Nikki Haley's campaign manager

A few nights ago I had a dream that I had been appointed Nikki Haley’s campaign manager in Pennsylvania.  It was kind of vague, but she tasked me with winning the state.  Now I learn that she is still on the Republican primary ballot, and I know at least one Republican who plans to vote for her.  

If you know any Pennsylvania Republicans (I doubt if anyone who reads this blog is a registered Republican) give them a suggestion to vote for Haley.  I understand that in a number of states she has been getting over 10% of the vote even though she has dropped out of the race.  It must drive Trump nuts.   

Anti-missile defenses and nucs

Israel’s ability to shoot down drones and missiles launched from Iran was impressive and amazing.  It’s like shooting a bullet to intercept another bullet.

Unfortunately, that defense would not be nearly enough if those missiles carried atomic warheads.  First of all, the missiles wouldn’t need to hit the ground to be successful.  You could explode them in the air with equal effectiveness.  Secondly, it would only take one to eliminate Tel Aviv and the surrounding area.

I’ve read that nine countries possess nukes and some delivery capability.  In a number of those countries one person gets to decide.  In Russia it is Putin.  In North Korea it is Kim.  Perhaps equally scary is that in the U.S. after next January it could be Trump.

During the last days of the Nixon presidency the Secretary of Defense thought Nixon might instigate a war.  He would then address the nation, saying, “This is not the time to worry about Watergate.  We have a national crisis, and I must assume emergency powers.”  The Secretary of Defense asked the Joint Chiefs to immediately report any weird order that came outside the chain of command.  They were prepared to countermand the order.  You obey the Constitution, not the President.  

You think those screaming MAGA people in Schnecksville yesterday give a damn about constitutional niceties?  They may care more after the mushroom clouds start appearing.  Am I being alarmist?  Probably not enough.

Feel free to post this on whatever social media platform you desire.  People need to get serious about this stuff. 

J. D. Vance, military strategist?

I have been convinced that J.D. Vance lacks integrity.  Now I learn that he also fails as a strategist.  Lots of Republican members of Congress are enamored of Putin, but most don’t publicly support his goals.  Vance does.

Yesterday in an article entitled “The Math on Ukraine Doesn’t Add Up,” Vance wrote that the West couldn’t supply enough shells and other weaponry for Ukraine to win.  The smartest thing would be for Ukraine to negotiate the best deal it could get, giving up territory in return for peace.

Vance makes the typical civilian error of equating weaponry with power.  Thank goodness he wan’t around during the American Revolution, when an out-gunned and poorly-trained American army defeated the strongest army on the planet at the time, although we did get aid from our ally France.  Vance would have been right over there with Benedict Arnold.  

And why would Putin agree to stop once people like Vance throw in the white towel?  I hope the voters of Ohio come to their senses and show this surrender monkey out the door.

Getting my taxes in early

In San Jose in the Seventies the main post office stayed open until midnight on April 15.  A line of cars drove past postal employees taking the tax returns.  How do I know that?  Because I was often in that line.  

I have learned my lesson.  I should be finished with my W-2 no later than tomorrow night.  I’ve also gotten better at planning; one year we had to sell our car to pay the federal taxes.  On the other hand, I am proud that I have never cheated on my taxes.   I don’t go around wearing a lapel flag, but I don’t cheat the U.S. government.  It needs my money to help to pay for the rich bastards who don’t pay their fair share.

Poor O.J.

When I heard about O.J.’s death, my first thought was, “That poor man.  He went to his grave never learning who killed his wife.”

Voting at my kitchen table

Earlier this evening I filled out my “vote-by-mail” ballot, put it in the secrecy envelope, put that in the mailing envelope, sealed it, and signed and dated the back.  There is no reason to make people put the date on the back; if the ballot is received by election day, that should be sufficient.  I’d even think this was a form of voter suppression, but I believe it is more a result of bad drafting of legislation. 

Remember the end of the movie “Chinatown,” after the Faye Dunaway character is killed, and Jake’s partner tells him, “Forget it, Jake, it’s Chinatown.”  So many times Linda will turn to me and say,  “Forget it, Roy, it’s Pennsylvania.”

The inability to start processing mail-in ballots early, the two-part system of regular mail-in ballots and absentee ballots, the lack of drop boxes, the inane rule about dating the envelope:  “Forget it, Jake, it’s Pennsylvania.”  

The Rock won't endorse

In 2020 the Rock (Dwayne Johnson) endorsed Biden.  He said he won’t endorse anyone this year because of the “cancel culture.”  He said he wants to bring people together, not drive them apart.

He’s dead to me.