Well, it looks like Israel has decided to stop bombing Gaza for a while. The world is referring to it as a “cease-fire.” It seems, to me, more like a hostage deal. We’ll all find out about ceasing fire later. Don’t get me wrong, I’m okay with a hostage deal. It’s a beginning. But the fundamental agitants that exist between Israel and Gaza are still there.

What, you think Israel is going to stop building new settlements in disputed land? Do you think the wall surrounding Gaza is coming down anytime soon? Does it seem likely that Israeli control over the region will become less hostile? I’ll say, “time will tell.”

I’m hoping Hamas gets dissolved but I suspect whatever group takes over will, itself, become more hostile and then downright militant – and then the whole thing heats up again. I think Israel and Palestine have been at war since 1948, when the Israelis threw the Palestinians off of ancestral land soon after Israel was declared an independent nation. I think constant Israeli encroachment will continue to “flick the beards” of the Palestinians.

Sadly, I don’t think the Palestinians will do anything to help themselves. They need to win in the court of public opinion, because they’re not going to win in a hot war. But still, from time to time, they choose hot war. It’s dumb. It’s dangerous. It’s destructive. It’s always deadly.

Over all of it is the suggestion that Netanyahu is in legal trouble. He faces allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. It’s no wonder Donny likes the guy. Birds of a feather, you know? There has been much speculation that he’s keeping the war alive because the war keeps him in power and out of jail.

The GOP, Israelis, and the Palestinians are hailing Donny as the architect of the peace plan. That may be so, but I’ll need to see some of that peace before I start partying. Hope springs eternal and people have been suffering for so long, I can understand why they start celebrating before the ink is dry on a deal not yet fully hammered out. But that “deal not yet fully hammered out” part is doing a lot of heavy lifting at the moment. Fingers crossed…

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Here’s a thing that’s important to remember: Americans know Donny and co are lying. For their part, Donny and co know that Americans know that Donny and co are lying. So, how can they just stand there in front of cameras, knowing we know, and lie, lie, lie? That’s pretty easy. Those lies aren’t for you. They don’t care that you know they’re lying. Those are soundbites intended to be fed into MAGA media and put on a loop – to keep them confused.

You see, MAGA doesn’t know Donny and co are lying. Yes, I get it, they should. But they don’t. What are YOU going to do about it? That’s right. Nothing…

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MAGA Mike, the Johnson, says, “Republicans are the party working around the clock every day to fix health care.” In reality, Republicans are the party working around the clock every day to prevent the release of the Epstein files and have fled Washington DC in order to keep from having to take a vote on the release of the files. The fact that it gives them a convenient excuse to not negotiate on the health care issue is just gravy.

You see, Adelita Grijalva just won a special election. She’s a Democrat and has said she’ll be the 218th signature on the Thomas Massie’s petition to release the Epstein Files. SO… the Johnson refused to swear her in and then sent the cons in the House home for awhile. Cowardly, but effective, I guess…

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Deadbeat Donny says he may not pay government workers who have been furloughed. He’s trying to be coy about it, suggesting he’ll pay some, the worthy ones. Not paying furloughed workers is a violation of the law. It’s a law that was passed after the longest government shutdown in US history in 2019. I know MAGA doesn’t like stuff like this, but look at your calendar.

Who was “President” in 2019? Why, yes, that would be Deadbeat Donny, the First Felon. Who was responsible for the longest government shutdown in US history? Yes, that’s correct. That, too, was our inglorious misleader, Deadbeat Donny. Who signed the subsequent law, ensuring that workers get paid? Oh, you’re on a roll. Yes, it WAS 47. Now he says he might not honor his word.

To say I’m surprised is to put it… nah, I’m not surprised. He’s made an entire career of not keeping his word and not paying people he owes. That’s what MAKES him a deadbeat – he doesn’t pay what he owes.

There are all kinds of workers out there who depend upon government paychecks. Many of them still have to work, even though those paychecks aren’t coming. But workers generally don’t work just for the thrill of working. They want – even need – that paycheck. Take air traffic controllers as one example. They’re expected to work. They expect a paycheck. They’re not getting the paycheck so several of them are not working.

There’s a sudden outbreak of a certain kind of flu, blue flu, I think they call it. It’s a term first ascribed to cops who used calling in sick as a kind of protest without going on strike. Now the ATC’s are doing it, too. There was a period of about six hours when Burbank airport had no controllers on duty at all.

Burbank’s air traffic was handled by an FAA facility in San Diego. Don’t let that bother you if you’re getting on an airplane today. Oh, also? IF you’re getting on an airplane today, don’t get on an airplane today. Studies have shown that Air Traffic Controllers are pretty important to, you know, controlling air traffic.

HE says he has fixed the economy. Those of us stuck living in it know that’s not true, whether MAGA confesses that or not. And we all know, when Donny is saying the economy is better than ever, the economy is in desperate trouble, right? So what happens as the bills stop being paid by all the furloughed workers?

What happens when bills stop being paid by laid off factory workers with no work because nobody is buying things? What happens as the damage trickles down, becomes a deluge, and drowns Americans? The short version? Nothing good.

And Deadbeat Donny is setting it ALL in motion…