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 

Making a Killing on All the Killing

 When Donald Trump showed up on TV early Saturday morning to announce the United States and Israel had gone to war against Iran. Most were shocked. One presumes especially in Iran where the bombs were already raining down. Members of congress, those precious few who still believe in the U.S. Constitution were quick to point out the President, on paper anyway, has to have congressional approval before he, or she, can start a, "war," with anyone, anywhere. Apparently, these poor idealistic souls still don't realize Donald trump doesn't give a flying fuck what the Constitution says. He's never even read the thing for God's sake.      

Others with a more conspiratorial bent found the timing a tad suspicious. It came just hours after Hillary and Bill Clinton were grilled by a Congressional committee about their connections to Jeffrey Epstein. When the committee came up with zilch, the calls for Donald Trump to also be deposed under oath about his involvement in the ugly affair reached a fever pitch. Then, suddenly, all hell broke loose in the skies over Tehran. Was it a mere coincidence, or another deadly Trump distraction taken to the extreme?

While not totally dismissing paranoia--in certain towns the next guy kicking in your door probably does work for Kristi Noem--the attack on Iran looks to have been in the planning stages for a while. In all likelihood the trip wire was hit when the negotiations with the Iranians ended in Geneva, not by the Clintons walking away clean in some snowy New York village. In fact, the very presence of the Israelis guarantees intricate planning. Unlike the U.S. they don't go charging into these things like a wild eyed, brashly overconfident, George Armstrong Custer. They simply can't afford to. 

However, despite the surprise and the secrecy involved ((another Israeli necessity) there are now indications there were few people out there who absolutely knew the attack was coming. We aren't talking about astute political analysts, or even psychic mystics and prophets. We are talking about high rolling gamblers of unknown origin.

For those out there who aren't up with the world of online wagering, there are sites out there like, Kalshi and Polymarket which are somewhat euphemistically called, "prediction markets." In other words, you establish an anonymous account with them, then bet a large sum of money that something--anything really--will happen, be it bad, or good. The odds depend on how outlandish the prediction is determined to be. They payoff, like, the wager, is made to that anonymous account. 

The Independent reports the first hint that a high-level fix might be in on some bets came in January of this year. According to the story, that month, an individual with a, "fairly new," account bet $36,000 that Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro would be ousted. Literally a few hours later, Trump sent in the troops and wham bam, Maduro and his wife were sitting in a a New York detention center. The payoff was $436,000. 

It was, perhaps a test run for what was to happen this past weekend. 

Prior to Trump's surprise announcement of war with Iran, The Independent claims, Kalshi received $36 million in bets, "related to whether or not there would be a regime change in Iran." In the hours leading up to the attacks, Polymarket booked $31 million in bets that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei wouldn't be in power after March 31st this year.  

That's right. There are a select few who just made a killing on all the killing. 

It's unknown who operates these sites, or whether they will honor the contracts (the wagers are technically contracts) or, given the circumstances, declare the transactions invalid. One thing is certain though. If someone tried to collect on a blatantly rigged bet like this in Vegas, the only thing they'd cash in on is a one-way trip deep into the Mojave Desert. 

Yes, in the 21st century you no longer need to own a factory to become a war profiteer. All you need is an online bookie and a little inside dope about who is getting hit and when. It might be disgusting, but it is perfectly legal. 

Who says America isn't great?

3-2-26

Donald Trump Being the Same Crazy as He Ever Was for Nearly Two Hours

 Last night the President of the United States gave a speech to a joint session of Congress and the nation as a whole. . It is an annual affair, known as the State of the Union Speech. The tradition began with the nation's first President, George Washington. Washington's first state of the union address was reportedly 900 words long. It's unknown at this time how many words Donald Trump's speech was, but it had to have been a bunch because it took him one hour and 48 minutes to deliver them. That's a mere one hour and 40 minutes longer than it took Franklin Roosevelt to ask Congress for a declaration of war against Japan. 

 Of course, Roosevelt had a distinct advantage on December 8th, 1941. He didn't have to tell any lies, shade the truth, or introduce the U.S. men's ice hockey team. 

 The truth is, Donald Trump's State of the Union speech was, in large part, mind numbingly boring. He lies so often about so many things some, including myself, no longer have the capacity for outrage any longer.  They are like that stiff northern wind during Oklahoma winters. It's a pain, but it is a part of life you have to put up with. In the end all you can do is hunker down and pray for spring. Or in this case, hope to God, people will realize Donald Trump is lying out his ass when he tells them they are paying less than $2.36 per gallon--because they aren't. It says so right on the fucking pump.

One of the more interesting parts of the evening began before Trump even showed up. A chunk of the democrats had the good sense not to show up, so there were a bunch of empty seats on their side of the aisle. A number of republican lawmakers took some of those seats which gave the visual illusion a good sized portion of democrats whole heartedly agreed with Trump, no matter what he said. 

The other, was his use of guests in the gallery. He brought in some victims of violent crime, then after detailed, gore filled, descriptions of what happened to them had them rise. He also handed out three combat medals--blood-soaked details of their accomplishment's included--including two Medals of Honor. One can't help suspect it was all designed to force the democrats to their feet. I mean, who doesn't applaud a guy receiving the Medal of Honor, even if it was for action in the Korean War 75 years ago. For those who wonder about such things, yes, everyone involved with the introductions were white, especially the hockey team and the victims of the crimes were white women who were assaulted by men who are not.

There was one group in the chamber last night, Donald Trump didn't speak about at all. Some of the victims of his old pal, Jeffrey Epstein were there. The President studiously ignored them and the subject. Just as he ignored the three U.S. citizens murdered by Homeland Security personnel as they exercised the right to demonstrate. He also glossed over the war in Ukraine he was going to stop in a day. All he said of it was the United States was now getting paid for the weapons it is providing NATO, which then funnels them to Ukraine. 

While as near as I could tell, Trump defied the odds and stayed on script. Although a couple of times that raging ego got the better of him. First was when he declared, "I don't need Congress to levy tariffs." (Really? Obviously, the man hasn't read the Supreme Court's recent ruling, or the Constitution.) The second time was when he said, "I won't allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons." (Notice he didn't say we, or the United States, it was I and I alone. Mighty imperial of you, Mr. President.)

Still, one supposes the ego is the least we have to deal with when Donald Trump tells us the only way democrats can win an election is by cheating. One of the few firm proposals he made during the speech was for Congress to pass the toughest voter restrictions since the, "grandfather clauses." (You had to prove your ancestors voted before 1867 or face nearly impossible polling place tests--a tough nut to crack if all your ancestors were slaves.) 

At about the same time he talked about the SAVE act (it's already passed in the House.) Brother Don casually mentioned last night's State of the Union should be the first of his third term, not the first of his second. That despite there is still, six years after the fact, not one piece of evidence large scale voter fraud took place anywhere in the nation during the 2020 election.  He and his people keep promising they'll produce it soon, but they haven't yet. 

But hey, you know what Adolf's buddy, Joe Goebbels said once, "If you repeat the lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will even come to believe it yourself."

Late last week a friend told me I should skip Trump's address and watch the progressive, People's State of the Union rally held simultaneously on the mall in Washington last night. I decided not to. I wanted to see if Donald J. Trump would completely jump the rails on national TV. (I'm so jaded, these days it takes the truly weird and monstrous to impress me.) Sadly, Donald Trump didn't go off those rails last night. Oh, he was a liar, ambitiously seeking authoritarian rule, not to mention insufferably self-congratulatory, but it wasn't anything we all hadn't heard, or seen before. 

In short, he was--to alter a lyric--the same crazy as he ever was. The same crazy as he ever was. Over and over again and again for nearly two endless hours. 

Ladies and gentlemen, the bar is most definitely open.

2-25-26 

Jeffrey Epstein's Primary Business Client: The King of Women's Underwear

 Leslie Herbert Wexner has been called the richest man in Ohio. He is also pretty much a self-made made man. His parents owned a clothing store where he worked. After a college he and his father had a falling out over the store's business practices so he moved on opening his own store. thanks to a $5,000 loan from a relative added to another $5,000 loan from a bank. 

The business boomed and soon Les, as he is called, began expanding the scope of his enterprise while amassing mountains of money. He became a major player in Bath & Body Works, Lane Bryant, Victoria's Secret, Abacrombie & Finch, and La Sanza. Most of them, of course, cater to women which is fine, although given what we know about the guy Les Wexner was associated with for years, it now feels a tad creepy.

According to Wikipedia, Wexner hired Jeffrey Epstein to be his financial manager in 1987. From then until 2007 the women's underwear king remained Epstein's primary client. In July of 1991 the billionaire granted Epstein the power of attorney. The same year Wexner named Epstein as a trustee on the board of the Wexner Foundation. Later in the decade he sold Epstein his huge Manhattan town home located on the upper east side. That would be the same home where Epstein put a massage table in the middle of the living room. 

Then things turned darker. In the mid 1990s, Wexner and Epstein, with help from a federal subsidy, were involved with moving the headquarters of Southern Air Transport from Miami to Columbus, OH. It turns out, Southern Air Transport was a CIA cover operation which was involved in the Iran-Contra mess. Wexner began using it to transport his goods. At least until 1996 when customs agents found a load of cocaine on one of the planes. Less than two years later the outfit was shutdown. 

All of which gives us a hint about why the feds, under numerous President's, weren't really interested in digging through Epstein's business dealings or making them public.  

Because they didn't actually own or operate Southern Air Transport both Wexner and Epstein were able to walk away from the bust. Later, thanks to Epstein's horrifying libido there wouldn't be any walking away. 

Earlier this week Les Wexner was deposed for five plus hours by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. What he seemed to be saying is that Ohio's richest man is also one of its dumbest. According to Wexner, "As I look back on it, I was conned by the World Olympic, all-time con artist. As far as I as I was concerned, once we knew how bad he was, he was dead."

Oh really? Epstein's previous arrests for child sex trafficking, then his conviction and incarceration didn't tip you off first? It is a claim of ignorance so outlandish it ranks with Enron's Ken Lay, who initially told people he didn't know a thing about all the financial fraud because he was just the CEO.

Across the pond some famous names are taking the fall for their involvement with Jefferey Epstein. This week, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, former Prince of the Realm, was arrested for his dealings with the guy. The charges had nothing to do with sexual misconduct, but concerned Andrew's handling of confidential British trade documents--as in he sent them straight to Epstein after he got copies while he was still Prince. (An act that smells suspiciously like a sextortion payoff.)  No matter the motive behind it, Andrew became the most senior member of a royal family to be arrested since King Charles I in 1646. (It was during the English Civil War and Oliver Cromwell didn't have much of a sense of humor. While, Charles, who was a wildly self-indulgent, arrogant asshole didn't do himself any favors.)

There is a growing feeling, among a lot of Americans, no matter how casually Donald Trump denies it, that the U.S. government should begin holding some of our fabulously well-to do and powerful accountable also. Thanks to his history and now this nonsensical plea of ignorance, Les Wexner has now become the leading candidate to become the first domino. Even though there is no current evidence linking him to trafficking, or personally sexually abusing young girls, his money certainly helped pay for Epstein's monstrous behavior. Not to mention his lavish properties and lifestyle. 

Hey someone's head has to roll first--and we know it won't be Trump's, that guy gets away with everything--so it might as well be Les Wexner's.  

It's a great theory. Too bad it will never happen. At least not with this administration and DOJ. It's a snowball they really--I mean really--don't want to push down the hill.  

2-20-26

Todd Blanche's QAnon Fantasy Roster

 So many names. We all knew Jeffrey Epstein was well connected, but who would have guessed he hung out with Elvis Presley and Janis Joplin? Hell, according to the list just released by the DOJ, Epstein--who was nine years old at the time Marilyn Monroe took the early exit ramp--might have even hooked up with her. If so, he was a kid with big balls, even if they hadn't dropped yet.

Yes, it would seem U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, in her never-ending campaign to put out the Epstein fire, has come up with a new tactic. It's obvious she told her current deputy, Trump's former personal lawyer, something along the lines of, "If they want names, give them fucking names." So, Todd Blanche put out a list of people not only found in Epstein's contact book but anywhere in the files. Even if the name was casually mentioned during a conversation in one of those millions of emails and memos it went on the list. Comedy Central host Jon Stewart found his name in the files. It was in an email where someone wrote, "You need to hire someone like Jon Stewart." 

Let's face it, while we know former Prince Andrew was involved in disgustingly criminal behavior, it is a stretch to believe his ex-sister-in-law, Princess Diana was too. Just like it is tough to imagine Queen Elizabeth II participating in any sort of twisted orgy, but her name is on the list also. 

In all the DOJ released 305 names who are now, as Blanche put it, "politically exposed." Many of them, like the late, Kurt Cobain had nothing to do with politics. Others like, Mike Huckabee and Nikki Haley do, but did they ever personally know Jeffrey Epstein? Did Tucker Carlson? (Ok I like to think he did, but that's just me.) 

Some TV types have given Blanche credit for including Donald Trump's name on the list, but how could he possibly not? Then answer to the question was Trump a friend of Epstein is a ship that sailed a long time ago. However, in this QAnon fantasy roster, the President's name is wedged between comedian Chris Tucker's and former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher's--rumored to have been called Madcap Maggie by her pals at London's notorious Hellfire Club.   

The surreal absurdity of this is straight out of Kafka. The whole aim of the list is to muddy the waters. In effect Bondi and her boy, Todd Blanche are saying, "Here is what we found, now you figure it out." The fact is she still violated a statute passed by congress and signed into law by the President of the United States. The law was clear. Release all the files by December 19, 2025. Her department missed the deadline by well over a month. The law also directed the DOJ to redact the names of the victims and precious little else. Bondi's DOJ failed to redact some victims' names but did redact the names of some criminal participants. The redactions were so extensive in some cases entire pages were blacked out. In addition, some files have still not been made public and according to her they will never be.

This list is the Attorney General trying to cover her ass for perpetrating those violations while redirecting attention elsewhere. In other words, "Look, Bruce Springsteen and Cher are in the files, go investigate them and leave Donald Trump alone." 

Meanwhile, Ghislaine Maxwell's attorney, David Marus' offer is still dangling in the breeze. Maxwell--her dad's name is also on the list--is saying she will publicly exonerate both Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, but only after Trump grants her clemency. In some quarters this is known as a bribe, while others might call it blackmail. 

The feeling here is not even Trump is that stupid. The negative reaction to a slimy deal like that would be swift (no, not on the list) and overwhelming. It would, quite probably trigger a third impeachment. If he does in fact let Maxwell off the hook it will happen as he is being wheeled out of the White House on a gurney, mere minutes before shuffling off into the great beyond. 

We still don't know the full extent of Donald Trump's involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. The odds are increasing that we will never know. However, what we do know is the man is desperate to keep it that way. So desperate, if you believe Lawrence O'Donnell, he is willing to invade Venezuela, Greenland and any place else just to keep us from thinking about it.

2-17-26

A Bridge Too Many

 In particular we look forward to the to the expeditious completion of the Gordie Howe International Bridge which will serve as a vital economic link between our two countries.

Donald J Trump, President of the United States in 2017

Right! Full speed ahead on that brand new bridge over the Detroit River, linking Michigan and Ontario. After all, the United States and Canada will be friends forever. The two nations are separated by the longest military free border in the world. We make cars for each other. We have sports teams playing in the same professional leagues. We've been brothers and sisters in arms. Hell, we drink each other's whiskey and beer for God's sake. 

Well, at least we used to.

Then along came the second Donald Trump administration. Suddenly the shit he pulled the first time around feels like odd and simple-minded eccentricities compared to the full-blown insanity we are dealing with now.   

On Monday, Trump took to social media and wrote in part, "I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we've given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the fairness and respect that we deserve." In another part of the post, he wrote, "With what we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset." Trump also claimed there weren't any, "American products," used in the construction of the nearly completed project. Predictably, he blamed Barack Obama for that, making sure he included the former President's middle name, Hussein, in the line. 

Trump's latest Presidential message begs a couple of legitimate questions. First, why is he saying these things? Second, what the fuck is the crazy old bastard talking about in the first place?    

The answer to the first question is pure Trumpian. Up until now the only existing cross-river link connecting Detroit and Windsor, ONT has been the Ambassador Intentional Bridge. It is privately owned by the Moroun family of Michigan. Shortly before Donald Trump went onto social media, Matthew T. Moroun had a nice chat with Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick. (Yes, the same guy who, after years of claiming he met Jeffrey Epstein only once, admitted he later had lunch with him on Epstein's twisted version of Fantasy Island.) 

The subject of the meeting between Moroun and Lutnick hasn't been reported. The New York Times, however, has reported that afterward the Secretary hopped on the phone with his boss. That's when Trump went all anti-Gordie Howe International Bridge. 

Since the Moroun family is worth billions. A chunk of it comes from a couple of duty-free gas stations attached to their bridge. Therefore, we can assume a second bridge will cut into their profits. (The family has been opposed to the project from the beginning.)  Knowing our man Donald as we do, we can also assume he was made an offer he just didn't want to refuse. Besides, he is still mad at the Canadians for not wanting to become Americans. Not to mention they had the gall to start negotiating trade deals with the Chinese after Trump began slapping tariffs on everyone. 

Answering the second question is painfully simple. Not only is the President of the United States nuts and a pathological liar, but he thinks we are all idiots who either don't or can't read. We, the United States, haven't given the Canadians anything. They are paying to build the bridge all on their own. Both Canadian and American construction crews have been used to build it. American steel has been used in the construction. And--we already own half the damned thing. From the start the plan has been for Canada to recoup half the cost of the bridge through tolls. Once that happens all revenues will be shared equally by the two countries. 

Just in case all those unhinged lies in Trump's post didn't convince all of us he has gone, how shall we put it, one step beyond, he offered us this bit of further proof. While he was complaining about the possible Canadian trade deals with China, the President added this dire prophecy: "The first thing China will do is terminate ALL hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate the Stanley Cup." 

It is unclear at this moment which is more frightening--that we elected this demented old coot a second time, or that he has access to the nuclear launch codes. 

sic vita est

2-12-26

Seattle Kicks New England, Trump Rants, Bad Bunny Celebrates Culture, and the Fun-loving Uncle Does Karaoke

 The final score of last night's Super Bowl LX was Seattle 29-New England 13. The game was not as close as the final score indicates, or as entertaining. Unless, of course, you are a Seahawks' fan, in which case was a thing of absolute beauty. If you are a Patriot fan, not so much. New England's quarterback, Drake Maye was harassed and pounded all night by Seattle's defense. So much so, it looked like the Patriot's offensive line was purchased directly from Wile E. Coyote's gadget supplier, the Acme Corporation. 

Let's face it, when the game is 12-0 after three quarters and there hasn't been a touchdown scored, you know you're watching a contest only the hometown fans can love. 

Given the pace of the first half of this Super Bore, (a 9-0 Seattle lead) all eyes and ears turned to the MAGA manufactured controversy of the week--the official halftime show. It was headlined by singer and sometimes pro wrestler, Bad Bunny. Meanwhile, Turning Point USA's alternative, "All American Halftime Show," starred Kid Rock. Unfortunately, TPUSA's production, also featuring, Lee Brice, Gabby Barrett, and Brantley Gilbert, didn't make it onto either network, or cable TV. Plans to stream it on Elon Musk's social network, "X," also fell through. To see it, viewers had to go onto a couple of different TPUSA You Tube channels.

This morning organizers of the show claimed that the production drew over five million viewers. One of them, however, was not President Donald J. Trump. He was busy watching Bad Bunny. We know that because afterward he posted on social media, "The Super Bowl halftime show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst EVER!" 

Then the President told us why he thought it was, "the worst EVER." He also wrote, "It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn't represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence. (Presumably Trump considers Kid Rock belting out a 27-year-old rock/rap number titled, Bawitdaba," which he was doing over on You Tube, representative of the American standard of creativity.) 

Mr. Trump went on to write, "No one understands a word this guy is saying (unless you're one of the 635 million people worldwide who speak Spanish) and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A. and all over the World. This Show is just a slap in the face to our Country..." Then he went on to cite how his economic policies are making the nation great again. Well, it wouldn't be a Trump rant if he didn't give himself credit for a bunch of make-believe shit, would it?         

The tirade ended with him writing, "There is nothing inspirational about this mess of a halftime show and watch, it will get great reviews from the Fake News Media because they haven't got a clue of what is going on in the REAL WORLD."  

While not knowing what the reviews, other than Trump's, are of Bad Bunny's performance--all I can personally say is, I liked it. Since I don't speak Spanish, I didn't understand the lyrics, but the production was lavish and enthusiastic. To me it felt like a celebration of history and culture as it exists with other cultures and traditions. The final words of it, displayed on a huge screen in the stadium, were, "The only thing more powerful than hate is love." 

Ah yes, now there is that slap to America's face if there ever was one.  

Turning Point's production, on the other hand, did attract a couple of reviews. The online publication, The List said, "Applaudingly in some folks' opinion nothing says, 'Super Bowl Halftime Show' like a 55-year-old Kid Rock seemingly lip syncing to a song from 1999 while wearing shorts and a fedora." 

In, "Variety," William Earl wrote, "Breaking it down with a big fedora and jean shorts, Kid Rock resembled someone's fun-loving uncle four drinks deep in a Tampa Karaoke bar." He described other acts as, "not ready for primetime." 

But hey, all reviews are subjective. It's just too bad these days, thanks to MAGA and its Grand Poohbah, Donald Trump, so is the truth.

2-9-26 

Benito Ocasio and Robert Richie Square Off at Super Bowl LX

 It's finally here, America. That's right. In this contentious age of political and social division, of the old saw, "You are either with us, or you are against us." An age in which the daily news is dominated by discord, accusations, increasing violence, and overt graft and corruption.  This is the one weekend we can all kick back together and celebrate not a religious observance, or even some idealized national hero. This weekend, Sunday specifically, we can all come together to feast and drink while enjoying the Super Bowl football game.

No politics, no arguments spinning out of control, just all of us as one, cheering oversized, really fast guys clad in 21st century armor as they run around knocking the living shit out of each other. All of it spiced throughout with ultra pricey ads we haven't seen endlessly--yet--and the type of rock 'em sock 'em half-time show we can dance together to.

Oh--wait.

As soon as the National Football League announced the musical acts for this year's Super Bowl the MAGA tribe, from top to bottom, began howling like gut shot wolves. Yes, the same people who were utterly outraged when the restaurant chain, Cracker Barrel changed their logo--they took out the bullwhip because these days, unless you are a nostalgic descendent of slave owners, or a BDSM enthusiast they are sort of out of fashion--declared the lineup was too, "woke."    

The presence of the group, Green Day was bad enough. However, what really stoked their apoplexy    was the announcement that, Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, aka, Bad Bunny, would be the headliner. The guy is Puerto Rican, for God's sake. (Although the last time we checked, Puerto Ricans are American citizens.) Not only that, but most of his songs are in fucking Spanish. That's not American--even though it is estimated 45 million people in this country age five and older speak Spanish at home. 

The Grand Poohbah of all things MAGA, Donald Trump was so incensed he announced he wouldn't personally attend the game. Of course, knowing Trump, there could be other reasons for his non-attendance. Like maybe because the game is being played in a stadium located just outside of San Francisco where he is about as welcome as an invading Mongolian horde in Constantinople. Or perhaps it's even because the two teams playing, Seattle and New England, are based in states which haven't exactly embraced his peculiar brand of politics and ethnic, let's say, relocations. 

In response to Bad Bunny and Green Day, the MAGA faithful initially demanded they be replaced by good old Country and Western acts. It's a genre of music not usually associated with the Bay Area. Beyond that, while it isn't clear what the popularity of C&W is in Seattle, at least in the mid-1980s and early 1990s Boston was the single worst market for it in the nation. During that period of time not a single radio station in the metro, AM, or FM programmed Country and Western. 

Add it all together and the NFL found it pretty easy to respond, "no," to their demands. Besides, they've never liked Trump in the first place. So much so, years ago the owners who actually run the league, wouldn't let him on the action when he attempted to buy a franchise. (Let's face it, those guys run businesses. Even back then they knew he was more adept at running cons.) 

So, Turning Point USA came to the rescue. This year those far-right hot dogs have organized an, "Alternative half-time show." You know, kind of like Kellyanne Conway's, "alternative truth," regarding the attendance at Donald Trump's first inauguration. The headliner for Turning Point's show will be none other than, Robert James Richie, aka Kid Rock. Mr. Rock comes from a fabulously well to do family in Romeo, MI. His father owned multiple car dealerships, and he grew up on an estate which was large enough for an apple orchard and a barn to house the family's horses. Wikipedia notes that some time in the 1980s young Robert James became interested in Hip-hop music and began to score gigs as a breakdancer, rapper, and DJ.  

In short, Kid Rock became rich in his own right and famous by appropriating everything he isn't and never has been. No wonder he and Trump are such pals. 

In fact, such good pals it is practically guaranteed one sone he won't be singing is, "Cool Daddy Cool" most infamously featured in the soundtrack of the movie, "Osmosis Jones." In that little ditty, Kid Rock belts out the lyric, "Young ladies, young ladies, I like 'em underage. Some say that's statutory; bit I say it's mandatory." 

Indeed, it isn't exactly a line Donald Trump wants to hear right now. But hey, at least it wouldn't have been sung in Spanish.   

2-5-26

Tulsi Gabbard is Working Very Hard

She's working very hard on trying to keep the election safe. And she's done a very good job. And they, as you know, got into the votes, you got a signed judge's order in Georgia. And you're going to see some interesting things happening. They've been trying to get there for a long time.

Donald J. Trump speaking about the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard's presence at the Fulton County, GA election board along with the FBI.

There she is. After being conspicuously missing in action during the brief but violent adventure in Venezuela and the whole uproar over Greenland, Tulsi Gabbard has suddenly re-emerged--in Georgia. The Director of National Intelligence (These days an oxymoron if there ever was one.) is, as Trump puts it, working, "very hard," confiscating voting records from an election held six years ago. One supposes that in the interests of national intelligence she was and still is searching for those nearly 12,000 votes El Donald demanded republican election officials find for him in the days after that election.

Although, despite what MS NOW's Ali Velshi reported this past weekend, if those republicans had found the votes or more accurately manufactured them, as Trump wanted, it would not have changed the results of the 2020 presidential race. Joe Biden would have won with 287 electoral votes instead of 303.

That's right. Even if Gabbard comes up with that computer flash drive Rudy Giuliani was so convinced he saw Shaye Moss pass to Ruby Freeman the election remains a done deal. (Moss later told a congressional hearing it was a ginger mint. Later a jury believed her and awarded her and her mother $148 million--which Rootin Tootin Rudy is still on the hook for.) The fact is that Trump, with Georgia in his pocket on election night, still needed an additional 19 electoral votes to win.   

So, we might reasonably ask ourselves, what is Tulsi Gabbard actually trying to do in Georgia? The answer could be Trump simply wanted Gabbard, who leans toward isolationism, out of the way while he and his boys kidnapped the leader of a foreign nation then threatened to destroy NATO over what amounted to a psychotic vanity project. 

Or, could this be a dress rehearsal for what is planned immediately following the mid-term elections later this year? Along with the added benefit of gaining access to a lot of individual voter information. You know, home addresses, party affiliation, those sorts of things. It isn't happening in a vacuum. Various outlets have reported U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi recently called Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz and told him all of those ICE and Border Patrol thugs would be pulled out of his state if he allows the feds to inspect Minnesota's voter rolls and records. 

When you throw in the re-districting scams initiated by Trump and his legislative toadies in places like Texas, Missouri, and other locales it starts to make sense. The only GOP controlled state who has refused him so far is Indiana and Trump has threatened those legislators with everything from primary challengers to hints of prolonged naps with the fishes.  

Well, he has to do something doesn't he. All the signs point toward a massive defeat in November for our man in the White House and his merry band of muggers, hustlers, and midway barkers. This past weekend in bright red Texas democrats regained a vacant seat in the house, based on the old districting plan. Meanwhile in a Texas state senate election held in Ft. Worth, the republican candidate, Leigh Wambsganss was utterly destroyed by democrat, Taylor Rehmet.

Wambsganss, thanks primarily to Lt. Governor Dan Partrick, had raised scads and scads of campaign funds. Plus, despite what Donald Trump said afterward, the President had sent out three social media messages urging republicans to get out to vote for her. Rehmet won the district by 14 points. He was the first democrat to do so since the mid 1970's. In 2024 Trump carried it by 17 points. 

Oops.

It would seem all those rubes who actually believed Donald Trump when he said he'd fix their cost of living in a day have come to realize their needs and concerns aren't on his agenda. Indeed, a war over Greenland, a new White House ball room, and a proposed massive Arc de Trump in Washington D.C. wasn't what they were thinking about when they cast their ballots. 

Neither was forcibly snatching school children off the streets. They were, however, wondering how they were going to pay their rent, food, energy and medical bills. 

Yes, Trump might be fucking delusional, but those who depend on him for power aren't. This November and possibly during the primaries if you live in any blue state and select cities in red ones, you can count on regiments of ICE and Border Patrol agents intimidating voters at polling stations. Afterward, if things go the way they're headed right now, you can also count on the FBI and Tulsi Gabbard seizing the records--or as a cynic might say, proof--of election results from a lot more places than just Fulton County. 

After all, she is working very hard.

2-2-26

Lying About What We Don't See is One Thing; Lying About What We Do See is Another

On Sunday, after the execution of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Kash Patel, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, told an interviewer of FOX News, "you cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It's that simple. You don't have a right to break the law." 

The Minnesota Gun Owner's Caucus responded immediately by saying, "There is no prohibition on a permit holder carrying a firearm, loaded with multiple magazines at a protest or rally in Minnesota." '

After an online MAGA type complained Alex Pretti wasn't carrying the state required ID--a fact presumably discovered after his body was searched--the group responded by saying, "It's a $25 ticket." What they left unsaid, given what had happened the day before was, a $25 ticket is not equal to a Capital Crime punishable by a death sentence. Especially a death sentence carried out by an impromptu firing squad at the scene without the inconvenience of a trial. 

Yes, it looks as if the DHS and its policies have accomplished the unimaginable. Their KG B/Gestapo tactics and lame excuses have gone so far, they've managed to alienate at least one pro-gun lobbying organization. It is not a group usually associated with, "radical leftists."

Kristi Noem, Greg Bovino, Tom Homan, Kash Patel, and ultimately Donald Trump have only themselves to blame for the current unpopularity and outright distrust of all the various parts of the Department of Homeland Security. Lying about what is going on is one thing, however lying in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary is another. We all saw Alex Pretti holding a camera, not, as Noem initially said, "brandishing a gun." We watched as Renee Good tried to steer her vehicle around that agent, not over him. People are filming all this awful shit; don't any of you gruesome carnies get that? 

Apparently not. During a Sunday interview with CNN's Dana Bash, Bovino (who has the look and smell of Casablanca's Major Heinrich Strasser going for him) insisted Alex Pretti, while packing a firearm, was attempting to impede the arrest of a known criminal, illegal immigrant. He even hinted Pretti was trying to direct traffic so as to interfere with the arrest. Bovino claimed Pretti initially approached the Border Patrol officers, but the tape shows one of them approaching him while he was at a distance. Pretti only began to move toward them after they shoved a woman to the ground. The agents attacked him as he tried to reach her. After he went to the ground an agent sprayed him in the face with pepper spray, while another kicked him savagely in the back. 

During the middle of this one-sided dog pile a third agent reached in and pulled a gun out of the crush, then slid it away on the sidewalk. After Alex Pretti's legally owned and carried weapon was taken from him another agent yelled, "Gun, gun." That's when a now unarmed, ICU nurse at a veteran's hospital was shot at least ten times. A Doctor at the scene was initially denied access to Pretti so the agents could count the number of bullet holes in his body.

After his interview with Bash, Bovino told a press conference, "The suspect put himself in that situation. The victims are the border patrol agents there." He failed to explain why the "victims," removed all the evidence of the shooting afterward. 

Noem told the media, Alex Pretti was a would-be assassin who had come to the protests armed in order to commit a "massacre." Her sole piece of evidence backing up the accusation was that Pretti was carrying his legally permitted gun.  Then, along with others, including Oklahoma Senator Mark Wayne Mullins, and Trump himself, she blamed Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor, Jacob Frey for inciting violence and insurrection.  According to Mullins, "They both have blood on their hands."

This morning a retired U.S. Army general said that while ICE and the Border Patrol might be dressed as the military, "They conduct themselves like a poorly trained militia." He's giving them far too much credit. They conduct themselves exactly the way Stephen Miller and Trump want them to. Like a gang of outlaw bikers stoked up on cheap vodka and Nazi crank.  

1-26-26

Constitution? We Don't Need No Stinking Constitution and America Sleeps Easier as Adrian Arias and Babyface Liam are Busted

 The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches an seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and, particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. 

Text of the fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

For those not up on their history, or U.S. law, the Constitution is the bedrock upon which all other federal and state laws must abide by. It cannot be changed or removed except by a fairly long and complicated legislative process, or by a nationwide vote of the people. 

What the fourth amendment boils down to is that in this country, unless a person is actively committing a crime, you must get a judge to issue a fucking warrant for probable cause before searching a suspect's home and other property or taking them into custody.  

Well, unless, of course, you are the current Department of Homeland Security and those wild and crazy folks at Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (ICE) At least that's what they believe. On May 12th, 2025 acting ICE head honcho, Todd Lyons sent out a memo, meant to stay secret, which stated ICE agents didn't need a judge to issue a warrant for anything, or anyone they search and seize. From that time on the agency could rely on what is known as an administrative warrant. It is a piece of paper written by, not a judge, but by ICE agents themselves.

 In other words, according to that memo, ICE agents are now allowed to give themselves permission to enter homes and drag people out of their cars whenever they want to. It is something the British were doing willy nilly 250 years ago. Their searches and seizures pissed off the colonists so much it became a major contributing cause to the American Revolution and later, the creation of--that's right--the fourth amendment of the Constitution.  

No wonder, Lyons wanted to keep it secret. 

It's unclear if ICE agents had given themselves written permission, or not on Tuesday of this week. That day, they hauled Adrian Arias from his running car after he pulled into his suburban Minneapolis home's driveway. (ICE claims he tried to flee after they approached him.) He had just returned from picking up his 5-year-old kid, Liam, from his pre-school class. 

That's when things became really weird. 

Five-year-old Liam was also, "detained," by federal agents. What actually happened depends on who you believe. According to witnesses, agents made the boy knock on the house's front door and ask to be let in as they stood next to him. Witnesses also say the child's mother, who is pregnant was inside, along with her 13-year-old. Thanks to agency's current reputation in the twin cities, friends urged her not to open the door. The feds were, they said, using her five-year-old as bait so they could snatch her too. These days, it is not an unreasonable assumption. A person who is said to also live at the house arrived in front of the place and told the agents he would watch Liam, but ICE guys steadfastly refused the request. They wanted to see the kid's terrified mom, or they'd take him with them.   

The ICE version varies some--which isn't surprising. First, they said Liam was abandoned by those inside the home. They claimed the people inside refused to open the door, even after they promised not to arrest them. (Imagine that.) According to Vice President J.D. Vance, who was in town that day, but not at the scene, to leave Liam there by himself was to let him freeze to death all alone. Then the story morphed into Liam's father demanded that the boy remain with him, no matter what. Whatever the case, Adrian Arias and his son were immediately, without legal representation, or even a phone call, shipped to an ICE detention center in Texas. 

According to Vance Liam's father was being arrested because he is in the country illegally. On Thursday, the family's immigration attorney told the media they had originally come from Ecuador. In December 2024 they met Border Patrol officials as they crossed into Texas and requested asylum. They were allowed to enter the United States legally and their asylum hearing and a decision on their status is still pending. To date, Adrian Arias has never been charged with or convicted of any crime in the state of Minnesota. The criminal record of his nefarious accomplice, Babyface Liam, is unknown.

Ah yes, the very definition of the worst of the worst--both of them. Now that they are off the streets, are you sleeping any easier America? Are you...great again?

1-23-26

Meanwhile, Back in Minneapolis

 Only federal officers are upholding the law. (in Minneapolis and perhaps St. Paul and the rest of Minnesota) Local and state police have been ordered to stand down and surrender 

Stephen Miller, Donald Trump's low rent Levrentiy Beria

In order to prove how much federal, "officers," are upholding the law, the other day ICE agents dragged a disabled woman who is a U.S. citizen named Aliya Rahman from the front seat of her car then hauled her away. The DHS immediately claimed Ms. Rahman was an agitator who was attempting to obstruct ICE agents who were simply performing their duties. You know, upholding the law. 

Aliya Rahman has a different story. She says she turned onto the street as she headed to a medical appointment. She found it blocked by the agents who approached her car shouting obscenity laced commands at her. She attempted to complain to them about her impending doctor's appointment and told them she needed to get through. By then, the ICE agents had surrounded her car and at least one was standing in front of it. Knowing what happens in Minneapolis when women try to get their vehicles around an armed ICE enforcer, Rahman told them she couldn't move.

A video of the incident shows one Ice agent smashing out her passenger side window. Then others physically dragged the crying and screaming woman out on the street where she was cuffed and taken to a local detention center. She wasn't allowed to bring her cane and later was denied medical treatment. She eventually passed out while in custody. 

Then we come to Chongly, "Scott," Thao. Scott is a 56 year old naturalized U.S. citizen of Hmong descent who immigrated to the United States from Laos when he was four years old. He took the oath of citizenship in 1991. That would mean he became a citizen before most of the clowns who dragged him out of his home were born. On Sunday Mr. Thao was at his house with various family members singing karaoke. ICE agents with weapons drawn busted through his door without warning, or a warrant, or at least one they were willing to show. They dragged Scott out of his place into the 14-degree F. weather while he was wearing nothing but a tee-shirt, boxer shorts, slippers, and a thin blanket he had been handed by his grandson. 

After hanging on to Mr. Thao for a while the ICE agents brought him back. They offered no apology or reason for his detention. The official ICE excuse for this NKVD type behavior was that Scott Thao was living with two accused child traffickers and that he, "looked like one of them." Well yeah. He is Asian and to the average ICE guy, all Asians look alike--not to mention Hispanics, Somalis, and anyone else who isn't Aryan in appearance. Scott's family told the media the grandfather has never known the two alleged illegal immigrant child traffickers, and they had never lived in his house. 

It looks like the whole thing was just a merry mix up. Hey, shit happens when you are upholding the law. Just ask the ghost of Renee Good. 

Speaking of which, in the case of Ms. Good, demands for an investigation into her execution aren't going anywhere. The DHS and DOJ say there is no reason for one. According to the DOJ that isn't the case with Good's wife, Becca, or Governor Tim Walz, and Minneapolis Mayor, Jacob Frey. Reports are the Justice Department has launched criminal investigations of all three. Rumors are the charges will include obstruction, or maybe instigating an insurrection, or perhaps, the most serious of all, they just won't shut up. These days all three options are on the table.    

While all this was going on the Washington Post reported 1,500 members of the American 11th Airborne have been alerted to stand by for possible deployment to Minnesota. The fighting 11th is based in Alaska and is specifically trained for cold weather warfare, something those 3,000 federal officers in Minnesota aren't. (Although, to be honest, right now, those deadly goofs don't look like they've been trained at all.)

MS NOW's Lawrence O'Donnell, the most unabashed Trump hater on any cable news network, claims the nightmare in Minneapolis and yes, the chest thumping, saber rattling over Greenland are both distractions. He maintains they are loud and elaborate ruses to keep the media and public from thinking about the Epstein files. 

Unless the wild and baseless accusation bounding around unsavory parts of the internet that the files contain proof Trump once gave Bill Clinton a blow job is true, that's a bit of a stretch. 

The thinking here is it's far more likely the President of the United States has simply gone bat shit crazy. Not only that, but since he managed to surround himself with a bunch of fascist Rasputin types, none of them are willing, or even want to reign him in. 

Donald J. Trump began his second term exactly one year ago today. It is now completely uncertain whether this nation, as a constitutional republic, can survive three more years of him.

1-20-26

The First Step to Oceania, or a Case of Larceny on a Grand Scale?

 An attempt to take over a part of a NATO member state by another NATO member state would be a political disaster. it would end the world as we know it...

Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland

The problem being, of course, is that might be exactly what Donald Trump wants. At this moment in time it sure seems like it. Indeed, it increasingly looks like Trump is attempting to divide up the world into three super states controlled by three presidents for life. You know, like the world envisioned by George Orwell in his novel, "1984." Trump gets Oceania. Putin runs Eurasia. While Xi controls Eastasia. That's right, three happy Presidents for life owning their respective parts of the globe.

There are some catches to that grand plan, however. No one else on this blue ball, with the possible exceptions of Xi and Putin, want any part of it. That includes every NATO ally, the Ukrainians, the island nation of Taiwan, certainly the Japanese, the South Koreans, and probably the North Koreans. We can also throw in everyone south of the Rio Grande and south of the equator in the Pacific. In fact, the vast majority of Americans think the idea stinks. 

El Donald, while remaining insistent on carrying out his first step to create Oceania--the takeover of Greenland, by force, if necessary--has been met with fierce domestic resistance. CNN commissioned a poll conducted by SSBS. It found 75% of Americans oppose a takeover of Greenland, while 25% think it's a keen idea. Among democrats and independents who lean toward voting democratic, 94% are opposed to a takeover. Close to 80% of independents who say they don't lean toward either party were opposed to it. Knowing Trump, he'll probably write off those numbers to mass Trump Derangement Syndrome. The number which might grab his attention though, are the 50% of republicans and republican leaning independents who are also against any sort of takeover.

That's a lot of, as Mr. Trump likes to describe internal party opposition, RINOs. No matter what he calls them, the anti-invasion sentiments run deep. Yesterday Nebraska republican Congressman, Don Bacon said in an interview that if the President orders American troops to invade Greenland, "It would be the end of his presidency." Bacon added, he would, "Lean toward voting to impeach Trump," if he gave the order. 

After meeting with American Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lars Rasmussen described the talks as, "frank"--which is diplomatese for, we got into a big ass argument. According to Rasmussen the end result was, "We agreed to disagree." By the time press conference was over, Rasmussen basically told the media, Americans have had military bases in Greenland before and they're welcome to have them there again. But there is no way in hell America will, "own," Greenland. Greenlandic Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt told the press simply, "We don't want to be owned by the United States." 

As these words are being typed, the Danes have begun sending troops to Greenland. The French, Germans, British, and Swedes have also sent either small units, or military officers to serve as observers and liaisons. 

Earlier this week, Donald Trump--a well-known congenital liar--said, "Greenland is covered with Chinese and Russian ships all over the place." Sweden's Minister of Defense, Pal Jonson dismissed the claim as, "an exaggeration." Greenlandic authorities insist it has been well over 10 years since anyone there has seen a Chinese war ship. 

However, it might not matter. All this jabber about national security and Russia and China might be just a cover for another, far more Trumpian motivation. After all, the initial reason for the Venezuelan intervention was drug trafficking. Then it was removing Maduro because he was a socialist son of a bitch who had facilitated, "the killing of millions." By the time Maduro landed in New York we all knew the truth. Trump never cared about the drugs, or who was running the day-to-day shit in Venezuela. (He let Maduro's VP stay in office, even though she's as much of a socialist as he is.) In the end, it was just about the oil. They had it and Trump wanted it.

Now it turns out, Greenland could contain vast reserves of unexploited rare earth minerals. The sort of stuff the tech manufacturers need to keep pushing out their magical electronic devices. The Sort of stuff China currently has a lock on. It all could be worth billions to someone who controls the island--someone who doesn't mind fucking up its environment forever by extracting it. 

Why yes, that does sound like just the type of job for our man, Donald J. Trump. It not only adds to his fabulous wealth, but it also has the happy benefit of diverting everyone's attention away from the Epstein miasma and the continuing nightmare in Minneapolis. 

Well, you never know with Don Trump. Creating a geopolitical dystopia and committing larceny on a grand scale are both within the scope of his talents. Let's face it, even though the guy is as crazy as a bed bug on acid, one way or the other, he usually gets whatever he wants. And, as we've learned, he always wants more. It's the nature of this particular beast. 

1-16-26