The end

I've been writing this blog since 2007 and little has changed. Now, I'm done. The archives will remain open, especially for those interested in Phoenix history. So will the comments section, although substantive and informative posts are most appreciated.

The Arizona Problem, as Soleri aptly named it, remains. Despite a Democratic governor, attorney general, and secretary of state, the Legislature — the most powerful branch of state government likely will remain in Republican hands.

If so, stopping sprawl, enabling cities to chart their own policies, planting real shade trees in the older parts of the city, recovering the garden city of my youth, adequately funding public education, shutting down the charter school and private prison rackets, restoring Amtrak service to Phoenix, and overpowering the Real-Estate Industrial Complex. Forget about it.

And now, Donald Trump — convicted felon — wins the 2024 presidential election. Don't believe for a nanosecond that Trump 2.0 will be a replay of his first term.

Trump and his advisers bring an ambitious plan to slash taxes, enhance the power of the executive branch beyond anything before.

With a Republican-controlled Congress and an extreme far-right supermajority on the Supreme Court, the checks and balances enshrined in the Constitution and brilliantly crafted by the founders lay in ashes.

A prediction: On his first day in office, Trump will pardon himself and all those involved in the 2020 insurrection he encouraged.

Attorney General Merrick Garland committed an unpardonable breach of his duty by not bringing the rule of law to Trump. No justice in Weimar America.

Even though Trump attempts to distance himself from Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation's blueprint for a second Trump presidency, about 240 of his advisers are part of those who drafted it. Project 2025 will reorient every federal agency to a far-right agenda.

Massive tax cuts will add debt of between $6 trillion and $10 trillion over 10 years, according to independent studies.

A Trump promise to "protect" Social Security and Medicare? Only an idiot would believe that. In fact, the rapist felon said he's "open" to cutting them. Privatizing so-called entitlements has been a Republican fetish for years.

Trump's insistent on higher tariffs mean greater taxes on businesses and customers. The result, according to the most reliable independent economists, will be higher inflation.

The promise to eliminate environmental regulations, dismantle the EPA, and encourage the extraction and burning of fossil fuels ensures that human-caused climate change will become even worse. Fun fact: Under President Biden, the United States became the world's largest producer of crude oil. But Biden also encouraged green energy, which is not only better for the planet but becoming less expensive than fossil fuels.

That's especially bad for the Sunbelt, as Phoenix's ever-hotter and longer summers attest. Yet so many people in the metropolitan area are newcomers that they don't remember when the weather moderated in early September and the Salt River Valley saw several hard frosts every winter (something that prevented West Nine Virus).

Trump will lead a radical change in American foreign policy. NATO is probably dead and Ukraine will be conquered by Trump's buddy Vladimir Putin.

With the nutty anti-vaccination Robert F. Kennedy Jr. likely to be a major Trump player, this is an indication of the anti-science trend of today's Republican Party.

Expect Amtrak to be defunded and the Northeast Corridor privatized to well-connected players. America will remain the only advanced, urbanized nation on the planet without high-speed rail. We're so far behind.

This is no longer the Party of Lincoln, or Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower or even Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan. It's a cult run by a mobster intent on becoming a dictator (he admires strongmen such as Putin and China's Xi Jinping).

The Democrats must face their own role in this debacle.

Kamala Harris was a weak candidate. Biden, although he will later be remembered as a president of great accomplishments — not least in the economy with, for example, national unemployment of 4% — should have stepped aside much earlier. Then allowed an open Democratic National Convention to pick the strongest candidate.

The far-left of the Democratic Party is as destructive and nihilistic as the far-right of the GOP, although fewer in numbers. But their rants and, in cities and states they control, are off-putting to many voters.

The sainted — and to me tiresome — Sen. Bernie Sanders criticized the party for "abandoning working-class Americans." In fact, under the Biden administration, working-class wages outpaced inflation and manufacturing is on the rise.

Trump was able to take black and Hispanic voters from the Democrats. The latter is not a monolithic demographic and this year 45% voted for Trump. Many women also shifted right — so much for the smug notion that abortion would be a defining issue in favor of Harris. Her only gains came from college-educated women and those age 65 and older.

Despite Trump's antipathy to cities, he did better in urban counties this time.

The Democrats aren't competitive in most races with white, working-class voters. Harris won fewer female voters, including young women, than Biden did in 2020. Support for the Democrats by voters under thirty also declined.

"Wokeness," virtue posturing, dismantling Confederate statues, defund the police, the 1619 Project, critical race and gender theory, encouraging sex-change operations for children, language policing, allowing homelessness to expand despite billions spent with little accountability, "safe spaces," cancellation of opposing views by academics and other illiberalism on university campuses — it's no wonder the Democrats are off-putting to so many. Identity politics failed.

However much the supporters of these ideas and policies embrace them, they won't command a majority.

Some will say "it's the economy, stupid," mimicking James Carville. But the U.S. economy is enjoying one of its best expansions in years, snapping back from the pandemic that Trump bungled. Yet most people don't read newspapers, much less good ones, so they are the dangerous "low-information voters" that doom the republic.

I don't know how the Democrats come back at the national level soon. Again, this is not a repeat of the first Trump term where he implodes. He's placed too many barriers to opponents and has J.D. Vance as the future of the cult.

My fear is that this is the last real national election we'll see. The United States may have presidential "elections" but they will be similar to those in Russia.

Trump has threatened to imprison "enemies," including political opponents and journalists. So I may end up in Gitmo.

Most of the framers wouldn't be surprised. Nothing lasts forever. I'm proud of what my country once stood for and accomplished. Now...God help us.

Back to Phoenix. I can claim partial credit for some successes: Light rail (WBIYB), ASU’s downtown campus, the new Convvention Center, the Downtown Biomedical Campus, and filling in with transit-oriented development along Central Avenue.

Still, people are obsessed with calling Phoenix “the Valley.” Which valley? Silicon Valley? San Fernando Valley? The Red Rver Valley — of the north or south? Valley of the Jolly “ho ho ho” Green Giant? Metroplitan Phoenix is blessed with one of the most distinctive names in the world  But the supersized suburbs — where Trump rules — won’t allow it.

I’ve been struck by the defensiveness of people to any criticism of Phoenix. Nothing like this happens in successful cities. And I realize how many newcomers don’t realize how much has been lost, the citrus groves, the garden city of my youth, and when Phoenix enjoyed regular passenger-train service.

Phoenix punches below its weight in almost every category of economic power, quality of life, culture, and social wellbeing. It mainly boasts a large population 

I did my best. Thanks to all who supported this site since 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Ruben]

Thank you.

[Steve R]

I completely agree about the identity politics fetish of many Dems - it's what make NPR mostly unlistenable for me - and I haven't respected PBS Newshour since Robin MacNeil left - a long time ago.

In the end, many of the identities NPR thought they were talking to, hadn't been listening to their self-referential programming mediocrity. NPR seems to check its brains in at the door, before hitting the mike.

For broadcast, BBC still makes the standard, even after the World Service cuts by Boris Johnson and Theresa May.

The rest of this story has a 40+ year arc and is well known, although archival and your summary is very useful. Jon: thanks. And people will always want to know what Phoenix was.

Don't despair (okay, I'm despairing). But nature has no respect for those who don't respect it. Unfortunately, like driving blindfolded, the correction can be severe. But it will happen.

[pete delaunay]

FYI, some musing from a snowbird with roots in Seattle and Scottsdale -- I sent this email to my wife and daughter who, like you, are in despair over the election. Love your ST columns, too.
Election End Notes --- 11/6/24
With Trump’s election—winning both the popular and electoral votes - and who knows what is to come,? I am resetting or taking a break to reorganize my thoughts.
I am reflecting on whether I have been in an echo chamber. I am a NYT, WA-Post, Seattle Times, AZCentral and mainstream network/CNN cable news hound. Following them shaped my thinking vs. my looking at the big picture – inflation, $$$$ spent on foreign wars, leaky southern border and more.
I have been disappointed in how the Democrats manage their campaigns since Hilary lost to Trump in 2016—nobody thought he could win then either. Democrats shot themselves in the foot then with arrogance and Bernie-slamming emails the Russians found and distributed. You would think they would learn.
I had a feeling Kamala was problematic after reading an interview with her in the New York Times magazine. And various other interviews with her portrayed a certain arrogance and condescension – typical for a prosecutor - that could not be ignored. It was not about her being a woman or a woman of color as much as her perception as arrogant, difficult to work with – churning staff--, aloof and not taking responsibility for any the Biden administration’s missteps.
The disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, floods of migrants penetrating the southern border, inflation as most people struggle from paycheck to paycheck, Joe’s debate performance, $58B to Ukraine and craziness of Israel bombing Gazan civilians with American-made 2,000 lbs. bombs, Kamala’s late entry and much more contributed to Trump’s winning margins in every state! Kamala spent too much time talking about Trump’s flaws, and not owning up to some of Biden’s missteps. In fact, on the View, Kamala said ‘nothing comes to mind’ when asked if she would do anything differently.
She needed to become her own person, but there just was not time in the three months in which she had to run. I will not allow myself to fall into depression because of Trump’s election. Pundits this morning are describing a sweep across the country, and it is undeniable. The electorate cannot be wrong.
I may have fallen victim to Trump’s bombast, vulgarity, lies and authoritarian behavior.
I just hope the second Trump presidency is less divisive and controversial than the first.
He is a capitalist, so I expect the U.S. to ‘reset’ itself as an enabler for economic success here and in other countries vs. confrontation and spending everywhere in the world but in the U.S. Although I am a supporter of collective bargaining, unbridled support for organized labor turns a blind eye to their ‘us vs. them’ relationship with employers, and misunderstanding economics.
We are living in a different world, so it is best to embrace it and make the best of it, and not stress over things we cannot control.

[Donis Casey]

Oh, Jon. I'll miss this column. It is hard to function in the face of the unthinkable, but the sane voice crying in the wilderness is a comfort. I can only hope that, at least in part, you're wrong about the dire future, and not a prophet.

[Ken Thomas]

I have family members who immigrated from CENTRAL AMERICA and became citizens.
My big fear is that any one of these loved ones will snatched off the street and find themselves outside the USA with no way to get back in.

If you're wrapping up your blog, let me say I'm disappointed in this turn of events but truly appreciate all of the informative discussions you've shared with us.

[A McNamara]

Thank you, Jon Talton. This blog will be missed but I will return to the archives, thanks.

[Brad]

Well put Jon. The only thing I might add is that we are quite possibly looking at the complete move to a society much like Russia, controlled by billionaire oligarchs who will strip mine the government and make money from the services.

I also think the underappreciated story of this election is how big tech backed Trump because the Biden administration was actually going after the tech monopolies. Threaten Google, Meta, Apple, etc and suddenly Elon Musk and Peter Thiel are on board.

[Rich Weinroth]

Jon, thanks for all your writing here. I still think you would enjoy establishing a Substack column. You would reach a wider audience and your commentaries about Arizona would reverberate in other states. Good luck!!!!

[Dawgzy]

Thanks, Jon, for RC, for the information and perspective and for your time and hard work.

[soleri]

There are partial solutions and constant failures, but that's life. We're finite creatures living in a world that changed faster than we could understand. So, here we are assessing the damage done from a political earthquake that doesn't care what we think.

I left Arizona because I felt finished with the hot-and-hotter temps, the endless sprawl, and what I saw as our civic fatigue. I traded it in for Portland, a city mired in its idealistic delusions. It costs money to be woke, and Portland is the highest taxed city in America (over $25 million per year NYC takes the honor). Be careful what you wish for because change is like a hungry wolverine drooling at our thoughtlessness.

I confess that I wanted Jon Talton to be the advocate for a better Arizona. He said things that most political conversations never included. Yes, there are decent citizens there, but it's too late to change the dominant paradigm when the system itself is oriented to More, Bigger, and Voracious.

When the definitive history of journalism in Arizona is written, Talton will be seen as one of its major figures in prompting a civic self-critique. Newspapers had entered their long period of decline and our contentious debate came down to a few lonely outposts. Thanks, Jon, for being the the conscientious witness to this loss.

[Kevin]

Rogue will be missed. I'm sure I'll access the archives from time to time.

See you on Facebook.

[Tempebeachbum]

You were a cry in the wilderness and I heard you. I will miss this blog but I know I can find you on FB and ST. Stay healthy

[Dave Parish]

My draw to the site was learning about Arizona and Phoenix history. Appreciate the mix of pictures and words to enhance what happened in the past. This was research I was too lazy to perform.

It was an educational blast.

[Cal Lash]

Totally expected.
The pen warmed up in hell cooled sometime ago. Not much more to say than you had scribble for years.
The Trump election immediate results will make the white Supremacists climate deniers, knuckle draggers temporarily ecstatic but eventually destroy the planet.
Maybe Trumps great grandkids will see the eventually disastrous effects of Trumps election.
Elon and his thousands of sperm babies will be attempting to colonize the destruction of mars.
Meanwhile at 84 still in my Motorhome in whats left of the Sonoran Desert and being not very intelligent or well informed i will support Bernie Sanders and James Carville in 2028
If I manage to live that long.
Jon i look forward to your new book. Hope U get it published soon.
Cal an
old Paramedic
to an old EMT.
Hasta Luego

[KerryS]

Don't let the door knob hit you in the ass!

[Cal Lash]

Thank you

[Reality Street]

I respectfully recommend at least six shots of tequila, a long walk in the desert (with an adequate supply of water), loud cursing and angry rock throwing, then some Alka Seltzer and a nice nap.

Total abstinence from CNN and Fox until depression lifts markedly, at the very least.

Don’t throw in the towel. The good fight continues.

Cheers.

[Cal Lash]

Excellent advice

[Ruben]

Reality Street,

You are too kind. That is a bunch of great advice. Especially with the water advice.

However. you are dealing with a MAGA state.

These folks go hiking up Camelback Mountain in the summer with 110+ degree temps and are helped off the mountain in a helicopter or mountain rescue crew.

Their fearless leader stared directly at an eclipse with his naked eyes. Lacking a brain all he suffered was two burn spots at the back of his skull.

If it's OK with you, I think I'll go with Pendelton Whiskey instead of tequila.

[B. Franklin]

I would choose a nicely aged Irish whiskey, but whatever works for you...

Vaya con dios.

Over and out.

[CDT]

God speed, Jon.

[Terri Anderson]

I will so miss your columns !

[Ruben]

This advice on a t-shirt kept me DUI free over the years.

ONE TEQUILA
TWO TEQUILA
THREE TEQUILA
FLOOR

[Cal Lash]

No Worm?

[re silc]

It ain't over until Talton is in the ground. I started reading him when he was at the AZ Republic and I was in Guatemala with USAID and about to retire to Arizona in 2002. Although I have disagreed with Jon on many issues, like some of those mentioned above, he is one of the most talented journalists and fiction writers in America. To get your mind off of Trump and what he may or may not do,read Jon's full series of books. They are ALL excellent. Jon has been great to chat with over the years. He is witty and responsive, except in mid-week, when he becomes, like a character in his best book IMO, The Deadline Man. 11/11 ya'll

[Cal Lash]

True

[Joey Coleman]

Jon,

Long-time reader, first-time caller.

I read from Canada, where I work as a local reader-funded journalist. Your writing has been inspirational for me, your insightful thought-provoking, and I will miss receiving your posts in my RSS reader.

All the best.

[Kathryn]

Many many thanks for ALL your writing, fiction and non-fiction which I first discovered when we both lived in a different Phoenix a long time ago. Sending you thoughts of love, appreciation, sadness and hope.

[AzRebel]

A passing anthropological thought.

From a million years ago until just recently, cavemen pretty much had their way with cavewomen. You've seen the cartoons. A conk on the head and dragged into a cave. Funny stuff.

Well, the cavemen and their boss caveman are back and all be damned to hell, the cavewomen voted him in.

Funny stuff, huh?

[Cal Lash]

Ruben, the mythical gods Neanderthals are now in charge. The Idiot in charge of the house desires an all Christian Nation.
The dudes voting for Trump reminds me of a film, "And he rammed the fear of God into her behind the Altar.

[naum]

IDK about the narrative of blaming the left for Harris loss -- the choice of having Cheney & Mark Cuban be your champion was a poor choice.

And looking at exit poll data, looks like inflation/economics was the overriding factor:

"A third of voters, 32%, said the state of the economy was the most important factor in deciding how they voted, and they went for Trump by 61 points. That’s three times the share that chose immigration, 11%, and eight times the share that said foreign policy. Trump’s promise to throw out the immigrants isn’t popular; over half, 56%, of voters preferred a path to legal citizenship. The xenophobia may fire up the base and no one else, but inflation troubled a large majority of the population."
https://jacobin.com/2024/11/trump-2024-election-inflation-economy

[Cal Lash]

Yep.
Carville

[Michael David Bryan]

I never thought I’d see the day when the Great Jon Talton would hang up his spurs. In fact, I don’t think it will stick! I’ve enjoyed and been enlightened by your work, and I’ll miss your voice here in AZ. If you ever want a place to post anonymously or otherwise without the headaches of hanging your own shingle back up, we at BlogFarArizona.net are always at your service. Bless you, and have a good heavy rest, compadre.

[Ruben]

One Mississippi
Two Mississippi
Three Mississippi

Kari Lake - “MY ELECTION WAS STOLEN . I’M GONNA SUE!!!!!!

[Cal Lash]

Lake suing is bs.
Trump letting her have a job is the big issue.

[Helen Highwater, Retiring Commentor]

I’m thinking Secretary of Makeup and Lighting

Or

CIA, Director of Hidden Bra Microphones for field agents.

[Linda Clifton]

I don't disagree about the dire future we face, nor about how "woke" culture alienated many voters. I do disagree about economics, however. Even if the national stats are good, my latest increase in my insurance bill and gas and heating bills are dramatically large and hard to swallow. That, plus grocery prices, are what people experience, and believe.

[AzRebel]

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
BULLETIN 11/10/2024

The department reports that since 11/6/2024 when Kari Lake stopped speaking the following readings are occurring:

Oxygen content in Maricopa county has risen .5% by volume. This is significant over 500 cubic miles of air.

Air quality has improved as if every dairy, cattle ranch and stock was removed for a 75 mile radius.

[Jon7190]

I will be very sorry to see you quit writing here. I feel like perhaps you putting down the pen is a permanent solution to a temporary problem, as they say about something else. Don't let this election get you too down. Political cycles come and go. The U.S. was long overdue for a backlash to the Democratic presidential electoral dominance of at least the last 20 years (first Trump election was a bit of a fluke as you point out so often, not a popular vote victory.) The idea that this was "the last national election we'll see" is frankly hysterical nonsense, if by which you mean the Democrats can never win again. I will guarantee (I'll sign over to you the deed to my house if I'm wrong) that Democrats will get the White House back in 4 or 8 years and that you will not be sent to Gitmo or anywhere else. Of course, if I'm wrong and you are in Gitmo, you won't be able to take my house. Sorry.

I hope when the immediate depression of this moment lifts, you will see the value in continuing to write. You are a valuable voice.

On a separate note, it should be mentioned here that Arizona has managed to completely beclown itself with its snail-paced vote counting. Almost every other state can manage to count their votes in timely fashion, but Arizona can't seem to figure it out. Is it any mystery that the public's confidence in the integrity of our elections wavers? Being in the company of California is not a good thing in this case. Thank goodness Trump won all the swing states, because if the election had to be decided on the outcome in Arizona, it would have looked even worse.

[Cal Lash]

Pinal

[Ruben]

Jon7190,
This is first and foremost an ARIZONA blog. National lunatic politics is a sidebar. Way back when Jon, soleri, cal and company started this battle 2007, we thought the blog might change the trajectory of Phoenix, Maricopa county and the state in healthy, saner ways.

So, after 17 years and the score bad guys 10,000, and the Blog good guys 1, you can see where most blog participants fell by the wayside.

We're not quitting, we've been steam rolled into the pavement.

[Cal Lash]

Revenge:
Tom Holman HLS.
Kari Lake
Borders Tzar.
Trump buys Mesa city council building erects a hotel.
Religious supervisors at ADOT plan to pave everything.
More to come.

[edward dravo]

Feels like a death in the family.

E Dravo

[Cal Lash]

Sheridan makes Arpaio honorary deputy in charge of Posse.

[Junctionite]

I don’t blame you for deciding this is the right time to call it quits. It appears that sanity and reason have truly lost. I feel naive, less than a week ago I genuinely believed that America was better than this, but I was wrong, it isn’t. 😢

[AZ Rantuer]

Well that is more bad news in the last seven days. With the loss of this blog I won’t have a trusted news source. I finally gave up on the AZ Republic this year after being a long time subscriber. But what is left? Very sad and dark times ahead.

[AzRebel]

Apologies in advance, but just to give you the proper send off for the 2028 election.

POLLS MEAN DIDDLY SQUAT

Should you find yourself continuing to stress over polls, please call the Arizona Mental Health Crisis Hotline.

1-800- I A DUMMY

[Joe Schallan]

Thanks, Jon. Regular Rogues will be missed!

[AzRebel]

What's the betting line that Lake concedes?

[Cal Lash]

Jon,
Bernie Sanders.
I've never written in Bernies name.
Nor have i knowing voted for any known criminals.
Roy Cohn was a sadistic narcissistic criminal.
Jimmy Hoffa was a loud mouth thief.
They both bear some responsibility even in death for where we are today.
I have not cared for most of Bidens political record and didn't think Harris was going to get elected.
I believed you when you said. "WERE SCREWED."
IMHO Few of US ptesidents were qualified to be Presidents.
Generals Washington, Grant and Eisenhower.
Maybe an honorable mention to the two Roosevelts and LBJ.

[AzRebel]

Cal, thank you for posting. I'd didn't want to be the last person to ever post on the blog.

Wait???

Oh crap!

[Cal Lash]

A
Me at 84.
U will still be posting here when I'm a bird on the sky with Edward Abbey. And Soleri is running the blog as Talton retires to Martinis in his condos.

[DoggieCombover]

Random musings on the current state of affairs...

rebel, you are correct, polling is dead. Besides the lying that has become standard amusement for those polled, it is increasingly difficult to design, poll, and analyze the data.

Apologists on here who have been advocating "rational reasons to vote" for trump, there are none. Just stop with the attempt to normalize a malignant narcissist.

He will now not be prosecuted further for the crimes has committed, nor for the crimes he will commit. With his get-out-of-jail free card handed to him by his personally packed supreme court, and a willing house and senate, he will do whatever he wants. And that will not be pretty...

He has no noble aspirations for leadership, only in love with the raw power to unleash on his enemies. Those who thought the DOJ was "weaponized" against trump--utter bullshit btw--ain't seen nuthin' yet.

Let the full-on batshittery begin, dark days lie ahead.

[DoggieCombover]

Random musings on the current state of affairs...

rebel, you are correct, polling is dead. Besides the lying that has become standard amusement for those polled, it is increasingly difficult to design, poll, and analyze the data.

Apologists on here who have been advocating "rational reasons to vote" for trump, there are none. Just stop with the attempt to normalize a malignant narcissist.

He will now not be prosecuted further for the crimes has committed, nor for the crimes he will commit. With his get-out-of-jail free card handed to him by his personally packed supreme court, and a willing house and senate, he will do whatever he wants. And that will not be pretty...

He has no noble aspirations for leadership, only in love with the raw power to unleash on his enemies. Those who thought the DOJ was "weaponized" against trump--utter bullshit btw--ain't seen nuthin' yet.

Let the full-on batshittery begin, dark days lie ahead.

[cal lash]

read: Beyond the big lie by convict Roger Hallam

[Ruben]

I’ll be polite and call it mental illness, when in fact, it’s correct medical definition is PLAIN OLD DUMB ASS STUPIDITY.

I’m speaking about friends and family who regularly subscribe to conspiracy theories and worse, people who cannot comprehend that someone would vote for individual candidates as opposed to straight party line.

Kari Lake contends that it is impossible that people who voted for Trump did not vote for her. Therefore fraud. (Note: the betting odds that Lake will concede is now 20 to 1)

What makes me really sad is that I can’t recall a single person from either party who would consider voting for the person not the party. In fifty years I have never voted the straight party line.

If you don’t hear from me again, it’s because according to my brother in law, FEMA trailers are being set up on an abandoned airbase in Upper Michigan so the Biden administration can overthrow the government and imprison Trump and any voters who don’t vote the straight party line.

[DoggieCombover]

We've never had a Governor/Senator before, another first for Arizona

[Reality Street]

I’m simply floored by the latest round of Trump appointments: Matt Gaetz as AG and Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intel.

This is just batshit fucking crazy. All the way off the charts.

God help this lost nation.

[Ruben]

DoggieCombover,

I think batshittery should have been all caps.

Curious, Gaetz is unqualified to be a human being much less AG. However, I'm curious, how does a person get to be "under the threat of indictment for almost eight years'? Is someone asleep on their job somewhere in the system?

When Mr. Rogers, aka Garland arrived at the DOJ did he bring a four year supply of sleeping pills for the whole staff?

[100 Octane]

Thank you, Mr. Talton, for all you have done for my education on what Phoenix was. Best of luck.

[Cal Lash]

Missed you Octane.

[Cal Lash]

Gates
Trump
Epstein
YOUNG GIRLS

[Cal Lash]

Gaetz

[Richard Brown]

Thank you for all the years on the blog. I will miss it.

[Reality Street]

Matt Gaetz as AG.

Tulsi Gabbard as Director of Intel.

The batshittery is in overdrive, moving toward warp speed.

God help this lost nation.

Please boost tequila production exponentially.

[Ruben]

History is fun except for those who are living it in real time.

Beginning of the Roman Empire 27 BC

Beginning of the end of the Roman Empire 476 AD.

The End, seriously the end, of the Roman Empire 1453 AD

The End of the US Empire 2025 AD

Nero Fiddled
Trump Diddled

The last Dark Ages lasted 900 years.

How long will the next Dark Ages last?

8.3 billion tons of plastic in the environment.
29 million abandoned oil wells spewing methane for fifty hears.

8 billion mouths eating everything edible in the ocean.

PARECE QUE SE AVECINA UNA TORMENTA

[Cal Lash]

Si!

[Rogue Columnist]

Are we Rome? If so, this is the end of the Roman Republic. Or is this Weimar America. When Hitler was allowed to become chancellor, the Junkers (the German elite) and military thought they could control him and the National Socialists (they never referred to themselves as Nazis).

[Reality Street]

La madre de todas las tormentas se está gestando.

¡Chinga tu MAGA!

¡Viva la democracia!

[Reality Street]

And speaking of Nazis, the recent “march” by a dozen dipshits in Ohio poses something of a quandary.

Leaders and officials are essentially forced to denounce them and their actions, as Biden and many others have done, lest they be accused of inaction or suspected of sympathizing.

On the other hand, public denouncements considerably raise the stock of the Nazis. They were just a small gaggle of anonymous losers a few days ago, but now they’ve got the President’s attention and lots of publicity.

A few more closet Nazis might actually be inspired.

Many other people are rightfully furious. Perhaps there will be a counter-demonstration, which would likely be much larger. Maybe that’s the best course of action.

But what if there are more little Nazi parades?

Provocative agitprop can be difficult.

[The Boomers]

Hey look on the bright side. We might finally get the nuclear war with Russia we've been waiting our whole lives.

Those duck n cover drills won't be for nothing.

I'm glad President Biden is escalating World War 3 before he leaves. That way we can finally destroy the country physically, like we have culturally, economically and spiritually.

[AzRebel]

BEWARE POLITICIANS LEAVING OFFICE

Karen "Helmet Head" Fann gifted us unending vote audits.

Doug "Trump's Eunuch" Ducey gifted us budget busting vouchers.

Donald "Traitor" Trump ruined faith in our voting system PERMANENTLY.

Joe "Memory Care" Biden gifted us a nuclear clock reset at 11 hours, 59 minutes 45 seconds to BOOM!

The US didn't like Russian missiles within 90 miles of our coast. Russia doesn't like US missiles 90 inches from their border.

PROVOCATION MUCH !?!?

[Reality Street]

The obvious differences being that the Russian missiles in Cuba were nuclear, the US missiles in Ukraine are not, and Ukraine is attempting to fight off blatant aggression and invasion, the likes of which Europe has not seen in 80 years.

[Ruben]

I really enjoy talking to dogs and Republicans. You know when you talk to a dog you get that tilt of the head and the eyes have that “I’m trying to understand but my brain is only focused on eating and pooping “.

Well, I’m getting the same look from local republicans when I point that a 1% popular win is not a LANDSLIDE. A 1 % popular win is not a MANDATE. Head tilt, vacant look.

Fun stuff.

[AzRebel]

A peek into the ongoing Colorado River water negotiations.

CO representative, "we will not give up one gallon of our water."

UT and WY, "we will match CO."

AZ will give up 5,000.
NV will give up 3,000.
CA will give up 6,000.

AZ, NV, CA "is that acre feet?

No, that's gallons.

Thank you folks. Great session.

[JimmyC]

As I ping-pong between panic and resignation, I'll stop for just a moment to say: Thank you, Jon, and Godspeed on wherever your future takes you. You'll be missed here; that's for sure.