GOODS & BADS

 Well, I said I would keep an eye on him so here goes......The good and the bad start now.....

GOOD---the President going after undocumented residents who have been in trouble with the law.

BAD.....pursuing the undocumented who are hard working, law abiding citizens. Leave them alone because they work many jobs that you wouldn't. Make them citizens so they pay taxes, etc.

BAD....trying to change the 14th amendment which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.

BAD....his cohorts introducing a proposition that would allow ONLY HIM to run for a third term

GOOD....visiting both North Carolina & California to view the damage first hand. Now handle the relief aid as it should be and don't mix it with politics.

REAL REAL BAD....the blanket pardon for all the January 6th rioters, including the ones who fought and injured 174 uniformed police officers. What message does that send?

GOOD & BAD......making all government employees return to offices but I think many jobs without security clearances can still be done from home. How about EVERYONE has to come in once a week on the same day? That would make sense. team meeting.

BAD.....he was supposed to end the war in Ukraine the first day he was in office. Not even close.

GOOD.....he was an active participant along with Biden in getting the truce done with Hamas.

GOOD & BAD......removing government security from Dr. Fauci, John Bolton, Mike Milley and other high ranking officials because 'they no longer work for us and they can afford their own security.' I understand that line of thinking if it applies to everyone. He should have gone public and set a future date for removal of security.

Trump even had Milley's portrait removed in a major case of pettiness. Seems cold and smells of retribution/revenge but I also understand the former employee thing. 

REAL BAD.....terminating 18 Inspector Generals over the weekend with no prior notice, violating federal law.

Ok, that's it for now. I'm sure I'll be back soon. Adios

CONTENDERS & PRETENDERS

 My favorite time of the year when CONTENDERS & PRETENDERS mix it up on wild card weekend. Let's start with the pretenders but understand that if you're competitive while losing, you are exempt from this list.

The old saying is "If you lose on wild card weekend, then you didn't belong there anyway."

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS have a quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT who doesn't handle big games very well. Two interceptions all year and then he throws 3 in the big game and the team played like high school sophomores while getting their asses kicked, 32-12. PRETENDERS.

The MINNESOTA VIKINGS & SAM DARNOLD folded like a cheap suitcase and got drilled 27-9 in a game that was over at half time. Four interceptions and getting sacked NINE times. In a playoff game! And let's not forget the simple minded coach, KEVIN O'CONNELL, who apparently didn't understand that the Vikings needed points which meant 'hurry up' offense which eliminates full huddles, running plays and 7 step drops by the quarterback. BIG PRETENDERS.

GREEN BAY PACKERS. A laughable performance by the cheese heads as they got bullied all game long plus spitting up the opening kickoff. The EAGLES didn't even play well and won by two touchdown 22-10. PRETENDERS

THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS lost their last 5 regular season games and haven't won a playoff game since 2016 but somehow they always sneak into the playoffs....and lose. 28-14 this year. PRETENDERS.

The DENVER BRONCOS. Not a lot to say when you score on your first drive and then lose 31-7. Never, ever trust BO NIX in a big game. He lost two huge games at Auburn and then transferred to OREGON where he lost THREE huge games. Bo wins all the individual awards but never the big games. BIG TIME PRETENDER.

THE TAMPA BAY BAY BUCCANEERS get a pass because even though they lost 23-20, it was on a walk off field goal.

                                     *******

Normally, an NFL team will interview a half dozen people for the head coaching job.....but not the Bears. Oh no, not them. TWENTY TWO people are being interviewed. They have no clue. MIKE McCARTHY?

                                     *******

Hey! The BULLS are in last place! Yeah, I already knew that too and now they're finding out when you give a stiff like ZACH LAVINE 43 million a year, he is almost impossible to trade. And they have him for another 2.5 years which will mean another 100 million. gulp.

                                        *******

NOTRE DAME vs OHIO STATE for the championship of the entire civilized world next Monday and the Buckeyes are favored by 9.5 points. WHOYAGOT?

                                       ******* 

I still haven't seen a BULLS or BLACKHAWKS game this season because of the impasse between COMCAST and the new streaming venues. You'd think they would have learned their lesson when BILL WIRTZ owned the Hawks and blacked out home games, including the playoffs. When son Rocky took over, he immediately opened up all the games and voila!!! The Hawks became the most popular Chicago franchise overnight.  

                                             *******

Think players in the NBA make too much money? ANTHONY EDWARDS of the Minnesota Timberwolves has paid.... get ready......a HALF MILLION DOLLARS in fines this year, most for giving fans the finger while walking off the court. $500,000.00! Edwards says, 

"I gots to do what I gots to do."  Edwards makes $43,000,000.00 a year. In case you're wondering, the fines equal just over 1% of his salary. Now I see why he's gots to do.

                                        *******

On that note, we'll call it a night. Stay warm!

A BUNCH OF STUFF

 Well, hello again everyone! It's been two months so let's get caught up on all the news. I asked you to give Trump a chance but unfortunately, he hasn't changed one bit and the scary part is that he doesn't have to worry about re-election so he's going to do whatever he wants and that is scary.

So far, he's nominated a child predator MATT GAETZ for attorney general, appointed a functional illiterate HERSCHEL WALKER as the ambassador to the Bahamas (I wonder if Herschel will catch up on his child support when he starts getting a regular paycheck) and a falling down drunk PETE HEGSETH as his defense secretary. Wow. 

Hegseth has a long history of bad drunken behavior but promises to quit drinking if he's confirmed. Question.....If you have that big of a problem, why haven't you quit already? He also admits to paying off a woman who accused him of rape so he wouldn't lose his television job. Pistol Pete has also been associated with white nationalist groups.

And how about ROBERT F KENNEDY JR. who says his memory loss and mental fogginess is a result of a worm crawling into his ear and making it's way to his brain, where he ate part of it and then died. Question....How does he know it died? How does he know that a worm ate his brain? Kennedy is also a former heroin user with a felony conviction for possession of same. Look for Trump to issue a full pardon.

Well, enough of that for now but the real fun begins in a week when he has these nuggets from his campaign promises...... 

Millions of illegals will be sent back on day 1" 

"The war in Israel will be over in a week" 

"grocery bills will plummet when I'm sworn in" 

"The Ukraine war will be ended promptly" 

and my favorite, left over from 2016 

"Obamacare will be replaced by a better insurance program."

Now I have 17 of his campaign promises taped to my computer and I will keep you advised as they are kept or forgotten about.

                                      *******

How can you not feel sorry for the people in southern California? Well, apparently Trump doesn't and even made up a fake story so he could blame Governor Newsom. He said that the governor failed to sign a 'water restoration declaration' but there's just one problem....No such document exists. 

Southern California has had no rain since last February and everything is bone dry and when you add 100 MPH winds, a single spark goes a long way and that's why you have 12,000 destroyed structures as of today.

Trump needs to huddle with forest management people before he opens his yap about this. Maybe then he would learn something and not embarrass himself.....AGAIN.

                                          *******

One more tidbit. Did you notice that when JIMMY CARTER'S casket was rolled down the aisle of the church that everyone put their hand to heart in a traditional salute? Except one person. Guess who? Check the photograph.

                                          *******

Ok, we have some cold air coming in so stay warm until next time.

WHAT A WEEK

 Tuesday has come and gone and as predicted in these pages, Donald Trump was easily re-elected with over 300 electoral votes with, I believe, more to come from Arizona. I thought he would be in the 280's but I never thought he would win ALL 7 battleground states and I'm pretty sure that qualifies as a total 'ass kicking.'

Kamala Harris is a fine human being but she was put into an impossible situation, taking over for a doddering sitting president who was embarrassed at a televised national debate and forced to give up his re-election bid. 

She really had no chance and was even trounced by FOUR MILLION popular votes and once again, I reiterate that a female will NEVER be elected president in the United States. It's just not going to happen for a variety of reasons.....starting with minority males who roll their eyes and shrug their shoulders at the very thought.

I got some heat when I posted last time about women being looked upon as second class citizens but I stand with that position and now it's showtime for Trump.

So let's stop the protests and the picketing and go about your everyday business and give the man a chance to keep all the promises he made along the campaign trail.

 My favorite is 'ending the wars in just a week' and I can't wait for the reaction from Israel's prime minister BENJAMIN NETANYAHU when Trump tells him to stand down and play nice with the terrorists who slaughtered 1200 innocent Jews last October.

Deporting one million illegal aliens. Let me help you out with that one......just start by deporting the illegals who break the law and leave the law abiding ones alone.

Mr. Trump, I wish you well because there is a lot of work to do in this country and we don't have time for petty vendettas or revenge tours. But I'll give you a chance. You earned it and fair is fair. 

And that's all I have for now. God bless America.

THIS AND THAT--CLEANING OFF THE DESK

 It's been a week or so and I've got a bunch more on my desk so let's hit it.

I HATE liver.

                                           *******

I can't wait for election to end and clear up the air waves on tv. But make sure you vote.

                                              *******

Prison causes dementia. So what? How much angst, sorrow and depression did they give to their victims? Screw them.

                                            *******

In 2022, a CTA train crashed into a snow plow clearing the tracks and two dozen people were injured BUT the National Traffic Safety Board has decided that the operator's blood alcohol of .06 (federal limit is .02) DID NOT play have any part in the crash. 

For the record, a BAC of .05 impairs judgement, physical function and reactions and above all, alertness and those are scientific facts, not my opinion. The operator of the train has not been charged with any infraction and is still employed by the CTA, although he remains 'out of service' with regards to operating a train. Who's kissing whom at the NTSB? 

                                       *******

I really have a taste for a double cheeseburger at McDonalds...........but hold the onions.                                                                        *******

Love crunchy hash browns.

                                      *******                                        

I also don't like asparagus and god forbid, brussels (yes, there's an 'S' on the end) sprouts. or cooked carrots. or cooked spinach. yuk. or cheesy potatoes. or any kind of cheese on a breakfast item. 

Or pancakes because you eat them on Saturday morning and you can still feel them Monday afternoon. Wayyyyyyy too heavy.

                                        *******                                 Looks like the MENENDEZ BROTHERS will out by the end of 2025. Hung jury in 1989 followed by a second trial in which the abuse testimony was not allowed. Guilty and life without parole. 

Not sure how I feel about this but there are mitigating circumstances. And they have served 35 years and are classified as 'model prisoners.' Justice served?

                                           *******

That sicko from Melrose Park pled guilty to torching the 'WALKING MAN' under Wacker Driver 2 years ago and took 47 years. Not enough. Guy was sleeping when the psycho doused him in lighter fluid and dropped a match. The Walking Man lived for several months in horrible pain before succumbing to his injuries. But the 30 year old piece of crap will be released from prison when he's 66 years old and that's just not fair. Justice not served.

                                        *******

Halloween week will see many villages use trick or treat hours Saturday or Sunday from 1-5 with all the little darlings getting home safely while it's still daylight and now you get a little history.

Every town was struggling with many reports of big kids stealing candy from little kids after dark, not to mention the vandalism and the streets being littered with broken/smashed pumpkins. Knock the kids down and steal their entire bag. Little kids crying and bruised and the dispatch phones never stopped ringing.

I AM VERY PROUD THAT IT WAS MY IDEA at a police meeting back in the 80's to reduce the same problems we had as every other department when the kids were out after dark and we were the first village to try it, changing the Halloween hours from the actual date to a weekend day from 1-5 p.m.

Every other village laughed at us and said we were ruining Halloween but our Chief at the time stuck by my idea and that year our crime report for Halloween said ZERO PERCENT and then who was laughing? 

Now there are very few towns that allow trick or treating on October 31st as most have transitioned to daylight fun on the weekend or 'trunk and treat' in community parking lots. And you're entirely welcome. 👏👍👊👊

                                         *******

Haven't had a trick or treater come to my door in 15 years. Might have something to do with living across from a cemetery.

                                        *******

Thanksgiving is just 5 weeks away and if you're cooking the bird and struggle with dry white meat, try BRINING the turkey and you will get high fives all around the table. I started brining a few years back with outstanding success and if you want the recipe, just email me. EASY TO DO and all you need is a clean 5 gallon bucket or a cooler that you take on a picnic. Yummy!

                                         *******

Had a hell of a year with my medical staff. The doctor who did my knee replacement has stage 4 cancer and my long time allergist died as did my primary physician. YIKES! 

                                         *******

And to clarify some personal health misinformation floating around, I had back surgery at the end of May and then managed to tear my right bicep tendon completely off the bone and had that surgery in the middle of August but things have calmed down and now I'm only dealing with plantar fasciitis in my left foot and a baker's cyst behind my right knee which occasionally requires my old friend, the cane.

I DID NOT BREAK MY LEG nor was I in an auto accident.

I have rejected several offers to take me out to a field and just shoot me to end the misery and I also said no to wrapping me in bubble wrap because that would probably be a little too hot and further limit my limited mobility.

                                       *******

Ok, that's it. Be safe and stay out of Chicago. Enjoy the glorious weather and Halloween.

THE ELECTION

First, a little background before we dig in. I am a moderate Republican who is strongly in favor of the death penalty and building more prisons. I also strongly believe that when someone has been through the system enough times to finally qualify for prison, they should be classified as a 'career criminal' and serve the entire length of their sentence. No early release, no parole. I also believe in the prisoners doing manual labor outside the prison and improving roads, picking up trash, shoveling snow, etc.

I am also a strong supporter of the military and the police and feel that educators are grossly underpaid. I also believe that corporal punishment should be returned to the schools. A whack with a yard stick can get a kid's attention real quick and last time I checked, all of my former classmates are doing just fine.

                                       *******

Who's going to win? The United States has treated women as second class citizens for a couple hundred years and while it has gotten better, men still roll their eyes when a woman is mentioned for president.

EVEN BLACK MEN are rolling their eyes and snorting when KAMALA HARRIS' name is mentioned and she NEEDS their votes to climb the mountain. Their thought process is "We won't vote for Trump but we can't vote for a woman to be president" and their indifference is so notable that even former President BARACK OBAMA has gotten involved, imploring the black men in Georgia to get out and vote for her. The reported reaction was more grumbling and shoulder shrugging. 'Nuff said.

Let there be no mistake about it. Kamala Harris is the most liberal candidate I have ever seen except for BERNIE SANDERS. She also has a case of the flip-flops on several key issues but Trump failed to press her on those issues when he got his ass kicked in the debate. 

Opportunity lost.

Now let's go to the other side of the fence where my party has the village idiot running for president. If you disagree with him, you become his mortal enemy and he wants to hunt you down. He is buddy-buddy with VLADIMIR PUTIN and thinks Putin did the right thing by invading Ukraine. 

He is a convicted felon and facing possible jail time, whether he's elected or not and remember that he can't pardon himself from a state charge. He's also been convicted in a civil case of sexual assault and has displayed ZERO RESPECT for women through the years and that really bothers me. 

After the ass beating, he has cancelled interviews and refused to participate in a second debate and continues to call Harris names, again like a pouting child. And calling her a SHITTY VICE-PRESIDENT (exact quote) is just uncalled for in any event. You just don't do that when the microphone is hot.

 Now my entire life, I've heard that 'all politicians lie' but the thing about Trump is that he even lies about lying. He is like a petulant child when he doesn't get his own way. He single handedly broke down a bi-partisan agreement regarding the border because he didn't have any input and didn't want JOE BIDEN to have a win.

 He lied about immigrants in Ohio eating cats and dogs and to this day, despite overwhelming testimony by city officials to the contrary, has refused to retract or apologize. In my opinion, he is not fit to lead our country and, God forbid, be in charge of our military.

BUT WHO WINS??? Just jot this down. They all talk about Pennsylvania but Harris has more problems than that. She'll carry the left coast plus New Mexico & Colorado for sure but her problem starts in the mid-west because while Illinois & Minnesota are in her pocket, she is in a dead heat in Wisconsin & Michigan and if she loses either of those states, she can wave the white flag because then the Pennsylvania election becomes moot. She needs EVERY STATE in her wheel house to end up with 270 electoral votes, the minimum to be elected. (And if you're counting on one of those interactive boards, remember to include the ONE electoral vote from Nebraska)

Simply put, she NEEDS Nevada, Wisconsin AND Michigan before even thinking about Pennsylvania

Ok, if that's too much math, let's do it this way. If she loses either of the 3 states mentioned above, then she'll need either Georgia or North Carolina to make up those votes plus she still needs Pennsylvania. If I was a betting man, I would bet on Trump to win 281-259

Harris will win everything above Pennsylvania but unless men get off their recliners, it's all over and then we get to hold our breath for 4 years.

IF WAS A BETTING MAN...... just like Hillary in 2016, Harris wins the popular vote but Trump wins the election 281-256. 

A BUNCH OF STUFF

Hello again everybody! After my 'summer of surgeries' I can finally use the arm enough to send you a blog but it won't be very long. Hope everyone had a good summer and you're enjoying the extended warmth. HERE WE GO!

                                              *******

Sub-human piece of garbage ALEX JONES, the radio talk show host from Texas, was ordered some months ago to pay 1.5 BILLION dollars in damages for telling his listening audience the the 2012 SANDY HOOK MASSACRE was fake and the deaths of 26 first and second graders was 'staged and a complete hoax" and no one died. It was simply manufactured by democrats to bolster their movement for gun control.

Well, the parents of the victims disagreed as did the judge when he got whacked at trial but Jones continued on air and told his listeners "do they actually think they're getting a penny from me? Not a chance!" ON THE AIR!!

The other shoe fell this week when the judge ordered his company FREE SPEECH SYSTEMS to be auctioned off  "AND I MEAN EVERY ASSET gets auctioned, including pens, pencils, tables, chairs and the building itself." The auction is November 13th. And even filing bankruptcy won't save him this time because the assets are frozen and in the custody of the court.

                                                 *******

And speaking of morons....does anyone else raise your eyebrows when J.D. VANCE, the guy who started the absolutely UNFOUNDED RUMOR that " illegal Haitian immigrants were eating pets" in Springfield, Ohio says that he will 'continue to lie to the public' if that's what it takes to draw attention to other problems. WHAT???? Now there's the guy you want to be second in command and the direct ascendant to the presidency. Lord, save us.

Everyone knows that I'm a moderate republican but I cannot, in good faith, support this year's ticket. I know many good republicans but this current group is not among them.

BTW, the Haitians, who are all here legally with work visas, have filed suit against Vance and his boss for the slanderous lies. I don't know if anything will come from their action but good for them for standing up to bullies.

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DID YOU KNOW THAT ASSISTED SUICIDE is legal in Switzerland? Me neither.

                                                   *******

                                          

Speaking of the good Lord, he better protect those people in the southeast as HURRICANE HELENE wreaks death and destruction on Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee with the death count at 30 and expected to rise. Godspeed.

                                                   *******

JOE BIDEN made the absolute correct decision when he dropped out of the race. Infrequent appearances, glassy eyed staring and slurred words amplify his decision and I hope he can enjoy the remainder of his life in peace and surrounded by family. YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, JOE BIDEN!

                                                  *******

So we end on a happy note, here's a recipe I invented this summer while stuck at home. Boneless chicken breasts in a crockpot with the following ingredients for a slow cook.

 Slice the breasts in two places about halfway thru the breasts but don't cut them in half. Then place them in the crock. No more than 5 breasts. 

4 CUPS SWEET BABY RAYS ORIGINAL

ADD TWO CUPS OF OPEN PIT BARBECUE SAUCE 

ADD ONE HALF CUP OF MOLASSES

CHOP FINE TWO CLOVES OF GARLIC

ONE CUP OF WATER

mix all together and pour into the crockpot and make sure it totally covers the chicken. If it doesn't, then just add more sweet baby rays.

Depending on your crockpot, 8-10 hours on LOW. ENJOY!

                                               *******

We say goodbye to JAMES EARL JONES, the actor who was given a voice from God himself. Everything from STAR WARS TO FIELD OF DREAMS TO "WE HAVE THE MEATS!!" We will all miss his voice.

                                               *******

Ok, it took me a while but I got thru it. Enjoy the weekend!