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Arthur Sanders's avatar

Remember that WWII started in September 1939 and USA did not join until December 1941. Western Europe fended for itself until Hitler attacked the Soviet Union.

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The Halfway Cafe's avatar

"Fended for itself" sounds a little generous to Western Europe's record prior to 1941 ha

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Jude Johnson's avatar

Britain stood alone, Arthur. And if Hitler had not suddenly changed his mind and recalled his Panzers, Dunkirk would have been a total slaughterhouse of the British Expeditionary Force and the remains of the French Army. Does "Vichy France" ring a bell about capitulation and collaboration? AND if Goering had actually continued to bomb RAF bases instead of turning to bombing civilians in London and Coventry, there would have been no Battle of Britain where the RAF defeated the Luftwaffe because the RAF would have been totally destroyed.

Why else do you think Churchill kept calling/telegraphing FDR and made numerous visits to the White House, begging for assistance? Why else would he have been so happy FDR came up with the Lend/Lease Act if Britain was "fending for itself"?

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Sonia Diaz-Batson's avatar

Never mind MAGA. They're a grotesque movement based on ignorance and hatred. But what about the educated Republicans? Are they still drinking the Kool-Aid or do they wake up engulfed in dread, thinking, "Oh fuck, what have we done!"

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The Halfway Cafe's avatar

They're guzzling the Kool-Aide they all watched Trump pee in.

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Rita's avatar

4. Imagine being Macron, Starmer, or Canada’s Mark Carney, and what it must be like to talk to Donald Trump in person or on the phone.

The answer is Torture. Listening to his rants is torture…forget reasoning with him.

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The Halfway Cafe's avatar

Yeah probably most of their calls are utterly wastes of time because Trump famously just listens to whatever the last person he talked to said.

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Rita's avatar

Reasoning involves critical thinking….and that’s too much pressure on his degenerated brain, therefore, he attacks our Universities where critical thinking takes birth.

His new agenda….if you “critical think” we will pick you off our streets!

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Star Aasved's avatar

Good morning! We all need your satyrical writings to brighten our days but seriousness is equally important, IMO.

Referring to the scoreboard mentioned in your first point, is there a good source we can access that provides the data? I've read this information, but I always like solid data to make my points when talking or writing.

I'm a long-time supporter of The Atlantic, glad to see you are suggesting people subscribe.

I am hopeful that the European leaders will be successful in building their coalition.

Love the maps!

A PS - I tried to subscribe via Apple Pay just moments ago but the confirmation button - double click or passkey didn't come up. MIght you check that to try to resolve the issue? Thanks!

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Jude Johnson's avatar

From Heather Cox Richardson this morning:

"Far from saving money for the United States, as Jacob Bogage at the Washington Post reported on March 22, billionaire Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” has cost the government $500 billion, 10% of what the Internal Revenue Service took in last year. Bogage reports that the administration has demolished the IRS, firing nearly 20,000 employees, especially in the divisions that focus on enforcement, and dropping investigations of corporations and the richest taxpayers. Officials project that these changes will result in more tax evasion, and they are expecting a sharp drop in tax revenue this spring."

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The Halfway Cafe's avatar

They're wrecking America, and all the rubes who fall for the facade that Trump is actually a competent businessman and that Musk really founded so many companies instead of buying his way in are clapping along to the propaganda

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The Halfway Cafe's avatar

Hmm I'm not sure about the Apple Pay issue, maybe Substack was having an issue today. I appreciate the attempt to subscribe though, and I hope it works out if you try again :D

For the scoreboard remark, here's a good source!

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-government-spending-has-not-slowed-under-trump-so-far-data-shows-2025-02-26/

"Overall, the government spent about $710 billion between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20, Treasury daily spending data shows, up from the roughly $630 billion during a comparable period last year."

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Letters from Rural America's avatar

Great maps!!!

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The Halfway Cafe's avatar

I too love a good, handy, helpful map :D

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