- Finally Friday
- Tight Race for CA Governor
- Collins in Trouble in Maine
- Tuesday: State of the Union Speech
- 46 Years
Trump Job Approval
| Pollsters wrong in 2024: | 41.6 / 55.6 | -14.0 |
| Pollsters right in 2024: | 45.5 / 52.1 | -6.6 |
 | GOP | DEM |
| Democrats +21 | 207 | 228 |
Trump Job Approval
| Pollsters wrong in 2024: | 41.6 / 55.6 | -14.0 |
| Pollsters right in 2024: | 45.5 / 52.1 | -6.6 |
| GOP | DEM |
| Democrats +21 | 207 | 228 |
The Hedgehog Report - Phoenix Edition 
117 responses to “Weekend Thread”
Big…
Back for More? Elon Musk Hints That He’s ‘All In’ for the GOP in 2026″
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My comment got buried at the end of the last thread. Here goes again!
Happy New Year all!
I just had an interesting conversation with my son that reminded me of the last couple of years on Hedgehog Report (Phoenix edition). He cited a comment often attributed to Mark Twain that it is hard enough to win an argument with an intelligent person, but nearly impossible to win one with a fool.
In addition to the explanation that you are often dragged down to the fool’s level (where the fool has much more expreience), we discussed the fact that fools will almost never concede an argument. They often don’t remember what they have said in the past; will deny making comments that they are on record as having said; and/or replace failed attacks on one subject with attacks on a different subject.
At one point, my son said “trying to hold these people to the positions they advocate is like wrestling with a greased pig”. [As you know, you should never wrestle with a greased pig – both of you get dirty but the pig enjoys it.]
Since I once again started reading and contributing to the new HHR, I find myself enjoying the occasional bursts of brilliance from most of you, and do my best to avoid tangling with the fools. Here’s to to another year with you folks at HHR!
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BillW, predictions for 2026?
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BillW. – Happy New Year! I will endeavor to continue my brilliant comments.
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I find myself enjoying the occasional bursts of brilliance from most of you,”
Thanks, man.
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I got a text from FLA2025, he is not able to log in.
He says he will try to do better in 2026 so he doesn’t get pegged as a fool again.
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Hey Bitter, see if you can reach Phil and wish him a Happy New Year.
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Very good…..
‘A federal court in California on Friday struck down the state’s law that prohibits people from openly carrying guns in most public places, ruling that the state law was unconstitutional because it violated the Second Amendment.
The San Francisco-based Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals cited a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that struck down a New York law that required people applying for a license to carry a concealed weapon prove they have “proper cause” to carry a gun.
The California law in question banned openly carrying guns in counties with a population greater than 200,000 people.
The appeals court’s 2-1 decision said the California case “unquestionably involves a historical practice — open carry — that predates ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1791,” and that “historical record makes unmistakably plain that open carry is part of this Nation’s history and tradition.”
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HHR Putin Admiration Society hardest hit.
https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2026/01/02/reports-of-his-death-are-premature-ukraine-tricks-russia-out-of-500k-with-faked-death-of-opp-leader-n2197709
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@Breaking911
·
8h
ICE has launched a large-scale enforcement operation in Minnesota, making over 500 arrests in early 2026 of individuals with prior deportation orders, criminal records, or fraud connections.
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ettermike
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The man claiming to be the “owner” of Somali Nokomis Daycare is standing by his story, alleging the facility was broken into and that student enrollment files and employee records were stolen. Minneapolis Police, however, say those claims don’t hold up. Investigators report no evidence of a break-in, no signs of forced entry, and no confirmation that anything was taken from the daycare. Authorities say their findings directly contradict the owner’s account, adding to the growing scrutiny and unanswered questions surrounding the facility. How stupid is this guy that he thinks the general public and the police are as dumb as the government officials who handled out the money?
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Derino, Mike is an idi9t.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15430773/Explosions-Venezuela-speculation-US-airstrikes.html
An interesting start to the weekend. Should have seized Putin instead.
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Maduro is a good start.
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Maduro’s government is not recognized as legitimate by the EU either, let’s see if they whine about it.
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Let’s see if the MAGA isolationists are ok with regime change in Venezuela.
I certainly am.
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Another racist.
“Former Minnesota Viking and University of Minnesota football player Jack Brewer said he’s seen high-end business involving the “elite” Somali population in Minnesota up close. In the process, he witnessed a demographic and class transformation in his home state.
“You go to one of them, and they have Bentley and Maserati dealerships in Minnesota. I know because I’ve done business with them, and I’ve been endorsed by them as an athlete,” Brewer told Fox News Digital.
“Now, you go in there, and some of their main customers are these Somali fraudsters buying high-end cars in a state that gets four months of sunlight and decent weather. They’re driving around sports cars like you would see in Beverly Hills or South Beach Miami, all off the back of the American taxpayer.”
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Brewer also shares some of my views on the woke NFL
“The NFL is forcing teams to choose from just 7 “end zone slogans.” Jack Brewer calls it sickening. The NFL should be focusing on the sport itself. It’s past time the NFL stops forcing this woke ideology on the players and the fans.”
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The isolationist President shows again that he’s the worst isolationist of all time.
Great play by Big Orange.
Chicon
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LOL
Poor Chicon.
The life of a Trump Cultist is rough.
A diet of eating crow for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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Yesterday Chicon would have vociferously argued against regime change in Venezuela and the use of any “troops on the ground”. He would have said Venezuela is not in our interest and “not our problem”.
Today “great play by Big Orange”:
Early favorite for HHR Hypocrite of the Year.
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Huckeem, rube and Messi are upset.
Oh well at least Messi got the smut docs released
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It’s going back to Monroe doctrine. It served us well until bushbubbabamademented screwed it up.
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Kurt’s 10 best list
https://x.com/KurtSchlichter/status/2007453146780491850
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Kurt – Drats went to defending Somali pirates to defending a socialist narco leader.
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Yesterday, Tina copied (of course) a post about how Trump’s efforts in Venezuela.
The she made up one of her posts to make fun of more aggressive military action in Venezuela:
But we need boots on the ground (freepassers).
How will she spin it today?
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Should we be worried?
“Maduro has ordered all national defense plans to be put in place for implementation at the appropriate time and under the appropriate circumstances.”
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How will she spin it today?”
She is a lying fraud like Chicon.
Yesterday, she opposed boots on the ground.
Today, she thinks boots on the ground is the greatest idea Trump could come up with.
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Looks like Mike Lee is onboard…
Just got off the phone with
@SecRubio
He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant This action likely falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack Thank you,
@SecRubio
, for keeping me apprised”
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why did Trump bring Maduro to New York for indictment? Mamdani will likely pardon him and give him a cabinet position.
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Florida would be better dw. Puzzling in that front.
We didn’t do boots on the ground. This means like we did in Panama or Iraq or Afghanistan
of course the free passers know what boots on the ground means. They are pleading srupidity
Given the amount of issues they got wrong in 2025 2026 is not looking any better
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I guess Maduro was indicted in Ny. That is why it’s Ny
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Hopefully the free passers can improve on
Muh tariff inflation
Economy is crashed
Stock market collapse
Please have a better 2026.
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Russia complaining about this act of US aggression against Venezuela….hello? Has anyone heard of Ukraine?
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Zzzzzzz Tina changes her positions constantly to always align with Trump and declares that she wins the arguments she makes up in her head.
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Trump confirmed a few injuries but no deaths among our troops. It’s like watching the John Wayne classic The Green Berets but none of our special forces killed.
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LOL
US troops invaded the palace, captured Maduro, but there were no boots on the ground.
Tina vying for HHR Clown of the Year 2026, janzam beware.
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We didn’t do boots on the ground.”
LOL
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The fact no US personnel were killed is suspicious, i wonder if there was not some kind of cooperation.
You would expect Maduro to have a lot of bodyguards.
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I feel bad for Tina.
Yesterday she was hit hard by the news Trump backed down on tariffs for $700 million in Italian pasta.
And today this.
I tell you, the life of a Trump Cultist is one heck of a roller coaster.
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But we need boots on the ground (freepassers).
How will she spin it today?”
You have your answer.
“Fast” boots on the ground are ok.
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Zzzzzzz Tina changes her positions constantly to always align with Trump”
You really have to admire her, hmmm…. “flexibility”.
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DW,
I would like to amend my 2026 predictions.to include that Trump will invade Venezuela and capture Madero, and then rename the country Trumpezuela.
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and capture Madero”
Damm, he got Maduro’s cousin Madero too?
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He is renaming Caracas Melania, not Trumpracas.
And some people think he is narcissistic.
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China’s leader XI (Eleven) said on X (Ten) (formerly Twitter) he is upset with Trump (45 and 47) actions in Venezuela (sh!t hole).
Today (1/3/26) Trump will be having a news conference at 11 (Eleven) a.m. 2 (two) will get you 10 (ten) that Trump will speak about Venezuela actions.
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Dozens of Chinook helicopters were spotted flying over Caracas.
But Tina may have a point, none of them were actually on the ground when seen.
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TV OPERATION COST
And speaking of numbers…It was not THAT many years ago that people all had TV antennas and paid $0.00 per year for having a TV.
Now, people all have to pay from $2,000 to 5,000 per year to have TV cable hookup
**************
WATER AND SEWER
Not TOO long ago (yes a couple of decades) I paid $10 a month for water and $5 a month for sewer. That’s $180 a YEAR. NOW I spend $1680 a year
**************
HOME INSURANCE for a year (a few decades ago) was about the equivalent of one month’s house payment of $330. For a year’s coverage. Yes that had gone up over the years to be $778 year the year we sold that house and moved to this one.
NOW–six years later–home insurance is $1,800 a year (yes, I know–different house.)
**************
PHONE bill was less than $30 per month. (#360/year, or less) When everyone just had land lines.
Now, no land lines, but 2 cell phones in the family and we pay $97 per month ($1,164/year)
*************
COMPUTER COSTS
NOW…we have to buy a “device”. They are not cheap. Then we have to buy an operating system, and security system. and Apps, , monthly service charges, etc., etc.
****************
CAR RADIO
Used to get A car that had AM/FM and all was cool.
NOW we also have to buy Sirius Radio for two or three cars….$$$$
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COMPUTE$RS
Actually we have had to buy TWO devices–one for me one for missus.
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I wonder if Elon is coming back to the administration in DOGE 2.0. I realize that doge is ongoing. But they may need his expertise on gubment fraud.
Elon also just praised the admin. For taking down Mierda
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I believe it’s not just Somali pirate fraud, others are involved.
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news conference not started yet
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Mierdas indictment is here
https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/2007468832567222274
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Trump cannot stick to reading a script if his life depended on it…off on tangents…Rubio looks like he is thinking “FOR GOD SAKE, JUST READ THE SCRIPT…and then let other people get the microphone who are better and more focused speakers to deal with this.”
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Tell Boso, his gang bangers are not coming back. He can stick his legal opinion up his arse.
julie_kelly2
Has anyone conducted a wellness check on Jeb Boasberg? Surely he is not taking the news of the strike on Venezuela well. Unlikely his dream of returning illegal Venezuelan gang bangers back to US will come true…
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Trump is incapable of staying on script or focused. I wonder who really wrote his book.
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what a difference between Trump speaking a d the military Gen. speaking.
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one mistake but Sec. Of Def (war) and Trump is that the oil in Vz was not pur oil. The equipment and other property that was seized WAS owned by u.s. companies. But the oil we were extracting and paying for was Venezuela’s.
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Who wrote Trunp’s book?
LOL
I would have shot myself if I had been hired by Trump to work with him and oversee the writing of his books…
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Vz, like Iran mullahs, had no air defense. This is a blow to the Ccp and Pooty poot twice now.
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G: President Trump just said it PERFECTLY in response to the Fake News “Did you notify Congress in advance?!” TRUMP: “Congress has a tendency to LEAK. This would NOT be good. If they leaked, it would’ve been a very different result!” “We don’t want leakers!”
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I have heard that as a concession to Maduro, Maduro will be allowed to use the air his trip from VZ to the U.S. on his personal frequent flyer plan to be used on any airline of his choosing for future air trips.
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We need to know when one of the Marxist judges releases Mierdas.
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ScottJenningsKY
Maduro: the only illegal alien Dems *don’t* want to bring to the US.
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District judge Sir Ender First weighing his options on how to save Maduro without a trial.
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@NolteNC
·
Democrats should be doubly happy. They love arresting presidents and importing dangerous drug traffickers from the Third World into America.
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Well one of my new years resolutions is to post more…so here goes number one
I think it’s hilarious how Dems are protesting the move on Maduro. The communist Mayor of NYC is acting like someone should have consulted him.
Question, is there a communist/socialist Dictator anywhere in the world that Dems don’t love and want to protect?
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Trump calls Tina a liar….
Earlier, asked whether U.S. troops would be deployed in Venezuela, Trump said, “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground.”
“We had boots on the ground last night at a very high level, actually, we’re not afraid of it,” he said. “We don’t mind saying it, but we’re going to make sure that that country is run properly.”
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BREAKING:
Judge Boasberg orders Maduro returined and $100 million in reparations for undue stress.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15431495/donald-trump-ground-troops-venezuela.html
Tina hardest hit. Or she will just agree with Trump. Again.
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Not sure if I saw Bitter say he approves of Trump’s actions in Venezuela? I assume he does, but saying something positive about Trump is painful for him.
Chicon
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By X user Cynical Publius, which is a succinct statement of where I am on today’s events…..
“I voted for Trump to not get us involved in useless, endless wars.
A surgical strike on narco-terrorist facilities in our hemisphere that murder thousands of Americans, coupled with a precision extraction of the lawless bandit in charge, is not a useless, endless war.
So I’m OK with it. Go America!”
Chicon
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LOL
Chicon, a shameless liar and fraud, would support ANY Trump war, useless, endless or not.
Let’s get real.
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LOL
“The best part about this? Rand Paul and Thomas massie weren’t awake to make the dumbest posts you’ve ever seen and ruin the night for everyone”
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A reminder:
“Yesterday Chicon would have vociferously argued against regime change in Venezuela and the use of any “troops on the ground”. He would have said Venezuela is not in our interest and “not our problem”.
Today “great play by Big Orange”:
Early favorite for HHR Hypocrite of the Year.”
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Still evaluating it. I am just enjoying the Cult at war with itself and pretending Trump did not just tell to GFY.
https://nypost.com/2026/01/03/world-news/trump-says-us-will-now-take-over-running-venezuela-after-nicolas-maduro-was-captured-in-the-dead-of-night/
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Amazing that our troops suffered no deaths….just one helicopter that took a few shots but was able to finish the mission.
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The ny mayor is having a hissy fit. Doesn’t want to be the last socialist standing.
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It was a bit easier when the freepassers wanted the illegals and Maduros drugs, chicon,
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If this military operation was a Hollywood movie, it would get bad reviews because it wouldn’t be considered realistic that we didn’t have any casualties.
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It was a bit easier when the freepassers wanted the illegals and Maduros drugs, chicon,
More lies. Nobody at HHR wanted that.
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Ruben Gallego might want to first get the opinion of actual Venezuelans before making such stupid comments.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15431419/TRUMP-MADURO-TRACKSUIT.html
The Cult may burst into fire if Trump wants “nation building” now. Tina roasted every President for decades over wanting to run other countries. But she will say it is ok as long as it is Trump.
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I have always defended the Monroe doctrine.
The flow of drugs and the oil going to the Ccp were large factors.
Ccp = #1 threat.
The free passers are for buying Russian oil, like the Europeans, while engaging (and enjoying ) in a World War I type battle of carnage.
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carnage in Ukraine sprinkled with white powder*
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Bitter said…”Still evaluating it. I am just enjoying the Cult at war with itself.”
Guy runs a cartel that kils Americans; like Noriega. I was in favor of that so I’m in favor of this. Not very complex, imo. I can see it being difficult to process if you hate Trump. Or you think Trump is an isolationist
Chicon
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The free passers are for buying Russian oil,
Produce a single post where anybody at HHR or just admit you lie.
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I have always defended the Monroe doctrine.
I don’t recall seizing foreign leaders (even crappy ones) being part of the Monroe Doctrine but Tina probably went to school in California so who knows what is taught there.
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/monroe-doctrine
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I did not say I oppose what Trump did. I find it hilarious that Tina was opposed to it yesterday and it is cheering it now. Both can be true.
Tina was opposed to “boots on the ground.” Apparently, Trump wasn’t. So now she changes the definition of boots on the ground. Not sure how Trump plans to run Venezuela with any troops levitating. Maybe they will wear sneakers so there will be no boots on the ground.
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Free passers love Canada.
@optimistictory
·
Uh oh. A recap: 1. Doug Ford blows our trade deal 2. Trump lifts sanctions on Potash from Belarus to replace Canada 3. Trump install a new Government in Venezuela to replace Canadian oil Guy really, really doesn’t like Canada.
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@profontheright
·
REPORT: Venezuelans are now fleeing New York City to escape communism.
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Gallego, Mamdani, and other socialists and commies up in arms about this aggression against Venezuela. But the above picture is worth 1000 words on the reaction of actual Venezuelans.
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Capturing Maduro with such a precision strike, having no casualties was a bold move, just short of being miraculous. Those who can celebrate Maduro’s fall are doing so around the world. Those who can’t (like the Venezuelans still under control by Maduro’s fringe thugs), and the leftists here and abroad, are crying foul. And, while I applaud the move, it remains to be seen what kind of consequences will result from this surprise take down.
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BTW, I predicted on the prior thread that “Madura would voluntarily leave Venezuela”. I should have put an “in” before voluntary to make it accurate.
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Free passers love Canada.
More lies from Tina.
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Jan should get the full point. Maduro volunteered to not get shot and killed.
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Little did I realize that the 2026 predictions thread would so quickly be getting shots that went in the basket.
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Mamdani vows to ‘protect’ New Yorkers. If he wanted to do that, he would immediately resign.
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“ This operation will be justified as executing the criminal warrant and responding to an international drug cartel, a very similar legal framework to the one used against Noriega. There is precedent supporting that earlier operation, which will now be used to defend the actions in Venezuela.”
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/jonathan-turley-why-capture-maduro-didnt-require-approval-from-congress
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ssq texted me.
Wants to know what is all this talk and debate about pouring, or not pouring, all the booze on the ground…
I took her it is about BOOTS, not booze…
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Just got back from shopping used book stores and antique malls, so I missed a couple of posts directed towards me. Thanks for the comments on my diatribe, Jason and Bitter.
DW – As Niels Bohr once said (or perhaps it was Yogi Berra), making predictions is difficult, especially about the future. SInce I am primarily an empiricist, I mostly collect and analyze data and then offer my observations or conclusions. Or as Tina might say, I just make it up!
I will say that today is certainly a great day for Marco Rubio, for American patriots, and for Donald Trump. Not a good day for dictators and world socialists at all.
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Dems lining up against this are going to be on the wrong side of history, and badly so, The news conference hit all the right notes. Trump rambled a bit, as he always does. But the words of Hegseth, the general, and then the unscripted comments of Rubio all added together to stress that this was a moment for the ages.
This was like Sullenberger landing the plane on the Hudson river.
This was like Mike Eruzione scoring the winning shot against the Soviets.
This was like raising the flag on Iwo Jima.
This was a moment for America to feel good about itself, but the Democrats can do nothing other than try to defecate all over it. They cannot help it, its all they got
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We are not at war. I thought the president had 60 days to deploy troops? I mean are the drats and free passers saying the war powers act is not constitutional?
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Has Messie or Traitor Greene opined. I mean they are both for open borders and druggies.
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Funny how the pro socialist protestors appear to be “white”. The sams rent the Mon protesters from no kings.
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Democrats look at that picture of freed Venezuelans and are angry at their cheering and celebration of freedom. Dems are angry that they are not still oppressed with no hope.
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Remeber, England (aka the Ccp of Europe) refused to share some intelligence with us after we started hitting the drug boats.(per cnn
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karate chop says the action was illegal. We dodged a bullet with this fake r.
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karate chop was already on the wrong side of history. Nothing changed there.
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Milwaukee judge Hanna Dugan has resigned from the bench after her conviction for helping illegal aliens escape the courthouse and avoid ICE agents.
My PREDICTION for a future year, is that the next president who is a D will pardon her of her crime and conviction.
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It’s funny about that judge- her fellow judge (a friend ) did her in apparently.
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“My PREDICTION for a future year, is that the next president who is a D will pardon her of her crime and conviction.” —And depending on the Democrat, be offered a cabinet position.
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NEW THREAD for ongoing discussion about the operation that captured Maduro and freed Venezuela.
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