We have a blissfully short column this morning because the real “deal points” in the news flow this morning market America’s present mass-media-breakdown a prime candidate for diagnosis as bipolar disorder (Refer to your dog-eared DSM-5) although it could enlarge into a schizophrenic break.
If I were a mental health professional (which I’m thankfully not) the problem arises when we try to reconcile conflicting behaviors.
As an example:
Gallup has reported that “Economy: Americans’ Confidence in Their Finances Keeps Growing.” In fact, say the pollsters, we’re at a 16-year high.
But then, a nearly opposite emotional state is reflected in the tale from MediaBusters explaining ““Video Venom: 33 TV Shows in Jan. Slam ‘Terrorist’ Trump, Praise Abortion.”
We’re confused on what the best treatment is for this kind of bipolar/schizophrenic display, although it seems there are three main options:
First, we could call a “dog whisperer” because there’s a chance the American population is “biting the hand that feeds it” – which strikes us as a canine expression.
OR, we would simply begin a daily regimen of vitamin supplements to help rebalance our thinking. K2+D3 might be one. Lithium orotate, might be another, and perhaps additional magnesium…
The third choice is more drastic: Television writers have to be replaced in wholesale lots because the (pardon me) sh*t on television isn’t worth our time.
Here at the ranch a week and a half back, our TV went out. Ordered up the part needed (I thought) from www.shopjimmy.com. Problem is, when the part arrived, turned out out 55″ LCD had a Polaroid T-Con, not the one ordered. So we did the dance with parts (we’re still dancing) but in the meantime, I’m back to gobbling down Kindle books as is Elaine. Toss in nightly bouts with Alexa hosting Trivial Pursuit contests and who needs a TV, right?
Current looking at a Hisense because the old Sceptre 55 would look fine in the studio and the 50″ there would replace the 42″ in the gym/guest room, and that would free up an LCD for the shop…but I digress.
The whole premise of television is that there’s something worth watching. And – in case you haven’t caught-on yet – that’s becoming a very sketchy case, indeed.
You see, the problem is that humor heals…but now, with Digital Mob Rule on the rise, along with the pathetic snowflake mee-too’ers and their digitalantism screaming “I’m a bigger victim than you” every five minutes…well, makes us wanna puke, know what I’m saying?
Democrats Aren’t Getting It!
Sadly, the democrats – who are going to give Trump less than what he’s asking for in Wall building funds, which will lead to GovDown2 next week because Trump is a doer not a player – are trying to “negotiate down to $1.3 billion and change. Apparently (as we’ve mentioned before) democrats are seriously math impaired. Trump hasn’t budged on $5.7- billion.
Another example of democrats being disconnected from the here and now is the Beto O’Rourke campaign, although we’re not sure who he’s running against yet. Point I’m making is that whether he runs for president or the senate, there were Mexican flags up at his border show yesterday. Which to us looks more like O’Rourke is running for the presidency of Mexico than America.
Near as we can figure, the only real asset O’Rourke has is as an t entertainer turning out music that’s not on the charts anymore, at last not in the Billboard Hot 100 I saw. He did better in business than music, better in politics than business….
Tell you what, though: If Beto runs for president (of Mexico) put us in for $100.
National of Nuts is Cracking?
Need more evidence of Nation of Nuts? “Writer Sues Twitter Over Ban for Criticizing Transgender People.”
(Does this mean if you’re going to turn axe murderer, go trans first??? Not sure how this works out…but since Twitter no longer supports really free speech we don’t go there anymore. — Vote with Your Mouse!)
Elaine and I are showing solidarity with everyone by playing with our plumbing here in the Outback. Depending on which bathroom you’re in, the hot water could be on the right…or, in some on the left. We thought it would be the least we could to do show it doesn’t matter to us how the plumbing is positioned. (*We sell a decoder card to guests for a dime so they know what to expect in which bathroom…)
Crapstorm Europe Just Ahead
Seriously, though, it’s worth your time to click over and read “Opinion: Europe may be on the cusp of a nightmare, but it’s not too late to wake up – By George Soros.”
I used to think Soros was a pretty bright fellow. When he talks about what’s ahead for Europe in dire terms, he goes on to telling Europe to get back to “traditional values” and natters on.
What he misses is that the woes of Europe mostly relate to wrong-headed immigration “laws” (to use the word loosely). OK, and too much government, too.
Soros – who I seem to recall funnels money into the various anti-US Reconquista Groups, can’t seem to grok why Europe is going down Implosion Boulevard.
Here’s how Europe will play out:
With no real borders between countries, thanks to the monumental border tear-down in the Schengen Zone, Europe has no check on immigration. Mostly, immigrants for over a dozen years have been anti-Christian, strong Muslim. Oh, who also seem to hate Jews.
Which matters why? Who would have thought that Jew-hating by immigrants would find a built-in affinity group in the radical right of Europe? Yet here we go in today’s UK Sun: “HORROR FROM HISTORY Chilling echoes of France’s Nazi past as ‘Juden’ graffiti is sprayed on Jewish bakery in Paris…”
Radicalized right or radicalized Muslims? When it comes to hating Jews, both sides are suspect because their rhetoric lands on one group… and that leads to regional political implosion.
While we agree with Soros; vision of “bad stuff coming to Europe” his lack of citing immigration as turmoil force #1 is disheartening…
He needs to understand affinity groups in society and online hate much better than he apparently does. If Soros really grokked it, he might start respecting borders. But until then, he’s passing out checks to the wrong people – and to the wrong causes – in our view.
Talks a “traditional values” line and funds its opposition. Which brings us down to sedition or stupid as the question to be answered.
Meantime, Business is Optimistic
Says so right on the press release: “Small Business Optimism Returning to Normal Levels as Owners Express Uncertainty about the Future.”
“The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index slipped 3.2 points in January, as owners continued hiring and investing, but expressed rising concern about future economic growth. The 101.2 reading, the lowest since the weeks leading up to the 2016 elections, remains well above the historical average of 98, but indicates uncertainty among small business owners due to the 35-day government shutdown and financial market instability. The NFIB Uncertainty Index rose seven points to 86, the fifth highest reading in the survey’s 45-year history.”
The stock futures are up a couple of hundred points. Since our needs 700 more points of upside, we could see some smoking upside, so we will look for a positive blip or three in the news over the next week, or so. But, that’s a dart toss and it’s early.
Salt & Pepper
Chicken-fired news, anyone?
Commercial and Multifamily Construction Starts in 2018 Showed Mixed Performance Across Top Metropolitan Areas.
U.S. EPA may issue E15 gasoline plan without biofuel credit trade limits – sources.
Refining and Shipping Industries Brace for New Fuel Regulations That Could Raise Prices on Everything from Fuels to Consumer Goods — Even Cruises…
CoreLogic Reports U.S. Overall Delinquency and Foreclosure Rates Are Lowest for November Since at Least 2000.
And one passing example of America’s math skills being in decline:
CNN runs Bill and Melinda Gates: 9 things that surprised us. And Time runs 5 Things That Surprised Bill and Melinda Gates Last Year.
Oh, yeah, and this is choice: Forget whitewalls, Lexus has a car with all-white tires. Just what we need to put on our old 350…white wheels for the muddy roads of the Outback. Yee-haw – work for life!
Moron the ‘morrow…
Hell George the republicans are no better than the democrat’s and you know it,Trumps wall is nothing more than an actor playing his part on the stage, for its nothing more than an attention grabber, to try and please his base, meanwhile everything else he’s done and is doing slides under the radar while they say its all the deep states fault,mean while he’s all alone in his big beautiful house known as the capital looking for someone to pat him on the head and tell him what a deal maker he is, while his failed policies is sending ever more farmers and small business’s into the bankruptcy line….
I was going to offer a critique about not using periods, but then saw you saved them up for the end.
Pesident Milktoast keeps huffing & puffing & blowing nothing down. Except for the Tax Scam Act he has done very little to Make America Great. The Dems have done nothing for over 2 years but push PT around, & his greatest offense against them is Twitter. I think the Deep State has something on PT to keep him from acting. Based on his performance so far, I would be surprised to see him run in 2020. China, Russia, & NK can’t think much of PT & are just waiting for the Dems to get PT out of the way so they can go back to scamming the Dems.
i find no place to put the date on the new tax form and the pages?seem independent of others…”what is this addition stapled on with your name..?” and when….seems some power is abounding.. i may be wrong tho..
The “deep state” has something on everyone that gets anywhere in politics. You don’t give any front man power without having a short choker leash on him. There’s nothing new here. I like President Trump and realize his limitations. They tried the sex approach with Stormy, etc., and found that he simply didn’t care. Everyone has something that they care about, even if it’s the lives of their family, and I have no doubt that any and all methods of control will be used as needed. There’s nothing new here – all presidents and others in power positions in modern times have dealt or complied with this.
It hasn’t taken long for the hate, bigotry, & racism of our newly elected Democratic Congresswoman to shine thru. This is what you asked for Millenials, maybe you will wake up. It is sad, these woman don’t understand what they are saying or the consequences. They are actors, playing to the crowd. They even insulted Schummer who is Jewish. Not smart.
ECS, the millennials are in her camp. They new who they were electing with her and AOC. What I dont undetstand is how millennials, who are so in tune to protect lgbtq (and whatever letters symbols Ive missed) and woman’s rights, but they support muslim candidates whose religious beliefs are the antithesis of what western millennials stand for.
I know a gay guy who adamantly supports muslims. Hes very flamoyamt and obviously gay and I have no problem with that, but if he and his flamboyant appearance were in many if not all muslim nations, I doubt he’d make it out alive. I find it so stupid that liberals will support a religion that would justify killing them and in very grotesque ways, like tying them up and throwing them off high roof tops and then stoning the lifeless body after its laying on the ground. And in Iran where they hang them off of cranes. It makes no sense to me that lgbt people align with Muslims.
George
“The whole premise of television is that there’s something worth watching. ”
You should give these shows a try:
The Incredible Dr. Pol
Fantom Works
The Curse of Oak Island
All are based in the reality of the moment and are lite on drama.
Nothing you see is made up out of whole cloth.
In the case of Oak Island if Rick and Marty do happen to stumble upon the Ark of the Covenant I hope they don’t touch it and call in help from Jewish religious leaders on how to handle it!
“In the case of Oak Island if Rick and Marty do happen to stumble upon ”
Hey Mike.. that is one show I love to watch. I do believe the way those two are going about it that if anyone is going to find what is hidden there.. It will be done by their endeavors.
I am so curious though. with the amount of engineering that had been done hundreds of years ago. It has to be good.
another one that is a great watch and an eye opener that you might find fascinating, is America unearthed with Scott Wolter.
History channel killed it.(http://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/in-new-interview-scott-wolter-says-america-unearthed-dead-new-shows-under-consideration) luckily for us the travel channel brought it back.
https://www.history.com/shows/america-unearthed
“Gallup has reported that “Economy: Americans’ Confidence in Their Finances Keeps Growing.” In fact, say the pollsters, we’re at a 16-year high.”
Hahahahahahahahahhahahahaha….that one is a funny one.. I sure don’t know who Gallup is taking to but I am at the bottom and everyone I know at the bottom is scared shiztless…
doing everything but walking in circles yanking their hair out going Oh shizt what do I do, oh shizt what do …
the only thing you can do .. no spending.. cut services.. I changed insurance companies and saved just shy a grand a month..
George has said it enough that he almost owns the phrase…Everything is a business model… Let’s take the Mueller investigation.
All corporations have a core business plan. Mueller knows things are imploding with Trump…and is waiting on the sonic boom of disgust from his base that own homes, when they find out that their tax refunds will be 8-10% lower than last year. Or if they usually pay…find out that they owe 8-10% more due to caps on state and local tax deductions.
Trump’s smoke and mirrors tax plan promised them more money in their pocket and his base called him their friend…That will change dramatically once they all find out that he reneged on his promise…and now that they realize that this tax plan will cost them money…Rule #1…Don’t take away money from people that need it the most.
THEY (His Base) will be the ones to double down on his faults…THEY…not the MSM, will be the ones to point out that Trump has always done business this way…promise the world, Be late on paying his bills, file bankruptcy and then never pay his bills. Trump will soon be known to his base as the fat cat con man from New York…Of course, we knew it all along…His base is a little slow.
Mueller knows this and because he may be short on that key smoking gun to indict Trump,,,will employ Scenario #2 and his business plan looks like this.
Main objectives…To Prove that Trump Is a Fraud
Mission statement…To follow the paper trail, money and communications to prove and gain consensus and opinion among the American people that they are being conned by Trump.
Keys to success…Prosecute the bad hires…Manafort, Flynn, Cohen, Stone, Gates, Papadopoulos, etc…Get them to talk.
Industry analysis…Watch support amongst GOP fall…Turn his own party against him.
Market analysis…Watch support amongst his base fall. Turn them against him.
Competitor analysis… Watch serious Dems rise to national awareness. Then watch key GOP politicians break away and enter the race to save their own party. Trump seen as menace.
Core strategies…Use the tax plan debacle, Trumps own tweets and stream of consciousness pressers, Dems Rise in power, Trumps defeat on immigration, and GOP push back to bring Trumps approval rating to the single digits.
Marketing plans…The best marketing plan of all is to watch As Fox and other conservative talk show hosts start to criticize Trump…It’s a business…If the viewers are pissed at what’s happening, and that affects ratings in any way…and you can’t beat them…join them.
Management…Take all of the above and package it into one big indictment of character, trust, broken promises, and fraud…With consensus in tow…impeachment will follow.
Organizational structure…Who’s next in line? Big question to answer. Do we trust Pence?
Key operations…Back to normalcy?
Projections and pro formas…How will markets react? How will the world economy, trade policies, and world security threats be affected?
Break-even analysis…Same as it always was…without the drama? I will take that.
Some days watching the news, reading articles like yours and seeing the blatant ignorance of people and their total inability to have just the smallest inkling of objectivity, I laugh, I shrug or like today I get pissed off.
In my lifetime and I was born in 1957, I have never seen the vitriol, hatred and bias that has been heaped on Trump for the past 3 years. It started when he was running and we were all told that he wasn’t serious, he wouldn’t win and he couldn’t be our President.
Now we have two years of a quantum shift from the abject disaster and economic abysmal legacy of the Obama era. Now, Trump is an actor, alone, playing to his base, and hasn’t done anything? Only a moron with blinders on could think that was anywhere close to the truth.
Trump continues to out maneuver and out politic the career politicians. Being “alone” he has continually kicked the sh1t out of the Dems, never Trumpers and those with Trump derangement syndrome. The Socialist Dems are afraid and their rhetoric and actions show just how terrified they are that Trump will rule for 6 more years.
Close the border, build the wall, continue to undo everything Obama did, stay the course and call the emergency and build the entire wall not just a few miles. If he stays the course and shows the borderless, anti-American pro-illegal alien, infanticide, children killing, socialist/communist, Green Deal ignorant, the Dems are, he will win in 2020.
victim..? think in terms of an interest based retirement…
“If Soros really grokked it, he might start respecting borders. But until then, he’s passing out checks to the wrong people – and to the wrong causes – in our view.”
If you think about it….
That’s a real oxymoronic thing he’s doing.. Lol
I wonder what he’s truly thinking doing that will accomplish. Support the groups and people to invade and acquire a country that are openly against him and his future view..
What gets me is why.. Does congress support a large number of people all planning on marching in ILLEGALLY..
Why not do away with the borders altogether!
Yet what do you want to bet that during the next campaign season, that border security is going to be one of the dead horses dragged around the podium.
Say what you want about President Trump, hell, it’s a FREE country after all.
But the alternative would have been WWIII had Hitlery won since she’s queen of the neocons.
And all the Mueller investigation has done is make it pretty clear the Dems are just a bunch of sore losers.
We voted for change in the 2016 election and that’s what our President is trying to deliver, despite the heavy opposition for none but political reasons.
MAGA!
G- dont think U will be missing much in the way of quality entertainment while the “boobtube” is out of commission. Perhaps now you will be able to see the flashes from the SADM’s soon to start popping off all over Ukraine/Crimea Bridge.Oh wait you dont get a flash like the old plutonium jobs.
Surely you saw where the Ruskies stopped with FORCE that tug boat in Kerch Straight recently. What was never mentioned was the Ukraine Special Service Forces w/ British Special Boat Service Personnel on board with a NATO SADM.
Guess the ZioNazi’s running the show from City of London, never gave up the dream and desire for Crimea..U Dont think this had anything to do with Airliner shot down over the Ukraine and blamed on the Ruskies do you?
Soros doesn’t care if Europe “fails” or not. All Soros cares about is Soros. If Europe decides to listen to him, he “wins.” If they devolve into civil war, he “wins.” He has a long history of screwing over people and entire countries to benefit himself.