A response to Kelly Scoles' letter:

Hi Kelly,

Just to be up front with you, Kelly, I hate anything that looks like a secret world financial demigod; and they are all over the place. I recall when Black Rock touted control of $10 trillion dollars (since, down a little); and then there're outfits like Freemasons, the Bavarian Illuminati, Skull and Bones (regret Bill Buckley and at least one Bush were members) and Bilderberg. These are the uberhumans who think of themselves as God's subcontractors. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote that, "The rich are different from you and me” and his friend Ernest Hemingway supposedly retorted, “Yes, they have more money.” Weirdly, these are the only words I remember from Fitzgerald, but they fit here. Wealth unnaturally elevates the human ego; pocket change can even grow to monstrous proportions like Mammon. I guess that's why we have a Fear and Greed Index; Greed can drive us like a Rockefeller or Carnegie while a recession or depression stunts the growth. While billionaires are a dime a dozen today, some will exhaust themselves to become the first trillionaire. But even the trillionaire is a relative pauper compared to the self-made dictator who owns his own country and all of its inhabitants. His riches are self-perpetuating, at least for a term of life, almost like Midas and Scrooge McDuck, because he prints his own money, determines its value, and the value of his dominated subjects. Remember Zimbabwe's central bank allowed its citizens to exchange the country's almost worthless currency for US dollars. Its $100-trillion-dollar note [was] worth just 40 U.S. cents. He [Robert Mugabe] also played at being his own god, like China's Xi, Russia's Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un, demigods all, soon to face their true God, without saving face.

My apologies for the digression. I hope you are not too surprised to learn that I am also concerned about the extraordinary absence of financial justice throughout the world today. I have to be careful to avoid being called a "communist" for questioning our balance sheet. The unfairness is outrageous, and abuse is rife. A quick example of abuse on the Democratic Party side can be seen in the $400 million gift by Zuckerberg to Democratic Party brokers in the last presidential election. Just think of that sum and ask if it influenced the outcome of the election. Who else could match it? Bottom line for me, every gainfully employed man should be able to buy a house, as was possible only a few decades ago.

So, Kelly, I'm going to have to chicken-out and remain mum about the solutions I lack to remedy this serious problem. I do know, however, that I would avoid at all costs any proposal proffered by anyone even remotely smelling like a Biden. That man is a liar and a traitor, whose actions, with Barack Obama, may well precipitate the end of America as we have known her for 248 years. As for Abigail Disney and Valerie Rockefeller, a much simpler and faster solution to the problem they raise is available; why not simply have all people of "extreme wealth" gift a generous portion of their cash overflow to the country coffers, without forgetting struggling weekly newspapers? With an almost lascivious greed infecting the remnants of our national virtue, time is not on our side. I don't suggest this in jest. But wait! We could lower inflation from 9-percent under Biden, to 2-percent as under Trump, and pay the worker a living wage. Maybe then we can return to 10-cents for a cup of coffee (with free refills) and $50,000 for a modest house, like it was in my 30s.
If Democratic Party efforts to secure our borders provide a clue to future events, we may also have to return to a barter system, which worked so well for millennia.

****

Kelly, I have to confess that today I'm fixated on war and have almost no interest in politics, except as it relates to war. Many well-informed people tell me that the momentum of WW3 is leaning against America and that we will soon be caught unprepared. They say that if we abandon Ukraine and Israel for the foolishness of things like climate change, "social justice" confusion, and crazy transgender obsessions, we will be fatally challenged by our enemies. The U.S. is about 5 years late in preparing for war, and NATO is just awakened to the imminent threat of nuclear attack by a coalition of well-prepared Russian, Muslim, and Asian enemies.

Remember those empty store shelves during the pandemic? China has announced another biological which it brags of being 100-percent fatal, which is the pinnacle of success for biological terrorists. And what is the western mindset today? NATO assured Russia a while ago that it would not employ nuclear retaliation if it nuked Ukraine; instead, NATO would use pinpoint conventional attacks on all Russian positions. So, a rational enemy may well just take advantage of notorious Western naiveté with a nuclear Blitzkrieg. Why should Russia, et al, undertake a long war (like Ukraine) when it could win a short one with a surprise nuclear attack?

Trying to argue the obvious gives me a headache.

A response to Kelly Scoles' letter:

Hi Kelly,

Just to be up front with you, Kelly, I hate anything that looks like a secret world financial demigod; and they are all over the place. I recall when Black Rock touted control of $10 trillion dollars (since, down a little); and then there're outfits like Freemasons, the Bavarian Illuminati, Skull and Bones (regret Bill Buckley and at least one Bush were members) and Bilderberg. These are the uberhumans who think of themselves as God's subcontractors. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote that, "The rich are different from you and me” and his friend Ernest Hemingway supposedly retorted, “Yes, they have more money.” Weirdly, these are the only words I remember from Fitzgerald, but they fit here. Wealth unnaturally elevates the human ego; pocket change can even grow to monstrous proportions like Mammon. I guess that's why we have a Fear and Greed Index; Greed can drive us like a Rockefeller or Carnegie while a recession or depression stunts the growth. While billionaires are a dime a dozen today, some will exhaust themselves to become the first trillionaire. But even the trillionaire is a relative pauper compared to the self-made dictator who owns his own country and all of its inhabitants. His riches are self-perpetuating, at least for a term of life, almost like Midas and Scrooge McDuck, because he prints his own money, determines its value, and the value of his dominated subjects. Remember Zimbabwe's central bank allowed its citizens to exchange the country's almost worthless currency for US dollars. Its $100-trillion-dollar note [was] worth just 40 U.S. cents. He [Robert Mugabe] also played at being his own god, like China's Xi, Russia's Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un, demigods all, soon to face their true God, without saving face.

My apologies for the digression. I hope you are not too surprised to learn that I am also concerned about the extraordinary absence of financial justice throughout the world today. I have to be careful to avoid being called a "communist" for questioning our balance sheet. The unfairness is outrageous, and abuse is rife. A quick example of abuse on the Democratic Party side can be seen in the $400 million gift by Zuckerberg to Democratic Party brokers in the last presidential election. Just think of that sum and ask if it influenced the outcome of the election. Who else could match it? Bottom line for me, every gainfully employed man should be able to buy a house, as was possible only a few decades ago.

So, Kelly, I'm going to have to chicken-out and remain mum about the solutions I lack to remedy this serious problem. I do know, however, that I would avoid at all costs any proposal proffered by anyone even remotely smelling like a Biden. That man is a liar and a traitor, whose actions, with Barack Obama, may well precipitate the end of America as we have known her for 248 years. As for Abigail Disney and Valerie Rockefeller, a much simpler and faster solution to the problem they raise is available; why not simply have all people of "extreme wealth" gift a generous portion of their cash overflow to the country coffers, without forgetting struggling weekly newspapers? With an almost lascivious greed infecting the remnants of our national virtue, time is not on our side. I don't suggest this in jest. But wait! We could lower inflation from 9-percent under Biden, to 2-percent as under Trump, and pay the worker a living wage. Maybe then we can return to 10-cents for a cup of coffee (with free refills) and $50,000 for a modest house, like it was in my 30s.
If Democratic Party efforts to secure our borders provide a clue to future events, we may also have to return to a barter system, which worked so well for millennia.

****

Kelly, I have to confess that today I'm fixated on war and have almost no interest in politics, except as it relates to war. Many well-informed people tell me that the momentum of WW3 is leaning against America and that we will soon be caught unprepared. They say that if we abandon Ukraine and Israel for the foolishness of things like climate change, "social justice" confusion, and crazy transgender obsessions, we will be fatally challenged by our enemies. The U.S. is about 5 years late in preparing for war, and NATO is just awakened to the imminent threat of nuclear attack by a coalition of well-prepared Russian, Muslim, and Asian enemies.

Remember those empty store shelves during the pandemic? China has announced another biological which it brags of being 100-percent fatal, which is the pinnacle of success for biological terrorists. And what is the western mindset today? NATO assured Russia a while ago that it would not employ nuclear retaliation if it nuked Ukraine; instead, NATO would use pinpoint conventional attacks on all Russian positions. So, a rational enemy may well just take advantage of notorious Western naiveté with a nuclear Blitzkrieg. Why should Russia, et al, undertake a long war (like Ukraine) when it could win a short one with a surprise nuclear attack?

Trying to argue the obvious gives me a headache.

A response to Kelly Scoles' letter:

Hi again, Kelly,

I regret that last week's Realities was less than clear for you. Because you saw it as "a perfect example of the challenges of our discourse" I would appreciate a chance to clarify a few things.

My criticism of General Charles Brown (now chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) for racist policies, and your denial of his "embracing race-based hiring and promotions in the military for the sake of diversity" awakens a famous saying: "Facts speak louder than words", and the facts here are crystal clear. "Diversity and inclusion are now focal points in Air Force personnel decisions. Chief of Staff of the Air Force Charles Q. Brown has been a major backer of the DEI efforts. Brown said in the fall of 2020 that DEI was a key focal point of recruiting and a factor in promotions." "Shortly after assuming office, President Joe Biden signed three separate executive orders directing all federal agencies to commit extensive time and resources towards Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts.” The Heartlander, 7-7-2023.

General Brown has served as the Air Force Chief of Staff since 2020. The Heritage Foundation's "2023 Index of Military Strength" notes that under his tenure the Air Force's military strength has descended from "marginal" in 2021, to "weak" in 2022, and to the lowest mark of "very weak" in 2023. Brown's command style prioritizes diversity, but the inexorable diminution of military strength raises grave concerns about the practice. The intentional selection of personnel based on race and ideology prompted the watchdog group the American Accountability Association to file a complaint about possible violations of the Constitution for illegal hiring practices. Breakdown: as of June 30, the active-duty Air Force was 71 percent white, 15 percent Black or African American, 4.3 percent Asian American, 1.2 percent Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and less than 1 percent American Indian or Native Alaskan. About 16 percent identify as Hispanic or Latino. Sept. 9, 2021.

“[Brown's] unwavering support of identity-based quotas and DEI imperatives is sufficient to justify and rationalize the purge of the depleted pilot corps of competent aviators that is composed of too many white males. With deep divisions within the military and the uncertainty of its ability to defend the country, General Brown's leadership style comes into question. An effective leader cannot adhere to an ideology that denigrates many of those under one’s command. Leadership embodies Eisenhower's humility as it relates to blood and sacrifice, the qualities imbued in Shakespeare's St. Crispin's Day Speech, and Chiang Kai-Shek's testimony to morale and spirit." (Scott Sturman)
How badly is Brown's intense racist DEI hurting our military? The Army alone has assigned more than 10,000 soldiers, equivalent to about three brigades, to recruiting duty.

A major conflict would break the AVF [All Volunteer Force]—an open secret in defense circles, but something that few in Washington want to discuss. Over the past year of fighting, Russia and Ukraine have both taken casualties equal to at least half the active-duty U.S. Army. Trying to explain this problem to liberals is, I think, a waste of time, regardless of its importance. Brown is fanatically engaged with promoting DEI because, regardless of his extraordinary personal success in the military, he nurses resentment for perceived past racist career injustices, a sharp chip on his shoulder for which the white man (particularly the white pilot) should pay. It's ugly, but it's a psychological fact. Brown is the last man who should be in charge of our military forces.

Last comment on Brown's suitability for overall command: Kelly, we have to look at what he is doing, not so much at what he says to placate his accusers. That's his big deception.

****

About Nikki Haley's comment on the causes of the Civil War: Nikki is an intelligent, articulate woman. I don't understand why she answered that voter's question in that way. It's somewhat a puzzlement. I'm stunned, however, by your criticism, one of those "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" type of things. Kelly, may I remind you that South Carolina was a Democrat state when it started the Civil War! Remember, Democrats were also responsible for all that slavery, and all of that bloody post-Civil War fallout, like Reconstruction, KKK, Jim Crow, lynching, all that Democrat stuff. Republicans are the ones that fought to the death to end slavery. Democrats fought to the death to keep their slave culture. So, I should fault Nikki for not acknowledging the Democratic Party's historic guilt, but I won't elaborate, except to say she should certainly have mentioned the word slavery.

The Temecula school is wrong to hide the fact that the Democratic Party started the Civil War.
You are right, Kelly, as you say, to recognize that "some people still censor or deny uncomfortable historical truth..."

(The Gazette is beset with tech issues this a.m. Things somewhat scattered.)

****
A response to Kelly Scoles' letter:

Once again, Kelly, the difficulty here in this week’s debate lies in identifying facts. Reading Gen. Brown's "answer" to Senator Schmidtt's simple question, shows Brown is a particularly adroit liar. If "word salad" (the politician's best friend) is aggravating to an honest inquiry, military word salad can kill the conversation. I regret these public hearings provide only 5-minutes or so for each questioner; Schmidtt should have demanded clarification.

• I did my usual homework before writing the last Realities. I verified Brown's notorious reputation as both the most successful member of the Air Force (now 4-stars) and a slavish Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI) monger. Before you castigate me, why not read "Too many red flags to be CJCS by Scott Sturman, Air Force Academy, Class of 1972 - quoted last week? Why do you continually attack the facts I affirm? If you read Brown's answer to Senator Schmidtt's question carefully, and acknowledge his DEI mandate, you should conclude that the General is doing what Sturman well describes; "General Brown represents DEI in euphemistic terms that are palatable to the public and allude to fairness and equal opportunity. But DEI has deep Marxist roots based on critical theories, where merit is minimized, and power structures are based on identity, oppression, and racism. It is a stealth weapon devised by academics that breeds conformity of thought, marginalizes members of organizations solely due to superficial characteristics, and engenders favoritism. The Air Force faces a 2000 pilot deficit, but General Brown's priority is not focused on this crucial concern but rather the racial and sexual distribution of the pilots he commands." Brown's logic here: Well, we're short 2000 pilots, I guess we should cut back on White pilots to make room for the Black, Asian, multiracial, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Native Alaskan pilots we don't have. Hmm…

• So, Brown's statement about "making clear that the military's merit-based personnel system remains firmly in place" is farcical, a contradiction of reality. Your comment… "Once again, the General did not say that." Oh yes, he did; it just sounded like he didn't, in military salad vocabulary. I suggest you keep your eye on the donut, Kelly, not on the hole.

• More of Brown's DEI leadership: "Two years ago, Air Force Recruiting Service boss Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas told reporters the service planned to bring in a more diverse set of applicants, particularly among rated officers. The Air Force did not disclose the figures it wanted to hit." A more diverse set of applicants? With nobody coming in how can you be so choosy?

• More Gen. Brown fantasy: "Now, the Air Force is for the first time setting separate targets for male and female applicants within each racial and ethnic group; for example, aiming for 8.5% Black men and 4.5% Black women. That will help the service see where its attempts at gender parity are falling short, and can lead to higher outreach to underrepresented women of color.”
• General Brown and his radical Woke minions have failed brutally at their attempts to rebuild our armed forces after creating a DEI niche for any non-white minority who might think of coming to the service. At the same time, he has demeaned and rejected the normal white citizen with an attitude of limiting normal white applications.
****
• This year, 2024, in my private, humble opinion, will find America facing multiple enemy aggressions, mainly from Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and several Muslim nations. Our own military experts say our armed forces, smallest in 80 years, can no longer expect to win a two-front war; we may be unsuccessful in a single front war. If we honestly, objectively account for all of our most fatal flaws, and they are many, prayer and conversion is our only true defense. As deplorable as unbelievers find this statement, it will prove to be factual.
• America seems to be unable solve our most glaring weaknesses, like 8-million illegal aliens (hundreds of thousands from hostile countries), wildly obvious, corrupt leadership at every stage of federal and state government, a confused and unprepared military, but most of all, a contempt for God. We are no longer able to turn on a dime as we did after Pearl Harbor. The new hoards of pro-Hamas protesters are enemies within, invited here by the Biden Trojan Horse. Our country is widely vulnerable at all critical points - financial, power grid, cyber threats, terrorism, and scores of other vulnerabilities.

• Most worrisome to me - our proven inability to act. We have watched 8-million illegal transients, with millions more on the move, and we seem paralyzed. This is how democracies die.

****

• (Note) My time is disrupted today, medical and technical issues. I will sign off by asking Israel to rescind its recent law, paying for all abortions. This is a curse to the nation. Biblical scripture and New Testament state abortion cries out for Divine vengeance. I strongly support Israel, and hope they quickly obliterate Hamas. But this new abortion law will be a curse to that nation.

• I think the US will be in war, at disadvantage, in the first half of this year.
• So much more to say; so little time to say it in.

A response to Kelly Scoles' letter:

Happy New Year, Kelly!

Now hear this, there are no "misstatements" in those first two paragraphs. Any "nuisances" you allude to are actually well documented facts which a careless reader might find to be a nuisance.
I have a beef with both Republicans and Democrats on the issue of military assistance to Ukraine. Ignorant congressional members from both houses have no idea of the importance of having Ukraine win this war. Though the US has provided many billions of dollars for Ukraine's defense, as a superb article explains (It's Costing Peanuts for the US to Defeat Russia; Center for European Policy Analysis), allowing Ukraine to lose the war guarantees further, massive Russian aggression at infinitely greater cost. Read that analysis; it is clearly correct. I challenge you to refute its conclusions.

*****

On the issue of General Charles Q. Brown, our newest and "highest-ranking officer in the United States Armed Forces, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and primary adviser in military matters to the President, Department of Defense, Homeland Security Council, and the National Security Council", is a flaming Woke wonder. (See "General Brown – Too many red flags to be CJCS, July, 2023, by Scott Sturman. Scott Sturman is the president of the USAFA Class of 1972.)
Brown's appointment is a strategic blunder which magnifies our existing military disabilities.

As Sturman points out, "The United States military's reputation and mission readiness are in free fall, and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs (DEI), which pervade the armed services, bear much of the blame. General Brown supports, promotes, and defends DEI passionately and unapologetically. Plunging enlistments, declining public trust and confidence in the highest echelons of command, lowering physical fitness and aptitude standards, and plummeting military power ratings are the result of these self-inflicted wounds."

Brown's pathetic attempt to answer Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing questions (see Senator Schmitt) shows a racist mentality. He urges that candidates for pilot training be apportioned by racial percentage. He recommends a reduction of white officers by 9-percent (accordingly, 5,400 are too many). Yes, it is nuts. Sturman continues: "General Brown represents DEI in euphemistic terms that are palatable to the public and allude to fairness and equal opportunity. But DEI has deep Marxist roots based on critical theories, where merit is minimized, and power structures are based on identity, oppression, and racism. It is a stealth weapon devised by academics that breeds conformity of thought, marginalizes members of organizations solely due to superficial characteristics, and engenders favoritism. The Air Force faces a 2000 pilot deficit, but General Brown's priority is not focused on this crucial concern but rather the racial and sexual distribution of the pilots he commands."

Well, Kelly, I have "counted you in" as Woke. But that doesn't give you a pass to ignore or deny facts. You say "General Brown did NOT say there were 'too many white people in the Air Force."' But Senator Schmitt verified that fact by reading a memo signed by Brown which says exactly that, and Brown is notoriously scrupulous about his "unwavering support of identity-based quotas and DEI imperatives is sufficient to justify and rationalize the purge of the depleted pilot corps of competent aviators that is composed of too many white males."

I've already classified Generals Milley and Secretary of Defense. Lloyd J. Austin III as the Bozo Brothers for their cowardice in abandoning Afghanistan. They quietly handed the Taliban the largest, most heavily armed airbase (Bagram) in Afghanistan, and stole away in the night. They were fearful of losing their jobs if they insisted on telling truth to power about that insane decision. I add General Brown to my military ensemble of feeble Woksters, performing as the Bozo Triplets. Brown remains a danger to US military cohesion and efficiency as we ease into WWIII.

We have allowed Woke racial and political "clericalism" to erode our defense forces. This has not happened in the enemy's ranks, where they continue to rely on the ancient anti-Judeo-Christian Holocaust, which responds as a natural consequence of our atheistic enfeeblement.

The farther America moves away from her Judeo-Christian God and His ordinances, the closer she comes to disaster. Those who are unable to see the onslaught arising in the Ukraine-Israel wars, which will overwhelm the entire West in months, are blind. My concern is that blindness infects America's government, while timidity infects her policies.
We are unprepared to meet our obligations to ourselves and to our allies - and the enemy is in the wire.

Again, Happy New Year!

A response to Kelly Scoles' letter:

Hi again, Kelly,

Any past hyperbolic comments aside, I wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year. It's been enjoyable crossing swords with you over the years!

****
Didn't have time for a short column today, but I'm trying to cut it down.
Your commendation to the Republican House "for finally voting with Democrats to approve funding for our allies...", I think is misplaced. "WASHINGTON ― The Biden administration has notified Congress it will authorize a $1 billion tranche of Ukraine military aid at the end of the month, but it will be the last package Kyiv can expect if lawmakers do not pass additional funds to continue supporting the embattled country against Russia’s invasion." This is an enormous betrayal of Ukraine, now starved of ammo. It pulls the rug out from under its defense and immensely bolsters Russia in this life-and-death struggle - properly described as "kneecapping" Ukraine in the middle of the war. As for Sen. Tommy Tuberville's release of military pay raises for 11 top generals, I would like to know just who those generals are. One I would never have promoted is General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, black man who has stated there are too many white people in the Air Force. A bad apple with a sharp chip on his shoulder. Another Woke mistake.

I also await, with great trepidation, the Supreme Court's decision on whether Trump is immune from prosecution for acts now alleged to have been criminal when he was in office. If he is found to be liable today for such past activity our system of checks and balances will be crippled, and future presidents will have to constantly be looking over their shoulders when making critical decisions; more of Obama-Biden national deconstruction. Pretending Trump acted as King, or exerted omnipotence in office here is simply a ridiculous non sequitur. Biden appointments to SCOTUS will determine how much honor remains in that body. I greatly miss Antonin Scalia, the gold standard for character and intellect. How far we have fallen with Ketanji Brown Jackson, who would not define a "woman" during her hearings, camouflaging her Trans- LGBTQ (etc) agenda.
On Biden impeachment activity, you claim proof of criminality is "ephemeral or absent"? ...“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. Matthew 13:13. Proof is so massive here, even a Justice Department of unprecedented corruption, like Attorney General Merrick Garland's, will be forced into an historic show and tell. I suspect that the denouement of the Biden saga will happen at a time when America is being attacked by enemies to whom he sold out long ago. "Elaboration" of this heinous criminality occurs daily on FOX - while the episode on Hunter's laptop remains hidden to CNN viewers. That may be the larger scandal.

Whether or not you accept the onrushing exposure of Biden culpability, Kelly, I would suggest that you store-up some emergency food and water, because those cold, hard things called facts tell us that America will be kinetically challenged by enthusiastic enemies (I believe in 2024). I hope our citizens are ready, even if our defense forces are not. Here's why: "USA smallest military in 80 years..." "Moscow glows triumphant as front freezes and Western aid for Ukraine stalls..."
Ashish Vazirani, the Defense Department’s acting undersecretary for personnel and readiness, told the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday that the individual services missed their recruiting goals in fiscal 2023 by a combined 41,000 people. With the exception of the Space Force — which was stood up in 2022 — all of the Defense Department service branches have seen significant cuts in active-duty numbers since the end of 2020. (Because no one is signing-up). "The Marine Corps is poised to be 8,900 active-duty service members smaller than in fiscal 2021, a 4.9% reduction. The Air Force is set to be down 13,475 airmen, 4% lower. The Navy is expected to have 10,000 fewer sailors, down 2.9%."

"The final end strength targets for the services decreased not only from last year but also from last summer, when the House and Senate Armed Services committees first proposed their goals for fiscal 2024. Senators had proposed 11,000 more personnel in the early draft of the bill. House members initially voted for almost 21,000 more. However, after the Army, Navy and Air Force all missed recruiting targets this fall, the end strength hopes for next year were dropped in the final compromise legislation. Robert Greenway, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Center for National Defense, believes that is a mistake." [Really?] Greenway said too few active-duty troops sends a worrisome message to would-be adversaries such as China and Russia at a time when many European allies are also shrinking the size of their fighting forces.

“Instead of addressing the problem, the answer has been to move the goalposts and reduce the positions in the services,” he said." “So they are institutionalizing the problem, and that’s not a good approach.” "Service officials said they expect to face difficulty meeting their recruiting goals for next year, even with the lower targets."

"Russia was [is] hiking its weapons production considerably to sustain its invasion of Ukraine, while also threatening the Baltic states, Georgia and Moldova, Boris Pistorius was quoted as saying in an interview with Welt am Sonntag." China, Iran, and N. Korea brag of new weapons as well.

Nov 30, 2023 — "Faced with the prospect of a protracted war, the Russians are rearming and the West is questioning its next step. Published on November 30, 2023 ..."

WARSAW — "Poland is building one of the West’s most muscle-bound militaries, on course to deploy more battle tanks than Britain, France, Germany and Italy – combined."

"Credit Warsaw with a baseline of strategic sanity. It faces a revanchist enemy in Russia, which invaded Poland in 1939 and subjugated it for decades after World War II. This month, a top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to eliminate “Polish statehood in its entirety.”

"In 2022, China had the largest armed forces in the world by active duty military personnel, with about 2 million active soldiers."

I'm out of space. I'm concerned that America is asleep. Certain verses keep nagging me: “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,”
WASHINGTON—For the first time, The Heritage Foundation’s Index of U.S. Military Strength finds that as currently postured, the U.S. military is rated “weak” and at significant risk of not being able to meet the demands of a single major regional conflict while attending to various presence and engagement activities. Heritage released the 2023 Index of U.S. Military Strength on Tuesday. The release comes as the military faces a full-blown recruitment crisis and two successive years where the Biden administration submitted defense budget requests below the rate of inflation. The military has seen a general erosion of capacity, capability, and readiness, but readiness and capacity issues across the force, particularly in the Air Force and Navy, have become so significant that the military’s ability to fulfill its primary mission is in jeopardy. Worsening the challenges for the force further are inflation and budget cuts, which account for a total loss of $59 billion in funding between 2018 and 2023 and are compounded by the limited assistance American allies can contribute to our shared security interests. Meanwhile, America’s key adversaries—China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—are advancing their military capabilities and intimidating U.S. partners. This can be seen by Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and China and North Korea’s continued intimidation of neighboring countries such as Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. Beware China, Russia, N. Korea, Iran, and other terrorist Islamic nations - all at once.

Everyone should read the full report. Remember Pearl Harbor? "This is not a drill. I repeat - this is not a drill."

My hearty welcome to our newly appointed Mayor, Carrie Broggie, Mayor Pro-Tem Chris Gurrola, and a thank you to outgoing former Mayor, Mark Austin. Mark did a truly spectacular job, and Carrie has always done an exemplary job for our town.

****
A response to Kelly Scoles' letter:

Hi Kelly,

This week I'm doing my best to take you seriously, but it's a struggle. It doesn't seem fair to me. Here I am having to plod through the tangle of historic facts, assisted only by logic and common sense, while you get to gallivant through a parallel universe of political fiction faster than a three-legged tap-dancer on ice.
If you slow down a bit, I'll try to catch up and then maybe we can both address the same slippery facts.
They're only slippery because you don't seem to accept them. Let's take one step at a time, and start at the beginning, because that's a logical place to start.

I "misrepresented" nothing. Biden and his Woke liberal minions have dangerously enfeebled our military. Anyone with knowledge of military affairs, preferably someone who has spent some years in the ranks, knows that America's military forces today suffer from damaged esprit de corps, readiness, even honor in the highest ranks (Generals Milley and Austin). Milley admitted he made "two calls to Gen. Li Zuocheng of the People's Liberation Army to assure him that the United States was not going to suddenly go to war with or attack China." Sep 28, 2021- behind his Commander in Chief's back; an astonishing act of treason. Both Milley and Austin signed-off on the Afghanistan surrender, knowing that was insanely wrong. And, of course, both invited Transgender recruits.

Kelly, you challenge my statement concerning the Biden administration's warning of a possible end of assistance to Ukraine and Israel. Joe may personally wish to continue this help, but his National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan stated, "We're running out of money, and we are nearly out of time". Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel are all in critical need of money while the U.S. squanders on climate concerns and LGBTQ assistance (billions) and Trans experiments.

Your allegations of Republican responsibility for now, 8-million unvetted strangers flowing into the US is hyper preposterous, unworthy of an answer. Sufficient to say that at least 100,000 terrorists are among the trespassers - and they will attack us soon. Democrats have willed this to happen.

You are disgusted that Senator Tuberville won't take a call from four-star general - Secretary of Defense Austin [on promotions], and you worry about "readiness"? As mentioned above, he and Milley are cowards who signed-off on the Afghanistan surrender, because they didn't have the balls to resign in protest after Biden and the Obamanations ordered the surrender of Bagram air base and $80 BILLION in war equipment - handed to the Taliban! "The U.S. left Afghanistan's Bagram Airfield after nearly 20 years by shutting off the electricity and slipping away in the night without notifying the base’s new Afghan commander, who discovered the Americans' departure more than two hours after they left, Afghan military officials said." (AP) After Biden's personal treason, this was the most shameful action ever taken by military commanders in American history. Justice here would recognize Milley and Austin traitors. Remember: "The American war in Afghanistan incurred staggering costs — for the United States, Afghans and others — over two decades. The U.S. government spent $2.3 trillion, and the war led to the deaths of 2,324 U.S. military personnel, 3,917 U.S. contractors and 1,144 allied troops. Nov 3, 2022."

You praise "sensitivity training" for combat troops. Never owned a pair of knickers, Kelly. Maybe it's time military feminists who promote this crap hang-up their jock straps. There are no knickers in the 82nd, at least there weren't 60 years ago. They despised any hint of femininity, as their famously ribald two-part chants demonstrated through company ranks on early morning runs. Those men loved and respected women, but recognized the distaff side could have no part in their sort of work. Those chants had zero respect for race or gender, or effeminacy, and men from many ethnic backgrounds and foreign nations, participated with intensity. Each chant was a deliberate insult to ....civilians, enemy nations, or other services. The purpose was to breed fear in any enemy, leaving any idea of "nice" behind. If a target was missed on the range, it was known as Maggie's drawers (white flag). Life was filled with an almost sacred tradition of strength and brotherhood.

Kelly, that "normal, healthy, God-fearing man" I spoke of is today a dying member of the American populous - to the great danger of all beloved female members. A man is a fool for disrespecting women; he's also a fool for forgetting self-respect. Incidentally, I have the greatest respect for two female sniper groups, fighting in Ukraine and Israel. They are a team of heroes, famed for their spectacular success. Both groups exist because both of their countries are fighting for their lives. God bless both of them. But they are the extreme exception, in the greatest of emergencies. Women have had, and will always maintain, a special and specially protected status in the world - with stark exception in China and Muslim nations.

That sensitivity training with the high heels, even pregnancy garments, are demeaning to servicemen. Sexual assault is always criminal; it's also condemned by natural law. All normal men have a genetic disposition to protect the special dignity of women, to the point of risking their lives to do so. This is also fundamental Judeo-Christian tradition. The best book, my opinion, on these issues is: Co-Ed Combat, by Kingsley Browne.
Kelly, your ignorance concerning Hunter Biden and his traitorous, criminal father and family, shows you are uninterested in discovering evil.

Joe Biden, under the close direction of his keepers, may well cause the end of our Republic. Each of his policies drastically undermines our security and weakens our economy, as if that has been his goal. He's joined at the hip with Barack Obama, as they gleefully oversee the "Rebuilding of America".
Of course, to accomplish that, they must first tear it all down.

12-6-2023
The reality of America's military enfeeblement under the Biden administration was confirmed this week. "We’re running out of money, and we are nearly out of time,” Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters. He was referring to our war support for Ukraine. He was also displaying a state of panic to our enemies, preparing to betray a sacred trust. To say that we will support Ukraine "for as long as it takes", expresses foolish naiveté, taking for granted that such time is available.
With another friend, Israel, also fighting a defensive war against Muslim terrorists, only the blind can fail to see the looming threat now facing America. Sullivan’s comments came after Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young warned House Speaker Mike Johnson that “cutting off the flow of U.S. weapons and equipment will kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield..." not only putting at risk the gains Ukraine has made but increasing the likelihood of Russian military victories."
Focusing closer on the peril, "Poland's national security agency estimates that Russia could attack NATO in less than 36 months...." "To strengthen the region's defense capabilities, he voiced his support for increasing the size of the Polish military." "If we want to avoid war, NATO countries on the eastern flank should adopt a shorter, three-year time period to prepare for confrontation," said Jacek Siewiera head of the National Security Bureau.
They (we) are just about 5 years too late in providing necessary preparation. In fact, the West lacks sufficient munitions to win a two-war conflict, because we didn't prepare, and are not preparing now. But that's not the entire threat. We face a multi-war fight, all together. America's continued existence is at risk, with Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea all eager to pounce, with nuclear intensity, on the "Great Satan." Other enemies of America, like Iran, Syria, and pretend friends like Turkey, Pakistan, et al., would quickly invest in World War III when they see the US haplessly wobbling. The reality, virtually all Muslim nations would (will) help to finally put the "Great Satan" down. Muslim nations alone constitute something like 26 percent of the world's population - and hate western culture, Christians and Jews especially. This is a fact, unpleasant as it may be.
I fear the incompetence of our military leadership. They have been politicized by the Woke Left and have subverted our armed forces - too many generals are a joke. Too much feminization, Transgendering, "Queer" tolerance, Climate Change Indoctrination, and scuttling of urinals on warships without portholes. Our enemies see these things and think us contemptuous. They wonder why our male troops are forced to wear high heel shoes in sensitivity training, and women lead them in combat. No wonder we fail to muster a sufficient number of normal male recruits. What normal, healthy, God-fearing young man wants to join a "Queer" military?
It now appears that the Biden administration will cut assistance to Ukraine, and possibly to Israel as well. If either of these nations fail to win their wars America is also doomed. America has long been the salvation of Western democratic culture, the sea wall protecting the borders of the so-called free world. If our military strength fails, the world will experience unparalleled catastrophic consequences.
****
I've probably written too much on Marian apparitions. I have to say, however, that the stage is perfectly set for the catastrophic scenario prophesized in a number of these apparitions. Though common sense is sufficient to understand the current military reality, I would refer anyone interested in these "imminently" expected spiritual warnings, to see "Revelations, The Hidden Secret Messages and Prophecies of the Blessed Virgin Mary" by Xavier Reyes-Ayral. It tells of a Russian Blitzkrieg attack on NATO forces from the North, joined by Muslim forces from the south, which overwhelms eastern Europe, into France, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands, the total destruction of Paris, and the crippling of England, Italy, and Spain, before being beaten back with massive destruction. America is also to be struck, and the world will be substantially changed. However shocking, this scenario has been found to be "worthy of belief" by the highest echelons of the Catholic Church - for what that's worth. Many prophesies are centuries old, others recent; all in agreement that the war is coming soon.
The prophesies are extraordinary in their details, and each is tempered by the fact that these tragedies can be shortened by prayer and spiritual conversion; they are not set in stone.
Of course, this is just personal opinion. The question: is it really "Worthy of belief".

11-29-2023
A response to Kelly Scoles' letter:

Hi Kelly,

Our debates seem to be evolving (devolving?) into philosophic tug-a-wars. I enjoy them; I'm not sure normal readers do, however. But let's be bold and tug-away once more.

I still say Truth is singular, solid, and exclusive. You say people very often "witness the same event and recall and characterize it very differently." Either one may see the truth, or not. But this result doesn't change the fact that the truth is always there. We need a "common denominator." (I hated long division) but that missing part is responsible for most of the anguish in the world today. I say the "denominator" should be God. You won't like this, but our troubles (all of them) boil down to the fact that too many no longer believe there is a God, or an eternity. The issue here: too many human creations don't believe in their creator, in eternal truths. They reject Biblical truths, especially that God created man "in his image". If one rejects this last fact, he rejects the essence of creation history, the war between Angels and demons, Biblical history and prophesies. Without honest interest in Truth, debate remains a waste of time.

Just as important, rejecting these things substitutes an acceptance of incredible falsehoods, lies, and confusion. It makes non-believers utterly naive in the struggle with the evil part of human dynamics. From the beginning, we humans have had to fight that thing called Evil. Believers know that evil consists of Satan, his demons, lost souls and its institutions like Communism. I can hear non-believers gagging now. But, without acknowledging this scenario, your idea of Truth can't bridge the gap between good and evil, two things being "singular, solid, and exclusive," just as are Heaven and Hell.

For example (of non-believer naiveté): they believe in things like aliens, UFOs, and sentient AI. Well, God has sent a book this year with the serendipitous title "Only Man Bears His Image." Subtitle: (be patient) "The Biblical, Catholic & Scientific Case Against Aliens, UFO Deceptions, Sentient AI, and Other Sci-Fi Disguised Demons & Psyops Heralding the Antichrist" to explain. (I did ask for patience.) Author: Daniel O'Connor. One of the greatest books I've read in the past 10 years. Open it anywhere and begin to learn. Beautifully written, scrupulously researched with scholarly tenacity! Beware: 750 pages. A work of genius! Did I forget to say this is a good book?

Time and space-wise, I'm already in trouble- but I continue to digress.

Anyway - Kelly, you warn of "binary choices" often leading to disaster." I guess so; but so do tri- and quadra-choices, ad infinitum. My point; sometimes we have to make tough choices. You say, "Thousands disagree with [me]." Wrong. Most of today's 8 billion people disagree with me. My frustration is that I can't respond to all of them. On the "horrifying situation in Israel/Palestine where insistence on binary choices of the Israeli Jews and Muslims have resulted in a potentially world-wide religious and political war…" - that "horrifying situation" has existed since 8 June, 632 following the death of Mohammed, 1,391years ago. Since Muslim people believe everything Mohammed did was perfect, they are commanded to imitate his actions, which require the killing ("fighting") of nonbelievers, especially Jews and Christians. Sometimes those "binary choices" demand emergency life-saving defensive decisions.

I respect Church Militant and the truth it delivers. I didn't know of Michael Voris' troubles. God bless and heal him. Church Militant is only radical in the scope of the truth it proclaims about Church corruption. You find Voris's confessions "lurid?" When the prophesied chastisements arrive, I believe every human on earth will see "horrible, ugly things" in their consciences. I trust you will be the exception.

Kelly, there is no "overwhelming scientific consensus on man-made global warming." It's all a deception - like UFOs, Transgendering, Aliens, etc.. Report: "Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr. John Clauser — who recently declared climate science a ‘pseudoscience’ — has his IMF talk abruptly canceled. July 23, 2023." Video: "2022 Nobel physics prize winner John Clauser rips climate idiocy, No ‘climate crisis’ and IPCC ‘one of the worst sources of dangerous misinformation’."
Kelly, read at least one serious book on the fraud of so-called man-made climate change.

Read the book I recommend, Kelly. Then you will see why It's nearly impossible for non-believers to understand Judeo-Christian truths without a belief in God. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7-8.

I shudder at the thought of rejecting the truth of eternal Beatific Vision, while welcoming the truth of eternal horror.
Merry Christmas!

Our printing schedule was changed this week due to Thanksgiving and a medical issue with a staff family member. I thought I would give discussion of wars and Marian Apparitions a rest. I substitute an exposé on the fraudulent Climate Change theory, right up there with Transgender Change theory. Both are bankrupting America, one financially, the other, intellectually. Both are examples of a near moribund American educational system which espouses a new Woke logic.
NOT EVEN NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS ARE ALLOWED TO QUESTION ‘THE SCIENCE’

By Nicholas Wylie - ChurchMilitant.com - November 17, 2023

Top physicist counters the climate narrative

BALTIMORE (ChurchMilitant.com) - A renowned physicist is spreading the "good news" that there is no climate crisis — a message some aren't excited to hear.

––Dr. John Clauser

Dr. John Clauser, a 2022 Nobel laureate, spoke on Tuesday in Baltimore about the misinformation currently dominating the scientific community regarding man-made climate change.

At the Deposit of Faith Coalition's press conference, Clauser proclaimed, "As much as it may upset many people, my message is the planet is not in peril. I think this is good news. I believe there is no climate crisis."
"The alleged atmospheric CO2 and methane have negligible effect on the climate. The policies [the U.S.] government has been implementing are totally unnecessary and should be eliminated, and trillions of dollars can be saved," Clauser continued.
Dr. Clauser noted a critical issue that he feels torpedoes the dire prognostication by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) — disagreement among its 40-plus computer models.

"I assert that the IPCC's computer models have all misidentified the dominant process that controls the earth's climate. They are based on incomplete and incorrect physics," Clauser stated.

The Nobel laureate introduced a concept he named the "cloud-sunlight-reflectivity thermostat mechanism," which emphasizes the significant role of clouds in influencing Earth's temperature. He stressed the importance of clouds, which reflect 90% of sunlight into space, and criticized the IPCC models for overlooking the temperature-stabilizing effect of this process.
Clauser further called for the termination of carbon-limiting measures, calling them "a terrible and dangerous waste of scarce money." He noted that when that sentiment was privately communicated to President Joe Biden in the Oval Office last year, Biden allegedly responded, "Sounds like right-wing science."

Clauser further called for the termination of carbon-limiting measures.

Soon after the conference, Clauser's presentation drew criticism both online and in the scientific community. The Washington Post published an article Thursday claiming Clauser was veering from the "overwhelming scientific consensus." According to the piece, "[Clauser's] recent denial of global warming has alarmed top climate scientists, who warn that he is using his stature to mislead the public about a planetary emergency."

Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, called the 2022 Nobel laureate's argument "pure garbage" and "pseudoscience," likening it to "the sort of error a freshman is embarrassed to be caught having made." Andrew Dessler, a professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University, is quoted as telling the Post, "Clouds amplify warming."

The Vortex: Nobel Prize Winner Blows Up Climate Alarmism

Dessler went on, "The scientific community has spent the last century studying [climate change], and at this point, virtually everything that's happening has been predicted. John Clauser and his ilk ignore this because they are not advancing serious scientific critiques."

None of the predictions made by climate alarmists over the last 50 years have come to fruition.
Another speaker at Tuesday's conference, Alex Newman, chronicled some of the doomsday predictions climate alarmists have put forth over the last 50 years, exposing the falsehoods of each one. Others have pointed out that none of the predictions made by climate alarmists over the last 50 years have come to fruition.

The Deposit of Faith Coalition, for which Clauser and Newman presented, involve religious and political conservatives partnering with scientists and climate experts to expose the fraud and misinformation that are weakening the American economy. The press conference called out Catholic bishops, who were meeting nearby as part of their fall Plenary Assembly, for advancing false climate narratives.

A response to Kelly Scoles' letter:

Hello again, Kelly,

The first sentence of your letter this week is, I believe, a key to understanding why, over a long period of time, we always seem to disagree on so many basic ideas. There is a fundamental difference in our way of thinking.
You say, "Sometimes a binary choice, one or the other, is not possible." I would say if we are looking for truth, a choice must always be made, even if our choice in good faith proves to be wrong, or we can always admit we simply don't know. Then, at least we can avoid contradiction. If our choice proves to be wrong, after further investigation, the ethical thing to do would be to admit our mistake.

You further state, "Sometimes the solution requires painful admissions, confronting a friend, or defending an enemy." For myself, truth is singular, solid, and exclusive. Offering to split the truth is like Solomon offering to divide that infant child to identify truth in a dispute.

Even Einstein admitted that his theory of a "universal constant" in 1915 was wrong. "After Hubble's discovery that the universe was, in fact, expanding, Einstein called his faulty assumption that the universe is static his "biggest mistake". That was one of those ‘painful admissions.’"

The Israel-Palestine war is not a "tragedy." There is no "fatal flaw" here in an otherwise traditional heroic actor. The evil is baked into the existence of Hamas. This war was begun by eternally diabolical actors, who deliberately and enthusiastically (as their tradition demands) ambushed Israel with wholesale murder in mind. At least educated Christians understand this bloody attack as purely evil, satanic. Only those who don't believe in Satin himself, and eternal spiritual manifestations, refuse to understand this.

You say, "I understand the Israel/Palestine tragedy can engender a visceral response..." That "visceral response" should be delivered to Hamas with the jawbone of an ass. Any accusations of "a lack of proportionality in Israel's response" reveals invincible ignorance. How does one "proportion" a defensive response to the reality of infant beheadings, rape, wholesale family murders and torture of totally innocent civilians? The only justified response to such infamy is total annihilation of the murderers - but Israel, a civilized nation, will forgo extracting an exact "eye for an eye".
You say Israel has been "a Jewish homeland 2000 years prior" [to Palestinian settlement]. You are off by a magnitude of two millennia. "Jews have lived on the land of Israel continuously for almost 4,000 years. Maybe they deserve at least an easement? The land of Israel is the birthplace of the Jewish people, and the Landlord says, "I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you." (YHWH).

Your tendency to equate the "righteous belligerents" is a stunning obfuscation of historic fact; the attack of Hamas was carefully premeditated murder. It was "malum in se," an act violating the natural, moral and public principles of a civilized society. Permitting Hamas to survive is tantamount to letting your neighbor create an Ebola Garden next door. It only lives to kill.

Your parenthetical curiosity concerning Israel's lapse of military intelligence is misplaced. That is food for historians. I know it's being deeply investigated. As for Israel "killing humans in a barrel," Hamas habitually uses its own innocent civilians to hide behind, offering them up as human sacrifice, just as they incinerate Israeli babies in front of their mothers. Newly released captured video of this practice is available to satisfy the curious.

Frankly, Kelly, I'm disappointed in your understanding of this crisis. I assume you feel the same way about the Russian Orcs in Ukraine. Before I have finally "shuffled off this mortal coil", I want to go on record as saying: Both Ukraine and Israel are fighting America's wars; they are doing the dying. America should be morally and rationally compelled to assist both countries with maximum assistance, military and civil, to assure they win these wars. That America has squandered TRILLIONS on weather foolishness and gender orientation, doesn't negate the duty to support both Ukraine and Israel. They are holding back the tsunami of Islamo-Communist threats which are about to engulf our country. The threat is not just over there. The threat overflows into America by 8-million invaders, trespassers who support Hamas, hate America, and soon to attack us from within. When this happens, we will learn that our assistance to Ukraine and Israel, though laudable, was done begrudgingly.
“For want of a nail, the shoe was lost; For want of a shoe, the horse was lost; For want of a horse, the rider was lost; For want of a rider, the battle was lost; For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost, And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.” Benjamin Franklin quoted this old proverb in an edition of Poor Richard's Almanac in 1758.

I strongly recommend that: "... we be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that [we] can take [our] stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:10

I worry that, instead of suiting-up as recommended, we are charging butt naked onto the field of sharp and exploding things.

A short response to Kelly Scoles' letter:

Hi Kelly,

I have to say that I've become focused on the emerging World War these days. I'm transfixed by the speed of converging forces, and the naiveté and slothfulness of the Western powers. It's a deadly combination. While people are alarmed by the boldness of Islamo-Communist aggression, militarily and psychologically we are unprepared for the coming attack, and foolishly slow to suit-up. As I see it, the US is about to be ambushed as Israel was on October 7. At that time, Israelis were celebrating an all-night music festival when the Muslim forces of Hamas attacked, massacring, maiming, and kidnapping 1,400 innocent Jewish partygoers.

This well coordinated attack was intended to end the existence of Israel, "From the river to the sea." It was sadistic, diabolical butchery, with babies beheaded, pregnant mothers disemboweled, exposing unborn children to beheading as well. Women of the kibbutz were raped, murdered, and dragged back into the tunnels of Gaza. On October 6, 2023, all was peaceful. On October 7 all was murder and mayhem, all was war. Hamas savages fired thousands of rockets into Israel and infiltrated by land, sea, and air. A complete surprise attack.

Though caught by surprise, as happened before, Israeli Defense Forces quickly responded, devastated Hamas command posts in Gaza and gained control.

The consequences of this unprovoked Hamas attack will be immense for the whole world. It is a call to the Islamo-Communist Orcs to rise up and join Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran to finally defeat the slumbering free West. From a Christian standpoint, these four governments comprise the evil long prophesied in the Marian apparitions I've been talking about. The democratic nations of the West are only now beginning to see the scope of the advancing threat. Had common sense defensive measures been taken during the past two decades, instead of Woke Utopian policies, this killer offensive would not have been enabled; the Russian-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas Wars would not have occurred. As to the West (all of it), a shortage of ammunition is not the greatest vulnerability, it's the shortage of leadership. The West (particularly America) is bereft of Judeo-Christian leadership. The older I get the more I understand that without God nothing good can survive. Bible talk may be the greatest put-off today, but that Book provides all the answers.

So, forgive me, Kelly, if I'm distracted from your letter. World peace is disappearing before our eyes in real time. No one should panic, but all should pray. I trust the warnings in Marian apparitions like those of Garabandal and Akita, which match those of Fatima and La Salette and the rest. World War III is unraveling its hideous nature. The Islamic world will join with the Russian and Chinese worlds to dominate in a new world order. After catastrophic conflicts they will fail, but the world order will be largely devastated; later to make a comeback. This is the gist of many of the apparition warnings.
How will America fare? Badly enough that we (predicted) will be unable to assist NATO, and I won't mention the list of horrors to spare anger and anxiety. Only one thing - we will go to the strategic oil reserve only to find that its reserves have been sold to China.

I don't want to get deeper into scary futuristic predictions according to apparitions. Most people won't believe, and the others know already. I have no fear or anxiety because I believe God is in charge, and we can lessen the threat with prayer.
Now, I'm sure this opinion is sufficiently alarming to challenge all contrary opinions. Isn't our First Amendment great!
As for critics festooning my reputation with sharp expletives, I can handle that.

God bless us all.

I find it interesting that so many people think the outcry from Judeo-Christian sources, warning the world to "repent, pray, and fast" for world peace, is just amusingly superstitious. The country is sharply divided between believers and those who don't believe in eternal realities. When I look at the warring armies today, those engaged and others preparing to join up, WWI, on an even bloodier scale, stands out. Only nuclear weapons distinguish today's opening wars from both previous world wars. One side is Good, defending homeland, the other, Evil, stoking destruction in pursuit of political or religious power. Apparitions say this world war will last beyond three years with unparalleled destruction.

The Good side (Israel) has just been ambushed; it had 1,400 innocent civilians murdered, kidnapped, and abducted back into that Evil spider hole, Gaza, as fungible human bargaining chips. Atrocities, such as beheading babies, brands Hamas as indefensibly demonic. Without defending the Good side there can't be much hope for the survival of normal (Judeo-Christian) civilization. The alignment of Evil forces, in Europe and Asia, is now manifesting diabolically. "Iran just joined a pact with Moscow and Beijing" (The Hill, https://thehill.com)"."West VS Muslim Nations Over Hamas' Attack On Israel." "Pak, Qatar, Iran Side With Gaza, Victim Blamed".(Utube)."Homes have Stars of David painted on them in Paris..." (Drudge) "Conflict spills into Syria... Yemen and Lebanon fire MORE missiles..." We seem to have forgotten that Israel is the only democratic nation in the Near East, and America's only friend there.

"Neighboring countries are still named (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, etc), but China has removed Israel from Baidu Maps and Alibaba’s service, Amap." "Sequoia Capital, called the move a ‘major provocation from China.’”
In Asia it is China, North Korea and Iran. In Europe, it is Russia. Their intentions have been clearly announced; they are joined together to vanquish the so-called free world which is inhibiting Islamo-Communist growth. This is not mere rhetoric; this is the express intention of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and their rabidly belligerent mice that roar. Russia, never having known democracy, appears cursed with some sort of mad dog K-9-DNA, disposing it to biting - anyone. If China brags of having 500 ships, Taiwan must have 1,000 torpedoes and as many anti-ship missiles to retain its sovereign democracy.

The world of Evil is spoiling for war, while the world of Good has forgotten God. Not much time left for a St. Michael intervention.

The problem has always been spiritual, not natural. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph. 6. [12]
It seems only fitting here, peering into the gaping maw of approaching world war, again, that some credence be given to Marian apparitions which have prophesied this scenario for a couple of centuries. The outrageous reemergence of anti-Semitism throughout the world, and anti-Christian activity, is further evidence of Evil muscling for control. Our first response must be NEVER AGAIN! Time for Christians to align as never before with the Jewish State of Israel. Time to expel anti-Semites from schools and universities. They don't merit higher education. They bring only suffocating ignorance to that "Marketplace of Ideas". Socrates would have chug-a-luged his hemlock brew had he learned about this.

We were shamefully unprepared for the Russia-Ukraine war, with insufficient remedy in sight. We are again unprepared to defend America. Time to kick Erdogan out of NATO, and sever economic ties with China. In the last 10 months 22,000 Chinese nationals crossed our southern border: more than 370,000 in American universities. "The U.S. goods and services trade deficit with China was $367.4 billion in 2022." "Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall ... warned that China was building up its military to prepare for a potential war with the U.S. Kendall joins other Pentagon and U.S. military officials in warning of a potential war with China, possibly in this decade." I would add, the most propitious time for China and Russia to strike America is now, at our weakest point, during the great Biden regime betrayal.

A response to Kelly Scoles' letter:

Hi, Kelly,

As I've said before, I have little interest in personal political name-calling, though I've done it myself often. I'm also losing interest in the Republican Party due to its growing weakness and fecklessness. However, I can include the entire Congress in the same category. This is not just a personal attitude, it's my perception of fatal incompetence in the face of threats to national survival.

My attitude today, when I think of our Congress, grossly corrupt-incompetent president (read evil) and Star Chamber-like judiciary, causes me to focus on those Marian apparitions I've been writing about. Since most people probably find them laughably superstitious, I thought it would be interesting (and for some, entertaining) to publish some of them to validate their authenticity (or fraudulence). Some of these apparitions specify chastisements associated with End Times (not world-ending). We're now close enough to the X date to see if they happen as prophesied.

These "messages" of pending chastisements can be reduced or diminished, but not completely averted. There are many such apparitions. The first I use is from 1882; the next, from the 20th and 21st Centuries - continuing today. This concerns global catastrophes of Biblical proportions. Headlines this a.m. show the enemy is in the wire, with Israel the target of massive Muslim attacks, even faster than I thought possible. Turkey's Erdogan, and the UN as well, are Israel's enemies.
Chastisement messages describe Russians rapidly attacking NATO, into Benelux countries, and "Russian forces rapidly advance through the European plains, reach northern Italy aiming to capture Rome, the Russian western spearhead will enter through the Eastern French regions of Alsace and Lorraine from invaded Germany..."

Numerous attacks upon Mont Saint Michel by Russians and Muslims will fail. "Spain and Italy will likewise suffer initial invasions from foreign Arabic troops on their southern shores."...Paris and the rest of France will remain under a very brief Russian and Arabic occupation..." Russians will be driven back but will destroy Paris with two nuclear missiles. "Notwithstanding, we see yet reference of the "Mixed ones" most likely referring to the French nationals of Arabic and African origins joining-up with the Russian armies."

I've begun an impossible task. Far too many parts to publish in such a short space and time. The most pertinent revelations bearing on the war that we are presently in, the messages, and prophecies, can be found in Xavier Reyes-Ayral's recent book, "Revelations...". People will recoil in shock. I will add that America is said to be unable to assist NATO, either because it has been struck with 7 nuclear missiles (others averted), or we will be engaged against China - or both. At least I've provided a glimpse of what I believe is ahead. The world today is the Devil's playground.

We are unprepared, leadership-wise. Those 7-million trespassers Biden, the Democratic Party, et al, have welcomed indiscriminately, include perhaps 100-thousand terrorists from Islamic countries. They hate America, and take orders from Hamas, Hezbollah, Muslim Brotherhood, and Satan's minions, controlled by Iran. They will strike America. The alien deluge across our border is deliberately encouraged.

Joe Biden and his Democrats have betrayed the country into a near checkmate with Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. I would much rather have had a dozen new Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers in the East Mediterranean today than a $13-billion George Bush super carrier, without urinals. Such a big, fat, juicy undefendable target. Imagine strategic impact if it were sunk. Urgent advice from Generals Ben Hodges and Jack Keane to give Ukraine what it needs to WIN that war have been ignored, to the detriment of world peace. To Washington D.C.: Don't limit Israel like you've limited Ukraine!
God bless, defend, and grant victory to Israel and Ukraine.

Time to stop whining about munitions shortages and MAKE MORE, like we did in WWII - because we're in WWIII!
Pray much!

A short response to Kelly Scoles' letter:

Hi again, Kelly,

In the shortened space left for me this week, I have to ask myself if it would be worthwhile for me to answer each of your statements. Not that they are unworthy of being addressed, but simply whether my words would make any difference. I think the answer is, they would not.

However, I agree with your assessment of maddening Republican dithering over the choice of a new House Speaker (third in line to presidency). It strikes me like complaining the 8-person orchestra on the Titanic played off-key before the end. Civilization is devolving as never before, according to my religious sources, which I trust. Since I am not prognosticating (thought big word here would get greater attention) and have zero personal assurances of future events, here's what those who do have that spiritual connection say. It's not necessary for me to add Take it or leave it, since most of us have already decided; so I guess I'm stuck preaching to the choir - others are welcome to exercise their curiosity.
None of this would fit in that famed "nutshell", so I'll try the smallest font I can find. The global scenario related in the most significant "revelations and messages" of Mary, mother of Jesus, I mentioned last week, are beyond frightening - contingent upon this world's repentance and return to God's order. When asked if this change of heart would happen before chastisement, one member of the Garabandal (Spain) witnesses replied, she did not think so.

So, what's happening in the world today? We have a president who has weakened the nation as never before when we are at the cusp of a world war. Catholics have a heretical pope who invites pagan worship in the Church. We have communist nations (primarily, but not limited to China) spoiling for a nuclear fight. Russia, true to its demonic Marxist origins, is destroying the democratic nation of Ukraine. We now have North Korea, nuclear-armed, waiting to assist China and Russia in their war-making endeavors.
Slipping nitro into the glycerin brew, we have Islam, nearly 24 percent of the global population, with a congenital hatred for the Jewish state of Israel, as well as for billions of "unbelievers". We can expect a sort of spontaneous combustion of condensed evil when China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and their minions "Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war." This poetic expression is not meant to be entertaining. Those dogs have been let out.

While Republicans continue to wrangle about their Speaker, the enemy is in the wire. As proud as I am viewing our newest aircraft carrier now sailing the Mediterranean, I wish its construction included better defense systems than the Mk-15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon, instead of replacing all urinals for the more than 2,500 male sailors aboard, and installing toilets to facilitate the special needs of 500 female sailors. I recall flying home on leave from Ft. Bragg in an old C-119 "flying boxcar" in late 1950s. The urinal at the rear consisted of an improvised funnel. Today, gender sensitivity would require a flush toilet. The significance of the decision to eliminate urinals on the $13-Billion Gerald R. Ford carrier, demonstrates a collapse of common sense in order to accommodate 500 female sailors.

Have to cut this short. Our carriers are in jeopardy. Israel may need to nuke Iran. Islamic hoards, I believe, will join Russian Orks and attack Western Europe. China will go for Taiwan. At least that's what the messages say (except for China). They warn of cataclysmic events, spiritual and natural.

Let's seat the speaker so we can "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition".

A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:

I must apologize to Kelly this week for not fully responding to her letter. As odd as it may sound, world affairs have, in my opinion, and that of millions of Christians worldwide, suddenly become imminently menacing. Or so it is perceived by Catholic understanding of Marian apparitions today. Accordingly, long forewarned chastisements are said to be upon us, thought to instigate WWIII, plague, starvation, and unspeakable devastation of world civil and natural order. Some details in Xavier Reyes-Ayral’s new book “Revelations... “ attract one’s attention. It is the only complete history of Marian apparitions, from prophecies of La Fraudais, to Marie-Julie Jahenny (1850-1941). This particular apparition “was the most detailed and complete case ever studied in the annals of Marian apparitions’ history.” The message here, consistent with all Marian apparitions, is “...If men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one that has never been seen before...The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead.” In other words, our civilization has become so decadent that God’s mercy is finally turning to His justice. The messages are pleadings for conversion, not condemnation per se.
I am not an historian, especially of religious affairs, but I think most Christians today have a sense of being in what is commonly called the End Times. This idea is variously described in different Judeo-Christian denominations. “In Christianity, for example, these beliefs include expectations that Jesus will return to Earth after or amid a time of great turmoil” “In the United States, 39% of adults say they believe “we are living in the end times,” while 58% say they do not believe we are living in the end times, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.” pewresearch.org.
In addition, Black Americans (68%) are much more likely than Hispanic (41%), White (34%) and Asian (33%) Americans to believe humanity is living in the end times. And adults in Southern states (48%) are more likely to say this than those living in the Midwest (37%), Northeast (34%) or West (31%).

“Whenever some big catastrophe happens, you can be sure that someone will start talking about the “end times.” Both Catholics and Protestants do this. The difference mainly seems to be that Protestants start trying to chart out the apocalypse according to Daniel and Revelation, whereas Catholics try to chart it out based on various private revelations.” (1996-2023 Catholic Answers). These “revelations” or “apparitions” are private, not formal parts of church dogma, and belief in them is also a private choice. “Approved” apparitions are scrupulously studied before any may be found “worthy of belief.” Many approved apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Mother of Jesus) are centuries old traditions in the Church, which takes me back to this idea of the End Times.

Marion apparitions have occurred since the 18th century all over the world. From Xavier Reyes-Ayral’s recent book, “Revelations, The Hidden Secret Messages and Prophecies of the Blessed Virgin Mary” it’s said:
“Today, in 2022, the message of La Salette, La Fraudais, Tilly, Fatima, Garabandal, Akita and Medjugorje, and their secrets take a meaning of the greatest importance, as the admonitions brought forth by the Blessed Virgin Mary warn of a cataclysmic global disaster which has now become imminent.” Chastisements can be averted (if not entirely stopped, with prayer, fasting, and penance, (“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened”) as in Jonah’s Nineveh, according to the Church.

As a Catholic myself, I’m simply reporting on “approved” apparitions detailed in Xavier Reyes-Ayral’s exhaustive history on Marian messages and frightful global chastisements (which many churches expect) and now alleged to be imminent. Understandably, Xavier Relyes-Ayral’s 569-page book on this subject has attracted interest.

In short (if apocalyptic pronouncements can be shortened) the Russian-Ukrainian war is said to be the first stage of WWIII. Europe, especially France, will suffer (Paris destroyed - nuclear) and Benelux countries overrun by Russian-Muslim forces (later driven off). Little mention of China or U.S., except America unable to assist NATO. Unimaginable global devastation to occur; the Catholic Church will temporarily fall; “Rome will lose its faith and will become the Seat of the Anti-Christ;” food production and the world financial systems said to collapse. Other details of this prophesied chastisement are almost too unbelievable to report, so I won’t.

Those who may cheer at thoughts of a temporary demise of the Catholic Church should pause. If apparition messages prove true, all Christianity will be ravaged, the good with the bad.

So, has this frightening period of manifest chastisement arrived? All of these revelations are “admonitions”, not absolute condemnations. Whether many see this threat as true, merely probable, or just rubbish, the world needs to clean up its moral act. If Ukraine can’t win the war due to slow and unreliable support, Russia will run right through Europe, again - and China through Taiwan.

With these threats in mind, Kelly, all of the Congressional Budget disarray seems just suicidally stupid, and Congressional corruption will end our Republic with a whimper. Pray - it works.

A short response to Kelly Scoles' letter:

This week, Kelly, you go into issues I have little interest in. I'm disgusted and repelled by the level of scandal, duplicity, and unbridled hatred that energizes our national government.
Politics has always been a dirty business, with power and control the brass ring. But today, contending with the Democratic Party, decency and honor are strangers. It's a deadly all-or-nothing, zero-sum game, where human lives and reputations are cheap.

The best example is our judicial system. Hamilton thought the judicial branch was “least dangerous” branch of the new national government. He would be scandalized to view the Republic's system today. Instead of honoring constitutional text, reserving "all powers not delegated to the Federal Government to the people or the States" the nine justices of our Supreme Court have, during the past 60 years, overreached to make sweeping changes in the law inconsistent with those Constitutionally enumerated powers. Even my much-admired Justice Gorsuch has been duped: "...thanks to the fallout from Justice Neil Gorsuch’s toxic Civil Rights Act decision, it’s [Daughters of American Revolution are] effectively being forced to admit fake women [transgender] to its ranks."

Foundational traditions are being overturned. The scandalous failure of our judicial system today is a function of the anti Judeo-Christian characters who populate it. "Depraved" would not be an exaggeration, too many officers of the court lack both intellectual and judicial integrity. I'm NOT an attorney but I have always had a strong love of the law - until it cheated on me.

The Progressive Obama-Biden judicial system is a frighteningly true shadow of The Court of Star Chamber "which could impose punishment for actions which were deemed to be morally reprehensible but were not in violation of the letter of the law. This gave the Star Chamber great flexibility, as it could punish defendants for any action which the court felt should be unlawful, even when in fact it was technically lawful. However, this meant that the justice meted out by the Star Chamber could be very arbitrary and subjective, and it enabled the court to be used later on in its history as an instrument of oppression rather than for the purpose of justice for which it was intended." It was abolished by the Long Parliament in 1641.

We should note today's system is able to persecute Trump because it can, for any reason "which the court felt should be unlawful." Let's closely examine the menagerie of aggressive Democrat judicial minions:
"My Cousin Vinney" made me laugh, but our new Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson (who couldn't define "a woman") made me angry. Surely she knows about the X-Y chromosomes, but secretly favors a "fluid gender" philosophy; Jack Smith, pursuing Trump, a thug in his element; New York Attorney General Letitia James, Democrat seeking notoriety; Judge Tanya Chutkanm (works with Jack Smith to gag Trump); Judge Juan Manuel Merchan ( Democrat donor with daughter a Party consultant). Ethical obligations of "the profession" have become mere partisan pretentions, camouflage for public consumption. The "crimes" attributed to Trump would never be charged to a Democrat - they are customized to attack Trump and company.
Then of course we have that bevy of tyrannical Star Chamberlains at the Justice Department, headed by that devious little man, Merrick Garland, Attorney General with his 115,000 soldiers. I get a chill thinking that he could have been appointed a justice of our Supreme Court.

I remember Associate Justice Abe Fortas resigning from the Supreme Court in 1969. This was the first resignation, first by a justice for financial crimes in United States history. He was a prominent Democrat. "He acknowledged that the payment [$20,000] was the first of a planned lifetime fee arrangement that would pass to his wife, tax attorney Carolyn Agger, after his death." Joe Biden understands, and Sen. Bob Menendez, and Congressman George Santos, and Sam Brinton, and Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama, and, etc.

The political assassination of Trump, by judicial criminals, Deep State, media, and Democratic Party, taunts the moral death knell of the Republic. I would classify this cancer as the wholesale abandonment of our Judeo-Christian traditions, and replacement with Marxism-Communism. These enemies of our once Christian state hate religion, like their friends in Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, and they control our schools (law schools) today.
Judeo-Christian believers must act to save Donald Trump - lawfully, of course. He represents the future of Equal Justice for All Americans.

I've gone too long with a short argument.

A response to Kelly Scoles' letter:

My condolences to you, Kelly, for the loss of your husband, John. It seems inappropriate for me to head into a political debate at this time. I'm glad to welcome you in rejoining the world. We have a common friend in St. Dominick. I carry his medal to keep the demons at bay.

I would simply like to offer a few minor differences of opinion this week. At the risk of boring readers with the same old truth, I'll mix it up with a couple of whoppers. Like, Joe Biden is a brilliant, thoughtful, honest young man. Also, Kamala Harris has done an awe-inspiring job as our Border Czarina; millions of illegals flee at her very presence - though they flee the wrong direction. One last thought. In parts of America today gasoline is approaching $7.00 per gallon, again. Let's give a big yippee to Joe Biden's domestic think tank. They thought that raising the price of gas from Trump's affordable $2.00 to Biden's $7.00 would give God a chance to change his climate. The Democrats are convinced that God is still learning, and that they can accelerate that phenomenon. Isn't that thoughtful of them.

Getting back to the "realities" you refer to, "political realities" certainly are increasingly threatening. The threats I see concern the collapse of our judicial, executive, and legislative systems. Judicial (especially federal) abuse can be seen reducing Donald Trump to a Job-like figure (call it Job's syndrome), recalling the boils afflicted upon the biblical character, much like the subpoenas and hundreds of false charges which pin Trump down. Trump is certainly no saintly Job, but the political demons have been loosed upon him to satisfy Democrat vengeance, the Constitution be damned. The free world watches in disbelief as a former President of the United States is pilloried to keep him from becoming president again. In former times this would have sparked a real insurrection, torches, pitchforks, tar and feathers.

While witnessing this systemic criminal injustice, the affront to that iconic expression "Equal Justice Under Law" is obvious. What can be done, what is the remedy when the Constitution becomes plastic? I've lost my respect for the law as its justices, judges, district attorneys, and prosecutors manifest in extreme Progressive Drag. They're in a fit of judicial transgendering, lacking confidence in their historic jurisprudential gender. They farm the law to glean every scrap of power they can exercise. The system can no longer be trusted. It should be resisted.

Kelly condemns Trump for an intemperate political threat he made. Please, let's be fair. We should recall Senator Chuck Schumer shouting to the media in front of the Capitol: “I want to tell you [Justice] Gorsuch. I want to tell you [Justice] Kavanaugh. You have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.” He was referring to abortion cases. Excuse me, but that SOB should have been arrested. Threatening United States government officials is a felony under federal law. But Democrat behavior has always been above the law, they are rarely even prosecuted - remember Hillary's 30,000 classified documents? What did that FBI scumbag Comey say? "No reasonable prosecutor would bring a case against Clinton for emails. FBI Director James Comey said his office is not recommending prosecutors bring charges against Hillary Clinton." What has happened concerning Joe Biden's thousands of unlawfully accessed and secretly withheld classified documents? Also, nothing.

Lastly, America is no longer an "experiment." America is already more than 200 years older than ancient Athenian democracy ever became. We know the governmental formula works, but it relies upon the character of its officeholders. The Republic is disintegrating today due to massive greedy, political-spiritual corruption. Democrats have turned the system into a criminal enterprise which Republicans seem too weak to resist.

Ukraine must win that war.
Support for Ukraine in her war with Russia appears to be wavering. Nothing could be more devastating, wasteful, or dangerous to world peace. To save the free world from completely unraveling, Ukraine must WIN the war. General "Ben" Hodges, former commanding general, United States Army Europe, knows this fact. Read his comments. Taking Crimea back is critical to success; giving Ukraine long-range missiles can get that job done. Our scandalous debt doesn't negate the profound need for continuous support to Ukraine. Let's not lose our will in the face of the enemy, as we did in Afghanistan!

A response to Kelly Scoles' letter:

My condolences to you, Kelly, for the loss of your husband, John. It seems inappropriate for me to head into a political debate at this time. I'm glad to welcome you in rejoining the world. We have a common friend in St. Dominick. I carry his medal to keep the demons at bay.

I would simply like to offer a few minor differences of opinion this week. At the risk of boring readers with the same old truth, I'll mix it up with a couple of whoppers. Like, Joe Biden is a brilliant, thoughtful, honest young man. Also, Kamala Harris has done an awe-inspiring job as our Border Czarina; millions of illegals flee at her very presence - though they flee the wrong direction. One last thought. In parts of America today gasoline is approaching $7.00 per gallon, again. Let's give a big yippee to Joe Biden's domestic think tank. They thought that raising the price of gas from Trump's affordable $2.00 to Biden's $7.00 would give God a chance to change his climate. The Democrats are convinced that God is still learning, and that they can accelerate that phenomenon. Isn't that thoughtful of them.

Getting back to the "realities" you refer to, "political realities" certainly are increasingly threatening. The threats I see concern the collapse of our judicial, executive, and legislative systems. Judicial (especially federal) abuse can be seen reducing Donald Trump to a Job-like figure (call it Job's syndrome), recalling the boils afflicted upon the biblical character, much like the subpoenas and hundreds of false charges which pin Trump down. Trump is certainly no saintly Job, but the political demons have been loosed upon him to satisfy Democrat vengeance, the Constitution be damned. The free world watches in disbelief as a former President of the United States is pilloried to keep him from becoming president again. In former times this would have sparked a real insurrection, torches, pitchforks, tar and feathers.

While witnessing this systemic criminal injustice, the affront to that iconic expression "Equal Justice Under Law" is obvious. What can be done, what is the remedy when the Constitution becomes plastic? I've lost my respect for the law as its justices, judges, district attorneys, and prosecutors manifest in extreme Progressive Drag. They're in a fit of judicial transgendering, lacking confidence in their historic jurisprudential gender. They farm the law to glean every scrap of power they can exercise. The system can no longer be trusted. It should be resisted.

Kelly condemns Trump for an intemperate political threat he made. Please, let's be fair. We should recall Senator Chuck Schumer shouting to the media in front of the Capitol: “I want to tell you [Justice] Gorsuch. I want to tell you [Justice] Kavanaugh. You have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.” He was referring to abortion cases. Excuse me, but that SOB should have been arrested. Threatening United States government officials is a felony under federal law. But Democrat behavior has always been above the law, they are rarely even prosecuted - remember Hillary's 30,000 classified documents? What did that FBI scumbag Comey say? "No reasonable prosecutor would bring a case against Clinton for emails. FBI Director James Comey said his office is not recommending prosecutors bring charges against Hillary Clinton." What has happened concerning Joe Biden's thousands of unlawfully accessed and secretly withheld classified documents? Also, nothing.

Lastly, America is no longer an "experiment." America is already more than 200 years older than ancient Athenian democracy ever became. We know the governmental formula works, but it relies upon the character of its officeholders. The Republic is disintegrating today due to massive greedy, political-spiritual corruption. Democrats have turned the system into a criminal enterprise which Republicans seem too weak to resist.

Ukraine must win that war.
Support for Ukraine in her war with Russia appears to be wavering. Nothing could be more devastating, wasteful, or dangerous to world peace. To save the free world from completely unraveling, Ukraine must WIN the war. General "Ben" Hodges, former commanding general, United States Army Europe, knows this fact. Read his comments. Taking Crimea back is critical to success; giving Ukraine long-range missiles can get that job done. Our scandalous debt doesn't negate the profound need for continuous support to Ukraine. Let's not lose our will in the face of the enemy, as we did in Afghanistan!

I am very sad to report the recent passing of a friend of many years, John Scoles. My condolences to his wife, Kelly, who has contributed greatly to the Gazette for several years now.

I knew John for virtually all of the 34 years I've been in Fillmore. I saw him regularly at Mass until his disability made his attendance too difficult. John was also a close associate of a best friend of mine, Joseph P.D. Kern, who passed away several years ago. Both outstanding lawyers.

May the souls of these faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

****
An unusually clear display of the Democratic Party's mind was exposed to the world last Tuesday when Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Gliannoulias (D) testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee to protect child pornography. The hearing, entitled "Book Bans: Examining how Censorship Limits Liberty and Literature", seeks to defend the vilest child porn as "literature" worthy to be included in school libraries. His argument: (child pornography must not be banned.) "This legislation is important, because both the concept and the practice of banning books contradicts the very essence of what our country stand for, and what our democracy was founded on," Giannoulias told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday." So, according to his twisted logic, the Founding Fathers supported sodomy.

The law – passed earlier this year – "prohibits state funding for any library that pulls books for "partisan or doctrinal" reasons." " The new law comes as predominantly Republican-led states continue to restrict books some consider offensive in schools and libraries across the country."

Giannoulias was questioned by Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) who shocked many by reading aloud excerpts from two infamous pornographic books ("All Boys Aren't Blue" and "Gender Queer") now promoted for public school libraries by Woke Democrats, but banned by others. Normal Christian parents loudly condemn the books as viciously pornographic. "Vicious", because the book's visual contents leave vivid spiritual scars on innocent memories.
Psychologists tell us that even a single pornographic picture stays with the child for a lifetime. But Democrats say banning any book is a bad thing, and child porn is a good thing. They use the idea of "free speech" to perfume the fecal stench of child pornography.

Illinois must be staffing its senior politicians from NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Love Association) membership lists. This situation epitomizes one of America's fatal flaws today, a flaw that may well end our Republic. That is, in multiple cases America faces completely intolerable, even lethal, situations - and seems incapable of doing anything about it. Call it sovereign political impotence.

Examples are plentiful. Our border was opened on the first day of Biden's election - 7 million global illegal aliens continue to pour in. Nothing has been done to stop it. Biden surrendered Afghanistan after squandering 20-years of blood and treasure. Nothing to stop hasty abandonment, including American citizens and $85 billion worth of equipment handed to the Taliban. Just today, capitulating to Iran (giving Iran $6 billion in prisoner swap for five Iranian Americans now held in Tehran). Iran is close to having nuclear weapons; the deal sabotages Israeli defense, endangers America. Who - what - can stop it? Evil in America today appears unstoppable.

Conclusive evidence of historic multi-million-dollar Biden family corruption (think treason), Democrat indifference, and media cover-up with no cure in sight, infests the Republic with confusion. Again, nothing can be done in a timely fashion - while China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran don't bother with fashion. Unpopular common sense declares America is in grave, imminent danger - too proud to pray, too naive to save the innocence of our school children. Still Home of the Brave? Or Ship of Fools?