Listening to Zelensky speak at the Munich Security Conference this morning in Germany where I am, I am struck by how brilliant he is, and his proposal is about a European army that makes the European army equal to the US army. He also says, Ukraine will never accept deals made behind his back without their involvement. He says Europe should do the same which is not let decisions be about Ukraine without Ukraine and no decisions about Europe without Europe. If they let Putin have one-on-one talks with America. Putin will try to get Trump standing on Red Square on May 9, not as a respected leader, but as his prop. I am glad he is naming this. He is saying some in Europe may not understand what is happening in the US. He is saying does America need Europe as an ally? Yes for the market, for the rest he does not know. Trump does not like weak friends, he respects strength. It is Brussels or Moscow that is Europe's decision. People had to think a moment before clapping on that. Moscow will pull Europe apart if they are Europeans don't trust each other. He says a few days ago President Trump told Zelensky when he spoke with Putin. Trump says what matters is not the family you are born into, but the family you build. Saying Europe needs a Unified foreign policy. I do not know if Europe can do this, when the US, which is one country cannot do that? Let us hope Europe cares enough about their survival. He says Europe needs to be strong and he will not take NATO membership for Ukraine off the table. I am so glad he is smarter than Trump. He says the most powerful member of NATO seems to be Putin, because he is the one that is determining what happens. I am 100% on Zelensky's side. Slava Ukraini!
Double praise for Linda Wiede! There is so much going on and the Trump/Hegseth scramble back and forth is like a student dumping a bunch of ideas and phrases on the teacher's desk and saying, "Here's my essay." Trump will lie in the face of anyone who questions. I know we'd appreciate any guidance on action and how we can be of help to Zelensky and freedom in Ukraine that you might relay, Linda and others in Europe and those attuned to to international affairs at home. We do this by opposing tyranny and capitulation at home and in the many potential Munich-like appeasement sites Trump and Putin may be drumming up. Our enemies are, as predicted in the Federal Oath of Office, both foreign and domestic. And weakening one helps combat the other.
I want to recommend Paul Krugman’s interview with an expert on how Orban took over in Hungary. Heritage Foundation got very many ideas from Orban.
One observation was that our Supreme Court, to avoid seeming 100% partisan, did not quash all of Biden’s initiatives. Just the ones that would give benefits while Biden was still president. Biden initiatives that would bear fruit during the next presidency were not blocked.
Orban found the Hungarian parliament was too big. Told the members half of them would be let go, the way to keep your position was to give Orban what he wanted. And of course the voting districts would need to be redrawn. Like our primarying and gerrymandering in one move.
That was an excellent and scarifying interview. Available at the moment only to paid subscribers of Krugman's Substack; worth forking over $5-8 just to see it. And it is going to be in PARTS so you don't have to devote an hour at a time.
Zelenskyy is an astute reader. He's right to hedge on the U.S. (painful as it is here). He's absolutely right to condemn any talks without including Ukraine. At the same time, I think he realizes that the U.S. may in fact not pull out so quickly or back Putin so completely. The EU are not wrong to condemn the US after this show, but it is just a disfiguring show. That will often be the case under Trump. It remains to be seen how the U.S. will react over the next months re: Ukraine, and I don't think anything will end quickly.
The EU is not condemning Trump, but they are condemning Hegseth and Vance who gave anti European democracies and anti Ukraine speeches, without saying their names. Zelenskyy doesn't either. However, he is right to say no concessions before negotiations and no taking NATO off the table. I have watched several EU leaders talking today, and they at least present unity for the most part, except perhaps Merz.
It would seem both Hegseth and Vance were sent to deliver these grotesque speeches by their handlers, so as to not get their hands dirty. How absurdly telling it was to see that Rubio's plane had a "malfunction" mid-flight, then turned around and flew home rather than deplaning in Europe. Vance was also the guy they sent through Congress to shill for Gaetz, who now seems a distant memory. Dirty work.
Merz is the frontrunner, no? So is he also hedging, and realizing he may have to deal with Trump regime up close? I don't know all the details, but he does seem to indicate firewall re: AfD. But Musk might still influence there. I detest all of this meddling right now.
Dan, recently the AfD has gotten a huge influx of money and now Germans are last minute trying to get some legislation passes that would require more transparency with funds, and limits. Too little, too late. And I just saw a discussion of how Putin's Russian bots are spreading a huge amount of disinformation in the election. I think Germany should handle it like Romania did.
Oh, that is not good. I had felt some incitement would occur re: AfD influence, whether Musk-driven or analogous. I think they have been sharing playbooks and tactics transnationally. At least there's vigorous opposition in Berlin and many other areas.
Likewise, I've been feeling recently there's no reason why we, as a broad, pro-Democratic coalition, shouldn't also reinforce each other transnationally. I well understand how repugnant our EU friends find Vance's speech and AfD indulgence. But it goes without saying that many millions here find it equally shameful and disgusting.
It interests me, for example, to see the clear-eyed, immediate German critiques of the Vance Munich debacle there -- they could sharpen press critiques here. And if / when we start prying Musk loose from this administration (I believe he'll falter at some point), resistance here may be able to help strategize with his meddling in EU / UK elections. Just some ideas in a challenging period.
Right now the US is still to Europeans an ally. Trump is not, JD Vance is not, and Pete Hegseth is not, and as the US loses world prominence by allying itself with Putin, the Ayatollah, and Kim Jung Un and Xi, Americans will want to have somewhere to go to get away, and hopefully European countries who do not have illiberal leadership still offer that, while the illiberal ones should be shunned. I do know that my American friends here, many of whom are applying for German citizenship now that one is allowed for a window of time to have both, and are often married to Germans are involved in both elections. We have been demonstrating collectively these last weeks against fascism in general. That is a term well understood in Europe.
In 2018 when there was a tariff war under Trump, Europe boycotted Red State products from what I understand. Kentucky whiskey will take a hit again I presume right now. It does not have to be announced as such, but it has to be felt in the states that supported Trump. I am sure that Mexico and Canada are thinking to do the same things. I know that Claudia Scheinbaum said it. I imagine Blue States might also get more tourism but I'm not sure. Florida is a popular tourist destination.
I suggest that Americans who love democracy do that too. Boycott products from illiberal countries and don't go putting your tourism dollars in places like Hungary, unless you have family there. The EU is like the US in that there are liberal and illiberal states within, although people are still going to Hungary and Italy and may be going to Austria. There are areas of Germany I do not recommend. My husband has a good friend that is running a foundation in an Eastern German city where we visited the infamous prison that both the Nazi's and DDR used to imprison and torture people. It is creepy. They moved there at a time when people from the west could buy big houses for relatively little money, and that they did. Still, they sit in the middle of the burgeoning Nazi scene of the AfD. I am not eager to visit them although I have not had any problems.
My daughter had a classmate whose exchange to Germany was in Görlitz near the borders to the Czech Republic and Poland. Görlitz, where her former classmate lived is considered the most right wing of all German cities. I don't recommend supporting it.
I watched 3 of the sessions at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday and they were all very interesting, and heartening to some extent. It is important to see what is going on there. Trump is planning on negotiating with Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia and no one in Europe, who is most effected by this is invited. That is a problem since European countries have the most Ukrainians in their countries and have offered that support right away, as well as financial. All of them have raised their security budgets to meet the moment. Russia is on its knees right now, counting on Trump to push through what Putin wants, and that is not okay. Trump wants to give Ukraine to Putin, but we shall see how that works. I don't see Europe going along with this, and they will all say, the US is an ally, but we will not support this.
You know in the tradition of Zelenskyy I think we should make Andy Borowitz our next president!! Hopefully we will defeat Trump and his clowns so we can do that. Believe me, the Germans know a Nazi when they see one!
My daughter asked me after Musk did the Sieg Heil, showing the world whose party he belongs to as a South African Afrikaner whether he would be arrested in Germany if he came. I told her I did not know, because he did not do it in Germany, but his platform if it showed it should be fined 6% of his global earnings. I notice Musk has not come to Germany so that might be unclear to him, he has come via teleconference instead. He has raised a lot of enmity here though. I just signed a petition that was seeking to make sure that people like Musk could not secretly slip money into the campaign of the AfD, which people believe he is doing. It is a move that might be too late.
I hope Ukraine and Europe know how many Americans support them. Americans who oppose Trump and Musk need Europe and Ukraine ( and Canada and Mexico for that matter) to help us fight back. We want and need them to be united. Americans are sending them distress signals.
Yes, exactly. It is a divisive split. T / M / V do not represent us under the category "Americans," but now we have to fight to recapture our narrative as well as our democracy. I responded above:
Likewise, I've been feeling recently there's no reason why we, as a broad, pro-Democratic coalition, shouldn't also reinforce each other transnationally. I well understand how repugnant our EU friends find Vance's speech and AfD indulgence. But it goes without saying that many millions here find it equally shameful and disgusting.
It interests me, for example, to see the clear-eyed, immediate German critiques of the Vance Munich debacle there -- they could sharpen press critiques here. And if / when we start prying Musk loose from this administration (I believe he'll falter at some point), resistance here may be able to help strategize with his meddling in EU / UK elections. Just some ideas in a challenging period.
Turns out the career prosecutor who signed the motion to dismiss was the seniormost guy of the group, a year away from retirement. He stepped forward and did it to preserve the others. Word is the first decision they made was they would all resign together. I would call that guy a hero because he preserved the others to fight again another day. And that motion isn't the end of things. The judge can and probably will force everyone from Dibert's Fluffer, Bove the coward, on down to explain themselves in court, under oath, in public. The story will be recorded for history and the guilty parties will not be forgotten. Bove's a really interesting piece of shit - he was one of the lead prosecutors of J6 traitors, and pursued them with diligence. Then retired, wasn't getting as much work as expected, until he became one of the few lawyers so hungry he'd work for Dilbert. And of course he had to prove himself with the convert's commitment. He will forever be remembered in history as a piece of shit.
I also heard that in the very emotional meeting, everyone in the Public Integrity Unit was willing to resign, until the one guy stepped forward. I'll go for the hero title on this round. The effect on the others would have been devastating, and the point has been made with the other resignations.
History will remember, like we remember Nixon's Saturday Night Massacre from 50 years ago, and this story isn't over yet. It is now up to the Judge to play his part.
Inwould like to add that as a retired career DOJ employee (FOIA specialist)that Republicans have used the Public Integrity section as a political punching bag in the past.
Bove really is a piece of work. Where do they find these people? Scraping the bottom of the barrel, it seems. And then the looks! It's like central casting was tasked to find people resembling Count Orlok, the vampire in the German 1922 still movie Nosferatu.
Trump, the criminal, is comfortable with criminals and scumbags. The more sleazy lawyers you have on your contact list the more likely you'll get a job in the Cult. The AG is one of my favorites. It has been reported that she dropped the case against Trump University after The Convicted Felon gave her a $25,000 campaign donation. I'd say she comes pretty cheap. I bet she could have gotten $200K out of the grifter to drop that case. Now she's America's prosecutor; and that's not a joke.
We can trace this back to Trump's mentor, the excrable Roy Cohn. John no doubt founded legally questionable attorneys to stock his law firm, and to in turn mentor other legal thugs to service thr Mob, corrupt pols and other corrupt individuals.
And as I understand it, there Is to be a court hearing to explain in detail to the court just how the decision was made to dismiss the charges….it’s not just a signature on a piece of paper. I would pay good money to in THAT courtroom!
Is the person you are describing Edward Sullivan? I saw the dismissal motion, he signed, e!ectronically, and also.served.the motion. So his identity isn't a secret, I am curious. He is a hero, 100%. Yahoo news has named him, so it appears that is true.
On another note, there's a few very interesting hinges on the domestic front that may backfire beautifully. One of the attorneys who resigned on the Eric Adams case, Scotten, was a clerk for John Roberts. And he wrote a stellar resignation letter (well worth reading) rebuking the thuggish tactics to coerce them to sign the quid pro quo. If / when it goes up to the SC, Roberts himself may be compelled to uphold the honorable integrity and opinion of his former clerk and colleagues.
Another development hinge is Bondi's suing NY. NY also has red pockets (and deep pockets), and now NY Trump voters are being sued by the very administration whom they voted for. They are seeing money pulled back from NY, then having to fund a taxpayer-backed suit against themselves, in which AG James is likely to crush Bondi. Upcoming elections may become very interesting in the Empire State.
NY can't get rid of Adams fast enough. Now he is saying that he isn't sure whether he is going to run as a Republican, Independent or Democrat. Hopefully a good, moderate Dem can win the primary and run on anti corruption. Adams doesn't even have the decency to step down and Hochul won't fire him. So embarrassing for NY.
She may still fire him. She said she's weighing options. There's a few reasons and I don't know details. One is firing him would have legal repercussions with the case(s) themselves, and there could in fact be advantage to leaving him for now and bringing case to Judge Ho. She may want to protect NY state from the wrath and retribution of Trump. She is seeking legal advice, and has an excellent AG. Also, she is vulnerable re election, and there are powerful Democrats and Republicans in NY. She could be dithering and tone deaf. Her former boss, Cuomo, is a frontrunner for NYC mayor now. So . . . I don't know. I'd give it a week. I actually can't blame her for not making a snap decision.
I’m not an expert, but I believe if Hochul fires Adams, then the judge can’t require an explanation of how the decision to withdraw the charges was corruptly reached because he’s no longer mayor . Perhaps a lawyer out there can confirm this.
That did not go well the last election. The grassroots energy did not change the election especially since the Republicans had no ground game at all. Need to redirect the energy and volunteers to more productive results.
It's true it was a very discouraging loss. But it is hard to say whether the margin would have been a lot wider had not so many of us knocked on doors, registered voters, sent postcards, and wrote LTEs in our communities. I think we have reason for hope on continuing with these grassroots strategies. Not they this is the only thing to do, but it has its place. Let's continue to promote grassroots energy!
I've been wrong so many times before, but I agree with you, and think that there is going to be a backlash from the way the firings are being done. It's just downright stupid, and I think almost everyone will be affected.
Here in Portland, Oregon we've been told to expect power outages with the firings at the Bonneville Dam when that project actually makes money for the federal government. Like I said, just stupid.
Thanks for this info about Bonneville, Kate. The people now in charge from the President and Musk to Vance and the cabinet on down are so lazy, thoughtless, immoral, stupid, and unimaginative that they are worse than a clown car. They are hapless sailors in a wooden ship in a storm. When the ship starts taking in water, they chop a hole in the hull to let the water out and blame the libtards who built the ship that has proven seaworthy for 100 years.
IMO, they are doing a bang up job of p*ssing the most people off in the shortest possible period of time! Hopefully this will help tank support for Trump among people who would otherwise tune out or who have bough into the whole DOGE BS about massive governtment waste and bureaucratic bloat.
They are chopping indiscriminately and have no CLUE about the consequences.
For many years I worked for a major textile company in their R&D facility in Charlotte, NC. (Corporate HQ were in NYC). During the recession in the early 80s, some corporate executive decided to layoff a bunch of people without input from the various departments impacted. They timed the layoffs for a Friday - no big surprise.
There were a bunch of analytical labs that supported all the manufacturing facilities for both routine and non-routine testing. For example, there were really expensive gas chromatographs that could detect an impurity in a sample at the parts per million level. The set up of samples was time-consuming and if not done properly could lead to erroneous results (e.g., the sample could be contaminated).
Each lab had one of sa handful of phD chemists supervising, but the day-to-day work was done by the technicians (either without a college degree or, for some of the younger ones, a BA in Chemistry). Many of the technicians had been in the job for 10 - 20+ years and could handle routine requests with their eyes shut. Yet many of these senior technicians were the ones that got laid off. (The supervising chemists who lost their worker bees were up in arms (but also worried about their own jobs).
Well the sh*t hit the fan when the manufacturing facilities that depended on those labs discovered the layoff and that there would be massive delays before they could get the lab results that they needed immediately to avoid a plant shutdown. In short order, many (most) of the most critical people were rehired.
I never discovered if the bonehead who came up with this plan got to keep HIS job!
Bonneville Dam will probably be under a larger lawsuit. I don't think they are big enough by themselves. What people need to understand is that so many things are going to be affected. Many thousands of career employees are now without jobs, and their specialties are not transferable to other companies. The people who are left will not be able to handle the increased work load.
Red states need to go after their Senators and Representatives to demand that it stop. Blue states need to tell ours to keep fighting.
Not only does it make money, it is entirely self-funded. Getting rid of essential technical workers like electricians and linemen does not save the taxpayers any money, but it threatens the electrical grid for the entire western US. The dams are also important to farmers by providing water for irrigation of crops; to Tribes for preserving salmon and other fisheries; for navigation by providing an inland waterway from Idaho to the sea; and to all the communities along the waterways by providing flood control.
The repercussions of Vance's Munich appearances, following Hegseth's clownish disaster, are shocking and tragic. He was reviled by many, at once seen as blindingly arrogant and ignorant. Such revisionist Holocaust and pro-authoritarian propaganda is revolting coming from an American representative. I am finding it hard to wrap my head around just how quickly they are demolishing ~80 years of mutual allied support, while transparently serving as lapdogs for Russian objectives.
I've been trying to follow some of the EU / international response. They felt Vance's logic was twisted and indefensible. The speeches send a clear message that U.S. partnership is no longer reliable, and in some areas, actively seeking to destroy key democratic alliances. That in turn is forcing the EU, possibly UK and other NATO members to realign quickly. There's talk they'll continue Ukraine support without the U.S., though I actually think the U.S. won't entirely drop Ukraine, and Trump's blather won't play out as he's proclaimed. This will prolong the war. A transactional subtext of trying to extract minerals from Ukraine (which Zelenskyy rejected) follows a pattern of bolstering tech resources, also sought from Greenland, etc.
The U.S. rupture is very painful and embarrassing to witness. After Vance's speech, there was an oddly complicit meeting between Vance, Zelenskyy and partners, whose partial agreement is hard to parse. One slight positive is that Vance -- whom I don't trust -- did state he wanted a durable peace, where Eastern Europe won't fall back into war again in a few years. Zelenskyy agreed that was smart. But the pattern of repugnant isolationist talk, followed by awkward backtracking seems a hallmark of this administration. The contemptuous displays serve to tarnish and weaken U.S. reputation with our allies, perhaps irreparably. With German elections coming in ~10 days, this overture may provide a dangerous opening for hardliners to encroach more, following the trajectory of Austria, etc.
It feels like the US is on a suicide mission. For those people who lived through WWII like my mother, and the memories of those who fought in it, this is all unbearable. May the ghosts of our founders. and the framers of our Constitution, and all those who sacrificed their lives on the beaches of Normandy and elsewhere ,give us strength and come to our aid, now.
My thoughts exactly. My mother, who would have celebrated her 100th birthday this week, sacrificed a brother in that war and a son in Vietnam. I miss her daily, but am truly thankful she is not here to experience this madness. She would have been horrified. But, it is for her and the memory of those loved ones lost that I do what I can to fight on - everyday.
My mother knitted woolen squares, made into blankets for the Red Cross. She was born in 1901. Her twin brother, a physician volunteered for the army in his 40's, left a flourishing medical practice to fight in WWII. He received a Citation from General Omar Bradley for his efforts in the Battle of the Bulge.
We always knew that there was "kompromat" on $Trump. Now I truly believe that applies to Vance, Hegseth and Graham.
BTW, a question for "Pete":
What happened to the "warrior culture" you were going to install at DOD? Instead you sounded like a puppy begging not to be kicked. Not so tough anymore. Why? What do they have on you, Pete?
Sadly, I don't think they need anything on Hegseth. They are just celebrating as he crashes and burns and drowns on his own, all in fealty to their agenda. The only cabinet head I see as having serious vulnerability is Gabbard, which is just a terrible installation. I didn't even see them having much influence on Vance before, as they didn't seem to need it. However now, that seems more likely. Graham is an interesting suggestion. I can see that, possibly much longer than Vance.
Olaf Scholz speaks at the Munich Security Conference
Scholz at the Munich Security Conference
Interference in favor of the AfD "is not appropriate"
Status: 15.02.2025 11:12 am
After the controversial speech by US Vice President Vance, Chancellor Scholz accused him of interfering in the election campaign in Germany. At the Munich Security Conference, Scholz called for further support for Ukraine.Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply rejected statements by US Vice President JD Vance in favor of the AfD and has forbidden any interference in the German election campaign. National Socialism and its monstrous crimes have been trivialized by the AfD as "bird shit in German history," said the SPD politician at the Munich Security Conference (MSC).A commitment to "never again", as Vance had previously made during his visit to the Dachau concentration camp memorial, cannot be reconciled with support for the AfD. "That is why we will not accept outsiders intervening in our democracy, in our elections, in the democratic formation of opinion on behalf of this party," said Scholz. "That is not appropriate, especially not among friends and allies, and we firmly reject that." The Chancellor added: "We ourselves will decide how our democracy will continue."' From: tagesschau.de
I think Scholz is referencing Musk here, without naming him. Vance is enabling Musk, whom he did sanitize in his deplorable speech. I am glad Scholz rejects this rhetoric.
Thank you, Robert, for covering the despicable performance of the US Vice President at the Munich Security Conference and for finding the right words of indignation for it.
As if Pete Hegseth throwing Ukraine under the bus wasn't enough JD Vance continued the insurrectionists' international roadshow with a 20 minute rant at the conference. A fascist giving Europeans a lecture on democracy! A US Vice President scolding German parties for not cooperating with a rising neo-nazi party – 80 years after D-Day!
Here is a link to the speech, please watch and listen
JDV is as loathsome as DT and EM. They are all sick, sick, sick in the head, and I am grateful that I don't need to spend any time around them. I wonder how they can stand each other, or is it a love fest.
Also, read that Musk carried X around with him for safety. How loving a dad is that? Using his own child as a security shield.
These people don’t understand love. The child is a human shield according to what I’ve read. Musk is extremely paranoid (partly due to drugs?). He is known to have a security detail larger than the one around the Felon and to run to a car when he needs to go somewhere. He should be afraid.
With all this dire news, I cannot resist something a little lighter. Your name, Pamsy, echoes my using that name for my plants, Pamsies. I always say pansies are the toughest plants going, I have pictures of mine in the snow!
“Let’s draw the line in the sand by standing up for transgender people both because it is right and necessary for the safety and security of everyone.”
Thank you,Robert.Some are unfamiliar with the history…..
“As we confront oppressive legislation today, may we find hope in the history of the institute and a cautionary tale in the Nazis who were bent on erasing it.”
Joyce Vance published an excellent article today regarding Hagen Scotten's resignation, including an image of the actual letter written. Worth reading.
"Hagan Scotten, the acting assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, resigned in a blistering letter to Bove, calling his justification for dropping the charges against Adams “transparently pretextual.”"
It's not that likely in Florida, but at least the purple district may be in play. The New York seat may be more competitive, but unclear. It is definitely worth supporting in this extremely unfavorable environment. It is so volatile that we cannot rule anything out, and that's the great advantage.
I’m supporting all three of them with two figure $$ monthly donations. Gay Valimont is the Florida leader of Moms Demand Action. I get several emails from her daily. She has a really good grassroots campaign. Josh Weil in Florida has a great story. Blake Gendebien in NY is also excellent 🙏🙏🙏
Meanwhile back in the Legislature. In the category of Lick Their Boots and They'll Still Kick You In The Teeth ... the winner is ... Sen. Susan Collins. An until recently SpaceX board member has filed papers to challenge Collins. As an Independent, so the threat extends past primary season. TrumpMuskovii needs Appropriations Chair Collins on board in budget and debt ceiling negotiations. Although on board with what exactly, who knows - as fractious GOP conferences in both chambers have not agreed on anything. Formerly Collins has worked well Democrat Patty Murray - but ... Fork in the Road time for the calculating Collins. No question of courage with her. Only self interest. If she goes full bore MAGA, will Thune provide the pork Collins relies on? What does funder Leonard Leo want snd how much will he pay for it? Can she hold together her coalition of low information and inertial voters who believe her 'love me I'm a moderate' PR? Stay tuned.
Although this may be a tyro error by political newbie Musk. Maine gave 3 of its 4 Electoral College votes to Kamala Harris. We have a Democratic governor, our two House reps are Democrats, and our other senator caucuses with the Democrats. The Musk candidate may cause mischief and possibly knock out Collins, but would be a long-shot to keep the seat in the R column.
Collins folding away the principles she used to have is one of the truly sad sights in the Land of Trump. Once thought to have integrity and even a typically Maine streak of independence, she's for some reason sold out. What a shame. A former force for good now just a wet blanket.
Not sure, although there was some talk. Now that Cooper is at Harvard, he has not really said anything out loud and, to me, with his popularity that is a disappointment. Meanwhile, Wiley Nickel, my congressman who was gerrymandered out of his seat, has been very vocal. He’s indicated an interest in challenging Tillis. Follow him on Bluesky (just search for his name) or on Substack.
Re: "flood the zone." Steve Bannon told us some time ago that would be the strategy . . . at "muzzle velocity." Two phrases ready for imprint on his headstone.
Re: the NPS's removal of the word "Transgender" from the Stonewall website; I was triggered to respond on FB: "To the many parents of transgender kids we know (and the kids themselves), the National Park Service may have removed the 'T' from the Stonewall website, but nothing will ever erase you, your existence, your courage, or our admiration, love, and support." I've had nice response, including from several people who were unaware it happened. A first step to counter a small but significant first step. One small shot over the bow. We have not yet begun to fight. And you're right. White Christian nationalism just waiting in the wings, already seeping its way into the American bloodstream. More to come.
I have been receiving emails from Senator Tim Kaine (Virginia). "Thank you for being so active," he said:
"And finally — your activism matters. Vigorous, peaceful public protest is building all across this nation. Our Founders knew that elections were not sufficient to safeguard democracy, so they protected the right of the people 'peacefully to assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances.' Your dedication is an integral part of our path forward.
"This year, we will need you to be involved. In speaking up, in calling out dangerous actions, and in holding accountable those who refuse to use their power to protect democracy. Many of you have visited my Senate offices to discuss issues you care about, and I love seeing you — thank you for being so active. I also need your help expanding our reach in challenging areas, because your voice is powerful. There are many members of Congress in redder areas who desperately need to hear from an impassioned public, and I encourage you to organize in their offices with the same enthusiasm I see in mine.
"I’m counting on your resolve, because I’ve seen what we can accomplish with you in the fight.
It’s hard now. But I’m up for the battle ahead, and I feel energized by your active support. The nation is counting on us as we near the 250th birthday of our democracy."
Try adding in a busted hip from falling on the ice ! The worst part is I would like to be out there going to offices and making a big stink but getting around is tough right now. But as soon as I can I’ll be there, making people answer questions. Stephen Lynch, my representative here in Massachusetts, sends out platitudinous responses to emails I sent, but I have no idea what he’s doing if anything. Time to get serious Stephen.
Listening to Zelensky speak at the Munich Security Conference this morning in Germany where I am, I am struck by how brilliant he is, and his proposal is about a European army that makes the European army equal to the US army. He also says, Ukraine will never accept deals made behind his back without their involvement. He says Europe should do the same which is not let decisions be about Ukraine without Ukraine and no decisions about Europe without Europe. If they let Putin have one-on-one talks with America. Putin will try to get Trump standing on Red Square on May 9, not as a respected leader, but as his prop. I am glad he is naming this. He is saying some in Europe may not understand what is happening in the US. He is saying does America need Europe as an ally? Yes for the market, for the rest he does not know. Trump does not like weak friends, he respects strength. It is Brussels or Moscow that is Europe's decision. People had to think a moment before clapping on that. Moscow will pull Europe apart if they are Europeans don't trust each other. He says a few days ago President Trump told Zelensky when he spoke with Putin. Trump says what matters is not the family you are born into, but the family you build. Saying Europe needs a Unified foreign policy. I do not know if Europe can do this, when the US, which is one country cannot do that? Let us hope Europe cares enough about their survival. He says Europe needs to be strong and he will not take NATO membership for Ukraine off the table. I am so glad he is smarter than Trump. He says the most powerful member of NATO seems to be Putin, because he is the one that is determining what happens. I am 100% on Zelensky's side. Slava Ukraini!
Slava Ukraini indeed! Zelenskyy is brilliant. Thanks for this comment. I always appreciate what you have to say Linda.
I second this comment, PS. Linda, your perspective and reporting from Germany are becoming more important by the day.
Double praise for Linda Wiede! There is so much going on and the Trump/Hegseth scramble back and forth is like a student dumping a bunch of ideas and phrases on the teacher's desk and saying, "Here's my essay." Trump will lie in the face of anyone who questions. I know we'd appreciate any guidance on action and how we can be of help to Zelensky and freedom in Ukraine that you might relay, Linda and others in Europe and those attuned to to international affairs at home. We do this by opposing tyranny and capitulation at home and in the many potential Munich-like appeasement sites Trump and Putin may be drumming up. Our enemies are, as predicted in the Federal Oath of Office, both foreign and domestic. And weakening one helps combat the other.
I want to recommend Paul Krugman’s interview with an expert on how Orban took over in Hungary. Heritage Foundation got very many ideas from Orban.
One observation was that our Supreme Court, to avoid seeming 100% partisan, did not quash all of Biden’s initiatives. Just the ones that would give benefits while Biden was still president. Biden initiatives that would bear fruit during the next presidency were not blocked.
Orban found the Hungarian parliament was too big. Told the members half of them would be let go, the way to keep your position was to give Orban what he wanted. And of course the voting districts would need to be redrawn. Like our primarying and gerrymandering in one move.
That was an excellent and scarifying interview. Available at the moment only to paid subscribers of Krugman's Substack; worth forking over $5-8 just to see it. And it is going to be in PARTS so you don't have to devote an hour at a time.
Thank you for this comment Linda Weide, and informing us about Zelensky’s speech . I am also 100% on Zelensky’s side.
While I would hate to do it to Ukraine, I'd trade Presidents in a heartbeat. And rejoice for a long, long time.
Zelenskyy is an astute reader. He's right to hedge on the U.S. (painful as it is here). He's absolutely right to condemn any talks without including Ukraine. At the same time, I think he realizes that the U.S. may in fact not pull out so quickly or back Putin so completely. The EU are not wrong to condemn the US after this show, but it is just a disfiguring show. That will often be the case under Trump. It remains to be seen how the U.S. will react over the next months re: Ukraine, and I don't think anything will end quickly.
The EU is not condemning Trump, but they are condemning Hegseth and Vance who gave anti European democracies and anti Ukraine speeches, without saying their names. Zelenskyy doesn't either. However, he is right to say no concessions before negotiations and no taking NATO off the table. I have watched several EU leaders talking today, and they at least present unity for the most part, except perhaps Merz.
It would seem both Hegseth and Vance were sent to deliver these grotesque speeches by their handlers, so as to not get their hands dirty. How absurdly telling it was to see that Rubio's plane had a "malfunction" mid-flight, then turned around and flew home rather than deplaning in Europe. Vance was also the guy they sent through Congress to shill for Gaetz, who now seems a distant memory. Dirty work.
Merz is the frontrunner, no? So is he also hedging, and realizing he may have to deal with Trump regime up close? I don't know all the details, but he does seem to indicate firewall re: AfD. But Musk might still influence there. I detest all of this meddling right now.
Dan, recently the AfD has gotten a huge influx of money and now Germans are last minute trying to get some legislation passes that would require more transparency with funds, and limits. Too little, too late. And I just saw a discussion of how Putin's Russian bots are spreading a huge amount of disinformation in the election. I think Germany should handle it like Romania did.
Oh, that is not good. I had felt some incitement would occur re: AfD influence, whether Musk-driven or analogous. I think they have been sharing playbooks and tactics transnationally. At least there's vigorous opposition in Berlin and many other areas.
Likewise, I've been feeling recently there's no reason why we, as a broad, pro-Democratic coalition, shouldn't also reinforce each other transnationally. I well understand how repugnant our EU friends find Vance's speech and AfD indulgence. But it goes without saying that many millions here find it equally shameful and disgusting.
It interests me, for example, to see the clear-eyed, immediate German critiques of the Vance Munich debacle there -- they could sharpen press critiques here. And if / when we start prying Musk loose from this administration (I believe he'll falter at some point), resistance here may be able to help strategize with his meddling in EU / UK elections. Just some ideas in a challenging period.
Right now the US is still to Europeans an ally. Trump is not, JD Vance is not, and Pete Hegseth is not, and as the US loses world prominence by allying itself with Putin, the Ayatollah, and Kim Jung Un and Xi, Americans will want to have somewhere to go to get away, and hopefully European countries who do not have illiberal leadership still offer that, while the illiberal ones should be shunned. I do know that my American friends here, many of whom are applying for German citizenship now that one is allowed for a window of time to have both, and are often married to Germans are involved in both elections. We have been demonstrating collectively these last weeks against fascism in general. That is a term well understood in Europe.
In 2018 when there was a tariff war under Trump, Europe boycotted Red State products from what I understand. Kentucky whiskey will take a hit again I presume right now. It does not have to be announced as such, but it has to be felt in the states that supported Trump. I am sure that Mexico and Canada are thinking to do the same things. I know that Claudia Scheinbaum said it. I imagine Blue States might also get more tourism but I'm not sure. Florida is a popular tourist destination.
I suggest that Americans who love democracy do that too. Boycott products from illiberal countries and don't go putting your tourism dollars in places like Hungary, unless you have family there. The EU is like the US in that there are liberal and illiberal states within, although people are still going to Hungary and Italy and may be going to Austria. There are areas of Germany I do not recommend. My husband has a good friend that is running a foundation in an Eastern German city where we visited the infamous prison that both the Nazi's and DDR used to imprison and torture people. It is creepy. They moved there at a time when people from the west could buy big houses for relatively little money, and that they did. Still, they sit in the middle of the burgeoning Nazi scene of the AfD. I am not eager to visit them although I have not had any problems.
My daughter had a classmate whose exchange to Germany was in Görlitz near the borders to the Czech Republic and Poland. Görlitz, where her former classmate lived is considered the most right wing of all German cities. I don't recommend supporting it.
I watched 3 of the sessions at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday and they were all very interesting, and heartening to some extent. It is important to see what is going on there. Trump is planning on negotiating with Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia and no one in Europe, who is most effected by this is invited. That is a problem since European countries have the most Ukrainians in their countries and have offered that support right away, as well as financial. All of them have raised their security budgets to meet the moment. Russia is on its knees right now, counting on Trump to push through what Putin wants, and that is not okay. Trump wants to give Ukraine to Putin, but we shall see how that works. I don't see Europe going along with this, and they will all say, the US is an ally, but we will not support this.
You know in the tradition of Zelenskyy I think we should make Andy Borowitz our next president!! Hopefully we will defeat Trump and his clowns so we can do that. Believe me, the Germans know a Nazi when they see one!
I can agree with you on that.
Right. What do you hear about the NAZI like party in Germany? Or about Musk seeing them.
Should be close to treason to do that. Campaign issue in 2026. Excellent work, Linda.
My daughter asked me after Musk did the Sieg Heil, showing the world whose party he belongs to as a South African Afrikaner whether he would be arrested in Germany if he came. I told her I did not know, because he did not do it in Germany, but his platform if it showed it should be fined 6% of his global earnings. I notice Musk has not come to Germany so that might be unclear to him, he has come via teleconference instead. He has raised a lot of enmity here though. I just signed a petition that was seeking to make sure that people like Musk could not secretly slip money into the campaign of the AfD, which people believe he is doing. It is a move that might be too late.
I hope Ukraine and Europe know how many Americans support them. Americans who oppose Trump and Musk need Europe and Ukraine ( and Canada and Mexico for that matter) to help us fight back. We want and need them to be united. Americans are sending them distress signals.
Yes, exactly. It is a divisive split. T / M / V do not represent us under the category "Americans," but now we have to fight to recapture our narrative as well as our democracy. I responded above:
Likewise, I've been feeling recently there's no reason why we, as a broad, pro-Democratic coalition, shouldn't also reinforce each other transnationally. I well understand how repugnant our EU friends find Vance's speech and AfD indulgence. But it goes without saying that many millions here find it equally shameful and disgusting.
It interests me, for example, to see the clear-eyed, immediate German critiques of the Vance Munich debacle there -- they could sharpen press critiques here. And if / when we start prying Musk loose from this administration (I believe he'll falter at some point), resistance here may be able to help strategize with his meddling in EU / UK elections. Just some ideas in a challenging period.
Turns out the career prosecutor who signed the motion to dismiss was the seniormost guy of the group, a year away from retirement. He stepped forward and did it to preserve the others. Word is the first decision they made was they would all resign together. I would call that guy a hero because he preserved the others to fight again another day. And that motion isn't the end of things. The judge can and probably will force everyone from Dibert's Fluffer, Bove the coward, on down to explain themselves in court, under oath, in public. The story will be recorded for history and the guilty parties will not be forgotten. Bove's a really interesting piece of shit - he was one of the lead prosecutors of J6 traitors, and pursued them with diligence. Then retired, wasn't getting as much work as expected, until he became one of the few lawyers so hungry he'd work for Dilbert. And of course he had to prove himself with the convert's commitment. He will forever be remembered in history as a piece of shit.
I also heard that in the very emotional meeting, everyone in the Public Integrity Unit was willing to resign, until the one guy stepped forward. I'll go for the hero title on this round. The effect on the others would have been devastating, and the point has been made with the other resignations.
History will remember, like we remember Nixon's Saturday Night Massacre from 50 years ago, and this story isn't over yet. It is now up to the Judge to play his part.
Cheering the Public Integrity employees.
Inwould like to add that as a retired career DOJ employee (FOIA specialist)that Republicans have used the Public Integrity section as a political punching bag in the past.
Bove really is a piece of work. Where do they find these people? Scraping the bottom of the barrel, it seems. And then the looks! It's like central casting was tasked to find people resembling Count Orlok, the vampire in the German 1922 still movie Nosferatu.
After Stephen Miller they now came up with Bove.
Trump attracts thugs and mobster-like cretins like a night light attracts moths and midges. Even his lawyers use mobster tactics.
The thug who lost 34 count felony case against Dear Leader is now the chief thumb-screw enforcer. Orlok is a great analogy!
Is there anybody left over there who doesn't condemn us wholesale after Munich? I hope so. What a shame all this is.
Thanks for the chuckle. Now I have to look up count Orlok!
Count Orlok…Nosferatu. Perfect!
Trump, the criminal, is comfortable with criminals and scumbags. The more sleazy lawyers you have on your contact list the more likely you'll get a job in the Cult. The AG is one of my favorites. It has been reported that she dropped the case against Trump University after The Convicted Felon gave her a $25,000 campaign donation. I'd say she comes pretty cheap. I bet she could have gotten $200K out of the grifter to drop that case. Now she's America's prosecutor; and that's not a joke.
We can trace this back to Trump's mentor, the excrable Roy Cohn. John no doubt founded legally questionable attorneys to stock his law firm, and to in turn mentor other legal thugs to service thr Mob, corrupt pols and other corrupt individuals.
Got to love a Nosferatu, the original silent movie reference!!
And as I understand it, there Is to be a court hearing to explain in detail to the court just how the decision was made to dismiss the charges….it’s not just a signature on a piece of paper. I would pay good money to in THAT courtroom!
I read about this in HCR’s column. The hero and the piece of shit, indeed. Thanks for filling us in on the POS.
Thanks, TC, but I fear you are being too kind to Bove.
Here is a link to an organization, The Justice Connection, that is financially supporting the dedicated DoJ attorneys who are under attack:
https://www.thejusticeconnection.org/
Is the person you are describing Edward Sullivan? I saw the dismissal motion, he signed, e!ectronically, and also.served.the motion. So his identity isn't a secret, I am curious. He is a hero, 100%. Yahoo news has named him, so it appears that is true.
Yes, it was Sullivan. Evidently he is close to retirement, and fell on the sword for the rest of the team.
I hope Judge Ho takes them all to the woodshed.
On another note, there's a few very interesting hinges on the domestic front that may backfire beautifully. One of the attorneys who resigned on the Eric Adams case, Scotten, was a clerk for John Roberts. And he wrote a stellar resignation letter (well worth reading) rebuking the thuggish tactics to coerce them to sign the quid pro quo. If / when it goes up to the SC, Roberts himself may be compelled to uphold the honorable integrity and opinion of his former clerk and colleagues.
Another development hinge is Bondi's suing NY. NY also has red pockets (and deep pockets), and now NY Trump voters are being sued by the very administration whom they voted for. They are seeing money pulled back from NY, then having to fund a taxpayer-backed suit against themselves, in which AG James is likely to crush Bondi. Upcoming elections may become very interesting in the Empire State.
NY can't get rid of Adams fast enough. Now he is saying that he isn't sure whether he is going to run as a Republican, Independent or Democrat. Hopefully a good, moderate Dem can win the primary and run on anti corruption. Adams doesn't even have the decency to step down and Hochul won't fire him. So embarrassing for NY.
Well, perhaps Adams can get a new gig as the hapless sidekick to Tom Homan's clown car.
Why won't Hochul fire him?
She may still fire him. She said she's weighing options. There's a few reasons and I don't know details. One is firing him would have legal repercussions with the case(s) themselves, and there could in fact be advantage to leaving him for now and bringing case to Judge Ho. She may want to protect NY state from the wrath and retribution of Trump. She is seeking legal advice, and has an excellent AG. Also, she is vulnerable re election, and there are powerful Democrats and Republicans in NY. She could be dithering and tone deaf. Her former boss, Cuomo, is a frontrunner for NYC mayor now. So . . . I don't know. I'd give it a week. I actually can't blame her for not making a snap decision.
I’m not an expert, but I believe if Hochul fires Adams, then the judge can’t require an explanation of how the decision to withdraw the charges was corruptly reached because he’s no longer mayor . Perhaps a lawyer out there can confirm this.
Now he is saying that he isn't sure whether he is going to run as a Republican, Independent or Democrat.
I was on a Zoom yesterday with some New Yorkers. I'm pretty sure that if he plans to change his party affiliation he needs to do it quickly.
Could someone still officially registered as Dem run on a different ticket? I wouldn't think so....
Will voters remember
It is our job as grassroots activists to make them remember!!
That did not go well the last election. The grassroots energy did not change the election especially since the Republicans had no ground game at all. Need to redirect the energy and volunteers to more productive results.
It's true it was a very discouraging loss. But it is hard to say whether the margin would have been a lot wider had not so many of us knocked on doors, registered voters, sent postcards, and wrote LTEs in our communities. I think we have reason for hope on continuing with these grassroots strategies. Not they this is the only thing to do, but it has its place. Let's continue to promote grassroots energy!
Danielle Sassoon also wrote an excellent letter when she resigned (she clerked for Scalia).
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25526739-sassoon-resignation-letter/
I've been wrong so many times before, but I agree with you, and think that there is going to be a backlash from the way the firings are being done. It's just downright stupid, and I think almost everyone will be affected.
Here in Portland, Oregon we've been told to expect power outages with the firings at the Bonneville Dam when that project actually makes money for the federal government. Like I said, just stupid.
Wow! With so much crap hitting the fan at the same time, I hadn't heard anything about this! (I'm in NC).
So do you think the objective is to punish Portland, a big blue city, or are they attacking hydro power because it is "green" energy?
Thanks for this info about Bonneville, Kate. The people now in charge from the President and Musk to Vance and the cabinet on down are so lazy, thoughtless, immoral, stupid, and unimaginative that they are worse than a clown car. They are hapless sailors in a wooden ship in a storm. When the ship starts taking in water, they chop a hole in the hull to let the water out and blame the libtards who built the ship that has proven seaworthy for 100 years.
Probably both!
No, it's not to punish Portland, though that may be coming. This was part of the blanket firing of federal employees.
IMO, they are doing a bang up job of p*ssing the most people off in the shortest possible period of time! Hopefully this will help tank support for Trump among people who would otherwise tune out or who have bough into the whole DOGE BS about massive governtment waste and bureaucratic bloat.
They are chopping indiscriminately and have no CLUE about the consequences.
For many years I worked for a major textile company in their R&D facility in Charlotte, NC. (Corporate HQ were in NYC). During the recession in the early 80s, some corporate executive decided to layoff a bunch of people without input from the various departments impacted. They timed the layoffs for a Friday - no big surprise.
There were a bunch of analytical labs that supported all the manufacturing facilities for both routine and non-routine testing. For example, there were really expensive gas chromatographs that could detect an impurity in a sample at the parts per million level. The set up of samples was time-consuming and if not done properly could lead to erroneous results (e.g., the sample could be contaminated).
Each lab had one of sa handful of phD chemists supervising, but the day-to-day work was done by the technicians (either without a college degree or, for some of the younger ones, a BA in Chemistry). Many of the technicians had been in the job for 10 - 20+ years and could handle routine requests with their eyes shut. Yet many of these senior technicians were the ones that got laid off. (The supervising chemists who lost their worker bees were up in arms (but also worried about their own jobs).
Well the sh*t hit the fan when the manufacturing facilities that depended on those labs discovered the layoff and that there would be massive delays before they could get the lab results that they needed immediately to avoid a plant shutdown. In short order, many (most) of the most critical people were rehired.
I never discovered if the bonehead who came up with this plan got to keep HIS job!
Wow! I’m here in Portland as well; had not heard about those firings yet;-(… or the potential power outages ; will look it up. Thank you!
https://www.opb.org/article/2025/02/13/bonneville-power-administration-workforce-donald-trump-resign-severance-hiring/
Excellent article from OPB. Thanks for sharing.
I know that two of the local Portland tv news shows covered it. The interview I saw said that specialized essential electricians were being fired.
Can that be another lawsuit. I think the lawsuit count is over 50 now. Not sure.
Bonneville Dam will probably be under a larger lawsuit. I don't think they are big enough by themselves. What people need to understand is that so many things are going to be affected. Many thousands of career employees are now without jobs, and their specialties are not transferable to other companies. The people who are left will not be able to handle the increased work load.
Red states need to go after their Senators and Representatives to demand that it stop. Blue states need to tell ours to keep fighting.
Not only does it make money, it is entirely self-funded. Getting rid of essential technical workers like electricians and linemen does not save the taxpayers any money, but it threatens the electrical grid for the entire western US. The dams are also important to farmers by providing water for irrigation of crops; to Tribes for preserving salmon and other fisheries; for navigation by providing an inland waterway from Idaho to the sea; and to all the communities along the waterways by providing flood control.
The repercussions of Vance's Munich appearances, following Hegseth's clownish disaster, are shocking and tragic. He was reviled by many, at once seen as blindingly arrogant and ignorant. Such revisionist Holocaust and pro-authoritarian propaganda is revolting coming from an American representative. I am finding it hard to wrap my head around just how quickly they are demolishing ~80 years of mutual allied support, while transparently serving as lapdogs for Russian objectives.
I've been trying to follow some of the EU / international response. They felt Vance's logic was twisted and indefensible. The speeches send a clear message that U.S. partnership is no longer reliable, and in some areas, actively seeking to destroy key democratic alliances. That in turn is forcing the EU, possibly UK and other NATO members to realign quickly. There's talk they'll continue Ukraine support without the U.S., though I actually think the U.S. won't entirely drop Ukraine, and Trump's blather won't play out as he's proclaimed. This will prolong the war. A transactional subtext of trying to extract minerals from Ukraine (which Zelenskyy rejected) follows a pattern of bolstering tech resources, also sought from Greenland, etc.
The U.S. rupture is very painful and embarrassing to witness. After Vance's speech, there was an oddly complicit meeting between Vance, Zelenskyy and partners, whose partial agreement is hard to parse. One slight positive is that Vance -- whom I don't trust -- did state he wanted a durable peace, where Eastern Europe won't fall back into war again in a few years. Zelenskyy agreed that was smart. But the pattern of repugnant isolationist talk, followed by awkward backtracking seems a hallmark of this administration. The contemptuous displays serve to tarnish and weaken U.S. reputation with our allies, perhaps irreparably. With German elections coming in ~10 days, this overture may provide a dangerous opening for hardliners to encroach more, following the trajectory of Austria, etc.
It feels like the US is on a suicide mission. For those people who lived through WWII like my mother, and the memories of those who fought in it, this is all unbearable. May the ghosts of our founders. and the framers of our Constitution, and all those who sacrificed their lives on the beaches of Normandy and elsewhere ,give us strength and come to our aid, now.
My thoughts exactly. My mother, who would have celebrated her 100th birthday this week, sacrificed a brother in that war and a son in Vietnam. I miss her daily, but am truly thankful she is not here to experience this madness. She would have been horrified. But, it is for her and the memory of those loved ones lost that I do what I can to fight on - everyday.
My mother knitted woolen squares, made into blankets for the Red Cross. She was born in 1901. Her twin brother, a physician volunteered for the army in his 40's, left a flourishing medical practice to fight in WWII. He received a Citation from General Omar Bradley for his efforts in the Battle of the Bulge.
It’s small comfort, but both of my parents, who fought in WWII, are not alive to witness this.
It seems clear Putin has been pulling our Felon-in-chief's strings for quite some time.
But there is more at work than just Russian influence. This article from The Big Picture substack sheds light on Vance's puppeteers. All of them have really twisted ideas. https://thinkbigpicture.substack.com/p/the-broligarchs-have-arrived-revisited
We always knew that there was "kompromat" on $Trump. Now I truly believe that applies to Vance, Hegseth and Graham.
BTW, a question for "Pete":
What happened to the "warrior culture" you were going to install at DOD? Instead you sounded like a puppy begging not to be kicked. Not so tough anymore. Why? What do they have on you, Pete?
Petey's too busy trying to find those very friendly ladies that Putin promised would br available overseas...as well as thr stash of vodka.
Sadly, I don't think they need anything on Hegseth. They are just celebrating as he crashes and burns and drowns on his own, all in fealty to their agenda. The only cabinet head I see as having serious vulnerability is Gabbard, which is just a terrible installation. I didn't even see them having much influence on Vance before, as they didn't seem to need it. However now, that seems more likely. Graham is an interesting suggestion. I can see that, possibly much longer than Vance.
This was the answer from Germany:
Olaf Scholz speaks at the Munich Security Conference
Scholz at the Munich Security Conference
Interference in favor of the AfD "is not appropriate"
Status: 15.02.2025 11:12 am
After the controversial speech by US Vice President Vance, Chancellor Scholz accused him of interfering in the election campaign in Germany. At the Munich Security Conference, Scholz called for further support for Ukraine.Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply rejected statements by US Vice President JD Vance in favor of the AfD and has forbidden any interference in the German election campaign. National Socialism and its monstrous crimes have been trivialized by the AfD as "bird shit in German history," said the SPD politician at the Munich Security Conference (MSC).A commitment to "never again", as Vance had previously made during his visit to the Dachau concentration camp memorial, cannot be reconciled with support for the AfD. "That is why we will not accept outsiders intervening in our democracy, in our elections, in the democratic formation of opinion on behalf of this party," said Scholz. "That is not appropriate, especially not among friends and allies, and we firmly reject that." The Chancellor added: "We ourselves will decide how our democracy will continue."' From: tagesschau.de
I think Scholz is referencing Musk here, without naming him. Vance is enabling Musk, whom he did sanitize in his deplorable speech. I am glad Scholz rejects this rhetoric.
Of course Scholz rejected Vance 's rhetoric. The only German politicians who approve of Vance are the AfD, which Putin has bankrolled.
Thank you, Robert, for covering the despicable performance of the US Vice President at the Munich Security Conference and for finding the right words of indignation for it.
As if Pete Hegseth throwing Ukraine under the bus wasn't enough JD Vance continued the insurrectionists' international roadshow with a 20 minute rant at the conference. A fascist giving Europeans a lecture on democracy! A US Vice President scolding German parties for not cooperating with a rising neo-nazi party – 80 years after D-Day!
Here is a link to the speech, please watch and listen
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=vance+speech+security+conference&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:9beab890,vid:9dNv9tH0dkU,st:0
JDV is as loathsome as DT and EM. They are all sick, sick, sick in the head, and I am grateful that I don't need to spend any time around them. I wonder how they can stand each other, or is it a love fest.
Also, read that Musk carried X around with him for safety. How loving a dad is that? Using his own child as a security shield.
These people don’t understand love. The child is a human shield according to what I’ve read. Musk is extremely paranoid (partly due to drugs?). He is known to have a security detail larger than the one around the Felon and to run to a car when he needs to go somewhere. He should be afraid.
Yes. As a member of Moms Against Musk (MAM) there is only further reason to despise him for endangering his child.
It’s child neglect. The little boy should be in Montessori with friends.
Musk likely lives in a dissociative, ketamine-induced state of paranoia.
With all this dire news, I cannot resist something a little lighter. Your name, Pamsy, echoes my using that name for my plants, Pamsies. I always say pansies are the toughest plants going, I have pictures of mine in the snow!
What kind of a name is “X” for a kid anyway?
“Let’s draw the line in the sand by standing up for transgender people both because it is right and necessary for the safety and security of everyone.”
Thank you,Robert.Some are unfamiliar with the history…..
“As we confront oppressive legislation today, may we find hope in the history of the institute and a cautionary tale in the Nazis who were bent on erasing it.”
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-forgotten-history-of-the-worlds-first-trans-clinic/
That is a fascinating (and scary) piece of history. Thank you for the link.
Joyce Vance published an excellent article today regarding Hagen Scotten's resignation, including an image of the actual letter written. Worth reading.
"Hagan Scotten, the acting assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, resigned in a blistering letter to Bove, calling his justification for dropping the charges against Adams “transparently pretextual.”"
https://open.substack.com/pub/joycevance/p/the-face-of-courage
Meanwhile, watch the 2 March Florida special elections for the House. Is it possible that the coming backlash could flip them to elect Democrats?
It's not that likely in Florida, but at least the purple district may be in play. The New York seat may be more competitive, but unclear. It is definitely worth supporting in this extremely unfavorable environment. It is so volatile that we cannot rule anything out, and that's the great advantage.
I’m supporting all three of them with two figure $$ monthly donations. Gay Valimont is the Florida leader of Moms Demand Action. I get several emails from her daily. She has a really good grassroots campaign. Josh Weil in Florida has a great story. Blake Gendebien in NY is also excellent 🙏🙏🙏
I think they are in april. Not sure.
You are right. April.
Meanwhile back in the Legislature. In the category of Lick Their Boots and They'll Still Kick You In The Teeth ... the winner is ... Sen. Susan Collins. An until recently SpaceX board member has filed papers to challenge Collins. As an Independent, so the threat extends past primary season. TrumpMuskovii needs Appropriations Chair Collins on board in budget and debt ceiling negotiations. Although on board with what exactly, who knows - as fractious GOP conferences in both chambers have not agreed on anything. Formerly Collins has worked well Democrat Patty Murray - but ... Fork in the Road time for the calculating Collins. No question of courage with her. Only self interest. If she goes full bore MAGA, will Thune provide the pork Collins relies on? What does funder Leonard Leo want snd how much will he pay for it? Can she hold together her coalition of low information and inertial voters who believe her 'love me I'm a moderate' PR? Stay tuned.
Although this may be a tyro error by political newbie Musk. Maine gave 3 of its 4 Electoral College votes to Kamala Harris. We have a Democratic governor, our two House reps are Democrats, and our other senator caucuses with the Democrats. The Musk candidate may cause mischief and possibly knock out Collins, but would be a long-shot to keep the seat in the R column.
Collins folding away the principles she used to have is one of the truly sad sights in the Land of Trump. Once thought to have integrity and even a typically Maine streak of independence, she's for some reason sold out. What a shame. A former force for good now just a wet blanket.
Cornyn in TX is also up for reelection in 2026. Adam Kinzinger moved to Texas. Wondering
So is Thom Tillis in North Carolina.
Hope you can find a mainstream, middle of the road candidate. Would Roy Cooper be interested? I learned he’s now teaching at Harvard.
Not sure, although there was some talk. Now that Cooper is at Harvard, he has not really said anything out loud and, to me, with his popularity that is a disappointment. Meanwhile, Wiley Nickel, my congressman who was gerrymandered out of his seat, has been very vocal. He’s indicated an interest in challenging Tillis. Follow him on Bluesky (just search for his name) or on Substack.
Re: "flood the zone." Steve Bannon told us some time ago that would be the strategy . . . at "muzzle velocity." Two phrases ready for imprint on his headstone.
Re: the NPS's removal of the word "Transgender" from the Stonewall website; I was triggered to respond on FB: "To the many parents of transgender kids we know (and the kids themselves), the National Park Service may have removed the 'T' from the Stonewall website, but nothing will ever erase you, your existence, your courage, or our admiration, love, and support." I've had nice response, including from several people who were unaware it happened. A first step to counter a small but significant first step. One small shot over the bow. We have not yet begun to fight. And you're right. White Christian nationalism just waiting in the wings, already seeping its way into the American bloodstream. More to come.
It was Trump that ordered the removal. Don't blame the NPS.
Thank you. I wasn't.
I have been receiving emails from Senator Tim Kaine (Virginia). "Thank you for being so active," he said:
"And finally — your activism matters. Vigorous, peaceful public protest is building all across this nation. Our Founders knew that elections were not sufficient to safeguard democracy, so they protected the right of the people 'peacefully to assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances.' Your dedication is an integral part of our path forward.
"This year, we will need you to be involved. In speaking up, in calling out dangerous actions, and in holding accountable those who refuse to use their power to protect democracy. Many of you have visited my Senate offices to discuss issues you care about, and I love seeing you — thank you for being so active. I also need your help expanding our reach in challenging areas, because your voice is powerful. There are many members of Congress in redder areas who desperately need to hear from an impassioned public, and I encourage you to organize in their offices with the same enthusiasm I see in mine.
"I’m counting on your resolve, because I’ve seen what we can accomplish with you in the fight.
It’s hard now. But I’m up for the battle ahead, and I feel energized by your active support. The nation is counting on us as we near the 250th birthday of our democracy."
Kaine is my senator, too, and why on earth is he approving cabinet members if he understands the danger we are in?
Yes! There should have been NO Democratic votes for any of those cretins
I just wish that I wasn’t snowed in & my poor little Focus, almost buried😢😭🚙❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Try adding in a busted hip from falling on the ice ! The worst part is I would like to be out there going to offices and making a big stink but getting around is tough right now. But as soon as I can I’ll be there, making people answer questions. Stephen Lynch, my representative here in Massachusetts, sends out platitudinous responses to emails I sent, but I have no idea what he’s doing if anything. Time to get serious Stephen.
Robert, I’m sorry, but what we’re seeing is not a SNAFU. It’s FUBAR.