Orban’s cronies leaving with amassed wealth

One reason a country does not want an autocratic type leader is the leader and his friends tend to rob the country blind. Whether the name is Putin, Mubarek, or Orbán, they enrich themselves.

Per an article in The Guardian, “It is a glimpse of the upheaval that has gripped Hungary as it prepares to turn the page on Orbán’s rule. Since he took power in 2010, a small circle of associates aligned with the leader and his Fidesz party have amassed vast fortunes, partly due to their expanding control over the country’s economy and EU-funded contracts for public infrastructure.

Since the election, the Guardian has learned of three members of this inner circle who have begun moving their assets abroad. The wealth is being moved to countries in the Middle East – Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE – while others have their sights set on Australia and Singapore, two Fidesz sources said.”

You need look no further than the incumbent US president who appears to be taking advantage of his position. His oligarchical friends also seem to be doing quite well. It is vital we have our checks and balances in place. There are rules that are supposed to keep this in check, but are not being followed.*

*Note: Per an AI search summary: “The Emoluments Clauses are U.S. Constitutional provisions designed as anti-corruption safeguards to prevent federal officials from being influenced by foreign powers or corruptly benefiting from their positions. They primarily restrict accepting gifts, titles, or profits from foreign states or U.S. entities beyond official salary.”

The music of Cold Case TV series

An old TV series my wife and I enjoy is “Cold Case” about a Philadelphia homicide team that reviews unsolved or cold cases. It ran for seven seasons starring Kathryn Morris, Danny Pino, John Finn, Jeremy Ratchford, Thom Barry and Tracie Thoms. The show would flip back and forth between the time the initial crime was committed and those who are investigating it in today’s time. The show does an excellent job of casting older actors to play off the younger people in the same role.

Yet, a key part of the show is the music which sets the period when the crime occurred. Per an AI search summary, “Cold Case is famous for featuring period-accurate music, often centered around a specific artist or year, with the theme song being “Nara” by E.S. Posthumus.

Popular songs featured across the series include “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” (Creedence Clearwater Revival), “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (Bonnie Tyler), “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” (Yes), and “Missing” (Everything But The Girl).

Iconic Songs by Era/Style

Classic Rock/Pop: “More Than a Feeling” (Boston), “Let’s Stay Together” (Al Green), “Faith” (George Michael), “True” (Spandau Ballet).

Alternative/90s: “When You’re Gone” (The Cranberries), “How’s It Going to Be” (Third Eye Blind), “She’s So High” (Tal Bachman).

Soul/Oldies: “I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby” (Barry White), “Midnight Train to Georgia” (Gladys Knight & The Pips).

Key Episode Songs
“Resolutions” (2004): “No Scrubs” (TLC), “It’s The End of the World As We Know It” (R.E.M.).
“Lover’s Lane” (2004): “Maniac” (Michael Sembello), “Safety Dance” (Men Without Hats).
“Superstar” (2006): “Ooh Child” (The Five Stairsteps), “Dancing in the Moonlight” (King Harvest).
“Joseph” (2006): “Somewhere Only We Know” (Keane), “The Reason” (Hoobastank).

At our age, we lived through most of the periods shown, although they will occasionally go before our time. We will try to guess the singers’ names, but it is not unusual for us to do a search. Apparently, there is a website devoted to all of the songs played on the show.

A truly disgusting story


An article in The Guardian by Dharna Noor called “Republican lawmakers attempt to shield big oil from climate lawsuits in ‘alarming’ bills” truly disgusts me. Americans need to know what the fossil fuel industry is getting for their investment in politicians. And, make no mistake they are looking for a return on their investment.

The subheading adds further clarity, “Climate experts and advocates warn House and Senate bills will protect polluters at the cost of the climate.” Now for more of this sad story:

“Republican lawmakers are attempting to shield big oil from having to pay for its contributions to the climate crisis, alarming environmental advocates.

New House and Senate bills, led by Harriet Hageman, a Wyoming representative, and Ted Cruz, a Texas senator, respectively, would give oil and gas companies broad legal immunity from policies and lawsuits aimed at holding the industry accountable for damages caused by its emissions.

Dubbed the Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026, the proposal would protect the sector from liability. It is similar to a 2005 law that has largely blocked lawsuits against the firearms industry over gun violence.

The Republicans’ proposal is designed to stop a surge of climate accountability measures launched by states and municipalities – which Hageman’s office called ‘leftist legal crusades punishing lawful activity’, in a statement. In recent years, more than 70 state and local governments have sued oil companies for allegedly deceiving the public about the dangers of their products. Meanwhile, New York and Vermont have also passed climate ‘superfund’ laws requiring major polluters to pay for damages from past emissions, with other states considering similar policies.

If passed, the new federal legislation would dismiss pending climate accountability lawsuits, void all climate superfund laws and block similar future efforts.“

Please help spread this story. It is yet another example of how an oligarchy uses their clout to do a CYA at our expense and health.

Tuckered out

Two related stories – a famous MAGA fan is now tormented while Trump’s ratings also tucker out.

Per The Guardian, “Tucker Carlson, a conservative podcaster, has said he is ‘tormented’ by his support of Donald Trump, issuing in an extraordinary mea culpa that called for ‘a moment to wrestle with our own consciences.’

‘You know, we’ll be tormented by it for a long time – I will be,’ Tucker Carlson said. ‘And I want to say I’m sorry for misleading people. It was not intentional, that’s all I’ll say.’”


Another article in The Guardian yesterday is of interest as it notes “Donald Trump’s approval rating on the economy has decreased from March to April as prices climb due to the Iran war, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released today.

Only 30 percent of respondents approve of his handling of the economy, down from 38 percent in March, the AP reported. Only 32% approve of his leadership on Iran, which has remained at the same levels since last month. And only 33 percent of US adults approve of his overall job performance, a dip from 38 percent in March.”

I truly believe even some of his fans are starting to tucker out with Trump. He has become an anchor for his party, America and the planet.

Retired attorney describes Trump as “too big for his britches”

I have quoted my retired attorney acquaintance a few times. This one is more homespun, but still apt.

“When I was a little boy growing up in Wilson, there was a saying that described a person who had on multiple occasions misbehaved: ‘He has gotten too big for his britches.’ I think this an apt description of Trump’s current standing with many of his base.

For some, a combination of tariffs, an unnecessary war with Iran, Jesus memes and denigration of Pope Leo are just too much. Alas, TOO BIG FOR HIS BRITCHES. Well, better late than never. I sense a change occurring. Could it be that a new majority are rejecting corruption, cons and lies? Is the next Blue Wave actually a tsunami?

Personally, I think he has always been too big for his britches and, at last. Judgment Day is coming!”

I agree. He has a high opinion of his abilities which are a far cry from where they actually are. Maybe, just maybe, his less strident fans are seeing him for what he is. And, an even greater hope is some of the strident ones start seeing the gild coming off his lilly.

Take a look at the attached post

Our friend Jill has posted a number of memes. There are a more than several good ones, but let’s focus on the two Williams’ remarks – Rev. William Barber and Retired Navy Admiral William McRaven. Let me emphasize one is a Reverend, not a pretend Jesus, one is an Admiral, not one who ignores and fires them when they push back. These two men have gravitas and veritas. I cannot say the same about the incumbent president.



A few more dumb questions based on recent events

Just a few more dumb questions which should be asked of supporters of the incumbent president:

-what kind of person would think it is a good idea to criticize the Pope for a message of peace and cessation of violence?
-what kind of person would think it is a good idea to equate himself to Jesus and then give such a lame excuse to defend what he did?
-what kind of person would say he wanted to erase a country’s existence on one day, then want to be their business partner two days later?
-who would want to do business with someone who flip flops to that degree?

This is an incredibly thin-skinned person. He does not handle criticism well, but also feels the need to pat himself on the back in sometimes over-the-top offensive ways. There is not enough false bravado to paint over this weakness of character. It truly is that simple.

Note: Please check out the letter in Jill’s post written by five psychiatrists to the four leaders in Congress:

Crushing defeat for autocratic Orban

In a sea of turmoil exacerbated by the mercurial incumbent US president, the world got some good news yesterday in the following headline from The Guardian: “Orbán’s 16-year rule over Hungary ends in crushing election defeat.” The article Max Griera and Jamie Dettmer had the following subheadline: “The Hungarian prime minister concedes to Péter Magyar, who is set to win a supermajority in the 199-seat parliament.”

Here is the gist of the article: “BUDAPEST — The 16-year reign of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is at an end after a crushing election loss on Sunday that will send political shockwaves from Washington to Moscow.

The EU’s most autocratic leader — a close ally of both U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin — lost by a decisive margin in Sunday’s vote, amid the highest turnout in Hungary’s democratic history.


With almost all of the votes counted, his opponent Péter Magyar looked set to win 138 seats in the 199-seat parliament. Orbán’s Fidesz party was on track to win only 55.”

The sizable defeat made the news even better. He may have been destined to lose, but having an anchor like Trump/ Vance supporting him likely did not help. Note Trump has been getting heavier to carry and it has been showing in US votes dating back to last November. And, with the Iran fiasco and its repercussions, not to mention berating the Pope, he will only get heavier.



A brief and profound poem

A friend forwarded me the following prose-like poem. It is not long, but quite profound. It truly speaks for itself.

“A WHOLE CIVILIZATION
WILL DIE TONIGHT

My son needs lunch, and I have to put his backpack together, but a whole civilization will die tonight, so I’m wondering if they’ve closed their schools.


Like, a snow day, maybe, except instead of snow it’s
‘keep your children home so if you die, you die together’ — instead of ‘we’ll open back up once the plows have cleared’ it’s
‘we don’t know if we’ll be here tomorrow, hold your babies tight.’


It’s just ‘talk’ I’m told, which I’ve been told before.
‘It’s how the president makes his deals.’


But I’ve never heard anyone talk about other human beings this way, and I’m not certain I can look my son in the eyes if we all agree to stomach it one more time.


A civilization will die tonight, but as I zip up his backpack and kiss him off to school I think: if this is what we call leadership then I’m not entirely sure ours isn’t already dead.


Michael F. DuBois”

An anchor is sinking us

Just in case you had doubts about the Iran war, here is an excerpt from an editorial in The Guardian by Richard Stengel * called “I was the US soft power czar. Our reputation may never recover from this.” The subheading is even more concerning: “Trump’s venal persona and his war on Iran will do untold damage to America’s ability to make a positive difference in the world.”

This paragraph from the piece cuts to the chase: “But I believe because of Donald Trump and his war in Iran, American popularity will descend to depths it has not seen this century and may never recover to the median levels that we saw with Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. Forget Barack Obama numbers – they’re out of reach. Confidence in Trump’s ability to navigate global affairs was already around 30-40% before the invasion of Iran. That will be the new ceiling. ‘The world is watching,’ Trump said in his White House address on Wednesday. Yes, it is.”

*******

*Note: Per Wikipedia: “Richard Allen “Rick” Stengel (born May 2, 1955) is an American editor, author, and former government official. He was Time magazine’s 16th managing editor from 2006 to 2013. He was also chief executive of the National Constitution Center from 2004 to 2006, and served as President Obama’s Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs from 2014 to 2016. Stengel has written a number of books, including a collaboration with Nelson Mandela on Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom.”