Paladin 55
@paladin55.bsky.social
Pragmatic Progressive; Atheist/Veg; (too)Many cats/1 dog; Ancient Coins/Antiques; Former Organizer/Teacher/Coach; Scholastic Wrestler (HS & College) & Football (HS); Know-me movie-Dr. Strangelove.
New Yorker who has also lived in Indiana & Alabama.
New Yorker who has also lived in Indiana & Alabama.
Pinned
Paladin 55
@paladin55.bsky.social
· Nov 19
I'm Paladin 55 (@B_L_Mencken) on Twitter/X. Included a photo of my home page w/ my "bio."
Just testing Blue Sky for a bit...Not sure if I'm going to remain on Twitter or do anything in bsky.
Don't follow if you're MAGA-I'll block you.
Just testing Blue Sky for a bit...Not sure if I'm going to remain on Twitter or do anything in bsky.
Don't follow if you're MAGA-I'll block you.
The interest Bill Barr might have had about Epstein because of his dad's JE ties has always intrigued me, especially because of the books Donald Barr wrote which included some of the sexual dominance/sex slave concepts that are similar to how JE looked at sex.
No proof...just find it intriguing.
No proof...just find it intriguing.
February 8, 2026 at 9:25 PM
The interest Bill Barr might have had about Epstein because of his dad's JE ties has always intrigued me, especially because of the books Donald Barr wrote which included some of the sexual dominance/sex slave concepts that are similar to how JE looked at sex.
No proof...just find it intriguing.
No proof...just find it intriguing.
Yup...& as a retired teacher, I'm happy I don't have put up with it anymore.
February 6, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Yup...& as a retired teacher, I'm happy I don't have put up with it anymore.
Reposted by Paladin 55
In NYC we call it "Participation in Government," though our administration would frequently make the subject a review class for students who had not passed the NYS American History Regents test.
The subject had potential, but was always misused by the Queens, NY HS I taught in.
The subject had potential, but was always misused by the Queens, NY HS I taught in.
February 5, 2026 at 9:22 PM
In NYC we call it "Participation in Government," though our administration would frequently make the subject a review class for students who had not passed the NYS American History Regents test.
The subject had potential, but was always misused by the Queens, NY HS I taught in.
The subject had potential, but was always misused by the Queens, NY HS I taught in.
Reposted by Paladin 55
one thing i have noticed is a lot of folks do not seem to understand the difference between a presidential election and 435+ legislative elections. i have seen any number of people say that you could subvert the outcome this november by targeting “swing states,” which does not make any sense.
February 5, 2026 at 1:26 PM
one thing i have noticed is a lot of folks do not seem to understand the difference between a presidential election and 435+ legislative elections. i have seen any number of people say that you could subvert the outcome this november by targeting “swing states,” which does not make any sense.
Like it...has a good feel to it, but that air conditioner not having a support bracket is disquieting for me...
February 4, 2026 at 4:51 AM
Like it...has a good feel to it, but that air conditioner not having a support bracket is disquieting for me...
Any movie villains come to mind? Epstein has a Bond villain feel to him.
February 4, 2026 at 4:19 AM
Any movie villains come to mind? Epstein has a Bond villain feel to him.
The one "good thing" these awful people, especially those who hold political office, have done is to put to rest the idea that American exceptionalism is real, and not a big lie designed to make us feel superior.
Shining city on a hill my arse...
Shining city on a hill my arse...
January 26, 2026 at 4:01 AM
The one "good thing" these awful people, especially those who hold political office, have done is to put to rest the idea that American exceptionalism is real, and not a big lie designed to make us feel superior.
Shining city on a hill my arse...
Shining city on a hill my arse...
Reposted by Paladin 55
Here’s TMZ with a headline every outlet that cares about the truth should have.
www.tmz.com/2026/01/24/n...
www.tmz.com/2026/01/24/n...
January 25, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Here’s TMZ with a headline every outlet that cares about the truth should have.
www.tmz.com/2026/01/24/n...
www.tmz.com/2026/01/24/n...
Reposted by Paladin 55
The world learned today that you absolutely have to bully this dumb old asshole as a collective. Better late than never for them, but we better get used to being aggressively humiliated for the next few years.
January 21, 2026 at 7:59 PM
The world learned today that you absolutely have to bully this dumb old asshole as a collective. Better late than never for them, but we better get used to being aggressively humiliated for the next few years.
Reposted by Paladin 55
New in PN: Kristi Noem's assault on the Fourth Amendment
"The Department of Homeland Security deliberately confuses reasonable suspicion and probable cause in hopes that no one will notice that ICE and CBP are making illegal arrests as standard operating procedure."
"The Department of Homeland Security deliberately confuses reasonable suspicion and probable cause in hopes that no one will notice that ICE and CBP are making illegal arrests as standard operating procedure."
Kristi Noem's assault on the Fourth Amendment
Thanks, Brett Kavanaugh.
www.publicnotice.co
January 21, 2026 at 12:27 PM
New in PN: Kristi Noem's assault on the Fourth Amendment
"The Department of Homeland Security deliberately confuses reasonable suspicion and probable cause in hopes that no one will notice that ICE and CBP are making illegal arrests as standard operating procedure."
"The Department of Homeland Security deliberately confuses reasonable suspicion and probable cause in hopes that no one will notice that ICE and CBP are making illegal arrests as standard operating procedure."
Reposted by Paladin 55
I'm rooting for it, but...
January 21, 2026 at 4:36 AM
I'm rooting for it, but...
As a cynic...I admire the "spunk" of this little plant & hope it thrives, but know that if it's growing in the wrong location, it will soon be stepped on and crushed by a human foot, pulled up by a human hand, or drowned in pesticide.
January 20, 2026 at 10:54 PM
As a cynic...I admire the "spunk" of this little plant & hope it thrives, but know that if it's growing in the wrong location, it will soon be stepped on and crushed by a human foot, pulled up by a human hand, or drowned in pesticide.
Reposted by Paladin 55
If you want to know what American mainstream media should be reporting, read the Guardian. @theguardian.com
Latest news, sport and opinion from the Guardian
Latest US news, world news, sports, business, opinion, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice
www.theguardian.com
January 20, 2026 at 1:59 AM
If you want to know what American mainstream media should be reporting, read the Guardian. @theguardian.com
Reposted by Paladin 55
This guy is basically inviting China to take Taiwan.
January 17, 2026 at 2:35 AM
This guy is basically inviting China to take Taiwan.
Reposted by Paladin 55
Gov. Walz to MS NOW:
"Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system … is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic.
"The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her."
"Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system … is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic.
"The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her."
January 17, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Gov. Walz to MS NOW:
"Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system … is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic.
"The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her."
"Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system … is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic.
"The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her."
When I think of Schumer, this is the image I have of him. Head down, little if any eye contact, & artificial passion.
I think he has instructions to himself on his speech paper telling him when to raise or lower his voice, when to emote & when to look up at the camera or crowd.
Weak tea.
I think he has instructions to himself on his speech paper telling him when to raise or lower his voice, when to emote & when to look up at the camera or crowd.
Weak tea.
January 17, 2026 at 3:31 AM
When I think of Schumer, this is the image I have of him. Head down, little if any eye contact, & artificial passion.
I think he has instructions to himself on his speech paper telling him when to raise or lower his voice, when to emote & when to look up at the camera or crowd.
Weak tea.
I think he has instructions to himself on his speech paper telling him when to raise or lower his voice, when to emote & when to look up at the camera or crowd.
Weak tea.
Reposted by Paladin 55
Reposted by Paladin 55
BREAKING: Medical examiner says death of ICE detainee was a HOMICIDE - a witness says he was choked to death by GUARDS. www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Medical examiner believes death of man in ICE custody was homicide, recording says
A fellow detainee says he witnessed Geraldo Lunas Campos being choked to death by guards at the ICE detention center in Texas on Jan. 3.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 15, 2026 at 11:09 PM
BREAKING: Medical examiner says death of ICE detainee was a HOMICIDE - a witness says he was choked to death by GUARDS. www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Paladin 55
The Senate on Wednesday blocked a resolution that sought to force Donald Trump to seek congressional approval for any U military action related to Venezuela, because Josh Hawley and Todd Young were only holding out initially to get something now.
GROSS. www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
GROSS. www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
US Senate blocks effort to rein in Trump's Venezuela war powers
U.S. Senate Republicans voted on Wednesday against a resolution that would have barred President Donald Trump from further military action in Venezuela without Congress' authorization, after the Repub...
www.reuters.com
January 15, 2026 at 12:04 AM
The Senate on Wednesday blocked a resolution that sought to force Donald Trump to seek congressional approval for any U military action related to Venezuela, because Josh Hawley and Todd Young were only holding out initially to get something now.
GROSS. www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
GROSS. www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
...And, once again, Collins is able to vote against her party, knowing her vote didn't matter since Hawley and Young flipped.
January 15, 2026 at 12:54 AM
...And, once again, Collins is able to vote against her party, knowing her vote didn't matter since Hawley and Young flipped.
Reposted by Paladin 55
November 20, 2024 at 2:46 PM