I am not sure what has become of the Democrat Party nationally. Ever since the election of President Trump, they have been on full tilt. Upon being elected, he chose Neil Gorsuch to replace the late Antonin Scalia to which the liberals cried foul, saying we should have seated Merrick Garland, an Obama nominee. Interesting, because all I heard about was we need to confirm Garland, nary a word about the makeup of the court. Oddly enough the makeup would be 5-4 liberal as opposed to the current 5-4 conservative majority.
So now Anthony Kennedy, the “swing justice”, has decided to retire and enter a different stage of his life, and Trump selected Brett Kavanaugh to replace him. Kavanaugh comes from the circuit court that interestingly has had the most judges selected for the Supreme Court. Also, he is Ivy league educated and was confirmed by a Senate majority with 57 in favor, versus 36 opposed. No doubt Kavanaugh is a conservative and had done some past work with Ken Starr regarding the impeachment of Bill Clinton, and the Florida re-count in 2000. Even before he was put up for nomination by the President, the Democrats went nuts. A pro-abortion group (or anti-life I guess) put out a press release but never replaced the *** with the name Brett Kavanaugh, this goes to show you no nominee was good enough.
Fill in Trump nominee name here From Jason Seher of CNN via Twitter
Trump once again stayed true to his word, and his campaign promises choosing a judge from his list of 25 names he felt were best to do the job. Isn’t that refreshing for once? A politician keeping his word? Nice work President Trump. Also, very smart to get the ball rolling on this quickly as we have an election coming up in November that could perhaps decide control of the Senate. 10 Democrat senators are up for re-election in states Trump won; 7 in states he won handily.
Now to the Democrat’s main argument that the makeup of the Supreme Court is changing, this is entirely false. The last few rulings signify this; we had a redistricting ruling, the Janus ruling, and immigration where Kennedy sided with the more conservative majority. The makeup of the court is not changing at all going from Kennedy to Kavanaugh, except perhaps on social issues; but I don’t think I would go that far. The point I’m trying to hammer home is there will always be a swing vote; once it was Sandra Day O’Connor, then it became Kennedy, next it will be John Roberts, etc. I still score the judge’s political leanings as 5-4 conservative leaning. If I were in charge of the Democrats, well first thing I would do is hang myself, if that didn’t suffice, then I would say vote your states and focus on re-election.
Ruth Ginsburg: the next to exit?
Kavanaugh is qualified and we will need all hands-on deck should Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s health fail. In any measure that matters, Ginsburg is now the swing justice. If something were to happen to her, that’s when the fight should happen. The Democrats could be staring at a 6-3 minority for a generation. Even worse, should Trump secure a 2nd term, Thomas could retire, and if he does you could have a 6-3 edge, but with the oldest judge being 70-year-old John Roberts. Yeah, scary, once again a generation or two will grow up under a conservative Supreme Court!
Most importantly the reason I supported Trump is verified daily, he has the Democrats running scared constantly. Trump is the total opposite of Barack Obama. Just look at how frazzled they are; literally they are reduced to attacking Mr. Kavanaugh’s first name. They are mocking the name “Brett” saying it’s a frat boy name. Yes, you read that right, his first name, by the way not chosen by him, given to him by his parents! That is the new level to which these bozo’s have decided to stoop too. Additionally, I love the idea of these Democrat aligned super PAC’s spending money telling sitting incumbent Democrats not to vote for Kavanaugh and to resist, even if it means losing your seat in November, you can’t make this stuff up.
Blog Father, I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of all this whining!
Elon Musk and his fantasy car company Tesla were in the news with a strange story. It reminded me of the movie Tucker when the 1950’s car company was taken to court for ripping off investors for selling dealerships with no cars. In the days leading up to the trial, Tucker and his band of merry men, cobble together 50 cars to show that he had production capability and his business model wasn’t a scam. Tucker rolled the 50 cars onto the grounds of the courthouse and lost his company anyway. These 50 cars are still in existence today and are among the most desirable collectables.
Tucker: The Man and His Dream
Tesla Background
Tesla is burning through its cash at an unsustainable rate. Their credit and stock have been downgraded. Then media reports surfaced a week ago that orders for the Tesla car for the everyday person (Model for $35K) were being cancelled faster that new orders were coming in. Tesla has never hit their promised production goal of ten thousand cars per week.
Early this morning, analysts at the New York-based investment banker downgraded Tesla shares from hold to underperform (Wall Street-speak for “sell”). Needham cited several reasons for its newly bearish stance on the electric-car maker, as outlined in a report on StreetInsider.com
Complicating matters further, Needham notes that its “checks” on the market show that Tesla is experiencing net cancellations of Model 3 orders by customers as “refunds are outpacing deposits.” The analyst believes this trend is accelerating, with as many as 24% of would-be buyers now asking for their money back.
In a coup de grace, Needham ends with a point on Tesla’s cash burn.
Tesla burned through $4.1 billion in negative free cash flow last year—twice its $2 billion reported loss and more than twice the $1.6 billion in negative free cash flow it suffered in 2016, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Faster Model 3 production is supposed to mitigate cash burn, but Needham believes Tesla will still go through a further $6 billion “through 2020.”
The analyst also notes that Tesla has a $1.5 billion debt payment coming due in 2019. Although Tesla has enough cash in the bank ($2.7 billion, according to S&P Global figures) to cover that payment now, continued cash burn will eat away at it, meaning that by the time Tesla’s debt comes due, it may not have cash on hand to pay it. That implies additional debt issuance (i.e., paying debt with more debt) or stock sales (i.e., dilution) may be necessary to keep Tesla solvent.
None of this adds up to much of a buy thesis for Tesla stock—but it may justify a sell.
In addition to the above, Elon Musk has been saying stupid stuff on Twitter; especially about the divers that saved the cave kids.
At a crucial juncture for the company, which is struggling to show it can mass-produce an electric sedan and generate cash, Musk has tangled very publicly with government regulators, stock analysts, journalists, former employees — even the creator of a farting-unicorn coffee mug.
On Sunday morning, after a rescue diver took to CNN to criticize as a “PR stunt” Musk’s offer of a small submarine to transport a Thai soccer team out of a flooded labyrinthine cave, Musk called the man a “pedo” on Twitter — short for pedophile.
Musk soon removed the tweet but not until the unsubstantiated slur had ricocheted around the world. The diver told reporters he’s thinking about suing Musk.
Tesla has yet to officially comment on Musk’s accusation. Thus far, Tesla’s board of directors has been silent on the matter. But on Monday, Tesla’s stock fell 2.75%, to $310.10. It is down 14% since Musk announced on July 2 that Tesla had hit a goal of producing 5,000 Model 3s a week.
Musk’s confrontations come as he continues to struggle to fix crippling production problems with the Model 3 electric sedan, which Musk regards as a “bet the company” proposition.
The production goal Tesla hit earlier this month lags far behind earlier benchmarks set by the company. In August 2017, Musk told stock analysts there should be “zero concern” the company would hit 10,000 Model 3s a week by the end of this year. The calendar says that’s still possible, but he’s currently struggling to sustain the 5,000-a-week rate.
Meanwhile, the company’s cash pile continues to shrink. When a section of the Model 3 assembly line was shut down after Musk — who is not only the company’s chief executive but also its chief engineer — failed at an aggressive attempt at robot automation, he set up a tent in a parking lot at the company’s Fremont, Calif., factory to handle the overflow, with partly finished car bodies transported from factory to tent on tractor beds and forklifts.
Tesla Yesterday
Portions of the Internet blew-up yesterday when it was announced that some enterprising fellow on Twitter had found a whole lot full of thousands of Tesla cars. Shortly thereafter, another bunch was found in another city.
Aerials of the facility identified earlier today at 500 E Louise Ave, Lathrop, CA…more to come, but I didn’t want to make people wait any longer to see the big picture.
Yesterday, several Twitter sleuths uncovered two parking lots, in Lathrop, California, and the other in Burbank, California, at which several thousand Tesla Model 3s are being stored.
The thousands of Model 3 cars are jammed together on dusty lots, baking in the California sun. Approximately 2,500 in Lathrop and another 2,000 in Burbank.
And what ever could be the reason for Tesla storing hundreds of millions of dollars of inventory in dusty lots when it instead could be converting the cars to cash, given what it claims is strong demand?
Is it logistical chaos? Do the cars need rework? Is it all part of some grand plan?
I don’t have the answers, but the questions are not going away.
Tesla’s (TSLA) grand plan was to avoid hitting the magic 200,000 federal income tax credit limit in Q2. To that end, Tesla would stockpile cars near the end of Q2 so it could unleash them in Q3, as every car it delivers in the U.S. in Q3 and Q4 will qualify for the full credit.
Tesla evidently executed the first part of the plan, stopping just short of the 200,000 number as June ended, reporting more than 11,000 Model 3 cars in transit.
So, is this just a tax dodge? A Tucker moment to boost faith in the company or what? Remember that Musk has been cutting employees in some parts of his empire and working others like dogs. Tesla has been promising production numbers of ten thousand units a week for the last several years but has failed to deliver. They also absorbed the debt from Solar City. And as shown above, he is in bad shape.
As I was researching for this blog, I found an opinion piece that expresses what I was about to say so I will just quote it. This was published earlier today.
One disastrous tweet has finally revealed Elon Musk for what he is: a fraud.
Enraged that a British cave diver called his idea to rescue the Thai soccer team for what it was — “a p.r. stunt [with] absolutely no chance of working” — Musk took to Twitter and called him a “pedo.”
Just like that, Tesla’s market value plummeted by $2 billion.
Musk has been in business since 2002. His stated goal is nothing short of transforming humanity through his products: his electric cars, space travel, and an underground high-speed Hyperloop system.
He has yet to succeed at anything but somehow spins every failure into proof of imminent success. His only accomplishment has been this decades-long Jedi mind trick.
Tesla is best known for blowing deadlines and consistently falling short on production.
In November 2017, Bloomberg reported that the company burns through $500,000 per hour. For two years now, Tesla has been suffering an epic talent drain and in May, two top execs — one the liaison with the National Transportation Safety Board — walked out the door.
Tesla was founded in 2003, but the world’s largest automakers quickly surpassed Musk’s vision for electric vehicles. Tesla will never catch up. Shareholders are finally catching on.
So should the government, which reportedly gifts Musk’s companies with an estimated $4.9 billion in subsidies.
Star investor Jim Chanos called Tesla a “walking insolvency” back in 2016. He doubled down in December, saying Tesla is “headed for a brick wall.”
What Next?
Musk is playing games with the Tesla company and that is nothing new. He is a cross between P.T. Barnum, Preston Tucker, and the fictional character played by Danny DeVito in “Other People’s Money”. Musk is using other people’s money to bring a utopian energy dream of environmentalists and Leftists of many stripes to fruition. The reality is that Musk is ultimately going to live or die in the free market. Every time the Establishment types bet on winners and losers, we all lose. Musk is a dreamer and an idea guy. What he sells is smoke and mirrors, the realities of making a profitable product on such a large scale are beyond him but as long as he can keep people investing in the pyramid then it keeps going.
The fact that there is no infrastructure to keep the electric car business running is something people are willfully neglecting. You don’t have the freedom to drive Tesla cars anywhere you want. Even in states like New York and California, most of the state has no ability to charge electric vehicles. Also, where is all the electric generation to keep such a fleet of battery operated vehicles going to come from? Especially when most folks will want to charge their cars at night. These same states are outlawing every known electric generation method in existence with the hope that solar and wind will be the answer. But that’s my point, there is no existing reliable form of energy production except technology based on nuclear or hydrocarbon fuels. Liberal energy policy is based on bad science and wishful thinking.
The self-driving technology employed by Tesla is a class action lawsuit ready to happen. Sooner or later the government is going to be forced to confront Musk for the safety record of his vehicles. Currently, government is trying to shelter him from the consequences of the deaths caused by failures of his system. How many deaths does it take to call the Tesla product defective? Other automakers and insurance folks are watching this aspect of the Tesla company. This might be the path to the financial ruin of one Elon Musk.
Elon Musk’s dress rehearsal for leaving his troubles behind
That Musk appears to be playing games with Washington to keep the Federal tax credit in place is disturbing. Again, at some point the government giveaways will end and he will have to stand on his own two feet. Some day soon, the free market will decide Musk’s fate. Donald Trump winning the 2016 election was his worst financial nightmare. Had Hillary Clinton won, the floodgates of government incentives would have flowed to Musk for decades. California’s mandate that all houses built after 2020 must have solar will benefit Musk but it’s not enough to bail-out the Solar City albatross that he wrapped around the necks of Tesla investors.
Musk is running out of time, money, and excuses. Lucky for him, Mars is a nonextradition planet. At least he might utilize SpaceX for a unique exit strategy for his financial problems.
Sportscaster, Howard Cosell, famously told it like it was. People either loved him or hated him, but Howard was never shy about expressing his point of view. He grew-up in New York and folks couldn’t deny his love of sports. To many of us, Howard was a big part of what made Monday Night Football a phenomenon for many decades. Howard also helped to make Muhammed Ali and Evil Knievel the household names that they were in the 1970’s.
ABC’s Howard Cosell
In the same frank, plain talking sort of way, President Donald Trump just completed a very successful trip to Europe that has folks here up in arms about nothing.
Below are what I think are the four accomplishments of this trip.
England
Trump took grief for allegedly insulting the Prime Minister for telling her to honor the vote of her own people and get out of the European Union; i.e. Brexit. The British leadership is feckless and frozen with fear. Trump wanted them to be decisive and act.
Germany
Trump told Germany that it was stupid to get all their country’s energy needs from Russia. If NATO was created to protect Europe from Russia then why enrich Russia with this monopolistic energy deal? It is a conflict of interest to be in NATO and have this deal with Russia at the same time.
NATO
Trump told NATO nations that they need to take an active interest in defending their countries. Most NATO countries contribute nothing and let the United States pick-up the tab for military spending that they should be paying. This was a campaign promise of Trump so why does the media and many of these nations act like this is something new? The media always bitches about the U.S. being the world’s policeman and then complains when Trump asks them to stand on their own two feet so we don’t have too. If a Democrat said this they would be cheering.
Putin
Trump met with Putin. No on mike whispering that after the next election the President would be in a better position to do favors for them like we had with Obama. The media is stuck on stupid about Russian and the election. If the Russians did anything, it was to make Hillary look bad—which only takes a mirror—but this idea that Trump and Russia collaborated to thwart the Democrats and steal the election is just sour grapes. Yes, many of us really do hate Hillary and think the only reason that she had a political career was because she slept with Bill. She has no ideas or accomplishments; she was an incompetent Secretary of State and her track record was painted red with the blood of people all over the world that died because she was/is an idiot.
President departing Air Force One
Trump had a good trip to Europe. How can you tell? Because the media and the political class are having kittens. They talk and Trump does. That ladies and gentlemen is the difference. They still can’t believe that Trump believed all that stuff he promised in the campaign and is trying to make it happen. Donald Trump, promises made, promises kept. That is how you Make America Great Again.
Commit any crime and do zero time. Yeah, really, it’s now the law in California. Shoot-up your workplace or school, no jail. Kill someone with your car after smoking pot or being drunk, not problem. Steal a car with children in it and skate.
Check out this article.
It’s a trailer bill, passed inside wide-sweeping budget legislation and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in June, that creates a diversion program for all crimes, including felonies. District attorneys across the state are worried about its impacts, saying it could open a dangerous door when dealing with serious crimes.
“Things like this kind of hide in there and now it’s law,” said Yuba County District Attorney Patrick McGrath.
Tucked between dozens of pages of legal language is a new law passed in a budget bill, that could let more criminals off the hook.
“I’m frustrated, I’m frustrated,” said McGrath.
AB 1810 creates a plan to keep people charged with any crime — including murder, mass shootings, and fatal DUI’s — out of jail, as long as they can prove the crimes were committed because of a diagnosable mental disorder that can be treated.
“So, that would mean anxiety, alcoholism, kleptomania,” said McGrath.
But folks it doesn’t stop there. Think about it. Michael Savage says Liberalism is a mental illness. And he’s basically right. So if you protest anything; Trump, immigration, abortion rights, killing cops, surrendering to communists, conservative speakers on campus, winning the NBA finals, or anything else then you can get off free.
Michael Savage
This applies to politicians as well; take bribes, text to your girlfriend about your hatred of Trump, touch interns on the butt, act like Maxine Waters, buy stock in companies that are awarded government contracts by your committee, steal opponents lawn signs, etc. and you are off scot-free.
Mentally ill politician Maxine Waters
Lest you think I jest, look no further than worker compensation claims. To have a valid claim, you need one person in the State of California to say you have a work related injury and you can cash in. Whether you really hurt yourself working on your car on your day off or climbing Half Dome on vacation is not really relevant.
Half Dome
The person approving your claim does not have to be a medical doctor either. A holistic healer, medicine man, chiropractor, acupuncturist, etc. anywhere in the State. No second opinion is needed. The important thing is that the paperwork is completed properly, the person signing it is of secondary importance.
If you apply the “medical’ standards used in the worker comp system with the new law on mental illness you have a cornucopia of crimes that you can get away with; especially when the medical and psychiatric communities are convinced that pills can cure anything that ails us.
I can hear it now…
“Your honor, psycho Bob was off his meds when he killed his mother. I have confidence that if properly medicated, he won’t do it again.”
Liberalism is a mental and spiritual illness that turns the good that government was intended to do into a suicide pact for the society that it governs. Sadly, here’s yet another example.
We broke news a little over two weeks ago that there could finally be justice for fallen rapper “XXXTentacion”; today we moved a step closer. Broward County Sheriff deputies announced the arrest of 22 year old Michael Boatwright today in connection with XXXTentacion’s murder. Police say he was one of the two shooters to kill the martyr and rap artist XXXTentacion. Boatwright was in custody on a drug charge when officers informed him of his murder charge.
Michael Boatwright arrested for cappin’ XXXTentacion
Wow, that has to suck. Here you are counting down the hours until you are released from the gawd awful hell hole known as Broward County jail, you spy a few officers headed your way and a smile creeps across your face! You are getting out, your family will come pick you up, take you over to KFC or Wingstop to reward your release from the pen, and wham, like a ton of bricks you find out that stack of paper you thought was your belongings is a document arresting you for murder! Man that counts as a bad day, worse yet you get moved from a less serious offender unit to a hardened criminals unit! Boatwright’s dream of KFC and Buffalo Wing’s, have been replaced with Nutraloaf, oatmeal, and mystery meat.
Before we get too excited about the murder charge, looks like this Boatwright character had a pretty rough week as he was locked up pending trial on a long list of charges. Inmate records show that, in addition to the murder charge, Boatwright is pending trial on charges of cannabis possession; possession of cocaine with intent to sell; manufacture or deliver; possession of the drug, flakka; battery on a specified employee; resisting/obstruction without violence; and probation violations, among other charges.
The 22-year-old was already in Broward County Jail after his arrest Thursday on felony cocaine possession with intent to sell or deliver and misdemeanor marijuana possession charges, which brought additional violation of probation charges. Boatwright is on probation until April 2019 from battery and drug charges.
It takes some people decades to get a rap sheet that long; Boatwright accomplished this before most people finish college! I guess you could say he graduated from petty crime, assault, and drug distribution to murder. By the way just to remind our loyal readers “allegedly.”
Editor Note: For those not up on current trends in street pharmaceuticals, here is the lowdown on flakka.
Flakka is a designer drug that can be snorted, smoked, injected or swallowed. It may also be combined with other, softer drugs such as marijuana.
Flakka is most typically made from the chemical alpha-PVP, which is a synthetic version of the amphetamine-like stimulant cathinone. Cathinones are chemicals derived from the khat plant grown in the Middle East and Somalia, where the leaves are frequently chewed for a euphoric buzz.
Flakka is one of a number of cathinone-based drugs that are produced in China and sold online to small-time drug gangs in the U.S. And the business is lucrative. Hall says that with small investment of only a few thousand dollars, a dealer can walk away with as much as $75,000.
A quick look at Boatwright tells me he has never really been in jail before; the lack of a decent mugshot; and lack of any tattoos tell me he may not be the best candidate for jail time. He looks like a mama’s boy to me. Especially in comparison to Dedrick Williams, the other “alleged” shooter. Williams looks like he knows the inner workings and politics of jailhouses very well. Also he is no stranger to an orange jumpsuit or a bowl of jailhouse oatmeal for breakfast. Hopefully these two can be cellmates because Boatwright will need a good support group. I also noticed Boatwright has yet to hire a lawyer; bold strategy, but you know what hey, why spend all that money when you can represent yourself! It’s a constitutional right we all get!
When reached for comment Boatwright said he “dindu nuffin” so I guess that means he will fit right in with the rest of the animals in jail who also found themselves in the unique position of saying “they didn’t do it.” Couple words of advice for Mr. Boatwright, first get used to the food quickly, it will ensure your survival. Might be tough at first because I heard the maggots and cockroaches in the jail kitchen never touch the food, and sprint immediately toward the exterminator hoping to be put out of their misery quickly. Also do not under any circumstances drop the soap!
If you happen to do so, just let it go, it’s a painful lesson otherwise brother! Stay strong!
Finally the police are seeking a second unidentified gunman as well as wanting to speak to one Robert Allen about the shooting as well. Some unsolicited advice to Mr. Allen you are also wanted for a felony charge of possession of flakka, a concealed gun as well as probation violations. If I’m you brother, I’m Googling countries with no US extradition laws. Get out while you can before the police can frame you for this heinous crime as well. Also remember the 5th Amendment, and by that I’m talking about the right to keep your mouth shut, not the right to a 5th of Hennessey.
When the “Chief” read this headline, Stormy Daniels was Arrested this AM, I knew I had to fire up another troll blog. Stormy Daniels, we will refer to her as an adult entertainer, most known for trying to extort money from President Donald J Trump, was arrested at a Columbus, Ohio strip club where she was “performing” this Thursday AM. She “allegedly” touched some undercover police officers while she was performing on stage. Stormy was arrested and booked into a local jail; no word if said jail had a stage or fireman’s pole on which she could continue her act. However; traditionally, they do have a camera or two on the premises.
Stormy Daniels taking the perp walk earlier today and she looks way different with clothing
Stormy posted bail of $6,054 and was released shortly after being booked. No word on whether bail was paid in used one-dollar bills, or coupons for future services rendered by Miss Daniels. As a sidebar I hope the bail officer wore gloves when handling said dollar bills because this money is in need of laundering (with bleach).
As a certified connoisseur of strip clubs since my youth, I would like to weigh in on this topic because I find the lack of details disturbing here. First of all what patron of a strip club would complain about a dancer touching them? This is what the officers should be investigating, good lord! That’s like the Holy Grail my friend and here you are rushing outside to put 911 on blast? For this? Fortunately for this “poor lad” there just happened to be a number of undercover police officers at the club to well…to stick-up for him and lend a hand. Coincidence? I think not! Rumor has it the officers were investigating a lead on a shooter of famed, rap martyr, XXXTentacion.
Lest you think I jest about Ohio, read the article in the post below on flakka.
“… there have been recent reports of a designer drug marketed as flakka in Ohio and Houston as well as Florida.”
Thank gawd they didn’t let this “Stormy” situation blow over. Or perhaps these officers were just looking for a reason to get her off the premises, away from the unwashed masses, and get a private show out of this? Most people don’t look good in handcuffs unless you are into that sort of thing, but something tells me Stormy didn’t mind, and she is likely no stranger to a pair of more “furry” handcuffs.
Upon being bailed out, her attorney put out a statement saying, “This was a setup and politically motivated, it reeks of desperation.” I agree, as this appears to be the same thing she did to President Trump. The irony in that statement cannot be made up.
What is kind of funny in a weird way is this is the law she broke “under Ohio Law, an employee who regularly appears nude, or seminude on the premises of a sexuality oriented business is not allowed to touch anyone who is not a family member while nude or semi-nude at said establishment.” Well I think that law defeats the purpose of any and all strip clubs, I mean who wants to see a family member nude or semi-nude? Frankly I would expect a law like this in West Virginia but not its neighbor to the west! Truth be told I’m slightly disturbed. Now let me get this straight, so touching a family member’s junk while nude is not viewed as a crime, but if it’s not a family member, it’s illegal? Does this include service animals? Many people regard them as family members too.
Given the above, I think it’s time to change the way we pick Presidents since it usually comes down to Ohio’s “voters.” Maybe they have these laws because of the old joke, what do you call a good looking women in Ohio? A visitor!
In an interview with a friend of mine, he commented “Just a few months ago she was on top of the world, being interviewed by Anderson Cooper and Jimmy Kimmel and now this? My response was if you consider being interviewed by those two as the top of the world; you should get out more often. Plus, I think that’s the first time I’ve heard the words, “girl”, “on top of” and “Anderson Cooper” in the same sentence, ever.
In closing, Stormy got off on these “alleged” charges this morning. And when I say got off, I mean legally, not sexually because there is no way to prove the latter. This is why I always urge people to use “allegedly” because until convicted you do have rights in this country…allegedly. A couple of final thoughts on this; first, the day I call the police because a stripper touched me is the day I kill myself! Also, boy do I hope Trump tweets his thoughts on this, I’m going to get my popcorn and warm pretzel handy! Additionally, I’m glad to know the good men and women of the Columbus Police Department were attending a strip club last night rather than you know; cleaning up the hell hole that is known as Columbus! I am sure there were no shootings, opioid overdoses, or any other crimes committed in that gawd forsaken place!
The Supreme Court ruling that struck down unions from requiring non-members to pay dues as a condition of employment is bigger than most people realize. Folks, the Court threw a thermonuclear grenade into the status quo political arrangement.
I’m going to tie three different threads together as we discuss this issue. As the adage goes, “Follow the money.”
First, the amount of money collected in dues just in the State of California is staggeringly large. I knew that combined the California Teachers Association (CTA) and Service Employees Union International (SEIU) collected about $625 million during each two year election cycle but today I learned this is peanuts.
Based primarily on publicly disclosed 2016 form 990s along with information obtained from their individual websites, in aggregate, California’s major public sector unions are estimated to be collecting over $900 million per year.
Because there are undoubtedly smaller and less visible public sector unions operating in California, this number may be conservative. The number is also possibly understated because when making assumptions, conservative estimates were always applied. This was the done when estimating average membership dues in nearly all cases, and also with respect to total membership.
Yeah, you read that right, 900 million dollars a year is the conservative estimate. And as of now they get zero dollars unless they can convince people to join. Now multiply these numbers all across the other states and the Democrats just lost the gravy train. They and their financial backers have lost billions of dollars. Folks, they will not get all these people back on the union rolls; ever.
The implications for the political environment are huge. The most immediate result will be the congressional elections in November; especially the Senate. Democrats have to defend ten seats in states where Trump won. Without funding, their job just to keep these seats let alone gain anything has become all but impossible. Democrats will have to spend all their cash to keep from losing more seats in the Senate. Becoming the majority is almost mathematically impossible. Furthermore, once the elections are over, they and their special interests will be out of cash.
Against this background, take a look at the Supreme Court. The urgency of the smear campaign against the nominee now comes into sharper focus. It doesn’t matter who Trump put up, they have to oppose him. Again, it takes vast amounts of cash to run this campaign against Brett Kavanaugh. Again, this cash cannot be easily replaced.
Following the November election, Republicans will likely gain a few seats in the Senate. Fox Business even agrees with me on this assertion. This from Stuart Varney:
Is it possible? A red wave coming, to the Senate? The Republicans pick up seats, increase their majority?
It’s possible, and because of Judge Kavanaugh, it’s probable!
Justice Ginsburg is at the end of her time both on the Court and on this planet. She’s 85 and in poor health. If Democrats had any strategic thinkers on their team, they would have replaced Ginsburg while Obama was President. This would have assured a young Liberal on the court for the next 30 years or so. But they were so cocksure that Hillary Clinton would win that this never happened. This theme has been voiced twice in the last few days. First by Liz Peek on Fox and then by Rush Limbaugh.
If Republicans can pick up two or three seats in the Senate, Trump can appoint a full throated conservative to the Court that everyone knows will vote to overturn Roe v Wade and there will not be a damned thing that Susan Collins and her fellow pro-abortion Republicans can do about it. Look for a female Catholic to be nominated to replace Ginsburg.
Oh, this also explains the logic of putting up Brett Kavanaugh to replace Kennedy.
Reports are in this morning that the Thailand soccer team is saved from the cave they were trapped in for several weeks. The twelve boys and coach are all safe. Some rescue workers remain inside and must still find their way out. The fact that only one rescue worker lost his life and the whole group was recovered alive is a miracle.
Wild Boars soccer team
The dramatic three-day rescue of a Thai youth soccer team that had been stuck in a flooded cave came to an end Tuesday when the last boy and the team’s coach were plucked from the underground cavern—more than two weeks after they became trapped, Navy officials said.
The Thai Navy SEALS said on Facebook all 12 boys from the team and the team’s coach were out of the cave. Four rescuers, a doctor and three Navy SEALS remained inside.
The linked article is worth a read just to see the illustrations of what it took to get the kids out.
As this drama has been unfolding over the last several days, I began wondering about children’s safety in a different sort of cave. One that was warm, and actually has a steady supply of food and water. Sadly, in our supposedly civilized and medically advanced country, the fatality rate for these children during most of my lifetime has been over thirty percent.
I think a death rate from any cause approaching one in three is unacceptable. Doubly so when it is totally preventable by just letting nature take its course. But herein is the problem, folks don’t want to do that.
That’s where a guy like Donald Trump comes into the picture. You see, Trump is concerned about this issue and would like to do something about it. That’s why last night he nominated Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court. Kavanaugh may not be the first choice of many conservatives but he has a strong track record of reigning-in the power of the federal bureaucracy.
In the first, he found the Consumer Finance Protection Board (CFPB) violated the Constitution because it vested all power over consumer finance in the country in one person, but insulated him from removal by the president.
In the second, he struck down a new federal accounting board, because it too was insulated from presidential control, even though Article II of the Constitution vests the president, and the president alone, with the duty to see that “the Laws be Faithfully Executed.”
In both cases, Kavanaugh has made clear that he would put the text and history of the Constitution first, and mistaken precedent second, which should cheer the hearts of conservatives.
With at least two more picks left (replacing Thomas and Ginsberg), Trump will fundamentally reshape the Court so that children are safe and protected in their mother’s womb. Yes, California and New York may not be safe for unborn children when Roe is toppled but for many, there will be states of refuge where life and not selfishness are the values of the land.
Ruling against a radical abortion claim. In his one foray into the abortion arena, in a very contentious recent case involving a pregnant unaccompanied-alien minor being held in HHS custody, Kavanaugh objected to his court’s grant of relief to the minor. In his dissent, he complained that the majority concocted “a constitutional principle as novel as it is wrong: a new right for unlawful immigrant minors in U.S. Government detention to obtain immediate abortion on demand.” The majority’s decision, he said, “represents a radical extension of the Supreme Court’s abortion jurisprudence.”
Judge Kavanaugh is admittedly a “safe” choice for Trump but he should be more solidly conservative than Anthony Kennedy. The real fight will be to replace Ginsberg and give conservatives and constitutionalists a super majority on the Court.
At the end of his administration, Trump will leave the country better off than it was when he took office. If his Court picks are as good as I hope then perhaps the scourge of surgical abortion will go the way of slavery. As the good doctor once said, “A person is a person no matter how small.”
As we await President Trump’s announcement of who he will nominate to the Supreme Court to replace Anthony Kennedy we can’t help but wonder if…
In a move that sent shockwaves thru the Washington Establishment, President Trump today announced that he was nominating Judge Judy to the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court nominee—Judge Judy
Judge Judy is well known for her blunt and straight forward manner in resolving disagreements between parties. Judy has agreed to be nominated in exchange for two conditions, first, the proceedings of the Court are to be televised on a cable channel with higher ratings than C-Span. Currently AMC network is the leading contender, and their only condition is that Justice Ginsburg appear in the season nine episode of The Walking Dead where Rick Grimes meets his fate.
Rick Grimes meets Justice Ginsburg on TWD
Ruth Ginsburg: the next to exit?
Judy’s other condition is that the Court room be remodeled. She wants to allow natural sunlight into the room and soften the colors of the wood paneling. She also wanted to “add some damn flowers into this place.” Judy is not known for working as part of an ensemble cast but is willing to give it a try. She also is retaining the right to work during her off time on her television show.
Her views on abortion are not well known. The closest anyone has gotten was an exchange she had on her show a few years back.
She asked a young woman, “If you didn’t get knock-up by this scumbag then you wouldn’t be here asking for child support.”
Her response was, “But he said he loved me.”
Judy then retorted, “And you believed him when he said he would leave his wife for you? Grow-up.” Then she turned to the camera and said, “Where the hell do we find these cases? Walmart?”
Judy then ordered the baby to be put up for adoption and the man to get a vasectomy in exchange for not paying 18 years of child support.
Newt Gingrich reportedly likes the pick and said, “Judy is a kindred spirit to President Trump and will reflect the administration’s new tone of calling it like it is. I just hope she doesn’t have a Twitter account.”
Senator Chuck Schumer met with Judge Judy and described the meeting as akin to two New Yorker’s talking baseball over a few beers. “Judy is a spunky lady and would be an interesting addition to the bench.” He then added, “We have wanted the Court televised for years and now that may actually happen. The transparency that would give the Court makes supporting Judge Judy a good move for my fellow Senators.”
California Senator Diane Feinstein was less supportive. “Judge Judy has a track record of supporting adoption so I must question whether she truly supports a woman’s choice.”
Senate leadership has set confirmation hearings to begin after the summer recess when Congress meets after Labor Day.
The call to action was apparently not answered; chalk this up as another failure from the CRA and its “leadership.” It is unknown at this time how many calls were made to the White House or to the congressional switchboard, but the effort was a failure none the less. Perhaps CRA President Thomas N Hudson is expecting too much from a membership composed mostly of geriatric white guys with arthritic fingers and rotary dial telephones. The bottom line is that Hudson put out an urgent call for action, but the membership failed to deliver.
Rumor has it the “Sith Lord” made many phone calls from both cell and landline phones, including his wife’s phone. As per usual, he was a good soldier in the effort. Perhaps he had his apprentice applicants make calls from the CRA call center since he is reluctant to put his actual name on anything except letters to the RNC opposing Douglas Ose. The “Drunken Jedi” was enjoying Happy Hour over the last 72 hours and as a result was in a normal state of inebriation, therefore no phone calls from him. The “Wookie” didn’t even know there was a vacancy on said Supreme Court because he thought the “Supreme Court” was a new item at Taco Bell in honor of the Sacramento Kings. Oh, by the way these are your three choices for President of CRA folks, just imagine the debates among these three; one is inept, one is clueless, and one is a psycho and I can’t figure out who is who!
CRA motivational flyer as seen at Stop Trump call center
Let’s just chalk this up as another embarrassing loss for the CRA and whatever is left of its membership. Membership is down substantially over the years, entire counties no longer have units, it’s just gawd awful what’s happened under the current board. This is exhibit A folks of what happens when you try to take stands against what the people actually want, and as a result, members have been fleeing this stumbling organization. Sadly, this group opposed Donald Trump every step of the way and honestly, most probably think there was collusion with Russia…nope. Blog Father and I have really right news for you….Trump will get re-elected in 2020. Here is my crying towel….womp womp!
That’s right folks, while most are celebrating a 5-4 conservative edge on the court, this band of losers wants Trump gone. Make no mistake about it, the nominee will easily clear 55 votes with at least four democrats voting to confirm. Yet still this band of losers can’t stand the man, thinking that one Theodore Cruz was unfairly denied the nomination. Maybe Trump wasn’t born here, and you guys can use that route to get him impeached? Never mind the fact if these idiots had their way it would be a 5-4 liberal edge on the court, thankfully the masses voted for Trump and it’s a moot point.
Serious analysis now; we can count on the “Sith Lord” to drum up opposition like he tried to against the nominee, despite remaining on the sidelines. Rumor has it his groin has been bothering him for straddling the political fence for almost 50 years. No word on the many dead carcasses of suicide bombers he has riled up over the years. The “Wookie” still thinks Barack Obama is our president and is in disbelief he would nominate 2 conservatives to the court. Much like the Sith Lord, he still thinks Ted Cruz is up for president in November. The “drunken Jedi” was asked for comment but his commentary was undecipherable due to the fact it was not certain which was higher his BAC of the percentage of votes Travis Allen got for Governor. He said something along the lines of he wasn’t sure that it was absolutely Absolut, I guess a reference to Vodka.
But here is a win for the CRA, a photo of Theodore Cruz, and in the words of Frankie Vallie and the 4 seasons….”Can’t take my eyes off of you!”
