Nevermore

Peace or War


Democracy or Dictator

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Author: patd

“But I don’t want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you can’t help that," said the Cat: "we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad." "How do you know I’m mad?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn’t have come here.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

60 thoughts on “Nevermore”

  1. published only 4 days ago but reminiscent of other times and other wars against wars

  2. altho’ democracy can be complicated

    John Oliver takes a look at the Alliance Defending Freedom – the legal organization behind several landmark Supreme Court cases, including the Dobbs case that overturned Roe v. Wade. Plus, a five-star book review of a one-star book.

  3. “¡Nunca más la guerra!”
    https://www.npr.org/2025/05/11/g-s1-65758/pope-leo-xiv-calls-for-peace-in-ukraine-and-gaza-saying-never-again-war

    ROME — Pope Leo XIV called for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the war in Ukraine on Sunday, in his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff since his election. He spoke from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.
    “I am deeply pained by what is happening,” said Leo, referring to the war in Gaza. “Let the fighting cease immediately, let humanitarian aid be provided to the exhausted civilian population, and may all hostages be released.”
    Leo also talked about the war in Ukraine, saying, “I carry in my heart the suffering of the beloved Ukrainian people.” He urged that, “every effort be made to reach a true, just and lasting peace as soon as possible.”
    And he quoted Pope Francis saying that the global conflicts affecting so many people around the world equate to a “third world war in pieces.”
    “In today’s dramatic context of a third world war fought piecemeal … I too appeal to the powerful of the world by repeating these ever-relevant words: never again war!” he said.
    Leo welcomed the announcement of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and said he hopes there can be a lasting agreement.
    [continues]

  4. Well, good thing we’re leading the aggressors down the road to peace in Ukraine and Gaza. 🙄

  5. And on the stupid front, “Trump administration in talks with Qatar over plane gift” WAPO

    Qatar is discussing donating an aircraft to the U.S. government for President Donald Trump to use temporarily, but no final agreement has been reached, according to Qatar’s media attaché to the United States. The subject remains in talks between lawyers at the U.S. Defense Department and Qatar’s Defense Ministry.

    While the deal is not final, ethics experts are raising concerns about the possible donation from a foreign government, which they say would be unconstitutional, violating the emoluments clause, which forbids U.S. officials from accepting gifts or other things of value from foreign officials without congressional approval.

    Trump appeared to confirm the discussions in a social media post Sunday evening, criticizing those who say that Washington should pay for the plane. He said the Pentagon would be receiving the 747 aircraft free of charge to use temporarily as an Air Force One plane.

    What’s the problem? The founders didn’t mention jets in the emoluments clause.

    🤣

  6. ethics shmethics
    highest US official, advisors and globally important guests in a plane outfitted by another country?
    what could go wrong national security-wise? you think kash’s FBI security sweeps will catch all the embedded malware? yeah, sure, but don’t bet on it.

  7. He is going to throw all sorts of tantrums when told he will not be “owning” any 747. That ratty old 757 he has that was revived from no fly status is an old toy so he wants the shiny new one. The basic issue is it is not a military plane, never will be. The reason it is taking so long to replace the current One is it is a custom build at Boeing, not an assembly line 747 with a gold commode.

    I keep seeing the pictures of the gas station with the free gas any day that stupid does not say something not nuts. That is a safe bet.

  8. We can mark the beginning of our dictatorship — when Trump defied the Supreme Court ruling on deportations. No checks and balances. Gone.

  10. It’s true that both Ford and Carter took $1mil each from Japan for their libraries, but Reagan pocketed $2mil for a short speech soon after leaving 1600.
    This was just pocket cash for the now second-worst POTUS ever. Yes, 45-47 is now truly a king, the KING of the fly-buzzing shit pile. I waited until this Qatar jumbo-jet 747 fiasco until I de-throned Reagan. But 747s have been sent to that old-plane graveyard years ago; they premiered in 1970 ( I remember, because I saw the first one on display at SFO
    which was parked beside the Bayshore Freeway so we motorists could see it. My jaw dropped. )
    747s are obsolete, no longer in general use. The way of the Conchords.
    The new Trump jetblimp is a re-purposed relic, then?
    In November, millions voted against their own best concerns, and these people would vote the same way today if they had to.
    The Democrats have many bright men and women that would be great presidents, but can they win in 2028?
    Josh Shapiro, Wes Moore, Pete Buttigieg, AOC, Amy Klobuchar, Jasmine Crockett are but a few. Can any beat Vance? People may sabotage themselves again, and yell praises at their own ignorance.
    Trump-Homan insist the writ of habeas corpus is just another weed to trample, and there is little outrage but for a few thousand hand-held signs at a thousand protests nation-wide. I hear very little from Congress at this outrage. It took years of protests before Congress finally de-funded the atrocity in Viet Nam.
    Or the USA would still be there. Think about that one.
    God Bless Our Troops…but keep an eye on where they are.
    (uncredited quote): ”
    When the “failed arrestment” of the aircraft became apparent, the two pilots ejected. Both of the pilots were recovered and early indications found that they suffered minor injuries, the official said. F/A-18 jets cost some $70 million each.5 days ago”
    2 fighter jets lost to Davy Jones locker. Just a little loss…$140,000,000.

  11. Maga people knowingly voted for a grifter and con man and now they are surprised he’s grifting and conning. The ones who are paying attention, that is, most are asleep at the switch or the wheel or wherever they’re at.

  13. They are not voting “against their own interests”. That’s a fiction.

    You have to look at what their interests actually are.

    They are most definitely and rabidly voting their interests.

  16. https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-trump-tax-cuts-bill-1e2b12a91a3d12ceb0420ce7053de58e

    House Republicans have unveiled the cost-saving centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” at least $880 billion in cuts largely to Medicaid to help cover the cost of $4.5 trillion in tax breaks.

    But Democrats said the cuts are “shameful” and essentially amount to another attempt to repeal Obamacare.

    “In no uncertain terms, millions of Americans will lose their health care coverage,” said Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the panel. He said “hospitals will close, seniors will not be able to access the care they need, and premiums will rise for millions of people if this bill passes.”

    More than a dozen House Republicans have told Johnson and GOP leaders they will not support cuts to the health care safety net programs that residents back home depend on. Trump himself has shied away from a repeat of his first term, vowing there will be no cuts to Medicaid.

    All told, 11 committees in the House have been compiling their sections of the package as Republicans seek at least $1.5 trillion in savings to help cover the cost of preserving the 2017 tax breaks, which were approved during Trump’s first term and are expiring at the end of the year.

    But the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee has been among the most watched. The committee was instructed to come up with $880 billion in savings and reached that goal, primarily with the health care cuts, but also by rolling back Biden-era green energy programs.

    Central to the savings are changes to Medicaid, which provides almost free health care to more than 70 million Americans, and the Affordable Care Act, which has expanded in the 15 years since it was first approved to cover millions more.

    To be eligible for Medicaid, there would be new “community engagement requirements” of at least 80 hours per month of work, education or service for able-bodied adults without dependents. People would also have to verify their eligibility to be in the program twice a year, rather than just once.

    This is likely to lead to more churn in the program and present hurdles for people to stay covered, especially if they have to drive far to a local benefits office to verify their income in person.

    Many states have expanded their Medicaid rosters thanks to federal incentives, but the legislation would cut a 5% boost that was put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal funding to the states for immigrants who have not shown proof of citizenship would be prohibited.

    The energy portions of the legislation run far fewer pages, but include rollbacks of climate-change strategies President Joe Biden signed into law in the Inflation Reduction Act.

    It proposes rescinding funds for a range of energy loans and investment programs while providing expedited permitting for natural gas development and oil pipelines.

  17. https://apnews.com/article/trump-qatar-deal-conflicts-saudi-arabia-emoluments-7379bee2e307d39bd43b534a05ae3207

    The Trump family company struck a deal Wednesday to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar in a sign it has no plans to hold back from foreign dealmaking during a second Trump administration, despite the danger of a president shaping U.S. public policy for personal financial gain.

    The project, which features Trump-branded beachside villas and an 18-hole golf course to be built by a Saudi Arabian company, is the first foreign deal by the Trump Organization since Donald Trump took office and unlike any done in his first term.

    *No guardrails. No rules.

    Should tRUMPsky be doing business/accepting gifts from Qatar, a country that houses and supports Hamas?

  18. https://www.newsweek.com/pam-bondi-qatar-links-under-scrutiny-over-trump-luxury-plane-gift-2070774

    Pam Bondi’s Qatar Links Under Scrutiny Over Trump’s Luxury Plane Gift

    Bondi worked as a foreign lobbyist for the nation of Qatar, earning $115,000 a month in the role which she held in 2020 and in the run up to the World Cup in 2022.

    In this role, she lobbied Congress on behalf of Qatari interests. She also worked in a separate lobbying position for the Washington, D.C.-based firm Ballard Partners, where she also lobbied on behalf of Qatari interests and several conglomerates including Amazon.

  19. Dexter – you said it before I was going to. Qatar is dumping off something expensive and obsolete to someone who sees it as a sparkling new toy. They should have waited to when stupid was not hanging around D.C.

    Happiness is having enough teeth to chew more than mushed scrambled eggs. Got my last two teeth installed this morning, implants. Expensive! involved a lot of things including surgery to rebuild my jaw with a bone graft, through the sinus behind the cheek. I just enjoyed a chomp on a nice peperocini. Nice. Next up, CostCo had big meaty beef shank bones today. Beef shank stew is starting in a few minutes. Better than using a chuck to make the stew.

  20. Habeas corpus suspension is for Congress to decide, not whomever is heading up the Executive branch on any given day.

  22. People I hear still blaming Merrick Garland. Okay, but the greater fault still lies with Default Mitch. He had the axe in his hand and he dropped it.

  24. The Brits and Europeans have been all over it with celebrating the 80th Anniversary of VE Day. Even Putin had a moment. U.S. has been a washout, completely unobservant as far as I could tell. What the hell? I think we know the answer, Dodo was always on the other side, thanks to his father’s legacy. What do we have to look forward to: Dodo’s birthday parade, of course. What a dud.

  26. Because of what Mitch did to garland is precisely why Garland should never have been appointed Not garland’s fault that he was severely hampered by any action he might take against gop crimes would be widely perceived as being revenge. I can’t understand why no one on team Biden thought of this.
    Wrong pick for the job.

  28. 16th Street Baptist Church bombing case.

    Jones prosecuted Thomas Edwin Blanton Jr. and Bobby Frank Cherry, two members of the Ku Klux Klan, for their roles in the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. The case was reopened the year before Jones was appointed, but did not gain traction until his appointment. A federal grand jury was called in 1998, which caught the attention of Cherry’s ex-wife, Willadean Cherry, and led her to call the FBI to give her testimony. Willadean then introduced Jones to family and friends, who reported their own experiences from the time of the bombing. A key piece of evidence was a tape from the time of the bombing in which Blanton said he had plotted with others to make the bomb. Jones was deputized to argue in state court and indicted Blanton and Cherry in 2000. Blanton was found guilty in 2001 and Cherry in 2002. Both were sentenced to life in prison. Cherry died in prison in 2004. Blanton was up for parole in 2016; Jones spoke against his release, and parole was denied. Blanton died in prison in 2020.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Jones_(politician)

  30. Biden misunderstood the game, how the fuck did his lieutenants not understand though??

    good governance, bad politics, purge it

  33. Well, he’s still filling up his diaper every day with lies.

    During his campaign and the early part of his current presidency, President Donald Trump promised an economic boom that would take off shortly after his return to the White House — reviving the American Dream and producing four years of unparalleled prosperity.
    “Your paychecks will be higher, your streets will be safer and cleaner, your communities will be richer, and your future as an American will be much better than it ever has been when I get in,” Trump said in his final campaign rally, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “Because this will be the golden age of America.”
    But Trump’s tone, and that of his aides, has shifted notably in recent weeks, as they warn of sacrifice and “transition” until, by their telling, his heavy tariffs pave the way for a boom. Trump has spoken of the need to take economic “medicine,” warned Americans they may need to cut back on items such as dolls and pencils, and suggested a short-term recession might be an acceptable cost for the prosperity he predicts will come.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/06/trump-austerity-tariffs-dolls-pencils/

  34. Good news on hopefully flipping this one, once my district when it was represented by Wayne Gilchrest. Didn’t like Wayne much then but I’d take him now in a heartbeat. (Wayne has since become a Democrat.)
    Andy Harris has got to go, he’s terrible.

    MD-01. Democrat Jake Day, a member of Gov. Wes Moore’s Cabinet, says he’s exploring a bid against Republican Rep. Andy Harris in eastern Maryland’s 1st Congressional District.

    Harris’ turf has long included the most conservative parts of the state and voted for Donald Trump by a 57-40 margin last year. Harris himself turned back an unheralded Democratic opponent 59-37 in 2024.

    But during the 2008 wave, Democrat Frank Kratovil pulled off a massive upset, defeating Harris 49-48 after Harris ousted longtime GOP Rep. Wayne Gilchrest in the primary. Two years later, however, the tide reversed, and Harris won a rematch 54-42.

    Repeating Kratovil’s feat would require exceptional good fortune, but Maryland Democrats hope that Day might be able to capitalize if the stars align. Day, an Army veteran, served as mayor of Salisbury, the largest city on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, before joining Moore’s team in 2023 as head of the state’s housing department.

    Maryland Matters describes Day as “one of the most high-profile members” of Moore’s Cabinet and says that “leading Democrats” have encouraged him to run.

  35. https://www.newsweek.com/episcopal-church-rebukes-trump-afrikaners-south-africa-refugees-2071124

    Church Rebukes Trump Administration Over White South African Refugees

    The Episcopal Church’s migration agency is rejecting a directive from the federal government to help resettle white South Africans granted refugee status, citing the church’s enduring commitment to racial justice and its historic ties to southern Africa. The decision, announced Monday by Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe, marks the end of a decades-long partnership with the U.S. government on refugee resettlement.

  36. Harris is the farm country on the Maryland Eastern Shore, the part of the state on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay. Quite republican. Attempts to change the district are met with court challenges and things like gerrymandering. The guy spends a lot of time being a magat, which might be the way to get him out.

  37. REPUBLICANS REFUSED TO VOTE FOR UPGRADES!
    YELLING ABOUT THE “OLD” SYSTEM IS THE FAULT OF REPUBLICANS, SECRETARY MTV, IS BS!
    ADOLF MADE ROAD RULES GUY SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, FFS!

  41. …the farm country on the Maryland Eastern Shore

    BB, even when I lived in a Blue State, I was still surrounded by rednecks. Content now to live in a Blue County in a Blue State though still close to the red line. Driving into Bobo county yesterday, the guy who had his flag upside down now has it right-side up. I’m good with that. I’m not comfortable with upside down American flags. Disrespect, etc.

  42. People are truly terrified. We should not have deputized masked thugs in America assaulting people on the street. I am outraged and jumping ugly about this.

    I’ve been watching videos that show ICE agents — some seemingly unidentified, others in military style gear — grabbing people off the streets or out of their backyards with force, even in communities that have explicitly rejected these policies. In some cases, they’ve reportedly done this without asking for documentation or showing a warrant,. These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re happening in neighborhoods just like yours and mine. Many of those targeted have no criminal record. These detentions raise serious questions about due process.

    I pulled some of these accounts together on my Instagram because I think we need to see this. You can watch them here. These stories aren’t getting amplified by the algorithms, so if you feel this matters, please engage — like, share, comment. It makes a difference.

    https://newsnotnoisejessicayellin.substack.com/p/republicans-reveal-how-theyll-pay?

  44. Not acquainted (yet) with River Thames but it goes with Tower of London so I’ll go with it. Thanks, Jamie.

  45. GOP Unveils Sweeping, Brutal Medicaid Cuts

    At least $715 billion would be cut from health programs, according to the CBO analysis, but it is unclear how much would be cut directly from Medicaid. Optional services under Medicaid—including physical therapy, hospice, and respiratory care for people on ventilators—would likely face cuts in many states.

  47. So sez my A.Eyes.

    The emoluments clause, also known as the foreign emoluments clause, is a provision of the U.S. Constitution that prevents federal officeholders from accepting gifts, payments, or other things of value from foreign states or their representatives without congressional consent. It aims to prevent foreign influence and corruption of American officials.

    Oops, something went wrong.

  48. Found it.

    Article I, Section 9, Clause 8:

    No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

  52. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/12/illinois-jb-pritzker-trump-autism-data

    Illinois governor, JB Pritzker, has signed a first-in-the-nation executive order to block the federal government from collecting personal health data related to autism, a direct rebuke to the Trump administration.

    ***

    https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/massive-signs-erected-outside-illinois-governors-mansion-amid-kristi-noem-visit/3740250/

    Massive signs erected outside Illinois Governor’s Mansion amid Kristi Noem visit

    Due process for all,” numerous signs situated along the property read, referencing criticism that the Trump Administration’s current immigration policies are pushing, if not violating, constitutional limits.

    The DHS secretary was scheduled to speak in front of the Governor’s Mansion, but instead moved her news conference near the scene of Emma Shafer’s murder, a move Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said was to avoid demonstrations protesting Noem’s visit.

  54. Dodo keeps spewing out his empty promises and the faithful keep sucking them up.

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