Happy Easter

Once upon a time we would watch the President and his family walk across Lafayette Square to attend Easter morning church services.

Today we get potential war crimes.

Happy Easter, Passover, or whatever or however you celebrate the season.

How to Learn to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

A funny thing happened on the road to the White House.  The president who turned-up isn't the same guy as the candidate.

The US war against Iran is unpopular and becoming more unpopular as it continues; furthermore, the latest Economist/YouGov Poll also finds few Americans support deploying ground troops to the conflict.

Or do other Americans see it differently?

Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper - Dr. Strangelove

It depends-upon whom you ask.

Only 30% of Americans strongly or somewhat approve of President Trump's handling of the Iran war with 60% disapproving for a net approval of -30.

Almost all Democrats (88%) oppose the war while independents oppose it by a 3-to-1 ratio.  

But there is this: Collectively, most Republicans support the war (62%) yet there is a huge gap in support between MAGA Republicans and non-MAGA Republicans (70% support vs. 33%).  Inasmuch as there are more than twice as many MAGA supporters as non-MAGA supporters among the GOP, MAGA opinion is basically settled science.   

Furthermore, a recent CBS News poll found that 92% of MAGA Republicans expressed support for military action against Iran, compared with only 70% of non-MAGA Republicans.

Amongst my MAGA acquaintances, and mostly on account of my unwavering support for arming Ukrainians in defending their country from a Soviet invasion, I have been characterized as everything from an armchair general to a warmonger.  

Naturally, beginning three years ago and following Vladimir Putin's unprovoked assault on Ukraine these same individuals reminded me at most every opportunity that supporting Ukraine's defense was distinctly at odds with candidate Trump's America First platform.  I quote:  'No foreign entanglements', 'We haven't won anything since WWII', 'Donald Trump is the greatest patriot ever' and 'You like war too much'.    

Candidate Trump may have ridden to reelection with a pledge to avoid forever wars yet systematically blowing alleged drug-running vessels and crews out of the Gulf of Mexico, a birthday military parade, deploying the military on America's streets, Houthis in Yemen (Operation Rough Rider), 529 air strikes across the middle east, Africa and central Asia, aerial strikes against Iranian sites last summer, ISIS in Iraq, threats to take Greenland by force, masked and unidentified federal paramilitary forces killing three American citizens, a military toppling of Venezuela's government, seizure of Venezuelan oil at the point of a gun, threats against Cuba, the current Iran war and recent musings to ditch NATO suggest that America First pretty much means whatever President Trump says it is; on any given day.  My impression is it is exceedingly warlike.

I had always figured that MAGA supporters preferred candidate Trump's populist pitch while bemoaning old-school Reagan neocons and their propensity for an assertive foreign policy.  Deservedly or not it is a fact I have been derisively called a neocon; yet the polling seems to suggest that MAGA world agrees-with and, only a short fourteen months into a second term, seems to have developed a powerful thirst for Trumpian military adventurism - both domestically and abroad.  

Just as with the CBS poll, if you dig thru the data, MAGA world is overwhelmingly in favor of mounting a war with Iran; and, when specifically asked if the war counts as an America First policy, only a mere 9% of the president's loyalists say it does not.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute's 2025 National Defense Survey reveals that self-identified MAGA supporters were also the most supportive of all sorts of interventions in Taiwan with two-thirds supporting 'committing US forces in defense of Taiwan.'  That doesn't sound like isolationism does it?

Speaking for myself I happen to think that the Iranian Mullahs are a dangerous collection of twisted religious revanchists who would represent a threat to a peaceful world order if they had nukes and the capacity to deliver them.  I generally lose no sleep over dealing with bad actors by means of force.

Nevertheless, dealing with security threats deliberately and with forethought is not the same as impulsiveness.  And the world has no shortage of bad actors.  Most days I think the president has stepped in it this time and unleashed a cascade of destabilizing events that have dangerous consequences for global stability, security and the world's economy.  Let there be no misunderstanding, it is in my own self interest that things somehow work out for the best.  I'm also smart enough to know that five weeks into this the president's excursion is nowhere near a forever war.  Oh; and we don't have the highly-enriched stuff in our possession either.  Yet anyway.  There is that as a denouement.  

I have yet to hear what the exit strategy is.  You?

So for now I think we might be in for a stretch of rising energy costs, inflation and possibly some economic stagnation or contraction.  Only the passage of time will write the end to that chapter.

Meanwhile, there's a pile of the US population becoming grumpy over rising gasoline and diesel, increasing grocery prices due to supply chain disruptions and escalating transportation costs.  I'm beginning to believe that post-election MAGA world doesn't really care about that as much as they did a couple-three years ago.  Nobody's bitching about it at all on social media and not a single sole Trump supporter I speak with on a daily basis has yet to bring it up.  Loyalists are called that for a reason after-all.  Which is just fine; and it is perfectly OK to own what you have wrought.

It has occurred to me this might have something to do with ideological principles; dictated by whatever president Trump tells us to believe and the possibility that the beliefs of some reading this might be insincere.  Which is fine too; people are disingenuous all day long.  I understand that sometimes it is difficult to admit making a mistake.  I get it.  I make mistakes too.  Get over it.  Own it.

Or perhaps at its core the principle is to agree with the president in every respect; even if his actions contradict what he promised in order to get a voter's support.  No matter it damages their business and costs them the actual farm.  On that matter I can only speculate.

So, for any of my MAGA acquaintances reading this; if you want to call me an armchair general or a warmonger; have at it.  Throw neocon my direction for good measure.  I have a thick skin and since you're doing it from the warming glow of your device and not personally to my face I understand the context. Water off a duck's back.  Das macht nichts aus.  

Polling is science.  With growing awareness the rest of the world is learning that MAGA world likes war; and way the heck more than me.  Does MAGA like it too much?  That's hard to know as we're only fourteen months into President Trump's military adventurism.  I think we ain't seen nuthn' yet.  But I'm perfectly happy to be wrong.

I'm old enough to remember back to 1965 when a certain general famously pledged to eschew ground troops and use naval and air power to bomb the Vietnamese - Back into the stone age.  In his April 1st address to the nation it was fascinating to see and hear President Trump invoke the very same oath - verbatim.  Curious about from whom the president is taking his cues? 

A general splendidly associated with ruthless scorched-earth tactics against civilians.

Stay-tuned..... 

New Roommate

The Missus trapped this critter as it was jumping across the dining room table while she was completing some paperwork.  For it's diminutive size it was making some spectacular leaps and she eventually trapped it under a adult beverage highball glass.

At first glance I thought it was a flea; but upon closer examination with my iPhone camera it was revealed to be a small spider.  Similar to others I've seen around the kitchen or bathroom sink recently.

A Google Gemini search reveals this to be a Jumping Spider.  Meet the Tan Jumping Spider - Platycryptus undatus - reported to be common in the Midwest.

Buddha would approve of our decision not to kill this critter as quickly as we would the nasty Asian beetles thawing-out recently as this arachnid is harmless to people and an active hunter of flies, gnats and mosquitoes.  Furthermore, relative to other spiders they're endowed with excellent vision, complex brains and are known to be curious about humans and will track your movements with their large front eyes. Yup, if you pay us a visit you may be watched.

They don't construct webs preferring to actively hunt and pounce-upon their prey.  Nevertheless, while jumping they sometimes deploy a single strand of silk that serves as a safety tether.  Spider-Man would approve.

I haven't spotted these in large numbers as they don't live in colonies and since they don't bite and neither of us have any spider phobias maybe they'll keep the fruit flies in check around the box wine and kitchen compost container.  If they're bothersome they're easily-enough moveable outside after it warms-up.  A simple-enough mechanism to get rid of a new roommate if things don't work out...

Friday Music

Composed by Mancini for the television show of the same name the song was the opening track on the original soundtrack album - The Music from Peter Gunn.  Released in 1959 it reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 12 on the R&B chart.  Mancini went on to win an Emmy Award and two Grammys for Album of the Year and Best Arrangement.

Over a couple of decades this song has earned three posts here at the Platz (Yes, you can read/watch them by searching under Peter Gunn) and I figure it's about time to add one more to make it four.

Emerson, Lake and Palmer issued a live album - In Concert - recorded at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec, August 26, 1977.  Following ELP's breakup it was released by Atlantic Records in November of 1979.  It was subsequently repackaged and re-released as Works Live in 1993 to include three tracks recorded in Wheeling, WV in November of 1977.  This was one of them.

Turn-up the volume for a really fun iteration of the Peter Gunn theme...

Highway Patrol

Yup, Wisconsin State Patrol pays a visit; again.

This time with a 1956 Chevrolet 210 4-door sedan including dark blue on white paint and the still-familiar door badge.  In the 1950s Wisconsin was transitioning from motorcycles and under powered patrol cars to V8-driven high speed patrol and pursuit vehicles.  Chevrolet was a natural fit as a consequence of their reliable small block V8 motors, availability of a statewide maintenance network and a lower fleet cost than Chrysler or Ford.  

click on image for a closer look

This vehicle was identical in virtually all respects with the Chevy Bel Air; hosting the same drive train (engines and transmissions) chassis and suspension.  As a trim line the Bel Air sported costlier chrome and flashier trim.  Police agencies eschewed such extravagance and opted for the less-ostentatious utilitarian appearance of the 150 and 210 models.  

Our State Patrol rolled courtesy of a 265 cu. in. V8 equipped with a 2-barrel carburetor rated at 170 HP.  A few vehicles in the fleet were upgraded to the 4-barrel Power Pack 205 HP model.  A 3-speed manual transmission was standard for patrol duty.  Naturally, this was a vehicle with rear-wheel drive and equipped with fleet specification rear axles, heavy duty springs, shocks and reinforced frames.

Standard equipment included a single rotating red gumball roof beacon, a driver's side spotlight, a roof-mounted whip radio antenna, hi-output fender-mounted siren and painted steel wheels including dog-dish hubcaps.

Notable in this photo is the absence of the trooper's ubiquitous Smokey Bear hat.  That's because he is outfitted in winter kit including a cold weather fur service cap and his Sam Browne belt. 

You're probably wondering if there was a Motorola radio lurking in that cruiser.  The answer is of-course.  By the mid-1950s Motorola enjoyed a virtual monopoly on law-enforcement radio contracts.  Motorola radio technology enjoyed operability across agencies, exceedingly reliable rural coverage and factory support based in Chicago and other major population centers.  By the time 19655-56 rolled-around, virtually all state patrol sedans nationwide were equipped with Motorola radios.

And if you're a bad guy fleeing the long arm of the law you may have a fast set of wheels; but you can't outrun Motorola.... 

1955 Chevy in LAPD Livery

 

New Species!

We're excited to share about a new exotic species that now calls the the Great Lakes system home.  

The rare spotted catfish is genuinely one of a kind. This elusive freshwater creature has never been seen by most, some even argue its existence.

Spotted catfish tend to have a docile temperament until you try to touch them, which is when they will bite you and swim away with a smug demeanor.  They have been known to eat other fish and will chase bright, shiny lights in the water.

 

Bedtime

Just back from taking doggo out to tinkle before bedtime.

 

It’s quiet here in flyover country; yet now that the solstice is past things are coming to life.  Yes, even when you live halfway between the equator and the North Pole.

The Pink Moon is almost full.  The ducks are chuckling and quacking down at the big pond.

And we heard the first plaintive peents from the returning timber doodles.

Spring peepers are defrosting in the on deck circle…..