A Big, Beautiful Bill...if you can keep it

Bill Hansmann 

 "If, however, Trump’s OBBB proves to be OBFB (One Big Failed Bill), the Democrats will have a field day. There will likely be little doubt. So, Mr. President, we have OBBB, if you can make it work."

unclepaulsparodies

"On September 17, 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked by Elizabeth Willing Powell, “Well, Doctor, what have we got: a republic or a monarchy?”  Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” 

"Throughout the first six months of Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, he has begged, cajoled, threatened, sweetened, and done everything humanly possible to see his signature piece of legislation passed into law.  On July 4, 2025, it was formally signed on the White House lawn, with many of the legislators who had pushed the bill across the finish line in attendance.  They were joined by members of the armed forces who had participated in arguably the greatest military mission in history: the destruction of Iran’s nuclear sites, in one mission, with no loss of American life.

"The question must be asked: “Mr. President, just what do we have here?”  President Trump would surely answer, “We have One Big Beautiful Bill.” 

"Franklin was asked the famous question after his prepared speech was presented to the Constitutional Convention, headed by George Washington, by Pennsylvania delegate Wilson, as Franklin was too ill from gout and kidney stones to deliver the speech personally.  However, he was able to answer Ms. Powell’s question with a quote as famous as any to come from that first convention of the states. 

"At the time of the presentation of the speech, Franklin was attempting to get three delegates who had not signed the Constitution — Delegates Gerry of Massachusetts, Randolph of Virginia, and Mason of Virginia — to add their signatures to the document.  Franklin thought the proposed Constitution to be an imperfect document, though as near perfect as possible.  The three abstainers never acquiesced. 

"Signing the document held no legal effect.  The Constitution needed to be ratified by nine of the thirteen colonies to go into effect.  It was ratified on May 29, 1788, when Rhode Island became the last state to ratify the document after its delegates had initially rejected it on March 24, 1788.  It has survived nearly a quarter-millennium as the most successful governing document in history." . . .

Bill Hansmann is a dentist and dental educator with over fifty years in the profession.  He continues to teach and write political blogs and semi-mediocre novels while living with his wife and cats in Georgia. 

Israel has "dismantled" Hamas, Netanyahu can agree Gaza ceasefire from "position of strength"

Clube Vortex    "Israel has severely degraded Hamas’s military capability — but has it achieved its war objectives?

"In this exclusive analysis, IDF reservist, combat veteran, and MirYam Institute CEO Benjamin Anthony breaks down the current state of the Gaza war, the potential 60-day ceasefire, and why Prime Minister Netanyahu can now approach negotiations from a “position of strength.” With Hamas reduced to a guerrilla force and Iran’s nuclear program reportedly set back by up to two years, Israel’s leadership is weighing next moves. This video features Benjamin’s expert commentary combined with explosive IDF military footage from the ground in Gaza." . . .

Democrats Gone Wild

 Robin M. Itzler

 "No one was arrested during our run-in, but in my opinion, it was just another example of an elected Democrat official displaying a lack of respect and acting more like a two-year-old child than a mature adult."

"Democrats suffering from severe cases of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) are now displaying another symptom: staging ill-conceived confrontations to get street cred with their antifa progressive base. Some recent headlines:

• North Carolina state Rep. Julie von Haefen attended a “No Kings” protest and was photographed holding what appeared to be an effigy of the decapitated heads of Trump and his senior policy advisor, Stephen Miller.
• U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver was charged in a three-count indictment for forcibly impeding and interfering with federal officers—all seen on video.
• New York City Mayoral candidate Brad Lander got the publicity he desired by trying to help illegal alien criminals by allegedly assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.
• Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested as he and other elected Democrats allegedly tried to break into the Delaney Hall detention facility.
• California Senator Alex Padilla started shouting when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was giving a speech in Los Angeles. Because he was not wearing credentials showing that he is a sitting U.S. senator, law enforcement physically removed the threatening Padilla. Almost on cue, Governor Gavin “Hair Gel” Newsom made a statement about what happened. Then, as predictable as the sun rising in the east, Padilla gave tearful interviews on MSNBC and other leftist “news” organizations. Of course, he cried on the senate floor...oh, the inhumanity!

Democrat juvenile behavior began in earnest during President Trump’s March 4 speech to a joint session of Congress. New York City Democrat Council Member Robert Holden, who represents District 30 in Queens, expressed it best as he opened his March 6 op-ed with:

As a lifelong Democrat, I never imagined I would watch my own party embarrass itself so thoroughly—and so publicly—as it did during Tuesday’s joint session of Congress.

Hakeem Jeffries' Theatrical House Floor Stunt to Stop 'Big Beautiful Bill' Backfires, Has Opposite Effect

 

Dems Reveal Frustration With Jeffries' Speaking Stunt, Make a Damning Admission

Jeffries watched Cory Booker's marathon and apparently gained no wisdom.

RedState

 "So even if they knew it wasn't going to change anything, it was about the performance for their base. That's all the Democrats are about now — bad performance art and "showtime." That's what they're trying to sell their base, rather than results. And they wonder why they're losing voters". 

"We reported on the ridiculous rant of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) that went on for about eight and a half hours in opposition to the "One Big Beautiful Bill." 

"It was a complete failure. The bill passed, and people mocked Jeffries. 

"Here was Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC): 

                

"Trump Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino posted a meme with the theme from "Titanic," an appropriate choice for such a failure. 

"As we reported, Jeffries' remarks were so uninspiring that Democrats like Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) were falling asleep behind him. Once Democrats realized that, they humorously replaced her so Jeffries wouldn't look so bad. They wanted to show a uniformly supportive picture behind him for his rant."

"But it turns out not every Democrat was happy, and some dished to Axios. Members from his caucus were frustrated with how it went down, with even his "inner circle" kept "in the dark about his plans." He told House Speaker Mike Johnson he was going to do about an hour, so that wasn't even true." . . .

READ MORE: Hilarious: The Inspiring Effect Hakeem Jeffries Had As He Gave Final Rant on the Floor

US Rolling Out Feared $13 Billion Supercarrier to dominate the PACIFIC

 Military Forces - YouTube

"The future of naval warfare has arrived! Meet the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), the U.S. Navy's second Gerald R. Ford-class supercarrier—a colossal warship engineered for unparalleled power projection. Named after President John F. Kennedy, this $13 billion marvel isn't just big; it's a game-changer designed to ensure American dominance in critical regions like the Pacific.

"In an era of rapidly evolving threats like hypersonic missiles, swarming stealth drones, and pervasive orbital surveillance, can a ship built for over 50 years adapt? We dive deep into the revolutionary technology packed into the CVN-79 that answers this question with a resounding "YES!" "The CVN-79 is set to be commissioned before the end of 2025, solidifying the U.S. Navy's plan for a fleet of 12 supercarriers, with 10 being of the Ford-class. This isn't just a ship; it's a testament to America's relentless pursuit of technological superiority." . . .

CNN Data Analyst Claims Americans Are Indifferent to January 6, Surprising Host

Analyzing America

"A CNN data analyst observed that interest in the January 6 Capitol riot has greatly decreased, with just 5% of voters considering it the most significant event of Donald Trump’s presidency.

"Polling data shows that the percentage of Americans who believe Trump should be ineligible for the presidency due to his role in the events of January 6 has dropped from 56% in 2021 to 47% in 2024.

""Additionally, fewer people attribute significant responsibility for the violence to Trump, with only 37% considering him “greatly responsible” by December 2023." . . .

How Many Died as a Result of Capitol Riot? - FactCheck.org   "In a tweet on Oct. 24, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez referred to the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 as “a terror attack,” which she said resulted in “almost 10 dead.” She called for “any member of Congress who helped plot” it to be “expelled.”

"Journalist Glenn Greenwald commented on Twitter that the claim of “‘almost 10 dead’ from the 1/6 riot is deceitful in the extreme. Four people died on 1/6: all Trump supporters.”

"There is reasoned debate about the number who died as a result of the Capitol riot. Ocasio-Cortez is including law enforcement officials who responded to the Capitol that day and committed suicide in the days and months afterward. None of them have been officially designated as “line of duty” deaths, though there is some congressional support for it.

"Ocasio-Cortez’s tally also includes two rally participants who died of heart failure — including one who died before other protesters had breached the Capitol. It includes a rallygoer who was initially believed to have been trampled to death in the mayhem that day, but was later determined to have died of an accidental overdose.

"We take no position in the debate over whom to include in the deaths from the riots. But here we lay out what is publicly known about the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the nine people included in Ocasio-Cortez’s tally.

Trump Supporters

"Two heart attacks: According to an April release from the Washington, D.C., medical examiner’s office, “Stop the Steal” protesters Kevin Greeson, 55, and Benjamin Phillips, 50, both died of cardiovascular disease, and the manner of death was deemed “natural.”

Teenybopper AOC fake cries

"According to a ProPublica profile, Greeson, of Athens, Alabama, was participating in the protest outside the Capitol when he suffered a heart attack and died minutes before the first rioters breached the Capitol. The article notes that a Metropolitan Police Department incident report at the time states that Greeson “was in the area of the United States Capitol in attendance of first amendment activities” when he had a heart attack.

"Once a supporter of President Barack Obama, Greeson had over the years be
come an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump and was convinced that the election had been stolen. While Greeson had posted social media messages in the weeks before the rally such as “Let’s take this f—ing Country BACK!! Load your guns and take to the streets!,” his family insisted to the New York Times the day after his death that “he was not there to participate in violence or rioting, nor did he condone such actions.”

"In a written statement provided to the media after his death, Greeson’s wife, Kristi, stated that her husband “had a history of high blood pressure, and in the midst of the excitement, suffered a heart attack.”

"The day after the riot, a D.C. Police Department statement said that Philips, a computer programmer from Ringtown, Pennsylvania, had died due to a “medical emergency.” Like Greeson, the D.C. medical examiner later determined that Philips died naturally of “hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease” — heart failure due to high blood pressure." . . .

Mamdani Checked Asian, Black Boxes on College Form

NEWSMAX  

" 'Most college applications don't have a box for Indian-Ugandans, so I checked multiple boxes trying to capture the fullness of my background," said Mamdani . . ."

"New York City Democrat mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani claimed he was Asian and Black when applying to Columbia University as a high school senior, The New York Times reported.

"Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist, was born in Uganda and identifies as a Muslim immigrant of South Asian descent. His parents are Indian Ugandan and Indian American.

"However, Columbia data showed Mamdani checked boxes for "Asian" and "Black or African American" on a 2009 application, the Times reported Thursday.

"Mamdani's application came at a time when Columbia used a race-conscious affirmative action admissions program.

"Claiming he was Black or African American in addition to Asian could have given Mamdani an advantage among students vying to attend the Ivy League school.

"Mayor Eric Adams, who has launched a reelection campaign as an independent, called Mamdani's actions "an insult to every student who got into college the right way."

" 'The African American identity is not a check-box of convenience," he said in a statement, the Times reported. "It's a history, a struggle and a lived experience. For someone to exploit that for personal gain is deeply offensive.' " . . .

Zohran Mamdani ID’d himself as Asian and African American on Columbia application: report  . . . "Cuomo will also appear on the ballot, though he’s still considering whether to run a full campaign. 

"A new poll released Thursday showed Mamdani is the frontrunner to win the general election in November. 

"The American Pulse survey showed Mamdani leading with 35% support for the general election, followed by Cuomo at 29%, Republican Curtis Silwa at 16%, Adams at 14%, and Independent candidate Jim Walden at 1%.

“ 'Mamdani has an early lead and a clear message, but deeper scrutiny may erode enthusiasm among general election voters,” said American Pulse pollster Dustin Olson.

“It’s possible some voters already have buyer’s remorse. When they hear about government-run grocery stores or Mamdani’s continued refusals to denounce ‘Globalize the Intifada,’ which many folks — including me — consider to be an antisemitic slogan, support softens.”

Unedited interview reveals Kamala's ‘excruciating’ incompetence: Douglas Murray

Sky News Australia   "Author Douglas Murray discusses reports that Paramount has agreed to pay $US16 million to US President Donald Trump to settle a lawsuit concerning an interview with former vice president Kamala Harris that aired on 60 Minutes.

“This is all just a reminder that despite her obvious inadequacy for the role of vice president, let alone president, there were so many people in the media, let alone the Democratic Party, who were just wafting her upwards, covering for her,” Mr Murray told Sky News host Rita Panahi.

“You see in the unedited tape what we all knew, which was that she was hopelessly out of her depth, as indeed was her boss.

“The fact that so much of the media was willing to help her in that really is pretty astonishing.”

Immobilize the Mamifada

 Ann Coulter  

People who care what happens to New York City — which apparently does not include Cuomo and Sliwa or they wouldn’t need to be asked — have got to pressure the two spoilers to suspend their campaigns and endorse Adams.

"In New York City’s Democratic primary for mayor last week, Andrew Cuomo, the former governor, son of a former governor, once married to a Kennedy (that’s admirable in Democrat circles), lost to the preposterous creature, Zohran Mamdani, who promises government-run grocery stores, free child care, free buses and other great ideas that made the Soviet Union the powerhouse economy that it was — not counting those 70 years of bad weather.

"Mamdani calls himself a socialist, but that’s like Lia Thomas calling himself a woman. Socialism evokes nice Scandinavian countries, like Sweden. Except even Sweden doesn’t have government-run grocery stores, free child care and free buses. Sweden doesn’t proclaim — as Mamdani does — that the “end goal” is “seizing the means of production.” (And by the way, Sweden’s gentle socialism hasn’t been working quite so well ever since 800,000 people who look like Mamdani moved in.)

"Why can’t we call a communist a communist? The word is treated as a meaningless slur used only by right-wing kooks. It is a slur, but when a candidate is lobbying for seizing the means of production and pushing for government-run breadlines, it’s anything but meaningless. Does Mamdani have to be holding a copy of “The Communist Manifesto” for us to call him one?

"But why dwell on the negative? We’ll get back to Zohran. First, let’s take a moment to enjoy the good news: Cuomo is finished. He’s so far down the Anthony Weiner Highway, all that’s left is some dick pics being sent to teenage girls.

"Like a Shakespeare play, there’s something for everyone in former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s epic defeat. So many reasons to hate him, so little column space!

"There was his grandstanding idiocy as head of Clinton’s Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he pressured banks to take big risks in order to issue more mortgages to minorities. This was a crucial first step toward the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis that wrecked the economy, wrecked Lehman Brothers, wrecked Bear Stearns, and wrecked countless neighborhoods abandoned due to underwater mortgages.

"And let’s not forget the millions of New Yorkers cowering in their homes today, unable to leave after dark, take the subway or enjoy public parks, thanks to the no-bail law Cuomo pushed through in 2019. As Democrats were about to take control of both houses of the legislature for the first time since 1964, Cuomo announced that one of his top priorities would be to release violent criminals immediately after their arrest, without their having to spend a night in jail. Good to get them right back to menacing innocent taxpayers.

"His argument was that people were being put in jail “for the crime of being poor.” Yes, it seems that only the rich could afford to pay bail after knifing bodega owners, pushing New Yorkers in front of oncoming trains, sodomizing grandmothers, etc. Despite Cuomo’s no-bail law turning the city into a McDonald’s Play Place for criminals, he never questioned it, much less apologized.

"Cuomo’s indifference to public safety could have been because he was so busy killing thousands of nursing home residents — in addition to killing businesses, careers, childhoods and entire industries — with his disastrous COVID policies." . . .

Naturally, therefore, Fox News is encouraging people to waste their votes on him, splitting the non-lunatic vote. Since Mamdani’s primary win, Fox has promoted Sliwa in several flattering, primetime interviews.

Actor John Cusack: Iran 'Should Get' Nuclear Weapon Updated, 2 PM

Hollywood: what would we do without it and them? 

NEWSMAX

UPDATED

"Actor John Cusack, known for his anti-Israel views, said Iran should have access to nuclear weapons to combat the United States and Israel, Fox News reported on Wednesday.

"He said that roughly one week after President Donald Trump ordered the military strikes on three Iranian nuclear facility sites.

"Iran will surely rush to get a nuclear weapon — and they should get one," Cusack wrote in a social-media post on June 27. "It's the only way to deter the U.S. and Israel from bombing every country in the Middle East

"Cusack has been a longtime critic of the Trump administration and the Jewish state, particularly the Israeli government's operations in the Gaza Strip following the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

"Before posting about Iran, the actor also wrote that "blind allegiance" to Israel is an "alliance to a genocidal" regime, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "murderous gangster."

This JNS.org report was republished with permission from Jewish News Syndicate.

Hollywood was founded by Jews. But it ignores Hamas' pogroms  

. . ."John Cusack, that one-time 80s heartthrob, wrote on X: “I was out at the Palestinian march in Chicago. What I DID hear is – we must free Palestine from a brutal occupation – people concerned for their loved ones, in a hell zone, stuck without food, water, and power.”  

"Marvel superstar Mark Ruffalo word-saladed on Instagram: “Concerning the tragic events unfolding in Israel and Gaza, I am grief-stricken for the unspeakable suffering and loss of life and loved ones. This horrific violence must end."

Hamas chose this to get the best of all worlds: they could kill every Jewish mother, father and child they could find while being honored and praised by "elite" westerners. The Tunnel Dweller                             Below: An Israeli woman after being tied up and raped by Hamas

Democrats Are Freaking Out About 'Alligator Alcatraz'

PJ Media 

"That’s why every effort to secure the border is met with outrage from the left. It threatens their long-term political strategy. Trump’s crackdown exposes their agenda for what it is — a cynical power grab disguised as compassion, and they’re terrified that the American people are finally waking up to it." 

Rich Terrell

  "House Democrats are in full meltdown mode over the Trump administration’s latest move to get serious about border enforcement. The new detention facility, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” has opened its doors deep in the Florida Everglades, and now the same party that didn’t want Trump deporting criminal illegal aliens has declared that they don’t want him detaining them either.

"Twenty-four House Democrats, led by Reps. Janelle Bynum and Maxwell Frost, fired off a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Director Todd Lyons, demanding that they shut down the facility immediately. Their outrage is as predictable as it is stupid.

The Democrats’ letter is a laundry list of melodrama, painting the Everglades as a death trap: “This remote swamp is notorious for oppressive heat, relentless humidity, severe storms, and perilous terrain infested with venomous snakes, disease-carrying insects, and large predatory wildlife, including alligators and crocodiles.” 

"Yeah, that’s the point.

"According to them, the location is so remote that it’s “nearly impossible for separated family members and children to visit their detained loved ones, legal counsel to meet with their clients, and elected officials to provide oversight.” 

"Would they prefer El Salvador then?

"They call the facility an “inhumane stunt” and accuse the Trump administration of “deliberate placement of vulnerable immigrants into such a hostile and lethal environment,” which they claim “is morally reprehensible, inherently cruel, and starkly violates basic humanitarian standards.”  . . .

A second July 4th triumph that same holiday: Vicksburg surrenders

 On July 4, 1863, Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton surrendered the city of Vicksburg and the Confederate garrison defending it to Major General Ulysses S. Grant.  

. . . " Pemberton and Grant Negotiate the Surrender of Vicksburg  "After holding out for over six weeks, Pemberton sent Major General John S. Bowen through his lines under a white flag of truce with the following message addressed to Grant.

Headquarters, Vicksburg, July 3, 1863.

Major-General Grant, commanding United States forces: —

General — I have the honor to propose to you an armistice for ___ hours, with a view to arranging terms for the capitulation of Vicksburg. To this end, if agreeable to you, I will appoint three commissioners, to meet a like number to be named by yourself, at such place and hour to-day, as you may find convenient. I make this proposition to save the further effusion of blood, which must otherwise be shed to a frightful extent, feeling myself fully able to maintain my position for a yet indefinite period. This communication will be handed you under a flag of truce, by Major-General James Bowen.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. C. PEMBERTON.

"Brigadier General Andrew Jackson Smith received Bowen and forwarded Pemberton’s message to Grant. After considering Pemberton’s proposal, Grant replied:"

Headquarters, Department of Tennessee,

In the Field, near Vicksburg, July 3, 1863.

Lieutenant-General J. C. Pemberton, commanding Confederate forces, &c.: —

General — Your note of this date, just received, proposes an armistice of several hours, for the purpose of arranging terms of capitulation through commissioners to be appointed, &c. The effusion of blood you propose stopping by this course, can be ended at any time you may choose, by an unconditional surrender of the city and garrison. Men who have shown so much endurance and courage as those now in Vicksburg, will always challenge the respect of an adversary, and I can assure you will be treated with all the respect due them as prisoners of war. I do not favor the proposition of appointing commissioners to arrange terms of capitulation, because I have no other terms than those indicated above.

I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

U. S. GRANT, Major-General.

Upon surrender, General Grant visited Pemberton's headquarters to extend courtesies. This account describes his treatment by Confederate officers: 

. . . "No one even offered Grant a seat, and when he asked for a glass of water a member the Confederate staff merely told him where he could find it. The situation was a trying one, but Pemberton and his officers met it badly. Their behaviors unhandsome and disagreeable in the extreme while that of Grant and his staff was both modest and magnanimous to an extent to which the enemy had no just claim." . . .

 . . . "The last 'wallpaper' edition of the Vicksburg Citizen, still set on the presses when Grant's troops entered the city, stated:)

"Ulysses must get into the city before he dines in it. The way to cook a rabbit is 'first to catch the rabbit, &c..."
A 'Note' added by the Federal forces which entered Vicksburg on the 4th continued:
"Two days bring about great changes. The banner of the Union floats over Vicksburg. General Grant has 'caught the rabbit.' He has dined in Vicksburg and he did bring his dinner with him..."

 File:69-32-F Newspaper, The Daily Citizen, Vicksburg, Final Issue.jpg - Wikimedia Commons