A Pro-Republican Perspective on Recent Developments

Posted By on June 11, 2025

TheHustings editor sent me a request last week and wanted my thoughts on the recent feud between President Trump and Elon Musk (my submission posted Monday on TheHustings.news).

woman frustratedOf course it was disappointing … and in my opinion … unnecessary (at least the personal stuff), but I definitely understood Musk’s frustration after all he as given up:

  1. Big dollar donations and campaigning to get Republicans and Trump elected in 2024 ($$$),
  2. Putting his companies aside to look at the inefficiency in Washington DC and our nation’s Federal spending (thanks DOGE),
  3. The shocking backlash against his EV car company, Tesla and $TSLA stock, not only by Democrats who must want to keep spending until the U.S. can’t afford in the interest on our debt (go figure?) and they don’t seem to want anyone shining a light on “waste, fraud and abuse … and the on top of that, Tesla is the target of international pushback due to U.S. tariffs and trade.

As a fiscal conservative, I am frustrated too at Republicans not working together and focusing more on the spending side of the ledger (although pro-growth tax cuts are fine). Is it really that difficult for Congress to return to pre-COVID spending, codify the work of DOGE and make the 2017 tax cuts permanent? 

A Pro-Republican Perspective on Recent Developments

The recent public spat between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk over the “One Big Beautiful Bill” has been overblown and is already fading. Their disagreement, largely centered on Musk’s concerns about the bill’s deficit impact, is a minor hiccup in the grand scheme of Republican priorities. Trump and Musk, both larger-than-life figures, share a commitment to advancing America’s economic strength, and this temporary rift is unlikely to derail their broader alignment. Reports indicate Trump is already negotiating adjustments to the bill, showing his willingness to bridge differences while keeping his “America First” agenda intact. The feud is a distraction—Republican unity remains strong, and Musk’s influence, while notable, won’t overshadow the party’s momentum.

On the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scoring of the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Republicans are right to question its projections. The CBO’s estimate of a $2.4 trillion to $3.8 trillion deficit increase may fail to account for the dynamic economic growth spurred by tax cuts, much like it underestimated the benefits of Trump’s 2017 tax reforms. Those cuts fueled job creation and GDP growth, proving that lower taxes can stimulate revenue through economic expansion. Republicans argue the current bill’s tax cuts, including extensions of the 2017 provisions and new breaks on tips and overtime, will similarly drive prosperity, offsetting projected deficits. The CBO’s static models often miss this bigger picture, and GOP lawmakers are justified in prioritizing growth over pessimistic forecasts.

As the bill moves through the Senate, there’s hope among fiscal conservatives for a compromise that includes deeper tax cuts to further stimulate the economy. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has signaled openness to strengthening the legislation, potentially incorporating additional reductions favored by fiscal hawks like Senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson. These conservatives rightly push for policies that curb government overreach and empower businesses and individuals through lower taxes. With a slim 53-47 Senate majority, Republicans have room to refine the bill, balancing Trump’s vision with demands for fiscal discipline. A compromise that amplifies tax cuts while addressing deficit concerns would be a win for the GOP’s pro-growth, limited-government principles. Here’s hoping the Senate delivers.

Our are granddaughters prepped for American Girl Doll camp

Posted By on June 11, 2025

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A Very Happy Birthday to our son Taylor

Posted By on June 10, 2025

Birthday cakeAlthough this is a photo from “my” birthday with Taylor and Megan last month, I’m using it Birthday Cake Grokfor his birthday greeting today — we’ll see him soon (and may add the photo later below?)

Nevertheless, Happy Birthday, Taylor, another year has passed. The thought that you are nearly middle age is frightening.  I am very proud of my awesome son.

A 36th Birthday dinner at Pepp and Dolores in Cincinnati — thanks Megan!

Did I mention it was raining today? (testing Linux server update)

Posted By on June 9, 2025

A server test over the lunch hour to see if the Linux server is a bit more stable? 

Yes … it may have been mentioned for Music Monday in the Luke Combs song … “When It Rains, It Pours.” 😉

Music Monday: Luke Combs and “When It Rains, It Pours”

Posted By on June 9, 2025

When It Rains, It Pours Let’s go in the country music direction for this week’s Music Monday.

Morton Salt Slogan Luke Combs in 2021

I heard a song by Luke Combs called “When It Rains, It Pours” about a month ago and sent myself an email since it immediately appealed to me. There’s not much in the song about Morton Salt, but it did trigger the memory. 😊
  

  Luke Combs – “When It Rains, It Pours” | 2017

Here’s a little “behind the scenes” video on Youtube.

More Oostra Oak and storing Ridgid Grease Gun

Posted By on June 8, 2025

It does seem like a while ago now, but I’ve been slow and steady in bringing back some of the “Oostra Oak” that plan on using for future woodworking projects. So, while up in Whitehouse, Ohio last weekend for our granddaughter’s dance recital, I hauled back a bit more lumber. Ridgid Grease Gun storageWell, during the evening I slowly moved it down to my workshop and stored it gently on my lumber rack (it is getting heavy).  

Oak in Workshop Lumber Rack

Then yesterday while trying to find a place to store my relatively new Ridgid grease gun (it won’t fit in the cabinet), it seemed like a better idea to hang it on the wall —  it is long and gangly. So I spent the morning distracted from yard and pool cleaning chores (wet and rainy anyway) and used some of the new oak scraps to fit the odd shaped grease gun for wall storage. 

Short aside: After my previous manual grease gun failed to work in lubing the Kubota Zero Turn mower and ignoring the maintenance, the mower broke down and lost a part. After tearing into it and replacing the missing part, I found out wasn’t the manual grease gun’s fault after all, it was a plugged zirk grease fitting. Nevertheless, having a new tool always makes my day and might force me to keep up with the lubrication in the future? 😉 

Plastic headlights restoring with Cerakote kit ($17 on Amazon)

Posted By on June 7, 2025

2002 Honda Odyssey

This week the long overdue task of polishing, brightening and coating the plastic headlights on three of our cars was on my to-do list. Our 2002 Honda Odyssey was likely the worst, but the others were not much better. Cerakote on AmazonYears ago I tried the toothpaste and rubbing compounds on several other cars, but without a “ceramic coating,” the yellowing and hazing reappeared.

This time a Cerakote kit that I’ve read about on automotive sites seemed like a better option. For $16.95 (now $17.95) on Amazon, even if off brands were cheaper, still seemed fair . Like I always do, if it is sized for one … it should work for three … right?  😉 

After the Odyssey, I tackled the 2010 BMW X5 35d next and the results weren’t bad. After this I’m sure the beams of the headlights will be a bit sharper for my aging eyes at night (I noticed the headlights were lousy driving home from my. granddaughters dance recital in Toledo).

2010 BMW X5 35d

The 2010 Acura RDX was not quite as stellar as the Honda, but still cleaned up nice. Below are sanding prep (2000 then 3000 grit) and a before (left) and after (right)

Sanding prep on Acura RDX
Acura RDX Before Acura RDX after

Test post after morning jobs report (10-yr Treasury)

Posted By on June 6, 2025

Testing a few Tech Friday blog updates that have scrambled the MDB server. For the “media” inclusion, here is a graph of 10-year Treasury yield this morning when the better than expected job numbers were released.

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Tech Friday: Personal privacy when using Artificial Intelligence

Posted By on June 6, 2025

Grok illustration privacy issuesWhen you supply personal data to ChatGPT, it may be accessed by OpenAI’s AI trainers, service providers, law enforcement (if legally required), or third-party apps (if integrated). Data is stored and potentially used for training unless you opt out, and breaches or model outputs could expose it further.

Other AI clients follow similar patterns, though some (e.g., Grok, Claude, NotebookLM, etc) have stricter default privacy settings. To protect your data, avoid sharing sensitive information, opt out of training, use privacy modes, and review provider policies carefully. Always assume that any data you input could be seen by humans or stored indefinitely, even with safeguards in place. (more…)

Happy Anniversary Brenda … and a few more interesting maps

Posted By on June 5, 2025

Brenda and I have successfully made anothertrip around the sun together, as the Jimmy Buffett and Martina McBride song goes — Laughing emoji43 years now if my math is correct. We are now unofficially middle-aged in “married” years!
 

  Jimmy Buffett & Martina McBride – “Trip Around The Sun” | 2004

Nordic CountriesIn the past I’ve posted a some maps saved to my “to blog on” folder (that’s not what it is called), so today I’ll include three after the ones yesterday illustrating an interesting way to look at the world post.

Med vs US

The one above is on the size of the Mediterranean sea compared to the United States. The one on the left was from a Wall Street Journal article on Reinforcing Europe’s Northern Front with Russia — interesting if you don’t realized where the northern borders are or the Baltic Sea is located. Finally below is one that was shared on social media on what the average hourly pay is in each state around the US — although I’m not sure how it is calculated? 

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Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
My Desultory Blog