Tracking. Trump has been allowed to go on for way too long. If we try to interdict a Chinese ship I am afraid all hell will break loose and there will be no getting out of this mess. We are all at the mercy of mad men and those who we elected to prevent this are impotent and cowardly. Shame on us.
Nancy...your read on China interdiction is exactly right.
The moment a US Navy vessel stops a CHINESE ship in international waters...we are no longer in a US-Iran conflict. We are in a US-CHINA incident. Those don't de-escalate on Truth Social.
On impotence and cowardice...real and documented. Not ONE Republican has paid a meaningful political price. The war powers resolution was blocked before it even reached the floor.
The one thing I'll push back on gently..."shame on us" assumes the system is still responsive to shame.
What it remains responsive to is COST. Gas prices. Casualty notifications. Economic pain ...reaching districts that thought this war was happening "somewhere else."
That cost...is now arriving.
Stay steady, Nancy. Steady people like you... are what this moment needs most!
Jack, just frustrated with feeling so helpless to stop this. Worked for years monitoring elections to make sure they were fair. But those sent to DC have failed us terribly. The impact this will have on our trust of government is horrendous.
Tracking. Never thought about China…until now. Feeling uneasy. Will this be what finally knocks some backbone into the Republicans in Congress to put a stop to it? Or are they busy buying stock in defense contractors? #HoldFast
Sara...that unease is the correct response. Trust it.
On Republican backbone...a handful will find their voice when oil hits $5...and stays there through summer. That's when swing district math changes.
But...the structural problem is what you already named. Defense contractors are having their best quarter in years. The financial incentives are aligned with CONTINUATION...not resolution. Unfortunately.
Watch for the first Republican who uses the word "quagmire" on the record. That word...QUAGMIRE...when it comes...is THE signal...the calculation has shifted.
It hasn't come yet.
But...the China dimension...may very well be what finally produces it. Because China is not Iran. And the members who understand that...know what a great power confrontation in the Strait actually means. They absolutely know.
I’m feeling more than uneasy after reading this. Republicans in Congress will drag their feet putting a stop to this. The war has continued for this long because Government contractors are making money from this war. Guess who has stocks in the companies who are building the equipment for the US to fight this war??? Trump and company are still grifting!
Tracking. Thanks Jack for the clarity how all these pieces are fitting together- as disturbing as that is. I’m wondering how Russia will react given reports of them providing intelligence to Iran and possibly armaments. Also, what entity can act as mediator as this escalates? It’s clear to the world that we did not negotiate in good faith with Iran. Now in addition to Iran, China will need to save face. We’ve gone from a game of checkers, which we lost, to three dimensional chess which doesn’t bode well for us.
China already had massive munitions (powerful missiles designed to intercept American weaponry) in transit to Iran. American missile supplies have already been almost entirely depleted. Trump is still posturing because our military simply cannot withstand Iran's military might.
Trump said something to the effect of 'finishing them off' as if we have some kind of advantage that, if pressed, will easily overcome Iranian resistance. Nah, bro. Not going to happen. Now bringing China into it? Going to start blowing them up for some contrived reason like the "narco terrorists" in the Pacific? I'm waiting to see how this all goes. Spectacular failure is what I anticipate.
I actually laughed when he announced the blockade. My immediate thought, "No the fuck you're not going to successfully blockade the Strait of Hormuz." He's going to try though, probably. We're about to get spanked and handed our asses, methinks.
So you handed them a reason to close the strait and then to allow ships to pass through various agreement/tolls and now you're bigly mad about it? Cry harder, Trump, Hegseth. You're fucking morons.
Angie - Oh yeah they’re fucking morons - NO DOUBT - this afternoon, I listened to trump talk to Maria Barba, whatever her fox name is, trump answered to her question “I CAN TAKE CARE OF THIS IN ONE DAY, ONE HALF A DAY, IN HALF AN HOUR” - To me what could take out a whole county in 1/2 an hour - this M. fucker is brain dead and acting from god knows what logic is he’s coming from! My husband’s pissed, thinking “I’m reacting to some reactionary writing” I’m not sure…just W. T. F.
I am so tired of these dick measuring contests.
Superbly stated, Roberta. Yeah...if they are feeling the need to measure it...suffice it to say...it's probably not "BIG." Well done.
-Jack
Exactly Roberta! Spot on🙌🏽
Tracking, I was wondering about China when I saw this this morning
William...your morning was tuned to your accurate instinct on that...seriously.
China IS the variable...that turns this from a regional escalation...into something MUCH bigger.
Most people stop at Iran, but...the moment you start thinking in terms of energy flows...and shipping lanes...CHINA becomes impossible to ignore.
That’s the piece I’m watching closest right now.
-Jack
Tracking. Trump has been allowed to go on for way too long. If we try to interdict a Chinese ship I am afraid all hell will break loose and there will be no getting out of this mess. We are all at the mercy of mad men and those who we elected to prevent this are impotent and cowardly. Shame on us.
Nancy...your read on China interdiction is exactly right.
The moment a US Navy vessel stops a CHINESE ship in international waters...we are no longer in a US-Iran conflict. We are in a US-CHINA incident. Those don't de-escalate on Truth Social.
On impotence and cowardice...real and documented. Not ONE Republican has paid a meaningful political price. The war powers resolution was blocked before it even reached the floor.
The one thing I'll push back on gently..."shame on us" assumes the system is still responsive to shame.
What it remains responsive to is COST. Gas prices. Casualty notifications. Economic pain ...reaching districts that thought this war was happening "somewhere else."
That cost...is now arriving.
Stay steady, Nancy. Steady people like you... are what this moment needs most!
-Jack
Jack, just frustrated with feeling so helpless to stop this. Worked for years monitoring elections to make sure they were fair. But those sent to DC have failed us terribly. The impact this will have on our trust of government is horrendous.
Well said.
Tracking. Never thought about China…until now. Feeling uneasy. Will this be what finally knocks some backbone into the Republicans in Congress to put a stop to it? Or are they busy buying stock in defense contractors? #HoldFast
Sara...that unease is the correct response. Trust it.
On Republican backbone...a handful will find their voice when oil hits $5...and stays there through summer. That's when swing district math changes.
But...the structural problem is what you already named. Defense contractors are having their best quarter in years. The financial incentives are aligned with CONTINUATION...not resolution. Unfortunately.
Watch for the first Republican who uses the word "quagmire" on the record. That word...QUAGMIRE...when it comes...is THE signal...the calculation has shifted.
It hasn't come yet.
But...the China dimension...may very well be what finally produces it. Because China is not Iran. And the members who understand that...know what a great power confrontation in the Strait actually means. They absolutely know.
#HoldFast
-Jack
EXCELLENT QUESTION ✌🏽💙🍀🦋
I’m feeling more than uneasy after reading this. Republicans in Congress will drag their feet putting a stop to this. The war has continued for this long because Government contractors are making money from this war. Guess who has stocks in the companies who are building the equipment for the US to fight this war??? Trump and company are still grifting!
Insane. Excuse me while I go vomit.
Becky...take your time. I get it.
-Jack
Tracking. Thanks Jack for the clarity how all these pieces are fitting together- as disturbing as that is. I’m wondering how Russia will react given reports of them providing intelligence to Iran and possibly armaments. Also, what entity can act as mediator as this escalates? It’s clear to the world that we did not negotiate in good faith with Iran. Now in addition to Iran, China will need to save face. We’ve gone from a game of checkers, which we lost, to three dimensional chess which doesn’t bode well for us.
Especially when trump and Hegseth are still playing toy soldiers.
Becky, I’m right behind you, don’t use up all the toilet paper, I’m right there!
Tracking
China already had massive munitions (powerful missiles designed to intercept American weaponry) in transit to Iran. American missile supplies have already been almost entirely depleted. Trump is still posturing because our military simply cannot withstand Iran's military might.
Trump said something to the effect of 'finishing them off' as if we have some kind of advantage that, if pressed, will easily overcome Iranian resistance. Nah, bro. Not going to happen. Now bringing China into it? Going to start blowing them up for some contrived reason like the "narco terrorists" in the Pacific? I'm waiting to see how this all goes. Spectacular failure is what I anticipate.
I actually laughed when he announced the blockade. My immediate thought, "No the fuck you're not going to successfully blockade the Strait of Hormuz." He's going to try though, probably. We're about to get spanked and handed our asses, methinks.
So you handed them a reason to close the strait and then to allow ships to pass through various agreement/tolls and now you're bigly mad about it? Cry harder, Trump, Hegseth. You're fucking morons.
Angie - Oh yeah they’re fucking morons - NO DOUBT - this afternoon, I listened to trump talk to Maria Barba, whatever her fox name is, trump answered to her question “I CAN TAKE CARE OF THIS IN ONE DAY, ONE HALF A DAY, IN HALF AN HOUR” - To me what could take out a whole county in 1/2 an hour - this M. fucker is brain dead and acting from god knows what logic is he’s coming from! My husband’s pissed, thinking “I’m reacting to some reactionary writing” I’m not sure…just W. T. F.
Exactly. We are on the same page. Plus there are other nations depending on the Strait for fuel. This is a horrendous situation.
Exactly! And we need parts from China to bolster our own weapons supply..Good luck noe.
Tracking
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I can stay calm, however, I'm also in a deep state of total exhaustion.
Jesus H. Christ!
Tracking. Watching and reading all. Thanks Jack.
9-1-1 mom...you're welcome. Thank YOU.
-Jack
Tracking!
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