

Sound familiar?

Remember Ellis Island?

Liberals are screaming bloody murder about Donald Trump's plan to grant refuge to white farmers from South Africa whose farms are being confiscated and their families murdered by the ANC (was Mandela's party). Awful, just awful. How can Trump be granting refugee status to WHITE people?

In this regard, it is useful to look back at immigration in the US.

My oh my, how the nature of immigration has changed. Starting in the 19th century, immigration was at the core of America's strength. Immigrants were predominantly European. They provided capacity, diversity, and most of all a huge work ethic. They were hungry for opportunity and wanted to be part of America. They learned the language and saluted the flag. While there was certainly discrimination against them, they were dedicated to assimilation.

So what changed?

In 1965, Teddy Kennedy's Immigration and Nationality Act became law.

Quotas that opened doors for European immigrations were slammed shut. A new system that was based on family unification and chain migration was ushered in. If you got in, you could bring the WHOLE family, regardless of how many. Huge new visa allotments were set for immigrants from the Western Hemisphere. Namely, the Caribbean, Latin America, Central America and Mexico. Doors flung open for Asians as well.

At the same time the number of European immigrants plummeted.

The essential character of the average immigrant also changed. No longer was learning English a priority. Skill levels were drastically lower. For too many, the main draw was not opportunity but access to the huge welfare state the Democrats made available.

What was Kennedy's rationale? It was essentially unfair to to have quota systems based on assimilative capacity. Then he lied. He said - not to worry. The influx of "new" immigrants would not flood our cities or overwhelm our resources. Add in the last four years of Biden's open borders and you know what we have.

Off to a good start, hopefully, the Trump team will restore some sanity. As said many times, immigration policy should benefit American taxpaying citizens. Not save the world.

Anybody Have a Problem?

AG Pam Bondi just switched a bunch of funding from DEI. The Justice Department (DOJ) is moving funds formerly granted to groups supporting transgender ideology and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to law enforcement. Bondi declared. "No more waste."

NIL Reducing "One and Done"?

For years fans of College Hoops have complained about One and Done. The tendency for outstanding young players to play one year of college basketball then skip to the Pros. This practice drastically reduces player loyalty among fans and is thought to reduce the overall attraction of the sport.

It was hoped that NIL big bucks would keep players in school and on college basketball courts a little longer.

Early days but that doesn't seem to be the case so far. The first 12 projected picks in the upcoming NBA draft are all freshmen. One and Done still rules.

Minorities Gone Pro-Hitler?

Rasmussen poll shows 62% of Hispanics are in favor of what Trump is trying to do and has done so far. 39% of Blacks too. That is a historically high proportion of African Americans supporting a Republican President. Especially one called Hitler.

How out of touch are the "elite" leftists?

Looks like the radical progressive project of the Left is in deep do do. Elite uni's, the green new deal, leftwing think tanks, the whole pro-George Floyd crowd, the Omars, AOCs, Warrens, Sanders, Crocketts, Buttigriegs and, lets not forget, Obamas - bye bye. Turns out affordable homes, decent paying jobs, affordable energy, lower grocery prices, secure borders and educations that actually might prepare kids for the future TRUMP the whole Woke travesty.

On a lighter note, How Much of a Deterrence is the Death Sentence...

if you're allowed to live another 30 years pursuing appeals? Glen Rogers, the so-called Casanova killer, who confessed to murdering 70 women, will finally be put to death here in Florida next Thursday. How in heaven's name can it take 30 years to "execute" a sentence when the murderer himself claims 70 kills? Some justice system that is. Not to mention how much taxpayer money was wasted feeding, clothing and housing him.

Don't Look Now but...

U.S. Wholesale Prices See Biggest Drop In 5 Years, Flying In The Face Of Economists’ Predictions.

The report is the second round of economic news being celebrated by the Trump administration this week after the Labor Department reported on Tuesday that inflation hit its lowest point in four years. The consumer price index was up just 2.3% from April 2024, the smallest year-over-year gain since February 2021.

Might be temporary but still...

Have a swell weekend.