2025 in a Fortune Cookie
The United States rocks under the Administration of Imbalance and Uncertainty, like boxer TKO but still wobbling on his feet. As the sunset of 2025 approaches, the images in today’s blog capture some of the infamous events of this year. This timeless piece from The Beatles will accompany your journey.
CNN reports Secretary of U.S. Department of War ordered a “double-tap” strike to kill two survivors clinging to boat wreckage after a U.S. strike on a suspected drug vessel. Showing no quarter is a war crime. Disobeying a criminal order takes an act of courage. Our children and grandchildren serving in the U.S. Military in armed conflicts will pray that the enemy treats our captured wounded with decency and mercy. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” Matthew 5:7.
War crimes separate the short-lived trigger high from the sobering reality of consequences. – JPB
There is a reason it's called "hunting" and not "killing."
-An Arizona Deer Hunter
While changing a title to Department of War seems like a chest-beating moment of pride, the concern is that we sleepwalk the United States into justifying killing as the mission, when peace is our goal. Labeling an entire group as evil greases the machinery to justify killing everyone as the mission, civilian and soldier alike.
In the moment of the Mai Lai Massacre 16 March 1968, certainly for a moment the squeezing of the M16 triggers felt like settling the score with an insurgency who disappeared by day into rice paddies and pho restaurants. Once the acrid smell of self-righteous cordite wafts away, it is replaced by the iron smell of innocent blood running into the soil, a stench that sets teeth on edge as it cries out, “War criminal!”
The author commends leaders like Commander Holsey who retired rather than continue to shed innocent blood. Commander Holsey by his laying down his arms sent the message that “Killing, for killing’s sake, was never the mission.” The question remains, of all the chaplains in the U.S. Armed forces, why are their prophetic voices silent on the killing of unarmed survivors clinging to wreckage? It is one thing to serve Communion for those about enter into battle to deliver us from forces of evil. It is another to serve as holy shamans for demagogues hell-bent on shedding innocent blood to paint their war drums.
In the moment of the Mai Lai Massacre 16 March 1968, certainly for a moment the squeezing of the M16 triggers felt like settling the score with an insurgency who disappeared by day into rice paddies and pho restaurants. Once the acrid smell of self-righteous cordite wafts away, it is replaced by the iron smell of innocent blood running into the soil, a stench that sets teeth on edge as it cries out, “War criminal!”
A double entendre invoking the failed Cuban “Bay of Pigs” mission to topple Castro and the “Quiet, Piggy!” remark of the President to a female reporter. The “Bay of Piggies” mission follows the same trajectory as the ill-fated “Bay of Pigs.”
The question remains, of all the chaplains in the U.S. Armed forces, why are their prophetic voices silent on the killing of unarmed boat survivors clinging to wreckage? It is one thing to serve Communion for those about enter into battle to deliver us from forces of evil. It is another to serve as holy shamans for demagogues hell-bent on shedding innocent blood to paint their war drums.
The President calls the “Department of Snore” together to launch “Operation Sandman.” Multiple press sources report presidential fits of slumber.
Be a role model. The younger is watching.
- Fortune Cookie
You may ask, “Jim, are you a liberal Democrat?”
No, I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I believe in balance … a balance between Republican and Democrat, between Socialist and Fascist, between believer and unbeliever. Balance provides the key to a society in which freedom of thought, speech, and religion can flourish. My freedom of religion builds upon the same foundation that allows another to choose unbelief. The mutual respect between the two gives us the miracle of dialogue and true freedom.
Those trapped in a political party, turning a blind eye to the party leaders’ abuse of the weak and vulnerable, must admit that this is the ghost of the battered wife syndrome – a woman who clings to her man as she can’t define a life without her abuser. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene rose above the political battered wife syndrome, resigned from Congress as of next January, and said she refused to be a “battered wife hoping it all goes away and gets better.” Political parties serve us. The day we serve the party is the day we lose our freedom. Though this author did not vote for Ms. Greene, he respects her profile of courage.
Those trapped in a political party, turning a blind eye to the party leaders’ abuse of the weak and vulnerable, must admit that this is the ghost of the battered wife syndrome – a woman who clings to her man as she can’t define a life without her abuser. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene rose above the political battered wife syndrome, resigned from Congress as of next January, and said she refused to be a “battered wife hoping it all goes away and gets better.” Political parties serve us. The day we serve the party is the day we lose our freedom.
Additionally, some say they want to eliminate the possibility of America becoming a nonChristian nation. So, they order the 10 Commandments displayed in every classroom and scrub any lesson that might hint of the sins of religious extremism resulting in hate against entire groups of people, such as immigrants. The result is an even more godless society above which gold-plated cross is raised as a banner of bigotry and hate.
Back to the U.S. Military, the present U.S. trend of the Secretary of War’s firing those who might challenge the ethics of his decisions appears like a streamlining of decision making for a safer world, but eliminating top uniformed JAG officers is removing the safety on weapons poised to deliver to us the redux of the next Mai Lai Massacre.
One unanticipated factor of being a lethal weapon bully is that the chest-bump killing of two surviving fishermen is shadowed by loss of allies and the scheming of retribution by true enemies of the United States who see this a moment to arbitrage loss of U.S. goodwill in the world’s neighborhood.
One unanticipated factor of being a lethal weapon bully is that the chest-bump killing of two surviving fishermen is shadowed by loss of allies and the scheming of retribution by true enemies of the United States who see this a moment to arbitrage loss of U.S. goodwill in the world’s neighborhood.
“I Don’t Want to Hear about the Affordability!” – Donald Trump. Dollars show actual cost+tip of a small vanilla latte outside of Kansas City. Daily Coffee News reported the impact of tariffs on coffee: United States President Donald Trump announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs yesterday, including new fees between 10% and 46% on imports from 15 of the world’s top 20 coffee-producing countries.
“The Liberty and Justice for All Tour!” It rings a bell! “Change is gonna come.” Make America America Again. The author does not endorse any one candidate and reiterates the need for plurality of thought and balance of political strategies that has the open mind to shake hands across the aisle.
Appeared in mind after reading Outrage over Trump’s bill reclassifying nursing as not a ‘professional degree’ for college students The U.S. is projected to have a shortage of 78,610 RN FTEs in 2025.
Inspired by Odd Comment by Trump Administration that Migrants Brought in Diseased Cattle
A DOGE Thanksgiving in America, 2025
A DOGE Thanksgiving. Tonight we remember those unemployed, hungry, imprisoned, deported, grieving, and alone this Thanksgiving. For those living in old cars and RVs, we pray for you and give thanks in hope of a better tomorrow. “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
Inspired by press release describing impact of tariffs on Missouri farmers.
Inspired by the “Indiscriminate Madness of DOGE Layoffs.”
Erika Kirk is the widow of political activist Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA. No further comment is needed on this. Arizona’s Attorney General reported that a former Turning Point USA leader (not the Kirk’s) and Arizona GOP legislator pled guilty to attempted election fraud. The Baptists had an old saying, “It’s not how high you jump; it’s how straight you walk!”
As Missouri deer season closes, Republicans continue to hunt ways to blame Biden for their own freefall in the polls.
Likewise, Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent:
12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” – Genesis 3
These words have condensed into a more virulent version 57 years later.
White House Auto Nation “Panic Sale!” These are the finest junk cars ever sold. All repairs will be paid by Mexico! Free document prep shredding. Complimentary tamales. Undocumented customers receive a free one-way test drive to Nigeria. “We will not be out-lied! “ The destruction of the East Wing for a pay-for-play gold-plated ballroom, coupled with layers of add-on schemes to bilk the American people for self-benefit, reeks of self-enrichment that no gold tinsel can hide.
The destruction of the East Wing for a pay-for-play gold-plated ballroom, coupled with layers of add-on schemes to bilk the American people for self-benefit, reeks of self-enrichment that no gold tinsel can hide.
JPB
Does anyone know where to order some Oval Office golden deer repellent decorations? Deer keep gettin' into the beans.
Breaking news! Opie just caught the politicians whitewashing the Epstein Files again! “Let’s tell Barney!”
What is the labor plan to replace a lost immigrant workforce? What is the plan to replace Affordable Care Act health plans? Will we return to a child labor workforce, preexisting conditions, and female health insurance priced double that for a man?
A huge wave is rolling in! It’s blue, it’s purple, it’s white, it’s brown, it’s black. It will reclaim the rocky shores of hate.
JPB
Inspired by the Presidents snap at the reporter, “Quiet, Piggy!” and the “Affordable” health insurance premiums for millions of Americans with Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans that are projected to more than double, on average, in 2026 if enhanced federal subsidies are allowed to expire at the end of 2025.
What country bankrupts its citizens in medical debt while spending billions to deport gardeners and car wash attendants?
JPB
The Fortune Cookie
TheWeek.com reports that Donald Trump added $3 billion to his wealth since his second coming to the White House:
In consideration of the above, let there be the creation of the 2028 U.S. Chief Executive Civil Forfeiture Act: Tasked with recovery of funds gained by corruption and self-benefit while in office of President:
Article I, Section 9, Clause 8:
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
For most of its history, courts have rarely substantively analyzed or interpreted the Foreign Emoluments Clause.1 During the administration of President Donald Trump, however, a number of private parties, state attorneys general, and Members of Congress sued the President based on alleged violations of both the Foreign Emoluments Clause and the Domestic Emoluments Clause2 (collectively, the Emoluments Clauses). Three major federal lawsuits concerning the Emoluments Clauses were filed against President Trump.3 Over nearly four years, these cases progressed through the lower federal courts, resulting in the first significant judicial decisions on the Emoluments Clauses.
This blog was inspired by a fortune cookie.
JPB