SOTU & SCOTUS

SOTU Review - For The Dems Who Stayed Home

And the Justices, although its commonplace for Supreme Court Justices to avoid the partisan theatrical.

This week's SOTU:

1. Was typically Trump long.

2. Had a bunch of magical moments evoking pride in America.

3. Had many no shows. Classy.

4. Saw pettiness, insults and downright disrespect flying in all directions - signs of the times.

5. Enumerated an extraordinarily list of things accomplished in a single year.

6. Did nothing to heal but we all know the Dems are having none of that anyway.

7. Spotlighted new VA Governor Spanberger getting lost on the teleprompter during her rebuttal (Biden 2.0?).

8. Saw Squad member Tlaib wore a "Fk ICE" button. Also Classy.

Made me wonder what it would be like if Trump did all he's done but had Reagan's personality. Maybe 50% of the country wouldn't hate him so much. Maybe, maybe not.

Clearly, sadly two Americas on display. Welcome to Un-United States of America.

SCOTUS Monkey Wrench

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to curtail Trump's rights as far as imposing tariffs. Of course, this set the Donald's hair on fire.

The core issue was whether the President has the right to impose Tariffs under the power to regulate importation as set by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This 1977 law allows the president, after declaring a national emergency in response to foreign threats, to regulate or block certain economic transactions and property interests, such as imposing sanctions. 

The Court in a majority opinion written by Caspar Milquetoast (Roberts) said - No. Basically the Court ruled that Trump's unilateral, broad reaching imposition of tariffs abrogates Congressional authority. Justices Kavanaugh, Alito and Thomas aggressively dissented. Barrett and Gorsuch agreed with the libs. Of course, Milquetoast Roberts did too. He has never disagreed when he sees as a majority vote coming.

Black eye - yes. Armageddon - probably not the case. Court refrained from telling Trump what he could do and didn't opine on treaties already signed. Supposedly the President has remedies under different statutory means. Of course the real problem is the 49% of our dysfunctional Congress, which has no interest in doing what's best for America. Only to get Trump. CBS called it the most significant loss for a US President ever. I thought Nixon losing on the tapes was. Or Clinton not facing a Grand Jury.

Make no mistake about it this has the potential to clip Donald's wings a bit. Hope it doesn't also bleed over into the Iran mess. Dems would like nothing better than thwart the President's power to sort out the Mullahs by demanding congressional approval under the War Powers Act. After all we do have an Armada on the ready.

Maybe we shouldn't have imposed tariff on the islands where only penguins live.

Far from Amateurs

The term "amateur", as in sports, needs to be changed to apprenticeship. That's what college sports have become. Not that I think it's altogether improper. These athletes put in obscene amounts of time and I presume one way or another reap big payoffs for their sponsors.

As for the Olympics that's a whole other kettle of fish.

Even athletes in individual sports get millions from home countries. Like Elaine Gu, who grew up in the US but decided to compete for China, because she loves her heritage. That and she got paid millions (like $14M). She won gold in that time-honored event called the Freeski Halfpipe (I think).

"Silver Shines Just as Bright!"

USA - USA - USA! What do the Canadiens have left now that we beat them in hockey?

Want an example of the difference between Americans and Canadiens? Twenty-one years ago the mighty US basketball team lost to Argentina in the Olympics. We went bonkers. Absolutely nuts. Fired coaches. Amped up training. Called out the Seals and Delta Force. Formed the Redeem Team for the next one. Since then we've beaten opponents by an average of 28 points.

Canada on the hand, where Hockey is DNA, congratulated the US, made a few low key remarks about the overtime format and said the silver medal was fine and "we're proud of it".

Are you kidding me?

How can anyone with one scintilla of patriotism not find unbridled glee in what happened on Sunday. Almost 50 years since the Miracle on Ice and we have another gold. Against historically the "greatest" hockey powerhouse on the planet. Nothing can eclipse beating the Russkies (don't think China plays hockey), but this was awful sweet.

And yet we do have those who throw America under the bus just to besmirch Trump

We cannot let this happen. We just cannot.

Ever notice how overt patriotism explodes when we have a Reagan or a Trump of even a Dubya. Ever see that with an Obama or Biden? Nope, cause Democrats don't cheer for America.

Poor Lil AOC

In a another fumbling attempt to excuse her gibberish at the Munich Security Conference she relied on old faithful. Blame Trump.

On Instagram very late one evening in a scratchy voice with her husband snoring in the background, she pled her case...

"If you think I don't understand foreign policy, because of out of hours of discourse about international affairs, I pause to think about one of the most sensitive geopolitical issues that currently exist on earth, I'm afraid the issue is not my understanding, but perhaps the problem is you've gotten adjusted to a president that never thinks before he speaks."

As if that wasn't enough, Cortez also found time to mock Marco Rubio's speech.

She sneered at Secretary Rubio for being preoccupied with Western culture, which she characterized as "thin." All cultures, she averred, are ephemeral, passing, unstable; therefore, social analysts should concentrate not on wispy cultural achievements but on the "material" elements of a society which manifest themselves in the class struggle.

Breathtaking isn't. The western culture she derides only gave us... the university system, affirmed the rights and prerogatives of the individual, and gave rise to democratic rule of law. "Thin" indeed. Wonder if she ever read a book. She really ought to be on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" because she sure needs a lifeline.

Leg Up for U Haul?

One might think maybe AOC's bumbles might give her apparent rival, Gavin, an opening to forge ahead?

Wrong.

Speaking to a black group, Newsom said, "I'm just like you. I couldn't read (dyslexia). Got 960 on my SATs." Bet that scored some points.

Meanwhile AOC's Mentor...

Bernie Sanders was busy spewing his standard drivel. When asked whether the regulatory state in the UK or Europe was conducive to world leadership in any industry of field, he completely ignored the question and instead misdirected by saying it doesn't cost $80,000 a year to go to college in most European countries and everybody has healthcare as a human right.

As if that's the point of it all. The be all and end all. Meanwhile Europe is mired in 50 years of mediocrity and truthfully decline. But Sanders ignores that altogether.

Talk About Upside Down

Opposition to requiring proof of citizenship when voting escalated to the point where the Libs shut down the government - again. Yet Comrade Mamdani won't allow anyone without ID and a social security card to shovel snow in NYC during the current blizzard. Talk about Jim Crow 2.0.

Might Wanna Rethink that Mexican Spring Break

Following the reported killing of major cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," multiple American tourists vacationing in Puerto Vallarta unexpectedly found themselves in the middle of a violent cartel retaliation.

Airlines canceled flights and authorities issued shelter-in-place orders, while cars were set ablaze, cartel members blocked major roads, and stores were being ransacked by looters (sounds like BLM and George Floyd). Scenes some witnesses said made parts of the popular resort city feel like "a war breaking out in the streets."

Wonder if this will finally trigger the "gobierno" to clean things up. Nah, they be bro's with the druggies.

And don't get your hopes up that taking down the leader of Mexico's biggest cartel's will amount to a hill of fentanyl. It won't. After decades of governments officials turning a blind eye (and outstretched palms), Cartels are well-oiled supply chains, compartmentalized with a cadre of lieutenants ready to step in. While I doubt they do a lot of succession planning, the Pablo Escobar's, Amado Fuentes, Ochoa brothers and El Chapo's of the world have been taken out in the past and the machine keeps humming.

Religion Update

Church filled again.  This time 730 am.  Maybe everybody wanted to go early so they could watch the hockey.  Pastor Rolando was funny.  The reading was about the Adam/Eve/Garden of Eden story.  Father opined it was "no mistake" the devil picked a woman to tempt.  Showed it takes the Devil himself to tempt a women whereas it only takes a woman to tempt a man. (Lol)

How Do You Want to Be Remembered?

Correct Answer: As long as possible.

Even Bankers Can Be Never Trumpers

JPMorgan Chase Bank recently admitted it closed President Donald Trump's bank accounts following the Jan. 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol. The bank's confession was spurred by a $5 billion legal challenge from the President last month.

Name for this nefarious action? Debanking.

Let's see what Jamie Two-faced Dimon offers by the way of explanation.

Ever Wonder What Happens...

When a professor get 25 papers from students using the same phraseology thanks to AI?

Think Your Job Stinks?

How would you like to be Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi? Araghchi is Iran's lead negotiator in discussions with the US. Here's the deal. If he concedes too much, the Mullahs are gonna whack him. If he can't make a deal, we're gonna nuke him. Some choice.

If I were him, I'd pull a Tariq Aziz. Aziz was Saddam's foreign minister conducting negotiations with the US. In the end turned out he was working for us.

Once an ATF.

Actor Robert De Niro said during a Monday interview that President Donald Trump would "never leave" office and that it was up to "us to get rid of him."

"Well, he will never leave. We have to make him leave. You see, he jokes now about nationalizing the elections — he's not joking. We've seen enough already. And everybody's worried about it, but he means it," De Niro said.

On this point, I kinda hope he's right.

How Long will LIV Live?

Bleeding a $100 million a month! Saudi's are out over $5 billion so far. Ouch. That's quite a few extra barrels.

Mi-ssi-ssi-ppi Shames Erudite Chicago

(report by Pastor Corey Brooks from Chicago)

Mississippi's transformation, often called the "Mississippi Miracle," is not an accident. In 2013, the state ranked 49th in fourth-grade reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP. By 2024, fourth graders ranked ninth in the nation in reading and 16th in math.

The foundation? The 2013 Literacy-Based Promotion Act, which mandated evidence-based phonics instruction, early identification of struggling readers, literacy coaches and retention in third grade for students not reading at grade level.

Compare those results to...

Dulles Elementary School in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood (Pastor Brooks' community). The school, serving mostly Black and low-income students ranks in the bottom 50% of Illinois elementary schools, which are damned poor to begin with.

In recent data, only about 5% of students scored proficient in math, and 3% in reading, on state assessments. Chronic absenteeism remains high, often between 25% and 40%. Yet the school is labeled "Commendable" in Illinois' system.

Mamdani-ed

Canceled planned hiring of 5000 police officers as thousands of officers hit their 20 year retirement date in 2026/27.

Now that's a winner. Increase taxes and cut cops.

Gotta Break Some Eggs

To make an omelet. I know things sound chaotic, even crazy. Lots of balls in the air.

Should we really be surprised? America was a hot mess when Trump 2.0 started. Can anyone say things were okay when it came to...military preparedness, foreign affairs, America's place in the world, border security, inflation, trade inequities? These are pretty whale-sized problems - no?

What fool thinks there wouldn't be setbacks, course corrections and yes, absolute fk-ups (sorry).

Half the country wanted to fire Reagan 1.0. But Reagan had two terms to stay the course. Trump has two years.

Fetterman Shows Respect

Good ole John Fetterman. Only Dem to shake the President's hand. Out of respect for the Office if not the man in it.

And Then There's...

California. Since Jan. 20, 2025, California has declined to honor 4,561 immigration detainers on criminal illegal immigrants, releasing offenders – including murderers and sex offenders – back into communities instead of transferring them to federal custody.

JD takes Over Fraud

No doubt some have been wondering what the heck JD is doing these days? Well, he just got a new job.

Vice President Vance was just appointed to lead a nationwide "War on Fraud" He will work with a coalition of conservative state financial officers that says it has already uncovered and stopped billions in taxpayer waste and is pledging to partner with the White House to root out corruption nationwide.

In a Thursday letter to the White House, the State Financial Officers Foundation (SFOF) praised President Donald Trump’s focus on what he called fraud scandals that have "resulted in tens of billions of dollars being stolen from American taxpayers," writing that such corruption "shreds the fabric of a nation" 

The letter accompanied SFOF’s inaugural 2025 Oversight Report, which claims that affiliated state financial officers safeguarded more than $28 billion of waste, fraud, and abuse in 2025 alone.

SFOF CEO OJ Oleka told Vance that the group’s 40 conservative state treasurers, auditors and comptrollers across 28 states stand ready to support the administration’s anti-fraud mission, noting they collectively oversee more than $3 trillion in state funds.

Wonder how Chuckie and Hakeem will turn this into a Trump problem. Be tricky I suspect.

Have a nice Peaceful Weekend