This blog started out as Rainy Morning Chronicle. Recently, I rebranded it as The Morning Chronicle.Net, with its own domain. I have now decided to return to Rainy Morning, again using a blogspot address. Although the title has varied, the content has remained the same.
Posts on this blog also appear at Molovinsky On Allentown. While this blog does not host comments, your opinions are welcome on the Allentown page.
Earlier this year when it became apparent that Trump's amateur cabinet was becoming detrimental to the nation's welfare, this blog began speaking up. As the damage added up, I felt compelled to call out our silent, local Washington representatives, first as compliant, then complicit with veering away from our nation's moral compass.
My conservative readership, Republican first and foremost, started accusing me of TDS, which is a poor excuse for deteriorating leadership. Partisans slowed down commenting in protest. When Mackenzie signed the Democratic petition, explanations mentioned that we're in a purple area.
We're in more than a purple area, we're in a condition red. I had posted that unless Mackenzie stood up, he wouldn't be re-elected. It is now becoming apparent that unless the Republicans forcibly act out, Trump will be using our military on personal whims. Whether they can restrain him, remains to be seen.
Comments to this post can be placed at a companion blog.
As a blogger, I'm constantly accused of watching and listening to the wrong fake news, depending upon the persuasion of the reader I'm offending at the time. I never reveal which news sources I read/watch, and never presume that any of those sources knows the whole story.
I hadn't heard of Bill O'Reilly in a long time. I always found his demeanor annoying. Recently, I heard him on a news type show, and it was alarming. Trump had given Bill a tour of the White House, and the old pontificator was very impressed. He raved about Trump's decorations, and said that it would give Trump an advantage with any visiting world leader.
Trump showed him his new presidential gallery, where he has replaced history with his uninformed opinions about previous presidents. O'Reilly should be restricted to hosting bingo parties in senior living faculties.
With 60 Minutes killing its exposé on Venezuelans in the El Salvador prison, we have effectively entered an era of censorship. Between Trump privately filing lawsuits, and government approval needed for mergers, the price of speaking up is currently very expensive for corporate America.
A small time pizza blogger like myself can still speak the truth, but for how long? We have turned the Navy into pirates, and are going to build new Trump Class battleships. Trump campaigned against forever wars, but now we throw threats around the Western Hemisphere.
I do sense an awaking. I believe that the incumbent Republicans facing midterms are beginning to appreciate how out of control Trump has become. MAGA itself is starting to splinter on several issues. Between his ego and truth bending, each speech strains his credibility more and more.
Isaacman's second appointment to lead NASA took, unlike the first. He obviously has whatever administrative skills are necessary to run an organization, having started and turned Shift4 payroll into a national success.
Jared, in conjunction with Elon Musk's SpaceX, was the first civilian to do a spacewalk. Isaacman is a local, living in Northampton County.
Although I'm pleased with Isaacman's appointment, and it is the only Trump appointment I can say that about, I have issues with the space industry at Cape Canaveral. As previously reported on this blog, the industry is the growth engine for Brevard County Florida, and questions about environmental pollution there are heresy.
However, there is an old snowbird blogger in a small office inland from Canaveral, concerned with both the frequency of the launches, which are about every ten minutes, and the environmental consequences.
I believe that Trump's address to the nation was conceived by Susan Wiles, to show that she is still in the co-pilot seat, despite her confessions to Vanity Fair Magazine. It was probably also intended as damage control in regard to Trump's crude remarks concerning the Reiner tragedy. It was very ill timed, considering that Trump had nothing substantial to say, and that he will have to repeat himself soon enough, for the State of the Union speech.
While none of his sycophants clued Trump in about why he was giving a speech, the media will inform him, again soon enough. His speech was a ramble of factual errors and promises. Nothing you can put under the tree next week.
Wiles generally made the best of a hard case, an impulsive ego-maniac, her replacement won't fare as well. She had Trump's confidence, while her replacement will have Trump's doubt. I could care less about Trump, I do care about the country. If there was ever a president who needed a good manager, it is him. Let's hope that he picks this next apprentice well.
Ryan Mackenzie has stood up and signed on to a petition intended to extend the ACA subsidies. Although the petition was sponsored by Democrats, he joined several Republicans who joined the effort...The petition now has enough signatures to force a vote on the measure.
In the recent past, Trump and Company has referred to those who cross party lines as traitors, and has threatened to primary them. On that score, I can see no primary challenge coming Mackenzie's way.
I do believe, however, that his willingness to put his constituents ahead of a party agenda will help him come November. He has pretty much assured the vote of this old blogger.
I know a little about affordability at the supermarket. My family ran a meat market between the tracks and the river. Nobody lived around that industrial area, but you drove there if you wanted three pounds of hamburger or sausage for a buck, and people did.
While little markets are pretty much a thing of the past, people still drive a distance to save a dollar. Food is competitive, with markups in the 5% or less range. Throw in the fact that the commodity is perishable, and there are no vocations from the grind. Maybe that's why I publish this blog (Molovinsky On Allentown) every weekday, including holidays.
photocredit:Monica Cabrera/TheMorningCall
It's hard to know where to begin analyzing that statement, I suspect psychology students will be studying it for years to come. To a layman, it shows a complete lack of empathy, and being totally self-absorbed with himself. While I'm not surprised by his callousness, I'm interested to see the reaction of his supporters. Trump went on to say...
“He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness,”
As my disillusionment with Trump began appearing on my blogs, my partisan Republican readers have been using the TDS slur against me. I'm sorry to tell them that their blind support of Trump may well be the real pathology...KTA, Kissing Trump's A--
Comments are something new for this blog. Although I allow them on my Pennsylvania centric blog, the option was only installed here this morning (12/15/25) Readers are welcome to submit their opinions.
Post graduates students of this blog know that in addition to my Allentown base, I rent a small, low rent office inland from Cape Canaveral. While my desk shakes when the Brightline Death Train roars by, I can see the endless rockets take off from the Cape.
For Florida news, I have secured the services of a retiree on the west coast, and a college student in Miami. The Miami intern reports about the message sent Trump and the Republicans with the recent mayoral election there.
A Democrat won for the first time in thirty years, and with a large majority. While the Hispanic community is mostly Republican, and advocates for legal immigration, it is alarmed by the gestapo actions of ICE. The other issue propelling the Democrat's win was affordability. Trump can tell those geniuses with the red hats at his rallies that affordability is a Democratic myth, but that won't help any Republican get re-elected. Keep in mind that Miami was Trump country, where he plans on building his presidential library.
Blogger near Cape Canaveral
Comments are something new for this blog. Although I allow them on my Pennsylvania centric blog, the option was only installed here this morning (12/15/25) Readers are welcome to submit their opinions.
There are a number of groups, Principles First among others, that don't relate to the current administration and certainly not the MAGA element. Some are quite organized, with seminars and conventions. Then there are the non-joining discontents like myself. This is a place for us non-joiners. No membership, no donations, no meetings.
This is not a new blog, nor am I a new blogger. Previously the blog was titled Rainy Morning Chronicle, but I have always been Michael Molovinsky:) I also publish Molovinsky On Allentown, since 2007. This blog will retain the posts published under the old heading.
I am an independent conservative, registered to vote in Pennsylvania. Like many other northerners long in the tooth, I spend some time in Florida, on the Space Coast, which was Trump country. Like the beach after a bad storm, I'm starting to see erosion with his support.
Trump's efforts were certainly appreciated by a large segment of Israel's population, I hope enough of a majority to put Netanyahu out to pasture, but that remains to be seen.
It is disappointing, but not surprising, to see Israel and Hamas at odds again right away. Israel is slowing aid, wanting more bodies back, and Hamas is executing their competition for power in the enclave.
Although Trump rightly gets credit for the return of the living hostages, the EU's recognition of Palestine will have a greater impact on the future. While a two-state solution isn't in the near future, the Palestinians may end up with more autonomy. Unfortunately, the domicide in Gaza will take decades to rebuild.
My military experience is limited to having ridden past Quantico a few times on the train. However, the President addressing all the assembled generals has no more experience than me. He didn't even understand why they didn't laugh at his jokes. He doesn't understand that they are supposed to be apolitical. When he suggests that they practice warfare on civilians in our cities, he demonstrates a dangerous kindergarten comprehension of our government.
I doubt that even many Republican veterans could appreciate the reason for the conclave assembled at Quantico. It could not have been more ill advised from any viewpoint.
Fortunately for us, we have a very disciplined military. I expect the fallout will be limited to eye rolling. They knew Trump is a moron, and now they know the same about Hegseth. Hegseth said that generals who do not agree with his agenda should resign. Most of those generals earned their stripes the hard, long way, and know that the constitution will hopefully improve the current situation in another three and a half years.
On Monday afternoon, President Trump said I got to witness the greatest accomplishment in civilization. Well maybe, if Hamas accepts the deal, it is an accomplishment. Greatest in history? That statement is one for psychology, not history.
Netanyahu said that if they didn't do it the easy way, they would have to do it the hard way. What was hard was watching them say so little, with so much pomp. I hope that for the hostages and the Palestinians, Hamas accepts the proposal, but my regard for both Trump and Netanyahu won't improve.
I think that Trump should say nothing without a teleprompter, not even hello or goodbye.
Nobody will ever accuse Donald Trump of false modesty. In his typical kingly fashion, he let the United Nations know about all the wars he stopped. He was subdued about the wars he would supposedly end on day one, Gaza and Ukraine. There, he has emboldened Netanyahu and Putin to ratchet things up.
While he and MAGA continue their self congratulator interplay, the rest of the world is forced to be silent and polite. After all, the United States remains the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world, even if our current leadership is very quirky.
While we have had issues with the UN for decades, previous presidents had met the situation with attempts to gain better value for our investment, as opposed to Trump's dismissive and disruptive posturing.
We're in a dangerous time. We have a bully in the White House, who isn't anywhere near bright as he thinks. Back from England, he said of broadcast media,"They're 97 percent against(me); they give me only bad press. I mean, they're getting a license...I would think maybe their license should be taken away."
Ted Cruz was critical of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's statement to networks "We can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way", but not exactly for the right reason. Cruz is afraid that such heavy handedness by the FCC will hurt conservatives when the Democrats come back into power.
After eight months of Trumpism, it's encouraging when somebody even suggests that the emperor has no clothes. There will be more of Cruz speaking up, because Trump will say something about the Texas senator being out of line...Trump can't help himself. Because Trump's mouth runneth over, eventually, more Republicans will put on their big boy pants...hopefully in time to repair some of the damage.
While late night comedy thrived on making fun of Biff/Trump, Trump did Jimmy Kimmel a favor. Kimmel will emerge somewhere as the official spokesman against the naked emperor. Who knows, he might even run for congress.
In the meantime, the Trump machine had a revival yesterday at Charlie Kirk's memorial service. Vance was front and center, hoping to be the heir apparent for 2028.
The amount of news coverage and analysis of a doodle from one womanizer to another is distressing. With all the disruption of government service in the name of efficiency, how can the doodle matter, and if Trump drew and sent it or not? Talk about fiddling while the city burns!
On the topic of burning cities, it's distressing to see ICE recruiting from our undermanned local police forces. An adult administration would be working toward more police officers for our communities, not offering them sign on bonuses to arrest workers at car plants and outside Home Depot.
This is not an adult administration. It has reduced previously respectful institutions to divining nonsense, because substance is no longer on the table. We'll get past it, and there will even be a presidential library, but with comic books and doodles.
Over the years John Bolton has been called many things, mostly a hawk, but never disloyal to the country. He did however write and say that Trump was incredibly uninformed and unqualified as President. No good deed goes unpunished, and the FBI gave him a good housecleaning on Friday. Trump's response to news of the search... “He’s not a smart guy. But he could be a very unpatriotic guy and we’re going to find out".
I don't expect anybody in the cabinet to speak out, they're sycophants who are there for their loyalty, not their expertise or integrity. But I must wonder about the long term workers and agents assigned with such distasteful tasks. They know that they're harassing or firing or penalizing people who deserve better.
As I have written before, I think that Republicans are going to have a hard sell come mid-terms. I don't think that they need to worry about Trump promoting a primary challenger, but rather being ousted in the general for their compliance to him. J.D. Vance apparently thinks that he is the heir apparent of the newly gilded Oval Office, parroting Trump's Blame Biden Blatter. After the Democrats retake the White House in 28, Vance can always write another book. For the former MAGA non-readers, he can record some podcasts.
Trump will be costly, very bigly, very soonly. He misthinks that he can weaponize tariffs to control the foreign policy of our allies, as in regard to Palestinian recognition. His pal in arrogance, Netanyahu, has undone years of good will building by Israel, by weaponizing food in Gaza.
The monetary price for Trump's vacillations will be borne by USA consumers. What he accomplishes on a Monday, he squanders by Thursday. The political price, while slower to show up, will be coming. Biden didn't become incompetent until the end of his term, Trump's already showing his shortcomings.
When Republicans will stand up and speak out remains to be seen. Only partisans can still accept the silence... support from independents has already been lost. I don't see Trump really caring about the Republican Party and reining himself in. Incumbents will have to distance themselves from His Highness to secure their political future.
I'm a fan of the old Drew Carey Show reruns, it is difficult for me to accept that he became a game show host.
Both were elected by partisan purists at the time, but world events have brought them closer together than foreseen. Granted, the D is a very odd duck from the beginning. John Fetterman's support of Israel, while a traditional Democratic position, has stood out because of Netanyahu's extremism.
On Saturday night, both Pa. senators, Fetterman and McCormick, praised Trump's military action against Iran. while most Democrats were complaining about lack of congressional approval. Those congressional approvals might take some of the S out of any surprise.
I'm wondering if Fetterman will become his party's whipping boy, he already wasn't their favorite. I'm hoping that with BiBi's existential threat reduced, he will take the stranglehold off Gaza. If the bombing ends up a one off, as Trump claims it was, or an entrapment as feared by many, remains to be seen.
Chronic readers of this blog know that last year I revealed that molovinsky on allentown also maintains a low-rent office near the Space Coast in Florida. While not actually on the coast, it's close enough that I can see Musk's rockets taking off, and they take off several times a week. Consequently, they are a large part of the economy on the eastern side of central Florida.
Trump has been saying that if Musk doesn't shut his yapper,, there will be a price to pay. While it's true that Space X rakes $Billions from the government contracts, there is no competitor that can provide service anywhere near as safe and/or reliable. SpaceX actually softly lands its reusable rockets on the middle of a barge in the ocean. Last time anyone saw something like that was Flash Gordon make-believe in 1950. Even if Trump and Musk end up in the ring on McMahon's wrestling show, we'll still need SpaceX.
The pundits are saying that Trump won and Musk loses. Musk says that Trump is around for 3.5 more years, but he has 40 to go. I think Musk gives Trump's influence too long, it will be over by the mid-terms.
photocredit:James Robert
Trump's speech on Friday afternoon should have had every lawyer there mortified. Imagine, the President of the United States inferring legal retribution against his perceived political enemies, at the Department of Justice no less! I understand that our 47th felt that the department was weaponized against him, but now he wants to wield the weapon?
The speech also reflected poorly on Pam Bondi, but her introduction of Trump suggested she is not overly encumbered by such shame. As Trump's campaign song by the Village People played at the end, it was clear that this man hasn't moved beyond the campaign. John Bolton says that Trump is purely transactional, and not interested in anything besides his own scores to settle. It's as if the country's future is being scored on a small golf card.
Trump started his speech wondering if it was inappropriate for him to be there? That ended up being the most appropriate part of his speech. He told the assembled Justice employees that their department was just recently crooked and corrupt. He attacked the press, even the conservative Wall Street Journal, calling reporters scum. It will be interesting to see how long his appointees are willing to compromise their own legacies.
Trump's endless talking style sank the stock market on Monday. The market, expecting some reassurance from Trump, took his silence as a confirmation of pending recession. We need this man to spend more time at his country club, and restrict himself to golf talk. Meanwhile, back in Washington, co-President Musk called Mark Kelly a traitor. The last time I checked, Kelly was a hero and astronaut. As Kelly replied, you may own spaceships, but you have never been up in one. The country and world is getting tired of the insults coming from the Trump administration, whether by Trump, Vance or Musk.
It would be nice if someone sat Donald and Elon down, and told them how to behave. However, when you combine an ego maniac with the world's richest man, it's a power couple hard to contend with. The tariff war with Canada already has us the losers. I wrote previously that Trump won't be an asset in the mid-terms. Let me correct myself...by the primaries he'll be a liability.
ADDENDUM: This isn't an easy post to illustrate, with Trump the sideshow never ends. I just watched Trump and Musk hawking Teslas in front of the White House. Who could have imagined that?
Ego Man and The Sycophants played in front of Congress Tuesday Night. The set included the Gulf Of America. Associated Press was barred for not humming along with the tune. We learned that only George Washington is held in higher esteem than Donald Trump.
The new tariff against Canada and Mexico was in full effect overnight, until the Emperor realized that it would hurt our own car industry. The White House sponsored DOGE fires and rehires has reduced productivity. Massive layoffs coming in the VA won't help our veterans.
While Vance and Johnson looked like cats who swallowed canaries standing behind Trump during the show, the politicians who want a political future beyond 2028, will have to keep their parachutes packed.
In a post last week I mentioned Principles First, an alternative convention to the CPAC sycophants dancing with Trump last week. The participants at the counter meeting yet have no tent. They're hoping not to become Democrats. They know a third party fares poorly, but the Trump side-show isn't the same Republican Party that they can relate to. But even the most disenchanted among them couldn't have imagined the Trump/Zelensky meeting on Friday.
By late Friday afternoon, all the click-baiters on media and the social media undercard were analyzing the brawl. Those on the right side of the ring said that Zelensky wasn't respectful and appreciative. Those on the left side said that Trump and Vance tag-teamed their guest. Assuming that the European and world media would be more objective about what happen, most, with Hungary being the exception, agreed that Zelensky was the abused party.
Getting back to the Principles First tent looking for a label. I think that after hearing the Lindsey Graham types rattle on Friday night that Zelensky should resign, some more thoughtful Republicans will be coming out of their zombie trance and start looking toward the future. The super-partisans are praising Trump for putting America first, and his peace before endless wars. That raises the question, was the ambush coming Zelensky's way, regardless of what he said or didn't say? Either way, Trump's tantrum(s) lowered our esteem on the world stage. Trump later trying to defend himself after the meeting in a red hat, may have been a sight too far, even for the partisans.
In 2024, Elon Musk's Space X shot up 138 rockets carrying thousands of satellites for numerous companies and countries. For such a titan to be standing over the Resolute Desk, is unprecedented in American history. Usually presidents protected themselves with firewalls against such appearances. Once upon a time, Musk would have been a suspect for the Anti-Trust watchdogs. Musk's conflict of interest as a hyper-adviser, with Space X and NASA contracts, could only be ignored by Donald Trump, no other elected official would be so oblivious.
The Republicans are calling the Trump/Musk association visionary. They're calling all Trump's appointments creative and what's needed to fix the ship of state. In reality, they're demoralizing the departments, and marginalizing the concept of qualifications. I would like to be able to differentiate between partisan and credible Republicans, but so far, the latter has not appeared. That delay to properly describe the emperor, will come back in 2026 and 2028 as a penalty at the polls.
No one can accuse Trump of not working much during his first month in his second term as president. After firing all our top military leaders on Friday, I wish that he would take a week or longer off, and go play golf.
By pulling the rug out from under Zelensky, he has managed to change long term American foreign policy in this first month. Musk seems to be the hyper active de-facto vice president, literally welding a chainsaw in Washington. He has already cut up and minced most of our safety nets.
Most of Trump's MAGA supporters don't know what's even happening. Some hardcore ultra conservative are pleased with the shakeup, but CPAC only meets once a year, and they are also hardcore Republicans. Independent conservatives like myself are upset, so is the stock market.
While consequences are usually felt by the midterms, Republicans are already being called on the carpet by their constituents. Elected officials are pretty quick at reading the tea leaves. I think the pushback from congress will be coming sooner than Trump expects. I'm hoping that Trump devotes more time to his golf game.
Rainy Morning Chronicles, a conservative's journal, is published as warranted.
On November 5th I did not vote for the top of the ticket. Partisans on both sides said that I should at least vote for the one who I thought would do the least damage...I voted for no damage, for neither.
As Trump began naming his cabinet picks this week, it was apparent that loyalty, rather than expertise, was the criterion. His defenders referred to a President's need for both comfort and confidence in his picks. His pick of Matt Gaetz for Attorney General seems a stretch way too far.
Putting aside any previous accusations against the congressman, his legal background is probably too thin to even get a job with a top law firm. While Trump certainly won a mandate last week, the Senate must still consider their own integrity. It is apparent that Trump doesn't want their advice, but normally he would still need their consent, although he would like them to recess and bypass that check and balance feature of our government. For political cover and electability back home, a recess will probably also be the Senate's preference.
As a conservative independent, perhaps with the exception of Rubio, I do not understand how any Republican can take pride in any of the cabinet nominations.
Trump and Rubio in Allentown, Pa.
On Tuesday night Donald Trump couldn't switch gears out of his rally mode into a more adult theater. Considering that Kamala Harris was charged with immigration, and that it had gone out of control, all Trump needed to do was mention the basics, and forget about cats and dogs.
Considering that there is a large army of pro-lifers, all Trump needed to do was mention that states now have the authority, and that people are free to choose their state of residence.
But who knows what lurks in Trump's mind and what propelled him to forget what venue he was at.
Robert Kennedy Jr. thinks that the poor performance cost him with the undecided independents. I would agree that he gained no votes at the debate, but I question how many undecided remained. Taylor Swift's endorsement that evening only added to Harris's quiver.
At the very best, Trump had a very expensive night.
When Trump told Christians that they won't have to vote in four years, I knew what he meant. He meant that the country will be so fixed by then if he is elected this November, that they won't have the compulsion to run to the polls in 2028 as they do this year.
Needless to say that quote will come back to haunt Trump. His opponents already claimed that he is a threat to democracy, and he's now saying you won't have to vote anymore. His shorthand phrases would drive a campaign strategist crazy, if he had one. Imagine always having to explain what he meant.
While Trump added nothing to his ticket with Vance as VP, Harris may choose Kelly, which will significantly enlarge her tent. While the polls have tightened to a draw, Harris can only go up from here, while Trump goes down. If Trump hopes to win, he might start talking in full sentences, pre-vetted bigly.
Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro was a rising star in the world of Democratic politics for ten minutes. On Wednesday afternoon he started to disqualify himself, and he didn't even know it.
Shapiro's problem goes back to a seemingly good appointment, Pat Browne to Director of Revenue. Browne, as a former state senator, was the architect of the Neighborhood Improvement District (NIZ), which seemingly revitalized Allentown, the state's third largest city. This transformation was seemingly chronicled by the Morning Call, one of the few remaining newspapers in the state. If I seem to be using seemingly repeatedly, it is because not everything, especially in politics and newspapers, is as it appears.
Allentown's former glory days main shopping street was transformed from a declined mercantile district into a new urban office park. The back story as it was unfolding, which isn't so pretty, was limited to this blog. The former merchants were given the heave-ho with threats of eminent domain. Almost all the parcels and new buildings ended up being owned by one man, who happens to be the childhood friend of Pat Browne. Almost all the new businesses which located into this new urban office park were poached by this chosen developer, at the expense of the surrounding suburban office parks. All the previous state taxes going to Harrisburg now went to this developer's debt service. A billion dollar empire of new, privately owned office and apartments, all owned by one man, being paid for by state taxes. New building by new building was promoted by the newspaper, article after article. Browne had cleverly included the newspaper building in the NIZ zone, and even that was gobbled up by the developer. New governor Shapiro reading those newspaper promotions noticed Browne's talent, and appointed him to be his revenue director.
Because almost all the NIZ tax revenue information actually pertains to only one man, Browne on the way out the senate door, amended that information to be confidential. Browne certainly succeeded in creating a strong lockbox for his scheme. Shapiro's office issued this statement after Jarrett Coleman issued the subpoena...the Department of Revenue must continue to follow the law and has respectfully declined to provide this confidential information,”
It is my hope that Shapiro is naive, not complicit. Time will tell.
ADDENDUM: Time ended up telling pretty quickly. I've been informed that the developer made a very large contribution to candidate Shapiro when he was running. It appears that the naive one was me, when I wrote the above post. Perhaps I'm also being naive about Shapiro disqualifying himself from national office because of such questionable contributions, maybe in today's reality he's learning the big boy ropes.
Biden's interview with Stephanopoulos didn't bring the anticipated closure to the Biden dilemma. It didn't confirm his spaceyness or put those fears to rest. Appropriately enough, this weekend was also the spaceship convention is Roswell New Mexico. I saw some of the participants, and can tell you they could care less about Biden's fitness for office.
As the governors left the White House Wednesday evening, the best they could say was that Biden was staying in the race, and that they support him. They referred to the battle against the threat of Donald Trump and the path to victory. None of these liars by omission would say that Biden appeared fine, but rather that he was staying in.
By not hearing any words like fit, vigor, fine, alert and so forth, I conclude that they're not even sure that Biden will remember the meeting with them.
Pa. senator Casey spent Wednesday in Northampton county, urging Democrat officials to circle the wagons. While he spoke about protecting us against corporate greed, I wonder who will protect us against elected deception. While I'm not a Republican, and hate carrying water for any political party, these omissions about Biden's condition reflect on the credibility of all the silent elected Democratic officials, down to small town mayors.
Previous posts on Biden's condition
It's my understanding that Ruger Firearms stock is down, but don't blame me, I purchased two of their target guns in short order. Actually, I purchased three, but the first one was used, so it won't show up on their ledger.
Many years ago I would punch small holes in paper targets with their 22lr target pistol, the one that looks like a caulking gun. After not using it for another number of years, I decided to sell it. Now, recently in my so called golden years, I decided to again reactivate the hobby. I say hobby, because I was never a competitive shooter, only a plinker. Funny thing about these golden years, my arms are weaker and my eyes are dimmer.
The 45oz. used Competition model went back to the store's used case within a couple weeks....It ended up being a very costly rental! Well done, perhaps over done research steered me to their blue Talo Hunter model, a dime less in weight. That compulsive reading also got me interested in the 2023 Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite Optic Ready model. While there's several promotional articles for that model, this might be the first actual review of sorts. I say of sorts, because I'm no authority on guns or shooting, just a hobbyist during certain periods of my life. I don't even have anything unique to say, except maybe to a fellow gray haired former recreational target shooter.
Everything I read about the 22/45 Lite line seemed to hold true. The gun is not as accurate as the heavier steel barreled models, but way so enough for these old eyes. Of course old eyes is what brought me to this model, supposedly it is ready for a red dot with no special mounting plate required. Supposedly it will co-witness with the iron sights. I say supposedly because thus far, over a year after the gun has been out, there's no reviews with a red dot on the gun. Co-witnessing is a topic by itself, with some considering the concept itself a fallacy. I'll leave that discussion for gun writers.
At this time I plan on postponing the red dot purchase. There are numerous low profile models at different price points. For now I'm enjoying the iron sights with the reduced gun weight. For you in the pre and post cataract stage of your life, you know that you can choose your point of focus...back, front or target, but you only get to choose one! Maybe I'll come back with a follow-up post after I acquire a red dot, if I remember that I wrote this piece.
photo of Ruger 22/45 Lite Optic Ready from Ruger catalog
I'm not sure that there are any undecided voters for the 24 election. People have been so very polarized about Trump and politics since the last election. If there are any undecided, and that is the factor of victory come November, Stormy Daniels just handed victory to Trump. Actually not Stormy herself, but the New York court system.
Just as the financial analysts refer to something already being baked in the stock price, Stormy has long been baked in the public's perception of Trump. They know that among his other weaker points that he is a womanizer. However flawed as a trait that may be, people have a sense of fairness. They sense that the trial is on the 2016 election, which to them seems irrelevant at this point in time. I'm not discussing the legality of the trial, but its effect on 2024.
So those that couldn't stand Trump before the trial are huffing and puffing... Who knows, Daniels may end up a host on the View. Those that were going to vote for Trump in 2024 are not in the least deterred. However, those that may have been undecided about Trump for president again, see a candidate being disenfranchised by what appears to be a judicial farce in the heart of blue America.
The Brightline private train line has killed 104 Trump supporters since its recent startup. Roaring through sleepy towns at 80 miles an hour, many elderly don't even hear the whistle before they become a roadkill pancake.
In small towns like Palm Bay Florida, the laidback pedestrians were used to slow moving freight trains. All that changed with Brightline's plan to join Miami and Orlando with a speedy connection. While the line invested $millions in new tracks and bridges capable of handling the speed up to 130mph, the human factor got no attention. On the contrary, complaints about the loud whistles will only increase the carnage.
Perhaps the next president could control the border problem with a Brightline Train instead of a wall.
Say what you will about Trump, he's an American showman. Yesterday's mainstream media spent the day counting down to his booking in Georgia. Although there would be no suspense to that spectacle, every step of the trip was treated as breaking news. His large TRUMP jet flew into Atlanta and the surrender was intentionally prime timed.
While Trump may have resented his trip to Atlanta, Prigozhin would have gladly traded places, his flight did not go as smoothly. Here in America Trump could explain to Tucker Carlson how inept Biden is. Elsewhere, Putin has announced that there will be an investigation into the crash which took his critic's life.
Some of us conservatives couldn't vote for Trump in 2020 because he wasn't presidential enough in his first term. Likewise, we cannot consider him for 2024 because he wasn't American enough on January 6th, 2021.
Trump wasn't at the debate Wednesday night, but MAGA was in the audience. Their boos and jeers seem to have affected the pundit/analysts Thursday morning. The main stream media gave the win to Ramaswamy, an interesting person with zero chance of winning the primary. Someone gave the win to Christie on debate finesse. Although none gave the win to DeSantis, they be wrong.
The road to the Whitehouse isn't debates. While Trump leads the polls, we're picking a Wednesday night winner here, but forget debating skills. Although some think that Trump won by default even being absent, DeSantis held his own, which is enough.
While Trump's lead may end up being insurmountable, don't count Madison Avenue out. DeSantis has a compelling background to package, and he has enough personality to take out and parade at events, even debates.
Don Lemon is returning to the air after a six minute training session at CNN. Needless to say the training is a joke, and the joke is on their audience. Although woke sells on CNN, Lemon's marketability apparently trumps his misogyny. He checks so many boxes at CNN... Black, pleasant looking, pleasant talking, and gay to boot...Such newscasters don't grow on trees.
As an image makeover, don't be surprised to see him doing some special on older women. The real lesson is for CNN, not Lemon... They shouldn't allow him to talk off script...He was hired as a pretty face, not a deep thinker. Putting him in a pair of black frame glasses didn't make him any smarter, even if it worked for Anderson.
The marriage between news and entertainment isn't new, but it's now polygamous, with opinion and politics. With the Stephen Colberts and Jon Stewarts, pundits are comedians, and comedians are pundits. Both parties, left and right, are the brunt of the other sides' jokes.
This merging of politics, humor and ridicule did the country no good. People have become so polarized that they think that the other side deserves the derision.
I have no delusions that we will revert back to more separation between news and entertainment... That paste isn't going back into the tube. There is no longer any separation between news and opinion. On the contrary, down the road today's broadcasts might look scholarly. Instead of beautiful blondes, perhaps the news will be delivered by a dummy and ventriloquist...and we won't know the difference.
Congressman elect George Santos has ignited a storm of criticism by having embellished his resume, including misrepresenting his Jewish heritage. Among the offended includes the Jewish Republican Coalition, which will not invite him to future events. The Democrat he defeated wants a rematch!
I am one Jew who is not offended. In two short years Santos will be up for re-election. If the voters of his NYC district are not satisfied with his performance, or cannot forgive his exaggerations from this past election cycle, they simply need not continue his employment as their representative.
As a local pundit I have seen numerous elected officials misrepresent in office. I have seen them exaggerate their accomplishments for constituents, and pander for re-election. I have seen them praised, despite what I consider unethical behavior. This baptism by fire might actually make incoming representative Santos more responsive to truth than his colleagues, when he actually serves.
It's no surprise that this pre-inauguration protest is coming from more Democrats (Santos is Republican), and that the Democrats are also criticizing the Republican Party for not proposing harsher punishments for Santos. I think that all Santos' critics should be put under the same microscope.
We don't condemn exiting politicians from becoming lobbyists, which is at the bottom of the ethical barrel.
*****Five Star Post: Occasionally I have the pleasure of writing a post that I know will be appreciated by no one. I suppose it's a result from being an independent. While I'm politically a non-partisan independent, I'm also socially independent. The last group I belonged to was the Cub Scouts, over seventy years ago. Specifically, in regard to this post, so many of your elected officials(both R & D) are lying sacks, who you have elected over and over again. If I have offended you, you may request a subscription refund.
ADDENDUM: I wrote this post several days ago. Since then both the number of investigations of Mr. Santos, and the public outcry, have been steadily growing... That growth and/or scapegoating, allows both you and your elected officials to feel better about the myriad of ongoing deceptions in your district.
When Trump campaigned for Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania, I hoped that Oz could prevail in spite of it...He could not. Although Oz was a markedly more qualified candidate, Trump proved to be a liability, not an asset...In Pennsylvania no less, a supposed Trump stronghold.
For some of us who supported Oz, Trump's apparently waning influence was the only consolation. If Trump couldn't push Oz into the Senate, there's no way he can again push himself into the White House. If Trump cared about the Republican Party, he would turn his focus to a library, not another run for office. However, nobody, even his supporters, believes that he cares about party above himself. If his supporters, his base, could not elect Oz, neither can Trump be re-elected in Pennsylvania, or enough other key states.
While Tuesday was a bad night for Trump, it was a good night for the conservative movement. Now perhaps a candidate will emerge who can win in 2024.
photocredit:Red Bokeh Society
I'm not much for making endorsements. When I do so, I usually limit it to one person. For yesterday's election, I promoted Mehmet Oz. Besides for those inflicted with partisanship, there was little to really compare between the two candidates.
Fetterman's government experience was nominal, with mayorship of a small town of only 1,700 people, and a lieutenant governorship, where he was known mostly as a no-show. His hoodie sweatshirt image garnered him many more followers than his actual experience.
While Democrats tried to besmirch Oz for his television show, he was previously a renowned heart surgeon, especially qualified to understand our country's health care issues. His family's middle eastern background has familiarized him with many issues in foreign policy.
Although the polls had the race neck and neck, partisanship and the hooded sweatshirt seems to have carried the day for Fetterman. Besides reinforcing Pennsylvania's blue image, the result provides no encouragement to Trump...That's the up side to this unfortunate result.
photocredit:Red Bokeh Society
