Definition of Opinion:  A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof.

Please be respectful to others with differing opinions. 

Frank Wiley

Yes Jim, that's the time and place.  Thanks!

DeWitt Bacon

Frank, I am beginning to think that Obama is still telling the left what to say and do. And I also believe that he is either a Muslim or at least a Muslim supporter. All the money he sent to Iran and the money Biden continued to send testify to that fact. I believe that he is probably leading the Left wing, suing Trump for something every time he opens his mouth. Even the SCOTUS seems to be ruling against him. Being a student of prophecy, it's hard for me to know for sure what this all means, but I do know, as many of you know, that this world is becoming a darker place. All countries are beginning to feel the effects. If things continue to go the way they are, all life will soon end on this planet unless, as Churchill said during WWII, there will be a "strong hand from someplace." Fortunately, many of us know where that strong hand will come from.

I feel a need to comment on the Ukraine/Russia war. It is plain to me, as I am sure it is to Trump, that neither Zelensky nor Putin is interested in a peaceful solution. They are both insistent on carrying it out to the end.. The end may be what we fear the most. President Trump knows this, and I feel that he should end all support to Ukraine and turn his efforts to ending Iran's nuclear program. But that's just my opinion.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the happy hour and the dinner. "Good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise."

Jim Coats

DeWitt.  Travel safe.  I'm happy you'll be there.

Patty.  Any way we can talk you and Buzz into attending The Beer Summit?

Patty Meyers (Anderson)

I'll be there.  The Grumpy Old Man doesn't even attend his own reunions.      Even though I know all you Marines would get along.

Frank Wiley

Hi De Witt, Are you comming to the Beer Summit the night before the dinner?  Hi Patty, glad you're going to make it!

Michael Kelly

It will be good to see everyone attending the Beer Summit. DeWitt I read what you opined about the War between Russia and Ukraine. I won't go into a lot of detail, although I happen to know a fair share of it, suffice it to say that Trump is generally Correct, although I believe he is mistaken for assuming that he understands the Motivations of both sides. Russia/Putin is motivated by one Goal. Domination of the entire Continent of Europe. Putin is a Rabid Dog, and a piece of Paper with the Words Agreement, or Treaty, or other Verbiage, is not worth remembering after he signs it. Trump is being quite Naive in believing otherwise. The Ukrainians are motivated to Refrain from Making Peace for a Variety of Reasons. At the top of the List is they don't Trust Vladimir Putin, period. They also are very adamant about being told they have to give up any Territory that has beein part of what they consider Ukraine whatsoever to Putin, In their Book, After the tremendous damage he his done to the entire Country of Ukraine, which is a Separate Country, no matter what language some dimwit says they speak, and therefore they belong to that Country, they will tell you they most definitely tthey are not. They have been deeply offended by the way Trump and Vance treated Zelenskyy. They tell me, Yes, I know a number of Ukrainians, that Zelenskyy stayed in Kiev the first week of the Invasion, and that there were numerous Assassination attempts by Russian operatives during that week, and have been since, on Zelenskyy's life, but he refuses to take refuge outiside his Country, and he is an example of the Statement Its not the size of the Man that matters, its the size of his Heart. I saw on the News that he and Trump, with no one else theire present to manage either one of them, had a real conversation, and that Trump left  that meeting with a somewhat different opinion of Ukraine, and its leader than he had prior. That's it. If you want to get a better idea of what's going on there on a Daily basis, see YouTube, and watch the Posts about the War, sure some if it is propaganda, but all of it has valuable information. See you all at the Beer Fest. The Ukrainians say, and have said since this all began, If Putin will withdraw his Troops and Equipment, and not fire bombs, and missiles, etc at us, we will leave Russia alone. Period. Now, the World Bank estimates that Putin has done over half a Trillion dollars of damage to Ukraine, and nowadays, they will probably insist that Putin pay to rebuild Ukraine, since his Bullshit started it all to begin with. We all know Putin's ego will never allow him to say he is liable for anything. Hell awaits him, of that I am sure.

Frank Wiley

I've said it before but I think if Trump would get on a call with Putin and tell him, "Ukraine is going to be part of NATO if you aren't out within two weeks or if you fire any more weapons at Ukraine Putin would get out. Ukraine being part of NATO is the thing Putin fears most!!  I hope Trump will sanction the hell out of Russia right now!!  

DeWitt Bacon

Frank and others who are asking about my reunion plans. I will be flying into PHX on the morning of the 14th. I will check into my room and visit a good friend for a while, then be back in time for the beer summit. (I guess I referred to it as happy hour in my last post.) I will attend the reunion dinner, then fly home on the morning of the 16th

Michael K., thanks for your comments on the Ukraine/Russia war. I appreciate your take on this subject.

Bill RIHS

I am glad to hear you guys are all coming to the reunion and beer summit👍 

Frank, I agree with you last post on getting tough with Putin.

Michael Kelly

I've had occasion just while ago, to read the Peace proposal that Trump has delivered to Zelensky. At this point in ttime, if I were Zelenskyy, I would be even more deeply insulted than after that March Meeting at the White House. Trump, for all his braggadocio, and I know some of you feel the same way about him, is a hollow kind of backyard off the back of a Wagon drawn by Mules, Snake Oil Salesman, akin to WC Fields, in those old Black and White Movies. The breakdown of the Divvying up of Ukraine and its Mineral Wealth is a Slap in the Face to the Ukrainian People. As for  me, I would Refuse it, and tell Trump to "Get Lost" your no help at all. And, when they beat Putin, I would send Putin's head to DC in a large Pickle Jar  for Display. WHAT AN INSULT THEY HAVE MADE TO UKRAINE. I THINK AMERICANS WON'T BE WELCOME MUCH THERE, AND ANYWHERE ELSE IN EUROPE AND THAT IS NOT A GOOD POSITION TO BE IN. Trump is fast becoming a very Big Disappointment to me. Some Conservatives, such as Joe Walsh, say that Trump is behaving as if he is a Russian Asset. He has lost popularity here, but that I believe has more to do with the Tariffs and the Stock Market, than Ukraine, because many conservatives have a very casual almost disinterest in the killing putin is doing in Ukraine. Missiles into a Palm Sunday Church Service, over 100 people injured, 34 killed, including at least 9 children. And the latest mass killing by Putin, Trump says "That was a mistake" that's all, nothing else. 

We are looking like a once great Nation in its Decline.

Michael Wetzel

Michael, I agree completely with your assessment of Trump, and the Ukraine war. Trump is apparently an asshole, and wrong in this situation involving Ukraine. That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it ! I have been losing my faith in Trump for quite some time, and he just keeps on screwing up more and more. Again, in my opinion. I can only hope, that at some point, he straigthens up, and becomes a great President, just like in his first term.......

Carol and I, are hopefully attending the Beer Summit............

Michael Kelly

Michael Wetzel  I am not ready to throw Trump under the Bus, he's way better than the One More Glass of Wine Candidate that never won a primary, or anything else, at least without Willie Brown's help. No, Trump is doing a pretty good Job else where, but what I think happened to him is he let his mouth write a Check his Account Couldn't cover. That he could make the Peace Agreement happen in a few hours, and what happened he got Bad Advice from Putin Operatives in our own Western Hemisphere, probably based upon monetary considerations. Also, he's a Rich Kid, and he never got a Draft Notice he couldn't buy his way out of. At least that's what I read in the last few months developments. I know Lech Walensa, the former Leader of Poland, who fought to deliver them from the clutches of the old USSR, sent Trump a very scathing Letter on March 3, 25 dressing down Trump and Vance for the abysmal way they treated Zelenskyy. Now there are conservatives, or those who call themselves such, who can spend hours telling you how bad Zelenskyy is, in fact, I had a person tell me that God is punishing Ukraine for atrocities they commit on children, in my book babbling wicked nonsense, be that as whatever it may be, I am generally oriented to stay on the Road that Leads to Just Resolutions, and when you Favor Putin, your on the "Wrong Road" and I told Trump this last week in an Epistle I sent to him on another Media Source. Putin is Bad, Ukraine is Good. It was an Instructional Epistle. Now Trump is doing good elsewhere, and I don't think some people want to recognze this. I WILL AND DO. TRUMP NEEDS TO DISTILL WHAT AND HOW ACTIONS MEAN IN RELATION TO PUTIN, AND UKRAINE, AND WHAT THIS ALL MEANS TO A SO CALLED "PEACE DEAL" CAUSE RIGHT NOW IT DON'T LOOK LIKE IT IS GOING TO  HAPPEN. SEN. KENNEDY SAID TRUMP NEEDS TO  TRULY UNDERSTAND THAT UKRAINE IS NOT ABOUT TO GIVE UP TERRITORY TO THE LIKES OF PUTIN, PERIOD.

What gets my Goat, is how all tne naysayers can't wait to Jump on Trump. In a way, its kind of a personal tragedy for little old me, I can't seem to find a way to make LOTS OF MONEY OFF OF THIS. That was a favorite saying of Zeno Martel Johnson, my Engllish Teadher in my Senior Year at Camelback High School.

Looking Forward to seeing all of you old codgers in person, at the Drunken Beer Fest, May 14,, 2025 5 PM Embassy Suites, Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ. "LEFTY"

Jim Coats

C'mon guys.  You both voted for Trump 3 times just like I did and there will be no future opportunity.  We got what we voted for and let's hope he can pull this off.  Nothing we can do about it.  I think he can do it.  Give it to God and be glad we live here and not "over there."

I'll say one really uneducated thing about Ukraine.  They lost Crimea in 2014.  Wouldn't it be better to bite the bone and tell Putin to keep it and let's stop killing each other AND stop spending treasury?  Don't you think that if Trump strikes a deal to mine rare earth minerals and "we" have boots on the ground that Putin would think once or.....times about any more shelling?  Maybe Putin will do the deal IF he thinks he'll have Trump up his ass for the next 3 years.  Just a thought.

Michael Kelly

Jim Coats

Lefty:  Just so there is NO confusion....I would be happy to shoot putin in the face and I think I would never lose a minute of sleep.  He is pure evil.

I really don't know about  President Zelenskyy.  With nothing to back me up, I don't trust him.  I think we were dealt a hand from a very moldy deck.

Time will tell.  I think Trump has got some good people around him this time.  I hope he knows what he's doing.  I sure don't.

Frank Wiley

Come on people, We are only 100 days in to Trumps Presidency.  There are over 1400 days in a normal Presidency and based on basic math that's 1/14th in.  Think about what has been accomplished.  1.  The Border (think about that mess he inherited). 2. Ukraine/Russia (I agree he should have never said he'd fix it in a day).  3.  Israel/Hamas.  (Has gotten some hostages released.  4. Gotten numerous American prisoners released from other countries without paying them millions of dollars.  5. DOGE has recovered Billions of dollars in Government waste and is still recovering money and exposing waste.  6. He has signed an Executive Order getting Men out of Womens Sports and locker rooms and plans to punish States who don't abide by the Order.  7.  He has at least got other countries attention that we are getting screwed by Trade Deals that former Presidents allowed (including Reagan).  You all know Trump wasn't my choice but shouldn't we at least wait until he's 50% into his term (or 25% minimum) to be giving final grades.  I think Trump has a GREAT Team around him (Hegsteth situation was a screw up, but compare that to Afghanistan or Biden's Defense Secretary going AWOL, and it seems like a small one to me.  The Glass is much more than 1/2 full!  It was empty with Biden and would have been with Harris!!  Thanks!

Jim Coats

Well, well, well.  The left has learned a new term to hang on Trump.  To review, there was Russia, Russia, Russia.  Then along came Nazi and then to be more precise, it became Hitler.  I may have missed a few.  No doubt I did.

NOW,  it's Oligarchy.  The left loves this word because it sounds so "Russiany." (sic)  Definition:  A small group of people having control of a country, organization or institution.  Kinda reminds me of Biden and his Star Chamber.  Not to mention the "money" coming to Hunter and "The Big Guy" via Russian Oligarchs.  Oh, well.  AOC likes it so it must be right.

Aren't you just a bit tired of our elected officials acting like 7th graders?  I guess I'm too naive to think that Congress and the Executive Branch should cooperate FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY.

AMERICA FIRST!!

DeWitt Bacon

OH! WHAT TO DO ABOUT TRUMP!

I SAY, "Support him."

Some folks on here seem to think they know more about Putin and Communism than President Trump does. He knows very well how lies and deceit affect their way of governing. Just like the left-wing Communists in our congress use them, along with their Pravda news networks do. Putin declared a cease-fire over Easter weekend, then violated it while Ukraine was off guard. Now he's calling for another ceasefire. It would do Zelensky well to remember the old saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." 

There is a whirlwind of opposition against President Trump from the left. He doesn't need the right joining in against him. For the record, I never once said that Trump was perfect or that he would be the perfect President. But he is taking on a battle that few of us would. Even the Republican controled Supreme Court has stopped him from his first goal of removing illegals from our country. Our country is going through perilous times, and we need a strong president to see us through. Trump may not be the perfect answer to our problems, but he is strong enough to do the job.

Jim Coats

Frank Wiley

Excellent De Witt!!  I watched the whole Cabinet Meeting today.  It is amazing how much good is being done.  Trump went around the table and every Member gave a synopsis of what they are doing.  Watch it if you can find it.  Maybe YouTube?  One person introduced to speak(not a Cabinet Member) got a big round of applause from the entire Cabinet.  Elon Musk!!  

Bill RIHS

Frank, Jim and DeWitt, I am on board regarding Trump. Let's give him some time. I cringed ever time he professed he would solved all issues on day one😩.

Michael Kelly

As I said previously, Trump is doing  fine in every area he took on, and continues to do so. Democrats I ignore completely, if they could as a group nationwide LIE ABOUT BIDEN'S ABILITY TO LEAD, FOR FOUR YEARS, YOU CANNOT RELY ON DEMOCRATS TO LEAD AS A GROUP. THEIR WORDS MEAN LESS THAN NOTHING. AS TO THEM CALLING TRUMP AN OLIGARCH, THEN WHAT ABOUT GATES, SOROS, AND EVERY OTHER BILLIONAIRE THAT SUPPORT DEMOCRATS, THEY ARE LIKE THE OLIGARCHS SUPPORTING PUTIN. ALL I HEAR FROM DEMOCRATS IS DRIVEL, RIGHT NOW, JUST CRICKETS.

The problem I have with Trump, is his Ego seems to be getting in the way of Good Judgment, and that is of great concern to me and that has to do with the Russia Ukraine War. Putin has too much influence over Trump and it surprises me. People say Zelenskyy is a bad apple, how so, factual support. Remember, Russia attacked Ukraine. Not the other way around. What do you do when you are attacked, in your home, isn't that what we have a Second Amendment for? 

Just because you like a Leader, doesn't mean they are right all the time. Trump is not. After all, our Country is about preserving my Right to Disagree. In a way, I am one of Trump's Best Friends. Not afraid to say "Dude, you are Screwing Up" It  happens. 

I think we are out of it anyway. Ukraine can do it on their own. Slav Ukraine!!!!!

Bill RIHS

Michael, I share most or your thoughts on Trump. However, no way am I giving up on him. Time will tell.

Frank Wiley

I think when Putin agreed to the two day Ceasefire and then fired on civilians it opened Trump's mind and thats why he sat down with Zlynsky at the Vatican.  I know Putin has lied repeatedly so it should have been no surprise that he lied again!!  N.S.--So, many of the so-called experts are saying it's going to take 4 or 5 years to get the factories up and running before we will see the new jobs.  So are we supposed to wait to get the ball rolling?  The building of these factories will demand Thousands of well paying jobs.  The workforce will have to be educated in these new industries so this gives us time to prepare.  Now Mike Waltz and his first assistant have been fired over the "Signal" email chain screwup.  Remember, nobody was fired over the Afghanistan screwup in which many people were killed and wounded!!

DeWitt Bacon

So, Kamala Harris, the left's calendar girl, gave a speech in San Francisco to honor Trump's 100 days in office. She spoke in her usual poetic style.  The same poetic style as when she spoke of "seeing the moon with your own eyes". Or "Everyone loves a yellow school bus", and some mysterious cloud above where all your computer files are stored. It was good that she spoke in San Francisco. She reminded me of the '60s hippy coffee shops there. All that was missing was the sitar music and the snapping of fingers. And of course, the smell of marijuana, vodka, or whatever her drug of choice is. I only listened to half her speech. That's all I could stand.