D.O.G.E., Big Balls and Big Bucks, too - 2/8/2025

Elon Musk's DOGE group hired a 19 year old high achiever who had the audacity as a teenager to create the screen name "Big Balls". They may be big, but according to the 70's song, AC/DC has the biggest balls of them all. Seriously, if the folks panicking about DOGE are complaining about this to get us to look away from the absolutely unacceptable, insane, corrupt spending by USAID, it's not going to work.

DOGE may have Big Balls, but AC/DC has the biggest balls of them all.

 

A couple of interesting things I read about USAID in the last few days. I'm referring to stuff other than the insane spending itself.

One interesting characteristic of the employees there is that they perceived themselves to be separate and independent of both the Executive and Legislative Branches of the U.S. Government. They felt their work was outside the scope of presidential oversight. I immediately thought of Alexander Vindman when he said in effect that President Trump, this happening in his first term of course, 'didn't understand (paraphrasing) how U.S. foreign policy works,' and in essence Vindman felt it was his duty to protect U.S. foreign policy from the clumsy, meddling hands of the elected President. You know, because how could a new guy like Trump know the ropes. He was being 'helpful'. Or General MIlley, keeping troops in Syria after Trump ordered them out. I mean, the CIC couldn't know what he was ordering, right? Well, these fuckers at USAID also felt autonomous and better equipped to manage the flow of U.S. taxpayer money than any of them silly meddlers in the Trump Administration could possibly understand.

Something else interesting about the USAID crowd. How did this come to be under scrutiny in the first place? When Trump took office, one of the first things he did was put a moratorium on foreign expenditures pending review. The folks at USAID, rather then make a case that some of their expenditures were critical and couldn't be delayed 90 days, worked around the President's edict. DOGE saw money flowing out, looked into it, and this whole corrupt can of worms came to light.

Before I move on to closing thoughts, one recurring response to the shutdown of USAID by DOGE is "people will die". To any asshole spewing that line, the response should be short and to the point. "There is massive corruption in USAID cashflow, and we are NOT going to reopen the spigot until it is eradicated forever." You know why? Because nobody has died yet and nobody is going to die because USAID funding takes a short hiatus.

Go get 'em, DOGE!

I am looking forward to DOGE digging in at the Department of Education. I predict they will find massive money is spent feathering Teacher's Union nests, and on items supporting an extreme left social agenda. There will be more DEI/CRT/LGBTQ+ stuff than reading, writing, and arithmetic. Those last three, I think we used to call them "the three R's," have taken a back seat in recent years to social issues. U.S. academic standing in the world has declined in the 50 or so years since we've had a DOE. We went from first to not even close to first. It's time to get DOE back on their core mission, the 3 R's, or get rid of them altogether. With the shit I expect DOGE to find, the latter will get more support from the public than the former.

DOD, which has failed 7 financial audits in a row, is on the chopping block, too.

Closing thoughts. Why is Trump taking the wrecking ball to D.C? I mean, he has come back in like a bull in a china shop. Simple. Last time around he tried to work with them and they tried to destroy him. For nearly 10 years they've tried. They tried during his 2015/2016 candidacy, his Presidency, his past-Presidency, his second candidacy in 2023/2024 which included attempted assassinations. Even now, there is a Democrat who's filed Articles of Impeachment. The Deep State, the administrative state, and the establishment need to be destroyed. I am damned glad to see Trump hard at work, taking his wrecking balls to it. What kind of wrecking balls? Really big balls.

Speaking of hard at work, no President in our lifetimes worked harder than this guy does. It's nuts. He never stops. Don't stop, Mr. President. You are doing exactly what we voted for.

Dumbass of the Week! - 2/7/2025

As fast as the news cycle is blowing by, it may be a mistake naming the Dumbasss of the on a Friday morning.

The U.S. Taxpayer is Third Runner Up

Third Runner Up, for the Dumbass of the week on Feb 7th, is The U.S. Taxpayer. While we've been watching deficits soar and the debt skyrocket, we've been fleeced for all kinds of shit. I have no way to verify, but it seems pretty clear that we pay under the table, so to speak, via NGOs (Non Government Organizations), to facilitate illegal immigrants entry into, relocations within, and costs for living far, far, far beyond what the government pays for above the table. We also, via third party cutouts, appear to have paid for BLM riots. And lets not forget trans comics in Peru and all the other stuff. If you don't feel stupid and cheated and robbed and taken advantage of, you should. I do.

Rep. Al "Impeachment Al" Green, still using the same rejected playbook.

Second Runner Up. Congressman Al Green. For the committing "Dastardly Deeds", he filed Articles of Impeachment against President Trump. The old playbook ain't gonna work, Al. Sorry.

Democrat reaction to DOGE: a resounding, "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

First Runner Up, Conressional Democrat Leaders. Elizabeth Warren, Corey Booker, Maxine Waters, it's a long list. They're not upset about all of this corruption and wasteful spending of taxpayer money, they're upset that their grift and under the table handouts to far left lunatic fringe activists is becoming public knowledge.

Ta-daaaa! So, here we are, at the moment you've all been waiting for. The Dumbass of the Week for the week ending 2/7, and she really really really deserves it, is fully Trump Deranged and insane Michigan Rep. Laurie Pohutsky. Ms. Puhutsky is going to teach Trump, Republicans, and the world a lesson by having her tubes tied so as not to risk having to raise a child in the era of Trump. Yesiree. That'll teach us! When your virtue signalling rises to the level of self-sterilization, and the virtue you're advertising is Trump Derangement Syndrome, there has always been a need for recognition. Now there is, Good Ol' Matty P's Dumbass of the Week Award. Congratulations, dumbass!

Dumbass of the Week, Laurie Pohutsky.

 

Gaza, USAID, and the FBI - 2/5/2025

Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump

I think the biggest news yesterday is Trump, at his press conference with Israeel PM Netanyahu, said the U.S. will own Gaza, that we will rebuild it. He mentioned it like a smaller Dubai, or something to that effect. This is a bold move. I don't oppose it (yet), nor do I support it (yet). I have more questions than answers. There are people in that region who will not accept a peaceful coexistence with Israel, no matter how good it might be for the Palestinians. My immediate, guttural reaction can be summed up with this simple phrase: "Lebanon 1983". We can't send troops there to be targets, sitting ducks for people who hate Israel and the U.S.A. I need more information before I can support or not support this idea, whatever it is.

Protesters at USAID HQ yesterday

I don't know about you, but all the people mad at Trump and Elon have me convinced the thing needs a full and in depth review. Some of the reported expenditures sound like a woke dream list. I realize it's a drop in the bucket as far as our budget goes, but as an example, transgender comic books for Peru doesn't advance U.S. interests. It advances a woke agenda. DEI initiatives in Somalia doesn't advance U.S. interests, it is advancing a woke agenda. On and on, the examples are pure Insanity. And I suspect the stuff we're not seeing yet, the more deeply hidden, is worse. I am convinced that powerful people in our country are profiting mightily off of funds from this fire hose. I hope Elon and his amazing hackers, programmers, and analysts will trace every dollar, find where it's vanishing, lining people's pockets, or being used for insanity like drag shows in other countries.

Reports of panic in the FBI

Let me put this succinctly: good. Reports that 5-6,000 FBI Agents and or personnel were after the J-6 people is insanity. Maybe 4 or 5,000 of them could have been working to secure our border, track down fentanyl rings, and solving crimes. A leaner, more mission focused FBI suits me fine. See, I don't believe Jan 6th was an insurrection. It was a protest turned to riot. I am not justifying it, nor am I saying nobody did anything wrong. What I am saying is that it was made to be something it wasn't, and people who aren't insurrectionists lives have been ruined to teach the rest of us a lesson: "ear the establishment, "step out of line, the man comes, to take you away."

 

USAID, Sunlight is the best Disinfectant - 2/4/2025

I gotta be honest, three days ago I had never heard of USAID. Today's post will be short, just my nearly random thoughts about it.

USAID vaults into the spotlight just two weeks into Trump's second term.

1) The Democrats going nuts over this, Jamie Raskin and Ilhan Omar, for example to name two of them, are instructive for me. Chances are good that if they're not happy, I'm happy.

They're freaking out because they know Musk is better at finding than they were at hiding.

2) The freaking out over Elon Musk and his band of incredible programmers having access to their systems is also instructive. They never expected anyone to look behind their curtain, especially not people like the people Musk has brought in who are better at finding stuff than the USAID folks were at hiding it.

3) They're freaking out because President Trump is liable to shut USAID down by Executive Order. I read yesterday that President Kennedy started USAID with... you guessed it, an Executive Order. 'Live by the sword, die by the sword,' as they say.

4) If USAID is intended to be the clearinghouse for foreign aid, it belongs under the Department of State. Trump is right to assign it to Secretary of State Rubio (who is off and running, doing a great job so far).

Secretary of State Marco Rubio. If USAID is what they say it is, Department of State is where it belongs.

5) Rubio himself said yesterday that much of what USAID spends is vital, so I don't see it going away completely.

6) Some of the early disclosures of things USAID funded overseas are outrageous. Clearly, leftist political activists have been pushing not a pro-America foreign policy, but a pro-LGBTQ+ agenda, and doing so deep in the shadows. The cliché, 'sunlight is the best disinfectant' comes to mind. Transgender comics or cartoons for kids? YGBSM!

7) Some of the expenditures seem to be the kind allocated by congress on page 645 of a 1500 page spending bill, stuff they're ashamed of, but put in to support unpopular expenses. Now that those things are being moved into the sunlight, some of us are outraged.

8) I have read reports, maybe speculative, that USAID is where the CIA's dark money for the naughty shit they do flows though. Maybe so.

9) I also read that Ukraine aid flows from USAID. I found it interesting that yesterday Zelensky said significantly less than what we allocated actually got to them. As soon as he knew the books were open, he was the first to say, "Wasn't me!" Sure it wasn't.

10) I strongly suspect, strongly is NOT a strong enough word, that many of our politicians are lining their pockets with donations and kickbacks from recipients of USAID money and or from contractors whose services USAID recipients use to do those things being funded.

11) I also suspect that a significant amount of foreign aid goes to corrupt foreign leaders, and that we've been just fine with that, as long as lining their pockets keeps them in line with our agenda.

12) The NGOs who help migrants beat our system are funded by USAID. Via USAID we, the U.S. taxpayers, mostly unwittingly and nearly universally against our will, aid and abet illegal immigrants in beating the system.

As I said in opening, I just learned about this organization. From what I can see, all the right people are complaining, so I hope Trump, Musk, and Vivek keep right on peeling back this onion and exposing what hides inside to the disinfecting sunlight.

In Defense of Rebecca Lobach - 2/3/2025

Her name was Rebecca Lobach. She was 28 years old, and a Captain in the U.S. Army.

Army Captain Rebecca Lobach

If you're calling her "a DEI hire", you're an asshole. You don't know shit about her, do you? Rebecca graduated the University of North Carolina in the top 20% of all ROTC Cadets nationwide.

Rebecca Lobach in happier times.

Something else I've heard a lot of, is that "She only had 500 hours!" How exactly do you expect any military pilot to amass thousands of hours? Lemme give you a little inside info. They ALL had 500 hours at some point. All of them. There isn't some remote airport in Texas or New Mexico where military pilots fly until they get some magical number of hours and then move on to operational squadrons. There are Air Force, Navy, Army, and Marine Corps pilots with less than 500 hours all around the globe RIGHT NOW operating military aircraft, both in training and in operations. I flew with many myself. They've grown up to be retired airline pilots now, most of them, anyways.

"There she is with Biden! See! I told ya!" Proves what, asshole?

I have to imagine for Capt. Lobach it was an honor to represent the U.S. Army at presidential events. I don't know shit about Ft. Belvoir, but it's right there by D.C. and putting on a dress uniform and acting as a VIP escort is probably part of the package, a part any soldier would be proud of. It doesn't make her a partisan or loyalist to any party or President. It doesn't mean she wasn't, either. Hundreds, thousands actually, have been called to such duties as these. Is it possible woman and minorities are asked to do so on a more frequent basis for appearances sake? Probably so. Is that something beneficial to their careers? If they carry themself notably and professionally, I would think so. But to disparage a Captain in the U.S. Army because President Biden is in the picture is asinine. Don't be an ass. You can't help it, can you? Sad little person that you are.

Saying she did this intentionally without proof or evidence is dark-hearted and evil.

There are people saying "She had to have done this on purpose." No. Just no. Is it possible? I guess it can't be ruled out, but without any evidence of that at all, the allegation is wildly inappropriate and absurd.

I know it isn't much, but I felt compelled this morning to stick up for Rebecca Lobach. Until I hear different, I will assume she served honorably and faithfully. You may not be willing to give a soldier the benefit of the doubt, but I am.

Fair skies and following winds, Rebecca. Godspeed.

Dumbass of the Week, Mr. President, Take a Bow - 1-31-2025

President Trump is the Dumbass of the Week award for the week ending 1/31/2025. I had other plans, but Trump wins for having a press conference yesterday and discussing DEI in the wake of the inflight collision of an American Eagle CRJ-700 and a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter in Washington D.C. Wednesday night.

The Dumbass of the Week is Trump.

We do not know that there is any question about anybody involved's hiring, training, or proficiency.

He oughtn't be politicizing the accident at all, especially at a time when it's likely casualty notifications aren't even done yet.

Let the NTSB and FAA talk about what happened and why. How about, "It's a tragedy and we offer our prayers and support however we can to the victims. We appreciate the great work of the first responders. The NTSB will conduct a full investigation to determine the cause of the accident."

His remarks, in the wake of a tragedy, insult and undermine every competent woman and minority aviation professional, even if unintentionally. This is a huge unforced error, unfortunately something President Trump is prone to doing on a too regular basis.

Jumping on the DEI Grenade... Again - 1/30/2025

I know I shouldn't, but I'm going to say it. Some of you won't like some of what I have to say today. Others will, but won't like other stuff I'm going to say. But it has to be said. I'm going to try to speak in broad terms. Today's taboo topic: DEI hiring in aviation.

To begin with, I take endless pride in my affiliation with and having worked in aviation with minorities and women. I have had minority employees and women work for me, with me, and I have worked for them.

At the moment I am thinking about the Black pilots who earned my respect, admiration, and fondness:  my friendship. Of the things I take most pride in is the friendships and mutual respect. I'll leave last names out, but those of you who knew me on the job will know who I mean when I mention Leon, Tony, and Norm, and Edward. These are guys whose justification on the job I'd argue with anyone who said different. Professional in appearance, behavior, and performance. I put these guys at the top of my list. There was one very special guy, Larry. I have never met a finer example of a human being in my life. As a pilot, as a person, as a manager (he was my manager in the mid-90's), and as a friend, talking bad about him is going to get my dander up.

I could make the same kind of a list of women, too. For the sake of brevity, I will simply say that throughout my career, I have worked with, for, and had amazing female co-workers. Many of them were very successful working with me, and to be humble, I recognize how much their efforts and talents contributed to my own success.

Competence is gender neutral and colorblind. You either are or you aren't. When you hear that the controller was a woman or a minority, or that the helo pilot or CRJ pilot were a woman or a minority, and immediately holler, "DEI hire," you're badmouthing many thousands or aviation professionals without an inkling of knowledge of who it was. It's unfair and it's wrong. It's a mistake. Trump walked this walk today. It's disappointing and he ought to walk it back. Some will never let him live it down, but that's irrelevant. Walking it back is the right thing to do. Politicizing it is wrong.

Now, listen up. This is where it gets harder. There is a very valid concern out there that DEI hiring in safety sensitive jobs like pilot (civilian and military) and air traffic controller has diminished safety margins. Anytime hiring criteria, training and qualification standards, and or job performance requirements are lowered or ignored in the interest of improving percentages of women and minorities in these kinds of jobs (I presume to mean aircraft maintenance, too), there is a very real downstream risk of increasing the odds of an accident or incident. I have had, personally, pilots who I trust and who I do not believe to be racist, when they learn my background in compliance and Safety Management Systems, tell me that hiring, training, qualification, and standards at the airlines where they were have been compromised in the interest of improvement workforce representation and diversity. They told me NOT because they had a gender or color problem, but because they saw a potential downstream safety of flight issue. I do NOT support ethnicity, race, or gender based hiring if standards in a safety sensitive job have to be lowered to meet quotas. If there are more than ample fully qualified, highly competitive candidates, then and only then do I support letting race or gender influence the hiring decision to achieve a workforce that better represents the population.

Acknowledging the foregoing, it is not possible to presume when there has been an accident like last night, should we find the pilots or controller to be Black, Hispanic, female, etc., that DEI hiring was the cause. Neither can you rule it out, but blaming DEI without knowing those aviator and controller records for training, qualification, and job performance just because you have been told DEI hiring has impacted those workgroups is an egregious error of presumption.

Even when standards have been lowered, that does not rightfully make every woman and minority a suspect for being a substandard pilot or controller, you dumbass. You do realize that even with lower standards, it is still possible that the woman or minority in question finished at the top of their peer group in training? If we lower the passing score (making this up) from 90 to 85, and the person involved scored a 96, how in the f*ck are you blaming the lowered minimum score? If, on the other hand, the person scored an 83, two points below the lower minimum standard, and 7 points below the old standard, but they were pushed along anyway, justification for lowering the standard and hiring below the standard should be scrutinized. Clearly.

If we find out one or some of these folks were only hired by compromising standards, were only successful in training because someone let a marginal trainee slip through, or that their performance was known to be substandard and they weren't dealt with because the company's diversity goals would be adversely affected, then you can point a finger at DEI. Lacking that, you're pointing fingers unfairly at a lot of people, like the previously mentioned, some whom I call my dearest and most respected former work mates and friends.

Even if we find out one or some of these folks got by with lesser performance, which I am not assuming, but hypothetically, that is still not conclusive evidence DEI hiring was to blame. It could be that what happened had nothing whatsoever to do with their hiring, training, or on the job performance, lowered standards and all. What if the beneficiary of those lower standards did everything right, to a "t"? What if, and I am NOT speculating or presuming same, there was intent or malice somewhere else? If you don't know what happened, or who was involved, that fact that you heard there were "DEI problems" there doesn't make every problem a DEI problem. Capisce?