Did He do that on Purpose?

Trump at the UN
September 23, 2026
Photo Credit: Anadolu / Getty Images

 I wonder who is really running the country. Trump asserted that Biden was asleep at the wheel, but Trump seems to be in a state of total dementia. Witness the embarrassing speech at the UN yesterday. 

Our President threatened to commit war crimes. He threatened to obliterate a society of 93 million people. 

At the United Nations, a meeting that should have been about ending the war in Ukraine became another opportunity for Donald Trump to talk about himself. Sitting beside Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he dominated the brief press conference, threatened Iran with obliteration, and then turned to his excitement about hosting President Xi and building a ballroom. Zelenskyy was there trying to secure peace for his country. Trump was talking about room capacity and the hottest ticket in town.(Hope for the Nation)

Is that who we, as a nation, have become? 

I think not. 

Our President is working for only himself and his family and not the good of the country and our people. We are sinking billions of our national treasure into a failed conflict. If he is such a good businessman, when does he begin to calculate that he is throwing good money after bad? 

Face it--he started a war and lost. The objectives, whatever they were, have not been achieved. 

And worse, our President is violating his oath of office by intentionally ignoring the 1st Amendment. 

Why?

To keep the news media from digging deeper into the Epstein Files, the corruption of the Trump Family as it fleeces the government, the failed Iran War, the failed promise to end the Ukraine-Russia war, failure to reduce inflation, failure to control prices and affordability. 

What is the common themes here? Corruption and failure. 

Think about it--even with the failed Iran War, had he ended the Ukraine-Russia war, diesel fuel would not be as expensive as it is! We would have dropped the Russian sanctions. Which makes me wonder, if there are sanctions against the Russians for oil, how is their lack of diesel production affecting the price, as Trump alleges?  

Does he lie on purpose? Or are his mental faculties so compromised that he doesn't know the difference?

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Keeping a Close Eye on Things

Seagull in Flight
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
February 17, 2022

 The seagull was keeping a close eye on the activities occurring nearby. There might have been food available nearby. 

I have been assaulted by campaign ads on the TV of late. Seems there is a very important election on the horizon. 

Campaign ads are worth watching to understand the motivations of the candidates. I came across ads that made wildly false claims. For instance, one ad, posted by a candidate for governor of Florida, falsely claimed that the other candidate intended to tax Social Security, tips, and other personal income sources. However, Florida doesn’t have a personal income tax. Recently, the same candidate has been alleging that the other candidate has a hurricane tax plan that will cost every family in Florida $1,000 per year. Upon researching this allegation, I found that it is entirely false. Moreover, the sources listed in the ad either don’t exist or are intended for a different program that doesn’t tax Florida residents. 

Florida does not need another fact fabricator as governor.

I would report the ads with the evidence I found, however, For actual lies in campaign ads, there is no Florida state agency with authority to adjudicate their truthfulness. Voters, the press, and the courts are the primary checks on false political speech. (ChatGPT)

We must stay sober and keep a close eye on things. 

Truth is out there, we need to work to find it.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

More Lies and Deception

 After helping our dog, Finn, survive the thunderstorm that settled atop our home during the middle of the night, I read a New York Times article that tightened my jaw. The article was about how our Secretary of Health, Robert Kennedy Jr., continues to ignore science while at the same time trying to promote Make America Healthy Again. Much of the article was about his presentation at the Children's Health Convention.

I was appalled to read in the article, titled, Kennedy Assures Vaccine Skeptics That They Have a ‘Friend at the White House’, that regarding the four measles deaths in Pennsylvania that, Mr. Kennedy publicly questioned whether measles played a role and suggested the deaths may have been “fabricated.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which he oversees, has refused to acknowledge them and is currently reporting no measles deaths for 2026.

Playing like an ostrich won’t alter the facts. I was reminded of a perplexing scenario: if someone has a severe heart condition, COPD, and is shot dead, what is the cause of death? Is it a heart attack, COPD, or lead poisoning?

I was also further distressed to read that at the conference. The speaker before Mr. Kennedy was Mark Gorton, the president of the MAHA Institute, who called the success of the polio vaccine a “fraud,"

The current administration had managed to destroy confidence in nearly every aspect of health management. The very governmental enters whose reasoned scientifically-based opinions were considered the "Gold-standard" around the world have been reduced to purveyors of repudiated theories and misinformation.

Lies and deception. I only hope we can put the genie back into the bottle.

Even more concerning, how many more children and adults will die because of the misguided acceptance of discredited and scientifically disproven theories? 

Sadly, the health related lies and deception continues a trend from Trump's first administration where estimates climb up to about 400,000 needless American deaths from COVID-19 due to the initial denial of its existence and then a slow response.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Lies, Lies and More Lies

Destroyed E-3A Sentry
Prince Sultan Air Force Base in Saudi Arabia
Undated by CBS News

 I hope trustworthy leadership will soon be restored. 

As the truth comes out, we discover that deception and deflection is the norm for the Executive Branch. Personal attacks on reported and dissenters is one clear war to discern that the truth is being hidden. 

Truth is slowly being reported. Iranian attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East have taken a toll on almost irreplaceable assets while injuring many of our military personnel. 

The Defense Department's inspector general this week released a fresh report on the war in Iran that revealed "equipment losses" worth up to $3.7 billion — including nearly 60 aircraft. In a first-of-its-kind mandatory report to Congress, the inspector general added that U.S. Central Command reported Iranian strikes at U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan. (CBS News)

It is sad when every word uttered by the President or the Secretary of Defense must be fact checked for truthfulness only to find that the overwhelming majority is, in their words, fake news, bold lies, and deception.

And then there is the Congress which continues to sit on its hands while the Executive Branch spends unappropriated monies, How this is happening demonstrates the fatal flaw in our system--it was built on trust and not designed to reign in an intentionally deceitful, criminally-convicted senior executive. 

The sad truth is that now we must adapt to a more oppressive system of government that ensure proper oversight and controls on the President and cabinet officials. But that system, which already exists in concept, relies on a fully functional Congress and Supreme Court. 

The truth is out there!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

A Commentary on America's Leadership

USS Abraham Lincoln Arriving Thailand
September 2, 2026
CNN

 The USS Abraham Lincoln pulled into port for the first time in about 9 months yesterday. Observers were shocked at its appearance. The once sleek and beautiful multi-billion dollar aircraft carrier was covered in rust from its continuous use and exposure to the seas during combat operations. 

Rust is not a condition that we expect to see on our naval warships. Our ships are supposed to be rust free and ready to operate at a moments notice. 

The toll of the extended combat deployment is clearly visible on the ship and its crew. 

The discussion on X regarding the rust is interesting and somewhat educational. Most people were defending the rust and the condition, but I fear they were missing the point. 

The point is that war is costly and takes a toll of people and equipment. It is not pretty to look at and war is expensive. 

When write that I am appalled at the image of the USS Abraham Lincoln I am expressing my outrage at the war and its toll. Our leadership does not understand the cost on people or equipment. Our national treasure is being squandered and the return on investment so far has been only negative. 

I am proud of the accomplishments of the crew of not only the USS Abraham Lincoln, but of the USS Gerald Ford and all of the military personnel who are engaged in conducting the war. 

The condition of the USS Abraham Lincoln is, I believe, a metaphor for our leadership, civilian and military, which, similar to the ship, is rust covered, broken, and no longer effective.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Contempt Continues

USS Abraham Lincoln

 It is obvious, once again, that neither the president nor the Secretary of Defense have any real concern for the military people they are sending into harm's way. 

• Speaking to reporters in Washington before departing for an event in Long Island, Trump snapped, “No, they’re not,” when a reporter suggested family members of U.S. servicemembers aboard the vesselgrowing concerned about the crew, which has spent more than eight and a half months at sea.

  Asked whether the deployment had gone on too long, Trump said its deployment had lasted “not nearly long enough.” He acknowledged, however, that the Navy would soon be replaced by “with another very similar ship.” [emphasis added] (Daily Kos)

Trump and Hegseth
USA Today
undated

Likewise, Secretary of Defense Hegseth dismissed reports of difficult living conditions and limited food as false news.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday claimed that conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier have been “completely misrepresented” following reports that sailors, struggling with low morale during a grueling deployment, have attempted to jump overboard. (The Hill)

The family members of sailors aboard the aircraft carrier are making convincing arguments that the two most senior leaders of our nation's military are either woefully under informed or are consciously distorting the truth.

A BBC story lays out the situation fairly well devoid of the bias associated with U.S. media. The story, titled, 

Conditions on US aircraft carrier at sea for more than 250 days raise alarms

Thousands of US military members who have lived aboard an aircraft carrier for more than 250 days are reportedly contending with food shortages, broken plumbing and exhaustion, leading lawmakers to demand answers from the Pentagon and pressure the Trump administration over the Iran war.

Military news outlets reported that some USS Abraham Lincoln sailors had attempted to jump overboard, while families have raised concerns about mental health aboard the ship.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called reports of conditions "completely misrepresented" on Thursday. (BBC)

This shows that neither man really cares about the people being tasked to carry out their orders. I call that contempt. It should be remembered that the USS Gerald Ford experienced similar problems during its nearly year-long combat deployment. 

‘Psychological Breaking Point’: U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier Gerald R. Ford Has Been Pushed to Its Limits

What would the appropriate response to the reports look like? 

Instead of denying the reporting, taking responsibility and saying that they are concerned about the sailors and all military personnel assigned to the region and that they will look into the matter and that if the reports are true, the problems will be expeditiously resolved. 

Trump and Hegseth are abusing the preeminent combat force in the world and rendering it ineffective through overuse and inadequate support.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Perhaps it is time

 I watched the President's address last night. It was hard because I had to change channels in the middle because the channel I was watching decided to launch into commentary.

For context, we are losing/lost a war with Iran, the economy is tilted against most Americans, and our president still pushes the mantra that the 2020 election was stolen from him even though he was the president and in-charge at the time. 

Weird, huh?

He does not care about the plight of everyday, non-billionaire Americans. 

I have begun poring through the documents released on the White House website. I admit, I have not read meany but those I have read, and I am focused upon the Michigan Voter Registration tranche, detail successful investigations which may have uncovered illegalities but no illegal votes were cast. 

So far, the documents confirm that the current system works!

There is no smoke and there was no fire. 

And wait . . . wasn't Trump president during the 2020 election? And he wasn't president during the two elections he won: 2016 and 2024. Go figure! This apparently confirms that he may be the problem.

It may be time for the Vice President to work the Cabinet to implement the 25th Amendment to remove our apparently senile and out-of-touch president from office. I know that it is a stretch, but someone needs to work to save the republic from the whip-saw rantings we are experiencing. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Lazy Days and Mondays

Happy Bastille Day

Vive La France! 

Well a busy week just got easier. 

We canceled our boat and so we have nothing on the agenda for today. That means a relaxing day. Tomorrow is already jam packed with meetings and activities throughout the day. 

Bastille Day is my second favorite foreign holiday. I think I will be looking for something French. A good French wine comes to mind. And I have a few! I just realized that the French are in involved in both of my favorite foreign holidays: Bastille Day and Cinco de Mayo. One is a jail-break to start a revolution and the other is an embarrassing defeat.

Turning to the U.S., however, the news is not so great and there is definitely no reason to celebrate. 

ICE continues out of control and we can thank the Republicans for that. If no one is above the law, then why do ICE killings continue without apparent consequences. 

Monday was definitely not a lazy day. There was an ICE killing in Maine--

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin initially told Senator Angus King that Guerrero was the target of the warrant. Hours later, Mullin called King back to correct himself. The victim was not the target. They killed the wrong person. ICE is a rogue agency. The president’s own military force, and people are dying. (Hope for America)

My thought here is, why are agents shooting the driver and not the car? Kill the car; it will stop and the driver can then be detained, questioned, and/or arrested--alive. 

Inquiring minds want to know!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Everything Turns to . . .

 Some people have a natural capacity to take any situation and make it come out badly. 

Apparently, and now very clearly, that is one of President Trump's superpowers. 

Whom else could make a casino go bankrupt?

Since the beginning of his second term this superpower has become all too clear.

Consider this: 

Lost a war that he started

Ruined the reflecting pool

Hijacked the America 250 celebration

Destroyed the East Wing of the White House

Eroded trust in the U.S. as an ally

Allowed inflation to almost double 

Eroded economic confidence

Destroyed our economy

Strangled the world's energy supply

Allowed Iran to take control of the Strait of Hormuz

Implemented tariffs--how's that working out?

Took a solid immigration idea and made it oppressive and inconsistent. I think we all agree that deporting the worst of the worst is a good thing! If only that were actually what is happening.

Eroded health care for millions

Cast doubts on our election process. How did he get elected if the process is so bad?

Failed to support Ukraine

Confirmed that oligarchs do not make good leaders

And this is just in a year and a half!

Most recently, 

Interference with the USMNT in the World Cup resulted in the fifth largest blow-out in tournament history as the team was soundly spanked and fell to Belgium by a score of 4-1.

Yup, he did it and needs all of the blame because if the team had won, he would have taken all of the credit!

His management of personal wealth could be a bright spot for him, but, remember, he says he doesn't make those decisions. Apparently, given the body of evidence, this is true. 

Happy Hump Day!

(It's gonna get better, right?)

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Vespasian builds a Colosseum

 

UFC Arena under Construction
The White House, Washington, D.C.
May 2026

Construction of the Roman colosseum began under Emperor Vespasian in AD 72 and was completed by his son Titus in AD 80 with final modifications made by Domitian in AD 82. Authoritarian leaders seem to enjoy hosting sporting events. 

Which brings me to the White House. Our president is building  a modern colosseum on the White house grounds. He plans to host an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event on Flag Day and his birthday. Modern gladiators will compete at this event.

How depraved is that? 

The People's House will be host to a gladiator style sporting event.

I'm revolted!

Of course, this is after the president destroyed the East Wing, plowed under the Rose Garden, and added far too much gold to the venerable People's House. The White House is not the residence of an emperor, it is the residence of a public servant. He doesn't realize that he is living there at the pleasure of "We the People" and shouldn't be making changes on a whim. He doesn't own it, he doesn't rent it.

And why is this all happening? To distract us. To keep us from pulling back the layers of corruption and uncovering what is happening in America today. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Three-Day Weekend Blues

 

The unofficial start to Summer has arrived! 

Travelers, start your engines. 

It is going to be quite a weekend and I am glad that we are not traveling until next weekend, maybe the craziness will subside. 

Today is a boat day. Chris, Finn, and I will be heading out on the ICW for some enjoyment. It should be a beautiful day and we will enjoy some beach fun on North Jupiter Island followed by shopping and lunch in Stuart. 

I was encouraged by some things that happened in the Congress yesterday, especially concerning the $1.8B slush fund that the Acting Attorney General and Trump want to establish. It was reported as follows:

Republicans were angry they had no advance warning about the plan, questioned the legal basis for the fund, were unhappy with Blanche’s descriptions of how payments would work, and said they wanted no part of it. As former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) put it: “So the nation’s top law enforcement official is asking for a slush fund to pay people who assault cops? Utterly stupid, morally wrong—Take your pick.”  (Letters from an American)

Then, Congress departed for the holiday weekend a day early.

But before they left, the House Republicans managed to cancel an important vote on the Iran War. 

House Republicans on Thursday abruptly canceled a vote on a resolution directing President Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from Iran or win approval from Congress to continue the war, after it became clear they lacked the votes to defeat the measure.

The retreat was a striking setback that exposed fractures within the G.O.P. over the conflict at a moment when the party has begun pushing back forcefully on Mr. Trump and his agenda. (NY Times)

Maybe there is some positive change afoot in Congress.

But then, as I wrote, they departed a day early. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Thank you, I want some more?

 

A banner thanking President Donald Trump
 for improvements to Logan Circle.
(Philip Kennicott/The Washington Post)

Living with a megalomaniac as president is something that I never considered possible in the United States. But yet, here we are. 

I came across the banner at the right as it was published in the Washington Post and I found it frightening when I considered all of the things for which I can thank our president.

Thank you President Trump . . .  (not an all inclusive list)

for adding $2.8 trillion to the national debt since starting your second term

for the tariffs which are generating income straight from the wallets of Americans

for starting a war with Iran that may never end

for ensuring Iran never gets a nuclear weapon (oh, wait, hasn't happened)

for strangling the world by losing control of the Strait of Hormuz

for deporting so many people trying to find a better life in America

for destroying the American dream

for increasing the price of coffee

for higher grocery store prices

for eliminating inflation (higher now than when took office)

for terminating renewable and green sources of energy production which has caused the price of energy to rise as AI Data Centers start sucking up more energy

for putting your name on the Kennedy Center

for putting your signature on our money

for putting your face in our passports

for changing the name of PBI and then trademarking the name so your family makes money of anything sold with the new name of the airport on it 

for increasing your family's wealth by $3-5 billion since the beginning of your second term

for selling telephones that do not exist

for lowering the price of prescription drugs

for removing access to affordable medical care for millions of Americans

for terminating support for the Ukrainians in their fight against Russian aggression

for tearing down the East Wing of the White House promising its replacement would be funded privately and then asking Congress for $1B

for painting the bottom of the Reflecting Pool blue

for trampling the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments

for reducing the Freedom of the Press 

for creating your own police force (ICE) which needs to cover their faces because they are not bound by the Constitution

for choosing to fund war over assistance to Americans

for hurting our farmers through tariffs and war

for making decisions that destroy natural resources

for the measles outbreak

for giving tax breaks to your billionaires

for taking food out of the mouths of children in the U.S. and around the world

for two new golden statues of you (I think there is a story in the Bible about a Golden Calf in Exodus 32) 

for destroying the Rose Garden

for getting rid of the penny (which is actually a good thing)

for blaming all of your problems on Biden 

for having the most ineffective cabinet in the history of the U.S. 

for not taking responsibility for the problems you have created in the U.S. and around the World

for making Americans less safe

for destroying relationships with our Allies

for America First (but last after the family makes a profit?) 

for trying to take Greenland

for threatening to make Canada our 51st State

for reducing the rights of women to have control over their bodies 

for releasing the Epstein files (or not) 

  Who knew there was so much to be thankful for? "Please sir, I want some more?"

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta