28 Comments
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Ron McKenzie's avatar

“This is what happens when you make too many HALO jumps and keep landing on your head.”

A very apt word picture, TC.

PS I’m looking forward to your Red Tail and WASP chronicles. I hope the Way Back Machine captured copies of those USAF histories before the Purge.

TCinLA's avatar

Fortunately, sufficient outrage was expressed yesterday - I even got people I know are Trumpers to act on their outrage over this - that Hegseth reversed the decision to drop them from the education programs.

JOE P's avatar

Ugh, the first week ! WHAT A SHITSTORM !

MaryPat's avatar

Thank You, Tom. It's gotten so I can't listen, read or watch news unless it is healthily peppered with appropriate expletives and denigrations. You Provide!

Susan Linehan's avatar

I'm running out of time, but the Laken Riley Act is MUCH MUCH WORSE than just the words "charged or arrested." I go through it on my own Substack

https://linehan.substack.com/p/the-laken-riley-act-a-warning

You would think that at least SOME Democrats in favor of this thing would have had a staff member go through all the cross references to OTHER statutes this bill would amend. This is pretty much ceding a large part of immigration control to the states. You all know which would use it.

JDinTX's avatar

I was a fan of Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil when Oprah had them on her show. I saw no evidence that they were batschitt crazy. I imagine that Oprah is as disgusted as anybody over their cult crap. I am beyond disgusted by some that joined the cult and gave me no clue that they had that power/greed gene. But I have watched as institution after institution has joined the Goebbels brigade. I have nothing but contempt for any cult nut, educated or not. Family or not, friend or not. The cult is treasonous and has not one redeeming characteristic. I fear for our national sanity. It is slip sliding away…

Mim Eisenberg (NYer now in GA)'s avatar

Surprisingly, one of Hegseth's first actions was to reinstate the teaching about the Tuskegee Airmen.

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-01-27/air-force-tuskegee-wasps-dei-16613449.html

Maggie's avatar

Must have been quite a reaction to cause this about face. More than only Katie Britt!

Ally House (Oregon)'s avatar

TC, I’m glad you ease through the shit to get us these nuggets.

Susan Burgess's avatar

In my department of happy and fun surprise surprises! Was the unexpected “Press the Meat” This one laugh was good for a whole week.

Victoria Brown's avatar

As an Aviation Historian, you

bet your butt Tom has the

goods on the Tuskegee Red

Tails and WASPS. 👍This is

History, not DEI, and will live

on as so much more will too.

Kent Anderson's avatar

We need to do a Zoom call. If there's anyone on here who has a Zoom set up, please set it up.

GarySanDiego's avatar

With respect, I do not think we can count Columbia’s reversal as a win for our side. Trump will take this as proof that tariffs are the best instrument to enforce his policy preferences.

TCinLA's avatar

they won. Trump only got that "win" when he agreed that deportees would not be hand and leg cuffed, and would be "treated with respect."

We're still the losers, since the dramatic photos of US military aircraft show transports that cost three times what using a civilian airliner costs.

Judith Matlock's avatar

A show of force. That is all. Trump puffery. He's got a ways to go to beat Obama's deportation numbers. Reporters should keep pointing that out to him and watch him cringe.

Vague Craig's avatar

Isn't it what politicians call a "a win-win"? Both leaders can claim a victory through their propaganda machines. The losers being the air flight passengers, now without employment, homes, and separated from the love and support of family, and friends.

Judith Matlock's avatar

Good for those IGs who showed up for work, something their lawyers and their own backbones told them to do.

And spare us Tulsi Gabbard who was once a member of an actual cult, a sign she's too weak- minded to be trusted with intel. She probably couldn't name three convicted American spies or explain what a honeypot sting is, basic spy novel stuff. These people make me weep for my country.

Sharon Buchbinder, PhD's avatar

Did you see this one? Methinks he thought he had a permanent GET OUT OF JAIL FREE card! Indiana man shot dead by police had been pardoned for Jan. 6 Capitol riot https://billingsgazette.com/news/nation-world/crime-courts/article_572b46cd-4856-5021-92ea-356db95b3238.html

Sharon Buchbinder, PhD's avatar

Basically, the guy was pulled over on a routine traffic stop, resisted, and the cop shot him. Turns out this guy had a gun in the car. Cop on admin leave, per usual. But methinks these J6 assholes are going to be back in jail or dead because they believe their Dear Leader will pardon them for all crimes.

Excerpt: RENSSELAER, Ind. — The man shot dead Sunday by Jasper County police while allegedly resisting arrest has been identified as 42-year-old Hobart, Indiana, resident Matthew W. Huttle, who was among those presumably pardoned last week by President Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol building.

Details are few as the shooting investigation continues, but state police said a deputy with the Jasper County Sheriff's Department stopped a vehicle around 4:15 p.m. Sunday on Ind. 14, east of County Road 475 East.

"During the traffic stop, the officer attempted to arrest the suspect when the suspect resisted," according to state police. "An altercation took place between the suspect and the officer, which resulted in the officer firing his weapon and fatally wounding the suspect."

It appears the stop was routine and the result of an alleged traffic violation, according to police. https://billingsgazette.com/news/nation-world/crime-courts/article_572b46cd-4856-5021-92ea-356db95b3238.html

Hannah's avatar

A man died. Take a second to respect his humanity, if nothing else. Gloating is what MAGAts do.

Barryt's avatar

The repubs and magaverse have really turned the Doublespeak up to 11.

Fay Reid's avatar

And so it goes from bad to worse to worst.

Dick Montagne's avatar

Wellman has got it right