tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14009855294345695062024-03-18T22:28:18.024-04:00The DiploMad 2.0Wracked with angst over the fate of our beloved and horribly misgoverned Republic, the DiploMad returns to do battle on the world wide web, swearing death to political correctness, and pulling no punches.DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.comBlogger1383125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-70606333327702518932023-12-02T08:16:00.004-05:002023-12-02T11:19:05.825-05:00The Sun Sets in the West?<p>In my place in Madrid, just around the corner from Socialist Party (PSOE) HQS. There are still considerable crowds gathering every night protesting PSOE plans to ram through a constitutionally dubious amnesty for Catalan and Basque separatists, offer to have Madrid absorb Catalunya's large public debt, and presumably offer independence referendums--also constitutionally dubious. This, of course, after the PSOE ran on a platform of rejecting amnesty and independence for the Catalan and Basque regions. The socialists, who lost the elections, have cobbled together a majority government with seven votes to spare. It is a weak and fractious coalition that could split apart any time. One of the flaws of parliamentary-style government is that you never really know for whom you're voting. The post-election alliances can make a mockery of electoral results.</p><p>The Diplowife and I hung around the demonstration on Friday night. The police presence was overwhelming; the crowd was relatively small compared to previous days, and there were no incidents. We enjoyed talking with some of the demonstrators who were remarkably well-informed about politics in Spain and the world. It was a joy talking to people who value their country and don't want it to see it put at risk so a politician can remain in power. There was a great deal of concern over the growing migrant wave hitting Spain's coasts and the Canary Islands. There were shouts in the crowd of "Spain is Christian not Mohammedan!" Spaniards are born poets and nobody can beat them for the poetic even musical nature of their chants. Translation ruins them: we herd great ones questioning the legitimacy of the Prime Minister's birth, his need to be jailed, etc. You have to hear them in the original.</p><p>Continuing to follow events in Israel. I am not particularly worried about the Israelis; if left alone they will more than handle the Hamas gangsters. I worry much more about the war in the street of London, Paris, Melbourne, New York, Toronto, and Chicago. Our countries have allowed the infiltration of millions persons who hate us. Even worse, however, our rotten education systems have produced millions of "native" students who detest their own country and culture.The pro-Palestine marchers/rioters/thugs are not really acting for "Palestine." Most don't know what it is, where it is, or the history.</p><p>The West is committing suicide by allowing the mass migration of Muslims into our nations, and simultaneously brain-washing our youth into accepting their own demise.</p><p>More later.</p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-45865654999849811302023-11-18T09:21:00.000-05:002023-11-18T09:21:39.571-05:00Time for the West to Win<p>I am tired of calls for ceasefires, settling for half-done missions, and the general blah-blah coming from so many of our "leaders." </p><p>What is being driven home in the current Israel-Gaza bout is the need to win. </p><p>Yes, win. </p><p>In every one of its wars, for example, Israel is always forced into a ceasefire despite its convincing crushing of far superior armies. We see the same process underway, again. Calls for ceasefire, two-state solution, etc. Nonsense. There is no negotiation possible with Hamas, they don't want a two-state solution. They want to kill. So, you kill them, or they kill you. Period. They are savages with no respect for civilization. They want to torture, kill and subjugate in the name of a supremacist ideology. How do you negotiate with that?</p><p>I have written many times before that the civilized nations must inflict one defeat after another on the Islamic world, a world which has attacked us for the past 1400 years. It didn't start with the Balfour Declaration, the creation of Israel, the US' belated backing of Israel, the war in Iraq, or any other historical point except for one: the creation of Islam. It's a totalitarian creed, which glorifies violence, has no respect for or understanding of human rights, treats women like cattle, considers non-believers as less than human, uses children as shields, and once it conquers a territory or people declares that land and populace forever Muslim.</p><p>The war in Gaza is just another bout with the warlike world of Islam. </p><p>Israel must win. Hamas must be destroyed. That is the only way to have a chance for peace. </p><p>Our own sad armed forces, concerned about DEI and pronouns, could learn what it means to win. </p><p>Our politicians need to understand that immigration into our countries needs to be drastically curtailed, and those who hate us deported. We can't have the enemy in our midst, or we will lose every time.</p><p>Win is the solution.</p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-1123579500881559612023-11-13T10:26:00.001-05:002023-11-13T10:29:02.827-05:00On Spain: Existential Crisis? Perhaps<p>I have been writing a lot on Israel, and thought I should write about another one of my lifelong interests: Spain</p><p>Spain is undergoing its greatest crisis since the death of Franco, and the struggle began to develop a parliamentary system of governance. We see the reemergence of themes from Spain's complex and endlessly fascinating past. While in theory, and mostly practice, Spain has been a unified kingdom/state for some 500 years, under the surface separatist forces continue to work.</p><p>Very quickly, and others can fill in more details. This, after all, is just a humble vanity blog.</p><p>In October 2017, Catalan separatists tried to hold a referendum in Catalonia demanding the region's independence. The Government in Madrid declared the referendum illegal and unconstitutional, and ordered it suppressed--which it was. The organizers were accused of sedition and several of them, including the ring leader, Carlos Puigdemont, fled to Brussels, from where they continued to call for Catalan independence. Others went to prison.</p><p>Jump to July of this year. </p><p>As I wrote <a href="https://thediplomad.blogspot.com/2023/07/spanish-elections-sorta-right-wins.html">briefly</a> then, the main conservative party (PP) won a narrow victory, and the main left party (PSOE) suffered a narrow defeat. Neither party had a majority in parliament and, thus, could not form a government on its own; each went off to look for allies among smaller parties, or face another election later this month. It seemed that's where Spain was heading, to wit, new elections, but, no, the PSOE, defying the "experts," has pulled a major stunt to save its government. Despite having vowed not to make alliance with parties seeking the dissolution of Spain, and sworn not to promote an amnesty for those convicted or charged with trying to dissolve Spain, that's exactly what the PSOE is doing, and it looks like it might succeed. </p><p>PSOE has promised an amnesty to those involved in the 2017 referendum; to give Catalonia a special tax status which would enable Catalonia to keep all tax revenues it collects; and, apparently, to hold another referendum on separation. That has not gone over well in most of the rest of Spain. Hence, we see widespread demonstrations in every major city. I was quite surprised to see so many young people waving Spanish flags and calling for the end of socialist rule, and--surprise!--an end to open immigration. The Diplowife and I got caught in one demonstration in front of the PSOE HQs--our place in Madrid is right around the corner--and we sucked in a lot of tear gas. The cops overreacted as the crowd was loud, but not violent, well, not until the cops started with the tear gas and the rubber bullets. Back in North Carolina, we have been watching YouTube videos of the demonstrations and see our building featured, bathed in blue police lights and swirling clouds of tear gas. Nervous laugh.</p><p>The PSOE looks determined to ride out the unrest, promising to have a vote in parliament (<i>Las Cortes) </i>this week to formally set up its new government. </p><p>Many questions and uncertainties: Can this coalition, in fact, govern as a key component does not recognize the legitimacy of the King, the constitution, or the Spanish state? Is this even constitutional? Lots of my Spanish friends hope/trust that the King will step in (as did his father to halt the 1982 coup attempt) and refuse to recognize this as a legitimate governing coalition. Don't know how much an activist this King is.</p><p>It seems that everywhere, we see the structure of Western Civilization under attack.</p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-7609695447587076832023-11-05T10:08:00.002-05:002023-11-05T10:08:58.134-05:00The Rise of the Kapos<p>Sitting here in Madrid, reading the news from back home and around the world, and I am not encouraged for the future.</p><p>The war against Hamas in Gaza seems to be going well. The Israelis are taking a deliberate and methodical approach to destroying that hellish organization. </p><p>I would also note by way of tooting my own horn that I called it pretty much right in my post of <a href="https://thediplomad.blogspot.com/2023/10/hamas-goes-tet.html">October 8</a>, drawing the analogy between the Viet Cong's disastrous Tet offensive and Hamas' own disastrous holiday offensive:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>Hanoi, you will remember, convinced the Viet Cong (VC) into launching a frontal attack on US and ARVN forces across South Vietnam on a holiday, taking over cities such as the old imperial capital of Hue, terrorizing pro-Saigon officials, and, most important, getting lots of media attention, e.g., attacking the US Embassy in Saigon. If you read subsequent accounts by VC leaders, they had argued against this strategy noting that the VC would get annihilated, but they went ahead. Well, it all went per Hanoi's plan: the VC caught the US and ARVN forces off-guard, terrorized the populace, temporarily seized (with NVA help) Hue, attacked the Embassy, etc. The media reporting, of course, helped foment the belief that the VC were some sort of invincible force, blah, blah, and blah. Once the US and ARVN got their act together, the predictions of the VC leadership came true: the Viet Cong got annihilated, and never again was a significant military force. It was now Hanoi clearly in charge.</p><p>Hamas [at Tehran's urging] has launched, on a holiday, a major attack on Israel, including attacking military bases, catching the Israelis asleep at the switch. They are getting their fifteen minutes in the media; they inevitably will get themselves killed by the Israeli counterattack. What will be left of Hamas will be purely an Iranian puppet, however, they will have reminded the world, as was done fifty years ago in another Yom Kippur War, that the Israeli intel and military are not invulnerable and all-seeing. Netanyahu might not survive the following political fall out in Israel. </p><p>Iran will have its main terrorist sock puppet left, Hizbollah, which after all is Shia and much more compliant to Tehran, and it will have destroyed the peace talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia.</p></blockquote><p>If anybody listened to the rambling 80-minute diatribe by Hizbullah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, a couple of days ago, you would know that he basically confirmed the above Tet analogy. He praised Hamas for its courage; said Hamas had launched the attack on its own; disassociated Hizbullah from the attack of October 7; said Hamas can handle the Israelis by themselves, and, well, thanks buddy. Love and kisses from Lebanon. </p><p>Much more troubling than the tired rhetoric of the global Muslim Murder Machine is the noise being generated on the streets of the West by "pro-Palestinian" mobs. We have seen in Washington DC, New York, Chicago, London, Paris, Copenhagen, and other cities, large unruly crowds, often violent, marching for "Palestine." If you listen to their slogans, and interviews of organizers and participants, these are not for "Palestine." No such entity exists and the marchers couldn't tell you the history or location of the place. </p><p>No. </p><p>The organizers of these marches don't care about Palestine, they are for, let me quite blunt, killing Jews, <b>AND</b> destroying the West. </p><p>In other words, they are perfectly in line with the objectives of modern-day Islam.</p><p>One particular group within these marchers deserves special mention. Yes, I refer to fellow Jews. They utterly revolt me. I don't know how many Jews have taken part, but judging for example, by the "pro-Palestine" letters coming out of Hollywood and academia signed by prominent Jews, it's probably not an inconsiderable number, not as many as the "marchers" pretend, but still.</p><p>These Jews remind me of the Jewish Kapos who worked with the Nazis in the death camps and the ghettos helping the Nazis liquidate Europe's Jewish communities. The most prominent of these living Kapos, of course, is George Soros. He and his organizations continue to work with today's Nazis to eliminate the Jewish state and to promote the destruction of Europe and America, e.g., uncontrolled immigration from the Third World. </p><p>They seem to think that the crocodile will never eat them. </p><p>They are wrong, as so many earlier Kapos found out. The Muslim crocodile is not easily sated.</p><p><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></span></p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-63213165799697172082023-10-31T06:35:00.006-04:002023-10-31T07:00:02.557-04:00Things Just Fall Apart<p>Well, I am hanging out in Spain, again, but head back home in a week. I have been following the news and writing inconsequential posts on X (<i>nee</i> Twitter) and have tried starting a post on this inconsequential blog several times but find myself repeating more than a dish of fried garlic. </p><p>Here goes, again.</p><p>The new war in Middle East churns on. Seems the Israelis have begun their land invasion of Gaza, and seem going about it in a very methodical way. Good. I also notice that Israel continues to use those American bombs which only land next to one of the 30,000 hospitals which apparently exist in Gaza, and only kill children. No adults, just children. They might want to switch up their ammo supplier; some advice from an old man behind a computer screen.</p><p>I have no doubt the Israelis can handle Hamas, Hizbullah, and any other threats in their neighborhood. I have less confidence in the ability of the West to do so. </p><p>I wrote years ago about this, <a href="https://thediplomad.blogspot.com/2016/03/boots-on-ground-and-other-fantasies.html">here</a> is one example:</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">The cause of Islamic "radicalization" is not Guantanamo, Western troops, or women in short skirts. The radicalization, as the word "radical" makes clear, comes from the root of Islam, the Quran. This basic text of Islam is held to be, quite literally, the precise word of Allah as revealed to Mohammed. No deviation is allowed or accepted; it is the Final Word. Period. No further revelations follow. We see, therefore, the rage with which mainstream Islam treats the Ahmadiyya sect which holds to subsequent "revelations" that call for more compassion and understanding. When I served in Pakistan, a major center of the Ahmadiyya faith, attacks on and killings of Ahmadis were common. Jews and Christians, likewise, come in for Islamic hatred and rage, because they do not accept the Quran as the word of God or Mohammed as his Prophet. Forcible conversion, slavery, and death serve as the prescribed remedies for this blasphemy. It is right there in the Quran, aka, the book of instructions on "How to be a Muslim."</span></span><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></blockquote><p>We see the streets of London, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Paris, Copenhagen, etc, taken over by frenzied anti-semitic crowds "supporting" Palestine--could they find it on a map?--shouting the "River to the Sea" call for Jewish slaughter. </p><p>Thank you, universities.</p><p>Many, many of those demonstrators would find themselves raped, tortured, and murdered precisely by the people they purport to support. I love the line from the march organizers that many Jews took part. I have my doubts about how many Jews did, but let us not forget that the Nazis had their Kapos in the camps and outside -- e.g., George Soros and clan --helping them annihilate European Jewry: Yes, Jews who worked for the Nazis--an ugly truth. </p><p>Hamas, a mafia-like, blood cult, wants to kill all Jews, including the Kapos, and--surprise!--Christians. They also want to kill LGBTQ (etc) people, and women in short skirts, and on and on. They have a long list.</p><p>We are "immigrating" ourselves into a collective suicide. Our own borders remain wide open; we have no idea who is among the millions who have crossed it and continue to do so while we worrying about Ukraine's borders.</p><p>Anyhow, no ceasefire until Hamas is destroyed. Hizbullah should be next. It can be done; look at how Trump destroyed the ISIS caliphate in short order. </p><p>I have written before that Islam needs to suffer one devastating defeat after another before there is any chance of reform. It's a long war.</p><p> </p><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></span><p></p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-37087003394887445252023-10-08T10:22:00.003-04:002023-10-09T13:16:06.332-04:00Hamas Goes Tet<p>Along with anybody civilized, I have been horrified by the video and photos coming out of Israel in the wake of the Hamas attacks. Hamas. an Iranian proxy, have gone all in trying to sow terror, showing no regard for noncombatants, be they elderly, children, women, Israeli or foreign. </p><p>They apparently have kidnapped and killed foreign tourists attending some goofy peace concert, dragging them back to Gaza and parading them naked through the streets. No animal does this; only human scum of the sort that belongs on death row.</p><p>Hamas, in my view, have adopted a Tet Offensive strategy. </p><p>Before you jump on me, let me say that no historical analogy is perfect, but this one seems pretty close. Hanoi, you will remember, convinced the Viet Cong (VC) into launching a frontal attack on US and ARVN forces across South Vietnam on a holiday, taking over cities such as the old imperial capital of Hue, terrorizing pro-Saigon officials, and, most important, getting lots of media attention, e.g., attacking the US Embassy in Saigon. If you read subsequent accounts by VC leaders they argued against this strategy noting that the VC would get annihilated, but they went ahead. Well, it all went per Hanoi's plan: the VC caught the US and ARVN forces off-guard, terrorized the populace, temporarily seized (with NVA help) Hue, attacked the Embassy, etc. The media reporting, of course, helped foment the belief that the VC were some sort of invincible force, blah, blah, and blah. Once the US and ARVN got their act together, the predictions of the VC leadership came true: the Viet Cong got annihilated, and never again was a significant military force. It was now Hanoi clearly in charge.</p><p>Hamas has launched, on a holiday, a major attack on Israel, including attacking military bases, catching the Israelis asleep at the switch.. They are getting their fifteen minutes in the media; they inevitably will get themselves killed by the Israeli counterattack. What will be left of Hamas will be purely an Iranian puppet, however, they will have reminded the world, as was done fifty years ago in another Yom Kippur War, that the Israeli intel and military are not invulnerable and all-seeing. Netanyahu might not survive the following political fall out in Israel. </p><p>Iran will have its main terrorist sock puppet left, Hizbollah, which after all is Shia and much more compliant to Tehran, and it will have destroyed the peace talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia.</p><p>I think there can be no doubt that Iran has been emboldened in promoting this massive attack by the weakness of the West, especially the USA under its current "leadership." The US, aside from resuming funding for "Palestine," seems interested in placating Iran, allowing the once starving regime to resume oil sales on the world market, returning frozen assets, and generally ignoring Iran's drive for a nuclear weapon capability. In addition, the chaos on the streets and borders of Europe and the US, have convinced the Mullahs that this is the time to strike.</p><p>Don't be surprised if we see similar terror on the streets of Europe and America.</p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-32967771453786860022023-09-30T09:16:00.005-04:002023-09-30T09:42:55.492-04:00Bottom Line for 2024<p>Spending too much time on X (nee Twitter) and getting caught up in the nonsense there.</p><p>Time to focus on the real issue.</p><p>The country and its people were far better off under Trump than under the Zombie now in the White House. </p><p>That's the bottom line.</p><p>The country and its people will be better off after the elections under a Trump or DeSantis administration than under a Biden/Harris/Newsom administration. </p><p>That's all that matters. </p><p>The rest is just noise.</p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-20439761138007624922023-09-28T10:09:00.012-04:002023-09-28T15:37:57.472-04:00The Debate, Part 2<p>Meh. Very unimpressive overall. Poor moderation, too, by the hosts, including the usually excellent Stuart Varney.</p><p>Who won? </p><p>Well, the easy answer is Trump. </p><p>It confirmed the wisdom of his not participating. He remembers, obviously, what he did to Jeb Bush back in the debates of 2016. We forget that the wise opinion then was that Bush would be the nominee, and that Trump was just a distraction. In those debates, Trump lasered in on Bush, and demolished him. Why would Trump, the clear-front runner now for the nomination go up there and be the punching bag for 7, 8, 9 whatever the number of opponents? Not saying it's fair or just or ideal, just saying that's how the politics play out this time around.</p><p>The debate?</p><p>Lousy questions and a clear effort (I think) to marginalize DeSantis. I haven't seen the analysis of how many questions or how much time each candidate got, but doubt it was DeSantis with the most.</p><p>Despite Varney's presence, the economic questions were flat. I am surprised no candidate, especially DeSantis, didn't just butt in and say what we all know, "The economy is in terrible shape. You don't need fancy stats to tell you. Go to the supermarket, go to the gas station, try to get a mortgage or a car loan, look at your bank account. You used to have money, now you don't. Go downtown in almost every major city: see the havoc wrought by Bidenomics and its Soros allies in the DA offices. Look at the border. Our money goes to protect Ukraine's border and ours stays wide open. Look at our foreign policy as we skate ever closer to a major hot war with Russia, drive China closer to Russia, and placate the mullahs in Iran, and the dictator in Venezuela." </p><p>Nah, none of that. </p><p>No mention of the weaponization of the justice system, and the blatant corruption of the Biden family and administration. </p><p>Nah, none of that.</p><p>Just a lot of shouting and talking over. </p><p>Haley (horrors!) had the best reply on education issues and on that basis alone I would give her the "win." It's a meaningless trophy, but it's hers. Her foreign policy stuff, however, was just typical DC establishment blather about the importance of Ukraine. The debate about the curtains at the Ambassador’s residence was nonsense.</p><p>DeSantis better step up his game if he wants a real shot.</p><p>More thoughts later.</p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-81041678369983754342023-09-25T09:33:00.005-04:002023-09-26T09:03:57.837-04:00A Little Vignette on What's Bad and Good About Life in America<p>As the four or five regular readers of this irregular blog know, I own two Corvettes bought on line at the height of the pandemic hoax. Well, yesterday after dinner the Diplowife asks me to take one of my son's friends--he's dog sitting--to my son's house which is about 20 miles away. She said, "Take him in the Corvette. He's never been in one. He'll be thrilled." Well, dear readers, you know me, I am all about thrills. So I uncovered the six speed, 2013 427 and got this friend into the thing. I put the top down. I don't know if he was thrilled as he spent the whole ride texting to various friends. By the time we approached my son's house it had gotten quite dark, and North Carolina can be quite dark once away from the big cities. I missed the turn-off and decided to go ahead to the next street to turn around. </p><p>Now the adventure begins!</p><p>As I reentered the road, out of the darkness, at high speed with no lights on, a small SUV came charging down the road and--WHAM!--into the Vette. Both cars stopped. I got out and approached the other driver, who leaned out the window and mumbled ¿<i>Que pasa, hermano</i>? While waving his arm in circles. <i>¿Que pasa? You've smashed my car. </i>He waved his arm, and muttered,<i>"Bah."</i> I asked in Spanish and English if he had insurance and a driver's license. I got back the same, <i>"Bah."</i> I then told him in Spanish and English, <i>"I am calling the police." </i></p><p>That was the starting gun, I guess. He accelerated his car, ripping off a piece of his own vehicle, and sped away. I got the license number and called the police.</p><p>Meanwhile, neighbors had come out of two houses. The nicest people you could imagine. All offering me their homes so I could wait for the police and the tow truck. One gent even offered to drive me home the full 20 miles. One lady said I could come to her house and she would give me something to eat, and so forth and so forth. Wonderful folks.</p><p>Did I mention all of these ten or so people who came out to help were black? It shouldn't matter but in today's charged and divided atmosphere, I think that's worth noting. </p><p>The police came and arrived at the same conclusion I had: the other driver was an illegal alien, probably drunk and with no driver's license. The plate number I gave them came back to a completely different car than the one I described. Probably switched or stolen plates. </p><p>Anyhow, the bad and the good.</p><p>That is all.</p><p><br /></p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-42680181687435019002023-09-23T17:03:00.002-04:002023-09-23T17:03:26.000-04:00Back and Unhappy<p>Got back from Spain a couple of days ago. Not happy. </p><p>Have been spending way too much time and energy on X (nee Twitter) duking it out with the supporters of the Biden Crime Family. A hopeless enterprise; they lie and gaslight to an extent hardly seen before in modern American politics. They insist that things you see with your own eyes, smell with your own nose, and experience with your own wallet, just ain't so. No. Not at all. Biden is the most wildly successful President in American history. He is honest, strong, truthful: he is the epitome of the patriot. There is no two-tier justice system. </p><p>Everything bad is due to Orange Man! Kamala has fixed the border and will now fix "gun violence." OK.</p><p>Ignore the collapse of the border; the censorship; the growing insecurity on the streets; the rising prices at the pump and supermarket; the drop in real wages; the decline of the real estate market in the face of skyrocketing construction prices and mortgage rates. Insulin is going to cost seniors less! The military is going to be evermore diverse and inclusive! You are going to pay off the college loans of all those feminist literature majors! Buy a $60,000 electric vehicle, but don't charge it unless we say it's ok. </p><p>Be happy and grateful!</p><p>I am at the point of giving up trying to make a go of it in the USA. Should I live out my remaining years in this mess? Maybe go somewhere where I can live in peace, and get good coffee.</p><p>I don't know.</p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-82041728792006933062023-09-06T06:27:00.005-04:002023-09-06T06:27:49.835-04:00Spanish Birthday<p>Back in Spain to "celebrate" my birthday. Relatives here make a big deal out of a birthday, while I would rather ignore the date. No such luck. Big lunch is scheduled for later today at a nice restaurant in San Sebastian. I will be forced to smile, while secretly looking at my watch.</p><p>My son is here with his kids and they are seeming to enjoy Spain. It's still a good country for raising kids. The numerous parks are full of the little ones and dogs until very late at night; parents sitting on benches or at near-by terraces having drinks and snacks. The parks get power washed every morning. Quite amazing.</p><p>The news from home is not cheery. The methodical destruction of the American nation continues apace.</p><p>The imbecilic mummy in the White House and his giggling VP put out a steady stream of delusional tweets and press releases about "wins" and progress that nobody in his right mind could possibly believe. All very Orwellian. There is a constant distortion of inflation data which belies what one sees with his own eyes in supermarket, gas station, and retail stores of all kinds. Mortgage rates are through the roof, along with car loans. Meanwhile criminal gangs have the OK to steal and loot, with those seeking to protect their property made out as the villains. </p><p>The border? Not even mentioned anymore. Millions pour across, and hardly a peep. </p><p>The power elites continue their Stasi-like war on the political opposition, locking up opponents, hitting them with outrageous sentences, and a docile press goes along.</p><p>What will the next few years bring? </p><p>I kinda hope not to be around to see. I feel great sorrow for my grandkids; they are going to inherit a collapsed Western civilization, worthy of a Mad Max film.</p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-66528778440221566572023-08-24T14:26:00.001-04:002023-08-24T14:26:44.600-04:00The Debate . . . Meh . . .<p>I violated the rules. I watched last night's GOP debate AND I watched the Tucker Carlson interview of President Trump. I never understood why some were making it into an either/or proposition. </p><p>Let me start with the Trump interview. It was fine. No new developments. It would have been better if the interview had been recorded after the debate, so Trump could react to the debate, but, that's what we have. Trump was mellow, funny, and perceptive, but didn't say anything we haven't heard before. I think his explanation for not participating in the debate was good enough, i.e., why give those other guys too much publicity? I am sure Biden will use the same excuse for not debating Kennedy, or whomever else emerges from the DNC swamp to "challenge" him. </p><p>The debate. Well, before I start, let me pass along the Diplowife's words of wisdom: it's the first debate, give the participants time to develop their debating tactics and messaging. OK. Fine. Now let me state that it was kind of a bore. I am not sure there was a "winner," but Ron DeSantis did not hurt himself, which was probably his main goal. He did come off as stiff, and clearly free-wheeling debate is not his forte. He does fine on the stump and in one-on-one interviews. I'll come back to RDS. </p><p>I thought Vivek Ramaswamy came off as just too clever: he's obviously smart and would have been a terror on a college or high school debate team. He, however, was too cute, too much of "I am the smartest guy here," for my taste. He needs to calm down a bit, show more gravitas, and not jump around so much. I don't think he hurt himself, but it's just not clear if his is a serious candidacy. Nikki Haley? I don't know. She reminds me of Mitt Romney. She's got the establishment foreign policy talking points down pat, but I couldn't discern any particular vision for how to get us out of our current mess. Her words on abortion I found vapid, just empty. Tim Scott, was a nice guy who had memorized a lot of economic data, but didn't give me a feel that he has a plan. The big loser, I think, was Chris Christie who at times seemed to forget that he is running for the GOP, not the DNC nomination. His attack on Trump did not go over well, and will gain him nothing. I think he burned himself. Mike Pence? Nothing to say about him. People weren't buying his explanation for his actions on January 6. The other two were basically nothing-burgers who couldn't explain what it was they were doing on the stage. </p><p>Back to RDS. He did well when explaining what he's done as Florida governor and in laying out a tough approach to illegal aliens and drug smuggling. He, however, let himself get overrun by Ramaswamy and Christie and needs to get into the fight a bit more. I like RDS, but not sure this is his time. Who knows?<br /></p><p>OK. What did it all mean? Not much right now. I doubt these debaters ate into Trump's lead for the nomination. I would be surprised if Trump picked any of them as VP.</p><p>OK. About to head back to Raleigh from Wilmington. I'll write a word or two about falling planes in Russia.<br /></p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-2349457866218967102023-08-18T17:17:00.001-04:002023-08-18T17:17:51.749-04:00The Republic Dies in Plain Sight<p>I have proven reluctant to weigh in with commentary on the avalanche of indictments against President Trump: I am not a lawyer, certainly not a Constitutional expert, I don't play either on the internet, and so many others already have commented to the point of nausea. </p><p>But, of course, weigh in, I will.</p><p>I have read the indictments, and, as I said, am not a lawyer. That said, the indictments don't pass the smell test, and seem clearly driven by an overwhelming political animus not only against Trump, but against any questioning of the "liberal orthodoxy." Even more troubling is the "burn the witch" caterwauling coming from so many in the media, precisely the industry which should serve as the most jealous guardian of the freedom of expression and political activity. The bottom line comes down to they don't like what Trump says, especially about them, so, put him in prison. They are aided by a "weaponized" FBI that from even BEFORE the first day of Trump's presidency conspired against him and his inner circle. Other federal agencies protect the Biden crime family and persecute any whistle-blower brave enough to sound the alarm.</p><p>This little post is a request for help from those who know the laws better than I. The Georgia indictments have me particularly outraged. They seem to be nothing burgers of the most empty kind, but then the punishment is the process, the process is the punishment. Just wondering does a County DA have the authority to indict a person who was President at the time he committed the alleged offenses? Shouldn't he have been impeached and convicted by Congress first? If not, this opens a whole can of worms for hundreds of DAs, all across the land, to start seeking indictments at a state, county, or city level. Chaos.</p><p>Let me know.</p><p><br /></p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-54595506237626042862023-08-13T17:46:00.007-04:002023-08-13T17:46:55.325-04:00Whatever Happened to Ukraine?<p>I know I've written before about the mystery stealth war in Ukraine, but I must return to this 21st century version of Big Foot.</p><p>What happened to the war into which we and our European friends have poured billions of dollars and euros in cash and fancy equipment? Where are the results? Where are the intrepid embedded journos ready, willing, and able to risk life and limb to tell us all about Russian perfidy in the wild East? </p><p>What happened to the much ballyhooed Zelensky offensive that would retake the eastern provinces of Ukraine, and recapture Crimea? We sent a bazillion dollars (minus the ten percent for the Big Guy?) and our latest awe inspiring artillery and tanks . . . so?</p><p>This sounds more and more like Orwell called it. The endless war in some far off place, with occasional reports of great victories which mean our chocolate ration must be increased from 50 grams to 35 grams! "Inflation is down to three percent from its previous one percent! Gasoline has dropped in price from $1.50/gallon to $4.00/gallon! We are winning!"</p><p>Does Ukraine join the ever-lengthening list of modern hoaxes?</p><p>Just asking for a friend . . . and my grand kids.</p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-54540591391818180672023-08-12T07:45:00.001-04:002023-08-13T14:27:05.226-04:00Biden Special Counsel: The Joke Grows More Elaborate & is Joe Heading for the Door?<p>OK, folks. </p><p>We all know it's a joke, a joke worthy of that all-time jokester and comedian, Lavrenti Beria.</p><p>Beria would have appreciated AG Garland's "sudden" naming of a Special Counsel (SC) to look into Hunter Biden, this after years of saying none was needed. He also would have appreciated that the SC named is none other than US Attorney David Weiss (another miserable Trump appointment), who "investigated" Hunter for the past three-plus years: remember the laptop? On top of it all, Beria would have appreciated how Garland has violated the law by picking Weiss; the law requires that the SC come from outside of the government, certainly not be a DOJ Attorney, and the one who has protected the Biden Crime Family (BCF) for all these years. Let us not forget that Weiss masterminded that other joke: the "plea deal" for Hunter which would have allowed the crackhead to skate on serious tax fraud and gun charges that would have put any of us in the slammer for years.</p><p>Well, of course, it turned out some honest judge threw out the plea deal as it contained promises of, in essence, permanent immunity for Hunter from any other prosecutions. </p><p>The Republican-controlled Congress, in its stumbling at times inchoate manner, in the meanwhile, has put together an impressive portfolio of Hunter's crimes, all of which implicate the "Big Guy," your "President." It is now beyond clear that the BCF runs a giant influence peddling and money laundering operation to benefit the Big Guy and his clan. The BCF sold foreign governments and oligarchs access to then Vice President and now President Biden. It's an outrageous scandal which the press seeks to minimize and ignore, much as they did with the Clinton money-laundering and influence peddling scandals.</p><p>Now, Garland has stepped in to complicate, and try to stifle further investigations by the Congress; you know, "Sorry, Congressman, but I can't answer that question because we have an open investigation." I hope the Congress doesn't fall for it.</p><p>There might be another aspect of this SC stunt which I haven't heard commented upon. I think we <b>MIGHT</b> be seeing the opening move to get rid of Joe Biden. I am pretty sure we will see some indictment of Hunter and perhaps a conviction in an effort to steer the investigation away from Joe. That, however, doesn't mean Joe has not become a liability. His crookedness, manifest incompetence, and cognitive decline have become just too obvious. </p><p>Don't be surprised if Joe "suddenly" decides not to run in 2024 so he can "take care of his family." Just a thought. I might be wrong, and it wouldn't be the first time or the last.</p><p>Got to go feed my dogs. They are being exceptionally rowdy this morning.</p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-54642313518657496632023-08-06T13:06:00.000-04:002023-08-06T13:06:42.566-04:00Back in NC: Cars, Guns and Politics<p>Got back from sweltering Madrid a couple days ago to sweltering North Carolina. That damn climate change! You know, the change from Spring to Summer: it gets me every time.</p><p>First order of business was, of course, ensuring that my cars would start. Only one failed to launch, and I now have it on the ol' trickle charge. </p><p>Just before I had left for Spain, my 2013 427 Corvette began flashing the "check engine" light <i>and</i> the "Service Traction System" warning. I could also hear a "tick" coming from the engine. Sigh. I slowly drove over to a nearby mechanic who gave me a double dose of bad news: It would be about $3000 to fix, and he didn't have the right equipment to work on a Corvette. So I took it back home, cursing all the computerization of cars. Back in my day (<i>snap of suspenders</i>), a clever lad and his friends could fix most cars with the use of a wrench, hammer, screwdriver, and duct tape. Nowadays, I open the hood, and have to call Bill Gates. I have little idea of what I am seeing. Anyhow, got back and, with trepidation, slowly drove the beast over to the Chevy dealer. Turned out to be a very nice and honest fellow. He put his trained ear to the engine, and said, "Wait a minute." Took the Vette into the back and returned a few minutes later. "Fixed it. Loose wire on cylinder number 6." I gave him $100 and he was happy. My faith in humanity restored. My Vette now, again, prowls the boring streets of my boring suburban existence.</p><p>Another order of business, but of course, was picking up my gun from the dealer in Wilmington. I had won the thing last month in a raffle at a GOP dinner. Glock 19, Gen 5. Got it, and--<i>meh</i>--don't know what the big fuss is with Glocks. It seems fine, a bit light and small for my taste, but OK. Nothing special. Put it in the safe with the Glock 17; they can discuss the old days in Austria. Still prefer my Arkansas-built Wilsons, my Texas-built Staccato 2011, or my Czech-built CZ-75. To each his own.</p><p>Politics. The state of US politics has become nothing less than disgusting. </p><p>The endless filing of charges against Trump smacks of Soviet Russia. Read the charges and they are ridiculous. I have no doubt that some anti-Trump jury, presided over by some anti-Trump judge will find Trump guilty of some absurd charge. I also have no doubt that it will be all thrown out by the Supreme Court as violations of Trump's First Amendment rights. The punishment is the process; the process is the punishment. Tie him up in court; subject him to an endless barrage of leaks from the prosecution; countless court appearances to interfere with his campaigning; drain him of millions of dollars; grind him down in the press; make it a danger to work for him. </p><p>It's horrible what's being done to him and his family. Beria would be so proud.</p><p>In the meanwhile, naturally, we see an effort to bury, ignore, or minimize the real criminal activities by the Biden Crime Family, and to hide Joe's increasingly obvious mental incapacity. I am sure the DNC/Obama are preparing to substitute Joe so that he can "take care of his family." Kamala Harris will get pushed aside, maybe given some lucrative job (SCOTUS?), and replaced by some slick-haired clown such as Gov. Newsom--the man who has destroyed California. The full election-rigging machinery will kick into high gear.</p><p>I despair.</p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-9347013996428926382023-07-24T04:28:00.001-04:002023-07-24T04:28:41.715-04:00Spanish Elections: The Sorta Right Wins a Sorta Victory<p> You can resume breathing. The Spanish election results are in. </p><p>The <i>Partido Popular</i>, the major "conservative" party, has won the most seats of any other party but fallen short of a majority in the 350 seat House of Parliament. The PP did "defeat" the Socialists of the PSOE, winning more seats (136), and becoming the largest contingent in the Parliament, but will have a tough time gluing together a coalition to reach 176 seats. </p><p>The PSOE (122 seats) also will have rough time putting together a ruling coalition, and the regional independence parties already have signaled that they will not support the PSOE without a price. </p><p>The PP has called on the PSOE not to block the formation of a PP government despite the lack of a clear majority, noting that no party has ruled after losing an election. We'll see about that, but the "experts," the same ones who called the election generally wrong, predict a caretaker that will call for new elections before the end of the year. </p><p>Will the results be different?</p><p>We had a grand old time in a mountain top restaurant near the French border. The restaurant is owned by a Colombian and his British partner from the Falklands--never met a person from the Falklands before, and we had an interesting conversation about Colombia, the Falklands, and that the EU has now officially adopted the name Malvinas for the Falklands.</p><p>Anyhow, it's now raining like hell, and I hope to have a peaceful day with minimal activity. </p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-4304438588864405372023-07-22T19:49:00.002-04:002023-07-22T19:50:28.702-04:00Spain's Elections: A Swing to the Right?<p>Went and watched part of the show by the Village People at the San Sebastian "jazz" festival. Pretty good crowd on the beach watching the, frankly, kind of boring show. Every song sounded the same, and everybody was there for one thing: <i>YMCA!</i> It was the last song, and the Euro youth went wild. BTW, a well-behaved crowd, no fights, no trash, and regardless of from whence they came, they all spoke English. Pretty impressive on all counts.</p><p>Anyhow, Spain's national elections take place this Sunday, July 23. The opposition is up in arms over the date, given that the 25th is a national holiday, and most people seem to be traveling or making plans to travel. That will, it seems, keep the voter turn-out lower than usual, something which the opposition suggests will benefit the unpopular socialist government now in power. </p><p>There will also be widespread use of mail-in ballots, something about which Spaniards have a great suspicion. Despite all that, the pundits and my highly unscientific interviews suggest the socialists (PSOE) will lose their government to the conservative <i>Partido Popular</i> and its various allies. </p><p>We'll see. </p><p>I have been invited to an election night dinner with a gaggle of friends and relatives from all over the political spectrum to watch the returns. Might be fun.</p><p>I will report developments. I am sure you can't wait. </p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-75942045422140035292023-07-20T07:19:00.003-04:002023-07-20T07:19:36.440-04:00Fitbit, Jazz, YMCA, and Whistleblowers<p>Still in San Sebastian. We had a wonderful lunch yesterday overlooking the Concha Beach. Wonderful weather to along with the food and conversation--no politics. </p><p>Today, I have already put some 10,000 steps on my Fitbit before 11am. This is very much a walking town, and it's rare to go to bed without some 18-21000 steps on the ol' Fitbit. Walking around last night, noticed that the parks were full of moms, dads, grandparents, running children, and dogs well past 11pm. Not many places in the world nowadays where you see that.</p><p>The tourist horde continues to arrive as we head into the weekend and the International Jazz Festival. That event is now a very big deal, and not at all what I remember from some 50-plus years ago. Back then, it took place in a small square in the old part of town, was free, and drew amateur and b-level musicians. It was fun. </p><p>Now, the thing is a monster, takes place at different large modern venues, and not free. Too crowded for me; I was never a jazz <i>connoisseur,</i> to start, much less knowledgable about that art form. The names of the artists coming from all over the world don't mean much to me EXCEPT for one. Yes, the Village People (<i>YMCA!)</i> are coming to town. I never realized that that gay quartet was consider part of the jazz world, but there you have it. I report, you deride. </p><p>I spent a lot of time listening to the testimony of the IRS whistleblowers. In a sane and just world, it would prove devastating for the Biden crime family and the DOJ/FBI. The Democrats at the hearing, and on social media, made clowns of themselves, trying their hardest to ridicule and ignore the powerful testimony and evidence of how the IRS, the DOJ, and the FBI sought to suppress the case against the Biden criminals. </p><p>Now, the question is, of course, what will the Republicans do about it? Strong letter? Couple of interviews on NewsMax? </p><p>This is the test of the party. Will it fight back against a weaponized Federal bureaucracy out to destroy what remains of our democratic republic?</p><p>I am not optimistic, but pray that I am wrong. </p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-79431585321967540792023-07-17T15:00:00.006-04:002023-07-17T15:00:59.724-04:00Hanging out in San Sebastian<p>I love this town of San Sebastian. The geography is spectacular, the food is the best in the world, and, despite all the tourists as San Sebastian overtakes Monaco as the place to be, the people here have retained their culture, history, and language, and remain friendly to the wave of outsiders hitting the beaches, bars, and restaurants. The violence of the ETA-era is gone; it's a remarkably safe and orderly city. Bravo to the politicians of left and right, who, despite their disagreements, have come together to make this a wonderful place. </p><p>I have received no reimbursement for above paean to San Sebastian.</p><p>Today, the Diplowife's birthday, we went to the little town of Guetaria (Getaria in Basque) on the coast about 45 minutes from San Sebastian by bus. </p><p>This town's claim to fame is as the birthplace of Juan Sebastian Elcano, the first man to sail around the world. It also was the birthplace of fashion designer Balenciaga, and his house is a very nice museum.</p><p> Great little town with a fabulous array of restaurants and a beautiful harbor and beach. We had very nice, although expensive, meal at the Elcano restaurant. We made reservations two months in advance at what is ranked as one of the world's best restaurants. </p><p>It was nice to get away from politics and revel in the history of the West.</p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-58646624103468220732023-07-14T04:37:00.000-04:002023-07-14T04:37:13.517-04:00Absurd<p>The only word that can describe what's transpiring in the West: Absurd.</p><p>We have an absurd "President," one who 75% of the time has no idea where he is or what he is supposed to be doing wherever it is hat he is. His performance at the recent NATO meeting was a classic example. </p><p>About that meeting, we note that after all the hype about Ukraine joining NATO, that venerable organization has decided, "Nah. Not today Mr. Z, not today." The whole idea of admitting Ukraine to NATO is, of course, absurd. Kind of like an insurance company selling a homeowner fire insurance while the house is on fire. All liabilities. </p><p>I see that our absurd "President" is also making some sort of absurd pledge to "liberate" Belarus, as well. Yes, just what we need: even more involvement in the complex issues of easternmost eastern Europe. Is somebody from Belarus paying the Biden family? Yes, another area for a possible do-nothing absurd investigation.</p><p>All this absurdity, of course, while China eats our breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Western officials go along with it.</p><p>In Europe, of course, the full-scale invasion by hostile forces goes unabated; NATO nowhere to be seen on that threat. Major European cities have joined the San Francisco Club, becoming third world wastelands. On this July 14, Bastille Day, France finds itself succumbing to this invasion by people who have no idea of French history or culture, except a twisted one which drives them to destroy the very country that takes them in. </p><p>In the UK, we see a similar process underway with a criminally inept political class blathering on about nonsense, e.g., climate change, while the Channel is a clogged, one-way highway of "asylum" seekers. The Brits have become as absurd, stupid, and self-destructive as we.</p><p>And, of course, in DC, "whistle blowers" find themselves "suddenly" charged with all sorts of nefarious crimes while Hunter skates, and we have the continuing mystery of the "coke bag" that suddenly appeared in some (variable) secure location in the White House. The Secret Service has closed its investigation telling an increasingly non-believing public, "We just don't know how it got there and who brought it." </p><p>I guess our super-duper Jetsons security machinery is actually from another Hanna-Barbera production, "The Flintstones." Yes, "we just don't know." Inspector Clouseau could have solved this one.</p><p>I am sitting in my place in San Sebastian. It's a beautiful day outside, although way too many tourists. I am going to have a coffee and try not to think about the "absurd."</p><p>Happy Bastille Day to my friends in France watching their country be destroyed.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-20719768705233095842023-07-10T20:43:00.004-04:002023-07-10T21:56:51.813-04:00Hot Time in Madrid<p>Well, the Diplowife and I are back in our little place in Madrid, and will head off for our place in San Sebastian later today. We will be in Spain for about three weeks. </p><p>It is hot here. It is currently 230 am and in the mid-80s. No A/C, of course, not with European energy prices. The temp will break 100 again later today. This, of course, has the chattering classes going on about Global Warming, you know, this is "the hottest it's been in 125,000 years"! Right. So why was it hotter 125,000 years ago? Nonsense, of course. It's summer in the northern hemisphere; that's all.</p><p>Anyhow, I see the Great Mystery of the "Cocaine in the White House" has yet to be solved even with the WH now trying to push the coke off on some workers who were refurbishing a part of the WH. Yeah, yeah. All the while Uncle Joe depletes our ammunition supplies, even giving away our stocks of cluster munitions, the same ones the lefties decried as inhumane not that long ago. I guess, when it comes to giving stuff to Joe's Ukrainian masters, everything is fine, nothing is too good. </p><p>This, of course, taking place while our idiotic Secretary of the Treasury does her best imitation of one of those Perpetual Drinking Birds while meeting PRC officials: bow, I must bow repeatedly to our New Lords . . . Disgusting.</p><p>The Stumbling Biden Mummy has taken his show on the road to London, where he met the almost as stumbling King Charles. </p><p>What a crazy pair! </p><p>The West is coming apart at the seams as our economies sputter; we edge closer to nuclear war with Russia over something not of our concern; and our cities become vast wastelands thanks to unfettered immigration from hostile nations. These two intellectually limited grifters talk about climate change.</p><p>Dark times for the West.</p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-84345064267974020222023-07-08T11:23:00.000-04:002023-07-08T11:23:09.499-04:00At the NC Lincoln-Douglass-Reagan Gala: Listening to LTG Robinson<p>The Diplowife and I attended the annual NC GOP Abraham Lincoln-Frederick Douglass-Ronald Reagan gala in downtown Wilmington. Must have been well over 1000 people at this sold-out event. The big attraction was an address by current North Carolina Lt. Governor and candidate for Governor Mark Robinson. I have mentioned him before (<a href="https://thediplomad.blogspot.com/2023/06/back-from-nc-gop-convention.html">here</a>) when I heard him speak at the NC GOP Convention where he blasted one out of the park with a real barn-burner of a speech. </p><p>Well, he did it again. </p><p>The man is a genuinely awesome speaker, can speak for well over an hour with no notes, no teleprompter, and deliver a powerful conservative message. He is a wonderful throwback to the Black Southern preachers who could speak and rouse a crowd. He is patriotic, funny, humble, biting, witty, etc., everything you want in a speaker. I am voting for him to be the next governor of North Carolina. I recommend you get his speeches--<b>unedited</b>, if you can--on YouTube. </p><p>My only concern is his health. He is very overweight, and clearly seems to have high blood pressure, and, probably, diabetes. He needs to take better care of himself, as he is the sort that is a liberal Democrat's nightmare.</p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-90969719739115541572023-07-07T15:34:00.002-04:002023-07-07T16:11:36.070-04:00Good Movie: "Sound of Freedom"<p>The Diplowife and I went yesterday to see "Sound of Freedom." All the evening tickets were sold out in our first choice of theater, and we had to go a bit further away, and take an afternoon show before we could get in. </p><p>Let me say that I was reluctant to see it. I don't like heavy-handed propaganda regardless of where on the political spectrum it emerges. Local contacts here in Wilmington, however, who seem reasonable, kept saying we should go. So, we went.</p><p>It proved a pretty good little film. The acting from all was excellent, especially the little kids, and it had a good tight direction and pace. The film is based on a true story, but I don't know to what extent it remained faithful to that true story. The film stars Jim Caviezel as a somewhat rogue Homeland Officer, Tim Ballard, who decides to take on child trafficking at one of its sources in Latin America. Parts of the film, frankly, are hard to watch, but it does avoid the soft-porn into which it easily could have degenerated. Ballard and some shady but ultimately decent folks set up a giant sting in Colombia, and nab some serious traffickers and free dozens of children. There is, I suspect, a Hollywoodized account of Ballard's confrontation in the jungle with a major drug trafficker and rebel who also deals in children. Well done and not overly violent. </p><p>It is worth sitting through the credit roll at the end, as some interesting information is provided about Ballard and what he achieved. There is also a heartfelt two or three minute monologue by Caviezel asking us to support efforts to end child trafficking and slavery. He also notes that the movie was shot five years ago, but no distributor could be found until now. Hollywood, I guess, doesn't like criticizing pedos.<br /></p><p>The movie is good and deservedly is kicking the box-office butt of "Indiana Jones," despite being shown on far fewer screens.</p><p>I would note, further, that whatever progress was made in combating child trafficking has been largely undone by the Biden open border. The traffickers of drugs and people, including children, have little to no difficulty crossing the border. The Democrats apparently favor drug and children traffickers. Surprised?<br /></p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-33858263864040869692023-07-06T10:22:00.003-04:002023-07-06T17:51:20.901-04:00Coke is It: White House, White Lines, White Lies<p>Just a quick one before I head off for lunch.</p><p>Looks like the Biden Crime family has decided that, "Coke is it!" As you all know," a "bag" of a white substance was found somewhere in or near the White House. The story has changed repeatedly: the initial account reported that a "bag"--size, weight never given--with a "white powder" had been found "near" the White House, and would be tested to see if it was "toxic." </p><p>When that story would no longer hold because of the leaks, then the bag was found to contain cocaine, and had been located in the "library," no, no, well, in a common work area accessible to staff and "tourists." Oh, by the way Hunter was at Camp David; well, no, he had been at the White House for part of Friday, but since the bag was found a day or so later it couldn't have been his, because, well, you know, the place is intensely searched every day, except how did it get there in the first place? </p><p>Look, it's been years since I have visited the White House or the Old Executive Office Building. When I worked at State, and especially for Maureen Reagan, I went there many times; every time I got thoroughly searched, briefcase opened, pockets emptied, metal detector, pat down, the works. Cameras everywhere. So, all that now has stopped, and anonymous tourists roam as at some sort of Safari park? Yeah, right. The only people not searched--<i>drum roll!</i>--family! </p><p>I love the media's attempts at helping with the cover-up. A tourist did it, in an area not covered by CCTV. Staff did it. My favorite, "We likely will never know who brought the coke into the White House . . . " </p><p>Stop. </p><p>We all know some poor low-level employee is going to get the blame.<br /></p><p>This White House is a total disgrace. <br /></p>DiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.com15