Dan Bongino

Points of Ponderation…Episode 3.25

A semi-regular attempt to address some of life’s minutiae that might otherwise be overlooked…..

Anyone who knows me understands that I’m a Batman guy. I’ve had no interest in seeing the vast majority of Marvel movies released in the past twenty years, and have not bothered with the last few incarnations of Superman. However, with DC Comics aiming to create their own “cinematic universe” (which will obviously include new adventures of the Caped Crusader), and based on a trailer that looked interesting, I had preliminary plans of checking out the newest Superman flick that hit theaters this week…until director James Gunn opened his yapper, and now I’m out. Apparently the latest version of the Man of Steel is a thinly veiled treatise on immigration, and Gunn is oddly proud of that, which is the problem with so many Hollywood types these days. They don’t simply view themselves as artists creating pleasant entertainment to distract the masses from the harsh realities of daily life. Instead, they see their vocation as a platform to pontificate on sociopolitical issues and sway public opinion. They are crusaders, hellbent on imposing their worldview on an unsuspecting audience just trying to relax & have fun. I understand that folks have the freedom to choose whether or not to buy a ticket, but let’s be honest…most people don’t do research before going to see a movie. Superman kind of sells himself, right?? Which makes it all the more loathsome to soil such an icon with “perspective” that many moviegoers might not support.

I don’t have it in me to go into a long tirade about the Jeffrey Epstein situation. However, it’s frustrating to see people that we were excited about not long ago, people we trusted…Kash Patel, Pam Bondi, Dan Bongino…clearly lying & trying to gaslight us. That’s what the previous administration did, and it’s a huge reason they were voted out of office. If there’s anything we’ve learned in the past year, it is just how deep government corruption goes. They are all…on both sides of the aisle…dirtier than we ever could have imagined.

What the hell is up with Elon Musk?? I understand that he’s a genius. It makes sense that his entrepreneurial spirit and “Get it done” attitude probably aren’t compatible with the frustrating labyrinth of the federal government, where accomplishing much of anything is an uphill climb. However, whatever the root of his beef with President Trump may be, throwing a childish tantrum is a bad look that reflects poorly on Musk and further impedes Trump’s agenda, as if he needs anymore roadblocks. I don’t know if the “third party” Musk is trying to get off the ground will have any legs, but if it does things won’t end well for the American people. At the end of the day a third party will not succeed, and can only serve to hamstring the movement Musk not only endorsed but fully participated in. The potential outcome might be putting the kind of Marxists we just got rid of in charge again, which would be disastrous. Trump & Musk either need to hug it out & get back on the same page, or Musk has to step off, stay out of politics altogether, and settle back into running his successful businesses while Trump continues to cook in The White House.

I honestly didn’t have New York City electing a Muslim Socialist Mayor just two short decades after 9/11 on my 2025 Bingo Card. I guess free stuff means more to voters in The Big Apple than respecting the memories of 3000 friends & neighbors who were brutally murdered on one of our nation’s darkest days. 

My father always taught me that there are three sides to every story…one side, the other side, and somewhere in the middle is the truth. Obviously not all immigrants are violent thugs, but isn’t it a worthy goal to rid ourselves of the ones who are?? And doesn’t the fact that people sneak into America illegally instead of going thru the proper channels atleast paint them in a bad light, no matter what their intentions might ultimately be?? On the flip side, do leftists consider the fact that many immigrants come here legally, build a life, get an education, and contribute more to society than unskilled labor?? Some even become business owners. Intimating that immigrants aren’t capable of doing anything beyond the low paying jobs others don’t want is vaguely racist, which is odd when coupled with the same folks patronizingly promoting racism as being a psyop that poor white people are too stupid to escape. Honestly, the arrogance, moral superiority, and absolute tackiness of leftists has become exhausting. Thankfully the masses seem to be more aware of that fact with each passing day.

2023 SAMMY AWARDS (PART 2)

Welcome back to the 2023 Sammy Awards!! Please check out Part 1 if you haven’t already done so.

Our host Bert Kreischer is amused that we didn’t care for his little movie, but pleased that it didn’t win the award for which it was nominated.

After he expresses his hilarious thoughts on the subject we are excited to welcome our next presenter. He is also a very funny comedian, but these days is best known as the host of the game show Family Feud. Please give a warm greeting to Steve Harvey!! And the nominees are:

Favorite App

Amazon Music
I’d rather listen to music than watch television most of the time. I am very moody when it comes to the tunes I enjoy. What I’m into might change on a daily basis. However, I’ve never been unable to find what I’m looking for on Amazon Music. It’s $10/month well spent.

Infinity 8 Ball
I was never a gamer. I tried in my younger days, but game systems are pricey, and the games themselves aren’t that affordable either. However, I do enjoy winding down after a long day by playing games on my phone, and in 2023 billiards became my jam. I’ve played over 4000 games, which probably means I need to read more books.

Collageable
I take a lot of photos whenever I attend a social event. I might take a hundred pics but end up with 35 good ones by the time I filter out blurry or repetitive shots. This app allows me to be even more efficient by stitching together two or more photos so that out of the original 100 I end up posting maybe 10 or 15 to social media. 

and the Sammy goes to…..

Amazon Music. For the second year in a row my favorite music app takes the prize. My taste in music runs the gamut, but whether it’s classic rock, jazz, or something current that I happen to hear on the radio and want to groove to later on, I’m always able to find what I seek.

To present our next award we are thrilled to welcome back an old friend. In addition to hosting our show multiple times in the past he has won several Emmys and a Tony as well as being nominated for Grammy & Golden Globe Awards. He has starred in films like City Slickers, The Princess Bride, and When Harry Met Sally. Please get on your feet for the legendary Billy Crystal!! And the nominees are:

Favorite TV Show

Frasier
I was thrilled when a Frasier reboot was first announced, pensive upon learning that none of the other original cast members would be joining Kelsey Grammer for the new show, and a bit disappointed by early reviews. After watching the first season I will say that its predecessor casts a long shadow. Frasier 2.0 doesn’t approach the magnificence of its forerunner. However, much like a talented tribute band, it is entertaining enough. Many of the negative reviews are more harsh than necessary, and I hope Paramount+ sees fit to allow the show to evolve and come into our homes for a few more years.

General Hospital
Oddly enough, 2023 is the year that my interest in soap operas stretching back four decades reached an all time low. Many of my old favorites went away a long time ago anyway, and I’d stopped watching Days of Our Lives way before it moved to Peacock in 2022 (a moot point since I subscribe to that streaming service). This past year I totally lost interest in a couple other soaps. The lone survivor is General Hospital, which has been a part of my life longer than most people.

WWE Raw / Smackdown
WWE has some competition from another promotion called All Elite Wrestling, but it’s not really that much of a contest. WWE shows still feel like an event…most of the time. I don’t get as excited about any of it anymore, but I’ve decided that’s a byproduct of being 50+ vs. 20-something. The fact is if I’m home on Monday or Friday night and there’s nothing else demanding my attention, you’ll find me watching wrasslin’.

and the Sammy goes to…..

General Hospital. I said it last year and it bears repeating…consistency wins. I find it difficult to become invested in a streaming show when the next season might not happen for a year or more. I realize the writer’s strike impacted many programs, most notably for our purposes Cobra Kai, which would’ve gotten some love if not for the fact that there haven’t been new episodes since September 2022. Conversely, due to contract loopholes that I’m not necessarily sure I understand, soap operas were largely unaffected by the multiple strikes (actors went on strike too). Therefore General Hospital was available for my viewing pleasure every weekday as usual.

Our next presenter hosts one of the most popular podcasts in the world, and is also a UFC commentator, but I remember him from the 90’s sitcom NewsRadio. Please give a warm welcome to Joe Rogan!! And the nominees are:

Favorite Talking Head (Sports)

Scott Van Pelt
I don’t enjoy ESPN programming as much as I once did for many reasons. Having said that, if I am awake I do find myself tuning into SVP hosted episodes of SportsCenter with some regularity. I enjoy his astute & objective insight, and find him amusing without being sophomoric.

Gus Johnson
Passion. That’s the best word to describe Johnson. Every game he broadcasts feels like an event, and his
excitement doesn’t seem phony.

Joel Klatt
Fox Sports pairs Gus Johnson with former Colorado Buffaloes QB Klatt, with the latter being more laid-back & cerebral. In addition to his commentary duties Klatt is a good follow on social media, where he posts easily digestible videos with keen analysis of current sports topics.

and the Sammy goes to…..

Scott Van Pelt. Having been with ESPN for more than two decades, SVP is one of the few remaining old guard personalities who made the channel great, before it was infiltrated by inspid, woke wannabes that don’t entice me to tune in, and in many cases make it quite easy to tune out. Van Pelt is comfortable in any environment, whether it is a football field, golf course, or discussing pop culture. Any child out there dreaming of a future in sportscasting would be wise to use him as a role model.

At the young age of 23 our next presenter has already accomplished much. After being a succesful swimmer at the University of Kentucky, where she was named All SEC multiple times, she has been thrust into a battle between sports & politics as an advocate against the inclusion of trans “women” in women’s athletics. However, in this moment she wants to put all of that on the back burner and have some fun with us. Please give a rousing ovation to Riley Gaines!! And the nominees are:

Favorite Foodie

Tipsy Bartender
Skyy John actually wears two hats online. As a longtime mixologist in Los Angeles, the Bahamas native posts videos on social media about making cocktails, crazy milkshakes, buckets of jungle juice, and everything in between. He also has a channel called Definitely Not Gourmet, in which he makes all kinds of tasty vittles, from pizza tacos & breakfast crunch wraps to a wide variety of of cakes & other delicious desserts.

Food Dolls
Cooking videos are rarely so soothing. Two Egyptian-American sisters who would most certainly thrive as phone sex operators offer short videos that almost always look yummy.

Mr. Food
The original Mr. Food, Art Ginsberg, starred in brief videos that aired on various oulets for three decades. These days the late Mr. Ginsberg’s associate Howard Rosenthal hosts the segments that are introed by top notch ASMR (IYKYK).

and the Sammy goes to…..

Tipsy Bartender. I’m not much of a drinker, but am fascinated by mixology. That being said, I really enjoy the Definitely Not Gourmet videos and have actually been inspired to try some of those recipes.

You might not recognize our next presenter, but you should check her out. Actually, you might be more familiar with her father, Canadian psychologist, author, and cultural pundit Jordan Peterson. We love Dr. Peterson, but his lovely daughter is carving out her own niche as an author, blogger, and podcaster. Please give it up for Mikhaila Peterson!! And the nominees are:

Favorite Talking Head (Non-Sports)

Bobby Sauce
Bobby Sausalito has hundreds of thousands of followers across multiple social media platforms, where he posts sardonic yet insightful video commentaries about politics, the economy, current events, and other topics.

Dan Bongino
No one will ever replace talk radio icon Rush Limbaugh, but several folks are out there doing their best to fill the void. Among them is Bongino, a former NYPD officer & Secret Service agent who has also ran unsuccessfully for Congress. In 2023 he left his gig at Fox News (smart move), but he’s still available on the radio and online.

Matt Walsh
The Daily Wire seems to be a rather dysfunctional place of employment, but if you can ignore all of the infantile infighting a few of their personalities are worth a listen, especially Walsh. His provocative wit is matched by an acute intellect, but admittedly it’s a personality blend that doesn’t appeal to everyone.

and the Sammy goes to…..

Bobby Sauce. My attention span isn’t as long as it used to be. I’m not as interested in certain topics as I was a decade or two or three ago, so I won’t be watching an hour long TV show or listening to a three hour radio program debating hot button issues. I’ve got better things to do with my time. However, I do like to stay informed and learn, so if a person can catch my attention and educate me a little bit in a succint & agreeable manner while I’m scrolling in my spare time I’m good with it. Bobby Sauce does that.

Let’s take another break. Please stay tuned for the exciting conclusion of the 2023 Sammy Awards!!