The (Daily) Vent 2

(Races To The Sea. . .) Since the "Guns of August" opened up on the Western Front in 1914, the German Army had been marching, first through Belgium and then through France. The British and French armies were steadily forced south. It was decided for the Allies to make a stand on the Marne River. On September 6th-12th, in the First Battle of the Marne, the Germans were halted and forced to withdraw. What followed was what is called the "Race to the Sea." As the Germans fell back, the Allies attempted in turn to turn the German flank and the Germans tried to do the same. Both efforts came to a halt when the English Channel was reached. Over the next three years or so, a system of trenches developed in a line that stretched some 475 miles from the Channel to the Swiss Border. What does any of this have to do with anything ? Remember the 2000 Bush Gore Election ? The one with the hanging chads and so on ? The vote count in Florida for Bush was questionable ? The Gore Ca...

(Wealth Re-Distribution) The jury on the Trump hush money case has been deliberating for two days now and have yet to acclimate themselves to the "jury instruction" of convict Donald Trump. Speaking of Robert De Niro, when he was Al Capone in Brian De Palma's The Untouchables , Capone was making a speech to a dinner, holding a baseball bat. He talks about how when one is at bat, that is a time for individual achievement. But, when one heads to the outfield, he becomes part of a team. And, "Capone" goes on, "he gets nothing unless the team wins" At that, Di Niro takes the bat and opens up the skull of the poor guy that was running the liquor dispensary that was raided by Kevin Costner and Sean Connery. The point being is this: the Trump jury is a team, as Al Capone said it was. Not the time for individual effort, that a hung jury or even an acquittal would suggest. Any jury member that votes to not convict could get the equivalent of a baseball bat open...

(Beyond The Black Hand) The mafia life has been glamorized over the years. From The Sopranos to The Godfather saga, the life of organized crime would have a certain appeal. Beyond the illegality and the fact that most of the time, Wiseguys end up in prison or dead. But to be "made," to be a part of a crew, that can be lucrative at times, there is certainly an attraction. However, before there were recognized "families" that came into their own with the advent of Prohibition, extortion rackets were a fact of life for many Italian and Sicilian immigrants in New York City slums, by "members" of what had been called the Black Hand.  These were the earliest "bosses," Joe Masseria and Salvatore Marzano as examples. They were the first heads of Organized Crime until they in turn were assassinated by the younger generation of mobsters like "Lucky" Luciano, among others. In the crime classic, The Godfather , Part II, Robert De Nero played a y...

(Sentencing Guidelines) Whenever there is a coach that has to lead a squad in some sporting event, he tells his players that when they go out there, they go out as a team. This morning in that Courthouse where the Trump Hush Money trial is underway, Judge Juan Merchan, and the twelve seated jurors need to know they are a team. That their work is important, if not inspired. They will have collectively convicted a former President of the United States. There will be no hung jury, There will be no acquittal. There cannot be. The only question to be answered is how many of the thirty-four counts will Trump be found guilty ? As there is really nothing to lose, why not convict on all thirty four ? There is going to be examination of those jurors as well as the Judge to see if they delivered the desires outcome. No one on the Prosecution, including the jury, will dare oppose what is obviously the "will of the people." Depending on how many violations on which Trump gets convicted, t...

(Keeping The Faith ?) Happy Memorial Day ! This is the day when the nation pauses and recognizes the contributions of the men and women that strove, and often times perished in the defense of this country. How many campaigns and battles have been seen over the years with Americans in harms way. Theirs was not a pursuit of glory, necessarily but they are remembered as such. As an example, take the Joe Rosenthal photo of the "Iwo Jima Flag-raising," February 23rd, 1945. Most people know what that is and not a few have a copy on their wall. Three of those Marines survived Iwo Jima and went on a bond tour to promote that picture. The U.S. was able to fund the rest of the War off of that drive but the Marines in question did not fare well. Private Ira Hayes, the last casualty of the Volcano Island died of exposure some years later. There was one other Marine, Rene Gagnon, and who was originally believed to be Navy Corpman, John Bradley. Since then, the "place" in the Ros...

(Signs Of Distress) It was McDonald's for lunch. It was a medium Big Mac combo and a Quarter Ponder with cheese (no pickles) for a dollar extra. The whole tab was seven dollars.  Admittedly, there is no minimum wage law to be observed or supply shortages. McDonald's, like Arby's Burger King, Pizza Hut, Sonic, Whataburger, or Wendys and so on, do not have the pricing pressures that are seen in other parts of the country. For so many, fast food, that in-expensive alternative to feeding the kids that, while not necessarily wholesome, at least could hold them over until dinner. As this is important to so many families, moving this option out of reach because of some politician and a labor initiative that allows the counter personnel to gain a living wage, that is beyond their own requirements. What it does is cut into the operating costs of the proprietor. Altogether, a sign of distress. A recognized signal for distress is an "upside down" American Flag. In 2020, this...

(Tough Crowds ?) The numbers listed of those at Trump's Bronx speech were closer to eight to ten thousand instead of the twenty-five previously stated. In any event, it exceeded the thirty-five hundred formally permitted. In the near term, before or during the Republican Convention in Milwaukee in a couple of months, former President Trump, the presumptive GOP Nominee, will need a running mate. Former Hawaii Congresswoman, Tulsy Gabbard had been discussed previously but whomever Trump selects, and whenever they go out to stump, the crowds in those events need to be as large as if Trump was there himself. Will a Senator Tim Scott be able to hold the same rally in New York like Trump did ? Or Senator J.D. Vance ? What about Governor Sarah Sanders of Arkansas or even Kristy Noam from South Dakota ? Like the opening act for a headliner, would the numbers still be there ? And that would not necessarily be the VP pick on its own but any of Trump surrogates who might go to Austin, Chicago...

(Stranger Things) The rally that former President Trump held in the South Bronx, some 25,000, out of a permitted, 3,500, and spoke for just short of 90 minutes. It has been noted that the attendees largely represented the Bronx ethnic composition, African and Hispanic Americans. All seemed to be enthusiastic about Trump's speech and were active in changing voter registration to Republican, after generations as Democrats. If the former President thinks he has any chance in Hell of winning any part of New York, he had evidence in the South Bronx the other evening. Assuming that Trump survives the next week, and does not find himself in an orange jumpsuit following his orange hair into Rikers, the idea that the Empire State could actually be in play is a seismic shift in American politics. This is taking place as President Biden is continuing to show signs of his detioration. In a summit with the Kenyan President, it was clear that Biden had lost situational awareness. In any event, T...

(Boarding A Sinking Ship ?) Former Trump GOP Primary Rival, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, announced that she will be "voting" for Donald Trump. That is not necessarily an endorsement but an obvious admission that President Biden is worse. That being said, Ms. Haley could be joining the Trump Train at the moment when his campaign will be compromised with a return of a guilty verdict in the hush money trial. As one will recall, in 2020 because Trump was not effective in dealing with the pandemic. To a point, the crisis as an opportunity to remove the incumbent Trump at the time and recent e-mails are now demonstrating that there was some concealment of data, like the likelihood of covid-19 origins was indeed from a lab and not from a bat. It was also revealed that the masks did not necessarily work, that social distance was not effective and, despite Trump's efforts to get a vaccine on the market, said supplements were not effective in curtailing the virus. Bu...

(Clear & Present Dangers.. . .) One can recall the Stanley Kramer classic Inherit the Wind , a dramatized version of the "Scopes Monkey Trial." In the film, Spencer Tracy (Henry Drummond) faced off with Fredrick March (Matthew Harrison Brady). The trial centered on a high school teacher who was giving instruction on "Evolution," illegal in the fundamentalist Hillsboro County. Sensing an opportunity, Nebraska politician, Mathew Harrison Brady (March), offered his services to the prosecution. To counter, a newspaper correspondent (Gene Kelly) says his paper will pay for the "defense" of defendant, high school teacher, Bert Cates. The advocate for Cates was Henry Drummond (Tracy).  To make a long story short, as Tracy was stating his case in the defense of Cates, any evidence based on an "explanation of evolution." In the Trump hush money case, like all the dis-allowed material on the Theory of Evolution, so Judge Juan Merchan is dis-allowing wi...

(Gross Allowance. . .) It is a common comment that if aliens were to land on this planet tomorrow, they would quickly come to the conclusion that this planet is bereft of intelligent life. Having seen nothing of interest, they can re-board whatever vehicle and depart for more exiting realms. Back on Earth, there is a lack of intelligence on full display. In an organization less useful than even the United Nations would be the International Criminal Court, who, at the encouragement of Mrs. George Clooney has issued "arrest warrants" for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Defense Minister. How would those "warrants" be served ? Is some international constabulary going to Israel and haul the "accused" into custody ? Over someone's dead body and not Netanyahu's. In any event, former President Trump has suggested that President Biden take a drug test. It might not be dignified, "peeing in a cup" at this level but the poin...

(Persian Rugs. . .) ". . . I grow tired of asking this ,  it is going to be the last time . Where is the Rebel Base ?"  That was the exchange between Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) in that scene from Star Wars Episode IV, "A New Hope," before Alderaan was destroyed.  How it rates for today ? Repeatedly in previous weeks, the point has been made that there can be only one outcome in the Trump hush money trial, his guilt. All the maneuvering as to a possible early adjournment or jury dismissal, the questions as to whether to call defense witnesses or placing Donald Trump on the stand himself are all open questions. The result will remain the same. One of the things that this trial will provide for President Biden is that Trump will meet him in the debate as a convicted felon. Even with such a marred record, Trump will be able to confront Biden and his policy failures. A large one would be how Biden and his Administration approach...

(Golden Rules. . .) People are generally familiar with the Golden Rule: those with gold, rule. Similarly, there is something called Executive Privilege. "Executives" are get perks from the board room to the wash room. The question, however, is whether a President has absolute discretion when opposing an order from a Republican Congress ? Some background might be appropriate. Some months ago, President Biden was interviewed by Special Counsel Robert Hur. This had been regarding Biden's own possession of un-secured classified materials. The President had committed statuary violations and that was revealed in the transcripts. Hur's conclusion, however was that Biden was an "elderly gentleman who had gaps in his memory. Hur refused to prosecute the Commander in Chief. However, live testimony can be so much more effective than a transcript. Hur had recorded the conversation with the President and that is what had been sought by the House. The request had been made to ...

( D edication, E vangelism, I nspiration ( DEI ). . .) The times in which we love ? As everybody knows by now, the kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs , a Championship Squad, gave a commencement address to the graduating class of Benedictine College, a private Catholic university. Butker delivered remarks that lauded the women in the audience and said that they could look forward to a professional career and. equally, if not more so, those looking forward to being a wife and mother. As Butker himself relates, he met his wife in a middle school band class. An emotional moment for the kicker. And that is not okay for some. A speech on the value of marriage and motherhood should be benign but what has emerged is a frantic flight to condemn Butker, to say that he does not share the values of institutions of the NFL. What are the values of the League, and all else who called for Butker's admonishments in in the first place ? A statement of Faith and a happy family can be so threatening be...

(Quality Control. . .) John Wayne might have been an American institution but one can also notice that he made the same film with different titles. For example, as a "lawman," he was in El Dorado , Rio Bravo and Rio Lobo . The "cattle baron" was nicely done with Big Jake , Chisum , and McClintock !. Now, the so-called "debate" format that the Biden campaign is insisting on, the no audience (a CNN broadcast so there would be no great viewership to begin with) and no third-party participation, banning Independent Robert F. Kennedy. That is the controlled environment with which Biden will be allowed to face Trump. And, truth be told, the President has been getting things wrong. He has been claiming that he inherited a 9% inflation when he took office. It was in reality, under 2%. Biden is also floating the idea of a more permissive approach to marijuana use. Coupled with student loan forgiveness, would that be a belated attempt to win back the youth vote ? B...

(Bear & Dragon) The Dow Jones crossed the 40,000 level for the first time this morning. It has retreated some but it was a milestone none the less. Look for President Biden to take the usual un-deserved credit.  Meanwhile, details are being developed as to how President Biden and former President Trump meet for their debate, the first apparently on CNN next month, so their counterparts from China and Russia, Premier Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin will themselves be gathering in Moscow. Ostensibly, the two leaders are meeting to discuss their own vision of a new Global Order, with Iran and North Korea as junior partners. However, a new item has appeared on the agenda. Donald Trump could return to Office. Now, both the Peoples' Republic and Russia would both prefer Biden over Trump. Biden has been accommodating in the past, repealing certain Trump initiatives and tariffs. He all but gave the green light for the Ukraine invasion, that could come to a final resolution in s...

(The Foots A-game !) In a stunning turn of events, it is being offered that former President Trump could be acquitted or at least get a hung jury. The consequences would be severe were that to happen. Those twelve Americans need to play ball and if one or more of them do not, they will be hated among all New York. The facts of the case never really matted as is the pre-destined outcome, and those that did not allow that result to materialize will no longer be safe in either the Big Apple if not the Empire State itself. If things proceed and Trump is released WITHOUT a guilty verdict, he will be free to return to the Campaign trail. One of the things Trump could be doing is preparing to meet President Biden. In a debate. The former President has been enthusiastically looking forward to facing Biden again. Since the issue first arose, Trump has stated "anytime. anyplace" for the discussion. For Biden's part, he has agreed to one debate next month and a second in September. ...

(In Maniacal Pursuit) " The weekends at the collage didn ' t turn out like you planned , the   things you take for knowledge I can ' t understand ." " Are you reeling in the years ?" So say those classic 1970's anti-heroes Steely Dan from their album, "Can't Buy a Thrill." Like the guy who went to college for the weekend, and is confusing people otherwise, so one can say over the Trump trial. Both Stormy Daniels and Micheal Cohen have testified or are in the process of testifying and yet have not ties the former President to any serious illegality. There are now suggestions that the whole proceeding be terminated because this effort to compromise Domald Trump is having an opposite effect. He will still probably be found guilty and see some time incarcerated but the case has not been proved but, because of this maniacal pursuit of President Biden's challenger, Trump has done nothing but prosper. On a related note, during a debate betw...

(Friends Like These ?) When General Eisenhower was asked what won the Second World War, the Supreme Commander credited the atomic bomb, the two-ton truck, the bazooka and a few other things. What Eisenhower could not say though he was a definite beneficiary, was ULTRA intelligence, the most secret product derived from the Allied ability to "read" the German Enigma cypher. As some might remember, Enigma transmissions were generated by a typewriter type gadget that used a keyboard, rotors, and interconnecting circuits that could generate combinations in the quadrillions that made the Germans feel it was secure. The code brakers at Bletchley Park, however, had other ideas. After Pearl Harbor, it became obvious that the Americans would need to be advised of ULTRA , especially President Roosevelt, select members of his Cabinet, and the American Combined Chief of Staff. But who could Prime Minister Churchill send to brief this expanded list of ULTRA recipients ? The one chosen ...

(Disturbing Figures. . .) It's all about the money and the effects it has. At times, it is not what was intended. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had all the New Deal legislation that did nothing to end the Great Depression. It was the Second World War that restored economic prosperity. President Ronald Reagan spent massively on the Pentagon but did not win the Cold War without a shot being fired. Former President Trump spoke to a crowd of some 100,000 on the Jersey Shore, boasting that he could flip the Garden State red. Trump should be more concerned that Democrats could turn Texas "blue," if Senator Ted Cruz (R) loses to liberal Democrat Colin Allred. On his part, President Biden is not in as dire a strait as one would initially suppose. His stance on Israel is having a controversary effect but the so-called "uncommitted" vote in states like Michigan or Wisconsin have come back to supporting the President. Trump is going back into court next week, still t...

(Rendered Academics) What will happen if Israel finishes Hamas over the next few days ? What will happen when the Donald Trump verdict is guilty ? These things are likely within the next two weeks. All the planning that has anticipated these events will have to be re-assessed. What will be the point of anti-Israel/pro-Hamas if the latter ceases to exist in any recognizable fashion ? During the Vietnam War, the Viet Kong insurgency had its own mythology. However, the groups participation in the 1968 Tet Offensive so eviscerated its cadres that the VC became ineffective as a fighting force. It is the same situation with Hamas . Hostilities that commenced on October 7th, and in the months sense have led to the degradation of the terror group. Once Rafah is cleared, and the last four Hamas battalions are fully reduced, and Israel closes Gaza's gate to Egypt, permanently, then Israel can say that it won. What will that do to the protests ? If Hamas is no more, and the IDF still stands...

(Assault On The Low Countries) May 10th, 1940, Nazi Germany launched its attack on the West. By the tine it was all over by early June, Belgium, Holland, and even France had fallen. Great Britain took what was left of its army to the beaches of Dunkirk and, what has been called a "miracle," some 338,000 of its number were successfully evacuated back to England. As Prime Minister Churchill remarked, however, "wars are not won by evacuations." But the men rescued were formed unto a new cadre with which the British Army was rebuilt. However, it must also be mentioned that the panzers , German armored divisions, were halted by Hitler's order, short of the coastal town and could have even beaten the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) to Dunkirk, in which case there would have been no miracle, and the British would have joined the French in defeat. Biden's decision to halt munitions delivery to Israel is akin to Hiter halting his armor at what could have been the p...

(Babylonian Captivity) For all the religious scholars, why, if it is the Hebrew Bible, why are the current residents if Israel called Jews ? They are named as such because they come from Judah. Historically, Israel has had Twelve Tribes, decedents of Patriarch Jacob, who is also known as "Israel." In time, as the Kingdom was established and united under King David, Israel was at its height. However, with David's son Solomon and his own offspring, the Kingdom fractured. Ten of the Tribes formed a northern Kingdom of Israel while the remaining, Judah and Benjimin remained in the south. In time, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrian Empire in the 8th Century BCE. The "Hebrews" living there were dispersed in an event that became known as the diaspora . But the southern Kingdom survived, until the advent of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Under its ruler, Nebuchadnezzar II, Judea was wiped from the map, like Israel before. This time, however, there ...

(NSFW (not safe for work) ?) Happy V-E (Victory in Europe) Day. ! Across the world, nations that had been once occupied by Germany and those that fought to defeat her, remember May 8th. May 8th, 2024, however, is also seeing continued anti-Israel demonstrations across college campuses that are being dealt with varying degrees of effectiveness. And also, Donald Trump's legal issues could begin to ameliorate. The phrase "not safe for work" refers to employees at a workstation where if "adult" material is seen on the screen, and a supervisor happens by, it is not a good ides to such imagery displayed. From what has been reported, Stormy Danials' testimony at the Trump hush money trial. The former adult film star knew how to describe, in detail, elements of any alleged affair with Donald Trump. The not safe for work part. It was what Danials' said on the stand, about Trump's silk pajamas, and basically a one-night stand.  Details of Danials' testimon...

(Understatement) On May 6th, 1945, representatives of the Third Reich arrived at General Eisenhower's Supreme Headquarters  in Reims and offered Germany's surrender. The action ended hostilities in the European Theater of Operations. After close to six years of War, the guns fell silent. All the staff officers at SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force) thought that the Victory communiqué  should say something "profound." Ideas were bandied back and forth until the Supreme Commander himself settled the matter: " The mission of this Expeditionary Force was accomplished at oh-two-forty-three hours ." May 7th, 1945. With the same lack of emotion with which General Eisenhower announced the end of the War in Europe, there is a similar lack of recognition of the consequences if Donald Trump is actually incarcerated. A Presidential Candidate and presumptive Nominee of the Republican Party has been on trial for the last number of days and has been un...

(Verdicts Of History. . .) Professor Gordon Prange taught History at the University of Maryland. He is also considered the pre-imminent authority of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Prange in his exhausted research included interviews, stays with some of the principals, and also every book or newspaper article. In the end, he produced a work of several thousand pages. Prange passed in 1980 but two of his graduate students were able to distill the text into four distinct volumes. At Dawn We Slept , which was an exhaustive chronicle of events leading up to Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7 th , 1941, about the details of the raid, Pearl Harbor: Verdicts of History , and finally, Miracle at Midway , that described the American victory over the Japanese almost six months to the day after Pearl Harbor. It is "Verdicts of History" that is the concern now. When the history of the Israel- Hamas War is compiled with objective distance. Where was President Biden in all this ? Fr...

(TEQUILA !) Happy Cinco de Mayo or May 5th. One can hope that a lot of you out there are awash in inebriation, seeking to mainline tequila shots or enjoying a nice margarita on the patio. Or, in other words, relax. Take a breath. De-compress. May 5th as it happens is the anniversary of Mexico's victory over French "occupation" of Mexico by Emperor Maximillian, brother to Austrian monarch Maria Theresa in what has been called the Battle of Puebla. The reason France was in Mexico in the first place was that Mexico, after the Mexican-American War and a more civil conflict called the Reform War, had bankrupted Mexico City. Mexican President at the time was Benito Juarez, who repudiated all foreign debt, of which France, Spain, and the United Kingdom were all major holders. A naval expedition was dispatched to Veracruz and France's Napoleon III thought it would be a good idea to establish a French "empire" in Mexico. But, on May 5th, 1862, in the aforementioned B...

(STILL Not Getting The Point !) Former Trump advisor Hope Hicks took the witness stand in D.A. Alvin Bragg's Hush Money case. It was supposed to be her testimony that Trump paid the hush fund to keep his relations with Stormy Daniels quiet, not necessarily to benefit his campaign but instead to show deference to wife Melania. These revelations are extraordinary ! This blows Bragg's case out if the water ! Having Hicks testify was the worst move imaginable ! What was Bragg thinking ? One can only hope that Micheal Cohen, Trump's former fixer and the one who "paid" Daniels in the first place, will be able to recover Bragg's fortunes. Even if Cohen is able to demolish Hicks and her comments, it does not matter. The result will be the same, Trump's conviction. District Attorney Bragg is being called a "rising star" among New York Democrats. Albany might itself be beckoning. Now, Bragg will be getting nowhere near higher Office if it turns out that he...

(Confused Pictures) At this point in 1945, the European War was about to come to a close, with the German surrender on May 7th, V-E Day on May 8th. The War in the Pacific still had some three and a half months to run and there was still fighting on Okinawa. The situation in Tokyo was necessarily different from Berlin. For the Japanese with the warrior tradition of bushido , surrender was anathema, but at the same time, defeat was inevitable. If capitulation had to come, the Japanese War Cabinet wished to create their own terms. It began that the prerogatives of the Emperor would not be infringed. Japan would dis-mantle its own armed forces and conduct its own trials for any so-called "criminals." The Allies. led by General of the Army, Douglas MacArthur, rejected those terms but Japan would be allowed to keep His Majesty, Emperor Hirohito, provided he answered to MacArthur. As one put it, it was one Divinity over another ! The college protests have been making their own deman...

(Poor Relations) There was a comedy troupe from a few years ago that basically made fun of "red-necks" the stereotypical image of a southern boob who drinks too much beer and has.  a car on blocks in the front yard. The group had three main members namely Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry, the Cable Guy.  These in their standup performances poked fun on the Dominion South and their material could be quite funny. A lot less funny but still in the mold of poor relations are the Palestinian Arabs. Arab states in the Middle East, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Syria and even Yemen. With the probable exceptions of Iran and Yemen, the War in Gaza has produced a large number of Palestinian refugees. Who could take them ? The Palestinians have been problem children since the inception of the Jewish State. The original U.N. Mandate for the partition of the area allowed for a two-state solution, Jewish and Arab. The Jews accepted the compromise but the Ara...

(Mayday ?) The term "Mayday" is the internationally recognized signal that a commercial aircraft is in distress. May 1st is also the day where the international proletariat is recognized, or otherwise leftist interests. Like the leftist and anti-Israel protests that have been occurring in places like Columbia University. Such individuals were arrested and the demonstration broken up. None will be facing criminal charges as the attention of D.A. Alvin Bragg sees the threat from former President Trump orders of magnitude over what any college protest might engender. Jewish students are being barred from campus much less able to actual attend class. And of course the source of all this rage is, not so much the Israel- Hamas War but the reaction to it. The Biden Administration is seen as pulling support from the Jewish State and it is also clear that external agitators, agents provocateurs if you will, can be seen as responsible for the various protests, providing logistics and...