Author: thependulumswings staff

Ruse

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

As the world rapidly evolves so does the attempt to redefine already-defined words or expressions.  It’s infuriating to some.

Below we decided to redefine some 24 redefined words, phrases, and people previously defined.  The previous word salad sentence was brought to you by our revered VP Kamala Harris.

hate speech-  any spoken or written words that someone gets offended by based on their own beliefs, yours be damned, free speech be damned, nebulous

misinformation-  any spoken or written words that someone arbitrarily decides are not true regardless of whether or not it is  It’s a run at controlling the narrative.

disinformation-  a kissing cousin of misinformation.  Try separating the two, we won’t.

women’s wellness-  abortion.

the right to choose-  abortion.

abortion-  abortion.

newcomers- a way of currying favor and votes from illegal migrants by making nice

Eric Adams-  the worst NY Mayor ever eclipsing Bill de Blasio, his predecessor, who was the worst ever

Fani Willis- political hack of a DA that has no business in any public office.

Leticia James-  see Fani defined above, drop DA, and add AG

homeless- mentally ill or chemically addicted

underserved- what Democrats call homeless

hobos- what everyone over 50 today called the homeless until it wasn’t correct to do so anymore

SAT scores-  a measuring stick of overall intelligence entering college soon to be a thing of the past

debt-  how much you owe

deficit-  how much more you spent than you collected

US debt-  on a collision course with insolvency   We should all be ashamed.

US deficit- Biden’s ability to process information and communicate the same

Elon Musk-  a chess grandmaster of multiple boards simultaneously while others struggle at a single board of checkers

social justice-  the redistribution of wealth attained through capitalism

fair share-  never defined in measured terms,  a rallying cry for those who have less, nebulous as well

student loan debt cancelation- a transfer of burden from those who agreed to repay but don’t, to those who now must repay, also known as a vote-getter

wealth tax-  see social justice above, also banned in our Constitution

fair elections/ election integrity-  remember the Edsel?

DEI- the opposite of meritocracy,  a ruse that hopefully will DIE

 

Good day- It still means have a good day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EV Anyone? Everyone?

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Are you still driving that big gas-guzzling, fossil fuel-emitting vehicle?   Shame on you, Joe Biden says.

Even if you were not one of the early pacers (not the car itself), didn’t you take advantage of the 10k incentive provided by your government to convert to an EV? No?

Well, if the obvious benefit of clean air and the financial incentive didn’t work, the Biden Administration has come up with another conversation starter.

Never mind that over the weekend the Hertz Car Rental CEO lost his job making a too-big bet on EVs.  Never mind that multiple (Audi, Ford, Mercedes, etc) car manufacturers reported disappointing earnings, high EV inventories, and factory cutbacks on production.

This week, the Biden administration is expected to finalize highly anticipated regulations targeting gas-powered vehicle tailpipe emissions, considered the tip of the spear in its efforts to electrify the transportation sector.

The Environmental Protection Agency is slated to issue the final rulemaking — which officials have boasted will incentivize greater adoption of electric vehicles, but which opponents have criticized as a de facto mandate.

We tried to sell you, incentivize you, and now we’ll force you.

“It certainly won’t do anything to improve human health. It won’t do anything to reduce pollution,” American Energy Institute president and CEO Jason Isaac, who has researched the EV market, said in a Sunday interview. “We’ve proven in this country that we’re already a world leader in clean air.”

“All it’s going to continue to do is push the costs of electric vehicles on to purchasers of internal combustion engine vehicles.”  Ah, there it is.

Mind or not, over 75% of the global emissions come from India and China combined.

But, but, BUT!  We have to do our part.  Others will follow.  Surely they will.   Won’t they?

Does this have anything to do with election season being upon us like smoke emanating from an exhaust pipe at a red light on Wilshire Blvd?

“This is purely being done for campaign reasons — to appease the leftist large donor base that are the climate alarmists that are driving this movement towards really what is a forced energy transition,” Isaac added.

“This policy is bad for consumers, the economy, and national security. It will sacrifice our hard-won U.S. energy strength for even greater dependence on China and the EV battery and mineral supply chain China controls,” opined American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers president and CEO Chet Thompson.

So who is right?  Father Biden and our government know best.  Remember how well they nailed that COVID thing?  Boosters and batteries are good for you.

Regardless, we have a ways to go.  According to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an industry group representing major automakers, 9.3% of total car purchases in the U.S. last year were electric or plug-in hybrid, up from 7% in 2022.  Most of those were in LA or similar urban areas with short-range driving needs.

EVs remain far more expensive than traditional gas-powered cars. Even factoring in generous federal and state subsidies, the average cost of an EV is about 52k while the average subcompact car costs 24k.

Well, in a Bidenomics sort of way at least they are affordable.

Maybe after we tackle shrinkflation we could tackle EV costs.

Maybe not.

 

2,4,12,14—16?

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Once upon a time, there were a couple of dozen bowl games at year’s end.   Afterward, the “best” NCAA football team of the year was voted on by a bunch of 65-year-old dudes from around the country.

Opinions mattered.

The format changed around the turn of the century.   The BCS computer program determined the final two “best” NCAA football teams to square off for the national championship.

Opinions no longer mattered.

Then man decided that the computer didn’t know diddly squat about football.  An esteemed panel would select the best and final two for the BCS.  Opinions mattered all over again.

Then humankind decided that deciding on two teams was not inclusive enough.  The College Football Playoff system replaced the BCS beginning with the 2014 season. The CFP puts the top four ranked teams in a single-elimination bracket with semifinals being played in bowl games.

Four was better than two.  But, soon enough, controversy enveloped the committee as America felt that the first team left out had a reason to feel left out.

Viola.  As conferences devolved into a ratings war, geography be damned, a proposal came before the NCAA and their esteemed ADs and Presidents to expand to a 12-team format.  This format will start this year, 2024.

But, before we even find fault with the dirty dozen format, we have conscientious objectors yet again.

“How about 14 teams?” someone asked.  “Will that make us more money?” someone followed up.  “Sure!” came the confident reply.

And the confident conference power brokers weaseled in a proposed guarantee addendum.  How about we guarantee three spots for the Big 10 and the SEC, two spots for the Big 12 and the ACC, and one for the highest-ranked non-power five?

What about the PAC 2?  We digress.  What about Notre Dame?  Touchdown Jesus watches over them.  We digress again.

That leaves three at large bids.

So in our never-ending quest to find the best teams, more teams and more money will help us get there.  Or will it?

Follow the money, always follow the money.

What happened to choosing the best based on the on-field performance of the teams, conference affiliation be damned?  And what about those computer programs that are almost 20 years smarter than they were before?

For now Big 10 teams USC and UCLA, or new ACC teams like Cal and Stanford, they’ll have plenty of time to contemplate those questions when they fly coast to coast to try to get into the final 14.

Or, will it be the final 16 by the time they touch down?

 

Last Man Standing

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

The question is a simple one.  The answer is not.

Can the 45th President, Donald J. Trump, become the 47th President of the United States?

In 2016 it helped that he wore down a tired, old opponent who represented the swamp.  In 2020 an old, tired opponent who represents the swamp beat him. Now The Donald needs to unseat the man who unseated him.

And, Trump doesn’t like to lose.  In his mind, he never has.

The polls had it wrong in 2016.  The silent majority favored the outsider.  In 2024, the polls that constantly enter your medium of choice seem to favor Trump again.

And, the ones that examine the sitting President Biden conclude that he is an unpopular President that a majority feel is too old or unfit, or both to serve again.  And, boy does he sit a lot, especially when he visits the Delaware beaches each frequent three day weekend.  But, we digress.

Fox News, which used to be fair and balanced, trots out poll after poll showing Biden’s age a factor, the border is the biggest issue, inflation is a close second, his approval rating is lower than Jimmy Carter’s, the world is on fire, etc., and ad nauseam.

It’s over.  It’s a Trump landslide.  Except it isn’t.  It isn’t over, and it won’t be a landslide.

As an example of the hyperbole, more Michigan folks voted for Trump last evening in the Republican primary than all of the Democratic choices (Biden, some tool, and undecided) combined.

In Dearborn, where Biden hasn’t exactly endeared himself to the large Arab American and Muslim communities with his support of Israel, “undecided” beat Biden by 56 to 40 percent.  But, that doesn’t mean that they will show up in 8 months and vote for Trump, does it?

Remember, every vote counts.

A deeper dive will tell you that every vote doesn’t count.   Forty-something states are already decided barring something big changing the voting landscape.

And, when it gets down to the two, the DNC and Biden will launch a multifaceted negative campaign bigger than the daily one they preach now.  In November you have to count the folks that will never vote for Trump.  Are they the 2024 silent majority?

No current poll can accurately predict how many will hold their nose and vote for Biden because they can’t hold their nose and vote for Trump.

Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona, and maybe Colorado will decide the race.  And it will be a small subset of the voters therein.

Forty-something percent of the voters in those states will vote for Trump.  Forty-something percent of the voters in those states will vote for Biden.  That will leave about 12 percent of the citizens who vote in a handful of states to decide the final electoral college tally.

Trump didn’t want to turn in his bike at the end of the rental term.  Biden falls off of his regularly.

Trump took his classified documents and went home.  Biden already had his.

Trump is headed to the border tomorrow.  Biden is headed to the border tomorrow.

This could get interesting if it wasn’t already.

 

 

 

Q and A Today

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Thanks to Al Gore and Bluehost, our beloved website is running again after a nine-day buzz-killing journey into the IT NeverAgainLands.

To catch up we offer a much-needed Q and A.

Q.  Why is 97% of all gun violence in the blue counties and 97% of all gun ownership in the red counties?

A.  You know why.  The government knows why.

Q. Why was Ghislane Maxwell sentenced to jail for 20 years for sex trafficking minors to apparently no one?

A.  See the answer just above.

Q.  How did the “harsh” sanctions that the US imposed on Russia right after the Ukraine invasion harm them?

A.  They didn’t.  Biden promised a harsher round today.  Putin must be shaking in his Russian snow boots right about now.

Q. Why is it a crime when Trump takes out a loan and pays it back with interest it’s a crime, but when students don’t it isn’t.

A.  It buys votes.  It is a transfer of obligation from the student to the government.  That means you pay.  No biggie, just add 138 bil to 35 tril.

Q.  Why does Biden and a willing press call the student debt handout a “cancel of a loan?”

A.  See the answer just above.

Q.  Why does Senator Chuck Schumer say “Ted Cruz is the one who wants to do nothing on the border?”

A. It’s the blame game at its finest.  I blame you for what I do.  Many “low information voters,” as Rush used to call them, know no better.

Q.  Why does the IRS have paragraphs on its website that remind people that if they have income from stolen property or illegal activities they must report its FMV?

A. It’s the IRS.

Q.  Why don’t we have term limits for Congress?

Short A.  It takes away their power trip and money train.

Long A.  It must be approved by two-thirds of the members of both the House and Senate, and if ratified by three-fourths of the States, will limit United States Senators to two full, consecutive terms (12 years) and Members of the House of Representatives to six full, consecutive terms (12 years).  Can you see 2/3rds of those fine folks voting to limit themselves?

Q.  Per Biden, “Two million Americans live without running water, and tens of millions lack access to safe water.”  How can a man who has been a Senator since 1972, a VP for eight, and a Prez for three say that with a clear conscience?

A.  Have you seen him try to walk up stairs lately?

Q.  What do you say when you run out of questions?

A.  Have a good weekend.

 

If you like reading BBR, please pass it along to others who may as well today.  Thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

Age Is Just a Number

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

“They” say that age is just a number.

But, when you mumble your words, stumble on steps, and fumble policy decisions America takes notice.  And, make no mistake about it, last week was the worst of the Biden Presidency.

He confused a deceased leader of a country for another after another and another.

Then he got the good news that the DOJ investigation wasn’t going any further on the classified documents he had in his garage next to his much loved Corvette.  But the good news came because of bad news.  In the special report, the DOJ called Biden “an elderly man with a poor memory.”  In other words, dragging him further along would serve no useful purpose.

Enough already said proud Biden.  He rose to the podium Thursday evening taking a victory lap about the dismissal, defending his age and mental health.

Regrettably, he decided to take at least one too many questions from an eager press.  His answer “inadvertently” referred to Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi as the “president of Mexico.”

James Carville, Dem political strategist, threw a bomb.  “They don’t accept the Super Bowl interview.  It’s 20-25 minutes of air to the largest audience in the world. And you don’t do it? That’s a kind of sign that the staff or yourself doesn’t have much confidence in you. There’s no other way to read this.”

Meanwhile, an ABC News Poll shows that 86% of adults and 73% of Democrats think old Joe is too old to run for a second term.

What to do?  What to do?

The collective heads of the Democratic Party put together a game plan for Super Bowl weekend.  The plan is tried and true for the party blue.  They play offense when on defense.  And a willing media covers every play.

Campaign Co-Chair Mitch Landrieu offered, “The one thing Joe Biden is never going to do is — count on this — he is never, ever going to quit. Because that’s not what he’s done his entire life.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that President Joe Biden was “very clear and very focused” in their recent conversations.  Of course, he did.  Financial aid is pending.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas offered a similar defense, calling Biden “sharp.”  “The most difficult part about a meeting with President Biden is preparing for it because he is sharp, intensely probing and detail-oriented and focused,” Mayorkas told “Meet the Press.”   He also tells us weekly that the border is secure.

Dr Jill, appealing to moms everywhere, said about using Joe’s inability to remember what year his son died in the report, “I don’t know what this Special Counsel was trying to achieve. We should give everyone grace, and I can’t imagine someone would try to use our son’s death to score political points.”  Suburban Karens agree.

So, it was another witch hunt.  However, when pressed, Biden’s attorney refused to commit to releasing the transcripts and recordings from the special counsel even though he said the report exonerates Biden over the mishandling.

Which one is it?  If he’s not senile then he should have been charged.  If he’s senile then he shouldn’t be president.

Will Joe be the Democratic nominee?  The convention is six months away.

The right-wing conspiracy zealots are watching Michelle Obama’s every move.

Who won the big game?

This weekend it wasn’t the big guy.

 

 

 

 

Borderline Answers

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Yesterday we asked why.  Then, later yesterday we found out what.

That’s how DC works(if you call it that).  Remember Obamacare?  Old Nancy P. taught us that if you want to find out what’s in the bill you can read it after it’s passed.  Transparency be damned.

And the “what” or “whats” in the Senate bipartisan proposed Border Bill revealed throughout the day caused opposition to be loud and swift.

It was so swift that Mitch McConnell (or Benedict Arnold if you prefer), who sent Senator James Lankford(OK) to hammer it out from the Republican side, fed him to the lions by day’s end. Mitch stuck his finger in the DC breeze and felt political carnage was at his fingertip.  By late afternoon he was calling for an out loud “NO” vote in the Senate.

Matt Gaetz piled on tweeting “If Senator Lankford had negotiated the Louisiana Purchase House Speaker Mike Johnson’s home state would be in Mexico right now.”

Donald Trump sledgehammered, “This is a Democrat trap. It’s a trap for Republicans, it’s one of the dumbest bills I’ve ever seen.”

Senator Josh Hawley said, “McConnell is one of the most corrupt politicians to ever walk the face of the earth!!!”  By this AM he is said to be calling for a vote for McConnell’s removal.

Geez.  What’s everyone so up in arms about?  In short-everything.  Simply put, the bill legalizes illegal immigration.

There are provisions in place to stem the tide.  But a deeper dive into the details provides all of those dreaded loopholes (like cutting razor wire) for illegal migrants to continue to enter unabated.

One little detail states that the daily count of what would now be allowable illegal entry would exclude any person(s) from a noncontiguous country.  If they aren’t Mexicans, they don’t count against the 5k daily max that can be imposed.

Another states that the President would have the unilateral power to suspend the bill’s enforcement anytime should he deem to do so as necessary.

They snuck 10 billion in aid to the Palestinians and promised 400 million to Non-Governmental Organizations(NGOs) like the Red Cross to assist in this humanitarian (ahem) effort.  What’s a bill in DC without a full serving of pork?

The posturing from the Democrats was swift.  Chuck Schumer said that history was watching us today.   Biden said that a standalone Israel relief bill of $17.6 in aid will get vetoed if it reaches his desk.   If we get no border bill you’ll get no Ukraine or Israel money.

In 2021 the Dems said the border was under control.  Same with 2022 and 2023.  Now it’s a crisis that coincides with a political election in November.

Mitch McConnell is a Ukraine hawk.  Joe Biden is an open-border hawk.

Stated differently, you have a guy who cannot finish sentences at a podium attempting to scratch the back of a guy who can’t finish sentences at the biggest podium of all.

Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the rest of the play?

 

 

 

Borderline Questions

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

We know how.   Fill a backpack, pay a coyote, cross the river, and enter the US illegally.   In the game of Monopoly, pass Go, collect $200, and head for a street name that’s determined by a roll of the dice.    Illegal border crossing isn’t as dicey as Monopoly anymore and it’s way more lucrative than a measly $200.

Do we know why?  Maybe it’s this simple.  The Biden Administration is carrying the water of the Democrat think tank that wants to change the face of America and that can change how it votes permanently.  Turn Texas purple or even blue and the national electoral college vote is a fait accomplis.

Biden said last week that he was doing all that he could do to control the border.  That’s a flat-out lie.    His minions, specifically WHPS Karine Pepe Pierre, Director of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, and Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council John Kirby, swear to it.

Nothing to see here they say.  The border is safe, secure, and orderly, and allows record numbers of illegal migrants and drugs to cross unfettered 24/7/365.

But the ruse is filled with questions given the abject denial of the obvious.

Why does Biden want Texas to stand down and remove the razor wire?  Why did he go to court to get the legal pathway to allow illegals in?

Why did over 28k Chinese Nationals attempt to get in last month alone?  Why are over 90% of them males aged 18-25?  Are all of the Chinese females happy in their homeland, but none of the males?

Why do so many more people from a host of countries want in right now?  Is it cause the getting is good?  Why is the breakdown overwhelming adult males?

Why are the Republicans just now attempting to impeach Mayorkas three years and one month into him overseeing the sieve?  Is it political window dressing?

Do you think that the Senate will vote to convict Mayorkas?  Think again.

Doesn’t Mayorkas take his lead straight from the big guy?  Why aren’t they impeaching Biden, then?  Is it political suicide to do so?  Probably.  America is as tired of impeachment proceedings as it is of COVID vaccines that aren’t vaccines.

Why is the Senate proposing a bill this week to put restrictions on illegal border crossings that aren’t restrictive at all?  Is it to appease Republicans who said no more Ukraine money unless “we do something at the border?”

When was the last time you saw a single bullet fly in Ukraine?  Does the press even cover it?  Is there still a war there?  We digress.

When the bill is DOA in the House, will the Chuck Schumer types of the DC complex find a microphone to throw up their hands on the border problem and say we tried but the Republicans don’t want to do anything?  Bet all of your Monopoly money on it.

On day one Biden reversed three border policies that Trump had penned on his first day.  If Trump wins in November he’s already said that on day one he’ll reverse the reversal.

Then we’ll start impeachment proceedings all over again.

Ain’t America great?

Millions of illegal immigrants think so.

They landed on Free Parking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take the Money and Run

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Two months ago Gavin Newsom got taken to the woodshed by Ron Desantis in a FOX News Debate.   Even his staunchest supporters would agree.

Two years ago Gavin Newsom and the Cali government took the old-school NCAA student-athlete no pay model to the woodshed.  Even his biggest detractors would agree.

Pay-for-play from coast to coast was on.  You can’t put toothpaste back in the tube.

Speaking of toothpaste, Gavin himself cashed in on the money, inking NIL deals with Pepsodent Toothpaste and even Brylcreem.  But, we digress.

And now the ever and rapidly revolving college sports landscape continues to search for new solutions to opportunities for NIL.  The NCAA significantly loosening the rules on transferring has made shopping for a new school and more dough a coast-to-coast escapade.

These changes affect all sports and all genders (there are only two) at all universities.  Adapt or die.

Nick Saban, perhaps the best college football coach ever, didn’t die.  But he did move on.  Was it time to go, or what does Nick know?

Nick knows control.

But, there is only so much that you can control today.  If a kid wants to change schools the door swings open early and often in the academic year.

If a kid wants more NIL he knocks on the door.  Short on cash?  The player might be short-lived at your favorite alma mater.

Saban walked out of his own door.  Had the game passed him by?  Well, when it comes to Xs and Os, hardly.  But, when it comes to runny noses Saban is no babysitter.

He walked out on the Dolphins years ago after only two years at the helm.  Why? A good guess would be that he couldn’t control his team like he could in college.    The pro players have plenty of leverage.  They have a union, an agent, and more money than the head coach.

So, when old Nick walked he said,” There never is a good time, but I thought maybe this was the right time.”

He hinted at health reasons, then said he and Miss Terry were fine.  He hinted at workload, but he’s a workaholic.

Isn’t it all about control?

He isn’t alone.  The head coach at a major university is a CEO, salesman, recruiter, rubber chicken circuit speaker, and major fundraiser.  And on rare occasions, he coaches.

Head football coach Jeff Hafley is leaving Boston College to become the defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers.  LSU DC Matt House left to go back to coaching linebackers in the NFL.  Both want to put their hand in the dirt rather than shake dirty hands.

Dabo Swinney is learning the hard way that if he doesn’t play by the rules of the new game, the new game will play him.

In 2022 over 1400 football players transferred.  In 2023 the number reached closer to 1800.  Will more than 2024 dudes (there are over 1400 in it right now) pull up to a new dorm in 2024?

Gavin might have lost a debate, but there is no debate that he and a few others have dramatically changed the game.

Nick knows.

 

Ten Piece Nuggets

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

It’s cold outside, but ten nuggets below will warm your innards and get the blood flowing.

  1.  Biden warned Iran and told us as much.  “Don’t.”  He paused.  “Don’t, don’t, don’t.”  They did.  Does he remember reinstating aid to them to the tune of $6 billion for “humanitarian purposes?”  Is the 160th attack on a US base in the last four months since America expressed support for Israel, this time killing three soldiers and injuring scores of others, humanitarian?
  2.  Is the world too big of a stage for Joe?  He thinks not.  Just Saturday he reminded us that he’s been doing foreign policy for a “long, long, long time.”  Hillary Clinton reminded us that as Secretary of State, she flew over two million miles.   Does doing a lot of something make you great at it?  We think not.  Three international conflicts and counting now have us losing lives and giving away billions.
  3.  Old Joe from Scranton was on another stage yesterday.  Sunday he was pimping his past and pandering for his future at an African-American church in South Carolina.   “You had my back, and I hope I had yours,” he campaigned.
  4.  Then he left the pulpit, walked down some stairs, and looked confused as to when and where to walk next.  If you can’t remember how you got on the stage, maybe you should stay off of it.  Maybe his handlers should tell him to always exit stage left like his politics?
  5. How much longer will Nikki Haley try to take center stage from Donald J?  She’s down by 27 points to him in her home state of South Carolina in the latest Tyson Group poll.  Trump stands at 58% to Haley’s 31%.
  6. She’ll run till both the Democrat and Republican money dries up.  SC is on 2/28.  First up is Nevada on 2/8.  It’s doubtful that either party will help her past 2/29 in this leap year.
  7.  Two parties supporting one candidate is rare in today’s divided world.  Conversely, is Donald Trump the only President to draw the ire of both parties while keeping his promises(like them or not) to the American people?
  8.  Five minutes of MSNBC this AM was enough to hear Joe Scarborough claim that Donald Trump favors open borders by supporting Speaker Mike Johnson’s exclamation that the bipartisan border bill was dead on arrival in the House.  Mika nodded affirmatively right on cue.  Joe can articulate DNC talking points way better than most.  Is Joe S. old enough to remember when Trump was insistent on building that “big, beautiful wall” that Congress wasn’t funding?
  9.  Looks like we got us a convoy trucking through the night to south Texas starting right about now.  If you’re up for it, you can join a projected  700k people as they assimilate starting in Virginia to Jacksonville, FL, to Baton Rouge, LA, to Austin, then south to the standoff.
  10.  The length of the border at the source of the Federal v Texas standoff is 2.5 miles.  The Texas border makes up about half of the U.S. border with Mexico stretching 1,254 miles from the Gulf of México to El Paso.   So, after we figure that out, there’s just 1251.5 miles to go.

Time to go.