Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
@Junkster - did you move recently? I thought that you were embedded in one of the Carolina's. Not important, just making sure my crazy meter doesn't need another adjustment.
@Mark I have lived in the Mammoth Cave area of KY since 1996. I spend time during the summers hiking in the Boone/Banner Elk areas of NC. Too embedded here to ever permanently move.
Just don’t call it Kentucky. While one of the reddest of states some of our politicians here, notably Thomas Massie and Rand Paul are the rare breeds in the GOP who boldly and repeatedly stand up to that fellow in the White House.
I knew I might ruffle some feathers with my sarcasm. Apologies in advance to any of the good folks in Texas or Alabama. Randomly chosen, for comic effect.
I try to avoid the political wrangle. But I'm perplexed by the seizing of large super tankers loaded with oil as a way to fight drug use in the U.S. Notwithstanding "The Butterfly Effect" which teaches that everything is affected by everything else and knowing that the great comet extinguished the dianasours and paved the way for humans to evolve - it still seems like a stretch to me,
What's the tanker itself worth? More than one of those small drug boats I'd guess. And is a load of crude worth more or less than a load of cocaine or whatever the alleged drug boats deliver?
If I were in charge, I'd have the CIA plant bugs on these drug boats at sea and then intercept them humanely when they arrive in the U.S. If the CIA doesn't possess such tracking devices, they can buy some at Amazon for 15-20 bucks apiece. So the incredulity of this whole operation deeply perplexes troubles me.
@JD-co- Yes sir, you must have been reading my mind-waves. An ironic aspect of his political sabotage is that in many important areas his beliefs are in direct confrontation to those of the criminal he helped to empower. I certainly hope that he thinks about that every night as he tries to sleep.
It is not about drugs. trump pardons drug kingpins. Opioids ran rampant during the first trump administration, they did jack squat as it tore through the nation.
Drugs are being used as a pretense for these boat attacks. Trump dislikes President Maduro and may be trying to topple his regime. Venezuela has the largest known oil reserves in the world. Trump and his accomplices may use military operations to ultimately gain leverage over Venezuelan oil.
we know about the McConnell spats. but McConnell voted for trump 3 times. in at least 2 of those elections, he publicly rallied to vote full gop. although not naming trump specifically, i am certain everyone including dementia mitch knew who was running. mitch didnt even have the guts to say vote all gop BUT trump.
newt and mitch are the architects of today's gop. #$talksBSwalks
McConnell was the "architect" in getting this Supreme Court loaded with MAGA cultists. I don't think the average voter has any idea that he was the one who managed to pull this off. McConnell even managed to block Obama's nominee (Merrick Garland) at the end of Obamas term.
McConnell and Trump used each other like you would expect 2 sociopaths to.
We are now paying dearly for it.
Clarence Thomas is the poster boy for most corrupt judge of the century. Fits in nicely with the current White House where services are up for sale to the highest bidder.
Meanwhile, I live in a bustling Chicago suburb that has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation. "...a significantly lower overall crime rate (17.57) compared to the national average (33.37), with both violent and property crime rates also being lower than the national rates."
... Clarence Thomas is the poster boy for most corrupt judge of the century. Fits in nicely with the current White House where services are up for sale to the highest bidder.
If the thieving pervert were a Dem, it would be the topic of nightly discourse on every right-wing media outlet.
With due respect for the intensity of passions, both here and nationally, I really do wonder whether it's time to move past the vituperation of Mr. Trump? I teach Propaganda which forces me to pay rather more attention to our current politics than, on whole, I would prefer. One of the most provocative suggestions is that if you got a couple good stiff drinks into the Republican members of the US Senate, you would hear a depth of hatred and ridicule that swamps your most heated ranting.
The question, I guess, is what actions are necessary to increase the likelihood that the Trump era is a historical aberration rather than a template for the New American Politics? It's clear that about 30% of the American electorate is welded to Mr. Trump's ... uhh, hip, by the politics of identity and grievance. Rather a surprising number of white guys have been sold the story that they are America's most oppressed minority. That impression, ironically, seems fed in part by the rise of Mr. Trump's other constituency, the billionaires and decabilionaires and centabillionaires. As I have written elsewhere, their obsession about getting richer for the sake of being richer is effectively pathological. More importantly, it requires the diversion of resources from other parts of society and become beacons of “all that I don't have.” And those billionaires, in large part, have driven the rise of “journalism” as a bloodsport.
What's your plan for changing all, or any, of that? “Howling” does not qualify. Me? I try to make my neighborhood and the Quad Cities a better place. I pay for competent , professional journalism. I try to support sensible candidates for state (Ryan Peterman, running for Iowa Secretary of State, with whom I speak and offer minuscule financial support, as an instance) and local (the board of trustees for the community college district) offices, which form the foundation of the whole structure. I try to teach practical problem-solving skills to my students. (The liberal arts were, historically, practical problem solving skills, not erudite window-dressing.) I try to recognize how very much is going right. I rarely howl.
More than anything, the howling is a way for us to release our frustrations. This feels like a political waiting game and we have to cope with it for a spell. Trashing the corrupt and vindictive autocrat helps in some weird way.
It's noble that you can rise above it. Kudos for that. Seriously.
Of course it's your website, David, and you have to maintain it. Message Board posters have to abide by the rules laid out. If trashing Trump is no longer acceptable in the OFF TOPIC arena, then please state firmly just so that we understand.
(Hopefully this isn't the result of one or two whiney MAGA...posters.)
With due respect for the intensity of passions, both here and nationally, I really do wonder whether it's time to move past the vituperation of Mr. Trump? I teach Propaganda which forces me to pay rather more attention to our current politics than, on whole, I would prefer. One of the most provocative suggestions is that if you got a couple good stiff drinks into the Republican members of the US Senate, you would hear a depth of hatred and ridicule that swamps your most heated ranting.
The question, I guess, is what actions are necessary to increase the likelihood that the Trump era is a historical aberration rather than a template for the New American Politics? It's clear that about 30% of the American electorate is welded to Mr. Trump's ... uhh, hip, by the politics of identity and grievance. Rather a surprising number of white guys have been sold the story that they are America's most oppressed minority. That impression, ironically, seems fed in part by the rise of Mr. Trump's other constituency, the billionaires and decabilionaires and centabillionaires. As I have written elsewhere, their obsession about getting richer for the sake of being richer is effectively pathological. More importantly, it requires the diversion of resources from other parts of society and become beacons of “all that I don't have.” And those billionaires, in large part, have driven the rise of “journalism” as a bloodsport.
What's your plan for changing all, or any, of that? “Howling” does not qualify. Me? I try to make my neighborhood and the Quad Cities a better place. I pay for competent , professional journalism. I try to support sensible candidates for state (Ryan Peterman, running for Iowa Secretary of State, with whom I speak and offer minuscule financial support, as an instance) and local (the board of trustees for the community college district) offices, which form the foundation of the whole structure. I try to teach practical problem-solving skills to my students. (The liberal arts were, historically, practical problem solving skills, not erudite window-dressing.) I try to recognize how very much is going right. I rarely howl.
And you?
Excellent post. I raised a journalist, who worked on the national stage. I taught him moderation and balance. He was Editor-In-Chief of a well regarded high school newspaper. And Editor-In-Chief of a well-regarded University Newspaper. He spent 4 years in D.C. before moving on to greener pastures.
Despite the pure pleasure that I enjoy from kneecapping extremists in this thread, I promote compromise and reason IRL. I like the suggestion of financially supporting responsible journalism. And sensible politicians. I will do more of that, thanks to the suggestion.
I like to think that I respond with facts, more than howl, but point taken. We all can do more. And there is more than a little howling. There is the small problem that those seeking to undermine democracy are not inclined to compromise, or reason. But, those in a swing vote context, probably are open to a more reasonable approach.
Your patience with this thread has been nothing short of Herculean.
Good professor, I see your point but I hope that you don't believe that "howling" is all we do. Howling seems to work at times for example when you're tearing down the White House, renaming buildings, erasing history, abusing immigrants in the worst possible ways, blowing up boats or sending in the US military to our own cities and states just because you can. However, I believe I understand what you are trying to convey.
Preserving our democracy, as pungent as it gets at times, is important to this one who wore the uniform. I detest the idea that anyone or any one group thinks that they can ignore its laws and principles anytime they feel like it as though those things don't apply to them and/or they can buy their way out of them. Sometimes you just have to jump in the muck and make good trouble. I need to let those bastages know that I am not giving up one millimeter of ground as futile as it appears at times.
FWIW I am not some flag waving or religious zealot. After serving in Vietnam I came home to abuse and became an adamant protestor and activist against the war but with facts and hands-on experience and not made up alternative ones. I try to do my research before spouting off and I do the civic things you mention such as keeping in email contact with my local representatives and marching when I can in a show of support. Like you, my financial support is minuscule at best but mostly because I'm not convinced that those dollars are used properly or effectively. Besides I can't compete with a hundred-aire much less a billionaire for attention so my funds go toward funding those on the front lines of providing medical care, housing and food security. Needs not wants.
I do truly appreciate your patience and indulgence and I will always aspire to do better to preserve the decorum you expect on this board.
despite the gerrymandering war, there is a lot of positive things at almost any level outside the current trump admin. its too easy to get bogged down only in whether dems will fail again at the executive level.
i expect to see a lot more of that everywhere. the odds look good when putting effort into lower levels of government.
speaking for me only, the positives are fragile and futurist when relying on the track record of american voters, while the dominant ability of the gop to act now is a reality. and the reality part affects longterm interests more emotionally, at least when there is any human in humanity.
Here are 10 of Donald Trump's most frequently cited wins or achievements from his first year back in office in 2025. These are drawn from official announcements, economic data, and policy implementations, focusing on verifiable outcomes.
1. Securing the Border and Reducing Illegal Crossings: Illegal southwest border crossings dropped by over 93% to historic lows, with more than 2.5 million deportations or self-deportations, including criminals and gang members. This included designating cartels as terrorists, reinstating "Remain in Mexico," and a 94% reduction in sea-borne drugs like fentanyl.
2. Economic Growth and Job Creation: Achieved 4.3% GDP growth in Q3, added about 687,000 private-sector jobs (all net gains to native-born workers), and boosted real wages by around $1,200 per worker. This was tied to deregulation, tariffs generating $90-200 billion in revenue, and a 15% rise in capital spending.
3. Tax Reforms via the "One Big Beautiful Bill": Signed H.R. 1 on July 4, making 2017 tax cuts permanent, introducing "No Tax on Tips," overtime deductions, senior benefits, and "Trump Accounts." This is credited with putting $13,300 more in average family pockets annually and fueling economic surges.
4. Energy Independence and Lower Costs: Reached record U.S. oil production (24.2 million barrels/day, surpassing Saudi Arabia and Russia combined) and natural gas output. Gas prices fell below $3/gallon (averaging $2.90), saving Americans hundreds of millions through deregulation and expanded drilling.
5. Foreign Policy and Peace Deals: Brokered ceasefires in Gaza, India-Pakistan, Rwanda-Congo, and other regions (ending up to 8 conflicts). Destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities via "Operation Midnight Hammer," secured NATO allies' defense spending at 5% of GDP, and facilitated hostage releases.
6. Ending DEI and Transgender Policies: Eliminated DEI programs across federal agencies, military, and contracts (saving $12 billion), banned transgender athletes from women's sports, restricted gender-affirming care for minors, and recognized only two biological sexes in federal policy.
7. Lowering Drug and Healthcare Costs: Negotiated reductions in pharmaceutical prices via executive orders, launched the "TrumpRx" program saving billions, and established the Make America Healthy Again Commission to combat chronic diseases, including phasing out petroleum-based food dyes.
8. Government Efficiency and Deregulation: Implemented the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), cut $160-200 billion in federal spending, reclassified 100,000+ jobs under Schedule F, and issued over 200 executive orders for a 10:1 deregulation ratio, including CRA resolutions repealing prior rules.
9. Attracting Investments and Trade Deals: Secured trillions in foreign and domestic investments, new trade pacts with the EU, Australia, and others, and used tariffs to attract manufacturing back, including the U.S. Steel deal.
10. Judicial and Military Reforms: Confirmed key judicial appointments (e.g., Whitney Hermandorfer to the 6th Circuit), met all military recruitment goals for the first time in years, eliminated DEI in the military, and boosted readiness through funding and policy shifts like banning transgender service.
Good professor, I see your point but I hope that you don't believe that "howling" is all we do. Howling seems to work at times for example when you're tearing down the White House, renaming buildings, erasing history, abusing immigrants in the worst possible ways, blowing up boats or sending in the US military to our own cities and states just because you can. However, I believe I understand what you are trying to convey.
Preserving our democracy, as pungent as it gets at times, is important to this one who wore the uniform. I detest the idea that anyone or any one group thinks that they can ignore its laws and principles anytime they feel like it as though those things don't apply to them and/or they can buy their way out of them. Sometimes you just have to jump in the muck and make good trouble. I need to let those bastages know that I am not giving up one millimeter of ground as futile as it appears at times.
FWIW I am not some flag waving or religious zealot. After serving in Vietnam I came home to abuse and became an adamant protestor and activist against the war but with facts and hands-on experience and not made up alternative ones. I try to do my research before spouting off and I do the civic things you mention such as keeping in email contact with my local representatives and marching when I can in a show of support. Like you, my financial support is minuscule at best but mostly because I'm not convinced that those dollars are used properly or effectively. Besides I can't compete with a hundred-aire much less a billionaire for attention so my funds go toward funding those on the front lines of providing medical care, housing and food security. Needs not wants.
I do truly appreciate your patience and indulgence and I will always aspire to do better to preserve the decorum you expect on this board.
Really great post. From the heart, and not some copy/paste propaganda item.
Interesting that you served in Vietnam, but didn't let that entirely define your point of view. You deserve nothing but admiration. Thank you.
Comments
What's the tanker itself worth? More than one of those small drug boats I'd guess. And is a load of crude worth more or less than a load of cocaine or whatever the alleged drug boats deliver?
If I were in charge, I'd have the CIA plant bugs on these drug boats at sea and then intercept them humanely when they arrive in the U.S. If the CIA doesn't possess such tracking devices, they can buy some at Amazon for 15-20 bucks apiece. So the incredulity of this whole operation deeply
perplexestroubles me.Trump dislikes President Maduro and may be trying to topple his regime.
Venezuela has the largest known oil reserves in the world.
Trump and his accomplices may use military operations
to ultimately gain leverage over Venezuelan oil.
what??? McConnell endorsed and voted trump 3 times !!!
Wishing everyone (well, almost everyone) a very happy and financially safe New Year.
we know about the McConnell spats.
but McConnell voted for trump 3 times. in at least 2 of those elections, he publicly rallied to vote full gop.
although not naming trump specifically, i am certain everyone including dementia mitch knew who was running. mitch didnt even have the guts to say vote all gop BUT trump.
newt and mitch are the architects of today's gop.
#$talksBSwalks
McConnell and Trump used each other like you would expect 2 sociopaths to.
We are now paying dearly for it.
Clarence Thomas is the poster boy for most corrupt judge of the century. Fits in nicely with the current White House where services are up for sale to the highest bidder.
https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/notes-on-new-york
1950's murder levels in NYC! Amazing.
Meanwhile the homicide rate "top 10" is filled with states like GA and TN.
https://www.thirdway.org/report/the-21st-century-red-state-murder-crisis
Crazy world that we live in.
Meanwhile, I live in a bustling Chicago suburb that has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation. "...a significantly lower overall crime rate (17.57) compared to the national average (33.37), with both violent and property crime rates also being lower than the national rates."
The question, I guess, is what actions are necessary to increase the likelihood that the Trump era is a historical aberration rather than a template for the New American Politics? It's clear that about 30% of the American electorate is welded to Mr. Trump's ... uhh, hip, by the politics of identity and grievance. Rather a surprising number of white guys have been sold the story that they are America's most oppressed minority. That impression, ironically, seems fed in part by the rise of Mr. Trump's other constituency, the billionaires and decabilionaires and centabillionaires. As I have written elsewhere, their obsession about getting richer for the sake of being richer is effectively pathological. More importantly, it requires the diversion of resources from other parts of society and become beacons of “all that I don't have.” And those billionaires, in large part, have driven the rise of “journalism” as a bloodsport.
What's your plan for changing all, or any, of that? “Howling” does not qualify. Me? I try to make my neighborhood and the Quad Cities a better place. I pay for competent , professional journalism. I try to support sensible candidates for state (Ryan Peterman, running for Iowa Secretary of State, with whom I speak and offer minuscule financial support, as an instance) and local (the board of trustees for the community college district) offices, which form the foundation of the whole structure. I try to teach practical problem-solving skills to my students. (The liberal arts were, historically, practical problem solving skills, not erudite window-dressing.) I try to recognize how very much is going right. I rarely howl.
And you?
It's noble that you can rise above it. Kudos for that. Seriously.
Of course it's your website, David, and you have to maintain it. Message Board posters have to abide by the rules laid out. If trashing Trump is no longer acceptable in the OFF TOPIC arena, then please state firmly just so that we understand.
(Hopefully this isn't the result of one or two whiney MAGA...posters.)
Despite the pure pleasure that I enjoy from kneecapping extremists in this thread, I promote compromise and reason IRL. I like the suggestion of financially supporting responsible journalism. And sensible politicians. I will do more of that, thanks to the suggestion.
I like to think that I respond with facts, more than howl, but point taken. We all can do more. And there is more than a little howling. There is the small problem that those seeking to undermine democracy are not inclined to compromise, or reason. But, those in a swing vote context, probably are open to a more reasonable approach.
Your patience with this thread has been nothing short of Herculean.
Preserving our democracy, as pungent as it gets at times, is important to this one who wore the uniform. I detest the idea that anyone or any one group thinks that they can ignore its laws and principles anytime they feel like it as though those things don't apply to them and/or they can buy their way out of them. Sometimes you just have to jump in the muck and make good trouble. I need to let those bastages know that I am not giving up one millimeter of ground as futile as it appears at times.
FWIW I am not some flag waving or religious zealot. After serving in Vietnam I came home to abuse and became an adamant protestor and activist against the war but with facts and hands-on experience and not made up alternative ones. I try to do my research before spouting off and I do the civic things you mention such as keeping in email contact with my local representatives and marching when I can in a show of support. Like you, my financial support is minuscule at best but mostly because I'm not convinced that those dollars are used properly or effectively. Besides I can't compete with a hundred-aire much less a billionaire for attention so my funds go toward funding those on the front lines of providing medical care, housing and food security. Needs not wants.
I do truly appreciate your patience and indulgence and I will always aspire to do better to preserve the decorum you expect on this board.
red-state iowa got the ball rolling with some of the most compelling candidates from anywhere. how can one not come away with optimism with turek?
https://bsky.app/profile/adamparkhomenko.bsky.social/post/3lwa4qq5smk2u
i expect to see a lot more of that everywhere. the odds look good when putting effort into lower levels of government.
speaking for me only, the positives are fragile and futurist when relying on the track record of american voters, while the dominant ability of the gop to act now is a reality.
and the reality part affects longterm interests more emotionally, at least when there is any human in humanity.
1. Securing the Border and Reducing Illegal Crossings: Illegal southwest border crossings dropped by over 93% to historic lows, with more than 2.5 million deportations or self-deportations, including criminals and gang members. This included designating cartels as terrorists, reinstating "Remain in Mexico," and a 94% reduction in sea-borne drugs like fentanyl.
2. Economic Growth and Job Creation: Achieved 4.3% GDP growth in Q3, added about 687,000 private-sector jobs (all net gains to native-born workers), and boosted real wages by around $1,200 per worker. This was tied to deregulation, tariffs generating $90-200 billion in revenue, and a 15% rise in capital spending.
3. Tax Reforms via the "One Big Beautiful Bill": Signed H.R. 1 on July 4, making 2017 tax cuts permanent, introducing "No Tax on Tips," overtime deductions, senior benefits, and "Trump Accounts." This is credited with putting $13,300 more in average family pockets annually and fueling economic surges.
4. Energy Independence and Lower Costs: Reached record U.S. oil production (24.2 million barrels/day, surpassing Saudi Arabia and Russia combined) and natural gas output. Gas prices fell below $3/gallon (averaging $2.90), saving Americans hundreds of millions through deregulation and expanded drilling.
5. Foreign Policy and Peace Deals: Brokered ceasefires in Gaza, India-Pakistan, Rwanda-Congo, and other regions (ending up to 8 conflicts). Destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities via "Operation Midnight Hammer," secured NATO allies' defense spending at 5% of GDP, and facilitated hostage releases.
6. Ending DEI and Transgender Policies: Eliminated DEI programs across federal agencies, military, and contracts (saving $12 billion), banned transgender athletes from women's sports, restricted gender-affirming care for minors, and recognized only two biological sexes in federal policy.
7. Lowering Drug and Healthcare Costs: Negotiated reductions in pharmaceutical prices via executive orders, launched the "TrumpRx" program saving billions, and established the Make America Healthy Again Commission to combat chronic diseases, including phasing out petroleum-based food dyes.
8. Government Efficiency and Deregulation: Implemented the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), cut $160-200 billion in federal spending, reclassified 100,000+ jobs under Schedule F, and issued over 200 executive orders for a 10:1 deregulation ratio, including CRA resolutions repealing prior rules.
9. Attracting Investments and Trade Deals: Secured trillions in foreign and domestic investments, new trade pacts with the EU, Australia, and others, and used tariffs to attract manufacturing back, including the U.S. Steel deal.
10. Judicial and Military Reforms: Confirmed key judicial appointments (e.g., Whitney Hermandorfer to the 6th Circuit), met all military recruitment goals for the first time in years, eliminated DEI in the military, and boosted readiness through funding and policy shifts like banning transgender service.
Interesting that you served in Vietnam, but didn't let that entirely define your point of view. You deserve nothing but admiration. Thank you.