The killing heart                      

The last decade or so has witnessed a heartwarming resurgence of American pride. Tens of millions of common men -- laborers, policemen, honest journalists, and regular Joes from numerous walks of life -- have hefted high the glorious stars and stripes to which generations pledged allegiance.

But recent years also brought into distinct aspect this horrible truth: Millions of our lesser national brethren hunger so mightily for governmental and cultural dominance, they've seized up ugliness with relish.

Their smiley-face, peace sign masks lie on the floor. Visible now are the grotesque visages of those who exalt lawbreaking, treasonous ambitions, and sundry immoralities.

Badness is the ideal. Consider foul phenomena presently poisoning our great nation, at the calculation of Democrat leaders and other sinsister actors:

Openly socialist and communistic notions and candidates populate national conversation. Illegal immigrant crimes -- including murders, rapes, and child predations -- occur alongside celebrations of Christian conservative Charlie Kirk's broad daylight murder, as well as that of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and the attempts to assassinate President Trump. 

Furthermore, backroom-plotted, barely legal lawfare machinations to sabotage democracy and foil the people's will have seen animation. Cashless bail allows offenders with numerous criminal convictions to lurk anew in American neighborhoods and perpetrate additional offenses, while state and local officials ensure area police are barred from cooperating with federal law enforcement. 

City streets teem with (possibly bankrolled) protesters, assaulting law enforcement with concrete chunks, explosives, and bricks from pallet-stacks mysteriously situated for comfortable access.

Sadly, that list-- to which other vile efforts could easily be appended -- has been joined by a large-scale and despicable outpouring of sympathy for three-time toddler-strangler Lyndsay Clancy.

A sickening push to allow baby-murdering mothers to dance free -- citing mental dishevelment, resulting from the God-given wonder of childbirth -- has begun. Iowa retired columnist Rekha Basu, of the Gannett Corporation-owned, obdurately liberal Des Moines Register, penned an entire missive endorsing such wicked crackpottery.

New 'progressive' exhortations to grant mothers child-killing rights are a logical, albeit horrendous, extension of the dire philosophy undergirding the abortion of millions of babies each year. (Perhaps garroting disquieting husbands will soon also become a woke cause.)

Do not doubt that the same reprobates who promote the above will continue bannering themselves the 'good guys,' virtuous believers in love, peace, and tolerance. 

Of course, no intelligent observer will be fooled, and honest ones will raise the finger of contempt.

Immoral is not moral, nor wrong right, or unfair fair, any more than down is up. 

November's election results will show whether the America of noble tradition will endure as its founders intended, or if moral rot and ideological pestilence settle behind the wheel.

God help us all.

'No Kings' wasn't no thing                  

During one episode of AMC's Mad Men, advertising savant Don Draper reassured a client worried about anti-construction protests and press naysayers. The client's project had proceeded on schedule despite loud critics, Don pointed out. Fret not. Because as annoying as the clatter seemed, it had zero practical consequence.

That TV moment was brought to thought by nationwide No Kings protests. They, too, were ear and eye abrasive, but ultimately impotent. All the corporate-churned placards, robotic call-and-response chantings, and subversive spectacles were as nothing.

President Trump remains in the White House; America is (and will always be) the world's leading superpower; domestic and international policies will still be determined by wise heads, rather than noisome brats of all ages and silly descriptions; law enforcement officers (including ICE) continue to enforce duly-passed statutes and safeguard the citizenry; and common sense yet prevails.

Most importantly, God's authority remains America's North Star.

No Kings lackwits would have observers believe our nation's founders were wicked, our culture and legal system irredeemably stained by long-passed and eternally dead injustices, and that President Trump is deceitful and ruinous to American interests.

(Ronald Reagan was a noble chief executive, but he did err in deinstitutionalizing the mad.)

A March 14 Economist report noted "GDP grew at 0.7% in the fourth quarter." Inflation was 3.0%, unemployment just 4.4%. The S&P 500 has risen to 9.6%. And a February CAPS/Harris poll reported 51% of respondents were confident our economy is strong.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently cited new IRS and Treasury Department data, that showed the average refund for 2026 tax-filers will be higher than in 2025. Newsweek cited "3, 700.00."

In February, the White House stated "President Donald J. Trump is delivering real, immediate relief to American families struggling with high housing costs as the national median rent falls to its lowest level since 2022."

Also: "This welcome news for renters comes as President Trump's agenda delivers falling mortgage rates (NBC News), record-breaking tax refunds (USA Today, CBS News, the Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, and CNBC), wage increases, and more - with much more relief on the way to make sure all Americans benefit."

Vehicle costs have also declined, giving auto manufacturers their best sales year since 2019 (Bloomberg).

Again, the White House: "Overall, goods-producing workers - the backbone of American industry - are on track to see their real annual earnings rise by $1,300 in President Trump's first full year in office. Mining and logging workers are on track for an increase of $2,000, construction workers are on track for an extra $1,400, and manufacturing workers are on track to gain $1,300."

The Redfin real estate brokerage firm reported mortgage rates dropped down to 6% in February and early March, the lowest rate in three and a half years.

Last December, the Trump administration announced agreements with nine major pharmaceutical companies. Drug companies will now charge U.S. purchasers the same low prices they have charged in foreign nations.

Iranian efforts to cultivate nuclear arms, with which to destroy entire lands of innocents, begged for scorched-earth demolishment. Commander Trump had the sand. And then some.

Of course, the new, grand bloom of patriotism in men's hearts cannot be mechanically gauged. The American mood, though, is now one of bristling pride in our Constitution, ideals, traditions, culture, and global preeminence.

Indications included the roaring throngs that packed candidate Trump's stadium rallies way past overflow, as well as his overwhelming victories in both electoral and popular votes.

Too, our commander in chief maintains impressive support, as verified by CNN and others' polling.

CAPS/Harris turned up 58% of respondents who endorse the principle of requiring proof of citizenship to vote. Other polling companies that registered support for voter ID include The Center Square (71%), Rasmussen (75%), McLaughlin and Associates (77%), Napolitan News Service (81%), Pew (83%), and Gallup (84%).

And reflect upon the return to sanity of President Trump's slamming tight the border and launching long-needed mass-deportations. Benefiting greatly are national security, safe neighborhoods, and efforts to crush drug and sex trafficking into America.

Cultural cohesivness, crucial for the survival of all nations, is again prized in our epic land.

So, ignore the circusy oddballs that milled through boulevards. Organizers claimed 8 million participants - a figure that might impress, except that some 77 million patriots made Trump's victory possible. 

The world still turns, and America will be just fine. Take it from Don Draper.