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“We’re building a wall — we’re building a wall!”

That ol’ Donal’ TRUMP! That’s how the good ol’ boys pronounce Donald Trump. They leave off the last “d” in his first name and YELL, when they say Trump.

What do you want to bet a lot of them ol’ good ol’ boys have enjoyed how Trump has been dumping on that “Mes-can” judge?

At least these folks aren’t wallowing in their hypocrisy like the GOP elite have done all day.

“Yes, Donald Trump is definitely talking like a racist. But I will still vote for him.” You can assign such talk to practically every Republican poo-bahs today.

Donald Trump has talked non-stop for a week about that judge, who we think is a Mexican but that’s okay (But there’s nothing wrong with that, as was repeated in the hilarious Seinfeld episode titled “The Outing.”) You can read the entire script here.

Now Trump says the whole subject was “misconstrued.” What does that mean? He missed the con screwed? Oh well.

This f**k-wad has done nothing other than talking all week about his civil lawsuit over Trump U., where he was allegedly screwing students (or maybe some cons, but cons don’t let other cons screw cons.) Or not.

“He’s Mexican. We’re building a wall!” “He’s Mexican. We’re building a wall.”

Build this asshole!

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Casa Tapatia: !Muy caliente camarones!

It is very curious to me how Casa Tapatia Mexican Restaurant and Bar on I-10 in Beaumont never has a busy lunch hour. That is a plus for me. Whenever I pine for  Mexican food I appreciate not having to wait for long line. The double-edge sword is, of course, a place that doesn’t have a good lunch or dinner crowd may be a precursor of a spot that might someday disappear.

The I-10 service road just south of Laurel Avenue could be tricky for those not familiar with the Beaumont landscape. There are a few really good restaurants to the South of Laurel, Frankie’s Italian Grill, Chili’s and in between is the Mexican restaurant, Casa Tapatia, that once was Willie Ray’s Bar-B-Que.

Barbecue royalty once resided at 145 IH-10 North, the freeway service road to the south of Laurel Avenue. The road also goes by the aforementioned restaurants, a medical complex with my Beaumont VA Outpatient Center at the very back, and a couple of storage places before one has to make a “U-ey” under the freeway. If you want to go north, you take the U-ey. If you want to  take the freeway south. you can drive around the connecting roads from Chili’s to 10 Medical Plaza, and take a tricky entrance to Interstate 10 toward Houston or U.S. 69/96/287 to Port Arthur.

It is a definite and difficult maneuver to get to those locations on that particular freeway service road. But when Willie Ray’s was once the barbecue superstar at that address, folks from all around seemed to find it.

Willie Ray’s was named one of “The top 50 BBQ joints,” noted in 2008 by Texas Monthly. A high write-up also appeared the year before in The New York Times “The Quad,” a blog on college sports. One may find many others web stories galore singing praises of Willie Ray’s.

I liked Willie Ray’s. The restaurant made a killer hamburger besides the great barbecue turned out there. I have no idea what prompted the owner’s to leave the I-10 spot for a former 50-year-old steakhouse on Eastex Freeway. I never went to their spot just north — and on the same side — of Parkdale Mall. I am sure my presence had nothing to do with Willie Ray’s shutting down. I am not certain why it shut down. But it did. At least the folks of Willie Ray’s are serving the white flight to the north in Lumberton.

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Back to Casa Tapatia. This is such an excellent Mexican restaurant. I have no idea why Beaumont seems to have not caught the buzz for it.

It has a bar! I’ve not checked it out. I will when I feel a margarita is needed. But I have eaten there several times. They have an extensive fajitas choice. The menu even notes the “best seller” for those who might be overwhelmed by the big menu.

One gets the serving of  chips and two types of salsa. One is an enjoyable red and the other, a verde salsa, is the best.

The menu features 10 different categories including fajitas, Tex-Mex, chicken favorites, burritos, seafood special, enchildadas, tipico Mexicano as well as a big lunch special with great combos for a base price of $8.99 + drink + tax (and hopefully a nice tip for the very attentive and friendly wait staff.

Today I chose from the seafood menu. The Camarones a la Diabla or devlish shrimp was indeed devilish. The waitress came out within 10 minutes with my order. The plate includes 12 butterflied shrimp cooked in what appeared to be a chipolte sauce with several of the hot peppers floating around among the shrimp. With the shrimp came a Spanish rice, charro beans, a lettuce leaf with a tasty side of guacamole — which I normally don’t  eat but the green dish here is excellent — along with pico de gallo and a choice of corn or flour tortillas.

All of the staff are very nice and one nice lady didn’t laugh at my attempt at telling her while checking out that the camerones were “muy caliente.” The atmosphere is a traditional Mexican fare for this part of the county, along with the wonderful music that takes one for at least maybe an hour takes you to a smaall dusty Chihuahuan town where one might sit and drink Tecate with lime, and perhaps a shot of Sauza every now and then.

Beaumont has a number of Mexican restaurants. If you straight up Tex-Mex, then visit Monterrey House on South 11th. That has to be the best Tex-Mex. But for a great variety for choosing, excellente atmosphere, wonderful service, and a very great selection of typical Mexican or Tex-Mex, visit mi amigos (who probably would recognize me by face, or not,) at Casa Tapatia.

What: Casa Tapatia Mexican Resturant and Bar

Where: 145 Interstate 1o North, Beaumont, Texas 77707

Phone: (409)832-0848

http://www.eatmexicanfood.net/

Beer and liquor served

Here is love to my friends at Casa Tapatia!

 

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Say hello to Con Man Trump

This morning I watched about 10 minutes of the Donald Trump press conference before I, fortunately, had to go by my office. I wished I hadn’t watched that much of what was a sorry spectacle.

I am both a semi-retired journalist and a military veteran. Trump had called the press conference, saying that he would release the name of the veterans groups and how much he had laid out in donations. Those donation stemmed from an “event” that he held during the Republican primaries after Trump ran scared from a candidate debate. He ran from Megyn Kelly of Fox News who was a moderator in a debate after a past Kelly-moderated debate in which The Donald said Kelly treated him unfairly.

Trump launched into an attack on the media before releasing details of donations he had supposedly released to veterans organizations. All along during that event and for months after he talked about how he raised $6 million for veterans who he professes to “love.” News organizations digging into what had been given vets found the amounts were much less that the $6 million. Trump’s campaign manager said last week that they only raised about $3.5 million. Trump said today it was $5.6 million but the boastful businessman said the task was something no one else could do.

He also, as I found out later, continued his press-conference invective against reporters as well, the federal judge whom Trump said was “Mexican” and he claimed he was unfair in the lawsuits against Trump University.

Trump has usually insulted reporters at his campaign events, calling them “dishonest” among other names. He once made fun of a disabled reporter from The New York Times by mimicking the arm jerks of the journalist. What he did differently today was that he insulted individual reporters, calling one a “sleazy guy.”

The presumptive GOP nominee was livid over the press scrutinizing his event and the financial details. He said that he just wanted to a little praise for his good works. That is also in contradiction to his saying he didn’t want any credit.

The problem with his thinking is that the media isn’t about laudatory remarks, at least not many political reporters.

I have never been around any U.S. presidents with the exception of George W. Bush. As I have said here before, I interviewed him when he was a private citizen campaigning for his father. I covered a number of press conferences when Bush was Texas governor. Likewise, I attended probably a handful of his visits to Crawford and Fort Hood. This included going to an Easter Sunday church service inside a military chapel where I was only one of five reporters allowed to attend.Over time, it seemed like the guy I used to jokingly call him G.W. had become more thin-skinned. Perhaps, though, he had always been repelled by criticism. I don’t know anyone who likes to be criticized. I know I don’t like it.

But Trump has brought his thin skin to an art form. It is beyond thin skin. He is a class-A whiner. Every little slight sets him off. His press flacks say it is just his counter-puncher. If he gets attacked, he will attack back.

Besides, being incredibly childish Trump is showing the voting public a glimpse of what he might look like as a president. I think that is good. I sure as hell won’t vote for him and if elected, I don’t know. I probably won’t leave the country since my only health care option at the moment is the Department of Veterans Affairs. Trump wants to dismantle that department and make veterans have health care vouchers. I definitely have my problems with the VA. But if there was a president and Congress that would act like real leaders I think most of the problems could be fixed.

Trump is scary. He thinks that is good. He likes having others off kilter. But that isn’t how you lead the most powerful country in the world. I don’t want the press being restricted. Trump would do that. I don’t want my health care being screwed with. Most of all, I don’t want a con man as president.

To put it in Trump’s terms, I’m talking about con man Trump.

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The Dick’s philosophy for graduating, future, leaders.

Bloggers note: As sometimes happen, I accidentally hit the “Publish” button long before the post is ready to publish. Thus, I have to start editing and “Update” and on and on and on. Thank you. I hope you all  have a nice day!

160527-N-SQ432-026 ANNAPOLIS, Md. (May 27, 2016) -- Newly commissioned Navy Ensigns and Marine 2nd Lieutenants from the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2016 throw their midshipmen covers in the air at the end of their graduation and commissioning ceremony May 27 at the Navy-Marine Corp Memorial Stadium. The U.S. Naval Academy commissioned 788 Ensigns into the U.S. Navy and 256 2nd Lieutenants into the U.S. Marine Corp. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Jonathan L. Correa/RELEASED)

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Newly commissioned Navy Ensigns and Marine 2nd Lieutenants from the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2016 throw their midshipmen covers in the air at the end of their graduation and commissioning ceremony May 27 at the Navy-Marine Corp Memorial Stadium. The U.S. Naval Academy commissioned 788 Ensigns into the U.S. Navy and 256 2nd Lieutenants into the U.S. Marine Corp. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Jonathan L. Correa.)

Okay, I ran a similar — actually, the same photo subject, before, only it was taken 11 years ago — picture before. It’s Memorial Day. We are supposed to memorialize our warriors who died in battle. We can do that. But we can also wish the best for our future Navy and Marine Corps officers.

Having served as a Navy enlisted man during the Viet Nam Era, I can also remind our future officers, don’t be a dick. Well, my name is Dick. But I mean don’t be an asshole or a horse’s ass.

Many of these officers suddenly find themselves in command over a certain number of enlisted people, from the most senior enlisted to the lowliest boot camp sailor. Some of these officers will prove to be great leaders. Others, who graduate from either Annapolis or from the various other college and service programs, should get out of the military as soon as possible.

One does not automatically take the reins of leadership just because they are commissioned as ensigns or second lieutenants. That is, just as becoming a petty officer does not automatically thrust the mantle of a great leader of men or women on any one person.

Most of the time during my short stint as a third- and second-class petty officer didn’t involve leading men. The times I did have to step in as a leader was mostly successful because, I mean, come on, it wasn’t like I was leading in battle. Still, for even the simplest of tasks, one must order someone to accomplish what can often meet with stubborn objection.

One time while serving on a Navy destroyer, for some reason, I was told to take a few less-senior sailors, who were already picked although they weren’t tasked by me, to install new “non-skid ladder safety treads” on the inclined ladder which we walked up and down from our berthing area up to the mess decks. These were treads fastened by screws on the inclined ladder that took us from our berthing area up to the mess decks or the forward head. We would also have to ascend another ladder to the main deck, but we were only told to do our treads. It was surprisingly simple.

The job took a little elbow grease, but other than that it was no problem. There might have been some other little j0bs around our berthing area. It wasn’t really difficult. I was never told to do a lot of jobs like “swabbing the deck.” Even when I was stationed at a Seabee training center, we had students who were on extra duty from punishment to clean the offices. I happened to be the senior petty officer around that day in our living area on the ship, so I was in charge. One of the guys in my division, who was I suppose an E-3, or Seaman, didn’t want to help out. He just flat out didn’t want to do it. I tried reasoning with him. That didn’t work. I could have just done the job by myself and the others. That just didn’t seem right. Finally, I had to threaten to “write him up,” which means filing a report which would likely send this young guy to  captain’s mast, or before the commanding officer, for what is called “Non-judicial punishment.” I happened to be the Legal Yeoman, or the person who handled the legal work and forms on the ship. So I knew very well how to write someone up. I would have charged him with Article 92 — failure to obey an order or regulation — of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. Now this wouldn’t go on the guy’s permanent record, unless he decided to make a career of the Navy or if for some reason the Old Man (the CO) decided to refer this to a court-martial. That could be serious — think felony charge by the U.S. government.

So the dude was pissed off at me for threatening him but he ended up doing his task. He got over it.

Thus, I congratulate those who are graduating, either from college or high school, and for whatever reason want to join the military. If and when you may be called to lead men or women, just remember, don’t be a dick!

 

 

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News of today. Oh well, just read please!

A couple of points from today’s news.

First, happenings at Jerusalem on the Brazos a.k.a. Baylor University. The sacrificial lamb for the idiotic cover up of sexual assault cases involving Baylor football players was none other than Head Coach Art Briles. The hand-slap, not-surprisingly, went to Ken Starr. The former special prosecutor of Bill and Hillary Clintons’ alleged sins was demoted from his post as Baylor president but will retain his chancellor title as well as remaining as a professor at Baylor Law School. There were other specified and non-specified Baylor officials whose jobs were ended. Clearly, s**t rolls downhill at Baylor University. Who knows whether the Waco Police Department, accused of holding back police reports, will be investigated by outside law enforcement? The department has already drawn fire for its handling of the so-called in the “shoot-out” at the Twin Peaks corral.

Smiling Ken Starr. Who's smiling now? Not Art Briles. U.S. Government photo
Smiling Ken Starr. Who’s smiling now? Not Art Briles. U.S. Government photo

I don’t know either Starr or Briles. I know sports writers who covered Briles as a high school and college coach. He always seemed to be a good guy. Biles is no doubt a coaching wizard. He took one of the sorriest teams in the Big 12 Conference — perhaps in what was the NCAA Division 1 — and turned it into a national championship contender. Sometimes people get themselves in a bad situation and use bad judgment and, sometimes, they pay the price.

As a column I read today, Starr is sleazebag who made it his duty to bring down the Clinton presidency. Sure, Clinton lied about his “affair” but how many men and women wouldn’t lie if it was their marriage was on the rocks? But Bill Clinton was the president. Yeah, that’s the GOP line. That is until they face the same situation.

Finally, Donald Trump. Jeez. He officially became the presumed Republican candidate for President today. I didn’t believe he would get through the early primaries. But he did. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is somehow waylaid at the Republican National Convention still.  After today and the last month, nothing surprises me.

I have been and am even more ticked off at Bernie Sanders. I don’t know why he continues in his arrogant thinking he will be president, or whatever the hell he is doing. I thought if Trump became the front-runner, that he would cause an immediate collapse of  the Grand Old Party. Maybe it is a slow collapse. I now am unsure if the Democratic Party is going to hold together.