Hambone v3.0

Taking It Back Monday Open Comments

Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Panama

This would correct one of the deeply wrong foreign policy moves by Jimmy Carter back in the 1970s, driving me to leave the Democratic Party in those days.

PANAMA CITY – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Feb 2 warned Panama that it would face action from the US unless it makes “immediate changes” on the Panama Canal, alleging it had violated the handover treaty.

Meeting President Jose Raul Mulino, Mr Rubio “made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the treaty,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.

Mr Rubio told Mr Mulino that President Donald Trump “has made a preliminary determination that the current position of influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party over the Panama Canal area is a threat to the canal and represents a violation of the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal,” Mr Bruce said.

and then this happens…

Panama has decided not to renew its memorandum of understanding with China on the Belt and Road Initiative, marking a significant shift in its foreign policy. The move follows increased U.S. pressure, as Washington works to curb Beijing’s growing influence in Latin America.

This decision came as Senator Marco Rubio visited Panama to discuss key issues like the Panama Canal’s operations and migration through the Darien Gap, a critical transit point for migrants heading to the U.S.

Shazaam, just like that !

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45 responses to “Taking It Back Monday Open Comments”

  1. Super Dave Avatar
    Super Dave

    It’s Monday! 40 here but we’ll hit the high 70’s today, all week really, and we may hit 80 later in the week. I’m liking this.
    Mornin’ Gang

  2. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    I remember this travesty well; all the America Hating lefties kept saying that we needed to give the canal back to Panama. The Canal Zone was sovereign US territory upon the founding of the nation of Panama. It is in the foundational documents; words like lease, temporary, and provisional are not in the Panama Canal Treaty concerning ownership of the canal while words such as sovereign US Territory, in perpetuity and permanent are. The USA paid for the construction of the canal with lots of lives and treasure in addition to being the first to recognize Panama as an independent country. Further, Teddy Roosevelt sent the US Navy down to Panama to dissuade Columbia from trying to reclaim Panama as part of Columbia.
    In short, there would be no Panama, nor Panama Canal but for the blood and treasure of the USA. THe canal and its openings belong to the USA in perpetuity.

  3. Super Dave Avatar
    Super Dave

    My three favorite things,….. 😉

  4. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    The same thing will that all happen to any country that allows a critical mass of muzzies to remain in the country.
    I know that I have said this before, but Islam is not compatible with Western Civilization. They refuse to coexist in peace and are some of the most intolerant people on the planet. The Jihaddis, approx 15% of the muzzie population will not stop, are not afraid of death, and want nothing more than to kill non muzzies. Unless and until the civilized countries of the world recognize this and act accordingly, there will be no peace. Islam mean submission, never forget this.

  5. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    The history of US activities in Central America has not always been pretty. Americans or their government have done some pretty shady things down there. However, the benefits of the Canal to the world far outweigh, I believe, the unethical adventures it took to get it built.

  6. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    Poor Eva. President Trump has her upset. She is a Dutch attorney and outspoken conservative activist.

    Eva Vlaardingerbroek

    @EvaVlaar

    Trump is making America great again a little too fast. He hasn’t even been back in office for a month and every single day he does something even more badass than the day before. It’s so cool and as a European it’s getting painful knowing we don’t have a single leader like him.

    12:58 PM · Feb 1, 2025

    1.9M Views

    1. Super Dave Avatar
      Super Dave

      Don’t know who she is but she has LEGGS! 1.9M views?! Seems like it should be more than that. 😀

      1. Texpat Avatar
        Texpat

        Super Dave, Eva is a very intelligent and serious activist for conservative causes, particularly Dutch farmers. She is a headache for the creeps at the EU. If attracting attention with her beauty helps, hey, I’m all for it.

  7. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    The Canadian dollar and Mexican peso are plunging on news of the American tariffs. We’ll see how long they last.

    Benny Johnson

    @bennyjohnson

    Immediately following Trump’s tariff announcement, the value of both the Canadian dollar and the Mexican peso are in freefall.

    Don’t mess with the United States of America.

  8. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    From the Wall Street Journal (behind the paywall). Blue States and cities became addicted to federal money like crackheads during the Biden years. The Dealer has cut them off…

    Democratic states and their economies depend much more on Washington largesse than Republican states do. This year, New York received roughly $4,900 per capita from the feds and California $4,300—two to three times as much as Florida ($1,700) and Texas ($1,500). That’s because Democratic states provide more generous social welfare, which is increasingly funded by Washington thanks to regulatory changes by the Biden administration.

    Democratic states also received a disproportionate share of the more than $1 trillion that Congress sent to state and local governments in 2020 and 2021 as pandemic relief. Between 2018 and 2022, federal dollars flowing to state and local governments increased by about $515 billion, more than the rise in Social Security and Medicare combined.

    Most Covid funds are running out, though the Biden Federal Emergency Management Agency planned to hand out disaster-relief funds to states and cities for pandemic “emergency” spending through August 2026. This year’s Los Angeles city budget includes $208.2 million in FEMA Covid funds, including for housing vagrants in hotels. New York state’s budget this year includes nearly $3.5 billion in FEMA dollars for Covid “emergency protective measures” such as home test kits.

  9. GJT Avatar
    GJT

    Dayumm! Crypto ain’t liking all this tariff talk. My aluminum can slush fund manager is now under investigation!

    1. Super Dave Avatar
      Super Dave

      😀

  10. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    Bird incinerating solar plant originally funded by the JugEars Administration, SOLYNDRA, is shutting down in less than half of its expected life. Now what happens with all those panels and how to dispose of them? Izzit possible to recycle any of it?

  11. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    If you haven’t seen the DNC Gordian Knot of LBGQT rules you really should take 2 minutes and watch the video here.

    I can’t believe what I just listened to. The DNC Leader interrupted the party election to tell members that not enough non-binary candidates have been elected, so they MUST now vote for one.

    1. Bonecrusher Avatar
      Bonecrusher

      When the enemy is attempting to commit suicide, it is best to stay out of their way.

      1. Adee Avatar
        Adee

        Umm, in that picture with a preferred list of acceptable ways to address homo sapiens in the coming years, they done forgot to include “IT” as also being acceptable. Idiots to the nth degree.

        Just keep space available to account for how to address creatures from outer space when they come to check us out.

    2. Super Dave Avatar
      Super Dave

      I saw that on Fox and it seems that the Democrats are doing everything they can to NEVER be elected again! UN-DAMN- BELIEVABLE.
      Oh and can you just see hat black dude in the front row trying to do that math in his head? 😀

  12. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    Excellent article about the looming civil war between Big Tech and Big Climate. RTWDT.

    The International Energy Agency released a report last year which calculated that artificial intelligence will draw power “roughly equal to the amount of electricity used by the entire country of Japan” by 2026. It already consumes 2% of the global energy grid and is still by all accounts in its infancy. Because of this, CNBC reported, “After a decade of flat power growth in the U.S., electricity demand is forecast to grow as much as 20% by 2030, according to a Wells Fargo analysis published in April.”

    2030 is also, serendipitously, the year that the world promised to dramatically decrease its energy usage. According to the U.N., more than 140 countries, over 9,000 companies, over 1,000 cities, more than 1,000 educational institutions, and over 600 financial institutions have pledged to halve global emissions by 2030.

    The promises of Fully Automated Luxury Communism and net-zero emissions are obviously in conflict, and it’s being quietly admitted.

    1. Tedtam Avatar
      Tedtam

      Looks like a must-read article. The end consumers are going to suffer the most in this power war. Maybe Hubby can put a coupla windmills in our yard to supplement our power needs.

      It would be something if it became cheaper to run our natural gas powered home generator in lieu of plugging into the power grid.

  13. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    I didn’t see this reveal yesterday of Caroline’s new position.

    (Feb. 2, 2025 / JNS) Prominent Israeli-American columnist and JNS senior contributing editor Caroline B. Glick is returning to the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem to serve as International Affairs Adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    Glick, who worked with Netanyahu over a quarter century ago before becoming a widely-read columnist, took up her new position on Sunday, almost three years after the first episode of her record-breaking “The Caroline Glick Show” premiered on JNS TV in 2022.

  14. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    I made three rosaries this morning, and a St. Michael chaplet that I want to send to a friend who’s facing cancer. If St. Michael can kick Satan’s butt, I think he’d be a good friend to have in my corner for any battle I may be facing. I keep a book of prayer intentions, and in addition to my daily rosary, I pray a St. Michael chaplet for those intentions.

    And yep, all y’all are in there. Just trying to keep you safe.

  15. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    Deep dive on Trump’s multi-front, devastating attack on the Trans industry.

  16. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Reading the latest news on the Trump agenda, I am reminded of visuals of farmers with scythes, making their way through their vast fields and leaving a swath of fallen herbage in their wakes. And, Biblically speaking, there will be chaff separated from the grain, tares from the wheat, and destruction for the non-useful product.

    Before getting my exercise, I exercise my right to visit the C&C:

    Good morning, C&C, it’s Monday! Over the weekend, the coordinated Trump forces attacked the disorganized Deep State’s pumping heart, and by this morning it was all over. We can see the panicking rats streaming for the docks before the SS Deep State sinks for good. But first, a primer on the Trump tariffs and the media’s fearmongering tactics to trick us about the so-called trade war.

    I think Trump learned a lot from his first term. And spent four years planning his return.

  17. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Regarding Trump’s announced tariffs and trade wars, inflation, etc., the left is just waiting to pounce on Trump for any real or perceived inflationary effect. Then this paragraph jumped out at me:

    I don’t think any of it has to do with inflation. Here’s what’s happening. In the immediate term, yes, Trump does want those three countries to jump like trained frogs to help him slam the border shut on illegal immigrants and deadly drugs. But in the longer term, Trump aims to completely re-make our country’s economy. And the globalists want to stop him, because it would put them out of business.

    And *THAT* is what scares the globalists/establishment/status quo the most.

    Trump isn’t trying to work within the existing rules of the game. He’s tossed to game board and all of the playing pieces over and is busy drawing out a new game on the table. And the old players don’t understand – or want to accept – the new rules. My question: can these changes be made permanent, or at least difficult to change?

    Childers states that sanctions against Russia are a linchpin in the global power struggle. Onward….

  18. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Re: Russian sanctions

    Childers posits that Biden’s attempt to impose sanctions of Putin actually helped the KGB alumnus and Russia. After the 1980 dipping of the Russian toe into free markets (which were growing), crime became an issue. That crime resulted in corruption, which is how the word “oligarch” became so hated.

    Childers gives a history lesson on these oligarchs, the arrival of Putin, and the still failing economy after said arrival. This continued failing of the economy meant that capital went elsewhere, leaving Russia even more destitute. The poorer Russia was, the faster the money ran away. Lather, rinse, repeat.

    Enter the answer to all Putin’s financial problems: Joseph Robinette Biden. After Biden closed off international investment as a viable option, Russia’s capitalists had no choice but to start investing back into Russia. This new domestic focus created an economic renaissance like nothing in Russian history. Russia’s economy has improved in nearly every measure.

    Putin more powerful? Joe built that!

  19. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Trump sees America swirling down that same Russian drain:

     To be clear, Trump hasn’t shared his plans with me. I’m guessing same as everyone else. But to me, Trump has often described an American problem that is remarkably similar to Russia’s pre-Biden problem. American companies are taking their money internationally, most frequently building their plants in Mexico and Canada instead of in America. This capital flight is hollowing out Middle American industrial cities, which are slowly but surely shriveling and dying, one by one, all along the vine of the nation’s vast interstate highway system.

    Childers points a finger at Detroit as a prime example of the above dynamic. Quality of life, educational (non)success, etc., have tanked since 1960. The only thing that seems to have increased is poverty.

    Why would any successful American entrepreneur consider Detroit for any major investment? They wouldn’t. Nor are they. They are building their factories just over the border in Mexico and Canada, where labor is cheaper and (or possibly because) the regulatory burden is much lighter. After oil (which is exempt from Trump’s tariffs), the top three categories of goods manufactured in Mexico in Canada and imported back into the US are: automotive ($200 billion), electrical machinery including computers ($200 billion), and aircraft parts, medical, optical, and household goods ($100 billion).

    IIRC, I think I saw an article some time ago where Detroit was bulldozing neighborhoods. The vacant, decaying houses were more of a detriment than blocks of vacant lots.

  20. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Circling back to tariffs:

    Trump’s tariffs could force American companies to re-invest in America, just as the sanctions forced Russian companies to re-invest in Russia. It would be a bold, audacious plan, and affected industries will screech like chickens finding their nests emptied, but as the sanctions did for Russia, Trump’s tariffs could spark a renaissance and Golden Age here in America, too.

    In the short run, there may be pain. There may be trade war, probably brief. In the long run, manufacturing will return to America – if we can keep regulation under control.

    Under a trade war, as U.S. companies face mounting costs for imported goods, domestically made products will have a natural competitive advantage. Reduced imports will mean increased American business. The economic dislocation might be painful in the short run, but it will create incentives for American firms to reinvest domestically, maybe by a lot. If Trump can pull this off, shifting from foreign imports to domestic manufacturing would improve innovation, generate jobs, and revive dying industrial cities all over the United States.

    Deregulation will be key. My two cents, anyway.

  21. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    And the battle at USAID: I shall gloss over what we’ve already discussed or discovered here. The image of Musk’s tweet of the Bill Kristol handout is chuckle worthy, so I recommend you go see it.

    Ironically, the USAID people claimed the agency’s data was classified. Remember, the media wants everyone to think USAID just gives school lunches to starving Rwandan kindergartners. The truth is USAID is the deep state’s right tentacle, and diligent independent researchers were chopping that slimy limb off all weekend by outing the agency over and over again.

    With enthusiastic support from one Elon Musk, who happily re-tweeted each new disclosure.

    /snip

    In other words, the awful situation we find ourselves in is that USAID doesn’t just destabilize foreign governments. It’s also been buying off destabilizing influencers here at home, too. That includes journalists, like the aforementioned Bill Kristol, politicians like Representative AOC (D-NY), chaos agents like Alexander Vindman, mass murdering bioengineers like Ecohealth Alliance and the Wuhan Lab, Ukraine (of course), the Clinton Foundation, and most especially Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC):

    The disinfecting sunlight is uncovering all kinds of “aid”. Musk is wielding that institutional size can of Lysol with gusto, opening curtains and windows, and at some point, mopping up.

    Then there’s this:

    Curiously, and highly suggestively, right around the same time Lindsay Graham’s links to USAID started appearing online, the Senator reversed course and unenthusiastically said on Fox he would, after all, vote for Tulsi, RFK, and Kash Patel, all three, for sure:

    Well, ain’t that special.

    Speaking of special, Zelensky suddenly reveals that he’s somehow misplaced a big chunk of American taxpayer money:

    You cannot make this stuff up. Was the timing of Zelensky’s sudden and unprovoked confession of a missing $100 billion a coincidence, or was it related to the rapid weekend collapse of USAID’s fortress of dirty tricks?

    I note without comment that the money to Ukraine flowed, or would have flowed, through USAID.

    A final parting shot from Trump: CLIP: President Trump calls USAID a bunch of radical lunatics (0:15).

  22. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    More winning.

    Sec of State Rubio taking over as Acting director of USAID until further notice.

    🙂 🙂 🙂

    1. Super Dave Avatar
      Super Dave

      Isn’t that the outfit that gives billions of tax dollars to NGO’s that aid and abet the Cartel’s Human Trafficking?

  23. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    The main reason Hubby and I left our former parish:

    I went to the former parish’s website to read the bulletin. I do that to keep up with events and friends there. The pastor is horrified at Trump’s attempt to deport illegals, and included a link to make sure that any illegals at his church knew their rights. The pastoral letter was almost a picture of him clutching pearls and gasping into his hand.

    We pretty much called it quits there when he referenced “his people”. I thought I was one of those, but I guess not. The last “festival” that I attended there (he got rid of the money-raising bazaar, with all of the game booths and such) was 100% Spanish. I sat there for hours, helping my friends sell water, and there was not a single English word that emanated from the stage.

    But my parents helped found the parish. I donated almost 30 years of service. We donated faithfully. So yeah, not being included among “his people” that he was there to serve kinda hurt. I am so much happier at Annunciation.

  24. squawkbox Avatar
    squawkbox

    Poor S*****W thought he was going to get in to comment but then he ran into me.

    1. I made it so he would have to change his password
    2. He had to travel to a new location (NORWAY) that I had not blocked yet
    3. The system notified me he was attempting to change his password
    4. I checked the logs got his location
    5. Logged him off Hambone
    6. Changed his password again
    7. Blocked his location.

    To be a great MODERATOR you gotta be a cruel evil troll too.

    1. Bonecrusher Avatar
      Bonecrusher

      Who did you block?

      1. squawkbox Avatar
        squawkbox

        An old “friend”.

        1. Tedtam Avatar
          Tedtam

          Is that “friend” without the “r”? Who finds our little blog so important that he’d wanna try so hard? Is that the definition of “no life, no life at all”?

          1. squawkbox Avatar
            squawkbox

            Actually both

            1. Bonecrusher Avatar
              Bonecrusher

              Sounds like Bob

  25. squawkbox Avatar
    squawkbox

    There are some days I think I love my job too much.

    1. Tedtam Avatar
      Tedtam

      And again, I bow before your greatness and thank you profusely for doing what you do.

  26. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Hubby reminded me that our 40th wedding anniversary is coming up. We celebrate our “first date” anniversary on February 7th – I almost forgot that! We started dating six years before getting married, because…college. Then we needed a year working to save up for the wedding and honeymoon, and for me to get vacation time. It was a long wait, but worth it.

    I remember the day I realized that I had known Hubby for as long as I hadn’t known him. Then I thought about the rest of my life with him. It was quite a tour of thoughts in my head that day.

    So, I guess I need to figure out where we’re going in May to celebrate. Before kids, we always took a vacation around our anniversary date, which is in the spring shoulder season for travel. Perfect – weather is great, few lines, etc. Kids are still in school so families haven’t clogged the fun places yet. It’s nice to go back to it, now that we’re getting more retired and can take off when we want.

    When Liberal Baby Brother visited, he took a tour of sibling visits. When eating lunch with us, he remarked that we have three couples with 40+ years together. Eldest Sis would be a fourth, if her first husband hadn’t succumbed to cancer. (I still miss Jerry.) LBB remarked how unusual it was to find that many in one family with so many years together. That was a sad thought – it should be the norm, not the exception.

  27. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    We had to turn on the a/c today. Weather and humidity are too high to just open windows. I’d never make it as a pioneer.

    1. GJT Avatar
      GJT

      We were tempted but held out.

  28. texanadian Avatar
    texanadian

    Currently -10F here. Enjoy your AC.

  29. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    Today, Ace has the most comprehensive coverage of USAID that I’ve seen.

  30. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    I think it’s true love, boys.

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