A Confederacy Of Dunces

As regular readers of this blog know, I rarely address foreign policy issues. Mostly, my reluctance to do comes from prudence; I’m painfully aware that my lack of familiarity with the vagaries of international relations makes it likely that any such observations will be flawed. (Most of my experience and virtually all of my scholarship has focused on domestic policy.)

That said, anyone who reads or listens to the news cannot avoid recognizing the immense damage our idiot President has done to America’s stature in the world. As Simon Rosenberg recently wrote, “Our adversaries have been emboldened by Trump’s idiocy, buffoonery, cowardice, greed and self-sabotage – as they should be. For America is already a shadow of what it was even a year ago, far weaker, isolated, despised, clearly led by a confederacy of dunces and now hurdling towards rapid decline as a global power. Fox News viewers may see a viral strongman when they look at the Trump but the rest of the world sees an imbecilic fool.”

There has long been speculation that Putin “has something” on Trump. Whether or not that’s the case, Trump has long been dependent upon Russian money. Well before our would-be King entered politics, Eric Trump was quoted as saying that the unwillingness of U.S. banks to continue lending to the Trump organization wasn’t a problem, because their funding came primarily from Russia. (Most American banks had been burned by Trump’s multiple financial failures by that time, and had declined further funding.) Trump’s embarrassing, slavish fawning over Putin and other autocrats might simply be another facet of his desperate desire to align himself with “strong” leaders, or it may reflect something more sinister, but the end result is the same–our precipitous decline as a world power.

Trump’s animosity toward Ukraine and his shabby treatment of Zelenskyy has been unforgivable. He has done significant damage to NATO, imperilling not just the United States, but the Western alliance. His “friendship” and support for Israel’s Netanyahu (aka Israel’s Trump, albeit with brains) has allowed that country to commit war crimes with impunity. Destroying USAID and withholding international relief funds has been both inhumane and wildly contrary to American interests. Failing to keep the nation’s promises to battle climate change has added to the conviction that America simply cannot be trusted. And Trump’s frequent praise of autocrats and dictators–coupled with his disparagements of leaders of our democratic allies– has badly damaged the country’s relationships with our traditional partners.

Withdrawing the U.S. from the UN Human Rights Council and from the Open Skies Treaty underlined both America’s diminished concern for human rights and our further lack of reliability.

And of course, firing hundreds of respected experts in foreign affairs and replacing them with clowns and dunces has undermined American effectiveness across the board. His misnamed “America First” policies and actions have actually damaged alliances, alienated partners, and disregarded human rights–consequences that have hardly advanced American interests.

It is unlikely that the MAGA base either knows or cares. Trump’s voters are fixated on culture war issues and the recovery of White male privilege. I doubt that many of them will “connect the dots” between Trump’s insane tariffs and the rising cost of groceries, or recognize the other domestic economic effects of America’s lost international stature.

What struck me about the quote I shared from Simon Rosenberg was his description of America’s current government as “a confederacy of dunces.” There’s a book with that title, but it was funny.

There’s nothing funny about the dunces who are tanking the economy, undermining civic equality, and making America internationally irrelevant.

25 Comments

  2. All that today’s blog posting lists adds to the world tensions created by Trump-like power mongers. Yes, Trump is by far the most stupid of this lot and that will accelerate the rush toward the next major human conflict. But this coming storm may be our last as a species. Perhaps it is a blessing for the other living things on Earth that humans may not be around much longer thus freeing them from our natural destructive tendencies.

    I’ve often said on this blog that I’m glad I’m old and have hobbies. Yesterday I had a lymph node biopsy that showed cancer. It may be fixable/curable, or maybe not, but I can now see the “finish line”. The most important factor in a comedy skit is timing. I’ll work on that too.

  4. Well done, Sheila!

    And Vern, you vibrate at a high level, so I think this cancer diagnosis won’t hold you back. We need you here.

    When Trump attacked China with tariffs, they started buying their soybeans elsewhere and have no intention of coming back. And, since Indiana has such an extensive farming and manufacturing base, it will lose $2.4 billion over the next three years. Do you think our media will drive that point home?

    A video of Arkansas farmers praying for help because they were losing their farms grasps the “Confederate idiocy” framing perfectly. What did they think would happen when they voted for Trump? Oh yea, they didn’t think!

    If Mossad has lots of kompromat on Trump, I am sure Putin’s SVR has plenty of Intel on Trump, too. The mansion on the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Beach, which “supposedly drove a stake in the Trump/Epstein relationship,” was bid on by both of them. Epstein wanted to live in the mansion while Trump was “accused of being a front man for a Russian oligarch.”

    And don’t forget about all the condos purchased in Trump Towers by Russian and Arab oligarchs. And Trump’s media company had a massive infusion of foreign money from the Cayman Islands. These banks are primarily known for laundering cash for criminals worldwide.

    His $Trump and $Melania meme coin scam has been bought by players around the world, including Justin Sun, who purchased the banana art at an auction for over a million and then ate the banana. Justin was under investigation for scheming investors. Following Sun’s large purchase of Trump’s assets for $175 million, the SEC paused the investigation into his assets. (corruption, bribery)

    And we all know Bibi Netanyahu and Jewish billionaires from Israel and the U.S. have assisted Trump as well. These same forces funded Charlie Kirk, who began in July to break free from them with the help of Tucker Carlson. As you can imagine, this has fueled a lot of speculation about Kirk’s death. 😉

    See Bill Ackman. See corruption and bribing an official.

  6. Vernon, I am sad to hear of your situation, but urge you to do what I expect you would do in any case, keep on trucking! We’re both old, and sometimes glad to be, and nowadays the medical field (the real one, not RFK’Jr’s fantasy thereof) can do a lot. I personally know of several people who are beating the odds, nicely.
    Sssheila, I was surprised that you did not mention the egregious acts of bombing boats in international waters, that our orange imbecile has been doing, in terms of ruining our image. In any case, he has now joined Putin, and Bibi as an international criminal. But, I’m sure, The Hague will not label him as such.

  8. I must confess that I find it hard to stay regularly engaged with my media inputs due to the daily dose of depressing news but I find this blog the exception. Not only does Sheila provide us with an excellent examination of the world around us, but I find the comments section nuanced and inspiring… especially Vernon. I want to send you much energy to fight your fight and to say “thank you” for your regular participation here.

  9. Excellent column. As in the past, “America First” really means “America Alone”. Trump’s version includes an America without allies, weaker and divided, without democratic process or global influence.
    Your title is apt. An analysis of the novel says, in part, “The novel…suggests that society itself is a collective of conformist individuals (“dunces”) who hold power by sheer numbers, casting out and judging anyone who deviates from their norms.” A great book.

  10. I disagree entirely- compare Trump and Biden- the Republicans and Democrats- two aging Advantaged white men- both with Low Electoral Popularity- in 200 days- vs 4 years- we are The Buffoons- Hitler- comparisons- Fear and Othering- very Successful- Epstein- a barrier- but Courts, Ice, the Military- we have the POTENTIAL to Resist and “win”- so far we’ve (advantaged white folks)- pushing mostly “band-aids” against Lethal “Cancers” – Schumer is no match for Mike Johnson- Harvard/Yale intellect as “ compromises”< resemble Appeasement- but we probably don’t have 2 years to wait until the equivalent of Poland vs Hitler- England losing at first- then Pearl Harbor.

  11. Vern, your note of “we fight on” is an excellent summary of this blog, on which we exchange what we know and feel. Keep on fighting.

    One aspect of these troubled and troubling times that has been put on public display is the complete cowardice of the Reds. For sure, they know better, but they don’t act on it. They cower on the sidelines as a group and watch the destruction of the Republic happen. Apparently, the few who dare, like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, are exceptions.

    The Trump Movement is based on a mythology that’s been developed and retold over and over for decades, to the point where Reds believe but can’t explain rationally why a country that looks like what it does under total Red government is a better country for them to live in. Their only argument is that what used to be wasn’t good for them, but they never explain why this is better.

    They actively blame but passively accept.

  12. I recently read an editorial in the NY Times by somebody I don’t usually agree with, but the one point I came away with, was for the most part over 80 years, the US built alliances and organization that would be “let’s fix this together”. While everyone understood the US was the controlling partner, the US at the same time knew the value of partners working together with what looked like equality.

    Trump has trashed 80 years of foreign policy. His view of the world is transactional, and anybody else is either somebody that can be used, a rival, or an enemy.

  13. Those mentioning Trump’s slogan of America First must understand that it literally means Trump First. If you want to grasp this concept, look at what Trump is doing to our allies, Japan and South Korea, to some extent.

    Not only are we forcing them to invest in the U.S., but Trump gets to choose where and what they invest. What choice do those countries have when we occupy both of them militarily.

    Also, Narco-Terrorist is the new derogatory term for a Socialist. Big Oil gave Trump over $150 million to push policies that help them become even more profitable. Blowing up boats outside Venezuela has absolutely nothing to do with narcotics. It has to do with China extracting oil from Venezuela. It’s a heavy crude and very valuable in the U.S. Big Oil wants to extract it like they used to before Chavez and Maduro (both socialists) took over. 😉

  14. Again, thanks to all for your good wishes on my behalf. I have really good doctors – all of whom are women, BTW, so I’m in good hands.

    In other news: A friend who just moved from Texas informed me that the egregious Ken Paxton is leading in the polls for U.S. Senator over John Cornyn. LOL. See, in Texas, you gotta be a convicted felon as a Republican before you have any political standing. Let’s all send our clown make-up, fright wigs and huge shoes to Paxton so he’ll be prepared for the campaign trail.

  15. Let me add my well wishes to Vernon, a contributor who is always on point, courteous, thoughtful and worthy of our time.

  16. Vernon,
    So very sorry to hear the word you received. As Todd said there are so many others who have leaped over the old CA diagnosis and come out the other side, perhaps with different hairstyle and battle scars, but still going strong. Sending you virtual gentle warrior’s armour to aid you in this journey.
    Thank you Sheila for another great sharing. And to all the other commenters, you all ROCK!

  17. “There’s nothing funny about the dunces who are tanking the economy, undermining civic equality, and making America internationally irrelevant.”

    I accidentally deleted my earlier comments; probably best as it was ugly, fitting my mood this morning. I will repeat my comment that due to the Democratic party’s refusal to unite to provide the strength to remain in the presidency; booting President Biden out, remaining split on Vice President Harris’s presidential campaign then blaming her for losing the election places us in the “dunce” category as I see it. Rather like the northern states who spoke against slavery as they owned slaves themselves. The Democratic party and the Democratic voters who refused to vote have now made us the largest MINORITY party in the history of the United States of America, outnumbering the majority by millions.

    In 2016 the many who voted for Libertarian or Green Party candidates rather than provide the party’s state Electoral College Democratic votes needed and those in 2024 who just didn’t vote returned the enemy party to the White House. The viable Republican party was once the opposition; a safe political position vs. the national and global enemy it presents to the world today. We now have no control over any aspect of our lives; personally I don’t trust either party at this time, a quandary I see no way out of.

  18. I am glad to read that I am not the only “Genius” that sees our decline, or a Cabinet filled with D students.

  19. Vernon I wish you good health and vitality. Definitely take some time out away from the News to just enjoy yourself and forget Trump and his whole gang.

  20. Great topic and commentary expressed today. Seems like trump’s aim in tanking the economy, causing and riling hostilities and isolating US from allies is intentional to weaken this country so they (trump and oligarchs) can sell off US assets for their own benefit and allow un-American influence to prevail with illegal and cruel means. It’s all contra to what most Americans want and need.
    Vernon, I know cancer treatments (auto immune therapies) have advanced to cause many cures of different cancers. I think of Jamie Raskin and his public fight for democracy and against cancer at the same time. If I remember right his cancer was multiple myeloma and he’s completely cured. I hope we’ll continue to read your astute observations here for a long time.

  21. Thanks, Rose. The M.D. Anderson research efforts in Houston created the infusion meds that fixed my CLL. I expect that after the next round of tests we’ll have a picture about what to do. My docs don’t seemed too alarmed or that urgent, so that in itself is encouraging. Hell, I’ve still got a couple more novels to write. LOL.

  22. Vern. My sister was dx. with a very rare cancer 10 years ago. They only gave her 1.5 yrs life expectancy but with the newer autoimmune cancer treatments she’s alive and well today. When you write those novels, I definitely want to read them.

  24. Vernon, sending good vibes your way as you rejoin the fight along with so many of us.
    Watching what is going on in the UK is baffling to me. Why would the royals bother with the coarse and rude man? Money and secrets? Probably even sympathetic political worldviews or all of the above. So embarrassed for all of us.
    Dunce: A dull or stupid person slow to learn. Derived from John Duns Scotus (note the irony in that last name) whose opinions were ridiculed accordingly.

  25. JD,

    The Royals had Royals on Epstein’s list. Prince Andrew was one. So far, Trump and our politicians have worked overtime to keep the files hidden. Kash Patel even said there is no evidence showing that Epstein ever trafficked underage girls to anyone. Kash is lying to please Donald.

    If you notice, they haven’t called Tulsi Gabbard for an inquiry. 😉

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