1.) Trump abducts President Maduro based on trumped-up drug trafficking accusations…
2.) …whereas Trump pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández who was actually convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to 45 years in prison!
It's about the fucking Monroe Doctrine -- we "own" the western hemisphere, remember? He's just given Vlad the Impaler all the permission he needs to continue destroying Ukraine. And given Xi the permission he needs to launch a war against Taiwan.
I cannot think of something that would have worse consequences for the whole world right now.
The end of the rules based order also gives Netanyahu the green light to expel all Palestinians from occupied land in the same manner as the Armenian genocide (1918-1921). The next few years look pretty grim.
Speaking of so-called doctrines, it's well worth recalling what Chief Justice Marshall and SCOTUS highlighted in Marbury v. Madison. “The government of the United States has been emphatically termed a government of laws, and not of men.”
"The constitution is" necessarily the "superior, paramount law, unchangeable by ordinary means." So "the constitution is to be considered, in court, as a paramount law," and "courts" cannot "close their eyes on the constitution, and see only [some other purported] law." "Certainly all those who have framed written constitutions contemplate them as forming the fundamental and paramount law of the nation, and consequently the theory of every such government must be, that an act of the legislature, repugnant to the constitution, is void."
Any "act of the legislature" (any purported law purportedly granting the President unconstitutional powers) "repugnant to the constitution, is void." So any "act of" any other purported public servant "repugnant to the constitution, is void." Any purported doctrine by which the President usurps powers "repugnant to the constitution, is void."
Any other purported theory or "doctrine would subvert the very foundation of all written constitutions. It would declare that an act, which, according to the principles and theory of our government, is entirely void; is yet, in practice, completely obligatory."
He says not. He's quite offended. I don't know that the reasons for his feelings are quite what he says...
"This morning, the United States carried out an act of armed aggression against Venezuela. This causes deep concern and condemnation,” Russia said in a statement from its Foreign Ministry.
“The pretexts cited to justify such actions are unfounded. Ideologized hostility has prevailed over practical pragmatism and over a willingness to build relations based on trust and predictability,” Russian officials wrote, nearly five years into the nation’s own war in Ukraine."
Regardless of what Putin says for public consumption, I'll bet he is in fact delighted to see that Trump, and by extension the U.S., has just utterly destroyed our credibility and forfeited any right to continue criticizing Russia (or anybody else).
What do we think is going to happen in Venezuela next? One has only to look at what happened in the domestic affairs of those other countries. Chaos, instability, factionalism, probably murders. (And it will probably be all Joe Biden's fault.)
Trumphuk Is an idiot and is simply doing the bidding of Big OiL and the oligarchs.
How predictable that this treasonous, traitorous troll would pull this stunt in midst of 1) the unveiling of more and more Epstein dirt and 2) the cratering of his approval ratings.
The consequences of this stupidity is unpredictable— but chaos and further bloodshed are highly likely.
Yeah. Except if the US takes V's oil, then Putin is in a better poisition to sell more Russian oil to China...b/c China is the main buyer of V's oil and will need to make up the shortfall.
Putin selling more Russian oil to China means more $$$ revenue to fund the war against Ukraine. That would please Putin no end.
Maybe considering his mental and physical deterioration, Putin's wringing as much juice out of 🍊 as he can. Since when has he cared if he verbally contradicts his own country's actions.
Maduro was sending a great deal of its oil reserves to Russia and China, because the US had cut off trade elsewhere. Trump's trumped-up war was to stop the influence of the Russians in Venezuela.
Of course it's a war for oil...you know, like the war for oil in Iraq that Jennifer Rubin loudly and emphatically supported for over a decade.
EDIT: I challenge everyone reading this to show me even one single time Rubin has recanted or even explained her decade-plus stalwart support for the US war for oil in Iraq since her rebirth as a Never Trumper.
The mass media and the president-at-the-time (was it Bush or Cheney?) swamped us with propaganda. If we're to go after Jennifer Rubin, we'd have to go after many more who supported this failed mission.
I of course prefer her now too, I am here after all as a paid subscriber...but, as far as I know (please post a link if I am wrong) - she has never repented or recanted or apologized for her many years of full-on pro intervention and regime change military action in Iraq.
It would help here credibility on this topic if she had..again, I invite anyone to post a link showing me otherwise.
(That's only one of her past very right wing views that she has never recanted btw...I could post a lot more, right up to Trump's first election)
Anyone, especially one of you 'liking' that previous response...I expect to hear from one of you showing that Rubin has actually recanted her long time support for the Iraq War, another obvious war for oil.
In other words, no, you can’t find one single example to explain Rubin’s total hypocrisy on this issue, or one single example of Rubin recanting or explaining her support for the Iraq War, a stance she loudly defended for longer than her entire time as a Trump critic.
Sorry for all the gullible, mindless followers that don’t care about accountability or hypocrisy.
Actually, I don’t. People like you are part of the problem.
I’ll take your response to mean, no, you cannot find one single instance for Rubin exposing or atoning for her decades of support for US wars for regime change and oil. Got it.
Oh this is interesting!! Please take some time out now and find all the other politicians, former presidents, Op Ed writers, radio and TV media stations, journalists and celebrities who have changed their views over time and chastise them too! Let’s have at it! Check your own writings and views as well. Let us know what you find in a nice long well documented article so we can begin proper excoriation.
Hey, Jason needs to beat me up too. i voted Republican for 20 years and even voted for ronnie twice. But life changed my perspective and Newt's Contract on America made me examine my beliefs and changed the course of my political life.
As I said in my comment way below, An important point about Venezuelan oil is (1) that it is heavy (versus the sweet, light crude of the U.S. and Gulf) and contains much more diesel; (2) the Gulf Coast refineries (belonging to Big Oil) are better at refining heavy (Venezuelan) oil than domestic; (3) AI plants need diesel-fueled industrial generators as backup in case of electric blackouts, to ensure the necessary continuous operation. MORE IN DEPTH REPORTING ON THIS would be an important adjunct to all stories concerning the takeover of Venezuela. Follow the money! And Big Oil x AI.
It's fair to say that Trump wants to be as evil as Putin, but it's very far from fair to say (as Jen did) that the "attack on Venezuela" somehow "puts the U.S. in the same camp as Russia." Trump has not turned the US into a rogue nation, as Putin has done with Russia. See https://blackcollarcrime.substack.com/p/trump-has-not-turned-the-us-into?r=30ufvh.
A true tail wag the dog moment if it ever existed. In the words of a former Army lawyer, "the only difference between murder and war is the law." Which our demented demagogue just pissed all over.
Trump has been "piss[ing] all over the law" since his first day in office of his second term. Our worthless Congress will do nothing to contain him! Republican "leadership" in Congress will not make use of any of the measures available to it. This is the sorriest regime, sorriest Congress and most corrupt Supreme Court I have seen in my life!
right! and if any republicans, along with democrats, start making noise about this illegal action, speaker johnson will probably just adjourn the session and send everyone home.
He's re-running GHW Bush's playbook in Panama. Get rid of the uncooperative dictator, put your own choice in power, try the ex-Presidente for drug dealing. Of course, that cost a few American and Panamanian lives, and didn't get back the canal zone, as conservatives have wanted since 1977. But it was a kinda-sorta victory, and distracted attention from Walsh's investigations into Iran Contra. Sound familiar?
I believe Sue was referring to Poppy Bush; no-on ever credibly accused GHW Bush of not being smart.
As for Junior, "President" Cheney certainly was conniving on Dubya’s behalf. Just as Bannon, Miller and Vought are extremely conniving on behalf of Trump.
Not so sure, really. Drunk on power, it seemed to me then. Even Canadians were arrested overseas and taken to black sites for torture on fake charges...
Maybe that’s why he flexed his ugly Monroe/Dombo Doctrine in Cuba’s direction? Plus then he’d have two Colonies to ship the brown and Black purple he hates to and engineer their “convict” labor to his and his cronies benefits. This is like sliding slow-mo into Dystopian hell.
Bush Sr.-Panama-Noriega, Bush Jr.-Iraq-Saddam Hussein, Trump-Venezuela-Maduro! A pattern emerges. These are the 3 that gave us the 6 criminals on the SCOTUS.
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Trump needs to be removed from office. He has demonstrated that he is not fit for this job and refuses to follow his role as delineated in the Constitution.
It's not Trump. He has the IQ of a houseplant and is only doing what Miller, Voight, etc. are telling him to do. Trump needs to go for sure, but so does Vance and the rest of the Project 2025 adherents.
The Republican Congress won't do that, as long as the pelf continues to pour into their pockets. They will cheer him on, because I don't see one of them giving a rat's behind about the country or the Constitution.
The rethuglicans are the Cabal the Founders feared. As long as they get the power to dictate the society they crave, they don’t care how he delivers it.
Personality cults seldom survive the death of the leader. Succession will be a shitstorm with his sycophantic minions trying to step into his cankle-stretched shoes while the broligarchs place their bets amid the coming collapse of the AI speculation frenzy.
Well written report and accurate. Trump should have gone through congress first but he wanted to make a statement for himself. That’s how he operates. Stay tuned for more.
The madcap aging child has never been told 'no'. It's high time that we did. Do we really need for South America to become as unstable as the Middle East? And don't say it cannot happen.
Agreed, Vicki, but then what? (For the record, I think either mortality or the 25th Amendment will do it rather than Congress, but we must consider What Happens Next. Are you comfortable with Vance? Or perhaps Mike Johnson?)
14th Amendment Section 3. That could be a solution only if the People do their part and vote to remove Representatives or Senators who are up for re-election and who support Trump.
Forgive my bluntness, but I am worried that tens of millions of Americans are so stupid that they will "rally 'round the flag", and take to the streets in support of this, all the time chanting, "USA, USA, USA", and "We're Number One".
I am also alarmed that the United States military high command would carry out an operation that was clearly illegal from top to bottom. The domestic implications of that scare me.
This is why Trump and Hegseth’s first order of business was to fire all top JAG officers and replace any and all commanders who were committed to defending the US Constitution. Just like the ICE thugs, our US military has become Trump’s personal army to use as he sees fit - whether that be to further his business interests, play war games like Putin, bully and intimidate other countries, distract the American public from his misdeeds, and/or disregard and marginalize Congress. He is a sick man surrounded by sick sycophants.
The Heritage Project 2025 CABAL that put Donnie J. into the White House has systematically erased most of the constraints against oligopolies, oligarchs and fraudsters. This includes removing constraints on the military both domestically and internationally. They laugh at those who seek to protect our democracy from further assault.
There was just a piece in the Miami Herald about Venezuelans celebrating in the streets over this. Another that next up is Cuba. I wonder if they'll be so joyful when their deportations really ramp up now that there will be no reason for them to say they can't go back to Venezuela because they'll face persecution.
If a foreign military swept in and removed Trump from power then left I think there'd be celebrating in US streets too. That wouldn't mean that US citizens would want to be ruled by a foreign nation though and I imagine many Venezuelans are about as happy (and armed) about what is going on as MAGA Republicans would be in the imaginary situation I described.
Joel Parkes: His method is Try and Stop Me: to act first then talk later or not talk at all. It's the old "just do it" thing, to hell with the fallout.
You are correct. I wonder how our history might be different if just one of the women he "grabbed by the pussy" had punched him in the nose or kicked him in the balls.
Richard Van Atta: I've noticed (probably a little late) that there are two other elements of his method of operations. First, he does X that everyone is shocked about, then immediately accuses the victim and the accuser of doing that same X, which kind of knocks people back on their heels, so to speak.
Second, before anyone can take a breath, he "doubles down" on that same X.
That clearly is his modus operandi — the “fuck you” approach which says “I did this (even if illegal, unconstitutional, immoral m, whatever) tough shit. Whatjya gonna do about it?”
The Jack Smith testimony was released on New Years Eve !!! How convenient. Nobody saw it. Neither the NYT or WaPo has written about it. Trump doesn't want us to see it. Nor the Epstein files. Now the invasion of Venezuela. The criminal president is committing more crimes to cover his prior crimes. He has made the US a rogue state. How do we climb out of this hole?
It was also all over MS NOW last night. There's a tendency to focus on moment-of-release impact that that discounts further reflection. None of this will quietly go away unless we let it.
Man, the full, unredacted Epstein files must be a fentanyl overdose spiked with Kryptonite...
Actually MAGA may support it, because all the promises that Trump made to enhance their personal wellbeing were a bunch of garbage, and many of them are realizing this. They expressly voted for the “no foreign wars” guy and Trump is anything but. And the prices for EVERYTHING are headed for the stratosphere. Job market slumping….insurance costs exploding….
Donald's reaction to Putin's invasion of Ukraine was always one of envy. The attack on Venezuela is just the beginning. His jeering, contemptible threats against Greenland and Canada should be taken seriously: so should the whispers that attacks on Cuba, and even Mexico, may come next.
Let's be mindful that this is all about the illegitimate exercise of dictatorial power, plus an insatiable hunger for untold billions of dollars: every target nation has natural resources for which Donald and his cronies hunger and thirst.
This. It gives blanket permission to Putin to do whatever he feels like to Ukraine. And to Xi to launch an attack against Taiwan.
Donald is too stupid to figure out that actions actually have consequences. And almost every Republican is too much of a coward to go against his 'splendid little war.'
Donald actually believes (or at any rate the people around him who do his "believing" for him actually believe) that it is past time for the world to retreat into spheres of influence each dominated by a superpower: that Russia is welcome to grab not only Ukraine but an increasingly large slice of Europe, while Xi mops up Asia and Donald himself asserts total US dominance in the Western hemisphere. This is the world the Republicans want us to inhabit.
That means that they'll eventually turn on each other. Welcome to WW III. Of course, we may not have to wait that long. World wars have started over small actions like this. Unintended consequences...
As I repeat my comment way below this one, trying to get someone reporting on this to dig deeper: An important point about Venezuelan oil is (1) that it is heavy (versus the sweet, light crude of the U.S. and Gulf) and contains much more diesel; (2) the Gulf Coast refineries (belonging to Big Oil) are better at refining heavy (Venezuelan) oil than domestic; (3) AI plants need diesel-fueled industrial generators as backup in case of electric blackouts, to ensure the necessary continuous operation. MORE IN DEPTH REPORTING ON THIS would be an important adjunct to all stories concerning the takeover of Venezuela. Follow the money! And Big Oil x AI.
I think you'll see attempted destabilization and attacks on all the countries in Latin America. Maybe Cuba, too. There are about 30,000 Cubans in Venezuela, including troops (not called that, of course).
Once again, we have a Republican president to thank for dragging the rest of us into a war based on false information. NOT IN MY NAME indeed. Remember 'W' and Dick Cheney authorized torture in our names. Time for the whole lot of them to go.
Bush and Cheney (and Wolfowitz and the rest of the gang) can at least still be called Republicans. This cultish hoarde that Trump is fronting for is something totally different.
This wasn't even really based on false information. It was based on Trump's demented bloviating, repeated and repeated until he worked himself into such a state that he could finally bring himself to step over the edge -- aided and abetted, no doubt, by a cadre of his cultists.
How long until he invades an american city and removes a mayor who didn't vote for him or whatever excuse? Think the military won't evade illegal orders ... think again.
Wake up America. You are next, even if you voted for him and think he is on "your side".
Jen Rubin is right in pointing out government funding runs out this month. Democrats should use that as leverage to rally the public against this outrageous action. They showed that could work last October with health care.
Let me see if I got this right:
1.) Trump abducts President Maduro based on trumped-up drug trafficking accusations…
2.) …whereas Trump pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández who was actually convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to 45 years in prison!
It's about the oil. And competing with Vlad.
It's about the fucking Monroe Doctrine -- we "own" the western hemisphere, remember? He's just given Vlad the Impaler all the permission he needs to continue destroying Ukraine. And given Xi the permission he needs to launch a war against Taiwan.
I cannot think of something that would have worse consequences for the whole world right now.
Call it a domino effect.
The end of the rules based order also gives Netanyahu the green light to expel all Palestinians from occupied land in the same manner as the Armenian genocide (1918-1921). The next few years look pretty grim.
Unfortunately all too true ..
My thoughts too.
🎯
Speaking of so-called doctrines, it's well worth recalling what Chief Justice Marshall and SCOTUS highlighted in Marbury v. Madison. “The government of the United States has been emphatically termed a government of laws, and not of men.”
"The constitution is" necessarily the "superior, paramount law, unchangeable by ordinary means." So "the constitution is to be considered, in court, as a paramount law," and "courts" cannot "close their eyes on the constitution, and see only [some other purported] law." "Certainly all those who have framed written constitutions contemplate them as forming the fundamental and paramount law of the nation, and consequently the theory of every such government must be, that an act of the legislature, repugnant to the constitution, is void."
Any "act of the legislature" (any purported law purportedly granting the President unconstitutional powers) "repugnant to the constitution, is void." So any "act of" any other purported public servant "repugnant to the constitution, is void." Any purported doctrine by which the President usurps powers "repugnant to the constitution, is void."
Any other purported theory or "doctrine would subvert the very foundation of all written constitutions. It would declare that an act, which, according to the principles and theory of our government, is entirely void; is yet, in practice, completely obligatory."
Oh yes! "Big Bro Vlad. Look what I did!" Pathetic. Putin must be delighted.
He says not. He's quite offended. I don't know that the reasons for his feelings are quite what he says...
"This morning, the United States carried out an act of armed aggression against Venezuela. This causes deep concern and condemnation,” Russia said in a statement from its Foreign Ministry.
“The pretexts cited to justify such actions are unfounded. Ideologized hostility has prevailed over practical pragmatism and over a willingness to build relations based on trust and predictability,” Russian officials wrote, nearly five years into the nation’s own war in Ukraine."
https://thehill.com/policy/international/5670812-russia-calls-un-venezuela-security/
Regardless of what Putin says for public consumption, I'll bet he is in fact delighted to see that Trump, and by extension the U.S., has just utterly destroyed our credibility and forfeited any right to continue criticizing Russia (or anybody else).
Our president just said, "to the people of Venezuela, we have removed your leader, and now you are free."
Just one of the most historically illiterate things he's ever said. Such a moron.
Shall we just review?
We overthrew South Vietnam's leader, Ngo Dinh Diem, in 1963.
We overthrew Mossadegh, the democratically elected leader of Iran in 1953 and installed the shah.
We overthrew Saddam Hussein.
We overthrew the Taliban in Afghanistan.
There's a pattern here. Our record of regime change is very expensive in terms of both money and lives, including AMERICAN lives.
So what do we think is going to happen in Venezuela next? One thing's for sure, the people there are not "free."
What do we think is going to happen in Venezuela next? One has only to look at what happened in the domestic affairs of those other countries. Chaos, instability, factionalism, probably murders. (And it will probably be all Joe Biden's fault.)
Trumphuk Is an idiot and is simply doing the bidding of Big OiL and the oligarchs.
How predictable that this treasonous, traitorous troll would pull this stunt in midst of 1) the unveiling of more and more Epstein dirt and 2) the cratering of his approval ratings.
The consequences of this stupidity is unpredictable— but chaos and further bloodshed are highly likely.
Venezuela is usually considered to be allies with Russia
Yeah. Except if the US takes V's oil, then Putin is in a better poisition to sell more Russian oil to China...b/c China is the main buyer of V's oil and will need to make up the shortfall.
Putin selling more Russian oil to China means more $$$ revenue to fund the war against Ukraine. That would please Putin no end.
Support Ukraine!
I need to modify my comments, based on this article in Forbes today.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/guneyyildiz/2026/01/03/maduro-venezuela-the-us-and-the-oil-shock-china-cant-price-in/
This is what you call Russian lip service.
Maybe considering his mental and physical deterioration, Putin's wringing as much juice out of 🍊 as he can. Since when has he cared if he verbally contradicts his own country's actions.
He "says" he's not. However, Lev Parnas states from experience that that is theatre.
To Ellie: Now THAT's rich. Putin is probably afraid the same will happen to him.
No. Putin's people helped plan this with Trump's people.
Perhaps the two are vying for the same oil - I would say that Venezuela is only the first one. It's like: Let the games begin mentality.
Maduro was sending a great deal of its oil reserves to Russia and China, because the US had cut off trade elsewhere. Trump's trumped-up war was to stop the influence of the Russians in Venezuela.
Of course it's a war for oil...you know, like the war for oil in Iraq that Jennifer Rubin loudly and emphatically supported for over a decade.
EDIT: I challenge everyone reading this to show me even one single time Rubin has recanted or even explained her decade-plus stalwart support for the US war for oil in Iraq since her rebirth as a Never Trumper.
In fairness, Jennifer Rubin has gained considerable wisdom since then. I really, really like the current iteration of Jennifer Rubin!
The mass media and the president-at-the-time (was it Bush or Cheney?) swamped us with propaganda. If we're to go after Jennifer Rubin, we'd have to go after many more who supported this failed mission.
I wish we had millions of Jennifer Rubins! I admire the humility and Courage of anyone who can make an honest assessment of their politics and change
their views. She works tirelessly every day to make a difference. I hope you are doing more than just posting.
I of course prefer her now too, I am here after all as a paid subscriber...but, as far as I know (please post a link if I am wrong) - she has never repented or recanted or apologized for her many years of full-on pro intervention and regime change military action in Iraq.
It would help here credibility on this topic if she had..again, I invite anyone to post a link showing me otherwise.
(That's only one of her past very right wing views that she has never recanted btw...I could post a lot more, right up to Trump's first election)
Anyone, especially one of you 'liking' that previous response...I expect to hear from one of you showing that Rubin has actually recanted her long time support for the Iraq War, another obvious war for oil.
i think we have far more important things to think about here on january 3, 2026, than what ms. rubin said or supported in the past.
In other words, no, you can’t find one single example to explain Rubin’s total hypocrisy on this issue, or one single example of Rubin recanting or explaining her support for the Iraq War, a stance she loudly defended for longer than her entire time as a Trump critic.
Got it.
Jason, I feel sorry for you. As far as I know God did not abdicate and leave you incharge of both judgment and forgiveness.
I feel
Sorry for all the gullible, mindless followers that don’t care about accountability or hypocrisy.
Actually, I don’t. People like you are part of the problem.
I’ll take your response to mean, no, you cannot find one single instance for Rubin exposing or atoning for her decades of support for US wars for regime change and oil. Got it.
Oh this is interesting!! Please take some time out now and find all the other politicians, former presidents, Op Ed writers, radio and TV media stations, journalists and celebrities who have changed their views over time and chastise them too! Let’s have at it! Check your own writings and views as well. Let us know what you find in a nice long well documented article so we can begin proper excoriation.
Hey, Jason needs to beat me up too. i voted Republican for 20 years and even voted for ronnie twice. But life changed my perspective and Newt's Contract on America made me examine my beliefs and changed the course of my political life.
I did t know every other person who ever lived wrote this article.
So your answer is, no you can’t .
As I said in my comment way below, An important point about Venezuelan oil is (1) that it is heavy (versus the sweet, light crude of the U.S. and Gulf) and contains much more diesel; (2) the Gulf Coast refineries (belonging to Big Oil) are better at refining heavy (Venezuelan) oil than domestic; (3) AI plants need diesel-fueled industrial generators as backup in case of electric blackouts, to ensure the necessary continuous operation. MORE IN DEPTH REPORTING ON THIS would be an important adjunct to all stories concerning the takeover of Venezuela. Follow the money! And Big Oil x AI.
Absolutely! The drugs thing is nothing but a lot of who shot John. Always was.
Boy, talk about underreported aspects of this. Thanks for raining...
It's probably also about having a "sxxthole place" to park our illegal immigrants--funny that it's so oil-rich.
Not just undocumented people, but all brown people regardless of status and everyone who disagrees with donnie.
Putin helped plan this. Anything to distract from Ukraine.
It's fair to say that Trump wants to be as evil as Putin, but it's very far from fair to say (as Jen did) that the "attack on Venezuela" somehow "puts the U.S. in the same camp as Russia." Trump has not turned the US into a rogue nation, as Putin has done with Russia. See https://blackcollarcrime.substack.com/p/trump-has-not-turned-the-us-into?r=30ufvh.
And distracting from his Lowest Approval Ratings ever!
I think you got that right, yes.
A true tail wag the dog moment if it ever existed. In the words of a former Army lawyer, "the only difference between murder and war is the law." Which our demented demagogue just pissed all over.
Trump has been "piss[ing] all over the law" since his first day in office of his second term. Our worthless Congress will do nothing to contain him! Republican "leadership" in Congress will not make use of any of the measures available to it. This is the sorriest regime, sorriest Congress and most corrupt Supreme Court I have seen in my life!
right! and if any republicans, along with democrats, start making noise about this illegal action, speaker johnson will probably just adjourn the session and send everyone home.
100% agree! Time for the American people to rise up and take back OUR America!
Absolutely a wag the dog moment. Also, kudos to Jen for calling this what it is, WAR.
I need to rewatch that movie today.
Yes-you’ve got it right. The inmates are running the asylum.
He's re-running GHW Bush's playbook in Panama. Get rid of the uncooperative dictator, put your own choice in power, try the ex-Presidente for drug dealing. Of course, that cost a few American and Panamanian lives, and didn't get back the canal zone, as conservatives have wanted since 1977. But it was a kinda-sorta victory, and distracted attention from Walsh's investigations into Iran Contra. Sound familiar?
It sounds familiar except that Bush was sane.
Just not smart.
I believe Sue was referring to Poppy Bush; no-on ever credibly accused GHW Bush of not being smart.
As for Junior, "President" Cheney certainly was conniving on Dubya’s behalf. Just as Bannon, Miller and Vought are extremely conniving on behalf of Trump.
Not so sure, really. Drunk on power, it seemed to me then. Even Canadians were arrested overseas and taken to black sites for torture on fake charges...
This does feel like Operation Just Because: The 2026 edition. It’s at least as illegal.
Exactly
It's about the Monroe Doctrine as well as the oil. The Chinese were gaining influence in Venezuela, and this is a clear shot across their bow.
It goes without saying that they will respond. Hold on to your hat. This could be the 'official' beginning of WW3.
The oil was going to Cuba, too. That makes things even more complicated.
Maybe that’s why he flexed his ugly Monroe/Dombo Doctrine in Cuba’s direction? Plus then he’d have two Colonies to ship the brown and Black purple he hates to and engineer their “convict” labor to his and his cronies benefits. This is like sliding slow-mo into Dystopian hell.
Maybe if Maduro is convicted, he will the be eligible for a Trump pardon. He loves convicted felons.
My first thoughts after swearing a lot and what I have posted elsewhere. Thanks for putting it so succinctly!
Bush Sr.-Panama-Noriega, Bush Jr.-Iraq-Saddam Hussein, Trump-Venezuela-Maduro! A pattern emerges. These are the 3 that gave us the 6 criminals on the SCOTUS.
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Trump & MSM: a "daring, & successful" liberation of Venezuelan oil.
Liberation of Venezuelan oil? That reminds me of an arrogant quip during the American-led invasion of Iraq:
"Who the hell put *our* oil put under *their* sand?"
Exactly.
Trump needs to be removed from office. He has demonstrated that he is not fit for this job and refuses to follow his role as delineated in the Constitution.
It's not Trump. He has the IQ of a houseplant and is only doing what Miller, Voight, etc. are telling him to do. Trump needs to go for sure, but so does Vance and the rest of the Project 2025 adherents.
at least my houseplants know to go toward the light...
That's perfect, patricia!
Smarter than a pothos is not much of a compliment.
yes! getting rid of trump is one thing, but look what we'd be left with! which is worse?
The 14th Amendment Article 2 would take out the ENTIRE administration!!! JUST DO it now!!!!
We would be left with just one more Impeachment to true Freedom!
Yes…. One way or another.
The Republican Congress won't do that, as long as the pelf continues to pour into their pockets. They will cheer him on, because I don't see one of them giving a rat's behind about the country or the Constitution.
The rethuglicans are the Cabal the Founders feared. As long as they get the power to dictate the society they crave, they don’t care how he delivers it.
That will do no good. The gang of thugs will still be there.
Personality cults seldom survive the death of the leader. Succession will be a shitstorm with his sycophantic minions trying to step into his cankle-stretched shoes while the broligarchs place their bets amid the coming collapse of the AI speculation frenzy.
Well written report and accurate. Trump should have gone through congress first but he wanted to make a statement for himself. That’s how he operates. Stay tuned for more.
The madcap aging child has never been told 'no'. It's high time that we did. Do we really need for South America to become as unstable as the Middle East? And don't say it cannot happen.
🎯
ALL Republicans - House and Senate - need to be removed from office!!! They are complicit!
Agreed, Vicki, but then what? (For the record, I think either mortality or the 25th Amendment will do it rather than Congress, but we must consider What Happens Next. Are you comfortable with Vance? Or perhaps Mike Johnson?)
Forget the 25th amendment. The real answer is the 14th Amendment Article 2. READ IT
14th Amendment Section 3. That could be a solution only if the People do their part and vote to remove Representatives or Senators who are up for re-election and who support Trump.
Victoria --- ??? Please explain (and I assume you're talking about *Section*2 of the 14th Amendment?)
Forgive my bluntness, but I am worried that tens of millions of Americans are so stupid that they will "rally 'round the flag", and take to the streets in support of this, all the time chanting, "USA, USA, USA", and "We're Number One".
I am also alarmed that the United States military high command would carry out an operation that was clearly illegal from top to bottom. The domestic implications of that scare me.
This is why Trump and Hegseth’s first order of business was to fire all top JAG officers and replace any and all commanders who were committed to defending the US Constitution. Just like the ICE thugs, our US military has become Trump’s personal army to use as he sees fit - whether that be to further his business interests, play war games like Putin, bully and intimidate other countries, distract the American public from his misdeeds, and/or disregard and marginalize Congress. He is a sick man surrounded by sick sycophants.
The Heritage Project 2025 CABAL that put Donnie J. into the White House has systematically erased most of the constraints against oligopolies, oligarchs and fraudsters. This includes removing constraints on the military both domestically and internationally. They laugh at those who seek to protect our democracy from further assault.
There was just a piece in the Miami Herald about Venezuelans celebrating in the streets over this. Another that next up is Cuba. I wonder if they'll be so joyful when their deportations really ramp up now that there will be no reason for them to say they can't go back to Venezuela because they'll face persecution.
You make a good point. As the song says, "You ain't seen nothin' yet".
If a foreign military swept in and removed Trump from power then left I think there'd be celebrating in US streets too. That wouldn't mean that US citizens would want to be ruled by a foreign nation though and I imagine many Venezuelans are about as happy (and armed) about what is going on as MAGA Republicans would be in the imaginary situation I described.
Considering the cronies that replaced the military lawyers, what did anyone expect?
Joel Parkes: His method is Try and Stop Me: to act first then talk later or not talk at all. It's the old "just do it" thing, to hell with the fallout.
You are correct. I wonder how our history might be different if just one of the women he "grabbed by the pussy" had punched him in the nose or kicked him in the balls.
He basically could give a shit about repercussions—“What are they going to do? I’ve got immunity and a compliant bunch of pussies in Congress.”
One answer — take him out.
Hopefully through midterm elections and impeachment. If not that —“Katie bar the door” — we be coming after him & his.
Richard Van Atta: I've noticed (probably a little late) that there are two other elements of his method of operations. First, he does X that everyone is shocked about, then immediately accuses the victim and the accuser of doing that same X, which kind of knocks people back on their heels, so to speak.
Second, before anyone can take a breath, he "doubles down" on that same X.
It's a pattern.
That clearly is his modus operandi — the “fuck you” approach which says “I did this (even if illegal, unconstitutional, immoral m, whatever) tough shit. Whatjya gonna do about it?”
They should scare you. US militaary troops in Chicago, LA and NYC...
What's done there will be done here. Count on it.
Joel Parkes: Sheesh--Maduro should have paid his extortion bill on time.
speaking of flags, noticed fox was flying a flag right behind their anchor this morning ...it was the am flag but with only one star...!?
The Texas flag? I'll have to dig into that.
The Jack Smith testimony was released on New Years Eve !!! How convenient. Nobody saw it. Neither the NYT or WaPo has written about it. Trump doesn't want us to see it. Nor the Epstein files. Now the invasion of Venezuela. The criminal president is committing more crimes to cover his prior crimes. He has made the US a rogue state. How do we climb out of this hole?
No, not "nobody saw it", google it and you find it here: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/read-jack-smiths-full-deposition-on-the-decision-to-indict-trump
You can also search information outside WaPo and NYT.
It was also all over MS NOW last night. There's a tendency to focus on moment-of-release impact that that discounts further reflection. None of this will quietly go away unless we let it.
Man, the full, unredacted Epstein files must be a fentanyl overdose spiked with Kryptonite...
Thomas Moore: We could start by reminding the Trump Regime that you don't get a peace prize for provoking wars under false pretenses?
14th amendment article 2!!!!!
We should be treated like Russia - Ostracized, sanctioned, and banned from international sports competitions.
So when do impeachment proceeding against Trump begin? Come ON Congress! This cannot stand.
MAGA will never support that! WE are minor and secondary supporters!
Actually MAGA may support it, because all the promises that Trump made to enhance their personal wellbeing were a bunch of garbage, and many of them are realizing this. They expressly voted for the “no foreign wars” guy and Trump is anything but. And the prices for EVERYTHING are headed for the stratosphere. Job market slumping….insurance costs exploding….
Donald's reaction to Putin's invasion of Ukraine was always one of envy. The attack on Venezuela is just the beginning. His jeering, contemptible threats against Greenland and Canada should be taken seriously: so should the whispers that attacks on Cuba, and even Mexico, may come next.
Let's be mindful that this is all about the illegitimate exercise of dictatorial power, plus an insatiable hunger for untold billions of dollars: every target nation has natural resources for which Donald and his cronies hunger and thirst.
This. It gives blanket permission to Putin to do whatever he feels like to Ukraine. And to Xi to launch an attack against Taiwan.
Donald is too stupid to figure out that actions actually have consequences. And almost every Republican is too much of a coward to go against his 'splendid little war.'
Donald actually believes (or at any rate the people around him who do his "believing" for him actually believe) that it is past time for the world to retreat into spheres of influence each dominated by a superpower: that Russia is welcome to grab not only Ukraine but an increasingly large slice of Europe, while Xi mops up Asia and Donald himself asserts total US dominance in the Western hemisphere. This is the world the Republicans want us to inhabit.
That means that they'll eventually turn on each other. Welcome to WW III. Of course, we may not have to wait that long. World wars have started over small actions like this. Unintended consequences...
And permission for Donald to launch an attack on Canada and Greenland...
Don't forget the social media attack that Trump recently directed against Iran. That's another threat that needs to be watched.
As I repeat my comment way below this one, trying to get someone reporting on this to dig deeper: An important point about Venezuelan oil is (1) that it is heavy (versus the sweet, light crude of the U.S. and Gulf) and contains much more diesel; (2) the Gulf Coast refineries (belonging to Big Oil) are better at refining heavy (Venezuelan) oil than domestic; (3) AI plants need diesel-fueled industrial generators as backup in case of electric blackouts, to ensure the necessary continuous operation. MORE IN DEPTH REPORTING ON THIS would be an important adjunct to all stories concerning the takeover of Venezuela. Follow the money! And Big Oil x AI.
I think you'll see attempted destabilization and attacks on all the countries in Latin America. Maybe Cuba, too. There are about 30,000 Cubans in Venezuela, including troops (not called that, of course).
NOT IN MY NAME! This American does not approve. I do not want to be associated with this!
Once again, we have a Republican president to thank for dragging the rest of us into a war based on false information. NOT IN MY NAME indeed. Remember 'W' and Dick Cheney authorized torture in our names. Time for the whole lot of them to go.
Bush and Cheney (and Wolfowitz and the rest of the gang) can at least still be called Republicans. This cultish hoarde that Trump is fronting for is something totally different.
This wasn't even really based on false information. It was based on Trump's demented bloviating, repeated and repeated until he worked himself into such a state that he could finally bring himself to step over the edge -- aided and abetted, no doubt, by a cadre of his cultists.
Glad to know that I’m not nuts to have decried this illegal action. I count on experts to educate us all. Thank you, Jennifer.
How long until he invades an american city and removes a mayor who didn't vote for him or whatever excuse? Think the military won't evade illegal orders ... think again.
Wake up America. You are next, even if you voted for him and think he is on "your side".
Trump has co-opted our US military and brought shame on all of them.
My point precisely.
Perhaps another government will decide to kidnap our president and put him on trial.
Please do!!!!
This is what I hope for, speaking as a Canadian...
We need to be shut of him. It would be a favour to the world, not just the U.S. if someone or some country would releive us of this useless bampot.
bampot ? nice way to say treasonous ass ?
Idiot, fool, crazy obnxious person, any or all apply.
Thanks, never heard that word before
It Scottish/Northern UK in origin and use.
feel free
And is there a single Republican condemning this action?
The Captain is drunk, time for the crew to mutiny! Oops, the crew is drunk too 😬
The the two leading characters in this fiasco are, Pete Halfkeg and little marco?
Apparently, little Marco told Congressional members that we wouldn't do this!
So can someone swing by Mar a Lago, put Trump on a plane and deposit him somewhere else?
It's too bad that the Venezuelens didn't do to Trump what Trump did to Manduro!
Jen Rubin is right in pointing out government funding runs out this month. Democrats should use that as leverage to rally the public against this outrageous action. They showed that could work last October with health care.
…”same moral and legal footing as Russia…”. Is that not where this (criminal) administration wants to be?