He riled up Republicans in 2016 with a promise of remaking their world. But he couldn’t deliver. He had overpromised. Rather than speak to his supporters and tone down their expectations, he kept up with the unrealistic notions. Tweeting was a way of avoiding the reflection necessary to engage in a dialogue with the opposition. But he couldn’t muster the political courage. So he tweeted some more. Maybe he reasoned that keeping his followers entertained would suffice. It didn’t. The famous Wall was a distraction. It never got built, but there are patches of it, here and there, like relics in a battlefield. Make America Great Again was a bust In this age of growing interdependence you need allies. But he couldn’t muster the discipline and forethought. Still he kept stirring up partisanship, fostering divisions amongst Americans and eluding the dialogue that sits at the center of any attempt to build bridges amongst ourselves. In foreign policy he could not stand up to Putin. He could not say to the Russian dictator ‘do not meddle in our elections.’ And so Trump’s character flaws mounted and mounted. There was that one time when a female staffer in his administration had quit and then criticized him. He answered by calling her ‘a dog’. And then, to crown his history of misjudgments, he incites a crowd to march on Capitol Hill on January 6th. Testimony emerged during the congressional hearings on the matter that he wanted to personally lead the assault on the capitol, to disrupt the electoral ballot counting. His own staff had urged him to not proceed with his intentions. He even tried to coerce his vehicle’s driver to take him there. But the man objected. In the end, he had to accept that his administration had been a failure. But it’s been rough getting there. He may have started to accept reality but a side of his still fights it. Most painful of all was that he had a chance to make a difference but he botched it. He has trouble living with that. In the face of events, sane Republicans recognize what a disaster Trump has been for the party. But it will take time to process. They are now looking in the mirror and acknowledging that they did elect him and cheered him on. Eventually, those sane Republicans will find their truth and Trump will not get the nomination for president he still hopes for. His time has passed and he has to live with his lament, the opportunity to lead that was botched and botched badly, because he dared not think of all Americans. Sadly, he will go down as the worst Republican president ever. He knows it and it hurts. Sane Republicans’ reckoning with themselves will require time, time to relearn to trust their judgment, which is why I believe they will not win the next presidential election. If Biden chooses not to run, that election will belong to a woman, and the woman will be from the democratic party. Maybe it will be Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar or Cortez Masto, or another person yet to emerge. And history will move us on.
Oscar Valdes, medium.com, anchor.fm, buzzsprout, apple and google podcasts.
Sell the war to the American public. It is a remarkable achievement, one that we should all be proud of. Sell us the war! You have been key in rallying the western alliance. You have motivated, encouraged and persuaded the fence sitters. To you belongs a great deal of the credit for where Ukraine now stands. Do not underestimate this triumph. I recall you getting lots of flak for pulling out of Afghanistan. But if you hadn’t done so your focus would have been divided and your resolve diminished. There has not been a moment like this in our recent history. This is a far greater achievement than the first Gulf War in 1990 (Bush the elder) and the war in Bosnia in 1995 (Clinton). This war has been a major determinant of inflation but our economy has slowed enough that Jerome Powell in the Federal Reserve kept the latest rise in interest rates to .75 bps. The markets have responded positively. Gas prices may remain high while Putin continues to squeeze Europe by reducing gas supplies but the western alliance has held strong in spite of such pressures. Trust that Americans will understand the importance of backing Ukraine. The recent choice of providing them with warplanes is hugely important. Now it is becoming clearer that Putin can and must be driven back. Your political courage in resisting the Russian offensive deserves full acknowledgment. Had Trump been reelected, Putin would’ve had no problem annexing Ukraine. Why, Putin would have been a regular guest at Mar-a-Lago and Trump would have been invited to the installation of Russia’s new puppet regime in Kyiv. But the freedom of a courageous people would have been forgotten. Sell us the importance of the war so we can avoid losses in the House and Senate this November. With the Supreme court’s overturning the federal mandate protecting women’s right to an abortion, a significant percentage of women will show up at the ballot box to express their displeasure. Meanwhile, the hearings on the January 6th attack on the Capitol make obvious the tyrannical intent of Mr Trump and should be a source of embarrassment to most who voted for him. Beware of the polls suggesting you are unpopular. There are groups of people who will not see the evidence even when put in front of them, but they will not be consequential when it matters. This first year and a half of your tenure has been remarkable. Covid is retreating and even Joe Manchin chose to turn around and back your bill. Your recent performance in Saudi Arabia was excellent. You did not come back with a tangible concession but you stuck to your guns and did not flinch from restating your belief that the prince was responsible for Jamal Khashoggi’s death. Sell us the war, Mr President. It is an achievement that is transforming Europe and the West and all Americans should own it.
Oscar Valdes, medium.com, anchor.fm, buzzsprout, apple and google podcasts.
It was with much relief that I read the news yesterday that the West had decided to finally send warplanes to Ukraine. It has been a long wait. And it will be a turning point in the war. America is setting up to train Ukrainian pilots to operate F-15 or F-16 fighter jets. And while it will take some months for the aircraft to be put to use, the decision has all the markings of a game changing choice. The underlying thinking is what I find most relevant. And that is the willingness to confront Putin. To not be cowed by his threats of using nuclear weapons. For the longest, the West had hesitated to provide much needed warplanes fearing a nuclear escalation would follow. But no more. The battle for Ukraine has become a defining moment for the West. Not only is NATO in the process of expanding its membership (Finland and Sweden) as a result of Russia’s invasion, but a new resolve has been created. Putin may boast that he has got around some of the sanctions imposed on him and may be dreaming of the pain he can still inflict by restricting gas supplies to Europe come winter, but it has become evident that his choice of massacring Ukrainians was a disaster. Ukrainians’ blood and endless sacrifices, Zelensky’s steady and inspiring leadership, both have been critical in the new conviction that Russia can be defeated and pushed back to their own border. All the nations that have banded together to oppose Putin and aid Ukrainians, deserve great credit for such courageous stance. As an American, I thank president Biden for his strong leadership and commitment to uniting the West. Inflation was an inevitable consequence of the war effort, and yet there are signs that this, too, will be manageable and the West will endure and thrive. By contrast, Putin’s fate is sealed. He will forever be no more than a small man with grandiose ambitions who chose to ravage a neighbor nation. History will not forgive him. It will be up to Russians to depose him and I have no doubt they will. He stands in the way of their political and economic development. Stands in the way of their cultural and technological growth. Whereas this was evident well before the war, the war has made it blatantly clear. Russia cannot realize its possibilities with a man like Putin as their leader. It is hard to say how Putin will be removed from office but I have no doubt that forward thinking Russians have given the matter serious thought. I predict that Vladimir Putin will fall soon, perhaps even before the end of the year. By contrast, Volodymyr Zelensky’s star will continue to rise, as will his commitment to rebuilding Ukraine into a first rate nation, a shining example of what political and moral courage are able to create.
Oscar Valdes, medium.com, anchor.fm, buzzsprout, apple and google podcasts.
9/20/22 Note: I wrote this article based on information that had appeared in the NY Times or the WSJ the day before (7/26/22). Yesterday, in the WSJ, and again today, I read that the US has no immediate plans to send war planes (F-15s of F-16s) to Ukraine. Something changed. Perhaps it is the concern that Putin will see it as an intolerable escalation on the part of the West. Thank you.
The spotlight is on Russians. Why did they allow a man like Putin to gather so much personal power? Why did Russians give up their own power, giving it instead to Putin to do as he wishes? Because they did, Putin went on unchecked, dreaming of recreating the Soviet Union. And Ukraine has been ravaged with devastating brutality. Russian foes of Putin’s rule have existed all along. Some have died, others are in prison, like Alexei Navalny. A nation of great vitality, of considerable talent and inventiveness, has succumbed to a vulgar leader, a small man with dreams of ruling the world. But Putin is not Russia. And the rest of us need to be very clear about that. To be Russian today is to admit that, as a people, they failed to summon the political courage needed to stop Putin’s rise to power. To be Russian today is to admit that political courage is a priceless quality, and that without it freedom is not possible. To be Russian today is to remind the world that without such courage life is diminished, and men like Putin will use the opportunity for their own aggrandizement. To be Russian today is to admit that there is a critical time to dissent, and that means confronting the fear of reprisals. To be Russian today is to remind us all that such fear exists in every one of us and that it must be confronted. The fate of humanity depends on many things: hard work, inventiveness, compassion and the acknowledgment that every single one of us has something to contribute. But without political courage, without the power to dissent, vulgar men will seek to dominate others by brute force. Without political courage, all of humanity’s achievements can be destroyed. The devastation in Ukraine today is happening because all of us, not just Russians, failed to object to the rise of a tyrant. To be Russian today is to remind us that we’re all vulnerable to succumb to fear, and that standing up to it is a priceless quality upon which the survival of the planet depends. The massacre in Ukraine, like the subjugation of any people anywhere, is a call to the rest of us to affirm our humanity and give assistance to all who are being forced to be silent. Here in America, the forces of darkness elevated Trump, and he responded by trying to overturn his electoral defeat. So we, too, like Russians, have failed to exercise our political courage. The power to dissent is the road to freedom. And freedom the only path to the realization of humanity’s endless possibilities. To be Russian today is to be anyone of us.
Oscar Valdes, medium.com, anchor.fm, buzzsprout, apple and google podcasts
The combative Boris Johnson, under much pressure from his party and fellow countrymen, decided to surrender his post while remaining as a caretaker until a new prime minister is chosen, which I read could take months. I was sad to hear the news. His flaws had persuaded electors to move on, yet to many, myself included, he had endeared himself by his full and unrelenting support for the Ukrainian cause. Mr Zelensky immediately expressed his regret at losing such staunch supporter. But there is the larger lesson here for the rest of the world and for Russia and China in particular. In Britain, bastion of democracy, proud heir to the great tradition started by Athenians, when you cease to approve of a leader you can make it clear and the person steps down. Not so in Russia or in China. Or in Myanmar and many other countries that merely pose as democracies. Even here in the US, on January 6th this year, a president obsessed with retaining power, posed a threat to the peaceful transition of power. Not so in Britain. England shines in this moment as it affirms the primacy of the will of the people. In a prison cell somewhere in Russia, Alexei Navalny, the most vocal critic of Putin’s regime, will probably remain incarcerated on false charges, as long as Putin is alive. He must be thinking of how long the road ahead for the country he so loves to one day mature politically and ascend to democracy. He may not live to see it. Lies in Russia have long become the rule. And because of it, Putin does as he wishes. Alexei Navalny criticizes his regime, then he goes to prison. To be out of prison in Russia means you have renounced your right to your own opinions. To walk the streets of any Russian city means you have willingly surrendered your right to publicly express how your country should be run. Instead, you have agreed to have Vladimir Putin decide for you. Does the great Vladimir want to order the destruction of a neighboring country, with which there are long standing ties, because they are now daring to choose freedom? Then let him do it. The great Vladimir knows what’s best for me. And the man or the woman choosing to entertain such thoughts will be allowed to continue on their walk. But it will be the walk of a diminished person. Lying and distortion of reality is Putin’s favorite tool. And he will keep working it. Until one day, something will spark in the hearts and minds of Russians who will ask themselves, why can’t we have at least moments like the English do? Why can’t we breathe politically? Political lying is a mighty tool, and it takes many people willing to join in the farce to make it happen. Even from distant countries. The other day, while reading the WSJ on the net, an ad emerged that kept flashing across the screen. It was a statement from a former vice premier of Thailand. In it, the regally dressed man told of how great a leader China’s Xi Jinping is. I don’t remember the details, but at the end it said something like, ‘And what is most impressive (about Xi) is the purity of his spirit.’ ????? A day or two before, in the NYT or WSJ or both, the heads of the top intelligence services in England and America made the public statement that the rate of cyberattacks by China on the West, to steal technological information, was steadily increasing (and going on for years). Did the vice premier in the advertisement know that? Of course he did. But in Russia and China the citizen doesn’t get a chance to object to a leader’s lies. And so people keep walking along, their heads a little lower every day. In England, you get thrown out of office. And the English, in spite of all their chaos and mistakes, can say to the world, ‘our voices must be heard, and flawed as they may sometimes be, they are priceless.’ Thank you, Britain.
Oscar Valdes, medium.com, anchor.fm, buzzsprout, apple and google podcasts
Article ‘Biden’s Saudi Arabia visit was worse than an embarrassment.’ My response – ‘Glad Mr Biden stuck to his guns. No bowing to the prince. Fist bump was good enough. And the restating that he thought MBS was responsible for Jamal Khashoggi’s death, a mark of political courage. Schiff didn’t like the president’s performance? Too bad. Don’t think Biden is worried. The Saudis have to grow up. Take responsibility for their actions. Like Russia and China better than the West? Go for it. can’t wait for the photo showing MBS embracing the exemplary human being that Putin is. Or hugging the ‘historical figure’ the Communists have made of Xi Jinping. Close my eyes and I can see them rising towards the heavens. Hand in hand. As to Iran, they’re a problem but not crazy. Not yet. They’re likely to get a good deal of money for signing on again and give Israel more time to prepare for that moment when they finally build it. Our surveillance and that of the Israelis will detect if they choose to go crazy and build the bomb. We’ll be ready. It won’t be pretty.’
Theocracies of any kind are a form of arrested political development. Whatever your belief in a supreme deity, it is man who must learn to govern his affairs. Theocrats thwart the development of the individual. They do it, not in the interest of furthering mankind but out of selfish reasons. Instructing their subjects on what to do and not, while they sweeten their own existences.
Article ‘Some risks are worth taking for Ukraine’ My response – ‘Why let Putin decide what is escalatory? Abiding by his terms is putting him on the driver’s seat. There are over three times more Russians than Ukrainians. Ukraine will run out of soldiers before Russia does. For the West to not firmly push for victory reveals timidity on our part. I am with those who have been advocating for sending planes to the Ukrainians. The idea that Russia will control more territory at the end of this conflict than it did before the start must not be acceptable. So let it be us to escalate instead. There will be no nuclear war because Putin doesn’t want to be burnt to a crisp and China will be the first to say, ‘Don’t do it because the West will nuke us too and we don’t want to see Xi roasting’
Whereas I feel Mr Biden has done an exemplary job in uniting the West, I believe there is room for more push. Leaders like France’s Macron have muddied the waters when he talks of not humiliating Russia. Oh so very mindful of Putin’s feelings, but meanwhile, thousands and thousands of Ukrainians keep dying and their infrastructure is ravaged.
We need to challenge Putin. Ukraine is ready to go on the offensive.
Oscar Valdes, medium.com, anchor.fm, buzzsprout, apple and google podcasts
Shinzo Abe, the longest serving Japanese prime minister, has died from a gunshot wound to the back. He was giving a speech on behalf of his political party. Abe had not been defeated at the polls but had resigned a few years ago for health reasons. Still, he remained involved in politics. A strong ally of the West, he had advocated for Japan having American nuclear weapons based on their soil as a deterrent to the menacing behaviors of China, Russia and North Korea. It fills me with sadness to see a man of such stature die at the hands of a little man, small in every respect, who didn’t even have the courage to face Mr Abe. But guns let you do that. They let men think they are bigger than they are, and so cover their flaws. It happens everywhere. Here in America, not a few days go by without another act of a man killing innocent people. Shinzo Abe clearly understood the power of Japan as the world’s third largest economy, and sought to use its prestige and influence wisely. Today, the free world mourns his death. His assassination will call for a review of Japanese security practices. It makes no sense, for a man of such prestige and relevance, to go unprotected allowing the perpetrator to approach him calmly from the back. The memory of Shinzo Abe will stand as a reminder of a politician’s pursuit of excellence, a too often ignored objective. He will inspire other courageous men and women, both in Japan and the rest of the world, to follow his example, to see the field of politics as a unique endeavor, one calling to those who wish to dedicate their lives to influencing the course of human events, which, when done well, necessitates enormous strength of character, to allow for the confronting of dissenting views and persevering in establishing a dialogue, forever in the hope, that it will helps us work together. Shinzo Abe had such gifts and shared them freely. Thank you Mr Abe. And may Japan soon give the world more like you
Oscar Valdes, medium.com, anchor.fm, buzzsprout, apple and google podcasts.
He’s pacing in his office in his bunker. He looks a bit tense but controlled, mostly an enjoyable feeling. He’s just finished a half glass of vodka with his filet of salmon, done ‘a la Vladimir’ by his personal chef. He is careful with his drinking. Always has been. He remembers Boris Yeltsin very well, and how drink undid him. On the other hand, if it hadn’t been for Yeltsin, who handpicked him, he wouldn’t be where he is now. He thinks about freedom, how the West carries on and on about it. Absurd.
‘There’s no freedom on earth, not really, it’s all in heaven. Which is why I’m not disturbed by all the casualties I inflict, death merely passage to a great and fair world. I mean… sometimes it does occur to me that heaven is a useful fiction but… what are the chances of that? Minimal. Have to play the odds… and I’m a gambling man.’
He paces some more.
‘The thought of the cartel drug lord in Chihuahua, Mexico, enters his mind. ‘How interesting. The young fellow kills two Jesuit priests and gets the third one to hear his confession. He didn’t kill him, so the likelihood is the priest pardoned him. What was he going to do, staring at the two dead bodies in front of him? “No, you’re a murderer, I’m not going to pardon you.” Of course, he pardoned him. Then said a couple of prayers with him, to console and send him off. I would’ve done exactly the same thing. Save your skin. Oh, the power of the gun.’
He stops and takes another sip of his vodka.
‘I have thought of putting a military base in Mexico. Just to piss off the Americans. I doubt the president of Mexico would let me, but just the talk of it would be enough to rile the Americans, which I love to do. I can even talk of putting bases in other countries, too, say Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba. Just to keep the Americans guessing.’
On the TV monitors affixed to the wall, scenes of the destruction in Ukraine flash by.
‘I am the toast of the world. I am reviled in some sections, sure, but in others I am a hero. And I love the invitation to the upcoming G-20 meeting in November. Joko Widodo, the Indonesian president, personally extended the invitation. Just beautiful. I’d love to attend. By then I will have conquered all of Ukraine, or if not, at least destroyed most of their infrastructure, their schools, universities, hospitals, industries, malls, whatever. Turned them into beggars. Just so they never forget what it means to defy me. The West will soon forget them, anyway, worried as they are of having to pay more for gas and so on. And when I get to the meeting, there will be leaders of nations lining up to shake my hand and bow and have a photo taken with me. For posterity. Beautiful. Narendra Modi will be there, and Xi Jinping, and I’ll try to mediate between them. Wouldn’t that be wonderful, if India would join our bloc? They’re cooperating so far. Then it would be Russia, China and India, against the West. We would be invincible.’
He crosses to a mirror on the wall adjacent and looks at himself. He smiles.
‘I’m strong and fit, good for another 20 years in power.’
He thinks of Trump.
‘I’m sorry to hear about what he went through after his defeat at the polls. I can only imagine what it would be like for me. Of course, I’d never give Russians the chance. But I’m sorry for Donald because I like him. I wish there was some way… well… not now. I certainly hope he runs again. If it hadn’t been for him, I wouldn’t have felt so certain that I could get away with invading Ukraine. I mean… I knew it wasn’t in him to rally the Europeans to oppose me… and he wouldn’t have started something on his own. Instead, he would’ve called me up and said something like, “Vladimir, you’re making me look bad by threatening to go in all the way like that… so in the open… instead, do it with stealth… get one of your people to run for president of Ukraine and get the comedian out. No military intervention, just infiltrate the government… meddle with the electoral process… and I’ll make sure NATO never makes Ukraine a candidate for membership. Be more subtle.” And just that thoughtfulness on his part, would’ve saved lives… Russian and Ukrainians both, and we would all be grateful. Of course, they wouldn’t be free… they would be part of my growing empire… but again, what’s all the fuss about freedom?’
He paces a little more.
‘This freedom thing is a ruse the Americans play on their people. Are people killing each other, free? Of course not. This freedom thing is a mirage. Opium for the masses. Hmm. I know that’s not original but sounds good. Can’t remember who said it. Must be the vodka. Are all those homeless people in America free? Right. All the poor people free, too? Sure. The only really free people in America are the ones with money. The rest don’t even vote or are too tired after work to think about it, which is why Trump stands a chance of getting elected and… if he plays his cards right, even getting the constitution changed so he can run again, for a third term, though he might be too old by then. But good for his successors. Anyway, he’s sure to beat Biden easily. Biden doesn’t have a chance, not with the drubbing I’m going to give Ukrainians and the relentless inflation. Hmm. The supreme court voided Roe vs Wade. The two term limit is next. Beautiful. Count on me, Donald, even if you can’t hear me. And, yes, I’d love to accept an invitation of yours to Mar-A-Lago and play a couple of rounds of golf. And do an appearance with you in your platform, Truth Social, and the world would be a more peaceful place. With fewer dead and ill. And Donald would let the Russian vaccine be used worldwide. Or talk to Xi, so he would use it in China. Not that their vaccine is bad. Just not as effective as mine.’
He opens his arms wide, a smile on his face.
‘Oh power, how grateful I am that I can hold you, how grateful that I will have you until I die.’
He frowns. His thoughts turn to the testimony of Ms Cassidy, a White House aide, on her recollections of what happened while the January 6th rioters were headed to the capitol.
‘That got away from Donald. If we had spent more time together, I would’ve made clear to him that he was in his right, as president, to have a gun on him, just in case, and when he got in the limousine to go to the capitol and lead the charge of the protesters in an unprecedented act of heroism, and the driver refused, he would’ve flashed his gun and made it clear who was boss. I bet the driver would’ve taken him… and the counting of the ballots would’ve been tampered with and Donald’s election would’ve been ratified by the conservatives in the supreme court and the world would’ve been spared the misery of Ukraine. Trump would have, single handedly, changed the course of history. But it got away from him. Not too late, though. There’s still time. Overturning Roe vs Wade is just the start. We have another election coming up. And Russians and Americans will become the best of friends.’
He smiles
‘I love me.’
Oscar Valdes, medium.com, anchor.fm, buzzsprout, apple and google podcasts
Right after the supreme court overturned Roe vs Wade, ending the constitutional right to an abortion for American women, a reporter from KNTX100 set out to find people in the street to share their views. The reporter (Rept), a woman, addresses a man as he approaches.
Rept – Good afternoon, I’m with KNTX100 and would like to get your impressions on today’s momentous supreme court decision. Are you aware of it? Man (stopping) – Oh yes. It shocked me. I mean, we knew there was the possibility but still it shocked me. Rept – In which way? Man – What business do old men have telling women what to do with their bodies? This Alito guy and Thomas, they’re just envious they didn’t get a uterus. I mean, a uterus is a beautiful thing, all of humanity has been there, all of humanity has been coddled and nurtured in that beautiful organ, every one of us has been there, Alito and Thomas too, and they don’t want to accept the fact that it’s up to the women who have the uterus to decide what to do with what’s in it. Rept – You don’t think there should be limits, depending on when the fetus becomes viable, as in able to subsist on its own? Man – Sure, I’m for that, too. Give it three months, that gives the woman enough time to decide if she wants to carry it or not. Because that’s a lot of responsibility. Not just for when we’re in the womb but afterwards. I mean, mothers… they’re really important. Rept – So you think Justices Alito and Thomas are envious of women? Man – Yeah, these guys, they’re the epitome of men who want to control women. That’s the bottom line here. I mean, us men, we’ve got to get a grip. We want women to give us life, pleasure, comfort, keep our secrets, look pretty, you name it, and we still want to control them? It’s too much. We men have to realize they have their own power and we have to trust they will use it in the best interest of humanity, like they’ve been doing all along. Rept – So you’re for equal pay for women and for doing away with the glass ceiling in corporate America? Man – Got that right. Not only should women get equal pay but women who conceive and give birth should get a tax break, too, as a way of saying, thank you. Definitively some time off. And we might have fewer wars in the world if we had more women in leadership. That’s not to say we haven’t seen some bad women leaders… but we’ve got to give them a chance. Rept – What do you think women should do in the face of this decision? Man – I was just thinking about it. Women who live in states where they will ban abortion should just leave. They should pack up and go, start a mass migration to states where they can have an abortion, and the reason is that if a state bans abortion, then they most likely have an antiwoman climate also, so women will be limited in what they can accomplish in ways that might not even be noticeable. So John will get promoted but Jill will not. Or Jill gets groped like that Hollywood producer was doing. If I had a daughter and she was living in a state that banned abortion, I’d tell her, ‘Get out!’ Rept – You don’t think they should stay and fight? Man – If that’s what you want, sure. But those states will have a lot of hard headed men, and old fashioned women – brainwashed – who will make their life tough. So better get out and make a life elsewhere. Look, most women want to have children, it’s in them, that’s how nature made them, but in this modern age they deserve a chance to choose what to do with their lives and bodies. Mistakes happen and people get pregnant when they didn’t want to or just change their minds. It shouldn’t be up to this Alito guy, or that dude Thomas, Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, Coney, you know the bunch. I’d say to all women in states where abortion is banned, ‘get out, get out now!’ Believe me, if they start that migration, pretty soon the guys will follow them and those states will suffer. Maybe then they’ll rethink the matter. Meanwhile, I’m putting those states in my flyover list. Good riddance. Rept – Any final comments? Man – Yeah. God has nothing to do with it. God wants women to be happy and if they want to have an abortion, that’s okay with God. Rept – What do you think of the war in Ukraine? Man – Ghastly. We need to do all we can for Ukrainians. Give them planes so they can push Russians back. Rept – Thank you so much for your thoughts, Mr… Man – Joe… just call me Joe. Rept – Thank you, Joe. (facing the camera) Reporting from Greenville, South Carolina, for KNTX100 and our sister affiliate in New Orleans, this is Tilly Pence.
She switches off her mike and the cameraman stops recording.
Man – Say, Tilly, you related to Mike Pence? Rept – I am, by marriage to someone in the family tree.
Now a woman approaches. The cameraman notices and tells Tilly. Joe waves goodbye and leaves. Tilly turns her mike back on as the cameraman starts to record the approaching woman.
Rept – Hi, I’m Tilly with KNTX100… I wanted to ask you a few questions… Woman (smiling) – I know who you are. I saw you interviewing the gentleman, so I figured I could put in my two words. Rept – Of course. So what do you think of the supreme court’s decision? Woman – I’m so relieved with the decision, my prayers finally answered. Can’t thank enough the good judges. We’re truly blessed in America to have such people. We now have God’s wishes, no tampering with creation and respect for the sanctity of life. We are vessels for the will of God. Our primary responsibility is to deliver to the world God’s gift – human beings. Men can’t do what we do. We conceive, carry and deliver humanity to the world, assuring our survival and progress. It’s a grand task and we women should be very proud of our capacity. Rept – You have children? Woman – Five. And I’ve been doing well professionally, too, so it hasn’t interfered. Rept – Congratulations. One person I interviewed today said that, in light of the decision and as protest, women in states that don’t allow abortion should leave and migrate to states that permit it. Woman – No, that would be disastrous. We women are fighters, we don’t give up and leaving would be giving up. Plus that would mean shrinking the pool of women available for procreation. Rept – That was his point… Woman – It’s not right… we need to populate all of America, not just the East and West coast. Rept – What do you think of the war in Ukraine? Woman – Oh, God, It’s so wrong. Those images… haunting… any destruction is wrong… Rept – You think we’re doing the right thing in helping them out? Woman – Actually, some help is okay but we’re spending too much… they’re just too far away… Biden’s spending like they’re his cousins… but there’s so much to do here now… and the gas prices keep going up. Everything. (She smiles) I have to go now. thanks for the interview. When will it air? Rept – This evening… Woman – Will I be in it? Rept – Yes. Of course, we edit a little. Woman – Of course. I just want to see myself on TV. Thank you
She turns and walks away.
Rept- So there it is folks, two different views on this difficult and divisive issue. This is Tilly Pence, for KNTX100, until next time.
Oscar Valdes, medium.com, anchor.fm, buzzsprout, apple and google podcasts
He’s standing in front of the window of his office in Mar-a-Lago, which looks out onto the golf course.
‘Finally… my vindication… Roe vs Wade is overturned because I put in those judges. My vision and determination have been proven right.’
He smiles to himself, rubs his chin gently.
‘And this marks the beginning of my return to the White House. I feel very excited. The nation is longing for sanity. What are we doing in Ukraine? Unbelievable. If I had been president, as I should have because the election was stolen from me… there would not have been a war in Ukraine. We wouldn’t have had this god awful problem with inflation, people wouldn’t be suffering with high gasoline prices… and thousands and thousands of Ukrainians and Russians would be enjoying their lives with their families. All that upheaval, the mass migrations, lives destroyed or turned upside down, buildings demolished… unbelievable… all of it… I cry when I see the scenes… all of it was preventable… but the democrats didn’t see it… they just can’t… it’s not in them… they’re an inferior brand of politicians.’
He shakes his head ruefully.
‘If I had been in office, Putin wouldn’t have had any reservations about picking up the phone and calling me up, “Donald… I’m feeling very uncomfortable with Zelensky in Ukraine carrying on about wanting to apply for membership in NATO… I don’t like it. I need your help. I’m feeling like they’re setting a trap for me.” Yes… Putin would’ve been honest with me… because we had that kind of relationship… and I would’ve helped. I would’ve asked him what he wanted… and he might’ve said something like, “I need to take Ukraine back… like when we had the Soviet Union. Since then, they have been a shambles, riddled with corruption and now they have all these neofascists infiltrating the government…’’ And I would’ve said… “Vladimir… make it quick… if it drags on it becomes a problem… so do it fast… it’s the humanitarian thing to do, anyway, so we can spare lives. Can you do that?” And we wouldn’t have had this disaster that the democrats and the EU have created. Amazing. What a difference a man can make in the course of history.’
Next to the window stand a few golf clubs. He crosses and selects one, which he now holds in his hands and start to motion as if he were about to tee off.
‘What this obsession with freedom? If you feel unfree take a vacation… that will do it. If you feel unfree, go out and make money, lots of it, that will do it. With me in the White House… the moment the EU members would’ve felt rattled by Putin’s move to take over Ukraine, I would’ve invited them over and said, let’s be practical, what use is Ukraine to us? And they would’ve looked at each other and nodded. And I would’ve added, if we put sanctions on Russia, then they will retaliate and cut your oil and gas supplies… which will hurt the economy and nobody will be happy. Anyway, I’ve been onto you guys to increase your defense spending to 2% of GDP and you haven’t done it, so why get all upset now? Go with the flow. “But what about Ukraine’s freedom?” some would’ve asked, and I would’ve answered that it’s up to each nation to deal with it. We can’t do it for them. I’ve known men who were in relationships where they were henpecked and they loved it. So it’s up to each individual nation. If Putin is still president of Russia is because Russians like it that way, otherwise they would’ve thrown him out. Same with the Chinese, if they haven’t revolted against Xi Jinping is because they love it. We’re not created equal. Law of nature. So with freedom.’
He swings the golf course. And again. Still dreaming with that hole in one he’s never got. But the Roe vs Wade decision has come close to giving him that sense.
‘If I had been in office there wouldn’t have been this horrible problem with inflation and people starving. Instead the markets would be soaring, everybody getting richer and richer. But the democrats, instead of putting Zelensky in his place and telling him to cool it, fell for his act. Freedom!’
He laughs.
‘If I had been in power I wouldn’t have insisted on any sanctions on Putin and said to my fellow Americans, let’s not push Russia onto China’s arms… instead let’s build a good relationship with them. I’m more worried about China wanting world supremacy than Russia. But I can work with China, too. For now we got the tariffs that I put on them and they’re working. With me in power, American businesses would not have had to leave Russia and would be making all kinds of money. And when I returned to Moscow aboard Air Force One, I would’ve been able to get myself a Big Mac.’
He smiles to himself as he returns to the window and to look out onto the golf course again. In the distance he sees his son in law, Jared, and Ivanka, walking on the greens, golf clubs in hand.
‘This overturning of Roe vs Wade has made up my mind. I will run again. The hearings on the January 6th incident will amount to nothing, since I never incited any violence, all I wanted was for American patriots to remind the people counting the electoral ballots that there might be some cheating involved… but it got out of hand. I regret the loss of lives. So… I will run for president in 2024 because the nation needs me. The country has lost its way and I can set it back on the right path. Get the wall finished also. As far as running mate is concerned, I’ll have to think about it some more. But I’m starting to think of Nikki Haley. Between the two of us we’ll cream Biden – Harris. They won’t have a chance. And after 4 years I’ll retire as the most consequential American president ever.’
He looks up at the ceiling.
‘God, you’re with me, ain’t you? Ha! I know you are.’
Oscar Valdes, medium.com, anchor.fm, buzzsprout, apple and google podcasts
Oscar Valdes 