LAMP

As to both questions I'd think that removing or keeping Speaker Johnson would be the first order of business.

If there's a challenger, I seem to recall that the party leaders have a meeting before anything comes up to a vote.

I suppose there could be a Speaker pro temp, such as the current Deputy Speaker if the party leaders can't come to a decision . . . or the unlikelihood nobody is willing to accept the job.

Realistically speaking, Trump needs a pit bull as a House Speaker to start banging heads together. I'm thinking Matt Gaetz (consolation prize) but I'm not sure if he could pass the smell test when it comes down to a vote.

Maybe you're all right. But Speaker Johnson defied a direct order from Trump to shut down the government. Regardless of all the friendly smiles, defying Trump is a death wish. Apparently, Johnson made a handshake deal, a trade off, to make deep cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and veterans benefits in March . . . plus raise the retirement age for Social Security benefits. I doubt that will placate Trump, though. What he really wanted was the propaganda value of hurting the economy while still on Biden's watch.

I have a feeling Johnson is in for a nasty backstab. Trump never forgets and never forgives.

So, who thinks Speaker Johnson is on his way out and Elmo Musk is on his way in . . . to brow beat the Republican caucus into bobble heads.

CLOWN

I'm guessing that Trump convinced Mr. Putin that overturning the election was a sure thing.

That's on Putin for believing a compulsive and obsessive liar.

REDIAL

Well, he has been hanging around "Godfather" Trump a long time.

Trump's pit bull is doing his best. He's threated to kill (the careers) of anybody who gets in the way of Trump's agenda.

At least I think he meant "careers." I'm not sure. Mobsters do have a tendency to talk in code.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

What bothers me is the odds.

For instance, if you have a 50% - 50% chance of being right, your decision will be wrong 100% of the time.

Beating the odds is rare.

_

MORRIS

I'm told that of lot of things says and does is to create chaos, so the rubes won't catch on to what he's REALLY doing.

Soet of like a sidewinder slithering up to its victim.

DOC

Unrelated, but

I always liked the expression that a camel is a horse built by a committee.

Sort of like the Trump administration in 2025 . . with weird things sticking out in all directions. Front, back, up, down and a big lump in the middle. (if you get my drift.)

There's no reason why Russia can't attack multiple countries at once. What he really wants is to show a big display of force and for them to concede.

If not, Trump will provide Russia with all the heavy armament and missiles he needs . . . on the cuff.

HUGH

Mr. Putin has wanted "his" man in the White House for years.

Finally, FINALLY, his wish came true. However, it has turned into "be careful what you wish for."

It's highly unlikely that Trump will be able to convince the Senate to withdraw the U.S. from NATO and open the door (vis-a-vie Ukraine) to Russia's military expansion into Eastern Europe.

Trump's only choice is to withdraw U.S. support of Ukraine and, at the same time, abandon U.S. NATO allies in Eastern Europe based on one "trumped up" excuse or another.

It's a dangerous move that will isolate the United States in a modern world economy, all of whom depend on joint cooperation agreements to survive.

In the past, America and our NATO allies looked out for each other.

If Trump and Russia have their way, nobody will be looking out for America. All trust will be gone.

DOC

LOL ~~ Ask your wife the literal meaning of "too many cooks in the kitchen" . . . and what happens. She knows. YIKES!

DOC

Trump's parents, one a too busy business tycoon and the other a social climber, failed him.

Later on, Military School to learn discipline was a case of too little, too late. Young Donny was already well practiced in the art of lying, cheating, deceiving, fraud and scapegoating.

Which he eventually called "The Art of the Deal."

DOC

I'm still pondering the color of his hair. Should it be dyed blond,
dyed strawberry red or let it stay naturally grey commensurate with his advanced age.

And what best compliments his orange spray tan and phthalo-blue cholesterol bags under his eyes.

DOC

"But then what?"

Somebody or(s), is going to be on the outside looking in.

Right now, it's a coin toss.

But I agree. There's too many cooks in the kitchen and none of them are sane.

Keeping in mind that only two of them have standing armies and nuclear weapons when the ---- hits the fan.

Putin is correct. Instead, he chose the muddy season.

Ding-a-ling, ling, ling.

Trump's mind:

In Trump's warped mind, Governor Newsom and the State of California is guilty of trying to destroy him by not casting their votes for him in November. Rather than admitting to democracy in action Trump takes such things as a personal affront to his supremacy.

For THAT, they must suffer. BIGLY!

(Classic textbook on childish playground psychology.)

The wrath of 10-year old Donny will be upon you.

LAMP

As long as it benefits him, a world class narcissist.

I don't think there's room for anybody else in Trump's quest for supreme power. He's not the type to share. Only use. In fact, it seems like he, consciously or unconsciously, by some child-like need to avoid a spanking, always makes sure he has someone else to whom he can shift blame.

Part of him is still a 10-year old, de-ja-vu all over again.

Trump's demand for an unlimited national debt ceiling will come up again in March. He has almost no choice now but to make sure Elon Musk is the new Speaker of the House to brutally whip the entire chamber into submission by any means necessary.

The demand for bodyguard may rise exponentially.

Trump doesn't like anybody or anything to have any control over her PERIOD.

That's the way he ran his company and that's the way he expects to run the country. Thus . . . a dictator.

There are a few obstacles in his path, like Congress and the Constitution but that won't last much longer after January 20 at Noon when he says 'I do" and goes immediately into the role of a brutal, sociopathic dictator with a long "to do" list to cement himself in power indefinitely.

I hope he gets the disaster relief before Biden leaves office. Trump has already declared that he's not going to provide disaster relief to any state that didn't vote for him last November.

Petty!

CORKY

I think Musk thought he had Trump all tied up with a big red bow.

CORKY

He thought he had a done deal and he let his guard down. I don't know why he's blaming a lame duck on his way out. Trump must be running short of scapegoats. Last I heard, Johnson was now on his enemies list.

REDIAL

"He's already there."

Yeah, I just saw it on the news. The headline was "The end is near." And some narrative about Trump being in one of his famous tantrums. I'll catch the rest of the story later.

If history repeats itself, G.W. never trusted Cheney again. We'll see.

Poor little Mikey. He sold his soul to the devil.

As I always say, he shoulda read the manual.