“Who cares about a credit downgrade?” These were words from a GOP House member in response to Moody’s downgrade of American credit as the GOP controlled House has passed the biggest tax cuts in the history of America. Trump calls it the “big beautiful bill.” Elon Musk says it cannot be big and beautiful at the same time as it undermines the work of his Department of Government Efficiency, (DOGE), which main objective was to cut the deficit as it will balloon the deficit. The bill barely made it through a Republican controlled Congress. The Republican controlled Senate will concur. American credit will get a further downgrade. Who cares?
As the world turns, one thing appears to be sure: the Republican Party as we used to know it is dead. The conservatism for which they were always known has silently given way to Trumpism. America and the rest of the world must take it in, embrace it, soak it up, and stay in line. Call it the era of the death of reasoning, but again, a cursory historical, and contemporary analysis would reveal that the Left had largely succeeded in pushing America too far left with all their advocacy of pronouns, inclusion, diversity, LGBTQ plus, etc, etc. The Left in its push had come to criminalize opposing views. Should we say therefore, that it’s payback time?
In order for the ‘New Right’ culture to take root, the Republicans must hold on to power for a few more cycles after Trump. It may be safe to say that Trump’s enduring star power will help candidates coming behind. The GOP is gonna be Trump-OP for a long time to come.
A new America is emerging. The world does not have to understand it, but the world must deal with it—anyhow. In this new fight, institutions like Harvard will be used as proxies, being the biggest Kahuna in the kingdom. Once Harvard falls, there will be a domino effect. Everyone else will fall in line.
The GOP, America, then and now.
In 1952, then Senator Richard Nixon was accused of receiving unauthorized gifts as a result of which his nomination as Vice Presidential candidate to Dwight Eisenhower was being threatened. Members of his own party were outraged that Nixon had accepted gifts in the course of his campaign to be Vice Presidential candidate to Dwight Eisenhower. In fighting back, Nixon went on television to attack his detractors who were pushing the narrative. In a nationwide television address which was said to be the largest audience television had received up until then with 60 million people tuning in, Nixon went on the offensive. Among the gifts he was accused to have received apart from campaign spending reimbursements was a Cocker Spaniel dog. Nixon was adamant. His children loved the dog. While he was willing to return every other gift he may have received, he said—regardless of the outcome—“I’m gonna keep the dog.” Now, a small, rich country has been forced to gift a Boeing 747 Jet to a sitting president and the GOP is silent. That is the new America. It would be nice to be around to see what will become of America after the current presidential term is over. One thing is clear. Like him or hate him, Trump is a consequential leader of these times.
Warning: You hate him at your own peril. Separation of powers be damned!
Who would have thought that a conversation such as the suspension of Habeas Corpus would be emanating from the home of democracy?
If you try Trump, he will try you.
That being said, the question must be asked: In Trump’s quest to do things quickly as he is doing with Executive Orders, is there a danger that he might make Congress a redundant institution?
I guess we should find out in 4 years.
Lest we forget. America had a military parade just like dictator-run countries do. It also just happened to be the King’s birthday. Happy birthday, King.
The Russian War on Ukraine.
By every definition, Russia is a World Power. Therein lies the danger in its war on Ukraine. Now, here’s the kicker: Ukraine is a technologically advanced nation. It is my prediction that this war can only come to an end in two ways: If America decides to go in with boots on the ground, with or without NATO or if Ukraine develops a nuclear bomb. They possess the capacity. As the war grinds on, as Trump loses patience with Putin, calling him crazy and deranged, the rest of the world should be concerned. Could the end of civilization be closer than we think?
Iran/Israeli conflict ramps up.
Recently, the world woke up to an attack on military installations in Iran by Israel. The Israeli objective is the destruction of Iranian capability to make nuclear weapons. The attack may be an attempt to lure Iran into a direct confrontation. There are at least five to seven countries that will become battlegrounds, and suffer heavy casualties, and destruction if there’s a ground war between the two countries. Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan and Syria will be greatly impacted. They will also be forced to take sides. Oil prices will be affected. America will take a side. Russia will take the other side. Suddenly, Armageddon may be around the corner. The world waits in bated breath.
Sean Diddy Combs. Where is the Crime?
Any close watcher of the ongoing trial of Sean Diddy Combs may likely be asking the same question that I am asking: “Where is the crime?”
Details emerging from the trial thus far, point to a morally depraved man who has a lot of money and power and appears to be out to satisfy his deepest sexual, deviant desires, and fantasies. In doing his “freak offs,” something many of his associates looked forward to, he had many willing participants including his now major antagonist, his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. The details of their sexual encounters are too salacious to be written about. In reading all the readouts from the court testimonies, I believe many members of the jury may be asking the same question: Where is the crime? My guess is that his lawyers would in their closing arguments ask the jury the same question——yes, my client has a temper. Yes, my client has a depravity. Yes, my client uses drugs. Yes, my client indeed is a sex addict, a cuckold who likes other men to sleep with his girlfriend who was a consenting adult, and a willing participant—-however, the question must be asked: where is the crime?
Oh, that video!! If that video had not come out, would alll these new details be in the public domain? Not likely. The video had been milked already by the same victim that the release of the video was meant to help. A settlement was reached against the Intercontinental hotel for millions of dollars. She had also reached a settlement with Sean Diddy with a non disclosure agreement which now apparently means nothing since she’s in court to testify against him, despite the huge settlement in the neighborhood of $35m. Should this be seen as a case of triple dipping? Or, can this be seen in the realm of double jeopardy? Was the financial settlement not approved by a court? In the final analysis, the only case the State may be able to hold up in court could well be a case of assault, and battery with intent to cause bodily harm as shown by the video. Again, the prosecution may be able to prove a case of transporting a person across State lines to perform sexual acts for financial benefits.
No one should support men beating women. No one should support men forcing women to do things because they have something to offer them, but again, there are many instances where the women say they are willing to do anything for the advancement of their careers. It looks like men never win in any matter that concerns women, and this should be of concern to all men. A man has a consenting relationship with a woman. Five years later, she regrets it and says she was coerced, and she feared for her life. The man is demonized. The man goes to jail. Let the jury, and not public opinion about a powerful, extremely wealthy, but depraved man be the judge in this case. Whatever the outcome, let this case, and the Harvey Weinstein case be an object lesson to all powerful men.
Be nice to women, or else—-Judgement cometh.
Now to my beautiful country, Nigeria.
President Tinubu was in Rome for the swearing in of the Pope. It was interesting to see how large, and politically diverse the Nigerian delegation was. We live for delegations. We love delegations and jamborees. Who wouldn’t with all the dollar estacodes that go with it? In 2002 for example, then President Obasanjo was recorded to have travelled 229 times in a 365 day-year. Clearly, no one else could have gone on those errands on his behalf. That’s just the way we are.
Recently, the country witnessed another jamboree as APC leaders across the country gathered to endorse Tinubu for 2027. What would have been strange was if they had gathered to discusss the horrors of kidnapping, and the mass poverty that is enveloping the nation. It’s probably easier to pretend that we do not have security challenges even as it has been revealed that Boko Haram has acquired armed drones. We can only assume that those who lead us are being properly informed about the real situation of things in the country.
May 29th marked 2 years since Tinubu assumed the presidency. In a bold move, he said, “Subsidy is gone.” Next, he floated the Naira. His twin action registered 9.0 on the Richter scale. We screamed and grumbled. Suffering and pain hit the land. Would we make it? The question to be asked now is this: Are we better off now than we were 2 years ago? For true media practitioners whose main thrust is objective reporting, this would be my response: We could have been better off if the governors around the country were able to better utilize the massive, increased federal allocation arising from Tinubu’s policy decision to remove subsidy. In other words, we should be asking our governors—- ‘hey Mr. Governor, what’s going on?’
June 12 has come and gone again. Everyone who lived through that darkness remembers what it was like to be in a state of uncertainty after we had all complied with all the dribbling that IBB did to an entire country, eventually culminating in an annulment, a stepping aside, the further abberation of an interim government, the nightmare of Abacha’s jackboots rulership, and the State execution of Saro Wiwa and his colleagues. What a mouthful!!!! What a time!!!!
Nigeria yet stands. We, the people love our country. We only wished that our leaders would give us the basics and leave us alone. Even that too, is too hard to ask.
The hemorrhaging continues in the land. Benue bleeds.
Mr. President, do not let Benue become your own Chibok.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
