There have been, over the recent years (since 2016), many warnings, cautionary words about entrusting the "nuclear football" to someone like Trump. They were not nonsense, or unwarranted, alarm bells. But, I have not seen or heard too many people talk about that in the here and now of the spring of 2026 and this past weekend. I think it bears particular attention NOW. He says he wants to - is willing to - wipe out an entire country, or as he says, "civilization" by bombing it back to the stone ages. How far is that from actually saying, "I'm going to drop nuclear bombs on Iran"? Not very fucking far, IMHO. A couple of steps, or a couple of degrees of further delusional impulses without the deliberation a normal would give to what to have for dinner tonight. God fucking help us! If you exist, prove it!
...though given *Italy* owns like 99% of the city these days* I'd imagine they had some cross words to say about that.
*they grabbed it in 1870 after, ironically in this context, the French armies propping up what was left of the Papal States suddenly had urgent business elsewhere on account of the 'minor dispute' that broke out between Napoleon III and the Prussian-led North German Confederation
So what’s happening with Mark Kelly’s kangaroo court martial? I remember Kegseth backed off somewhat but still planned to try to administratively demote him… Unfortunately the military has a lot of power over retirees and could probably just do it without an sort of trial, although Kelly could challenge it. And the people who would consider the challenge would be a board of senior officers appointed by…Kegseth.
If there were to be a Trumpified papal schism then would we get a statue of a giant prostitute holding a baby Donald Trump, like this statue of Sigismund and Pope Adrian in Konstanz?
"*summoned* Cardinal Christophe Pierre — Pope Leo XIV’s then-ambassador to the United States — and delivered a lecture."
Apart from the huge problem with the content of this lecture, the Department of Defense shouldn't be "summoning" ambassadors at all, that's the job of the Secretary of State/National Archivist.
I'm not at all religious, but I do like the Pope here. Peace is a tune we can all dance to!
Plus, if he came to the STUPID July 4th bullmess trump would just forever use it--"Even the Pope! They call him 'the Pope'--he begged, he said 'Sir--you're almost Jesus, actually, nobody even comes close, please, Sir, I want to celebrate with you'. Isn't that great? We love the Pope!" He's going to do it with any world leader--and you know he's going to want Kings and stuff there.
This might be an outside thing, but because of his age and mental decline--I see this a little with my mom, who's a bit older--he's stuck in a certain place in time, and I really, really think that's his weird obsession with the Kennedys. That was THE THING when he really remembers things. It even explains his thing about looking like a blond Elvis. But "Melania is Jackie", "Jackie loved me", the Kennedy Center, the Rose Garden, all this stuff. But to get to the point, I think he thinks of all the world leaders who came to Kennedy's funeral and thinks of how cool that would be.
Pope Bob from Chicago is a mixed blessing. He toes the Church's line on women in church and LGBT rights. We don't like that. He is almost always spot on when he talks about world events. We like that. He is really good at pastoral care. We *love* that. So... mixed blessing, and I'm glad Bob from Chicago is Pope right now.
Just made a similar comment downthread. Admittedly most popes are a mixed blessing - some more mixed than others. The church is monolithic and changes very slowly. A nun friend told me that priests will bring their wives to Vatican 3 and husbands to Vatican 4 (this was the 90s, gay marriage wasn't a thing yet). She did point out there was nearly 100 years between Vatican 1 and 2.
The church is slowly moving into the 20th century...we shall see. The growing part of the church is much more socially conservative.
It really sucks we live in a world where the likes of Alex Jones and Tucker Carlson are fighting harder than the likes of Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries. I swear to pete.
I have no doubt that that Trump is now having his Competitive Adulation Cabinet Meetings videotaped, and rages while scrutinizing the tapes late at night.
If you believe in it, and it’s not some christofascist sect, then religion speaks to the heart. Politics speaks to the head (at best) or the balls (at worst). Some of us listen to our heads most, but I respect the ones who are driven by the hearts. As long as their hearts aren’t blackened festering scum pools of racist hatred…
Lotsa caveats there…kind of like my opinions of religion in general.
Politics is supposed to appeal to the head but a lot of times uses emotive rather than intellectual language. Usually that's done when there's something to distract from but not always. This grey area is also where appeals from religious persons live.
Religion by itself isn't the issue, neither is politics. The issue arises when it becomes all about power, which is unfortunately often the case.
Trump will probably invite half the leaders on the planet to his July 4th celebration, and threaten them with 80 percent tariffs on everything when they reject the invitation.
There have been, over the recent years (since 2016), many warnings, cautionary words about entrusting the "nuclear football" to someone like Trump. They were not nonsense, or unwarranted, alarm bells. But, I have not seen or heard too many people talk about that in the here and now of the spring of 2026 and this past weekend. I think it bears particular attention NOW. He says he wants to - is willing to - wipe out an entire country, or as he says, "civilization" by bombing it back to the stone ages. How far is that from actually saying, "I'm going to drop nuclear bombs on Iran"? Not very fucking far, IMHO. A couple of steps, or a couple of degrees of further delusional impulses without the deliberation a normal would give to what to have for dinner tonight. God fucking help us! If you exist, prove it!
inb4 yet another Sack of Rome
...though given *Italy* owns like 99% of the city these days* I'd imagine they had some cross words to say about that.
*they grabbed it in 1870 after, ironically in this context, the French armies propping up what was left of the Papal States suddenly had urgent business elsewhere on account of the 'minor dispute' that broke out between Napoleon III and the Prussian-led North German Confederation
So what’s happening with Mark Kelly’s kangaroo court martial? I remember Kegseth backed off somewhat but still planned to try to administratively demote him… Unfortunately the military has a lot of power over retirees and could probably just do it without an sort of trial, although Kelly could challenge it. And the people who would consider the challenge would be a board of senior officers appointed by…Kegseth.
If there were to be a Trumpified papal schism then would we get a statue of a giant prostitute holding a baby Donald Trump, like this statue of Sigismund and Pope Adrian in Konstanz?
https://substack.com/@leftcoasttom/note/c-168411535?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=2lgfqe
Regarding Elbridge Colby, emphasis mine:
"*summoned* Cardinal Christophe Pierre — Pope Leo XIV’s then-ambassador to the United States — and delivered a lecture."
Apart from the huge problem with the content of this lecture, the Department of Defense shouldn't be "summoning" ambassadors at all, that's the job of the Secretary of State/National Archivist.
I'm not at all religious, but I do like the Pope here. Peace is a tune we can all dance to!
Plus, if he came to the STUPID July 4th bullmess trump would just forever use it--"Even the Pope! They call him 'the Pope'--he begged, he said 'Sir--you're almost Jesus, actually, nobody even comes close, please, Sir, I want to celebrate with you'. Isn't that great? We love the Pope!" He's going to do it with any world leader--and you know he's going to want Kings and stuff there.
This might be an outside thing, but because of his age and mental decline--I see this a little with my mom, who's a bit older--he's stuck in a certain place in time, and I really, really think that's his weird obsession with the Kennedys. That was THE THING when he really remembers things. It even explains his thing about looking like a blond Elvis. But "Melania is Jackie", "Jackie loved me", the Kennedy Center, the Rose Garden, all this stuff. But to get to the point, I think he thinks of all the world leaders who came to Kennedy's funeral and thinks of how cool that would be.
Jackie Kennedy, famed for her thoughtful and historic restoration of the White House, is spinning in her grave.
I believe Kings as a rule are disinclined to celebrate the success of rebellions against them and their ancestors. Especially English kings.
Pope Bob from Chicago is a mixed blessing. He toes the Church's line on women in church and LGBT rights. We don't like that. He is almost always spot on when he talks about world events. We like that. He is really good at pastoral care. We *love* that. So... mixed blessing, and I'm glad Bob from Chicago is Pope right now.
Just made a similar comment downthread. Admittedly most popes are a mixed blessing - some more mixed than others. The church is monolithic and changes very slowly. A nun friend told me that priests will bring their wives to Vatican 3 and husbands to Vatican 4 (this was the 90s, gay marriage wasn't a thing yet). She did point out there was nearly 100 years between Vatican 1 and 2.
The church is slowly moving into the 20th century...we shall see. The growing part of the church is much more socially conservative.
It really sucks we live in a world where the likes of Alex Jones and Tucker Carlson are fighting harder than the likes of Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries. I swear to pete.
Chicago Pope does not dance to the tune of Cheeto's fascist clown regime.
I have no doubt that that Trump is now having his Competitive Adulation Cabinet Meetings videotaped, and rages while scrutinizing the tapes late at night.
Threatening the pope should go over big with Hispanic voters.
The language of religion is often stronger and more effective than the language of politics.
Trump and his stooges are chickenshits and they know they're losing support.
If you believe in it, and it’s not some christofascist sect, then religion speaks to the heart. Politics speaks to the head (at best) or the balls (at worst). Some of us listen to our heads most, but I respect the ones who are driven by the hearts. As long as their hearts aren’t blackened festering scum pools of racist hatred…
Lotsa caveats there…kind of like my opinions of religion in general.
Politics is supposed to appeal to the head but a lot of times uses emotive rather than intellectual language. Usually that's done when there's something to distract from but not always. This grey area is also where appeals from religious persons live.
Religion by itself isn't the issue, neither is politics. The issue arises when it becomes all about power, which is unfortunately often the case.
Like I said, speaks to the balls.
And it says "id id id id id id id id"
The only good kind of War.
https://youtu.be/4-Xs7NK-7B8?si=i_mGm44LYGfP2WpO
Trump will probably invite half the leaders on the planet to his July 4th celebration, and threaten them with 80 percent tariffs on everything when they reject the invitation.
Time to summon the Holy Roman ghost army like Aragon did in The Return of the King.
Great job, Dok