The real thought-provoking moment came in a small bit at the end. Trump was POTUS when the Ford was commissioned in 2017.
‘U.S. President Donald Trump said at USS Gerald R. Ford‘s commissioning ceremony in July 2017: “Wherever this vessel cuts through the horizon, our allies will rest easy and our enemies will shake with fear because everyone will know that America is coming and America is coming strong…Our true strength is our people. Our greatest weapon is all of you. Our nation endures because we have citizens who love America and who are willing to fight for America.”‘
I emphasized the final sentences. Eight years after Trump said those words, here he is as POTUS #47, starving Americans, destroying our healthcare and education systems, lowering our standards of living, deploying U.S. National Guard on false pretenses into American centers, and disappearing people through ICE off American streets, regardless of their status as citizens or visitors, regardless of evidence, regardless of what the courts rule.
Trump claims he wants to ‘make America great again’.
Trump claims that he views citizens as America’s ‘greatest weapon.’
Yet, Trump actively pursues destruction of us as a people and a nation. He’s attacking over half of us even though we are part of the same nation.
I’ll telling you, Trump hates the United States. He’s out to destroy it. If he wasn’t than why does he attack our ‘greatest weapon’?
That’s why the cruelty is the point. It’s an expression of Trump’s contempt and hatred for the United States and its citizens.
I’ve been thinking about that $2000 that Trump is waving in front of people.
What an utterly disconnected offering. What a cheap fucking bribe. Sure, the poorest and those close to being poor will jump on two grand. It’d give them temporary breathing room, maybe help fix a car or pay for part of something needed. For most, though, two thou in today’s economy is like a cold slice of half-eaten pizza found for breakfast.
Fierce Healthcare notes that red staters have been flocking to ACA for the last several years.
Enrollment on the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) exchanges has more than doubled over the past several years, with much of that growth coming from red states, according to a new report.
Analysts at KFF found that enrollment in marketplace plans reached 24.3 million for 2025, up from 11.4 million in 2020. That’s growth of 113% for those five years, the researchers said.
Almost all states have seen some level of increase since 2020, per the report. However, there are six states where enrollment more than tripled, and all were won by President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. The highest increases were in Texas and Mississippi, where enrollment grew by 255% and 242%, respectively.
In Louisiana and West Virginia, enrollment increased by 234%, while Georgia saw an increase of 227%. Enrollment rose in Tennessee by 221%.
Yowza! Sounds like Trump is screwing over his base without the breaks the Big Beautiful Bill of 2025 ended. When cruelty is the point, it doesn’t matter who the victim is. More pointedly, when healthcare premiums are jumping by huge chunks, two thousand doesn’t gain much, especially now, when affordability is rising as a problem for ‘Muricans. Industries, reporters, businesses, and analysts are citing increases in food prices, pet food, construction and home repair, gas for heating homes and gas for driving cars, electricity, healthcare, and consumer goods. Against that flood, Trump desperately throws up two thousand dollars and tries those tired ol’ ploys of crying fake news, hoax, while repeatedly and shrilly lying, “No, no, it’s all going great!” But even hard-headed MAGAts are starting to notice the dick-tator’s new clothes.
Of course, Trump is booming with promises.
He promises — again — he’s coming out with a new healthcare plan. Promises and lies is what he doth best. ‘Member any of these?
Trump and Republicans once again own the issue of health care, with millions of citizens — not just those on ACA plans — afflicted by rising premiums and high deductibles against the backdrop of a wider cost-of-living crisis. And just as in his first term, Trump lacks a comprehensive, detailed plan to bring relief to citizens who lack health care, who can’t afford the plans they have or who know that the loss of a job could leave them without any coverage at all.
~snip~
During the 2016 campaign, Trump pledged to repeal Obamacare and replace it with something “terrific.” At rallies, he promised Americans new health care that would cost less but be far better. If that sounds impossible, it’s probably because it is.
Early in his first term, Trump promised that change was on the way. “Despite what you hear in the press, healthcare is coming along great. We are talking to many groups and it will end in a beautiful picture!” he wrote on the website formerly known as Twitter in March 2017. The GOP failure to repeal Obamacare, partly because it couldn’t come up with an alternative, didn’t stop Trump’s sunny predictions. “The Republican Party will be soon be known as theparty of health care,” the president declared in March 2019.
Second term, same as the first. In his debate with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in 2024, Trump was mocked for saying he had “concepts of a plan” to make health care “better and less expensive.” More than a year later — and despite some significant efforts by Trump to bring down the cost of some prescription drugs — Americans are still waiting for his wider solutions.
~snip~
But with unemployment likely rising, some people will be very desperate for any additional income.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics did not release an October jobs report thanks to the GOP’s government shutdown. But the United States likely lost a whopping 50,000 jobs last month, according to a report released Tuesday by Goldman Sachs. This is a flashing warning that the nation may be entering recession territory.
Goldman Sachs’ report was backed up by data from the payroll company ADP, which on Tuesday said that the private sector lost an average of 11,250 jobs per week in the four weeks ending Oct. 25. ADP said the numbers signal that “the labor market struggled to produce jobs consistently during the second half” of October.
It’s all part of the MAGA magic, an illusion as deep and real as the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz.
Which means, of course, brace yerself. Trump and his allies need more distractions. Bigger distractions. They’ll get angrier. Meaner. Crueler. Declare more enemies and attack more. Lie more, and do it more loudly. Because, you know.
Just in time for the holidays. You’re a cruel one, Mr. Trump.
Windy, sunny, foggy, chilly, cloudy. That’s Wenzda in a string of weather words. Also noisy with someone’s machine droning out a long song. Birds are scarce. Papi did a floofstep this AM, bouncing to the door when opened to gallop out, he slammed on the paws, and backed himself back into the house. He no like wind. The numbers for today, November 12, 2025, are 54, 56, and 52. Seriously. That’s what I was told is our current temp, and the high and low, all in Fahrenheit.
Mom is doing so much better now. While sis related that to me, she’s returned to texting with me, and they’re much more intelligent and thoughtful. She texts, “You’ll never know how much I miss Frank.” I will not, but my mind can give it some insights. They were together as a 24/7 couple for most of two decades, sharing meals and jokes, opinions and rants, tending each other when sick or recovering. I do get it but I won’t ever know all the ways he was there for her. I’m happy they were together, because I saw how happy they made one another.
As for me yesterday, I gut tested more food offerings and felt pretty confident that all was going well. At least, no overt reversals took place telling me otherwise. I call that a win. I’ve also noticed I have much higher energy levels now, sleep better, and think better. I still dream a huge amount but that’s something else. Bottom lining it, the surgery definitely was for the best.
Today’s music is “Love Runs Out”. That started in my head, “until the floof runs out.” I found Papi’s wind reaction very funny, which he, an austere cat with a measured gaze, did not find amusing. But when I chuckled about his reversal and sang a bit of half-remembered tune with my inserted words, The Neurons said, “Oh, that’s One Republic, here we go,” and delivered the melody to the morning mental music stream.
Haven’t checked the news. Enjoying the morning so much, I thought I’d give myself a reprieve before I submitted to seeing what fresh political bullshit the Trump Regime lays on the world. Far as I know, the Trump Epstein Shutdown of 2025 is still going on, and the GOP is giving a pass to Trump’s unsavory character and hiding his crimes, making them his accomplices. But hey, they got that Jesus thing going for them, right? “Who would Jesus be cruel to,” they ask themselves daily, and gleefully respond, “Everyone who is not us!” The GOP is a depraved bunch. Sure, there may be a few who are not, but given their silence and/or active participation of the GOP mass, they’re rarer than a daisy in Antarctica.
Epstein and Trump, forever together.
Coffee is serenading Les Neurons. Hope peace and grace find their way out of the wilderness and back into our lives. Meanwhile, here we go. Time to rock on. Cheers
The triples for Munda, November 10, 2025, are 56, 68, and 49, with a side of fog. We’re into an autumnal cycle here in Ashlandia. I’ll take it over the snow I saw falling on TV in other places.
It’s same ol’, same ol all over again. Dems are capitulating in the Trump-Epstein Shutdown. Their gelatinous spines disappeared…again. So much winning. If a ‘deal’ is made. It’s only one step. But the healthcare subsidies Dems thought so important are off the table. So…what were you doing, Dems? Holding out for nothing, for pain and theater? They seem to think they can ‘hold Republicans accountable’ for the increasing costs of healthcare premiums. They’ve learned little. Cruelty is the point. Republicans are deaf, hard-headed, and cultists when it comes to Trump and matters like healthcare. Sure, FAFO moments will emerge far and wide, but most are still in their Trump bubbles and will blame the Dems. Besides, Trump is trying to bribe people with a $2000 check. That’ll earn him kudos with many, even as the economy breaks and crashes, even as more people grow sick from lack of healthcare. Just like the ‘good old days’, right? MAGA: Make America Groan Again, yeah, groan with pain, sickness, illness, disease, shortages, and poverty. We must be on the right path.
Dozy Donny sleeping as the United States crumbles. Of course, this is when the nation is safest, when he’s sleepin’ and not lying and fomenting
Will the shutdown’s end bring us to revelations about what’s in the Epstein Files. Of course not! The GOP will lie, cheat, and con to keep their glorious leader propped up and farting. You must not have been paying any attention if you’re giving that question serious weight. We’re not going to learn about that file’s contents until Trump is dead and encased in glass, on permanent display in the cold, tacky Trump Rotunda of some grossly ugly building somewhere.
How many times, I wondered about several things while perusing news. The Neurons concluded that I was asking them to play the Bob Dylan classic, “Blowin’ in the Wind” in the morning mental music. Bob asked some questions in the 1962 song.
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind
Blue is struggling for a presence against a gray and white coalition of clouds and fog.The sky is a dramatic pastiche for a classic fall line up of trees showing off golds, reds, yellows, and yes, some greens. My trees out front are into the traditional game of “Which leaf will hang on the longest?” Relevant numbers for this Sunda, November 11, 2025, are 63, 72, and 42, for the present, high, and low. My house’s outside system glowers that it’s still but 54 F out there. Overall, these elements blend into a pleasant fall day, good weather, if you can get it.
My wife is enamored of those talking button mats for floofs. These mats feature buttons which correspond to things like food, water, outside, treat. The floof presses a button to express themselves. We don’t believe Papi will ever be willing to express himself like that. He’s a reserved orange who keeps his thoughts behind a mysterious, watchful facade. We agree that Jade would’ve made full use of the buttons to drive us nuts. She was intelligent, vocal, and willful, wanting to be involved in everything, complaining and chastising us for not being forthright with sharing food, demanding to be pampered. She would’ve been a video star.
I see that Trump is manifesting his concerns about GOP election losses and the ongoing Trump-Epstein Shutdown (TES) of 2025 by losing his mind, blasting out crazier and angrier texts and statements. The GOP has decided that the best course forward is to do nothing, earning them another award as the Party Which Cannot Govern. That’s okay with MAGALand, as they think the government is out to get them and full of liberals which persecute the white man, especially if they’re a good, Christian, God-fearing, honest billionaire like Donald Trump. (Yes, that was 24k snark.) WWJD has left the building; they’re all about What Will Trumpy Do? It’s all good in their books. Evidence of preying on young women? That’s okay. Ripping off the taxpayers? Long as he’s in charge, they’re fine. Preaching hatred, divisiveness, breaking the economy, and starving citizens? Yeah, they good. WWTD. Some are starting to question about what they’ll do AT (After Trump), but they’re using very hushed tones. To question that there will an AT suggests that Trump is mortal, that he won’t be around forever. Judging from the way overweight Dozy Donny is shuffling around at this point, the countdown on him has begun.
So the “Cruelty is the Point” Trump-Epstein Shutdown of 2025 forges further into record territory, protecting Trump from being exposed for what he did with Epstein, stuff that put Epstein in jail, while demonstrating that Trump and the GOP does not give a crap about anyone but the wealthy and powerful. He and they have confirmed who they are, as long as you’re not hiding in some right-wing bubble.
Musically, despite a long and interesting dream, The Neurons are dedicating today’s theme music to DJ Dozy Donny Trump. This comes after reading the news, yeah? The Neurons said, this sounds like today’s morning mental music stream inhabitant should be “Manic Depression” by Jimi Hendrix. Yeah, that’ll play. This is interesting but uneven footage from Jim and Experience doing their thing.
No sign of grace and peace in my area yet. Coffee has answered the call, though, so I have a coffee grin spreading. Hope y’all have an awesome sojourn. Cheers
It’s a well-established pattern. When Trump is afraid of truth and facts, he works hard to hide it. He hid his tax returns. Hid his grades. Now Trump is hiding his regime’s poor-jobs reports.
Pretty much as expected after he fired the person who told the truth before. Evil works in darkness. And that’s Trump all the way.
With the shutdown now hitting the travel industry, more FAFO is being exposed. Nevada voted Trump into office 2024. Now, gosh, their economy is taking some hits, and Vegas is feeling it. Thanks to ICE and the cold welcome the Trump Regime extends to people entering the United States, tourism is down across the board, which isn’t good for Vegas. Now, with the Trump-Epstein Shutdown of 2025 marching through record territory, flights are being canceled…
More FAFO is rising over in MAGALand. This is the cattle ranchers edition. The price of beef in the U.S. is historically high. Part of the problem is drought which may be related to climate change. Dozy Donny doesn’t believe in climate change and takes no action agin’ it. With drought shrinking the feeding areas, the herds are shrinking. Disease affected cattle in Mexico, and with tariffs pushing up the price of beef coming in, well, it’s just basic supply and demand economics. But not in Dozy’s eyes; he thinks the beef industry is acting like Trump would do, which is to take advantage of the situation to raise prices and make profits. Of course, he immediately pushed buttons to launch an investigation…
Congress actually took action against the consolidation of the meat-packing industry back in 2022 via the “Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act”. As meat prices were climbing, meat-packing companies were reporting record profits. The USDA is responsible for investigating these things. Wonder if DOGE had anything to do with reducing the USDA’s effectiveness for investigating these things back when DOGE cut the USDA’s workforce?
Sunshine is blessing Satyrda, November 8, 2025. Today’s pertinent temperature numbers for Ashlandia read 56, 68, 49 for the present, high, and low, but my local system claims it’s just 46 F out there. The cat and I agree, it’s still chilly here in the shadows.
My pain is a downhill racer, going away fast. Did just one pain pill yesterday, end of day, and none today. Still just need to watch bending and stretching, coughing, sneezing, laughing. Feel that. And keep anything I pick up below 20 pounds. Having my gallbladder removed has brought out others’ stories. I appreciate them all. One local friend claims she had hers removed and didn’t change her diet at all. Sis wrote that one of her clients yesterday said he had his gallbladder removed, was hospitalized five days for it, and then had to go back to the hospital. So, it feels like it’s one of those, “individual results will vary” things. I’m on a low-diet for the next six months, according to my doc.
Today’s music comes from being silly with Papi. I sometimes sing to my cats (yes, they’re magnificently unimpressed by it). I launched into “Pappidio”, a song based on Phil Collins’s song, “Sussudio”. My song is about an orange cat on my mind. Phil’s was about a girl. Anyway, of course, The Neurons inserted the original Collins song into the morning mental music stream.
Trumpgames continue. Falling asleep at meetings. Showing no interest or concern when another human falls ill at a meeting. Making deepfake videos of himself, pretending to be something and someone he is not. Rational? No, delusional! TACO has announced the U.S. will not send anyone to the G20 summit. His decision is based on fake news. What else is new? Deep in his own altered reality, he only believes fake news these days. In his world, he’s a shiny example of health, intelligence, and leadership. In the real world, we see him and think that he’s on the verge of a total breakdown in his body, mind, and control.
Trump continues on his pardons spree. Republican and convicted? Wealthy and convicted? He’s got a deal for you if you’re a MAGA. Yet, when questioned about some of the people he’s pardoned, Trump indignantly replies, he doesn’t know who they are. We should all be doing all-cap blasts about this.
“DOZY DONNY FOUND NAPPING IN MEETINGS!!! AGAIN!!! Claims he can’t even remember people he pardoned!!! SHAMEFUL!!! DISGRACEFUL!!! Trump is the WORSE POTUS IN HISTORY!!! NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!”
Trump did get his wish for stopping SNAP benefits to starving Americans. Roberts Court stepped in his his behalf and overruled all the lower courts. Causing sickness and starvation among your own people is surely worth a peace prize, right? Right, that’s pure snark. Trump is worthy of the Nobel Cruelty Prize, if one was handed out. After threatening more war and attacking more Venezuelans, peace prizes to Trump will only be offered by other craven billionaires. Or he can make one up and give it to himself. That’s his standard speed. Fake it.
BTW, do you see how he labeled the Oval Office with a paper sign? That’s likely to remind him where and what it is. He’s failing fast.
Meanwhile, the record Trump-Epstein Shutdown (TES) of 2025 continues. The GOP is eager to shaft people on healthcare and will not budge from that position. The Democrats continue to insist that the tax break that let people pay lower healthcare premiums be reinstalled. As the economy spirals downward heading toward Thanksgiving and the end of the year, when retail takes its largest share of revenues and profits, the GOP are looking like Trump Chumps.
Speaking of which, remember these smirking Trump Chumps?
Leaks are claiming that the Epstein files info on Trump is much, much worse than originally imagined. To put this into Trumpspeak: “TERRIBLE SCANDAL!!! WORSE UNITED STATES SCANDAL EVER!!! REPUBLICANS ARE HIDING AND PROTECTING CHILD MOLESTERS!!! IF TRUMP IS INNOCENT, WHICH WE ALL KNOW HE ISN’T, RELEASE THE FILES!!! PROVE IT!!!”
Or something like that.
Off we go, into another day with hopes that peace and grace come around to lift us up. Meanwhile, I’ll make do with black coffee. Have the best. Cheers
Michael Seidel, writer 