The Frankish Reich

I guess we'll just go with "disappointingly small"

I get it. I just took a look for a still photo of what I saw on the National Mall cam. Plus: bad weather forecast, the No Kings thing going on, there's lots of explanations. I'm just pointing out that this isn't exactly the Bastille Day America parade Trump had wanted. Probably should've just done it on the Fourth. Maybe Sorority President/Press Sec Levitt will have some "alternative facts." Remember how all this started. It's only an issue because one extraordinarily narcissistic fool made it one 8+ years ago.

Look, just stating a fact here. It is clearly not very crowded. Make of it what you will.

I've been to a couple 4th of July celebrations on the National Mall. Let's just say that the attendance here doesn't compare.

Exactly, but thanks in large part to U.S. and NATO resolve.

I sure hope they don't work in hotels or in the fields. Because, you know, then they're only kinda sorta illegal.

Check the National Mall live cam. Place looks like a Rockies-White Sox game in early April.

Agreed. Which is why I've never understood both of these propositions are not clearly in America's best interests: 1. Iran is run by a theocratic regime committed to the destruction of Israel and the establishment of of new caliphate, such that allowing it to acquire a nuclear weapon is a threat to the region and, in turn, to the United States and global security. 2. Russia is run by a dictator who has openly and repeatedly stated his desire to reconstitute - by any means necessary - the former Russian/Soviet Empire, such that contesting Russian aggression, particularly in Europe, is a threat to NATO, to the United States, and to global security. I see no reasonable argument to the contrary, nor do I see any way to find (1) is true while denying that (2) is true.

Flag Day was fun the way it was. Always right up against the last day of school in Buffalo. We'd have a little flag parade around the school. Innocent. Nonpolitical. I guess we can't just do that anymore.

The silly speculation never ends. My own speculation, which is a lot more boring and true to life: We will find out it was some petty personal grudge thing, an unstable actor, and (sadly) probably ignored warning signs and recent gun purchases despite that.

I'm holed up at home today with people working on the house so I can honestly say that it appears no one - Fox News included - is paying more than the most minimal attention to this Trumped-up Army Celebration. Fox just cut to the Mall - skimpiest "crowd" ever. Poor birthday boy will have to lie about the numbers.

See, I knew the miasma theory was back. https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/06/14/nx-s1-5429732/ancient-miasma-theory-may-help-explain-health-secretary-robert-f-kennedy-jr-s-vaccine-moves

So you Mass Deportation advocates: tell me how this is supposed to work. Stephen Miller (he controls the autopen that is the remnants of Trump's brain) mandates 3,000 deportations a day. Local ICE bosses say, well, then we gotta go where the illegal aliens are rather than waiting for criminals to drop into our lap. Targets worksites: construction, agriculture, hotel maids, whatever. Old school republicans complain: we can't stay in business if you deport our workers! Trump says "I hear you." No more targeting our great hotels or farmers or construction companies. Just get the criminals. Maybe jingoistic vote-for-me things like "mass deportation" don't really translate into governance? Who'd have thunk it?

Exactly.

Oops, it turns out good old fashioned American business need some good old fashioned illegal workers. https://www.wsj.com/us-news/trump-pauses-immigration-arrests-at-farms-hotels-and-restaurants-7a8bc353?mod=hp_lead_pos3