It was a podcast, most likely an interview. But you only had audio, no video to see the guy doing the talking. He was in the middle of an animated harangue predicting that “this is the end of times.” It was the end alright, the end of hearing whatever he was going to say next. Every day, millions of people like you who play in the 4th quarter can smell their end of times. You don’t need another crackpot prophesying imminent Armageddon. No matter how it comes, if it does, it most likely comes for everyone all at once. You have no say in the matter. And neither does that self-appointed mystic who must enjoy some giddy sense of power to blow the transcendental whistle. Guess it never occurs to him that should the human race melt, he won’t be around to crow “I told you so.” Meanwhile, as prophets brood about doom, America bravely keeps on keeping on, as Her People do great things. But you’re not naive, Matilda. The world’s a mess. The Seven Deadly Sins have never been more popular. The malevolence of Group Identity proliferates America. Hatred is on the front burner. Insurrection is prevalent. God knows you’re no angel, but your sin doesn’t come close to the depravity of totalitarian Governments, past and present. In fact, there’s ample evidence that suggests Government leaders believe they must have an existential duty to sponsor genocide. By contrast, America’s Declaration suggests otherwise, stating that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” To be sure, these are nice words to live by. If only all of the People really believed in them. Obviously, far, far too many don’t.

Too many don’t believe in the sanctity of Life.

Too many don’t believe in basic morality.

Too many don’t believe in self reliance.

Too many have no respect for individual rights.

Too many don’t believe in the nuclear family.

Too many choose group identity over their own.

Too many cheat. Too many lie. Too. many steal. Too many kill.

However gloomy, you believe this synopsis is accurate. In a few days, America has an opportunity to celebrate Her 250th birthday. You don’t know how many souls will take the holiday to either ignore or vilify the stars and stripes. Based on the number of Dem votes cast for Kamala and the daily vitriol coming from the Left, they likely number in the millions. You must remember to ask Grok how many Democrats hate America and would prefer to see The Constitutionburned and replaced by the Communist Manifesto. You wonder when adult Democrats will wake up and say it’s OK to hate Trump but not be stupid about it. While the haters bash America, Trump has said publicly that his aim is to strengthen America economically, domestically and militarily — and envisions a world of nation states that are sovereign, successful and self-sustaining. Love him or hate him, anyone should ask, “What motive does he have for his domestic and foreign policy efforts? Is his attempt to uplift the U.S and the rest of the world a crime?” Frankly, Trump is the best POTUS in your lifetime. Not because he represents some kind of moral perfection. But because he has been vilified by all the power brokers at home and abroad. Because he exposed them, flushed them out, and unmasked their corruption and degeneracy. Because, as a total outsider, at great personal risk, he has run the vicious gauntlet and vowed to lead America and engage the world as a business. His enemies are America’s enemies. For example, the Democrats are not loyal to America. They were infected by the quintessential anti-American B. Obama who announced he would transform America. And he did exactly that. The Dem Party is the proof. It has become the enemy within. And now America is divided as never before. The divide amounts to tribal warfare. Incidentally, you finally spotted something in plain sight. The DEM Party is home to every one of the famous Group Identities. You know who they are. Their individual identities give way to group think. The group basically wants political power, a free lunch and your acquiescence. The group chooses the leaders. And the rank and file get an equal helping of the free lunch. Welcome to socialism. class. In opposition, July 4th will celebrate freedom of the individual to work, worship and respect the right of others to do the same. America is a fledgling, an adolescent among the nations of the world. Yet, take a long, honest look at what She has accomplished in just three average lifetimes. And compare Her to any country on earth. You’re genuinely sorry for those who can’t or won’t appreciate what free individuals can do. Sorry for those who tear down rather than build up. Grieve for the children held captive in a belligerent environment.

Happy Birthday and God Bless America.

www.conventionofstates.com

There’s talk that a foolish Donald J. Trump has imitated an ill-advised George H. W. Bush. You remember George. He ran for President against Massachusetts Democrat Michael Stanley Dukakis. Bush most likely would have won the race without saying what he so famously said. But he said it anyway. His speechwriter Noonan and other gifted strategists recommended that he say it. It was August 18, 1988, in New Orleans. He said: I’m the one who will not raise taxes . . . my opponent won’t rule out raising taxes. But I will. And the Congress will push me to raise taxes, and I’ll say no; and they’ll push, and I’ll say no, and they’ll push again, and I’ll say to them, Read my lips: No new taxes. Well, as he predicted, the Democrat controlled Congress did push and push. And, eventually, Bush made this statement: It is clear to me that . . . the size of the (budget) deficit . . . requires . . . entitlement and mandatory program reform, TAX REVENUE INCREASES, growth incentives, etc. etc. Subsequently, in 1992, the voters answered him: “Now you read our lips; you’re toast.” And, thus, American voters chose Slick Willie for eight years and they acquired Hideous Hillary for 25 years. Three little words — a colossal unforced error — changed the course of history. Fast forward 38 years. You won’t quote DJT. But he has always been outspoken in his opposition to war, doggedly opposed to sending men and materials to bog down in some foreign entanglement; e.g., Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. America First is his mantra. Well, now, Matilda. Many of his most vocal friends and all of his enemies have come out swinging, singing their own satirical song. Mr. President, what is Iran, if not a war? What was Venezuela? Isn’t kidnapping President Nicolás Maduro an act of war? Isn’t this a Bush-like betrayal? You don’t think the comparison sticks. But don’t expect some type of exclusive analysis on this page, because at this particular time, you’re as clueless as Inspector Clouseau. You’ve listened patiently to dozens of political pundits across the vast political landscape. The opinions overlap and intersect. Some are cocksure. They decide Donald and the rest of the world  need their strategic advice. By now, the experts should realize that Trump is unpredictable, a moving target, by design.  You are confident of only one thing — nobody knows the end game. But everyone does know about the Strait of Hormuz and the price of gasoline. That knowledge puts DT square in their crosshairs, as they churlishly (some happily) remind him he’s mired in a wreckage of his own making. Whatever the truth is, one thing is certain. Nothing has changed for Mr. Trump. Nothing is new. The Dems hate him. The GOP establishment never wanted him and secretly anticipates his ruin. Since 2015, legacy Media has colluded to discredit him. Guilty Europeans despise him for spanking their bottoms in public. And who expects either China or Russia to wish him well? GOP lawmakers will blame Trump if their Party loses the midterms although the party in power almost always loses the midterms. What you think about all this has nothing to do with Iran. Trump has been in a meat grinder since 2015, when he stepped onto the world stage. Your opinions have nothing to do with his accomplishments or failures. Your opinions have everything to do with motives and actions. He has dared to think big, to begin dismantling a hopelessly bloated bureaucracy and grievously corrupt federal agencies. He dared to put America’s interest first throughout the world. He has dared to validate that America’s economic footing is more powerful than Her military. He has dared to invalidate DEI, and the WOKE policies of neo-Marxism. He has dared to say to an international audience that he envisions a world of successful, sovereign nations, devoid of hostility. Whatever faults Trump may have, he bleeds red, white and blue, 24-7, all the while putting himself in harm’s way. You must give him the benefit of any doubt.

www.conventionofstates.com

Ed. Note: Kansas has become the 20th state to approve COS.

America seems to be waging war. The geopolitical climate seems to be convoluted and a good deal troublesome. The commentary about the war seems to be fractious and conclusive, meaning every opinion about the outcome is unyielding. The good news seems to be that there are only two sides — for or against.  And the rhetoric is as inflammatory as war itself. You have no interest in arguing the case here, however prejudiced you may be, because you simply don’t know what to believe. The collapse of mainstream journalism doesn’t help, You are left to look to Internet sources, but that avenue is as clogged and unpredictable as I-85 at rush hour, and infamously more ominous. Dozens of podcasts bait you unashamedly to seduce you with hyperbolic headlines. They all do it, of course. “They” of course are the pundits — experts galore who have made careers out of telling you what you should believe. Unfortunately, what all media have been successful doing  is sway you to disbelieve. The President you counted on most likely has been compromised, according to his most loyal supporters. Naturally, his administration allies say he has been consistent, negotiating in every way possible with bad actors, before effecting a military policy. Others say he is marching to Israel’s drum, risking WW III. Both positions have merit. Nobody’s arguing against the charge that Iran’s Mullahs have been fomenting hate against America for decades, killing thousands of people in the process. Some will say that the seeds of hate were sowed when nearly a million Palestinians were expelled from their homes to make room for European Jews in a new Israeli State, an arbitrary decision essentially mandated by Great Britain and the U.S. But what is the back story? What are the details and the motives? Tucker says Zionism is a political state motivated to annex more and more land,  to become something called “Greater Israel.” Ambassador Mike Huckabee couldn’t disagree more. One of Trump’s biggest supporters, Tucker has openly criticized him and the war. Whom do you believe? Neither. You don’t implicitly trust any of the narratives. Quite a few outspoken Jewish statesmen, academicians and philosophers have condemned Zionism and PM Netanyahu for systematic policies designed to make Palestinian settlements uninhabitable. Top drawer historian Victor Davis Hanson apparently has no skin in either camp. You have the impression that he believes all parties have first blood on their hands. Can you trust Hanson because he has a stellar history of objective thought? You should, but don’t. Then, as you doubtless know, a mob of podcast pundits are happy to educate you to understand that the war is about OIL. Period. The oil card plays like this. Trump wants to interrupt the flow of discounted oil from Iran to several countries, most of all to China. He’s embarked on eliminating China influence within the Western hemisphere, especially the Panama Canal. That strategy was behind the Venezuela initiative. Trump doesn’t deny it. Do you trust that theory? Yes. But not in its entirety. Unfortunately, the most salient value you’ve lost in the past decade is trust itself, reminding you of the age-old adage “Buyer Beware.” That axiom always applied  to purchases — homes, cars, investments, insurance, etc. Now you also must beware of buying what you learn, or hear, or even see, especially now, with AI on the scene. So what’s real, Matilda? Can you trust your own thoughts? Yes, but leave room to maneuver, to admit false steps or lazy bias. Yes, realize that Trump is moving on a big stage to effect a win-win for America and for any other country who values the same outcome. Yes, look for people of principle. There are a few who inhabit the Internet. Begin with Konstantin Vadimovich Kisin of Russian, Ukrainian, Greek and Jewish ancestry. He describes himself as 1/4 Jewish and a “not-very-practicing Orthodox Christian.” His podcast is titled Triggernometry. Yes, there are others. Victor D. Hanson, Jordan Peterson, Matt Walsh, Joe Rogan, and some intellectuals appearing in Dry Bar Comedy. After all, behind all humor is an element of truth. The idea is to search for that truth whenever and wherever it has a chance to breed. But do ignore the Tube. It’s a special interest wasteland, paid for by corporate dollars and dark money.

www.conventionofstates.com