Shooter's Dinner in Washington, DC

    Hmmm. How's the Secret Service doing today?  Not good is the opinion among insiders and outsiders. Obviously, when an "active" shooter shows up at an event and gets a few shots off near the Chief Executive, something failed; in this case the security detail. 

      Old sTump wasn't the victim this time, but he could have been. The shooter was captured soon after he arrived in the hotel and fired his weapon. The hotel security was not up to meeting the needs of a chief executive visit. Recall that Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in a hotel in 1968. The assassin was waiting in an unsecure area-the kitchen, when he fired the fatal shots. Sirhan Sirhan rests in jail to this day, where he will die, eventually.

      The would be assassin of the Oval will spend most of the rest of his life in prison. He had traveled across the country in an attempt to be another assassin. He had lived in Torrance, California, on the West Coast, a famously "Blue" state area. He was a graduate of Cal Tech, the world renowned university. He must have given his actions considerable thought, as did Ted Kozinsky of Uni-bomber fame. This failed assassin will get a bit of publicity but will soon be forgotten like all the rest.

     Homeland Security chief: clean out your desk. F.B.I. Chief Patel: clean out your desk. Head of Secret Service: clean out your desk. AG's office: find a new job. (Todd Blanche go home).  National Security Advisor; go back to Foggy Bottom. Pete Hegseth- clean out your desk.  SecNav-just wait.

     Just what the Oval needs today. He'll greet the King of England today, and the Queen, too. King Charles the II will land in D.C. today for a formal visit. His welcome dinner will be very secure, obviously, no assassins will be allowed to enter. These are difficult times in the Oval for the Oval himself. His Iranian friends are not being cooperative. BiBi has revealed an illness, and he has not developed any signs of backing down from his campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon or anywhere else(go get 'em, BiBi). So the King's visit will offer some respite from current concerns. 

     Perhaps the Oval will squeeze Charles for some support in the Strait of Hormuz-maybe a mine sweeper or two. Maybe a frigate or two or three. Any help would be appreciated, Chas. The Old King hasn't done much on the international scene as his country comes to grips with Brexit and the immigrants reaching his shores. Maybe the Oval will tell him how he does it at home. (Fences, walls, ICE agents, foreign jails, threats, etc).  Charles has been around awhile and knows a thing or two about politics, etc. But he knows the Oval doesn't listen to anybody especially when the mantra around the US is "NO KINGS".  Charles won't take offense at this motto, but he is confident in his own role as King.

    But, be careful Charles; make sure your security is in place today and everyday while near the Oval. 

Muskrat v. Altcat: Trial Begins

       Well, Sports fans, get your popcorn and drinks and lets watch the game as it begins today in Oakland, California. Wait aaaaaaaaa minute. Games? Oakland? Hold on now. Something is wrong, very wrong, crazy wrong. Games?  Hmmmm.

       So, folks the Raiders left town a few years ago; you know the OAKLAND Raiders. Then, the OAKLAND A's-they, too, hit the road for Las Vegas(?) via Sacramento, CA. Oh, the Golden State Warriors had their start in OAKLAND, too, in a place called the Colosseum off I-80 near the OAkland Airport(that sorry excuse for an airport). The whole place is a sorry town beset by unsolvable social problems despite being on the fringe of Silicon Valley just south. A new Mayor, Barbara Lee has taken over City Hall and apparently, with her well -honed skills, she's managed to restore some civic pride. However, it will be a long, uphill road to change things there.

     When Arnold S. was the Republican hope in Sacramento, he had inherited a bridge project: the removal of the eastern half(earthquake damaged half) and the installation of the new replacement. People wanted to know: How Much, Arnold?  Hmmm. Seems like a reasonable question. The problem was - nobody in the Legislature where the money was to come from could offer a definite number: costs kept rising by the day. But, the question(s) wouldn't die. How Much? How much, Arnie. You were Terminator, tell us a terminal answer: How Much? Finally, $8 billions came out, a lot higher than projected and a lot higher than people wanted to pay, but it was too late; sunk costs dictated that the project would be finished. One can drive over this bridge today. Its nice.

     But, I digress. We're back in Oakland where the MAyor began his maritime career many moons ago, at the O.A. T.-the vast Oakland Army Terminal. Yes, the US Army used the area as a logistics center for the Pacific region. The SP trains stopped here, not across the Bay in SF. The container ships now stopped here, not across the Bay. The Key System of trains had a depot here(now gone and forgotten). SF knew it could not compete against all those logistic situations that favored Oakland. All those jobs: gone from SF.

     Then something happened in SF.  Bank of America went bankrupt(almost) and was taken over by some carpet baggers from the Deep South. Good bye finance/banking. Pacific Stock Exchange- adios, Amigo. BART came, here and Oakland, too.  Biotech came, but not here, not there. And then: technology arrived in full bloom. By the late 90's, the Dot Com business arrived in SF, not Oakland. It bombed everywhere, but the dot-commers liked what they saw in SF, not Oakland. A new player arrived and covered the western segment of the Bay Area. Oakland's well known problems precluded any chance of competing with SF for location of the 'new' tech industry.

     But now, we have sparks flying between two giants of tech; Sam Altman of AI fame and his nemesis,  the Musk Rat hisself: Elon Musk. They will face off in a much-watched trial in Oakland. The old city across the BAy will finally get some attention. Media types will trip over themselves has they converge on the old courthouse. Some will get a seat, others, no. Some will get mugged, some will lose their cars, some will leave in disgust as the trial unfolds. Watch it. 

E.U. Extends Financial Lifeline to Ukraine

        Well, now we can all breathe a sigh of relief as money will begin to flow to the valiant Ukrainian people who have been attacked by scum from the Kremlin. Putin's "Special Operation" has gone awry and the Rus peoples have suffered at least 1 million casuakties sine the invasion into Ukraine over 4 years ago.

    What a boondoggle Mad Vlad has led his peoples into. For what? Only Putin knows the aswer to this question, based on flimsy evidence and ever fewer facts. So, off they go: Little Green Men; and now these same Little Green Men are being routinely massacred on the front lines in the Donbass Region of eastern Ukraine.  Mini drones seek them out and kill them instantly(but not painlessly.) There is little defense against these munitions and Ukrainians are making them as fast as possible, by the tens of thousands. They are even exporting those beyond their needs to help other countries deter efforts by Crazy Iranians who still think they are the best Arab country in the Middle East(not!).

   The E.U. has freed up billions for the country after being held up by Viktor Orban in Hungary. he's been voted out for a week and that's no great loss for the West. The Old Fart had been around for 16 years or about 15 years too long.  The money is in the form of a loan for $106 billion, a meaningful amount when one is talking ammunition, supplies, transport, and new technology.  Volodimyr Zelenski will put it all to good use to make the Mad Russyan pay in piled up Rus bodies on the front lines of the war.

Kudos to the E.U. and the Central Bank. 

Another Iranian Tanker Seized by US Forces

        Well, now, it's becoming routine: Iranian ship leaves port. Heading into or near the Strait of Hormuz, the rocky gap in the earth near Iran. After disregarding orders to turn around, the ship was boarded from helicopter-born commandos who took over the ship and promptly took custody of the crew and the ship's cargo(oil). This the 2nd ship boarded by and captured by US military commandos.

      So, the mullahs and the IRGC leaders have a new snack to chew on over the weekend. Oh, what we going to do, Ali?  Send another tanker and lose it, too? doesn't make sense to me or anybody else in the room. Hmmmm.

      Maybe we should talk with the Oval; maybe not. Maybe we chance it, and send another shipment out of the Strait, see what they do. They wouldn't do it 3 times or would they. What is Oval thinking now? Who knows.  31 ships have been turned back either leaving or entering Iranian ports. This won't help their oil sales one bit.  Maybe some of Iran's customers will put a little pressure on the IRGC leaders since they are running the government now and for years.

   Don't hold your breathe on this one.  

Damaged Ships, Blocked Straits, Mines in the Passage

       So, we civilians are being treated to grand theater in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. One could see years ago after the brits gave up on the Middle East that the future there would have a difficult time.  As the "black gold" became a modern necessity, the stakes got higher and more expensive as the tribes jockeyed for oil fields in the desert. So, here we are today, fighting and bombing so oil can flow wherever.

        Ukraine has joined some of the Gulf states in their efforts to keep the oil customers adequately supplied. Nop supply=higher prices worldwide. Take California, an oil exporter that has seen a large increase at the gas pumps for those w/o electric vehicles(EVs). Shocking, but thius is the 'real'effect' of the blocking of tanker traffic in the Strait.

       The Oval has done little to alleviate the situation. rather, the Oval continues to antagonize the Iranians and bluster with more and more threats. My, my. What are all those millions who stayed home from the polls in 2024 thinking now? Maybe things would be different if we had voted.  Sad, really. All those dead bodies piling up around Tehran.

   It will end, but nobody other than the Oval is saying when that will be. 

Sen. Scott weiner: D-California State:

    Quick, Scott, grab some headlines with more outrageous trash. The carpet-bagger from the East(unlike the Magi) has imposed his hysterical positions across the board and has gained a following of sorts in Ultra Blue San Francisco, a well known harbor of wackos and street crazies.

      Sen. Weiner is running for Governor in a field well stocked with wackos and crazies(see my earlier post with candidates list). He fits in  with this crowded slate of grabbers, reachers, cloyers, and work-avoidance types.  Locals were happy he went to Sacramento instead of sitting around SF's City Hall looking for solutions for the homeless encampments proliferating around the civic center. But carpet baggers have no shame, no ethics but what they conjure up in their many fever dreams of a fantasy life paid for with taxpayers hard-earned dollars.

     The Washington Post editorial board had a nice comment to make regarding the weiner's proposed bill to restrict a psychotherapist's speech.  Therapy as noted in SCOTUS rejection of a Colorado law is professional practice, guided by standards set by competent authority. Weiner wants to challenge the Supremes with a state law that circumvents this decision.  Gov. Gruesom might even agree with the law, but he won't sign it as he wants the Oval in 2028. Weiner wants the Gov's mansion, a form of therapy in his case. 

How is Kash: Today

    So, the F.B.I.director , Kash Patel, is looking over his shoulder for "the Oval" axe. After he filed the $250 million lawsuit against the Atlantic for an article that stated that Mr. Patel  has had episodes of heavy drinking, some while on duty. Isn't he always "on duty".?

      So, the FBI Director has denied boozing. Really?  

Truth Social: Please Buy Me

       So, former congressman, Devin Nunes, has departed the sTump media platform, TRUTH SOCIAL. He'll be looking for work and spend more time with his Lego toys. The No. 2 person will be interim leader. It was announced by board member, Donald sTump, Jr. 

       Truth Social, where Ol' TACO sTump sends his media whimperings to the pathetic list of followers, has been losing loads of money since its founding. Income last year was about 3.2 millons. It lost over $300 millions. Hmmmm. Has the family adapted this major loss to its balance sheet(s)? How would you like to be the bearer of this 'bad' news to the Oval Office? You would end up like Devin Nunes, out in the cold cruel world of Washingtoon, DC. Ol' Devin is another Californian who attached his life and his future to the Republican Party apparatus. How is that move loking now?  Will he come back to CAlifornia with hat in hand and try again to be elected to some minor position out in the red estates of the 'Inland Empire" of Agri-Business? Perhaps he'll find some sympathy in Fresno, or Bakersfield; certainly not anywhere near Sacramento or the Deep Blue Coastal Region(anywhere north of Ventura).

       This duplicitous liar will find it difficult to arrange a future. His world is a known world of"Former Trumpsters", a world growing by the hour.  Soon, this world will be joined by the director of the F.B.I., Kashli Patel, the whiskey-drinking lover boy who loves to wander about with his Logo-windbreaker that screams in gold Caps his federal membership in the former elite organization.  Next up, why Tucker CArlson as he tries (in vain) to cut ties with the Oval(egghead-shaped)Office on Pennsylvania Avenue. Ol' Tuck, proud son of San Francisco, will wear this mantle F O R E V E R.  What a Putz. MArjorie Taylor Green is already a leader of the "Former sTump crowd.  She will where her tattooed body forever also. (well deserved in her case).

     So, who will buy the losses of Truth Social? Mad Vlad? Ali Khomenai? Mr. Maduro? John Roberts? Tim Cook? Jamie Dimond? Mayor Magdami. ? Ha. 

Strait of Hormuz: How Are Things at Sea

    well, the US NAvy boarde an Iranian ship carrying crude. We'll see how the mullahs and the beehive of terrorists reacts. Maybe they'll blow up a few mosques, or maybe a few coffee houses where Iranians like to smoke and drink strong coffee(no booze). They'll be discussing the "Great Satan" and all of its allies in the"West". You know, 'The West", where fleeing citizens of terrible Middle East countries run to when they need a life outside of Islamic states of terror.

   Perhaps the next move will be a few drones sent blasting west toward Greece-easy target,close, unprotected, few people care about the place-rocky, hilly, smells like goats and sheep. Ormaybe lob a few toward Turkiye-rocky, hilly, smells like sheep and goats. Or Iraq-rocky, hilly, smells like goats. Or Macedonia_rocky, hilly, smells like goats. Or South Macedonia: rocky, hilly, smells like goats. Or____________(fill in with any place similar).

    The mullahs are great at the bluff- they've used it exclusively now since the revolution.  Maybe someone in power will remember. Maybe the diplomatic playbook will include a bit of Iranian history since about 1950. A few things one could learn. Among those things: Iranians are great at bluffing, and in using partners, like Hezbollah, to carry out their dirty work(murders and bombing usually).

     So, MArco Rubio, trying his best to keep up with the Oval character to get things done. Good luck, Marco, you'll need all of that.  

California Governor's Race: Who Is In Today

 Akinyemi Agbede                                  

1. Mohammad Arif             
2. Larry Azevedo
3. Naomi Bar-Lev
4. Xavier Becerra
5. Chad Bianco
6. Carolina Buhler
7. Elaine Culotti
8. Patricia De Luca Basualdo
9. Louis A. DeBarraicua
10. LinvingForGod AndCountry DeMott
11. Randeep S. Dhillon
12. Sophia EdumA-Sam
13. Serge Fiankan
14. Lukasz Adam Filinski
15. Max Fomin
16. Derek Grasty
17. Don J. Grundmann
18. Jon Henderson 
19. Lewis Herms
20. Rafael M. Hernandez
21. Steve Hilton
22. Joel Jacob
23. Dawit E. Kellel
24. Gary Howard Kidgell
25. Anna Komarovsk
26. Alicia Olivia Lapp
27. Matthew Chase Levy
28. Duane TerrenceLoynes Jr. 
29. Matt Mahan
30. Amanda Martin
31. Brent Maupin
32. Daniel Mercuri
33. Leo Naranjo IV
34. Tim Nelson
35. Barack D. Obama Shaw
36. Mauro Alberto Orozco
37. Thunder Parley
38. Katie Porter
39. Raji Rab
40. Satish Rao
41. Ramsey Safarnejad
42. Sam Sandak
43. Christine R. Sarmiento
44. Frederic C. Schultz
45. Scott Shields
46. Gretha Soloorzano
47. Tom Steyer
48. Ebony Taylor
49. Tony Thurmond
50. Margaret Trowe
51. Antonio Villaraigosa
52. Tom Woodward
53. Nancy D. Young
54.  Leo Samuel Zacky
55. Erin "Zez" Zezulak 

David Zickefoose  

  So, a crowded race. Two dropped out recently: Betty Yee, today, 4/20/26, cited a lack of funds and funding shortfalls.

    And, not to be overlooked Eric Swalwell. The rumor mill exploded and the scumbag decided he didn't need any more bad press. Then he decided to resign his conngressional seat. So  long eric, no loss, trash. Go get a real job ad don't forget to change your name, please.

  Time is running out for the rest,and many of those will jump at the chance to pull out of the race. Yea. 

MAGA Supporter in Hungary is Voted OUT

       Viktor Orban, the former leader in Hungary, was tossed out by voters on Sunday. The rotund wannabe diktator conceded defeat in a publicized speech to the voters.  In his corrupt government, stealing public funds was just business. His ideas of a democracy clashed with every definition. He was defeated by a handsome young former member of his own party.

      Peter Magyar looks presidential and acts as such. Time will tell if he can fill the role with those traits that will ensure a solid return on promise to those who voted for him.  Since the collapse of the USSR in 1989-90, Hungary has struggled in many ways. Cast adrift by its former overlord in the Kremlin, the Hungarians knew little about a return to self government. They knew what it looked like in their western neighbors in Western Europe. They saw the USA in the media and relisshed the possibilities offered by the systems in place in those countries.

      Fear drove the people to elect Orban as he described the evils that lurked in every city and town as rapacious appointees systematically looted the government coffers for their benefit, not that of the citizens. Orban seemed to think that if the USA elected a man like sTump, then he could do the same for Hungary. sTump heralded Orban as a good leader, capable as a local citizen who knows the needs of the country. Orban basked in the praise heaped on him by the inexperienced loud mouth now running the most powerful country in the world. All he had to do was watch sTump and do the same.

      After 16 miserable years, the Hungarian people had finally had enough of his posturing and blather. Orban could no longer hide his record of corruption and graft. There wasn't /isn't enough public money to take care of the needs of the people paying the taxes year after year without anything changing, only promises came in reply to questions.

    Unlike America's response to a change in leadership, the Hungarian voters had an obvious choice in Peter Magyar.  He is one of their own, and has experience in government. He has energy and good health apparently, and comes to the top office in response to the voters hopes and desires for a new direction away from the recent past which did little to help the progress of the country and its people.

Time will tell if their hopes can be realized any time soon.  

Rory McIlroy Wins Masters

    It is a big day for the Irish: native son, Rory McIlroy won the Masters Golf Tournament this afternoon, becoming a back-to-back winner, the first in 24 years. And only the fourth pro golfer to do it.

      Rory qualified and made the cut in 2009 at age 17; he finished in 20th place at -2 below, an impressive tournament performance at age 19. However, despite brilliant play over the years, it wasn't until 2025 that he won at Augusta. Now, at age 36, he's done it twice to log his 6th major win of his career. Better late than never.

    He can return to his roots in Northern Ireland and acknowledge the high accolades he has earned as his reputation is cemented among the greats of the game. 

Zelensky Reaches Out

   The President of Ukraine, the heroic Volodymyr Zelensky, has reached out to many of the Gulf States to offer assistance as they confront the rogue state of Iran, the principal supporter of global terrorism not just in the Middle East, but in the world. With its client states of Russya and China, Iran has made its policy one of supporting all terrorists that might be against Western Democracy.

    Ukraine is fighting for its national life against the Russyan Bear state run by the MAd MAn Vlad Putin, a demented dictator who has held the Slavic country for over 25 years. It's a sad hisstory of fear -inducing dictatorial government that purports to be a supporter of human rights and personal dignity. Far from it. This rogue state armed with nuclear weapons has launced a campaign against Europe and the United States since the collapse of the USSR in 1989-90.

        Pres. Zelensky has led his country from the brink of takeover by the Russyan army to the point of expensive stalemate on the fields of battle in Ukraine. The valiant forces of Ukraine have defeated the makeshift Russyan army time and again since the invasion began over 4 years ago. Now Zelensky is helping allies in the Gulf States as they contend with repeated attacks by the leaderless Iranian government as it attempts to blackmail countries around the world that are dependent upon oil produced in the Gulf region. Many contries are suffering the effects of the blockage of the Straits of Hormuz, the choke point of oil carrying tankers.

     Zelensky is providing drones that can intercept Iranian missiles and drones that have been fired randomly across the region in its attempts to hold sway as the Israelis and the US bomb Iranian infrastructure in hopes of toppling the rogue state's regime. Maybe , or maybe not, but Iran needs to be dealt with and Zelensky is helping. What a hero.  

The 25th Amendment

   It is past time to bring out the Constitution and serve up the 25th Amendment. Any questions? 

Artemis II Splashes Down

       The manned space capsule holding the 4 person crew returned successfully minutes ago off the coast of southern California. The Navy recovery vessels were perfectly positioned and were moving in on the floating capsule.

       The 3 parachutes worked their magic and the capsule survived the re-entry period without incident as the heat shield absorbed all atmospheric friction encountered as it entered the earth's atmosphere. The ceramic shield deflects and absorbs heat generated as the capsule encounters air cover. This an exciting time for NASA and all space vehicles and private companies involved. The new government/private efforts appear to have worked, setting a new page on extraterrestrial investigation and exploration. Despite obvious comparisons with China, the US has made a significant leap ahead of the Communists in Beijing.

     Followup interviews with the 4 astronauts will enlighten all involved and open a new era of space travel interest in the US. While not the same as things were in 1972, this is definitely a revolutionary moment given the technological improvements in the last half century. One could say that 1972 was the Dark Ages of space exploration, before computers were resized to a fraction of the sizes used in the late '60's and '70's.Now, simulations can reveal much about designs and execution of plans long before liftoff.

      This a "hats off' to all involved in this effort that we know started many years ago. Hear, hear to the crew. 

Goodbye Pam, Hello Todd, the New AG

    So, after 14 months at the helm of the DOJ, Pam Bondi is out. Was it the Epstein Files that did her in? Of course not. It was her failure to toe the party line and support the Narcissist -in-Chief. Her replacemnet is already at the helm of what only could be called a "rudderless" ship in stormy seas.

     Just what the United States needs in these time: a DOJ without a competent leader whose only qualifications include bootlicking and toadying to the Puppeteer in Charge of the circus. Great news for all those criminals out there who were worried that a new AG might come after them. Now they know that the DOJ is only interested in illegal immigrants, DACA members,  and memappening folks.bers of the military who are too woke.

       So, off we go for another round of thrills and chills as we standby helplessly hoping for some normalcy . Not h