Update no.1247

Update from the Heartland

No.1247

1.12.25 – 7.12.25

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

To all,

 

The loose rhetoric and outright evidence-less conspiracy theories about President Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy of Ukraine, the Ukrainian nation, and their efforts to defend their nation against the blatant aggression of their neighbor—Russia—have not helped the peace process. Unfortunately, we have a president and his sycophant minions who believe that drivel and pass it on as facts. Despite the efforts of previous administrations, the current government of [the person who shall no longer be named] appears bound and determine to align the United States with the aggressor. The U.S. government presented a 28-point plan. Two stipulations of that USG plan were:

“6. The size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be limited to 600,000 personnel.

“7. Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO, and NATO agrees to include in its statutes a provision that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future.”

The audacity of just these two of 28 conditions is striking. Apparently, the negotiators and We, the People, must be reminded that Ukraine has been a free and independent nation since 1991 with the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The Ukrainians suffered and endured a series of Russian surrogate puppets like Belarus does to this day. In 2014, they shook off that shackle and freely elected their first truly Ukrainian president. Putin and his ultra-right-wing cronies were not happy and decided to punish Ukraine for their drive to be truly free of Russian domination. The Ukraine government made advances toward European Union membership and the umbrella protection of full NATO participation. Putin and his buddies did not like that, so they rattled their saber to intimidate and cower Ukraine and the former Warsaw Pact countries for that matter. The Russian army invaded Donbass with “Little Green Men,” i.e., Russian soldiers without identification, and they conduct an illegitimate plebiscite in Crimea; both actions in 2014. That deed did not accomplish what Putin wanted, so he initiated an outright invasion in 2022. To this day, Russians occupy around 20% of Ukraine. They continue to bombard schools, residential buildings, shopping centers, hospitals, and innocent Ukrainian women and children. Putin is not fighting a war of any kind or sort. Putin is attempting to destroy Ukraine—their brutal form of scorched earth . . . to punish them for daring to be free. What is distinctly and starkly missing from the Russian peace plan under a United States title is, there is no mention of prosecution of Russian war crimes. These are largely Russia’s conditions, not Ukrainian; they are not even American. They are Russian plain and simple.

I do not want war. I do not want Ukrainians, or Russians for that matter, to die because of a hegemonic dictator in Moscow. I want the Russian war on Ukraine to end. I also want Ukraine to be free . . . to be free, to choose their course in international relations. I support their efforts to join the EU and NATO. From my perspective, the orange one’s 28-point plan ‘for’ Ukraine is quite akin to the Munich Accord signed by Chamberlain and Daladier in 1938, when they unilaterally dissected Czechoslovakia, another independent, sovereign nation, to satisfy another hegemonic dictator. How did that work out? History will record the same judgment.

Just a sidenote of sorts, NATO has been, from its inception, a solely defensive organization. Russian claims of feeling threatened by NATO at its border is bogus, nonsensical, and verging upon irrational. They have had NATO on their border since 2004. Why did the former Warsaw Pact nations join NATO? Simple answer—protection . . . from Russia. No one has attacked Russia, but Russia sure as hell attacked other sovereign countries—Georgia (2008), Ukraine (2014). Russians love to point to the 27 million people they lost in fighting the Germans in World War II as rationale for their actions today. What they conveniently ignore or refuse to acknowledge are the million plus Russians killed by Stalin and his NKVD / NKGB agents to satisfy Uncle Joe’s paranoia. Punishing Ukraine for Stalin’s / Putin’s paranoia is wrong and absolutely unacceptable.

 

During my contemplation of Ukraine’s situation with the United States advocating for the Russian demands, a number of relevant questions came to mind.

1. Is Ukraine a free, independent, sovereign nation?

2. Does Ukraine have the rights of sovereign nations to decide its path to peace and prosperity?

3. Is Ukraine just a contemporary version of 1938 Czechoslovakia?

4. What right does Russia have to take territory from Ukraine by force of arms?

5. What authority does any nation have to dictate to Ukraine (or Czechoslovakia) how they should choose to live?

6. What is the difference between Putin’s claims on the Donbass region and Hitler’s claims on Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia?

I would genuinely like to hear how others answer the above questions, and how they see the Ukrainian situation? Or even, their opinion on the orange one’s 28-point plan. Let’s hear it—good, bad, or ugly.

 

Yet another MAGAt fallacy becomes clear. The orange one likes the term ‘narco-terrorism’ in his warped rationalization for the deployment of massive military force to interdict narco-traffickers in the Caribbean Sea. This administration joins previous administrations—Nixon, Reagan, and now the orange administration. No name wants us to believe there is an active program to contaminate our society with illegal drugs. The fallacy in the whole process is, they ignore demand. If there was no demand for those substances, there would be no smuggling. Case in point from history, the massive smuggling and criminal operations that existed during the prohibition era (1919-1933) brought significant direct and collateral crime to feed demand. No demand, no supply. Worse, no name has initiated extra-judicial executions in the name of stopping narco-terrorism without due process of law. At least one of those attack videos showed what appeared to be an empty boat. Just another necessary reminder, only Congress has the authority to declare war, or short of that, to authorize the use of military force. None of those actions have occurred. Congress has remained impotent and immobile. These are the times in which we live.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1246:

Comment to the Blog:

“Those of us who have consumed too much fiction expect the villains in this situation to be brilliant, but evil. Someone pointed out recently that in reality, most of them are barely competent. They’ve stumbled upon circumstances they can exploit. Here we are. Bondi’s and Halligan’s attempted persecutions of James Comey and Leticia James are outstanding examples of this. In other situations, individuals just like these don’t thrive.

“On the same note, while I hope Mark Kelly remains impervious to this nonsense, Agent Orange has drawn much more attention to the duty to refuse illegal orders. That could set up prosecutions.

“I agree that Agent Orange committed sedition on January 6, 2021. He might not live long enough to receive sentencing for that.

“The people making the decisions about health insurance and other issues at the Federal level have so much money that they needn’t worry about paying for healthcare. They are the goats. The MAGAts are the sheep.

“I await the release of the Epstein files (not redacted other than victims’ identities), and I support the calls to listen to the victims who continue trying to get Americans’ attention.”

My response to the Blog:

I cannot argue with your assessment. The orange one’s penchant for choosing bootlickers for important jobs is pervasive, demonstrable, and well-known. Most intelligent citizens see them exactly for what they are—bootlicker sycophants. Any individual who cozies up to the orange one like a moth to the flame should always remember loyalty is a one-way street with that con-man. He will use you and throw you away; easy come, easy go.

I am not sure I see the “drawn . . . to” assessment. I think he knows he is guilty and is screaming to obfuscate and deflect. Now, they are throwing the CinC South Command, Admiral Bradley, under the bus.

Whether the orange one lives long enough is not what I am concerned about. I want history to record his malfeasance.

Interesting observation about health insurance agents.

I am with you on the Epstein files. I want the consumers of Epstein’s services to face the public humiliation, and if possible, the prosecution they deserve.

 . . . Round two:

“I never said Agent Orange intended to draw attention to military law. That's the result, though.

“I didn't say anything about any insurance agents. They are not the ones making policy decisions. The wealthy people who operate the party Central Committees make the decisions.”

 . . . my response to round two:

OK. Noted. ‘Nuf said.

It is unfortunate that you apparently took my comments as a direct statement about you. When Congress grappled with the PPACA legislation, they struggled with who would pay. A portion sought a universal health care system similar to numerous other countries. We are part way toward that objective, e.g., Medicaid, Medicare, and to a certain extent, the original PPACA. From my perspective, Congress buckled under the enormous pressure from the health insurance companies to utilize the existing payor system, i.e., their companies. It was a compromise that created numerous deficiencies thus making PPACA an easy target for conservatives, who do not care a twit about people.

We have long agreed that money corrupts our political systems. We like to claim purity, but we are a very long way from democracy. It is no wonder so many citizens are and become disheartened by the political process. We must continue the struggle to achieve true democracy.

 . . . Round three:

“I think I know where I went off track in the discussion about health insurance. I didn't say or read anything personal to me. ‘The people making the decisions’ about health insurance that I referred to aren't me, you, or the politicians enacting the decisions. They are insurance executives and Wall Street players.”

 . . . my response to round three:

I am not so sure it is that simple. One of the many flaws in the PPACA is the ceding of payer authority to the for-profit insurance companies. I am running into those insurance decisions in my medical treatment. So far, we have been successful, but the request for approval, rejection, and appeal process takes time that I do not have much of it these days. I’m not sure I want Congress making those decisions either. I feel the total rejection day coming as my treatments get more complex and my capacity to tolerate those treatments decreases. Sooner or later, an ‘enough’ decision must be made. Money is not in limitless supply for anyone, including me. That’s the difficult part.

Just some thoughts of first-hand observations.

 . . . Round four:

“I support your personal observation, and it generalizes to all of us. I hope one day we'll emulate countries with better health outcomes, which have single-payer systems. The problem about that is how we can push those who are making personal and corporate fortunes out of the way.”

 . . . my response to round four:

Thank you for your support.

I would suggest in the same way Roosevelt pushed for the massive reform during the Great Depression era. Health care is a very complex matter. Yet, there are simple axioms, e.g., early detection improves outcomes. We will continue to advocate for universal health care (of some form).

 

My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1246

 Update from the Heartland

No.1246

24.11.25 – 30.11.25

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

To all,

 

The no name criminal retribution indictments against former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letticia James were dismissed without prejudice by from U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie. The judge concluded, “The appointment of Ms. Halligan as Interim U.S. Attorney violated 28 U.S.C. §546 and the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution.” [Article II, § 2, clause 2.] She also decided, “I will invalidate the ultra vires acts performed by Ms. Halligan and dismiss the indictment without prejudice, returning [Comey and James] to the status [they] occupied before being indicted.”

After no name dismissed the experience and lawful U.S. attorney, AG Bondi appointed Lindsey Halligan, a former White House aide with no prior prosecutorial experience, to replace him as U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia. The judge decided Bondi did not possess the authority to make such an appointment, thus any action taken by Halligan was therefore invalid. The ‘without prejudice’ means the government can still proceed against Comey and James with a properly nominated and confirmed U.S. attorney.

The judge did not pass judgment on the legal worthiness of the indictment or cases against Comey and James. Given the juvenile vindictiveness of [the person who shall no longer be named], I suspect Bondi, being a devoted bootlicker, will pursue the cases once she has a proper and legal U.S. attorney to prosecute the cases. It is truly unfortunate that the cases were not dismissed outright with prejudice since they are clearly retribution actions based on political animus toward both Comey and James. No name is a very small, petty man, and I hesitate to refer to him as a man, since he is a juvenile, verging on infantile, boy . . . certainly not a mature man.

 

On 18.November.2025, six members of Congress released a video urging the U.S. military to obey the law. The video was notionally titled: ‘Don’t Give Up the Ship.’ For those who may not have seen the video and wish to do so, here is the URL: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Fk9Gh3qwW4I.

Of course, you know who was offended. Also as usual, the guilty parties scream the loudest. 

No name wrote:

SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!

10:21 AM Nov 20, 2025

The so-called Secretary of Defense Hegseth indicated he intended to recall Mark Kelly to active duty so that he could be court-martialed for his participation in the ‘Don’t Give Up the Ship’ video. Why Kelly? They were all former military officers. Perhaps, it was because he was the senior officer among those in the video. Or perhaps, it was because he is the most prominent as a former Navy combat pilot, astronaut, and husband of Gabrielle Dee ‘Gabby’ Giffords. No, it was because he is the only retired officer, which by law makes him subject to recall. 

Once again, there was absolutely nothing wrong, inaccurate, false, or even remotely critical. They only pointed out the law. As everyone will note, none the member of Congress made any reference to no name, the current administration or any other hint about current affairs—only the law. To all the MAGAts out there, what was wrong in that video?

Just a note for clarity: What no name did inciting the insurrection in violation of the Constitution on 6.January.2021 was seditious, by any and every definition of the term. He should have been tried, convicted and sent to prison for what he did directly in that sordid affair. Thanks to the Supremes, they declared the president had qualified immunity; and then, the MAGAts elected a convicted Felon to be president. Now, to be clear, the MAGAts are a minority. Unfortunately, a goodly portion of the majority chose not to vote in the last presidential election (2024). Thus, we have what we have, and we must suffer the consequences. Such are the ways of life.

 

The fallacy in the MAGAt / Republican position on medical insurance is, you do not need it until you do. It is no different from automobile or home insurance. You never need it until you do. They are playing games with health care insurance as if it is some wonton expense.

I have had health care ‘insurance’ to cover my family and myself since I entered the U.S. Naval Academy after graduating high school at age 17 years. I have had an annual physical every year since then. To do just that preventative action without insurance coverage, I would have needed to be wealthy (which I am not and never have been) or I would forego those preventative examinations, exposing me to diseases that might progress beyond the point of no return.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1245:

Comment to the Blog:

“Don’t lose hope for prosecution in the Epstein cases. The relevant statutes of limitations for sexual assault on children would be those for New York and Florida, with New York the most likely state to prosecute in these cases. New York’s criminal statute of limitations for child sexual assault goes until the victim is age 55; Florida has no time limit. https://www.sokolovelaw.com/personal-injury/sexual-abuse/statute-of-limitations/ In civil law, the same limitations apply. https://www.findlaw.com/injury/torts-and-personal-injuries/sexual-assault-civil-statutes-of-limitations-by-state.html The only remaining hangup is the loopholes in the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Dozens of victims are available to fill in the gaps.

“My picture of the Felon is of a schoolyard bully with big money behind him who’s gone unchecked for his entire sick life. Of course he calls people names, and his base laps up that hatred. I agree that the silence of the ‘professional’ press is worse. It’s inhumane, unprofessional, and fails to guard their field.

“The attack on the veteran Members of Congress won’t be forgiven. Like any bully from the back yard to the White House, the Felon demands absolute obedience due to his fear of losing control (which will happen). I suspect the message got out all the same.

“The Republican Party has openly catered to the high and mighty dating back to Reagan. The Democrats serve them more quietly, although some of them object nowadays.”

My response to the Blog:

I hope your assessment is correct. If so, I shall retain my hope. The victims are showing signs of mobilizing, which is a good thing. There is strength in numbers and unity.

I absolutely agree with your assessment of the Felon and the professional Press.

I also share your view of the retribution against those members of Congress who did the ‘Don’t Give Up the Ship’ video. The vengeance of no name is in direct violation of the U.S. Constitution [Article I, Section 6, the ‘Speech or Debate’ protection]. What those who support no name’s retribution actions are doing is abandoning the U.S. Constitution. Perhaps that is their intent, i.e., abandon the Constitution in favor of a dictatorship (as long as he is their dictator). I shall remain standing with those who opposed no name.

Oh my, Republican embrace of the wealthy goes back well before Reagan. I would peg that transition from people to wealthy at least back to Harding. I would also add that the work of Ayn Rand [AKA Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum] has been and remains a major influence on MAGAt / Republican thinking and unchecked/unregulated capitalism. Money is all that is important. Morality is irrelevant (contrary to the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, I must add).

 

Another contribution:

“Thanks again Cap. When are we going to hear what the hell these Epstein files say? Or maybe we never will.”

My reply:

It will take time. The professional Press has far more resources than citizens possess. We shall have to wait for their digestion of the material. I am fairly certain the Felon and his subservient Department of (so-called) Justice will flood the zone to buy as much time as possible for the Felon-in-chief. I am confident we will eventually know who and what they did. Patience, my brother.

 

My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1245

 Update from the Heartland

No.1245

17.11.25 – 23.11.25

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

To all,

 

Well, well , well, after more than two months of Speaker Johnson stonewalling at the behest of no name, Johnson and the president could not avoid the inevitable. Congress passed and the president signed into law the Epstein Files Transparency Act [PL 119-038; Senate: unanimous consent; House: 427-1-0-5(2); 139 Stat. xxx]. Only one MAGA/Republican in either chamber voted against the bill—Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana. The new law directs the Department of Justice to release all files in the Epstein case within 30 days with a few exceptions. I am fairly certain there will be attempts at obfuscation and skirting the law. Yet, I remain guardedly optimistic that we will eventually know the contents. I must remind everyone that in most if not all instances the statute of limitations had been passed a long time ago. No prosecutions are possible. What should happen is a public shaming to those who participated in the Epstein under-age sex ring. So, let us get on with it.

 

As if we do not have enough examples of no name’s disgusting, immoral, and ‘conduct unbecoming’ behavior, he has always been the gift that keeps on giving, and giving, and giving.  One of his particularly disgusting recent examples occurred on Friday, 14.November.2025, aboard Air Force One, when no name chose to submit to a press scrum, as he so often does. Bloomberg News White House reporter Catherine Reinis Lucey asked no name, "Mister President, what did Jeffrey Epstein mean in his emails when he said, '’you knew about the girls?” To which, the orange one ignored the question and attempted to deflect the focus from himself to Bill Clinton and others and claiming he knew nothing about the Epstein eMails. Lucey asked a follow-up question, "If there is nothing incriminating in the files, sir, why not act?” To which, no name replied, “Quiet.” He pointed his crooked accusatory finger at Lucey, and added, “Quiet, Piggy!’ I ask everyone, what sort of human being says such things?

My answer, only people with no sense of morality. As our parents taught most of us, if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all. The orange one’s parents failed to teach him any shred of morality. The White House claimed the president was simply confronting fake news. So, I would ask, what was fake, wrong, inaccurate, or ill-advised in any of Lucey’s words?

What is worse, the professional press gaggle chose to remain stone-cold silent after the insult. So much for herd immunity. In this sordid episode, we bear witness to what happens when we elect representatives who are devoid of morality.

 

Two senators and four representatives produced a Public Service Announcement (PSA) titled: “Don’t Give Up the Ship.” The members of Congress sought to advise members of the military that they can and must disobey illegal orders. The six members in the video were:

-- Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan – CIA officer

-- Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona – Captain, U.S. Navy

-- Representative Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania – Lieutenant, U.S. Navy

-- Representative Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire – Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, intelligence officer

-- Representative Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania – Captain, U.S. Air Force

-- Representative Jason Crow of Colorado – Captain, U.S. Army, paratrooper & Ranger

The one prominent common thread all the senators and representatives share is their military service to the republic. Of course, [the person who shall no longer be named] saw the video of an infringement on his dictatorial powers. The orange one called the video sedition and advocated for those politicians and former military personnel to be tried for treason and hung for their alleged crime.

I watched the entire video several times, specifically to look for a word or a phrase that might be an infringement on Executive authority. In fact, there was none. They were reminding military officers and enlisted of the law that has been the law for 70 years, in the aftermath of the Nazis claims of “I was just following orders.” That claim does not work when the orders are contrary to the Constitution or against the law. It was an excellent PSA and spot on message. Unfortunately, the military needed to be reminded of their responsibility under the Constitution, given the egregious shenanigans of our wannabe dictator, no name. I will argue that no name’s public statements regarding this video are contrary to the Constitution and thus an impeachable offense.

 

Republicans have railed against government regulation for a very long time. As the orange one and his MAGAt minions strive mightily to dismantle the very agencies charged by Congress to protect our rivers, our land, our health, our air, and the common good, we face a myriad of long-term injury that will take many years, if not generations, to correct and return to normal. What they are doing is NOT for the common good; it is all for the greed of the wealthy. The truth is, if men were directed by morality, we would not need regulation. Likewise, if all men obeyed the law and were driven by morality, we would not need police to enforce the law. Contrary to Gordon Gekko’s famous declaration, greed is NOTgood. In the hands of an immoral person, greed can and often will be very destructive. The reality of life is there are bad men, who have no moral code and are not restricted by the law. They believe the law does not apply to them. The Gordon Gekko’s of the world do not care a twit about tomorrow; they only care about making a buck today—tomorrow be damned.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1244:

Comment to the Blog:

“I didn’t want to give up Obamacare (PPACA), because it’s better than nothing. I see it as a near-perfect example of the GOP “too little, too late” approach. The fact that it was enacted under an upscale Black President engendered their fierce racist opposition all the same.

“Let’s not lose sight of the Epstein Files. Also, the AI business is showing signs of crashing the economy.”

My response to the Blog:

I agree with your observations. I have nothing more to add.

Exactly! We do not want to lose sight of exposing the perpetrators in the Epstein affair. The House took a step forward yesterday. Now, the bill is with the Senate. The House passed the bill with a near unanimous vote, well beyond the veto-override threshold.

Just an FYI: The AI business won’t crash the economy. The gambling-on-credit investors will be the cause, as with so many previous recessions and depressions. The speculators are the usual culprits. And worse, Congress has deregulated their risky behavior. The rest of us will pay the price, as we have done in every dip.

 . . . follow-up comment:

“Debt financing is indeed too high, and odd investing in AI companies is the purpose of much of it. Then there's the crypto sector and real estate to worry about. I'm reading in Dealbook and other sources about strange financial instruments being used in these speculations, very like the mortgage crash. Combined with political developments, it ought to make for interesting times.”

 . . . my follow-up response:

That is exactly my point. Congress is largely to blame with their deregulation of the banking and finance sectors back during the Bush 43 administration. This is predominantly a Republican effort for their billionaire buddies.

On the philosophical side of this issue, if morality checked such debt-funded speculation (i.e., gambling), we would not need regulation and laws. Unfortunately, the greed of some men is not checked by morality, and thus laws are required to prevent those immoral individuals from harming the rest of us, e.g., 1929, 1986, 2008, et al.

 

My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1244

 Update from the Heartland

No.1244

10.11.25 – 16.11.25

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

To all,

 

The historic agony is finally over! I should add ‘at least for now’ since the funding extension at issue this week only lasts until the end of January. Now, we must pick up the pieces and repair the damage done by the president’s insistence upon shutting down the government to get what he wanted. Over the weekend, eight Senate Democrats caved and joined the MAGAts in a deal that does not help the less advantaged among us. They voted for the extension based on a promise to vote on the PPACA subsidy extension. Of course, the MAGAts have always told the truth (he said with dripping sarcasm), so we can believe them now.

The PPACA was signed into law by President Obama—{Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) [PL 111-148; 124 Stat. 119; 23.March.2010] [432]}. The law was far from perfect, but it was a helluva lot better than what existed prior to the new law—nothing. The Republicans / MAGAts want to return to that prior state—nothing. PPACA does not affect them, only the less advantaged among us. The PPACA was a small progressive step forward and a long way from the ideal state—universal health care for all.

Since the PPACA was passed and signed into law in 2010, the Republicans and now MAGAts have been trying feverishly to gut or kill the PPACA. For a decade and a half, they have repeatedly and consistently declared the PPACA was too expensive, not effective, and otherwise bad law. They have also proclaimed they were going to replace it with a new law that was much better, less expensive, and more effective. To the date of this Update’s posting, neither the former Republican Party nor the current MAGAt Party have EVER presented an improved healthcare plan, set aside a proposed legislation to replace and improve PPACA. All they do is flap their gums with not a twit of substance. The MAGAts have taken a ‘Let them eat cake’ attitude toward the people in need.

The Senate voted 60-40-0-0(0) to pass the amended HR 5371 bill. Eight Senate Democrats abandoned their party’s objectives in this legislative showdown. They were:

Cortez Masto (D-NV)

Durbin (D-IL)

Fetterman (D-PA)

Hassan (D-NH)

Kaine (D-VA)

King (I-ME)

Rosen (D-NV)

Shaheen (D-NH)

Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky voted against the bill. With the Senate passage of the HR 5371, the bill went back to the House for acceptance of the Senate amendments. Speaker Johnson finally called the House back into session after a nearly two-month hiatus. 

The amended HR 5371 bill went to the House, where it was passed on Wednesday [12.November.2025] by a vote of 222-209-0-2(2). 

Democrats voting for the bill:

Cuellary [D-TX]

Davis. [D-NC]

Golden [D-ME]

Gray [D-CA]

Perez [D-WA]

Suozzi [D-NY]

Republicans voting against the bill:

Massie [R-KY]

Steube [R-FL]

The president signed the funding extension into law Wednesday evening—Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 [PL 119-037; H.R. 5371; House: 222-209-0-2(2); Senate: 60-40-0-0(0); 139 Stat. xxx]. He got his way on this one thanks to the eight Senate Democrats who caved to his demands.

There is zero question as to who I blame for this government shutdown. His obsession with rewriting history and erasing  Obama, Biden, and he will get to Clinton eventually. Except the orange one and Bill Clinton share a common thread. I feel considerable empathy for those among us who will pay a tragic price for the orange one’s malignant narcissism.  There should be no doubt about the character of the con-man-in-chief.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1243:

Comments to the Blog:

“Happy 250^th Anniversary to the USMC!

“The remaining MAGAts don’t follow fact and logic.

“The purpose of a business is to make money. The Preamble to the Constitution gives the purpose of the United States Government: ‘to form a more perfect Union, insure domestic tranquility, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,’ none of which Agent Orange has attempted to do. (He hasn’t done well in legitimate businesses, either.)

“The morning’s news is that eight Democrat Senators have voted to betray Americans dependent on ACA and other healthcare programs. I haven’t studied the full list yet, but I can assure you that progressives will work to replace them with more patriotic Americans. I’m a SNAP recipient, but the ‘general Welfare’ should be the first concern here.”

My response to the Blog:

A significant milestone in the history of the republic’s Marine Corps.

Yes, it is. I would only add that the purpose of business is to return shareholder value, which adds an important dynamic for the operation of public companies. You quote the Preamble correctly. I also agree with your condemnation of the orange one. I doubt he has ever read, set aside understands, the Constitution that he is charged by We, the People, to support and defend. That was my point. He does not meet any definition of a good businessman. I repeat, he is a conman, huckster, and snake-oil salesman; he is NOT a businessman.

Yes, they did. The amended bill (HR 5371) must go back to the House for concurrence and passage. I cannot imagine how heartless a person must be to stand against helping those less advantaged citizens among us. I write much more in this week’s Update (still working on it). I am absolutely certain the general Welfare is important to you, as it should be to all compassionate and caring citizens. Once more, we see the MAGAts for exactly what they are—“Let them eat cake.”

 

My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1243

 Update from the Heartland

No.1243

3.11.25 – 9.11.25

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

To all,

 

As this Update is released for public scrutiny, United States Marines worldwide celebrate a quarter of a millennium of service to the Republic. The United States Marine Corps was created and formed in Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 250 years ago [10.November.1775]. As a proud Marine, I join my brothers to boldly say:

Semper Fidelis

 

I very rarely refer to the nonsense that comes across my screen that instigates a reaction from me. On Tuesday morning, I saw a posting on my Facebook feed that poked the bear.

Trump proved a businessman

can run the country better than

any politician ever could.

[redaction mine]

When I saw the posting of this message engraved on a stone tablet as if it was sent from heaven. I imagine the believers still believe. However, when I saw that posting, I saw it in an entirely different light.

Government is not, never has been, and never will be a business. There are myriad and distinct differences between a business and a government organization. That said, there are common threads. Governments should operate within their means, i.e., taxes must be raised to balance revenue against expenses of approved programs. Government is emphatically NOT a profit and loss entity.

If you like and want the chaos generated by the president and his minions, then you see the above message and think, ‘Yeah, buddy. Tear up that nonsense. End it all.’ Therein lies the difference, what I see him doing is destroying the very essence of what government is, for the common good. Congress decides that factor, not the president. The Executive is responsible for operating the programs and enforcing the law. The Executive does not make the law. This president insists on doing everything by executive fiat. He is NOT running a business. He is supposed to be leading a government. He has been doing what a minority of citizens want. He is NOT working for the common good.

No name is not and never has been a businessman. He is a conman, huckster, and snake-oil salesman, who has declared bankruptcy SIX times. Who does that? He sells worthless crap to innocent people, who, for reasons I know not, believe his pitches. He has left God-only-knows how many contractors holding the bag for his construction projects. He sells his name like it is a commodity. He is a known and persistent liar. How can anyone believe a word he says?

The posted image above says far more about his supporters than it does about him. He is what he is and always has been. What the posting says is his supporters care far more about getting what they want rather than deal with the messiness of democracy. As such, I vociferously condemn those who believe the message above and support no name.He deserves no respect! He will get none from me.

 

Once again, [the person who shall no longer be named, AKA no name, the orange one, the Felon, et al], has made history. He is the person charged (hired) by the citizens to lead the nation and ensure the Executive Branch runs smoothly. He is NOT doing what he is charged to do in accordance with the U.S. Constitution. There should be zero doubt that the tragedy of this shutdown belongs squarely and solely with no name—no one else.

 

The off-year elections were held in numerous states. No name claims he was not on the ballot and thus this week’s election had no meaning to him. Technically, he was not on the ballot directly. However, his influence was very much before some voters in multiple states. Governors in Virginia and New Jersey, New York City Mayor, and Proposition 50 in California were all lost by the MAGAt Party and no name—ihr Lieber Anführer. The results of this week’s election were a dramatic and unequivocal smackdown of the orange one. The mid-term elections will take place one year from now. This week’s voting does not bode well for no name and his MAGAt party.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1242:

“Thanks for your update. Can you visualise anything encouraging? That is indeed what we need across this sad planet we dwell on. There is fighting and disagreements across our lives. It has to stop, can you Cap see a solution?”

My reply:

The off-year elections this week in some states were quite encouraging. He claims he was not on the ballot, and technically, he was not. However, his influence was very much on the ballot, and he took quite the smackdown. If We, the People, vote, we can be done with this buffoon.

I have faith that one day we will mature as a species sufficiently to live in peace. Unfortunately, that day is probably not within my remaining life. In my Anod series of science fiction novels, I do envision that day of peace, although there is violence from outside the species as we encounter other creatures in the universe.

 

Comment to the Blog:

“We pay for what we get, but in elections, we learn the price after we make our choice. So do those we elect, because nobody can accurately predict the future.”

My response to the Blog:

Yes, we do, and that is exactly the point. As I look at this week’s off-year elections, we see record turnouts. Next year’s mid-term elections will be a crucial test. I am absolutely convinced that if people vote, the MAGAt Party will be relegated to the dust-bin of history; then, we can begin reconstruction after this era of destruction.

True, no one can predict the future. Mamdani is going to learn an important lesson. He does not decide. He must coax the City Council to pass laws that he can sign into law. We shall see how he does in a democracy.

 . . . Round two:

“Watching history ‘live as it happens’ has become more interesting. We shall see.”

 . . . my response to round two:

Yes, indeed, it is interesting to watch history play out . . . except this is definitely not the history I want to see. The MAGAts have made this country a far harsher place to live. I do surely hope the turn out we saw in this year’s elections continues for the mid-terms next year and the next general election in 2028. We will have to restore, reconstruct, and renovate the federal government, and it will take longer than the destruction.

 . . . Round three:

“People who ‘don't follow politics" have begun to experience its impacts on them. That might motivate them to vote.

“I'll keep the faith, noting that my faith right now is in history. The pendulum always swings back, and our recent elections felt like a change of direction.”

 . . . my response to round three:

Quite so. To me, the reason to vote in every election is to defend the Constitution and to move to a more enlightened tomorrow.

That is history’s record. I feel the same change of direction. That motivation must hold for at least three more years. We must end this nightmare we are immersed in now.

 

My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1242

 Update from the Heartland

No.1242

27.10.25 – 2.11.25

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

To all,

 

[the person who shall no longer be named] continues to do what he has always done. The leopard cannot change his spots. The orange one does what the orange one does. I find my efforts to illuminate his myriad foibles, flaws, transgressions, violations, and abuses have become tedious and a waste of my precious time. As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. And so it goes. The MAGAts voted, and they have exactly what they wanted—destructive chaos, a dysfunctional federal government, insulting our international friends and allies, and a U.S. Constitution being carved up like a plump holiday goose.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1241:

Comment to the Blog:

“You and I vote from a sense of obligation. Others understand only that there are two major parties, and ‘if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.’ The MAGAts stand for something, however insane. The DNC Democrats don’t stand ‘for’ anything, and haven’t since Clinton. I hope they might mean something next year, based on Mamdani, AOC, and others, but the DNC has opposed all progressives.

“No name has proven that he’s a dangerous buffoon, twice more. We already knew that. We need someone to stand in contrast to him.

“I support Mamdani for the same reason New Yorkers do: he offers to address the issues that affect real people like me. Most of Wall Street hates him, of course, because he wants them to pay their fair share of taxes. The only problem I have about that is that the AI bubble is about to burst and decrease billionaires’ incomes.

“Re last week’s discussion: the other problem about disarming Hamas is that it leaves Palestinians with no defense at all against Israel.”

My response to the Blog:

Well said and agreed. The midterms next year will be crucial and may well be pivotal. The NYC mayoral election may well be a litmus test for next year. We shall see.

Yes, oh so true, however, he is the properly and duly elected president. I do not blame him for his buffoonery. I blame all of those citizens who have chosen to ignore his gargantuan character flaws to vote for him and to enable him, and the 18M citizens who chose not to vote in 2024. They carry the responsibility for what has happened. That man has been what he is since childhood; he has not changed and will not change. Yet, good citizens (and some bad) voted for him and still support him. They want chaos, so we have chaos.

If I lived in New York City, I would vote for Mamdani as well. We need compassion, understanding, and respect. I am all in favor of fair share. I want those who are capable, to pay the same effective tax rate as me. Just because they are wealthy, does not make them royal or even special.

The people of Gaza would be far better off without Hamas in any form. It is up to the rest of us to stop the right wingers in Israel from attempting to subjugate the Palestinians. They deserve their own sovereign state. An armed Hamas is not a defense organization; it is a terrorist group. Please remember Hamas attacked Israel, just as Russia attacked Ukraine; not the other way around.

 . . . with follow-up comment:

“The Orange Menace isn’t a new phenomenon. Those behind him and their kind have always known that a significant percentage of the population can be used via their fear of the ‘other,’ with the other being any handy target. Here we are again.

“The elections are fascinating, if a bit scary.

“I don’t like Hamas at all, but the Palestinians need protection from Israel and their co-conspirators here.”

 . . . along with my follow-up response:

No, he most definitely is not. He has been who he is for all his adult like and probably most of his childhood, thanks to his parents who enabled him. Quite so. Like any accomplished con-man, he has studied a body of American people and played directly to their predilections. He has sold them worthless snake-oil and convinced them it is a wonderful elixir and cure-all; and, they believe.

Scary indeed. The MAGAts are a clear minority of the electorate, and yet, because they consistently vote, they appear to be a majority. I suppose many people do not directly feel or care about the actions of the federal government, so they say why waste my time becoming informed and voting. I feel a much larger responsibility to the republic. I can find no positive in the destructive chaos that man has induced in our (not his) government and this once grand republic.

Israel did not attack Gaza and Hamas. They reacted to defend themselves. Hamas is a terrorist organization. The illegal and ill-advised settlements on the West Bank should be absorbed by and transferred to Palestine. The inhabitants of those settlements should be given a choice, move to Israel or become Palestinian. Unfortunately, Palestine has no effective defense or law enforcement organization, so they would be dependent on an international force presumably from the Arab States with back-up from Europe and the United States.

My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1241

 Update from the Heartland

No.1241

20.10.25 – 26.10.25

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

To all,

 

What matters is the 18 million American citizens who voted in 2020 and chose not to vote in 2024, decide to vote in 2026 and 2028. The MAGAts and ihr Anführer are a minority within the United States of America. They vote! As along as a substantial number of the rest of us choose not to vote for whatever reason, we will get another wannabe dictator in some other form. The MAGAts will decide.

No one can be forced to vote, as least so far in the devolution of this once grand republic. I will continue to contend and advocate for the sense of obligation to vote as a constitutional duty—an obligation of citizenship. I acknowledge that many others assert that people vote for a candidate they like, that inspires them, that gives them something to vote for. I understand and truly appreciate that conundrum, but the fact remains, those who vote decide the direction of the nation. Unfortunately, we have a wannabe dictator or king because the MAGAts voted, and a good chunk of everyone else did not. I, for one, will vote the best person on the ballot. I want a decent human being in that office first and foremost—a person with humility, compassion, good leadership qualities, and respect for others.

Now, for the midterm elections next year, we need a Congress that will do its job as an equal branch of government rather than a bunch of sycophant minions who abdicate their constitutional responsibilities. Every representative and one third of all senators must stand for re-election next year. Some will not seek re-election for whatever reason. Our current employee in the Oval Office has violated the Constitution in myriad ways, not least of which is his direct interference in the judicial process, and his multiple violations of the Emoluments Clause. He should have been impeached (again) months ago. We need a 60+ majority in the Senate to convict him and remove him from office. I do not like the number two in line of succession, but almost anything would be better than what we have. There is always hope that J.D. Vance will rise to the occasion once he is out from the shadow of [the person who shall no longer be named; AKA no name, the orange one, the Felon, et al. There is always hope, until there isn’t.

 

Last Saturday, the People staged the ‘No Kings’ protest rally in multiple cities across the country. Free people around the globe joined in to denounce fascist and autocratic governments around the world. Of course, no name could not let that be and called for a ‘show of strength’ counterdemonstration. His lackey at the Department of Defense ordered Marine artillery to fire across Interstate-5 that goes through the Camp Pendleton reservation, prompting the state to issue warnings to motorists travelling to and from on the interstate that live artillery was being fired overhead. It was an absolutely bonehead thing to do. The Marines had never done such a thing, and they reportedly thought it was a really bad idea, but they had their orders.

Robert Reich saw the event for exactly what it was and wrote an exceptional assessment.

“The Other Demonstration on Saturday”

by Robert Reich

Published: OCT 20 [2025]

https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-other-demonstration-on-saturday?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=365422&post_id=176617147&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=a27i&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

To which, I wrote my opinion. I think that was exactly what it was. No name sought some aggressive counterdemonstration, and he specifically chose California because of the large anti-no name contingent in the state. The Marine Corps has safely conducted valuable artillery training at MCB Camp Pendleton since WW2, well before I became a Marine. This was a dangerous, un-called-for event to feed no name's ego as a strongman dictator. This is the kind of risky thing that malignant narcissism does to the rest of us.

 

The orange one is seeking US$230M from the USG for the DOJs investigations and indictments of him regarding the Russian influence investigation, the J6 investigation & indictment, and the classified documents investigation & indictment. He is betting that most of us will not remember those violations of law that induced those investigations. I have not forgotten. I have to believe our justice system will see his lame effort at vindication as the travesty of law that it is.

 

Another interesting and thought-provoking article came this week from Robert Reich.

“The Mamdani Moment – And the Future of the Democratic Party”

by Robert Reich

Published: OCT 24 [2025]

https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-mamdani-moment

Generally, I agree with Reich’s opinions, but this one was different. One sentence struck resonance with me. Reich stated, “Better dysfunctional than a fascist cult like the Trump Republican Party.” Abso-f***ing-lutely! So, compared to our current employee, our pool guy would be better than what we have today. The endorsement of Andrew Cuomo by the orange one is the kiss of death from my perspective. There are numerous stated positions of Zohran Mamdani that I do not agree with, but he would be infinitely better than the Felon or any of his minions or associates. The mayoral election in New York City is a limited snapshot, but it may be a bellwether of what is to come next year.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1240:

Comment to the Blog:

“I’m glad the spacecraft at least fulfilled its mission. Those things cost taxpayers a great deal of money.

“I haven’t studied the morning’s news yet, but the Gaza ceasefire seemed to be falling apart already as of last night.

“John Bolton’s central mistake was serving Agent Orange. It appears most of the high officials in DC handle information carelessly.

“The No Kings Day 2 protests deserve your attention for several reasons. They drew at least 7 million protesters in 2700 locations, which is a record, and more people turned out overseas in support. Not one of the USA protesters was arrested, although a few violent MAGA counter-demonstrators were. I sent you separately Robert Reich’s column on JD Vance’s counter-demonstration, which had a dramatic flaw of interest to Marines.”

My response to the Blog:

Yes, they are expensive. Travelling to the Moon, Mars, and beyond is expensive. But, look at what we are learning and what we are going to learn in the process. Perfecting interplanetary travel is quite akin to building steamships, the transcontinental railroad, and commercial grade aircraft—the evolution of human mobility.

Yes, there are signs the ceasefire is under considerable strain, not least of which events of Hamas trying to re-assert its dominance (governance) of Gaza and difficulty of disarming Hamas. If the Hamas leadership and soldiers remain, it does not take much to rearm them. The establishment of a peaceful government and especially a robust law enforcement system must be activated and operated, similar to what was done in Germany and Japan. I am grateful they got the hostages home and some of the deceased returned. The hard part, as in all wars, will be winning the peace. They are a long way from that state.

Certainly, hindsight validates your statement, and I would agree. I think most high officials handle classified material properly, but far too many apparently feel the law and rules do not apply to them—the orange one being the most prominent offender.

I recognize and support your observations of the “No Kings” protests last weekend. The fact that the MAGAts referred to the protests and ‘hate America’ efforts says far more about MAGAts than it does about the ‘No Kings’ protesters.

 

Another contribution:

“Thank you for your efforts/energy/time to put together your Update. Distributed on this side.

“The John Bolton book The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir (2020 publish date), was, from my own understanding, part of the reason he may have become a target in addition to something many people don't know about Bolton's copious note taking, during meetings discussing national security classified content, or going over materials. Bolton liked to use the classic lawyer legal pads and had done that for decades while serving for various administrations then for Trump's NSA. I had read a mainstream kind of article (sorry, don't recall the source) that Bolton mishandled those legal pads by not destroying any/all classified content he had note taken, and he was storing those either at his home or office. I need to read the indictment I sent last week and see if they make mention of those legal pads. I believe many of us, when we hear a high-level cabinet appointee is charged with harboring classified materials, we think they removed printed DOCS from the W.H. on purpose and had nefarious motives. While Bolton might have been slacking or careless, I don't think he was operating with bad intentions.

“Bolton strikes me as being detailed and careful. Some suggest he was part of the foundation for a ‘Deep State.’ I don't know. I know in the past two decades, I was critical of Bolton due to my perception of him being exceedingly a war hawk. I know Israel loves Bolton and Bolton loves Israel (‘Not that there is anything wrong with that’).

“I have the book mentioned above by Bolton, I need to read it. It was subject of much controversy because during the first term of Trump, it was alleged Bolton revealed national security secrets in the book. I am not sure if it was vetted and cleared to publish, or if parts were redacted.

“I have heard some AM talk hosts say that the W.H. did not influence the decision-actions of AG/DoJ to prosecute Bolton. I just cannot accept that, we saw the Biden administration influence DoJ (FBI under DoJ), and no doubt Washington operates the same way it has since Edgar Hoover was running the FBI, though I am hopeful the level of Hoover corruption has been cleared out.”

My reply:

Thank you for your contribution. It seems to have stimulated a few additional comments from your network that I intend to respond to separately through you, so you can control the exchanges.

I have not read Bolton’s book, and I probably will not do so. To my knowledge, Bolton followed the prescribed USG process for vetting such works. Further, as noted elsewhere, his book was investigated by the prior administration, and the DOJ decided there was insufficient evidence for probable cause, set aside beyond a reasonable doubt. The current administration effort may have uncovered additional information. The federal courts will establish probable cause, not the grand jury. Given no name’s penchant for blatant lying and the blind MAGAt minions currently leading DOJ, I suspect the court will not be impressed with their indictment against Bolton. That said, if the DOJ can present new evidence in a court of law “beyond a reasonable doubt” that Bolton violated the law, then he should be convicted and punished. If that is what happens, then I want the earlier case against no name reinstated once he is no longer protected by his employment; he deserves to be tried, convicted, and sent to prison as well.

That is how Bolton strikes me also. I have never been a fan of his politics, but I do respect his experience and knowledge. I do not support the “Deep State” conspiracy theory and will not comment further.

The current administration is striving to resurrect the old J. Edgar Hoover intimidation and coercion techniques. The courts will have to stop it. Congress is currently impotent by choice.

[The following is a compilation of responses to Update no.1240 through a separate network.]

Contribution A:

“[The Bolton] case was filed and began under the Biden administration. having the current administration cancel it would be a political disaster.”

Contribution B:

“You know –

“Considering how many have come after Trump, and in every imaginable way, and how he pretty much kicks their ass, and then comes back to kick their ass again – why don’t we just agree that he is a very capable and remarkable person?

“He has finally learned how to pick his staff. If there’s two presidents in a room, doing some kind of deal – do you want Trump or the other guy?

“It is remarkable how accomplished Cap is to be so unable to just say Trump is superior to all others before him. Its much more fun to be on the side of a winner. Cap is just a whiner – just sayin.” [redaction mine]

My reply to Contributions A & B:

Apparently, an indictment against Bolton was obtained by the Biden administration DOJ, but I have been unable to find that indictment. To my knowledge, charges were never filed. The no name administration filed its own indictment without reference to any earlier legal actions. The Garland DOJ chose not to prosecute due to insufficient evidence to achieve “beyond a reasonable doubt.” The Bondi DOJ has gone beyond the Garland effort. It will be interesting to see what an experienced federal judge thinks of the Bondi indictment. If Bolton committed a crime, he deserves to be labeled a felon and punished. So far, no name has escaped punishment, but he is still a convicted Felon.

Prosecutors came after no name because he committed crimes or offenses against other citizens. So far, he has avoided punishment by virtual of the Supreme Court’s interpretation of qualified immunity as president. The law decided his fate, not some political hack.

Why don’t we agree? Because he is not as you say. He suffers severe malignant narcissism induced by his father. History will certainly record his presidency, but I highly doubt it will be in the glowing terms you expect. We are all flawed human beings, but he amplifies those flaws to epic proportions made far worse by his employment (qualified immunity and a compliant Congress).

Lincoln and Roosevelt knew how to pick a cabinet to gain the best counsel in trouble times. No name is a very long way from and well below that threshold. Simply watch and listen to one of his public cabinet meetings. His sycophants sing his praises. They do not provide honest counsel.

You can criticize me and call me names all you wish. That is your freedom of choice and of speech. No name is not a winner. He is an accomplish con-man, snake oil salesman, and huckster. I have far too much experience with men like him. So, call me what you will. I know what I know.

Have a great day. Take care and enjoy. Democracy is messy, but it is a beautiful thing when it remains a democracy. Unfortunately, it is also quite fragile and can disappear in a whiff.

 

My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)