Former CIA director John Brennan, Gen. Wesley Clark, and now Admiral McRaven have spoken out.

It's finally happening. From top levels, from people who cannot be coerced or compromised, the message is going out loud and clear: Get rid of Trump, for the good of the country. Do it now.

Normalizing the behavior - PSYOP

You're right. It's not just lying, but strategic, constant manipulation and targeted 'spin' of current events to present them in a way that casts doubt on any pushback.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212548797

FORMER FBI AGENT SAYS TRUMP ATTEMPTED TO EMPLOY COVERT PROPAGANDA AGAINST AMERICAN PUBLIC

"These hearings should be asking the fundamental questions: Why was the withdrawal ordered

with apparently no military preparation?"

Good question. Where were the generals who could have, and should have, said no - if not to the command itself, at least to the timing and execution of necessary details before leaving? How could they put their own troops in this situation?

I claim no military knowledge at all, but I am stunned that not one military leader could push back and say, "We can leave, but it will take x steps in preparation, and x amount of time to do it safely." It's obvious Trump has no knowledge or care about the details, but those whose career involves these very things?

Was there no one who could explain to Dummy in Chief that this was a strategically idiotic idea and he needed to immediately walk it back? Other than passing a resolution in the House, Congress has made little noise about the War Powers clause that could have stopped this, if it were implemented properly. In recent history Congress has let president after president act without oversight in this regard other than a rubber stamp after the fact, and it's come back to bite all of us now, hard. Congressional reaction has been too little and too late, while people are needlessly dying because of the whims of an incompetent fool whose allegiances are questionable at best.

Thanks - well written article.

It never fails - Repubs use the music but

don't understand they have picked songs with lyrics that point out their own flaws and make them look stupid. Invariably, they use it without permission and the artists do not let them get away with it unchallenged. Springsteen and REM spring to mind...

No way Queen is okay with this. Not a chance. Quick websearch, and holy cow. Trump already pulled this crap in 2016. Queen didn't approve then; that can't have changed. They know this, but Trump and his people have no respect for the artists and just do what they want anyway. *sigh*

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/20/queen-protests-donald-trumps-we-are-the-champions-song
https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/09/politics/donald-trump-brian-may-queen-music/index.html

One can fervently hope

But last night, I got involved in a little late night reading...

The Hunters
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212553975

Pour a cup of coffee or tea and come down the mob rabbit hole
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212553784

Mind. Blown. Mob connections are no surprise, but the intricate breadth and depth of the criminal insanity is appalling.

Then this morning, we all wake to find that Trump has abandoned our Kurdish allies in Syria, allowing Turkey to invade. It's a twofer: it changes the subject from the mess he's made with Ukraine, and it pleases his favorite autocrat, Putin.

I am gutted. If this latest outrageous action, coupled with the increasingly disturbing tweets that go with it, is not enough to turn the tide against him in Congress, I don't know what will. At this point I don't know what lonely voice of reason could ever sway the Senate to do what must be done. Impeachment is not enough; he has got to go. He seems hell bent on burning down the house before he leaves and (aside from some hand-wringing) no one, no one is bothering to stand up and forcefully say, "ENOUGH!"

Barbara Jordan, where are you?

*hem* lurker, a little nervous

I'd like to point out one of the most important people we should all be remembering during these times, Barbara Jordan. Her name should be front and center with all of Congress: in the media, in letters to our representatives and newspaper editors, on protest signs, and anywhere else it can be written or uttered, to remind our government and our nation of their duty.

Jordan begins speaking at the four minute mark. The most famous and oft quoted passage in her speech begins at 4:40, but the entire speech deserves to be heard - again and again.

You're right - Vitamin E acetate is suspected

Disclosure: I started vaping to quit cigarettes, and it worked really well. Vaping is not exactly healthy, but I am grateful it helped me quit the much more damaging cigarettes I was smoking when nothing else did. Yes, I am tapering off vaping also.

E-cigarettes around 95% less harmful than tobacco estimates landmark review
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/e-cigarettes-around-95-less-harmful-than-tobacco-estimates-landmark-review

The reason people are dying isn't because they are vaping, it's because of *what* they're vaping - and it has nothing to do with flavors.

Counterfeit Weed Vape Cartridges Are Everywhere — and They’re Making People Sick
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/counterfeit-thc-vapes-cdc-vaping-health-alert-875931/

A Thickener Used in Pot Vaping Is a Hugely Popular Black-Market Scam
https://www.inverse.com/article/59207-vitamin-e-acetate-thc-vapes

The CDC is a little behind the info curve in giving people a more precise and useful warning, but I'm glad they're finally getting the word out.

/relurk