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| Rep. Eric Davanzo |
One day you wash up on the beach, wet and naked. Another day you wash back out. In between, the scenery changes constantly.
Saturday, July 4, 2026
Flotsam and Jetsam - Happy 250th Birthday America!
Friday, May 29, 2026
Forget It Jake, It's Baltimore
From the Balmer Sun, Baltimore budget deficit swells to $64M. Here’s why.
Baltimore officials say an unusually brutal winter and soaring overtime costs have pushed the city’s current budget into a $64.4 million deficit, forcing leaders to tap reserve funds despite stronger-than-expected tax revenue. Finance officials told the Baltimore City Council on Tuesday that cleanup costs tied to four snowstorms — along with overtime spending in the police and fire departments — wiped out what had been projected as a $19.6 million surplus earlier this fiscal year. The largest hit came from emergency winter operations that kept crews working around the clock for weeks. The city budgeted $8 million for snow cleanup and instead spent $80 million this year.
“Even in the best planned environment, you’re going to hit a storm that’s going to go beyond what you’re budgeted for,” Deputy Finance Director Bob Cenamme told council members. “That’s why we have reserves.”
Baltimore wasn’t the only city struggling with this year’s winter storms. Philadelphia, for example, budgeted $4.1 million for snow cleanup and ended up spending $59 million. Washington D.C., meanwhile, budgeted $7.3 million and spent more than $67 million.
To close the gap, Baltimore plans to draw from its rainy-day fund and use FEMA reimbursement money. The city’s reserve fund now sits near $200 million. City officials confirmed to The Baltimore Sun they haven’t received the FEMA funds yet. As of Tuesday, Baltimore was still in the process of applying for the money.
Tax revenue, parking revenue and investments saved the city from digging an even deeper hole in its budget, city officials said. Income tax revenue alone gave the city $17.3 million more in revenue surplus than originally projected after generating $74 million more than predicted in Q2. Vacancies across several agencies, including the comptroller’s office, state’s attorney’s office and city IT department, also reduced spending.
Still, the city’s overall financial outlook deteriorated sharply from earlier projections. The Q2 projections for the total budget were worse by $84 million, as the city expected to have a $19.6 million surplus instead of a $64.4 million overall deficit.
Here's a clue. If you spend more money than you take in, you'll run a deficit.
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Flotsam and Jetsam - No Kings Today
AP whines Trump warns Hamas ‘we will have no choice but to go in and kill them’ if bloodshed persists in Gaza. Spoiler, it will. And the Israelis will have no choice but to continue to clean house. From Althouse, "Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by War and Guts. They should stop where they are." "Said President Trump, quoted in "Trump urges armistice at current battle lines in Ukraine after Zelensky meeting/The president said he wants both sides to stop where they are. Zelensky signaled openness to such a ceasefire as a starting point to talks" (WaPo)(free-access link)." And, "[Maduro] has offered everything. He's offered everything. You're right. You know why? Because he doesn't want to fuck around with the United States." Streiff at RedState, 'He Looked Like a Deer in the Headlights': Trump Lowers the Boom As US Defeats China-Backed UN Tax Scheme.
Jack @jackunheard, "BREAKING: The U.S. posted a massive $198 BILLION surplus in September — the largest September surplus on record, according to Scott Bessent. “September’s monthly surplus of $198 billion was the largest surplus of any September on record and 147% higher than last year.”" At Da Caller, Trump Admin Fires Entire Agency In One Swift Move Amid Schumer Shutdown the Community Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI). "The CDFI fund claims to “expand economic opportunity for underserved people and communities by supporting the growth and capacity” of financial institutions, but critics have argued the agency has drifted from its mission and become politicized." From Ace, Tricolor Auto Failure Follow-up: JPMorgan Takes a $170 Million Hit; Trump Disbands the Government’s DEI Agency that Was Involved "The federal government under President Biden had given its seal of approval to Tricolor and its securities, certifying them as “social bonds” under the US Treasury’s CDFI program (“Community Development Financial Institution Fund”), because Tricolor’s customer base was “underserved communities,” primarily Spanish-speaking non-citizens." TCW, Maybe Trump actually knows what he’s doing . . .Thursday, August 14, 2025
Flotsam and Jetsam - Trump's DC Takeover Continues
At WokeSpy, Kash Patel’s FBI Hits the Ground Running with Trump’s Plan to Clean Up Washington DC. John Sexton at Hat Hair sees the National Guard Deployed in Washington, DC (and the Left is Lashing Out). From Common Defense, Troops, Tough Leadership, and a Plan to Restore Safety in America's Front Yard Expected Mid-Week. Liz Peek observes Democrats Officially the Pro-Crime Party. Christian Collins @CollinsforTX, "173 House Democrats backed a Washington, D.C. law to REDUCE penalties for: - Murders - Sexual assault - Robberies - Carjackings - Home invasions Democrats are pro-criminal, and it’s why they are against Trump's efforts to make the Capital safe again." At Da Mail, Anderson Cooper explains the clever trap Trump has set for Democrats after announcing DC crime crackdown that has infuriated liberals. End Wokeness @EndWokeness, "Black business owner laughs in the face of a reporter who says crime is down: “Trump's absolutely right”" At NYPo Rich Lowry opines Washington, DC, has only itself to blame for Trump’s law-and-order takeover. From Fox, Trump warns he may bypass Congress with national emergency to keep DC police control beyond 30 days. "President Trump seeks congressional extension of 30-day federalization of capital police as arrests top 100 people." Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, " BREAKING: Tom Homan just announced that DC’s illegal alien Sanctuary City status has been REVOKED under President Trump’s federalization. Oh, they are going to lose it over this. “D.C. under federal control is not going to be a 'sanctuary' city. We're working with the police hand-in-hand — and when we encounter a criminal illegal alien, they'll be turned over to ICE." GREAT NEWS. Restore the capital." Dan Greenfield at FrontPage, D.C. Cops Only Caught 32% of Armed Robbers. Pop Times, DOJ’s Harmeet Dhillon Becomes Target of Robbery Attempt as DC Crime Escalates. Also at WokeSpy, Dark-Money Donors, Including George Soros, Pump $20 Million Into DC Anti-Trump Protest Movement. Drew Berquist sees Nancy Pelosi Gets Egg All Over Her Face When Former Capitol Police Chief Responds to Her J6 Post. From Ace, Trump, Pentagon Plan for Rapid-Deployment National Guard Force to Stop Democrat Rioting, "Well they didn't say "Democrat rioting" but is there any other kind? Oh right, there was four hours of people milling about amiably in the Capitol. Just like Germany in 1953. Or whenever. I don't know history good." Insty, THIS IS WHAT PROGRESSIVE POLITICS LOOKS LIKE: @instapundit @instapundit ""Incel?" Wasn't Big Balls literally protecting his girlfriend? Seems potentially libelous." Quote Stephen L. Miller@redsteeze, "This is the Democratic Party operative who started the border agents on horses whipping migrants that the entire media ran with that made it all the way to the White House and they still take him as being credible."
John Sexton at Hat Hair, NBC News: Here's the Texas Dems' Exit Strategy. Ace, Confirmed: Democrat Runaways to Return to Capital Now That Beto's Bribe Money Has Been Cut Off, "I mentioned this as an update to a post last night but now it's confirmed. Now that they have to pay for hotel and travel out of their own pockets, these Selfless Servants of Socialism have decided that all they really wanted to do was to "raise awareness about gerrymandering."" At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 08.12.25 (Early Evening Edition), Twitchy: Texas Democrats Cave & Will Return To Texas This Weekend.
ET, US Deficit Grows to $291 Billion in July Despite Record Tariff Revenues "Trump’s tariff windfall hit a new record—but it wasn’t enough to offset higher spending, driven in part by high debt servicing costs." Thanks to Jerome Powell. The Babylon Bee @TheBabylonBee "Jerome Powell Says He Won’t Lower Interest Rates Until He Can Be Sure It Won’t Help Trump https://buff.ly/DEaFAPp." TNP, Trump Strikes Deal With Nvidia, AMD: Share of China Chip Sales Will Go to U.S. Government. From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 08.12.25 (Evening Edition), Watts Up With That, How Jerome Powell Played Biden’s Climate Games While Inflation Ran Rampant.Friday, May 16, 2025
Flotsam and Jetsam - Comey Puts Out Hit on Trump
@TheFP column:" Quote The Free Press @TheFP "Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia sent a clear message to our allies: “Get on board or get left behind.” @BUngarSargon on the Trump speech that reveals how the president plans to bring peace to the Middle East: “cool hard cash.” https://thefp.pub/43vo1G4 https://thefp.com/p/trumps-grand." At IBD AI Stocks: Saudi Deals Drive Nvidia, AMD, Supermicro Higher. NewsMax, Trump Signs $1.2 Trillion Economic Deal With Qatar. Drew Berquist, Trump’s Qatar Visit Brings Cash and Cooperation—Cue Media Panic. At TownHall, Matt Vespa sees Hillary Clinton's Weigh-in on the Trump-Qatar 747 Story Blows Up in Her Face. RBe @RBPundit "NARRATOR: Hillary Clinton inadvertently reveals how the Clinton Global Initiative operates." Quote Hillary Clinton @HillaryClinton "No one gives someone a $400 million dollar jet for free without expecting anything in return. Be serious." In other foreign policy news, sundance has Secretary of State Marco Rubio Press Conference from Turkey about Ukraine-Russia Conflict and Secretary Rubio and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte Deliver Remarks in Turkey as Ukraine Delays Discussions. At Am Con, Sumantra Maitra examines The Moment That Tested U.S. Diplomacy. "Within 48 hours, the U.S. achieved three diplomatic breakthroughs."
Elsewhere in the swamp, TV News Now @TVNewsNow "JUST IN: Judge Jeanine Pirro has been sworn in as interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C." Nick Arama at RedState, thinks it's Priceless: John Brennan Absolutely 'Livid' Over Tulsi Gabbard 'Cleaning House'. "If John Brennan is livid, you know it's a good thing. That's the only worth of anything he says. If he hates it, you know then it's a great thing. It's like an "Inverse Cramer" reaction." How dare you root out our moles! From Twitchy, And Here We GO! Steps Dan Bongino Is Taking to Investigate J6 D.C. Pipe Bomber Will TERRIFY J6 Committee. Took all the old agents on the case off and put new eyes on the problem. Interviewing people the original team passed. If only he could Alana de la Garza and Missy Peregrym on the case!
Wanjiru Njoya @WanjiruNjoya, "90% of farms seized from the Boers by the Bantu commies are lying derelict. Nobody told the Bantus that farms require hard work, so they didn't bother. This was a catastrophe for the farm animals, most of which had to be euthanized." So, pretty much a traditional communist revolution.
From WokeSpy, Female Colorado Capitol Staffers Intimidated After Bathroom Complaint Against Trans Aide. Libs of TikTok@libsoftiktok "USATODAY's crossword puzzle wants you to fill in Lia Thomas as the answer to a "NCAA champion swimmer." Lia Thomas is a man. He cheated to get his NCAA championship. USATODAY is promoting a cheater and a liar. Lia Thomas did not earn his medal." Even the crosswords are chock-a-block with propaganda.




