Lars
@tambopaxi.bsky.social
Vietnam Vet, retired Senior Foreign Service Officer, Expat living in Quito, Ecuador 23 years, solid Bernie Sanders guy.
Reposted by Lars
Did you know that the Founders were so vehemently against having a standing army that might do what Comer is calling for that they explicitly wrote into the Constitution that Congress has to reauthorize the existence of the Army every two years or the entire thing has to disband?
![ArtI.S8.C12.1 Overview of the Army Clause
Article I, Section 8, Clause 12:
[The Congress shall have Power . . . ] To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; . . .
The Army Clause1 provides Congress with authority to raise and support armies—an essential element of the federal government’s suite of war powers.2 The Clause’s structure reflects the Framers’ efforts to balance two competing concerns in the Founding era: a widespread mistrust of peacetime standing armies and the new nation’s desire to ensure security through military protection.3 The Framers sought to address both issues by authorizing Congress to raise and maintain armies, while requiring renewal of appropriations for that purpose every two years to ensure democratically elected representatives continued to support the army.4 Although congressional power to raise and support armies has sometimes come into tension with other constitutional rights and principles,5 the Supreme Court has described this power as broad and sweeping,6 and it has rejected some claimed limits on Congress’s authority under the Army Clause.7](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2vtbmhmrwzbqcfv4we4uxzzt/bafkreicixd3f7kjyqpqfpdq5dqvkwbypf5l2prdpiist2px7rreyva65y4@jpeg)
August 14, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Did you know that the Founders were so vehemently against having a standing army that might do what Comer is calling for that they explicitly wrote into the Constitution that Congress has to reauthorize the existence of the Army every two years or the entire thing has to disband?
Reposted by Lars
"The State Department claimed...that its focus was on eliminating “abortifacients”—drugs or devices that induce abortion. However, none of the contraceptives stored in the Belgian warehouse fit that definition...Beyond the outrageous fiscal and material waste, the harms are equally massive."
Setting fire to women's health
The Trump administration would rather burn contraceptives than help women and girls in developing nations.
contrarian.substack.com
August 14, 2025 at 3:28 PM
"The State Department claimed...that its focus was on eliminating “abortifacients”—drugs or devices that induce abortion. However, none of the contraceptives stored in the Belgian warehouse fit that definition...Beyond the outrageous fiscal and material waste, the harms are equally massive."
Reposted by Lars
here's today's post: "racist game show host whines about never winning Kennedy Center award" — Donny spins the Big Wheel of Grievance.
thanks for reading, and please sign up for my daily newsletter to keep getting the good stuff —
thanks for reading, and please sign up for my daily newsletter to keep getting the good stuff —
racist game show host whines about never winning Kennedy Center award
Donny spins the Big Wheel of Grievance
bit.ly
August 14, 2025 at 3:32 PM
here's today's post: "racist game show host whines about never winning Kennedy Center award" — Donny spins the Big Wheel of Grievance.
thanks for reading, and please sign up for my daily newsletter to keep getting the good stuff —
thanks for reading, and please sign up for my daily newsletter to keep getting the good stuff —
Reposted by Lars
In 1994, I took a lot of heat for this speech warning that the American middle class was in danger. Watch and tell me if I was wrong. https://youtu.be/Bnd0eSuxu84?si=Iw9SwyzxCB9MXBpb
A Warning from 1994 of a Two-Tiered Society | Robert Reich
In 1994, I took a lot of heat for this speech warning that the American middle class was in danger. That was 29 years ag
youtu.be
June 29, 2025 at 1:01 AM
In 1994, I took a lot of heat for this speech warning that the American middle class was in danger. Watch and tell me if I was wrong. https://youtu.be/Bnd0eSuxu84?si=Iw9SwyzxCB9MXBpb
Reposted by Lars
disgusting amounts of money here, and it calls to mind another funding event on this same timeline, that changed America in a profound way—the post-9/11 Border Patrol. www.politico.com/magazine/sto...
June 28, 2025 at 11:55 PM
disgusting amounts of money here, and it calls to mind another funding event on this same timeline, that changed America in a profound way—the post-9/11 Border Patrol. www.politico.com/magazine/sto...
Reposted by Lars
Notice how federal judges only get restrained when Trump’s president?
June 29, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Notice how federal judges only get restrained when Trump’s president?
Reposted by Lars
Reposted by Lars
June 8, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Lars
So let me get this straight.
While Trump’s DHS escalates & inflames the situation in Los Angeles (and around the country), the top Republican on the Homeland Security Committee is resigning from Congress.
Probably nothing to see here.
Nope. Probably nothing at all.
While Trump’s DHS escalates & inflames the situation in Los Angeles (and around the country), the top Republican on the Homeland Security Committee is resigning from Congress.
Probably nothing to see here.
Nope. Probably nothing at all.
June 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
So let me get this straight.
While Trump’s DHS escalates & inflames the situation in Los Angeles (and around the country), the top Republican on the Homeland Security Committee is resigning from Congress.
Probably nothing to see here.
Nope. Probably nothing at all.
While Trump’s DHS escalates & inflames the situation in Los Angeles (and around the country), the top Republican on the Homeland Security Committee is resigning from Congress.
Probably nothing to see here.
Nope. Probably nothing at all.
Reposted by Lars
It would be a significant step
May 12, 2025 at 8:04 PM
It would be a significant step
Reposted by Lars
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
May 12, 2025 at 12:24 PM
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Reposted by Lars
Yeah, that's funny, very funny.
May 12, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Yeah, that's funny, very funny.
Reposted by Lars
You know who don’t have to do what they’re doing?
ICE agents.
You know who didn’t have to do what they did?
Gestapo agents.
They’re choosing to do this just as they chose to do that.
ICE agents.
You know who didn’t have to do what they did?
Gestapo agents.
They’re choosing to do this just as they chose to do that.
May 11, 2025 at 1:11 PM
You know who don’t have to do what they’re doing?
ICE agents.
You know who didn’t have to do what they did?
Gestapo agents.
They’re choosing to do this just as they chose to do that.
ICE agents.
You know who didn’t have to do what they did?
Gestapo agents.
They’re choosing to do this just as they chose to do that.
Reposted by Lars
Trump and FEMA have turned their back on fire victims like Heidy!
We need to raise the final $2660 so that she can move in on May 17th!
We just have to pay for a security system and a fire suppression and sprinkler system!
Please chip in $25, $50, $100 or more and we'll cross that finish line:
We need to raise the final $2660 so that she can move in on May 17th!
We just have to pay for a security system and a fire suppression and sprinkler system!
Please chip in $25, $50, $100 or more and we'll cross that finish line:
May 7, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Trump and FEMA have turned their back on fire victims like Heidy!
We need to raise the final $2660 so that she can move in on May 17th!
We just have to pay for a security system and a fire suppression and sprinkler system!
Please chip in $25, $50, $100 or more and we'll cross that finish line:
We need to raise the final $2660 so that she can move in on May 17th!
We just have to pay for a security system and a fire suppression and sprinkler system!
Please chip in $25, $50, $100 or more and we'll cross that finish line:
Reposted by Lars
If you're not following Eric Rosen on #Bluesky -- you can change that!
He's a real fight -- smart, tough and also very funny.
But he's pissed and he stays on top of Musk and Trump every day -- and he's fighting for our democracy.
Let's get him to 15,000 followers: erosen1.bsky.social
He's a real fight -- smart, tough and also very funny.
But he's pissed and he stays on top of Musk and Trump every day -- and he's fighting for our democracy.
Let's get him to 15,000 followers: erosen1.bsky.social
We have to become the people of Serbia so we don’t become the people of North Korea.
March 16, 2025 at 2:13 PM
If you're not following Eric Rosen on #Bluesky -- you can change that!
He's a real fight -- smart, tough and also very funny.
But he's pissed and he stays on top of Musk and Trump every day -- and he's fighting for our democracy.
Let's get him to 15,000 followers: erosen1.bsky.social
He's a real fight -- smart, tough and also very funny.
But he's pissed and he stays on top of Musk and Trump every day -- and he's fighting for our democracy.
Let's get him to 15,000 followers: erosen1.bsky.social
Reposted by Lars
We the taxpayers will pay for the millions spent upgrading to the the dictators specifications! The plane is a “gift” to the dept. of defense, so he thinks it’s ok. under the constitution! If that’s the case he doesn’t get to keep it when he’s out of office. It’s not his, it’s the countrys!!
May 12, 2025 at 7:52 PM
We the taxpayers will pay for the millions spent upgrading to the the dictators specifications! The plane is a “gift” to the dept. of defense, so he thinks it’s ok. under the constitution! If that’s the case he doesn’t get to keep it when he’s out of office. It’s not his, it’s the countrys!!
Reposted by Lars
Just another Maga Monday:
White people from South Africa are now being brought to the US as trump grants them refugee status while he is deporting brown & black people by the plane and bus load.
Taxpayers are funding racism.
White people from South Africa are now being brought to the US as trump grants them refugee status while he is deporting brown & black people by the plane and bus load.
Taxpayers are funding racism.
May 12, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Just another Maga Monday:
White people from South Africa are now being brought to the US as trump grants them refugee status while he is deporting brown & black people by the plane and bus load.
Taxpayers are funding racism.
White people from South Africa are now being brought to the US as trump grants them refugee status while he is deporting brown & black people by the plane and bus load.
Taxpayers are funding racism.
Reposted by Lars
How incredibly awful is this current regime? They made me agree with Josh Hawley…
May 12, 2025 at 7:54 PM
How incredibly awful is this current regime? They made me agree with Josh Hawley…
Reposted by Lars
Pope Francis’s "Urbi et Orbi" Easter speech:
“How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized and migrants...I appeal to all those in positions of political responsibility in our world not to yield to the logic of fear which only leads to isolation from others.”
“How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized and migrants...I appeal to all those in positions of political responsibility in our world not to yield to the logic of fear which only leads to isolation from others.”
April 21, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Pope Francis’s "Urbi et Orbi" Easter speech:
“How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized and migrants...I appeal to all those in positions of political responsibility in our world not to yield to the logic of fear which only leads to isolation from others.”
“How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized and migrants...I appeal to all those in positions of political responsibility in our world not to yield to the logic of fear which only leads to isolation from others.”
Reposted by Lars
“Oh bury me, then rise ye up
And break your heavy chains
And water with the tyrants’ blood The freedom you have gained”
Stand strong Darya Kozyreva. You are on the right side of history! ✊
And break your heavy chains
And water with the tyrants’ blood The freedom you have gained”
Stand strong Darya Kozyreva. You are on the right side of history! ✊
Russia sentences 19-year-old woman to nearly three years in a penal colony after poetic anti-war protest | CNN
A St Petersburg court has sentenced a 19-year-old woman to nearly three years in a penal colony after she was accused of repeatedly “discrediting” the Russian army, including by gluing a quotation on ...
www.cnn.com
April 20, 2025 at 10:49 PM
“Oh bury me, then rise ye up
And break your heavy chains
And water with the tyrants’ blood The freedom you have gained”
Stand strong Darya Kozyreva. You are on the right side of history! ✊
And break your heavy chains
And water with the tyrants’ blood The freedom you have gained”
Stand strong Darya Kozyreva. You are on the right side of history! ✊
Reposted by Lars
As stupid as it is that higher ed discourse revolves around Harvard, their growing a spine will generate a permission structure for the underfunded majority to do similar. Almost as important as the position of your state AG or whatever.
April 14, 2025 at 5:58 PM
As stupid as it is that higher ed discourse revolves around Harvard, their growing a spine will generate a permission structure for the underfunded majority to do similar. Almost as important as the position of your state AG or whatever.
Reposted by Lars
“We are here: Trump is openly defying the Supreme Court while sitting side-by-side with a Latin American strongman who openly mocks our judicial system from inside the Oval Office.” @timmiller.bsky.social and I are depressed, alarmed, angry. Where is the resistance?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CSh...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CSh...
We’re Staring Down A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS! (w/ Bill Kristol)
YouTube video by The Bulwark
www.youtube.com
April 14, 2025 at 8:55 PM
“We are here: Trump is openly defying the Supreme Court while sitting side-by-side with a Latin American strongman who openly mocks our judicial system from inside the Oval Office.” @timmiller.bsky.social and I are depressed, alarmed, angry. Where is the resistance?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CSh...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CSh...
Reposted by Lars
Four R senators and four R House members could announce they're caucusing with the Dems for now, and will vote for Schumer for Majority Leader and Jeffries for Speaker, because the threat to the rule of law is dire. Meanwhile, they'll work with Democrats to construct guardrails against dictatorship.
April 14, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Four R senators and four R House members could announce they're caucusing with the Dems for now, and will vote for Schumer for Majority Leader and Jeffries for Speaker, because the threat to the rule of law is dire. Meanwhile, they'll work with Democrats to construct guardrails against dictatorship.
Reposted by Lars
Plenty of complaints about Harvard over the years, but a proud Harvard alum today.
wapo.st/4cH9vy3
wapo.st/4cH9vy3
Harvard rejects Trump administration’s demands with federal funding at risk
The university’s response comes after the government announced a federal review of nearly $9 billion in funding to Harvard and its affiliates.
wapo.st
April 14, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Plenty of complaints about Harvard over the years, but a proud Harvard alum today.
wapo.st/4cH9vy3
wapo.st/4cH9vy3