Sunday’s Forum
Steven L. Taylor
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Sunday, June 15, 2025
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62 comments
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About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a retired Professor of Political Science and former College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored
A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog).
Follow Steven on
Twitter and/or
BlueSky.
The Florida headline of the day- Florida TSA agent arrested for allegedly attacking 79-year-old passenger at airport
The phrase, sad little tank parade makes me happy. Watching video of Trump sit there and endure the crushing humiliation is so very sweet. Tanks roll by empty bleachers as a booming announcer lists the actions of brave patriots whose sacrifices are mocked and derided by Cadet Bonespurs.
Who knew being Mussolini could be so complicated?
Imagine the rage in the White House as millions of Americans in 2000 cities come out to celebrate No Kings Day while dozens show up for Trump’s contemptible celebration of self. Do you think Melania mocks him to his face, or does she just snicker privately? To top it off, the Trump voter and alleged murderer in Minnesota pushed Trump’s sad little tank parade into the number four slot behind Israel/Iran, No King’s Day and the MAGA murderer.
Oh, the visions of glory that must have filled Don’s narrow little imagination. And then, the desperate reality: Orange Jesus slumped and depressed next to his ice cold wife, flanked by cabinet members yawning and shifting uncomfortably. Cringe. So cringe.
We didn’t watch any of the 250th Army parade yesterday. As an AF retiree, I just felt sorry for the Army troops that had to participate. What could have been a pretty happy, even joyous, celebration by the Army at all the posts around the world with family picnics, music, local celebrations, etc. instead was replaced by troops ripped from their families, housed in government buildings, and forced to glumly participate. It was another working day for them.
@Scott:
Soldiers are suckers and props to Trump.
@Michael Reynolds: @Scott:
What are you guys talking about????? The parade was a YUUUUGE success, according to the MAGAs! And Vance Boelter is a crazed leftist! The lamestream media is lying to you!
I’m posting this link again…
https://www.nj.com/politics/2025/06/joe-rogan-in-epic-rant-to-trump-maga-a-holes-we-dont-want-you-on-the-team.html
If it weren’t for the horrifying murders and attempted murders in Minnesota, yesterday would have been a great day in the fight to save democracy. The No Kings events were mostly peaceful and they were everywhere. Did you see the crowds in Boise and Cincinnati? Who’dathunkit?
I saw some stills of Trump and Co during his parade. I felt for 47, him all slumped down and jowly-scowly, Melania is the opposite, ramrod spine and broad, sharp shoulders and looking like she wanted it all to be over yesterday. There were more people participating in the parade than spectators. Who is responsible for this big fizzle? Is it Kegseth (I hope, I hope)? Sounds like a firing offense to me.
In case you haven’t seen the completely bizarre use of CCR’s “Fortunate Son” in the parade:
https://bsky.app/profile/bubbaprog.lol/post/3lrm4ekho5k2b
Also worth watching to see how deflated the current occupant of the Oval Office looks.
Republicans have a habit of not listening to the lyrics of songs they use as background music. For example, Reagan’s staff used “Born in the USA” in a way that was clear they had no idea what the song was about. Springsteen’s song has also appeared in the service of other Republican politicians’ events.
During one of the parts of the parade I watched yesterday, the attendees were serenaded by Warren Zeiders, one of the worst country artists I’ve ever heard. And that’s saying something.
@CSK:
No doubt the MAGA spin machine will be activated and turned up to 11.
But, this parade was important to Trump and you can see from video that Orange POTUS knew it was flop in real time. There was ketchup on the walls of the WH residence last night and the schadenfreude is delicious.
@Kingdaddy:
Morale couldn’t have been too high among the troops, given the shuffling rather than marching that was displayed. It was if the troops felt like they were being led to a gallows.
@Michael Reynolds:
@CSK:
@Kingdaddy:
When a spoiled child has a tantrum, toys get broken. Personally, I’m dreading what (or how) he manages to break in venting his spleen. Europe? The ME? Ramp up an Asian conflict? War on our southern or northern borders? Or does he keep the breakage inside the US?
The possibilities are endless.
By whatever deity you do or don’t worship, please pray I’m wrong.
Compare and contrast to the 1991 military parade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br5AQZAbJpY
@Sleeping Dog: Those troops had the vibe of teens being sent to their rooms after getting grounded.
Odds and ends
Actor Harris Yullin has passed away at age 87. I best remember him for Clear and Present Danger and Duet a first season episode of Star Trek Deep Space 9. RIP
Gary Oldman is going to knighted by King Charles. The Oscar winner is deserving of the honor but when I told my wife the news, she asked who is he? She hasn’ t watched any of his three Oscar nominated films nor remember Oldman from JFK or Air Force One the two of which we watched in the movie theaters.
The French President is expected to visit Greenland soon. In response will Donald Trump by executive order ban French Fries, French Toast, The French Defense (chess), The French Connection movie nor mentions of Larry French, Victor French, Frenchy Fuqua, Jim French, or Mr. French from Family Affair? Stay tuned
Our pastor approached DW on Friday. DW retired the first of this year and a new person was hired by the church. Well, the new person didn’t either work out or they quit. Fr Eli is pleading with DW for her to come back. DW said no.
One of the reasons is DW and I have extensive travel plans. I just booked us a cruise to Antarctica for January of next year. It begins in Santiago Chile and ends in Buenos Aires. Since we’ll be in those places, DW and I will see them plus Rio. That trip will have us away for over a month.
Today is Fathers day and I wish the fathers out there a great day. Not a happy birthday like New York Mets announcer Ralph Kiner was supposed to have said once.
@Michael Reynolds:
Yes, these soldiers are being used as “prop” by a narcissistic jackass.
But they are not suckers. They are doing what they have been assigned to do. Remember, Trump himself implied that serving is for suckers.
Sometimes soldiers have to perform “latrine duty.” Just consider their participation in Trump’s ostentatious self aggrandizement on the taxpayer’s dime to be another form of “latrine duty” shoveling sh*t for the chief.
What Trump wanted v. what Trump got:
“Bluesky“
A sure sign of authoritarianism is slapping giant posters of your glaring “mug” on government buildings and nonsensically representing entire institutions like, say for example, THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE with your own image.
Happy Floundering Father’s Day ya big baby!
@charontwo:
Perfect.
@charontwo: The image of the soldier in the “drone” marching holding a very small drone aloft, is rather pathetic. The Army needs to nix that going forward.
I hear Trump is making plans for and even bigger shindig for his 80th next year, asking if an aircraft carrier could fit up the Potomac.
Update: As of yesterday afternoon, we have found 11 of the 16 “disappeared” represented by my immigration attorney friend. Two of them were found in Lousiana detention facility, despite being grabbed in Los Angeles. Three of those we found were here with valid work visas, yet were arrested and are still in the Federal detention facility in downtown Los Angeles.
If this country does go full fascist (which gives me hope it won’t), there will be many, MANY, willing to put their boots on the throats of the “other”.
In case some of you didn’t see this on Friday when I posted it, here it is again. Please share it widely as possible. This is what brown people in Los Angeles are having to deal with. AMERICAN CITIZEN brown people.
Latino Men in East Los Angeles run off ICE agents for profiling them
Those are my people. Damn proud to be from East LA during these times.
@EddieInCA: So wonderful. You should be proud. Can I be proud to share a country and a state (and an attitude) with these guys? I feel proud.
“You can’t do this shit to me, I’m an American!”
That is a perfect thematic fit for “No Kings” day.
I thought that the actions of ICE conduct were unique, but there is a precedent for ICE agents being anonymous and without warrants. Treasure of the Sierra Madre has it: We don’t need no stinking badges; we are federales.
The latest chatter about the Air India crash is that the plane’s ram air turbine (RAT) was deployed.
The RAT is a wind turbine that provides emergency power. It can be deployed by the crew at any time, but it can also activate automatically. The latter happens in case of electric or hydraulic malfunctions, or in case of dual engine failure
In the first video at the link, right at the start, you can hear what sounds like the buzzing of a prop plane as the 787 flies over. That is consistent with the sound the RAT makes.
If it did deploy, then combined with the fact the plane used up the whole runway to take off, it seems a lack of thrust was the heart of the problem. This may mean a dual engine malfunction, or that the crew set up the wrong thrust level.
I find both unlikely. Setting the thrust too low would be noticed before reaching V1, the speed at which rejecting take off is no longer an option. It would simply take too long to reach V1 in that case, something’s that’s very hard to miss.
But that’s speculation. So I’ll stop now and await further information
@EddieInCA: That is excellent. Good share.
The masking of these ICE “raiders” is jarring. It’s as if they are hiding their identity out of fear of retaliation, and some level of consciousness they know what they are doing is wrong and shameful.
Trump’s big moment celebrated by Drone Force One —-
Zrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Pewpewpew vvvvrrrrooooooom Kaaaaaaboooooom! !
Boelter’s wife Jenny was detained and questioned by police after a traffic stop. A weapon, ammunition, passports, and cash were found in the car. She was not arrested.
@EddieInCA: Congratulations! Hope you achieve complete success!
@Bill Jempty:
Not a chance given they come with his order of hamberders. Maybe he’ll rename them Trump fries, adding yet another entry to the “making the Bush years seem sane and competent by comparison” list.
Watch Boelter doing his “I’m excited about Jesus” dance.
http://www.rawstory.com/vance-boelter-jesus-dance/
@CSK:
Boelter: “When I get excited I want to dance.”
And also apparently shoot and murder.
@Rob1:
In the name of Jesus, of course.
#maklelan2732 The spectrum of Christianity @pastorjoshmcpherson (Do not harass or report these creators or comment on their appearance or speech)
I can see this video on You Tube however when I try to link it to OTB comment field I get a message “This video not available.”
This is on Instagram. I have not joined Instagram but it seems to work here.
I am not familiar with Instagram. Looks like you need to click on the volume icon, bottom right, immediately or you will miss the opening sound.
Also I can’t find any display of elapsed time or any way to start the video over except to reload the page.
@Mister Bluster:
I am really disappointed that they look normal. At a coffee shop, with volume turned down, but I expect they sound normal too.
This is false advertising.
If after a few seconds some guy shows up wearing a space helmet with a rubber chicken glued to it, I will acknowledge that my criticism was premature.
@Michael Reynolds:
@Scott:
On the whole I think the Trooping of Colour went off rather better.
But then, we do have an actual king, lol.
And the event is not a divisive partisan parade conceived to flatter a narcissitic nitwit.
Though one BBC sub-headline in that thread might confuse some: “Attendees try to capture Royal Family along the Mall”. lol. Horrid anarchists at it again? 🙂
@JohnSF:
Well, luckily for you guys, you don’t have a churlish, felonious lump of suet as either your head of state or head of government.
Meanwhile, back on Planet Real:
UK deploys more RAF Typhoons and tankers (and likely surveillance aircraft as well) to Cyprus.
Looks to be both insurance against and warning off Iran from doing anything stupid re possible UK targets.
Also the HMS Prince of Wales carrier strike group has transited the Red Sea and is currently in the Arabian Sea, or thereabouts.
It was supposed to be proceeding on to Australia, but I suspect it may hang around the current neighbourhood for a while.
@Rob1:
Is that some sort of US Navy euphemism? 😉
@JohnSF:
Trump said today that the U.S. “could get involved.” He also put the kibosh on an Israeli proposal to assassinate Khameni.
@CSK:
To be fair, we did have Johnson, then Truss, as PMs.
So, points for trying?
@Mister Bluster: His is an interesting view. My take is that the two extremes are not on the Christianity spectrum but rather on the human experience spectrum because choosing between those two extremes is not limited to practioners of Christianity. YMMV.
@CSK: As if Trump saying that affects Bibi’s behavior in any meaningful way.
@JohnSF:
Well, perhaps a few points for trying. But really, do you think there’s anyone who even approaches Trump’s level of malevolent shitbaggery?
@Sleeping Dog: I’m sure Trump had something in mind akin to the Guards review at the king’s birthday review. That isn’t what he got.
@Kingdaddy:
Trump’s sad look explained right there. He knows Lil’ Kim is laughing his ass off.
What Trump expected:
The US Army put exactly zero effort into this. Fatigues…and they didn’t even bother to drill the troops. That wasn’t a march, it was a mosey. No timing, no vim no vigor. Pete Hegseth-on-New Year’s eve sloppy.
@just nutha:..pathetic Christianity…
If someone tells me they are Christian I do not argue with them and tell them that they are not.
Here is Dan McClellan’s website address: Data Over Dogma
@dazedandconfused:
I was wondering about that. It seemed like bad marching to me.
@Beth:
For comparison at about a 1:50 in the US Army in 91.
That’s what it would’ve looked like if they had even half-way wanted it to. Not color/honor-guard precision but pretty tight. Doesn’t take but a little effort to create. Everybody learned to do it right in basic and it’s like riding a bicycle. You never forget. Maybe a half an hour to refresh a bit and make sure everybody is focused. Everybody knows how to dress sharp, the officers only have to ask for that. They did not.
My conclusion (and with some confidence): A deliberate “Foxtrot Delta Tango” op, although Hegseth may have been the target. Perhaps triggered by outrage among senior officers over the appointment of someone like Hegseth as their boss. They are proud professionals who busted their asses to be where they are. They will not suffer Bozos lightly.
@Beth:
More like dispirited plodding.
Then there’s this tidbit from The Guardian:
Shouldn’t such things be expected at all his events by now?
How about a parade of taco trucks next time?
@Kathy:
The MAGAs are torn between trying to claim that the birthday parade was the greatest parade in history and the notion that Vance Boelter was a deranged ultra-leftist.
@Mister Bluster: Nor do I. I’ve watched some of his YouTube stuff. A lot of where he finds fault is more associated with being human than being Christian. For me that makes the arguments category errors. But if feeling superior to Christians because they struggle with the internal conflicts with their base humanity give you comfort for some reason, fly at it. But it’s not a very high bar to jump. A repeated phrase in the Gospel of John finds Jesus telling the crowds that are following him around to figure him out “if you who are evil know/can do___.” And that’s the message to his followers. He seems to have been a complex guy. I hope someday to emulate him more. Still not particularly good at it so far.
@Kathy: overflowing garbage cans? Not enough food trucks?
But almost no one showed up. How incompetent are these people?*
Imagine how bad it would have been if the crowd was medium-light rather than completely sparse. There were barely as many people in the crowd as there were in the parade — what if the soldiers were outnumbered 2:1?
——
*: I did appreciate the instrumental version of “Fortunate Son”. At least one person knew what they were doing.
@dazedandconfused:
Outside of basic training and specialized ceremonial units (e.g. the 3rd Infantry Regiment), is precision parade marching a thing the military actually spends time training on normally? Like I know they do drill and PT marching, but the sort of exaggerated perfectly uniform marching you see in foreign military parades serves no actual combat purpose and I can’t see the US military doing it with actual combat units.
@Stormy Dragon: No. I imagine there are units in North Korea and Russia that spend a large percentage of their time practicing to do what they do.
@Just nutha ignint cracker:..category errors…
You can direct your observations about Dan McClellan’s ideas to the comment section in his videos.
As for “But if feeling superior to Christians because they struggle with the internal conflicts with their base humanity give you comfort for some reason, fly at it.”
You pulled that right out of your ass.
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
@Mister Bluster: I was content to agree to disagree. And still am. I have no particular interest in going on his site to debate him or comment on his statements. We’re all entitled to our opinions, and there’s very little to be gained from arguing articles of faith–religious or political. It’s part of why I ended my original statement with YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).
As to my second comment to you, I was basing it on the title of your reply to me:
But I can understand why you might think I was trolling you, and probably, TBT, I was. My apologies.
ETA: Going back over all of the comments, I see my mistake now. It appears that I assumed that by posting something, you were welcoming discussion of the idea. Again, my apologies.
@Gustopher:
They may well represent the Platonic ideal of incompetence.
@Just nutha ignint cracker:..pathetic Christianity…
These were the words Dan McClellan used to describe one end of the spectrum. They were the last two words in the video.
@Gustopher:
A friend all the way back in high school told me there may be limits to human intelligence, but human stupidity knows no bounds.
Neither does MAGA incompetence.
@Stormy Dragon:
No. But marching in step is a really basic skill that every soldier learns and you don’t forget it. I haven’t needed to do it in 40 years and I can still fall into step along a parade route automatically. If they had wanted to look good, they would have.
Clearly they didn’t want to be there and their officers let them know there would be no consequences if they made that clear.
@Kathy:
Dang. Wow.
VANCE BOELTER HAS BEEN CAPTURED.