Maureen Dowd, "Cruella de Trump": A Self-Inflicted Wound

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In her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Cruella de Trump," Maureen Dowd writes of Donald Trump's recent tweet aimed at demeaning Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough:

"The 71-year-old president’s pathological inability to let go of slights; his strongman reflex to be the aggressor and bite back like a cornered animal, without regard for societal norms; his lack of self-awareness about the power he commands and the proportionality of his responses; his grotesque hunger for flattery and taste for Tony Soprano tactics; his Pravda partnership with David Pecker, the head honcho at The National Enquirer, which has been giving Trump the Il Duce treatment while sliming his political opponents, the 'Morning Joe' anchors and Megyn Kelly — these are all matters that should alarm men and women equally."

"[T]hese are all matters that should alarm men and women equally"? Excuse me, Maureen, Trump's narcissistic personality was on view for all to see for months prior to the US presidential election. The Republicans nominated him anyway. And the Democrats then gave Americans the choice between voting for a man frighteningly unqualified to sit in the Oval Office or for a woman and her nominal husband whose sense of entitlement and talent at equivocation were unpalatable to a broad cross-section of the electorate.

The alarm bell should have rung more than a year ago.

It's a little late to be railing against Trump, who is a self-inflicted wound, representing the depths to which the US has descended. As Pogo would have it, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

Maureen Dowd, "Trump’s Hand-to-Hand Combat": Welcome to Donaldland!

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In her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Trump’s Hand-to-Hand Combat," Maureen Dowd concludes:

"Donald Trump is not a tough guy. He’s a faux tough guy. That is not even in the American tradition. All of our famously tough icons, on screen and in life, were able to exude strength without using brute force. And they did it while standing up for people, not smacking them down."

Not a tough guy? A faux tough guy? Heck, Maureen, you must never have seen the video of Trump bodyslamming Vince McMahon at Wrestlemania XXIII. Presidents don't come any realer or tougher than Donald.

Concerning brute force, do you remember how Trump was going to build a wall to keep foreigners out of the US? Instead, we have armed Turkish presidential guards kicking the sh*t out of American citizens legally exercising their First Amendment rights, then flying away scot-free, owing to diplomatic immunity.

What has become of the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave? Answer: Welcome to Donaldland!

Maureen Dowd, "Trump’s Gold Lining": Sales of Female Pelvic Protectors Skyrocket

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In her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Trump’s Gold Lining," Maureen Dowd informs us that Donald's election has reinvigorated the Times's circulation stats:

"Every time our daft new president tweets about the 'failing' New York Times, our digital subscriptions and stock price jump, driven by readers eager for help negotiating the disorienting Trumpeana Oceana Upside Down dimension rife with gaslighting, trolling, leaking, lying and conflicts."

Well, the Times is not alone in reaping the economic benefits of the Trump presidency. My understanding is that sales of pelvic protectors for female genitalia are going through the roof among women visiting the White House, given Trump's leaked "grab them by the pussy" declaration.

Will federal taxes on profits from the sale of female pelvic protectors make a dent in America's $20 trillion debt, i.e. some $808,000 per family, thereby making America great again?

Will America devolve into a dystopian Clock Work Orange society in which pelvic protectors are de rigueur?

Back to my dogs, who are impatiently waiting for a walk.

Maureen Dowd, "White House Red Scare": Pre-Traumatic Stress Disorder

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You can usually count on Maureen Dowd for a few laughs, at least when she's not visiting Saudi Arabia, and in her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "White House Red Scare," she doesn't disappoint. Informing us that with the advent of Trump, Washington "is suffering pre-traumatic stress disorder,"Dowd observes:

"Can you imagine a scenario where two Republicans in a row lose the popular vote but win the White House with a shady helping hand? Can’t the G.O.P. win fair and square? Was it the Russians who turned Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania truly red?"

And all this while, I thought it was Comey.

The Russians turned Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania? Nah. In fact, I think it had more to do with the fact that only 11 percent of voters thought Hillary was honest and trustworthy. Or stated otherwise, the Republican party all but gave the Democrats the election by nominating Trump, but the Democratic leadership dropped the ball.

Speaking of balls dropping, did you happen to be in Times Square on New Years Eve and watch the ball drop? I wasn't there. You see, I'm waiting for another ball to drop, and sorry, progressives, it has absolutely nothing to do with my advancing age.

Do you recall Obama telling us on July 3, 2008:

"The problem is, is that the way Bush has done it over the last eight years is to take out a credit card from the Bank of China in the name of our children, driving up our national debt from $5 trillion for the first 42 presidents - #43 added $4 trillion by his lonesome, so that we now have over $9 trillion of debt that we are going to have to pay back -- $30,000 for every man, woman and child. That's irresponsible. It's unpatriotic."

Well, America's national debt now stands at $19.94 trillion (more than $61,000 for every man, woman and child), and it is rising by the second. When does it hit $20 trillion? Any day now, and when that ball drops and the US dollar effectively becomes toilet paper, we can silently watch as Washington bureaucrats, who should be suffering from "pre-traumatic stress disorder" from this one Obama legacy that can't be voted away, attempt to paper over the mess.

Maureen Dowd, "Obama Lobbies Against Obliteration by Trump": Down the Drain

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In her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Obama Lobbies Against Obliteration by Trump," Maureen Dowd begins:

"YOU know how desperate President Obama is — as he contemplates all his accomplishments going down the drain at the hands of a man he has total contempt for — when he is willing to do something so against his nature.

He tried to persuade Donald Trump."

But in fact, Obama's accomplishments are not going down the drain at the hands of Trump. Rather, they already went down the drain at the hands of ... Obama.

Obamacare? You remember, "If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it," i.e. PolitiFact's 2013 lie of the year? Well, this lie was recently compounded by Obama's recent declaration that health care premiums are only going up for a "handful of people." Heck, even Paul Krugman is finally owning up to the fact that the Affordable Healthcare Act is in trouble.

Obama's other "achievement" purportedly forming the basis of his legacy, his unsigned nuclear deal with Iran, is also going down the drain. The dubious value of that deal became apparent when the USS Mason came under Iranian C-802 missile fire off the Yemeni coast last month. Not to mention the ongoing cries of "Death to America!" on the streets of Tehran, and recurring violations of the terms of the deal.

Nice try, Barack. Starting on January 20, you'll have plenty of time driving your golf cart across the links to contemplate the above fiascos, and also the $20 trillion in unsustainable debt that you left your successors. Or is none of it your fault? Better still, what me worry?

Unrelated query to readers: How long do you think Hillary will remain married to Bill, now that her presidential aspirations have gone down the drain?

Maureen Dowd, "The End Is Nigh": Republican vs. Democrat or Narcissist vs. Paranoid?

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In her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "The End Is Nigh," Maureen Dowd concludes:

"The problem with Donald Trump is: We don’t know which of the characters he has created he would bring to the Oval Office.

The trouble with Hillary Clinton is: We do know. Nobody gets less paranoid in the White House."

Or stated otherwise, you might think you have the choice between a Republican and a Democrat, when in fact you are voting either for someone suffering from a narcissistic personality disorder or for someone suffering from paranoia.

Yes, something is rotten in the State of the Union.

Maureen Dowd, "Move Over Bill Murray and Eddie Vedder! I’m a Cubbie": What's Still Right About America

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Do you recall how, during the Battle of the Bulge, German soldiers wearing American uniforms were said to be roaming behind Allied lines? And how American soldiers were tested with questions concerning the winners of the last World Series? Well, if anyone was to ask me who won last year's World Series, I would be summarily shot.

The Chicago Cubs? I remember Ernie Banks. And then there was Jim Hickman who left my beloved Mets and had his best season with the Cubs. As a child, I knew the names and statistics of all the players. Today, however, I don't the name of a single player.

In her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Move Over Bill Murray and Eddie Vedder! I’m a Cubbie," Maureen Dowd writes:

"Americans are not feeling inspired as they watch the latest bizarre jolts with the F.B.I. in the most sour race in modern history with the two least popular candidates since polling was invented."

Yes, something is rotten in the State of the Union. God forbid, Trump, a man with a serious personality disorder should be elected. Equally bad, if Hillary should be elected, she will become the second Clinton to be impeached, leaving us with the horrific Tim Kaine.

Indeed, the 2017 election is like a bad case of athlete's foot that won't go away.

Forget the election and root for the Cubs? Why not? But even if the Cubs win game seven, it will all be soon forgotten, and we will still be left with Donald or Hillary.

Maureen Dowd, "Egged On to Get Egg on His Face": What About Iranian Attack on USS Mason?

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In her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Egged On to Get Egg on His Face," Maureen Dowd writes:

"Continuing to deploy lethal darts from her team of shrinks, Hillary Clinton baited Trump into a series of damaging nails-in-the-coffin statements. And it was so easy. The one-time litigator prosecuted the case against Trump, sparking another temperamental spiral, as effectively as Chris Christie once broke down Marco Rubio.

. . . .

He was so unnerved, he said one of the most shocking things ever heard in a debate, putting his ego ahead of American democracy. Asked by the admirable debate moderator, Fox News’ Chris Wallace, if he would accept the results of the election or reject it as rigged, Trump replied coyly and self-destructively: “I will tell you at the time,’’ adding, “I will keep you in suspense.”"

Sorry, Maureen, but Trump was not "unnerved." Rather, the man suffers from a severe narcissistic personality disorder, he knows he's going to lose, and he is incapable of attributing that loss to shortcomings on his part. Hence, the system must be "rigged."

Chris Wallace was an "admirable debate moderator"? How about an "admirable ringmaster"?

More to the point, why didn't Wallace ask either Donald or Hillary about the Iranian attacks upon the USS Mason last week, which further call into question the value of Obama's bogus unsigned nuclear deal with Iran? As acknowledged yesterday by General Joseph Votel:

"I do think Iran is playing a role in some of this. They have a relationship with the Houtis, so I do suspect there is a role in there."

"[A] role in there"? Houthi rebels in Yemen could possibly have fired sophisticated C-802 anti-ship missiles against the USS Mason on their own? Please ...

But I suppose it's more fun to focus on the performance of the circus clowns than to acknowledge an act of war against the US by the mullahs. Worse still, America's media is doing all it can to preserve the legitimacy of Obama's would-be legacy arrangement with Iran and to ignore this outrage.

Maureen Dowd, "Michelle Schools Donald Trump": Sorry, but There's No Connectivity on Trump's Lonely Little Planet

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In her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Michelle Schools Donald Trump," Maureen Dowd concludes:

"Hillary is in an awkward spot on the subject of licentious behavior by men. But Michelle Obama stepped in as the avenging angel Anita Hill never had. On Thursday at a rally for Hillary Clinton, her voice trembling with disgust, the first lady explained why the 'cruel' and 'frightening' actions of Trump — whom she did not deign to name — could not be written off as 'locker-room talk' or 'a bad dream.'

. . . .

Of course, Michelle’s inspiring message is somewhat undercut by the fact that her husband is ushering the lecherous Bill Clinton back to the White House."

Michelle's message is "somewhat" undercut? Bill Clinton is merely "lecherous"? Please ...

But more to the point vis-à-vis the title of Dowd's opinion piece, no one can school Trump. He inhabits a lonely little planet on which there is no connectivity, and this is what's most frightening about this pitiful excuse for a man. Yes, folks, he's dangerous.

Choose Hillary or Donald? A pity there isn't a third option: None of the above.

Will Hillary shake Donald's hand before and after the next debate? She shouldn't. However, she still kisses Bill in public (she should have divorced Bill decades ago instead of persisting with her sham marriage), and she would probably exchange a hearty embrace with the devil to ensure entry into the White House.

Maureen Dowd, "Donald Goes to the Dogs": Dragging America Into the Gutter

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And all this while, I thought Donald Trump couldn't go any lower than participating in the WrestleMania Battle of the Billionaires, where Trump pinned Vince McMahon and shaved McMahon's head, demonstrating to the world what it takes to be the next American commander in chief. Obviously, I was wrong.

"Grab them by the pussy"? I wonder how Donald would respond if someone was to threaten to grab him by the penis ... provided they could find it hiding under all that corpulence.

In her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Donald Goes to the Dogs," Maureen Dowd concludes:

"[I]t’s not fair to compare Trump to a dog. Dogs are awesome."

I agree with Maureen, as do my two dogs, Arnold and Munchkin, who will tell you that Donald is not going to the dogs. Rather, they will inform you that it is America being dragged into the gutter by this narcissistic buffoon.

 
 
 

Maureen Dowd, "The Perfect G.O.P. Nominee": Unleashing Hell on Syria

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In her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "The Perfect G.O.P. Nominee," Maureen Dowd would have us know that Republicans need not be upset by the splintering of Donald Trump's candidacy, given that Hillary Clinton embodies all that is dear to them. Dowd writes (my emphasis in red) :

"SPEAKING of crazy …

All these woebegone Republicans whining that they can’t rally behind their flawed candidate is crazy. The G.O.P. angst, the gnashing and wailing and searching for last-minute substitutes and exit strategies, is getting old.

They already have a 1-percenter who will be totally fine in the Oval Office, someone they can trust to help Wall Street, boost the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, cuddle with hedge funds, secure the trade deals beloved by corporate America, seek guidance from Henry Kissinger and hawk it up — unleashing hell on Syria and heaven knows where else.

The Republicans have their candidate: It’s Hillary."

I find this reference to Syria irrelevant. You see, Barack Obama, the first invertebrate ever to inhabit the Oval Office, established a "red line" for Syrian tyrant Bashar al-Assad back in August 2012:

"We have been very clear to the Assad regime, but also to other players on the ground, that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my calculus. That would change my equation.

. . . .

We have communicated in no uncertain terms with every player in the region that that’s a red line for us and that there would be enormous consequences if we start seeing movement on the chemical weapons front or the use of chemical weapons. That would change my calculations significantly."

Well, more than 400,000 dead and almost 12 million refugees later, Obama still refuses to make good on that red line. In fact, just this past week, Assad dropped chlorine gas on Syrian civilians in Aleppo, and Obama did - you guessed it - nothing.

Bottom line, I wouldn't worry too much about Hillary unleashing hell on Syria. Given Obama's inaction, there's not too much left of that country.

Maureen Dowd, "Crazy About the Presidency": Should Obama Be Impeached for Funding Terror?

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One week ago, in a New York Times op-ed entitled "Thanks, Obama," Maureen Dowd compared the idealistic Senator Barack Obama of 2008 with the president Barry has ultimately become. As stated on Dowd's columnist page, this opinion piece described how "The Audacity of Hope has downshifted to the Banality of Practicality.

Well not quite, unless you consider the funding of terrorism "banal."

What could prove a colossal scandal has recently arisen concerning a cash payment of $400 million to free four American prisoners held by Iran. Obama is claiming this was not a ransom payment (Hillary is calling it "old news"); however, Iran is claiming otherwise. Moreover, the prisoners were not freed by Iran until the unmarked plane with the cash landed in Tehran. As explained by Claudia Rosett in a PJ Media opinion piece entitled "The Mendacity Behind Obama's Mockery of the Cash-for-Iran Story":

"For a government, such as Iran's regime -- world's leading state sponsor of terrorism -- cash lends itself less to financing national infrastructure (the use to which the administration suggests it has likely been put) than to funding terrorists and pursuing illicit weapons. Whatever Iran's regime might be doing in the way of sewer and road repair, its demonstrated priorities include its continued testing of ballistic missiles, in violation of UN sanctions. The prime use of ballistic missiles is to carry nuclear warheads -- which suggests that Iran's likely intent is, at a moment of its choosing, to scrap Obama's vaunted Iran nuclear deal (on which Iran is already cheating). As far as that entails buying weapons and technology from, say, nuclear-testing North Korea, or procuring illicit inputs on world markets, hard cash is a big help.

Obama's justification for sending the $400 million installment in cash is that the U.S., due to its strict sanctions on Iran, has no banking relationship with the country -- thus the air-freighted pallets of banknotes. Except that doesn't add up. Writing in The Wall Street Journal, former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey asks: 'How come the U.S. did not simply transfer the $400 million we are told actually belonged to Iran to a foreign entity, to be converted into foreign funds for conventional banking transmission to Tehran?'"

Yes, this is the "stuff" that could make for an impeachment hearing, notwithstanding the fact that Obama has only five more months to go in the Oval Office.

Today, in a Times op-ed entitled "Crazy About the Presidency," Dowd, at her best, pokes fun at Trump. I won't spoil it for you, but let's see if Donald continues to answer her phone calls.

No mention, however, by Dowd of Obama's $400 million ransom payment to Khamenei. Let's see if any of the Times's columnists are willing to touch this hot potato.

And then there is still the matter of CIA "consultant" Robert Levinson, who was left to rot in Iran by Obama. But heck, The Washington Post doesn't seem to care about someone who is not one of their own, as evidenced by the fact that Martin Baron and friends are no longer hounding Barry as they did regarding Jason Rezaian. Yup, out of sight out of mind.

Maureen Dowd, "Thanks, Obama": Will a Reptile Replace an Invertebrate as President?

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In yet another New York Times op-ed entitled "Thanks, Obama," Maureen Dowd compares Senator Barack Obama circa 2008 with the president Barry has become. Dowd writes of the idealistic senator running for the Democratic presidential nomination against Hillary eight years ago:

"He presented himself as the ticket to the future. He made us feel good about ourselves, that we could be better, do better.

Making the case against Hillary, he said that America deserved more than triangulating and poll-driven positions and 'the same old Washington textbook campaign,' more than a candidate answering questions whatever way she thought would be popular and 'trying to sound or vote like Republicans, when it comes to national security issues.'

What about principles, he asked, what about a higher purpose?"

Well, I don't know about Obamacare ("If you like your health care plan, you can keep it") and the unsigned nuclear deal with Iran (whose secret add-on agreement reduces Iran's break-out time to six months), which were rammed down the throats of Americans notwithstanding majority opposition; however, I'm starting to feel almost giddy about Obama when considering the prospect of either Hillary or Donald as president. But I digress ...

Dowd concludes re Obama today:

"The president made his vote-for-Hillary-or-face-doom convention speech only 22 days after his F.B.I. director painted Hillary as reckless and untruthful.

He argued that there is no choice but to support Hillary against a 'self-declared savior' like Donald Trump, perhaps forgetting that Obama was once hailed as such a messiah that Oprah introduced him in 2007 as 'the one,' and it became his moniker.

In the end, Obama didn’t overthrow the Clinton machine. He enabled it."

Indeed, ignore Obamacare and the unsigned nuclear agreement with Iran. Obama's endorsement of Hillary could prove his true legacy. Imagine, a venomous reptile could replace a solipsistic invertebrate as president. Will wonders never cease?

Maureen Dowd, "Trump’s Thunderbolts": A Gathering of the Narcissists

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"Yes, I've heard. Kills men by the hundreds. And if he were here, he'd consume the English with fireballs from his eyes, and bolts of lightning from his arse."

- William Wallace, "Braveheart," 1995

In her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Trump’s Thunderbolts," Maureen Dowd shares with us the content of her Friday night telephone conversation with Donald Trump. Regarding "Hillary's big night," Donald responded:

"I’m feeling she’s not going to get in. I have a strong feeling about it. I don’t think she has what it takes. I watched her last night. It was hard to watch. I was falling asleep. It beats Sominex every time. She could barely beat Bernie. The system is rigged. It’s a terrible thing."

Trump was falling asleep? It turns out, Bill completely nodded off during his sweetheart's speech.

Hey, Donald, how about a return Battle of the Billionaires wrestling match with Vince MacMahon in which the loser again has his head shaved? Or maybe you can join with Vince and make it a tag team match against Bill and Hillary. Go ahead, challenge them! This could only add to the grace and grandeur of this most fetid of elections.

Maureen Dowd, "Bill Clinton Pours on the Estrogen": Can Hillary Shapeshift From a Snake Into a Human Being?

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Covering the Democratic convention in Philadelphia where Soviet and Palestinian flags have been on proud display, Maureen Dowd writes in her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Bill Clinton Pours on the Estrogen":

"After the email shaming and a bloodless campaign, tonight it was Bill’s turn to rescue Hillary from being the most unknown known person in history. One of the most liked presidents was charged with humanizing one of the least liked presidential candidates."

The most unknown known person in history? One of the least liked presidential candidates? Maybe it would help if she were to hold a press conference after more than 200 days, but why should her royal highness want to face the music? Instead, let's trot out the Big Mutt, who took at least 26 trips aboard the 'Lolita Express.'" Indeed, I can't wait for Hillary to tell us which White House bedroom will be occupied by Bill if she wins in November - something which is no longer a certainty.

Dowd quotes Bill as saying that she "calls you when you’re sick, when your kid’s in trouble or when there’s a death in the family." A death in the family? Tell it to Patricia Smith, mother of Sean Smith, who died in the Benghazi attack.

Or better still, regarding Hillary's willingness to appear on the scene when there's a problem, note how she cancelled all campaign events immediately following the Dallas massacre, instead of flying into the troubled city (remember how she claimed to have flown into Bosnia under sniper fire).

Dowd observes:

"Starting tonight and through the fall as he tries to woo back white voters and older voters in the Rust Belt and the South, he is trying to conjure the halcyon days of Clinton peace and prosperity. He does not want to remind people of the shady days of Clinton avarice and deceit, or the parts of his presidency or post-presidency that haven’t aged well, like Nafta, the crime bill, deregulation of Wall Street and the Defense of Marriage Act, the Marc Rich pardon or the unseemly braiding of the Clinton Foundation with Hillary’s State Department."

Not to mention her persistent lies involving the email scandal and her willingness to place personal comfort and privacy over the interests of national security.

Yes, I know, Trump's even worse.

Maureen Dowd, "Donald Trump’s Disturbia": Diss-topia or Piss-dopia?

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Maureen Dowd, covering the Republican convention in Cleveland, writes in her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Donald Trump’s Disturbia":

"LIKE any masterly comic book villain, Donald Trump is reveling in conjuring a dystopia. And it’s a natural progression, given that he got this far by reveling in conjuring a diss-topia.

. . . .

[H]is dystopia is fueled by diss-information and diss-tortion, insulting rivals with disturbing exaggerated and cherry-picked facts and unsubstantiated assertions and conspiracies."

Indeed, Trump suffers from a severe narcissistic personality disorder, and I continue to believe that he should be examined by a board of leading psychiatrists to determine if he is fit to serve as commander-in-chief with responsibility for America's nuclear arsenal.

Doubts about Trump's mental health? Have a look at a New Yorker article entitled "Donald Trump’s Ghostwriter Tells All" by Jane Mayer. Mayer quotes Tony Schwartz, who ghostwrote Trump's "The Art of the Deal":

"'I put lipstick on a pig,' he said. 'I feel a deep sense of remorse that I contributed to presenting Trump in a way that brought him wider attention and made him more appealing than he is.' He went on, 'I genuinely believe that if Trump wins and gets the nuclear codes there is an excellent possibility it will lead to the end of civilization.'

. . . .

If Trump is elected President, he warned, 'the millions of people who voted for him and believe that he represents their interests will learn what anyone who deals closely with him already knows—that he couldn’t care less about them.'"

But the problem extends far beyond Donald Trump. Twenty-first century America has descended into the abyss of piss-dopia, and both Donald and Hillary are mere symptoms of this life-threatening malaise.

Maureen Dowd, "Remainder Night at the Convention": Cleveland or Incirlik? It's More Fun at the Circus!

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Yesterday, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman drew similarities between Turkish President Erdogan and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. No mention by Friedman of the standoff at the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, where the US stores nuclear weapons and from which the US Air Force launches strikes against ISIS.

As reported in an NBC News article entitled "Incirlik Air Base: Post-Coup Power Cut Remains at U.S. Site" by F. Brinley Bruton, Abigail Williams and Courtney Kube:

"A Turkish air base widely believed to house U.S. nuclear weapons continued to rely on backup generators Wednesday, five days after a failed coup plunged the country into crisis.

Commercial power was cut to Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey and the airspace above it closed within hours of Friday's attempted military takeover in the NATO country. Turkish commanders at the site were later arrested and led away after they were accused of allowing at least one tanker aircraft to refuel jets involved in the thwarted mutiny.

. . . .

No one is locked anywhere on the base, which has about 2,700 Defense Department civilians and military personnel, officials said. But people were not permitted to leave Wednesday for security reasons."

Regarding this crisis, Erdogan declared yesterday:

"We must not confound the issue of extradition of Gulen and the relations with the United States over air base Incirlik. Relations with other countries should not be built on feelings and emotions, but based on logic. Of course, it would be a big mistake on the part of the United States not to extradite Gulen. We've sent all the necessary documents to the United States, we've begun the extradition process, and we will wait for the decision."

Yes, the US is being blackmailed, and yes, the US needs to remove the nukes from Incirlik ASAP.

Meanwhile, Maureen Dowd, covering the Republican convention in Cleveland, writes in her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Remainder Night at the Convention":

"Suddenly Trump, certainly irritated at not hearing the glorious sound of his own name in an elongated address by a 'loser [Ted Cruz],' entered the arena. He was once more soaring in, drowning Cruz out.

All eyes went to Trump as they dimmed the lights on the stage and the nominee regally walked in, a procession of one, to sit with his family in his stadium box with gold-and-black striped railings. The crowd got even more feral toward the former rival suddenly trapped onstage, looking like he didn’t know how to finish and finally slinking off."

My suggestion to Maureen: Take the next flight to Istanbul and report back from Incirlik, which could have implications for future life on this planet. Yes, I know: It's so much more fun at the circus.

Maureen Dowd, "W., Borne Back Ceaselessly": No Undoing What's Been Done

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In her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "W., Borne Back Ceaselessly," Maureen Dowd says of the 28 pages of a 2002 congressional report on the 9/11 attacks that have just been released:

"If the 28 pages had been released back in 2002, the revelations might have helped stop the Iraq invasion by refocusing attention where it belonged: on possible real links between Al Qaeda and Saudi royals, rather than the fantasy links between Al Qaeda and Saddam pushed by Dick Cheney."

Back when, I opposed the Second Gulf War because it was apt to destroy the delicate equilibrium between a Sunni-dominated Iraq and a Shiite Iran, both monstrous in their own right.

Saudi Arabia, which whips and incarcerates women who have been gang raped and decapitates persons convicted of witchcraft and sorcery, was and is no better. All of which did not prevent Maureen from hobnobbing with Saudi royalty back in March 2010.

If only George W. Bush had not been goaded into going to war with Saddam? If only ...

But that was 13 years ago. No point in kicking a dead horse. The US must look to the future.

Syria and Iraq have disintegrated, Turkey is shaky, and it's time to ensure that the Middle East's 30 million pro-Western Kurds (also living in Iran) be granted their independence and freedom.

Maureen Dowd, "The Clinton Contamination": The End of American Exceptionalism

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In a scintillating opening to her latest New York Times op-ed entitled "The Clinton Contamination," Maureen Dowd lets us know:

"IT says a lot about our relationship with Hillary Clinton that she seems well on her way to becoming Madam President because she’s not getting indicted.

If she were still at the State Department, she could be getting fired for being, as the F.B.I. director told Congress, 'extremely careless' with top-secret information. Instead, she’s on a glide path to a big promotion."

No mention, however, by Dowd how Comey struggled to make use of the terminology "extremely careless" to avoid using the words "gross negligence."

Also no mention by Dowd how Comey determined that there was no "intent," notwithstanding the fact that Hillary turned her emails over to a team of lawyers, who, lacking necessary security clearances, promptly "deleted all emails they did not return to State, and ... cleaned their devices in such a way as to preclude complete forensic recovery.”

And no mention by Dowd that Hillary is now unwilling to say whether she will cooperate with the investigation being reopened by State.

Maureen's conclusion:

"The Clintons work hard but don’t play by the rules. Imagine them in the White House with the benefit of low expectations."

Indeed, it's hard to fathom this nightmare, which marks total abnegation of the rule of law and the end of American exceptionalism.

Maureen Dowd, "In Paris With Boris, Donald and Lemon Tarts": Is Washington Burning?

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Maureen Dowd is eating "avocado and yuzu mousse, braised turbot with aniseed fragrance and maritime aster leaf," and "Italian lemon meringue," while writing tripe in Paris.

Bill Clinton is meeting with Loretta Lynch to discuss ... golf on a Phoenix tarmac. Did you happen to read the Times editorial concerning this tryst? Oh, that's right, there wasn't one.

And Hillary is conducting a "voluntary interview" with the FBI in Washington concerning her home server.

Yup, all is right in the world. It couldn't be finer.