Did you feel the breeze yesterday? Wasn’t it refreshing?
The sound of the Obamas speaking was more than a reminder of better times and better people leading us into the future. It was a timely lesson in the value of placing hope over grievance, of feeling uplifting optimism rather than deflating pessimism, of placing love and kindness above constant anger and resentment, of public service being for the benefit of others rather than glory and profit for the self and those enrolled in the friends and family plan.
You didn’t need to be in Chicago to feel the vibe. I was listening on the radio while commuting and could feel instantly the change in mood and tone. Something was in the air, and for a most pleasant moment it was like breathing in the smell of a lilac bush in full bloom in springtime instead of the constantly stale farts that we sadly have become accustomed to inhaling from the turd currently occupying the White House and his enablers. It was a much needed uplifting moment, a return to a time and place not so distant yet which feels like so long ago, before our government, never mind our human decency, were hijacked by a movement that places no value upon it.
After the feel-good moment passed, the obvious question remains: how do we find our way back to that better representation of our better selves? Where is the key to unlock the door to the jail that we all have been placed into, lacking windows to let in necessary disinfecting sunlight? Democrats, please play on a loop highlights of Michelle Obama’s momentous speech as well as Barack’s words of wisdom and insight, as the fall electoral campaign nears. The inspiration is needed if we are to vanquish the forces of greed, selfishness, hatred, and sometimes outright evil that govern us now. We were reminded that hope is okay, that change can happen, and that we can be better without Melania's help, without her husband in control of everything, and minus the others in service to him within the cult.
It is exactly what we needed to hear. Let’s go back, and then go forward. It is time. Make it happen.
And so wonderful to see first ladies who know how to smile genuinely. All of them - Michelle, Jill, Hillary and Laura know how to show happy emotions instead of the grouchy contempt we usually see on the face of Melania, although who can blame her?
When I watched it on the Chicago NBC YouTube page yesterday afternoon, Barack's speech had about 70K views, and Michelle's speech had about 500K views!
Sounds about right - President Obama's speech was, with his usual modesty, about America, its people and its future. Michelle's speech was in high praise of a very much loved man.
As people are saying on other sites and to the pro-democracy, pro-equality, pro-justice groups they are joining: "Come for the cause; stay for the people." The America everyone knows and loves is a society based on ideals and that cares about each other.
There has always been a strong strain of "slaveholder mentality" that was kept in the Constitution in order to unite the colonies into one nation. Sadly, in some ways, we have never been one nation. So, when too many of us fell asleep and Trump got elected, again, our government was taken over by the ultra-rich, racist, and greedy.
There are many more of us than them. The incompetency of this government, run by unqualified, angry, racist, and cruel people, has failed at everything they attempted to do. We have to do everything we can to contain, control, and then get rid of them as quickly and peacefully as possible.
And we, as a nation, need to finally have an HONEST reckoning about our history. We need to address what was done to the slaves (and just continued on in another form) and what was done to the indigenous people. We need to face it, finally.
Such a powerful, accurate statement. Have traced my maternal/paternal family to pre civil war era when they were considered just "property". Have visited a relatives civil war soldier tombstone in Kentucky, & reflected. Me, & the folks that came before me, are very strong, & very patriotic, because we are honest about our nation's total, full history. We still believe. We still continue fighting, to make our country a better, more just society. My ancestors demand nothing less from me. Happy Juneteenth, America!
Oh we were pretty united in the 20th century. The biggest myth is that racism is a southern thing. I grew up in the north, in a union Democrat family. My Dad and everybody we knew were suburban "salt of the earth" working class union steelworkers,...and the racism was unapologetic, raw and intense. And out in the open. In some ways it was worse than in the south, because many northern whites (to this day) can go weeks, months, even years, without ever having to really interact with a black person, unless they are filling your order at McDonalds.
In the south, an open racist will be in a lot of fights, because black people are everywhere and a part of every white person's daily life. I have houses in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, and I encounter racist remarks and attitudes much more often in the north. So, yeah, we were very united, at least until Obama became president and that lead to the ugly backlash of Trumpism.
Neither Kamala nor Hillary were "overly competent", and I'd argue Kamala really isn't very "smart" or even remotely "competent". She certainly didn't demonstrate that she was in either of her campaigns, or as Vice President. When "incompetence and word salads" becomes your meme, well,...
But, otherwise, yeah, I agree with your comment. Those guys would never vote for a woman, even a competent, likeable one. Always remember, the racists in the Dem party chose a completely inexperienced black man over a much more experienced and qualified white woman - even accounting for her unlikeability. That says something political advisors would be wise not to ignore again.
Beautifully written Mr. D. I felt like I was having a lovely dream watching these gracious people. What a contrast to the ugly faces of the screeching howler monkeys in the orange one's cabinet. Sorry that I insulted real howler monkeys.
W, you're very fortunate that the Obamas like you.
Let’s hope this is a harbinger of good things to come: it’s certainly was the light at the end of a very dark tunnel! Let’s keep the momentum going as the world is finally waking up to all of this madness.
Not just here, but with Putin and Ukraine—the tides are turning—and finally for the good!😊
I totally agree. I didn't listen to it as it was happening but I have listened to some of it. It is a breath of fresh air coming in on a breeze that I did not expect, as it's been a long time. And, the comparison with the lilac bush was absolutely perfect!
Great words! I watched on YouTube, and it was like watching his first Inauguration in miniature, I felt the same way. Those inspiring words are what the nation deserves and needs to hear for our 250, not the noxious gas of yet another Trump Rally on the 4th.
Amen! I just want to feel proud again to be American. Yesterday’s celebration of the Obama Presidential Center was uplifting and gave me hope. Today’s celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation is also uplifting.
On June 19 1865 we made one step forward to making us a more perfect nation. Freeing millions of slaves was great but it still took a century to make the next step - yes all men are created equal.
The Arc of the Moral Universe bends toward justice, for sure. But as Obama said, it doesn’t bend by itself. Let’s all get to work.
Yes, I felt that! It was something very much needed! Heather Richardson wrote about Mamdani's speech and Obama's speech! I was beyond grateful to hear stirring ideas of hope 💙💙💙🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
The GOP tries to have it both ways - claim to be "the party of Lincoln" in one breath and the party of the Old South in the next. Unfortunately, too many people don't understand the difference. Today is a good day to explain that to them.
In addition to claiming the Democrats are the party of the KKK, MAGAtrolls routinely try to claim that the Nazis were actually "far left socialists" (due to "Nazi" being an abbreviation for "National Socialist"). The smarter ones likely know they are being disingenuous, while the dumber ones seem to actually believe it.
My mother’s family is from Mississippi, and it did not end. Perhaps if Lincoln had lived, but the coulda woulda shouldas of this current moment are legion. I’ll just say in agreement with you all, may the current condition of that reflecting pool accurately reflect the fortunes of this administration so that all may finally see the true state of the (would be) emperor. Happy Juneteenth!
Lincoln should have executed those traitors on the spot, which would have saved us a whole lot of grief for the next ~150 years. Or let them secede from the union, and good riddance.
Lincoln did not fight the civil war to end slavery. He fought the civil war to preserve the union. Period. He interpreted the constitution to say that once you're in, you're in until the rest of the states say you can go - anything else is treason. You can't just pick up your ball and leave because someone pisses you off.
The freeing of the slaves, which he openly opined was an unconstitutional act, was a means to an end to weaken, destabilize, and demoralize the south and win the war. I'm not saying Lincoln was a proponent of slavery, he wasn't. But nobody in the north was willing to go to war to end slavery.
The south started the hot civil war, and paid for it with their slaves. Had they not fired on Fort Sumpter, it's possible we would have had slavery into the 20th century. Cars and slaves. Electricity and slaves. The telephone and slaves. Now that is something to consider.
"This morning (eastern time) the Republican Guard Corps Navy—which Trump claims doesn’t exist—once again closed the strait. The message was clear: If you want to negotiate, you’d better figure out how to get Israel in line."
Since I'm a bad person, earlier this week I thought it would be hilarious if Iran pulled something like this prior to Friday to embarrass Trump and, by extension, his party. Trump forced the GOP to eat the proverbial shit sandwich -- perhaps washed down with Chateau Trump -- and now Iran has sawed off the limb Trump mindlessly climbed onto. I suspected something like this could happen, and now that it has, I'm going to luxuriate in Trump's embarrassment and incompetence while taking my wife to the beach for lunch and a few beverages.
Kudos to Iran's Mullahs. They are indeed evil, but they've shown themselves to be sophisticated operators
I forget where I read it, but apparently Iran had a couple psychologists contributing to their negotiations, noting what a dementia-addled sociopath like Trump would want. (It's not hard -- phony compliments and acknowledgments on his prowess.) On our side? Kushner and Lutnick, who could USE some psychologists ... for therapy.
The problem with Trump has always been his tendency to tell us what he's thinking. He doesn't know how or when to shut the hell up. So of course an adversary is going to study him and what makes him tick. It would be professional negligence not to.
Also, I believe the Iranians know that Kushner and Witkoff represent *Trump*, not the United States. In fact, I would go as far as to say that Iran hopes Trump gets another term because he's been so good for them.
He can't shut up because he thinks he's so damn smart, and he wants to show everybody to prove to them and him that he's so damn smart. What an effing moron.
Geography, its importance in military planning and biology are among this week's highlighted subjects. Extra credit available for project planning and risk analysis.
I think this is more than a temporary sideshow. Iran is showing us their long-term strategy. They see an opportunity to really turn the screws on Israel. The "deal" won't happen and the Straight of Hormuz will stay (mostly) closed until Trump is able to bully Bibi into stopping his assaults in Lebanon and elsewhere. It is up to Trump to control Israel, and if he can't do it, economic disaster is looming. As strained as US relations with Israel are now, they are about to get much, much worse. Israel is used to doing what they want with only Susan Collins-level "concerns" from other countries. (Like Joe's "private talks" with Bibi). Now, when Israel does something, Iran won't just attack Israel back. They will attack the world economy. This is Trump's fault, and I don't think it has even dawned on him the scope of the mess he has made.
The Iranians have always played the long game and known the exact moves on the chess board. Trump may have thought he kicked it over and scattered the pieces, but they merely put them back on the board and promptly checkmated him.
His favorite tactic of kicking over the chessboard rather than playing by the rules has worked in the USA, so he's trying it elsewhere. He's finding out that it won't always work elsewhere.
I don't think it has dawned on most people. It's like Trump has made the country and the world touch the hot stove. However, they/we have yet to fully realize the extent of the burn.
Iran is doing god's work in keeping the world's hand pressed to the stove and reminding the entire world why fossil fuels should have been phased out before the year 2000.
I'not sure he even realises that he has lost. He'll be sitting watching Fox, chewing on a burger and nodding along to all their praise - and all his little puppets will be nodding along with him.
I can only imagine that Trump's brags about "Israel will do whatever I want" are even more motivation for Netanyahu to oppose him, to prove that Trump doesn't own him. What a mess.
I expect there will be a LOT more chain yanking by Iran as this process moves forward to a final signed surrender document. Trump, and all these nitwits, put us at the end of that chain.
If I was a gambler, I'd put a lot of money on the Iranians hitting (or trying to) a US military vessel as they leave the Gulf. He'd have to either go back (and look weak) or look weak by leaving anyway.
Check out the amount of traffic in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf. Lots and lots of boats thinking the Strait was going to be open.
I don' t think they'd go that far, but they will take every "diplomatic" opportunity to make trump rein in Netanyahu and drag talks out to extract more political pain on trump. Once trump signed the surrender doc at Versailles, they already got all the money. They can bide their time and drag it out. They will respond to every provocation by Israel in the region.
They won't do that. They know Trump is unstable, and that there are people behind Trump itching for more fight. He might say f*ck it, turnaround and send in the army and marines and end them once and for all. Iran wants us gone from the Gulf as soon as possible, so they can get back to exporting terrorism and building that nuke to use on Israel.
Just because Trump sucks, remember that Iran is an even more evil enemy of America and the western world. Trump screwed this whole thing up, because, well, that's what he does,...but that doesn't mean Iran was not a real threat.
I have a very grim prediction of what we are about to see from this Administration. I think JD was authorized to go after Israel and Bibi. Trump himself has been critical recently. And he is starting to talk about what good guys the Iranians are. We are about to go from always being at war with Eastasia to always being at war with Eurasia. And there will be scapegoats. Tucker, MTG, and Nick Fuentes are about to win the internal GOP division over whether antisemitism is bad or whether it is just "truth." and MAGA and Republican electeds are going to be clicking their heels and getting in formation.
As a liberal, I have had no fondness for Netenyahu's government and the outrageous treatment of the Palestinians for decades. I have chafed at Republicans (including Bulwarkers) who conflate criticism of the Israeli government with anti-semitism. I am not Jewish myself. But I in no way want my suspicions to be true. I fear things are going to get even more dire here on the home front.
I live near Galveston, TX, the birthplace of Juneteenth, and Sunday is the big Juneteenth concert by the Galveston Symphony Orchestra. This will be our third or fourth time going. So, if you live in the area, come to the concert!
Yes, unfortunately Texas was the last state to free its slaves, keeping people enslaved for over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Here is a brief refresher from the Department of the Interior:
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved in Texas were then free -- two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free."
-- General Order No. 3, by command of Major General Gordon Granger --
Yes, there were quite a few confused white people at the first GSO Juneteenth concert a few years ago, but then the choir director turned to the audience and signaled that everyone should rise. Now, we're the first ones up! LOL
Iran abruptly cancelling the peace talks means you can't trust them, can't trust Israel and can't trust the US. It also means Iran is in total control of this entire situation, and the US is totally helpless to do anything about it. How embarrassing for the US.
Great work, DJT. Great work.
PS - Is anyone really surprised by this? I mean, of course this was going to happen.
Bibi is less crazy, but just as desperate to stay in power/out of prison. He knows that attacking Lebanon will screw Trump's deal. Israel didn't sign on to any of it, so why SHOULD they abide by it? Trump is so desperate to get out of there, he'll sign anything, even if it won't work out like he wants.
Bibi is poking Trump in the eye, no doubt. He doesn't like the MOU. And, as tough as the anti-corruption laws are in Israel, you'd think he'd wise up. I agree w what you say.
But I've followed Bibi for abt 35 yrs. He's very hard right, and has had a long run 3 different times as PM. He's definitely getting worse each time in office. Witness Gaza and the West Bank. It's just my opinion, but showing ip his strongest supporter, the USA, fits his MO of extreme excess.
The funny thing about National Parks (and US holidays) had been mostly about white America. MLK Day changed that. So did Juneteenth.
The Park service has spent much effort to be more inclusive - it has done so slowly, so added African American history where appropriate. Also that of the native Indians. Women too.
I volunteered at a National Park site in Paterson NJ. Our visitation had many more non white visitors than is typical for a National Park (park visitors look like me, grey haired white folks). We were proud of that. We also hosted school groups and in Paterson these are largely non white.
I felt proud to help give a good visit to folks who probably were not sure that the US was working for them too - but in our park - and in national parks across the nation - visitors should note the inclusion.
Born in Paterson we grew up in Clifton. We would visit my maternal grandmother in Paterson and my father, not wanting to listen to 3 women chatting, would say to the three oldest boys - let's go for a ride. often to the Falls. Also to Garret Mtn.
Here in the Deep South, the heart of Trumplandia, the city government of my small town has posted a reminder that its offices will be closed for Juneteenth National Liberation Day. The post goes on to reflect on the holiday's meaning to all Americans. I am surprised and absolutely thrilled.
I have been thinking about the entirety of the Iranian debacle and suddenly it came into focus. Peter Sellers starred in a film in 1959 which gave Iran it's blue print to success, called "The Mouse That Roared". A fictitious European mini-state, The Duchy of Grand Fenwick, needed financial support to survive. Their solution: Declare War on the US, lose, then use the Marshall Plan that is bound to come to live on. The Iranians even went one better, getting the US to declare war by needling Bibi, and then quitting, irritating Bibi, and paying for the lesson.
OK, so no one ever accused the Felon of being George C. Marshall, but the end result is the same: Iran gets a gazillion dollars from the US, probably with provisos about which Felon cronies get the contracts, details of which JD will iron out whenever he sits down with the Iranians. And the Iranians understand the principle of collect, rinse, repeat, having maintained control of their version of a money spigot, the Straights of Hormuz.
Have you ever seen the 1959 movie, "The Mouse that Roared" with Peter Sellers? It is about a tiny bankrupt country that decides to declare war on the US and then promptly surrender, so that they can receive generous postwar-aid. Of course, like the Iran war, it all goes wrong and they inadvertently win the war.
Andy Borowitz on his Substack today cites the same film, for the same reasons. And remember, Grand Fenwick failed in losing its war, its intention, and accidentally won.
“[Trump] is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time. And he happens to be the head of state of the world’s superpower.”
But Giorgia Meloni had a UFC worthy slap on the ever flaccid Trump: "I don’t know why the president of the US behaves like this with allies. It’s not the first time it happens. I can only say it’s regrettable he doesn’t have the same determination with the enemies of the West, the enemies of the US, with leaders he’s far more accommodating with.”
Oh, too little and maybe too late, but damn the yuuuggge, cathartic, and deserved comeuppance to our despicable, to say nothing of egregiously sexist, prez.
I think he's not able to compute that *she* is the leader of Italy and *she* is a *she* at the same table as *him*. His brain only accepts the *she* part.
I am fortunate to enjoy a successful career. As a white female, albeit from an ethnic group that is sometimes disfavored, there is no question that my career would have been much more difficult had I been a black woman. Despite abhorring racism, I cannot deny having benefited from it, even though that was not my intent. This quote resonates: “In this country men can be born and live well and die without ever having to feel much of what makes their ease possible.”
"Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen."
Remember when Obama said this and the right lost their minds?
As a person who is not especially religious, I say Jesus Christ!!! Now "DJT American Blue Flag" paint is peeling! Maybe this isn't the biggest issue but it continues to show the extreme incompetence anything Trump related. When you hire sycophants and fluffers, this is what you get. Rick Wilson said everything Trump touches dies. He didn't have the reflecting pool in mind.
To be fair, in the case of the Reflecting Pool one of the problems is too much life.
I wonder if they’ve DNA sequenced the algae yet to check if it’s a patriotic all American microbe or an illegal Mexican migrant strain attempting to ruin the 250th anniversary.
The "high quality material" and installation has come up a wee bit short of the 100 years I heard him mention. Who would have guessed that spraying a coating onto recently drained old concrete and immediately filling it back up again wouldn't work.
I guess there was contact with the head of the company that did the job. Not surprisingly all he had to say was that he did what he had been asked to do. Coated the pool, as instructed, no comment on anything else.
Official story is that the water is crystal clear, the pool is blue, the coating has already lasted 100 years. Maybe it's 100 algae years, but that was what they meant all along.
"The one time the Trump administration seems to have taken notice of Juneteenth was in December of last year, when the administration removed Juneteenth (and MLK Day) from the National Park Service’s list of free-admission days, replacing it with June 14, Flag Day—which is not an official federal holiday. But it is President Trump’s birthday, and that is the holiday he wishes all of us to celebrate, as he celebrated it Sunday with the cage match on the White House lawn."
It's good to bring this back up, because it is one of the more astounding and appalling messages this Administration has sent, and perhaps it's dropped from mind over the last year. To degrade Emancipation Day and MLK Day as beneath Trump's birthday, I mean, where would you see such an insult other than North Korea? Other than some impoverished, war-torn country exploited by some warlord? This is what all of the "freedom-loving patriots" in America love and demand.
Like Paul on the road to Damascus, scales seem to be falling of eyes as the salience of who Trump is and how he behaves becomes too obvious to ignore and those who never thought they would have to pay the consequences for his actions realize the bill has come form them and are now choking on the cost.
Great presidents rise to the moment and move the country forward to greater participation, more equality and more democracy. DJT has never had the qualities to do anything more than based on his own selfishness and desires. I doubt Lincoln knew the journey his presidency would take, but he was the man for the moment who saved the union and made the country start to reckon with it’s founding ideals and our hypocrisy on race. No one’s history is perfect of clean, but it is only through recognizing our struggles and where we have failed that we become a more perfect union.
Did you feel the breeze yesterday? Wasn’t it refreshing?
The sound of the Obamas speaking was more than a reminder of better times and better people leading us into the future. It was a timely lesson in the value of placing hope over grievance, of feeling uplifting optimism rather than deflating pessimism, of placing love and kindness above constant anger and resentment, of public service being for the benefit of others rather than glory and profit for the self and those enrolled in the friends and family plan.
You didn’t need to be in Chicago to feel the vibe. I was listening on the radio while commuting and could feel instantly the change in mood and tone. Something was in the air, and for a most pleasant moment it was like breathing in the smell of a lilac bush in full bloom in springtime instead of the constantly stale farts that we sadly have become accustomed to inhaling from the turd currently occupying the White House and his enablers. It was a much needed uplifting moment, a return to a time and place not so distant yet which feels like so long ago, before our government, never mind our human decency, were hijacked by a movement that places no value upon it.
After the feel-good moment passed, the obvious question remains: how do we find our way back to that better representation of our better selves? Where is the key to unlock the door to the jail that we all have been placed into, lacking windows to let in necessary disinfecting sunlight? Democrats, please play on a loop highlights of Michelle Obama’s momentous speech as well as Barack’s words of wisdom and insight, as the fall electoral campaign nears. The inspiration is needed if we are to vanquish the forces of greed, selfishness, hatred, and sometimes outright evil that govern us now. We were reminded that hope is okay, that change can happen, and that we can be better without Melania's help, without her husband in control of everything, and minus the others in service to him within the cult.
It is exactly what we needed to hear. Let’s go back, and then go forward. It is time. Make it happen.
Michelle was amazing; her praise of her husband was beautiful. Nice to be reminded of a time not too long ago when I was proud of this country.
Her line about Obama's Nobel Peace Prize (and Hillary's uncontained laughter when Michelle said it) was one for the ages.
The whole speech was an implicit shot at Trump, and everybody gets it. It was masterful.
And so wonderful to see first ladies who know how to smile genuinely. All of them - Michelle, Jill, Hillary and Laura know how to show happy emotions instead of the grouchy contempt we usually see on the face of Melania, although who can blame her?
I can blame her. She married that disgusting thing for profit and position. She got what she wanted.
Imagine being married to 🍊‼️ 🤮
When I watched it on the Chicago NBC YouTube page yesterday afternoon, Barack's speech had about 70K views, and Michelle's speech had about 500K views!
Sounds about right - President Obama's speech was, with his usual modesty, about America, its people and its future. Michelle's speech was in high praise of a very much loved man.
Both were great.
As people are saying on other sites and to the pro-democracy, pro-equality, pro-justice groups they are joining: "Come for the cause; stay for the people." The America everyone knows and loves is a society based on ideals and that cares about each other.
There has always been a strong strain of "slaveholder mentality" that was kept in the Constitution in order to unite the colonies into one nation. Sadly, in some ways, we have never been one nation. So, when too many of us fell asleep and Trump got elected, again, our government was taken over by the ultra-rich, racist, and greedy.
There are many more of us than them. The incompetency of this government, run by unqualified, angry, racist, and cruel people, has failed at everything they attempted to do. We have to do everything we can to contain, control, and then get rid of them as quickly and peacefully as possible.
And we, as a nation, need to finally have an HONEST reckoning about our history. We need to address what was done to the slaves (and just continued on in another form) and what was done to the indigenous people. We need to face it, finally.
We can never be whole and healed until we do.
Such a powerful, accurate statement. Have traced my maternal/paternal family to pre civil war era when they were considered just "property". Have visited a relatives civil war soldier tombstone in Kentucky, & reflected. Me, & the folks that came before me, are very strong, & very patriotic, because we are honest about our nation's total, full history. We still believe. We still continue fighting, to make our country a better, more just society. My ancestors demand nothing less from me. Happy Juneteenth, America!
By god we will.
Oh we were pretty united in the 20th century. The biggest myth is that racism is a southern thing. I grew up in the north, in a union Democrat family. My Dad and everybody we knew were suburban "salt of the earth" working class union steelworkers,...and the racism was unapologetic, raw and intense. And out in the open. In some ways it was worse than in the south, because many northern whites (to this day) can go weeks, months, even years, without ever having to really interact with a black person, unless they are filling your order at McDonalds.
In the south, an open racist will be in a lot of fights, because black people are everywhere and a part of every white person's daily life. I have houses in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, and I encounter racist remarks and attitudes much more often in the north. So, yeah, we were very united, at least until Obama became president and that lead to the ugly backlash of Trumpism.
It was those hard working white men who turned to Trump in reaction to Obama. They also would never vote for a smart overly competent woman.
Neither Kamala nor Hillary were "overly competent", and I'd argue Kamala really isn't very "smart" or even remotely "competent". She certainly didn't demonstrate that she was in either of her campaigns, or as Vice President. When "incompetence and word salads" becomes your meme, well,...
But, otherwise, yeah, I agree with your comment. Those guys would never vote for a woman, even a competent, likeable one. Always remember, the racists in the Dem party chose a completely inexperienced black man over a much more experienced and qualified white woman - even accounting for her unlikeability. That says something political advisors would be wise not to ignore again.
Beautifully written Mr. D. I felt like I was having a lovely dream watching these gracious people. What a contrast to the ugly faces of the screeching howler monkeys in the orange one's cabinet. Sorry that I insulted real howler monkeys.
W, you're very fortunate that the Obamas like you.
Well said: Bravo!👏
Let’s hope this is a harbinger of good things to come: it’s certainly was the light at the end of a very dark tunnel! Let’s keep the momentum going as the world is finally waking up to all of this madness.
Not just here, but with Putin and Ukraine—the tides are turning—and finally for the good!😊
Deutschmeister,
I totally agree. I didn't listen to it as it was happening but I have listened to some of it. It is a breath of fresh air coming in on a breeze that I did not expect, as it's been a long time. And, the comparison with the lilac bush was absolutely perfect!
Great words! I watched on YouTube, and it was like watching his first Inauguration in miniature, I felt the same way. Those inspiring words are what the nation deserves and needs to hear for our 250, not the noxious gas of yet another Trump Rally on the 4th.
Amen! I just want to feel proud again to be American. Yesterday’s celebration of the Obama Presidential Center was uplifting and gave me hope. Today’s celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation is also uplifting.
On June 19 1865 we made one step forward to making us a more perfect nation. Freeing millions of slaves was great but it still took a century to make the next step - yes all men are created equal.
The Arc of the Moral Universe bends toward justice, for sure. But as Obama said, it doesn’t bend by itself. Let’s all get to work.
Tim, I couldn't have said better myself!
Yes, I felt that! It was something very much needed! Heather Richardson wrote about Mamdani's speech and Obama's speech! I was beyond grateful to hear stirring ideas of hope 💙💙💙🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
Uh
The Civil War never ended. We’re still fighting it today. The latest battles are up to us.
The GOP tries to have it both ways - claim to be "the party of Lincoln" in one breath and the party of the Old South in the next. Unfortunately, too many people don't understand the difference. Today is a good day to explain that to them.
Here's a trolling tactic I use online with Trumpers:
Trumper: "The Demoncrats are the Party of the KKK!!!"
Me: "I agree! This is why we need to get rid of the Demoncrat-made Confederate monuments. It'll totally own the libs."
Trumper: "NO THAT'S HISTORY!!"
It's them wanting to benefit from racism without having to think of themselves as racists.
In addition to claiming the Democrats are the party of the KKK, MAGAtrolls routinely try to claim that the Nazis were actually "far left socialists" (due to "Nazi" being an abbreviation for "National Socialist"). The smarter ones likely know they are being disingenuous, while the dumber ones seem to actually believe it.
Just like the Democratic Republic of Germany was TOTES democratic, right? It's right there in the name, so it has to be accurate!
AND THIS IS WHY JOE BIDEN IS ADOLF HITLER WHILE BEING TOO SENILE TO LEAVE HIS BASEMENT!! (sarcasm)
I’ve seen that one, too!
Although they would clearly not welcome a modern day Lincoln to the convention.
Today the GOP wouldn't even allow Reagan in their convention.
Yes, I see that a lot on the right, about the racist southern white Democrats.
They fail to note the deliberate and successful scheme to recruit those Dixiecrats into the Republican Party.
We need a modern Grant and Sherman. So far, all we have is McClellan.
Spot-on. McClellan is the perfect description of the majority of todays Democratic leaders.
To find the perfect description of the majority of today's (and this century's) Republican leaders, you would be in Jefferson Davis territory.
Amen brother, amen!
My mother’s family is from Mississippi, and it did not end. Perhaps if Lincoln had lived, but the coulda woulda shouldas of this current moment are legion. I’ll just say in agreement with you all, may the current condition of that reflecting pool accurately reflect the fortunes of this administration so that all may finally see the true state of the (would be) emperor. Happy Juneteenth!
Lincoln should have executed those traitors on the spot, which would have saved us a whole lot of grief for the next ~150 years. Or let them secede from the union, and good riddance.
Lincoln did not fight the civil war to end slavery. He fought the civil war to preserve the union. Period. He interpreted the constitution to say that once you're in, you're in until the rest of the states say you can go - anything else is treason. You can't just pick up your ball and leave because someone pisses you off.
The freeing of the slaves, which he openly opined was an unconstitutional act, was a means to an end to weaken, destabilize, and demoralize the south and win the war. I'm not saying Lincoln was a proponent of slavery, he wasn't. But nobody in the north was willing to go to war to end slavery.
The south started the hot civil war, and paid for it with their slaves. Had they not fired on Fort Sumpter, it's possible we would have had slavery into the 20th century. Cars and slaves. Electricity and slaves. The telephone and slaves. Now that is something to consider.
Thank you. We won’t give up.
"This morning (eastern time) the Republican Guard Corps Navy—which Trump claims doesn’t exist—once again closed the strait. The message was clear: If you want to negotiate, you’d better figure out how to get Israel in line."
Since I'm a bad person, earlier this week I thought it would be hilarious if Iran pulled something like this prior to Friday to embarrass Trump and, by extension, his party. Trump forced the GOP to eat the proverbial shit sandwich -- perhaps washed down with Chateau Trump -- and now Iran has sawed off the limb Trump mindlessly climbed onto. I suspected something like this could happen, and now that it has, I'm going to luxuriate in Trump's embarrassment and incompetence while taking my wife to the beach for lunch and a few beverages.
Kudos to Iran's Mullahs. They are indeed evil, but they've shown themselves to be sophisticated operators
I forget where I read it, but apparently Iran had a couple psychologists contributing to their negotiations, noting what a dementia-addled sociopath like Trump would want. (It's not hard -- phony compliments and acknowledgments on his prowess.) On our side? Kushner and Lutnick, who could USE some psychologists ... for therapy.
The problem with Trump has always been his tendency to tell us what he's thinking. He doesn't know how or when to shut the hell up. So of course an adversary is going to study him and what makes him tick. It would be professional negligence not to.
Also, I believe the Iranians know that Kushner and Witkoff represent *Trump*, not the United States. In fact, I would go as far as to say that Iran hopes Trump gets another term because he's been so good for them.
He can't shut up because he thinks he's so damn smart, and he wants to show everybody to prove to them and him that he's so damn smart. What an effing moron.
He knows more about any subject without studying than "experts" who have devoted their entire careers to a subject!
Geography, its importance in military planning and biology are among this week's highlighted subjects. Extra credit available for project planning and risk analysis.
And, in case you ever HAVE to surrender - a brief look at the history of what Versailles has been used for in the past.
Boy, Macron really HATES trump, doesn't he?
(and he gave trump a BIKE as a "goodbye!" present!🤣🤣🤣
Love this observation. Actual teachers can use this week (and other weeks) to tell their students what NOT to do.
His uncle taught at MIT!
I’m not surprised. They know how to handle him!
I think this is more than a temporary sideshow. Iran is showing us their long-term strategy. They see an opportunity to really turn the screws on Israel. The "deal" won't happen and the Straight of Hormuz will stay (mostly) closed until Trump is able to bully Bibi into stopping his assaults in Lebanon and elsewhere. It is up to Trump to control Israel, and if he can't do it, economic disaster is looming. As strained as US relations with Israel are now, they are about to get much, much worse. Israel is used to doing what they want with only Susan Collins-level "concerns" from other countries. (Like Joe's "private talks" with Bibi). Now, when Israel does something, Iran won't just attack Israel back. They will attack the world economy. This is Trump's fault, and I don't think it has even dawned on him the scope of the mess he has made.
The Iranians have always played the long game and known the exact moves on the chess board. Trump may have thought he kicked it over and scattered the pieces, but they merely put them back on the board and promptly checkmated him.
His favorite tactic of kicking over the chessboard rather than playing by the rules has worked in the USA, so he's trying it elsewhere. He's finding out that it won't always work elsewhere.
I don't think it has dawned on most people. It's like Trump has made the country and the world touch the hot stove. However, they/we have yet to fully realize the extent of the burn.
Iran is doing god's work in keeping the world's hand pressed to the stove and reminding the entire world why fossil fuels should have been phased out before the year 2000.
I'not sure he even realises that he has lost. He'll be sitting watching Fox, chewing on a burger and nodding along to all their praise - and all his little puppets will be nodding along with him.
Even some Fox commentators were unhappy with the Iran deal.
I can only imagine that Trump's brags about "Israel will do whatever I want" are even more motivation for Netanyahu to oppose him, to prove that Trump doesn't own him. What a mess.
I expect there will be a LOT more chain yanking by Iran as this process moves forward to a final signed surrender document. Trump, and all these nitwits, put us at the end of that chain.
If I was a gambler, I'd put a lot of money on the Iranians hitting (or trying to) a US military vessel as they leave the Gulf. He'd have to either go back (and look weak) or look weak by leaving anyway.
Check out the amount of traffic in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf. Lots and lots of boats thinking the Strait was going to be open.
I don' t think they'd go that far, but they will take every "diplomatic" opportunity to make trump rein in Netanyahu and drag talks out to extract more political pain on trump. Once trump signed the surrender doc at Versailles, they already got all the money. They can bide their time and drag it out. They will respond to every provocation by Israel in the region.
They won't do that. They know Trump is unstable, and that there are people behind Trump itching for more fight. He might say f*ck it, turnaround and send in the army and marines and end them once and for all. Iran wants us gone from the Gulf as soon as possible, so they can get back to exporting terrorism and building that nuke to use on Israel.
Just because Trump sucks, remember that Iran is an even more evil enemy of America and the western world. Trump screwed this whole thing up, because, well, that's what he does,...but that doesn't mean Iran was not a real threat.
I like bad people, Tim.
Thanks lol
I live to serve.
Who has all the proverbial cards here? Hint: not 🍊.
I have a very grim prediction of what we are about to see from this Administration. I think JD was authorized to go after Israel and Bibi. Trump himself has been critical recently. And he is starting to talk about what good guys the Iranians are. We are about to go from always being at war with Eastasia to always being at war with Eurasia. And there will be scapegoats. Tucker, MTG, and Nick Fuentes are about to win the internal GOP division over whether antisemitism is bad or whether it is just "truth." and MAGA and Republican electeds are going to be clicking their heels and getting in formation.
As a liberal, I have had no fondness for Netenyahu's government and the outrageous treatment of the Palestinians for decades. I have chafed at Republicans (including Bulwarkers) who conflate criticism of the Israeli government with anti-semitism. I am not Jewish myself. But I in no way want my suspicions to be true. I fear things are going to get even more dire here on the home front.
There are about $4 billion per year ways to remind Israel that its interests aren't necessarily the same as ours.
Yep, very 1984-ish.
I live near Galveston, TX, the birthplace of Juneteenth, and Sunday is the big Juneteenth concert by the Galveston Symphony Orchestra. This will be our third or fourth time going. So, if you live in the area, come to the concert!
https://galvestonsymphony.org/events/juneteenth2026
Pro tip: Stand up from your seat when they start playing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" (commonly regarded as the Black National Anthem).
Thank you for reminding us about Galveston's role in Juneteenth.
Yes, unfortunately Texas was the last state to free its slaves, keeping people enslaved for over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Here is a brief refresher from the Department of the Interior:
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved in Texas were then free -- two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free."
-- General Order No. 3, by command of Major General Gordon Granger --
"Lift Every Voice and Sing" is a magnificent hymn. My privilege deprived me of hearing it until I was well into adulthood.
Yes, there were quite a few confused white people at the first GSO Juneteenth concert a few years ago, but then the choir director turned to the audience and signaled that everyone should rise. Now, we're the first ones up! LOL
I always wished it was our national anthem.
Iran abruptly cancelling the peace talks means you can't trust them, can't trust Israel and can't trust the US. It also means Iran is in total control of this entire situation, and the US is totally helpless to do anything about it. How embarrassing for the US.
Great work, DJT. Great work.
PS - Is anyone really surprised by this? I mean, of course this was going to happen.
I would have been surprised if it didn’t happen. Netanyahu wants to blow up this deal, so he’s literally blowing it up.
You've got a great point. It's not just Iran who is in control here. It's also Bibi. So maybe I should edit my comment above.
But you know who's not in charge at all? Yeah...
If anyone is crazier than Trump, at least in the Westetn block of countries, it's Netanyahu.
Bibi is less crazy, but just as desperate to stay in power/out of prison. He knows that attacking Lebanon will screw Trump's deal. Israel didn't sign on to any of it, so why SHOULD they abide by it? Trump is so desperate to get out of there, he'll sign anything, even if it won't work out like he wants.
Bibi is poking Trump in the eye, no doubt. He doesn't like the MOU. And, as tough as the anti-corruption laws are in Israel, you'd think he'd wise up. I agree w what you say.
But I've followed Bibi for abt 35 yrs. He's very hard right, and has had a long run 3 different times as PM. He's definitely getting worse each time in office. Witness Gaza and the West Bank. It's just my opinion, but showing ip his strongest supporter, the USA, fits his MO of extreme excess.
I guess Netanyahu is about to see how far he can push Trump. The Israelis seem to think they have way more leverage than they do
The President said that anyone against the Peace Memo was stupid. Gosh, who to believe? :)
The funny thing about National Parks (and US holidays) had been mostly about white America. MLK Day changed that. So did Juneteenth.
The Park service has spent much effort to be more inclusive - it has done so slowly, so added African American history where appropriate. Also that of the native Indians. Women too.
I volunteered at a National Park site in Paterson NJ. Our visitation had many more non white visitors than is typical for a National Park (park visitors look like me, grey haired white folks). We were proud of that. We also hosted school groups and in Paterson these are largely non white.
I felt proud to help give a good visit to folks who probably were not sure that the US was working for them too - but in our park - and in national parks across the nation - visitors should note the inclusion.
But then there is Trump.
The Great Paterson Falls! :-)
I grew up in Clifton, NJ my Dad (God rest his soul) loved to go to the Falls.
He was very proud of it!
Born in Paterson we grew up in Clifton. We would visit my maternal grandmother in Paterson and my father, not wanting to listen to 3 women chatting, would say to the three oldest boys - let's go for a ride. often to the Falls. Also to Garret Mtn.
Paterson has a very interesting industrial history. It was the epicenter of silk making!
I want to say that I've seen those falls somewhere in a TV show....maybe some scary looking guys threatening a health care executive?
Sopranos tossed a guy over
Wasn't one of the first submarines, designed by an Irishman, made in Paterson? Or is on display there?
The first sub commissioned in the US Navy was a Holland design. Same in Britain and Japan
John P Holland Irish immigrant and Paterson teacher did design the first submarines and they are on display at the Paterson Museum
Thanks! I couldn't quite remember all the details.
I'm a Brit with Irish roots, and heard this in his birthplace - Liscannor, on the coast of County Clare...
That I don’t remember… though I do remember county Clare
Here in the Deep South, the heart of Trumplandia, the city government of my small town has posted a reminder that its offices will be closed for Juneteenth National Liberation Day. The post goes on to reflect on the holiday's meaning to all Americans. I am surprised and absolutely thrilled.
I have been thinking about the entirety of the Iranian debacle and suddenly it came into focus. Peter Sellers starred in a film in 1959 which gave Iran it's blue print to success, called "The Mouse That Roared". A fictitious European mini-state, The Duchy of Grand Fenwick, needed financial support to survive. Their solution: Declare War on the US, lose, then use the Marshall Plan that is bound to come to live on. The Iranians even went one better, getting the US to declare war by needling Bibi, and then quitting, irritating Bibi, and paying for the lesson.
OK, so no one ever accused the Felon of being George C. Marshall, but the end result is the same: Iran gets a gazillion dollars from the US, probably with provisos about which Felon cronies get the contracts, details of which JD will iron out whenever he sits down with the Iranians. And the Iranians understand the principle of collect, rinse, repeat, having maintained control of their version of a money spigot, the Straights of Hormuz.
I saw a cheeky comment on Substack the other day, after the terms of the MOU became clearer: Greenland is now begging the US to bomb it. 😬
Seems like someone there also remembered the film😏.
Have you ever seen the 1959 movie, "The Mouse that Roared" with Peter Sellers? It is about a tiny bankrupt country that decides to declare war on the US and then promptly surrender, so that they can receive generous postwar-aid. Of course, like the Iran war, it all goes wrong and they inadvertently win the war.
I have often thought about that movie during this war. It did seem rather apt.
Andy Borowitz on his Substack today cites the same film, for the same reasons. And remember, Grand Fenwick failed in losing its war, its intention, and accidentally won.
It's been on TCM recently. I have it recorded. It's awesome.
JD laid a good bitch slap on Bibi:
“[Trump] is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time. And he happens to be the head of state of the world’s superpower.”
But Giorgia Meloni had a UFC worthy slap on the ever flaccid Trump: "I don’t know why the president of the US behaves like this with allies. It’s not the first time it happens. I can only say it’s regrettable he doesn’t have the same determination with the enemies of the West, the enemies of the US, with leaders he’s far more accommodating with.”
Oh, too little and maybe too late, but damn the yuuuggge, cathartic, and deserved comeuppance to our despicable, to say nothing of egregiously sexist, prez.
I think he's not able to compute that *she* is the leader of Italy and *she* is a *she* at the same table as *him*. His brain only accepts the *she* part.
I mean, can't we all see the Kaitlan Collinses of reporting literally playing this tape over and over again.
I am fortunate to enjoy a successful career. As a white female, albeit from an ethnic group that is sometimes disfavored, there is no question that my career would have been much more difficult had I been a black woman. Despite abhorring racism, I cannot deny having benefited from it, even though that was not my intent. This quote resonates: “In this country men can be born and live well and die without ever having to feel much of what makes their ease possible.”
"Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen."
Remember when Obama said this and the right lost their minds?
As a person who is not especially religious, I say Jesus Christ!!! Now "DJT American Blue Flag" paint is peeling! Maybe this isn't the biggest issue but it continues to show the extreme incompetence anything Trump related. When you hire sycophants and fluffers, this is what you get. Rick Wilson said everything Trump touches dies. He didn't have the reflecting pool in mind.
To be fair, in the case of the Reflecting Pool one of the problems is too much life.
I wonder if they’ve DNA sequenced the algae yet to check if it’s a patriotic all American microbe or an illegal Mexican migrant strain attempting to ruin the 250th anniversary.
I wonder if they are invading in caravans from the border?
Bibi's feelin a bit of the ol' ETTD.
The algae are doing fine. So there’s that.
Add Benjamin Netanyahu to the long list of people who said to themselves, "Yeah, Trump betrays everyone in the end, but it won't happen to ME."
You write that the Great Green Reflecting Pool Affair is of little import. I disagree.
It’s yet another instance - albeit on a smaller scale - of the corruption-fueled incompetence of Donald Trump and his crew of thieving cronies.
The "high quality material" and installation has come up a wee bit short of the 100 years I heard him mention. Who would have guessed that spraying a coating onto recently drained old concrete and immediately filling it back up again wouldn't work.
I guess there was contact with the head of the company that did the job. Not surprisingly all he had to say was that he did what he had been asked to do. Coated the pool, as instructed, no comment on anything else.
Official story is that the water is crystal clear, the pool is blue, the coating has already lasted 100 years. Maybe it's 100 algae years, but that was what they meant all along.
"The one time the Trump administration seems to have taken notice of Juneteenth was in December of last year, when the administration removed Juneteenth (and MLK Day) from the National Park Service’s list of free-admission days, replacing it with June 14, Flag Day—which is not an official federal holiday. But it is President Trump’s birthday, and that is the holiday he wishes all of us to celebrate, as he celebrated it Sunday with the cage match on the White House lawn."
It's good to bring this back up, because it is one of the more astounding and appalling messages this Administration has sent, and perhaps it's dropped from mind over the last year. To degrade Emancipation Day and MLK Day as beneath Trump's birthday, I mean, where would you see such an insult other than North Korea? Other than some impoverished, war-torn country exploited by some warlord? This is what all of the "freedom-loving patriots" in America love and demand.
I saw a No Kings sign: "June 14, 1946. A day that will live in infamy." Sad but true.
I love it. December 7, 1941, you now have company.
I'm a little slow on the uptake this morning (had to think about it for a few seconds), but that's funny!
Like Paul on the road to Damascus, scales seem to be falling of eyes as the salience of who Trump is and how he behaves becomes too obvious to ignore and those who never thought they would have to pay the consequences for his actions realize the bill has come form them and are now choking on the cost.
Great presidents rise to the moment and move the country forward to greater participation, more equality and more democracy. DJT has never had the qualities to do anything more than based on his own selfishness and desires. I doubt Lincoln knew the journey his presidency would take, but he was the man for the moment who saved the union and made the country start to reckon with it’s founding ideals and our hypocrisy on race. No one’s history is perfect of clean, but it is only through recognizing our struggles and where we have failed that we become a more perfect union.