Monday morning links

Quicksearch

Blog Administration

Open login screen

RSS Readers

Monday, February 17. 2025

This President’s Day, remember what George Washington can teach us — and Trump

‘Choco-holic’ opossum hospitalized after annihilating entire Costco chocolate cake: ‘Too much of a good thing’

Martin Gurri: What Does It Mean to Be a Man? In a world of eunuchs, buffoons, and beasts, we need new heroes.

What Sexual Liberation Really Looks Like - Hookup culture benefits men at the expense of women.

OK, but women get horny too

Americans are keeping their cars longer.

The Free Press - A Showdown in Massachusetts Schools over Antisemitism. Plus. . .Matt Schlapps another man’s crotch (allegedly). Cartels can’t traffic kids anymore. Musk’s new baby mama. And more.

Appearing at the annual Munich Security Conference today, Vice President J.D. Vance torched Europe in a manner they’ve never heard before.

Marco Rubio Leaves CBS News' Margaret Brennan Speechless After She Claimed Nazis 'Weaponized' Free Speech

Victor Davis Hanson Gives Funny Explanation for Why EU Leaders Reacted Badly to JD Vance’s Speech

Reynolds: Abolishing the Income Tax - Something that might actually happen? And the implications go beyond lower taxes.

Democrats Have Trump Fever, and There Is No Cure. And no, we are not sick of all the winning.

Color Me Confused By The Left’s Unhinged Reaction To Trump

"Washington Recession Begins": DC Active Home Listings Soar, Jobless Claims Spike As DOGE Drains Swamp

"... we can cheer on DOGE, but without knowing whether taxpayers will eventually benefit, or not."

Democrats rage against DOGE — but shouldn’t everyone be against waste?

"Taking Away Everything We Have": Democrats & Unions Launch An Existential Fight Over Buyouts

Lee Zeldin Cancels Millions in Wasteful DEI Contracts, Reveals Shocking Amount of Money Spent on ‘Media Contracts’ After Stopping Biden EPA’s ‘Gold Bar’ Heist

What the heck was she even trying to say?

Trump Is Likely to Win the Battle on Birthright Citizenship

Regimepresse: 60 Minutes Sees German Censorship, Finds It Wunderbar

Munich Bloodbath Ruptures Western Order Wide Open

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 06:56 | Comments (42) | Trackbacks (0)

Trackbacks

Trackback specific URI for this entry

No Trackbacks

Comments

Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

re Democrats rage against DOGE

Perhaps this is why.

Deep State Panic Mode: Searches Erupt for “BleachBit,” “Wipe Hard Drive,” “Offshore Bank” in DC

https://americafirstreport.com/deep-state-panic-mode-searches-erupt-for-bleachbit-wipe-hard-drive-offshore-bank-in-dc/

#1 feeblemind on 2025-02-17 09:00 (Reply)

QUOTE:

Democrats rage against DOGE — but shouldn’t everyone be against waste? ... And their relentless attacks on Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency make it clear which side they’re on. Spoiler alert: It’s not the side of the taxpayer.

Uh, no. One can be against waste, but see DOGE as an attack on valuable programs in the guise of cutting waste.

#2 Zachriel on 2025-02-17 09:36 (Reply)

QUOTE:

DOGE Marches On .... And the constitutionality of the Impoundment Control Act has never been tested.

The power of Congress to control the purse strings is a Constitutional power. The Impoundment Control Act just provides a specific process for the President to ask Congress to rescind funds. And many statutes provide discretion to the President. But the power remains with Congress. Otherwise, the most important power of Congress would be neutered.

#2.1 Zachriel on 2025-02-17 09:43 (Reply)

Thanks again for restating the problem, Captain Obvious.

#2.1.1 Zachinoff on 2025-02-17 09:45 (Reply)

The impoundment control act was passed by Congress in 1974, a year after abortion rights were passed by the old FDR courts. The impoundment act will be challenged as an infringement of the Executive branch rights and duties. It was part of the radical progressive era and that era is being pruned back to reality. Funds were impounded previous to that period... it will go back.

#2.1.2 indyjonesouthere on 2025-02-17 12:01 (Reply)

Therein lies the problem, all programs are valuable to the ones receiving the money for those programs. I completely agree that wholesale slash and burn is irresponsible. However, that doesn't mean some slashing and burning is unnecessary. Complete return to office directives may be improper - some facilities haven't the requisite infrastructure for such directives, but that doesn’t mean none should return.

Is your collective willing to concede that certain things do not lie within the purview of government funding? There does reach a point where Congress and the Executive expending the money of its constituents on objects of benevolence has to be stopped. I don't know if Trump is the bartender taking the keys, but I do know that people are beginning to notice and ask why we're paying $1,000 for a hammer, and why are we paying to teach DEI initiatives in Myanmar.

Much of this really does boil down to what PJ O'Rourke referred to as the "gun to mama's head" test. Defense? Easy. You've got to pay for the next door neighbor's babysitter. Not so fast.

#2.2 BornSouthern on 2025-02-17 10:05 (Reply)

BornSouthern: all programs are valuable to the ones receiving the money for those programs.

Yes. There are always natural constituencies for government spending, which, along with entrenched bureaucrats, can create significant inertia to reform.

BornSouthern: certain things do not lie within the purview of government funding?

You might want to be specific. Among the largest federal programs are Social Security and Medicare. You could start with that. However, representative government means that the people can generally direct spending how they wish—wisely or unwisely. But no one official can (or should be able to) make those decisions on their own.

#2.2.1 Zachriel on 2025-02-17 10:18 (Reply)

I'm sure you find social security a needed program but paying benefits to 8,952,476 people aged 110 to 369 years old is typical of government and its employees not giving a shit about corruption in the government or being accountable for anything. And that is just the tip of the corruption.

https://gellerreport.com/2025/02/social-security-paying-benefits-to-a-mind-blowing-8952476-people-aged-110-to-369-years-old.html/

#2.3 indyjonesouthere on 2025-02-17 11:24 (Reply)

The amount of fraud & waste in our government probably exceeds $3 trillion a year. We need to cut it back, our economy and future depends on getting our budget under control. We are bankrupting our citizens to give the money away to unknown people. This is stupid. Not wanting to get to the bottom of this mess is crazy stupid.

#3 OneGuy on 2025-02-17 09:38 (Reply)

OneGuy: The amount of fraud & waste in our government probably exceeds $3 trillion a year.

Did you just make that up? The General Accountability Office estimates fraud at about 5% of federal obligations.

OneGuy: We need to cut it back, our economy and future depends on getting our budget under control.

To balance the budget would require addressing Social Security and Medicare. Are you saying the United States can't afford to provide a small pension and medical care for its elderly citizens?

#3.1 Zachriel on 2025-02-17 09:47 (Reply)

Well good for the GAO. When Elon's group can go in and find 100s of billions of dollars of waste, fraud, and abuse in less than 30 days maybe the GAO is not up to the task.

But Quibble-DickZ gotta quibble even when they are wrong.

#3.1.1 Zachinoff on 2025-02-17 10:21 (Reply)

I would bet that the GAO is run by an army of Zachriels’. Perfectly willing to look the other way, or not dig deeply at all to any hints of fraud, or abuse. After all, their wealth and livelihood depends on it.

The answer to every question is more government.
- Philosophy of the Democrats

#3.1.1.1 B. Hammer on 2025-02-17 11:31 (Reply)

B. Hammer: Perfectly willing to look the other way, or not dig deeply at all to any hints of fraud, or abuse.

Eliminating fraud and abuse is important. However, using the pretext of eliminating fraud and abuse to eliminate programs you don't like without going to Congress for the appropriate legislation is antithetical to republican government.

B. Hammer: The answer to every question is more government.

While the government has an important role to play, it does not have the answer to every question.

#3.1.1.2 Zachriel on 2025-02-17 11:45 (Reply)

The recent CBS poll showing Trump’s high approval additionally shows 70% of respondents said the president is fulfilling his campaign promises. Of those surveyed, 49% said Trump is doing more than they had expected, 41% said he is doing as much as expected and only 9% felt he is doing less than anticipated.

Since Trump took office the border has already become more secure than it has been for 20 years or more. Illegal crossings are down more than 90% from one year ago.

Go quibble somewhere else, Quibble-DickZ .

#3.1.1.2.1 Zachinoff on 2025-02-17 12:10 (Reply)

It’s just being reported by Fox News reporter Bill Melugin that an NGO in San Diego, California is laying off over 100 workers because of President Trump’s border policies.

Melugin reports that Jewish Family Service says they haven’t had a single illegal enter their shelter since President Trump took office and they are shutting it down.

They’ve also lost their federal funding, so that’s another big reason.

#3.1.1.2.2 Zachinoff on 2025-02-17 13:01 (Reply)

Quite the number of fallacies you have there. Or, as you like to say, "look, squirrel!"

#3.1.1.2.3 B. Hammer on 2025-02-17 13:20 (Reply)

B. Hammer: Quite the number of fallacies you have there. Or, as you like to say, "look, squirrel!"

You said "number of fallacies", but provide only a single fallacy, one of diversion. You specifically said "Zachriels" would neglect fraud or abuse, and we responded directly to that. We also rejected the claim you ascribed to Democrats that the government is the answer to every question. While Democrats often look towards government for solutions to social problems, that is not the same as saying they believe no solutions are possible outside of government.

Please point to any fallacies in our reply, or you could perhaps restate your original claim.

#3.1.1.2.3.1 Zachriel on 2025-02-17 14:29 (Reply)

QUOTE:

However, using the pretext of eliminating fraud and abuse to eliminate programs you don't like without going to Congress

- Z’s

Hmm, I never made such a claim. The Strawman shifts the goal posts on the slippery slope using red herring oil.

Isn’t it true that you have argued that the DOGE boys are making up a bunch of fraud and abuse? You continue to use GAO numbers to back your claim.

QUOTE:

The General Accountability Office estimates fraud at about 5% of federal obligations.

- Z’s

#3.1.1.2.3.1.1 B. Hammer on 2025-02-17 14:56 (Reply)

B. Hammer: I never made such a claim.

What you did claim, incorrectly, is that "Zachriels" would look the other way with regards to fraud. Even without the "Zachriels" bit, your claim about the GAO is a broad, unevidenced, overgeneralized aspersion.

B. Hammer: Isn’t it true that you have argued that the DOGE boys are making up a bunch of fraud and abuse?

1. DOGE claims to have found fraud, but they have provided little actual evidence in the amounts they claim.
2. Fraud is being used as a pretext to eliminate entire programs Trump is against without going through the process required by law.

B. Hammer: You continue to use GAO numbers to back your claim.

Well, a long-term study by financial experts with published data and methodology is stronger evidence than saying, "GAO, amirite?"

#3.1.1.2.3.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2025-02-17 15:23 (Reply)

Well, a long-term study by financial experts with published data and methodology is stronger evidence than saying, "GAO, amirite?"
-- Quibble-DickZ

Well Elon and his boys are smashing that published data and methodology to bits in real time not years.

#3.1.1.2.3.1.1.1.1 Zachinoff on 2025-02-17 16:18 (Reply)

QUOTE:

DOGE discovers $4.7 trillion in Treasury payments were missing critical code: ‘Traceability almost impossible’

The Elon Musk-led project to curb waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government said in light of the discovery use of the TAS code is now mandatory.

“As of Saturday, this is now a required field, increasing insight into where money is actually going,” DOGE said, thanking the Treasury Department for its “great work” implementing the change.

#3.1.1.2.3.1.1.1.2 Zachinoff on 2025-02-18 00:23 (Reply)

I think we’re at the point of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

The stealing and corruption can’t be reformed. The rot is too deep.

I’d nuke dc from space if I had an extra.

#4 Maddog on 2025-02-17 10:39 (Reply)

Maddog: The stealing and corruption can’t be reformed. The rot is too deep.

So, no Constitution? Or just no federal government, no Social Security, no Medicare, no military?

#4.1 Zachriel on 2025-02-17 10:57 (Reply)

Z:

Have you worked in a state or federal bureaucracy?

It's a jobs program.

#4.1.1 Bird Dog on 2025-02-17 11:16 (Reply)

Bird Dog: It's a jobs program.

The entire civilian federal workforce costs $271 billion per year, largely in the national security sector. The deficit is about $2,000 billion per year. Even if you believe that many jobs are make-work, the fact is that there are many benefits from the federal government, including Social Security, Medicare, scientific research, and national security. So, to "nuke dc from space" would mean eliminating all of that and more.

—
Rule of thumb: Half of everything is wasted—assuming good governance.

#4.1.2 Zachriel on 2025-02-17 11:42 (Reply)

The half that is wasted has to go including the employees. The employees failed to control the waste which includes corruption.

#4.1.2.1 indyjonesouthere on 2025-02-17 11:51 (Reply)

Zach-GPT: "The General Accountability Office estimates fraud at about 5% of federal obligations"

Zach-GPT: "Rule of thumb: Half of everything is wasted—assuming good governance"

So, at a minimum, according to your own words, 55% of our taxes are wasted or given away fraudulently?

Unleash the DOGE of War!

#4.1.2.2 eeyore on 2025-02-17 12:20 (Reply)

Z: Rule of thumb: Half of everything is wasted—assuming good governance.

Just to clarify, waste is not the same as fraud or abuse.

For instance, in battle, nearly all bullets miss their mark. A common sense Sergeant Sagredo might say to wait to shoot until you see the whites of their eyes. But even then, most bullets will miss their mark. An armchair Simplicio, on the other hand, might say to just buy fewer bullets, you know, the bad ones that miss.

#4.1.2.3 Zachriel on 2025-02-17 15:24 (Reply)

False equivalence much, QUIBBLE-DICKZ ???

#4.1.2.3.1 Zachinoff on 2025-02-17 16:05 (Reply)

If half is waste, then cut 2/3 loose as good measure.

#4.1.2.4 jack walter on 2025-02-17 16:17 (Reply)

jack walter: If half is waste, then cut 2/3 loose as good measure.

Half would still be wasted. By the way, 2/3 of Social Security? The military?

#4.1.2.4.1 Zachriel on 2025-02-17 16:32 (Reply)

QUOTE:

16 million Social Security payments are being made to people between the ages of 110 and 369. This does not include the almost 5 million people between 100 and 109 years old who are receiving monthly Social Security checks. The average life expectancy in the U.S. is about 78 years old.

No fraud there, hey Quibble-DickZ?!?.

#4.1.2.4.1.1 Zachinoff on 2025-02-17 17:29 (Reply)

Munich bloodbath ruptures western order... Naaaa, its just the statist marxist ruptured ducks that simply cannot off load their authoritarian creed of micromanaging everyone's life. Those that wish to survive and prosper will move toward capitalism and you see it sprouting around Europe already. The European union is going to deconstruct.

#5 indyjonesouthere on 2025-02-17 11:46 (Reply)

re Munich Bloodbath Ruptures Western Order Wide Open

This was an interesting read.

In re peace negotiations, unless there is internal pressure on Putin to end the war, it looks to me like Trump will be negotiating from a weak position.

If Putin does not want peace because he thinks he can force Ukraine to collapse, what options do we have? Do we shut the money/arms spigot off and watch as bystanders or do we keep shoveling money and arms into Ukraine? Are their any other options? What if we keep spending 100s of billions to keep Ukraine in the fight and they lose anyway? Is that money well spent?

#6 feeblemind on 2025-02-17 11:57 (Reply)

Every administration state department and cia ignored the agreement that the Reagan administration made with the soviet union in order to unite east and west Germany. Each of these administrations aggravated the Nato push and when they finally got to the Russian border, they faced the old FAFO problem. Now they have a mess and the Europeans are in no position to challenge squat with the Russians and I see Trumps best move is to ignore Zelensky and create new borders for Ukraine. Russia will take the Russian inhabited parts of Ukraine and I suspect the Ukraines will take care of Zelensky.

#6.1 indyjonesouthere on 2025-02-17 12:18 (Reply)

Yes. You are quite right Indy.

As for peace terms, I hope they are as generous as you speculate. I fear Putin will want a whole lot more.

#6.1.1 feeblemind on 2025-02-17 13:35 (Reply)

BUSTED: America First Legal Shows Judge Financially Entangled With His Own Trump Ruling

QUOTE:

The problem with judge-shopping to push your case through, there’s always the chance that the judges you are counting on to push your agenda have their own skin in the game.

That’s the case with a judge who has offered very dubious rulings on whether Trump can suspend his USAID money.

We’ve got a thread from America First Legal making the case online that Judge McConnell, the Rhode Island judge who put an end to Trump’s spending freezes, ought never to have heard that case in the first place.

The reason? He is Personally benefitting financially from his own ruling.

https://clashdaily.com/2025/02/busted-america-first-legal-shows-judge-financially-entangled-with-his-own-trump-ruling/

The rot is very deep, doncha think?

#7 feeblemind on 2025-02-17 12:02 (Reply)

McConnell stepped down as chair of Crossroads Road Island in 2022. See An interview with Outgoing Board Chair Jack McConnell

#7.1 Zachriel on 2025-02-17 12:11 (Reply)

He is still listed, right this very second, as the 'Chair-Emeritus' on the Crossroads website you linked to.

Nice try, weasel.

#7.1.1 eeyore on 2025-02-17 13:03 (Reply)

"but women get horny too" NOW you tell me!

#8 snopercod on 2025-02-17 16:42 (Reply)

The Pattern Beneath

QUOTE:

the recent USAID revelations show a staggering reach of narrative control. Take Internews Network, a USAID-financed NGO that has pushed nearly half a billion dollars ($472.6m) through a secretive network, 'working with' 4,291 media outlets. In just one year, they produced 4,799 hours of broadcasts reaching up to 778 million people and 'trained' over 9,000 journalists. This isn't just funding - it's a systematic infrastructure of consciousness manipulation.

The revelations show USAID funding both the Wuhan Lab's gain-of-function research and the media outlets that would shape the story around what emerged from it. Backing organizations that would fabricate impeachment evidence. Funding both the election systems that facilitate outcomes and the fact-checkers that determine which discussions about those outcomes are permitted. But these disclosures point to something far more significant than mere corruption.

These revelations didn't emerge from nowhere - they come from government grant disclosures, FOIA requests, and official records that aren't even hidden, just ignored.

https://stylman.substack.com/p/the-pattern-beneath

A long read but worth it.

#9 feeblemind on 2025-02-17 19:10 (Reply)

Of course the hookup culture is bad for women just as it is bad for men. The best choice is mutual love, marriage, children, a home and making memories. It is human nature to want to have sex and it is satisfying to both genders and that is why humans do it. It isn't easy to convince a teen or a 20 something that free sex is a good choice but it's possible and worth the effort.

The problem for women is that they have a magic power that in general men don't have and that is their desirability. This can be their downfall just as it can be for a very attractive man. Women learn after puberty that they have this gift and it brings them attention and a dopamine rush. Once they choose that path it is hard to "settle" for one man. Good looks, or worse, extremely good looks can ruin your life, male or female.

But there is an old saying "too soon old, too late smart".

#10 OneGuy on 2025-02-17 19:37 (Reply)

Add Comment

Name
Email	(Your e-mail will not show in your comment)
Homepage
In reply to
Comment	By commenting on this site you agree to the site rules listed here. Email addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for email notifications. Quick reference guide: [i] italics [/i], [b] bold [/b], [u] underline [/u], [url] (web address) [/url]. More tips here. Enclosing asterisks marks text as bold (word), underscore are made via _word_. E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications. BBCode format allowed
	Remember Information? Subscribe to this entry

Maggie's Farm

Our Recent Essays Behind the Front Page

Categories

Quicksearch

Links

Blog Administration

RSS Readers

Monday, February 17. 2025

Monday morning links