Time to Refocus and Redirect.

Death Knell for Midterms?

Polls are looking BAD. The latest Fox News polls are alarming to say the least. Trump's ratings are in the toilet - again, to say the least. This is not as worrisome given the phenomenon known as TDS. What is really troubling is the favoritism of Democrats as the alternative.

Dems are favored over Republicans in the following categories: income inequality (+22 points), healthcare (+21), inflation (+10), the economy (+9), and foreign policy (+7). Republicans hold the edge on crime. Can you believe it? It's a toss up on spending, national security and, yes, immigration.

I would happily label these results pollster bias, as well as preposterous, were the results not coming from Fox. Very worrisome indeed.

Increased Russian Sanctions Have a Dark Side

The recently deceased Senator Lindsay Graham was a great proponent of bringing the sanctions' hammer down on Vlad. In fact, the Russian sanctions bill before Congress has been renamed in Lindsay's honor.

While this seems a no brainer, be careful. The successful application of sanctions requires a robust enforcement mechanism. Read...putting the hammer down also on those who violate the sanctions. Principally, in this case, those buying Russian oil.

The Graham Sanction/Tariff bill, if passed, would slap a 500% tariff on all U.S. trade with Russia and give the President unilateral authority to impose up to 100 percent tariffs on all goods imported into the United States from the top five largest importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas as well as countries who facilitate Russian oil sanctions evasion.

Those countries currently encompass China, India, Japan, Azerbaijan France, Hungary, Belgium, and Slovakia — with the addition of Russia, this encompasses nearly 40 percent of the world’s total population. U.S. partners such as Turkey, Brazil, South Korea, and the European Union, that continue to import Russian oil and gas out of necessity, may soon find themselves put on the list.

This matter is one on which I agree with Rand Paul. Be careful what you wish for.

If You Start to Take Vienna, Take Vienna

The famous words of Napoleon. Of many famous maxims about war from this millennium, perhaps the most famous is the one attributed to Napoleon: "If you start to take Vienna, take Vienna."

This is what Trump must do. Once started he must finish the job. He must defang the mullahs, the IRGC and their followers so thoroughly, economically and militarily, that continuation is not feasible. At which point disgruntled members of the military and a disenfranchised civilian population can join forces and disembowel the current regime.

Whatever you think those Iranian tyrants are, some of them are deeply convicted believers in an "end times" theology that would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons to destroy Israel and possibly bring the Twelfth Imam out of his "occultation." Most of the West doesn’t want to deal with the implications of a theocracy bound up in medieval theology and run by fanatics in possession of WMD. President Trump is willing to do so and has acted on it. Now he must finish the job

All the while making sure Iran can never ever again have even the possibility of progressing to where it has nuclear weapons and the means to rain them down on its hated enemies. First and foremost of which are America and Israel.

Bundling is Wrong

While it might work for State Farm and Progressive, bundling is often the kiss of death in Congress. Piggy backing disparate measures is just plain dumb in most cases. While it may be procedurally efficient and certainly is useful to obfuscate and sweeten unpopular changes, the practice is a major barrier to progress. In the past this custom was called pork barrel politics. The notion was an important, but definitely not bipartisan, change could get passed if there was a little something in it for "everybody". Remember the bridge to nowhere in Alaska?

Had a good example this week in the House. A bill "bundling" voter ID with a ban of stock trading by members of Congress (called the Stop Insider Trading Act) was on the floor. Now what in God's name these two issues have to do with each other escapes me. Other than 80% of the American public supports both.

Well, the bill passed with 198 Democrats voting no. But did they vote "no" on voter ID or the stock trading ban or both? How do you hold your representative accountable if you aren't sure what he or she is for or against?

In this case, given voter sentiment, it should be easy. Regardless, bundling is dumb. On the other hand - given the bumbling nature of our Congress, bundling may be the only way anything gets done at all.

As an aside, apparently the Stop Insider Trading Act does allow for the grand canyon of loopholes - blind trusts.

Caitlyn Update

USA Today columnist Nancy Armour wants Caitlin Clark to stop flopping and berating WNBA officials.

But Armour’s latest column goes much further than that. Much, much further. Armour argues that Clark’s reactions to missed calls put "Black" and "queer" WNBA players "in danger," essentially blaming Clark for racist messages.

For every action there is a reaction. Maybe if opposing players weren't intent on breaking Ms. Clark's jaw with every foul while officials were looking the other way, flopping could be curtailed. While definitely not fond of flopping, this is the first time I've heard it called racist. Wait until Shay-Gilgeous gets wind.

Seems framing everything one doesn't like as racist remains de rigueur these days.

Florida GDP Tops

Pulling in capital, talent and corporations at a historic clip, Florida is no longer just competing with rival states — it’s competing with global economies.

New data shows the Sunshine State's $1.8 trillion economy has climbed to No. 14 globally, according to the Florida Chamber Foundation, demonstrating the state's emphasis on lower taxes, streamlined regulations and free enterprise.

Florida has climbed to No. 14 among the world's largest economies by gross domestic product (GDP). The state's economy grew 6.3% over the past year, surpassing Australia and Mexico. Florida now ranks behind South Korea at No. 13 and would need roughly 2% additional growth to surpass it and about 21% more growth to overtake Canada, which ranks No. 10.

States in a death spiral like NJ, Illinois, California, NY and Minnesota should take a hard look at the Florida-Texas formula. Which, quite simply, is grow private enterprise and shrink government.

I'm telling you - Ronnie (Governor DeSantis) deserves a look in 2028. Be super interesting to see where he lands after leaving Tallahassee in November. Tough guy without the Trump edge.

Trouble in Paradise?

DSA looney and avowed anti-American, Hassan Piker, has some strong words for poster boy, Zohran Mamdani. He told the NY Mayor to "shut the f'ck up, dude." He thinks Zohran is way too timid in his messaging. Too concerned with optics and too willing to retreat when their positions draw criticism. Piker says AOC is weak too, although he thinks she is the best candidate for Prez in 2028.

Now We're Talkin'

The federal government is rolling out new rules about college loans. If a degree program is not proven to increase a person’s earning ability, the government (i.e., your tax dollars) won’t fund those loans.

Undergraduate programs will be required to demonstrate that their Graduates earn more than the typical high school diploma holder, and graduate programs will be required to demonstrate that their graduates earn more than the typical bachelor’s degree holder.

This seems pretty intuitive actually. If your kids choose to go into macramé with a minor in knitting, have at it. Oh yeah, I remember. It's called common sense.

Turning the Page - Not OK

During the Biden era we suffered a tidal wave of illegal immigrants. Minimum 8 million, maybe as high as 11 or 12. Many of whom were rapists, murderers, traffickers and terrorists. There is empirical reason to believe this was more than a consequence of abject incompetence though there was certainly plenty of that. And for sure it was not, as Biden tried to couch at one point, "A seasonal thing … earthquakes, floods … lack of food. It’s because of gang violence and because of a whole range of things,"

No, there is too much evidence there was clear intention on the part of the Biden Administration to flood America with future Democratic voters.

There exist reams and reams of memos, studies that document exactly what went down. Should these not be examined - shown the light of day?

From beginning to end, the Biden administration sandbagged the release of data and information that would illuminate impacts on local public safety and national security.

Not to mention the expense of it all. What did the crisis end up costing the American people to care for the millions who crossed and were released by design? Where did all the immigrants go afterward?

The only hope for knowing what exactly happened is a Presidential commission. There is no chance our badly fractured Congress could ever hold objective hearings.

I know, I know. There is so much on the plate, it's tempting to just turn the page. But should we really? Given immigration was a top voter issue in 2024 and it continues to divide our nation. Does the truth not matter on an issue as fundamental as this one.

Laugh or Two

He is a self-made man and worships his creator.

I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here.

Enjoy your weekend.