Congress could use a replacement after Box Wine Granny Pelosi retires, so why not?

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Dipping his moccasin in the water?

Penobscot Indian Chief is considering throwing his headress into Maine’s 2nd Congressional district race

The Democratic primary field in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District race may once again grow amid the fallout over U.S. Rep. Jared Golden’s surprising move to not seek reelection in 2026.

The person who looks closest to making a decision is Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis, whom numerous people had approached about running after Golden announced earlier in November he would not seek a fifth term representing the rural district that he held onto while it otherwise backed President Donald Trump in each election since 2016.

Numerous people reached out to him after Golden’s announcement this month to encourage him to run for the 2nd District seat. Francis is now “close to finalizing his decision with friends, family and supporters,” a source familiar with the chief’s plans said Wednesday.

Playing to type

Francis, 56, who has led the Penobscot Nation since 2006 and has been president of a group that respresnts 33 federally recognized tribes stretching from the Northeast to the Gulf of Mexico [Ed: Gulf of America — see Trump, Donald] was considering in the spring a bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, before his May arrest for allegedly driving drunk in Bangor.

The rest of the story:

May 25, 2025

Penobscot Nation chief accused of drunken driving in Bangor

“0.21 BAC — that heapum firewater, tonto”

Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis Sr. was arrested for driving drunk in Bangor early Wednesday, according to police.

Francis, 56, of Bangor was stopped by a Bangor police officer shortly after midnight Wednesday for a moving violation on Poplar Street, Sgt. Jason McAmbley said. 

A breath test showed Francis had a blood alcohol level of 0.21, which is more than double the legal threshold of 0.08, McAmbley said. The officer had noticed signs Francis may have been under the influence of alcohol and he failed field sobriety tests.

I've never heard of her, but the Twitter crowd has, and they've responded appropriately

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(She seems to have done quite well — materially — despite not rising to my attention)

Politics doesn't take a break on Thanksgiving … , but it's usually one of those nice days on social media when political discussion shares a front seat with heartwarming posts from people sharing images of their family, their food, and their holiday traditions.

It really is a nice change of pace ... for normal people, anyway. But not for miserable leftists, of course. 

Naturally, on a day when most normal people expressed their gratitude for the blessings they have been given, elite Hollywood AWFL Ellen Barkin couldn't find anything to be thankful for. 

No volunteering for soup kitchens for this star, nor inviting in a bag lady for dinner.'

Out of curiosity, we asked AI to tell us all about Barkin's volunteer work. Not surprisingly, it came up empty. Other than attending black-tie fundraisers. 

You mean those celebrity galas she regularly attends don't count as helping? 

UPDATE: I may have done the poor woman wrong. According to Wikipedia,

In October 2006, "Magnificent Jewels from the Collection of Ellen Barkin" were sold for $20,369,200 at Christie's, New York, following her divorce from billionaire Ronald Perelman.[17]

So it’s possible that she donated the proceeds to Save the Children or somesuch charity, and feels she’s done enough.

Possible.

Entertaining article on gasoline prices in the 50s compared to today (spoiler alert: adjusted for inflation, they're about the same except for, no surprise, California)

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1950-1952

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the national average for the cost of gasoline remained steady for the first three years of the 1950s at $0.27 per gallon. That low price might sound practically idyllic, but the average household income at the time was $3,300 per year. Adjusted for inflation, $0.27 in 1950 equates to about $3.52/gallon in today’s dollars. Nowadays, the median household income is $74,580. 

1953-1955

The Korean War, which began in June 1950, ended with an armistice in July 1953. A recession ensued that was typical of postwar economic cycles, as government spending decreased and military support operations were decommissioned. In the aftermath of the war, the gross domestic product of the U.S. fell by 2.2%. Unemployment, which had been steadily decreasing heading into the 1950s, began to increase. By September 1954, unemployment peaked at 6.1% — a rate not seen since before the conflict. 

Despite the economic downturn, the average family income was higher than during the war, at around $4,200 per year. Gas prices followed suit and increased to an average of $0.29 per gallon between 1953 and 1955, though it was much cheaper in oil-producing areas of the country. For instance, in Omaha, Nebraska, gas was $0.179 per gallon in 1953. That’s about $2.11 in today’s money, while the national average of $0.29 is about $3.40 today.

1956-1959

In June 1956, Congress approved the Federal-Aid Highway Act, which called for the construction of 41,000 miles of interstate highways throughout the country. It was the largest public works project to date, and helped boost an economy that had already started to rebound in 1955. Construction on some spans of highway began almost immediately, with segments opening as early as the following autumn. The new roads provided increased access to suburban areas, which, combined with government programs and other socioeconomic factors, spurred the rise of the suburbs.

Part of the revenue stream for the new highway system was a gas tax increase, which rose from 2 cents per gallon to 3 cents per gallon. In response, the price of gas fluctuated between a 1-cent and 2-cent increase for the rest of the 1950s. In 1956, the national average was $0.30 per gallon, or around $3.47 today; in 1959, it was $0.31, the equivalent of $3.34 today. 

But let’s not forget California, where gas prices have now exceeded the previous title holder in this category, Hawaii, which imports all its fuel from across the Pacific.

Here’s a truncated synopses of why gas prices are so high in California, taken from Valero Oil’s vice president for state government affairs, Scott Folwarkow,  in his response to an inquiry from the California Energy Commission two years ago.

As to separation between California prices and the prices in the rest of the United States, we can offer the following information. For Valero, California is the most expensive operating environment in the country and a very hostile regulatory environment for refining. California policy makers have knowingly adopted policies with the expressed intent of eliminating the refinery sector. California requires refiners to pay very high carbon cap and trade fees and burdened gasoline with cost of the low carbon fuel standards.With the backdrop of these policies, not surprisingly, California has seen refineries completely close or shut down major units. When you shut down refinery operations, you limit the resilience of the supply chain.

Valero, by the way, is closing its last refinery in the state on December 31st. There were 40 california refineries in 1985, 23 in 2000, and there will be under 6 left by the end of 2026.

And wait until we witness the results of the accelerating Jet Fuel crisis

Key Takeaways

1 California’s declining oil production and refinery closures, caused by the state’s energy policies, could create an “aviation fuel crisis” by increasing dependence on imported aviation fuel, thereby threatening national security.

2 Several U.S. military installations, including Travis Air Force Base and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, rely almost entirely on California refineries for their jet fuel.

3 According to the Energy Information Administration, California ranks first in jet fuel demand among the states.

4 In 1991, California had more than 40 refineries, but only eight remain as of October 2025.

5 Refiners find that they cannot survive in California with Governor Newsom’s policies against oil companies and their oil and gasoline production.

6 California’s gas taxes, boutique fuel blends, and other requirements add about $1.60 per gallon to the national average price of gasoline.

California’s declining oil production and refinery closures, caused by the state’s energy policies, could create an “aviation fuel crisis.” An increasing dependence on imported aviation fuel could threaten national security. Several U.S. military installations, including Travis Air Force Base and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, rely almost entirely on California refineries for their jet fuel.

According to the Energy Information Administration, California ranks first in jet fuel demand among the states. Via AVWeb, California imports approximately one million barrels of oil per day, with about 20% of its jet fuel, gasoline, and diesel coming from India. India has been obtaining about 40% of its oil from Russia, though it is winding down those imports due to additional sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and Trump’s 50% tariffs on its goods.

California had more than 40 refineries in 1991, but only eight remain as of October 2025. The lack of refineries and the unique nature of California’s gasoline blend are causes for California’s gasoline prices to be over $1.60 higher than the nation’s average price. According to PennyGem, with the closure of Valero’s refinery in Benicia in the spring of 2026, California will lose 145,000 barrels of gasoline and diesel daily — about 8% of the state’s refining capacity. California’s gasoline prices are expected to increase by 15 cents per gallon, with possible spikes above $7 or $8 per gallon. The loss of 2.2 billion gallons annually affects not only personal vehicles, but also shipping routes, aviation, and emergency services. California Governor Gavin Newsom and the state’s lawmakers are reviewing emergency measures, including infrastructure upgrades and strategic fuel reserves, but admit that such efforts may not avert near-term consequences of the closure stemming from the state’s regulations.

Via PennyGem, California’s unique fuel standards and pipeline limitations mean replacement barrels must come from overseas — primarily Asia and the Middle East — at higher costs and longer transit times. Other U.S. refineries do not make the fuels required by the state, resulting in imports of the refined products in tankers crossing the Pacific. California believes that its onerous regulations and higher resulting petroleum prices would make consumers move more quickly to electric vehicles and solar and wind power. The state’s 27 million licensed drivers, however, still rely heavily on gasoline. While some consumers are switching to electric vehicles, that transition is slower than the closure of the state’s refineries and the availability of domestically produced petroleum products.

Hell, it seems that the Babylon has stopped reporting satire and prophesy and gone to reporting straight news.

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Seriously: this story was posted on the Babylon Bee, but is there anything in it that is unbelievable, or suggests that it didn’t first appear in your local paper?

BLOOMINGTON, MN — With Thanksgiving nearly here, local man Chad Erickson was reportedly eager to get back to his true passion as a mall Santa Claus and has already begun preparing for the gig by cutting off his ankle monitor.

"Can't let the kids see this," Erickson said as he took a pair of scissors to the strap around his ankle. "Nothing is going to stop me from making it to my shift as a mall Santa. I made a commitment, parole violation or no parole violation."

According to law enforcement sources, Erickson was placed on house arrest following two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol pending a trial to determine if he should face prison time. But Erickson had sworn that no threat of reincarceration would keep him from spreading goodwill and cheer to little boys and girls.

A Mall of America representative responsible for re-hiring Erickson as the mall's Santa was reportedly aware of his trouble with the law, but maintained that Erickson was a good pick because he's not a violent criminal like all the other applicants.

"Chad has been with us for three years; he's a great mall Santa," said Mall of America spokesperson Ruth Stein. "I just tell him to cover up the tattoos and any ankle bracelets he might have acquired during the off-season. They don't have those at the North Pole."

I strongly support undoing Biden's border insanity, but forcing these people back to the hell hole that is Haiti strikes me as appallingly cruel

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welcome back to paradise

Trump admin set to let protected status for 350,000 Haitian migrants expire in February

DHS is offering $1,000 exit bonus and free plane tickets for voluntary departure by February 2026

“After consulting with interagency partners, Secretary [Kristi] Noem concluded that Haiti no longer meets the statutory requirements for TPS," DHS said in a news release. "This decision was based on a review conducted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, input from relevant U.S. government agencies, and an analysis indicating that allowing Haitian nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is inconsistent with U.S. national interests."

I suppose that, because Haiti is a ruined country that will never recover, the temporary refugee status for Haitians either has to be made permanent or ended, and ending it is the right course, but having allowed them to live with false hope for fifteen years and then shatter it is awful to witness.

UPDATE: To clarify, yes, they have to go — that doesn’t take way the horrors these people face when they’re dumped back into what Trump described as “a shit hole” and Conan O’Brien claims is paradise; I'm sure the Haitians would agree with Trump, not the fatuous (former?) talk show host. They’ll have no jobs, no food, no where to live; pretty much what they (didn’t) have before they left.

But the real cruelty is that we set them up for this; invited then in, pretending we’d only let them stay for two years and then doing nothing about repatriating them, year after year. They settled in and, understandably, thought they were here forever. No one back then could have realistically believed that Haitai was going to get better so that our guests would want to return: the place has been a ruin since the French ran it as a slave colony, from what I’ve read, the most brutal of any of the slave islands, stayed bad after the slave revolt that brought about a nation in 1804, and is aa horrible today as it was then. What hadn’t been accomplished in two hundred years wasn’t going to get done if given fifteen more.

So we knew that, and brought them in anyway. I blame the Light Bringer.

And UPDATE II

While writing the above yesterday, I was assuming that most of these Haitians had come into the country after the 2010 earthquake, but later in the afternoon, I remembered — duh — that there had plenty of others who arrived during the Biden open boarder period. It was Thanksgiving, and I had better things to do than update this post, but today I don’t, so here’s a brief summary (without the wonderful chart I found yesterday, but can’t easily lay my hands on now, that shows the million + granted entry by Obama and Biden combined):

Lawful Pathways

  • CHNV Humanitarian Parole Program: As of December 2024, approximately 211,040 Haitians have arrived and been granted parole through this program, which began in January 2023. This program allows up to 30,000 individuals per month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to come to the U.S. legally if they have a U.S.-based financial supporter and pass background checks.

  • Temporary Protected Status (TPS): The Biden administration expanded TPS for Haitians already in the U.S., shielding an additional 309,000 individuals from deportation. 

And watermelon — don't forget the melon, CBS

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And here’s the sponsor of CBS’s “See it Now” 1940-1952

And here are some South Koreans enjoying this new delicacy:

He was only saying what Democrats have been urging on the public for almost a year now

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MSNBC house idiot Ken Dilanian

MS NOW journalist is accused of defending shooter who attacked two National Guardsmen in Washington DC

Justice and Intelligence Correspondent Ken Dilanian speculated Wednesday that the unidentified suspect, who is in custody, may have mistaken the West Virginia guardsmen for members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

'But of course, there's so much controversy happening now in the United States, with ICE, who are also wearing uniforms and wearing masks,' Dilanian said live at 3pm ET on Katy Tur Reports.

'And, so, you don't know - people walking around with uniforms in an American city, there are some Americans who might object to that. And so, apparently this shooting has happened.'

Or as Ilhan Omar would (did) say of 9/11, "some people did something"

UPDATE: Speaking of morons, here’s Bill Kristol from 2021:

I saw this story a couple of days ago, but couldn't find it again; now it's resurfaced on another site

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Beege Welborn:

German Cities Nearing Insolvency Supporting Refugees and Asylum Seekers

The mayor of a town called Essen, Mayor Thomas Kufen, who is also a member of the ruling Christian Democrats' (CDU) federal executive board, made some waves recently when he bluntly said

'Almost every German city is now on the verge of bankruptcy.'

...In North Rhine-Westphalia alone, only 10 out of 396 cities and municipalities can present a balanced budget, and these alarming figures from Germany’s largest federal state can be applied to the “entire country,” he said.

Welborn: And why is that? Well, the windmills haven't helped, but there's one simple, very expensive reason budgets are being blown to smithereens, even in cities that were 'formerly considered wealthy.'

THE WELFARE STATE

...Kufen emphasized the need for a national discussion on affordability: “We have to talk about what we can do so that our welfare state itself does not become a social case. This means: What do we want to afford and what else can we afford?” 

However, he noted that cities cannot make these crucial decisions themselves; only the federal government can

Kufen illustrated the crisis with figures from his own city, Essen, which has a population of nearly 600,000. The city had planned a balanced budget for 2025. “But instead of a slight increase of €1.7 million, we currently have a deficit of €123 million,” he calculated.

Once again, refugee accommodation and integration are near the top of the list for reasons why the city is seeing a budget shortfall. Far from being a solution to Germany’s budget and pension crisis, they have become a massive financial burden for the country, costing at least €50 billion a year in social integration, housing, and benefits.

The debt required to sustain the immigrant population - not the native population - is spiraling out of control as the arrivals suck up ever more resources while contributing next to nothing to help sustain themselves.

There is no assimilation. There is no becoming German.

The newcomers remain wards of the state generationally.

...However, there are also many more hidden costs to mass immigration, including rising housing prices, healthcare costs, education costs for an increasingly foreign student population, and housing a huge number of foreigners in German prisons and psychiatric institutions. Just like Essen, even major cities like Berlin are seeing “spiraling costs” due to mass immigration, leading to large-scale debt required to keep the cities running.

Some research studies have indicated that the overall cost of immigration has already cost Germany trillions and could reach €20 trillion if migration numbers do not fall.

But between the European Union dictating that borders will remain open, Merz's milquetoast obeisance to Brussels Brahmins, and the German Court system's dogged adoration of the Merkel 'Wir schaffen das' immigration doctrine...

‘Disaster for immigration authorities’: Court ruling set to hamper deportation efforts

A ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court’s may seriously hamper the efforts of the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz to bring down the number of illegal immigrants in Germany, says those in law-enforcement.

Germany’s highest court has ruled that police need to obtain a search warrant before they can enter the residence of an asylum seeker slated for deportation.

The ruling came on September 30 but has only just been made public.