George Conway is right - Dipshit J Trump is fortifying DC to protect himself in advance from his terminal unpopularity, all under a guise of "tough on crime". No question.
There are always secondary motives for his tantrums/ actions. Unfortunately, the corporate media just repeats and amplifies Trump's Kabuki theater, rather than focusing on his intent and actual objective.
Makes us forget Trumpepstein, acquiescence to Putin, etc.
Here's the news in Warsaw: As of August 22, 2025, there has been no full-scale Russian attack on Poland. However, there have been several provocations and escalations, including incursions of Russian military hardware into Polish airspace and a major Russian and Belarusian military exercise near the Polish border.
Recent provocations and escalations
Drone crashes: On August 20, 2025, a Russian-made drone crashed and exploded in eastern Poland. Polish officials, including the Defense Minister, called the incident a "provocation" by Russia.
Airspace violations: Following massive Russian aerial strikes on Ukraine, Polish and allied NATO jets were scrambled multiple times in July and August 2025 to secure Polish airspace. No violations were officially reported during these recent incidents, but they show heightened tensions.
Hybrid warfare: Poland has accused Russia of engaging in a hybrid war, involving sabotage, disinformation, and cyberattacks. A major fire in Warsaw in May 2024 was later attributed by Polish investigators to Russian intelligence services.
Military exercises: Russia and Belarus began their "Zapad-2025" military drills near the Polish border on August 22, 2025. The exercises are concerning to Poland, the Baltic states, and Ukraine.
Poland and NATO's response
Defense spending: Poland is significantly increasing its defense spending and military preparedness. This includes plans to create new army divisions and boost its drone inventory.
NATO assurance: Following recent incidents, including the Russian drone crash, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte reaffirmed the alliance's commitment to defending Poland "with full force" if it is attacked. Rutte's warning was specifically addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Increased security: The Netherlands has deployed 300 troops and Patriot missile systems to Poland to bolster its defense capabilities and protect NATO territory.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,075,160 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
August 23, 2025 9:22 am
The number includes 840 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,129 tanks, 23,164 armored fighting vehicles, 59,512 vehicles and fuel tanks, 31,858 artillery systems, 1,472 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,210 air defense systems, 422 airplanes, 340 helicopters, 52,935 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
From Kyviv Post:
Red arpet for Putin: Ukraine Strilkes Back
Peace Summit, Propaganda Win, Energy War Escalates
Welcome to “Summary of the Week” — your quick guide to the top headlines from August 16 to August 23, 2025.
From Google News: Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,276 (August 23)
Here are the key events on day 1,276 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Fighting
Russian troops have taken control of the settlements of Rusyn Yar, Volodymyrivka and Katerynivka in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defence said.
Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia could be suspended for at least five days after a Ukrainian drone strike on a facility in Russia, Hungarian and Slovak officials said. The attack by Ukraine marked the second time this week that Russian oil supplies have been cut to both countries.
An energy facility at Unecha in Russia’s Bryansk region, through which the Europe-bound Druzhba oil pipeline runs, caught fire as a result of Ukrainian missile and drone attacks, regional governor Alexander Bogomaz said, adding that the fire had been extinguished.
"Russia is building up its military presence along its borders with NATO countries, the latest reportedly with Finland. That's raising concerns across Europe as the U.S. retreats from its support for the decades-old alliance. Nations that share a border with Russia are especially concerned, including Finland and former Soviet Baltic states like Estonia and Latvia."
Google: Disputed Territories and Strategic Presence:
Moldova (Transnistria): Russian forces are stationed in the breakaway region of Transnistria, a presence that serves to influence Moldova.
Kyrgyzstan: Russia maintains a joint airbase in the Kant region of Kyrgyzstan.
Abkhazia: In the Russian-controlled region of Abkhazia (part of Georgia), Russia maintains military facilities, including in Gudauta.
Krasnov is busy getting back at anyone he perceives as having done something wrong to him. All the while the GOP drive to end America and its real greatness same as all such fundamental movements and real darkness took down previous civilizations bringing the end of such nations.
Yes and the Democratic party is still dithering, standing to their tradition, by, for example, continuing to back a failed politician, a sexual harrasser, Andrew Cuomo, just because he is a long time loyalist.
The party is a poor joke, and we are paying the price. We need a new DNC, DCCC, DSCC, one with values other than long time loyalty and dues paying, a fire breathing, no holds barred, punch below the belt, no nonsense Democratic party, that actually does speak to the jmasses, not the donors.
They recruit a stable of race horses, that have the backing of wealthy owners, they exercise them in the paddock (building up their credentials, proving their reliability and loyalty to the owners), they are cued up and when a race comes up, that fits their experience, training they haul them to the starting gate.
Current examples: Hillary, Terry McAuliffe and Andrew Cuomo, experience, loyalty and dependability rank highest
Politics is, for them, simply a game, they live in a bubble, isolated from the real world, and worse for an organization that is perceived to be bottom up, the Democratic party is top down.
Meanwhile since Clinton, Emanuel, Summers the real competition with the Republicans is for place at the slop trough.
And the Republicans have elbowed them out. To our chagrin and loss, the party has not learned that they don't have to prostitute themselves, for donor cash.
Properly motivated, as proven by Bernie, the voting public can overwhelm the donors, even Musk and the tech bros.
People simply have to believe them, believe they are sincere and that requires authenticity, and there was nothing authentic about Hillary, Terry, Joe or Kamala.
I paid attention to Kamala's speeches and interviews, She really didn't need to speak, all she had to do was hold up flash cards, like the ones used on TV, (the ones used by late night hosts like Seth Meyers.
IMHO we actually were robbed in the 2024 cycle. If there's a fault, it's because we failed to prosecute during the election. The DNC had nothing to do with that.
Once upon a time, as a lawyer, I represented Democratic candidates, but also a member of the Republican national committee. As I keep sayin' all politics is (and are) local. Here in Baghdad By the Sea many of the MAGA had been Dems, but left because they love, if not worship Trump. What some of national candidates say feeds into this phenomenon.
You know NOTHING about the DNC. It's a democratic organization.Have to run at the local level. I decided not to run this year, but I was on the local executive committee.
It is not an authoritarian organization. We have a platform from the 2024 election cycle which is published and can, if there's a rationale, be amended.
I spent more than 30 years when I was "super hatched" as a federal employee and couldn't participate. But I went to law school with the DNC president in the '95 cycle and when I lived in. DC I knew there were deep divisions. Not true anymore....lots of disinformation.
That;s the problem Daniel. Supporting any Dem in a general election. For starters Cuomo is running as an independent, Mamdani is running as the Democrat. So you got that one wrong.
And the problem is that the Dem that winds up in the General is too often someone that the party put their fingers on the scale fore
We need a new ethos, a new standard, a fire breathing one in the Democratic party.
And your fall back position of psyops and psy ops operatives is stale.
Some of us actually want real democrats, not party hacks, compromisers, opportunists, self aggrandizers to represent us, and leave the hacks etc, to the Republican party.
And you can stop accusing me of being a psy ops operative, you weren't do that when I was defending Israel from HAMAS.
Come to think of it, you might be a Russian psy ops operative, trying to lull us to sleep, and waste our time chasing snipes and will o the wisps.
Example of why it is not the truth Daniel. Flippant responses are the stuff of psyops agents.
For instance Boris throws out shit about Israel committing genocide, just throws it out,and then throws out crap about Red Scare, the same way you throw around psy ops.
A little story, about the boy who cried wolf. You remember it don't y ou.
It is possible to be a hard core progressive, and not be a party apparatchik or a psyops agent. With your education and background I would think that you would know that.
Bolton must have been given a heads-up from someone on the inside. Heaven help them if they get caught, but it's good to know there are defiant people everywhere.
Newsom has kept us entertained. It's pretty amazing to hear all the whining on FOX. Dana used to be a pretty good spinner, but she sounded down-right stupid in her response.
South Park did a real number on Trump for the third episode, but the lefties on TikTok stole the show. What were they thinking when they opened @whitehouse?! In minutes of the first bit of propaganda posted, along came the smartest trolls to hit the net in years. That stuff is hilarious. Springtime For Hitler 2025.
I've got my own version of FU. My sign says Russia Russia Russia, True True True, Treason Treason Treason. It gets a lot of thumbs up---TRump is proving it daily. See you in the streets.
One of the worst neocons: "There is no such thing as the United Nations" "If the UN Secretariat building lost the top 10 floors, it wouldn't make a bit of difference". Thinks in black and white, doesn't understand nuance, shoots from the hip. The whole list.
The War Criminal is laying low in Crawford; I guess he didn't have to buy that land in Paraguay. The Election Thief is busy making money---to the victor go the spoils.
Anyone with two neurons to rub together knew that the moment it was announced that Todd Blanche would sit down with Ghislaine Maxwell, that the fix was in. The only mystery is why anyone was surprised. Hint: They weren't, but we live in a world where people are afraid to sticktheir neck out and call a spade a spade.
Roberts is gaming the system. He knew that the other five would rule in Trump's favor, so he safely dissented to try and preserve his reputation.
That A New York appellate court confirms that Trump and his real estate empire committed massive tax and insurance fraud is a complete victory, for without punishment there is no crime.
It is like getting finger wagged and slapped on the wrist and told bad boy (girl) after committing murder.. yet still found guilty of committing a crime.
The Appeals court followed the precedent of Trump, when he pardoned the January 6th, insurrectionists. And Trump gets to keep his precious money.
Regarding the court decision in Trump's fraud case, my local Gannett-owned newspaper reported the ruling as a victory for Trump. This newspaper has been putting in more Trump-friendly stories lately. Surrender in advance much?
The only surprise left when today's SCOTUS chooses to ignore the Constitution for the umpteenth time is which Nazi on the bench will suddenly get struck with common sense to join Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan in their dissents.
In my eyes, it's similar to the game Collins and Murkowski play in the US Senate: wait to make sure the Republicans have the votes, and then take a "principled stand" against their party's decision, thus showing their "independent voices." Gag me with a spoon.
I keep sayin'. By going along to get along the Dems on SCOTUS have acquiesced, may be complicit with potental bias and conflicts. Roberts' order in November, 2023 imposes a duty on them to come forward if they see activity that displys an "appearance" of bias or conflict. https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/Code-of-Conduct-for-Justices_November_13_2023.pdf
If any have personal knowledge that the financial statements contain evidence of conflicts, or if they've heard admissions, all should be addressed by affidavits submitted to Roberts, as Chief Justice.
The rule is: 28 U.S. Code § 455 - Disqualification of justice, judge, or magistrate judge
(a)Any justice, judge, or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.
The statute has been on the books since 1948. We only have one kind of "justice" in the federal system.
Roberts referred the matter of the Thomas ethics controversy to the Judicial Conference of the United States in April 2023, before the Judicial Code became applicable, after receiving a letter from Senator Dick Durbin. However, this referral did not lead to an investigation or referral to the U.S. Attorney General, as sought by some members of Congress, because Supreme Court justices are not subject to the same ethics enforcement mechanisms as lower federal judges.
IMHO if a motion to recuse or disqualify were filed, Roberts would have a duty to adjudicate the matter, and that probably means hold a formal hearing.
By analogy, at the lower levels, the filing of an affidavit places the burden on the accused. 28 U.S. Code § 144 - Bias or prejudice of judge
"Whenever a party to any proceeding in a district court makes and files a timely and sufficient affidavit that the judge before whom the matter is pending has a personal bias or prejudice either against him or in favor of any adverse party, such judge shall proceed no further therein, but another judge shall be assigned to hear such proceeding.
The affidavit shall state the facts and the reasons for the belief that bias or prejudice exists, and shall be filed not less than ten days before the beginning of the term at which the proceeding is to be heard, or good cause shall be shown for failure to file it within such time. A party may file only one such affidavit in any case. It shall be accompanied by a certificate of counsel of record stating that it is made in good faith."
I bet Maxwell will be granted work release at her Camp Fed. She'll work for a few days and then a private jet will be fueled up at the nearest airport and off she'll go. A bit late with her checkin at Camp Fed. What no-extradition country would take her I don't know. She belongs back in a regular prison to serve the remaining 20 years of her sentence, which was a just one, because of the girls' and women's lives she despoiled.
I see he fired several generals and admirals lately. Apparently Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, didn't give a glowing enough report that the Iranian nuclear capabilities were destroyed. So rather than keep talented and hard working people whom you can learn from, it is easier to remove them and stay with your delusions. Well, at least he didn't shoot them like Stalin did. That worked out rather badly when the Germans invaded and there was no one around to successfully oppose them. I wonder if in our own way we're going down a similar path.
Eventually, Mr Tater Tot may irritate too many people who are way up on the food chain and retribution will arrive — a tragic malfunction of Air Farce One: an mRNA virus, the cure of which would have been found were it not for funding cuts; a rogue alligator pulling him into the water hazard on the 13th hole; a sudden inexplicable allergy to gold — any number of tragedies. Or perhaps his diet of McDonalds' and Diet Coke will finally catch up with him. Not that I believe him to be a reader but he might want to study the history of the caesars during the Roman Empire: piss off the wrong person, destabilize the economy, put too much faith in the Praetorian Guard and... Next?
However some of his advisors didn't buy their diplomas and therefore probably know. Now if they only had the courage to tell him, an admittedly "fall on your sword" moment.
No matter if all of his serious henchmen like Stephen Miller, who are pushing the agenda because that is what they want, - don’t know what you call that - and don’t see the need to convince him because their hubris blinds them. True believers.
I have studied the 2025 plan for some time now and institutions connected to promoting this take over are convinced it will happen. I have also studied those surrounding Trump. Someone like Pam Bondi, who has read history presumably, could fall on the sword but I doubt it will happen.
BTW: I see your time stamp and number 6 is a crime against me of more than two decades 24/7 with no let up. It is tyranny - cruel and unusual abuse of power. It caused dissension in our household and during times of serious disagreements about whether it was real caused great pain in our family. People tried to convince my husband I must be paranoid - get counseling. I was left hanging on my own and many people knew it. It became their entertainment. I had to drop out of most of life - writing creatively became impossible because every character I typed or wrote longhand was seen instantly.
I was well aware more than two decades ago and trying to cope caused an auto immune disease to break out in hot watery itchy large blisters that took six years to go into remission. Especially dealing with my son who is schizophrenic for whom we became his caretakers they used him even up until today are using him to create havoc in my life.
ALL of those who allowed the surveillance and were recipients of our personal conversations and disagreements could have brought some relief in our relationship because we also had family crises to deal with.
The information they gleaned became so widespread we were victims to arbitrary reactions taken by these individuals.
Hundreds of cars follow me and they know where I am going by seeing how I prepared to leave the house. Movie producers have made millions from this surveillance. Businesses local and corporations have marketed the themes surrounding me into their business dealings.
These accounts are just the tip of the iceberg. It would have taken investigating me for a month to get what information was needed about me. I have committed no crime . Sorry not edited.
Trump has all sorts of followers. However, some of those followers aren't: They're the actual people driving the bus. Trump in the main is a stooge. He's allowed to run roughshod over the land; to act the buffoon (as if he can act any other way); to eviscerate the government while the slow coup continues more or less unabated. The goal, obviously enough, is to construct a Fascist Utopia, where Real White Christian Men are in control, just as God intended, and everyone else knows their place and acts accordingly.
I don't really know how to address the personal aspects of your post, Carol. I don't know you - we have had very little interaction - so I have to admit that I don't know your actual intent in sharing it with me.
.....tRUMP has committed so many crimes that are obvious to the naked eye....not only throughout his entire life but also while holding office, the money laundering aspeck with Russia is another example that seems to be swept aside (thanks to the SCOTUS immunity decision) making him not accountable for almost anything as an [illegal] president....now this thing with Intel just blows my mind...
but what really has me worried besides the deployment of the Nat. Guard in LA & DC and now coming to other blue state Democratic cities around the country, the FBI raiding the home and office of a former high level administration official (love or hate Bolton) who has been highly critical of tRUMP now and in the past who he has hated forever and added to his retribution list .....(the Russian playbook of how to intimidate and remove your political critics)......just another distraction from tRUMP's real problem, Epstein.
but mostly the ordering of red state Governors, like Abbot, to create newly redistricted voting lines that would eliminate Congressional Democrat seats thus insuring Republican majorities across the country, staying in power endlessly.....this is the slow motion continuation of the J6 coup that is now leading up to the '26 & '28 elections (if by then there will even be any further election)....
tRUMP is only the place card for the real maga power brokers (Project 2025) running this insane and horrific "Killer Klowns From Outer Space Show" ....because tRUMP has all but gone so "Bat-Shit" crazt, that it's getting harder and harder to prop up his physically and emotionally diseased carcass.....outside of public view, tRUMP must look like a character from the horror movie "SAW", the tons of makeup and meds to keep him upright aren't cutting it...... they have to give him stupid and deplorable projects to do....concrete over ther Rose Garden, redecorate the Oval in gold, build a fucking ballroom on more taxpayer dimes, rename the Kennedy Center....take a walk on the roof of the WH and erect giant flag poles....all this nonsense to keep him out of the way of Miller and the rest of the Goon Squad who are really running things until tRUMP is no longer useful and they can just replace him with another frontman.
and keep the distractions coming on an hourly and daily basis away from the Epstein files, where tRUMPS true Kryptonite is embedded and they never and will do an say anything from seeing the light of day.....
seems the only way all this insanity will stop is someone with a baseball bat.
Thank you again Mr. Hartmann, however, it appears to me that you must be getting terribly frustrated. I can see very little evidence that the majority of the population is still not getting, that we are not even close to “waking up” to the very real probability that the only answer to our horrible reality is the Dr.King mobilization of huge numbers of mild mannered citizens in the streets marching on Washington en masse peacefully, no matter the consequences.
I have been praying more than usual for our people in this country to be kept safe. This current behavior from DJT makes me wonder if it is a result of the meeting with Putin in Alaska, which would explain the ashen looks on his people when they came out from the meeting. The thing about getting retribution is that a person thinks they're gonna feel better, but it doesn't work that way. It looks like he could start a Civil War or World War III and in both of those wars, there goes his presidency!!! There are more of us than there are of them and I have hope in the courage that our people are expressing. UNITED, WE STAND! DIVIDED, WE FALL!
Thom, I really believe the bottom is all these haters know. I, am so glad I am myself and not them. I, really do have a bottom. I, yearn for democracy, that’s all.
George Conway is right - Dipshit J Trump is fortifying DC to protect himself in advance from his terminal unpopularity, all under a guise of "tough on crime". No question.
There are always secondary motives for his tantrums/ actions. Unfortunately, the corporate media just repeats and amplifies Trump's Kabuki theater, rather than focusing on his intent and actual objective.
Makes us forget Trumpepstein, acquiescence to Putin, etc.
Here's the news in Warsaw: As of August 22, 2025, there has been no full-scale Russian attack on Poland. However, there have been several provocations and escalations, including incursions of Russian military hardware into Polish airspace and a major Russian and Belarusian military exercise near the Polish border.
Recent provocations and escalations
Drone crashes: On August 20, 2025, a Russian-made drone crashed and exploded in eastern Poland. Polish officials, including the Defense Minister, called the incident a "provocation" by Russia.
Airspace violations: Following massive Russian aerial strikes on Ukraine, Polish and allied NATO jets were scrambled multiple times in July and August 2025 to secure Polish airspace. No violations were officially reported during these recent incidents, but they show heightened tensions.
Hybrid warfare: Poland has accused Russia of engaging in a hybrid war, involving sabotage, disinformation, and cyberattacks. A major fire in Warsaw in May 2024 was later attributed by Polish investigators to Russian intelligence services.
Military exercises: Russia and Belarus began their "Zapad-2025" military drills near the Polish border on August 22, 2025. The exercises are concerning to Poland, the Baltic states, and Ukraine.
Poland and NATO's response
Defense spending: Poland is significantly increasing its defense spending and military preparedness. This includes plans to create new army divisions and boost its drone inventory.
NATO assurance: Following recent incidents, including the Russian drone crash, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte reaffirmed the alliance's commitment to defending Poland "with full force" if it is attacked. Rutte's warning was specifically addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Increased security: The Netherlands has deployed 300 troops and Patriot missile systems to Poland to bolster its defense capabilities and protect NATO territory.
News from Ukraine:
From Kyviv Independent:
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,075,160 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
August 23, 2025 9:22 am
The number includes 840 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,129 tanks, 23,164 armored fighting vehicles, 59,512 vehicles and fuel tanks, 31,858 artillery systems, 1,472 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,210 air defense systems, 422 airplanes, 340 helicopters, 52,935 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
From Kyviv Post:
Red arpet for Putin: Ukraine Strilkes Back
Peace Summit, Propaganda Win, Energy War Escalates
Welcome to “Summary of the Week” — your quick guide to the top headlines from August 16 to August 23, 2025.
https://www.kyivpost.com/videos/58816
From Google News: Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,276 (August 23)
Here are the key events on day 1,276 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Fighting
Russian troops have taken control of the settlements of Rusyn Yar, Volodymyrivka and Katerynivka in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defence said.
Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia could be suspended for at least five days after a Ukrainian drone strike on a facility in Russia, Hungarian and Slovak officials said. The attack by Ukraine marked the second time this week that Russian oil supplies have been cut to both countries.
An energy facility at Unecha in Russia’s Bryansk region, through which the Europe-bound Druzhba oil pipeline runs, caught fire as a result of Ukrainian missile and drone attacks, regional governor Alexander Bogomaz said, adding that the fire had been extinguished.
China ready to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, German media reports
https://kyivindependent.com/china-ready-to-send-peacekeeping-troops-to-ukraine-german-media-reports/
Uprising In Iran Reaches MULTIPLE Cities - IRGC Prepare Crackdown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqNnimnwghs&t=236s
Look at the crowds protesting in real time today.
Putin wants Poland back as part of his imaginary Russian empire. Thanks for all that info, I had no idea.
Russia builds up military presence along borders with NATO member countries
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/20/nx-s1-5403625/russia-builds-up-military-presence-along-borders-with-nato-member-countries
"Russia is building up its military presence along its borders with NATO countries, the latest reportedly with Finland. That's raising concerns across Europe as the U.S. retreats from its support for the decades-old alliance. Nations that share a border with Russia are especially concerned, including Finland and former Soviet Baltic states like Estonia and Latvia."
Google: Disputed Territories and Strategic Presence:
Moldova (Transnistria): Russian forces are stationed in the breakaway region of Transnistria, a presence that serves to influence Moldova.
Kyrgyzstan: Russia maintains a joint airbase in the Kant region of Kyrgyzstan.
Abkhazia: In the Russian-controlled region of Abkhazia (part of Georgia), Russia maintains military facilities, including in Gudauta.
List of Russian military bases abroad
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Russian_military_bases_abroad
Please don't insult Kabuki theater. It's high art. More second-rate mob movie made for TV.
Krasnov is busy getting back at anyone he perceives as having done something wrong to him. All the while the GOP drive to end America and its real greatness same as all such fundamental movements and real darkness took down previous civilizations bringing the end of such nations.
Yes and the Democratic party is still dithering, standing to their tradition, by, for example, continuing to back a failed politician, a sexual harrasser, Andrew Cuomo, just because he is a long time loyalist.
The party is a poor joke, and we are paying the price. We need a new DNC, DCCC, DSCC, one with values other than long time loyalty and dues paying, a fire breathing, no holds barred, punch below the belt, no nonsense Democratic party, that actually does speak to the jmasses, not the donors.
We tried with Bernie in 2016 and surely had the popular vote and energy but was crushed by the party. They're doing it again.
Here is the culture of the Democratic Pary
They recruit a stable of race horses, that have the backing of wealthy owners, they exercise them in the paddock (building up their credentials, proving their reliability and loyalty to the owners), they are cued up and when a race comes up, that fits their experience, training they haul them to the starting gate.
Current examples: Hillary, Terry McAuliffe and Andrew Cuomo, experience, loyalty and dependability rank highest
Politics is, for them, simply a game, they live in a bubble, isolated from the real world, and worse for an organization that is perceived to be bottom up, the Democratic party is top down.
Meanwhile since Clinton, Emanuel, Summers the real competition with the Republicans is for place at the slop trough.
And the Republicans have elbowed them out. To our chagrin and loss, the party has not learned that they don't have to prostitute themselves, for donor cash.
Properly motivated, as proven by Bernie, the voting public can overwhelm the donors, even Musk and the tech bros.
People simply have to believe them, believe they are sincere and that requires authenticity, and there was nothing authentic about Hillary, Terry, Joe or Kamala.
I paid attention to Kamala's speeches and interviews, She really didn't need to speak, all she had to do was hold up flash cards, like the ones used on TV, (the ones used by late night hosts like Seth Meyers.
IMHO we actually were robbed in the 2024 cycle. If there's a fault, it's because we failed to prosecute during the election. The DNC had nothing to do with that.
Once upon a time, as a lawyer, I represented Democratic candidates, but also a member of the Republican national committee. As I keep sayin' all politics is (and are) local. Here in Baghdad By the Sea many of the MAGA had been Dems, but left because they love, if not worship Trump. What some of national candidates say feeds into this phenomenon.
You know NOTHING about the DNC. It's a democratic organization.Have to run at the local level. I decided not to run this year, but I was on the local executive committee.
It is not an authoritarian organization. We have a platform from the 2024 election cycle which is published and can, if there's a rationale, be amended.
I spent more than 30 years when I was "super hatched" as a federal employee and couldn't participate. But I went to law school with the DNC president in the '95 cycle and when I lived in. DC I knew there were deep divisions. Not true anymore....lots of disinformation.
Not true. Democrtic Party will support any Dem in a general elaction. This is the kind of disinformation spread by psy ops operatives.
That;s the problem Daniel. Supporting any Dem in a general election. For starters Cuomo is running as an independent, Mamdani is running as the Democrat. So you got that one wrong.
And the problem is that the Dem that winds up in the General is too often someone that the party put their fingers on the scale fore
We need a new ethos, a new standard, a fire breathing one in the Democratic party.
And your fall back position of psyops and psy ops operatives is stale.
Some of us actually want real democrats, not party hacks, compromisers, opportunists, self aggrandizers to represent us, and leave the hacks etc, to the Republican party.
And you can stop accusing me of being a psy ops operative, you weren't do that when I was defending Israel from HAMAS.
Come to think of it, you might be a Russian psy ops operative, trying to lull us to sleep, and waste our time chasing snipes and will o the wisps.
Pardon the spelling. Not the TRUTH.
Example of why it is not the truth Daniel. Flippant responses are the stuff of psyops agents.
For instance Boris throws out shit about Israel committing genocide, just throws it out,and then throws out crap about Red Scare, the same way you throw around psy ops.
A little story, about the boy who cried wolf. You remember it don't y ou.
It is possible to be a hard core progressive, and not be a party apparatchik or a psyops agent. With your education and background I would think that you would know that.
YES!!!!!
One Big FU
Bolton must have been given a heads-up from someone on the inside. Heaven help them if they get caught, but it's good to know there are defiant people everywhere.
Newsom has kept us entertained. It's pretty amazing to hear all the whining on FOX. Dana used to be a pretty good spinner, but she sounded down-right stupid in her response.
South Park did a real number on Trump for the third episode, but the lefties on TikTok stole the show. What were they thinking when they opened @whitehouse?! In minutes of the first bit of propaganda posted, along came the smartest trolls to hit the net in years. That stuff is hilarious. Springtime For Hitler 2025.
I've got my own version of FU. My sign says Russia Russia Russia, True True True, Treason Treason Treason. It gets a lot of thumbs up---TRump is proving it daily. See you in the streets.
Bolton is a card carrying Republican. A leader of the Neoconservatives.
This bretheren should rise to his defense. Where, oh where, are GWB and his brother JEB Bush?
One of the worst neocons: "There is no such thing as the United Nations" "If the UN Secretariat building lost the top 10 floors, it wouldn't make a bit of difference". Thinks in black and white, doesn't understand nuance, shoots from the hip. The whole list.
The War Criminal is laying low in Crawford; I guess he didn't have to buy that land in Paraguay. The Election Thief is busy making money---to the victor go the spoils.
Well... On some level there is no United Nations. It is about as valid as the League of Nations at this point.
If there are any protests of this fascist regime they should begin outside of the corporate offices of all of the corporate legacy media.
Every Fox outlet.
And the offices, homes and even the churches of Congressional Republicans.
Be there or be square:
https://removalcoalition.org/
Anyone with two neurons to rub together knew that the moment it was announced that Todd Blanche would sit down with Ghislaine Maxwell, that the fix was in. The only mystery is why anyone was surprised. Hint: They weren't, but we live in a world where people are afraid to sticktheir neck out and call a spade a spade.
Roberts is gaming the system. He knew that the other five would rule in Trump's favor, so he safely dissented to try and preserve his reputation.
That A New York appellate court confirms that Trump and his real estate empire committed massive tax and insurance fraud is a complete victory, for without punishment there is no crime.
It is like getting finger wagged and slapped on the wrist and told bad boy (girl) after committing murder.. yet still found guilty of committing a crime.
The Appeals court followed the precedent of Trump, when he pardoned the January 6th, insurrectionists. And Trump gets to keep his precious money.
Regarding the court decision in Trump's fraud case, my local Gannett-owned newspaper reported the ruling as a victory for Trump. This newspaper has been putting in more Trump-friendly stories lately. Surrender in advance much?
They're getting on the express train to fascism. Corporate opportunists want in on the ground floor of all the crimeing.
The only surprise left when today's SCOTUS chooses to ignore the Constitution for the umpteenth time is which Nazi on the bench will suddenly get struck with common sense to join Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan in their dissents.
In my eyes, it's similar to the game Collins and Murkowski play in the US Senate: wait to make sure the Republicans have the votes, and then take a "principled stand" against their party's decision, thus showing their "independent voices." Gag me with a spoon.
I keep sayin'. By going along to get along the Dems on SCOTUS have acquiesced, may be complicit with potental bias and conflicts. Roberts' order in November, 2023 imposes a duty on them to come forward if they see activity that displys an "appearance" of bias or conflict. https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/Code-of-Conduct-for-Justices_November_13_2023.pdf
If any have personal knowledge that the financial statements contain evidence of conflicts, or if they've heard admissions, all should be addressed by affidavits submitted to Roberts, as Chief Justice.
The rule is: 28 U.S. Code § 455 - Disqualification of justice, judge, or magistrate judge
(a)Any justice, judge, or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.
The statute has been on the books since 1948. We only have one kind of "justice" in the federal system.
Roberts referred the matter of the Thomas ethics controversy to the Judicial Conference of the United States in April 2023, before the Judicial Code became applicable, after receiving a letter from Senator Dick Durbin. However, this referral did not lead to an investigation or referral to the U.S. Attorney General, as sought by some members of Congress, because Supreme Court justices are not subject to the same ethics enforcement mechanisms as lower federal judges.
IMHO if a motion to recuse or disqualify were filed, Roberts would have a duty to adjudicate the matter, and that probably means hold a formal hearing.
By analogy, at the lower levels, the filing of an affidavit places the burden on the accused. 28 U.S. Code § 144 - Bias or prejudice of judge
"Whenever a party to any proceeding in a district court makes and files a timely and sufficient affidavit that the judge before whom the matter is pending has a personal bias or prejudice either against him or in favor of any adverse party, such judge shall proceed no further therein, but another judge shall be assigned to hear such proceeding.
The affidavit shall state the facts and the reasons for the belief that bias or prejudice exists, and shall be filed not less than ten days before the beginning of the term at which the proceeding is to be heard, or good cause shall be shown for failure to file it within such time. A party may file only one such affidavit in any case. It shall be accompanied by a certificate of counsel of record stating that it is made in good faith."
(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 898; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 65, 63 Stat. 99.)
I bet Maxwell will be granted work release at her Camp Fed. She'll work for a few days and then a private jet will be fueled up at the nearest airport and off she'll go. A bit late with her checkin at Camp Fed. What no-extradition country would take her I don't know. She belongs back in a regular prison to serve the remaining 20 years of her sentence, which was a just one, because of the girls' and women's lives she despoiled.
I see he fired several generals and admirals lately. Apparently Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, didn't give a glowing enough report that the Iranian nuclear capabilities were destroyed. So rather than keep talented and hard working people whom you can learn from, it is easier to remove them and stay with your delusions. Well, at least he didn't shoot them like Stalin did. That worked out rather badly when the Germans invaded and there was no one around to successfully oppose them. I wonder if in our own way we're going down a similar path.
I trust this is a rhetorical question.
Eventually, Mr Tater Tot may irritate too many people who are way up on the food chain and retribution will arrive — a tragic malfunction of Air Farce One: an mRNA virus, the cure of which would have been found were it not for funding cuts; a rogue alligator pulling him into the water hazard on the 13th hole; a sudden inexplicable allergy to gold — any number of tragedies. Or perhaps his diet of McDonalds' and Diet Coke will finally catch up with him. Not that I believe him to be a reader but he might want to study the history of the caesars during the Roman Empire: piss off the wrong person, destabilize the economy, put too much faith in the Praetorian Guard and... Next?
It would not matter if Trump read history because he operates in his own delusional world where he believes he can get away with anything he wants.
Alas...
However some of his advisors didn't buy their diplomas and therefore probably know. Now if they only had the courage to tell him, an admittedly "fall on your sword" moment.
No matter if all of his serious henchmen like Stephen Miller, who are pushing the agenda because that is what they want, - don’t know what you call that - and don’t see the need to convince him because their hubris blinds them. True believers.
I have studied the 2025 plan for some time now and institutions connected to promoting this take over are convinced it will happen. I have also studied those surrounding Trump. Someone like Pam Bondi, who has read history presumably, could fall on the sword but I doubt it will happen.
BTW: I see your time stamp and number 6 is a crime against me of more than two decades 24/7 with no let up. It is tyranny - cruel and unusual abuse of power. It caused dissension in our household and during times of serious disagreements about whether it was real caused great pain in our family. People tried to convince my husband I must be paranoid - get counseling. I was left hanging on my own and many people knew it. It became their entertainment. I had to drop out of most of life - writing creatively became impossible because every character I typed or wrote longhand was seen instantly.
I was well aware more than two decades ago and trying to cope caused an auto immune disease to break out in hot watery itchy large blisters that took six years to go into remission. Especially dealing with my son who is schizophrenic for whom we became his caretakers they used him even up until today are using him to create havoc in my life.
ALL of those who allowed the surveillance and were recipients of our personal conversations and disagreements could have brought some relief in our relationship because we also had family crises to deal with.
The information they gleaned became so widespread we were victims to arbitrary reactions taken by these individuals.
Hundreds of cars follow me and they know where I am going by seeing how I prepared to leave the house. Movie producers have made millions from this surveillance. Businesses local and corporations have marketed the themes surrounding me into their business dealings.
These accounts are just the tip of the iceberg. It would have taken investigating me for a month to get what information was needed about me. I have committed no crime . Sorry not edited.
Trump has all sorts of followers. However, some of those followers aren't: They're the actual people driving the bus. Trump in the main is a stooge. He's allowed to run roughshod over the land; to act the buffoon (as if he can act any other way); to eviscerate the government while the slow coup continues more or less unabated. The goal, obviously enough, is to construct a Fascist Utopia, where Real White Christian Men are in control, just as God intended, and everyone else knows their place and acts accordingly.
I don't really know how to address the personal aspects of your post, Carol. I don't know you - we have had very little interaction - so I have to admit that I don't know your actual intent in sharing it with me.
.....tRUMP has committed so many crimes that are obvious to the naked eye....not only throughout his entire life but also while holding office, the money laundering aspeck with Russia is another example that seems to be swept aside (thanks to the SCOTUS immunity decision) making him not accountable for almost anything as an [illegal] president....now this thing with Intel just blows my mind...
but what really has me worried besides the deployment of the Nat. Guard in LA & DC and now coming to other blue state Democratic cities around the country, the FBI raiding the home and office of a former high level administration official (love or hate Bolton) who has been highly critical of tRUMP now and in the past who he has hated forever and added to his retribution list .....(the Russian playbook of how to intimidate and remove your political critics)......just another distraction from tRUMP's real problem, Epstein.
but mostly the ordering of red state Governors, like Abbot, to create newly redistricted voting lines that would eliminate Congressional Democrat seats thus insuring Republican majorities across the country, staying in power endlessly.....this is the slow motion continuation of the J6 coup that is now leading up to the '26 & '28 elections (if by then there will even be any further election)....
tRUMP is only the place card for the real maga power brokers (Project 2025) running this insane and horrific "Killer Klowns From Outer Space Show" ....because tRUMP has all but gone so "Bat-Shit" crazt, that it's getting harder and harder to prop up his physically and emotionally diseased carcass.....outside of public view, tRUMP must look like a character from the horror movie "SAW", the tons of makeup and meds to keep him upright aren't cutting it...... they have to give him stupid and deplorable projects to do....concrete over ther Rose Garden, redecorate the Oval in gold, build a fucking ballroom on more taxpayer dimes, rename the Kennedy Center....take a walk on the roof of the WH and erect giant flag poles....all this nonsense to keep him out of the way of Miller and the rest of the Goon Squad who are really running things until tRUMP is no longer useful and they can just replace him with another frontman.
and keep the distractions coming on an hourly and daily basis away from the Epstein files, where tRUMPS true Kryptonite is embedded and they never and will do an say anything from seeing the light of day.....
seems the only way all this insanity will stop is someone with a baseball bat.
Thank you again Mr. Hartmann, however, it appears to me that you must be getting terribly frustrated. I can see very little evidence that the majority of the population is still not getting, that we are not even close to “waking up” to the very real probability that the only answer to our horrible reality is the Dr.King mobilization of huge numbers of mild mannered citizens in the streets marching on Washington en masse peacefully, no matter the consequences.
Do you feel, any momentum at all?!
I have been praying more than usual for our people in this country to be kept safe. This current behavior from DJT makes me wonder if it is a result of the meeting with Putin in Alaska, which would explain the ashen looks on his people when they came out from the meeting. The thing about getting retribution is that a person thinks they're gonna feel better, but it doesn't work that way. It looks like he could start a Civil War or World War III and in both of those wars, there goes his presidency!!! There are more of us than there are of them and I have hope in the courage that our people are expressing. UNITED, WE STAND! DIVIDED, WE FALL!
Excellent summary Thom, thank you -- shared it with many friends to brighten their weekend ("Definitely worth a quick, grim read...")
Thom, I really believe the bottom is all these haters know. I, am so glad I am myself and not them. I, really do have a bottom. I, yearn for democracy, that’s all.
We all need to get real - real soon. All of the levels of DJT militerization are about preventing Democratic Congressional takeover in 2026.