Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Russians are Cunning, the Russians are Cunning

Leave a reply

The resignation of National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, after less than a month in office may just be the tip of the giant Russian iceberg looming in front of the Trumpian ship of state.  Flynn had to go after having lied to Vice President Mike Pence about discussing sanctions with the Russian Ambassador before Trump took office.   Flynn apparently relayed the message from Trump that Putin need not worry about Obama’s latest round of sanctions and that everyone would kiss and make up when Trump took over.  Only that seems to explain the lack of Russian retaliation.  Putin had always taken strong action in response to sanctions – until he didn’t – which alerted anyone who was paying attention that something was going down.

Clearly, Trump was behind the attempt to undermine the authority of the sitting President and conduct unauthorized diplomatic negotiations with a hostile foreign power in violation of the Logan Act.  Flynn was not flying solo on this mission.  He thought the President had his back – a perhaps fatal miscalculation in this case.

Flynn’s connections to Putin and his Kakistocracy  go much further back.  Flynn was an early Trump devotee and rah-rah man and had his own connections with the Kremlin.  Was he the main bag man between Trump and Putin?  It seems very plausible that Flynn knows more than anyone about what happened with the Russians during the campaign.  In all likelihood, Flynn was in charge of managing the  apparent quid pro quo between Putin and Trump.  If elected, Trump would kowtow to most of Putin’s demands and make kissy-face; in return Putin would not expose Trump’s Russian peccadillos and possible criminal connections.  And to sweeten the deal, Putin would unleash his squads of hackers and undermine Hillary’s campaign.  It was a win-win deal for both autocrats – the real one and the would-be one.

As it now looks more and more like Putin has the goods on Trump (the Moscow Hotel videos are probably just a teaser – the real question is whether Trump is in deep with the Russian Mob), Flynn likely had the unenviable task of selling out his country after Trump’s election.  Someone had to seal the deal made with the Russian strongman during the campaign.

Trump’s big mistake may have been not tossing Flynn overboard before taking office. But perhaps he was afraid that Flynn knew too much.  The problem is compounded now and the vultures are circling the White House already.  Look for Trump to arrange for the Russians to either pay off or otherwise take care of Flynn before he spills the borscht.  The price of treachery is always dear.

 

 

The Coming War with Iran

Leave a reply

It is becoming very clear that Trump wants a war.  As he said during the campaign, “I love war, in a certain way” and clearly pointed out that nuclear weapons were “very important to me.” Red takes Trump at his word.  His already flagging approval rating is merely the latest warning sign.

There are two sure ways to temporarily boost your popularity in the White House – 1) do things that are actually popular and improve the country, or 2) start a war.  The first way is hard and Trump seems incapable of doing anything likely to get a majority of the country behind him (and remember readers – Red fully supports complete implementation of the Trump/GOP agenda starting with locking up Hillary and deporting 12 million illegal aliens and building a wall at Mexico’s expense).  But all he has been able to do so far is make some weak moves on immigration that are getting tied up in the courts and pay some lip service to unleashing Wall Street to deservedly feast on the unwary – yet again.  It isn’t working.  We are only 2.5 weeks in and Trump is already  stalking the corridors of the White House late at night when the cable news outlets go into repeat mode.  That usually doesn’t happen until deep in a second term.

So what’s a poor billionaire to do when faced with an increasingly disapproving public and the “dishonest media.”

Red has an idea! Drum up a war.  And who can most of America agree to hate – that’s right IRAN.  It’s only been 36 years since the hostage crisis and the aged clerics are bound to screw something up that will provide at least a thin veneer of an excuse for unleashing hell.  And a thin veneer will suffice for Trump and likely for a good number of Americans.

Which brings us to the coddling of Russia.  Trump is smart enough to know that a war against Iran will be much easier if Putin throws in with us.  They are right there after all and we can stage operations from Mother Russia much more easily than from say – Iraq.  The question is – what is the price of Russian cooperation.  Is it the Ukraine?  The Baltics?  All of Central Europe?  Whatever it is, Trump may be willing to pay if he thinks that a US-Iran conflict will deliver him the ratings and favorable poll numbers that he so greatly desires.  And if we have to lose a few thousand men and women and spend trillions of dollars, well that is a small price to pay to have your ego stroked.

Yes, there is that small problem of  the Constitution and Congress and a declaration of war, but that hasn’t really stopped any president in a long time.  If war is what Trump wants, Congress is likely to give him one.

So those of you out there with teenage boys and girls, like Red, take heed.  Do you want your son or daughter sacrificed on the altar of Trump’s vanity?  We fought a failed war in Iraq without a draft, but  a war against a much larger, much richer opponent may just require reinstitution of compulsory service.  No more fighting wars on the cheap.  The price is blood and Red thinks there will be many payments made before Trump is sated.

 

 

 

NFL Overtime Rules Written by Morons

Leave a reply

The Patriots may have deserved to win the Superb Owl yesterday, but we will never know because of the NFL’s bizarre and absurd overtime rules.  No other major sport has a true sudden death overtime.  The NBA plays 5 minute OT periods until someone wins.  Baseball plays full innings until someone wins.  The NHL does have sudden death but the game changes from offense to defense very quickly and possession is won in a face off.  It would be a very unusual circumstance for each team to not have possession of the puck in OT.  Soccer plays two 15 minute overtime periods followed by a shootout if needed.   It is absurd that after a full NFL season and the playoffs, that the championship can be so influenced by a coin toss.  Yes, the team winning the toss has to score a touchdown, but it is a ridiculous system that does not allow each team a shot on offense.  The college system has its flaws but at least has some elements of fairness.

Famous Presidential Quotes – the Trump Versions

Leave a reply

Franklin D. Roosevelt: “The only thing we have to fear is every-freaking-thing!!!”

John F. Kennedy:  “And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask how can you screw your country and make a few bucks.”

Ronald Reagan:  “Mr. Putin, do whatever the hell you please.”

Ronald Reagan:  “America is a fetid hellhole.”

Richard M. Nixon:  “A man who has never lost himself in a cause bigger than himself is really damn smart.  Only in losing himself does he find out what a loser he is.”

Theodore Roosevelt:  “Speak loudly and carry a grudge.”

Abraham Lincoln :  “You can fool all of the people all of the time if you just keep repeating the same lies.”

Thomas Jefferson:  “The price of freedom is negotiable.”

 

 

 

Who are you going to believe – Trump or your lying eyes?

Leave a reply

Trump and his press secretary Sean Spicer both made claims that Friday’s  inauguration was attended and viewed by more folks than any event since – well any event ever.  Red for one believes them.  Those vast empty spaces in the aerial shots from the Trump Washington Monument of the Trump National Mall (bordered by Trump Ave North and Trump Ave South) looking towards the Trump Capitol Building were clearly fabricated by the dishonest members of the disgusting national media (or disgusting members of the dishonest national media if you favor that iteration) who are hell bent on destroying the Trump administration before it self-implodes.

Not only was the crowd enormous, the TV numbers clearly do not reflect the vast numbers of folks  who belatedly switched over from Hogan’s Heroes reruns to catch Trump deliver his moving and spirited inaugural address accurately describing the United States as an utter and total hellhole to be saved only by the magic elixir of trade wars, military spending and continual patriotic repetition of the Trump Pledge of Allegiance (formerly to the flag).

Trump clarified the mendacity of the malignant and cancerous media during his speech at the Trump CIA Headquarters in Langley, VA on Saturday.  In front of the Trump Memorial Wall of CIA Heroes, the new chief executive pointed directly at the leprous media members in the back of the room while excoriating them for underreporting the size of the crowd at his inauguration.  The crowd which Trump advisors estimate to have numbered about 17,535,000 was woefully underreported as being no more than maybe 400,000 by the aforementioned smelly and rat-infested national media.  Members of the Trump CIA in the audience cheered, stormed the dais and carried Trump off on their shoulders in triumph.

Back at the Trump White House Plaza Suites (Deluxe Trump Lincoln Bedroom Suite now available for a mere $275,000 per night – two night minimum  with continental breakfast included), press secretary Sean Spicer came out for an extended period of two minutes to excoriate (get used to lots of excoriation) the sinful and unrepentant Trump White House press corps for their vicious lies about the size of the inaugural crowd in attendance.  According to Spicer, the crowd was bigger than any crowd ever attending any inaugural and its TV ratings dwarfed the Superb Owl.  Wisely refusing to take any questions from the correspondents present (all with oozing open sores), Spicer quickly retreated.

That was followed  on Sunday morning by Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway, who when confronted with an allegation from escaped convict Chuck Todd of NBC, told him off with a quick “Neener Neener” and pointed out that S. Spicer had not in fact lied but was merely presenting “alternative facts.”   Ms. Conway set the stage for the Trump playbook for dealing with the rapists and serial killers comprising the vast majority of the mainstream media (Fox News excepted of course). If your regular facts just aren’t standing up to mild scrutiny, then whip out your aerosol can of “alternative facts”, spray liberally on the lice-infested and vile national media members and watch those “alternative facts” go to work.  Red for one digs that scrubbing action.

Today in Texas History – January 20

Leave a reply

From the Annals of the Governors –    In 1891, James Hogg was inaugurated as the 20th Governor of Texas.  Hogg who was born near Rusk in 1851 was the first native-born Texan to serve as Governor.  Hogg, a newspaperman and attorney, served as County Attorney of Wood County, District Attorney for the 7th District and Texas Attorney General before serving three terms as Governor.  Hogg was remarkably progressive for his day.  His main targets were the railroads, foreign land companies.

Our New Treasury Secretary

Leave a reply

One needs take only a glance at Steve Mnuchin to form an opinion that he is a weaselly little lying scumbag that would do anything to anybody in order to put another penny in his pocket.  His real fortune was made running a foreclosure mill that routinely violated the law and profited from the misery of the less fortunate.  Which makes him an absolutely perfect choice for Treasury Secretary in a Trump Administration.  A more perfect tool to implement policies designed to make the rich richer on the backs of working Americans could not be found.  That principle will be the cornerstone of the Trump Regency; so let’s get on with it.   Red fully supports his nomination as a key to implementing the Trump/GOP agenda.

Red’s NFL Picks – Conference Championships

Leave a reply

NFL Picks 2016 – Conference Championships

The dream of an all-Texas Superb Owl to be played in Texas died a harsh death last weekend. It wasn’t much of a dream anyway and it keeps alive the curious streak of the home team never hosting the big game.

The Texans never had a chance against the Patriots – although they did keep it close for a whole half as Red predicted. Red almost believed for an instant after Brady’s second interception.

Meanwhile in Arlington, the Cowboys must be sitting around muttering “I could have been somebody, I could have been a contender.” The problem is that Aaron Rodgers is somebody and is always a contender. But now Jerry’s Boys will be spending the off-season wondering what could have been and not making any real changes to a lineup that had a magical year – a year that is not likely to be repeated any time soon.  The Cowboys defense has real problems and the rookie phenoms – may just be rookie phenoms.  As Red has said, he is perfectly okay with the Cowboys winning one playoff game every decade. So, sorry Jerry, the win for the 10’s is already in the books.  Talk to me in 2021.

For Round 2, Red was a spectacular 4-0 and made good on both Sure Bets with the Stealers covering and the under paying off.   Good things come to those who wait and wait and wait and . . .

Prime Time Pick of the Week – Stealers smack Patriots.    About the only good thing to come out of the Texans’ defeat on Saturday was that the defense beat the everloving crap out of Tom Brady.  Even Mrs. Red was getting excited when Chris Covington body slammed TB and Whitney Mercilus dragged him to the ground.  Brady took more hard shots in that game than he usually does in a month.  The Pats running game was also exposed.  Brady won the game with repeated strikes downfield against  Texans defensive backs who always seemed to be clueless as to where the ball was going.  That won’t happen against the Stealers.  Brady will face even more pressure (the Stealers had 30 sacks in the last 8 games). And the Pats are not likely to run against the Stealers any better than they did against the Texans.  But the real question is for the Stealers.  Can they score against the Pats league-leading defense?  The mid-season matchup tells us – well, not much.  The Stealers didn’t have Ben and Pats still had Gronk. Landry Jones had to chuck it up 47 times that day in a losing effort for the Stealers – which is something Ben almost never does. LaGarrette “Fat Pig” Blount rushed for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the Pats to victory.  That does not happen Sunday.  The Pats also will not be bailed out by Dion Lewis – who had more touchdowns on Sunday than in the rest of his career going back to 2011.  Red doesn’t know how the Stealers are going to win, but he knows they are going to win and thus, cover the spread whatever it is.  The Stealers are getting 5.5 just in case you are interested.  The O/U is at 51.  Which strikes Red as way too high. Take the under here.   Pittsburgh 21 New England 20.

Sure Bet Pick of the Week – Packers pelt Falcons.  Aaron Rodgers – great family man that he is – will always have a place in Red’s heart.  Driving a stake through the heart of the Cowboys’ season will do that for you.  And the Packs’ reward is to be a 4.5 point dog on the road against the Falcons.  The Falcons looked like a well-oiled machine on Saturday – with the big exception of letting Devin Hester run wild on kick and punt returns.  Without Hester, the game was not even close.  With him, the game wasn’t that close.  The Pack has no one like Hester.  Although Ty Montgomery’s brilliant play during the Lions-Packers game showed that he is the thinking man’s kick returner.  One of the Lions’ kickoff was dying at about the Green Bay 3 yard line.  But since it was near the sideline.  TM stepped out of bounds and fell on the ball (still in bounds).  Under the very complicated NFL kicking rules, that made the ball out of bounds and put the Packers at the 40 yard line.  It pays to know the very complicated NFL kicking rules.  Red has been duly impressed by the Falcons this season.  He has picked them repeatedly in the past – only to be disappointed.  The long-suffering Falcons fans are not disappointed – well not yet anyway.  It’s a little too good to be true and reality is coming home.  The first meeting of these teams at mid-season was a complete shootout with Rodgers and Ryan combining for 7 TD passes, 534 yards and no INTs. Expect about the same on Sunday.  The oddsmakers sure do.  The O/U on this one is a whopping 61.5.  Red sees them getting there.  The Packers defense is suspect merely by virtue of having Dom Capers in charge.  The Falcons defenses has toughened up considerably over the last month of the season, but these are the Packers after all.  This one could last 4:15 and conceivably goes to OT.  Okay, Red calls OT.  Take the Pack and the points and the over. Green Bay 35 Atlanta 29.

And of course, that gives us a Packers-Stealers Superb Owl.  Who doesn’t want to see that?

Trump’s “Landslide”

Leave a reply

As readers know, Red fully supports the full implementation of the Trump/GOP agenda – beginning with putting Hillary in jail – because Red believes that the people should get the government they deserve.  And in this case the people deserve to get screwed by Trump, something that he has distinctly mastered in his business career.

But Red’s full-throated support for –  building the wall (at Mexico’s expense), deporting 11 million aliens, jailing (or if you really believe abortion is murder giving the death penalty or life without parole) to women who get abortions and the doctors who perform them, eviscerating environmental regulations, making the wealthy wealthier and letting Vlad Putin rebuild the Evil Empire, –  does not and will not get in the way of Red calling “Bullshit” where he sees it.

The number one piece of bullshit being touted by the Trumpistas right now is that Trump won in a landslide.  It’s  always TRUMP WON IN AN electoral college LANDSLIDE!!!  In typical Trump fashion, the belief apparently is that if you repeat Bullshit often enough, people will come to believe it.  Well Bullshit is Bullshit and this landslide talk is utter Bullshit.

We all know Trump lost the popular vote by a wide margin.  He got a smaller percentage of the popular vote than Romney, McCain and Kerry – the last 3 losers.  He did win the Electoral College – but hardly in a landslide.  He will be president because he won Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.  Let’s break it down.

Michigan – Trump wins by 11,000 votes out of over 2.5 million votes cast

Pennsylvania – Trump wins by 45,000 votes out of almost 6 million votes cast

Wisconsin – Trump wins by 23,000 votes out of about 2.8 million votes cast

That is 79,000 votes that swung 46 Electoral College votes to Trump –  which is more than his “Landslide” margin of victory in the EC.  To put it in perspective that is about like Beaumont deciding the presidential election.

So stop with the “Landslide” nonsense.  Here is what a real Electoral College Landslide looks like.

Sorry Jimmy, but Ronnie put a butt-whipping on you in 1980.