Trump First, USA Second

The Intelligence agencies must have been wincing when Trump defended the prince against the reporter's question.  Likewise, normally the State Department would be scrambling about the F35's being fully loaded. But this is Trump, and the various departments have been top-offed with sycophants. not chosen for their qualifications about the department's mission, but their loyalty to Trump.

We seem to be in new territory with Trump basing our national policy on his whims. If that offends anybody, there are many credible people who would say that policy is  actually based on Trump's financial interests. I'll give him the benefit of that doubt, and just chalk it up to his overly inflated faith in himself.

Readers may have noticed that as I speak out against the administration and its silent enablers, comments here get more hostile... They should see the ones I don't print! They didn't say I sounded like a "lemming for the left" when I was criticizing Democratic mayors for the last two decades. I didn't criticize them because they were Democrats, and I'm not criticizing anybody now because they're a Republican. 

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Mackenzie Ad Transparent Deception

Seems as if freshman congressman Ryan Mackenzie wants a ribbon for voting along with all the other Republicans, save one, for opening the Epstein files. Although it's true he did say this summer that he would vote to open the file, he said so when there was no vote, and seemingly no chance of one. At that time, his mentor and chief, White House gold plater Donald Trump, was against the files going public. When the opportunity for real courage presented itself, he refused to sign the petition requesting a vote.

I'm frankly surprised that he would put out such a deceptive promotion at this point in time. He's crowing about something he was silent about when it counted. The promotion tells me that he counts on low information voters, and he seemingly is correct about that.

As I said before, I have no real issue with Mackenzie. Come midterms, he may still get my vote. In the meantime, when he says something needing scrutiny, I'll be here,

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Switch And Bait United States Healthcare

My rerun TV channels are full of Medicare ads. We're told that it's open season on enrollment, and call one of their licensed agents now with your zip code. Call now with your zip code. I called, and am now trying to recover from the call.

I was told by the licensed agent that my application probably would not be accepted, because I answered yes to taking blood pressure medication. Although I answered no to the other 719 questions, my yes to BP meds will do me in. To get medicare you have to be 65, I'm pushing toward 80. I only know one person my era who doesn't take any meds, and he never went to a doctor. Perplexed by her warning, I consulted Dr. Google. He told me that this major health insurer, along with their competition, were reeling under the cost of medical care and the aging demographic. That I can understand, but then why all the advertising? I would like to move to the zip code where the elderly live in perfect health, with no medication. 

Thank you John Fetterman for being a front man to end the shutdown. I know that the Democrats wanted to extend the health subsidies, but the consequences of the shutdown were outweighing their good intentions. As a blogger, I'm submitted to irrational partisans who put winning above everything else. They create so much tension that we need a national prescription for political centrists.

I'm not here to be polite or popular 

Share The Shame

If I was a Republican congressman, I would be offended by the President saying that We Have Nothing To Hide.  Unless I was an associate of Epstein, and entertained by his harem of girls, why would I have something to hide?

Trump is trying to make his shame theirs. He is not going to share his hotels and golf courses with congress, but will let them be part of the scandal.

Why shouldn't Trump try to play the Republicans in congress? They have been a cooperative chorus of sycophants, hoping the free ride will take them into 2029. For many, it will not take them into 2027.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

A Transactional Presidency

Never in the history of the country has there been a more transactional presidency. Combine that flaw with an unqualified cabinet, and we have one dangerous situation. However, we learned from his first term that a more qualified cabinet would have a very short shelf life.

Marjorie Taylor Greene joined the My Way Or The Highway Club this weekend, and Trump will support a primary opponent in the spring. Trump's problem with Greene will snowball this winter. Between $35 steaks, Epstein and the coming cold, his support is already waning. His tariff waffling has only created economic uncertainty.

Taylor Green might emerge a political maverick, like John Fetterman. Trump already coined one of his immature nicknames for her, Wacky Marjorie. When the public turns against him, it is going to turn fast and hard. Trump's messages have no consistency, because he has no plans, only reactions. MAGA knows the new ballroom isn't for them. 

I'm not here to be polite or popular

ADDENDUM: Green has announced her resignation from Congress effective January 5, 2026.

Trump And Epstein

As my readers know, I'm no fan of Trump, but I have no concerns about his past with Epstein. Years before Trump ran the first time, there were photos of him and Ivanka in the back seat of his limo. At the time, he said something like if she wasn't his daughter, he would want to date her. He was also filmed saying that because he's famous, he can grab woman. I assumed everyone knew that he was a womanizer, or younger, and that it was baked into the election.

The conventional thinking is that Trump wants to distract us from Epstein, but I find the curiosity about Epstein a distraction from the issues that really concern us as a nation. Trump, with questionable advisors at best, is using the military to bully the Western Hemisphere. He used tariffs as a roller coaster, which actually complicated domestic production.

Democrats distracted about Trump's sex life history, are inadvertently giving the Republicans a gift.

I'm not here to be polite or popular