Vito's View

Our Neglected Americans

9/19/2022

I was driving in downtown Las Vegas to attend funeral services for a friend when, waiting at a stop light, a grey-headed old man approached me begging for money. He was tall, gaunt, and could hardly walk. He could not thank me enough for the money I gave him. I'll never forget the look on his face; an expression of deep gratitude. That emotional encounter prompted me to write the following essay.

Our Neglected Americans by Vito Tomasino Sept 18, 2022

America is the richest, most powerful nation on planet earth and, apparently, can afford to house, feed, clothe, provide medical care, and free cell phones to millions of illegal immigrants that flood our southern border before being flown to other parts of the country, while tens of thousands of American citizens are living on the streets of practically every city in our land begging for the money they need to stay alive for another day. Many of these same homeless are veterans of the wars we sent them to fight to preserve our freedoms and way of life.
Rich as we may be, even we cannot afford to house and feed the world without destroying ourselves in the attempt. If that should happen, where then would the downtrodden of the world turn if there is no America? If we are to continue to be that “shining light on the hill,” that “beacon of hope,” we must remain strong, and we must demonstrate our commitment to that necessity by first taking care of our own.
Many of our once great cities are in crisis today because of the increase in crime and homelessness in the streets and the uncontrolled influx of illegal aliens, almost none of whom have been properly vetted. The terrorist organizations we have been fighting for decades at the cost of our blood and treasure are still out there, still committed to the destruction of America. They will no doubt use our open southern border to reestablish terrorist cells throughout our country.
Thus, while our own citizens are left to languish and die on our cities streets we spend billions of tax-payer dollars to aide and abet an invasion of illegal immigrants, some of whom may one day bite the hand that feeds them.

The Thousand Year Reich by Vito Tomasino August 12, 2022

8/22/2022

Hitler is dead, but his legacy lives on in a modern day Third Reich and resurrected Gestapo, that continue to spread his doctrine of hate, divisiveness and fear through-out the world, including the last bastion of hope and freedom for the human race.
This latest attack against a former President of the United States is nothing short of Gestapo intimidation ordered by a Third Reich that did not die with its Fuhrer. This is America, not Nazi Germany!
I fought with the U.S. Marines in the Korean War, with the United States Air Force in Vietnam, and stood watch on bases around the world to ensure that Russia not only remained behind her "Iron Curtain," but removed her missiles from Cuba, my wife's homeland. In twenty five years of military service I could not imagine, that the greatest threat to the freedoms I risked my life to preserve would come from my own government.
When the home of a former President of the United States can be raided without a single outcry from any of the major news outlets, save a few conservative ones, and so few voices, even from his own party, are raised to strongly denounce the unprecedented action, our democracy is in great peril.
Our only hope is that there are enough true American Patriots in our land—including those on both sides of the Congressional aisle—for us to stave off its demise, but only if we are willing to put country before self.

Personal note:

I believe I speak for the seventy-five million patriots in our land who voted for that brash, street talking billionaire from New York because we instinctively knew, that the only one on that stage of nineteen GOP presidential hopefuls with the guts to take on the Washington Establishment and win was Donald J. Trump. Indeed, he accomplished more in his one term in office than any other President before him since Abraham Lincoln. Moreover, he did it while under constant harassment by the opposition party and little support from his own. We have not had a fighter like him as our President since Teddy Roosevelt. And never, since Abe Lincoln, have we needed one as badly as we need him now. If we allow The Donald to be taken down, I fear our country will soon follow.

Lost in Barstow

6/9/2022

Letter to Andre Schwammlein, CEO, FlixBus

      On June 3, 2022, approximately 3:45 PM, I received a call from, Frank and Rita Duca, who were left stranded in Barstow, California by the FlixBus driver. They departed Riverside, CA at 12:30 the same day and arrived at the Barstow Bus Station at 3:00 PM, where all passengers were let off for a 30 minute rest stop. When my friends returned to the bus it was already gone. They could not have been more than a minute or two late, if they were late at all.
      The driver did not ask everyone to synchronize their watches before leaving Riverside, and should have allowed for a several minute buffer, especially since she had to have known that Frank and Rita were not yet on the bus. Frank is 96 years old, a WWII veteran who can barely walk. His wife, Rita, is 90. They were the oldest passengers on the bus. Frank had even stopped to complement the driver before getting off.
      Their son, who saw them off in Riverside, made a point of asking the driver to please look after his mother and father. She responded by lacing every sentence she uttered with a four letter word. I’m sure her response did not inspire confidence. Rita would later overhear the driver tell another passenger that she was in a lot of pain. She obviously could not walk without a cane; leaving one to wonder why she was even driving that day. Should she have been?
      When their son, Phil, learned they were left behind in Barstow he called to talk to a FlixBus agent to see if another bus would be able to pick them up to complete the trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, and arrange for their luggage to be returned; which, he noted, contained all of their needed medications. The agent coldly told him there was nothing he could do; that it was the passenger’s responsibility to be on the bus at the scheduled departure time, not the driver’s.
      When Rita called to tell me what had happened, I told her not to worry, that my wife and I would drive down from Las Vegas to pick them up…to wait for us in the Bus Station. It is more than a 300 mile round trip journey, but we were not going to let our friends spend a night in a strange town without their luggage. We got back to Las Vegas about 9PM that evening.
      As one of the most innovative, fastest growing, most successful transportation companies in the world today, I know you and your co-founders take pride in all you have accomplished, and look forward to even further growth in the future. You also recognize the importance of having good, motivated people to make that happen, especially at that level in the company in closest contact with the customer, your drivers.
      Had your driver waited just a few minutes longer; indeed, had she insured all passengers were aboard before leaving, as any responsible driver would, particularly when elderly passengers are involved, my friends would not have been put through an unnecessary ordeal, and there would have been no need to trouble you with this letter.
      A Lost and Found report was submitted the following day on the company website, but, as of this time, Frank and Rita have not heard from anyone at FlixBus regarding their luggage. A word from you would doubt move things along a bit faster.

Respectfully,
Vito Tomasino

P.S. I too talked to one of your agents about the lost luggage and, unlike the insensitive response Phil received, the young lady I spoke to could not have been more sympathetic, or helpful. Her name is Jonyetta (not sure of the spelling).
The Security Officers at the Barstow Bus Station also took good care of my friends until my wife and I could get there.
The booking number for Frank and Rita is: 301 213 5822

Human Life - When Does It Begin by Vito Tomasino

5/17/2022

When does human life begin? Is it the moment of conception, as pro-lifers believe,
the first heartbeat, or that point in its development when it can survive outside the womb?
Or is it not until the baby is outside the womb and breathing on its own—as some pro-
abortionists would have us believe? This is the single most important question to be
answered before we can engage in a reasoned dialogue regarding the rights of women
versus the rights of the unborn child, which many of us believe has as much right
to live as the mother. The question is, at what point in a woman’s pregnancy is that
life within her a viable human being?
      Those who believe that a woman has a right to choose what is best for her
health and well-being by aborting a pregnancy at any stage do so with a total
disregard for the rights of the unborn. Abortion laws in some states allow a
woman and her doctor to decide the fate of the child even after delivery; which
one could argue, is nothing less than consensual murder. And, if that were not
callus enough, the organs of the baby are often harvested and sold to the
highest bidder.
      No one questions a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her health. It
is, indeed, her body. Nonetheless, that other little body within her is not. Abortion
is not the same as removing a ruptured appendix, or even cutting off an arm. It
results in the termination of the life of another human being, one that has no
voice, nor means of defending itself.
      Most, if not all arguments for or against abortion ignore the fact that
half of the new life growing within the mother contain the genes of the father.
Should he not have a say in any decision regarding the life of their child? Even
if he forfeits his right and leaves it for the mother to decide, it still does not resolve
the unanswered question of when human life begins. No one can say with certainty
when that occurs, though many would argue that point in defense of, or opposition
to, abortion.
      Some pro-abortionists would abort a live, fully formed baby as late as delivery
if the mother and her doctor agree. Eight states and the District of Columbia have
enshrined that right into law. Most state laws ban late-term abortion, but allow
exceptions for the mental and psychological health, even the age of the mother.
      There are extenuating circumstances, such as in the case of rape or incest—
particularly where a minor is involved—or when the life of the mother is in jeopardy.
After careful deliberation of such cases abortion may be justified. In those cases where
the mother or father simply don’t want the responsibility of raising the child, adoption,
rather abortion is a far more humane option. There are thousands of childless couples
in America who would consider it a privilege to assume that responsibility.
    While eight states have codified the right to abortion up to the point of birth,
forty-two have not. This seems to indicate that most Americans (pro-lifers and
pro-abortionists alike) believe that, at some point in its development a fetus
is a viable human being with a right to live equal to the mother. Since neither
side can defend their position with indisputable facts the argument becomes moot,
and we are still left to ponder the question.
      Does life begin in the third trimester, the beginning of the first heartbeat, or
at the moment of conception? No one can say with certainty if any of these are
correct. Given that uncertainty, it would be prudent, certainly more compassionate,
to err in favor of life rather than death.
      If we believe in the sanctity of life we cannot kill a child simply because the
mother and/or father do not want it. Moreover, even if there are extenuating
circumstances to consider, any decision taken must be based on the assumption
that life begins at conception.

Psychological Warfare

3/30/2022

Let the Devil Receive His Due

Let the Devil Receive His Due
by Vito Tomasino

      Putin invaded a peaceful country of no threat to Russia, attacking apartment buildings, hospitals, even a nuclear power plant, resulting in the massacre of thousands of innocent men, women and children and disrupting the lives of millions more. His own ill supplied, demoralized army is also paying a huge price in human life and material loss, all to fulfill his dream of forming a new Russian Empire. With a few notable exceptions, he has been condemned by almost every country in the world.
      The United States and its NATO allies responded to this blatant disregard for human life by belatedly imposing weak economic sanctions targeting rich Russian Oligarchs, which had no effect on Putin’s ability to finance the war. Indeed, we, and our allies continued to buy his oil, and were thus personally complicit in helping him finance the very war we were condemning. It was only after we realized the war would not be over in a few days, and unable to explain this embarrassing contradiction, that we reluctantly stopped buying Russian oil.
      The United States and our allies have publicly decried Putin’s actions, calling him a war criminal who will be held accountable for his crimes. Some have described him as the devil incarnate. This man “cannot remain in power,” declared a chagrined U.S. President. Yet, here we are, more than a month later with the war still raging—thousands more innocents killed and millions more displaced—wringing our hands over what we can, or cannot do to end the senseless bloodshed.
      The sad truth is we know exactly what needs to be done. The Ukrainian Army has proven itself more than capable of taking on the Russians. Give them the weapons that will not only enable them to defeat the Russian soldier on the battlefield, but control the skies over it; i.e., surface-to-air missiles and Mig-29 fighter jets. Without such weapons they stand little chance of winning a war of attrition against a far bigger opponent with unlimited resources.
      U.S. and NATO military experts and their government leaders know this to be true. Poland was ready to provide the Mig-29’s weeks ago in exchange for our F-16’s. The Biden administration would not allow it. We later agreed to provide the high altitude surface-to-air missiles, but they have yet to be delivered. Why? Why, given the proven capability of the Ukrainian Army to hold the Russians at bay, even drive them back, are we denying them the weapons they need to finish the job?
      We have heard their lame excuses for not providing the Migs and missiles; that they are offensive weapons and might prod Putin into declaring an all-out war against NATO, which could escalate into a nuclear exchange. However, in a world in which the Soviet Union and the United States have faced each other in a Cold War for decades—each possessing enough nuclear weapons to destroy the planet several times over—they have never resorted to their use. Even Premier Krushchev—during the closest event the world had ever come to a nuclear holocaust, the Cuban Missile Crisis--was wise enough to understand this. I don’t think Putin is any more suicidal, or any more likely to be allowed to press the “red button.”
      What is an offensive weapon, anyway? Is there such a thing as a non-offensive weapon? Are not the weapons currently being sent to Ukraine offensive weapons? Indeed, all weapons are, by their nature, offensive, either when used by an invading army, or used by the people of the invaded country to defend itself. The only difference between the offensive nature of the weapons we have already sent, and those we have not, is that the former can only forestall the inevitable defeat of an outnumbered, outgunned Ukrainian Army, the latter can bring it victory.
      If we dismiss the plausibility of igniting a Third World War in which nuclear weapons are deployed, what then are we to believe is the reason for us to deny the Ukrainians the arms they so desperately need? Could it be, that we are more fearful of Putin losing, than we are hopeful of the Ukrainians winning? This is a question we can debate after the war.
      For now, send them the God-damned weapons and Let the Devil Receive His Due!

I wrote this two weeks ago and have since learned that the Ukrainians are indeed
using internet and cell-phone technology in their psy-war effort, which has
apparently been effective in getting the truth to the Russian people at home. But
what of the soldier in the field? He may not have been allowed to take a cell-phone
with him. If a few did manage to smuggle one into the combat zone they only dared
use it at the risk of their lives, and trying keep it charged would compound that risk.
Thus, to get to the Russian soldier in the field, the old methods mentioned
below (leaflet drops and loud speaker propaganda) may still be the best way to
reach him.

Hungary, demoralized Russian soldiers, told they would be greeted as liberators
are now aware of that lie, the world’s opposition to the war, and the protests against
it by their own people, and would be very vulnerable to psychological warfare. If
it is being used, it must be stronger. If not, it may be the most effective unused
weapon in our arsenal—one that could end the war. It would also be the most
cost effective weapon we could use, and at little cost (if any) to human life.
If needed by Ukraine, support could be gotten from any number of NATO
countries, including the United States. In past wars we used leaflet drops and
powerful loud-speakers directed at the opposing army—and they at us. Today,
with internet and cell-phone technology we have even more effective methods
of “getting into the heads” of our enemy.
I cannot imagine a situation more vulnerable to psychological warfare than
Putin’s unlawful invasion of a peaceful neighboring country.

The Voice of the People by Vito Tomasino

3/10/2022

The people of the world are voicing their opposition to the “War on Ukraine” and their compassion for the Ukrainian people. They, and the protests against the invasion by the Russian people themselves, inspired me to write the following essay.

The Voice of the People

Putin’s attempt to take over a country that posed no threat to Russia has been met with fierce resistance by the Ukrainian people, who are demonstrating a willingness to fight to the death for their country and God-given right to live as free men and women. The indomitable spirit they are displaying has captured the emotions and admiration of freedom-loving people across the globe, including, and certainly more significantly, the Russian People themselves.
      Putin, may have indeed felt he had legitimate cause to take such drastic action, but some of his own generals advised against it, and thousands of his people have taken to the streets at great risk to themselves and their families to protest the war. I don’t recall that ever happening in Russia before.
      The sanctions, though late in coming, are taking a toll on Russia’s economy, but more needs to be done in that regard. There should be a worldwide boycott of Russian oil, the sale of which is financing his invasion of Ukraine. How ironic…how damming is it, that those same countries sending arms into Ukraine are still buying Russian oil and indirectly helping Putin finance the war? Is this not a conflict of interest? To those nations, especially mine, I ask, where is your commitment to peace? Where is your honor? If your words are not matched by your actions, they
are meaningless, and you have none! If you, our world leaders do not have the moral courage to put aside your personal concerns to hold onto power, then we, the people must do it for you.
      In this age of computers and cell phones we have the capability to know what is happening anywhere in the world the instant it happens. Through the internet and social media platforms we can make our voices heard loud and clear. If the billions of people with access to these platforms flood the “airways” with their voices of support for the Ukrainian people while issuing a strong condemnation of Russian aggression, we will be heard.
      Why? Because the self-anointed few among us who think that they know best how the rest of us should live our lives will find it in their personal interests to end the conflict to protect their power and fortunes. Putin would find himself isolated, and thus expendable.
      Toward that end, I ask all to whom I send this message to forward it to everyone on your mailing list, post it on your Facebook page, and write your own individual message of support for the Ukrainian people and condemnation of Putin’s brutal aggression against a peaceful nation on every other social media platform you use. Share your concerns with those that represent you in your respective governments, and write the editors of your local newspapers. Together, we can end this war.

The Russian Bully

3/6/2022

The Russian Bully                             by Vito Tomasino

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will surely be viewed by historians as one of the saddest days
in human history; as profoundly consequential as Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939. Even
then, the European nations failed to realize, that the Austrian Corporal would not be satisfied
until all of Europe was under his rule, and that appeasement is never an effective deterrent
against a man who sees himself an emperor. It did not work then and it will not work now;
nor will pitifully weak, slow-acting sanctions—another form of appeasement.
      The Hitlers and Putins of this world are nothing more than bullies who pick on the weakest
kid in the schoolyard to intimidate. When confronted by another kid with the courage and
strength to stand up to them, however, the bully will always back down. So too would Putin
if we, the United States of America—with NATO, if the will is there; without it if not—send
the full force and might of our military into Ukraine to fight shoulder to shoulder
with the Ukrainian people.
     Some would consider my suggestion irrational. It would start World War III, and
escalate to nuclear warfare, they would warn. Would it? I don’t think so, and they have less
to back up their position than I have mine. Nuclear weapons were first dropped on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki to force the Japanese surrender during WWII. Since then they have made their
way into the arsenal of perhaps a dozen countries and never resorted to; despite the long
“Cold War” engaged in by the United States and the U.S.S.R., the continuing “war” between
India and Pakistan, and the ominous threat of Communist China. The world has seen first-
hand the awesome destructive power of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan, and every
world leader with such a weapon at his disposal knows, that should he ever press the “red
button” he would be signing his own death warrant; his, and that of billions more people
on this planet.
      If we were to confront this “bully” I would be one of the first to volunteer. I was on the
ground with the U.S. Marines in Korea, flew over the jungles of Vietnam as an Air Force
fighter pilot, and stood watch during the “Cold War” to insure the old Soviet Union
remained behind her ‘Iron Curtin.” My best years may be behind me. Nonetheless, I
am ready, even now, to pick up a rifle, or “strap on” a fighter jet, and fight alongside the
brave men and women of Ukraine to help secure their freedom.
      Why? Because it is not just their fight. It is our fight, our responsibility to defend
against the tyranny of men like Putin, who, if left unchecked, would strip away our
God-given right to live free.

Powers Behind the Throne

9/1/2021

Powers Behind the Throne is my attempt to shed some needed light on the apparent Afghan debacle. Nothing we have heard from the news media pundits, or our government officials, including the contradictory remarks from the President himself, has provided a satisfactory (read, believable) analysis as to why things unfolded as they did. No one, it seems, dares to acknowledge the “elephant” in the room. I thought it was time someone did.

                                        Powers Behind the Throne 08/28/2021
by Vito Tomasino

      I don’t blame the President for the unmitigated disaster that is happening in Afghanistan today. No court of law in this country, or any other democracy would find him mentally competent enough to stand trial. Unless he is reading from a teleprompter, or a carefully worded script, he is often uncertain of where he is, or who is standing beside him.
      These are not recently observed cognitive failures. He exhibited these same traits when he stood onstage with twenty other candidates during the Democratic Primaries, and when speaking from his basement while running for the Presidency itself.
     If not President Biden, then who do we charge with the Afghan debacle? Vice President Harris; a woman who could not win a single electoral vote in her bid for the presidency and dropped out early; who giggled her way out of answering a simple question: When are you going to visit the southern border, Madam Vice President? If not these two, then who?
      Their handlers; i.e., the people who control the Democratic Party and engineered Biden’s unlikely Primary win. They knew, even then, that he was not capable of doing the job, but they needed someone to head the ticket, someone who not only had name recognition, but whom they could control. They also knew, that they would not have such control over Bernie Sanders. So they promised Bernie they would pursue his Socialist agenda, and offered Pete—the only other serious contender—a cabinet position for dropping out. Sanders and Buttigieg were the only viable candidates still in the race.
      With the witless, if not willful cooperation of our news and social media to push the Democratic agenda while portraying President Trump as an egomaniac who colludes with communist dictators, a desperate impeachment attempt, and a timely pandemic for added insurance, they succeeded in elevating the two most incompetent people on that Primary stage to the highest level of political power in the world.
      Thus, these faceless Powers Behind the Throne got just what they wanted. And, because they will remain faceless, they will never have to answer for the Afghanistan catastrophe, the crisis on our southern border, the dismantling of our energy independence, and a national lawlessness unseen in our country since Machine-Gun Kelly and Bonnie and Clyde.
      Why would they do that? Why would they want to bring their own country to its knees? It is a very disturbing question, one that few people can even bring themselves to think about, let alone seriously consider. Yet, what other rationale explains the actions of our current administration. I believe the so-called “King-makers” of this world hold no allegiance to any country or nation. They believe only in their exclusive ruling group, and see the world as their personal chessboard. If they have to sacrifice a Rook, or a Queen to achieve their goal they will, no matter how many pawns have to be sacrificed with them.
      If you can accept this hypothesis as a plausible explanation for Biden’s actions, you may begin to understand why things are playing out as they are in Afghanistan, why we failed to come to the aid of our people in Benghazi, why we lost the war in Vietnam, and why we are now witnessing the dismantling of the greatest democracy the world has ever known.
      These people, the people who pull the strings of the “Puppet Rulers” of most major countries on our planet are certainly not stupid. They don’t do anything without first calculating every possible outcome and which of them would best serve their interests. However, they are not infallible; they do make mistakes—perhaps more often than we will ever know—which is why they prefer to remain behind the throne.

The Forces of Evil

4/20/2021

A friend of mine asked me to comment on an article he read by an author who characterized human beings in general as forgetful of their history; thus, continue to fall victim to the empty promises of their political leaders. My answer:

Whoever wrote the article you sent me is only pointing out the fact, that whenever people trust in their leaders to always act in their best interests, they will at best be disappointed, and at worst, enslaved. History teaches us that truth. Unfortunately, since we never seem to learn from our history we are destined to repeat it.

The founding fathers of America understood this better than anyone, and gave us a Constitution that enshrined the rights of freedom of speech, religion, the right to bear arms, and more. They also turned away from establishing a new monarchy in favor of a three-headed government, each one to provide a check of the other's power to insure a new dictator did not arise. They had had enough of the King of England and willingly risked their lives and fortunes to rid themselves of his tyrannical rule.

However, even in America we are not immune to complacency and tend to forget our history. If we continue on this path we, like every other great empire of the past, will fall. Nonetheless, I believe this latest attempt by the same kind of people who brought down previous empires will fail. They will fail because they have not been successful in destroying our Constitution, thus giving the true patriots in America time to "wake up" to the subtle erosion of our freedoms by a government we naively believed to be working in our best interests.

I hope I am right; for if I am not, and America falls to The Forces of Evil, the world will lose its greatest champion for truth and justice.

We Kneel To No One

4/15/2021

The following article came Prague newspaper in the Czech Republic:

"The danger to America is not Joseph Biden, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of a Biden presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president.

The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Biden, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince.

The Republic can survive a Biden, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who made him their president."

The Prague article rings true--even though the writer went too far in calling all American voters depraved.

Foolish, perhaps, but that only applies to little more than half the voting electorate. 75 million of us voted for the guy that gave us the best fully employed economy in our history, orchestrated peace agreements between Israel and several formerly antagonistic Arab States, rebuilt our military and reestablished America's preeminence on the world stage, to name a few of his more prominent accomplishments.

Indeed it would not be an overstatement to say that President Trump did more in his four years in office than any other president since Abraham Lincoln kept our country from being torn in half and freed the slaves.

I would also remind our Czech friend, that were it not for America, and the sacrifices made by our men and women during WWII—on the frontlines and on the Homefront—he or she would be speaking German or Russian today; as would all of Europe. America's "Greatest Generation did that for all of us; then followed it with money and sweat to help rebuild all of Europe, including our former enemies.

We are not a perfect people, and never claimed to be; despite the bloviated rhetoric that often comes out of the mouths of some of our politicians. We make mistakes. Biden may be one of our biggest, but he will be no more successful in bringing the United States of America to its knees than Obama, Bush, Clinton, or Carter before him.

Vito