Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Ruy's big three
Ruy's big three - American Thinker https://t.co/BBXKW3Cxuy
— Silvio Canto. Jr. (@silvio_canto) January 28, 2025
We've posted about Ruy Teixiera often. He once predicted an "Emerging Democrat" majority and now he is telling them how to stay relevant. In fact, Ruy has three specific recommendations for the Democrats:
1. Immigration/border security/deportations. Outside of the economy, no issue hurt the Democrats more in 2024 than immigration. And the laxness on border security and quasi-open borders policy that resulted in massive waves of illegal immigration was very much a priority and product of the Left. You’d think they’d be rushing to correct that mistake. Nah.
2. Identity politics/equity/”trans rights.” The contemporary Left is deeply invested in these issues and shows little sign of backing down or compromising on any of them.
3. Climate catastrophism/renewables uber alles/net zero. Trump has thrown down the gauntlet to the Left on climate and energy issues. In his speech and in his executive orders he has made clear his intention to untether domestic energy production from regulatory and permitting obstacles and de-emphasize Biden administration policies centered around renewables and electric vehicles. He promises energy abundance and low energy prices. The Left hates this but the fact of the matter is that such an approach is far closer to what the public wants -- especially what the working class wants -- than the Left’s quasi-religious commitment to a rapid renewables-based clean energy transition.
So let's see. Enforce immigration laws and drop the nonsense about open borders. The "trans" meme ain't working no matter how many times you call us "transphobic." And last, don't force us to pay higher gasoline prices or drive an electric car that we can't afford in the name of some religion called "climate change" that no one can explain.
Perhaps Ruy had Starr County in Texas in mind when he wrote this. The predominantly Mexican American county voted 57.7% for Trump. Talk about the "flip of flips," because that had not happened in a long time. In fact, it was so long ago that you need to check your mom's encyclopedia, the one that she bought collecting points at the grocery store. (By the way, my late Cuban mom was so impressed that you could buy an encyclopedia that way that she kept telling the world about it)
So who lives in Starr County? Normal people who don't want chaotic borders, don't want men stealing their daughters' athletic trophies, and like that fossil fuels employ a lot of people down there.
Will Democrats learn their lesson? Time will tell. The Laken Riley Act is a good start. The fact that ICE is operating without much challenge is another good sign.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.
A terrible day, but the right man was in the Oval Office
We think of President Reagan as “the great communicator.” Indeed, he communicated conservative ideas better than anyone. Many of his speeches were memorable, from “the evil empire” to “tear down this wall.” His 1980 speech accepting the GOP nomination in Detroit was fabulous, especially now that you can watch it again and again.
However, his best speech wasn’t political at all. It happened on the day that he spoke to the nation about the terrible Challenger explosion on January 28, 1986 or 37 years ago today.
As you may remember, most of the country fell in love with Christa McAuliffe, a teacher going into space. Also watching that morning were her family and millions of students all over. It was one of those moments where everyone was cheering the same way. It was awesome. Happy moment. How often do you get those?
The story had a bad ending. The Challenger exploded 73 seconds after takeoff and a wonderful morning turned into a nightmare.
Around that time, I was driving to a lunch and listening to everything on the radio. I heard the takeoff and the first word of an explosion. I walked into the restaurant and everyone was watching the television. It was one of those moments when nothing else mattered, including lunch.
Later, President Reagan spoke to the nation about the tragedy, and especially to the children who had seen their teacher blown up in space. Suddenly, you realize why it matters to have a president who can speak from the heart:
And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle’s takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It’s all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It’s all part of taking a chance and expanding man’s horizons. The future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we’ll continue to follow them.
It was a wonderful speech and you should watch it in full. It was an awful day but we had a man in the Oval Office who could bring us together.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.
1986: The Challenger and President Reagan’s greatest speech
And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle’s takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It’s all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It’s all part of taking a chance and expanding man’s horizons. The future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we’ll continue to follow them.
We remember the life and times of Jose Marti (1853...1895)
Guest: Fernando Hernandez, Cuban American author....We remember the life and times of Jose Marti (1853-1895)...and other stories....
1959: The Packers hired Lombardi
Lombardi inherited a 1-10-1 team but he turned the organization around quickly."On January 28, 1959, the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL) sign Vince Lombardi to a five-year contract as the team's coach and general manager."
Green Bay won 3 NFL titles and the first 2 Super Bowls. Without question, the Packers were the most successful team of the 1960's.
As a result, the Super Bowl Trophy is named after Coach Lombardi.
We remember the life and times of Jose Marti (1853-1895)
Jorge Ponce, contributor to Babalu Blog; and Victor Triay,author of various books about Cuba. Click and listen to the show....
January 28, 1853: We remember Jose Marti was born on this day
Jose Marti was born in Cuba on this day in 1853. His parents were Spanish and settled on the island. At the time, Cuba was a Spanish colony and Marti's generation played a major role in the long and very costly Cuban War of Independence. My father's grandfather was part of that generation and stood up to Spain in the second half of the 19th century. My grandmother’s cousin actually fought in that conflict.
Marti was more of an intellectual than a warrior. His poetry and books are read in every university all over the world. In 1966, one of his poems or "versos sencillos" became the lyrics for "Guantanamera" the pop song recorded by The Sandpipers. ("Yo soy un hombre sincero de donde crece la palma" or "I am a truthfull man from the land of palm trees")
Marti was killed in 1895 in a confrontation with Spanish troops. It happened a couple of years before the Maine exploded in Havana's harbor and the U.S. intervened.
From our early days in the U.S., my father had a picture of Jose Marti on the wall of his home office where he'd play chess. It was next to a pre-Castro "peso bill" with Marti's picture framed on the wall. It was nostalgia and a reminder that the pre-Castro peso actually had the same value as a dollar. My father was a banker in Cuba, so he knew a thing or two about the exchange rates.
Marti's picture was a part of our family pictures on the wall. It was there between our First Communion photos, my parents' wedding, the grandparents and other souvenirs from Cuba. My guess is that most Cuban families have a picture of Marti on their walls too.
My parents also had a Marti quote on their wall:
"Nunca son más bellas las playas del destierro que cuando se les dice adiós."
It loosely translates to “The beaches of the exile are never more beautiful that when you wave good-bye to them.” It's a reminder that many Cubans came to the U.S. hoping for a return to a free Cuba. As my mother used to say, the quote took her back to a beautiful and lovely place called Cuba.
So we remember Jose Marti today and all of those conversations that I had with my late father about the man he called "The Apostle of Cuban independence."
Click for our chat with Professor Lopez, author.
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.
January 28: Remembering Jose Marti (1853-95)
Jose Marti was born on a day like this in 1853. He died in 1895 during a confrontation with Spanish troops in the long and very costly Cuban War of Independence.
Back in 2013, we chatted with Jorge Ponce, a Cuban American who left the island as a youngster with his parents, and Alfredo Cespero from Miami. They joined me for a discussion of Jose Marti's life and what it means for those of us who grew up in the US.
Jose Marti and "los versos sencillos"
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.
Remembering Jose Marti (1853-95)
Jose Marti was born in Cuba on this day in 1853. His parents were Spanish and settled on the island. At the time, Cuba was a Spanish colony and Marti's generation played a major role in the long and very costly Cuban War of Independence. My father's grandfather was part of that generation and stood up to Spain in the second half of the 19th century. My grandmother’s cousin actually fought in that conflict.
Marti was more of an intellectual than a warrior. His poetry and books are read in every university all over the world. In 1966, one of his poems or "versos sencillos" became the lyrics for "Guantanamera" the pop song recorded by The Sandpipers. ("Yo soy un hombre sincero de donde crece la palma" or "I am a truthfull man from the land of palm trees")
Marti was killed in 1895 in a confrontation with Spanish troops. It happened a couple of years before the Maine exploded in Havana's harbor and the U.S. intervened.
From our early days in the U.S., my father had a picture of Jose Marti on the wall of his home office where he'd play chess. It was next to a pre-Castro "peso bill" with Marti's picture framed on the wall. It was nostalgia and a reminder that the pre-Castro peso actually had the same value as a dollar. My father was a banker in Cuba, so he knew a thing or two about the exchange rates.
Marti's picture was a part of our family pictures on the wall. It was there between our First Communion photos, my parents' wedding, the grandparents and other souvenirs from Cuba. My guess is that most Cuban families have a picture of Marti on their walls too.
My parents also had a Marti quote on their wall:
"Nunca son más bellas las playas del destierro que cuando se les dice adiós."
It loosely translates to “The beaches of the exile are never more beautiful that when you wave good-bye to them.” It's a reminder that many Cubans came to the U.S. hoping for a return to a free Cuba. As my mother used to say, the quote took her back to a beautiful and lovely place called Cuba.
So we remember Jose Marti today and all of those conversations that I had with my late father about the man he called "The Apostle of Cuban independence."
The life and times of Jose Marti with Professor Alfred Lopez & Jorge Ponce