Op-ed:

Economics + War = A Maybe Midterm Loss...Part Two

By Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

This opinion piece is my opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com    

In last week's article, “Economics + War = A Maybe Midterm Loss...Part One”... I wrote as to why, in my opinion, we Republicans might well lose both the House and the Senate come November's midterm election by focusing on the economic perspective. Now here, in Part Two, the focus is on President Trump's, what I believe to be, mishandling of the still ongoing war with Iran...a war that has become highly unpopular and polarizing here at home, and even more so as the November midterms draw near.

So let's begin with the cardinal rule that Trump has broken, as in the U.S. does not...I repeat not...negotiate with terrorists. And yes, Barack Obama did break that rule with his infamous “5-for-1” Taliban deal...as in five top Taliban operatives being released in exchange for U.S. traitor Bowe Bergdahl's release...which saw many of us chastising Obama's actions en-mass, and rightly so. But when now President Trump outwardly strives and continues to strive to make “deals” with Iran's terrorist regime...as in the world's leading “State Sponsor of Terrorism,” the silence from way too many Republicans remains quite deafening.

And to make matters worse, when some of us do call Trump out for dealing and negotiating with terrorists... which includes the still ongoing ultra secretive behind closed doors negotiating aspect...along with the fact that we have yet to actually win this war...wars being fought do need both an actual winner and a loser...we who do so are then deemed by Trump loyalists to be traitors to the president and to the party because we, according to our naysayers, suffer from what they deem to be “Trump Derangement Syndrome” or “TDS” as it's more commonly known, and it's no matter that most of us voted for Trump three times, and still do support many of his domestic policies, but dare disagree with him on anything, well you know the rest.

So here I must say that I see we dissenters as being true “American patriots” for we know that one's ultimate loyalty should not be to one man or to a party, but to the United States Constitution...the very document that the shadow of Trump hovers over for both right and wrong reasons depending on whose side of the political discourse one is on.

And this very aspect in relation to what is deemed to be misplaced loyalty by some, as well as it having divided the Republican Party, has become not just the second (second only to the economy itself) “albatross” dangling from what could be a Republican midterm loss, but it is something Trump cannot simply just walk away from.

Why so? Think of it this way, as defined by these seven proven to be facts.

Fact One: Besides Trump wanting to make deals with terrorists, he also set an unrealistic time frame as to when this war will end... six weeks tops he said.

Fact Two: Right from the beginning President Trump made unfortunate what are strategic miscalculations regarding Iran's ability to fight back, which included his not taking into account Iran's regional proxy army/drone retaliations against Iran's own Arab neighbors, as well as his telling our ally Israel what they can and cannot do in regards to this war, as in his wanting a diplomatic solution to end the war vs. Israel's wanting to finish the war last summer when we truly were in control of the discourse.

Fact Three: the remnants of what's left of the regime... as in the IRGC...still does remain in control of Iran, and continues to execute jailed “Freedom Fighters” by the day, and they show no sign of backing away from battle anytime soon, after all their religion simply will not allow them to do so.

Fact Four: Trump, to date, still has not yet made any serious public statement regarding Iran's bio-weapons program...the very program I have been calling out since this war began for these are Iran's “last stand” weapons of choice...weapons that the regime would surely use either against Israel, our military personnel stationed at bases in the region, or if desperate enough against the Iranian people themselves.

Fact FIVE: And most important of all is our original reason for going to war with Iran, as in to permanently stop any and all of Iran's nuclear ambitions... the very thing we have yet to accomplish for Iran has agreed to nothing nuclear wise...no agreements has been made let alone their signature appearing anywhere on the dotted line.

Fact Six: And dare we not forget how the Strait of Hormuz did turn this war into a war that many now deem to be but a war for “control over oil;” and how that one aspect does affect not only the global market, but the price at the pump here in our own country as well. And then there's the fact...whether some like it or not...that this war has to some degree actually depleted or at least has run down the numbers of certain of our important  military stocks...military stocks such as U.S. Patriot Missiles, components of our THAAD anti-missile defense system, and our all important Tomahawk Missile inventories, to name but three.

Fact Seven: Also something very telling that must not be forgotten is that while President Trump has again raised troop presence in the Middle East...a good thing as it increases our show of strength...yet he still keeps the all important so-called “boots” locked up on battleships and aircraft carriers instead of allowing them to do the job they were expertly trained for and are willing to do...as in to outright win this war and not be but “hands tied behind their backs” window dressing bystanders.

And here it is important to remember that that actual strategy planning itself...whether it be economic or a military/war type strategy...is most assuredly a multi-tiered endeavor...but that whatever strategy is agreed upon said strategy's implementation...whether it be war time or economic strategy...is actually initiated solely by the president, no matter if he decides to listen to or not listen to what his advisors or experts tell or suggest him to do or not do.

So here let me say that while I personally do still agree with President Trump's original reasons for going to war with Iran, I still do not support his actual handling of the war to date as its components of non-tangible and unrealistic solutions continues to weigh heavy on the minds of many voters, and could well be being a contributing factor in the Republicans possibly losing the midterm election. Why so...because the midterms are actually a referendum on how the sitting president and his party are doing...as in have promises made to “We the People” actually been kept or not.

And sadly, for this president who promised us “no new wars” on his watch while campaigning in 2024, that does not sit well now for the man or his (and my) party, especially when it's coupled with the issues I discussed in “Part One” of this article...including Trump's what is tariff fiasco. And here might I add the fact that while job numbers have increased as have wages...good things indeed...wages themselves have not been able to keep up with inflation which is not a good thing, meaning one cancels out the other, something no one wants to see happen around midterm time.

So to sum it all up, and to prove that 2 +2 in the political realm can still or at least should = 4...the fact remains that a midterm loss for Republicans is thankfully not yet guaranteed, but unfortunately nor is a midterm win. But maybe the odds can be shifted back in the Republicans favor if President Trump were to tell the voters that he's now putting his ego aside so that what are his true economic and foreign policy successes (like the Abraham Accords) can finally shine though on their own, and also that this now unpopular war with Iran is guaranteed to soon be coming to an end and with a U.S. “written in stone” victory.

A hard sell for sure but it can be done, and maybe this midterm election can be the turning point to where we on both sides of the political aisle finally realize that we ourselves, courtesy of in-party fighting, are actually helping to destroy our beloved America from within. So maybe it's time that both the uber far left and the uber far right rhetoric in each party needs to be toned down or better yet ditched completely, for both the far left and the far right are actually one and the same...unyielding, deliberately divisive, with hatred alone being their driving factor...solutions to problems be damned.

So maybe come November 3rd we Republicans and Democrats together as Americans can finally understand that adopting some Reagan-style bipartisanship can actually be what saves our country from ultimately imploding from within, after all nothing else has. Case closed.

Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.    

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RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE! 

Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 13 from 7 to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Economics + War = A Maybe Midterm Loss...Part One'; ' 'Iran's Regime - Low on Time, Out of Leverage, Long on Desperation.'; and important news of the day. Tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE.' 

  

Just a Thought

This thought below is my {Diane Sori) thought alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com 

  

[[[ Earlier today I posted this on some social media sites: "If...and I only say 'if'...the feds raise the interest rate today...which would be the first raise in three years...with the announcement coming at 2pm EST...then chances are that we on the Republican side can kiss the midterms bye-bye. Why so...because an interest rate hike...even a small hike...would raise the cost of living for tens of millions of Americans, thus sending Trump's current economic policies straight into the toilet...as if his ridiculously high tariffs didn't already raise consumer prices enough. So, the best we can realistically hope for is that the rate at least remains steady, or that shock of all shocks, that said rate drops even a minuscule amount. For many Americans that would surely help them a lot, and as a possible added bonus help save the midterms for our Republican side. At 2pm EST we will know the answer one way or another."

 

And here now is what I posted the minute the rate number was announced: "BREAKING NOW...  Interest rates are going UP...yes UP... 1/4 of a point!!! We can now officially kiss the midterms bye-bye! The American people get screwed yet again courtesy of the first hike in 3-years, and it's on Trump's watch!!! And by the way, another raise in the interest rate is expected by year's end."

 

And here is a response I posted to one of my reader's comment, "A BIG part of this belongs to Trump as he was too busy trying to make deals with terrorists and make everything about oil than he was about working on the American economy! Oh how the Democrats must be celebrating "                                    

 

And might I also add that I believe that the problem since day one has been that "Mr. Art of the Deal"...as in President Trump...never really understood that the "business of government" is vastly different than real estate and construction business deals he was good at making. And so "We the American" people...are again on the losing end...so it's probably bye-bye midterms and maybe 2028 as well...that is unless some major changes are made starting like right now!" ]]]

Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.  

Just a Thought

The thought below is my {Diane Sori) thought alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com 

[[[ So now it’s "Economic D-Day" against Iran to try to force them to make a deal. It seems Trump never went to war to win, as all he’s done is gone to war to try to make deals that make him look good, while all his supposed deals have done is fail.

 

The hell with Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the hell with their worldwide terrorist actions, the hell with the Iranian freedom fighters being executed by the day, the hell with the Iranian people who are still begging for help, all Trump cares about is making deals with terrorists.

 

And now to add insult to injury any country who aids Iran in any economic way… I guess that encompasses food and medical aid as Trump did use the words  "economic lifeline"… will face (as per Trump) severe economic consequences by the US. and isolation on the world stage.

Our president has no idea what the hell he’s doing, and maybe it’s time that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio rein this man in, because the way things are going he could well start a real World War III. My opinion, and I stand by it! ]]]

Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.   

Just Two Thoughts

The thoughts below is my {Diane Sori) thoughts alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com   

 

[[[ My opinions and I stand by every word. First, Jared Kushner should be ashamed of himself for stabbing his long time family friend BiBi Netanyahu, Israel, and the Jewish people in the back for meeting with Hamas leaders in Cairo to try and make a 'deal' with the very terrorist masterminds and perpetrators of October 7th. Guess trying to make deals with terrorists runs in the family. ]]]

 

[[[ And Saudi Arabia who again said they'll only sign onto the "Abraham Accords" if Israel gives up land for a Palestinian State cannot be trusted as a U.S. ally. And why don't they give up some of their unused vast land to help their own Arab brethren...better for them to let Israel deal with the Palestinian trouble makers than them...putting it politely. ]]]

Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved

Just a Thought

This thought below is my {Diane Sori) thought alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com 

 

[[[ So with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan having forged an ‘attack on one, attack on all’ pact...it's very interesting as Pakistan is a nuclear nation and Turkey's Erdogan wants Israel and especially Netanyahu gone! 

 

And while this is happening Trump continues to bloviate that talks with Iran are scheduled for Monday as he predicts a nuclear deal. 

 

Houston we still have a problem as Trump ignores this could be dangerous pact and its new alliances as all Trump cares about is making deals with terrorists who have NO intentions of keeping any deals made...while at the same time they have mastered the art of playing the PR 'let's stall for time to regroup and rearm' game.

 

Boy do we still have a problem and its name remains Trump!!! ]]]

 

Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.    

Just a Thought

This thought below is my {Diane Sori) thought alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com  

[[[ Trump was urged to scale down our current bombings of Iran and to make a deal by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. I say all oil rich countries…allies YES…to be fully trusted NO! But Trump is now doing their bidding as fighting to win gets thrown by the wayside yet again to try and make a deal with terrorists…who by the way recently executed more freedom fighters and protesters. Says a lot now about Trump the man doesn’t it. ]]]

 Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.   

Just a Thought

Just Two Thoughts

Too many forget that: President Trump directly addressed Iranian protesters, stating: "Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!... HELP IS ON ITS WAY." Trump made the remarks on his Truth Social platform and in remarks to the press amid historic anti-government protests and crackdowns in Iran.

 

1. The Iranian people can only do so much without weapons… 2. The war morphed into an oil control war… 3. The ‘deal’ (what we know of it) leaves the regime in place with no mention of elections… 4. I see NO help for the Iranian people themselves in what’s been released in the ‘deal’ so far.. and 5. Once our military forces leave the area Iran will be up to its old tricks again as the hardliners emerge from the shadows to raise havoc again as a piece of paper signed will not change the ideology of those still in control of the country.

 

I voted for Trump three times, and supported his decision to go to war, but that does not mean I have to agree with every decision he’s made regarding said war or the fact that he’s turned his back in regards to this 'deal' on Israel…our staunchest ally.

 

IMO…this ‘deal’ made with terrorists will in the end see Iran acting up again for without their officially surrendering ‘deals’ are but a dime a dozen especially when made with terrorists. 

Too many forget this as well:

 

Donald Trump publicly declared his support for regime change in Iran on February 13, 2026, calling it "the best thing that could happen." 

 

Trump reiterated this goal on February 28, 2026, when he and Israel launched joint strikes targeting Iran.

 

In early June 2026: Trump scaled back his former rhetoric, telling reporters that he "never cared about regime change" and was instead negotiating with "very rational people" to finalize a peace agreement... Trump called the Iranian terrroris6t regime "reasonable people!"

 

Houston herein lies the problem. 

 

Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.  

Op-ed:

Tying the Economy and Stock Market Together

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

This opinion piece is my opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com.    

 

...When consumer buying power is down the “stock market” experiences what is known as “increased volatility,” because reduced consumer spending lowers corporate revenues and hence profits in a cause and effect scenario that tends to see overall stock valuations dropping. And this is what leads some investors into a panic mode, and thus “sell-offs” (as devaluations) begin....a vicious cycle indeed. 

 

Remember, when the “stock market” drops too fast serious economic consequences can see the government possibly having to raise taxes, which in and of itself is an obstacle to economic growth. And this helps to tie the “stock market” and the economy together, as does war itself for uncertainty of a war's outcome, coupled with the logistics of what would likely be rising inflation, tends to see panic driven “sell-offs,” directly affecting overall economic conditions. 

 

Drops in the “stock market” are normal expected occurrences for today's drop can easily turn into tomorrow's gain. But when the game of war is thrown into the mix...in this case the war with Iran...the tie between the “stock market” and the economy becomes critical. Why so...because if said war does not turn out as we hope it does, the “stock market” could see gains being immediately wiped out which in turn will affect our economy and “We the American People” to a degree we have not seen in decades. Read entire article here.

Op-ed:

Tying the Economy and Stock Market Together

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

This opinion piece is my opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com.    

Last week I put up a post on a few social media sites stating that the “stock market” is down almost across the board, and that it’s because President Trump refuses to do what even he has to know needs to be done in regards to Iran.

And while the majority of those who read my post did agree with my statement others did not...as is their right...as they either have no idea that the “stock market” is both a key indicator of how our American economy is doing and thus affects the pocketbooks of each and every one of us to some degree, or they simply don't care as they still believe that the “stock market” only affects the rich and/or those who invest.

So maybe it's time for a lesson in “Economics 101” on how the “stock market” plays into it courtesy of five bonafide facts...facts in simplified layman's terms of course.

Fact One: Over the past 20 to 30 years there has been a tremendous increase in the number of people...including young people...putting their monies into the “stock market” as opposed to a regular bank type savings account and/or a CD (Certificates of Deposit) as was the case for most folks in the past. Why so...because with today's interest rates remaining relatively low in regards to buying a home...they currently, as I write this, hover in the 6% range compared to the 1980s when said interest rates reached 18.63% on average...folks tend to forget that in turn the same interest rates will remain low for CD's and for savings accounts as well. And the consequences of this fact means that very little money...very little profit...is being made off those entities, thus turning them into basically negative yielding investments.

Remember, in the early 1980s, CD rates were between 15% and 18%, and in some cases they topped 18.19% if one had what was referred to as an ”Extended CD” for over three months or for over a year. For example, if someone had a $100,000 at 18% there was little to no monetary risks involved. However, over the last 20 years the average CD rates have been between 0.1% and 5%...extremely low puts it mildly..,meaning putting money into a CD with the hopes of making money was foolish indeed. And that’s why over these past 20 years we’ve seen increasing numbers of people from all walks of life putting their money into the “stock market” so that their money can actually start to work for them instead of into low yielding savings accounts and IRAs.

Fact Two: The “stock market” today has now become a modern day savings account of sorts, and it's not just for the rich any more, but for middle and upper middle class families as well...families who no longer believe that the traditional type of savings account will help them to increase their wealth now or in the future. And this makes perfect sense because when one invests in the “stock market” one's money immediately starts working for you which is simply not possible with bank driven low interest rates.

Fact Three: Today, almost 62% of American adults currently have some monies invested in the “stock market,” with the number of middle-class and working-class Americans investing now up 54% as opposed to five years ago, with said number equating to those who earn between a modest $30,000 to $80,000 per year.

But here one needs to understand that while one can make large sums of money courtesy of wise investments, and sometimes in a relatively short period of time...one can also lose large sums of money also in a short period of time. How so? Simply, more times than not, it's courtesy of a downturn in the economy coupled with rising inflation numbers, as well as in times of war itself. And while wars...like the Iran War we now find ourselves in...can and usually does lead to short-term stock market “sell-offs,” hence falling numbers, those drops in number are usually not long lasting, as historical data itself shows that geopolitical events, like wars, usually do not have prolong effects on the trending course of the “stock market” itself.

Fact Four: However, when times of war are combined with what is economic woes for the majority of people...as in when both gas and grocery prices rise even a small percentage...a “stock market” drop in numbers can be disconcerting for far too many folks, especially those new to the market. And why so...because many new investors do not understand that it's the economy itself that sets the stage for both corporate performance and investor expectations, which in turn then drives “stock market” trends, and that it's how the “stock market” reacts to said trends that directly influences consumer spending, all important business investment, and overall economic sentiment, which can include monthly “jobs numbers.” Simply, the “stock market” is indeed a reflection of our county's economy and visa-versa. 

Fact Five: A president’s actions...no matter the political party the president belongs to...no matter the political party in control of the Congressional “power of the purse string”...we still find that both the economy and the “stock market” as being affected by their fiscal and trade policies, their regulatory decisions, their monetary policy appointments, their crisis managed leadership, as well as by a healthy or, in some cases, an unhealthy dose of public sentiment. And when combined together said presidential actions do indeed help to influence both Congress and the Feds, via their ability to shape both the policy environment and the parameters that key markets (including the “stock market”) and businesses operate within.

Simply, because presidents are responsible for implementing and enforcing the law, they surely do have some control over business and market regulations which in turn directly affects the economy itself, and thus filters down to the “stock market.” In President Trump's case think of his recent, what I consider to be, high stakes tariff fiasco...the one where he raised tariffs so high on certain countries doing business with the U.S. that said countries literally could not afford to continue doing business here unless said tariff raise was negated or at least neutralized. And how did the countries affected accomplish this...simply by passing on to the American consumer a price increase in the products being sold to them.

Not a good scenario indeed, yet a scenario that in many cases did happen in the past and can still happen now or in the future what with the economic buying power of many American families continuing to fall. And when this continues over a period of time the “stock market” is affected as well. How so? When consumer buying power is down the “stock market” experiences what is known as “increased volatility,” because reduced consumer spending lowers corporate revenues and hence profits in a cause and effect scenario that tends to see overall stock valuations dropping. And this is what leads some investors into a panic mode, and thus “sell-offs” (as devaluations) begin....a vicious cycle indeed.

Remember, when the “stock market” drops too fast serious economic consequences can see the government possibly having to raise taxes, which in and of itself is an obstacle to economic growth. And this helps to tie the “stock market” and the economy together, as does war itself for uncertainty of a war's outcome, coupled with the logistics of what would likely be rising inflation, tends to see panic driven “sell-offs,” directly affecting overall economic conditions.

Drops in the “stock market” are normal expected occurrences for today's drop can easily turn into tomorrow's gain. But when the game of war is thrown into the mix...in this case the war with Iran...the tie between the “stock market” and the economy becomes critical. Why so...because if said war does not turn out as we hope it does, the “stock market” could see gains being immediately wiped out which in turn will affect our economy and “We the American People” to a degree we have not seen in decades.

As a successful businessman President Trump knows all this...I just hope his wish for a “deal”...a “deal” he's trying to make with terrorists...does not backfire in his and our economic faces. Case closed.

Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved. 

************************************************************************************************** For more political commentary please visit my RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS partner Craig Andresen's blog The National Patriot to read his latest article, The Caregiver's Revenge.

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RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE! 

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 9th from 7 to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Tying the Economy and Stock Market Together'; 'The Caregiver's Revenge'; and important news of the day. Tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE.' 

  

Just a Thought

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Op-ed: 

Unconditional Surrender vs. Submission

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor 

This article is the authors opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.com or Google.

 

...And again herein, in my opinion, lies the main problem as most of President Trump's key advisors also do not understand who and what we are actually dealing with, because if they did they surely would not now or ever be negotiating with islamic terrorists. 

Simply, this fully not understanding is indeed the main reason for this war...as it is a war not just to stop Iran's nuclear ambitions but is, in actuality, a war of radical islamic ideologies vs. we in the civilized world. And to complicate the scenario even more so, it's coupled with Islam's continuing to strive for total world domination...while our side tends to view “extension after extension” of deadlines as being the only way forward towards peace.

Peace...in the true sense of the word...cannot happen when the enemy's holy book is also their primer for war, as common sense and logic has no place in the discourse, or so the islamic hardliners believe. And that alone is very telling, because when the bombs and missiles of war do stop falling...which even in Iran will eventually be the case...what is left is the fact that the word “Islam” itself still means “submission.” Read entire article here.