The Night they Drove the Metal Down

Bowling yesterday. It was something to do with the girls. Why not? They're off today. The womenfolk are out shopping again, god help us. 

We're at Starbucks. Stay by Lisa Loeb just came on the radio. Pardon us for feeling nostalgic, but that was spring '94 and we'd just met this girl...No, that's not the Monday (not) Metal. There are a couple of Ruski girls sitting next to us right now. Shall we collude? Damnit, they left. 

Happy President's Day. Reminder, no president is as great as we think he is, none is as bad. Your greatest presidents are Washington, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan. Andrew Jackson was a terrible president and should be removed from the $20. Replace him with Ike or Reagan, maybe Truman. 

We have a little test we like to use when discussing history/politics. If you're conservative, do you think FDR was a great president? We do. So did New Gingrich. If you're a Lib, do you think Ronald Reagan was a great president? Neither point is debatable anymore and if the answer to either question is no, then we don't have to take you seriously. 

Call me an unreconstructed Neocon but we'll still make the case for W. Handling 9/11, liberating Afghanistan, winning the battle for Iraq, handling the financial crisis, solid economic growth. We remain loyal. Sadly, we don't think that loyalty has been reciprocated.  Has W even said anything about the court overturning RvW?

So...Trump (who seeks to become the first president since FDR to win three elections in a row), DeSantis, and Haley (lately the focus of misogynist Don Lemon's ire), am I right, people? Gee, wonder why Don Lemon hates women? Anywho...the GOP candidate doesn't matter, not one bit. Not while the Democrats control the means of counting. 

Joe visits Ukraine but not Ohio. 

Via Vox day, a long article arguing that the main Russian offensive is at hand. Stroocks Books has long believed operations in Donetsk where either battlespace prep or a distraction. We agree that the Ukes must be exhausted and have grown weaker while the Ruskis have grown stronger. We shall see. Exit question. Would taking Kiev be a big deal? Would it end the war?  

Back to World War 1990: The Final Storm this week. Some day the slog will end. That day is not today. Nor will that day be tomorrow. Or the day after. We look at the MS and feel nothing but despair and dread. 

We shall continue slow-writing World War 1990: Norway. We think we have the opening Sovietski scene worked out in our head. We're not entirely sure how their assault works. But we feel lots of percolation. Percolation is good. 

We have to get our editorial situation worked out before proceeding with The New American Order: 1977-1981.

Monday Metal. The Answer reports: 'Last evening our gear (radio mics, luggage, Marshall TSL), guitars (Gibson Les Paul Tobacco burst, Yamaha Bass BB, pedal board) and tour van were stolen from the premier Inn outside the Birmingham NEC.' What a world. Here's The Answer's latest: