Here are my observations and opinions on my selected news of the day.
PRESIDENT TRUMP OFFERED DEMS the following friendly advice after outlining the first major overhaul of the nation’s immigration system in over 50 years during a Rose Garden presentation Thursday:
THE PREZ (joemiller.us)
“Many of the Democrats have claimed to be for these concepts at different times in their careers – and, in many cases, in very recent history. And I hope that they will end up joining me and all of the people gathered together today in putting politics aside, putting security and wages first, and pursuing these historic reforms. It’s time.
“And, if for some reason – possible political – we can’t get the Democrats to approve this merit-based, high-security plan, then we will get it approved immediately after the election when we take back the House, keep the Senate, and, of course, hold the presidency.”
The president joked that he hoped it would take until 2021, adding, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to do it sooner than that?”
It’s obvious that if the Democrats don’t get on board, the president will use it against them in his reelection campaign.
ATTENTION WALMART SHOPPERS, Macy’s, too. While President Trump is attempting to bring trading with China in balance after decades of “advantage China” policies, Walmart and Macy’s are warning that China tariffs mean higher prices for U.S. shoppers.
“Consumers can expect to pay more for thousands of products, from clothing and furniture to bicycles and food, as a result of expanded tariffs on Chinese-made goods,” said Brett Biggs, Walmart’s executive vice president and CFO.
BLACKBIRDS MASCOT OFFENSIVE (LIUscreengrab)
While warning of price increases on Chinese goods, Macy’s CEO Jeffrey Gennette seemed more interested in warning stockholders. During an earnings call with Wall Street analysts on Wednesday he said that the tariff expansion “was not contemplated” when Macy’s set its annual earnings goals.
Kramerontheright suggests that consumers take the time to check product labels, and buy American.
MORE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS – Long Island University, currently merging two athletic programs in Brooklyn and Post, will be dropping the “Blackbirds” nickname, that dates back to 1935. Suddenly, it’s considered to be an offensive racist mascot.
FROM MY MEMORY BANK – While serving in the Air Force at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona in 1965, I witnessed the first B-52 Stratofortress arrive for desert storage in what is known as the “boneyard.”
WISE GUY RETURNS – Col. Robert Burgess, 307th Bomb Wing commander, gives thumbs-up as B-52H 60-034 gets reprieve. (USAF Photo)
On Tuesday, I learned that for only the second time in Air Force history, a B-52H has been brought out of storage and delivered to an operational unit. The aircraft, bearing nose art with the nickname “Wise Guy” and the serial number 60-034, was flown to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, where it will be flown by the 307th Bomb Wing, It is scheduled for a complete overhaul and updating at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma prior to reentering service with the 307th.
Prior to its delivery for storage in 2008, it was flown by the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota and still has the “MT” tail code. At the time, someone scribbled a note on a panel inside the plane to the Boneyard preservation crew that reads, “This is 60-034, a Cold Warrior that stood sentinel over America from the darkest days of the Cold War to the global fight against terror. Take good care of her … until we need her again.”
The delivery brings the size of the Air Force’s operational B-52H fleet back to a total of 76 aircraft, the maximum allowable number under the terms of an arms control treaty with Russia. It replaces a B-52H destroyed in a crash on Guam three years ago.
May God bless the United States of America.
