What Needs to be Part of the Iran Negotiations

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Amid the ongoing negotiations with Iran during this ceasefire window, we have seen much emphasis placed on all things nuclear, including missles and enrichment. This includes the recovery of existing nuclear material and potential dust.

This is a major redline goal which must be met, but not the only goal in the process.

Certainly, we also must be assured that the Strait of Hormuz will be forever guaranteed safe and free passage for all ships which pass through. Also, the military will never possess offensive weapons of any kind again.

All of these are important issues which must be agreed to, before any finalization of a deal occurs.

However, not much has been discussed, or even briefly mentioned about all the human rights violations and pleas from Iranian citizens, to help stop the torture from the Islamic Regime, which was one of the early reasons for why America entered into this “excursion”. This MUST be a major focus before any deal is completed.

The regime has repeatedly executed its people for trumped up charges of “sins against God” or other perceived crimes against the wishes of the state, as people have demanded for years to enjoy greater rights and freedoms. Instead, the Regime and its political arm, the IRGC, have violated their basic human rights by hanging them from cranes in the public square.

And Iran, quite hypocritically, is a member of the UN Human Rights Commission. While the Regime continues to execute without trial even to this day. Over FORTY THOUSAND people have been executed since the protests began just after Christmas. And just this week, four more people have been sentenced to be hanged.

Before the United States enters into any deal with Iran, as the champion of human rights throughout the world, we must INSIST that the release of political prisoners, a cessation of executions and an agreed on random, unknown inspection by a neutral country or commission must be contingent on any deal we sign with Iran. Otherwise, we no longer can lay claim to morality and ethical, virtuous behavior for the world.

Short of the occupying force of Iran agreeing to this, we should continue all military actions, and the blockade, against the Islamic Republic and its proxies. Perhaps, finally, justice will be served for the Iranian people.

Then, the citizens will be able to decide the  government for which suits their own historical future destiny. Freely, without force from any outside or occupying authority. 

Understanding and Defining Totalitarianism

The term "totalitarianism" (or totalitario) was coined in the early 1920s by Italian anti-fascist journalist and politician Giovanni Amendola, who used it to critique Benito Mussolini's fascist regime. It was subsequently adopted and popularized by fascist philosopher Giovanni Gentile and Mussolini himself to describe their ideology of a state with total control.

Totalitarianism is an extreme form of authoritarianism where a single-party state, led by a dictator, seeks total control over all aspects of public and private life. Key characteristics include an official, utopian ideology, the use of terror-driven secret police, and strict control over media, economy, and social life.

The state is led by one dictator and a single party, often confusing the party’s interests with the state's. All social, religious, and community gatherings are heavily restricted or abolished, forcing individuals to rely entirely on the state. And it is enforced by removing guns from all citizens, EXCEPT the loyal police and military.

Some of the most totalitarian regimes to be found during the Twentieth Century are Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler, the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin,  Italy under Benito Mussolini, Cambodia under Pol Pot and Communist China under Mao Zedung.

Modern day examples include North Korea under the Kim dynasty, Iraq under Saddam Hussein, Cuba under the Castro family, and Iran controlled by the Islamic Republic and its Ayatollahs and Mullahs.

As you can see for yourself, the United States is NOT a totalitarian  state, in spite of what the leftists, some Democrats and the sympathetic media would try to have us believe. They are so blinded by their hatred for President Trump, and all the benefits and freedoms we still enjoy, as opposed to the historical examples oulined above, their rage continues to poison their attitudes. 

There is no help for them. And nothing one can say to convince them otherwise. We can only pity them as they wallow in their false delusions.

For the rest of us, we can pass along to our children, grandchildren and our posterity all the knowledge and experience we have to distinguish between the American viewpoint of government, as faulty as it is, and a dystopian view where the State has all the rights, privileges and control while its citizen have little or none.

It is important for our continued human survival to understand the difference.

A Disaster in the House

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It is about time that the House of Representatives began cleaning house (no pun intended) from those who have besmirched the reputation many of us have held for the integrity expected from the Members of Congress. The most recent resignations are from Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Tony Gonzalez (R-TX) for their sexual and other indiscretions.

But there are more Members who are presently under investigation.

 Key Details on Investigations (As of April 2026):

• Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL): A House Ethics Committee panel found her guilty of 25 of 27 ethics counts, including misuse of campaign funds and potential fraudulent activity.
• Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN): Implicated in allegations involving a fraudulent scheme regarding a $1 million earmark for a non-existent clinic.
• George Santos (Former R-NY): Previously charged in 2023 by the Department of Justice for fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds and was expelled.

There have been others in the recent past who were under the same scrutiny, but ultimately left the Congress either by retirement, death  or election loss before any investigation was completed. The process itself seems to be broken since it moves at a snail’s pace because a quick expulsion would result in a loss of votes for months, leaving one party with less potential influence and power.

So, who is left under-served by this inaction? Only the people Congress is supposed represents. Us, the American people.

And then, once a Member leaves prior to the end of his or her term, the process to replace takes months, leaving a Congressional district unrepresented while important matters are discussed and decided. This is not what the Founders had intended.

However, the Seventeenth Amendment provides that State Governors have the authority to appoint an immediate replacement should a vacancy occur in the Senate should a Senator leave prior to his term. Then, at the next bi-annual Federal election, the PEOPLE will vote who will complete the remaining term until the next regular election.

Rather than leaving a district without a Representative when a vacancy occurs, a Constitutional Amendment should be written and passed to allow the same process for vacancies in the House. Since all Members are subject to the bi-annual election, the people will decide in a timely manner their Representatives.

Certainly, sweeping changes are necessary in the House of Representatives in order to regain and reaffirm the trust the People have in the integrity of their Representatives. Otherwise, continued  high levels of dissatisfaction and distrust, often holding it in low esteem, will be held by Americans  of all political persuasions.

It is time to clean it up and fix it before all trust is lost.

The Pope Has to Stick to Saving Souls

​It is understandable that Pope Leo is presenting himself as the Vicar of Christ and wishes for peace to be blessed throughout the world. But his primary responsibility is to save souls and not be so naive to think that some people will not also be evil.

This Pope, as so many others recently, have made steps to reach out to leaders of many other faiths. And, on the surface that is quite noble.

But recent events in the Middle East have brought a certain twisted silence from Pope Leo, as it also did from Pope Francis. 

Francis was silent when Hamas kidnapped and killed many innocent Jews and Christians over his reign, especially after October 7. But when Israel retaliated, he was extremely critical of Israel’s response.

Ironically, Leo was equally silent as the occupied forces of the IRGC and the evil Islamic Republic MURDERED innocent protesters for perceived “sins against God”, and instead, made arrangements to visit several African Muslim countries. Yet, he found his voice to criticize the US and Israel for responding to the Iranian citizens’ pleas to save them from these evil  monsters.

Pope Leo described the US war efforts as being fueled by a "delusion of omnipotence" and "madness". When the US walked away from the recent peace talks, the Vatican continued to distance itself from the US military action, leading to a public feud where President Trump described the Pope as "WEAK on crime" and "terrible for Foreign Policy".

We can all agree that Pope Leo has taken great strides to push his belief that “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God", a famous quote from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew5:9, are words to live by because it emphasizes that those who reconcile broken relationships, foster harmony, and activel make peace in a divided world are recognized as acting in the likeness of God. 

But he must consider other key biblical principles on defending the vulnerable which include some of the following which he has seemed to have forgotten:

• Active Defense of the Weak: Psalm 82:3-4 (NIV) instructs, "Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed." This requires taking action rather than just giving advice.
• Speaking for the Voiceless: Proverbs 31:8-9 urges believers to "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves" and defend the rights of the poor and needy.
• Protecting Against Oppression: Proverbs 14:31 Protecting others from harm, such as intervening against abusers, is seen as honoring God, while neglecting to help the poor is seen as insulting Him 
• Contextual Justification for Force: While the Bible emphasizes peace, it allows for the use of force to protect others when there is no other choice to stop imminent evil.
• Biblical Examples: God is frequently described as a defender of the defenseless, and believers are called to imitate this character.

He, and others who look for any reason to criticize Trump, the US, Netanyahu and Israel  for engaging in the war against Iran, must equally consider ALL aspects of of the Bible and blame Iran for its sins against humanity. Otherwise, you are selectively ignoring the lessons which God gave us to follow and instead, are following your own agenda.

But, ultimately, both the President and the Pope  need to stand down and reconsider the words each of them are saying. Both men are right, but then, both men are also wrong. Each has legitimate reasons for acting as they do to try and fix the world as they seek justice for all mankind.

And consider the goal which they both want to achieve.

The Trump Master Class Is Now in Session

​Many Liberals and Democrats have vilified President Trump for years because he has systemically dismantled their pet projects both domestically and globally. He has consistently called for Americans to Make America Great Again, and the Libs, Dems and Media hooted and laughed at his long term campaign.

As part of that campaign, Trump has long promised to keep America out of “forever foreign wars”. And all through the first year of his second term, he maintained that promise. 

The economy was doing well during 2025 but his critics still found fault with everything he was doing. And when he began attacking narco-terrorists for drug smuggling, they raised their horror levels to shrieks.

When he captured Narco-Dictator Maduro for pushing drugs onto Americans, they wrung their hands because he was finally brought to justice. The result? Venezuela’s oil is no longer going to China, but rather, under the joint control of the US and Venezuela.

And when he finally took the bull by the horns to attack Iran for  pushing its terrorism by declaring they were ready to make nuclear weapons, the critics said he was unjust for attacking the one nation who sponsored terrorism throughout the world.

And killed over 30,000 Iranians for protesting for more freedoms and liberties. 

Of course, the media and its acolytes turned a blind eye to all of this until the US military took out the military strength and leadership of the regime.

When finally a ceasefire was announced and negotiations began, they cheered. For the Islamic Regime. And when the US walked away from the negotiating table, it was portrayed as weakness by the US in the media.

Of course, the one card Iran could play was its control over the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, it backfired as the US Navy created a blockade AND Saudi Arabia re-routed its oil pipelines to the Red Sea ports.

Which stopped cheap, discounted and sanctioned oil from going from Iran to China.

In addition, iTankData and TankScan are monitoring the rerouted oil tankers now heading to the US and Venezuela to fill up. And China now has to pay bust-out retail in order to get its energy.

Iran’s economy will continue to suffer because its economy is reliant on the sale of its oil to the world. Its only recourse is to come to the table quickly before its economy completely collapses. It needs to understand it has little recourse but to negotiate with a more reasonable attitude.

Until it does, the stranglehold by the US on Iran's oil will be unwavering. They can eat or drink it until they show they get it. And neither Russia nor China is in any real position to help.

Oh, and the Trump critics don’t have any alternative to offer either, since they were playing checkers while Trump is playing three-dimensional chess. 

Trump is conducting a Master Class on The Art of the Deal for the rest of the world to take notice. Most of the countries in NATO and in the European Union are failing, but Poland, Romania, Greece and the Baltic States are getting passing grades, as are countries which comprise the Gulf Region.

Maybe, as well, it is time for Democrats, Liberals and the Media  to take a seat and shut up to learn something. The dunce hat must feel as awful as it looks.

The short-term spike in that tuition by the rest of us in oil prices will pay off long-term with a neutralized Iran, a more compliant China and a more reasonable reduction in our total cost of living, including future gasoline costs.

The Trump Master Class is deep into the lesson, so pay attention to what else we will learn.

Time to Hold Your Nose

One lesson you can take from the Swalwell sexual scandal is: He who yells the loudest against his opponents, generally.is looking for you to look away from the stink he himself is guilty of reeking.

In 2018, during the Kavanaugh confirmation, Eric Swalwell was a leading voice opposing Justice Kavanaugh based on false, unproven charges of rape and other unseemly and perverted actions. 

- He acted as a vocal advocate for accusers, insisting that their claims be thoroughly investigated and that survivors "deserve to be heard".

- Swalwell utilized the hashtag #BelieveSurvivors, contending that allegations against Kavanaugh required investigation prior to any confirmation vote.

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- He suggested that if Kavanaugh was indeed innocent, he should welcome a full investigation, stating: "'You know what? Bring in all the victims, all of them to be questioned".

He has also been accused of violating immigration and employment law to keep his illegal live-in Brazilian nanny in the country, according to a pair of recently filed complaints.

When his South American babysitter’s temporary work authorization was about to expire in 2022, he and wife Brittany Swalwell lied to the feds to keep Amanda Barbosa working for them, a new complaint filed Tuesday with the Department of Labor claimed. In addition, he is accused of paying her "off the books" with campaign funds for a period of two years when she didn’t hold a valid work authorization, in violation of campaign finance laws, as well as DHS and IRS regulations.

Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna said she would force a House floor vote this coming week to remove him.

This means Swalwell, who announced he was ending his campaign for California governor Sunday, could faces an expulsion vote this week, as lawmakers return from a two-week Spring break.

Thus far, fifty-five former staffers have claimed shocking sexual assault allegations against California gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell are “serious” and “credible.”

The ex-employees released a stunning joint letter after the claims from four women, including a former aide who alleges he raped her.

He is also under investigation for that rape allegation by the Manhattan DA's office for that  charge, as it is alleged to have occurred in NYC in April, 2024, certainly within the statute of limitations.

Swalwell was holed up this weekend up in the $26 million Beverly Hills mansion of his eccentric billionaire benefactor, Stephen Cloobeck, who is now looking to claw back over $1MM in campaign donations for Swalwell's now-suspended governor's campaign. Even  Cloobeck has criticized his former protégé for his alleged crimes and potential tax and immigration violations.

The stink around Eric Swalwell is very dank and rancid, indeed.

Did Mamdani Make a Huge Blunder?

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Anerica’s Unfavorite Anti-American communist Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has unilaterally decided to prevent Americans from celebrating many American events this summer in New York City. These include the FIFA World Cup and America 250.

He issued an “emergency” order that will block events, including some concerts and food festivals, from city parkland, where no more than twenty people could congregate. And not surprisingly, permits for demonstrations will be exempt from the rule and will be granted.

So if you want to demonstrate against American values or supported events, have at it with no resistance from the Mayor.

“The events associated with the FIFA World Cup and United States 250th anniversary will require significant realignment and deployment of NYPD personnel, which will further divert resources from regular assignments and from crime-fighting, public safety, and counter-terrorism duties,” according to the rule, which was signed by Mamdani and Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. 

At least, that is presently the rule being offered to the public.

About 1.2 million visitors are expected to converge on the New York metro region for eight World Cup games at MetLife Stadium at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. Many fans will stay at Big Apple hotels.

Another 6 million visitors are expected for events around the 250th anniversary of the country, with which Fleet Week will coincide this year.

This is an extremely short-sighted position he has taken, especially since he has been struggling with a $5BB budget deficit, and a failed campaign promise to provide “free” buses and subways.

There is potential for unexpected income from various sources including additional tax income, fees paid by FIFA for using city-owned areas and parks, fees paid by vendors, sales taxes earned by commercial properties on me4ch sold, and other sources of income. Additionally, FEMA is expected to susidize the cost for additional  security support. Most of this would be forfeited because permits would not be issued.

There is still some time, though not much, for Mayor Mamdani to reverse this very poor decision. Perhaps, he should utilize a real accounting firm to look at the numbers again, and ignore all the Socialists who pervade the City government who seem to clamor only for their own agenda.

It is worth a chance to revisit the overall financial benefit to New York before an irreversible blunder causes more chance for harm.