As I write this, the federal government is shut down due to Senate Democrats’ determination to not pass a clean, continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government operating—as they have done countless times in the past. My guess is that nonessential employees have received notices not to report for work. Mind you, I don’t know how happy I would be to report to a job that deemed me nonessential, but that’s beside the point. As I look around, I still see traffic on the road, I can still make doctors’ appointments, and I can shop for vegetables. The gas stations are open, the stock market is hitting new highs, and Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and North Dakota are pumping insane amounts of energy out of the ground. Restaurants are full, as are shopping mall parking lots. Women are still getting pregnant. Folks are still going broke and getting rich. YouTube is alive and well, as is X and Facebook. Larry Kudlow tells me that the economy is growing at 3.8%. It appears that life goes on even if Congress can’t seem to agree on the budget. And that gets me to my point: Life goes on despite what happens on Capitol Hill, the White House, and the Washington Beltway. I assure you that the rancher in Wyoming doesn’t give a shit what Congressman Hakeem Jeffries or AOC has to say. He is worried about his family, his health, cattle, water, feedstocks, grass, and land. He worries about his debt, which miraculously is under better control than the debt of the United States. He monitors cattle markets and their prices on the CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange). So whatever is important to you, just focus on that. Washington political calamities come and go and always will. I assure you that what goes on in your house is more important to your family than what goes on in the White House.

Race- and Sex-Based Contracting

 

Chicago is the focus of investigations into “race- and sex-based contracting” practices involving city contracts. The Director of OMB (Office of Management and Budget) in the Trump Administration is set to pause $2.1 billion in payments for Chicago infrastructure projects due to “race-based contracting concerns.” That will affect the Red Line extension and the Red and Purple Modernization Projects. Media reports that the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that “this week, USDOT issued an interim final rule barring race- and sex-based contracting requirements from federal grants.” The Feds are concerned that Chicago is engaged in unconstitutional practices. Basically, the Feds told Chicago that federal monies can’t be used if they discriminate based on gender, race, and so on. Frankly, if I were a Chicagoan, I would want the best pipefitters, electricians, plumbers, and contractors working on the project to get it to the finish line under budget and on time. Lesbians, gays, and nongender-specific binaries MAY be hired if they are qualified, just like the rest of everyone else, but they don’t get a free pass to skip to the head of the line—not with MY taxpayer dollars anyway.

 

Not the Best Place for a Screaming Match – The United States Senate

 

While not exactly the Hatfields and the McCoys, what transpired recently on the floor of the United States Senate was, well, epic! Conservative Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) is one of my favorite politicians. As the senior Senator from Missouri, he serves on both the Senate Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees—two places he belongs and excels. Hawley is more than a bulldog. In classic attorney style, he knows every answer before he asks the questions and then watches as witnesses perjure themselves as they attempt to evade the truth. It is truly a spectacle to watch this Yale Law School grad questioning former Biden Administration officials about what they knew and when they knew it.

A recent line of questioning was reported by Fox News on September 30, 2025, where Hawley got into a shouting match with Gregory Jackson, Jr. who served as a Deputy Director in the Gun Violence Office of the Biden White House. Jackson then headed CJAF (Community Justice Action Fund). It seems the shouting match involved creating safe spaces for two-spirited individuals. No, I didn’t make that up. My first and second thoughts upon reading it were . . .

HUH? And HUH?

Hawley was probing Gregory about a report published by the organization under his direction. The report in question? How about A Policymakers Playbook to Reduce Gun Violence Without Policing Communities. Hawley saw this as advocating the defunding of police and using those monies to invest in “programs that acknowledge the need for safe space initiatives led by lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirit, trans and gender-nonconforming people.” Hawley took all this in, understanding 90% of the lingo, and then asked, “What’s two-spirit?” Jackson replied, “Well, I don’t know exactly.” Hawley pressed on, driving home his point that the organization was in favor of defunding the police and investing instead in bullshit two-spirit community programs, and the former director didn’t even know what that was. Hawley called him out as a disgraceful head of a disgraceful organization. Gotta admit, my favorite Senator has balls. He ended his line of questioning with this line: “And, frankly sir, your policies are absurd. They’re absurd.” I really wish I could have been there to witness the exchange from the Senate gallery.

 

Predicting the Unpredictable and Getting You to Believe

 

Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, the media attempts to predict the unpredictable, whether it is the direction of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the economy as a whole, the course of interest rates, or even how long the government will be shut down this time. Journalists prognosticate about it all, confident in their abilities to know the unknowable. Were they to stop doing this, even for a day, God forbid, there would be no news, and they would be relegated to simply reporting the facts. Mass media has become a fountain of opinion, often devoid of truths, regurgitating the editor’s biases, especially those dealing with politics.

If you doubt this, consider a story from ABC News reported on April 29, 2025, in which they asserted that a recent reports and analysis by the Media Research Center indicated that 92% of major media coverage of President Trump in his first 100 days in office was negative. And we are not talking about analyzing a few stories. They researched an astounding 1,841 statements made by journalists, reporters, anchors, and experts on the three major networks: ABC, NBC, and CBS. I have come to understand that mass media is engaged in subterfuge and dishonest reporting in an attempt to sway public opinion to their preferred narrative. The bottom line is this: Don’t trust mass media.

Please note: The fact that I am criticizing and warning about mass media while quoting them in the same article is not lost on me.

 

It’s Time to Make AOC Irrelevant

 

The media is addicted to ratings like junkies to cocaine. Anything they can do to increase eyeball count, clicks, and downloads is fair game. In researching Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez, widely known as AOC, I stumbled upon something strange yet interesting. An April 14, 2019, an article posted to the Axios website indicated that Media Matters for America announced that during the six-week period from February 25 to April 7, freshman Congresswoman Cortez was mentioned 3,181 times, or about 75 times per day on Fox News. At what point did Fox go from the reporting news to obsession? The fact that a lot people know who she is does not make her relevant. What makes a member of Congress relevant is if they do an outstanding job representing their constituents and the whole of America.

During the recent government shutdown, AOC called on all supporters to laugh at “MAGA men,” calling them insecure as she pointed to President Trump’s point man, Stephen Miller. Miller is the White House Deputy Chief of Staff to President Trump and one of the most brilliant and articulate advisors in the Administration. Miller’s intellect and financial acumen dwarf AOC’s, even on his worst day.

AOC’s fiery socialist rhetoric is reflected on her platform. She supports Medicare for all. As America is already on the brink of financial insolvency with over $37 trillion in debt, she would increase taxes, especially for the rich, because in her words, “They are not paying their fair share.” This has become the clarion call of socialists worldwide.

If AOC had her way, the entire country would be unionized. She favors a ban on the federal government doing business with non-union businesses and seeks to reverse many of President Reagan’s policies.

She would make all undocumented individuals citizens. Mind you, these are illegals who broke the law when they entered the United States. I prefer President Trump’s approach: Deport them. If all these illegals magically became American citizens, I foresee one-party rule as Democrats would have a permanent grip on power. I invite you to review AOC’s platform on her website: https://www.ocasiocortez.com/issues.

As you review each of her priorities, ask yourself these questions:

• Who will pay for all these changes to the fabric of America?
• What will her changes do to the nuclear family, work ethic, and society as a whole?
• Why has her socialist policies failed everywhere they have been tried?
• Why

The time has come for the American people to turn her off, tune her out, and admit that being enthused by her was a result of media hype. There is actually nothing to see here, folks.

Note: The Democrats insist that Republicans are a threat to democracy. Are they not aware that we live in a Constitutional Republic? A slow read of the Constitution may be time well spent.

America at a Crossroads

 

It’s as if America has awakened from a four-year-long bad dream. I stay informed of Congressional hearings as they question Biden Administration officials regarding wasteful spending and excessive and unregulated grants to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Tens of billions of taxpayer money has been funneled into nonexistent programs and wasted, much of it ending up in the hands of Biden supporters. I want to see hearings continue. I want to see referrals to the Justice Department. I want to see subpoenas, grand jury indictments, and trials. And most of all, I want to see jail time. I want to see the rotted deep state pulled out by its roots, the perpetrators behind bars, their wealth forfeited, and their reputations tarnished. Until that happens, America remains at a crossroads with unlimited potential but severe risks around every turn.

 

The Most Fatal Disease

 

Our Founding Fathers grappled with the “evils” that political parties represented and wanted to avoid anchoring them on young America. In George Washington’s farewell address, he noted:

“The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.” Washington foresaw that continual and unending fighting between parties may well spell the doom of the newly founded Union.

Alexander Hamilton referred to political factions, known today as parties, as “the most fatal disease” of governments—and for good reason. Many of the Founders bid England farewell to leave behind the civil wars that were all too common among various political factions. The last thing they wanted was to birth a new country with the same perilous flaws.

Had America listened to our Founders’ warnings, we might be a very different country. Today, Democrats are continually battling Republicans for control, and vice versa—conservatives and liberals in never-ending tug-of-wars for dominance on the national stage. Rather than working together for the common good, to govern justly and advance the interests of all Americans, the political parties vie for power in an effort to install their political platforms as the law of the land.

 

Not My New York

 

Resentment and anger boils up in me as I watch the news of demonstrations taking place in New York, with masked individuals carrying signs supporting Hamas and chanting death to Israel. If I were still a New Yorker, I would pack my bags and leave in disgust. This is not my New York.

Growing up in Manhattan in the 1960s and 1970s, I recall demonstrations about gay rights, civil rights, and the Vietnam War. I also remember pipe-wielding construction workers blocking the path of rioters. But today’s demonstrations smack of evil and genocide with participants covering their faces for fear that the police will photograph them. My take is that when demonstrators breach barriers, police should tear off the demonstrators’ face coverings, pepper spray them, and take their picture for their database. With mayoral elections right around the corner, the odds on the favorite is a Muslim whose speeches include support for Hamas. I can’t understand why New Yorkers who have the ability to leave have not left yet. Let all the high earners move South, and let the remaining inhabitants devour each other. The city government can tax the poor and whoever was dumb enough to stay.

 

Billions in Democrat-Inspired Solar Power Up in Smoke

 

President Trump has promptly begun tearing down the Green New Deal. Biden deep-sixed coal production, and Trump reintroduced coal back into America’s energy portfolio. It was the same thing for eclectic cars (EVs), exporting of natural gas, the closing and opening of vast tracts of American waters and Alaskan lands to energy exploration, and the list goes on and on. What one administration outlaws, another administration revives. The continuing tug-of-war creates an unimaginable waste of time, energy, money, and resources as the factions fight for their own interests while America’s debt soars to unimaginable heights.

There is no better example of this than the Obama-era Ivanpah Solar Power Facility located in California’s Mojave Desert. This was to be a stellar example of American ingenuity in clean power production. The $2.2 billion project is enormous, with thousands of computer-controlled solar mirrors and three towers, each over 450 feet tall. The project is massive both in scale and taxpayer funds wasted. Construction began in 2010, mind you, and it is now 2025.

The Obama Administration issued $1.6 billion in federal loan guarantees. Obama’s Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz characterized the project as “an example of how America is becoming a world leader in solar energy.” The project is a poster child for the inefficiency of government- subsidized energy schemes. Ivanpah has never produced electricity on the scale envisioned and relies on natural gas for its operations. The Energy Department is now making plans for the permanent shuttering of the project. Billions have been wasted, and American taxpayers are on the hook for the $1.6 billion in federal loan guarantees. With $2.2 billion down the drain, I am still certain that some folks managed to line their pockets and get rich.

 

Founders Argue over the Federal Government’s First Shutdown

 

Before resigning from George Washington’s Presidential Cabinet in the mid 1790s, both Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson watched as the Democratic-Republican Party and Federalists were at each other’s throats. The war of words escalated into bitter personal attacks. Frankly, I’m surprised that members of Congress did not attempt to shut down the new government. Mind you, during the first Congress, there were 20 Senators and 65 Representatives, many of whom had hissy fits over the idea of a small central government versus a large, powerful federal government. I could see it now:

Congressman James Madsion (VA): Don’t you see? This Union needs a strong central government, and in order to create that, members of Congress need to put in long hours, which will require on-site coffee shops, laundry services, massage parlors, and shoeshine and newspaper stands in the halls of Congress. And the American people will need to pay for it. We can’t do all this work with at least some of the creature comforts of home.

Senator Abraham Baldwin (GA): James, if we were to open all these shops in the Capitol, it would double the size of the government. I’ll grant you a coffee stand, not a shop, mind you. Just a stand but nothing else. Do your own damn laundry, and have the Mrs. give you a massage when you get home. And if you don’t agree, I’m gonna padlock this building and shut the whole place down. I will shut down the government! So, what ya gonna do?

I Admit It

 

• I grew up with all 32 volumes of the Encyclopedia Brittanica.
• I went everywhere with my Sony Walkman attached to my belt
• The cord on my kitchen wall phone extended 25 feet
• I owned a boombox
• I carried a pocketful of dimes in case of emergency
• I owned 300 vinyl LP record albums
• I owned far too many 8-track tapes
• In 1980, my job required me to call businesses right out of the Yellow Pages
• I hated floppy disks, America Online (AOL), and modems
• As a kid, I wore both PF Flyers and Buster Brown shoes
• I got my fingers stuck in between the typewriter keys
• I loved getting ice cream at Howard Johnson’s 
• I remember when comic books were 10 cents, ditto for a slice of pizza

Lunatics Running Harvard – Again

 

It appears that Harvard University announced that it has hired a new visiting professor. My guess is that it is someone who doesn’t qualify for a full-time position. This individual is a gender and sexuality professor who is an actual drag queen who goes by the name LaWhore Vagistan. This individual will unfortunately be teaching two classes: Queer Ethnography; and RuPaulitics, Drag Race, and Desire. Should any readers of The Equal Opportunity Times be paying for their child to attend Harvard, I would strongly suggest that you pull them out and request a refund. At that point, you may enroll them in the trade school of your choice.

 

’Til we meet again . . .

 

You will find many of my interviews on my website at https://eocritic.com.

 

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I am The Equal Opportunity Critic and am decidedly conservative. I am anti-RINO— Republican in name only. I take offense at liberal Democrats telling me America should have open borders, universal income for all, free university education, rent control for all, free bus rides, and free healthcare for all. As I discuss later in this update, ultimately somebody has to pay for free—it does not magically occur. What one group consumes, another group must produce.

Corporate media, both on the right and the left, has failed to provide unbiased news to Americans. I do not turn on the evening news for an opinion from CBS, NBC, Fox, or ABC. I do not need the New York Times or The Washington Post telling what they think of President Trump’s policies. Stick that in an editorial. If someone cares for your position on something, they can flip to the editorial page and get your point of view. I do not want their opinion of current events; I want information—unbiased, stripped of the prejudices of their production staff, the director, the producer and the talking head behind the microphone. I am intelligent and fully capable of forming my own opinion based on the facts. I don’t require nor do I want someone else’s opinion—especially when someone is paying them.

Unfortunately, social media, including Facebook, Instagram, and all their cousins, have joined the cesspool of biased media and parade opinion and fake news instead of facts and information. It has become increasingly difficult to obtain untainted, unpolluted information.

I understand that you read these updates because my point of view dovetails with yours. But make no mistake, I do have my biases, and above all, I want what is good for our country. And as I witness the tenor of speech from liberal Democrats, I am convinced that they hate our country.

Madness Is No Achievement – Perhaps New York Should Learn This

I admit it. I pay attention to New York politics. Some may call it a sickness; I liken it to being compelled to rubberneck a car wreck on the highway. You just can’t help yourself; you must look! Still, I am grateful to the universe for that fall day in 1983 when I loaded up my U-Haul with all my belonging and left Flushing Queens for the armpit of America—Washington, DC. The thing about armpits is that they all smell differently, so it feels like you’re making progress when in fact you are substituting one hell hole for another. So when I read about the current mayoral election madness occurring in New York City, I slap myself silly—glad I am no longer a New York citizen—and take to writing about the socialist sickness that has infected the city of my birth.

We have all read that the leading candidate in the New York City mayoral race is Zohran Mamdani, a socialist who is intent on providing free shit to everyone, increasing taxes for the ablest, defunding the police, and expanding rent control so no sane real estate investor will ever consider renting apartments in New York City. What socialists fail to understand is that someone must pay for free. Free does not fall from the sky. A public school in the Bronx is not magically cleaned and maintained. Custodians need to earn a living in return for holding a mop, cleaning toilets, and ensuring that light bulbs are changed. A city bus offering free rides to all must necessarily have its oil changed, tires rotated, gas tank filled, and a weekly paycheck given to a driver. All these things cost money, and socialists fill their coffers with other people’s money in the form of excise taxes, sales taxes, regulatory taxes, income taxes, fees, permits, licenses, tolls, assessments, and business taxes. Everything is taxed in an attempt to have the funds to pay for all the free giveaways.

For every giveaway announced by Mamdani, there must be an equal and opposite takeaway from someone. This is the essence of socialism—government control of damn near everything and free stuff for the masses, paid for by those with money. Problem is that all these young’ns in New York have no idea what socialism is. It sounds good—free stuff. Leftists work very hard to explain why socialism has failed everywhere but will work in New York City.

New York’s educational institutions have not taught the truth about socialism. They have not created balanced curricula with lessons of the failed Soviet state, the Cuban state, and the Venezuelan state. They make it sound glamorous—free healthcare for all if you can get it, and free education for all that doesn’t teach self-reliance but reliance on the state. Educational institutions glorify the bright and shiny—free buses, free education, free healthcare, free cell phones, and universal basic income.

New York City has been unaffordable since I graduated from college—the major reason I lived in a crap-hole called Flushing in Queens with a roommate. If you don’t want to subject yourself to New York City’s insane prices, move to Indiana, Iowa, Tennessee, or Kentucky. To the best

of my knowledge, those places—like New York City—need ambulance drivers, construction workers, teachers, IT managers, nurses, and retail store clerks. Odds are the cost of living is significantly lower there.

And as for slashing the police budget and reallocating those funds to community groups, good luck when armed thugs break into your home and hold your kids at knife point. I don’t think unarmed social workers will be much help. Police are there to maintain law and order, to help keep citizens safe. Do you know any gun-toting social workers?

Finally, as we approach New York City’s mayoral election, you will witness the madness of the masses voting for an avowed socialist. Then watch over the next 24 to 26 months how many folks with high incomes and high net worth abandon New York City for saner places with less taxes and a better quality of life.

This ’n’ That

What’s the point? Fox News reports that Kamala Harris mentioned Michelle Obama only three times in her 300-page book. And here I mention that Kamala Harris is an incompetent, inauthentic, ill-informed and disingenuous politician. I said everything I had to say about her in one sentence. Now let’s move on.

Truth be told, I never much cared for BMWs, and I am ready to double down on that with their latest announcement of a 200,000 car recall. They are advising owners of certain models “to park outside due to fire risk. Owners should park outside and away from buildings and other vehicles until they either confirm their vehicle is not subject to the recall or have their vehicle

remedied.” Folks should abide by those cautionary words lest their garage and home burn to the ground. Talk about spontaneous combustion whether the car is being driven or not! The engine starter relay may corrode, leading to overheating and short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire, according to the National Highway and Safety Administration.

Great quote (origin unknown): “I was minding my own business, and all of sudden 1975 was 50 years ago.”

When singer Don McLean was asked what his song “American Pie” meant to him, he thought for a moment and replied, “It means I’ll never have to work another day in my life.”

I’m told that beef prices are soaring—obviously, President Trump is to blame. I’m not sure how, but I am confident that progressive liberals will find a way to blame it on him.

“When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny.” —Thomas Jefferson

“Progressive Democrats don’t kiss babies on the campaign trail; they hug them, steal their college funds and spit in their sippy cups.” —Anonymous

“If it weren’t for double standards, Democrats would have no standards at all.” —Unknown

You might recall that during the Biden Administration, members of Congress such as Senator Chuck Schumer, the economically and intellectually challenged AOC, the incompetent Hakeem Jeffries, and other Democratic lemmings toed the party line that the government must remain open despite budgetary battles with Republicans.

If you have a hankering for ultra-left rhetoric, try reading the front page of the Chicago Sun Times. Evidently, the term “balanced reporting” has not been embraced by their newsroom. On the day I looked at it, all I saw was pro-Governor Pritzker, pro-Mayor Johnson, anti-ICE, and anti-Trump.

The United Nations (UN) has now blamed President Trump for their broken escalator and broken teleprompter. What else can I say?

I often read of boatloads of refugees leaving Haiti in search of a better life in America. It seems they believe that America is a much better destination than Cuba, Turks and Caicos Islands, Cayman Islands, Cancun, or Jamaica, which are all much shorter boat rides. So if America is the hell hole that progressive liberal Democrats insist it is, why are swarms of folks still traveling here despite all the risks and danger?

Attention parents: Should you ever see your child protesting at college, holding signs like “Down with America” or “Kill Capitalism,” I suggest you immediately stop paying their tuition, cell phone bills, insurance, and every other damn thing you are paying for, and allow them to learn hard facts that their college refuses to teach them.

“To educate a person in the mind but not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”

—Theodore Roosevelt

Facebook employs a strange and downright disturbing habit of showing gruesome pictures such as head-on collisions with dead people strewn about the road, and directly below are likes. I fail to understand why anyone would “like” a scene of death and destruction.

I recently read that Senator Schumer (D-NY) and Congressman Jeffries (D-NY) were demanding a meeting with President Trump. Hmm. Two members from the minority party making a demand to see the President. I learned in school that in America, there is respect for the Office of the President, regardless of who is occupying the office. I would like to see how their demands are met. Stay tuned.

It was a snowy winter, and I was nine years old. My mom bundled me in warm winter clothes, galoshes, and mittens to trek the four blocks to third grade at P.S. 40 in lower Manhattan.

Obviously, I survived and thrived despite the Siberia-like hike to school. Yet today, I read that kids are suing President Trump over climate change. My recommendation is that someone smack their woke-ass parents in the head with a bag of quarters.

Former Veep Kamala Harris’s first choice for running mate was not Tampon Tim Waltz of Minnesota. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, perhaps the worst woke Cabinet member in

recent history, was her first choice, yet she passed on him, thinking that a Black woman and a gay white guy was a bridge too far for Americans to embrace. Little did Harris suspect that her incompetence at her job was the bridge too far, regardless of who else shared the ticket.

Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, is set to release her new book that characterizes conservatives as fascists and compares Republicans to Nazis. That this foul, despicable excuse for a human is in a position of power in America’s educational system is an afront to everything decent. In her book, she compares Nazi book-burning to the removal of pornographic books from school libraries. Weingarten has led the AFT since 2008, and it is time she was put out to pasture and removed from her profane soapbox.

Portland, Oregon, Will Use Any Excuse to Stop ICE from Doing Its Job

 

Portland, Oregon, is no stranger to riots and violent demonstrations over the removal of illegal criminal aliens. The politicians there will use every bit of taxpayer money to defend the rights of people who should not be in America. Witness the latest idiocy from their City Council— attempting to close down the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building over land use violations. ICE will detain illegals for as long as needed and then transfer them to other facilities to be processed and removed from this country. The fact that the City of Portland is attempting to sue ICE over city land use regulations is laughable. And I would wager that the case will first go to a local liberal judge, and ICE will need to appeal and escalate the fight to a higher court. Stay tuned.

Another Massachusetts Nut-Job – Why Am I Not Surprised?

 

Anti-ICE protesters would do well to observe basic automobile safety rules such as placing their car in park before they hop out of it to yell at ICE agents making an arrest—especially when they stop their car on a hill beside a lake. Yep, you guessed it. This idiot was so enraged at ICE agents arresting an illegal alien in Upton, Massachusetts, that her car rolled into the lake during her fit of rage. The screaming idiot—I mean, woman—was dumbfounded to see her car roll into the lake. So the tip of the day is this: Place your car in park before committing stupid acts.

Lovely Rita, Meter Maid – Paul McCartney Would Flip over This!

 

Britain has a problem. Well, to be truthful, it has countless problems, but today we will focus on two strange numbers. Breitbart News recently reported that the British Army is now smaller than the number of parking enforcement folks—or what the Beatles called meter maids. It seems the number of traffic wardens (that is their official title) stands at about 82,000—compared to 73,000 in the British Army. Thankfully, if you include Britain’s Air Force and Navy, their armed forces total approximately 180,000 servicemen and women. In a pinch, I’m certain that the meter maids can be used as a front line of defense, ticket books and all.

The Best Supreme Court Line of Questioning Ever!

 

Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, is at the center of a controversy due to her misrepresentations on mortgage applications. President Trump is seeking to have her removed from her position at the Fed due to her falsification of documents. Personally, I believe he is correct. We cannot have a deceitful member of the Fed who has broken federal laws. As the case is winding itself to the Supreme Court, I stopped and imagined a line of questioning between the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Ms. Cook. Here is how it went:

Chief Justice John Roberts: Ms. Cook, I will ask you some questions. The only permissible answer to each of the questions is a yes or a no. I will not tolerate you asking me to repeat the question nor to thank me for the question. Your only answer to each question is a yes or a no. If you fail to abide by these instructions, I will hold you in contempt, and you will promptly be removed from this chamber. Do you understand these instructions? Again, only a yes or no statement from you. Please respond.

Lisa Cook: Yes.

Chief Justice John Roberts: Please look at the screen in front of you displaying the mortgage documents in question for the purchase of your home. Am I correct that you checked the primary residence box? Again, simply answer, yes or no.

Lisa Cook: yes.

Chief Justice John Roberts: Ms. Cook, is that your signature at the bottom of the document?

Lisa Cook: Well, it looks . . .

Chief Justice John Roberts: Ms. Cook, I remind you I will tolerate no narratives here today. Only a yes or a no, or you will be held in contempt and escorted from the chamber. Do that one more time and you will find yourself in the basement jail cell. So I ask the question again: Is that your signature at the bottom of the document?

Lisa Cook: Yes.

Chief Justice John Roberts: Ms. Cook, were you under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or under duress when you signed this document?

Lisa Cook: No.

Chief Justice John Roberts: Ms. Cook, did you indicate that the mortgage was for a primary residence in hopes of securing a lower mortgage interest rate?

Lisa Cook: Yes.

Chief Justice John Roberts: Are you aware that it is a felony to knowingly submit false answers on a federal mortgage document?

Lisa Cook: Yes.

Chief Justice John Roberts: Ms. Cook, by your own testimony, you acknowledge that you falsified a federal mortgage document for personal gain and committed mortgage fraud. The United States government will not tolerate deceitful and fraudulent behavior on the part of its agents. This court will adjourn and render an opinion as to whether the President of the United States was within his power to dismiss you from your position at the Federal Reserve Board.

Later that day . . .

Chief Justice John Roberts: The defendant Lisa Cook will now stand. Ms. Cook, it is the decision of this court that you are stripped of your position at the Federal Reserve Board and receive the maximum punishment permitted by law. You will be incarcerated for a period of ten years and are not eligible for parole or early release. You will be fined $1 million, to be paid within thirty days. The decision of this court is final.

Chief Justice John Roberts: We will now proceed with our next case, The United States of America vs. Senator Adam Schiff, which coincidentally also involves a case of mortgage fraud.

What Part of the Left’s Platform Do You Agree With?

 

• Open borders
• Universal basic income
• Free healthcare for illegal aliens
• Granting amnesty and voting rights to 20 million plus illegal aliens
• $50 an hour federal minimum wage
• Defunding the police
• Sanctuary cities
• Taxpayer-supported abortion on demand
• Taxpayer-supported gender affirming surgery for minors and prison inmates
• Raising federal income taxes
• Banning gasoline automobiles, refineries, and natural gas
• Free college education for all

And in case it was lost on you, who pays for all that FREE stuff, considering that America is already $37 trillion in debt?

The Censure and Impeachment Olympics, Courtesy of Congressional Democrats

 

What does President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, RFK Jr., and FBI Director Kash Patel have in common? Easy—Congressional Democrats want them all impeached.

Democratic Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX) has drafted Articles of Impeachment against both our Attorney General and Director of the FBI. It seems he is okay with the massive fraud,

abuse, and waste of the Biden Administration—ditto the catastrophe at the Southern border. But to have law and order Administration officials doing the jobs they were appointed to do is a bridge too far for the asshat Congressman. Were Congressional Democrats interested in governing, we would already have a budget bill, no CRs (continuing resolutions), and all of President Trump’s appointees would be, well, appointed and approved by the Senate. All New York Senator Chuck Schumer can come up with is that everyone Trump nominated for positions that require Senate approval are unqualified. Hey, Chuck, even you should be able to do better than sweeping generalizations. I for one think Chuck Schumer is not qualified to be in the Senate. See, we can all play that game.

It’s the CR Time of Year

 

Ah, autumn. The weather changes, the leaves turn burnt auburn, and even the air smells different. And of course, it’s time for the annual ritual of congressional showdowns with continuing resolutions (CRs) to keep the government operating. Americans know full well that the United States government, unlike the average American family, is incapable of establishing a budget and sticking to it. Think of it this way: Congress is in arrears on both its Visa and Master Cards, and interest is piling up in the billions. They can’t agree on what to spend taxpayers’ money on and what not to spend it on. They seem incapable of laying out plans for reasonable spending.

The latest ploy by Congressional Democrats is to hold the government hostage unless Public Broadcasting is re-funded with $500 million, cuts are restored to illegals on Medicaid and other giveaways that were scratched by the One Big Beautiful Bill recently signed into law. The Democrats, led by Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, are robbing the American people of a fully functioning federal government. But I do have a solution to this age-old problem. It’s time for members of Congress to put some skin in the game.

I recall that when the government has been shut down in prior years, the media always made a distinction between essential employees and nonessential employees. For example, the military, air traffic controllers, the Coast Guard, the post office are all essential. I wonder if the folks who run the congressional payroll office are essential. I don’t think so. I believe they should be furloughed and be deemed nonessential.

Or we can take a different approach . . .

I propose that the American people demand that if Congress fails to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government funded and open, members of Congress are no longer entitled to be paid. Not only should their salaries be suspended but they should each be fined $1,000 per day, Democrats and Republicans alike. That way, EVERYONE is incentivized to reach an agreement, quickly.

Members of Congress earn $174,000 annually, so a suspension of their income and a punitive daily fine would go far to convince them to reach an agreement. Once they realize they will be inconvenienced and have their lives disrupted like all other Americans when the government shuts down, they might be moved to find common ground toward a bi-partisan budget solution.

Unfortunately, this would have to become law for it to happen, and Congress would never vote to be treated like all other Americans. They prefer that others have skin in the game.

The Congressional Marketing Machine in Overdrive

 

Political donations are the lifeblood of every member of Congress. Not a day goes by without a solicitation from assorted members of the Republican Party. But the important thing here is for them to interest me enough to actually open their envelope and read the message—a tough road for even the most experienced marketers. You see, I’m jaded. I’m a multi-decade student of marketing—from Gary Halbert, Jay Abraham, John Carlton, and Bill Glazer to Dan Kennedy and most everyone in between. I know that choice of an envelope matters, as does envelope color, design message, and see-though windows showing postage stamps, coins, and a $2 bill from Senator John Kennedy. I receive twelve to sixteen envelopes in the mail weekly, so I get to see a wide variety of appeals, from the worst to the most interesting and everything in between. I trash most all of them, writing an occasional check to those who I consider critical to the Republican Party.

‘Til we meet again…

You will find many of my interviews on my website at https://eocritic.com.

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This edition of The Equal Opportunity Times is dedicated to Charlie Kirk.

 

Yes, there is evil in the world. Evil recently stole one of the brightest minds in America. Charlie Kirk—a person of wonderful kindness, compassion, intellect, and strength—was gunned down by a deranged lunatic in Utah. This wonderful American was a shining light to all, debating conservative issues on college campuses, respectful of all and smart as a whip with a disarming charm that turned naysayers into supporters. How many of his videos did I watch on YouTube? Perhaps hundreds. He was that compelling.

Charlie had a story to tell about how socialism kills the human spirit and the only ones who thrive under that type of regime are those at the very top who enjoy the perks that no one else sees. Charlie was loved by millions and was perhaps even future Presidential material. And now he is lost to us, the result of one unhinged person who vehemently disagreed with everything Charlie stood for. America will mourn and hopefully grow stronger. We will never forget Charlie Kirk’s message, his smile, his grace, and his warmth. We pray for his wife and young children. Hopefully, Charlie Kirk lives in all of us.

 

Opening Salvo

 

Abolish Teachers’ Unions

 

Growing up, I understood that most unions were created to look after the interests of its members, to provide a unified voice to management and bargain for better work conditions and wages. I don’t recall them funding nongovernmental organizations(NGOs), presidential candidates, and left-wing causes.

The two largest teachers’ unions in the country, the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), fund a variety of leftist causes. According to Fox

News Digital, they fund radical groups that promote gender transitioning of minor children and men in women’s sports. I view these unions as vile. They are two groups that have strayed from their original missions. For more on this, see the Defending Education website that details over

$40 million that these two unions have given to left-wing groups. Fair warning: What you will read is very disturbing.

https://defendinged.org/investigations/teachers-unions-spending/

 

Hey, Progressive Libs − Choose Your Fights Carefully

 

First, progressives lost their minds over Sydney Sweeney’s ad for American Eagle jeans. Evidently she was too hot and had nice boobs. Perhaps they were in favor of someone with tattoos, face piercings, and blue hair who weighed in at 265 pounds, identified as a wolfhound, and went by the name Woof. Then, they set their collective hair on fire when Cracker Barrel changed its logo. According to Robby Starbuck, an anti-woke fellow, the company is “infested with left-wing activists who are more interested in safe spaces, pronouns, and virtue signaling than they are in their customers.” The sheer number of stories in the mass media about this corporate logo nonsense is beyond comprehension. What’s even more crazy is that mass media continues to report on this day after day. (Side note: I passed an American Eagle store in the local mall this week, and all signage featuring Sydney Sweeney is gone.)

Why would anyone care about a corporate logo? There is one reason and one reason only: They are looking to pick a fight. Why not pick a fight over gangs of illegals harming America’s children, or areas of the Mississippi prone to flooding? Why not celebrate the fact that we have a Cabinet Secretary declaring war on food companies and getting all the dangerous dyes in our foods banned? Good stuff! Pick a fight over Red Dyes No. 7, 8, and 9! Libs need to choose their fights based on what is in the national interest and what is good for American families, not idiotic issues that set their blue hair on fire. As one of my mentors taught me, do not focus on the unimportant; it is a waste of everyone’s time.

 

Democrat Leaders Are Only Interested in Power

 

I remember when I was studying political science and economics in college, my professors lectured that Democrats and Republicans made it a point to set aside their differences and work together for the benefit of America. They termed it bipartisanship. What happened to that?

Today we have ideologues who stand on their soapboxes and spew hatred of America and unlimited rights and benefits for those who have invaded our country. If you doubt this, see Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) speeches on social media. She hates America and takes every opportunity to remind all who will listen that America is evil and must be changed, preferably by violence.

The modern Democratic Party is not the party of John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, or even Bill Clinton. Lest you forget, JFK was a staunch anti-communist and pro-lifer. He also cut federal income taxes. This is 180 degrees from the party of AOC, Hakeem Jeffries, Maxine Waters, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Jamie Raskin, and some two dozen deplorables who instead of seeking to work with Republicans become obstructionists who block every measure, even those that lower taxes, make our country safer, and lower our federal debt. These Democrats are not interested in solving America’s problems. They call everyone who voted for Donald Trump a deplorable. Modern-day Democrats show a hatred of America. Their platform calls for open borders, citizenship for all illegals, free education and healthcare, and abortions for all, paid for by American taxpayers. They fail to understand basic economics or the effects of $37 trillion in debt.

They want to abolish the Electoral College because it does not serve their needs. They call for higher taxes because they say the rich have never paid their fair share. They wouldn’t recognize a fair share if it plowed through their living rooms. Their sole interest is power and getting their way. They strive for government-controlled central planning, confiscation of property, and redistribution according to government dictate, much like Karl Marx espoused in 1875. Ever wonder why they railed against DOGE? Why is it that they believe the fraud, waste, and greed practiced by NGOs is good for America? Biden’s Administration funneled billions of dollars to causes near and dear to their hearts such as illegal immigration, trans rights, and taxpayer-funded social services for illegal aliens. Smart Americans have begun to ask why. Finally, they are beginning to ask the right question.

The Constitution of the United States Article II, Section 1 – The Executive Vesting Clause

 

Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution states that “the executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.” This fundamental clause establishes the President as the sole head of the Executive Branch, consolidating federal executive authority in one individual. It is the foundational text for the President’s broad powers to enforce laws and manage the Executive Branch, creating a clear separation of powers with the Legislative and Judicial Branches. It is one of three branches of our government. This was done on purpose.

Now, let me bring your attention to the following. The clause states nothing about the use of the autopen, a device not yet invented in the 1700s and which, by the way, is powered by electricity, not yet discovered by Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. By establishing the executive power of the federal government in one individual, the Founders deliberately made no mention of any devices, machines, assistants, family of the executive, or anyone else who would be authorized to assume the functions and duties of the President, with the sole exception of the Vice President who would assume those duties if the President was unable to fulfill his obligations as chief executive. There were no assistant Presidents, no deputy Presidents, and no one to sign his name if he were asleep, out for a carriage ride, on a hunting trip, or taking a dip in the watering hole.

Further, by stating that the executive power shall be vested in the President of the United States of America, the Founders deliberately made it clear that no one else held that authority.

It has been made clear by testimony given under oath in Congressional hearings that aides to President Joe Biden did not seek specific authorization for use of the autopen each time it was used for pardons, executive orders, and the other documents that required the signature of the chief executive. Hence, the documents signed by autopen, without the explicit and direct authority of President Biden, are without effect and have no basis in law. If we Americans are lucky, we will live to see all those pardons and orders undone by the U.S. Supreme Court and/or Congress.

 

Bits ‘n’ Pieces

 

It’s been suggested that Uncle Fester (The Addams Family) had two children: Senator Adam Schiff and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. If you look closely, their eyes are eerily similar. Further research has determined that while the idea has merit, it is unfortunately incorrect. This has been a public service message.

A BIG shout-out to Judicial Watch. This fine organization has successfully sued and spearheaded 5 million ineligible voters’ names to be removed from voter rolls in numerous states. Our apologies to all those deceased voters who were intent on voting in the next mid-term elections, as well as the illegals who were erroneously registered to vote.

An American standoff: Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is demanding the resignation of Robert Kennedy, Jr., and I am demanding the resignation of Senator Sanders.

Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) asked a very good question: “Kids can’t get tattoos, sign contracts, or buy alcohol, so why would we let them permanently change their gender?”

It might not be politically correct, but a swift kick in the balls might solve a lot of gender confusion.

Contrary to popular opinion, crossing America’s borders illegally is NOT a human right.

To all the actors and academics fleeing to Canada to become “American refugees,” thank you! We don’t want you here. Stay in Canada. Have a nice life. America is better off without you.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is on record as saying, “We need a socialist revolution.” Do you really want this pathetic and disingenuous politician in the United States Senate?

When asked if Congresswoman Jasmine Crocket (D-TX) failed English class repeatedly in high school, her teacher frowned and pleaded the fifth.

Lazy reporting: Fox News has taken to screaming headlines of the unimportant. On the morning of August 30, 2025, their online BIG headline shouted, “Justice Department Fires Paralegal for Inappropriate Conduct Towards National Guard.” Mind you, the federal government employs some 3 million people, and the fact that Fox News hoisted a banner headline about firing one paralegal is absurd.

Despite claims to the contrary, the Minnesota Vikings categorically denied that Governor Tim Walz tried out for their cheerleading team.

Congresswoman Jasmine Crocket ALWAYS plays the race card. She claims that President Trump fired Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve Board because every time a Black woman rises, he wants to push her back down. She makes no reference to the illegal mortgage fraud that is at the center of this entire situation. It IS an inconvenient fact and does not fit her narrative.

Illinois Governor Pritzker declares he will lie across the airport runway before he allows a single ICE jet to land. WOW! Now that will be something to see!

Fun things to do in Minneapolis: LEAVE!

It’s curious that during the four years of the Biden Administration, Democrats and the HHS Secretary never took action to remove harmful dyes from American foods.

Asshat Congressman Jerry Raskin (D-MD) says that President Trump is oppressing people by having the National Guard patrol the streets of Washington, DC. Mind you, here are the latest crime figures released by Pam Bondi, Attorney General of the United States. As of August 30, 2025, there have been 150 illegal firearms confiscated and some 1,400 arrests.

I ran across something interesting on the Internet (you don’t say!). It spoke of the mass media misleading the American public about Hunter’s laptop, the January 6th commission, absence of proof of voter fraud, Russian collusion, that there is no problem at the Southern border, and, of course, the Epstein documents. Meanwhile we should listen as Democrats tell us that everything President Trump is saying and doing is a threat to democracy. I pray that the average American is not that dumb.

By now you have read that President Trump signed an Executive Order establishing penalties for flag burning. In 1995, Senator Joe Biden pushed for legislation that would make it a federal crime to burn or desecrate the American flag. In 2006, Senator Hillary Clinton stood in front of Congress and pushed for legislation to outlaw flag burning. I guess it’s okay when Democrats support this, but not Republicans. Today, Democrats are crying that flag burning is simply “free expression.”

 

Why Is It Okay when Obama Says It but Not when Trump Says It?

 

Around 2005, President Obama was quoted as saying, “We simply cannot allow people to pour into the United States undetected, undocumented, and unchecked.” Where was the uproar among Democrats and liberal progressives? There was none. Like ducks all in a row, they smiled, agreed, and clapped their hands as their leader espoused the obvious. Fast forward 20 years, and President Trump says basically the same thing. Democrats are up in arms, rioting, spray painting police cruisers, setting police stations on fire, and marching on every blue city. My guess is that TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) is at play. After all, it’s okay when Democrats say the same thing.

 

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA): There’s Something Wrong with Trump

 

Readers of the Equal Opportunity Times know my thoughts on Maxine Waters (D-CA), a horrible excuse for a lawmaker. The congresswoman is calling for the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Donald Trump from office. She blathered on: “He has the makings of a dictator, he is extremely dangerous and wants to be able to determine interest rates.” Perhaps Waters should recognize some of the wonderful things the Trump Administration has accomplished and stop being just another deranged Democratic obstructionist. Mind you, this is the same woman who urged everyone to hound people who worked for President Trump during his first term. She pressed folks to not let them dine in a restaurant or go to church without being harassed by off-the-wall liberals. Hers was a strategy of harassment because she is incapable of having honest and reasoned debate and discussion. And just to put it out into the universe, I would LOVE to see Ben Shapiro debate Maxine Waters, and I would pay good money for it.

 

This Is Beyond Troubling

 

I have an issue with those fine folks at the Post Office who deliver our mail and packages. You see, their unions endorse Presidential candidates. Consider this: The folks who backed and endorsed Kamala Harris were the same folks who delivered all the Donald Trump solicitations, mail-in ballots, and more. The executive committees of these unions instructed their members to vote Biden-Harris and then Harris-Walz. They tell their members that Republicans want to dismantle the Post Office and place all their jobs and pensions at risk. They lie and obfuscate the truth. These unions have a distinctly blue-leaning history.

In the 2016 election, the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) endorsed Bernie Sanders in the primaries and then Hillary Clinton for the general election. In the 2020 election, the APWU and the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) both endorsed Joe Biden. In the 2024 election, they endorsed Kamala Harris. These two unions represent hundreds of thousands of active and retired postal employees.

 

Sunday Blue Laws Have Run Their Course

 

Yes, Bergen County New Jersey Blue Laws are alive and well. For a blue state to have and enforce Sunday Blue Laws is, well, some kind of ironic. Someone may want to remind them that this is the year 2025. Witness a recent lawsuit alleging 120 retail stores at a popular East Rutherford mall violated the laws and are going to court. Blue laws go back some 400 years and were enacted to restrict the sale of nonessential goods on the Sabbath. Recall that New Jersey is the only state in the Union that prohibits motorists from pumping their own gas at the gas station, insisting that petroleum professionals are best-suited for the task. The lunatics in charge of New Jersey’s state government run a close second to the idiots in charge of Chicago and the state of Illinois.

 

If You Give Them Free Stuff, They Will Come

 

It’s no surprise that Colorado has gained over 43,000 illegals in just two years. There are now thousands of illegal aliens living on the public dole, paid for by taxpayers who have their heads in the sand. The civic cost has been enormous—chaos, crime, overcrowded schools, higher taxes, and loss of municipal services. Reports say that the illegal influx has cost Coloradans over $100 million—a huge amount of money that was NOT SPENT on services for Colorado’s taxpaying citizens. As the Biden Administration weakened asylum rules and opened our Southern gates to anyone who can walk, states such as Colorado, California, Washington, Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York insisted on giving them free housing, free healthcare, free education, free cell phones, free driver’s licenses, and free money. Those states now have budget crises of their own making. While they plead for additional funds from the federal government, President Trump is drawing a hard line in the sand and demanding that illegals be deported. American taxpayer dollars are for the benefit of American citizens, not those who willfully broke our laws.

 

I Couldn’t Help Myself – I HAD to Read the Article

 

I stopped reading the New York Post for about 25 years, and overall, it was a wise decision. Its version of news left a lot to be desired. I always thought their reporters graduated at the bottom of their journalism classes and that they were better suited for National Enquirer work than a major metropolitan paper. But fast forward to today, and I find I look up the New York Post website when I am in need of a laugh. So it was not at all surprising that I recently came across the following headline: “Manhattan Luxury Real Estate Agent Denies Biting Child.” Evidently, police charged the agent with biting a seven-year-old girl. Understand, I wasn’t there, so I will not choose sides, but you just can’t make this shit up. So the next time you are in need of totally useless and funny information, head on out to the New York Post website.

 

Santa Heard My Wish! Jerry Nadler to Step Down from Congress

 

Who says Santa Claus isn’t real? Finally, 78-year-old Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) is stepping down from Congress in 2026. He’s decided not to run for another term. When I learned that, I wept tears of joys. This asinine member of Congress should have been voted out years ago by his fellow New Yorkers. But truth be told, these are the same great citizens of New York who might elect a communist as mayor and who continue to support Governor Hochul and Senator Chuck Schumer. I left New York never to return. They deserve everything they get because they are stupid enough to vote for it.

 

Worshiping on the Altar of Crime

 

You will read that the Republican Party is often viewed as the party of “law and order” and tougher immigration laws. When I read media reports of crimes committed by illegal aliens, it is always the Republicans who demand more police boots on the ground, tougher laws, and increased Homeland Security operations. Meanwhile, local Democrats seem to be the ones in the criminals’ corner, pointing to how immigration raids instill fear in our communities and we must band together against the unwarranted roundups of our neighborhood illegal criminals. They talk of hard-working families who pay taxes. Mayors and governors alike tell the media that these people are citizens of our cities and our states, and we must band together and stand behind them against the oppressive policies of Donald Trump and the federal government. What they fail to mention or even understand is that in the eyes of the law, illegals—especially violent criminal illegals—have broken America’s laws and must be removed. We are either a nation of laws or we are a lawless nation.

The city of Durham, North Carolina, which recently branded itself a “Fourth Amendment workplace” city, will protect illegals from ICE. The fact that this is contrary to federal law concerns them not in the least. The Durham City Council voted unanimously to pass this new resolution. You might recall that the Fourth Amendment protects citizens against unreasonable searches and arrests, and requires warrants with probable cause of a crime before seizing a person or property. What these idiots on the City Council fail to recognize is that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is targeting non-citizen illegal aliens who therefore do not enjoy the protections granted by our Constitution.

Oddly enough, the resolutions sought to shield city workers from raids and arrests conducted by ICE. So here are two questions: Does this resolution pertain only to city workers, and if so, why does the city of Durham hire illegals and have them on their payroll?

So while it is a crime to enter the country illegally and to be in this country illegally, cities such as Durham, Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, Denver, and others insist on protecting them at taxpayers’ expense and obstructing the legal measures the federal government employs to remove them.

 

The First Circuit Court of Appeals Needs a Lesson in Biology

 

You may remember that the Bible teaches that God created both man and woman, stating in Genesis 1:27, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Notice that there is no mention of transgender or nonbinary anything in Genisis. The U.S. Court of Appeals may wish to take notice of this. There are males and females of each species, which brings us to the idiocy of a recent court decision stating that US passports can continue to display the gender identity of the holder rather than their biological sex. The Daily Signal cited “‘uncontroverted evidence of the harms that transgender and nonbinary people face’ if required to use” passports aligning with their actual sex. Of course, the ACLU was involved in this, arguing that a passport should show “who someone is.” It seems that someone’s sex at birth violates their constitutional rights of free expression, due process, and equal protection—and anything else they can think of. I would love to run this by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, and get their take on this.

According to Li Nowlin-Sohl, staff attorney for the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project, “People across the country depend on identity documents that accurately reflect their identity—who they are in their workplaces, their schools, and their communities. The administration’s attempts to deny that right to transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people has no basis in law or policy, and we’ll continue to fight this policy until its [sic] permanently defeated.”

So the ACLU continues to recognize cisgender, transgender, nonbinary, agender, genderfluid, genderqueer, and about 18 more genders. Despite the fact that sex is determined by biology at birth, it seems that gender is a personal internal sense of self. What do I want to be today? You can change your clothes but only an MD can change your internal, God-given plumbing, whether for a hundred grand or on the taxpayers’ dime. And so the insanity continues…

 

‘Til we meet again…

 

Click here to see my latest interview with the world renowned Lee Milteer on Rumble: https://rumble.com/v6yey04-lee-milteer-interviews-rodger-friedman.html

 

You will find many of my interviews on my website at https://eocritic.com.

 

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How many times have you seen Hakeem Jeffries, AOC, Nancy Pelosi, Jerry Nadler, Rashida Tlaib, Bernie Sanders, Ilhan Omar, Maxine Waters, Adam Schiff, Ayanna Pressley, and other deranged politicians get on their soap boxes and wail about the destruction of America and the end of democracy? 

To hear Congresswoman Maxine Waters scream at folks that Elon Musk is stealing their grandmothers’ Social Security checks and using the money to build rockets is downright hilarious and about as likely as me having a romantic dinner with Taylor Swift.

What they all have in common is an unhinged belief that theirs is the only path forward and that Republicans carry the sign of the devil in their hearts. To be clear, here is what these pathetic, wretched members of Congress think will save democracy:

• If we can just end the Electoral College
• If we can just put an end to DOGE and Elon Musk
• If we can just censor free speech
• If we can just do away with parts of the Constitution that we disagree with
• If we can just ban voter ID
• If we can just allow all illegal aliens to become voting citizens of the United States
• If we can just jail President Trump
• If we can just make sure the federal government pays for all abortions and transgender surgeries
• If we can just outlaw gas-powered vehicles
• If we can just add nine more justices to the Supreme Court
• If we can just make Puerto Rico and Washington, DC, the 51st and 52nd states

Their goal is disgustingly simple—a single-party socialist state with them in charge.

That is how they want to save democracy. Now I ask you, do you have friends, colleagues, or family members who believe as they do? Is there a reason these folks are still in your life and that you even speak to them? So I’ll be blunt and ask this. What does it say about you and your beliefs that you tolerate people who hold these beliefs?

 

You Do What’s Best for the Country – Not Your Party

This is a lesson that many in the Democratic Party refuse to learn. Simply put, American taxpayer dollars are not theirs to spend without consequence. I’ve come to the conclusion that many Democratic members of Congress support the looting of the American taxpayer. Why else would they be up in arms as DOGE ferrets out waste, fraud, and abuse among over a thousand NGOs? Don’t they want America to spend its money prudently? Aren’t they in favor of rooting out abuse, fraud, and waste? Don’t they want to send lawbreakers to jail for stealing taxpayer funds? Why are they so offended when the media reports that $90 million in stolen government funds was discovered and clawed back, and that the Attorney General is on the case to put the perpetrators behind bars? How can you convince me that they are serving the American people and not their own party’s interests?

 

If You Can’t Sell your Trucks, Hire a Dragon

Honestly, I haven’t a clue what truck brand was being advertised on a TV commercial I saw. But I watched it twice, for no other reason than it included a fire-breathing dragon. Yes, America’s truck manufacturers have taken to employing mythical creatures to sell their pickups. Here is the scene. Some muscle-bound, blond-haired hunk is driving through the desert in his EV pickup.

Suddenly, a flying dragon sets the air on fire with its dragon breath. Miraculously, the hunk defeats the dragon with a light saber electric sword. While the hunk is still steering the truck, the scene cuts to the truck towing a super large barbecue with a dragon’s head and tail sticking out of the ends. All the while, a bear driving another truck is seen trying to run the blond-haired hero off the road. Finally, the magical truck, presumably made in America, vaults over an active volcano that’s spewing lava. Folks, you can’t make this shit up.

Now, a couple of observations.

First, the truck-driving hero of the day appears to be a romance novel cover reject designed to lure lonely women. Second, the dragon was, well, really cool and memorable. And who knew that EVs have plug-in light sabers and that bears can actually drive? And last, I have no clue who spent the money on the commercial—Ford, Chevy, GMC, Toyota? What a waste of money!

Why not have a spokesperson just stand up next to a shiny new truck and count off all the reasons his truck is superior to all the others?

 

NATO: Eyes Wide Open 

It should not have taken this long but I am glad to read that 80% of NATO members have agreed to increase military spending by 30% or more to provide a much higher “force posture.” This spending increase would never have occurred under a Harris-Walz administration where everyone is holding hands, singing, and urging member states to pay for gender reassignment and place tampons in men’s bathrooms. The reason to have a military is to protect the member states and maintain a staggeringly lethal stance so potential adversaries will think twice before engaging in acts of war.

No one but Donald Trump could have made this spending increase happen, suggesting that the United States might end or lower its NATO commitment unless member states step up and fund the organization in full. In a speech that Vice President JD Vance recently gave in Germany, he provided a wake-up call to Europe, telling them to get their military house in order because they cannot rely on America to come to their rescue either financially or with war material as we did in the Second World War.

Europe has the ability to defend itself, and now it must find the political will to do so. Vance made it clear that the United States will no long tolerate NATO member states underpaying their commitments and getting a free ride from America.

 

The U.S. Institute of What? 

Odds are you never heard of this governmental agency that declares itself not a government agency. It’s the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) that was originally created in 1984 by Congress as a nonpartisan, independent body. The organization owns its DC headquarters and employs a couple hundred people. Now here is where it gets interesting. The organization is funded by Congress and proclaims that it is not part of the Executive Branch or subject to its authority. In other words, it is funded by taxpayer dollars but they claim they are immune from oversight.

On February 19, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order mandating that the agency reduce its activities to its statutory minimum immediately. The employees failed to do as they were told. That’s when President Trump, acting as the Chief Executive of the United States, fired 11 of the 15 board members.

This saga will play out in federal court over the next few months, but it will be interesting to see what unfolds, especially with Republican leaders in both the Senate and the House firmly in tune with the President’s agenda. I suspect they will learn that rogue bureaucrats in any agency will not be tolerated under the Trump Administration. I see it as similar to McDonald’s philosophy—there are NO rogue hamburger makers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Rock Island, Illinois; or Waikiki Beach, Hawaii. You get with the program and do what you’re told or you are out on your ass. Period.

By the way, the Heritage Foundation spoke up about USIP last year for being nontransparent in its programs and operations and supporting progressive Democratic causes and projects.

 

Where Else but California?

Was it a negligent barista who caused a cup of hot tea to fall on a customer’s lap, scalding his thigh and groin? We might never know, but what we do know is that Starbucks has to cough up

$50 million after losing a California court case. My guess is that they will appeal, but I am confident that the lunatic asylum that calls itself California will end up fleecing the corporate giant for no other reason than they can.

This reminds me of the lawsuit against McDonald’s because their hot coffee was too hot. They ended up paying $2.86 million because a senior citizen accidentally spilled coffee on her lap.

 

Bits ’n’ Pieces

Kudos to Vice President JD Vance for suggesting that Election Day be declared a national holiday, complete with voter ID required for everyone and paper ballots for all. My guess is that this is the Democrats’ worst nightmare.

One of my New Year’s wishes came true! Liberal trash Rosie O’Donnell left America for Ireland. Now she’s their problem.

Ask me why I’m happy. I’ll tell you why. For the first time in four years, America has operational control of its borders.

Dear Fox News: You are part of the problem. Will you dimwits STOP posting daily pictures of AOC across your media platforms? We all know she is an intellectual moron, but you keep splashing her likeness for everyone to see, thus increasing her popularity. PLEASE STOP! 

Hunter Biden has recently been stripped of his Secret Service protection detail. While vacationing in South Africa (don’t all broke people vacation there?) it was reported that he had 18 agents on his security detail, all paid by American taxpayers. As dear dear Hunter is no longer making a killing selling his trashy works of art, perhaps he can beg Daddy for a loan to pay for hired guns. Oh, and sister Ashley’s 13 government bodyguards are also being re- assigned. My guess is these actions have saved American taxpayers well over $1 million per year.

 

Extreme Transparency Is NOT Unconstitutional

On a daily basis, DOGE—the Department of Government Efficiency—finds tremendous amounts of fraud and abuse in federal government agencies. We are talking entitlement fraud on a massive scale. Elon Musk characterized their analysis at the Treasury payment center as “getting into the pipes.”

I for one am glad that his team has uncovered hundreds of millions of dollars that have been going out the door for no reason other than “Well, we always did it that way.” Meanwhile, the Democrats are screaming that Musk is stealing funds for his billionaire buddies. No, he is uncovering incompetence on a truly unprecedented scale. And the transparency is what has Democrats crying and screaming foul.

How do you stop the fraud? You shine a bright light on it for all to see.

In a recent interview, Elon Musk shared that he felt his team was uncovering waste and fraud in these terms: 80% showed incompetence, and 20% showed malice. Honestly, I don’t know which is worse. His team is uncovering hundreds of millions of dollars of payments to illegals from Social Security, HUD, SBA, and other agencies. My fear is that this is just the tip of the iceberg as the further his team digs, the more rot they find. The amount of money tossed down the federal toilet is truly unprecedented.

 

A Trip Down Memory Lane: They Used to Be Called Service Stations 

We were all excited as Mom and Dad packed us into the car for a special vacation. I remember all of us being happy in the back of the station wagon for a trip to Bear Mountain in upstate New York. We stopped at a Mobil gas station (in the 1960s they were called service stations because they actually provided service). The gas station attendant, in a neatly pressed Mobil uniform complete with matching cap, would come out, talk to my dad through the open window, and proceed to fill up the tank, check the oil and tire pressure, and wipe the front and back windows. No tip was given or expected, and a full tank was less than $5.

 

What Liberals Will NEVER Tell You

The days of hiring people based on their skin color or sexual orientation for who they like to bed down with are reaching their end. I agree with many that a meritocracy—hiring folks based on their abilities—makes a whole lot more sense than hiring someone because of where their parents grew up or the fact that despite their six-foot-three-inch frame they look good in heels, lipstick, and a cocktail dress.

I’d feel a whole lot safer getting a vasectomy from a board-certified urologist who graduated near the top of the class based on their abilities than a DEI hire whose skills were mediocre on their best days. Whether progressive liberals will ever confide that they want the person with the best skills and experience to operate on their children is doubtful, yet I don’t believe for a minute that they will allow a DEI hire to cut into their son or daughter to provide a lifesaving surgery.

My hope is that all Americans will wake up to the poisonous nonsense that the left has been spewing for years and aggressively vote them out of every office they currently hold.

 

Did Fred Trump Teach His Son Persistence? You Bet!

On what planet do folks think that Fred Trump taught his son Donald to climb as high as he has? Donald Trump stands toe to toe with Vladimir Putin and other despots on a weekly basis. He is not intimidated by any world leader and has learned how to give as well as get.

Did Dad teach Donald how to do that?

Perhaps some portion of that skillset was picked up watching Dad deal with New York City construction unions, the teamsters, and endless city council members looking to line their own pockets. My guess is that young Donald had a ringside seat watching a master negotiator at work. Fred Trump gave Donald a seven-figure head start, not eight figures.

Did Fred Trump teach son Donald how to have a smash TV hit with 20 million viewers or how to become a billionaire? How about how to have his own clothing line at Macy’s? How about writing almost a dozen books? Did Dad teach him how to build and operate grand hotels, casinos, and golf courses? And my biggest doubt—did Fred Trump teach Donald how to become President of the United States? My guess is no.

As a parent, I hope my kids reach to the sky, but I doubt they learned flying from me. What I hope I did instill in my kids, as Fred Trump instilled in his son, is how to persist, how to set goals, and how to not give up when challenges inevitably block their path.

All success is learned.

We are not endowed with the knowledge of how to win an election, how to earn a billion dollars, or how to score the leading role in a Hollywood blockbuster. President Trump set his eyes on specific goals and worked tirelessly to achieve them, bringing in expertise he did not have and leveraging everything he could to claw his way to the top. He persisted despite multiple lawsuits and assassination attempts.

Bringing this discussion full circle, I did not become successful by growing up on New York’s lower east side, going to a dilapidated high school with 5,000 kids, or attending a backwater state school in the middle of nowhere, achieving average grades. I didn’t become successful living in a crappy ground-floor studio in Flushing Queens and commuting one hour every day to a dead- end job with little chance of advancement.

I became successful using the same openly secret formula as President Trump. I read. I set goals. I persisted. I never stopped learning. I didn’t let obstacles block my path, and I never ever gave up on my dreams. What sets successful people apart from everyone else is their ability to see what does not exist, to fix that idea in their mind, and to work tirelessly toward that goal without giving up.

 

I’m Not Impressed

On a recent trip to Walmart I asked three different associates for help finding some items. I was surprised that not only the first person I asked but also the second and third people didn’t speak English. I would have thought that Walmart actually hired people who can speak our native language but I was proved wrong over and over again. What’s interesting is that 10% of my county identifies as Hispanic and Spanish speaking. Said differently, 90% of the county population is English speaking. I guess Walmart didn’t get the memo.

 

Restoring Fiscal Sanity

Teaching transgender and queer urban farmers about “food justice” is not my idea of a fiscally responsible America. That bureaucrats in the Biden Administration misspent so many billions of dollars of taxpayers’ wealth is mind-boggling.

 Perhaps squash or rutabagas are racist? If you can honestly explain to me why the federal government squandered $8.5 million on a consulting contract described below I will buy you dinner at Morton’s Steakhouse. Here is the official description of the project:

Funds will be applied to the “fiscal stewardship to improve management and program operations in order to drive innovation and improve efficiency and effectiveness of business services; rethink, realign and reskill the workforce; and enhance program delivery through a number of transformational initiatives.”

If these funds were allocated to corporate America, I think they could have paid for this out of their own budget. If, on the other hand, it was to support innovation among DEI programs in Botswana, then hand me a sledgehammer to break the absurd contract.

 

The Divided States of America

Imagine, if you will, American states as kids in summer camp, competing in a variety of sports, activities, and the infamous “color war.” My guess is that the cool kids—Montana, North and South Dakota, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Florida, Idaho, and Texas—would kick the asses of California, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, Washington (both of them), and Oregon.

My imaginary color war and tug-o-war, red versus blue, would be a Herculean task with bruised egos, bloody hands, and lots of crying—mostly from Illinois, Oregon, and New York. Oregon would prance around in pink and yell foul. Illinois Governor Pritzker would fall flat on his face in a mud puddle, his fat behind sticking up for all to see. New York Governor Kathy Hochul would be crying in a corner ’cause folks aren’t listening to her.

 

This is a telling image of what’s become of our disjointed union of states. I fear if there were an actual Constitutional Convention, many states would not bother showing up, just to boycott the whole process.

 

Some of us may be brown, Asian, Latin, or black. Some are born a boy or a girl.

But we are all Americans, and we should start acting like it.

 

Political Asshat of the Month

Welcome back to asshat of the month. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) went on Meet the Press and proclaimed that President Trump’s actions are an attempt to “destroy the rule of law.” He went on and actually decried that what Trump is doing is absolutely insidious. But here is the craziest part of his outrageous, poisonous, sanctimonious attacks on the President: “He is every single day acting unconstitutionally, he is trying to destroy the rule of law . And for what? To essentially hand our government to the billionaire class so they can steal from us. There is a level of corruption in the White House that is absolutely unprecedented.”

The fact that Elon Musk is taking time away from running his companies to help the President root out waste and fraud across all departments of the federal government is a godsend. Years of Democratic control of the gears of bureaucracy have created a spend-and-waste mentality that must be ripped out by its roots. Trillions of dollars of Americans’ precious taxpayer dollars have been flushed down the toilet with no accountability.

The fact that the Trump Administration is forcing accountability across the entire Executive Branch of government is both refreshing, crucial, and welcomed. Idiotic senators such as Chris Murphy ought to stand up and thank the President for bringing back responsibility, common sense, and accountability to government.

Instead, Murphy rails against cutting wasteful programs that achieve nothing and don’t help Americans.

 

Ye Old Curmudgeon’s Corner

Shortly after George Washington and I sailed the Delaware during that snowy day in 1776, I commented to him that more needed to be done to showcase the best of America, its people, and principles of freedom. Fast forward to today. We see mass media outlets doing their best to tear down America and its elected leadership. I get the whole independent media 4th estate argument, but to spearhead and spread disinformation is akin to yelling fire in a crowded theater.

Their objective is to create untrue narratives, sway opinion in a dishonest fashion, and simply spread lies. This is not a hallmark of independent journalism. It is characteristic of yellow journalism at its worst. The fact that Trump’s Press Secretary has demoted many a media outlets serves as a shot across the bow that dishonest reporting will not be tolerated and that there are consequences.

See ya soon…

 

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Welcome to Equal Opportunity Times #98. There’s been some discussion about what I should do when I reach my 100th edition of the Equal Opportunity Times. I haven’t reached any decision yet and am open to any thoughts you, my dear readers, might have. Here are some of the suggestions put forth so far:

• Compile them into a sequel to the Erasing America book
• Just ignore it and keep on writing
• Take a cruise to Indiana
• Get a haircut and shave off your beard
• Take a writing class
• Stop writing – you made your point

So if you have any suggestions, I am happy to entertain them. Simply email me at EOCritic@ProtonMail.com and tell me what’s on your mind.

 

California’s $20 Fast Food Increase Law an Utter Failure

California Assembly Bill 1228 was a clusterf**k from the get-go. The law mandated a $20 per hour minimum wage for fast food workers and the creation of the Fast-Food Council.

Surprisingly, Woke University of California at Berkeley released a study confirming what non- Democrats suspected. Well, those with a brain stem told the politicians that this would result in increased menu prices AND thousands of lost jobs. Guess what? A Berkeley Research Group study released on February 18, 2025, just confirmed it. After passage of the law, between June 2023 and June 2024, 10,700 fast food jobs were lost, and menu prices soared 14.5%.

According to the California Globe, the study debunked the idea that the new law created jobs. Automation increased dramatically as restaurant owners utilized mechanization and AI to replace costly employees. A Bureau of Labor Statistics study found that 89% of affected fast food establishments cut employee hours in the first three to four months of the new $20 minimum wage. It’s reported that over 1,000 California fast food restaurants closed after the law took effect.

What’s incredible is that the left-wing politicians in California refuse to see or understand the law of unintended consequences. They refuse to understand that business owners vote with their wallets and choose instead to move their operations to a more business-friendly state such as Nevada, Texas, or Florida.

Politicians never have to meet Friday payrolls, pour over P&L statements, or spend time requesting loans from bank loan officers to keep their operations afloat. They know of none of this and yet voted to increase expenses for business owners while not offering them anything in return. Were the fast-food employees directed to be 20% more efficient, effective, or knowledgeable? No, of course not. They simply got more money for doing the same thing they did before.

 

Sometimes You Just Gotta Laugh

So why would I do it? I hadn’t done it in probably fifteen years, but there I was, curious about what I was missing. I typed in the website address carefully—Onion.com—and what was staring me in the face? It was an article detailing how our new Secretary of Defense had sent 3,000 US troops not to the Southern border but on a beer run! I just stopped and laughed like jolly ol’ Saint Nick. So if you want a giggle now and then, check out this website and remember that not a word is true, probably…

 

President Trump’s Speech to a Joint Session of Congress 

Wow! As political theater goes, I’ve never seen better. Trump was at the top of his game in his speech to a joint session of Congress, even as Democrats sat stone-faced, lifting paddles with messages that MUSK STEALS, nary a word whispered among them. Some were dressed in pink to draw attention to the fact that they hate everything the President stands for, including reducing illegal immigration, lowering inflation, unleashing America’s energy, and rooting out federal fraud, abuse, and theft.

Even during moments when family survivors of murdering illegals were recognized or a spotlight was shone on a young boy with brain cancer, the Democrats sat there, not a one supporting the President. When a child was presented with his own Secret Service badge, there was not a show of support anywhere on the Democratic left. It’s as if the Democrats have lost all their humanity in a show of solidarity—a message that they despise everything Republicans stand for. Even the talk of balancing the budget—no visible reaction whatsoever because all their wasteful spending on special interests and NGOs would grind to a halt.

While the political theater was top-notch, I was deeply embarrassed as an American at the lack of humanity of all the Democrats seated in the chamber. My guess is that Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer instructed them to never show support or they would lose their committee assignments

 

If Only This Were True!

Banning butter knives? If liberal progressives had their way, this staple of the family dinner table would go the way of the telephone booth and the typewriter. It seems they are all up in arms over the unsharpened accoutrement that butters our bread at dinnertime.

Apparently, a few Squad members learned of an attack at a holiday festival in São Tomé, a small African island nation that sits atop the equator. The nation has a population about half that of Wyoming. In the 1900s, it was best known as an exporter of cocoa and dubbed the Chocolate Nation. Apparently, it has fallen on hard times as global trade took a sharp turn and left the nation in the weeds.

That doesn’t sit too well with the ruling clan who took to attacking relatives with butter knives at a recent religious gathering. Word is that four men were severely buttered-’n’-battered and the island is considering a ban on all butter knives. How the Squad learned of this fiasco is beyond me. Must have been written up in the New York Post!

Yes, that was a little fun fiction…

 

Biden’s Department of the Interior Found Itself in a Pickle

First, let me say that I am truly impressed by President Trump’s choice for Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, former Governor of North Dakota. He will spearhead the administration’s goal of unleashing America’s energy and natural resources. He will be unlike Biden’s Secretary of the Interior who greenlit the development and construction of 5+ acres of Las Vegas land for thirty brand new pickleball courts that the local community opposed.

 

What We Worry About

As we all know, the super-rich are not like us mortals. Those with billions to spare have different worries than you and I, although there are a few commonalities sprinkled about. Most on the minds of the billionaire class is anything that will dent their wallets such as high inflation, higher taxes, war, recession, and stock market crashes. Truth be told, some of those are on my nightmare list as well. But more normal folks—you know, those without eight-figure net worths—get pissed off about other stuff such as Denny’s egg surcharges, Starbucks changing their coffee cup design at Christmas, the Ford F-150 massive recall, the closing of Big Lots stores, and most of all, our local malls going out of business.

And speaking about worry…

The Biden gang oversaw four years of American destruction, including massive hits to our economy. Organized theft skyrocketed because of lax laws and police department downsizing. The National Retail Federation estimated inventory loss among retailers at approximately $112 billion for 2023. As a result of increasing crime and inflation, common retail names are downsizing left and right since they can no longer remain profitable. Here is a sampling of the downsizing I have read about:

• Foot Locker will downsize by 400 stores
• Family Dollar Store will close over 650 locations
• Party City closed forever
• Big Lots closed 400 stores
• CVS closed over 575 underperforming stores
• Walgreens closed 500 underperforming stores
• American Freight closed all 328 stores

What Will It Take for Small Businesses to Get Back on Their Feet?

America’s small businesses ain’t that small, not by a long shot. Official government figures indicate that there are over 34 million small businesses that employ some 60 million people. These are companies that employ less than 500 workers—a far cry from Apple’s 164,000 employee headcount. And how have these businesses been treated during the Biden years? In a word, horribly. The reasons are many, including a massive hike in prices (inflation), skyrocketing crime, and overregulation bordering on a death grip.

Yet there is a ray of sunshine peeking through the Hurricane Biden catastrophe. No, it’s not a business version of a competent FEMA. It happens to be optimism spurred by a new President, the promise of deregulation, lower inflation, and cheaper energy prices. If small businesses drive the US economy, low energy prices fuel small business expansion. Consider that 72% of US products are delivered by truck, and it doesn’t take a genius to do the math. Lower energy prices may translate to lower prices of goods on the store shelves. And so it’s not lost on you. The overregulation has been especially painful for small businesses since they are least able to afford armies of lawyers, accountants, and consultants like Johnson & Johnson and Microsoft can.

Proving a business is in compliance with scores of regulations can bankrupt a business quickly— a hell of an outcome that Democrats seem to not care about.

 

I Surprise Easily Now That I’m Officially Old 

There I was, minding my own business when I spied the following Fox News headline:

Agriculture Secretary Cancels $600K Grant

for Study on Menstrual Cycles in Transgender Men 

My first reaction—“huh?” My second—isn’t the Agriculture Department in charge of farming, crops, and soil? And eventually, I got around to the rest of this insane headline and thought to myself, thank God adults are once again in charge of the government.

It looks like the Biden Administration (who else) threw $600,000 to Southern University Agriculture and Mechanical College for this study. I guess they figured if a truly gifted Dr. Shwartzman at some downtown medical university can turn a man into a woman with scalpels, an artificial uterus, and drugs, why shouldn’t they have periods too?

 

An Alligator Ain’t a Fish

Would a reasonable person consider a poodle part of the T-Rex family? How about similarities between a salmon and a wasp? Then why on earth would a New Orleans Archbishop consider alligators to be part of the fish family? No, folks, I ain’t making this up!

A March 14, 2025, article published by Fox News told readers that an Archbishop in New Orleans told a questioning parishioner that alligator meat is okay to eat on Fridays during Lent because alligators are part of the fish family. Not so fast, Bishop. It’s true that meat is considered to be cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens. And yes, birds are considered meat even though they have wings. But alligators are seafood? Even if this loophole dates back hundreds of years, I still think it creates an end-run around good ol’ fashioned common sense.

P.S. Enjoy your gator sandwich…

 

Would a Reasonable Person Consider This Hypocritical?

Per testimony from Ms. Elaine Kamarck, the director of President Bill Clinton’s reinventing initiative, an estimated 377,000 federal employees were eliminated between January 1993 and September 2000.   President Clinton announced the formation of the National Performance

Review, led by Vice President Al Gore. Its goal, according to President Clinton’s announcement, was “…to make the entire federal government both less expensive and more efficient, and to change the culture of our national bureaucracy away from complacency and entitlement toward initiative and empowerment.”

Yet in the first two months of Donald Trump’s Presidency, the firing of 30,000 federal workers has caused Democrats to go berserk. The takeaway is that it’s okay to fire government workers if you’re a Democrat, but it’s treasonous to do it if you are a Republican.

 

Teaching Others How to Shovel Shit

Yes, it’s true. The Biden Administration in its off-the-wall wisdom of wasting taxpayer funds sent $20 million overseas to teach farmers best practices for using manure and fertilizer to optimize crop growth. Vietnam, Brazil, Pakistan, and Columbia were most likely very grateful for the imported dollars to support farm/manure research because obviously, they have no money to research it themselves.

 

When Idiots Are Allowed to Roam Free

Yes, I broke my own rule. I scanned the dreaded New York Post and came across yet another reason why this media company should be padlocked, shuttered, and erased from history. So what led me to this conclusion? The headline screamed.

Plus-Sized Influencer Demands McLaren Sports Cars

Increase Seat Size to Accommodate Her Booty: ‘Should Be for Everyone’

Evidently, this 225-pound, 27-year-old, plus-sized Panamanian-born influencer is of the opinion that the world does indeed revolve around her and must submit to and adhere to her childish and off-the-wall demands. Perhaps this lady should go on a diet and get her oversized rump to the gym or shop for a Hummer that can accommodate her 56-inch caboose. And for what it’s worth, I don’t feel influenced, not one bit.

 

An Unfortunate Spectacle

By now we all know that Congressman Al Green (D-TX) was ejected from President Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress in March. Green’s behavior was deplorable, disrespectful, and childlike. As I read about the incident in online media, I noted that when a member of Congress is censured, it is largely symbolic, akin to a slap on the wrist in front of the whole class—in other words, a public shaming and humiliation.

In the days that followed, the Congressman was indeed censured—big deal. Well, I have a proposal for Congress to consider, one that has its roots in professional hockey and basketball. I propose that when a member is censured, they lose the following privileges:

• Not permitted to attend sessions of Congress for 30 days
• Not permitted to submit new legislative bills for 30 days
• Not permitted to vote on legislation for 30 days

Oh, and one more thing, they should be fined $25,0000 for their errant behavior. If fines are good enough for the NHL, NBA, and NFL, they’re good enough for our elected politicians.

 

Biden Threw Money at Paraguay’s Border – NOT Our Own

It seems that landlocked Paraguay was on the receiving end of US taxpayers’ money in the amount of $2.1 million for improvements to its border security. Since Paraguay is surrounded by Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia, I’m certain those millions would have been better spent fortifying border walls in Texas, Arizona, or California.

 

A Mockery of Common Sense

Imagine, if you will, the Defense Department inking a contract with a Mexican-cartel-owned fabrication business located near Seattle. Imagine further that this imaginary company is in the business of making bullet-proof vests for law enforcement organizations. Now, let’s further assume that it appears there is an issue with quality control, and it seems that a whole bunch of vests destined for SWAT teams in major US cities are defective and will not protect the wearers against most gunfire. Farfetched? Anyone with a pound of common sense would immediately ask the following questions:

• How could a Mexican cartel own a business in the US?
• How on earth could this business get a contract for armoring the police?
• Was there any due diligence performed on the business before signing the contract?
• How is there no quality control?
• Which idiots should we put in prison for this fiasco?

We’ve all heard the line that truth is often stranger than fiction. With that in mind, fasten your seatbelts, place your tray in the upright position, and get ready for takeoff. This is where reality is dumber than riding in a convertible during a Nebraska hailstorm.

As reported by Newsweek reporter Ellie Cook, faulty armor plates were delivered to the Pentagon by a Russian-owned company in Portland, Oregon. The armor plating, used in combat vehicles by the U.S. Army and allied militaries were fabricated by Evraz North America. Newsweek reported that almost 13,000 armor plates either skipped important inspections or had inspections falsely labeled as inspected and approved. Local Portland media reported that the FBI visited the facility in mid- 2024.

My take: Do we ask North Korea to produce artillery shells for us? Do we ask China to manufacture our ICBMs? Do we ask Iran to produce our intercontinental bombers? Then why the hell do we have a Russian company on US soil manufacturing steel-plated armor for the U.S. Army? Whoever the idiot is at the Pentagon who greenlit this clusterfuck needs to be fired and jailed.

 

Bits ’n’ Pieces

In case nobody noticed, 30-year mortgage rates have been falling ever since Joe Biden left the White House, and obviously, mainstream media has said nothing about this.

Word has it that a Bernie Sanders fundraiser had a special performance by a trans singer. Why does nothing surprise me anymore? Next, I suppose ol’ Bernie will come out as a non-binary socialist politician.

Just a hunch, but I guess that President Xi of China and President Putin of Russia were praying mighty hard that Kamala Harris would win the presidency so they could continue walking all over America. I’m thinking that they might be displeased that they have to deal with Donald Trump again.

Hijacking all the oxygen in the room appears to be the new phrase when describing a blowhard who won’t shut up and loves to hear themselves talk. Just sayin’…

“The written word speaks.”

—Rodger Friedman

“Arrest him and deport him or, at the very least, tax him until his eyeballs bleed.”

—Charles Pierce, Esquire Magazine, regaling us on the evil Elon Musk

See ya soon…

 

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