Smart Talk #13
In a FOX News survey conducted and released this month, overall, “75% of those polled are dissatisfied with how things are going in the country today.” Fortunately, a fair amount of the increase in dissatisfaction is also coming from Democrats: 56% are “unhappy” today. Independent voters, even more so, with 91% indicating dissatisfaction with how things are going today. With regard to the economy specifically, 81% “give (it) negative marks.” The positive here is that, regardless of the political/media spin, Americans are thinking and speaking smart about just how bad our domestic situation is right now, not to mention international relations!
And when it comes to the illegal immigration issue, by a two-to-one margin, those Americans polled (YouGov.com) agreed that companies “should raise wages and try harder to recruit Americans (vs. illegals) even if it causes prices of their products to rise.” Even if it causes some additional pain at the register, Americans want the priority in hiring to go to U.S. citizens. That’s smart for our nation in the long run. What isn’t at all smart is the Feds continuing to allow unlimited of illegal migrants to storm across our southern border, at a long-term cost to our nation in the multi-millions of dollars.
Perhaps the Dean of Smart Talk, outstanding thinker and intellectual, Victor Davis Hanson, spoke recently about the extremely questionable raid on the Florida home and quarters of former President Donald Trump. Here are excerpts of his comments: “The FBI is dissolving before our eyes into a rogue security service akin to those in Eastern Europe during the Cold War. Agents swarmed the entire house, including the wardrobe closet of the former first lady. Note that we are less than 90-days out from a midterm election, and this was not just a raid, but a political act. And when you do that, you don’t have a democracy anymore. And I don’t think we do…..” Searing words from Dr. Hanson, who concluded by saying that “right now, we don’t have the rule of law in Washington.” A reminder of the justifiably feared two-tiered judicial system that so many of us see in action now within America, including this case in point.
On the subject of increased reliance on American produced traditional fuels, JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon called for national policies that would continue “to ensure American energy independence.” Said Dimon, referring to the current hyped emphasis on climate: “The problem is that because of high oil and gas prices, the world is turning back (to) their coal plants. Why can’t we get it through our thick skulls that, if you want to solve climate, it is not against climate for America to boost more oil and gas.” Earlier in the year, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Dimon had called for “a new Marshall Plan – a callback to the World War II policies that rebuilt Europe – centered upon a diverse portfolio of American energy.” Refreshing to hear a major leader in America’s financial sector support increased production of oil and natural gas, which is exactly what our nation needs right now.
And speaking in support of American energy production, Texas Republican Representative Michael Burgess said: “If you want to affect inflation straight away, you would increase production of energy in this country, not just release it from the strategic petroleum reserve, and especially in the middle of hurricane season!” He continued his remarks by referring to easing capital investment (bank funding) for energy companies: “These are investments that are over a long time. They involve some element of risk. We need to invest in American energy. It’s not like we ran out. There’s still plenty in Texas. Come and get it!”
And some good news at least regarding energy exploration leases. After some back and forth within court decisions, a ruling last week from the Western District of Louisiana declared that government energy lease sales must be resumed. The Interior Department is “required to hold (oil & Gas) lease sales, where eligible lands are available, at least quarterly.” Now, if the WH doesn’t appeal the order, and lending institutions resume making exploration funding available to energy companies, perhaps we’ll finally can see a return to increased energy exploration, success, and increased domestic energy production once again, for the betterment of America. Hopefully, this wish will become a given after November.
Commentator and news talk show host, Megyn Kelly, spoke out recently on a topic that is crystal clear to all Americans whose wokie heads aren’t buried deep within soggy tidal sands. Saying to the wokesters, who believe the current trans fad that you can be any gender you want to be, Kelly responded that those believers had “abandoned reality.” The question: Are men who want to be women, then, actually women? “No, they aren’t, said Kelly. Trans women are not women. There are massive differences between women and trans women. We can be respectful to trans people while not abandoning reality.” She went on to discuss the recent University of Pennsylvania controversy regarding a trans-male swimming on the women’s team. Said she: Actual women “swim with less upper body strength than their male competitors. They swim with shorter legs and thinner and weaker muscles than the boys. They swim with periods and cramps, and bloating.” Kelly made the graphic, genetic differences pretty darn clear. You’re either born a female or you aren’t. Smart Talk from a very smart and clearly opinionated actual, bona-fide woman!
On that note, you’ll be relieved to know that, out of the almost 20 sororities on the University of Alabama campus, all of them rejected the proposed membership of a trans-female. “Rejecting current political correctness, all stuck together as they opposed a biological male attempting to join their groups.” Congratulations to the sorority women at U. of Alabama!
And, finally for this edition, some Smart Talk from an unexpected source: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Mr. Orban spoke recently to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas. Said he, in part: “It’s fantastic to be here in Texas, the Lone Star State of the great United States of America. If I am correct, Lone Star State means that independence, freedom, and sovereignty are the dearest values in this part of America. My country, Hungary, is the Lone Star State of Europe.” He made it clear that he is no fan of our liberal Democrats now in power. “They did not want me to be here, and they made every effort to drive a wedge between us. They (Democrats) hate me and slander me and my country, as they hate you and slander you and the America you stand for.” To repeat that important point: in his words and mind, America’s Leftist Democrats “hate” America.” We sense that for the woke elites, especially at the far left-end of that party, that charge is likely, and sadly, to be true.
Continuing on another but related topic: illegal immigration. PM Orban said: “We (Hungary) were the first ones in Europe who said no to illegal migration and stopped the invasion of illegal migrants. We believe that stopping illegal immigration is necessary to protect our nation.” Wow. If only our current leadership felt the same about the need to protect our America!! We will be paying, literally, for our open southern border for generations to come. And we certainly hope that “paying for” doesn’t include the results of terrorism. Don’t ever forget 9/11…..
(American dissatisfaction survey via foxnews.com, Dana Blanton, 8-11-22; Hiring Americans first via breitbart.com, Neil Munro, 8-15-22; Hanson quotes via legalinsurrection.com, Mike LaChance, 8-14-22; Dimon quotes via dairywire.com, Ben Zeisloft, 8-16-22; Burgess quotes via newsmax.com, Sandy Fitzgerald, 8-12-22; Court order on increased drilling via hotair.com, Ed Morrissey, 8-19-22; Kelly quotes via townhall.com, Sarah Arnold, 7-23-22; Alabama sororities via dailywire.com, Hank Berrien, 8-16-22; Hungary’s Prime Minister quotes via breitbart.com, Jack Montgomery, 8-6-22).