Trump and Venezuela. Regime Change. Stuff.

Response to a Friend’s Facebook post. 

I DON’T think a Washington “regime change” of Venezuela, if ever, would be cool with China. The top buyer of Caracas’ oil is Beijing. But I feel Mr Trump's recent aggressive moves vs. alleged cartel ships in Venezuela, apart from the obvious, also serves as part of his tactics per trade with China. A few shudders could force Nicolas Maduro to shut his waters from cartel transit, as Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum gets strict on Rio Grande, Darien Pass, and Gulf of Mexico on President Trump’s pressure. Same case in the recent drama in Iran. Selective thrillers. China is Tehran's #1 oil customer. The CCP won't allow shipping disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. 

       Meanwhile, the insane U.S. military buildup everywhere is a Washington habit. The report about another near Venezuela doesn’t really surprise me. America maintains 750 bases in 80 countries! The last regime changes in Asia were in 1945 (Philippines and Korea) and 1963 (Vietnam) or, you may also count 1986 in the Philippines. Yet there are currently 41 U.S. military bases in the region. Including satellites, some sources say 300! 

       Why can't the U.S. simply do the military brinkmanship trick or "gunboat diplomacy" there in the East since the 21st century strode in? In Myanmar, especially? Or shake North Korea a bit? Actually create real hostilities in the South China Sea besides fishing boat "quarrels"? 

       China.

       ADD: Despite biggies Japan and South Korea (and the Philippines) as all-out Washington political hound dogs, they are economic allies of China. Refer to RCEP, for example, which also has Australia and New Zealand as members. India and Indonesia are BRICS.

FB Friend: The bill is coming due for a faltering U.S. hegemony.

U.S. (global) hegemony has already "faltered." The signal was ushered by the 2000 trade pact between Bill Clinton and Jiang Zemin, which cleared the path for China to enter the WTO and the universal economic terrain that was dominated by the U.S. and Europe for centuries. Anyhow, Mr Trump as in other POTUSes before him will always abide by America's military narcissism to influence global relations although Donald tries to diversify a bit mainly due to China not biting Washington's traditional hawkish dare. 

       Yet as I keep on saying, the U.S. will stay #1 as long as it maintains a relatively cordial relations with China and BRICS and continually challenge/s NATO and Europe's timewarped belief that the West is still as mighty as the 18th century. But Mr Trump is demonized big time, regardless of the dovish insistence in his playbook. ☮️☮️☮️

Compilation of my short MORNING THOUGHTS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

I quit organizing concerts and publishing indies when hate got really louder than the music and words. Relentlessly, I was so high on gathering people for fun then. Then the divide got eerily wider; public safety, blurry. I felt ushering venues for convergence peace would only slide to political murkthrow. I covered the countryside war in Asia. But then I had ideas where danger was. These days in America, we don’t know where and when the bullet will hit, and who shot it. ☮️💔☮️

I am old and grumpy or achingly political. So be it. It disappoints me that many would ogle at confectioned stench like Johnny vs Amber over many pertinent issues these days. I did post/blog the Depp/Heard kitsch. Done. What about billions$ tossed to a war amidst 8.5 percent inflation? Defense spending now exceeds $800 billion. Years ago, people minded inane prez tweets but not actual work. Who cares about tweets; I mind leadership performance sans blah. 

       Per the President’s Asian trip, expect military “aid” to soar some more. I am virulently anti-war. Leaders who pull troops out of war and thumb down NATO? I doff my hat. But leaders of the West nowadays? Nope. I don’t care about personality swagger. I am not a 20something romantic anymore. My wicked pragmatism is borne out of my long rock journeys and worn/torn sublime madnesses. Show me the workboard, not the high-falutin’ morality. 🗣👤👥

Another high school friend passed away yesterday. Heart and lungs complications. I survived my own near-fatal health issues in 1995 in Manila and 2000 in New York, after a surgery. I have never been healthier, I think, since then. All I get is pollen allergy for 2 or 3 weeks. Yet my body’s armor is what it is. Wear and tear. I mostly protect my mental health. I engage in less arguments and try to avoid drama. Plus the babedawg and koolcat help me chill. Amen? 🐕💞🐈

Now that I am old—much older than my dad when I was a virulently fired-up radical, I realize how annoying I was. My father wasn’t even political. Just inquiring about a son who was a journalist. Yet I insisted on my politics—on anyone who dared argue via the contrary insight. My opinion or eat your onion; my way or walk the freeway! So these days when I talk with peeps who push their partisan pizza on me, I just shake my head. Then I whisper to Alexa: “…Play Bee Gees, please.” 🗣👂🥱

NBA talk. Chet Holmgren, who played for Gonzaga only for 1 year, could be the top draft pick. Yet, I believe, Chet is a project, full of potential but still very raw. Yet consider this: Top pick gets over $8 million on Year 1. The 10th pick: $3+ million. If a rookie is a Top 10 newbie? Instant millionaire! You don’t get that pay even if you finish with a PhD. Meanwhile, look at what happened with Top Picks Greg Oden and Zion Williamson who went straight to pro ball? But hey they got millions! 

       The 1-year pay, of course, doesn’t include perks, bonuses, and endorsements. In case the rookie gets hurt (like Mr Oden and Mr Williamson), still—he gets the money per contract. In case the injury didn’t heal and so he retires? Still, the pay goes on per contract. Hence, these days they are very careful that players don’t get hurt. Hard foul? Let’s review the TV monitor, okay? Flagrant Foul 67 or Flagrant Foul 89? These guys are huge business investments! 🏀💰🏀

Due to primal cultural diversity, we will stay different till we expire. Your belief is yours; mine is mine. But it doesn’t mean we can’t share dinner, play chess, or dance pasodoble as ballroom partners. Mutual fun is gained as we explore what we can enjoy as two over those that instigate us to fight. Left or Right; religious or atheist; pro life or pro choice etc. Human reflex works around a common response to universal coolness. Pursuit of good is fun; dwelling on bad, sux!☯️💝☮️

I observe other homepage/s that are busier than most, with a minimum of 15 usually intense comments to a post. Ah! Imagine if I’d be responding to each rude response to whatever I wrote? Old age coolness wasted! LOL! It would be nice to get a few grownup replies once and a while, which I do, but I am thankful I am not usually provoked to respond to silly fireballs. Yet I wish I could meet that person in person. Maybe he/she’s cool without an e-gadget? 🗣👤👥

Peeps always ask for watch (streaming TV) recommendations. Of course, there are thousands to type up. But in terms of comedy, which are mental health imperatives especially these days: Try “Kung Fu Hustle,” a Hong Kong made tickler. However, if you say “Nah ah!” because it is essentially Chinese or it is martial arts (violent?) that’d mean, the movie will not do you no good for laughter. So I suggest, increase your Zoloft dosage and go click “Dr Phil” on CBS. 😜🎬🤪

I do follow politics, 24/7. It was a professional (journalism) job and so even though I am not active anymore, I got used to it as second-nature. Many say they don’t want to talk “political” or delve into politics chat. I understand. Few really follow politics as “crazily” as I do or dig in deep to figure things out. They don’t want to talk about stuff that they are not familiar with. The problem is, when people who don’t really read/follow politics argue about politics a lot. 😏🍆😟

What is shared on Social Media are those that we choose to reveal. Sure. The integral parts/truths of us stay TMI a.k.a. "too much info." Yet despite all the drama and genius that are shared for transparency, I notice that humanity here tend/s to get scared, guarded, or wary of people more. Walls are built rather than bridges connected. Interaction out there would know us better—but hoping that the conversation isn’t about whoever you voted for president. Otherwise, stay in. LOL! 🗣👤👥

China's military parade, Trump deportations, and stuff.

Response to Facebook posts by friends. 

<>Military parades are an annual show of hawkish superpower spunk. No big deal. The big deal? China's military budget: $249 billion (#2 globally). U.S.? An uncontested $850 billion! Yet China is the U.S.’ #2 or #3 top trade partner; could be #1 again after an expected trade pact 2 by Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

 

       Current top trade buddies Canada and Mexico? Mark Carney is being dramatic about stuff while Claudia Sheinbaum may shudder per President Trump's pursuit of drug cartels etcetera. (Narcopolitics is a superpower ogre out there. But Mexico's leadership must work with Don in obliterating the padrones to make sense of Washington's current plan.)

       Meanwhile, the U.S., Canada and Mexico have been haggling and hawing over tariffs for years so “Trump tariffs” are not really their issue (refer to NAFTA). 

<>President Trump has so far deported or arrested close to 150,000 illegal migrants. Take note the record number of border crossings by the undocumented from 2021 to 2024, after Joe Biden ended the Merida Initiative in 2021. Deportations are no-brainer. 

       Yet it was Barack Obama, in his first term, who deported the most number of migrants: 400,000+ average. That is the U.S. record of deportations (after Operation Wetback in 1954). But no Left-wing howl this loud in Obama years. 🏛🗽🏛

Compilation of my short MORNING THOUGHTS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page

Would it matter if Jesus Christ, Mohammad, or Buddha are white, black, yellow or brown-skinned? Would people stop shaming others’ religion? All religions are guilty of wrongdoings, as they are respected as well for good deeds. Because human existence treads imperfection. What matters are the teachings on those preserved texts that inspire and motivate universal good. But we usually anchor conflicts on our outer layer diversity. What if our Faith is all one-color? No color? 🕌?✝️

France’s presidential aspirant Marine Le Pen is anti-IMF and anti-NATO. Those anti positions were Old Left ideals. Yet she is branded Far Right. Then, workers who forged energies versus corporate greed were called Communists or Leftist radicals. These days, they are called Conservative Right—although they also forge energies vs corporate greed. Populism is essentially the majority poor. Yet the word is now demonized by the media. How the world’s words get mixed up. ☮️☮️☮️

I was a radical Leftist. But raised as a Catholic Conservative. The Old Right: They’d quietly dismiss or evade you in case of disagreement. They are essentially still the same. The Old Left was more focused, patient, and intent—in pursuit of gut issues. Differences ignite them to reach out more. The New Left, however, expanded its reach to include “correctness” morality and ideological purity. They’d stick to their paradigm similar to how devout religious cling to theirs. Me? Just a pasckie. 🗣👤👥

Johnny Depp sued his ex-wife, Amber Heard, for an op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post referring to herself as “…representing domestic abuse.” This Hollywood drama, albeit supposedly “private” is VERY public. Unless they are family or close friends, I am not interested in the personal life of people, rich and famous or not. Why would I? Meantime, my viewing pleasure of movies is just-that: Viewing pleasure. Depp is Depp and Heard is—at least now, you heard about her. 🎬😭🎬

Most of my life as a journalist I covered politics. Listened to politicians talk a lot, off the record as well. But since Obama’s last campaign in 2012, I lost interest in listening to politicians talk. I also considerably stopped watching News TV. But my reading madness of politics got more intense, focused, and frequent. You see, when news is spoken, I often lose the facts of the matter. The “spade” isn’t tackled as “spade” per se but somebody else’s “spade.” 🗣👤👥

I don’t believe most of the political news that I read these days--but I read them just the same. Reading those that I don’t agree with—is also a learning curve. For example, although I don’t concur with most of what the New York Times reports these days, I haven’t stopped reading it. The only newspaper that I read ceaselessly since high school days. Though grossly opinionated by way of its partisan bent, NY Times presents its stuff with aesthetic flair. Good writing. 📝📚📝

Money and punishment—in pro sports. Most recent: NBA fines Miles Bridges $50K for hitting a fan with mouthguard after ejection. Next: Patrick Beverley fined $30K after telling opposing players to “…take your ass home!” Those shenanigans don’t compare with the “ordinary” violence in ice hockey games, of course. NHL fines range from "only" $1,000 to $15K (which is max so far). And then I still read scholarly analysis of the Slap over the nonstop shootings out there. ?☮️🏒

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator, looms as frontrunner in the presidential election in the Philippines next month. He is ahead by 20+ points over 2nd-running Leni Robredo. Philippine politics is multiparty; the eventual winner doesn’t get a majority vote. Strategically, if the campaign focuses on persuading voters who opt for the three other aspirants to go to Leni, she will have a chance. The tactic of shaming the rival candidate doesn’t work. 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

News: “Video shows Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine being beaten and shot in their legs.” We know what a war is all about. How many wars have excised punishment on humanity in our respective lifetimes? Hence, does the media need to parade the atrocities, cruelties, and mayhem right on our gadgets, 24/7? We get it. We get the message. What is the point? Pummel in our head who are the villains and who are the heroes? And add fire to more hatred? ☮️☮️☮️

When a politician or any individual issues an insight that runs against the popular narrative, that person is auto-dismissed as Conservative Rightwinger or Populist Right. A long time ago, “popular narrative” a.k.a. The majority voice was defined as populism. Antithesis to elitism of the rich, privileged few. Today’s weird conjecture: If the “populist” take tends to go Old Left vs the New Left, then it is called “populist Left.” So what do we call the New Left? Liberal? Progressive? Yet not Elite? 👈👅👉

Compilation of short MORNING THOUGHTS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

Journalism perennially tiptoes the grey line between objectivity and propaganda. Way back before the advent of the internet, depending on the degree of reading earnest—the Narrative’s Left/Right angling was no brainer. But we had to dig deeper. These days, media as political mouthpieces and marketing feed by corporate giants—have gone magnificently widespread, in-your-face blatant. Old age though gives us clarity by comparative analysis. Fact, fake, truth, lie. Do we? 👍👽👎

Another mass shooting. Sacramento: Six dead, 10 injured. Fact: Bloodbath happens 24/7, globally. You’d probably say Venezuela has 49 gun deaths per 100,000 or most of South America are worse. The U.S., only 12 despite a huge 102 guns per 100. Given. What is eerie alongside the violence board on our face? We talk more about the violence of a glittery slap than killings around us. Or it seems we are not moved by billions$ spent on military aid to prolong wars. Tragic.☮️☮️☮️

We are kickass when it comes to leftover dinners. Old school. People whine a lot about the $7.25 minimum wage. Shouldn’t we work around life and living? Learn to live with less. If the salary goes up double, sweet! But if wage/s stay $7.25 and inflation triples to 7.9 percent, not good. Still, we gotta work around leftovers. Leftover royales! In fact, Arrow The Brat Doog keeps her leftovers—bones and cookies—between couch cushions. She knows how to save and recycle food. 🐕🦴🐕

When a sentence that fits a particular political bias is credited to Keanu Reeves, Maya Angelou, or Bernie Sanders, that meme is shared heavily, 24/7. Although said words seem exactly what grandma or the flea market vendor say all the time. Yup, the majick of today’s “influencing” juju. Also: When an “unknown” personage shares some data that pretty much elicit “Oh yeah!” that post is shared pronto, without rechecking facts. Most likely, it was tossed by a cat. 🤨🧐😂

One of the most stupid activities that humanity ever submitted themselves into is to ridicule religion. All religions. The idiotic gesture only breeds hate, violence, and disunity. Waste of time and energy. Similar to/with political ideologies and cultural traditions, religion could usher badness or evil—yet they also motivate goodness and peace. We gather and spread the Good; we reject and dispose of the Bad. In between, we simply dance to Bee Gees music. ?☮️🕺

Awesome if people respond to a post that they don't agree with--by saying, "How about we meet in person and discuss more over coffee or beer?" That's how I expanded my network before there was Social Media. You see, is it really hard to act grownup when responding online? The reason why many are rude in commenting here--is because it makes them feel important, cool, and sexy? And they won’t see you in person ever anyway—to get a thunderous slap! LOL! 🤨🧐😂

Comedy has evolved from an easy, accessible laughing fix. For example, I was an avid fan of SNL at the time of Mike Myers, Molly Shannon, Will Ferrell—or till the era of Fred Armisen, Kristen Wiig, Adam Samberg, and Bill Hader’s Stefon. Till the “political humor” got overboard—as insults versus the opposite of the polar extreme. So I’m done with SNL. Also: Memes are fine—unless serious stuff like wars are meme’fied, especially with incorrect data. Not funny at all. 

       Today’s comedy is more a specific/exclusive sociocultural fare, (political/market) demographics-wise. You don’t nonchalantly stride in a comedy open mic and expect to laugh all the way as before. You may even walk out. I am not a fan of “insult comedy,” I mean. But I won’t waste energy raising a finger to shut a comic up. My fingers and hands got more use—as a pleasure tool and work gadget than to slap a funny dude. I’d rather walk out and go to Sonic for a banana split or head home in front of ESPN with the babedawg and koolcat. 👎😾👎

Conversation is hard these days. When we try to elaborate on a certain sociocultural fact or basics like gasoline price, heating bills, or what we watch on primetime TV. I try not to slide to partisan politics a.k.a. Left vs Right caterwaul but it’d be difficult to expound if we don’t touch law and politics per se. Since a society is governed by political rule. Yet you’d be hushed by a retort that slams, “…I don’t want to talk about politics right now!” LOL! 

       The thing is, you’d be hushed if they don’t (politically) agree with you. Or when you try to correct their info (beyond Left/Right). Yet others, when they couldn’t argue your point, would correct your usage of English. LOL! 🗣👤🤪

What if there's no social media? If we don't speak all that our mind says. You see, long-married couples differ in opinion. Best friends, too. But they never unfriended mere disagreement on stuff, politics or whatever. Presidents leave White House, 8 years max. Family and friends stay, mostly. Were they always rude when they disagreed, especially while in front of you? What if there’s no social media where people hit and run, be nasty while behind a curtain? 🗣👤👥

There’s a lot to dislike about people. People are strange. But then it wasn’t easy to lose friends. High school days? Boyz in the `hood? We heckled each other over flimsy reasons. We co-existed nevertheless. In my youth, I was a radical Leftist yet my friends were apolitical, Rightists, or just themselves. No problem. We still had fun together though the silly heckling stayed. These days, it is easy to “unfriend” people. Because we all basically live here. Bubbles. Pfft! 👍👋👎

ASIA: India, China, and the United States.

Response to Facebook posts by friends. 

FB Friend: President Bongbong Marcos is due to visit India, a rising power in the region and a huge market of more than 1 billion people. India can be a natural ally, like the U.S. and Japan because of its conflict with China

ME: Other than the media drama that U.S. journalism narrates, I don't think India has conflicts with its BRICS partner China. But the Philippines can trade with both giants and the U.S. sans intrigues. Just do business. The Philippines' relatively fine 5+ percent economic growth will carry on if Manila doesn't contaminate its trade relations with political asides.

FB Friend: India and China have border disputes in the Himalayas and occasionally exchanged artillery. India resented Chinese Navy presence in the Indian Ocean through a base and presence in rival Pakistan. China does not welcome Indian Navy presence in the South China Sea, criticizing naval drills with the Philippines. 

• 
  

ME: These border disputes date back years, mostly rooted in British colonial era demarcations: 1962 Sino-Indian War, 1967 Nathu La and Cho La, 1987 Sumdorong Chu standoff etc etcetera. Even dating back to the Opium Wars of the 17th century or when the British meddled in the region via the British East Indian Company. There was a quarrel in 2020-2021. Yet, at least from the time both countries forged a trade alliance via BRIC in 2001 (with Brazil and Russia), growth in diplomatic and economic influence has increased the significance of their bilateral relationship. Between 2008 and 2021, China has been India's largest trading partner, and the two countries have also extended their strategic and military relations. But true animosities happen but unless the West meddles and trouble-mongers, these guys stay relatively cool.

• 
  

Note that Mr Trump shuffles Washington's hawkish girth via slick trade pitch: He sold arms in the Middle East as he forges peace and de-escalated the Iran/Israel tempest, sold arms to EU/NATO instead of sending what US Congress last approved in Ukraine aid last year, and of course, he sent his Defense chief Pete Hegseth to sell arms in Asia. (Japan was an early taker, hence PM Ishiba's party lost.) What I see in this rehashed (military) brinkmanship is more arms sales. With or without wars, or during little wars, arms are sold. Meanwhile, why not try to create a fissure between China and India? Trump is amidst trade negotiations with China as he plans to visit Beijing by the end of the year, possibly for a second trade pact with Xi Jinping. 

       So he looks at India as a variation in his chess game; he can also look at Indonesia, actually. But I don't think China and India are that dumb not to know about the rabble-rouse. Indonesia is also BRICS). Sure, these giants can always parade their military machismo; that's always been the case in the South China Sea in the advent of China. But the shudder didn't explode as what normally happens in and around the Strait of Hormuz or Persian Gulf. ☮️☮️☮️

Ukraine War. President Trump and the European Union.

Response/s to a Facebook chat on the subject of Mr Trump “losing” the war.

FOR now, I believe, the real battle is between Mr Trump and the EU or European powers in NATO. A continuing war means the EU's recent pledge to increase their share of NATO funding (esp. Germany's 16 percent or more) will be tested.

       Or The D's decision to resume sending U.S. military aid to Ukraine (after Russia stepped up strikes) would be via NATO. Germany, France, UK et al will have to foot most of the bill. POTUS previously held or delayed arms aid to Kyiv as he resumed talks with Vladimir Putin. 

       Of course, Don's negotiations with Vlad were rendered useless after Europe decided to keep on sending weapons to Volodymyr Zelensky; the EU opted to keep the war raging. ☮️☮️☮️

LAST year or during Joe Biden's time, the U.S. Congress appropriated a new $174 billion aid to Ukraine; the House approved $61 billion. So this means that this money will only be partially sent or not at all since Mr Trump has urged NATO to take full/more responsibility this time. Of course, the military alliance was active since the war started in February 2022 but it was the U.S. or President Biden taking the lead.

       So the chess game is now within the West. Anyhow, the question here, as President Trump's dove gasps, is whether NATO or EU back down from sending more arms to Ukraine (regardless that they increased their share of NATO budget per POTUS prodding). An end to the war serves Mr Trump's playbook. That'd mean he can resume his trade talks with Kyiv. 

No more war means an election happens in Ukraine. Which also means “Goodbye, Zelensky!” So would Z refuse EU's aid? Nope. He wants to stay. But the Ukrainian people already suffered so much. They are the real ones who "lost." 

       And why would Donald Trump be the POTUS who lost this war when he only inherited it from Joe Biden? Even if Donald is able to end this war, he didn't win--he just ended it. Already, the people lost. Not just the Ukrainians and Russians, but also American taxpayers who had to watch U.S. money get wasted in wars instead of funding gut-level imperatives such as FEMA. 

       FEMA had a budget deficit of $7.4 billion in 2024; The D lowered it to $2.9 billion. Still, that is huge money. You see, Mr Biden's government has handed Z billions$ since 2022 (apart from aid during the 2014 revolution) yet FEMA stayed bankrupt. 

       Oh well.

       The other issue: If Mr Trump disregards what Congress decided last year (new aid to Ukraine(, expect another impeachment move. With Israel, it's "easier." Whether there is an Israel war or not, Tel Aviv will still get the annual $3+ billion military aid from the US. For Z, "no war = no more aid." ☮️☮️☮️