Author: Ronald

Joe Biden Pardon Of Son Hunter Biden Not Unusual For Presidents, Regarding Family Members

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President Joe Biden surprised many observers when he gave his son, Hunter Biden, a full and unconditional pardon on the conviction on gun charges and a tax case, but also including his problems with drug addiction and anything else not known. This surprised even supporters of Joe Biden on its scope.

Immediately, the MAGA Republicans jumped on the President for his action, but this is not unusual, while it might be controversial.

Bill Clinton gave his half brother Roger Clinton a pardon, as Donald Trump did to Charles Kushner, father of his son in law Jared Kushner.

And every President gives controversial pardons, and to expect a father, even more than a brother or inlaw, to use the pardon power is just common sense, no matter what one may personally feel.

And with Donald Trump having given pardons to many collaborators of his corrupt and illegal actions in his first term, and to plan mass pardons to January 6 US Capitol Insurrectionists upon taking office, who is to be shocked by the Hunter Biden pardon?

Trump Appointments In November Finish With Kash Patel As FBI Head, An Alarming Development!

Ronald 6 Comments

Donald Trump finished the appointment process in the three weeks since he won the Presidential Election of 2024, with the very disturbing appointment of Kash Patel, an extreme loyalist, as new head of the FBI, effectively shortening the ten year term of Christopher Wray that he made upon taking office in his first term in 2017.

The FBI’s past included the corrupt leadership of J. Edgar Hoover from 1924-1972, but with the agency having been reformed in the half cantury since then.

But now a lot of the corruption and abuse of power of that half century is likely to return, as Patel has made it clear he is out to pursue revenge against those who pursued the scandals and corruption of Trump in his first term, which led to two impeachments and four indictments.

Patel has threatened retribution against “deep state” officials he plans to target. He has also attacked the news media, therefore potentially making the FBI an agency out of control, with the intent of “cleaning house” in that agency and setting out to prosecute those he considers “enemies” of Donald Trump who “caused” his prosecutions, including the events of January 6, 2021.

Patel would need to be confirmed by the US Senate, and he adds to the list of highly objectionable nominees, and the question arises, how many, if any of these individuals, can be rejected by the Senate and yet not be put into office by so called “recess” appointments!

Trade With China, Canada, Mexico Are Dominant In American Economy

Ronald 3 Comments

When one looks at a map of the United States, based on significance of trade with our leading trade partners–China, Canada, and Mexico–it is clear that Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs of 10 percent on China and 25 percent on Canada and Mexico, will cause an economic calamity.

Eighteen states have China as their major supplier of imported goods; twenty three states have Canada as their major supplier of imported goods; and three states have Mexico as their major supplier of imported goods. Germany, Saudi Arabia, and India have an impact in a few other states.

So it is pure insanity to impose protective tariffs, when history tells us it always leads to economic disaster.

Henry Kissinger, Most Controversial Diplomat Since World War II, Is Dead At 100!

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Henry Kissinger, the most controversial diplomat since World War II, is dead at age 100!

The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the end of the Vietnam War, he is seen by many as having been an international outlaw and criminal for his involvement in spreading the Vietnam War into Cambodia; his support and promotion of a right wing government in Chile, destroying that democracy for a generation; and his lack of concern about human rights and loss of freedom in so many places around the world besides Chile, including Argentina.

As National Security Adviser and then Secretary of State to President Richard Nixon, and later to President Gerald Ford, he engaged in many unethical, if not illegal, actions.

A believer in Realpolitik in international relations, he was seen as lacking ethics and morality to the extreme, and was noted for his egotism and lack of concern about his reputation.

He is noted for helping to open up relations with the People’s Republic of China, and his dealings with the Soviet Union, and the Middle East cauldron. He also is criticized for backing Pakistan in the Bangladesh-India War for Independence of what had been East Pakistan, undermining relations with the largest populated nation, India, beyond China, and also encouraging the corrupt Shah of Iran during the energy crisis!

Seen as a brilliant and yet to many an evil man, he clashed with many other diplomatic and political figures, and stood out as diametrically opposite to many, including President Jimmy Carter, who survived him and one hopes will reach age 100 in ten months!

Nikki Haley Backed By Koch Right Wing “Americans For Prosperity”–Makes Her Unacceptable!

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“Americans For Prosperity”, the Charles Koch family libertarian right wing powerful network, has endorsed and is financially supporting Nikki Haley as the best alternative to Donald Trump for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2024, choosing her over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Haley has sold her soul to an evil group, which had done so much damage for many years, most notably backing the Tea Party Movement that emerged under Barack Obama in 2010.

This evil group has opposed any action on global warming; the Affordable Care Act; labor union rights; assisted in the Republican gaining of the House of Representatives in 2010 and the Senate in 2014; is against raising of the minimum wage and supportive of “right to work” laws which undermine worker rights; against Medicaid expansion; opposes internet neutrality; and promotes loads of “dark money” which allows them to have a deleterious effect on all kinds of other social issues, including attacks on Social Security and Medicare.

Basically, it is the Barry Goldwater 1964 right wing assault on the New Deal and later on the Great Society. The fact that Nikki Haley accepts their support, while certainly is common sense for her, it shows that she has no basic principles, is inconsistent in her outlook, and runs the risk of “being owned” by this extremist right wing group, in an attempt to overcome the advantage of Donald Trump as the Presidential campaign moves forward!

Congressman George Santos Likely To Be Expelled From NY House Seat

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Republican Congressman George Santos is in danger of being expelled from his New York House seat.

This would be a very rare result, as only 20 members of Congress in all of American history, 15 in the Senate and 5 in the House of Representatives, have been voted out by two thirds of their colleagues.

All but three were expelled due to their support of the Confederacy in the Civil War.

A few who have been threatened with explusion have resigned instead.

The proper thing would be for Santos to resign, but it looks as if he is not about to do so, despite having brought disgrace on the House of Representatives.

We shall see very soon whether Santos joins a very short list of expelled members!

Disturbing Right Wing Trend In International Affairs, Mirroring Donald Trump!

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As the threat of Donald Trump continues to be a menace, we are seeing in international affairs a troubling and disturbing trend of right wing populism, mirroring his extremism.

Already, this has been evident in Turkey, Poland, Hungary, Italy, and now The Netherlands, along with Egypt, India, Myanmar, and now Argentina, and dangers of right wing extremism threatening to rise in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere.

Religion, whether Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist is a growing factor in these nations.

It seems as if the world is moving back into the Fascism movement that was so prominent in the 1930s and 1940s.

Fascinating Fox News Channel Debate Of Gavin Newsom And Ron DeSantis on Thursday November 30!

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This coming Thursday, November 30, Fox News Channel will host a 90 minute debate, of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, with Sean Hannity as the moderator, and with no audience.

This may well be the most significant debate of the upcoming campaign for the Presidency, as it could destroy Ron DeSantis for 2024, and elevate Gavin Newsom for a future race for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency in 2028.

DeSantis has done so poorly so far in his race for the Republican nomination, and this debate against a man much more intelligent and brilliant than he is, could destroy his national ambitions for the future, even beyond 2024!

Threat Presented By Third Party And Independent Presidential Candidates In 2024

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The possibility of third party or independent Presidential candidates affecting the election results in the Presidential Election of 2024 is real.

While no such candidate could win the Presidency, they could determine whether President Joe Biden or Donald Trump or any alternative Republican Presidential nominee wins the White House.

Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips is challenging Joe Biden in Democratic primaries, as is Marianne Williamson, but they are highly unlikely to have any impact, other than as an annoyance.

But Independent candidates such as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr; Cornel West; Jill Stein on the Green Party line; and the No Labels Movement, with a potential nominee in Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, could derail election results and lead to major election issues.

Nikki Haley Emerges As Only Possible Alternative To Donald Trump

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Former South Carolina Governor and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley has emerged as the only possible alternative to Donald Trump for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2024.

But the question is whether, even with growing business support, Haley can manage to overcome Trump in the upcoming Presidential caucus in Iowa and the Presidential primaries in New Hampshire, Nevada, and most significantly, her home state of South Carolina.

The decision of fellow South Carolinian, Senator Tim Scott, to drop out of the race certainly helps Haley’s bid, but leading South Carolina Republican figures, including Governor Henry McMaster and Senator Lindsey Graham, have endorsed Trump.

Also, can a woman of South Asian ancestry from India overcome those barriers?

The next few months will answer these questions!