Seventeen Days to Midterms (7 min.)
Top 3 Posts:
#1 - Iran Update: Keeping Perspective
By now everyone on the planet is fed up with U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict. We are sick and tired of its impact on gas prices and inflation. We no longer trust anything President Trump or the regime in Iran has to say about what to expect next. We see no end in sight.
Amidst all the calumny and malaise, it is useful to keep some facts in mind:
The Mullahs and their military thugs have been the world's greatest sponsor of terrorism for 47 years.
They have funded, through Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, the Houthis and others, countless attacks on U.S. citizens and military personnel, Israel and European allies.
They have killed over 1000 Americans.
They were "full on" in process to develop a nuclear weapon and the ability to deliver these warheads to Europe and eventually the U.S.
Ten U.S. Presidents going back to Jimmy Carter in 1979 warned about the threat the regime represents. These include Carter, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton, Bush 2, Obama and Biden. Not a damn one did anything about it until now.
Here's what's has been accomplished by the Trump Administration thus far:
The Iranian Navy and Air Force have been destroyed.
Iran's nuclear enrichment sites have been destroyed.
Most of the Iranian missile sites are destroyed.
Most of the missile production facilities are also destroyed.
Iran's ability to sell oil to fund itself has been cut off.
Their ability to shut down the Strait of Hormuz and other oil transport channels has been curtailed. Oil flow is now almost back to prewar levels for everybody BUT Iran.
Neighboring Arab countries are now aligned against Iran.
Its economy is in tatters. Soon, the regime will not be able to pay its military thugs.
The regime's ability to sponsor the terrorists of Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis etc. no longer exists.
By comparison to previous wars, the cost has been manageable. Sadly, however, we have lost 18 soldiers.
Doing the hard things requires extraordinary political courage. If they didn't, everyone would do them. The longer the hard things are put off, the harder they become. For example - reforming Social Security and Medicare.
#2 - Universal Medicine - Pluses and Minuses
A major plank in the Democratic Socialists of America platform this cycle is "Medicare for All". When you listen to advocates most point to "the UK, Canada, Scandinavia even Israel" as the standard.
Well, it's not all roses. Used to be the big feature of nationalized healthcare, besides it being "free", was the Emergency Room. Broken arm? Chest pain? Stitches? Boom. In you go, no questions asked, seen and serviced.
Well, as reported, the lines keep growing and so EDs (as we call them now) in the UK and Canada are being excoriated for day long waits to be seen.
But the real issue is the big important stuff. Heart surgeries, brain surgeries, cancer surgeries, exotic diseases. Here's where countries and the people that live in them really come up short in terms of wait time and, far more importantly, state of the art care.
There is a reason the best surgeons are in the U.S. There is a reason the greatest innovations in medicine come from the U.S. There is a reason the best research is done here. And the reason is money. Surgeons, researchers, laboratories, hospitals make more money here. So guess what? They congregate here. Wouldn't you?
Are there great surgeons, teaching hospitals and research labs in Canada and the UK? I'm sure there are. Just far
fewer.
#3 - Can't Afford the Costs. Can't Risk the Ideology.
It's pretty simple, really. Much as one might despise Donald Trump, think honestly about the alternatives. Although not all Democrats are avowed Socialists, many are and most others lean heavily that direction.
Reality is we can't afford their policies and we can't risk their ideology.
Medicare for all is only one of their budget buster ideas. Here's another. This week, a new bombshell report by the Council of Economic Advisers revealed the true cost of Democrats’ extreme DSA policies — and what mass amnesty and open borders would cost taxpayers. The CEA estimates the lifetime cost of each illegal alien at $166,716 — $1.4 trillion to $1.9 trillion in total. Amnesty would add $30 billion to $40 billion a year in Medicaid, $3.6 billion to $4.7 billion in SNAP benefits, and $2.3 billion to $3 billion in HUD housing assistance — up to $475 billion over the next decade. The full price tag of Democrats’ extreme DSA policies is even higher: they would cost taxpayers an estimated $49 trillion over ten years — more than $350,000 per household.
Plus...here's what's even scarier. They will pack the court. Eliminate the filibuster. And make DC and Puerto Rico states, which will all but guarantee Republicans never win the White House again. So even if they do _____ it up, we can't fix it.
All of a sudden, Trump ain't lookin' so bad.
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And the Rest of the News...
Far Above Cayuga's waters
Cornell University is a majestic college. Set above a huge lake, interlaced with flowing gorges, rolling hills and breathtaking fall foliage. I know. It is my alma mater plus that of my brothers and three nieces.
It has also become one of the most liberal ivy schools, which is saying something. Bad enough, but now CU has become an object of scorn making national headlines.
Two years ago a group of seven frat brothers lured a 20-year old woman to their frat house, drugged her with ketamine and raped her. Except did they?
After "looking into the matter" the university expelled two of the alleged rapists and had the remaining five write essays. Why so light? Wait and read.
Now the lady has filed a civil suit saying she was drugged and raped. Now - two years later. But there's a problem. Her texts, social media posts and statements to LEOs at the time tell a far different story. In fact, there was then and is now - ZERO evidence she was taken advantage of against her will or even told anyone "no" or "stop". In fact, her posts brag about her being inebriated.
So, what's really going on here? Well, let's start with the fact that the actions of these young men were reprehensible, depraved and in violation of all moral standards. No excuses like "she was enjoying it" or "she never said no". That's rubbish.
But now the political machine sees opportunity. AOC chimes in and NY Governor Hochul appoints of all people, Letitia James, to investigate. This is UVA, Duke, George Floyd all over again. The girl was a victim. Abused against her will, etc. Not responsible in any way.
Two sides to the story that's for sure. At the end of the day, the law is the law. If it's wrong, change it legally, but don't break it.
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Musings...
Liberal is Not Left
As time has moved on and Liberals have swung further and further left, I have all but eliminated the term "liberal" from my attempts to differentiate political parties and mindsets. Choosing instead to call the opposition the "Left".
But make no mistake, there is a major difference. Liberals differ from conservatives of which most Republicans are or lean. Liberals favor higher taxes, more social problems, higher immigration, stricter gun laws, more regulations and government intervention in all walks of life. Beliefs with which conservatives disagree and, in many cases, disavow.
The main difference, however, between Liberals and the Left is, in addition to all Liberal views, the Left fundamentally hates (or, at the very least, openly despises) America. Leftists want to tear the American system down since they consider it unfair and evil. Whereas traditional Liberals still love their country and want to change specific things within the system, the Left want to rip the country apart, defund law enforcement, eliminate the military and rebuild it in their own image and likeness.
Unfortunately, so much of the Democratic party and the majority of traditional Liberals have converted to the Left that it's hardly worth the effort to differentiate.
Being Angry Is Not Enough Reason...
To shift one's allegiance and thereby bestow power on those who fundamentally ignore common sense, intellectual reasoning and the universal view of right and wrong.
Especially when, once in power, promises made are quickly forgotten.
Post Mortem Beforehand...
I can hear it now. If we lose Congress, the blame game will start and Trump will be the target. Can you hear it?
I can't afford a house and he's worried about a new ballroom. I'm worried about paying for groceries and he's renaming lakes. I'm maxed out on credit cards and his family's getting rich-er on crypto schemes. (All things I too think are worthy of ridicule)
Still...no President has worked harder than Trump does. No President since Reagan met the tough challenges head on even close to Trump. And, yes, no President has been more tone deaf on core campaign issues...at least so far this cycle. At least he's finally out stumping now.
Political pundit and very ugly guy, James Carville, summed it in the 1984 campaign. "It's the economy, stupid." What he should have said is ...it's the "personal" economy. Struggling families don't care about jobs reports, inflation trends of even their 401K when weekly cash flow comes up short.
'Til Death Do Us Part
Marriages in the U.S. are down almost 30% since 1970. Divorces are common. We all know a bunch of couples whose marriages met that fate.
I happened to see an episode on Netflix last week in which a couple was struggling to decide if marriage was for them. One said to the other..."How about we start with a real conversation? About religion, money, careers, kids, retirement, God, sex, cheating."
I thought...I wonder how many couples really took the time and had the courage to discuss the important stuff before they tied the not? I know I didn't.
Do couples realize love is not really "enough" in this world which we live?
Have a Productive Week.
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