The (Daily) Vent 2

(Dissention In The Ranks ?) There is a public face to everything and that is especially true with politics. The behind-the-scenes manufacturing of the Biden-Harris ticket in 2020 that kept Senators Sanders and Warren out of the Race and the endorsement of Congressman Clyburn, as well as the Big Three: media, money, and tech, put Joe Biden into the White House. However, only a few months ago and after the debate with Donald Trump, the Democrat Party cast him aside in favor of promoting Vice President Harris. Now, it is exactly three weeks to Election Day and the Biden-Harris dynamic is fraying. President Biden remains "peeved" he was callously cast aside. His selection of Harris as his running mate checked boxes but did nothing to recommend her. Currently, the Biden-Harris relationship is strained, a lack of communication between the White House and the Harris Campaign. Staffers involved seem at times to be working at cross purposes. To be sure. Biden does want Harris to win b

(MACH 1 Campaigning) Happy Columbus Day ! As is the case for many, Columbus Day can be problematic. There might be the Columbus Day Parade. the Knights of Columbus and all of the towns named after the famous Explorer. However, in keeping with left-inspired revisionist history that Columbus' discovery of the Americas and their subsequent colonization led to genocide and all the other ills that came with it. Which begs the question. Should Spanish Queen Isabella had kept her jewels and Columbus stayed home ? October 14th is also known for another anniversary. In 1947, at what would eventually be named Edwards Air Force Base, Captain Charles "Chuck" Yeager, piloted the Bell X-1 past the Sound Barrier, about 767 miles per hour, or MACH 1. As an aircraft approaches the Barrier. the air literally cannot get out of the way resulting in extensive aero-dynamic drag. Overcoming that drag accelerates the aircraft through the sound barrier and when that is accomplished, a sonic "

(Correlation Of Forces. . .) Since the Russo-Ukraine War began almost three years ago, some Russian 600,000 casualties have been incurred. That is greater than any Soviet/Russian conflict, including Afghanistan, since the end of the Second World War. In what was supposed to be a few day affair back in 2021 has lasted this long with no strategic decision for with side. Ukrainian President Zelenski has a five-step plan for a terminal offensive. However, correlation of forces still favors Russia. Zelenski had presented the Biden Administration what he has been calling his "Victory Plan." Oo paper it might look like dynamite. But Russia maintains the advantage in virtually every category. Ukraine is deficient in personnel, weapons, communications, air power and so on. That being said, Zelenski has no plan to define what "victory" in the Victory Plan would actually mean. There is no defined use of assets that could alter situations on the ground that could in-connivence

{(Big Guns (or has beens)} A few days ago, the statement had been made that Donald Trump could not win a close election. The Democrat electoral advantage is such that a Democrat win is almost on automatic. One can envision a scenario where more votes might be cast for Trump, but more ballots could be collected for Harris. That would possibly be the case in a close election. So, Democrats have called on their two main champions, former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama to make appearances and rally the faithful. For her part, Vice President Harris, having just completed a media tour that was problematic, and that has been recognized by the Harris Campaign. The Democrat ticket this time has lost support among traditional constituencies, namely blacks, Hispanics, and union rank and file. At a speech in Pittsburg the other day, President Obama seemed to chastise the audience that he was amazed that former President Trump has that support. That echoes the Biden comment that if you di

(In Glass Houses,. . .) Donald Trump has had many lives. People can scarcely remember that the former President was once a famous real-estate developer and then 14 years as The Apprentice . As one might recall, each season had about a dozen contestants that spent the year on various tasks, of which failure to accomplish would be a curt "you're fired" from the head of the program. At the end of the season, when almost all the players had been eliminated, it would come down to two. The winner there would get "you're hired" and go to some unspecified position within the Trump organization. The people facing Trump today are members of the Biden Administration and specifically the response to Hurricanes Helene / Milton , or rather the lack thereof. Like President Bush and Hurricane Katrina from 2005, so these two storms and the delayed reaction will bedevil Biden/Harris. However, instead of positioning equipment or fuel, no accommodation, especially in western No

(Voodoo Economics) President George H.W. Bush had a storied career before he made the White House. Naval aviator, Texas oil man, U.N Ambassador, DCI, was in the 1980 Republican Primary with then California Governor, Ronald Reagan, Reagan's Vice President and ultimately a Presidential term for himself. Bush and Reagan had several debates where he criticized Governor's economic plan, which took supply side principles. calling it Voodoo Economics.  The theory is taken that lower tax rates generate more revenue and that has been proven time and again. President Bush did not hold with this concept and was goaded by Congressional Democrats to raise taxes. The man who had said "Read my lips" in essence broke a promise and lost the 1992 race. One does not need Voodoo Economics to have bad policy. Recent examples of bad judgement is the over-active involvement of the anti-trust division at the Justice Department. The merger between Jet Blue and Spirit Airlines and the potentia

(Common Sense Solutions) There was a band from the 1980's called The Thompson Twins . However, the name was not Thompson, and they were not twins. In fast, the band was a trio with Tom Baily, Alana Currie and Joe Leeway. They had a few hits off an album "Into the Gap" such as "Doctor Doctor," "Hold Me Now," and "King for a Day." Likewise, a hated phrase is "Common Sense Solutions." More often than not, the "solutions," such as they are, are seldom common much less do they make sense. Another tired phrase is "beginning a conversation." Meaning what ? Such comments indicate that people have no idea what is going on but as long as people are talking, whether or not an actual solution is derived is not relevant. It is all a built-in delay. Then of course, there is so-called "dis/mis-information. Anything that disrupts official narrative is labeled as such. Vice President Harris has called for common sense soluti

(At Some Point. . .) It would seem that one can do everything right and still lose. Donald Trump made a triumphant return to Butler to a crowd larger than the one on July 13th. He made an appearance at the October 7th commemoration in Miami. He has been out and about but the best Kamala Harris can do is an interview with 60 Minutes , where that performance was still problematic. The point being that even with media criticism, she is still beating Trump. The truth has always been that Trump could not win a close election. All those who claim the former President in reality has more support are getting delusional at this point. Commentators on Fax News have been the perpetrators of this myth and when Trump loses, what will happen to supposedly "learned" opinion. Of course, there will be a natural reversion to excuses. The poll is within the margin of error. Trump still has leads in certain states. Un-fortunately for Republicans, Helene wiped out GOP Precincts in western North

(Making It Count. . .) Come full circle ? It was on October 7th. 2023 that Hamas terrorists surged into Southern Israel, committed 1,200 murders in brutal fashion and captured over a hundred hostages. In the year since, Israel has waged a double campaign against Hamas in Gaza and now against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon which is including a ground incursion. An Israeli strike against Iran is imminent. What target list being prepared in Jerusalem cannot be half measures or symbolic in nature. Iran has assets than can be destroyed namely its nuclear and petroleum-related assets. It also goes without saying that Iranian air bases and port facilities could be struck. The question would be range and capability. Israel has drones as did Iran. Or could the response be more subtle, further assassinations of Iranian leadership if the intelligence is accurate. The only indication as what shape the Israeli attack might take, according to the Israeli Defense Minister, "all options are on

(Deeper Looks. . .) There is a saying that bad news is sometimes good news.  That can be true in business circles when "good" economic news is can be interpreted as a strength and thus subject to interest rate adjustment from the Federal Reserve. That affects the Markets, up or down. A case in point, when last Friday's jobs report was released, it was a robust 254,000 hires. Fantastic ! Or is it ? The employment trend these days, where are all jobs, are foreign-born workers and government, either direct or ancillary. There is increase in part time work and while un-employment rate dropped to 4.1%, it had been Uncle Sam who was the biggest contributor. What about all the manufacturing jobs ? Jobs from the service sector. Travel. Construction ? All positions that demonstrate a healthy economy. However, when all the jobs are where no income is generated but spending is, the 254,000 might seem robust on the surface but the reality is more even. It is this lack of a strong eco

(CSI: Crine Scene Investigations) It was the strike that barely was. Amid all the fanfare and hype, the threatened dock-worker stoppage failed to really materialize. The whole affair lasted barely 72 hours and while a 62% raise was agreed and will run to next January, the issue of automation has yet to be resolved. Former President Trump is making a return trip to Butler, Pennsylvania today to "finish" his speech from last July 13th that got interrupted when Thomas Crooks gave him an "earshot." This time, Elon Musk will be joining Trump on stage along with  those lost in the assassination attempt during the rally.  Corey Comperatore, 50, was a firefighter and a father of two daughters. He "historically sacrificed his life to shield his wife and daughters" during the assassination attempt against Trump, the campaign said.  Trump will also recognize the two other Americans who were wounded by the shooter, David Dutch and James Copenhaver. Unlike the situatio

(Murphy's Is Less A Law) If something can go wrong, it will. And, for the Biden Administration, it has. One can re-trace the litany all the way back to Afghanistan. But it is the here and now If Biden still wants to play "President," he needs to act in the role. For the moment, that is something Biden seems un-willing to do. He could be more active in disaster relief in the Southeast. He could make a better attempt to end the port strike. He could better support Israel in its struggle with Iran. Is the President involved with any of these things ? The answer is no. But he can support the un-sealing of another Trump indictment. Of everything that is going on. that has to be the most important. The most pro-union President is being held hostage by, unions. Namely the Longshoreman Union. They are engaged in a work stoppage in ports from Portsmouth, Maine to Houston, Texas. That encompasses some 45,000 personnel. Like most other crises in the Biden Administration, this one co

(Minute Walz) At first glance, the term "Minute Waltz" would seem confusing as people dance a waltz for only one minute ? That would not even allow for the bow. The reality is that the Minute Waltz is not a dance at all but instead is a piano tune by Composer Chopin. That would make much more sense. At the VP Debate last night, Democrat Walz who had said he would be nervous, was. The political costs to these debates has been rising since the first, and last meeting between President Biden and former President Trump back in July. That was the day that Biden's quest for the White House came to an end, installing Vice President Harris. When it was her turn to face Trump, she did well, knocking the former President for a loop. Her poll position did improve initially in certain swing state tallies. However, the gains proved ephemeral and the race is as close as ever. Then came last night on CBS. Whereas Biden collapsed in the first debate, and Trump did as much in the second.

(Stand-Up Fights) In the latest escalation in the Israel- Hezbollah War, a ground incursion into Lebanon is underway. Israel has always enjoyed "lines of interior communication" where on two occasions, in the Six Day War of 1967 and Yom Kippur War in 1973, Egypt was subdued first and then attention could be shifted to Syria. Now, in 2023-2024 with the Hamas attack on October 7th and its subsequent reduction in Gaza. Now it is the turn of Hezbollah in Lebanon. The IDF has re-deployed its mobile (armored) units north and in positions to further degrade the terror group's capability. Ultimately, the goal is to have Israeli citizens return home with threats from the north largely contained. Of course, the story would not be complete without the threat from Iran to launch a ballistic missile towards Israel in the next few hours. *** Breaking now. The ballistic missile attack from Iran has materialized. Israeli Air Defense assets, as Iron Dome and Arrow systems, are respondi