I try to focus my hatred on what Trump says and does, what he believes. Like degrading our prisoners of war; like claiming he can "terminate" our Constitution, like lying about those of us who don't believe as he does--claiming we hate America. You clearly don't disagree with him, Nori, or at least not publically.
Nori, if you think the estimated 5 million people protesting at the NO KINGS rallies were doing it for themselves, then you must not be listening. Maybe they don't talk about it on Fox. If the felon's Big Bill passes, I'll stand to save a boatload of money. But it's not about me. I'm not going to bore everyone with a list of all the people who will and already are suffering if these cuts are implemented. Most of you already know that. For a party that cries law and order, the law part seems to be being ignored. In 95% of legal cases brought against this administration, they have lost.
I'm happy to report one of those cases. It was brought by my daughter-in-law's boss, one of the Chairmen, a Democratic appointee on the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The judge ordered the DOGE-fired employees to return to work, stating that the president has no right to fire members of an independent commission created by Congress without cause. Great news for her, except that she will be getting her pregnancy induced tomorrow. Maybe she can claim back maternity leave? We're thrilled about the court's decision as well as the imminent birth!
Joan, so happy the workers were ordered returned I wish your daughter in law could get back pay. She deserves to get that. Congrats on the baby coming. How precious. love, Joanie
Nori. The reason we are so upset with Trump is because he is trampling on the Constotution acting like he is King and going after anyone who disagrees with him. What happened to free speech and the right to assemble. A senator got thrown to the ground for asking a question. He threatens immigrants acting like they are animals. He encourages ice agents to round up hard working immigrants not caring that he is breaking apart families Many of us realize this is heartless and cruel. Then he pardoned Jan 6ers many of whom were violent and attacked police officers. We say no to this This is not the America we love.and we must fight for the country we love. You don't like the treatment of the trans folks. Join us. Love, Joanie❤️
Another unhappy liberal, dodging celebrating with Nori to make the day about himself. That's what millions of people were all doing yesterday, Nori, making the day about themselves instead of you. Shameful.
VA doctors can now refuse treatment based on my political beliefs. And the VA can now refuse to hire doctors and other staff based on THEIR politics, or sexual orientation, or labor union membership . . . All of the above thanks to Bone Spurs.
Good work, John! Is that you I see toward the back of the crowd?
It’s was noisy, it was hot and it was wet.
The No Kings demonstration Saturday in The Villages drew many enthusiastic demonstrators channeling messages about patriotism, freedom and America’s democratic roots.
Monarchs were not welcome at the event which coincided with No Kings demonstrations across the country on President Trump’s 79th birthday.
The No Kings rally drew many demonstrators to Morse Boulevard at Lake Sumter Landing.
Casey Marr of Villagers for Democracy, the group which organized the event, estimated that at its peak, the demonstration along Morse Boulevard at the entrance to Lake Sumter Landing had drawn 3,000 participants.
“It was an excellent turnout, definitely the largest by far,” said Marr, a resident of the Village of Pine Ridge.
This woman was waving an American flag while she held a sign at the No Kings Rally.
The event included online registration in advance and meticulous planning for golf cart parking after an issue was raised by The Villages Commercial Property Management over parking at a May 1 event at the shuttered Winn-Dixie at Lake Sumter Landing.
The participation, planning, preparation, parking and peaceful protests at the No Kings event produced an even that was “unprecedented” in The Villages, Marr said.
There was plenty of honking from passing vehicles, but it wasn’t always clear whether the motorists were signaling support or dissent.
The event wasn’t without controversy.
Opponents of the No Kings event, immediately began contacting Villages-News.com and speaking out on social media, downplaying the number of No Kings participants and suggesting they had been bussed in.
Then there was the sprinkler controversy.
The sprinklers on Morse Boulevard were running at full strength at 10:30 a.m. which would not be in adherence with the Water Wisdom philosophypreached by The Villages District Government, owners of the irrigation equipment in the common areas.
“I too wondered about why the sprinklers were running. A calculated move by The Villages’ powerbrokers to make things uncomfortable for the protesters? That wouldn’t surprise me,” said Jeff Evans of The Villages.
Jack, I love seeing the protesters. I would have been among them here in Maryland but I was at a painting workshop I signed up for some time ago in Tilghman Island, Md. Yay for all the protesters...that is where hope lies for Democracy. Love, Joanie
Another one, out there dodging Nori to make the day all about himself.
And I've just learned that the 87 year-old vet from Gainesville mentioned a day or two ago is a Vietnam vet from the Vietnam Veterans Against the War chapter there. Love to see our consistency through the years!
Taking out a nuclear build-up designed to take out countries, will hopefully end the taking of more lives, Jack. To me, it signals leadership. I know your joy comes from Trump failures but as is my way, I will not only pray for you but for continued successes for our leaders and our country. I choose celebration of 250 years of service from our US Army (including YOU), over the ridiculous "no kings" street parties and applaud our country's strong, brave and honorable attempt to stabilize the REAL bully: Iran. Perhaps now the 80% of Iranian populace who are oppressed by its regime will one day free themselves of it. Prayers continue.
Hey Nori, pray all you want, but only Congress is Constitutionally authorized to declare war. This was illegal. I hope you'll feel more sympathetic when our troops in Iran are targeted. Did MAGA vote for another war? Maybe when Dear Leader does it, the Constitution be damned! I guess you also believe that 80% of Iranians will greet us as liberators. Remember how that worked out last time?
Nori, the No Kings Day was because Trump is acting like king and not a democratically elected President. Do you really like that he goes after anyone who criticizes him. Do you like that hard working immigrants, not criminals are being grabbed out of Home Depot's and off farms where they work for deportation or a senator who asks a question is thrown to the ground and handcuffed. How about children with cancer they try to deport. Do you like Trump ignoring the courts lots of times and firing food safety folks, USAID folks helping unourished children and people with aids. Do you like that Trump is undoing environmental protections. Anyway. So much of what he does is not democratic but autocratic. We didnt intend to elect a King. Love Joanie
Nori, I appreciate your gratitude for my service. Could you be a little more specific? What service for the United States did my couple of years in USARSO, in the 8th Special Forces Group, provide? What service for the United States did my service, and the service of the other 2.7 million military men and women who served in Vietnam, provide? How was this country better off from our being there? How did our service protect and defend the Constitution, as we swore to do? Help me answer the questions that many of us have been asking for decades.
Please be specific. There is a, perhaps, overly cynical suspicion on the part of MANY vets of the wars of our lifetime that "Thank you for your service" is a pat, offhand gesture of insincere gratitude on the part of many non-vets. I'd love to have your sincere, thoughtful explanation of what you mean by your thanks.
Be interesting to hear you speculate on the large numbers of veterans present at those ridiculous No Kings street parties. Do you think they might believe they are continuing to protect and defend the Constitution? Or is that just too ridiculous?
The critters you find around your home look like Disney characters, with their colors and positioning, Jack. Takes a good eye to capture those and they're downright enchanting.
I cannot give you any reasons for gratitude, if you don't feel or know them yourself, Jack. If you choose not to thank anyone for their service to our country, it's of course your perogative, as is yours to feel pride (or not) in the role you played. Viet Nam (and all wars) have different circumstances in their beginnings, middles and ends. To compare what happened Sat night to past wars is difficult for me. I can only see what Trump has been saying for a decade: that "Iran must not & will not have a nuclear bomb". If it IS, indeed a war, Iran and its proxies started it. If it brings peace, the US helped. That, hope beyond hope, is all that I know for now. It could be that Israel goes big and bold, knowing the US will follow with the Ayatollah regime's demise. If they go small, something in order to fulfill some domestic political image, then the US will not interfere again. That is my understanding today. No idea what tomorrow brings. But I, along with many others, believe that Israel has been living in fear way too long; that antisemitism is bad; that Hamas (Iran's proxy) orchestrated Oct. 7th horrors; that other Iranian proxies have taken out at least 1000 Americans over several years; that Obama ignored a red line in Syria; that Biden tried his damndest to postpone Iran's nuclear program; that Iran had 63 days to negotiate a deal but apparently were too hellbent to be sincere in any way. Speaking of sincerity, how do you know for certain that when a person thanks a servicemember, he or she is not being sincere? I know I am. Serving to protect our way of life, knowing the unfathomable risks involved, takes a very special human and most of us possess a huge depth (and debt) of gratitude to such a human, regardless of the end result.
Joanie and Joan, perhaps since so many lawsuits have been won against Trump, you may want to think about the fact that our Judiciary will keep the "king" in tow. Trump came in with a clear intent on doing things his way, after learning a great deal in his previous time in office. He's our leader, warts and all, like it or not. To march in the streets in protest is a beloved right we have as Americans, but to do it on the very same day we honor our troops for 250 years of service, seems misplaced and UN American to me. When hating Trump supercedes honoring the best among us, it's sad to see. JMO
A postscript: Jack, if you were our Commander In Chief, I would hope you would not endanger Saturday night's stealth operation by trying to get a Congressional vote beforehand.
Out early this morning to try to beat the heat. Some success. Only 81 (the temperature--I'm only 79) when I wrestled the 'yak back up on the car at the end of my paddle; 94 now. Unheard of this time of the year in NH, anytime really. No, Don, climate change is not a hoax.
BUT--not too hot for this gorgeous Green Heron on the Suncook River! Wish I had the hair to style like that!
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Thanks for responding so promptly, Nori. I understand you can't think of any reasons to be grateful to vets if they themselves don't already feel or know what those reasons are. I'll pass that on to those veterans who suspect "thank you for your service" is often a rather shallow and meaningless sentiment. At least you're not telling them you don't like people who get captured!
I'll skip any mention of your belief that they (many or most of them Army vets) are acting "ridiculous" and "Un American" because they use the rights they swore to protect and defend in order to protest on the Army's birthday. Maybe things are different today--four years in the Army and I'm sure I never had the faintest idea when the Army's birthday was! Must not have had Happy Hour at the O club to celebrate it. I did once jump into the swimming pool at the O Club at Ft. Gulick while in my dress whites, but I have no idea why, other than the obvious.
Where you got the idea that I thank no one for their service, I can't imagine. I'm sure I've mentioned the gratitude I and others feel for those like my parents who fought against fascism and militarism, just as I'm grateful to all who fight the same fight today. I'm grateful to any and all, in uniform or not, who sacrifice to protect liberty, equality, and other human rights, especially as codified in our Constitution. Juneteenth gave our Felon in Chief an opportunity to celebrate the end of slavery in our country, but he gave that a very deliberate pass.
Re: Postscript. If I were CIC, I'd fire the moron who released critical tactical information on an insecure group chat prior to a military operation. Even if he were my Secretary of Defense.
Nori, its not whether you agree with a protest that is on a day that you don't want a protest. Democracy wins when that protest is allowed. Even people who are really abhorent can protest like the group that marched in Charlottesville, when Trump said, "There are good people on both sides." The tragedy then was that someone rammed into a woman and killed her. Violence of course should be off the table. Jack I agree with your take on protests.
Nori, you admire and are thankful for the people in the military and say this is our President warts and all but how can you square that with this Presdent denigrading John McCain saying " I don't like people who were captured." Can you imagine such a gross remark when McCain was so brave and then referring to the military soldiers as "suckers and losers." Jack mentioned that too. How about refusing to visit their graves overseas? Where is your outrage. Maybe you can see that this leader on a day to honor the military including throwing himself in for his birthday, needs a protest. Love, Joanie
Oh very interesting- the felon promised not to get us into new wars. Seems he and MAGA have forgotten that promise. I will say again he has NO unilateral authority to start wars without Congressional approval. He did so without even notifying Congress of his intentions. Oooops he DID notify Repubs, but No Dems. How do you feel about that?
Nori can you really keep a straight face while calling Iran bullies??? Are you serious? The felon has bullied the US into a conflict with Iran, not approved by our Congress, to bully Iran and Isreal to do as he says, then bomb Iran, then demand a cease fire and then get all pissy when they don't comply! It's classic! Start a war and then claim victory when you stop it. Who's dumb enough to fall for that?
I know, I know, he just thinks a peace accord will get him the Nobel Prize. Don't hold your breath. And it also won't get him on Mt Rushmore. Geez what a bozo!
Goodness, that old debate about Congressional approval yet again? Read up on your history, folks. I mean that in a friendly way, but it wasn't that long ago that Obama was blasted by both parties for joining allies in bombing the hell out of Libya ....without Congressional approval. He ended up submitting a long letter defending himself by saying it was in America's best interests to do so. Oh, & argued he had constitutional authority as Commander in chief. Apparently you guys are revving up to another stab at impeachment? Good luck with that.
Granted that demanding a ceasefire seemed premature, at best. Today, however, it seems to be holding. Hmm, maybe there's power in prayer, after all.
I'll take your answer re Secretary Hegseth as the dodge that it is, Jack. We agree. I wouldn't seek congressional approval either.
I don't much need to read up on the history of our generation, Nori. I lived a bit of it, and have already read volumes of it. Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford all made decisions to send our troops off to kill and die without any old approval from Congress as required by old Article 1, Section 8 of that old Constitution.
How did that work out, Nori? Hundreds of thousands of American and allied casualties, millions of Vietnamese, Laotian, and Cambodian casualties. Veterans and civilians here and there still suffering from Agent Orange damage today. Uncountatrillions of dollars spent . . .
Could things have been different if we'd followed the Constitutional requirement? We'll never know, but maybe we ought to learn from the history you urge us to read. Which of the histories of the Vietnam War do you find most enlightening, Nori?
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Meadow Rue. Never heard of it, but it's all along the canal.
Looking for music to work out to today, found this. From Woody Guthrie to Rhiannon Giddens, from the Dust Bowl, Great Depression, the wars against fascism of the early 20th Century to Civil Rights, Black Lives Matter, the women's movement, and the fight against fascism today. The history that Nori encourages us to read, in song!
Nori, its not that other Presidents bypassed Congress so that makes it ok. As Jack pointed out there were futile wars like the Vietnam Nam one and the Iraq war that helped nothing and instead caused widespread death and heartbreak. This Congress if consulted would just sadly be Trump puppets.
Jack i love that song about triumphing over the fascists. Trump is a fascist as are people he put in power.
Hard to believe some are ignoring immigrants thrown to the ground and deported, attempts to deport very sick childten who would die if sent away without medical treatment in the US and so much more cruelty every single day. How cruel that the the big ugly bill would kick millions off Medicaid, hurt Medicare and snap programs to feed the hungry children. This is all so they can give a big tax cut to the wealthy So Nori, these are all horrid things under Trump We the people are the biggest hope to save our democracy. Love, Joanie
Sen. Lisa Murkowski had her “John McCain moment” within her grasp and she let it pass. Consequently, she is destined for the dustbin of history as just another U.S. Senator willing to sell her soul to the devil. So much for “profiles in courage.”
Yeah, some of us are pretty old and scruffy. But there's a lot of young vets, too. Let's stop creating vets in useless wars!
This performer
This cut!
