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Contagion. . .

(Contagion. . .) It is the day after President Trump announced the Day of Liberation where he labeled a series of tariffs that have gone into effect. Globally, in affected nations, their indigenous markets are responding. On Wall Street, the Dow is down 1200+, the Nasdaq about a thousand, and Stanard and Poor is more poor by some two hundred. In Germany, the DAX index is down almost six hundred. In Japan, its Nikkei is negative by a thousand, the London Financial Times is off 150 and the CAC Exchange in Paris is down 250. While all these declines are spectacular, worst performers in months, these transactions were all but predicted. Trump only made his Liberation Day comments only yesterday but there had been widespread expectation that some Trump tariff policy change was imminent. High economics might be involved in tariff policy but in the end, it is all simple math. Any trade imbalance between the U.S. and other nations, in the chart the President precented yesterday, levies from Ch...
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Half Moon Rising

(Half Moon Rising) The Soviet Union detonated its first nuclear weapon on August 29th, 1949. In a flash, literally, the American nuclear monopoly was ended. The year before, in 1948, a plan called Operation HALF MOON anticipated the use of nuclear weapons in any major conflict with the USSR. When the Soviets conducted their test in 1949, Western planners were faced with first "assured destruction" and, once the Soviet arsenal reached a certain level, all weapons all deliverable to American targets, assured destruction evolved into Mutual Assured Destruction. Operation HALF MOON anticipated these events. Today, April 2nd, that President Trump has been saying is "Liberation Day." On this day, the United States will impose tariffs on various countries with varying products and varying rates. In the President's mind, this new trade reciprocity will go into effect to equalize what has seen as an imbalance. Trump is always complaining how the U.S. is being mis-treat...
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Bell Whether ?

(Bell Whether ?) Happy April Fools' Day ! As some could re-call, in years past, The (Daily) Vent is declared closed and, some convoluted reason and make it sound serious. Then "April Fools" and a laugh is had by all. Not today. These elections today are being called a bellwether as to the President's popularity and if Republicans do well, if the House Seats are held and if the Conservative prevails in Wisconsin, then the night-mare scenario for Republican does not materialize. Conversely, if Trump tariffs and the liberal judge wins in Wisconsin, Democrats demonstrate strength in Florida and flip at least one Seat, Democrats will have had their first "good" week since November. These events could indeed be bellwether. Or, would it be a "Bell Whether ?" Whether or not Republicans or Democrats will wake up tomorrow after a good night's sleep, and who will be waking up with heartburn. As has been mentioned, these races have been scheduled but are a...
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Baarbarian At he Gate

(Barbarian At The Gate) This phrase represents the time when barbarians found themselves, literally, at the gates of Rome. More recently, it was the title of an HBO docudrama, Barbarians at the Gate , about the fight for cigarette giant, RJR Nabisco. President Trump, still a New York developer at the time, was not involved in the RJR negotiations but he was aware of the principals. Now, as President, Donald Trump is presenting himself as looking to make a deal to put Greenland in America's orbit and for President Putin to make a bigger contribution to ending the Ukraine War. Greenland is more white than green. A more reasonable name would have been "iceland" but that name is already taken. President Trump wants to make the island an American protectorate, with or without input from Greenland residents or Copenhagen. Trump is not necessarily ruling out a use of force in acquiring Greenland. In a central regard, the President is correct. Greenland could be a critical piece ...
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A Failed Education

(A Failed Education) The Right to Vote is a Constitutional guarantee. That does not necessarily mean that all those eligible should actually go and pull a lever. People who watch the news. People that monitor political podcasts. People who know the issues and when a choice of candidate is selected, it is nor some boob that one gets off the streets. Like all those protesting Musk and Trump. They do not seem to be those who impress. Any idiot could compare the two men to Hitler and that is what one has one the street. What is the reason ? Musk is attempting to slash government spending and because of that he has to be so savaged ? He and Trump ? Fault not in the stars but in themselves ? Either man could be revealed as the Second Coming and there would still be these protests would continue. For the sake of protesting. That is not a sign of sophistication or finesse, It is a blunt instrument and is unwieldly. It is a virtue signal alone and has no broad based appeal. However, a lot of pe...
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presage. . .

(Presage. . .) Society is replete with people who take themselves too seriously and or have too much time on their hands.  These are people who latch onto some issue. and in order to "make things right," days of rage or action. There probably no less boring words in the English language than action or rage. Action against what ? Rage, against what ? The target in these circumstances is Tesla, car, company and CEO. Elon Musk. As one would know, Tesla is an electric car company, founded by Musk. If climate change is the issue people say, one would an electric car with no emissions is a desirable quantit0. However, Musk made an alliance with the Devil. The Devil is asking Musk to cut wage fraud and abuse, the DOGE mandate, Such an effort is offending sensibilities of those who "call to action and rage and burn and otherwise vandalize Tesla products. The burnt cars. The attacked dealerships. Even Teals owners are being harassed. There is even a movement to sell all Tesla mod...
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House Bets. . .

(House Bets. . ) There is something to be said for intrinsic value. In assembling his Cabinet, President Trump had picked a few Republican House Members to fill key positions. Michael Waltz, previously a Florida Congressman, is, for the moment, the National Security Adviser. Matt Gaetz, also from Florida, had been selected as Attorney General, but that nomination imploded. Elise Stefanik had been tapped to be U.N. Ambassador, but the President had to withdraw her nomination, so she could still stand in Congress. In some fashion, the GOP Majority in the House is an artificial creation. The Gaetz and Waltz seats could be filled by next Tuesday, hopefully with two more Republicans, or at least what the RNC would be expecting. It must also be remembered that Speaker McCarthy was forced out by Congressman Gaetz and he left for California. And George Santos from New York could have been allowed to retain his seat. None of these options were explored, however and assuming two Republicans get ...
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