Honestly, if this is what it takes to get Congress to remember that they actually have a job to do that is essential to the functioning of our democracy, then so be it. It’s a very heavy price for the country to pay but maybe, just maybe, the subjugation of Trump to Iran in what it looks like will be perpetuity will exact a real toll on America that awakens the fire of freedom we all long for. Maybe We, the People, don’t have to surrender. Maybe, finally, a metaphorical Liberty Bell will ring in echo of millions of our voices to rouse them from their Trump/MAGA stupor.
We can hope. As the Obama Center had its magnificent debut yesterday, we would do well to remember that, in spite of this disastrous moment, there is real hope. “Yes, we can.” Three little words that mean there is hope. Three little words that mean there is a future for each and all of us. Three little words that will carry the torch with its promises forward. Three little words that we know now by heart as a prayer of the heart. Three little words that ride on ideas that are bigger and more magnificent than almost any that have come before. YES. WE. CAN.
You've done it again: "bloated and stuporous," a perfect description of our dear leader. It's hard to watch
President Obama with all his grace and intelligence while continuing to suffer over a decade of the cruelty and ignorance of dt. I want to believe in the hope expressed by the Obamas, but I fear the actions dt will take to keep us from voting his maga loyalists out of office. What thugs will be at polling locations to scare people away? What intimidation tactics will he use? His people must know a fair election will weaken maga. I fear what their desperation will lead them to do.
Please remember Cassidy of Louisiana bowed to Trump until Trump dumped him and he lost his primary/Senate seat. It was too little too late. Easy to be against the guy who caused you harm! Now, when Mike Johnson of Louisiana admonishes Trump and works with the House to Impeach Trump, I will be impressed.
It’s fascinating to see some of those MAGAts suddenly open their eyes to see what B.S. the orange felon is peddling. But now that gasoline prices are falling, I hope Americans will have long memories come November to get this country back on track. And what an incredible coincidence that the Obama Center’s triumphant and inspiring opening happened on the same day that the infamous MOU was revealed for the surrender it truly is.
This decline started with Reagan, with capital taking precedence over democracy. Whenever this happens, disaster eventually results. How did Reagan and his successors pull it off, when capital doesn't have nearly enough votes to get elected? White backlash against civil rights advances was a major factor for sure, and don't discount the voters who weren't happy about women's increasing rights and visibility either. Clinton surely helped with the partial repeal of Glass-Steagall, and Republican appointees to the Supreme Court gave us the Citizens United decision in 2010, which helped make possible Trump I and three more right-wing appointees to the Supreme Court. We didn't exactly fiddle while democracy went on life support, but too many of us -- looking at most of you congressional Democrats, among others -- weren't paying enough attention.
The 2026 midterms are a necessary step out of this mess that's been decades in the making, but they're only a first step. Here's hoping that enough of us are willing to look beyond quick fixes (which may, come to think of it, not exist) and work to get our aspiring democracy back on track.
As Senator Cassidy states,"worse foreign policy blunder in decades." Truth, and courage, comes late to Republicans, typically only among those exiting Congress for greener pastures.
I'll take this "blunder" as a positive outcome. Only because it should weaken an already crumbling president.
It's been a positive news week for me, of Knicks fever, World Cup, and the Obama's triumphant opening.
But...I'm still not crazy about falling gas prizes, already being spun as good news by the hard-core MAGAs. As our prez likes to say, "we'll see what happens."
9. Pending the final Deal, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America agree to maintain
🚩the status quo;
the Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program,…”
…
(So, 90 billion to wage war, 300 billion to surrender, for the current nuclear status quo, got it.😵💫)
I’m curious, though, do we have control over decisions made by the UN? (Item 7 of the agreement…”terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions, the IAEA, (the International Atomic Energy Agency) and all unilateral U.S. sanctions, primary and secondary,…” ❓
Steven, I was with you until this final line: "Maybe, just maybe, this humiliation will help convince Trump that his days are numbered." Using "Trump" and "convince" in the same sentence have set you up for skepticism. I appreciate this inclusion: “Ronald Reagan is rolling over in his grave”.
While Reagan is rolling, deceased Democrats are partying. Slaps on decaying backs for this pathetic attacks against President Barack Obama. This Black President managed to accomplish "negotiations, which required no military strikes, spilled no Americans’ blood and wasted zero taxpayer dollars."
And to emphasize the slipping of brain matter for our current president, your recount of his assessment of his "win" in Iran should be the next words chisled on a monument, or his gravestone. "These fools, who think I haven’t been tough enough on Iran, when the Stock Market Just Hit A RECORD HIGH, and Oil prices are ‘tumbling’ down, are either jealous, bad people, or stupid.”
Likely too many words, but a perfect assessment of his derangement.
Steven, the 14-point whatever- it- was , was a losing proposition written by losers. Trump didn’t “negotiate” jack-shit because he sent the most inept people to do his dirty work for him. It’s never about the good of our country or any other countries. Iran has him by his tiny scrotum and they squeezed tight. AND now, they called off the signing in Switzerland which makes JD look like the fool he is. Dems better win both Houses in a frigging landslide!
But will he actually pay the $300B? If he follows his past, he will stiff them for reparations. I suppose the Democrats can accept the burden, but then it will be on the Democrats. Again.
Drumpf insists the US will not contribute ‘a dime’ to it - no tax dollars. USA Today:
”Under the pact, the U.S. and its Middle East partners would "develop a definitive, mutually agreed plan with at least U.S.D. 300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran," according to the text of the memorandum of understanding.”
(There are reports the ME nations are not enthused.)
Reuters describes the ‘contributors’:
“According to initial reports, undisclosed private companies from the U.S., Asia (South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia), South America, Africa, and the Gulf states have made preliminary commitments to financing.”
Pretty concise summation of the disaster now to be known as Trump’s Last Gasp. The photos are indicative of both his failings and the state of diplomacy in the US. Noticeable has been the absence of other people who have been involved with Trump throughout this fiasco. Secretary of State Rubio? Secretary of Defense Hegseth? Director of National Security What’s His Name? This whole administration is MIA. Therefore, all responsibility falls to Trump, “The Boss.” So now what? We’ve been waiting for the moment he’s escorted out of the WH by a military or police squad. This really seems like a season story arc of Police Squad. Comedy is hard.
Nicole Wallace reported per The Daily Beast and NYT:
“Someone asked Drumpf what would happen if a future president wanted to undo his interior design work. His reply, "Cubans love gold," which was widely interpreted as an allusion to his Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a prominent Republican of Cuban heritage. — (An incident from the book by Jonathan Swan & Maggie Haberman, "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump")
Sort of let the cat out of the bag again didn’t he?
I believe capitulation to Iran is a loss of face, but sending more military action after bad is worse. Hegseth and Trump have ended the careers of our best trained military leaders and negotiators. Congress can deal with reparations. I believe Gaza peoples should be made whole, with Hamas infrastructure destroyed and the residential city rebuilt with oversight and real leadership. Iran and Lebanese homes rebuilt As to refineries, etc that is for more informed people.
As always, well stated Steven. Like the Obama’s, I admire your eloquence.
Honestly, if this is what it takes to get Congress to remember that they actually have a job to do that is essential to the functioning of our democracy, then so be it. It’s a very heavy price for the country to pay but maybe, just maybe, the subjugation of Trump to Iran in what it looks like will be perpetuity will exact a real toll on America that awakens the fire of freedom we all long for. Maybe We, the People, don’t have to surrender. Maybe, finally, a metaphorical Liberty Bell will ring in echo of millions of our voices to rouse them from their Trump/MAGA stupor.
We can hope. As the Obama Center had its magnificent debut yesterday, we would do well to remember that, in spite of this disastrous moment, there is real hope. “Yes, we can.” Three little words that mean there is hope. Three little words that mean there is a future for each and all of us. Three little words that will carry the torch with its promises forward. Three little words that we know now by heart as a prayer of the heart. Three little words that ride on ideas that are bigger and more magnificent than almost any that have come before. YES. WE. CAN.
Thank you for the truth, excellently written, in your essay. Happy Juneteenth!
You've done it again: "bloated and stuporous," a perfect description of our dear leader. It's hard to watch
President Obama with all his grace and intelligence while continuing to suffer over a decade of the cruelty and ignorance of dt. I want to believe in the hope expressed by the Obamas, but I fear the actions dt will take to keep us from voting his maga loyalists out of office. What thugs will be at polling locations to scare people away? What intimidation tactics will he use? His people must know a fair election will weaken maga. I fear what their desperation will lead them to do.
Please remember Cassidy of Louisiana bowed to Trump until Trump dumped him and he lost his primary/Senate seat. It was too little too late. Easy to be against the guy who caused you harm! Now, when Mike Johnson of Louisiana admonishes Trump and works with the House to Impeach Trump, I will be impressed.
true
It’s fascinating to see some of those MAGAts suddenly open their eyes to see what B.S. the orange felon is peddling. But now that gasoline prices are falling, I hope Americans will have long memories come November to get this country back on track. And what an incredible coincidence that the Obama Center’s triumphant and inspiring opening happened on the same day that the infamous MOU was revealed for the surrender it truly is.
Yes, I'm sure the irony of the Versailles setting was lost on our uneducated and unintelligent head of state.
I’m sure all he saw was its splendor. He could call it the “Versailles Agreement.”
It makes me sick to think how he has destroyed this country, not only within but throughout the world.
This decline started with Reagan, with capital taking precedence over democracy. Whenever this happens, disaster eventually results. How did Reagan and his successors pull it off, when capital doesn't have nearly enough votes to get elected? White backlash against civil rights advances was a major factor for sure, and don't discount the voters who weren't happy about women's increasing rights and visibility either. Clinton surely helped with the partial repeal of Glass-Steagall, and Republican appointees to the Supreme Court gave us the Citizens United decision in 2010, which helped make possible Trump I and three more right-wing appointees to the Supreme Court. We didn't exactly fiddle while democracy went on life support, but too many of us -- looking at most of you congressional Democrats, among others -- weren't paying enough attention.
The 2026 midterms are a necessary step out of this mess that's been decades in the making, but they're only a first step. Here's hoping that enough of us are willing to look beyond quick fixes (which may, come to think of it, not exist) and work to get our aspiring democracy back on track.
As Senator Cassidy states,"worse foreign policy blunder in decades." Truth, and courage, comes late to Republicans, typically only among those exiting Congress for greener pastures.
I'll take this "blunder" as a positive outcome. Only because it should weaken an already crumbling president.
It's been a positive news week for me, of Knicks fever, World Cup, and the Obama's triumphant opening.
But...I'm still not crazy about falling gas prizes, already being spun as good news by the hard-core MAGAs. As our prez likes to say, "we'll see what happens."
Hello, adroitly written, thank you, Steven
“Catastrophic Capitulation”
Also, thank you for the NPR MOU link…
Excerpts from the MOU
9. Pending the final Deal, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America agree to maintain
🚩the status quo;
the Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program,…”
…
(So, 90 billion to wage war, 300 billion to surrender, for the current nuclear status quo, got it.😵💫)
I’m curious, though, do we have control over decisions made by the UN? (Item 7 of the agreement…”terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions, the IAEA, (the International Atomic Energy Agency) and all unilateral U.S. sanctions, primary and secondary,…” ❓
…
You are right, again
Yes, it’s up to us Vote ‼️
💙🇺🇸💙
Steven, I was with you until this final line: "Maybe, just maybe, this humiliation will help convince Trump that his days are numbered." Using "Trump" and "convince" in the same sentence have set you up for skepticism. I appreciate this inclusion: “Ronald Reagan is rolling over in his grave”.
While Reagan is rolling, deceased Democrats are partying. Slaps on decaying backs for this pathetic attacks against President Barack Obama. This Black President managed to accomplish "negotiations, which required no military strikes, spilled no Americans’ blood and wasted zero taxpayer dollars."
And to emphasize the slipping of brain matter for our current president, your recount of his assessment of his "win" in Iran should be the next words chisled on a monument, or his gravestone. "These fools, who think I haven’t been tough enough on Iran, when the Stock Market Just Hit A RECORD HIGH, and Oil prices are ‘tumbling’ down, are either jealous, bad people, or stupid.”
Likely too many words, but a perfect assessment of his derangement.
Steven, the 14-point whatever- it- was , was a losing proposition written by losers. Trump didn’t “negotiate” jack-shit because he sent the most inept people to do his dirty work for him. It’s never about the good of our country or any other countries. Iran has him by his tiny scrotum and they squeezed tight. AND now, they called off the signing in Switzerland which makes JD look like the fool he is. Dems better win both Houses in a frigging landslide!
He sold us out, again. This is the pattern of his whole awful existence.
Other people’s money is his game. Also…fraud. We’ll see.
But will he actually pay the $300B? If he follows his past, he will stiff them for reparations. I suppose the Democrats can accept the burden, but then it will be on the Democrats. Again.
Drumpf insists the US will not contribute ‘a dime’ to it - no tax dollars. USA Today:
”Under the pact, the U.S. and its Middle East partners would "develop a definitive, mutually agreed plan with at least U.S.D. 300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran," according to the text of the memorandum of understanding.”
(There are reports the ME nations are not enthused.)
Reuters describes the ‘contributors’:
“According to initial reports, undisclosed private companies from the U.S., Asia (South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia), South America, Africa, and the Gulf states have made preliminary commitments to financing.”
Pretty concise summation of the disaster now to be known as Trump’s Last Gasp. The photos are indicative of both his failings and the state of diplomacy in the US. Noticeable has been the absence of other people who have been involved with Trump throughout this fiasco. Secretary of State Rubio? Secretary of Defense Hegseth? Director of National Security What’s His Name? This whole administration is MIA. Therefore, all responsibility falls to Trump, “The Boss.” So now what? We’ve been waiting for the moment he’s escorted out of the WH by a military or police squad. This really seems like a season story arc of Police Squad. Comedy is hard.
Nicole Wallace reported per The Daily Beast and NYT:
“Someone asked Drumpf what would happen if a future president wanted to undo his interior design work. His reply, "Cubans love gold," which was widely interpreted as an allusion to his Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a prominent Republican of Cuban heritage. — (An incident from the book by Jonathan Swan & Maggie Haberman, "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump")
Sort of let the cat out of the bag again didn’t he?
I believe capitulation to Iran is a loss of face, but sending more military action after bad is worse. Hegseth and Trump have ended the careers of our best trained military leaders and negotiators. Congress can deal with reparations. I believe Gaza peoples should be made whole, with Hamas infrastructure destroyed and the residential city rebuilt with oversight and real leadership. Iran and Lebanese homes rebuilt As to refineries, etc that is for more informed people.