Maybe there is no pick for the FBI because one of the great cost cutting measures is the elimination of the Eff-Bee-Eye and it's 40,000 brownshirts. We don't need 17 "intelligence agencies" spread across the country to harass everyone that went to a rally on J6. Shut it down and proclaim the day Ashli Babbet day.
It's an valid idea. How to you throw out the bath water but save the baby? An institution that was virtually founded on the principles of black mail by Mr "Dirty Pics" himself (J Edgar Hoover) has a many decades institutional culture that's nearly impossible to clear with anything less than a clean burn and rebuild. Is that even possible? LOTS of good and talented people in the organization and LOTS of necessary capability it would suck to discard. But how does one root out and cleans the culture of mutual blackmail?
I always think about Whitney Webb's "One Nation Under Blackmail" books. The title says it all. Everyone has dirt on everyone else and the FBI is the face of that paradigm starting with J Edgar. When a president can't fire a director without bracing for impeachment you know you have a problem
I have found it good to compose in Word, then copy & paste to my comment. No typos & hard to ‘disappear’ depending on what cookiebots are active on my browser…
I have found it good to compose in Word, then copy & paste to my comment. No typos & hard to 'disappear' depending on what cookiebots are active on my.
Are you viewing it in the app on your phone. I use the app on my iPhone and for the last 2-3 days, when I attempt to click on a link, it ends up collapsing the entire comment and I have also notice comments that appear to be cut off
Here's how Mr. Trump should handle the EFF-BEE-EYE. The day after inauguration he needs to send a notice to the 40,000 brownshirts and tell them they have one year notice. He'll give them one year of severance pay. Plenty of time for these thugs to go find employment in their states and local cities. Then, shut it down. Gone. Make it like a fart in the wind. Poof. The stink vanishes.
Why? Is Federal Law Enforcement clearly mandated in the Constitution? If it is then great. If it not, or if it is authorized by some vacuous claim to the oft used "commerce clause" then law enforcement should be left to the individual states as required by the 10th Amendment.
We either abide by the law of this land or we don't. If it is not specifically in the Constitution then it belongs to the states. Pissing around with federal authority is what got us into this mess in the first place.
This is the point that should be made over and over again until it hurts. DJT needs to explain his every move by starting with a reminder that the Constitution grants the federal government limited and proscribed powers. Everything else is unconstitutional and that will justify elimination. Choosing the Education Dept. as the first target is brilliant. It's a good start. FBI would make a great second.
What Federal Law enforcement? Other than invading homes without warrants and avoiding doing anything about sociopathic kids, what do they do? They are the basis of Lawfare and for that reason alone should be disbanded.
And declassify JFK's assassination file (if there is one).
BTW, JFK was the last US President to be independent of Israel, and skeptical of Israel, and concerned about the prospect of Israel acquiring nuclear weapons (with France's help). Perhaps that is why his term was cut short? Maybe it was not the mob, or Cuba.
JFK was an immoral pig, but, I believe he was the last President who actually tried to be President. He tried to eliminate the CIA. He tried to keep us on the gold standard for our money. He tried to keep us out of Vietnam. And yes, he wasn't controlled by the Israeli mafia. As a human being he was a pathetic wretch. As a President, at least he tried to do best by America and for that they shot him through the head.
Canker. Trump is challenging the SAME deep state JFK did. Likely with the same results. Bullets last time, slow motion lawsuits this time. Either way a neutered Executive Branch.
If every Republican congressman has an AI-PAC buddy who tells them how to vote on Israeli questions (and where exactly does that stop?), shouldn't we get to know their names, since they are the real congressmen we need to talk to, not the wooden dummies.
France built the Dimona reactor, but "Israel" got it's heavy water from Norway which was a byproduct of Norway's production of ammonia for fertilizer. The process requires copious electricity of which Norway had/has abundant supply from never-ending hydro sources.
Speaking of nukes, since President-elect Trump advised Israel to hit Iran’s nuclear sites, they have since gone to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and requested inspections of all its nuclear sites.
While the IAEA is in Iran, they should also send a team to Israel to do inspections of ALL its nuclear sites, including their 400-700 nuclear weapons. The same sites Israel refused JFK to inspect.
By now the entire world knows Israel has nukes on land and in submarines, especially Congress. They all want to giggle and wink and act like it’s a “secret”. It’s not.
Once that nuclear cat is out of the bag, Congress will be forced to debate our current law prohibiting the U.S. from selling/giving military equipment/funds etc. to any state with nuclear weapons that does not allow inspections.
Mr. Trump may have a dandy team for domestic clean-up, but his foreign policy team of Rubio, Stefanik, Huckabee, Hegseth etc. may cause him (and the rest of the planet) some major headaches and lost sleep.
What argument will Congress, Trump and Co. have to oppose inspections of Israel’s nuclear “facilities”? I hope and pray this day comes.
Yes, the Deal seems to be clean up America domestically, but the grift goes on in terms of foreign policy. Now they're talking about annexing the entire West Bank. Will Iran have to compromise its principles and strike Israeli communities there in order to stop this?
The more I learn the less I know. People I consider credible, whose exact names I cannot recall (I think Col. McGregor, former Marine Scott Ritter, maybe Prof. John Mearsheimer, some Greek analysts) have generally said that "much of Iran's nuclear program is buried deeply underground, and is extremely difficult to impossible to be taken out". Maybe they all "piggyback" off each other. But they make sense to me, in the same context that the book "The Long Emergency" made sense. Some one posited that Israel could use nukes and then blame the radioactivity on the "destroyed nuclear facilities". I would not be surprised.
Trump (and ALL his predecessors) and Congress are all beholden to AIPAC. That is your reason why they look the other way at Israel's nuclear program and allow Israel to flout US "non-proliferation" laws.
And Trump adeptly took out the ONE INDEPENDENT THINKING Congressman, Thomas Massie, R-KY, by proposing he be Secretary of Agriculture. The only Congressman not under AIPAC's spell (BTW, his wife died unexpectedly early this year). Since AIPAC couldn't get him voted out, they had him "promoted" out.
The thing is, if/when the US/Israel attacks Iran's nuclear program, we do not know how Russia and China may react, but I don't think they can just sit and watch and shrug their shoulders.
This is a very fraught time. Unlike WW1, when bi-planes dropped the equivalent of grenades and the Germans' Big Bertha cannon had a 50-mile range, both the destructive power and the speed of events move much faster now. And warfare itself is evolving rapidly, as AI and microprocessors are enabling inexpensive, effective drones. I just read a fascinating book about the war between Azerbaijan (winner) an Armenia (loser) in 2020. THAT war presaged techniques used by Israel (no surprise since Israel, with Turkey, armed Azerbaijan) against the Palestinians and Hezbollah, by Hezbollah against Israel, and by Russia and Ukraine against each other. Warfare has evolved--and the US may find it is not ready for the war it is going to unleash in the Middle East, using million-dollar missiles to defend against thousand-dollar drones or missiles (hitting a cheap bullet with a very expensive bullet). At the same time, the West in general, and the US in particular, as technologically advanced societies, have many soft points at home... electricity, plastic money, running water, potentially violent alien populations, just-in-time inventory control. Lots could happen....
"7 Seconds to Die" by John Antal. Good read, interesting analysis of the interesting "analysis of the second Nagorno-Karabakh War". Some commenter on some blog (maybe here?) mentioned it, I scratched it on a post it note and read it.
IMO... Trump is keeping Kash Patel on the sidelines, ready to replace the slimy, corrupt pig-turd Wray as soon as he gets into office.
Kash will be superb in that role... the FBI can be valuable and effective org if run patriotically. constitutionally and ethically. Payback will be a bitch.
Like any Federal agency, the FBI should be limited to interstate crime and stay the hell out of local and state law enforcement. It has always been a great forensics support for the police of the country, and that should continue. Anything else, keep its nose out of it.
Also, no secrets, no “I can’t talk about ongoing cases”, the classic excuse for hiding political aims.
No it hasn't always been a great forensic support for local and state law enforcement. The problems with the crime lab were massive and resulted in the dismissal of hundreds or thousands of local cases.
Jim, I am hopeful you are correct in what you believe will happen according to the last couple of paragraphs. I want to see these power hungry swindlers hang from light posts. That’s how pissed off I am.
Cheryl I am with you. I don't want these fuckers soaking up tax payer dollars in posh federal prisons in quiet Indiana. I want real justice to come down upon the heads of these pathetic wretches. Why? The damage they have inflicted upon Americans both emotionally and financially is without estimation and will last for generations. First, their enormous fortunes pilfered from the American taxpayer needs to be confiscated and returned. All of it. All of their foreign holdings. All of their properties. All of the investments. This must be done in front of them. They must see it happen. Then, once they are destitute and the taxpayers are restored, there needs to be a public execution where these creatures are hoisted up on tall gallows or lampposts where they swing until they are dead. Not dropped. Let em swing and suffocate a little. Then, they should be left there so the crows and the starlings can nibble at their filthy remains as a witness to what happens to people who behave in such a manner and spread so much chaos, mental stress and financial theft on the people they should have been working for.
I agree their fortunes should be taken, they are all millionaires after just a couple years of accepting their positions that annually pay around $200,000. Ask Martha Stewart the penalties for insider trading.
And the public and lawful response must happen QUICKLY, Before 2028, if we are to get any good of it. This can't drag on for 60+ years, like the assassinations of the '60's.
Speaking of which, I'm hoping to get a real answer to those events now.
JHK is a superb writer, when not defending the mass-murdering maggot Zionists of Israel.
I hope the good, non-Zionist jews there will soon overthrow the maniac Bibi and become a worthy country again. And yes, I despise radical islamists too.
A few days ago even Haaretz got in on the action listing all the war crimes Bibi and the IDF have committed, including genocide. No reporting of this in the U.S.
Many in the IDF are wounded and committing suicide. And the desertion rate is going up. Israel’s last attack on Iran was a dud thanks to Iran’s superior defensive capabilities. Of course Western media declared it a huge success.
I see a coup coming against Bibi very soon with his trial and that of his wife on the horizon. Wouldn’t be surprised to see them escape to Miami to be with their son. Zelensky will be next to escape to sunny Florida.
Truth is the first casualty of war. Iran admitted much damage was done and began to plot a counter-strike, perhaps delayed because of our election. Similarly, Israel and the Western media its owns claimed the Iranian strike was a dud, when it fact it was a huge success.
The IDF soldiers film themselves shooting random people. Utterly shameless.
All of Trump's choices in the critical areas seem to be either Christian Zionists or warhawks. Were they "victimized" and by whom? They all love war and can see and feel Armageddon about to knock on their doors. Cheerfully they will open their doors and greet the new blobsters. How lucky we are to get into and rejoice with future wars! God bless the military-industrial complex! I knew the OrangeMan would free us of any of our past lamentations about not having enough wars to keep John Bolton happy.
We are a war mongering people. A war like country. We have been since the advent of the Federal Reserve. Our troops are placed on a pedestal and worshipped yet how many of the worshippers actually know what our troops are doing in places like South Korea, Germany, Djibuoti, and hundreds of other nations? War IS the American economy.
Can you imagine the economic shit storm that would happen if our President closed all the bases and brought ALL of the troops home? All the jobs that would be lost at places like Boeing, Raytheon and Lockheed? It would result in economic depression the likes of which has never been seen. Without being in a state of constant war, the American economy collapses.
Kind of like what would happen if our vaunted research facilities actually found a cure for cancer. Can you imagine the economic shit storm that would follow if a simple cure for cancer were found? How much economy does cancer care and cancer treatment actually generate? How many jobs are based upon the manufacture of cancer treating chemicals and caring for cancer patients. How many jobs are generated by cancer research and yet even though they spend billions they never seem to find anything to treat cancer other than chemotherapy, radiation and mutilation. Because of this they will never permit a cure for cancer to come to light. Similarly, they will never end their warmongering. It is an economic engine and we must have it.
Unwarranted hysteria. The MIC is about 3 percent of the economy, and exists mostly in a walled garden that is separate from the domestic economy at lsrge. It is slow, backward, stupid, inefficient, non-competitive, and rife with corruption. Burn it down. Something better will arise from the rubble. Market economies abhor a vacuum, but the MIC is not a part of a market economy.
" how many of the worshippers actually know what our troops are doing in places like South Korea, Germany, Djibouti, and hundreds of other nations? War IS the American economy.
CP, What are our (or any other nation's) troops doing in Djibouti? Looking for Bouti, obviously....
I think we need to streamline our military to focus on what is most important to our national security. End the revolving door between top brass and defense contractors to minimize any conflicts of interest that perpetuate waste, and lead to wars that are often started to move older weapons off the shelf and create demand for new, advanced weaponry, and to rob targeted countries of their resources.
These guys definitely need to be on a tight leash. That said, I'd rather have America be the hegemonic power rather than Russia or China. We need to defend our interests. Just need to be more prudent in how we involve ourselves. It will be interesting to see which government institutions and to what degree the DOGE tenacles reach into. Trump is already building a list of warriors that he'll keep in the military. Many others will be dismissed.
A legit opinion. What exactly is the economy going to do with all the folks who will be displaced by a reduction in the MIC.
Maybe an example will be set by Boeing vs. Space X in NASA.
Maybe an example is the 7.5 million young men sitting at home drawing welfare instead of working that was “discovered” this year, or the 900000 new jobs in the jobs report that were fabrications, or the paltry 12000 jobs created in October. Trump is going to have his hands full trying to create the jobs that the Dems have claimed that do not really exist.
Oh the jobs are out there, JohnAZ. Americas infrastructure is collapsing. There are a lot of bridges to be replaced. A lot of roads to be re-graded and paved. A lot of water and sewer pipes to be replaced. Bring our troops home and put them to work rebuilding America. At least we the people would get direct benefit from this whereas with them overseas farting around in other nations we get no direct benefit. And I don't buy the "preserving our freedom" bullshit. I've never met anyone from Afghanistan and I have never been threatened by anyone from Iran. The only threat I feel living here in the Rocky Mountains of Utah is the fact that I am now surrounded by people who don't speak English. That's the threat. Not North Koreans. The multi-million man army that has been permitted to cross our border is the real threat.
Unfortunately, Kathy, none of us know when this tribulation is set to begin. It could be tomorrow. It could be in a hundred years. "No man knoweth the hour of his coming."
But Hegseth, Huckabee and Rubio want to speed things up.
Like destroying Al Aqsa mosque and building a new Temple. They already have their red heifers from Texas.
I am a Christian but not of the Zionist variety. My faith tells me to “Love one another” and that God will decide if/when the mosque will be destroyed, not Pete “The Tatted One” Hegseth.
I see where John Bolton is particularly upset with Tulsi becoming Director of National Intelligence. I can see truckloads of boxes of Chardonnay being backed into Hillary and Bill’s Chappaqua compound right now. Ha.
That last $9 billion Biden is giving Zelensky on Jan. 19th, 2025 will go directly to The Pentagon for dispersal to Lockheed, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon etc.
James- as a fellow Nueva Yorker, I can't thank you enough for your artistry with words and paint. Your brilliant essays always give me a lot to think about as well as plenty of laughs. Your pen is mightier than many of the swords out there, that's for sure. And your paintings- the colors, scenes and landscapes you portray are pretty much what I see when I look out my windows or drive around the area.
I share your articles everywhere I can but sometimes the word "clusterfuck" is not allowed past the bots. Oh well........ It seems that the world's best thinkers and writers are now on substack- how great is that? We need you guys and gals now more than ever.
Anyway, I hope you are enjoying what's left of our beautiful NY Indian Summer.( I suppose if our own Satanic Overlords in the Hokum regime have their way it's only a matter of time before they try to ban the term). I am still raking as all the leaves won't be down till Thanksgiving.
While it's great that the Good Guys won this round, the Evil Ones are still very much in charge of Nueva York with Horse Face Hokum and her sidekick Fat Ass Tush Tisha James calling the shots. As I write this, there is a lawsuit pending in our highest courts regarding their plans for Quarantine Camps. As FJB would say "no joke." We have our own lawyers and patriots who have been fighting this pro bono and they will not give up even if they have to go to the Supreme Court.
I for one do not want to move to another state. F*** that- I am too old plus I love my house and my lake where I've lived for generations. I will continue to fight them every way that I can and hope that when you have time you can shine your light on the darkness that is NY politics.
All the best from your friend in Putnam. Keep up the great work.
Trump has now put in very important places the smart and gutsy individuals despised by the Blob..Vance, Tulsi, Musk, Vivek, and most important of all, RFK jr....Pretty incredible...and Thune has, sort of, announced he won't block Trump's appointments...This ride is going to be wild...
The pendulum has changed direction, we were at maximum absurdity. (Chaos) I believe that’s what the blue team is reacting to. To them it must feel like an earthquake feeling the shift away from the inmates running the asylum. Too much chaos begets order, too much order begets chaos. The trick will be to resist the urge to swing the pendulum too far in the order direction which will just restart the cycle of chaos. Balance is everything!!
Spot on! That's America's problem. We can't find a balance. The pendulum always swings way too far to one side. I don't think we are intelligent enough as a people to recognize this and correct it. We don't live long enough to do so and we don't have generational memory that is passed on to our children and grand children. That is the curse of humanity. To continually repeat the lessons learned by our ancestors because we refused to teach them to our posterity.
Who refused to swing the pendulum back to the right after the chaos caused by the Dems? Who was as Deep State as the Dems? Who created the thirty years of un-interrupted Leftist trends, especially pertaining to the border. Who started the Anti-Trump RINO movement? Who started unwarranted wars? Hint: a father and his son.
Elon's already got a "DOGE" profile set up on X and soliciting input from users about what agencies and programs to dismantle. It's pretty entertaining. Also entertaining is the amount of 'cope' coming from the Left. These people really are delusional and their programming by mainstream media is complete. I also saw a post about The Onion purchasing InfoWars ... but I've not vetted that yet. We live in strange times.
I know it's virtually impossible to ignore the US political scene right now, but Jim it's been a while since you updated us on the global energy situation. Trump is long on tariffs, surely there will be collapse in the near future for the US with unpayable debt and far less "liquid gold" underground than Trump gleefully references at every opportunity. Well, when he's not recounting tales of Elon's rocket landing against the gantry. Moonshots, Martian colonisation, self piloting EVs, Dept of Government Efficiency CBDC coin, BRICS gold backed competing currencies, there's so much more going on.
A lot can go wrong... it sure can! And that was before the Middle East, before Israel starting bombing Iranians Embassies, assassinating people in Iran, and bombing Iran.
Do Israel's actions make it less likely for things to go wrong? Or more?
Does anyone have a confirmed source for the rumour that Netanyahu contacted the Biden administration before the election to say "If I even think you've cheated to retain power, I will take out Iranian oil production and leave the US dark." It could be a reason they refrained from such outrageous cheating - at least in the Presidential race.
As is his opponents in Tehran, responsible for all of the terrorist activity for thirty years, including the Taliban, and ISIS. Iran is the entity that wants the USA to be “in the Dark”, not Israel. Iran wants control of the Middle East, not Israel. Saudi Arabia is afraid of Iran, not Israel.
Iran was our good buddy (and the UK’s) prior to 1953 when Iran decided to nationalize their oil profits and the CIA couped Mossedegh over it installing the Shah and his bloody henchmen.
Trump killing Solemani didn’t help us get along better with Iran. Trump is now hated in Iran.
Has anyone been confirmed yet? I don't think so. IE till RFK Jr (for one example) gets confirmed he's not in the cabinet. I think that's correct but almost hope I'm wrong. Not encouraged for example by the Senate Majority leader pick. The Republicans (unlike the Democrats) are usually equally undone by the inside as by the adversary. The Democrats on the other hand usually have iron discipline. If they have 51 Senators seems they almost always get 51 votes. Seems like the Republicans by contrast need 55 or more to have a hope of getting 51.
Observation and a tiny familiarity with history makes me paranoid. The Bolsheviks (what I like to call them) have a transgenerational rabid religious zealot character. Like black mold the the spores always remain no matter how far you think its been beaten back. IMO the best you ever get from them is a strategic retreat while they plan the next abomination. Short story. I'm not about to feel comfortable until the picks are AT LEAST confirmed and the inauguration has been completed. (hope the Bolshies don't plan to burn DC and the country down over it). So much mischief and mayhem that can be done in the next few weeks. And once things are in place eternal vigilance is the watchword because there are snakes everywhere
Yes, you make an excellent point. But you are ruining the feel-good moment....
Now that DEMOCRAT Harris has lost, and the Senate has REPUBLICAN Majority (meaning Republicans can set the agenda--and profit personally), and the Congress is Republican, I think we will find that some Republican will not go along with Trump's legislation. Quite a few Republicans are Mitch McConnell types, or Bush supporters. They just didn't want to contribute to the destruction of their party by being open traitors, like the Cheneys.
I want to see if Lindsey Graham votes for Tulsi Gabbard as DNI (Director National Intelligence).
In any case, the US is confronted by huge budget deficits, and the Middle Class is squeezed dying a death of a thousand paper cuts, including very real inflation (check your insurance --home/auto/HEALTH for next year, is it up 2-3%? Mine is double digits....) and worse service on NON-Discretionary items, like medical. Good luck President Trump.
I just read an article that state that my home state of Utah is no longer a state where insurance companies can make a profit from insuring homes.
However, I still see new housing developments popping up everywhere and new, $850,000 homes being built by young couples in their 20s. In the driveways of these new mini mansions I see $90,000 F-250s and Rams along with a $20,000 trailer and two $50,000 side by side UTVs. The yards on these homes are impeccably landscaped costing thousands. Rino-rock fencing costing $15,000 surrounds the back yards of the young peoples' homes. And, from what I can tell, Disneyland and Disneyworld are still just as busy as ever as these young people still manage to pay for all of this and have enough money to fly themselves and their children for a $10,000 week of fun with the queer loving pervert minded Mouse.
I know, they are in debt. But they still have to finance that debt. So far, from what I am seeing in my state, life is good for people.
I still believe something big is coming. Trump or no Trump. We are in a bad way. The vast majority of people in this Country are living lives full of lies. They own nothing. Buried by debt. Living paycheck to paycheck. No savings. No retirement. Unable to handle a $500.00 emergency without using the credit card. This CANNOT continue. This WILL NOT continue. A debt reckoning is coming and it will be ugly for ALL.
Many in their 20's, 30's and 40's are making $100-$200k a year, and with a couple, that's double. They can afford all of this stuff with their cash flow. No doubt they're still in debt up to their eyeballs. If one of them lose their jobs, they're toast. This group probably represents the upper 10-20% of the population, most have a college degree, and most voted against Trump.
Very few have become debt free. Often it's the guy without the fancy house or fancy car. He's the millionaire next door.
The guy you described is me. Been debt free for a long time but I am not a millionaire.
Median household income in the State of Utah right now is $72,000, I believe. maybe a little higher. Sure, many are making the sums you described above but not all of them. It will always boggle my mind how people manage these lifestyles. When God was handing out money smarts, I was off playing tiddlywinks and not paying attention because I just don't get it.
Like Dmitry Orlov always used to say, when it comes to collapse, it doesn't really matter who the President of the US is. This sucker is going down. Having said that, I'm personally very relieved to see a return towards reality and honesty. That can only help people accept that their future may not include happy motoring and suburban dreams.
The word is RINO, a creation of the Bush-Cheney years. Trump’s picks show a trend, a good one. He is putting people in place who do not owe the Deep State anything, and who have been hurt by the politics of chaos. These folks are not only loyal to MAGA, but have revenge in mind. Pete Hegseth for example will put the military readiness as a priority instead of social engineering. Tulsi has criticized the intelligence agencies for a decade, thus DNI. Matt Gaetz is an avid MAGA type and has had Lawfare aimed at him, perfect for the AG spot. RFK, Jr. for HHS,brilliant. Where is Ben Carson?
I feel a pit in my stomach when I think that Matt Gaetz might not get to become AG. He's the key to unlocking the deep state shenanigans and he won't hold back on exposing all of it to the American people. Trump might have some ways around a true Senate confirmation of him, such as forcing a recess appointment or installing him as the acting attorney general. The fight continues.
Yeah. It is hard for me to find the delicate balance between the ability to feel joy (which helps to make life tolerable) and the reserved paranoia of being disappointed too many times.
Newsom is raising gasoline up another $2/gal in California. Imagine the impact THAT will have. They are trying everything to get us out of gas cars and into all electric vehicles.
You are correct. The current, majority party will self-immolate during the confirmation hearings. Anyone bother to look at "The 51 seat Majority" for RINO/RICO status? As you said, the Democrat Senators will be 100% "NAY" on all nominees.
It'll be Summer before we know what the Cabinet looks like....and it won't look anything like Trumps first nominations.
I hope you are correct... Israel has MANY tentacles into our government, financial system and country and they need to be ejected. AIPAC needs to be outlawed (CAIR too).
Just look up the list of jews in congress... a more vile collection of corrupt scumbags you will be hard to find.
I doubt the evolution from wokeness to sane will occur in a straight line, and without some major bumps. When government agencies and corporations with very deep pockets have invested so much time (decades) and energy into their version of reality intended to maximize profits, it will be awhile to reverse all that mischief - and to avoid making things worse.
We now enter the runaway stagecoach stage, where the armed bandit has hopped from his speedy mount and is wrestling for control of the reins with the driver. We may be eased to a safe stop, or plunge over a cliff into a canyon far below - or something in between. But it appears a soft landing is less likely. It will be a terrifying, exhilarating and entertaining journey....
Trump’s group (DOGE) has already stated they want to reduce the deficit by 2 trillion dollars, I would assume over ten years. That will be welfare, either in the form of bullshit federal jobs, or direct payments. Trump’s number one job will be to enlarge the economy to create new jobs to capture the increase in unemployment that has already started.
That means getting rid of the idea that the service sector is what the USA wants to be and start manufacturing everything here, not in Mexico or China. His use of tariffs is just the start, also the consumer in this country needs to start buying USA products. It is comforting that Musk is in the brain trust as he seems to be the sole person in the USA that has clobbered China in every way possible.
For national security reasons the U.S. needs to start making necessary medicines here (like Tylenol and antibiotics), and stop importing them from China.
I interpreted the DOGE announcement as a joke in reference to the doge crypto coin. If memory serves, Musk trolled on it and introduced huge price fluctuations. Like Dave Collum, I'll be "pleasantly surprised" if anything positive comes from DOGE. I hope I'm wrong, 'cause there's plenty of potential to improve efficiency.
As for the economy, I think we're well along now with JHK's view of the "Long Emergency", and we appear to be entering a perfect storm of economic chaos. Tariffs will have to negotiate through the minefield of "unintended consequences", but that's not to say they may help for a bit. With the era of cheap energy contracting in the rear view mirror, it'll take some serious excess magic on Trump's part to put the Great in MAGA. However, I'll be rooting for the next administration to perhaps install a safety rail or two to help reduce some pain along the way. With Kamala and the Dems it would be nose down at 500 knots into the mountain side....in a straight line....
Has Musk done anything that wasn’t successful thus far? I can’t imagine him wanting his name associated with something that will end up an abysmal failure. He has stated they are looking for people to work with them who are willing to work 80+ hours a week and are shining a light on all the ridiculous waste they find (like Nancy Pelosi setting up a liquor store in the Rayburn House Office Building). There has always been some of that related to reporting bizarre grants that are awarded to Universities (e.g studying shrimp on an underwater treadmill for a cool $3 million), but none with the audience that is available to Elon.
If nothing else, it will all be fun to watch and if he can’t get it done, no one can.
"We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting. If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon & Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants."
Maybe there is no pick for the FBI because one of the great cost cutting measures is the elimination of the Eff-Bee-Eye and it's 40,000 brownshirts. We don't need 17 "intelligence agencies" spread across the country to harass everyone that went to a rally on J6. Shut it down and proclaim the day Ashli Babbet day.
We can only hope at this point.
It's an valid idea. How to you throw out the bath water but save the baby? An institution that was virtually founded on the principles of black mail by Mr "Dirty Pics" himself (J Edgar Hoover) has a many decades institutional culture that's nearly impossible to clear with anything less than a clean burn and rebuild. Is that even possible? LOTS of good and talented people in the organization and LOTS of necessary capability it would suck to discard. But how does one root out and cleans the culture of mutual blackmail?
I always think about Whitney Webb's "One Nation Under Blackmail" books. The title says it all. Everyone has dirt on everyone else and the FBI is the face of that paradigm starting with J Edgar. When a president can't fire a director without bracing for impeachment you know you have a problem
Once again a comment is cut off in mid sentence.
Happening a lot lately.
Also various links to videos, etc not working.
One even disappeared after clicking on.
I have found it good to compose in Word, then copy & paste to my comment. No typos & hard to ‘disappear’ depending on what cookiebots are active on my browser…
Speaking of cut off
CactusMatt32
10:31 AM
I have found it good to compose in Word, then copy & paste to my comment. No typos & hard to 'disappear' depending on what cookiebots are active on my.
Are you viewing it in the app on your phone. I use the app on my iPhone and for the last 2-3 days, when I attempt to click on a link, it ends up collapsing the entire comment and I have also notice comments that appear to be cut off
Here's how Mr. Trump should handle the EFF-BEE-EYE. The day after inauguration he needs to send a notice to the 40,000 brownshirts and tell them they have one year notice. He'll give them one year of severance pay. Plenty of time for these thugs to go find employment in their states and local cities. Then, shut it down. Gone. Make it like a fart in the wind. Poof. The stink vanishes.
Ah, the dreams. If only.
nah, we need Federal law enforcement.
Kash Patel will do a great job cleaning out that nest of corrupt vipers.
Why? Is Federal Law Enforcement clearly mandated in the Constitution? If it is then great. If it not, or if it is authorized by some vacuous claim to the oft used "commerce clause" then law enforcement should be left to the individual states as required by the 10th Amendment.
We either abide by the law of this land or we don't. If it is not specifically in the Constitution then it belongs to the states. Pissing around with federal authority is what got us into this mess in the first place.
This is the point that should be made over and over again until it hurts. DJT needs to explain his every move by starting with a reminder that the Constitution grants the federal government limited and proscribed powers. Everything else is unconstitutional and that will justify elimination. Choosing the Education Dept. as the first target is brilliant. It's a good start. FBI would make a great second.
What Federal Law enforcement? Other than invading homes without warrants and avoiding doing anything about sociopathic kids, what do they do? They are the basis of Lawfare and for that reason alone should be disbanded.
Take down the websites of prominent thinkers and writers like James Howard Kunstler. That's what they do.
BB. Kash is too smart to take that bait.
And declassify JFK's assassination file (if there is one).
BTW, JFK was the last US President to be independent of Israel, and skeptical of Israel, and concerned about the prospect of Israel acquiring nuclear weapons (with France's help). Perhaps that is why his term was cut short? Maybe it was not the mob, or Cuba.
JFK was an immoral pig, but, I believe he was the last President who actually tried to be President. He tried to eliminate the CIA. He tried to keep us on the gold standard for our money. He tried to keep us out of Vietnam. And yes, he wasn't controlled by the Israeli mafia. As a human being he was a pathetic wretch. As a President, at least he tried to do best by America and for that they shot him through the head.
God I hope this doesn't happen to Mr. Trump.
Canker. Trump is challenging the SAME deep state JFK did. Likely with the same results. Bullets last time, slow motion lawsuits this time. Either way a neutered Executive Branch.
If every Republican congressman has an AI-PAC buddy who tells them how to vote on Israeli questions (and where exactly does that stop?), shouldn't we get to know their names, since they are the real congressmen we need to talk to, not the wooden dummies.
Speaking of Israeli mafia... check out this superb article:
https://www.unz.com/article/israel-did-9-11/
Thank you for calling attention to this website (www.unz.com). I've bookmarked it. Others should too.
France built the Dimona reactor, but "Israel" got it's heavy water from Norway which was a byproduct of Norway's production of ammonia for fertilizer. The process requires copious electricity of which Norway had/has abundant supply from never-ending hydro sources.
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Norway-produce-large-amounts-of-heavy-water-before-1939
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/the-us-discovery-israels-secret-nuclear-project
The waters of Dimon shall be full of blood... Isaiah 15:9
The word Dimon is from the two letter root DM which means "blood" and "silent" because when blood is shed the bleeder becomes dead, thus silent.
Speaking of nukes, since President-elect Trump advised Israel to hit Iran’s nuclear sites, they have since gone to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and requested inspections of all its nuclear sites.
While the IAEA is in Iran, they should also send a team to Israel to do inspections of ALL its nuclear sites, including their 400-700 nuclear weapons. The same sites Israel refused JFK to inspect.
By now the entire world knows Israel has nukes on land and in submarines, especially Congress. They all want to giggle and wink and act like it’s a “secret”. It’s not.
Once that nuclear cat is out of the bag, Congress will be forced to debate our current law prohibiting the U.S. from selling/giving military equipment/funds etc. to any state with nuclear weapons that does not allow inspections.
Mr. Trump may have a dandy team for domestic clean-up, but his foreign policy team of Rubio, Stefanik, Huckabee, Hegseth etc. may cause him (and the rest of the planet) some major headaches and lost sleep.
What argument will Congress, Trump and Co. have to oppose inspections of Israel’s nuclear “facilities”? I hope and pray this day comes.
Yes, the Deal seems to be clean up America domestically, but the grift goes on in terms of foreign policy. Now they're talking about annexing the entire West Bank. Will Iran have to compromise its principles and strike Israeli communities there in order to stop this?
The more I learn the less I know. People I consider credible, whose exact names I cannot recall (I think Col. McGregor, former Marine Scott Ritter, maybe Prof. John Mearsheimer, some Greek analysts) have generally said that "much of Iran's nuclear program is buried deeply underground, and is extremely difficult to impossible to be taken out". Maybe they all "piggyback" off each other. But they make sense to me, in the same context that the book "The Long Emergency" made sense. Some one posited that Israel could use nukes and then blame the radioactivity on the "destroyed nuclear facilities". I would not be surprised.
Trump (and ALL his predecessors) and Congress are all beholden to AIPAC. That is your reason why they look the other way at Israel's nuclear program and allow Israel to flout US "non-proliferation" laws.
And Trump adeptly took out the ONE INDEPENDENT THINKING Congressman, Thomas Massie, R-KY, by proposing he be Secretary of Agriculture. The only Congressman not under AIPAC's spell (BTW, his wife died unexpectedly early this year). Since AIPAC couldn't get him voted out, they had him "promoted" out.
The thing is, if/when the US/Israel attacks Iran's nuclear program, we do not know how Russia and China may react, but I don't think they can just sit and watch and shrug their shoulders.
This is a very fraught time. Unlike WW1, when bi-planes dropped the equivalent of grenades and the Germans' Big Bertha cannon had a 50-mile range, both the destructive power and the speed of events move much faster now. And warfare itself is evolving rapidly, as AI and microprocessors are enabling inexpensive, effective drones. I just read a fascinating book about the war between Azerbaijan (winner) an Armenia (loser) in 2020. THAT war presaged techniques used by Israel (no surprise since Israel, with Turkey, armed Azerbaijan) against the Palestinians and Hezbollah, by Hezbollah against Israel, and by Russia and Ukraine against each other. Warfare has evolved--and the US may find it is not ready for the war it is going to unleash in the Middle East, using million-dollar missiles to defend against thousand-dollar drones or missiles (hitting a cheap bullet with a very expensive bullet). At the same time, the West in general, and the US in particular, as technologically advanced societies, have many soft points at home... electricity, plastic money, running water, potentially violent alien populations, just-in-time inventory control. Lots could happen....
"7 Seconds to Die" by John Antal. Good read, interesting analysis of the interesting "analysis of the second Nagorno-Karabakh War". Some commenter on some blog (maybe here?) mentioned it, I scratched it on a post it note and read it.
I read a report stating that the FBI is a target for DOGE. It will be another worthless agency to be relegated to the states, along with education.
How many shootings would have been avoided with a “real” FBI?
Wouldn’t that be amazing and wonderful
IMO... Trump is keeping Kash Patel on the sidelines, ready to replace the slimy, corrupt pig-turd Wray as soon as he gets into office.
Kash will be superb in that role... the FBI can be valuable and effective org if run patriotically. constitutionally and ethically. Payback will be a bitch.
Like any Federal agency, the FBI should be limited to interstate crime and stay the hell out of local and state law enforcement. It has always been a great forensics support for the police of the country, and that should continue. Anything else, keep its nose out of it.
Also, no secrets, no “I can’t talk about ongoing cases”, the classic excuse for hiding political aims.
No it hasn't always been a great forensic support for local and state law enforcement. The problems with the crime lab were massive and resulted in the dismissal of hundreds or thousands of local cases.
https://whistleblowersblog.org/government-whistleblowers/intelligence-community-whistleblowers/dr-whitehurst-and-the-fbi-lab-scandal/amp/
Sounds good. How might those orgs be rearranged?
Lined up in mass grave 3 layers deep…?
Thats what they would do to folks like us if they could get away with it
Ukraine & Lithuania are good at doing that….
What is 100 FBI agents on the bottom of the ocean?
You know!
Jim, I am hopeful you are correct in what you believe will happen according to the last couple of paragraphs. I want to see these power hungry swindlers hang from light posts. That’s how pissed off I am.
Me too Cheryl! We the citizenry have been deeply abused & traumatized by our “betters” in every damn aspect of our lives for the past 4 years
And robbed by the silent tax, inflation.
Im not traumatized, more like frackin pissed off and sharpening knives
Actually, for decades that just became more and more outrageous
Cheryl I am with you. I don't want these fuckers soaking up tax payer dollars in posh federal prisons in quiet Indiana. I want real justice to come down upon the heads of these pathetic wretches. Why? The damage they have inflicted upon Americans both emotionally and financially is without estimation and will last for generations. First, their enormous fortunes pilfered from the American taxpayer needs to be confiscated and returned. All of it. All of their foreign holdings. All of their properties. All of the investments. This must be done in front of them. They must see it happen. Then, once they are destitute and the taxpayers are restored, there needs to be a public execution where these creatures are hoisted up on tall gallows or lampposts where they swing until they are dead. Not dropped. Let em swing and suffocate a little. Then, they should be left there so the crows and the starlings can nibble at their filthy remains as a witness to what happens to people who behave in such a manner and spread so much chaos, mental stress and financial theft on the people they should have been working for.
But alas, I dream. Will never happen.
Worse things are coming to them. Unimaginable things.
I agree their fortunes should be taken, they are all millionaires after just a couple years of accepting their positions that annually pay around $200,000. Ask Martha Stewart the penalties for insider trading.
Nah, Supermax in Canon City, CO.
And the public and lawful response must happen QUICKLY, Before 2028, if we are to get any good of it. This can't drag on for 60+ years, like the assassinations of the '60's.
Speaking of which, I'm hoping to get a real answer to those events now.
Once again, James Kunstler - Our 21st century Mark Twain - nails it! Bravo to James!
exactly, Cfk and C&C are daily requirements in the 5g landscape
JHK is a superb writer, when not defending the mass-murdering maggot Zionists of Israel.
I hope the good, non-Zionist jews there will soon overthrow the maniac Bibi and become a worthy country again. And yes, I despise radical islamists too.
A few days ago even Haaretz got in on the action listing all the war crimes Bibi and the IDF have committed, including genocide. No reporting of this in the U.S.
Many in the IDF are wounded and committing suicide. And the desertion rate is going up. Israel’s last attack on Iran was a dud thanks to Iran’s superior defensive capabilities. Of course Western media declared it a huge success.
I see a coup coming against Bibi very soon with his trial and that of his wife on the horizon. Wouldn’t be surprised to see them escape to Miami to be with their son. Zelensky will be next to escape to sunny Florida.
Check out “Damo Rants” out of GB on YouTube.
Truth is the first casualty of war. Iran admitted much damage was done and began to plot a counter-strike, perhaps delayed because of our election. Similarly, Israel and the Western media its owns claimed the Iranian strike was a dud, when it fact it was a huge success.
The IDF soldiers film themselves shooting random people. Utterly shameless.
Trump is nominating people who have been victimized to be in charge of the organizations that victimized them.
Tulsi can now discover who put her on the terrorist watchlist recently.
And Gaetz can hammer them.
Hmmm, HRC?
Obama: “We tortured some folks”.
Guess we do need massive “Truth and Reconciliation Commissions”.
All of Trump's choices in the critical areas seem to be either Christian Zionists or warhawks. Were they "victimized" and by whom? They all love war and can see and feel Armageddon about to knock on their doors. Cheerfully they will open their doors and greet the new blobsters. How lucky we are to get into and rejoice with future wars! God bless the military-industrial complex! I knew the OrangeMan would free us of any of our past lamentations about not having enough wars to keep John Bolton happy.
You are on the wrong site, you need to go over to the timmy wallz pedofile site
We are a war mongering people. A war like country. We have been since the advent of the Federal Reserve. Our troops are placed on a pedestal and worshipped yet how many of the worshippers actually know what our troops are doing in places like South Korea, Germany, Djibuoti, and hundreds of other nations? War IS the American economy.
Can you imagine the economic shit storm that would happen if our President closed all the bases and brought ALL of the troops home? All the jobs that would be lost at places like Boeing, Raytheon and Lockheed? It would result in economic depression the likes of which has never been seen. Without being in a state of constant war, the American economy collapses.
Kind of like what would happen if our vaunted research facilities actually found a cure for cancer. Can you imagine the economic shit storm that would follow if a simple cure for cancer were found? How much economy does cancer care and cancer treatment actually generate? How many jobs are based upon the manufacture of cancer treating chemicals and caring for cancer patients. How many jobs are generated by cancer research and yet even though they spend billions they never seem to find anything to treat cancer other than chemotherapy, radiation and mutilation. Because of this they will never permit a cure for cancer to come to light. Similarly, they will never end their warmongering. It is an economic engine and we must have it.
Oh the awful situation we find ourselves in.
Unwarranted hysteria. The MIC is about 3 percent of the economy, and exists mostly in a walled garden that is separate from the domestic economy at lsrge. It is slow, backward, stupid, inefficient, non-competitive, and rife with corruption. Burn it down. Something better will arise from the rubble. Market economies abhor a vacuum, but the MIC is not a part of a market economy.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/why-us-defense-industrial-base-so-isolated-us-economy
" how many of the worshippers actually know what our troops are doing in places like South Korea, Germany, Djibouti, and hundreds of other nations? War IS the American economy.
CP, What are our (or any other nation's) troops doing in Djibouti? Looking for Bouti, obviously....
I think we need to streamline our military to focus on what is most important to our national security. End the revolving door between top brass and defense contractors to minimize any conflicts of interest that perpetuate waste, and lead to wars that are often started to move older weapons off the shelf and create demand for new, advanced weaponry, and to rob targeted countries of their resources.
These guys definitely need to be on a tight leash. That said, I'd rather have America be the hegemonic power rather than Russia or China. We need to defend our interests. Just need to be more prudent in how we involve ourselves. It will be interesting to see which government institutions and to what degree the DOGE tenacles reach into. Trump is already building a list of warriors that he'll keep in the military. Many others will be dismissed.
You can always volunteer and fight for Ukraine….they got some openings….
A legit opinion. What exactly is the economy going to do with all the folks who will be displaced by a reduction in the MIC.
Maybe an example will be set by Boeing vs. Space X in NASA.
Maybe an example is the 7.5 million young men sitting at home drawing welfare instead of working that was “discovered” this year, or the 900000 new jobs in the jobs report that were fabrications, or the paltry 12000 jobs created in October. Trump is going to have his hands full trying to create the jobs that the Dems have claimed that do not really exist.
Oh the jobs are out there, JohnAZ. Americas infrastructure is collapsing. There are a lot of bridges to be replaced. A lot of roads to be re-graded and paved. A lot of water and sewer pipes to be replaced. Bring our troops home and put them to work rebuilding America. At least we the people would get direct benefit from this whereas with them overseas farting around in other nations we get no direct benefit. And I don't buy the "preserving our freedom" bullshit. I've never met anyone from Afghanistan and I have never been threatened by anyone from Iran. The only threat I feel living here in the Rocky Mountains of Utah is the fact that I am now surrounded by people who don't speak English. That's the threat. Not North Koreans. The multi-million man army that has been permitted to cross our border is the real threat.
That's why it's all going to be destroyed, in the tribulation.
Unfortunately, Kathy, none of us know when this tribulation is set to begin. It could be tomorrow. It could be in a hundred years. "No man knoweth the hour of his coming."
But Hegseth, Huckabee and Rubio want to speed things up.
Like destroying Al Aqsa mosque and building a new Temple. They already have their red heifers from Texas.
I am a Christian but not of the Zionist variety. My faith tells me to “Love one another” and that God will decide if/when the mosque will be destroyed, not Pete “The Tatted One” Hegseth.
KC. OK. But in the meantime, arm up and stay alert.
I see where John Bolton is particularly upset with Tulsi becoming Director of National Intelligence. I can see truckloads of boxes of Chardonnay being backed into Hillary and Bill’s Chappaqua compound right now. Ha.
They are just trying to “help along” their interpretation of prophecy, kinda like Iscariot.
What wars did Trump get us into in his previous 4 years, you craven eunuch ahole?
I do agree that he picked too many supporters of genocidal Zionist Israel... but I doubt there will be anymore wars for profit.
That last $9 billion Biden is giving Zelensky on Jan. 19th, 2025 will go directly to The Pentagon for dispersal to Lockheed, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon etc.
BB ALL wars are for profit. Bankers fund both sides. That's historically the pattern. That should stop because ONE MAN ?
FWIW, I concur.
James- as a fellow Nueva Yorker, I can't thank you enough for your artistry with words and paint. Your brilliant essays always give me a lot to think about as well as plenty of laughs. Your pen is mightier than many of the swords out there, that's for sure. And your paintings- the colors, scenes and landscapes you portray are pretty much what I see when I look out my windows or drive around the area.
I share your articles everywhere I can but sometimes the word "clusterfuck" is not allowed past the bots. Oh well........ It seems that the world's best thinkers and writers are now on substack- how great is that? We need you guys and gals now more than ever.
Anyway, I hope you are enjoying what's left of our beautiful NY Indian Summer.( I suppose if our own Satanic Overlords in the Hokum regime have their way it's only a matter of time before they try to ban the term). I am still raking as all the leaves won't be down till Thanksgiving.
While it's great that the Good Guys won this round, the Evil Ones are still very much in charge of Nueva York with Horse Face Hokum and her sidekick Fat Ass Tush Tisha James calling the shots. As I write this, there is a lawsuit pending in our highest courts regarding their plans for Quarantine Camps. As FJB would say "no joke." We have our own lawyers and patriots who have been fighting this pro bono and they will not give up even if they have to go to the Supreme Court.
I for one do not want to move to another state. F*** that- I am too old plus I love my house and my lake where I've lived for generations. I will continue to fight them every way that I can and hope that when you have time you can shine your light on the darkness that is NY politics.
All the best from your friend in Putnam. Keep up the great work.
NYN - stay off censored sites - no telling what you'll catch there.
I abbreviate to "Cfk" if that helps
Thanks, Rick!
What a time to be alive!
I’m praying for a year-long celebration in 2026 of the 250th Birthday of the Republic. Looks like we’re off to a good start.
Rumor has it the Big Party might be at the Iowa State Fair grounds.
Trump has now put in very important places the smart and gutsy individuals despised by the Blob..Vance, Tulsi, Musk, Vivek, and most important of all, RFK jr....Pretty incredible...and Thune has, sort of, announced he won't block Trump's appointments...This ride is going to be wild...
It needs to be, it needs to completely trash the status quo in DC
Stay pissed off, patriots!
NYT....field guide to Blob think.
And a goal of 47 and his referenced Cabinet selections.... dismantle the Blob.
Standing at the gate of resistance! The RINO ESTABLISHMENT now led by Thune.
Mitch's secret vote ballot was his final FU Donald and a sign of what is to come in the Senate.
The pendulum has changed direction, we were at maximum absurdity. (Chaos) I believe that’s what the blue team is reacting to. To them it must feel like an earthquake feeling the shift away from the inmates running the asylum. Too much chaos begets order, too much order begets chaos. The trick will be to resist the urge to swing the pendulum too far in the order direction which will just restart the cycle of chaos. Balance is everything!!
Spot on! That's America's problem. We can't find a balance. The pendulum always swings way too far to one side. I don't think we are intelligent enough as a people to recognize this and correct it. We don't live long enough to do so and we don't have generational memory that is passed on to our children and grand children. That is the curse of humanity. To continually repeat the lessons learned by our ancestors because we refused to teach them to our posterity.
That is the truth. Who is to blame? Easy.
Who refused to swing the pendulum back to the right after the chaos caused by the Dems? Who was as Deep State as the Dems? Who created the thirty years of un-interrupted Leftist trends, especially pertaining to the border. Who started the Anti-Trump RINO movement? Who started unwarranted wars? Hint: a father and his son.
Bush and baby Bush?
Elon's already got a "DOGE" profile set up on X and soliciting input from users about what agencies and programs to dismantle. It's pretty entertaining. Also entertaining is the amount of 'cope' coming from the Left. These people really are delusional and their programming by mainstream media is complete. I also saw a post about The Onion purchasing InfoWars ... but I've not vetted that yet. We live in strange times.
I know it's virtually impossible to ignore the US political scene right now, but Jim it's been a while since you updated us on the global energy situation. Trump is long on tariffs, surely there will be collapse in the near future for the US with unpayable debt and far less "liquid gold" underground than Trump gleefully references at every opportunity. Well, when he's not recounting tales of Elon's rocket landing against the gantry. Moonshots, Martian colonisation, self piloting EVs, Dept of Government Efficiency CBDC coin, BRICS gold backed competing currencies, there's so much more going on.
You're right -- a lot to be concerned about in the energy / finance nexus. A lot can go wrong. I'll get around to covering it.
A lot can go wrong... it sure can! And that was before the Middle East, before Israel starting bombing Iranians Embassies, assassinating people in Iran, and bombing Iran.
Do Israel's actions make it less likely for things to go wrong? Or more?
Does anyone have a confirmed source for the rumour that Netanyahu contacted the Biden administration before the election to say "If I even think you've cheated to retain power, I will take out Iranian oil production and leave the US dark." It could be a reason they refrained from such outrageous cheating - at least in the Presidential race.
Could be... Bibi is a murderous lunatic.
As is his opponents in Tehran, responsible for all of the terrorist activity for thirty years, including the Taliban, and ISIS. Iran is the entity that wants the USA to be “in the Dark”, not Israel. Iran wants control of the Middle East, not Israel. Saudi Arabia is afraid of Iran, not Israel.
Israel is our ally,, not Iran.
Iran was our good buddy (and the UK’s) prior to 1953 when Iran decided to nationalize their oil profits and the CIA couped Mossedegh over it installing the Shah and his bloody henchmen.
Trump killing Solemani didn’t help us get along better with Iran. Trump is now hated in Iran.
There is enough oil under Alaska and off-shore to solve all of our problems for quite some time. I agree fracking is a loser.
Tech will perhaps catch up in time to drastically reduce the need for fossil fuels... but that will take a long time...
I certainly hope there will be no more DEI or women on the battlefield.
What we have to do first is repeal the 19th amendment
Has anyone been confirmed yet? I don't think so. IE till RFK Jr (for one example) gets confirmed he's not in the cabinet. I think that's correct but almost hope I'm wrong. Not encouraged for example by the Senate Majority leader pick. The Republicans (unlike the Democrats) are usually equally undone by the inside as by the adversary. The Democrats on the other hand usually have iron discipline. If they have 51 Senators seems they almost always get 51 votes. Seems like the Republicans by contrast need 55 or more to have a hope of getting 51.
Observation and a tiny familiarity with history makes me paranoid. The Bolsheviks (what I like to call them) have a transgenerational rabid religious zealot character. Like black mold the the spores always remain no matter how far you think its been beaten back. IMO the best you ever get from them is a strategic retreat while they plan the next abomination. Short story. I'm not about to feel comfortable until the picks are AT LEAST confirmed and the inauguration has been completed. (hope the Bolshies don't plan to burn DC and the country down over it). So much mischief and mayhem that can be done in the next few weeks. And once things are in place eternal vigilance is the watchword because there are snakes everywhere
Yes, you make an excellent point. But you are ruining the feel-good moment....
Now that DEMOCRAT Harris has lost, and the Senate has REPUBLICAN Majority (meaning Republicans can set the agenda--and profit personally), and the Congress is Republican, I think we will find that some Republican will not go along with Trump's legislation. Quite a few Republicans are Mitch McConnell types, or Bush supporters. They just didn't want to contribute to the destruction of their party by being open traitors, like the Cheneys.
I want to see if Lindsey Graham votes for Tulsi Gabbard as DNI (Director National Intelligence).
In any case, the US is confronted by huge budget deficits, and the Middle Class is squeezed dying a death of a thousand paper cuts, including very real inflation (check your insurance --home/auto/HEALTH for next year, is it up 2-3%? Mine is double digits....) and worse service on NON-Discretionary items, like medical. Good luck President Trump.
I just read an article that state that my home state of Utah is no longer a state where insurance companies can make a profit from insuring homes.
However, I still see new housing developments popping up everywhere and new, $850,000 homes being built by young couples in their 20s. In the driveways of these new mini mansions I see $90,000 F-250s and Rams along with a $20,000 trailer and two $50,000 side by side UTVs. The yards on these homes are impeccably landscaped costing thousands. Rino-rock fencing costing $15,000 surrounds the back yards of the young peoples' homes. And, from what I can tell, Disneyland and Disneyworld are still just as busy as ever as these young people still manage to pay for all of this and have enough money to fly themselves and their children for a $10,000 week of fun with the queer loving pervert minded Mouse.
I know, they are in debt. But they still have to finance that debt. So far, from what I am seeing in my state, life is good for people.
I still believe something big is coming. Trump or no Trump. We are in a bad way. The vast majority of people in this Country are living lives full of lies. They own nothing. Buried by debt. Living paycheck to paycheck. No savings. No retirement. Unable to handle a $500.00 emergency without using the credit card. This CANNOT continue. This WILL NOT continue. A debt reckoning is coming and it will be ugly for ALL.
Many in their 20's, 30's and 40's are making $100-$200k a year, and with a couple, that's double. They can afford all of this stuff with their cash flow. No doubt they're still in debt up to their eyeballs. If one of them lose their jobs, they're toast. This group probably represents the upper 10-20% of the population, most have a college degree, and most voted against Trump.
Very few have become debt free. Often it's the guy without the fancy house or fancy car. He's the millionaire next door.
The guy you described is me. Been debt free for a long time but I am not a millionaire.
Median household income in the State of Utah right now is $72,000, I believe. maybe a little higher. Sure, many are making the sums you described above but not all of them. It will always boggle my mind how people manage these lifestyles. When God was handing out money smarts, I was off playing tiddlywinks and not paying attention because I just don't get it.
I wonder how many are on welfare, or some other form of UBI?
Don't know. But would it be enough to make all the monthly payments on the debt to finance these things?
Like Dmitry Orlov always used to say, when it comes to collapse, it doesn't really matter who the President of the US is. This sucker is going down. Having said that, I'm personally very relieved to see a return towards reality and honesty. That can only help people accept that their future may not include happy motoring and suburban dreams.
The word is RINO, a creation of the Bush-Cheney years. Trump’s picks show a trend, a good one. He is putting people in place who do not owe the Deep State anything, and who have been hurt by the politics of chaos. These folks are not only loyal to MAGA, but have revenge in mind. Pete Hegseth for example will put the military readiness as a priority instead of social engineering. Tulsi has criticized the intelligence agencies for a decade, thus DNI. Matt Gaetz is an avid MAGA type and has had Lawfare aimed at him, perfect for the AG spot. RFK, Jr. for HHS,brilliant. Where is Ben Carson?
I feel a pit in my stomach when I think that Matt Gaetz might not get to become AG. He's the key to unlocking the deep state shenanigans and he won't hold back on exposing all of it to the American people. Trump might have some ways around a true Senate confirmation of him, such as forcing a recess appointment or installing him as the acting attorney general. The fight continues.
Yeah. It is hard for me to find the delicate balance between the ability to feel joy (which helps to make life tolerable) and the reserved paranoia of being disappointed too many times.
Newsom is raising gasoline up another $2/gal in California. Imagine the impact THAT will have. They are trying everything to get us out of gas cars and into all electric vehicles.
SD - all insurance premiums are a function of replacement "value" risk.
You are correct. The current, majority party will self-immolate during the confirmation hearings. Anyone bother to look at "The 51 seat Majority" for RINO/RICO status? As you said, the Democrat Senators will be 100% "NAY" on all nominees.
It'll be Summer before we know what the Cabinet looks like....and it won't look anything like Trumps first nominations.
I hope you are correct... Israel has MANY tentacles into our government, financial system and country and they need to be ejected. AIPAC needs to be outlawed (CAIR too).
Just look up the list of jews in congress... a more vile collection of corrupt scumbags you will be hard to find.
Recess appointments.
Can’t Trump get Tulsi, Hegseth and Kennedy in using “recess appointments”?
I doubt the evolution from wokeness to sane will occur in a straight line, and without some major bumps. When government agencies and corporations with very deep pockets have invested so much time (decades) and energy into their version of reality intended to maximize profits, it will be awhile to reverse all that mischief - and to avoid making things worse.
We now enter the runaway stagecoach stage, where the armed bandit has hopped from his speedy mount and is wrestling for control of the reins with the driver. We may be eased to a safe stop, or plunge over a cliff into a canyon far below - or something in between. But it appears a soft landing is less likely. It will be a terrifying, exhilarating and entertaining journey....
Trump’s group (DOGE) has already stated they want to reduce the deficit by 2 trillion dollars, I would assume over ten years. That will be welfare, either in the form of bullshit federal jobs, or direct payments. Trump’s number one job will be to enlarge the economy to create new jobs to capture the increase in unemployment that has already started.
That means getting rid of the idea that the service sector is what the USA wants to be and start manufacturing everything here, not in Mexico or China. His use of tariffs is just the start, also the consumer in this country needs to start buying USA products. It is comforting that Musk is in the brain trust as he seems to be the sole person in the USA that has clobbered China in every way possible.
For national security reasons the U.S. needs to start making necessary medicines here (like Tylenol and antibiotics), and stop importing them from China.
^^^^ SO very this!
I interpreted the DOGE announcement as a joke in reference to the doge crypto coin. If memory serves, Musk trolled on it and introduced huge price fluctuations. Like Dave Collum, I'll be "pleasantly surprised" if anything positive comes from DOGE. I hope I'm wrong, 'cause there's plenty of potential to improve efficiency.
As for the economy, I think we're well along now with JHK's view of the "Long Emergency", and we appear to be entering a perfect storm of economic chaos. Tariffs will have to negotiate through the minefield of "unintended consequences", but that's not to say they may help for a bit. With the era of cheap energy contracting in the rear view mirror, it'll take some serious excess magic on Trump's part to put the Great in MAGA. However, I'll be rooting for the next administration to perhaps install a safety rail or two to help reduce some pain along the way. With Kamala and the Dems it would be nose down at 500 knots into the mountain side....in a straight line....
Has Musk done anything that wasn’t successful thus far? I can’t imagine him wanting his name associated with something that will end up an abysmal failure. He has stated they are looking for people to work with them who are willing to work 80+ hours a week and are shining a light on all the ridiculous waste they find (like Nancy Pelosi setting up a liquor store in the Rayburn House Office Building). There has always been some of that related to reporting bizarre grants that are awarded to Universities (e.g studying shrimp on an underwater treadmill for a cool $3 million), but none with the audience that is available to Elon.
If nothing else, it will all be fun to watch and if he can’t get it done, no one can.
DOGE is real and is up and running: From @DOGE
"We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting. If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon & Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants."
I maintain nothing moves in a straight line.
It sure will be interesting.