Last night, much as Hitler had Joachim von Ribbentrop deliver an ultimatum to Poland before the September 1, 1939 invasion, Donald Trump delivered his own ultimatum to Venezuela. I was moved to write my Congressman, Lloyd Smucker. No state of war exists between the United States and Venezuela. There is no causus belli, no legalContinue reading “A Letter to My Congressman”
Category Archives: Politics
Land of Confusion
Six years ago, when I was in the ICU — vision melting, suspicion of a stroke, all that jazz — I took the cognitive tests that Donald Trump likes to brag about. That was part of the stroke protocol, along with various motor tests. I was happy when, after the second day, I didn’t haveContinue reading “Land of Confusion”
The Only Thing about the Government Shutdown You Need to Know
Republicans have the White House and majorities in the House, the Senate, and the Supreme Court. And they can’t keep the government open. John Thune could overrule the parliamentarian and move the CR in the Senate if he wanted to. Russ Vought is talking about how the shutdown lets him fire federal workers. This isContinue reading “The Only Thing about the Government Shutdown You Need to Know”
Violence is the Last Refuge of the Incompetent
To quote Isaac Asimov’s Foundation, “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent,” and Donald Trump is not only a deeply incompetent man, he has surrounded himself with incompetent sycophants like Pete Hegseth. Clots and prayers… but JD Vance won’t be any better.
The Regime Restricts COVID Vaccines
Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration announced its new guidance on the COVID-19 vaccine. Per NPR: The agency is limiting the updated shots to people who are at risk for serious complications because they are 65 or older or have other health problems. Until now, COVID vaccines had been available to anyone 6 months andContinue reading “The Regime Restricts COVID Vaccines”
Some Thoughts on Politics
I don’t talk as much about politics as I used to on this here site, but today I must. The Republican “Big, Beautiful Bill” — aka, the budget reconciliation bill — amounts to civilizational suicide. I’ve been thinking in terms of Sid Meier’s Civilization games. The United States has basically been sitting a few turnsContinue reading “Some Thoughts on Politics”
Plain Deranged
Lindsay Graham has an opinion on who the next Pope should be…. Graham is little more than an obsequious toady. He manages to get a “Trump 2028” in there, too. Malcolm Tucker deserves the last word…
The Madness of King Donald
America has no king.America needs no king. Seen on the official White House Twitter feed. Donald Trump, calling himself a king. A king. Donald Trump increasingly reminds me of Denethor. As he threatens our nearest neighbors, as he covets lands governed by our allies, as he spurns decades-long alliances and parcels up territory not hisContinue reading “The Madness of King Donald”
Public Service Announcement
This blog will not comply with the Gulf of Mexico nonsense out of the White House. This blog will never refer to Greenland as “Red, White, and Blueland.” Things have names. We will continue to use the proper, historical names. This blog will not abandon reason for madness.
Empathy Is Not a Sin
A deacon of a church in Utah weighs in on the prayer service at the National Cathedral to mark the inauguration of convicted felon Donald Trump as president of the United States where Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde exhorted the president to show mercy on migrants and the LGBTQ community. Let me reiterate the Community NoteContinue reading “Empathy Is Not a Sin”