This Trump business is becoming ever more fascinating to me. I mean 'fascinating' as in watching a man-eating tiger stalk someone from a safe distance of several thousand miles on screen is fascinating.
But I live in dreamland of course. I have always said that U.S. politics are as much my business as anyone else's because of the huge influence that the USA has had on our European (yes, you heard me right) lives since - and probably well before - WW2.
Nancy Pelosi caught me off-guard today with something which, although has crossed my mind, I have always dismissed as paranoia verging on bad humour.
She has asked the Chiefs of Staff in the military to deny the current president access to codes which will allow him to order a nuclear strike anywhere in the world, any time he wants.
I watched a documentary years ago, where they allowed a film crew into a U.S. military bunker containing two young officers, a red telephone and a large button. The phone would ring, the voice on the other end would quote the code and the young officers would press the button, destroying half the world.
"What would happen if one of you went mad and pressed the button without authorisation?" asked the documentary maker.
"Well Sir," said one, "We both have a pistol and are ordered to shoot the other should he show signs of going insane and launching an unauthorised nuclear attack."
"What if the one who goes mad shoots the other before he has a chance to draw his own gun?"
They both mutely stared at each other. This scenario had not occurred to them before. It had not been part of their training.
These are such strange times. What used to be dark fantasies are becoming very real. I don't even have bad dreams which come close to waking life these days.
Trump is now not attending the swearing in of the new president
ReplyDeleteArsehole
Are you calling me an arsehole?
DeleteWe are better off if he doesn't attend the inauguration. He would just try to make it about him instead of Biden/Harris! You can just imagine his pinched, mad face on camera! Asshole is the right word for him!
DeleteAre you? Are you? (Robert de Niro voice)
DeleteNo....but I acknowledge I have before x
DeleteScary times indeed Tom.
ReplyDeleteUnprecedented in most of our cases.
DeleteThe one-time code is jx597K. I just got a text from my building society.
ReplyDeleteI tried it, but it expired 6 minutes ago.
DeleteNancy Pelosi has more sense, and moxie, than most members of congress. Since no one can get Pence to do more Constitutional requirement (convening Cabinet and removing the prez), and since they can't get articles of impeachment over to the senate before Monday, and since the AG of that last great prez, Nixon, made it impossible to try a sitting president, Pelosi has had the brains to try to separate Trump from the nuclear codes.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible for a politician to form his own political party in the USA?
DeleteLike Trump did?
DeleteUnprecedented times. And worse: a crap shoot of epic proportions. What will happen next?
ReplyDeleteGod doesn't play dice, but we do.
DeleteThe Capitol was besmirched and vandalized by the MAGA crowd. Trump could probably incite more rubes to do worse, I fear, before the 20th of Jan.
ReplyDeleteI hear the maniacs have their own form of social media where they can say whatever they like. If moderates don't use it, it will have to be monitored 24/7.
DeleteHe is an absolute dangerous idiot, but recognised as such by many people. We shall have to put our trust in the sanity of the good people.
ReplyDeleteThe good people will have to outnumber the rest by more than they did last time.
DeleteI have a feeling this is just the beginning of the weird times.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling you are right, Yael.
DeleteHe's a nutcase, was never fit for the Job. The worrying thing is that a lot of Americans still think he's a great president. How do you ever change that?
ReplyDeleteIt would take a mental health program larger than the mass vaccination one, but they would only call it government brain-washing.
DeleteIt's all been about myth making, I think - a symbolic act for the benefit of the future. Trump fans will remember the "storming of the Capitol" years from now. They know they've lost the battle but are determined to do it in style, because the war is far from over. It started in 1861, after all.
ReplyDeleteListen out for some new Country and Western.
DeleteIndeed... Not forgetting though, that there's good left wing country and western. Dolly Parton's pro BLM. The lot I used to play with now and again were a pro-Corbyn crowd. It's a genre that confounds stereotypes!
DeleteAlso not forgetting that the Everly Brothers were from Texas.
DeleteI wonder what Melania's thinking now.
ReplyDeleteA statement has been issued in her name... . “I find it shameful that surrounding these tragic events there has been salacious gossip, unwarranted personal attacks, and false misleading accusations on me – from people who are looking to be relevant and have an agenda.”
DeleteThe trouble is not only is he a nutcase, he fosters nutcases...people who think Antifa stormed Congress...or perhaps it was a hired mob!
Traveller, you are the nutcase.
Delete