English leaves today for South Carolina. So that means a long weekend for Dudley and me. A very long weekend. He is already grumpy.
A dear reader called me a “racist” for claiming on Columbus Day that American Indians in the 1400s were barbaric savages, engaging in slavery, war, human sacrifice, and worship of pagan gods. I. Do. Not. Care.
But I did ask the dear reader to point out where I was factually inaccurate. He would not–could not–do that, and just doubled down on calling me a “racist”.
The Observations is not geared toward any particular audience or ideology. I write what I think, and discuss what appeals to me. I do not care if readers disagree with me, but if you do, I welcome the debate. But please; come armed with facts and well-reasoned arguments. Calling me names will not get you banned or restricted from reading The Observations. But it will earn you no favors, and will guarantee that I shall not take you seriously in the future.
Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of readers are thoughtful, polite, and informed. For that I am grateful. And I welcome their comments.
“I have a secret plan to destroy America. If you believe, as many do, that America is too smug, too white bread, too self-satisfied, too rich, let’s destroy America. It is not that hard to do. Here is my plan:
1. We must first make America a bilingual-bicultural country. History shows, in my opinion, that no nation can survive the tension, conflict and antagonism of two competing languages and cultures.
2. I would then invent “multiculturalism” and encourage immigrants to maintain their own culture. I would make it an article of belief that all cultures are equal: that there are no cultural differences that are important.
3. We can make the United States a “Hispanic Quebec” without much effort. The key is to celebrate diversity rather than unity. I would replace the melting pot metaphor with a salad bowl metaphor.
4. Having done all this, I would make our fastest-growing demographic group the least educated. I would add a second underclass, unassimilated, undereducated and antagonistic to our population.
5. I would then get the big foundations and big business to give these efforts lots of money. I would invest in ethnic identity, and I would establish the cult of victimology.
6. I would establish dual citizenship and promote divided loyalties. I would “celebrate diversity.” “Diversity” is a wonderfully seductive word. It stresses differences rather than commonalities.
7. Then I would place all these subjects off-limits–make it taboo to talk about. I would find a word similar to “heretic” in the 16th century that stopped discussion and paralyzed thinking.
8. Lastly, I would censor Victor Davis Hanson’s book Mexifornia –this book is dangerous; it exposes my plan to destroy America.”
–former Governor Richard D. Lamm (D. Co.).
Do Governor Lamm’s comments strike a chord of truth? Are they familiar? Do Governor Lamm’s comments possibly resemble the United States today? Hmmmmm.
U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle was fired, following accusations of soliciting bribes from people seeking access to the Trump Administration. You had to know Kimberly had poor judgment when she married then Mayor Gavin Newsom (D. Ca.).
One of the men she solicited a bribe from is threatening to sue her. This is going to get very ugly.
“I am deeply disappointed that Governor Newsom vetoed AB 2186. Reparations are not a gift or a government handout. Reparations are meant to repair harm, not be partially taken back through taxation.”
–Assemblyman Tina McKinnor (D. Inglewood).
Please note that Governor Hair Gel (D. Ca.) did not act to block any reparations. He just wants to tax them. Like almost every other Democrat.
“Happy Italian Heritage Month, New York. Here’s continuing to fight for Vito Marcantonio’s vision of a government that works for all working people.”
–Comrade Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D. N.Y.).
Representative Vito Marcantonio (D. N.Y.) was an obscure member of Congress. He was also a communist.
Last week, in New York City [Brooklyn], ICE tried to arrest an illegal alien with a violent criminal history. The illegal alien reacted by trying to run over ICE agents with his automobile. Predictably, ICE agents opened fire, and shot him. The man was wounded, and taken to a hospital.
What was the reaction in New York? Outrage! Of course it was. Leftists took to the streets with premade professional signs calling for ICE’s elimination. Comrade Mayor Mamdani referred to the illegal alien as a “New Yorker”, and called both the President and Secretary of Homeland Security, demanding that the illegal alien be released, and that ICE leave New York City. Neither demand made any headway in Washington.
British singer Harry Styles interrupted his concert to offer prayers and thoughts for the criminal illegal alien. Not a word for the criminal’s victims, or the ICE agents he tried to murder.
United States Representative candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier (D. N.Y.) told reporters that the man’s arrest and impending deportation was disgraceful. When reminded that the man was a gang member with a long history of violent crime, she responded that his criminal nature did not matter to her.
A federal judge in New York (an Obama appointee) enjoined the Trump Administration from deporting the criminal illegal alien. The judge does not have the authority, but since Mr. Trump is president, what does it matter? Orange Man Bad.
“Will [the University of] Michigan ever win a football game without cheating?”
–U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D. Mi.).
Does the man even know in what State he is running for office?
Politicians say dumb things, but El-Sayed . . . well, here are some more dumb things he said recently:
- El Sayed wants to “abolish” ICE, and have “open borders”.
- El Sayed wants to impose “Medicare For All”, but promises that “if you like your health insurance, you can keep your health insurance”. Does that not sound vaguely familiar?
- El Sayed wants to make Michigan dependent “100% on renewable energy”. He said “I don’t think the Chevrons and the Exxons of the world or the Saudi Aramcos of the world should continue to exist.” Hmmm. And what would happen to Michigan’s famed automobile manufacturing industry?
- El Sayed claims that “taxing billionaires” will solve our national debt crisis. It will not.
In Maryland, a man released from prison just 1 week earlier, and on probation for violent crimes, went to a youth football game, and opened fire with a handgun. He missed his intended targets, but did manage to murder a 12 year old girl. I am just waiting for the usual suspects to blame the gun, instead of the murderer.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (D.) admitted that in her zeal to restore the voting rights of felons, she restored the rights of dead felons. Now why would she do that? Oh, yes, Democrats love when dead people vote.
Where is U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico (D. Tx.) today? Another mental institute?
The Observations does not know where Mr. Talarico spent the last 2 weeks. Some claim he was receiving treatment for mental illness in Ohio. His campaign denies that and insists he merely suffered from a bad case of the flu. Huh. That would be odd, since Mr. Talarico is a relatively healthy, young man, who should not suffer more than 3 or 4 days from the flu. Especially since he religiously wears a face mask, and believes that that prevents disease (he is wrong). Frankly, it is more probable that Mr. Talarico was in a straightjacket receiving electro-shock treatment in Ohio, than it is that he was blowing his nose in Austin.
Mr. Talarico released a statement referring to “Indigenous Peoples Day”, and lamenting that some folks had to work on this day. Sigh. Of course he did. Christopher Columbus is the only immigrant that James Talarico does not fawn over.
“Shapes are no less menacing than words or sentences.”
–Yale University President Maurie McInnis.
Yale University, in collaboration with the city of New Haven, Connecticut, has taken a preemptive step to head off future student discontent. In response to an anonymous complaint, the university has announced that it will begin dismantling all Right Turn arrows in street lights in and around campus. Seriously. Not a joke.
Cornell University suspended all fraternities in the wake of the unfortunate incident that occurred at just 1 fraternity. More than 2 years ago. Sigh.
A majority of Americans do not believe in the Immaculate Conception or the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. Wow. I find that alarming. And sad.
The Episcopal Church is encouraging parishes to add a 6th Baptismal Covenant. Under the Baptismal Covenants’ existing language, the 5 promises are affirmed by the congregation in response to the celebrant’s prompts. The first two commit members to following Christian teachings and practices, resisting evil and staying faithful to God. The third calls for proclaiming the Christian faith in the world, and the final two promises relate to Christian interactions with other people. The proposed 6th promise relates to “Creation care”.
Now you may consider me overly cynical, but why do I suspect–strongly suspect–that The Episcopal Church considers creation care to mean that humans will refrain from eating meat, driving gasoline powered cars, and using air conditioning in their homes? Will parishioners be required to place solar panels on their homes’ roofs, and a windmill in their backyards?
Is not being a good steward of all over which Man exercises dominion, by virtue of God’s grace, already incorporated in the Baptismal Covenants? I think it is, thus making the proposed 6th wholly unnecessary. My cynicism grows.
The Daughters of the American Revolution voted Saturday to disband its Martha Laird Chapter in Texas that fought to bar “trans” women [i.e. men] from joining the historic organization, citing violations of its national bylaws. Sigh. You cannot be a daughter if you are not a woman. You just cannot.
When was the last time you saw an ice cream parlor with flavors such as rum raisin, maple walnut, or Butter Brickle? Come to think of it, when was the last time you saw an ice cream parlor?
The Golden Steer steakhouse in Las Vegas would let cowboys bring in whatever they killed, butcher it, cook and serve it. As time progressed, the steakhouse began accepting revolvers as payment for a meal. Today, things are quite different. The Golden Steer became a celebrity haunt during the early glory days of Las Vegas, serving up ice cold martinis and rare steaks to Dean Martin, Marilyn Monroe, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Frank Sinatra, who sat in rich, red banquettes, surrounded by dark mahogany paneled walls filled with photographs of the rich and famous. Today, the Golden Steer is going strong, serving up and finest steaks and chops, and the coldest martinis anywhere. The only problem is that the dinner reservation waiting list is 6 months long. Plan ahead.
Last week, a Canadian judge ruled that addicts have a human right to access a legal supply of currently prohibited substances—such as cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and meth—and that, by extension, criminalizing drug trafficking is unconstitutional. That is just insane.
Diesel prices are through the roof. As someone who drives a diesel automobile, I am quite familiar with every price increase. And, of course, high diesel prices affects the costs of shipped consumer goods, particularly food.
The Observations is not changing its position that high fuel prices are a small price to pay for eliminating Iran’s ability to develop and deploy a nuclear weapon. But we are not opposed to President Trump’s efforts to lower diesel prices through an agreement with Russia. But not everyone is of the same mind.
Almost all Democrats, and many Congressional Republicans, are opposed to the President removing sanctions on Russian oil. That is certainly defensible position, EXCEPT that these are the same people who are blaming the President for high oil prices due to the Iran conflict. These people are in an intellectually indefensible position, because they are hypocrites.
Conflict with Iran is bad, because of high oil prices. Conflict with Russia is fine, even with high oil prices. Hmmmm.
Russia is not a threat to the United States, and Ukraine is not a security concern of the United States. By contrast Iran has been at war with the United States since 1979, is hell bent on destroying Israel and the United States, and was on the precipice of building a nuclear weapon. It is a national security concern of the United States to eliminate Iran’s military capabilities.
The hue and cry from the usual suspects is due to one thing, and one thing only; Orange Man Bad.
The DP World Tour will not grant any LIV Tour golfers access to its tournaments in the future. Also, LIV Tour golfers cannot play for Europe in The Ryder Cup. Bye LIV!
GFK
