I do try to respect President Reagan’s 11th Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of thy fellow Republican.” I know ideological litmus tests rub some people the wrong way. I get that turning internal disagreements into political losses is self-defeating. I agree that priority number one is to beat back the Marxist hoards pushing America to the cliff’s edge. And it sure is nice to pat ourselves on the back for having a “big tent” open to everyone. But…you knew it was coming…I sure wish we could move on from Mitch McConnell. Or rather, I wish we could find an effective way to compel Republican senators to move on from McConnell (and his lackeys) as their leader.
I don’t like him. I don’t like the way he conducts business in the Senate. I don’t like his imperious nature and his backroom double-dealings. I don’t think he represents the vast majority of Republican voters, and even worse, I don’t think he even cares. I find him off-putting and arrogant and a terrible spokesperson for the Republican Party. I do not think he has ever convinced a single non-Republican voter to come onboard. I’m not certain he believes in much aside from the accumulation and maintenance of raw power. And to the extent he actually does have sincere beliefs, those beliefs seem hopelessly aligned to an outdated Republican Party still grazing in the country-club safe spaces of bourbon-swilling “elites.”
His fingerprints are all over the Senate’s new gun control bill, of course, because nothing gets done on the Republican side unless Mitch first snaps his fingers or gives his blessing. His control over Republicans in the upper chamber looks more mafia don than minority leader. So once again Senate Republicans are marching down a path in which they will congratulate themselves for having taken a “historic step” in fighting “gun violence,” while doing nothing other than undermining the Bill of Rights and leaving their voters more vulnerable as future targets for Democrats’ lawless bureaucratic harassment. (Tell me that McConnell and his boys don’t secretly enjoy the idea of grabbing guns from the freedom-minded Tea Party and MAGA Americans they despise.) Well done, Senate Republicans! Thanks for habitually rewarding red state voters with the vomitous stench of betrayal.
If McConnell’s efforts to curtail the Second Amendment don’t prove him deeply unsuited to lead the New Republican Party during these uncertain times, consider a few additional reasons:
(1) Russia collusion hoaxer:
The Russia collusion hoax was Obama and Hillary’s baby (uh, gross), but Mitch gave it legitimacy by pretending that it deserved serious investigation. Using Richard Burr’s Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to hide the FBI’s illicit spying operations against candidate Trump while backing the two-year Mueller Inquisition allowed McConnell to wield some power over President Trump (who had uniquely come into high office beholden to none). By doing so, he helped divide the nation further than ever and betrayed all the Republican voters (a common theme here) who had succeeded in finally putting an America First candidate into the White House. Imagine how much better off the country would have been had McConnell firmly rejected the Democrats’ absurd allegations that Donald Trump was a Russian spy. Imagine how much more successful President Trump would have been in executing his MAGA policy agenda.
(2) Backstabber extraordinaire:
No matter how many times President Trump went out of his way to keep McConnell happy (making his wife Transportation Secretary, choosing mutually agreeable Supreme Court nominees, acceding to some of McConnell’s unsavory anti-MAGA picks for elected office), the Establishment Republican never thought twice before stabbing him in the back after January 6. It is rumored that McConnell was “exhilarated” with the media’s framing of that day as a “terrorist attack” and “insurrection” because he confidently believed it would “finally, totally discredit” Donald Trump and return control of the Republican Party back to the same Chamber of Commerce China appeasers who have sold out America’s labor force for decades. Had polling not ultimately cowed him, he certainly would have joined Mitt Romney in voting for Trump’s second farcical impeachment. McConnell could have defended the president’s right to freely express his opinion that the 2020 election was a sham, but that would have put him on the side of free speech and against his good friend, Joe Biden.
(3) Corporate stooge and anti-labor globalist:
I’m thrilled that the Republican Party is becoming the home of hardworking Americans. I think the future of the party is Main Street, not Wall Street. I think it’s a great time to fight back against “woke” corporations and the multinational institutions that push foreign interests at the expense of everyday Americans. A self-sufficient America is a secure and prosperous America. An America that prioritizes manufacturing, industry, and innovation over imports is an America with an expanding middle class. An America that produces real products and not simply financial instruments traded by investment banks is an America with a real future and real wealth. And Mitch is not suited for this transition. He’s what most Republicans have come to despise: a politician who does the bidding of corporate lobbyists, not his constituents. He’s a globalist in an America First party.
(4) War hawk with a China problem:
Biden’s Build Back Better boobery has unleashed inflation hell. His unguarded borders are flooding America with millions of illegal immigrants. Americans are suffering. What does McConnell believe is the biggest problem on the planet today? Ukraine. After two decades of sending Americans to sandboxes in Asia and the Middle East to accomplish questionable objectives, now he and his war hawks desperately want to engage Russia on the battlefield. I don’t think he or his acolytes realize how few Americans have their backs. After pushing military adventurism abroad with little gain, they are not trusted. Their new “woke” military is not trusted. And nobody trusts McConnell’s obsession with Russia when he turns a blind eye to China’s genocide, market manipulation, and aggression. As Peter Schweizer has well documented, McConnell’s family has made too much money from the Chinese Communist Party to know who his real friends are. Should war with China become inevitable, McConnell is a liability.
(5) Election manipulator:
He helped get Alabama Democrat Doug Jones elected by attacking conservative Republicans Mo Brooks and Roy Moore. He handed over senate seats in Arizona and Georgia by insisting that those states’ conservative bases back the unpalatable candidacies of Martha McSally and Kelly Loeffler over local favorites. He’s forced Lisa Murkowski on America. By interfering in state elections to tank the rise of more conservative candidates, McConnell has cost Republicans Senate seats time and again. His my way or the highway approach to Senate elections has given Chuck Schumer a majority. Even worse, the few true conservatives in the Senate have been left vastly outnumbered by moderate milquetoasts and Romney-like quislings.
(6) Party boss, not a leader:
Establishment Republicans bemoaned their inability to attract black and Hispanic voters for years. You know who finally succeeded in appealing to a much broader voting coalition? Right! Donald Trump. For all their underhanded moves to weaken his presidency and destroy his influence within the party, McConnell Republicans have benefited greatly from Trump’s direct appeal to voters disenchanted with the Democrats’ Marxist ways. You know who doesn’t remotely appeal to that coalition? Yep. Mitch McConnell. McConnell has always struck me as an anachronistic throwback to a nineteenth century party boss before the invention of radio or television. He lacks gravitas, eloquence, charm, or even the inkling of an inspiring demeanor. He rules through fear and punishment, and voters do not like or trust him.
For that last reason alone, he should be dismissed as an unhelpful relic of Republicans’ past.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
Only six? C’mon man.
His letters begging for money always hit the trash can in a flash. Now, Rand Paul I like!
Very telling that McConnell denounces Rick Scott’s very conservative Republican plan for America, saying that taking a stand on issues might alienate independent voters in November so just run on an anti-Democrat platform. AND YET he is now gung-ho to support a worthless gun grabbing measure that will do nothing but alienate Republican voters in November.
Joe Biden boasted during his presidential campaign that the Communist Democrat party had the most sophisticated and extensive voter fraud organization ever created, IMHO, they use this organization to also keep Rino’s like McConnel, Graham and others in office who work with them on key issues behind the scenes.
How is that McConnel and his Chinese wife can conduct business with the communist Chinese government, when a large part of his job is to vote on legislation, policies and laws concerning China and our national security?
The Turtle, his wife and their extended family members have become multi millionaires through their business dealings with the communist Chinese government.