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The Goodness of DOGE Manpower Cuts

Defense Secretary Hegseth has just announced the elimination of 20% of the military’s four-star generals and admirals plus deep cuts in other senior military officer ranks. While many Americans decry what they call the gutting of our military leadership, I joyfully celebrate the move. At the peak of my 24-year Air Force career, I would have likely been a target of such cuts. Nevertheless, the action is long overdue. Let’s look into the bloated top leadership of the Department of Defense and other government bureaucracies that is finally being pared down.

There are 38 four-star officers in the active duty military. So, a 20% cut affecting only seven or eight officers is not a lot of compensation savings, but it has the news media spun up. The SECDEF has further directed the trimming of all other general and admiral positions by 10% and has extended similar cuts to the National Guard. All these reductions are only a tiny fraction of the other massive DOGE cuts in the federal government. But, if the positions are not necessary, they simply need to be gone. The military is not exempt.

World War II, the biggest military operation in U.S. history, had 12 million troops engaged at its most intense period with only 17 four- and five-star generals and admirals at the top. Today, we have just over two million in the military with 38 four-stars at the top–more than double the generals overseeing one-sixth of the combatants.

Indulge me in a personal example of military over-manning. Many of the senior officer jobs in the military involve serving as a superior’s backup. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has a vice chairman. The chiefs of staff for all branches of the military have vice chiefs of staff. Just below the star ranks are colonels and Navy and Coast Guard captains who command Army brigades, Navy ships, Air Force wings, Marine regiments, and Coast Guard vessels. All of these have second-in-command officers of the same rank with various titles. I was an Air Force vice wing commander rising later to wing commander who had a vice wing commander. My honest assessment is that the vice wing commander positions throughout the Air Force (and there are many) are not necessary. Across the military, in my opinion, positions labeled deputy, vice, assistant, and executive are seldom necessary. Their duties could be assumed by the commanders or other subordinates. Eliminating these backup military officer positions alone would save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year without any degradation in military capability. Numerous other non-essential positions that have little to do with combat readiness should disappear.

Our current national unemployment rate is 4.2%. That is a perfect rate. A healthy unemployment rate is 4% to 6%. Some unemployment is necessary to accommodate new entries and career changes. It is interesting that all the DOGE manpower cuts are having little effect on overall employment. Government workers must be finding employment where there is legitimate need. The federal government presently employees over three million civilian people, and there are over two million military personnel. I’m sure DOGE still has lots of fat to trim from over five million people. A lot of inefficiency still has to be found to gain ground in the arduous process of stopping the ever-growing $37 trillion dollar national debt.

The deep cuts into our inflated federal government bureaucracy by the DOGE teams are necessary if we are to survive as a nation. Positions similar to the Pentagon’s manpower reductions are being slashed in all federal government departments and agencies where excess workforce numbers are found. The Chicken Little cry from the Democrats and even some Republicans that critical services are being cut and people are going to die is shameful. No one is terminating employees essential to life and productivity. President Trump through his cabinet secretaries and DOGE is just chipping away the excess in government that has caused skyrocketing debt and absurd tax levels for decades. I applaud President Trump, Secretary Hegspeth, and all other cabinet secretaries who are finding the courage to do the right thing for Americans that their predecessors failed to do. Let us embrace the axing of the unfruitful branches of the tree, even though it may carry with it some temporary pain and chaos.

2

Understanding Tariff Issues in Five Minutes

When I was an economics professor with John Brown University, the subject of tariffs was just a part of one class session. I never thought I would see the impact it is currently having on the world economy and trade. Everyone should have a general understanding of how increased tariffs will affect their lives and should pay special attention to the present turbulence in international markets. Let’s take a five-minute quick course on tariff issues.

Tariffs are taxes governments place on products and services imported from other countries. They are a percentage of the prices of the imports, just like a sales tax. But the tariff is paid by the supplier, not the buyer. For a realistic example, if a Volkswagen is imported from Germany with the original price tag of $40,000, and the U.S. government places a 2.5% tariff on it, the manufacturer will charge the wholesale consumer $41,000 for the vehicle to make up for the $1,000 tariff charge. Conversely, if a Ford is exported to Germany with the original price tag of $40,000, and Germany places a 10% tariff on it, the manufacturer will charge the German wholesaler $44,000 for the vehicle to make up for the $4,000 tariff charge.

Proceeds from these tariffs go to the government which imposes the tariffs. So, the $1,000 U.S. tariff on the Volkswagen is paid by the car’s German manufacturer to the U.S. treasury. The $4,000 Germany tariff on the Ford is paid by the car’s U.S. manufacturer to the German treasury. No one in the sales transactions gets any of the tariff money. Tariffs are supplements to the treasuries of both governments. In fact, tariffs were the primary source for funding the U.S. government prior to the introduction of income taxes in 1913.

Tariffs are an immediate financial burden for both the supplier and the consumer. The manufacturer and service provider’s export customers have to pay a higher price for their products and services than the consumers of domestic products and services pay. This is true of both countries involved. Therefore, it is more difficult for these manufacturers and service providers to compete with their foreign competitors whose same products and services are lower in price. On the other hand, the consumers in each country have to pay a higher price for desired imports from the other country.

In the example above, the Ford maker is disadvantaged in the German market, since Fords are $4,000 higher priced than Volkswagens. Similarly, the Volkswagen maker is disadvantaged in the U.S. market, since Volkswagens are $1,000 higher priced than Fords. The U.S. consumers will probably buy more Fords than Volkswagens, because the Fords are $1,000 lower priced. The German consumers will probably buy more Volkswagens than Fords, because the Volkswagens are $4,000 lower priced.

The offsetting advanatage to each automaker is that the tariffs tend to protect the domestic market. Ford will sell more Fords in the U.S., and Volkswagen will sell more Volkswagens in Germany, since the exports are higher in price. Often, this advantage of tariffs is more profitable than having a more equatible international market.

Note that the example demonstrates a greater advantage for Germany than for the U.S. The 10% German tariff on U.S. cars is stardard throughout the European Union nations. This uneven playing field for international trade is mostly what is driving President Trump to raise tariffs rather dramatically. For decades of world trade, tariffs in other countries have been greater than U.S. tariffs. This is one of the reasons the U.S. has a substantial trade deficit with the majority of other nations, meaning the other nations export more to the U.S. than the U.S. exports to them. With the uneven tariffs in the example, many more Volkswagens are purchased in the U.S. than Fords in Germany. This is true of products and services traded with most countries.

China is an outlier in this world-wide tariff standoff, refusing to negotiate and slapping unprecedented tariffs on the U.S. in retaliation. Although all tariff tensions have a political dynamic, China’s President Xi is taking it to a whole new level with a 125% tariff on U.S. imports. President Trump has responded with a 145% tariff on China imports. This essentially shuts down most trade between the two nations and can’t possibly remain in effect very long.

After years of this tariff and trade imbalance uncorrected by previous administrations, President Trump is invoking unusually high tariffs to shock the world trade markets into lowering their tariffs. Many nations are panicking and running to the U.S. negotiating table. Until this economic instability settles, American consumers will pay higher prices on imported products and services, and manufacturers and service providers will have fewer sales abroad. Of course, this instability results in nervous investors and a volatile stock market. I believe, eventually, we will find a more equivocal balance of trade with fewer tariffs or more reciprocal tariffs–each nation matching the tariff percentage of its trading partner. When we will reach that international trade utopia is anyone’s guess. But we had to do something, and the president is doing it.

2

The Great American Reset

I am ecstatic about the great American reset spreading across our nation. For several years, I had been in borderline depression and despair over the moral, economic, spiritual, and social death spiral of our culture. Our insane government had been fostering senseless laws, policies, and positions that had been destroying the very fabric of our society. But, apparently, the silent majority has awakened and is slamming on the brakes just before we plunge over a cliff.

In just the last two months, America has made the most dramatic cultural shift in its history. We have virtually stopped the invasion of our homeland by foreign criminals who were welcomed, protected, and funded by Democtratic politicians. Now, illegal immigration through our open borders is being replaced by aggresive deportation. We are shutting down the antics of the irrational “woke” crowd and returning to common sense. The gender dysphoria myth is being debunked by recognition that we are, of all things, either male or female as determined at birth. Hundreds of billions of waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending is being exposed and cut. Hundreds of thousands of government workers who have been absent from their work stations since COVID are being ordered to come to work or be fired. The abysmal condition of our education system is being transformed after a half-century of neglect. Our weakened military, fraught with social experimentation, is being revitalized for fighting wars. Speaking of wars, we are moving from unending international entanglements to great potential for peace around the world through a strong America. Conservatism, long being relegated to those over 50, is being embraced by young adults weary of failed liberalism.

From a spiritual perspective, we appear to be seeing the years of darkness dissipate with the dawn of rekindled faith. The last Administration seldom recognized the hand of God on this nation, and filthy, hateful public language was the norm rather than the exception. Government corruption was rampant. We are now seeing the name of God invoked freely throughout government-related activities and events. The entertainment world has been replete with unwholesome, anti-family content. But the recent trend of Christian-based films is growing exponentially to Hollywood’s chagrin. Public prayer is popular again. We may be on the threshold of another nationwide Great Awakening.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are whatching their absurd charades being rejected in favor of sensible and prudent strategies. They are in a constant state of panic and chaos. Let’s just pray and hope the liberal factions that have held a tight grip on our society will become enlightened and join the ranks of the rational. The future of our nation depends on it.

Most Americans agree that the catalyst of this rapid transformation is President Trump. Like him or hate him, I don’t see how anyone with an open mind can deny that America is headed in a better direction with him in the White House. As I have said in these posts before, I don’t always like the personality and character of our president. But I am convinced that he is the right person for leading us out of the cultural orbit we were in to a new and superior trajectory. Is he going about it like a bull in a china shop? Yes. But, a familiar saying applies here: “Desperate times call for desperate measures.” Jesus was perfect, and there was a time when He had to crack a whip and turn over some tables.

I’m more optimistic now about our country than I have been in years. I confess I had given up on ever seeing what I am seeing now. I believe God has heard the prayers of His people crying out for the strong, prosperous, and godly nation they once knew. He just may be giving us one more chance.

3

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) What Is It and How Does It Work?

Arguably the biggest kerfuffle in America today is over President Trump’s determination to cut the fraud, waste, and abuse out of the federal government. His establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, is moving at rocket speed in attacking spending that is wasting taxpayer dollars. Let’s take a look at how this mysterious mechanism works and why the Democrats are so radically opposed to it.

On his first day in office, the president signed an executive order creating DOGE to “maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.” He announced it would be headed by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Ramaswamy later resigned to run for governor of Ohio. Trump said the agency would help “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies. Musk, in his typical flamboyant style, claimed he would cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. The current federal budget is $6.8 trillion. So, can DOGE really expect to cut the budget by almost 30%? Probably not, but I am very pleased to see the Administration launch a “shock and awe” attack on every agency in Washington that spends my money.

So, how does DOGE work? Musk, in addition to being a genius, is a phenomenal organizer for problem solving. He has created several teams made up of the smartest people in the country. Each team is small, usually comprising a team leader, an engineer, a human resources specialist, and an attorney. The teams are going into federal government department offices looking for how employees are structured, how technology is being used, how funds are being spent, and compliance with the president’s strategy. There will eventually be one DOGE team for each government department and agency. The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability has a subcommittee called the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (also DOGE) which takes recommendations from Musk and his staff and considers them for legislative action as necessary. Musk and DOGE have no authority to change or terminate anything, although the Dems are screaming like Chicken Little that the teams are defunding and firing the federal government into ruins.

All Trump has assigned DOGE to do is to look deeply into all aspects of government and shine a light on frivilous spending, bloated manpower, and any other hinderances to efficiency. They are just to illuminate the darkness. With the obvious corruption and sluggishness in Washington, Musk would find his job easy and rewarding if it weren’t for the firewalls the bureaucracies have built to protect their turf. From security over-classification to privacy laws to employment safeguards, the DOGE teams are being pushed back at every turn. Plus, liberal federal judges are throwing the penalty flag at almost every move toward doing more with less.

Democrats and career government officials (essentially redundant terms) make up most of the Washington establishment, or “swamp.” Altough many of them are dedicated servants of the people, many serve themselves by orchestrating schemes of exchanges of favors, kickbacks, and political advantages. Some are simply incompetent. Meticulous scrutiny of their jobs would not bode well for their future. So, they fight DOGE like a wild predator backed into a corner.

Liberals are decrying that Musk is an unelected person with no authority or accountability who is acting counter to the Constitution in his inspection of government operations. Actually, his constitutional authority lies in being rightly appointed by the elected president who has a mandate from the voters to do his assigned duties. The bureaucrats who are giving him the most flack are also unelected.

What President Trump is doing through Elon Musk and DOGE is exhilerating to me and most other conservatives. I have never seen such a war on big government, overspending, and Washington corruption in my lifetime. It is long overdue. I can accept an occasional misstep or constitutional infringement in this effort. That is to be expected with this level of tactical assault on colossal mismanagement. Any war has some setbacks. But as long as it is one step back and 100 steps forward, we are assured of victory. So, stand up a cheer, America! The tax payments we file this year will perhaps be less wasted than ever before.

3

Is There a Message in the Fires?

California has suffered massive numbers of wildfires every year for decades, typically between 7,000 and 9,000 per year. However, the latest inferno, still smoldering, is the first to destroy thousands of extravagant estates in affluent, urban communities. The media hub of Los Angeles has long been a crucible for the moral corruption of America. Moguls of the entertainment industry have been enriching themselves by producing pornography and promoting a decadent culture for years. California’s state and local governments have punished good and rewarded evil. Are the fires a random coincidence or a predictable consequence?

I anticipate this post will result in some harsh criticism, but I am convinced it will more importantly express what many are thinking. God’s love and grace is beyond comprehension as is His patience. But He is perfect in judgment. Goodness will be ultimately rewarded, and evil will be ultimately punished. The innocent will sometimes suffer from their proximity to those receiving just retribution. My heart goes out to victims of the raging wildfire, and I pray for their lives and their recovery. The humanity in all of us aches at the sight of human misery. But some agony is a part of all life in a fallen world, some is brought on by our own mistakes, some is to test and strengthen us, and some is from providential judgment. Early in the scriptures, God, who showers us with love and mercy, said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever.” Numerous times throughout history, even in my lifetime, God’s judgment of man’s persistent evil has been obvious.

In my last post, I shared that I believe America is on the leading edge of a transformation toward a more moral and stable culture. Good people are realizing the hopelessness of our death spiral of debauchery. Our recent election and subsequent events show signs of better times. I also believe God is answering prayers of many people of faith and is changing hearts supernaturally. What He spoke to the prophet Ezekiel pertaining to His people 2500 years ago, applies to us today: “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then, they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.” I sense He is doing among us what we have not been able to do ourselves–making us realize the futility of our ways.

I believe evidence indicates God is beginning to guide America, and hopefully our world, back to His desired trajectory for us. He is restoring minds and hearts to Himself and purifying (judging) people and places that attempt to counter that movement. Look for evidence that this is happening. I think you will be surprised.

4

Back on the Rails in 2025

Most of America watched in horror and dismay while our great nation left the rails over the past four years. As the radical left abandoned biblical principles, moral absolutes, fiscal responsibilities, and even constitutional articles, too many sane patriots passively grumbled but failed to act in opposition. Thank God the 2024 election was a watershed when the silent majority finally proclaimed, “Enough!”

The last two months have seen our nation begin to upright the national train wreck and start the heavy task of lifting it back on to the rails. For several decades American culture has been on a slippery slope into a dark place of confused values. Influential segments of our society were calling right, wrong and wrong, right. This misguided movement was led by the entertainment industry, mainstream news media, educational institutions, liberal business leaders, and leftist polilticians. This phenomena is not new. It has recurred throughout human history. The prophet, Isaiah, wrote almost three millennia ago, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter (Isaiah 5:20).” From generation to generation, morally upright societies have cowardly acquiesced to their internal evil practitioners who dragged them down to corruption and debauchery. This as good people remained silent and tolerant. Such has been gradually occuring in America, but it reached a boiling point over the past four years.

Since 2021, our federal, state, and local governments, along with other major institutions, have fostered a societal transformation that has been destroying the very fabric of our society. The failure of godly citizens to object has encouraged the invasion of millions of unauthorized immigtrants–many of whom are hardened criminals. Radicals have taken away the moral innocence of our children by corrupting their understanding of natural gender and sexual attraction. They have perverted the definition of marriage and family. They have put tax-payers enormously further in debt for unnecessary and politically expedient projects and services. They have diluted the justice system as criminals are labeled victims and victims are neglected. Our foreign policies have allowed our enemies to advance as our weakened military has been underfunded and hung up on “woke” objectives.

But America just made a hard right turn. When poet, Alexander Pope, wrote, “Hope springs eternal in every human breast,” he described how our nation’s patriots have awakened. Pent-up frustrations of the majority of citizens have exploded. Last November’s turning-point election was a gauntlet thrown down by right-thinking Americans using the voting booth to scream,”We’re not going to take it anymore!”

Frankly, I held little anticipation that it would happen. I shamedly admit that I had largely lost hope in my country. I was convinced that we as a people were going to continue the death spiral that has been the destiny of so many other nations throughout history. My spirit mourned for my children and grandchildren who wouldn’t enjoy the life I had been blessed with. But, praise God, I now have a renewed faith in where this great country is headed. For me, the election revealed that the silent majority was no longer going to remain silent. Millions who feared being labeled insensitive if they didn’t tolerate the the radical socialists finally rebelled. It restored my hope for my country. Of course, I realize it may be just a short reprieve. I may live to see us go off the rails again. But the course correction we are presently experiencing is to be celebrated. It should cause all conservatives to recommit to seizing this new year as an opportunity to Make America Great Again!

You may be thinking my rose-colored glasses have put me over the top in my newly acquired view of the world. Well, maybe. But I do have a much better outlook for the America I love and serve than I did a couple of months ago. Let’s take a moment to thank the Lord for not giving up on this nation and for putting us back on the rails. Pray that 2025 will be a year America will someday look back on as the time of national recovery and rehabilitation. We may not have the opportunity to survive another train wreck. God said, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man (Genesis 6:3).” Let us call on His help as we move this train forward in a better journey ahead. A journey that will not fall prey to the radical left again.

3

How We Lost Our World Status in One Presidential Term

Half the American population knew that, when Biden was elected president in November 2020, we were in for troubled times in our nation. But I doubt hardly anyone could have imagined how far we have fallen since the January 2021 inauguration. We have the weakest president and vice president since the 19th century. The two latest examples of this do-nothing duo are their responses to Iran’s second ballistic missile attack on Israel and the port workers’ strike this week.

Beginning the day he took the oath of office, Biden signed over 60 executive orders in the first 100 days, overturning Trump’s policies that had brought great success, prosperity, and protection to our country. Later that year, Biden ordered the abrupt and bungled withdrawal from Afghanistan disregarding the counter advice from his military leaders. Thirteen American soldiers were killed, and the Taliban immediately took over the abandoned country while our allies rolled their eyes in disbelief. Then, sensing our weakness and incompetence in Afghanistan, Putin invaded Ukraine with no fear of our retribution.

At the beginning of 2023, a spy balloon determined to be from China was allowed to fly over our entire country without challenge for eight days until its mission was complete. Despite innumerable demands to shoot down the intelligence gathering craft, Biden, fearing China, failed to destroy it until it was well off the east coast. On October 7 of last year, Hamas brutally attacked thousands of concert attendees, massacred over 1200 innocent Israelis, and took 240 hostages. Israel’s year-long retaliation strikes against Hamas’s strongholds have been met with repeated warnings from Biden and Harris to avoid any collateral damage and to cease fire.

Iranian-backed Houthis from Yemen entered the fray with continuous missile attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, on Israel, and on American military bases in the area. The Biden response, other than a few insignificant counter attacks, has been to send hollow warnings to the terrorists.

After Hezbollah rained scores of rockets on northern Israel, Israel took out several Hezbollah and Iranian top leaders. This drew two ballistic missile attacks from Iran totaling about 300 missiles. Biden, instead of encouraging Israel, repeatedly called for Israel’s restraint. Currently, Israel is readying itself for a major retaliatory strike on Iran, perhaps including its nuclear weapons development. The Biden administration is ramping up its pressure on Israel to not escalate the war and to keep any retaliation “proportional.” The U.S. has given no hint of significant military support of our most faithful ally in the Middle East.

After two attempts to assassinate Trump, the FBI has arrested Iranian terrorists in the US with the objective of killing top political leaders. More recently, federal authorities discovered hackers with Iranian ties have gained access to Trumps private campaign emails. Iran’s known involvement in attempted assassinations and election interference is justification for a serious military response. Yet, the Biden-Harris administration has done little more than make meek comments of disapproval.

These are just a few examples of the embarrassingly timid leadership of our president and vice president. They are a threat to our national security. Our Middle Eastern enemy nations only respond to power and are emboldened by the weakness of their adversaries. American deterrence of enemy activity no longer exists. The present administration is the polar opposite of the former Trump administration regarding international relations and national security. There were no new wars or even credible threats of wars during the Trump years. All nations respected the powerful influence and the will to use military action that was characteristic of President Trump.

Kamala Harris has the same spineless leadership character as her mentor, Joe Biden. But her experience in international affairs and world crises is zero. With her at the helm of our nation, we would be extremely vulnerable. She is totally unqualified for the job of leading the free world. From a national defense perspective, she would be the weakest president in our history during this time of peak threats to our nation.

Unlike most former vice presidents, Harris had only one recognized project in her entire term–to work the illegal immigration problem. She was a complete failure. She has absolutely nothing to show for her time as VP. Friendly nations are dumbfounded by our inability to control our borders. Enemy nations see it as further confirmation of our declining fortitude.

In addition to our milk toast approach to the Middle East crisis, Biden and Harris have been silent in the port workers’ strike that will further degrade our economy by billions of dollars a day. Biden and Harris are paranoid about getting crossways with the labor unions . Meanwhile, Americans continue to suffer from the Administration’s inflationary economy and product shortages.

There is no doubt in my mind that, if Trump had been president during this term, there would have been no Afghanistan troop deaths or Taliban takeover, no Ukraine invasion, no Hamas massacre, no Hezbollah attack, and no attacks from Iran and her proxies. Instead of the world being upside-down and on fire, there would be global peace. Trump would have also implemented a cooling off period for the port workers’ union. Inflation would be under control, and our borders would be secure. If Trump is elected president, he will immediately gather our allies’ support to once and for all render Iran impotent and rid the world of the radical nation’s nuclear program. Peace will come to the Middle East…if it’s not too late by then.

There is no place in American government and culture for a radical socialist, weak, and inexperienced Kamala Harris as president. We might not survive four more years of Biden 2.0 with an unqualified president. The free world deserves better from its leading nation, America. We MUST correct the mistake in November!

4

The Great American Scam

America is setting itself up to fall for the biggest scam in its history. God led our founding fathers to form the greatest free market capitalist democracy ever known to mankind. Now, this great nation is embracing the lies, deceptions, and brainwashing of a political party obsessed with dragging the country into socialism.

Our race to the bottom began in 2020 with the questionable election of Joe Biden, an extremely liberal president. His decisions on the economy, immigration, government spending, the military, foreign affairs, and moral values grossly defied American standards and common sense. Biden chose Kamala Harris as his vice president. She was the least logical choice among numerous candidates, but she was a black woman which met his announced DEI criteria. After three-and-a-half years, both Biden and Harris were polling as one of the worst performing Executive Branch teams in our history. At that point, very bizarre things started happening.

President Biden “suspended” his reelection campaign under overwhelming pressure from his own party, and Harris was “coronated” the new Democratic presidential candidate. This was the Democrats’ choice for the leader of the free world although she had failed miserably in her presidential race primary, was described as likely the worst vice president in history, was a far-left radical, and had no record of doing much of anything in her VP position. However, at the time of her no-primary nomination, there was seemingly a miracle happening in the Democratic Party. Suddenly, Kamala Harris was the queen of the ball. She was instantly deemed highly intelligent, an excellent leader with a long, sterling record of accomplishments, and a moderate on the political spectrum. The Cinderella woman received a magic make-over concocted by her party and the news media.

Vice President Harris served less than one term in the Senate. VoteView, an independent organization that ranks senators according to their left-right voting record, listed Harris as the second most liberal Senator in the 21st century–more liberal than Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders. As California’s attorney general, her official actions consistenly reflected an extreme leftest philosophy. She passionately supported defunding law enforcement, bail for hardened criminals, virtually unlimited abortion, extreme environmentalism, Medicare for all, overarching government control, and a host of other Marxist beliefs. Then, her radical Socialist world view immediately flip-flopped toward the center when she became a presidential candidate.

Now, at less than two months from election day, she still refuses to talk about those long-held values that would repulse nearly every American and is focusing almost solely on her false whiplash turn to a moderate view. She knew she couldn’t win the election advocating her real beliefs. Even Bernie Sanders said she was flip-flopping her positions to get elected. In her heart, she is still the same radical Socialist she was from her early adult life through her vice presidency.

Many Americans see right through this thinly-veiled facade. But, sadly, many–perhaps most–of our population is mesmerized by her appealing rhetoric, her false promises, and her younger age. Almost everything she says can be credibly countered based on years of previous statements and actions. She is a hologram–a counterfeit person who is not really whom she pretends to be. The news media, the performing arts community, and the academia elites, fronts for the Democratic Party and purveyors of Socialism, are apparently willing to go to any length to ensure Harris’s success. We must not only question every word that comes from Harris’s mouth, but also every report about her from these sources.

Half of America is taking the bait hook, line, and sinker. They are being taken for a ride in the biggest scam ever foisted on our nation. Pray that enough victims of this fraud see the light of truth before they cast their vote. We must not allow the leader of America and the free world to be a radical Socialist.

5

The “Reagan” Movie Experience

My wife, Linda, and I recently watched the biopic, Reagan, in a local theater. Based on the marketing hype, I expected to be entertained by the personal story of the greatest American president of all time in my opinion. What I didn’t expect was the emotional impact it would have on me. I lived those years serving my country in a military career. I relived them in fond, yet heart-wrenching, memories throughout this exceptional movie.

My 24 years in the Air Force as a pilot and war planner during the Cold War were exhilerating. I was ready and expected to serve in the combat zones of Vietnam and later the Persian Gulf but was instead immersed in other assignments during both conflicts. Although flying was my primary duty, sometimes in non-combat support of both wars, I spent about half my career in staff duties as a war planner. In Military Airlift Command Headquarters, European Command Headquarters, and the Pentagon, I was focused on strategies to counter the Communist expansionism and militarization of the Soviet Union–the greatest threat to America’s national sovereignty. I was deeply involved in this effort every day for the first five years of the Reagan presidency.

During my time at the Pentagon, President Reagan was reshaping America’s response to the Soviet nuclear threat and global expansionism. He was bolstering our nation from an inferior military position to a strategy of peace through strength. We began building more and better weapon systems while simultaneously negotiating with Soviet leaders for a reduction in nuclear missiles and warheads. These were life-or-death years for our nation. My department was working feverishly feeding the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense option comparisons and risk assessments. In my next assignment at Military Airlift Command Headquarters, I continued with their plans staff to research and develop our ability to mobilize and transport forces all over the world faster and with more fighting power than the Soviets could produce.

While the military was engaged in all of this, the State Department and Congress were pressuring the Soviets from an enormously improved position of military and economic might. Rejecting the advice of his Secretary of State, President Reagan made the famous Brandenburg Gate speech on June 12, 1987, demanding, “Mr.Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” The Soviets thrashed and threatened as the U.S. turned up the heat, then tore down the Berlin wall on November 9, 1989. At the end of 1991, Gorbachev resigned, and the Soviet Union was no more. The Cold War was over!

A few weeks after the wall came down, my major general boss flew our European Command planning staff to Berlin to witness the scene. My heart pounded as droves of East Berlin men and women were still streaming through the ruins of the wall into West Berlin with shouts of celebration of their newly-attained freedom. I will never be able to duplicate my feelings on that day. I collected a few small stones from the rubble which are now proudly displayed in my home office.

America’s perseverance and power, wielded by President Reagan, led us from a credible threat of a global nuclear holocaust and/or Communist world domination to the fall of an evil world power in eight years.

As I watched this monumental real-life warmongering play out on the big screen, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I had lived it. I had been in the thick of it. My contributions were relatively small, but it was my professional environment for several years. I was proud to have been there. The movie struck hard as I contemplated again what might have happened had this brave, bold, and resolute president not been leading our nation in those years. As the final credits were rolling, I remained in my seat for a moment thanking God that He saw fit to rescue America and the Free World from what Reagan called the “Evil Empire.”

I was also consumed by the realization that now, 35 years later, the Communist Evil Empire has risen again. Russia still has the nukes, the expansionist ideology, plus the alliance with China–an even greater threat to the Free World. America desperately needs another Reagan. We faced the enemy with unified national resolve during the Cold War. Our leader didn’t blink. I believe we are being called on at this time to do it again.

Dennis Quaid was outstanding in portraying President Reagan. But it was the pictorial collage of the real Ronald and Nancy, including his funeral procession and burial, at the end of the movie that brought me to tears. We will forever be indebted to this man. I highly recommend that you see this movie. I wish every American would see it. May God have mercy on us and patience with us.

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Which America Do You Want?

TRUMP/VANCE

Reverse out-of-control inflation

Reduce taxes on all income levels

Reduce inflationary government spending

Reverse the national trend toward Socialism

Close borders to illegal immigrants

Deport most illegal immigrants

Cancel illegal immigrant government benefits

Support state determined abortion rights

Keep broad healthcare options for all

Enact tougher crime laws

Support law enforcement

Protect Second Amendment rights

Terminate the Department of Education

Protect parental rights

Apply economic sanctions to enemies

Strengthen military readiness

Use military power for war deterrence

Regain international respect for America

Make family values a policy priority

Stop the movement against the Supreme Court

Demonstrate iron-clad support of Israel

Maintain consistent positions on issues

Prohibit government control of prices

Make borrowers accountable for loans

Scrutinize government entitlements

Demonstrate transparency

HARRIS/WALZ

Continue inflation-producing policies

Raise taxes on all income levels

Increase inflationary government spending

Advance the national trend toward Socialism

Allow illegal immigrants to continue entry

Provide citizenship to most illegal immigrants

Broaden illegal immigrant government benefits

Pursue national amendment for abortion rights

Change to government-run healthcare for all

Continue softer consequences for criminals

Decrease law enforcement funding

Order tighter gun control laws

Expand federal control of education

Ensure government control over parental rights

Continue economic support of enemies

Continue woke military policies

Restrain military power for diplomacy

Allow international disregard for America

Strengthen the attacks on family values

Dilute the effectiveness of the Supreme Court

Move away from support of Israel

Flip-flop on long-held positions on most issues

Require government control of prices

Implement tax-payer bail-out for borrowers

Create more government entitlements

Rely on deception

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