Open Thread

What’s on your mind?

Comments

[not guilty]

The Washington Post reports:

The Trump administration appears ready to launch an extended military assault on Iran, current and former U.S. officials said, as the Pentagon amasses an immense strike force in the Middle East despite the risks of U.S. combat fatalities and American ensnarement in an extended war.

The arsenal, under assembly for weeks, is awaiting the arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its accompanying warships, officials familiar with the matter said, after military leaders last week extended their deployment and ordered the ships to the region from the Caribbean Sea. The vessels were approaching the Strait of Gibraltar on Thursday, making an attack possible within days, said these people, who, like others in this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military planning.

President Donald Trump, speaking Thursday morning at an event in Washington, was ambiguous about what he might do. “Maybe we’re going to make a deal. Maybe not,” he said at the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace. “You’re going to be finding out over the next, maybe, 10 days.” Later in the day, he framed the timeline as “10 to 15 days, pretty much, maximum.”

Trump’s top national security advisers met in the Situation Room on Wednesday to discuss the Iran situation, and they were told that the U.S. forces that have been deployed to region will all be in place by mid-March, a U.S. official familiar with the issue said.

The administration wants it known, officials said, that they are building combat power in the region. The president also has publicly raised the possibility of toppling Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a longtime U.S. adversary, suggesting last week that it would be “the best thing that could happen,” if Iran ends up with new leaders.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/02/19/trump-iran-attack-military/

Conspicuously absent from this reporting is any hint of compliance with the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

If the United States has any vital interest(s) that arguably can be advanced by a military strike on Iran, then President Trump should seek Congressional authorization for use of military force.

[hobie]

I heard MAGA's marching orders on this a couple weeks ago on AM radio. The hayseed is to believe that Trump's administration as well as Congress is still chock-a-block full of the 'deep state' who would leak any strike plans if they were told about it and ruin the surprise. So, for operational reasons, Trump must keep it away from Congress and go it alone.

[Dr. Ed 2]

This is what happens when you twice impeach the POTUS on trivia — there is nothing Congress can do.

Ani if it were given the specifics, the Iranians would be told.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoC0Ks1N3Q8

[hobie]

"Ani if it were given the specifics, the Iranians would instantly be told them."

Straight from Clay and Buck. I rest my case, folks.

[Brett Bellmore]

The truth told by idiots is still the truth. Congress does leak like a sieve.

The thing is, that doesn't change the constitutional issue, which is that the power to declare war is given to Congress, not the President.

Nor does it change the statutory issue, which is that waging war against Iran under these circumstances violates the War Powers act.

Seriously, one of the things l liked about Trump 1.0 was that he wasn't big into military adventures. So disappointing...

But, still, they do leak like a sieve, and there's no point to denying it.

[Sarcastr0]

Of its classified info, leaking is a lot rarer. Not absent, but they don’t usually fuck around with national security.

[hobie]

The Pigs: "This is official pig business. We'll let you hayseed farm animals know what we think you need to know when we think you need to know it."

[Dr. Ed 2]

Yesterday was a weather breeder, the atmosphere was such that I couldn’t hear Clay and Buck yesterday.a

[LexAquilia]

Why do you think that couldn't be reasoned into just by observing current and previous behavior?

[Commenter_XY]

WPA requires hostilities to start, NG. Have they?

POTUS Trump should go to Congress for a use of force resolution. That is the proper constitutional procedure. The last POTUS to do that was George W Bush. Seems almost quaint now.

Iran's leadership routinely screams, "Death to America". And they truly mean it. There are two aircraft carriers in theater. Now Iran have their chance. The ball is in their court.

Iran can always run to the UN for help. I am sure that will be effective.

[hobie]

Why Is Trump Dumping East Wing Rubble in a Public Park?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/us/politics/trump-east-wing-rubble-in-a-public-park.html?unlocked_article_code=1.NlA.nQ3y.57mOBSTPaoEO&smid=url-share

I saw this and I thought, 'Well, that's not really fair. Maybe the demolition company is doing that, but not Trump specifically.'

Turns out, no, it is Trump. The local community's municipal East Potomac Golf Links where the rubes can enjoy 9 rounds of golf for $16, was quietly stripped from it's longtime stewards and now is in Trump's hands.

"“We’re going to make it a beautiful, world-class, U.S. Open-caliber course,” Mr. Trump said when asked about this last month. “Ideally, we’re going to have major tournaments there and everything else. It’s going to bring a lot of business into Washington."

MAGA: "The elites something something!"
Also MAGA: [crickets]

[I've already gone on Polymarket and placed my bet on the eventual name of the new course]

[Dr. Ed 2]

I am not gonna pay to read that story, but the fact remains at any public park, needs upkeep and renovation, and demo debris is cheaper than gravel

[hobie]

The NY Times link is gifted so that you poor schlubs can read it for free.

[Brett Bellmore]

Why is this even a question? If you want to take a flat as a billiard table plot of land, and turn it into rolling hills, you dump dirt in piles and contour them.

Next up: "Why is that carpenter pounding pointy bits of metal into the wood???"

[hobie]

I don't necessarily have a problem with it as long as it stays affordable, open to the public, no resorts and hotels for elites, and no territorial pissing with the naming rights.

[LexAquilia]

So you're complaining about some imagined parade of horribles?

[Brett Bellmore]

So, hypothetically, Trump might do something wrong. Gotcha. Yeah, sure, he might. "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"; Complain when he does.

"Why Is Trump Dumping East Wing Rubble in a Public Park?" was still a really stupid question to ask.

You should actually be happy about this, Hobie: All that talk about a third term was just trolling. People who plan to stick around don't set out to leave monuments behind.

[hobie]

Might????!!!!!

[Dr. Ed 2]

Three serious questions here.

First, a congressional committee can ignore both lawyer client and spousal privileges? That was explicitly raised by Werner’s attorney.

Second, how the hell do you prove that someone doesn’t remember something? I’m not 80 years old, and I can’t tell you who was in my car in the 80s, and my car didn’t have a staff like an airplane would.

Third, since when have we prosecuted guilt by association in this country? I found myself feeling sorry for the man.

https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/les-wexner-gets-wild-legal-advice-during-house-epstein-deposition-i-will-fcking-kill-you/

[hobie]

Todd Blanche: "It's not a crime to party [with Epstein]"
Charlie Kirk: "I'm done talking about Epstein."
Laura Ingram: something about the teens giving consent
Trump: "I wish her well"
Dr. Ed: "I feel sorry for the man."

[Kazinski]

Les Wexner's attorney threatened to kill him in the middle of his House deposition:

"BREAKING: Les Wexner’s attorney during his House Oversight deposition: “I’ll f*****g kill you if you answer another question with more than five words, ok?”

Its unclear how much work lip reading/ai ia doing in the clip.

https://x.com/i/status/2024617826871308700

[Kazinski]

Jasmine Crockett with some hard hitting cross examination of Wexner:

"CROCKETT: “Did you ever see or become aware of Trump having a sexual relationship with a person who was introduced to him by Epstein or Maxwell?”

WEXNER: “No.”

CROCKETT: “Has Donald Trump ever discussed Epstein with you?”

WEXNER: “No.”

CROCKETT: “Has Epstein ever discussed Donald Trump with you?”

WEXNER: “He would name drop… like I know President Clinton or I know the Pope or I know God or I know you. It was that kind of name dropping. I can’t remember a specific instance, but Jeffrey dropped a lot of names.”

CROCKETT: “Did Epstein ever share specific information with you about Donald Trump’s activities?”

WEXNER: “No.”

CROCKETT: “Do you have a good relationship with Donald Trump?”

WEXNER: “No… he introduced himself to me at the fashion show a couple of times, but I wouldn’t say ‘hi, how are you?’ We don’t know each other. I would be shocked if he remembered me.”

CROCKETT: “Do you recall seeing Donald Trump on Jeffrey Epstein's island?”

WEXNER: “Nobody was there, but Abigail, and myself.”

https://x.com/i/status/2024613014486626684

Maybe some of those answers went over 5 words, but not by a lot.