A little reflection; What were they thinking?

Admittedly, it has taken some time for me to mentally commit to what I thought would be a good entry.  Eventually, I, came to the conclusion, that with all of the things running through my mind, one subject wouldn’t do.  So, I am going to write about several things that have passed through my mind.
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First and foremost, my wife and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary earlier last week, May 22nd.  We received many well wishes from people that span those 50 years, and we really appreciate those wishes.  For people to take time from their busy day to wish us well and extend congratulations does not go unnoticed by the two of us.  Thank you all!

Secondly, this being Memorial Day, a day that is reserved for remembering those military souls who did not come home from deployment, I must mention Rusty Crider, my next-door neighbor, my partner in crime, who did not come home from Vietnam.  In May of 1968 we received word of the death of Russell Duane Crider of the United States Marines, killed in action in the Khe Sahn Triangle in Vietnam. Rusty paid it forward with his life doing what he believed to be the right thing to do.

I have thought of you many times old friend. Words cannot express my thoughts regarding your sacrifice and service. I just wish you were here so we could laugh together again.
 
And now…what were they thinking?
 
Secretary of Homeland Defense, Kristi Noem, has made several television commercials indicating how many undocumented citizens have been arrested, highlighting those who are hardened criminals.  As the commercial continues, Noem says to the viewers, if you are an illegal immigrant, we will find you and deport you.  You will be fined about 1000 dollars a day while you are detained.  But if you leave now, and register with our website, you may be able to return.
 
I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and I need help understanding how an illegal immigrant, who has come to this country for whatever reason…knowing they cannot find any work except that, that is paid “under the table” and is a low wage…how in the hell will the illegal immigrant who is detained be able to pay the fine?  Most all cannot afford that fine…so does that make any sense?  Better yet, to whom does the illegal immigrant pay the fine, and where will that money be placed in the national budget?
  
What the hell were those who implemented this policy thinking?

On to Noem’s boss, the President.

In President Trump’s campaign, he said he would end the war in Ukraine on Day 1 of his administration.  Yet the war rages on.  Several weeks ago, in a highly publicized White House meeting with President Zelenskyy of the Ukraine, both our President and Vice President left their role as diplomats and affronted Zelenskyy about the war in his home country.  Ukraine has relied on American help to defend itself from the invader Putin and his Russian military.  President Trump told Zelenskyy, he didn’t hold any cards, and that he (Trump) held the cards to bring peace to the region.
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Today, Trump has issued the statement he is not happy with Putin for his continued war with Ukraine, even though a prisoner exchange was executed recently.  Putin has continued to pound Ukraine.  What is Trump going to do about it?

So, who holds the cards?

And just one more interesting tidbit regarding our President.  He delivered the Commencement Address at West Point.  One would think the address would be centered around Duty, Honor, Country, a topic General Doug MacArthur spoke of as he gave his farewell address to Congress in the 1950s.  But noooooo…….

The address given by Trump included yachts, trophy wives (stay away from them; c’mon man, you’ve had three trophy wives), how he rebuilt the military in his first administration, and, a claim that recruitment was down during the Biden administration, yet, most all who graduated from the Point entered the academy during Biden’s administration.

What a sad state of affairs.  I’ll just leave you with this…what the hell was he thinking?