The  U.S. Congress finally passed that budget bill  shortly after the deadline to prevent a government shutdown.  President Joe Biden signed it.  Merry Christmas.  Next brinksmanship date, 14March2025.  On 3January2025, the House re-elects a Republican as Speaker of the House.  The Constitution leaves the door open on who can become speaker.   This person need not be an elected member of Congress.   He could well be Elon Musk. About that  mass killing at the German Christmas Market  I posted on yesterday, the number of deaths rose to 5, with more than 200 injured, some so seriously that more could be added to the kill list.  The assassin was a 50-year old Muslim doctor, Taleb A. (full name cannot be announced at this time), who emigrated from Saudi Arabia in 2006.  No motive yet reported. If you're wondering what channel that first NCAA championship football playoff game is on, don't bother.  On TNT, TBS and truT...

Worried about our economy?   The Dow Jones Industrial Average posted yet another record day yesterday, rising 341 points to 42,353 .  Percentage wise, that was a jump of 0.81%.  The S&P 500 went up 0.9%, while the Nasdaq Composite increased 1.22%. U.S. job gains increased in September by the most in six months, while unemployment fell to 4.1%.  Much of this was the Fed last month leading with a 50 basis point rate cut.  The end of the dockworker strike helped.  Economic activity in this fourth quarter will likely remain strong.  This is a surprise, and wonderful for Democrats.  One more diversion, abortion is so hurting Republicans, that many are softening their stance.  Incredible, but they are being led by Millenia Trump.  To be released on October 8, her memoir,  Melania , will defend individual freedom of women to do what they wish with their bodies.  She said there is no room for compromise.  This is the pola...

President Joe Biden made two talks in Europe: Yesterday at  D-Day ceremonies in Normandy, France.  Today  along the cliffs of Pointe de Hoc about heroism . The value of democracy and how we got here fades with the passage of time.   Who remembers  that 4,415 allied troops, including 2,501 Americans were killed on D-Day 80 years ago.  Worse, in the ensuing Battle of Normandy, 73,000 Allied forces were killed and 153,000 wounded.  German deaths?  between 4,000 and 9,000.   For the sake of tomorrow, let me provide a comparison:        Democracy                                                            Dictatorship        Heroes                                ...