Is Anyone Paying Attention?

[Lori Dee]

Tell us how you really feel. Don't hold back. LMAO

[Sephirah]

The site is being obnoxiously slow for me tonight, but Lori, you need to check this dude out, lol. He is not scared of saying what most people are thinking...

case in point...

[MaryT]

Fireworks in the White House, I've heard. 

How can the President of the USA possibly think that the President of Ukraine has a mandate to sign over a huge chunk of his country to Russia and also sign over to the US half of the mineral rights in the remainder of the country - all in return for a vague suggestion that the USA might have more reason to help defend what is left of Ukraine if it owned half the mineral rights - especially as President Trump has already emphasised that the defence of Ukraine is going to be Europe's responsibility anyway?

Does President Trump think that he has a mandate to to with the US what he demands that President Zelensky does with Ukraine?  He doesn't, no matter how many blank executive orders he has in his stationery cupboard.

Vice President Vance is right about Ukraine owing the USA - as well as other countries that invested large parts of their budgets in helping Ukraine - gratitude.  Gratitude is also owed by Ukraine to the Biden administration. 

However, Ukraine was fighting to the death against an enemy common to the West and providing an extremely valuable laboratory in which the efficacy of the donated weopons could be tested.  The only conditions imposed on the aid were the rules of engagement under which the weapons could be used.  No suggestion was made that Ukraine would have to pay anything back, least of all half of its mineral rights to one of the countries that helped.

President Zelensky owes no gratitude to the Trump administration and he certainly owes President Trump and Vice President Vance no more respect than they have shown him.

[Lori Dee]

Trump and Putin, two of the world's biggest bullies, decided to work together to beat up the little kid on the playground and take all that he owns.

It smells a lot like the Mafia's "protection" rackets. If you want protection, you will have to pay for it. If you don't pay, we let the other bully take everything from you.

[ChrissyRyan]

I wish this war was over.

Many people have died.

More will die as the war continues.

Who wants that? 

Why should the war continue?  It should end. 

Stop it. 

[Lori Dee]

I wish this war was over.

Many people have died.

More will die as the war continues.

Who wants that? 

Why should the war continue?  It should end. 

Stop it. 

The rich do not care about such things.

War is a tool to them. It stimulates the economy, provides manufacturing jobs, generates tax revenues, and the rich get richer. If you can handle seeing disturbing images, watch the documentary JFK to 9/11: Everything is a Rich Man's Trick that I linked above.

[MaryT]

I wish this war was over.

Many people have died.

More will die as the war continues.

Who wants that? 

Why should the war continue?  It should end. 

Stop it. 

It should end immediately but it should end with no strings attached.

Why should the invaded country have to sign over a big chunk of its land AND PEOPLE to the invader while also signing half its remaining minerals over to the USA in return for a mere suggestion that America might have some reason to help defend what's left of the country if it owns massive mineral concessions there?

[Robbyv213]

Its a sad truth, a lesson so many people and nations over the course of history have had to learn and swallow.

Woe to the vanquished, for the spoil go to the victor....

Unfortunately the victor also gets to proclaim what does and doesn't go into the history books as well.

Not that Ukraine is losing by any means, just that they're a small nation, and like many small nations they have to make deals with the big nations or they will be wiped off the map by the larger ones sadly. And all for what, land, power, world domination?

It's definitely a sad time we live in.

[Lori Dee]

I just posted an article on the Department of Homeland Security's change in policy that now allows individuals and groups to be targeted for surveillance based on sexual orientation and gender identity. That article is here: https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,250352.msg2295060.html#msg2295060

I remember that many years ago, there was talk about how wonderful the new 5G wireless networks would be. They are fast, have low latency, and can handle huge loads of data in real time. The big push was aimed at consumers who would be monitored via facial recognition software, tied to a database of their ad preferences, and smart screens would offer custom ads to them as they walked down the street or went shopping.

That became a reality in China. In 2019, Forbes wrote an article describing the Chinese government's efforts to create a complete surveillance system of all of its citizens.
That article is here: Facial Recognition: A Force For Good ... Or Government? by Jon Markham, Forbes, Sep 27, 2019, 05:32 pm EDT

From the article (2019):

In China, 5G is already being utilized for a facial recognition program that is rewriting social norms. In Beijing, you can now withdraw money from a bank, pay for food in restaurants, and even check in at the airport with only facial recognition software.

But there is a dark side to these amazing advances. Along with the consumer applications to facial recognition, China is building out an unprecedented surveillance state.

Fast 5G networks will allow millions of surveillance cameras, many equipped with state-of-the-art facial recognition software, to monitor millions of Chinese continuously in real time.

The state began in 2005, an ambitious program called Skynet. The goal was to blanket every urban center with cameras. A decade later, China Daily reported the program completed 100% coverage of Beijing, a sprawling city with 21 million residents.

... The version of the state-surveillance program is already active. Using facial recognition, CCTV cameras will capture "unacceptable" behavior. The individual's face and a description of what they did is displayed on public monitors, inviting public scrutiny and shaming them.

The government is collecting all this information and adding it to a massive database.

Coming soon to a community near you!

[Lori Dee]

Last night, I watched as Donald Trump addressed the joint session of Congress. He spent a lot of time (two hours) talking about how great he is and all of the great things he has done. He also told lies, some of which he had been telling for almost ten years. On the Republican side of the House, every comment was met with a standing ovation from his cult followers. Not one Democrat stood or applauded ever. One Democrat, Rep. Green, was removed from the Chamber by the House Sergeant at Arms for being disruptive.

It was quite a spectacle. Our country is clearly divided. And the way things are going, we will either end up in civil war, or the Democrats will give in to the Red Wave that is sweeping the nation state by state.

After the address, Senator Elissa Slotnik delivered the Democratic response to Trump's address. That was the weakest, most spineless response they could have mustered. It did not address the issues that Trump mentioned in his address, nor did it really offer any substance at all. It was pathetic and not worth watching, so I won't link it here.

Next, Senator Bernie Sanders offered his response to Trump's address. I am no fan of Bernie Sanders. I think he is a kook, and I disagree with much of what he stands for. He is a Socialist and wants the government to provide everything. We are a capitalist society, not a socialist one.

But, Senator Sanders's address hit the nail on the head. His address should have been the official Democratic response. He calls out Trump on specifics of what was and what was not said during the address.

I am no fan of Bernie Sanders, but last night, he earned my respect. Watch his response here:

[MaryT]

Trump, Vance and Musk are extraordinarily brazen.

Oderint dum metuant (Let them hate as long as they fear)

was a Roman phrase said to have been used a lot by Caligula.

Caligula got a nasty surprise.

[Lori Dee]

I have stated before (a few times) that what Trump is doing now resembles what Hitler did in Germany in the past. Some think that is a bit of a stretch, yet the signs continue to pop up.

Today, an article appeared on MTN entitled:

Trump Amplifies "No LGBTQ" Symbol Using Nazi-Era Imagery in Military Ad Post
Trump's Truth Social post has a pink triangle overlayed with a prohibition symbol
Link to Full Article
MTN - J.D. Wolf
10 Mar 2025

Trump posted an article to his Truth Social account this weekend featuring a deeply troubling image: a pink triangle—the Nazi-era symbol used to identify and persecute gay men in concentration camps—covered with a red prohibited sign. Historically, the LGBTQ+ rights movement reclaimed the pink triangle as a symbol of resistance, pride, and remembrance.

The article itself titled, "Army recruitment ads look quite different under Trump," published by the Washington Times praises Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for refocusing the military on "lethality" and reversing Biden-era policies that embraced diversity, including ads featuring LGBTQ+ soldiers.

Trump's choice to amplify such an image is particularly alarming given Hegseth's past statements.

He has long opposed LGBTQ+ inclusion in the military, previously criticizing the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Now, under his leadership, Trump appears to be reinforcing the idea that LGBTQ+ individuals are unwelcome in the armed forces—not just through policy but through amplifying symbolic messaging with disturbing historical roots.

Trump's amplification of a Nazi-era symbol to promote this shift sends a message signaling a return to exclusionary policies that many believed were left in the past.

----------------------------

Let's keep paying attention.

[Lori Dee]

And now we have "Gestapo" tactics...

On March 11. 2025, The Hill published a news article with headlines:
USDA pauses funding to University of Maine after Trump clash with governor
by Lexi Lonas Cochran
Link to Source Article

Although the story is about an argument between Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills. Trunp threatened to cut off federal funding (which he has no authority to do) if Maine does not comply with his policy concerning transgender athletes in women's sports.

"I'm complying with state and federal law," Mills told Trump after he asked if the governor would comply with his executive order. 

"We are the federal law. You better do it because you're not going to get federal funding," Trump said. 

"See you in court," Mills responded.

And so, this battle will continue to play out. But what caught my attention is the last paragraph of this story:

On Saturday, federal immigration authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, one of the leaders of Columbia's pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The detention of Khalil, an immigrant in the country legally who has not been officially charged with any crime, is the first known instance of the Trump administration seeking to deport a student activist over the protests.

-----------------------------

This administration does not care about Constitutional rights, the law, or even common decency.

We went from a democracy to an oligarchy to a dictatorship in less than 90 days.

[Iztaccihuatl]

I have stated before (a few times) that what Trump is doing now resembles what Hitler did in Germany in the past. Some think that is a bit of a stretch, yet the signs continue to pop up.

Here is another sign that Trump is executing Hitler's playbook step by step: The tariffs on Canada. In 1933 Hitler imposed a 1,000 Reichsmark fee on any German who wished to travel to Austria. That was a lot of money back then, equivalent to $8,000 in today's money. That crippled the Austrian tourism industry which was highly dependent on German tourists and prepared the path toward Austia's annexation four years later in 1937.

[Mandy Spencer]

He's heading in that direction fast, everyday - ignoring  / overruling Judges rulings, calling Vietnam hero awards 'DEI medals', discussing with Putin how they will share out land and power plants, revoking secret service protections as revenge - in the last couple of days.  How will it look in 6 months? 2 years?

[Lori Dee]

Conservative former federal judge says Trump has 'declared war' on US rule of law
J Michael Luttig said a constitutional crisis is brewing due to Trump's defiance of a court order over deportations
Link to Full Article
The Guardian - Martin Pengelly in Washington
Wed 19 Mar 2025 10.20 EDT

Donald Trump has "declared war on the rule of law in America" and is pitching the country into a constitutional crisis, a prominent former conservative federal judge said.

"The president of the United States has essentially declared war on the rule of law in America," J Michael Luttig told MSNBC. "In the past few weeks ... the president himself has led a full-frontal assault on the constitution, the rule of law, the federal judiciary, the American justice system and the nation's legal profession.

"When the president of the United States wages a war on the rule of law and the federal judiciary alley, America is in a constitutional crisis. The constitutional role of the president is to faithfully execute the laws. Needless to say, the president is doing anything but that at the moment. Most constitutional scholars have long agreed that a constitutional crisis exists at least when the president defies a court order. That's essentially what the president is doing today and what it appears he intends to do in the future."

"Never before has an American president even thought to utter one single one of the words against the federal judiciary that this president has uttered every day."

-----------------------------

And this is not just the American Justice system. On February 6,2025, Trump signed an Executive Order,  IMPOSING SANCTIONS ON THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT.

Pay attention and be safe out there.

[MaryT]

All NATO European countries seem to be boosting their defence spending, even though they are having to borrow many billions to do it.  Britain is dismantling its beloved NHS and benefit system to get some money.  Perhaps President Trump had a point that we weren't paying our way. 

Ironically, the real fear that is prompting us is that we might be fighting on at least two fronts.  After all, Canada is also a NATO member.

The whole world is falling into madness.

I think that only Elon Musk has method in it.   

[Mandy Spencer]

Good point MaryT - I'm reading 'Character limit' about the Twitter takeover of 2022 and much of this is Musk's playbook.   

[ChrissyRyan]

So I am no longer a woman?

No way!


Chrissy

[Sephirah]

All NATO European countries seem to be boosting their defence spending, even though they are having to borrow many billions to do it.  Britain is dismantling its beloved NHS and benefit system to get some money.  Perhaps President Trump had a point that we weren't paying our way. 

Ironically, the real fear that is prompting us is that we might be fighting on at least two fronts.  After all, Canada is also a NATO member.

The whole world is falling into madness.

I think that only Elon Musk has method in it.   

To be fair, that's not why Starmer is getting rid of NHS England. It's a bloated subsidiary of what the NHS was originally founded on. They're taking it back to government control, which is what it was at the start. A lot of the government is massively bloated with people who do nothing but get thousands per year to sit scratching their keister. The Tories outsourced most of the NHS to these satellite bodies, who couldn't even work out how to get an IT system working properly. It's paying lots of middle managers taxpayer money to do nothing productive.

And as an ex-military lass... yeah, the UK has been basically stripping military spending for years. My brother, when he was in the army, was literally told to beg, borrow or steal gear in order to be combat ready. It was, and is shameful.