1) Thank you for the clear-eyed assessment of what Trump is doing. I’m so tired of the argument that Trump is so much smarter than everyone else and such a great deal maker that the benighted among us should just accept that he knows what he is doing. How dare we question such a genius?
Of course, the problem here is that Trump does know what he is doing. And it ain’t good.
2) I really don’t know how much of Trump’s behavior is motivated by love/fear of Putin and how much by a loathing of Zelenskyy:
a) Zelenskyy was a central character in Trump’s first impeachment. And even though he didn’t do anything wrong, just the fact that he didn’t somehow “rescue” Trump was enough to put him on the shit list.
b) Trump promised to end the war right away. And Zelenskyy isn’t having any of that without something tangible in return. Trump only cares about his image, and he sees the ongoing war as a stain on that image. And since he sees Zelenskyy as the obstacle (because he won’t simply bend over and take it), he rises even higher on the shit list.
These reasons may seem stupid to a mature person. But as we saw last week, Trump has the emotional maturity of a (maybe) 5-year-old (“don’t tell us what we’re going to think”).
So much to choose from. "Just about" lifted is not lifted. This whole insulting confrontation of Zelensky was designed to give Trump the pretext to shut off any additional shipments and intelligence, which in turn was designed to give Putin the opening to attack civilians and put Zelensky in position for humiliating surrender. Meanwhile the administration is meeting with former Ukrainian leaders who have their own motives for undermining Zelensky. That Reaganite pulse has not shown any energy for opposition to date, so forgive my skepticism. If Trump wanted to stop attacks on Barrett, perhaps he could state publicly that it's inappropriate to criticize justices, but that's against brand for him. When Trump says things are "VERY NORMAL," we should have a good laugh - while we're running for cover!
I havent read all 387 comments BUT t***p is talking about Canada as Vlad talked about Ukraine in like 2012 .I think thats one of the friendly chats they had while t***p ws blessedly out of power and even more blessedly off social media
I have heard plenty from trump what the demands from Ukraine and Z…. I have not heard one demand re Putin and Russia. No wonder Russia is easy to deal with. The more this goes on , the more I feel that Putin has something on Trump. As he said before “ it’s common sense!”
Trump--Jonathan Chait writes in the Atlantic--has taken off the mask. He simply repeats Putin's talking points. He wants peace but on Russia's terms. They must be dancing in the Kremlin.
And yet Republican politicians are only "concerned." What is the matter with them? Trump is betraying a democratic country.
Since 2015, I've thought Trump was simply one of Lenin's "useful idiots". Covert subversive action doesn't always require formally recruited agents; it's enough to find people who want to do something you'd like done and then helping them do it. It doesn't even require any explicit agreement or "collusion".
Now, however, I challenge anyone to show me one thing Trump has done about Ukraine that would not be a wet dream for a recruited agent of the Russian secret services or to name one such thing Trump has not done. The only remaining question is whether he will deliver the Ukrainian refugees directly to the Russian cattle cars when he expells them, following the precedent of Hitler and Stalin's exchange of dissidents.
Glad Barrett voted with the RIGHT side! Let the MAGAs try to bully her, I hope she won't move her position just to suit them! There are some real horrific goons in trump's corner - from the Tates to Posobiec to Charlie Kirk! Far more but won't bother naming them - you all know who they are!
AND Trump's just doing what he's always done - hired contractors, then when work is done, STIFFS them for payments! Hey, donnie, this ain't just real estate! You're messing with the wrong people! Just hope all media talks to and reports how people's lives are ruined by working government contracts and agencies, then given the middle finger when payment is due! This is the MO of this dastardly crew! But you won't get us like you have the MAGAs! We READ, LISTEN, THINK FOR OURSELVES! What we see does NOT make "common sense"!
Newsflash: A Republican Congressman strongly denounced Trump's Ukraine policy. It would only take a few more GOP Representatives to force changes. See:
"...the United States is now actively helping Vladimir Putin and the Russian state kill Ukrainians to try and force Ukraine to accept a bad peace deal that very well might spell the end of their country."
This is America now. And let's not turn away from the fact that we chose this. We put this guy back in power. And please don't comment that you didn't vote for him - neither did I, but our countrymen and women did and he is the American president, acting in our name. We looked at everything he had said and done and what he promised to do if elected and said "sign me up."
I wish when journalists spoke with Trump voters expressing regret about their vote that they would press further to understand where those voters got their news and information. It doesn't help for them to just throw up their hands and say "I didn't vote for this" if they don't understand that he is doing exactly what he promised, so yes they did vote for exactly this. And perhaps they should be asked to reflect on the fact that their news sources were feeding them disinformation and hiding the truth so that they can consider doing something differently next time. A country of dumbasses cannot sustain democracy.
It is clear to me that there is no other explanation for Trump's behavior other than he is some kind of Russian asset. Everything he has done weakens America's strategic alliances, stokes our hyper partisanship, and makes are economy unstable (or worse). These are all goals of Russia. Why Trump acts this way is irrelevant, the fact that he does makes him a threat to our democracy. We must elect a veto proof congress in 2026 and oust him from office. I am afraid that is the only way to constrain him.
"Everything is very cool and very normal." Priceless!
Too bad apparently no one in the GoP has an actual backbone. All the people with backbone retired, died or effectively left the party.
Too bad the Democrats are apparently a clueless and cowardly bunch, as well.
The lack of courage and principles is killing this country pretty quickly.
Too bad that the SCotUS is apparently okay with all of this, seeing that they eagerly set the stage for it.
Too bad those that voted for trump didn't have a brain in their head!
The future for veterans per the Lincoln Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNkPuZ0gRdI
Where the veterans groups?
A few comments...
1) Thank you for the clear-eyed assessment of what Trump is doing. I’m so tired of the argument that Trump is so much smarter than everyone else and such a great deal maker that the benighted among us should just accept that he knows what he is doing. How dare we question such a genius?
Of course, the problem here is that Trump does know what he is doing. And it ain’t good.
2) I really don’t know how much of Trump’s behavior is motivated by love/fear of Putin and how much by a loathing of Zelenskyy:
a) Zelenskyy was a central character in Trump’s first impeachment. And even though he didn’t do anything wrong, just the fact that he didn’t somehow “rescue” Trump was enough to put him on the shit list.
b) Trump promised to end the war right away. And Zelenskyy isn’t having any of that without something tangible in return. Trump only cares about his image, and he sees the ongoing war as a stain on that image. And since he sees Zelenskyy as the obstacle (because he won’t simply bend over and take it), he rises even higher on the shit list.
These reasons may seem stupid to a mature person. But as we saw last week, Trump has the emotional maturity of a (maybe) 5-year-old (“don’t tell us what we’re going to think”).
Cathy Young’s article on Beattie, who wrote his PhD thesis at Duke on (surprise surprise) Martin Heidegger, is something. There is no bottom.
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-once-fired-him-for-palling-around-white-nationalists-darren-beattie?utm_campaign=posts-open-in-app&triedRedirect=true
So much to choose from. "Just about" lifted is not lifted. This whole insulting confrontation of Zelensky was designed to give Trump the pretext to shut off any additional shipments and intelligence, which in turn was designed to give Putin the opening to attack civilians and put Zelensky in position for humiliating surrender. Meanwhile the administration is meeting with former Ukrainian leaders who have their own motives for undermining Zelensky. That Reaganite pulse has not shown any energy for opposition to date, so forgive my skepticism. If Trump wanted to stop attacks on Barrett, perhaps he could state publicly that it's inappropriate to criticize justices, but that's against brand for him. When Trump says things are "VERY NORMAL," we should have a good laugh - while we're running for cover!
I havent read all 387 comments BUT t***p is talking about Canada as Vlad talked about Ukraine in like 2012 .I think thats one of the friendly chats they had while t***p ws blessedly out of power and even more blessedly off social media
I have heard plenty from trump what the demands from Ukraine and Z…. I have not heard one demand re Putin and Russia. No wonder Russia is easy to deal with. The more this goes on , the more I feel that Putin has something on Trump. As he said before “ it’s common sense!”
Trump--Jonathan Chait writes in the Atlantic--has taken off the mask. He simply repeats Putin's talking points. He wants peace but on Russia's terms. They must be dancing in the Kremlin.
And yet Republican politicians are only "concerned." What is the matter with them? Trump is betraying a democratic country.
This is four-dementia chess.
And the times we're living in could be called the fifth dement-sion. 🪐
Since 2015, I've thought Trump was simply one of Lenin's "useful idiots". Covert subversive action doesn't always require formally recruited agents; it's enough to find people who want to do something you'd like done and then helping them do it. It doesn't even require any explicit agreement or "collusion".
Now, however, I challenge anyone to show me one thing Trump has done about Ukraine that would not be a wet dream for a recruited agent of the Russian secret services or to name one such thing Trump has not done. The only remaining question is whether he will deliver the Ukrainian refugees directly to the Russian cattle cars when he expells them, following the precedent of Hitler and Stalin's exchange of dissidents.
Glad Barrett voted with the RIGHT side! Let the MAGAs try to bully her, I hope she won't move her position just to suit them! There are some real horrific goons in trump's corner - from the Tates to Posobiec to Charlie Kirk! Far more but won't bother naming them - you all know who they are!
AND Trump's just doing what he's always done - hired contractors, then when work is done, STIFFS them for payments! Hey, donnie, this ain't just real estate! You're messing with the wrong people! Just hope all media talks to and reports how people's lives are ruined by working government contracts and agencies, then given the middle finger when payment is due! This is the MO of this dastardly crew! But you won't get us like you have the MAGAs! We READ, LISTEN, THINK FOR OURSELVES! What we see does NOT make "common sense"!
Newsflash: A Republican Congressman strongly denounced Trump's Ukraine policy. It would only take a few more GOP Representatives to force changes. See:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/10/politics/video/don-bacon-trump-criticism-russia-ukraine-digvid
"...the United States is now actively helping Vladimir Putin and the Russian state kill Ukrainians to try and force Ukraine to accept a bad peace deal that very well might spell the end of their country."
This is America now. And let's not turn away from the fact that we chose this. We put this guy back in power. And please don't comment that you didn't vote for him - neither did I, but our countrymen and women did and he is the American president, acting in our name. We looked at everything he had said and done and what he promised to do if elected and said "sign me up."
I wish when journalists spoke with Trump voters expressing regret about their vote that they would press further to understand where those voters got their news and information. It doesn't help for them to just throw up their hands and say "I didn't vote for this" if they don't understand that he is doing exactly what he promised, so yes they did vote for exactly this. And perhaps they should be asked to reflect on the fact that their news sources were feeding them disinformation and hiding the truth so that they can consider doing something differently next time. A country of dumbasses cannot sustain democracy.
WELL SAID.
We who voted against him fell down in our duty to push his legion of magats to realize what he really is. Or prevent them from voting?
Geezus.
It is clear to me that there is no other explanation for Trump's behavior other than he is some kind of Russian asset. Everything he has done weakens America's strategic alliances, stokes our hyper partisanship, and makes are economy unstable (or worse). These are all goals of Russia. Why Trump acts this way is irrelevant, the fact that he does makes him a threat to our democracy. We must elect a veto proof congress in 2026 and oust him from office. I am afraid that is the only way to constrain him.