FBI all over Mar-a-Largo Yesterday

By now everyone on the Planet has heard that the FBI served a Search Warrant on the defeated former guy's home, the Mar-A-Lago Resort in Palm Beach.

We've already heard plenty of trump's sycophantic supporters scream about how this is persecution and shows how the Biden Administration and the DOJ are laser-focused on bringing down trump. It's another part of the evil conspiracy from the dreaded, all-powerful Deep State, which has had it in for Dear Leader from the jump... blah, blah, blah...

The truth is that trump has been holding on to documents that belong to the United States for more than a year and that he had zero intention of ever returning them.

Although this came as a surprise to many Americans, the drama about trump's flagrant crimes in this matter has been going on since shortly after he was chased out of the Oval Office. And the National Archives and the DOJ weren't going to put up with his stonewalling and lying any longer.

If you'd like to get some of the important background to this surreal, unfolding story, this article from today's New York Times would be a good place to start.

The wheels of Justice sometimes turn slowly. Sometimes very slowly. But they're turning. 

"Bulldog Ben" Basile

© 2022 Ben Lawrence Basile

US Annex Canada and Mexico?

I'm active on Quora, a site where many folks participate and weigh in on a plethora of topics every day. It's a very active forum. I'm on daily, following, writing and replying to questions Quorans throw out. For me, it's pretty much all the political stuff and a lot of military history topics as well.

Having said that, it's true that many questions thrown out on Quora are really far-fetched and can be taken with a grain of salt. I get it.

But recently the question--and no, I can't say how serious the query was--the question of whether or not the US should annex Canada and Mexico was thrown out for discussion. 

So please permit me to post with my thoughts which go a bit deeper and addresses some of the larger issues raised by the fact that some folks—on and off Quora—keep imaging ridiculous scenarios such as this one.

First of all, the UK, Australia and all other Commonwealth Countries—there are more than 50 of them—would declare war on us and defend Canada to the last man. They’re bound by law and treaty to do this. The fact that the US would stand a decent chance to still come out on top in such a nightmarish and completely unnecessary conflict does nothing to mitigate what a mind-blowing and horrible course of events that would be.

Imagining a scenario like that one reveals not just stupidity, ignorance and arrogance, but betrays a shocking inability to grasp basic and obvious facts about living on this Planet and see our world—and the other Nations with whom we share it—clearly.

No one with even a basic grasp on reality would believe such claptrap. And these hateful and delusional fools who would even speculate and such an absurd scenario are living in their own fact-free reality.

Furthermore, many of them are armed to the teeth and they--through their chosen leaders who hold or will soon hold positions of power--may very well get their hands on both houses of Congress and all three branches of government in the next few election cycles.

Well, I’m headed toward the medicine cabinet to pop a blood pressure med—or three—and try to forget that roughly a third of my fellow Americans think about such crazy things and are poised to—quite possibly—take nearly-absolutely power in Washington in the next 2 to 5 years. And in the meantime, they’ll go on wasting our time when we’re foolish enough to address their bat shit-crazy scenarios on the internet.

"Bulldog Ben" Basile

© 2022 Ben Lawrence Basile

Gabbard and Friends: Just Stop!

It was ten days ago when Boris Bondarev -- the Special Counsellor to the Russian Mission to the U.N. in Geneva -- resigned from his position, walked out and lit a fire that is still burning through the diplomatic world. 

The written statement that accompanied his resignation is stunning in every way. It honestly must be read in full to have any idea of what a bombshell it truly is.

Just one of the things that comes to mind as you read what Counsellor Bondarev had to say is that it reveals how completely clueless some of my progressive friends here in the States are when it comes to the war and why we’re where we are right now.

Tulsi Gabbard and others of her ilk have gone on at some length about how the eastward expansion of NATO since the dissolution of the Soviet Union essentially left Putin with no choice but to invade. Her tweet about how the Biden Administration and NATO could have prevented the invasion by forever barring Ukraine from membership and recognizing Russia's "legitimate security needs" received a shit-ton of push back from Twitter users who don't buy the Kremlin's talking points. And that's as it should be.

That assertion was garbage from the beginning and it’s so easy to see that such reasoning also dovetails perfectly with Putin’s dishonest and self-serving propaganda. One can draw no other conclusion after reading Mr Bondarev's candid and heartfelt assessment. He was, after all, a career diplomat and apologist for Mother Russia; Putin's bloody, unprovoked attack on Ukraine was simply a bridge too far for him.

Putin and Putin alone is responsible for the tragedy that is the Ukrainian-Russian War. It is turning out horribly for Ukrainians and the Ukrainian Nation and is and will be even worse for Russia. Comrade Vlad has truly swallowed the Porcupine here. (Not the best metaphor, actually. He’ll never get that spiny fellow all the way down.)

It’s maddening. It’s tragic. And it’s 100% Putin’s doing.




"Bulldog Ben" Basile

© 2022 Ben Lawrence Basile

Drink Java, Live Longer

I just finished another delicious, life-giving cup of coffee. I’ve always known my regular obsessive consumption of the juice of the sacred bean had beneficial effects. And a recently-published study confirms it… again! With or without added sugar, I hasten to add.

Here’s to all of my sisters and brothers who’re also cashing in on coffee’s benefits! Let’s celebrate with another cup o’ joe!

To read the study’s results, follow this link.

“Bulldog Ben” Basile

© 2022 Ben Lawrence Basile

Profile of a Hero on Memorial Day

Memorial Day 2022 is here. I'm remembering Gunny Johnny Basilone, USMC today. He gave his life for the country he loved on the first day of the furious Battle of Iwo Jima. That was 19 Feb 1944.

His heroic three-day stand during the fierce Battle for Henderson Field on Guadalcanal made him a Marine Corps legend. And it was on Iwo Jima 16 months later that John gave his last full measure of devotion. 

This hero is the only marine from WWII who received both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. You can read both citations near the end of John's Wikipedia entry. Follow the link found below.

Honestly, where do you find men like this?

An entry on Wikipedia is often long on information but just a bit dry. Here's more about Johnny from a tribute site that puts Gunny Basilone's story in a more human context.

I am not able to attend any event on this Memorial Day. But thinking of our heroes here at home.



"Bulldog Ben" Basile

© 2022 Ben Lawrence Basile

Murdered Kids, Lame Excuses

Yes, there has been another horrific school shooting. In Texas this time. It took at least 18 innocent lives including one teacher.

The call to enact some kind--any kind--of sensible laws and/or regulations to address the never-ending string of mass killings in our schools is being heard in every corner of our heartsick Nation.

But I promise you that nothing will be done. Nothing at all.

A clear majority of America wants some kind of sensible gun regulation. But nothing will be done.

Reich Wingers and Ammosexuals will say the usual stuff: they'll offer thoughts and prayers. They'll say that now isn't the time to think about such things. They say we should stop politicizing such tragedies. 

The NRA will make hundreds of calls to the legislators they've bought off and sic their lobbyists on any who may be wavering.

The leadership of the QOP in both houses of Congress will sniff around, making sure that none in their caucus will turn on them and vote with those evil demon-rats, go full commie on the Nation and vote for... wait for it... vote for background checks for people who want to buy guns!

They'll say that the true liberal agenda is to take away our guns, they say, blah, blah blah...

Yeah, it'll go like that. As it has after every mass shooting, whether it's school children who're lying still in pools of their own blood or their unlucky parents and friends. Or anyone.

It's tragic. It's horrific. It's all too familiar.

And it's not going to change.

"Bulldog Ben" Basile

© 2022 Ben Lawrence Basile 

For details about this tragedy unfolding in Uvalde, Texas, follow this link.

Today is Arbor Day 2022

It most certainly is and I look forward to it each year. I’ve been a supporter of the Arbor Day Foundation for years and it’s one of the things I do each year — more often than that, actually — that I look forward to with anticipation and excitement.

To learn more about the work of the Arbor Day Foundation, follow this link.

It’s well known that our Planet is in dire straits now and has been for a long time. And although we can’t pursue only one or two courses of action to help her in her time of urgent need, the planting of more trees is one very good action we can easily take.

Planting or helping to plant a tree today would be a wonderful thing to do. Contribution to an org like the ADF would be marvelous.

Watering, pruning or otherwise caring for a tree in your corner of our Planet would be, as well.

Best of all is to cultivate the habit of taking these actions all through the year.



“Bulldog Ben” Basile

© 2022 Ben Lawrence Basile