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Elyse's avatar

I agree 100% Harry. But I also think we need to recognize how the RINOs have also played into this terrible spending scenario.

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Henry Schulte's avatar

Everyone has been at fault. Politicians don't run for office, they run to stay in office. They are constantly checking the wind direction and will go with it not against it. That's what makes Trump different. He doesn't care. He's not running again. Doesn't need the money and anyone who says he's only doing it for himself is truly blinded. No leader of this country is doing more for the American people than Trump. So hate the man but love the success. And just imagine, if we could actually lower taxes and even some money back. What a concept/

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Elyse's avatar

Yes agree with you. There is hope. All in with Trump and his amazing team.

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Monica Bond's avatar

Absolutely. The Republican party has a lot of house cleaning (and keeping) to do. I believe we are on the right track with the auditing of our government and hopefully once we get it down to a controllable size any attempted future corruption will be more transparent and easier to control.

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Ranger's avatar

Henry, You are right on!! Dems will NEVER change. They are incapable of being open minded, little less fair and thinking of the country first over their desires to dominate us "common folk". Dems think they are Elite, but they are only biased racists.

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Michael Wilson's avatar

Henry, you have a gift of jab, I mean gab. Trump wasn't on board with a refund until he observed the distaste of the plan by the left. He aptly uses the Dem's temper as his barometer for going forward. It's going to be revealing just how much waste in government spending we uncover, but I believe we have only scratched the surface. Many dollars (I believe) have circled back into the pockets of corrupt politicians and I can't wait until they start naming names. It's a fun time to be alive. Thanks for sharing Henry, your op-eds never disappoint.

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J. Livingston's avatar

Moving beyond a red or blue America, into the far more nuanced world of the Yellow Emperor - Sun Tzu - The Art of War. Fifth Century B.C. What is old, is now new again.

UCSB Arts and Lecture by Historian Niall Ferguson got the biggest applause line when he fervently wished for students who could hold more than one thought in their minds at the same time. His example was (1) America is the greatest country on the planet in all human history; and yes (2) America also had a history of slavery in the earlier part of her existence.

I sense the time now also requires holding two thoughts in our heads at the same time when it comes to the well publicized GOP-Trump 2024 campaign agenda: promises made and promises kept. Voters are ready to hold two thoughts in their heads at the same time: Trump can be both clownish and profound. Trump is going where we want him to go. Opposition strengthens the mettle.

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Polly Frost's avatar

Vance went after Ferguson on X. Vance is right.

https://tinyurl.com/3wr4wnha

Ferguson is very smart but a neo con, and I despise the neo cons. I attribute the neo conism to his feelings about his wife Aayan Hirsi Ali, who I've long admired, and who as you probably know is an activist against Islamic practices towards women. She herself underwent female genital mutilation at age 5.

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LT's avatar
Feb 20Edited

Mr. Musk and DOGE has uncovered which many of us already know, government is not working for the average person. As more is uncovered, it has become crystal clear that the Democratic Party is nothing more than a criminal entity. Misappropriating, and manipulating federal funds, lining their own pockets while at the same time promoting anti American sentiment, LQBTQ agendas, transgender sickness, racial animosity and climate hysteria. Yes, all these distractions, while liberal elites raid the US Treasury for their own gluttony. Just today, it was revealed that failed Georgia Gubernatorial candidate and race hustler, Stacey Abrams, was linked to an environmental group which received over $2 billion dollars in federal aid for questionable activities. All this while beating the drum of racism, division and hatred.

Time to take our country back, stop the hemorrhaging of our public resources and find and prosecute those responsible for this massive theft of public funds. No wonder the left is becoming more unhinged, they know the gig is up and many have some explaining to do. Look for the left to become even more outrageous and crazed as more is revealed. To think while all of this was going on, Joe Biden flooded the zone with MILLIONS of illegal, impoverished, uneducated and some criminal immigrants, all requiring our tax dollars.

Here locally our once golden state is failing. Even “In and Out” is leaving California and moving their corporate headquarters to Nashville! Failed insurance companies are leaving in droves leaving many without insurance coverage, this while our incompetent insurance commissioner is claiming racism! It gets worse, the Mayor of LA, Karen Bass leaving her post to attend the inauguration of the President in Ghana, while her city burns to the ground!

This should spell the end of any political party, stay tuned for more outrageous behavior by the left, employing public servants, walk outs, slow downs even using students as political props in order of stopping US from finding out what THEY have been doing all along!

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LT's avatar

Ya keep telling yourself Heald, as your SSI and MC goes to illegals.

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Thomas John's avatar

I don't think SSI does. Not ideal at all but from what I've read they usually contribute to but can't get funds from SSI.

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daniel Heald's avatar

what are SSI and illegals?

I do not know them.

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daniel Heald's avatar

So partizan, be wary. The debt is many years in the making. All we have today is a different new elite skimming the peoples cream for themselves.

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Mel Quist's avatar

So true! Every word! Thank you for writing this article, more people in our communities need to read this!!

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CarsAreBasic's avatar

WHAT???

We didn’t elect any of Joe Biden’s string pullers either and how did that work out?

A very telling statement.

If you will look at the SBCAG agenda for today 20 Feb. 2025, you will see 3 items containing 3 expensive Federal funded transportation items.

Keep the slash-and-burn going. - Really Mr. Schulte?

Does this include the rail line from Ventura to SM for "commuter" passengers? The same proposal that is a decade old ($700+ million) that does not include inflation? Does this include the proposed Metro-link to this outrageous proposal?

People this is a thoughtful article. CAB's comments about running the nation as any sound business should happen. Look just the State of Calif. has $Billions in debt and is adding more for "social????" reasons let alone Sacramento's failed capital projects.

Throwing the soap box back to the author. Good one.

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Henry Schulte's avatar

I hope DOGE does a deep dive into California corruption. The socialists who have had unfettered control with zero oversight may now have to pay closer attention to how they hide their money and free stuff. And unions who have enjoyed Christmas everyday in California better watch their six.

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Julia Gonzales's avatar

Well, Mr. Schulte, if doge plans to come to California, they better do it legally, We wouldn’t want it to be illegal. You would think that the competent and intelligent adults managing things would know that it takes an act of Congress to start a new department and someone needs to be appointed or elected by Congress to run that department.

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Henry Schulte's avatar

Nope. It's perfectly legal. It's just because Musk is doing such a good job and they don't have Trump to go after because they've run out of BS tactics they're forced to refocus their hate campaign somewhere else.

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Julia Gonzales's avatar

Tired old grandpa has musk as his beard. All the people he’s put in place will end up being blamed for one thing or another, because none of them know what they’re doing and they’re proving it every day. When things start going wrong, really wrong, tired old grandpa will deny knowledge of anything. All his loyalists are only a bunch of scapegoats.

Back to musk he is not working for us. He’s working for himself and tired old grandpa. Yeah, musk did a really good job when he fired all the people in charge of our nuclear arsenal, and key people from the CDC and then they can’t find them to rehire them back. Yeah, really good job.

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Henry Schulte's avatar

We also just found out over 9B was given to illegals by Newsom and company. And now he added $50M of our money to pay for their legal fees and keep them here. My daughter is 48 years old, has a PHD, is a clinical psychologist and can't afford health insurance. Fire insurance is through the roof if you can get it all anymore. But we have enough billions to pay for a people who were not invited and reap more benefits than any American citizen. Please pack the busses and start over.

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Pablosdog's avatar

"Like water, the country will eventually find its own level." Except on a globe....that water would need to be curved...with a drop of 6667 ft every 100 miles. Anyway...agree 100%....when do we get to pay 50% less taxes?

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J. Livingston's avatar

When do we pay fewer taxes? When we stop spending and **promising** 50% less. The impact of the trillions of dollars of promised and underfunded government employee pension liabilities is only now starting to be felt. One more issue Democrats and their govenrment unions refuse to talk about.

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Henry Schulte's avatar

That's funny. Good point

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Pablosdog's avatar

NASA is funded at like 70 million a day…good jobs program I suppose.

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daniel Heald's avatar

Be wary of this partizanship. The malfeasence that is washington was not created just by the Dems. Be wary of jingoism. This present idiot at the top has not espoused any principles on governence since he was born. His world is about himself and only himself. We are in very dangerous territory. The debt was roughly three trillion in 1990. It is now $35 trillion or so. The lack of faith and trust in Washington and politico high up types has been fueled by the Iraq war and the Great Financial crisis. The present idiot at the top issued a meme coin just before inaugoration. A simple get rich quick scheme, cynical. The current set up looks more like how do i get rich off the back of USA, than a true belief in the future of the USA.

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Pablosdog's avatar

At the top? Not even close.

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Henry Schulte's avatar

I would like to address the topic of California a bit more. It is a liberal island unto itself. I would venture to guess there isn't a single thing that the state has its hands in that isn't up to its neck in fraud and corruption. From damn building to the stupid "bullet" train to excessive taxation and nothing to show for it. Worst schools, most homeless, highest poverty, highest gas, worst roads but we can still spend billions on insurance for illegals and spend billions on homeless only to watch more and more hit our streets. I think California warrants a deeper dive again and I do hope DOGE digs into this west coast swamp using pesticides.

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Thomas John's avatar

Another DDS rant. When will folks like Mr. Schulte let the Democrats occupying so much of his headspace loose and look forward to what his team does over the next four years?

But yes, fraud and waste need to be eliminated. But Governments are not businesses. What business has been around for almost 250 years?

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J. Livingston's avatar

Government employee unions have been around only since 1962. They are proven now to be the worm in the apple; highly destructive to the business of we the people governance.

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Thomas John's avatar

I won't argue against that anymore.

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Lisa Dabbs's avatar

Capitalism

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Earl Brown's avatar

Maxine Waters, Elizabeth Warren, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Gavin Newsom, Chuck Schumer - Commie-Dem thieves and charlatans.

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Polly Frost's avatar

Excellent, Henry, thank you. It isn't just Americans who've gotten screwed over. https://johnklar.substack.com/p/how-usaid-assisted-the-corporate

To those with TDS and MDS - go ahead, bury your head in the sand. At least you'll shut up for a while.

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Julia Gonzales's avatar

Mr. Schulte, Thank you for the opportunity to make my observations and opinions.

I was wondering what happened to the billionaires and oligarchs that were hanging with tired old grandpa when he was campaigning? They were front and center during the campaign and inaugural events, where are they now? Are they out there doing good for the world? Helping countries in need? Helping to keep America’s goodwill reputation in tact? Setting up funds to help all the federal employees that are now unemployed with families to support and bills to pay?

I have a little bit of trivia or gossip, apparently some of musk’s minions have turned the empty and gutted offices of some of the departments they’ve cut, into living quarters for themselves, and their families. Isn’t this squatting or is tired old grandpa collecting rent?

trump is trumped by a person with real intelligence and common sense. Judge Ana Reyes, with the help of Jesus, blocked one of tired old grandpa‘s executive orders regarding transgender and LBGTQ+ rights. Look it up. Very good and interesting reading.

Old tired grandpa working on another priority. Removing the word transgender from Stonewall memorial. That should improve everyone’s life.

Is there a golf budget? 152 million was spent over the four years of tired old grandpa’s first term. it looks like he’s trying to surpass that, in 31 days he’s been in office 9 days have been spent golfing, over 10 million spent already.

As to your comments, Mr. Schulte, Not sure what string pullers you’re referring to, but as for musk, we know he was not elected, we know he’s not working for a legal department doing illegal things he was not elected to do. He is not working for free. There’s a big pay off at the end of all this chaos he’s creating, and the taxpayers will pay for it even if it’s not monetary. Does musk realize how much of a clown he looks like on that stage at some sort of Republican gathering waving a chainsaw around, wearing dark glasses, that right there is a safety hazard. So much for intelligence and common sense.

I hope that new generation realizes they have to think on their own, use their intelligence and their common sense, to not imitate what is going on now. You speak of people infected with TDS and now, MDS, what you don’t realize is that the magas are the ones infected with these derangements.

People keep saying they want the government run like a business. What is the goal of a business? The main goal is the bottom line, profits. The problem is America is not a business. It is home to millions of diverse Americans with families with different needs, their goal is to have their families safe, healthy and happy, with morals and family values That’s their bottom line. Musk and tired old grandpa don’t care what the American people want.

You say the Democrats are not willing to cross party lines. If you remember, there used to be bipartisanship, but when Barack Obama became president, Mitch McConnell announced to Congress and the world that they would not be working with him, helping him in anyway. That’s where the break started and continues. We are headed for a constitutional crisis, because the truth is, the felon in chief, (sorry JL nothing else fit here) wants to overshadow the legislative and judicial branches of our Government, he wants the executive branch to have the most power.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for that refund.

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Henry Schulte's avatar

There's too much to unpack and as the left loves to tell us, fake news. But one thing is certain, Musk is certainly working for you. Musk went south with the left when he put an end to their massive cancel culture campaign when he bought Twitter. That really hurt them. Now he's exposing the unbelievable corruption America has been living under and democrats are freaking out they've been uncovered. Just wait.

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Julia Gonzales's avatar

Mr. Schulte, I need to refresh your memory. Fake news was first coined by your leader, that tired old man. Every time he got caught making misleading statements or just straight out lies that was his battle cry. “Fake news”! “Fake news”!

Musk is not working for us. In fact, he’s like a kid in a candy store, he’s like a bull in a China shop and enjoying every minute of destroying everything. Did you happen to catch him on the CPAC stage with the fake chainsaw? He’s doing it with permission from the man who said he was going to keep America safe, and he would protect us, but what can you expect from a habitual liar?

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Henry Schulte's avatar

I don't know you Julia. And you're probably a nice woman, but you just repeat the tired old stories. I would like to suggest you sit back and watch and then reap the rewards of Trump's fixing of the country. As for being tired, I can't keep up just listening to what he's all doing. The man has more energy than twenty people. I honestly don't know how he does it.

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Julia Gonzales's avatar

Mr. Schulte, You’re right, I am a nice woman, most of the time, unless someone ruffles my hackles, like the majority of commenters here on SB Current. You guys are good at that. I apologize if you feel like I’m repeating myself, but somethings are worth repeating. I’m sorry, but I will not sit back and watch what’s happening, if there’s any rewards, they will go to the billionaires and corporations. They will get all the tax cuts that we should have. I do not want to turn into a sheeple like the magas.

Tired old man is fixing nothing. He is a thug. He is trying to rule with force, threats and intimidations. He tried it with Zelensky during his first administration by withholding much-needed funds for the war against Putin, until Zelensky made up some story about Hunter Biden. It didn’t work then and I hope it doesn’t work now, even though he’s trying to pressure and extort Zelensky by withholding aid again.

I hope America is never in need where we would need support from our allies, as I doubt we would get any help the way tired old man has been isolating America.

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Bill Russell's avatar

Upon connecting-the-dots, the following can be presumed: (1) Where there is money, there is crime, (2) Where there is nobody watching the money, it will find "legs," (3) Someone surrounded by money will spend a lifetime figuring out how it can be their money, (4) Money assigned to stupid stuff is simply a diversion as to where the money is really going, (5) If an army of engineer types are assigned to finding the missing money, those that stole the money are certainly to be royally screwed.

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Stan's avatar

Just curious, which of Trump’s businesses should we use as a model for running the government?

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