Three Years Ago
Top 3 Items (9 min read)
Three Year Anniversary
Iran Update
None
#1 - October 7, 2023
On this day, as everyone not living under a rock knows, Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel and murdered 1,200 Jewish citizens. 226 civilians and 25 IDF soldiers were taken hostage and stored in tunnels under Gaza.
To put this in perspective...1,200 Israeli civilians is equivalent to 44,000 Americans being murdered within hours. Atrocities perpetrated with these murders included hundreds of women, children, even infants.
So, what is the aftermath? Initially, as expected and proper, most responsible leaders and sane inhabitants of the planet expressed horror and vigorously condemned the actions of the terrorists. Notably, the Biden Administration was most concerned with urging restraint from the Israelis. Such courage and conviction.
Then, in what seemed mysterious but no longer is, sentiment flipped over night The Israelis became the villains and Hamas/Palestinians the victims. Pro-Palestinian protests sprung up across American campuses and worldwide. Israel was accused of genocide and condemned throughout much (most?) of the world.
This antisemitic rancor has grown and now permeates the entire Leftwing media and most of the Democratic party. No question the breadth of this thinking can be attributed, in America at least, largely to the relationship between Israel and President Trump. It has become so farcical there are even rallies supporting the Mullahs and IGRC. Why not? All they did was murder 40,000 of their fellow citizens.
As you may know, this month elections will occur in Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu may be replaced. As far Israel tolerance for Hamas, Hezbollah or Iran, nothing will change regardless of who wins. Israel, though divided on other issues, is united that never again with terrorists be allowed to reconstitute on its borders. Americans could take a lesson from Israelis on national solidarity.
#2 - Iran Update
Even the anti-Trump sources have come around to admitting that we have reopened the Strait of Hormuz to very nearly it's re-War levels. How do we know? Every tanker that wants safe passage must check in with the U.S. Navy and report its cargo. To the barrel.
We still have a diesel problem but that is due to damaged refineries in Saudi, Kuwait and UAE. This will take longer to address.
Trump is threatening an end right after the midterms. The IRGC is writing letters to American voters and using other nefarious channels to convince the electorate to neuter Trump. It's even reported former Biden envoys are actively assuring Iran that once the Dems get control Trump will have no choice but to sue for peace. Sounds like the time Obama got caught on the hot mike with Putin. "Just wait until after I get reelected. I can be more flexible."
How dumb can some people be? In what universe does anyone think that losing one or both houses wlll emasculate Trump and he will slither away from finishing the job in Iran? Or continuing to deport illegals?
From where I sit that's lunacy. As Marco Rubio put it, regardless of the midterms, Trump will still be President, I will still be Secretary of State and Pete will still be Secretary of War.
Iran is loco for wishing Trump loses Congress. If that happens he will be more determined than ever to complete the missions and protect his legacy. Silly boys, those Mullahs.
#3 - Nothing Substantive.
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The Rest of the News...
Is Paris Burning?
Not only Paris but most of France.
Last week, high school students in Paris took to the streets to protest what they described as excessively long school hours, overheated classrooms, frequent staff absences, and crumbling buildings. Since then, the movement has spread across the country. It is pandemonium: Students are piling trash bins and other objects across school entrances to prevent their classmates from entering; they are setting piles of garbage on fire in the streets; they are wrapping their faces with masks and balaclavas; they are violently clashing with police.
And there is no end in sight. On Sunday, education minister Édouard Geffray said that between 400 and 500 schools will be closed on Monday as security conditions “have not been fulfilled.” 6,100 arrests so far. 86,000 demonstrating in Paris alone on Tuesday.
So what's behind all this? Well, for sure France has lots of issues as its debt climbs to 119% of GDP. But there's a curious coincidence at all of these student uprisings. Palestinian flags and Antisemitic posters. All being cheered on by Presidential candidate, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of France Unbowed, the country’s principal radical-left party.
That's what happens when you let your country be overrun by illegal immigrants. Some anti-establishment rabble rouser sees an opportunity, grabs a mike and a camera, claims the system's broken, whips students into a frenzy and all hell breaks loose. Wanna bet there's foreign anti-West money in the mix?
More Bad News for Swoosh
Stock is down 81%. Layoffs coming in 2027. CEO said, "For the past year we've put sport at the center of all we do." In other words... prior to "last year", cultivating the Woke Left was our center.
Where's Kaepernick and Dylan Mullaney when you want them? Don't forget...In 2019, Nike tapped Colin Kaepernick as the face of its 30th anniversary "Just Do It" campaign. In the wake of George Floyd's death in 2020, it ran its "For Once, Don't Do it" ad, which included lines like "don't pretend there's not a problem in America," and "Don't turn your back on racism."
The best was in 2023 when the brand partnered with female-identifying male Dylan Mulvaney to promote women's leggings and sports bras
Maybe you shouldn't have dragged your feet for two years on the Caitlyn shoe.
Like I've said before, "All we wanna do is look cool when we ball, man."
Texas Has a Mess
Trump has been at odds with long time Texas Senator John Cornyn since Cornyn remarked "time had passed Trump by" in 2023. Even though Cornyn has been largely supportive since Trump won in '24, the President has not forgiven.
Stupidly, out of spite, Trump backed Texas AG John Paxton, who has a long history of missteps. Including and especially being impeached on allegations of bribery, misuse of state funds, etc. Sixteen charges in all. He was exonerated but no surprise in the very RED state of Texas.
So now we have a candidate in this "super critical, may decide control of the Senate" race that is behind in the polls to nut job James Talarico. No need to reiterate his outlook on life. God is binary, six sexes, Vegan over BBQ, fracking must go, perfectly okay for young kids to go trans, etc...
Talk about shooting ourselves in the foot. As if we don't have a big enough problem in the upcoming midterms.
There's Shooting Wars and then there's...
Hybrid Wars. Hybrid wars is a new term for the tactics of war that DO NOT INCLUDE guns and bombs. Hybrid tactics include sabotage, cyberattacks, disinformation and malicious propaganda, instrumented immigration, manipulation of energy and other critical material supplies and all forms of economic coercion.
Increasingly these are the tools of the enemies of the West. War fever is spreading in Europe. In fact, in just the last few weeks, virtually every NATO PM has come out publicly and warned (paraphrasing of course)..."Get ready 'cause Putin's coming."
Is Europe Ready? Hard to imagine, given the dereliction of NATO leaders since WW2 when it comes to military preparedness. Shriveled and impotent after years of focus on Decarbonization and open borders does not augur well for what may be coming.
Brazil moves "Back" into the Good Guy Column
The Bolsonaros are back. Former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro is still under house arrest, serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup.
But his eldest son is now within reach of the presidency, his wife and another son are headed to the Senate, and his youngest son and brother to the lower house of Congress.
The Bolsonaros’ success in Sunday’s elections shows how the conservative movement the eldest Bolsonaro built is becoming Brazil’s dominant political force.
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Musings...
What Am I Missing?
Most economists would agree that Gross Domestic Product, though not perfect, is the best way to quantify standard of living. GDP per capita relates national GDP to the size of the population enabling comparison of all countries. Essentially GDP/C measures how well a government is doing its job, which is to enable its people to prosper.
Here is the 2025 ranking of the your most popular dictatorial, socialist nations according to the World Bank: I call them CRINK.
Russia - 84th
Cuba - 81st
China - 93rd
Iran - 151st
North Korea - 206th.
Where do I sign up?
Will Disappointment Mean Desertion?
Well-chronicled for many months herein is a deep fear that the midterms will be a disaster. A "blue tsunami."
But, still I wonder.
Emphatically, polls confirm most respondents are unhappy with the Trump Administration. More to do with Trump's personality than his policies, I'm certain.
But when it comes down to nut cuttin' time, will a majority really desert or use common sense?
If they jump ship, what is the option? Do they really trust the Democrats, not to mention the DSA? Abandon to what - no police, no prisons, socialized medicine, and the host of other whacko ideas they're putting forth?
One thing in our favor is young voters turn out far less in midterms than generals. I'm presuming most favor the DSA, antisemite, pro-Palestinian, Trump is the cause of all problems...school of thought. Please accept my apologies. I do know there's a bunch of young 'uns with common sense who think for themselves (and paid attention in Eco 101).
No One Watching the Hen House
The biggest problem with the Democratic party is no one's in charge. Schumer, Jeffries, hah. Nobody listens to them. Problem for the Republicans too. Hard to wage war with an adversary when you don't know who's in charge. Take Iran for example.
A Good Idea (or so I thought)?
I always liked Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State during Trump 1.0. No nonsense Kansan. West Point Grad. Army officer. He fell out with Trump because he wouldn't sign up that 2020 was rigged. Then Trump got po'd because Pompeo criticized the MOU and talk that we were going to relieve sanctions to make a deal.
Any way, I heard the idea floated that Trump should appoint Mike to be special envoy to Iran's disenfranchised citizens. See if we can't assemble some kind of alternative coalition to the nut jobs once we bankrupt them.
Sounds like something worth exploring except...Trump is not real good at burying the hatchet and Pompeo might still be eyeing 1600 down the road.
Regardless, I sure hope we have a plan for when the Mullahs and IRGC leaders grab their duffels of cash and head for their mansions in Dubai, London, Canada ... Or maybe they'll join Assad in Moscow. Nah...too cold and only one kind of bread.
A New TDS
It's official. TDS no longer refers only to Trump Derangement Syndrome. It now applies to Tucker Derangement Syndrome.
I seriously doubt many readers of CME spend a lot of time listening to what Tucker Carlson is saying these days. But just in case...here's an example:
In a recent interview with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, a British MP, Carlson made the following comments:
"How did the UK benefit from winning WW II? Would it be so bad if you were all speaking German? After all, Hitler said he didn't want to go to war with the UK." Carlson has made previous statements implying Hitler got a raw deal.
Later in the interview, he defended Russia. Said..."Let's say Russia wants to pick a fight with Britain. Russia has a much larger economy." Fact is Russia does NOT have a much larger economy. A larger military yes. But not an economy. Britain's GDP is $4.24 trillion. Russia's is $2.65T. GDP per capita in the UK is $61,000. In Russia, GDP per capita is $18,500. And Russia has all that oil.
Know who does have a larger GDP? Russian oligarchs!!! So much for the communist system.
Honestly, the man is not only twisted but he's an outright liar.
The new term is horseshoe conservative, which means a right wing conservative whose views are so extreme they overlap with the far left. Look it up in the dictionary...you'll find a picture of Tucker.
Oh yeah, he just came out and endorsed Abu El-Sayed for Senator in Michigan.
What is This Guy Smokin'?
Rahm Emanuel was Chief of Staff for Obama, Mayor of Chicago and Ambassador to Japan under Biden. He is positioning himself as a "sensible" Democratic candidate for President in 2028. He said recently, "America is ready for a Jewish President."
In what alternative universe does he live?
Hope You Don't Depend Too Much on Apple News
Seems it's shifted further left since new CEO took over in September. 65% of stories are from decidedly left-leaning sources. While 2% are from conservative outlets or commentators.
I understand Apple News is preinstalled on every new iPhone. I wouldn't know.
Senate Terms are Six Years
Don't forget. If we hand it over, guess who's gonna be picking the next few SCOTUS judges.
The Quality of American Journalism
Ran across a good example of the utterly irresponsible conduct of American reporters. Tom Homan (we all know who the Bulldog is) was being questioned by Camilo Montoya-Galvez, a CBS local reporter yesterday. She asked about the number of people that died this year in ICE detention. She stated - without equivocation - it will set a new high.
Homan replied by asking her how many died on Biden's watch. She didn't know. How many were detained under Biden? Again, she didn't know. How many died last year under the current Administration? Didn't know. How many are in detention now? Again, Ms. Galvez-Montoya had no idea
Need I say more? Ms. Galvez did acknowledge that the number detained now is substantially in excess of those during Biden years as the Administration tries to comply with voter wishes.
Silly Question
If voters didn't want Trump to close the border, deport the illegals, secure our energy, restore our respect overseas, get ride of Woke and DEI and protect us from terrorists, why the hell did they elect him?
Have you changed your mind? Your priorities? If not, why would voters be considering stripping him of the support he needs to finish the job?
Just askin'.
Of Liberals (now mostly Left-wingers), Reagan once said...
"It's not that they're ignorant. It's just that they know so much that isn't so."
God Bless the Martyrs of October 7. RIP.
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