[a_user]

In a curious coda to COVID the Dept of "Health" and "Human Services" has just advised that it will not consider an application from Moderna for a new 'flu vaccine.
Apparently the application contained a large number of facts and accuracies.

[Zelandakh]

johnu, on 2026-February-15, 20:21, said:

There's an old DOJ memo that says the president can't pardon himself. Many legal scholars believe that is true. However, the US has never had a convicted felon as president, and never had an ex-president who was indicted for a felony.

The USA has also never had an insurrectionist as President before, largely because it is unconstitutional. But the Constitution doesn't mean anything in the country right now, since there are only politicians in the Supreme Court. If a case does go their way, expect them to do whatever it is that best suits their party. The Law has nothing whatsoever to do with it so just ignore what legal scholars and DoJ memos say. Equally, the bar to convict a PresidentKing has been set so high now that I doubt any state prosecution would have a realistic chance of success. You seem still to be living in the old America in your head. Forget it, it's just a fantasy now.

[johnu]

Zelandakh, on 2026-February-16, 12:31, said:

You seem still to be living in the old America in your head. Forget it, it's just a fantasy now.

My views on the supreme court and the 6 ultra right fringe judges that have no respect for the law or the US Constitution is even lower than yours. And Thomas and Alito are available to rent by the quarter hour in case you've got a huge pile of money to spread around.

The only real hope is that the ultra right fringe alleged justices recognize that what goes around, comes around and that a Democratic president will eventually take office and take retribution against the remaining MAGA.

[WasWinM]

The entire cabal should be taken to the Haig for prosecution.

[shyams]

Zelandakh, on 2026-February-16, 12:31, said:

The USA has also never had an insurrectionist as President before, largely because it is unconstitutional. But the Constitution doesn't mean anything in the country right now, since there are only politicians in the Supreme Court. If a case does go their way, expect them to do whatever it is that best suits their party. The Law has nothing whatsoever to do with it so just ignore what legal scholars and DoJ memos say. Equally, the bar to convict a PresidentKing has been set so high now that I doubt any state prosecution would have a realistic chance of success. You seem still to be living in the old America in your head. Forget it, it's just a fantasy now.

I am not disputing a single word in this post.

My addendum, however, relates to the branch of Govt that people rarely talk about --- the Legislature (aka Congress).

That the USA has had one entire branch of Govt doing absolutely nothing for decades is now coming back to bite the country in the backside. In contrast, the UK has a very strong legislature. The power of the Speaker of the House of Commons has been on display often. This role has often ensured that the Executive Branch in the UK never goes unchecked by the Legislative Branch.

Americans need to elect House of Representatives members who actually fight against the President, even one who belongs to their own party, when the President steps out of line.

[WasWinM]

shyams, on 2026-March-04, 11:30, said:

I am not disputing a single word in this post.

My addendum, however, relates to the branch of Govt that people rarely talk about --- the Legislature (aka Congress).

That the USA has had one entire branch of Govt doing absolutely nothing for decades is now coming back to bite the country in the backside. In contrast, the UK has a very strong legislature. The power of the Speaker of the House of Commons has been on display often. This role has often ensured that the Executive Branch in the UK never goes unchecked by the Legislative Branch.

Americans need to elect House of Representatives members who actually fight against the President, even one who belongs to their own party, when the President steps out of line.

We actually had that in the 1970s when Republicans turned against Nixon because of the tapes. Nixon would have escaped unscathed today. We may be too broken to fix at this point.

[a_user]

Gnome sacked.
Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover.

[thepossum]

a_user, on 2026-March-05, 15:39, said:

Gnome sacked.
Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover.

Not sure judging the bookcase in Washington is much help to the rest of the world right now
At least at the moment we are not on their target list
Blessed are the peace makers - some of them would actually claim to have heard that reference before

[WasWinM]

The only question at this point is on which side is the U.S. military: Trump's or democracy's?

[thepossum]

WasWinM, on 2026-March-09, 10:38, said:

The only question at this point is on which side is the U.S. military: Trump's or democracy's?

That always intrigued me over recent years

Apparently the delusions run so deep that he and Netanyahu have to be on the Iran selection panel

They have something they call the council/panel/whatever of experts. Not sure they would qualify

What I find almost refreshing in a rather evil way is the way the Trump administration has exposed the totally evil nature of foreign po0licy and wars, clearly all cynically using it for oil, minerals or real estate, under the guise of democracy and human rights. No pretence any more. We all mean nothing

I know I can't speak for everyone but don't most of us just want to live our simple lives

If anyone can point to any form of ocracy providing a good model let me know

[barmar]

thepossum, on 2026-March-10, 18:48, said:

If anyone can point to any form of ocracy providing a good model let me know

Whatever the political system, it's still just people. And when evil people are allowed in charge, you get evil deeds.

[WasWinM]

thepossum, on 2026-March-10, 18:48, said:

That always intrigued me over recent years

Apparently the delusions run so deep that he and Netanyahu have to be on the Iran selection panel

They have something they call the council/panel/whatever of experts. Not sure they would qualify

What I find almost refreshing in a rather evil way is the way the Trump administration has exposed the totally evil nature of foreign po0licy and wars, clearly all cynically using it for oil, minerals or real estate, under the guise of democracy and human rights. No pretence any more. We all mean nothing

I know I can't speak for everyone but don't most of us just want to live our simple lives

If anyone can point to any form of ocracy providing a good model let me know

There are autocracies that don't work well except for the few on top, beginning with North Korea. Democracy, though flawed, is still better than that.

[thepossum]

 WasWinM, on 2026-March-11, 10:57, said:

There are autocracies that don't work well except for the few on top, beginning with North Korea. Democracy, though flawed, is still better than that.

I still think ocracies are not doing well

Although I'm sure they are doing well trading whatever they trade

To me any form of ocracy has philosophical problems

But manipulate the ignorant people to put you in a very comfortable position

[barmar]

thepossum, on 2026-March-12, 02:37, said:

I still think ocracies are not doing well

What kind of political system is not an ocracy?

[Zelandakh]

barmar, on 2026-March-12, 13:35, said:

What kind of political system is not an ocracy?

I'm guessing the only acceptable form of government for da possum is anarchy.

[Cyberyeti]

WasWinM, on 2026-March-11, 10:57, said:

There are autocracies that don't work well except for the few on top, beginning with North Korea. Democracy, though flawed, is still better than that.

But the US has a kakistocracy, and certain sectors seem to rejoice in that

[WasWinM]

Cyberyeti, on 2026-March-12, 14:14, said:

But the US has a kakistocracy, and certain sectors seem to rejoice in that

At this point I'd say more of an oligarchy as the super rich dominate. The ultimate goal seems to be a return to feudalism.

[shyams]

What is the likelihood that Trump will launch a thermonuclear weapon at one or more selected sites in Iran?

[barmar]

WasWinM, on 2026-March-12, 18:46, said:

At this point I'd say more of an oligarchy as the super rich dominate. The ultimate goal seems to be a return to feudalism.

I think Cyberyeti's point is that there's lots of overlap in the US in the US. You'd normally expect oligarchs in a democracy to be intelligent, as that's usually a prerequisite to become really successful (even super-villians are usually geniuses). But Trump defies that expectation. He has strong people skills, making him a successful charlatan, and he used this to parlay family money into a successful career in real estate and now politics. And he's surrounded himself with other *****s who are basically riding his coattails.