U.S. And International Politics

[John Corbett]

We have few details of the proposed agreement with Iran to end the war but I do have concerns. If agreed to by both sides, it apparently will open the Strait of Hormuz which is a good first step. The blockade of Iran's shipping will continue while a final agreement is negotiated during a 60 day ceasefire. What must not happen is Iran be given the right to collect tolls for passage through the Strait. Iran must give up it's enriched uranium and agree not to restart its enrichment program. Iran must agree to stop funding terrorist proxy groups. Those should be non-negotiable. If they refuse to accept it, we should drop the hammer. My concern is Iran will negotiate terms that won't allow inspections to verify they are not enriching uranium. Of course, we still don't know if the hardliners will agree to our terms. We seemed to have been close before only to have a deal quashed. I would not be surprised if it happens again. If it does, Iran should be introduced to the Stone Age.

[Richard Smith]

The only way Fetterman even keeps his Senate seat will be if he switches parties. He insists he won't but his tune might change once he realizes he has no chance in the Democrat primary. There is no way he would be on the national ticket would be on the GOP side. In 2008, McCain seriously considered Joe Liebermann after the Democrat Party had dumped him. The GOP nominee might consider the same thing. Fetterman would help with blue collar Dems and independents. I think 2028 is going to be another it's-the-economy-stupid election.

Fetterman should run as an independent.  He has shown that common sense trumps party lunacy.  Unfortunately, he is all by his lonesome in the Dem party.  Fetterman and Shapiro have no chance.  They are too normal in the Dem party.  It will be Newsom.  Rubio might at least escape the TDS associated with Vance.  He was a player before Trump.  The Dems will find something to vilify him about, however.  I'm not hopeful. The Dems are completely invested in TDS.  Opposing anything Trump.  If Trump said the sky was blue, they would claim he was insensitive to people with color blindness.  They have no real policies.  The few that they espouse are insane, but they represent the views of 50%.  We are in big trouble.  Too much debt.  Education scores are in steep decline in the age of Idiocracy.  AI may be the only hope to save us from ourselves.

[John Corbett]

Fetterman should run as an independent.  He has shown that common sense trumps party lunacy.  Unfortunately, he is all by his lonesome in the Dem party.  Fetterman and Shapiro have no chance.  They are too normal in the Dem party.  It will be Newsom.  Rubio might at least escape the TDS associated with Vance.  He was a player before Trump.  The Dems will find something to vilify him about, however.  I'm not hopeful. The Dems are completely invested in TDS.  Opposing anything Trump.  If Trump said the sky was blue, they would claim he was insensitive to people with color blindness.  They have no real policies.  The few that they espouse are insane, but they represent the views of 50%.  We are in big trouble.  Too much debt.  Education scores are in steep decline in the age of Idiocracy.  AI may be the only hope to save us from ourselves.

I haven't given up on the midterms. I'm old enough to remember 2022 that was supposed to be a red wave. It turned into a red trickle. The same could happen with the Dems. The public is upset about high prices which may or may not continue to November. If it does, there could be a wipeout. If not, the GOP will probably hold the Senate and still have an outside chance to hold the House. Holding the Senate is more important because it will allow Trump to get his appointments confirmed, especially if a SCOTUS seat or two opens up. The voters are pissed at the GOP but that doesn't automatically mean they will turn to the Dems. Their approval rating is only around 20%. What worries me is there is a segment of the GOP base that doesn't show up when he's not on the ballot.