Matt Taibbi has a fascinating but brief article out: The Surrender. In it he discusses signs that the political establishment has surrendered. To whom? In a sense, to We the People. My take is that the moves that have been made are motivated by the fear of a total collapse of credibility with such a large portion of the voting population that drastic measures—a surrender of sorts—is the only way to avoid that total collapse. Some of the moves that have been made have already been discussed here, but we’ll go over them.
Nope! They never ever surrender. Change course. Go slow for a time. Morph. The surrender word is not in their vocabulary except when associated with unconditional and applied to an adversary. So it bears recalling Schumer's words from 2019: “Let me tell you: You take on the intelligence community — they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you,” in speaking to Rachel Madcow I mean Maddow. Schumer was understating, now they've tried every trick in the book save a Ukie drone. Going to be one heck of a ride.
“Mainstream Dems turns out to be the lunatic fringe.” Truer words…and I know some of them: they’re family members! Great post. Taibbi isn’t exactly a fervent Trump supporter either. Hope he’s right…
I read the article very early yesterday and there were already over 600 comments. It's amazing how many nutters tried to shift this onto Trump claiming he orchestrated this. These people are truly mentally ill and creepy..
OT: Published today, Bloomberg (not necessarily Trump's friend) interviewed Trump on his policy proposals for a second term. Surprisingly definitive, comprehensive and understandable. Covers most of the bases, with the notable exception of Israel. https://archive.is/N07Zl
Thanks for the link. You can see a similar dynamic at work in the frequent comments by Don Jr. His regular theme is, we gotta keep the RINO/Neocon GOPers under wraps. We've got problems at home to address and don't need more wars. I have no doubt that that reflects Trump's own thinking--including in his first term. The hope is that that general attitude would have been sharpened into a clear focus by the experience of both his first admin as well as the Zhou regime. He talked the game of draining the swamp, but now he has no excuse for not fully appreciating what a clear and present danger those people are to the American Republic. His SCOTUS appointments are, by and large, doing their part of the job. They need big time help now from a POTUS who can take control of the Executive branch and bring Congress into line and away from their worst shenanigans.
I've been reading Karen for a while and I think she's very much in line with your writing as well. Many are saying the DS will try again, if that should happen I fear all hell will break loose and Zhou's statements about needing F-16s to take on the government was and is telling so much about how far they plan to go to hang onto their power.
It’s pretty obvious the Democrats were being cautious in the Mid East conflict and were holding Bibi back to some extent. The left can’t come to grips with the Gaza genocide. Heck even Ukraine was limited in its use of Western long range missiles.
They’re surrendering to the war mongers, the only way the neocons can get their Mid East war is if left rolls over. Looks like I’ll be stocking up on iodine pills.
I wonder if President Trump has a SCIF at Mar-a-Lago ? The intel community can overhear conversations in anyone's home with their technology. Also regarding Biden, I discovered a lot of people are not aware that for most of his Presidency, Biden would go back to Delaware each night. When Trump went to Mar-A-Lago just one time for a weekend, the MSM blew up at his "wasteful spending of taxpayer money."
Over 40 years ago, I was visiting Stockholm on an extended business trip. It was during the Reagan administration and the height of the Cold War. Sweden at the time was right in the cross-hairs of East West tension.
It happened that a family friend was US Ambassador to Sweden. He invited me over for a drink on a Friday evening after work. I joined him in the Ambassador's Residence and we made small talk with his wife in one of the reception rooms. I asked him about recent tensions with the Soviet Union and he put a finger up to his lips and, in a seeming non-sequitur, asked me if I'd like a tour of the Residence. I said of course. We ended up on a long hall way with a small door at the end. The Anbassador took me down the hall and opened the door to a squash court, which we entered.
He then proceeded to tell me that the squash court was lead-lined or some such and was the only secure place on the entire grounds where we could talk without the Soviets being able to listen in. He then told me a fascinating story about Henry Kissinger's most recent top secret visit to Sweden, which the Ambassador had hosted in the squash court.
So, the US Ambassador's residence in Stockholm had a SCIF. It was the ambassador's squash court. I'm sure Trump has one too.
Remember, in 2017 after Trump got in the White House, I think they did a "renovation" which was actually a complete sweep for listening devices, etc. Thanks for your great story !
Another sign that the tide may be turning, I’ve heard of people losing their jobs over incendiary social media posts after the assassination attempt (eg., saying the shooter should have had better aim, etc.)
The Intelligence Community has been quiet of late. They stand to be one of the biggest losers in a Trump presidency. Too bad branding is illegal, as those 51 signers of the laptop propaganda letter should all have a 'T' branded on their foreheads.
Apparently not good enough. They've been stripped of their honor and exposed as enemies of the republic. I suspect they'll be treated much differently in a second Trump presidency when they're stripped of their security clearances. Let them try and make a living in DC without a clearance.
I believe, given their clandestine activities and operations under the cover of secrecy they may have a mandate to intensify their malicious activites against the people they are openly calling domestic terrorists...you and I and all the other decent Americans who want a country that is just and fair not driven by hate.
I hope you're right. But we can't ever underestimate our IC. Even the 'clown show' aspects are not without purpose.
The total (known) budget for the US Intelligence Community exceeds $100 billion, of which the CIA claims over (known) $30 billion. Lots of money for mischief.
Good start, but the rot is far deeper than the top tier. A top to bottom housecleaning is in order. Start over with all new people. It’s a drastic move, but anything short of this risks failure.
If a losing proposition on its way to surrender like the Ukraine can continue causing Russia the grief it does I wouldn't let my guard down regarding the democrats, deep state or the globalists. The only ones more dangerous than those with nothing to lose are those with everything to lose.
I don’t believe they’re surrendering. They are regrouping. They have realised that they may not be able to kill Trump, and now he’s made it to the RNC Convention and declared JD Vance as VP, that prospect is also less compelling to them anyway. They may also realise from their own polling and in the wake of all the election-fortifying steps that have been taken since 2020 that the election is going to be too hard to steal this time. So they’re probably working on a plan to destroy a second Trump presidency and/or manufacture alternative sources of money making and money laundering schemes like shorting airline stocks before 9/11 or buying pharma stocks before Covid. The Deep State may also be making plans for stirring up more conflicts, false flags etc. Surrender? I don’t think so.
I still think the prospect of election mischief is a real threat. One of the best things for Trump would be a blowout where it's be impossible to manufacture more votes than actual voters. Perhaps that already happened in 2020, more votes than voters, I don't know.
I don't think the courts will be as tolerant if Trump and Team are prepared with solid legal work in the face of obvious fraud.
Yep. Their last line of defence will be to accept a Trump victory then neutralise him as they did in his first term. How far that works will depend on a) how much Trump has learnt, and b) what kind of backing he has. He seems to have attracted some big hitters in terms of funding, so maybe the backing is there for him really to take on the DS. As ever, we shall see.
"I don’t believe they’re surrendering." I don't either.
You can say, "They have realised that they may not be able to kill Trump"...or you can say that they have just proven how easy it might be to kill Trump. Whether the assassin was a lone wolf or a sucker, this try should have succeeded. It was a near miss, by an inch or maybe less? And no perp left to talk. Pretty neat. No social media record. Nothing. A blank slate. And will we ever know how this try came to happen? Unlikely. Pretty nifty. Why not try again? Why not?
By the way, I have to laugh when they refer to Putin as something especially evil because he is a 'KGB thug." With respect to our guys, he doesn't have anything on us.
Following the latest from Jay Valentine on detecting the fraudulent registrations, I'm still bothered by the disconnect between his team and the RNC folks who think they can get enough ballots to overcome any dem shenanigans.
Here's Jay's comment below the article: "The grifter class, regardless of party, is about advancement and self-preservation. Thus, they are never going to do anything that turns visibility into exposure.
Trump is probably going to lose all the major swing states - Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota - due to ballot mills we are currently watching today. Sorry to say, there is not much more that can be done."
This problem has been in plain sight (really for four years now). What has the RNC done to mitigate this elephant in the room over that period? Really boggles the mind and makes one wonder.
A lot of people are going to be jumping onto the winning bandwagon over the next few months. Elon and Ackman are all in. Let's see who else clambers aboard.
Nope! They never ever surrender. Change course. Go slow for a time. Morph. The surrender word is not in their vocabulary except when associated with unconditional and applied to an adversary. So it bears recalling Schumer's words from 2019: “Let me tell you: You take on the intelligence community — they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you,” in speaking to Rachel Madcow I mean Maddow. Schumer was understating, now they've tried every trick in the book save a Ukie drone. Going to be one heck of a ride.
OT: Tucker Carlson tells the truth about the vile and insufferable Lindsey Graham:
https://x.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1812980770904182891
Refreshing!
Thanks for that, Cassander. He's in the same class as Romney, Ryan and Cornyn.
Prime reasons why I despise the Republican Party almost as much as the Dems.
There will always be disgusting people like Flimsy Graham, sadly. He's disingenuous to the max and a loathsome creature.
They will never surrender. They’ll amp up voter fraud. And wait for an October surprise.
Good article regarding security at the Butler rally and assassination attempt:
https://arngrimr.substack.com/p/trump-assassination-attempt-separating
Most important finding: counter snipers delayed firing because they likely could not see sniper, there was a tree blocking their view
Bit it's not excusing the SS.
- late approval of counter snipers, poor scouting, poor placement
- Dem rallies (Jill and Kamala) in same region designed to pull resources from Trump? (IMO Perhaps, but hard to argue)
- CNN covering Trump live when they never cover him live? (THIS is interesting, and not without precedent)
“Mainstream Dems turns out to be the lunatic fringe.” Truer words…and I know some of them: they’re family members! Great post. Taibbi isn’t exactly a fervent Trump supporter either. Hope he’s right…
I read the article very early yesterday and there were already over 600 comments. It's amazing how many nutters tried to shift this onto Trump claiming he orchestrated this. These people are truly mentally ill and creepy..
It's the paranoid style.
Thank you, Mr. Hofstader! ;o)
OT: Published today, Bloomberg (not necessarily Trump's friend) interviewed Trump on his policy proposals for a second term. Surprisingly definitive, comprehensive and understandable. Covers most of the bases, with the notable exception of Israel. https://archive.is/N07Zl
Thanks for the link. You can see a similar dynamic at work in the frequent comments by Don Jr. His regular theme is, we gotta keep the RINO/Neocon GOPers under wraps. We've got problems at home to address and don't need more wars. I have no doubt that that reflects Trump's own thinking--including in his first term. The hope is that that general attitude would have been sharpened into a clear focus by the experience of both his first admin as well as the Zhou regime. He talked the game of draining the swamp, but now he has no excuse for not fully appreciating what a clear and present danger those people are to the American Republic. His SCOTUS appointments are, by and large, doing their part of the job. They need big time help now from a POTUS who can take control of the Executive branch and bring Congress into line and away from their worst shenanigans.
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2024/07/karen-kwiatkowski/deep-state-is-nervous/
I've been reading Karen for a while and I think she's very much in line with your writing as well. Many are saying the DS will try again, if that should happen I fear all hell will break loose and Zhou's statements about needing F-16s to take on the government was and is telling so much about how far they plan to go to hang onto their power.
Thanks for the link.
You are welcome.
Some of that will work well with the new post I'm working on.
I don't think this will be the only attempt at taking Trump out. The next one will be better planned. They are busy beavers
If they (the Deep State) try again, they're pretty stupid and playing with gasoline.
Which makes me think you're right.
It’s pretty obvious the Democrats were being cautious in the Mid East conflict and were holding Bibi back to some extent. The left can’t come to grips with the Gaza genocide. Heck even Ukraine was limited in its use of Western long range missiles.
They’re surrendering to the war mongers, the only way the neocons can get their Mid East war is if left rolls over. Looks like I’ll be stocking up on iodine pills.
I wonder if President Trump has a SCIF at Mar-a-Lago ? The intel community can overhear conversations in anyone's home with their technology. Also regarding Biden, I discovered a lot of people are not aware that for most of his Presidency, Biden would go back to Delaware each night. When Trump went to Mar-A-Lago just one time for a weekend, the MSM blew up at his "wasteful spending of taxpayer money."
Morning Marie
Funny story.
Over 40 years ago, I was visiting Stockholm on an extended business trip. It was during the Reagan administration and the height of the Cold War. Sweden at the time was right in the cross-hairs of East West tension.
It happened that a family friend was US Ambassador to Sweden. He invited me over for a drink on a Friday evening after work. I joined him in the Ambassador's Residence and we made small talk with his wife in one of the reception rooms. I asked him about recent tensions with the Soviet Union and he put a finger up to his lips and, in a seeming non-sequitur, asked me if I'd like a tour of the Residence. I said of course. We ended up on a long hall way with a small door at the end. The Anbassador took me down the hall and opened the door to a squash court, which we entered.
He then proceeded to tell me that the squash court was lead-lined or some such and was the only secure place on the entire grounds where we could talk without the Soviets being able to listen in. He then told me a fascinating story about Henry Kissinger's most recent top secret visit to Sweden, which the Ambassador had hosted in the squash court.
So, the US Ambassador's residence in Stockholm had a SCIF. It was the ambassador's squash court. I'm sure Trump has one too.
Remember, in 2017 after Trump got in the White House, I think they did a "renovation" which was actually a complete sweep for listening devices, etc. Thanks for your great story !
Another sign that the tide may be turning, I’ve heard of people losing their jobs over incendiary social media posts after the assassination attempt (eg., saying the shooter should have had better aim, etc.)
The Intelligence Community has been quiet of late. They stand to be one of the biggest losers in a Trump presidency. Too bad branding is illegal, as those 51 signers of the laptop propaganda letter should all have a 'T' branded on their foreheads.
Let's hope so.
"They stand to be one of the biggest losers in a Trump presidency."
Did they lose the first time around? Why bet against them? They're pretty good at what they do.
Apparently not good enough. They've been stripped of their honor and exposed as enemies of the republic. I suspect they'll be treated much differently in a second Trump presidency when they're stripped of their security clearances. Let them try and make a living in DC without a clearance.
I believe, given their clandestine activities and operations under the cover of secrecy they may have a mandate to intensify their malicious activites against the people they are openly calling domestic terrorists...you and I and all the other decent Americans who want a country that is just and fair not driven by hate.
I hope you're right. But we can't ever underestimate our IC. Even the 'clown show' aspects are not without purpose.
The total (known) budget for the US Intelligence Community exceeds $100 billion, of which the CIA claims over (known) $30 billion. Lots of money for mischief.
They are the lynchpin of the Deep State. If Trump doesn't remove the top tier of each agency on Day 2 of his presidency, he won't succeed.
Good start, but the rot is far deeper than the top tier. A top to bottom housecleaning is in order. Start over with all new people. It’s a drastic move, but anything short of this risks failure.
Yes indeed, VS. That's just the beginning. Whole departments need to be stripped back or even eliminated.
And all unaccountable.
If a losing proposition on its way to surrender like the Ukraine can continue causing Russia the grief it does I wouldn't let my guard down regarding the democrats, deep state or the globalists. The only ones more dangerous than those with nothing to lose are those with everything to lose.
I don’t believe they’re surrendering. They are regrouping. They have realised that they may not be able to kill Trump, and now he’s made it to the RNC Convention and declared JD Vance as VP, that prospect is also less compelling to them anyway. They may also realise from their own polling and in the wake of all the election-fortifying steps that have been taken since 2020 that the election is going to be too hard to steal this time. So they’re probably working on a plan to destroy a second Trump presidency and/or manufacture alternative sources of money making and money laundering schemes like shorting airline stocks before 9/11 or buying pharma stocks before Covid. The Deep State may also be making plans for stirring up more conflicts, false flags etc. Surrender? I don’t think so.
I still think the prospect of election mischief is a real threat. One of the best things for Trump would be a blowout where it's be impossible to manufacture more votes than actual voters. Perhaps that already happened in 2020, more votes than voters, I don't know.
I don't think the courts will be as tolerant if Trump and Team are prepared with solid legal work in the face of obvious fraud.
I'm not taking his reelection for granted.
Yep. Their last line of defence will be to accept a Trump victory then neutralise him as they did in his first term. How far that works will depend on a) how much Trump has learnt, and b) what kind of backing he has. He seems to have attracted some big hitters in terms of funding, so maybe the backing is there for him really to take on the DS. As ever, we shall see.
@FreeFrench
"I don’t believe they’re surrendering." I don't either.
You can say, "They have realised that they may not be able to kill Trump"...or you can say that they have just proven how easy it might be to kill Trump. Whether the assassin was a lone wolf or a sucker, this try should have succeeded. It was a near miss, by an inch or maybe less? And no perp left to talk. Pretty neat. No social media record. Nothing. A blank slate. And will we ever know how this try came to happen? Unlikely. Pretty nifty. Why not try again? Why not?
By the way, I have to laugh when they refer to Putin as something especially evil because he is a 'KGB thug." With respect to our guys, he doesn't have anything on us.
If they try again and succeed, they will reap the whirlwind, to quote Schumer.
Following the latest from Jay Valentine on detecting the fraudulent registrations, I'm still bothered by the disconnect between his team and the RNC folks who think they can get enough ballots to overcome any dem shenanigans.
https://omega4america.substack.com/p/ilegal-aliens-invisible-to-all-current
Here's Jay's comment below the article: "The grifter class, regardless of party, is about advancement and self-preservation. Thus, they are never going to do anything that turns visibility into exposure.
Trump is probably going to lose all the major swing states - Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota - due to ballot mills we are currently watching today. Sorry to say, there is not much more that can be done."
This problem has been in plain sight (really for four years now). What has the RNC done to mitigate this elephant in the room over that period? Really boggles the mind and makes one wonder.
The RNC is like the England football (soccer) team: in their hearts, they don't really want to win.
Or, like the Harlem Globetrotter's hapless opponents.
Don't forget the donor class influencing this too.
A lot of people are going to be jumping onto the winning bandwagon over the next few months. Elon and Ackman are all in. Let's see who else clambers aboard.