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Former President Donald Trump had a ball at the 79th annual Al Smith Dinner to benefit Catholic charities. Meanwhile, skipping the prestigious event, Vice President Kamala Harris was busy hanging with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and bungling interviews with Fox News’ Brett Baier. To top it all off, the Israeli Defense Force sent a message on X as short as it was sweet to pro-Israeli ears: “Eliminated: Yahya Sinwar.”

As From the Back Forty folks would say, It’s getting down to the nitty-gritty as America winds down 2024.

Trump Has Catholics in Stitches

Kamala Harris is the first major presidential nominee to snub the annual Al Smith Dinner since Democrat Walter Mondale ditched in 1984. As Trump pointed out, “[I]t didn’t end well for him [Mondale].” Trump intertwined a barb fest with references to the Big Man Upstairs and had the audience in the palm of his hand.

Trump brought up the controversial Whitmer communion debacle, in which she placed a Doritos chip onto the tongue of a kneeling “influencer.” The blank stare from Whitmer was the creepiest part. Trump took note and commented: “All polls are indicating I’m leading big with the Catholic vote, as I should be, but I don’t think Kamala has given up yet. She hasn’t. Instead of attending tonight, she’s in Michigan receiving Communion from Gretchen Whitmer.”

Nick Riddle, commenting from Inman, SC, said: “This man is hilarious. He’s always funny but was really on fire last night.”

The former president went on a bit more about the current vice president, saying: “But if you really wanted Vice President Harris to accept your invitation, I guess you should have told her the funds were going to bail out the looters and rioters in Minneapolis.” People in the audience thought it was hilarious. And so did Krista Klaserner in El Paso: “He’s so savage I love it.”

Trump also made fun of his own predicaments, telling those present that he was always happy to be anywhere in New York without being subpoenaed. And the guy on the Manly Tour, Harris’s running mate, Tim Walz? “He couldn’t be here tonight, but he will say he was,” Trump mused.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was called a “good man” by number 45, but then he let this fly: “Chuck Schumer is here looking very glum – but look on the bright side, Chuck, considering how woke your party has become, if Kamala loses, you still have a chance to become the first woman president.” Brandon Anderson of South Carolina was also all thumbs up: “I loved it when he roasted Chuck Schumer.” Even Schumer chuckled at that one, and he shook Trump’s hand.

Ambushed!

Vice President Kamala Harris was ambushed by Fox News’ Bret Baier, according to advisor David Plouffe. If the name sounds familiar, it is because he was also former President Barack Obama’s campaign mastermind. Harris was 17 minutes late, which in the world of journalism is very rude to begin with, making her big, scary interview cut from 30 minutes to 20. But how, exactly, was she ambushed?

In Travelers Rest, SC, Aaron Fraley commented: “Translation: she was asked unscripted questions for the first time in ‘her presidential run’ and her doner money didn’t quite cover.”

Baier was a gentleman and respectful of the office of the Vice President as he attempted for 20 minutes to get an answer. He asked how it was that Harris would be “turning the page” from Biden Harris days. Kamala bristled and replied: “You and I both know what I’m talking about.”

“I actually don’t,” Baier said, hoping to draw out an answer – any answer, at this point. “What are you talking about? More than 70% of Americans say the country is on the wrong track. If you’re turning the page, you’ve been in office for 3 and a half years.”

Harris replied: “And Donald Trump has been running for office.”

Seemingly frustrated, Bret reminded her: “But you’ve been the person holding the office.” If viewers were searching for brilliance, they were denied. And then Hoosier Jeff Chen chimed in with a good point: “If they think this is an ambush, just wait until she has to deal with Putin or Xi.”

IDF: Nowhere to Run to

IDF posted on X earlier this week: “Eliminated: Yahya Sinwar.” It appeared that Sinwar was attempting to flee to Egypt, leaving his people behind to fight. But he managed to end up in the wrong place at the wrong time and was “eliminated.”

A joint statement from the IDF and Israeli Security Agency stated:

“Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas terrorist organization who was responsible for planning and executing the October 7th Massacre, has been eliminated. The IDF and ISA confirm that after a year-long pursuit yesterday (Wednesday), October 16, 2024, IDF soldiers from the Southern Command eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas terrorist organization, in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip. Yahya Sinwar planned and executed the October 7th Massacre.”

Joanne Jung weighed in from Fargo, ND: “Evil has to be destroyed! My prayers and support will always be with Israel.”

Hey, IDF, don’t celebrate the win quite yet. Joe Biden is trying to take the credit. “Shortly after the October 7 massacres, I directed Special Operations personnel and our intelligence professionals to work side-by-side with their Israeli counterparts to help locate and track Sinwar and other Hamas leaders hiding in Gaza,” Biden declared. In Clarinda, IA, Faye Sprague choked on her morning Joe: “Good old Joe. He’s so accustomed to lying and stealing he knows nothing else.”

But Charlie Hees in Oklahoma City was not quite so jubilant. “There is absolutely no way to defeat a terrorist group. You can’t kill an ideology.” Charlie continued, “But I believe that Israel has every right to defend itself.”