Happy Christmas Eve, and here’s your reminder that it’s not normal for an American president to talk about taking over territory that belongs to our allies.
Since he has devoted eight years of his scheiße-life drumpfing America, whom can Trump drumpf next? Allies, of course. Give the guy a prodigious prosthesis and a life-time supply of little blue pills to get him out of our misery. 🤢
What concerns me most about Trump is that he reminds me of Kaiser Wilhem and his 'hair-trigger' foreign policy that set the tone for the Great War. Trump's behavior is that of a declining power desperately trying to hold on to being King of the Mountain. 😱
Canada? Trump is probably bluffing on tariffs. We need to stand behind a brave, stalwart, and faithful ally and not let Trump bully her. 💔
Greenland? Trump thinks he can put the nuclear shield there and drop out of N.A.T.O. We good citizens must remind our compatriots that allies are good for national security. 🖕
Panama? Again, we good Americans must be good now. Boy, oh boy, do I miss President Carter. 😢
Unfortunately, we haven't been as loyal & faithful to Canada as they have been to us. Hopefully they realize that We The People will stand with them over a demented old psychopath in the White House.
Partly yes, partly no. We do think some politicians, citizens and even military will advise him against any hostilities against Canada and we hope that will be enough to restrain his crazy impulses. But we can't be sure. Obviously Canadians' views vary, including about how to respond to further provocations. Avoiding tariffs that would be awful for both countries is a major priority for Canadian politicians at the federal and provincial levels.
The nuclear shield he's fantasizing about is like Israel's Iron Dome, which is, only effective for short-range attacks. Perfect for a country the size of New Jersey, with murderous next-door neighbors, but useless for a huge country far from its likely enemies. He grasps this about as well as he understands tariffs.
One BIG concern about Panama for me is that the rogue Trumpanzee outta-control wants to use the canal as a political weapon against China. 😰 That might well precipitate a war we can not win without resorting to nuclear weapons. 😰
Well, as those people I know who are Trump supporters say to me: “That’s Trump! He doesn’t really mean that Mexico will pay for The Wall,” etc. It really isn’t a matter of “Trump will back down and abandon plans in the face of persistent opposition.” (Quote from Joyce Vance.) Trump does this stuff - SAYS this stuff - as Distractions (in this case from the Matty Gaetz disaster) or as EgoBites: “Hey, look at ME!!!”
Our best reaction should probably NOT BE “persistent opposition!” It should be a collective “Ho Hum!”
You could be right! We give his idiocy lots of air time. Maybe that needs to stop, but we wouldn't want ignoring his craziness to embolden him and his minions. Is it a puzzle, a conundrum, a dilemma, a text of our intelligence? Whatever it is, it's not a game we should have to play, but it appears that we must figure out how to deal with the absurdities!
People need to get off of X, and leave it to the lunatic fringe and the head lunatic. The media staying on it should be boycotted. They should be told this too.
Two things I have gathered from the few Trump supporters whom I know. First, they are not giving up on the republican experiment but believe the republican experiment has given up on them. Second, it is not what they hear from Trump that wins their support but that they feel heard.
He needs to be investigated to determine whether he's too nutsy koo koo to serve as president.
We need an amnesty bill.
14th Amendment Section 3
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Don't validate this moron's stupidity by actually treating his "musings" as anything approaching rational thought...tRump is desperately trying to recover being dunked upon by Elno, so he's trotting out this nonsense as "policy" when he's sworn into office.
It's a distraction. Please don't fall for it. he is trying to stir the pot. Things are going on in the background that he is trying to make us look away from.
It's almost as if the only vetting required to serve this administration is to be a celebrity on FOX. I think Susie Wiles let down the side with Gaetz, Hegseth, Gabbard, RFK, Patel. Our allies will be keeping national security secrets to themselves. And we won't even get into Panama, Greenland and Canada
Agreed, we should be concentrating on the devastation of our checks and balances these appointees will implement if confirmed. Bondi, Hegseth and Patel will do anything trump wants them to do and people will suffer.
I called my senators again today and said these nutso statements made it all the MORE important that Hegseth and Gabbars not be confirmed…it’s even more critical that those spots be held by qualified, serious people.
That is always true but he is willing to escalate quite a lot if he thinks he needs to. Dems should not bail him out of his nonsense. They should be telling everyone what is really going on.
Yes, sociopaths gotta sociopath. And this sociopath’s talk is cheap and designed to stir the pot of the citizens of his own country. Go figure. Only a seriously disturbed oligarch would do that, but here we are. But what do we do when he really takes action because he’s bored on a Saturday night?
Let’s not forget that he is NOT YET the president. The media apparently has forgotten that little detail and treats everything that comes out of his foul mouth as real. They do not say that a non office holder has no right to speak for the country. And that his statements are insane because the US does not invade its sovereign nation neighbors. Compare nonsense to the Louisiana Purchase? What is wrong with CNN?
CNN platforming the ignoramus tool Scott Jennings who was crowing about the takeover plans. You cannot make this s—t up. It is a distraction from worse and also a preview of what’s to come.
Exactly. Right on! However, while we haven't as yet invaded sovereign nation neighbors, we have invaded distant sovereign nations; Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan. Note to psychopath invaders re: more details - you spend billions, kill millions and you don't win. Definition of insanity?
Both sidesism plain and simple. And liberty media covering their ass, it’s not enough to be filthy rich, they need to grow their wealth into obscene amounts, treating the insipid orange turd with kid gloves is just part of the cost of doing business 🤬
Indeed, the MSM is handling Trump with kid gloves, again. Normalizing the insanity. CURRENT President Biden needs to issue a strong rebuke before he's out of office.
Have a warm holiday, Joyce, with your family and menagerie of animals. Thank you for all you do for us every day.
I hope we are not entering WWIII. My family are Eastern European Jews. My Dad’s first cousin was a Ritchie boy and later a prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials. There’s much more to the Nuremberg story and my family, but will leave for another time.
Kathi, my father's family was Eastern European Jews, and 38 of them died in the concentration camps. My father's parents came to the US in 1913, to avoid having my grandfather participate in world war I (he would have been killed almost immediately, because his unit was wiped out). I hope you have wonderful holidays.
Because of your grandparent’s foresight, you and your descendants will be able to tell their story as well as the stories of those who did not survive the Holocaust. Have a Happy Hanukkah if you celebrate.
Thank you, Kathi. Neither my sisters nor I have any descendants, but I will continue to mention it when I can. My parents didn't let their children know of their Jewish heritage until I was 22 years old, after my sister ran into problems with her boyfriend's family. So I am not a practicing Jew. That said, I do feel the awfulness of antisemitism.
I will do my best. The other story I remember is a woman who worked at the Baskin Robbins store in Santa Monica, CA, who had a number tattooed on her arm. I was a teenager, and my mother had to explain to me what it was, and it's something I've never forgotten.
My mother was born in 1913. I had to tell her what the tattooed number meant. Born in America in a German dominated community, she had no idea. Living near family members who were members of the Ku Klux Klan she was embarrassed and chagrined that she was so ignorant. We all have to remember and stop the HATE.
My daughter-in-law and thus my granddaughter are Jewish - and today I will try making latkes for the very first time! Looking at Clark's recipe and also Ina Garten's. Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate!
My father came from orthodoxy but married an Italian and I was brought up Christian until the Catholics expelled me in 7th grade. I have never fit in too many places.
Man, you got that right. The only thing that saved me from the priests after wanting to become an alter boy was the fricken Latin I had to memorize as I said no way. Instead, I became a choir boy and now I am a singer/songwriter.
I grew up in a community where there was a Ukrainian settlement; many of them were classmates and friends. They know the dangers we are worrying about.
I do hope that Canada appreciates the mistake, reflecting that Trump probably cannot find half of our allied nations on a map! 🙄
I love Canada, as my mgm was from New Brunswick - visit frequently. Stay strong Canada 🇨🇦. Several of our seaboard blue states would love to become Provinces of Canada! 💙💙
I love your comment about trump not being able to find half of our allied nations on a map. You know, whatever he can't find, he can just draw it onto a map with his black sharpie - like he did with Hurricane Dorian's path in September 2019, regaling the nation with his own (god-help-us-outdated, inaccurate) "interpretation" of its path. Apparently, there's a provision in the U.S. Code (18 U.S.C. §2074, False Weather Reports) which Al Roker posted online at that time, which states you can be fined, imprisoned for ninety days, or both, for publishing a "counterfeit weather forecast". Wow! That's an easy one. So, hurricane season starts 159 days from today. I hope Santa brings him a huge box of sharpies, lots of display boards and he entertains us again, many, many times with his drawings documented on YouTube.
True, but giving weather reports and weather predictions is not a Presidential responsibility. It has to be part of his job to qualify for the SCOTUS exemption. Just like making payments to porn stars isn't a Presidential role either. Of course, for one active hurricane season with 10 actual hurricanes in it, that'd only be two and a half years. It reminds us, though, that he'll inevitably be breaking other more serious laws this term.
But Switzerland, proud home of the scene on his crazy-for-acquisition post, is open to offers -- especially as Drumpf and his minions have bazillions on deposit with anonymity-protective Swiss banks.
He eliminates NATO. Already he’s going to withdraw from the WHO, Paris Climate Accords, and anything else that signals cooperation in making the world a better place.
This is shocking and crazy, but then again there are many things about Trump that are both shocking and crazy. We should not expect much else; the man is a mentally ill convicted criminal who has a long history of angry, crazed, criminal behavior.
He is what he is. As a mental health professional, I find him both fascinating and appalling.
David Jordan did you read the 2017 NYT best seller: "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump"? The 27 forensic psychiatrists authors of the book still ZOOM on Fridays NOON eastern & go into depth on social psychosis of "Trump Contagion".
Bill I am a PAID subscriber to Dr. Bandy X. Lee's M.D., M.Div. Substack: Go to: brandyxlee@substack.com
Dr. Lee was a famous YALE Professor still well known internationally for her psychiatric analyses & lectures on political violence.
The 12/22/24 & all ZOOM Meetings are recorded. The 12/22 lecture & discussion with other forensic psychiatrists was timely:
"Maintaining our Collective MENTAL HEALTH in an Increasingly Dangerous World". Available now -- as all lectures are also available.
The ZOOM has an open & lively "Chat" function where details, case studies, books & research are posted by professionals.
Dr. Lee is also an advocate of a mental health's professional duty-to-warn potential victims. I was pleased to inform Dr. Lee's group that a psychiatrist's duty-to-warn has long been the law in California via a judicial opinion on the famous "Tarasoff" case where a psychiatrist was held liable for the heinous & frenetic stabbing of the patient's woman friend.
The Doc failed to warn the specifically intended target. HELD: Liable and the statutory duty-to-warn California Civil Code Section 43.92 followed rapidly.
I will comment on the Duty-to-Protect another day.
I wonder if the people who voted for him because they believed his bogus claims that he would lower their rent, grocery, and gas prices are starting to look around, add two plus two, and see that he's actually not doing a single thing about their verbalized economic needs. I hope they were listening to, or perhaps read, his Time Magazine "Man of the Year" interview, when just thirty-eight days after they elected him, he said what the rest of the country had already known before the election, (duh!!!) that lowering grocery prices will be "very hard". I hope to heaven, the journalists will keep the country periodically updated about how these shrewd, intuitive, "price of living" voters are feeling about their hero's efforts on his promises to them. Of course, their names will have to be changed so they don't get investigated by one of their hero's helpers heading up the FBI.
Not that I’ve seen in my corner of the world, where my Mump loving friends have gone silent about all politics except for comparing DiFi to the Texas Representative in memory care.
I can’t tell you how upset I am at Trump’s disrespect of our Prime Minister and our country. People are pretending its “just a joke”. I have actually feared some kind of invasion since Trump’s first term, as we are a resource rich country. As much as I love the USA, (I have family there,) I would never ever want to be the 51st state. Too many guns and expensive healthcare would be my top two reasons.
So sorry, Annie, and deeply humiliated and mortified. No American in their right mind--which really is most of us, discounting MAGAs--would want this. Canada is a respected and admired friend and ally.
I also look forward to the Index. Your newsletter is very necessary in these times, but, it may be just one more thing that unfortunately gets lost in the maze of information and misinformation that is now out there. Something simpler and stronger is needed to break through.
I think your Democracy Index idea could be one such thing. I haven't found much detail about how it would work, and perhaps that is because you have yet to flesh it out publicly. So, what I am about to suggest may have already been covered or dismissed.
The Index idea reminds me of the doomsday clock. It is a very simple and graphic representation of the current state of affairs in one realm. I think your Index could be such a thing. And to be effective, I believe it needs to be as simple and graphic.
More specifically, one form it could take would be the following. You identify 4-6 critical elements of a successful democracy (e.g., protecting the right to vote, avoidance of political corruption, protecting the rule of law and the constitution, avoiding authoritarian practices). Then, for each element, you assign it a score from 0-10 on how healthy our democracy is currently on that element. Then, those element scores are averaged to compute an overall Democracy Index, with 10 representing a fully healthy democracy.
A simple webpage would clearly and graphically display those element scores and the overall Index score. You, and whomever you would enlist in the effort, would adjust the individual scores and the overall average whenever you determined they had changed.
Just think about how much attention that Index would get. Not particularly because it is so important, but because it is so digestible by so many, and so easy to communicate and debate.
Of course, there will always be some subjectivity to an Index like this. But on the homepage of the Index, under each element would be a link to another page that provided text and links to evidence that justify the score.
Imagine if such a simple, quantitative index such as this existed. It could not be ignored. I have no idea if this is at all what you have in mind with your Index, but I thought I would share it as one possible idea, and also to encourage you to continue to pursue your idea of an Index because I really believe it holds a lot of promise for breaking through the noise, and changing the conversation.
"It could not be ignored." Dream on. 34 felony convictions by a jury of regular folks, and the philandering and tax fraud behind them? The expressed opinions (warnings) of those whom *he chose* to advise and lead his first (mal)administration? His deranged ramblings and hate-spews at his campaign "rallies"? (I'm sure a Leni Riefenstahl could have edited the record to make him look heroic -- even if she had to cut his ear to do it.) Explicit plans for political imprisonment? Unmistakable "hints" at dictatorial ambitions? All ignored by about 49.9%, a significant plurality, of the electorate, despite being right in front of them unless they were actively avoiding the truth. Your index, with its links, would fare no better; only the choir would hear its sermon.
So that's why the US as of 1/20/25 will be belligerent towards Panama. We'll have to wait to find out what his personal gripe is with Denmark. It'll be something petty: did one or more of his wives give up her virginity, or have an affair, with a Dane? Did the Danish gov't reject his proposal to "redevelop" the Christiansborg Palace into a luxury resort hotel? Does he blame Denmark for the fact that he's still scared of the dark because of the darkness of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales? Inquiring minds want to know!
It's not Trompe who wants to buy Greenland, nor is it because of national security. It's president Musk who wants to buy Greenland so he can mine its land that is rich in precious metals necessary for Musk's corporate empire.
I can’t say it is the Whole Why… but I did check to see if the case is still active. The New Republic article says - active in NY. Greenland I am with you, as to WHY?? Stay tuned. Oiy shhh. I had to read your post again when I settled in. I missed the section of your post about redeveloping the Christianborg Palace. It’s quite lovely and grand. He would destroy it
That's exactly what I was thinking! He's taking Putin's script book almost word for word! Tomorrow is Christmas Day! Also the first day of Hanukkah! May all of us remembering what December 25th represents! A day of ENLIGHTENMEMT! Higher Diety, thank you for giving the United States Our Freedoms! Everyone, enjoy Christmas with President Biden before the 'terrorist' trump takes over the reins! A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
That last photo needs to be labeled, "I can see Switzerland from my house."
One of his more ridiculous statements that you've omitted (and there have been so many) is his planned invasion of Mexico. Ostensibly to break down the cartels and stop the flow of drugs over the border, of late he's been talking about sending in armed US troops across the border, WHETHER MEXICO REQUESTS THEM OR NOT.
So, he plans to invade a sovereign nation on our southern border, because...?
Maybe because the newly-elected Presidente is a woman and he believes all women to be weak?
Claudia Sheinbaum is a winner of the Nobel Prize. I can't believe that she will give a bully's threats any credence. And Mexico will respond in kind. Bet on it.
HAPPY Chrismukkah dearest JOYce - wishing you, yours and THE CHICKENS a festive holiday season. As far as the ORANGE COCKroach - He is a LUNATIC- period!!
We and democracy WILL PREVAIL....we got to keep on keepin on TOGETHER!! hugs and smooches!!
We don't get a night off, because the threat is too serious to ignore. Thank you for being ever vigilant.
I will be writing. I will be on the street. I will be in front of the White House singing my songs and selling my book. Fight. Fight. Fight.
Let me know when--I'll be there to lend a hand!
I borrow my friend’s wireless amp and make noise. I would have been present at Kamala Harris rally but my bronchitis got in the way.
Really? Please text me @ 860-956-2844 and repeat this invite and I will put a reminder in my book. Otherwise I won’t remember.
do you have emails for CNN honchos? If so, please share.
I don’t have a CNN email, but I do have a feedback form as well as contact info for some other media, plus the letter I sent to all. Feel free to use anything helpful. It’s all in this doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CW1ADNFxjxArbdvkqrMvkSlLvZIVgxVuazWxJsHVpfQ/edit
Thanks Cathy! I sent letters to CNN and NYT.
thank you so much!
Tips@CNN.com
I think there is hope Biden/Harris are going to “Do Something!”
Read Tin Foil Matt’s Substack below.
https://open.substack.com/pub/tinfoilmatt/p/biden-and-harris-cancel-holiday-plans
And if you haven’t read this, do so! “Nine Ways To Prove The Election Was Stolen”:
https://open.substack.com/pub/tinfoilmatt/p/nine-ways-to-prove-the-2024-election
Since he has devoted eight years of his scheiße-life drumpfing America, whom can Trump drumpf next? Allies, of course. Give the guy a prodigious prosthesis and a life-time supply of little blue pills to get him out of our misery. 🤢
What concerns me most about Trump is that he reminds me of Kaiser Wilhem and his 'hair-trigger' foreign policy that set the tone for the Great War. Trump's behavior is that of a declining power desperately trying to hold on to being King of the Mountain. 😱
Canada? Trump is probably bluffing on tariffs. We need to stand behind a brave, stalwart, and faithful ally and not let Trump bully her. 💔
Greenland? Trump thinks he can put the nuclear shield there and drop out of N.A.T.O. We good citizens must remind our compatriots that allies are good for national security. 🖕
Panama? Again, we good Americans must be good now. Boy, oh boy, do I miss President Carter. 😢
EDITING P.S., I posted this essay on social media. ✌🏽https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7277475269521682432/
Unfortunately, we haven't been as loyal & faithful to Canada as they have been to us. Hopefully they realize that We The People will stand with them over a demented old psychopath in the White House.
I am with you, Mr Crazy like a Fox 😉 as we, together, stand up to plain ole Mr Crazy. 🤬
NBC News Headline: "Anti-Trump forces Build a Network to Aid political [MUMP Targets]. That's FULL support, legal, financial, mental health FULL Stop.
Partly yes, partly no. We do think some politicians, citizens and even military will advise him against any hostilities against Canada and we hope that will be enough to restrain his crazy impulses. But we can't be sure. Obviously Canadians' views vary, including about how to respond to further provocations. Avoiding tariffs that would be awful for both countries is a major priority for Canadian politicians at the federal and provincial levels.
Canada has the rare earths and the water. She can sweat us out.
The nuclear shield he's fantasizing about is like Israel's Iron Dome, which is, only effective for short-range attacks. Perfect for a country the size of New Jersey, with murderous next-door neighbors, but useless for a huge country far from its likely enemies. He grasps this about as well as he understands tariffs.
True, Prime Minister Netanyahu is the best recruiter Hamas has ever had; 🤢 he is endangering Israeli security over the long-term. 💔
https://nedmcdletters.blogspot.com/2023/10/letter-180-post-107-in-israel-and-time.html
I agree! We need to march and protest and say HELL NO! If Trump attacks our allies or us!
And we will--what better place to rally folks to the cause than here?? I'd love to meet all of you!
One BIG concern about Panama for me is that the rogue Trumpanzee outta-control wants to use the canal as a political weapon against China. 😰 That might well precipitate a war we can not win without resorting to nuclear weapons. 😰
Do we win wars when we use nukes?
Nope.
Well, as those people I know who are Trump supporters say to me: “That’s Trump! He doesn’t really mean that Mexico will pay for The Wall,” etc. It really isn’t a matter of “Trump will back down and abandon plans in the face of persistent opposition.” (Quote from Joyce Vance.) Trump does this stuff - SAYS this stuff - as Distractions (in this case from the Matty Gaetz disaster) or as EgoBites: “Hey, look at ME!!!”
Our best reaction should probably NOT BE “persistent opposition!” It should be a collective “Ho Hum!”
Too dangerous to ignore. They tried that with Hitler.
You could be right! We give his idiocy lots of air time. Maybe that needs to stop, but we wouldn't want ignoring his craziness to embolden him and his minions. Is it a puzzle, a conundrum, a dilemma, a text of our intelligence? Whatever it is, it's not a game we should have to play, but it appears that we must figure out how to deal with the absurdities!
yup. everyone thought Hitler was a joke--in the beginning.
Good point.
People need to get off of X, and leave it to the lunatic fringe and the head lunatic. The media staying on it should be boycotted. They should be told this too.
Two things I have gathered from the few Trump supporters whom I know. First, they are not giving up on the republican experiment but believe the republican experiment has given up on them. Second, it is not what they hear from Trump that wins their support but that they feel heard.
We need Biden and the senate to step up.
He needs to be investigated to determine whether he's too nutsy koo koo to serve as president.
We need an amnesty bill.
14th Amendment Section 3
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Don't validate this moron's stupidity by actually treating his "musings" as anything approaching rational thought...tRump is desperately trying to recover being dunked upon by Elno, so he's trotting out this nonsense as "policy" when he's sworn into office.
For god's sake don't fall for this shite already!
At the very, very least it's destabilizing. We have to pay attention.
It's a distraction. Please don't fall for it. he is trying to stir the pot. Things are going on in the background that he is trying to make us look away from.
Yes! He's rattling the keys so we'll forget about his insane choices for key positions on which the security of the US, if not the world, depends.
Exactly - making Hegseth seem like the least of our troubles.
The least? Sorry but that doesn't compute. It's him and Gabbard who threaten us the most. Not far behind is the Ratcliff for CIA and Patel for FBI.
It's almost as if the only vetting required to serve this administration is to be a celebrity on FOX. I think Susie Wiles let down the side with Gaetz, Hegseth, Gabbard, RFK, Patel. Our allies will be keeping national security secrets to themselves. And we won't even get into Panama, Greenland and Canada
Agreed, we should be concentrating on the devastation of our checks and balances these appointees will implement if confirmed. Bondi, Hegseth and Patel will do anything trump wants them to do and people will suffer.
I called my senators again today and said these nutso statements made it all the MORE important that Hegseth and Gabbars not be confirmed…it’s even more critical that those spots be held by qualified, serious people.
That is always true but he is willing to escalate quite a lot if he thinks he needs to. Dems should not bail him out of his nonsense. They should be telling everyone what is really going on.
In reality Dumpty isn't trying to do anything, other than self-aggrandizement and enriching himself off the gullible and the US treasury.
It's the people in the cart behind him who have plans and abilities.
Dumpty is the smoke screen, the shiny coin a magician holds up while hiding the rabbit.
Yes, sociopaths gotta sociopath. And this sociopath’s talk is cheap and designed to stir the pot of the citizens of his own country. Go figure. Only a seriously disturbed oligarch would do that, but here we are. But what do we do when he really takes action because he’s bored on a Saturday night?
Good question!
We cannot afford to ignore the foreground (threatening to take over sovereign countries) OR the background (outrageous cabinet picks).
What things are you talking about? Or is this just speculation?
I agree. Distraction versus Attention.
Let’s not forget that he is NOT YET the president. The media apparently has forgotten that little detail and treats everything that comes out of his foul mouth as real. They do not say that a non office holder has no right to speak for the country. And that his statements are insane because the US does not invade its sovereign nation neighbors. Compare nonsense to the Louisiana Purchase? What is wrong with CNN?
CNN platforming the ignoramus tool Scott Jennings who was crowing about the takeover plans. You cannot make this s—t up. It is a distraction from worse and also a preview of what’s to come.
Scott Jennings is an embarrassment, probably even to his parents.
absolutely hate his smug smile.
You can say shit.
Exactly. Right on! However, while we haven't as yet invaded sovereign nation neighbors, we have invaded distant sovereign nations; Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan. Note to psychopath invaders re: more details - you spend billions, kill millions and you don't win. Definition of insanity?
Read Paul Lynch's Prophet Song. What seems absurd today can be status quo tomorrow.
Both sidesism plain and simple. And liberty media covering their ass, it’s not enough to be filthy rich, they need to grow their wealth into obscene amounts, treating the insipid orange turd with kid gloves is just part of the cost of doing business 🤬
Indeed, the MSM is handling Trump with kid gloves, again. Normalizing the insanity. CURRENT President Biden needs to issue a strong rebuke before he's out of office.
Have a warm holiday, Joyce, with your family and menagerie of animals. Thank you for all you do for us every day.
I hope we are not entering WWIII. My family are Eastern European Jews. My Dad’s first cousin was a Ritchie boy and later a prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials. There’s much more to the Nuremberg story and my family, but will leave for another time.
Kathi, my father's family was Eastern European Jews, and 38 of them died in the concentration camps. My father's parents came to the US in 1913, to avoid having my grandfather participate in world war I (he would have been killed almost immediately, because his unit was wiped out). I hope you have wonderful holidays.
Because of your grandparent’s foresight, you and your descendants will be able to tell their story as well as the stories of those who did not survive the Holocaust. Have a Happy Hanukkah if you celebrate.
Thank you, Kathi. Neither my sisters nor I have any descendants, but I will continue to mention it when I can. My parents didn't let their children know of their Jewish heritage until I was 22 years old, after my sister ran into problems with her boyfriend's family. So I am not a practicing Jew. That said, I do feel the awfulness of antisemitism.
Please keep their stories alive.
I will do my best. The other story I remember is a woman who worked at the Baskin Robbins store in Santa Monica, CA, who had a number tattooed on her arm. I was a teenager, and my mother had to explain to me what it was, and it's something I've never forgotten.
My sixth grade classmate brought his mother for show-and-tell. She had a tattooed number. This was maybe in 1958. I never knew much of her story.
My mother was born in 1913. I had to tell her what the tattooed number meant. Born in America in a German dominated community, she had no idea. Living near family members who were members of the Ku Klux Klan she was embarrassed and chagrined that she was so ignorant. We all have to remember and stop the HATE.
My God. But unfortunately as frequently happens, the persecuted becomes the persecuters.
Hannukah involves latkes. Anyone can celebrate!
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015533-classic-potato-latkes?unlocked_article_code=1.kE4.7ikB.k8ZTCtXbOozg&smid=share-url
My daughter-in-law and thus my granddaughter are Jewish - and today I will try making latkes for the very first time! Looking at Clark's recipe and also Ina Garten's. Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate!
Thank you for the link, Jon. The latkes sound wonderful but are another thing that's outside my dietary guidelines, unfortunately.
Maybe light a candle...or two...or three...just because the world needs the light...and they make good company...
Oh you too. I think we visited that before.
Yummy. Not supposed to eat potatoes but in would if one was staring at me. lol.
Half of my family came here in 1905 from Ukraine and Lithuania. But I shall fight fight fight against the coming storm.
My father came from orthodoxy but married an Italian and I was brought up Christian until the Catholics expelled me in 7th grade. I have never fit in too many places.
Perfect! We're a tribe of misfits.
Man, you got that right. The only thing that saved me from the priests after wanting to become an alter boy was the fricken Latin I had to memorize as I said no way. Instead, I became a choir boy and now I am a singer/songwriter.
I grew up in a community where there was a Ukrainian settlement; many of them were classmates and friends. They know the dangers we are worrying about.
Mine too in 1923 from just outside Zaporizhzhia. They settled just outside Saskatoon in a little village called Mayfair.
My profound sympathy to you and your family.
Thank you, Patricia!
That a conman knows his mark, does not mean that conman is smart or intelligent … just crafty (and craven).
...and lots of experience.
Sleazy Don is skipping out on a large personal debt to the government of Panama. His hands are not clean.
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-companies-accused-tax-evasion-panama
I read the Pro Publica article. I’m shocked, I tell you, shocked that in 2017 the Trumps would lie and misrepresent their finances.
Has been all of his and his Father’s business career.
I trust you got the Casablanca reference and hence the sarcasm?
Donthecon still has not divulged his taxes. Might there be something that would allow him to be locked up? ASAP!
I detect sarcasm dripping all over this post!
His hands are as dirty as they come. He loves that he can soon crime to his black heart’s content soon.
Love how Trump’s Oh Canada tweet has the Matterhorn front and center. Such a stupid man.
Thank you Joyce for keeping us informed in such a civil manner.
I do hope that Canada appreciates the mistake, reflecting that Trump probably cannot find half of our allied nations on a map! 🙄
I love Canada, as my mgm was from New Brunswick - visit frequently. Stay strong Canada 🇨🇦. Several of our seaboard blue states would love to become Provinces of Canada! 💙💙
I love your comment about trump not being able to find half of our allied nations on a map. You know, whatever he can't find, he can just draw it onto a map with his black sharpie - like he did with Hurricane Dorian's path in September 2019, regaling the nation with his own (god-help-us-outdated, inaccurate) "interpretation" of its path. Apparently, there's a provision in the U.S. Code (18 U.S.C. §2074, False Weather Reports) which Al Roker posted online at that time, which states you can be fined, imprisoned for ninety days, or both, for publishing a "counterfeit weather forecast". Wow! That's an easy one. So, hurricane season starts 159 days from today. I hope Santa brings him a huge box of sharpies, lots of display boards and he entertains us again, many, many times with his drawings documented on YouTube.
But of course the rotted pumpkin is exempt from any and all US laws.
Right! Oh wait...SCOTUS...
True, but giving weather reports and weather predictions is not a Presidential responsibility. It has to be part of his job to qualify for the SCOTUS exemption. Just like making payments to porn stars isn't a Presidential role either. Of course, for one active hurricane season with 10 actual hurricanes in it, that'd only be two and a half years. It reminds us, though, that he'll inevitably be breaking other more serious laws this term.
Hmmm...wonder who gets to determine what's an official act, especially for a bloke who intrudes on everything?
WA state as well!
The west coast, too!
But Switzerland, proud home of the scene on his crazy-for-acquisition post, is open to offers -- especially as Drumpf and his minions have bazillions on deposit with anonymity-protective Swiss banks.
Especially as Greenland is a territory of Denmark, a NATO member. What does that do to…
He eliminates NATO. Already he’s going to withdraw from the WHO, Paris Climate Accords, and anything else that signals cooperation in making the world a better place.
Donny's never been able to play well with others.
Well, one of his first official actions will be to withdraw our country from NATO. He’s made that clear.
This is shocking and crazy, but then again there are many things about Trump that are both shocking and crazy. We should not expect much else; the man is a mentally ill convicted criminal who has a long history of angry, crazed, criminal behavior.
He is what he is. As a mental health professional, I find him both fascinating and appalling.
David Jordan did you read the 2017 NYT best seller: "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump"? The 27 forensic psychiatrists authors of the book still ZOOM on Fridays NOON eastern & go into depth on social psychosis of "Trump Contagion".
Some of my colleagues and friends wrote material for that book. I have read it several times.
🙏
Where?
Bill I am a PAID subscriber to Dr. Bandy X. Lee's M.D., M.Div. Substack: Go to: brandyxlee@substack.com
Dr. Lee was a famous YALE Professor still well known internationally for her psychiatric analyses & lectures on political violence.
The 12/22/24 & all ZOOM Meetings are recorded. The 12/22 lecture & discussion with other forensic psychiatrists was timely:
"Maintaining our Collective MENTAL HEALTH in an Increasingly Dangerous World". Available now -- as all lectures are also available.
The ZOOM has an open & lively "Chat" function where details, case studies, books & research are posted by professionals.
Dr. Lee is also an advocate of a mental health's professional duty-to-warn potential victims. I was pleased to inform Dr. Lee's group that a psychiatrist's duty-to-warn has long been the law in California via a judicial opinion on the famous "Tarasoff" case where a psychiatrist was held liable for the heinous & frenetic stabbing of the patient's woman friend.
The Doc failed to warn the specifically intended target. HELD: Liable and the statutory duty-to-warn California Civil Code Section 43.92 followed rapidly.
I will comment on the Duty-to-Protect another day.
Thank you.
Malignant narcissists are always fascinating and there is no end to the damage they can and will do.
My dad was one and I have to tell you, I would never have voted for him for any office.
But here we are.
I wonder if the people who voted for him because they believed his bogus claims that he would lower their rent, grocery, and gas prices are starting to look around, add two plus two, and see that he's actually not doing a single thing about their verbalized economic needs. I hope they were listening to, or perhaps read, his Time Magazine "Man of the Year" interview, when just thirty-eight days after they elected him, he said what the rest of the country had already known before the election, (duh!!!) that lowering grocery prices will be "very hard". I hope to heaven, the journalists will keep the country periodically updated about how these shrewd, intuitive, "price of living" voters are feeling about their hero's efforts on his promises to them. Of course, their names will have to be changed so they don't get investigated by one of their hero's helpers heading up the FBI.
Not that I’ve seen in my corner of the world, where my Mump loving friends have gone silent about all politics except for comparing DiFi to the Texas Representative in memory care.
As a retired BA assigned to FLE I find him obscene and revolting. Sadists and psychopaths always move in the world w the same core violence.
Better to observe him like Halible Lectern Behind a fence.
I can’t tell you how upset I am at Trump’s disrespect of our Prime Minister and our country. People are pretending its “just a joke”. I have actually feared some kind of invasion since Trump’s first term, as we are a resource rich country. As much as I love the USA, (I have family there,) I would never ever want to be the 51st state. Too many guns and expensive healthcare would be my top two reasons.
I hope you know how horrified we are, and how sorry. Too many guns and expensive health care are top two for a lot of us!
Annie, those of us who wouldn't vote for Trump EVER apologize for those who did. I don't know how this country got so far off track, but here we are.
There is a point where even Trump voters as stupid as they are will turn on him.
Anyway, I wouldn't worry too much about what Trump is muttering about. Republicans as depraved as they won't follow him over a cliff.
Peace and joy to you this holiday season.
So sorry, Annie, and deeply humiliated and mortified. No American in their right mind--which really is most of us, discounting MAGAs--would want this. Canada is a respected and admired friend and ally.
Don't feel too badly about Trump's disrespect - he is disrespectful toward everyone and everything he is afraid of.
No one, absolfuckinlutely no one, should want to join with this country.
I’m looking forward to your Democracy Index. I think we’re going to need it really soon. I’d be happy to help.
I also look forward to the Index. Your newsletter is very necessary in these times, but, it may be just one more thing that unfortunately gets lost in the maze of information and misinformation that is now out there. Something simpler and stronger is needed to break through.
I think your Democracy Index idea could be one such thing. I haven't found much detail about how it would work, and perhaps that is because you have yet to flesh it out publicly. So, what I am about to suggest may have already been covered or dismissed.
The Index idea reminds me of the doomsday clock. It is a very simple and graphic representation of the current state of affairs in one realm. I think your Index could be such a thing. And to be effective, I believe it needs to be as simple and graphic.
More specifically, one form it could take would be the following. You identify 4-6 critical elements of a successful democracy (e.g., protecting the right to vote, avoidance of political corruption, protecting the rule of law and the constitution, avoiding authoritarian practices). Then, for each element, you assign it a score from 0-10 on how healthy our democracy is currently on that element. Then, those element scores are averaged to compute an overall Democracy Index, with 10 representing a fully healthy democracy.
A simple webpage would clearly and graphically display those element scores and the overall Index score. You, and whomever you would enlist in the effort, would adjust the individual scores and the overall average whenever you determined they had changed.
Just think about how much attention that Index would get. Not particularly because it is so important, but because it is so digestible by so many, and so easy to communicate and debate.
Of course, there will always be some subjectivity to an Index like this. But on the homepage of the Index, under each element would be a link to another page that provided text and links to evidence that justify the score.
Imagine if such a simple, quantitative index such as this existed. It could not be ignored. I have no idea if this is at all what you have in mind with your Index, but I thought I would share it as one possible idea, and also to encourage you to continue to pursue your idea of an Index because I really believe it holds a lot of promise for breaking through the noise, and changing the conversation.
Even simpler would be a report card…
"It could not be ignored." Dream on. 34 felony convictions by a jury of regular folks, and the philandering and tax fraud behind them? The expressed opinions (warnings) of those whom *he chose* to advise and lead his first (mal)administration? His deranged ramblings and hate-spews at his campaign "rallies"? (I'm sure a Leni Riefenstahl could have edited the record to make him look heroic -- even if she had to cut his ear to do it.) Explicit plans for political imprisonment? Unmistakable "hints" at dictatorial ambitions? All ignored by about 49.9%, a significant plurality, of the electorate, despite being right in front of them unless they were actively avoiding the truth. Your index, with its links, would fare no better; only the choir would hear its sermon.
Hi, the articles are just starting to appear. in 2019 ProPublica wrote an article about trump companies allegedly owing taxes in Panama https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-companies-accused-tax-evasion-panama, yesterday Newsweek, later in the day The New Republic and here is the latest article I see US edition of Independent News -https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-panama-canal-hotel-lawsuit-history-b2669419.html . As usual he trump is making threats against those he is accused of wronging. Joyce, thank you for checking in with us on Christmas Eve!. Best wishes to Everyone for Happy Holidays
So that's why the US as of 1/20/25 will be belligerent towards Panama. We'll have to wait to find out what his personal gripe is with Denmark. It'll be something petty: did one or more of his wives give up her virginity, or have an affair, with a Dane? Did the Danish gov't reject his proposal to "redevelop" the Christiansborg Palace into a luxury resort hotel? Does he blame Denmark for the fact that he's still scared of the dark because of the darkness of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales? Inquiring minds want to know!
It's not Trompe who wants to buy Greenland, nor is it because of national security. It's president Musk who wants to buy Greenland so he can mine its land that is rich in precious metals necessary for Musk's corporate empire.
I can’t say it is the Whole Why… but I did check to see if the case is still active. The New Republic article says - active in NY. Greenland I am with you, as to WHY?? Stay tuned. Oiy shhh. I had to read your post again when I settled in. I missed the section of your post about redeveloping the Christianborg Palace. It’s quite lovely and grand. He would destroy it
That's exactly what I was thinking! He's taking Putin's script book almost word for word! Tomorrow is Christmas Day! Also the first day of Hanukkah! May all of us remembering what December 25th represents! A day of ENLIGHTENMEMT! Higher Diety, thank you for giving the United States Our Freedoms! Everyone, enjoy Christmas with President Biden before the 'terrorist' trump takes over the reins! A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
Ok Mary, enough with the exclamation marks.
C;mon, Betsy. No need for mean comments on here. Happy holidays to you,
Sorry, ir seems to be my way of expressing myself. No harm intended.
Love your exclamations!!
That was very unkind.
!
Not cute at all.
Yeah, I don’t know much about punctuation either.
!
¡
!!!
That last photo needs to be labeled, "I can see Switzerland from my house."
One of his more ridiculous statements that you've omitted (and there have been so many) is his planned invasion of Mexico. Ostensibly to break down the cartels and stop the flow of drugs over the border, of late he's been talking about sending in armed US troops across the border, WHETHER MEXICO REQUESTS THEM OR NOT.
So, he plans to invade a sovereign nation on our southern border, because...?
Maybe because the newly-elected Presidente is a woman and he believes all women to be weak?
Claudia Sheinbaum is a winner of the Nobel Prize. I can't believe that she will give a bully's threats any credence. And Mexico will respond in kind. Bet on it.
Bingo. His disdain for women will not permit him to work with her as an equal.
He doesn’t work and has no concept of what it is.
Present Scheinbaum is the trifecta of everything Trompe loathes - a strong, intelligent, Jewish woman.
HAPPY Chrismukkah dearest JOYce - wishing you, yours and THE CHICKENS a festive holiday season. As far as the ORANGE COCKroach - He is a LUNATIC- period!!
We and democracy WILL PREVAIL....we got to keep on keepin on TOGETHER!! hugs and smooches!!
He has probably bit off a bit more pablum than he can chew this time. The world may keep him at bay on this one.