We need to stress to Congress to push for changes. Pete Hegseth did what I wanted and moral & enlistment up, rid of DEI, now it is time to go. Put him in charge of National recruitment but there has to be other competent Officers than those who were in charge under Biden & Obama. Pam Bondie should have been out already one mistake after another their are plenty of conservatives in the districts who are excellent prosecutors and leaders. She is over her head from start. Patel lakes any people skills you need to be smart and stand up to questioning but you can't alienate everone and be successful. All the above making unforced errors Trump needs to get some sleep so he can listen to folks like Erick. Of course after years of Dems, and others out to get him loyalty understandably means a lot to him. Oh well the R's can always snatch defeat from victory.
Pete Hegseth has done some things that I agree with, i.e. shifting the focus off of DEI to war fighting, tightening standards. But as far as his qualifications, character, and whether or not he should have ever been the SECDEF in the first place, he’s out of his depth. His active duty resume is pretty unremarkable. His lecturing the nation’s senior military leaders about the warrior ethos (in a cryptic, yet highly publicized gathering of all of them under one roof) didn’t go over well. There is also the issue of his being a serial adulterer. This isn’t something that was one indiscretion 25 years ago. This was a consistent pattern of behavior for years. Either we think character matters or we don’t. In earlier columns you were saying he found Jesus and is going to church. That’s all well and good, but one of the marks of a changed life is humility and willingness to take accountability, which is the opposite of what he did during the Signal App leak. If anyone else with a TS/SCI had done this, no one in their chain of command would have shrugged it off. If you want a good idea of general opinion among military and veterans, look at the Duffel Blog and note the difference between how they roast Mattis and how they roast Hegseth. It’s notable.
And it will turn into Dems saying to The People “We told you so”. Then in power, will do as they did under Obama, go after conservatives and churches. Even more than when Fauci went after sane people
Setting aside all the actions that will eventually be determined to have been lawless, from putting troops on the streets of American cities to the murders being committed in the Caribbean, rampant corruption (e.g., Patel, but no one more so than Trump himself) and abject incompetence (e.g., Hegseth) will be the legacy of this administration.
I don't think they are criminal. He can still shut down imports. Just not tariff them. Feel for your losses. Hard to say what your importing. Has a lot to do with it. I think the goal is to even the playing field and bring back American investment in manufacturing and jobs. The divide for many is thinking we in America are incapable of manufacturing or do not want mine or to produce the raw materials. Is it really cheaper on the long run when Americans are unemployed to import everything or allow others tariff our products so we can't export them. We can't all be importers or work at starbucks.
Are we really going to go to court to determine if the US military committed a war crime by blowing up a boat carrying drugs by narco-terrorists? Are we really going to make lawyers decide when the military can discharge a firearm? This gets to be absurd.
If you believe that a person running drugs across the ocean should be arrested, arraigned and tried in a federal court then you have no clue on how to solve the drug smuggling problem. Because that will never happen, unless you get a lot of military personnel killed trying to arrest these guys in the middle of the ocean.
What did the British Navy do in the 1800s to end the transatlantic slave trade? What has every administration done to confront Islamic terrorism? Clinton blew up a facility in the Sudan trying to get Osama, which was before 911.
This whole issue brought up by the democrats in stopping drug smugglers is pathetic.
These are not American citizens in America. These are known members of a terrorist organization who are actively targeting Americans by transporting drugs on the high seas destined for America.
Is there a difference between shipping bombs to America versus drugs?
We do not live in a constitutional democracy. We live in a constitutional Republic, and the constitution is very clear on the powers held by the executive branch and the President of America. Every President has used force to target and kill terrorist. I have seen many videos. Hitting a boat twice is no different than hitting a truck twice. If you intend to sink the boat, sink it. If you intend to ride in a boat shipping drugs to American, expect the boat to be sunk.
If you all want to argue about the fine points between sinking a boat that is damaged and still floating versus purposely targeting a guy swimming in the ocean, then we can have a nuanced discussion about exactly what law was violated.
Saying "Suspected Perpetrators", "Executing Humans", "Executing drug mules", Nuremburg court" sounds like hyperbola to me.
There are any number of criminal activities that would more easily be prevented by simply murdering suspected perpetrators. If you don't know that this is not the American way, you have no idea of what truly makes America great.
Pool, in our constitutional democracy, in which we are bound to follow the rule of law, we don't just let people - and that includes our Orange Savior and his MAGA lackeys - determine which actions are legal and which are illegal. Laws, and, by extension, lawyers, decide when the military can execute other humans. This is not "absurd"; it is how societies function.
As for solving the problem of drug smuggling, there is absolutely no evidence that executing low-level drug mules has any deterrent on the drug trade. If you really want to make a dent in the American drug problem, start with the demand rather than the supply.
I have a crazy idea! How about the congressmen, instead of bailing, do their jobs of HOLDING THE ADMIN ACCOUNTABLE and CHALLENGE THE EXCESSES OF POWER. I apologize for yelling, but the cowardice is infuriating. Do what the Dems didn't do during the Obama and Biden Admins.
The statement that “no administration is perfect“ is laughable in this context. The entire Trump administration has become a dumpster fire…. and is emitting the same perfume. The parallels to the reign of Julius Caesar are compelling. The real shame is that we lost the last best chance to save America when too many Republicans refused to vote for the “other woman” and make Nikki Haley the nominee.
Hold your horses, I think things are a lot better then with Biden, the only problem is malcontents (liberals) and republican hypochondriacs, who keep ambulance chasing. Nikki Haley wasn't smart enough to get elected president. Highly doubt she would be a good one.
If Trump has proven anything it is that one does not have to be smart to be elected president. Where he is smart, however, is in knowing that so many Americans are stupid enough to vote for him in a primary.
Nikki probably was the smartest of the Republican candidates, and most smart Republicans supported her. Unfortunately, the smart ones were not enough as she needed a majority.
Want to amplify and give credence to the lunatic message that Trump and Trumpists are Nazi's? This is a good way to do it and not what Americans do. I pray this is media and inside leaker hyperbole.
IDK the details of this hit, but unless this was a glancing blow and that boat was still operable after the strike, it seems more like U-Boats machine gunning survivors in the water, Japanese strafing pilots in parachutes or in the water, etc.
If true, this will 100% turn independent's public opinion against these strikes as well as many veterans. I pray this is not Hegseth (...and/or insiders) having a hold my beer moment.
What good is logic, when it leads to chaos. Eric is a smart guy, but he is not the president. He is also a pundit who gets paid for commentary. The commentor before had an excellent point. No administration is perfect. The last one was criminal. But now the microscope is once again back on the president and Republicans and it is unforgiving. Even from supposed conservatives. Did the lawyers ok, the drone shot that killed an entire Afghan US loyalist family. What about isms I understand is overated. Did they not destroy terrorist convoys in the middle east with drones then proceed kill every last moving entity. Pretty sure I saw some of that. The smartest thing he said was that it was probably a second strike to make the boat unsalvagable and any lives left were collateral or most likely thought unsurvivable. Better then shark bait.
As far as tariffs, Trump is trying to correct for 4 years of Bidenomics and decades of unfair trade practices, bring back manufacturing and investment to the US. It is pretty shallow and short sided after 3 qtrs to tank the policy because you think know the definition of tarrifs. All economics and tariffs rely on modeling which requires all things remain consistent. Trump knows that and has shown a flexibility to adjust them. When your trying to change consumer behavior to achieve a better more sound economy it will take sometime. The last guy just printed money. And screwed it up on less time.
Kash Patel is threat to the left Also a human. He and his girl have a right to be worried they maybe become a target at a concert. So he likes to go to a concert. Does being the head of the FBI disqualify you from that or travel during a shut down. Last time the government skipped out on protection we got two assisination attempts and Charlie Kirk was just recently assisinated. We as conservatives shouldn't be forced to crawl in a hole and hide. Infact we should be out there making the country better and showin
I believe that the WH has realized that our debt and spending problems can’t be fixed. They have been 40+ years in the making. If Republicans stay in power when the sh.. hits the fan, they will be blamed. BUT, if the Democrats control the Congress when things fail, they would be blamed (hopefully but not likely with our MSM). Our leaders have not lead since Bush 1 and it shows.
It doesn't matter if the Dems are in control of all the levers of power when the excrement hits the fan, the MSM will blame the Republicans. No reason to hand the Dems power thinking they will reap the consequences which stuff happens because it won't.
To quote Rush, the only difference between the MSM and a flaming bag of Dog excrement, is the bag.
The easiest way to spot a right wing conspiracy theorist is with the ridiculous MSM line. Who, exactly, is the MSM? Is it Fox News, far and away the largest and least trustworthy news source on a major network? Is it Erick and other MAGA radio personalities, who dominate the radio airwaves? Is it Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro, Megyn Kelly, Steve Bannon, Matt Walsh or the seemingly infinite other MAGA podcasters who dominate the onlline media space? The combined viewership and listenership of MAGA media dwarfs any "mainstream" or legacy media. By actual numbers, MAGA media is the MSM.
MSM is CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, PBS. These organizations combined still have major viewership because many still don’t subscribe to cable or watch these channels with their subscriptions.
Is it really? Hmmm,... ok. I have two things to say about that: one, denial is a river in Egypt, and the second is that opinions are like a$$holes. Everybody's got one and they usually stink. Mine included (Meaning opinions, at least on occasion).
Your facts just don't hold water to me, and those statistics are more likely including repeated clicks and views by the folks washed in that ideology. Like the Fox News stats. Yes, they dwarf the other cable networks, but compared to viewers on the non-cable networks? Do they REALLY dwarf those? Give me a break. Does Fox News beat the views of ABC news? Yes, but only if you take the aggregate of ABC NEWS programming vs Fox News programming. Just how many shows does ABC News put out vs Fox News whose entire schtick is news. False comparison dude.
Key takeaway from AI
"The comparison depends on the time period and type of program. Fox News leads in primetime hours, but ABC's nightly news broadcast has a stronger and more consistent performance in that specific evening news slot, as shown in a November 26, 2025, article from Barrett Media." There is a link, but I'm not
The MSM line (At least to me) refers to the spew of stilted facts to people who do not check one thing for themselves. Does that mean there aren't MAGA folks in that same camp? Sure there are, and just as rabid in some, but fewer cases. Those mainstream media outlets live under a charter that they do not uphold.
...and your examples? I would hardy call Tucker Carlson, Erick, or Megyn Kelly rabid MAGA. I guess that depends upon your definition. What is required: lock-step allegiance or agreement on a case by case basis. If its the former, I'm hardly MAGA, but if its the latter then every single conservative person is guilty and you my friend are in the wrong place. Feel free to loin in w/ Bill Kristol, the Lincoln Project, et al wherever they are haunting people and fundraising (For themselves) these days or worse if you truly believe those things. I'm no reader of souls and do not portend to have that ability. I leave that to my Lord and Savior.
When 51% of young voters want a socialist for President in 2028, sometimes the only thing to do is give them want they want - good and hard. The young won’t listen to experience, so give it to them. Our young have been taught by our socialist education system that socialism is good. Sometimes, to end a dream of socialism you have to give the people the “dream” and they will realize how stupid they have been.
Ordinarily, I would agree to your point, but this is the fiscal cliff being discussed here. The petulant yutes are concentrated in blue areas, but letting the dems play Thelma and Louise would break us all. I don't think that is a circumstance to use as a potential lesson.
I think the second qtr will be a boom as some of the tariffs and energy adjustment take effect. What I am concerned with is we hit the panic button and dems take back congress and try to claim the results. While at the same time dismantling the same policies like they usually do.
Good preparation for conversations I know are coming.
Yes, it's a dumpster fire. And?
Yes, you said Bondi, Hegseth and Patel were not qualified. And?
Am I supposed to regret voting for Trump?
Lament Kamala is not president?
Not going to happen.
Yes, I voted for law and order, I voted for a good economy. How that is achieved matters.
Telling me I voted for the bad policies and incompetent management is like saying I want to get into an wreck every time I drive.
Now, here's the big difference between me and you, who actually hates Trump... If Kamala had won the world would be on fire, the economy in ruins, and you would be saying all is well because at least Trump is not president. You blame the economy on COVID not Biden. Grocery prices went up at 12:01 on Jan 20th.
It's all BS.
Most of the criticism of Trump and his team is valid, I don't defend it, I condemn it. But we are here because Democrats are bat guano crazy, because Biden was dementia patient and you saw nothing, because Kamala was an empty word salad suit.
Why are your coffeee and banana prices too high. That flat screen tv at walmart not as cheap as it used to be. At least your gas and energy prices are down and those will have multiplying effects on getting products to market here in the states.
Well then they are lower. Probably up because Blue State tried to go green and now are taxing their grids. Gas is lower. He is still working on opening up more closed off green energy policies from Biden. Energy companies are trying to absorb their losses on wind and solar. At least Ga was smart enough to invest in nuclear. I don't think my bill is much higher here in GA. Over all its probably up.
I'm from Georgia too. We just had a PSC statewide election. Democrats haven't won that since 2007 I think. They won by 15 points and it's because electricity rates are up so much. People who have never voted Democrat were interviewed saying they voted Democrat. Certainly not saying they would vote Democrat in midterms but if electricity rates don't come down some will. '
Thankfully, gas is down a bit, but not as much as I'd thought it would be.
Yes, many prices are now higher because of tariffs. And the folks that shop at Walmart (mostly Trump supporters, I imagine) will not be pleased with higher TV prices. Running a campaign on lower prices and then raising them through tariffs is not a great political strategy.
You know the government doesn't even include energy and food prices in inflation estimates as core products. That is why dems convinced for 4 years their troglodytes the economy was great. So now somethings are a little but more and dems have turned and many republicans have jumped in on "affordibility" dems own inflation from Bidenomics but have been clever enough to sell short sighted people on affordability. Of which the create most of the problems. But now Trump gets tagged with affordibility 3 operating qtrs into his first term and we hit the panic button.
Tariffs, as applied by Trump, are destabilizing, inflationary and stupid. Everyone but Trump and Navarro realize that. Raising taxes on consumer goods and groceries is no way to win the midterms.
Ceteris paribus, common term in economics, meaning things remain constant or equal. Your looking at short term goals and listening to too many malcontents whining. Biden gave everybody money so they could afford the things and inflation shot through the roof and we were poorer for it. Real income is coming back, jobs for Americans are coming back cost are coming down on primary resources. Do not give into a panic attack. the messaging should be it will take it least two years to make corrections, not 3 operating qtr. Your feeding right into liberal chicken heads. Tarrrifs used in the right means can correct markets and promote stability. But you need to change consumers behaviors and educate them, not just panic now that coffee and bananas prices have gone up.
sounds pretty classism to me, you shop at target... Well prices are not that much higher and getting better for a good cause, not worse because we gave away free stuff and printed more money. I think some of those consumers will understand at walmart, (walmart does they are eating most of the tarrifs) and if they don't, well it just goes down hill from there. We need to stop running elections to the lowest common denomination and go for the heart and souls of the brightest. Of which does not mean east and west coast liberals with college degrees.
You tell me, sounds like your heading that way. I would say east and west coast elites and group think are lowest. You know the people who gave you Biden and Kamala...
Here's the issue I see, you're framing the criticism on Trump as a choice between Trump and Kamala, whereas I see the criticism as concerns about the midterm elections.
If Trump does not get more disciplined quickly and start taking steps to actually bring down prices, the midterms are going to be a blood bath for Republicans. That means no more Trump appointed judges getting confirmed (by the way, why are there so many vacancies in red states that he has not made appointments on?), that means no more spending cuts, that means no more tax cuts, that also means some states, like Georgia, risk seeing a Democrat governor.
I am very happy Trump won over Kamala, but I would be even happier if he actually did things to prevent Democrats from taking back control next year.
The midterm election is a byproduct. I voted for the economy first and international affairs second. Trump has largely delivered on international affairs.
He conflated the economy and international affairs and embraced tariffs.
The issue at hand is this is Biden's economy and Trump not only didn't fix it he exacerbated it with tariffs and owns them just as Biden owned Bidenonomics. Both are a pejorative.
Neither party should be rewarded for incompetence. Trump is gone in 3 years, primary JD Vance, give America something to vote for as opposed to against.
We need to collectively get over this short term thinking Americans have. Im not saying I like communism but in Asian countries and China they have a words for the community acting in harmony for the collective good. We don't have much of that here... Eric's solutions are all short term, I understand elections have consequences. But they don't fix the fact that the raw materials for much of our manufacturing come from elsewhere. If we truly want to gain control and possibly employee Americans lower prices we got to bring it back. Dropping the coffee and banana prices should be the least of our worries. The message should be we are making systemic changes( dems like that) and that their will be some painful processes. Not " for god sakes the coffee prices need to come down or we will lose the election!"
DC gives organized crime a bad name. Conservatively, there might be 30 good souls in all of Congress, and the Trump administration has what, maybe one or two? Despicable. Yet Biden was no different, nor Obama before him. We b*tch about all these miserable candidates we elect, yet we continue to somehow send them back each election cycle. To me, that doesn't add up. Is our system rigged, or are we really just that frickin' stupid?? BTW, that's not a rhetorical question; I firmly believe we're capable of that level of stupidity.
We need to stress to Congress to push for changes. Pete Hegseth did what I wanted and moral & enlistment up, rid of DEI, now it is time to go. Put him in charge of National recruitment but there has to be other competent Officers than those who were in charge under Biden & Obama. Pam Bondie should have been out already one mistake after another their are plenty of conservatives in the districts who are excellent prosecutors and leaders. She is over her head from start. Patel lakes any people skills you need to be smart and stand up to questioning but you can't alienate everone and be successful. All the above making unforced errors Trump needs to get some sleep so he can listen to folks like Erick. Of course after years of Dems, and others out to get him loyalty understandably means a lot to him. Oh well the R's can always snatch defeat from victory.
Pete Hegseth has done some things that I agree with, i.e. shifting the focus off of DEI to war fighting, tightening standards. But as far as his qualifications, character, and whether or not he should have ever been the SECDEF in the first place, he’s out of his depth. His active duty resume is pretty unremarkable. His lecturing the nation’s senior military leaders about the warrior ethos (in a cryptic, yet highly publicized gathering of all of them under one roof) didn’t go over well. There is also the issue of his being a serial adulterer. This isn’t something that was one indiscretion 25 years ago. This was a consistent pattern of behavior for years. Either we think character matters or we don’t. In earlier columns you were saying he found Jesus and is going to church. That’s all well and good, but one of the marks of a changed life is humility and willingness to take accountability, which is the opposite of what he did during the Signal App leak. If anyone else with a TS/SCI had done this, no one in their chain of command would have shrugged it off. If you want a good idea of general opinion among military and veterans, look at the Duffel Blog and note the difference between how they roast Mattis and how they roast Hegseth. It’s notable.
And it will turn into Dems saying to The People “We told you so”. Then in power, will do as they did under Obama, go after conservatives and churches. Even more than when Fauci went after sane people
Setting aside all the actions that will eventually be determined to have been lawless, from putting troops on the streets of American cities to the murders being committed in the Caribbean, rampant corruption (e.g., Patel, but no one more so than Trump himself) and abject incompetence (e.g., Hegseth) will be the legacy of this administration.
Fully agree on reducing tariffs, but all tariffs should be rolled back, ful stop.
And Congressional Republicans should revolt until Trump does that.
But they don't seem to a basic grasp of economics that you do.
Not sure what that makes you. If you voted for Biden.
I don't think they are criminal. He can still shut down imports. Just not tariff them. Feel for your losses. Hard to say what your importing. Has a lot to do with it. I think the goal is to even the playing field and bring back American investment in manufacturing and jobs. The divide for many is thinking we in America are incapable of manufacturing or do not want mine or to produce the raw materials. Is it really cheaper on the long run when Americans are unemployed to import everything or allow others tariff our products so we can't export them. We can't all be importers or work at starbucks.
Are we really going to go to court to determine if the US military committed a war crime by blowing up a boat carrying drugs by narco-terrorists? Are we really going to make lawyers decide when the military can discharge a firearm? This gets to be absurd.
If you believe that a person running drugs across the ocean should be arrested, arraigned and tried in a federal court then you have no clue on how to solve the drug smuggling problem. Because that will never happen, unless you get a lot of military personnel killed trying to arrest these guys in the middle of the ocean.
What did the British Navy do in the 1800s to end the transatlantic slave trade? What has every administration done to confront Islamic terrorism? Clinton blew up a facility in the Sudan trying to get Osama, which was before 911.
This whole issue brought up by the democrats in stopping drug smugglers is pathetic.
These are not American citizens in America. These are known members of a terrorist organization who are actively targeting Americans by transporting drugs on the high seas destined for America.
Is there a difference between shipping bombs to America versus drugs?
We do not live in a constitutional democracy. We live in a constitutional Republic, and the constitution is very clear on the powers held by the executive branch and the President of America. Every President has used force to target and kill terrorist. I have seen many videos. Hitting a boat twice is no different than hitting a truck twice. If you intend to sink the boat, sink it. If you intend to ride in a boat shipping drugs to American, expect the boat to be sunk.
If you all want to argue about the fine points between sinking a boat that is damaged and still floating versus purposely targeting a guy swimming in the ocean, then we can have a nuanced discussion about exactly what law was violated.
Saying "Suspected Perpetrators", "Executing Humans", "Executing drug mules", Nuremburg court" sounds like hyperbola to me.
There are any number of criminal activities that would more easily be prevented by simply murdering suspected perpetrators. If you don't know that this is not the American way, you have no idea of what truly makes America great.
Pool, in our constitutional democracy, in which we are bound to follow the rule of law, we don't just let people - and that includes our Orange Savior and his MAGA lackeys - determine which actions are legal and which are illegal. Laws, and, by extension, lawyers, decide when the military can execute other humans. This is not "absurd"; it is how societies function.
As for solving the problem of drug smuggling, there is absolutely no evidence that executing low-level drug mules has any deterrent on the drug trade. If you really want to make a dent in the American drug problem, start with the demand rather than the supply.
What did the Nuremburg court do to German captains who shot sinking ship survivors in the water? Oh, wait.
What did they do to American pilots who did the same? Nothing.
Did they? Source? And was that official policy, or a violation of official policy?
Heard of the Battle of the Bismarck Sea? The Laconia Incident? BTW, the first was fully justified in my opinion and the second makes me sick.
Yes. I looked it up. A lot of bad stuff in WWII that is now illegal. Like terror bombing civilians.
I have a crazy idea! How about the congressmen, instead of bailing, do their jobs of HOLDING THE ADMIN ACCOUNTABLE and CHALLENGE THE EXCESSES OF POWER. I apologize for yelling, but the cowardice is infuriating. Do what the Dems didn't do during the Obama and Biden Admins.
AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Like a MAGA congressperson is going to hold Orange Jesus and his corrupt lackeys accountable. That is a good one!!!
ps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger tried that approach. That worked well.
The statement that “no administration is perfect“ is laughable in this context. The entire Trump administration has become a dumpster fire…. and is emitting the same perfume. The parallels to the reign of Julius Caesar are compelling. The real shame is that we lost the last best chance to save America when too many Republicans refused to vote for the “other woman” and make Nikki Haley the nominee.
Hold your horses, I think things are a lot better then with Biden, the only problem is malcontents (liberals) and republican hypochondriacs, who keep ambulance chasing. Nikki Haley wasn't smart enough to get elected president. Highly doubt she would be a good one.
If Trump has proven anything it is that one does not have to be smart to be elected president. Where he is smart, however, is in knowing that so many Americans are stupid enough to vote for him in a primary.
Did you think Biden was smart. Kamala, if they were smart Trump is a genius. If Nicki Haley was smartest person in the room she might be president...
Nikki probably was the smartest of the Republican candidates, and most smart Republicans supported her. Unfortunately, the smart ones were not enough as she needed a majority.
Want to amplify and give credence to the lunatic message that Trump and Trumpists are Nazi's? This is a good way to do it and not what Americans do. I pray this is media and inside leaker hyperbole.
IDK the details of this hit, but unless this was a glancing blow and that boat was still operable after the strike, it seems more like U-Boats machine gunning survivors in the water, Japanese strafing pilots in parachutes or in the water, etc.
If true, this will 100% turn independent's public opinion against these strikes as well as many veterans. I pray this is not Hegseth (...and/or insiders) having a hold my beer moment.
What good is logic, when it leads to chaos. Eric is a smart guy, but he is not the president. He is also a pundit who gets paid for commentary. The commentor before had an excellent point. No administration is perfect. The last one was criminal. But now the microscope is once again back on the president and Republicans and it is unforgiving. Even from supposed conservatives. Did the lawyers ok, the drone shot that killed an entire Afghan US loyalist family. What about isms I understand is overated. Did they not destroy terrorist convoys in the middle east with drones then proceed kill every last moving entity. Pretty sure I saw some of that. The smartest thing he said was that it was probably a second strike to make the boat unsalvagable and any lives left were collateral or most likely thought unsurvivable. Better then shark bait.
As far as tariffs, Trump is trying to correct for 4 years of Bidenomics and decades of unfair trade practices, bring back manufacturing and investment to the US. It is pretty shallow and short sided after 3 qtrs to tank the policy because you think know the definition of tarrifs. All economics and tariffs rely on modeling which requires all things remain consistent. Trump knows that and has shown a flexibility to adjust them. When your trying to change consumer behavior to achieve a better more sound economy it will take sometime. The last guy just printed money. And screwed it up on less time.
Kash Patel is threat to the left Also a human. He and his girl have a right to be worried they maybe become a target at a concert. So he likes to go to a concert. Does being the head of the FBI disqualify you from that or travel during a shut down. Last time the government skipped out on protection we got two assisination attempts and Charlie Kirk was just recently assisinated. We as conservatives shouldn't be forced to crawl in a hole and hide. Infact we should be out there making the country better and showin
g we can have a good time doing it.
I believe that the WH has realized that our debt and spending problems can’t be fixed. They have been 40+ years in the making. If Republicans stay in power when the sh.. hits the fan, they will be blamed. BUT, if the Democrats control the Congress when things fail, they would be blamed (hopefully but not likely with our MSM). Our leaders have not lead since Bush 1 and it shows.
It doesn't matter if the Dems are in control of all the levers of power when the excrement hits the fan, the MSM will blame the Republicans. No reason to hand the Dems power thinking they will reap the consequences which stuff happens because it won't.
To quote Rush, the only difference between the MSM and a flaming bag of Dog excrement, is the bag.
The easiest way to spot a right wing conspiracy theorist is with the ridiculous MSM line. Who, exactly, is the MSM? Is it Fox News, far and away the largest and least trustworthy news source on a major network? Is it Erick and other MAGA radio personalities, who dominate the radio airwaves? Is it Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro, Megyn Kelly, Steve Bannon, Matt Walsh or the seemingly infinite other MAGA podcasters who dominate the onlline media space? The combined viewership and listenership of MAGA media dwarfs any "mainstream" or legacy media. By actual numbers, MAGA media is the MSM.
MSM is CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, PBS. These organizations combined still have major viewership because many still don’t subscribe to cable or watch these channels with their subscriptions.
Is it really? Hmmm,... ok. I have two things to say about that: one, denial is a river in Egypt, and the second is that opinions are like a$$holes. Everybody's got one and they usually stink. Mine included (Meaning opinions, at least on occasion).
Your facts just don't hold water to me, and those statistics are more likely including repeated clicks and views by the folks washed in that ideology. Like the Fox News stats. Yes, they dwarf the other cable networks, but compared to viewers on the non-cable networks? Do they REALLY dwarf those? Give me a break. Does Fox News beat the views of ABC news? Yes, but only if you take the aggregate of ABC NEWS programming vs Fox News programming. Just how many shows does ABC News put out vs Fox News whose entire schtick is news. False comparison dude.
Key takeaway from AI
"The comparison depends on the time period and type of program. Fox News leads in primetime hours, but ABC's nightly news broadcast has a stronger and more consistent performance in that specific evening news slot, as shown in a November 26, 2025, article from Barrett Media." There is a link, but I'm not
The MSM line (At least to me) refers to the spew of stilted facts to people who do not check one thing for themselves. Does that mean there aren't MAGA folks in that same camp? Sure there are, and just as rabid in some, but fewer cases. Those mainstream media outlets live under a charter that they do not uphold.
...and your examples? I would hardy call Tucker Carlson, Erick, or Megyn Kelly rabid MAGA. I guess that depends upon your definition. What is required: lock-step allegiance or agreement on a case by case basis. If its the former, I'm hardly MAGA, but if its the latter then every single conservative person is guilty and you my friend are in the wrong place. Feel free to loin in w/ Bill Kristol, the Lincoln Project, et al wherever they are haunting people and fundraising (For themselves) these days or worse if you truly believe those things. I'm no reader of souls and do not portend to have that ability. I leave that to my Lord and Savior.
When 51% of young voters want a socialist for President in 2028, sometimes the only thing to do is give them want they want - good and hard. The young won’t listen to experience, so give it to them. Our young have been taught by our socialist education system that socialism is good. Sometimes, to end a dream of socialism you have to give the people the “dream” and they will realize how stupid they have been.
Ordinarily, I would agree to your point, but this is the fiscal cliff being discussed here. The petulant yutes are concentrated in blue areas, but letting the dems play Thelma and Louise would break us all. I don't think that is a circumstance to use as a potential lesson.
I think the second qtr will be a boom as some of the tariffs and energy adjustment take effect. What I am concerned with is we hit the panic button and dems take back congress and try to claim the results. While at the same time dismantling the same policies like they usually do.
*sigh*
Good preparation for conversations I know are coming.
Yes, it's a dumpster fire. And?
Yes, you said Bondi, Hegseth and Patel were not qualified. And?
Am I supposed to regret voting for Trump?
Lament Kamala is not president?
Not going to happen.
Yes, I voted for law and order, I voted for a good economy. How that is achieved matters.
Telling me I voted for the bad policies and incompetent management is like saying I want to get into an wreck every time I drive.
Now, here's the big difference between me and you, who actually hates Trump... If Kamala had won the world would be on fire, the economy in ruins, and you would be saying all is well because at least Trump is not president. You blame the economy on COVID not Biden. Grocery prices went up at 12:01 on Jan 20th.
It's all BS.
Most of the criticism of Trump and his team is valid, I don't defend it, I condemn it. But we are here because Democrats are bat guano crazy, because Biden was dementia patient and you saw nothing, because Kamala was an empty word salad suit.
If you voted for Trump in a primary, yes, you should definitely regret it.
I did not. I did not want Trump as the Republican nominee, there were at least two better candidates.
Why are your coffeee and banana prices too high. That flat screen tv at walmart not as cheap as it used to be. At least your gas and energy prices are down and those will have multiplying effects on getting products to market here in the states.
Energy prices are definitely not lower. Can probably thank AI and data centers for that, but definitely higher
Well then they are lower. Probably up because Blue State tried to go green and now are taxing their grids. Gas is lower. He is still working on opening up more closed off green energy policies from Biden. Energy companies are trying to absorb their losses on wind and solar. At least Ga was smart enough to invest in nuclear. I don't think my bill is much higher here in GA. Over all its probably up.
I'm from Georgia too. We just had a PSC statewide election. Democrats haven't won that since 2007 I think. They won by 15 points and it's because electricity rates are up so much. People who have never voted Democrat were interviewed saying they voted Democrat. Certainly not saying they would vote Democrat in midterms but if electricity rates don't come down some will. '
Thankfully, gas is down a bit, but not as much as I'd thought it would be.
But why do they think the Dems will lower them? They were against nucular wanted solor panels.
Yes, many prices are now higher because of tariffs. And the folks that shop at Walmart (mostly Trump supporters, I imagine) will not be pleased with higher TV prices. Running a campaign on lower prices and then raising them through tariffs is not a great political strategy.
You know the government doesn't even include energy and food prices in inflation estimates as core products. That is why dems convinced for 4 years their troglodytes the economy was great. So now somethings are a little but more and dems have turned and many republicans have jumped in on "affordibility" dems own inflation from Bidenomics but have been clever enough to sell short sighted people on affordability. Of which the create most of the problems. But now Trump gets tagged with affordibility 3 operating qtrs into his first term and we hit the panic button.
Tariffs, as applied by Trump, are destabilizing, inflationary and stupid. Everyone but Trump and Navarro realize that. Raising taxes on consumer goods and groceries is no way to win the midterms.
Ceteris paribus, common term in economics, meaning things remain constant or equal. Your looking at short term goals and listening to too many malcontents whining. Biden gave everybody money so they could afford the things and inflation shot through the roof and we were poorer for it. Real income is coming back, jobs for Americans are coming back cost are coming down on primary resources. Do not give into a panic attack. the messaging should be it will take it least two years to make corrections, not 3 operating qtr. Your feeding right into liberal chicken heads. Tarrrifs used in the right means can correct markets and promote stability. But you need to change consumers behaviors and educate them, not just panic now that coffee and bananas prices have gone up.
sounds pretty classism to me, you shop at target... Well prices are not that much higher and getting better for a good cause, not worse because we gave away free stuff and printed more money. I think some of those consumers will understand at walmart, (walmart does they are eating most of the tarrifs) and if they don't, well it just goes down hill from there. We need to stop running elections to the lowest common denomination and go for the heart and souls of the brightest. Of which does not mean east and west coast liberals with college degrees.
So, would the "lowest common denomination" be the Southern Baptists?
You tell me, sounds like your heading that way. I would say east and west coast elites and group think are lowest. You know the people who gave you Biden and Kamala...
Here's the issue I see, you're framing the criticism on Trump as a choice between Trump and Kamala, whereas I see the criticism as concerns about the midterm elections.
If Trump does not get more disciplined quickly and start taking steps to actually bring down prices, the midterms are going to be a blood bath for Republicans. That means no more Trump appointed judges getting confirmed (by the way, why are there so many vacancies in red states that he has not made appointments on?), that means no more spending cuts, that means no more tax cuts, that also means some states, like Georgia, risk seeing a Democrat governor.
I am very happy Trump won over Kamala, but I would be even happier if he actually did things to prevent Democrats from taking back control next year.
100%
The midterm election is a byproduct. I voted for the economy first and international affairs second. Trump has largely delivered on international affairs.
He conflated the economy and international affairs and embraced tariffs.
The issue at hand is this is Biden's economy and Trump not only didn't fix it he exacerbated it with tariffs and owns them just as Biden owned Bidenonomics. Both are a pejorative.
Neither party should be rewarded for incompetence. Trump is gone in 3 years, primary JD Vance, give America something to vote for as opposed to against.
The lessor of two evils is still an evil.
We need to collectively get over this short term thinking Americans have. Im not saying I like communism but in Asian countries and China they have a words for the community acting in harmony for the collective good. We don't have much of that here... Eric's solutions are all short term, I understand elections have consequences. But they don't fix the fact that the raw materials for much of our manufacturing come from elsewhere. If we truly want to gain control and possibly employee Americans lower prices we got to bring it back. Dropping the coffee and banana prices should be the least of our worries. The message should be we are making systemic changes( dems like that) and that their will be some painful processes. Not " for god sakes the coffee prices need to come down or we will lose the election!"
Tragic indeed because it is all fixable. What a dreadful quagmire Trump has made of things.
DC gives organized crime a bad name. Conservatively, there might be 30 good souls in all of Congress, and the Trump administration has what, maybe one or two? Despicable. Yet Biden was no different, nor Obama before him. We b*tch about all these miserable candidates we elect, yet we continue to somehow send them back each election cycle. To me, that doesn't add up. Is our system rigged, or are we really just that frickin' stupid?? BTW, that's not a rhetorical question; I firmly believe we're capable of that level of stupidity.