FORGET ABOUT #1

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Last week I was irritated Syracuse was not ranked #1 after beating Louisville. Only #3 and #4.

Yesterday Syracuse played unranked Villanova. A few nights ago, Villanova defeated Louisville who was ranked #5 at the time. Yesterday, Villanova beat Syracuse.

Two top 5 teams in one week!

An accomplishment!

Syracuse limped away.

Excuses/reasons. Two of our starting 5 fouled out. The bench gets smaller in height as you move down it. In the first half, the ball just would not go in the basket. That simple. Too many shoots missed. Many were lay ups.

Syracuse played better in the second half. But not good enough to win. Villanova came out on top in overtime.

Such is life!

I watched the game at the Big Ten Sports Pub. I was the only Syracuse fan there until the overtime when Dan and Lisa came in. Where were the 20-30 Syracuse fans who usually show up? They were there for the first two Syracuse games. The crowd has dwindled till yesterday it was basically only me.

Why, again? I doubt it is me. I shower before each game. I have concluded it has to be the Big Ten Sports Pub. The fans may not like the way it is configured, the noise, etc. I do not know. All I know is that something is wrong.

I also do not know where they are watching the game. John’s place is the best venue in town for sports viewing in my opinion.

Remember the former college guys at the Chart Room the night before raising hell. They were celebrating their ten year reunion. They were at the Big Ten yesterday during the Syracuse game. They were not watching the game. They were playing foosball. Had a competition going. Yelling and screaming same as the night before. Downing shots every few minutes.

Gentlemen they were. They asked me to play foosball with them. I declined. I am too old for the sport. Ho ho.

The Wizard of Oz will be playing a major part in our lives for the next month. Robert and Ally are munchkins in the high school play to be performed at the end of February.

Robert has graduated. He is playing a munchkin with a speaking role. Robert has 25 lines. Wowie!

Chittenango is a little town between Utica and Syracuse. It is on Route 5, a two lane New York State highway. Route 5 runs right through the center of downtown chittenago. Downtown is modest. All of 5,000 people.

Lisa said she had a vague recollection that Chittenango had something to do with the Wizard of Oz. I did not know. I knew the town was famous for hams. It is the Ham That Am town.

I checked Lisa’s comment on the internet. She was correct. Chittenango and the Wizard of Oz are tightly related.

L. Frank Baum wrote the Wizard of Oz in 1900. He was a resident of Chittenango at the time. To commemorate the event, Chittenango has a yellow brick road. The sidewalks on both sides of downtown Route 5 are painted yellow. There is a store called Auntie ‘Ems. There is also an annual three day festival. Several of the surviving munchkins show up each year. Munchkins from the 1939 movie which starred Judy Garland.

A small world!

Enjoy your Sunday!

LOVELY CHARLOTTE

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There was a rumbling on Duval last night. Charlotte was back in town!

Lovely Charlotte!

Really!

Charlotte visits Key West 3-4 times a year. She is from North Carolina. The only negative about her is her employer. United Healthcare.

Charlotte appears to be good friends with Emily. Emily was bartending last night. The two probably hit the Green Parrot after Emily shut down.

Ollie was at the Chart Room, also. I spent my time chatting with Ollie and Charlotte.

The Chart Room was noisy. About ten mid 30 guys were seated at the round table raising hell. The noise! Turned out they were on the first night of their college reunion.

It was reunion time at Don’s Place, also. I stopped at Don’s before heading over to the Chart Room.

David was there with three Ohio high school buddies and their wives. David had not seen his buddies since high school. They were making more noise than the thirty year olds at the Chart Room.

So it all can be placed in perspective, David is 60. His high school buddies had to be 60 also.

Syracuse plays Villanova at 11 this morning. I have to hustle. I will be watching the game at the Big Ten Sports Pub. If Dan and Lisa are still in town, I am sure they will be joining me.

Syracuse could lose. I know I say it every week. It is that time of the year and that type of team.

I did the Key West Lou Legal Hour yesterday morning. Great show! Such modesty! But it was and they are.

I discussed three examples of fraud. From Subway to jailed criminals to an Italian bank. Made sort of a trilogy out of it. Turns out viewers enjoyed the fraud stories the most.

I have had a slow leak in one of my tires. I went to Sears. The slow leak could not be mended due to the nail’s location. Needed a new tire. Only 12,000 miles on the car. It is a 2010 Volkswagen Beetle convertible. Purchased new.

Volkswagen stopped making the Beetle convertible in 2010.

I was told the tire had been discontinued and there were none available. Sears found a substitute. Discontinued also.

I could not win. I was tired from having hung around Sears for two hours besides.

Put the tire back on the car. The air will hold for about three weeks. In the meantime, I have to find a tire. Any suggestions? I plan on telephoning Volkswagen in Miami monday.

The spare would not work while waiting for a new tire. It is one of those donut things and is not made for a week or two of miles.

The world continues to become more crazy. Especially with the gun issue here in the United States.

A Wisconsin sheriff yesterday told his residents to learn how to handle a gun and to get one. For economic reasons, his department had been cut 48 jobs. He felt he could no longer do an effective job.

Enjoy your day!

 

SHOWTIME 10 AM

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It’s Friday again! Showtime!

The Key West Lou Legal Hour.

Ten in the morning my time. Airs via television on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19 all the way up through Miami-Dade County. Can be viewed world wide on the internet. www.tvchannel19.com.

Some major issues to be discussed include the Democrat failure re the filibuster, three degrees of fraud, and the Italian Lehman Brothers. Interesting stuff! Make an effort to watch. I guarantee you will enjoy.

My yesterday started with a haircut and beard trim by Lori. The beard is starting to fill in. Looks pretty good.

Then coffee at the Plantation Coffee House. Business good. Diane running around.

The smell of freshly baked goods permeated the shop. What was it, I asked Diane. Freshly baked cookies, she responded. Smelled, oh so good!

I had a short business meeting at noon.

The afternoon was spent fine tuning today’s show.

Chart Room time last night! Three hour worth. A good time.

I enjoyed great conversation with Peter, Sean, Katherine, Sheila, David, and Emily. Then it was me and Emily alone. Everyone gone, including tourists. I like Emily. Enjoyed our private time together.

The locals, including me, are concerned with what will happen with the Chart Room when the Pier House sells. Would a new owner close it down? The Chart Room has been where it is since the late 1960s when the Pier House first opened. Never renovated. Never changed in any way by human hands. The room has a character all its own.

I have started to think where my new watering hole might be. Would my friends come? Would it have a unique flavor as the Chart Room?

Lets hope the questions never need be answered and the Chart Room remains as is.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner. I wrote of this problem before it was acknowledged as a big one several weeks ago. Talked about it on my show two different times. Now, it is a major problem!

All fifty plus 787s in service world wide have been grounded. For over a week now. A problem with the lithium batteries. Caused the batteries to burn and a fire to occur. Not good when the plane is in the air and flying.

An FAA representative stated this week that the problem was a “…very serious air safety concern.” Hope it gets corrected properly. Properly being the operative word.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

HILLARY LOOKED GOOD

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I watched the Congressional hearings yesterday where Hillary Clinton was the witness. She looked terrific! Handled those against her well.

Some of you will disagree with me. Those who are philosophically opposed to her. On the other hand, I say give her credit for a job well done. As Secretary of State and as a witness yesterday.

I did not consider her Presidential timber four years ago. I did not think she was up to the job. However, her overall performance as Secretary of State has changed my mind. Hillary Clinton could lead us.

A great dinner last night! It was neighbor time. Andrew and Cliff. Andrew owns the MTV house across from me. Cliff lives three houses down the street from me.

Two interesting guys.

Andrew is a former car dealer. His second wife Jasmine is Swiss. They have a 2 year old son, Kai. Jasmine and Kai are presently in Switzerland. Andrew returned to Key West for a few days to make sure everything was in order at his home here. He tells me next month he and the family are visiting Thailand for a month.

What a life!

Cliff never has retired. He has been in several businesses successfully. He presently has two homes in the New York area and a farm in Ulster County.

Cliff is a classic car collector. A passion with him. I received an education on classic cars last night.

We had dinner at the Yacht Club.

Tomorrow the Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten in the morning my time. Airs of television from Key West through Miami-Dade County on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. Also available world wide on the internet. www.tvchannel19.com.

An interesting show has been prepared. I will be discussing the inauguration, Hillary and her Congressional testimony, the filibuster issue, jail inmate fraud, a new weight loss procedure, Girl Scout cookies, an update on the Python hunt, the Subway Footlong, a Brazilian judge deciding Fifty Shades of Grey too sexual, and more.

Join me for an informative and fast moving hour.

I have to hustle. Have a 10 o’clock hair appointment with Lori.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

SQUARE ONE AND FAT ALBERT ARE NO MORE

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I started coming down to Key West some 25 years ago. Two mainstays then either are or soon will be no more. I refer to Square One Restaurant and Fat Albert.

Square One Restaurant opened its doors about the time I discovered Key West. I became an instant customer. For years as much as 2-3 times a week. In recent years, not so much.

Michael Hayes opened Square One. In Duval Square. The perfect place for a restaurant. You had to look for it.

Michael was the perfect host. Always the gentleman. Tall and thin. His shirts perfectly pressed. He did them himself.

The bartender from almost day one was Patrick Hayes. Also known as Patty Cakes. Patrick knew everyone in Key West. Whenever I was in need of anything, I would ask Patrick. He would tell me who to see.

Patrick and Lisa have a bond. Patrick is Lisa’s best friend.

Square One’s food was great! Always! The service equal to the quality of the food. The restaurant attracted an upscale clientle.

Square One closed last thursday. For all time. The word is Michael sold to Carmelo. Carmelo is an experienced Key West restaurateur. He started the original La Trattore and Virgilio’s.

Whatever you do Michael, I wish you well. Patrick, also.

There is a large white blimp  that hovers over Cudjoe Key. To the left of US 1 going north. It has been there as long as I can remember. Turns out it has been operational for 33 years.

It took years for me to find out what the blimp was for. No one seemed to know. Then I was told it was for Radio Free America to air in Cuba.

Actually, the blimp had a two fold purpose. Beam television freedom type shows to Cuba was one. The other was as a tethered radar station. Generally used in recent times to help interdict drug runners.

The blimp acquired a name along the way. Fat Albert.

We are in an economic crunch. One of the things cut from the federal budget was Fat Albert. As of March 15, it will be no more. Not even to be seen. It will be taken down.

Turns out there were two blimps rather than one. A smaller one. Way up, also. I never saw it. Do not know any one who did.

I will miss Square One. It is another piece of Key West to disappear that will never be replaced. Probably could not be replaced. I will also miss seeing the big white blimp as I drive north on US 1.

My first stop early last night was Don’s Place. Sat and chatted with Herschel quite a while. I enjoy talking with him. He is a political junkie as I am.

David came in for a moment. He has a new dog. Female, 9 months old. She was jumping a bit as young ones are apt to do. David will have her trained shortly and she will be the perfect lady. David is a dog expert.

I stopped at the Chart Room. Captain Peter was there. I spent a couple of hours talking with Peter. Worldly, a knowledgeable man.

I was lucky. Two unusually intelligent people with whom to communicate.

My neighbor Andrew has returned. Andrew owns the MTV home across the water. He has spent the past several months in Switzerland. He called yesterday. We are having dinner together tonight.

Enjoy your day!

 

SYRACUSE RODNEY DANGERFIELD OF RANKINGS

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It seems like I have been up all night. I had my blog talk radio show at 7. Was out of bed at 5 in anticipation. I am going to bed when I finish this blog for a couple of hours of much needed shut eye.

Syracuse, my Syracuse! Rarely loved by anyone other than the alumni.

#6 Syracuse beat #1 Louisville saturday by 2 points. A top notch game. I assumed Syracuse would be ranked first when the new rankings came out yesterday. Syracuse was not. Tied for third in one and fourth in another. The teams ahead of us have one defeat also. However, none beat Louisville.

Then I read an article by a spoprtswriter. He spelled out five teams from which the Final Four would emerge. He never mentioned Syracuse.

Remember Rodney Dangerfield? His best line was that he never got any respect. So it appears with Syracuse. Previous years, as well as this one.

It does not matter as long as we keep winning. Screw them all!

Syracuse played Cincinnati yesterday afternoon. Another squeaker. Syracuse won by 2 points. Syracuse did not play well. Cincinnati did. Cincinnati was deadly with their three pointers.

Watched the game at the Big Ten Sports Pub with Don and Chris and Dan and Lisa and others.

Then it was to the Chart Room with Don and Chris. Followed by dinner with them at the Hot Tin Roof.

A pleasant afternoon and evening. Especially good company.

I watched the inauguration yesterday. The swearing in portion. Excellent! Moving! Produced a tear or two out of me. I thought the ceremony was upbeat and positive. Almot 1 million standing out in the cold watching. I switched to FOX afterwards for their comments. They cut up and dissected every part of the ceremony, including Obama’s speech. It was disgraceful. They should know better. Yesterday was  a Democrat AND Republican day.

Robert and Ally are into the theatrical world. Key West High School is having a play late in February. The Wizard of Oz. Robert and Ally will play munchkins. They are excited!

Cameron is also in the presentation. He is playing the scare crow.

I was up before the crack of dawn this morning. At 7 was the Key West Lou Talk Show. A one half hour call in show on blog talk radio. Finally, some one called in. Anna from Novara, Italy. Her concerns involved the Italian economy, the euro, and Germany.

This afternoon I have my other radio show. Around 4. On Pirate Radio in Key West. Ryno’s show. Only 8-10 minutes. Ryno and I talk about anything and everything. Locals, if you are free, listen in.

Enjoy your day!

FRED CABANAS RIP

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Fred Cabanas is dead. At 60. His plane went down somewhere over Mexico’s Cozumel Island.

Fred was a Key West icon. A legend. His mark is well imbedded in Key West. He will be long remembered.

Some of Fred’s accomplishments were his family life, his business Cabanas Aeronautics Unlimited, his daredevil flying, being the Marlboro Man for the smoke designs he made from his bi-plane, being the General of the Conch Republic Air Force, and his movie parts. He also had a rare distinction. He was a Conch. Fourth generation.

It would be remiss not to mention one other item. Fred flew a bi-plane in the bloody Conch Republic Battle for Independence which occurs each year. The bi-plane bombs the US Coast Guard vessels. With biodegradable rolls of toilet paper! You have seen nothing till you have seen toilet paper tossed by Fred unrolling as it hurries down to do in the US Coast Guard.

Fred will be buried tomorrow. At sea. Somewhere on the gulf stream. He will be buried from Key West’s tallest and best known ship the Wolf. Afterwards, there will be a celebration of his life at a hangar at the Key West Airport. Roast pig and alcohol will be consumed. The desire is for a party as Fred would have enjoyed it.

I stopped dieting. I did not shop. I was without food this morning. Nothing for breakfast. At 8, I was at Publix picking up a few things. A good time to shop. There was no one in the store. I was all alone with the help.

Today is Inauguration Day. There is a more than normal excitement. I sense it over TV and in conversations with Key Westers. The last time I recall this degree of excitement was when John Kennedy was inaugurated. I was a young practising attorney at the time.

Today is Martin Luther King Day, also. I recall his killing. It was inevitable. He was in the forefront of the civil rights movement. Actually, he had his nose in everyone’s face. You just knew his life was on the line.

Today has another significance historically. The Key West Citizen reported this morning that President Ulysses Grant visited Key West this day in 1871. The paper included a picture of Grant in a horse drawn cab on Duval Street waving to the crowd.

Syracuse basketball again today! At 3:30. Against Cincinnati. Cincinnati has only 3 losses. I worry about this game, also.

Where are the new national rankings? I thought they came out sunday evenings. Guess not. I hope Syracuse is #1. It is deserved after the Louisville game.

As usual, I will be at the Big Ten Sports Pub watching the game. With Don and Chris and Dan and Lisa and I do not know who else.

Show time tomorrow morning. The new blog talk radio show I am trying to get off the ground. Tough! I suspect 7 am may not be the best time. However, for those of you who are hearty and up, join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. Call in and ask questions, if you are so inclined. Lets have a good talk or listen.

I have another radio show later in the afternoon. I will be appearing weekly on tuesday afternoons on Ryno’s Show. Pirate Radio. Somewhere around 3:45 and 4. The time is flexible. Ryno has me on the air as soon as I walk in the door.

Enjoy the holiday!

 

SYRACUSE NUMERO UNO

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Syracuse won yesterday! Beat #1 ranked Louisville.

It was a game of games! March Madness! The Final Four! Great basketball!

What a game!

Sixth ranked Syracuse won 70-68.

One of the finest basketball games I have seen. And I have seen many.

Does this make Syracuse #1 nationally? I think it should. Syracuse has only lost one game. There are about three other teams left who have lost one game, also. Syracuse should come out on  top of the heap because of the Louiville victory. Many prior to yesterday’s game considered Louisville man for man the best team in the country.

I watched the game at John’s Big Ten Sports Pub. John had 3 TVs set up for the Syracuse game.

I watched the contest in the back bar room with Don, Chris and Dan. Plus, several other Syracuse fans. It was high fives all around at the end!

Don has a friend, Ed. I have never met Ed. Ed was in Des Moines, Iowa yesterday. Ed apparently a die hard Syracuse fan, also.  He kept calling and texting Don every few minutes during the game.

Prior to yesterday, I thought Syracuse would lose. I am glad I was wrong. The reason Syracuse won was they made their foul shots, controlled the defensive backboard, and Trisch scored 18 points in the first half. Syracuse finally blended and played as a team.

I say Syracuse has earned the #1 ranking. We shall see.

Stan Musial. A baseball immortal. Member of the Hall of Fame. A giant. Musial died yesterday.

Today, he is sits with other comparable baseball greats in the heavens above. Persons like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio, and Ted Williams.

I have a Key West friend of many years who lives on Cape Cod. Musial is her uncle. He is her father’s brother. Dee. Dee also has a home on Cudjoe Key. Dee is most likely with the family in St. Louis today. My condolences, Dee.

When I was a grammar school kid, baseball was big in my life and that of my friends. We were all die hard Yankee fans. A few also liked Stan Musial. So we would listen to St. Louis Cardinal games too. Note the use of the word listen. We would lie on a living room floor and listen to the games on a radio. No TV back then. It was the mid 1940s.

We headed over to the Chart Room after the game. JJ bartending. Captain Peter, Sheila, Frankie, Sean and Katherine, plus a big tourist crowd, present. We celebrated the Syracuse victory.

Captain Peter is 70 years old. I am 77. He always offers me his seat when I arrive at the Chart Room. Makes me feel ancient!

Friend Anna in Novara is celebrating the Feast of San Gaudenzio today. In italian, Fiesta San Gaudenzio Novara. The holiday is some what like the Feasts of Sts. Cosmo and Damien that my family celebrated in my youth. Fanfare, food. Roasted chestnuts are a favorite.

Anna will visit today the Basilica of Saint Gaudenzio. The Church. Then home to cook a big holiday meal for the family. The same as was done back in Utica on the feast days of old.

Do not forget. My blog talk radio show tuesday morning at 7. Current events, plus anything that comes to mind. A talk show. Call and chat with me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

It’s sunday. Don’s for football playoffs this afternoon. Maybe a stop at the Gardens afterwards. I have not been in ages.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN…..

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Normality has returned to my life! With the demise of the diet, I was out and about yesterday. Freedom!

Last night it was the Chart Room. For about two hours. Friends like Captain Peter, Ollie, Sean, Katherine, Dave and Sheila. And the always charming Emily! I chatted with all about things important and unimportant. While enjoying two drinks and popcorn.

A glorious evening! I did not go out to eat. I did not want to push my luck.

I experienced another enjoyable Key West Lou Legal Hour yesterday on TV and the internet. Apparently my viewers did also. The NRA issue attracted the most comment. The gun issue heats up more each day.

Two phases of the issue struck a chord. The one dealing with 67 million guns having been sold in the United States since Obama’s election in 2008. The other being the reponsibility of gun manufacturers and retailers for the fervor generated by the NRA. They are the power behind the scene.

After the show, I went over to the Plantation Coffee House. Enjoyed a cup of coffee and read the newspapers. Charming Diane and husband Theo were watching the shop. I avoided the Plantation Coffee House during the two months I was dieting. Normally, I would order a toasted bagel loaded with cream cheese. Not healthy for a diet.

I was pleased with myself yesterday. Even though back in the saddle, I did not order a bagel. Not even tempted.

Then to Lisa’s for a visit. Robert and Ally were home. A pleasant surprise. For whatever reason,  no school in the afternoon. Robert was outside. He has a pocket knife. His father is teaching him responsibility. Worries me. He was carving on a piece of wood. Ally was inside at the kitchen table with Lisa playing a game.

Syracuse basketball this afternoon at 4! A big game! The biggest so far this year. Syracuse plays #1 ranked Louisville. Both teams have lost one game. Statistically, the teams are evenly matched. Louisville however is a 7 point favorite on the Vegas Line.

Louisville has always been a tough game for Syracuse. Pitino who worked under Boeheim early on in his career, seems to have Boeheim’s number. Additionally, Louisville is at full strength whereas Sutherland, Syracuse’s third highest scorer, is benched for academics.

My gut tells me we are going to lose. Hope I am wrong.

I will be watching the game at the Big Ten Sports Pub along with Dan and Lisa and Don and Chris and a multitude of other Syracuse fans.

The weather was as I predicted two days ago. The cold front came in about 5 in the afternoon thursday. It always happens fast. Within ten minutes, the wind was howling, the sky black and the temperature dropped 10 degrees. Dropped another 8 during the night to 62. Cold!

Yesterday and last night were cold also. Temperature in the low 60s. I wore long pants and a leather jacket while out.

Temperature is slated to return to 75 today. Already in the low 70s outside.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

DIET DONE

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The diet was becoming increasingly difficult. Especially this week. I lost not a pound.

I was becoming sick of not leading my normal life. Going out, eating and drinking. Having fun.

Yesterday afternoon, I said screw it! I am done! End of diet.

I was at it for 2 months. Lost 23 pounds. Not as much as I wanted to, but as much as I could.

A yesterday afternoon experience contributed to my decision. I tried on clothes I had not worn in a couple of years. They fit!

Another 5-10 pounds would have been great. My enthusiasm and will power had waned, however.

I ate and drank at the bocce banquet last night. Two drinks. Plus, a small piece of filet mignon, a tablespoon of mashed potatoes, a bit of gravy, and a small piece of bread. I woke this morning and went to the scale as per my usual custom. I had lost a pound!

Later this morning, The Key West Lou Legal Hour. My TV and internet show. A good one!

Things like who is really behind the NRA’s adamant position, why haven’t the ten injured Americans air lifted out of Benghazi told their stories of Benghazi publically, freshman Congressman having an average net worth in excess of $1 million, Bush’s Secretary of the Interior getting a new personal bathroom that cost $220,000, why Rick Santorum should not be President, the story of a woman who orgasmed constantly for 19 years and committed suicide this past week, the Boeing 787 story, and more.

The show airs at 10 am my time. Available on television via Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19 through and including Miami-Dade county. Available world wide on the internet. www.tvchannel19.com.

Bocce banquet last night at Don’s Place. Everyone there! Good to see them all! Fun!

This Lance Armstrong thing is amazing. Are sport heroes no longer pure? What a disgrace.

Morning Joe spent 15 minutes this morning discussing Armstrong’s confession. Consensus was that Armstrong was and is a sociopath. Interesting. There are many sociopaths in today’s society that destroy others’ lives for their own personal gain. With no remorse.

Africa is becoming international. We do not need another military involvement. Do what is necessary to get the American captives out. Then stay home! We have been in enough of these fights in recent years.

Again, watch my show this morning if you are able.

Enjoy your day!