Tag: Donald Trump

Recommended article: US strikes on Iran are a test of hard power’s limits

Whether there is indeed a ceasefire between Iran and Israel or whether the US will remain in a rat hole of retaliations remains to be seen. But, as the recommended article explains, Iran will retain its irreversible knowledge gain in matters of nuclear enrichment, to be used or not as Iran sees fit.

In the midst of claims by President Donald Trump of “spectacular military success,” and fears of “descending into a rat hole of retaliation after retaliation” expressed by UN Chief Antonio Guterres, the Reuters news agency published a calm and rational article on June 22, 2025, which describes an additional scenario: nothing has changed as far as Iran’s ability to proceed with its nuclear research.

In US strikes on Iran nuclear sites are real-life test of hard power’s limits, authors Francois Murphy and John Irish speak about Iran’s “irreversible knowledge gain” that bombers cannot obliterate.

Here are highlights from the article:

“You can destroy or disable a nuclear programme’s physical infrastructure but it is very hard or impossible to eliminate the knowledge a country has acquired.”

“Western powers including the United States have publicly suggested as much, complaining of the ‘irreversible knowledge gain’ Iran has made by carrying out activities they object to.”

“‘Military strikes alone cannot destroy Iran’s extensive nuclear knowledge,’ the Washington-based Arms Control Association said in a statement after the U.S. strikes with massive bunker-busting bombs on sites including Iran’s two main underground enrichment plants at Natanz and Fordow.”

“The strikes will set Iran’s programme back, but at the cost of strengthening Tehran’s resolve to reconstitute its sensitive nuclear activities, possibly prompting it to consider withdrawing from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and possibly proceeding to weaponisation.”

“Israel has also said it has killed Iranian nuclear scientists but, while little is known about the personnel side of Iran’s nuclear programme, officials have said they are sceptical about that having a serious impact on Iran’s nuclear knowledge, even if it might slow progress in the near term.”

“One important open question is how much highly enriched uranium Iran still has and whether it is all accounted for.”

“A senior Iranian source told Reuters on Sunday most of the highly enriched uranium at Fordow, the site producing the bulk of Iran’s uranium refined to up to 60%, had been moved to an undisclosed location before the U.S. attack there.”

So, ceasefire or not…

Whether there is indeed a ceasefire between Iran and Israel as President Donal Trump announced today, June 23, 2025, or whether the US will remain in the rat hole of retaliations remains to be seen.

But, as the recommended article explains, Iran will retain its irreversible knowledge gain in matters of nuclear enrichment, to be used or not as Iran sees fit.

Picture: From AP video on MSN News, B-2 bombers return to US base

The Trump/Musk conversation: Over the media’s head?

Our legacy media has not been kind regarding the recent Trump/Musk conversation. Did they miss that this was supposed to be freewheeling and extemporaneous? Did the whole thing go over the media’s head?

The Just Vote No Blog is not a partisan website, but the Trump/Musk conversation live streamed on August 12, was interesting enough to comment on. Equally interesting has been the legacy media’s focus on “slurring” and “rambling.” Did the fact this was a freewheeling, extemporaneous conversation escape the media? Did the noteworthy comments made go over their head? Well, here are this blog’s observation of a few issues discussed on the Trump/Musk conversation.

Eliminate the Department of Education. Trump briefly spoke about such elimination, which he would endeavor for two reasons: 1) Government is way too big and too expensive. Lots needs to be eliminated if the current unsustainable national debt is to be reduced. 2) Constitutionally, what is not listed as duties of the federal government must be left to the states. Education is not a duty of the federal government. The Department of Education is, therefore, a good candidate for elimination.

There are good, decent people coming through our borders. But there are also criminals that are not being vetted. Both Trump and Musk agreed on this point. Both focused on the criminals, since that is the “existential threat” (Musk’s view) to the U.S. Accusations of “racism” do not apply here.

The current level of inflation is a threat and realistic action needs to be taken to bring it under control. Inflation was probably the challenge Musk wanted to focus on the most. He succinctly stated the cause of inflation: Too much government spending with borrowed money. He also stated his view of a remedy: Establish a commission to determine costs/benefits of every current and proposed spending. Trump agreed with Musk’s definition of inflation (“there is too much waste”), but glossed over Musk’s remedy. The objective is to shrink government, not grow it with another commission.

Climate change is not our greatest threat; nuclear war is. Neither Trump nor Musk slighted challenges posed by earth’s changing climate. Their viewpoint, however, is that serious conflicts are brewing that could result in the use of nuclear weapons. Current negotiations are not proving effective. Trump’s view is that the cudgel of severe sanctions aimed as disruptors of peace works better than long-winded talks.

Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un are smart people that know what their threats are. Trump again repeated what gets progressive panties in a bunch. His point is not that ruthless dictators are to be emulated, but that the smart ones know a threat when they see one. A friendly but deadly serious threat of severe sanctions brings better results than an insulting threat of military aggression. Teddy Roosevelt had a great line on this subject: “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”

Significant decreases in oil production and electric vehicle mandates are unrealistic ways of mitigating the effects of climate change. The first part of this statement came from Musk, the majority owner of Tesla. Oil and its thousands of derivatives keep the wheels of the economy moving. We cannot significantly decrease oil production without accepting a significant decrease in economic activity. The second part of the statement was what Trump emphasized. His point was simply “An electric car is not for everyone.”

Want to go on strike? “Everyone of you is gone.” It is not surprising that Trump, owner of several businesses, speaking with a fellow business owner, would express his opposition to union-originated strikes. Businesses exist to produce goods and services, not to sit idly while workers strike. Understandably, the UAW immediately filed a lawsuit against Trump and Musk claiming worker intimidation. It will be interesting to see come November if most workers want union protection or want a job – companies that feel pressured by regulations or by unions simply move out of state or out of the country.

Don’t take prosperity for granted. Musk gave Argentina and Venezuela as examples of countries once unbelievably prosperous that fell into total disintegration. Trump agreed, adding the reason for the disintegration was ascension of “stupid people.” Both Trump and Musk also mentioned current President of Argentina Javier Milei, who turned his failed country around in under a year, principally bringing inflation down to single digits in six months. Milei is a libertarian capitalist that knows what he is doing. Milei is not “stupid,” and it shows.

It would be good to hear Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, in a similar relaxed conversation with a personality of her choice. It is good for voters to get a feel for how candidates for political office talk, just talk. Often what people say in friendly conversation is what they feel about issues.

Picture: From website Donald J. Trump for President 2024

State of the Union: Presidents Never Mention the Fault Lines

Nobody wants to talk about structural challenges facing the country, neither does the President.

state of the union 2020
President Donald Trump delivered last night his version of the nation’s report card, and as expected, he followed his predecessors’ prescriptions: talk about the successes, talk about some outstanding folks, and stay mum about the real bad stuff nobody wants to hear about.

Highlights of the Successes

President Trump’s successes are substantial from a producer’s point of view. Those who make a lot of money, and theoretically produce a lot of jobs did well partially thanks to tax cuts. Workers also did well, if we consider the present low unemployment rate a good measure. Investors certainly did well considering gains in real estate and stock prices.

Niche issues saw progress. The administration endorsed alternatives to traditional government schools, expressed hopes to plant an American flag on Mars, reiterated efforts to curb illegal immigration, and started work to reform legal immigration by reintroducing previous rules by which only immigrants who can prove they would not be public charges are admitted.

As always reducing welfare rolls is viewed as success by conservatives and heartless failure by liberals.  There was no difference in reaction this time around.

Showmanship

Tradition dictates showmanship in State of the Union addresses, and the President delivered as expected.  The audience responded with great enthusiasm to the presence of 100 year old Tuskegee Airman and retired Brig. Gen. Charles McGee. Awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a State of the Union speech was unprecedented, as the visibly surprised recipient Rush Limbaugh seemed to attest. Sentiment was palpable at the mention of Task Force 8-14 that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi – August 14 was the birthday of American aid worker Kayla Mueller, who was kidnapped and murdered by ISIS.

Mum’s the Word on Serious Structural Challenges

Not a word was said about the serious structural challenges this nation is facing. President Trump ended his speech saying that we Americans are pioneers, people who are not afraid to take on difficult tasks. He did not mention that such courage needs to go towards fixing what will eventually bankrupt the country – the unsustainable national debt, cheap money that enables worker-unfriendly monopolies, and irresponsible pension liabilities that are already bankrupting states.

The President did not mention a dysfunctional Congress unable to control spending, reform entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare, stem the growth and power of federal agencies, or stop uncivil bickering of word and action.

Speaker Pelosi as Example

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is a great match for the President’s showmanship.  Liberals lauded her behavior during the speech, while conservatives saw it as evidence of dysfunction.

The Speaker extended her hand when receiving her copy of the speech expecting a handshake from the President, even though he had not shaken Vice President Mike Pence’s hand.  She shuffled papers while Trump spoke, and deliberately tore up her copy of the speech at the end of the President’s presentation.

Her later assessment of the President’s speech as a “pack of lies” was superficial as expected – no mention on her part either of the serious fault lines.

And the Show Goes On

Donald Trump was not the first and will likely not be the last President to paper over fault lines during a State of the Union address. Correction of structural challenges is difficult and entails financial pain. Therefore, as a rule, neither leaders nor the people ever want to deal with corrections. The show goes on until it stops on its own, as it did in 1929.

In Defense of Chaos

Lots of people like to call the Trump administration chaotic. Chaos is the non-linear way to restructure the status quo, available to any political persuasion.

Ohio Governor and former presidential candidate John Kasich’s interview with CNN’s Chris Cuomo on September 5th should make one wonder whether he is apprehensive about Donald Trump’s governing style, or he is a sore loser.  Perhaps the Governor’s droning on about the chaos in the White House that, in the Governor’s view, is preventing things from “getting done” might be an indication of the latter – how could Trump, of reality TV, win the presidency over an established long-time politician?

One could point that maybe some in the electorate are seeing through established long-time politicians, and one could point to the uncontrollably agitated behavior of the anti-Trump resistance as an indication that a lot is getting done – none of which desired by The Establishment.  Also, one could point that the challenges not being solved that the Governor ascribes to Trump’s chaotic style have been around for decades, unsolved by previous Presidents.

By the way, never mind Governor Kasich’s statement in the Cuomo interview that Senator John McCain was “put to death,” since we have no idea what he meant by that.

Trump 2Now for the Subject at Hand:  Chaos

Governor Kasich and many other Establishment folk excoriate Trump’s chaotic governing style.  Do such critics understand the nature of the word “chaos?”  Here are two examples of this complex and interesting word as it could relate to President Donald Trump’s governing style.

*  Mythology

Chaos was – most Greek cosmologies tell us – the very first of all, the origin of everything, the empty, unfathomable space at the beginning of time … Chaos was the primal feature of the universe, a shadowy realm of mass and energy from which much of what is powerful (and mostly negative and dark) in the world would stem forth in later genealogies.  Chaos, Greek Mythology

The scenario in 2016 featured a $19.57 trillion national debt, a moribund manufacturing sector that wiped out the earnings potential of a vast portion of U.S. workers, 21.3% of the U.S. population in some form of public assistance, and a gargantuan bureaucracy supported by more taxes than taxpayers would like.

To fix such scenario, one would need a clean slate, dismantling much of the entrenched status quo.  What better way to accomplish such an objective than through chaos – the origin of everything, negative and dark to any opposing force.

*  Business Structures

Organizations are focused on structure and design. Charts are drawn to illustrate who is accountable to whom or who plays what role and when … They build models of organizational practice and policy with hope that this atomizing yields better information on how to improve the organization’s functioning. However, chaos theory implies that this is unnecessary, even harmful.

As the global economy and technology continue to change the way business is conducted on a daily basis, evidence of chaos is clearly visible. While businesses could once succeed as “non-adaptive,” controlling institutions with permanently-installed hierarchical structures, modern corporations must be able to restructure as markets expand and technology evolves.  Chaos Theory

In other words, the order and structure cherished by today’s Establishment is useless in today’s chaotic world, unless the uselessness is beneficial in perpetration of The Establishment.

Results

The bottom line of any undertaking are results.  Are policies promised during Trump’s campaign being accomplished?  Most unbiased observers — as well as CNN interviewer Chris Cuomo, who spoke with Governor Kasich — would say “yes.”  Unfortunately, such results are most worrisome to the Trump opposition. And thus, the misinterpretation of the word “chaos.”

Chaos is the non-linear way to restructure the status quo, available to any political persuasion.  Remember, for example, the chaos generated by anti Vietnam War demonstrators, or by civil rights workers?  Chaos was the most effective way of making their vision of the world a reality.

America in Decline

Is it all Donald Trump’s fault, or have we been voting our way into Banana Republic status for a long time?

It is All Trump’s Fault

Neal Gabler on Moyers and Company marked the first anniversary of the Donald Trump presidency by writing that America has descended into Banana Republic status thanks to Mr. Trump.

“Whatever her failings, America was once majestic. Now she is hopelessly diminished — a wealthier version of the corrupt nations in the developing world that we used to ridicule. And we owe it all to Donald Trump for making America small again.”

Someone who can transform a nation from “majestic” to third world in 12 months must be capable of walking on water.  Not that such transformation feats are impossible.  George Bush turned Iraq, a country different from ours but stable, into an incubator for terrorism.  Hillary Clinton and her State Department, after contributing to the unforgivable death by impaling of Muammar Gaddafi, plunged Libya into complete chaos (gloating afterwards “We came, we saw, he died”).

The Real Decline

However, the mindless assertion that Donald Trump is responsible for America’s decline is not the point of this article.  The point is that America is in decline, and there is very little time to save it.  Our Founding Fathers came up with an amazing idea when they created this nation.  This was to be a country where the People ruled, where government was for the People and by the People.  But such an experiment, they knew, required a responsible populace – folks who understood what to vote for and what not to vote for in order to preserve their liberty and prosperity.

Alas, the Founding Fathers’ experiment seems to have been a tall order.  Today, just about everyone depends in some form or another on government, thereby making government the master not the servant of the people.  Today, we have voted ourselves into $20 trillion worth of national debt.  Today, we see dismal statistics on America’s life expectancy, child mortality, income inequality, and literacy.

Technology:  A Competitive Advantage Lost

For example, let’s talk about technology.  When modern globalization – where each nation depends on a competitive advantage to thrive – became the norm in the 1970’s, the U.S. was expected to be the leader in technology.  It was expected to be comfortable with shedding its manufacturing base and focusing on development of computing power and associated economic sectors, such as banking and finance.

SFUSD BLM shirts 3But then unions fossilized mediocre educators into tenure; children were indoctrinated, not taught the three Rs and other skills to allow them self sufficiency and productivity; higher education became more interested in recruiting useful idiots into the progressive cause than teaching future professionals; and so many of our children went to school hungry because their parents were incapable of providing for them.  The destruction of the American family, the murderous war on drugs, big pharma, the military-prison-welfare complex are subjects for another day.

 

sunway supercomputer 2Results have been totally predictable.  America lost its competitive advantage.  In November 2017, China unveiled its Sunway TaihuLight supercomputer.  The TaihuLight ranked number one in the TOP500 list as the fastest supercomputer in the world.  The previous holder of the rank was the Tianhe-2, also Chinese.  And by the way, the TaihuLight is also energy-efficient, ranking 16th in the Green500 list.

Precious Little Time to Act

Meanwhile, America does little manufacturing, lacks an adequate skilled workforce, and is mostly focused on the fake news of the month – whether it is toppling down statues or keeping tabs on who exposed himself to whom 20 years ago.

Moyers & Company and Mr. Gabler make their living promoting the status quo progressive state, and that’s entirely their prerogative.  It is up to those who suppose Moyers and his company are not connecting the dots to present alternative scenarios.

Speaking of alternative scenarios to Mr. Gabler’s reason why America is in decline, here is a link to episode #1155 of the Max Keiser Report on RT.  Max and his guest Dan Collins paint a fascinating picture of how China is building trade partnerships, helping second-tier countries build infrastructure and schools, internationalizing its currency (so they one day may no longer need U.S. dollars), and buying up gold (maybe to establish a gold standard!?).  All this while the U.S. has for the last 15 years been squandering its human and economic treasure in endless war, and now has little to offer its neighbors but armaments and military bases.

Max Kaiser is fond of hyperbole.  He commented that President Trump is “euthanizing America” in the least painful way – winding down the country’s unrealistic view of itself as policeman to the world, making mutually-beneficial deals with other countries, enticing corporations to come home and provide jobs, and (a contentious part) giving the American worker a better chance of having a job without the presence of foreign workers, whether undocumented or holders of work visas.

We the People need to choose whether to continue on our current trajectory or turn things around.  We need to decide who gives a better reason for America’s decline — Neal Gabler or Dan Collins.

Donald Trump’s U.N. Speech 2017

A departure from the status quo: Globalization rejected.

The United Nations General Assembly meets in September of each year, when heads of state and other notables of member nations speak before the assembled representatives. On September 19, 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke. The mainstream media focused on his mention of destroying Rocket Man and on his denouncing today’s national pariahs. However, those who listened to or read his entire presentation would have noticed more important messages, 1) a reminder that in the U.S., the people govern; and 2) a shift from the global integration that Barack Obama emphasized in 2016 before the Assembly to cooperation among sovereign nations. Here are some quotes from Trump’s speech,

“In America, the people govern, the people rule, and the people are sovereign. I was elected not to take power, but to give power to the American people, where it belongs.”

“As President of the United States, I will always put America first, just like you, as the leaders of your countries will always, and should always, put your countries first.”

“All responsible leaders have an obligation to serve their own citizens, and the nation-state remains the best vehicle for elevating the human condition.”

“But making a better life for our people also requires us to work together in close harmony and unity to create a more safe and peaceful future for all people.”

“For the diverse nations of the world, this is our hope. We want harmony and friendship, not conflict and strife. We are guided by outcomes, not ideology.”

The part about in the U.S. the people govern is clearly spelled out in the U.S. Constitution. The part about the sovereignty of nations in the context of the United Nations has become somewhat obscure over the years since establishment of the U.N. in 1945.

The U.N. Charter says the purpose of the United Nations is to maintain international peace and security; develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination; achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character; be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends.

The U.N.’s purpose is clear, but somewhat open ended. However, Chapter I, Article 2, No. 7, indicates that nations are to maintain their sovereignty, except when they commit physical aggression upon another nation, in which case the U.N. can decide to intervene.

“Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state…”

Now, let’s see what obscured the original purported U.N. intent that nations were to remain sovereign. As a reminder, the U.N. Charter is considered a treaty, and the United States Constitution states that treaties to which the U.S. Senate concurs have the force of U.S. law.

In 2000, U.N. delegates adopted the Millennium Declaration, which significantly expanded the role of the U.N. For example, the 8 Millennium Goals committed participants to the implementation in their own countries by 2015 of policies to achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat diseases, ensure environmental sustainability, and develop global partnerships.

Sustainable Development 5The 8 Millennium Goals were superseded by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These new goals added new areas to the original 8, such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation, sustainable consumption, and peace and justice.  They also made the old goals more ambitious, such as changing “Achieve universal primary education” to simply “Quality Education.”

We invite you to read legislation, especially land use legislation, passed since around 2006 by your state legislators, you might see an incredible resemblance to the language contained in the Millennium and the Sustainable Development Goals.

What Donald Trump did during his address before the U.N. General Assembly on September 19, 2017, was to cast a NO vote, not to peace, not to prosperity, but to U.N. mandates being implemented as national policy.  Interestingly, the mainstream media did not address this issue.