Over the years John Bolton has been called many things, mostly a hawk, but never disloyal to the country. He did however write and say that Trump was incredibly uninformed and unqualified as President. No good deed goes unpunished, and the FBI gave him a good housecleaning on Friday. Trump's response to news of the search... “He’s not a smart guy. But he could be a very unpatriotic guy and we’re going to find out".
I don't expect anybody in the cabinet to speak out, they're sycophants who are there for their loyalty, not their expertise or integrity. But I must wonder about the long term workers and agents assigned with such distasteful tasks. They know that they're harassing or firing or penalizing people who deserve better.
As I have written before, I think that Republicans are going to have a hard sell come mid-terms. I don't think that they need to worry about Trump promoting a primary challenger, but rather being ousted in the general for their compliance to him. J.D. Vance apparently thinks that he is the heir apparent of the newly gilded Oval Office, parroting Trump's Blame Biden Blatter. After the Democrats retake the White House in 28, Vance can always write another book. For the former MAGA non-readers, he can record some podcasts.
Mikey, Mikey, Mikey...I do believe you went over to the dark side long ago. As to the Bolton matter, please watch Mark Levin's explanation from 8/24.
ReplyDeleteanony, anony, anony...you usually accuse me of watching msnbc and cnn, now you tell me who I should watch :) The problem is who Trump listens to, and more so, who he doesn't. As for Republican partisans, so blind and deaf by their victory last November, might want to keep their eyes on the polls.
DeleteI sure miss those days when the country had Biden’s steady hand on the nation’s tillar.
ReplyDeleteBolton is the quintessential Deep State neocon. Of course he wanted to scuttle the Trump agenda. How dare the Orange Devil challenge the entrenched foreign policy establishment.
ReplyDeleteanon@6:10: The Trump agenda began and ended at the border, which was easy to do well, just add manpower. On the more complex issues he is impulse driven, listening to the last person he hears. He's bleeding supporters, fastly. As the day goes older, comments to appear will need less poetry and stock talking points, and more substance. I've closed the adult daycare center.
DeleteIt was pretty inevitable that Trump was going to win the 2024 presidential election. Rightly or wrongly, Biden was never seen as a legitimate president by many people and even the unbiased saw the election tampering in the 2020 election. That is long past and not for debate here. The Democrats themselves made a fiasco of the 2024 nomination process, undermining Biden with Harris, and running a poor campaign. Proving that even spending a Billion and a half dollars on a campaign does not sell a canidate that the majority of voters found unqualified for office.
ReplyDeleteThere was a lot of hope for the second Trump term, in some ways he has indeed made America better than what it was under Biden, and in other ways he is an abject failure. Appointing his sycophants to cabinet positons is a President's perogivive, some of their qualifications seem suspect, however they were confirmed by the Senate and that is that.
Trump has isolationist supporters with his MAGA cult, and it is a political cult, as they seem to worship him like a God and the ground he walks on, and support unquestioning every decision he has made. There is no room for dissent about those decisions, no matter how questionable. Trump has isolated the US from its decades-old allies around the world, with his punitive tariffs on the goods that Americans buy from them. He also refuses to see the gretest evil in the world today, Vladimir Putin, who like his predecessor Stalin invaded a neighboring country to turn it into a vassal state and is committing genocide on its civil population.
It clearly does not bother Trump to see Putin killing innocent men, women and children in their beds at night; kidnapping children in the area that the Russian army occupies, taking them into Russia for indoctrination and his army killing their fathers and raping their monthers before killing them also. He want to make economic deals with the tyrant and war criminal, and refuses to join with our NATO allies and act against him.
Now we are starting to see Trump beginning the purge of his public opposition, and it isn't just John Bolton. Members of the military have been forced to resign, including a general to informed Trump that his bombing of Iran only set back the regime a few months in their pursuit of atomic weapons. A briefing Trump did not want to hear which led to the general's subsequent dismissial and retirement.
I am a conservative and have supported Republican canidates since the first time I voted for president in 1972. It will be difficult for me to support a MAGA canidate for congress in 2026. I have a very low opinion of J D Vance as well, who acted as Trump's attack dog in that very shameful flogging given to President Zelinskyy of Ukraine, the leader of a nation being invaded by Russia who is trying to defend the freedom and liberty of his people.
It is too soon to say about 2028, but if the Republican canidate is Vance, I will be sitting out that election for the first time in my adult life.
Brent - You write so much that just isn’t so.
ReplyDeleteTrump isn’t an isolationist, but he’s intent on keeping the US out of wars that really don’t have an impact on our national interest. If you favor unlimited (and unaudited) aid for the Ukraine to go on forever, more power to you. But we don’t have that kind of money, and I’d prefer not to make my grandchildren pay for it either.
Far from being isolated from our allies around the world, Trump’s “tough love” has only made NATO stronger. Also, you might have missed it, but just last week Trump had a number of world leaders in Washington to meet with him and President Zelensky. I don’t remember that happening under ANY recent US President. Apparently, those world leaders didn’t feel too “isolated”.
Yes, Putin is a horrible person and war criminal. But short of going to war with Russia (which I hope you don’t support), how else do you get to peace without meeting with him? Answer, you don’t and continuing the conflict isn’t in the Ukraine’s best interests. They’ve been losing ground and more importantly, losing people.
As to the Vance/Zelensky dust-up earlier this year, Vance was right to call out Zelensky for his lack of appreciation for all this country has already done for his. The difference this time? Zelensky didn’t meet with democrat politicians prior to meeting with Trump. It’s amazing how much better things go when you don’t have democrats trying to undermine Trump for political reasons involved in the process.
anon@7:31: The Europeans came under their own volition, because they saw Trump in Alaska kissing Putin's hand and they don't want to see Ukraine thrown under the bus.
DeleteVance was totally inappropriate in his call out. It will be a talking point against him in 28 , assuming Trump doesn't go for a third term :)
I normally don't engage in long debates here, I notice Mike doen't like them, and I generally just state my views on the subject and hand and that's that.
DeleteI do want to correct a few misconceptions that @7:31 wrote. Russia is in a state of economic collapse and is in a stalemate on the battlefield. Ukraine's GDP increased by about 1 1/2% in 2024 and has many allies (not Trump) supporting it. Russia has none.
Yes, Zelinskyy did meet with Democratic leaders when he visited the US last Feburary. They are the ones who voted to support Ukraine, sending surplus military equipment and other arms that were going to be retired, mostly Desert Storm era equipment. He thanked them for that aid before going to the White House.
There are no military aid packages (or any other aid package) going to Ukraine under the Trump II Administration. Although he expressed appreciation for Trump's support, It seems that Vance was primed to attack Zelinskyy publiclly and did so, a shameful act of discourtesy to a foreign leader. I am certain he would not to the same to Vladimir Putin and act that same way, and not mention to him dissaproval for his war crimes and genocidal actions. Trump certainly didn't in Anchorage a week or so ago.
Putin is not a saint, no one on the world stage is. Putin acts in the best interest of Russian, which Americans find incomprehensible.
DeleteNATO has been lying, dissembling and pushing Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.
I was born during the Truman administration and never thought that I would live long enough to see anti-Russian hysteria dominating American politics.
RUSSIA!
RUSSIA!
RUSSIA!
Is the mantra across the political spectrum of the corporate media.
The European “leaders” are, with a few notable exceptions, a feckless bunch of international neoliberal world monetary order politicians who recognize Trump’s primacy on the world stage, like it or not.
DeleteEurope is struggling with a myriad of domestic and economic problems.
The UK stands out as a country and society in distress.
Mike - Could it be that maybe, just maybe, Bolton did something wrong but he wasn’t previously investigated under Biden because Bolton is a Trump critic?
ReplyDeleteI’ll wait to learn what the raids yielded and if any charges are brought before I make a decision on whether this was right or wrong.
I think that anyone who tries to make something out of this right now, and without knowing what was found, is simply playing politics.
Obviously, I don't have a problem reading ANY Anonymous post. It is there why most thought provoking ideas live. To me, that's what makes a Blog a DISCUSSION Board, rather than an announcement space.
ReplyDeleteMy research gives me the impression the Republican Party's strength is actually growing, not only in favorability, but in funding support. The party registration gap is also closing.
I'm not registered Republican, by the way. I did vote for Trump and think his list of positive accomplishments far outweighs the negatives.
Zelensky is a petulant little dope who should have stayed in his lane as a third rate ribald comedic hack.
DeleteRussia saved the world from the Nazis horde and the West (NATO) has wanted to destroy the proud Russian people since 1914.
The death, economic, culturally or politically, of Russian is premature.
You get bonus points for being a consistent Cold Warrior.
@9:27 NATO was formed in 1949, not 1914
DeleteNATO is a defensive alliance formed to defend Western Europe from Stalin's Army. As soon as the Soviet Union broke apart, most of the former Soviet puppet states, which gained their independence from Moscow asked to join NATO for mutual protection from a future agressive Russia. Just how it is today
Oh, by the way, without the massive amount of Lend-Lease military aid to the Soviet Union after 1941, Germany would likely have defeated Russia. Indeed, Stalin allied itself with Germany in 1939, before Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941.
It will take little research to show that Bolton is in favor of violent overthrow of nonconforming governments and would have us at war in many part of the world. He is entitled to his opinion and can criticize Trump.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I recall is that Trump had him on his team with talks with North Korea. While Bolton never advocated for any talks with any adversaries, inclund Russia, China or Iran.
Bolton, while still part of the Trump negotiations with North Korea, gave a speech predicting that the U.S. wanted to embrace the Libyan policy with North Korea, meaning they wanted the leader dead. That ended the talks, and Trump finally fired him, and rightly so, he never wanted any change of relations with North Korea. He effectively sabotaged Trump' initiative with North Korea.
We will see if there is evidence of him committing crimes, He will get his day in court. As for weaponizing the courts for politics, Trump has long way to go to be compared to Obama and Biden. .
Until people understand the depth of underhanded, corrupt, and sometimes illegal behavior that took place during the Obama/Hillary Clinton/Biden influential period it will difficult to appreciate how challenging the Trump tasks at hand are.
DeleteTo make matters worse, high level holdovers from that gang remain in our federal government, particularly within our intelligence community. The CIA and FBI have practically made themselves the Fourth Branch of government, and surely NOT a co-equal branch
Our self-dealing Members of Congress are no prize, either!
For America to be properly repaired (to my standards) is going to take years. I see the Trump Administration as a very good start.
Bolton was on a mission for deep state foreign policy that has been the bipartisan consensus for decades and decades.
DeleteJFK was gunned down for resisting the perpetual MIC regime.
Bolton was cut from the same cloth as John McCain and the other max belligerent actors in the permanent government dominated by Military Industrial Complex that Ike and President Kennedy warned us about.
DeleteKennedy was killed for his attempt at independent reform.
At least two attempts were made on Donald Trumps life.
Trump has shown tremendous resilience and courage in the face of death. A few millimeters and President Trump would be as dead as the Pennsylvania fireman sitting behind him.
@9:08 John McCain served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He was an Aviator who was shot down and suffered for many years as a POW in North Vietnam
DeleteDonald Trump recieved 5 draft deferrments during the Vietnam War, and never served a day in uniform.
Ah, an overwhelming percentage of our Members in Congress never spent a day in uniform either.
DeleteThe Orange Devil is the most effective and among the most transformative POTUSs of our lifetime. He has kept more campaign promises than any president in living memory. The voters elected him with a win in the popular vote and a run on the table in the Blue Wall states. His increasing popularity with non-white voters is well documented.
ReplyDeleteHe has restored order to the border chaos and is keeping dicks out of girls locker rooms and women’s sports.
He is on a trajectory to a Nobel Peace Prize.
Clearly the door is now open to those who agree with Mike. It's his blog, he can do what he wants, but soon it will be as dull as msnbc.
ReplyDeleteanon@9:19: It will probably be very quiet here. The msnbc crowd doesn't look at this blog, and I've moved to the center too much for you. But I never danced for comments, and refuse to print repetitive ones, even if I'm accused of censorship.
DeleteRachel Maddow, who is the rare intellectual among the talking heads, has been shilling for Russian blood for years and years finally hit the jackpot a few years ago.
DeleteThe warmest place in Hell is waiting for this wanton liar.
She actually knows that she is peddling blood libel propaganda.
The “center”?
DeleteDo tell.
What political leaders do you see representing this “center”.
This isn’t a rhetorical question.
You hate Trump, as a long time every day reader I get that.
anon@10:12: Trump is much worse than I expected. He lost the Hispanic gain with indiscriminate deportations. He lost the Black gain with the National Guard. He lost the independents with moronic appointments. He lost the white house for 2028. Congressmen will have to speak out and stand up to gain re-election. Those that do will become the "center."
DeleteIs it worth pointing out the obvious?
ReplyDeleteThe national Democratic Party is in total shambles. It’s got no credibility, integrity, leadership, or policy chops.
“Not Trump” has proven not effective as the single D narrative.
I am a lifelong Democrat who switched to Independent a few years ago. I don’t recognize the current Democratic Party and refuse to have anything to do with what passes for the contemporary “left”.
I voted for perhaps four Republicans in my life.
I always vote.
Always.
I don’t see possibility of supporting any Democratic candidate on the stage.
I’m hardly enthusiastic about the GOP but it’s the Democratic Party that makes my skin crawl, in Allentown and across the nation.
What goes around comes around. Wasn't it the party out of power that decided weaponizing the federal government was a good idea? And didn't they use it repeatedly in an attempt to end Trumps political career by throwing him in Jail on false charges. We all saw it. Now we are supposed to be shocked that Republicans are acting like Democrats? What took them so long is the real mystery.
ReplyDelete9:27 and 9:59 -
ReplyDeleteWhile I dislike those who want to escalate the war in Ukraine, your apparent fondness of Russia is a bit unsettling.
Make no mistake, the Russians are wrong to have invaded Ukraine and Putin is a war criminal. Putin currently presides over a system that is responsible for more murders during its lifetime than the Nazis could have dreamed of. That same system continues to enslave its own people, silences political opposition and jails political opponents. Putin himself is reprehensible.
That said, he is the head of the second largest superpower, and holds more nuclear missiles than we do. There is no winner if things escalate to that point, and our involvement in non-critical disputes that could lead to all out war needs to be avoided.
I don’t believe continuing the war benefits either side, particularly the Ukrainians. The Russians have far more people to put through the meat grinder that do the Ukrainians. While some posting here seem to think the Ukrainians are on the verge of victory, they are mistaken. The Russians have gained more land inside the Ukraine than they had last year, and if it continues they will gain more. At best, there is essentially a WWI trench warfare-like stalemate, albeit with modern drones being part of the equation. But the killing will continue unless something changes.
The Real Estate Monster from Queens has survived attempts to shame him, destroy him financially, frame him, falsely claim Russian collusion with treason, and shoot him once or twice .
ReplyDeleteAfter all that, and more, the American electorate voted to send him back to the White House where he will remain for another three plus years, whether anyone likes it or not.
His first six months in office have been gang busters, literally and figuratively.
His party, the party that he completely realigned, was awarded with both Houses of Congress.
It’s what’s called a done deal, “centrist” virtue signaling aside.
I wish the Democrats all the best.
Good luck to them.
P.S. I am not now nor have I ever been a Republican.
anon@2:24: thanks for another Trump salute, but future ones on this post may not appear (we already had a few)
ReplyDeleteLikewise, I have passed on a few more history lessons.and a couple more reading recommendations.
You may not need a history lesson Mike but some of the people commenting here certainly do.
Deleteanon@2:52: I don't know about you, but I always preferred teachers who had names.
DeleteSet aside the fact that the Democratic Party held its’s first big meeting since the election today.
ReplyDeleteSet aside partisan politics, it is possible.
Centrists and moderates of every persuasion have a path to the White House and that path is called Governor Gavin Newsom.