Only a week into posting again regularly, and I’m already changing course.  I originally intended to offer up “plans of action” on Wednesdays (aka Hump Day).  But, after talking with some who have far differing opinions on how they see the world, I am changing course, and going back to trying to see things from BOTH sides, in hopes of reaching some sort of compromise.  In other words, finding solutions “Somewhere In The Middle.”

This requires some very challenging conversations, as well as watching leading news stories from different sources and networks, in order to try and distill at least a modicum of the truth. It takes work.

But this week, the President held a press conference to go over the intention of DOGE, and what we might hope to accomplish with the recent inundation of Executive Orders, Deep-Server Pilferage and Court-Challenged DOGE Actions.

And then…just to make it seem more relatable…Musk brought his kid along to the party.

What transpired was truly remarkable, and weirdly relatable to anyone with kids or grandkids. Or at least took a little of the pain away from an otherwise painful effort to find compromise.
There have been a variety of clips posted on social media from the recent News Conference. Most of them focusing on two key points.
1. Musk’s kid picked his nose and appeared to wipe it on the Resolute Desk
2. Donny was perturbed, and really didn’t seem to enjoy the kid at all, especially when Musk’s kid SHUSHED Donny…Twice.

Both are true.

However…in the spirit of Somewhere In The Middle, it is important to actually listen to what President Musk…er..uhm…Elon and the President had to say about DOGE, finding corruption, and efforts for cutting a couple of Trillion Dollars out of the deficit. They actually made some salient points. Mostly. Kinda.

Let’s start finding compromise, by agreeing that trying to do a press conference with a four-year-old boy in tow, is challenging, and probably not advisable.  What Elon was thinking, one can only surmise. Perhaps knowing that this could be a tough Presser, he decided to add the kid as a buffer? As a father and grandfather, I know that the average attention span of a four-year-old is about 2 minutes, maybe 10, if you have “Paw Patrol” cued up on a padular device. Elon’s kid actually did pretty darn well!

NOTE: I don’t want to sound disrespectful by simply calling the child, “Elon’s Kid.”  But, his given name is, X AE A-XII.  I am not making this up.  And I have no idea how to even begin pronouncing it.  I guess this is what happens when you have 12 KIDS with THREE WOMEN. You need to be creative with names. I may have to see if my new “Meta AI glasses” can translate it for me, but I don’t have the time right now. Or you can listen to this.

I strongly suggest you watch the entire press conference. If you are going to form a balanced opinion, Somewhere in the Middle (see how I keep doing that?), you need to see the whole thing for context.
Here is an extended, unedited version of the Press Conference. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAuTb-yMNk4

The FUNNY parts?
17:52 – Digging for Gold (kid picking his nose)
18:25 – First Shush…and “get away”
There are loads of social media posts saying that “Kid” said, “Get Away, You’re Not the Real President.” And then later said “Shut the fu*# up.”  I didn’t hear it clearly, and with AI options, just not willing to go there completely. But, he makes it known that he doesn’t respect the old guy in the room.
25:30 – Kid puts his fingers in Daddy’s Ears
26:24 – Kid Starts Real Meltdown

The Not So Funny Parts
16:35 -Case in New York- Hotel Fraud
Donny and Elon talk about a case they found in NYC, where a hotel is raking in “so many millons” from housing ” “illegal aliens,” and “charging double room rates!”  Wow!  If this is true, and they can stop the payments, they then might have time to stop the payments to the Trump properties that are used for Secret Service and visiting dignitaries. Estimated costs/grifting taxpayers is in the hundreds of millions over the years.

21:45- The Condom Controversy-  Much has been made about this on FOX, and it is a new talking point, every time Donny has a chance to talk “off-prompter.”  However, as the person questioning Musk makes, the condoms were Not sent to Hamas...but sent to Mozambique to fight HIV/Aids, a country with one of the highest incidents of HIV/Aids in the world. But, Musk makes a good point. “Some of the things I say will be incorrect…and should be corrected…but $50 in condoms is a LOT of condoms, and I’m not sure the American people would be wild about it).  I agree. That is a LOT of condoms. I guess I am am personally more interested in feeding people, than making their sex lives more safe. But, I understand that the two are not mutually exclusive, if we are saving lives.  I wonder what RFK Jr. will have to say about this?

24:30- Musk Grilled on Receiving Billions in Government Contracts for his companies, while proposing to cut spending in tons of other DOD and AID programs.  Is there a clear Conflict of Interest? MUSK’s REPLY IS A WORD SALAD TAP DANCE WITH A KID ON HIS HEAD!

There are loads and loads of questions to be asked about the current blitzkrieg of policies, edicts, and under-cover server thievery.  However, on the surface, and using a broad understanding of the basics,  some of what Musk says sounds like it has good intentions. His methods are draconian, and most likely illegal, but he is certainly following the general direction of the guy elected by people who only think in broad terms.

I’ll say it again.  Most of what Donny does in public (even when trotting out Elon and his kid to try and make it all seem PG), is a sideshow for what is REALLY going on.

In simple terms, the framers of Project 2025 are working diligently to dismantle our government, as quickly and efficiently as possible, breaking it down quickly, from as many points as possible, as to make almost impossible to keep up.

If they have their way, PROJECT 2025 will be the NEW US CONSTITUTION.

Donny is a front man…providing slight of hand…while the really dastardly creeps in the underbelly, are doing the real damage.

How bad is it?  EVEN STEVE BANNON thinks Musk and the Project 2025 crew are a danger to democracy.  STEVE-FREAKIN’-BANNON!
Listen to this interview..
Steve Bannon on Broligarchs-vs-Popluism
I actually found myself agreeing with some of his points. BANNON!

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OK…enough for this week’s SOMEHWERE IN THE MIDDLE. Compromise is tiring!  It takes work, and paying attention, and realizing that all the best solutions come from a variety of viewpoints.

MEANWHILE….. At least READ the WIKI RECAP of PROJECT 2025,
and AGENDA 47 so you know what we are in for.  

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