A response to Kelly Scoles letter:

Hi Kelly,

Thank you for granting me amnesty this week by choosing to respond to Jean McLeod’s letter instead of mine. Beware, however, my patience will return for next week’s joust, God willing.

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REALITIES is too long this week, therefore, will be published in its entirety online. Sorry for any inconvenience. Full version online at www.fillmoregazette.com.

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Here are a few facts illustrating the outrageous betrayal of Ukraine amidst life-or-death warfare. To our friends (like Ukraine), be fair, honest, and loyal! To our enemies (like Russia), defeat.

Who is Ukraine? It’s a friend who has fought for three years to keep Russian killers out of Europe, at the cost of 100,000 Ukrainian lives.

What is Russia? Russia today is a hyper-aggressive dictatorship headed by Vladimir Putin, who has murdered millions.

“Over 6 million refugees fleeing Ukraine are recorded across Europe, while an estimated 8 million others had been displaced within the country by late May 2022.”

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which had started in 2014. To date fighting and air strikes have inflicted over 40,000 civilian casualties, while 4 million people are internally displaced, and 6.8 million have fled Ukraine.14.6 million people need humanitarian assistance.

On March 2, “141 of 193 UN member states voted to condemn Russia’s invasion in an emergency UN General Assembly session, demanding that Russia immediately withdraw from Ukraine.”

In three years of war Russia has nibbled away about 18 percent of Ukraine while losing an extraordinary number of its fighting assets. For example, “The total number of dead and wounded is at nearly one million. Russia is estimated to have lost almost 10,000 tanks in Ukraine, Jan 26, 2025, 369 Russian planes and 331 helicopters were shot down by February 2025. Russia now loses more than 1,000 soldiers per day.”

Trump shows no respect for Ukraine’s struggle. He kicks a beleaguered Zelensky as “A Dictator without Elections” and threatens “Zelensky better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left.” In other words, he will facilitate the handover of Ukraine to Russia?

I insist that I’m still an ardent Trump supporter, BUT I resent these false characterizations of a valiant Ukrainian president. I have to say, with friends like this, who needs enemies!

All this talk about making Ukraine repay $500 billion to the US for American war aid: Question: Did we demand repayment of those billions given to Europe, especially England, in Marshall Plan assistance after 6-years of war? Answer, no. “The Marshall Plan was a grant program, so recipient countries did not need to repay the United States. However, they did contribute about 5% of the money to cover administrative costs.” We did this as a reasonable, moral, Judeo-Christian, and practical thing to do – while revitalizing a war-ravaged world. Why this hostility and disgraceful hostile attitude, and defamation of a friend of America fighting our second greatest enemy? Did Roosevelt continue in office beyond his constitutional 4-year term? Was martial law declared during WWII? “Yes, the United States declared martial law in Hawaii after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.” “Ukrainian law prohibits holding elections in wartime (unlike the US Constitution, which requires it).” Zelensky will leave if Ukraine guaranteed protection. Question: Would the loss of Ukraine to Russia in 2025 be less important than the loss of Poland in 1939?

Did Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo start WWII? Yes, of course, and Russia started the Ukraine war as the world watched, expecting victory in a few days.

But, Trump says Ukraine “should have never started war with Russia” and characterizes Zelensky as a “dictator” and his calls to end the conflict on terms favorable to Russia.

Zellensky says Trump is in a “Russian disinformation bubble.” Trump hit back Wednesday in a Truth Social post awash with falsehoods. He called Zelensky “A Dictator without Elections” and reiterated his assertion from the day before that the Ukrainian president was “very low” in the polls. But Ukrainian law prohibits holding elections in wartime (unlike the US Constitution, which requires it) and “According to a recent survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 57 percent of Ukrainians trust Zelensky. An October 2024 poll published by the International Republican Institute found that 69 percent of Ukrainians approved of his actions.

Estimates suggest that more than 800,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or severely wounded, making this one of the deadliest conflicts for Russia since World War II. Over 400,000 U.S. service members died in World War II, making it the deadliest conflict in U.S. history in the 20th century. Ukraine: It should be noted that Politico, citing American military officials, recently wrote that during the full-scale Russian war against Ukraine, more than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded.”

Over 6 million refugees fleeing Ukraine are recorded across Europe, while an estimated 8 million others had been displaced within the country by late May 2022.

“A Dictator without Elections, Zelensky better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left.” How can Zelensky move any faster? He’s out-maned and out-gunned 10-1 yet holds Russia to a virtual standstill – for THREE YEARS!
“Trump erroneously suggested that the U.S. had given $350 billion to Ukraine. It is closer to $183 billion, [much] of which ends up back in the U.S. to spend on restocking domestic weapon supplies.”

Trump insults his Ukrainian counterpart as “a modestly successful comedian.” Zelensky was a [wealthy] popular household name before entering politics, thanks to a hugely successful career in television,
US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz was asked who started the war? Not answered.

CEPA says that “Ukraine and Europe” must be included in any peace talks with Russia, that the U.S. should support “a European-led coalition of the willing” to enforce any “ceasefire line with an international force,” and that “European allies must make consistent and as rapid as possible progress toward Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.”

Trump favors Russia in exclusive talks, granting most all its demands. “…the United States on Monday failed to get the U.N. General Assembly to approve its resolution urging an end to the war without mentioning Moscow’s aggression. And the assembly approved a dueling European-backed Ukrainian resolution demanding Russia immediately withdraw from Ukraine.

In failing to mention Russia’s aggression America is behaving cowardly, to please Putin.
Disgusting.

I need to say a few words about Trump’s handling of the Ukraine peace negotiations before responding to Kelly Scoles’ letter.

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‘F--- Trump and his deal’: Ukraine’s US veterans rail against peace plan.”

“Veterans fighting for Zelensky’s foreign legion label president a ‘coward’ who won’t stand up to Putin”, Colin Freeman in Kyiv.

Excuse me, but I fear the really big war is being kindled by confused policy. I am, and have always been, pro Ukrainian freedom. They are our valiant friends fighting Russian Orcs.

“US military volunteers fighting alongside Ukraine’s armed forces have branded President Donald Trump a “jackass” over his peace talks with Vladimir Putin, saying Ukraine’s future was not a “business deal.” Most [US members of the International Legion] have reacted furiously to the news last week of Mr (sic) Trump’s private [2.5 hour] phone call to Putin, in which he apparently ruled out Nato membership for Kyiv and conceded that Moscow could keep Ukrainian territory it has currently occupied.” Colin Freeman in Kyiv

“F--- Trump and his sh---y supposed peace deal,” said Ryan O’Leary, an Iraq war veteran who leads Chosen Company, one of the largest foreign volunteer units in Ukraine.” “Any peace deal is ultimately up to Ukrainians alone, who should be included directly in talks.”

“Ex-US soldiers are believed to make up the largest national contingent of Western military volunteers in Ukraine, at least 50 dying in combat and many more coming home seriously injured. They regard Mr [sic] Trump’s concessions as squandering both their own military sacrifices and those of their Ukrainian comrades”

Little doubt these fiery complaints come from (now former?) Trump supporters. As a strong Trump supporter from the beginning, I feared this reaction would happen after anti-Ukrainian tirades from Trump family members, VP Vance, and other Trump cabinet members. I worried that MAGA membership did not understand or respect Ukraine’s independence, or sovereignty proclaimed in the 1991 Declaration of Independence. “The Act reestablished Ukraine’s state independence from the Soviet Union. The declaration was affirmed by a majority of Ukrainians in all regions of Ukraine by an independence referendum on 1 December, followed by international recognition starting on the following day. Ukrainian independence led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union by 26 December 1991.” “…in the 1991 Ukrainian independence referendum, more than 90 per cent of Ukrainians voted for independence.”

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I am already beginning to see some dangerous cracks in Trump policy. Facilitating the betrayal of Ukraine by Putin’s neo-Soviet gangsters can explode in our faces. Trump’s group is showing excessive disrespect for Ukraine and showing utterly undeserved respect for Putin and his sociopathic berserkers. In seeking to enforce novel foreign and domestic policy, speed for the sake of notoriety, can backfire. I also see unnecessary abruptness in dealing with the otherwise wise attempt at acquiring Greenland. There is no reason why we should behave so aggressively towards Denmark and Greenland. A 100-year lease on the world’s largest Island would greatly enrich both nations without the cost of billions to purchase it – and they would retain ownership. Dealing with Panama (a nation we created) and the Canal (which we built) is very different. If we wanted to move our navy from the Atlantic to Pacific to check Chinese aggression, the Canal is the only practical way. Recognizing China, North Korea, et al., as infiltrating enemies, we must control the Zone.

As for acquiring Canada, this is a foolish and insulting idea unworthy of consideration. But that border, being critical to our defense, must be controlled, by force if necessary.

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Finally, a response to Kelly Scoles’s letter:

Boy, Kelly, I only wish I was nimble again. I dream of being as nimble as that three-legged tap dancer on ice. I’m not nimble enough, however, to expand my time and space for my usual response. My apologies.

On Elon Musk, he deserves special observation if only because he’s the world’s richest man. I confess I am greatly put off on learning he has some 13 children by four women. This doesn’t affect his business acumen, however. MAGA is doing a great job of reducing government. But let’s be careful to avoid throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Kelly, your fear of Trump acting unconstitutionally across the board is uncalled for. The courts are there to scrutinize questionable political actions under Constitutional light. Democrats loved the Supreme Court when it supported their crooked policies, but chastise it now when it exposes Democratic lawfare from Biden’s time; remember the SWAT attack on Mar-a-Lago, and the impeachment efforts? Also, “rogue judges” like Juan Merchan, Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, and Merrick Garland who appointed Jack Smith, as well? I omit their titles which should be revoked for criminal lawfare. The list is long.
Things can always go wrong, that’s why we have a Supreme Court, the one Democrats want so desperately to “pack” in a government they want so desperately to “fundamentally transform” with changes like a queer military and multiple genders. But the people shouted “NO!”

I’m out of time, and patience.

Welcome back Kelly Scoles, we missed you! Hope you have recovered from any latent election blues. I’ll try to get to some of your (30) characteristically challenging questions after a couple of local issues.

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A response to a letter from Dr. Joseph Eisenlauer:

Hello Dr. Eisenlauer, thank you for the letter and thank you for being a subscriber.

It’s usually not possible to provide great detail in reporting accidents involving personal injury or death until official information is released. There are personal, legal, and moral reasons to withhold some details of an accident.
In fatality situations family should be notified first. Many legal questions demand answers, such as cause of accident or other injury, and person or persons responsible. Accurate identity and extent of injuries are often not known. Other practical challenges exist. Sometimes bystanders threaten the reporter or photographer, as happened last week, when a next of kin tried to deny our photographer access to an auto accident. They thought the photographer was working the scene out of mere curiosity and abruptly attempted to block his view to protect the subject’s privacy. In most cases the sex of the victim can and should be identified.

We do our best to publish additional details as they become available from official sources. In the case you reference this fact (sex of subject) should have been stated, nothing else was known.
Thanks for the question.

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The demonstration which took place by high school and middle school students last week (over ICE), if without a permit, was unlawful and dangerous. If unpermitted, every person responsible for organizing or leading it participated in an unlawful assembly involving minors. They were also placed in harm’s way by marching out onto Hwy. 126, into both west and eastbound lanes. Let’s discover the responsible parties.

I saw the stars and stripes displaced by Mexican and other South American flags. This was evidence of unamerican, disloyal activity by people who want to live here but disrespect our flag. Elsewhere our flag was burned. The adults leading this mini rebellion are teaching our children to hate America. If teachers, they should be fired. No wonder efforts are afoot to end the Department of Education.

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A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:

Hi again, Kelly!

Time and space restraints demand quick answers to your challenges. Here goes…

Good or bad, my responses are nakedly personal, uncontaminated by normal influences.

Gaza! All I can say is Gazooks! A bad idea fertilized by a good president. This can happen to the best of us. No one wants to deal with Palestinians, not even other Islamic nations. This is because they have been uniquely saturated with hate. They hate Jews, the state of Israel, the “Little Satan.” Next, Palestinians hate America, the “Great Satan.” This distinction in size is spurious because the hate is equal in toxicity, equally indelible and perpetual. Most regrettably, it is lethal, and this lethality is religion-based, a gospel of hate. The believers are commanded to enforce this hatred of Judeo-Christian culture, under pain of death. Palestinian children are formally taught this from earliest youth.

Gaza is unreformable. Israelis should respond to Islamic taunts of “From the desert to the sea” by mimicking Cato’s famous Roman refrain of “Carthage must be destroyed, to “Hamas must be destroyed.” By releasing the Palestinians of Gaza to freely emigrate maybe the hate will slowly disintegrate and allow normal human cooperation.

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On the issue of Ukraine, I can only say, despite the Mutt and Jeff comparison, Jeff is about to fall by bankruptcy according to recent reports. Give Ukraine full support for at least another year. There can be no moral or legal grounds for giving away any Ukrainian territory. This war is the direct result of naked Russian aggression, and the West has a profound moral obligation to resist Russia if it wants to avoid an identical WWII Yalta Conference scandal.

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On P2025, I refuse to read any more of it until it becomes a bill. That’s my answer and I’m sticking to it.

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The 14th Amendment: It is grossly misappropriated. The courts must interpret the full wording: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” As it stands now it is a crazy giveaway of our nation by anyone on the take. The Founders could never have intended such a disastrous interpretation. One way or another this must be corrected, also the word “male.”

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On Greenland: Easy answer. Let’s get a 100-year lease and make all Greenlanders millionaires while stabilizing our strategic defense.

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Panama: Please refer to Fox News for Gorden Chang’s excellent discussion on China in the Caribbean, especially in the Panama Canal Zone. Very illuminating – and alarming. China must be out of the Caribbean. Bahamas, Freeport 2 very large Chinese projects threaten. Could be Chinese deep water naval base 65 miles from Palm Beach, 35 minutes by plane.

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Hurrah for our new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for signing a memorandum directing Fort Liberty, North Carolina, be renamed to Fort Bragg. That’s as close to a sacred name in the U.S. Army as exists, the home of the 82nd Airborne. Liberal Democrats recently changed the name to Fort Liberty, a meaningless namesake!

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Cuba: Russia and China operating again. Without U.S. remedial action we will see 1962 again. Let’s not use our CIA next time as we did in the Bay of Pigs fiasco!

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“There is a flood of Chinese, no family groups, single males military age, pretend to speak no English, all pack identical kits passing through Ottawa unrestricted.” (Gorden Chang)

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Lastly, I regret this headline: “Tulsi Gabbard confirmed by Senate as Trump’s national intelligence director”. This is a staggering mistake by people seeking to please Trump at the risk of national security. She is utterly unqualified and dangerous. Said by an otherwise solid Trump supporter, Me.

Ms. Tulsi Gabbard is the only cabinet nominee I continue to oppose, due to her total lack of qualifications, serious lifelong cult connections, longstanding liberal opinions, and secretive meetings with Russian and Syrian dictators. She would be a long-term liability for this huge cabinet office. I am stunned to learn that one of my most admired politicians, Sen. Tom Cotton, has pushed this nominee to comply with President Trump’s wish despite the risk. Although I’m a fervent Trump supporter, truth must be told to power regardless of political discomfort. Gabbard is not only unqualified, she’s a security risk herself.

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My life has been marked by coincidence. While Trump talks of taking back the Panama Canal I recall the heated debates for and against gifting the canal to Panama. Mentioned before is the 1978 TV debate on this issue between Governor Ronald Reagan and Wm. F. Buckley, Jr. (both preeminent conservatives). I was shocked that Buckley would urge President Carter to give away that project for which we paid $375 million (equivalent to almost $12 billion in today’s dollars to build). Malaria and Yellow Fever took tens of thousands of workers, French, locals and Americans. This was the single most expensive construction project in United States history at that time and today is still seen as a great wonder of the world.
I happened to spend about a week in Ft. Kobbe, Canal Zone, in 1959. We flew from Fort Bragg, N.C. in winter bundled up in field jackets, to the Zone in summer. Couldn’t believe the gush of hot air when the doors were opened in Panama. Just a distractive memory.

Confession: Thinking of the Canal Zone and Trump’s recent comments about taking it back, I found that Buckley-Reagan debate online. Watched the whole thing again after decades, and burned up my writing time. I still say Reagan won that debate, though Buckley was almost too eloquent. Reagan was clear, direct, and correct. That debate is worth listening to again. Trump would be right to retake the canal and Reagan’s reasons were logical.

The Democratic Left continues to criticize MAGA for implementing America First policies to clean up the Deep State and reestablish strength and transparency, even though Republicans won the election by a landslide and the popular vote as well. “President-elect Donald Trump’s individual vote count was one for the record books. Not only did his 77.3 million votes top Kamala Harris’ 75 million votes, but it broke a decades-long streak.” Americans spoke loud and clear.

The Left continues to rail about nonexistent threats by Trump planning military attacks upon Panama, Greenland, and Canada. The U.S. has maintained large defensive military developments on Greenland since WWII. It is a critical tactical early warning location long highly beneficial to Greenland and its Danish overseer. There is no need whatsoever to think of attacking that nation. A generous 100-year lease could make millionaires of each and every Greenlander. Many other ways exist for America to avail itself of that strategically valuable island. Why all the commotion?

Panama is a different matter. Conservatives all warned of a Chinese infestation from east and west if the U.S. gave away its sovereignty over the Zone. We gave it away (a stupid Carter decision) with conditions and China immediately began to control both ends of the canal. Now that China is identified as our first enemy among others, Ronald Reagan’s arguments are finally being adopted. In Trump’s words “We gave the canal to Panama, not China” and China will not keep control. There are non-kinetic options here, but a corrupt pro-communist government cannot be left to threaten our commerce and defense.
All the worry about Canada being attacked by America is just silly.

Secure Panama and Greenland – and forget Tulsi.

I can’t recall a busier time than the past few months. We’ve had horrific fires with loss of life, tens of thousands of acres torched, with the same number of homes, even whole cities, destroyed. We have witnessed the inauguration of our new president, Donald Trump, and watched his new cabinet members begin to take their seats. Hostages have been released which were taken by Hamas during their murderous ambush of a peaceful Israeli music festival, to start a war, which once again, they lost.

War in Ukraine grinds on, with Ukraine, though out-gunned and out-manned, destroying Russia’s oil and gas industry with homemade drones. China is now personally involving itself in the Ukraine War, with North Korea and Iran. These events are only a small part of the global picture showing Eastern and Western nations arming for war. The world has recently been alerted to the probable collapse of the Russian Federation’s economy.

Trump plans to meet with Putin soon. The critical question is whether Trump will boldly exercise the overwhelming leverage he has over Putin. Reports from the Russian disinformation media try to convince the world that Russia’s economy is robust, when detailed study says Russia is a “house of cards” inviting bankruptcy this year. “Russia’s $250 billion secret war fund threatens financial collapse according to a recent analysis provided by an ex-Bank of America Vice Chairman [Craig Kennedy].” “The Kremlin forced Russian banks to provide $210-250 billion in preferential [unsecured] loans to defense contractors, matching its official military budget.” NATO is also holding $300 billion in frozen Russian money which Putin is desperate to get back to cover these loans. These funds are being given to Ukraine to fight the war.

The Ukraine War which Putin started, anticipating victory in three days, is destroying Russia after three years. Nothing is working in Russia, not its economy, military, railroads, pipelines, airlines, commercial fleet, not its shadow fleet of some 200 unseaworthy vessels. Forty percent of Russian GDP goes to fund the war, and inflation is at 21-percent. Oligarchs are alarmed.

Russia’s $250 billion secret war fund threatens financial collapse according to a recent analysis provided by ex-Bank of America Vice Chairman Craig Kennedy.

“Kennedy’s explosive analysis proves Russian economy is bankrupt. Craig exposes hidden defense debt and a credit bubble, aggravated by punitive interest rates and sanctions. It is not an economic fortress Russia but a house of cards.”
Russian defense companies have been operating at a loss for two years. Experts expect capital flight and a run on the banks, perhaps this year.

I strongly recommend Jake Broe’s column:

Russia’s Banking Crisis Will Destroy Everything

Jake Broe

564K subscribers. 542,605 views Premiered Jan 16, 2025 #ukraine #nato #russia

“It has been revealed that the Kremlin has forced private banks in Russia to give $250 billion in preferential [unsecured] loans to Russian defense companies to support Putin’s war in Ukraine. Russia’s central bank is incapable of bailing out either the banks or the defense companies as all the loans on their books are toxic and can never be paid back. Russia could financially collapse at any moment.” “Russian Economy Facing a Tidal Wave of Bankruptcies” Newsweek, Published Jan 28, 2025 at 5:11 AM EST. “The Russian war economy is facing a ‘moment of truth’ as Putin’s dwindling cash reserves raise odds of a financial crash, expert says.”

By Jason Ma, January 26, 2025, at 2:33 PM PST.

Trump can end the Ukrainian War quickly by ending Russia’s economy, which could fall in 2025. Official statistics indicate that Russia has lost 820,000 soldiers in the war to date. Over one million have been lost in total numbers!
Vasily Astrov and other Russia watchers, have previously said that the economy will be unable to sustain the war on Ukraine for much longer.

Trump should hammer Putin with maximum tariffs and sanctions which could crush the demonic Federation for good.

Sometimes the force of good news is as startling as bad news. Newton’s “annus mirabilis” in 1666 was incredible because “he formulated the Law of Universal Gravitation, developed calculus, and emphasized integrating observation with theory that year. These advancements revolutionized the understanding of motion and the physical world, laying the groundwork for modern physics.” But that year also brought bad events.

I think it’s fair to call 2025 America’s “annus mirabilis” with Trump’s historic win. Comparisons between this year and the year 1666 are interesting. Newton’s incredible intellectual triumphs were things to rejoice about that year, but he also faced the Great Fire of London which “burned day and night for almost four days in 1666 until only a tiny fraction of the city remained” after having destroyed more than 13,000 houses, which, combined with the Great Bubonic Plague, killed approximately 100,000 people. The beginning of the second Dutch War also contributed to that annus mirabilis.

Today we are witness to the unpresented second inauguration of President Donald J. Trump after 10 years of criminal Democratic Party machinations to destroy his pursuit of the presidency. We are also dealing with unprecedented wildfires which continue to destroy whole cities. Warnings of great plagues (from China again) as well as from people I find to be worthy of belief, tell of pathogenic crises beyond the ability of science to control. Then we have ongoing wars in Ukraine and Israel, and another being prepped for Taiwan, all of which could bring on famine. While creating my gloomscape I should include Noahesque floods and earthquakes of unimaginable scope. And my ignorance of astronomy protects my imagination from images of the big stuff colliding in the deep out-there, for my good.

I’ve sketched a quick map of the human condition today with Donald Trump defeating all commers who challenged his will to victory, and lost. The closer he remains to His Divine Will the more victorious he will be. We are truly at the cusp of imminent apocalyptic change. The horses are mounted, white for conquest, red for war, black for pestilence and/or famine, and pale (from “pallor”) for death. I can hear the hoofbeats and oncoming whinny. I wish they were Houyhnhnm from Gulliver’s travels instead of steeds from Revelation 6 bringing War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death.
I still rejoice in Donald Trump’s victory. I believe it has halted an otherwise abrupt end to America the Beautiful. God bless America forever.

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The only remaining Trump cabinet nominee I object to is Tulsi Gabbard. She is in no way qualified to lead as Director of National Intelligence. Forgive me, Mr. President, but this was a bone-headed, even dangerous nomination to this enormous agency.

A Director of National Intelligence (DNI) serves as the head of the U.S. Intelligence Community, overseeing and directing the implementation of the National Intelligence Program, acting as the primary intelligence advisor to the President, National Security Council, and Homeland Security Council, and ensuring the effective integration of all national and homeland security intelligence to protect U.S. interests; essentially coordinating and prioritizing intelligence gathering across various agencies to provide the most comprehensive picture possible to the President and other key decision-makers.
Key responsibilities include Leading the Intelligence Community.

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Sos: As I write these words aggressive wildfire is heading towards Fillmore from Santa Clarita. The sky is smoke-filled. Very dangerous. Must cut short. No time to edit.

I don’t remember the last time I failed to publish Realities, but it’s been many years. Last week power problems caused the problem. My apologies to everyone. These are challenging times, which I expect will soon test us exponentially.

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The scope of the several L.A. fires should scandalize even people without common sense. The threat of East wind driven wildfires is as old as the hills in California, and they are with us as I write this today. The deadly Paradise Fire which wiped out that town wasn’t sufficient to remind Woke L.A. leaders of their duty to be prepared for such conflagrations, to build the promised reservoirs and keep them full, instead of spending billions on the homeless and illegals. From Governor Gavin Newsom down to L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, it has been the years of Woke, radical, liberal Democratic Party leadership which has destroyed our state.

The same liberal philosophy under Joe Biden’s presidency has done much irreparable damage to the nation at large. We cannot repair the damage our abrupt surrender in Afghanistan has done, with the loss of $85 billion in equipment and thousands of civilian lives to the Taliban (after a 20-year war). Even doing our best it will be impossible to find and deport the 20 million illegal aliens who invaded the sanctity of our borders. The list of Biden policy outrages is long and depressing and will take more than the four years Trump has to fix. We need to take a long look at the current devastation rendered by California fires to understand that Biden leaves the nation in an equally wretched state. Biden leaves office as the worst, weakest, most criminally corrupt president in American history. It is a great irony that radical Democrats and their socialist surrogates were able to brand Trump as a felon unconstitutionally, while Hunter and the Biden crime family are pardoned leaving the scene of the crime with tens of millions in policy bribes from America’s enemies. My dream punishment: locking them all up in a sound room playing only the Cars For Kids melody, for years, with interludes introducing the Macarena.

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Like most Americans I am anxious for Donald Trump’s inauguration just a few days away. It’s a time pregnant with hope, mixed with reasonable anxiety concerning national defense. Our global enemies, Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, smell opportunity anticipating any confusion during the changing of the guard. However competent Trump’s new cabinet proves to be, it always takes a while to settle into those strategically critical jobs, which slows our readiness.

In the meantime, our enemies, like Russia, ramp-up the intensity of its attack in Ukraine, China prepares a massive number of troop and tank boats for an amphibious assault on Taiwan, Iran rushes madly ahead to finish its first nuclear bomb, and the “Hermit Kingdom” of North Korea injects thousands of its soldiers into the Ukrainian fight, with promises of thousands more. The question here: Does Trump have enough time to respond? Despite much fanfare about NATO’s growing state of readiness, its military forces are woefully inadequate at every level.

Both Russia and China suffer critical weaknesses in their economies and demographics. Both are seriously overconfident in their mistaken ability to destroy the West by surprise without annihilating themselves. They should take advice from that pugilist philosopher Mike Tyson: “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.”

Happy New Year everyone!

Press deadline provides only a few hours this New Years’ week to tap out a few words of joy and encouragement, before a few somber ones. I have been encouraged to provide a more positive outlook. I’m all for reveling and relaxing for a few weeks to restore a little joy and hope. But with joy and hope comes the duty of persistence in vigilance. Here are few historical facts, issues and ideas that should encourage vigilance in the new Trump administration about to be upon us in a matter of days.

First, protect Donald Trump. Evil people want to take him out.

Taking back Panama in the event of an enemy de facto takeover in time of war has been suggested. “Trump said on Saturday that the canal “was solely for Panama to manage, not China or anyone else” and that he considers it “a vital national asset for the United States due to its critical role to America’s economy and national security”. “We will never let it fall into the wrong hands!” he proclaimed. Dec 23, 2024. Trump’s statement is characteristically bold, straightforward – and correct.

I recall strong debates concerning whether the U.S. should give the canal to Panama, especially between the two most prominent conservative men in American politics at the time, Bill Buckley and Ronald Reagan. Ironically, Buckley supported the ratification of the Canal treaty (“Firing Line with William F. Buckley Jr.: Presidential Hopeful: Ronald Reagan”).

The acquisition of Greenland, the world’s largest island, is another talking point. Haven’t had time to research this idea nor know what the Realm of Denmark, its owner, thinks of the idea. I can say that Russia and China would gobble it up in a kinetic moment if they could. Strategically located with less than 60,000 inhabitants, and no defense to speak of, communists dream of owning it.

Owning Greenland might be essential to our national interests and a great benefit to Denmark. Let’s revel, relax and celebrate all the good things God has provided America going into the new year, keeping in mind our duty to protect and preserve these blessings of freedom which are denied to most of this world’s population. “The United States’ entry into [WWII] meant that Greenland would become much more valuable to the Allied war efforts as airfields and harbors in Greenland were used for important transatlantic links. Under the Thulesag 1 agreement these facilities fell entirely under US jurisdiction, while Danish sovereignty over Greenland was maintained.” Greenland’s ownership today is critically important, and worthy of discussion. “Greenland remains a full member of the Council of Europe and NATO.”

These are all issues and potential government policies expected to be addressed by the Trump administration early in the coming four years, among many wrongheaded attacks by Democratic Woke survivors, blaming Republicans for the causes of our Civil War, like slavery and Jim Crow. Even Democratic Party history books tell us that Democrats are entirely responsible for the 600,000 deaths of the Civil War. Let’s start a new page.

The hope in 2025 is that Donald Trump will usher in a refreshing new era of truth, strength, and victory.

I’m struggling to maintain a positive frame of mind as I face my computer screen two days before Christmas. More than 34 years ago I named this column “Realities” because I wanted to relate truth as I saw it, and refute lies. In between I hoped to save room for some news.

At first, I used a typewriter or wrote the weekly column by hand. It took some getting used to a computer (first, a Kaypro-Plus, 1980s, then to MacPlus). Going from the typewriters’ clack (my HERMES was a noisy beast) to soundless computer keys was a novel experience. I recall Wm. F. Buckley commenting on his typewriter-to-computer transition being an unnerving transfer of trust. The Mac was a Gutenberg breakthrough, being the first to produce a justified line of type on paper. Until that time everything was produced on film, necessitating the developing, fixing, drying and enlargement process, which then had to be wax-pasted on layout sheets piecemeal, which were then photographed with the big camera, burning full page negatives onto metal plates for processing, then onto the press.

When a second Gutenberg breakthrough occurred, the digital camera, it was goodbye darkroom, film, and stinky developer. Fillmore had two newspapers at that time. I recall photographing an auto accident near Piru an hour or so before deadline. My competitor could not understand how that photo got on the front page when ordinarily it would have had to wait for the next edition and he would be working for several more hours to go to press. This meant no more 3am donuts and coffee deadlines. An aside: I gave the Fillmore Historical Museum a sign I saved from the old Theatre darkroom which read “Keep Door Closed Or Light Will Leak Out.” I hope it’s still there.

And yet, after 34 years the Gazette moves on. God is patient.

****

Although I’m still struggling to maintain a positive frame of mind, it would be criminally negligent of me to entirely avoid recent developments concerning the ongoing global war centered in Ukraine.

As I’ve said from time to time, I try to determine where America stands regarding the war. We’ve sent many billions of dollars in support of Ukraine in attempts to save its sovereignty from criminal Russian attack. In the simplest terms I see this evolving conflict in black and white, good and evil. Russia is evil. It’s certainly a surrogate war but in ways often overlooked. Russian surrgates like Iran, China, and North Korea are obvious. What is less obvious are the dark spiritual surrogates, where Russia has always received its stores of evil. Atheists and that assortment of unbelievers in Judeo-Christian tenets, reject this belief as nonsense. So, with this in mind, I offer my beliefs anticipating their rejection but welcoming their stated opposition. I bring this issue of war up because I believe that several most extraordinary global events of a disastrous nature are imminent. If my belief proves to be false, I will wear my fear monger hat for all to see. If true, prayer is in order for an apostate America, a nation which has abandoned its Judeo-Christian foundation. To avoid being a fake harbinger of doom I can only say that I believe what credible, spiritually discerning Judeo-Christian people believe to be worthy of belief – which is an unpeaceful Christmas season. Scores of belligerent opportunists are eagerly aligned and primed.

Spending too much time following details of the expanding global war can be depressing. To avoid this undesirable attitude, I try to stay as close as possible to spiritual realities by acknowledging our beneficent Creator. Life makes little sense to me otherwise. I often wonder how atheists and other unbelievers handle it, especially when catastrophic events are imminent. Do they bother to ask “Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?”

I’ve watched Russia begin another war in order to steal another sovereign nation and enslave its people. Among the 193 nations of the world today, Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are the most aggressive war-starters and serial killers. A central reason for their common disregard for human rights and dignity of others is their rejection of Judeo-Christian mores. There are also hundreds of other nations that don’t properly respect their neighbor’s rights to be left alone. Most of these are dictatorships, theocracies, or communist. These belligerent “others” often join the major troublemakers for profit or protection; many to be found in Africa and the Middle East. Ukraine is just the latest victim in this growing conflict. We need to know our enemies better.

We should remember that Russia (as Soviet Union, under Lenin and Stalin) used starvation as a weapon of genocide. The best book on the Ukrainian Holodomor is Harvest of Sorrow, the first full history of one of the most horrendous human tragedies of the 20th century.

“Lenin’s revolution, the resulting civil war and famines, and the domestic repression that he led against dissidents and scapegoats directly led to the deaths of over 8 million citizens of the Russian Empire, many by starvation, torture, or summary execution.”

In 1932 and 1933, millions of Ukrainians were killed in the Holodomor, a man-made famine engineered by the Soviet government of Joseph Stalin. “The primary victims of the Holodomor (literally “death inflicted by starvation”) were rural farmers and villagers, who made up roughly 80 percent of Ukraine’s population in the 1930s. An estimated 14.5 million--more than the total number of deaths for all countries in World War I resulted by the Holodomor.”

“How long will you keep killing people?” asked Lady Astor of Stalin in 1931.

Replied Stalin, “The process would continue as long as was necessary” to establish a communist society.

We can’t understand the depth of inequity within these types of communist-Jihadist- dictatorships until we learn their histories. But we do not teach this bloody history in American schools, keeping our citizens ignorant of the facts. Therefore, most Americans know little or nothing about the mindset of our common enemies today, like Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Masoud Pezeshkian, and Kim Jong Un. Their modus operandi has not changed for centuries. All humans outside their jurisdiction are treated the same way. We know what Russia (Soviet Union) did to Ukraine. China continues the same murderous way with more than a million Uyghur Muslims arbitrarily enslaved in its Xinjiang region, (following Mao Zedong’s murdered millions). In Iran (or other Muslim nations) any contact with Christians who have converted from Islam, or caught supporting converts may be sent to prison or executed. In North Korea, the slightest complaint about government will send you and all family members into underground prisons, possibly for life. Recently, in Syria, calls went out for anyone who could open the electronic door locks on Bashar al-Assad’s underground torture prisons, where children were borne and have never seen daylight. These are a few of the alternatives available in anti-democratic governments. Why aren’t these facts taught in American schools?

Most immediately, Vladimir Putin is about to experience spontaneous human combustion over the disaster he has inflicted on Russia with the Ukrainian war, a collapsing economic system (40 percent inflation, 12 percent interest rate), incompetent military leadership, naval losses, astronomic loss of military equipment, and 700,000 losses in soldiers; all this in a 3-year war he expected to win in a week. Putin’s extreme paranoia for personal survival could trigger Armageddon during any Trump transition confusion.

Putin repeatedly threatens to nuke NATO and the West. It’s past time to remind him and his comrades that the U.S., France, and the UK are nuclear-armed NATO nations, with other NATO members, including Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey, participating in nuclear-sharing arrangements. These countries have dual-capable aircraft that can deliver US nuclear weapons.

Our enemies should ponder the fact that GPS coordinates for Moscow, Beijing, Tehran, and Pyongyang are well known to their Free World nuclear opponents.

I confess that I’m preoccupied with the first stages of the global war which is revealing itself every day with fiendish speed. And, as I’ve said numerous times during this past year, I have an advantageous view of the spectacle – the present ongoing record of events, and the prophetic revelations of Christian mystics and Marion apparitions. I am satisfied both sources agree on the unfolding scenario – dominos falling in quick succession. The daily accounts of advancing evil aggression closely track multiple spiritual apparitions revealed over hundreds of years. Each day’s destruction speaks for itself. I believe the Free World will be in a nuclear fight very soon, thoroughly unprepared.

Right now Russia has incorporated Iran, China, and North Korea into its full-scale war on Ukraine. Iran has recruited Hamas, Hezbollah, what’s left of Syria, and several Jihadist countries to its side. Israel, as usual, is pretty much on its own, doing well while always challenged. China, as usual, threatens to attack the sovereign democratic nation of Taiwan (which it did not conquer in its revolution) and claims the entirety of the South China Sea, while challenging the U.S. militarily. The complexity of the world’s political and military situation itself compresses the threat. Hyper-evil components in this devil’s boardgame compete for prominence; even North Korea strives to fight Ukraine, 7,000 miles away, while Iran swears to annihilate Israel.

All the while Europe is woefully unprepared; France, England, and Germany are particularly so. Europe may be stronger by some overall numbers, but it cannot bring sufficient massive, coordinated counterattack against Russia due to its fragmented geographical location – and admitted shameful unpreparedness. Example: Russia and China have MIRVED hypersonic short-range missiles on line. The West – we may have them in three years. News bulletin: we need them NOW.

The war itself is fomented by the same losers who aligned with the greatest fool ever created, he who shouted “I non servient”, I will not serve. This creature told his Creator that, because he was created so magnificently, so intelligent and powerful, he would only oblige his own will. He was known as the Devil, who currently prefers to be known as Satan who lives in eternal torment with his comrades.

Russia is only one nation among many who seek to serve Satan. A number of war-fighting materials in the Russian arsenal are named after Satan, whom that nation adores. For example the SS-X- intercontinental missile, referred to as Satan II, and Mi-24 “Shaitan-Arba helicopter (Satan’s Chariot)”. It’s Russia’s inherent evil nature that gives it a reason for being. It needs war to sustain its murderous Federation. Revelations, say they will soon be destroyed.

Again, I’ve gotten into a topic too big for my time and space. My personal message: Pray well, because we are about to undergo the biggest upheaval in world history when the Orcs overrun the Free World for a time unpresented, very soon. I would be worried if I thought the situation were in our hands.

Tulsi Gabbard is not qualified to be Director of National Intelligence; this photo exposes another potential threat. Do we really need more personal controversy?
Enlarge Photo

I’m having a hard time out of the gate this p.m. Maybe because I’ve grown tired of that steady, menacing growl from global war-seekers. We are dealing with multiple flash points with which we’ve had little to do. But that is not entirely true; our experience in dealing with criminal Jihadist-communist-fascist regimes such as Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, for centuries, demands that we (the democratic West) not seek to absolve ourselves of responsibility. Reasonable people should know better. We have chosen to remain unprepared for confrontation with a thoroughly acknowledged perpetual menace. If a friend’s dire need requires a hundred gallons of water but we slowly provide only a quart, we have betrayed that friend and are untrustworthy. War makes this betrayal indelible and often fatal. In understanding Ukraine’s dire need and offering reluctant, inadequate assistance, both Europe and America have become infamous. The billions we have provided for Ukrainian help will be completely wasted and Europe vulnerable if Russia is permitted to win the war. Wasted as well would be some 300,000 Ukrainian fighting men. Serious war? Today, with the slaughter of 700,000 hapless Russians (last week 1,700 per day), the death toll has reached 1 million! Like rust, Satan never sleeps, he’s relentless. Democracies today think evil is just a sometime thing permitting vacations.

I have only two worries remaining so far as Trump prepares to take over the helm. The first is the probability of abandoning Ukraine; the second is the candidacy of Tulsi Gabbard. Another concern of mine was the candidacy of Pete Hegseth for Sect. of Defense. Today we learned he will probably not go forward. Hegseth is a strong patriot and I admire his service. However, he doesn’t have the depth of experience for this huge job. I hope Trump uses him elsewhere.

Ukraine is doing the fighting and dying for us. Yes, for us. We will pay personally and face-to-face if Ukraine loses to Russia. Millions more will flood into Europe from their devastated homeland, having lost everything to Putin’s criminal army.

Note: Sleep has ambushed me so I will substitute a short but clear view of the importance of Ukraine as provided by “Mykola Bielieskov - a research fellow at the National Institute for Strategic Studies and a senior analyst at Ukrainian NGO “Come Back Alive.” The views expressed in this article are the author’s personal position and do not reflect the opinions or views of NISS or Come Back Alive.”

[The neglect of Ukraine after the 1991 Soviet collapse] “… coincided with the rise of a more assertive Russia. In 2008, Russian troops invaded Georgia. Six years later, the Kremlin occupied Crimea and sparked a war in eastern Ukraine. By 2022, an emboldened Putin felt strong enough to launch the biggest European invasion since World War II. This escalating Russian aggression should serve as a painful lesson for anyone tempted to take the continued existence of an independent Ukraine for granted. Ukraine is currently facing the most challenging period since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Starved of supplies, Ukrainian troops find themselves forced to ration ammunition. In many cases, they are already unable to prevent Russia from edging forward. This is fueling increasingly pessimistic forecasts as the spring campaigning season draws near.” The stakes could hardly be higher. If Russia’s invasion succeeds, the consequences will be felt far beyond the borders of Ukraine. The Russian military will be revitalized by the capture of Ukraine’s vast human and material resources, and will loom large on the eastern border of a NATO alliance demoralized and discredited by its failure to defend Ukrainian independence. At that point, many in the West may begin to ask why they didn’t arm Ukraine when they had the chance. By then, of course, it will be too late.”

Donald Trump needs Mike Pompeo to persuade him to arm Ukraine to the teeth instead of abandoning it.

***

Only a quick objection to the candidacy of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence, another critical position — “overseeing and directing the huge budgets of 18 government intelligence agencies and advising the president on matters related to national security.”

Gabbard’s deep and lengthy membership, with family and friends, in “the HareKrishna offshoot cult” should disqualify her from this top intelligence agency, however honorable her military service has been. “The Hare Krishna movement, also known as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), is a religious practice that combines traditional Hindu beliefs with monotheistic beliefs. The movement was founded in 1965 by A. C. Bhaktivedanta, an Indian religious leader and author.”

Gabbard’s religious faith is guaranteed by our First Amendment. The question concerns whether her faith would interfere with federal duties which may not be approved by faith leader Chris Butler. “A tight-knit SIF community of around a thousand followers developed across Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. It reportedly includes members of the families of Gabbard and Williams.” Gabbard calls Butler a ‘guru’. “But some former members of his group have described themselves as survivors of a cult, of which Butler was an all-powerful and unquestionable leader.”

“I was raised to believe Chris Butler (founder) was God’s voice on earth, and if you questioned him or offended him in any way, you were effectively offending God,” one such former SIF member wrote in a 2017 post on Medium.”

“Questioning the leader was spiritual suicide, which was seen as worse than death.” What about contrary orders from our Commander-in-Chief?

Keeping up with the war:

Since America is well involved in the initial stages of a global war, our media is doing very little to tell the truth about how it’s going. We get clips of the damage in Ukraine and Lebanon, and some information on Iran and threats from China, and all the proxies. But we lack an accurate sense of where we stand in the balance of terror. Differences of civilian opinion can strain even old personal friendships, as the election did. Opinions of the war can be reduced to two attitudes. One, we must not antagonize the enemy, or we will trigger nuclear war. That threat is hissed at us from Russia, China, Iran, and that Dog Patch “nation” of North Korea. The free democratic nations have reacted with such reluctance to assist Ukraine that our enemies recognize our fear which encourages escalation. In war, helping our allies with substantial, but inadequate, supplies just guarantees slow death and eventual collapse.

I wonder about public opinion; who supports Ukraine and Israel; of necessity it’s a package deal. Unity here makes a huge difference because our hydra-headed enemy is singular in purpose, which means deadly aggression against innocent, peaceful democratic nations. There is no room here for cutesy fence-sitters; you are either friend or enemy. You either support Ukraine or you support Russia; a clearly black and white choice. If you take no stand, you oppose strong self-defense and are therefore in the enemy camp. Massive disinformation by Russia and China greatly confuses the view.

The Free World must choose a course of action grounded in Judeo-Christian ethics, which makes us free; it must forcibly resist evil governments which reject our moral codes, very succinctly summarized in the 10 Commandments. Democratic resistance is also mandated by wisdom and common sense, because without resistance we will be destroyed. Paraphrasing Shakespeare, appeasement doth make cowards of us all; and invites defeat. Appeasement here also makes us unworthy to enjoy the gift of freedom so valiantly won by our brave and bloodied ancestors. Fear should have no place in facing-off satanic demigods like Russia, China, Jihadists, and North Korea. In this eternal war against evil, the true God has from the Creation, deemed that evil, personified in these four hostile governments, will remain losers forever.

Though a strong supporter of Donald Trump, I think it’s preposterous to proclaim he can stop the war in 24-hours. This war will end with unimaginable chaos, destruction, and death. It will escalate beyond Putin’s wildest dreams.

This is a two-front battle as seen from a celestial perspective. According to those Mystics and apparition warnings I’ve mentioned previously, both human and divine intentions are in play simultaneously. Again, this is only my opinion, but I expect a definitive conclusion to Ukraine’s war within a year. I also expect my opinions here to be viewed as the hallucinations of an unbalanced Irishman. I accept that challenge, except for the Irish disparagement.

Once again, my subject is too broad and time too short. NATO is in a frenzy to rearm because of their unpreparedness, which is due to having been intimidated by Putin’s nuclear threats. Collectively NATO is much stronger than all its enemies, but they are still fragmented as relatively small nation armies. The critical issue to be answered by the Free World immediately: Do we surrender our civilization to the enemy or stand and fight for democratic freedom?

I ask this question of those naïve enough to believe Russia’s reason for attacking Ukraine. Putin insists NATO has violated agreements to avoid expanding eastward towards the Russian Federation. If Russia takes over Ukraine entirely, would it be any farther away from NATO?? Unless Russia defeats all Europe it cannot eliminate geographical contact with NATO counties! And who is Russia to dictate its restrictions upon the Free World?

We will either fight for freedom or subsist under demonic tyranny! As Benjamin Franklin explained our new government: “A republic, if you can keep it.” At issue in this war is our FREEDOM – are we determined to keep it? Should we quibble about the cost?

[I ask for prayers for the elderly woman who was severely injured as a pedestrian in Fillmore last Friday.]

****

Like every conservative Republican I am overjoyed at Donald Trump’s election victory. The most destructive federal government in American history has finally been stamped-out.

Supremely challenging repairs are needed to fix those four years of wild, hyper-irrational Democratic policy damage. That old Obama promise to “fundamentally transform the United States of America” nearly came true. Serious questions remain, for example, how to eject 20-million illegal aliens. Many ruinous Biden-Harris actions have no cure, like the surrender of Afghanistan, the death and abandonment of hundreds of thousands, and the gift of $85-billion in military equipment to the Taliban.

Trump will have only four years to complete the necessary work. It has never been more important for him to appoint the most trustworthy, competent, and experienced members to his cabinet. I find only three of his nominees deficient so far: Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, and Tulsi Gabbard. Hegseth is a great guy! I admire his military service record and attitude. But he is not ripe enough to be Secretary of Defense. He’s smart enough, conservative enough, but not experienced enough to take over this top job. Use him in an important but less critical position, or as assistant. The man for this job is Mike Pompeo: West Point, Harvard Law, Congressman, CIA Director, and Secretary of State. He is an extraordinary man with impressive accomplishments. If Trump’s avoidance of Pompeo is due to past criticism of policy, shame on Trump! He is wasting and disrespecting a sterling asset.

After a little research on Tulsi Gabbard, I would not consider her for any top job. I admire her military service. But she has been too complementary of Putin and her biography is strewn with liberal inclinations. She’s also a Tulsi-come-lately to the Republican Party.

Lastly, there is Florida Representative Matt Gaetz. Trump has nominated Gaetz for Attorney General. I was frankly shocked to hear this. Gaetz’s character and conduct while in office is hyper controversial with serious investigations ongoing. Gaetz is not qualified for this job!

It appears to me, a strong Trump supporter, that Donald Trump needs more guidance in picking his cabinet. He has only one opportunity to get this right. Choose the best. Concentrate on COMPETENCE and experience, as well as fidelity.
There is much talk of Trump ushering in a new “golden age” for America. While I hope so, my instincts tell a different story. If Trump has the time he can effect huge change for the better, but Obama-Biden-Harris policy calamities have thrown sand in the machine. First off, we continue to be unprepared for war and war is here. Recent warnings accrue about providing ATACMS missiles to Ukraine because of their scarcity in US inventories, and nuclear fears. But we are into the third year of the Russia-Ukraine war and haven’t even fired-up production, while Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea boast of their readiness. It doesn’t take a Sun Tzu to know that if you lack sufficient quantities of critically important stuff you make more of it! But we haven’t.

****

My greatest fear for the new administration is its probable abandonment of Ukraine in its most dire need. Those who advocate cutting-off Ukraine’s war supplies are ignorant of political history, especially of communism. In a few words, progressive global war began in August 2008 with the Russian invasion of Georgia. No one did anything to stop it so Russian aggression continued into Crimea, and later into Ukraine proper. Where next if Russia is not stopped cold in Ukraine? The dominos are Moldova, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia – France? Of course, Russia’s demonic buddies, China, Iran, North Korea, and the Jihad hoards forever seeking the submission of all non-Muslims, have jumped the gun, provoking arrogant overreach. (My missile is bigger than your missile.) Our enemies think they are invincible – war has come because they want war.
As Ukraine goes, so goes Europe – then the world.

A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:

I’ve said “Hello Kelly” about 400 times during the past 8 years, if my counting is correct. My debate with Kelly Scoles has kept me on my toes. Kelly is a worthy opponent and representative of the Democratic liberal left, while I’ve tried to represent the conservative side. Out of curiosity awhile back I determined that I have written more than a million words since Realilties was launched in 1989 with a Macintosh Plus. Though Realities began about two years earlier in Idaho, it finally landed in Fillmore, 30 miles from my birthplace.

In this week’s letter to the editor Kelly announced that, due to other obligations, she will only occasionally write her weekly letter. Like millions of others, the recent election has also left its imprint. I hope Kelly does not abandon her weekly messages altogether for I have greatly enjoyed our civil and open discourse; it has refreshed me as well over the years. It’s hard to believe our discussion has lasted 8 years! My hope is, even at a less frequent pace, our debate will continue. I am grateful as well that Kelly’s strong words “signaled her commitment to the First Amendment.” We know what this free exchange of opinion would cause in Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea. God bless and sustain our Constitution!
Kelly, I quickly recognize the hot points of your letter; the impression is familiar. I must admit that I’m somewhat worn out with my redundant defense. You are a classic liberal and I, an old-fashioned conservative. The crux of our disagreement lies in mystical understanding, in understanding or misunderstanding eternal things – in short, a belief or disbelief in God and his eternal plan. The decision to believe or not changes the entire playing field, all values and expectations. For example, what atheists believe to be extraterrestrial sentient beings, Christians believe to be demons.

While billions of people scoff at the idea of demons and the supernatural, those same people uncritically accept the idea of UFOs and extraterrestrial beings. The world has never existed without a belief in demons (evil) supernatural beings. But UFOS, et. al. have only been popularly accepted since H. G. Wells’ science fiction. For Judeo-Christians the truth is found only in Genesiss I:I, 26 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…Then God said, ‘let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’” Another argument makes sense here, Pascal’s famous wager. (Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, and Catholic writer. God’s existence: “One should assume He exists. If God does not exist and one does not believe in him, nothing is gained. On the other hand, if God does exist and one does not believe in Him, everything is lost; if God does exist and one does believe in Him, everything is gained.”

Please remember I’m just offering my opinion in exchange for yours. Ultimately everything is simple for me; there is good and bad, eternal things and temporal, earthly things. Human creations are unique because they have unique eternal souls. In my opinion all the issues we have discussed here in the past 8 years have a moral basis and can be resolved by the application of Judeo-Christian criteria, i.e. abortion is intrinsically evil, and transgenderism is irrational.

The critical issue is the existence of an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God. Without acknowledging this fact there are no answers, just sound and fury signifying nothing. Our ultimate success or failure in this life depends on faith, whether as urged by Pascal or upon sacred scripture which underlies that bet.

We have argued endlessly about facts, which should stand independently. You describe the election as “tsunami of political retrogression.” It seems to me that the election of Donald Trump has set us free of political retrogression, like open borders, the surge in crime, and a host of other Woke idiocies.

But my worries have not abated because we are heading into global war. Most of Trump’s Cabinet appointments are excellent while others bother me. It’s a huge mistake to leave Mike Pompeo out of the mix, while strong as Pete Hegseth is he lacks the depth of experience of Pompeo for Defense Secretary. Big mistake. As for protecting women, every normal man has in his DNA the protection of women, a naturally good thing insufficiently exercised.

My greatest concern – a deadly abandonment of Ukraine which will inevitably doom Europe, then the world, to war of unprecedented destruction. The stench of Free World weakness is in the nostrils of the wolfish, Jihadist-Communist enemy.
But I agree, “The people have made their choice.”

Former senior Dept. of Nuclear Energy official Sam Brinton. Photo By U.S. Department of Energy - U.S. Department of Energy, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=126070318.

Thank You Almighty God for granting electoral victory to Donald Trump, now President-Elect of these United States of America!

Note: Most of this column was drafted before Trump’s historic election win last night. No time to revise, only time for last minute extension. What an incredible election scenario!

I watched several hours of FOX coverage on Election Day. Relieved to see Trump’s progress towards his likely second inauguration as next President of the United Sates. The reporting went calmly on several channels, without expressions of fear, anger, or anxiety. No boasting by Republicans, just warm expressions of growing satisfaction with probable victory, though a few tortured “paths” to victory remained for Kamala when I had to get to work. Harris was even praised for her pre-election efforts. Only a single incident reported of dreaded tabulating machine breakdowns required a recount of 30,000 ballots due to a machine lock issue. So far, there are no serious allegations of fraud, due to heavy surveillance. The new marvel of electronic engineering FOX used for the first time to show voting progression was a little too quick and sophisticated for me, but fascinating. The entire TV production was the smoothest I’ve ever viewed.
Let’s hope this election and the transition remain peaceful and the beginning of civic healing, because the nation’s defense is about to be gravely tested.

Republicans have won the Senate, and possibly the House of Representatives as well. If this proves true, progress towards repairing the lethal economic damage four years of Democratic leadership have caused could be quick. For example, refilling the nation’s emergency oil reserves which Biden drained could be done using our own famous sweet crude. Those 90-some presidential executive orders, like the one shutting down the Keystone XL (KXL) pipeline on his first day in office, could be rescinded, just like Biden rescinded Trump’s orders.

Of all the Biden domestic damage done during the past four years none compares to the breaching of our southern border which is giving away American sovereignty to some 20 million criminal trespassers, drug runners, thieves, killers, rapists, terrorists, and their progeny. This is a particularly indelible wound, demanding that we house, feed, and employ, these 20 million, while providing free education and health care. Each child born to these illegal immigrants becomes a citizen: “The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution defines a citizen as anyone born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to its jurisdiction.” We have for decades admitted at least one million legal immigrants yearly after proper vetting. We know nothing about these new Biden globetrotting trespassers except by their illegal activities.

Until this outrageous attack upon our sovereignty is fixed (if possible), except for special circumstances, all immigration should be postponed and the 14th Amendment itself amended. Then perhaps we can find where those 300,000 kidnapped children are being enslaved as drug cartel sex workers. Biden’s open border policy caused this infamy; let’s stop it! A massive, coordinated effort is now required to remedy these disastrous Biden policies, and Trump will have only four years to complete the work. Any progress here demands a deep cleaning of the federal government. With Republican tenure in the Senate at least Democrats will be unable to stop new Trump Supreme Court nominees, cabinet members, or halt the removal of Justice Department Lawfare practitioners.

The Democrat Temple to the Unnatural, and all self-identified clowns, freaks, and suitcase thieves of ladies’ underwear (former senior Dept. of Nuclear Energy official Sam Brinton) can now be swept away and replaced by normal people hired into government service once again.

Insane policies like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and men competing in women’s sports can be permanently benched. All security clearance can be removed from disloyal past, present and retired military and civilian officials. And, finally, we can begin to enjoy a new birth of Judeo-Christian NORMALCY!!

I mentioned earlier that I am on the horns of a dilemma facing this election. I must vote for Trump because the nation faces an imminent threat of global war. Despite the unprecedented hatred expressed by Democratic Party Never-Trump berserkers, Donald Trump can govern and command during any such catastrophe. Kamila Harris cannot. She’s a low intelligence political emoji with one hand clapping, incapable of commanding a girl scout troop to make a playground right turn maneuver. She is a professional politician whose political ascendence is both mysterious and troubling. Try and recall any significant, positive achievement in her public life.

The life-and-death dangers we now face with Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea makes my escape from dilemma much easier. With Trump as Commander-in-Chief our country is safe. The nightmare of a Kamala presidency makes me wonder what we would do if the North Korean (7-million-man Army) was directed by Russia or China to enter the U.S from the Atlantic. Then of course there are those millions of head-hunting Muslim Jihadists seeking submission of the Great Satan.

If Putin is confident enough to sign-up 10,000 North Korean soldiers, outfit and train them, and send them 7,000 miles from Pyongyang, North Korea to Moscow to fight in Ukraine, we are drifting quickly into WWIII. Should we be surprised as well if America was similarly attacked from our Northwest, as some predict? If we don’t stop Putin’s new Russian-North Korean onslaught now Ukraine will lose the war in 2025, forcing millions more homeless Ukrainians into Europe, further destabilizing an already immigrant-saturated, Jihadist-afflicted territory. With the mass of Muslim Jihadists already destabilizing Europe, Putin will not hesitate to gamble for leftovers. Russia is losing 1000 soldiers PER DAY, for months: 600,000 since invading Ukraine.

The only policy (and I mean the ONLY Democratic policy) I agree with is defeating Russia in Ukraine. Help for Ukraine has been far too slow, even halted for months. Most critically, the U.S. refuses to provide most needed weapons – long range missiles to reach targets well into Russia--while Russia has free rein. It’s a crazy, cowardly policy which facilitates massive destruction and death in Ukraine.

The Biden-Harris command of “Don’t” will do nothing to stop Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran from having their way. We are a long way from that old China “ping pong diplomacy” once thought to entice Communist China to the Western Capitalist system. The West has never understood the intrinsic evil of communism; it cannot, it will not change by itself.
But I digress.

Though I voted for Trump, I’m angered and disgusted by wild, anti-Ukrainian statements coming from the Trump team, so much so that I would switch my vote if a pro-Ukrainian conservative were running against him. But a Kamala win would be the end of America. Among her negatives is the fact that she is a witless member of similarly driven, witless power-hungry Democrats. There’s a special word for this group, it’s “kakistocracy”; it means “A government run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens.” That is exactly what the Biden-Harris people have given us these past four years, a disastrous, self-defeating kakistocracy.

We may be able to change this mistaken Ukrainian policy after a Trump win. For now, let’s vote to save the nation.

I was surprised to learn of the departure of our City Manager Dave Rowlands this week. He has guided the City of Fillmore flawlessly for 11 years and I am sorry to see him go, though glad to hear he has accepted even more responsibility as the new Manager for the City of Santa Maria.

Dave came into Fillmore at a time when city politics was wrecking the community, when meetings were acrimonious and attitudes combative, the worst time in the 35-years I’ve experienced. He led with a steady and understanding hand which transformed city hall and maximized civic cooperation.

Thanks, Dave, for your great work. The best of luck in your new position; we will miss your influence.

****

I remember how the liberal press hated Richard Nixon with an implacable intensity. This was during the 1970s Watergate scandal, after Nixon had defeated George McGovern in
1972 in one of the largest landslide victories in American history (60.7% of the popular vote, carrying 49 states.) He was forced to resign shortly thereafter.

The hatred of Donald Trump during the past 10 years, manifested in widespread, unconstitutional Lawfare attacks (impeachments, arrests, calumnies, phony investigations, FBI attacks, attempted assassinations, etc.) are today magnitudes greater than those against Nixon.

Trump has endured those slings and arrows. You might say, despite his social flaws, he’s as tough as shoe leather, which his enemies have learned to fear and respect. He keeps his word. These are excellent characteristics for an American president today as we face globalist terrorists and satanic totalitarians plotting to destroy our democratic society. These traits will serve our country well as Trump faces down Russia’s Putin, China’s ‎Xi Jinping, Iran’s Ali Khamenei, and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. Mere requests like Biden’s “don’t” are laughed at, as are giggles and presidents in pantsuits pretending to be tough. We know for sure that Khamenei would just shout “Get thee into a burkea”. Our enemies do not engage in vocal fantasies. Study deeply the details of the Hamas attack, which Hamas plotted for more than a year to murder 1,700 innocent Israelis, especially women, at a music festival. Yes, I know, feminists are outraged and insulted by such statements. But 1,400-years of bloody Islamic Jihad and the 7 October 2023 Hamas surprise attack on Israel tells the truth about our Jihadist enemy. A female non-believer president should expect to receive that historical contempt due a typical “kafir”, with or without the giggle. Kamala orders to “just don’t” would be heard as a weak, contemptable challenge.

****

A brief response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:

Hi Kelly,

I am again discombobulated due to appointments. Sorry.

I cannot always excuse the occasional verbal antics of Donald Trump. I’m tired of them and think they’re sometimes highly inappropriate. At times they make me angry and I have to say “Why in hell did you say that?!” But, I know of very few successful angelic national leaders. Most of the generals of his time hated General Patton because he was the richest officer in WWII, kept a stable of polo ponies, cussed like a drunken private soldier, and had an ugly, ill-tempered dog. But he had the soul of a combat general, like my favorite Biblical General, David, with his own flaws. I can’t see him ever surrendering Afghanistan or welcoming homosexuality into his army. So, I will vote for Donald Trump despite his social defects and occasional outrageous comments. I know several now-retired generals who damn him for alleged statements. However, as Lincoln responded to critics of General Grant (he drinks too much), “When someone charged Gen. Grant, in the President’s hearing, with drinking too much liquor, Mr. Lincoln, recalling Gen. Grant’s successes, said that if he could find out what brand of whisky Grant drank, he would send a barrel of it to all the other commanders.” “That man fights!”
As for Harris, her leadership ability can be easily seen in the 90 percent of her ladies-in-waiting who have quit that otherwise highly desirable job; they couldn’t stand working for her. She is famous for alienating associates, assistants – and for being lazy and usually unprepared. She also has zero military experience to recommend her to become Commander in Chief of our military forces. I can’t see Trump facilitating the installation of tampon machines in men’s bathrooms – I leave that to Kamala and her Elmer Fudd vice president wannabe.

I want to note the closing of Patterson Hardware after 105 years of service to the people of Fillmore. Harvey Patterson and wife Emma always provided the kind of personal service rarely seen today. Throughout the 34-years of the Fillmore Gazette’s existence Harvey always supported the Gazette, and I believe he was the first local company to advertise in the paper; certainly, Harvey supported us continuously during those years. A final word of thanks to the entire Patterson family for a job well done.

I’m way over time and space due to appointments. I apologize to Kelly, being unable to respond this week. I do recommend Jonathan Turley’s new book The Indispensable Right, Free Speech in an Age of Rage.

****

A word about the war. It may sound strange to mention “the war” because very little information is provided as one should expect of imminent global war. We do hear bits and pieces about the wars in Ukraine and Israel, but not with the urgency or fullness needed to secure our military readiness. We are unprepared. We are at the September 1938 Neville Chamberlain stage of pre-conflagration when he sought to appease Nazi Germany by signing the Munich Agreement with Hitler. It’s not hard to understand why Chamberlain, British Prime Minister at the time, would seek peace with Nazi Germany after having lost 880,000 British forces, 6% of the adult male population and 12.5% of those serving, in World War 1 – (only 20 years, 9 months, 21 days later). Appeasement was supposed to bring "Peace with Honour - Peace for Our Time" according to Chamberlain’s speech after Munich.

But weakness, as always, brought six years of WWII from 1939-1945, and the ascendency of the Communist Soviet Union and Communist China – with whom we are about to deal again, in WWIII. The big difference today is our foolish reluctance to prepare our industries for this war. The Democrat Party has seriously acerbated this weakness with novel Woke mandates such as President Biden’s 2021 Executive Order 14035, promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce (DEIA). This is a clarion call for incompetency, eagerly answered by flocks of faint-hearted applicants. Biden generals such as Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's highest-ranking military officer, are ardent supporters of DEIA even though it has decimated recruitment, depleted the ranks, and caused massive disillusionment throughout our defense system. General incompetency brings to mind Mark Milley and his great adventure in the Afghanistan surrender to the Taliban, and China calls. Where are our Grants, Shermans, and Sheridans? Lastly, how can any reasonable person explain this? “Mystery Drones Swarmed a U.S. Military Base for 17 Days. The Pentagon is Stumped.” “U.S officials don’t know who is behind the drones that have flown unhindered over sensitive national-security sites - or how to stop them.” Didn’t this sort of thing happen with giant Chinese balloons a while ago? With laws like this: “Federal law prohibits the military from shooting down drones near military bases in the U.S. unless they pose an imminent threat.”
This is a problem no other country in the world would have trouble solving. The answer is clear and obvious – shoot the damn things down, determine ownership, and prosecute, militarily or publicly. I’ve given up trying to put the pieces of this damnable Woke political puzzle together for the purpose of understanding the decline of the Republic. 20 million illegals crossing our border is proof of its closure? Demanding an ID at the voting booth is racist? The product of abortion is not a human male or female with a unique eternal soul? A human is capable of changing their sex? There is no eternity? There is no God? Government should provide pornography for our children? Go figure. I’ve tried and failed.

****

The truth or falsity of those Marion Apparitions I’ve spoken about perhaps too often is about to present itself, beginning this month. Events will speak for themselves. Watch North Korea.

A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:

Hi Kelly,

As the election looms darkly in front of us, political commentary of every sort condenses into sulfuric stuff. Emotion replaces logic and lies escape detection in the process of phony fact-checking. The American market is busy selling its soul to foreign power gods for short term gains, earned from 200 years of blood, sweat, tears and innovation. What remains of the Woke-Democrat fire sale of American citizenship is squandered on millions of coddled illegals, who produce millions more terrorists, drug dealers, rapists and fraudulent voters, while consuming our welfare. We reject absolute Truth – “Do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” In our brave new world, we manage to slop the hogs with the family jewels.

All this governmental perversity produces deep seated confusion, which the poet Keates saw as the falcon unable to hear the falconer, as “things fall apart”. Anyone looking at America today with clear eyes can see an historical rejection of traditional, foundational (Constitutional) Judeo-Christian values. The country today may show Franklin that we are no longer able to keep that Republic he helped found at the Constitutional Convention in 1787.

So, Kelly, when I read your laundry list of anti-Trump allegations, complaints, exaggerations, and untruths, they inspire memories of Aldous Huxley and George Orwell novels, 1984 and Brave New World, respectively, each a reflection of the world today. For example, Orwell has his World State Motto: “COMMUNITY, IDENTITY, STABILITY”, while the Democrat Party has its “Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)”, each seeking perfection in an imperfect world. I find it ironic that these goals are as old as Thomas More’s “Utopia” (meaning nowhere) and a favorite quote of Wm. F. Buckley’s “Don’t immanentize the eschaton” (don’t ignore the good seeking the perfect. My interpretation – often humorous reminder among Republicans in the 1960s).

I’ll just list a few of your more glaring historical infractions pertaining to Trump. Statements: “Constitution is optional” absurd if taken literally. “Fomenter of violent Capitol insurrection.” Despite media propaganda, this was exactly a 4-hour quasi riot, no fire, no (civilian) guns, no (civilian) shootings, no knives, and with Capitol Police escorting most of the crowd into the building. Outrageous Democrat propaganda called the Capitol incident an “insurrection” for years – finally truthfully re-labeling it a riot. At the same time Democrats say nothing about the 2020 true insurrections where “hundreds of [George Floyd] riots took place in the second half of 2020 left immense property damage, assessed at up to $2 billion, and at least 25 people dead.” Liberal sources never describe the Floyd riots as “insurrections”.

Also, “Trump adjudicated rapist” – “The verdict was split: jurors rejected Carroll’s claim that she was raped.”
Also: “Trump wants to legislate nationalized “Old Testament Christianity.” Ridiculous claim. Trump simply acknowledges Judeo-Christian foundation of the Declaration, Constitution, even Black’s Commentaries. The First Amendment protects and honors religious liberties, and Founders saw them as indispensable.

These defamatory statements about Trump allegedly “disparaging military wounded and dead” deserve treble damages if civil justice were available. Not worth refuting again.

As for Trump being “authoritarian”? Another absurd allegation. You just don’t recognize strength because you are more comfortable with the weakness of the Democrat Party.

If you want an honest look at Kamala’s leadership abilities just pay attention to her abject failures in the current hurricane disasters – no FEMA or military help when most needed. The next hurricane, MILTON, landing tonight (Wednesday) will be even worse! Pray for the hurricane victims, mostly because they receive no help from the Biden-Harris presidential pretenders.

This is a preview of coming war attractions which will also be upon us very soon.