Unless there are prison terms for those involved in this as well as other corrupt actions by various agencies it will simply continue. Hopefully Bondi, Patel et al will accomplish this prior to mid terms while we still have power to do so.
Well the only people who read the NYT that I know of are election losers so I'll assume you are one of them. Nobody who is trying to appear 'credible' as you are, would post a link to that rag. We all know it is partly owned by a Mexican Billionaire who has Mexico's interests at heart. So if I were you I would not use links from there, it makes you look, well, desperate. Now, let's discuss the difference between 'retribution' and 'justice'. The election losers have their own vocabulary, it is actually quite funny. One of their favorite vocabulary words now is 'retribution', the translation into 'normal speak' well, let's just call it what it is 'American speak' or 'election winner speak' if you will, is 'Justice'. Just so you know, anytime an election losers whines about 'retribution', what normal people hear is 'justice'. We just correct the translation for you in our minds. You are welcome.
Both Bondi and Patel are overwhelmed by the pro-Democratic Federal workers. For example, I doubt there are any changes in the FBI satellite offices with pro-Dem workers (Special Agents). It's a long food chain between Patel and the bottom guy on the totem pole.
Mr. Caldwell, you neglected to mention that Elon Musk has significantly lowered (again) his DOGE team's estimated "savings" -- from nearly $1 trillion (as he assured Fox News' Brett Baier) now down to a relatively paltry $150 million. And mind you, most of these "savings" have come by way of reduced services and the firings of civil employees rather than by way of the much ballyhooed elimination of fraud and abuse.
And speaking of "fraud and abuse": Have you investigated (dutiful journalist that you are) why Trump posted on his Truth Social "THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!" at 9:37 a.m. Wednesday, some four hours BEFORE his 1:18 p.m. publicly-announced flip-flop on his promised "No retreat on tariffs"? I'm guessing if you did care to investigate this you'd find that such a pronouncement is illegal; per the STOCK Act of 2012 which prohibits -- by members and employees of all three government branches, including the President -- insider trading. Hmmm, who made a bundle there, I wonder?
Anyway, keep your distracted readers' hypnotic gazes focused on the thousands of dollars spent on such shiny topics as DEI comic books and transgender operas and such; you know, the important stuff.
Insider trading involves acting upon "material, nonpublic information". (Look it up!) How is a post made to the open public via Truth Social for anyone to read, which does not mention what to buy or mention any specific stock, bond, security, industry or market sector qualify as insider trading?
RJ - Not distracted. I’m waiting for sequel article ‘Hands Off My Entitlements’. Had more American been awake with financial capacity to benefit from Trump’s scoop “to buy”, maybe there would be the courage to cut categorical entitlements which individually exceed the budget to protect our national sovereignty .
Did Santa Barbara High Alum Charles Schwab actually make $2B within the hour between Trump advising “to buy” and the Tariff announcement?
Thank you for the partial list of the money spent on “nefarious purposes and stupid ideas”; however, has it been determined whether the stated goal was completed and who actually received the money or who was able to pocket it?
Also, who within USAID decided how to spend the money and was Congress or the Executive branch ever told?
Samantha Powers was the head of USAID and is a very nefarious character and bad actor. She and Victoria Nuland (Ambassador/Diplomat) have been instrumental figures in Deep State Color Revolutions in geopolitical hotspots across the globe...Ukraine in 2014. Powers had a history of of shielding the agency's finances and spending despite congress' dutiful oversight responsibility allowing for the reckless and subversive spending, grift and money-laundering that occurred under her watch.
AKA: Barry's Gurlz. The same names that have kept showing up over and over, regardless of changes in administrations. Mary B. McCord is another worthy addition. Seems to show up just everywhere in recent government missteps.
Remember that Samantha Powers signed several FISA warrants directed towards the first Trump administration (of note, Gen. Flynn). She is fully embedded in the deep state.
JB - nice read. Btw, here’s a site that reduces the size of web addresses - https://tinyurl.com It reduced your lengthily address above to: https://tinyurl.com/4hdzmudh - Both go to the same page. It’s free, and easy -
I agree, need to know who is involved with the fraud. I think the silence of who the cast of characters filling their pockets are involves both Dems and Republicans. And the politicians that might be leaving could unbalance the House and Senate not to the favor the Trump administration.
Furthermore, judges handling fraudulent crimes could be Dem-favoring judges, ending up with a result of convicting more Republicans than Democrats in totality.
Good Article Andy, and thanks for the VERY SHORT list of programs used by our corrupt government officials, both Rs & Ds (and their handlers), to grift the systems at the expense of American taxpayers. After learning of the 14 magic money computers operated by USG, does this make the markets a house of cards?
Exactly, same same. would love to see (soon) the unsealing of indictments..the first indictment would trigger mass pop awakening, verify action, and confirm future direction…Methinks treason & corruption first, already seeing it with DOGE. Any high ranking officials receiving payments, wives, children? No accountability? Second punch, human trafficking + crimes against humanity…
Andy, you forgot to mention the $63 million of taxpayers' money spent on Trump's golfing trips -- and we are only 80 days into this grifter's regime! FOUR dead soldiers returned home while Trump was yelling "fore" at the golf course. Meanwhile, the "suckers and losers" who didn't dodge the draft like Cadet Bone Spurs are spending even more time waiting for a life-saving appointment at the V.A. after being fired from their federal jobs. All of the profits acquired by Trump and his fellow billionaires through his manipulation of the stock market in an insider trading scheme by declaring "on again - off again" tariffs would more than cover ALL of the expenses you are whining about. It should be evident to all of us by now why Trump was convicted of 34 counts of felony fraud! He is now commiting fraud in broad daylight with impunity as his goon squads round up U.S. persons in the middle of the night in unmarked vans following Trump's effort to criminalize "free speech."
Being a student of Texas history and a native of San Antonio, I can appreciate the mention of Mr. Crockett. Please don’t confuse reality or the actual events with the Disney feature film or the 1960 epic by John Wayne. A much more historical version was the 2004 film.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Parker at his winery back in the day. Our conversation was two Texans talking less about the Alamo and the fateful battle and more about Texas Football, which he played while attending UT Austin, before his Hollywood debut.
As for the chicanery that Doge has uncovered involving USAID, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the overwhelming beneficiaries are left wing causes. Samantha Powers, has amounted to no more than a ring leader and seems to have overseen the distribution of cash to lefty causes. Interesting how she personally amassed millions in personal wealth. Hopefully she will soon be the subject of a DOJ investigation.
I believe when the dust finally settles, it will show a massive fraud pyramid involving USAID serving as a high stakes money laundering operation for NGO’s, involved in such noble causes as environmental justice, racial equity
and Rainbow special interests, among other wacky lefty causes.
All at taxpayer expense and reminiscent of organized crime!
I read this article titled "Nefarious Purposes and Stupid Ideas" by Andy Caldwell
I quote from same as follows> "Nevertheless, Santa Barbara County has given upwards of $1 million to various “charities,” to fund such activities as “anti-racism rallies,” over the last few years to assuage the woke community’s collective guilt for the death of George Floyd, even though local taxpayers had nothing to do with the death of Mr. Floyd"
I have a more revealing Title "Local SB Attorneys Create & Give Millions to Local SB Charities"
Now just who are these local Attorneys and what law to they practice in our Lil Ole Community?
Who actually works at these Charities and what is their pay we may want to all ask?
Here is an interesting Read for all wanting to know the "Dark Side" of Charities and Foundations>
"The dark side of giving: Exposing charity fraud" By Rasha Kassem, Ph.D., CFE weblink>
"Charity Founder And CEO Charged With Embezzling Millions From Organization And Tax Evasion"
I INVITE Everyone to Walk Into the SB Probate Courts & Have a Seat and watch the Predator Attorneys REDIRECT Families Money Into their "Controlled Charitable Foundations" & Into the Deep and Never-Ending Pockets!!! Quote from DOJ Weblink above"
"U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Keith Taylor falsely claimed that donations to his charity would help working families with unexpected expenses that put them at risk of homelessness. Instead, Taylor allegedly took those donations to pay for his meals at upscale restaurants, rent for a luxury apartment in a Manhattan skyscraper, and even cosmetic surgery. Taylor allegedly defrauded the charity’s donors and unconscionably took money from the pockets of those most in need, and he is now facing federal charges for his alleged crimes.”
ANY MONEY BEING EMBEZZLED BY PREDATOR ATTORNEYS IN THE CALI PROBATE COURTs??
Howard Walther, Member of a Military Family
PS1 - Another Charitable Fraud Case By The DOJ & Quote from same>
"“While fraud is always wrong, the theft of charitable donations that were to be used to help San Diego’s low income families is particularly disheartening,” said Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Omer Meisel. “This type of fraud and deceit for personal gain simply cannot be tolerated."
I think we need Financial Fraud Expert Omer Meisel here in SB or maybe he already is weblink>
Great story, Andy. Davy Crockett story, an expanded version of your story is found at https://hushmoney.org/Davy_Crockett_Farmer_Bunce.htm. Never underestimate a farmer for not being smart about stuff. I've run into a few in my lifetime. They can use both their hands and their brains. What we are learning now at this exact time is how disgusting our government is towards the money we earn, and all the waste and fraud involved. It leaves me speechless.
I was a devoted follower of Davy in 1954-55 at the age of 9 and 10, not missing one one-hour episode. And I worshipped Fess Parker and had the privilege of sitting next to Fess Parker at a SB golf course, we both eating prime rib. Fess's wife was "eyeing" my wife ... don't get too close! When I was working at Litton Data Systems in the late 1960's, guys that went to a management club meeting to hear Fess Parker talk came back saying Fess was boring. Geez, I thought, how can you talk about "Davy" like that! I had no comment.
The guy I lived with in my twenties was into Davy Crockett, too. He collected contemporary flintlock rifles. There are a bunch of guys who make beautiful flintlocks. http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2018/05/from-pages-of-flintlock-magazine-george.html On one of our first dates he took me out to Saugus to shoot with other flintlock enthusiasts. I got pretty good at black powder shooting. He met up with Fess once after we'd broken up. I asked how it went. He said great, until they got onto the Iraq War, which my ex like me was opposed to. I think Davy would have been, too.
Among America Firsters, it's very trendy these days to say we were opposed to the Iraq war. Twenty-two years ago, however, most right-of-center people, including moi, were strongly convinced that invading Iraq and taking Saddam Hussein down was part of our necessary response to the travesty of 9/11. To this day, nobody has discovered any weapons of mass destruction. Nobody even continues to look - anymore than anyone needs to continue searching for O.J.'s wife's murderer. Were it not for Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson, nobody on the Right would say that Iraq was a globalist misadventure set in motion to satiate the gluttonous appetites of those who wish to profit from the dismembering of the American nation-state, in behalf of establishing a world order administered by unelected regional government monoliths.
DOGE.com. This lists the misuse of public funds. This is published for every taxpayer (party affiliation doesn’t matter one bit) to see where their money goes.
It's obvious the dummies in Washington aren't reading the bills they're signing off on, so I have an idea - let's slip term limits in them and see how quick they rubber stamp 'em!
"because the Constitution, to be worth anything, must be held sacred"
Well it is not sacred, it's a secular parchment and little more than a rag produced by freemasons. The founders had no private revelations, they did not promote faith/piety, they did not produce any valueable insights about God... God never ordained liberal men to do anything.
"system of collecting revenue by a tariff, which reaches every man in the country, no matter how poor he may be, and the poorer he is the more he pays in proportion to his means." Yet the "common sense crowd" would prefer a flat tax rate, a system which benefits none but the rich - where the poor man's modest means are narrowed further, and the rich man's surplus is nearly untouched by proportionality...
The divine rights of men was a REVELATION and a GIFT from God that no country or government had ever been established on earth...don't say they were not inspired and obedient.
One does not need to believe in any "God" nor denomination to accept the principle of "inalienable rights". That are beyond the reach of any person. They just are. The Founders were brilliant to use these inalienable rights as the foundation for our unique form of government. Less pique and more curiosity would serve this topic well.
It's hard to render serious consideration to any argument that begins its iteration with "(the U.S. Constitution is) a secular parchment and little more than a rag produced by Freemasons".
Not really David. I don't see how my comment is off base. Perhaps you idolize this document or see it as divinely inspired, but then that's on you for being a fan of liberal constructs. I'm a traditionalist, not a conservative.
The purpose of communication is to persuade. Referring to a successful revolutionary document of governance as a "rag" only serves to make the writer feel self-satisfied and superior. When I approach such language in print, I turn off and tune out. You just lost a "customer" to your ideas. You've ended up shouting into a headwind. And I haven't even broached the boogie-man subject of "Freemasons" or "Freemasonry"!
National debt clock keeps going up. Will voters support cuts that impact them directly? https://www.usdebtclock.org/index.html. Debt per taxpayer is over $323,000.
The Farmer spoke the truth. If Congress read the Constitution, passing laws within government’s scope of authority, its boundaries, we would not be in this fiscal mess.
Richard, social security is NOT a right. It was intended to be temporary. LBJ’s Great Society socialist agenda forever changed our country by providing tax paid (and more Fed Reserve printed money) for entitlements. The number of voters dependent on a government check exceeds the number of financially independent voters.
Can Trump or Congress reduce spending to pay off the debt? Nope. Too many voters will not sacrifice or compromise what they “believe” is theirs, and their faith in this belief is entrenched particularly in elders.
The voting majority demand Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare, Free food, social services, Universal Basic Income (UBI) … the list is long. Taxes need to be raised, inflation increased; or we wait for collapse or miracles.
Watch the debt clock. What trillions are you willing to cut?
Unless there are prison terms for those involved in this as well as other corrupt actions by various agencies it will simply continue. Hopefully Bondi, Patel et al will accomplish this prior to mid terms while we still have power to do so.
GR, I have my doubts that Bondi and Patel will find the time to bring charges, let alone prosecute, any potential lawbreakers.
They’ll be much to busy chasing the perceived “lawbreakers” as directed by Trump on his current retribution tour.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/us/politics/trump-biden-law-firms-revenge.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb
Well the only people who read the NYT that I know of are election losers so I'll assume you are one of them. Nobody who is trying to appear 'credible' as you are, would post a link to that rag. We all know it is partly owned by a Mexican Billionaire who has Mexico's interests at heart. So if I were you I would not use links from there, it makes you look, well, desperate. Now, let's discuss the difference between 'retribution' and 'justice'. The election losers have their own vocabulary, it is actually quite funny. One of their favorite vocabulary words now is 'retribution', the translation into 'normal speak' well, let's just call it what it is 'American speak' or 'election winner speak' if you will, is 'Justice'. Just so you know, anytime an election losers whines about 'retribution', what normal people hear is 'justice'. We just correct the translation for you in our minds. You are welcome.
Forget Washington 'justice' - years of lawyer pablum. I'll take retribution anytime . . . as long as it's quick!
Yes - looong prison terms, _after_ the $$ they pissed away on Salamanders for Syria is deducted from their pensions.
Both Bondi and Patel are overwhelmed by the pro-Democratic Federal workers. For example, I doubt there are any changes in the FBI satellite offices with pro-Dem workers (Special Agents). It's a long food chain between Patel and the bottom guy on the totem pole.
Mr. Caldwell, you neglected to mention that Elon Musk has significantly lowered (again) his DOGE team's estimated "savings" -- from nearly $1 trillion (as he assured Fox News' Brett Baier) now down to a relatively paltry $150 million. And mind you, most of these "savings" have come by way of reduced services and the firings of civil employees rather than by way of the much ballyhooed elimination of fraud and abuse.
And speaking of "fraud and abuse": Have you investigated (dutiful journalist that you are) why Trump posted on his Truth Social "THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!" at 9:37 a.m. Wednesday, some four hours BEFORE his 1:18 p.m. publicly-announced flip-flop on his promised "No retreat on tariffs"? I'm guessing if you did care to investigate this you'd find that such a pronouncement is illegal; per the STOCK Act of 2012 which prohibits -- by members and employees of all three government branches, including the President -- insider trading. Hmmm, who made a bundle there, I wonder?
Anyway, keep your distracted readers' hypnotic gazes focused on the thousands of dollars spent on such shiny topics as DEI comic books and transgender operas and such; you know, the important stuff.
Insider trading involves acting upon "material, nonpublic information". (Look it up!) How is a post made to the open public via Truth Social for anyone to read, which does not mention what to buy or mention any specific stock, bond, security, industry or market sector qualify as insider trading?
Pelosi sold her VISA stock day before DOJ investigation. How many did she tip off?
https://x.com/michael951413/status/1911193148665061650?s=42
Right Alec - yesterday's Wall Street Journal article pointed that out specifically.
Trumpy has been saying 'now's a great time to buy' for the past several weeks.
RJ - Not distracted. I’m waiting for sequel article ‘Hands Off My Entitlements’. Had more American been awake with financial capacity to benefit from Trump’s scoop “to buy”, maybe there would be the courage to cut categorical entitlements which individually exceed the budget to protect our national sovereignty .
Did Santa Barbara High Alum Charles Schwab actually make $2B within the hour between Trump advising “to buy” and the Tariff announcement?
The DOGE team has increased (not lowered) the reductions in use of public money.
DOGE.com. It’s an open book for all taxpayers to see.
BS. It is not an open book. It is a book of headlines. There is NO depth.
Thank you for the partial list of the money spent on “nefarious purposes and stupid ideas”; however, has it been determined whether the stated goal was completed and who actually received the money or who was able to pocket it?
Also, who within USAID decided how to spend the money and was Congress or the Executive branch ever told?
Berney Gans
Samantha Powers was the head of USAID and is a very nefarious character and bad actor. She and Victoria Nuland (Ambassador/Diplomat) have been instrumental figures in Deep State Color Revolutions in geopolitical hotspots across the globe...Ukraine in 2014. Powers had a history of of shielding the agency's finances and spending despite congress' dutiful oversight responsibility allowing for the reckless and subversive spending, grift and money-laundering that occurred under her watch.
https://www.public.news/p/usaids-history-of-regime-change-destabilization?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=279400&post_id=156388911&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=ddh1x&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
AKA: Barry's Gurlz. The same names that have kept showing up over and over, regardless of changes in administrations. Mary B. McCord is another worthy addition. Seems to show up just everywhere in recent government missteps.
Remember that Samantha Powers signed several FISA warrants directed towards the first Trump administration (of note, Gen. Flynn). She is fully embedded in the deep state.
JB - nice read. Btw, here’s a site that reduces the size of web addresses - https://tinyurl.com It reduced your lengthily address above to: https://tinyurl.com/4hdzmudh - Both go to the same page. It’s free, and easy -
Why are the Commie-Dems always so fugly?!
I agree, need to know who is involved with the fraud. I think the silence of who the cast of characters filling their pockets are involves both Dems and Republicans. And the politicians that might be leaving could unbalance the House and Senate not to the favor the Trump administration.
Furthermore, judges handling fraudulent crimes could be Dem-favoring judges, ending up with a result of convicting more Republicans than Democrats in totality.
Good Article Andy, and thanks for the VERY SHORT list of programs used by our corrupt government officials, both Rs & Ds (and their handlers), to grift the systems at the expense of American taxpayers. After learning of the 14 magic money computers operated by USG, does this make the markets a house of cards?
DL , like 'grift the systems' - I'm stealing it! :)
Exactly, same same. would love to see (soon) the unsealing of indictments..the first indictment would trigger mass pop awakening, verify action, and confirm future direction…Methinks treason & corruption first, already seeing it with DOGE. Any high ranking officials receiving payments, wives, children? No accountability? Second punch, human trafficking + crimes against humanity…
Andy, you forgot to mention the $63 million of taxpayers' money spent on Trump's golfing trips -- and we are only 80 days into this grifter's regime! FOUR dead soldiers returned home while Trump was yelling "fore" at the golf course. Meanwhile, the "suckers and losers" who didn't dodge the draft like Cadet Bone Spurs are spending even more time waiting for a life-saving appointment at the V.A. after being fired from their federal jobs. All of the profits acquired by Trump and his fellow billionaires through his manipulation of the stock market in an insider trading scheme by declaring "on again - off again" tariffs would more than cover ALL of the expenses you are whining about. It should be evident to all of us by now why Trump was convicted of 34 counts of felony fraud! He is now commiting fraud in broad daylight with impunity as his goon squads round up U.S. persons in the middle of the night in unmarked vans following Trump's effort to criminalize "free speech."
Yawn, more pink noise by the village idiot.
More like reality.
LT - more like blue noise - 'sharp and irritating'.
It is not called "charitable giving" when spending taxpayer funds; it is called a partisan slush fund.
How about robbery!
Being a student of Texas history and a native of San Antonio, I can appreciate the mention of Mr. Crockett. Please don’t confuse reality or the actual events with the Disney feature film or the 1960 epic by John Wayne. A much more historical version was the 2004 film.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Alamo_(2004_film)
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Parker at his winery back in the day. Our conversation was two Texans talking less about the Alamo and the fateful battle and more about Texas Football, which he played while attending UT Austin, before his Hollywood debut.
As for the chicanery that Doge has uncovered involving USAID, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the overwhelming beneficiaries are left wing causes. Samantha Powers, has amounted to no more than a ring leader and seems to have overseen the distribution of cash to lefty causes. Interesting how she personally amassed millions in personal wealth. Hopefully she will soon be the subject of a DOJ investigation.
I believe when the dust finally settles, it will show a massive fraud pyramid involving USAID serving as a high stakes money laundering operation for NGO’s, involved in such noble causes as environmental justice, racial equity
and Rainbow special interests, among other wacky lefty causes.
All at taxpayer expense and reminiscent of organized crime!
I read this article titled "Nefarious Purposes and Stupid Ideas" by Andy Caldwell
I quote from same as follows> "Nevertheless, Santa Barbara County has given upwards of $1 million to various “charities,” to fund such activities as “anti-racism rallies,” over the last few years to assuage the woke community’s collective guilt for the death of George Floyd, even though local taxpayers had nothing to do with the death of Mr. Floyd"
I have a more revealing Title "Local SB Attorneys Create & Give Millions to Local SB Charities"
Now just who are these local Attorneys and what law to they practice in our Lil Ole Community?
Who actually works at these Charities and what is their pay we may want to all ask?
Here is an interesting Read for all wanting to know the "Dark Side" of Charities and Foundations>
"The dark side of giving: Exposing charity fraud" By Rasha Kassem, Ph.D., CFE weblink>
https://www.acfe.com/fraud-magazine/all-issues/issue/article?s=2025-marapr-charity-fraud-dark-side-giving AND this is the DOJ Charging Charitable FRAUD >
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/charity-founder-and-ceo-charged-embezzling-millions-organization-and-tax-evasion
"Charity Founder And CEO Charged With Embezzling Millions From Organization And Tax Evasion"
I INVITE Everyone to Walk Into the SB Probate Courts & Have a Seat and watch the Predator Attorneys REDIRECT Families Money Into their "Controlled Charitable Foundations" & Into the Deep and Never-Ending Pockets!!! Quote from DOJ Weblink above"
"U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Keith Taylor falsely claimed that donations to his charity would help working families with unexpected expenses that put them at risk of homelessness. Instead, Taylor allegedly took those donations to pay for his meals at upscale restaurants, rent for a luxury apartment in a Manhattan skyscraper, and even cosmetic surgery. Taylor allegedly defrauded the charity’s donors and unconscionably took money from the pockets of those most in need, and he is now facing federal charges for his alleged crimes.”
ANY MONEY BEING EMBEZZLED BY PREDATOR ATTORNEYS IN THE CALI PROBATE COURTs??
Howard Walther, Member of a Military Family
PS1 - Another Charitable Fraud Case By The DOJ & Quote from same>
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/charity-founders-plead-guilty-using-non-profit-defraud-donors-and-illegally-evade-taxes
"“While fraud is always wrong, the theft of charitable donations that were to be used to help San Diego’s low income families is particularly disheartening,” said Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Omer Meisel. “This type of fraud and deceit for personal gain simply cannot be tolerated."
I think we need Financial Fraud Expert Omer Meisel here in SB or maybe he already is weblink>
https://www.finra.org/about/executives/omer-meisel
Great story, Andy. Davy Crockett story, an expanded version of your story is found at https://hushmoney.org/Davy_Crockett_Farmer_Bunce.htm. Never underestimate a farmer for not being smart about stuff. I've run into a few in my lifetime. They can use both their hands and their brains. What we are learning now at this exact time is how disgusting our government is towards the money we earn, and all the waste and fraud involved. It leaves me speechless.
I was a devoted follower of Davy in 1954-55 at the age of 9 and 10, not missing one one-hour episode. And I worshipped Fess Parker and had the privilege of sitting next to Fess Parker at a SB golf course, we both eating prime rib. Fess's wife was "eyeing" my wife ... don't get too close! When I was working at Litton Data Systems in the late 1960's, guys that went to a management club meeting to hear Fess Parker talk came back saying Fess was boring. Geez, I thought, how can you talk about "Davy" like that! I had no comment.
The guy I lived with in my twenties was into Davy Crockett, too. He collected contemporary flintlock rifles. There are a bunch of guys who make beautiful flintlocks. http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2018/05/from-pages-of-flintlock-magazine-george.html On one of our first dates he took me out to Saugus to shoot with other flintlock enthusiasts. I got pretty good at black powder shooting. He met up with Fess once after we'd broken up. I asked how it went. He said great, until they got onto the Iraq War, which my ex like me was opposed to. I think Davy would have been, too.
Among America Firsters, it's very trendy these days to say we were opposed to the Iraq war. Twenty-two years ago, however, most right-of-center people, including moi, were strongly convinced that invading Iraq and taking Saddam Hussein down was part of our necessary response to the travesty of 9/11. To this day, nobody has discovered any weapons of mass destruction. Nobody even continues to look - anymore than anyone needs to continue searching for O.J.'s wife's murderer. Were it not for Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson, nobody on the Right would say that Iraq was a globalist misadventure set in motion to satiate the gluttonous appetites of those who wish to profit from the dismembering of the American nation-state, in behalf of establishing a world order administered by unelected regional government monoliths.
No doubt DOGE is finding plenty of waste.
But please don't use Karoline Leavitt as a fact source. Or at least do your own fact-checking on what you're copying from her.
DOGE.gov remains the best "fact source". Easy for anyone to access.
DOGE.com. This lists the misuse of public funds. This is published for every taxpayer (party affiliation doesn’t matter one bit) to see where their money goes.
It's obvious the dummies in Washington aren't reading the bills they're signing off on, so I have an idea - let's slip term limits in them and see how quick they rubber stamp 'em!
"because the Constitution, to be worth anything, must be held sacred"
Well it is not sacred, it's a secular parchment and little more than a rag produced by freemasons. The founders had no private revelations, they did not promote faith/piety, they did not produce any valueable insights about God... God never ordained liberal men to do anything.
"system of collecting revenue by a tariff, which reaches every man in the country, no matter how poor he may be, and the poorer he is the more he pays in proportion to his means." Yet the "common sense crowd" would prefer a flat tax rate, a system which benefits none but the rich - where the poor man's modest means are narrowed further, and the rich man's surplus is nearly untouched by proportionality...
The divine rights of men was a REVELATION and a GIFT from God that no country or government had ever been established on earth...don't say they were not inspired and obedient.
And what are these rights Mr. Caldwell? Because liberals, the founders didn't care for God, but rationalism.
One does not need to believe in any "God" nor denomination to accept the principle of "inalienable rights". That are beyond the reach of any person. They just are. The Founders were brilliant to use these inalienable rights as the foundation for our unique form of government. Less pique and more curiosity would serve this topic well.
"Inalienable rights" - derived from classical liberalism...
It's hard to render serious consideration to any argument that begins its iteration with "(the U.S. Constitution is) a secular parchment and little more than a rag produced by Freemasons".
Not really David. I don't see how my comment is off base. Perhaps you idolize this document or see it as divinely inspired, but then that's on you for being a fan of liberal constructs. I'm a traditionalist, not a conservative.
The purpose of communication is to persuade. Referring to a successful revolutionary document of governance as a "rag" only serves to make the writer feel self-satisfied and superior. When I approach such language in print, I turn off and tune out. You just lost a "customer" to your ideas. You've ended up shouting into a headwind. And I haven't even broached the boogie-man subject of "Freemasons" or "Freemasonry"!
National debt clock keeps going up. Will voters support cuts that impact them directly? https://www.usdebtclock.org/index.html. Debt per taxpayer is over $323,000.
Would a constitutional amendment be required for enacting Social Security?
The Farmer spoke the truth. If Congress read the Constitution, passing laws within government’s scope of authority, its boundaries, we would not be in this fiscal mess.
Richard, social security is NOT a right. It was intended to be temporary. LBJ’s Great Society socialist agenda forever changed our country by providing tax paid (and more Fed Reserve printed money) for entitlements. The number of voters dependent on a government check exceeds the number of financially independent voters.
Can Trump or Congress reduce spending to pay off the debt? Nope. Too many voters will not sacrifice or compromise what they “believe” is theirs, and their faith in this belief is entrenched particularly in elders.
The voting majority demand Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare, Free food, social services, Universal Basic Income (UBI) … the list is long. Taxes need to be raised, inflation increased; or we wait for collapse or miracles.
Watch the debt clock. What trillions are you willing to cut?
So we are living in a post-constitutional society. Very sad