Post #7598 M: Weekend Update; Trump’s Iran Buildup Is Based on a Lie; Why is the Southern Tradition Valuable?

 Quote of the Day

The greater danger for most of us is 

not that our aim is too high and we miss it, 

but that it is too low and we reach it.

Michelangelo  

Weekend Update

Trump’s Iran Buildup Is Based on a Lie

Why is the Southern Tradition Valuable?

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Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Nick Anderson via Politico

Musical Interlude: 1963 Top 100 Hits

Foolish Little Girl - Shirelles

Post #7597 M: Hegseth Iran Presser Cold Open; Immigration Detentions and Habeas Petitions; Stossel Interview: Andrew Yang

Quote of the Day

A true friend knows your weaknesses 

but shows you your strengths; 

eels your fears 

but fortifies your faith; 

sees your anxieties 

but frees your spirit; 

recognizes your disabilities 

but emphasizes your possibilities.

William Arthur Ward  

Hegseth Iran Presser Cold Open

Immigration Detentions and Habeas Petitions

Stossel Interview: Andrew Yang

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Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Michael Ramirez via Politico

Musical Interlude: 1963 Top 100 Hits 

 Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home) - Crystals

Post #7596 M: America: The Enlightenment with Muskets; Dumbest Iran War Takes!; Is it War?

 Quote of the Day

It is a fine thing to have ability, 

but the ability to discover ability in others is the true test.

Elbert Hubbard  

America: The Enlightenment with Muskets

Dumbest Iran War Takes! 

 

Is it War?

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Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Kal via Politico

 Musical Interlude: 1963 Top 100 Hits

Busted - Ray Charles

Post #7595 M: Desi Lydic Foxsplains Trump's Iran Not-War; Debate: War In Iran; Does Trumpism Survive Without Trump?

 Quote of the Day

Let us live for 

the beauty of our own reality.

Charles Lamb  

Desi Lydic Foxsplains Trump's Iran Not-War

Debate: War In Iran

Does Trumpism Survive Without Trump?

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Pedro Melina via Politico

Musical Interlude: 1963 Top 100 Hits

Two Faces Have I - Lou Christie

Post #7594 Social Media Digest

 Facebook

X/Twitter

As for my fellow libertarian friends who believed an infomercial con man's foreign policy rhetoric, shame on you.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 1, 2026

I've seen a report that the primary school bombed by Israel or the US was near an Iranian military base. presumably the intended target. This does not justify a war crime against innocent young schoolgirls

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 1, 2026

Remember that "Two Corinthians" Trump had his $60 "God Bless the USA" Bibles made for under $3/each in China 2 years ago after bashing China for a decade, It goes beyond hypocrisy, principle, and misleading consumers pic.twitter.com/IGaAwpUYSN

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 1, 2026

The fact we have now 3 Americans dead and 5 wounded om Trump's unconstitutional war on Iran means there's blood on Trump's hands. Impeach Trump NOW!

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 1, 2026

Thirty years is nearly half a lifetime. I don't give a damn about this Gestapo obsession with official papers. De facto if you've lived here that long, you are an American, short of serious criminal vs civil behaviors. https://t.co/7RZmW4irPR

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 1, 2026

I'm not an MTG fan. But I give her credit for being consistent on foreign policy over Trump, who had criticized Bush over the decision to invade Iraq. The Bonehead-in-Chief insists that he is MAGA and declares the Iran mission is America First. pic.twitter.com/cXpvSfphUn

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 1, 2026

Ouch! SNL found footage of 2011 Trump saying that a POTUS going to war with Iran is weak, ineffective. and has no ability to negotiate. That's the Trump MTG fell in love with; unfortunately, voters put senile Trump in office.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 2, 2026

Old school Catholic here. I used to go to Mass in suits (I've relaxed to business casual). My hypothetical daughter would not go to church like that, but the modern church is very tolerant. My own goddaughter/niece has tattoos and once colored her blond hair blue. https://t.co/D5cgXCzZsQ pic.twitter.com/Ngk6swIZF0

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 2, 2026

All these Trumpkins utterly astonished Trump turned out to be a neo-con! Dude, he nominated Bolton in his first time, and I knew it was over when he named the hawk Marco Rubio Secretary of State. https://t.co/LBSYLjjty2

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 2, 2026

Nobel Peace Prize aspirant Trump has set an American POTUS record for most undeclared, unprovoked military attacks on other nations. pic.twitter.com/buCaQKCV7M

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 3, 2026

No, "The Save America Act" is not backed by 80+%, but even if it was, it would be an infringement on the political rights of up to 10% of Americans who lack relevant documents because they are missing or damaged or there's a gap in official records but documented elsewhere.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 3, 2026

I once had to do some training at an Air Force base on the Florida panhandle. We had a tour including seeing an F-35 at rest at close range. The jet sat in a space with with colored border lines, posted warnings of unauthorized trespassers being shot.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 3, 2026

As we reflect on Trump's egregious, morally reprehensible. unconstitutional war against Iran, it reminds me of a time when country artists weren't all hawks. "Galveston", Cash's "What is Truth?". My personal favorite: https://t.co/JQbNe7i252

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 3, 2026

I hope the Nobel Prize committee takes the time to announce Trump is permanently banned from future consideration of its peace prize.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 3, 2026

No, Trump cannot end trade against Spain. Trump is incompetent on the Constitution; I have no problem with Gorsuch once again schooling the Dumbass-in-Chief on Civics 101. NATO does not support Trump's illegal war against Iran, and NATO doesn't require a member nation to help. pic.twitter.com/tIfRCdAI7f

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 4, 2026

Crackpot conspiracy theory by a sore loser who lost all but 1 of over 60 court cases on the 2020 election. The voter id requirements do little to minimize already rare voter fraud. The problem is up to 10% of Americans don't have readily available documents required https://t.co/kTXqUmdk15

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 4, 2026

Some dude named Trump in 2011 argued against a war against Iran, saying any such POTUS doesn't know how to negotiate. https://t.co/OAxevrDY0E pic.twitter.com/TplEFYsFn2

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 4, 2026

Over a dozen KIA on Biden's watch. only 1 war ended, and he was meddling in the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts. Via Cato Institute: https://t.co/C4zlf0Jh97 pic.twitter.com/3aXT91vOfh

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 4, 2026

Interesting to see Cornyn thinly led former impeached Trumpkin favorite AG Paxton in Texas' Senate primary yesterday. Paxton had led in every recent poll I have seen although short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff. Cornyn still needs to survive the runoff.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 4, 2026

I oppose 100% the 2026 Wag the Dog Act, aka the War Powers Resolutions, blessing Trump's morally unjustifiable, unprovoked war crimes against Iran. Thge same hypocrite who once accused Obama of seeking war against Iran now gaslights the American people.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 4, 2026

The idea that Trump started his unconstitutional war against Iran on his intuition that Iran was about to launch a preemptive attack on the US. Trump is clearly mentally ill. pic.twitter.com/EIGLYguFGc

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 4, 2026

The Senate GOP refuses to put limits on Trump's unconstitutional war crimes against Iran. The GOP has lost its moral authority to lead.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 5, 2026

This is historian Brion McClanahan at his best. He points out that Congress cannot delegate its tax or war declaration powers, and that the POTUS has limited (no) authority for nondefensive warmaking without explicit Congressional approval.https://t.co/Oulb5NFZ3k

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 5, 2026

It's embarrassing how Republicans (except Rand Paul and Massie) are refusing to rebuke Trump's illegal, immoral, and unconstitutional war against Iran. Speaker Dumbass Johnson is playing word games over war like Clinton arguing the meaning of 'is".https://t.co/mY2QuiJpuS

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 5, 2026

Republicans fearmonger DHS concerns over Iranian sleeper cells in the US. You might think they should have been concerned about blowback against Trump's unprovoked, unauthorized military actions against Iran. Republicans refuse to rebuke ICE's unconstitutional violations. pic.twitter.com/1rF7CnzXe7

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 5, 2026

I'm pleased that Noem has finally been fired by Trump. Not because of her misconduct over ICE, but probably because she was high-maintenance in her role. I don't care why he did it; don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 5, 2026

Trump's preposterous claims that he is the kingmaker of Venezuela and Iran are illegitimate and anti-democratic. His war crimes don't entitle do anything more than prosecution of violations in international law.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 5, 2026

It's sad to see patriot Massie's courageous attempt to limit the scope of neo-con Trump's unconstitutional war against Iran fell short. Trump's America First soundbite turns out to be as phony as his promise that Mexico would pay for his border wall.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 6, 2026

Remember Obama's drone attack on the Wech Baghtu wedding party in Afghanistan? Well, Trump's airstrike on a southern Iranian girls' elementary school was even more evil. Via the Gray Lady: pic.twitter.com/BFifI8j8aW

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 6, 2026

First, the Republicans don't have the votes to deliver on either, which Trump has heavily lobbied for. Second, Paxton isn't likely to win the runoff with Cornyn flipping Paxton's poll advantage. Third, Paxton is unlikely to win the general election & the GOP needs the seat. pic.twitter.com/s532jYlDTq

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 6, 2026

Byrd was a killer cop. I'm no Trumpkin J6 sympathizer. But Babbitt was unarmed and did not pose a mortal threat to Byrd. Yes, Babbitt was a trespasser and was accountable for her crime. But Byrd was not her jury, judge, and executioner.

Mullin showed abysmal judgment. https://t.co/x8B2MR1lkD

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 6, 2026

Interesting. I thought with all the DoD reversals on the COVID-19 vaccine in the vaccine-skeptic Trump regime that they must have rolled back the vaccine mandate. But a contractor application I recently saw requires compliance. Not an issue for me because I've had them all.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 7, 2026

Trump thinks that he's being a badass by using "tough" rhetoric. We've seen this countless times e.g., in Trump's idiotic tariff wars where he threatens to hit back harder if others reciprocate with protectionist actions of their own.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 7, 2026

I realize that the "American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes is a one-off for dad "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. But it's never made sense to me why a babyface is named a "Nightmare". "American Vision"?

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 7, 2026

It's amusing to see WWE R-Truth emulate all of John Cena's signature moves and finishers in his tag team turmoil match. But I'm not crazy about booking an impromptu tag team with Priest for a championship title shot at upcoming Wrestlemania.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 7, 2026

In some states, noncitizens are eligible for driver's licenses. Now in some states (e;g., OR), states did not validate filters for related voter registration batches. but all new voters are required to provide ID before voting for the first time.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 7, 2026

The Dems need to stop their soak the rich/politics of envy agenda. The wealthy can decide when to time sales of capital assets. Raising the cost of selling discourages it.

Via ATR: pic.twitter.com/byHwY9F53I

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 7, 2026

Trump once again has proven to be Putin's useful idiot. Not only has he divided NATO over his unprovoked tariff and Iran wars, but he's made Russia's energy production great again.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 7, 2026

Congressional Republicans don't have the stones to challenge Trump's unprincipled leadership. They are worried about Trump ending their political careers with a Trumper tantrum on social media and backing primary challengers.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 7, 2026

Yes. Professionally, I'm a database administrator and have to do things like patches, upgrades and other maintenance activities after business hours. And what's worse, I almost never get compensation for those overtime hours since I'm salaried.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 7, 2026

Nope. Certainly music (except disco) was much better but the 70s had stagflation, knowledge sharing and communication were more limited and expensive, etc.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 8, 2026

$1.60

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 8, 2026

Musk, as usual, is distorting the context. Schumer here was not making a claim that ineligible aliens were trying to draw social security benefits. but an allegation of identity fraud, using other people's numbers to gain access to the job market.https://t.co/vNF7XwNnh8 https://t.co/jyDYT2qoNm

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 8, 2026

The Axis of Evil.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 8, 2026

6. Multiplication takes precedence over addition.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 8, 2026

No. What biased polls show is irrelevant. If you point out the law keeps 21M American citizens from voting, support evaporates, but the act is simply wrong.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 8, 2026

High blood pressure

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 8, 2026

Play a Beatles LP on my phonograph

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) March 8, 2026

Post #7593 M: Trump’s Mixed Messages About War in Iran; SOHO Debate: Should the NIH be Abolished?; McClanahan on Is the War Powers Resolution Constitutional?

 Quote of the Day

There is just one life for each of us: 

our own.

Euripides 

Trump’s Mixed Messages About War in Iran

SOHO Debate: Should the NIH be Abolished?

McClanahan on Is the War Powers Resolution Constitutional?

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Dick Wright via Politico

Musical Interlude: 1963 Top 100 Hits

Cry Baby - Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters

Post #7592 J

 Endemic Report

CDC weekly statistics: The weekly mega statistics have not been updated since last week. The virus is spreading in VA and AR, but declining in 70% of states.

The Sick Times:

The latest COVID-19 weekly news items:

• "The hidden epidemic: Insomnia in health care workers during and after COVID-19"
• "COVID-19 Infection associated with Risk of Chronic Rhinosinusitis"
• "Tulane Study Finds COVID-19 Uniquely Impacts Brain, Causing Long-Term Inflammation"
• "Pediatric Nurse Practitioners: Unvaccinated Children At-Risk for Severe Flu, COVID Symptoms"
• "Diabetes and liver medications failed to treat long COVID"
• "Up to 56,000 people died from COVID-19 or RSV last year"
• "COVID-19 infection predicts higher risk of kidney disease, study finds"
• "New research ties COVID-19 to a recent increase in heart failure deaths"
• "Babies with COVID-19 develop more serious disease than those with RSV, US data reveal"
• "Study uncovers a biological cause for persistent taste loss after COVID-19"
• "Study finds natural fungal supplement improves COVID-19 vaccine response"
• "Prepandemic respiratory illness tied to increased risk of long COVID"
• "Report Reinforces COVID-19 Vaccine Benefits for Children and Adolescents"
• "COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Linked to Lower 4-Year All-Cause Mortality"
• "Even Mild COVID-19 Can Leave Lasting Brain Damage, Study Finds"
• "New findings provide objective look at broad sensory impairments among long COVID sufferers"

• Prosecutors continue to pursue COVID relief/other crimes:
• "Man gets 78 months for $5 million COVID-19 relief fund theft"
• "2 Oakland Co. residents accused of COVID-19 loan fraud charged"
• "3 sentenced for role in COVID-19 unemployment scheme in Southwest Virginia"
• Legal/political issues:
• "Stony Brook employee with long COVID wins $1M over work-from-home denial"
• "Raleigh defendants seek dismissal of arrested COVID protester’s suit"
• "Indiana Supreme Court upholds COVID-19 immunity for hospitals in patient death case"
• "Moderna Notches Much-Needed Win in COVID-19 Patent Spat With Roivant"
• "Inmate outbreak: 800 infected with COVID-19 in state prison facilities"
• "Moderna to Pay Up to $2.25B to Settle Patent Suit Over Covid-19 Vaccine Technology"
• "UNC Health Rex to implement new policy, pay $150K to settle COVID-19 vaccine discrimination lawsuit"
• "Shriners Hospital Defeats Worker’s Covid-19 Vaccine Bias Lawsuit"
• "UNC Rex settles lawsuit that claimed religious discrimination over COVID vaccine"

Other Notes

The bloated pageviews are back; it's gotten to the point where I, a stat junkie, no longer bother tracking monthly pageviews.  I ended posts short of my 40 target in February, although I recall publishing my Jan. 41st post early, so it's really one short. I haven't published my first March essay yet, but one is in development and will likely be published over the coming week. It was a tough week on X/Twitter, losing about 5% of my followers and fewer engagements (likes, retweets).

I can't really compare grocery inflation overall; I mostly shop in person at Lidl and Walmart with occasional delivered orders from Amazon and Walmart. I have noticed Walmart's grocery delivery options seem to have narrowed recently. I didn't see many fresh beef options and other items I've had delivered in the past, which is not true for in-person shopping, even the classic box of 5 dozen eggs. I don't know if it's a supplier issue or they've changed item mix for business interests, but it's limiting my ability to compare prices. But I can compare 3 varying trends: eggs. coffee and beef. Eggs. which have remained fairly pricey due to avian flu, recently dropped to about $1.66/doz. It had been stuck around $1.90+ for several months. I can still remember paying under $1 before the pandemic at both stores.  Coffee K-cups in 100-count boxes. I can remember paying under $30 from Walmart and Sam's Club, and buying the budget boxes at Lidl at $20-23,  I think lately even Walmart's budget boxes start at about $31+, and I haven't seen Lidl budget boxes for a few weeks (they do have pricier smaller boxes, of course). Beef has been pricier for a while. I've usually preferred pricier grass-fed beef, I used to get chuck roasts at about $7/lb at Walmart, but I haven't seen any recently. I used to get ground beef on special from $3.50-5/lb on special for 85% lean, maybe a buck more for 93%. Regular price now starts at over $7 and the occasional sale is about $5.50/lb. I did notice they dropped their steak costs about $1 pound, still well over $10/lb.

This weekend marks the first anniversary of the worst weekend of my life, one followed by nearly 2 months in a hospital and rehab (after a week). I recently heard about a famous wrestling announcer discuss a "fall and can't get up" incident, like you've no doubt seen a ubiquitous commercial aimed at seniors for a wireless transmitter, which lasted for 5 hours. Not to minimize that because I've lived through it--plus some. Roughly 3 days. I know that because I had a bedroom alarm that went off every 12 hours. My cellphone got lost, and my Internet modem went offline. My knees and elbows were bleeding, and I couldn't pull myself up. What rescued me? A rare door-to-door sales guy from a rival cable ISP. I screamed for him to call 9-1-1. (Since then, I've switched ISPs largely as a form of appreciation.)  Three days without food, water or meds. My kidneys were in bad shape. Thanks to the doctors, nurses, and therapists who facilitated my recovery. I ran into legal issues just trying to get access to my apartment for relatives to get into my apartment to retrieve my phone, a laptop, and clothes and get a contractor to remedy the cleanup for my return. For several weeks after my return, I had follow-up home visits by nurses and therapists. Yes, I do wear an alert dongle, although I don't consider a replication likely. But if others can learn from my experience, it's been worth discussing it