One Sick Man

This week the President of the United States went on an AI fueled spree posting over sixty of his craziest ideas. This particular post of his vision for North America and beyond, including his boundless desire to add Greenland to the United States, resulted in the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen flying to Greenland’s capitol Nuuk to meet with the Greenland Premier to reinforce their commitment to keeping Greenland as a semi-autonomous part of Denmark. Greenland is protected by the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) — which includes the U.S. Likewise, Iceland’s Foreign Minister responded to the post by calling it “completely inappropriate” and summoning the U.S. Ambassador to formally protest their dissatisfaction with Trump’s antics.

Today is the 25th anniversary of the horrific attacks on our country by terrorists connected to al-Qaeda. There were numerous ceremonies around the country honoring those that we lost that day and in the months and years that followed as a direct result of this attack. For me, it is hard to grasp that it has been that long. I have many memories of that day and the days that followed, as many of us that were adults then surely do also. I knew several of the people killed in the Pentagon, having retired from the Navy there just days before the attack.

As clear as those memories are, given the state of our government leadership and recent events, I want to focus on another incredible undertaking that day a long way from New York City or Washington D.C. or Shanksville Pennsylvania. As word of the attacks spread, U.S. airspace was closed to all but military aircraft. More than 250 commercial flights were diverted to Canada with thirty-eight of them landing at Gander International Airport — formerly a U.S. base — in Newfoundland Canada. The town of about 10,000 people, and those in small towns around the area, took care of more than 7,000 passengers and crew members from around the world that were on those diverted flights. Many of them were from the U.S. Local broadcasting stations put out the call “lend a hand, do what you can.” Newfoundlanders rose to the occasion finding ways to house, feed. clothe and entertain those stranded for days far from home. Their generosity was overwhelming. Asked why the locals went so far to take care of strangers, a local news reporter responded, “For us it was just everyday. You don’t turn your backs on people in need.” There is a successful play that ran on Broadway and is on tour called “Come From Away” — I saw it on Broadway and if you get the chance, I highly recommend you take the opportunity to see it. (Not to spoil it bur the title is the local’s expression for people that do not come from Newfoundland.)

The only time that Article Five of the NATO defense pact was activated (collective defense — an attack against one member is an attack against all) was in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks. NATO rose to the challenge and fought alongside the American military in Afghanistan. Specifically, our friend, neighbor and ally Canada deployed 40,000 military members between 2001 and 2014, the longest military deployment in Canadian history. 158 members of the Canadian Armed Forces and 7 civilians lost their lives.

Canada was not attacked. The people in Gander were not attacked. It was just the right thing to do.

We have a president that is ill, physically and mentally. I am not a physician or psychiatrist or any medical professional. One does not need a medical degree, just open eyes and the judgement that comes with experience. The man is not well and he is taking the whole country down with him. Why attack Canada with harsh language, bad jokes, tariffs and regular insults? Because he is weak and lashes out like a four year old when he does not get his way. Canada is a sovereign nation and will not do whatever Trump commands. So he gets mad.

The war of choice he started with Iran is not going well so he is trying to change the subject away from himself and the rest of the Epstein class and on to something else, anything else. To our troops in the Persian Gulf region it is very much a war, whether he or J.D. Vance or anyone else in the administration says it is one or not. To cement his support of the American Armed Forces facing danger to support his war, he brushed the whole thing off telling reporters that it is “small potatoes.” Small potatoes. Nothing to be bothered with. Not worth his attention — he’s got a ballroom and an arch to build. Important stuff. I am sure the families of those lost to the enemy appreciate his concern for his vanity projects rather than to their sons and daughters, wives and husbands and children. As of last week 794 members of our Armed Forces have been wounded. Do Trump, Hegseth, Vance and the rest of those propping up Trump really care? Have you heard a word since 5 May about the state of the war? No. Only Pablum from the guy in the Oval Office.

His whole persona is deteriorating. He thinks he is a king and acts like he is one and lashes out whenever an institution or individual does not bow in his presence. Am I exaggerating? No. Here is the clearest example yet.

At last night’s conclusion to the MAGA love fest that they called the Republican Mid-Term Convention, Trump closed the two-day event with a speech that included the following in his attempt to get them all out to vote. Trump had those in the half-full arena raise their right hand and repeat:

I pledge to the greatest president in the history of the United States, that loves us so much we can’t even breathe, that I will go out with my family, my friends. I’ll do it anyway, I don’t care if I’m registered or not, I’m going to try to and cheat like hell like they do.”

I am not comparing Trump to anyone, but I will point out an historical fact. In 1934 Adolf Hitler changed the oath of office for the military and government civilians from allegiance to the German Constitution to the Hitler Oath (Fuhrereid), unconditional obedience to him as a person rather than to the nation and its Constitution.

Not only is Trump getting the rabid MAGA crowd to swear an oath to him, he is making them promise to cheat on Election Day. The day before he promised five thousand dollars to every adult in the U.S. if they re-elected a Republican House and Senate. A bribe or a reward? You decide. Oh by the way, the Republicans already have control of the House, Senate and Presidency. Why not pay it out now? Gosh, it only comes to about 1.3 trillion dollars of taxpayer money. But what’s another trillion dollars in debt anyway? (You can put the money in the bank with your five thousand dollar DOGE refund, your two thousand dollar tariff benefit, your one thousand dollar “Obamacare” refund and all the other fabulous riches that Trump has promised. Wait. What? We never got any of those.)

Believe him when he says he is going to cheat. The election interference already started. It will get worse. Check your voter registration and please vote.

Hang in there. Remember our friends in Canada.