Kamala’s First Big Mistake: The Red Peril for Veep

Picking Walz as her running mate was an unforced error. August 07, 2024 [WEBSITE]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( Kamala’s First Big Mistake: The Red Peril for Veep SEAN RING Dear Reader, Kamala’s first big mistake isn’t because of some move The Donald forced her to make. In tennis, this is known as an “unforced error.” Yesterday, Kamala Harris picked the Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, as her running mate. To call this man a progressive is to underestimate just how left of center and beyond the pale he is. Most political commentators thought she’d go with Josh Shapiro, the Governor of Pennsylvania, a state she must win if she has any chance at the Oval Office. As usual, they were wrong. Shapiro had even gone out of his way to disavow his time in the Israeli Defence Force to placate the lunatic anti-Israel left. “I was only 20!” he shrieked. I’m sorry for many things I did when I was 20, too, Josh. But it’s fruitless to apologize for them now. The experience helped forge your identity, and you’ll sacrifice a part of your past in the vain hopes of making a Wine Box Mom happy. At least that’s what I will tell Micah when he asks me about all those pub crawls around London in my 20s. Predictably, the Second-in-Command Wine Box Mom didn’t go for it and snubbed Shapiro. Now, he’s not the vice presidential candidate or even pro-Israel enough for an AIPAC donation. But enough about Shapiro. Let’s talk about the new Red Peril, Tim Walz. [Stocks Crash Whenever This Happens]( Ever since 1955, there is ONE indicator that has been 100% right about stocks. Jim Rickards calls it “[The Black Pattern]( Because it is quite literally an Angel of Death for the stock market. And this Black Pattern is telling us that 2024 could be the worst year for stocks we’ve seen yet. [Get the full breakdown here]( [Click Here To Learn More]( The Minnesotan Red Peril It's ridiculous to think Harris needed to pick Walz to secure Minnesota’s electoral votes. The average Minnesotan has views that would make Left Coasters blush. Jesse Ventura was the governor of this state. In 1984, Minnesota was the only state that voted for Walter Mondale. Ok, it was his home state, but still. Minnesota has not voted Republican for President since 1972. Walz is a man who says, “In Minnesota, we’ve got a golden rule: mind your own damn business.” [The same man also created a toll-free number]( to call so you can rat your neighbors out during the Covid-19 government-mandated private-sector shutdown. Was the DNC worried about riots in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention if Harris was running with a Jewish candidate? Did the “Free Palestine” wing of the party warn them of impending shenanigans should Kamala select a Jew? I don’t know for sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised. [Mish Shedlock]( compiled this astounding scorecard reflecting Walz’s extreme far-leftiness. I had to rub my eyes and reread it to believe it. Here it is (I added section headers for extra insight): - Pro-State - He increased taxes, though Minnesota already has the fifth-highest top income-tax rate among the states, 9.85% at $193,000 of earnings for a single filer. Mr. Walz added a 1% surtax on net investment income above $1 million while reducing deductions, and the Governor wanted more. - Minnesota is a rare state that still levies a death tax of up to 16%, on top of the federal 40% rate, which is one reason the state is losing taxpayers to better climes. - Establishing automatic voter registration and letting Minnesotans sign up for a permanent absentee ballot option. - WEF-inspired - Making an estimated 81,000 illegal immigrants in the state eligible for driver’s licenses and health insurance through the MinnesotaCare public marketplace. - Funding “the North Star Promise Program, which provides free college for students with a family income under $80,000,” including illegal immigrants. - Creating a state system for paid family and medical leave, capped at a combined 20 weeks a year and funded by a 0.88% payroll tax. - Green New Scam-infested - Mandating that public utilities generate 80% carbon-free electricity by 2030, ramping up to 100% by 2040. Walz is a fervent believer in “climate action.” - Subsidizing electric vehicles by “requiring EV charging infrastructure within or adjacent to new commercial and multi-family buildings,” as the Governor’s office bragged. - Anti-Family - Passing one of the nation’s most permissive abortion statutes that has essentially no limits and no age consideration for minors. - Declaring Minnesota to be a “trans refuge,” with a law saying that the state will ignore a “court order for the removal of a child issued in another state because the child’s parent or guardian assisted the child in receiving gender-affirming care in this state.” - [Signing a bill requiring schools to provide tampons in the boy’s bathrooms.]( I’m sure I’ve never read a more pro-state, anti-family, WEF-inspired, Green New Scam-infested manifesto. It’s positively shocking. [Ian Miles Cheong]( added a few more: - Fueled George Floyd riots, delayed National Guard deployment. - Called Trump supporters "fascists" after the assassination attempt. - Oversaw $250 million COVID fraud fiasco. - Pelosi's yes-man in Congress. - Radical open borders advocate. How on earth did the DNC think this would match up with JD Vance, Catholic convert and Republican VP candidate? Do VP Choices Matter? Most people say no, but I ask them, “Did you miss the last election?” Our favorite DEI candidate from California undoubtedly helped get Biden over the line. Single, liberal, white women just love voting the way Oprah tells them to. But does Walz hurt a Harris candidacy? After all, she didn’t even have a woman under consideration, and race meant nothing to her. She allegedly got along well with Walz and picked him. Not a single Democrat faction was against Walz, which is important. But his problem is that he doesn’t move independent voters one jot. And with those checklists above, how could he? I think she should’ve been bolder. But I’m sure glad she wasn’t. And someone else is pleased, as well: Wrap Up This is what happens when Kamala has to make decisions, assuming she is the one who made the final decision. She makes mistakes, is sloppy, and is perhaps unprepared. Kamala is married to a Jewish man, so her lack of boldness surprises me. But one thing’s for sure. If Harris wins this election, with this running mate, most of America will have taken a dark turn down the road to serfdom. All the best, Sean Ring Editor, Rude Awakening X (formerly Twitter): [@seaniechaos]( Rate this email Like Dislike Thanks for rating this content! Looks like something went wrong. Please try to rate again. In Case You Missed It… The Rabid-Dog Days of Summer SEAN RING Before we get into Byron’s excellent commentary on the state of our Terran dungheap, I wanted to remind you about [my interview with Jim Rickards]( the man himself. In it, we talk about what the Fed should have done, why Trump will win in November, and his economic plan. [Head to YouTube]( right after you read Byron’s great piece below. All the best, Sean Ring Editor, Rude Awakening X (formerly Twitter): [@seaniechaos]( The Rabid-Dog Days of Summer BYRON KING August is supposed to be a slow month. People go on vacation, and the general tempo of life kind of unwinds. Or maybe not; perhaps that perceived August lull is just what’s known as “recency bias,” rooted in what we’re used to seeing from our protected perch in North America. Sure, many people hit the beach in August. But when you look back across history, the fact is that big things have happened in the eighth month of the year. For example, World War I broke out in early August 1914, and World War II ramped up at the end of August 1939, culminating in the German invasion of Poland on September 1 of that year. Right now, in the first week of August 2024, it’s clear that many issues are primed to blow up in unpredictable outcomes, other than it’ll likely be negative. The so-called “dog days of summer” (see below) have turned rabid on us. So, aren’t you glad you have a stash of cash, physical gold and silver, and a reasonably crash-proof stable of assets like energy producers? You DO have that stash, yes? Well, at any rate, here are a few points to consider along these foregoing lines: Russia-Ukraine: This conflict is already a strategic victory for Russia and an unmitigated disaster for Ukraine, NATO, and the West in general, particularly the U.S. That is, over the past two-and-a-half years, Russia has wrecked most of Ukraine’s combat power, as well as its energy and industrial capability. With high casualties and limited supply lines, there’s simply no way for Ukraine to prevail. Throughout the conflict, Russian armed forces serially defeated one after another Western weapon systems (artillery, tanks, air defense, electronic warfare, and much more; F-16s yet to come) while draining Western stocks of ammunition and equipment. Ukrainian military resistance could crack and crumble at any moment, and no one who truly follows events will be surprised. As all of this has unfolded, Western military power has appeared weak and declining, which does not bode well for many other future eventualities. Israel: After ten months of fighting in Gaza, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is stretched thin. Regular and reserve IDF components are exhausted, casualties have been shockingly high, and supplies of everything are depleted (tanks, armored systems, ammunition, and much more). Yet, for all the material and human costs of continuous combat, Hamas survives and remains entrenched in Gaza. Now, Israel faces a myriad of new potential conflicts with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Syrian forces, and Iran. That is, entire new fronts could blow up for Israel in a huge way, all with innumerable adverse outcomes for the rest of the world. [Offer Pending: Please confirm your address…]( Your name is on a list of people eligible to claim the [“most dangerous book in America.”]( We with only 500 copies left, we may run out of stock soon. So, here’s how to claim your copy: - [Click this link]( watch Jim's short message.]( - Review your account information. - Confirm you’d like to accept Jim’s offer. And I’ll get your copy of the most dangerous book in the mail right away. [Simply click here and learn how to claim your copy.]( [Click Here To Learn More]( Red Sea: The world is now nine months into dealing (or not) with the Houthis, who operate out of the strategic nation of Yemen, located at the southern end of the Red Sea. Using combat vessels, manned aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic rockets, Houthi forces have attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea, as well as across environs that range from Suez to the far reaches of the North Arabian Sea. Global shipping remains at high risk in every sense of the concept. This has led to high insurance premiums on international cargoes that transit the region, plus additional time and expense for thousands of vessels to circumnavigate Africa to avoid zones of conflict. Meanwhile, U.S. naval forces, supplemented by sea and air support from NATO and other allied and friendly nations, have fired billions of dollars’ worth of munitions at Houthi targets with little appearance of mission success. Looking ahead, there’s little prospect of this situation resolving soon, either diplomatically or via Western (i.e., U.S.) military strikes. Anything could happen, and most of the options are bad. Western Hemisphere: The U.S. southern border remains effectively wide open. Unknown and unvetted masses of humanity just walk right on in because it’s that easy! That is, they walk unless the U.S. government charters an airplane to fly them to a city of their choice. Inside the U.S. border, such as it is (which isn’t much), many millions have already arrived over the past three-plus years, with millions more lined up in a long queue to make the transit, in many cases aided and abetted by various organizations that have some version of the word “charity” in their name. Yes, indeed; their charity, paid for by your tax dollars and that ineffable, now former sense of social cohesion. Meanwhile, Mexico more and more resembles a narco-state, particularly in locales near the border regions with the U.S. And this time, unlike in the summer and fall of 1916, there will be no General John Pershing to head south and chase down the Pancho Villas of today. If all of that is not enough of a national-scale headache, in recent weeks, we have seen cruise missile-armed Russian warships and submarines making port calls in Havana and a totally dodgy, so-called “election” in Venezuela, where the communists currently in power again won – so they say – a revised mandate to continue their unending reign of ideology and ruin. Global Economy: Clearly, an unwind is occurring, and just as clearly, it is growing. One root cause is U.S. sanctions against Russia, including the Western seizure of Russian sovereign assets denominated in U.S. treasuries. For well over two years, these sanctions have placed the world on notice that the U.S. government and its currency are entirely unreliable. For this, plus other reasons, worldwide de-dollarization continues, with more and more overseas greenbacks coming home to the land of Uncle Sam to buy real stuff and fuel inflation in flyover country. In other corners of the world economy, much of the global oil trade now transacts in currencies other than dollars from Russia, Iran, Saudi, and Brazil, plus other sellers. The takeaway is that the reign of the U.S. petrodollar is ending. And the U.S. economy is not geared to run well in a system in which the dollar is not the prevailing world’s reserve currency. It’s not happening instantly; maybe not even imminently. But drip-drip-drip… This is not a question of if but when and how long. Meanwhile, from the top-down ruling circles in Beijing, China has officially de-emphasized real estate construction as a means of internal growth, which will undoubtedly distort world commodity markets. And if China doesn’t interest you, note that global tech is in sell-down mode, ranging from Berkshire Hathaway paring back its holdings in Apple, to Nvidia retreating from its stratospheric valuation to Intel falling and much more. We seem to have turned a corner here. The past has ended, and now we really do have to reimagine possibilities for the future. It’s like riding Amtrak across Pennsylvania and rolling through the famous Horseshoe Curve near Altoona. From the front of the train, you can see the rear-most cars. That’s how twisted things have become. U.S. Politics: Ugh, what can one say? Well, other than to remark on how the U.S. is increasingly perceived as an ungovernable, out-of-control political entity that rolls ahead on societal inertia, coupled with near-bottomless government money creation. There is no need for deep detail other than to note how, on June 27, President Biden shattered any residual hints of being compos mentis with a rambling, flailing performance on the otherwise friendly stage of CNN in Atlanta. Then, after a couple of weeks of debating the Biden face plant, former President Trump got shot, surviving by about a quarter of an inch of bullet deflection, which reflects a 5-knot crosswind across a 140-yard rifle shot, coupled with the whims of fate. Of interest, if not hope, the Trump assassination attempt led even the abysmally bad mainstream U.S./Western media to get real for a few days. But it didn’t last long, in that our modern Baghdad Bobs reverted to form, which is, in effect, to serve as official liars who shamelessly parrot state-level propaganda. Then came Biden's withdrawal from nomination to run again for president via the mysterious Sunday letter he doubtless did not write. This was followed by Biden’s raspy endorsement of that ridiculous Kamala character, whose trademark line is that she is “unburdened by what has been,” a Marxist concept that reminds one of Mao’s vow to get rid of “old things.” The Rabid-Dog Days of Summer To wrap up, let’s return to where we began, namely, early August, traditionally referred to as the “dog days of summer.” Except that these particular dog days seem kind of rabid. If you’re interested in the analogy, this time of year is when planet Earth endures what’s usually the hottest part of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, about July 3 through August 11, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. It’s about as close to the sun as we’re going to get. There are old stories behind this. For example, in ancient Egypt, astronomers scanned the mid-summer, early-morning sky to discern the annual return of the “dog star” Sirius as it rose with the sun. This was the cue for floods on the Nile River, which soaked and renewed the soil, the agricultural foundation of the kingdom. Of course, Sirius is about 8.6 light years away and has nothing to do with terrestrial weather. Those Nile floods were due to monsoons far to the south in what is now Ethiopia and Sudan, but the astronomers didn’t know that. Ancient Greece lacked a great river like the Nile; rain was sparse, and floods were few. Still, Greeks of old also associated the rise of Sirius with uncomfortable weather, namely the heat of summer. In fact, this belief became embedded in Greek culture, such that Homer’s Iliad compares the warrior Achilles to “the star they call Orion’s dog; brightest of all but a fatal sign emblazoned on the heavens, it brings such killing fever down on wretched men.” Post-Greece, ancient Romans took Sirius a step further; they, too, believed that the return of Sirius each summer influenced the weather. The star brought droughts and thunderstorms, as well as poor health, bad luck, and even dogs gone mad; hence, the phrase “dog days of summer.” And like I said, it’s only the first week of August! There is more to come, so hold cash and precious metals. Watch events, engage carefully, and avoid chasing momentum. That’s all for now. Thank you for subscribing and reading. Best wishes… Byron W. King Contributing Editor Rude Awakening ☰ ⊗ [ARCHIVE]( [ABOUT]( [Contact Us]( © 2024 Paradigm Press, LLC. 1001 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. By submitting your email address, you consent to Paradigm Press, LLC. delivering daily email issues and advertisements. To end your Rude Awakening e-mail subscription and associated external offers sent from Rude Awakening, feel free to [click here.]( Please note: the mailbox associated with this email address is not monitored, so do not reply to this message. We welcome comments or suggestions at feedback@rudeawakening.info. 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