"Take heart, America: At least there will be cage fighting soon on the White House lawn. Bread is dear, but the circuses are here."
Spot on, Bill! I grew up loving history, especially about the Greek and Roman empires, and this action by Trump creating a violent spectacle on White House land now brings us literally into the decaying times of the Roman empire. (Not that we haven't been going down that path for awhile by the way).
I always liked Andre the Giant, Freddie Blassie, Andy Kaufman when he went Wrestling lol, Chief Jay Strongbow, Bruno Sammartino, and all the Wrestlers of my youth...
As Smedley Butler said, war is a racket, and he meant US wars. The US hasn't defended itself against a foreign attack since 1812. The US was not supposed to have a standing military because of the temptations to use it. That has proven true over and over again. The US could have a modest nuclear arsenal and a coast guard, and be just fine. None of the rest of it is needed, and now in the age of drones and missiles, the Navy and air force are nearly obsolete. It was all wasted money resulting in wasted lives and mass destruction. None of it was necessary, but it was all very profitable for a small group of amoral Americans.
With the brinkmanship of the US/NATO even mutually assured destruction is not a governor on escalation.
In my POW, the last major Jewish Prophet described what's possible in this Nuclear Age in the last chapter of his Book in the Book after opening with this line, 'So says the Lord, "The heavens are My throne, and the earth is My footstool; which is the house that you will build for Me, and which is the place of My rest?'
For behold, the Lord shall come with FIRE, and like a tempest,
His chariots, to render His anger with FURY, and His rebuke with flames of FIRE.
For with FIRE, will the Lord contend, and with His sword with all flesh, and those slain by the Lord shall be many.
As any reader here would be, out of the 100 Million people worldwide watching it on TV November 20, 1983, you would be as surprised as I was, to see after the nuclear incineration of Kansas City, the movie pauses at the EXACT SAME picture frame published by The Kansas City Times 7 Years to the month earlier, on ALL SOULS DAY, November 2, 1976.
Hello Bill Astore.... The Ukraine Conflict is much more Interesting than the Israeli Wars... The Ukrainians fight against a top-tier power, and the Israelis fight against Militias... The Ukrainians have been given fewer resources then what has been given to the Israelis.... Hmm?.... Here is something interesting to Watch... Note the reference to the 'Shermans vs. Tiger' Battle in 'Fury':
Sad part about this, Bill, is that you can bring this to everyone's attention, but nothing ever seems to change. Makes one wonder if they are fighting a losing battle. No pun intended!!
It's amazing that no matter how corrupt and deceitful the pseudo-government gets there are still those that think a democratic miracle or individual will occur to "fix" things. Hope dies hard. I'm pretty sure things will get much worse and never get any better. We just adjust to whatever occurs.
I'm surprised that Mr. Astore liked my comment. Even to me it seems pessimistic. However, I must say that I was just referring to our pseudo-government. I believe that within our own lives we can make a difference if we are lucky and work hard.
Remember when many thought Obama was the guy to "fix" things in 2008? And then he abandoned many of his promises and ruled as a Republican-lite? Combine crooked politicians with climate change, incessant wars, creeping militarism, and warrior-police and it does make me pessimistic.
I do hope it gets better, but as a crusty Army MSG keeps reminding me: "Hope is not a plan."
Hello Bill Astore.... Obama was/is a Telegenic Well Spoken, Verbally Gifted Empty Suit... Never Published a Paper at Harvard, but became Editor of the Harvard Law Review, no actual legislative record in Illinois, a 6-Month US Senator before running for President... Whiffed in Syria in 2013, and Ukraine in 2014... Being Indigenous, I was always out-numbered... I didn't get in many fights, but those I did, I terminated them swiftly...
Yes I do remember. It was the beginning of my retreat from American democracy. However, I then went on to learn the lesson of "Bernie". You are very right. Since then the problems got worse while the politics got hopeless. When it does change it won't be because of anything we do but more a force of nature. What we end up with there is no telling and surely beyond my life span.
All well said, Bill...as usual. I'm happy that in addition to pointing out the almost unimaginable deficits of this Administration, you do not spare the feckless Democrats nor the shallowness of the citizenry that dutifully accept and play their roles in choosing only between the white hats and black hats as if in some childish board game.
You are right, though, Mr. Astore, about this war in Iran being important for more than just its impact on the U.S. economy. BUT, that language from the Democratic sector does resonate with the cadre of people who don’t dislike war, but who DID expect Mr. Trump to make their personal lives more comfortable. Sigh. You know…the disaffected MAGA-adjacent types. {How cynical it all becomes, eh?}
By most accounts, people who describe themselves as MAGA number about 30 million; yet Trump got 77 million votes in 2024. It's too easy to call those other 47 million 'MAGA adjacent."
Many of those others may have naively believed the Trump mirage, but looking at the Democrats they couldn't even see a whisper of a mirage. The Democrats were led by a befuddled President (his dementia was in plain view, as is Trump's now); the handover without even a primary to someone who couldn't win her own state in 2020 was abysmal; and she could do nothing but engage in a celebrity-driven campaign in which she demonstrated no real leadership. The unspoken message was - more of the same.
She was the VP at the time, and if Biden had to resign or otherwise leave office before the end of his term, she would have immediately become President. She demonstrated she wasn't ready or capable of the role.
And her failure to show moral courage to stand up to the genocide in Gaza disqualified her - she may have had to publicly keep quiet during the Biden term (but no one has reported her speaking up, as even Vance has apparently done), and the during the campaign she followed the admonition of Biden - "not one inch, kid" (in terms of separating herself from Biden).
And there is no evidence she would have followed any different path in what is now the most dangerous situation in the world and that is the NATO war with Russia.
I agree with much of what you say, and disagree with a lot. Yes, far too many went the Trump way, rather than risk a quiet Black woman who did not give evidence of her own intellect and ability during the Biden administration {I don’t think he’s demented — I do think he has some brain issues, but that does not necessarily mean dementia— or even a lack of cognitive clarity. I know a tiny bit about exhaustion and stress and old age, and he did show those effects, especially the stress and exhaustion aspects. And he SHOULD have adhered to his statements that he’d step down after one term. Lots of things he should have and could have done — and lots of OTHER things he actually did, but didn’t brag about, like putting our foreign alliances back together, after the first DJT infestation of the White House.}
I do think she should have been more forceful about denouncing Bibi’s regime and his treatment of Palestinians in Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank … and in the “rule of law” in Israel that does not provide equal treatment of Palestinians anywhere, even though they can be elected to the Knesset.
Mmmm, my point is—AGAIN—you don’t elect a person and then just sit back until next time. EVEN IF what she offered was “more of the same,” it was far less toxic and less chaotic than Trump, and we should have looked forward to ADVOCATING for less of the same, and BETTER policies from her.
So, we shoulda elected her. Because … Trump … super-duper, triple, enormously HUGE … way bad!
Hello TomR... In the 2020 Primaries, Joe Biden was coming in 3rd, or 4th until SC... Jim Clyburn turned it around for Biden... One suspects that having Kamala on the Ticket was part of the Deal... Prior to Biden dropping-out of the 2024, there was DC Chatter about Kamala being a DEI hire.... After the Nov'24 loss, why did she disappear for months so that the Democrats have no Leader?....
Nonevif it was well done by feckless old guard Democrats... We on the Left so desperately need principled and SAVVY voices to get our message across that we are FOR the GOOD of the PEOPLE-- all the people..
Unfortunately since Citizens United (2010), as Mittens Romney informed us, "corporations are people, my friend". Money, piles of it, are what counts more than any real human voices.
Hello TomR... Mamdami win in 2025, and Obama in 2008, by going back to 1st Principals.... Building a Grass-Roots Movement, and applying relatable Leadership... Power Abhors A Vacuum, They Filled That Vacuum...
Stopping « military » action is not enough unless you include unilateral sanctions as a form of military action. Sanctions are underhanded and deceitful actions designed to enrage. So if only one side has this weapon which is illegal and lethal you have to count that as « military ».
Trump can just veto the bill. Without a two thirds yeas or nays the veto can't be overridden. No such two thirds exists and historically most vetoes are not overridden. Although in January 2021, Congress did override President Donald Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Senate voted 81–13 and the House had previously voted overwhelmingly, marking the first override of his presidency. Like most things about American democracy a big stink is made about something that's actually just a sham.
Ironically, it would be to Trump's advantage if he didn't veto it. He would then have an excuse to wash his hands of it. Although, that would not change anything and things would stay about where they are now.
Bill, I appreciate the fact you did not delete my 2 comments on your article but hid them, so only those Truly interested can see.
It is a scary thought if it comes to be, as I have seen it on the way as recorded by The Kansas City Times in 1976. Especially Trump already threatened "FIRE and FURY" like this World has never seen in his 1st term.
Hiding it, brought to mind this article on a similar kind of incident when I hitchhiked through the US for 15 months seeking 'The Spirit of '76.' I spent Time at Arizona State University in Phoenix when the Religious Establishment wanted me to tone it down. With so much at stake, I can't do that.
OK, Ray, I see what happened. The automatic moderator (not me!) "hid" your comment because it was off-subject. And possibly because it had a lot of links (often a spam red flag).
You never did before Bill. That's why I replied as I did understanding why you might have hid it. .
Look at the very bottom of all the comments and the 2nd hid comment of my X to VP Mike Pence yesterday is still hidden, but the original comment relevant to this article the computer moderator hid, is no longer hidden, but deleted.
My original comment on this article:
With the brinkmanship of the US/NATO even mutually assured destruction is not a governor on escalation.
In my POW, the last major Jewish Prophet described what's possible in this Nuclear Age in the last chapter of his Book in the Book after opening with this line, 'So says the Lord, "The heavens are My throne, and the earth is My footstool; which is the house that you will build for Me, and which is the place of My rest?'
For behold, the Lord shall come with FIRE, and like a tempest,
His chariots, to render His anger with FURY, and His rebuke with flames of FIRE.
For with FIRE, will the Lord contend, and with His sword with all flesh, and those slain by the Lord shall be many.
As any reader here would be, out of the 100 Million people worldwide watching it on TV November 20, 1983, you would be as surprised as I was, to see after the nuclear incineration of Kansas City, the movie pauses at the EXACT SAME picture frame published by The Kansas City Times 7 Years to the month earlier, on ALL SOULS DAY, November 2, 1976.
Knowing Trump, it would be imprudent to dismiss he already threatened "FIRE and FURY" like this world has never seen in his 1st term. Most probably he was fed that line not knowing he was echoing the OT prophecy of Isaiah 66:15-16
Sorry, it's late in the day so no time to read the other comments. But here are my four cents (gotta adjust for inflation!): I am not an expert on the Truman presidency, but I think we should roll the history tape back to 1950. US troops have occupied the southern part of Korea since 1945. Up north, Kim Il Sung, grandfather of the current leader up there--note that I refuse to use the phony terms "South Korea" or "North Korea"--led the Communist-leaning (but fundamentally nationalist) forces that drove the Japanese occupiers out of that part of the Peninsula. With the US stubbornly refusing to grant half the Korean nation independence, Kim's forces launched an attack to the south to try to reclaim their nation. With anti-Communist propaganda--and the sentiment it successfully inculcated in Americans-- at the boiling point, Truman and his brain trust decided a formal Declaration of War was not necessary. [Doubtless these yokels had convinced themselves they could conquer the northern realm quickly.] And where was CONGRESS? Busy FAILING to uphold their responsibility to insist on declaring war, ceding more power to the Executive. Fast-forward to today and the picture of how we are being governed is far bleaker. Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger!!
Hello Bill Astore.... The Ukraine Conflict is much more Interesting than the Israeli Wars... The Ukrainians fight against a top-tier power, and the Israelis fight against Militias... The Ukrainians have been given fewer resources that what has been given to the Israelis.... Hmm?.... Here is something interesting to Watch... Note the reference to the 'Sherman vs. Tiger' Battle in 'Fury':
I wanted to share this video, in which Aaron Good takes a deeper dive into the 40+ years that led to the the State (US) not acting in the interests of hegemony (which has always been the goal), but in the interests of the few. I like Aaron Good's work, as his research is well documented. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fej-P7ZA4Qc
If we had elected the other viable candidate for President, ALL of this would be different, including, likely, the Gaza situation.
Pragmatic choice should have been our choice, and the whole world would be in better straights...(not to mention International aid programs that were saving so many lives that have now been lost, and our health and climate scientific communities that are now being decimated). And with Kamala in office, then we should have held Democrats' feet to the fire to undo the unholy power of uber-wealth.
Well, but Kamala firmly supported Biden who firmly supported genocide in Gaza. And Kamala named Iran as America's #1 enemy and expressed her support of U.S. military lethality.
So, how much would be different in Gaza and even Iran? Sure, there'd be the "joy" of Kamala, she'd put a smiley face on U.S. empire as Obama did, but did she really favor true change? That's doubtful.
Although I must admit I am speaking from hindsight, the other viable* candidate we could have elected was Jill Stein, NOT K.Harris, whose husband is a Zionist. And to remind you Pat, more people did not vote for EITHER Harris or Trump than voted for them. So Not Vote won the election. My question to you Pat, is why didn't you vote for Jill Stein? *Stein was viable in that she was on the ballot or could have been written in, in enough states to win. Also, I must admit that live in CA, where it was "safe" to vote for Stein, since Harris easily won the state. So I could vote against genocide by voting Green.
Oh, come on, Bill. You know she would not have done what he’s done. The nuclear agreement with Iran was negotiated by Obama, and though she could not have reinstated it unilaterally, she wouldn’t have gone to war there. We’ve said a LOT of countries are our enemies, and we still sit with them at world conferences and visit and negotiate with them—at least, we used to.
And she did NOT fully support anything like what is going on in Gaza — I often wonder if she’d have talked to Gershon Baskin, if she’d had the chance, which would have been REALLY good for Gaza and all of Israel.
As for lethality…which I think is silly to lean on, but militarists seem to like the word…I think we probably would not gain a lot of votes by saying we want our military to be less ABLE to be lethal. Though, we need to know that it serves us better when it’s a deterrent, and not in use for killing people {which always winds up killing our own soldiers, as well}.
I think we know she wouldn’t have caused the chaos in the Middle East, and she and Biden had already begun to talk about restricting arms to Israel and moderating the attacks in GAZA — I seriously don’t think she’d have supported carpet bombing there …
My main point in voting strategically and pragmatically is, however, ALWAYS to counsel that we don’t vote and then sit back until next time. We get ACTIVE and LOUD and make the less-than-we’d-really-want administration hear our voices for change … and we do all we can to get a Congress that can hold a president accountable.
But we don’t let a monster like DJT and his 2025 crew into power, ushering in what we have now.
{And I’ll be 80 soon. Apparently, according to current thought, not competent at all. LOL}
Pat, how can you "moderate" an ongoing genocide in Gaza? That's one big reason why Kamala lost in 2024: she refused to say anything meaningful about stopping the mass murder of Palestinians.
I know it’s one of the fronts on which she was attacked, but I take exception to using semantics to discredit lowering the chaos there.
And it rose to a full-scale, vigorous genocide under Trump-Bibi.
You “moderate” what was going on by de-escalation, by back-channel talks with the “powers” that actually have power to find a solution {which is why I mentioned Baskin}. You stop allowing bombing of schools and hospitals and aid stations and huge residential apartment buildings without strong opposition. You hold back on armaments {a position that Biden DID raise}, and you DON’T let DJT come to office and empower “escalation” there, as well as all he’s done here — imposing tariffs, attacking small boats, invading Venezuela, blocking oil to Cuba, cutting vital aid to vulnerable populations all over the word, exacerbating climate change, abandoning participation in world-wide pandemic readiness, invading residential apartment buildings in the United States and deporting immigrants grabbed during their asylum-related court hearings, or imprisoning and mistreating US citizens grabbed from their own beds…not to mention the grifting of our national economy …Oh, I’m exhausted.
“Letting” this guy into the White House has been one of the worst sins of this country in my lifetime {I was not yet alive when the US nuked Japan}.
I hope we can pull off a US rescue in ‘26 and ‘28, My granddaughter and generations younger than me deserve better — all over the world.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry - reported deaths through the end of 2024 were 46, 400; by the end of 2025 that number had increased to 73, 200. (And there are differences between different reporting agencies). But more or less, the barbaric murder of men, women, and children has been about 25,000 per year, under either the blackmailed/bribed Zionist Trump or the self proclaimed Zionist Biden.
Neither party gets a pass on this.
And 2028 will also be time to re-elect the senior New York senator who proudly proclaims he's all about keeping the Democrats loyal to Israel - speaking of course about Schumer (who will then be Senate Majority leader).
YES, the treatment of Palestinians in GAZA has been abysmal even BEFORE Bibi used the Hamas attack as an excuse to start carpet bombing … No argument at all.
My point is, Trump has been monstrous on about a zillion different fronts, and I don’t know how we EVER get out from under the 2025 crowd’s efforts to return to the 1800s {that’s the “Heritage” they are so enamored of}.
And I ain’t no Schumer fan. I was seriously disappointed with the guys Obama put in his cabinet!
Still not my point. Trump … HORRIBLE. More horrible than anybody else, and MAYBE harder to recover from, if we ever do.
{I’m making myself sad over what we’re leaving our kids — Just read Tom’s note on the Dispatch…if you know who I mean .. I hear him!}
True that they have all been part of the reason DJT is in there, but not all of it. Those of us who recognized the magnituge of his threat — and the 2025 gang — did our best to get people’s votes to keep him out. It was a failure.
"Take heart, America: At least there will be cage fighting soon on the White House lawn. Bread is dear, but the circuses are here."
Spot on, Bill! I grew up loving history, especially about the Greek and Roman empires, and this action by Trump creating a violent spectacle on White House land now brings us literally into the decaying times of the Roman empire. (Not that we haven't been going down that path for awhile by the way).
I always liked Andre the Giant, Freddie Blassie, Andy Kaufman when he went Wrestling lol, Chief Jay Strongbow, Bruno Sammartino, and all the Wrestlers of my youth...
As Smedley Butler said, war is a racket, and he meant US wars. The US hasn't defended itself against a foreign attack since 1812. The US was not supposed to have a standing military because of the temptations to use it. That has proven true over and over again. The US could have a modest nuclear arsenal and a coast guard, and be just fine. None of the rest of it is needed, and now in the age of drones and missiles, the Navy and air force are nearly obsolete. It was all wasted money resulting in wasted lives and mass destruction. None of it was necessary, but it was all very profitable for a small group of amoral Americans.
With the brinkmanship of the US/NATO even mutually assured destruction is not a governor on escalation.
In my POW, the last major Jewish Prophet described what's possible in this Nuclear Age in the last chapter of his Book in the Book after opening with this line, 'So says the Lord, "The heavens are My throne, and the earth is My footstool; which is the house that you will build for Me, and which is the place of My rest?'
For behold, the Lord shall come with FIRE, and like a tempest,
His chariots, to render His anger with FURY, and His rebuke with flames of FIRE.
For with FIRE, will the Lord contend, and with His sword with all flesh, and those slain by the Lord shall be many.
Isaiah 66:15-16
THE DAY AFTER will be too late: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VG2aJyIFrA
As any reader here would be, out of the 100 Million people worldwide watching it on TV November 20, 1983, you would be as surprised as I was, to see after the nuclear incineration of Kansas City, the movie pauses at the EXACT SAME picture frame published by The Kansas City Times 7 Years to the month earlier, on ALL SOULS DAY, November 2, 1976.
https://rayjc.com/2013/09/01/signs-of-the-times/
In the United States of America Peace is harder to find than a Fight....
Cage fights are easy to find ...
Hello Bill Astore.... The Ukraine Conflict is much more Interesting than the Israeli Wars... The Ukrainians fight against a top-tier power, and the Israelis fight against Militias... The Ukrainians have been given fewer resources then what has been given to the Israelis.... Hmm?.... Here is something interesting to Watch... Note the reference to the 'Shermans vs. Tiger' Battle in 'Fury':
'https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/this-is-what-ukrainian-crews-say-about-facing-russian-armor-up-close'
ENJOY!!!
Sad part about this, Bill, is that you can bring this to everyone's attention, but nothing ever seems to change. Makes one wonder if they are fighting a losing battle. No pun intended!!
It's amazing that no matter how corrupt and deceitful the pseudo-government gets there are still those that think a democratic miracle or individual will occur to "fix" things. Hope dies hard. I'm pretty sure things will get much worse and never get any better. We just adjust to whatever occurs.
I'm surprised that Mr. Astore liked my comment. Even to me it seems pessimistic. However, I must say that I was just referring to our pseudo-government. I believe that within our own lives we can make a difference if we are lucky and work hard.
Remember when many thought Obama was the guy to "fix" things in 2008? And then he abandoned many of his promises and ruled as a Republican-lite? Combine crooked politicians with climate change, incessant wars, creeping militarism, and warrior-police and it does make me pessimistic.
I do hope it gets better, but as a crusty Army MSG keeps reminding me: "Hope is not a plan."
Hello Bill Astore.... Obama was/is a Telegenic Well Spoken, Verbally Gifted Empty Suit... Never Published a Paper at Harvard, but became Editor of the Harvard Law Review, no actual legislative record in Illinois, a 6-Month US Senator before running for President... Whiffed in Syria in 2013, and Ukraine in 2014... Being Indigenous, I was always out-numbered... I didn't get in many fights, but those I did, I terminated them swiftly...
Yes I do remember. It was the beginning of my retreat from American democracy. However, I then went on to learn the lesson of "Bernie". You are very right. Since then the problems got worse while the politics got hopeless. When it does change it won't be because of anything we do but more a force of nature. What we end up with there is no telling and surely beyond my life span.
All well said, Bill...as usual. I'm happy that in addition to pointing out the almost unimaginable deficits of this Administration, you do not spare the feckless Democrats nor the shallowness of the citizenry that dutifully accept and play their roles in choosing only between the white hats and black hats as if in some childish board game.
You are right, though, Mr. Astore, about this war in Iran being important for more than just its impact on the U.S. economy. BUT, that language from the Democratic sector does resonate with the cadre of people who don’t dislike war, but who DID expect Mr. Trump to make their personal lives more comfortable. Sigh. You know…the disaffected MAGA-adjacent types. {How cynical it all becomes, eh?}
By most accounts, people who describe themselves as MAGA number about 30 million; yet Trump got 77 million votes in 2024. It's too easy to call those other 47 million 'MAGA adjacent."
Many of those others may have naively believed the Trump mirage, but looking at the Democrats they couldn't even see a whisper of a mirage. The Democrats were led by a befuddled President (his dementia was in plain view, as is Trump's now); the handover without even a primary to someone who couldn't win her own state in 2020 was abysmal; and she could do nothing but engage in a celebrity-driven campaign in which she demonstrated no real leadership. The unspoken message was - more of the same.
She was the VP at the time, and if Biden had to resign or otherwise leave office before the end of his term, she would have immediately become President. She demonstrated she wasn't ready or capable of the role.
And her failure to show moral courage to stand up to the genocide in Gaza disqualified her - she may have had to publicly keep quiet during the Biden term (but no one has reported her speaking up, as even Vance has apparently done), and the during the campaign she followed the admonition of Biden - "not one inch, kid" (in terms of separating herself from Biden).
And there is no evidence she would have followed any different path in what is now the most dangerous situation in the world and that is the NATO war with Russia.
I agree with much of what you say, and disagree with a lot. Yes, far too many went the Trump way, rather than risk a quiet Black woman who did not give evidence of her own intellect and ability during the Biden administration {I don’t think he’s demented — I do think he has some brain issues, but that does not necessarily mean dementia— or even a lack of cognitive clarity. I know a tiny bit about exhaustion and stress and old age, and he did show those effects, especially the stress and exhaustion aspects. And he SHOULD have adhered to his statements that he’d step down after one term. Lots of things he should have and could have done — and lots of OTHER things he actually did, but didn’t brag about, like putting our foreign alliances back together, after the first DJT infestation of the White House.}
I do think she should have been more forceful about denouncing Bibi’s regime and his treatment of Palestinians in Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank … and in the “rule of law” in Israel that does not provide equal treatment of Palestinians anywhere, even though they can be elected to the Knesset.
Mmmm, my point is—AGAIN—you don’t elect a person and then just sit back until next time. EVEN IF what she offered was “more of the same,” it was far less toxic and less chaotic than Trump, and we should have looked forward to ADVOCATING for less of the same, and BETTER policies from her.
So, we shoulda elected her. Because … Trump … super-duper, triple, enormously HUGE … way bad!
Hello TomR... In the 2020 Primaries, Joe Biden was coming in 3rd, or 4th until SC... Jim Clyburn turned it around for Biden... One suspects that having Kamala on the Ticket was part of the Deal... Prior to Biden dropping-out of the 2024, there was DC Chatter about Kamala being a DEI hire.... After the Nov'24 loss, why did she disappear for months so that the Democrats have no Leader?....
Nonevif it was well done by feckless old guard Democrats... We on the Left so desperately need principled and SAVVY voices to get our message across that we are FOR the GOOD of the PEOPLE-- all the people..
Unfortunately since Citizens United (2010), as Mittens Romney informed us, "corporations are people, my friend". Money, piles of it, are what counts more than any real human voices.
I can't put a like on that, because it is too lamentable, but I don't disagree.
Considering money speech, and granting a paper entity the same civil rights as a human being are both outrageous aberrations of logic and law.
Supreme Court sophistry of the worst kind.
Hello TomR... Mamdami win in 2025, and Obama in 2008, by going back to 1st Principals.... Building a Grass-Roots Movement, and applying relatable Leadership... Power Abhors A Vacuum, They Filled That Vacuum...
Stopping « military » action is not enough unless you include unilateral sanctions as a form of military action. Sanctions are underhanded and deceitful actions designed to enrage. So if only one side has this weapon which is illegal and lethal you have to count that as « military ».
Cage fight...how appropriately Trump.
Hello Wilrodx... Only Appropriate if DJT was one of the Fighters... Else DJT Is A Coward...
Trump can just veto the bill. Without a two thirds yeas or nays the veto can't be overridden. No such two thirds exists and historically most vetoes are not overridden. Although in January 2021, Congress did override President Donald Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Senate voted 81–13 and the House had previously voted overwhelmingly, marking the first override of his presidency. Like most things about American democracy a big stink is made about something that's actually just a sham.
Ironically, it would be to Trump's advantage if he didn't veto it. He would then have an excuse to wash his hands of it. Although, that would not change anything and things would stay about where they are now.
Bill, I appreciate the fact you did not delete my 2 comments on your article but hid them, so only those Truly interested can see.
It is a scary thought if it comes to be, as I have seen it on the way as recorded by The Kansas City Times in 1976. Especially Trump already threatened "FIRE and FURY" like this World has never seen in his 1st term.
Hiding it, brought to mind this article on a similar kind of incident when I hitchhiked through the US for 15 months seeking 'The Spirit of '76.' I spent Time at Arizona State University in Phoenix when the Religious Establishment wanted me to tone it down. With so much at stake, I can't do that.
https://rayjc.com/2011/02/26/proclaim-liberty-throughout-all-the-land/
OK, Ray, I see what happened. The automatic moderator (not me!) "hid" your comment because it was off-subject. And possibly because it had a lot of links (often a spam red flag).
Hi Ray: As far as I know, I've never "hidden" any of your comments. If you can point to one, I'll "unhide" it, assuming that's a thing.
You never did before Bill. That's why I replied as I did understanding why you might have hid it. .
Look at the very bottom of all the comments and the 2nd hid comment of my X to VP Mike Pence yesterday is still hidden, but the original comment relevant to this article the computer moderator hid, is no longer hidden, but deleted.
My original comment on this article:
With the brinkmanship of the US/NATO even mutually assured destruction is not a governor on escalation.
In my POW, the last major Jewish Prophet described what's possible in this Nuclear Age in the last chapter of his Book in the Book after opening with this line, 'So says the Lord, "The heavens are My throne, and the earth is My footstool; which is the house that you will build for Me, and which is the place of My rest?'
For behold, the Lord shall come with FIRE, and like a tempest,
His chariots, to render His anger with FURY, and His rebuke with flames of FIRE.
For with FIRE, will the Lord contend, and with His sword with all flesh, and those slain by the Lord shall be many.
Isaiah 66:15-16
THE DAY AFTER will be too late: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VG2aJyIFrA
As any reader here would be, out of the 100 Million people worldwide watching it on TV November 20, 1983, you would be as surprised as I was, to see after the nuclear incineration of Kansas City, the movie pauses at the EXACT SAME picture frame published by The Kansas City Times 7 Years to the month earlier, on ALL SOULS DAY, November 2, 1976.
https://rayjc.com/2013/09/01/signs-of-the-times/
Knowing Trump, it would be imprudent to dismiss he already threatened "FIRE and FURY" like this world has never seen in his 1st term. Most probably he was fed that line not knowing he was echoing the OT prophecy of Isaiah 66:15-16
Sorry, it's late in the day so no time to read the other comments. But here are my four cents (gotta adjust for inflation!): I am not an expert on the Truman presidency, but I think we should roll the history tape back to 1950. US troops have occupied the southern part of Korea since 1945. Up north, Kim Il Sung, grandfather of the current leader up there--note that I refuse to use the phony terms "South Korea" or "North Korea"--led the Communist-leaning (but fundamentally nationalist) forces that drove the Japanese occupiers out of that part of the Peninsula. With the US stubbornly refusing to grant half the Korean nation independence, Kim's forces launched an attack to the south to try to reclaim their nation. With anti-Communist propaganda--and the sentiment it successfully inculcated in Americans-- at the boiling point, Truman and his brain trust decided a formal Declaration of War was not necessary. [Doubtless these yokels had convinced themselves they could conquer the northern realm quickly.] And where was CONGRESS? Busy FAILING to uphold their responsibility to insist on declaring war, ceding more power to the Executive. Fast-forward to today and the picture of how we are being governed is far bleaker. Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger!!
Hello Bill Astore.... The Ukraine Conflict is much more Interesting than the Israeli Wars... The Ukrainians fight against a top-tier power, and the Israelis fight against Militias... The Ukrainians have been given fewer resources that what has been given to the Israelis.... Hmm?.... Here is something interesting to Watch... Note the reference to the 'Sherman vs. Tiger' Battle in 'Fury':
'https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/this-is-what-ukrainian-crews-say-about-facing-russian-armor-up-close'
ENJOY!!!
I wanted to share this video, in which Aaron Good takes a deeper dive into the 40+ years that led to the the State (US) not acting in the interests of hegemony (which has always been the goal), but in the interests of the few. I like Aaron Good's work, as his research is well documented. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fej-P7ZA4Qc
Luv your commitment to the rules of the land being usurped (daily) by a demented mad psychopathic man-child.
Dump trump before he dumps us.
If we had elected the other viable candidate for President, ALL of this would be different, including, likely, the Gaza situation.
Pragmatic choice should have been our choice, and the whole world would be in better straights...(not to mention International aid programs that were saving so many lives that have now been lost, and our health and climate scientific communities that are now being decimated). And with Kamala in office, then we should have held Democrats' feet to the fire to undo the unholy power of uber-wealth.
Instead, we have Mr. Chaos.
But, you know....mmmph....
Well, but Kamala firmly supported Biden who firmly supported genocide in Gaza. And Kamala named Iran as America's #1 enemy and expressed her support of U.S. military lethality.
So, how much would be different in Gaza and even Iran? Sure, there'd be the "joy" of Kamala, she'd put a smiley face on U.S. empire as Obama did, but did she really favor true change? That's doubtful.
I have much more faith in you, Pat, than Kamala.
Although I must admit I am speaking from hindsight, the other viable* candidate we could have elected was Jill Stein, NOT K.Harris, whose husband is a Zionist. And to remind you Pat, more people did not vote for EITHER Harris or Trump than voted for them. So Not Vote won the election. My question to you Pat, is why didn't you vote for Jill Stein? *Stein was viable in that she was on the ballot or could have been written in, in enough states to win. Also, I must admit that live in CA, where it was "safe" to vote for Stein, since Harris easily won the state. So I could vote against genocide by voting Green.
Oh, come on, Bill. You know she would not have done what he’s done. The nuclear agreement with Iran was negotiated by Obama, and though she could not have reinstated it unilaterally, she wouldn’t have gone to war there. We’ve said a LOT of countries are our enemies, and we still sit with them at world conferences and visit and negotiate with them—at least, we used to.
And she did NOT fully support anything like what is going on in Gaza — I often wonder if she’d have talked to Gershon Baskin, if she’d had the chance, which would have been REALLY good for Gaza and all of Israel.
As for lethality…which I think is silly to lean on, but militarists seem to like the word…I think we probably would not gain a lot of votes by saying we want our military to be less ABLE to be lethal. Though, we need to know that it serves us better when it’s a deterrent, and not in use for killing people {which always winds up killing our own soldiers, as well}.
I think we know she wouldn’t have caused the chaos in the Middle East, and she and Biden had already begun to talk about restricting arms to Israel and moderating the attacks in GAZA — I seriously don’t think she’d have supported carpet bombing there …
My main point in voting strategically and pragmatically is, however, ALWAYS to counsel that we don’t vote and then sit back until next time. We get ACTIVE and LOUD and make the less-than-we’d-really-want administration hear our voices for change … and we do all we can to get a Congress that can hold a president accountable.
But we don’t let a monster like DJT and his 2025 crew into power, ushering in what we have now.
{And I’ll be 80 soon. Apparently, according to current thought, not competent at all. LOL}
Pat, how can you "moderate" an ongoing genocide in Gaza? That's one big reason why Kamala lost in 2024: she refused to say anything meaningful about stopping the mass murder of Palestinians.
I know it’s one of the fronts on which she was attacked, but I take exception to using semantics to discredit lowering the chaos there.
And it rose to a full-scale, vigorous genocide under Trump-Bibi.
You “moderate” what was going on by de-escalation, by back-channel talks with the “powers” that actually have power to find a solution {which is why I mentioned Baskin}. You stop allowing bombing of schools and hospitals and aid stations and huge residential apartment buildings without strong opposition. You hold back on armaments {a position that Biden DID raise}, and you DON’T let DJT come to office and empower “escalation” there, as well as all he’s done here — imposing tariffs, attacking small boats, invading Venezuela, blocking oil to Cuba, cutting vital aid to vulnerable populations all over the word, exacerbating climate change, abandoning participation in world-wide pandemic readiness, invading residential apartment buildings in the United States and deporting immigrants grabbed during their asylum-related court hearings, or imprisoning and mistreating US citizens grabbed from their own beds…not to mention the grifting of our national economy …Oh, I’m exhausted.
“Letting” this guy into the White House has been one of the worst sins of this country in my lifetime {I was not yet alive when the US nuked Japan}.
I hope we can pull off a US rescue in ‘26 and ‘28, My granddaughter and generations younger than me deserve better — all over the world.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry - reported deaths through the end of 2024 were 46, 400; by the end of 2025 that number had increased to 73, 200. (And there are differences between different reporting agencies). But more or less, the barbaric murder of men, women, and children has been about 25,000 per year, under either the blackmailed/bribed Zionist Trump or the self proclaimed Zionist Biden.
Neither party gets a pass on this.
And 2028 will also be time to re-elect the senior New York senator who proudly proclaims he's all about keeping the Democrats loyal to Israel - speaking of course about Schumer (who will then be Senate Majority leader).
YES, the treatment of Palestinians in GAZA has been abysmal even BEFORE Bibi used the Hamas attack as an excuse to start carpet bombing … No argument at all.
My point is, Trump has been monstrous on about a zillion different fronts, and I don’t know how we EVER get out from under the 2025 crowd’s efforts to return to the 1800s {that’s the “Heritage” they are so enamored of}.
And I ain’t no Schumer fan. I was seriously disappointed with the guys Obama put in his cabinet!
Still not my point. Trump … HORRIBLE. More horrible than anybody else, and MAYBE harder to recover from, if we ever do.
{I’m making myself sad over what we’re leaving our kids — Just read Tom’s note on the Dispatch…if you know who I mean .. I hear him!}
No, it was one of the worst sins of the Democrats, especially Joe Biden, and the media.
True that they have all been part of the reason DJT is in there, but not all of it. Those of us who recognized the magnituge of his threat — and the 2025 gang — did our best to get people’s votes to keep him out. It was a failure.