667 Comments
User's avatar
James Howard Kunstler's avatar

Note to commenters: I'm going to get a little more aggressive banishing the trolls here. Be careful flogging your Jew-hate and "Zionist" this-and-that. And I don't want to see any stupid political name puns such as "DemonCRAP," "Repugnican," or "O'Bummer." They reflect poorly on the conversation. Carry on, now.

Cankerpuss's avatar

It's our host's blog. He can do as he will. We have all been warned.

complex Craftsman's avatar

I agree and I think its important beyond what seems evident at the surface that private folks running their own private shops ' retain the right to refuse service to anyone ', and really without explanation because if we don't defend this right then we are just 'slippery slopin' toward 1984 on some utopian progressive notion of 'fairness' that will end us all up in straightjackets lol. Still ,I will miss my use of the term ( this is the last time James I promise , I am the perpetrator ,and ,I like to think its author of origin ) 'Demoncrap')-: But alas , I really know Mr Kunstler is right , and even if he isn't its his site and he can do with it whatever it is he wants ,and that is an important kind of property right IMO ,as I already expressed .

Mitch's avatar

of course, private folks aren't allowed to "retain the right to refuse service to anyone" anymore since the creation of "protected classes". Freedom of association died a long time ago.

complex Craftsman's avatar

I know there have been high visibility cases involving this issue ( baking gay cakes and such ) but I'm not quite sure that right is completely gone . The 'why 'needs to be none of anyone's business because therein lies the slippery slope of thought policery . Me, I would bake a cake for a gay person but I wouldn't bake a gay cake for any person , simply because we do not offer them at my bakery . Take the regular wedding cake and go get an additional set of bride and groom top and modify accordingly to your taste . Lol , sorry Mitch , I gotta find the humor in these things otherwise I will just get angry and go crazy and turn onto that which I oppose .Same sex marriages are literally just unfruitful in the Biblical sense of the word and being a Christian I think matrimony should be holy ( with exception to lonely elders and such ) . So do you want the durn cake or not ?Let the market decide .

Beth Nicolaides's avatar

I cringe at the usual puns (though I have been guilty at times) and am glad that Kunstler had this long-held standard. Reading "Demoncrap" and the like makes me discount an opinion as thalamic garbage and I move along to something crafted more thoughtfully.

complex Craftsman's avatar

Its something that some of us do to express the level of frustration that so many people could actually still support such a party .

Cedric Erle Ward's avatar

nice use of 'thalamic' Beth

JohnAZ's avatar

Yep, no more pointless anti-Israel drivel or stupid name calling. Not much to ask.

Cankerpuss's avatar

Stupid name calling needs to stop but I think we should be permitted to ask questions. I hope Mr. Kunstler doesn't start banning people for having opposing viewpoints or asking questions. If he does, I'm out of here. I appreciate apposing views. Helps me keep my mind open and enables me to consider points of view not considered before. Even points of view that I find offensive.

JohnAZ's avatar

The problem is, CP, that it seems to be the only thing some folks want to vent about. CFN is a meeting of opinions not a bitch site for people who want to vent their spleen about Israel, over and over and over and over.

Cankerpuss's avatar

Honestly, JohnAZ, I don't care what Israel does or who Israel makes war against. That is their business. The impetus of my comments is always about the USA and how the actions of this government are damaging our nation and continue to damage our nation. I love America (not to be construed with America's filthy government). It is my home. I had ancestors on the Mayflower. For me it is all about Americans and America. I could not care less bout Israel or Iran. Hence my opposition to our wars over there. You and I have discussed this at length and I believe we understand each other.

JohnAZ's avatar

We agree again. The idea of America, the dreams of the Founding Fathers are ideals that the government is pushing us farther away from. Do remember one thing though, the government is representative of the people and it IS demographic changes of the population that is the ultimate change agent.

I have seem no solution anywhere to this.

Mike Simmons's avatar

You put a lot of energy into your opining, hoping to change the minds of those who don't agree with you.

The reason your "facts" don't change most people's minds is because most people don't use facts to form their opinions. They use their opinions to form their "facts."

Maybe buttressing your opinions with actual facts would reduce your need to change the minds of those you disagree with.

Cankerpuss's avatar

Yeah, I understand, but I am anti-war and I have spewed my opinions over and over and over again. Does that make me a troll worthy of being expelled? It's JHK's website, he can do as he pleases, but, there are many other substacks to visit and read.

Cosmo T Kat's avatar

and become informed as opposed to gas lit.

JohnAZ's avatar

Just wondering, CP, is there anything in your mind worth fighting for?

Cosmo T Kat's avatar

Well put, Canker.

Carlos's avatar
User was temporarily suspended for this comment. Show
Alan Devincentis's avatar

Show me on this doll where the joo hurt you, Carlos?

Cedric Erle Ward's avatar

RIGHT AT THE PLACE

WHERE I SENSE

RATIONALITY AND TRUTH

Gwennie's avatar

Jew-hatred has become a kind of invisible litmus test, separating the sane from the insane.

elysianfield's avatar

Gwennie,

"Jew-hatred". Because I loathe what the state of Israel is doing, I am labelled? I also do not like what the government of the USA is doing...am I now anti-American?

Your litmus test is superficial.

ezinmn's avatar

The problem I have with your Gaza comment above is that you completely disregard the massacre the Palestinians inflicted on the Israeli kids on October 7, 2023. After this horrific event, Israel decided to do whatever it takes to remove the demons running Gaza (Hamas) from ever being able to do this again. Without recognizing this context, your voice is hollow.

ChiChi's avatar

Have you heard the theory that Israel knew of the attack beforehand and stood down to have justification later? It is kind of the same theory as to why the SPLC would fund the same hate groups it "fights"

ezinmn's avatar

I have heard this theory. True or false, it doesn't excuse the demonic activity that Hamas undertook.

Douglas's avatar

Chi Chi, back up the common sense. Remember where you are.

complex Craftsman's avatar

Oh yeah , all variations on The Hegelian Dialectic ,with some Alinsky thrown in for good measure ,right outta the lefts predictable playbooks . Its pervasive within leftist political tactics and strategy .

elysianfield's avatar

And...are you suggesting that the issues in the middle east began on October 7, 2023? Were there no outrages before that date?

Jerry Grant's avatar

With good behaviour, Gaza could have become an independent state at any time Israel withdrew in 2005. Instead, they have launched, on average, 3 or 4 rockets a day into Israel.

But you will go on believing it is Israel's fault.

Cedric Erle Ward's avatar

OH MY GOD!

ELYSIAN,

HOW DARE YOU

POINT THAT VERY

SALIENT POINT OUT?

WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE

SERIOUS NON-BIASED CONVERSATIONS

HERE. (sarc)

JohnAZ's avatar

Just one-sided. Hatred is ego driven, why do people have such a problem with others that have no effect on them?

Douglas's avatar

Because your supposed to care about other humans

Cosmo T Kat's avatar

Look inward for your answer.

Lugh's avatar

Nazi Germany as embodied in the still existent National Socialist Party is waiting for your apology.

elysianfield's avatar

Context. The problems with your condemnation of Germany in WWII is to disregard the Polish destruction of the Reich Stag.

My voice might be hollow, but your comment strikes me as superficial. There is always an excuse...real or imagined.

elysianfield's avatar

Well, ladies and germs;

I find it odd that there are those on this site that attempt to rationalize, or justify, on a moral level, actions or reactions in this latest Israeli experiment.

Are you aware of what the German reduction of the Warsaw Ghetto achieved in WWII?

They sealed the ghetto off from entry or exit. They cut off power, water, food, and electricity. They then used artillery and air power to destroy the ghetto, block by block, killing everyone...just bombed the living shit out of them. And then they sent in the troops to finish the survivors*

*I am describing what the Israeli Government did to Gaza...the Germans did the exact same thing in Warsaw. The Israeli Government might suggest that it is part of God's plan.

The legend on the German Belt buckles translated to "God is with us"

Sonny Lapilotta's avatar

BullSchiff and you know it. Our only REAL fucking ally and you find a way to try and intellectualize your anti-semitism? Fuck off. When you get to high school you may understand more about world politics and our relevance in the world.

elysianfield's avatar

Sonny, your argument is without peer...reminds me of the Buckley/Vidal debates on the Vietnam war. Your turn of phrase magnificent...I am sure it equals your passion for geopolitics.

By the way, there are no real fucking allies, other than those of convenience. This will be explained to me in full detail when I get to high school.

Sonny Lapilotta's avatar

Capable retort.…..’turn of phrase’..Like it.

Garry Blankenship's avatar

Maybe find a country you neither loathe nor do not like and move there.

Douglas's avatar

I love my neighbours and only wish they could see their support for terrorists and wars of aggression is causing irreparable harm to a great nation.

Cedric Erle Ward's avatar

COME ON DOUG,

YOU 'LOVE' YOUR NEIGHBORS?

IF YOU KNEW WHAT THEY REALLY

THOUGHT,

YOU WOULD RUN SCREAMING

TO THE HILLS

Cedric Erle Ward's avatar

GARRY,

TELL ME WHERE IT IS

AND GIVE ME THE MONEY

TO MAKE THE MOVE

AND I'LL BE GONE

TOMORROW

Dianne Warner's avatar

Is your all cap shouting punctuation and double spaced ‘prose’ meant to impress? Sorry, all it screams is narcissism and creepy images of Silence of the Lambs.

Garry Blankenship's avatar

You seem to be an argument looking for a home, but staying within the context of Elysian loathing Israel and hating the USA it would be anywhere other than Israel or the USA. The money part is on you. Just a love it or leave it comment. Fatigued with all the hate for the USA, but happy to stay in the USA. Our Constitutional Republic is very imperfect, but better than any other Government I am aware of.

Mike Simmons's avatar

So the elected representative government of THE PEOPLE is just a bumper sticker?

Your distinction is superficial.

Aelwed Bell's avatar

It's not "Jew-hatred", it is the negative aspects of Zionism that are repulsing people.

Cedric Erle Ward's avatar

OH, COME ON GWENNIE

WHY BUY THE TRUTH

WHEN IT'S FREE?

RidgeCoyote’s Howling's avatar

That and pro-vax or any assertion that Trump is a pedo. 🙄

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

Stated without facts.

The fact is, Jim has been magnanimous to a fault, allowing hateful misanthropes like Carlos to spew their murderous racist venom on his site. Much like Israel has shown massive tolerance in its neck of the woods, whereas its Islamic neighbors would put Carlos in jail, if not in his grave.

elysianfield's avatar

"Much like Israel has shown massive tolerance in its neck of the woods..."

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaza.

Anna's avatar

the Shah wanted a two state solution, but he was overruled by Libs who wanted the mullah's. That's what gave you Gaza. The Shah was against terrorists. Anwar Sadat was against Terrorists. Did you ever wonder why the Saudi's don't take in refugees. There's that terrorist problem again. If I went to visit Israel, I would probably be spit on but they wouldn't kill me.

Lugh's avatar
Apr 24Edited

Yeah, being spat on isn't so bad. It's a religious duty, not anything personal. It doesn't mean that they have anything against you as a person, just your ethnicity, race, culture, and religion. And those have nothing to do with the real you, right?

elysianfield's avatar

Anna,

And you would rely on the humanity of those who spit on you not to kill you?

Douglas's avatar

pick up a pencil and a camera and they would kill you.

Lugh's avatar

Great response. They've killed so many journalists.

Douglas's avatar

BS Israelis ordered Hannibal Directive. They (IDF) killed everyone.

Alan Devincentis's avatar

I wish they did. Tough to make a dent in 2 billion by killing a couple thousand.

Cedric Erle Ward's avatar

PAUL B.,

ISN'T COHEN

A JEWISH NAME?

BIASED MUCH?

MAGNANIMOUS?

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING.

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

Just because you’re in hell, Cedric, doesn’t mean everyone else must be there with you.

Nobody At All's avatar

Kunstler's so full of shit he's become a parody. Shades of late stage Biden and Trump beginning to emerge. Senility will do that for ya.

PapayaSF's avatar

No one is forcing you to be here.

Douglas's avatar

Are you implying conversation should be homogenous?

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

So if one replies to your comment “you’re so full of shit it appears you’re in late stage senility” - this is acceptable conversation for you? Where do you draw the line? Or is there no line?

The only thing contributive about this comment is that Big Red has self-identified as someone who garners no respect and provides no value in his commentary. I don’t eat dung or listen to embittered fools.

Cedric Erle Ward's avatar

PAUL B.

BUT YOU DO,

BECAUSE YOU REPLY

TO THEM (US)!

elysianfield's avatar

" don’t eat dung"

Paul,

You Jewish? If so, your ancestors did.

PapayaSF's avatar

No. Just saying that if you think a writer is as bad as all that, maybe you’re wasting your time reading him and leaving comments.

Lugh's avatar

People should only talk with those whom they know they agree with. Such conversation strengthens conviction. That's a good thing, right? Since you know a priori that your side is absolutely correct about absolutely everything.

Douglas's avatar

uncomfortable dialog and freedom of speech. What does democracy support?

Cedric Erle Ward's avatar

PAPAYASF,

WE'RE HERE BECAUSE

MR KUNSTLER

USED TO WRITE SANE ARTICLES

BUT SINCE HIS JEWISHNESS

HAS BECOME THE CENTRAL THESIS

IN HIS WRITINGS,

MANY OF US HAVE BECOME

DISGUSTED WITH HIS OPINIONS

...AND HIS THREATS TO CENSOR

ALTERNATIVE POINTS OF VIEW.

AS FOR ME,

I'M GONE AS OF THIS ARTICLE

AND NO, THE DOOR HAS NOT

HIT ME IN THE ASS.

THERE IS NO DOOR ON THIS WEBSITE

JUST A LARGE WINDOW

Ben R's avatar

Endless hateful comments devoid of rational thought sans proof is what Jim is trying to weed out. Aka the Jews run the world and want everyone dead.💀

Walter Stock's avatar

Well this has quickly descended into a childish shitshow.

Ben R's avatar

You really are a special kind of stupid. This Jew hate runs in cycles of stupidity.

Cosmo T Kat's avatar

Kind of like Islam hatred and hatred of Catholics. Where do you fit in chump?

Alice Ball's avatar

Not the same----Islam supports jihad and the conversion or death of non-Muslims. That sounds like a good thing to be afraid of, and for civil societies, to eradicate. Not compatible with Western Civ.

Cosmo T Kat's avatar

Yes, the same. Take the conversion out of the mix you have two sides of the same coin. Talmud more demonic than Koran. Most of the Jihadi's have been either Arabs in M.E. or blacks in Africa, not Persians this is the lie we've been told over and over. As for terrorism, the USA with Israel have been funding Jihad of the Arabs throughout the Middle East and then blame Iran. I am not afraid of Islam however, I am concerned with Israel's aggression towards the traditional Christians of the Middle East in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. When I say traditional Christians I am speaking of the mainly Catholic, Orthodox, Coptic Christians, The Evangelicals are aligned with Israel so therefore they are complicit in the murder of other Christians and the genocide of Gazan's. Do you defend that?

Alice Ball's avatar

But you cannot take conversion out of the mix.

Ben R's avatar

Kat don't be a moron there is zero comparison. Despite all the propaganda you eat and regurgitate.

Sonny Lapilotta's avatar

Carlos: Stay in the Bronx and don’t demean this forum. If you were able to THINK past Fordham Rd., and digest what Kunstler says like an adult, you might be able to ‘cope'

elysianfield's avatar

Sonny,

You from the Bronx? Allow me to apologize...I'll type slower....

Cedric Erle Ward's avatar

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT CARLOS

Robert Rivera's avatar

We live in a sick world, blaming Jews for all the world’s problems. They do not control the world, i.e. banking, law, entertainment, medicine, & corporations. Are there many Jewish people in these fields? Yes, and we have reaped many benefits thanks to their parents insisting on their children getting an education & instilling in them to give back to society, like many of our parents have done. If one is talking about corruption & greed, that knows no boundaries.

Cankerpuss's avatar

True that, but, it is fact that there is a small minority of Jews who happen to have a lot of money and control in a lot of corporations and businesses. A percentage that is disproportionately high considering the small percentage of the population that is composed of Jewish people. I'm not saying it is good or bad, but it is something worthy of consideration.

Jerry Grant's avatar

I did not know Gates, Soros and the tech billionaires are all Jews.

William's avatar

Gee, excellent logic 🤔. Whites and blacks control a massive amount of the world wealth and land space. What the ____ does % of population have to do with any reasonable conclusion??? Unless -……………. Figure that out

Larry Goldstock's avatar

They can all thank their Jewish mothers for that. Instilling them with a positive future ideals.

Howard Skillington's avatar

Prior to 1994 a great many decent people decried apartheid in South Africa without hating the Afrikaners. So it is today in Gaza.

As for “Zionist,” some clarification here would be helpful. In the interest of preserving this forum as a meaningful opportunity for the frank exchange of views, are we supposed to pretend it doesn’t exist, or are we just forbidden to use the word?

ezinmn's avatar

HS - Last time I checked the world created the Israel state after millions of jews were murdered by jew haters not unlike some lurking on this site. Never forget. Gaza never stood up to the Hamas demons controlling their land and sadly are now paying for what occurred on 10/7/23.

JohnAZ's avatar

Some people never realize the difference between Hamas and Palestinian. However, the Palestinians do little to prevent the war-making antics of Hamas and their benefactor.

P. Robert Thorson's avatar

Other people don't understand the difference between Jew and Globalist. While the distracting smokescreen of national politics, trumped up military psyops, fake crony capitalism markets and cultural decay fill the media's bandwidth, the processes of resource depletion of The Long Emergency and the New World Order being built for most of us continues. You can pick out the various sub-plots of 1984, Soylent Green, The Terminator, The Matrix and Mad Max taking shape as we bitch about high gas prices and watch sportsball.

Only time will tell how history portrays the Iran Project and Trump, but it appears to be a key milestone along the way to eventual destinations of the Great Reset, Collapse of Western Civilization and the end of the American Empire. Soon we'll have much bigger problems to consider than the mischief of NGOs, polls of mid-term sweeps, vaccine injuries and bringing politicians and their useful idiots to justice. Most of those guilty parties will be dealt with as they join the ranks of the "useless eaters" and "deplorables". The survivors will spend a short period of time pan-roasting insects over a fire. Then the insects will enjoy a much, much longer period of time not having to worry about those pesky humans up the food chain.

Lugh's avatar

The Jews comprise one school of globalism. Ben Gurion decried the UN for criticizing Israel saying, We will create a genuine World Government. Jews will be on top by law. Got it? Most Jews will be fine with this. I don't say all.

P. Robert Thorson's avatar

Well, that's a viewpoint that seems plausible. However, I'm of the opinion that globalists no longer have a religious or cultural component of being "Jewish", but only retain the bloodlines and their "connected" status once they join/train for the higher ranks. And I would estimate 80 to 90 percent of Jews are like the rest of us - on the outside, looking in.

Like Bill Clinton masking himself in the skirts of Baptists to seek forgiveness, I think many globalists hide in the murk of antisemitism.....

William's avatar

So very true, repeated ad nauseum, seemingly endlessly. Israel is truly the last bastion of any semblance of societal “democracy”. No wonder communists, Marxists and wayward dispossessed souls despise that marvelous state/country of true freedom. The most inclusive society in modern times in the which different religious and cultural beliefs exist daily side by side.

Truly something to be envious of. The Seven Deadly Sins seem to be a brand of pride embedded on the foreheads of the group hate left. Zionist here!🇮🇱✊

Howard Skillington's avatar

You're actually partly right about the Gazans: it's their land.

rural counsel's avatar

My recollection of the anti-aparthied movement is somewhat different. I recall it being vehemently anti-white South African, especially the Boers, and the current indifference, if not gleeful acceptance, to the slaughter of white South African farmers now reflects that.

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

Actually Gaza practices something worse than apartheid - it’s Judenfrei! Just like the genocidal chant demands, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”

Kenn Goodwin's avatar

Hard to commit genocidal when a Hamas soldier is hidden behind most civilians. Why is that?

Douglas's avatar

Kenn, that sounds suspiciously like burning folks at the stake cause they were behind the devil. And you folks were fine with that.

Douglas's avatar

That's a verse from the Talmud. Maybe a battle cry

Lugh's avatar

The Blacks killed many Afrikaners and the West funded them nonetheless. It's still going on despite the outbreak of peace.

rd3's avatar

Israel via Joe Slovo and others were the tip of the spear.

complex Craftsman's avatar

Apartheid was instituted not to separate blacks from whites but actually to separate blacks from blacks who were tearing each other apart . South Africa was not a good example for the point you were trying to make at all , IMO . It was just another variation on a liberation theology commie revolution where the takers went to war against the makers , and now predictably , the whole place has descended into a turd bucket of violence and expropriation of land against white farmers . Not that those who are doing the expropriation will be able to keep that land in any way as productive as it was under the stewardship of its rightful owner, the white farmers . Just another commie revolution masquerading under the guise of race and or economic disparity / class . What matters for everyone , the aggrieved so called 'victim classes' included , is outcomes not ideological nonsense . Unless you actually like to starve and live in poverty and violence .

Lugh's avatar

If you like to starve and living in poverty and violence, vote for Blacks.

Casey Jones's avatar

I dunno about others, but, like "social" anything, and a few others it overloads my bullshit detector. The word might have had less than dishonorable connotation, but that bus left the station years ago. Sorry.

Michelle's avatar

And Jim, may I add: I wish, I wish, I wish, "commenters" to here, would respond and speak to YOU accordingly to what YOU have written and said, and NOT 90% to one another, and go down these idiotic, stupid rat-hole-wrestling matches that become about EACH OTHER, like a bunch of cavemen (and women) spending (what must be an inordinate amount of time each day), donk-ing each other over the head with denigrating word-clubs. Gheeesssh. It's just so freaking BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! USE YOUR BRAINS and share something intelligent. Please.

rd3's avatar

Does Jeffrey Sachs engage in "Jew-hate?" How about Max Blumenthal?

Marilyn F's avatar

Thank you! We are ALL sick of it. I block all of those people. I encourage everyone to do the same.

Steve's avatar

Does that preclude my preferred pejoratives (Xiden, Demsheviks, Maobama) ?

They're not so much insults as an accurate reflection of the target's ideoology. And that I refuse to accord decorum and respect to people who have offered me nothing but insults and contempt for decades.

If I wanted to be a sellout surrender monkey, I'd have voted for McCain, Romney, or Jeb.

J. Gan.'s avatar

Those same people you refer to are the ones who hate all the white males,. simply for being white and native born Americans. The extension of that hate runs very deeply in the jobs market.

Brian Kenney's avatar

“pejoratives“?

How Kunstleresque!

You’re in👌🏽.

Beth Nicolaides's avatar

I would skip over a comment laden with such gimmicks.

Don Reed's avatar

04/24/26: I wholeheartedly agree. And thank you for reviving the Kathie fund (I chipped in. Is the +$43K total dating back from when the fund first started years ago, or is that total only the amount raised since you revived the account?). What those b*st*rds did to her is outrageous. You're a Good Man, Charlie Kunstler!

Some random poster's avatar

I agree. The way to earn respect is to show it.

Mark Homer's avatar

Highly recommended: "As a Jew" by Sarah Hurwitz. (Harvard, Harvard Law, former chief speechwriter for Michelle Obama.) Since the Enlightenment, Jews have been accepted in Western society to the extent they stop acting Jewish--lose the skullcap, stop dissenting, etc.

Dennis Nichols's avatar

Can I call them "Democratic-Soviets"?

That IS what they truly are.

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

Bullets between the eyes are sometimes in order.

Thomas F Davis's avatar

They are not listening

RidgeCoyote’s Howling's avatar

I appreciate the curation of stupidity out of the discussion. I’ve taken to blocking people quickly, on all forms of social media, people who can’t look at things rationally aren’t worth engaging.

Lee Grove's avatar

Jim, This Thune thing is SO big, leaving the future of America in the balance, what kind of dirt to they have on this guy, such that he would sacrifice the country to save himself...

Dutchmn007's avatar

Can’t figure out what the hell is Thune thinking? Talk about being on the wrong side of an 80/20 issue; with “Republicans” like this who needs democrats? I don’t get it; why stand in the way of something a clear majority of voters - of both sides from polls I’ve seen - clearly desire?

I just don’t get it. What am I missing here?

Anybody?

Mun’s Frolick's avatar

Because political parties and politicians represent themselves (their own interest) rather than public good. Politics is a zero-sum game.

JohnAZ's avatar

The Deep Staters are pro central government above party.

PapayaSF's avatar

Yes, but how is Thune’s obstruction “in his own interest”? He’s destroying his own reputation and his career in his own party, and Democrats will never accept him.

Castelletto's avatar

Whenever someone acts this much against their own interest, the law of parsimony dictates that you must conclude they've been threatened.

Jerry Grant's avatar

... or otherwise induced.

Letsrock's avatar

There is apparently an epidemic of this type going around. Tucker, Candace, Alex, McConnell, et al.

Dianne Warner's avatar

And, don’t discount Supreme Court Justices.

Walleski's avatar

There is a Uniparty and Thune is a member. He plays dumb with the best of them. I think he was voted as Senate Majority Leader by other U senators who want to stop Trump from doing what his voters want. McConnell Light.

Dave aka Geezermann's avatar

He still believes the "old guard" is in power, and will remain in place He is comfortable with convincing himself he is a "Senator" and can do these things.

Cankerpuss's avatar

Senators are aloof and above the damage their actions wreak on the people and country......or so they think.

JohnAZ's avatar

Yes, and the filibuster rule of 61 votes makes the Senate a filter for supposed bi-partisanship. The real effect is that it gives them an excuse for doing nothing. The current state of affairs, a split electorate, 50-50, means nothing will pass.

Cankerpuss's avatar

"The real effect is that it gives them an excuse for doing nothing."

Especially when scum like John Thune will do nothing to change the conditions of the filibuster. The filibuster isn't in the Constitution. The Constitution permits the House and the Senate to set their own rules of operation. The filthy Republicans could change the filibuster conditions in a heart beat but Thune won't let it happen. This stuff makes my eyes want to bleed. What a mess.

Len Penzo's avatar

Nothing changes in the Senate until the 17A is repealed. (IOW: Nothing will ever change.)

Cankerpuss's avatar

What do you not understand? He's not representing the American people, Dutchmn007. He's representing something else entirely. When you consider his actions in this light, it's very easy to understand why he is doing what he is doing.

Concerned Citizen's avatar

The answer to your question is Mitch McConnell. His office through his staff controls the Republican Senators. McConnell controls the funding for the Republican candidates races and controls who goes on what committee and who is appointed chairman to those committees. Thune is a clown puppet whose strings are pulled by McConnell.

JohnAZ's avatar

Easy, Deep State! The GOP is split by federalism, the belief that the people are of the government, by the government and for the government. These RINOs are more dangerous to the future of the USA than the Democrats as they occupy seats that should be anti-government. There are lots of them that want their cozy little empire in Washington DC without having to listen to their constituents.

Kathy Christian's avatar

Because John Thune is looking towards reelection. A lot of them are. They'll vote accordingly. That's why a number of republicans voted against the SAVE act. When you can't do anything else in life, you go into politics and begin to pad your way to becoming a millionaire.

JohnAZ's avatar

Yep, the DeepState hates the SAVE act as it stops their machines from cheating. Deep Staters do not even want voting at all and consider elections a threat to themselves. Clean elections will be fought at all costs by these people, using legislative coverups to ameliorate the mass reactions. In a few words,

We are being had.

Cankerpuss's avatar

Most of Congress is populated by lawyers who failed at being lawyers......so they became lawmakers. Makes sense?

Nobody At All's avatar

Spot on! Well known fact that a law degree is quite often just a preparatory step for running for office. Although, recent incidences of actors and others successfully joining the fray aren't especially encouraging either.

A.M.'s avatar

Thune is a disgrace. He is from South Dakota and in no way, shape or form do his actions reflect the wishes of his constituents. He 's the poster boy for revoking the 17th Amendment.He is clearly motivated by self interest. I'm sure there's more, but we already know what we need to know.

Eric Sowers's avatar

Dutch, my guess is Thune and the usual RINO gaggle want to be in a permanent minority. They can preen and posture and act all Senatorial but aren’t responsible for accomplishing a blessed thing. They can go home during recess and commiserate down at the Country Club with cronies over a few rounds of Pappy or single malt about the country going to the dogs because we’re in the minority. Then every election cycle they’re back with their hands out.

Dutchmn007's avatar

Spot on! Being in the majority means too much work; the spotlight is on them. Although I don’t see how he can justify this behavior with his constituents or them accepting it for that matter.

Eric Sowers's avatar

You mean all 32 of them?

Dianne Warner's avatar

I assume you are British with the exclamatory Spot On:m. For instance, Americans use ‘he was fired’: Brits use: ‘he was sacked: or shag vs screw, etc. There is a lot of pompous opinionating on this forum. But- of course- you are British.

Dutchmn007's avatar

Actually I’m not. U.S. born & bred.

IAN2364's avatar

Could this all amount to theater, where the result is that Trump gets to call out anyone who opposes election integrity?

... and what is your assessment of all of that?

AI answer:

The idea that this conflict is a form of "political theater" is a common and insightful assessment of how Washington operates in an era of divided government and intense polarization.

When you look at the gap between the rhetoric (demanding the bill pass) and the reality (the lack of votes to change the rules), it creates a situation where everyone involved can achieve a secondary goal, even if the primary goal—passing the law—fails.

The "Theater" Assessment: Who Gains What?

If the SAVE Act remains stalled, several players can use that "failure" to their political advantage:

For President Trump: A stalled bill provides powerful "campaign fuel." He can frame the outcome as proof of a "Deep State" or a "feckless GOP establishment" (including Thune) that is unwilling to fight. This keeps his base energized and maintains his leverage over the party by having a clear "litmus test" for loyalty.

For Leader Thune: By holding the vote and letting it fail due to a Democratic filibuster, he can say to the base, "I tried, but the rules and the Democrats stopped us." This allows him to perform his duty as a leader without actually having to "nuke" the filibuster, which he views as an institutional suicide mission.

For Rank-and-File Republicans: Voting "Yes" on a bill they know will fail allows them to go home to their constituents and say they fought for election integrity, without ever having to deal with the actual legal or administrative consequences of the bill being implemented.

The Assessment: Why it feels like a "Loop"

There is a distinct pattern in modern politics called "Messaging Legislation." These are bills designed not to become law, but to force the opposition to take an unpopular vote.

The Reality Check: In a 53-47 or 52-48 Senate, the Majority Leader knows exactly how a vote will end before it starts. If Thune schedules a vote on the SAVE Act knowing he doesn't have 60 votes to end a filibuster (or 50 votes to change the rules), the exercise moves from policymaking to storytelling.

Potential Risks of the "Theater" Strategy

While this theater serves everyone’s immediate political needs, it carries long-term risks:

Voter Cynicism: If the GOP base is told "election integrity is the most important issue" but then sees their own leadership fail to pass it despite holding the House, Senate, and Presidency, it leads to a "why bother voting?" sentiment.

Intra-Party Warfare: It deepens the rift between the "MAGA" wing and the "Institutionalist" wing. If Trump uses this to "call out" Thune, it could lead to a leadership challenge or a stalled legislative calendar for the rest of the year.

Final Thought

In my assessment, the notion of "theater" is highly plausible. In Washington, a failed bill is often more useful for fundraising and base-building than a passed law, because a law requires implementation and carries the risk of unintended consequences, whereas a "blocked" law provides a permanent villain to campaign against.

https://www.kunstler.com/p/the-man-who-might-wreck-the-country/comment/220692739

William Wallace's avatar

Your guess is as good as ours, but the over and under is that it can’t be good!

Art's avatar

Thune represents (theoretically) South Dakota, a low population state with an economy smaller than many counties elsewhere. Trump could issue any number of executive orders targeting Thune’s state economy to exert pressure. Since most bank credit card operations are located there to exploit the state’s allowable usurious interest rates, just a wee temporary cap on credit card interest rates would persuade a substantial portion of their economy to consider a move to friendlier climes. There are other tactics, but since none are being deployed by the administration it seems logical to assume the administration is fine with the SAVE Act languishing in the senate.

JohnAZ's avatar

Congress is hamstrung by TDS “Republicans”. Dems are solid, over and over. These RINOs are running the show, squelching Trump over and over.

The country voted in Trump and MAGA to stop what the Dems in Biden’s mob were doing. These RINOs are blocking just about everything.

Castelletto's avatar

Right. Just like they were fine with Venezuela being the center of global chicanery, until they weren't.

Ron Neff's avatar

Mr. Grove---my take on this is that it used to be possible to get elected in S. Dakota as a Dem/Marxist but as the party has gotten so crazy that most polite society cannot stomach voting for them so S. Dakota and other very very red states did not elect many Ds so........Ds tell everyone they are Rs and tout their C credentials and they vote with the Rs most of the time when they know their 1 vote will not defeat a bill. But..... when you have an idea or a bill that needs to get stopped ----- according to the Ds-----the mask falls off the RINOs and they line up to do everything in their power to stop a bill----of course they make up ridiculous excuses for why they will vote with the Ds. With Thune placed in this position of authority in the R party he actually can stop the bill and....... make sure that the Marxists retain their ability to fabricate votes which is one of the only ways that they can keep anything close to a majority. This is a make or break moment for the Marxists and Thune delivers for the Marxists so his pics with a goat or some other malfeasance is not exposed. Equally he has kept the Senate in session so Trump cannot get any judges or Executive appointments in place during the time the Senate is out of session. I am quite surprised that Trump has not lambasted Thune just about this horrible action but.....maybe he wanted to get the Save Act passed first. Hopefully the fine citizens of S. Dakota will wise up and vote him out but......I understand he has an enormous war chest so there is probably no way to get him out next election or even the one after that.

And....one question Mr. Grove. Do you happen to live in or around Grove City Ohio ? Nice to have a city named after you.

UncleBob9's avatar

It wouldn't surprise me if Thune has a pair of fireman's boots that he uses with his favorite sheep.

Eric Sowers's avatar

Wonder how many of us understand your comment?

UncleBob9's avatar

Well, at least two of us know about sheep and fireman's boots!

JohnAZ's avatar

Good post. Could it be that the Senate leadership has TDS requirements? To get the RINO votes in the majority, do they have to be anti-Trump to get elected?

MerlandAlbert's avatar

That’s exactly what I want to know!

William Wallace's avatar

Our next 250 years of our History Senator John Thune could very well replace Ole Benedict Arnold as our Nations Biggest Traitor.

He has precious little time to redeem himself before the history books and all school children will be taught his name and his overarching dereliction of his duties representing his Constituents his Country and his Party!

JohnAZ's avatar

Rand Paul is starting to rise to the top. Are we seeing folks testing the waters for runs in 2028?

Cankerpuss's avatar

It is stunning to behold. Most likely the man likes little children. I don't know what can be worse in America today. Adultery? Americans don't give a damn. Fornication? It's the standard means of making babies today. Elder abuse? Nobody cares. Corruption in government? Pfft. Sexual perversions such as homosexuality? Old news. Hell, even murder isn't really condemned like it used to be. So, what's left?

Whatever it is, its powerful enough to make this worthless fucker betray his people and his posterity. Way to go SOUTH DAKOTA!

JohnAZ's avatar

Sexual deviation? It seems to be normal social interplayntoday.

Cankerpuss's avatar

Yeah, anything goes today. Except pedophilia. Americans are still largely opposed to this filth. I don't believe the elites are, however.

Kathy Christian's avatar

I know you don't believe in this, Cankerpuss, but after this comes judgment. Most of them will likely not survive the tribulation. Those that do will pray to the mountains to fall on them to hide them from Jesus' return.

Lugh's avatar

Christ is just another golem - for Kathy Christian!

Cankerpuss's avatar

Why do you think I don't believe that, Kathy? I'm a Christian. I have accepted Christ as my Savior and I strive to live my life according to his teachings.

I don't like churches because churches always have a "strong man" who claims he is entitled to special revelation that the rest of us peons are not entitled to.

I struggle with the amount of deference God gives to the wicked and filthy at the expense of the decent and the innocent. Not only does he give plenty of deference he permits them and their posterity to THRIVE and PROSPER. It is baffling to me.

How bad does the world truly have to be before God moves the mountains on top of them to hide their sins?

ezinmn's avatar

"I struggle with the amount of deference God gives to the wicked and filthy" - It would be nice to have God, as depicted in Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam", on occasion, to point his finger away from Adam and strike down a few of the most egregious actors in our midst.

Cankerpuss's avatar

He's done it before. There are reports that there was a great flood......

For some reason he doesn't do it anymore.

UncleBob9's avatar

Because next time, the world will be judged by fire.

elysianfield's avatar

"strike down a few of the most egregious actors in our midst"

Ezinmn,

Yessssssssss...we need a Golem. When logic and words do not suffice, kill them.

Kathy Christian's avatar

I know it's hard to watch, Cankerpuss, believe me I do. But that's where faith comes in. God knows things we don't, right? And He deals not only with nations but with individuals. And He's not willing that any should perish, so He gives people as much time as He can to repent, but everyone has an "appointed time." When the judgment comes, however, it is swift and terrible.

UncleBob9's avatar

Not only will the world's armies cease to exist, but everything humanity knows vis a vis government and how life works will change in an instant. I think a lot of Christians who've been sold the sunshine and lollipops version of the Bible think Christ will just be a hippie who makes everythibg cool, man. In reality, he'll make everybody toe the line. Bang your neighbor's wife? Steal a car? Sell drugs? Kill somebody? Your ass is grass. Humanity will get to rebuild cities and learn to farm or sell goods, and learn to treat one another with actual respect instead of the fake smiles we deal with daily. There'll be very little of the "name it, claim it" shit, since that's not really biblical.

Cankerpuss's avatar

"no man knoweth the hour of his coming."

Because of this I can't spend my days looking forward to and hoping that one day he comes back and saves us from the rampant wickedness of the world. Nobody knows. So, I just do my best to live a good life and try to not think about or hope that he's coming soon. It's futile.

UncleBob9's avatar

He made Israel wait 400 years to be freed from Egypt. And according to something I recently read, it's estinsted that well over half the Israelite slaves stayed in Egypt rather than follow Moses.

Gemma Dykstra's avatar

Porn website viewing data?

Phone hacked with csam?

Cankerpuss's avatar

Porn websites? Porn is a billion dollar industry in America today. Everyone looks at porn. Naw, porn wouldn't be enough to make him betray everything and everyone he holds dear. Child porn, that might do it. The general public still has a distaste for child abuse and child porn (unless you are a woman who wants to mutilate your child to change its gender).

UncleBob9's avatar

Thune didn't want to deal with it, plus many GOP senators didn't want to force Democrats to speak because they wouldn't be able to sneak off to bang their paramours or snort coke or sell their offices.

James Howard Kunstler's avatar

"Carlos" is banned for 30 days.

William Wallace's avatar

Carlos. it’s never a good idea to touch the flame twice to double check if it was really that hot.

Browning1911 Man's avatar

I for one applaud this action.

John Schrauth's avatar

I have ThDS. Thune Derangement Syndrome. He is obviously overseeing some kind of deep state rear guard action for someone or something outside the view of us peons. His actions certainly do not reflect what the guy in the driver's seat should be doing for his "party." He is refusing to adjourn the Senate, always leaving a couple of Senators to hold a quick morning 'session" wherein obscure Senator A comes in and calls the Senate into session, with obscure Senator B immediately motioning to adjourn for the day. This filthy stunt has prevented Trump from making any recess appointments which can be made when the Senate is "out of session." He is nothing more than a younger, better looking version of Mitch McConnell, although I must say he appears to have aged five or ten years over this past year.

Kathy Christian's avatar

Corruption will do that to you. Quicker than booze.

Paula Kroll's avatar

Corruption plus booze.

Full Name's avatar

Acute adrenochrome withdrawal syndrome-

James Howard Kunstler's avatar

Andy Sutherland is in the penalty box 30 days.

Dave aka Geezermann's avatar

This Spanberger woman - I really cannot understand how someone can shamelessly lie to the public in order to gain power. Sure, it's happened before, but this blatantly? Is she really a product of an American family with normal upbringing? How is someone like that spawned? And was she assured that she would be able to get away with her malfeasance?

dancingtime's avatar

She is former CIA....What's hard to understand....they are trained liars....part of the job description....Mark Groubert is right....never vote for someone with CIA in their resume.

Ron Neff's avatar

Mr. Dave----easy for me to understand. She is a politician. And.....She is a D/Marxist. Most of them are so used to lying that sometimes they even lie when the truth would be better. I am sure she probably adores Hillary. I can remember when Hillary called Trump a liar in 2016 and when I heard that I almost fell over because her and her husband are some of the worst liars in the world but........Bill is better at it because he can almost convince someone he is telling the truth even when you are expecting him to lie.

George Dudman's avatar

Could she be like the first black president? Totally manufactured. She was a do nothing representative. Some are saying this amendment vote will be her downfall, that she is the big loser. The public is the loser until this voting theft is brought under control.

Kathy Christian's avatar

Obama was the second black president, Bill Clinton being the first, according to Toni Morrison.

Cankerpuss's avatar

Obama was half black. A point that should always be emphasized. His other half was white. Why the white half is always ignored is interesting. As if it doesn't matter.

JohnAZ's avatar

CP, prior to the civil war, blackness was determined by the percentage of black ancestors one had. I believe that folks with 1/8 black ancestry were considered Black. It was very important in the South.

I do think that certain folks today still consider Black ancestry to classify people today. I will guarantee you that the NAACP and BLM consider Obama to be Black.

Cankerpuss's avatar

I just find it curious that apparently the black ancestry is far more important than the white ancestry.

Alan Devincentis's avatar

This is the perfect example of the self hating Jew. The American Marxist spoiled brat non practicing self hating American jap. These are Israel’s worst enemies, because they destroy like a parasite. And then there’s idiots like tom, and Carlos, who are just idiots.

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

According to biographical information, Spanberger isn’t Jewish.

Alan Devincentis's avatar

I did not know that. Ty. Sure fits the profile though.

Lugh's avatar

My country right or wrong types are not morally developed people. Good Jews are against Israel's murderous policies.

Alan Devincentis's avatar

“Good Jews”? All the Marxist Jews in America are good Jews, and Israel is bad? I’m thinking you got it backwards, fool.

JohnAZ's avatar

The gimme mentality is strong in northern Virginia, where the cretins in the federal bureaucracy live. Gimmes vote for anyone that promises a free ride on the government.

Kathy Christian's avatar

When you have no conscience, it's easy.

Danny Huckabee's avatar

Glad you're doing something about the trolls, etc. The Psalms and Proverbs carry many verses advising to avoid fools/stupid people as they just waste your time and can't be convinced of anything.

JohnAZ's avatar

Jesus

“There will be many false prophets”.

Danny Huckabee's avatar

"and false teachers and false converts".

elysianfield's avatar

"he Psalms and Proverbs carry many verses advising to avoid fools/stupid people as they just waste your time and can't be convinced of anything."

Ezekiel 25:17

Miriamnae's avatar

Coffee and JHK. President Trump has a cannon quietly moving into position for the midterms that Thune is sabotaging for the possible, usual hefty Xi check. Thank you for helping the heroic midwife, btw.

Gwennie's avatar

It is an interesting juxtaposition, Spanberger and Kathleen Breault, toxic femininity and real, life-giving female power, shielding patients and their babies.

Cankerpuss's avatar

No doubt money is behind it. Money is behind everything that is done, good or bad. That's the world we live in. Money is everything and people will do anything to hoard as much of it as they possibly can. Ain't it great!

Until humanity evolves past this lust for wealth and the incessant need for the acquisition and collection of useless junk we are doomed as a species. The dinosaurs got millions of years on the this planet. Humans won't make it past 100,000 years if we don't evolve past our greatest genetic flaw..........GREED.

JohnAZ's avatar

1. Power. 2. Ethnocentrism 3. Greed. All animal instincts, all sins.

Lugh's avatar

And lust. You conquer a people and every soldier can have a harem. That sealed the fate of South America and Mexico. And the continent of Africa where Homo Sapiens bred down with Homo Erectus.

Cankerpuss's avatar

"And the continent of Africa where Homo Sapiens bred down with Homo Erectus"

Now you are getting somewhere, Lugh.

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

Do you know of actual evidence showing that Thune is taking CCP money? Asking sincerely. I’m with those who want to get to the bottom of this.

JohnAZ's avatar

Enlarge this, as shown by Swallwell and his CCP spy. China is very successfully invading this country by infiltration. Industrial espionage is a wink-wink item, being almost totally ignored by our government. How many of our Leftists and RINOs are directly being coached by the CCP?

PapayaSF's avatar

It still amazes me that for decades Diane Feinstein had a driver who was a Chinese spy, and then nothing much happened about it.

Lugh's avatar

DiFi is tribe. Do you really want them to go jail like everyone else?

PapayaSF's avatar

Being spied on is not a crime. However, AFAIK, the spy just retired and was never prosecuted. Last I heard he still lives in San Francisco.

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

But can you answer my question?

JohnAZ's avatar

Nope, but it took years to get through the fog around Swallwell. I will ask the same question in a different way.

Why do the RINOs take an opposite viewpoint to MAGA. What I have heard is that they are country clubbers who want nothing to do with the plebeian masses that Trump’s populist movement represents.

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

Thanks for the explanation, but you’re missing the point. One shouldn’t make specific allegations, stated as fact, for which they cannot back them with proof.

JohnAZ's avatar

Right. Imagine this blog without conjecture?

Lugh's avatar

The Protocols of the Elders of Zion was a bestseller in China some years ago. They admire you for what you did to the West. In other words, they want to do it to us too. But no, you won't be able to do it to them. They know. Sorry!

Scott's avatar

Or it's a timing thing. Americans have a pretty short memory and short attention spans. If Trump can haul out all the 2020 election fraud receipts and do a tour about them at the exact right time, that should put the pressure on Thune and give him political cover to get the save act passed.

Daryl Poe's avatar

It is baffling that foreign money is permitted to influence our elections. That money never helps the country and its citizens, only the politicians.

Len Penzo's avatar

Repealing the 17A (returning the election of US Senators to their respective state legislatures) would go a long way toward reducing foreign and interstate influence in US Senate elections. It would also all but eliminate the presence of blue US Senators in red states (and, far more rarely, red US Senators in blue states), provide states with US Senators who always vote in their state's best interests, and return the US Senate to a body that is biased toward states' rights as opposed to that of the federal government.

Browning1911 Man's avatar

Len, you struck a nerve. Here in AZ we have a GOP-controlled state legislature and two of the WORST, leftist US Senators in the entire country...Kelly and Gallego. Everywhere you look, most people express their extreme dislike of them. We are still wondering just how these two clowns managed to get elected.

Len Penzo's avatar

We both know how AZ ended up with two blue US Senators – the same way that red Georgia did awhile back: cheating via mail-in ballot stuffing.

Ol' Doc Skepsis's avatar

"former CIA analyst Abigail Spanberger"

"FORMER" 🤣

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

Maybe change “analyst” to “activist,” and restrict that to those provenly dedicated to color revolution and its insidious treasonous plots.

Mun’s Frolick's avatar

“Show a little more patience. Won’t be long. The world will be a better place when this is over” — I doubt this very much, Jim. The nature of man (who keeps repeating history over and over) will not ever change.

Mary Ann Caton's avatar

Iran is provably not another forever war. Trump will end it and shortly. That era has ended. You'll see.

Mun’s Frolick's avatar

My comment was not limited to Iran.

Mary Ann Caton's avatar

Given your comment and the quote from Jim's post, I reasonably assumed you were referring specifically to Iran. While it's true that Ecclesiastes tells us that there is nothing new under the sun meaning only that man will continue sinning, there have also been eras in which peace has been achieved. Trump is taking us into one of those times and pulling the rest of the world with him.

elysianfield's avatar

"While it's true that Ecclesiastes tells us that there is nothing new under the sun meaning only that man will continue sinning, there have also been eras in which peace has been achieved."

Ezekiel 25:17.

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

Those words should make you fear, not gloat.

Now, read Romans 3:9-18:

What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;

11 there is no one who understands;

there is no one who seeks God.

12 All have turned away,

they have together become worthless;

there is no one who does good,

not even one.”

13 “Their throats are open graves;

their tongues practice deceit.”

“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”

14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 ruin and misery mark their ways,

17 and the way of peace they do not know.”

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

elysianfield's avatar

Paul,

Who to trust? The Gospel according to Tarantino, or the Gospel according to some unnamed poet?

JohnAZ's avatar

A good description of Washington DC.

Jim Reese's avatar

"2 more weeks to flatten the curve"....err...I mean, flatten Iran

Frank Whiten's avatar

Correct. And then Trump appeared and turned that old, cowardly apple cart on its head. Grab some popcorn, some vision, and then sit back and watch a master at work.

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

To God be the glory. He is judging the nations, none excluded.

Lugh's avatar

Israel will be his footstool. The Weight of Glory will crush your grapes into wine. Suffering is the swiftest horse to perfection as Eckhart said. Blessed Iran is his current instrument.

Alan's avatar

It runs in cycles. If Trump succeeds in what he is trying to accomplish--a U.S. autarky with dozens and dozens of bi-lateral trade deals with sovereign nations that benefit both party's citizens--then my children and grandchildren will live in an American golden age.

NothingButNet's avatar

👍 I suspect that a pointy black hat on Abigail Spanberger would make her look like the Wicked Witch 🧙‍♀️ of the East!

Frank Whiten's avatar

Suspect? She’d be a dead ringer!

Kathy Christian's avatar

I think Whitmer has her beat for that.

Kathy Christian's avatar

Whitmer is the closest to the witch of the Wizard of Oz that I've ever seen.

The Illusion Of Human Progress's avatar

Show a little more patience. Won’t be long. The world will be a better place when this is over.

Here we go again with the 5D chess card. “Patience, the great plan will be revealed unto ye in due time. oh, ye without the power of brain, cannot yet understand, and shall be revealed unto thee at the appropriate time that we so deem. Patience!“. And just how will the world be a better place? Prominent economists are already predicting that’s Europe and many other countries will be suffering from energy disruptions caused by this ridiculous, unnecessary and illegal war for years. Detail details, please on that “better world“.

Doohmax's avatar

Europe suffers self imposed energy disruptions. The “Green” energy replacement theory has proven to be a disaster.

GonzoDon's avatar

Spain seems to be faring pretty well through this.

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

Making great headway in a return to subjugation under the caliphate.

GonzoDon's avatar

Spain seems to be making great headway weaning itself off of fossil fuels. Last I checked, wind, solar and nuclear energy didn’t have to pass through the Straight of Hormuz:

“Spain has doubled its wind and solar capacity since 2019, with renewables meeting 46% of electricity demand in the first half of 2025.”

SheilaB's avatar

Wind and solar need oil for construction, transport, operation and decommissioning. Then they get buried in humungous graveyards of plastic and toxins after about 20 years of what would be useful life if only the energy produced by a wind turbine could be made to equal the energy it took to make it, operate it and decommission it.

There's nothing renewable about them. They're disposables.

Don's avatar

You’d better alert China as well as Spain. Because they’re kicking our ass developing alternatives to finite fossil fuels, and they’re selling their cutting-edge technology to the rest of the world while the U.S. relies on aging coal plants.

The world is leaving us behind. It’s almost like we’re going back to rotary dial telephones.

Lugh's avatar

Yeah, Muslim, Christian, what does it matter? Culture and religion don't matter. Only individuals and only in the aggregate as lumpen proletariat or "labor". The mass man. Consciousness in thrall to matter. The Untermensch.

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

You have more than sufficient cynicism to pillory the illusion of human progress but no faith or patience to inherit the promises of God and His inexorable progress.

Andreas's avatar

And that girl school had to be flattened during school hours for the master plan to work.

JohnAZ's avatar

After the regime put a missile factory next door to that school. You are beating a dead horse here.

JohnAZ's avatar

The regime, like many other ME Islamic governments, do not give one damn about their people. That is why Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas put their munitions next or inside of hospitals and schools.

These people are VERY different from Western ideas on the importance of individual human life.

SheilaB's avatar

The attack on the little girls was with automated weaponry, using US data that was years out of date.

https://volitionmaximus.substack.com/p/the-us-triple-tapped-the-iranian

JohnAZ's avatar

Weapon aiming is not real precise either, misses do occur.

Best idea? Build your damn missile plants away from the cities.

Franz Kafka's avatar

That is “Jew Hatred” of Semitic Palestinians. Catch my drift?

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

That’s on Iran for putting it in a war zone and not evacuating it during hostilities. They used their precious bunkers and tunnels to save their sorry asses and munitions.

Don’t attack or threaten those who aren’t attacking you. Attack those who are threatening or attacking you. And don’t relent because your enemy offers human sacrifices to their god of war.

SheilaB's avatar

As I have just pointed out to JohnAZ, the attack on the little girls was with automated weaponry, using US data that was years out of date. A triple tap, no less, because humanity isn't a thing.

https://volitionmaximus.substack.com/p/the-us-triple-tapped-the-iranian

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

As you implied, the school bombing attributed to the US wasn’t intended for school children. Meanwhile the IRGC has been killing women and children willy nilly and supports others doing so as well.

SheilaB's avatar

I somehow thought you would be above whataboutery. Silly me!

The bombing wasn't 'attributed' to the US. Even the US admitted it was the US. That's a weaselly way to put it, IMO. The US used old information. Iranian children don't merit the same attention to detail that American children might. Although the US isn't above killing huge numbers of its own citizens either, if it can get a war out of it.

Paul B. Cohen's avatar

The salient facts: The US doesn’t go after non-combatants. The IRGC does - they kill their own and other Muslims and inhabitants of the Middle East. Showing how you pick at a gnat while swallowing a camel isn’t “whatsboutery.” It’s your hypocrisy showing.

Andreas's avatar

Classic jew argument "how dare you run into my bullet"

JohnAZ's avatar

That war is being fought to stop Iran’s very evident desire to control the flow of oil from the Gulf..

The USA is being, again, a sucker trying to protect the world from local despots. The world, like all children, must learn to take care of itself. Europe first, then the ME.

Cankerpuss's avatar

This is kind of what I have been arguing with you about in the past, JohnAZ.

You're making good sense today! Keep it up.

JohnAZ's avatar

Not just today, I have always believed that the USA was a sucker.

You and I do not disagree as much as you think. I am just of the ilk that if a war is called for because politics and diplomacy have failed, that one side should win and destroy the other side to make history move forward. What I hate is the MIC wanting to make everything last 20 years to keep the war fever up. If war is declared, it must be accompanied by a statement of what its goal is. In other words, a sunset clause. This GD government we have right now is incapable of this.

Freedom 4 conservatives's avatar

After 70+ years of Socialist propaganda being the "teaching point" of the American public education system, much of America is ignorant of the fact that Fascism and Communism are just two flavors of Socialism. It was a clever trick of the American left:

1. Tell Americans that Socialism was just poorly implemented by the Communists. (Actually, Communist Socialism is the "purest" form of Socialism--including the dictatorship and genocide parts.)

2. Tell Americans that Fascism wasn't Socialism, but "Capitalism Gone Wild". (Actually, Fascism is just another form of Socialism, with the Fascists allowing some monopolistic and oligopolistic corporatists to exist, so long as they pledged their total allegiance to the Socialist regime.)

3. Tell Americans that free market capitalism is bad because some people get wealthier than others. (Actually, there is a wealthy elite in Communist and Fascist countries that is based only on political power and dictatorial policies that have nothing to do with efficiency, productivity, and creation of jobs, wealth and capital.)

The result is that you have leftists and even some moderates embracing what is either Fascism or Communism, and lobbying ceaselessly for the destruction of free market capitalism. They ignore that Fascism or Communism both require a dictatorship to exist, and that a free market capitalist system not only requires freedom as an economic policy, it requires it as a political and social policy.

Consider these quotes by author Ayn Rand:

"It is a matter of record that in the German Election of 1933, the Communist Party was ordered by its leaders to vote for the Nazis - with the explanation that they could later fight the Nazis for power, but first they had to help destroy their common enemy : capitalism and its parliamentary form of government."

"There is no difference between communism and socialism, except in the means of achieving the same ultimate end: communism proposes to enslave men by force, socialism - by vote. It is merely the difference between murder and suicide."

"The difference between a welfare state and a totalitarian state is a matter of time."

"The majority of those who are loosely identified by the term 'liberals' are afraid to let themselves discover that what they advocate is statism. They want to keep all the advantages and effects of capitalism, while destroying the cause, and they want to establish statism without its necessary effects. They do not want to know or to admit that they are the champions of dictatorship and slavery."

"Whoever claims the right to redistribute the wealth produced by others is claiming the right to treat human beings as chattel."

"If you surrender everything to the government and give it total power to plan the whole economy, this will not guarantee your economic security, but it will guarantee the descent of the entire nation to a level of miserable poverty--as the practical results of every totalitarian economy, communist or fascist, have demonstrated."

"The difference between [socialism and fascism] is superficial and purely formal, but it is significant psychologically: it brings the authoritarian nature of a planned economy crudely into the open. The main characteristic of socialism (and of communism) is public ownership of the means of production, and, therefore, the abolition of private property. The right to property is the right of use and disposal. Under fascism, men retain the semblance or pretense of private property, but the government holds total power over its use and disposal."

David "JC" Penny's avatar

Seems to be more of a self-restack than a pertinent comment. That said, you are correct. Fascism and Socialism hold the State as divine. Communism is when the State's power reaches God-like status. Definitely NOT what I was taught in school nor college.

Lugh's avatar

Yes, we must worship the Capitalists instead. Oh Holy Ford! In any case, the same people are behind both - else why did the Bankers fund the Communist revolutions?

The final system will have elements of both. As Herr Schwab said, you (not him and his) will own nothing and be happy.

Freedom 4 conservatives's avatar

Because many of the "capitalist" Bankers were not capitalists at all--they were essentially Fascists. They did not believe in free-market capitalism; they believed in a statist government that would give them oligopoly or monopoly status, and a statist government that would similarly endow the oligopolistic and monopolistic corporatists with what amounted to a government-guaranteed non-competitive profit.

In the ideological wrestling match between Communist Socialism and Fascist Socialism, the purveyors of both believed that their ideology would eventually vanquish the other--once that pesky "capitalism" with its "messiness" of free-market competition was out of the way. Consider the contrast of the Communists telling its followers to vote for the Nazis in 1933 to what Hitler said about the Communists:

"It is not Germany that will turn Bolshevist, but Bolshevism that will become a sort of National Socialism. Besides, there is more that binds us to Bolshevism than separate us from it… The petit bourgeois Social-Democrat and the trade-union boss will never make a National Socialist, but the Communist always will."

-Adolf Hitler

Lugh's avatar

One must be dedicated to something higher, something beyond just making money. Yet personal rights must be preserved. National Socialism attempts this balancing act - unlike Capitalism/Communism who are natural allies.

UncleBob9's avatar

Thune is McConnell's protege. Cocaine Mitch and the GOP Establishment despise Trump and his blue-collar supporters. In fact, they're even more vicious than Democrats in their attacks on Trump and his voters. Margaret Noonan, for example, is obsessed with attacking Trump, to the point that she could write a column about bird shit on her car and she'd spend half the column hammering Trump over some nonsense. Thune obviously is of the same mindset, so he's willing to allow the country be destroyed by Schumer, Warnock, and the rest of the gang. Better to let the Democrats erase Trump than have the GOP openly stop him and his initiatives, regardless how good they may be. Besides, if the GOP is out of power, they can become "principled critics" whose coffers will swell due to unhappy voters; then, with Trumpism gone, the Establishment can make a triumphant return. Apparently they don't understand that Democrats intend to execute them as "traitors" based solely on their party registration.

Danimal28's avatar

Totally agree on Iran. They are the misfit tool of the globalists(dependence) based in the City of London.

https://nofilterjustfacts.substack.com/p/city-of-london-hidden-power

Sodom on Potomac is a very dangerous place for those that oppose globalism so we can see how extremely weak men like Thune simply choose to get paid rather than take a risk. It is disgusting when a supermajority of all Americans want voter ID and these fools oppose it.

JohnAZ's avatar

That supermajority know that something is wrong with our government and are trying to do what they can to right the ship. To the DeepStaters in DC, it is a threat, big time.

Danimal28's avatar

Agreed and I am very glad Trump will NOT sign any legislation until he sees the SAVE Act on his desk...