“The threat I worry the most about vis-à-vis Europe is not Russia, it’s not China, it’s not any other external actor. What I worry about is the threat from within, the retreat of Europe from some its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America,” Vance said.
The decision to limit AP’s access stems from its decision not to recognize the Trump administration’s name change from Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America on federal maps, websites and documents.
This administration continues to show a wealth of hypocrisy and a poverty of honesty.
On the one hand, I would say that I am patriotic. I served over twenty years on active duty in the U.S. military. I was compensated for my service and the service itself doesn’t construe automatic patriotism; many people who have betrayed the U.S. claimed they were patriotic. I have stood with my hand held in a salute or over my heart to honor my flag and my nation.
But those are gestures, and there is the nub of the problem. I’m probably splitting hairs but this is an era of hair-splitting. My patriotism is not to a flag nor a nation, people, concept, party, or individual. I swore to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. It’s the basis of our laws and the foundation of our government. And although my military service is completed, that oath is engraved in my spirit.
So, I don’t know if I’m patriotic. I’m not fond of my nation now and what is being done to it. But with that oath in mind, I will fight for the principles on which it was founded as proclaimed in the Constitution and its amendments until the very end, no matter the outcome.
Rain is hovering over the valley’s Sunda with a soft threat of rain. Sunshine is skipping in and out, and gray, traveling clouds are posturing like the rain threat is for real. It’s 43 F with a high of 51 F possible, ‘they’ say.
This is Feb. 16, 2025. With news firehoses running everday, February has taken a fast track through the year. Twelve days until it’s run its time and we’re on to March.
The morning mental music stream was jumping with a variety of remembered offerings. Now running the scene is a song by The Clash called “Clampdown”. Straight out of 1979, it’s a song about capitalism and how it beats people and steals their lives. I don’t know what prompted the Neurons to pull it up today. I mean, I’d just been reading again how the GOTP wants to put everyone to work at lower wages, young and old, to make ‘Merica great again. Cuz work is fun! Everyone loves the drone of machines grinding past, putting out new toys. If not there, they enjoy standing on their feet sixteen hours a day, waiting on other people. Or hustling food from kitchens tables before hurrying home to rest in front of the TV, computer, and walls. Of course, the billionaires and most millionaires would be exempted. CEOs, too. They’re wealth creators, you know. Tax them less and they’ll spend more, even as the poor starve and die. Yeah, I don’t know what prompted The Clash and “Clampdown” to get pulled into the MMMS.
In these days of evil presidentes Working for the clampdown But lately one or two has fully paid their due For working for the clampdown Ha! Gitalong! Gitalong! Working for the clampdown Ha! Gitalong! Gitalong! Working for the clampdown
Coffee has breached my defenses once again, taking over my agenda as it is wont to do. Hope you enjoy the music and the day embraces you in positive ways. Cheers
Michael Seidel, writer 