Mattie Has Fun

Three days since a post... tsk.  To be sure, I have been tired and just crashed -- long days at work, plenty of other things to do, and... well, I guess I am being lazy.  Going backwards, today I slept in a bit, did some stuff in the AM, and then went downtown to visit the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.  Long story short...I have some time, and I figure now is the time to go and do things -- it is summer, it is nice, I can afford it -- while I can.  And, I haven't been to a lot of places in literally decades, if ever, so... off I went.  It was nice -- for all my jokes about a monument to people shooting Democrats and traitors, it is... not much yet a lot. Mainly the monument is a list of all those who fought from Cuyahoga County...I read the list of those who died, and it was...touching.  Thirty-six died in Andersonville, and six more died on the Sultana, which meant they survived Andersonville...  the sculpture around it and inside is pretty cool as well, trying to highlight the Ohio contributions to the war.  I was only there for an hour, but it was quite nice.

I had some time after so I went to Superior Pho for lunch.  When I arrived it looked somewhat familiar, and when I went home, I checked my notes... I had been there, though it was about five years.  I shouldn't feel guilty about it, but I have a list places to try, and if I have been there before... anyways, I had a big lunch -- pho, bahn mi, and chicken cabbage salad.  It was quite delicious -- I should go to places I like more -- even if I don't eat that much.  Late heat, a bit, with the pho; the only downside was that I needed a fork or a real spoon for the soup -- the noodles are quite thick.  I did work out quite a bit that afternoon, though at a languid pace...between the heat and the grub, I think I was just plumb worn out.  Alas.  

This evening I just read -- going to finish this book tonight -- and caught up on things.  This is... good?  I do sense achievement on this scale, as we know, and I was thinking about where I should go next weekend...the day is free, sort of, and it would be nice to go and cross a place -- and a restaurant -- off the list.

How the GOP Regulars Won Over Donald Trump - POLITICO
Isn't this a problem over the long-term for the GOP?  I mean, there will be a time -- for one reason or another -- that the Donald cannot be President anymore, and someone will have to carry the mantle.  Can Vance do it?  Maybe... he is young, articulate, good online, good story, etc...   But Trumpism must have something to carry it through besides Trump.

DOGE sprouts in red states, as governors embrace the cost-cutter brand and make it their own | AP News
Dare I say this is good?  I mean, we are Republicans, and we should be doing this all the time.  Hell, O would think any GOP governor who thinks he might have an iota of a chance of being POTUS should stress this, at least to assert his bona fides as a Republican.  Except, of course, for Donald Trump...

Rollins says able-bodied Medicaid recipients should replace immigrant farm workforce - Live Updates - POLITICO
I mentioned this a few days ago, and here we are, making it policy!  Such genius!  More to the point, while I do not think it will be a success, the fact of the matter is that if we do not try, we will never if it does -- or doesn't -- or if we can change it so that it is a partial success.  I guess this is one thing about Trump; maybe he is a bit bipolar, but I get the feeling that if you can in the room where it happens, and maybe be the last one he speaks to...you might get a fair hearing.