The Road of #47: A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

 Date line: 2/14/25: The White House

    Happy Valentine’s Day to all.

    I’m not sure if #47 can do this but why not try. He instructed the Treasury Department to stop minting pennies because each one cent cost more than 2 cents to make. The minting of coins is the responsibility of Congress, not the president.  But, the man is right and the littlest coin should be put out to pasture. Each penny costs 3.69 cents to make. Its value lost is 2.69 cents.That’s not a reasonable endeavor.

   According to economists (aka penny proponents) prices based on 99 cents when rounded off to $1.00 will impose a one-cent sales tax.

   Another fun fact is the nickel will become the lowest denomination in use. The old buffalo head/Liberty/Jefferson “half-dime” made from cupronickel cost 13.78 cents per coin to manufacture. The dime is the smallest coin whose face value is greater than what it costs to produce.So, what’s this all have to do with crypto currency? We will see. 

  But wait, there’s more…The Paper Straw Controversy begins. This is heavy Politics 101 for sure…enjoy your news cycle…

Oh, Ye, gentle mistresses and most distinguished gentlemen, and others… The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

 The Road of #47: RECIPROCAL TARIFFS 101

 Date line: 2/13/25: The White House

   Just another day of chaos and confusion caused by the “shock and awe” tactics of #47. While the helpless, hapless idiots who represent the Democratic party are twittering their thumbs, the leader of the free world is rolling out one executive order after another. We all know that the DEM party is extinct, complete with no dignity, a group having lost its supporters, and those DEMS who have been re-elected or remain at their positions until the mid-terms, are scared shitless to oppose the wrath of #47. Geez, even most GOP politicians fear the dude. So they lollygag and/or are dillydallying while #47 does whatever he wants, choosing whomever he wants for positions the candidate is not qualified to hold. The phase around campus is to “protect yourself from his rancor and retribution”.  It should be noted that Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) was the lone Republican to oppose Kennedy and Gabbard.

   Good Ole Boy Mitch, a thorn in the side when #47 was #45 has no problem putting on his big boy pants and calling it for whatever it is. The reciprocal tariffs offered today will in Mitch’s thoughts cost the average Kentuckian up to $1200 each year. Check this out: Canada when the tariffs were suggested announced retaliatory tariffs taking hits on US distilled spirits, specifically Kentucky bourbon. 

McConnel stated: "It's high time for America's closest neighbors to take the crisis at our border seriously,""But no matter our best intentions, tariffs are bad policy.”“It will drive the cost of everything up. In other words, it will be paid for by American consumers. I mean, why would you want to get into a fight with your allies over this?”

   These new tariffs are being calculated which will in turn lead to negotiations which in itself is not a bad thing especially since #47 wrote the book on it, “The Art Of The Deal”. “You guys lower yours then we lower ours”, etc…It should be noted that Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, said that the soonest tariffs could be in place is April 2.

Coming Soon: KASH PATEL and The Dismantling of The F.B.I aka THE DEEP STATE CONSPIRACY.

Oh, Ye, gentle mistresses and most distinguished gentlemen, and others… The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

 POLITICS 101: The 2025 Version aka The Road of #47:

   To those who assumed that the PROJECT 2025 was just bullshit, and that #47 according to what he stated prior to Election Day, would never consider implementing that manifesto…well, How do you feel now?

   Whether or not this “braintrust” document is worthwhile only time will tell .The last three weeks, #47 surely has a keen insight into what those papers stated and how to use many of the suggestions. Just the headlines are a bit unnerving. The “shock and awe” factor has quieted many Americans with a wait and see approach or better yet, let’s give him the first 100 days before commenting.

   Almost a month in, Gas and the price of eggs are still high but the border is relatively quiet. Musk wearing a tee shirt and baseball cap (disrespectfully I thought) accompanied by his 4 year old son held court in the Oval Office with #47 seated at the desk, authorizing the DOGE to work its magic- termination of the work force-reducing the budget-and magically eliminating the very powers who were investigating Musk’s business dealings. All while claiming to downsize the excesses in the government.

   “Under the Trump administration, federal consumer protections are being rapidly stripped away in a lawless process,” said Adam Levitin, a professor at Georgetown Law who specializes in financial regulation. “This is deregulation by firings.”

   Yesterday(Feb 12) a federal judge stated the “Kash Patel deal” (deferred resignation/pass out) could move forward, despite the fact that this “deal” is dependent on the March budget. Illegal or misleading as it may be.

   #47’s executive order related to “Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” is interesting. I must admit that I have a difficult time when a “biological” male participates in a female sport… unless that male/female is invited to do so. I also have a difficulty with the pronoun usage, “we/they”…WTF?

   Yet the quest of D.E.I. continues, DEI: diversity, equity, and inclusion. It appears that some higher educational facilities, those especially dependent on federal funds are removing and or cancelling activities/references that do not comply with the executive order targeting diversity. Let’s see how this goes after Linda McMahon, the WWF leader not an educator, becomes the head of the Department of Education, the department which #47 has repeatedly stated he would disassemble.

   “TODAY IS THE BIG ONE: RECIPROCAL TARIFFS!!!” so stated #47 on his social media platform. Thinking this through on my part I first say “Way to go…” but question what will this cost me…

   Lastly for today, “NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN”. While I agree that a leader of any enterprise needs employees who are loyal AND agree with the principles the leader is using I caution myself with the new directive issued regarding the Foreign Services.“Failure to faithfully implement the president’s policy is grounds for professional discipline, including separation.”

   Vocabulary for a further rant: Repatriated-send (someone) back to their own country. Welcome to  El Salvador or Guatemala or Panama, the new “land of opportunity”.

Oh, Ye, gentle mistresses and most distinguished gentlemen, and others… The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

 THE ROAD of #47: Three Weeks In: “One Dozen, Please”

   February 1: A lovely Saturday morn, happy Saint Brigid’s Day to all. Today, is one of the deadlines established by our fearless leader to impose 25% tariffs on that country that no longer owns the Gulf, Mexico, also on our soon to be 51th state Canada and a measly 10% on China. All this is under consideration. 

    Let us look at the last few years to attempt to understand what might happen in the future. In 2023, the total value of (legal) goods traded between the US and Canada AND the total between the US and Mexico was collectively more than $1.5 trillion. That’s a lot of shit to trade. 

   New tariffs will disrupt trade, as #47 would so eloquently state, “from Day One”. And of course there will be the retaliatory tariffs imposed on the US not just from those three (Canada, Mexico, China) but from other countries. Finally, there will be severe damage to the smaller economies, many who rely on the US. So, what about the price of eggs and gas…

   Ah, a Democrat finally standing up to have a say with the shock and awe of week one. In an interview, the senior senator (D) from Minneapolis , Amy Klobuchar stated: “I look at it this way: Chaos up. Corruption up. And, sadly, the cost of eggs is way up. No matter how many tech bros you have at the inauguration, none of that helps the people who weren’t in that room. Those are the people that he told he was going to work to bring down housing costs, to create more housing, to do more on child care, to bring down health care costs, and he kept telling us how beautiful it would be. Well, all of this — and maybe it’s done for a distraction — but all of this chaos takes us away from that mission”.

   EGG PRICES:But he promised… I’ll give him this as it is one week 1…For more than two years, farmers have fought a battle with a fatal strain of bird flu that continues to disrupt the U.S. egg supply. Since October, continual large-scale outbreaks of the virus across multiple states have taken a massive toll on the U.S. flock of egg-laying hens. With limited supplies, shoppers have seen prices skyrocket, and many have encountered buying restrictions or empty shelves. 

   Egg prices rose 36.8% in one year, food prices just 2.5%.The average cost of a dozen Grade A large eggs was $4.15 in December, up from $3.65 in November, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, retrieved from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis’ FRED site. 

   GAS PRICES: But he promised…awaiting the tariffs to hit…According to AAA, the current national average price of regular gas is around $3.10 per gallon. Let’s see how that goes…

Oh, Ye, gentle mistresses and most distinguished gentlemen, and others… The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

 The Road of #47: WEEK ONE: Shock and Awe…

   The shit is hitting the fan. The media is bombarding us hourly with stories pertaining to potential immediate governmental changes, political threats being made to our international friends and enemies, the anointing of clowns to positions to which they have limited or no knowledge, and the backtracking of POTUS when necessary. I ask, “Where is “the resistance”?  We all remember the resistance when #45 took the throne…Well, my fellow Americans “the resistance” has disappeared.

   The shock and awe of the actions of #47 during this first week of his second coming have the already defeated Democrats cowering in their offices. There is no leadership. Chuck and Hakeem are irrelevant. Amy Klobuchar, c’mon folks, the DEMS have their highest “unfavorable” rating (57%) ever… They talk about reaching across the aisle yet they have little/next to nothing to offer to make a deal.

   Last go round, “the ascension” of #45, the DEMs resisted every move he made by censuring him, charging him with various crimes against the nation, by impeaching him twice. Today, with the “Restoration” of the man, now as #47, those same DEMS or rather the ones left standing after the GOP trifecta, are no longer howling at the occurrences of what is happening, aka Project 2025. They, the DEMS are more afraid of losing more ground in the next midterm than they are of confronting the reality of the moment. So why not do what you want to do. Mommy and Daddy aren’t home, “Let’s Party”.

   Yesterday, January 31 some top F.B.I. officials were instructed to retire or be fired in the coming days. Also, the data base of over 6000 rank and file FBI agents assigned to the January 6 investigation will be reviewed. To me that sheer number is amazing. Six thousand agents investigated January 6th. How many man hours and at what cost is an answer I am looking for.

   The “KASH PATEL DEAL” (ahhh, Kash=cash), nominee for FBI director, is at best misleading if not outright illegal. "If you accept the deferred resignation offer, you will receive pay and benefits through September 30, 2025, and will not be subject to a reduction-in-force (RIF) or other premature separation,” This deal to the “retirees” which will run until September 30th. 

   However, the federal budget is only on a string until March, therefore the “deal” is misleading by asking workers to accept a deal which has no basis past the March, as agencies will run out of money on March 14 if Congress doesn't approve a new budget or pass another continuing resolution. So, #47 and his folks can not legally obligate any payments past that date, an offer for paid leave past that point is unlawful according to the Anti-Deficency Act (31 U.S.C. 1341 and FAR 32.702,)

"no officer or employee of the Government may create or authorize an obligation in excess of the funds available, or in advance of appropriations unless otherwise authorized by law.” which might make it illegal…

   On a separate “pink slip”issue a dozen (12) prosecutors from the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington who had worked on cases involving the Jan. 6 riot were told that they were being terminated.

   Is it retaliation?…you bet your ass t’is.

Oh, Ye, gentle mistresses and most distinguished gentlemen, and others… The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

 The Road of #47: DAY ONE: Pardons and Tariffs, Oh My…

   “His pardon also included Daniel Rodriguez, who was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to tasing Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone, who suffered cardiac arrest and a traumatic brain injury. “Omg I did so much f---ing s--- r[ight] n[ow] and got away,” he texted to his gang. “Tazzed the f--- out of the blue[.]”

   Imagine that, as promised, Day One, #47 pardoned and released all the January 6th “patriots”. Didn’t matter the extent of their crimes against the government. From the minor trespassing to the assault of police officers and peace keepers, this president freed them all with one swift movement of his magic marker. I for one am appalled at this, never expecting him to follow up on that promise. Oh well, I stand corrected. But here’s a patriot coming back to your town real soon

Henry “Enrique” Tarrio: (Sentence of 22 years=264 months)      “Former” Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, described by a judge as “the ultimate leader” who “was motivated by revolutionary zeal” in organizing members of his far-right group to spark the breach of the U.S. Capitol, was sentenced to 22 years in prison, the longest sentence yet among the hundreds convicted of disrupting the peaceful transfer of presidential power on Jan. 6, 2021.

   Tarrio, 39, was convicted of seditious conspiracy and obstructing the congressional proceeding meant to confirm the 2020 presidential election as part of a riot that U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly said broke America’s long democratic tradition of peaceful transfers of power. Tarrio was the last of five Proud Boys to be sentenced after all were convicted in May following a 15-week trial.Tarrio, of Miami, was convicted even though he wasn’t in Washington on Jan. 6. He had been arrested two days earlier for burning a “Black Lives Matter” flag torn down from a D.C. church during an earlier protest in the city following President Donald Trump’s defeat. He was banned from the city as a result.

   But prosecutors said he had recruited people to join in a violent assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6 to keep Trump in power and messaged them “Don’t f---ing leave” as they led the storming of the building, causing the electoral vote count to stop for about six hours. Kelly cited that message in ruling that Tarrio still had a leadership role on Jan. 6, even if he wasn’t in D.C. Tarrio denied planning an incursion into the Capitol and gave interviews after the riot saying he did not endorse that move by multiple Proud Boys, some of whom were among the first to enter the building.

   The judge agreed that the convictions qualified for an enhanced terrorism penalty under federal law and increased the federal sentencing guidelines for Tarrio and his co-defendants: Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola. The judge, however, declined to sentence each defendant within the advisory ranges, saying repeatedly that “the terrorism adjustment overstates your role in the offense,” and that the Proud Boys did not have the intent to kill or cause mass casualties. Tarrio apologized for his actions and those of the Proud Boys, saying the police officers who defended the Capitol, some of whom were in the audience Tuesday, “deserve nothing but praise, respect and to be honored as the heroes they are. I am extremely ashamed and disappointed they were caused grief and suffering.” He also said he had early doubts about whether the election was stolen but kept them to himself. “Every medium I turned to told me my anger was justified,” Tarrio said. “It wasn’t. … I do not think what happened that day was acceptable.”As for Tarrio’s apology, the judge said: “I’m glad he’s sorry for what happened to the law enforcement officers that day. But I think we’re talking past each other in many ways. I don’t have any indication that he is remorseful for the actual things that he was convicted of. … There’s only so much that statement can go toward assuring me that deterrence is not warranted.”

   In an orange jail coverall, Tarrio stood with both hands on a lectern and lowered his head briefly as the judge imposed the sentence, and his mother let out a sob in the gallery behind him. As he left the courtroom, he looked back at his family and supporters, held up two fingers, and blew a kiss with a smile.

    Upon his release he suggested that the Proud Boys were never without a leader (him).

    Later in his day #47 promised to take on the issue of the illegal immigrants in a day or two. That should prove to be interesting. He’ll gather them up, the criminals, rapists, and murderers, illegals to say the least, place them on military jets and ship them to their place of origin. Unfortunately, Mexico at first denied landing rights in Mexico. Then, Columbia said “no way”. However, the business acumen of #47 shines brightly as he threatens all, including our neighbors to the north (Canada) with severe consequences (tariffs). They back down immediately. As a matter of fact Columbia is now said to be cooperating by sending their planes to the US to pick up some of our “guests”. Others are being sent to Guantánamo.

   January 30th, #47 announced 25% as The tariff rate he is imposing on Canadian and Mexican imports starting Saturday (February 1). I wonder what the price of gas will be next month ($3.12 Avr US).

Oh, Ye, gentle mistresses and most distinguished gentlemen, and others… The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

and the road goes on forever: POLITICS 101: The 2025 Version

 POLITICS 101: The 2025 Version   

It’s over awhile since I posted anything on this blog. It is not that I lost interest, it is not that nothing was happening, it was just “sometimes life gets in the way”. For those interested my other blog intuneandintime.com is still kicking, mainly about politics, music, and the downfall of my beloved New York Rangers. Also, my 2024 music “hit list” can be found along with other pompous and opinionated degenerates on PooPlist.

   January 2025: As I near my 73rd trip around the sun I reflect on how me, an aging study of political phenomena (history buff) can slowly become anesthetized by the comings and goings of our democracy. Yes, I was somewhat deflated by the Election of 2024, how it shifted from a “milk toast” incumbent versus a man who has influenced the GOPs for at least a decade, to a contest of a former talk show host/ president (#45) against a woman who “turned black”. The outcome was stunning, not just who became the 47th President of The United States but what the voting data actually revealed.

   THE DEMOCRATS are in a shambles, blaming each other or MILK TOAST JOE for losing the PRESIDENCY, even though up to the very end he thought he could win the election. Delusional to say the least. There appears to be no direction for that party’s recovery. Considering even when the DEMS won a 2024 (Senate/House/ State) election, the GOP losing numbers were substantially higher than previous years. HARRIS gave a “gracious”concession speech to her supporters, many seen crying as Joe continued to hide in the WHITE HOUSE preparing to leave. Where the party goes from here is anybody’s guess. WaPo stated “the party suddenly faces a vacuum at the top” and “political parties rarely give a starring role to defeated White House aspirants” except for Donald TRUMP. That trend suggests HARRIS is a one and done candidate. 

   As far as TRUMP goes, he has been on the political scene for quite a bit of time, announcing his desire to be president in 2015. That means Trump is no longer considered an aberration. Young voters of 18, 19, 20 have lived with the Trump news cycles since they were 8 years old. It is little wonder why Trump made gains with the young voters. 

   From November on the Democratic Party autopsy continued…Jon Stewart complained, “The country felt like government wasn’t working for them, and the Democrats in particular were taking their hard-earned money and giving it to people who didn’t deserve it as much as them. And so the Democrats got shellacked.” However, in the theory that the DEMS choose “wokeness” he said, “Those are the Democrats,”… “They didn’t talk about pronouns. They didn’t say ‘Latinx.’ It was the opposite.”…“They didn’t do the woke thing. They acted like Republicans for the last four months…”

   The “TRIFECTA” is there, Republicans will enter Congress this term with 53 SENATE seats, the HOUSE (Speaker Mike Johnson, who was re-elected) is theirs with the smallest majority in history: 217 to 215, and #45 is now #47. The restraints on the president will become looser than they have been in many, many years. Well, at least until the mid-term election of 2026, which in political days is quite a ways off. However, The DEMOCRATIC PARTY needs a new voice, a new direction, possible with a new beginning. SLEEPY JOE was not the answer, nor was the woman who “turned black”. The tide has changed with increased numbers of voters, their ethnicity, location, and age.

THE DEEP STATE:

   Imagine a time, biblical if you will, when Christ himself walked into the temple , seeing the “money changers” who were turning the house of prayer into a den of thieves. They, the “money changers” (Matthew 21:12-13) were exploiting the poor by charging high prices for the exchange of foreign coins, also by selling doves (sacrificial animals) at a exorbitant price.

   While watching the church service attended by (or in honor of) the incoming #47th President of The United States I noticed standing collectively in the crowd were Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Sundar Pichai (Google), Tim Cook (Apple), and of course the omnipresent Elon Musk aka “the world’s richest man”, all tech titans seeking a stronger relationship with the President, an oligarchy if you will. My mind started to wonder to the phrase…WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?)…see (Matthew 21:12-13)

   Here we have the richest of the rich congregating in the crowd of St. John’s Church, Washington D.C. the same church where Trump in his role as #45 , June 1, 2020, held a Bible (upside down) posing for a photo-op during the George Floyd riots in D.C. reclaiming DC for the law abiding people.("I am your president of law and order.”)

Oh, Ye, gentle mistresses and most distinguished gentlemen, and others… The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.