The Frankish Reich

Guy seemed to have a nice exurban home despite a spotty job history. Wife made the money? Wife ready to dump him? Or maybe had already dumped him: He seemed to be living more on the edge, renting a room in the NE suburbs (far from where his family home was) ostensibly to be close to his security work. One of those "owned his own security company" which seemed more like "worked as an independent contractor as a security guard."

true.

Well, he certainly seemed to be all over the place as far as politics goes. Which isn't surprising because he also appeared to be quite nuts and pretty much a failure at everything he tried.

It was weird. Trump obviously wanted a MAGA "America is Great Again" show. Staging this on his birthday caused a lot of blowback. The parade planners then tacked hard to the Army 250 staging, which was fine, but which gutted the MAGA energy he'd hoped for. So we had a rather overblown - and weird (because Army-centric at the expense of the other services) parade. Maybe he'll deliver the Full Monty at his 80th.

Biden won the popular vote by a wider margin. By the same logic, most Americans thought his border policy and his spending bills were good. The American electoral system presents you with two choices. Most people disagree with significant parts of each presidential candidates agenda (example: explain why Trump voting states also voted for abortion rights). They understand that they are choosing from flawed candidates with flawed agendas, and that's why they seem to see a do-over every two or four years. If only presidential candidates understood this and governed accordingly. But no, they always have to misread their election as a mandate to do something or other that is way too far to the extremes given where most Americans find themselves.

Thanks. I also think we make a mistake when we start talking about "manifestos." That word implies some kind of coherent political philosophy. The Unabomber (good documentary out about him now)? Oh, he was brilliant but crazy/evil, and he had a real "manifesto." These other killers have rambling jottings of madmen.

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

It's all just virtue signaling of one kind or another. Somehow I was born without the gene that makes me want to do this. I've thought the same thing as I go through the exurban southwest and see Trump signs and Trump flags. There are no heathens left there to convert.

Make sure to take a pic of Scott Bessent's house. Charleston is nice, but it is kind of the classic "from extraordinary wealth to abject poverty within one mile" place.

That Kristi Noem gets around!

My guess is that the Trump administration saw a chance to do what many have privately (and publicly) wanted to do for a long time: neutralize any Iran threat. Russia could've made this difficult, but they're a bit preoccupied right now. (Ukraine war surrender monkeys: think about what would've happened if we'd allowed them to overrun Ukraine in a month.) Hezbollah in Lebanon and whatever Iranian proxy in Syria can't get to Israel now. Houthis in Yemen are a pest but nothing more. Other Islamic world opposition muted because of Saudi hatred of Iran. Hence, the green light - explicit or implicit - for Israel to go ahead. Way, way too soon to tell if this is a good idea. But that's why I'm guessing it happened, and why it happened now.