Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II. I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I. We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything — That’s because we don’t have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!
- The American Pretender
"I want to draw attention to something maybe less obvious about what is wrong—what is missing—from the {pretender's} statement. The first is, as so often when Donald Trump talks about American military history, he emphasizes power and success and triumph and military genius, but always lacking is any mention of the values for which Americans fought.
"America didn’t go into World War II—or even World War I—to be top nation, to beat and dominate others. It went to defend things that Americans regarded as precious, and not only Americans but others too—"
"If Americans are looking for a finest hour of their own, it’s not anything that happened during the war—when America was, by the way, a late entrant. It’s the five, seven years, 10 years after the war, when Americans and others learned from the mistakes after the First World War and built a better world that we still enjoy.
"Now all of those lessons have been forgotten, and Donald Trump is single-handedly determined to repeat all the mistakes that after the First World War put the world on the path to the Second World War: protectionism, isolationism, narrow nationalism, lack of forbearance, lack of mutual understanding, lack of any understanding of America’s place as a leader —because of its values, because it’s a country that is admired and trusted, not just because it’s a country that is strong and powerful and feared."
- David Frum
{😆}
"{Historian Michael} Beschloss points to the 1950s, when Dwight D. Eisenhower was president and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev presided over large military parades showing off the latest in Soviet military might. Beschloss says some in the White House approached Eisenhower, himself a decorated military general, suggesting the U.S. do the same, to show off American might.
"Eisenhower said absolutely not, we are the pre-eminent power on Earth," Beschloss says, recalling Eisenhower's response. "For us to try to imitate what the Soviets are doing in Red Square would make us look weak." 😆
- quote from historian Michael Beschloss, author of the book "Presidents of War", in an interview with NPR’s "All Things Considered" on Feb. 7, 2018
@spruce112358 saidGreat post. Trump is a weak president with only bluffing, bravado and fear as his workhorse.
"{Historian Michael} Beschloss points to the 1950s, when Dwight D. Eisenhower was president and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev presided over large military parades showing off the latest in Soviet military might. Beschloss says some in the White House approached Eisenhower, himself a decorated military general, suggesting the U.S. do the same, to show off American might ...[text shortened]... of the book "Presidents of War", in an interview with NPR’s "All Things Considered" on Feb. 7, 2018
To say nothing of every word coming out of his ugly pasty mouth is a lie.
Add to that he is a certified sociopath.
2 edits
@spruce112358 saidYou beat me to it.
[quote]Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II. I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I. We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military br ...[text shortened]... d, not just because it’s a country that is strong and powerful and feared."
- David Frum
{😆}
For more, please visit
https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2025/05/the-david-frum-show-the-most-corrupt-presidency-in-american-history/682720/
The Most Corrupt Presidency in American History
Anne Applebaum on America’s backsliding democracy
By David Frum
There's a link on this page to the podcast as well.
(It will play through your browser.)
2 edits
@Suzianne saidThe article in The Atlantic is kind of a long article, but I recommend that people read the whole thing. Only then can one fully appreciate the extent of Donald Trump's corruption spreading through Washington and America. It is truly unprecedented.
You beat me to it.
For more, please visit
https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2025/05/the-david-frum-show-the-most-corrupt-presidency-in-american-history/682720/
The Most Corrupt Presidency in American History
Anne Applebaum on America’s backsliding democracy
By David Frum
There's a link on this page to the podcast as well.
(It will play through your browser.)
I wasn't immediately aware of this, but it appears that the article is a transcript of the podcast, so... read it or listen to it, but please engage with it somehow. This is a showcase of the things Trump has done to earn the title of most corrupt in history, and so it is important that this info gets out there. If it shocks you, then good. This means you weren't aware of just how deeply corrupt this administration actually is.
@spruce112358 saidDavid Frum is perhaps best known for penning former United States President George W. Bush’s infamous “Axis of Evil” speech, which preceded the US invasion of Iraq. This single piece of writing resulted in untold Iraqi deaths and suffering.
[quote]Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II. I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I. We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military br ...[text shortened]... d, not just because it’s a country that is strong and powerful and feared."
- David Frum
{😆}
Frum has no credibility. He is a propagandist.
@sonhouse said"every word coming out of his ugly pasty mouth is a lie"
Great post. Trump is a weak president with only bluffing, bravado and fear as his workhorse.
To say nothing of every word coming out of his ugly pasty mouth is a lie.
Add to that he is a certified sociopath.
That is impossible even for the biggest liar in the world. Even liars tell the truth sometimes.
@Metal-Brain saidI've never disagreed with removing a dictator, no matter how many lives are lost in any ensuing civil war. That was up to the Iraqis'. It was their choice to kill each other, and they learned from it.
David Frum is perhaps best known for penning former United States President George W. Bush’s infamous “Axis of Evil” speech, which preceded the US invasion of Iraq. This single piece of writing resulted in untold Iraqi deaths and suffering.
Frum has no credibility. He is a propagandist.
"They chose... poorly."
"Freedom is first."
Iraq is very rarely in the news now - a tremendously good sign. Otherwise, they would today still be under Hussein or one of his children. 😆
1 edit
@spruce112358 saidThen Iran was right to remove the Shah from power because he was a brutal dictator. The USA was wrong to install that puppet dictator into power and the British government was wrong to support the US coup to remove Iran's first and last democratically elected leader.
I've never disagreed with removing a dictator, no matter how many lives are lost in any ensuing civil war. That was up to the Iraqis'. It was their choice to kill each other, and they learned from it.
"They chose... poorly."
"Freedom is first."
Iraq is very rarely in the news now - a tremendously good sign. Otherwise, they would today still be under Hussein or one of his children. 😆
Right?
@Metal-Brain saidCorrect.
Then Iran was right to remove the Shah from power because he was a brutal dictator. The USA was wrong to install that puppet dictator into power and the British government was wrong to support the US coup to remove Iran's first and last democratically elected leader.
Right?
@spruce112358 saidThen the USA was in the wrong and Iran was justified.
Correct.
That makes the US government sore losers who prop up and support brutal dictators around the world. The Saudi Kingdom is an evil dictatorship supported by the US government.
That makes the US government evil, right?
@Metal-Brain saidWe (i.e. US gummint) chose ... poorly.
Then the USA was in the wrong and Iran was justified.
That makes the US government sore losers who prop up and support brutal dictators around the world. The Saudi Kingdom is an evil dictatorship supported by the US government.
That makes the US government evil, right?
{Get it? Where's that from... 😆 }
1 edit
@Metal-Brain saidMosaddegh should not have been overthrown. The US should not blindly support oppressive, extremist, religious autocracies intent on enthroning evil characters like MBS.
Then the USA was in the wrong and Iran was justified.
That makes the US government sore losers who prop up and support brutal dictators around the world. The Saudi Kingdom is an evil dictatorship supported by the US government.
That makes the US government evil, right?
All true. 😆
@spruce112358 saidThanks for confirming the US and UK governments are evil with no respect for democracy. And since they have no respect for democracy abroad why would they have respect for democracy here in the USA?
Mosaddegh should not have been overthrown. The US should not blindly support oppressive, extremist, religious autocracies intent on enthroning evil characters like MBS.
All true. 😆
Perhaps elections here in the USA are routinely rigged to merely give the appearance that this is a democracy like Saddam Hussein did in Iraq.