Trump does it again - Airport lines begin to disappear

Good morning and welcome to the Vic Eldred cast.

Tomorrow is the day that the SCOTUS begins hearing oral arguments in the case of "birthright citizenship."

Tomorrow is the day that the SCOTUS begins hearing oral arguments in the case of "birthright citizenship."

There are possibilites of this ending badly for the left.  May want to prepare for more violence.

Reporter: Why did the president not sign an executive order sooner to pay TSA workers?



White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: “Well, it’s because of the Democrats voting 7 times against reopening the Department of Homeland Security that we came to a place of existential crisis.”

Why did the president not sign an executive order sooner to pay TSA workers?

Trump had ordered Republicans in Congress to oppose a bill to fund TSA unless it included passage of the "Save" act demanding a passport or a birth certificate for voting. 

I wonder, did the Nazis at the Nuremberg trial ask "Why didn't you try to stop us from building the concentration camps sooner?"

Please, I don't want to hear the depths of your confusion. 

You see John, those who cause the mayhem don't get to ask why didn't you act sooner.

I see so many on the left pivot from he has no legal right to pay them to why didn't he do it sooner I am surprised they don't get whiplash.

I like that they question the legality of paying the TSA workers. Let the public see what they are about.

I like that they question the legality of paying the TSA workers. Let the public see what they are about.

They are really stuck on this one.  Their knee jerk reaction is Trump did it so it is bad.  Then after a little thought they realize they are fighting getting the TSA agents paid so they had to go to why didn't he do it sooner.  

 They look like idiots either way.

Then after a little thought they realize they are fighting getting the TSA agents paid so they had to go to why didn't he do it sooner.

They go to asking why TRUMP didn't do it sooner and not why the Demorats created this scenario.  

Isn't that the old , "give someone enough rope and they eventually will hang themselves ." ,which is applicable to everyone , in my opinion .

          " ... we came to a place of existential crisis."

Another conceptual moron with a soapbox.

Ask the TSA workers or the travelling public if it had reached crisis stage.

'Existential crisis' has become overused to the point of becomming meanigless. Leavitt is boring enough on a good day, save yourself from cloning that ultimate sin.

Existential crisis' has become overused to the point of becomming meanigless

I beg to differ. 

I believe you would think just a liiiiiitle different if you were one of those that did not received two straight paychecks.

I also believe your reaction to Trump would be faaaaaar different if he made sure you got paid but democrats bitched about it.  

Today's message for Europe:

A message to you from Greece Donnie: Euripides Eumenides.

That's not unhinged or anything.

‘That's not unhinged or anything.’

No that is considered fully sane in the liberal world

Jack was being critical of Trump.

Vic, do you actually believe this is a rational, productive, presidential message?

Does it makes sense to you that Trump is asking ships loaded with crude to just suck it up and attempt to pass through the Strait and hope they do not get blown out of the water?

Do you think that Trump is strengthening our position with our allies or damaging it?

In short, how are you interpreting this ranting as something good?

I agree with Senator Fetterman:

 Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) accused US media of engaging in “selective coverage” that has downplayed the successes of Operation Epic Fury — and instead benefited Iran during the first 30 days of the war.

“I read the entire political spectrum on Epic Fury. Iran now loves and learns from the media,” Fetterman told The Post Tuesday. 

“The media’s selective coverage rewards and reinforces Iran’s strategy,” he said. “Media amplifies the 1% chaos Iran creates, while ignoring the 99% of Iran’s beatdown.”

Much of that coverage has been focused on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which around one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil passes — and which Tehran closed down after the US and Israel started military strikes against the regime on Feb. 28.

That’s caused global energy prices to surge, with oil increasing to $100 per barrel by mid-March.

Fetterman noted that coverage depicts the global economy “spiraling” by “citing the cost of a gallon” domestically in the US, but that “omits the perspective it was much higher just a few years ago.”

Inflation hit a 40-year high under former President Joe Biden in 2022, with the price of one barrel of oil  reaching $119  in June of that year.

The price for gas peaked at $5 per gallon the same month in the US, though the average cost for a gallon is now around $4 domestically.

Sen. John Fetterman bashes US media, says press is helping Iran with 'selective coverage' of Operation Epic Fury


P.S.

Let the Europeans & Japan worry about their own oil.

You ignored my questions:

Vic, do you actually believe this is a rational, productive, presidential message?

Does it make sense to you that Trump is asking ships loaded with crude to just suck it up and attempt to pass through the Strait and hope they do not get blown out of the water?

Do you think that Trump is strengthening our position with our allies or damaging it?

In short, how are you interpreting this ranting as something good?

You ignored my questions:

Let me try to answer them all in a thoughtful way.




Vic, do you actually believe this is a rational, productive, presidential message?

No.


Does it make sense to you that Trump is asking ships loaded with crude to just suck it up and attempt to pass through the Strait and hope they do not get blown out of the water?

No.


Do you think that Trump is strengthening our position with our allies or damaging it?

I think he is correctly calling them out. They want the US to keep their supply & energy shipping lanes open and protect them from a deadly enemy. They need to be called out.


In short, how are you interpreting this ranting as something good?

I am not interested in ranting. I'm in favor of the policy.

I think he is correctly calling them out.

The US (Trump) created the problem!

I am not interested in ranting.

Yeah well this buffoon is tragically the voice, face, and hand of our nation.   This unpresidential, vindictive, irresponsible fool continues to damage our nation.

The US (Trump) created the problem!

The problem had many creators. Trump wasn't one of them. The first would be the Islamist maniacal regime which overthrew the Shah 47 years ago, Jimmy Carter for not supporting the Shah, George Bush for taking down Iran's key enemy, Obama for helping to turn Iran into a behemoth and the Europeans who spend almost all of their budgets on entitlements and have allowed immigration from the middle east which has compromised their national will. 


This unpresidential, vindictive, irresponsible fool continues to damage our nation.

Actually, the remedy is hard to digest. Some think the medicine is worse than the disease.

The Strait was not a crisis until Trump entered the scene.

Let the Europeans & Japan worry about their own oil.

Are you willfully anti history?

That's exactly what started WWII. German excuses of rescuing Germanic people who just happed to live where the oil, iron and factories were

While the Japanese lusted for oil and natural resources or everywhere. 

The problem had many creators. Trump wasn't one of them. The first would be the Islamist maniacal regime which overthrew the Shah 47 years ago, Jimmy Carter for not supporting the Shah, George Bush for taking down Iran's key enemy, Obama for helping to turn Iran into a behemoth and the Europeans who spend almost all of their budgets on entitlements and have allowed immigration from the middle east which has compromised their national will. 

A conspiracy theory if there ever was one.

Even with Medieval equipment Persia has commanded the Hormuz for thousands of years, that isn't going to change 

o you think that Trump is strengthening our position with our allies or damaging it?

Do you think our allies are strengthening their position with us or damaging it?

Considering they are using terms like "not our war", not allowing us to use their airspace, and not allowing us to use our bases in their country they are definitely damaging relations, and it should come as no surprise if trump decides to get out of nato.

You deflected.   Probably because you know how much damage Trump has caused but cannot admit it.

Such brilliant logic.     

Trump starts a war that our allies did not and do not support and you are surprised that they do not jump into it to fix the problem Trump caused.

Supporting Trump is irrational, irresponsible, and unpatriotic.

So exactly what did I say that was untrue?  

Or is this just a but but trump response with the overused bumper sticker saying?

you know how much damage Trump has caused but cannot admit it.

Not at all. Trump hasn't denied our "allies" the ability to fly over America.

All Europe had to do was not actively interfere in our war.  They chose to oppose us.  They've destroyed NATO. 

Remember when progressives said we don't need to  own Greenland because we could just use our bases there if we needed them? Good stuff.

It's like Europe tries to see how ridiculous they can make progressive Americans look before progressives stop shilling for them. 

So exactly what did I say that was untrue?  

Your blaming allies for not bailing Trump out of a war he started that they wanted no part of.

They chose to oppose us.  They've destroyed NATO. 

They did not and do not want this war.   Not supporting Trump's war is a reasonable position for them.

NATO is designed to defend against aggressors, not support them.

Trump fucks up and of course you blame everyone but him.

Your blaming allies for not bailing Trump out of a war he started that they wanted no part of.

I am not blaming anyone, just simply stating facts

Lets break it down for you:

  they are using terms like "not our war".  True or false?

, not allowing us to use their airspace, True or false?

and not allowing us to use our bases in their country True or false?

they are definitely damaging relations True or false?

, and it should come as no surprise if trump decides to get out of nato. True or false?

Our allies did not and do not support this war.

They are the ones most affected by Iran and likely want a diplomatic solution.   They are smart enough (compared to Trump they are all brilliant) to recognize that there is no way to stop Iran from using its leverage to mess with them short of killing the theocratic culture itself.   That, essentially, is impossible.

NATO is not designed to support an invader; it is designed to protect allies who were attacked.   Trump pulling out of NATO would be yet another major act of damage to this nation and to the planet.   And apparently you will defend him.

Supporting Trump is irrational, irresponsible, and unpatriotic.

You keep dodging the questions by arguing something I never said.  

Your ignoring the questions you are admitting nothing I said was incorrect.

Your claims were correct except for claiming it is the allies damaging relationships and that Trump would have justification to depart from NATO.   Your claims are also ignoring the reality of the situation.   You are not making an argument, you are dancing around the periphery.

I have made an argument.   You will continue to fail to rebut it.

Your claims were correct except for claiming it is the allies damaging relationships

If Trump is considering leaving NATO it is obvious they have damaged the relationship.  I am not saying it is right or wrong, only that it is.  Just like when Trump does something they don't like he is damaging relationships.  You can't just have it one way, try as you might.

and that Trump would have justification to depart from NATO.   

Again arguing something I never said.  I never said he was justified, only that you should not be surprised he is considering it.  Try to understand there is a difference.

Your claims are also ignoring the reality of the situation.

There is a difference between stating facts and a claim.    

You are not making an argument, you are dancing around the periphery.

I am not trying to make an argument.  I am stating facts.  There is a difference. I am only making an argument in your mind

I have made an argument.   You will continue to fail to rebut it.

You are having an argument by yourself.  I will let you rebut it.

If Trump is considering leaving NATO it is obvious they have damaged the relationship. 

You think Trump's judgement is worth anything?   Trump is a buffoon.   His decisions are typically worthless.   Leaving NATO would be yet another major blunder by this moron.

Supporting Trump is irrational, irresponsible, and unpatriotic.

You think Trump's judgement is worth anything?   

He is the president of the US so yea, it is worth something.  Why on earth would anyone with a working brain cell think otherwise.

Trump is a buffoon. 

True but irrelevant

 His decisions are typically worthless. 

Yet they still matter so by definition they are not worthless.

Leaving NATO would be yet another major blunder by this moron.

I don't think the Europeans will let that happen but if they do that would be an even bigger blunder.

Supporting Trump is irrational, irresponsible, and unpatriotic.

Same tired old inaccurate meaningless schtick.

“True but irrelevant” 

The definition of willful ignorance. 

True to all

The definition of willful ignorance. 

You must be referring to the Biden is sharp as a tack narrative.

and it should come as no surprise if trump decides to get out of nato.

He can't actually do that.

All Europe had to do was not actively interfere in our war.

Meh.  Didn't he ask for NATO nations to send ships to the SoH? 

  They chose to oppose us.

  They've destroyed NATO. 

Seems a bit strong.  

I agree NATO needs a good solid come to Jesus meeting where we strongly "suggest" they start carrying a whole, whole lot more of the weight of protecting themselves.  Because let's face it, NATO has never been about protecting us.

But "please don't use the airbases or airspace in our country" is a long way short of "opposing us" or "destroying NATO".

The definition of willful ignorance. 

It's not, but thank you for trying.

There is a yuuuuge difference between saying something isn't true and saying it is true but doesn't matter.  

He is the president of the US so yea, it is worth something.

Being elected to the presidency did not make him smart.   Do you actually believe that this guy is making good decisions?

True but irrelevant

Hardly.   If you recognize Trump is a buffoon, then logically you recognize that his judgment sucks.

Yet they still matter so by definition they are not worthless.

They have a great impact because his is PotUS, but they are still crap.

Supporting Trump is irrational, irresponsible, and unpatriotic.

There is a yuuuuge difference between saying something isn't true and saying it is true but doesn't matter.  

Trump makes many bad decisions.   They matter because they have great impact.   But, as I noted, his judgment is worthless.   Ergo, Trump continues to damage this nation.

None of that has anything to do with the misuse of the term "willful ignorance".

Being elected to the presidency did not make him smart.    

Didn't say it did. What I said was " He is the president of the US so yea, it (judgement) is worth  something.  You are trying to change the conversation. 

Hardly.   If you recognize Trump is a buffoon, then logically you recognize that his judgment sucks.

Hardly. They are not mutually exclusive.

They have a great impact because his is PotUS, but they are still crap.

So they are not worthless 

Supporting Trump is irrational, irresponsible, and unpatriotic.

Same tired old inaccurate meaningless schtick.

He is the president of the US so yea, it (judgement) is worth  something.

Wrong.   His being POTUS means his judgment has a great effect on people.   That does not mean his judgment is good (has value ... worth something).   Bad judgment has negative worth but, as in the case of Trump, can have a heavy (negative) impact.

Supporting Trump is irrational, irresponsible, and unpatriotic.   That remains true every time you support this buffoon.

Wrong.

Funny.  You say I am wrong when I say a presidents judgement has worth and then go on to say it can have positive or negative worth.

Since I only said worth (which automatically includes positive and negative worth) you have agreed with my statement after saying it was wrong.

Supporting Trump is irrational, irresponsible, and unpatriotic. 

 Same tired old inaccurate meaningless schtick.

That remains true every time you support this buffoon.

Yea yea yea.

Since I only said worth (which automatically includes positive and negative worth)

When someone claims that someone's judgment is "worth something" they do not mean it has positive or negative worth; they mean it has value.   Basic English.   Such a slimy attempt to wiggle out of being wrong.

Because Trump is POTUS, his judgment has a great effect on people.   That does not mean his judgment is good (has value ... worth something).   Bad judgment has negative worth but, as in the case of Trump, can have a heavy (negative) impact.

Supporting Trump is irrational, irresponsible, and unpatriotic. 

When someone claims that someone's judgment is "worth something" they do not mean it has positive or negative worth; they mean it has value. 

Nice try.  Slimy way to try and prove you were right by trying to tell me what I meant and not what I said.

Supporting Trump is irrational, irresponsible, and unpatriotic.

Yawn

Words have meaning.   When someone says that a person’s judgment is worth something, they mean it has value.

Trying to change the meaning of words or common phrases in a ridiculous attempt not to be wrong is one of the cheapest tactics of debate.

 "Bad judgment has negative worth"

But you keep spinning it. 

Trying to change the meaning of words or common phrases in a ridiculous attempt not to be wrong is one of the cheapest tactics of debate.

I totally agree.

I asked ChatGPT to identify the positive and negative aspects of Trump's post:   

There are a few conceivable positive effects , but the negative effects are much easier to see and likely much larger.

The post itself is real. Reuters reported that Trump told countries unable to get fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz to buy from the U.S. or “go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT,” while criticizing Britain and France for not joining the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran. Reuters also reported the war has disrupted shipping through Hormuz and shaken oil markets. ( Reuters )

Possible positive effects
The strongest charitable case is that it could pressure allies to do more of the burden-sharing themselves instead of relying on the U.S. Navy to secure global energy chokepoints. Reuters separately reported Defense Secretary Hegseth making a cleaner version of that point, saying countries should step up rather than expect the U.S. alone to reopen the Strait. The post could also be read as an attempt to signal resolve, deter passivity, and push more oil demand toward U.S. producers. ( Reuters )

Likely negative effects
The downsides are much more substantial. Telling allies to “take” the Strait sounds like urging them toward force or seizure in an already escalatory conflict, which can worsen diplomatic fractures and create legal and military ambiguity. It also risks alienating close allies by framing collective security as a grudge match: you did not help us, so now you are on your own. Reuters has already reported European pushback over U.S. military operations and Trump’s increasingly confrontational comments toward allies. ( Reuters )

It also creates market and signaling risk. Reuters’ market coverage shows Trump’s Truth Social posts have been moving oil and global markets sharply during this conflict. A post like this can inject more uncertainty into energy markets and foreign policy expectations because it is half strategic message, half public taunt. ( Reuters )

There is also a credibility cost. If the President is publicly describing an ally’s refusal to join a “decapitation” campaign and then telling other countries to go seize access themselves, that makes the U.S. look less like a coalition leader and more like a belligerent actor freelancing through social media. That can complicate coalition-building, NATO trust, and crisis management. ( Reuters )

On whether any prior president has made such an outrageous public statement , I do not know of a close precedent in modern U.S. history for a president publicly telling allied countries, during an ongoing war, to go “take” a strategic waterway after rebuking them for not joining a decapitation campaign. I would be careful about claiming “never” as a hard historical fact, but this is at least highly unusual by postwar presidential standards. As a contrast, presidents such as Clinton, Obama, and Bush typically framed military action in formal terms like peace, humanitarian protection, targeted strikes, coalition action, or self-defense, even when their policies were controversial. ( Clinton White House Archives )

So my bottom line is:

Potential upside: pressure allies, signal burden-sharing, and advertise U.S. energy supply.
Likely downside: alienate allies, inflame escalation, destabilize markets, and make U.S. war aims look impulsive and vindictive. ( Reuters )

A fair one-sentence answer to the historical part would be:

Presidents have made reckless and inflammatory statements before, but this kind of direct public goading of allies to use force for resource access during an ongoing conflict appears highly atypical in modern American presidential rhetoric. ( Clinton White House Archives )

By repeating it, this underlines his craziness and your willingness to cheer for just about anything he does.

Sad.

I guess I'm like the gang of 6.

Which one?

I'd like to hear your insane deluded version of what "destroyed much of downtown Chicago " looks like. 

You obviously don't have the slightest idea of what downtown Chicago looks like.  Downtown Chicago is about 30 blocks north to and south and about 20 blocks east to west. 

Your fantasy of widespread destruction would come as a surprise to the over 100,000 people who live there. 

Oh, I see, they only destroyed a little.

I guess we have to accept it.

Do you think anyone will be prosecuted?

I don't think they "destroyed" very much at all, in other words nothing. 

I have long thought they should put a curfew on unaccompanied teens downtown. As far as prosecutions, of course someone that breaks the law in a violent way should be prosecuted. 

"Wild footage captured the moment hundreds of lawless  Chicago  teens overran the city and attacked random people in the street. 

The mob was seen violently stomping a shirtless man and flying into a frenzy in videos captured during the takeover of the downtown Loop district on Wednesday night. 

Several police cars were seen stationed nearby, yet they apparently failed to intervene, video showed. 

Private security group Community Intelligence Unit (CIU) reported at least one teen was beaten unconscious, a number of vehicles were destroyed and several people were arrested. 

The group also reported that bear mace was used during the melee, and footage showed several rioters appearing to use tasers to zap each other and innocent victims. 

Chicago City Alderman Brian Hopkins announced a curfew for 10pm to help bring the chaos to a close, saying the situation got 'out of control'. 

He said the curfew order led the crowd to mostly disperse by 10.40pm, saying that it had an 'immediate impact' after hours of violence. 

Locals say similar scenes are becoming more common under the leadership of Mayor Brandon Johnson, with gangs of teens known to frequently overwhelm the popular Loop district late at night with little resistance from authorities. 

Community activist Sandie Norman said she waded into the wild scenes to document the situation, saying on social media that she was stunned by the lack of intervention. 

'I'm just trying to figure out where are all the outreach people, all the people who are on TV with the mayor, all the violence prevention people?' she wrote. "

Nightmarish moment HUNDREDS of lawless teens overrun downtown Chicago as 'stores looted and bystanders maced' | Daily Mail Online

It’s broke.  Businesses have fled the downtown area,  teens run amok randomly wreaking havoc.  It’s much, much more dangerous to be in Chicago than it is to be deployed in the middle east.   

would you say Chicago is well governed?

You are ridiculous

Reactionary propaganda is generally asinine and deeply anti-American.

You are ridiculous

More Americans were killed in Chicago last weekend than in the entirety of the Iranian war to date.  Chicago pensions, alone, are  more in debt than 44 states.  Even as broke as it is, the racist mayor wants to give reparations to people for reasons that make no earthly sense. 

Chicago’s public schools   stand as a monument to bureaucratic inertia and misplaced priorities, where vast sums of taxpayer money vanish into underutilized buildings while student outcomes plummet. Frederick Douglass Academy High School exemplifies the dysfunction. Built to accommodate 1,008 students, the school now enrolls just 27, yet it remains open with 28 full-time employees – more staff than children. A one-to-one staff-to-student ratio is a luxury that even private schools can’t offer, but here it yields zero academic progress.

In 2024, operational spending at Douglass exceeded $93,000 per student, and that figure excludes capital outlay and debt service, pushing total expenditures even higher. Despite this lavish funding, the latest state data from 2024 reveal not a single 11th-grade student proficient in math or reading.

Poor attendance compounds the failure: 65.6% of enrolled students are chronically absent, missing more than 10% of school days. Fewer than a dozen children show up with any regularity, turning the building into little more than an expensive daycare for a handful of kids – and even that description overstates its educational value.

Douglass is no outlier in Chicago Public Schools (CPS). At least 255 school buildings are underutilized, representing more than half of the district’s standalone public schools. Among those, 145 are more than half empty, and 24 operate at over 75% vacancy. These ghost schools drain resources that could transform education elsewhere.

wfmd

So do you consider Chicago well governed? 

As a grand total of TWO people were murdered in Chicago last Friday to Monday we undoubtedly know you are bullshiting us!

s a grand total of TWO people were murdered in Chicago last Friday to Monday

Zero American soldiers were killed last Friday to Monday.  

In March, 43 people were killed in Chicago.

13 troops  have died since the start of the conflict

Now, that is a part a testament to how amazing the armed forces have performed (nice to have a competent Sec. of War) , but only in part. 43 Americans killed in one city is not good.  

Chicago does not now and rarely has one of the top urban murder rates in America. 

Vic made the comment, that he lifted from right wing media, that "black" youth destroyed most of downtown Chicago. That is a bald faced lie.   Knock it off. 

Chicago recently hosted the Big Ten basketball tournament and then a March Madness regional final. Tens of thousands of people came to the city for these events and I guarantee you almost all of them loved the city. 

You guys desperately need to get a grip. 

Remember when their feckless leader obliterated Iran several times over, several times last week?

They just tend to exaggerate, by a lot, especially the non residents.- they always know how it is ...   /S

I do not understand why President Trump has earned any praise.  The plan was to inflict pain on the American public to force Democrats to give up their demands for ICE reforms.  Trump has just taken away Republicans' leverage. 

On top of that, Trump has taken ICE agents away from their primary duties to enforce immigration laws so they could stand in line at airport Cinnabon restaurants, wander around, check their phones, and gather for BS sessions.

It looks like somebody miscalculated.  Give Trump credit for screwing another GOAT.  Trump Republicans certainly haven't gotten what they wanted.  And now it's going to be an uphill slog.

One of the news items Vic posted was about Israel's new death penalty law for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis.  Although I have always been opposed to the death penalty, for me it's a dilemma.  The problem I see is that too many times Israel has had to trade convicted murderers for kidnapped Israelis or hostages which means that the murderers get set free to murder again, and not only does Israel have to release Palestinian prisoners, but as demanded by the Palestinians that it be in a ratio of 10 to 1 or an even more imbalanced ratio.  But then that just establishes by the Palestinians themselves that the value of one Iaraeli is worth at least 10 times the value of a Palestinian.  By the way, Israel did in the past legally execute one person responsible for the killing of Jews - Adolph Eichmann.

Did he post an article about all of the January Sixer's pardoned by Trump or commuted by Trump with no restitution or fines, who have since committed new crimes?

Same shit happens along the borders of Columbia, Argentina and Bolivia swapping cartel prisoners.

My comment was referring to this "Other News" item listed by Vic in the lead article:

"Isreal passed a law allowing for the hanging of Palestinian terrorists."

I don't have an answer for your question.