Friends, today's top story is the fact that Amazon now has the James Bond franchise well and truly under its control. Even a year ago, this would have filled me with dread, because Amazon was churning out woke drivel by the barrel full. Well, now that Jeff Bezos has seen the light and is at least tolerant of Trumpism, there's hope that James Bond will emerge from his long sabbatical in recognizable form. Let's hope so! I suggest a slightly older, heavier, orange-haired Bond. Who's with me?
In an unsurprising move, Senator Mitch McConnell has announced that he won't seek reelection to the Senate in 2026. That's a wise decision, since he's in poor health and it's questionable whether Kentucky Republicans hold him in any higher regard than Republicans more generally. McConnell, lest we forget, has been a great asset to the GOP and to conservatism on many occasions. Lately, though, those occasions have been few and far between. Adios, Mitch! Enjoy your well-earned retirement.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5155235-sen-mitch-mcconnell-re-election/
Here's a shocker: Hollywood doesn't care for Trump. The attacks on Trump have been relentless on late night comedy shows, as they have been in the mainstream media, and thus we can safely assume that somewhere around 45-50% of the U.S. population will be afflicted with TDS for the next four years, unless the reach of traditional media outlets declines even further, which, God willing, it will.
Say what you want about old Mitch, but at least he voted to confirm Kash Patel as the new Director of the FBI. Republicans, conservatives, and Trumpers have high hopes for Patel, and I hope we won't be disappointed.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/02/20/kash-patel-confirmed-to-lead-fbi/
Finally, best of luck to the AfD in Germany's upcoming elections on Sunday. Although the party is widely condemned by establishment forces as "far right", it is garnering record levels of support and looks likely to finish second overall. In no major European country is populist conservatism going to command a majority of public support in the near future, but in most corners of Europe the right is on the march and is, or soon will be, in a position to transform the political conversation in long overdue ways. Let's hope the traditional right-wing parties get the message and move in a Trumpy direction ASAP. The alternative is for them to be submerged by a "far right" tidal wave and to sink into irrelevance.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: A big ditto on MItch McConnell. He has done our country an incalculable service in having been, along with DJT and the courageous nominees, indispensable in the wonderful return of Scotus to lawfulness. His salubrious effect on our legality and our polity will long outlast his tenure. Glad he voted for Patel. He has cast some counterintuitive votes lately; I wonder if his antagonistic personal relationship with DJT is an unfortunate factor. I think DJT, much as I luv 'im, can get carried away at times with ad hominem cracks.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: Eventually I'd like to see a monument to him near the Scotus building featuring along with his effigy, depictions of happy kids granted access to life itself through his painful efforts.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: The right is on the march in so many places because it embraces common sense. It is the antidote to the bizarrely counterintuitive essence of far left policy;so many peoples have sickened of that viciously dreamy,incipiently totalitarian coterie and the disastrous consequences guaranteed wherever it is unwisely ceded power.
ReplyDeleteThe rise of the far right has nothing to do with common sense. It has to do with the racist tendencies of its followers who object to the increase of refugees in their countries.
DeleteRod
RAY TO DR. WADDY AND JACK
ReplyDeleteNo matter what Amazon does with the character of James Bond, he will ALWAYS be the creation of Ian Fleming.
Dr. Waddy from Jack I see my favorite presumptuous Federal entity , the National Endowment for the Arts, has attracted the baleful attention of DJT. Oh , its bad enough that he's taken personal charge of the Kennedy in good 'ol hometown DC and its now "goodbye drag shows "there!
ReplyDeleteHe has bade the NEA abjure works supporting the political doctrine of DEI . Why, what philistine blasphemy is this! Oh well, we should have guessed it was coming; the Bastille has been stormed; the unwashed are inside the palace walls and all manner of ersatz "culture" has been unleashed. That part , that haughty faction of the arts community which assumes undoubtable comprehensive entitlement, even unto financial support from "rude mechanicals who work for bread" and who choose to patronize "Yellowstone ", are in a rare old stormy snit over this insolent invasion of their deserved prerogative of "larning" us all, whether we like it or not.
I did some looking:
In an 8-1 Scotus decision authored by then Justice O'Conner , frantic NEA advocates were counseled thus: 'the First Amendment protects artists' rights to express themselves as indecently and disrespectfully as they like but does not compel the government to fund it" . "OK we'd better reword our Grant requests" was the NEA's reaction. No attention thus paid by these snobs to the SUBSTANCE of their oft proven tradition of financing works such as a crucifix dipped in urine or elephant dung flung upon Madonnas
The 2024 budget of the NEA was 207 million of our tax dollars. I've looked at their list of thus financed works in 2024. Most online state lists of grand opuses contain this convenient clause:". . . to support arts programs , services and activities associated with carrying out the agency's NEA approved strategic (Well!) plan." Gee you could hide all manner of counterintuitive activities which sneer at the America which funds them behind such euphemism.
I'm going to look up some of those "approved " plans and report back. Meanwhile I find on the 2024 list some real doozies: EG. an Arizona effort to use $75, 000 to support DIa de Los Muertos; ehhh, in a heavily Hispanic culture I think that very popular holiday already garners extensive private celebration , mucha gracia; how about a Massachusetts presumption of $125,000 to " 'support ' a series of community design charettes (say what?), transit guides and ARTIST designed improvement for the Essex Co. transit system; and $20, 000 to support a production in MIssourii of the exceedingly obscure and esoteric work La Cage au Folles (which actually has previously been a massive financial success not withstanding tax payer largesse).
I agree, DJT's caution to the NEA is objectionable. It should have gone even unto defunding for this arrogantly wasteful expenditure. I hope he delegates this to DOGE. None of what the NEA "gifts"us is NECESSARYand that condemns it in my view. And should anyone consider me a philistine for saying this, I'l gladly discuss the Rennaissance, Shakespeare and you know, all that good stuff, whenever you want.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: Not to worry; should Federal funding for frivolous arts be insolently denied, then local and regional funding may well be the answer, since it better reflects regional values, yes? And private funding from myriad foundations and plutocrats is not unheard of in our commonwealth. Why redoubtable George Soros would no doubt be blithe to sponsor a nostalgic revival of Stalinist "social realism" in stirring depictions of Marxist tanks squashing "counterrevolutionaries" in his native Hungary in 1956. I'm sure he remembers that but you might not know it now the way he supports American Marxists, just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteKennedy Center I failed to say above Jack
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: If one agrees with me on this I would urge them to urge their Congressional reps to bid DOGE take this wasteful agency in hand.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Jack: Trump has little to gain by picking on Mitch. Well, then again, he is demonstrating what happens to a Republican who dares to defy him, and that could pay dividends. Indeed, in many ways it already has. Look at what happened to Cheney, Romney, et al.
ReplyDeleteJack, we would be much obliged if you would share your letter/report re: the NEA with us when it is finished. I agree: it would be wonderful if it, along with the NEH and PBS/NPR, were defunded once and for all. Public support for the arts, humanities, and broadcasting might be defensible, but there's no reason why it has to occur at the federal level.
While Trump did contribute to Liz Cheney's political defeat, he had nothing to do with Romney's leaving. Romney left because his wife lives with MS, and they are going to enjoy life together while her condition is moderately under control.
DeleteRod
The last thing Germany needs is a return to the 1930s. AfD is Nazi-lite and hopefully will do worse than predicted on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteRod
Rod from Jack: Please express your definition of the word racism. It has been so overused and misused that I cannot tell what you mean by it. MY guess is that you have a specific meaning in mind but what is it.?
ReplyDeleteRod from Jack: I should think Germany one of the last countries today to embrace Naziism after how it maimed them. The threat of totalitarianism has come chiefly from the far left since the 60s. The term Nazi has been worn out by reflexive leftist accusation. You have demonstrated yours to be a generally thoughtful and not automatic left wing stance and discredited use of the term is unfortunate in your case.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: Yeah, "Public"BS system is completely indefensible with the vast profusion of channels we have now. And of course their obvious far left biases, on OUR compelled dime, should also earn them Doge's condemnation. That will be great day!
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