The yahoos down my way, many of whom are MAGA and some of whom don’t know what they are, happen to be busily and happily planning for the 250th. I get the dry heaves just thinking about it.
I wonder how they will feel when the next 9 / 11 happens?
Iran’s military capabilities may be reduced currently. But, their ability to take the time to plot, plan and carry out attacks has not.
Plus, flying planes into buildings isn’t even something they would attempt. They don’t need to pursue that avenue anymore. Hacking a city or town’s systems for water, power, communications, banking is available at the click of a mouse. Shutting down an entire major airport or subway system is also easy as pie and can be done from the comfort of Tehran.
It hurts my gut to think about all the experienced people who have been fired from positions designed to protect our population from terrorism, destructive acts of nature, pandemics, and so much more. I can hardly wait for Elon and his ilk to relocate to Mars.
“Trump and Netanyahu assumed their multibillion-dollar giant weapons systems could be used to bomb Iran into relinquishing its ingredients for a weapon of mass destruction. Accidentally, though, they enabled Iran to discover it had a weapon of “mass disruption” — cheap drones that could close the Strait of Hormuz.
Now, and forever, Iranians will know that we know that Tehran can shut off the world’s most important oil tap anytime it wants. This new source of leverage for the Iranian regime is priceless.
Trump’s failure to anticipate this is no accident. It is because he thinks he knows everything — when he doesn’t at all.”
Thomas Friedman has explained the most disastrous longterm outcome of Trump's ill-planned attack on Iran accurately and succinctly. His last sentence also explains why this happened.
I can’t remember which book ( David and Goliath? ) of Malcom Gladwell it was but……….
I can remember a story he told that was about some war game drills that the US military was carrying out some years ago. There were three or four different teams participating. All the high tech teams with high tech weapons thought it would be like shooting fish in a barrel and they would win. One team lead by a no nonsense, no BS Vietnam vet Marine had his team “ hacked “ they lost all their coms, and nav. Needless to say they won the war game drills. Their Marine leader went back to basics as in what can we do to hurt our enemy the most. The Marine's team reverted to signal flags for landing aircraft, they used signal lights to communicate, and compasses for nav. They used many techniques he used in the field that were OG aka old school.
To your point this is exactly what Iran has figured out and our orange “genius” imbecile has not. Prior to orange imbecile’s attack on Iran they had no idea how much power they had over the Strait of Hormuz. Much like the Marine in the war drills they found a way to win with the lowest of tech available, naval blockade, cheap and quickly manufactured drones.
Vulgarity defined: a cage fight on the lawn of the WH, a gaping hole where the East Wing of the WH used to be, a concrete slab where the rose garden bloomed, tasteless gaudy gold paint slapped everywhere, a parody of a country club that never was. This is Trump’s White House, an ignorant hate filled MAGA’s dream of taste, of class, of wealth and power. Pathetic deluded fools.
And that terrifies us. What happens to you, spills over to us. I’m thankful every day, more than I can say, for PM Mark Carney - that he came forward to serve, as did a number of his cabinet, when they could have easily gone into a nice retirement. I’m hopeful that he will be helpful to you as well. 🇨🇦
Anthony - I just thought, recently I read a Substack post from The Vertical Dispatch, in which they talk about basic levels of functioning. They compared PM Carney with Pierre Poilievre in that regard. They publish under The Knowledge Architect. It was an excellent read, and perfectly described PM Carney, that I believe many people have had trouble doing. I’ll see if I can find it. Sorry - it’s taking forever to load. So I’ll just leave that with you for now. Along with my best wishes for you all. 🇨🇦🍁
In some ways I get that. But Prime Minister Carney is an amazing man. I’m absolutely certain he knew exactly what trump is. It’s why he came forward to serve. He’s a strong person. He’ll be okay. But thank you for your concern, Anthony. 🇨🇦🍁
Patricia, I meant by "my heart aches for a president like PM Carney," that I wish we had a president like him; I do not feel sorry for you or Canada; au contraire, I envy you, your country, and your leadership. Trump is a pompous ass who will soon be reined in.
Your heroic, honest, direct communication to the nation during this time of lies, cruelty, and theft, in my view, is worthy of the highest civilian honor. Some citizens are strong enough, experienced enough, knowledgeable enough, to bravely step up. Others hide in fear. No judgment of those in hiding, but I’m thankful for the brave amongst us.Thank you, for your service, every day, about the topics that matter. I sincerely hope there are places in a new administration for honest, smart, hardworking people, who honor the constitution.
To readers: if you haven’t already done so, subscribe to at least one people-powered media channel. i.e. The Warning, Jim Acosta, Kait Justice, Ellie Leonard, Adam Kinzinger, Aaron Parnas
I’m dual CAN/AM, in deep red southern Utah, and agree with your thinking. On top of everything, we are seeing a generational struggle within the Democratic Party. If the old guard would willingly move over, then I think the log-jam would release and we’d see smart, contemporary strategy and excellent competitors for the next federal election cycle. As things stand, it looks as though the oldies intend to hang on, bet the proverbial farm, or, be dragged kicking and screaming into the history books of American decline.
I'm of the age of those old ones, and as frustrated at the leadership of the party as anyone can be. Schumer should have been replaced years ago, and many of the old guard should have retired. I want a party that is not afraid to send FBI agents to arrest the common criminal in the Oval Office and bring him out in silver bracelets to stand trial.
James, I too am former IBMer. Departed by choice after 20 yrs of service with IBM Canada, during consumer division downsize and Windows OS wars. I was the last employee to be dragged off OS/2, a far superior product.
Hilarious! I was on the Canadian marketing team on Warp. Traveled to Dallas regularly. That loss was a good lesson. A highlight was meeting Patrick Stewart. Loved my years at big blue. Fond memories of working with brilliant people.
My concern for you is that corporate democrats do not support incredible candidates like Mamdani. Worse, they actively support candidates, and do so monetarily against these good candidates, such as Cuomo, and now Alexander Vindman - from my reading of his senate bid in Florida. I’m horrified by the turn Vindman has taken.
A post I read just this morning about him vehemently being anti-Muslim and spreading that rhetoric liberally. Relates to corporate democrats supporting that, and him over a much more “balanced” senate candidate in Florida - who also happens to be a Black female candidate. I’m sorry - I don’t recall the precise post. 🇨🇦
My deep concern is that ‘We the People’ are in the age of Trump-ism not just Trump.
Imho, America 🇺🇸 is very, very, very ill 🤒, the only real question 🙋♂️ is whether it’s terminal. When Ben Franklin said upon the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention ~ Madam you have "A republic, if you can keep it", he was issuing a stark warning. He meant that the delegates had designed a government "by and for the people", but its survival ultimately depended on the active civic engagement, vigilance, and virtue of everyday citizens.
‘We the People’ certainly have been in very dire straits before in our 250 year history and were able to recover. I hope 🤞 and pray 🙏 as I’m sure do you that we do so yet again.
I deeply believe that we need to find and elect a POTUS who both understands and has the political capabilities to address the USA’s societal issues of this AI Revolution 🤖 Age as FDR did those of his Industrial 👷♂️Revolution Age.
I have a similar fear. I've thought, where can I move to live a nice life, but I'm really to old to move now. This morning I thought, America needs to be broken up into several countries so that management could function well. Political corruption, AI. Global warming, and a rugged financial system is what we have to work with. It sounds insurmountable - best of luck to you!
It’s a shameful failure, to have allowed the country to be betrayed by paid foreign agents; to have our ideals and values stomped upon; to have permitted these thugs, murderers, grifters and their billionaire masters to undermine our democratic institutions, destroy our media, erode our economy, and support the pedophile Epstein class. This is intolerable.
Just about every time I happen upon a clip of the Orange Menace saying something (it does not matter what) I am reminded of the scene from "Red October" where, after the captain of the Russian attack submarine sent to sink the Red October has loosed a torpedo without any safeties that is now homing on them, the XO says to the captain: "You fool, you've killed us all."
What is happening is beyond frightening .. Canada buying early warning and surveillance aircraft from Sweden instead of Boeing.. That says it all doesn't it .. Thank You fucko ! I don't know
where all this is going to end. Maybe Trump and company will complete the destruction of the United States. We can all keep trying our best. If we can get our democracy back it will take years and years to make things right with our allies .. If we can. I don't want to see someone like Joe running again. I want to see a bold democrat who can lead and know what to do. I want an FDR who goes forward and saves our beautiful country .. He made bold choices some didn't work but he got the country moving again. Why oh why do we have to have this lethal moron in there. lost in america
I don’t know where we’d be if it wasn’t for all the former Republicans who put country before party. Your experience & wisdom has helped our country survive a nightmare that we should have seen coming. It’s difficult to look back in time & see how we got here. Thank you all for not humiliating all Democrats for many of our leaders not stepping up.
The yahoos down my way, many of whom are MAGA and some of whom don’t know what they are, happen to be busily and happily planning for the 250th. I get the dry heaves just thinking about it.
I wonder how they will feel when the next 9 / 11 happens?
Iran’s military capabilities may be reduced currently. But, their ability to take the time to plot, plan and carry out attacks has not.
Plus, flying planes into buildings isn’t even something they would attempt. They don’t need to pursue that avenue anymore. Hacking a city or town’s systems for water, power, communications, banking is available at the click of a mouse. Shutting down an entire major airport or subway system is also easy as pie and can be done from the comfort of Tehran.
We have rank amateurs going up against patient people who play chess and backgammon.
It hurts my gut to think about all the experienced people who have been fired from positions designed to protect our population from terrorism, destructive acts of nature, pandemics, and so much more. I can hardly wait for Elon and his ilk to relocate to Mars.
Agreed.
They can then begin to ruin that planet as they have already done enough to destroy this one.
Iran has already outpaced us on the world stage and its economy. No need to bomb anything here. They are now a power to reckon with.
Me Too!!!!!
Thomas L. Friedman
It’s Crow, Mr. Trump, Not Lobster
May 26, 2026 NYT
“Trump and Netanyahu assumed their multibillion-dollar giant weapons systems could be used to bomb Iran into relinquishing its ingredients for a weapon of mass destruction. Accidentally, though, they enabled Iran to discover it had a weapon of “mass disruption” — cheap drones that could close the Strait of Hormuz.
Now, and forever, Iranians will know that we know that Tehran can shut off the world’s most important oil tap anytime it wants. This new source of leverage for the Iranian regime is priceless.
Trump’s failure to anticipate this is no accident. It is because he thinks he knows everything — when he doesn’t at all.”
Thomas Friedman has explained the most disastrous longterm outcome of Trump's ill-planned attack on Iran accurately and succinctly. His last sentence also explains why this happened.
I can’t remember which book ( David and Goliath? ) of Malcom Gladwell it was but……….
I can remember a story he told that was about some war game drills that the US military was carrying out some years ago. There were three or four different teams participating. All the high tech teams with high tech weapons thought it would be like shooting fish in a barrel and they would win. One team lead by a no nonsense, no BS Vietnam vet Marine had his team “ hacked “ they lost all their coms, and nav. Needless to say they won the war game drills. Their Marine leader went back to basics as in what can we do to hurt our enemy the most. The Marine's team reverted to signal flags for landing aircraft, they used signal lights to communicate, and compasses for nav. They used many techniques he used in the field that were OG aka old school.
To your point this is exactly what Iran has figured out and our orange “genius” imbecile has not. Prior to orange imbecile’s attack on Iran they had no idea how much power they had over the Strait of Hormuz. Much like the Marine in the war drills they found a way to win with the lowest of tech available, naval blockade, cheap and quickly manufactured drones.
That is very interesting and rings true.
It’s human nature IMO that when people have their backs to the wall they somehow find a way.
Vulgarity defined: a cage fight on the lawn of the WH, a gaping hole where the East Wing of the WH used to be, a concrete slab where the rose garden bloomed, tasteless gaudy gold paint slapped everywhere, a parody of a country club that never was. This is Trump’s White House, an ignorant hate filled MAGA’s dream of taste, of class, of wealth and power. Pathetic deluded fools.
As Hillary said, Putin's Puppet. True then, true now. Incompetence and ignorance, coupled with mental illness, are deadly.
We have not yet seen the worst of the outcomes of this disaster.
And that terrifies us. What happens to you, spills over to us. I’m thankful every day, more than I can say, for PM Mark Carney - that he came forward to serve, as did a number of his cabinet, when they could have easily gone into a nice retirement. I’m hopeful that he will be helpful to you as well. 🇨🇦
My heart aches for a president like PM Carney.
Yes but if Carney had to land anywhere, at least he's with our closest neighbors.... couldn't be any better situation..
Anthony - I just thought, recently I read a Substack post from The Vertical Dispatch, in which they talk about basic levels of functioning. They compared PM Carney with Pierre Poilievre in that regard. They publish under The Knowledge Architect. It was an excellent read, and perfectly described PM Carney, that I believe many people have had trouble doing. I’ll see if I can find it. Sorry - it’s taking forever to load. So I’ll just leave that with you for now. Along with my best wishes for you all. 🇨🇦🍁
In some ways I get that. But Prime Minister Carney is an amazing man. I’m absolutely certain he knew exactly what trump is. It’s why he came forward to serve. He’s a strong person. He’ll be okay. But thank you for your concern, Anthony. 🇨🇦🍁
Patricia, I meant by "my heart aches for a president like PM Carney," that I wish we had a president like him; I do not feel sorry for you or Canada; au contraire, I envy you, your country, and your leadership. Trump is a pompous ass who will soon be reined in.
Oh - I understand now. Apologies Anthony - a little slow in the uptake today. Thank you so much for clarifying!
Your heroic, honest, direct communication to the nation during this time of lies, cruelty, and theft, in my view, is worthy of the highest civilian honor. Some citizens are strong enough, experienced enough, knowledgeable enough, to bravely step up. Others hide in fear. No judgment of those in hiding, but I’m thankful for the brave amongst us.Thank you, for your service, every day, about the topics that matter. I sincerely hope there are places in a new administration for honest, smart, hardworking people, who honor the constitution.
To readers: if you haven’t already done so, subscribe to at least one people-powered media channel. i.e. The Warning, Jim Acosta, Kait Justice, Ellie Leonard, Adam Kinzinger, Aaron Parnas
I’m dual CAN/AM, in deep red southern Utah, and agree with your thinking. On top of everything, we are seeing a generational struggle within the Democratic Party. If the old guard would willingly move over, then I think the log-jam would release and we’d see smart, contemporary strategy and excellent competitors for the next federal election cycle. As things stand, it looks as though the oldies intend to hang on, bet the proverbial farm, or, be dragged kicking and screaming into the history books of American decline.
I'm of the age of those old ones, and as frustrated at the leadership of the party as anyone can be. Schumer should have been replaced years ago, and many of the old guard should have retired. I want a party that is not afraid to send FBI agents to arrest the common criminal in the Oval Office and bring him out in silver bracelets to stand trial.
James, I too am former IBMer. Departed by choice after 20 yrs of service with IBM Canada, during consumer division downsize and Windows OS wars. I was the last employee to be dragged off OS/2, a far superior product.
HaH! I'm sitting here in front of BBC News, wearing my "I'm Warped" t-shirt. I think I got it in Boca - left there in '85 after ten years in the lab.
Hilarious! I was on the Canadian marketing team on Warp. Traveled to Dallas regularly. That loss was a good lesson. A highlight was meeting Patrick Stewart. Loved my years at big blue. Fond memories of working with brilliant people.
My concern for you is that corporate democrats do not support incredible candidates like Mamdani. Worse, they actively support candidates, and do so monetarily against these good candidates, such as Cuomo, and now Alexander Vindman - from my reading of his senate bid in Florida. I’m horrified by the turn Vindman has taken.
I've been ignoring Vindman's fundraising e-mails. But I thought he was a good candidate. What has he done to warrant your disapproval?
A post I read just this morning about him vehemently being anti-Muslim and spreading that rhetoric liberally. Relates to corporate democrats supporting that, and him over a much more “balanced” senate candidate in Florida - who also happens to be a Black female candidate. I’m sorry - I don’t recall the precise post. 🇨🇦
Thanks. I'll do due diligence and research that, as it's a deal-breaker, for sure.
I had thought so which is why I mentioned it. If I was incorrect, I’ll be happy to take it back.
From Canada 🇨🇦 🍁
My deep concern is that ‘We the People’ are in the age of Trump-ism not just Trump.
Imho, America 🇺🇸 is very, very, very ill 🤒, the only real question 🙋♂️ is whether it’s terminal. When Ben Franklin said upon the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention ~ Madam you have "A republic, if you can keep it", he was issuing a stark warning. He meant that the delegates had designed a government "by and for the people", but its survival ultimately depended on the active civic engagement, vigilance, and virtue of everyday citizens.
‘We the People’ certainly have been in very dire straits before in our 250 year history and were able to recover. I hope 🤞 and pray 🙏 as I’m sure do you that we do so yet again.
I deeply believe that we need to find and elect a POTUS who both understands and has the political capabilities to address the USA’s societal issues of this AI Revolution 🤖 Age as FDR did those of his Industrial 👷♂️Revolution Age.
🙏❤️🩹🇺🇸🌎🌍🌏
I have a similar fear. I've thought, where can I move to live a nice life, but I'm really to old to move now. This morning I thought, America needs to be broken up into several countries so that management could function well. Political corruption, AI. Global warming, and a rugged financial system is what we have to work with. It sounds insurmountable - best of luck to you!
It’s a shameful failure, to have allowed the country to be betrayed by paid foreign agents; to have our ideals and values stomped upon; to have permitted these thugs, murderers, grifters and their billionaire masters to undermine our democratic institutions, destroy our media, erode our economy, and support the pedophile Epstein class. This is intolerable.
Thanks, Steve! And we’re not asleep like he is all the time during the daytime.
Just about every time I happen upon a clip of the Orange Menace saying something (it does not matter what) I am reminded of the scene from "Red October" where, after the captain of the Russian attack submarine sent to sink the Red October has loosed a torpedo without any safeties that is now homing on them, the XO says to the captain: "You fool, you've killed us all."
What is happening is beyond frightening .. Canada buying early warning and surveillance aircraft from Sweden instead of Boeing.. That says it all doesn't it .. Thank You fucko ! I don't know
where all this is going to end. Maybe Trump and company will complete the destruction of the United States. We can all keep trying our best. If we can get our democracy back it will take years and years to make things right with our allies .. If we can. I don't want to see someone like Joe running again. I want to see a bold democrat who can lead and know what to do. I want an FDR who goes forward and saves our beautiful country .. He made bold choices some didn't work but he got the country moving again. Why oh why do we have to have this lethal moron in there. lost in america
Trump should join FIFA. No honest people allowed.
Spot on, sir!
Iran has an orange ball in one hand, and an orange ball in the other hand. What does it have? The undivided attention of D. Trump!
I don’t know where we’d be if it wasn’t for all the former Republicans who put country before party. Your experience & wisdom has helped our country survive a nightmare that we should have seen coming. It’s difficult to look back in time & see how we got here. Thank you all for not humiliating all Democrats for many of our leaders not stepping up.