Friday's podcast: President Biden on my mind, Mexico violence and our border policy...and more

Friday's podcast: 

President Biden on my mind, Mexico violence and our border policy...and more....

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

Friday's video: President Biden on my mind, Mexico violence and our border policy...and ...

Friday's video: 

President Biden on my mind, Mexico violence and our border policy...and more...... ...

 President Biden on my mind......Mexico violence and our border policy......Adams and New York City.........Babe Ruth 1927.......and other stories...

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

                            

Not good news from Mexico

(My new American Thinker post)

Down Mexico way, a Reforma newspaper story is causing a lot of conversation and major concern. The original story is in Spanish but my friends at Pulse News Mexico published an analysis in English.  It's bad news, to say the least.  Let's read the English story by Mark Lorenzana:      

The U.S. government has evidence that allegedly links members of the drug-running criminal group Guerreros Unidos to the Mexican Army, Navy and municipal police of Iguala and Cocula, in the southwestern Mexican state of Guerrero.

In a report by Mexican daily newspaper Reforma on Tuesday, Sept. 27, Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office of the Republic (FGR) presented to a judge transcripts of instant-messaging conversations via BlackBerry smartphones intercepted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The conversations allegedly prove that members of Guerreros Unidos held meetings with elements of the Mexican military and municipal police, half a year before the forced disappearance of 43 male students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers’ College in Iguala eight years ago.

The scandal in question is the disappearance of 43 students eight years ago under President Pena-Nieto. I don't know how much Pena-Nieto knew about the incident but he looked awfully weak in handling the whole thing.  

To be honest, this is not the first time that we've had reports of criminal elements working with military groups. My biggest concern is that the Mexican government seems incapable of dealing with it.  It's a bit like our big-city Democrats who look the other way when confronted with the crime statistics tearing down their cities.  In other words, Mexico seems incapable of fighting them despite years of having the armed forces chasing the cartels.  

Is it time for us to start looking at Mexico just a bit different or in the early stages of a failed state.  I understand that Mexicans get angry when we say "failed state" but something is failing big time south of the border. Sorry amigos!

A few days ago, John Daniel Davidson wrote an amazing analysis of how things could really go bad south of the border.  He wrote:  

Since taking office, López Obrador has pursued a posture of passivity toward the cartels, especially the Sinaloa Cartel, the country’s most powerful. In so doing, Mexico’s president has transformed his naïve campaign slogan, abrazos no balazos (“hugs not bullets”), into a policy framework that can only be understood as a rebuke of the United States in favor of the cartels.    

What is also different now than in the past, the TPPF report explains, is that the cartels “increasingly supplant the legitimate sovereignty of the Mexican state with their own -- often in cooperation with major elements of that state. The qualitative difference since 2018 has been the near-open role of the current Mexican president in allowing, and perhaps even participating in, that cooperation.” 

Indeed, by some estimates cartels now control up to 40 percent of Mexican territory.

I agree with Mr. Davidson that the perfect storm of President Biden's border policy plus President Lopez-Obrador leftist instincts are making the cartels stronger and in turn making us weaker.

Yes, with all due respect to the Mexicans who will get angry with me, Mexico is starting to look like a failed state.  Worse than that, a failed state on our border is a national security matter.   

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Thursday's podcast: Mayor Adams and New York City……plus more

Thursday's podcast: 

 Mayor Adams and New York City……plus more........

Mayor Adams and New York City......Babylon Bee and the new PM of Italy....6 states are suing the Biden administration over the student loan bailout..........Happy # 87 Jerry Lee Lewis.......and other stories........

click to listen:

Thursday's video: Mayor Adams and New York City......plus more

Thursday's video: 

Mayor Adams and New York City......plus more......

Mayor Adams and New York City......Babylon Bee and the new PM of Italy....6 states are suing the Biden administration over the student loan bailout..........Happy # 87 Jerry Lee Lewis.......and other stories...

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

                                  

Eric Adams, the abdicative mayor?

 (My new American Thinker post)

A few years ago, Frank Burke wrote a wonderful post here about President Obama's managerial style.  He wrote that the abdicative manager flees from responsibility, is always out to lunch or away from the office when a tough decision has to be made.   He is the boss in title only!

Let's look at Mayor Eric Adams of New York City.  He was elected on a get tough with crime agenda.  Unfortunately, he is distracted traveling to Puerto Rico and showing up at fancy parties.  Back home, the crime that he promised to tackle is out of control and residents keep getting a voice mail when they call the mayor.

Mayor Adams needs to focus on crime as Michael Goodwin wrote:    

Plain for all to see, he is taking his focus off the crucial war against crime that got him elected and is putting his attention on turning the city into a vast welcoming mat for foreign migrants.

With about 15,000 in New York already, he talks about having as many as 75,000 migrants living here and is building an enormous tent city at Orchard Beach in The Bronx.

Supposedly, new arrivals will stay there only for a few days until space opens in a city homeless shelter.

But that verges on delusional when there already are 58,000 people living in the shelters scattered around the city, a population that usually grows as the weather turns colder.

Why is Mayor Adams talking about migrants rather than crime?  Yesterday, I spoke with a friend in New York, who voted for Adams and who is totally disappointed.  He concludes that Mayor Adams is frustrated with a city council on board with the left-wing policies protecting criminals rather than citizens.  Furthermore, the governor won't fire the DAs who are putting these people back in the street.  So the mayor won't fight the city council or even a very unpopular governor.  My guess is that many New Yorkers would love to see a little backbone from a mayor who fights for them, not one who loves parties.

He has fled from responsibilities and focuses on issues that did not get him elected. He looks like a man who wants another job. 

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Wednesday’s podcast: Florida storm and a few other stories

Wednesday’s podcast: 

Florida storm and a few other stories.......

President Biden and a sweater and burning wood in Europe.....No lights in Cuba......What a sad way for Senator Manchin go ......US urges Americans out of Russia....The storm and Governor DeSantis.....Ted Williams 1941...and other stories...

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Wednesday's video: Florida storm and a few other stories

Wednesday's video: 

Florida storm and a few other stories................

President Biden and a sweater and burning wood in Europe.....No lights in Cuba......What a sad way for Senator Manchin go ......US urges Americans out of Russia....The storm and Governor DeSantis.....Ted Williams 1941...and other stories...

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

                                   

When do we see President Biden wearing a sweater?

 (My new American Thinker post)

You think that the price of everything is up? Wait until the seasons change up north and your electricity bill shows up in the mailbox. Talk about sticker shock. Talk about people rediscovering their fireplaces to keep their homes warm, not just to share a glass of wine with their favorite person.  It may be a good time to chop some wood and sell it to your neighbors.

This is a preview of winters to come:   

Droves of families faced higher than average electric bills last winter due to a surge in the supply cost of the energy commodity. Unfortunately, according to some experts, this year won't be much different. Families already dealing with increased costs due to inflation are expected to pay even more than last year, according to a recent report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA). 

Earlier this month, the NEADA projected that the average cost to heat a home would increase by 17.2% since last winter, rising from $1,025 to $1,202. Heating oil costs will jump an estimated 54% to $1,876, while natural gas costs may increase 24% to $709, according to the NEADA.     Overall, the total cost of home heating, including natural gas, electricity, heating oil and propane, is estimated to jump from $127.9 billion to $149.9 billion this year. 

It’s going to put a squeeze on already tight family budgets, Nick Loris, C3 Solutions vice president of Public Policy, told FOX Business. 

Welcome to the next chapter of Bidenflation putting more of a squeeze on family budgets.

The Democrats may get lucky because most of these big bills will get mailed out after Thanksgiving. Nevertheless, this is a great opportunity to remind the voters that our energy cost crisis was largely self-inflicted. We have all the energy we need to keep our costs down. We are not Europe having to depend on Putin for energy.  We have our own and could flood the market with oil and natural gas to keep prices down. We did it under President Trump.

Are you ready for a presidential speech about wearing a sweater and controlling your thermostat? I'm sure that President Biden remembers President Carter's fireside chat about energy. In the meantime, it will painful this winter to open those energy bills and more painful to watch Biden wearing a sweater and struggling to make a speech.  

Pray for a lot of global warming this winter.  

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. think that the price of everything is up? Wait until the seasons change up north and your electricity bill shows up in the mailbox. Talk about sticker shock. Talk about people rediscovering their fireplaces to keep their homes warm, not just to share a glass of wine with their favorite person.  It may be a good time to chop some wood and sell it to your neighbors.

This is a preview of winters to come:   

Droves of families faced higher than average electric bills last winter due to a surge in the supply cost of the energy commodity. Unfortunately, according to some experts, this year won't be much different. Families already dealing with increased costs due to inflation are expected to pay even more than last year, according to a recent report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA). 

Earlier this month, the NEADA projected that the average cost to heat a home would increase by 17.2% since last winter, rising from $1,025 to $1,202. Heating oil costs will jump an estimated 54% to $1,876, while natural gas costs may increase 24% to $709, according to the NEADA.     Overall, the total cost of home heating, including natural gas, electricity, heating oil and propane, is estimated to jump from $127.9 billion to $149.9 billion this year. 

It’s going to put a squeeze on already tight family budgets, Nick Loris, C3 Solutions vice president of Public Policy, told FOX Business. 

Welcome to the next chapter of Bidenflation putting more of a squeeze on family budgets.

The Democrats may get lucky because most of these big bills will get mailed out after Thanksgiving. Nevertheless, this is a great opportunity to remind the voters that our energy cost crisis was largely self-inflicted. We have all the energy we need to keep our costs down. We are not Europe having to depend on Putin for energy.  We have our own and could flood the market with oil and natural gas to keep prices down. We did it under President Trump.

Are you ready for a presidential speech about wearing a sweater and controlling your thermostat? I'm sure that President Biden remembers President Carter's fireside chat about energy. In the meantime, it will painful this winter to open those energy bills and more painful to watch Biden wearing a sweater and struggling to make a speech.  

Pray for a lot of global warming this winter.  

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Tuesday's podcast: The week in review with Bill Katz the editor of Urgent Agenda

Tuesday's podcast:   

The week in review with Bill Katz the editor of Urgent Agenda.....

Troubles in Iran......Italy goes right......Problems at the FBI?,,,,,VP Harris in Asia......Crime and the economy are the major concerns in new poll....and other stories..

Click to listen:

Tuesday's video: Iran, Italy plus crime and inflation

Tuesday's video:    Iran, Italy plus crime and inflation

Troubles in Iran......Italy goes right......Problems at the FBI?,,,,,VP Harris in Asia,,,.....Crime and the economy are the major concerns in new poll....and other stories..

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

 

I remember when they called that 'homophobic'

 (My new American Thinker post)

They say some strange things over at MSNBC.  In fact, I'm convinced that people compete over there to see who can be more crazy or bizarre. However, I'm not sure that you can top this one.  Here is the story:       

MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle and her guests on The 11th Hour were in fits of laughter as they mocked Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham with the implication that he is gay during an off-the-rails segment about abortion policy in the United States.

On Friday’s show, Ruhle’s panel guests included CBS Sunday Morning‘s Nancy Giles, CNBC’s Ron Insana, MSNBC columnist Liz Plank, and comic and podcaster Judy Gold.

“And, the fact that he is telling women what to do with their bodies,” Gold began. She paused a second before Giles nodded and said, “Go for it.”

“He’s never seen a vagina! He’s never seen a naked woman!” Gold blurted, as the whole panel laughed it up, including Stephanie Ruhle. “And he is telling me?”

The implication that Gold was using to crack up the panel is one that’s made pretty often on the Democrat side, which is to suggest Graham is gay, apparently as an insult.

Amid the crosstalk and tittering, Ruhle added her own wink and nudge, saying, “We don’t know that for sure. We do not know that for sure.”

MSNBC’s Liz Plank said “It’s probably true, it’s probably true.”

“Judy we would refer to that as an unconfirmed report,” said CNBC’s Insana getting in on it.

“Someone needs to find out!” said Plank.

“I’m going to speculate…” Gold said.

“According to Judy Gold,” interjected CBS’s Giles.

All this because he wants to limit abortions after 15 weeks? For the record, I don't like Senator Graham's idea because it should be decided on a state by state basis. Nevertheless, the senator is a lot closer to public opinion than the "abortion on demand" panelists on that show. In fact, 47 of 50 European countries ban abortions before 15 weeks.

First of all, this back and forth about the senator being gay is horrific.  

Second, it confirms the double standard. They can joke about it but call us "homophobic" when we do.  The best part of the story is that few people are impressed with that kind of humor.  Is NBC comfortable with that kind of conversation in a news cable show?   

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Monday's podcast: Crime and the economy are major concerns, Italy turns to the right & more

Monday's podcast:   

Crime and the economy are major concerns, Italy turns to the right & more...

click to listen:

Monday's video: Crime and the economy are major concerns, Italy turns to the right & more

Monday's video: 

Crime and the economy are major concerns, Italy turns to the right & more..........

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

                           

Why wouldn't crime and the economy be # 1 with voters?

 (My new American Thinker post)

Why wouldn't crime and the economy be # 1 with voters?

According to a new poll, a lot of folks out there are really worried about crime and the economy.. This is the poll via Fox News:    

Crime has surpassed abortion among concerns for Americans, who also said they trust Republicans more than Democrats to handle it, giving them the highest lead on the issue in more than 30 years, according to a recent ABC/WaPo poll released Sunday.

According to the survey produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates in New York City, the economy (89%), education (77%) and inflation (76%) topped out the issues voters consider "highly important" as midterms loom, but those issues were followed closely by crime at 69%, which beat out abortion at 62%.

Immigration and climate change brought up the rear at 61% and 50%, respectively.

So the midterms won't be about abortion after all? I guess not -- and it's not a shock. Crime is about walking down the street. The economy is about your standard of living. Inflation is about your wallet. Education is about your kids. Abortion is a choice and does not impact the price of anything.

My only question about 2022 is whether African Americans will finally get fed up with their Democrat leaders. Let's face it, the worst place for an African American to live is a city run by the Democrats, from crime to lousy public schools. Will they finally say enough and give the GOP a chance?  I don't know but it would be a much needed change if they decided to make a statement.

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Sunday's podcast: The latest from Texas politics with George Rodriguez

Sunday's podcast:      

The latest from Texas politics with George Rodriguez......

Guest: George Rodriguez, South Texas conservative.....We will look at comments from Beto O'Rourke blaming President Biden for not paying attention to South Texas.......Governor Abbott is up 7, 9, 11 over O'Rourke....and other stories......

Click to listen:

A bipartisan solution for birds

 (My new American Thinker post)

It's Sunday morning and you probably want to talk about something other than politics.

As you probably know, many birds fly south for the winter.  We see them in the Texas skies every year.  I remember picking up my sons and waving at the birds in years past.  Soon I will repeat that with my grandsons.  It's amazing to think that you are watching something that's happened for millennia.  Or something that did not start in 1619.

Here in the Dallas, a group that includes former First Lady Laura Bush is trying to make it easier for our friends with wings.  It's a great story:    

Almost 88,000 birds flew over Dallas County between Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and 7:10 a.m. this morning, migrating south in preparation for the winter. The number of winged commuters above us peaked at 21,800 birds sometime shortly after 10 p.m., according to BirdCast, which provides migratory data on birds on a daily basis.

While we were all sleeping, Baltimore Orioles, Yellow Warblers, Indigo Buntings, Eastern Wood-Pewees, and Dickcissels were among avian flyovers trying to reach warmer temperatures before colder weather sets in.

But your porch light might be throwing them off a bit, experts say. Lights from porch lights and even big buildings attract the birds, which often leads to collisions with buildings as they become disoriented, killing nearly one billion birds each year, according to the Texas Conservation Alliance.

Yesterday, the twice-yearly “Lights Out Texas” initiative kicked into gear in an effort to help all those birds complete their fall migration.

The effort was first started by Houston Audubon after a major bird collision event killed 400 migrating birds in Galveston in 2017. According to Audubon Texas and Texan By Nature, a conservation group founded by former First Lady Laura Bush, everyone is encouraged at work and home to turn off all nonessential lights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. between Sept. 20 and Oct. 10, especially. If you can hang on a little longer and keep them off until Oct. 29, even better.

“Light pollution is a growing and underrecognized threat to birds,” Bush wrote last year. “The light emanating from cities like Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston attracts and disorients birds, leaving them confused and vulnerable. Large numbers of light-related collisions have been documented in cities across the country for decades, including here in Texas.

The city of Dallas does its part. Reunion Tower will be dimming its lights to 50 percent, along with other buildings through Oct. 10. Mayor Eric Johnson issued a proclamation in the spring declaring these twice-yearly migration periods as “Lights Out Nights” in Dallas.

How cool is that!  A bipartisan solution for the birds. 

Why can we come together and do something for the birds and not government spending?   Maybe it's because the birds don't vote or expect Washington to support them.  They just want a little help with the lights.

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.