By treating sovereign borders and international law as optional, the Trump regime embraces the worldview that fueled Hitler, fortified oligarchs, and now threatens the American Experiment…
I have read so much in the past 24-48 hours, things are blurring together. It does look obvious that the "crimes" the Venezuelan dictator is being accused of committing (essentially using communism to overthrow a democratic government and destroying a prospering nation from within) is pretty much exactly what the Trump administration is doing right here in real time as we watch. "Communism," of course, has been the boogeyman that Americans blame, but it matters not what "_ism" is used to bring down and deliver a nation into the hands of a despot if at the end it gets you to: siphoning the modest wealth and power from ordinary men and women to a select group of folks at the top who are in favor with the leader. Of course, when one lives in an economic and political environment that is not anchored in "rules" we can learn and play by, success and power can be and are fleeting and entirely subject to the whim of the leader. With zero property, forced to live from hand to mouth in a "lease" economy, at the pleasure of those in charge, does it really matter whether the mechanism weaponized to reduce and ruin a nation is called communism, fascism, oligarchy, etc. as long as it gets you to the same place?
Darth Vader Republicans -- Chaney, Rumsfeld, et al -- were threatening same against Chavez in 2007 when he nationalized most of the Venezuelan oil industry.
We were preoccupied, working on regime change after attacking Iraq and Afghanistan. Of course we did have Congressional authorization -- based on fake assetions that Sadaam Hussain had nuclear weapons.
During the Reagan administration, lawyers in the White House were working on an unitary executive scenario based on an "emergency." Some of those lawyers were Sammy Alito and Roberts.
I keep sayin' that this is a fait acompli by some of the same people (and their heirs) who masterminded Guatamala and the Bay of Pigs....
I am advised by Barbara sharp that Fiona Hill testified that Venezuela for Ukraine was exactly the trade-off that Putin and Trump made. Ambassador Ken Fairfax (ret)
During Fiona Hill's testimony to Congress on Oct 14, 2019, she described how Trump and Putin discussed exchanging Ukraine for Venezuela. The quid pro quo was if Trump refuses to help Ukraine fight off a Russian invasion, Putin would not help Venezuela (a Russian ally) resist a US takeover
In October, Russia and Venezuela signed a "strategic co-ordination" treaty, deepening military ties. Moscow pledged to "stand ready" to support its South American ally. It supplied air defense systems and anti-ship missiles.
This morning (5 January), the Security Council will hold an open briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item. Council member Colombia requested the emergency meeting following the US’ 3 January military operation in Venezuela,
r on 3 January requesting an emergency Council meeting (S/2026/5), and China and Russia supported the meeting request.
I expect Russia to support Krasnov, ecause it gives him license in Ukraine, China the same as it gives Xi license to invade Taiwan.
I very well could be wrong, because this action gives Trump controlover the worlds largest oil reserves, and with his friend MBS, he can grab the world by it's throat.
Russia and China are protesting, but it could be for public consumption.
Trump talks like China is our competitor, but then gives NVIDIA permission to sell chips to China. Although Nvidia doesn't own large-scale chip fabrication plants (fabs) in China; their high-end AI chips are mainly made by TSMC in Taiwan, but they have a significant presence there for R&D, sales, and utilizing local factories (like Foxconn) for assembly, testing, and adapting gaming GPUs for data centers, though recent US export restrictions are changing operations and local Chinese production is rising.
And worse Chinese chips are to be used in our military equipment, and the People's Republic of China (PRC) manufactures components and materials deeply embedded in the U.S. military supply chain, including critical semiconductors, rare earth minerals, and electronics, creating significant national security vulnerabilities despite U.S. efforts to restrict such reliance. While direct assembly of major U.S. weapon systems by China is limited, the reliance on Chinese-sourced inputs for everything from high-tech avionics to common parts presents ongoing challenges and risks of espionage or supply disruption, as confirmed by U.S. government watchdogs.
"After Venezuela, Trump Says Cuba Is ‘Ready to Fall’" NYT.
"The capture of Nicolás Maduro is a devastating blow to the alliance between Venezuela and Cuba. Many wonder if the island nation will be targeted next."
He's doing this because he's lost even MAGATs like my rep, Maria Elvira Salazar on his immigration policy and wants tgo regain them.
"Pressed about the prospect of the United States’ intervening militarily in Cuba, Mr. Trump said he did not think it was necessary because “it looks like it’s going down.”
"Whether Washington does move against Cuba remains to be seen. President Trump has surrounded himself with Cuba hawks, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Cuban American who as a U.S. senator was famous for his longstanding antipathy toward Havana. Mr. Rubio has long signaled his belief that a change in Venezuela’s government would weaken Cuba, which he has said would be a welcome outcome.
"The Cuban government finds itself in a precarious situation with the capture of Mr. Maduro, a crucial political and economic partner, as it faces an economic crisis at home and growing political dissatisfaction.
"The nations were so close that nearly three dozen Cubans were killed on Saturday when U.S. forces invaded Caracas. Mr. Maduro leaned heavily on Cuban bodyguards for his protection in recent weeks as Mr. Trump ramped up threats."
So this is all about Cuba and Marco Rubio is running Trump's game. very interesting.
I guess it is the Cuban community that is behind Canada as a 51st state and invading Greenland, Mexico.
I guess they also own the oil cabal. and are making deals with Putin and MBS.
Yeh, the bombing of Venezuela and capture of Maduro was all about Caudaillo's, Bastiano's, Cubanos and little Marco is the mastermind in the Trump regime.
You are the prime example of not being able to see the forest for the trees.
You are surrounded by the Cuban community, the Bautistiano's and that is all that you can see.
You can't see hegemony, control of the worlds oil, the involvement of Putin, the grand design of the techbros and the design to control the western hemisphere.. itis all about the Cubans.
So Maduro had Cuban bodyguards, and was the primary partner with Cuba.
Gees, I wonder what Venezuela had in common with Cuba. American business and mafia forced Castro into Russia's arms, and did the same to Chavez,
Venezuela was not a problem, until Chavez had the crazy idea that Venezuelan oil belonged to Venezuela and not Exxon Mobil.
That idea let to coup attempts, sanctions and forced Venezuela to seek allies elsewhere's.,with out putative enemies.
Isn't the law going to save us Daniel? 522 Law suits filed, all of them victories.
This has nothing to do with Guatemala and Bay of Pigs, and everything to do with carving up the world between the Technate, Russia and China.
It starts with Venezuelan oil, oil is a vital resource, control the oil and you control the world.
Venezuela has an oil reserve of 303 Billion, Saudia Arabia 272 Billion. Trump is butt buddies with MBS, between the two of them they can strangle the world.
Next up is Greenland, and Greenland has nothing to do with Guatemala and the Bay of Pigs faction.
The future: Oceana, Eurasia, East Asia, the Islamic world and the global south to be fought over and exploited for resources.
Here is what the Western hemisphere will look like, Trump has already threatened Colombia (next up) and Mexico, ,51 Xmas trees in the White house one for each state and Canada, and now there are agents in Greenland, subverting the population to join America, but Trump has already said that he is going to take Greenland.
Every TRump asshole out there on the news circuit was talking about "protecting" the Western Hemisphere.
Many pundits and politicians want to talk oil, because he said it out-loud. When did TRump ever tell the real story or the truth?
He promised to steal the oil, and maybe they will succeed. Remote rugged areas for that oil---ripe for gorilla warfare. Stay tuned to see if Venezuela rolls over and plays dead.
The Western Hemisphere is the goal. Hallelujah, some are finally waking up. Canada is on war-footing, the rest of NATO should follow. These psychopaths are the Technocracy movement of the 1930's. No democracies involved. The Tech Bros and Crypto Creeps will do the picking of the dictators, if we let them cripple us.
We name them. We blame them. We teach. We preach. Can't fix stupid, but the rest of us will eventually see the light. See you in the streets.
If you check it out, no different than the "manifest destiny" orientation. Both Thom Jefferson and John adams talked about annexing Cuba. James Monroe had a doctrine.
How about Aaron Burr? Burr was involved in a conspiracy to launch a filibustering expedition to seize Spanish territories in Mexico and potentially the southwest to form an independent republic under his command. This was part of a larger historical phenomenon of American filibustering expeditions in Latin America during the 19th century.
Burr sought support from General James Wilkinson, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Army, and potentially the British and Spanish governments, though ultimately with little success. When Wilkinson betrayed Burr and alerted President Thomas Jefferson, Burr was arrested and tried for treason in 1807. He was acquitted due to a lack of overt evidence, but the trial effectively ended his political career.
Google: Filibusters -- 19th-century American "filibusters"—private adventurers, often with Southern backing—launched several expeditions to seize territory in Mexico, Cuba, and Central America (like Nicaragua, Honduras) to establish new slave states, driven by Manifest Destiny but ultimately failing to gain permanent control, though they left lasting negative impacts and became symbols of U.S. imperialism. Figures like William Walker, who briefly became president of Nicaragua, are infamous examples, leading to regional conflicts and resentment..
Heritage, SCOTUS, and Republicans took care of that. George W said it's just a piece of paper. He and Cheney belonged in jail, just like Nixon. Thieves, liars, racists, fascists, war-mongers, and now psychopaths. Oops, almost forgot pedophile and rapist protectors.
I think, the decent adult Republicans have already joined the opposition. The independents and a lot of young people have come to their senses. You will have to pardon me for being a little bit cheery at this stage, because FINALLY people get your point and mine.
Sophia, we can do this, and the Constitution is still in people's pockets, on bookshelves, and being taught daily. We are going to enforce that sucker and show the Roberts' Court of Tyranny and Religion they can go to hell.
POSOTUS didn’t take over the Repugnican Party, he revealed it. He is the fruit of decades of a reactionary politics that has served up a generous, cynical menu of economic red herrings and racial resentments. Democratic leadership has increasingly allowed these frauds to frame every argument, undermine every initiative, yielding in advance. Let us hope that Blue State leadership is inspired by the likes of Thom Hartmann and Christopher Armitage; our survival as a free nation may well depend on it.
I may never understand how the entire Republican Congress have sold their soul to the devil in Red. Ruling, for them trumps governing. This has been the least productive Congress likely in history. Trump is repeating all of the failed policies of the past - all destined to fail again because his staff are unqualified toadies. My only concern is how to avoid Trump taking us down with him.
Thom says: "“Prosecute federal officials who commit assault, kidnapping, or civil rights violations in your state. Build public revenue streams that don’t depend on federal funding. Expand state safety nets to catch the people federal cuts will drop. Demonstrate what good governance looks like.”" Yes, all these things now fall to the Blue states. But we need to urge all Democratic members of Congress to shut the whole enterprise down and refuse to talk, negotiate, or listen to Republicans unless and until Republicans move to force these rogues out of office. They should be demanding that Trump and his minions resign and insisting that they are not legitimate representatives or supporters of the Constitution, democracy, law, or the will of the people. We are complicit if these violations of international law are allowed to stand and go forward. I sent a very strongly worded message to my representatives last night to that effect. They should sit-in and sit-down, and boycott until they are taken seriously. The bozos have gone way overboard and have gotten way too big for their britches. They MUST be stopped right here, right now. This is no longer a mere domestic matter, and it never was for these jackasses. We are past the point of counting on elections to matter. Either the people we have left in Congress with a spine and a conscience will hold their ground and shut it down until there is change, or the steamroller will continue to roll and destroy everything in its path. The Epstein affair should also be held up as the basis for permanently and immediately delegitimating this pedophile bastard.
All the blue states can do now, Robert, is a soft succession, and I doubt that it will be soft for long. Essentially California is carrying the nation on it's back, it is the 4th largest economy in the world. subtract California, and America is France.
As people seek to understand the significance of the attack on Venezuela, it is really important to understand that return to the Monroe Doctrine or US control of the Western hemisphere is a major goal of the Heritage Foundations Project 2025 foreign policy objectives. It is frustrating to read all the pundit takes on this action.
Left wing policy makers and what's left of left wing press and objective reporting need to fully grasp that MOST of what trump is doing is implementation of Project 2025. We can anticipate and seek to prevent or forestall this implementation by first reading, understanding and planning resistance in advance.... preventively. The ACLU did this in 2024, and came into 2025 with counter plans ready to go, which is WHY they have been so effective.
This is also true for immigration policy. We need to understand that a major thrust of Project 2025 is creation of a white nationalist government. They really want to get rid of all non-whites in America! We need to understand this, call it out for what it is and fight back accordingly.
Thanks Gail I appreciate your thoughts. I wish the DNC or any other organization could get a couple TV commercials on air denouncing the anti constitutional actions of Trump. Maybe during a football game.
Oil! Oil! Oil! $$$ for the Lame Duck Felon and his cronies..
More reasons for impeachment. The Monroe Doctrine did not follow "manifest destiny" - that came later - The Donroe and Monroe Doctrines are opposites - the latter to liberate peoples from colonial powers, the former to create colonial powers.
The good news is that many of the MAGA people abhor this outreach, perhaps enough to vote against him - if they are healthy enough.
I think I smell the beginning of the end for these rabid greedy dogs.
Respectfully, I would like the addition of Epstein Epstein Epstein documents timeline to felon 47 and Putin collusion to get the bigger picture and crimes of sex trafficking and child rape and more ?murder of infant in Michigan to come with the release of it all. IMO That seems to be what all the distraction and delay is covering up. The SCOTUS has helped the other cover up go away of Russia Russia Russia will they help with the Epstein Cover-up? Why would they? Thank you for consideration...
Appreciate your suggestion. Here are some other infographics on that topic. There is too much info to put into just one map, so I try and break them up into bite sized morsels.
Who’s Trump protecting by hiding the Epstein files? Follow the money to Putin, Netanyahu, MBS and Peter Thiel with this relationship map.
Let me add another (there is no one reason or cause, but a series of interests and motivations being served.
Paul Singer a billionaire hedge fund manager, has been a major financier and supporter of Trump. He bought Citgo in November 2025. Citgo was the Venezuelan oil company, this is a major windfall for him. Exxon drills, and pumps, Citgo refines and sells.
What kraznov did to Venezuela and Maduro was horrific of course but hardly the first time that the USA has interfered with the governing of other nations. In Central America nearly every nation (save Costa Rica) has seen the hand of their north American neighbor manipulate their country by overthrowing an elected president.
From Wikipedia this is the history of USA intervention in Nicaragua:
Here is a possibility. Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserives 303 billion barrels, Saudi Arabia the second 272 billion barrels.
Recall that scene in Riyadh where MBS and Trump divided the world among them, by laying hands on a lighted globe, for MBS, I am sure he had in mind, Islam, not the Kingdom, the Kingdom can't control the world, but the ideology of Islam can.
That wasn't just a globe, it was the world and the continents were edged on the globe.
MBS and Trump are bff's. And now they can control the world, the world runs on petroleum and they control the worlds petroleum, other states like Oman, Qatar, the UAE, Nigeria are bit players, and can't meet the demand of the world.
There is also this, Putin in 2019 offered Trump Venezuela in exchange for Ukraine.
Russiais the world's 8th largest proven oil reserves, the US is the 9th
The problem with Venezuelan oil is that it is basically sludge and it needs expensive equipment to refine it. And their infrastructure is in tatters and would cost billions to upgrade it. If you were the CEO of Shell would you be willing to gamble on VZ given the uncertain political climate?
Why do you say Shell, That company belongs to the Dutch. It was Exxon Mobil that was operating the wells.
It is one thing to pump the oil, another to refine it. AFIK Venezuela wasn't refining oil, but shipping it to be refined and then sold as petro products
Citgo, owned by Venezuela, was refining it's own oil and the Gulf coast is nothing but refineries from Gulfport, MS to Houston, TX.
As of Nov 25, Citgo is owned by Paul Singer, a hedge fund manager, this is a personal windfall for himm also a major contributor to Trump, his inauguration and Republican PACs.
Lived there in Pt Neches, my uncle died from Hodgkins Disease contracted in the fields of the refinery..he was a pipe fitter.
Here's a simple postscript to Thom's composition. As I see it, Congress MUST rescind AUMF. the authorization for ANY president to use military force against another country or entity without FIRST consulting Both Houses of Congress of the action beforehand.
Don't be distracted! This business in taking Maduro and his wife has not changed the political dynamics in Caracas, has not removed the oppressive government from power, and has not put Trump in control of Venezuela. Don't believe it!
Smoke and mirrors to distract from the Epstein files. Let's not lose track of the underlying plot line here. Removing Maduro looks good and the papers will be over every little facet of it, but will they continue to press on about the Epstein files or just continue to be hoodwinked by every distraction that Trump can come up with?
Krasnov did not send ICE into San Francisco because Nancy told the boy she would arrest them for breaking the laws of city. That is all any official has to do. Simply remind your elected officials to stand up to law breakers and all is well. I have no doubt big companies are making new deals with the oil companies in South America. That is what they do behind the scenes so there will be no boots on the ground but the ground has shifted. Krasnov expects the politicians to deal themselves into the deals. He is likely right. Maduro had offered to sell the oil but that was not the deal they wanted. Not sure anyone cares.
The big winner is Paul Singer, a billionaire hedge fund manager a major donor to Trump, giving millions to fund his inaugaration and who knows what else.
In November he bout Citgo. Citgo was the Venezuelan oil company, and it was selling gas below the price Exxon, Texacto etc sold it. Then it was confiscated when Chavez, sillly boy, actually thought that Venezuela oil belong to Venezuela and was not the property of Exxon Mobil. And from that moment all of it's troubles started, forcing it to turn to American's anemies for support, all because of Exxon Mobil.
So glad you are sharing these insights with all the knowledge you have that we may truly be informed of what is going on. From this, I am going to contact the Republican senators here in Nebraska.
Thom, the moment is now, to do something as we watch our democracy disappear right in front of us. Red State people don’t get these things Thom. I, understand what you mean though. The logic of Blue States to save the Red States, I don’t know, Thom because they don’t get it. Very good observations though.
Excuse my naivete, why are rich powerful republicans aiding and abetting Trump with his destruction of the rule of law and the constitution? These enablers are, cabinet members, senators, congress members, CEO's, billionaires, they got where they are thanks to our governmental system, that is, the rules, and the laws derived from the constitution. Have they no gratitude to the good old USA? So far, to my knowledge no GOP office holder appointed or elected has condemned Trumps invasion of Venezuela, and no CEO of a major corporation has either. No, 'dance with the one that brung ya', thinking among them. All greed, no push back no resignations, no decency, no respect for anything but (expletive) money? Are they just going to let him do what he wants so they can get richer?
Yes, Julie, I agree that when one lives in an economic and political environment that is not anchored in ‘rules’ we can learn and play by, success and power can be and are fleeting and entirely subject to the whim of the leader. For several decades, my toxic, voyeristic step-daughter and her husband have not played by the rules of decency or our constitutional rights and use 24/7 information about me via surveillance to do what they will to defame me right up until today, in coordination with my neighbors and Elon Musk.
Of late, I have been numb to the disaster playing out in our country. When Rob and Michelle Reiner were murdered by their mentally disabled son, whose journey with schizophrenia mirrors my son’s, I can’t get it out of my mind, and now take out the reports by PERT of my son’s threats to 'kill us, seriously. This same system you complain about has thwarted our efforts to keep Ethan neutral - keep him out of the two decades of 24/7 surveillance activity, with no one listening. They jerk him around to get him to say what they want about me.
As far as Nicholas Muduro goes, we were using him, and now we want the oil, which would be impossible with him in power and Cuba protecting him.
I have read so much in the past 24-48 hours, things are blurring together. It does look obvious that the "crimes" the Venezuelan dictator is being accused of committing (essentially using communism to overthrow a democratic government and destroying a prospering nation from within) is pretty much exactly what the Trump administration is doing right here in real time as we watch. "Communism," of course, has been the boogeyman that Americans blame, but it matters not what "_ism" is used to bring down and deliver a nation into the hands of a despot if at the end it gets you to: siphoning the modest wealth and power from ordinary men and women to a select group of folks at the top who are in favor with the leader. Of course, when one lives in an economic and political environment that is not anchored in "rules" we can learn and play by, success and power can be and are fleeting and entirely subject to the whim of the leader. With zero property, forced to live from hand to mouth in a "lease" economy, at the pleasure of those in charge, does it really matter whether the mechanism weaponized to reduce and ruin a nation is called communism, fascism, oligarchy, etc. as long as it gets you to the same place?
Deja vu for me. Guatemala. Panama. Bay of Pigs.
Darth Vader Republicans -- Chaney, Rumsfeld, et al -- were threatening same against Chavez in 2007 when he nationalized most of the Venezuelan oil industry.
We were preoccupied, working on regime change after attacking Iraq and Afghanistan. Of course we did have Congressional authorization -- based on fake assetions that Sadaam Hussain had nuclear weapons.
During the Reagan administration, lawyers in the White House were working on an unitary executive scenario based on an "emergency." Some of those lawyers were Sammy Alito and Roberts.
I keep sayin' that this is a fait acompli by some of the same people (and their heirs) who masterminded Guatamala and the Bay of Pigs....
I am advised by Barbara sharp that Fiona Hill testified that Venezuela for Ukraine was exactly the trade-off that Putin and Trump made. Ambassador Ken Fairfax (ret)
@portlandken.bsky.social
1d
During Fiona Hill's testimony to Congress on Oct 14, 2019, she described how Trump and Putin discussed exchanging Ukraine for Venezuela. The quid pro quo was if Trump refuses to help Ukraine fight off a Russian invasion, Putin would not help Venezuela (a Russian ally) resist a US takeover
In October, Russia and Venezuela signed a "strategic co-ordination" treaty, deepening military ties. Moscow pledged to "stand ready" to support its South American ally. It supplied air defense systems and anti-ship missiles.
This morning (5 January), the Security Council will hold an open briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item. Council member Colombia requested the emergency meeting following the US’ 3 January military operation in Venezuela,
r on 3 January requesting an emergency Council meeting (S/2026/5), and China and Russia supported the meeting request.
I expect Russia to support Krasnov, ecause it gives him license in Ukraine, China the same as it gives Xi license to invade Taiwan.
I very well could be wrong, because this action gives Trump controlover the worlds largest oil reserves, and with his friend MBS, he can grab the world by it's throat.
Russia and China are protesting, but it could be for public consumption.
Trump talks like China is our competitor, but then gives NVIDIA permission to sell chips to China. Although Nvidia doesn't own large-scale chip fabrication plants (fabs) in China; their high-end AI chips are mainly made by TSMC in Taiwan, but they have a significant presence there for R&D, sales, and utilizing local factories (like Foxconn) for assembly, testing, and adapting gaming GPUs for data centers, though recent US export restrictions are changing operations and local Chinese production is rising.
And worse Chinese chips are to be used in our military equipment, and the People's Republic of China (PRC) manufactures components and materials deeply embedded in the U.S. military supply chain, including critical semiconductors, rare earth minerals, and electronics, creating significant national security vulnerabilities despite U.S. efforts to restrict such reliance. While direct assembly of major U.S. weapon systems by China is limited, the reliance on Chinese-sourced inputs for everything from high-tech avionics to common parts presents ongoing challenges and risks of espionage or supply disruption, as confirmed by U.S. government watchdogs.
But the U.S. will veto any action to be taken. And that is all it takes is that one vote to nullify ANY action by the Security Council.
Exactly, and that is why they will most certainly be on the same page.
If Trump is greenlighted then Putin is greenlighted and Xi is greenlighted
All we can do is wait and see.
I can foresee Mainland China making its move on Taiwan. THAT would possibly begin WWW III. Let's hope it doesn't.
"After Venezuela, Trump Says Cuba Is ‘Ready to Fall’" NYT.
"The capture of Nicolás Maduro is a devastating blow to the alliance between Venezuela and Cuba. Many wonder if the island nation will be targeted next."
He's doing this because he's lost even MAGATs like my rep, Maria Elvira Salazar on his immigration policy and wants tgo regain them.
"Pressed about the prospect of the United States’ intervening militarily in Cuba, Mr. Trump said he did not think it was necessary because “it looks like it’s going down.”
"Whether Washington does move against Cuba remains to be seen. President Trump has surrounded himself with Cuba hawks, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Cuban American who as a U.S. senator was famous for his longstanding antipathy toward Havana. Mr. Rubio has long signaled his belief that a change in Venezuela’s government would weaken Cuba, which he has said would be a welcome outcome.
"The Cuban government finds itself in a precarious situation with the capture of Mr. Maduro, a crucial political and economic partner, as it faces an economic crisis at home and growing political dissatisfaction.
"The nations were so close that nearly three dozen Cubans were killed on Saturday when U.S. forces invaded Caracas. Mr. Maduro leaned heavily on Cuban bodyguards for his protection in recent weeks as Mr. Trump ramped up threats."
So this is all about Cuba and Marco Rubio is running Trump's game. very interesting.
I guess it is the Cuban community that is behind Canada as a 51st state and invading Greenland, Mexico.
I guess they also own the oil cabal. and are making deals with Putin and MBS.
Yeh, the bombing of Venezuela and capture of Maduro was all about Caudaillo's, Bastiano's, Cubanos and little Marco is the mastermind in the Trump regime.
You are the prime example of not being able to see the forest for the trees.
You are surrounded by the Cuban community, the Bautistiano's and that is all that you can see.
You can't see hegemony, control of the worlds oil, the involvement of Putin, the grand design of the techbros and the design to control the western hemisphere.. itis all about the Cubans.
So Maduro had Cuban bodyguards, and was the primary partner with Cuba.
Gees, I wonder what Venezuela had in common with Cuba. American business and mafia forced Castro into Russia's arms, and did the same to Chavez,
Venezuela was not a problem, until Chavez had the crazy idea that Venezuelan oil belonged to Venezuela and not Exxon Mobil.
That idea let to coup attempts, sanctions and forced Venezuela to seek allies elsewhere's.,with out putative enemies.
You must not have played sports.
Took advantage of the situation. We call it "proximate" cause.
Isn't the law going to save us Daniel? 522 Law suits filed, all of them victories.
This has nothing to do with Guatemala and Bay of Pigs, and everything to do with carving up the world between the Technate, Russia and China.
It starts with Venezuelan oil, oil is a vital resource, control the oil and you control the world.
Venezuela has an oil reserve of 303 Billion, Saudia Arabia 272 Billion. Trump is butt buddies with MBS, between the two of them they can strangle the world.
Next up is Greenland, and Greenland has nothing to do with Guatemala and the Bay of Pigs faction.
The future: Oceana, Eurasia, East Asia, the Islamic world and the global south to be fought over and exploited for resources.
Here is what the Western hemisphere will look like, Trump has already threatened Colombia (next up) and Mexico, ,51 Xmas trees in the White house one for each state and Canada, and now there are agents in Greenland, subverting the population to join America, but Trump has already said that he is going to take Greenland.
The Technate of America, aka Oceana https://digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/ss:34227574
Still full of yourself.
Look who is talking. As they say in the school yard, Neeners,neeners, takes one to know one.
Can you hear me now?
Every TRump asshole out there on the news circuit was talking about "protecting" the Western Hemisphere.
Many pundits and politicians want to talk oil, because he said it out-loud. When did TRump ever tell the real story or the truth?
He promised to steal the oil, and maybe they will succeed. Remote rugged areas for that oil---ripe for gorilla warfare. Stay tuned to see if Venezuela rolls over and plays dead.
The Western Hemisphere is the goal. Hallelujah, some are finally waking up. Canada is on war-footing, the rest of NATO should follow. These psychopaths are the Technocracy movement of the 1930's. No democracies involved. The Tech Bros and Crypto Creeps will do the picking of the dictators, if we let them cripple us.
We name them. We blame them. We teach. We preach. Can't fix stupid, but the rest of us will eventually see the light. See you in the streets.
It's a hundred years later, but it is the same Nazi crap with the technology, robots, and weapons they dreamed of that are now real.
The Technate of America map that is at Cornell University has notes below explaining the "Utopia" they wanted:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/ss:34227574
Elon Musk's Nazi grandfather was involved in the Technocracy Movement. Look it up in WIKI. His name was Joshua N. Haldeman
The Conversation wrote about it in March:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://theconversation.com/a-1930s-movement-wanted-to-merge-the-us-canada-and-greenland-heres-why-it-has-modern-resonances-252587
University of Portsmouth, also in March 2025:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/blogs/academic-expertise/a-1930s-movement-wanted-to-merge-the-us-canada-and-greenland-heres-why-it-has-modern-resonances
If you check it out, no different than the "manifest destiny" orientation. Both Thom Jefferson and John adams talked about annexing Cuba. James Monroe had a doctrine.
How about Aaron Burr? Burr was involved in a conspiracy to launch a filibustering expedition to seize Spanish territories in Mexico and potentially the southwest to form an independent republic under his command. This was part of a larger historical phenomenon of American filibustering expeditions in Latin America during the 19th century.
Burr sought support from General James Wilkinson, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Army, and potentially the British and Spanish governments, though ultimately with little success. When Wilkinson betrayed Burr and alerted President Thomas Jefferson, Burr was arrested and tried for treason in 1807. He was acquitted due to a lack of overt evidence, but the trial effectively ended his political career.
Google: Filibusters -- 19th-century American "filibusters"—private adventurers, often with Southern backing—launched several expeditions to seize territory in Mexico, Cuba, and Central America (like Nicaragua, Honduras) to establish new slave states, driven by Manifest Destiny but ultimately failing to gain permanent control, though they left lasting negative impacts and became symbols of U.S. imperialism. Figures like William Walker, who briefly became president of Nicaragua, are infamous examples, leading to regional conflicts and resentment..
What a cheery newsletter this is. And why should it be--never did I think I'd see the day that our Constitution did not work....
Heritage, SCOTUS, and Republicans took care of that. George W said it's just a piece of paper. He and Cheney belonged in jail, just like Nixon. Thieves, liars, racists, fascists, war-mongers, and now psychopaths. Oops, almost forgot pedophile and rapist protectors.
I think, the decent adult Republicans have already joined the opposition. The independents and a lot of young people have come to their senses. You will have to pardon me for being a little bit cheery at this stage, because FINALLY people get your point and mine.
Sophia, we can do this, and the Constitution is still in people's pockets, on bookshelves, and being taught daily. We are going to enforce that sucker and show the Roberts' Court of Tyranny and Religion they can go to hell.
POSOTUS didn’t take over the Repugnican Party, he revealed it. He is the fruit of decades of a reactionary politics that has served up a generous, cynical menu of economic red herrings and racial resentments. Democratic leadership has increasingly allowed these frauds to frame every argument, undermine every initiative, yielding in advance. Let us hope that Blue State leadership is inspired by the likes of Thom Hartmann and Christopher Armitage; our survival as a free nation may well depend on it.
Trump sees this as a "rally 'round the flag" attempt to his Epstein, poll numbers, etc.
Given the time line, I still think that Rubio and his allies took advantge of the situation. They played him like a sucker.
They have their own verson of the "lost cause" and Venezuela is a means to the end -- Cuba.
I discuss the mentality in my novel, Miami '90.
I may never understand how the entire Republican Congress have sold their soul to the devil in Red. Ruling, for them trumps governing. This has been the least productive Congress likely in history. Trump is repeating all of the failed policies of the past - all destined to fail again because his staff are unqualified toadies. My only concern is how to avoid Trump taking us down with him.
Still hoping that the Jerry Weiss scenario will work. https://jerryweiss.substack.com/
I published Don Bacon's comments yesterday....hope this is the straw that breaks the camel's back.
Thom says: "“Prosecute federal officials who commit assault, kidnapping, or civil rights violations in your state. Build public revenue streams that don’t depend on federal funding. Expand state safety nets to catch the people federal cuts will drop. Demonstrate what good governance looks like.”" Yes, all these things now fall to the Blue states. But we need to urge all Democratic members of Congress to shut the whole enterprise down and refuse to talk, negotiate, or listen to Republicans unless and until Republicans move to force these rogues out of office. They should be demanding that Trump and his minions resign and insisting that they are not legitimate representatives or supporters of the Constitution, democracy, law, or the will of the people. We are complicit if these violations of international law are allowed to stand and go forward. I sent a very strongly worded message to my representatives last night to that effect. They should sit-in and sit-down, and boycott until they are taken seriously. The bozos have gone way overboard and have gotten way too big for their britches. They MUST be stopped right here, right now. This is no longer a mere domestic matter, and it never was for these jackasses. We are past the point of counting on elections to matter. Either the people we have left in Congress with a spine and a conscience will hold their ground and shut it down until there is change, or the steamroller will continue to roll and destroy everything in its path. The Epstein affair should also be held up as the basis for permanently and immediately delegitimating this pedophile bastard.
All the blue states can do now, Robert, is a soft succession, and I doubt that it will be soft for long. Essentially California is carrying the nation on it's back, it is the 4th largest economy in the world. subtract California, and America is France.
As people seek to understand the significance of the attack on Venezuela, it is really important to understand that return to the Monroe Doctrine or US control of the Western hemisphere is a major goal of the Heritage Foundations Project 2025 foreign policy objectives. It is frustrating to read all the pundit takes on this action.
Left wing policy makers and what's left of left wing press and objective reporting need to fully grasp that MOST of what trump is doing is implementation of Project 2025. We can anticipate and seek to prevent or forestall this implementation by first reading, understanding and planning resistance in advance.... preventively. The ACLU did this in 2024, and came into 2025 with counter plans ready to go, which is WHY they have been so effective.
This is also true for immigration policy. We need to understand that a major thrust of Project 2025 is creation of a white nationalist government. They really want to get rid of all non-whites in America! We need to understand this, call it out for what it is and fight back accordingly.
Thanks Gail I appreciate your thoughts. I wish the DNC or any other organization could get a couple TV commercials on air denouncing the anti constitutional actions of Trump. Maybe during a football game.
How do you spell Assination? It's time!
Oil! Oil! Oil! $$$ for the Lame Duck Felon and his cronies..
More reasons for impeachment. The Monroe Doctrine did not follow "manifest destiny" - that came later - The Donroe and Monroe Doctrines are opposites - the latter to liberate peoples from colonial powers, the former to create colonial powers.
The good news is that many of the MAGA people abhor this outreach, perhaps enough to vote against him - if they are healthy enough.
I think I smell the beginning of the end for these rabid greedy dogs.
Jeffrey Epstein supports my opinion.
Let's hope that there will be a vote, an honest vote, not one like Hungary or Russia or Turkey, not a vote that was robbed like in 2024
Follow the Trump — Putin Collusion Timeline with this infographic
https://infogram.com/putin-trump-collusion-timeline-1hnq41ok190xk23
Respectfully, I would like the addition of Epstein Epstein Epstein documents timeline to felon 47 and Putin collusion to get the bigger picture and crimes of sex trafficking and child rape and more ?murder of infant in Michigan to come with the release of it all. IMO That seems to be what all the distraction and delay is covering up. The SCOTUS has helped the other cover up go away of Russia Russia Russia will they help with the Epstein Cover-up? Why would they? Thank you for consideration...
Appreciate your suggestion. Here are some other infographics on that topic. There is too much info to put into just one map, so I try and break them up into bite sized morsels.
Who’s Trump protecting by hiding the Epstein files? Follow the money to Putin, Netanyahu, MBS and Peter Thiel with this relationship map.
https://thedemlabs.org/2025/12/20/trump-protection-racket-hides-epstein-files/
How is Putin making Trump give him Ukraine? Check the Epstein files for clues!
https://thedemlabs.org/2025/11/21/putin-makes-trump-give-him-ukraine-check-epstein-files/
For even more just search under ARCHIVES on https://thedemlabs.org/blog/ with the term like PUTIN, EPSTEIN, GHISLAINE...
Let me add another (there is no one reason or cause, but a series of interests and motivations being served.
Paul Singer a billionaire hedge fund manager, has been a major financier and supporter of Trump. He bought Citgo in November 2025. Citgo was the Venezuelan oil company, this is a major windfall for him. Exxon drills, and pumps, Citgo refines and sells.
https://popular.info/p/venezuela-raid-enriches-maga-billionaire
What kraznov did to Venezuela and Maduro was horrific of course but hardly the first time that the USA has interfered with the governing of other nations. In Central America nearly every nation (save Costa Rica) has seen the hand of their north American neighbor manipulate their country by overthrowing an elected president.
From Wikipedia this is the history of USA intervention in Nicaragua:
1894: Month-long occupation of Bluefields
1896: Marines land in port of Corinto
1898: Marines land at port of San Juan del Sur
1899: Marines land at port of Bluefields
1907: "Dollar Diplomacy" protectorate set up
1910: Marines land in Bluefields and Corinto
1912-33: Bombing, 20-year occupation, fought guerrillas
1981-90: CIA directs exile (Contra) revolution, plants harbor mines against government
Nearly every country we touch ends up being controlled by an authoritarian dictator. Maybe it's time that we learned from our mistakes.
Here is a possibility. Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserives 303 billion barrels, Saudi Arabia the second 272 billion barrels.
Recall that scene in Riyadh where MBS and Trump divided the world among them, by laying hands on a lighted globe, for MBS, I am sure he had in mind, Islam, not the Kingdom, the Kingdom can't control the world, but the ideology of Islam can.
That wasn't just a globe, it was the world and the continents were edged on the globe.
MBS and Trump are bff's. And now they can control the world, the world runs on petroleum and they control the worlds petroleum, other states like Oman, Qatar, the UAE, Nigeria are bit players, and can't meet the demand of the world.
There is also this, Putin in 2019 offered Trump Venezuela in exchange for Ukraine.
Russiais the world's 8th largest proven oil reserves, the US is the 9th
first is Venezuela, second Saudi Arabia, third is Iran https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_proven_oil_reserves
The problem with Venezuelan oil is that it is basically sludge and it needs expensive equipment to refine it. And their infrastructure is in tatters and would cost billions to upgrade it. If you were the CEO of Shell would you be willing to gamble on VZ given the uncertain political climate?
Why do you say Shell, That company belongs to the Dutch. It was Exxon Mobil that was operating the wells.
It is one thing to pump the oil, another to refine it. AFIK Venezuela wasn't refining oil, but shipping it to be refined and then sold as petro products
Citgo, owned by Venezuela, was refining it's own oil and the Gulf coast is nothing but refineries from Gulfport, MS to Houston, TX.
As of Nov 25, Citgo is owned by Paul Singer, a hedge fund manager, this is a personal windfall for himm also a major contributor to Trump, his inauguration and Republican PACs.
Lived there in Pt Neches, my uncle died from Hodgkins Disease contracted in the fields of the refinery..he was a pipe fitter.
Here's a simple postscript to Thom's composition. As I see it, Congress MUST rescind AUMF. the authorization for ANY president to use military force against another country or entity without FIRST consulting Both Houses of Congress of the action beforehand.
Don't be distracted! This business in taking Maduro and his wife has not changed the political dynamics in Caracas, has not removed the oppressive government from power, and has not put Trump in control of Venezuela. Don't believe it!
Smoke and mirrors to distract from the Epstein files. Let's not lose track of the underlying plot line here. Removing Maduro looks good and the papers will be over every little facet of it, but will they continue to press on about the Epstein files or just continue to be hoodwinked by every distraction that Trump can come up with?
Krasnov did not send ICE into San Francisco because Nancy told the boy she would arrest them for breaking the laws of city. That is all any official has to do. Simply remind your elected officials to stand up to law breakers and all is well. I have no doubt big companies are making new deals with the oil companies in South America. That is what they do behind the scenes so there will be no boots on the ground but the ground has shifted. Krasnov expects the politicians to deal themselves into the deals. He is likely right. Maduro had offered to sell the oil but that was not the deal they wanted. Not sure anyone cares.
I said essentially the same thing on Pritzkers contact page, usual pablum answer.
ICE agents are breaking state and municipal law, but politicians are afraid to arrest them.
Tragic
As an addendum to Venezuela. Per Judd at Popular Info https://popular.info/p/venezuela-raid-enriches-maga-billionaire
The big winner is Paul Singer, a billionaire hedge fund manager a major donor to Trump, giving millions to fund his inaugaration and who knows what else.
In November he bout Citgo. Citgo was the Venezuelan oil company, and it was selling gas below the price Exxon, Texacto etc sold it. Then it was confiscated when Chavez, sillly boy, actually thought that Venezuela oil belong to Venezuela and was not the property of Exxon Mobil. And from that moment all of it's troubles started, forcing it to turn to American's anemies for support, all because of Exxon Mobil.
So glad you are sharing these insights with all the knowledge you have that we may truly be informed of what is going on. From this, I am going to contact the Republican senators here in Nebraska.
Thom, the moment is now, to do something as we watch our democracy disappear right in front of us. Red State people don’t get these things Thom. I, understand what you mean though. The logic of Blue States to save the Red States, I don’t know, Thom because they don’t get it. Very good observations though.
Excuse my naivete, why are rich powerful republicans aiding and abetting Trump with his destruction of the rule of law and the constitution? These enablers are, cabinet members, senators, congress members, CEO's, billionaires, they got where they are thanks to our governmental system, that is, the rules, and the laws derived from the constitution. Have they no gratitude to the good old USA? So far, to my knowledge no GOP office holder appointed or elected has condemned Trumps invasion of Venezuela, and no CEO of a major corporation has either. No, 'dance with the one that brung ya', thinking among them. All greed, no push back no resignations, no decency, no respect for anything but (expletive) money? Are they just going to let him do what he wants so they can get richer?
Yes, Julie, I agree that when one lives in an economic and political environment that is not anchored in ‘rules’ we can learn and play by, success and power can be and are fleeting and entirely subject to the whim of the leader. For several decades, my toxic, voyeristic step-daughter and her husband have not played by the rules of decency or our constitutional rights and use 24/7 information about me via surveillance to do what they will to defame me right up until today, in coordination with my neighbors and Elon Musk.
Of late, I have been numb to the disaster playing out in our country. When Rob and Michelle Reiner were murdered by their mentally disabled son, whose journey with schizophrenia mirrors my son’s, I can’t get it out of my mind, and now take out the reports by PERT of my son’s threats to 'kill us, seriously. This same system you complain about has thwarted our efforts to keep Ethan neutral - keep him out of the two decades of 24/7 surveillance activity, with no one listening. They jerk him around to get him to say what they want about me.
As far as Nicholas Muduro goes, we were using him, and now we want the oil, which would be impossible with him in power and Cuba protecting him.