Pray for Peace in Ukraine

After three years of senseless killing, there is a glimmer of hope for peace in the Russia/Ukraine war.  Partisanship aside, we can all simply hope and pray that an agreement can be reached that will bring the carnage to an end.

 

History appears to tell us that Vladimir Putin is a ruthless autocrat who is motivated solely by his thirst for power, domination, and restoration of the old USSR.  He sees Ukraine as a cornerstone to that quest.  It is whimsy to credit him with any degree of empathy, compassion, or concern for his own people.  The elephant in this discussion room is that Russia started this conflict by invading Ukraine and only power, leverage, and blunt force will persuade Russia to negotiate a settlement.  I am hopeful that Donald Trump understands this; I believe he does.

 

Volodymir Zelenskyy understandably wants the Russian presence removed from any and all Ukrainian territory that they have taken control of since the beginning of this war.  That is not going to happen.  It is simply not reasonable to expect that Russia will voluntarily abandon the Ukrainian territory that it has conquered and now controls.  Ukraine cannot push them out or they would have already done so.  The European nations/NATO and the USA will not commit to fighting door to door, night and day, bathed in blood, to remove the Russians from these areas.  What might have been possible three years ago is now impossible.

 

Somewhere in between these two stated convictions lies a settlement that will bring the senseless killing to a halt, cede some Ukrainian territory to Russia, guarantee the ongoing sovereignty of Ukraine, and somehow punish Russia for their reckless ambitions.  Balancing all of those huge concerns on the head of a pin is the task set before President Trump.  He can put Putin and Zelenskyy at the same table and he can use the “carrots and sticks” at his disposal to push them towards agreement; but he cannot make the peace between them.  Only they can do that.  And if they refuse to do that now, at this point in history, then only bad outcomes are on the horizon….some being worse than others.

https://amgreatness.com/2025/08/18/putin-trump-and-the-elusive-peace/

https://thefederalist.com/2025/08/18/the-ukraine-war-was-always-going-to-end-this-way/

The economy appears to be gathering momentum, the government is actually beginning to show signs of shrinkage, and we have a secure southern border that will now allow all involved to consider national immigration policy reform.  All things considered, the possibilities are very encouraging.

 

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/08/doom-delayed-again.php

 

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/08/federal-workforce-to-shrink-by-300000.php

 

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/08/the-tide-is-turning.php

 

Perhaps the federal law enforcement incursion into WDC will be sufficiently successful as to lay the groundwork for similar cooperative efforts in crime ridden communities all across America.  We can only hope so. 

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/d-c-mayors-productive-meeting-with-trump-officials/

 

https://freebeacon.com/democrats/is-dc-crime-at-a-30-year-low-mainstream-media-outlets-cite-police-data-to-say-yes-without-noting-a-commander-is-on-leave-for-allegedly-falsifying-that-data/

 

https://jonathanturley.org/2025/08/12/lies-damned-lies-and-statistics-trump-takeover-renews-questions-over-d-c-crime-data/

 

The Diversity/Equity/Inclusion curse that was introduced to our nation by Obama and nourished under the Biden Administration has hopefully reached a point where its ambition has clearly extended beyond its reach, the progressive lunacy behind it has been exposed for the fraud that it is, and it is being pushed back into its dark recesses by a fed up populace being led by the Trump Administration.  But make no mistake about it: it has become deeply rooted in our culture and society and it will not go quietly into the night.  It must continue to be recognized, called out, and held accountable for its foolishness and the efforts to eliminate it must continue unabated.

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-long-battle-ahead-to-stamp-out-dei/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/08/the-smithsonian-should-ditch-the-ideology-and-keep-the-history/

 

Just as DEI must be vigilantly opposed, so must the corruption in the progressive elements of the Democrat Party and their disciples in the mainstream media, academia, and intelligentsia.  Though they have taken some hits…their hypocrisy, ruthlessness, insatiable ambition for power and control, and persuasive skills remain healthy and vital.  They must be defeated politically and their defeats must be constantly repeated.

 

Whether it is present in the federal government…

 

https://mrctv.org/blog/craig-bannister/pelosis-falsehood-about-national-guard-rebuffed-fmr-capitol-police-chief-be

 

https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/comey-media-mole-admitted-fbi-he-shaped-russia-narrative-needed

 

In our state governments…

 

https://amgreatness.com/2025/08/13/malifornia-californians-are-escaping-the-state-in-massive-numbers/

 

https://amgreatness.com/2025/08/12/j-b-pritzker-and-delia-ramirez-embarrass-themselves-and-illinois/

 

In American foreign policy…

 

https://freebeacon.com/israel/un-backed-famine-watchdog-quietly-changed-standards-easing-way-to-declare-famine-in-gaza/

 

https://amgreatness.com/2025/08/16/gaza-part-one-the-situation/

 

https://www.jns.org/the-generational-price-of-the-false-gaza-genocide-narrative/

 

The corrosive effect these efforts have on our nation and our Constitution is beyond estimation…

 

https://amgreatness.com/2025/08/14/who-has-been-busy-destroying-democracy/

 

Gerrymander This!!

There is no shortage of media material these days…the Texas Republican effort at redistricting is certainly right near the top of the attention list.  I often use the term “we get the government we deserve” and in the case of this particular Texas story, that phrase is aptly applied.  The SCOTUS has made it pretty clear that federal Congressional district boundaries are within the purview of individual state legislatures.  Given multiple chances to intervene in previous episodes of this type, they have consistently deferred.  There is no reason to suspect this time will be any different.  The end of the story is entirely predictable…the intrigue lies in how we get there.

 

I will say this before getting to the coverage of this issue…both political parties have plied the gerrymandering trade for decades.  The Democrats have done more of it and have been better at it, but that does not excuse the Republicans from their similar efforts.  The simple fact is that like many things political, this is simply another trick of the trade where the Republicans are playing catch-up.  The bad news for the Democrats is that once the battle has been fully joined (like NOW), their strategic lead in this contest is mitigated by the fact that they have far less to gain from these fields they have often plowed.  The Republicans have far more uncultivated acres.  The gap is fixing to narrow.

 

Gerrymandering, taken to its extreme of bizarre district shapes and splitting of communities, is one of the more unsavory political practices.  However, being unsavory has never truly disqualified a political pursuit, has it?  I will say this: If we are going to continue to live with the practice of gerrymandering, then I would suggest two ground rules.  The feasibility and manner in which these proposed ground rules might be applied is up for debate. 

 

First off, gerrymandering should only be conducted once during each ten-year census cycle.  Without this guidance in place, the process simply has no credibility.  Secondly…while acknowledging that when this action occurs should clearly fall under the auspices of the affected state legislature; I would suggest that a window of opportunity be established.  Once the official census data is published, there should be a period of time…two to four years…during which redistricting would be permitted.  Once that window closes, redrawing those boundary lines should have to wait until the subsequent census is conducted.  Revenge might be a dish best served cold…but a decent meal is always more palatable when it is served hot or warm.  If we are going to engage in this exercise, we can at a minimum establish a ground rule or two to retain some semblance of reason.

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/carnival-of-fools/the-flight-of-the-legislators/

 

https://freebeacon.com/democrats/texas-dems-fight-gerrymandering-by-taking-76-seat-private-jet-to-gerrymandered-blue-state/

 

https://freebeacon.com/democrats/now-we-know-beto-orourkes-pac-funded-texas-dems-private-jet-to-illinois/

 

https://jewishworldreview.com/0825/lowry080625.php

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/cooke-on-gerrymandering-democrats-are-threatening-to-do-what-they-already-did/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/08/texas-republicans-play-catch-up-in-gerrymandering/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/gerrymandering-meh/

 

https://freebeacon.com/democrats/chicago-is-so-gerrymandered-its-main-airport-is-parking-backlogged-planes-in-two-different-congressional-districts/

 

Whether it is state government or federal government…we should beware the consequences of Democrat rule…

 

https://amgreatness.com/2025/08/09/thanks-obama/

 

https://www.illinoispolicy.org/chicago-mayor-recycles-failed-tax-idea-to-fix-1-12b-deficit/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/08/gavin-newsom-climate-warrior-flinches-as-californias-war-against-oil-produces-a-crisis/

 

https://nypost.com/2025/08/10/us-news/trump-vows-to-push-homeless-people-out-of-dc-and-get-our-capital-back/

 

Special attention should be given to the dynamics between immigration, the census, and redistricting/gerrymandering…

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/07/ending-the-h-1b-visa-lottery-is-a-good-step/

 

https://americanmind.org/features/assimilation-and-its-discontents/

 

https://americanmind.org/salvo/an-absurd-ruling-on-birthright-citizenship/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/news/trump-orders-new-u-s-census-that-excludes-illegal-immigrants/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/08/ice-is-no-gestapo/

 

Come on Senators….just do your job…

 

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/02/senate-trump-deal-00490401

 

https://www.heritage.org/political-process/heritage-explains/the-confirmation-process-presidential-appointees

 

There is no rational two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict…

 

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/08/israel-to-complete-occupation-of-gaza.php

 

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21813/recognition-of-palestine-hamas

 

There are many good reasons why tax dollars should not support the media…

 

 https://thefederalist.com/2025/08/04/ceos-salary-at-defunded-corporation-for-public-broadcasting-could-fund-a-radio-station-for-years/

 

https://www.racket.news/p/why-would-media-report-on-public

 

Contrast the previous links regarding Democrat rule with these regarding Republican rule…

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-conservative-cultural-comeback/

 

https://amgreatness.com/2025/08/01/senator-cottons-bold-plan-to-reform-an-overstaffed-intelligence-behemoth/

 

https://victorhanson.com/trumps-unknown-frontiers/

 

Three quick hits on taxing/spending, social security reform, and national education reform…

 

https://reason.com/2025/07/31/were-lying-to-ourselves-about-taxes-spending-and-the-debt/

 

https://reason.com/2025/07/22/a-social-security-bailout-would-cost-younger-workers-157000-in-higher-taxes/

 

https://americanmind.org/memo/education-reform-for-the-golden-age/

 

The Troubling Nexus between Government Corruption and Government Incompetence

When considering some of the misadventures we see in the administration of our government, it is oftentimes difficult to determine whether a government agency, department, or official is incompetent or corrupt; there is not always a bright line between these two realities.  Another complicating factor in this dynamic is this question: Which is worse…a smart crook or a stupid administrator?

 

I will submit for your consideration the following choice...Bill and Hillary Clinton were no doubt corrupt throughout their political careers.  However, there is also little doubt that they were clever, intelligent people capable of accomplishing some remarkable things.  Bill was twice elected to the presidency and Hillary was a U.S. Senator and Cabinet Secretary.  The simple fact remains that the last time our federal budget balanced was under the second Bill Clinton Administration.  Did their obvious abilities to successfully manage the huge morass of government largess override their clear tendencies towards graft and self-interest? 

 

On the other hand, we have someone like Pete Buttigieg.  From all appearances, this man is a rather benign individual whose naïveté borders on cluelessness.  And from all indications, he appears to be relatively well-intentioned and guileless.  Clinton was engaging in Oval Office sex games with young female interns while he ran an efficient and effective Executive Branch.  Buttigieg was nonchalantly riding his bike around WDC and adopting children with his partner while allowing the Department of Transportation to devolve into dangerous obsolescence.  It is reported that he spent half of his Department’s annual budget on DEI initiatives.  Choose your poison.

 

It is a fair case to make that we see this same calculation in play with Donald Trump.  While there is simply no denying the fact that his past unabashed behavior has exhibited some serious character flaws and his ego sucks the air out of every room he enters…the first six months of his second term have definitively shown us that the man has remarkable political instincts, great judgment in selecting good policies, and exhibits many of the aspects we all look for in a strong and capable leader.  As my son-in-law oftentimes says… Is the juice worth the squeeze? Yes…it would appear to be.

 

I suppose at the end of the day, the harsh realities of life must rule this decision process.  It is simply not reasonable to expect that we will elect saints and angels to serve in our government.  Very damn few of us qualify under that standard and it is patently unfair to apply that standard to those we choose to serve as leaders.   Truth is…they might not be the best people qualified for that type of work.  We would like for the best among us to serve, but they are not always among the available choices presented. 

 

While readily acknowledging the inevitable presence of corruptive nature in our chosen representatives, the type and quantity of that corruptive nature is certainly open to legitimate and subjective assessment.  I dare say that most among us, regardless of our political leanings and in our most honest moment, would readily accept the positive civic results of Bill Clinton’s second term and Donald Trump’s last six months in spite of their character deficiencies.

 

On the other hand, there is essentially no justification whatsoever for our elected and selected government officials to place individuals in positions of power and authority who are incompetent to serve in their respective offices.  Both national political parties are sufficiently deep and wide as to offer up a selection of people who are sharp enough to do a particular job in a particular capacity.  The presence of patronage in our politics is not the issue; it is the administration of that patronage that is the problem.  In my opinion, the greatest example of this principle in my lifetime is…hands down and without a doubt…the Biden Administration.  Not only did this man populate our government from top to bottom with senseless and incompetent people, but many of them were corrupt to boot. 

 

Obama’s two Administrations did an inestimable amount of damage to our government and our nation, but it was the result of bad policy and corruption…not a lack of intelligence.  Biden’s Administration stands as harsh reminder that no matter how onerous bad policy and corruption might be to our government; the wages of civic incompetence pose a far greater and more damaging threat to our lives.  The reality of Joe Biden himself highlights this point.  If we elect a fool as president, that is on us.  But there is simply no acceptable excuse for an Administration to put idiots in charge when our nation, its citizens, and the federal workforce must suffer the consequences of their stupidity.  To me, this is the greatest act of malfeasance that might be committed by an elected official…particularly a president.

 

Like many people, I am infuriated and disillusioned by the recent revelations regarding the Russiagate hoax that began in the second Obama Administration and bled over into the first Trump Administration.  It sorely tests the aforementioned opinion that competence overrides the concern for corruption.  I would love to see Donald Trump take advantage of every moment left in his second term to pursue the policy initiatives that he has so successfully begun; the clock is ticking on his four-year term and time is too precious to waste on settling old scores and digging up bones.  However, some transgressions are sufficiently serious as to demand they be thoroughly investigated, exposed, and equitable accountability be dealt out.  It strikes me that Russiagate clearly falls into this realm. 

 

I want to make two more quick points before addressing this issue with a comprehensive set of links.  First off…I would love to see the Trump Administration vigorously pursue the investigation of this issue…but to do so in a deliberate, transparent fashion that is not constantly in the headlines.  Also…I’d like to see it pay due respect to the good investigative work that has previously been done instead of replowing the ground already prepared.  Secondly…it would be beneficial to up front admit that many of the available remedies to the Russiagate misbehavior will be of a political nature as opposed to criminal punishment.  The plain fact is that a lot of immoral and unethical stuff happens in our government that is vile and disgusting, but simply does not entail criminal liability.  In these cases, we must all be satisfied with a full disclosure of the wrongful acts committed and who did them.  In these cases, the accountability must be the exposure of the truth and the resulting badge(s) of shame that shall be worn by the culpable parties.

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/07/russiagate-revisited/

 

https://jonathanturley.org/2025/08/01/the-reveal-the-public-is-finally-learning-how-democrats-pulled-off-the-greatest-political-trick-in-history/

https://thefederalist.com/2025/07/29/the-russia-collusion-hoax-is-worse-than-you-think/

 

https://amgreatness.com/2025/07/25/five-crucial-facts-from-the-house-intel-report-on-2016-russian-interference/

 

https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2025/07/24/how_obama_admin_turned_unverifiable_report_into_russiagate_dynamite_1124640.html

 

https://thefederalist.com/2025/07/23/obama-white-house-deep-staters-prove-to-be-the-real-threats-to-democracy/

 

This....just stinks to high heaven... https://thefederalist.com/2025/08/01/exclusive-doj-official-who-approved-2-million-payout-to-disgraced-russia-hoaxers-identified-as-left-wing-activist-brian-netter/

https://justthenews.com/government/white-house/obama-tries-distance-himself-russiagate-clear-evidence-puts-him-heart-it

 

https://thefederalist.com/2025/07/25/john-brennans-5-lies-that-set-russiagate-in-motion/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/news/justice-department-announces-task-force-to-investigate-obama-officials-russiagate-role/

 

https://mrctv.org/blog/craig-bannister/rep-jim-jordan-there-are-3-key-dates-crafting-russia-collusion-hoax

 

https://thefederalist.com/2025/07/22/top-intelligence-officials-contradicted-brennan-no-intelligence-to-support-key-russia-hoax-claim/

 

https://thefederalist.com/2025/07/24/the-intelligence-community-needs-to-be-dismantled/

 

The spectacle of the New York City mayoral race is interesting…to say the least.  The very real prospect of an openly and enthusiastic socialist winning that race is mind boggling.  Given the consequences of Democrat liberal and progressive governance in states like California, Minnesota, New York, Illinois, Oregon and cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, Chicago, and Portland…it is astounding that the Democrat Party is polling anywhere near the pitiful numbers it is experiencing.  Just consider some of their policies…

 

https://amgreatness.com/2025/07/28/the-graveyard-of-progressive-misadventures/

 

https://freebeacon.com/california/newsom-pushed-private-foundation-to-donate-500000-to-anti-ice-defund-police-group-records-show/

 

https://freebeacon.com/politics/not-just-california-high-speed-rail-taxpayers-are-on-the-hook-for-163-billion-in-delayed-infrastructure-boondoggles-ernst-report-shows/

 

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/07/medicaid-fraud-worse-than-you-can-imagine.php

 

https://nypost.com/2025/07/21/us-news/pete-buttigiegs-dot-spent-80-billion-on-dei-grants-delayed-air-traffic-control-upgrades-records-industry-insiders/

 

https://reason.com/2025/07/24/did-usaid-really-save-90-million-lives-not-unless-it-raised-the-dead/

 

https://americanmind.org/salvo/the-radical-left-mainstreams-political-violence/

 

https://amgreatness.com/2025/07/23/uncivil-union/

 

With the emergence of new vitality and optimism in our national economy, what might we look for in that area and other aspects of American culture and society that could break the years-long curse of wokeness, progressive lunacy, and liberal stupidity?

 

https://justthenews.com/government/white-house/2024s-doom-and-gloom-now-2025-trump-boom

 

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/07/a-classic-democratic-party-fail.php

 

https://reason.com/2025/07/25/if-trump-wants-american-businesses-to-thrive-he-should-get-rid-of-government-subsidies/

 

https://americanmind.org/salvo/against-empty-civics/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/07/a-great-start-for-trump-on-ai/