The Pope, The President and the Castro Brothers,

Is it not passing strange the great love that both Pope Francis and Barack Obama appear to have for the Castro thugs; you know, the Infamous Brothers who have kept Cuban Jails full of Political Prisoners since their successful revolution in the late 1950s.

The Pope was instrumental in getting Obama and the Castros together last year - with the help of Canada, which successfully ended with the States renewing relations with Cuba after a 50 plus year long estrangement.

I wrote a Blog at that time voicing my support of this effort realizing that the time had truly come for Cuba to join the world of nations and in so doing, enter into the age of the 21st Century. I pointed out though that sadly the agreement was one-sided in that the Castros did not commit to freeing its people from the chains of it's military state nor did it open its jails for it's political prisoners - imprisoned simply because they do not agree with the Castro Communist Philosophy.

Okay that was then.

Since then, the Pope has visited this island political prison camp not once but twice - most recently last week.  Neither time did I hear him condemn brothers Fidel and Raoul for their thuggery.  And neither time did I hear him ask the Castros to throw open their prison doors.

And now dear reader, the little guy in the White House just announced that he too will venture across to this star crossed island next month.

Unbelievable!!!

And in the midst of a very bitter and divided Presidential Election Campaign no less.

Cuban Refugees from the 50's and 60's still vividly recall the  horrors of living in and escaping from Communist Cuba.

And the Democrats are hoping for a strong Latino Vote come November.  Good luck to that.

I cannot wait to hear whether dear Hillary supports Obama in his bizarre decision.

The time will come when it is appropriate for a sitting President to conduct such a visit but it should await two things; first the deaths of both Castros and second, the freeing up of the good citizens of that country - i.e. freedom of speech, freedom of religion, open and free democratic elections -supported by the rule of law... and so on.

For Obama to do what he plans to do now only exacerbates a seriously divided US of A and reinforces why he so richly deserves the title of 'Worst President Ever'.

As for Pope Francis, I am prepared to cut him some slack since maybe, as the great Christian he is, he hopes that his direct involvement now with the Castros, will ultimately serve to free God's Children in Cuba. in the longer term.

Obama doesn't get nor deserve such a pass.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

Obama, Hillary, Trump, Bernie et al means .... I'M BaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccK.

I apologize for my long absence, let's just chalk it up to technology:

As you know, I remain in the age of the Quill and while I appreciate technology for what it can do, at the same time, I hate it.

But thankfully not much has changed since my last Blog - the same Characters then, remain front and center in the news now.

Obama is inept as ever, Hilary as devious, Trump as bizarre and Bernie...as far out.

And my hope remains that common sense prevails and Marco Rubio ultimately wins out !

And my home country Canada remains unworthy of comment....hence no comment.

The big story right now of course is the recent death of US Justice Scalia and the vacancy it creates on their Supreme Court.

Scalia was the one true conservative on the Bench and often instrumental in the majority 5/4 decisions of the Court.  If Obama is permitted to appoint a replacement - the Progressives will now have the edge.

This must not be allowed to happen since appointments are for life.

The US is the world's last bastion committed to the principle that hard work leads to riches and is exemplified in the writings of the late Horatio Alger Jr.

In recent times, the balance between the workers and the takers throughout the Western World has tipped decisively in favour of the latter and even in the United States there is evidence that the balance between the two groups is turning against the workers.


There is still some hope that, with the right candidate, the right may be able to at least delay this drift for a while longer.

That is why the Supreme Court is so critical - like other Rule of Law Jurisdictions, Courts have tread bravely into the arena of making law ... not just interpreting law.  In so doing, they have usurped the power of the Peoples' Legislatures.

Should Obama be allowed to replace the late Justice Scalia, it will be all the more difficult to keep the 'takers' in check.

Obama argues correctly that he has the constitutional power to make this appointment ... which he does.  In this it is interesting to see the little guy rely upon their Constitution rather than flouting it .. but I digress.

On the other hand, the Senate is obligated to screen his appointments for suitability so they can at least use their power to at least delay it.

But for me the over-riding factor to take into account is that this is an election year and Obama is a lame duck President.  Given the importance of this one Court appointment, it would behoove him to stand down on this matter and let the new President - Democratic or Republican make the appointment since he or she and the country will have to live with the result for years and years to come.

As I see it...now I am back..

'K.D. Galagher'

2016 … So What’s Ahead?

 With 2015 behind us, let’s look ahead to the New Year just beginning.

We’ll have some fun doing it since I have sworn off Canada and its inferior governments; just international issues of import for us now.

In no particular order, following are my predictions on a number of international fronts:

1.  Oil will begin to recover over the course of the year’s second half (i.e. up to $50 per bar);  it cannot go much lower and because low oil costs will eventually spur international markets which in turn will increase demand for the black gold;

2.  Speaking of Gold, it too will recover since the Western World continues to spend far too much – going further and further into debt while at the same time quite enamoured with monetary easing – that is to say – the printing of money without a corresponding rise in GDP to support it;

3.  Obama will continue his descent in the polls as more and more Americans come to the realization that he is a Charlatan;

4.  Trump will finally fade out and Marco Rubio will win the Republican nod;

5.  Hillary will take the Democratic crown assuming that she is not charged criminally for her cavalier treatment of top secret Government Emails.  (It is unlikely she will be charged but that is not to say – she should not be.  If it was you or me – you can bet charges would be laid);

6.  So who will win the US November Presidential Election? … you will have to await the end of this;

7.  Russians head for the polls in September to elect their DUMA – (Parliament) at which time Putin’s party will make substantive gains given his high personal popularity.  Shows you what military aggression can do for one’s popularity;

8.  Angela Merkel will see her popularity continue to decline due to the way she has handled the refugee situation – that is to say, Germans believe too many refugees are being admitted to their country.  Her re-election in 2017 is very much in jeopardy;

9.  NATO will keep Putin / the Russians in check along the Eastern European Border;

10.  He will continue to be active in the Middle East in support of Bashar al Assad thereby helping to ensure continued turmoil in that part of the world;

11.  ISIS will finally be pushed off the lands they now hold in Syria and Iraq.  The combination of air strikes and ground troop action is beginning to take a heavy toll on them which they will not be able to withstand much longer;

12.  ISIS will though be replaced by numerous other Islamic Extremist Groups throughout the Middle East and Many Parts of Africa. True peace will have to await the time of moderate Muslims taking control and that dear reader will not happen over the course of this New Year.  It means that Islamic Terrorist Attacks will continue unabated throughout the World;

13.  Even more problematic for the Muslim Countries is the fact that relations between their two major factions - the Sunnis and the Shiites, is breaking down.  This deterioration will continue over 2016 and if not brought under control over the next few years will have very grave consequences for that part of the world;

14.  An important aspect of this risk is the fact that Iran has been given clearance by the United States to complete the building of its atomic bomb.  It is hard to imagine that Israel and now Saudi Arabia will sit back and let that happen but I do not see any action on their part against Iran in 2016.  Saudi Arabia will though focus on arming itself as it now realizes it cannot depend upon Uncle Sam or should I say Uncle Barack; 

15.  In many respects, 2016 will appear like 2015 and 2014 before it;

16.  And the winner is …. Marco Rubio. 

As I see it ...

'K.D. Galagher'

+Pt 2 … My Specific Predictions for 2015

So let’s now review what I said specifically was likely to happen in 2015.  Again my self-graded comments appear in Bold Italics at the end of each major heading:
Ottawa
The municipal election is over so not too many entrails to paw over.
Gang Shootings are the big issue though – nearly 1 per week – an all time high last year and likely to continue for 2015. 
The Police say that if only they assign more officers to their guns and gang unit – the problem will lessen but as one distinguished defence lawyer said – to double down on what has not worked in the past will only insure continued failure in the future and he is correct.
So I predict the problem will persist.  I do have a suggestion for the City and the Police on how they should really be dealing with Gangs, guns et al and that will be the subject of one of my very next blogs.    A – in 2014 there were 47 shootings; as of the end of 2015 there were a couple less. So whatever the Guns and Gangs Unit is doing continues not to work.
Ontario
Again the election has passed so little to comment on.
And no doubt you are getting tired of my saying this is Ontario’s worst government in history but sadly I truly believe it and thus nothing of substance will likely improve in 2015.  Again not a prediction but a statement of fact.
One of the only predictions I will make is in regard to May’s Tory Leadership Vote – Christine Elliott will win but she would not be my pick.  With Elliott in place, Ontario will have 2 liberal parties – the Tories and the NDP and one NDP Party – aka the Liberals. 
I think the group of candidates is wanting but my choice from this meagre list would be Monte McNaughton if for no other reason than he is the only candidate of the 5 or 6 to come out strongly against Wynne’s pornographic sex education plan for our young public schoolers.
The Tories should have used this time to lick their wounds – give the Grits a chance to self destroy and beat the bushes for some really good candidates – John Baird anyone?
The only other prediction I will make in regard to Ontario is with respect to our economy.  With the drop in oil and the drop in our dollar – economic activity will pick up – (it cannot get any lower given the Grits’ devastating policies that have caused business to flee the Province). It will not though be as robust as it should otherwise be and it will not enable the province to escape its ‘have-not’ status.
C
– Brown, the only other candidate left running other than Elliott, won the PC Leadership and I voted for him but so far am not impressed . The Tories, like their federal counterparts should have waited to hold their Leadership Convention until such time as they had some real heavies available to run.
-  Over this past year, Oil and our Buck continued their steep decline but so far this has not had much of a positive effect on Ontario’s economy  i.e. employment growth since Nov. 2014 is a measely .05% so it would appear that the Province’s Green Energy Fiasco has just caused too much damage to business.
Canada
The big news here will be the upcoming Election.
I believe Harper will call it before the Duffy Trial this coming April.  
If he does not call it and awaits the statutory date in October I think there is a very good chance Harper will not even be at the helm then.  I will explain in a moment. 
By all accounts given that two-thirds of Ontarians lean to the left, Harper et al should have no chance of forming the next government.  That said, I predict he will win and by a slight majority.  I say this because neither the Dippers nor the Liberals have staked out policies that resonate with the voters and this coupled with my prediction of a March election should be enough to carry the Tories to victory. 
If the election is in the Fall, the dirt that comes out of the Duffy trial will plaster the Prime Minister and he will be lucky to personally survive let alone win an election.  I say that because I believe he mislead the public by saying he had no idea that his Chief of Staff paid out $90k to Duffy and if he did, it will all come out at the trial. 
The Keystone Pipeline will not get the okay from the little man’s in the white house.  Congress will need a two thirds vote to over-ride his veto and the chances of this happening over the course of this new year are about 50/50 and accordingly does not count as a prediction.
Oil will rebound this year – it cannot get much lower.
The Feds will have to slash even more in staffing and programs to keep its budget balanced – many because of the lost oil revenue. 
Harper will use his about to be introduced Bill to fight terrorism as an excuse to go the public early – i.e. an Election in March. 
Another C
Harper did not go to the polls in March as I had predicted, but had he done so, I fully believe he would have won. 
I was correct in saying that Obama would finally announce that the Keystone Pipeline would not be approved by his Adminsitration. 
I was wrong in thinking oil would recover and civil service employment declined only modestly.  It will now go into a period of growth under our new Liberal administration.
The World
Russia – Putin is wounded – e.g. falling oil prices is causing havoc to the Russian economy and thus he is more dangerous than ever.  That said, I think 2015 will see Russia withdraw back into its borders primarily because NATO has shown at last that it is  prepared to stand and fight him.
ISIS – too will continue to decline (but by no means disappear) in importance throughout the middle east - again because the West has called its bluff especially with its very successful air campaign.
The EBOLA scourge will finally come under control as Western Countries like Canada send the needed resources to fight it.
Greece will leave the EU with Germany’s blessings.
Iran will not be stopped in its ongoing efforts to develop and establish a delivery system for the Atomic Bomb.
Israel -  Netanyahu will win this coming March’s election.  His popularity is being given a big boost by the region’s terrorists.
Israel will sadly not though launch an attack against Iran despite Obama’s continued dithering.
UK – Cameron will win the May 17 General Election.  Like Netanyahu – he is being helped by the greater aggression on the part of terrorists.
So that’s it – otherwise 2015 will be business as usual – terrorists will continue to terrorize – innocents suffer, the USA will dither, China bully, the world’s economies will languish although cheaper oil will help somewhat.
2015 will be a replay of last year.
A – the only prediction that did not come to pass was Greece not leaving the EU otherwise I believe I was quite accurate.  You might argue that Russia did not retreat in Eastern Europe but from my perspective it did and did so only because NATO finally got involved.  It was quite different thing in Syria where Russia took the initiative but not because of NATO rather because the USA under its do nothing Prez continued to do nothing.   Good thing I am focusing on international matters.
Overall mark?  B or B- .  You decide.
As I see it…
‘K.D. Galagher’

My Prognostications for 2015… Pt. 1

 

Some of you may recall that I came at this a little differently at the beginning of 2015 – first a look at the coming year generally and then followed with more concrete predictions.

So first, my generalizations with my self grade in Bold Italics:

1. International … (grade A+)

Iran remains the world’s number one issue as the US continues to diddle around, making no significant attempt to force Iran to roll back its atomic program.  When Iran is able to ‘deliver’ its bombs all bets are off for peace in our time.

Russia will continue to threaten the former USSR nations.  With the drop in Oil / the Ruble, Putin is a wounded bear and is more dangerous than ever.

ISSIS will remain the beasts they are throughout Iraq and Syria.

Terrorists will continue to stalk the jungles of Africa preying on the innocent – mostly girls and young women.

The fires of the Middle East will continue to burn brightly.

Europe will continue to struggle economically.

The US will continue to be led by its most inept President in its history and since he cannot seek re-election – he is at his most dangerous.

Another $ Trillion will be added to the US debt.  The Government is on life lines.

Black militancy will continue to threaten.

International foes will continue to not fear the States and friends will continue to realize that they can no longer depend on America as it once did.

2.  National … (grade B – solely for my erroneous prediction of a minority government but in truth, this outcome was not predictable until the dying days of the October never ending campaign)

Canada will face an election this year which at this point will likely end in minority government.

The plunge in the value of oil will severely dampen the economies of Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia and as such will put pressure on Canada’s ability to balance its budget.  It will also put a strain on the equalization program.

We will continue to be involved militarily throughout Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Pipeline construction will continue to idle.

3.  Ontario ….  A

Will continue to be governed by the worst government in its history – the McGuinty / Wynne Regime.

Our debt will continue to rise with no balancing of the budget in sight.

Public Service Unions will finally start to be told ‘no’ or perhaps ‘maybe’ but it will be at the margins and will have little effect on the ill state of the Province’s finances.

Green Energy will continue to get the green light despite the fact that our Auditor General just told us that since the Grits came to power, Ontarians have paid $50 Billion more for hydro than we should have.

Our Health and Education Systems will continue in decline.

4.   Municipal …A

Ottawa will continue to spend too much on its operations, too much of it is wasted on too many expensive employees and too many pet projects not aligned with the city’s core service responsibilities.

The biggest issue in that regard is with respect to garbage collection as residents continue to be subjected to only twice monthly pick up of real garbage.

Gang Shootings which reached a record level last year, will continue unabated.

The above are not predictions as much as they are just statements of fact - that is to say it is just a rehash of how things were last year and will continue to be in 2015. It takes no genius to identify them.

Note:  Overall I place my mark at an A – but in truth, generalizations are much easier to make than are specific predictions which follow in my next Blog.  Wish now though that I had stuck with just doing generalizations. G

As I see it …

‘K.D. Galagher’

VLAD PUTIN AND THE DONALD …

 

BOSOM BUDDIES.

This past week we were exposed to these two rhapsodizing about one another.

It was to gag.

Putin has become a petty little dictator who, as a former officer of the infamous KGB, is only interested in restoring the USSR.

And, he let’s nothing stand in his way to see this accomplished.

While here in Ottawa plans are going forward to build a public momument to the memory of the Victims of Communism.

I have said repeatedly that if I was an American, I would only vote for Donald Trump if it came down to him against Hillary Clinton; I have now changed my mind – I would no longer vote for Trump even under that circumstance.

But please realize, this does not mean I would now vote for Hillary since I cannot see myself going so low.  Rather I would probably just spoil my ballot.

I stand by my initial assessment that Trump’s candidacy has been good not only for the Republicans but indeed for all of America.

He has singularly forced Americans to address important issues that they would otherwise just like to avoid – e.g a porous Southern Border and just as importantly, he has fired back mercilessly at the Self-Serving Politically Correct.

It has been an absolute joy to watch.

But the time has come to say goodbye to The Donald. (I suspect many of you in Russia would like to do the same to Vlad Putin).

In Trump’s case it will not be that easy since he holds quite a lead over his many rivals but I am hopeful that even his ardent supporters are beginning to have doubts with his recent complimentary comments about Putin and his proposal to deny all Muslims entry into the US.

And hopefully this will translate into a win for Marco Rubio which I will now extend to Carly Fiorina – one tough, knowledgeable broad.

As I see it…*

‘K.D. Galagher’

*Note:  My next two blogs will deal with my predictions for this year about to end - 2015

 

Donald Trump and The Listeners

One of my favourite poems in high-school was Walter de la Mare’s ‘The Listeners’ and it comes to mind when I read about Trump’s critics going hysterical every time he supposedly makes a campaign-ending statement.

“Is there anybody there?” asked the Traveller

“But only a host of phantom listeners … that dwelt in the house .. stood listening in the quiet of the moonlight”.

“Tell them I came, and no one answered, that I kept my word, he said.”

“They heard his foot upon the stirrup, and the sound of iron on the stone, and how the silence surged softly backward when the plunging hoofs were gone”.

                             ------

Unlike The Listeners in de la Mare’s poem, Trump’s Listeners are neither anonymous nor do they hide in the shadows; his Listeners are well known as they impatiently watch & wait for him to fatally slip up; their eyes focus in on him like an entomologist’s microscope on a bug.

When a perceived ‘slip’ comes – The Listeners’ eyes bulge in contrived shock and mocked outrage … they turn to one another, speaking in gleeful tongues, high fiving, trying to convince one another that this time Trump has gone too far and will not recover.

But then come the new polls showing once again that Trump’s popularity continues to rise.

And it’s back to the microscope awaiting his next pronouncement which will surely result in his undoing.

Why are the Left and indeed many Insiders on the Right aghast at The Donald’s success?

The major reason I believe is that he is their antithesis; they who like to tell others how to live and what to think cannot stand it when a ‘clown’ dares to respond to them in kind. 

And the ordinary Joe and Jane are sick and tired of these Elites, Politically Correct Politicians and a Left Biased Media lying to them day in and day out.

Indeed, ever since Obama’s Election in 2008 the average American has watched in utter disbelieve as their once powerful and proud Nation has descended into irrelevance.

Its allies no longer trust it, its enemies no longer fear it and to boot – its national debt will exceed $20 Trillion Dollars, (more than its total GDP) when Obama’s term ends in January of 2017.

So America is not only broke but is a shadow of its former self.  But the Movers and Shakers act as if everything is A-OK.

But of course everything is not okay:

• ‘Islamist Terrorists’ have declared war on America and yet the President cannot even bring himself to say who these Terrorists actually are while continuing to pretend they are just run of the mill criminals, bandits, and jv’ers.
• All the while its Southern US Border is a sieve.
• Guantanamo Inmates are cut loose to fight again.
• It has given Iran the right to build an Atomic Bomb at the end of 10 years – their stupidest decision yet.
• Followed closely with its buying into… or more appropriately… selling out to Climate Change Charlatans. So we go to War against a colourless, odourless gas used by plants for growth and the production of life-giving oxygen; a War wet hopefully lose.

And at every turn these self-styled Elites dismiss anyone who dares criticize them as racists, homophobes and the like.

In the face of this, Trump, has come along to poke these know-it- all-primadonnas in the eye.  And I am particularly incensed when these Bozos compare Donald Trump to Adolph Hitler.  Hitler, like Trump is an Egotist but the comparison ends there since Hitler was also a Psychopathic-Hater.

That said, as many of you know, I am not a Trump supporter - from the start, my preferred candidate has been and continues to be Marco Rubio and I still believe he will ultimately win out.

I am glad though that Trump has appeared on the scene to shake things up and get Americans focused on the really important issues – many of them set out above.*

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

* One issue that I did not specifically deal with above is with respect to Muslim Immigration. I would like to see a freeze on it until the War with the Islamic Terrorists is over.  On the other-hand, The Elites’ /The Politically Corrects’ attitude is ‘the more the merrier’. So for you, the Reader, I pose the following:

Why is it that in Muslim dominated Countries  Non-Muslim Minorities cannot be left to live their lives in peace?

THE COROLLARY -

Why would the West expect Muslim Immigrants to be able to live in harmony with others in their adopted countries?