It is imperative that Democrats take the Congress and block Trump's authoritarian takeover of the United States. Thank you all for being on the front lines.
The question on everyone’s mind is: “Why now?”, especially when negotiations appeared promising.
It is becoming painstakingly clear that there is an obvious pattern of Trump threatening to go to war or actually going to war against foreign countries or on the high seas whenever he suffers a devastating public humiliation.
Trump’s most recent and glaring personal humiliation was the Supreme Court’s declaration that Trump’s favorite weapon with which he sought to rule the world by extortionate tariffs was totally illegal .
The act of taking our country to war to distract the public from his heinous acts or public humiliations was Trump’s brainstorm right after his public humiliation on June 14 when the draft dodger-in-chief got the military parade he deserved.
June 14, 2025 was billed as the military parade to end all parades, which would lead to the glorification of Donald Trump on his 79th birthday as The Master of the Universe, which would even transcend his claim that he “runs the country and the world”.
As we all know, the line of disheveled soldiers slovenly marching out of step with a proud display of indifference was a huge fiasco, and a total humiliation to Trump.
So was it then a mere coincidence that at that very moment, he just happened to do a quick turn-around, reject the assessment of his own intelligence organizations and tell Iran and the world that unless Iran agrees to “unconditional surrender”, the U.S. would join in Israel’s attack on Iran, which is exactly what Trump ordered?
Did it work? You bet it did.
Trump’s sudden bombing of Iran took the entire world’s attention off the egg on Trump’s face and onto the question of whether he was leading us into a nuclear war.
Since then, a long list of domestic political setbacks for Trump and his menagerie of political clowns and servile politicians became increasingly interspersed with the invasion of Venezuela, doggedly blowing up and murdering over 100 smugglers on the high seas, whom Trump renamed as “narco-terrorists to make them sound threatening, regardless of whether women or children were on board, and sending our paratroopers into Nigeria by portraying himself as the Last Great Crusader leading a Holy War against the infidels who were allegedly persecuting Christians in Nigeria.
Trump’s unilateral stunt in taking our country to war again with Iran without the consent of Congress, worked for Trump in the past, so he’s now betting the ranch that it will work for him again.
We should not only condemn this attack because he has started it 'without the consent of Congress'.
This is of course true, but this war is also simply blatantly illegal under international law.
It doesn't matter even if Congress endorsed it, it's still an illegal, unprovoked attack against a sovereign nation. Whether the US likes Iran or not makes zero difference.
(This of course also goes for the US"s BFF, Israel....the blather about a 'preemptive strike' is meaningless)
A little long-winded, but an accurate accounting of Trump's MO. With neither Congress or the people's support for this unilaterally declared attack (commencing to war with the inevitable mission creep) on Iran, Trump may have run out of road. This latest and major distraction may not get the traction that he desires. Resist!
As dastardly an act as his decision to start this war is, we must demand that the Epstein files stay front and center. Congress must continue working on full release and on finding those missing interview notes.
Wow! Contrarians make sure you share. I know too many people closing their eyes because the mainstream media doesn't report this openly and honestly. Thanks Jen!!!
No elections? = revolution. My county election clerk is going to get tired of hearing me call often to confirm my registration. My point? to send a message up the chain of command that people are invested fully in a free, fair election and will hold local officials accountable for making sure that happens. Other ideas?
tell all r's who voted for trump the concentration camps they have/are building are free summer camps trump wants them to attend and once they're in, begin brain reassignment ?
Trump is perpetrating an endless assault on our democracy. Going to war with Iran is reckless, foolhardy, and illegal. I do think it is wrapped up in the election as well as his need to appear strong (what he defines as strength which is anything but strength), and his need to distract everyone from the Epstein debacle, his mishandling of the economy, his grotesque immigration policy, and his shameless corruption. He will take any action to hold onto power and he knows he is increasingly unpopular. He is like the proverbial cornered rat.
Norm, you and your brave, intelligent, wise colleagues help people like me to sleep at night and to wake up ready to assume our positions in the fight against tyranny between our shores.
It is imperative that Democrats take the Congress and block Trump's authoritarian takeover of the United States. Thank you all for being on the front lines.
I totally agree! And now with this illegal & unprovoked attack on Iran, it is even more important!!
Was hoping to see more commentary about the illegal and unprovoked attack on Iran by the US and Israel? I only saw one brief mention here.
Not a lot to know yet.......
This was already reported hours ago- already the US/Israel team has killed dozens of schoolchildren:
https://abc7ny.com/live-updates/iran-live-updates-trump-says-major-combat-operations-have-begun/18660347/entry/18661061/
I feel sick. Netanyahu and Trump.
I see plenty of commentary in many other outlets, both on Substack and elsewhere...including simply outlining the many ways this is blatantly illegal.
We don't know when Norm penned this piece. It may well have been before a lot was known about Trump's illegal invasion.
He directly mentions it in the opening paragraph, and links to a tweet he posted after the bombing started.
Noted.
And that was fast work, considering this was a week's roundup and the news had only just broken.
IS IT TIME TO GO TO WAR AGAIN WITH IRAN?
The question on everyone’s mind is: “Why now?”, especially when negotiations appeared promising.
It is becoming painstakingly clear that there is an obvious pattern of Trump threatening to go to war or actually going to war against foreign countries or on the high seas whenever he suffers a devastating public humiliation.
Trump’s most recent and glaring personal humiliation was the Supreme Court’s declaration that Trump’s favorite weapon with which he sought to rule the world by extortionate tariffs was totally illegal .
The act of taking our country to war to distract the public from his heinous acts or public humiliations was Trump’s brainstorm right after his public humiliation on June 14 when the draft dodger-in-chief got the military parade he deserved.
June 14, 2025 was billed as the military parade to end all parades, which would lead to the glorification of Donald Trump on his 79th birthday as The Master of the Universe, which would even transcend his claim that he “runs the country and the world”.
As we all know, the line of disheveled soldiers slovenly marching out of step with a proud display of indifference was a huge fiasco, and a total humiliation to Trump.
So was it then a mere coincidence that at that very moment, he just happened to do a quick turn-around, reject the assessment of his own intelligence organizations and tell Iran and the world that unless Iran agrees to “unconditional surrender”, the U.S. would join in Israel’s attack on Iran, which is exactly what Trump ordered?
Did it work? You bet it did.
Trump’s sudden bombing of Iran took the entire world’s attention off the egg on Trump’s face and onto the question of whether he was leading us into a nuclear war.
Since then, a long list of domestic political setbacks for Trump and his menagerie of political clowns and servile politicians became increasingly interspersed with the invasion of Venezuela, doggedly blowing up and murdering over 100 smugglers on the high seas, whom Trump renamed as “narco-terrorists to make them sound threatening, regardless of whether women or children were on board, and sending our paratroopers into Nigeria by portraying himself as the Last Great Crusader leading a Holy War against the infidels who were allegedly persecuting Christians in Nigeria.
Trump’s unilateral stunt in taking our country to war again with Iran without the consent of Congress, worked for Trump in the past, so he’s now betting the ranch that it will work for him again.
We should not only condemn this attack because he has started it 'without the consent of Congress'.
This is of course true, but this war is also simply blatantly illegal under international law.
It doesn't matter even if Congress endorsed it, it's still an illegal, unprovoked attack against a sovereign nation. Whether the US likes Iran or not makes zero difference.
(This of course also goes for the US"s BFF, Israel....the blather about a 'preemptive strike' is meaningless)
A little long-winded, but an accurate accounting of Trump's MO. With neither Congress or the people's support for this unilaterally declared attack (commencing to war with the inevitable mission creep) on Iran, Trump may have run out of road. This latest and major distraction may not get the traction that he desires. Resist!
Very thoughtful comments.
Trump is positioning the United States to be the country that he just bombed.
Very simple to see the tract he is on.
Bless you Norm. Thank you for everything you do for our country and thank you for your indomitable spirit. You give us hope.💔🇺🇸
As dastardly an act as his decision to start this war is, we must demand that the Epstein files stay front and center. Congress must continue working on full release and on finding those missing interview notes.
Go, Norn, go. You are doing a brilliant job. We Canadians are standing right next to you.
Wow! Contrarians make sure you share. I know too many people closing their eyes because the mainstream media doesn't report this openly and honestly. Thanks Jen!!!
Please keep up the fight. Thank you for the encouragement, Sir!! We do not want more illegal wars, on us, or the world.
No elections? = revolution. My county election clerk is going to get tired of hearing me call often to confirm my registration. My point? to send a message up the chain of command that people are invested fully in a free, fair election and will hold local officials accountable for making sure that happens. Other ideas?
tell all r's who voted for trump the concentration camps they have/are building are free summer camps trump wants them to attend and once they're in, begin brain reassignment ?
(in some cases brain assignment)
Good idea!
Trump is perpetrating an endless assault on our democracy. Going to war with Iran is reckless, foolhardy, and illegal. I do think it is wrapped up in the election as well as his need to appear strong (what he defines as strength which is anything but strength), and his need to distract everyone from the Epstein debacle, his mishandling of the economy, his grotesque immigration policy, and his shameless corruption. He will take any action to hold onto power and he knows he is increasingly unpopular. He is like the proverbial cornered rat.
Our country will continue downhill until he is removed from the presidency.
Remove him now by any means or continue to watch our country decline (in many ways)
One man making hundreds of millions of Americans and billions worldwide jump through a hoop? Have I missed something here?
No one stands up to him. The press is especially lame. Blinders on big time.
An Executive Order is NOT law. The Constitution is clear. States run elections.
Yes, Trump will try. But the LAW is against him.
Norm, you and your brave, intelligent, wise colleagues help people like me to sleep at night and to wake up ready to assume our positions in the fight against tyranny between our shores.
Bravo for you Ambassador Eisen.
Wake up America. Donald Trump is leading our country into the same Dictatorship that he just bombed .
Open your eyes, vote