Wars Are Popping Up Like Toxic Pimples Across the Planet

I was born in 1950, the year America went to War in Korea.

As a teenager I fought in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Since then, I've followed wars springing up around the globe over the decades. Regardless of how small or big wars have one thing in common; innocent civilians are mercilessly slaughtered, and no one really wins.

There are ruthless civil wars in countries such as Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria. 

There are conflicts in Nagorno Karabakh, Iran, Yemen, Democratic Republic of Congo, The Sahel, Algeria, Colombia, Chad, and Benin, according to the International Crisis Group.

At this moment there's two hot wars going on. In Israel and Ukraine. 

The Top-Tier Risks of War in 2023 are, according to the Center for Preventive Action:

1. An escalation of coercive pressure by China toward Taiwan, including heightened military activity involving the US and other countries in the region.

2. A highly disruptive cyberattack targeting US critical infrastructure.

3. An acute security crisis in Northeast Asia triggered by Noth Korea's development and testing of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles.

What I find most difficult to deal with is that every minute, every hour, and every day innocent people are being murdered across the planet in senseless wars.

As it stands, one of my favorite authors, John Steinbeck, has one of the best quotes I've heard regarding wars, "All war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal."

House GOP Game Show 'Who Will Our Leader Be?' Looks to be a Long Running Series

Welcome to the National and International gameshow, "Who Will Our Leader Be?" sponsored by the Republicans in the US House of Representatives.

Since ousting their leader, a couple of weeks ago the People's House has become the scene of a highly watched television show featuring how dysfunctional the Republican party is.

Talk about drama. Let's set the stage.

America cannot help it's two allies Israel and Ukraine because the House has ceased to function thanks to MAGA morons.

On top of that America is facing a government shutdown on November 17th unless a miracle happens, and the GOP get their shit together enough to elect a leader and pass a budget bill by then.

Throw in a former twice-impeached president with 91 felony charges in four jurisdictions, convicted of business fraud on a massive scale, actively interfering with the house speaker process by hinting at taking the job "just to help them out," and you've set the stage for this realty series.

The world is watching and getting nervous as countries see our democracy in danger. It must be a terrible sight for our allies to see the effects of a disabled Congress.

As for the American people... it's a horror show watching the government being held hostage by a Republican party that can't govern in a time of multiple crises.

No one subscribed to this Chaos Channel but we're all unwilling viewers on events that unfold daily that are going to negatively affect our lives.

Recent developments.

The GOP members huddled together in a basement somewhere and voted for a new speaker. It was between Scalise and Jordan and Scalise won. But he didn't come anywhere near reaching the threshold of 217 votes.

So Scalise stepped down and Jordan stepped up again but with a new challenger named Austin Scott who no one had ever heard of. 

I'm not even sure they checked to see that he was a real member of the House. I get the impression he was nominated to make it easy for Jordan to beat. Wouldn't it be a laugh if Scott won?

What likely happened is the more moderate majority of Republicans got together to back Scott who is saying the right things about leading a functional House that is in the best interest of the American people.

He also doesn't wear a MAGA hat or plead fealty to Trump. He voted in the House to certify Biden's victory in 2020. Unlike the 139 GOP members (including Jordan and Scalise) who voted against certifying Biden's win.

What are the odds that Scott will get the nomination? I guess it's safe to say 50-50. But what will happen if Scott's name is brought to the floor?

No one knows. It's the ultimate game show that is affecting the lives of millions of people in America and abroad.

---------------------------------------------

UPDATE: Jordan nominated, but will he pass House floor vote?

-------------------------------------------- 

As it stands, I'm at the point that I don't care if they elect Yosemite Sam as long as it reopens the House for business.

Whatever is Wrong in the World Blame President Biden... Just Because

Hamas attacked Israel. 

Blame Biden.

There's an outbreak of bedbugs in Paris.

Blame Biden.

Republicans are banning books.

Blame Biden.

Kevin McCarthy was ousted as House Speaker.

Blame Biden.

The Republicans can't find a replacement for McCarthy and have paralyzed Congress.

Blame Biden.

Disneyland is raising its admissions fees.

Blame Biden.

Harvard student groups issue anti-Israel statements.

Blame Biden.

Retail outlets are closing because of chronic shoplifting.

Blame Biden.

It's going to be a really harsh winter.

Blame Biden.

It's almost time to turn your clocks back.

Blame Biden.

And on, and on, and on...

For a president who has passed as many major bills as President Biden has, he still doesn't get any respect. He's accomplished more in his third year than any modern two-term president has done in eight years.

He guided the country through the COVID challenge by passing bills to help all Americans financially through the crisis. He revived the economy, and the nation as well by putting us on the path for recovery despite Republican efforts to hinder his efforts.

So yeah... just keep blaming Biden for all that is wrong in the world. It's so much easier than facing the truth.

As it stands, Joe Biden has always been underestimated, but if you follow his career, you'll see that he's done a lot of good things for all Americans in his decades of service to the country. 

Trump's Cult is a Cancer on America Society

A deadly disease has spread through the country since Trump was elected in 2016. Cult cancer.

It's spread from the basements and caves of extremists who were liberated by a fact-free grifter whose venom has been infecting our society since then.

Hate and fear drives the cult members into a frenzy that eventually embraces an authoritarian rule and Trump as dictator for life.

Because the cult cancer spread to Congress, we're seeing more and more dysfunction in the government. 

The only place the GOP has a majority is in the House... and the House is crumbling without a leader. And it's their own fault. The Republicans can't govern. Their proving that right now at a crucial time in our history.

We desperately need to fund the government and to give help to both of our allies, Israel and Ukraine.

But we have to cut the cancer out of Congress, and state governing bodies where the cult is taking our freedoms away and disenfranchising voters.

Getting the MAGA menace out of federal and state governments is a matter of paramount importance. Much like using chemo while it's still earlier enough to make a difference.

The way to do that is to vote. Vote in special state elections. Vote during the general election next year. Vote. Vote. Vote. 

As it stands, it's not too late to cure this country of the cancer that Trump has been spreading. Calling out the MAGA lies daily, and voting are the best medicines.

What's Plan B? What are GOP House Members Going to Do if Jordan and Scalise Aren't Elected?

When you look at the two GOP members running for Speaker of the House it's apparent there's going to be two problems.

One - Both are unelectable. There's just no way the so-called moderate Republicans are going to boost extremists like Gym Jordan and Steve Scalise.

Two - There's no Plan B. No name has surfaced as a possible alternative to Trump's two henchmen.

Last night, the chaotic remnants of the Republican party were supposed to come up with a leader. Who really believed that was going to happen? It would have been a miracle if they did.

Instead, it's a fool's errand. Spokespersons for the GOP claimed they'd pick a leader behind closed doors and will come out and announce the person's name today for a House vote.

That didn't happen.

Realistically, the GOP needs to have to find someone that can govern in a crisis. Someone smart enough to realize they must compromise in order to get any legislation passed needs to emerge from the swampy morass.

A strange rumor is circulating in the halls of Congress that the party may ask Kevin McCarthy to come back. That's hard for me to believe.

One thing is evident, most members want to get rid of the rule where one member can take down the House Speaker. That's a sticking point. Right now, they're in neutral trying to figure out what to do. 

Meanwhile, America waits and watches wondering when the GOP majority is going to elect a new leader and allow the House to go back to doing its job.

As it stands, the Republicans temper tantrum couldn't have happened at a worse time as we face another shutdown and the need to immediately help our longtime ally, Israel.

The World Watched in Horror When Hamas Attacked Israel - Then GOP Chair Said It's a 'Great Opportunity'

As America and the rest of the world watched in stunned disbelief Hamas terrorists overran Israel by land, sea, and ground.

The result was war as Israeli forces quickly struck back and attacked Gaza, the terrorists home base.

If you're a Republican, how does it feel watching the GOP House members paralyze Congress?

How can you defend their dysfunction and infighting that's resulted in a polarized House that can't even gave aide to Israel in its moment of need?

How can you justify Ronna McDaniel (photo above) the chair of the RNC gleefully proclaiming that the war is a "great opportunity" for Republicans?

You know what she means of course. Now the House crazies are going to use the war as a negotiating tool among themselves and eventually will tie aid efforts to their hateful agenda.

Republicans have proved they can't govern and are a fractured facsimile of what the party use to be. Watching the chaos among them trying to find a leader is just a preview of what'll happen when they do elect someone.

What are the odds of another possible shutdown when Republicans send the Senate a bill chock full of MAGA demands? Put another way, what are the odds if you throw a rock high in the air and it comes down?

Average Americans must not lose sight of the fact that the party of Trump thrives in chaos and strives for an authoritarian state.

The MAGA cult sees opportunity in a dysfunctional government and by spreading hate throughout the land. 

As it stands, most Americans see what happened to Israel and consider it a horrific tragedy. Republicans see it as an opportunity. As Israel fights a war against terrorists, Americans are also fighting a war against homegrown terrorists.

American Government Paralyzed at Worst Possible Time

Congress isn't functioning and it couldn't have come at a worse time in history.

As Americans wait for the dysfunctional GOP House to elect a new leader after booting one out for the first time in history, there's an open war in the Middle East.

Hamas/Iran launched a massive attack against Israel Saturday slaughtering civilians and overrunning Israeli military posts killing hundreds (latest estimate 500) and taking hostages.

It came as a complete surprise to our ally and to American intelligence. No one saw it coming despite the country being known for a world-class defensive network.

The big question now is how much President Biden can help Israel when Congress is shut down? Both Houses are shuttered during these extremely sensitive and volitive international events.

We can thank the GOP crazy caucus for what's happening. Now the party is trying to pick a replacement for the ousted Kevin McCarthy because eight of their most extreme members wanted to cause chaos.

Worse yet, they're looking at either Gym Jordan or Steve Scalise to take the gavel. Both are traitors who worked with Trump to overturn the 2020 election and are worse than McCarthy was.

Political pundits don't see either making the bar of 217 votes. Then what happens? More time goes by, and their indecision will lead to a government shutdown in November because the morons don't have a leader. 

After they finally come up with a leader, he/she has to either compromise with the Democrats or continue to be stupid and take the path of destruction of the country's infrastructure and financial standing with the world.

Meanwhile our ally Israel is in dire need of our support, and we must not forget another ally, Ukraine, whose wartime funding has come to a screeching halt during this polarized state of affairs.

As it stands, the very foundations of this republic are cracking under the weight of the challenges we now face. Let alone in the future with a rogue former president attempting to destroy our democracy.