NATO

President Trump wants to discuss sanctions due to Russia’s aggression toward Poland. I hope common ground can be found as an alternative to continued tensions. 

More retribution politics

It is quite surprising to hear a widow move beyond the expectations of justice to attempt to intimidate and scare the public. I am very surprised. Those are not words to heal a nation. 

Oh, well. 

It’s MAGA. 

More of the same that cost her spouse his life. If we are to understand the assassin, according to his family, he was moved because of the hate speech within the politics. These folks have no intention to bring the country together. Hate. It feeds their power. 

While Trump was assaulting universities from the Oval Office, Kirk planned his assault on university culture (click here). It is a very valid point of view as MAGA continues to assault America.

(Click here)

Memphis

I hope I am getting this right. I should recheck stats, but, Memphis has a crime rate of nearly double that if the rest of the country. The president is deploying the National Guard to reduce the crime rate. There are many reasons why that will work, but, off the cuff Memphis probably has a higher tourist rate because of the Elvis culture. If I can simply focus on the relationship between tourism and crime. It is my best guess, and police chiefs can probably validate this if research was conducted, but there is a direct ratio between crime and levels of tourism. It is tourism as defined by governance purpose as in DC or cultural purpose as in Memphis. But, the president has hit on something, albeit by accident, that the country can support an effort to stem crime while cities are experiencing higher levels of tourism that their normal population does not require. 

I don’t have time right now to drive into this as I have promised volunteer time on this Saturday. But, anyone who wants to run statistics on this may come up with a really important phenomenon which can be addressed through legislature and funding. I think before spending money the research needs to be in place to address the efficiency that spending and not simply tossed into a general fund of police work.

Have a better day.

Later.

A great moment for the 911 commemoration.

There is much more to peace than the actual treaty. Actions speak louder than words in many ways, like children moving back to their homes and family. 

I am impressed with the Senators coming forward to begin viewing Russia and Belarus as terrorist states. This type of measure must be a reassuring position to NATO. 

By the way, after sending drones into Poland, Russia remains unapologetic (click here). Russia is currently demanding Poland open borders with Belarus while conducting war games on the Polish border. 

This bill could not come at a better time. 

(Click here)

President Xi should not want a martyr.

Hong Kong has experienced changes in government. Is President Xi actually going to state one man, Jimmy Lai, can change all that? Granted Mr. Lai has controlled great wealth during his life, but, was he able to stop Beijing’s  will? Seeking to charge crimes to a man who has benefitted the people of Hong Kong seems a strangely bad idea by men that fear him. Really, President Xi? 

The change in government has been a challenge to many people in Hong Kong, but, addressing that resistance to change in this way will galvanize people in opposing camps of ideology. Why do that? Such divisions only result in conflict. If Mr. Lai leaves the hearing a free man after recognizing for “time served” in the past four years; it will help dissolve any division than preserve it and inspire more. 

I think President Xi can be instrumental in uniting the people of Hong Kong in peace and prosperity, the question is, will he? 

Hegseth is out of line.

Dismissed members of the military have recourse. This is looking like regime change. No member of the USA military can be discriminated according to their personal belief system.

No member of the military was involved. Hegseth is a former TV personality and pays too much attention to social media. What’s his name? Oh, yeah, Kirk was not in the military. 

Hegseth and Trump consider Kirk an exemplary person, well, so are valuable and well trained military personnel. There is no room for a Secretary of Defense to play politics with the readiness of our military. This is about morale as well.

Kirk was a civilian that sparked confrontation and debate every place he went. He was in danger and never modified his message or demeanor. That is not anyone’s fault. There is absolutely no reason for Hegseth to create problems that don’t otherwise exist. Hegseth’s loyalty to political dogma on social media is way out of line with personal time spent by soldiers.

There are large numbers of White Nationalist websites that recruit young boys into their ranks that subsequently cause violence and faux allegiance. Kirk was a White Nationalist. He is the LAST person to honor for his beliefs. He was an extremist. 

REMEMBER CHARLOTTESVILLE (click here)

Hegseth needs to get his head straight and figure out the best way forward in leading a diverse military. Hegseth needs to distance himself from faux allegiance and stop clicking  his heels to Trump. 

Honestly. Who do these people think they are. Not one military personnel was at all involved with this violence and he has no right to victimize them over his personal political views.

This is outrageous.

(Click here)

Before there is an unarmed flotilla to Gaza…

… world leaders should be given a chance to make their solemn concern for Gaza’s Palestinians known.

Israel has sacrificed soldiers lives and the country’s treasure into the war against Hamas. It won’t easily be dissuaded. 

A recent report about a falling Palestinian birth rate has changed the reality for Israel to some extent. It is a profound finding. The international community of activists need to give leaders some space on this.

I am concerned the flotilla (click here) due to arrive at Gaza will not be welcome. At this point Israel is still prioritizing war over peace. Other pressures may bring about a change in the way Israel is approaching the war’s final outcome. 

Israel needs to be careful, the humanitarian flotilla is unarmed. Perhaps transferring humanitarian aid to Israeli boats may be a way for the aid to be distributed. I will be pleasantly surprised if the flotilla is allowed to

the shores of Gaza. 

(Click here)

Is everyone a suspected gang member?

This isn’t the only problem with the aggression of this administration. Hegseth attacked a boat turning around and returning to Venezuela, and why? Because it was suspected of being full of gang members. 

I hate to alert Americans to a new reality, but, these are the activities, in the case of the boat, of the USA military. Those actions illustrate the priorities of the USA. This is not good. It looks as though American priorities do not respect other countries and their people.

At the point where the boat was returning to Venezuela it is then that sovereign authority that has to deal with the drug cartel. The military did good in obstructing the forward movement of the boat. It matters. But, to move beyond that are violations of international law and a valid reason for actions by Venezuela against the USA. Venezuela won’t accept apologizes. 

(Click here)

DOGE is illegally withholding payments.

DOGE has access to the payment system for the federal government. Regardless of what the courts are ordering DOGE interferes with payments.

So, if the income tax refund isn’t forthcoming, it may be DOGE has different plans for your money. 

If the monies aren’t forthcoming to the proper  appropriations, WHERE IS IT GOING? 

(Click here)

Short timeline from exposure to death

This is a detailed reporting from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The finest pediatricians in the world belong to this organization and rely on the information and research recorded here.

There was a the time in this country when children were considered unimportant and allowed to do manual labor no different than an adult. My maternal grandfather was one of those children. He was born of two immigrants that came to the United States from Galway in Ireland. They were in profound poverty and immigrated to a country longing for a greater population. That country was the United States of America.

My maternal grandfather’s parents died of the avian flu in the early 1900s. My grandfather was 17 years old and the oldest of the children when they died. My grandparents died within 48 hours of each other. My grandfather had already been working in the mines. The Pennsylvania anthracite coal mines allowed child to work along side their father. He wasn’t a water boy or some supportive individual to the men working there. He was a coal minor with a pickax.

With the death of his parents his siblings fell to him for a life. The next child in the family was a girl by the name of Mary. She was 16 years old when her parents died. It would be my grandfather, John and Mary that would raise the rest of the family. 

That scenario today is completely unthinkable. Children are valued for their joy and potential into the future. They are part of the psychological understanding of parents in that they are projected into the future through the very life that they’ve given their children. In that understanding is the desire of most American parents to have childhood be beautiful, fulfilling, and innocent.

In 2019 a coronavirus, a sibling of the old coronavirus, came to the world and caused death. It would be early 2020 when the virus settled in the United States of America. There were no vaccines. The only hope was the experimental vaccine created by Moderna in a contract to the USA military. It would be at least six months before the vaccines would be ready in any substantial amount to give to the public and protect peoples lives, including the lives of children. During that first six months, there were horrendous numbers of deaths in this country. The accounting at the American Academy of pediatrics takes a look at ages, the immune system systems of these children and the way the virus invaded their little bodies.

In the year 2020 the current president was the president then. The bogus information and the propaganda that followed the invasion of this virus was heinous and people died. Young people died for absolutely no reason at all, except that they believed the man in the White House that the virus was a lie. Those deaths were real and they happen under his watch.

Now the Trump administration comes forward to say that the vaccine has killed children from the previous pandemic. According to what the Trump administration is saying today, there is like 25 children or something of that nature that was killed by the vaccine. Well back when there wasn’t a vaccine 183 children died. Both Moderna and Pfizer were very careful about introducing the vaccine to younger people. It was very successful when available. That success speaks to the perfection that their research scientists sought developing the vaccine for adults as well as younger people.

The Trump administration has come to power by harnessing a segment of the USA population that is motivated by opposing the establishment. In that, Trump wants to hold onto those folks as an electorate for himself and for his senators and his house members. So his administration chases the myths and seeks to propagandize them and make them as real as possible. That is the clown act we are stuck with in the White House.

Donald Trump is the tabloid president. I do not trust him. He is a lousy ally to everybody that we cared about both in Europe and Asia. The United States has been hurt by this president. I imagine in time we will recover, but not while he’s in the White House. The politics of this administration has a goal, and it isn’t just to appeal to the majority of voters in hopes of a nation the world can admire. The politics of this administration is very estranging to humanity, allies, the scientific community, and longevity. 

The report about vaccines having adverse effects on children is basically to instill fear of the establishment and promote the minority sense of what is important. What is important is that children are born and raised in a healthy and happy home environment. They need to attend school and prepare for the future. Every family should have a pediatrician that they trust to help them navigate parenthood. I have raised my children and they are healthy and they do well so I can’t witness to what transpires between a pediatrician and a parent anymore. I cannot imagine any pediatrician willing to harm a child and will no doubt offer vaccines to protect the health and well-being of that child. 

For all the good that science and research does to improve the human condition, and provide greater longevity there is going to be a percentage that will not achieve that goal no matter how well directed. Human beings have genetics and in those genetics is determined how we react to food, water, and medicine. No physician, surgeon, or pediatrician is going to pretend to know 100% of the time how things are going to work out. They have a pretty good idea. But there will always be a small percentage of people who will fall out of the normal reaction to anything they recommend.

We are now looking at 4% of the USA population having an adverse effect on the majority of the people of this country. 4%. So while the message of being aware that vaccines may not always work 100% of the time the way they are designed to work; that message is very wrong if it is also accompanied by the idea that this applies to the majority of the people of this country. 

I want to apologize to my fellow Americans for the really lousy situation we have in this country right now. But, come on guys you voted for the louse. The best I can say right now is be careful and listen to the people who you see about your health to rely on for excellent information. Take really good care of your kids and make sure that they have every chance to be happy, healthy, well educated, and live a nice long life. They are your legacy. Make it count.

(Click here) 

Balsonaro

This is a very refreshing sentence. Balsonaro is where be belongs. He did a great deal of damage to Brazil during his time in office.

(Click here)

The FBI had too many people dismissed.

The picture haunting me this morning of the assassin is not the usual amateur profile. 

Kirk was getting death threats. I would expect he was wearing a bulletproof vest. The jugulars would be the place most unprotected.

The assassin is at large. Someone with that caliper of talent probably is assisted. He may be more than one. 

He jumped down nearly two stories and kept running. He didn’t even stumble and took a direct line in his exit. None of his actions spell someone that had a lucky shot. Maybe he prayed to the right God. 

The Trump group may be a target because of their extremism. Trump really needs to back away from his assault on this democracy. The assassin may have even voted him and feels responsible and also violated by the lies. The weapon they found may have been left purposely. 

I can’t dismiss these ideas this morning. 

Trump has a real problem on his hands. 

Kirk was involved with Christian Nationalism

He wasn’t always involved with that extremism. There was a time when he leaned heavily into the Libertarian Party and government spending. About 2019 he pivoted to right wing extremism. The Seven Mountain Mandate, which is the basis of Project 2025. 

The Seven Mountain Mandate demands Christian Nationalist control of politics, religion, media, business, family, education and arts and entertainment. Trump definitely is dedicated to that ideology. Kirk became lock step with that ideology. 

That type of extremism will always attract violence. A change like that in the social network of the country will never be well accepted. The USA is a melting pot from its beginning. There is absolutely no room for this ideology. Not in the USA.

The politicians need to walk closer to the middle of the political spectrum to dilute the profound fear so many people are experiencing. These ideologies are wrong for the country. 

Everyone feels badly for the death of a thirty something and his family. He was the father of young children. They will grow up without him. For as much of a horror that is to so many people, it does not carry enough brevity for people in fear of their own lives. I am sorry, but, this level of extremism is not sitting well with many Americans.

We are a country of tolerance. The First Amendment alone demands that of us. Our freedoms have given us a fantastic economy. Embracing the soft side of life is a far better place for more than 330 million people than touting hard core right wing extremism.

Democrats need to be careful as Trump propagates political violence.

Any fear of assembly as guaranteed by our constitution must be avoided. Everyone wants open forums for political gatherings and rallies, but, instituting security benefits the candidate or elected official as well as the attendees. 

Security can take many forms from magnetometers to security clearances or a combination of measures. I believe supporters will submit security clearances/background checks in order to have access to rallies. People want to be heard. They will come to free rallies and have confidence if they qualify for invitations. 

Pop-up rallies at fairs and spontaneous gatherings may have their own sense of fun as well as security. Advertised rallies probably carry higher opportunity for violence. 

It is unfortunate the level of violence we are facing, but, it is nothing the Democrats have propagated. Liberal gun laws are embraced by Republicans. They have created their own hell. Democrats and their voters need to protect from it while enjoying the rallies they seek.

Democrats have suffered enough over the years from political violence and the threat of it. The voters have to realize there is a far different security paradigm now if we are going to be able to elect qualified people to end the political hatred propagated by Trump. The escalation of danger has to end. People will embrace safety measures. 

Rallies must be secure from the hatred raids by Trump and ICE. 

People are choosing to kill their problems.

We have seen this violent resolve with the CEO of United Healthcare, Donald Trump, and now Mr. Kirk. All three are CEOs.

Granted Trump is currently President, but, that position was bought by Musk for the purpose of ending government lawsuits and investigations. That is quid pro quo. That illegality is not only tolerated by Trump, but, nurtured.

There is a ruthlessness that has settled into the country because the Republicans are in office to estrange the government from the citizen. Republicans believe market pressures solve any disharmony between companies and consumers. That simply is not the case. Government is elected in order to solve problems, not just allow so called freedom in all aspects of life. Government by the very word it is called is suppose to govern not be a bystander. 

Civility has gone out of the country. It took deeper roots with this Supreme Court and Citizens United. That decision has spawned corruption and now it is purchasing the power of government AWAY from the people. Musk is the prime example. Musk is the quintessential CEO that can buy any aspect of government including a president that promises pardons for wrong doing so long as it meets with Trump’s ambitions. That is not a president. That is a crime boss.

The latest CEO death was because he saw profit in attacking education. Education has been the very foundation of our country. Education is the great equalizer. So. There you have it. Removing opportunity is a deadly game.

The opportunity the USA puts forward presents itself as work. It is work producing a product or service or it is “the work of learning.” The work of learning is viewed by people like Trump as a parasitic infection that manifests most deeply felt in taxes. Trump begrudges the people their right to charge taxes. It is why he has this hideous tariff paradigm. Supposedly the USA’s consumer markets are too die for. Hence. Companies all over the world must pay for the USA government in the way of tariffs. That is the Trump dreamscape. Trump just loves to create victims. In the case of tariffs everyone is a victim. The foreign country. The companies within that country. And the customers of the companies that are the victims of inflation.

So. Kirk is dead. Will it matter?

The United States of America is the only First World country with failing tourism.

(Click here)

(Click here)

The use of force against citizens.

(Click here)

The use of force against law breakers is different from the use of force with USA citizens. Which brings me back to the point of rounding up random people walking down the street in their normal lives. When ICE intervenes with arrests, they are supposed to know whom they are arresting. 

Come on, now. Law enforce enforcement is not allowed to run amok in any state picking up and detaining American citizens. It is ridiculous. 

Law enforcement are supposed to be trained and valued professionals, not thugs.

The same is true with the National Guard. There was so little for them to do in Washington, DC, they were doing yard work. A million dollars a day for grounds keepers. 

Trump is a laughing stock except one place, “Truth Social.” 

That’s the Republicans answers to crime? Grounds keeping? Really? 

Ideology?

When looking over the chasm of time…the religions have been so violent, God isn’t a member of any of them. 

Good call. Those landslides are a worry.

(Click here)

NATO needs to be ready for war.

The drone attack on Poland was a practice run. Russia has been leading into this attack for at least the past six months. If NATO does not want to have the same fate as Ukraine it needs to be on a war footing.

End of discussion.

Except, Putin is measuring an intercept and response time for a hypersonic missile. I wouldn’t play with the idea of conventional warfare. Putin doesn’t have anything left but drones and missiles. His soldiers are front line stability. If it were me? I’d be paying attention to his missile launch sites. 

ICBMs are a worry. He is hideous enough in his ideology to simply go for it.

Shhhhh…don’t tell him and Trump I don’t believe a word he says. 

All the hand shaking and smiles is typical Putin to attempt to keep the Free World off balance. He is no more Uncle Putin than the man in the moon.