I am returning today after speaking at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs about my book, “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.” Last night, I was approached by a student named Andrew who asked whether he should just remain quiet at his college, where professors routinely slam conservatives and teach highly ideological views as gospel. I went on a walk this morning around dawn and spotted this swan. I immediately thought of the young man who came up to me after my talk.
Andrew, when you find yourself surrounded by ducks, don’t try to be a duck.
There are three simple reasons. First, you will make a uniquely poor duck, and the flight South will be exhausting. Second, none of the other ducks are likely to believe that you are really a duck. Finally, and most importantly, you are not a migratory bird. You only go through this life once and either live it on your own terms or live an inauthentic life.
We have discussed how the current orthodox and intolerant environment in higher education has resulted in a culture of self-censorship. (here, here, here, and here). Surveys show conservative students are 300 times more likely to self-censor. Even the largely liberal faculty at leading schools report self-censoring to avoid being targeted.
This year, Harvard found itself in a familiar spot on the annual ranking of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE): dead last among 251 universities and colleges.
What is most striking is the fact that Harvard has created this hostile environment while maintaining an overwhelmingly liberal student body and faculty. Only 9 percent of the class identified as conservative or very conservative.
Yet, even liberals feel stifled at Harvard. Only 41 percent of liberal students reported being comfortable discussing controversial topics, and only 25 percent of moderates and 17 percent of conservatives felt comfortable in doing so.
During the Harvard debate, I raised the gradual reduction of conservatives and libertarians in the student body and the faculty.
The Harvard Crimson has documented how the school’s departments have virtually eliminated Republicans. In one study of multiple departments last year, they found that more than 75 percent of the faculty self-identified as “liberal” or “very liberal.”
Only 5 percent identified as “conservative,” and only 0.4% as “very conservative.”
According to Gallup, the U.S. population is roughly equally divided among conservatives (36%), moderates (35%), and liberals (26%).
So Harvard has three times the number of liberals as the nation at large, and less than three percent identify as “conservative” rather than 35 percent nationally.
Among law school faculty who donated more than $200 to a political party, 91 percent of the Harvard faculty gave to Democrats.
While Professor Kennedy dismissed the notion that Harvard should look more like America, the problem is that it does not even look like Massachusetts. Even as one of the most liberal states in the country, roughly one-third of the voters still identify as Republican.
The student body shows the same selection bias. Harvard Crimson previously found that only 7 percent of incoming students identified as conservative, but the latest survey shows that number at 9 percent.
Some faculty members are wringing their hands over this continued hostile environment. However, the faculty as a whole is unwilling to restore free speech and intellectual diversity by adding conservative and libertarian faculty members and sponsoring events that reflect a broad array of viewpoints.
Given my respect for Professor Kennedy, I was surprised that he dismissed the sharp rise in students saying that they did not feel comfortable speaking in classes. Referring to them as “conservative snowflakes,” he insisted that they had to have the courage of their convictions.
This ignores the fact that they depend upon professors for recommendations, and challenging the school’s orthodoxy can threaten their standing. Moreover, a recent survey shows that even liberal students feel chilled in the environment created by Harvard faculty and administrators.
In other words, these are ducks surrounded by ducks who are still afraid of quacking out of turn.
Even a mute swan is actually not mute and are known to trumpet when other animals (including humans) threaten their nests or cygnets.
In other words, Andrew, if you are a swan, be a swan.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”
Jonathan: In medieval England Kings ruled by decrees. But they couldn’t rule alone. They needed advisors. Among which was the “Justican”, a chief judge or legal advisor responsible for telling the King what the law was in any given circumstance. On Jan. 20, 2025 “King Donald I” assumed the mantle of power in the Kingdom and issued a number of decrees. The latest is of special concern.
Yesterday, DJT issued probably the most consequential decree of his current reign. With “King Donald” standing next to him, his advisor stated that the latest decree provides that “only the President or the Attorney General can speak for the US when stating an opinion as to what the law is…”. Under this latest decree the courts, not even the SC, can interpret the laws. It is the sole prerogative of the President or his AG. Breathtaking? You’re right. Not even you have gone that far. This is the “unitary” theory of the executive on steroids! It virtually eliminates the judiciary as an independent branch of government.
Now this latest move is not the rambling musings of DJT on Truth Social in the wee small hours of the morning. It was an EO drafted by WH Counsel! Which makes it even more frightening! When US Presidents declare themselves to be “Kings” and say they, and they alone, will declare what is lawful you know we are now being ruled by a despot! And where are you at a time when our constitutional Republic is in peril? Strangely silent! You’d rather discuss White Swans and ducks!
Dennis, would like to share the grief you felt when Premier Obama’s White House counsel, Greg Craig was hit with multiple indictments for lying to the FBI about the illegal Clinton/Obama/Biden/DNC “Trump-Russia Dossier”
Former Obama White House Counsel Greg Craig Goes On Trial
https://www.npr.org/2019/08/12/749892821/former-obama-white-house-counsel-greg-craig-goes-on-trial-for-ukraine-work
Or would you prefer to insead share your fond memories of back in the earliest days when he was then Emperor Barack, sent his chief legal advisor, Jonathan Gruber, out on the airwaves and social media to “Gruber” you and your fellow democrats?
Remember when Gruber was dispatched to be the health care expert who could decipher Obamacare and assure us all that not only would it allow us to keep our health care plan and our doctors if we wanted to – but we’d also save $2500 a year on health care costs? It was a tiny bit embarrassing when he was caught on tape gloating afterwards, telling those around him that the stupidity and gullibility of American voters made it possible to lie to get Obamacare passed. But it worked!
Obama’s ACA Architect And Spokesman : ‘Stupidity’ of voters helped bill pass
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/223578-obamacare-architect-lack-of-transparency-helped-law-pass/
Don’t stay strangely silent Dennis! Don’t tell us you’d prefer to ramble on about your legal expertise being the equal of Obama’s White House Counsel and also far better than that of DJT’s White House Counsel.
Take us back to those wonderful halcyon days where we were assured that Obama’s legal and medical genius would allow us to keep our health care plans and our doctors – and Biden’s intelligence agency viziers assured us that the Biden Bribery Laptop was nothing more than cheap fake Putin election disinformation.
What a maroon. What an ignoranimus. Yes, of course only the President or the Attorney General can speak for the US and give its opinion on the law. No, the courts do not speak for the US. They do not express the USA’s opinion. They decide what the law actually is, which is more important than expressing a mere opinion, but setting USA policy and expressing the USA’s official opinions is entirely a matter for the executive.
“Under this latest decree the courts, not even the SC, can interpret the laws. It is the sole prerogative of the President or his AG.”
The Left lies as it breathes.
That EO, as with all EO’s, applies specifically and *only* to the executive branch:
Only the “President and the Attorney General shall provide authoritative interpretations of the law *for the executive branch*.” (Emphasis added) Its purpose is to stop bureaucracies from being a law unto themselves.
P.S. A genuine question: Your pathological lying long ago destroyed your credibility. What makes you believe that any sentient person believes you now?
Trump has hailed the conservative victory in Germany.
“Much like the USA, the people of Germany got tired of the no common sense agenda, especially on energy and immigration,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “This is a great day for Germany.”
But what does conservative leader Merz have to say??
Friedrich Merz, the leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union in Germany, wasted no time after his party’s victory in national elections warning about the dangers posed by President Donald Trump and X owner Elon Musk.
Merz on Sunday argued that Europeans needed to make a break from the United States.
“My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA,” Merz said. “I never thought I would have to say something like this on a television program. But after Donald Trump’s statements last week, it is clear that the Americans, at least this administration, are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe.”
Merz even went so far as to say that the United States under Trump was essentially on the same side as Russia when it comes to geopolitical affairs.
“”I have absolutely no illusions about what is happening from America,” he said. “Just look at the recent interventions in the German election campaign by Mr. Elon Musk — that is a unique event. The interventions from Washington were no less dramatic and drastic and ultimately outrageous than the interventions we have seen from Moscow.
So the new administration in Germany, that Trump has hailed as great for Germany, is obviously taking the position that the US is an enemy aligned with Russia.
You people are so pathetic. Liz Truss praised Trump at CPAC, and the people interviewed on the street in Germany are jealous because they want their own Trump. You wouldn’t mention that in a million years. But if any politician says something bad, you jump on it as if it’s the irrefutable gospel truth. We all see right through you.
Trump is closing the border, deporting violent criminals, slashing government waste and fraud, and getting men out of women’s locker rooms, showers, and competitive sports. All of these things are very popular. You people have lost all branches of government because your destructive policies are unpopular. We’re all laughing at how ridiculous you are. I don’t GAF what some random elite European says about Trump. It’s America first, baby, and we’re winning. You can go drown in your own pathetic tears promoting your insane left-wing policies and stupid talking points, it won’t bother me or any other normal American.
Is that the same Liz Truss who was the British Prime Minister for about 5 minutes ?????
Merz is not some “random elite European” as you claim.
He is the new CONSERVATIVE Chancellor of Germany.
Trump is singing his praises.
Trump thinks he will be great for Germany.
Trump is so demented that he has absolutely no comprehension of what is actually happening in the free world.
You seem to think that “winning” means aligning with Russia and make enemies of the rest of the free world.
You MAGA cultists are completely wacko.
Merz is not some “random elite European” as you claim. He is the new CONSERVATIVE Chancellor of Germany.
These are the mewlings of the wacko commies who spend the rest of their time demanding we agree with them that boys can menstruate and get pregnant….
The Democrat Woke Marxist Useful Idiots are so consumed by their Commie Borg that they don’t realize that a CONSERVATIVE in Germany is the equivalent of a SOVIET DEMOCRAT here in America.
You seem to think that “winning” means aligning with Russia and make enemies of the rest of the free world..
It’s obvious to normal Americans that Trump wasn’t the American president aligned with Russia who then allowed Putin to invade Ukraine TWICE.
The person you responded to is a typical troll. They quote someone else’s disapproval of Trump as if that’s gospel truth, while ignoring anyone who speaks approvingly of Trump. They are too cowardly to just say why *they* think Trump is making mistakes, instead relying on quoting someone else. They have no ability to articulate an opinion of their own or form an original coherent thought. They have no intellectual substance at all. We see right through them.
Anonymous at 10:11
If Merz is the “equivalent of a SOVIET DEMOCRAT here in America”, then why is Trump singing his praises????
You say that Trump wasn’t the American president who allowed Russia to invade Ukraine.
I thought the latest MAGA gospel is that Ukraine actually started the war, and they invaded Russia.
You are obviously just as demented as Trump.
#74 yes, anon, it does appear to that scenario.
It would make more sense to have more bad things to say about Putin than Zelensky.
Could freedom be considered a Western value, you know, that thing that America was based on, and
what the Ukrainians have been fighting for?
If we destroy Russia like we destroyed Germany, then we won’t need NATO anymore.
I’m pretty sure that the NATO nations that fought beside us in Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11 were very aware that they weren’t fighting Russians in that 20 year long, badly led war.
This anti-American behavior is just one more reason to CHANGE THE TAX CODE FOR THESE COMMUNIST FACTORIES and start taxing THEIR BILLION DOLLAR SOCIALIST HOARD. Why are we, the taxpayer, subsidizing the extreme wealthy anyway?
Why are we, the taxpayer, subsidizing the extreme wealthy anyway?
Straight out of Bernie The Commie and AOC’s mouths: “The Rich Don’t Pay Their Fair Share!”
Good advice. The Asch experiment (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asch_conformity_experiments) showed how it is our human tendency to lean into conformity. We should all be to not only listen to the other side but stay true to ones values.
It is good to see the leadership of the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni. She touches on the same themes that JD Vance did when he spoke at Munich. She even congratulates him for his courageous speech at Munich, for defending the roots of Western Civilization:
…a civilization born from the fusion of Greek philosophy, Roman law and Christian values…
– Giorgia Meloni
Brava!
Estovir–
Yes. The three pillars of Western Civilization resting on Athens, Rome and Jerusalem.
Melanie Phillips has a new book out that delves into the importance of each of these and the threat to them and the West posed by radical Islam and Progressive madness.
Her book is “The Builder’s Stone”.
“The three pillars of Western Civilization resting on Athens, Rome and Jerusalem.”
That is false.
The West began in the pro-reason, Aristotelian Renaissance. The West rose only *after* it loosened the stifling shackles of religion. The rejection of that Dark Ages ideology continued apace to create the Enlightenment.
Sam, whether you like it or not the Torah is a or the major pillar of Western Civilization carried by Christians and Jews. I am not saying you have to believe in God. You don’t have to believe in a God-given Torah or when the Torah was written. Leave all of that out and then read the Torah and look at history and how through the ages we have struggled to meet Torah Law.
Last week ’s Parsha was Mishpatim, Ordinances’s. The entirety of Mishpatim deals with morality and the laws many of which we live by today. The laws include laws about slavery for slavery under Jewish law was quite different. No kidnapping and sale of people was permitted. The US didn’t discover that until 1865. There was something different. You can call servants slaves, but those servants had rights and there was recognition of a servants humanity and the obligation of the master to the slave. There were laws regarding theft, murder, marriage and many things all noted in present law that evolved over thousands of years.
Go ahead Sam and toot your horn of how wonderful your Godless world was under Hitler, Stalin and all the great despots of history. Applaud how in 1865 we recognized our humanity and gave up slavery. Applaud the barbaric sacrifices of women and children, but every once in awhile look at the Torah that without argument was written in ancient history. It showed how people should live then and adjust their lives today. You don’t ever have to involve God, but who brought us the Torah? Jews and then Christians. The Dark Ages of Man always exist but enlightened by the Torah.
“. . . your Godless world was under . . .”
That’s just a silly smear. And you should know better.
“. . . all the great despots of history.”
Why did you choose to ignore all of the *religious* despots throughout history? Start with Justinian I.
S. Meyer: “Go ahead Sam and toot your horn of how wonderful your Godless world was under Hitler, Stalin and all the great despots of history. Applaud how in 1865 we recognized our humanity and gave up slavery. Applaud the barbaric sacrifices of women and children, but every once in awhile look at the Torah.”
Sam: “That’s just a silly smear. And you should know better.”
What do you mean, a silly smear? Those were Godless people. Have you forgotten your history?
“Start with Justinian I.”
Bad example! Justinian did kill for **political reasons**. His policies were not related to genocidal religious vendettas.
Read the Torah and take note of its Ten Commandments and ordinances. Compare what it requested of its people to the violence and immorality of those not functioning under Torah Law.
Your smear is of me, not those dictators. And that silly smear is also a silly deflection.
Justinian was a *Christian* despot who declared non-believers, including Jews, “heretics.” He confiscated their property, enslaved, and tortured them.
The Dark/Middle ages is filled with such religious despots — a historical fact that you, apparently, wish to evade.
What is the smear, Sam? I merely said what is true and you recognize to be true. Your argument is faulty, so you are trying to deflect rather than explain.
Justinian is know for political killings not genocidal religious vendettas. If you wish to change history, no one will stop you from doing so.
Hitler was known for his vendetta against Jews. Do you get the point?
I have no doubt that religious people and atheists all did bad things. But the Godless world is worse than the world can be with adherence to the morality provided in the Torah. Since you seem to forget the discussion and morality I will copy part of my statement from above. You can read a small portion of the Torah, Mishpatim, from a bible, and tell us how that advocated the mistreatment of our fellow man.
—
Go ahead Sam and toot your horn of how wonderful your Godless world was under Hitler, Stalin and all the great despots of history. Applaud how in 1865 we recognized our humanity and gave up slavery. Applaud the barbaric sacrifices of women and children, but every once in awhile look at the Torah that without argument was written in ancient history. It showed how people should live then and adjust their lives today. You don’t ever have to involve God, but who brought us the Torah? Jews and then Christians. The Dark Ages of Man always exist but enlightened by the Torah.
Excellent!
#74. The new propaganda? The middle ages embracing the old ways with a twist?
People live in communities or groups by geography. Each group has its own evolutionary development. It’s just NOT one big world.
This woman is President Trumps Margaret Thatcher and she’s Elegante e bella.
Excellent observation Margot. Recall how they characterized her election win just 3 years ago:
Giorgia Meloni: Italy’s far-right wins election and vows to govern for all
bbc.com/news/world-europe-63029909
Italy votes in its most right-wing government since World War II, as Giorgia Meloni sparks fears of fascism
cbsnews.com/news/giorgia-meloni-italy-election-results-brothers-of-italy-far-right-wing-government/
Italian Right-Winger Giorgia Meloni Wins Election as Economic Clouds Gather
wsj.com/articles/italy-holds-elections-as-economic-clouds-gather-11664108143
Giorgia Meloni’s rightwing bloc storms to Italian election victory
ft.com/content/9b0cd8f3-61d8-410d-97c5-3756b91c24ab
And yet, 3 years after her election win, look how she speaks in English as an Italian, like a woman very much in touch with everyday concerns of Westerners. Just stunning.
Meanwhile, any mention of Europe returning to …a civilization born from the fusion of Greek philosophy, Roman law and Christian values… is met with condescension, derision and apoplexy…b/c castrating little boys, mastectomies for little girls, anti-antisemitism and celebrating terrorists for killing Jews, terminating life in-utero even past delivery of the baby, plummeting birth rates, euthanizing the elderly, massive surge in suicide, depression, anxiety and murdering ~ 100 millions of people under atheistic dictators like Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong are so enlightened! These people have defective minds and are bereft of intellectually honest output. But I digress….
I saw this – it was EXCELLENT!!
I have noted that the US is in the middle of a massive political reallignment – Democrats political pundit Ruy Teixiera has been excellent on examining that. If Democrats do not reverse Trends shortly they are in danger of being irrelevant for atleast a decade.
I personally do not beleive that is good for the country – we need opposition – but we need SANE opposition.
Not this orange man bad nonsense.
Meloni is a reflection fo what is happening in Europe.
If a UK election were held today – Farage would be MP and Labor would be lucky to be relevant.
If an election were held in France today – LePenne would win. I want to be careful because National Rally is STILL a socialist party.
Frankly it is closer to Facism. But it is still a reflection of the failure of the ruling socialists in France.
We are seeing the left sopcialism of most of Europe collapsing in front of us right not.
An election in Germany will likely give aFd great power.
We have seen the EU meddle in elections in Romania and elsewhere – because otherwise the left socialism of Europe will be tossed.
The nordic countries are moving more conservative.
I do not inherently think that all this is good. But I do favor tossing entrenched power that has failed.
Given a choice between a failed entrenched power and a challenger – going with the challenger is likely to be the best choice.
To those ranting about Trump – he is NOT entrenched. He is FIGHTING entrenched power.
If he wins on ALL efforts – the federal bureacracy will still lean hard to the left.
Trump can not be a danger to democracy – he can weaken entrench opposition – but unless they remain bat$chiff for a decade, he can not get rid of them.
John Say, Germany just had an election, and AfD remains shut out. It got a mere 20% of the vote, which means 4 out of 5 voted against it, and those 80% will keep it out of government. The CDU that Trump is praising will make an alliance with the left to keep AfD out. And nothing will change in Germany.
“…a civilization born from the fusion of Greek philosophy, Roman law and Christian values…”
Some religionists excel at rewriting the past, to control the future. Communism also excels at that.
The historical fact is that Christianity (starting c. 5th century AD) spurned and buried Greek philosophy (especially Aristotle). Greek philosophy did not rise again until the start of the Renaissance (some 1,000 years later).
Professor Turley – What is the legal status of Maine’s governor over boys in girls’ sports ? Can you enlighten us on what the law is ? Does she have a valid states’ rights position? I hope that you will address this issue. Thank you.
I just saw a picture of Maine Gov. Janet Mills.
Didn’t Gov. Mills play linebacker in the NFL?
Technically Mills is correct, and Trump expressed himself poorly.
Trump’s claim that “we are the federal law” is ridiculous and obviously wrong. The president can’t make law, and his word is not the law.
Nor can the president cut a state’s funding; only Congress can do that. And even Congress can’t cut it off entirely, or even just enough to compel the state to do as Congress wants it to. Any cut Congress makes must be small enough that the state is left with a real choice whether to comply and get the extra money, or to refuse and do without it. A cut so large as to compel the state is unconstitutional, and the courts would order Congress to restore the funding.
But all of that misses the true point, which is that as the US administration understands Title 9, Maine is violating it. Title 9 is a federal law, and thus binds the states; and if Maine is violating it the USA has remedies available. Its proper course is to sue Maine. Now Maine believes that it is not violating Title 9, so it would fight the lawsuit, and there’s no telling who would win. But that is the only real way Trump can try to enforce his policy.
Beautiful. Thank you, Professor. If only more of us could take the time (and some of us do try).
Jonathan: On the subject of quacking like a duck and in actuality being a shyte-bird city park lawn goose, today we have Warren Buffet on display.
That would be the billionaire Democrat donor who supported Clinton against Trump and then Biden against Trump by claiming he paid less in income taxes than his secretary – proving that truly The Evil Rich Don’t Pay Their Fair Share.
Today Warren Buffet is ducking his earlier claims by honking a different tune:
Warren Buffett Offers Advice to Trump on Government Spending After Paying $26.8 Billion in Tax
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/buffett-offers-advice-to-trump-on-government-spending-after-paying-26-8-billion-in-tax-5814588?src_src=partner&src_cmp=BonginoReport
“Andrew, if you are a swan, be a swan.”
Unless he knows that for a particular professor it’s swan hunting season.
Then, for his own self-preservation, he should be a swan in duck’s clothing.
To the Andrews out there, let me share a tip:
Go to the college library and read up on what the professor writes. Read his articles, counter points, etc. Then write in such a way you don’t disagree with his views. (In a sense, you are getting two educations!)
You are there to get your ticket punched, not right societies wrongs. Save your morals for when you graduate.
Remember: “The nail that sticks ip gets pounded down”.
Your advice is good, though I would expand.
Check how the professor grades – how they respond to opposing views.
It is unfortunately rare for those on the left to tolerate opposition,
But it was more common as I went through school.
You could often do well by deliberately CHOOSING to challenge (politely) a professor – so long as your arguments were solid.
The best professors RESPECT a capable challenger.
It also depends on your goal.
If you are an average student with average ambitions – do not challenge orthodoxy.
But if you are in the top 10% – staying there REQUIRES attracting attention, and it is easier to get attention by challenging a professor than agreeing with them.
But you have to assess how that professor responds to challenges. But then if you are in the top 10% – you do not need this advice, you already know it.
We are certainly living in interesting times. Not only did we survive Obama’s fundamental transformation, we’re well on our way to a peaceful, revolutionary transformation of our government. This self-evident truth is no longer just philosophical, it’s a practical reality:
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Awesome! 👏👏👏👏
OLLY,
Well said and thank you for bringing up the Constitution! Seems our leftist friends want to ignore that part as they are ever so dependent on the state quo of the fraud, waste and abuse. Just look at how much the Democrats are squealing!! My hogs never squealed THAT much.
Thanks Upstate. Just a friendly reminder what those truths in the DoI look like in action. They are more than just words from old white guys. They have actionable meaning and for the first time in my life, they have been brought to bear.
I never held back. For better or worse. Just not in my nature. I argued in elementary school, high school, college, but not in med school because there was no need to. As a resident and fellow I argued with other residents and attending physicians. Threatened with being fired twice but it never happened. Even was offered a faculty position when I finished (I declined since I loved clinical medicine). They could not argue with my results though and that made a real difference. No one ever mistook me for a swan including me. But that’s me. Not sure my approach would work with most people. It was also a different time and progressives did not have a strangle hold on things.
Most days it was fun but occasionally it was not. Thats life. Turn the page and move on.
More of Turley’s pathetic efforts to equate MAGA with conservatism — a sad effort to try to validate the outrageous anti- democratic behavior of Trump. Who ever heard of an unelected oligarch purchasing the power to demand that all federal employees either quit or be fired— or of sending their employees to government agencies to download Social Security numbers, bank account and routing numbers? How about firing cancer researchers, shutting down USAID and allowing food and medicine paid for by Congress to rot in warehouses and on loading docks? Who ever heard of a convicted felon lying his way into office by falsely promising to immediately bring down the cost of groceries and doing a 180 degree turn around of government policy to support Ukraine and calling the democratically elected president a “dictator” and parroting Russian propaganda? Now the pig is trying to leverage aid to Ukraine in exchange for taking their rare minerals.
Turley is well paid to try to normalize the unthinkable and we’re only one month in. King Donald even had created a picture of him wearing a gold crown. He has already set a record for low approval ratings this early after taking office.
Supporting such BS deserves condemnation. It’s not a matter of difference of opinion—-we are in uncharted waters now and Americans are taking to the streets in protest and swarming town halls. The majority of Americans do not approve of King Donald or President Musk. They are upset that cancer research projects have been abandoned and would take years to redevelop. They are upset that those charged with safeguarding nuclear power have been summarily fired for no valid reason. We don’t support cuts to the FAA or the VA. King Donald doesn’t care— but Turls, trying to sell all of this as valid just won’t fly.
gigi. just. shut. up.
Food and drugs “paid for by Congress “ left to rot…
The only thing Congress ever paid for with their money was the ticket price to steal the taxpayers.
“The reason this matters is that a significant number of people who are supposed to be working for the government are doing so little work that they are not checking their email at all!”
“In some cases, we believe non-existent people or the identities of dead people are being used to collect paychecks. In other words, there is outright fraud.”
“This email is a very basic pulse check https://t.co/4qEKErwSuE”
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 23, 2025
Zelensky has cancelled elections. He has jailed journalists. He shut down all media except approved state media.
We have no national interest in the Ukraine. However, a deal for minerals would then give us a national interest in the Ukraine. Russia would not invade the Ukraine again knowing full well that would trigger a real response from us in the form of real conflict. Use some critical thinking, logic and common sense. If Zelensky had any degree of critical thinking, logic and common sense, he would readily agree to a deal like that.
A small minority of TDS afflicted are protesting. The rest of us sane and normal people approve of what Trump is doing. That includes the sane and normal Democrats.
Those people in charge of our nuclear arsenal have been re-hired. Those fired from the FAA, some 300, had nothing to do with ATC or any other safety related jobs. Just more MSM propaganda.
Zelensky is actually fairly popular in Ukraine – most polls have him in the high 50%.
There are lots of problems with Ukraine – and even Zelenski. I have a problem with him shutting down the press.
But much of what he has done followed the Ukrainian constitution. Further he is in an existential war.
But Ukraine is LOSING – very slowly to be sure. But it is highly unlikely they survive a war of attrition and that just means millions more dead ukrainians and Russians.
Ukraine has a simple need to defeat Russia. They need more boots on the ground. Poland has ruled that out. France has ruled that out. Germany has ruled that out.
They do not see the defeat of Ukraine as a national security threat
The next issue is that the cost to rebuild in Russia and Ukraine will be massive – far more than the cost of the War.
If that rebuilding is going to take place it will be funded by the US.
All Trump is saying is that the american peopel MUST get something in return for rebuilding YOUR countries.
Little mentioned is rebuilding in Russia.
One of the reasons it gets little mention is that there is no choice involved. It will take Russia atleast a decade on its own to rebuild the energy infrastructure that has failed as a result of this war. Only the US can speed that process. The only country in the world with experience drilling and transporting oil at scale in arctic and subarctic conditions is the US.
John Say,
The last poll I read, Zelensky, if an election was held tomorrow, he would lose and by no small amount. The Ukraine people are tired of the war, his conscription policy is unfavorable, his military desertion rate is high even troops who were for fighting the Russians are changing their minds and fleeing.
I am not seeing the same polls.
But mostly that does not matter.
The most fundimental question is can Zelensky and Ukraine choose to forego a deal and go it on their own.
The answer is that they can.
There is alot going on with regard to these negotiations. An I highly doubt what we see in public truly reflects everything that is happening.
Regardless both Russia and Ukraine can walk away from this as they please.
Further Europe can tip the balance in favor of Ukraine at anytime they decide that Ukraine is sufficiently part of THEIR national security interests to send troops.
All that would have to happen is for Poland to announce it was CONSIDERING sending troops to Ukraine and Ukraine would be in a very strong negotiating position.
Poland does not give a schiff about Ukraine – but no nation on earth have been marched through By russia more frequently than Poland.
If there is a peace deal – there WILL be elections in Ukraine. If Zelensky is popular – he will be re-elected.
Is this war popular in Ukraine ? Wars are not popular. How tired are Ukrainians of the war ?
I do not know – but I would imagine Zelensky has a pretty good idea how much further he can push.
My personal views do NOT align with pretty much anybodies.
I am highly sympathetic to Ukraine.
But I am NOT sending US troops PERIOD.
I beleive Putin is in the WRONG
But I do not discount that he has SOME basis in that US promises regarding NATO were breached and just as the US is not allowing missiles in Cuba, Russia has a right to considered about Ukraine being turned into a surrounding hostile military power.
I would be happy to see Russia lose this.
I think it would be good for the world and good for russia.
But my wishes are not likely.
Biden stupidly provoked this war, and he stupidly continued it when an early peace was possible, because he wanted to be remembered as the president that defeated Putin.
Throughout this we have seen Democrats overestimate the threat that Putin poses, while at the same time under estimating the difficulty getting rid of him.
Next, I honestly do not care that much about the details of the peace deal.
While My hope and actual expectation is for something that is GOOD for most everyone
provides Ukraine security and restores a better relationship between the US and Russia.
Regardless, in he long run – Russia collapses, and Ukraine gets back all its territory.
That may take 20 years. But only two countries int eh world have worse democrahics than Russia – that is China and Japan.
Japan has taken steps to mitigate the problems that will arrise from that.
China and Russia have not.
Ukraine can afford to be patient.
John, you make good points on many issues but I do have to ask if you are serious about saying “but only two countries in the world have worse democracies than Russia-that is China and Japan”? Really? Japan? I guess North Korea is now Switzerland. I guess Cuba is now Denmark. I guess some African nations are good parliamentary governments. I guess the middle east is loaded with democracies.
I know you tend to favor the 200 word comment (in many admittedly thoughtful and informative comments) and with all of that verbiage you will mistakenly through in some things that are not only wrong but are truly absurd. Get the comments down to 100 words, in other words, cut the fat.
Calm down dude. He said demographics, not democracies.
Since when are N Korea and Cuba democracies at all? Thats should have been your first clue.
Though it is typical for JS to have a lot of misspellings and typos.
He asserts that he is too good to bother checking his posts, unless he is getting paid. We should just be thankful that he is willing to cast his pearls before swine.
John Say did not write “only two countries in the world have worse democracies than Russia”. You changed his words. Go back and quote him properly and you will see that he was right.
I have also written repeatedly that it is my view that the entire world is realigning in front of our eyes.
Eastern Europe, the mideast and Africa are EUROPEAN security concerns – not US.
US focus has been shifting to Asia for decades. We are past the point where our role in Europe is critical.
At the end of the Cold war Russia should have been brought into Europe – not setup as the replacement enemy for the USSR.
Putin was not in power at that moment – but he has been for 2/3 of the time since.
Is Putin a “good guy” – nope. Neither is Erodigan or MBS – but those are our allies.
Regardless but for his Nukes Russia is EUROPES problem -= not the US.
the mediterainian is EUROPES problem
Africa is EUROPES problem.
While Trump has good PERSONAL relations with many arab leaders,
The countries of the mideast are NOT US security interests any more.
The ARE european ones.
Increasingly US national security interests are in the pacific and the western hemisphere.
Not Europe, not the mideast, not Africa.
The US is not leaving NATO – but we no longer have a reason to LEAD NATO.
Why would the U.S. want to speed the rebuilding of Russia? Like Gaza, Russia in a weakened state is good for the world.
There is a a balance. Too much weakness can cause chaos and one doesn’t want an unstable nuclear power.
Upstate Farmer: We have no national interest in the Ukraine.
We don’t? Is that the view with the foreign affairs beer goggles on?
If so: why then did America commit our military to be the replacement deterrent and defense of Ukraine in order to get them to surrender their nuclear arsenal (third largest in the world at the time) if Ukraine wasn’t in our national interest?
That never happened? Or it happened so long ago that the agreement had expired? Russia didn’t get any further away during that time. Russia, who brought the Holdimor on Ukraine a short 50 years prior to the signing of that agreement was very much alive in Ukraine’s national memory.
Would Putin still have still invaded, even if Ukraine still had those nukes we convinced them to surrender and give up? No national interest there?
Only now that Putin is nuclear saber rattling to once again terrify us about somebody having nukes in Ukraine – except this time in his hands, not Ukraine’s?
Any particular reason that we never once told Ukraine “Our going into Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11 is not your war – go home” even once during the 13 years that Ukraine was one of the first nations to go into those countries right beside us with their troops and treasure? Before many of our NATO allies showed up in those countries?
Well, how about this: any reason that we at least didn’t say “Go home – this is not your war” as Ukraine continued serving beside us in Afghanistan after we allowed Putin to invade Ukraine while we deserted them, reneged on our commitments, and did nothing other than offer Ukraine old blankets and rations?
BTW… is Zelinski more or less corrupt than our presidents like Obama and Biden while we proclaim we are the model governments like Zelinsky should follow in war, imitating us?
Shifting blame on your own failures to others is something socialist countries and Democrats do.
Ignoring that second and third order consequences are the result of leadership failures that leads to decisions like refusing to honor our commitments to Ukraine and deserting Afghanistan and leaving enough military arms to equip a small NATO nation to hajji terrorists in Afghanistan.
Anyone who doesn’t think (or believe) that governments of both friendly and adversarial nations don’t take all of this into consideration when considering future dealings with the USA is naive at best.
We’re becoming the equivalent of a used care salesman among the governments of the world. Which does not mean that corruption in both America and Ukraine doesn’t matter.
MAFA is a strain of conservatism. It is different from the social conservatism of Jerry Falwell or Noecons like Bill Krystal.
It is not the Burkean conservatism of William Buckley. or the libertarian conservatism of Barry Goldwater.
But it is a form of conservatism.
Just as left wing nut wokeism is not the same as the progressivism of John Fetterman,
What is anti-democratic about Trump ?
He told people exactly what he would do as president so that they knew EXACTLY what they were voting for.
He was elected by the majority of people.
And he is doing what he promissed.
What could be more democratic ?
John Say,
Well said and spot on!! Trump campaigned on bringing peace to the Israel/Hamas war and succeeded even before being sworn in. He promised to cut fraud, waste and abuse in the government and is doing exactly that with Musk and DOGE. Trump is pursuing to end the war between the Ukraine and Russia and is doing that. Did he bring down the cost of groceries in one day? No. But it is going to take years if not a decade to fix the failed policies of Bidenomics and Bidenflation. No man or woman can do that overnight.
Thank you.
We are getting a master class in “The Art of the Deal”.
I have cited the Van Jones comment that Trump is smarter than the rest of us repeatedly
Trump is constantly doing things and saying things that the left particularly – but even the rest of us are shocked by.
We are then told all h311 will break lose – the arabs will walk away. negotiations will stop. The leaders of the world will cease to listen to Trump. That he will be thwarted by the courts.
And over time – not only does none of that happen, but quite often the allegedly absurd actions of Trump break log jams, clarify peoples thinking. actually make progress possible.
Rubio is constantly saying that a deal in Ukraine is something ONLY Trump can do. That is false – but only BARELY.
A deal in Ukraine is something only Trump WILL do.
Russia can scuttle any deal.
Ukraine can scuttle any deal
Europe can scuttle any deal.
But they wont. Russia has MANY things it wants MORE than this war. I repeatedly mention rebuilding their energy infrastructure – and that is hugely important. But it is also one of many things Russia wants. Trump has the power to deliver or withold everything Russia wants.
What should be absolutely clear to the entirety of humanity is that Putin CAN continue the meat grinder in Ukraine until he eventually wins.
The get peace deal Russia MUST agree to peace. At the top of the list of Putin’s demands is that Putin MUST be able to tell his people that the war was justified – that Russia Got what it wanted. Ukraine can publicly appear to be the big loser in this war – and STILL they will accept a peace deal. Probably the only ukrainian condition that is NOT negotiable is that Ukraine is assured this is not merely a pause, that Russia can not come back in a year or 3 and resume this war.
If you take those TWO criteria alone – then you KNOW that “publicly” Trump is NOT going to be pushing on Russia – if Trump treated Putin the way he is treating Zelensky right now – the way that Biden and the US state department treated Putin – there will be no deal.
That does NOT mean Trump is not twisting Putin’s arm behind his back and threatening to break it privately.
This is also probably while Ukraine is outside the inner circle in these negotiations right now.
Again there will be no deal if Ukraine leaked details that made Putin look bad.
Let me reiterate again – THERE WILL BE NO DEAL THAT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE PUTIN GOT WHAT HE WANTED.
Russia has the ability to just walk away from the negotiating table.
I actually beleive that there will be a “good” deal to end this. But that it MUST be painted as a “Bad” Deal for Ukraine – or Putin will not accept it.
Similar things are true regarding Trump’s comments on Gaza. Israel is on the wrong side of global public oppinion – but they have made clear for a long long time, They will not gamble with the lives of their people in return for european acceptance.
Oddly – even though the Saudi’s and Qatari’s politiely shot Trump down. Trump’s remarks effectively Put Hamas into a bind.
Trump made it perfectly clear that Gaza can not be rebuilt with Gazan’s there.
He also significantly disempowered Hamas in talks.
I beleive 2/3 of the hostages have been released so far.
Israel has been winning the hostage negotiations. When they are released what prevents Israel from resuming the War ?
Nothing beyond the fact that they WANT a deal that PERMANENTLY ends this.
Everyone except the palestinians wants that.
With respect to Panama – does anyone doubt that at the slightest HINT of a conflict with China – the US will seize control of the Panama canal. ?
” Did he bring down the cost of groceries in one day? “
But he did. The rate of cost increase has already started to fall.
“Who ever heard of an unelected …?”
Again this is EXACTLT what Trump promised – the entire country “heard of it” during the campaign.
Musk and DOGE where a significant part of Trump’s pitch and campaign promises.
The entire World saw how Musk cut spending dramatically at Twitter. Trump picked Musk BECAUSE everyone would KNOW he was serious.
Trump/Musk has gored a large number of YOUR scared cows.
As Obama said – Elections have consequences.
The american people KNOWINGLY voted for this – and they support it.
Trump promised to SLASH federal spending – that means eliminating waste fraud and corruption – wherever it is found.
It also means getting rid of LOTS of programs that are outside the domain of govenrment or that we can not afford.
The US is 36T in debt growing by 2T/yr.
The country needs to quit spending more than it can afford.
That means Filet Mignon is not in the budget.
It means if we do not do something now – soon Hamburger might not be in the budget.
Should Wasteful spending at USAID be cut – in a heart beat.
Should idiocy like Trans operas in columbia be cut – absolutely
Should USAID quit funding media propoganda targeting americans – absolutely.
Shoudl USAID be on the chopping block entirely – sure.
Shoudl ALL US foreign aide be cut radically ? Yes.
US foreign aide has ALWAYS caused more harm than good.
It is NOT good fort the countries receiving it.
And we can not afford.
In the unlikely even that the Department of education provides ANY value for the 1/4T that it costs each year – that limited value is NOT worth 1/4 T.
Much of what Musk is seeking to eliminate is NOT Filet mignon on a hamburger budget.
It is just waste, fraud and corruption.
Ultimately we MUST go farther than Musk is going.
The Federal Budget needs cut by 1/6T RAPIDLY.
Trump is now offering to provide 20% of the savings as rebates to taxpayers.
That is good salesmanship. It is poor policy. Spending cuts need to be CUTS.
They do not go to tax decreases or rebates to tax payers. They must go 100% to CUTTING spending.
John Say,
Again, another well said and common sense comment. Something our leftist friends seem to be lacking. And that is why they will continue to lose. The mid-terms are not looking good for them.
Cancer research is the role of the healthcare industry,
Regardless you do not spend money on filet mignon when you are about to go bankrupt.
Trump promised peace in Ukraine. He was very very clear doing the election his priority was getting the Killing to stop.
Most rational people have grasped that this war was caused by Western efforts to bring Ukraine into NATO.
Just as the US threatened to invade Cuba in 63 if Khrushchev did not remove missiles.
Regardless if you still beleive it was a war of agression, if you beleive Russia’s ambitions are even more conquest,
it is still crystal clear that if Russia can not conquer Ukraine in 3years, it is going nowhere against NATO.
I would suggest that you pay ALOT of attention to Pres. Zelensky.
While he is kicking and screaming, he is also accepting the conditions being offered.
Why ? Because defeating Russia without assistance – particularly boots on the ground, is not possible.
Zelensky can stop Trump’s efforts to make a deal at any time. He can just say No!
Europe can stop Trump’s efforts to make a deal at anytime – they can provide the assistance Ukraine needs to defeat Russia,
and make no mistake – Europe absolutely has the power to defeat Russia. They do not have the will to do so.
Zelensky is agreeing to the terms Trump is negotiating, because no one is going to give him a better deal.
Trump’s polls remain about 50% – more than he won the election by.
Equally important, he is polling higher than the GOP, and almost 3 times higher than democrats.
Most rational people have grasped that this war was caused by Western efforts to bring Ukraine into NATO.
False. And a piss poor excuse to deflect from the root causes along with America reneging on our promises made to Ukraine as one of our national interests when they had the third largest nuclear stockpile in the world.
For those too young to remember, Ukraine got sucked in by our fraudulent promises of economic assistance and American military might replacing the military warehouse they were armed with: Kyiv agreed to surrender nearly two thousand strategic nuclear warheads and the associated strategic missiles and bombers to carry those warheads.
Most rational people have grasped that Putin wouldn’t have set a single foot inside Ukraine if they had turned down our lies and guarantees and retained their nuclear arsenal, despite how much distress that would have caused America from back then until today.
Most rational people have grasped that Putin didn’t earlier invade Georgia and Chechnya because they were supposedly going to enter NATO.
Most rational people who aren’t tunnel vision isolationists remember that Putin didn’t invade the other former Warsaw Pact vassal states of Russia when they joined NATO:
In 1999, when Poland joined NATO, Putin didn’t invade.
In 2000, when Hungary and the Czech Republic joined NATO, Putin didn’t invade.
In 2004, when Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, the Slovak Republic and Estonia joined NATO, Putin didn’t threaten to invade.
In 2009, when Albania and Croatia joined NATO, Putin didn’t invade.
In 2017 when Montenegro joined NATO, Putin didn’t invade.
Over 25% of the populations of Estonia and Latvia are are ethnic Russians, BTW – a much greater demographic of their population that is nearly twice the percentage of ethnic Russians in Ukraine.
But Putin DID decide to invade Ukraine in 2014 AFTER Obama got caught on a hot mic telling Putin that if he behaved himself until after he and Biden were safely re-elected and back in office in 2013, he would give Putin “space”.
Putin didn’t invade again during the four years of Trump’s presidency.
Putin only invaded again after Trump was gone and Obama’s Third Term was serving as the Oval Office House Plant, whoever was actually making the decisions (Obama perhaps?) with the White House.
There’s a root cause and a repeating theme here that explains the the two successive invasions of Ukraine and America twice reneging on commitments we have made to allies who fight beside us in OUR wars.
That repeating theme behind Putin’s invasions isn’t a supposed threat from NATO (picture countries like Canada, Denmark, etc signing up for a NATO land invasion of Russia).
The theme is that Putin invades while America has vacillating, weak Democrat presidents like Obama and Biden.
When we lie to ourselves about why Putin invaded Ukraine in attempts to place the blame on NATO, why would we believe foreign leaders of both allied and adversarial nations would find us credible?
You move forward by owning your mistakes so you can rectify them – or at least not repeat them again.
There are special elections coming up shortly. Some voters will get to express whether their views have changed significantly.
Everyone will be watching.
There will be midterms in 2026. In our now endless election season those races have already started.
People will get the chance to vote for or against their representative and in many cases their senator in 2026.
Regardless Trump has 4 years to accomplish what he has promissed.
He is moving fast and taking that very seriously.
And people KNEW that when they voted for him.
Eye roll
my wife works for Bank of America…DEI central. Every training video is delivered in the form of a black form…as apparently they are known for smart business decision! Time to push back on wall street and THEIR endorsement of DEI Fascism!
it isn’t like this is only true at Universities….many jobs are like this as well
Fascist democrats like it that way
This is why we need to DEFUND Democrats
Well, if you have the courage to be a swan, more power to you. You may get lucky and not suffer any serious consequences, but just remember all the trolls on this blog who have, at least since I began to read it, reminded everybody that “speech has consequences.” I can confirm that it does. Sticks and stones may break you bones, but words can lower your grade, alienate colleagues, and get you fired. Integrity is great, free speech is great, being honest is great, but the guys who founded this country had read their history, been in business, fought in wars, and they had no doubts at all about what human nature was all about and they were never under the illusion, as were some philosophes, that it was perfectible.
I wish the young man the best of luck. Navigating the shoals of life is never easy, and shipwrecks are quite common.
Alas, I agree. I think Andrew needs to change schools. Go to Hillsdale, College of the Ozarks, Clemson, Wheaton, Baylor. Good luck.
The secret goal of many students isn’t learning. It is to get a receipt in the form of a diploma for the waste of money and time they spent in an institution [mental?] To get entre to a better life. Why ruin it by having opinions? Universities have become rackets little different from mobsters who demand protection money…except the mobsters are cheaper and fundamentally more honest about what they are doing.
Young,
Yes! My daughter was forced to spend the money on a DEI class as a requirement for graduation.