Stephen Colbert's Last Hurrah

 As Stephen Colbert's last Late Show approached there was a great deal of debate about who would be his final guest. Rumors swirled and the speculation grew more fantastical each day. Even Pope Leo XIV's name was mentioned. It was a bit of farce thought to be planted either by Colbert or his staff and taken to the extreme last night during the grand finale. After his monologue Colbert introduced the Pope. He was quickly then informed the first American born Pontiff refused to leave his dressing room because he hadn't been provided with a, "Chicago style hotdog." A backstage camera showed a closed dressing room door with Leo's name on it. It opened a crack, then white robed arm emerged holding a hotdog. The imitation Pope yelled, "Does this look like a Chicago style hotdog to you?" The hotdog was thrown to the floor and the door slammed shut. It was the last we heard from late night TV's version of Leo. 

Actually, Stephen Colbert's last sit-down guest was rock legend, Paul McCartney. McCartney and the rest of the Beatles made their American debut at the Ed Sullivan Theater, where the Late Show was taped, 62 years ago. That didn't mean there weren't other celebrities salted throughout the audience and in the wings. It was an eclectic bunch ranging from Paul Rudd, who was there with the, "traditional" retirement gift of five bananas, to Tim Meadows, a Second City Improv Group teammate of Colbert's years ago, to Physicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson--there to explain a glowing inter-dimensional worm hole which had appeared backstage. ("Your cancellation has created a rift in the comedy-variety-talk continuum.")

The list of cameos ran on and on, but that isn't the point. The point is a show, which could have sunk into an abyss of bitter, ruthless, satire, refused to do so. Yes, the network which had just cancelled the highest rated late-night show was mentioned, but barely. And although Donald Trump's presence loomed in everyone's thoughts, his name wasn't mentioned a single time by anyone. A fact which must have irked that crazed ego to no end. 

Come on, you know he had to have been watching. He can't stay away from the stuff that enrages him the most. He fuels his late-night adventures with it. Anger is the man's drug of choice--although one does have to think he also throws in a few unknown chemical additives. 

Of course there is a cure for TV rage junkies that's very obvious. If you don't like something on television or a particular personality, just don't fucking watch. Do I give a rat's ass what Sean Hannity says? No, because I never watch his show. It saves me and everyone around me a lot of grief.  

CBS claimed they cancelled The Late Show because it cost too much to produce. According to Wikipedia, David Ellison, the son of Oracle co-founder, Larry Ellison went from actor, to producer, to head of Skydance Media. In 2024 Skydance made a bid to take over Paramount Global, which was, "under political pressure from President Donald Trump, including the settlement of a $16 million lawsuit by Trump." The deal was approved by the Trump administration, and it went through in 2025. No one admits it, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out getting rid of Colbert, an effective critic of Trump, was part of the deal. Almost immediately after Ellison took over it was announced Colbert would be gone.  

CBS/Paramount, not wanting to be too obvious, didn't just dump Colbert, but the entire show. However, knowing public and media reaction would be overwhelmingly harsh, the corporation scraped together enough cash to continue the, "costly," production for several months after the announcement. 

Today, Trump posted on social media, "Colbert is finally finished at CBS. Amazing that he lasted this long! No talent, no no ratings, no life. He was like a dead person. You could take any person off the street and they would be better. than this total jerk. Thank goodness he is finally gone." That's our man Donald, both wrong and bitter to the end.

Stephen Colbert was certainly alive last night. So were his guests and the audience. The show ended with McCartney, Elvis Costello, Colbert, and others singing the Beatles' "Hello, Goodbye." The stage was jammed with staff and members of the audience singing along and dancing. In the final scene, Sir Paul and Colbert stood by a large leaver backstage. When McCartney threw it, the entire Ed Sullivan theater was consumed by the swirling green glowing worm hole. 

But, like I said, no one mentioned Donald Trump by name. 

5-22-26

Settling the Lawsuit and Paying Off Friends and Family

 A while back an Internal Revenue Service contractor named Charles Littlejohn leaked some of Donald Trump's tax information to the media. Since it was illegal to do something like that Littlejohn was arrested. In 2023 he copped a plea and got five years in a federal lockup. In January of this year, Donald John Trump, once again President of the United States sued the IRS on behalf of himself, Don Jr, Eric, and the Trump Organization in the U.S. District Court for southern Florida. The suit claimed the IRS was responsible for Littlejohn's actions which had damaged all four parties. It sought $10 billion in compensation. What this ultimately meant is the President of the United States was suing the very government he runs, seeking a $10 billion payoff.  It also means the attorneys defending the government against the President are lawyers who work for the Attorney General of the United States--a person who is appointed by the President and serves at his pleasure

Yes, you can say many things about Don Trump, but when it comes to corruption, you will never be able to accuse him of being subtle. The man is unashamedly greedy and he does think big.  

The immediate reaction to the lawsuit ranged from disbelief to outrage, not to mention a heavy doses of cynicism. One of those who have been a tad skeptical about the propriety of a President suing his own government is Federal Judge, Kathleen M. Williams who was assigned the case. She ordered a hearing about the constitutionality of the suit, writing, "Although President Trump avers that he is bringing this lawsuit in his personal capacity, he is the sitting President and his named adversaries are entities whose decisions are subject to his directions." 

Oops. Faced with judge's doubts all of the lawyers working for Donald Trump, on both sides, asked the judge for an extension in order to reach an out of court settlement. Yesterday they announced the details of the deal they had miraculously reached. Donald Trump dropped the $10 billion lawsuit and the $230 million claim for damages due to the Mar-a-Lago classified papers search and seizure and the ensuing investigation. In exchange $1.776 billion (1776, get it?) of taxpayer money will be set aside to create an, "Anti-Weaponization Fund." According to Acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche--who previously worked for Trump as his personal attorney--the President, his eldest sons, and the Trump Org. won't receive any of it. Instead, they will settle for written apologies from the DOJ, which is currently run by Todd Blanche. 

Pretty convenient, right?  

The fund will be administered by the Todd Blanche led DOJ. It will dole out money to people who the government prosecuted while Donald Trump wasn't President. In other words, if someone claims they were targeted by the Biden administration, or one presumes any other administration not bearing the name Trump, for political retribution a commission will decide if and how much they'll be compensated from the fund. The five-person commission will be appointed by the aforementioned Mr. Blanche--the same guy who desperately wants to become Attorney General on a permanent basis--a decision which rests with Donald Trump. For those with short memories Blanche is the same guy who got Ghislaine Maxwell moved to her cushy new digs and defended Trump in the secret documents case.

The out of court settlement says it is, "self-executing." The argument being Judge Williams can't rule on the deal because both sides, no matter how suspiciously appearing to be the same side, agreed on it. In addition, because this is a Trump operation (even though he claims he has had nothing to do with it) the Blanche commission will have complete say on who gets how much and when. There won't be any Congressional input, or oversight.

The media and some democrats quickly predicted the money will be used to pay off all those January 6th rioters who were prosecuted for invading the capitol building and assaulting the police who were guarding it. Some speculated the payoffs would also help finance what they are calling, "Trump's personal white nationalist militia." 

Maybe some of it. However, the feeling here is the cut for those brutal thugs will be small compared to what Trump's closest pals and family members will end up getting. One can almost hear the testimony before the commission now. Gentlemen, Melania and Barron Trump suffered irreparable trauma during the search of Mar-a-Lago. That's right, even though they weren't there that night. So did Ivanka Trump when she was forced to testify in front of the Jan. 6th committee. Why not?  They weren't plaintiffs in the original suit. 

Yesterday, when asked if the January 6th rioters and he, or any member of his family would be compensated he responded by saying in part, "It'll all be dependent on a committee." (Not exactly a no when it came to him and his family.) Then he added, "A committee is being set up of very talented people, very highly respected people." 

You mean talented and respected like Kristi Noem? Or the hard drinking evangelical Christian warrior, Pete Hegseth? Or the run amok Kash Patel?  Perhaps Trump means his old pal, Roger Stone, or he and Blanche will simply cut out the middlemen and name guys like the former leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, Enrico Tarrio and Stewart Rhodes. They are both out now, thanks to Trump's pardons.  

In the end, no matter who is named to this, "committee," we can be sure of one thing. There is something in this deal that rewards Donald J. Trump personally. And the less Congress and the judicial branch are involved the better. It is, as they say, his known modus operandi. 

5-19-26

The Gangs of Lake Arcadia

 According to the site, "Slang Dictionary," in 1969 two guys who lived in Compton, CA named Sylvester Scott and Vincent Owens got together and formed a gang. Because they both lived on Piru Street Owens and Scott named their little group, The Piru Street Boys. They originally aligned themselves with the already established Crips. Then in 1972, there was a, "falling out," between the two organizations. The Piru Street Boys joined forces with other local gangs, and this loose alliance quickly became known as, the Bloods, although other names are still used. For example, those members from Compton are still called Pirus, while those from other locales are known generally as Bloods.  

Here is the reason for that abbreviated history. The Oklahoma City FOX News affiliate is now reporting 18-year-old, Jaylan Davis, the first person arrested in the May 3rd Lake Arcadia mass shooting, is a member of the North Highland Piru Bloods. He apparently goes by the street moniker, 3-zzy. (Presumably pronounced three-zy.) According to court records 3-zzy has been a busy young dude when it comes to establishing his creds. He was popped in 2023 for burglary and for being involved in a drive by shooting. In 2024 he was picked up on a firearms charge. All of these, let's say, adventures, were handled through the juvenile court system. 

Well 3-zzy has hit the big time now. Police are saying at least 80 shots were fired at the unlicensed party thrown by what was known as, Crowd Control Entertainment. (Crowd Control's Instagram account has been deleted. There is still a YouTube Channel with 13 subscribers, but it doesn't have any content.) By the time it was over 22 people were either wounded, or injured and one, Avianna Smith-Gray, who like 3-zzy was 18--although, unlike him, she was scheduled to graduate from high school a few days after her death. 3-zzy, who reportedly turned himself in, is now looking at felony murder charges. 

The cops have also picked up 20-year-old, Trinity Brown in connection with the shooting. Currently she is charged with assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm after juvenile adjudication. At age 20 she is also ready for prime time. 

The local media accounts of the mass shooting has shifted. Tales of two masked men entering the campground, then randomly opening fire like crazed terrorists have long disappeared. What seems to have transpired was that halfway through the party a fight between two females broke out in the middle of the crowd. It quickly turned into a brawl between to rival gangs. Because of 3-zzy's arrest we can assume one of them was the North Highland Piru Bloods, but the other remains unidentified.

Thanks to the media's reluctance to name the second gang or even to confirm the North Highland outfit's involvement--other than 3zzy's--the entire disaster night boil down to a simple case of alcohol fueled anarchy among a bunch of young people. A bunch of young people who were packing guns, because, you know, this is America and everyone here can and does. 

The Edmond police were continuing to search the scene at Scissortail Campground yesterday. It is unclear if they found any new evidence, although one news reporter did find a bullet he pointed out to them. The word is more arrests could be made. Hey, 80 rounds are a lot for just two people. Meanwhile, Edmond Mayor, Mark Nash is continuing to tell everyone the shooting isn't representative of his home which has a population of a little over 100,000. The Mayor has yet to comment on why his police department, or the town's park department who oversees Lake Arcadia, didn't have a clue the May 3rd event was taking place beforehand. I mean, let's face it, Crowd Control Entertainment went out of their way to make sure the party wasn't a secret. 

It's unknown if any criminal charges will be filed against Crowd Control Entertainment, or the event's host, DJ Drop It. Right now, it isn't even clear Crowd Control has or had offices. It increasingly feels like it was something thrown together by some pals, one of whom knew Lake Arcadia wasn't patrolled at night by any authorities, at a bar in order to make a quick score.   

Indeed, much remains unknown. One thing we do know for sure, however is the family, loved ones, and friends of Avianna Smith-Gray are mourning her loss. She is gone forever not because she was in some gang, real or imagined or because she was involved in the initial altercation in any way. Her life cut short simply because she was at the wrong place at exactly the wrong time. 

The other thing we know is Mark Nash and the City of Edmond (79% white, 5% black) are going to make sure someone takes the fall for the Lake Arcadia shooting. The tragedy is that their fervor to get justice might not have anything to do with Avianna Smith-Gray, but rather Edmond's precious public image. Which means, when it comes to Jaylan, 3-zzy, Davis and Trinity Brown--to paraphrase the words of a rural Oklahoma Bail Bondman speaking 31 years ago--that boy and girl need lawyers worse than anyone I've ever seen. 

5-15-26  

Breaking Up With Canada, Donald's New Squeeze, More Late Night Tweets, and Old Fashioned Racism

 There is, what appears to be, an increasing number of people on this blue ball, who consider the President of the United States a delusional, somewhat unhinged, old man who has brazen ambitions of becoming a dictator for life. In short, these people, both home and abroad, think the guy is bat shit crazy. In addition, the same people believe he has surrounded himself with people who are as nuts as he is and have the same contempt for the constitution and the concept of democracy as he does. They also are convinced those who steadfastly support the President are devotees to what is known as a, "cult of personality."

Are the people who believe these awful things about Donald Trump and his followers crazy themselves? Are they Communists?

Yesterday, FOX News anchor, John Roberts (As opposed to Chief Justice John Roberts, who recently resurrected the Jim Crow era.) spoke about a phone conversation he had with Donald Trump. Roberts quoted the President as saying, "John, I just want to tell you I'm very serious. So you can talk about this. I'm serious about beginning a process to make Venezuela the 51st state."

Venezuela? Wait, wasn't Canada supposed to be the 51st state? One can only suppose Mr. Trump has grown tired and probably bored with the Canucks constant rejections to his overtures of absorption and has decided to move on. Well, he does seem a fickle sort. Now, apparently, he has decided on someplace new. Someplace that might be more willing to disappear from world maps. Someplace warmer, more suited to year-round golf. Someplace that still has scads of natural resources his family and pals can exploit with few or no consequences. 

But wait. Let's get back to Canada for a moment. It's unclear if the Canadians were aware of this breakup. Apparently, Mr. Trump didn't even have the courtesy to send Canada an email telling them he has found a new squeeze. However, despite the sudden turn of events, Canada seems unphased. So much so, the other day, former U.S. President, Barack Obama was up there speaking at a Canadian think tank gala. After he was done, Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney said in part, "Thank you for joining us in Toronto for important conversations on how we can build a better and more just future--and empower more people to build with us." 

This prompted Trumpista  commentator, Nick Sortor to write, "...Obama needs to sit down and figure out his freaking place before his ass ends up in prison for violating The Logan Act. Trump is our President; you've been sidelined Hussein." For those unfamiliar with it The Logan Act was enacted into law in January 1799.  It basically provides for criminal charges against any American citizen who negotiates with a foreign power without official authorization. You know, like Geworge H.W. Bush did with the Iranians during the 1980 presidential campaign. According to the Federalist Society, The Logan Act has never resulted in a successful prosecution. The Society also said there was, "no evidence," Obama was negotiating anything with the Canadian government.  

That didn't stop the MAGA types from howling like gut shot wolves. Another commentator, David J. Freeman wrote, "Barack Obama belongs in jail. A third, attorney Mike Davis asked, "What's Obama, a subversive Marxist, cooking up in Canada?"

All this MAGA outrage over an Obama speech in Toronto triggered Donald Trump last night. Over a five hour span he bombarded social media with 54 posts that said things like, Obama is, "demonic." Another concluded, "Arrest them all. Prosecute them all. Incarcerate them all for treachery, treason, and seditious conspiracy to overthrow the United States government. But first Barack Obama."

Depending on one's point of view, it can be either less, or even more disturbing that, during all this it didn't seem like Trump gave a rat's ass about Obama's Toronto speech. He was raving about the accusations that Russia interfered with the 2016 election on his behalf. The Irish Star reports that interspersed with the barrage of messages there were, "several videos of black individuals engaged in alleged crimes or improper behavior."          

Yes, it would seem we can add old fashioned racism to the ever-expanding list of Donald Trump's mental conditions. To prove it, on Sunday he called California Ro Khanna, "SLEAZEBAG, a wolf in sheep's clothing, (who) LIES,LIES AND LIES AGAIN." Then, just for good measure referred to him as, "SCUM." Khanna is of East Indian descent. Then Trump claimed House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries has a, "very low IQ" and, "considers the Supreme Court illegitimate and probably hates our country." Jeffries, who is black was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. At last look, Brooklyn is part of the United States which makes the, "our country," Trump wrote about, Jeffries' country too.     

Yes, first Canada, then Greenland, and now Venezuela. Then a Trumpian court who just tossed us back over a century when it comes to voting rights, threats to broadcasters and incarcerations without legal recourse, or even trials. Plus, a new ballroom and, if the bureaucrats get out of the way, an arch so big you'll be able to see it from the fucking International Space station. And both of them will be named after Donald John Trump, who, Evangelical Pastor, Robert Jeffries (No relation to Hakeem.) insists, "...has a better understanding of what the bible teaches than the Pope." 

That's right, all that, unabashed corruption on a scale never seen before, and a war without end, amen. 

You know all those people who think Donald Trump and his die-hard supporters are crazy? They're right. 

5-12-26

Donald Trump vs. Leo XIV: Another Fight the President Can't Win

 Yesterday, the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio sat down to meet with Pope Leo XIV for around two hours. During the meeting, the Secretary gifted the Pope a small crystal American style football bearing the seal of the American State Department. The Pope's feelings about the game are a little murky, although since he is originally from Chicago one would guess, as presumably Rubio did, he is a Chicago Bears fan. Since the State Department doesn't field a team, it remains a mystery why the ball was stamped with its seal. Maybe the Bears' licensing fee was too steep for the department's budget. After all, thanks to recent events, Rubio has been on the road a lot and the cost and availability of jet fuel is at a premium lately.    

The football was a symbolic peace offering as the Secretary was there to try to smooth out the relationship between the Vatican and his boss, American President Donald Trump. Apparently, at some point in the last couple of weeks, as Trump's approval ratings flame out like the Hindenburg, it dawned on someone in the White House, the old man has finally bitten off more than even can chew. 

Not that long ago, as the spiritual leader of a little over 1.4 billion Christians worldwide--somewhere between 50 to 54 million of them in the United States--spoke publicly about his opposition to the war in Iran and in fact all wars. He had urged everyone involved to seek peace, not violence. Donald Trump responded on social media--as always--writing, in part, "Pope Leo is WEAK on crime. and terrible for foreign policy.   I don't want a Pope who thinks it's okay for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.  I don't want a Pope who thinks it's terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States." Then, he added, "Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a politician." Along with all that, Axios reported, Trump claimed Leo had been elected Pope only because he was President and then had gone ballistic when the Pontiff met with former Obama advisor, David Axelrod the week before. 

Then, less than one hour after that message hit the internet, Donald Trump posted the infamous AI generated image of himself as Jesus Christ. He was clothed long flowing robes, healing a sick man in bed as people around him prayed, eagles and jet fighters soared overhead, and a mysterious winged and possibly horned figure charged out of a heavenly light in the background. Later, as it dawned on him the reaction to the image wasn't, let's say, what he had hoped it would be, the post was deleted. It was replaced by another, which depicted Christ personally advising him as he sat at a desk pondering various papers. 

Now, we are getting a clearer look at just how bad the reaction, especially to the first image, was. A recent Washington Post-ABC News-IPSOS poll shows 80% of the people who voted for Trump in 2024 "reacted negatively," to the image. 78% of registered republicans felt the same way. Overall, 87% of Americans rejected his online fantasy artwork.  In addition, 65% of the public, "reacted positively," to Leo's plea for Americans to seek peace. 41% viewed the Pope favorably during his dust up with the President while 19% did not. Axios reported that when asked this question many either declined to answer or claimed they were unfamiliar with the confrontation. 

After deleting the original post, Donald Trump said he simply thought it was a picture of him as a doctor. The comment prompted one wag to say, "If I'm sick and in a hospital and a doctor came in dressed like that, I'm getting out of there as fast as I can." Trump later claimed the image had something to do with the Red Cross, although the Red Cross flag, or symbol isn't seen anywhere in it. All of which just goes to prove, you might be able to claim you are blessed, or anointed by God, but when you start portraying yourself as God, even the trailer park rubes get a tad edgy. 

Of course, not everyone was as appalled as Marjorie Taylor Greene (The picture was, "beyond blasphemy.") White House spiritual advisor, Paula White-Cain was quoted as saying she could never disagree with Donald Trump, "because it would be like disagreeing with God." Vice President J.D. Vance, a convert to Roman Catholicism, warned the Pope to be, "careful when speaking about theology." It is a warning the Vice President himself might do well to heed. 

Today, Rubio is trying to smooth out the diplomatic kinks with Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni. After she criticized Trump's post about Leo XIV, she also took time to be critical of the war in Iran. The President's reaction was what you would expect. Among other things he threatened to pull U.S. troops out of her country, the same as he did when German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz criticized the war.

Unfortunately, and no doubt frustratingly for Donald Trump, he can't do that with Pope Leo XIV. Vatican City doesn't house any American troops for mutual defense. He can't even slap any tariffs on it. You can't tax faith, the Holy See's only export. And it's doubtful, Donald Trump, as nuts as he is, will attempt a forcible, "regime change," in Rome, like he has done, with questionable success, in Venezuela and Iran. Not even a newly minted Catholic theologian like J.D. Vance would stick with him if he did. 

 The simple fact is, all of this came about is because of Donald J. Trump's unhinged narcissism. His only response to those who disagree with him is boorish, brutal, and increasingly deadly buffoonery. He isn't capable of anything else. 

And just think, we elected this mad beast twice. No wonder, to rephrase a movie line, America enjoys the reputation it has today.   

5-8-26 

Sunday Funday Goes Sideways at Lake Arcadia

 As the war that is no longer a war according to some, continues its slow boil in the waters near Iran and in Lebanon, a group of entrepreneurs in Oklahoma City decided to throw a kick-ass party in the suburb of Edmond. An outfit calling itself, Crowd Control Entertainment began promoting the bash, which was scheduled for this past Sunday evening at a Lake Arcadia campground. The featured performer was billed as being, DJ Drop It. The flyers, spread across various social media platforms, promised, "food, drinks, music, and good vibes." The event was named, "Sunday Funday."

In theory you had to be an adult to attend, but no one was checking IDs, so reports are there were scads and scads of underage kids who showed up. In addition, Crowd Control Entertainment didn't reserve the campgrounds, or get a permit to hold the party from the Edmond, OK Parks Department. 

So, Sunday evening, what is described as a, "large number, " of young adults and teen-agers showed up at Lake Arcadia's Scissortail Campground for a party held at night. One being thrown without a permit, and, apparently, without any security. Maybe because, you know, security might put a chill on those, "good vibes." A party where presumably alcohol was being served, or at the very least, being brought in by those in attendance.

Oh, what could possibly go wrong?

Initial reports that still persist say two unidentified men wearing ski masks showed up and began randomly firing weapons. One witness interviewed by the local CBS affiliate didn't mention anyone in ski masks, but said a fight broke out in the crowd which almost immediately turned into a widespread brawl. During the melee, shots were fired, possibly because these days no one has time for a fist fight. As the scene quickly turned into a cross between the gunfight at the OK Corral and the Battle of Los Angeles, people understandably panicked and ran every which direction. By the time it was over 23 were either wounded by bullets, or sustained injuries during the mad rush to get out of there. (When you run wildly into a wooded area at night there is always the distinct possibility of slamming face first into a fucking tree.)

Reports today say seven people remain hospitalized, three of them in critical condition. It's also reported Crowd Control Entertainment--a misnomer if there ever was one--and DJ Drop It have apologized online for the event. Beyond that, neither are responding to media requests for interviews. Who can blame them? At this point the odds seem good name changes and relocations are already in progress for everyone who organized this disaster. If they have any brains at all, they must know that potential litigants are lining up at attorney's offices all across the metro at this very moment.

The Mayor of Edmond, Mark Nash held a news conference during which he reassured citizens and potential residents, Edmond remains one of the most, "desirable," places to live in the state and nation. He added, such crimes hardly ever occur in the OKC burb of a little over 100,000. What he didn't say was that when they do happen in Edmond, the casualties are always staggering. 

40 years ago this summer, postal worker, Patrick Sherrill walked into the Edmond post office. Before he blew his own diseased head off, he killed 14 of his fellow employees and wounded six others. Sherrill's madness, coupled with other postal worker acts of violence led to the invention of the uniquely American phrase, "Going postal."

Mayor Nash went on to tell the media he wouldn't hesitate to take his own family out to Lake Arcadia, but added, "not at midnight." According to the His Honor the lake isn't patrolled at night. It's a policy you might want to re-think, Mr. Mayor. Especially since there was a small number of overnight campers at Scissortail that night who had their peaceful evening by the lake interrupted by Sunday Funday. A couple were among the first to deliver aid to the victims before the police and EMT's arrived. 

The Edmond Police who are handling the mass shooting, hasn't identified any suspects, at least not publicly. Perhaps it is best they don't. There is no telling who is in the wind already because of this nightmare. The entire investigation at this time remains, as they say, ongoing. All we know for sure at moment, is that there were more people out at Lake Arcadia with guns than just those two mysterious masked men. However, that shouldn't surprise anyone. This is America for God's sake. The land of the Free and the home of the well-armed. 

Hey, it's in the Constitution and if you got 'em you might as well use 'em. 

5-5-26

James Comey and the Seashells on the Sea Shore

 Cool shell formation on my beach walk.

The caption to a photo posted by James Comey on social media last year of seashells arraigned into the number 8647.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the term 86 as, "to refuse to serve (a customer)" or to, "get rid of," or, "throw out," someone or something. Apparently, it originated among soda fountain and lunch counter employees back in the 1920's or 30's. One legend, the one I prefer, had it originating during prohibition at a bar called Chumley's in New York City's west village. One of its two entrances was at 86 Bedford Street. When the staff was tipped off about impending police raids, they would, "86 the customers." In other words, rush them out of the joint via the Bedford Street door.

The point here being nowhere in the history, or usage of the term do the words, kill, or assassinate, or harm come up. "Getting rid of," which can be interpreted in any number of ways--86 the milk, it has gone bad--is the closest to anything you can imagine referring to violence. Be that as it may, Donald Trump and some of his cronies, at the time the post showed up, declared it a thinly veiled lethal threat against President number 47, the afore mentioned, Donald J. Trump. In response, Comey deleted the photo while saying he had no idea it could be taken that way and had meant it as a joke. Not long afterward the whole issue dropped off everyone's radar. 

It wasn't the first time 86 has been used by some when referring to a President. ABC News reports that during a 2020 TV interview Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer sat near a small figurine bearing the number, 8645--Trump's first term number. While Joe Biden was President hotshot MAGA commentator, Jack Posobiec sent out a social post which read simply, "8646."No one said a word about threats of violence in either instance.

Ah yes, those were more innocent times. Trump hadn't lost all his marbles yet and Biden, as infirm as he might have been, was actually trying to be a President rather than some mad king fixated on a gilded ballroom no one but him gives a flying fuck about. James Comey's first indictment during the reign of number 47 came when Pam Bondi was running the DOJ. It had nothing to do with messages in the sand. After it was summerly tossed by a federal judge, Bondi seemed to lose interest in Comey altogether. 

Who can blame her?  By then she had become neck deep in that vast swamp known as the Epstein files. Trump got rid of her earlier this year. One of the rumored reasons was he felt she was dragging her feet when it came to pursuing his political enemies with criminal charges. 

Then along came Todd Blanche. He is now the acting Attorney General and head of the DOJ. He is best remembered as once being Trump's personal lawyer. Then later as the Deputy Attorney General who interviewed Ghislaine Maxwell who was at the time in a heavy-duty federal lockup. Maxwell assured Blanche that number 47 wasn't involved in any of Epstein's deviant behavior, then she was, "just coincidentally," moved to a minimum-security facility. She now reportedly receives catered meals and regular visits from puppies so she can play with them.

It is also being reported Todd Blanche really wants to be named Attorney General of the United States, not just acting Attorney General. In his search to find a way to please El Donald the long forgotten 8647 episode must have hit him like a bolt of lightning. His path of suck uppery was clear. Find a federal grand jury in North Carolina--home of the beach with the shells--and indict James Comey. So, he did just that. The indictment includes one charge of, "Threats against the President and successors," and one of, "Transmitting a threat in interstate commerce." ABC reports the prosecutors who parented the case wrote, Comey's deleted post constituted a threat that any, "reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States." 

In a statement the ever-ambitious Blanche said in part, "...you are not allowed to threaten the President of the United States of America. That's not my decision. That's Congress' decision, and a statute that they passed that we charge multiple times a year." 

Oh really? Earlier this year at the C-PAC smoke and mirrors jamboree, Jack Posobiec, of 8646 fame interviewed the acting Attorney General in front of a live audience. The subject of Posobiec's post while Biden was President never came up. Well, one supposes there are threats you don't have to worry about and then there are THREATS that you do.  It just depends on how nuts the boss is. 

And, in Todd Blanche's case, just how badly you want the job.  

4-30-26

Cole Allen's Righteous Duty, Security Questions, and Conspiracy Theories

 We know Cole Thomas Allen is smart. You don't get into, then graduate from the California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech) without having some brains. Allen's initial degree was in engineering, his Masters was in Computer Science. The guy is 31 years old, reportedly designs computer games, and works for a company that specializes in tutoring AP students. Apparently, neither of those jobs pays enough to allow him to have his own space, because until a few days ago he lived with his parents in their Torrence, CA home. 

We also know--at least since Saturday night and Sunday morning--Cole Allen is pretty good when it comes to planning and logistics. Reports are he bought the guns in his possession at least a year ago, if not longer. He stashed them at his parent's place, without their knowledge, and periodically snuck them out to practice with at a gun range. He also avoided security questions by taking trains from LA to Chicago, then to Washington D.C. In addition, he booked a room into the Washington Hilton, prior to White House Correspondents Association Dinner, which featured President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, a number of high-ranking cabinet members and of government officials. Also present at the annual soiree that evening was every big-time media executive and reporter who covers the White House and politics in general. (For those with a taste for coincidence, Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinkley right outside of the same hotel.)

Fortunately for the President, his wife, and God only knows how many others, when it came to tactics, Cole Allen wasn't worth a shit. After all the planning, all the patient preparation, the only thing he could come up with to assassinate, Donald J. Trump and others was a crazed bum-rush through a metal detector and past a perimeter of armed security. It was a move that had all the crafty nuances of a plot hitched by Wile E. Coyote. 

Minutes before he tried to bull his way through security, Cole Allen emailed his family, letting them know what he was going to do and why. In the message he prioritized his hit list, while explaining how he was planning to deal, "nonlethally," with guards who would try to stop him. He apologized to them all for lying to them about the excuses he made up to travel to Wahington. He also apologized to his employer and students. In addition, he accused the President of treason and being a pedophile. In the letter he described the impending attack as his, "righteous duty." When it came to the Christian principle of, "turning the other cheek," he argued it applied only to the one being oppressed, not to someone who sees others being oppressed--proving once again interpretations are completely at the whims and prejudices of the interpreter. He signed off with the moniker, Cole, ColdForce Friendly Federal Assassin, Allen. (As opposed to Stan Lee's Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman.)  

As soon as his brother read the email, he contacted the local police who got in touch with the Secret Service, but by then Cole Allen had already pulled the trigger--a couple of times. One of the shots hit a Secret Service agent square in the chest--so much for that nonlethal stuff--but luckily the man was saved by his body armor.    

Questions about security were immediately posed. The main one being, how did this heavily armed clown check into a hotel that was going to host the President, his wife, and key members of his cabinet and staff without someone taking a look in his luggage? Not to mention how did he get from his room all the way to the main line of security while openly carrying a fucking shotgun? The answer to that question was brutally simple.  He used the stairs rather than the elevators. 

Since this is America, all the guns he brought were legally purchased in CA. And because Americans are a tad delusional, immediately after the attempt, the internet came alive with conspiracy theories. The most common accusation was that Donald Trump and, or his people staged the event in order to revive his tanking approval ratings. As proof at least one cited Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt's pre-shooting statement to FOX News. Describing the President's upcoming speech, she said it would be, "funny and entertaining," then added, "there will be some shots fired in the room tonight." Yeah, and Jack Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln and Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy, so what?  

Late Saturday evening Donald Trump, back at the White House, held a brief press conference. By all accounts, even from outlets which are openly hostile to him, he sounded reasonable, measured, and downright Presidential. By the next morning, however he had recovered from this moment of sanity. In a social media post, he claimed the shooting was the reason that, "military leaders and the heads of all the security agencies," had, "spent years begging to have a grand White House ball room built." You know, like the one he is building.

It didn't take long after that for Trumpista talking heads to blame the assassination attempt on, "democratic hate speech. Their argument apparently being if you criticize the man in any way, it will automatically create a Cole Allen. 

Meanwhile, last week, mere hours prior to the shooting Donald Trump posted this on social media. "The Southern Poverty Law Center has dedicated their existence to attacking my voters in the Klan. (The italics are mine.) That's FRAUD! Therefore the 2020 Presidential Election should be permanently wiped from the books!!!" That's our man Donnie Trump. He is, as God and the rest of us are his witnesses, standing up to defend what he believes is one of his key voter demographics--members of the nation's original organized hate group, the Ku Klux Klan. 

 Which leads us to another Christian principle we might want to interpret. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

4-27-26

Kash Patel, Directing Under the Influence

 Here is what we know for sure about FBI Director, Kash Patel. In 2025 he used government owned jets, presumably at taxpayer expense, on a trip to Scotland to play a round or two of golf with pals. That same year he used the jet on a couple of occasions to fly down to a Texas hunting lodge. In addition, he used it to wing his way to Pennsylvania in order to see his main squeeze, Alexis Wilkins perform. When questioned about the use of the FBI owned and operated aircraft for these exotic excursions Patel's response was something along the lines of, "FBI Directors have lives too." 

In January of this year Patel used the same jet to attend the Olympics in Italy. Specifically, he was there to watch the U.S. men's hockey team win the gold medal. Afterward he showed up in the team's locker room and partied hearty with them--chugging and spraying beer and jumping around as if he had been on the ice with them. There is no denying his behavior in that moment, it is all on tape. Everyone who saw it witnessed the Director of the FBI swilling beer while acting like a 20-something jock gone wild.

Apparently, everything just mentioned is minor shit compared to the real weirdness going on with the head of the FBI. A few days ago, Sarah Fitzpatrick wrote a piece in The Atlantic titled, "The FBI Director is MIA." If you believe her story, it could have been called, "The FBI Director is DUI." 

According to Fitzpatrick's article, among other episodes, there were a number of times last year when meetings that included Patel had to be delayed until later in the day. The reasons were to let him sleep off wild drunken nights or at least semi-recover from massive hangovers. She wrote her sources were, "six current and former officials and others familiar with Patel's schedule..." 

She also reported that last year Patel locked himself into an office and remained unavailable and un-responsive for hours. At least long enough that agents were forced to request, "breaching equipment." You know, the kind of gear SWAT teams use to batter down doors so they can get to hostages, or suspects. Fitzpatrick cited "multiple sources familiar with the request."

Then came April 10th this year. For those not aware, one of the various prizes found at the bottom of vodka bottles, especially for people with high profile jobs is paranoia. On that date, Patel, for unknown reasons, wasn't able to login to an internal DOJ computer system. He immediately panicked. He jumped on the phone, "frantically," calling aides and friends utterly convinced he had been locked out of the system on purpose. He told them all he had just been fired by the White House. It was simply a minor glitch, or repeated typo on his part. The White House hadn't fired him--at least not yet. Two of Fitzpatrick's nine sources described the Director's behavior as, "a freak-out." 

Actually, the Director might have valid reasons to be worried about his job. Kristi Noem has been gone for a while now and yesterday, the Secretary of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer was shown the door. Reports are Chavez-De Remer ran her corner of the bureaucracy similar to the way Ghislaine Maxwell ran Jeffrey Epstein's island. While her husband and father were openly hitting on young female staffers the Secretary was knocking back copious amounts of hooch and telling the staffers to do, "whatever they tell you." It all begs the question, Where did the President find this woman, at Caligula's swimming pool? Well, that and, what in God's name must New Years Eve be like at the Chavez-DeRemer house?  

Let's get back to Kash Patel though. The head of the FBI is now suing The Atlantic and Fitzpatrick for defamation, while demanding boat loads of cash from both. To win his case he will have to prove Fitzpatrick knowingly lied--and The Atlantic knew she was lying--in order to specifically damage him personally and professionally. Prior to the trial the agency will have to provide the defense with any and all records pertaining to the alleged incidents. During it the layers for The Atlantic and Fitzpatrick will be able to call witnesses, put them under oath and ask them some pointed questions about Patel's behavior.  All of which led MSNOW's Lawrence O'Donnell to predict that even if a judge let the suit go to trial--which he doubted--Patel would drop the complaint rather than face damning testimony.  

We'll see. Meanwhile Kash Patel leads a bureau woefully undermanned thanks to his fealty to the Mad King. Career agents and administrators have either quit or been removed because they were deemed dis-loyal. Others have been reassigned to help deport anyone with a Hispanic accent. And a few, if Sarah Fitzpatrick is right, spend a lot of their time trying to shake the agency's director out of drunken stupors. 

 All of which begs a final question. Where the fuck is J. Edgar Hoover when you actually need him?

4-21-26

Paula White-Cain and the Divine Donald

Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Jesus of Nazareth as quoted in Matthew 7:15 (the King James version of the bible)

I am always a tad nervous when I quote the Bible, especially when using it to make a point. First, I'm not a theologian and will never pretend to be one. Second, the Bible says a lot of things and all sorts of people can pick out bits of scripture to justify whatever they want to justify. Basically, because there are so many things written in the Old and New Testaments the Bible can be interpreted to say whatever the reader wants it to say. 

Lately though, Matthew's quote of Jesus' words feels awfully relevant. A little while back, Paula White-Cain told Donald Trump and the nation, "Mr. President, no one has paid the price like you have. It almost cost your life. You were betrayed, arrested, and falsely accused. It is a familiar pattern that our Lord and Savior showed us." 

No doubt this inspired Donald J. Trump to seek even greater ambitions than those he had already proven to have. Indeed, "Screw this king shit, I'm going really big time." That's right, let them have their, no king's day demonstrations. Donald Trump isn't a king, he is the Messiah.  

Shortly afterward White-Cain spoke, Trump posed an AI generated picture of himself as a messianic presence. In it he wore a flowing red and white robe while healing a sick man as those around him prayed, a divine light shone in the background and eagles soared overhead. (Let's face it, the man does have a thing for birds, just ask him about wind driven turbines.) Not long after the post he accused Pope Leo XIV of being weak and a loser. Leo, the first American pope, is the spiritual leader of nearly 1.3 billion Roman Catholics worldwide. That's 48% of all Christians on the planet.

Now that takes balls, or one supposes a new Messiah. A couple of days later, the President seemed to back away from the message that he is Christ when he posted another picture. This one wa of himself seated at a desk while Jesus stands blessing him with his hands. Trump later claimed he thought the original picture was simply him as a doctor healing someone. Vice President J.D. Vance, on the other hand, described the first as a joke and said it was deleted because people didn't understand Trump's sense of humor.

Through all this surreal nonsense and some would say blasphemy, White-Cain has remained publicly silent. Maybe she was too busy sorting all the money she rakes in thanks to her work as a televangelist/internet preacher.  Last spring, on her YouTube channel she promised to deliver followers, "seven supernatural blessings," if they donated to her ministry during Passover. The blessings included God assigning an angel to those who pitched in. The angel would then, among other things, become an enemy to their enemies, give them prosperity, take sickness away, and grant them a long life. A pretty sweet deal, right? But wait, there was more. For $125 you could receive an, "olive wood communion set," made in the Holy Land.  And for a cool $1,000 or more, you would get, "a beautiful 10-inch Waterford crystal cross." 

No wonder this woman is Trump's spiritual advisor. She is his kind of Christian--one who is not only willing to goose his ego to rarified heights but also loves to scam the rubes as much as he does.

White-Cain has been divorced twice--perhaps another spiritual connection--her current husband is Johnathan Cain, best known for being in the rock band Journey. In 1991 she and then husband, Randy White founded what eventually became, Without Walls International Church. In its heyday the church had 20,000 members, making it the 7th largest congregation in the U.S. It eventually went bankrupt, not an easy thing to do since it is reported that between the years 2004 and 2006 alone Without Walls received $150 million in donations.  White-Cain maintains she had left the church before the financial collapse and had nothing to do with it.  

 She is a Christian nationalist as opposed to a white nationalist, claiming to value religion over race. There is evidence of that being true. Black Entertainment Television was one of the venues airing her weekly broadcasts. She was such a hit, Ebony Magaxine once wrote, "You know you are onto something new and significant when the most popular woman preacher on BET is a white woman." 

Hey, no fame, no gain. And no access to the President of the United States. 

Yes, thanks in no small part to Paula White-Cain, it feels like we have come to the point actor Peter O'Toole reached at in the movie, "The Ruling Class." In the film O'Toole plays a mad English nobleman who believes himself to be Jesus Christ. When asked what made him think he was, O'Toole's character responded, "When I realized that every time I prayed to Him, I was talking to myself."

sic vita est

4-16-26

The Artemis II Interlude: A Fleeting Pause in the Chaos

 For a news junkie, Donald Trump and his grotesque posse of clowns, deadly sociopaths, and carnival shills can, at times, cause serious emotional and intellectual overloads. Befuddled hopelessness, dread, and outright rage cause a wide range of visceral and mental disfunction. The synapses in the brain begin to flicker ominously, then finally short circuit. 

This past week even Melania Trump climbed onto the ride. Unexpectedly, apparently even to her husband, she showed up at a press conference to tell everyone she didn't know Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Not only that but she had no idea what they had been doing and she had never broken any laws in her life. She also called for Congress to allow the victims to testify under oath so their personal horror stories could be put in the public record.  

It didn't seem to matter to her that no one in the mainstream media had ever accused her of anything like that. Or, that the nation's entire news industry had shifted its focus to the war in Iran and for the last month plus hadn't talked about Epstein and his co-predator.  Why did she do it now or at all? Was she responding to internet rumors? Was she getting back at her husband for letting Stormy Daniels whack his bare ass with a rolled-up magazine? And more darkly, had Don screwed up the war in Iran so badly, was she was trying to shift attention away from it? In other words, was her presser held to distract from the original distraction? 

It was a scene too weird and inexplicable for a rational mind to process.  When coupled with everything else going on, brains began to shut down--causing some of us to stand and scream, "WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED?"

Thankfully, in the midst of this chaos, on Friday evening we caught a break.  

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon. They were the first human beings to ever step foot on a celestial body that we don't call Earth. For many, like myself--I got my first telescope in 1959--it was an event straight out of science fiction. Suddenly all the things we saw in Stanley Kubrick's film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, which had been released the year before, seemed on the verge of happening. At the time I told friends, with complete certainty, that by the year 2000, the United States would have a permanent presence on the moon. Despite a war in SE Asia going horribly sideways, for a little while the country was euphoric. Other nations actually admired us. No one needed to tell Americans why we should be proud. We all knew exactly why we were.  

A little over three years after Apollo 11 landed on the moon, Apollo 17's crew left it in December 1972. We didn't go back for over a half century.  

The Artemis II crew didn't land on the moon, but they did major prep work for that landing to take place. planned landing will pave the way for the overdue moon base I thought would be there 26 years ago. In addition, the four member team travelled further from this planet than anyone ever has before. When they splashed down in the Pacific Friday, after a nerve jangling six-minute radio blackout, for a brief moment it was 1969 all over again. The cable news networks turned away from all the madness for a wonderful instant and focused on what we could accomplish together rather than what divides us and turns us all, to one degree or another, into raging political beasts hell bent on destroying those we oppose.     

The Artemis II mission wasn't completely without controversy. A few of the perpetually irate and put upon MAGA types complained one of the crew members, Jeremy Hansen, was Canadian. There was also the  ever present conspiracy mongers who claimed, just as they have since Armstrong and Aldrin made the trip, the whole mission was faked. However, these groups were so small and insignificant, hardly anyone noticed them. 

Yes, Artemis II was a success. More importantly it was a success that crossed political boundaries when we needed it the most.  

Tragically, the glory and unity were fleeting. The day after the splashdown, Donald Trump announced he would use U.S. warships to close off the Strait of Hormuz. That would be the same bottle neck of water that he demanded Iran to open up last week. If they didn't, he had bellowed, their, "entire civilization would die."  There are also reports the President now wants the Persian Gulf to be renamed to--you guessed it--The Gulf of Trump. 

Indeed, the chaos and insanity have returned. These days it doesn't take long.

4-12-26

The President of the United States is Insane

 On the Saturday before Easter Day, televangelist, Paula White-Cain told the President, "And Mr. President, no one has paid the price like you have paid the price, it almost cost you your life. You were betrayed and arrested and falsely accused. It's a familiar pattern that our Lord and Savior showed us."

The next day, Easter Sunday, Donald Trump showed us a pattern which wasn't so Christ-like. On the day the Christian faith celebrates the Savior's resurrection--arguably the most important and holiest day of the year--the President of the United States posted on social media, "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell--JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP. " 

Now that's a man who understands when to be completely crude and inappropriate.  I mean let's face it, while no one on earth can truly know, what Jesus would do, it's safe to assume the Good Lord would never say something like that. 

The message from Trump moved former Congresswoman, Marjorie Taylor Greene to write in part, "Everyone in this administration that claims to be a Christian needs to fall to their knees and beg for forgiveness from God and stop worshipping the President and intervene in Trump's madness. I know all of you and him and he has gone insane, and all of you are complicit." Ms. Greene finished the lengthy social media message by writing, "This is not making America great again, this is evil."

That's right. A former U.S. Congresswoman and, a person who actively supported Donald Trump during his three runs for the Oval Office, just called the guy insane and said what he is doing is evil. Not only that, but she also, not too subtlety, told his cabinet they need to invoke the 25th amendment and remove him from office. 

Unfortunately for us all that won't happen. As MSNOW's Lawrence O'Donnell pointed out last night, Donald Trump appointed a cabinet designed explicitly not to pull that particular trigger. This time around he made sure there wasn't anyone there who would ever disagree with him no matter the circumstances. He could say the world is flat and the moon made of Swiss cheese and those sycophants and cowards in his cabinet along with many republicans in Congress, would praise him for his scientific brilliance and insight. his spiritual advisor, White-Cain would say his knowledge is divinely inspired. 

For those who think Greene went over the top in her assessment of Trump's mental state, this morning he posted another message on social media. The opening lines read, "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will."

It doesn't matter if it is a grotesque bluff, or Trumpian bluster taken to its ludicrous extreme. No head of state who says something like that during a time of war can be considered in their right mind. Adolf Hitler might have tried to do it, but for God's sake not even he ever came out and publicly said it. Certainly, no American President has ever said it, or anything remotely like it, even during the heat of our fiercest wars.

Who knows? Maybe the President will go all TACO at the last minute. It wouldn't be the first time. Even if he does though, by writing those words he proved Marjorie Taylor Greene was right on Sunday.

Ladies and gentlemen, it can now be said in all seriousness, without any hyperbole. The President of the United States of America is both clinically and dangerously insane. 

4-7-26

Bye-Bye Bondi and General George, Hello to the Trump Oath

 You can say many things about Donald Trump, but one does have to admit the man certainly knows how to change the subject in a hurry. On Wednesday night--April Fool's Day--the President pre-empted prime time TV across the land to address the nation on the war with Iran. What followed was a rambling, overly repetitive, 19-minute rehash of excuses, promises, lies, and bellicose threats we've all heard before, along with dashes of campaign rhetoric thrown in for good measure. In short, the President delivered a big, semi-coherent, nothing burger.

Then came Thursday morning when he sacked Attorney General Pam Bondi. In a social media message, Trump thanked her for her service, congratulated her on her successes, while telling the world she would be pursuing a new career in the private sector, "to be announced at a later date." What he didn't say was why he canned her. He left that up to media speculation. 

So, speculate the media did. Most concluded it wasn't because of Ms. Bondi's lack of loyalty to the President. No, her firing was because of her failure to execute that loyalty to Donald Trump's satisfaction. Sure, she got rid of everyone in the DOJ who ever investigated Trump, for whatever reason, but she failed to bring the main players in those investigations to trial. Not that she didn't try, but grand juries and judges kept demanding some sort of viable legal reasons and proof of guilt to indict or proceed. You know, reasons other than her boss was pissed off at those people. Unfortunately for her, in every instance she didn't have any. None of that mattered to Donald Trump. He doesn't give a rat's ass about the Constitution, or any of that innocent until proven guilty shit--unless he's the one on trial. By God, he wanted those people in jail, and Pam Bondi wasn't putting them there.

Then of course, there is the elephant in the room. Almost from the moment she was confirmed she began to screw the pooch when it came to the Epstein files. Her trip to the unemployment line probably began as soon as she told the media she had a list of Epstein's, "clients," on her desk. She was just waiting, she said, for the President to let her know what their disposition should be.  Not long after that came the Mrs. O'Leary's cow moment. She told everyone she wouldn't be releasing the files at all because there was nothing in them worth seeing.   

It started a firestorm no one, including Trump, could put out. What followed was an endless parade of delays, confused excuses, and the outright violation of a Congressional statute. All in the name of protecting her boss and his buddies. (Also known as his donors send partners in crime.) 

Now Todd Blanche, the former Deputy AG will take over as Acting Attorney General. He, unlike Bondi, has personally represented Donald Trump in court. He is everything the President wants as an Attorney General and head of the Department of Justice, a man who has been on the Trump payroll for years. He's also the guy who convinced Ghislaine Maxwell to say she never saw Donald Trump do anything inappropriate with Epstein's victims, then paid her off with new, let's say, more comfortable, federal digs.

Meanwhile, back to the war.

Nearly lost in the Bondi hysteria, there was more military news. Yesterday, Secretary of Defense/War, Pete Hegseth fired the U.S. Army's highest-ranking officer, General Randy George. Some sources report Hegseth showed him the door because he wanted someone there who would, "implement President Trump and the Secretary's vision for the army." Other sources noted General George had served as senior military advisor to Joe Biden's Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin. Having done so, he was suspected of not being a Hegseth loyalist. 

The truth is it's likely that both observations are correct. It could also be the General either dissented or at least seemed reluctant when it came to initiating the war in Iran. Or, more darkly, what Trump and Hegseth are planning to do with ground troops there in the near future. 

In any event, some might say firing the Army's Chief of Staff during the middle of a war that the Commander in Chief says we are winning, "like no one has ever seen before," does feel a tad suspicious, if not downright contradictory.  Politico notes that since Hegseth has taken over the Pentagon more than a dozen senior military officers have been purged. That includes former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair, C.Q. Brown, Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, and Air Force Chief of Staff, General James Slife. That's a lot of career military people who wouldn't "implement," Trump and Hegseth's "vision," for the armed forces of the United States. 

It's probably that damned Constitution again. The fucking thing just keeps getting in the way of everything. 

Obviously, the next step is for the President to compose and administer a new federal oath--a Trumpian version of pre-WWII Germany's Hitler oath. After all, at least in his dementia infested mind, Donald John Trump is the country and the country is Trump. 

Hey, just ask him.

4-3-26

No Kings III Hits the Streets and CPAC 2026 Hits the Rocks

 Before the latest No Kings Day protests some giddy optimists were predicting as many as 13 million Americans would take to the streets to protest Donald Trump's policies. That didn't happen, although current estimates are over eight million souls took to the streets from sea to shining sea. Of course, all estimates, rather like all historical events are in the eye of beholder, not to mention the promoter. 

For instance, there was Sean Spicer's declaration that the crowd at Trump's first inauguration was the largest in the history of presidential inaugurations. He said that even though everyone with a brain and eyes could see it wasn't. In fact, Spicer's claim was such obvious bullshit it caused another Presidential advisor, Kellyanne Conway to invent the term, "alternative facts," to explain it.

One needs to look no further than at the No Kings Day III demonstration in Oklahoma City to see how wildly, "estimates," can vary. The daily newspaper, The Oklahoman, reported the crowd to be in the, "hundreds." KGOU, an NPR outlet, said it was in the, "thousands." The Oklahoma City Free Press quoted organizers when it said 8,000 people showed up in downtown. At the same time, the outlet, Oklahoma Voice reported that the crowd was, "over 1,000." 

While the exact sizes of various No Kings crowds might be debatable, no one will argue the participants weren't unified in their desire to oppose Donald Trump and the crude toadies he has hired to praise and abet him. On the other hand, this weekend's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) seemed at times a tad rocky and let's say confusing. 

This year's get together was held in Grapevine, TX which is a smallish town nearly lost in a vast concrete tangle of freeways and toll roads north of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The conference, which is part pep rally, part candidate platform, and part overpriced MAGA souvenir extravaganza had its first awkward moment early on. Organizer, Matt Schlapp stood before the crowd and asked them if they wanted the President to face impeachment hearings. They responded with cheers. 

Oops. 

Schlapp, assuming he had been misunderstood, asked the question again. Although the response was weaker, to his horror, there were still cheers. It was a moment so stunning it moved him to briefly lecture attendees on how wrong they were. Later when he implored them to boo Joe Biden's name, he was met with what is being described as an uneasy silence. 

And some of us actually thought Trump was too busy playing golf to show up. It now looks like the dirty old man realized too many people were onto his grift and didn't want to face his marks.  

Yes, cracks in the MAGA wall are beginning to show. The war in Iran is a stress point. It appears a lot of people who actually believed in that isolationist, America First stuff now thinks Trump betrayed them. After all he told them he'd fix the economy and not get us involved in any prolonged wars. He hasn't done either. They know now Donald Trump flat out lied to them and more than one said they could no longer support him. 

The feeling runs deep enough, conservative activist, Brandon Straka spoke to the gathering about the dangers of, "leader worship." According to Straka, "patriotism should not mean unquestioning praise for the President." He also condemned MAGA types for trying to impose "ideological purity tests," on republican candidates. Such heresy was unimageable at CPAC even a year ago.

While democrats might celebrate what happed nationwide and in Grapevine this past weekend, they should not count on any mass defections out of the GOP. That isn't going to happen. Let's face the truth, the only people CPAC attendees hate more than each other are liberals.  The annual CPAC presidential preference straw poll held at the end of the festivities proved it. Despite all the Trump-2028 merchandise being hawked in the bizarre bazaar--including red sequined leather jackets--J.D. Vance was the conference's choice to be the 2028 candidate. The Vice President won 53% of the vote while Secretary of State Marco Rubio got 35%. Both Don Jr. and Ron DeSantis received 2%. 

It is a long, long way to 2028, but the 2026 primary season is, in some cases, already upon us. No one can know for sure, but all the indications are Mr. Trump and his GOP are in deep trouble. The people at CPAC could feel it this weekend and so could those crowds on the streets at over 3,000 different locations. Trump knows it too. It is why he is howling to get his voter restriction bill in place. He isn't the brightest bulb in the chandelier, but he understands it is easier to stop everyone from voting beforehand than it is to prove millions of votes cast and counted are fraudulent. He learned that lesson the hard way in 2020. (Or maybe not, given Tulsi Gabbard's last trip to Atlanta.)

That's right, democrats go ahead and celebrate the weekend to your heart's content. Just keep in mind one fact. There might have been eight million people demonstrating against Donald Trump and his policies on Saturday. But even if each and every one of them there was a registered voter, that still leaves over 170 million voters who weren't. 

3-30-26

A Firm Grip on Insanity

 So I'm tying homeland security into voter identifications with pictures and proof of citizenship to in order to vote. Don't worry about Easter, going home. Make this one for Jesus, ok?

Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, speaking about his proposed bill to restrict voting. 

Actually Mr. Trump was asking congress to do it for him but given the season and his delusions of divine approval he, no doubt, considers his name and that of Jesus Christ to be sort of interchangeable. Let's face it, the world hasn't seen a man this powerful holding such a firm grip on insanity since Herr Hitler and Comrade Stalin roamed the planet. Before Donald Trump, the nation's craziest President was Richard M. Nixon. However, compared to Trump, Nixon was a two-bit shoplifter with only a hint of paranoia and penis envy.  

Tragically for the republic, it looks like Trump's growing instability and mental deterioration is contagious. 

Sunday, on FOX News, South Carolina Senator Lindsy Graham was asked about a grim prediction in Atlantic Magazine that speculated the war with Iran could turn into a prolonged war of attrition. Graham told the interviewer that the President should go all in by capturing Kharg Island. It's located 20 miles offshore from Iran's mainland and is where almost all of the nation's oil processing is based. Graham claimed if we seized it the Iranian regime would then quickly die on the vine.  Finally, he added, "I trust the Marines, not that guy. I trust the DOD. We've got two Marine expeditionary area units sailing to this island. We did Iwo Jima, we can do this. The Marines, my money's always on the Marines."

For those who, like Senator Graham, are unfamiliar with history, it took the Marines and United States Navy a little over a month to, "do," Iwo Jima. By the time it was over the Marines had suffered nearly 7,000 dead and right at 20,000 wounded. In addition, another 2,600 plus were so traumatized by the intensity of the fighting they were diagnosed with what was then called, combat fatigue. The island ended up being the only place in the WWII Pacific Theater where American casualties outnumbered Japanese casualties.  

It would appear the Senator is a tad fuzzy about the phrase, "war of attrition."

However, let's get back to our man in the White House, Donald Trump. After the death of former FBI Director, Robert Mueller, Brother Don wrote on social media, "Robert Mueller just died. Good, I'm glad he's dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people! President DONALD J. TRUMP." 

Mueller, served in those Marines that Lindsey Graham trusts during the Vietnam War. He was awarded a Bronze Star for heroism and a Purple Heart for being wounded during combat. He also served in the administrations of both Presidents Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. All of which probably irritated the shit out of Donald Trump. What really tripped his trigger though was that Mueller was the special investigator looking into possible Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election that Trump won. 

Trump's post was described as, "disgusting and despicable," by more than a few. Vice President J.D. Vance on the other hand had very little to say about it. Vance was the guy who told the media employers should fire anyone who made jokes about Charlie Kirk after he was killed. He applauded the suspension of late night TV host, Jimmy Kimmel after he said something questionable about Kirk. 

Unlike Vance, Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent had plenty to say. On "Meet the Press," Bessent told Kristen Welker, "Neither one of us can understand what has been done to the President and his family. Given what has been done to President Trump and his family, it is impossible for either of us to understand what he's been through. We should have empathy for what's been done to the President and his family." 

Later, the Secretary described Trump's reaction when FBI agents searched Mar a Lago for documents taken by Trump after his first term ended. He told Welker they watched a security video of the agents rummaging through Melania Trump's wardrobe. The obvious hint was Trump was traumatized and enraged by the search. Maybe so, but Bessent's knowledge of history is about as astute as Lindsey Graham's. While Robert Mueller investigated Russian collusion in the 2016 election, he had nothing to do with that Mar a Lago search warrant. The special investigator on the documents case was Jack Smith. 

See. The insanity is contagious. Well, either that, or a job requirement to work for this President. 

The other day, when the Prime Minister of Japan said something about not being consulted before the Iran war began, the President told her, "The Japanese know plenty about surprises," then brought up the attack on Pearl Harbor. At this point maybe we should just be thankful he didn't start talking to her about Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Or maybe Iwo Jima. 

Oh wait--he left that to Lindsey Graham.

Yes, from top to bottom and front to back, a really firm grip. 

3-24-26

Markwayne Mullin is In, but the Polls Say a Train is Headed Straight at Trump

 The day before yesterday during Markwayne Mullin's Senate hearing meeting, there was a moment when it looked more than possible the Oklahoma Senator would come over the table at fellow republican Senator, Rand Paul. Paul, from Kentucky, chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee which was charged with clearing Mullin's nomination to head the Department of Homeland Security for a vote on the Senate floor. In other words, if the Oklahoma Senator couldn't get the approval of the committee his nomination as Secretary of the DHS was a dead duck. 

Saying there is bad blood between the two Senators is a bit of an understatement. It's like saying Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton had a slight disagreement. (For those unfamiliar with American history, or the musical, Burr killed Hamilton during a duel.) In the past Mr. Mullin has publicly called Senator Paul a, "freaking snake." He also once said he understood why Paul's neighbor physically attacked him. Something which Mullin reminded Paul of during the hearing. "I didn't say I approved of the attack, Senator. I said I understood it." It was at that moment the odds of Mullin going all Terminator seemed highest. 

Mullin maintained control, however barely, as Paul and democrats peppered him with accusatory questions like, "Senator, you do know dueling has been outlawed for over 175 years, don't you?" Some questioned a top-secret flight into Afghanistan Mullin claims to have taken. According to the plumber turned Senator it is where he learned what war smells like. Democratic Senator Gary Peters told the nominee he had checked with all the national security agencies and none of their reports mentioned Mullin's name in connection to a trip smelling of war, or anything else. "I don't know how that reconciles, " Peters said. 

Mullin did admit to, "misspeaking," after DHS officers shot and killed Alex Pretti on a Minneapolis street--the Senator initially called Pretti a domestic terrorist. However, he refused to apologize to Pretti's family just like he refused to apologize to Paul. He also told the committee that under his command DHS agents would be required to obtain judicial warrants before kicking in the doors of suspected illegal immigrants. Democrats noted that while his promise seemed sincere, he still had to get it approved by Trump and his version of Lavrentiy Beria, Stephen Miller. Their doubt was such they said they wouldn't believe it until it was enacted into a law passed by Congress. 

At one point, Mullin explained that his reason for calling Rand Paul a, "snake," was Paul's occasional habit of voting with democrats on issues republicans had endorsed. The statement took an ironic turn yesterday when the committee voted 8-7 to advance his nomination. Paul, who apparently like Mullin isn't much for all the forgive and forget stuff, voted against his confirmation. Normally that would have doomed the nomination. However, his vote was offset by Pennsylvania democratic Senator John Fetterman's. Despite Mullin's lack of immigration, or law enforcement experience--despite his lack of administrative expertise, well, other than running his dad's plumbing company, and despite his lack of a four-year college degree and his taste for physical violence--Fetterman voted to advance the nomination to the Senate floor. 

Explaining his vote, Fetterman cited his, "constructive working relationship," with Mullin. (Hey, who knows? Maybe the gentleman from Pennsylvania owns a heating and air business on the side.)

Now the nomination is headed to the floor where it will almost certainly pass. Or rather it will take a miracle not to pass. It doesn't matter if Markwayne Mullin is, as one democrat described, "uniquely unqualified," for the job. For reasons that are increasingly hard to explain, when it comes to republicans, whatever Donald Trump wants, Donald Trump gets.

Which brings us to the latest round of polls. Something called, List Wire compiled different poll numbers and published the results online yesterday. Overall, they found the President's overall approval rating running somewhere between 40% and 44%. Then they ran a state-by-state list. Some results were as we'd expect, others, not so much. 

In Mullin's Oklahoma Trump's approval rating is 57%. In Fetterman's Pennsylvania it's 39%. In Idaho the President's approval rating is 55%, but in Hawaii it is a mere 18%. Where it gets interesting though is in the south. The presidential approval rating in Alabama is 52%. In Arkansas 55% and in Tennessee 51% In Louisiana however he dips to 49%. In Mississippi he has dropped to 48%. Then in Georgia the approval rating is down to 38% and in Florida 44%. In North Carolina it's 43% and Texas 44%. Hell's bells, he's even under water in South Carolina with a 47% approval rating. Ronald Reagan this guy ain't. 

No wonder Donald Trump doesn't want anyone to be able to vote this year. He's getting his ass kicked and he won't even be on the ballot.  

All of which drags us to the next question.  Why is everyone in the republican party still scared of this gruesome old caricature of corruption? Why are they willing to confirm a Secretary of Homeland Security who has the very real potential of being more brutally violent and incompetent than the last one? one who is quite capable of showing up on the Senate floor with cane in hand, ready to beat the living shit out of anyone who says something critical about him? 

For God's sake, they all can't be in the Epstein file, can they? 

 Obviously, members of the U.S. Senate and House don't see the train that is coming straight at them. After over ten years of chaos, cons, bald faced lies, run amok ego, and unwarranted braggadocio the American public is turning on Donald Trump. 

And when he finally does go down, so will everyone who stood with him. You can make book on it in all those prediction markets.

3-20-26

We Don't Need Help, So Why Aren't You Helping?

 Help me if you can, I'm feeling down. And I do appreciate you being 'round. Help me get my feet back on the ground. Won't you please, please help me?

Paul McCartney and John Lennon

Bullies and tough guys have an inherent problem. It's called arrogance. A scant few months ago, Donald J. Trump was asked by an interviewer, if there were any limits to his global power. His response was, "Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It's the only thing that can stop me." Then he added, "I don't need international law." Finally, there was the inevitable lie. "I'm not looking to hurt people." 

That's right baby. Help? We don't need no stinking help.

Of course, many immediately saw the problems with Trump's original statement to the reporter from the New York Times. The man who said he was only limited by his own morality has never had any morality. Rapists and those who commit felony fraud don't. Plus, the limits imposed by his mind are few and far between since he lost his around the same time he lost the 2020 election. The whole, "I don't need international law," thing was a given. He's never needed domestic law, why would he worry about international ones. 

Then came the war with, Iran, (It's still unclear if the Israelis jumped in with us, or we jumped in with them.) and a 24-mile-wide waterway called the Strait of Hormuz became more important than his wandering mind ever dreamed.  According to Wikipedia, in 2018 more than 21 million barrels of oil per day passed through the strait. It is unknown how many barrels are making it through at the moment, but it's fairly easy to guess the number is a lot closer to zero than it is 21 million. It doesn't matter that the vast majority of it is headed to Asia, turning off the oil faucet to anywhere screws petroleum prices everywhere. 

When the U.S. and Israel struck a little over two weeks ago, the President appeared to think the violence would end quickly and shipping through the strait would proceed as usual. The whole strategy seemed to be kill the Ayatollah, the people would immediately rise up, the army, including the Revolutionary Guard would roll over, then Donald Trump would install a new leader who would do whatever he wanted. In other words, wham, bam, thank you Iran. 

Yeah, well that didn't happen. 

A few days after the 86-year-old Ayatollah Khamenei was offed, Iran replaced him with a 56-year-old Ayatollah Khamenei. Any uprising was small and immediately snuffed out. And, while the Iranian navy and air force are gone, or in hiding, the Revolutionary Guard and army are still intact and fighting with whatever they have left. As a result, almost all shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has stopped. Donald Trump can tell those shipping companies and crews to grow some balls and make the trip through all he wants, but the corporations and crews know it's their asses on the line, not his. 

It's reported Trump and his advisors didn't think the Iranians would close the strait. Trump denies it, of course, because he is incapable of admitting he made a mistake. However, if they did think that Trump and his staff just proved themselves the worst strategic planners since Herr Hitler decided it would be a good idea to invade the Soviet Union. Since the Iranians don't have nukes, their only option is to choke off the shipping through the strait. It is the only route to survival the newly minted Ayatollah and the military leaders have. They must create enough economic chaos throughout the world to force Donald and Bibi Netanyahu to hit the exit button. 

Suddenly, with gas prices at home rising and the cost of practically everything else soon to follow, it has downed on Donald Trump he needs help winding up this war. He told the media, "We're always there for NATO. We're helping them with Ukraine. Doesn't affect us, but we've helped them. It'd be interesting to see what country wouldn't help us with a very small endeavor, which is just keeping the strait open." 

In order to solicit that help, Trump, never the diplomat, told The Financial Times on Sunday, "If there's no response (to his demand for assistance) or if it's a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO." Ah yes, nothing like strongarm threats to grease the wheels of cooperation. He also told the publication China, Japan, and South Korea should send warships to the strait, conveniently ignoring two of those three nations have to contend with a wildly unpredictable North Korea on a daily basis. 

The international response to the President's bellicose, yet whiney demands so far has pretty much been, "You started this war on your own, Donnie, now you fucking finish it on your own." 

Earlier today the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent announced his resignation on social media. In part he wrote, " I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear we have started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby." 

While Kent blames the Jews and others blame Trump for taking the whole Epstein distraction act too far, it is clear the final responsibility for this war rests entirely with the President of the United States. His unbridled arrogance and strategic incompetence have brought us to the brink of a ground war in the middle east. You know, the exact place he once promised us all we would never be if he was elected President. 

Not to mention that for a guy, "not looking to hurt people," he's sure doing a lousy job of it. 

3-17-26

A New Core Slogan for Donald Trump's War

 In George Orwell's novel, "1984," the ruling party of the superstate, Oceania has three core slogans. The first is, "Freedom is slavery. " The second reads, "Ignorance is strength. The third and my personal favorite is, "War is peace." The leader of the party and therefore the country is a guy known only as, "Big Brother." Unlike Donald Trump, it is unclear if Big Brother really exists, might have existed at one time, or is simply a fictional persona manufactured by the same people who came up with the whole, "Freedom is slavery," thing. 

For those out there about to accuse me of having, "Trump Derangement Syndrome--which I deny, although I do like to think of myself as a carrier--no, I'm not saying we are at the point, "Ignorance is strength," yet. However, it does feel like we are coming uncomfortably close to that terrible and irreversible moment.

On Monday, one of Donald Trump's worker bees, GOP Congressman Andy Ogles wrote on social media, "Muslims don't belong in American society." While utterly vile, we've come to expect this sort of Islamophobic bullshit from republican congressmen representing Tennessee--"Greenest state in the land of the free," according to the lyric. Then, Ogles added another brief sentence. He posted, "Pluralism is a lie." That's the ticket Congressman. It is a proto-Big Brother proclamation if there ever was one. 

Yesterday, as oil prices continued to rise and his poll numbers floundered like the Titanic after the iceberg was struck, Donald Trump posted this: "The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the world, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money." (The italics are mine, everything else is his.)

It isn't, "War is Peace," but it is, in Trump's own roundabout way, "War means more wealth."

Luckily, not everyone has bought into the, "Ignorance is strength," deal yet and many recognize Trump's we, isn't us. 

We aren't the independent truckers, or truck companies hauling products across the country. We aren't the police and fire departments from coast to coast. The President's we certainly aren't cab and rideshare drivers, the delivery drivers or just people who have to fill up their cars once, or twice a week. And his we aren't the farmers who are going to have to pay more to get their crops planted, fertilized, harvested, and shipped to markets.   

In fact, when it comes down to it, Donald Trump's we are the precious few who own the oil-based energy industry. The rest of us are going to financially take the cost of this war in the ass. 

Trump seemed to immediately realize his post might have been, as Lawrence O'Donnell put it, "The stupidest thing ever said by an American President." His mantra, which is being parroted by scores of his toadies on TV, quickly turned into the phrase, "Short term pain, for long term gain." The problem being he still won't or can't adequately explain to us just exactly what the fuck it is we're gaining.

Freedom from Iran's nukes? Freedom from their ballistic missile threat? Neither of which actually exist yet. Is it freedom from radical Islamic theology? Is it freedom from foreign oil dependency? Or, is the real aim here total American control of Iran's oil industry? You know, get someone in power who will do exactly what Donald Trump wants him, or her to do, like in Venezuela. 

These and other questions caused one talking to head to say, "This isn't a war of choice. The word choice indicates there is some plan in place. This is a war of whim."

Meanwhile, in a press conference earlier today, Secretary of Defense/War, Pete Hegseth announced the deaths of at least four more service members--and possibly another two--when their tanker plane went down in Iraq. He also criticized the media for reporting the war was, "intensifying." Mere moments later he told the same crowd, "We will be intensifying our attacks," (to further cripple Iran's capabilities.) 

That's what I like about this administration, there is confusion and incompetence from top to bottom. Maybe while we wait until that awful time when, war becomes peace, Donald J. Trump's core slogan can be one some of us remember well. 

It is "What, me worry?"

3-13-26

Donald Trump's War and the Plot of a Movie

 The last time a President of the United States demanded and got an unconditional surrender from anybody was in August, 1945. His name was Harry S. Truman. The only way he got it was to drop nuclear weapons on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki--although the Russians have always insisted their belated declaration of war against Japan was a big part of it also. Since we know the Russians aren't going to declare war on Iran, in fact there is evidence they are now helping the Iranians identify American targets, it pretty much limits President Donald Trump's options to force Iran into complete capitulation. 

All of which makes his recent ultimatum to Iran seem a tad empty. Trump himself apparently realized it and shortly after he told the world the war in Iran would only end when they unconditionally surrendered, he turned around, saying the war would be over soon. Of course, then he sort of reversed field again by saying we needed to be ready for a prolonged conflict--or something to that effect. Apparently, Trump's demands and war timeline estimates depends on his audience. 

Add that to the ever-shifting excuses of why the United States began bombing along with the Israelis in the first place and it becomes fair to ask, Does anyone, except the pros conducting the strikes, actually know what the fuck they are doing?

From here it certainly doesn't look like they do. Not Rubio, not Hegseth, not Vance, and especially not Donald J. Trump. 

It has, or rather is, becoming painfully apparent Mr. Trump, flushed with his success in Venezuela, actually thought by killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei--even Big Don knew U.S. Special Forces wouldn't be able to kidnap him like they did Nicolas Maduro--the Iranians would just roll over. His hubris was such that at one point after the hit, the President demanded he have a say in the picking of a new Iranian Supreme Leader. 

The Iranians immediately said screw that, then named the Ayatollah's son, Mojtaba Khamenei the new Supreme Leader. He is reportedly 30 years younger than his late father and just as bat shit crazy. In many ways perhaps even more so. Trump declared the choice, "unacceptable," then seemed befuddled as the Iranians attacked nearly everyone in the region and fuel prices worldwide soared. 

According to the President rising fuel prices are, "a small price to pay." Which immediately begs another question. How would he know? Donald Trump doesn't buy gas. In all reality he has probably never pumped a gallon of it himself in the 79 years he has been on this planet.  That response was at least not as cold as the one he offered to the growing numbers of American families who have lost a loved one in the war. It was along the lines of, "it's war, it happens." Actually, Trump's Secretary of Defense/War, Pete Hegseth wins the prize for coldest. In a press conference he told the media they were putting the names of America's war dead in the headlines, just to make President Trump, "look bad." 

That count has now risen to seven, although it pales in comparison to the estimated 175 young Iranian girls who were killed when an American Tomahawk missile hit their school building by mistake. (Trump still claims it was an Iranian missile. He also told the press a lot of countries have Tomahawks--a complete lie.)

Of course, the President also told the world, Iran's nuclear aspirations had been, "obliterated," months ago by American bombers. That was another case of grotesque oversell the administration has had to back away from these days. Even though they still won't come right out and admit Donald Trump was either mistaken when he said it, or lying outright. Doing something like that makes for a quick trip out the door and onto a list none of them wants to be on.  

To sum up then. We don't know for sure why Donald Trump started this war when he did. We also don't know what he is ultimately trying to accomplish by waging it. Third, we don't have any idea what will replace the current regime in Iran if it does fall. And finally, it looks as if Donald Trump and his band of sycophants, don't have a clue about any of it either.  

In fact, it is all so out of skew it has become weirdly reminiscent of a movie released in 1997 titled, "Wag the Dog." It featured Robert DiNiro, Dustin Hoffman, and Anne Heche among others.  It is a wildly surreal satire. The IMDb plot summary reads, "Shortly before an election, a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer join efforts to fabricate a war in order to cover up a Presidential sex scandal." 

Oops, maybe not so wildly surreal.

 And maybe not so much satire. Right now, that plotline makes as much sense as anything this administration has told us so far about the war with Iran. Or worse--it might make even more sense.   

3-10-26

Kristi Noem Falls and Markwayne Mullin, the Plumber Cometh

Yesterday there were some reports that the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem honestly didn't know she was going to be fired by President Donald Trump. If they are true, Ms. Noem just proved herself just as stupid as she was cruel and corrupt. The rumor she would be cut loose had been in the mill for several weeks. Even if she didn't believe them, she should have figured it out after Senators, Thom Tillis and John Kennedy, both republicans, ripped into her during a hearing earlier this week. Tillis, even raked her over the coals for shooting her dog years ago--an ugly story that probably got her the job in the first place. Hell, one can almost hear Stephen Miller telling Trump, "She shot her own fucking dog, Mr. President, just think what she will do to immigrants."

In reality it wasn't her ICE, "surges," in places like LA, Chicago, and even the deadly invasion of Minneapolis, although that particular display of brute sadism was a major PR disaster. It wasn't even her ignoring court orders left and right. No, what finally got Kristi Noem appears to be, first, her failure to build all those ICE prison camps Miller wants. Second, the multimillion dollar ad campaign which not only promoted herself but made a few close friends scads of cash. Unfortunately, the former secretary just learned that sort of blatant, ego stroking, corruption is still reserved for the President and the President alone.  Then third, there is that private jet her department bought. It's outfitted with luxury accommodations so posh even Jeffrey-by God-Epstein would be jealous. When Ms. Noem insisted the jet would be used to deport illegal immigrants, one wag noted, "Well I suppose some of them could sit at the bar."

Mere minutes after he canned Noem, Donald Trump appointed Oklahoma's junior Senator, Markwayne Mullin to the job. He is currently the only U.S. Senator without a four-year college degree. He dropped out of a Missouri college in order to take over his dad's plumbing business. He does, however, hold an associate's degree in construction technology from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Or as it's known to old timers, Okmulgee Tech.

One supposes an associate's degree in construction technology could be of some help when it comes to building those camps or even finishing off Trump's long forgotten border wall. However, the appointment does not address the main reason for Noem's failure to come through on the camp building. From sea to shining sea communities all across the republic have been refusing to sell her the land, or old warehouse spaces to build them. Indeed, Noem's tactics--while apparently fine with Miller--has flipped public opinion to the point no one wants to be associated in any way with the administration's final solution to the immigrant question.

Mullin doesn't have any practical experience in immigration matters, or Emergency Management, and he doesn't have any history in law enforcement. His main claim to fame during his short stay in the Senate was challenging Teamster's head, Sean O'Brien to fist fight during a committee hearing. After O'Brien accepted, Mullin rose from his seat and told the union leader to, "Get your butt up." Vermont's Bernie Saunders told him to sit down and admonished him by saying, "You're a United States Senator for God's sake." 

No one is sure what the outcome of the fight would have been, but the odds probably favored Mullin. He is a former high school wrestling star--the pride of Stillwell High's wrestling room--who had briefly dabbled in Mixed Martial Arts fighting.  

Who knows? Maybe it was the confrontation with O'Brien that convinced Miller, Mullin was the man for the job.  Well, that and the fact the Jr. Senator from Oklahoma is a MAGA savant with a taste for violence and excuses. After an ICE agent shot at Renee Good multiple times, killing her as she tried to get away from him, Mullin explained to the media, once law enforcement officials draw their weapons, "They never shoot just once." How he learned this is unclear. Perhaps he is a student of intense police dramas like, Sylvester Stallone's, "Judge Dredd."  

Mullin now has to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. His first stop there will be a committee chaired by Kentucky's Rand Paul, a man the Secretary Designate recently described as a, "snake." 

Of course, diplomacy is not part of Homeland Security's job, so it sounds like Mullin will fit right in. Some have speculated Trump picked Markwayne Mullin because while he will be just as savage as Noem when it comes to immigrants, he is less prone to self-promotion and torrid romantic affairs with federal employees. As one analyst put it yesterday, the hiring of Mullin to head Homeland Security is like, "Hiring an arsonist to enter a burning building." 

As for Kristi Noem? Yesterday, Donald Trump named her as, "The Special Envoy for the Sheild of the Americas." It is a title made up just for her. (One observer said, "Trump probably thought of it right after he saw the last, "Avengers," movie.") It is being reported the position was created in order to provide Noem with a salary and government benefits, guaranteeing she won't run out to sell a tell-all book about her time in the administration. 

Yes, rest easy America. Kristi Noem is gone. Your national security and federal emergency assistance has now been entrusted to former House Representative, Senator, and CEO of Mullin Plumbing--Oklahoma's own, Markwayne Mullin. 

Sleep well tonight.

3-6-26