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                  :-)

Update no.1240

 Update from the Heartland

No.1240

13.10.25 – 19.10.25

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

 

To all,

 

At 18:23 [S] CDT, on Monday, 13.October.2025, SpaceX launched its IFT-11 experimental super heavy lift booster and the Starship second stage into sub-orbital flight from their Starbase, Boca Chica, Texas. All phases on the ascent, boost-back to booster splash down in the Gulf of Mexico, and the in-space tasks were completed successfully. Starship opened its payload bay door and deployed eight Starlink simulator mini satellites, completed its vacuum relight of a raptor engine, and reentry to splashdown in the Eastern Indian Ocean near Northwest Australia. There appeared to be at least one burn through on the underside along the centerline and midway down the body that was presumably initiated at the site of an intentionally removed thermal protection tile. Despite the thermal damage to the vehicle, it performed as designed and intended, making a wide turn in flight to evaluate maneuverability during approach and then a controlled landing in the northeastern Indian Ocean. After a successful splashdown, presumably the Flight Termination System was activated to destroy the craft.

The existing Starlink network of communications satellites provided incredible images from multiple on-board cameras of each of the Starship’s experimental activities. Watching the plasma field evolve during reentry was absolutely fascinating.

The IFT-11 launch was the last of the version two configuration to be launched. Version 3 will have numerous changes moving the vehicle closer to the orbital and interplanetary configuration. In the next series, we will see more orbital work like on-orbit refueling and the anticipated tower catch of the Starship to achieve near total reusability of the design.

 

Earlier on Monday, 13.October.2025, the living hostages remaining in Gaza held by Hamas since 7.October.2023, were finally released in the first phase of what will hopefully become a ceasefire and eventually a lasting and bountiful peace in the Middle East. Of course, the orange one claims he has solved world peace and thus deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.

While he was in Israel, no name spoke to the Knesset, repeating his exaggerations and outlandish claims. Among all that, he called for the president of Israel to pardon Prime Minister Netanyahu for his crimes. Can anyone imagine such a thing, pardon a sitting political leader for crimes he has committed.

Gloating is such an unattractive trait, and yet it is a very common facet with the orange one. So revel in the exaggerations and embellishments of our current employee who is our president.  This will not last forever.

I want to see the ceasefire agreement become a lasting peace for the region, but just in my lifetime, we have seen so many of these ceasefires, all of which ultimately did not last. There is always hope until there isn’t.

 

It is rather rich that [the person who shall no longer be named; AKA no name, the orange one, the Felon, et al] has pushed the Attorney General to indict John Bolton, who was charged with mishandling classified material. To my knowledge, Bolton was not in possession of any classified materials. On the other hand, no name’s Mar-a-Lago residence was discovered to have a trove of classified material [1074, 1084, 1124/5]. And, worse, no name repeatedly resisted the government’s efforts to reclaim the government’s documents (not his). No name’s violations were far more egregious than what Bolton is accused of. That said, if anyone violates the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) [PL 96-456; 94 Stat. 2025] [548]. Bolton is charged with 18 counts of violating various laws:

-- Transmission of National Defense Information, 18 U.S.C. § 793(d) {Espionage Act of 1917 [PL 65-I-024; 40 Stat. 217; 15.6.1917]}

-- Retention of National Defense Information, 18 U.S.C. § 793(e) {Crimes and Criminal Procedure [PL 80-772; 62 Stat. 683; 25.6.1948]}

-- Forfeiture under various laws including of all things the Controlled Substances Act [PL 91-513; 84 Stat. 1236 (84 Stat. 1242)].

From the president to John Bolton to John Q. Citizen, they should be prosecuted and pay the price for violations of our national security. When I handled classified material back in the day, I was careful, perhaps overly cautious, to ensure that material was protected and properly secured. I hold no sympathy or forbearance for anyone from the president to a private whom exposes classified material to disclosure for any reason—full stop!

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1239:

Comment to the Blog:

“If we cut through the noise, immigration hasn’t been a major factor in crime, employment, or much of anything. Attacks on minorities (immigrants, in this case) are a common distraction in authoritarian regimes. The border issue is guns southbound paying for drugs northbound.

“Most of the GOP Congressional maneuvers are meant to delay or distract from justice for Epstein’s victims. (Some Democrats are surely also among the predators.) Also, I have seen a picture that purports to be a younger Bondi in Epstein’s company, and I’d already noticed a visible resemblance among Bondi, Karoline Leavitt, Ivanka, and the victims. Other Felon targets, such as Stormy Daniels and E. Jean Carroll, fit the same picture. Curious.

“I’d like to remind Democrats that to prevail in the midterms, they must first reach November 2026 with voting and other civil rights intact. Democrats need to take to the streets and the courts, as well as campaigning on real issues, as Mamdani and other progressives do. Sitting in DC whining won’t help any more than it ever has since 1992.”

My response to the Blog:

Only the orange one and his MAGAts have tried to equate immigration and crime. I cannot subscribe to your attributing the border issue to guns and drugs; that is an unacceptable generalization. No nation should be open to uncontrolled migration for any reason, period. We need rules and an ordered process. The Founders and Framers set down those rules early in our history with the Naturalization Act of 1790 [PL 1-II-003; 1 Stat. 103] [556]—the third law passed by the first Congress. We need rules for entry, and in today’s mobile world, we must control that entry process. Where I quibble with the current administration is in the excessively aggressive methods they are using at the border inward.

Well now, you do raise a curious twist on the Epstein affair. The journey toward the truth continues.

I can agree with your counsel to Democrats for next year’s elections. We shall see if they heed your advice. I expect the mid-terms to bring out the potential candidates for 2028. I eagerly await something.

 . . . Round two:

“I'll note that undocumented immigrants are an important asset to several industries in the USA. Maybe that's the ‘problem’ with the border. Any way I can see it, immigration's not as important as the MAGAts make it.

“The resemblance between current officials and past victims might imply a honey trap still playing out.

“Candidates in special elections and Zohran Mamdani are examples of how to run on progressive issues and win.”

 . . . my response to round two:

There is no question that we need temporary migrants for important labor tasks. When my father was alive and running our vineyard, he needed a large number of temporary laborers to harvest the grapes and produce raisins. I do not understand why we do not have a means of easily dealing with and tracking temporary labor. From my perspective, it appears the GOP/MAGAts do not want to solve the immigration issue; they want an issue that enables them to militarize our cities and violate the Constitution.

Now, there is an interesting thought. I have seen no evidence.

I suppose so. Mamdani is an accomplished speaker. His politics are a little too far to the left for me. I look forward to his moderation when the realities of representative governance sets in.

 . . . Round three:

“My question is whether immigration is an issue worthy of more energy than climate change, gun deaths, or feeding and housing our people. People are misled by speeches and other P.R.

“If we wait for proof of a crime, it's already been committed.

“Mamdani's pretty much my kind of leader. I doubt he'll accomplish all of his goals (nobody does in a democracy), but that's exactly the direction I want to go. And he's a bit more than a good speaker; he's united many of the non-wealthy in the city, and that takes a whole collection of skills.”

 . . . my response to round three:

We need to work on them all at the same time. They are all too important for sequential effort.

That is our system.

He is indeed a good speaker. Clear, concise, and heaven above, complete cogent sentences. Quite so. The citizens will vote for who they want to run the city. In a few more weeks, the tally will tell us the conclusion.

 . . . Round four:

“It’s necessary to set priorities in any enterprise, from making breakfast to operating a major nation. Resources are always limited. I see immigration as a lower priority.

“My point is that if we passively wait for someone to prove an operation is underway, we’re victims.

“You seem very interested in people’s speech-making ability. It matters, but so do other traits and skills.”

 . . . my response to round four:

If we had a workable immigration system, I would agree with you. We bear witness to the abuses of a broken system by a malevolent Executive. The militarization of American society by no name is a grotesque abuse we must not tolerate.

I am not arguing your point. I agree. However, we need more than a conspiracy theory to act. We need probable cause. At present, I do not see probable cause in that segment of the Epstein Affair to which you refer.

Speech is the means to influence citizens, voters, and others. So yes, I am very interested in speech, but that does not mean speech is exclusive to all other traits. For example, I place considerable weight on humility and respect for others. Yes, other traits matter a lot as well. No argument.

 . . . Round five:

“Show me evidence that immigrants have been doing more harm than homelessness, corruption, or climate change.

“Epstein’s misdeeds are not a conspiracy theory. We have criminal convictions, dozens of outspoken survivors, and mountains of supporting evidence. The specific possibility of a honey trap to control the pedophiles warrants investigation. There’s no other rational basis for the operation to exist.

“I also value the traits you mentioned, but in a political setting, policy insight and coalition building also count, and those are the skills Mamdani has shown. So have other progressives winning in ‘red’ states.”

 . . . my response to round five:

There is no such evidence that I am aware of. However, that does not alter the fact that individuals are coming into this country without an invitation. They have not been vetted. We do not know who they are or what value they may be to the United States. Immigration is not about harm; it is about contribution to the good of the nation.

We were talking about good looking young women being given cushy jobs in the administration as a form of compensation for being an object in the Epstein affair. There is no question of Epstein’s guilt.

I sure hope so. We shall see. There is always hope, until there isn’t.

 . . . Round six:

“As a national priority, no. Immigration isn’t there.

“The problems about the “cushy jobs” are that most of them are important to the nation and also the people could be operatives, particularly Bondi.”

 . . . my response to round six:

I do not agree. Immigration control is an essential element of sovereignty. It most certainly is a national priority, especially given the dysfunctional state of our immigration system.

Of course, they could be. Remember an essential precept of our system of governance and jurisprudence—innocent until proven guilty.

 

Another contribution:

“Well said, Cap and your correspondent, 100%!

“Now, let's brace ourselves for the news of the first Nobel Peace Prize ever awarded to a convicted felon, unrepentant male chauvinist, and one way deal maker.

“Plant and fence your own garden soon, folks, and keep your powder dry. It's gonna get ugly.”

My reply:

I cannot imagine the Nobel Peace Prize Committee ever awarding their prize to the orange one for myriad reasons. You noted only a few detractors the man carries. He can yell and scream all he wants. I do not think the committee will be swayed by no name’s antics. That Felon has never been what he has tried to get people to believe, thus my label of him as a conman and snake-oil salesman.

Wise counsel! It is going to get much uglier before we can hope to reach those ‘sun-lit uplands.’

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1239

 Update from the Heartland

No.1239

6.10.25 – 12.10.25

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

 

To all,

 

We bear witness to precisely why I have long argued for comprehensive immigration reform and a defense in depth when it comes to immigration enforcement. Today we see the federal government pitted against state governments in the form of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids to locate and deport individuals who have entered the country without proper permission and documentation. Generally, I am in favor of enforcing immigration law. Unfortunately, I am not a support of what is happening today. The current administration seeks to militarize our cities (especially cities led by Democrat mayors for political reasons). The orange one and his minions have tried to cloak this effort as a crimefighting task. The crimes they claim he is trying to fight are state crimes, not federal crimes. The immigration law explicitly states that immigration control is a federal responsibility and implied that it is border control, i.e., federal agents check immigration status at entry (the border). Now, we ICE agent conducting no-knock, armed searched of private property without a warrant. The problem is the feds are trying to force the state and local law enforcement to support or assist federal immigration law enforcement.

Then, we learn that the current administration has fired or terminated 139 Immigration judges so far, when they have an enormous backlog of cases. To be fair, the immigration court is an Executive Branch function; they are not within the Judiciary Branch. Thus, they are at the mercy of the president, and we all know the personality traits of our current employee in the Oval Office. The administration has remained mute so far. I imagine we will eventually hear their ‘rationale.’

 

On Tuesday, 7.October.2025, United States Attorney General Pam Bondi chose to take a confrontational attitude in her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She tried to resurrect the spirit of J. Edgar Hoover. Any time she was challenged or asked about something she did not want to talk about, she would accuse the senator questioning her of some impropriety she had in her binder hit file. She was giving a performance for one man and one man only. It was pitiful and disgusting. Worse, she has been a direct party to the orange one’s vengeance tour. They have long accused previous Democrat administrations of weaponizing the Justice Department for political gain, when in fact, that is precisely what they are doing today.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1238:

Comment to the Blog:

“I agree with everything you said about Whiskey Pete’s ignorant speech to the flag officers and Agent Orange’s aggravation of it, except I don’t ‘laud their attempt to tighten up the military.’ They were strictly playing for the cameras. I’d like to add that the extreme expense and breathtaking security risks stunned me. Somehow, no ‘foreign prince or potentate’ targeted our whole military command in one place. I’m glad, but a bit surprised.

“Agent Orange takes credit for a book called ‘The Art of the Deal,’ but he doesn’t negotiate. He chooses a goal and attacks until he gets it or is annihilated.”

My response to the Blog:

Thank you for your contribution. My words stand as written. I share your concern for the waste of precious Treasury funds and the extraordinary security risk wrapped up in that farcical display. Stunned me as well. Such an assembly has never been attempted before. They did not need cameras and press coverage for their stated purpose, so they clearly had ulterior motives for orchestrating that event. We will likely see videos appear in campaign materials.

Quite so. I do not think he understands the meaning of the word ‘negotiate.’ He bludgeons people into submission like the schoolyard bully he is and always has been. Clearly, the MAGAts like a bully. I am not and never have been among those who admires such personality traits.

One more time, and probably not the last time, I will say everyone must vote for the best candidate on the ballot. We simply cannot afford another administration like this one.

 . . . with follow-up comment:

“I mostly agree, but I'll point out the reality that many voters don't exercise their franchise unless a candidate motivates them.”

 . . . my follow-up response:

We have been around this hoop more than a few times. We are both consistent in our opinions. We do not force anyone to vote. Abstention is a choice. Further, the Republicans in various states have striven mightily to make it more difficult to vote, undoubtedly pushing the threshold of ‘too hard’ lower and disenfranchising more lower income or older voters. My contention is only that voting obligation of citizenship, to vote for the best candidate on the ballot. The Republic may not survive another administration like the current one, and quite possibly, we have already passed the point of no return.

“That’s just my opinion, but I could be wrong.”

 

Another contribution:

“Well put, the numerous transgressions the Orange One and his minions are committing against the constitution and Their employers, we the people are unforgivable. Next election we must do what we can to send a message to the Orange one and his henchmen and henchwomen to cease and desist of their unconstitutional actions.”

My reply:

The tragedy in this fiasco is, he does not care a twit about the Constitution. To him, it is an annoying obstacle that must be circumvented. Most of his adult life he was lord and master of a private company he inherited from his daddy. The thought that he is an employee of We, the People, is quite the anathema to him. He is running the Executive Branch like it is his own private domain, and he can do whatever he wants. Worse yet, from my perspective, far too many American citizens are cheering him on. Whether we can recover from the destruction he has wrought on this once grand republic is yet to be seen.

Oh my, yes, the mid-term election next year will be a critical event. We must elect a non-Republican House and hopefully a 60+ non-Republican majority in the Senate. He should have been impeached, convicted, and banned from political office for the rest of his natural life months ago. We can always hope.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1238

 Update from the Heartland

No.1238

29.9.25 – 5.10.25

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

 

To all,

 

On Tuesday, 30.September.2025, Secretary of Defense [not war] Hegseth recalled all flag officers (generals and admirals) and command non-commissioned officers to a collective meeting at MCB Quantico. Admirals and generals of brigadier rank and above who are in command rather than staff positions for what he billed as a major, short notice conclave. The podium was placed before a large American flag as if to resurrect the opening scene in the movie Patton. Implicitly comparing himself to George Patton is farcical. To his credit, Hegseth appeared to have given his entire speech from memory. Frankly, it was a very polished and smooth presentation. If he utilized a distant large teleprompter, he used it very effectively. Beyond the venue and presentation, I found most of his presentation to be quite offensive, and I am not and never have been a general officer. Hegseth implied that the U.S. military has not won a war since the name of the Department of War was changed and the Defense Department created in 1947. To be blunt, he really needs to go back to school and study history a little more closely; I will not detour into a history summary, and will only state for the record, the wars we fought after WW2 were political losses, not military losses. The politicians of the day lost their will to fight a war properly. You do not pull a pistol to intimidate someone; if you pull a pistol, you must be prepared to kill. So, I adamantly condemn his contention. Hegseth directed the military to return to the highest “male” physical fitness standards for combat arms. I am all in favor of high standards for the military and especially for the combat arms. I am not in favor of “male” standards—only standards for the job. He must drop that paternalistic nonsense. Hegseth also claimed their silly, ill-advised attempt to change the name of the Defense Department, since he claimed he wanted to change “The Woke Department to the War Department,” as if  the professional military is more involved with social progress than warfighting. It was an outright insult to officers and NCOs who have served the Republic for decades and continue to serve. Congress chose the name of the new coalesced department; only Congress can change the name. Hegseth also implied that that military belongs to the president. WRONG! WRONG! ABSOLUTELY AND CATEGORICALLY WRONG!!! The military is an agency that belongs to We, the People, under the Constitution. We pay for it. We staff it. We choose our political leaders to point the sword in the correct direction. The professional military in its various forms is a constitutional entity, NOT the personal militia of whomever we employ in the Oval Office.

Then, that abomination was not bad enough. [The person who shall no longer be named, AKA no name, the orange one, the Felon, et al] felt compelled to get his face time; he simply cannot pass up a camera. He kept the gathering of flag officers waiting for a long time, presumably so he could finish his morning Big Mac. I suspect he did not get a good night’s sleep. He appeared to be half-asleep with no energy in his speech. He meandered and chopped up his sentences. The orange one tried to use a teleprompter.

At least Hegseth tried to give a Rah-Rah speech. No name gave a political speech like it was at campaign rally for loyal MAGAts, rather than a gathering of generals—a political speech to an apolitical group. The orange one desperately wants the military to be loyal to him personally (sounds quite familiar, e.g., 1934). They are sworn to defend the Constitution . . . no individual or position. The military is a reflection of the people they serve. It is NOT a white, male, Christian organization as it appears no name and his lackey Hegseth want to make it. None of the social factors should affect or influence the military’s business.

As with all things, the devil is in the details. It is rarely the policy that causes problems. It is the interpretation and basic implementation where the problems lay. Case in point, Hegseth no more no nation building, To which, I say – right on! However, when get go into a country and destroy the government—you broke it, you fix it; e.g. Japan and Germany post-WW2.

All in all, I laud their attempt to tighten up the military, but their effort was yet another genuine embarrassment.

 

At 00:01 [R] EDT, Wednesday, 1.October.2025, the federal government of the United States of America suspended operations due to lack of funding from Congress. The leaders of the two major political parties are blaming each other, of course. Yet, it is Republicans who have total control of both the Executive and Legislative branches of the federal government. The Republicans are taking a “my way or the highway” approach to bludgeon Democrats into submission. Democrats, on the other hand, want to restore government subsidies for low-income individuals for basic health care protection. The shutdown has affected us in minor ways, not substantively as yet. However, if it continues, it will surely affect every American in major ways eventually.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1237:

Comment to the Blog:

“The attack on Tylenol is just one more facet of a general attack on American society. (Someone posted that the parent company hadn’t played along with the DEI attack.) I find both Agent Orange’s and RFK, Jr.’s speaking style annoying; therefore, I don’t listen to more than 30 seconds of either at a time, most. I don’t need to hear the original speech in full to know what they’re up to now.

“Agent Orange’s rant at the UN reminds me of a particularly belligerent drunk, except Agent Orange went on far longer. The rest of the world can’t afford to ignore his many transgressions of international laws and norms. The worst is yet to come.

“Meanwhile, in Agent Orange’s worst nightmare, House Democrats have released more Epstein documents. They name Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Steve Bannon, and Prince Andrew among the likely culprits. (Per https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/oversight-democrats-release-third-batch-documents-jeffrey-epstein-estate.) Musk and Thiel would be especially important catches due to their political spending.”

My response to the Blog:

It would be difficult to argue against your initial statement. That is certainly how I see things as well. The company that makes Tylenol is Kenvue, which was spun-off of Johnson & Johnson in 2023. You are quite right on both no name and RFK Jr. Every speech is just more of the same in shades of gray.

Again, spot on! His voice and manner of speech is truly irritating and annoying, but unfortunately, his words have impact on the actions of the government. He has appointed far too many feckless minions to positions where actions are taken, e.g., RFK Jr. Yes, indeed, the worst is yet to come. It will be morbidly interesting to see what allies remain after he is done.

Good. We need much more of that information. We both known another name who was undoubtedly a participant and thus perpetrator in that infamous affair. There is much more to come.

 . . . follow-on comment:

“The New York Times notes this morning that 4 of the 8 government shutdowns since 1990 have been under Agent Orange. Here we go again. Also, his speech to the generals yesterday suggested training the military on US civilians. Keep nausea medication handy.

“Agent Orange was close to Epstein, and he has been found liable for sexual assault. We can connect the dots.”

 . . . my follow-up response:

Indeed, here we go again. This one will be different as no name superimposed his vindictiveness on the shutdown consequences.

There are so many despicable elements of Hegseth’s and no name’s speech to the gathering of flag officers and command NCOs; more in this week’s Update.

Yes, he was, because he was getting easy access to young and under-age women for his sexual gratification. Yes, indeed, we can connect the dots, but his MAGAts do not care a twit. Sovereign immunity = the King can do no wrong!

 

Another contribution:

“OMG- just reading the latest twist between your politicians, your favourite man in the middle of the turmoil. This is no way to run a country, stand him down Cap.”

My reply:

You are spot on, correct! This is no way to run a country, which is precisely why I refer to this nation as a once grand republic. We have degenerated and continue our disintegration under the actions of no name and his devoted minions. The MAGAts are cheering him on. The only way we can stand down the orange one and his MAGAts is by our votes. Our next opportunity is next fall; we have a long way to go. I remain guardedly optimistic that we will eventually right the ship. I know it is hard for all of us but keep the faith.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1237

 Update from the Heartland

No.1237

22.9.25 – 28.9.25

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

 

To all,

 

On Monday, 22.September.2025, [the person who shall no longer be named; AKA no name, the orange one, the Felon, et cetera ad infinitum ad nauseum] called a presser at the White House to seemingly inform us of a presumably important medical finding. What they were trying to say is, they believe they found a link between the use of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) while pregnant and the onset of autism in children. They offered no evidence other than they said so, and numerous other physicians who are experts in their field of practice refuted the contention of the announcement. No one has mentioned whether the linkage was a result of chronic, overuse, or abusive use by pregnant women. The annoucement was supposed to be focused on pregnant women, but it came across as all Tylenol use.

Listening to no name is like hearing scratches on a chalkboard. His speaking style is absolutely atrocious. As he always does, he chops sentences, cannot pronounce common words, and inserts outright false statements as if they are facts, just because he says them. Toward the end of his yammering, he dropped the qualification and condemn Tylenol entirely, essentially telling everyone, don’t use Tylenol. I am not going to take medical advice from a proven, consistent, and consummate liar.

Then, Bobby Junior added his worthless two cents. When I say worthless, I truly mean worthless. Listening to RFK Jr. is very difficult and downright irritating. To be fair, he is genuinely afflicted by a rare neurological disorder known as spasmodic dysphonia that causes halting and raspy speech. He was diagnosed with the affliction circa 1996, and several in his family exhibit the same dysfunction. He really needs a spokesperson to better communicate his message [not that I really want to hear his nonsense conspiracy theories].

No name and his minions accomplished nothing other than instill confusion and fear about using Tylenol. If you overuse anything, it can be toxic or injurious—too much oxygen, too much water, et al. This Tylenol announcement was the redux of the tragic COVID pressers. Anything would be better than this current administration.

 

On Tuesday, 23.September.2025, we were treated to an even more bizarre oratory performance. I listened to no name’s speech before the United Nations General Assembly. Excuse me, I should have said I ‘tried’ to listen to the president’s speech. To put my assessment simply, he is an unmitigated embarrassment. [emphasis mine] He is not, never was, and never will be representative of the United States of America. I have railed against the Ugly American Syndrome since the 1960s when I first witness the affliction, but no name is so far beyond the worst of those afflicted with the Ugly American Syndrome. Not only is he a horrific speaker, he openly and freely spews falsehoods and outright lies about myriad topics. He exaggerates everything. He is an orange buffoon. No name is striving mightily to isolate the United States. Despite what he thinks and claims, we cannot and will not stand alone. The orange one (and he was really orange on Tuesday) brought solely domestic matters to the world stage as if he is the oracle of humanity, which is quite akin to airing private family affairs on a nationally broadcast talk show--atrocious. The White House clown spoke for FOUR times the allotted time, and he rambled aimlessly, went off script far too many times with nonsense clumps of words. [emphasis mine] I cannot give him credit for cogent sentences. Even when he was reading off the teleprompter, he chopped up sentences and droned on with his irritating monotone voice as he gyrates at the podium. As he did in his Tylenol speech the day before, he spews his personal opinions as if they are the policy of the United States.

To the world I say, please forgive us for what we did in 2024. The foolish clown who we elected to be our employee and representative is NOT in any way reflective of what citizens of the United States of America were, are, or could be in the future. We made a dreadful mistake, and we shall do our best to repair the damage he has wrought on the planet.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1236:

Comment to the Blog:

“The $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications will destroy high-tech in the US if it stands and will do severe harm to the Orange Menace’s attempt to onshore manufacturing.

“On a still more serious note, Judd Legum’s column this morning discusses the attempt to sanctify Charlie Kirk

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FmfcgzQcpnVJcTxRVWlKxHQsPrGCrvrP.

I was unable to read this carefully due to nausea, but I couldn’t avoid the parallel to Horst Wessel.”

My response to the Blog:

Perhaps so, but I think not. I suspect it is more likely that the companies than rely on H-1B visas will pay the tax as they are able. Each company will make a risk-benefit assessment, just as they are preparing to pay the Felon’s foolish tariffs. The H-1B fee (tax) will harm the new and future start-ups more than the established companies.

I am instantly reminded of Chief Justice John Marshall’s observation in McCulloch v. Maryland [17 U.S. {4 Wheat.} 316 (1819)] [416], ““[T]he power to tax involves the power to destroy.” The orange one is well on the way to proving that axiom.

I could not open the Legum article, but I can imagine. Kirk’s martyrdom has already been created by the MAGAts. I must say, the parallels between Kirk and Wessel are undeniable and unavoidable. We will witness similar veneration of Kirk as the NSDAP/Nazis did with Wessel.

 . . . Round two:

“I suspect you underestimate the number of people from India (mostly) working in high-tech jobs. I did a temp assignment in about 2011 or 2012 for a couple of months in an IT placement company here in Columbus, with revising Indian resumes for US needs as one of the duties. With only one major client (insurance company, not IT focus), I was doing four to six resumes a day from India. If we multiply that by all the companies using IT people, that’s a ton of money at $100,000 a head.

“The future is particularly unreadable right now. Robert Reich’s column today gives several reasons he believes the tide is turning, based on decades of experience in or dealing with Washington.”

 . . . my response to round two:

Perhaps so. From my perspective, it does not matter whether it is one or a million. It is still a tax. A rose by any other name . . .

No name is trying to claim he is “making money” on the routine operations of government. He is just increasing taxation by another name.

Reich would know better than me. He may be seeing something I have not seen, yet. I certainly hope he is correct.

 . . . Round three:

“The number of high-level workers affected by that visa fee could change the course of the industries that use them. Perhaps Agent Orange thinks many thousands of American workers are available in those specialties, but I doubt it very much. Thus, it's another economic misstep.

“The drastic consumer cost increases won't pay for the tax breaks for the very wealthy.”

 . . . my response to round three:

I can agree with that perspective. I might add, we have no clue whatsoever what the orange one is thinking. Whatever it is, it does not appear to be rational. He seems to be completely focused on revenge against those who do not support his actions and extorting money from whomever he can.

Quite so, but that will not stop no name from pressing on with his extortion program.

I wonder how many years will be necessary to recover from the destruction he has wrought on this once grand republic and the world in general.

 . . . Round four:

“The Orange Menace’s mental processes fail. Another source brought my attention to the effect of those visas on rural medicine. They’re already suffering plenty out there, and an enormous share of the doctors come from other countries.

“I also believe the recovery time will be long. Even if he vanished tomorrow and were replaced by a competent Chief Executive, our norms, international standing, economy, and government structure would take at least ten years to fully restore.”

 . . . my response to round four:

There a lot of things that have failed about the orange one, but there are also a lot of things that never were with him. Very good point. The pain induced by no name’s destructive behavior is incalculable. His mindless assault on Tylenol, his insulting virtually all world leaders at the General Assembly, and his putting his thumb on the scales of justice and parochial advocacy of prosecution of his enemies list are all impeachable offenses—conduct unbecoming . . . 

Oh, I think it will take far longer to recover from the damage no name has done to this once grand republic and to the world in general. He has made us far weaker on the world stage, e.g., Putin’s new aggressiveness.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)