Copy of AFF Sentinel V21 #31-July Closeout Views
- Steve Dittmer
- Jul 22
- 5 min read
Candidates, Culture and Government Malfeasance
Steve Dittmer | AFF Sentinel
Colorado Springs, CO
Originally sent to subscribers 07/30/24
So what exactly are J.D. Vance’s positions on key issues for a possible Trump administration?
Well, it’s complicated. There is no doubt of basic facts. Vance grew up under poor and difficult circumstances in Kentucky and Ohio. Despite the difficult home life, he managed to join and serve in the U.S. Marine Corps, including Iraq; attended The Ohio State University; got his law degree from Yale; spent some years in venture capital firms and eventually founded his own firm. All before winning a U.S. senate seat from Ohio and turning 39. Oh, and penning a memoir that became a best seller and a movie turning the spotlight on tough sledding in the lower income echelons of America (“Hillbilly Elegy”).
One would think that background would be nearly bullet proof to Democrat opposition researchers. Incredibly, they’ve questioned the American loyalty of a USMC veteran. And they’ve disparaged an offhand interview answer a couple years ago about our cultural mores, political attitudes and government policy being aimed more at spinsters and against couples raising a family.
In case the leftist political gurus hadn’t noticed, there has been an increasing trend among recent generations’ couples to raise cats and dogs instead of little humans. He referred to what we used to call spinsters as “cat ladies,” one of whom so named has harassed radio host Dan Bongino for years.
Incidentally, the substitution of cats and dogs for human kids is no doubt part of the problem animal agriculture has with recent generations. It used to be a public relations difficulty but nowadays is a serious legislative problem. Those cat ladies devote a lot of their passion and millions of their dollars to animal welfare outfits like HSUS. We used to tell audiences that one of the roots of our problems was people regarding “family” as those beings sitting on the couch watching TV with them -- their cats and dogs. From what we hear, it’s not just the TV room they’ve invaded but we won’t go there.
All of that is political video clips and snapshots. What are the policies that are relevant about Vance? Keep in mind, vice presidents aren’t really the final decision on policy in an administration. Dick Cheney probably had more influence as veep than most in recent decades. One Kamala Harris seemed to have little influence and zero impact on the main assignment she was given -- the border -- but that was a week ago. Suddenly she was brilliant and effective, as long as one forgets that she was part and parcel of one of the most destructive administrations in nearly five decades.
Even a liberal commentator posited that maybe Kamala’s laugh was the best thing she had going for her. Was he kidding or not?
In discussing Vance’s not-so-conservative economic positions recently, Steve Moore and Larry Kudlow generously indicated they thought a sit down with Art Laffer would benefit Vance’s understanding of free markets and supply side economics. Along those lines, Moore warned against a trend from the conservative right about using big government to achieve conservative ends.
We’re very concerned about Vance’s reported positions opposing free trade, right-to-work laws, tax cuts and leaning towards entitlement programs. And, somewhat puzzling for a venture capitalist, he has a jaundiced view of business in general. Perhaps he hung out too long with the California techies, thinking all business people are like that.
It is perhaps a personal calculation on Trump’s part that, as an “impressive high achiever,” as described by James Freeman (Wall Street Journal), Vance will add new economic thoughts to his conservative beliefs. After all, he changed his mind about opposing Trump before 2016. As a political calculation, Vance will appeal to the Upper Midwest working class voters Trump wants to bolster.
While Trump talks constantly about cutting taxes and regulations, Vance has not. In fact, he praised Lina Kahn, the FTC chairman who is constantly prosecuting big business and lost most cases in court.
But Trump was smart enough to listen to Moore, Kudlow and Kevin Hassett in his administration and certainly heard from Laffer. We’re counting on it a second time around.
Few on the right question Vance’ character, integrity or patriotism. While he’s not yet a perfect VP, contrast him with Kamala Harris.
Last fall she went on a college tour, titled (ironically to us) “Fight for Our Freedom.” The topics: abortion, gun control, climate action, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights and opposition to book bans.
Of course, the voting rights were for illegal aliens and the book bans involved inappropriate sexual themes for little kids.
No wonder many college kids emote the way they do.
And of course, we seem to remember something about her opposing meat eating, even though she occasionally broke her own rules.
Speaking of changing minds, we’ve changed ours on the Trump assassination attempt and the murder and wounding of rally attendees.
The initial revelations were sobering even to those skeptical of government operations normally. As we learned about the lack of planning, coordination, communication and personnel came in, we struggled to see mere incompetence here. We’re not the type to jump to conspiracy explanations for the unexplainable but this one seemed ripe.
But as more incredible facets of this mess become known, it goes back to incompetence. No professional conspirators plotting to kill people and get away without suspicion would have had anything to do with this farce. A conspiracy involves intricate planning and execution so that no one spots the one little factor that makes the plot succeed. Think of a mob hit or a CIA plot from decades ago.
This one looks more and more like a Three Stooges skit, with no skillful leadership, no common sense and organizational skills a first-grader would exceed.
It approaches the comical, as those in charge play dumb and dumber to avoid culpability. The sad thing is that citizens showing their support for a candidate got killed and wounded in doing their civic duty.
Speaking of government accountability, FBI agent Peter Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page, central to the Hillary Clinton hatched Russian collusion hoax, while conducting an extra-marital affair unbeknownst to their spouses, were held accountable in DOJ AG Merrick Garland’s twisted fashion. They got settlements totaling $2 million for their text messages regarding political opposition to Trump -- remember the “insurance policy” against Trump -- being made public. Strzok has two other suits pending. Miranda Devine, New York Post, first revealed the settlement on Larry Kudlow’s show.
USDA has proposed new rules on salmonella in poultry. The agency claims their new testing limits are founded in data, science and input. Industry groups disagree. More on that later.
USDA extended the comment period on its P & S proposed rule on "Competition" but only for a mere 15 days. Still to come, will be how the Loper Bright case overturning the Chevron deference ruling might affect that proposed rule.
Our address: Agribusiness Freedom Foundation, P.O. Box 88179, Colorado Springs, CO. 80908.
To support the work of AFF, you can contribute with any major credit cards here:
Or,
If you wish to use your Paypal acct. click below: