First a response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:

Hi again Kelly.

I have to squeeze my answers this week, Kelly, to make it all fit.

Too much “late into the night” and smoke-filled room stuff for me. I can think best when solid facts are exposed and
clearly stated. Talking about “Set-ups for assaults on Medicare and Social Security” is meaningless speculation. DOGE
investigations of critically important federal agencies should be undertaken with reasonable care. I’m against eliminating
Voice of America, for instance, without efforts to correct alleged problems, because it has served the world exceedingly
well for generations following WWII. We should not risk throwing the baby out with the bathwater as the saying goes. It’s
not impossible to act with speed and caution at the same time. I would apply this policy across the board for all agencies
you mention. An honest, objective review of all federal policies is fundamental to good government. Too bad it was ignored
in the Hunter-Biden reign.

Do Democrats really want to allege money laundering against Republicans for creating bogus non-profits? From the Clintons
through to the Bidens the stench of billions in laundered cash is overwhelming on the Democrat side.

Let’s scrutinize those tariffs you question. Let’s encourage open debate and investigation as usual. This week it sounds
like Trump is finally getting serious about China, Russia, Iran, as well as North Korea. Since N. Korea has officially
entered the Ukraine war, it’s time to begin sinking its submarine fleet. Start by finding its one nuclear powered ballistic
missile sub and destroy it. China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are each economically and demographically fragile. Maximum
pressure by sanctions on oil alone would halt aggressions. Let’s disable Russia’s “dark fleet” of several hundred
unseaworthy, illegal tankers (sanction dodgers). Let’s attack Iran’s Kharg and Siri Islands oil terminals; that would
neuter its aggressiveness. Of course, we would have to get serious to do this.

Russia is portraying its Potemkin face to a naïve world. It is not the same Soviet military celebrated in Russia this past
week. Though 10-times the size and strength of its victim Ukraine, Russia has not been able to defeat Ukraine limping into
the fourth year of this war! Placed on a wartime economy by Putin, its finances are rapidly collapsing, possibly looking at
bankruptcy this year.

As to the gift of that airliner from Qatar to Trump, it has apparently been cleared by the Attorney General. However, I
still have questions about the wisdom of this transaction.

My main concern remains America’s erratic support for Ukraine – which could defeat Russia and save Europe from a full
global war. Trump has to stop facilitating Putin’s non-stop criminal aggression. We have all the might we need. What has
been lacking is the will to act. I believe the year 2025 will clearly show the cost of Western unpreparedness. Those of us
who believe in Catholic mysticism today are preparing for impending selective mayhem. Yeah, I know, we’ve heard it all
before, and we seem dammed if we speak out, and dammed if we don’t. Oh well, what’s a little ridicule?