Weekly Comments Archive
Archived Issue
Sunday, December 26, 2021
ISSUE #1092
Senator Manchin, Supply Chain, and News Sources

Bette Midler, who splits her time between Hollywood and New York City, is so mad at Senator Joe Manchin she proclaimed that the West Virginians he represents are “poor, illiterate and strung out.”

She and so many other harsh critics of Democrat Senator Manchin of West Virginia think there are only 50 Senators. They know better, most of ‘em, but they choose to ignore 50 Republican Senators and believe the 50 Democrats should run Congress. Bette Midler might be surprised to learn that people in 28 states elected at least one of those 50 Republican Senators who also oppose the $5.0 Trillion Build Back Better bill (advertised as $1.75 Trillion). I hope she doesn’t believe all those voters are poor, illiterate and strung out, too. And, surprise, surprise, surprise, more West Virginians know how to read and write than people in California and New York, according to Newsweek and other sources. And, like Sen. Manchin, they know from 4th grade Arithmetic that 5.0 is greater than 1.75.

Thinking of TRILIONS… 6 years ago, on December 25, 2015, I wrote: “The Republican Congress passed a Democrat budget bill. Instead of trying to reduce our $19 Trillion debt, Congress and the President are adding another half Trillion dollars. The bill was loaded with Christmas presents for practically everybody that votes.” In 2021, our debt is $30 Trillion, and half a Trillion is loose change.

I was at my local Ford dealer for routine maintenance on my F-150. The work took much longer than usual because they are short six mechanics. They can’t get new vehicles either; only about 15 percent of their usual inventory is on the lot, mainly because of a lack of computer chips from China. (Henry Ford would have manufactured his own chips for the Model T right here in the U.S.) The bill for the same routine maintenance as a year ago on my F-150 was 11% more.

Mr. President, the supply chain and employment issues have not been solved. And don’t say, “pay ‘em more.”

Let’s look back at major News stories from 2021. Note that it makes a difference where you get your “News.” As Will Rogers said many times, “All I know is what I read in the newspaper.” And July 27, 1932, Will wrote, “Any person that don’t read at least one well-written country newspaper is not truly informed.”

If you get most of your national news from TV news channels, here is a random sample of prominent stories I recall from Fox, MSNBC, and CNN.

First, from Fox: Open border. Illegal immigrants. Illegal fentanyl. Botched exit from Afghanistan. Inflation. Communist Chinese Covid. Supply chain. Hunter’s laptop. Hunter’s $500,000 paintings. Fewer workers. Unfilled jobs. Voter ID. Russia’s ready to invade Ukraine. China harasses Taiwan. Super Bowl Tampa Bay. World Series Atlanta Braves. Parents slammed over CRT. The $5 Trillion Build Back Better bill. More Covid deaths under Biden. President Biden’s low approval ratings. VP Kamala Harris’s are even lower. Let’s Go Brandon.

Next, from MSNBC and CNN:  January 6th Insurrection ordered by President Trump. The Big Lie. January 6th caused 5 deaths. Capitol policeman killed with a fire extinguisher. Voter suppression. NY Governor Cuomo is a hero. Trump demands recounts in Georgia and Arizona. BLM and Antifa harassed by police. Russia, Russia, Russia. Senators feared for their lives on January 6th. Mounted Border Agents horsewhip immigrants. $3.5 Trillion BBB will cost zero. Trump failed to call off his armed Insurrectionists. Steve Bannon and Trump try to destroy democracy. Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress over January 6. Biden’s approval ratings are lower. Gasoline prices drop 2 cents. Kyle Rittenhouse guilty of racist murders. Jussie Smollett unjustly accused.

Of course, you can add dozens of other stories, or subtract from the ones I recalled. It’s a bad sign for the future when your view of the country and the world depends so much on which channel you watch or what newspaper you read. And if all your News comes from social media, Lord help us.

Omicron has invaded almost every country.  Except one. You’ll never guess the one significant country in the whole world where the Omicron variant of the Communist Chinese Covid virus has not reached.  China.

Historic quotes by Will Rogers:

“The neckties were all red and the socks were all too small. There is practically nothing I can do but just sit and wait for another holiday.” DT# 441, Dec. 25, 1927

“Well, Christmas has passed. I was just thinking if there was some way to make the Christmas spirit continue during the other days of the year, why we would be the most happy and wonderful Nation on Earth. Gosh, if all of us that was able would just feed and do things for folks without waiting till Christmas. I think we mean well, but we just sorter got in our heads that about one day a year pays our obligations off, then we swell up and hide our Conscience till the next gift day comes along.” WA #628, Jan. 6, 1935

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