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Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Yes, Jack, Trump could care less about us getting back money we spent due to his tarrifs...Tarrifs are a tax on all of us...Instead he is attacking the Justices that voted against him..(he doesn't have the common sense to know that they judge future cases involving him). They are not supposed to consider his personal attacks but let's face it he is crazy to do this.  On top of that he is doubling down trying to find another way to put in a 10% global tarrif...The destruction we have had since he got in is horrendous and tragic. Love, Joanie

Another tragic murder by ICE: Martinez was just 23 and a US Citizen. 

https://apnews.com/article/texas-ice-shooting-ruben-ray-martinez-death-646df2f1212fa48d14a9b270f04c3f76

Jay Shackford

Has anyone on this forum been watching the Winter Olympics in Northern Italy.  Don't miss tomorrow's U.S. vs. Canada that will close out the two weeks of worldclass sporting events.  A great way to end a very cold and nasty winter here in DC.

Jim Kessler (class of '64) reminded me the other day that we rode our BMW motorcycles close to many of the Olympic venues during our 14 day motorcycle trip through the Alps in the summer of 2000 -- starting in Munich, going to Salsburg, Innsburke and other parts of Austrial, cutting through a small slice of Solvenia (country of worldclass skiers and beautiful women, according to the border guard, the Dolemite Range in Northern Italy ((about six days of riding), the into Switzerland before heading nack through Bavaria to Munich.  Eric Seline ('61 BCC grad) also made the trip with us. 

Enjoy the Olympics!

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Jay, I have been watching the Olympics some...mostly the figure skaters. I love watching the skaters. Wow, you and Jim Kessler were amazing on your BMW motorcycles riding through the Alps, near many of the Olympic venues... I'm impressed you both did that. Your travels then in 2000 sounded amazing!!! Thanks so much  for alerting us to the closing of US vs Canada...Love and take care, Joanie

Joan Ruggles (Young)

Jay, I too spent some time in my 20's riding around Switzerland on a motorcycle with my then Swiss boyfriend. I had bought my own bike back in Philadelphia when I got tired of riding on the back. It was more fun riding on your own. But a new friend in Crete allowed me to drive his bike from the coast into Heraklion. Mine was only a 250 Suzuki but I actually placed an order for a 350 Triumph.......until they decided not to make it and gave me a refund. 😔 Fun and maybe dangerous times. Ah to be young and daring!

Jack Mallory

Young, daring, and dumb, then. Well, me at least. 

I used to jump out of airplanes. The most daring thing I do these days is walking Bodie on icy pavement. 

Yesterday a couple of his fellow Labs, off-leash, joined us. About 250 lbs. of retriever cavorting around my legs on the ice. Knocked me down, I was laughing so hard I could scarcely get back up! 
 

"But I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now." Thanks, Bobby.

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Wow, Jay Jack and Joan, your past atheletic abilities are really impressive. .  Back in my youth I did swim on a swim team but only won a metal when there were 3 people swimming,  including myself. I got third place🤣🤣🤣❤️

Jack Mallory

I can't claim that jumping out of an airplane shows off much athletic prowess, Joanie. Enough of a hop to clear the side of the aircraft, then gravity takes care of the rest!

Jack Mallory

This is a real magazine cover, from over 100 years ago. The Republican Party doesn’t change much when it comes to capitalism.

Not sure I understand his grip on the bottle. I was NEVER drunk enough to hold a bottle that way--might spill a drop!

Joan Ruggles (Young)

I would add that riding a motorcycle also doesn't require any athleticism. I may have gotten D's in Gym class at BCC. That's how athletic I was. Of course, I DID receive D's in French but now can speak the language at a fairly acceptable rate.  Late bloomer I guess. 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

joan, Jay, I watched that thrilling end to the Hockey final with Canada and the US. Wow, the US won the gold which I think hadn't happened since maybe 1980. Thanks for calling out attention to it.  

Joan, I'm still impressed that you were riding through those amazing areas on your bike   You had great endurance  yay  for Joan👍❤️❤️

Jack Mallory

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

I think the broken class, virus kerosene, etc is the better choice. 🤣🤣🤣

Jack Mallory

Preports suggest it could go 90 minutes or more, Joanie. Since he's starting just about my bedtime anyway, I think I'll have to opt for the hot coals and broken glass. And because I've got to pay a little teeny weeny bit of his salary, I don't think I'm obliged to pay any attention to him tonight on top of that.

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

I should have kept to walking into the door with the broken glass, kerosene, west nile virus, etc...I must want to do self torture. I watched it as I thought then I would know what lies he told and hear the rebuttal....it was torture and it lasted 2 hours. I have to be crazy...It was hard to sleep after that. I heard Spanberger give the rebuttal..She gave a good speech. I think I would have written it in a more emotional way but they didn't ask me to give the rebuttal!!!  At one point Trump gave the Medal of Honor to a man who fought in World War II who was 100 years old. After the man got the medal, Trump said that he would like to get the Medal of Honor, but he doesn't know what he would get it for...Hey folks, he finally said something true.....the rest were all lies...Our economy is the best...tarrifs are great and he is putting more on, He is saving Social Security and Medicare...lies..He was cruel about Somalies, and iimmigrants in general...Well, even a few sentences is probably more then you folks need to hear about regarding his speech.  You were smart to avoid it at all costs...Love you all, Joanie

Jack Mallory

I had a good night's sleep. Which I wouldn't have had after hearing the Felon's mouth dirty the MOH. 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Jack, you were wise to avoid the toxicity of watching and hearing Trump. I think I learned my lesson after his 2 hour rant to choose my health first.  I had a bad night and woke with anxiety. Definitely wasn't worth it. Love, Joanie❤️

Jay Shackford

Nasty, delusional, hallucinatory 

That’s the best way to describe our bat-shit crazy President’s State of the Union address the other night. 

In short, Donald Trump said nothing of any significance about anything the American people really wanted to hear despite talking for a record of nearly two hours. Consider what Americans are worried about: 

• How to put the economy back on track, close the wealth gap, and contain inflation in food prices, rent, homeownership, utilities, education, health care, car prices, and other basics that are driving up the cost of living; 
• What’s really going on with Iran and the military build-up in the Mideast; are we about to go into another endless war without Congressional approval or a national debate? 
• When will his Administration fulfill the Congressional mandate to release all of the Epstein files (unedited) and what does he have to hide by refusing to release the remaining unedited files; and 
• How threatening is Artificial Intelligence to future job creation for young people (unemployment among recent college graduates is already 10% and rising) and what is Trump doing about it?   The list goes on and on.  

Donald Trump failed to address any of those issues. What he did say were mostly lies and distortions.  Then he went nasty and facist, going after women of color on the Democractic side of the Congress.  He's such a tough guy! He even jokingly suggested giving himself a Medal of Honor, making the first time that a "draft dodger" could claim such an honorl

Despite claiming the “economy is roaring,” the facts say otherwise.  

During Joe Biden’s four years, the GDP grew by 5.8% in 2021 (mainly due to a rebound from Covid and a very weak economy he inherited from Trump’s first term); 1.3% in 2022; 3.4% in 2023; and 2.4% in 2024.  In 2025, Trump’s first year in office, the nation’s economy (GDP) grew by 2.2%.  During the fourth quarter of 2025, the GDP grew by a measly 1.4%, which means we are getting closer to a recession with each passing month. 

Now let’s look at jobs.  Joe Biden created an average of 122,000 jobs per month during his four years in office.  Trump averaged 15,000 new jobs per month during his first year of his second term. 

On inflation, yes, Joe Biden did inherit an economy from Trump where inflation peaked at about 9% (due mainly to Covid and supply chain disruptions).  But the inflation rate fell to about 3% by the end of his term in January 2025.  By the end of Trump’s first year, the inflation rate was back up to close to 4%.  

Jack Mallory

What Jay said. And when I said I didn't want to hear the Felon's mouth befoul the Medal of Honor, this is how a fellow Vietnam Veteran Against the War more eloquently put it:

"A Nations Gratitude Should Be Measured in Respect - Not Stage Craft.
 
"By law and long-standing practice, the Medal of Honor is presented “in the name of Congress” by the President of the United States (or, in rare cases, by the Secretary of Defense acting on the President’s behalf). The physical act of placing the medal around the recipient’s neck is part of that presidential presentation. The Medal of Honor presentation is one of the most formal and carefully observed ceremonies we have. 
  
"As a veteran. I will always stand and salute those who are honored for their service and sacrifice. The men and women recognized last night deserved every bit of respect the nation can give them. They earned it through their sacrifice and bravery. 

"But the way it was presented matters.  
  
"Honoring service members—especially when it involves our nation’s highest military awards—is not entertainment. It is not game night on the Price is Right, as one writer expressed.  It’s not a backdrop. It’s not something to be wrapped in applause lines and stagecraft. The Medal of Honor presentation is one of the most formal and carefully observed ceremonies we have and is meant to be solemn, precise, and deeply respectful, because it represents sacrifice at the highest level.

"When that kind of recognition is folded into a political spectacle, it doesn’t elevate the moment—it diminishes it. It risks turning something sacred into something performative, which it did.
  
 "Treat their service with the gravity and dignity it deserves. Let their stories stand on their own, without being used as props in a larger show.
The service members honored deserved that dignity and the presentation should have matched their sacrifice. 
"I salute the heroes.  I reject the circus.

"Don Libby   
2/25/26"

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Hello! Checked the last few forum pages & pretty much decided to bite my lip & live by "if you can't say anything nice, say nothing at all", allowing my mom a heavenly smile or two. But, then I thought of a few 'nice' reactions to recent posts, I could indeed share, which may reinforce my apparently unique perspective. I found TSOTU address a refreshing mix of heart-felt patriotism, economic hope, illumination of tragic open-border results, as well as improving drug stats, rises in private sector jobs along with a slowing of bureaucratic government jobs, encouraging aggressive measures taken to eliminate Medicaid/Medicare fraudulence, the brave, new squeeze on Iran (which unfortunately has chosen to rebuild its nuclear enrichment program), encouraging the downward spiral of costs with a marked dip in gas prices, etal. Of course, the far-left screams from certain members added some levity as well as a measure of sadness that our country remains so staunchly divided. But hey, gotta take some bad with the good. Even mom would agree.
For now, am grateful to be spending this brutal winter as a snowbird & praying our country (& classmates!) continue to grow in spirit & prosperity. 

 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Nori, I think what the situation is we see Trump from a different perspective. What you were saying were all positives of his Administration, to me were outright lies. He painted immigrants as killers and most of the immigrants are wonderful non violent folks helping our society and enriching it.....We all saw ICE in Minneapolis murder two Americans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti in cold blood. Trump made no mention of the victims of Epstein and Maxwells horrific sex crimes to the victims. and they were standing in the room. It was as if they didn't exist. He gave examples of a few horrible immigrants who murdered someone and made it sound like the majority are all killers coming into our country. Most violent crime is conducted by Americans. He made no mention of how even five year olds were being snatched up and families who worked hard in this country are being separted and thrown in horrible detention centers. Even a 17 year old child of a father detained in jail who begged to get to see her father as she was dying of cancer was turned down.Soon after she begged to see him, she died. Maybe you didn't see it but we saw with our own eyes. what happened in Minneapolis and other places. Its sad that for the most part, the wonderful non violent immigrants are so cruelly treated. They ran away from countries that treated them like this for the promise of America...Trump lied about the economy. He has done everything to pack his own pocket and those of his rich friends while the little guy is left out in the cold...He is not the defender of Medicare and Social Security. He has cut food stamps for hungry children and so much more. So, I just feel so differently from how you feel...Love, Joanie

https://www.newsbreak.com/oca-359268580/4512344452256-a-teen-who-went-public-begging-for-her-father-s-release-from-ice-custody-has-died-of-cancer-she-was-17-years-old-and-her-father-was-still-detained-when-she-died

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDaPdpwA4Iw   How about listening to the Boss, Bruce Springsteen singing about he heartache in Minneapolis. 

Jack Mallory

Euphemisms for war are one of my triggers. This goes right up near the top of the list: "the brave, new squeeze on Iran"

War is not a brave, new squeeze. Anyone in this country our age with their eyes and ears functioning knows this.

US combat deaths, Vietnam War to present--over 70,000 https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009819/total-us-military-fatalities-in-american-wars-1775-present/

Deaths of our "enemies": between one and two million https://news.mit.edu/2011/deaths-others-americas-wars

This, of course, does not address the horrors of non-lethal combat injuries: traumatic amputations, blinding, third degree burns, post traumatic stress casualties, disfiguring . . . And it omits any mention of veteran suicides.

Nor does it begin to inform us about innocent civilian casualties in our wars over the same period, which number in the millions: deaths and all of the life-altering injuries suffered by unarmed, non-combatant men, women, and children. 

But saying "brave, new squeeze" instead of WAR makes it so much easier to squeeze our eyes closed good and tight so we can, once again, blindly shell out the bucks, make vets or corpses out of our kids or grandkids, buy the napalm, invent the new Agent Orange, build the new Abu Graibs and Guantanamos, all to drive new great victories like those won in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the little countries and nameless places in between. 
 

Squeeze bravely away, Nori. Seems to have worked for you for decades.

I'll live with my eyes open, triggers and all. 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Jack I agree with what you said. You told it like it is...there is such horror death and destruction in wars..they should only be a last resort rather then to force some political ideology or to be able to get rare gems like Trump would like to do, or to get Venezualan oil etc....You were spot on in your note and I quoted you below. 

"But saying "brave, new squeeze" instead of WAR makes it so much easier to squeeze our eyes closed good and tight so we can, once again, blindly shell out the bucks, make vets or corpses out of our kids or grandkids, buy the napalm, invent the new Agent Orange, build the new Abu Graibs and Guantanamos, all to drive more great victories like those won in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the little countries and nameless places in between". 

.Here is fact.check.org talking about Trumps speech...this organization gets the highest rating for its fact finding. Love, Joanie

https://www.factcheck.org/2026/02/factchecking-trumps-state-of-the-union-address/

Robert Hall

Jack Mallory

Nori is not alone in her obfuscation of the realities of war. ChatGPT provides an international accounting of terms used to elide what we should always think of as blowing people up and destroying things--or more graphically--eviscerating, decapitating, incinerating, atomizing, or traumatically amputating our fellow humans and their bodily parts.  

Governments from our own to Russia, Israel, Turkey, China and many others, while not using Nori's preferred "brave new squeeze" have their own euphemisms:

The US has used, among many other bland descriptors, "police action," "counterinsurgency," "stabilization," "regime change" (watch out for this soon in regards to Iran) "security operation," and "military assistance" to describe death and destruction.

Similar "don't look too close here" terms elsewhere in the world have been "kinetic military action" (WTF?), "limited military engagement," and "humanitarian intervention" (sounds pleasant, even fun! Something we'd all like to do!) 

If we don't say "WAR," we don't have to see what our soldiers are doing, we don't have to reflect on the fact that, in a democracy, we're responsible for what they're doing! 
 

In this Brave New World maybe we can get each other to fall for the Brave New Squeeze, even without the soma! With apologies to Aldous Huxley. 

Joan Ruggles (Young)

I think Nori and I are reading from a different forum. She talks about being capable of only saying something nice with the implication that those of us who post are saying something "not nice". What I see is a few of us posting what we see with our own eyes and which cause us to recoil in horror. Yes Nori, you're correct. What we see with our own eyes is NOT nice. What our president says every time he opens his mouth is NOT nice. What he presumably has done to at least one 13 year old girl is NOT nice.

What is nice is watching my new grandson try to eat sweet potatoes with his fists. But who the hell besides me, cares about my grandson? Who cares about the nice, perfectly cooked piece of salmon I had last night? What's not nice is what our country is becoming, thanks to an authoritarian president who can't stop plastering his name and likeness all over Washington. Do you really believe that it's appropriate for a president to have his picture hanging on the Department of Justice? Don't you understand that what it means to him is that he's peed on that department of our government and made it beholden to him. Is that NICE? Man, have you been conned!