How quickly are we finding out? My career started in the NYC finance world in the 80s. We knew the Trump Org with Fred and his son, "3-card Monty Donny".
They quickly made their way onto the Wall Street banks' "Do not bank list." Their sins included defaulted loans, shoddy building practices, sourcing below-grade construction material, especially cement from Mafia-owned companies, huge legal liabilities for broken contracts, and racist tenement management practices. But our Chief Credit Officer from Brooklyn summed up their credit profile perfectly when he said, "There are some companies you never open the door to because doing so will poison you."
We knew the Trumps were foul in the 80s, and the US money center banks even briefly closed all banking with them. We in America knew this!
But here we are, and now we are waging war against Iran and the world; we are waging a global trade war with tariffs, attacking American citizens with masked criminals wearing cartoon badges, etc. And who is our President behind all of this stunningly depressing mess? Yep, it's none other than "3-card Monty Donny."
So, I agree that we are "finding out", but the process has not been quick; it sure has been painful, and I still find myself howling at the moon about the shallow insanity that has befallen our beloved country.
My wildest fantasy is that the next DOJ includes Leticia James, Alvin Bragg, Jack Smith, and Fanni Willis. These Americans care about justice, our Constitution, and our communities, and are committed to defending our democracy. And they aren't afraid of our wimp class of billionaires and their trash! Let's get ready to rumble!!!!
A lot of his illegal and shoddy behavior wasn't known too well outside of banking circles and New York. His propaganda machine got to more of the country than knowledge about what went on in New York. Sadly, people believed it.
"Trump’s second term will likely be remembered for his domestic war on democracy and his disastrous foreign policy, which (hopefully) has reached its nadir with the Iran war." I have realized that there is no low to which Trump won't stoop - he is a bottomless pit of ever more evil impulse. You are so right, Steve.
Yep, Joan. We have fiddled around way too long and the destruction has been far too extensive. What we are handing over to the next generation is itself criminal.
We are handing our children a disaster, pure and simple.
I can't even look for more than a second at those dangerous, deranged, demented eyes. The man is off his rocker and the child-minders have all left the building.
I wonder. I get the feeling that this war is really grinding him down despite all his bravado. That might lead to him just focusing on his ballroom or some other vanity project.
I doubt that is the case. Trump gets off on dropping bombs and using the military for his amusement. Anytime he may get the chance at using the military for his personal own video amusement, makes him believe he’s got a feather in his cap.🧢
Yes, I totally agree. The confrontation with the Epstein files unravelled the evil within...resulting in disastrous wars at home and now abroad. And, regretfully a GOP congress still unable/unwilling to defend the American or Middle Eastern victims!
Jen's premise, as usual, is wrong. She said, "...let us be clear: Trump, and Trump alone, is responsible for launching this war." Not true. This war is a result of our inability to confront Iran directly, militarily, for over four decades, despite Iran's belligerent actions against the U.S. and Israel. Jen herself recognized this over fifteen years ago but has yet to explain her complete reversal in this forum. To refresh everyone's memories about Iran's actions:
- 1979 Iran hostage crisis
- April 1983 bombing of U.S. Embassy in Beirut
- October 1983 bombing of Marine barracks, also in Beirut, killing 244
- June 1996 bombing of U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia (Khobar Towers)
- munitions supplied (IEDs and such) that killed and maimed American service members during our time in Iraq and Afghanistan
- support of proxies Hamas and Hezbollah
- October 7 attack on Israel
- a non-stop nuclear weapons program
These and other actions were directly tied to Iran. Through eight administrations, the U.S. has shown restraint in a way that has simply emboldened the mullahs. Since 1983, the Iranian regime knew that we would avoid direct military conflict if at all possible, and they have taken maximum advantage of that.
So no, it's not Trump's fault. It's the result of a lack of national will over four decades. It's on all of us. And I for one am saying it's well past time for us to neutralize Iran's regime. Good for Trump.
And what will we got with this war? A more hard line regime in Iran. A regime with an increased desire for nuclear weapons. And showing all other nations that negotiating with the US is pointless as the US can not be trusted.
Iran had been negotiating with the US just days before we attacked, and their first offer was described as promising and surprising and a path towards satisfying the US demand that they never have weapons grade enrichment. Instead of following thru on that and coming to a satisfying agreement, we instead illegally attack them and are well on the way to creating a regime in Iran that will be much worse than existed a month ago.
And if I am correct.. DJT wanted all their uranium to ensure peace. In my view that was a bit much. My feeling that it was going too far. We had already destroyed their nuclear industry. We were going to get their agreement that they would not continue that work. Someone smarter than I am write about how to win but leave the enemy without egg on their face. With some pride left. Remember what happened with Germany in WWI.. they came back at us with venom.
"And what will we got with this war? A more hard line regime in Iran. A regime with an increased desire for nuclear weapons."
Without the war, Iran would still be working towards a nuclear weapon. It's what they have been doing with every single negotiation. At no point have they ever given up their stockpile of enriched uranium. Most recently:
"Witkoff: Iran Told Us "You're Not Going To Get From Us Diplomatically What You Could Not Achieve Militarily""
"It should be clear to both Democrats and Republicans that the Iran deal allowed Iran to escape scrutiny of past violations and left plenty of room to maneuver and evade future inspections. It should likewise be clear that fear of losing the deal has led the administration to countenance Iran’s non-nuclear misbehavior."
In any event, if Iran truly wanted to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes, then why enrich uranium to sixty percent?
The ultimate aim of the war now is to destabilize the regime enough to allow the Iranian people to finish the job. We'll see how it works.
The Iranian people are unarmed. The Iranian guard forces and the military are heavily armed. The Iranian people can not "finish the job". Whatever "job" you are referring to. So far we have been told about half a dozen "reasons" and "goals" for the preemptive and illegal atrack in Iran, some completely contradictory, and all changing daily.
The Iranian people can not wrest control away from the armed IRGC who, thanks to this war, now have more say about what Iran does, and more power within Iran, which gives them even more incentive to fight harder to maintain their control. Plus a good 20% of the Iranian population completely supports this regime, that is millions of people who would fight against "finishing the job" if by that you mean regime change. In other words, it ain't gonna happen. Not without military boots on the ground from the US, which would take years, if not decades, to accomplish, if it ever got accomplished.
And btw, Iran had nuclear inspectors in country verifying that weapons grade enrichment was not happening, not until T 1.0 tore up that agreement, the JCPOA. Iran did not start to enrich beyond domestic needs until AFTER that agreement was torn up by djt.
Obviously Iran has been a source of terrorism around the world. But this illegal war will not stop that, and, it just might result in their finally accomplishing war grade enrichment and then nuclear weapons as we just gave them explicit incentive for their need to have it, along with having a more hard line regime willing to fight the west even harder. Congratulations
"This post between two pieces of bread and a slice of cheese would make a half-decent sandwich."
This forum is simply a liberal echo chamber, dedicated to all things anti-Trump. I expect no agreement with my position. You need to ask Jen why she has done a complete reversal on her positions on Iran and American actions to the regime. Don't expect an answer, though - it would destroy her current narrative.
Hal, do you really think what you say here is going to amount to a hill of beans with the overwhelming majority that subscribe to the Contrarian. If you do then your ego is larger than Trumps. Save your money pal. No one here gives a shit what you say. People like you got us into this mess. Go away!
Well of course it is. Jennifer Rubin is an opinion columnist with a particular liberal point of view. This Substack never promised to be “objective” or “journalistic.” So what? Trump’s a demented blithering idiot and his regime is a pathetic excuse for a fascist machine. There are plenty of right-wing echo chambers around if you’re looking for approval, ones that are more hard-line ideologically than you perceive this one to be.
Please do not pick on Jen. I think she explained some of her change of opinions. Things have changed and I even have had problems with how I view the Israeli and Hamas conflict. My stance has been that Israel spent millions on the Iron Dome to protect Israelis from the thousands of rockets Hamas kept send ing over their country. It is a Black Swan moment. We see people in Palestine being injured by the Israelis but we don't
see the Israelis where were saved from the rockets that were raining down on Israel. And all the while Hamas was spending millions on both their rockets and creating underground tunnels for their fight against Israel. They were the aggressors all the time.
Their Oct. 3 attack on young people at the concert was an abomination. Due to our modern sensiblities, we didn't show the dead and mutilated bodies of those young concert goers. I read an account where a woman saw another have her breast cut off by a Hamas soldier. They attacked women's genitals with weapons. It was inhumane but it was only a small blurb in the media before they were on to another issue. And of course, photos of kids being hurt creates sympathy but photos of women being attacked we can't show because of modesty.
It is all terrible. I have no solutions except that I might have to go back to the Quakers and encourage them to speak up about the uselessness of killing each other to come to a conclusion. I thought Trump was going to convince the Russians that the world would do better in peace than war. That increased trade in the world would profit all of us. All of us.
Instead, he bought the document created by Conservatives, Project 2025, that Republicans I know said would never happen. But Trump isn't a thinking man, he is an impulsive child with a giant ego.
I do go on. I am just trying to think of a solution. What should we do, what can we do.
FIRST lets all thank Jen for creating this wonderful forum and movement with Norm going to court to prove the Rule of Law works.
I don’t know about usual but your comment is historically blind and ignorant. Go back to 1953, Hal, and any Iranian regime’s hostility to the USA would be at least understandable, probably justified. Who says we have to go to war if another regime is hostile?? What presumption.
"I don’t know about usual but your comment is historically blind and ignorant. Go back to 1953..."
Give me your version of what happened in 1953. I'm sure there's more than one. Regardless, Iran's attempting to build nuclear weapons for offensive purposes rather than deterrence.
Hal, Iran's enmity toward the US has historical context. You cherry picked a point in time that ignores that and that weakens your position. Also you seem pretty strident, perhaps fixated, about finding Jen wrong or changing positions.
That said, I see the religious nutters of Iran as choosing religion over prosperity for over 50 years now. They adopted a path of government doomed to fail their own people. They have tried to excuse their failure by blaming the Great Satan and the Jews. The ayatollahs have run Iran into the ground, they have defeated themselves and we should allow them to finish the job -- not prolong the process by providing external props justifications.
If Iran attained nuclear arms capability, then what? They join the MAD group. I would fear our own Christian Nationalists use of nuclear weapons more than Iran's leaders. Our own religious nutters really do seek the 'end times' and are quite willing to kill off the rest of the globe to bring it about.
"Also you seem pretty strident, perhaps fixated, about finding Jen wrong or changing positions."
Jen seems pretty strident, perhaps fixated, about finding Trump wrong on everything - perhaps you haven't noticed.
"If Iran attained nuclear arms capability, then what? They join the MAD group."
Iran will use whatever weapons they can manufacture with the materials they have and employ them, at a minimum, against Israel and us. And they won't necessarily use missiles. Deployment could be "Tom Clancy" style, waiting weeks or months and then delivering a low-yield device by container ship to be detonated in a harbor. If they have anything left over then they will save them and use their own population as a human shield, waiting for the assured retaliation. That may be the point Israel does the unthinkable and uses its own nukes against Iran. But I believe the "religious nutters" in Iran actually want the end of the world and that would be how they make it happen. So, no, Iran should not under any circumstances be allowed to have nuclear weapons.
There will be consequences that will be paid by this that could last for years. I might agree with you somewhat…but Trump is not the one who should have started this charge. He is an evil person who cares nothing about the Iranian people. He is a one trick pony, and the only plan he has ever had, is to bully and extort.
AND…he promised no forever wars. Remember that? In order to win this war, many people…Iranians and Americans will die. And, the toll will be seen around the world.
It is hypocritical to think it was right to go to war with Iran. Russia is aiding Iran, while killing Ukrainians and destroying their country.
There was NO STRATEGIC PLAN…in fact no plan other than to go with, “I will feel it in my bones.”
I wish there was a better word the. ClusterF—CK to describe the insanity of the whole thing.
"There will be consequences that will be paid by this that could last for years."
No doubt. Said Jen in 2010:
"At every turn — engagement, “reset” with Russia, quietude on the June 12 uprising, downplaying the Qom revelation, fashioning anemic sanctions, and abusing our ally Israel — the Obama team has made fundamental errors. This leaves two options: Israeli military action or a nuclear-armed Iran. The former is undesirable, but the latter is catastrophic. That we face this dilemma is solely the result of Obama’s grievous errors. History will not be kind."
"Obama missed the window of time to both forestall a nuclear-armed, jihadist state and to help uproot an evil regime. The world and the Iranian people will pay a heavy price for it."
What makes you think this will be a "forever war"?
"There was NO STRATEGIC PLAN…in fact no plan other than to go with..."
Yeah, nothing like explaining "the plan" to the public so our enemies know how to react. Brilliant...
"I wish there was a better word the. ClusterF—CK to describe the insanity of the whole thing."
At the tactical level, the U.S. is degrading Iran's ability to attack its neighbors and U.S. forces stationed in the region. The Israelis are degrading Iran's ability to attack its own citizens. Meanwhile, weapons are being funneled into Iran so that when the regime is weak enough, the population can finally rise up with little to fear from the regime. And make no mistake: the vast majority of the Iranian population wants the mullahs gone, as does every other country in the region.
At the strategic level, Trump is attempting to realign the western hemisphere. The Panama Canal, Venezuela, Cuba, and Chile are examples of ridding the hemisphere of Russian, Chinese and Iranian influence. Of course Jen and company can't see that because they are so laser focused on "Orange Man Bad" they miss everything else. Now we're going to "defang the mullahs" (Jen's words) and remove the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran which is not only a threat to the region but to us.
The fact that you can list all the issues with Iran is totally irrelevant. Trump IS 100% responsible for THIS war because he unconstitutionally ordered it, full stop. And he did so without consulting, much less warning, congress or our allies, if we have any left, and without ANY planning for the war or the consequences. Anyone with half a brain knew that Iran would endeavor to close the Strait of Hormuz.
Or maybe one thing was planned: Krasnov is again exposing his disloyalty to the United States by cutting sanctions on Russian oil while they help Iran target our forces, saving Putin's bacon because Russia was months from economic collapse.
Since you insist that "it's well past time for us to neutralize Iran's regime," go ahead and enlist and head on over.
But hurry, TACO will probably declare victory soon, and move on to another disaster, leaving us sicker, weaker, and $12 trillion more in debt.
There is plenty of time left for Trump to take our nation to even lower depths. Here's some other people who deserve to share the blame:
The CEOs who caved and groveled.
The Generals (Trump cleaned out some considered insufficiently loyal).
The Supreme Court majority.
Administration members who know better but continue to bow and scrape (e.g. Rubio and the VP, although the latter may be having second thoughts, too late!)
And of course all the MAGA voters and Trump sycophants.
You left out the Magapublicans in Congress who allowed and abetted Trump. They could have served the country and put a stop to what's happening long ago.
True, but no use crying over what could have been. We need to strengthen our positions and select more winning candidates, espeically looking forward to 2028.
Vance (?Vontz, Yiddish for bedbug) is blatantly ambitious and has his sights set on replacing Don the Con in 2028. So because of that his loyalties are very flexible-- he'll say whatever he thinks will advance him. So if he's having "second thoughts" it's pretty transparent that he's the rat who, out of self interest, is the first to abandon a sinking ship (or in this case, a stinking shit), and we shouldn't trust him any further than we can throw him.
But that assumes they have conscience, backbone and gonads, when in practice they checked those things at the door when they signed on to be crew on the SS Trump
"In his narcissistic quest for domination, Trump illustrates why we must never go to war based on one deranged president’s “gut.”"
Felon47 has a severe case of dyspepsia/GERD due to his "gut" instincts. It's painful MAGA-Acidosis and is in dire need of a strong buffer, lest we all suffer more of his acerbic Creed of Greed. Democracy demands neutrality, otherwise The Body Politic will shut down. Resistance is the Buffer. The Red Hats must face their conjugate base.
Don't you wish President Zelenskyy could be the US President as well as Ukraine's? He bravely resists Russia's illegal invasion and war crimes for four years, despite Trump's clear preference for Putin, generously offers to help with drone defense (Trump claims no need for that, because the US knows more about drones than anyone else, as if), and could potentially improve Ukraine's defenses and bottom line at the same time by swapping defense missiles for Ukrainian drones and their cost-effective drone defenses. Meanwhile, we have Trump.
Why 75 million people got conned by this career loser and put him back in office is a mystery for the ages. His six bankruptcies, failed businesses, sexual misconduct, tax fraud, and more were out there for all to see. It didn't even take much research. And most puzzling of all—those 75 million voters had his disastrous first term to consider, during which he tried to steal a free and fair election, incited a riot at the Capitol, completely butchered our nation's COVID response, stole government top secrets, and embarrassed us around the world... the list goes on. That plus the fact he's nearly 80 years old and clearly in poor health. Who thought this wannabe dictator, habitual liar, and ignoramus was the answer to our problems?
I wish you might say more about Americans standing up in opposition all over the US while the gop "majority" rolls over; you know, as a counterpoint to what this regime with its matching florsheims and pouty lips are doing. As far as Joe Kent is concerned, well, he should never have been confirmed, along with the entire cabinet IMO. But here we are. I believe the vast majority of us are not stupid dolts. We know exactly what's going on with the felon in chief and his pals. May all of them be investigated, indicted ( many for treason), adjudicated, and removed from society for their crimes.
You might enjoy Rachel Maddow’s keynote at the University of British Columbia in Canada last week. It includes what Americans are doing all over the country to keep a record of what Trump is trying to destroy. It was so inspiring to hear. https://youtu.be/BGqypLBWjKY?si=xHu06Yok8uSWoMVJ
Thanks Jenny. She is good about reporting actions by Americans. I read Robert Hubbell's substack which always provides this part of the daily narrative.
"Trump may regret shredding America’s moral stature..."
Not a chance he'll regret anything. He'll certainly never admit it. He never recognized America's stature beyond its military might which he's misused again and again.
You’re right Jennifer. Trumps war not the United States war.
He is a warmonger. Period
From the beginning his administration changed Department Defense to Department War. What does that tell you.
He hasn’t solved one war, especially the one he was solving the first day in office (Ukraine). Now we are in three wars and Mr Negotiator hasn’t solved one war.
Jen, the first paragraph says it all most succinctly. The rest of the article explains and defines Trump's faulty thinking, assuming any actually took place. In any case, he (and the U.S.) is getting a dose of its own medicine: Treat allies like dirt; don't expect them to come to our aid, (and they aren't). They don't want to embroil themselves in this illegal preemptive war started by Trump. Even Kent said that there was no imminent threat, as have many others. This was a stupid choice for a distraction: A war of convenience, if you will, which will not improve our safety or security. Oh, and by the way, Trump, the Epstein files are temporarily eclipsed, but have not vanished.
Basically Trump exhibited a combination of a 2 year old having a melt down and a 10 year old cheating schoolyard bully who's angry because the other kids have grown tired of him and refuse to play his games.
I would just add to Ms. Rubin's column that although virtually each paragraph starts with "Trump", it could just as well start with "The Republican Party".
Above all else it is the Republican party that has betrayed the Constitution and forfeited their right to exist as a legitimate political party.
"Trump may regret shredding America’s moral stature, a historically indispensable part of our influence around the world. He has eradicated the difference between the U.S. and other rogue regimes that invade neighbors and kill innocent people indiscriminately."
Alas, a conscience is required in order to feel regret.
Trump has no conscience, just a lizard brain.
Meanwhile though, hopefully many of his voters are having regrets.
If his loyal voters aren't getting it, Trump isn't keeping his promises to them. No wars? Hah. Lower Prices? Ya gotta be kidding. A better life? Where? They should treat him as he has treated them.
As a former USAF Combat Intelligence Officer, air power can destroy tank farms and military targets, but they can not clear the mines from the Strait of Hormuz. Insurance companies are going to charge exorpiant rates or not insure passage at all. Welcome to a future of higher gas prices, and unrest in the Middle East.
This might be a good place to hash out the suggestion that referrig to a "pro-Israel Lobby" is necessarily an anti-semitic trope. Certainly the use of the term probably was anti-semitic historically, but now? Isn't it the case that a significant part of the support for Israeli-positive actions by the US Government is from the Christian Fundamentalist right?
Is there a better, non-anti-semitic, way to object to US support of what some of us see as run-away Israeli policies which abuse (probably too polite a word) Palestinians?
Is there even a lobby of this sort? If there was a lobby, it would be an organized group which has some strength to influence US government policy? And then what about Iranian stated policy to remove Israel from the face of the earth? Is that an approach by a foreign government that we as well as Israel should ignore?
Somehow, our current war reminds me of the admonition not to tell someone to go to h*ll if you cannot make it happen.
Your response begins with a telling comment that a phrase like "pro-Israel lobby" must be anti-Semitic. "Israel" is not equivalent to "Jewish," however much Netanyahu wishes it were. Let's stop conflating the two and recognize the damage to US interests Israeli policy has done to our standing in the world.
Sherry, I thought that was what I was trying to get at. It seemed to me that Jennifer suggested that the idea that there was sucha lobby was an anti-semitic trope. I'd hoped that it wasn't anymore and wondered if there even was such lobby and if there was, who comprised it. And if this sounds like I'm confused. I am.
That's what I came here to say. Although Kent is (was?) a MAGA supporting Trumpite, why would blaming "Israel and it's powerful American lobby” be considered antisemitic? Other American Jews, notably Paul Krugman in his Substack today, have done so (Why did Donald Trump attack Iran? Did he believe that a quick victory would boost his poll ratings? Was he looking for a way to change the subject from the Epstein files and affordability? Was he seduced into war by the Israeli government? The answer, surely, is all of the above) have suggested as much. Surely criticizing the Israeli government, or AIPAC, shouldn't be equated with antisemitism.
In 2024, Trump assured the voters that, "I'm not going to start a war. I'm going to end wars." In his first 4 disastrous years, the Washington Post calculated that he lied an average of 21 times per day. Clearly, the deranged and increasingly demented version of Trump currently occupying the White House is hellbent to improve on that average -- assuming he is mentally competent enough to even realize he's lying.
Jennifer, your intelligent reporting is excellent but I am sure I am not alone in wishing that photos of trump would not appear at the top. We all know what he looks like, and I loathe the look of him and the sound of his voice although I need to read about him to remain informed.
Great summary of where we are. I would add Trump's aggression also highlights his total disregard for average people, including killing people for just being in boats, not caring about the death of school children and civilians, not caring about so many people needing to flee his damage, and not caring one bit about his actions hurting average Americans.
I also am glad countries, formally our allies, are letting Trump hang out there, not letting him off the hook for his disastrous decisions.
If only Republican leaders would do their job to protect our country, reputation, laws, economy, and just plain human decency.
You are right. But Trump cornered is Trump more dangerous. Fingers crossed.
Yes. If the SAVE Act fails, will he then go into Cuba, as the next distraction?
As we're quickly finding out, with this man, anything is possible, and none of it good.
How quickly are we finding out? My career started in the NYC finance world in the 80s. We knew the Trump Org with Fred and his son, "3-card Monty Donny".
They quickly made their way onto the Wall Street banks' "Do not bank list." Their sins included defaulted loans, shoddy building practices, sourcing below-grade construction material, especially cement from Mafia-owned companies, huge legal liabilities for broken contracts, and racist tenement management practices. But our Chief Credit Officer from Brooklyn summed up their credit profile perfectly when he said, "There are some companies you never open the door to because doing so will poison you."
We knew the Trumps were foul in the 80s, and the US money center banks even briefly closed all banking with them. We in America knew this!
But here we are, and now we are waging war against Iran and the world; we are waging a global trade war with tariffs, attacking American citizens with masked criminals wearing cartoon badges, etc. And who is our President behind all of this stunningly depressing mess? Yep, it's none other than "3-card Monty Donny."
So, I agree that we are "finding out", but the process has not been quick; it sure has been painful, and I still find myself howling at the moon about the shallow insanity that has befallen our beloved country.
My wildest fantasy is that the next DOJ includes Leticia James, Alvin Bragg, Jack Smith, and Fanni Willis. These Americans care about justice, our Constitution, and our communities, and are committed to defending our democracy. And they aren't afraid of our wimp class of billionaires and their trash! Let's get ready to rumble!!!!
A lot of his illegal and shoddy behavior wasn't known too well outside of banking circles and New York. His propaganda machine got to more of the country than knowledge about what went on in New York. Sadly, people believed it.
Correct, Marcus. He MUST be arrested and indicted for murder now. Any further delay will be catastrophic for our children and their children.
Dear Marcus,
Every word you have written proves what we are facing. I epecially like the image of howling at the moon. That is the way I am feeling too.
"Trump’s second term will likely be remembered for his domestic war on democracy and his disastrous foreign policy, which (hopefully) has reached its nadir with the Iran war." I have realized that there is no low to which Trump won't stoop - he is a bottomless pit of ever more evil impulse. You are so right, Steve.
Yep, Joan. We have fiddled around way too long and the destruction has been far too extensive. What we are handing over to the next generation is itself criminal.
We are handing our children a disaster, pure and simple.
I think he is actually the Devil’s Devil.
He is a true lunatic who should be hospitalized and constrained in a straight jacket.
I can't even look for more than a second at those dangerous, deranged, demented eyes. The man is off his rocker and the child-minders have all left the building.
It's more like the child-minders are feeding him lots of high sugar-content candy and then sitting back and watching the results.
We have to act now. He has to be indicted for murder now. There is no time left.
I wonder. I get the feeling that this war is really grinding him down despite all his bravado. That might lead to him just focusing on his ballroom or some other vanity project.
No stinkin' ballroom, and no ugly arch.
And leave the Kennedy Center alone too.
I’m with you.
Trump is not the only thing that is being grinded down.
America is also being pulverized.
Have you noticed?
It is becoming clear that our children ARE increasingly become more and more aware of our countries destruction.
They do not seem to be very happy at all.
I doubt that is the case. Trump gets off on dropping bombs and using the military for his amusement. Anytime he may get the chance at using the military for his personal own video amusement, makes him believe he’s got a feather in his cap.🧢
Even so, it's too late. We now must immediately do what we can do begin repairing the damage.
Yes, Kim,
He now can construct his Arch de Trump in Washington, DC. In his mind he has won the war in Iran, and might be ready for a celebratory victory parade.
Oh, no. He is able to do both. And, golf!
I wish (as much as I hate the ballroom!) But I think the compulsion is still to show strength - and that means f***ing with another country.
We are ALL allowing this to happen RIGHTNOW by not indicting him for murder. I am afraid we have waited way too long.
Yes, I totally agree. The confrontation with the Epstein files unravelled the evil within...resulting in disastrous wars at home and now abroad. And, regretfully a GOP congress still unable/unwilling to defend the American or Middle Eastern victims!
Jen's premise, as usual, is wrong. She said, "...let us be clear: Trump, and Trump alone, is responsible for launching this war." Not true. This war is a result of our inability to confront Iran directly, militarily, for over four decades, despite Iran's belligerent actions against the U.S. and Israel. Jen herself recognized this over fifteen years ago but has yet to explain her complete reversal in this forum. To refresh everyone's memories about Iran's actions:
- 1979 Iran hostage crisis
- April 1983 bombing of U.S. Embassy in Beirut
- October 1983 bombing of Marine barracks, also in Beirut, killing 244
- June 1996 bombing of U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia (Khobar Towers)
- munitions supplied (IEDs and such) that killed and maimed American service members during our time in Iraq and Afghanistan
- support of proxies Hamas and Hezbollah
- October 7 attack on Israel
- a non-stop nuclear weapons program
These and other actions were directly tied to Iran. Through eight administrations, the U.S. has shown restraint in a way that has simply emboldened the mullahs. Since 1983, the Iranian regime knew that we would avoid direct military conflict if at all possible, and they have taken maximum advantage of that.
So no, it's not Trump's fault. It's the result of a lack of national will over four decades. It's on all of us. And I for one am saying it's well past time for us to neutralize Iran's regime. Good for Trump.
And what will we got with this war? A more hard line regime in Iran. A regime with an increased desire for nuclear weapons. And showing all other nations that negotiating with the US is pointless as the US can not be trusted.
Iran had been negotiating with the US just days before we attacked, and their first offer was described as promising and surprising and a path towards satisfying the US demand that they never have weapons grade enrichment. Instead of following thru on that and coming to a satisfying agreement, we instead illegally attack them and are well on the way to creating a regime in Iran that will be much worse than existed a month ago.
And if I am correct.. DJT wanted all their uranium to ensure peace. In my view that was a bit much. My feeling that it was going too far. We had already destroyed their nuclear industry. We were going to get their agreement that they would not continue that work. Someone smarter than I am write about how to win but leave the enemy without egg on their face. With some pride left. Remember what happened with Germany in WWI.. they came back at us with venom.
"And what will we got with this war? A more hard line regime in Iran. A regime with an increased desire for nuclear weapons."
Without the war, Iran would still be working towards a nuclear weapon. It's what they have been doing with every single negotiation. At no point have they ever given up their stockpile of enriched uranium. Most recently:
"Witkoff: Iran Told Us "You're Not Going To Get From Us Diplomatically What You Could Not Achieve Militarily""
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2026/03/11/witkoff_iran_told_us_youre_not_going_to_get_from_us_diplomatically_what_you_could_not_achieve_militarily.html
Here's Jen Rubin's own assessment of the 2016 deal, which was supposed to be the final time we needed to do so:
"New evidence of Iran’s chicanery — and the Obama administration’s"
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2016/06/20/new-evidence-of-irans-chicanery-and-the-obama-administrations/
Key takeaway:
"It should be clear to both Democrats and Republicans that the Iran deal allowed Iran to escape scrutiny of past violations and left plenty of room to maneuver and evade future inspections. It should likewise be clear that fear of losing the deal has led the administration to countenance Iran’s non-nuclear misbehavior."
In any event, if Iran truly wanted to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes, then why enrich uranium to sixty percent?
The ultimate aim of the war now is to destabilize the regime enough to allow the Iranian people to finish the job. We'll see how it works.
The Iranian people are unarmed. The Iranian guard forces and the military are heavily armed. The Iranian people can not "finish the job". Whatever "job" you are referring to. So far we have been told about half a dozen "reasons" and "goals" for the preemptive and illegal atrack in Iran, some completely contradictory, and all changing daily.
The Iranian people can not wrest control away from the armed IRGC who, thanks to this war, now have more say about what Iran does, and more power within Iran, which gives them even more incentive to fight harder to maintain their control. Plus a good 20% of the Iranian population completely supports this regime, that is millions of people who would fight against "finishing the job" if by that you mean regime change. In other words, it ain't gonna happen. Not without military boots on the ground from the US, which would take years, if not decades, to accomplish, if it ever got accomplished.
And btw, Iran had nuclear inspectors in country verifying that weapons grade enrichment was not happening, not until T 1.0 tore up that agreement, the JCPOA. Iran did not start to enrich beyond domestic needs until AFTER that agreement was torn up by djt.
Obviously Iran has been a source of terrorism around the world. But this illegal war will not stop that, and, it just might result in their finally accomplishing war grade enrichment and then nuclear weapons as we just gave them explicit incentive for their need to have it, along with having a more hard line regime willing to fight the west even harder. Congratulations
This post between two pieces of bread and a slice of cheese would make a half-decent sandwich. Oscar Mayer is jealous.
You and I might - might - agree on the time of day, but that would be about it.
"This post between two pieces of bread and a slice of cheese would make a half-decent sandwich."
This forum is simply a liberal echo chamber, dedicated to all things anti-Trump. I expect no agreement with my position. You need to ask Jen why she has done a complete reversal on her positions on Iran and American actions to the regime. Don't expect an answer, though - it would destroy her current narrative.
Hal, do you really think what you say here is going to amount to a hill of beans with the overwhelming majority that subscribe to the Contrarian. If you do then your ego is larger than Trumps. Save your money pal. No one here gives a shit what you say. People like you got us into this mess. Go away!
Well of course it is. Jennifer Rubin is an opinion columnist with a particular liberal point of view. This Substack never promised to be “objective” or “journalistic.” So what? Trump’s a demented blithering idiot and his regime is a pathetic excuse for a fascist machine. There are plenty of right-wing echo chambers around if you’re looking for approval, ones that are more hard-line ideologically than you perceive this one to be.
Yea, but they got your money. HA HA
Please do not pick on Jen. I think she explained some of her change of opinions. Things have changed and I even have had problems with how I view the Israeli and Hamas conflict. My stance has been that Israel spent millions on the Iron Dome to protect Israelis from the thousands of rockets Hamas kept send ing over their country. It is a Black Swan moment. We see people in Palestine being injured by the Israelis but we don't
see the Israelis where were saved from the rockets that were raining down on Israel. And all the while Hamas was spending millions on both their rockets and creating underground tunnels for their fight against Israel. They were the aggressors all the time.
Their Oct. 3 attack on young people at the concert was an abomination. Due to our modern sensiblities, we didn't show the dead and mutilated bodies of those young concert goers. I read an account where a woman saw another have her breast cut off by a Hamas soldier. They attacked women's genitals with weapons. It was inhumane but it was only a small blurb in the media before they were on to another issue. And of course, photos of kids being hurt creates sympathy but photos of women being attacked we can't show because of modesty.
It is all terrible. I have no solutions except that I might have to go back to the Quakers and encourage them to speak up about the uselessness of killing each other to come to a conclusion. I thought Trump was going to convince the Russians that the world would do better in peace than war. That increased trade in the world would profit all of us. All of us.
Instead, he bought the document created by Conservatives, Project 2025, that Republicans I know said would never happen. But Trump isn't a thinking man, he is an impulsive child with a giant ego.
I do go on. I am just trying to think of a solution. What should we do, what can we do.
FIRST lets all thank Jen for creating this wonderful forum and movement with Norm going to court to prove the Rule of Law works.
I don’t know about usual but your comment is historically blind and ignorant. Go back to 1953, Hal, and any Iranian regime’s hostility to the USA would be at least understandable, probably justified. Who says we have to go to war if another regime is hostile?? What presumption.
"I don’t know about usual but your comment is historically blind and ignorant. Go back to 1953..."
Give me your version of what happened in 1953. I'm sure there's more than one. Regardless, Iran's attempting to build nuclear weapons for offensive purposes rather than deterrence.
I don’t train AI any more than I have to.
Hal, Iran's enmity toward the US has historical context. You cherry picked a point in time that ignores that and that weakens your position. Also you seem pretty strident, perhaps fixated, about finding Jen wrong or changing positions.
That said, I see the religious nutters of Iran as choosing religion over prosperity for over 50 years now. They adopted a path of government doomed to fail their own people. They have tried to excuse their failure by blaming the Great Satan and the Jews. The ayatollahs have run Iran into the ground, they have defeated themselves and we should allow them to finish the job -- not prolong the process by providing external props justifications.
If Iran attained nuclear arms capability, then what? They join the MAD group. I would fear our own Christian Nationalists use of nuclear weapons more than Iran's leaders. Our own religious nutters really do seek the 'end times' and are quite willing to kill off the rest of the globe to bring it about.
"Also you seem pretty strident, perhaps fixated, about finding Jen wrong or changing positions."
Jen seems pretty strident, perhaps fixated, about finding Trump wrong on everything - perhaps you haven't noticed.
"If Iran attained nuclear arms capability, then what? They join the MAD group."
Iran will use whatever weapons they can manufacture with the materials they have and employ them, at a minimum, against Israel and us. And they won't necessarily use missiles. Deployment could be "Tom Clancy" style, waiting weeks or months and then delivering a low-yield device by container ship to be detonated in a harbor. If they have anything left over then they will save them and use their own population as a human shield, waiting for the assured retaliation. That may be the point Israel does the unthinkable and uses its own nukes against Iran. But I believe the "religious nutters" in Iran actually want the end of the world and that would be how they make it happen. So, no, Iran should not under any circumstances be allowed to have nuclear weapons.
There will be consequences that will be paid by this that could last for years. I might agree with you somewhat…but Trump is not the one who should have started this charge. He is an evil person who cares nothing about the Iranian people. He is a one trick pony, and the only plan he has ever had, is to bully and extort.
AND…he promised no forever wars. Remember that? In order to win this war, many people…Iranians and Americans will die. And, the toll will be seen around the world.
It is hypocritical to think it was right to go to war with Iran. Russia is aiding Iran, while killing Ukrainians and destroying their country.
There was NO STRATEGIC PLAN…in fact no plan other than to go with, “I will feel it in my bones.”
I wish there was a better word the. ClusterF—CK to describe the insanity of the whole thing.
"There will be consequences that will be paid by this that could last for years."
No doubt. Said Jen in 2010:
"At every turn — engagement, “reset” with Russia, quietude on the June 12 uprising, downplaying the Qom revelation, fashioning anemic sanctions, and abusing our ally Israel — the Obama team has made fundamental errors. This leaves two options: Israeli military action or a nuclear-armed Iran. The former is undesirable, but the latter is catastrophic. That we face this dilemma is solely the result of Obama’s grievous errors. History will not be kind."
https://www.commentary.org/jennifer-rubin/obamas-iran-policy-in-shambles/
And this:
"Obama missed the window of time to both forestall a nuclear-armed, jihadist state and to help uproot an evil regime. The world and the Iranian people will pay a heavy price for it."
https://www.commentary.org/jennifer-rubin/what-obamas-iran-policy-has-wrought/
"AND…he promised no forever wars. Remember that?"
What makes you think this will be a "forever war"?
"There was NO STRATEGIC PLAN…in fact no plan other than to go with..."
Yeah, nothing like explaining "the plan" to the public so our enemies know how to react. Brilliant...
"I wish there was a better word the. ClusterF—CK to describe the insanity of the whole thing."
At the tactical level, the U.S. is degrading Iran's ability to attack its neighbors and U.S. forces stationed in the region. The Israelis are degrading Iran's ability to attack its own citizens. Meanwhile, weapons are being funneled into Iran so that when the regime is weak enough, the population can finally rise up with little to fear from the regime. And make no mistake: the vast majority of the Iranian population wants the mullahs gone, as does every other country in the region.
At the strategic level, Trump is attempting to realign the western hemisphere. The Panama Canal, Venezuela, Cuba, and Chile are examples of ridding the hemisphere of Russian, Chinese and Iranian influence. Of course Jen and company can't see that because they are so laser focused on "Orange Man Bad" they miss everything else. Now we're going to "defang the mullahs" (Jen's words) and remove the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran which is not only a threat to the region but to us.
The fact that you can list all the issues with Iran is totally irrelevant. Trump IS 100% responsible for THIS war because he unconstitutionally ordered it, full stop. And he did so without consulting, much less warning, congress or our allies, if we have any left, and without ANY planning for the war or the consequences. Anyone with half a brain knew that Iran would endeavor to close the Strait of Hormuz.
Or maybe one thing was planned: Krasnov is again exposing his disloyalty to the United States by cutting sanctions on Russian oil while they help Iran target our forces, saving Putin's bacon because Russia was months from economic collapse.
Since you insist that "it's well past time for us to neutralize Iran's regime," go ahead and enlist and head on over.
But hurry, TACO will probably declare victory soon, and move on to another disaster, leaving us sicker, weaker, and $12 trillion more in debt.
There is plenty of time left for Trump to take our nation to even lower depths. Here's some other people who deserve to share the blame:
The CEOs who caved and groveled.
The Generals (Trump cleaned out some considered insufficiently loyal).
The Supreme Court majority.
Administration members who know better but continue to bow and scrape (e.g. Rubio and the VP, although the latter may be having second thoughts, too late!)
And of course all the MAGA voters and Trump sycophants.
You left out the Magapublicans in Congress who allowed and abetted Trump. They could have served the country and put a stop to what's happening long ago.
None dare call him Krasnov!
And that's a problem!
And those anti-Trump folks who could not bring themselves to vote for a woman in 2024.
True, but no use crying over what could have been. We need to strengthen our positions and select more winning candidates, espeically looking forward to 2028.
Vance (?Vontz, Yiddish for bedbug) is blatantly ambitious and has his sights set on replacing Don the Con in 2028. So because of that his loyalties are very flexible-- he'll say whatever he thinks will advance him. So if he's having "second thoughts" it's pretty transparent that he's the rat who, out of self interest, is the first to abandon a sinking ship (or in this case, a stinking shit), and we shouldn't trust him any further than we can throw him.
I dubbed him Vassilating Vance.
The GOP in the House and Senate that could a serious pause on him.....
But that assumes they have conscience, backbone and gonads, when in practice they checked those things at the door when they signed on to be crew on the SS Trump
“put” a serious
"In his narcissistic quest for domination, Trump illustrates why we must never go to war based on one deranged president’s “gut.”"
Felon47 has a severe case of dyspepsia/GERD due to his "gut" instincts. It's painful MAGA-Acidosis and is in dire need of a strong buffer, lest we all suffer more of his acerbic Creed of Greed. Democracy demands neutrality, otherwise The Body Politic will shut down. Resistance is the Buffer. The Red Hats must face their conjugate base.
Thomas well said Democracy Will Prevail✌🏼🇺🇸
Don't you wish President Zelenskyy could be the US President as well as Ukraine's? He bravely resists Russia's illegal invasion and war crimes for four years, despite Trump's clear preference for Putin, generously offers to help with drone defense (Trump claims no need for that, because the US knows more about drones than anyone else, as if), and could potentially improve Ukraine's defenses and bottom line at the same time by swapping defense missiles for Ukrainian drones and their cost-effective drone defenses. Meanwhile, we have Trump.
Why 75 million people got conned by this career loser and put him back in office is a mystery for the ages. His six bankruptcies, failed businesses, sexual misconduct, tax fraud, and more were out there for all to see. It didn't even take much research. And most puzzling of all—those 75 million voters had his disastrous first term to consider, during which he tried to steal a free and fair election, incited a riot at the Capitol, completely butchered our nation's COVID response, stole government top secrets, and embarrassed us around the world... the list goes on. That plus the fact he's nearly 80 years old and clearly in poor health. Who thought this wannabe dictator, habitual liar, and ignoramus was the answer to our problems?
You cannot reason MAGA out of a position that they did not reason themselves into.
They are motivated by emotion, primarily, by fear driven hatred of “the other“ that they have been told are taking things that are rightfully theirs.
he is every racists dream
Steven, Miller’s, to be sure.
and many MAGAS !
75 million people. 🤦🏼♀️
I wish you might say more about Americans standing up in opposition all over the US while the gop "majority" rolls over; you know, as a counterpoint to what this regime with its matching florsheims and pouty lips are doing. As far as Joe Kent is concerned, well, he should never have been confirmed, along with the entire cabinet IMO. But here we are. I believe the vast majority of us are not stupid dolts. We know exactly what's going on with the felon in chief and his pals. May all of them be investigated, indicted ( many for treason), adjudicated, and removed from society for their crimes.
You might enjoy Rachel Maddow’s keynote at the University of British Columbia in Canada last week. It includes what Americans are doing all over the country to keep a record of what Trump is trying to destroy. It was so inspiring to hear. https://youtu.be/BGqypLBWjKY?si=xHu06Yok8uSWoMVJ
Thanks Jenny. She is good about reporting actions by Americans. I read Robert Hubbell's substack which always provides this part of the daily narrative.
Good. He is a gem too.
"Trump may regret shredding America’s moral stature..."
Not a chance he'll regret anything. He'll certainly never admit it. He never recognized America's stature beyond its military might which he's misused again and again.
Indeed; “moral stature“ is not something that Trump has ever possessed or valued so why would he regret degrading it?
"moral stature"? Would he even RECOGNIZE it?
He’ll regret it only because it’s making him look bad.
You’re right Jennifer. Trumps war not the United States war.
He is a warmonger. Period
From the beginning his administration changed Department Defense to Department War. What does that tell you.
He hasn’t solved one war, especially the one he was solving the first day in office (Ukraine). Now we are in three wars and Mr Negotiator hasn’t solved one war.
He is a losing Warmonger. Period
bankrupt in every way and thought
Jen, the first paragraph says it all most succinctly. The rest of the article explains and defines Trump's faulty thinking, assuming any actually took place. In any case, he (and the U.S.) is getting a dose of its own medicine: Treat allies like dirt; don't expect them to come to our aid, (and they aren't). They don't want to embroil themselves in this illegal preemptive war started by Trump. Even Kent said that there was no imminent threat, as have many others. This was a stupid choice for a distraction: A war of convenience, if you will, which will not improve our safety or security. Oh, and by the way, Trump, the Epstein files are temporarily eclipsed, but have not vanished.
Basically Trump exhibited a combination of a 2 year old having a melt down and a 10 year old cheating schoolyard bully who's angry because the other kids have grown tired of him and refuse to play his games.
If he were only still in the schoolyard instead of the White House...
MAGA's peace & prosperity president? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh5HDjCHe5Q
Propaganda & AI aren't enough to hide the failures. Resist MAGA gangster, grifter authoritarianism! Vote Sane. #VoteBlue!
I would just add to Ms. Rubin's column that although virtually each paragraph starts with "Trump", it could just as well start with "The Republican Party".
Above all else it is the Republican party that has betrayed the Constitution and forfeited their right to exist as a legitimate political party.
"Trump may regret shredding America’s moral stature, a historically indispensable part of our influence around the world. He has eradicated the difference between the U.S. and other rogue regimes that invade neighbors and kill innocent people indiscriminately."
Alas, a conscience is required in order to feel regret.
Trump has no conscience, just a lizard brain.
Meanwhile though, hopefully many of his voters are having regrets.
If his loyal voters aren't getting it, Trump isn't keeping his promises to them. No wars? Hah. Lower Prices? Ya gotta be kidding. A better life? Where? They should treat him as he has treated them.
pitchforks at the gate
As a former USAF Combat Intelligence Officer, air power can destroy tank farms and military targets, but they can not clear the mines from the Strait of Hormuz. Insurance companies are going to charge exorpiant rates or not insure passage at all. Welcome to a future of higher gas prices, and unrest in the Middle East.
This might be a good place to hash out the suggestion that referrig to a "pro-Israel Lobby" is necessarily an anti-semitic trope. Certainly the use of the term probably was anti-semitic historically, but now? Isn't it the case that a significant part of the support for Israeli-positive actions by the US Government is from the Christian Fundamentalist right?
Is there a better, non-anti-semitic, way to object to US support of what some of us see as run-away Israeli policies which abuse (probably too polite a word) Palestinians?
Is there even a lobby of this sort? If there was a lobby, it would be an organized group which has some strength to influence US government policy? And then what about Iranian stated policy to remove Israel from the face of the earth? Is that an approach by a foreign government that we as well as Israel should ignore?
Somehow, our current war reminds me of the admonition not to tell someone to go to h*ll if you cannot make it happen.
Your response begins with a telling comment that a phrase like "pro-Israel lobby" must be anti-Semitic. "Israel" is not equivalent to "Jewish," however much Netanyahu wishes it were. Let's stop conflating the two and recognize the damage to US interests Israeli policy has done to our standing in the world.
Sherry, I thought that was what I was trying to get at. It seemed to me that Jennifer suggested that the idea that there was sucha lobby was an anti-semitic trope. I'd hoped that it wasn't anymore and wondered if there even was such lobby and if there was, who comprised it. And if this sounds like I'm confused. I am.
I think we have done that all on our own
That's what I came here to say. Although Kent is (was?) a MAGA supporting Trumpite, why would blaming "Israel and it's powerful American lobby” be considered antisemitic? Other American Jews, notably Paul Krugman in his Substack today, have done so (Why did Donald Trump attack Iran? Did he believe that a quick victory would boost his poll ratings? Was he looking for a way to change the subject from the Epstein files and affordability? Was he seduced into war by the Israeli government? The answer, surely, is all of the above) have suggested as much. Surely criticizing the Israeli government, or AIPAC, shouldn't be equated with antisemitism.
In 2024, Trump assured the voters that, "I'm not going to start a war. I'm going to end wars." In his first 4 disastrous years, the Washington Post calculated that he lied an average of 21 times per day. Clearly, the deranged and increasingly demented version of Trump currently occupying the White House is hellbent to improve on that average -- assuming he is mentally competent enough to even realize he's lying.
It was up to "We the People" in 2024 to see to it that his next place of residence was a federal penitentiary and NOT the White House.
It is less up to Trump to realize that he's lying as he doesn't care - it's up to "we the people' to recognize and realize.
Jennifer, your intelligent reporting is excellent but I am sure I am not alone in wishing that photos of trump would not appear at the top. We all know what he looks like, and I loathe the look of him and the sound of his voice although I need to read about him to remain informed.
yes, but it's good to watch his decline in pictures...gives us hope !
Great summary of where we are. I would add Trump's aggression also highlights his total disregard for average people, including killing people for just being in boats, not caring about the death of school children and civilians, not caring about so many people needing to flee his damage, and not caring one bit about his actions hurting average Americans.
I also am glad countries, formally our allies, are letting Trump hang out there, not letting him off the hook for his disastrous decisions.
If only Republican leaders would do their job to protect our country, reputation, laws, economy, and just plain human decency.