Great article and accurate description. How hard it is to watch America being made weaker and lose its standing as a country by the likes of these little men and big blowhard.
Thank You Steve . The thing is the Republican Senators who are speaking up now are a day late and a dollar short. They deserve a lot of the blame for this debacle because they confirmed his cabinet. Yes some dems did to but for today they own this mess. They put Hegseth Gabbard Rubio in there .. Please not today. These swine will be remembered for helping the disgusting one to bring us down. As soon as one of them knew he was listening to Bebe they should have gone to him and told him if he gets into a war with Iran he will not have the backing of the Senate .Pressure does work with the idiot sometimes . lost in america
I believe the GOP in the US Congress since trump 1.0 particularly crafted everything that has brought the USA so very low and unrecognizable. They created a partisan SCOTUS to help with reversing decades, centuries of progress toward a "more perfect Union," failed to work for solutions to our problems and destroyed their credibility, honesty, Oath of Office sincerity, divided us into tribes and on and on. GOP created this, trump, oligarchs were the benefactors and We the People are under attack from all corners of our governments. Surviving this, repairing the damage to the world alliances, creating laws that make norms of ruling legal imperatives, rooting out conflict of interest, corruption from governments, doing so many fixes will be decades and our old alliances are almost meaningless, domination of their spheres of influence is taking shape now in the Mid-East, China, Russia and USA. These 4 countries will create EMPIRES loyal, oppressed, dependant on their MASTERS. That will take blood, sweat and tears that is unimaginable IMO. All dots for these 4 Empires are connecting with every trump, Putin, Xi, Iranian word, action, reward and punishment passed around by the 4 EMPORERS. I'm amazed there is not more attention to the years of dots that almost complete the whole image that I see clearly.
What is the intended ending or the objective of all of this among the MAGAs? I will say the MAGAs of which I will include the tech oligarchs has been to create a "blackhole" to suck up all power through accumulation of economic wealth and to gain hegemony over the technologies for the creation of more wealth and the control of human society.
The Hegseth Gabbard Rubio's and other useful sycophants among the Republicans have mostly served as the useful idiots; while Don Jr. was becoming invested in Drone weapons development, and Ivanka and Jared were swimming to discover their dream of owning an Albanian Island. Meanwhile the silicone valley oligarchs, heavily invested in Weapons systems development, have continued monitoring the wars they essentially appreciate as serving their interests as "Proving Grounds" for their investments.
It’s such a difference than what occurred during the Nixon admin.
Nixon did what Nixon did. The GOP back then tolerated it until they couldn’t anymore. When the Rubicon was crossed, they reacted and took action.
Every political party’s POTUS when in office scrapes the guardrails of legality at times. The difference today is the former GOP-ers, now called MAGANAZIs, don’t merely scrape the guardrails. They drive the car full speed off the road and into the ravine.
When the time came that the GOP couldn’t allow and tolerate Nixon’s abuses? They cut him loose. A group of them marched to the oval office and had a “ chat “ with him. He resigned the next day.
The only thing the MAGANAZIs need to do is to say “ no “. Simple, easy - peasy. All this will stop and we can start the difficult work of fixing this rolling dumpster fire.
Hits the nail squarely on the head! I am embarrassed to be an American for the first time in my life. We have to vote them all out and hold these jokers accountable!!!
I was embarassed in trump 1.0 beginning in full force in 2018. It has never waned. I cannot believe I would live long enough to see the USA brought so low. A population so hateful, divided, ignorant, vengeful, bigotted, misogynistic and greedy, indecent, amoral.
There was never any substance to Donald Trump. He is and has always been a Carnival Freak Show, hard to look at but harder to turn away. Trump has never shown any credibility. I would be amazed if he understood what credibility meant.
I love your posts, Steve. They inspire me to write my Go Blue Poems. You are not only a modern day Thomas Paine, but a marvelous storyteller, in the ranks of Ken Burns and other historians. Peace ✌️ Pat (Packy) Paules
Very apt summary of the flavor Steve captures from Paine, Burns. The thing I feel is his emotional stake in what is happening. Like him my broken heart is still trying to beat to drums struck in 1776 to fight for Independence from Kings, power vested in a few to control our lives, futures. The Founding Fathers tried to prevent what is happening now but as we all know the US Constitution and our laws have always had flaws, But, We had hope that We could create a "more perfect Union" for a people who had their own "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness." What we have is the best example of self-rule that I know of and it is disappearing a little every day. Time is running out for any peaceful efforts to return to the visions of a democratic, law/order, republic given to us so long ago-250 YEARS may be in the history books for how long this type of USA lasted. LET IT NOT BECOME THAT!
Cassidy's comments, while correct, come from a man who was a sycophantic coward to Trump's depravity for years (100% in 2025) with a few notable exceptions such as the second impeachment vote in 2021. However, his dereliction of duty, as a physician, in acceding to Kennedy's ascension to the cabinet is unforgivable. As a biomedical scientist I am acutely aware of the consequent ongoing immense damage this is doing to biomedical science. Cassidy deserved to be thrown under the bus.
Steve is far too kind here. Tiny men beget teeny weeny men. I would never call these dweebs 'men.' An expensive suit/tie/shoe setup is what mannikens wear. The plastic hollow covered with synthetic slime and dead cattle flesh. Men, and women, take stock of what needs to be done to survive with some sense of security and dignity, and then set about creating the response to those needs. Unless you live on a naked island, you realize that your security depends upon the shared security of others, and you learn to cooperate. Realtors sell shit at inflated prices to dreamers imagining the conquest of those dreams. Quite different from lucid dreaming. The dreams of realtors are banal and empty -- gilded cages filled with trinkets, placebos that fake success at the expense of an Earth environment that has been gutted and vandalized to the point of failure. We offer our Earth home placebos while we pretend we are wise. sapiens sapiens cancels out itself.
So Cassidy finally finds his voice, after handing us poorly-qualified cabinet members like Rfk junior on a platter. Too late. He joins the cohort of small men in his disgrace…..
Harris warned of this during her campaign in 2019 but people chose not to believe her. MAGA and the uninformed keep voting against their own interests. I have little hope that will change. These people would rather believe lies from Trump and the far right than truth and facts.
We will be rolling over in our graves if we don't get this rogue administration out of office in November.
Every day we wake up to another scheme or an attempt to conceal the absolute corruption in this administration. The legal staff still working in the Justice Department should be ashamed of their actions. They worked hard to get their law licenses to throw them away with the bogus lawsuits. Are they afraid to find other employment?
Enough is enough.
I am grateful as I know others like yourself are fighting for our Country and all of us that believe in the Democracy that others before this time, fought for.
Right on, Steve, another great post! The real question you are asking is, how did one of the most remarkable countries on earth produce so many despicable, sycophantic cowards all in one time and place? Astounding.
The answer to that question is complex, but one thing I know is that Bill Cassidy is a pathetic hypocrite. He could have decided to be a man and challenge Trump long ago - but not this sickening coward. He's a doctor, yet he confirmed RFK. Amazing. Nothing he says carries any weight. It's all too little too late. He and the other Republican cowards who "speak out" now are only trying to save their own sorry asses. Truly nauseating.
"...how did one of the most remarkable countries on earth produce so many despicable, sycophantic cowards all in one time and place?"
I think part ,if not most of the cause of our collapse, was that so many Americans became evangelical Christian cultists and their greedy pastors made them robotic Christian nationalists.
Good point, Anthony. I think that the rise of extreme privilege- or the perception of it, also played a role. This is not to be confused with the privilege of men like Roosevelt who believed in sharing for the greater good.
Patricia, I sometimes wonder if the 1970's Rock Opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" played a role in drawing many Americans to evangelical churches for answers to life's greatest questions. The lyrics and music were mesmerizing and entertaining, spectacular. Entertainment and spectacle are mainstays of evangelical churches. Many went to evangelicals to further explore Christianity. The pastors they went to were always grifters who sought to control and exploit their naive congregants. The pastors, men like Osteen, Graham, and Copeland preached the "prosperity gospel," while robbing their followers blind. It is no coincidence that many of the ultra wealthy in America, among them Trump, pretend to be Christian because of the control it gives them over the ordinary cultists.
I know this is what happened to my estranged sister, her husband, and children. Two of the adult children left the cult and one remains in alliance with my sister and her husband, two of the MAGA faithful. The two who left the cult are now progressive Democrats.
You pose a very interesting theory. It could well be that the play had an influence, but the Evangelical tradition has long roots in the South, so that faction has always existed. It must have been very painful, losing your beloved sister and her family to the Cult. Thankfully, two of your nieces saw the light and escaped.
Too bad guys like Senator Cancer—I mean Kennedy couldn’t grow a backbone before Trump decided to bomb Iran without consulting anyone! Or continued to tout this as a win, while all evidence pointed to the contrary! I guess after he stabs you in the back and your political career is over—do these guys ever see truly find Jesus and see the errors in their ways.
Furthermore, anyone with half a brain could see this coming—having the most unqualified and unserious cabinet in history isn’t usually a sign of confidence.
Not to mention, the destruction of our NSC—due to internet influencers like Laura Loomer, who may or not be on one or several foreign payrolls; either knowingly or unwittingly.
The continued purging our intelligence and military of its most senior and qualified officials and military officers—how would this somehow make America Great Again?
Bottom line, we’ve spent over $100 billion. Lost 13 service members, with hundreds injured, as well as irreplaceable Jets (F-15’s), refueling planes, Special Operations Helicopters and Special forces Transport planes, while diminishing half of our stockpiles of high end munitions and interceptors.
Not to mention, the economic damage of closing the Straight. Republicans complained when Biden reduced our Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) of oil—Trump has reduced it by 200 million more—lowest level since 1983; and that’s only because we started the SPR in the late 70’s and hadn’t completely filled it yet.
And who ultimately wins? We can’t support our European or Asian allies—global munitions down to under 50% and will take 5-7 years to replenish (at a high cost). Our Asian allies get 75-80% of their oil from the Middle East, and if they switch to renewables, guess what?
They have to buy through China (90% of renewable infrastructure), while China is also Iran’s biggest client in the Middle East; the same country who benefits most!
Therefore, this entire situation was an exercise in futility. “Absolute Surrender” which was Trump’s original goal was the only outcome not only predictable—it was preordained; unfortunately, Trump and the MAGA republicans had no idea it would be ours he was talking about! And don’t get me started on Israel—another betrayal!
Great article and accurate description. How hard it is to watch America being made weaker and lose its standing as a country by the likes of these little men and big blowhard.
Thank You Steve . The thing is the Republican Senators who are speaking up now are a day late and a dollar short. They deserve a lot of the blame for this debacle because they confirmed his cabinet. Yes some dems did to but for today they own this mess. They put Hegseth Gabbard Rubio in there .. Please not today. These swine will be remembered for helping the disgusting one to bring us down. As soon as one of them knew he was listening to Bebe they should have gone to him and told him if he gets into a war with Iran he will not have the backing of the Senate .Pressure does work with the idiot sometimes . lost in america
I believe the GOP in the US Congress since trump 1.0 particularly crafted everything that has brought the USA so very low and unrecognizable. They created a partisan SCOTUS to help with reversing decades, centuries of progress toward a "more perfect Union," failed to work for solutions to our problems and destroyed their credibility, honesty, Oath of Office sincerity, divided us into tribes and on and on. GOP created this, trump, oligarchs were the benefactors and We the People are under attack from all corners of our governments. Surviving this, repairing the damage to the world alliances, creating laws that make norms of ruling legal imperatives, rooting out conflict of interest, corruption from governments, doing so many fixes will be decades and our old alliances are almost meaningless, domination of their spheres of influence is taking shape now in the Mid-East, China, Russia and USA. These 4 countries will create EMPIRES loyal, oppressed, dependant on their MASTERS. That will take blood, sweat and tears that is unimaginable IMO. All dots for these 4 Empires are connecting with every trump, Putin, Xi, Iranian word, action, reward and punishment passed around by the 4 EMPORERS. I'm amazed there is not more attention to the years of dots that almost complete the whole image that I see clearly.
What is the intended ending or the objective of all of this among the MAGAs? I will say the MAGAs of which I will include the tech oligarchs has been to create a "blackhole" to suck up all power through accumulation of economic wealth and to gain hegemony over the technologies for the creation of more wealth and the control of human society.
The Hegseth Gabbard Rubio's and other useful sycophants among the Republicans have mostly served as the useful idiots; while Don Jr. was becoming invested in Drone weapons development, and Ivanka and Jared were swimming to discover their dream of owning an Albanian Island. Meanwhile the silicone valley oligarchs, heavily invested in Weapons systems development, have continued monitoring the wars they essentially appreciate as serving their interests as "Proving Grounds" for their investments.
Yes Jim you nailed it !
It’s such a difference than what occurred during the Nixon admin.
Nixon did what Nixon did. The GOP back then tolerated it until they couldn’t anymore. When the Rubicon was crossed, they reacted and took action.
Every political party’s POTUS when in office scrapes the guardrails of legality at times. The difference today is the former GOP-ers, now called MAGANAZIs, don’t merely scrape the guardrails. They drive the car full speed off the road and into the ravine.
When the time came that the GOP couldn’t allow and tolerate Nixon’s abuses? They cut him loose. A group of them marched to the oval office and had a “ chat “ with him. He resigned the next day.
The only thing the MAGANAZIs need to do is to say “ no “. Simple, easy - peasy. All this will stop and we can start the difficult work of fixing this rolling dumpster fire.
Hits the nail squarely on the head! I am embarrassed to be an American for the first time in my life. We have to vote them all out and hold these jokers accountable!!!
I was embarassed in trump 1.0 beginning in full force in 2018. It has never waned. I cannot believe I would live long enough to see the USA brought so low. A population so hateful, divided, ignorant, vengeful, bigotted, misogynistic and greedy, indecent, amoral.
Voting is going to be the easy part since there is going to be a huge amount of work ahead!
We are in this together so put your seat belt on!
What is really beyond comprehension is the complete collapse of any moral foundation within the former leadership of the congressional GOP.
There was never any substance to Donald Trump. He is and has always been a Carnival Freak Show, hard to look at but harder to turn away. Trump has never shown any credibility. I would be amazed if he understood what credibility meant.
I love your posts, Steve. They inspire me to write my Go Blue Poems. You are not only a modern day Thomas Paine, but a marvelous storyteller, in the ranks of Ken Burns and other historians. Peace ✌️ Pat (Packy) Paules
Very apt summary of the flavor Steve captures from Paine, Burns. The thing I feel is his emotional stake in what is happening. Like him my broken heart is still trying to beat to drums struck in 1776 to fight for Independence from Kings, power vested in a few to control our lives, futures. The Founding Fathers tried to prevent what is happening now but as we all know the US Constitution and our laws have always had flaws, But, We had hope that We could create a "more perfect Union" for a people who had their own "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness." What we have is the best example of self-rule that I know of and it is disappearing a little every day. Time is running out for any peaceful efforts to return to the visions of a democratic, law/order, republic given to us so long ago-250 YEARS may be in the history books for how long this type of USA lasted. LET IT NOT BECOME THAT!
What a Trip ~ From Class To No Class
10 years ago today the POTUS was a real man ~ a bright, genuine, honorable human being with a strong family. The POTUS today is none of that.
🙏❤️🩹🇺🇸🌎🌍🌏
Cassidy's comments, while correct, come from a man who was a sycophantic coward to Trump's depravity for years (100% in 2025) with a few notable exceptions such as the second impeachment vote in 2021. However, his dereliction of duty, as a physician, in acceding to Kennedy's ascension to the cabinet is unforgivable. As a biomedical scientist I am acutely aware of the consequent ongoing immense damage this is doing to biomedical science. Cassidy deserved to be thrown under the bus.
BINGO, Thank you
Steve is far too kind here. Tiny men beget teeny weeny men. I would never call these dweebs 'men.' An expensive suit/tie/shoe setup is what mannikens wear. The plastic hollow covered with synthetic slime and dead cattle flesh. Men, and women, take stock of what needs to be done to survive with some sense of security and dignity, and then set about creating the response to those needs. Unless you live on a naked island, you realize that your security depends upon the shared security of others, and you learn to cooperate. Realtors sell shit at inflated prices to dreamers imagining the conquest of those dreams. Quite different from lucid dreaming. The dreams of realtors are banal and empty -- gilded cages filled with trinkets, placebos that fake success at the expense of an Earth environment that has been gutted and vandalized to the point of failure. We offer our Earth home placebos while we pretend we are wise. sapiens sapiens cancels out itself.
So Cassidy finally finds his voice, after handing us poorly-qualified cabinet members like Rfk junior on a platter. Too late. He joins the cohort of small men in his disgrace…..
Harris warned of this during her campaign in 2019 but people chose not to believe her. MAGA and the uninformed keep voting against their own interests. I have little hope that will change. These people would rather believe lies from Trump and the far right than truth and facts.
There’s hope for History but nothing for the rest of us who have to live this. Very profound, Steve.
We will be rolling over in our graves if we don't get this rogue administration out of office in November.
Every day we wake up to another scheme or an attempt to conceal the absolute corruption in this administration. The legal staff still working in the Justice Department should be ashamed of their actions. They worked hard to get their law licenses to throw them away with the bogus lawsuits. Are they afraid to find other employment?
Enough is enough.
I am grateful as I know others like yourself are fighting for our Country and all of us that believe in the Democracy that others before this time, fought for.
The men should watch the movie “The Edge” .. these are lost men in the wilderness without character.
Right on, Steve, another great post! The real question you are asking is, how did one of the most remarkable countries on earth produce so many despicable, sycophantic cowards all in one time and place? Astounding.
The answer to that question is complex, but one thing I know is that Bill Cassidy is a pathetic hypocrite. He could have decided to be a man and challenge Trump long ago - but not this sickening coward. He's a doctor, yet he confirmed RFK. Amazing. Nothing he says carries any weight. It's all too little too late. He and the other Republican cowards who "speak out" now are only trying to save their own sorry asses. Truly nauseating.
"...how did one of the most remarkable countries on earth produce so many despicable, sycophantic cowards all in one time and place?"
I think part ,if not most of the cause of our collapse, was that so many Americans became evangelical Christian cultists and their greedy pastors made them robotic Christian nationalists.
Good point, Anthony. I think that the rise of extreme privilege- or the perception of it, also played a role. This is not to be confused with the privilege of men like Roosevelt who believed in sharing for the greater good.
Patricia, I sometimes wonder if the 1970's Rock Opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" played a role in drawing many Americans to evangelical churches for answers to life's greatest questions. The lyrics and music were mesmerizing and entertaining, spectacular. Entertainment and spectacle are mainstays of evangelical churches. Many went to evangelicals to further explore Christianity. The pastors they went to were always grifters who sought to control and exploit their naive congregants. The pastors, men like Osteen, Graham, and Copeland preached the "prosperity gospel," while robbing their followers blind. It is no coincidence that many of the ultra wealthy in America, among them Trump, pretend to be Christian because of the control it gives them over the ordinary cultists.
I know this is what happened to my estranged sister, her husband, and children. Two of the adult children left the cult and one remains in alliance with my sister and her husband, two of the MAGA faithful. The two who left the cult are now progressive Democrats.
You pose a very interesting theory. It could well be that the play had an influence, but the Evangelical tradition has long roots in the South, so that faction has always existed. It must have been very painful, losing your beloved sister and her family to the Cult. Thankfully, two of your nieces saw the light and escaped.
Thank you. It was difficult but our worldviews were polar opposites and communication simply broke down.
The rock opera acted more as a catalyst than a cause.
Brilliant Steve, Bravo!👏
Too bad guys like Senator Cancer—I mean Kennedy couldn’t grow a backbone before Trump decided to bomb Iran without consulting anyone! Or continued to tout this as a win, while all evidence pointed to the contrary! I guess after he stabs you in the back and your political career is over—do these guys ever see truly find Jesus and see the errors in their ways.
Furthermore, anyone with half a brain could see this coming—having the most unqualified and unserious cabinet in history isn’t usually a sign of confidence.
Not to mention, the destruction of our NSC—due to internet influencers like Laura Loomer, who may or not be on one or several foreign payrolls; either knowingly or unwittingly.
The continued purging our intelligence and military of its most senior and qualified officials and military officers—how would this somehow make America Great Again?
Bottom line, we’ve spent over $100 billion. Lost 13 service members, with hundreds injured, as well as irreplaceable Jets (F-15’s), refueling planes, Special Operations Helicopters and Special forces Transport planes, while diminishing half of our stockpiles of high end munitions and interceptors.
Not to mention, the economic damage of closing the Straight. Republicans complained when Biden reduced our Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) of oil—Trump has reduced it by 200 million more—lowest level since 1983; and that’s only because we started the SPR in the late 70’s and hadn’t completely filled it yet.
And who ultimately wins? We can’t support our European or Asian allies—global munitions down to under 50% and will take 5-7 years to replenish (at a high cost). Our Asian allies get 75-80% of their oil from the Middle East, and if they switch to renewables, guess what?
They have to buy through China (90% of renewable infrastructure), while China is also Iran’s biggest client in the Middle East; the same country who benefits most!
Therefore, this entire situation was an exercise in futility. “Absolute Surrender” which was Trump’s original goal was the only outcome not only predictable—it was preordained; unfortunately, Trump and the MAGA republicans had no idea it would be ours he was talking about! And don’t get me started on Israel—another betrayal!
MIODD
mental illness on daily display