Tom Benner
@thb44.bsky.social
Gettysburg College alumnus
retired immigration attorney
retired actuary
avid reader of history books and 19th century novels
pickleball fanatic
retired immigration attorney
retired actuary
avid reader of history books and 19th century novels
pickleball fanatic
“A president who can make a war of choice, not of necessity, at his pleasure, on the basis of privileged information, treating his critics as enemies of the state, is no longer a surreal fantasy.”
--Garry Wills, New York Review of Books, November 18, 2004, commenting on George W. Bush's Iraq War
--Garry Wills, New York Review of Books, November 18, 2004, commenting on George W. Bush's Iraq War
October 21, 2025 at 2:27 PM
“A president who can make a war of choice, not of necessity, at his pleasure, on the basis of privileged information, treating his critics as enemies of the state, is no longer a surreal fantasy.”
--Garry Wills, New York Review of Books, November 18, 2004, commenting on George W. Bush's Iraq War
--Garry Wills, New York Review of Books, November 18, 2004, commenting on George W. Bush's Iraq War
Let’s not forget that today is also the 52nd anniversary of Pinochet’s coup. Nearly 3,000 people died on 9/11/2001. A similar number died on 9/11/1973 in Chile, and many thousands more suffered arrest, prison, and torture in the following years and months. Both anniversaries should be remembered.
September 11, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Let’s not forget that today is also the 52nd anniversary of Pinochet’s coup. Nearly 3,000 people died on 9/11/2001. A similar number died on 9/11/1973 in Chile, and many thousands more suffered arrest, prison, and torture in the following years and months. Both anniversaries should be remembered.
This (yesterday's murder of Charlie Kirk) is just awful. Those little kids are going to grow up without their father now. And the guy in the White House is going to use it to foment more hatred. Right now it’s hard to see how this violence will ever end.
September 11, 2025 at 3:10 PM
This (yesterday's murder of Charlie Kirk) is just awful. Those little kids are going to grow up without their father now. And the guy in the White House is going to use it to foment more hatred. Right now it’s hard to see how this violence will ever end.
One thing the First Felon can do to show he is serious about dealing with political violence: reinstate Kamala Harris’s Secret Service protection.
September 10, 2025 at 9:36 PM
One thing the First Felon can do to show he is serious about dealing with political violence: reinstate Kamala Harris’s Secret Service protection.
All this tariff nonsense strongly suggests that the First Felon’s mind, which was never all that strong to begin with, having not been exercised very much in its 79+ years of existence, is deteriorating rapidly.
July 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM
All this tariff nonsense strongly suggests that the First Felon’s mind, which was never all that strong to begin with, having not been exercised very much in its 79+ years of existence, is deteriorating rapidly.
I don’t think Susan Collins deserves any credit for voting against the We’re All Going to Die Bill. If her vote had been needed to pass it, I’m sure she would have caved. Her no vote was cast with her reelection bid in mind.
July 3, 2025 at 12:26 PM
I don’t think Susan Collins deserves any credit for voting against the We’re All Going to Die Bill. If her vote had been needed to pass it, I’m sure she would have caved. Her no vote was cast with her reelection bid in mind.
This is a perilous moment in world affairs: lots of Irani and Israeli citizens’ lives are at risk, and we have an utter moron in the White House, who will base his decisions solely on what he thinks is best for him personally. I am once again—and I hate having to say this—ashamed to be an American.
June 19, 2025 at 7:23 PM
This is a perilous moment in world affairs: lots of Irani and Israeli citizens’ lives are at risk, and we have an utter moron in the White House, who will base his decisions solely on what he thinks is best for him personally. I am once again—and I hate having to say this—ashamed to be an American.
This is amazing! John Tyler, the 10th president, left the White House in 1845. His last surviving grandson just died, at 96.
May 31, 2025 at 12:01 PM
This is amazing! John Tyler, the 10th president, left the White House in 1845. His last surviving grandson just died, at 96.
Clarification: Roy Den Hollander, the killer of Judge Salas’s son, was an “anti-feminist” lawyer, per Wikipedia. Although he had extreme anti-women views, and likely was a supporter of the First Felon, my characterization of him in a previous post as a “MAGA creep" may or may not have been accurate.
May 28, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Clarification: Roy Den Hollander, the killer of Judge Salas’s son, was an “anti-feminist” lawyer, per Wikipedia. Although he had extreme anti-women views, and likely was a supporter of the First Felon, my characterization of him in a previous post as a “MAGA creep" may or may not have been accurate.
Judge Esther Salas, whose son was murdered, in her home, because a MAGA creep didn’t like her rulings, is on Nicole Wallace’s program right now, pleading with the First Felon to stop the nasty rhetoric. It’s heartbreaking to watch this, because he won't listen. He has no sense of decency or morals.
May 28, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Judge Esther Salas, whose son was murdered, in her home, because a MAGA creep didn’t like her rulings, is on Nicole Wallace’s program right now, pleading with the First Felon to stop the nasty rhetoric. It’s heartbreaking to watch this, because he won't listen. He has no sense of decency or morals.
I love watching golf tournaments on TV. But the major championships are much less fun because of the presence of LIV golfers, who, like the First Felon, have accepted huge bribes from monarchies with terrible human rights records. Shame on you, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and the others.
May 17, 2025 at 8:43 PM
I love watching golf tournaments on TV. But the major championships are much less fun because of the presence of LIV golfers, who, like the First Felon, have accepted huge bribes from monarchies with terrible human rights records. Shame on you, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and the others.
This is absolute insanity. Give these people a ride home. Or at least take them to a safer place downtown.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/u...
When Getting Out of Jail Means a Deadly Walk Home
www.nytimes.com
May 13, 2025 at 1:54 PM
This is absolute insanity. Give these people a ride home. Or at least take them to a safer place downtown.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/u...
impeach
convict
remove
indict
prosecute
convict
imprison
repeat as necessary
convict
remove
indict
prosecute
convict
imprison
repeat as necessary
May 2, 2025 at 9:41 PM
impeach
convict
remove
indict
prosecute
convict
imprison
repeat as necessary
convict
remove
indict
prosecute
convict
imprison
repeat as necessary
It's great that the First Felon's polls are heading south in a hurry, but it’s hard to celebrate when real people are suffering because of him. The 4-year-old child with stage 4 cancer is just one of dozens, hundreds, thousands, who will be harmed, in many cases irrevocably, by this administration.
April 29, 2025 at 8:55 PM
It's great that the First Felon's polls are heading south in a hurry, but it’s hard to celebrate when real people are suffering because of him. The 4-year-old child with stage 4 cancer is just one of dozens, hundreds, thousands, who will be harmed, in many cases irrevocably, by this administration.
From Nate Silver: the First Felon’s “second-term approval polls, accounting for each poll's quality, recency, sample size, and partisan lean” (quoting from the Silver Bulletin website):
Jan 21: approval 51.6%; disapproval 40.0% (up 11.6)
April 27: 44.1% and 53.2% (down 9.1)
Down 20.7 in 96 days!
Jan 21: approval 51.6%; disapproval 40.0% (up 11.6)
April 27: 44.1% and 53.2% (down 9.1)
Down 20.7 in 96 days!
April 27, 2025 at 5:53 PM
From Nate Silver: the First Felon’s “second-term approval polls, accounting for each poll's quality, recency, sample size, and partisan lean” (quoting from the Silver Bulletin website):
Jan 21: approval 51.6%; disapproval 40.0% (up 11.6)
April 27: 44.1% and 53.2% (down 9.1)
Down 20.7 in 96 days!
Jan 21: approval 51.6%; disapproval 40.0% (up 11.6)
April 27: 44.1% and 53.2% (down 9.1)
Down 20.7 in 96 days!
Hi wifey! Hi brother! Hi friends! Look at me! I’m a very important person. I have a very important job. Look at all the important stuff I get to do, and the special secret information I get to see. Aren’t you impressed at how important I am?
April 22, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Hi wifey! Hi brother! Hi friends! Look at me! I’m a very important person. I have a very important job. Look at all the important stuff I get to do, and the special secret information I get to see. Aren’t you impressed at how important I am?
It's hard for me to believe that Stephen Miller actually believes what he is saying here. If he does really believe it, there is something seriously wrong with his perception of reality. If not, then he is as evil and cynical as I have imagined him to be.
Not to state the obvious, but none of them were sent to a terrorist prison in El Salvador. They all had lawyers, indictment by grand jury, a trial or a guilty plea where a judge ensured it was knowing & voluntary & access to an appeals process. In other words, all the hallmarks of due process.
April 21, 2025 at 9:54 PM
It's hard for me to believe that Stephen Miller actually believes what he is saying here. If he does really believe it, there is something seriously wrong with his perception of reality. If not, then he is as evil and cynical as I have imagined him to be.
The latest Hegseth news once again highlights the need for Republican legislators to step up, show some courage, put country ahead of themselves. Which ones are most likely to be responsive to public appeals to do something to reduce the damage this administration is doing?
April 21, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The latest Hegseth news once again highlights the need for Republican legislators to step up, show some courage, put country ahead of themselves. Which ones are most likely to be responsive to public appeals to do something to reduce the damage this administration is doing?
Just saw the First Felon's comment on the arson attack at Pa. Gov. Shapiro’s home. He said the assailant “was not a fan of Trump.” That’s what matters to him: whether he can be blamed. He can’t even pretend to care about anything other than himself. What a miserable excuse for a human being.
April 14, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Just saw the First Felon's comment on the arson attack at Pa. Gov. Shapiro’s home. He said the assailant “was not a fan of Trump.” That’s what matters to him: whether he can be blamed. He can’t even pretend to care about anything other than himself. What a miserable excuse for a human being.
The First Felon is making this ridiculous tariff nonsense up from moment to moment. But we knew that all along. He is incapable of serious thought or sustained work. He never has been; he has BS’ed and lied his way through life. He will be 79 years old soon, so that’s not going to change.
April 10, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The First Felon is making this ridiculous tariff nonsense up from moment to moment. But we knew that all along. He is incapable of serious thought or sustained work. He never has been; he has BS’ed and lied his way through life. He will be 79 years old soon, so that’s not going to change.
Reposted by Tom Benner
"Our constitutional system was never meant to be vulnerable to the whims and fantasies of one man. But due to the cowardice and cupidity of the GOP and others, we’ve lost our antibodies to strongman rule, and find ourselves bowing before a power-drunk man-child."
www.thebulwark.com/p/trade-and-...
www.thebulwark.com/p/trade-and-...
On Trade and Tariffs, Trump’s Stubborn Ignorance Shines Bright
The president can't be taught. And we’re suffering for it.
www.thebulwark.com
April 4, 2025 at 11:47 AM
"Our constitutional system was never meant to be vulnerable to the whims and fantasies of one man. But due to the cowardice and cupidity of the GOP and others, we’ve lost our antibodies to strongman rule, and find ourselves bowing before a power-drunk man-child."
www.thebulwark.com/p/trade-and-...
www.thebulwark.com/p/trade-and-...
Reposted by Tom Benner
Donald Trump has committed the most profound, harmful and unnecessary economic error in the modern era. Almost everything he said—on history, economics and the technicalities of trade—was utterly deluded econ.st/3YbbFjq
April 3, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Donald Trump has committed the most profound, harmful and unnecessary economic error in the modern era. Almost everything he said—on history, economics and the technicalities of trade—was utterly deluded econ.st/3YbbFjq
Senator Booker just broke Thurmond's record for the longest Senate speech in history. Thurmond's filibuster was an effort to stop a civil rights bill from passing; Booker gave his address in the pursuit of justice and the defense of democracy.
Well done, Senator Booker!
Well done, Senator Booker!
Booker on Strom Thurmond: "I'm not here because of his speech. I'm here in spite of his speech. I'm here because as poweful as he was, the people were more powerful."
April 1, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Senator Booker just broke Thurmond's record for the longest Senate speech in history. Thurmond's filibuster was an effort to stop a civil rights bill from passing; Booker gave his address in the pursuit of justice and the defense of democracy.
Well done, Senator Booker!
Well done, Senator Booker!
We should all be extremely grateful for the effort Senator Corey Booker is making on our behalf. Here's hoping his marathon speech today--now in its 23rd hour--will have a positive effect in highlighting the damage the First Felon's administration is doing to our nation and the world.
April 1, 2025 at 9:43 PM
We should all be extremely grateful for the effort Senator Corey Booker is making on our behalf. Here's hoping his marathon speech today--now in its 23rd hour--will have a positive effect in highlighting the damage the First Felon's administration is doing to our nation and the world.
Reposted by Tom Benner
Very honest questions:
1) Has Rubio been pushed on what we are going to do about the obviously innocent people we sent to El Salvadoran torture prison?
2) Regardless of their priors: Has Rubio publicly stated how long we are going to keep paying El Salvador to torture the people we are sending them?
1) Has Rubio been pushed on what we are going to do about the obviously innocent people we sent to El Salvadoran torture prison?
2) Regardless of their priors: Has Rubio publicly stated how long we are going to keep paying El Salvador to torture the people we are sending them?
March 31, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Very honest questions:
1) Has Rubio been pushed on what we are going to do about the obviously innocent people we sent to El Salvadoran torture prison?
2) Regardless of their priors: Has Rubio publicly stated how long we are going to keep paying El Salvador to torture the people we are sending them?
1) Has Rubio been pushed on what we are going to do about the obviously innocent people we sent to El Salvadoran torture prison?
2) Regardless of their priors: Has Rubio publicly stated how long we are going to keep paying El Salvador to torture the people we are sending them?