Exactly. Everyone around here seems to be collecting cash and filling their tanks in preparation for hurricane season or worse. Hope that the ceasefire will hold.
As for Trump not mentioning "Warp Speed" and the Covid vaccine, why would he when it is becoming more and more recognized as an unmitigated health disaster for tens of thousands (perhaps millions) of Americans of all ages; and how many died from it? The lying that flowed out from Fauci and ALL of his and the Biden sycophantic followers becomes more well known every day. Finally, the medical industry voices SHUT DOWN and socially scourged are now in administrative positions to continue bringing the truth of the mRNA CRAP into the public light.
Chris, you need to weigh the number of people harmed by the COVID vaccine against the number of lives saved. I think you would find the latter greatly outnumbers the former.
Thanks Carolyn. Iran has very advanced cyberhackers. In the coming weeks, if they could shut down the electrical grid for several days in Texas alone, the number of deaths would be unimaginable.
Iran has had multiple opportunities and several months to negotiate a settlement. They have refused. Negotiations went nowhere. Trump (and others) calls Iran the bully of the Middle East.
Iran is a theocracy that has murdered and tortured not only its enemies, but its own people. My sympathy goes to the people of Iran, whose minds and hearts have been hardened against the United States.
The idea that there are "neophytes and loyalists" in the Trump administration is not "on target" (bad pun there). The United States has an entire military hierarchy that has been in place for decades. Marco Rubio has been in the Senate and on the Foreign Relations something-or-another for years. He is not a "neophyte". General Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, is not a "neophyte". This argument strikes me as just more second guessing and looking/hoping for a disaster to unfold. I find it a credible idea that this type of mission had been planned by military analysts for years. Furthermore, I'd rather have a Commander in Chief like Trump who at least does something than a "leader" like Biden, who orchestrated the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal and whispered "Don't" to various nefarious characters around the globe.
I have no idea what will happen. Iran will probably double down and want to save face. How effective they'll be we'll have to see. Not one Iranian fighter jet was scrambled to intercept our planes. That says a lot. Besides, who knows how many sleeper agents there are in the United States waiting to wreak havoc? How many Iranians snuck into the US during Biden's time in office through our open Southern border? https://www.meforum.org/mef-observer/could-iran-infiltrate-the-u-s-mexico-border.
To those who are bleating about the President taking independent action without "Congressional approval"--give me a break. It wouldn't matter what Trump did--there are many in the government on both sides of the aisle who reflexively oppose Trump. Every President takes executive active that elected politicians don't like. Personally, the world without a nuclear
Sharon, there are plenty of neophytes and loyalists in the administration. Take a look at Trump's cabinet: Hegseth, who has never run anything bigger than a platoon and whose nonprofits were disasters; Gabbard, who also has never run anything of size and could best be described as a Russian asset; RFK2 (really?) and best of all, this guy >> The 22-year-old Trump superfan appointed to lead a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that oversees terrorism prevention. What, pray tell, does that tell us about the seriousness of this administration? https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2025/06/06/donald-trump-dhs-terror-prevention-thomas-fugate-gardener-landscaper-heb-austin-texas/84066632007/
I can't read the article about the superfan--it's behind a paywall. I would have liked to have read it. Have a name?
Well for every Pete Hegseth, I'll raise you a Pete Buttigieg. His qualification for Sec of Transportation was that he rides a bicycle. Let's not overlook the most egregious example of a DEI hire--Karine Jean Pierre. Good Lord. The worst presidential spokesperson I've ever watched. Laughable.
Every administration is layered with political payback positions. I will absolutely admit that Pete H was a shocker. And that Signal disaster right out of the gate could be interpreted as confirmation of his inexperience. Tulsi didn't have an easy ride to her position, and RFK Jr. actually enjoys support from the left. Also--inexplicable. I've heard that Trump chose his Cabinet based on who is comfortable in front of a camera, and can he/she coherently and telegenically explain policy--while defending the boss (and I don't mean Bruce Springsteen). You've got to admit-even the dog killer Kristi Noem is easy on the eyes. I swear, that's the primary qualification.
Despite all this, I still believe that anything involving military action is hashed out with military brass. I was going to say "military intelligence", but we know that for the oxymoron that it is. Pete Hegseth certainly isn't calling those shots.
Thank you!! That worked! And one word: Yikes! Who can explain the inexplicable? Can anyone penetrate the dark and scary labyrinth that is the mind of DJT--'cause you know he's such a control freak he's giving final approval to all these hires. He doesn't care what it looks like or even qualifications for a lower visability job like that. And again I say--it's all political. Every single president does the same damn thing. This is an autopen hire.
Mayor Pete was light on the experience side, but he had run a medium-sized city and served in the military, which is way more than the 22-year-old fan boy. I think progressives are seduced by Pete’s verbal abilities. The ability to speak intelligently and debate does not necessarily translate to management and leadership prowess. As for Jean-Pierre, she was a propagandist, as are all WH press secy’s (and Jean-Pierre was a pretty poor propagandist at that). As a journalist, I root for the incompetence of media handlers. To be fair to Jean-Pierre, she had to defend the record of Biden, which even the best flaks would find difficult to do.
A key question as we advance concerns how effectively a Trump administration staffed by neophytes and loyalists will respond to subsequent crises (i.e., a terrorist scare or attack) that Iran might precipitate.
Yes. This operation was planned by highly trained, career military strategists. Thankfully, Secretary Hegseth probably not among them. But in a wider conflict, political appointees will no doubt play a larger role. I worry about that, too.
Exactly. Everyone around here seems to be collecting cash and filling their tanks in preparation for hurricane season or worse. Hope that the ceasefire will hold.
As for Trump not mentioning "Warp Speed" and the Covid vaccine, why would he when it is becoming more and more recognized as an unmitigated health disaster for tens of thousands (perhaps millions) of Americans of all ages; and how many died from it? The lying that flowed out from Fauci and ALL of his and the Biden sycophantic followers becomes more well known every day. Finally, the medical industry voices SHUT DOWN and socially scourged are now in administrative positions to continue bringing the truth of the mRNA CRAP into the public light.
Chris, you need to weigh the number of people harmed by the COVID vaccine against the number of lives saved. I think you would find the latter greatly outnumbers the former.
Spot on, Terry. And the retaliation will come.
Thanks Carolyn. Iran has very advanced cyberhackers. In the coming weeks, if they could shut down the electrical grid for several days in Texas alone, the number of deaths would be unimaginable.
Iran has had multiple opportunities and several months to negotiate a settlement. They have refused. Negotiations went nowhere. Trump (and others) calls Iran the bully of the Middle East.
Iran is a theocracy that has murdered and tortured not only its enemies, but its own people. My sympathy goes to the people of Iran, whose minds and hearts have been hardened against the United States.
The idea that there are "neophytes and loyalists" in the Trump administration is not "on target" (bad pun there). The United States has an entire military hierarchy that has been in place for decades. Marco Rubio has been in the Senate and on the Foreign Relations something-or-another for years. He is not a "neophyte". General Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, is not a "neophyte". This argument strikes me as just more second guessing and looking/hoping for a disaster to unfold. I find it a credible idea that this type of mission had been planned by military analysts for years. Furthermore, I'd rather have a Commander in Chief like Trump who at least does something than a "leader" like Biden, who orchestrated the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal and whispered "Don't" to various nefarious characters around the globe.
I have no idea what will happen. Iran will probably double down and want to save face. How effective they'll be we'll have to see. Not one Iranian fighter jet was scrambled to intercept our planes. That says a lot. Besides, who knows how many sleeper agents there are in the United States waiting to wreak havoc? How many Iranians snuck into the US during Biden's time in office through our open Southern border? https://www.meforum.org/mef-observer/could-iran-infiltrate-the-u-s-mexico-border.
To those who are bleating about the President taking independent action without "Congressional approval"--give me a break. It wouldn't matter what Trump did--there are many in the government on both sides of the aisle who reflexively oppose Trump. Every President takes executive active that elected politicians don't like. Personally, the world without a nuclear
Iran is a better place.
Sharon, there are plenty of neophytes and loyalists in the administration. Take a look at Trump's cabinet: Hegseth, who has never run anything bigger than a platoon and whose nonprofits were disasters; Gabbard, who also has never run anything of size and could best be described as a Russian asset; RFK2 (really?) and best of all, this guy >> The 22-year-old Trump superfan appointed to lead a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that oversees terrorism prevention. What, pray tell, does that tell us about the seriousness of this administration? https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2025/06/06/donald-trump-dhs-terror-prevention-thomas-fugate-gardener-landscaper-heb-austin-texas/84066632007/
As for the whataboutism concerning the Biden administration, I am neither a Democrat nor a fan of the former president.
I can't read the article about the superfan--it's behind a paywall. I would have liked to have read it. Have a name?
Well for every Pete Hegseth, I'll raise you a Pete Buttigieg. His qualification for Sec of Transportation was that he rides a bicycle. Let's not overlook the most egregious example of a DEI hire--Karine Jean Pierre. Good Lord. The worst presidential spokesperson I've ever watched. Laughable.
Every administration is layered with political payback positions. I will absolutely admit that Pete H was a shocker. And that Signal disaster right out of the gate could be interpreted as confirmation of his inexperience. Tulsi didn't have an easy ride to her position, and RFK Jr. actually enjoys support from the left. Also--inexplicable. I've heard that Trump chose his Cabinet based on who is comfortable in front of a camera, and can he/she coherently and telegenically explain policy--while defending the boss (and I don't mean Bruce Springsteen). You've got to admit-even the dog killer Kristi Noem is easy on the eyes. I swear, that's the primary qualification.
Despite all this, I still believe that anything involving military action is hashed out with military brass. I was going to say "military intelligence", but we know that for the oxymoron that it is. Pete Hegseth certainly isn't calling those shots.
Try this >> https://www.removepaywall.com/search?url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2025/06/06/donald-trump-dhs-terror-prevention-thomas-fugate-gardener-landscaper-heb-austin-texas/84066632007/
Thank you!! That worked! And one word: Yikes! Who can explain the inexplicable? Can anyone penetrate the dark and scary labyrinth that is the mind of DJT--'cause you know he's such a control freak he's giving final approval to all these hires. He doesn't care what it looks like or even qualifications for a lower visability job like that. And again I say--it's all political. Every single president does the same damn thing. This is an autopen hire.
Mayor Pete was light on the experience side, but he had run a medium-sized city and served in the military, which is way more than the 22-year-old fan boy. I think progressives are seduced by Pete’s verbal abilities. The ability to speak intelligently and debate does not necessarily translate to management and leadership prowess. As for Jean-Pierre, she was a propagandist, as are all WH press secy’s (and Jean-Pierre was a pretty poor propagandist at that). As a journalist, I root for the incompetence of media handlers. To be fair to Jean-Pierre, she had to defend the record of Biden, which even the best flaks would find difficult to do.
Spot on, Terry.
Thanks Nick. Thanks for reading and I hope you are well.
A key question as we advance concerns how effectively a Trump administration staffed by neophytes and loyalists will respond to subsequent crises (i.e., a terrorist scare or attack) that Iran might precipitate.
Yes. This operation was planned by highly trained, career military strategists. Thankfully, Secretary Hegseth probably not among them. But in a wider conflict, political appointees will no doubt play a larger role. I worry about that, too.