This just in: Donald Trump is basically a retarded Mussolini. A fascist wanna-be with the IQ of a 1968 Chevy Nova. And yet, he is the leader of the Republican Party. Why is this?

Republicans have discovered a basic truth – A very large portion of any population will believe anything you tell them; especially if its something that they want to be true.

I watched 1 minute of Fox News this morning. The headline was “Democrats are in disarray.” This showed on the backdrop as one pundit after another blamed Biden for high gas prices.

Now, if you think Biden is to blame for high gas prices, stop reading this blog right now. There will be a lot of big words that require a vocabulary beyond Dick and Jane Go to School.

Over 50% of Republicans believe that there is a conspiracy to get rid of the white population by inbreeding whites with non-whites. It’s called the Great Replacement Theory and exists only in the minds of those willing to believe anything.

Most Republicans believe that Trump won the last election in spite of the fact that zero evidence exists. Incredibly, they even claim “voter fraud” on just the part of the ballot that voted for the other party. This is true. If there are two issues on the ballot and the Republicans won one of the issues but lost the other, they actually claim “voter fraud” on the issue they lost on while readily accepting the results on the issue they won.

Victor Orban, the Fascist running the country of Hungary, just met with our Republican Party. He told them the key to getting and keeping power is a government run press. We don’t have that yet but Fox News is certainly a one-party propaganda machine. Recall, people will believe what you tell them to believe so all you need is a medium for getting into their heads. Thus…Fox News.

Fox News is owned by Rupert Murdoch; a man that made a fortune publishing tabloids. A tabloid is that sensational headline paper you see at the supermarket checkout. The secret to moving tabloids is sensationalism. Normal is boring. The truth is boring. Two–headed babies fathered by an alien is a headline that moves papers.

Fox News follows this format. They make all kinds of claims. This morning they talked about 6 million people crossing the border at El Paso this year. 6 million!.

Here is a video…

This video summarized Fox News and what Republicans are willing to believe.

Time to save the world.

Up, up and away…

Jim

This just in: Every couple of years I post my current workout routine. This is more for me than anything else. This way, I can go back and see what is different.

Some stats…I’m 64 years old. I am 6 ft tall and weigh 195 pounds. I have 2 ruptured disks in my lower back. Otherwise…I’m very healthy.

Here is my exercise routine:

1. I start every day in the jacuzzi. Some time spent being quiet. Some time spend breathing. Some time spend focusing jets on various pains.
2. Every Day I spend 20 minutes doing a yoga routine that includes stretching and core strengthening. This is a must exercise if I want to stay out of the hospital due to my back.
3. At least 5 times a week I spend an hour at the Rock Wall Climbing Gym. This is something I just started in January. Good for strength. Good cardio. Does not hurt my back. There is something for every skill level. I love this!
4. I golf 9 holes once a week and 18 holes once a week. I also go to the driving range at least once a week.
5. I swim and do strength training at the gym at least 2 times a week.
6. I walk at least 4 miles a day.

And here is my latest exercise…I get up before my wife. I turn on Pandora and the station is called Zoot Suit Riot. Then…I dance like nobody is watching. I do this for about 15 minutes. I start slow and warm up. By the end, I am feeling great. My mood is high and all is well with the world.

Here is a video…

Time to save the world.

Up, up and away…

Jim

This just in: We like to think that elected officials, those that we choose to govern us, will base their actions on facts. We like to think that when they run for office, they will try to differentiate themselves based on values. “Here is what I believe in.”

The Republican Party has long abandoned this type of behavior. Instead, they tell you what they want you to believe about their opponent. “My opponent is a pedophile. Yes, there is zero evidence to back this up but because I said it…there is a chance that it might be true to vote for me because I said something that you want to hear.”

This brings me to the topic of Wedge Issues. To me, these are issues that are either completely false or are seen as a way to capture “single issue voters.”

Pro-LIfe: Republicans want you to believe that they are pro-life and thus, their opposition must not be. This appeals to voters that want an issue where they can take a stand to feel good about themselves while not actually doing anything. Keep in mind, these Republicans that want to control a woman’s right to control her body, are the very same people that didn’t want to wear masks to protect others during the pandemic.

Gun Control: Republicans want you to believe that Democrats want to take away your guns. Never mind that Democrats have never said this. So, people vote Republican on this issue because it makes them feel patriotic, “Republicans are standing up for my second amendment rights.”

Masking during the pandemic: Republicans made a big show of standing up for their right to not wear a mask. Never mind that wearing a mask protects others far more than it protects the mask wearer. “I am a tough person that refuses to wear a mask because I am not afraid to give you a deadly virus.”

Voter Fraud: Trump claimed voter fraud because he is delusional and can’t cope with the idea that his streak of personal failures continues to grow. Republicans seized on this idea because it allows them to keep non-Republicans from voting. “Stop the steal by keeping non-whites from the voting booth.” Notable is that the very few instances of voting fraud I had seen evidence of in the last 2 years has been by Republicans.

Critical Race Theory: This is a rarely taught, college level topic that investigates society’s role in racism. Research has been unable to find a single instance of this topic being taught below the college level, anywhere in the country. “As a Republican, I am against teaching our kids that they are racists.” This statement, of course implies that Democrats feel the opposite.

All of these are examples of Republicans, not earning your vote by accomplishing something, but rather trying to scare you into not voting for the other side.

Who falls for this stuff?

Well, I was in Kentucky a couple of weeks ago. A guy comes up to me and says, “This company is socialist because they make us have co-pays in our health insurance.” When I asked what was socialist about this practice that is ubiquitous across the country he said, “I’m in favor of the white Christians that fought for our country.” At his point, I began to wonder if this person was even capable of feeding himself.

He will vote the exact opposite of how I will vote. His vote will cancel mine.

I’m not always right but I do my best to be informed. It’s my duty to question what I hear and not to simply believe something just because I want it to be true.

Here is a music video:

Time to save the world.

Up, up and away…

Jim

This just in: There is so much wrong with today’s Republican Party that I just don’t know where to start. How about with Row v. Wade.

First of all, I have no skin in this game. Personally, I don’t care if abortion is a Federally protected right or not. Well…I care a little but I’m not directly impacted.

Having said that, I find the hypocrisy of conservatives rejoicing at the presumed Supreme Court action to be both astounding and predictable.

Republicans are nothing if not hypocritical.

Let’s make a list…

1. The party of “family values” loves Trump who was married 3 times and paid off a porn start to stay quiet about their fling while his current wife was pregnant.
2. The party of “small government” interferes routinely in non-governmental issues such as abortion.
3. The party of “fiscal responsibility” ran up an 8 trillion dollar debt in just 4 years with nothing to show for it.
4. The party of “the constitution” is actively working to suppress the vote and supports the violent insurrection of January 6th.
5. The party of “democracy” has several vocal members supporting Putin. This includes their party leader, Trump, who recently claimed Putin is a genius.
6. The party of “pro-life” instantly abandons its concerns for human life once birth has occurred.
7. The party of “Repeal and Replace” Obama care has yet to come up with even a 1-page outline of a plan to do so.
8. The party of “Democrats are pedophiles” recently had a multi-page list with backup documentation published on Reddit that listed hundreds of elected Republican officials that had been found guilty of child pornography. Here is a link to a sample.

I think you get the picture.

Here is the sad part: In public view, for everyone to see, the Republican Party has failed, for decades, on every aspect of governance. The “say” things and then act like they actually “did” things even though they haven’t.

Don’t say, “show me your evidence.” To do that, I would have to tape your eyelids open and then block Fox news for a few days.

Here is the bottom line: We can’t have nice things because voters keep electing incompetent people. They elect incompetent people because they are gullible.

Don’t blame the Supreme Court for overturning Roe V. Wade.

Blame the people that voted for a Republican.

Here is a music video…

Time to save the world.

Up, up and away…

Jim

This just in: Like everyone, I have been watching the war in Ukraine. I try to tell myself, “This is Putin, not the Russian people,” but the truth is…being intellectually lazy, avoiding any effort at critical thinking…makes you susceptible to believing the first story that sounds like something you want to believe is true.

Benjamin Franklin said, “Three may keep a secret it two are dead.”

Propaganda works best if: (1) The story you are telling is one that people want to believe and (2) There is no immediately available alternative source of contradictory information. or if you choose not to seek alternative information

Additionally, if you are going to lie, keep it simple and short. No need to provide supporting evidence because, as a lie, there none. Be sure to move on before doubts can be raised. The goal is to leave a lasting impression that what you just said was clearly the truth.

Let’s bounce back and forth between Russia and Republican propaganda.

Russia: We didn’t bomb that train station. We are trying to save lives. It was the Ukrainians that did it. They did it so they could blame us and make us look bad.

Republicans: Democrats support pedophilia.

Russia: Ukrainian Nazis are killing innocent Russians in Ukraine.

Republicans: Democrats stole the election so we must pass laws to keep black people from voting pass laws pass laws to make elections safe.

Russia: The reason we don’t have access to other media outlets is because the West doesn’t want you to know the truth.

Republicans: Any media outlet that reports something other than what Fox News says is an enemy of the people.

Russia: The West is out to wipe Russia off the face of the earth.

Republicans: Democrats want to destroy democracy.

The more I watch the actions of Putin, the more I see our Republican Party at work. They are not doing the same thing. One is killing innocent people on the other side of the world while the other is struggling to find some sense of relevancy in a country that sees them as increasing irrelevent.

However, they are both using the same playbook. They both do something they know is self-serving but will be seen as bad. Once they do that, they accuse the opposition of having done that very thing.

Call it lying. Call it hypocrasy.

It is all very transparent unless…you want to be sergeant Shultz.

Time to save the world.

Up, up and away…

Jim

This just in: I am going to first quickly state how I feel about abortion. I will then follow that with a statement I found online that seems to be a pretty good explanation for why people support abortion.

My take: Abortion is not something people want. No one is saying, “Let’s have unprotected sex so I can go get an abortion.” It’s just the “least bad” option for an unwanted pregnancy. Statistically, banning abortions “Does not reduce abortions,” but rather, “Increases the dangers to women that choose to get illegal abortions.” Politicians (Republicans) support anti-abortion legislation because it brings in the single-issue voter; that voter that doesn’t care or understand anything other than “abortions are bad, mkay?”

Now for what I found online. It is attributed to Pastor Dave Barnhart.

“They aren’t pro-life, they’re pro-forced-birth.

“The unborn” are a convenient group of people to advocate for. They never make demands of you; they are morally uncomplicated, unlike the incarcerated, addicted, or the chronically poor; they don’t resent your condescension or complain that you are not politically correct; unlike widows, they don’t ask you to question patriarchy; unlike orphans, they don’t need money, education, or childcare; unlike aliens, they don’t bring all that racial, cultural, and religious baggage that you dislike; they allow you to feel good about yourself without any work at creating or maintaining relationships; and when they are born, you can forget about them, because they cease to be unborn. It’s almost as if, by being born, they have died to you. You can love the unborn and advocate for them without substantially challenging your own wealth, power, or privilege, without re-imagining social structures, apologizing, or making reparations to anyone. They are, in short, the perfect people to love if you want to claim you love Jesus but actually dislike people who breathe.

Prisoners? Immigrants? The sick? The poor? Widows? Orphans? All the groups that are specifically mentioned in the Bible? They all get thrown under the bus for the unborn.“

I liked this.

Now for a great piano video. Watch the whole thing. About halfway through it takes off. To really appreciate the second half, you must first, appreciate the first half.

Time to save the world.

Up, up and away…

Jim

This just in: What does Chris Rock have on his face? Fresh Prince.

Will Smith should be charged with assault. Why? Because he assaulted someone. “He was just protecting his wife’s honor,” you say. So, you get to decide what is justifiable assault? He should be charged and forced to state his defense.

Why am I making a big deal out of this? Because wealth does not mean you are entitled to a different set of laws and justice.

Wealth and power should not equate to leniency.

Once upon a time, I would watch something on the news about Trump and think, “Finally, he is caught red-handed and will have to pay a price.” I have been wrong every. single. time.

Men of power defying Congressional subpoenas have nothing to fear from today’s legal system.

A supreme court justice is the only one out of 9 that tried to keep certain January 6th documents out of the hands of Congress. These particular documents had emails with his wife urging Trump’s Chief of Staff to overturn an election. Clarence Thomas used his position on the Supreme Court to try to keep these emails secret. And…goes on to say he is impartial.

He would face consequences except that the Republican Party has come out publicly and said there is no conflict of interest here that they can detect.

This is eerily similar to Trump’s first impeachment. You may recall that Trump threatened to withhold weapons from Ukraine unless they “did him a favor.” Republicans didn’t think there was anything wrong with this. It couldn’t be extortion because Trump didn’t specifically say, “I extort thee!”

Republicans are even against prosecuting the people that stormed the capital on January 6th, resulting in several deaths. This was an attempted Coup that that Republican Party has referred to an “normal political discourse.”

There is a problem here. If you are coming back at me with “They all do it,” then you are a part of the problem.

Here is a funny video…

Time to save the world.

Up, up and away…

Jim

This just in: According to many MAGA Republicans, if Donald Trump was the president today, there would be no war in Ukraine. Should you believe this?

The answer is NO. There is a reason for this. The Republican Party has a long history of promising and then not delivering.

Let’s just take a couple of examples.

How many of you are enjoying the replacement for Obamacare that the Republicans promised you would get as soon at they were in power? No one? Really? Could it be that after a decade of promising to “Repeal and Replace”, they actually did nothing about it once they were in power? Ask them about it…crickets.

How many of you enjoyed filing your taxes on a post card and then watching as our national debt dropped after the Republicans passed a massive tax cut for the rich? No one? Really? Instead, we got a massive $8 trillion added to the national debt.

The Republican Party has made itself a national party by promising all sorts of things and then actually delivering nothing; excepts wealth to their donors.

It’s not like they do this some of the time or most of the time. They do it ALL of the time.

They are a 1-trick pony.

Why do we keep falling for this? The answer is psychologically based. We think things like “Well, maybe they can’t deliver on this or that promise but if only a little bit is true then its worth the risk.” Or, there is the “fear factor”. This is the same thing churches use to fill the tray. “Follow us or go to hell.” Republicans will tell you that you will lose your guns, or a recession will hit or we’ll be thrown into a needless war. All just made up to feed your fear.

Here is the news…not even a little bit is true.

As educated voters, we need to stop being Charlie Brown when Lucy offers to hold the football for him to kick.

Here is a music video…

Time to save the world.

Up, up and away…

Jim

This just in: The president of the United States does not control gas prices.

I recall when George W. was president and gas prices shot up for some reason. Fox news spent a lot of time telling us that the president doesn’t control gas prices. A couple of years, later, Obama was president and gas prices spiked. Fox then spent a lot of time telling us it was Obama’s fault.

What is really happening here?

When the price of oil goes up, the price of gas goes up. Makes sense. The price of oil goes up when the demand rises faster than the supply. In short, oil becomes more scarce and thus, it becomes more expensive. OPEC bases its entire output on this idea. They cut back on supply until the price goes up to where they want it to be.

Also, uncertainty in the market can make people behave as if oil is in short supply because they believe it will be in the future. This is why wars involving oil producing countries causes prices to go up. We fear that the war will slow production and thus, lower the global supply.

So, where does the president come into play?

The short answer is “Nowhere.”

The president does not create demand; the consumer does.

The president does not tell private oil companies how much oil to produce. Right now there are thousands of drilling permits issued by the government that are not being used because the oil companies don’t feel it is profitable to do so.

None of this is a secret. In fact, this is something you would learn in the first couple of hours of a Economics 101 class.

Republicans said, “Don’t take oil from Russia.” They are basically joining support for Ukraine, albeit, a little late. They don’t mention that we sell more oil to Russia than we import. In short, if there was no war, cutting off Russian oil would have virtually no impact on gas prices.

Today, Republicans, who are historically terrible at economics, are claiming that the president is raising gas prices. These people, and those that nod along with this statement, are either stupid or believe that you are stupid.

Don’t be stupid.

Here is a music video…

Time to save the world.

Up, up and away…

Jim

This just in: Right now, Putin is angry. He grossly miscalculated how the war with Ukraine was going to go and now he desperately needs to find a way to get out of the mess he created without seeming to have not won.

I think it’s time for me to give my take on the war.

First of all, I can’t overstate how impressed I am by the Ukrainian will to fight for their country. Their president is an inspiration that will quite possibly grow if the Russian dare to take him out.

Russia appears to have made the following bad assumptions:

1. Trump would be in power and thus, allow Russia to do whatever it wanted. Trump would have pulled the U.S. from NATO by now.
2. The world would have treated the invasion much as they treated the Crimea annexation. The simpler, safer thing would be for everyone to just ignore what Russia was doing.
3. A fast overthrow would have meant that supply lines would be far less important. Instead, the war is dragging on and fuel/food for the attacking forces is simply not ready.
4. Somehow, the Russian people would go on believing that Nazis had taken over poor Ukraine and Putin needed to go in an save them.
5. The Ukrainian forces would not be willing nor equipped to put up much of a resistance.

Had Putin’s assumptions been correct, he could have added a huge country to his own domain with very little effort.

However he was wrong on every single assumption.

I have a few other opinions:

1. We, NATO, should not put in a no-fly zone. To do this, we would have to enforce it. This would mean engaging Russian forces in the air and on the ground. This would include taking out long-range surface to air missiles inside of Russia. This means war.
2. A war with Russia will mean the use of nuclear weapons. This is a war where no one wins.
3. Giving planes to Ukraine is a bad idea. First of all, they are Russian MIG-29’s which the Russians will have no trouble shooting down. Secondly, hand held surface-to-air missiles and anti-tank weapons are plentiful. Use these.
4. The U.S. embargo of Russian oil is symbolic and thus important.
5. The President of the United States has no impact on the cost of gas. There are plenty of oil leases (thousands) already approved so if the oil companies want to drill for oil, they can.
6. Fox News appears to be an arm of the Russian propaganda machine. There are people in Russia that think Putin is fighting Nazis. They think this because their only source of news is Russian TV. In the states, we have much the same issue where people only get their news from FOX and thus, are fans of Putin.
7. Republicans did the following: (1) Claimed that Biden was making up stories about a Russian invasion of Ukraine and (2) After the invasion began they claimed we weren’t prepared. These are the same Republicans that turned their heads when Trump tried to extort Ukraine by holding back promised weapons; resulting in the first Trump impeachment.

I think there is little doubt that the government in Ukraine will fall. Putin has too many weapons. This does not mean that the war will be over. I think it could be years of fighting before eventually, one side will give up. My hope is that Putin’s own people turn against him.

Now for a music video…

Time to save the world.

Up, up and away…

Jim