All Wet. . .

(All Wet. . .)

In a bit of good news, American teacher Marc Fogel who had been incarcerated in Rusia the last three years was just released and was welcomed at a snowy White House last night. Some bad news, however, is that inflation remains persistent with the CPI now at 3%, worse than expected. This news precludes any new rate cut and could even presage a rate increase. This will be the last report from the Biden Years and the last gasp of Bidenomics.


With the exit of President Biden also means the exit of the excessive regulations especially with regards water usage. Full flush toilets are okay. Massaging shower heads are now acceptable. How about clean dishes, after one cycle. And who invented the paper straw ? One can be environmentally friendly but keeping the plastic straw would be a necessary pre-requisite.


This goes beyond appliances, however. How was Fogel retrieved ? Vladmir Putin was obviously consulted as the American teacher was in Russian custody. Was it only the so-called "Trump effect," a term in excessive use, that convinced Putin to release Fogel. It would also seem that the President has become impatient with the Israel/Hamas ceasefire and has indicated that if the situation is not resolved by this Saturday, "all hell will break lose." Again.


Defense Secretary Hegseth has been in Brussels at a meeting of the North Atlantic Alliance and has repeated the standard U.S. complaint that NATO nations need to meet their defense-related fiduciary commitments. Hegseth also made clear that any settlement in the Ukraine will not include any admission into the Atlantic Alliance. There is wisdom in this as NATO membership would include Article V where an attack on one Member is an attack on all. If Ukraine were a NATO member that would bring the Alliance into direct conflict with Moscow.


Which is also a possible reason for Fogel's release. The inflation, the possible escalation in Gaza and the United States precluding NATO privileges for Ukraine. And Trump has been Presudent for almost three weeks.  

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