The Nodfather nods off again

 

See NY Times, Tina Brown, How Trump has Changed Us

How has Trunp changed us? Tina Brown has some ideas. So do I. 

Google says:  Donald Trump is the oldest US president to take office.

Is Mr. Trump even going to make it until the end of his term? He still has 3 more years to go and despite his assurances that his doctors say he is in excellent health, his stamina seems to be waning fast. This has implications for us all. 

Speaking for myself. when I turned 80, a birthday that Donald Trump is fast approaching, I decided to give up my driver's license, as too many tests were then required and I had no car anyway.  I used to sometimes rent a car when I no longer had one, but those days were now over. Here in West Virginia with my son, I now rely on him to drive me..  

Now, in my opinion, both Hegseth and Netanyahu are blatant war criminals being protected by Mr. Trump, though Trump himself may not be fully aware that he is even doing so. No longer a "night owl," he seems to go in and out of consciousness these days. His lucid moments are fewer and shrinking, 

And voters had been so concerned even before Trump that Biden might be getting forgetful! Although Biden is not so often seen much in public any more, when he does appear, he now seems more alert and vigorous than the President himself.  

                                    "The Nodfather" cannot seem to keep his eyes open.. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom, still alert himself at age 58, makes fun of Trump, age 79, who keeps nodding off. Newsom seems to aspire to become president himself well before he reaches Donald Trump's age.

Excessive daytime sleepiness could be a sign of dementia or at least of serious dementia risk, especially when coupled with bruises on the lower legs, which Trump evidently also has. 

When he is actually awake, Trump keeps fighting back, arguing that he has taken more tests than any other president and has totally "aced" them all. There actually has been no other president of his age. 

The voting public also seems to be getting concerned, unsure whether Trump is still be in charge.  

"Trump Hit With His Worst-Ever Approval Rating on the Economy" https://www.thedailybeast.com//president-donald-trump-hit-with-his-worst-ever-approval-rating-on-the-economy/?via=ios

Trump has dismissed this report as simply more "fake news." 

Not only is Trump wealthy in his own right, but he is supported by other millionaires and billionaires.  

Wash. Post, Billionaire Nation, on How the rich amassed political power

Meet the Trump administration's 12 billionaires

At a net worth of $390 billion, it’s the wealthiest White House in modern history..

Meanwhile, as Donald Trump snoozes, no one has actually been monitoring Pete Hegseth, When Trump woke up momentarily, he told Hegseth, "Good job," 

So let's review the Caribbean boater situation. In addition to boaters being killed, boat strike survivors have apparently also been victims after being struck once. If there is any ambiguity about killing boaters out in international waters, there should be none whatsoever about killing boat strike survivors clinging to the wreckage, which certainly is a war crime. But who is responsible? Is it Pete Hegseth who gave the order or the officer who actually carried it out? This is not a video game, not even a game at all, but real life with real-life and death consequences.

Broad slice of Americans oppose Venezuela boat strikes, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds | Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/us/broad-slice-americans-oppose-venezuela-boat-strikes-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2025-12-10/

I count myself among those Americans opposing the boat strikes. Even if some boaters might, in fact, be bringing illegal drugs into our country--something actually unknown--then subjecting them to the death penalty without any evidence or trial is still unwarranted. Apparently several innocent unarmed boaters have been killed while just going about their usual daily business, even when only out fishing or traveling from one place to another--that, at least, according to their families. Then Pete Hegseth had suddenly authorized killing them without any warning or apparent reason. The "fog of war" which  Hegseth has used now as his excuse just doesn't pass muster. What war is he talking about? What fog? If Pete's mind is so foggy now, then he doesn't belong in his position. as Secretary of War.   

Hegseth, after authorizing or even ordering these unlawful and lethal boat strikes, should now face a war crimes tribunal  But I wouldn't necessarily advocate the death penalty for Pete, although he has visited death without any evidence or trial on so many others. Instead, life-long imprisonment would prevent him from continuing to keep on killing and harming others. He has now become a serial killer who must be stopped and punished for what he has done. He may in the future try to make amends, though once he has authorized killings and they've been carried out, there is no return from death for the unfortunate victims. Hegseth has actually become a serial killer with Donald Trump's blessing. 

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This Nicaraguan woman's husband was deported leaving her to struggle to provide for herself and their children. 

Wash. Post, Scientists discover oldest evidence of human-made fire in a 400,000-year-old hearth

A new archaeological find pushes back the timeline on when humans mastered the ability to make fires, a transformative technology.

Apparently our ancient ancesters were using fire for both warmth and cooking long before writing had been developed to allow them to leave a written record. Our modern era is just a brief blip in the long trajectory of human history going back at least several hundred thousand years. To those early human pioneers, we actually owe our own existenec today, What can they teach us? Perseverance, experimentation, and curiosity have all been qualities supporting their survival and our own. 

=========================================================================

A long-tme friend who is my own age just sent me his photo. I've told him that he is looking pretty darn good! 

Write to your Members of Congress

Edward McCarthy <ecmccar@gmail.com>:  Here's something I sent off to my two Senators. I will reach out to my House Member too. Do likewise. Don't let Trump, Hegseth and, yes, the compliant Admiral, get away with murder so easily. Here is my letter:   This is to urge you, as a key member of a Committee likely to be involved, to advocate for investigation by relevant bodies in both the House and Senate, of the Trump Administration’s boat strikes and broader policy with regard to the Caribbean and eastern Pacific regions. This needs to happen as soon as possible.   There have been calls for investigation by the Department of Justice. Given the gross perversion of that agency’s role by the Trump Administration, such an inquiry would have no credibility. Congress must intervene.   Several aspects of this matter need clarification. Admiral Bradley has been quoted as saying that there was no order to “kill everyone.” Perhaps not, but this does not quite say that the Secretary of Defense provided no relevant directive or statement. The term “weasel-wording” comes to mind.   It has also been reported that after a second strike on September 2 that killed the two shipwrecked survivors, there were two more strikes which apparently obliterated all of the boat, its cargo and the personnel aboard. Was there a defensible military reason for this? Isn’t it just as reasonable to suggest that what occurred was an effort to cover up what was belatedly recognized as a war crime in violation of the Law of War, as spelled out in DoD guidance?   Isn’t it also notable that in at least one subsequent case, survivors were not murdered on the seas but rather returned to their home countries? If the homicides perpetrated were in fact as justifiable as Senator Cotton and Mr. Hegseth make out, why this apparent change in policy?   There is a lot to unpack regarding both the above particulars, and what the Administration intends to do generally. Please do what is needed.

Do we even need tote bags? 

If so, this one looks a little bit different.. 

Dec. 10 is Human Rights Day

Today Dec. 10, is Human Rights Day worldwide, When I was in the Peace Corps in Honduras, I gathered young people together to march with me carrying banners and placards that we had made, touting various rights,. What rights to people have now?   

The family of the college student recently deported to Honduras say they were targeted by ICE agents. The father of the student detained at a Boston airport on her way to visit family in Austin for the holidays, says agents showed up at their Texas home as well.

Why is the Trump administration going to such great lengths to deport individuals who have grown up here and have become an integral part of our society? We actually need more people to just stay here--young folks exactly like the college student just deported to Honduras. That's why they are here right now. People, individuals, human beings, folks--whatever they may be called--are what actually make up a city or town, a society, a nation. Therefore, like a tree that does best staying where it has been planted, where it has put out roots and shoots and branches--friends, children, education, jobs--then those folks should not be uprooted to go elsewhere..  

It's unlikely that most Americans actually support such heavy-handed deportation tactics. Some voted for Trump because he promised to deport criminals, not young college students who grew up in this country and whom we really need to  keep staying right here. Isn't this nitpicking? Isn't this an example of  "Cut off your nose to spite your face?" 

Don't federal employees have more useful and important tasks to perform? Doesn't Trump remember that his 2 of his 3 wives have been foreign-born? They did not come here as immigrants, just as temporary visitors. Does Melania now have any persuasive powers? She was a visitor who then stayed beyond her visa. 

A workable system for screening immigrants to any country has never actually been developed. Until that happens, if ever, we simply have to take our chances. The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals; they haven't come here to harm the rest of us. Without immigrants, the USA--our own nation--would not even exist. No good way has ever been developed to screen newcomers arriving anywhere. .

   

Though I'm not sure what he might be able to do, does Vice President JD Vance, whose own wife is the daughter of immigrants and the mother of his 3 children, have any persuasive powers? We still need to have immigrants still coming to this country because not enough babies are being produced. 

Donald Trump is sinking so fast into dementia that he may not be reachable any more. Nor would Vance want to jeopardize himself and his family by speaking up very loudly, but couldn't he do more behind the scenes?. However, these days, really is anyone in charge of our government ?.Trump is often away in dreamland, which allows bad actors to take over, even though they have never been elected, The following is an example of what the government has been doing in our name. 

Wash. Post, 

Feds bring woman to U.S. to face charges, then say she’s here illegally

Judge Zia M. Faruqui called the situation “Kafkaesque” in a hearing on Monday. In a written order, he said, “Indeed, it is both preposterous and offensive for the government to bring someone into the United States against their will and then turn around and seek ICE detention because that person is here ‘illegally.’"…

Wash. Post, DHS inks contract to create its own fleet of 737 jets for deportations

The agency will spend nearly $140 million, funding that comes from a massive budget increase for immigration enforcement approved by Congress.

This certainly looks like a sweetheart deal for the jet makers. Is deportation a growing and permanent US industry now requiring the establishment of its own jet fleet? And do we really want to hollow out our country by deporting so many young workers and potential citizens? Don't we actually need more people of working age in this country to get jobs done and to support us old folks, who may otherwise be the only ones left? The deportation hawks have now seized control of our government. 

If most Americans now actually approve of these measures, then maybe I don't belong in this country anymore. I'd really like to go back just a few years to Joe Biden or even to the Bushes. 

Hey, Donald Trump, you've certainly been sleeping a lot lately. Maybe at age 79, you are just getting tired. So can you please retire now with a nice pension? Lots of time to play golf if and when you are awake. 

Surely JD Vance as president would not be so passive or so punitive, would he? 

 daugh just like Melania--how did Vance's wife actually even get here? 

Maybe at age 87, now I just need to leave. Or can we now throw these guys out? 

 too far. Are they lining their own pockets with these dreals while Trump snoozes? We still need these working age people here which is why they are coming. 

Venezuela’s foreign minister, Yvan Gil, in front of a plane carrying migrants Dec. 3,

Daily Beast, Trump, 79, Jolts Awake After Nodding Off at Roundtable

The Nodfather keeps nodding off.

So instead of the sleepy President making decisions and taking the heat, someone very unreliable and unpredictable, namely Pete Hegseth, is now running much of the show, calling too many of the shots, and apparently authorizing the killing of unarmed people in small boats in international waters,  targeted even if they survive the first strike and are left clinging to the wreckage, thus posing no risk whatsoever to anyone else. Killing them then for no reason certainly is a war crime.

 And what Israel has been doing are also war crimes, but if Trump and his associates are now protecting war criminals, what can be done? What can any of us actually do? Today, Dec. 10, is Human Rights Day, an appropriate time for us to take corrective action.

The wolf is no longer at the door--the wolf is actually inside our house. If Donald Trump should happen to leave us for  his heavenly reward, that might not be considered such a great tragedy. His mind seems to already be elsewhere, although he still has lucid moments now when he seems to wake up and his dementia seems to clear, if only briefly. 

The Hegseth/Trump alliance has now become a serious emergency--also that of Trump with Netanyahu. People keep on being killed wantonly for no reason, when Trump as our president really could and should stop it. Trump, the same guy many people voted for (even my son did so), evidently is losing his mind, but who dares to step forward to try to control him? We thought old Joe Biden was getting senile. Now it is Trump as president who is actually failing mentally and the repercussions are proving to be even worse than we might have imagined.

Actions like the following are just so very harmful and counterproductive: We still need all these folks to stay right here!. And they really do want to stay! 

Trump administration has revoked 85,000 visas since January, State Department official says | CNN Politics https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/08/politics/visa-revocations-state-department

The Supreme Court, with its Trump-appointed justices, seems always inclined to make decisions considered to be in Trump's favor. I don't know if I have the stamina any more at age 87 to stay here in this country to fight all of this or would I rather just retire to Honduras, where the politics are not any better, but where I don't feel so responsible? 

I was a board member of the agency approving the adoptions made by John Roberts and his wife, many years before he ever joined the Supreme Court. We saw him then as an up and coming young public servant. We actually liked him. How could we have anticipated what he would become? Nor could we have prevented it. 

Wash. Post, Honduras issues arrest warrant for ex-president pardoned by Trump

Honduras’s attorney general said he has issued an arrest warrant for former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was freed from US federal prison last week after being pardoned by President Donald Trump. Honduran Attorney General Johel Antonio Zelaya Alvarez said on X on Monday that he had asked government agencies and the global police agency Interpol to arrest Hernández, who is accused of money laundering and fraud.

“We have been lacerated by the tentacles of corruption and by criminal networks that have profoundly marked the life of our country,” Zelaya said. His post included a photo of the Supreme Court’s arrest order dated Nov. 28, the same day Trump announced his intention to pardon Hernández –– a move that drew criticism from both sides of the political aisle in both the US and Honduras.

                Mr. Trump has been really, really sleepy lately, so is not out playing golf so often any more. 

======================================================================

Just a note here about Eyder Peralta, an NPR regular. He is married to another writer/journalist and has 3 daughters. He was born in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, a place I have visited, though not recently.  

================================================================

Here now are some more funky chickens. How or why have they become so popular? They are so ridiculous that they tickle our funny bone and just make us chuckle. They help us relieve stress. 

Is winter finally here?

Whew! Had so much trouble with the previous post--with a stubborn virus that kept invading right at the very  start. I couldn't seem to totally eradicate it. though finally I mostly did. The problem had first appeared long after I had first posted my opening there. I'm not sure quite what happened after that or why, but am starting over fresh here again right now. Fortunately, most of that last post was not affected, only the beginning.

Yellow flowers we saw here early this morning looked a little forlorn by afternoon, but the grass is still green after an early morning frost had melted. 

Here's a recent comment from Michael Wolff, a Trump biographer,. about the Hegseth matter.

"President Donald Trump’s 'shameful' bombings of alleged drug boats are being overseen by a 'dope' Defense secretary who doesn’t fully think things through."

Author Wolff further notes on the Inside Trump’s Head podcast that Pete Hegseth’s professional experience hardly qualifies him to lead the Pentagon. 

We already knew that. But Hegseth still remains on staff even now as a presidential employee despite his many apparent mistakes. Perhaps he or his family have made a substantial donation to Mr. Trump? That seems rather likely, as Hegseth is obviously completely unqualified, already having made a series of critical errors but still remaining in his position nonetheless. .

Daily Beast, Why Trump Is Using a Moron to Run His ‘War’: Wolff

‘MORONOCRACY’

Michael Wolff believes that Pete Hegseth’s lack of experience for the role of Defense Secretary is actually proving to be a boon to President Donald Trump. I'm not quite sure of the reasoning there, perhaps because Hegseth can then serve as a handy scapegoat for any ensuing problems? Wolff calls Trump and Hegseth members of a "morontocracy" whose major military achievement has been the "drone bombing of an unarmed small craft."  

Colin Jost Plays Pete Hegseth on ‘S.N.L.’ to Explain ‘Operation Kill Everybody’

Hegseth in 2016 repeatedly warned of Trump issuing unlawful military orders | CNN Politics https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/08/politics/hegseth-trump-warned-unlawful-orders-kfile

Does Hegseth even remember saying that? Does Trump actually remember it either? Maybe it was too long ago, especially for the President, who seems to be sinking rapidly into dementia. He needs daily prompts to remind him of what he is doing right now and why. His advisers have declared that he is in perfect health, but should we really believe that? And what about his mental health and mental acuity? 

Congress to withhold Pentagon travel funds until it sees boat strike videos - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/08/ndaa-boat-strikes-congress-hegseth-without-funds-00680679

As mentioned in the last post, Trump has been dubbed the Nodfather and shows many signs of hypersomnia and ITP, but a formal diagnosis in his case is unknown. However, his health at age 79 is not likely to improve and he does seem to have some occasional lucid moments when he makes decisions and gives out orders, however unfortunate or contradictory they may seem. And the idea of President Vance is not very appealing either.

"Immigrants ‘Plucked Out’ of Oath Ceremony Lines After Trump Order" https://www.thedailybeast.com//immigrants-plucked-out-of-oath-ceremony-lines-after-trump-order/?via=ios

Why is Trump giving out these cruel orders? Do his donors demand it? Or is he just flailing about as he sinks even further into dementia and a mental fog? Why is he trying to deport people obviously committed to this country? Does he even remember that his own wife Melania, the mother of his youngest son Baron, came here only as a visitor, not as an immigrant, then suddenly became a citizen in 2006? Probably Trump at this point hardly remembers anything. 

Must the Military Disobey Unlawful Orders? Pam Bondi Has Said Yes.

As a lawyer for a conservative think tank, Ms. Bondi, now the attorney general, filed a Supreme Court brief last year saying service members who followed such orders were committing crimes.

================================

Marjorie Taylor Greene Says Trump Was ‘Furious with Me’ Over Epstein Files on Phone Call

"He was extremely angry at me," the Georgia Republican told '60 Minutes' in a preview of her first national interview since announcing plans to resign.

Anyway, now Taylor Greene has removed herself from the fray. Is she tired of being in Congress or just taking a break? 

=====================================

A friend and former DC neighbor sent these photos below, first of his house, all colorfully decorated, then of some nearby houses. I do miss all my friends on Capitol Hill. 

Out where we live now in the rural West Virginia countryside, there are no close neighbors nor do I know anyone here, except my son, with whom I live now. 

 

China's former one-child policy has repercussions even today. 

Ladies, if you're looking for a male partner, you might want to visit China which, as the legacy of its previous One-Child policy, has a surplus of single men. In those olden days, if a couple's first child was a boy, then he became their one child. If it was a girl, then they might try again after giving her up for adoption in a foreign country. Sometimes newborn baby girls were even left outside to die..

 

As an adoption agency board member at that time, I met many single American women whom we helped to adopt Chinese baby girls, often seeing that as their only chance to become mothers. One single woman I knew even adopted 3 Chinese baby girls. She was an excellent caregiver who really enjoyed her very busy family life and she also had a job. She said she had no time to date, nor did she miss not having a man in her life, though if one showed up, he'd be welcome as long he participated in their family life. Two of her daughters were biologically related. When she had bonded with one baby girl at a Chinese orphanage, she was then asked, "Do you also want her sister?" Of course, she said, "yes." 

At present, China has a 3-child policy with corresponding assistance provided for all 3 children. For those with more than 3 kids, there is no punishment, but no extra help either. Three is considered really

enough. 

Most intercountry adoptions from China and from anywhere else in the world have now been halted. Ethiopia had continued for a time, though not recently. There are still many orphanages around the world where children with living parents may stay for longer or shorter periods whenever their parents cannot care for them. Children with disabilities may still be available for adoption, as birth parents may feel they will have a better chance elsewhere. 

I'm glad to have adopted my son Jon. with whom I am currently living, when he was just a baby. Now past 50, he was born in Colombia, and had started walking quite late, as he had been swaddled and not been allowed to crawl as an infant. He never actually learned to crawl, just stood up at 15 months and  started walking. He has been walking ever since, sometimes now around a track or on a treadmill.

I realize that many folks today prefer to remain childless, including some members of my own family. They certainly have an easier time financially than do parents with children. But they don't know what they are missing--a deep bond with the next generation who will carry on after we are gone.   . 

=============================

A woman living in northern Virginia who is indirectly related to me, just bought this black 2019 Mercedes Benz. She says it's been running really well, providing reliable transportation for her and her extended family. I told her, :"Many congratulations; looks like you made the perfect choice."

====================================

n

Former high-ranking DEA agent accused of conspiring to traffic drugs and launder millions of dollars for a Mexican cartel | CNN Politics https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/05/politics/former-dea-accused-conspiring-traffic-drugsFormer high-ranking DEA agent accused of conspiring to traffic drugs and launder millions of dollars for a Mexican cartel | CNN Politics https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/05/politics/former-dea-accused-conspiring-traffic-drugsFormer high-ranking DEA agent accused of conspiring to traffic drugs and launder millions of dollars for a Mexican cartel

Daily Beast, Trump Makes Weird Bid to Turn His Birthday Into a Holiday

PARTY IN THE PARKS

Americans will be able to visit national parks for free on the president’s birthday next year.

Donald Trump, in a rare wakeful moment, did not look too happy aboutMarjorie Taylor Grenne's comments to "60 Minutes" about the Epstein files, (He seems to be finding the presidency not so enjoyable any more, now with 3 years left to In Honduras, Trump's election interference swayed some voters and angered quite a few others. So was it a toss up? 

I've been closely watching the Honduran vote now. I have visited that country many times, beginning when I was just 2 years old, then later served there as a Peace Corps volunteer as recounted in my books, and, most recently, had a mission in June 2024, as reported on this blog.. 

Whenever traveling there, I always try to blend in. I'm told that I don't speak Spanish with an American accent nor with any other foreign accent, which is quite helpful. 

                        Hondurans had lined up early to vote in their recent presidential election.

                    Some Honduran voters admitted that they had been swayed by Mr. Trump. 

Reuters, Impatience grows in Honduras over stalled reporting of election results

=========================================

Now let's go to Florida.

My good friend Armando is someone I'd brought out of Cuba via Mexico many years ago, which wasn't so easy, even back then. (And there was no internet at the time.) After he had gotten to Mexico (verified by phone), which had required a visa that I'd obtained for him, I then drove by myself down to the border to take him by the hand and walk him right across, talking US border guards into letting him through. And that was back in the days when crossing the US border wasn't really any easier than it is now. 

Armando has a chronic hereditary illness that requires him to take a medication not available in Cuba (not even now). He is currently over age 50 and is still living, thanks to that medication. 

I had first learned about Armando via a letter he had sent to my workplace, the American Occupational Therapy Association, which was then given to me to translate. After reading the letter, I went first to Cuba and actually found him there, promising then that I would do everything possible to get him across the border with Mexico and into this country, where the needed medication was available. So that was the plan. Then we actually did that and he is still alive today, several decades later. 

Above you see his mother, also here now with Christmas pending, as he was then able to bring her to this country as well. They now live in Florida. 

======================

I had once studied ballet but never aspired to become a professional dancer, not being ready to engage in hours of daily practice. Ballet can be beautiful but requires a lifelong commitment. I have since continued only as a faithful and very appreciative ballet audience member.

                        These dancers' moves seem so effortless but are carefully choreographed.   

==============================================================

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Holiday gift suggestions can now be found everywhere.

                                    What about a colorful outfit for the man in your life? 

\ 

Or perhaps a sign encouraging a friend to try something new? 

            Or maybe this "Funky chicken" tote bag as a gift for your friend who has everything?

                               Or perhaps a nice warm cozy sweater?

Or even this Santa-themed sweater? 

I actually kind of like this green plant that never needs watering.

There are just so many choices! So now start checking the names off your gift list.