ON MATTERS OF DUBIOUS INTEREST
It could have been yesterday that Thomas Brackett Reed (1839–1902), one-time speaker of the House, said this.
What Trump does to your mind—and the sum of human knowledge—was never on better display than in Thursday night’s speech. Continue reading ““They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge.””
Captain: Them sonsabitches. Here we are stuck for over a month now, and nobody will pay the bill to get us out.
First Mate: The Greeks who own this tub got plenty of money. And we can’t even get decent food. Continue reading “On Board an Oil Tanker off Hormuz”
The present heat waves here and in Europe are not just a warning but a forecast. I started writing this blog about climate change in 2019 and after a time gave up on it. Few were listening, and the topic was just too complex and intimidating. Now many everywhere are dying from intense heat and exposure—and the situation is bound to get worse. Continue reading “Death by Heat”
Much ink has been spilled over the Reflecting Pool disaster, so excuse me for adding to the torrent. My partner discovered this picture on Facebook, and it does have its appeal (even if it never gets built) principally because it gives the finger to Trump. Continue reading “Maybe This?”
Vance: They put us up at this crummy hotel while the boss signs his ass away at Versailles. I don’t think he even knows how many disastrous treaties were signed there. And now the peace talks here are going to start again but will probably end up in the toilet. Continue reading “At the Hotel Ceasefire, Geneva”
“We” includes everyone but his investors, that is. For many of us the man typifies arrogance, smugness and swagger. One would think the world’s richest person (at $826 billion and counting) could afford some humility. But with all that money and power, Elon manages to generally behave like a yahoo. He is a very mixed bag of characteristics and has done some good works. I’ll give him credit for that. He’s still a yahoo. Continue reading “Why We Hate Elon Musk”
You know about his obsession with gold. You’ve been appalled with his record of corruption, self-dealing, and the slush fund. Grift and graft. Now he honors himself with a new piece of illegal tender decorated with his grotesque face (Who did his hair for this?) and signature. The bill is also supposed to reflect the country’s 250th anniversary. An old law states that “no living president can appear on currency.” House Republicans are working on bills to void this. Continue reading “It’s Always about Money”
Trump: Bibi, it’s simple. Your thing is just to destroy Iran. Everyone else knows I want peace. Why else would I keep negotiating with these assholes? Your way will keep Hormuz closed forever.
Netanyahu: My friend, you have deliberately kept us out of the negotiations, out of the loop. We went into this as partners, compadres to blow these terrorists to smithereens. Our goal, we agreed, was to knock out the regime, destroy their nuclear program, and annihilate their missile capability. Once you dropped us as a partner you blew any chance for our joint security. Continue reading “Dialogue 2”
Trump: It’s my great pleasure to see you again, Mr. President. No, no groveling, please!
Xi: Did you sleep on the plane?
Trump: Very little. Too busy posting memies on Truth Social. I get so many stupid questions directed at me. Continue reading “Dialogue”
The original project was to cost $200 million, provided by private donors. The cost soon jumped to $300 million, then $400 million, now $1 trillion, adding unspecified security and military spaces paid for by you and me. Now they are talking about a West Wing expansion to “balance out” the 90,000 square foot ballroom on the east. Continue reading “A Ballroom Built on Bloat”
Yes, I watched two hours of last night’s shocking event. I’ll refrain from commenting on it since it will be all over the news media today. I will say that Trump’s White House response was mostly fair and decent (except for his babbling about the need for the new ballroom). Instead I reprint my 2018 reaction to a Dinner when the event was well into its sad decline. I did attend one of these events in 1994 when things were more accepting and jovial. Politics was so different then. Continue reading “Past Correspondents’ Day Dinners”