The (Daily) Vent 2

(A Town Not Big Enough) First, a correction. When the Biden-Trump dual visits to the border, the impression was that the sojourn had already happened. That was a mistake. President Biden is making a visit to Brownsville and former President Trump is visiting Eagle Pass. As it is, Brownsville is a more quiescent sector, with less than fifty crossings in the last few days. By contrast, Trump's appearance at Eagle Pass is Ground Zero for migrant infiltration, over 2,500 over the same period. In the "previous" entry, the one with the scheduling conflict, President Biden will be complaining about GOP in-action on the Border. He will again lament that the Senate Border Bill failed. The question that will then be asked is whether the President would need flash cards. What he might think of son Hunter's House deposition. Or how Biden did have a physical but no cognitive examination was administered. But he is going to Brownsville for a photo op in a less active section, and p

( Change Of Heart  ?) What is a "Sanctuary City ? If one looked up the definition, it would be some municipal area where one illegal migrant can seek refuge from immigration enforcement assets. In reality, it has been a Democrat gimmick for Democrat-run cities with the expectation that in the fullness of time, as the Vice President might say, these would be reliable Democrat votes. Then the movie Everything Everywhere All At Once was released. As the millions of migrants have been bussed north to Denver, Chicago, and New York City, the carrying capacity of those locations have been stressed. One who has recognized that reality is Big Apple Mayor, Eric Adams, who says the sanctuary policy needs to be re-considered. At the very least, criminal illegal aliens, the ones who commit crimes or assault police officers, should be deported. That being said, the New York's city council is some of the most extreme leftists that would still welcome all these migrants despite the effect th

(Another Brick In The Wall) The British band Pink Floyd is an institution. Its album "Dark Side of the Moon" is the most bought record in history, staying on the charts for an incredible fourteen years. That being said, however, it was their work on the follow-up album "The Wall" and the eponymously named track: " on and on it was , another brick in the wall ." Today is the Michigan Primary. Former President Trump is expected to do well, and, for former South Carolina Governor, Nikki Haley, Michigan could be "another brick in the wall" to her campaign. Her continued participation is moving from the sublime to the absurd. For the moment, she has a bank-roll, she is maintaining GOP Establishment support, for the moment, That being said, there is an increasingly less of an imperative to find a Trump alternative. The Motor State, such as it is, is in a state of flux. The union heavy auto-industry helped reverse the state "right to work" la

(Un-Popularity Contest) It is common knowledge that partisan advocacy not-withstanding, people are generally not enthusiastic about the choice for President. A Biden-Trump re-match is not considered desirable. That being said, both Biden and Trump are making campaign stops on the southern border. Biden because illegal immigration is becoming a problem for the Biden Administration and Trump will be giving his own remarks. President Biden is in Brownsville today. It is known that Biden's handlers are loathe to have the President in public but that was before the murder of University of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley by an illegal alien from Venezuela. Riley is dead because of open-border policy of the Administration. Riley's death is just collateral damage. In any event, Biden will be speaking with border patrol officials, law enforcement and other local officials. One can suppose that whatever "Executive Action" Biden is considering will come from these meetings.

(A Decreasing Number) Former President Donald Trump has won the South Carolina Primary with former Governor Nikki Haley coming in a distant second. Super Tuesday is only a few weeks away and if Trump does well ? It might not matter if Trump is re-elected. In all likelihood, however, the House will no longer be under Republican control. The current House GOP Majority is proving the gang who can't shoot straight. Its potential and promise were squandered in destructive in-Party conflict that ousted previous Speaker McCarthy and now is abandoning its governing by "regular order" where each of the twelve appropriations bills would be passed independently. If there was supposed to be a unifying factor for which the Republican Conference could operate in unified fashion, it would have been the ability to schedule and pass these Appropriations measures. The House has become its own toxic working environment. Several Members, including Committee Chair-People, are considering reti

(Famous Last Stands. . .) There have been many moments in history when something is so overwhelming that resistance seems futile. The three hundred Spartans that were felled at Thermopolye by a Persian horde of thousands, the tens of thousands of Gallic warriors that were beaten by Julius Caesar at Alesia, or the 185 Texians at the Alamo. Now, in joining this illustrious, if not ignominious, group, former South Carolina Governor, Nikki Haley. has been staying in the Republican nominating process even though she is many points behind former President Trump. It is being seen by many, if not most, that Haley as no path to the Nomination and her continued participation is becoming less productive. Haley is not running to Trump's Vice President but by the same token, she is the embodiment of the remaining anti-Trump element. They are so-called the big donors, the ones who are keeping her campaign financed. Will it matter ? Trump is so far ahead and in Haley's home state regardless,

(Tennis Has Less A Raquet) As is required by every President, this March 7th, President Biden will be delivering the State of the Union. Assuming he could manage to get through the entire address, remain coherent and speaks clearly, then he should be able to deliver what he thinks the state of the Union is. At least as far as he is concerned. The President is likely to mention these topics: Executive Action on the Border, the forgiveness of more student debt and even an announcement on a reduction on electric vehicle mandates. Whatever the President says next month, it will be an attempt to buy votes." Biden has had three years to secure the border and has insisted that Congress give him Legislation. There was the Senate Bill from a few weeks ago but that could not pass the House. What then is this new Executive Action concerning the border ? Will it put an end to the mass migration ? Will it send these illegals back Across the border instead of Catch and Release ? Is the asylum s

(Job Requirements) (Originally composed 2-19) On February 19th, 1945, U.S. Marines landed on Japanese-held island of Iwo Jima. This was prove one of the bloodier battles of the Pacific War, the eventual Flag Raising on Mount Suribachi on the 23rd and Joe Rosenthal's photo became the most reproduced picture in History and generated a bond drive that allowed the financing till the end of the War. February 19th is also President's Day, so named as recognition for February birthdays for President's Washington and Lincoln and all who have held the Office over the years. This is an Election Year but the campaign to date is being dominated by President Biden's deterioration and former President Trump's legal issues. One can begin with President Biden. How many days has he, and Mr. Trump, the men who want to be  President, now on President's Day, been the subject here ? There are always developments, however. Biden has become an over exposed film, the more he is seen, t

(Preventative Measures) In a scenario not thinkable only months ago, former President Donald Trump could become future President Donald Trump. Like any measure that comes from a hostile take-over, which in essence is what Trump is attempting, certain departments seek to re-structure so the axe, if there is one, so the effects could be ameliorated. One of the things that the prospective 47th President has promised is to "drain the swamp." The translation is it is Trump's intention to place limits on the federal bureaucracy. However, the tons of pages that comprise the Federal Registry, all the rules, regulations and the thousands of federal employees. All those have civil service protection, however, and it is extremely difficult to terminate these people, even though their roles might be redundant or otherwise in-efficient. Donald Trump wants to make the federal bureaucracy a "right to work" environment but the federal registry is a "union shop." And s

(Campaigning Season) Taking advantage of the conditions on the ground and the impasse in Congress over Ukraine funding, the Russian Army has forced Ukraine to withdraw from recently acq uired territory. Ukrainian command leadership made the judgement to make a withdrawal to avoid a possible encirclement. In the New York civil trial against Donald Trump, where the Judge summarily fined the former President $350 million and revoked his New York operating license for the next three years, In the other Trump trial in Georgia, the persecution there could be un-raveling because of romantic escapades between the D.A. and her "friend." As with any conflict, it is the mundane business of logistics rather than any flashy display of operational art. Ukraine had a pipeline to the West, specifically the U.S., and such support kept the Ukraine efforts viable. Now that assistance has become problematic, the effects are beginning to tell, starting with a lack of artillery ammunition. Going f

(Battle Of the Frontiers) Usually, a description of the "Battle of the Frontiers" refers to the opening round of First World War offensives, in the West. The Barbara Tuchman classic, The Guns of August laid out how Europe convulsed in 1914 beginning the "War to end all wars." At the same time events were opening in the West, there was a similar campaign that was launched in the East. Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia all clashed in a "Collision of Empires." Of these, Austria-Hungary proved the weakest of the three, The former attempted an invasion of Russian Galicia with four armies against what turned out to be five Russian. These battles took place on the periphery of the Ukraine.  Now, 110 years after hostilities erupted in 1914, another war is consuming the Ukraine and yet there is also another "Battle of the Frontiers." However, in this case, the "frontiers" in question is the Ukraine border with Russia but also the southern bor

(Not Feeling The Love ?) Happy Valentines' Day ! One can hope that chocolates or flowers or jewelry or whatever, regardless of the effect on the environment. This is the Day that Cupid's Arrows let fly and striking significant others of millions of romantically inclined, Sadly, there will also be a lot of breaking hearts. For every comedy on the Hallmark Channel, there will also be something darker on HBO. Or, stupid pet tricks. That had been a staple of the Late Night with David Letterman back in the day. More recently, Sarah Silverman has an eponymously-named program on TBS. Alternatively, this might not be a pet trick but it was stupid. The old George Santos House seat was flipped to Democrat. That was almost bound to happen after the New York Republican was caught committing ethics violations. This issue was examined some months previously. Santos was expelled from the House because of those violations, and it was decided to have a Special Election.  A point was made that

(Both Ways ?) Choices are a fact of life. Like an all you can eat buffet but all one afford would be the appetizers. The disposition of President Joe Biden is like the limited selection of the food line. And this does derive from Special Counsel Robert Dur, who has said the President did commit violations of law but because, as Hur's "kindly old man with a poor memory," and would not be less than a sympathetic figure that there would be no need to face a jury. The truth is more sanguine. Former charges are not being pursued against the President because he is Joe Biden. However, that argument is losing validity. If Biden can function, as he is insisting he can, then he should be able to face the consequences. And that would include answering for the allegations in Hur's report. Beyond that however, this process has illuminated the idea of the President remaining in Office in the first place ? Biden is set to get a physical soon. However, it will be his mental state t

(Good Call ?) If one were to look at any TV schedule, a big football game is being played this evening. On CBS, Super Bowl LVIII of all things will be aired. The two best teams in the AFC, the Kanas City Chiefs and the Champions of the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers. These are the teams that have travailed these past months to make an appearance in the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. One can expect a slew of flags and calls, some might be considered controversial. However, one will not be seeing the President in what a traditional interview has been held on Super Bowl Sunday. Considering Biden's performance the other night after the report of how he mis-handled classified material, how he than had that press conference, the President clearly had memory lapses such as the year his son Beau died. How he forget that the President of Egypt was not the President of Mexico. And, Biden got angry. Now, a televised press conference to answer the damning Special Counsel Hur report that said t

(Shallow Bench) Have you ever noticed that a greatest generation is not the same for the next ? How a J.D. Rockerfeller and all he accomplished was not able to be replicated by Rockerfeller Jr ? Or, how Tsar Alexander III was replaced by Nicholas II, who had to abdicate and was executed with his family by the Bolsheviks ? How Mrs. Wilson had to take over for a stroke-addled President Wilson ? Now, President Biden might need to be replaced. But, like a Rockerfeller Jr, a Nicholas II, or a Mrs. Wilson, the one who could replace the President if his condition continues to detiorate is Vice President Kamala Harris. She is more un-popular than the President and, were it to be she and Trump next November, she would lose worse than Biden. It is like the Democrats bought some gadget that came with batteries included, but they were both already dead. Where might one find new batteries and where would they come from ? And, then what do to with the dead ones, that have to be carefully disposed or

(Roads Diverge. . .) Or, was it the road less traveled ? Both leading candidates for President, happens to be the same as three years ago, President Biden and former President Trump. Both have been accused of having otherwise "classified" documents and other such material was not properly secured. In either case, Biden had the material in his garage and in Trump's case, the documents were arranged on a floor in home in Mar-A-Lago. Trump, as a former President, was authorized to possess these records. However, the documents in Biden's custody were from time of his in the Senate or as Vice President where he is not authorized. The Documents Case against Trump could send him to prison. That was why Mar-A-Lago compound was raided by the FBI. President Biden, accused of the same level of involvement if not in some context worse, and Special Counsel Robert Hur has said as much, that "the President knew he had the papers, that he was entitled to them." As an exampl

(You're Fired !) It had been a piece of programming genius that gave famous real estate developer Donald Trump his own reality show, The Apprentice . The show was ratings gold for the fifteen seasons it ran. If remembers the format, several business themed contestants had to complete "challenges" and how they managed their tasks. If the task was not complete or otherwise issue, Trump. as the Chairman, would declare "You're Fired !" As President, Donald Trump initiated a hostile take-over of the Republican Party, Two of its "executives," Party Chairperson, Rona McDaniel who is stepping down after the South Carolina Primary. and Senate Republican Leader, Mitch McConnell. Both tried to balance the interests of the Trump insurgency  Republicans against the needs and traditions of the Establishment. Like two contestants from The Apprentice , both McDaniel and McConnell are getting fired. Rona McDaniel as GOP Chairperson presided over a Party that has no

(Test Case Scenario) Some one million illegal aliens have crossed into the United States since October 1st. That is in addition to the millions already here. So much for Homeland Security and the man who is supposed to run it. Alajandro Mayorkas has not been very good at his job. Indeed, House Republicans tried to impeach the Secretary because he is being held as responsible for the border catastrophe. As of this morning, however, Mayorkas still has his job. There is a reason why the Democrats will likely re-take the House next November. The Republican Conference has self-immolated itself with the Speaker fight, the loss of two members from a Majority of only four. And specifically, on the Mayorkas impeachment vote, four Republicans sided with all Democrats to have the motion fail. Mayorkas was a trial run and a test for the House GOP. To see if the Conference can at some point come together as a single body and pass what it can of its agenda. Impeaching Mayorkas ostensibly was on that

(Seizing Opportunities) Order can be brought from chaos. The southern border is in chaos. The attempt to secure it is also in chaos. One of the proposals in the current legislative effort is aid Ukraine. If the Senate border bill fails, and Kiev is unable to get further support from the United States, that could offer Russia an opportunity to finish the conflict outright. This time in February, in theater, the ground is frozen. Solid and compact, the ground is ideal for armor operations. However, within weeks, the rasputitsa , the yearly spring thawing where the rains come and bring mud, which tends to retard mobility. If Russian forces can act decisively and take advantage of the tail end of campaign season and launch a full-on offensive of their own. For its part, Ukraine has been able to fight the Russian invasion, now all but in its third year, to a stalemate, However, with American aid becoming more problematic, Moscow could take advantage of Kiev's situation and continue to a

(Beyond Fine Print) For the past several days, a so-called "Border Bill" was being debated in the Senate. Text to the measure, costing $118 billion in the end, has money for Ukraine, has money for Israel, and some $20 billion for the border. The details would seek to streamline the asylum process and would allow for the deportation of migrants, after a threshold of 4,000 entrants is reached. Why allow anybody ? The House Bill, HR-2, the second measure this House passed this session, is their start point. Its threshold is for everybody to remain Mexico and complete the wall. So, the House measure is not compatible with the Bill now being presented in the Senate. Now, there is nothing new and when both Chambers dis-agree on a bill, a Conference Committee is convened and a final bill, that both houses can pass and then send to the President to sign it into Law. Speaking of laws, there are statutes that have been in place that make it a crime to cross illegally. And what does any

(Hill Street Blues. . .) Hill Street Blues was a police procedural developed by legendary developer, Steven Bocho. It Starred Danial J. Travanti, Joe Spano, and eventually, Dennis Franz. It ran from 1981-1987 on NBC, set in a crime ridden precinct in the Bronx. Over its run, Hill Street Blues won 4 Emmys, tying a record for other shows. The show was raw, the characters developed and one got the real sense of high crime in New York City. How many scripts from the show are being played out now ? Law enforcement in general has not prospered in recent years and indeed, elements in society has been actively campaigning against it. Officers of the NYPD in Brooklyn were assaulted the other day by illegal migrants, who, instead taking a visit to Rikers, were released, without bail per usual. They could be going to California where things are just as good. The men who assaulted those officers would be prime candidates for deportation. For her part, New York Governor Cathy Hochul has said as m

(The Struggle For Palestine) Over the previous nights, the Administration did finally retaliate against Iranian proxy positions. In a display of fire-power that could be considered impressive, with 85 targets struck including bunkers, weapons' depots and so on. despite the fact that two B-1 Lancers were deployed from the states, the end result of this campaign was that the attacks were purely political and were done because it looked bad if Biden had not acted. The President did well enough at Dover in receiving the three Fallen but that too was a political calculation and examined only un the context in the "optics" would benefit the Administration. President Biden has no true empathy but he thinks he knows how to look on camera. And that is enough, Biden doesn't need to bomb Iran, he does not need to order further strikes against the Houthis. Added to that, the Houthis live in Yemen. Where did the bombs fall ? Iraq and Syria. So much for target specified, or relief

(Shadowboxing. . .) " A groundhog and his  shadow are a very famous pair . They forecast the weather, together , a trick that is rare . One little thing that bothers me when out of doors I go . Will it be like Springtime , or sixteen feet of snow ? Never know which . I just can't remember . Will it be warm ? Or made like December ? The whole thing just confuses me and that is why I sing : A groundhog ' s shadow , just doesn ' t mean a thing ." That tune was sung by "Grover the Groundhog" from the Warner Brothers' animated classic One Meat Brawl , also starring Porky Pig and his hunting dog, Mandrake. They were a hunting pair out for Grover, At the end of the feature, shadows of the three of them were seen trying to beat each other up, only to see the Grover, Porky Pig and Mandrake in front of a lamp. Porky then says: " Shadowboxing . This way , nobody gets hurt ." As one might look at the calendar, today is Groundhog Day, much to the c

(Open To Interpretation) In any chain of command, commanders delegate authority to their subordinates. To a point, that subordinate is expected to show initiative but the point is also reached when the primacy of orders take precedence. An example of this, during the Battle of Gettysburg, the Confederates took Day One of the three-day engagement, forcing Federal forces south through the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and to the heights to the south of the town, Culp's Hill, Cemetary Ridge and the Round Tops. On that first day, the Rebels had a chance to seize Culp's Hill while it was still relatively un-occupied. As that position was the northeast "pivot" of what would become the famous "fish-hook" over the hills south of Gettysburg that would materialize over the next over the next two days. However, any orders that might have been issued to take Culp's Hill came with the qualifier "if practicable." That can be a dangerous directive. Because