Friends, there's no denying that these days there a feeling of giddy optimism among conservatives, but some of that "joy" (to borrow a phrase) is spilling over to consumers and investors too. Both are increasingly keen on America's prospects in the year ahead. Is it "the Trump effect"? He ain't hurting matters any...
While the lamestream media tries its hardest to blacken the name of Elon Musk, the Wall Street Journal is defending DOGE as a necessary step in bringing entrenched interests and the Deep State to heel. They point out, quite rightly, that DOGE hasn't saved us a heck of a lot of money as yet, but it is finding sweetheart deals for elite insiders galore, and that may ultimately be every bit as valuable a contribution to the revitalization of our democracy and the recalibration of our moral compass.
In a fascinating move, the Trump-Bondi DOJ is asking that charges against New York City's Democratic Mayor Eric Adams be dropped. Republicans and conservatives suspect that the charges were meant to punish Adams for criticizing the Biden Administration, and now Democrats and progressives are suspicious that all Trump wants is to make the NYC mayor his pet. What a tangled web we weave!
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/eric-adams-charges-dismissed-rcna191600
According to DJT, it's time for us to say goodbye to the noble penny. That's right: the U.S. Mint will stop making new pennies, and thus, we assume, the penny will someday soon go the way of the dodo bird. It's a sad day for penny pinchers, to be sure, but let's face it: inflation has made the penny a laughable medium of exchange. I say it's time to reevaluate the division of the dollar into one hundred units more fundamentally. Perhaps the nickel is the new shilling? Another fun gambit would be to knock a zero off of everything, and then all of a sudden a penny wouldn't be quite so worthless anymore... Plus, we could go back to buying a car, say, for a few thousand bucks, which sounds about right to me!
Finally, take note that Amazon is retreating from wokeness and showing a little more deference to the principle of free speech. Maybe Amazon isn't so evil, after all! Side note: I strongly advise all lefties to cancel their Amazon accounts. There's really no need for one. Kmart has you covered! Or, better yet, retreat into the woods and pick berries for sustenance. You know you've always dreamed of doing exactly that. Imagine the bliss of never having to hear a single news story about Trump ever again! Yup, you'll be much happier cut off from society, and in all likelihood society won't miss you much either...
Dr. Waddy from Jack: This new Era of Good Feelings has me giddy for sure. I even watch MSNBC sometimes, although not when "Rev." Sharpton is on ; I do have some limits.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, this AM Elizabeth Warren was thrashing about in her characteristic histrionic and pedantic dudgeon. She excoriated Musk for what she heretically termed 'slash and burn". Uhh, slash and burn is a tactic still used by some primitive peoples to prepare woodland for agriculture.It was probably used by the aboriginal tribes from whom she claims descent. Its purpose is to produce food so they can eat.
WELL! Her rave is rife with gross insensitivity, political incorrectness (actually it is that ) and cultural contempt. How dare she cite a time honored practice like slash and burn as a condemning metaphor!? She should be denounced to her very own inquisition.
Yes, Musk is making haste to help prepare our Federal government for responsible use of tax payer funds. That is a GOOD thing Liz. He deserves support, not presumptuous and ignorant cheap shot.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: Today SecDef ordered the renaming of Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg. Good for him; I hope this is an opening salvo in a massive assault on cancel culture.
ReplyDeleteThe memory of Confederate General Bragg and his fellows is honored by many who cherish the tradition of the Confederate soldier defending his homeland from what he saw (and what it was to a great extent ) as a foreign invasion. 300, 000 of them died in that defense and the survivors returned to a ravaged land. The values of Americans who see it that way deserve to be celebrated along with the views of those who celebrate the Confederacy's deserved defeat.
Too, Fort Bragg is in the south and is the home of our great airborne. Post Civil War southerners have been one of the pillars of our military.'NUff said for that.
Enough with the cancel culture! If you don't like Confederate monuments and memorials, ignore 'em. Of course, this being a FREE country, you can put up any for which you can get public support. So do it and leave already existing monuments be! The Confederacy paid a terrible, terrible price for its sins and as Lincoln himself said after Lee surrendered "the Confederate are our countrymen". And so they are; the South and the Mt. West are probably the most patriotic sections of our country, in sharp contrast to the left coasts from which cancel culture emerged.
RAY TO JACK
DeleteNaming any U.S. Army Fort after a Confederate General is a good example of "stupid culture"! I'm sure you will never agree with me on this issue, and that's fine. I'm just sounding off.
Why isn't there an Army Fort named for George Armstrong Custer? The man was a great cavalry soldier during the Civil War, and a national icon after Little Big Horn, but I guess he disobeyed orders so we can't name a fort after him.
Of course there are Forts named after famous people like Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, although Houston advised Texas to stay out of war on either side.
The only positive comment on renaming Fort Bragg, would be that it was Special Forces headquarters, and a lot of SF people thought it should never be anything else but Bragg.
So what the hell, just leave it as Fort Bragg, and don't mess with the name in the future.
I'm still waiting for a Fort to become Fort Custer.
How about a Fort Grant? Is there one?
RAY TO JACK
DeleteMeaning that Sam Houston advised Texas to stay out of the U.S. Civil War, from what I understand, although I could be wrong about that.
In any event, as I recall, Fort Bragg was named at some point in honor of a U.S. Army paratrooper in World War 2.
Speaking of Army Forts, hard to understand why there isn't a U.S. Army Fort named after General George Patton, but there isn't. Why not? He certainly was a successful general and patriot, with all of his flaws.
How about Fort John Wayne? One of my favorite actors, but he never did serve in the military, as I recall, although he played in enough war movies.
If there a Fort Crockett named after the hero of the Alamo? Maybe not, because he is more of a martyr.
One thing for sure, you and I are sure as hell not going to influence any changes in the names of U.S. Army Forts, dead or alive.
RAY TO JACK
DeleteHowever, and in order to resolve the issue of how Army Forts should be named, let's go "outside the box" and allow me to suggest that Forts can be named after fruits and vegetables, including the ones that people don't like. Let's have names like Fort Cabbage or Fort Pineapple. Places like Fort Carson could become Fort Sugar Beet, Colorado.
We need to also keep in mind names for Air Force Bases, and Naval Bases.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: The name of Ft. Bragg is a proud tradition for the Airborne troops who train there and have trained there for a long time.Their values are of course dismissible to the cancel culture dictators.
ReplyDeleteRAY TO JACK
DeleteAnd in case the DemoPUKES come back and want to change names again, how about renaming Ft. Bragg after a U.S. Army paratrooper who was killed in WW2 and was highly decorated, but was finally revealed to have been gay. No offense, just talking. That's because those "Jump'n Joy Boys" do deserve some credit, don't you think? Don't like that? Okay, how about Bragg becomes Fort Rattlesnake after the many of those species found in the Bragg Area? Instead of Fort Polk, Louisiana, how about Fort Alligator. Lots of those in the area.
Dr. Wady from Jack: Dismissal of the charges against Adams. Sounds like a principled move to me. The reaction of the far left will also be fascinating.
ReplyDeleteBut Adams reminds me of feckless Jimmy Carter and his initial admonition that we refrain from "inordinate fear of communism". OK. it was an admirable thing for Carter to admit he was wrong, as is Adams' admission he was wrong about illegal immigrants. But the damage is done; NYC has descended to preGuiliani degradation, part because of Adams' incompetent naivete and the purposeful anti law enforcement stance of Adams' commie predecessor. Even NYC needs a good dose of common sense and Adams probably doesn't have the leadership ability for it. And Cuomo sure ain't the answer.
Ray from Jack: Forts Bragg, A.P. Hill, Lee ,Hood, Jackson and Benning at least, were named after reb Generals and to my knowledge have not been cancelled yet . Perhaps the chances of it happening are much less now and I say hooray! The names honor individuals whose memory is cherished by many Americans as is the carrier now building named after Doris Miller, a black enlisted man who was one of the consummate heroes of Pearl Harbor and who later gave his life in WWII. Sherman had a tank named after him, fittingly. But I think a tank was named after Nathan Bedford Forrest and that's where I'd draw the line. He was a nasty thing. But overall, perhaps it is not unjust that a nation as forgiving as Lincoln wanted it to be , might choose to name several posts after officers who fought honorably for a Confederacy which was much punished after its military defeat.
ReplyDeleteNo Fort Grant that I know of but I think a nuclear sub was named after him. There is a Fort Meade. Grant should have a capital ship named for him and BTW so should Nixon. Well maybe a ballistic missile sub IS considered a capital ship now. They are as big as a WWI dreadnought.
Custer was an excellent Civil War cavalryman but his probably, yes, dutiful participation in the post Civil War Indian Wars is nonetheless a prominent feature of that terrible chapter in our history. Maybe best that it not be celebrated.
It goes to show, I think, that our history must be evaluated ON BALANCE and on its long range effect on civilization and human well being. No country could escape condemnation without that caveat. Using that standard we come out as favorably as any world significant power and light years better than some.
RAY TO JACK
DeleteInstead of Fort Custer, how about Fort Sitting Bull or Fort Crazy Horse?
*****My other posts to you, as you can see, were joking around a lot, but in the final analysis, Army Forts are probably hard to name, and no doubt a lot of politics has been involved in naming them******
******One thing for sure, many of the Confederate Generals of our terrible Civil War were honorable men, who were "victims" of their times, and a national tragedy, which is what the Civil War was. As I recall, there is a big cemetery in northern Georgia were a famous battle of our Civil War was fought. Of all things, I can't remember the name of it, but I think both blue and gray are buried there.********
Ray from Jack: Maybe but what tickles me is how those Brits named ships after Greek mythological figures or the Italians , who named battleships after Dante and Leonardo Da Vinci. Perhaps we should name a post after Vince Lombardi, one of Fordham's "Seven Blocks of Granite" or Babe Ruth or Robert Frost (?)
ReplyDeleteRAY TO JACK
ReplyDeleteHow about Fort Frank Sinatra? After all, the man did play a great role in the film version of "From Here to Eternity" as did Burt Lancaster.
OR, we could name at least one Army Fort after a famous woman. How about Fort Marilyn Monroe?
Ray from Jack: Patton had a formidable tank named after him. Fort John Wayne? The Duke demonstrated enough respect for our fighting men that, I think , he would not have wanted such recognition . I think he knew his place in that regard. And that is not to say that some of his films didn't help build morale. Even his "Green Berets" might have had that effect had not the traitorous far left press castigated the film and lent aid and comfort to our world commie enemy in time of war.
ReplyDeleteRay from Jack: How about a Fort Kate Smith? Her rendition of "God Bless America" was classic during the war. How about honoring Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks for "Saving Private Ryan", produced at a time when Slick Willy was presumptuous and obnoxious enough to visit celebrations for the Normandy invasion troops. I'll always be grateful to them for that.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: Maybe Musk and Doge ( and how about Ramaswamy) haven't really achieved much saving yet by nixing wasteful programs but they sure as shooting are putting the quietus to the 'business as usual" presumption that "gee, if something is nice, lets spend taxpayer money on it". NO! Federal expenditure must be for NECESSITIES or things universally treasured by Americans (eg.battlefields or Mt Vernon or Monticello) - period! In introducing this common sense principle to the dense and affirming it for down to earth America it IS being accomplished already.Perhaps soon it will be a maxim and woe on any who violate it. Meantime, I'm sure the big cuts are coming.
ReplyDeleteRay from Jack : I'm going to guess that battle was Chickamauga.
ReplyDeleteRAY TO JACK
DeleteThat's the one. Thanks.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: I still urge thoroughly disgruntled far leftists to avail sympathetic NY state of the prisons it has emptied due to its touching compassion for violent criminals. That would be a natural for their permanent sojourne because they have spent the last 60 years trying to "fundamentally transform" the U. S. into a sure enough marxist prison. Why they could bid Prince Cuomo to assume the office of Dear Leader. His cavernous mouth could serve as an emergency fall out shelter and his unrelenting rhetoric should meet their ravenous emotional needs.
DeleteInteresting discussion of fort naming, gents! I agree wholeheartedly with Jack about Fort Bragg. Maybe if we had it to do over again we wouldn't honor quite so many Confederate generals, but to change the name now is to wound (intentionally) Southern pride, and what's the point of that? I doubt many recruits know who Bragg was in the first place. If it smooths things over, let's tell the youngsters that he was the first disabled, trans space shuttle pilot. That ought to settle them down. I have another suggestion! Why not name every fort after Trump, the greatest president of all time? There could be Fort Trump I, Fort Trump II, Fort Trump III, etc etc.
ReplyDeleteJack, when NYC gets a Republican mayor again, then we'll know this MAGA thing has legs!
I'm all for "slashing and burning" everything in sight in the federal budget. Ha! Well, maybe not everything, but every second thing, surely. What will happen, though, when Musk finds some waste that a Republican Senator or a Republican Congressman happens to like? Then things get interesting...
RAY TO DR. WADDY
ReplyDeleteThis is my last word on Fort naming, but I'm all for Fort Waddy in New York to replace Fort Drum.
Ray from Jack: An enormous monument to Crazy Horse is abuilding I think. How would its supporters like it if it were cancelled because of the Little Big Horn? Live and let live I say. Maybe the far left still has not wised up to the fact that they lost in large part because of their unrelenting imposition of their views and values to the excoriation and exclusion of all other beliefs in our democracy. It sent an unmistakeable message that they are at heart totalitarians. America got the message .
ReplyDeleteCrockett stands in prominent effigy on the grounds of the Alamo. Man , you take your hat off when you go in that building; its an intense historical thrill.
I think we did help to redeem Ft. Bragg , with our vote in Nov. Be of good cheer.
RAY TO JACK
DeleteMy wife and I went down to San Antonio in December 2010. The weather was great. We spent time in The Alamo, and it is impressive indeed. It is a real "historical thrill" for sure. An Army Fort named after him would be appropriate. But if not, Alamo was his true Fort and more.
Ray from Jack : How about Fort Linda Tripp, for the woman who stood bravely against Hillary's onslaught for having threatened the key to Hillary's misused power.
ReplyDeleteRAY TO JACK
DeleteI believe Fort Linda Lovelace would be better. It would be a special command called "Deep Throat".
How about Fort Henry Kissinger?
Dr. Waddy and Ray from Jack: Above all, let us never again apologize to these incipient dictators for our traditional values. If they don't like that they can lump it, just as they did in Nov. !
ReplyDeleteRay from Jack: Dang, them are gnarly!
ReplyDeleteRAY TO JACK
DeleteAll jesting aside, take a look at how much politics enter into the naming of military installations by taking a look at how F.E. Warren Air Force Base got its name, and what it was before it was an AFB, and what it was called when it was an Army Fort.
Ray from Jack: Oh no, please don't tell me it was named after Sen. Warren! I'm probably wrong. (?) How could such an abomination be ?! Surely politics enter into the naming of most Federal facilities but they reflect the will of America , not its far left rump.
ReplyDeleteRay from Jack: I had read several books on the Alamo between my first and second visits to it and the second time I pretty well knew what I was seeing. It was a sublime experience.
ReplyDeleteThe stand of the Texicans is honored further by the fact that those territories taken from Mexico in the cause they fell in, have had far better government than they would have had under Mexico.