All valid and insightful points, and also — can we be honest? — the president is a moron capable only of uttering conman-type phrases. How anyone finds that either convincing or acceptable is a great mystery to me.
I'm not sure our democracy can be repaired in my lifetime (70 yrs old). I'm not convinced Americans have the attention spans to vote with intelligence & thoughtfulness for the length of time it will take. We've been bouncing back and forth like yoyos for a couple decades now, achieving little long term results. I can't even imagine 3 more years of this shattering madness.
John I would love to be a fly on the wall watching you play the chess game of your writing in your head. Stopping for a sip of coffee or to stare out the window while you contemplate both sides of a position. Your outcomes are spot on although they often leave me asking questions myself in my head sipping my coffee starring out a window. It's contagious for sure, frightening at times. Especially when the 70 year old reader comments that they may never see their America come back in their lifetime. At 70 myself I tend to be more optimistic and your written thoughts keep me that way. Thank you. Please type on.
My daily primary news source, well written, organized, with a lovely light-hearted touch. Analytical. Insightful. Magical. John is a treasure. These essays should be a highly encouraged & respected read for every American, every day.
What he has done is bring to light the shame of the US. He has destroyed any influence we had in the Middle East, and further alienated anyone who once were considered our friends. WE are the pariahs. HE is Putin's and Bibi's puppet in every way, and most in Congress should be expelled for their negligence.
You might have a problem when most of your citizens are actually rooting for Iran. Not because we respect their repressive & cruel tactics, not just because they are speaking to US citizens with more honesty & cohesive thought than anyone in the WH or cabinet (well, it's a low bar), but because we are no better and are desperate for someone to put an end to this madness since Congress refuses to do their job. Any pride or sense of 'exceptionalism', as the GOP loves to throw around, is long gone.
The President is an ignorant and terrifically impulsive person who seems only to have the desire to stoke his ego or to demonstrate the immense power he wields—especially when he is angry. He’s a volatile mix of ADHD, general incompetence and intense selfishness.
In any difficult situation, the day after is someone else’s concern. He is only interested in his own urges, and those are assuaged by action not real achievements. His public goals are vague because his personal goals are emotional and specific to him. He doesn’t think about the public except as a vehicle to deliver adulation.
He is easily influenced by others who understand that Trump cannot be high-minded but only selfish, and that he cannot be strategic but only tactical. Russia, Israel, the billionaire class and many others massage and inflate his ego (or threaten his standing) until he does what they want. He just wants the pressure of his need or fear to be relieved.
In this case, Israel and Saudi Arabia and hawks like Lidnsey Graham convinced Trump that he would be seen as a hero if he destroyed an enemy’s offensive/defensive infrastructure, but Trump’s attention span won’t allow him to complete their mission to change the regime or to remove the uranium.
Now he feels the pressure of the public’s displeasure, and he’s searching for an expedient way to relieve it.
My daughter in law is Zoroastrian whose parents left Persia in 1979 as the Shah fell and the Islamic cleric Ruhollah Khomeini took over power. She was born in the USA to naturalize parents. The recent war with Iran has been for a New York minute hopeful, heartbreaking, and soul crushing. They are in a state of mourning for two countries they love at war. While Iran does have an Islamic population many in Iran are not Islamic but other religions including Christian. It is why there are many women in their Universities studying for higher education jobs.
Great analysis. I listened last night with something like despair, knowing this is the 'leader' we are stuck with--a man who justifies his actions by reciting a litany of the durations of the major wars of the past century, supposedly suggesting this one--which hasn't ended yet--is no big deal. There must be someone in the White House who understands the possible consequences of such a blasé, pompous attitude. Congress, Congress, where are you!??
Every popular pundit and politician should be asking these questions. Unfortunately, it's once again obvious our president has no idea where his actions have pushed us, and he's throwing pasta at a public wall hoping a portion will paste a path to an exit. His pattern predicts he will patter away, blowing victory bubbles and predictably blame it all on President Biden.
As usual, John, your analysis rings true and eloquent. Last night's "war update" speech rang of no truth nor eloquence. It was the blatherings of a tired old liar and a waste of Americans' time.
Excellent analysis as always. As a businessman, Trump would come up with an idea he feels is monumental, have his staff implement it, milk what benefits he can, placing little or no thought into continued adjustments which would could facilitate long term success. Most of his businesses failed, like his Atlantic CIty Casinos and so many others, so he just moved onto something else. Why anyone would think he would be any different as a president? Now we have a war with no clear purpose, and most importantly, no endpoint beyond the usual “two or three weeks”.
My daily primary news source, well written, organized, with a lovely light-hearted touch. Analytical. Insightful. Magical. John is a treasure. These essays should be a highly encouraged & respected read for every American, every day.
My daughter in law is Zoroastrian whose parents left Persia in 1979 as the Shah fell and the Islamic cleric Ruhollah Khomeini took over power. She was born in the USA to naturalize parents. The recent war with Iran has been heartbreaking and soul crushing and
All valid and insightful points, and also — can we be honest? — the president is a moron capable only of uttering conman-type phrases. How anyone finds that either convincing or acceptable is a great mystery to me.
Great analysis. What next has me very concerned.
I'm not sure our democracy can be repaired in my lifetime (70 yrs old). I'm not convinced Americans have the attention spans to vote with intelligence & thoughtfulness for the length of time it will take. We've been bouncing back and forth like yoyos for a couple decades now, achieving little long term results. I can't even imagine 3 more years of this shattering madness.
John I would love to be a fly on the wall watching you play the chess game of your writing in your head. Stopping for a sip of coffee or to stare out the window while you contemplate both sides of a position. Your outcomes are spot on although they often leave me asking questions myself in my head sipping my coffee starring out a window. It's contagious for sure, frightening at times. Especially when the 70 year old reader comments that they may never see their America come back in their lifetime. At 70 myself I tend to be more optimistic and your written thoughts keep me that way. Thank you. Please type on.
My daily primary news source, well written, organized, with a lovely light-hearted touch. Analytical. Insightful. Magical. John is a treasure. These essays should be a highly encouraged & respected read for every American, every day.
What he has done is bring to light the shame of the US. He has destroyed any influence we had in the Middle East, and further alienated anyone who once were considered our friends. WE are the pariahs. HE is Putin's and Bibi's puppet in every way, and most in Congress should be expelled for their negligence.
You might have a problem when most of your citizens are actually rooting for Iran. Not because we respect their repressive & cruel tactics, not just because they are speaking to US citizens with more honesty & cohesive thought than anyone in the WH or cabinet (well, it's a low bar), but because we are no better and are desperate for someone to put an end to this madness since Congress refuses to do their job. Any pride or sense of 'exceptionalism', as the GOP loves to throw around, is long gone.
The President is an ignorant and terrifically impulsive person who seems only to have the desire to stoke his ego or to demonstrate the immense power he wields—especially when he is angry. He’s a volatile mix of ADHD, general incompetence and intense selfishness.
In any difficult situation, the day after is someone else’s concern. He is only interested in his own urges, and those are assuaged by action not real achievements. His public goals are vague because his personal goals are emotional and specific to him. He doesn’t think about the public except as a vehicle to deliver adulation.
He is easily influenced by others who understand that Trump cannot be high-minded but only selfish, and that he cannot be strategic but only tactical. Russia, Israel, the billionaire class and many others massage and inflate his ego (or threaten his standing) until he does what they want. He just wants the pressure of his need or fear to be relieved.
In this case, Israel and Saudi Arabia and hawks like Lidnsey Graham convinced Trump that he would be seen as a hero if he destroyed an enemy’s offensive/defensive infrastructure, but Trump’s attention span won’t allow him to complete their mission to change the regime or to remove the uranium.
Now he feels the pressure of the public’s displeasure, and he’s searching for an expedient way to relieve it.
Brilliant and digestible!
My daughter in law is Zoroastrian whose parents left Persia in 1979 as the Shah fell and the Islamic cleric Ruhollah Khomeini took over power. She was born in the USA to naturalize parents. The recent war with Iran has been for a New York minute hopeful, heartbreaking, and soul crushing. They are in a state of mourning for two countries they love at war. While Iran does have an Islamic population many in Iran are not Islamic but other religions including Christian. It is why there are many women in their Universities studying for higher education jobs.
Great analysis. I listened last night with something like despair, knowing this is the 'leader' we are stuck with--a man who justifies his actions by reciting a litany of the durations of the major wars of the past century, supposedly suggesting this one--which hasn't ended yet--is no big deal. There must be someone in the White House who understands the possible consequences of such a blasé, pompous attitude. Congress, Congress, where are you!??
Every popular pundit and politician should be asking these questions. Unfortunately, it's once again obvious our president has no idea where his actions have pushed us, and he's throwing pasta at a public wall hoping a portion will paste a path to an exit. His pattern predicts he will patter away, blowing victory bubbles and predictably blame it all on President Biden.
As usual, John, your analysis rings true and eloquent. Last night's "war update" speech rang of no truth nor eloquence. It was the blatherings of a tired old liar and a waste of Americans' time.
Excellent analysis as always. As a businessman, Trump would come up with an idea he feels is monumental, have his staff implement it, milk what benefits he can, placing little or no thought into continued adjustments which would could facilitate long term success. Most of his businesses failed, like his Atlantic CIty Casinos and so many others, so he just moved onto something else. Why anyone would think he would be any different as a president? Now we have a war with no clear purpose, and most importantly, no endpoint beyond the usual “two or three weeks”.
My daily primary news source, well written, organized, with a lovely light-hearted touch. Analytical. Insightful. Magical. John is a treasure. These essays should be a highly encouraged & respected read for every American, every day.
My daughter in law is Zoroastrian whose parents left Persia in 1979 as the Shah fell and the Islamic cleric Ruhollah Khomeini took over power. She was born in the USA to naturalize parents. The recent war with Iran has been heartbreaking and soul crushing and
We’re fucked