MAGA Not Invited

When the Trump family sat down with the royal family of Saudi Arabia last week, the MAGA red hats were not invited. While the disciples ate hamburger at home, Trump's guests dined on rack of lamb. While the MAGA crowd grumbled about the upcoming half time show, the Trump juniors were accepting investments in their Saudi projects. Before dinner, Trump had F35's fly over the White House, to remind the royals what was at stake.

However, even before the dinner, I believe MAGA was already losing their appetite. Maybe they are not quite ready to admit it, but despite any high school football concussions, they know a slight when they see one. VP Vance told them, “As much progress as we’ve made, it’s going to take a little bit of time for every American to feel that economic boom, which we really do believe is coming. We believe that we’re on the front end of it,”  Vance may have to eat those words if he runs in 2028.

Trump's threats of sponsoring a primary opponent against any defectors this spring is ringing hollow, except perhaps to Marjorie Green. However, the coming battles in the general election are feared, and rightfully so. The incumbents, especially freshman, are running out of time to exert their independence from their Trump Trance.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Homeless Camp Fire On Kline's Island

I know a little about Kline's Island, enough to know that the LCA and the city had to know about the camp being there. I had no issue with the city removing the camps from Jordan Meadows. That area was a new addition to our park system, and was causing a hardship to adjoining properties.

I was somewhat surprised when the city administration removed the camp just south of Union Street. That camp adjoined no residential real estate. I was told on good source, that eviction resulted from a complaint from Promise Neighborhoods.

Homeless camps are nothing new to any city. While traditionally, most of the occupants had social issues, in these times, high rents are another cause. No city administration is going to solve the problem and eliminate camps. Hopefully, the unfortunate occupants will find another location which doesn't result in municipal interference.

photocredit/The Morning Call: Shown above former city councilwoman Emma Tropiano, camping near Kline's Island in her 1989 campaign for mayor.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

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