Althouse: Trump's press conference this morning.

January 3, 2026

Trump's press conference this morning.

214 comments:

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Achilles said...: I wonder if the Nobel peace prize will come up and if the woman who won it will be there. Is she already in Venezuela?; 1/3/26, 10:32 AM
Achilles said...: I also love how our capitol is in Palm Beach now.

Hopefully we can get on with sacking DC next.; 1/3/26, 10:33 AM
Disparity of Cult said...: In an alternate universe, President Kamala Harris is servicing Nicolas Maduro in the Oval Office.; 1/3/26, 10:37 AM
Achilles said...: I can't watch this at normal speed. This is boring. Trump looks tired.

Rubio needs to stop taking uppers/caffeine if he is going to be in the camera shot.

Neither of these people have slept for a while and they are running on adrenaline.

Tell me when it is over.; 1/3/26, 10:44 AM
Jersey Fled said...: This is the first time I think I’ve ever seen DJT look weary; 1/3/26, 10:50 AM
Meade said...: He’s about to take questions. Watch him. Come alive.; 1/3/26, 10:58 AM
Steven (Original) said...: I loved the comment about the "Donroe" Doctrine!; 1/3/26, 11:00 AM
jim5301 said...: Who cares about international law, but it is amazing no U.S. troops were killed or wounded. I would think Maduro has a personal security force of hundreds.

How many civilians were killed?; 1/3/26, 11:11 AM
Achilles said...: Damnit.

"Indicted Persons."

"Returned fire in Self Defense."

"Multiple Self Defense Engagements."

Fuck that. This is crap. I don't want to hear this crap out of our generals.; 1/3/26, 11:13 AM
john mosby said...: Meade: "He’s about to take questions. Watch him. Come alive."

Trumpton Comes Alive!

(I Want To) Show You The Way (To MCC)
Baby I Love Your Way (of seizing dictators)
Do You Feel Like We Do (Venezuela?)

I think Trump would love using the voice tube....CC, JSM; 1/3/26, 11:13 AM
Linda said...: I know that General Caine was ready a prepared statement - but it sent chills down my spine when he talked about the coordination of the operation. Seemed like that should definitely remind all criminals to think twice. Hopefully the message was received.; 1/3/26, 11:17 AM
tcrosse said...: Rubio is probably drinking that Miami style coffee, the kind that comes in a shot glass and wires you up real good.; 1/3/26, 11:17 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: That pregame B1 flyover phallic talk was president.
The wins of war were blowing. Good Catch, Althouse.; 1/3/26, 11:21 AM
Achilles said...: They just admitted Congress is a liability to our government.; 1/3/26, 11:21 AM
Goldenpause said...: It's going to be fun watching the Democrats defending a (former) Narco-Dictator while people in Venezuela celebrate his removal from power and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient returns to Venezuela thanks to Trump. Another 80/20 issue with the Dems on the 20 side. It's also looking like Cuba might see a change in government which will end over 60 years of poverty and oppression on that island. Wait for the Dems to mourn the end of Communist rule in Cuba.

And it's only January 3!; 1/3/26, 11:22 AM
Achilles said...: jim5301 said...

Who cares about international law, but it is amazing no U.S. troops were killed or wounded. I would think Maduro has a personal security force of hundreds.

How many civilians were killed?

It sounds like we bought off the military.; 1/3/26, 11:23 AM
Achilles said...: "We will be selling lots of oil to lots of countries."

That sounds more like it.; 1/3/26, 11:25 AM
Narr said...: I recall remarking--way back in 2016--that with Trump, Putin, and Xi in power the big-dick competition would be . . . interesting.

But I had no inkling that they would all still be in power in 2026. Good thing I'm not one to make a lot of grand sweeping predictions, especially about the future.; 1/3/26, 11:26 AM
john mosby said...: Achilles: "It sounds like we bought off the military."

Yeah, with their lives. Machismo is ultimately just performative. Northern Europeans don't say much, but really will fight to the last man. See Stamford Bridge. CC, JSM; 1/3/26, 11:26 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Trump is not holding back anything.
"We are going to sell the oil"
In the voice of Seinfeld's OR Surgeon
'It's very refreshing'; 1/3/26, 11:28 AM
john mosby said...: In Panama, the Hispanic SOUTHCOM CG just picked up the PDF phone book and rang all the commanders, convincing them in Spanish to surrender. CC, JSM; 1/3/26, 11:28 AM
Peachy said...: I love that the Chinese were just leaving. lololol.; 1/3/26, 11:29 AM
john mosby said...: Narr: "I recall remarking--way back in 2016--that with Trump, Putin, and Xi in power the big-dick competition would be . . . interesting."

In the first term, all the deep state liliputian ropes kept trump from full extension. Now? Shai-Hulud! CC, JSM; 1/3/26, 11:30 AM
bagoh20 said...: We only have this instead of a babbling, cackling word salad because of 1.5% of the vote. None of those 20 accomplishments we read about yesterday would have happened, nor the many not listed. Venezuelans would still be looking at years of tyranny and poverty. Millions more illegals would have flooded in. None of the fraud and waste we now know about now would have been revealed. It would have multiplied, and America would be seen as a pushover to be exploited for 4 more years.
1.5% (1 -1/2 people per 100) We're looking at you AWFLs.; 1/3/26, 11:32 AM
Phaedrus said...: Went to a private showing of Top Gun (the original) at Studio Movie Grille for a private bday party.

Final dogfight seen, Hollywood’s RIO says “The must be close; I’m getting a hard on.”

Woke up with morning wood and now I know why; 1/3/26, 11:32 AM
Peachy said...: Rubio is a much better speaker. Wish he could talk.; 1/3/26, 11:32 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I meant to say prescient up 👆🏽 @11:21
Not president... or presidente.

Trump is 'el presidente' now bitch!

Hey, hablando como a lo loco. Are they going to need translators over there?; 1/3/26, 11:33 AM
Achilles said...: Glad he addressed the Honduran President that was thrown in jail by Biden to clear the way for Biden's marxist proxies.; 1/3/26, 11:33 AM
Peachy said...: Now it is time to focus on cleaning up the left's corrupt cheat to win vote scams.; 1/3/26, 11:33 AM
wendybar said...: Riley Gaines

@Riley_Gaines_
This aged HORRIBLY https://x.com/joebiden/statu/joebiden/status/1274910217508196352
Quote
Joe Biden
@JoeBiden
·
Jun 21, 2020
Trump talks tough on Venezuela, but admires thugs and dictators like Nicolas Maduro.

As President, I will stand with the Venezuelan people and for democracy. x.com/axios/status/1…
11:25 AM · Jan 3, 2026
https://x.com/Riley_Gaines_/status/2007488422316003535?s=20; 1/3/26, 11:34 AM
Quayle said...: A good discussion relevant to the question of why does America need to run the place in the Intelligence Matters podcast of August 13, 2019. Madura was actually kind of a weak leader, but was the face of a larger group. So taking him out of the equation doesn’t solve the problem.; 1/3/26, 11:35 AM
narciso said...: https://x.com/nicksortor/status/2007487050799599784; 1/3/26, 11:37 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Pedro for President.; 1/3/26, 11:37 AM
narciso said...: Yes the sun cartel is still largely intact; 1/3/26, 11:37 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: What is it about a fight, even a lobsided fight, that gets my juices flowing, and my heart pumping, feeling like a freaking teen after scoring the girl's phone number?; 1/3/26, 11:40 AM
Jersey Fled said...: I’m really looking forward to seeing the Left line up behind a narco terrorist who’s killed hundreds of thousands of Americans, and justifying themselves in the name of saving democracy.. While counting 300,000 illegal ballots in Fulton County.; 1/3/26, 11:40 AM
Dave Begley said...: “The other part of his speech that made me so optimistic was his emphasis on action. “We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action – – constantly complaining but never doing anything about it. The time for empty talk is over. Now arrives the hour of action.”

That kind of talk echoes the wordly wisdom of the Jesuit Baltasar Gracian, who wrote: “Distinguish the man of words from the man of deeds…. To retain their worth, words must be backed up with deeds” and “Words and deeds make a perfect man….Words are wise, deeds are mighty.”

I wrote the above in January of 2017. I thought of it when Rubio spoke.; 1/3/26, 11:43 AM
Peachy said...: Wendy -
excellent reminder.

Joe biden is a goddamn liar - just like his sycophant cult followers.; 1/3/26, 11:45 AM
Dave Begley said...: Today Trump said we would have become Venezuela if he would have lost the 2024 election.

That’s the truth.; 1/3/26, 11:46 AM
Humperdink said...: Trump running Venezuela will be an interesting test. One thing for sure, he won’t flee like Biden fled Afghanistan.

The U.S. energy companies may or may not be chomping at the bit to get back in with equipment and infrastructure. No solar companies need apply though. *cough*; 1/3/26, 11:49 AM
Quaestor said...: "This is crap. I don't want to hear this crap out of our generals."

I second the motion. Newspeak damages the brain, which is its designed function, not clarity, certainly not beauty. Our generals and admirals show all talk like George S. Patton but in George C. Scott's voice -- You fuck with us, we kill you, we kill your dog!

Some sort of anti-woke therapy is in order, like two hours per day in group sessions led by people personally trained by Joe Rogan.; 1/3/26, 11:50 AM
Phaedrus said...: Nice Dune reference Mosby. And agreed although I’d lean more toward Leto II after the sand trout evolution though not full on Emperor, before the millennial rule. Paul released the jihad once fully enthroned but Leto II went the long game for a mostly peaceful rule. The real question is, who is Duncan Idaho here?; 1/3/26, 11:50 AM
Quaestor said...: typo alert... Our generals and admirals should all talk like George S. Patton...; 1/3/26, 11:52 AM
Humperdink said...: Note that Marco Rubio said that Cubans have been essentially running Venezuela.; 1/3/26, 11:53 AM
Skeptical Voter said...: I'm a Trump fan--but sometimes he really needs a giant dose of STFU.; 1/3/26, 11:57 AM
TobyTucker said...: Trump thinks he's going to "run" Venezuela, but there are a good number of folks down there who are going to dispute this. Taking out Maduro only gives others the chance to take over, and they aren't likely to give up the billions that reward the leaders of that country without further "interventions". This whole project won't be easy and it won't be fast.; 1/3/26, 11:57 AM
narciso said...: The devils in the details; 1/3/26, 12:00 PM
narciso said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/3/26, 12:00 PM
Jersey Fled said...: The Chinese are really the big question mark for me. What is their reaction. And I don’t mean the phony rhetoric and political nonsense.; 1/3/26, 12:02 PM
Achilles said...: If we turn Venezuela into a Guam style territory that might work.

But not with the inconsistency of our current government situation.

We have to deal with the marxist threat inside our borders.; 1/3/26, 12:02 PM
Quaestor said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/3/26, 12:02 PM
Jersey Fled said...: Seems like the Lefty talking points are a little late arriving today.; 1/3/26, 12:04 PM
Quaestor said...: "America would be seen as a pushover to be exploited for 4 more years. 1.5% (1 -1/2 people per 100) We're looking at you AWFLs."

I had to look that up. Unfamiliar abbreviations bamboozle me. The first hit was American Women's Football League, which Google AI claims to be a "professional women's tackle football league", which evoked"America would be seen as a pushover to be exploited for 4 more years. 1.5% (1 -1/2 people per 100) We're looking at you AWFLs."

I had to look that up. Unfamiliar abbreviations bamboozle me. The first hit was American Women's Football League, which Google AI claims to be a "professional women's tackle football league", which evoked this classic.; 1/3/26, 12:05 PM
Achilles said...: Jersey Fled said...

The Chinese are really the big question mark for me. What is their reaction. And I don’t mean the phony rhetoric and political nonsense.

I put the central issue on whether we are moving Russia to our side or not. We shouldn't be facing them both.; 1/3/26, 12:05 PM
Original Mike said...: Watching a CNN panel griping about Congress not being notified. They were all "Congress would not have leaked*". Are you freaking kidding? Have you not been paying attention? Democrats absolutely would have leaked this.

*In defense of their take, one of them haughtily asked, "Can you not trust Thune?" Thune would not have been the leaker, lady. You know it, I know it, and everybody listening knows it. Do these people really think these kind of arguments persuade?; 1/3/26, 12:09 PM
narciso said...: Affluent white female liberals (karens); 1/3/26, 12:13 PM
Original Mike said...: A third of the Venezuelan people have left the country. Jeez.; 1/3/26, 12:14 PM
Dave Begley said...: Trump is right. We would have ended up like Venezuela if Trump would have lost the 2024 election. Harris for 8 years and then AOC for 8 years.; 1/3/26, 12:16 PM
TeaBagHag said...: Unpopular, demented child rapist president who has fucked the economy at home, launches unprovoked war. Does this cancel out one of the 12 wars that dementia Donnie has claimed to have stopped?

He’s so not getting the 2026 FIFA peace prize.; 1/3/26, 12:21 PM
Blair said...: Oh, we're Making Venezuela Great Again. That's nice. Now do America.

My family did not vote for this.; 1/3/26, 12:25 PM
MadTownGuy said...: Meanwhile, DC Metro Police issue a statement about remaining vigilant about threats (that don't appear to have happened yet) in the District:
https://x.com/i/status/2007506797175943531; 1/3/26, 12:27 PM
Iman said...: “Rugged individualism escorting the warmth of collectivism.”

—— Stephen L. Miller; 1/3/26, 12:28 PM
Iman said...: The Chinese reaction…

https://x.com/i/status/2007401209662173270; 1/3/26, 12:31 PM
john mosby said...: Phaedrus: "The real question is, who is Duncan Idaho here?"

Hegseth comes pretty close. Not quite ten thousand sons yet. And I haven't heard his singing voice. But a loyal retainer whose sword was first blooded on Grumman. CC, JSM; 1/3/26, 12:31 PM
narciso said...: More like gurney halleck; 1/3/26, 12:33 PM
Achilles said...: narciso said...

More like gurney halleck

I was about to say that.; 1/3/26, 12:36 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: So Trump and Rubio are "going to run" Venezuela. Great. So, that means US Troops on the ground. And no doubt plenty of "US Aid" aka $$$ to "rebuild the country". And if the people we put in arent doing it right, we'll go in again and put new people in.

What a Goddamn mess. Just what I did *not* vote for.

Anyway, maybe one of 700 district court judges will stop it. They can do anything.; 1/3/26, 12:36 PM
john mosby said...: And we do need a place like Tupile, the planet in the Dune-iverse where defeated Houses could exile themselves. We can invite other dictators to self-deport there instead of waiting for the cuffs to click. Maybe Putin could rent out some dachas for the hard currency and crypto. CC, JSM; 1/3/26, 12:37 PM
narciso said...: Let's Check in With How Lefties on Bluesky Are Dealing With Trump Announcing the Capture of Maduro – Twitchy https://share.google/Mmflla02MAGsTOZmP; 1/3/26, 12:37 PM
Achilles said...: Blair said...

Oh, we're Making Venezuela Great Again. That's nice. Now do America.

My family did not vote for this.

I did. But

Trump better be doing Minneapolis, NYC, Sacramento etc next.; 1/3/26, 12:37 PM
Original Mike said...: "Oh, we're Making Venezuela Great Again. That's nice. Now do America.
My family did not vote for this."

That was my initial reaction, but there is a counter argument. Venezuela was a proxy for our enemies (China, Iran, Russia) on our doorstep. They were running deadly drugs into our country; with all of the damaging results that entails. Problems are best dealt with at their source.

Just something to consider. How this is handled going forward remains to be seen.; 1/3/26, 12:38 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: We elect Trump and we still dont have a POTUS who will be American First. Always with the "Giddy minds and foreign quarrels".; 1/3/26, 12:38 PM
Achilles said...: john mosby said...

And we do need a place like Tupile, the planet in the Dune-iverse where defeated Houses could exile themselves. We can invite other dictators to self-deport there instead of waiting for the cuffs to click. Maybe Putin could rent out some dachas for the hard currency and crypto. CC, JSM

That is what Greenland is for.; 1/3/26, 12:38 PM
john mosby said...: Ciso and Achilles: "more like gurney halleck"

I would like to see Hegseth carry the Trump Pug into battle like Sir Patrick Stewart in the David Lynch version! CC, JSM; 1/3/26, 12:39 PM
john mosby said...: Achilles: "That is what Greenland is for."

Especially once it global-warms into a very large Ireland! CC, JSM; 1/3/26, 12:40 PM
Achilles said...: None of this was planned or executed in Washington DC.

It was planned and executed in Palm Beach, Florida.

That is the 9 million pound gorilla in the room. DC is occupied by people who are worse than Maduro. There are little pockets of marxist thieves all around the US that make Maduro look like a chump.

America First.; 1/3/26, 12:41 PM
Quayle said...: Note how the screeds from the likes of teabaghag don’t change at all with the current events or players. Why, it is almost as though they already know their response to an event even before the event happens.; 1/3/26, 12:46 PM
Big Mike said...: While all this Venezuela stuff has been going on, the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston ruled that the Trump administration certainly can withhold funding from Planned Parenthood. Two big wins in one day.; 1/3/26, 12:47 PM
Jupiter said...: "So taking him out of the equation doesn’t solve the problem."
No kidding. Maduro was a figurehead at best, likely a prisoner. The battle for Venezuela has likely just begun. But we're not going to hear much about that for a while.; 1/3/26, 12:47 PM
Jupiter said...: It sounds like the Venezuelan Army chose to remain in barracks. But they aren't gone, and neither are the Cubans and Chinese who owned Maduro.
On the bright side, this ain't Viet Nam. Plenty of Americans speak Spanish.; 1/3/26, 12:50 PM
Peachy said...: Thank you for all the great posts and links and videos, Ann.; 1/3/26, 12:51 PM
john mosby said...: Achilles: "It was planned and executed in Palm Beach, Florida."

Come on now, you know that can't possibly be true. Thousands of service members in theater. Quite possibly an equal number of planners, once you include Southcom, Northcom, Socom, the 5-plus service components of each of those headquarters, and the service chiefs' staffs who had to allocate forces to the effort. And all the rehearsals at Bragg and Campbell and wherever the Batt Boys were.
Plus keeping at least some part of State and DOJ briefed in, even if it's just personal staff of Bondi and Rubio.

And this thing took weeks if not months to logisticate. Trump hasn't been in MAL all that time.

All it would have taken is one Vindman in any of those places to hose it all up. Yes, I agree that there was some effort to keep it strictly need-to-know, but a lot of the OPSEC credit has to go to Trump and Hegseth making it clear that any future Vindmans will do all their MSNOW appearances from Leavenworth. CC, JSM; 1/3/26, 12:51 PM
Achilles said...: Jupiter said...

"So taking him out of the equation doesn’t solve the problem."
No kidding. Maduro was a figurehead at best, likely a prisoner. The battle for Venezuela has likely just begun. But we're not going to hear much about that for a while.

It sounds like Trump fully intends to take the oil and sell it to fund all of this. He could fund the US investment and make enough to buy off tribal support in Venezuela.

If he actually follows through with that and flushes all of the "Self defense" and "Legal" and"moral" language down the toilet there is a chance of success.; 1/3/26, 12:52 PM
Peachy said...: RC Ocean - It's too bad Islamic cutie boi Mamdamni(D) is ineligible to run for president.

( Thank GOD. ); 1/3/26, 12:53 PM
Jupiter said...: "This is Peace Through Strength, and the United States War Department is proud to help deliver it."
Hmmmm.... I think he might have inserted a few more dependent clauses in there. The War Department Delivers Peace is awfully .... Orwellian.; 1/3/26, 12:53 PM
Peachy said...: John Mosby - Achilles is a know-it-all - without the actual knowledge.; 1/3/26, 12:54 PM
Humperdink said...: Not sure about the wisdom of trying Maduro in the SDNY. I like Miami way better.; 1/3/26, 12:55 PM
Dogma and Pony Show said...: Those who oppose this action, I'd be interested to hear what your preferred alternative approach would have been to dealing with Maduro/Venezuela.; 1/3/26, 12:55 PM
narciso said...: The indictment was in the sdny; 1/3/26, 1:00 PM
Original Mike said...: "Not sure about the wisdom of trying Maduro in the SDNY. I like Miami way better."

I am wondering about this. Is it because, as has been stated, they are acting on an indictment filed back in 2020. Surely that wouldn't be the choice today. Can it be moved?; 1/3/26, 1:02 PM
Kakistocracy said...: In the spirit of magnanimity and unity, Trump has signaled that war hawks are now welcome in the Republican party.; 1/3/26, 1:04 PM
Kakistocracy said...: Achilles mews: “It was planned and executed in Palm Beach, Florida.”

Trump cannot stay awake to run one country, perhaps a second one will give him a second wind.; 1/3/26, 1:06 PM
Peachy said...: Kak - where's the war?; 1/3/26, 1:06 PM
Original Mike said...: "Those who oppose this action, I'd be interested to hear what your preferred alternative approach would have been to dealing with Maduro/Venezuela."

They would have much preferred to continue bombing the drug running boats so they could mourn the poor victims.

Will be interesting to see if the boats stop.; 1/3/26, 1:06 PM
Peachy said...: Trump never sleeps - KAK.
You're confused and thinking about your fake puppet prez-nit - sleepy Joe.; 1/3/26, 1:07 PM
Achilles said...: Original Mike said...

"Not sure about the wisdom of trying Maduro in the SDNY. I like Miami way better."

I am wondering about this. Is it because, as has been stated, they are acting on an indictment filed back in 2020. Surely that wouldn't be the choice today. Can it be moved?

This is just like the "Weapons of Mass Destruction" farce.

Please just stop with the justifications and pretenses.; 1/3/26, 1:08 PM
Original Mike said...: "Please just stop with the justifications and pretenses."

What in the hell are you talking about?; 1/3/26, 1:10 PM
FormerLawClerk said...: I hope the government of Greenland is paying attention.; 1/3/26, 1:10 PM
Kakistocracy said...: No doubt Mr Trump has thought through what happens next in great detail… With the same thoroughness as always.. Has Hamas disarmed?.

Who needs planning when you have a warrior ethos ?; 1/3/26, 1:12 PM
TeaBagHag said...: Notice how the MAGAt cultist clap their flippers like trained seals, no matter how misguided and insane their dear leader’s actions.
Almost like they don’t have to use their little minds to process anything anymore :

“Dementia Donnie approves, well then damnit it must be genius manifest.”
-MAGAt Nation; 1/3/26, 1:13 PM
narciso said...: https://x.com/Rightanglenews/status/2007466350696870160; 1/3/26, 1:14 PM
Peachy said...: Humperdink said:
"Not sure about the wisdom of trying Maduro in the SDNY. I like Miami way better."

What? Is this already in the works? - a NY trial? Yeah - not a good idea.
Actually- at this point NY/NYC should be abandoned.; 1/3/26, 1:14 PM
narciso said...: Thats where the indictment was filed in 2020,; 1/3/26, 1:15 PM
Peachy said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/3/26, 1:16 PM
Peachy said...: T-D Douch-bag HAG - is upset that some poor people were freed today.
she likes oppressive totalitarian faux-governments by narco-terrorist communists. ... & MSNBC's content.; 1/3/26, 1:16 PM
Justabill said...: Everyone here is so grumpy. I sense a lot of New Year’s weight loss resolutions being abandoned by sundown.; 1/3/26, 1:17 PM
bagoh20 said...: Absolutes are childish, like "no more wars", "I'll never kill anyone", or "Till death do us part". Shit happens.; 1/3/26, 1:17 PM
Humperdink said...: Hmm Pete Hegseth v. Lloyd Austin. Trump v. Biden. Rubio v. Blinken. Competent v. Incompetent.; 1/3/26, 1:18 PM
Peachy said...: More Proof Tucker Carlson is a paid hack.

"And as Ace writes, “This is a sad day, per Tucker Carlson. Why, the parade of paid Venezuelan spokesmen he ‘interviews’ on his propaganda show say that the narcoterrorist communist dictatorship of Venezuela is secretly very ‘conservative!’”"

via insty.; 1/3/26, 1:19 PM
Humperdink said...: Trump no longer taking phone calls from the leadership of Greenland and the Dutch.; 1/3/26, 1:20 PM
Peachy said...: Tucker - I'm done. He's a hack.; 1/3/26, 1:22 PM
bagoh20 said...: ""Not sure about the wisdom of trying Maduro in the SDNY."

Just like everything else that's useful, justice left NY a while ago, and
"Jesus just left Chicago , and he's bound for New Orleans".; 1/3/26, 1:23 PM
Freder Frederson said...: It was disgusting that not one reporter asked if Trump was going to ask for a declaration of war, or if not, on what constitutional authority this action was based.

Grounds for impeachment: starting an illegal war, no consultation with Congress, and let's throw in murder and kidnapping for good measure.; 1/3/26, 1:26 PM
TeaBagHag said...: Jaysus, Reachy you have the intellect and memory of a goldfish.
Remember when G. W Bush “liberated” the Iraqis and how easy it was and how little it cost the US for the next couple decades?
Remember when Pedo Mussolini ran on keeping the US out of bullshit foreign entanglements?; 1/3/26, 1:26 PM
Humperdink said...: NYPost reports Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has fled to Russia.; 1/3/26, 1:27 PM
bagoh20 said...: "The War Department Delivers Peace is awfully .... Orwellian."

It did OK the last time it was called that.; 1/3/26, 1:28 PM
Humperdink said...: Also from the NYPost: “ Newly minted Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed outrage at the Trump administration's airstrikes in Venezuela and the Saturday arrest of dictator Nicolas Maduro.

"Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law," Mamdani wrote on X.

"This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad, it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home."; 1/3/26, 1:30 PM
Freder Frederson said...: They were running deadly drugs into our country

Did anyone else notice that he dropped the lie that fentanyl was being smuggled and suddenly it is cocaine coming from Venezuela?; 1/3/26, 1:30 PM
bagoh20 said...: "NYPost reports Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has fled to Russia."

I wonder how much money these people stole and sent overseas in expectation of just such a development.
Does anybody make an honest living anymore?; 1/3/26, 1:31 PM
Ampersand said...: Trump is moving faster than his haters can type.; 1/3/26, 1:31 PM
Freder Frederson said...: Newly minted Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed outrage at the Trump administration's airstrikes in Venezuela and the Saturday arrest of dictator Nicolas Maduro

And every word is true.; 1/3/26, 1:32 PM
bagoh20 said...: Modern cocaine is often laced with fentanyl, the cheapest drug per buzz level ever sold.; 1/3/26, 1:33 PM
Original Mike said...: "Did anyone else notice that he dropped the lie that fentanyl was being smuggled and suddenly it is cocaine coming from Venezuela?"

Pretty sure that was a reference to Columbia.; 1/3/26, 1:34 PM
boatbuilder said...: Why don't you ask some of those tens of thousands of Venezuelans in NYC what they think about it. I think you'd be surprised.; 1/3/26, 1:35 PM
Yancey Ward said...: Prediction- a district judge orders Maduro and his wife be released and returned to Venezuela.; 1/3/26, 1:38 PM
tcrosse said...: A funny sort of ethics that judge an action not by the action itself but by the actor.; 1/3/26, 1:40 PM
bagoh20 said...: "...on what constitutional authority this action was based."

Biden's autopen authorized 170 military strikes without Congressional authority. Of course he's just the latest example of nearly every President in history. So catch up. Trump is behind pace on this shit.; 1/3/26, 1:40 PM
Old and slow said...: The funny part is that Maduro could very likely have negotiated a peaceful exit had he been willing. I'll bet he wishes that had done so.; 1/3/26, 1:40 PM
John henry said...: I've not seen anything here, on X or Bluesky today but I was thinking of a recent Supreme Court case. I've not paid a lot of attention to it but as I understand it, the president cannot send in the National Guard to aid city police. The reason is because the law requires him to send in the regular army first. Only if the regular army fails, can he then send in the NG. (Something like that. My understanding is imprefect)

I wonder if this reinforces what happened last night. It was a law enforcement op, serving an arrest warrant by the DEA and/or FBI with the army providing support.

So perhaps the president can now say "The Supremes recognized my authority to use the army to support operations by law enforcement.

John Henry; 1/3/26, 1:42 PM
DINKY DAU 45 said...: Hey no more DRILL BABY DRILL, its now INVADE BABY INVADE(greenland,Canada, Panama,) hey why not try a real competitor like North Korea,China,or Russia,they are all despots )trump says its a military operation and rubio says its a police action and rubio and hegseth gonna run Venezuela,they cant even run a health care plan after 15 years,What could possibly go wrong.Fortunately mostly old people up in here whose kids are to old to go get killed for MORE OIL, so no skin off their backs.I been there in '65 and know about wars based on lies(GULF OF TONKIN) and the NEOCON president has now tasted theIran blood and hes on a roll.Yeah no more foolish inteventions in others countries yeah right. MAGAS DUPED AGAIN.the rest could see it coming milles away.Happy NewYear , we just got to kill em dead dead dead....MERIKA!!; 1/3/26, 1:42 PM
Bob Boyd said...: Trump offered Maduro a job on the grounds crew at Mar-a-Lago, but Maduro turned it down.; 1/3/26, 1:47 PM
John henry said...: I live less than 2 miles from the Operations building at Ofstie Airfield (Roosevelt Roads Naval Station) and for the past month or two we've had constand noise of jets taking off in the night time. Last night, from about 22-2300 we had constant jets taking off. Must have been 50 or more.

According to my son I als ohad a brush with infamy this morning. He say Maduro was flown to Roosey from the Iwo Jima to transfer to a plane with legs to get to NY.

He got that from someone at church this morning, who got it from their cousin's boyfirends haidresser's stepdaugher (or something like that) so you know it MUST be true.

John Henry; 1/3/26, 1:48 PM
Humperdink said...: Cleaning our hemisphere one tyrant at a time.

Judge Boasberg was awakened from his slumber @2AM by the ACLU. Ink is drying on the order to release the Venezuelan Dad into the custody of Sen. Chris van Hollen.; 1/3/26, 1:51 PM
Freder Frederson said...: No mention that the 82nd Airborne has had troops on the ground since late September!; 1/3/26, 1:55 PM
John henry said...: How is this different from serving an arrest warrant, basaed on a grand jury indigtment, on someone like Pablo Escobar or El Chapo?

Maduro claims to be president but few major nations recognize him as such. To the US, he is just another private citizen charged with criminal activity.

On BlueSky people are claiming that this is an illegal order that the military most refuse to obey. When I ask what law is violated by helping the police carry out a legal arrest, they block me.

Those folks are beside themselves. They make resident fascists like Inga, TBH, Kak and others seem sane, logical and thoughtful by comparison.

John Henry; 1/3/26, 1:55 PM
bagoh20 said...: "How is this different from serving an arrest warrant, basaed on a grand jury indigtment, on someone like Pablo Escobar or El Chapo?"

Three words: T.D.S.; 1/3/26, 1:57 PM
Marty said...: Thanks, DINKY, for that thoughtful and erudite analysis. Clearly, your understanding of geopolitics is to be envied.; 1/3/26, 2:02 PM
Freder Frederson said...: On BlueSky people are claiming that this is an illegal order that the military most refuse to obey. When I ask what law is violated by helping the police carry out a legal arrest, they block me.

Since when do the police have a right to enter a sovereign nation to carry out an arrest. You are really grasping at straws to claim it is a "legal" arrest. Heck, I don't even think police can enter an Indian Reservation without the permission of the Tribal government to effect an arrest.; 1/3/26, 2:04 PM
Ronald J. Ward said...: John Henry, Escobar and El Chapo were non-state actors arrested through extradition or host-nation cooperation.

Maduro controls a state. Arresting him required military strikes and seizing governing authority — that’s armed conflict, not law enforcement, and it triggers Congress’s war powers regardless of recognition.; 1/3/26, 2:04 PM
DINKY DAU 45 said...: PANAMA (1989): THE DOOR WAS WIDE OPEN
Why an invasion was possible
Panama is tiny — strategically important but militarily weak.
The U.S. already had military bases and thousands of troops inside the country.
The Panama Canal gave the U.S. a “vital national interest” justification.
Noriega had zero regional defenders.
The Cold War was ending — the U.S. had massive geopolitical freedom.
Result
A full invasion was politically survivable, militarily easy, and fast.
VENEZUELA (2026): A TOTALLY DIFFERENT GAME
Why an invasion was NOT possible
Venezuela is huge — mountains, jungles, dense urban zones.
Maduro had regional political protection, especially from countries that opposed U.S. intervention.
A U.S. invasion risked:
A regional war
A refugee crisis
Oil market shock
A long occupation
The U.S. had no bases inside Venezuela.
The world in 2026 is far less tolerant of overt regime‑change invasions.
A full invasion would have been a geopolitical disaster.
A special‑forces extraction was the only viable option.
STRATEGIC DIFFERENCE IN ONE SENTENCE
Noriega was removed because the U.S. could invade Panama.
Maduro was removed because the U.S. couldn’t invade Venezuela. YEAH NOW WHAT WITH THIS GROUP OF Keystone cops in charge.I know a solution coming in "2 weeks"Hey how about some help in the US instead of culture wars,foreign country interventions and debt control you know AMERICA FIRST DEAL? And by the way STAY AWAKE WILL YA :( GOT 48 HOUR TO REPORT TO Congress yeah right war powers my a^% the man is immune thanks SCOTUS GOOD WORK.. ONLY 250 YEARS REMOVED FROM GEORGE AND HEADING BACK THAT WAY..Yippeee; 1/3/26, 2:06 PM
TeaBagHag said...: Yes indeed, TDS. Trump Diddles Schoolgirls and this war is supposed to distract us from that fact.; 1/3/26, 2:07 PM
Freder Frederson said...: The 48 hour clock has started. Let's see if Trump bothers to obey the War Powers Act. My money is on "no". Another count to add to the impeachment bill.

I kid!. The best I can hope for is that Trump and his entire clown car are unable to travel outside the country for fear of being arrested for war crimes.; 1/3/26, 2:08 PM
DINKY DAU 45 said...: By the way props to the best military in the world , but may want to start thnking about making arrangements for the kids going there if you think your gonna RUN VENEZUELA,talk about sniper heaven.; 1/3/26, 2:10 PM
bagoh20 said...: I think most MAGA are like me, opposed to new major military campaigns, but realizing non-action encourages enemies and is irresponsible, and thus we favor limited strategic strikes like this that reduce enemy strength buildup, and improve the balance of power in our favor without creating new tensions. That's what Trump has done so far, so yes, I voted for this.; 1/3/26, 2:11 PM
bagoh20 said...: Why the hell would we invade Venezuela when we just accomplished what we wanted with no casualties?; 1/3/26, 2:15 PM
TeaBagHag said...: Bag of Kool Aid,
I agree, most MAGAts are just like you; grasping at straws to justify the demented, illeagal actions of their cult leader.; 1/3/26, 2:16 PM
bagoh20 said...: Not grasping at straws but standing a bedrock of logic, reason, and results.; 1/3/26, 2:23 PM
bagoh20 said...: And your President now and for the next 3 years thanks you for your support.; 1/3/26, 2:24 PM
Freder Frederson said...: Why the hell would we invade Venezuela when we just accomplished what we wanted with no casualties?

Didn't you listen to the president? We are going to run the government during the transition and profit off of Venezuela's oil. That will require a huge diplomatic mission and the military to protect the oil fields and the new government. The people of Venezuela are going to be none too happy about the U.S. stealing their oil.; 1/3/26, 2:25 PM
Original Mike said...: "Didn't you listen to the president? We are going to run the government during the transition and profit off of Venezuela's oil."

I did listen. He didn't say that.; 1/3/26, 2:27 PM
Hassayamper said...: Heck, I don't even think police can enter an Indian Reservation without the permission of the Tribal government to effect an arrest.

Behold the vast ignorance of this stupid man.; 1/3/26, 2:33 PM
Beasts of England said...: ’Trump said we would have become Venezuela if he would have lost the 2024 election.’

Very little hyperbole in that assessment.; 1/3/26, 2:34 PM
Achilles said...: bagoh20 said...

I think most MAGA are like me, opposed to new major military campaigns, but realizing non-action encourages enemies and is irresponsible, and thus we favor limited strategic strikes like this that reduce enemy strength buildup, and improve the balance of power in our favor without creating new tensions. That's what Trump has done so far, so yes, I voted for this.

We are opposed to forever wars that just transfer money from taxpayers to warmongers.

If Trump takes over Venezuela and pays for it with Oil sales and improves the lives of Venezuelans at the same time that is a net positive for everyone.

If we eliminate the stranglehold China has on Rare Earths at the same time that is a primary strategic objective.

I don't want to hear anything stupid about indictments or democracy. Just be honest about what we are doing here.; 1/3/26, 2:34 PM
Freder Frederson said...: I did listen. He didn't say that.

You must have been listening to a different speech and press conference. Once the transcript is published, I will link it and include the pertinent quote for your benefit (Lord knows Althouse won't do it).; 1/3/26, 2:35 PM
john mosby said...: Freder: "Since when do the police have a right to enter a sovereign nation to carry out an arrest. "

Extraterritorial Jurisdiction. No one seemed to mind it the thousands of times it has been applied, for big cases and small.

But Trump.

Imagine if Trump had fled the US to avoid being jailed in his BS New York case. OMFG you'd have seen extraterritorial jurisdiction applied to get him out of wherever he hid. CC, JSM; 1/3/26, 2:37 PM
Freder Frederson said...: Oh good, Beasts of England is here. You owe me an apology. Your friend is a liar and full of shit.; 1/3/26, 2:37 PM
Kakistocracy said...: Marco Rubio's claim that the event was merely a law enforcement operation is so blatantly incorrect and implausible that it makes him appear utterly ridiculous.

There are wars forced upon you, where survival comes first and you deal with the aftermath only if there is an “after.” Fort Sumter in 1861. Pearl Harbor in 1941. Ukraine in 2022. And others like them.

Then there are wars of choice, where you damn well better have a clear plan for “what comes after” before you take the first irreversible step. Baghdad in 2003 stands as the cautionary example.

Now, with Venezuela, the administration must level with the public and Congress: the underlying presumption seems to be that the next Venezuelan leaders will comply with American wishes because they’ve just witnessed the “or else.”

I wouldn’t exactly call that a plan.; 1/3/26, 2:38 PM
Beasts of England said...: ’Grounds for impeachment: starting an illegal war, no consultation with Congress, and let's throw in murder and kidnapping for good measure.’

Will I be able to watch the impeachment from prison? lol; 1/3/26, 2:42 PM
Achilles said...: Original Mike said...

"Please just stop with the justifications and pretenses."

What in the hell are you talking about?

Our military was just arresting a drug dealer? This is so dumb.

Say it out loud.

There was a weak corrupt leader in Venezuela that was working with China and Marxists in the USA. We decided to take him out and replace him with a regime that will allow us to develop the resources and wont help the Marxists in the US rig elections.

We will pay the tribes in Venezuela more than Maduro did and improve the lives of people in Venezuela so that they don't help some other country kick us out.

We will rinse and repeat this pattern in South and Central America.

Looks like Columbia is next. They are run by a corrupt Marxist who was an Obama Ally. Brazil will follow soon after.; 1/3/26, 2:43 PM
Craig Mc said...: CBS' change in tenor is noticeably less TDS now. Almost straight down the line.; 1/3/26, 2:43 PM
Jupiter said...: "Not sure about the wisdom of trying Maduro in the SDNY."
I doubt that trial will occur any time soon. I would not be surprised if Senor Maduro and his lovely wife spend the next decade or so in a fairly congenial setting, discussing the details of their testimony in the upcoming trials of their many, many rat-fucker co-conspirators, who are even now fleeing for the Columbian border.
Figure it out! Maduro called Donald Trump on the special number, and said "Help! Mr. Wizard!". He was lucky to get out of Venezuela alive, and he knows it.; 1/3/26, 2:43 PM
Freder Frederson said...: Extraterritorial Jurisdiction. No one seemed to mind it the thousands of times it has been applied, for big cases and small.

Provide one example where someone was legally snatched from another country without the approval of that country's government. And when such illegal arrests happen, sure as shit people (at least those believe in the rule of law) mind.; 1/3/26, 2:43 PM
Original Mike said...: "Once the transcript is published, I will link it and include the pertinent quote for your benefit (Lord knows Althouse won't do it).

Don't bother, I know what he said. I also have little doubt that you can find a "fine people" type snippet that you can parade around gleefully. The man rambles.; 1/3/26, 2:43 PM
Jupiter said...: Ooops. Colombian.; 1/3/26, 2:44 PM
Original Mike said...: Italics off.; 1/3/26, 2:44 PM
Achilles said...: Freder Frederson said...

Why the hell would we invade Venezuela when we just accomplished what we wanted with no casualties?

Didn't you listen to the president? We are going to run the government during the transition and profit off of Venezuela's oil. That will require a huge diplomatic mission and the military to protect the oil fields and the new government. The people of Venezuela are going to be none too happy about the U.S. stealing their oil.

Some Venezuelans wont.

But the whole point is to buy off enough of them that they suppress the rest.

Given Venezuela's massive reserves we will easily be able to pay for this.; 1/3/26, 2:47 PM
Jupiter said...: "Provide one example where someone was legally snatched from another country without the approval of that country's government."

Looks like Freder's got us dead to rights this time. I'm pretty sure that never happened before.; 1/3/26, 2:48 PM
John henry said...: Freder, it might violate venozuelan law. They might try to arrest our fbi/dea/military.

It doesn't violate any us law as far as I can tell.

If I'm wrong, telle the law. Us code cite, please

John Henry; 1/3/26, 2:50 PM
Kakistocracy said...: It’s not inaccurate to describe the past decade of politics as “Trump took over the GOP,” but the Venezuela example highlights something important about the underlying dynamic: the old players are still there—they just have to pursue their priorities through convoluted, indirect means.

Venezuelan oil policy is a perfect illustration. No one in the administration genuinely cares about it, and it makes little sense on economic or strategic grounds. Yet because Trump fixates on it, it has become a major component of US strategy—despite being misguided and ultimately self-defeating.

Much of Trump-era Republican politics follows this pattern: traditional conservative or neoconservative priorities get grafted onto one of Trump’s personal obsessions and are then rebranded as “America First.”; 1/3/26, 2:53 PM
Jupiter said...: "But the whole point is to buy off enough of them that they suppress the rest."
Achilles, you seem awfully eager to dispense with every last fig leaf of legality and simply proclaim the American Empire, with Trump as our Augustus. The fact is, that the Venezuelan Republic was one of the most prosperous in South America, until its legally elected government was overthrown in a stolen election by Communists. We don't need to apologize for booting the Commies out by force and restoring the Republic. Nor for restoring it the way we like it, rather than the way Freder and Ronald J Ward might prefer.; 1/3/26, 2:54 PM
Freder Frederson said...: Given Venezuela's massive reserves we will easily be able to pay for this.

Venezuela's oil production infrastructure is a bloody mess. You can't just go in, turn a couple valves, and presto, they are producing as much oil as 20 years ago. It is going to take years and billions in investment, not to mention the cost of providing security.; 1/3/26, 2:55 PM
Jupiter said...: And the gangster successors to Castro's regime might want to consider that the only reason the US did not pop Castro like a zit was that the Soviet Union stood ready to defend him with nuclear weapons. That was then. This is not then.; 1/3/26, 2:57 PM
Craig Mc said...: Funny, I don't remember lefty outrage when the US went into Pakistan to snuff Bin Laden.; 1/3/26, 2:57 PM
Jupiter said...: "It is going to take years and billions in investment, not to mention the cost of providing security."
Oh, shit! Freder's right again! This was a terrible mistake, one we'll all be regretting for decades to come! Is it too late to just run away?; 1/3/26, 2:59 PM
Rabel said...: "Provide one example where someone was legally snatched from another country without the approval of that country's government."

Jefferson Davis?; 1/3/26, 2:59 PM
Freder Frederson said...: If I'm wrong, telle the law. Us code cite, please

You tell me the law that allows it. U.S. code cite, please.; 1/3/26, 2:59 PM
Achilles said...: Freder Frederson said...

Given Venezuela's massive reserves we will easily be able to pay for this.

Venezuela's oil production infrastructure is a bloody mess. You can't just go in, turn a couple valves, and presto, they are producing as much oil as 20 years ago. It is going to take years and billions in investment, not to mention the cost of providing security.

Sounds like a lot of jobs being created to me.

Jobs that produce a product people will buy.

Unlike Somali daycares.; 1/3/26, 3:03 PM
Beasts of England said...: ’You tell me the law that allows it.’

I’m old enough to remember when Obama conducted a months-long war in Libya and took out Khadafi without congressional approval. Good times!; 1/3/26, 3:05 PM
Freder Frederson said...: Jefferson Davis?

Sorry, The U.S. had already accepted the surrender of the Confederacy, so even if secession had been valid, they gave up and returned to the Union. Besides, they ended up dropping the treason charges and he died a free man in 1889.; 1/3/26, 3:06 PM
Freder Frederson said...: I’m old enough to remember when Obama conducted a months-long war in Libya and took out Khadafi without congressional approval. Good times!

And I'm old enough to remember when you all bitched about it. Actually, I did to?

What is different about this?; 1/3/26, 3:09 PM
Achilles said...: Jupiter said...

"But the whole point is to buy off enough of them that they suppress the rest."
Achilles, you seem awfully eager to dispense with every last fig leaf of legality and simply proclaim the American Empire, with Trump as our Augustus. The fact is, that the Venezuelan Republic was one of the most prosperous in South America, until its legally elected government was overthrown in a stolen election by Communists.

I don't think Chavez stole the first election.

He just made elections pointless after winning the first one.

Thus we get to the weaknesses of Democracy. The Marxist scum imported enough voters into New York to get Mamdani elected. Most of Mamdani's voters weren't born in the US.

The problem comes when we start allowing the Marxist scum to argue about what is "legal" and using "indicted drug dealer" pretenses to deal with their arguments.

Fuck that. They are Marxist scum and death and murder follow in their wake. The people running New York City and Chicago and Sacremento and Minnesota are worse people than Maduro.; 1/3/26, 3:10 PM
Freder Frederson said...: I did to?

Oops. That should be "I did too."; 1/3/26, 3:11 PM
Valentine Smith said...: It’s such a pleasure to read the lace curtain lefties here clutching their skirts above their ankles. Come on, one of you must be honest enough to admit to loving the Maduros’s of the world.; 1/3/26, 3:14 PM
Kakistocracy said...: Maduro should had a better understanding of the Don-roe Doctrine...; 1/3/26, 3:15 PM
John henry said...: Freder, you are thinking of Russia where everthing is forbidden unless a law permits it.

This is America where everthing is permitted unless the law permits it.

Since you seem to be saying no us law forbids arresting Maduro, how would you charge soone with breaking a nonexistent law?

This is stupid even for you.

This is Bluesky level stupidity.

John Henry; 1/3/26, 3:15 PM
John henry said...: America where everthing is permitted unless a law forbids it.

Sorry

John Henry; 1/3/26, 3:17 PM
Achilles said...: Freder Frederson said...

I’m old enough to remember when Obama conducted a months-long war in Libya and took out Khadafi without congressional approval. Good times!

And I'm old enough to remember when you all bitched about it. Actually, I did to?

What is different about this?

Gaddafi was a stable ruler that kept his Muslim hordes under control and his people fed. He kept the oil flowing and worked with US administrations.

It took 7 months of constant attacks to bring his regime down and there was no tangible benefit to the taxpayers of the United States who funded that.

Maduro was a weak leader who his people hated and it took us about 2 months of buildup and 4 hours of kinetic activity to remove.

We will be able to employ hundreds if not thousands of American engineers rebuilding a profitable oil industry and the people of Venezuela will be able to participate in that growing wealth.

That doesn't even count the most important benefit which is access to rare earths.; 1/3/26, 3:18 PM
Mason G said...: "It is going to take years and billions in investment..."

So- it's like Somali daycares in Minnesota, then?; 1/3/26, 3:19 PM
Beasts of England said...: ’What is different about this?’

The difference is I didn’t whine about it, nor did I call for the Lightbringer’s impeachment, re: same.; 1/3/26, 3:19 PM
Achilles said...: Freder Frederson said...

If I'm wrong, telle the law. Us code cite, please

You tell me the law that allows it. U.S. code cite, please.

We shouldn't even give scum like this the time of day.

Freder believes in importing people from somalia and giving them money they take from americans so the somalians vote for democrats.

They do not believe in the same things we do and they are not good people. Stop trying to justify yourselves to them.; 1/3/26, 3:24 PM
Beasts of England said...: ’Provide one example where someone was legally snatched from another country without the approval of that country's government.’

I think we snatched a dude in a cowboy hat in Pakistan.; 1/3/26, 3:28 PM
John henry said...: Per Grok

"The U.S. has conducted many forcible abductions or extraordinary renditions of non-heads-of-state (e.g., terrorism suspects like Abu Omar from Italy in 2003 or Humberto Álvarez-Machain from Mexico in 1992), often without host government approval. Courts upheld these under the Ker-Frisbie doctrine."; 1/3/26, 3:29 PM
Dr Weevil said...: Freder Frederson claims (2:43pm) this was done “without the approval of [Venezuela’s] government”. This is false. The last election was blatantly and openly stolen, so the only legitimate government is the president it was stolen from. I’m quite certain he, Edmundo Gonzalez, approves of the capture of Maduro and hopes to be sworn in as soon as possible.; 1/3/26, 3:32 PM
John henry said...: Wikipedia has an article on Ker-Frisbie. It goes back to an 1886 case where the Supremes ruled that a man illegally taken in Peru could be tried in us. Didn't matter how he got there, if he was in custody he could be trief

John Henry; 1/3/26, 3:36 PM
TeaBagHag said...: For Iraq it was WMDs, for Venezuala its narco terrorism.
How will the neocons justify invading their next target?; 1/3/26, 3:43 PM
Jupiter said...: "I don't think Chavez stole the first election.
He just made elections pointless after winning the first one."
You may be right about the first one. But the way he "made elections pointless" was by having software developed to steal the second one.
In any case, it does sound as if you feel that democracy has been tried and found wanting. But what do you propose to replace it with? Monarchy, explicit or tacit? Patents of nobility? Even Augustus was careful to preserve the forms of the Republic.
I would argue that the US faces essentially the same problem that ended the Roman Republic. The form of government that sufficed to govern a small, fairly weak state was no match for the pressures unleashed by its growing power. Bread and circuses kept the urban mob quiet, but ambitious senators were always tempted to seek foreign allies, whose interests were contrary to those of the Roman citizens.; 1/3/26, 3:51 PM
Kakistocracy said...: Trump has embarked upon the most spectacular leadership failure of the twenty-first century. The American public is also getting a good long look at the two pretenders to the Trump crown, J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio, and their elected representatives and senators in the Congress. The inadequacy of leadership is on full display.

The entire eastern hemisphere now hates or disdains Trump's America (except for ethno-nationalists in Israel) while in the western hemisphere everyone outside the US hates or disdains America. Now it will be the turn of the American people to judge this leadership and this political party.

Trump is assuming that he can consolidate authoritarian power in a Reactionary Republic beyond the accountability of a democratic majority. In this he has the support of a powerful superrich plutocracy that hugely benefits from the monopolized and militarized empire the Republicans have been earnestly trying to construct since 2001. It has been an all hands on deck exercise: the executive, the Congress, the judiciary.

Has the battle in fact been lost? How many realized when those first troops were deployed to Afghanistan in 2001 that this was the beginning of the end of a democratic republic?; 1/3/26, 3:55 PM
bagoh20 said...: We all know that if Trump did this exactly according to the left's idea of proper, it would not mitigate their level of objection one bit. It would lead to a whole different set of objections, all still completely missing the point. This saved thousands of lives, many of them Americans, many Venezuelan, and removed a cancer in our hemisphere, while protecting our strategic interests, and that's without including what MAY domino into an historic freeing of people while improving our interests substantially around the world. That's what matters, and if you think that's just an excuse or insufficient, then I believe you simply undervalue those things, which is dumb.
One third of the people of a country in our own corner of the world were forced to leave their country because of what we just ended, and most of the rest had their lives ruined there It was time to do something. Thank God we had the people to do it. I expect history to show it well worth the cost of zero lives, and I expect the left to never acknowledge that.; 1/3/26, 3:56 PM
bagoh20 said...: To bad so many have a negative knee jerk response to everything this nation does unless it's capitulation or done by the right party. If Biden had done this in the same way with the same result, I would support it 100%, as incredibly impossible as that scenario ever was.; 1/3/26, 4:03 PM
Craig Mc said...: Take a fentanyl and have a lie down Freder.; 1/3/26, 4:06 PM