Geopolitical Focus – July, 2024 # 2

July 24, 2024

Geopolitical Focus - July 2024: NATO's Expanding Role: Implications for Global Stability and Power Dynamics

The NATO – Summit has ended, resulting in more war and more power to NATO. They are potentially expanding globally with thoughts of addressing threats from China and other territories or countries. We need to win this war to save the West, at all costs. If all of Ukraine is dead, but it becomes a NATO Member , so be it.

NATO , Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen envisions an expanded, global role for NATO. Today, threats to NATO’s founding members, let alone the world, tend to be global in nature and frequently from non-state actors. Hence, overcoming such threats requires a globally connected security Alliance.

While the dispute in Ukraine is not welcome, the expansion of NATO is simply the cause. But like many other global decisions based on fears of losing hegemonial powers, war is not a replacement for dialogue and diplomacy, but trust and honesty. As long as the global media fuels its frenzies on emotional intelligence (do not call it moral and self-righteousness), good and evil are the same as thousands of years ago. Perhaps wars are simply inevitable for humans; good animals cannot build weapons?

There are voices that call out China as an enabler for Russia , well, they may do it for the same reasons the US fuels the Western coffers. Once Russia is cut off and weak, who holds back a global NATO to find a reason to walk to China? In the end, it's not what they call a democracy, and you always find reasons to stage a war – see illegal wars . Or simply they want to be hegemons as well. Think about global population , lots of people potentially being killed for political systems? Think of religious wars, or why has the US not yet freed the Uyghurs in China ? We could send them weapons as well, and at the same time we assassinate a US Presidential candidate, and some people justify it on moral grounds?

The Woke and Broke still giving for a war , keep NATO in check, Ukraine neutral, and use the money for good? Complicated, not really. Regional conflicts cost less and kill only half the people. Not all people are Roman Catholics; those wars are part of history.

It is an interesting comparison. Here is an interview in a Swiss paper with Fyodor Lukyanov (note there are 2 parts and the beginning is in German) and on the other side the NATO Bullet thinking . And perhaps delusional like the current US President , but war mongers fear nothing more than peace?

And if you need the DEI component of NATO, or the German army under the former Defense Minister, Ursula van der Leyen, now EU Head, here is the readiness ?

If you follow international economics (IMF), they are worried. The economies in India and China are outpacing the rest of the world in GDP growth. Europe, with all the sanctions, is still sluggish and drowning in debt. The US, thanks to the war in Ukraine and global spending on warfare, can manage the debt and keep the economy strong but not fundamentally sound.

The IMF report predicts global output to grow at 3.2 percent in 2024 and 3.3 percent next year. These projections are largely unchanged from the forecast that the organization released in April. Much of this growth is expected to come from China’s economy , which the IMF projects will grow at a rate of 5 percent this year—high in comparison to other nations but slower than the 6.1 percent rate that China’s National Bureau of Statistics has estimated. Beijing recorded a strong economic start at the beginning of 2024, but growth slumped in the spring after the country faced a real estate crash .

Political uncertainty and rising protectionism, particularly as the United States and European Union strengthen their tariffs on Chinese goods, could worsen high inflation. Both U.S. President Joe Biden and former U.S. President Donald Trump have embraced tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, semiconductors, and critical minerals as central components of their reelection bids. “The potential for significant swings in economic policy as a result of elections this year, with negative spillovers to the rest of the world, has increased the uncertainty,” the IMF report said.

The Economics of War , if you still believe it is about democracy, think much harder especially with the thought that Russia may invade all of Europe. Just to give you an idea: Hitler's military spending from 1935 to 1939 increased from 8 to 23 percent; from 1940 to 1944, it rose from 38 to 52 percent of GDP for an all-out war. In comparison, Russia from 2014 to 2022 spent 4.3-5.4-5.5-3.7-3.8-3.9-4.0-4.1-4.1 percent; just enough to survive? So, better to invest in killing people. Imagine the Green parties demonstrating against CO2; now they are busy drumming up more pollution and ammunition . And Hitler's dream company is the engine to pull Germany out of economic misery ?

Mr. Orban, the President of Hungary (note Hungary was invaded by the USSR in 1956 under the leadership of Nikita Khrushchev ) as President of the European Commission went to see Zelensky, Putin, Xi, and Mr. Trump (during the NATO celebrations) to talk about a potential peace proposal after the botched summit in Switzerland. So, one person has the guts to swim in a shark pool to talk peace, and good grief was he treated like a traitor. The EU President and the war mongers certainly have their sights on the prize, an EU and NATO with Ukraine , or the rubble that will be left. If you talk peace in these circles, you get executed? And all that for democracy. But read about the concerns they have for the future. It simply cannot be someone who openly talks peace; that would be a loss for the current political elite? Remember all Trump said about NATO: if you do not pay your fair share, we will not support you. Now Biden claims he got them to pay the 2 percent or even more. Well, thank you, Mr. Trump; otherwise, the US would pay for all the wars . Special interest certainly. If you would have the people vote about wars , there would be none. Remember, Crimea was a present from Russia to Ukraine? But if you get punished by the autocratic leader of the EU to talk to your enemies, another democratic fallacy?

By the way, when did you last hear about Ukraine successes ? Not really, but here is a hint why Joe Biden is still running , or at least Biden's proxy. And the Russians say, not so fast , and the strategy, hopefully, Trump wins so we can end this war. So, what is so bad about talking and negotiating rather than killing? It looks that all the people branded as Hitler and Nazi in politics are actually for a common good, not killing each other, but at the same time, you can only coexist with tolerant views. Stalin and Mao never had that tolerance, just remember. And if you hand everyone 500 dollars, some of them will have nothing after one hour, and others will have doubled the monies, ever since the world exists, unless you live under Mao or Stalin, they are all equal with nothing.

France elections may have had the desired outcome to defeat the Le Pen party , for now, but Macron's calculation to solidify his power took a catastrophic turn, with the coalition with the far-left party. Remember, when Italy elected Ms. Georgia Meloni , the liberal and left world called her the new Mussolini, but for now, she seems to be doing very well and she has leadership traits all others lack in Europe, including Germany, England, France, and the EU, who are all busy complying with the Green Agenda and NATO (US proxy) wars, destroying their national identity and economies . Stationing new missiles , preferably next to solar and wind power sources, may help, certainly not the environment. So it will perhaps prove costly since France's left and right are not necessarily in favor of the Ukraine War and US Politics .

A broad alliance called the Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP), which includes Socialists, Communists, Greens, and the hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI), won the most seats, with 193 in the 577-strong lower chamber. Macron's allies came second with 164 seats, and the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) third with 143.

Macron told Tuesday's cabinet meeting that it was the "responsibility" of his allies to come up with a proposal "for a majority coalition or a wide-ranging legislative pact." This, he said, would help preserve his government's "economic achievements" and favor "social justice."

The U.S. and Germany have announced together that the U.S. military will deploy more — and more advanced — long-range missiles in Germany in 2026, plans the countries say demonstrate the American "commitment to NATO and its contribution" to European defense. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov vowed that his country would respond, calling the planned deployment "damaging" to Russia's security.

The BRICS coalition has been quiet lately, but nevertheless, they will have their next summit in Russia in October 2024, so we will see by then if there is more alignment and consensus with the G Alliances, or if NATO gets an equivalent on the Eastern flank. That would be quite a development, but would it really surprise with NATO’s aggressive expansion?

The election of Keir Starmer in the UK may not be a big surprise, given the national disarray in politics, but unlike other nations, do the British really know what they want? Go back to the EU, become more social or more financially responsible, or completely reinvent themselves? When will the elites, including Boris Johnson as the Hillary Clinton of the British, finally realize that the good old days may not ever come back as a global power? The new government, as in France, is bound to budget issues, a sign the NATO alliance may finally realize better use of money than the military, unless you have a dominant sector running it?

In a moment of traditional and sometimes surreal British pomp and ceremony , Westminster witnessed the first king’s speech under a Labor government since 1950. The speech, delivered in the House of Lords by monarch Charles, set out the legislative agenda for new Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government.

Starmer’s agenda features big-ticket items including a shakeup of planning laws to trigger housebuilding and infrastructure investment, the establishment of a publicly owned energy company, and a plan to bring failing privatized railway networks back into public ownership.

But amid Labor glee, plenty of MPs in Starmer’s newly enlarged party will be smarting at the items missing from his first legislative pitch — be they existing party policies or other issues they wish Britain’s new center-left government was prepared to adopt.

Defense spending hike

Starmer has long promised an increase in U.K. defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP — as more NATO countries call for allies to step up spending in the face of a belligerent Russia.

But Starmer has refused to put a timetable on that spending pledge and said on his way to last week’s NATO summit that he would only do so when his government could afford it, and after a review of defense strategy has been conducted.

Therefore, while the king’s speech did include a commitment to a “strong defense based on” NATO values, it did not include Starmer’s defense spending pledge.

Iran’s election may have found someone to unite the different factions of Islam, but does that impact the politics for the West? Too early to say, but certainly a space to watch going forward. More to come.

1. Achieving unity within Islam through the known "Ummatic mandate." This involves adhering to the idea of Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, and seeking reconciliation between Sunni and Shia. In essence, it assumes Islam as a common language enabling Muslims to interact and debate within the boundaries of this language. Technically, this unity within Islam is known as the "post-Mazhabi vision" (mazhab or madhhab meaning legal school in Arabic).

The Israeli – Hamas War is still going on, but the Western World reports it a success when you kill one individual (with no confirmation yet) with some tons of bombs, causing destruction in the millions and at the same time not really offering any solution politically. There is bickering within the Israeli parliament about the strategy and goal . Sounds like a Biden democracy with no leadership or objective, politics led again by the elite and industrial military complex? And the attacks simply escalate , no one really cares about the people or the hostages, so it looks like everyone talks in bombs? Well Chuck Schumer is calling now for a new president in Israel and the US, which only proves that he and Joe Biden are the ultimate politicians. Well, you need to kill more to get into the record books , research on your own what all the dead really changed?

In summary for the episode, not only the US but the entire Western World seems to be split into war parties, hard to talk peace and perhaps the failed attempt on Former President Trump (if you look at the investigation, it sure looks like no one really tried to prevent the attack) is a predicament. If Biden will run again and wins, the wars will not end. If Michelle Obama or Kamala Harris gets the nod and wins the elections, wars, including civil wars, are the next escalation; both of the latter are litigators, not lawyers or reasonable common-sense people. Litigators are trained autocrats.

Attorneys who specialize in litigation

Litigators are attorneys who specialize in litigation, or taking legal action against people and organizations 1 2 3 . They are involved in all phases of the litigation process from beginning to end 1 . Litigators represent one party in a legal case and help them take or defend a legal action against their opponent in a dispute or litigation 3 . They spend much of their time debating cases in a courtroom to get the best outcome for their client 3 .

US News May 2025 - Are "Tariffs the New Covid"? | The Role of Judges in Deomcracy

May 23, 2025

US News - May 2025 - James Comey Message and the Health of Joe Biden

May 23, 2025
86 – 47 : No more drinks for the President - That was Mr. Comey’s message from the beach .

May 2025 - Geo Political News Round Up

May 20, 2025
As the tariff negotiations with China are currently underway in Switzerland, it appears the US and UK have agreed to a deal that seems to be an icebreaker in the ongoing saga of tariffs. However, in the end, there will be changes to the world order and a shift in focus toward more discussions about saving the planet rather than war. As of this writing, a 90-day pause with China was agreed , lowering tariffs, while China will likely have to consider some of the US demands. Here is a lesson in journalistic economies ? Friend shoring demonstrates that there are no friends or foes in politics , only interests. Even when the world’s resources were not material but simply dirt—more or less fertile—even in agricultural societies, wars and contests were common, whether for territory, ideology, or personal gain. So when people promote friend shoring, it’s more complicated these days. Just look at rare earths—it's not just dirt, is it? Friend shoring for military technology is another example; read about it for yourself. Still, there is ongoing dialogue but no long-term resolution. After Trump’s plan to control Gaza, Israel appears set to take charge instead, once again negotiating for the release of hostages and the evacuation of civilians , while the world looks on as bystanders . If trade can solve the problem , then make a deal. Here’s some food for thought —liberals may be rebellious about it, but the trend all over Europe is clear: MAGA is going global, especially with an economy in tatters and failing negotiations with Ukraine. There are more sanctions, but what can they sanction that the rest of the world cannot counter? The EU is simply a bureaucratic ideology serving its own interests. The EU wants more liberal students —which is fine, as long as we keep the STEM talent. They need more protesters , as long as the UK remains the leading provider of education ? European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday slammed U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign against American higher education as she unveiled a half-billion-euro plan to attract foreign researchers.

Victory, Aftermath, and the Endless Game: Reflections from WWII to Ukraine

May 16, 2025
May 8, a day in history, marks the end of WWII in Europe with the surrender of Germany , but was it really an ending? As with many wars, especially the ongoing Ukraine and Gaza conflicts, and the renewed animosities between India and Pakistan, one might wonder: have enough people died in wars? Perhaps some wars are justified, but often only after provocation. If you consider the basics of relationship building, communication is a key concept, but there is a difference between communication and simply talking. Perhaps we need more communicators and unified voices in government, whether rooted in realism or liberalism . Are these better choices, or in the end, are NGOs and individual voices the problem after all? We hope that reason will prevail—the only lasting fundamental principle—but is it really, or is it just another cause or excuse? Reason, the cause of an event or situation , or something that provides an excuse or explanation : War forever, according to this lawyer, yes . The UN Security Council is another voice that only speaks after the war, sometimes fueling the fire. Consider the Oxford Guide to Treaties —are these more sources of conflict than resolution? And historians—well, some of them are just presenting a version of their own vision of the world. How was Germany rebuilt after WWII ? Was it help on one side, and taking what you can on the other? The USSR suffered greatly and had to rebuild on its own, but why was the offer of the Marshall Plan rejected—was it due to mistrust, as we see today? Perhaps the reset button requires talks among all, but please, let the haters and ideologues out of the room—only communicators and stakeholders should be present, haters out, which probably means no Selinsky. Beginning immediately after the German surrender and continuing for the next two years, the United States pursued a vigorous program to harvest all technological and scientific know-how, as well as all patents in Germany. John Gimbel comes to the conclusion in his book, Science Technology and Reparations: Exploitation and Plunder in Post-war Germany, that the "intellectual reparations" taken by the U.S. and the UK amounted to close to $10 billion, equivalent to around $150 billion in 2024, [3] [4] concurrent to Operation Paperclip . The plea for a two-party political system (translation needed) stands in contrast to the idea of a global one-party or multi-party system as seen in European countries. Attempts at a global one-party system were made by the Romans and some other early cultures , but none proved sustainable by force or government—though that was before the advent of modern communications. Would things be different today? There are still forces hoping that may be realized, for global peace or power, as reflected in Elon Musk’s warnings about a single world government, Einstein’s global perspective , and people attempting to establish it, such as government by AI and supercomputer . Compare that to today’s European coalition building —for example, in Germany, Black/Blue coalitions seem politically unfeasible. In multi-party systems, the need to form coalitions to gain power may end in stalemates and concessions to the detriment of the people. Here is an overview of global systems and drivers of globalization . The ongoing cat-and-mouse game between advocates for peace and war continues as representatives try to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict. Does it matter that Europe seems unified in the effort to defeat Russia with sanctions and arms, while the US seems to favor a negotiated peace? You can argue endlessly that Putin is the aggressor and invaded, but he will counter that with claims about NATO expansion and broken treaties by the West . Is Germany evolving into the powerhouse of Europe, as it should be? After the election and the ousting of Chancellor Scholz, Friedrich Merz has somehow managed to establish himself as the new leader and has immediately begun to exert influence over Europe—at least, that’s what the German “Democrats” are hoping for. So, when Trump appoints loyalists, it's called a dictatorship, but when Germany does it, it's considered democratic? Also worth noting: another Carnegie piece—and apparently every member of the German Cabinet favors war? Expect Germany's defense Minister to keep Kaja Kallas as informant, hating in politics is never a good start. Imagine, 5 years to build up the military and then eliminate the hate, for good, using the Ukraine invasion as a reason. Merz has deliberately centralized foreign and security policy coordination in the chancellery. To start, he has done away with the long-standing tradition of giving the Foreign Office to the main coalition partner, a practice that baked in foreign-policy dysfunction by setting up a separate power base held by a different political party. Now, for the first time since 1966, the chancellor and foreign minister will be from the same party—in this case, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). New Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is a party loyalist who will ensure alignment rather than competition with the chancellor. Within the chancellery—where all important foreign-policy decisions are made—Merz has appointed close confidants to key posts: Jacob Schrot, a trusted trans-Atlanticist, as head of the newly created German National Security Council; veteran diplomat Günter Sautter as foreign-policy lead; and Michael Clauss to handle European Union affairs, which Merz wants to make a core strategic portfolio and to which Clauss brings credibility and experience, including significant work on China.

US Political News Round Up: Lawyers, Investors, and the New Age of Power and Policy

May 9, 2025
Remember the Biden-era stock market jubilations ? It was all about the Magnificent Seven —overhyped and overvalued. The tariff talk came at just the right time to disguise an overdue market correction. The administration framed it as “uncertainty over tariffs.” But no worries, like COVID, it will be “cured” by the same people who created it . Political noise on both sides continues to serve as distraction— like whistling at a referee during a soccer match. Are lawyers and investors the most destructive forces in America? On one side, there are legal maneuvers that deter people from investing. On the other, roll-up acquisitions concentrate wealth that was once shared broadly. Bernie Sanders is on his “Oligarchy Tour,” pointing fingers at Elon Musk—but what about private equity groups (PEGs) ? Are they not a form of oligarchy? And PEGs owning law firms is legal—and mostly supported by Democrats. Try buying a house and living in peace ; your appreciation goes to investors. Under Bernie, it might become a kleptocracy ; under Kamala, a kakistocracy. There are a variety of flavors of corruption. Currently, the most concerning kind is grand corruption . Grand corruption is when public institutions are co-opted by networks of ruling elites to steal public resources for their own private gain. It involves a wide variety of activities including bribery, extortion, nepotism, favoritism, cronyism, judicial fraud, accounting fraud, electoral fraud, public service fraud, embezzlement, influence peddling, and conflicts of interest. The “party of youth” —as someone once said, “If you’re still a socialist at 40, you have no brain.” Harsh? Maybe. But look at the Democratic Party: do they seem to get wiser with age? “If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20, he has no heart. If he is not a conservative by 40, he has no brain.” — Winston Churchill Why is fake news so persistent? It follows the same rule as bad customer service—the reputation sticks. On fake news, consider Isaiah Berlin and Friedrich Hayek , knights of classical liberalism. Maybe that’s why Trump won—elites don’t put food on the table. Liberalism and the Pursuit of Happiness The root of fascism, communism, and all totalitarian ideologies lies in the naïve belief that there is only one correct way to live and that intellectuals can determine it with the certainty of natural sciences. Liberalism, by contrast, does not prescribe a singular way of life and this is its strength. It enables individuals with diverse beliefs, goals, and ambitions to coexist. This principle is embodied in the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims the “pursuit of happiness”—a pursuit meant for individuals to discover, not for the state to dictate. This is the core belief of liberalism. With the Pope absent from climate advocacy, perhaps churches can fill the role . Whether lawyers act out of conviction or cash is debatable, but climate lawfare is on the rise. Are we heading back to gladiator justice—only with no one to fight? The public trust doctrine had little to do with environmental law until the 1970s, when Joseph Sax argued it could support lawsuits to defend public resources. Are law firms above the law ? Consider the government’s action against Perkins Coie , blocked by Judge Beryl Howell , an Obama appointee. Will we ever find answers to the big questions—like assassination attempts? President Trump’s executive order against Perkins Coie was ruled unconstitutional and retaliatory. It cannot be enforced. This ruling marks the biggest legal setback in Trump’s campaign against firms representing his political adversaries— many of which challenged the order in court . It’s all in the family. Once lawyers secure a case , the food chain never ends. Knowing the system matters—justice is second. And sometimes the lawyers themselves become the story. Abbe Lowell’s communications were ruled outside attorney-client privilege in a 2020 opinion by Judge Howell. The reason: potential evidence of crimes and involvement of non-lawyer third parties. And finally, on tariffs: if your population can’t afford the goods they produce, your export model collapses. Without a home market , tariffs eventually hit hard. Two years from now, Democrats may still hate DJT—but maybe they'll admit he saw it coming.

U.S. News – May 2025: Could American Education & Athletics benefit from the Integration of Apprenticeships and Academys?

May 7, 2025
The betrayal of the American school system is evident when education becomes a secondary priority—supplanted by sports and social wellbeing. While some countries prioritize STEM in their education systems, the U.S. seems increasingly focused on “alternative” social issues. The value system now places lawyers, judges, and welfare programs front and center—paving the way for more lawfare, entertainment, and injustice dressed as justice. Yes, football players generate revenue , but so do scientists and engineers. Imagine if every ambulance chaser became an engineer designing fault-proof devices—the only downside? An hourly rate of $50 versus $250–$1500. Where is Congress in setting the tone? Nearly all members are lawyers. And while student loan debt exceeds $2.8 billion , we’re still debating whether to pay a third-grade volunteer assistant coach. It’s legal insanity. Next up? Pool, pickleball, darts, and cricket just to earn a buck. Maybe we should only have Division I colleges—and let sports fund all education. That, of course, would be a myth for the ACLU . Claudia Wilken is the jurist who will have the final say on the pending $2.8 billion settlement of a class-action lawsuit that is set to end the NCAA’s decades-old rules that have prohibited players from getting paid. It’s no exaggeration to say that the future of college sports rests on her decision. The deal Wilken is scrutinizing would award back pay to thousands of athletes, while allowing schools for the first time to pay their athletes directly from the billions of dollars they help generate. For an NCAA that had long sold the public on unpaid amateurs as central to the appeal of college sports, it is an earthquake. To athletes, it’s a revelation. European countries with apprenticeship systems educate roughly 60% of their college-age population. Even China implemented apprenticeships to address labor skill gaps. Meanwhile, the U.S. nurtures a college-for-everyone model, wasting millions for the profit of lenders and sports leagues that draft “free” talent. Sports are not an academic curriculum. The education and sports industries must be separated—eliminating the need to “draft” students to fill classrooms. The NFL could easily run junior leagues with the money colleges spend on coaches . Adopting apprenticeship programs in the U.S. would have clear benefits. But what happens to colleges that lose 60% of their students? And where does that leave the millions glued to TVs each March and fall? Education versus entertainment. With only 0.1% of college players turning pro, what happens to the 99.9% after graduation? Watching from the couch? In much of the world , especially in soccer, elite athletes are developed from a young age by professional clubs—not schools. Take Alan Carleton , as an example of how the system could succeed in the US.. The summer before his junior year, he became the first “homegrown” player to sign with Atlanta United FC in Major League Soccer. Atlanta United’s owner, Arthur Blank—who also owns the Atlanta Falcons—picked up Carleton from his Powder Springs, GA home in a Mercedes-Benz van to take him to a signing ceremony at The Varsity, a local Atlanta diner. Is it time for the U.S. to adopt a European-style model where pro clubs develop athletes and schools focus solely on academics? Another cultural debate making waves is the missed opportunity of not following seahorses in the sexual evolution cycle. Today, anything outside of “gender neutral” is treated as scientific radicalism. Gender ideology debates rage on, while perhaps Elon Musk has a solution he’d never use. Like it or not, we are male and female. Clothes and cosmetics don’t change biology. Feelings— no matter how intense —aren’t science. Ask Meta AI , or just be yourself—and be tolerant in both directions. But that's not their only oddity. Seahorses swim vertically, lack pelvic fins, have bony plates over their bodies, and move their eyeballs independently. Perhaps most distinctively, the males carry babies and give birth to them instead of females.

Global Power, Trade, and Rising Nationalism - GEO April 2025

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The Western War Paradigm – Russia, Ukraine, and the Rise of Hardliners

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Democratic Divides: Immigration Policy, Party Tensions, and Defining Gangs

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Generational divide - The Democrats dilemma

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Generational divide, ideological alliance —the Democrats' dilemma. In the search for a new leader, Bernie Sanders with AOC may appear as the perfect ideological duo—but will their platform ever become mainstream? Probably not. Oligarchs exist on both sides of the political aisle—some overt, others working as lobbyists or influencers. George Clooney could be an intriguing candidate; he arguably has as much intellect as Joe Biden and could deliver a performance on par with Volodymyr Zelensky. Maybe someone will convince him. After all, Ronald Reagan became a great president. Clooney’s favorite, Wes Moore , could be the first president from Maryland—and that may be enough for Democrats. This thought is permeated by the fact that his wife, Amal Clooney, is a British-Lebanese activist who specializes in international law and human rights. She's known for representing high-profile clients like former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. She's also advocated for causes like the release of Al Jazeera journalists and the return of the Elgin Marbles. February 21, 2025: George didn’t think he’d have “much of a chance” with Amal when they first met. In an interview with The New York Times , Clooney said he didn’t expect Amal to be interested because of their age gap. “Then I didn’t really think I’d have much of a chance with her because I was 17 years older and she seemed to have everything she needed,” he said. He also admitted he wasn’t initially “in the market for being a dad,” but that quickly changed. “Then I met Amal, and we fell in love. I have to say that, after that, everything made sense,” he said. Then there's the infighting and wishful thinking. Take your pick. Maybe Thom Hartmann should run in 2028—he certainly offers the kind of fantasy-based commentary needed to stir debate. He’s from Grand Rapids, a town devastated by outsourcing to China. He could have starred in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” but instead, Amway revitalized the area, and now, the city is back on its feet. It’s time to retire some dinosaurs from Congress. Pelosi, Schumer, McConnell—their visibility is fading. While the rallying cry is to “save democracy,” what we often get is lawfare, not leadership. From immigration to budget battles, ideology seems to drive opinion polls more than solutions. The opposition seems more focused on ensuring the administration fails, just to say “I told you so.” Take tariffs —there’s a case to be made, but it requires action. Instead, it’s easier to redefine economics to fit a narrative or litigate the issue endlessly. The 50501 movement claims to speak for the people , but it dismisses the outcome of November 2024 and the agenda voters elected. Overall, the median age of House Democrats is 57.6, while House Republicans average 57.5. In the Senate, the median age of Democrats is 66.0, slightly higher than Republicans at 64.5. According to the Congressional Research Service, 170 House members and 60 Senators are lawyers. Out of 535 total legislators, lawyers make up 43% of Congress—60% of the Senate, and 37.2% of the House. There are 81 Republican lawyers and 123 Democrat lawyers who list "lawyer" as their profession. Some may also hold law degrees but work in other roles, such as doctor, industrialist, teacher, or real estate agent or broker. The medical and real estate professions are also strongly represented in Congress.
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