Wednesday, March 05, 2025

I'll see your incoherence and raise you utter derangement

I don't recall the exact quote from Sean Davis of The Federalist, so I'll paraphrase: "President Trump's greatest asset continues to be the idiocy of his most fervent detractors."


Never was that more apparent than during (and after) Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. 


The thing is, there was plenty to critique about Trump's rhetoric, specifically his dubious comments about the economy. But the increasingly deranged and out-of-touch Democrats (as well as their media lapdogs) continue to show their stunning disdain for regular Americans. 


First off, their intention to hold up protest signs when Trump said something they felt was objectionable. 





Now, the staffers for these Dem members of Congress are likely of the Millennial and Gen Z generations, right? So why didn't said staffers alert their bosses that these are some of the most humiliating, meme-able optics on the internet? Well, maybe these Dems were given a heads up but because they're so blinded by their anti-Trump rage they simply didn't care. That stunt was such an exploding cigar in the face that even an MSNBC panel called it out. 




How clouded is the progs' vision due to anti-Trump hysteria? They couldn't even stand and applaud for a young man being surprised with an announcement of his acceptance into West Point......




......or honoring a 13-year old kid battling cancer. 




Not to be outdone, MSNBC gal Nicole Wallace with a rather deranged take on DJ's career aspirations. 


 



I don't know that it was Trump's intention to show how firmly entrenched in a bubble these Democrats seem to be. If indeed that wasn't his motivation, I'm not sure an actual concerted effort could have achieved a better outcome. 


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Tuesday, March 04, 2025

Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXVII

 - One of the issues which catapulted Donald Trump to being reelected President this past November was the economy. Given the Biden administration was busy gaslighting the public on how the economy was actually sound despite prices of everyday goods spiraling out of control, voters began to realize that for all of Trump's flaws when he was POTUS, trips to the grocery store weren't a stomach churning endeavor. 


Unfortunately, Trump's obsession with tariffs is undermining the trust voters placed in him. 


As JP Morgan's David Kelly observes“The trouble with tariffs, to be succinct, is that they raise prices, slow economic growth, cut profits, increase unemployment, worsen inequality, diminish productivity and increase global tensions. Other than that, they’re fine.”


I'm the furthest thing from an expert on any political advantage tariffs may garner, but it doesn't take a King Banaian to ascertain that there's no upside for the American consumer. 



- One undeniable advantage President Trump has over his political opposites? The Dems continue to show how woefully out of step they are with regular Americans. 


At the state level here in Minnesota as well as both chambers of U.S. Congress, every single solitary Democrat voted against legislation barring biological males from participating in female sports. This in spite of the fact that recent polling shows 79% of Americans supported Trump's executive order banning trans women from women's sports (including a majority of Democrat voters). 


It never ceases to amaze how progs sell their political souls on these niche issues. 



- After a shockingly great season that had him in legit MVP discussion late, Vikings QB Sam Darnold will likely be moving on to another team this season. I was holding out hope that the Vikes would place the franchise tag on Darnold and then trade him to the highest bidder. However, that meant they would have to find another team willing to not only pay him market value (likely $40-$50 million AAV) but also surrender a draft pick or two. My guess is the Vikings' brass had back channel discussions with quarterback needy teams at the NFL Combine last week but found no takers. 


NFL insider Adam Schefter pretty much confirmed that Tuesday afternoon as the tag deadline approached. 





There are still national reports circulating that the Vikings would like to retain Darnold on a short term deal, like 2-3 years maximum. As a Vikings fan, I am ready to usher in the McCarthy era, so I will be extremely disappointed if they bring back Darnold. However, that frustration will be tempered by the fact I have the utmost confidence in the decision making of head coach Kevin O'Connell. Given he coached up several QBs in his three seasons at the helm, I will trust that he can elevate Darnold to the next level, which would be him not pissing down his leg in, say, a game that determines the top overall seed in the NFC or in an actual postseason contest. 


By this time next week we'll know how this has all shaken out!


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Sunday, March 02, 2025

The NARN Closer's playlist - 3/2/2025



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Look ahead as we pass, try and focus on it..........

It's March! 


So much to get to today on this week's edition of my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour extravaganza begins at 1:00 PM Central Time. 


Right at 1:00, Senior Legal Fellow at The Heritage Foundation Sarah Parhsall Perry will join the broadcast to discuss a federal court ruling that schools can hide kids' gender identity from parents. Ms. Perry has also been on the frontlines regarding the issue of biological men being allowed to participate in women's sports. 


In the non-guest segments I will react to some of the support (yes, support) that the accused murderer of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson is receiving, where some loons are outright justifying the act. 


In Minnesota news, Gov. Tim Walz will not run for U.S. Senate in 2026. Also, the Northstar commuter rail which runs from the northwest suburbs to downtown Minneapolis may be going away. 



So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics we plan on addressing.

 
You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 or, if you're near downtown Minneapolis/West Metro area, 107.5 FM on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link, or check us out via iheart radio as well as Amazon Alexa (just say "Alexa, play The Patriot Minneapolis")If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #NARNShow or "Like" our Facebook page, where we also conduct a "Live Stream" of the broadcast.

Until then.....


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Friday, February 28, 2025

Mercy killing?

Even at the height of its ridership (pretty much throughout the 2010s), the Northstar commuter rail was a financial boondoggle. But when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred in 2020 it was the first domino to fall in what resulted in the train being an irreversible money pit. 


The powers that be who oversee public transportation in this state can no longer bury their collective heads in the sand


The long-struggling Northstar Commuter Rail line between Minneapolis and Big Lake may be shut down and replaced with bus service, according to a joint announcement Monday from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the Metropolitan Council.

“As the world and consumer demand changes, we must be willing to be flexible and innovative to offer better service while saving dollars,” the two bodies said in a statement.

A firm timeline for a possible closure has not been determined.

The news comes after a MnDOT report released Monday found that transitioning to bus service between Minneapolis and St. Cloud would cost millions less than the status quo. It costs about $12 million annually to operate Northstar, a budget that would shrink to $2 million if buses were used.


When I worked in downtown Minneapolis from 2012 thru 2014, I rode the Northstar rail on a daily basis. Even though it was quite busy during commuting hours it, the per rider subsidy was still sky high. I would often ask local politicians why we just didn't cut our losses and shut the thing down completely. I was told that turning it off would be even more of a financial calamity than continuing with the subsidies. The fact shuttering the Northstar is even being considered now gives us the clearest indication of it being in dire straits.  


Another issue the Northstar faced was the unrealistic expectations (or perhaps delusions of grandeur) of planners and elected officials. Many of those folks expressed a belief that young people would occupy luxury apartments built near the train's multiple platforms, thus making it easy to hop aboard the train to downtown Minneapolis and indulge in a night on the town. Problem was there was no service to downtown after about 7 PM and the only service out of downtown in the evening was 30 minutes after the final pitch of a Minnesota Twins baseball game. So unless you wanted to party in downtown Mpls on the night of a Twins game (and plan do be done carousing by about 10:30 PM), you were outta luck. 


In order for a commuter rail to be even remotely successful, major employers would have to be located near the rail lines. Given the largest Twin Cities companies' headquarters are predominately located in suburban areas meant there wasn't nearly the demand for such a mode of transportation (short of it being force fed to us like the various light rail lines). 


In the end, the pandemic didn't kill the Northstar line as much as it just put out its misery. 


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Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXVI

 - With Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announcing her intention to run for U.S. Senate next year, there was significant intrigue over whether her boss would also enter the fray. 


Turns out, he will not


Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz won’t seek Minnesota’s open U.S. Senate seat next year and is instead considering a run for a third term as governor, the Democrat’s spokesman announced Wednesday.

“He loves his job as governor,” Walz’s spokesman Teddy Tschann said in a written statement.

The former vice presidential candidate announced his decision nearly two weeks after U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, a Democrat, announced she would not seek reelection in 2026. Walz was among a flurry of those from both major political parties who then began testing the waters for the state’s first open Senate race since 2006.


Within literally hours after Smith made her announcement, those close to Walz indicated he was seriously considering his candidacy for that Senate seat. But a mere 13 minutes later, Flanagan announced her intention to run, thus stealing her boss's thunder and giving further validation to a report the two are on the outs. 


Walz not vying for U.S. Senate keeps the rift with Flanagan from playing out in public. But if he runs for a third gubernatorial term, he's now going to have to answer for referring to the opposite political party as "fascists and nazis." 



- I don't believe I have felt more "seen" in my entire life: 





The very last bit about being jealous of the neighbors re-doing their roof? Yep, it played a small part in us getting our roof replaced 2-1/2 years ago. 



- As the (alleged) murderer of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson stands trial, he has a contingent of "fans" showing up outside the courthouse. 





Notice those loons aren't proclaiming Luigi Mangione as innocent. No, they're warped worldview has them believing that his actions were justifiable. 


Absolute ghouls, all of 'em.


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Sunday, February 23, 2025

The NARN Closer's playlist - 2/23/2025



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Would someone please let me know how we have spun out of control?

So much to talk about from this news intensive week that I'm tempted to broadcast a third hour on the Northern Alliance Radio Network Facebook page. Alas, the normal 2 hours of my radio show The Closer will have to suffice. I'll get started right at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

I'll discuss Minnesota stuff the first hour, specifically the rumor mill surrounding the open U.S. Senate seat now that Sen. Tina Smith is not seeking reelection. Also, the Star Tribune seems awfully concerned about Minnesota-based Federal government employees losing their jobs but never show the same concern over private sector layoffs. 

In the second hour, I'll weigh in on President Donald Trump's moral incoherence on Ukraine. Also, is Israel prepared to turn Gaza into a parking lot? 


So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics we plan on addressing.
 
You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 or, if you're near downtown Minneapolis/West Metro area, 107.5 FM on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link, or check us out via iheart radio as well as Amazon Alexa (just say "Alexa, play The Patriot Minneapolis")If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #NARNShow or "Like" our Facebook page, where we also conduct a "Live Stream" of the broadcast.

Until then.....


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Thursday, February 20, 2025

Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXV

 - Of the many criticisms I've had of President Donald Trump over his time in and out of the White House, I never joined the collective who've suggested he's a puppet of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. But if indeed Trump does not have Putin's mythical hand up his back, how would his justification for ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict be any different were he a Putin stooge?


When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided not to join in on the negotiations in Saudi Arabia this week, Trump's response was shockingly ignorant. 


“Today I heard, ‘Oh, well, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years. You should have ended it—three years. You should have never been there. You should have never started it. You should have made a deal.”


Hot Air's Ed Morrissey, as intellectually honest a conservative writer out there, was incredulous over such bilge.


Been where? In their own country? And what deal did Putin offer them, except subjugation to Moscow?

Now, we can have a long debate over whether Ukraine has some political fault in its dealings with its ethnic-Russian population, and whether pursuing closer economic and military ties to Europe was a bad idea. However, none of those issues negates the fact that Russia conducted a full-on, unprovoked military invasion with the intent to conquer all of Ukraine three years ago, and have conducted themselves like a barbarian horde during the entire "special operation."


Look, I get it. It was a pretty safe assumption that Ukraine was never going to prevail in this war, so there was never going to be a clean break. And I understand that had Trump told the truth about Putin's decision to engage in this hostile takeover, that would further complicate a porous Russia-America relationship (yes, despite what Tucker Carlson claims, Russia is not a peaceful country). But this is yet another disturbing Trump tendency in that he may have a solid idea (i.e. ending the destructive Russia-Ukraine conflict) but goes about executing it in an incoherent and destructive fashion. My concern is the fallout will be felt for years to come. 



- This from the Strib's X account earlier this week. 





This was reminiscent of the government shutdown which occurred in the state of Minnesota back in 2011. With so many state workers potentially being laid off (albeit temporarily), the local media conducted interviews with some of those affected, and of course took aim at the all-GOP Legislature. The media also spoke with owners of eating establishments in downtown St Paul who were likely to feel the pinch of government employees not being around. But when prominent private sector businesses have layoffs, those same issues are prevalent but not nearly as amplified by media outlets. Why? 



- When then Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced last year he was stepping down as caucus leader, that set off strong signals that he would not be seeking reelection for his Senate seat in 2026.


On Thursday it became official


“Seven times, my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate,” McConnell said in prepared remarks on the Senate floor. “Every day in between I’ve been humbled by the trust they’ve placed in me to do their business here. Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor an eighth time. My current term in the Senate will be my last.”

The Kentucky Republican has experienced several medical episodes in recent years, most recently including two falls inside the Senate chamber earlier this month that have left him using a wheelchair to get around the Capitol. He has also frozen at least twice during press events, sparking concerns about his deteriorating health.


McConnell has had polio since he was a youngster, a disease which has hampered the upper portion of his left leg. As one stricken with polio becomes older, frailty sets in and falling becomes an issue. The multiple falls McConnell has endured over the past few years have taken a significant toll. But while his physical health has worsened, McConnell still appears to have solid mental faculties. Laugh if you want, but I challenge you watch his appearance at Erick Erickson's The Gathering event last summer. There aren't a lotta 80-somethings who can share such wisdom and insights. 


I'm certain there are a significant number of Trumpkins who reacted to this news with "gOoD rIdDaNcE, cOcAiNe MiTcH" or "bYe, TuRtLe." But if these same people had any ounce of intellectual consistency, they would at least concede that were it not for McConnell denying to replace Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia with then President Barack Obama's nominee Merrick Garland in early 2016, Trump may not have even been elected that November. McConnell was also key in keeping together a unified Senate majority in 2017 when perhaps Trump's signature piece of legislation, the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, was able to get passed. Trump himself even lauded McConnell's efforts


Godspeed, Senator. 


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