Friends, the legacy media delights in any news story that suggests a rift between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, or that indicates that Musk is ready to retreat from his commitment to MAGA and DOGE. Well, that's because the media is full of crybaby lefties for whom personal hatred is the sum total of their so-called ideology. Perhaps for this reason, they're just as happy when they see a Tesla in flames as when they perceive Trump, Republicans, conservatives, or Muskites facing defeat on a matter of substantive government policy. While the Left's obsession with anti-Trump and anti-Musk narratives is frequently asinine, however, that doesn't always make its claims false. Trump does appear at times to be second-guessing his alliance with Musk, as well as the wisdom of deep cuts to government services and employment. Musk, meanwhile, hasn't been thrilled with the aggressive approach to tariffs pursued (fitfully) by Trump and his aides, and he doesn't like the current shape of the "big, beautiful bill" either. The reason? Musk feels that the bill puts the government on course to grow rather than shrink, and he feels that it adds to the deficit, which is the last thing that the MAGA crowd should want. I tend to agree with Musk, and to a point so does Trump, insofar as he has made it plain that bigger spending cuts are on the table. Right now, Trumpers, Republicans, and conservatives are debating what our national priorities should be, and how much we can afford to spend. There's nothing wrong with that. The question is: can Republicans ever agree on a taxing and spending formula that will gain majority support in both the House and the Senate? Can they, meanwhile, succeed in any meaningful sense in reducing the size and intrusiveness of government? Was DOGE a head fake, in other words, or does it represent a major change of direction for the conservative movement? We shall see, but, in the meantime, I encourage Elon to keep grumbling, because I share his misgivings.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20q54vn0evo
In other news, we New Yorkers take gun control VERY seriously -- so seriously, in fact, that we've criminalized pretend guns as well as real ones. What's next? Criminalizing pointy fingers and/or the word "bang"? Don't put it past us!
Dr. Waddy from Jack: "Gun control" measures directed to the control of the lawful defies reason UNLESS the actual object is to control the lawful. It does not burden criminals. The NYC dictators who impose them on our largely powerless "minnahritty" in NY know this and their object is to control US. They know that nationally gun owners and our very influential organizations such as NRA are one of the main pillars of the conservative movement and that we support lawmakers, executives and candidates who are conservative on a wide range of issues even beyond our 2nd Amendment rights.
ReplyDeleteThe real leaders of the "gun control" crowd believe that if they can destroy the morale of gun owners and our consequent support for our organizations, with an unrelenting attack on lawful possession of guns, they can reduce the onerous 2nd Amendment to a dessicated husk and maybe even repeal it! In doing so, they hold, they will have struck common sense conservatism a staggering blow. Public safety is only of ancillary concern to them in this continuing civil rights fight. In the face of decisive rejection of their views in the last national election, they are yet determined to make of NY state a redoubt on their now much beleaguered path to totalitarian sway.
RAY TO DR. WADDY AND JACK
DeleteCheer up! There are states that have "gun control laws" you will love. Take a look at Oklahoma. And the place is not all "Football and Jesus" but also big cities like Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Yes, there are tornadoes, but at least they are predictable and consistent, and you can protect yourself from them in the Sooner State.
Ray from Jack: I checked out Oklahoma gun laws. For us in the People's Republic they would be a dream. Our dictators would find their common sense terribly offensive and would spurn them as a "typical"product " of "flyover country thinking ". Permit free carry for the lawful, violent private prevention of criminals about their duties and private gun sales free of state approval: "why these are a sure formula for limitless crime " the enablers of the comprehensive NYC free fire zone would bleat. I saw a sign recently - "Welcome to NY , where criminals are protected". Its no exaggeration. You've heard the expression "better to be judged by twelve than carried by six", in reference to the legal hazards you run should you presumptuously resist criminals with deadly force? In NY that is completely reversed. In NY you better lawyer up the minute you draw because the state is going to direct all the power it should use against thugs against you the lawful! ("Excuse me Mr. criminal while I call my attorney to see if its ok to thwart you"). Meanwhile, the lawless will receive every benefit of the doubt and even if arrested will be afforded tax payer funded means to sue you, along with official encouragement to do so.
ReplyDeleteBaloney! - you think? I saw it first hand as a prison law librarian in NY.
Beware America. This is what any "New Yawk Cityer" running for national office intends for all in our country. AOC and Cuomo fit that bill. You may well be hearing from them.
RAY TO JACK
DeleteLooks like Charles Bronson had the right idea in "Death Wish". NYC, a place where the "perps are the victims, and the cops are the perps", one of my favorite lines in the movie "CopLand".
Ray from Jack: Aside from its government, NY state north of the amoeba on the Hudson is a very nice place to live. Lots of down to earth common sense people and great scenery. Believe me , if we had the votes , we would put NYC far leftists ( there are alot of good people in NYC too) out to sea. But we don't have the electoral power. We need help from America to stymie these totalitarians!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Jack! Upstate and Western NY are a very different class of common sense people, scenery and attitudes on the 2A. To your point, NY does want to 'control the lawful' to our detriment and any businesses in the gun industry.
DeleteIt's refreshing to see Constitutional Carry becoming more popular throughout the Midwest and South. It's just crazy that as difficult as it is to obtain a New York CC permit it has nearly no reciprocity even with our neighboring states.
By the way... that "amoeba on the Hudson" you refer to. Is that the brain-eating variety? If so, that might explain a few things!
RAY TO JACK
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was born in upstate New York. What you say about "down to earth common sense people and great scenery" is true. But, my Dad took us to Oregon, where I was raised with my sisters. And now Oregon is about as left (if not more) that New York.
Richie and Ray from Jack: Thanx. Looks like we are all on the same page on this.
ReplyDeleteYeah, NYC has a lot of brainy people but we could do a lot better without the casual disregard and consequent misgovernment some of them afford our upstate culture. NYC has a unique ambience and should perhaps have a unique status in our union. Maybe the much used term "Autonomous Region" would satisfy them? I'd still feel bad for the common sense people in NYC. They need another Guiliani.
Jack, I can't imagine why the Left would bother to repeal or revise the 2nd Amendment when, from their perspective, every word in the Constitution means precisely what they want it to mean. Those rights will disappear just as soon as five lefties get on the Supreme Court, which will happen unless we conservatives stay alert and motivated!
ReplyDeleteRay, just curious: have you ever threatened a tornado with a six-shooter? I would think Mother Nature would know better than to tangle with a well-armed, red-blooded American.
Jack is of course correct that NYS as a whole is hostile to the use of firearms in self-defense -- it prefers that we all submit willingly to madmen -- but in terms of one's vulnerability to prosecution a lot depends on geography. In my county, suffice it to say that George Soros didn't pick our district attorney!
Yes, Richie, it's a real pity that Upstate New York is attached at the hip to NYC and Long Island. When we annex Canada and Greenland, I would suggest that a national convention should meet at Mar-a-Lago to revise all state borders along MAGA lines. Failing that, let's turn all the big, blue cities into open air mental asylums (hardly a stretch), which would render the inmates ineligible to vote.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: I know you speak in part using purposeful hyperbole above but when one considers that this post '60s era may well be eventually seen as a bizarre interlude in the progress of American civilization, perhaps it is no exaggeration.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Perhaps our society errs in assuming that "mental stability/competence" is the default condition for every adult. It might be time to assume the opposite!
ReplyDelete