Tuesday, April 8, 2025

How Long Will It Be Before the Trump Administration Says Nice Things About Iran?


During Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hastily arranged visit to the White House yesterday, President Trump revealed that his administration has begun direct talks with Iran.

I cannot say this surprises me a great deal. If the Trump Administration has seen fit to talk directly with Hamas it isn't a stretch that it would seek to talk with its masters in Tehran?

Indeed, Steve Witkoff, who has led the talks with Hamas, will lead the talks with Iran.

Given how complimentary Witkoff has been with Hamas and his indications Hamas will remain in Gaza, how long it will be before he says nice things about the Iranian regime and how they ought to remain in power?


I'm sure Netanyahu and the Israeli government were aware the Trump Administration had been engaging directly with Iran. It's bad enough that Trump is saddling Israel with tariffs and will not remove them despite the fact that Israel has removed theirs, but he is also giving Israel's enemies Hamas, Turkey and now Iran legitimacy.

Octavio Dotel, Who Pitched for 13 MLB Teams, Among 79 Dead Following Roof Collapse at Club in D.R.


Tragedy struck in the Dominican Republic early this morning when the roof of a nightclub in the capital city of Santo Domingo collapsed. As of this writing, 79 people have been killed with 160 additional people injured.

Among those killed in the incident were several prominent Dominicans - singer Rubby Perez (who was performing in concert), Nelsy Cruz, the Governor of the province of Monte Cristi (and sister of former MLB slugger Nelson Cruz) along with former MLB players Tony Blanco and Octavio Dotel.

Of the four, Dotel was the best known in this country. Blanco briefly played with the Washington Nationals in 2005 but spent the majority of his professional career in Japan. However, Dotel enjoyed a 15-year MLB career pitching for 13 different teams. For a time, this was a MLB record until pitcher Edwin Jackson surpassed it with 14 teams in 2019.

Dotel signed with the New York Mets as a 19-year-old in 1993 but would not make his big-league debut with the club until 1999 when he was used primarily as a starting pitcher. In 19 appearances (including 14 starts), Dotel went 8-3 with a 5.38 ERA striking out 85 batters in 85.1 innings pitched.

Following the 1999 season, the Mets dealt Dotel to the Houston Astros in the deal which brought pitcher Mike Hampton and outfielder Derek Bell to Queens. By 2001, Dotel was pitching exclusively in relief working as the setup man to future Hall of Famer Billy Wagner. In 2003, Dotel was one of six pitchers who combined on a no-hitter against the New York Yankees

Houston would prove to be his longest big league stop pitching in an Astros uniform. Dotel pitched with the Astros through the middle of the 2004 season when he was traded to the Oakland Athletics in a three-team trade with the Kansas City Royals which brought Carlos Beltran to Houston. Dotel saved a career high 36 games combined with the Astros and the A's.

After 1½ seasons in Oakland, Dotel spent 2006 with the New York Yankees. He would split 2007 between the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves before spending two seasons with the Chicago White Sox. In 2010, Dotel pitched for three teams - Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies. In 2011, Dotel had a season for the birds pitching for both the Toronto Blue Jays and the St. Louis Cardinals. Among the players who went to the Cardinals along with Dotel was the aforementioned Edwin Jackson.

The trade proved fortuitous for Dotel as he would earn his lone World Series ring as the Cardinals bested the Texas Rangers in 7 games. Dotel would move onto his final big league stop in 2012 and 2013 with the Detroit Tigers. Dotel would pitch in his second straight World Series in 2012, but the Tigers would be swept by the San Francisco Giants. In 758 career games, Dotel went 59-50 with a 3.78 ERA recording 109 career saves. Dotel struck out 1143 batters in only 951 innings pitched.

In 2013, Dotel would end his professional career on a high note as he was part of another championship team as the Dominican Republic triumphed in the World Baseball Classic. 

Dotel was only 51 when he was killed this morning with what should have been many more years to live. The same could be said of most of the others who lost their lives. R.I.P.


Monday, April 7, 2025

What Pam Bondi Really Means When She Says She Wants DoJ Lawyers to Argue "Vigorously"

After D.C. District Court judge Paula Xinis ordered the U.S. government to have Kilmar Abrego Garcia returned to the United States from a Salvadoran prison, the DoJ instead responded by suspending attorney Erez Reuveni who had unsuccessfully argued the case the day before.

For her part, Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the decision to suspend Reuveni during an appearance on Fox News Sunday:

I firmly said on Day 1, I issued a memo that you are to vigorously advocate on behalf of the United States. Our client in this matter was Homeland Security — is Homeland Security. He did not argue. He shouldn’t have taken the case. He shouldn’t have argued it, if that’s what he was going to do. He’s on administrative leave now. You have to vigorously argue on behalf of your client.

When Bondi says that Reuveni didn't argue "vigorously" she means that she wanted him to lie and claim Abrego Garcia belonged to MS-13. But Bondi, unlike VP Vance, couldn't actually bring herself to claim Abrego Garcia was a member of MS-13 let alone state if he would face charges were he to return to this country.

So, what could Reuveni or any other DoJ have done? After all, the Trump Administration has openly admitted that Abrego Garcia was deported in error and cannot produce evidence that Abrego Garcia was a member of MS-13, let alone convicted of any crimes

The only argument the Trump Administration can offer is the absurd argument that even though Abrego Garcia was wrongly deported, he cannot be brought back because he is in a sovereign country. As I argued last week:

ICE is essentially telling us that if they make a mistake, they are not responsible for their behavior nor are they subject to any consequences of their errors. 

I would add that the Trump Administration doesn't believe it is under any obligation to remedy their errors. 

How else does one explain Bondi demanding DoJ attorneys to lie to open court about Abrego Garcia?

How else does one explain Bondi demanding of DoJ attorneys what she won't demand of herself?

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Why I Have Mixed Feelings About Alex Ovechkin Surpassing Wayne Gretzky as NHL's All-Time Goal Scorer

Alex Ovechkin did the unthinkable this afternoon when he scored his 895th goal to surpass Wayne Gretzky as the NHL's all-time leading scorer in goals.

Although the Washington Capitals lost 4-1 to the New York Islanders, it is difficult to overlook Ovechkin's achievement. Ovechkin scored 895 goals in 1487 career games while Gretzky scored 894 goals in 1487 career games.

And Ovechkin isn't done. The Capitals, for whom Ovechkin has played his entire 20-year career, lead the Metropolitan Division and have the second-best overall record in the NHL trailing the Winnipeg Jets by a single point. Washington, which won its lone Stanley Cup championship in 2018, has a legitimate shot for another title.

Ovechkin has one more year left on his current contract with the Capitals. If he continues to play at the level at which he is playing I don't think 1,000 career goals is inconceivable. Whatever his career goal totals, an argument can made that Ovechkin has surpassed the Great One as the greatest to ever play in the NHL. 

Yet I have mixed feelings about Ovechkin's achievement. Ovechkin is an apologist for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Just take a look at his Instagram profile or the website he launched in 2017 called Putin Team:

The website of the Putin Team movement is [now] open: www.putinteam.ru! Through the site, you can become a member of a huge team. Of Putin’s Team, which unites people who are proud of their country and want to make Russia stronger. In our leader, we value [his] trust in and respect for people, his fairness [and] righteousness, and the fact that he really cares.

Everyone who supports those values is a member of Putin Team. If you want to participate in events with us, join us! Sign up on the website and follow us [on social media], it will be interesting!

And, of course, share this with your friends! Welcome to Putin Team!

I suspect the people of Ukraine would take a much different view of Putin Team.

To paraphrase Ronnie Spector's description of her ex-husband Phil Spector, "Great hockey player, lousy person."

Of course, Gretzky has lost much of his luster in Canada by his support of President Trump in a stunning parallel of Ovechkin's support of Putin. Indeed, Trump went as far as to say that Gretzky should become the next Governor of Canada

It is possible to admire what both Alex Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky have done on the ice while feeling absolute dismay as to how they lead their lives off the ice.

Saturday, April 5, 2025

Three Reasons Why Trump Chose to Attend a Golf Dinner Over Honoring Four Fallen U.S. Soldiers


It comes as no surprise to me that President Trump would choose to attend a golf dinner instead of paying his respect to four fallen U.S. soldiers

The soldiers were engaged in a training exercise in Lithuania when they and their vehicle disappeared. They were found submerged in a swamp. The four soldiers found dead were identified as Staff Sgt. Jose Duenez, Jr., Staff Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, Pfc. Dante D. Taitano and Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins. All four soldiers were part of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Under the circumstances, I can see three reasons why Trump did not pay them his respects.

First and foremost, let us never forget Trump believes that fallen U.S. soldiers are "losers and suckers", a fact confirmed by former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. While Trump has denied making the remarks, the notoriously litigious President has never seen fit to sue anyone regarding the incident. There would be depositions and nothing good would come of it for Trump.

Second, the incident took place in Lithuania, a former Soviet republic and now a NATO member. We all know what contempt Trump has for NATO and Vladimir Putin would very much like to have Lithuania and the Baltic states back under the Russian fold. Given what has happened in Ukraine, Lithuania is preparing for a Russian invasion. Had Trump saw fit to honor the fallen soldiers he would have validated both NATO and Lithuania's presence within which would not have pleased Russia. The fact that Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and thousands of Lithuanians have expressed more sorrow at the deaths of American soldiers than our own government is quite telling. 

Third, there is Trump's financial self-interest. The dinner he attended took place at his Dorval resort in Miami where a LIV sponsored golf tournament is taking place this weekend. Trump will be making money with this golf tournament. Honoring our fallen soldiers will not line his pockets. Of course, LIV is sponsored by Saudi Arabia where Trump will make his first foreign trip of his second term next month. Needless to say, the Trump family has profited handsomely from their ties with Saudi Arabia.

All things considered, perhaps it is best that Trump didn't honor these four fallen soldiers. Trump would have likely sullied such a ceremony and found a way to make it about himself as he invariably does.

Thursday, April 3, 2025

The Trump Administration's Defamation of Abrego Garcia Could Cost Him His Life & They Couldn't Care Less

(Murray Ossorio PLLC via AP)

Last month, the Trump Administration wrongly deported Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to El Salvador amid mass deportations last month.

Abrego Garcia was alleged to have gang ties, but he has never been charged nor convicted of a crime. 


If not for ICE's actions, Garcia wouldn't be in El Salvador in the first place. 

ICE is essentially telling us that if they make a mistake, they are not responsible for their behavior nor are they subject to any consequences of their errors. 

That's bad enough.

What makes it worse is that Vice-President JD Vance and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insist that Abrego Garcia is a convicted MS-13 gang member notwithstanding the error. 

Last I checked, devout Catholics weren't supposed to bear false witness. Alas, Vance and Leavitt have put Trump before G-d.

There's a very good chance that an innocent man will die in a Salvadoran prison because the Trump Administration both refuses to correct their mistakes while wantonly and willfully lying about him to the world.

And if Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia does die, they could care less.

The Trump Administration views people like Abrego Garcia as subhuman and thus deserve death.

However, if Garcia is released, he should not only sue the Trump Administration for wrongful detention but personally sue Vance and Leavitt for defamation. I would like to see how Vance and Leavitt would respond if they were asked if Garcia is a MS-13 gang member while under oath.

One can only hope there will be significant public pressure brought to bear to force Abrego Garcia's release.

Then again, such public pressure might make the Trump Administration even more determined that Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia dies in a Salvadoran prison.

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Trump Claims Global Free Trade "Looted, Pillaged, Raped" Our Country When Announcing Tariffs

(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

As expected, President Trump imposed new tariffs of 10% on virtually every country while adding so-called reciprocal tariffs to 60 additional countries excluding Canada and Mexico which are already to subject to tariffs in the amount of 25%. Russia, not surprisingly, was spared Trump's indignity.

Trump characterized his announcement as "Liberation Day".

When I think of liberation, I think of V-E Day or V-J Day, not creating a global recession.

After all, consider the portion of his remarks when Trump stated, "For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike."

Given Trump's own troubled history with sexual assault, his use of the word "raped" is ugly, delusional, engages in projection while distorting its meaning beyond recognition.

Without global free trade, the United States would simply not enjoy the prosperity it has had during the decades which Trump claims we were "looted, pillaged, raped and plundered". Even in harder economic times, the United States economy has long been the envy of the world.

But this is Trump we're talking about and, to quote Rick Wilson, "Everything Trump touches dies." In announcing these tariffs, Trump has injected a poison pill into the economy which will do as much damage to the United States as it will the rest of the world. 

Alas, this is what happens when we elect a malevolent, sociopathic, convicted felon who not only doesn't care who he harms, but derives pleasure from it. 

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Let's Hope That Trump's Third Term Talk Ends Up an April Fool's Joke


Over the weekend, perhaps as a means to get people to stop talking about Signal Gate, President Trump floated the possibility of running for a third term as he has done in the past claiming "there are methods."

Republicans like Senate Majority leader John Thune insist that Trump is joking while Trump insists he is not

Somehow, I doubt Thune would be so generous of spirit had it been Barack Obama who floated the idea of a third term. I certainly wasn't when I wrote about that very possibility during my days with The American Spectator almost a decade ago.

As it stands now, the only way Trump could legally run for a third term is if Congress and three-fourths of the state legislatures were to repeal or amend the 22nd Amendment. Three days after Trump returned to the White House, Tennessee Republican Andy Ogles introduced an amendment to the 22nd Amendment which would allow Trump to run for a third term, but not Obama. In either case, both an amendment and a repeal of the 22nd Amendment.

My guess is that either Trump will try to find a way to get the Supreme Court give him their blessing as they did with presidential immunity or, a more likely scenario, he'll just do it in the same way that his administration is shuttering the federal government without any Congressional oversight while ignoring any judicial rulings which might stand in his way.

Unless Trump is prepared to anoint a successor, I think it is more likely than not that Trump will try to run for a third term. From Trump's standpoint, if he plans to break all the guardrails then he might as well as break them all. 

Today being April 1st, a part of me hopes that Senator Thune is right, and that Trump is merely joking. But if Trump isn't joking does anyone honestly think Thune or any other Republican is going to stop him from running for a third term? In which case, the joke on us and Trump has the last laugh - again.

Monday, March 31, 2025

Like Trump, Marine Le Pen Thinks She is Above The Law


Marine Le Pen is shocked, shocked, to learn that not only was she found guilty by a French court for embezzlement but, as a consequence of her actions, is sentenced to four years in prison (two suspended and two under house arrest) and cannot run for office for five years.

This means, barring an expedited appeal, that Le Pen will not be representing the National Rally (formerly the National Front) in the 2027 French presidential elections. 

Not surprisingly, Le Pen has a friend in President Trump. Well, it takes a convicted criminal to know a convicted criminal.

Like Trump, Le Pen believes she is the above the law. Sure, she and other French politicians voted for tougher anti-corruption laws. Le Pen just doesn't believe the laws and their consequences apply to her. 

Of course, it is quite possible France could rally around Le Pen just like Americans rallied around Trump. But unlike Trump, Le Pen has a young successor waiting in the wings in the form of National Rally President Jordan Bardella, who is not yet 30-years-old. While Bardella condemned the sentence against Le Pen, a few months back he made a point of stating last year that "not having a criminal record is, for me, rule number one when you want to be an MP." 

Aside from not having a criminal record, Bardella does not have the baggage the Le Pen name carries despite her best efforts to distance herself from her father's deep-rooted anti-Semitism. The reality is that Le Pen does not want French Jews wearing yarmulkes nor does she accept that Vichy France aided and abetted the Holocaust.

Of course, it remains to be seen if Bardella can overcome the National Front/National Rally legacy of anti-Semitism which has never receded from the party. Although Bardella attended an anti-Semitism conference in Jerusalem last week, his presence caused many invitees to withdraw their participation.

With that said, I'm not counting out Marine Le Pen nor am I counting out the possibility that French voters will elect her President in 2027 - court verdict or no court verdict.

Sunday, March 30, 2025

A Few Thoughts on the Anti-Hamas Protests in Gaza



A few thoughts on the anti-Hamas protests in Gaza.

Not surprisingly, at this point, there is silence concerning the protests among those who have disrupted life on American campuses. This cannot be particularly surprising given that pro-Hamas sentiment has been a part of these disruptions.

I also think of the pro-Hamas sentiments which came out when Oakland City Council was debating a ceasefire resolution in November 2023. These sentiments were strong enough to prevent the body from voting against an amendment which would have condemned Hamas. 


Well, Hamas seems to think these demonstrations are anti-Hamas as they have seen fit to execute some of the protesters.

While it is well worth noting the silence of campus activists in this country concerning the anti-Hamas protests in Gaza, it is equally worth noting the silence of the Trump Administration in this regard. For all of their crackdowns against individuals who have participated in anti-Israel campus disruptions, the Trump Administration has made statements minimizing Hamas' conduct along with suggestions they will remain in power in Gaza

It could be argued that both the Trump Administration and the anti-Israel campus agitators think the anti-Hamas protests will peter out as have earlier protests and/or will be swiftly crushed. Whatever their thoughts, I think both camps would like nothing better than for the anti-Hamas protests to cease.

But let us suppose the anti-Hamas protests escalate to the point where they result in Hamas being ousted from power much like Bashar Assad was ousted from power in Syria late last year. It could very well be the new rulers of Gaza will be every bit as eager to annihilate Israel from the face of the Earth as Hamas is. 

After Carney Says Old Canada-U.S. Relationship is "Over", Trump Calls Him "Prime Minister"


Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney isn't playing around as the kids like to say these days.

The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over.

It’s clear the US is no longer a reliable partner. It is possible that with comprehensive negotiations, we could reestablish an element of confidence but there will be no going backwards.

Carney's statement got President Trump's attention because Trump requested a phone call with Carney which took place the following morning. Take a close look at Trump's comments concerning his conversation with Carney.


Trump refers to Carney by his proper title. At no point, does Trump attempt to call Carney "Governor" let alone refer to Canada as the 51st state.

Trump isn't dealing with Justin Trudeau anymore. Carney will shed no tears.

Now, I'm under no illusions that Canada-U.S. relations have been fixed in a single phone call. When Trump is due to implement a new set of tariffs on April 2nd, he might very well resume using the 51st state rhetoric or try to belittle Carney. 

But I have no doubt Carney is well aware that Trump will likely be less respectful towards Canada in a few short days. The important thing is that Canada is not without options and tools at its disposal. It is up to Canadians to choose a leader who knows how to exercise those options and tools.

For the moment, Carney is setting the terms with Trump because he knows money works in a way even Trump doesn't and probably never will.

Saturday, March 29, 2025

Poor Nestor Cortes, Jr.

 


I feel sorry for Nestor Cortes, Jr.

Last October, his tenure in a New York Yankees uniform came to an inglorious end when he surrendered a walk-off grand slam HR to Freddie Freeman in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Yankees then traded Cortes to the Milwaukee Brewers for closer Devin Williams who has already made history with the Bronx Bombers due to the team changing its policy regarding beards last month.

This afternoon, Cortes made his return to Yankee Stadium in a Brewers uniform.

This also represented his debut with the Brewers.

It did not go well.

His first three pitches to Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge all ended up in the seats.

Then again, the trio has won a combined four MVPs between them.

This was the first time in MLB history such a thing has ever happened.

It would get worse.

Later in the first inning, Cortes gave up yet another to Yankees catcher Austin Wells. 

Things did not improve for Cortes in the second inning as he gave up a 3-run HR to Anthony Volpe. 

After Cortes surrendered a RBI single to Bellinger in the 3rd, Brewers manager Pat Murphy gave him the hook.

In two innings plus, Cortes gave up 8 runs on 6 hits (including 5 HR) while issuing 5 walks against 2 strikeouts.

Mind you, the Brewers bullpen didn't do much better. Judge hit two more HRs including a grand slam. Jazz Chisholm, Jr. and Oswald Peraza also added dingers of their own. In all, the Yankees hit a game record 9 HR in a 20-9 shellacking of the Brew Crew.

Perhaps Cortes will fare better next week at Miller Park facing the Cincinnati Reds.

Or perhaps today was a preview of worse things to come for Cortes.

Why I'm Glad Trump Withdrew Stefanik's Nomination as UN Ambassador


I have to confess that President Trump's decision to withdraw Elise Stefanik as his UN Ambassador gave me a bit of a smile.

Stefanik is among the few Republicans who were willing to echo Trump's claims the J6ers were "hostages". Even Marjorie Taylor-Greene wasn't willing to go there

The J6ers are not now and never have been hostages. They received due process and were never in any danger of being raped or murdered unlike those who are still being held in captivity by Hamas. 

Yet no doubt this incendiary language caught Trump's attention, and he rewarded Stefanik with an ambassadorship, or so she thought.

With Republicans possibly losing seats previously held by Matt Gaetz and the Signal-gate instigator Mike Waltz, Trump decided he needed her in Congress after all with the slimmest of Republican majorities in the House of Representatives.

Evidently, the thought of being stuck in Congress was enough for Stefanik to beg and plead with Trump to reconsider to no avail. Stefanik has now learned the hard lesson that loyalty to Trump is a one-way street and she just got run over. As Charles Pierce quipped in Esquire, "I wish I could say that Stefanik didn't deserve to be treated like a doormat but, damn, did she deserve to be treated like a doormat."

It isn't to say that Stefanik couldn't be part of Trump's orbit again soon. Perhaps there will soon be an opening at the National Security Advisor post or in DoD. 

With that said, it will be interesting to see who Trump nominates to be his new UN Ambassador. Since it won't be a Republican member of Congress then perhaps it will be a Democrat like Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman who has been downright chummy with Trump these days and who Democrats might not be so enthusiastic about renominating in 2026. Yet Fetterman has managed to show his concern about hostages being held by Hamas while not calling J6ers the same.

Then again, Fetterman might not want to get too close with Trump like Stefanik did. 

Friday, March 28, 2025

My Thoughts on Rumeysa Ozturk Being Detained by ICE on the Streets of Somerville

I would be remiss if I didn't offer my thoughts on ICE's detention of Turkish born Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk on the streets of Somerville on Tuesday night, no more than a couple of miles away.

As with Mahmoud Khalil at Columbia University, I don't have much sympathy for Ozturk's views where it concerns Israel. I don't accept the claims Ozturk made in an editorial she co-wrote a year ago in the Tufts Daily accusing Israel of committing genocide. Ozturk is probably both pro-Hamas and anti-Semitic and someone whom I would stay as far away as possible.

However, like many people, I saw surveillance footage of her arrest and was utterly appalled. The ICE officers looked more like bank robbers than law enforcement. The first ICE officer physically assaults Ozturk. 

I know the Trump Administration wants to make an example of foreign students who they believe support Hamas by revoking their student visas or their green cards. But in so doing they end up turning them into sympathetic figures.

It is also difficult to take the Trump Administration regarding this campaign when their envoys keep saying nice things about Hamas. They can't have it both ways though Secretary of State Marco Rubio is trying:

If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us the reason you are coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus -- we're not going to give you a visa.

Yet, at this point, neither Rubio nor anyone else in the Trump DoJ has specifically accused her of committing vandalism, harassing Jewish students or being involved in taking over campus buildings much less having direct involvement with Hamas. 

If they have evidence and facts that Ozturk has done these things or worse (i.e. provide financial support to Hamas) then I will reconsider my opinion. But if they had this information then they would have already charged her with these offenses.

As it stands, U.S. District CIourt Judge Denise Casper has ordered Ozturk's deportation halted pending a hearing which is what ought to have happened in the first place if there were legitimate concerns about her student visa. But the Trump Administration doesn't have legitimate concerns about anything other than their own glory. 

Again, I do not share Rumeysa Ozturk's views on Israel. But those aren't grounds to deny her due process and her day in court. If the Trump Administration has more evidence regarding Ozturk's activities, then let's see it. If not, then they ought to leave her alone no matter how repugnant her views on Israel and Jews might be. I nor anyone else is obligated to associate oneself with her or her views. 

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Lament of a Dual Canadian-U.S. Citizen After 25 Years in America

Today, I marked my 25th anniversary in the United States.

For those who might be unfamiliar with the details, I was born and raised in Canada to a Canadian mother and an American father. Thus, I had a claim to U.S. citizenship which I have exercised.


I am content with my day-to-day living. I feel at home in Cambridge, Massachusetts in a way I never did when I grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario or when I attended university in Ottawa, Ontario. I also strongly prefer Boston and Cambridge to New York and Atlanta. This is where I wish to spend the rest of my days for better or for worse.

Unfortunately, things have become considerably worse. I abhor what President Trump is doing to this country with regard to the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law, the hollowing out of the federal government while abandoning any pretense of competence, attacks on our independent institutions within civil society, our abandonment of Ukraine and our NATO allies in favor of Russia and other dictatorships. Like millions of Americans, I fear for the very existence of our democracy. When it comes our allies, I am naturally appalled at Trump and members of his administrations contemptuous and disdainful behavior towards my home and native land.

Since returning to the White House just over two months ago, Trump has imposed harsh tariffs against Canada and repeatedly referred to his northern neighbor as the 51st state. So too has DHS Secretary Kristi Noem who, during a January visit to the Haskell Free Library and Opera House which is situated on the Quebec-Vermont border, repeatedly leapt back and forth between Canada and the U.S. As she did so, Noem would utter "U.S.A. Number #1," while on the American side and then uttered "51st state".  

To add insult to injury, effective this week, Canadians will no longer have access to the main entrance of the Haskell Free Library which is situated on the U.S. side forcing them to make "costly and unnecessary infrastructure overhauls."  The U.S. Custom and Border Protection Service issued a statement claiming the changes were necessary to protect Americans from "drug traffickers and smugglers." When people think of the Haskell Free Library, I can assure you that drug traffickers and smugglers do not come to mind.

Of course, this move has nothing to do with drug traffickers and smugglers. The Haskell Library was built as a symbol of friendship between Canada and the United States, and the Trump Administration has made it clear they no longer want Canada's friendship. The Trump Administration seeks from Canada only its land and its servitude.

When President Trump told Laura Ingraham last week that "Canada is meant to be our 51st state", I had to wonder what he meant.

Is Trump relitigating the Treaty of Ghent which ended the War of 1812 between the U.S. and Britain? Of course, at this time, Canada was part of the British Empire. This is quite plausible because according to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a phone conversation between them in January 2025 Trump told him that he "did not believe that the treaty that demarcates the border between the two countries was valid and that he wants to revise the boundary.”

If this is the case, there were only 18 states when the war concluded in 1814. By the time Canada gained its independence from Britain in 1867, that total had more than doubled to 37. 

And how exactly could Canada be a single state? In 1867, Canada had four provinces - Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Today, Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories. In the unlikely event, Canada ever became part of the U.S., it would add between 10 to 13 new states. That is, unless, Trump intends to give Canada the same status as Guam.

In all honesty, I'm probably overthinking all of it. Trump also told Ingraham, "Canada was meant to be the 51st state because we subsidize Canada by $200 billion a year." The U.S. does no such thing. As often happens with Trump, he pulled that figure out of his enormous rectal cavity.

Pierre Trudeau (Justin's father) who served as Canada's Prime Minister for 15 years said of the United States in 1969 while visiting President Nixon in Washington, "Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt."

Needless to say, the elephant currently occupying the White House is neither friendly nor even-tempered. 

To be sure, there have been occasions when Canadians feel ignored or overlooked by the United States such as when former President George W. Bush neglected to thank Canada during his special joint address to Congress in September 2001 following the 9/11 attacks. More than 250 commercial flights were diverted to Canada, including 38 flights to the small town of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador


These days, I'm sure there are a lot of Canadians who just wish Trump would forget about Canada the way Bush did.

Alas, the reality is that Canada is very much on Trump's mind. In this respect, I am glad new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made a point of visiting Gander in one of his first campaign stops to remind everyone what a friend Canada has been to the United States.

Since Trump has now seen fit to add a 25% tariff on all cars coming into the U.S., voters might very well reward new Carney with a Liberal majority government come April 28th. This would be much to the consternation of the Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party which has seen a 20-point lead in the polls evaporate due to Trump's tariff actions and annexation rhetoric. 

For his part, Poilievre has tried to seize on remarks in Trump's interview in which he claimed he'd prefer a Liberal government to a Tory government claiming that he would be tougher on Trump than Carney. But given how Poilievre has modeled himself after Trump and ascended to party leadership during the infamous 2022 Canadian trucker convoy this might prove to be a hard sell. In a recent poll, when Canadians were asked which leader would "roll over and accept whatever Trump demands" they chose Poilievre over Carney by more than a 2-to-1 margin. This is one poll which Poilievre can ill-afford to lead. 

Whatever the results, here is what I worry about on a personal level. In the event relations between Canada and the United States deteriorate even further, I can foresee the possibility of President Trump seeing fit to strip dual citizens like me of our American citizenship and deport us regardless of its constitutionality. If ICE is prepared to detain American citizensCanadian citizens and people with valid student visas then why wouldn't they go after dual American-Canadian citizens at Trump's insistence?

Then there is a possibility that Trump could see fit to escalate a trade war into an actual war and drop bombs on Ottawa or perhaps the Haskell Free Library and Opera House while he is at it. I still have family in Canada and am concerned for their well-being. 

Or Trump, who has the temperament of a petulant child, might get bored with Canada, forget us and move onto something else.

While the latter would be the most desirable option, the damage Trump has done to U.S. relations with Canada would still be done and not easily repaired.

As things stand now, I will continue to live my life in America for better or for worse with knowledge that things are very likely to become much, much worse.

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Speaker Johnson Wants to Eliminate District Courts Which Rule Against Trump

(Credit: Associated Press)

With the fallout over much of the Trump cabinet discussing war plans on Signal Chat at the center of attention, it is easy to overlook other absurdities.

Enter House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Unhappy that District Courts are ruling against President Trump, Speaker Johnson put forward a proposal to abolish these courts.
It violates separation of powers when a judge thinks that they can enjoin something that a president is doing, that the American people voted for.

Well, I suspect a lot of American voters supported expanded overtime pay. But I didn't see Johnson complain when a Texas judge blocked former President Biden's plan to expand overtime pay for millions of American workers

Johnson's position has nothing to do with what the American people voted for, but it has everything to do with paying fealty to President Trump. 

The Speaker wants to keep his job and pledging to abolish courts whose judges have the temerity to rule against President Trump will keep Johnson on Trump's good side.

Although such a vote could pass in the House, it would likely die in the Senate. But this probably won't be the last time that Johnson makes such a call especially in light of the fact that Judge James Boasberg, who halted Trump's deportation flights, will preside over the Signal chat lawsuit against Trump officials for the destruction of federal records.

Speaker Johnson is a quisling. He has abdicated Congress' role of keeping checks on Executive power to Elon Musk while subordinating himself to the feet of President Trump. Mike Johnson is a man without self-dignity. And without self-dignity, how can a man without self-dignity serve the interests of the public?

I suppose we can still appeal to a higher court so long as Speaker Johnson hasn't yet abolished them.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Why Do Trump's Envoys Keep Saying Nice Things About Hamas?



Well, Hamas still has hostages. So, where is the hell to be paid?

Trump's talk is just that - talk.



Now there's Steve Witkoff telling Tucker Carlson (yes, Tucker Carlson - the anti-Semite) is "not as ideologically extreme as portrayed" and open to them being "politically involved" in post-war Gaza

Less than a month ago, Witkoff told the American Jewish Committee that Hamas cannot govern Gaza again and that is "a red line" for the Trump Administration

Until it wasn't.


If President Biden's people had talked this way about Hamas, Trump World would never let him hear the end of it.

In any case, one can only hope that Witkoff follows Boehler out the door. But even if he does who can say he won't be replaced who is even more gullible when it comes to Hamas?

Monday, March 24, 2025

Will Any Heads Roll in Trump Admin After War Plans Were Sent to Journalist?


I cannot say that I am surprised that Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic would receive war plans in Yemen from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after being included on a Signal chat initiated by National Security Advisor Michael Waltz. Also included in the Signal chat were Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.

After all, the Trump Administration is careless and stupid and careless people do stupid things like sending war plans to a journalist. The question is whether there will be any consequences for this carelessness and stupidity.

There is speculation that Waltz might be the one to fall on his sword. It is interesting how White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned Waltz by name when she said, "President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz." Mike Waltz might want to start a job search.

While Waltz certainly opened the door, it was Hegseth who saw fit to share war plans while much of Trump's cabinet and White House staff as well as the Vice-President also saw fit to discuss them on Signal. Hegseth should also certainly resign, but I suspect he truly has Trump's backing for his so-called anti-wokeness posture.

I would not be surprised if the Trump White House turns their sights on Goldberg. After all, Trump views the media as an enemy of the people, and I could see the White House demand why Goldberg didn't report this information as soon as he learned he was on the chat and threaten him with prosecution.

On the other hand, if Trump goes after Goldberg, then this is guaranteed to become a story for weeks and months. If Waltz resigns (and possibly Hegseth) then the story runs its cycle. But again the Trump Administration is careless and stupid. So, I wouldn't be surprised if Trump made Goldberg the villain in this story. 

It is also entirely possible that Trump could say or do a million other outlandish things and by April Fools' Day no one will have remembered this story.