Open Thread

What’s on your mind?

Comments

[Malika la Maize]

Who writes about themselves like this? Who wants this kind of person as POTUS? Remember folks, MAGA is totally not a cult following a narcissistic weirdo!

Truth Social Post by Dear Leader
Only the United States of America, under PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, can play in this game, and very successfully, at that! Nobody will touch this sacred piece of Land, especially since the National Security of the United States, and the World at large, is at stake.

[bloocow2]

Truly breaking all the paradigms.

[Malika la Maize]

First of all, capitalizing his own name and title in the third person. Secondly, the weird “and very successfully, at that.” And the weird capitalization (remind any folks of someone here?).

This is a narcissistic weirdo. Worse, a bunch of people here not only voted for this guy to be POTUS but continue to defend him.

[Dr. Ed 2]

Normal, well adjusted persons simply don’t run for President.

And just think, we could have heels up….

[not guilty]

President Bone Spurs Chickenhawk continues to threaten a forcible takeover of Greenland if necessary. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/denmark-confirms-shoot-first-rule-for-us-invaders-as-trump-threatens-greenland/ar-AA1TNNKW

This raises some crucial questions regarding the NATO alliance. https://www.justsecurity.org/128581/the-north-atlantic-treaty-and-a-u-s-attack-on-denmark/ The 1949 North Atlantic Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty) established the NATO Alliance and set the terms according to which the Parties to the instrument (the “Allies” in NATO parlance) would respond to an “armed attack” on an Ally in collective defense. The key provision is Article 5:

The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.

This article does not provide any asterisk exempting an armed attack by one NATO member against another. Will we wind up in a situation where Denmark invokes the provisions of Article 5, whereby the armed forces of our European allies should help to repel an invasion by the United States?

[bloocow2]

Not to worry, I'm sure the Board of Peace will intervene to stop this sort of thing.

[Dr. Ed 2]

Like the Boston Navy Yard, which was closed in 1973, exactly why is NATO still needed? We aren’t gonna fight wars in Europe anymore, and if we did, it probably be against members of NATO.

Greenland is more important to us strategically than Europe is.

And Denmark is an ally? Exactly what good would Denmark do as an ally? Wedon’t need ports anymore, we have C5s. One US aircraft carrier could counter both the entire Danish navy, Air Force, and army for that matter — this isn’t the 20th century anymore.

So please explain how NATO benefits the United States? Particularly when it involves alliance, there is largely being overrun by infidels.

[Malika la Maize]

Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, denied in a televised interview on Sunday that her department had used pepper spray and similar tactics curtailed by a judicial order issued last week, then backtracked and blamed protesters after being confronted with a video of federal agents deploying such measures against crowds in Minnesota.

“That federal order was a little ridiculous, because that federal judge came down and told us we couldn’t do what we already aren’t doing,” Ms. Noem said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
But after being pressed on a video that backed up the accounts provided to the court, she changed course.

Protesters were to blame for the use of force, she said, adding that federal officers “only use those chemical agents when there’s violence happening and perpetuating.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/us/politics/noem-chemical-agents-minnesota.html

[not guilty]

Secretary Dogkiller should remember that one reason God gave us each five fingers on each hand is to remember the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination.

Disobedience or resistance to a lawful writ, process, order, rule, decree, or command of a federal court is a federal crime, punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, at its discretion by a United States District Court, such contempt of its authority. 18 U.S.C. § 401(c).

If push comes to shove, President Bone Spurs Chickenhawk will no doubt pardon her, but her acceptance of such a pardon constitutes an admission of guilt pursuant to Burdick v. United States, 236 U.S. 79, 94 (1915).

[Commenter_XY]

The Cauliflower set the new standard, issuing pardons for cabinet members and family members. I foresee POTUS Trump doing the same thing, and probably future POTUS' as well.

We aren't going back to Reagan/O'Neill days. The rage and bitterness is too great.

[Dr. Ed 2]

I would say again what I said when Brandon did it, every president who doesn’t pardon himself and his entire staff as the last act of office is incompetent and stupid.

[Dr. Ed 2]

Please explain how she is liable for what would be, at worst incompetence. What is she supposed to do? Go out there with a .45 and shoot every ice guy who breaks the rules?

And what do you propose doing about something like this?
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/viking-bathtub-gets-chased-fuming-36572076

Hint: read the whole article before reacting. I know no one will, but I’m still presenting that as a caveat.

[Michael Ejercito]

Anyone who thinks accepting a pardon is an admission of guilt is in denial of reality. "A pardon reaches both the punishment prescribed for the offence and the guilt of the offender, and when the pardon is full, it releases the punishment and blots out of existence the guilt, so that, in the eye of the law, the offender is as innocent as if he had never committed the offence. " Ex Parte Garland, 71 U.S. 333, 380 (1866)

Also, I notice your failure to criticize Hillary Clinton and FJb for refusing to serve in the Vietnam War.

[Stephen Lathrop]

The Guardian reports: "Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, told CBS News on Sunday that Frey should set up “a peaceful protest zone” for demonstrators."

The Governor of Minnesota, and the Mayor of Minneapolis, should inform Kristi Noem that they consider every foot of every public street—except controlled-access high-speed highways—to be part of the, "public square," in conformance with originalist usage of that term. They should invite demonstrators to peaceably assemble wherever they wish in those streets, and provide a guarantee of access for city, state, and private emergency vehicles which will be implemented by state and local police.

[Bunny495]

I was probably five years old when I was first told 'don't play in the street.

[Malika la Maize]

Free speech zones!

[Commenter_XY]

Leftists like lathrop are stuck in anomie.

[Stephen Lathrop]

Indeed. Playing in the streets can be unwise. It is dangerous, better done elsewhere, and not Constitutionally protected. Peaceable assembly, on the contrary, is best done in the streets. Also, doing it there is Constitutionally protected, which is more than you can say for using the streets for vehicular traffic.

[Michael P]

Tell us that you don't know how any of this works with your usual verbal emesis.

Kent v. Dulles, 357 U.S. 116 (1958) is one case that recognizes that the Constitution protects the right to travel. In contrast, peaceable assembly is best done on sidewalks or other public spaces rather than streets, as legitimate time/place/manner restrictions on pedestrian use of streets are considerably stricter than those for motor vehicle use.

You also clearly have no idea what a public square is, or what distinguishes it from public roads in general.

[Dr. Ed 2]

PEACEABLY assemble…

Can you justify this?
https://www.foxnews.com/us/anti-ice-mob-storms-minnesota-church-over-pastors-alleged-ties-immigration-enforcement

[Bunny495]

When will the libtards stop taking the bait. All Trump has to do is post or comment and they ignore the 72 hour mandatory rule about taking anything Trump says seriously. And if you don't believe that you are a lying dog faced pony soldier who does not think Cornpop was a bad dude.

[Malika la Maize]

When will MAGAns realize that a POTUS involved in providing “bait” for fellow Americans is puerile behavior unbecoming of a President?

[OpinionsVary]

"Don't listen to the President of the United States of America. He might not mean it." - this isn't the sterling defence you think it is.

[AmosArch]

Prim and proper social media died long before Trump if it ever even existed. I mean Republicans have been called literal Nazis over social media since the Bush era and beforehand.

Russia and China and many other countries beat their chests on a regular basis over social media before Trump and the Dems have eagerly followed the President's example if they weren't already doing it.

You can get some reasonable mileage out of 'Social media communication by officials needs to be formal and respectful' argument but not that much if your side is similarly in the gutter.

[Malika la Maize]

So your defense is Trump is in the gutter but so are others?

[AmosArch]

To be fair I think twitter slapfights are kind of dumb for all sides. But Dems treat trump talking mean as 1000 different criticisms of him. Everytime mean tweet is brought up theres this puffed up unbelieving pretend outrage as if this totally is new and unprecedented and flooring everybody. But its like Repubs saying Biden is incomprehensible and listing it as the top 1000 things he did wrong. Its the same stylistic issue you can only get so much mileage out of. Not 1000 different issues.

[Stephen Lathrop]

AmosArch — Digital images of Trump's conduct and utterances will survive far into the future. Expect historians centuries hence to study them with bafflement, trying to understand how a society equipped with legal process to eject an obvious lunatic from office failed for so long to do it.

Whether that study gets relegated to historical footnotes, or becomes enduring high-priority preoccupation depends a lot on how much destruction this nation, and other nations, experience before and after Trump is out of office. .

[Michael P]

Historians are smarter than Stephen Lathrop, so they will understand that Democrats corroded and destroyed our government processes and civic integrity, and that is why the United States got Donald Trump. The problems that Lathrop decries date from before Trump left -- and even entered -- office.

[Commenter_XY]

The answer is: The libtards will never fail to take the bait. It is TDS.

[Malika la Maize]

It’s deranged for people to point out deranged behavior?

[Michael P]

I am glad that President Trump and his administration are protecting the right of Christians to assemble in peaceful worship without trespass by CNN hosts or other domestic terrorists.

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/01/more-minneapolis-madness.php

[Michael P]

Correction: former CNN hosts (fired for malpractice).

[The Margrave of Azilia]

The incident made the Hindustan Times.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/who-is-don-lemon-and-what-is-the-face-act-what-to-know-after-ex-cnn-anchor-storms-cities-church-in-minneapolis-101768788530227.html

The FACE Act would be as much implicated if a crowd burst into an abortion clinic while *it* was holding services.

[Michael P]

Germany has already withdrawn its soldiers from Greenland. They stayed less than 48 hours. Were they there just to roll out a red carpet for the US?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/german-military-withdraws-soldiers-greenland-125830390.html

[OpinionsVary]

It was a 48 hour mission from the start. It was a reconnaissance mission, to look into what was needed for a more long term mission. But don't let that get in the way of cooking up a 'win'.

[Dr. Ed 2]

In 2025, it’s really necessary to physically visit a place?

Why?

The weather is known, the climate is known, the terrain is known, the logistics are known, what more is there? The data from the USAF failed camp century is known — whatever became the nuclear reactor isn’t, but the problems the US encountered a well-known.

So why do you need to go and physically be there?

[Michael P]

Yes, that brief a trip is usually better done via teleconference and Google search, but maybe junkets are all the Wehrmacht -- I mean the Bundeswehr -- can do.

[OpinionsVary]

Maybe you could do it via someone local walking around with a video call on their iphone but having troops also has the advantage of making a point when Trump is sounding off.

[The Margrave of Azilia]

Trump is a dysfunctional response to a dysfunctional establishment. The critics of *Trumpismo* tend to be people who want to replace Trump with a Democrat, which is like curing a headache by bonking yourself on the head.

To take one issue at random, Trump will kill babies if he can get votes from doing so. Democrats kill babies out of principle, whether they can get votes out of it or not. This is why the prolifers tend Republican and the proabortionists tend Democratic, because the difference remains significant.

[Sarcastr0]

...The fuck?

[The Margrave of Azilia]

Pick a Team, buy the paraphenalia, and shut up!

[Dr. Ed 2]

Exactly how is this different from what happened in Nazi Germany to the Jews?
https://www.foxnews.com/us/anti-ice-mob-storms-minnesota-church-over-pastors-alleged-ties-immigration-enforcement

I don’t say that lightly. A line was crossed in Germany when they went after the synagogue I disagree with the Southern Baptists on a variety of theological issues, but this is bullshite.

And where the hell were the cops? Where the hell was Tampon Tim’s National Guard?

IT’S TIME TO DECLARE MARSHALL LAW IN MINNESOTA. DO IT NOW!!!

[Michael Ejercito]

It is not.

I must wonder if such a thing happened in the 1950's or 1960's due to a church's view on racial equality before the law.

[Martinned]

NORWAY PM: I HAVE REPEATEDLY CLEARLY EXPLAINED TO TRUMP THAT IT IS AN INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE THAT AWARDS THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE