Trump tariffs, Senator Booker speaks plus Pope John Paul II died in 2005 and more stories......
Wednesday, April 02, 2025
Give Trump a chance
Give Trump a chance: My sense is that too many people are talking about tariffs from a political perspective or looking at everything as if we were in an Economics 101 class. It may turn out differently when we actually implement tariffs. Maybe President Trump will turn ...
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So let's give Trump a chance. Maybe he is right. I'd like to find out because we don't have a level playing field now.
— Silvio Canto. Jr. (@silvio_canto) April 2, 2025
Give Trump a chance - American Thinker https://t.co/apPpj15BuY
My sense is that too many people are talking about tariffs from a political perspective or looking at everything as if we were in an Economics 101 class. It may turn out differently when we actually implement tariffs. Maybe President Trump will turn out to be right, as he has in so many other issues. Maybe he will succeed because he holds the big cards: the largest GDP and market in the world. In other words, everybody wants to sell here and will likely adjust to whatever we demand.
Let’s check this from Peter Navarro in a post written by Jeff Croure:
Inflation is not a concern, Navarro claimed because “foreigners” will “cut their prices” to “absorb” most of the additional cost because “we’re the biggest market in the world… and they have to be here.”
According to Navarro, the automobile tariffs will generate “$100 billion,” while the other tariffs will generate “$600 billion.” He maintained that it would lead to “The biggest tax cut in American history for the middle class.”
As Navarro explained, one of the major goals of the Trump administration will be to encourage American consumers to buy vehicles made in this country. He said there will be “tax benefits, tax credits to people who buy American cars.”
That sounds right to me. If a European car maker wants to sell in the U.S. he will have to persuade his government to treat the U.S. car maker equally. What other options does he have? Sell to another market? Shut down his plant because the cars cannot be sold in the U.S.? What about a winemaker? He can sell his wine in another market, have his countrymen consume the wine, or persuade his government to treat California wine the same way.
My guess is that tariffs will force other countries to negotiate with the Trump administration. The net result could be the “free trade” environment that many of us love to see. I supported NAFTA because I wanted free trade, but it hasn’t really turned out that way. Maybe tariffs will do what we always wanted to do.
So let’s give Trump a chance. Maybe he is right. I’d like to find out because we don’t have a level playing field now.
Once upon a time, we financed most of the federal government with tariffs. I’m not saying that we will return to that, but I do feel that we should give tariffs a chance. If it works then we will find out. If it does not then election night 2026 will be rough on the GOP.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.
Happy # 61 to Pete Incaviglia
We say happy birthday to Pete Incaviglia, who was born on this day in Long Beach, CA in 1964.
Pete jumped from Oklahoma State to the Texas Rangers in 1986 and hit 30 HR & 88 RBI as a rookie. Pete became a real fan favorite on that Texas team that challenged the Angels to the AL West title.
He hit another 27 the next year and 124 HR in 5 seasons with Texas. Pete was traded to Detroit and bounced around a few teams. In 1993, Pete hit 24 HR with the NL champion Phillies.
As I recall, he hit long home runs.
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.
1976: The year that Reggie Jackson was an Oriole
On April 2, 1976, the Orioles and A's swapped some big name players: Reggie Jackson & Ken Holtzman to Baltimore and Don Baylor & Mike Torrez to Oakland. It was big!
Reggie had a good season but the Orioles fell short in the AL East: .277, 27 HR, 82 RBI & 28 stolen bases. After the season, Jackson signed a big contract with the Yankees and you know the rest of the story.
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.
We remember Jim Fregosi (1942-2014)
Fregosi was a shortstop who could hit a home run and turn the double play. He averaged 14 HRs and 62 RBI's between 1964-70.
Fregosi is also the answer to a great trivia question. He was the man traded for Nolan Ryan after the 1971 season. The Mets did not think that Ryan would be ever be a consistent major league pitcher.
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.
We remember Bobby Avila (1924-2004)
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Roberto Francisco (Gonzales) Avila was born on this day in Veracruz in 1924.
We remember him as Bobby Avila, the first Mexican to win a major league batting title.
Bobby broke with the Indians in 1949 and became Cleveland's regular second baseman in 1951: .304 average, 10 HR & 58 RBI.
In 1954, Bobby led the AL in batting (.341) and was a key part of the Cleveland team that won 111 games but lost to the Giants in the World Series.
Overall, he hit .284 in 10 seasons with the Indians with 1,236 hits in 1,207 games.
After baseball, Bobby went back to Veracruz, ran a baseball team and was elected Mayor in 1982.
He was ranked # 26 among the 100 greatest Indians ever. He died in 2004.
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.
We remember Mike Cuellar, 1937-2010
Oriole great Mike Cuellar died in Florida on this day in 2010. He had been ill for a few months.
Mike was the greatest Cuban lefthander in major league history.
All together, he won 185 games, shared the 1969 Cy Young with Denny McClain and pitched the complete game that won the 1970 World Series.
Cuellar was a 20-game winner in 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1974. He represented the AL in 4 All Star games.
My favorite Cuellar memory was the 1974 season. The O's won 28 of the last 34 and Cuellar was in the middle of it all. At one point, he pitched back to back complete games on 2-days rest. It was awesome!
Beyond the numbers, he was a family friend and very nice man.
Mike was the greatest Cuban lefthander in major league history.
All together, he won 185 games, shared the 1969 Cy Young with Denny McClain and pitched the complete game that won the 1970 World Series.
Cuellar was a 20-game winner in 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1974. He represented the AL in 4 All Star games.
My favorite Cuellar memory was the 1974 season. The O's won 28 of the last 34 and Cuellar was in the middle of it all. At one point, he pitched back to back complete games on 2-days rest. It was awesome!
Beyond the numbers, he was a family friend and very nice man.
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.
Remember The Supremes!
Our family came to the US in 1964. It didn't take long for my brother and I to get into Top 40 radio, which is what they used to call AM radio stations back then.
Between 1964 and 1967, the US music charts were dominated by British bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Dave Clark 5, The Animals and so on. It was called "The British Invasion"!
Who stood up for the US during that period? What US group battled the British for the top of the charts?
The answer was The Supremes from Detroit with 12 # 1 songs, many gold records and regular TV appearances. They were huge!
Who else but The Beatles had that many # 1 songs? Again, it was The Supremes.
P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).
I love the "doo wop" chapter of rock music!
(You can listen to my show (Canto Talk). If you like our posts, drop a dime here.)
In the 1970's, I took an interest in the "doo wop" chapter of rock music. It happened because of the American Graffiti soundtrack and a "Sha Na Na" concert that I attended with friends!
I fell in love with the songs and the harmonies. (It was also the music that some of our parents danced to in the late 1950s!)
"Doo wop" was a great period in the history of rock music. The format was great songs, super singers, spectacular harmonies and the kind of music that every girl wanted to dance to!
What more do you need?
Happy # 80 Reggie Smith
We remember Reggie Smith who was born in Louisiana on this day in 1945.
Reggie Smith was one of my favorite hitters: .287 batting average, 2,020 hits, 314 HR & 1,092 RBI.
He was a young member of the 1967 AL champs Boston Red Sox plus a veteran in The LA Dodgers that won the NL pennant in 1977 & 1978 and World Series in 1981.
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.
We remember Don Sutton (1945-2021)
Sutton broke with the Dodgers in 1966 and turned into one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball.
As a LA Dodger, he won 233, completed 158, threw 52 shutouts and had a great 3.09 ERA over 16 seasons. He pitched with LA in the 1974, 1977 & 1978 postseason. Later, he played with the Angels, Brewers & Astros.
In 1982, he was a critical piece of the AL champs Milwaukee Brewers. Sutton beat Baltimore's Jim Palmer on the last day of the season to clinch the AL East title. it was quite a game.
He retired with 324 wins, a wonderful 3.26 career ERA and Hall of Fame 1998.
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.
In 1982, he was a critical piece of the AL champs Milwaukee Brewers. Sutton beat Baltimore's Jim Palmer on the last day of the season to clinch the AL East title. it was quite a game.
He retired with 324 wins, a wonderful 3.26 career ERA and Hall of Fame 1998.
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.
The Beatles: 3 of my favorites songs!
These songs are not in any particular order.
My first choice is "Day Tripper". I love the guitar rift and the way that John and Paul sing this song.
My second selection is "Paperback Writer". This song was a single released between the "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver" LP's.
It sounds like a better fit for "Revolver" because of the heavy electric guitar. "Rubber Soul" was more melodic.
My third selection is "Hello Goodbye", a very catchy tune released between "Sgt. Pepper's" and "Magical Mystery Tour".
In a future post, I will recall some of my favorite ballads.
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April 2, 2005: Pope John Paul II passed away
He now belongs to the ages, as someone said when Lincoln died in 1865.
We were very lucky to share the planet with Mother Theresa and John Paul II.
Historians will review John Paul II's legacy. Some will like him. Others won't. Either way, John Paul II was a consequential historical figure and we can not say that about most politicians or religious leaders.
It will be very difficult for anyone to fill John Paul II's shoes.
P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).
US Civil War: The battle of Antietam with Barry Jacobsen
A podcast from 2013...........Th US Civil War......
The battle of Antietam with Barry Jacobsen...........
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Tuesday, April 01, 2025
Democrats 2024, Trump tariffs & more
The NY Times on Democrats, Trump approvals, Tariffs and trade plus Happy # 86 Ali McGraw
I'm looking through you -- where did you go?
I'm looking through you -- where did you go?: The New York Times has decided to get serious for a change. They wrote an editorial about the status of the Democrat Party and it goes like this, according to Matt Margolis:
It’s a stunning rebuke from a paper that typically carries…..
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Will the party learn from this editorial? Well, time will tell. It depends on 2026. If they lose again, or fail to pick up the U.S. House, then maybe there is hope. At the same time, identity politics and Trump Derangement Syndrome are very addictive. It's so easy to blame…
— Silvio Canto. Jr. (@silvio_canto) April 1, 2025
The New York Times has decided to get serious for a change. They wrote an editorial about the status of the Democrat Party and it goes like this, according to Matt Margolis:
It’s a stunning rebuke from a paper that typically carries the water for Dems. The Times finally admitted the obvious: Democrats' obsession with identity politics and their "scolding, censorious posture" have driven voters straight into Republicans' arms.
“In the aftermath of this comprehensive defeat, many party leaders have decided that they do not need to make significant changes to their policies or their message,” the editorial board writes. “They have instead settled on a convenient explanation for their plight.”
They then point out that Democrats are in denial about their electoral struggles, clinging to the idea that they are merely victims of post-pandemic inflation and poor messaging rather than deeper political failures. Party leaders insist their policies are popular but that voter apathy -- rather than a genuine shift toward Trump -- led to their losses. DNC Chairman Ken Martin claims Democrats simply need to “connect” their message better, while Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz dismisses the idea of winning over Trump voters, instead focusing on mobilizing those who stayed home.
“As comforting as these explanations may feel to Democrats, they are a form of denial that will make it harder for the Democratic Party to win future elections,” they warn.
Well, what an amazing conclusion. You mean that people between the coasts are not obsessed with race, men playing in women's sports, or open borders? Better late than never, but it's amazing that it took the election of 2024 for people to see the light.
The editorial reminds us that the party is at 27% approval which means that the only people voting for you are your grandparents after extracting a promise to take them to the "senior special discount" buffet at the local restaurant.
Another problem was refusing to see President Biden's cognitive decline. It was there for all to see except Democrats and many in the media obsessed with keeping Trump from a return to the White House. That was more than an oversight. It was foul play and an attack on our common sense as voters.
Will the party learn from this editorial? Well, time will tell. It depends on 2026. If they lose again, or fail to pick up the U.S. House, then maybe there is hope. At the same time, identity politics and Trump Derangement Syndrome are very addictive. It's so easy to blame everything on Trump and that's a hard habit to break.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.
Happy # 86 Ali MacGraw
Happy birthday to Ali MacGraw, who was born in New York on this day in 1939.
We remember her for 3 movies: "Love Story" (1970), "Goodbye, Columbus" (1969) and "The Getaway" (1972).
She was one of the most popular actresses of the 1970's.
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.
We remember her for 3 movies: "Love Story" (1970), "Goodbye, Columbus" (1969) and "The Getaway" (1972).
She was one of the most popular actresses of the 1970's.
We remember Debbie Reynolds (1932-2016)
We remember Debbie Reynolds who was born in El Paso, Texas, on this day in 1932. She died in 2016.
Over the years, I saw Debbie in various movies like “Singin’ in the Rain,” & “The Tender Trap". She was nominated for an Academy-Award for playing the title role in “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”
I also recall hearing that song "Tammy" often on oldies radio. It was from the Tammy series of movies, such as "Tammy and the Bachelor".
Just a couple of months, "The singing nun" was on TV. It reminded me of younger days when we used to take our sister to the movies.
RIP Debbie Reynolds. She had quite a career.
Over the years, I saw Debbie in various movies like “Singin’ in the Rain,” & “The Tender Trap". She was nominated for an Academy-Award for playing the title role in “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”
I also recall hearing that song "Tammy" often on oldies radio. It was from the Tammy series of movies, such as "Tammy and the Bachelor".
Just a couple of months, "The singing nun" was on TV. It reminded me of younger days when we used to take our sister to the movies.
RIP Debbie Reynolds. She had quite a career.
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.
We remember Rusty Staub (1944-2018)
We remember Rusty Staub who was born in New Orleans on this day in 1944. He died in 2018.
Rusty broke with the Astros in 1963 and moved to the Expos in 1969. He also played with the Mets, Tigers and one season with the Rangers.
Staub retired with a .279 career average, 2,716 hits, 292 HR & 1,466 RBI in 2,951 games.
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.
Rusty broke with the Astros in 1963 and moved to the Expos in 1969. He also played with the Mets, Tigers and one season with the Rangers.
Staub retired with a .279 career average, 2,716 hits, 292 HR & 1,466 RBI in 2,951 games.
We remember Marvin Gaye (1939-1984)
Marvin Gaye was born in Washington DC on this day in 1939. He died in 1984!
He recorded some great songs with Tammi Terrell, such as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Your Precious Love", "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" and "You're All I Need to Get By."
In the 1970's, Gaye recorded one of the decade's best albums: What's Going! ("In 2003, the album was ranked number 6 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.")
Marvin Gaye was great and still sounds great so many years later.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
1984: Marvin Gaye was killed in LA
Marvin Gaye caught my attention when he recorded those great duets with the late Tammi Tarrell.
A few years later, he recorded "I heard it through the grapevine" and his career took off to historic levels.
It does not seem possible but Marvin Gaye was killed on this day in 1984.
It happened in Los Angeles and he was just 44. Very sad!
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.
Remembering V E Day 1945 with Barry Jacobsen
Remembering V E Day 1945 with Barry Jacobsen....
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