Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 Jun 25 - 12:19 PM

It can't be no Kings day because

A) I have just been to the King's Arms and

B) It's Charlie's birthday and they're trooping the colours

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 14 Jun 25 - 04:34 PM

Dave; B) It's Charlie's birthday and they're trooping the colours

At the risk of Backwoodsman calling me 'nitpicking Nige' again:
You've avoided the usual error of including an 'of' in the title, but it's 'Trooping the Colour' - no plural

Cheers

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 14 Jun 25 - 04:49 PM

No nitpicking accusation Nigel, ‘Trooping of the Colour’ is one of the common errors that sets my fingers itching to reach for the keyboard too, so I feel compelled to grant you leave to draw attention to the mis-use of the plural! ;-)

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen
Date: 14 Jun 25 - 05:06 PM

Two Democrat politicians and their spouses have been shot, two killed and two wounded.

Minnesota politician killed, another wounded in 'politically motivated' shootings

"In short: A man impersonating a police officer shot two state Democratic politicians and their spouses in their homes in the US state of Minnesota, local authorities say.

"House representative Melissa Hortman and her husband died. State senator Mark Hoffman and his wife were rushed into surgery and survived."

...

"Local police chief Mark Bruley said a 'manifesto' listing other possible targets was found in the gunman's car.

"'When we did a search of the vehicle, there was a manifesto that identified many lawmakers and other officials,' he said. 'We took action on alerting them and providing security where necessary.'"

...

There are fears that the gunman could target rallies, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety have recommended not attending rallies in the state until the gunman is apprehended and "A 'credible threat' to Texas politicians prompted the evacuation of the state parliament building in Austin, hours before one of the rallies was due to start nearby."

...

Then Diddums pretended to be a real human being by saying "such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America" - this coming from the person who incited the Capitol riot where people were killed by violence and he later pardoned the people who participated in the riot.


"What's next? A manhunt is underway in Minnesota. Local authorities are recommending people do not attend planned anti-Donald Trump protests in that state until the gunman is caught."

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 14 Jun 25 - 05:32 PM

> recommending people do not attend planned anti-Donald Trump
> protests in that state

.... Whether or not he's caught, that's Mission Accomplished.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen
Date: 14 Jun 25 - 05:35 PM

No MaJoC, it isn't. It is keeping the people safe in one state until the perp is caught. IMHO, it will motivate people to be even more vocal, either in future rallies or using other means of communication. It will possibly motivate more politicians to stand up and be counted.

Martyred politicians can have a huge impact towards the direction which is opposite to the aim of the perp. The shooters don't seem to realise that.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jun 25 - 05:53 PM

We trooped all sorts of colors/colours today in downtown Fort Worth; the last message I had from the organizers before leaving the house was that over 2000 had sent an RSVP for a head count ahead of time. The park was crowded, peaceful, hot and muggy, and the event was well run. Couldn't hear a thing, it was like different zones of the park had different kinds of messages. Mostly we were bodies there with our signs, many of us with appropriate t-shirts (added to the message - mine was "No Kings In America"). I took photos and some short videos to post; we might as well flood the social media zone with protest photos and movies.

Getting ready to go to this event felt like preparing for a flight somewhere - packing light, efficiently, bail money and ID in a small wallet. I had my phone for a few photos and to connect with a friend who was joining us, but mostly I used a small digital camera purchased for this kind of event.

What is important about these #NoKing rallies today is that there were so many and they were so well attended. They pull eyeballs away from the Trump embarrassment in Washington, D.C. Donald Trump is a dud.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jun 25 - 06:00 PM

The shootings in Minnesota didn't factor into our participation in today's march. It is a separate issue - the fact that a zealot thinks he can kill the opponent by faking a police presence isn't something I considered. My daughter and a friend and I attended in Fort Worth, and felt safe. We saw some Trump folks, one even with a hat that promoted Trump; he walked down the sidewalk like he was hoping to draw fire. People treated him as the insignificant turd that he was.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen
Date: 14 Jun 25 - 07:15 PM

SRS, I'm happy that the rally went well and that everyone was safe.

Ignoring the MAGA-hatted turd is probably the best way to pi$$ him off. He wanted to start a fight and he was ignored like an insignificant slug slithering down the street, not even worth stepping on it. LOL

Also, I have started watching The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Yesterday I watched the show where Cyndi Lauper was a guest and she talked about Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights Fund. People with high social profiles can make a big difference in the world when they direct their energies into worthwhile causes.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 14 Jun 25 - 07:16 PM

I stand corrected, Helen: post in haste, repent at leisure.

.... Meanwhile, I hear Herself complaining loudly while watching the TV coverage of the pomp-and-circumstance in Washington. This may account for my lack of focus.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen
Date: 14 Jun 25 - 07:32 PM

Thanks MaJoC. I still think the problem could have been solved if the shooter hadn't missed Trump in Pennsylvania but then he would have become a martyr and the whole circus would probably have been even more chaotic (if that is even possible). The Second Coming, and all that.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 14 Jun 25 - 07:54 PM

Stilly: Did you get treated to tear gas? There's reports of it being used at the LA demonstration, possibly because that's where most of the TV cameras would have been.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jun 25 - 10:30 PM

I haven't heard about any tear gas except the over-reaction around the federal courthouse in LA. From the LA Times:

Standoff with military, police
By mid-afternoon Saturday, a crowd of a few hundred protesters had surrounded the Federal Building downtown, where dozens of U.S. Marines stood guard at the entrance, clutching guns and shields. The crowd chanted “shame,” “leave L.A.” and “we don’t want you.”

At 4:13 p.m., LAPD posted to X that it had declared a dispersal orders on the streets directly surrounding the building: Los Angeles Street between Aliso and Temple streets and Alameda Street south of Aliso Street and north of Temple Street.

“People in the crowd are throwing rocks, bricks, bottles and other objects,” the post said. “Less lethal has been approved. Less lethal may cause discomfort and pain. It is advised that all persons leave the area.”

Around that time, police on horseback charged into a crowd, ordering protesters to leave. They shot what appeared to be rubber bullets and waved batons at the scattering crowd. Within minutes, police had cleared the area in front of the federal building and moved people away from federal troops.

Violet Martinez, 23, said he was by the Federal Building when officers on horses charged into the crowd. “They put on their gas masks then began firing tear gas,” Martinez said. He said some people got trampled by horses others were hit with rubber bullets. “There was no reason to do that,” Martinez said.

Further down that same article (there's a paywall, why I'm not linking):

June 14, 2025
At a Saturday morning press conference, Mayor Karen Bass made a plea for peaceful protests, warning “the eyes of the world” were on Los Angeles.

“Please, please, do not give the administration an excuse to intervene,” she said. Bass said an 8 p.m. curfew would remain in effect Saturday night and implored protesters to stay away from violence and vandalism.

“Don’t even try,” she warned.

The mayor emphasized there had been no cooperation between the Los Angeles Police Department and the federal government, leaving local leaders guessing where federal troops would crop up Saturday among the thousands of California National Guard troops and hundreds of U.S. Marines authorized by Trump.

“We are functioning based on rumors that we hear ... I’m still waiting to hear if the president will take my call,” she added. Police officers, she said, had been deployed “strategically” and would continue to operate under a unified command with the California Highway Patrol, the Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles Fire Department.

Since Trump only gets his briefings and any news via FOX and OAN type sources, he is convinced LA is in flames and there is rioting in the streets.

Trump has defended the federal government’s actions.

“If I didn’t send the military into Los Angeles, that city would be burning to the ground right now. We saved L.A.,” the president posted on his Truth Social account Friday. Local law enforcement and politicians have disputed that depiction.

Speaking to reporters Thursday at the White House, Trump briefly addressed the “No Kings Day” events.

“I don’t feel like a king, I have to go through hell to get stuff approved,” he said, referencing the fact that he has had to negotiate with members of his party to accomplish legislative priorities. “No, no, we’re not a king, we’re not a king at all, thank you very much.”

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen
Date: 14 Jun 25 - 10:44 PM

SRS, I saw a brief clip of the “No, no, we’re not a king" statement. I notice he is using the Royal We, so in effect he contradicted himself in that statement. Very clever trick by a very stable genius. :-D

"The royal we, majestic plural (Latin: pluralis majestatis), or royal plural, is the use of a plural pronoun (or corresponding plural-inflected verb forms) used by a single person who is a monarch or holds a high office to refer to themself."

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 15 Jun 25 - 07:18 AM

.... can't .... resist ....

I thought the Royal We involved three prostitutes and a bed.

Subject: RE inside the mind of US 47 President
From: Donuel
Date: 15 Jun 25 - 08:10 AM

"We are not a king."
...we are the king of kings of the world.

I consider Trump to be a 'stabled' genius like that of a horse that can find its own way home.



Home doorstep assassinations are the preferred and most numerous TRUMP FRIENDLY murders.

Generations yet unborn will be subject to what we do about Trump today.

Will future children be subjects or citizens?

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jun 25 - 11:02 AM

We (not royal - my daughter joined a friend and me) were only out there for about three hours but preparations felt like getting ready for an expedition. And those few hours in the heat with all of that activity is exhausting. My friend and I both have parking permits for the university we retired from so parked at the satellite campus in our town; it's a nice perk not having to crawl through one of the many-level concrete parking garages downtown.

We were almost back to the cars (6 - 8 blocks from the park), having left the event at about 1:45 (it was originally scheduled to end at 2pm, then I think extended until 2:30) and met a fellow parking on the street who wanted to know if he had to pay to park. We all trotted over to the electronic meter and decided he was free to park on the weekend - but then he asked where the protest was. We were all a bit surprised, told him he could have parked closer but pointed the direction. It occurred to me that we could get him started by posing with our signs, so he took a couple of photos and then my daughter got a photo with his camera of him next holding her sign next to us. Then we sent him on his way. :)

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jun 25 - 11:50 AM

That type of correction is not nitpicking Nigel and I am always happy to be corrected. Funnily enough I did know about colour rather than colours but my brain does not always feed me the right information on time! Nice to see your posts in the Dull Mens Club BYW :-)

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 16 Jun 25 - 07:15 AM

> I consider Trump to be a 'stabled' genius like that
> of a horse that can find its own way home.

Do you mean the rider of said horse? Herself has a real-life tale concerning a regular at the pub, whose horse really did know the way home better than its owner at the end of an evening. (He was also a regular in the dock at the Magistrates' Court, which is why he used a horse rather than a car.)

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Jun 25 - 07:56 AM

Sydney Morning Herald letters to the editor - June 15, 2025 letters about the parade

1. I was staggered by the sight of Donald Trump saluting the US military as they passed him in a parade supposedly celebrating the US armed forces (“Trump celebrates birthday with grand military parade”, June 14). The hypocrisy of a person who avoided the Vietnam War draft when his father got some dodgy doctor to say Donald had “heel spurs” is remarkable. Trump’s hide in even turning up for this parade, in my mind, was the ultimate insult to American servicemen and women. This is the person who stood in an American war cemetery above the D-Day beaches and called those buried there “losers and suckers”. Perhaps the fact that so many of the marching troops were hopelessly out of step as they passed Trump was their way of protesting

~~~~~~~~~~~
2. As a retired Australian serviceman who served in Vietnam alongside the US forces, may I say how disgusted I was by the so-called “parade” of current US Army troops “marching” in Washington today. I have never seen a worse, more dejected, poorly trained, slump-shouldered group, except perhaps a gang of condemned prisoners. They were a disgrace to themselves and their country. On the other hand, I salute the people of LA and other US cities who are refusing to kowtow to the dictator in the White House. If they overcome the current tyranny, perhaps the US can again claim to be “the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave”.

~~~~~~~~~
3. The United States may have military capabilities that far outweigh the potential of “little Britain”, but a comparison of their foot soldiers reveals a significant difference. At the weekend, television images of the Washington parade showed American soldiers sauntering along as if they were out for an afternoon stroll, while images of a parade in London showcased the UK military’s discipline and precision. Perhaps Trump’s lack of discipline is being reflected in the nation’s military.

~~~~~~~~~
4. He managed to avoid service himself but presided over a parade in which soldiers appeared to be strolling casually down Constitution Avenue. The same man recently set military forces against his own citizens. Meanwhile, a world-threatening situation has developed in the Middle East. Something is not quite right here.
~~~~~~~~~~
5. Trump’s military parade is, I think, a poor imitation of those by dictators Putin, Kim, Hitler and Mussolini.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jun 25 - 11:32 AM

General bad behavior modeled by Trump is obvious with the protests in LA. There are members of the police who are aiming at journalists with their non-lethal rounds, quite a few report being hit in a way that wasn't just a passing blow. Trump's the one who wanted to rough them up.

A man disguised in a police costume approached two political representatives homes in Minnesota, killing two (Melissa and Mark Hortman) and injuring two others (John and Yvette Hoffman). With all of the disguised ICE and other federal officers, and costumes for sale on Amazon, this isn't a huge surprise, but it is incredibly disappointing that more isn't done to shift the tone. Make the federal folks wear name tags and show their faces. Stop the knockoff costumes, make them look less realistic (same with toy guns).

Reports continue to come in to refine the numbers for Saturday's marches and demonstrations. It was a heckuva lot of people.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: pattyClink
Date: 16 Jun 25 - 01:58 PM

Renewed hope after this weekend. The oligarchs are still firmly in control, but Trump is discovering not enough people want to see the Constitution trampled by him or his goons, and he's not going to be presiding over an autocracy after all.

He will keep trying. But there are too many angry people, too many judges upholding the rule of law, too many agency heads hiring back whoever they can, and too few trump-worshippers in the armed forces. Right wing media, with propaganda machines spinning for months, were not able to rally even a smallish group of true believers to show up for the emperor's new parade.

Subject: RE: A DIRE WARNING
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Jun 25 - 02:12 PM

The big beautiful bill is indeed enormous.
Given that Republicans generally do not read the bills they vote on, or can effectively digest 50,000 pages.

Here is just the table of contents https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text

This text has been loaded in plain text format due to the large size of the XML/HTML file. Loading the XML/HTML in a new window (2MB) may take several minutes or possibly cause your browser to become unresponsive.

Comparing the Trump regime to Hitler's reveals that Hitler's Enabling ACT was the official start of dictatorship.
Somewhere hidden in the big, beautiful bill could set Trump free from judicial oversight and congressional power.

Trump has already copied Hitler in his declared war against progressive culture, politics, and spirituality. The next step may be the final nail in the coffin of Democracy. I have not found a hidden enabling act but that does not mean it could not be threr.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Jun 25 - 05:00 PM

The Republican response to the assassination of a MN Democratic State Senator and husband, and the shooting of 2 more Democrats is that the gunman was a far-left Marxist. He was not.

Hitler blamed the labor unions and communists as the enemy of the working man.

The biggest difference so far is that Trump has trashed the economy, while Hitler improved the economy and employment in 1930.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jun 25 - 05:03 PM

So, Trump can't even get Hitler right? That's not a surprise. How long must we watch this impaired individual bounce around Washington, D.C. before they decide to put him out to pasture? We all recognize what we're looking at here. The emperor's bespoke clothes are really ugly.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen
Date: 16 Jun 25 - 05:04 PM

MaJoC, in my home town many years ago a drunken man who used to regularly ride his horse home from the pub was charged by the Police with "driving" dangerously while drunk. I'm not sure if the conviction stuck but the incident was reported in the local paper.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Jun 25 - 05:14 PM

https://taxfoundation.org/blog/one-big-beautiful-bill-pros-cons/

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Jun 25 - 10:36 PM

‘Extremely disturbing and unethical’: new rules allow VA doctors to refuse to treat Democrats, unmarried veterans Department of Veterans Affairs says the changes come in response to a Trump executive order ‘defending women’‘Extremely disturbing and unethical’: new rules allow VA doctors to refuse to treat Democrats, unmarried veterans

Department of Veterans Affairs says the changes come in response to a Trump executive order ‘defending women’

Doctors at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals nationwide could refuse to treat unmarried veterans and Democrats under new hospital guidelines imposed following an executive order by Donald Trump.

The new rules, obtained by the Guardian, also apply to psychologists, dentists and a host of other occupations. They have already gone into effect in at least some VA medical centers.

Medical staff are still required to treat veterans regardless of race, color, religion and sex, and all veterans remain entitled to treatment. But individual workers are now free to decline to care for patients based on personal characteristics not explicitly prohibited by federal law.

Language requiring healthcare professionals to care for veterans regardless of their politics and marital status has been explicitly eliminated.
Members of the California National Guard stand behind shields
Trump LA protest response risks turning US military into political force, veterans warn
Read more

Doctors and other medical staff can also be barred from working at VA hospitals based on their marital status, political party affiliation or union activity, documents reviewed by the Guardian show. The changes also affect chiropractors, certified nurse practitioners, optometrists, podiatrists, licensed clinical social workers and speech therapists ...

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 12:28 AM

Adding to the sequence of disturbing news, I heard whispers about the reprogramming possibility in all of the battleground states, but this week a lot more of it is being said out loud.

Unexplainable voting pattern in every North Carolina County (2024 election statistical comparisons).

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 02:44 AM

How does a doctor know the political allegiances of those who come to him for a medical consultation/treatment? And why would he need to know anyway?

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 03:40 AM

What if the doctors are, themselves, Democrats?
What has marital status got to do with anything?

DC

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 04:35 AM

lots! - but only in the the new US of A

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 07:17 AM

Surely ‘The US of NG’ nowadays, Sandra? The United States of New Gilead.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 08:59 AM

That makes it USoNG .... likely sung to the tune of Tomorrow Belongs To Me.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 09:23 AM

I've probably mentioned this before, Helen, but a friend joined our group in the bar, and proudly showed us his new hand-made sandals, the soles and heels of which used recycled car tyre for its hard-wearing properties. Then someone noticed that he had less than 3mm of tread (which is illegal under the Road Traffic Act). Much discussion ensued on whether he might be arrested for being drunk in charge of feet, and be banned from walking for three months.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 10:02 AM

thanks, Backwoodsman, ooops silly me!

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Aethelric
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 11:46 AM

So after dropping his papers and waiting for Starmer to pick them up he says
"So we have a trade agreement with the European Union and it’s a fair deal for both, and it produces a lot of jobs, a lot of income."

Does Starmer say "You stupid ignorant old git. Its the UK not the European Union"?
No, he says:-
“Donald, thank you very much… A really important agreement. And so this is a very good day for both of our countries, a real sign of strength.”

(From the Huffington Post UK edition)

It's the approach you have to take I suppose when talking to a lunatic psychopath with a machine gun.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 03:41 PM

That's funny about the tyre tread, MaJoC. :-D

BWM, jokes about New Gilead and not so funny when they are close to reality - but yes. :-(

Article about Oz PM Anthony Albanese at the G7 summit where he was due to meet with Trump to discuss some important issues but he was unceremoniously dumped with a tweet. I suspect it was a TACO moment for Trump - he chickened out:

Albanese travelled across the world for a date with Trump, only to be stood up

"Seven months in the making, Anthony Albanese told reporters that he had prepared extensively (he takes his responsibilities seriously, he explained), even seeking counsel from golfing great and friend of Donald Trump, Greg Norman, to help him navigate the crucial meeting.

"As he walked out of the room at the Sheraton Suites Calgary hotel, on his way to an official G7 function, a tweet landed with a thud.

"'President Trump had a great day at the G7 … but because of what's going on in the Middle East, he'll be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X.

"Trump was leaving a day early and Albanese was none the wiser.

"Minutes earlier, he had said: 'I look forward to the meeting and I look forward to it taking place.'

"For all that preparation, and all that travel, the prime minister would find out via social media that his date with Trump was off."

...

"Over the course of the six-day trip, Albanese openly admitted he and Trump had "a few things to talk about" listing 'unjustified' tariffs and the fate of the $368 billion AUKUS submarine pact among them.

"Most importantly, Albanese had hoped to use this meeting to build a rapport with the famously capricious president, and find some common ground, at a time when the list of disagreements between the two allies continues to grow.

"The prime minister was never going to walk away from his meeting with Trump with concrete outcomes — particularly on tariffs — but the fact these talks fell through means those issues will remain unresolved for longer."

...

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 04:11 PM

A person suffering from dementia might think it is rational for Trump to demand an unconditional surrender of Iran, which we have not declared war against, but I find it pathological. You might say he is speaking for Israel, but I'm sure Bebe would disagree.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: robomatic
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 10:02 PM

Backwoodsman had it right. I'm pretty sure that report about refusal of service is bogus and not in the Guardian at all. The version I saw on X looked badly cobbled together by a bad actor.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 11:33 PM

As Donald Trump deliberates over Iran, he has a MAGA problem

"We now have total and complete control over the skies of Iran," he said.

He was either suggesting the United States and Israel were a "we" or he was saying the US was in control.

Either way, it is likely to anger parts of the MAGA movement who have been reminding him that kind of thinking is not very America first.

Some of the president's longest and most diehard supporters have warned that US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict could "blow up the coalition" of MAGA supporters.ld Trump deliberates over Iran, he has a MAGA problem.
Since his sudden departure from the G7 and his ominous "everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" message, speculation about Trump's next steps has been smouldering.

Vice-President JD Vance issued a statement about how Trump "may need to take further action to end Iranian enrichment" and "people are right to be worried about foreign entanglement" in another entrenched conflict in the Middle East.

"I can assure you that he is only interested in using the American military to accomplish the American people's goals," Vance said in an apparent effort to put out any spot fires among supporters.

But then Donald Trump fanned the flames.

Within the space of an hour he said, "we now have total and complete control over the skies of Iran" and "our patience is wearing thin" and warned when it came to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei: "We are not going to take him out (kill!) — at least for now."

All lines that were stunning because they appeared to communicate the US was already somewhat entangled.

That is not what some parts of MAGA want to hear and despite being a convert to the movement himself, it appears JD Vance is well aware of the cracks starting to appear ...   

... MAGA is far from a monolithic group, but some of its most high-profile commentators are putting its differences on display for Donald Trump to see.

Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene — the gang's all here.

The divide is getting deeper and getting very personal   ...(read on)

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Jun 25 - 02:15 AM

”BWM, jokes about New Gilead and not so funny when they are close to reality”

Helen, my references to ‘New Gilead’ are serious comments on Trump’s America, they are not intended to be funny.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Jun 25 - 02:21 AM

Aethelric - it’s called ‘following the normal rules of Diplomacy’, something which Starmer obviously understands, but which is completely beyond Trump’s limited powers of comprehension.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen
Date: 18 Jun 25 - 02:24 AM

BWM, if you caught my comment before it was deleted some weeks or maybe months ago about the dystopian albeit fictional it'll-never-happen Gilead you'd know how serious I take your comment. I went a bit over the top back then and said the US - IRL - is getting too much like Gilead in the book/move/TV show and drastic action may need to be taken to stop a certain person from making it even more real. (I copped it sweet when my post was deleted, but....)

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Jun 25 - 06:55 AM

Sorry, Helen, I don’t recall your post, but we’re clearly in agreement about the greater and greater resemblance of Trumpian Amerika to Margaret Attwood’s vision. I find the whole situation very scary indeed, and there seems to be little or no reportage here in the UK regarding the efforts of the Democrats (or even the saner element of the GOP) to bring Trump and his bunch of fellow sociopaths back into line.

A good friend of mine who lived for many years in South Africa summed it up very succinctly when he told me, “America is f**ked”. I think he had a point.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Jun 25 - 09:04 AM

For SciFi fans, watch the new Star Wars "Andor" series too. The similarities to the situation in the US are very obvious/

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 18 Jun 25 - 10:12 AM

NEWSFLUSH: As I type, Diddums is unveiling two flagpoles on the lawn of the White House "as gifts to the Nation". My instant comment: It's the only sort of erection he's capable of these days. Then Herself remarks that they've got gold knobs at the end. (Side issue: neither is a wizard's staff.)

.... Oh Of Course: to show this tacky bit of froth, the newsfeeds had to cut away from coverage of the Senate Committee meeting where Hegseth is being roasted summat rotten. Surprise.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Jun 25 - 11:20 AM

Alex Jones, Trump, and the pillow guy are all criminals who have yet to pay their victims by court order. Jones was found to have hidden 5 million from his victims, Jean Carrol has yet to receive a dime from 2 lawsuits and the pillow guy is still crying in his pillow.


To war or not to war. That is the question that has stumped and stymied Trump. The answer will be coupled with a lie whatever happens. He will delay, hoping that he won't have to choose.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Jun 25 - 02:50 PM

Good line from Andor

The death of truth is the ultimate victory for evil

On a lighter note it also spawned another Trump nickname

The Tangerine Palpatine :-D

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Lighter
Date: 18 Jun 25 - 05:48 PM

Long but worth reading:

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5357477-hegseth-slammed-by-slotkin-over-protester-orders/