Iran turned the world upside down when its religious leaders took control of the country in 1979. To top it off, Iranians kidnapped 66 Americans and held them for 444 days. Since then, Iran’s theocratic government has been a troublemaker in the Middle East and a thorn in the side of the US.

During this dangerous and monumental time, Iran disrupted the Middle East by funding its violent proxies. Ultimately Iran dreamed of taking control of the region and converting Sunnis to Shia. It was a huge undertaking. To ensure success the powers that be built a huge army and attempted to produce nuclear weapons.

With this dubious resume it’s no wonder that seven US presidents have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to tame Iran’s ambitions. After many years of negotiating peace treaties and promises of a modern, non-military a nuclear program, the US decided to clean up the Iranian situation.

The Middle East is fraught with a wide array of countries that are Islamic, even though there exists great animosity between the two major religious sects. Many countries around the world have been baffled by the choices Iran makes, especially when the actions are murderous.

Iran called for the destruction of Israel. The US tried with little success to tame the more aggressive Middle East countries. Peaceful bargaining between the Islamic nations and Israel has been a non-starter since the end of WWII.

In recent years the moment that Iran would be able to build a nuclear bomb and deliver it to most parts of the Middle East has been on the minds of all Middle Eastern countries. Iran was getting close to producing its dream weapon. With it in its arsenal, Iran would have had the influence to disrupt its enemies to a much greater extent.

President Trump has been opining on the nuclear issue for most of his time in the White House. He has said recently that Iran was weeks, or days, away from completing nuclear missiles production. In the opinion of many, this fact is an acceptable reason to attack Iran.

Trump was unable to deal with the Iranians and so he unleashed US military against Iran, and purportedly destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities. It has to be a great relief to Middle Eastern countries that the US stepped up and prevented another world war, so far.

And so, the US spent a few weeks attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities and strategic military targets, including missile production and assassinating the political leaders that governed Iran.

Iran is a large country with 90 million people. Does it have a right to build nuclear devices that could disrupt the Middle East? Most people around the world  would feel more comfortable if deadly and existential weapons were not in the hands of crazy leaders like the ayatollahs.

As expected, Democrats, Trump-haters and many ill-informed individuals are critical of the decision to go to war against Iran. The situation has been percolating for many years during which Iran tormented Sunni Arab nations and threatened the US with the development of a nuclear weapon.

Iran has used proxies to disrupt the Middle East since 1979. It funds violent activity by splinter groups; this has kept the region on edge for several decades. Iran is directly and indirectly responsible for terrorizing their neighbors in the Middle East on a recurring basis.

Unfortunately, the US has never had the guts to interfere decisively and put an end to the death and destruction orchestrated by Iran- until Trump was elected president.

The development of a nuclear capability has been the most important issue in dealing with Iran because it is existential. Based upon history, it appears that the US presidents who dealt with Iran since 1979 were content to downplay Iran aggression, so long as there was no imminent nuclear threat. For years, Israel, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, warned US leadership that Iran’s nuclear capability was inevitable, and the US should do something drastic to stem the tide.

Past negotiations with Iran were hampered because Iran lied about its nuclear program and refused to abide by the terms of several deals with the US. The bottom line is that Iran stalled and misled the US, enabling it to get closer and closer to producing a bomb.

Recent events also enabled Iran to develop and manufacture short, medium and long- range missiles which have been used this past week extensively. The Israelis are expert at shooting down missiles directed at civilian areas, but more important is that Israel will use up its current supply of weapons. Basically, Israel will soon be unable to shoot down missiles because its defense capabilities will be exhausted.

In 2026 the threat of an Iranian nuclear bomb was great enough to convince Trump to join with Israel and stop the nuclear program once and for all.

The decision to move forward with an assault on Iran was the only logical alternative. Negotiating with Iran’s leaders was fruitless. They would agree to halt the nuclear program and violate terms the next day.

Proving the unpredictable nature of the Iranian government, the country shot missiles at Arab states within the region. It forced the targets of the attacks to side with the US. The elimination of the Iranian government was the only sensible thing to do.

It’s a shame that the Iran onslaught could not be stopped with negotiation. But it is impossible to negotiate with parties who do not live up to their word. The US had no choice but to move forward. The threat of a nuclear attack by Iran was close at hand. Such an event would completely destabilize the Middle East, and surely Israel would unleash its nuclear arsenal against Iran.

I understand that many Americans are anathema to military actions, dropping bombs on enemies and assassinations of leaders of other countries. But there were no other diplomatic choices. Iran ayatollahs were megalomaniacs and convinced that they should control the Middle East.

I hope America will come together and support the actions by the US and Israel. To delay will result in further death and destruction. Negotiating with the with a nuclear Iran would be a tough road to take.

If you viewed the State of the Union address, you experienced Donald Trump in all his grandeur. However, somebody has got to tell him that boasting great accomplishments is not cool.  

Trump relished the opportunity to thrash his detractors on the other side of the aisle. He attacked liberals viciously and attempted to portray them as only caring about their personal interests and not the health of our nation. He continuously asked why they would not stand up in tribute to invitees who saved the lives of others and gave a shout out to our sensationally victorious national hockey team.

SOTU has traditionally been a gathering for the party in power to present great achievememts during the past year and plans for the next year. This year, Trump spent most of the time talking about the Democrats inability to govern. There was little new legislation discussed.

To make matters worse, Democrats were sitting on their hands. Great accomplishments by invited guests were not enough to get them to stand and join in celebration. Trump has proven time and again that he is an extraordinary self-promoter especially when he holds a microphone in front of a big crowd. The only thing Democrats currently bring to the table is their repetitive accusations that Trump is a liar and a fraud.

“Why won’t you stand up in support of bravery and great sportsmanship?” “Why won’t you stand up and congratulate individuals for saving fellow soldiers on the battlefield?”

So, Democrats spent the whole evening squirming in their seats as Republicans whooped it up and showcased cabinet members and a long list of accomplishments during the past year. You know what Trump is taking credit for: lower inflation, no illegal border entries, lower mortgage rates, a strong economy, less crime in certain cities and about 10 or 15 other big accomplishments.

The Dems have one thing going for them- a lot of voters in both parties don’t like Donald Trump. But, then again, he’s not running for office. The Constitution indicates that he cannot get on the ballot. What will voters do? Will they vote Democrat even though Democrats don’t have one viable candidate- unless you think Newsom or Harris have a chance in the 2028 election? Neither of them can deliver a complete sentence, much less become the most important person on Earth. The Democrats have many things to address in the midterm elections. They must promise that they won’t screw up the country again if they gain a foothold in the Senate or the House of Representatives. I can’t imagine who is going to head them in this endeavor.

Democrats refuse to give credit to Trump for anything. In the meantime, the stock market is roaring, prices are down for food and most commodities, energy is getting cheaper and Trump is handling conflicts between other countries pretty well. Iran is a big question mark, but Trump has promised over and over again not to allow Iran to build a nuclear weapon.

The young leaders among Democrats are not making any points with the electorate. AOC and the rest of the most vocal lawmakers are not qualified. They are an embarrassment, disrespectful and vulgar. I don’t know how the group has gotten into positions they are in.

Nothing has changed post SOTU. Trump is negotiating with other countries on many issues. Trump is keeping his promises to voters, while Democrats are tired and want to go home.

With so much chaos in the world, I wonder why our leaders aren’t reducing the dangerous rhetoric that fills the airwaves and Congress each new day. This would be a logical first step in returning our government and society to a peaceful and productive focus. There are many problems we need to solve and evil people to rein in before we can reclaim utopia on earth.

Sadly, our country is no longer a place where we can speak our minds freely. Cynics are too often anxious to face off with friends and others on controversial subjects. Liberals call Trump supporters idiots. Conservatives say liberals are leaderless and they nearly destroyed the country under Biden.

Given the current situation, I thought I might construct a short wish list for our leaders that identifies goals for our nation and its citizens. If we work hard enough maybe some positive things will come to fruition.

Congress people need to tone down the rhetoric and begin to collaborate with each other. Calling each other liars is not going to reduce the bad feelings that prevail in Congress, which prevents lawmakers from doing their jobs. The exchanges recently between Democrats and Trump cabinet members were shameful. Our government will not be productive if there are petty squabbles about mundane issues.

The president should be a good winner. His rhetoric about his greatness is so offensive. Americans hate bad winners. In the same vein overstating accomplishments defeats the goodwill of the moment. A touch of modesty would go a long way to good relations at long last.

The young people in this country and the political left will not find a peaceful society by assaulting police officers, I.C.E. agents or soldiers who are trying to control endless riots and violence. Protest is illegal when it is becomes violent. We need to have police officers ready to stem the tide of evil doers that are driven by anarchy.

The chasm that has grown between older and younger Americans is unhealthy for the nation. Young Americans must learn from the past. There are 250 years of history that have brought us to this point. There have been wars, peace, disease, innovation, creativity and an untold amount of interaction between people who disagree with each other. Don’t destroy the good things that we can achieve. Protest is exciting and romantic for some people. If it is abused there will be bad feelings that last for decades.

Our relationship with the rest of the world is based upon military and economic strength. Effective application of these two standards is necessary to achieve peace.

Our military capabilities are the envy of the world. Recently bad behavior by lesser developed countries has been the target of US military. Iran was attacked and is now on the verge of giving up its nuclear dreams that have so many people around the world nervous. We are getting closer to peace in the Middle East, and so much more. The US is leading most of the new efforts across the globe.  

In the same vein, the US must apply its economic power to stabilize the world. Countries with dubious economic objectives can upset the apple cart with frivolous actions that might accompany military activity. 

Americans should spend time appreciating what the US and its citizens have done over the last 250 years. We are conquering racial and other kinds of discrimination. The US has participated successfully in many major and lesser conflicts that threatened the world. For the most part, these conflicts have worked out well and larger wars have been avoided. Diseases are being addressed as billions are being spent to cure viruses and other threats to mankind. Most of us managed to live through the COVID crisis.

Americans should believe that a productive, peaceful life with children and grandchildren is attainable for everyone. We all have different talents, and there are good jobs available to those who want to work hard.

The Epstein debacle should end immediately. It is a stain on our country that at a despicable man could ruin so many lives with lewd, sinful and anti-social behavior.

There is so much more to be excited about. Great strides are being made on the immigration front, although we still don’t have a comprehensive policy for those who wish to come to America legally. There has been a concerted efforts to stop the importation of illegal drugs. And, the president has focused on crime across the country.

I’m optimistic and will ignore harmful rhetoric. We will work through our problems and America will continue to be the greatest country in the world.

With so much chaos in the world, I wonder why our leaders aren’t reducing the dangerous rhetoric that fills the airwaves and Congress each new day. This would be a logical first step in returning our government and society to a peaceful and productive focus. There are many problems we need to solve and evil people to rein in before we can reclaim utopia on earth.

Sadly, our country is no longer a place where we can speak our minds freely. Cynics are too often anxious to face off with friends and others on controversial subjects. Liberals call Trump supporters idiots. Conservatives say liberals are leaderless and they nearly destroyed the country under Biden.

Given the current situation, I thought I might construct a short wish list for our leaders that identifies goals for our nation and its citizens. If we work hard enough maybe some positive things will come to fruition.

Congress people need to tone down the rhetoric and begin to collaborate with each other. Calling each other liars is not going to reduce the bad feelings that prevail in Congress, which prevents lawmakers from doing their jobs. The exchanges recently between Democrats and Trump cabinet members were shameful. Our government will not be productive if there are petty squabbles about mundane issues.

The president should be a good winner. His rhetoric about his greatness is so offensive. Americans hate bad winners. In the same vein overstating accomplishments defeats the goodwill of the moment. A touch of modesty would go a long way to good relations at long last.

The young people in this country and the political left will not find a peaceful society by assaulting police officers, I.C.E. agents or soldiers who are trying to control endless riots and violence. Protest is illegal when it is becomes violent. We need to have police officers ready to stem the tide of evil doers that are driven by anarchy.

The chasm that has grown between older and younger Americans is unhealthy for the nation. Young Americans must learn from the past. There are 250 years of history that have brought us to this point. There have been wars, peace, disease, innovation, creativity and an untold amount of interaction between people who disagree with each other. Don’t destroy the good things that we can achieve. Protest is exciting and romantic for some people. If it is abused there will be bad feelings that last for decades.

Our relationship with the rest of the world is based upon military and economic strength. Effective application of these two standards is necessary to achieve peace.

Our military capabilities are the envy of the world. Recently bad behavior by lesser developed countries has been the target of US military. Iran was attacked and is now on the verge of giving up its nuclear dreams that have so many people around the world nervous. We are getting closer to peace in the Middle East, and so much more. The US is leading most of the new efforts across the globe.  

In the same vein, the US must apply its economic power to stabilize the world. Countries with dubious economic objectives can upset the apple cart with frivolous actions that might accompany military activity. 

Americans should spend time appreciating what the US and its citizens have done over the last 250 years. We are conquering racial and other kinds of discrimination. The US has participated successfully in many major and lesser conflicts that threatened the world. For the most part, these conflicts have worked out well and larger wars have been avoided. Diseases are being addressed as billions are being spent to cure viruses and other threats to mankind. Most of us managed to live through the COVID crisis.

Americans should believe that a productive, peaceful life with children and grandchildren is attainable for everyone. We all have different talents, and there are good jobs available to those who want to work hard.

The Epstein debacle should end immediately. It is a stain on our country that at a despicable man could ruin so many lives with lewd, sinful and anti-social behavior.

There is so much more to be excited about. Great strides are being made on the immigration front, although we still don’t have a comprehensive policy for those who wish to come to America legally. There has been a concerted efforts to stop the importation of illegal drugs. And, the president has focused on crime across the country.

I’m optimistic and will ignore harmful rhetoric. We will work through our problems and America will continue to be the greatest country in the world.

Americans who denigrate Donald Trump and his agenda have begun to rely upon a clever strategy to prevent the president from gaining another term in office.

First some background. The 22nd amendment of the Constitution states the following: “No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice,…” Therefore, there is no risk that the nation will need to deal with a Trump “takeover” in 2028. By suggesting that the president has plans to change or circumvent the 22nd amendment is an ingenious way for Democrats to possibly abscond the presidency.

Comparing Trump to the vilest dictator in history is another canard. In the wake of Germany’s defeat in World War I, it was suffering through horrendous economic conditions that made it ripe for a takeover by a scoundrel. The US is experiencing a vibrant economic rally. Generally speaking, the difference between Germany and the US is not apropos.  To say that the US is suffering any long-term economic issues is absurd.

Further, the US has rebuilt its military strength substantially and is far stronger than ever before. Even considering the nuclear powers around the globe, no country in the world should diminish the overwhelming might of the US.  Moving forward the US will engage in all challenges with its enemies.

A coup d’état by Trump would necessitate a takeover of the military complex which would be impossible. The US military is too wide-ranging for this type of action by any individual.

And what of Congress? Republicans and Democrats would not stand for a diminution of the powers of the legislative arm of our government. Congress people will fight tooth and nail to protect their constitutional rights and the rights of their states.

Radical liberal elements are using red herring arguments to frighten voters. Trump is having trouble quelling anarchists in a few states around the around the country. If he attempted to covet all states, revolution would be a certainty.

Some suggest that Trump will restructure the voting system in the country. This is a definite possibility, but it will not change the constitutional restrictions for the president. And it is not reasonable to think that Trump will be able to make earthshattering changes to our voting system in a short period of time. Congress has discussed voting reform for decades without any success.

Donald Trump is a lame duck president. He doesn’t need to worry about reelection. He is in a good position to strengthen the office of the president during his last three years. He will not be able to overwhelm states’ rights and the will of the people by trying to take over the government.

True, Trump will influence the 2028 elections, but not as a candidate once his current term ends. Republicans will breathe a sigh of relief, and Trump will be sent back to his business in New York City.

Our country is dramatically split between liberals and conservatives. Currently, the former are resentful of the federal government, which is utilizing ICE agents to capture and deport illegal aliens.

Conservatives foresee a dangerous threat to our social, political, economic and judicial systems from aliens entering the country unlawfully. Some experts estimate that there are about 20 million illegals in the US.

Liberals argue that illegals living in the US for many years deserve citizenship because they have proven that they are living up to American standards: no violent behavior, working at legitimate businesses and obeying the laws of the land. Illegals that have been crossing into the US recently do not deserve the same consideration, in the opinion of many Americans. This is a massive group of people from countries south of Texas that have not been vetted.

These “other illegals” have mostly crossed our borders during the Biden administration. Trump and ardent conservatives believe that a large number in this group have criminal records in the US and in their home countries. Trump has often said that these people are creating dangerous situations in America, including high crime rates in larger cities.

When Trump began this round-up of illegal immigrants, he said immigration officers were looking for the worst of the worst of those who crossed our borders illegally. Liberals claim that honest immigrants are being incarcerated and harassed by the police. People are being pulled out of cars and from their homes having not committed any crimes, with the exception of entering the US illegally. I think most caring Americans do not believe the conservatives or the liberals. The rhetoric from both sides has been deafening. These sentiments are causing protesters to disrupt many large communities across the US.

There exists no compromise for these two warring parties. Every day the schism between the dueling parties grows wider. Protesters that threaten citizens going to work are creating dangerous standoffs between radical zealots and peace officers, who have been assigned the task of dispersing crowds.

The scariest part of the confrontations is that there appears to be no common ground between the warring sides, and so peace is elusive. Activists are creating chaotic environments in which people are being arrested for disturbing the peace. When confrontations become violent there is never any agreement about who is responsible.

The absurd and sad encounter between an ICE agent and a woman driving her car is a perfect example. There is no agreement about who is responsible for the violence that occurred in which ICE officers say a woman was trying to run over an agent, and he responded by shooting and killing her. Liberals said the woman was just making a turn, while conservatives say the woman was trying to run over the agent. This occurred in broad daylight and both sides cannot agree on the facts surrounding the event even with the help of recordings of the incident.

Minneapolis politicians are saying the city is being attacked by federal agents who are aggressively and dangerously controlling the protesters. Law enforcement people are saying they are merely protecting citizens and property from harm by the protesters.

Nonviolent protest is guaranteed by the constitution. Encounters that include violence are not protected. It appears that protesters are being supported financially by large donors who are attempting to taunt Trump into greater violence. In the meantime, the ICE agents are being called Nazi storm troopers. To debase these law men and women is shameful. Our police forces and government law men are risking their lives to protect peaceful citizens who are innocent bystanders.

When Americans have disputes about the facts of a certain event, the civilized thing to do is to take it to court and allow a judge or a jury to make the final decision. The aggressive response by certain people in Minneapolis is what needs to be tempered. The confrontations between the aforementioned parties is a violation of laws that protect peacekeepers that governors and the president can call into service.

The political landscape is becoming more and more complicated every day. This essay will examine the choices Democratic voters have for president at this early stage.

The US currently has a lame duck president who is taking on a many of the most controversial issues during his time in office. On the other hand, a cavalcade of old and new faces are dominating the liberal side of the equation by grasping onto tired issues. If any of the latter group is to be successful, he or she must choose the most important issues in the minds of voters and deliver tangible strategies to solve the problems of all Americans.

Let’s  consider the candidates who may represent Democrats.

Kamala Harris still has not revealed what she aspires to moving forward. Her choices are to run for the presidency once again, run for governor of California or just hang around as others plan and execute their next moves to win the Democratic Primary.

Kamala would have to shed a ton of dead weight before she could assume leadership of the Democratic Party. Her performance in the last presidential campaign is not affording her party confidence that she will do better with another presidential nomination. She has not made one single proposal or remark that has encouraged voters to support her. Kamala is not a leader and does not have the knowledge to take on others from her own party or the opposition party.

Kamala has left her party in shambles and her book tour is only serving to infuriate fellow Democrats. I started to read her autobiography and ended my experience just a few chapters into it. I decided to give the book to one of my frustrated progressive friends.

Gavin Newsom seems to be moving ahead with a plan to run for president. The New York Times seems to think this man can save the Democratic Party. California is having a very bad year. Fires, protests, massive debt concerns and a growing homeless population are all things that Newsom doesn’t speak about when he gets on the stump. To date, Newsom has not done a very good job selling himself as a top shelf candidate. His rhetoric is directed mostly at Trump’s persona, not his policies.

Bernie Sanders is too old to lead the Democratic Party. He is the most knowledgeable progressive and would be a huge supporter of AOC if she decides to run for president. Bernie just has not been able to convince the voters that he can run the US government himself, much less balance the budget after giving way so many free things to his constituents.

AOC is an interesting choice for president. I must confess, she has really made an impact as a rebel-rouser. That is not to say she has anywhere near the requisite experience to be president and a world leader. Her affiliation with the radical troublemakers in Congress will not help her gain support.

So, Zohran Mamdani is the new face on the block. Having won the New York City mayoral race is a feather in his cap, but he is a socialist. I spent my entire life being told and believing that socialism is very bad for our country. Why would I ever consider a man who eschews capitalism as a person to be the leader of the largest and greatest city in the world? New York City is a solid blue stronghold, but it’s the economic capital of the world. There are lots of young people who seem interested in testing socialistic solutions to our problems. They will learn to appreciate that socialism is not going to be successful in the Big Apple. Even China and Russia are accepting capitalistic dogma. Mamdani should have little impact on the impending presidential elections. It will be impossible for this man to give the benefits he says he will fight for.

Democrats don’t seem to understand that facing off against Donald Trump is a waste of time. He’s going to be gone in less than three years. Of most importance and to win, Democrats need new ideas about how to deal with illegal aliens, in particular. Our nation has been inundated with illegals and a significant number of them have criminal records. The impact of 20 or so million people across the US has been a hardship at every level of government. This is a fight for jobs, housing, and education. The assimilation of illegals would be an excellent challenge for Democrats to take on. To date, the focus has been on new immigrants. Illegal immigration will continue to be the number one issue facing our leaders in the foreseeable future .

Democrats must move away from woke issues. The backlash against this phenomenon has been broad. Unisex bathrooms, teaching very young children about gender issues and the like are not popular with the majority of American voters.

Effective Democratic candidates will need to convince ultra-progressives and young people that militant activities such as violent protest will make it impossible for Democrats to effectively challenge conservative Republicans.

There are a number of Democratic Congress-people who could become effective candidates for the presidency. Unfortunately, radical progressives of the party will prevent them from getting into the race for political offices.

Shutting down our government was a terrible strategy for both political parties, and those who endorsed the action should be casualties in the next national election. The harm inflicted on needy Americans and essential government workers was very damaging.

During this era of cut-throat rhetoric and garbage politics, the major impediment to efficient and timely governance is the filibuster in the Senate. This antiquated tool of the standing minority has created many problems over the last few years. Effectively, the minority in the Senate can halt most aspects of law making if it controls 41 seats. This means that the Senate is incapable of enacting laws in conjunction with the House unless it convinces some minority members to vote with it.

The strategy of Democrats during this hurtful moment of government stagnation was to force Republicans to make concessions concerning health care that made no sense. A senatorial standoff prevented the US government from being able to borrow money to pay for social programs, military salaries, air traffic controllers and government subsidies that reduce medical costs.

The largest and strongest country in the world was temporarily bankrupt and unable to pay expenses affiliated with government programs that prevent hunger in our country.

It was sinful to watch the government grovel for money to pay its employees. We as Americans just stood by as babies were unfed and airport services were jeopardizing the safety of Americans flying on airplanes.

Why did this come about? It was all a play to make Trump look bad. Democrats have only one issue as we enter the next race for the presidency- Donald Trump. Meanwhile Trump is addressing our nation’s problems.

Democrats will not have a chance to win the next election unless they surface issues and propose ways to deal with them. Using Trump as a target going into 2028 is a waste of time and money because he cannot compete for the White House.

To make matters worse, the same old washed up individuals are lining up to compete/influence the campaigned for president. Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom are attempting to gain traction with their party. Bernie Sanders, Zohran Mamdani and AOC are pushing for more progressive candidates, which will play into the hands of conservatives.

If I were running the for president as a Democrat, I would zero in on the likes of Vance and Rubio.

The Democratic Party is in tatters. One segment of it is trying to bully their way into power represented by the most progressive side of the party. The American people don’t want radical leaders. Notwithstanding some lost support among voters during the past few weeks, the Republicans stand in good position to fully dominate the next presidential campaign.

One last word on the filibuster issue. It can be abolished by a simple majority vote in the Senate. The minority party in the Senate will always object to eliminating the filibuster.

Shutting down our government was a terrible strategy for both political parties, and those who endorsed the action should be casualties in the next national election. The harm inflicted on needy Americans and essential government workers was very damaging.

During this era of cut-throat rhetoric and garbage politics, the major impediment to efficient and timely governance is the filibuster in the Senate. This antiquated tool of the standing minority has created many problems over the last few years. Effectively, the minority in the Senate can halt most aspects of law making if it controls 41 seats. This means that the Senate is incapable of enacting laws in conjunction with the House unless it convinces some minority members to vote with it.

The strategy of Democrats during this hurtful moment of government stagnation was to force Republicans to make concessions concerning health care that made no sense. A senatorial standoff prevented the US government from being able to borrow money to pay for social programs, military salaries, air traffic controllers and government subsidies that reduce medical costs.

The largest and strongest country in the world was temporarily bankrupt and unable to pay expenses affiliated with government programs that prevent hunger in our country.

It was sinful to watch the government grovel for money to pay its employees. We as Americans just stood by as babies were unfed and airport services were jeopardizing the safety of Americans flying on airplanes.

Why did this come about? It was all a play to make Trump look bad. Democrats have only one issue as we enter the next race for the presidency- Donald Trump. Meanwhile Trump is addressing our nation’s problems.

Democrats will not have a chance to win the next election unless they surface issues and propose ways to deal with them. Using Trump as a target going into 2028 is a waste of time and money because he cannot compete for the White House.

To make matters worse, the same old washed up individuals are lining up to compete/influence the campaigned for president. Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom are attempting to gain traction with their party. Bernie Sanders, Zohran Mamdani and AOC are pushing for more progressive candidates, which will play into the hands of conservatives.

If I were running the for president as a Democrat, I would zero in on the likes of Vance and Rubio.

The Democratic Party is in tatters. One segment of it is trying to bully their way into power represented by the most progressive side of the party. The American people don’t want radical leaders. Notwithstanding some lost support among voters during the past few weeks, the Republicans stand in good position to fully dominate the next presidential campaign.

One last word on the filibuster issue. It can be abolished by a simple majority vote in the Senate. The minority party in the Senate will always object to eliminating the filibuster.