Memorial Day Weekend

Government Gangsters - A Wrap.

Kash Patel's book is a worthwhile read on two levels.

First - if, however mysteriously, you are not aware or, worse yet, deny that, within the United States of America, there is an insidious, pernicious force called the Deep State, then Government Gangsters provides clear, unmistakable proof. The second reason to read Patel's book would be as a refresher on the voluminous, undeniable evidence of the Deep State's existence from the last 10 years, much of which has been reported herein.

Patel gives a chapter and verse recount of how the Deep State (overwhelmingly Left-wingers and career bureaucrats) have maneuvered to maintain power, thwart enemies and otherwise obstruct everyone not part of them. From Hillary's email scandal to Russia Gate to Trump's impeachments to the Hunter laptop coverup to the raid on Mar A Lago to the multitude of DOJ abuses under Biden to the coverup of his mental incompetence to slow-playing and obstruction of Presidential policies in Trump 1.0 to election interference on multiple levels.

The book provides a window into the protagonists and the obscene lengths to which they went to destroy Donald J. Trump and anybody else who threatened the Woke way of life. Actually that's not true. The Deep State doesn't give a fig about Woke or DEI or Black Lives or Transgenderism or the other canards they embrace to cloak their insatiable appetite for influence and power. They only care about personal influence, power and the ability to line their own pockets.

Again, a worthwhile read if salacious details on how evil these people truly are is your cup of tea.

Francis' Unreported Legacy

As confessed, I was not a fan of late Pope Francis. Good man, compassionate man, yes. But his unquenchable need to opine on matters non spiritual bugged me. Turns out there were other indefensible faux pas about which I was not well informed.

First, he was unwilling to take the bull by the thorns on the matter of child molestation by the clergy. Preferring instead to look the other way. Under Francis' reign very little in the way of aggressive action was taken to discourage future behavior of this kind. Hopefully, going forward, public awareness will be enough, although the Church hid it pretty darn well for generations.

The second matter was the Church in China. Here Francis did choose to get involved.

In China millions practice Catholicism and Christianity underground (hard to believe with all those cameras and cops). Francis decided to send defrocked pedophile priest, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, over to China to negotiate some kind of relief for Catholics living there.

Some deal he made.

In order to operate more freely in China, the following rules must be followed:

1. No crucifixes in churches, however, a picture of President Xi Jinping must be displayed prominently.

2. No children are allowed in church.

3. No teaching your faith to your children at home.

4. The CCP gets to pick the Cardinals (15 existing bishops were disappeared.)

Some future Christianity has with that arrangement. Why bother? Wonder if Leo will renegotiate?

Universal Injunctions.

What's wrong with this picture?

Although we've discussed before, I was reminded of this odious practice by the overdose of anti-Trump lawsuits. Federal District courts can issue an injunction against a federal law. This means any Tom, Dick or Harry sitting in some state courthouse can issue an injunction against a national law banning its application across the entire country. Probably not quite that simple but damn close. So some local yokel judge in Rhode Island (or more likely CA, IL, NY or DC) can block a federal law nationwide.

Herein lies the essence of JUDGE shopping. A practice the Lefties have perfected.

The matter will be taken up by SCOTUS shortly. 'Bout time. Talk about weaponization of the judiciary.

Status of Big Beautiful Bill.

Update at end.

Dicey at best. A collection of Republicans in the House are not yet ready to play ball. Why - because the Bill, as currently crafted and essential to the furtherance and sustainability of the Trump agenda, is a problem for their reelection chances. Not even Republicans are willing to fall on their swords to carry the torch (wow - really ugly mixed metaphor). This bill is a ways from near the finish line so it seems.

As I read it, there are two big issues. Enactment of Medicaid reforms and the SALT deduction. Adversaries are primarily Republicans in Purple states whose grip on power may be loosened in the midterms. Of course, they claim it's not their personal ambition but the need for the Party to stay in House control that is fueling their contrarian behavior.

First, Medicaid. Healthcare for those in poverty and unable to support themselves. More even than Social Security, Medicaid, many experts believe, is the biggest single cause of the country's dire financial condition. More specifically Medicaid fraud and abuse. As regards the BBB, the crux of the matter is work requirements.

Millions were added to the Medicaid rolls during Covid as Biden expanded coverage exponentially. Many were able-bodied adults more than capable of getting a job and working to support themselves. Statistics now show that only 44% of able-bodied, working age Medicaid beneficiaries without dependents work at least 80 hours a month, which is the minimum for Medicaid eligibility. That's literally half time. This is unadulterated BS. This is as bad as doling out taxpayer monies to subsidize Harvard or forgive student loans or fund transgender studies in Kabul.

The argument among Republicans is not whether something needs to be done about this, but how soon. Currently the BBB stays implementation until 2029. Why? Why not tomorrow?

For healthy, working age Americans Medicaid is supposed to be a hand up - not a hand out. Get them up off their butt and start pulling their weight. On Monday. Liberals, of course, are saying this imposition of work requirements will strip the needy of benefits and be a catastrophe. They claim 10 million will lose benefits. As usual - rubbish. All they have to do is get a job.

The second bone of contention among Republicans is SALT. This is basically the deduction from Federal Income Tax that residents living in primarily Blue States can take for the city and state taxes they have to pay because they choose to live in horribly run, profligate Democratic governed states. Read CA, NY, IL, MA etc. Republicans up for reelection in 2026 in Blue and Purple states fear they'll go down in flames, if SALT is a negative issue. Just like Abortion sunk Republicans in 2022.

No doubt there are lots of other niggling issues in the BBB, but these seem to be at the top. I suspect it will all get worked out and the BBB passed because otherwise the Trump revolution will be in for rough sledding.

Update 5/22: Passed House. Next? Senate must pass a BBB of its own. Two must be reconciled and sent to President for signature.

Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts

In this case, Qatar. Qatari leaders are not the same as those from Saudi Arabia or UAE. Qatar plays both ends against the middle. They actively prop up and make excuses for Iran. Plus they infiltrate our schools and, boy oh boy, do they grease palms.

Wow - did Qatar put on a show for Trump. They pledged like a trillion in investment along with camels and golden peacocks. Pretty amazing. Qatar is about the size of Connecticut. 2.75 million live there but only about 300K are Qatari citizens. In other words, slightly more than Tallahassee. The rest are slaves (migrant workers) from abroad.

Be wary of the Emir bearing gifts.

More Schumer Drivel

You may have read that a Mexican Tall Ship was on a ceremonial goodwill tour in NY when it crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge. There were injuries and two fatalities.

Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who will go to his grave blaming Trump for the weather, alleges DOGE and Trump are responsible because of a hiring freeze at the Coast Guard. This guy never quits. Wouldn't you think the Captain of a "Tall" ship would get a fix on bridge clearances. Amazing.

Dirty Cop Apologizes.

Disgraced FBI Director James Comey says he didn't know that 86-47 would be associated with political violence. Probably didn't think the guy on the roof with a rifle at Trump's Pennsylvania rally was a concern either.

Birthright Citizenship Goes to Court

Another topic we've discussed before. As reported, Trump has executive ordered the practice curtailed.

First, here's what the 14th Amendment to the Constitution (July 9, 1868) actually says:

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States and of the state in which they reside.

The amendment was enacted specifically to protect children of freed slaves. Just look at the date stamp.

"Jurisdiction thereof" is the key phrase. If the amendment was intended to give each and every child born to ANYONE in the US the privilege of citizenship, why does it say "jurisdiction thereof"? Not necessary. Clearly it was not meant to be universally applicable.

SCOTUS, first in the Slaughterhouse Cases in 1873, then in 1898 in the Wong Kim Arc case, ruled on the matter. Unfortunately in two different directions. Later, in the case of Elk versus Wilkens involving Native Americans in 1884, the Court ruled that, if a child was living on a reservation not subject to US jurisdiction, the child was not entitled to citizenship. Conversely, a piece of legislation from Congress in 1940 basically enshrined the current state, which makes citizenship automatic if born here, regardless of parent's status or legality.

This reality has spawned its own cottage industry. Cross by any means, drop the kid and you're good to go. Later bring in the whole family. Hell, the whole town.

Hard to know how the Court will rule, but, if I had to bet, they will remain hands off. Too much of a lightning rod.

From my pedestrian perspective, it seems wrong that the child of someone who breaks the law to enter the country should be given the enormous privilege of US citizenship just because mommy found a hole in the fence.

One other point, if birthright citizenship is outlawed or its applicability dramatically redefined, there's the matter of administration and adjudication. That would certainly prove thorny. For this reason as well, I bet the Court punts.

Iran and Nuclear

For the record, if Trump lets Iran off the hook by allowing them to sign a deal that permits them to have centrifuges because they pinky swear not to enrich to nuclear weapons' levels, it's no better than Obama's deal. The one Trump called the worst in history or some such hyperbole.

Three with a B

We now pay $3 billion a day in interest. By we, I mean the good ole US of A. I don't know but that sure sounds like a lot to me. Think we have a spending problem? Think entitlements have to be restructured? Ain't no way DOGE's cutting enough to dent 3 with a B.

Man of The Year!

Tom Homan. I call him The Bulldog. This guy is fantastic. Listened to an interview with him. Here's what I learned:

• Biden with Mayorkas' able complicity consciously opened US borders. He rescinded Stay in Mexico and instituted Catch and Release. His policy was to release illegals as fast as possible to avoid the appearance of overcrowding.

• Under Biden, crossers ballooned thanks to the message - "Border is Open. All are Welcome", which his reversal of Trump policies sent. Daily, 10,000 plus were showing up to cross. Yesterday, under Homan and Trump, that number was 211.

• More important is the number of gotaways. These are people who don't make their presence known but cross and flee. Not sure how this number is known, but under Biden it was 1,800+ per day. This is the group where child and drug traffickers, convicted felons and terrorists reside.

• In the first 100 days of Biden 184,000 illegals entered. Under Trump there were 9.

• Most amazingly was the process. Illegals would approach ICE officers and turn themselves in under Biden. Why? Because they knew exactly what would happen. They would be put on a bus to the city of their choice, placed in a hotel, given money and medical care and eventually right to work. (then they could have a kid!)

• Under Biden 70% of ICE officers were tied to a desk with paperwork, chauffeuring illegals around or changing diapers. Now 95% are on patrol.

• The job is not done. Homan estimates we still have 700,000 illegals running around who have a criminal conviction. We have 1.4 million that the US taxpayer paid for a full legal process and who were ordered deported, but are still here. These have not left and roam freely. That's 2 million right there.

• Homan needs funding to finish the Wall and equip it and ICE agents with the technology it takes to do their often dangerous job effectively. He needs aircraft and beds to hold illegals until they can be safely deported. Etc. Hopefully the BBB is a partial answer..

• Bottomline, Biden willfully and intentionally let 12 million illegals in.

  
  

C'mon Time Magazine. This guy deserves Man of the Year. Homan - not Biden.

If Men and Women are the Same...

which is what Transgender advocates argue, how come no women are winning medals in men's sports?

Hyundai Air & Sea Show...

is in Miami this weekend. Was listening to a promo and it sounds like some unique and pretty cool demos. Like all three US Stealth Bombers flying in formation escorted by an array of latest fighter jets. Streaming can be found at usasalute.com

Sounds Like a Rare Winner

As you likely know there is an idea being bandied about with growing energy concerning how to spend our money. Calls for the federal government to gift every child born legally in the US (i.e., to someone living here legally) $1000 at birth to be invested in the S&P 500 or "the stock market". Non discretionary.

Clearly has some benefits. Compounding is one. Being forced to care and thus learn something about the markets, investing and US companies is another. Right now 93% of stocks are owned by 10% of Americans.

On the surface, I could get behind this. Better than giving it to the Ivies so they can spew their Anti-American rubbish.

Apparently there are about 3.7 million babies born every year, so the outlay would be $3.7 billion. But who cares? Chicken feed these days, because nobody even talks about expenditures unless they have a "T" involved.

Ever Heard of a PSA Test?

Apparently Biden hasn't had one since 2014. Medical experts, including Rahm Emmanuel's brother who is a top class oncologist, say no way Biden's cancer started recently. Way before he ran in 2020. But his camp forgot to tell us.

What about the critically important annual physical all Presidents must undergo? Was Biden's on Zoom?

Sorry, not nice to bang on a guy who's down, but c'mon the coverups just keep on comin! How can these people ever be trusted again? They almost ran him back in '24.

This is not about beating a dead horse, it's about credibility going forward.

Tap Out Tapper

This is the guy who co-authored the hottest tell-all out these days. Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. The book excoriates the Biden camp for its outright lies. At the same time it all but ignores the complicity of LSM.

Floating around is a montage of a dozen or so clips in which author Jake Tapper proclaimed Biden's competency - not only with a straight face but with emphatic conviction. Look up hypocrisy in Websters and you just might find ole Jake's smiling face. Google the subject and you'll probably be directed to a diatribe blaming the whole mess on Trump.

Tapper makes Saint Peter (Thou willst deny me thrice) look like...well, hard to think of whom I can use as a paradigm of integrity???

Really courageous of all the whistleblower, ex-Biden soldiers now willing to speak Truth to Power when there is no

power.

Consider Both Sides then Decide.

This axiom is awfully tough for me to follow when the other guys lie and lie and then don't tell the truth. On stuff as fundamental to us all as the President's ability to do the job. Add in never proffering their own solutions and fair and balanced becomes nigh impossible. For me at least.

Enjoy Memorial Day Weekend. Say a prayer for all who serve in the military and those who died protecting. And do check out usasalute.com. Stealth bombers are fire!