The War Against America

Well, we've got ourselves another good ol' fashioned U.S. government shut down.

The last government shut down occurred during Donald Trump's first administration.

Mr. Super Business Master Negotiator Person does NOT seem to know how to negotiate keeping the government open.

Of course he's not taking any responsibility for it and blaming his arch nemesis.

• He knows 'em! 
• He hates 'em!
• He wishes he could live without 'em!

The Democrats! 

So here's the deal, Sparky.

The problem was the expiration of tax credits for people who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Without those credits, millions of Americans would see large increases in their premiums resulting in debt or a loss of health insurance.

Democrats told Republicans let's keep those credits in place and we'll sign on to your budget. 

Ironically, a lot of people who rely on the ACA for health insurance come from (you know where this is going, right?) Republican districts, red states. 

Trump's marching orders to the Republican rank & file? Don't bother with the Democrats. No need talking to them. They're the enemy of America. Who cares what they want? 

Well, that's some high level negotiatin' right there, pardner. 

So Republicans closed ranks, said no to doing anything about the ACA tax credits and the damn government shut down.

Republicans are pushing the line that Democrats want to give health care to illegal aliens.  

There is NOTHING in their demands regarding health care that has ANYTHING to do with immigrants, illegal or otherwise. 

And Li'l Donnie has a particular issue with a supposed Democrat demand: "TRANSGENDER FOR EVERYBODY!"

Uh.... what?!

Your guess is as good as mine.

Meanwhile, Trump ordered that furloughed federal workers should set their out of office messages blaming Democrats for why they're not at work.

There is also the not so small matter that furloughed workers may not stay furloughed. Li'l Donnie said the shut down would be great opportunity to just up and FIRE these federal employees.  

Also on Li'l Donnie's evil "to do" list is withholding funding approved before the shut down for infrastructure projects in areas that have Democrat governors, mayors or Senators.  

Yeah, that'll get the Democrats to the table, you sweet talker you.

Now before the government shut down, there was other fuckery to address. 

Let's take a look at the shit show that took place in Quantico VA on Tuesday.

Secretary of Defense...er, excuse me...Secretary of WAR Pete Hegseth summoned all the top ranking generals and admirals from posts all around the country and all over the world to a super duper super secret super important super meeting.  

Hegseth wasn't telling anyone what was up but my guess was this was going to be little more than a power play and photo op. He wanted to show off he had the power to summon generals and admirals and they had to show up and then Hegseth would prance and bellow in front of an American flag about how the WAR department was going to be most awesome at WAR!!!

And I was RIGHT! 

Here's a picture of Pete Hegseth making a calm and rational appeal to the assembled top military brass.

Holy fuck on a stick!  Was Hegseth bombarded with gamma rays? Is he gonna turn into the Hulk? Is this an image that conveys confidence or even competence?

Hegseth spouted off about the warrior ethos and his intention to hold the military to the highest MALE standards!  He seems to think there are seperate male and female standards for combat and NO, there are not.

A lot of women who worked their asses off to earn the right to be on the front line or be fighter jet pilots and what have you were rightfully pissed.  There is ONE set of standards for combat positions and men and women alike have to meet them.  

Hegseth ranted that America's fighting forces would be the absolute most violent, lethal fighting force ever and if America's enemies want to test that, then FAFO.

I almost felt bad for Petey at that moment. He thought he had a killer applause line and that his assembled generals and admirals would greet his declaration with yells and whoops of clamorous agreement.

What Pete Hegseth got was silence.

"FAFO" just laid there on the ground, stinking up the place like so much road kill.

For what Pete was looking at, the front page of the Wall Street Journal provided us this photo.  

Stone faced silence.

Every expression on every face in this photo tells me these military leaders are thinking: "THIS guy is lecturing US on how war works? Really? This guy?" 

Pete's speech also included admonitions against fat people in the military.  No fatties in Pete's troops and his Pentagon. 

Then he introduced Donald Trump. 

Li'l Donnie waddled out to do his usual rambling bullshit.  But he made a pointed reference to tell these assembled military leaders the biggest enemy to America is not overseas but at home.

The enemy within.

Trump suggested the army could be used against Democratic led cities as training grounds for fighting wars.   

Really! Trump wants to use the army against American citizens he disagrees with.

Like Pete, Donald was greeted by silence.

He said they could applaud if they want to.

I guess they didn't want to.   

Here's a video from David Pakman with his assessment of this assembly of military brass and the dumbass fuckery they had to listen to.

By the way, this gathering cost American taxpayers millions of dollars. This from a government that slashed thousands of jobs in the so called name of efficiency spent millions for a goddam pep rally intended to make Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump look tough.

And just made them and our country look like fools.