“It’s not my fault”

Translation: “It’s not my fault. It’s never my fault.”

I’m guessing that virtually every Catholic voter will remember this come the midterms. Trump seems to be in a particularly self-destructive phase recently.

The decision of 3 senior Republican leaders to take on the Pope is yet another gift to the Dems.

www.usatoday.com/story/news/p... “‘I think it's very, very important for the Pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology,’ Vance said.” That sound you hear is Vance’s hopes of ever becoming President crumbling into dust.

It is necessary—& appalling—that studies need to be done to determine if settled science is still settled. I’d like to get funding for other necessary inquiries, including: - Does gravity still work? - Is water still wet? - is the sky still blue (at least during the day, if it’s not cloudy)?

www.politico.com/news/magazin... As a thoroughgoing narcissist, Trump doesn’t think other people are as real as he is. Only his desires & his will are real. As a result, he truly doesn’t believe others have agency. And therefore he doesn’t understand the idea of consent.

Which is more wording, that Trump thinks he’s equivalent to Jesus or that he thinks this is what a doctor looks like? The first option is just more evidence of his megalomania—old news. The second option—that he thinks a doctor typically holds a glowing orb in his hand—is next level delusional.

He might consider taking his own advice. So far, he’s been the Typhoid Mary of endorsements.

What’s next is him telling the Pope to “stick to matters of morality” And the Pope will take his instructions Judts as seriously as popes, throughout history, have. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes…” Proverbs 12:15

With the Liberals now a (very slim) majority government, Pierre Poilievre continues his reign as the Incredible Shrinking Man

In refusing to debate with President Trump, Pope Leo is, of course, demonstrating his familiarity with Proverbs 26:4: “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.”

Into a man by a bus sleet disappeared #BokeHaiku

There is one, important way that the Pope is weak on crime: If Trump were to confess all his sins (including his crimes) to the Pope, & if the Pope was convinced of Trump’s sincere repentance, the Pope would absolutely absolve him & forgive him. Some could (mistakenly) interpret that as weakness.

A minor reason to prefer this Pope over Trump? He’s not embarrassed to be bald.

Trump will have been told blocking the Strait of Hormuz increases the risk of American casualties. He clearly is fine with that.

Still waiting on the US President’s congratulatory message to the people of Hungary.

The editors at Onion must be gnashing their teeth.

Hubris is exactly the word.

It would be something if Netanyahu could be consigned to the same dustbin of history Orbán has just been dumped in.

I think Pope Leo could take Pres. Trump in almost any contest you could name: - cage match - popularity contest - cognitive test - IQ test - knowing what Jesus requires of His followers - knowing when a war is justified - ability to speak in coherent sentences - ability to walk down stairs unaided

Trump’s “I’m not a fan” attempt at dismissal of the Pope is arrogant & lazy. It’s what people who think they have the right to judge others say. Pres. Trump: The Pope doesn’t need you to be a fan. You have amply demonstrated that you are unqualified to judge anyone.

This is a good day.

It is one of the most heartening events of the year. Well done. The voters of Hungary have shown what a resolute citizenry can accomplish. (And on a minor note: it suggests that the illiberal, reactionary movement Vance so desperately wants to lead is not actuallysweeping western civilization.)

Iran has, as they say, played a very weak hand extraordinarily well. Next step: They should unilaterally declare that they are rejoining JCPOA & will immediately adhere to all its requirements.

Can you post this list?

A lesson for every jurisdiction that has not charted a clear, costed & timeline-specific plan to get off fossil fuels. I’m looking at us here in Manitoba is particular.

aje.news/x545rk?updat... Trump has announced the US will now completely “BLOCKADE” the Strait of Hormuz. Unless I’m mistaken, isn’t the goal to open the strait to free passage for all ships? Not yet clear how having BOTH the US & Iran blockading the strait moves us closer that goal.

These are the brightest minds—the best negotiators—the Trump administration has to offer.

Nero fiddling while Rome burns. (Yes, I know, Nero didn’t actually fiddle.)

He has not “deepened tensions between the United States and the Vatican”. He has deepened tensions between a small cluster of fanatics in the US & the Vaticans. Unfortunately, that small cluster has, for now, a lot of power.

Bill Maher wants to be considered serious while telling jokes. It’s actually a very difficult thing to do. The last 3 to pull it off were probably Will Rogers, Lenny Bruce & George Carlin. Bill Maher is not in their league. Not even close.

Amen.

No, he isn’t saying God p or hates the American government. His criticism is much more serious than that.

www.huffpost.com/entry/bill-m... In his own way, Bill Mahar is as much a clueless dufus as all the other pundits. He thought it was worth it to “take a shot” at going to war. He thinks his takes are somehow insightful, when in fact they are merely glib & cynical. .

Thanks.

Pope Leo is a voice of moral clarity.

This threat of his has distilled Trump to his essence: - he thinks a civilization nothing but an assemblage of objects - he think threats are negotiations

Middle East crisis live: Vance warns Iran not to ‘play’ US as he heads to Pakistan for talks www.theguardian.com/world/live/2... Vance’s hubris is less dangerous than Trump’s only because he has less power. He is an amateur negotiator & the people going with him are amateur negotiators.

It’s continues to be strange to me that, while this seems so clear & obvious to me, I make so little progress in persuading those who are skeptical. I think I’m not very good at persuasion.

I echo what Alex is saying. Nato Green’s words about the Discipline of Hope about 25 min. in is one of most important & well-stated comments of our current moment. In part: “…things are bad…we’re surrounded by cruelty and stupidity and suffering, and it'll get worse. And yet I remain hopeful…

www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/b... Add the effect on inflation to the list of “absolutely foreseeable consequences of a war with Iran” If Trump says “no-one expected this”, could I ask all those present to simply start laughing?

All infrastructure is vulnerable. Perhaps the two biggest differences in how they affected by war are: - distribution - recovery Harder to wipe out solar power because it’s distributed across thousands of sites; fossil fuel systems are often concentrated. Renewables can usually be repaired faster.

An important example for Manitoba.

Would that b so bad? I mean this seriously.

….and better negotiators than your boss

It’s heartening that Trump is finally being revealed for the inept fool he is. Wars of choice do that. He always goes too far—overplays his hand—and so reveals the flaws at the core of his soul. Hubris, plain & simple.

Is it possible that Trump’s negotiating skills have slipped a bit?

Well, at least now no-one is calling him a very stable genius (except for the voices in his head & those he pays to flatter him, of course).

You know the Iranian propagandists will be using virtually the same words. The Pope has been forthright on condemning this blasphemous language from Hegseth & Trump. Why have American Evangelical leaders remained silent? Your parishioners are going to start going to Mass.