Who will be the next Speaker

I’m very blessed to say that I earned a degree in an engineering discipline many years ago. My wife says I’m not your typical engineer. I am grateful for her assessment. I care about facts, and where they lead me. I give not one rip whether this makes me a pessimist or an optimist. I search for the truth. Nothing else matters. For example: We have devoted decades of investment to alternative energy sources and at this moment, these sources supply roughly 5% of global energy. Congress continues to attempt to placate everyone by passing these rip-roaring Omnibus bills packed goodies for everyone, except we, the proletariat. A couple of examples: Elizabeth Warren was able to stuff a $500,000 earmark in the bill for Worcester State University to increase diversity and inclusion for STEM students to study climate change. Other funded projects include a “Michelle Obama Trail” here in our state, and a “Ukraine Independence Park” in Washington DC. With the passage of this monstrosity of a bill, we are now approaching $32 Trillion in debt. As we know, there is interest to be paid on this debt. The estimate this year in the environment of rising interest rates is an additional cost of at least $300 billion. We are now getting very close to the interest payment on our debt becoming the largest item in our federal budget (next to military spending). What else in this budget is allowing state benefits to creep up as they do? In New Jersey, a family can earn $100,000 (both parents) a year without losing ObamaCare subsidies and unemployment benefits. A family earning a quarter of a million dollars annually still qualifies for ObamaCare subsidies in every state. In half the states, residents can earn the annualized equivalent of at least the national median household income through ObamaCare subsidies and unemployment benefits. Gee, ever wonder why is it so hard to hire and retain employees? The whole initial idea behind welfare was to get Americans back into the workforce. Unfortunately, it has become permanent and institutionalized in our society.

The Federal Reserve is only going to be able to raise rates to about 5% before they will be forced to stop. They can’t do what Fed Chairman Paul Volker did in the early 1980’s to kill inflation. The point in raising rates, was of course to slow inflation. They are not going to be able to raise rates high enough to slow inflation (because that will add explosive amounts of debt). If they are lucky, they will get inflation down to 4% at best. Slowing federal spending would help, but Congress cannot help themselves. I’m no fan of the Federal Reserve, as they are supposed to work with the Congress to get the correct balance between fiscal and monetary policy for we the taxpayer. Congress does the exact opposite of what they need to do with their unbridled spending. The Federal Reserve chooses to use such tactics such as quantitative easing, which is simply off-budget money printing, to compensate. As our government declines, officials pass bills that loot the treasury for their own purposes, like a desperate robber grabbing all they can as the police sirens approach. As I’ve been saying for a long time, the day of reckoning for this spending soon cometh, but probably not until one more earmark from the 2022 Omnibus spending bill gets completed, “The Speaker Nancy Pelosi Federal Building” in downtown San Francisco.

Tuesday, the 3rd of January, is the day the Speaker of the House is chosen. As far as I’m concerned, the Republican revolution can begin right now with the rejection of Kevin McCarthy. Newt Gingrich strongly criticizes any Republican who doesn’t support McCarthy. Big surprise. Under most circumstances, the election of a speaker will require 218 votes. Nothing happens in the new Congress until a speaker is elected. I want to see things get ferocious. Remember, the new Speaker does not have to be a member of Congress. Wouldn’t that be wild? It is doubtful that McCarthy wins on the first ballot. He will be forced to bargain for more votes, but there are five Republicans who are saying they will never vote for him. If this is true, heaven know what happens. I’m sick of the status quo, so I’m hoping for someone such as Devin Nunes, who I believe would make a great Speaker (he would need to resign his current job).

One thousand randomly selected adults were asked during the final week of 2022, if they knew anyone whose death they think may have been caused by side effects of Covid-19 vaccines? Surprisingly, 28% responded with a YES. The political breakdown: 33% of Democrats and 26% of Republicans. Not what you would have expected. At this point, your blood is either boiling or it is clotting.

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