Random Thoughts #29

More random thoughts

I take back most – but not all – of my criticisms of John Fetterman. Who knew that he would be the only vocal supporter of Israel in the senate while the Jewish senators are mostly quiet. Chuck Schumer actually went on the senate floor to call for a change in government in Israel. I didn’t see any criticism of Schumer from AIPAC.

Most Jews are democrats so why are their most vocal supporters republicans?

Does Biden’s withholding weapons from Israel mean that he is courting the Muslim vote (those who support Hamas) while thinking that the Jews will vote democrat regardless? He may be right. AIPAC is supporting Bob Casey in the senate rate in Pennsylvania even though he has been less forceful than his republican opponent David McCormick who has been loudly pro Israel.

The only actions taken by Trump that Biden kept were the tariffs. Now he has doubled down on the Chinese tariffs, ironically imposing them on green items that are not produced in volume in the US. Way to go Brandon.

Seemingly to celebrate Biden’s tariffs, BYD just launched the world’s first plug in hybrid pickup truck, the Shark, in Mexico for $54,000. BYD and Li have announced plans to build factories in Mexico claiming that the cars and trucks are not intended for the US market. Of course, they are lying.

Biden’s trade representative said that the tariffs would not have any impact on US prices saying “I think that that link in terms of tariffs to prices has been largely debunked.” Where did she learn her economics? 

Have you wondered why the campus protests are so small? As I have noted before, those that are protesting don’t have a clue about the Middle East and are not serious students. In fact, many protestors are not even students. Regardless, the vast majority of students are not participating. Yet the media is filling their 24/7 with campus protests.

Why are most of the tents of the student squatters at all the encampments the same green and white (Hamas’ colors)? Did the antisemitic student organizations get a volume discount?

How do you tell a terrorist from a civilian? Israel is telling people to leave certain areas in the Gaza war. Is it any surprise that when they flee to an area that the Israelis have cleared of Hamas, that fighting reoccurs in the once cleared territory? I guess they should let everyone flee except young men.

The Treasury is finding it harder to sell T bills and T bonds at its auctions. The Treasury issues the securities to fund government spending. The high interest rate on Treasurys, contrary to public opinion, is not determined by the Fed but by supply and demand. Given the rapid rise in spending and the increased volume of Treasurys, the only way that the Treasury can sell the requisite amount of bonds is at a lower price (higher yield). What happens if the Treasury cannot meet the financing needs of the government? It can sell them to the Fed which is called monetizing the national debt. Needless to say this is highly inflationary. Inflation also results in higher yields since investors want to preserve their purchasing power and suffer no decrease in the real value of their purchases. All this points to a possible collapse in the market for Treasurys if the congress doesn’t rein in spending. Lots of luck with that one.

RFK, Jr once called the Tea Party the resurgence of the confederacy. Excuse me but I was a Tea Party supporter having spoken to them at a rally in Knoxville and I hate the confederacy.

It’ll be interesting to see the relationship between Jewish students and professors going forward at the universities with the pro Hamas crowd and compliant administrators.

Wouldn’t it be great if the neo Nazis went on campuses to support the protesters in the student encampments?

We have just completed our “end of life” crisis. You have heard of the middle age crisis where you buy a sports car, get a hair weave (Joe Biden), and lose 20 pounds? Well the end of life crisis is where you sell the sports car (Porsche 911 cabriolet) to get a convertible that you can get into and out of (Mercedes 350CLK), sell the BMW, Honda and Indian motorcycles and get two Can Ams (Spyder and Ryker), and downsize your fifth wheel from a 36 foot 12,000 pounder to a 28 foot 8,000 pound Cougar 23MLE. 

We love Knoxville and the Knoxville house (I designed it and it has trees and the lake) and won’t downsize to the Georgia farmhouse (I designed it too) until I get too old to drive the 4 hours back and forth.