NYC Mayoral Democratic primary winner refuses to condemn speech encouraging violence against Israelis

Our take:  New York City has always been a place different than any other place. Sometimes that can be good, and sometimes it cannot. The current race for mayor seems to be the latter.

First, Democratic New Yorkers voted in Zohran Mamdani, an avowed socialist and failed rapper who ran on such promises as a $40 minimum wage, rent freezes, government owned and run grocery stores, and raising tax rates in “rich, mostly white neighborhoods”. While those are crazy, they are economic issues. More concerning is Mr. Mamdani stance on violence against Israelis.

Mr. Mamdani is Muslim and has expressed support for the Palestinian cause in Gaza. When asked if he condemns the phrase “Globalize the intifada”, a phrase largely seen as calling for violence against Israelis, he has made several generic statements like “freedom and justice and safety are things that, to have meaning, have to be applied to all people and that includes Israelis and Palestinians” alike. But her refuses to say he condemns it.

Not good enough Sunny Jim. New York was once a great city. If it has any chance to recover its glory days of the 1990’s and 2000’s, New Yorkers need to wake up and see things for what they are. Here are some truths they need to accept. The Mets grossly overpaid for Juan Soto. Paying $3,000 for a studio apartment is insane. And if they elect this guy as their mayor, they will get exactly what they deserve.

Oakland keeps fining businesses for being the victims of graffiti

Our take: Some people think government is the answer to all problems. Others think government is the cause of most problems. This story will not be well received by those in the first camp.

Oakland, like many other cities across the US, has a vandalism and graffiti problem. Many cities require homeowners and businesses to clean up the vandalism and graffiti, which most business owners would do on their own. Leave it to a government agency or bureaucrat to look at this as a revenue stream. The same businesses keep getting targeted. And they keep getting fined for being the victims of vandalism and graffiti.

You literally cannot make this up. Imagine being the victim of a crime, having to incur the cost and mental energy to clean it all up, and then getting fined by the same entity that is supposed to enforce law and order. Multiple times. Yeah—government solves everyone’s problems…

Dem hypocrisy on Iran strikes called out by anyone who knows or can read history

Our take: Last week, the US flew B-2 bombers across the globe to deliver airstrikes to Iranian nuclear facilities, preventing Iran from marching towards obtaining nuclear weapons. The airstrikes were conducted with the strictest confidentiality, which meant very few people, including congress members, were told about the strikes before they happened.

While it is fine to debate the merits of the action, those with TDS blew a gasket; they claimed the strikes were unconstitutional, that the president was acting like a king or dictator, and that these were impeachable offenses. Unfortunately for them, there are literally over a hundred examples of the exact same decisions being made by both Democrats and Republicans since World War 2. 

Here is the bottom line. If the US goes to war, it needs to be declared by Congress. The US is not at war with Iran. The War Powers Act of 1973 sets clear parameters that any president must follow if they unilaterally deploy troops or military force, which include notifying Congress within 48 hours of such decisions and mandating such actions must end in 60 days or less without congressional authorization. 

These actions in Iran clearly fall within these parameters, and Trump fulfilled his obligation. Debate the merits of the strikes all you want—that is protected by the First Amendment. But shut the fuck up about impeachments, kings, and dictators unless you were screaming the same thing when every president since WWII took similar actions.

Tip of the Day - handling difficult conversations

If you expect the other person to listen and respond to you with understanding, it’s necessary for you to demonstrate the same courtesy. 

Instead of thinking about what you are going to say next, focus on what the person in front of you is saying. Then, summarize what you heard. Example: “This is what I heard you say…” or “What I’m hearing is…”

Quote of the Day

“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.” - Abraham Maslow

NYC Mayoral Democratic primary winner refuses to condemn speech encouraging violence against Israelis https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/zohran-mamdani-repeatedly-pressed-on-whether-he-condemns-globalize-the-intifada-term-in-nbc-interview/ar-AA1HDHZs?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=2df60857495142a1a7f7466567ba2e13&ei=14

Oakland keeps fining businesses for being the victims of graffiti https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/oakland-businesses-say-they-re-fed-up-with-city-fining-them-after-vandals-keep-graffitiing-their-properties/ar-AA1HDJbm?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=2df60857495142a1a7f7466567ba2e13&ei=29

Dem hypocrisy on Iran strikes called out by anyone who knows or can read history https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democrats-howling-over-iran-forced-to-defend-own-party-s-history/ar-AA1HCY9S?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=d68f484684ed490997e15b6d3dc74c8c&ei=99