Bush fundraising woes

Jeb Bush's decline in the polls in Campaign 2016 coincides with a simultaneous drop in fundraising. Is this a farewell to the beleaguered Bush dynasty?

Click to read about Bush going broke

Campaign 2016 roars ahead

Campaign 2016 has clobbered front-runners in Iowa, and has clobbered many of us voters as well. Hell, even a billionaire received an ass-kicking of enormous magnitude, despite months & months of poll and crowd-sized supremacy at his rallies.

What is the significance of the billionaire's loss? I surmise it is similar to an undefeated boxer who loses inexplicably and thus has his career forever tarnished. Let's face it: Trump lost inexplicably.

On the other side, a family--the Clinton sideshow-- with a history of decades of illicit behavior consisting of lewdness, impeachment, sexual harassment, financial scandal, treasonous handling of government secrets, and scandalously-accumulated vast wealth, nevertheless rose above the sleaze and put the far Left in the trash, if not to death. McCarthy would be proud! 

Here are the sobering numbers:

Click here for analysis of Trump's Iowa slump

U.S. energy industry on the rocks

As crude oil prices plummet just about everywhere to under $30 per barrel, the U.S. risks another energy industry collapse similar to the one in the 1980s. The reason for this is that oil prices must be at roughly $70 per barrel or above for profitability to be realized in countries outside the Middle East.

What is the benefit of lower crude oil prices to the U.S. economy? Not much, as evidenced by the calculation that a halving of oil prices results in only about a 0.5% in GDP here, economists contend.

Click here to read the article about collapsing oil prices

Trump takes a Trump-sized lead in New Hampshire!

Trump looks good on eve of Iowa presidential 2016 caucuses in NH, according to a CNN poll.

Click to read about this poll

The U.S. may be ready for socialism!

The latest Iowa Democratic presidential campaign 2016 poll is now out, and it reveals considerable support for socialism and for Bernie.

Feel the Bern!

Iowa poll results just prior to 2016 presidential caucus

This, I believe, is the final poll before the Republican 2016 Iowa caucus & is published by the Iowa's primary paper, The Des Moines Register. 

Trump on top, Bush at the bottom!

Trump dominates in big pre-Iowa caucus poll

Trump jubilantly prepares for the Iowa Republican 2016 presidential caucus, scheduled for Feb 1, 2016, with polls showing massive support--despite his absence from the Jan 28, 2016, debate.

Click to read article referencing this poll

Humorous & mysterious reads

Anyone who enjoys both comedy and suspense will enjoy the Rabbi Small Mysteries by Harry Kemelman. His books contain a rare combination of mystery and humor in wonderful and entertaining ways. 

Great reads!

Rabbi Small, main character--a hilarious sleuth!

Countdown timer to U.S. Election Day 2016

Indeed, U.S. Election Day 2016 is nearing, so here is the countdown:

Trump leads in Iowa as caucuses near

February 1, 2016, is Iowa's caucus, the first ballot in the 2016 presidential campaign, and Donald Trump tops the field by a considerable margin.

Click here to view article featuring this poll

Trump near 50% in nationwide poll

Trump continues to excite the electorate, as this poll shows and as the Iowa caucus nears (on February 1, 2016).

Click to read article featuring this poll

Jesus may not love you

Jesus loves all the little people of the world, right? For he so loved the world, right? Not so fast! Though scripture can be cited to validate his loving nature, Jesus restricted his affection to a smaller community that must adhere to his rules.

Read on for validation of Jesus' stipulation for inclusion into his family fold.

Simply put, you need to do God's will to be part of the holy family.

Trump sizzles in polls

Poll after poll, the results are similar: Trump at #1. Hope he's not tired of winning yet!

Click to see a more recent national poll!

Trump triumphant in Republican debate

On 14 January 2016 'The Donald' delivered a masterful performance in the Fox Business News Republican debate. Online polls validate that.

Results for 1st-and-2nd place finishers

Trump trounces the Republican pack!

Donald Trump continues at a torrid pace in the race for the Republican nomination, as this poll shows.

Click for full article!

State of the Middle East

The longest military conflict/war waged by the United States in its history intended to foster democracy & freedom in the war-ravaged Middle East has catastrophically resulted in total turmoil. Trillions of currency squandered and hundreds of thousands of lives on all sides lost, the world weeps.

Middle East burns, suffers, loses!

Trump rocks nationally, naturally!

Nobody does it better when it comes to winning big in the great USA! This poll proves that The Donald dominates all over the place in America.

Trump rocks from "Sea to Shining Sea."

Trump, Cruz in a road race to finish line in Iowa

The first primary contest of Campaign 2016 in Iowa could very well be a decisive factor in the primary race, as Trump insists victory is crucial, and as Cruz has practically lived in Iowa over the last number of weeks, suggesting Iowa is critical for him also. Perhaps "win it or lose it" in Iowa is the attitude concerning Campaign 2016. Trump is slightly ahead, a much-needed reality for the reality star and overall mogul and politician...

All in? Iowa matters! 

Georgia digs Trump!

Donald Trump infiltrates the South with superb poll numbers!

Interestingly, "The Donald" exhibits great strength among all demographic groups.

More popular than a Georgia Bulldog! Read the article concerning this poll

Trump looking triumphant nationwide

Donald Trump persists as the front-runner in nationwide polls, even though statewide polls at times show him behind in Iowa. 

Trump prevails nationally

Trump chasing Cruz in Iowa

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has seized the reins in the most recent Iowa poll, and is being chased by Donald Trump.

Iowa Republican poll, Jan 7, 2016

More nuclear power in Third World

Though many, especially activists, fear nuclear power expanding into underdeveloped lands, both the U.S. & Russia are spearheading nuclear projects in Cambodia and Vietnam (Russia to go nuclear in Cambodia. U.S. follows suit in Vietnam)

This is astonishing considering that Cambodia is so poorly developed that the United Nations had to assume financial responsibility for it recently. Vietnam fares not much better when considering that the going wage rate is about $2 per day.

Perhaps the logic is that nuclear development there will lead to economic progress that will emancipate both countries from Third World status. Or, will this lead to further nuclear weapons proliferation?

Who knows?

Third World nuclear windfall!

Trump continues to dominate

An MSNBC poll taken on 1/3/2016 shows Trump with solid, double-digit numbers & a massive lead, a great way to commence the new year. 

Continue to visit the web site listed in the caption below every Tuesday at 6 AM EST for poll updates

Click this link for greater detail for greater detail

Jesus did and did not exist

The question concerning Jesus' existence has a twofold answer: 1)Yes, he did exist, and 2) no, he most likely didn't.
Taking this question strictly on mythical grounds, like whether Zeus mythically but not physically existed, one can say yes, Jesus exists. Taking this question historically, on the other hand, one can say proof of Jesus' existence is sorely lacking.

An interesting read on this subject is Bart Ehrman's book Did Jesus Exist?. Even though this book contends that Jesus existed historically, it sorts through the historical record frantically and unsuccessfully, to a large extent, in attempting to prove Jesus' existence. Simply put, historical accounts of Jesus' existence are quite lacking, especially those records produced (none, really) during his lifetime. In fact, the best contended historical evidence comes from Josephus, who was born 4 years after Jesus' death, and his account, only one paragraph in length, has been widely discredited as fraudulent.

Mythically, like Zeus, yes, an abundance of literature exists, thus his omnipresence today, but myth does not translate necessarily to reality.

Ehrman's book, nevertheless, is interesting and thus a decent read.

Decent read

Are psychics genuine?

Can we communicate with the dead? Can we foresee reality? If so, who can? This book, The Witch of Lime Street: Seance, Seduction, and Houdini in the Spirit World by David Jaher, addresses these questions within the context of Spiritualism, a movement that flourished in the United States early in the 20th century.

Margery Crandon, a reputed psychic, takes on the establishment, with dazzling results. The best of the best from the scientific community, including the prestigious publication Scientific American, scrutinizes her extensively.

A must read, as the following review validates: “Riveting reading...flamboyant, enigmatic, and complex characters. [Jaher] is also a diligent researcher, and his storytelling skills are impressive.”
—Wall Street Journal

Much, much more on this subsequently!

The Donald grandparenting

The Donald here adorably imparting wisdom!

A young one learning from the master!

Full of fear & loathing

Hey, it's the campaign season! Campaign 2016!

A highly recommended reading sure to boost political enthusiasm is Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72.
This book details what the author, Hunter S. Thompson, considers to be wrong with American politics: namely, Richard Nixon, a dark and venal creature so vile that America sucks largely because of him!

Written in a highly engaging, humorous manner, this book will both fascinate and entertain you. One review: “Obscene, horrid, repellent . . . Driving, urgent, candid, searing . . . A fascinating, compelling book.” —The New York Post

A must read during the campaign season!

Indispensable political wisdom!

Great read on friendship

A recipe for true friendship!

Father Andrew M. Greeley, best known as a mystery novelist, also wrote dozens of enriching nonfiction books on a range of issues dealing with, among other things, friendship, romance, spirituality, and a host of other matters.

A book I highly recommend is The Friendship Game, a marvelous how-to text for anyone who finds platonic relationships a challenge. Contending that friendship flourishes when playfulness and sharing are included in one's interpersonal journeys, Greeley demonstrates his penchant for paving the way for one's success in relationships.

A most enjoyable read!

Trump maintains lead in polls

The Donald continues his improbable, historic run with a strong lead in yet another national poll, while Bernie currently toils.

Reuters Poll, 12/23/2015

Where's Trump?

These days, everyone seems to know that "The Donald" is just about everywhere, right?" Don't believe it? Then just note that Putin has Russia acknowledging him favorably, and the great USA also has everyone here doing the same. CNN, the great international news behemoth, is also included! (See photo below!)

Trump is everywhere, thank goodness!

Politics & humor

Indeed, this is campaign season. But what makes politics better than a bit of humor? So, I combined my favorite marketing slogan found on a Puritan Bakery truck with a political bumper sticker. Dig this!
Visit Puritan Bakery


Puritan Bakery, Carson, CA (near L.A.)



Trump rolls, poll after poll!

Trump yet again leads, by a lot!

CNN poll, 12/23/2015

Trump on top all of the time

Yet another national poll shows Trump romping along!

Emerson College Polling Society, 12/20/2015

Sanders polling strongly in Democratic poll

A YouGov poll dated 17 December 2015 shows Senator Bernie Sanders faring strongly in both Iowa and New Hampshire.

YouGov poll

Ruhmana required reading in Turkmenistan

Turkmen holy book

The Ruhnama, a text purportedly authored by former Turkmen leader Saparmyrat Niyazov, is remarkable in five major ways: 1), it is required reading in Turkmenistan for virtually everyone being educated; 2) it is required reading for those hoping to work in the civil service; 3) it is required reading for anyone hoping to obtain a driver's license; 4) a gigantic mechanical statue of the text in the country's capital, Ashgabat, opens daily to a page with inspirational text; 5) anyone who reads the text three times automatically qualifies to enter Jannah (the Muslim term for heaven.

What a manifesto!

His holiness the Dalai Lama on "self"

His Holiness, The Dalai Lama

Born a Hindu, the Buddha turned his faith upside down when he proclaimed "self" does not exist as we think of it, a stark contrast to Hindu belief in atman (meaning "self"). Sorry, Krishna! The Dalai Lama, in his book From Here to Enlightenment, clarifies the Buddha's concept. In a remarkable way, the Buddha distinguishes true "self" from our wrong perception of "self." The Buddha illustrates this by telling about a person who claims he sees a snake, even though it is only a rope. The snake here did not exist. Similarly, the "self" we claim to see does not exist. Our true "self," on the other hand, does exist, but we are unable to see it while in a non-enlightened state. 

This book elucidates many other aspects of Buddhism, including reality, the nonexistence of things, and enlightenment. One may argue that things exist, right? The Buddha maintains that, yes, they do, but not the way we see them. 

We'll delve more into this book in subsequent posts.

Religous artifacts

A good book on relics (often, fragments of holy people's bodies) is well worth mentioning here: Rag and Bone a Journey among the World's Holy Dead, by Peter Manseau. It is well worth reading, an informative, interesting, and enjoyable read.

Relics are said to add a dose of holiness to a given environment, so possessing one just may be good. I'm fortunate to have one, a relic of Saint (Pope) John Paul II!

Trump debate performance highly rated

Voters rank Trump #1 in year-end Republican debate!

Drudge poll, 12/16/2015

Trump solidifies his lead, maintaining it at 40%

Trump continues strong showing in yet another nationwide poll, conducted by Morning Consult.

Morning Consult through HuffPost Pollster, 12/15/2015

Trump encroaches 40% mark in nationwide poll

Trump exhibits incredible strength in a nationwide poll, dated 12/14/2015. This poll also serves as a nice progress report on the 2016 campaign season.

Monmouth University Poll, 12/14/2015

Trump, Cruz top Iowa polls

One day before a major debate in the Republican presidential 2016 primary slated to take place in Las Vegas, NV, Donald Trump & Ted Cruz are virtually even in Iowa, according to a Quinnipiac poll.

Quinnipiac poll, 12/14/2015

Trump seeks Georgia!

Trump skyrockets in Georgia, according to a statewide poll.

Trump racing, not running, in 2016!

Trump continues with great momentum, as this Gravis Marketing national poll shows.

Trump doubles lead in New Hampshire!

CNN poll reveals Trump's strong lead in primary.

Trump to the top!

Trump far ahead in CNN/ORC poll; yes, I know, earlier today a different poll reflected a surge to the top by Ted Cruz. This poll, however, claims to reflect the intent of likely voters, whereas the poll with Cruz leading samples those who voted in previous elections. Follow this link for the CNN/ORC page: http://bit.ly/1QrPQCG (probably a temporary link)

Cruz surges to top in Iowa poll!

A Monmouth University poll released today shows Cruz toppling Trump in Iowa.

America favors Trump!

Trump continues to steamroll the competition, as he gears up for the general election of 2016. Dig these phenomenal primary poll results:

Trump rocks the polls!

Republican Presidential Poll, November 27, 2015

A recent poll taken by Huffpost Pollster reveals Trump at the head of the Republican pack.

Trump on top, as of 11/27/2015!

Cal State rocks!

A great U.S. presidential campaign for 2016

Presidential campaign 2016 season is here with almost as many candidates as voters, it seems. Nevertheless, this promises to a fascinating race.

Stay tuned for profiles, polls, and general news stories about these candidates here. 

Stay tuned for more!