If this column were a novel (or even a piece of satire), Ken, it would be roundly panned by the critics as being too ridiculous to be believable.
Aside from Biden’s efforts to start WWIII, I glommed onto the Pentagon audit. Last year, the IRS discovered that I had incorrectly deducted the princely sum of $30 on my *2019* return for which I owed them $42. But the Pentagon can lose track of billions and boast that they’re improving. I just can’t anymore.
I'm really curious to see how long Gabard lasts. What little I've read suggests she has no problem critiquing her (civilian) superiors. I imagine that'll win over Trump and his ego nicely.
+ Elon keeps throwing around the word, Doge, which most of us associate with the rulers of Italian city-states like Venice and Genoa–doge, duce, duke. But a mere dukedom is too petty a domain for Musk. He uses the term as an abbreviation for a Department of Government Efficiency, which he believes Trump has appointed him and Vivek Ramaswamy to command. However, as Nathaniel St. Clair points out, two people running a Department of Efficiency isn’t evidence of efficiency. It’s actually a proposal for a commission (a department posting would require Elon and Vivek to open up their financial holdings), like the Cat Food Commissions of old.
speaking of financial holdings. Didn't it use to be the case that wealthy (or maybe any) people who went into high government would put their assets in a blind trust so that they could not benefit financially from what they did in office? Am I wrong about this or, if not, what happened to the practice?
I'm pretty sure that still goes on (certainly here in Canada), but I don't know at what level that rule kicks in (going from the above, I'd imagine at least departmental [heads?] and up).
To quote 2004's Battlestar Galactica, "All of this has happened before and all of this will happen again." Trump's craziness is business-as-usual, but the ongoing meltdown of the Democratic elites is priceless. 😏
"The Biden administration is also rushing $7.1 billion in U.S. military aid to Ukraine"
You know, if Biden had rushed this kind of aid to Asheville, Jackson, Flint, East Palestine, or anywhere in the direction of an American citizen, maybe he wouldn't have lost to an orange clown.
The Russia/Ukraine war seems to get larger and more complicated each passing month. Russia and NK seem to have worked out some sort of treaty obligations. Now, there are a reported 10,000 to 12,000 NK troops involved; or soon will be. Reports have it that if this contingent works out. Possibly 100,000 or more NK troops may end up on the battlefield. Putin is desperate not to order another conscription drive. Russia is also promising an immediate response if long range American missiles hit inside their country. It should be noted, the Korean troops started showing up in Russia almost a month ago. So that isn't new news. Except, apparently, to the Biden administration.
I'd like to read analysis of what an end to the war in Ukraine is likely to look like. What are the range of likely outcomes. What would you view as acceptable outcomes? It is easy, and true, to say that the war needs to end, but I'm not really sure what that means in practical terms.
If this column were a novel (or even a piece of satire), Ken, it would be roundly panned by the critics as being too ridiculous to be believable.
Aside from Biden’s efforts to start WWIII, I glommed onto the Pentagon audit. Last year, the IRS discovered that I had incorrectly deducted the princely sum of $30 on my *2019* return for which I owed them $42. But the Pentagon can lose track of billions and boast that they’re improving. I just can’t anymore.
Ugh well put
Wow.
Quite the week that was. Nice to have you capsulize the insanity. Buckle up! I have a feeling you are going to be a busy man in the next 4-6 years.
"Everywhere wars" - Thanks, Ken!
I feel actually informed when I read you.
Thanks Rachel!
I'm really curious to see how long Gabard lasts. What little I've read suggests she has no problem critiquing her (civilian) superiors. I imagine that'll win over Trump and his ego nicely.
I’m looking forward to the inevitable Trump / Elon fallout
Read this one over at CounterPunch:
+ Elon keeps throwing around the word, Doge, which most of us associate with the rulers of Italian city-states like Venice and Genoa–doge, duce, duke. But a mere dukedom is too petty a domain for Musk. He uses the term as an abbreviation for a Department of Government Efficiency, which he believes Trump has appointed him and Vivek Ramaswamy to command. However, as Nathaniel St. Clair points out, two people running a Department of Efficiency isn’t evidence of efficiency. It’s actually a proposal for a commission (a department posting would require Elon and Vivek to open up their financial holdings), like the Cat Food Commissions of old.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/11/15/roaming-charges-trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/
I wonder if Wonderboy's realized this yet . . . .
speaking of financial holdings. Didn't it use to be the case that wealthy (or maybe any) people who went into high government would put their assets in a blind trust so that they could not benefit financially from what they did in office? Am I wrong about this or, if not, what happened to the practice?
I'm pretty sure that still goes on (certainly here in Canada), but I don't know at what level that rule kicks in (going from the above, I'd imagine at least departmental [heads?] and up).
To quote 2004's Battlestar Galactica, "All of this has happened before and all of this will happen again." Trump's craziness is business-as-usual, but the ongoing meltdown of the Democratic elites is priceless. 😏
"The Biden administration is also rushing $7.1 billion in U.S. military aid to Ukraine"
You know, if Biden had rushed this kind of aid to Asheville, Jackson, Flint, East Palestine, or anywhere in the direction of an American citizen, maybe he wouldn't have lost to an orange clown.
The Russia/Ukraine war seems to get larger and more complicated each passing month. Russia and NK seem to have worked out some sort of treaty obligations. Now, there are a reported 10,000 to 12,000 NK troops involved; or soon will be. Reports have it that if this contingent works out. Possibly 100,000 or more NK troops may end up on the battlefield. Putin is desperate not to order another conscription drive. Russia is also promising an immediate response if long range American missiles hit inside their country. It should be noted, the Korean troops started showing up in Russia almost a month ago. So that isn't new news. Except, apparently, to the Biden administration.
I'd like to read analysis of what an end to the war in Ukraine is likely to look like. What are the range of likely outcomes. What would you view as acceptable outcomes? It is easy, and true, to say that the war needs to end, but I'm not really sure what that means in practical terms.