Now, here’s something I never thought about before:
Comments
Open thread 2/13/2025 — 38 Comments
Kari Lake just blew my mind.
Isn’t the easiest answer to why Jeffries is struggling to mount an Anti-Trump resistance is that the President, Elon, & DOGE have shut off the money tap for the astroturfed protest operations, &, it’s hard to fuel genuine opposition to an agenda that’s popular with the people?
We’ve always thought that the “protests” were astro-turfed, funded by leftist organizations. The sudden de-funding of leftist slush fund NGOs may be having an effect.
No surprises here, once that can o’ worms, otherwise known as USAID, was opened, shaken vigorously and turned inside out…
1) Pre-Jan 20 was very well organized w/ Trump quiet. CoS Susie Wiles has done a great job!
2) Quickly picked Admin & staff pre-Jan 20.
3) Inauguration Day 2025 shows total preparation made by good leader – unlike being unprepared during his first term.
4) Moved fast on illegal immigration promises – plus lots of helpful EO’s.
5) Have to give Trump a Strong on his choice of Pete Hegseth as SoD – and solid work by the GOP Senate to get him confirmed!
6) Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues to expose government waste, cutting regulations, and restructuring federal agencies. Early impact has been *AMAZING*!
Weak:
1) Failed to end Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours.
2) Re-designates Iranian-backed Houthis as terrorists – lets Iran continue to back them!?!
3) neo called it an “unforced error” on Trump’s part. Most commenters agreed. ‘Twas an internet vision of Trump starring as the Hare in ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’. Horrid response to Air collision above the Potomac – horrid response to a National Tragedy. Probably doesn’t bode well for confidence in his future response/s to a National Emergency…?
4) Still early into the Breaking News about ‘Second Buddy’ Putin and President Trump opening negotiations on Ukraine’s future; however, if this is Trump’s opening move in the negotiations, it is an incredibly ill-informed and/or naive one. Thusly, such an opening deserves a spot under the Weak category on the Trump Tally…Geez!?
they have really drawn up the waterworks, ‘when you dial down the ambient noise;
Wait and see. Trump is laying ground work for both Z and P to find an escape hatch.
“UAE ambassador to the U.S. Yousef Al Otaiba backs Trump’s plan to expel Gaza’s population, calling it difficult but unavoidable despite global outrage over ethnic cleansing.”
It’s too early to say whether the UAE is an outlier or not. Will any other Gulf states agree? What about Jordan and Egypt?
the UAE was a party to the Abraham Accords, they give sanctuary to some of the former Fatah people like Rajoub, who were expelled by Fatah, Emir Zayed was one of the targets of the Mueller Report, because reasons,
U.S. President Donald J. Trump stunned the world by offering unprecedented concessions to Russia in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine on Wednesday—seemingly without getting anything in return. Before the formal peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin even started, Trump and members of his administration dismissed the idea that Ukraine could reclaim its territories that Russia currently occupies, slammed the door shut for Kyiv’s hope of NATO membership, and refused to acknowledge Ukraine as an equal member in the peace process.
While Ukrainians and their allies were left in disbelief, Russian state TV and radio stations were full of elated propagandists, who grinned ear to ear and periodically broke out into uproarious laughter.
you have to be more discriminating, julia davis formerly of the Times, would have a clue if it was dropped on her, re the earlier link, david milliband head of the irc, who makes boucoup books at our and the Foreign Office’s expense, is a former Parliament member the IRC’s current function is flooding Europe and America, with
immigrants, his father was a leading British Marxist,
Anyone expecting the Russia-Ukraine war to end by noon on 1/21/25 must be new to American politics. That was one of those promises that we older folk have seen so many time before and had no expectations of it happening like that.
You might as well have included (in the “weak” group) that inflation is still here and eggs cost a lot of money.
Looking like the Trump peace plan for Russia and Ukraine will require the latter to give up some of their territory – primarily the Crimea.
I have mixed feelings about this, because it will demonstrate to Putin that invading another nation will, in the end, prove successful to some degree if not entirely.
On the flip side, the Ukrainian military simply does not have the unlimited manpower that the Russians have to toss into the meat grinder, and there really is no way the Ukrainians have the ability to force the Russians from withdrawing from the territory they now hold.
A big lesson that Putin can take from all of this, is the reluctance of Europe to get engaged in a major way when Russia invades a sovereign nation on its own frontier.
Though Ukraine is not a NATO nation, the conflict does suggest that NATO, to some extent, is a paper tiger and will act in slow motion, and grudgingly at that , when faced with bold Russian aggression.
The Finns, Swedes, Poles and the Baltic Nations realize this and even though they are now all NATO members, they have begun raising their own military capabilities in the event of Russian aggression.
Let’s hope that whatever peace plan results, it does not repeat the ultimate result of the Sudetenland give away and the hope for “peace in our time.”
Once the US has taken Greenland, go nudge Japan and together seize the Kurils. Then? Shrug, and laugh.
Gerasimov’s very clever move, was a stupid mistake, that cost about a million lives, rounding off, now when we’ve restocked our arsenals that came to a very dangerous level, on not only the US but UK, we’ll be ready to challenge him,
in so far, there is any winner it was China, that stood off to the side, the North Korean gambit was stupid, but you encourage stupidity you get more of it,
Who wants to have to re-read Humphrey’s Executor? Really? Damnit. But ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
will the bundestag listen, after magdeberg, they started to
Hamas looked into the mirror, and saw Trump looking back at them. Seems (you never know with Hamas) they will now abide by the agreement, and release hostages on Sat.
If Russia has “unlimited” manpower why do they need North Korean bullet sponges and land mine detectors?
‘…”weak” group…’
Thass right.
If Trump were TRULY a strong president, those hens, in sheer terror, would have been laying extra-jumbo, double-yolks—non-stop, day and night—by Inauguration Day.
That DID NOT HAPPEN.
(PROOF of the—egg—pudding that Trump, for all his crowing, is really just a capon….)
– – – – – – – –
Kinda cool… but don’t try this at home…
The “Woe is me” memes and posts are hitting facebook with a vengeance.
I just saw one that — while I feel for the family — is not entirely true. The person claimed that the non-profit who pays for supplemental vitamins and medicine for their child who has cystic fibrosis is closed.
I looked it up — there is nothing on their website or their facebook page that indicates that they have closed, or at lest temporarily shuttered. Their webpage has a ton of financial information (The officers make a s*** ton of money!) but not really where it comes from. Noodling around on the internet, it APPEARS like very little of their income comes from federal grants. They get some, but not that much.
Even if they get a lot of money from federal grants, they should still be able to operate for a little while.
BTW, their CEO makes almost $400,000. The CDO makes about $370,000. The COO and the Chief Foundation Program Officer make about $300,000 each. Their net revenue was $742,364,218. Their website CLAIMS that they get funding from corporations and private individuals.
If they are severely impacted by the graft being discovered in the Swamp, then they are lying about where they get their money from.
I feel for the woman with the child with CF. But I don’t think hysteria over things that may not have happened helps.
Gee, gee, gee whiz, that’s amazing!
In other news. RFK Jr. confirmed…
From ‘Russian state TV and radio stations’ grinning ear to ear and breaking ‘out into uproarious laughter’ on air – at President Trump’s childish display at negotiating – to President Trump now being compared to Hitler appeaser Neville Chamberlain!?! Sorry, but even circling the TCS Wagons around Trump can’t help him in this disaster he has created.
…Donald Trump’s concessions on Ukraine have played into the hands of Vladimir Putin … ‘I tell you they’re drinking vodka straight out of the bottle in the Kremlin tonight,’ Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton told CNN. ‘It was a great day for Moscow.’
Analysts have warned that appeasing Putin could result in history repeating itself, with former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt accusing Trump of an historical sell-out of Ukraine.
‘It’s certainly an innovative approach to a negotiation to make very major concessions even before they have started,’ he said. ‘Not even Chamberlain went that low in 1938. That Munich ended very bad anyhow.’
Bildt is among a number of experts who have drawn comparisons between Trump’s statements and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s ‘peace for our time’ declaration.
Still too early to tell, but this National Security disaster is starting to ‘Smell’ like Trump has allowed his revengeful side against Ukraine to get the best of him for not giving him Biden’s head—at best!?!?!?!
“Putin poised to invade Europe”, oh pull the other one, it’s got bells on it. It’s not 1950. The “he’s the next Hitler card” got maxed out in 2003. Canada’s just as “poised” to invade the United States as Russia is to invade the EU.
“Spy chiefs” and “analysts” warning us huh, sounds legit! I believe they were warning us about Hunter’s laptop not too long ago…
Not to mention the quotes from Institute for the Study of War, founded in 2007 to flog the Iraq war! Bill Kristol, Kimberly Kagan and bunch of kids with the ink barely dried on their BAs, sounds legit.
I clicked on that link at the Daily Mail when I first saw it. The first “expert” quoted was John Bolton. Oh.
Allow me to deviate for a moment, or two…
Several weeks ago one of the commenters here mentioned the book “State of Fear” (Michael Critchton (sp?)) in reply to another’s post. Something like (paraphrase): You should read State of Fear”. My local library had it, so I did. [Some will disbelieve this since I am not renowned for taking sound advice.] Bottom line: great read, makes one think about a lot of things. It has a serious bibliography and appendix items. Sort of a textbook wrapped with a fictional story.
My point: To that commenter with the recommendation, Thank You.
Ooof, look out Green Monster, you’re in for a peppering: Bregman to the Sox.
Yeah, I don’t expect Putin is “poised to invade” much of anything at this point given the current state of the Russian military and their economy after 3 years of a grinding, stupid war. I’m not saying that Europe shouldn’t take sensible precautions with regard to strengthening their militaries and so forth. I’m just saying that Russia isn’t likely to be launching any new big invasions over the next few years.
Never Run Across A Pool Cover
neo:
I’ll see that and raise you:
___________________________________
Never hit your grandma with a shovel.
It makes a bad impression on her mind.
Sudetenland: The comparison *might* be apt if by the time of the Munich accords Hilter had already had the equivalent of the Stalingrad loss.
John Bolton and Prof. Meirshiemer both need new Credibility Cards. Anti-gravitas.
Actually the moral of the video is:
Never run across a cheap pool cover.
I’m reminded of the time when I walked across the frozen Charles River under a full moon around midnight. It was a near-transcendent experience. It was so bright and silent in the middle of the metropolis.
Of course, that was the late 70s when Boston winters were obscenely cold.
Geez…looks like the Neville Chamberlain comparison is gonna stick.
Probably should add that to the Trump Tally but will give the President a little more time on that one…
huxley — I used to attend a conference that was held right before Christmas at the Copley Plaza. It was also a time when I also use to run regularly. I would get up bright and early before things began in order to do my run: From the Hotel over to the Esplanade, along the river, across the bridge, back down the other side of the river, across the Harvard Bridge and back to the hotel.
Looking now at a map, I am so surprised. It seems to be over a three and half mile run, and my memory is that it didn’t take that long. In my memory, the hotel was closer to the river. Anyhow, I really enjoyed it. I pretty much started my run about 5:00 am. It was nice and quite out, very little traffic and hardly any people.
This was in the 90s and it was purty darned cold. I had the best running tights that I had picked up in Ottawa. And I so enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed attending that conference. Great food, and a great location. And the room rates were really good. If the conference was still held there, I would sign up for it JUST to stay at the Copley. (Conference registration + room was less than the normal rates. But they move the conference all over now.)
Pool covers. There is the movie “Glass” by M. Night Shyamalan where Bruce Willis’ character falls into a pool with a cheap plastic cover on it. It’s a graphic scene of someone wrapped up in plastic in deep water.
As you most likely suspected… but had no inking of the massive scope of the op…
Opening graf:
“Former State Department official-turned-truthsayer Mike Benz sat down with Joe Rogan for three hours this week, where the two went down the USAID rabbit hole.…”
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Kari Lake just blew my mind.
We’ve always thought that the “protests” were astro-turfed, funded by leftist organizations. The sudden de-funding of leftist slush fund NGOs may be having an effect.
No surprises here, once that can o’ worms, otherwise known as USAID, was opened, shaken vigorously and turned inside out…
“…Foreign Leaders Want To Know Exactly How Far US Meddling Went In Their Own Backyards“—
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/forget-america-foreign-leaders-want-know-exactly-how-far-us-meddling-went-their-own
Trump Tally update – 2/13/25
Strong:
1) Pre-Jan 20 was very well organized w/ Trump quiet. CoS Susie Wiles has done a great job!
2) Quickly picked Admin & staff pre-Jan 20.
3) Inauguration Day 2025 shows total preparation made by good leader – unlike being unprepared during his first term.
4) Moved fast on illegal immigration promises – plus lots of helpful EO’s.
5) Have to give Trump a Strong on his choice of Pete Hegseth as SoD – and solid work by the GOP Senate to get him confirmed!
6) Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues to expose government waste, cutting regulations, and restructuring federal agencies. Early impact has been *AMAZING*!
Weak:
1) Failed to end Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours.
2) Re-designates Iranian-backed Houthis as terrorists – lets Iran continue to back them!?!
3) neo called it an “unforced error” on Trump’s part. Most commenters agreed. ‘Twas an internet vision of Trump starring as the Hare in ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’. Horrid response to Air collision above the Potomac – horrid response to a National Tragedy. Probably doesn’t bode well for confidence in his future response/s to a National Emergency…?
4) Still early into the Breaking News about ‘Second Buddy’ Putin and President Trump opening negotiations on Ukraine’s future; however, if this is Trump’s opening move in the negotiations, it is an incredibly ill-informed and/or naive one. Thusly, such an opening deserves a spot under the Weak category on the Trump Tally…Geez!?
gillei’s does a great version of beethoven
https://x.com/Oilfield_Rando/status/1890017210158256176
they have really drawn up the waterworks, ‘when you dial down the ambient noise;
Wait and see. Trump is laying ground work for both Z and P to find an escape hatch.
“UAE ambassador to the U.S. Yousef Al Otaiba backs Trump’s plan to expel Gaza’s population, calling it difficult but unavoidable despite global outrage over ethnic cleansing.”
link: https://x.com/clashreport/status/1889999166757380513
It’s too early to say whether the UAE is an outlier or not. Will any other Gulf states agree? What about Jordan and Egypt?
the UAE was a party to the Abraham Accords, they give sanctuary to some of the former Fatah people like Rajoub, who were expelled by Fatah, Emir Zayed was one of the targets of the Mueller Report, because reasons,
Laughing Kremlin Insiders Say Trump Has Given Putin Greenlight to Expand the War
you have to be more discriminating, julia davis formerly of the Times, would have a clue if it was dropped on her, re the earlier link, david milliband head of the irc, who makes boucoup books at our and the Foreign Office’s expense, is a former Parliament member the IRC’s current function is flooding Europe and America, with
immigrants, his father was a leading British Marxist,
Anyone expecting the Russia-Ukraine war to end by noon on 1/21/25 must be new to American politics. That was one of those promises that we older folk have seen so many time before and had no expectations of it happening like that.
You might as well have included (in the “weak” group) that inflation is still here and eggs cost a lot of money.
Looking like the Trump peace plan for Russia and Ukraine will require the latter to give up some of their territory – primarily the Crimea.
I have mixed feelings about this, because it will demonstrate to Putin that invading another nation will, in the end, prove successful to some degree if not entirely.
On the flip side, the Ukrainian military simply does not have the unlimited manpower that the Russians have to toss into the meat grinder, and there really is no way the Ukrainians have the ability to force the Russians from withdrawing from the territory they now hold.
A big lesson that Putin can take from all of this, is the reluctance of Europe to get engaged in a major way when Russia invades a sovereign nation on its own frontier.
Though Ukraine is not a NATO nation, the conflict does suggest that NATO, to some extent, is a paper tiger and will act in slow motion, and grudgingly at that , when faced with bold Russian aggression.
The Finns, Swedes, Poles and the Baltic Nations realize this and even though they are now all NATO members, they have begun raising their own military capabilities in the event of Russian aggression.
Let’s hope that whatever peace plan results, it does not repeat the ultimate result of the Sudetenland give away and the hope for “peace in our time.”
Once the US has taken Greenland, go nudge Japan and together seize the Kurils. Then? Shrug, and laugh.
Gerasimov’s very clever move, was a stupid mistake, that cost about a million lives, rounding off, now when we’ve restocked our arsenals that came to a very dangerous level, on not only the US but UK, we’ll be ready to challenge him,
in so far, there is any winner it was China, that stood off to the side, the North Korean gambit was stupid, but you encourage stupidity you get more of it,
Who wants to have to re-read Humphrey’s Executor? Really? Damnit. But ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
one of master milliband’s charity cases,
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/02/13/car-drives-into-crowd-in-munich-leaving-several-injured/
will the bundestag listen, after magdeberg, they started to
Hamas looked into the mirror, and saw Trump looking back at them. Seems (you never know with Hamas) they will now abide by the agreement, and release hostages on Sat.
And yet . . . https://x.com/COLRICHARDKEMP/status/1890069117732085976
If Russia has “unlimited” manpower why do they need North Korean bullet sponges and land mine detectors?
‘…”weak” group…’
Thass right.
If Trump were TRULY a strong president, those hens, in sheer terror, would have been laying extra-jumbo, double-yolks—non-stop, day and night—by Inauguration Day.
That DID NOT HAPPEN.
(PROOF of the—egg—pudding that Trump, for all his crowing, is really just a capon….)
– – – – – – – –
Kinda cool… but don’t try this at home…
https://blazingcatfur.ca/2025/02/13/wtf-3665/
I was kinda keen on this other encounter, Barry: https://x.com/AMAZlNGNATURE/status/1889956613248688541
Fast page loading today. Knock wood…
The “Woe is me” memes and posts are hitting facebook with a vengeance.
I just saw one that — while I feel for the family — is not entirely true. The person claimed that the non-profit who pays for supplemental vitamins and medicine for their child who has cystic fibrosis is closed.
I looked it up — there is nothing on their website or their facebook page that indicates that they have closed, or at lest temporarily shuttered. Their webpage has a ton of financial information (The officers make a s*** ton of money!) but not really where it comes from. Noodling around on the internet, it APPEARS like very little of their income comes from federal grants. They get some, but not that much.
Even if they get a lot of money from federal grants, they should still be able to operate for a little while.
BTW, their CEO makes almost $400,000. The CDO makes about $370,000. The COO and the Chief Foundation Program Officer make about $300,000 each. Their net revenue was $742,364,218. Their website CLAIMS that they get funding from corporations and private individuals.
If they are severely impacted by the graft being discovered in the Swamp, then they are lying about where they get their money from.
I feel for the woman with the child with CF. But I don’t think hysteria over things that may not have happened helps.
Gee, gee, gee whiz, that’s amazing!
In other news. RFK Jr. confirmed…
From ‘Russian state TV and radio stations’ grinning ear to ear and breaking ‘out into uproarious laughter’ on air – at President Trump’s childish display at negotiating – to President Trump now being compared to Hitler appeaser Neville Chamberlain!?! Sorry, but even circling the TCS Wagons around Trump can’t help him in this disaster he has created.
Now Putin is poised to invade Europe as Trump casts Ukraine aside: Spy chiefs warn Russia is preparing for large-scale war by 2030 – with president’s ‘peace talks’ compared to Chamberlain appeasing Hitler
Still too early to tell, but this National Security disaster is starting to ‘Smell’ like Trump has allowed his revengeful side against Ukraine to get the best of him for not giving him Biden’s head—at best!?!?!?!
“Putin poised to invade Europe”, oh pull the other one, it’s got bells on it. It’s not 1950. The “he’s the next Hitler card” got maxed out in 2003. Canada’s just as “poised” to invade the United States as Russia is to invade the EU.
“Spy chiefs” and “analysts” warning us huh, sounds legit! I believe they were warning us about Hunter’s laptop not too long ago…
Not to mention the quotes from Institute for the Study of War, founded in 2007 to flog the Iraq war! Bill Kristol, Kimberly Kagan and bunch of kids with the ink barely dried on their BAs, sounds legit.
I clicked on that link at the Daily Mail when I first saw it. The first “expert” quoted was John Bolton. Oh.
Allow me to deviate for a moment, or two…
Several weeks ago one of the commenters here mentioned the book “State of Fear” (Michael Critchton (sp?)) in reply to another’s post. Something like (paraphrase): You should read State of Fear”. My local library had it, so I did. [Some will disbelieve this since I am not renowned for taking sound advice.] Bottom line: great read, makes one think about a lot of things. It has a serious bibliography and appendix items. Sort of a textbook wrapped with a fictional story.
My point: To that commenter with the recommendation, Thank You.
Ooof, look out Green Monster, you’re in for a peppering: Bregman to the Sox.
Yeah, I don’t expect Putin is “poised to invade” much of anything at this point given the current state of the Russian military and their economy after 3 years of a grinding, stupid war. I’m not saying that Europe shouldn’t take sensible precautions with regard to strengthening their militaries and so forth. I’m just saying that Russia isn’t likely to be launching any new big invasions over the next few years.
Never Run Across A Pool Cover
neo:
I’ll see that and raise you:
___________________________________
Never hit your grandma with a shovel.
It makes a bad impression on her mind.
–Spike Jones, “Never Hit Your Grandma With A Shovel” (1942)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qHW883ypzY
Sudetenland: The comparison *might* be apt if by the time of the Munich accords Hilter had already had the equivalent of the Stalingrad loss.
John Bolton and Prof. Meirshiemer both need new Credibility Cards. Anti-gravitas.
Actually the moral of the video is:
Never run across a cheap pool cover.
I’m reminded of the time when I walked across the frozen Charles River under a full moon around midnight. It was a near-transcendent experience. It was so bright and silent in the middle of the metropolis.
Of course, that was the late 70s when Boston winters were obscenely cold.
Geez…looks like the Neville Chamberlain comparison is gonna stick.
Probably should add that to the Trump Tally but will give the President a little more time on that one…
huxley — I used to attend a conference that was held right before Christmas at the Copley Plaza. It was also a time when I also use to run regularly. I would get up bright and early before things began in order to do my run: From the Hotel over to the Esplanade, along the river, across the bridge, back down the other side of the river, across the Harvard Bridge and back to the hotel.
Looking now at a map, I am so surprised. It seems to be over a three and half mile run, and my memory is that it didn’t take that long. In my memory, the hotel was closer to the river. Anyhow, I really enjoyed it. I pretty much started my run about 5:00 am. It was nice and quite out, very little traffic and hardly any people.
This was in the 90s and it was purty darned cold. I had the best running tights that I had picked up in Ottawa. And I so enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed attending that conference. Great food, and a great location. And the room rates were really good. If the conference was still held there, I would sign up for it JUST to stay at the Copley. (Conference registration + room was less than the normal rates. But they move the conference all over now.)
Pool covers. There is the movie “Glass” by M. Night Shyamalan where Bruce Willis’ character falls into a pool with a cheap plastic cover on it. It’s a graphic scene of someone wrapped up in plastic in deep water.
As you most likely suspected… but had no inking of the massive scope of the op…
From “The Fish Stinks from the Head” File:
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/benz-and-rogan-expose-how-usaid-pushed-blacklists-independent-media-while-operating
Opening graf:
“Former State Department official-turned-truthsayer Mike Benz sat down with Joe Rogan for three hours this week, where the two went down the USAID rabbit hole.…”