KASH PATEL CONFIRMED 51-to-49 SENATE VOTE TO HEAD FBI TRUMP HONEYMOON SHOWS SIGNS OF FRACTURE CHAINSAW STUNT KETEMINE RUMORS: MUSK MELTS DOWN AT CPAC

 

[February 20, 2025 (12:45 PM PST)]

A quick post on a couple of items which broke this morning, critical thinkers,

Image Credit: Ben Curtis/AP

NY TIMES: Patel's Loyalty to Trump Raises Questions of FBI Independence

Well, the NYT was not pleased, but we like to look at both sides of the argument.

TOWNHALL: Patel Confirmed Despite Pushback on 2020 Election Try to Link to QAnon.

During Patel’s confirmation hearing, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) brought a bit of levity when he whipped out his “Kash Bingo Card” predicting the lines of attack Democratic senators would use against the nominee.

Tillis might have hit bingo many times over as Democrats predictably fixated on the January 6, 2021 riot at the United States Capitol building, his statements on the outcome of the 2020 election, his supposed “enemies list,” and his insistence on rooting out political bias in the FBI.

 

NBC: Pretty Fair Take with Lots of Links

Alright, the DOGE news is overwhelming but I will try to keep everyone up on the latest.

I am sensing many are growing in their concern on the pace and depth of the layoffs and firings.

Yesterday, I observed a crowd of about 1,500 protesters at the Tesla dealership in SF. You would expect slim support here, but people seem concerned--including myself.

One of the glaring observations is who will take-up the work load of those dismissed being the first question? 

Be back soon,

Drake

[February 21, 2025 (9:30 PST)]

Coming back to look at some other issues now that most all cabinet and department heads have been confirmed.

Here is a look at what Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, says in a message targeting would be and recently arrived migrants in what she described as a multi-million dollar ad campaign.

'X: Dated Feb 17th, I have yet to see it on any of our platforms or TV outlets we monitor [1:00m]

Meanwhile, we are witnessing some fracturing of '47's honeymoon period which may be coming to an end:

CNN: Consumer Sentiment Plunges Over Tariff and Inflation Fears

Mediaite: Mark Levin Bashes Trump Doubles Down on Zelenski Support

Overheated Housing Market Looking Like A Bubble

CNBC: Home Sales Drop Sharply as Prices Hit an All Time High in January

I was profoundly affected by the Mortgage Crisis/Great Recession; at the time, I was a contractor  whose primary clients were luxury home builders in PDX metro. Starting around the end of September 2007, the biggest residential builder in Oregon/SW Washington followed their primary lender, Washington Mutual, into bankruptcy. We completed the last houses in March 2008, and the resulting loss of income was severe.

Concerned about Musk & DOGE?

Image Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Many observed his inability to talk coherently at CPAC last night; surprisingly, his erratic behavior with a chainsaw--sounds weird but wait until you see the embedded interview outtakes!

Image Credit: Etsy

Daily Beast/MSN: Dark Glasses Led to an Internet A Buzz with Ketamine Speculation and Memes

That puts post 459 completed, and let me thank whomever shared the URL boosting me the other day to 500+ views in one day!

Drake