Posse Incitatus

More Lies Revealed; No Consequences in Sight

Tuesday's testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee by several top generals made one thing perfectly clear. The "woke" movement inside the Pentagon may prove to be as destructive as defund the police has been for cities.

We've known for decades that big city police chiefs are politicians much more than law enforcement officers. But for many decades, we could trust the military and believe in its integrity. Those days are gone. Ever since the Manchurian Candidate, Barack Hussein Obama, made it a priority to appoint woke generals at the highest levels of our national security infrastructure, it seems the top brass have descended deeply into the political cesspool.

We saw evidence of this during Obama's two terms, and the trend has continued with a vengeance under Joseph Robinette Biden. Old school Veterans must have been appalled when Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke a few months ago about the importance of understanding so-called "white rage." (Truth be told, he'd be better off with a Harvard professorship than leading the military.)

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made it clear in his first day on the job that he was fully on board with Critical Race Theory (CRT). He ordered a 60-day "stand down" by the military so that its leaders could root out alleged widespread white supremacy. No doubt, Austin believes all whites who voted for Donald Trump are irredeemable racists. He embraces the indoctrination of his troops, yet denies that what he advocates really is CRT.

In the wake of the chaotic and disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, an operation that has destroyed U.S. credibility on the world stage and shamefully has left thousands of Afghan loyalists and American citizens behind enemy lines where they're likely to face a horrendous end, efforts to ensure accountability are under way. But good luck with that.

Austin, Milley, and Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, Commander of the U.S. Central Command, were grilled by Republican senators Tuesday, and were scheduled to be back again today. Several senators asked each of them if they specifically advised President Biden to keep 2,500 or more troops in Afghanistan until after we were able to get all of our people as well as Afghan loyalists out, and after we abandoned Bagram Airfield. 

Strangely, the generals admitted that's what they believed was the right course of action, but stated they would not divulge private conversations or advice given to the president? Come again? How laughable is that? Of course, if that's what you believe is right, you would advise the president to take that action. Milley also claimed he would never criticize the commander-in-chief, but he sure did so when it was Trump!

Sen. Marsha Blackburn grilled Milley on why he thought it was okay to leak information to the press and grant interviews to authors regarding his official actions, but would not be forthcoming with the Senate panel.

Recall that Milley told Bob Woodward, in an interview for the book "Peril," that he suspected former President Trump wanted to launch a nuclear attack on China, and had called a Chinese general to give him a heads-up. On Tuesday, Milley changed his tune, saying "I am certain President Trump did not intend on attacking the Chinese and it is my directed responsibility to convey presidential orders and intent."

As I mentioned recently, my first impression was that Milley was B.S.-ing about calling his Chinese counterpart. But I believe Col. Dave Butler, spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who issued a statement confirming that Milley did indeed make those calls. 

For his part, Austin stated that the Afghan army's rapid collapse "took us all by surprise." Well, duh. Imagine that! Guess it's hard to keep up with military developments when you're preoccupied with leftist claptrap about the white supremacist bogeyman.

At this point, I believe the evidence is overwhelming that Biden told ABC's George Stephanopoulis the biggest whopper when he claimed he did not get advice to hold off on withdrawing the 2,500 troops, and that he and his generals were in concurrence on the matter. No, I don't think he forgot the conversation; he's just engaging in CYA (a frequent activity for someone who is incompetent and in way over his head).

Biden also lied when he said we would not leave Americans or loyal Afghanis behind, and back in July he tried to get Afghanistan's president to lie about how the Afghan army was in great shape and there was no danger of the government collapsing.

Finger pointing is a common trait that goes hand-in-hand with mendacity, and the self-serving generals seemed to be doing some of that on Tuesday. In my estimation, they were basically throwing China Joe under the bus by strongly implying they advised him to keep the troops in longer. The implication: The headstrong, defiant, arrogant clown Biden was too dense to take their advice; too stupid to realize he was making a horrendous mistake. No surprise there. The sad thing is, such stupidity leads to lots of torture and death for innocent people. 

I've been working and haven't had time to keep up on today's testimony. But if anything major happens, I can always follow up in a day or two. Meanwhile, a couple of other things to note:

MORE GOOD NEWS: TheHill.com reports that the Senate parliamentarian has nixed Democrats' back-up plan for getting immigration reform into their $3.5 trillion pork bill, handing them their second setback in just a few days. Democrats had pitched parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough on legalizing millions of undocumented immigrants by making a change to the date for when undocumented immigrants within the United States can apply to adjust their legal status. But MacDonough said no dice. Good for her.

SNAKE BITTEN LIONS (ADDENDUM): I had forgotten to mention a key piece of information the other day that further underscores how snake bitten and cursed the woeful Detroit Lions are. Way back on Nov. 8, 1970, the New Orleans Saints' placekicker (the late Tom Dempsey) kicked a then-record 63-yard field goal to give New Orleans a 19-17 win over the Lions at Tulane Stadium. Dempsey, who passed away last year, was born with no toes on his right foot and no fingers on his right hand. He wore a custom, flat-front kicking shoe that ended where his toes were supposed to begin. So then nearly 51 years later, the Baltimore Ravens' Justin Tucker kicks an NFL-record 66-yard field goal to beat Detroit by the same score, 19-17. This could only happen to the Lions!

The Cursed Lions Suffer Another Agonizing Defeat

Sunday's Detroit Lions defeat by the Baltimore Ravens was perhaps the most gut-wrenching and bitterly disappointing of all time for a snake-bitten franchise. I'll get to the gory details shortly, but first a little perspective...

Growing up in Michigan, I became a Detroit Lions fan at about age 10, when I started getting as interested in football as I was in baseball.

Over the decades, I have shared something in common with thousands of other Lions fans: We're sick and tired of the futility, failure, and heartbreak. We've had it with stupid draft picks, incompetent coaches, inept management, and repeated failure on the field. Time and time again, they've gotten our hopes up only to rip our hearts out.

In the 1950s, the Lions were a powerhouse team and won several NFL championships (it wasn't called the "Super Bowl" until 1967). But for the past 60 years, they've had a few good seasons, many mediocre seasons where they finished near .500, and far too many horrible seasons such as the 0-16 campaign in 2008.

The fact is, Detroit has won just one playoff game since 1957, that being a 38-6 rout over the Dallas Cowboys in January 1992. That Lions team was 13-4 as it headed into the NFC Championship game in which the Washington Redskins routed Detroit, 41-10.

So back to the present day... The Lions started this season 0-2 after losing at home to the powerhouse San Francisco 49ers and at Green Bay, where they've won only three times in the past 20 years. Few gave them much of a chance against the Baltimore Ravens, who have won several division championships in recent years and won the Super Bowl in 2000 and 2012.

But lo and behold, Detroit found itself leading Baltimore 17-16 with just a few seconds left on the clock. What's more, Baltimore had the ball fourth down and 19 deep in its own territory. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, facing a lame three-man rush, had what seemed like hours to scan the secondary 50 yards downfield. He scrambled around a bit, then launched a long pass to Sammy Watkins, who caught it with a few seconds on the clock.

On the next series, Jackson spiked the ball with 7 seconds on the clock, thus allowing for a timeout. The Ravens brought their field goal team onto the field. Justin Tucker, who has been in the NFL for nine years, kicked an NFL-record 66-yard field goal as time expired. The kick bounced off of and over the horizontal crossbar, thus sealing the Ravens' win. It doesn't get any more gut-wrenching than that.

It's worth noting that Tucker also broke Lions fans' hearts in December 2013, when he kicked a 61-yard field goal in the last minute to defeat the Lions at Ford Field, 18-16.

Maybe the Lions are destined to be the NFL equivalent of the Boston Red Sox or Chicago Cubs. In 2004, Boston won its first World Series since 1918. In 2016, the Cubs won their first World Series since 1908.

So, if the Lions win a Super Bowl in 2043, and if God willing I am still alive at the age of 83, I will be like the joyous Red Sox fans in 2004. But if it's God's will that the Lie-Downs won't win a Super Bowl until 2065, well, I'm not counting on being above ground at age 106.

So if that's the case, let's just hope Heaven has lots of big-screen TV's, a thorough sports network package, AND that I am even there to enjoy it. Oh, and I almost forgot: Lots of beer.

Self Discipline is its Own Reward

One thing that's nice about growing older is gaining more perspective, maturity and self control. At least, that's what I have learned over the past few years, and I hope that other aging Baby Boomers have come to the same awareness. 

I've often mentioned to my wife, son, siblings and friends that developing a healthy spiritual life is similar to being disciplined with diet, exercise, and getting enough sleep. Every moment of every day, we make choices -- about how to spend time, what to eat, whether to exercise or just sit around, and whether to indulge in vices such a alcohol that might bring temporary enjoyment but can also result in short-term or even long-term misery and illness.

I certainly know my weaknesses and flaws -- perhaps I even spend too much time in introspection. But if I do, it's not because I am an egotist or narcissist; it's because I am aware I need to check myself and move forward deliberately and thoughtfully. For my actions and attitudes, the things I say and do and how I conduct myself around others all have long-term consequences. And when I say "long-term," I mean eternal, not just consequences in the temporal world.

But when I thought about today's blog topic, I never intended to get into a deep dive on my spiritual journey. My intent was to report some encouraging news about weight loss and a healthier diet. (I brought up the spiritual aspect simply because I see such a similarity on how long-term goals and desired outcomes demand daily commitment, self-discipline and persistence.)

I don't always feel like praying, but I do anyway. I don't read the Bible as often as I used to, but am attempting to read it more often. Similarly, sometimes I'm tempted to get fast food, but I usually pass it up. Occasionally, a salad seems really boring. But I eat it anyway.

Choosing to eat right and exercise are paying off. I am pleased to announce I've dropped about 5-6 pounds in the last 6-8 weeks. When my wife purchased a digital bathroom scale, I figured, hey this is my opportunity to buckle down and watch my diet, then to monitor my progress over time.

In truth, I could probably still stand to lose another 10 pounds or so. I do not look fat, but do have some belly flab. And I fully admit that pizza, burgers/fries, and past beer drinking contributed to that (I don't drink nearly as much beer as when I was in my 20s and 30s, but haven't given it up entirely; I've cut way back on pizza and don't remember the last time I had a burger and fries).

Just as responsible for the unsightly flab has been my craving for carbs -- bread, crackers, potato chips, pasta, bagels... I don't eat candy or desserts very often. When I was in my 20s, I had a sweet tooth, but I rarely buy chocolate or candy bars anymore. 

Several months ago, I resolved to eat a lot more spinach salads, as well as plenty of antioxidants such as tomatoes, blueberries and grapes. Often, I'll put some grilled chicken and/or a hard-boiled egg on a salad, and it's a meal in itself. One salad for lunch means avoiding two pieces of bread used for a sandwich. It also means I'll probably not have a bowl of soup and the crackers that go with it.

One of my bad habits for years after getting home from work was to grab a box of Cheez-Its, or some Dorito's or potato chips, and sit there wolfing them down while reading the paper or watching the news. I would usually wash them down with Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke (good to avoid the sugar, but I hear the artificial sweeteners like Aspartame are also bad news).

Well, one thing I have succeeded at, and working at home has helped, is cutting out those afternoon munch-fests. I'll have some leftovers ready to go if I get hungry at 5 p.m., or throw together a quick salad and chow down. A robust, healthy meal makes it less likely that a person will snack between meals. I have also been consistent in taking daily walks -- even if only for 20 minutes or so -- to help burn calories. Ideally, my wife and I will walk a couple times per day, but as fall and winter shorten daylight hours, it gets harder to do.

One of the most amazing things I've discovered is that the less I eat carbohydrates, the less I crave them. The other day, for the first time in 2 or 3 months, I bought a small box of Cheez-Its. Occasionally I will have a few with a bowl of Progresso soup. Today, while watching football, I actually sat and snacked on some with a Diet Pepsi. Truth be told, I didn't eat that many of them, simply because I didn't enjoy them as much as in the past.

A parallel discipline is trying to spend less time watching the news and politics-based shows such as Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham. Once again, the less I watch them, the less I want to watch them. I still read a lot of political blogs, columns, editorials and news, because I am a news addict. But I'm trying to cut back on them, too. Why? Because it leaves me with more time to read books and to engage in productive activities such as clearing out clutter and taking old clothing to the Goodwill store.

I've probably saved some money only buying beer once every couple of weeks instead of a couple times a week, and reducing my purchases of junk food. I firmly believe I will lose more weight because this isn't that hard, and improving my health is a priority. Reducing the carbs also helps prevent that sluggish feeling during the day (probably due to changes in blood sugar levels).

Now, to get back into weight lifting... I've had some issues with my sciatic nerve that caused me to stop doing curls and military presses. But that's a subject for another day. Time to wrap it up and go have a few orange slices.

Another False Narrative, More Good Guys Thrown Under the Bus

Just the other day I commented on how the Cyborg-in-Chief has an unseemly tendency to use people and throw them under the bus whenever he feels the least bit threatened and perceives that he can boost his standing in the public eye.

Just as police nationwide were unfairly demonized by the false "hands up / don't shoot" narrative and the grotesquely misleading notion that racist cops believe it's open season on young black men, the Border Patrol Officers at Del Rio, Texas have now been unfairly demonized.

Let's get one thing straight: The media jackals don't give a rat's ass about the truth, fairness, or balance. They are out to sensationalize and perpetuate a narrative that harms conservatives and Republicans while stoking the flames of the rabid, fascist left.

There's a lengthy list of false stories that they have trumpeted 24/7, then not had the decency to correct and apologize for after they were proved dead wrong. Let's see, there's Tawana Brawley, the Duke lacrosse team, Trayvon Martin, Jussie Smollett, the Covington teen & leftist Native American, the Russian collusion hoax, the Hunter Biden laptop coverup ("IT'S RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION!")... The list goes on.

Now there's an absurd narrative that the mounted Border Patrol agents were whipping Haitians trying to walk onto U.S. soil after crossing the Rio Grande. In truth, they were using reins to control their horses. But once the media propagandists and Demagogue Democrats got rolling, there was no stopping this train.

So Joe Biden, who has always been like a weather vane, immediately reacted with knee-jerk, righteous outrage. Operations are suspended for Border Patrol agents on horseback at the Del Rio border. The agents who allegedly whipped the Haitians have been put on administrative leave, and an investigation is pending.

Once again, the media and Democrat outrage is misdirected.

The outrage should be directed toward thousands of lawbreakers who try to illegally enter our country. The anger should be aimed at the sex traffickers, drug cartels, gang bangers, weapons smugglers, pedophiles, terrorists and other scum who are flooding into our country 24/7.

The horrendous consequences of the past 9 months of open borders won't be evident immediately. But mark my words, Americans will pay a severe price for the criminal incompetence of the Biden administration. Many innocents will suffer and die.

This administration is literally playing for the other side. And its media lapdogs are willing accomplices. If Democrats are not removed from power in the next few years, our nation is finished.

Thrown Under the Biden Bus

Ruthless expediency defines the presidency of Joseph Robinette Biden.

He uses people for his own selfish political purposes, then blithely discards them to a bad fate, utterly devoid of any qualms or empathy.

The most prominent example of a dupe who possibly isn't even sharp enough to realize she was used is Vice President Kamala Harris. Even though the former U.S. Senator fared poorly in the 2019 Democrat primaries (typically garnering about 2-3 percent of the vote), Biden and his sycophantic handlers cynically chose her as his running mate in 2020. Why? Because she conveniently checks off two important pander boxes: Black, and a woman. 

A "woman of color" -- OH BOY! And her mother is of Indian descent, so we can check off the Asian box, too. What a bonus!

As is typical with identity politics, substance, intelligence, charisma and political acuity don't count for much. Just check off those all-important superficial boxes. Because frankly, a huge chunk of the Democrat voters are extremely superficial in their thinking and perceptions.

Once the Biden-Harris team took office, it was time to dole out some responsibilities. In his desire to overturn anything and everything Donald Trump did, Biden created a terrible mess at the southern border. He opened up the floodgates, allowing unvetted people from 100 nations to stream into our country 24/7, bringing with them disease, drugs, weapons and gang affiliations. Aside from all that, it has been a humanitarian disaster, too.

Early in his administration, Biden gave Harris the unenviable job of border czar. She was tasked with cleaning up the mess he had made. This is impossible, because the only way to improve the horrendous status quo is to revert back to Trump policies, and Biden would never do that. His hatred for Trump is so intense, he can live with disastrous consequences to overturning some of Trump's policies. In his addled mind, doing what Trump did because it's the right way to go (or especially, giving any credit to Trump) would be FAR worse than having a cruel border catastrophe as we have now.

So Harris' hands are tied on the border issue, and she has been left twisting in the wind, having to resort to an annoying, nervous cackle whenever a member of the media asks her a tough question which she cannot answer.

Biden also put Harris in charge of "closing the digital divide" (a broad, unfocused mandate that has little chance of being fulfilled) and expanding voting rights, a Democrat effort to federalize elections that a) probably won't pass Congress; and b) will be eviscerated in the courts, as multiple lawsuits challenging its many unconstitutional provisions are teed up and ready to roll.

Afghanistan is another prime example of the president callously throwing good people under the bus. His ill-advised actions -- abandoning Bagram Airfield and removing troops before evacuating Americans and loyal Afghanis who helped the U.S. for the past 20 years -- resulted in the inability to get all of these people out before the Taliban took over.

He claimed he would leave no one behind, but that was another in a million lies. Afghanis who are former supporters of the U.S. are facing horrible torture and murder as we speak. No one really knows how many American citizens were left behind, but it may be in the thousands.

You might say Biden also threw some of his generals and intelligence officials under the bus, claiming that they supported his ill-advised plans. No one knows for sure what went on behind closed doors, but the Wall Street Journal reported there were numerous top military brass who advised against a rapid, haphazard withdrawal of troops before all Americans and loyal Afghanis could be evacuated, and before we could remove or destroy our equipment, weapons and ammo.

Additionally, the generals advised, the Taliban needed to meet all of the conditions set forth. But the headstrong Biden, who was quoted in the Bob Woodward/Robert Costa book "Peril" as saying he thought Barack Obama was manipulated by his generals, insisted on having his way. How's that working out?

Biden had also thrown his former boss under the bus during the 2019 debates for not succeeding in implementing comprehensive immigration reform. Oh, and before I move on to the border crisis, let's not forget the tens of thousands of union employees earning good money working on the Keystone pipeline. Biden threw them under the bus on Day One, Jan. 20. 

Moving onto the border meltdown, Biden has pretty much thrown under the bus the hundreds of thousands of destitute "people of color," to use a leftist phrase, who must have been bitterly disillusioned when they arrived and were treated like farm chattel. 

People of all ages squeezed into tiny confinement structures (aka "cages" when Trump was president) with limited bathrooms and showers, sleeping on the floor in close contact with dozens of other people, none of whom has been tested for COVID-19. Medical treatment for the ill is sparse, and there is limited or no oversight of sexual predators, drug use or gang affiliation.

More recently, thousands of Haitians have gathered under and around an overpass in the border city of Del Rio, Texas, and conditions resemble the third world. Food and water are limited, there are few restrooms, and the heat is oppressive. In the past day or two, video has gone viral of Border Patrol officers on horseback who are pushing back against Haitians trying to cross the Rio Grande River. (The dullards of the news media thought the officers were using whips against these people when in fact they were aggressively manipulating the reins to keep their horses under control.) 

I'm not sure how the administration decides who will stay and who will go, but hundreds of the Haitians have been flown back to Haiti. This despite the fact a significant number of them had been living in Argentina, Chile and other countries for years after the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Between the women and girls of Afghanistan who are at the mercy of the violent Taliban perverts, and the brown- and black-skinned illegal immigrants receiving shabby treatment, I'd say Sleepy Joe has a lot to answer for to his progressive overlords. Is that any way to treat women and "people of color"? Yes, if you're a heartless, soulless narcissist like Sleepy Joe Biden.

SALUTE TO NATHAN HALE -- It was 245 years ago today -- Sept. 22, 1776 -- when American Patriot Nathan Hale was hung by the British for spying on British troops in New York City. Hale was a soldier and spy for the Continental Army, and fought under Gen. George Washington. Just 21 years old, his last words were, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

Capt. Hale exhibited the kind of greatness and courage that founded our incredible nation. How far we've fallen.

Some Good News for a Change

Heavy-handed overreach has been the M.O. of the obnoxious Biden administration since Day One. But in a ruling that came, strangely on a Sunday night, the Senate parliamentarian ruled that the Democrats will not be allowed to include amnesty for an estimated 8 million illegal immigrants and non-citizens in their $3.5 billion reconciliation bill. What tremendous news!

We've seen the appalling behavior of Democrats these past eight months. They're like a house guest who goes way beyond leaving dirty dishes and towels around or passes out on the living room floor after drinking all of your beer. Rather, they're the guest from hell who ends up sleeping with your daughter, taking your car without your permission and crashing it, and accidentally falling asleep in bed with a lit joint, thus starting a fire. They are downright demonic.

With a razor-thin advantage in the House and the Cackle Queen as the Senate tiebreaker, these full-of-themselves statists have acted as if they control the Senate 85-15 and the House 300-135. They've ramrodded several obscene spending bills through and are now attempting to pass a $3.5 trillion grab bag of special interest goodies using reconciliation, thus bypassing the need to garner 10 Republican votes to overcome a filibuster.

Regarding the amnesty provision, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough said that “the policy changes of this proposal far outweigh the budgetary impact scored to it and it is not appropriate for inclusion in reconciliation." She added, “Changing the law to clear the way to [legal permanent resident] status is tremendous and enduring policy change that dwarfs its budgetary impact."

BRAVO! A ruling with common sense, grounded in reality. I had almost forgotten what it's like. Now let's hope that Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona were not just blowing smoke when they said they could not support the $3.5 trillion spending blowout. Also that they will remain steadfast against abolishing the Senate filibuster.

Given the fiasco of Biden's first eight months in office and his plummeting poll numbers, they both ought to realize that they must tread lightly and strive for moderation, because siding with the extreme left will get them bounced out of office. Things are actually looking better than I'd feared early in the year, but we're certainly not out of the woods.

MSU Spartans Impress With Road Win Vs. Miami

Michigan State went on the road Saturday and came away with an impressive 38-17 victory over a good but not great Miami Hurricanes team.

Coach Mel Tucker did a masterful job of preparing his squad for South Florida's oppressive heat and humidity, as the Spartans continued to show high energy late in the game when it appeared the 'Canes were wilting.

Leading up to the game, the team held many practices inside the Duffy Daugherty Football Building with the heat cranked up to mimic Miami's sauna-like conditions. (It usually doesn't get that hot outdoors in Michigan -- especially in September). The regular temperature in Miami Saturday afternoon was in the low 90s, but the field temperature was reportedly up to 110 degrees. Major kudos to the team for surviving those hellish conditions.

It sure helps that Miami had four turnovers and 10 penalties, but credit the tough Spartans defense for rattling Miami's offense and keeping the pressure on.

As for the MSU offense, well, it just keeps rolling along. Sophomore quarterback Payton Thorne continues to play nearly flawlessly, showing tremendous poise for his age and limited real-game experience. He completed 18 of 31 passes for 261 yards and four touchdowns.

Superstar running back Kenneth Walker III racked up 172 yards of rushing on 27 carries, and was one of seven players receiving passes from Thorne. Speedy wide receiver Jalen Nailor got behind the Miami defense for two touchdowns. After an injury-riddled 2019 season that limited his action, Nailor began to show his potential in 2020, and if he can stay healthy this season, promises to be one of the Spartans' best receivers in the past decade.

From what I've read, and from hearing the comments of other Spartan fans, one of the most pleasing aspects of this game was the creative play calling by Coach Tucker and his offensive coordinator, Jay Johnson. The offense displayed a variety of formations and mixed up the plays to keep Miami off guard. It was not so predictable as in the past. Running backs like Walker and Connor Heyward got in on the passing game, and Thorne courageously took some heavy hits to make sure he got the ball off on time to his receivers.

At times a QB must sacrifice his body to deliver an accurate pass just as a receiver gets open. Throw too soon or hurriedly, and it may be incomplete or intercepted. Throw too late, and the defender might be hammering you before you can release the ball. Thorne seems to instinctively "get" this.

Defensively, the Spartans made adjustments in the second half after Miami's passing game had shredded the MSU secondary for a good part of the first two quarters.

Next week, MSU will host an improved Nebraska team that just lost a close, hard-fought contest at Oklahoma (the Sooners are ranked in the Top 5).

Meanwhile in Ann Arbor, the U-M slappies are crowing about their beloved Skunkbears, who just pummeled hapless Northern Illinois, 63-10. The rout followed an opening win over Western Michigan (47-14) and a 31-10 victory over Washington, which must not be like the Huskies teams of old since it lost at home to Montana last week. U-M will play its fourth straight home game this Saturday vs. Rutgers.

We've seen this pattern before: Michigan fattens up its record by playing 4 or 5 home games vs. weak teams, then goes on the road and gets exposed. We'll see how they fare on the road against stalwarts such as Wisconsin, Penn State, and MSU. Even Maryland and Nebraska on the road will be a tough out.

BULL DURHAM -- Seems like it's been ages since Special Counsel John Durham began investigating the crooked activities that led to the Russian collusion hoax against Donald Trump. Last week, a District of Columbia grand jury indicted Washington attorney Michael Sussman for lying to the FBI during the 2016 presidential campaign. Sussman was wrapped up in the convoluted web of law firms that provided an indirect link from rotten Hillary Clinton and the Democrats to Russian operatives.

Durham was working against the clock, as the five-year statute of limitations was about to expire. Now that this 27-page indictment has opened up the door to a lot of other shady operators, it's possible there will be more to come. However, the media has downplayed this indictment, as you would expect, and there's no guarantee Durham will be permitted to continue his investigation. It will be another outrage if the multiple crooked people who concocted and perpetuated the Russian collusion B.S. are allowed to skate. An outrage, but alas, par for the course.

Silly Milley Willy-Nilly

What to make of the allegation in the Bob Woodward/Robert Costa book "Peril" that Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, suspected President Donald Trump wanted to launch a nuclear attack on China, and that Milley called a top Chinese general to advise him of this? Supposedly, Milley called Gen. Li Zuocheng of the People’s Liberation Army last fall and told him that he would call him and let him know if Trump were going to launch nukes against China.

My first impression was that it's probably B.S., as Woodward has a long track record of making unsubstantiated claims based on the ubiquitous "anonymous sources" that his employer, the tabloid-like Washington Post, has come to rely on.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that anonymous sources are either lies fabricated out of thin air, or simply the vindictive rants of people with an ax to grind trying to get back at others with whom they've clashed in the foul waters of the D.C. swamp.

However, Col. Dave Butler, spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, issued a statement in which he verified that Milley did indeed make those calls. Part of Col. Butler's statement said:

              His calls with the Chinese and others in October and January were in keeping with these duties and responsibilities conveying reassurance in order to maintain strategic stability.

So we're into loon territory: Woodward, Milley, the garbage media that thrives on distorted sensationalism, and millions of gullible people who believe this crap.

Gen. Milley, unfortunately, is a political opportunist. I feel uncomfortable criticizing members of the military, since I never served myself. But I also realize that serving in the military does not give someone automatic impunity or a "no accountability" pass that's equivalent to Monopoly's "Get Out of Jail Free" card.

Say what you will about Donald John Trump. He is a deeply flawed man; a raging narcissist, egotist, blowhard and serial philanderer. But I sincerely believe he loves the United States of America, and is the antithesis of a naive, idealistic progressive.

A flawed messenger, yes. But also a hard-eyed realist who understands human nature and has come to his senses at a late stage in life. (That is, the 1970s-1990s Trump was still influenced by his hedonistic environment, but those days are over. The Lord works in strange ways.)

Trump was highly successful with his common sense policies regarding border integrity, tax policy, foreign relations, national defense, environmental policies, energy, and even initiatives to help African-Americans prosper (despite scurrilous slander that he was a racist).

Trump also kept us out of a war, and it is asinine to suggest he planned to launch a nuclear attack on China. This is just absurd leftist fantasy (sorry for the redundancy). The fact that Milley actually believed this garbage makes one question his mental health.

Gen. Milley, who made an ass out of himself in June when he testified before a congressional committee looking into Critical Race Theory about the urgent need for Americans to study up on the concocted phenomenon of "white rage," is basically a PC dupe. He's been thoroughly brainwashed and indoctrinated in the Marxist bullshit that has swamped our national dialogue in recent years.

Milley, like many other generals put into place by the Manchurian Candidate Barack Hussein Obama, has furthered the politicization of the American military and the American intelligence community. It used to be these entities garnered respect and had a reputation as being among the few aspects of government that actually worked. No more.

Nothing -- I mean NOTHING -- is immune to rotten venality when it comes to the military and intelligence deep state. Thank you, Democrats. Where would we be without you?

Gov. Brylcreem Easily Retains His Throne

Well, I guess it should come as no surprise that Gov. Gavin Newsom handily defeated the recall effort Tuesday and will be allowed to finish out his term. A whopping 63.8 percent of the voters cast their ballots against removing Newsom, according to Realclearpolitics.com.

California is rotten to the core with corruption, bloat and an out-of-control welfare state. Long-term one-party rule has effectively bought off about 60 percent of the population -- people who are fat-n-happy; the ignorant; the apathetic; the misguided and the misinformed.

Think about it: You've got millions of leftist union members representing teachers, government employees, Teamsters, the food industry and other private sector organizations. Millions of other Californians receive various kinds of welfare, free healthcare and subsidized housing. Throngs of people advocate and are enrolled at free tuition colleges. Illegal immigrants are running roughshod over the state, burdening social services, schools, hospital emergency rooms, and law enforcement.

And then there are the hangers-on -- government contractors, grant recipients, nonprofit organizations and myriad other barnacles that suck off the government teet. In other words, big government largess has metastacized and permeated across the state. Bloated government  is like the opioids that have taken over the "body" of California. Severe liver damage is occurring as we speak.

Some progressives love to talk up the fabulous wealth and entrepreneurial spirit of the Golden State. And they are right: There are literally dozens of billionaires in California, and some of the priciest real estate on the planet in places like San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Marin County and Hollywood Hills. California is the epicenter of digital technology, and that in itself is an impressive bragging point, but it does not signify invincibility, in my estimation.

Granted, California is a beautiful state with excellent weather and bountiful natural resources. But it is also horribly mismanaged. Sky-high real estate prices, endless wildfires, water shortages, rampant homelessness, frequent blackouts, spiraling urban crime, failing schools, crumbling infrastructure, gridlock traffic, $5 per gallon gasoline, and a crush of illegal immigrants are ruining this once great state. Many families and individuals are fleeing for places like Nevada, Colorado, and Texas, and this trend promises to continue. (How the hell can U-Haul and Ryder keep any trucks or trailers on their lots when they're all going one way -- OUT.)

The middle class is being hollowed out, and eventually California will be like a Latin American third world country: A few filthy rich oligarchs at the top, very few middle class households, and a massive underclass that promises to sink the boat.

To paraphrase The Eagles, you can check out any time you like, and millions already have.

California Scheming

Well, it's finally here: The recall election pertaining to California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Before I address the election and its dynamics, a few words on the charlatan himself...

I've long believed Newsom to be the quintessential caricature -- he rivals the Monopoly fat cat with the top hat, tuxedo and big handlebar mustache when it comes to symbolizing a destructive class of self-serving elitists.

Liberals love to caricature conservatives. If a guy does not have a college degree, loves Merle Haggard, drives a pickup truck, owns guns, likes to hunt and enjoys dining at Cracker Barrel, why of course he's a narrow minded, racist/sexist/chauvinist homophobe/Islamophobe who wants to keep women barefoot & pregnant, harbors KKK sympathies and is a mortal threat to the republic (especially because he occasionally dons camouflage fatigues).

This is a composite of traits displayed by some conservatives, but there are also others who drive sedans, do have a college degree, are not gun owners and effectively blend in to society. And there are a million shades in between.

But getting back to Gavin Newsom, his smug, arrogant attitude and hypocrisy -- all traits that frequently show up among progressive elitists, seem to manifest themselves in his appearance. He joins the detestable Jen Psssss-Saki and imperious Peter Strzok, who was fired by the FBI for his unprofessional and outrageous anti-Trump text messages, as examples of people who just look like smug progressives.

Newsom has something in common with President Joe Biden: His policies have been a catastrophe, yet his arrogance is off-the-charts -- fed by delusion and narcissism. With his slicked back hair and perpetual smirk, he emanates smugness and a Marie Antoinette attitude. Just call him the walking smirk.

Larry Elder, the black talk radio host who leads the pack among dozens of people seeking to replace Newsom as governor, made a good point the other day. He said that of all of the special interests who have run ads supporting Newsom -- teachers' unions, trial lawyers, environmentalists, government employee unions, reparations advocates, La Raza, et al, not one of them have boasted about his record or touted his achievements. Instead, they've chosen to demonize Elder.

I guess it's pretty hard to boast when you've got wildfires, blackouts, rampant homelessness, water shortages, spiraling urban crime, failing schools, $5 per gallon gasoline and gas lines, and are being overrun by illegal immigrants.

There is no doubt the Democrats will cheat in today's election. Evidence is already piling up that they've been up to some nefarious activities (more on that in a day or two).

This is an important day on the Left Coast, and an important harbinger for our nation. More to come.