National guard deployments, Warm bosom of collectivism and Bourbon’s decline
No more national guard deployments?
Likely as a result of the recent Supreme Court ruling the president has announced that he is pulling the national guard out of Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland. Curiously he tweeted “We are removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, despite the fact that CRIME has been greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities, and ONLY by that fact. We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again – Only a question of time!” The reason this is curious is because the guard was sent into these cities to protect ICE and its facilities, not to deter crime. Crime deterrent was the reason the guard was sent into Washington DC, Memphis and New Orleans. That the president would omit the protection of ICE and only mention crime instead is a bit puzzling.
Socialism is for the warm and cuddly
When Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as mayor of New York, his inauguration speech contained all the promises he made on the campaign trail – universal childcare, free buses, government run grocery stores a tax on the wealthy and all the rest. Even getting rid of the gifted and talented program in the public schools. He promised to turn New York City into an affordable socialist paradise. He said “We will govern without shame and insecurity, making no apology for what we believe. I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist. I will not abandon my principles for fear of being deemed radical.”
But the phrase that generated the most buzz was “We will replace the frigidity of individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” Hey, give me that frigid individualism any day to the warm cuddly arms of collectivism. Where is collectivism warm? Where is it compassionate? Where does it lift the impoverish to prosperity? Even where it promises cradle to grave security, where does it provide it? And at what cost? Mamdani sounds like a latter day version of Maduro, reading from the same socialist playbook. Promise them equity. Promise to tax away the billionaires. Promise justice (where was defund the police?). Promise abundance in the face of scarcity. Promise everything and when he fails to deliver, blame it on the rich (and of course Trump) for setting impediments in his path as his city deteriorates around him. Mamdani needs Governor Hochul and the state legislature to acquiesce to his demands or else he will blame them to being in the pockets of the dastardly capitalists who resist him.
What will happen? One observer says that if Mamdani is really serious then Miami will replace New York City as the financial capital of the world. He (David Sacks) also predicts that Austin will replace San Francisco as the tech capital. And speaking of San Francisco, Mamdani also is going to quit trying to getting rid of the homeless encampments. This earned the praise of the homeless advocates. – yes there is such a thing. Hum. I wonder if the homeless advocates are themselves homeless?
Fall of the House of Bourbon
Speaking of warmth, what is happening in the market for bourbon? Jim Beam, the largest bourbon distiller, is shutting down production as inventories pile up, demand and exports fall (see Canada). Demand accelerated during the pandemic (isn’t that interesting?) and production in the industry ramped up. Now demand has fallen, there is the impact of Trump’s tariffs (again see Canada) and inventories have shot up. There are an estimated 16.1 million barrels of bourbon sitting in Kentucky warehouses. Distillers actually pay a barrel tax on those barrels which was $75 million in 2025. Beam will likely survive but many of the smaller distillers won’t. Sadly, one of them may be Uncle Nearest which is under court ordered receivership after a $108 million loan default. Uncle Nearest is named after the slave who taught a young Jack Daniel how to distill. Supposedly, his original formula is the basis for the premium liquor bearing his name. BTW, I don’t drink liquor but if I did, it would be Uncle Nearest.
One of my few regrets in life is that I don’t have the formula of the moonshine crafted by my great grandfather (Pop) Milous Towles. I could have had one of the Tennessee moonshine distillers (I have a former student who is the president of one) bottle and distribute it. It would be a fitting tribute to a truly remarkable man.
haroldblackphd.com 
Regarding the decision to comply with SCOTUS pulling NG, Trump defers to authority. Unlike the Dems who established sanctuary cities in defiance of American law. One party abides by the Constitutional process,. while the other thumbs their nose at it. Which party is the party of fascists?
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That is the most absurd statement I have ever heard. Donald Trump needs those bodies, to die for his invasion of Columbia, and Greenland..
Don’t take it personal!!..
The worst:
Incredible that Lindsey Graham, that bloated effeminate, stands on taxpayer-funded Air Force One, spitting and agreeing with World Domination . A Stand by your Man effeminate, bloated Trump bitch..
Trump’s whole focus against DEI is to build a Master Race Nazi force- – to bend the World to his Holy Name And if you bow to his Name, you will be exactly the work-wife he wants.
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I’m not sure what in my comment was relevant to any part of your comment?
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The relevance is your argument that one party is any better than another —thats absurd. It is all government domination..
This blog has already addressed the actions of civil rights and force. Wilson called out forces on the American people ; Eisenhower did. Trump is not special..
Trump didn’t pull back troops because of the Constitution. He needs to draw all forces into assault on other governments..
I’m just waiting for the Draft- which Nixon ended and Democrat Carter brought back..
It’s up to you – I’m embracing oops… Democracy. You decide if this is an alpha male surrounded by weak, effeminate republicans- or whether Trump’s power to control the world comes with the office of AntiChrist.
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l have to disagree. While all men are sinners the party of Democrats has now become so radicalized that flagrantly disobeying our border laws is esteemed. Protesting by destroying personal property is celebrated. Demonizing authority is celebrated. We are not the same.
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Dr. Black usually discourages personal details. But I don’t mind telling you that my parents were divided politically.
And even better, my Democrat mother took me out of high school to campaign for Bo Calloway. Not bragging but he got the most votes- and I won a golden Republican elephant. Then the Georgia Legislature put Lester Maddox in anyway..
I was a Republican where it counted, living in Massachusetts. But when I returned to TN, especially East TN , it was a revelation. I won’t go into name calling now, per civility. I won’t be a Republican now..
Would it make you feel better to know my EX wife hit young Joe Kennedy in the face? No charges were made.
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Whoa Larry. Let’s keep the conversation a bit more civil. Lindsey Graham is one if the few neocoms who still has Trump’s ear. As to building a master race nazi force by eliminating DEI I think that is a bit of a stretch. More on all this later.
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I will look forward to your “later”..
As I recall Neocons was a topic of Jimmy Duncan- if I’m not mistaken . I believe it was his last topic before you and he got deep-sixed..
Is it possible that Dr. Jim, who replaced you both & whose undying loyalty to Trump and unrelenting hate of Biden- is also drummer? Just asking.
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Is true. The administration has so far appealed lower court rulings rather than defy them like Biden and yielded to the Supreme Court.
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I had talked yesterday about moonshine on the mountains. My dad has so many stories about stills and , well, socializing. Altho he didn’t make moonshine himself, his family knew the road to where the distillers were..
I didn’t know that moonshine was smooth.
And when I said that , the moonshiner had me pour mine out— don’t get attached..
Uncle Nearest- a story of true family motivation. Making a product and lifestyle, and of overcoming —out of a dark time in America..
I could use all that stored bourbon. If my wife would let me make more than one round of booze balls.
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The booze balls story was hilarious.
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