Post #7860 M: From 9/11 to Iran, Are We Safer Now?; TikTok Wives after the Lindsay Clancy Trial Ends; McClanahan on A Republic If You Can Keep It

 Quote of the Day

We give up leisure in order that we may have leisure, 

just as we go to war in order that we may have peace.

Aristotle  

From 9/11 to Iran, Are We Safer Now? 

TikTok Wives after the Lindsay Clancy Trial Ends

McClanahan on A Republic If You Can Keep It

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Steve Breen via smerconish

Musical Interlude: 1965 Top 100 Hits

 I’m Telling You Now - Freddie & the Dreamers

Post #7859 M: Trump Bribes Americans For Votes; Why Are Public Schools Losing Students; The Lindsay Clancy Jury Never Had the Right Choice

 Quote of the Day

The man who does not read good books 

has no advantage over 

the man who cannot read them.

Mark Twain  

Trump Bribes Americans For Votes

Why Are Public Schools Losing Students

The Lindsay Clancy Jury Never Had the Right Choice

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Eric Allie via smerconish

Musical Interlude: 1965 Top 100 Hits

BOB DYLAN "Like A Rolling Stone"

Post #7858 Social Media Digest

 X/Twitter

Russia has been second to the US in diesel exports, maybe about 10%. It's true Russia has caught off exports as production shrinks, but Trump's typical shallow analysis is incompetent and misleading. https://t.co/aoA8T6PbWc pic.twitter.com/ydSiw6db6A

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 13, 2026

Partisan hypocrites.https://t.co/Kg53QKUjKT

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 14, 2026

Bo French is a disgusting Republican who contradicts GOP claims to a civil rights legacy and embarrasses me as a native Texan. Another statewide candidate I refuse to support, along with Paxton.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 14, 2026

A Trumpkin-dominated Kennedy Center is predictably, disingenuously threatening imminent financial collapse short of tacking on Trump's name without Congressional approval. Trump's pissing on the Kennedy Center to mark his territory is reprehensible. pic.twitter.com/UiBL2nL0Pb

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 14, 2026

Trump is so old that he forgets earlier in his term, he took credit fot lower gas prices. So, now of a sudden he is trying to blame out-of-office Biden for rising prices. It is patently absurd. Biden, unlike Trump, had the judgment to stay out of war with Iran. pic.twitter.com/7T7SHUzafi

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

SCOTUS rightly rejected Trump's unconstitutional scheme to control the midterm elections.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

Can we have one KC Chiefs game telecast without a camera check on Mrs. Taylor Kelce's reaction?

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

A third measles death in Pennsylvania. Heck of a job, RFK Jr.!

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

Of course, the Fascist-in-Chief is having a Trumper tantrum over SCOTUS blocking his unconstitutional attempt to control the midterm election.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

I've had my fill of the Dotard-in-Chief. Trump attacked his former SCOTUS nominees as insufficiently personally loyal to him for not rubber-stamping his unconstitutional power grab over the midterm elections. It turned out, unlike Trump, they took their own oaths seriously.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

This is Soft Rock America. The Beatles are right: he's a mean old man.https://t.co/oAcHxUbdXZ https://t.co/fQrUVWPfQ8

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

First, the idea that Trump deserves credit for an ongoing trend is patently absurd. Unaffordability is, however, a legacy of Trump's unprovoked trade wars and his war with Iran. https://t.co/ZYQCMxcz2c pic.twitter.com/HedkYacOGm

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

First, crime has trended downward for decades, except during the pandemic (including Trump in 2020). Second, almost all police work reflects local/state implementation, not the general government. https://t.co/gSYKj1jCZw

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

Yes, Trump has made such an unproven, ludicrous allegation. This is Trump, as usual, playing the victim card. The fact is a large percentage of Presidents have faced actual or failed assassination attempts, few for partisan reasons. https://t.co/SwVIPDmzTo pic.twitter.com/1RjHbmrZ7e

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

The Russian sanctions legislation is an unnecessary, economically illiterate abomination, not only at the expense of American consumers but also another lose-lose exchange in a global trade war, killing American exports. https://t.co/NFGQyuGqUB

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 16, 2026

Kudos to the Fed for protecting the dollar from the corrosion of Trumpflation. Tariff Man insists American consumers will suffer his revenge, even as he prayed for an interest rate cut to boost the economy in time for the midterms.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 16, 2026

Kudos to Tom Massie for initiating the long-overdue impeachment of Hegseth.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 16, 2026

Give me a break! Trump is responsible for about 30% of the federal debt, although he was POTUS for only 6/250 years. Remember his promise to liquidate the national debt? The Dude starts each fiscal year with around $2T in deficits. All he does is spend, like the war in Iran. pic.twitter.com/AD5DDPoGpM

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 16, 2026

Only an economically illiterate Dumbass-in-Chief could have the audacity to claim that over 3% inflation merits a 1% interest rate or lower. Who would ever buy a bond that loses money from day 1? This is a dude who shed his company's debts in 6 bankruptcies; he has no shame.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

This is Soft Rock America. Diesel fuel is at a record high due to Trump's unprovoked war with Iran. Jigsaw had a relevant tune: https://t.co/6GL8cpicLz

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

Trump is pissed. Canada is looking to build its trade relations with Europe, both of which Trump has sabotaged with his incompetent, failed negotiations. Trump is the kind of dude who would threaten suitors for his ex-wives,

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

This is Soft Rock America. Vance is pleading for American voters to give the GOP a second chance. Steve Winwood has a take on this: https://t.co/ViwdOA5W6m

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

Trump's paranoia reflects mental illness. The Fed's unanimous decision to raise rates includes governors Trump himself selected. The idea that they intended to politically embarrass him is a crackpot departure from reality.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

The Russian sanctions bill is grossly immoral and economically illiterate. Giving Tariff Man more authority to f*ck up the global economy and punish US consumers is enabling evil.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

Scott Lincicome is correct here. I'll rephrase: Congress giving Trump new tariff laws to abuse is like putting a toddler with a fork in a room full of electrical sockets; only you get the shocks.https://t.co/ozGZfrcyea

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

What Trumpkins like Johnson don't point out in their continuing to scapegoat Biden for Trumpflation is that Trump hasn't been able to fix it or why voters should expect any improvement with Trumpkins in power after the midterms. pic.twitter.com/PTEtM7jH9C

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

When even FNC has Trump under 40% approval, the GOP is in trouble less than 2 months before the midterms. pic.twitter.com/xMtWGrSWjy

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

My latest essay takes on failed Trumpist mercantilism.https://t.co/95IGaA2hZY

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

It's sad and outrageous that HHS Secretary RFK Jr. is keynoting an anti-vaxxer function. What's next: sending Musk to address an astrology forum?

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

This is Soft Rock America. Vance is singing a Loggins classic:
https://t.co/cMbwUkUYRe https://t.co/Ji13ZiPJj4

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

Today is Constitution Day (although it was ratified on 6/21/1788). Let's all hope that one day SCOTUS will respect it and Trump will abide by it.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

This is Soft Rock America. Time for some classic Guess Who:https://t.co/mOa7jIamwn https://t.co/nz41rvijRi

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

A TNA heel faction manager tried to get cheap heat by referencing Trump's "Lake America".

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

Japan is raising interest rates to fight inflation. Unlike Trump, who actually thinks a cheaper fiat currency ill solvehis trade deficit "problem". Half of American imports are inputs or resources for American businesses, and higher costs fall on consumers.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

This clip interested me because I did my capstone MBA project on McDonald's. I had to fend off my east Asian group members reproducing Kroc's complaint hot dogs aren't simple: you can boil them, steam them, grill them, etc.https://t.co/f2bQldCquG

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

Verizon is looking to end traditional landline phone service. After getting my cell, it was the unlimited backup to limited cell phone monthly limits. I finally stopped with affordable unlimited (including long distance calls) cell plans. pic.twitter.com/ZQGNhWsAEl

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

Trump's ban of WH access of CNN, MS NOW and Politico is manifestly unconstitutional. There is nothing in the First Amendment that allows POTUS control in the event that he disagrees with coverage.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 19, 2026

SCOTUS is supposed to rebuke a White House or Congress that violates the Constitution. Birthright citizenship is explicitly stated in the Constitution and was in common law before the 14th Amendment. Tariff are a tax which require Congressional approval. pic.twitter.com/ZcbelmOIaP

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 19, 2026

It turns out Thomas Jefferson was Sally Hemings' baby daddy by DNA evidence, and no, the reveal wasn't on the Maury Povich show.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 19, 2026

Trump's aging memory is failing him. Eliminating the national debt? No new wars? A Mexico-paid wall?

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 13, 2026

Mount Ontario

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 13, 2026

He's right; I don't.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 13, 2026

The Americans are as trustworthy as the political whore who promised no new wars.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 13, 2026

Kushner hs no judgment; he chose to marry into the Trump clan.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 13, 2026

Not until the offense has been adjudicated. All residents are entitled to due process.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 13, 2026

No. Kamala Harris, like Trump, is incompetent at public sector administration.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 14, 2026

We don't have the budget. Not the first, frivolous promise by Trump to bribe voters.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 14, 2026

Work on my taxes. And I don't particularly like that.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 14, 2026

I don't think Dems have enough votes to pass a necessary constitutional amendment, never mind ratification of 75% of states..

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 14, 2026

I halfway expected to see AI Trumpkin lady parts tattooed. He would probably repost them.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

Tweeting a personal insult.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

More crimes and corruption, for sure...

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

Yeah. Some Americans are stupid. Some can't identify which country borders us to the north. pic.twitter.com/0laV73nTRy

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

Massie is the obvious choice, but I'll likely support the LP nominee

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

I've suggested putting the Narcissist-in-Chief's name on sewers.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

The GOP has not exercised proper oversight during Trump's current term, despite Trump's illegal tariffs and unconstitutional wars. The free ride ends when the GOP loses a majority, with Trump at 39% approval.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

A yellow dog

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

Wait in line at a DMV

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

Respect is a 2-way street. And Trump almost never shows respect for others. Trump's misconduct has cost him deeply on bilateral trade as Canada flirts with the EU.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

No. His failed foreign policy never lived up o his premature Nobel for not being George W. Bush, and his disastrous economic policies proved one of the slowest post recessions in US history.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

No. Others have been worse, but Trump has been corrupt and mediocre at best.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 15, 2026

Thank God!

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 16, 2026

None of the above.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

A genius does not confuse a baseball cap with a fedora

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 17, 2026

Did Trump audition for Lurch in The Addams Family?

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

I'll take Obama's dancing over that weird arm-swinging crap from Trump any day.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

Lincoln.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

I personally don't eat bananas — too many carbs. But if I did, it's not Trump's decision whether or not I should have the option of buying foreign-produced bananas, and he sure as hell doesn't have the authority to tax me for eating them. I decide the value of my purchases.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

Trump is that damn stupid. The USG isn't buying bananas. The US doesn't produce bananas to any significant degree. But if we bought bananas from Brazil, it would likely spend those dollars buying American goods and services, investing in the US economy, or paying for Trump debt

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

"We're Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

Trump got dressed up for Halloween.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

The only thing I have in common with Trump is that the Hypocrite-in-chief completes a mail-in ballot.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

Moot point. The Constitution has spoken . Sleepy Donnie Trump can't run again, although I would love to see the dotard get his ass kicked again.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

Moot point. The Constitution has spoken . Sleepy Donnie Trump can't run again, although I would love to see the dotard get his ass kicked again.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

Like the Trumpkins corruptly investing taxpayer USD in private businesses?

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

Like the Trumpkins corruptly investing taxpayer USD in private businesses?

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

I'm voting against any uniparty candidate for office. Who's with me?

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

He watches FNC.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

pic.twitter.com/F3WUtAcLgf

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

Every time I think I've suffered through the worst POTUS ever, Americans elect another.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

Trump will veto it. Not enough votes to override the veto.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 18, 2026

Liar-in-Chief: pic.twitter.com/utCv0XFPs2

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 19, 2026

Dumbass. He never declassified any of the documents he stole. There is no evidence beyond his lying excuse.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) September 20, 2026

Post #7857 M: SOHO Debate: Are We Winning the Trade Wars?: Jimmy Kimmel Recaps Trump’s Crazy Summer; Lindsay Clancy Jury Speaks Out

 Quote of the Day

Faultfinding without suggestions for improvement 

is a waste of time.

Ralph C. Smedley  

Jimmy Kimmel Recaps Trump’s Crazy Summer

SOHO Debate: Are We Winning the Trade Wars?

Lindsay Clancy Jury Speaks Out

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Rob Rogers via smerconish

Musical Interlude: 1965 Top 100 Hits

Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte - Patti Page

Post #7856 J

 Endemic Report

The latest CDC weekly stats:

The Sick Times:

It's fairly clear that the virus surge has peaked in the South but is still increasing across the northern states. This doesn't mean it's necessarily safe out there; politician AOC has caught COVID, and a recent high school football game had to be forfeited over a COVID outbreak. Probably the biggest news this past week is that about half of children who rely on federally funded vaccine programs have been delayed because of CDC delays.

Latest COVID-19 news items:

• "Airport air sampling captures COVID, influenza viruses"
• "CDC Updates Respiratory Virus Guidance for Health Care Personnel"
• "A new coronavirus discovered in a Brazilian bat provides more support for the theory that the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus, which caused the Covid-19 pandemic, evolved naturally in bats, as opposed to the controversial claim that it was engineered in a Chinese lab."
• "Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Beneficial for Those With Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease"
• "Georgia Southern study finds link between breastfeeding rates and COVID-19 outcomes across Georgia"
• "Decline in childhood vaccination rates in Europe since COVID-19"
• "Severe COVID-19 identified as major risk factor for adverse health outcomes among frail, older adults"
• "Two coronavirus master keys: new study unveils the mechanisms Covid-19 virus uses to enter our cells"
• "COVID classroom rebound? K-12 schools showing signs of pandemic-era recovery"
• "How a single viral protein hijacks immune cells to supercharge COVID-19 infection"
• "Prenatal COVID Not Linked to Most Neurodevelopmental Disorders"
• "Brazilian Tree Compounds Fight COVID-19 on Multiple Fronts"
• "Adult Respiratory Vaccination Delivers Up to $12 in Societal Value for Every $1 Spent, Analysis Finds"
• "Long-Term Adverse Effects After COVID-19 Vaccination Vary by Brand"
• "China approves Walvax’s third mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, targeting the Omicron JN.1 strain"
• COVID-19 relief fraud/other crimes:
• "Pair of Kansas City metro women indicted for COVID-19 fraud"
• "New Mexico man sentenced in connection to fraudulent COVID-19 loans"
• "Two W.Va. women plead guilty to COVID-19 relief fraud"
• "Federal officials announce $245 million COVID-19 loan fraud crackdown"
• "Former Purdue student, city councilman admits COVID-19 fraud scheme"
• "Mount Pleasant man sentenced in nationwide COVID relief fraud sweep"
• "4 charged locally in nationwide COVID-19 aid investigation"
• "NE Ohio at the center of two Covid-era fraud cases being federally investigated"
• "Former Charlotte council member Tiawana Brown to be sentenced for COVID loan fraud scheme"
• "Lansing woman pleads guilty to defrauding COVID relief programs"
• "Georgia House member ordered to pay $10K over fraudulent COVID unemployment payments"
• "More than 160 charged with fraud tied to COVID-era loan programs"
• Political/legal issues:
• "Audit questions nearly $28 million in ADPH COVID-19 grant money"
• "Panel admonishes Polk County judge over COVID-19 vaccine mandate"
• "Vance announces about 870,000 people suspected of defrauding COVID-era programs barred from future federal loans"
• "IRS Says Court Must Strike Down ‘Staggering’ Covid-19 Tax Ruling"
• "Judge disciplined for requiring COVID-19 vaccination for parents in custody case"
• "Now Back in Uniform: At Least 134 Airmen, Guardians Who Refused COVID Vaccine"
• "Federal prosecutors claw back $314M+ in defrauded COVID funds, one billion to go"
• "US officials sidelined warnings about flawed COVID vaccine safety algorithm, investigation finds"

Other Notes

The blog is now dubiously getting almost 3K pageviews daily. I published my second essay for the month; I should hit the 40-post mark again this month. X/Twitter followers continue to fluctuate just below 200 followers.

Lidl is celebrating hitting its app download milestone with a week of freebie bakery item coupons. (The bakery is a distinguishing difference between Lidl and Aldi) . My UH Cougars fell to Texas Tech on the road last night. They fell inches short in attempting a game-tying 2-point conversion in the game's waning moments. 

Post #7855 M: Trump Makes 9/11 About Himself; What Do Libertarians Believe?; Libertarians Are Avenging Massie

 Quote of the Day

The family is the nucleus of civilization.

Will Durant  

Trump Makes 9/11 About Himself

What Do Libertarians Believe?

Libertarians Are Avenging Massie

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Michael Ramirez via Politico

Musical Interlude: 1965 Top 100 Hits

The Jolly Green Giant - Kingsmen

Post #7854 M: Jon on Trump's Meme Assault on Canada; McClanahan on The Best Medicine for a Sick Conservative Mind; Is America Rebuilding the Mercantilist Empire?

Quote of the Day

Nothing great has ever been achieved 

except by those who dared believe something inside them

was superior to circumstances.

Bruce Barton  

Jon on Trump's Meme Assault on Canada

McClanahan on The Best Medicine for a Sick Conservative Mind

Is America Rebuilding the Mercantilist Empire?

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of M. Wuerker via Politico 

Musical Interlude: 1965 Top 100 Hits 

Baby I’m Yours - Barbara Lewis