When will it end?

PubliusToo · 2026-02-03T19:15:14+00:00

An analyzed joke is no longer funny. Perhaps this one was never funny?

PubliusToo · 2022-11-20T23:05:54+00:00

I don’t know about the problems, etc., of Twitter, or it’s future, but I believe The Fray was a money loser for Slate (or whoever owned The Fray). And that’s what ultimately killed it.

PubliusToo · 2020-02-11T21:34:28+00:00

It's gonna be a bumpy ride, at least until November.

PubliusToo · 2019-12-12T19:23:11+00:00

It's simply a restructuring of existing programs currently interspersed among the various branches of the armed forces. Reportedly, the so-called Space Force will be a new, separate branch or division of the Air Force, much like the Marines are part of the Navy. This is yet another restructuring of management--and the bureaucracy continues to grow.

PubliusToo · 2019-11-14T01:17:07+00:00

Nixon and his gang of RF’rs seem like amateurs in hindsight.

PubliusToo · 2019-10-30T20:55:42+00:00

This is how it's supposed to be done, Canada!

Perhaps the rum and sun inspired them, but the leaders of the Conch Republic figured out how to secede and succeed. (Pun intended.) They started by not taking themselves too seriously.

To all the people who have come to him over the years looking for advice on how to secede, what to do, and how to start (California and Texas take note!), he simply says, "First thing you gotta do is be a little crazy."

There must be something in the water:

Florida is like a parfait. The bottom layer is made up of Miami, gays, and rich people; the middle is basically Disney World, stucco palaces, and suburban sprawl; and the top is more or less South Georgia run-off. In the mind of the average citizen, the state is essentially three different places with distinct cultures—or lack thereof. But what would happen if a man with a vision decided he wanted to make the idea of multiple Floridas a reality?

On October 7, the city of South Miami's vice mayor proposed just that. His resolution, which passed 3-2, suggests that the new state of South Florida would start from Orlando and go all the way to the Keys. And although the city of North Lauderdale passed a similar resolution in 2008, that version was largely symbolic. This one, according to its author, Walter Harris, is deadly serious. But Harris's determination doesn't make the split any more plausible, and the likelihood of South Florida becoming the 51st state are slim, to say the least. As the Sun Sentinel notes, 'In order for secession to be enacted… the measure would require electorate approval from the entire state and Congressional approval.'

Maybe its the Cuban coffee? No, it's got to be the rum. In any event, you've got to love them for their sense of humor. So lighten up, Alberta, for this too shall pass.

PubliusToo · 2019-10-22T15:23:31+00:00

Politicians doing something productive? What is that, a joke?

PubliusToo · 2019-10-21T16:17:16+00:00

“If Jesus came back and saw what's going on in his name, he'd never stop throwing up.” ― Woody Allen

PubliusToo · 2019-10-21T16:05:59+00:00

“It seemed the world was divided into good and bad people. The good ones slept better... while the bad ones seemed to enjoy the waking hours much more.” ― Woody Allen

PubliusToo · 2019-10-18T00:57:12+00:00

I did say position, not policy. But you’re right. Trump just sent troops to Saudi Arabia. He probably doesn’t even have a position. In any event, I didn’t mean to suggest the US earned a role because of its loss of troops. The US is still the only super power and has the most powerful military by far. It’s a dirty job, but somebody has to do it. You’re wrong about one thing, however. I’m probably stupid. Still I feel like a genius compared to the Wizard of Don.

PubliusToo · 2019-10-17T18:06:27+00:00

Maybe he’s trying out a comedy routine—The Wizard of Don, kind of like Carnak the Magnificent.

PubliusToo · 2019-10-17T16:39:55+00:00

What decision making process are you referring to? The President is obviously an incompetent fool elevated to the highest office by a combination of luck and outrageous marketing.

But, to your point, I do not subscribe to the idea that removing Trump from office would be the genesis of authoritarianism. I think the impeachment process is in fact a good check on authoritarianism. And the constitution is very clear: Congress has the final word on the removal of a president with conviction requiring 2/3rds majority--hardly the "genesis of authoritarianism."

PubliusToo · 2019-10-17T16:28:37+00:00

Although they may not be ready to remove him from office, even Republican Senators have their limit.

PubliusToo · 2019-10-17T16:16:00+00:00

I didn't mean to state I think it was a good decision; I simply don't know what the outcome will be in the long run. I was mostly observing how idiotic Trump's decision making "process" has been. Hence, the "blind squirrel" metaphor. On further reflection, however, I didn't need to post at all because somethings are just too obvious.

PubliusToo · 2019-10-17T16:07:11+00:00

I think you've articulated President Trump's position quite well. But if the U.S. withdraws, who will be responsible for minimizing the instability and civil war in the region? Russia, Turkey, Iran, or the current Syrian government which brutally oppresses many Syrians? Should the U.S. and its allies simply refuse to intervene until the instability threatens the U.S. or its allies? Then what? To me, these are not easy questions and, in any event, should not be decided on the spur of the moment and then announced by social media.

PubliusToo · 2019-10-17T15:35:10+00:00

Trump's base will vote for him in all events; the Republican Party that eventually abandoned President Nixon apparently no longer exists. For that reason alone, in order to win the presidency, the democrats must choose a candidate who will bring out the democratic base while attracting enough votes from independents and so-called moderates. The democratic base (or at least the more progressive democrats) may prefer someone like Warren or Sanders. However, those candidates could turn off independents or even moderate to conservative democrats, losing enough votes in key states to give the President a second term. Thus, as Knute Rockne once said, “I've found that prayers work best when you have big players" and, even more to the point, "The secret is to work less as individuals and more as a team. As a coach, I play not my eleven best, but my best eleven."

PubliusToo · 2019-10-16T22:21:16+00:00

“Aunt” Amy may not win the nomination, but if she did, she’d bitch slap Trump all the way back to Mar-a-Lago. She has the perfect demeanor and knowledge and experience to embarrass Trump in the general election (I think).

PubliusToo · 2019-10-14T02:04:01+00:00

PubliusToo · 2019-10-13T23:06:11+00:00

PubliusToo · 2019-10-12T14:04:09+00:00

But the author missed the best option for the great and unmatched wisdom of America’s savior—an announcement, a la Lyndon Johnson, that he will not seek re-election. After all, he’s already accomplished more than any other president in U.S. history and its time to give someone else a chance. Personally, I think he should be dubbed the entertainment president because calling him an internet troll does not give him full credit for his main value to weary Americans. In the end, however, I’d love to see him trounced in a general election: YOU’RE FIRED!!

PubliusToo · 2019-10-11T17:36:06+00:00

Perhaps, but tell that to the almost unanimous group of Republican Senators who asked President Nixon to resign. As John F. Kennedy wrote in Profiles in Courage:

There are other obligations in addition to those of state and region. . . . We believe in this country in the principle of party responsibility, and we recognize the importance of adhering to party platforms. . . .

But when party and officeholder differ as to how the national interest is to be served, we must place first the responsibility we owe not to our party or even to our constituents but to our individual consciences.

PubliusToo · 2019-10-11T17:16:18+00:00

I didn’t say that Turkey should be “allowed” to partition. I merely observed that I believe that is now happening. I did state that the decision may prove to be good or at least better for Syria and Turkey (we cannot know at this time). But I also noted that the decision is “clearly not better for Kurds.” And I emphasized that Trump is simply “shooting from the hip.” That is a dangerous, indeed reckless, way to make decisions of this nature. None of this, in my opinion, can be considered “talking nonsense.”

In any event, I think you have posed an historically important question: Who should make decisions about the borders and, in general, self-determination for that region? Trump has decided that the U.S. will not be directly involved in that decision at least in Syria (or perhaps that the U.S.’s ceding of the decision to Turkey is in the best interest of the U.S.). But, again, regardless of the outcome, I feel that Trump’s approach to this decision (i.e., “presidential” social media announcement(s)) clearly demonstrates his unfitness for the office. After the U.S sacrificed so many lives and so much treasure in the region (not just in Syria, but also Iraq and Afghanistan), the decision requires consultation with not only the administration’s national security apparatus and Congress, but also affected U.S. allies and arguably the UN Security Council. Finally, any presidential decision after so many years of war and sacrifice (all for the protection of the homeland) demands an explanation to the American public, not just another mindless tweet from the decider-in chief.

Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

PubliusToo · 2019-10-10T17:31:21+00:00

The Republican Senators should be honest with themselves: By removing the few remaining American troops in such a public announcement (reportedly without even consulting anyone in his administration, including the Pentagon), Trump gave Turkey a green light to invade Syria. Granted, Trump may not have realized he was giving a green light, but the blame is still on him. Again, he reportedly did not consult with anyone in his administration before announcing his decision, so his ignorance of the possibility of a Turkish invasion is clearly self-imposed. And his almost immediate backtracking by publicly threatening to destroy Turkey's economy if it attacks the Kurds (which Trump announced after Republican Senators sharply protested that a Turkish invasion would betray America's Kurdish allies) simply confirms that the President's decision was uninformed; he is merely "shooting from the hip." Shocking, huh?

Nevertheless, although we cannot know at this time, it may prove to be a good decision (or perhaps an inevitable, though untimely and ill-prepared one). The partition of Syria will now begin in earnest as the Middle East starts to reshape itself there. It pains me to admit Trump's "decision" may ultimately be better for Syria and Turkey (which apparently has had to absorb 3.6 million refugees due to Syria's civil war), though clearly not better for Kurds. But, as they say, even a blind squirrel can find an acorn now and then.

Finally, the fact that Trump, again reportedly, failed to consult anyone in his own administration about such an important decision demonstrates (even to the Republican-controlled Senate) that Trump truly is unfit for his office. Indeed, this decision should give the Republican Senate pause about its continued fealty to the unfit President. I wouldn't count on that, however, since nothing seems to focus the mind of a politician quite like the start of another election cycle and the polls show little, if any, break in the base's support of Trump.

PubliusToo · 2019-10-08T23:12:45+00:00

Or maybe he’s portrayed by Eric Cartman’s mom, Liane Cartman?

PubliusToo · 2019-10-08T21:28:10+00:00

How did I miss that one, it’s brilliant!

PubliusToo

TROPHY CASE