Okay, I have to say this

Posted on by Sarah A. Hoyt

So, I’ve come, once more, to ask you to please get some awareness of when external forces are spinning you up for their own purposes.

No, I’m not talking about the regulars in this blog — not by and large — but about “the right” at large.

When a big firestorm comes out of nowhere, weeks — months — after other people were — rightly — outraged, and just as the left is losing its shield of corrupt judges and the administration is making some inroads — why would anyone think it was natural? Why in G-d’s green Earth?

Look I knew there was something weird going on with the Epstein files when Bondi first made a big show of having read the whole thing and how disgusting it was and then delivered… nothing.

At that point, looking at it, I had two choices:

1- She was played into making the earlier statement, then played into getting egg on her face. Bad show.

2- She was going to publish and someone stopped her. I.e. “Deep status interruptus.”

Either way, I was furious at it. Furious enough that I said — bad then — she should resign as she had just undermined the administration’s credibility.

When she wasn’t fired, by the man known for “You’re Fired” I figured it was one of two things: Trump either figured she was about the best he could get AND GET CONFIRMED right now (remember confirmation hearings and razor thin margins?) OR Trump also couldn’t defy the deep state.

And before you throw yourself on the floor screaming bloody murder on that last hypothesis, yeah. It’s entirely possible for Trump NOT TO BE CORRUPTED and yet to be unable to fight the deep state. We’re dealing with corruption stacked so deep that we might need to take it a corner, an edge, a bit at a time. Yes, it sucks. But honestly looking at the administration these last few months it’s exactly what it’s looked like to me.

You can have it fast and fall into a civil war as the deep state activates all its resources at once, or you can slowly undermine them until you can go for the central things.

No, it is not actually credible that Trump was “in the Epstein list” because if he had been, the Biden DOJ who had control of that list would have published it or at least published that bit of it, with corroboration, instead of going after washed up socialites and media personalities oh, and porn actresses to try to smear Trump.

Also the one thing we DO know is that Trump was the only one of the “elite” to turn on Epstein (supposedly when he figured out what Epstein was up to) and try to take him out.

And then, while I was recovering from travel, out of nowhere, not only is Epstein trending, but every single blog I frequent is full of people screaming that if Trump doesn’t fire Pam Bondi NOOOOOW (and possibly Patel and Bongino too) he’s a pedophile, and supporting pedophiles.

And twitter accounts are screaming that the administration is just all corrupted and co-opted by the deep state and if you tell these accounts they’re insane, they call you a pedophile-lover. Or scream about their feels that Trump promised he’d take down pedophiles and this is the most important thing right now.

The thing is…. is it the most important thing right now? And if so, why is it the most important thing right now? Sure, I don’t think Epstein killed himself. But he’s been dead now for…six years? And his list, such as it is, has been in the hands of the Biden administration funny fingers for that long.

But now, suddenly, if it’s not released this week, MAGA is going to take revenge on the administration and all is lost?

Give me a break. No, seriously. Also, go look at those accounts. Most of the accounts screaming on the blogs aren’t people I’ve seen there before. Twitter? I confess I don’t look closely at twitter accounts. Also those accounts can’t keep the Jew-hatred out of the screeds.

And then I noticed we’re not getting the screeds here, and you know the blog hygiene I practice for comments. (I forbid them from certain IPs including certain country IPs known for spamming blogs with dizinformazia posters.)

Do I know that’s why we haven’t got the crazy here? No. But it’s an indication.

Supposedly this is what Trump said about it:

I will notice this comes from a post in which the stalwart conservatives like Keith Olberman scream about how terrible this is. Considering that he’d thing the left getting back in power wonderful, I doubt what he thinks is terrible.

They ignore the fact that Trump says that the files were rewritten by the previous administration and instead scream Trump is shielding pedophiles. THESE ARE NOT CREDIBLE OR SANE PEOPLE. Even if they’re not AI generated. (And I’m not going to check.)

So to recap this: This is a campaign spun up by people who don’t wish Trump or the administration well. People who don’t wish the country well.

Before piling in and going screaming into the night, kindly consider that who wants you to do that.

Let me be quite obvious before some of you also start saying that I’m a mindless supporter of the administration, or that I support pedophiles (be your age!):

1- I think Pam Bondi and at least her immediate aids were spun on the Epstein stuff. I think they have egg on their faces.

2- I think it was stupid of Trump to promise to reveal the files. He had to know they were in the other party’s control and would be corrupt.

I kind of understand that he can be very naive around some things, and one of those things is how corrupt or not the bureaucrats in the lower reaches of the government were or are. He seemed to believe in “our institutions” way too much for my taste.

3- Pam Bondi is obviously the best he can get right now, and BE CONFIRMED or Trump would be making other arrangements.

4- Trump such as he is is obviously the best we can get right now and get elected, and like he says we should concentrate on cleaning the elections first before we go saying we’ll punish him or what not.

5- No I don’t think this will affect the midterms. I don’t think this is grassroots at all. Epstein file has always been an obsession of the extremely online. People care more about things like grocery prices. And jobs.

6- All that said, there have been unprecedented pedo-ring arrests and people who know have told me that there is work being done on the list, but around and looking into how it was changed to maybe finally make arrests. It won’t be easy or quick. Me? I don’t know and I’m not telling you that’s true. Just that it’s a possibility.

7- Trump is not going to say he was wrong. Why? Because he’s not stupid. He’s been online a long time. Never apologize. Never backtrack. Just move on. Any admission of error will be used by the left to destroy you. You’ve seen this. I’ve seen this. Trump has certainly seen this. So if he was a dumbass in promising the list, he’ll just brush it off.

Right now, though, I’m going to ask you to stop, take a deep breath and ask yourself if we’d be better off with the left in control. Because those are your options. And I want to tell you that no, you won’t be better off with the left in control.

When these campaigns spin up THEY ARE NEVER FROM THE PEOPLE. THEY ARE NEVER IN YOUR BEST INTERESTS.

8- No, we’re not going to lose the midterms from this, because twitter is NOT in fact America. The left learned this. Learn from their mistakes.

9- If you throw away this miraculous chance we got to search for some mythical perfect, you are in fact an idiot. They had their claws at our neck. We managed to sweep them aside using Trump. But now you want to throw it all away because Trump is not a perfect person or a perfect president.

10-If that’s the case you might consider that what you actually want is not a country in which my children and grandchildren can live, but heaven. And you’re willing to burn Earth into hell to get to heaven. Everyone who tried that, ever, only found hell forever.

I’m not even going to fundraise on this post. Partly because half of you — even the regulars — are going to try to pick a fight with me.

I hate to do this kind of post on fundraising weeks. This tells you how upset I am at the ridiculous “falling for the psy-ops again.”

PLEASE don’t. Consider — in the bowels of Christ — that you’re being made a pawn of people who want us all dead.

248 thoughts on “Okay, I have to say this”

  2. No disagreement here. I ignore all these things, like the Musk/Trump dustup as not worth my time, especially when it happens “everywhere, all at once”, a definite tell.

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    1. Agree on Trump/Musk dustup. Musk is a political noob. Brilliant engineer. But politics? He’s an naive idiot. Question is can he learn? Answer is way way far away in the distance of time. At one time Trump was a naive idiot (#45). But he did learn.

      While I want #47 administration to prove 2020 was stolen, and how. Because those methods need to be plugged, and sanitized so they can never ever happen again. At any level. I want elections clean across the board, every location, before the midterms! But the fact it was stolen gave us a better prepared #47. If TPTB idiots (thank God they are) had waited and let Trump have his next 4 years, he wouldn’t have gotten as much done in those 4 years as he has since he became #47. We’d have Pence (shudder) cued up for republican presidential run and not Vance/Rubio or whatever preferred combination you want. We dodged a big one.

      Liked by 2 people

    2. I have sometimes wondered if these dustups are planned out in advance …

      “Hey, Elon, I’m about to do a big thing, so I need another distraction, kindof like how you suggested I’m in the Epstein files when I needed to do that last big thing. Any ideas?”

      “I could suggest we start a new party to replace the Uniparty.”

      “Oh, yeah, that sounds great! I’ll watch out for the tweet, and as soon as everyone is distracted, I’ll make my next move!”

      I think both President Trump and Elon Musk have big enough egos that may prevent such conversations from happening, but sometimes I wonder.

      And I also wonder if these efforts by these bots trying to derail President Trump are actually backfiring: “Hey, while everyone’s chatting about this, I can lob my next three grenades, and no one but the just-fired Deep State operatives are going to notice!”

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      3. Maybe, but this nonsense of “epstein, epstein, epstein” comes with a LARGE dose of antisemitism which, I’m sorry, points like a laser at Russia dizinformazia. They’re always obsessed with Jews and can’t understand the rest of the world isn’t. They’re as bad as the Hamass on that.

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        1. Huh- I hadn’t even known the Epstein/Jewish angle was a thing. Must hang out in the wrong disreputable places.

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            2. The Mossad ties were mostly his co-conspirator whatsherface Maxwell. They were big, and extensive.
              As were her ties to MI6.

              Epstein’s ties were to the CIA and DOJ. They, too, were with big fish. (And the FBI reported CIA involvement when they tried to prosecute him the first time.)

              Did Epstein work for the Mossad, or MI6, or the CIA? Yeah. Without a doubt. All of the above. Did one of them bootstrap his wealth and honeypot operation? Obviously. Was he loyal to any of them? Probably not any more than he was forced to be.

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              1. Continuing (Because WP stopped letting me add to the last post for some reason).

                Focusing on Mossad, IMO, is badly missing the point.
                Which is that (at least) three Intelligence Agencies ran an completely unethical operation to compromise and leverage their own governments and citizens, in what seems to be close coordination, in ways that were not to the respective benefit of their countries.

                Which seems to me to be a much bigger deal than “OMG, the ZOG!”

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                1. I’ve taken to writing longer posts in my word processing app and then cutting and pasting in here. Too many times I’d get halfway through the post, and POOF! All the text vanished and wouldn’t recover.

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                    2. Not frequently enough for me to change from that work around. There is the side benefit of it giving me time to think about what I’m actually writing and helps keep my foot out of my mouth. I’m far too acquainted with the taste of shoe leather.

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                    3. When Ctrl+Z doesn’t work for me, or WP pulls other shenanigans (other than the few multiple posts which I have no control over), I take as a clue “don’t post this thought”.

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              2. ….the connection was that her dad was “rumored to have been murdered by Mossad,” and the evidence was that a lot of bigwigs from Israel’s government showed up at his funeral. In Israel. Where he invested a ton of money in the ’80s. And where his grave is.

                It was claimed on the basis of Epstein’s death being super similar to falling off a yacht in the tropics, by a journalist who was pushing a book.

                https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-writer-who-broke-epstein-case-a-rumored-mossad-link-is-worth-digging-into/

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            1. I’ve whined before about the wave of “Orthodox Church MANLY!!!!” nonsense that rolled in to Catholic blogs a while back. The American Catholic has a few posts on it, I think, I know we tore them apart in the comments.

              “Strangely,” they strongly associated with bending knee to Moscow and then list of stuff that would fit in OK with Muslim groups.

              They were weirdly upset to find such a cold welcome, especially once they were put through their theological paces and found wanting….

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              1. Didn’t see those, but I remember one article claiming vile young men like the Orthodox Church because you have to stand through the services. I burst out laughing.

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                  1. Well, you have to realize the author’s concept of “vile” is Christian, which, to her, is the same as being a NAZI. (Cuz’ all those Nazi’s were Christians :) ) Still, if it’s a young male virility demonstration, I see an awful lot of elderly ladies standing probably better than me.

                    Liked by 1 person

                2. I was raised in the Greek Orthodox Faith. I’ll note that the standing services of the Orthodox Church in the Americas – inherited from their Russian Orthodox roots.

                  And even then, those of us over a certain age, or with certain infirmities, are allowed, even encouraged, to take a seat, sadly, mostly behind the rest of the Parish who are able to stand.

                  I’ll also note that several young Deacons and Priests of whom I am aware have converted from Evangelical Protestant groups, and are the back bone of the OCA mission movement, at least here in Missouri.

                  Liked by 2 people

      4. Well, Trump and Netanyahu fake a rift between them earlier this year before the attacks on Iran. Who’s to say the Trump/Musk tiff is or is not real?

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  3. Right now, all I can say is that I’m going to wait for the history books about this whole thin in the next 15-20 years, assuming nothing else goes wrong.

    It’s not going to be a single stab to the heart that destroys this monster. However much we wish it could be so.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. But thinking about it…

        If we could slay them so easily, they could slay us so easily in return.

        I would prefer to end this in a single burst of overwhelming power. Slay the beasts and be done with it.

        The war that we are fighting is not one we sought out-but it is one that we will have to win. So say we all.

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  4. Well, it’s obviously a blackmail ring and releasing the info would mean the blackmailers would lose their leverage. Further than that is above my paygrade.

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    1. One of the theories that I’ve heard is that it’s too big a ring. That releasing the information would probably destroy so many things in the Western world that we would be extremely vulnerable to…other actors…at this time.

      Personally, if that’s the case, I’d be politely suggesting to people that they can choose to either quietly resign and never be in any position of authority ever again, or else. And leave the or else rather vague.

      A few “heart attacks” or “suicides” might provide some motivation.

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      1. I don’t agree with you but setting that aside for a moment the way this has been handled is terrible, as bad as bad can be. Almost like it was designed to stir up outrage.

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      2. The Chinese seem to have been stirring up wars over the last few years, to clear the road for a Taiwan invasion. I don’t know if that’s still the big thing, or if they’ve shifted to just spite-attacks on US unity, etc.

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        1. Xi probably does not know.

          In that I think quite a lot of things may have been directed, and I do not think that the key leadership figures in the scam understand that there is a real world, nor what is happening in it.

          I could buy that Epstein, and the Biden regime, were aspects of longer term preparations for the ChiComs to take Taiwan, and for Russia to take Ukraine.

          Madam Hussein bint Soetaro could even have been step one. But Trump was a surprise in 2016, and Trump was perhaps a surprise in 2024.

          Elite capture seems to have continued working, and the (Clinton corrupted?) US intelligence seems to have been on board.

          Given the Magnitsky act, killing Epstein could have been used to ‘justify’ penalizing Trump, given the right forged documents and ‘convictions’.

          Epstein was probably part of wider conspiracy land, and the documents were probably originally fraudulent. But maybe the Bidenistas also juiced the list.

          Either way, it probably looked good, then they took independent steps to verify, and it did not.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Quibble:

            It was Bush I that corrupted the CIA. (To the extent it wasn’t already corrupt. We’re still not allowed to see most of what the Church Commission found.)

            But Clinton gets full credit for the FBI. (And why Bush II would bring in the Clinton apparatchik Comney to head the FBI is a question best relegated to nightmares. I’m serious. Thinking about it is a Cthulhu-class memetic risk.)

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      3. They say that. I no longer believe it. You don’t whittle away at cancer, of cut only half of it out; you go for the whole shebang. If that means prosthesis afterwards, or organ replacement, so be it. NO ONE IS IRREPLACEABLE. Not in government, not in business. Might it hurt? Damn straight, but you need to take that bandage off in one go, not drag the pain out.

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      4. Or, it was an over-hyped nothing burger, well past the discard date.

        Absence of evidence is not proof of conspiracy. Or anything else.

        The only solid evidence is “epstein was a pedo, and his girlfriend apparently played along”

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        1. Epstein also hob-nobbed with the rich and shameless, traded political favors, and got an awful lot of money without doing anything visible to earn it. Add in the pedo angle and it all looks mighty dirty.

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      1. I think they realize that the file is so corrupted that without very diligent investigation they are risking slander and lawsuits. After all Trump knows he had contact with Epstein. Heck he’s admitted it. He also prevented at least one underage girl associated with his businesses from being a victim, and saved unknown number by banning Epstein from his properties. All the Bidens & cohorts had to do is fabricate a number of innocent bystanders stories and wham the Trump administration is corrupt because innocent people are on the list.

        The list shouldn’t be published, until everyone on the list that can be brought to justice is put away. Then the those names are published along with anyone else caught and successfully prosecuted along with them.

        Like you said. There have been rings caught a successfully prosecuted. Who is to say if that thread isn’t one pulled from the Epstein files?

        I did not vote for Trump to release the scandalous salacious gossip that is the “Epstein Files” that the Biden administration had in their hands to muddy between 2021 and 2025. Might as well be badly written fiction now.

        Did Bondi get ahead of her skis (as the saying goes)? Could she have handled it better? Yes to both counts. Oops. Move on. Is if fair to the victims? No. That ship sailed under the Biden administration. But the Trump administration will eek out what it can prove, legally.

        Everything that you said Sarah.

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      2. I figured that out before the inauguration. (I pride myself on an IQ with 3, count them, 3 digits!)

        I’m only upset that Bondi et al made public statements that showed less common sense than that.

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        2. I have a theory on that. Trump is more seasoned. Bondi isn’t. Remember it was supposed to be Gaetz? She was a last minute shove in.
          I think she never read any of it, but her staffers had and fed her lines. And some of her staffers were… on the other side, or trying to goad her to releasing a corrupt file.

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      3. Evidence and chain of custody are vital to prosecutions, but those have been trashed for years.

        As I recall, early on Epsteins’ NYC house was searched by the FBI, who found and opened a safe, remarked that it was full ov DVDs, then decided that their warrant did not extend to the DVDs, so they would have to get another warrant and come back the next day to sieze them. They neglected to have security on the house after they left, and when they came back the next day with their warrant, Mueller surprise, the safe was empty.

        Didn’t something similar happen to the house of the alleged Las Vegas murderer?

        The FBI took another three weeks to search Epsteins’ Island, a time when he had control of it and heavy equipment and industrial concrete mixers on the property. The tunnels reported earlier were not found. Hmmm.

        Trumps’ handling of this is not good, though he can only work with what he is given, and must trust his people, until they fail him. He is the best chance we have of bringing this mess under sufficient control for us to survive as a nation. I wish that he was better, but I know that the alternative will be much worse.

        He is directly opposed by the US Intelligence Community + Five Eyes + Israeli Intelligence on this and many other issues. Note that Israeli Intelligence was associated with the Leftist riots against Netanyahu a couple of years ago.

        As Sarah noted, confirmation by the Senate is always a concern, witness what happened to him as 45, being unable to staff his agencies.

        Keep fighting for the idea that is America, as how, and where you can.

        John in Indy

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        1. Okay, I have to say this, even though I don’t have time (overtime? More like “ALLthetime” amiright?). Mostly agree, but Trump’s handling of this not good? Disagree a bit, there.

          This is the same FBI that hates conservatives and targeted us for years. Same one that stuck plants in crowds later accused of rioting. Same fibbies that did… well, you remember all the stuff. This is the DC FBI. The worst of the worst.

          How far would you go if you hated your opponent, had free access to all the tools to hurt them, no accountability or even brakes on said actions? It’s not ‘what’d they do,’ it’s more what DIDN’T they do to trash the incoming president’s agenda?

          They had motive, they had opportunity, they had means. Of course they f@cking screwed it up! Trump hired BONDI. Not any of the dozens or hundreds of people below the big boss level. Who does she have that she can trust? Who is her solid, reliable backup? I’m sure there is at least one, maybe even some.

          But they are OUTNUMBERED. Numbers matter. Four years of control (at least). Maybe they thought they’d be in control forever, and all of this was done absolutely last minute. Sure. I can buy that. But, again, there were many, many hands to do the job.

          Trump put her in office to do the job, knowing well that he was dropping her into the snake pit. This is not ‘Trump’s FBI.’ This is the derp state fibbles. Yeah, she fumbled a bit. Probably used to having a well oiled machine that responds to her will. Used to having subordinates that had her back, at least some of them. I think she learned from that.

          Two things, as I have to get back to work. One, Trump does a LOT of “LOOK OVER HERE!” while he’s busy in the background. It works. Follow what he does, not so much what he says. Take him seriously, not literally. Two, I’m not going to even engage with this bullsheep until things start to settle down from the hair on fire stoopids.

          Agents provocateur have an agenda. Well, so do I. STFU and quit bothering me with your crap, obvious idiots (not directed at all the good uns here). I got sh!t to do.

          Liked by 2 people

      4. Evidence and chain of custody are vital to prosecutions, but those have been trashed for years.

        As I recall, early on Epsteins’ NYC house was searched by the FBI, who found and opened a safe, remarked that it was full ov DVDs, then decided that their warrant did not extend to the DVDs, so they would have to get another warrant and come back the next day to sieze them. They neglected to have security on the house after they left, and when they came back the next day with their warrant, Mueller surprise, the safe was empty.

        Didn’t something similar happen to the house of the alleged Las Vegas murderer?

        The FBI took another three weeks to search Epsteins’ Island, a time when he had control of it and heavy equipment and industrial concrete mixers on the property. The tunnels reported earlier were not found. Hmmm.

        Trumps’ handling of this is not good, though he can only work with what he is given, and must trust his people, until they fail him. He is the best chance we have of bringing this mess under sufficient control for us to survive as a nation. I wish that he was better, but I know that the alternative will be much worse.

        He is directly opposed by the US Intelligence Community + Five Eyes + Israeli Intelligence on this and many other issues. Note that Israeli Intelligence was associated with the Leftist riots against Netanyahu a couple of years ago.

        As Sarah noted, confirmation by the Senate is always a concern, witness what happened to him as 45, being unable to staff his agencies.

        Keep fighting for the idea that is America, as how, and where you can.

        John in Indy

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        1. “As Sarah noted, confirmation by the Senate is always a concern, witness what happened to him as 45, being unable to staff his agencies.”

          At least some of that is still going on, BTW.

          Liked by 1 person

      5. Evidence and chain of custody are vital to prosecutions, but those have been trashed for years.

        As I recall, early on Epsteins’ NYC house was searched by the FBI, who found and opened a safe, remarked that it was full ov DVDs, then decided that their warrant did not extend to the DVDs, so they would have to get another warrant and come back the next day to sieze them. They neglected to have security on the house after they left, and when they came back the next day with their warrant, Mueller surprise, the safe was empty.

        Didn’t something similar happen to the house of the alleged Las Vegas murderer?

        The FBI took another three weeks to search Epsteins’ Island, a time when he had control of it and heavy equipment and industrial concrete mixers on the property. The tunnels reported earlier were not found. Hmmm.

        Trumps’ handling of this is not good, though he can only work with what he is given, and must trust his people, until they fail him. He is the best chance we have of bringing this mess under sufficient control for us to survive as a nation. I wish that he was better, but I know that the alternative will be much worse.

        He is directly opposed by the US Intelligence Community + Five Eyes + Israeli Intelligence on this and many other issues. Note that Israeli Intelligence was associated with the Leftist riots against Netanyahu a couple of years ago.

        As Sarah noted, confirmation by the Senate is always a concern, witness what happened to him as 45, being unable to staff his agencies.

        Keep fighting for the idea that is America, as how, and where you can.

        John in Indy

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      6. Which is something I’ve been saying for a while. I know how easy it is to corrupt digital data…. and even physical evidence. My employer did this with title deeds in CA. Just to remove “problematic language”, don’t you know. I’m betting that the people burned out in Pacific Palisades are about to find out what else got changed.

        Liked by 1 person

    3. I don’t think this is quite right– at least, not in the sense of “blackmail” like it shows in the movies, “do this or I release that.”

      It’s a child abuse ring.

      If you’re one of the folks who has watched the other ones that came apart– like the ones in Fandom– that’s not quite how they work.

      It’s more … implied.

      Kind of like a buddy-buddy network, and they do a slow pull in on folks.

      Epstein got going, and kept going, because he looked shady, but it was normal shady.

      “Rich guy runs an investment company from a tropical island for completely locked down customer lists, and the board will go there for meetings, lots of girls in bikinis and drinking on the beach” sounds like a James Bond character who might do money laundering or smuggling, not a huge pedophile ring.

      It’s an established pattern that these child abuse rings will do “accidental” things to see how folks respond. The attempt to get that girl at the Trump property? That was probably as much to check his reaction as to check hers– but Trump didn’t do the usual “What are you doing?” or the enabling-the-abuse thing, he went utterly ape and supported the girl going to the police, kicked the procurer out of his properties.

      The usual is things like “accidentally” going into the wrong room, and apologizing profusely if there’s pushback, and keeping track so you don’t do that again.

      And if there isn’t pushback, you push further.

      They even mentioned this for the Sandusky scandal, with lots of kids mentioning there had been accidents where they got a sincere seeming sorry, and nothing ever happened again.

      So Epstein gets rich with the cover-story, gets new contacts and customers from existing ones, and sorts through for who is useful for their child abuse ring, and who is a good shield because they can say things like this in absolute truth:

      “Yeah, the investment firm sucked on returns, it’s totally a scam. Everybody goes there because the investment board gets to visit a tropical island and hang out with pretty girls brining you drinks all day. I went twice, wasn’t worth it to me, but eh there’s this tax loophole where if you invest it is pretty good, want me to connect you?”

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      1. This. Rrrrgh.

        …Long and horrible story very short, I’m pretty sure one of my family members set me up to be a victim of such, only I got to a phone and made it very obvious said relative knew exactly where I was and was turning around to Come Get Me Right Now.

        And they were still in the “accidental” stage, so… that was enough. That time.

        Liked by 1 person

          1. As you might expect, I grew up being absolutely terrified of being left anywhere.

            And I made an awful lot of people mad, including my parents, who apparently wanted to make nice-nice with this guy.

            But I dodged that bullet. Sheer, dumb luck.

            And terror. Sometimes terror is the right reaction.

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          1. At the time all I knew was, I was scared. And no adult would believe that I should have been scared. Or at least, would admit to it. Only later did I add up a lot of the things that happened around my family and one of my sibling’s brief comments on much worse things that happened to him (I could never substantiate, he wouldn’t talk to me, but….)

            That’s why I’m putting this out there: an example of what our hostess pointed out, how people who want to abuse others start with something that can be waved off as an “accident”.

            I happened to be scared enough, and Odd enough to not realize I was “supposed to” behave for my father’s “friend”, so I made a fuss that couldn’t be ignored.

            It cost me a heck of a lot socially. But I think I got off lucky – my relatives realized I would not be maneuvered into that vulnerable a position, so they didn’t try that kind of abuse again. Others, sure, but at least I scraped out of that one.

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      2. You are probably right. The whole thing makes me both depressed and sick to my stomach so I try not to think about. What you wrote reminds me a little of C.S. Lewis inner ring as well.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Pingback: Instapundit » Blog Archive » I’M GOING TO GET IN SERIOUS TROUBLE FOR THIS, BUT:  Okay, I have to say this.

  6. Like the Book of Torak, anything in the FBI and CIA’s files has had multiple censors with conflicting agendas. And I’m sure there’s still stuff flagged ‘restricted’ in Sentinel (in the ‘only the agent in question can ever find it’ sense)

    Liked by 1 person

  7. I agree. Stop falling for the propaganda people. Quit letting them spin you up. All is well, all will be well, and all manner of things will be well. God is still on his throne and he will not let us fall.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. My only concern, if it dignifies that name, is the handling of the Epstein files is very 2016 Trump and not at all 2024 Trump.

    I figure he wasn’t that invested and so spoke without thinking it through 100%.

    because twitter is NOT in fact America. The left learned this. Learn from their mistakes.

    Have they? I mean some who flounced off to Bluesky now think that is America, not Twitter, but that seems about it.

    Like

  9. My only concern, if it dignifies that name, is the handling of the Epstein files is very 2016 Trump and not at all 2024 Trump.

    I figure he wasn’t that invested and so spoke without thinking it through 100%.

    because twitter is NOT in fact America. The left learned this. Learn from their mistakes.

    Have they? I mean some who flounced off to Bluesky now think that is America, not Twitter, but that seems about it.

    Like

  10. The list may still exist but it’s hidden as a blackmail tool to keep “supporters” from jumping the reservation the way Trump did. The left can keep milking them for money that way.

    Liked by 1 person

          2. I figured that was Word Press’s way of printing MOO.

            Sorry about the double post then test…I had posted and wasn’t seeing it. I’m not AS paranoid about being in moderation/banned so I figured it wasn’t getting through.

            Then, bamb, three posts, two identical.

            Like

  12. This is funny. I was just after talking with one of my few friends at church about this after service. He asked my thoughts and I said, roughly, “I don’t care – because what is this distracting people from?” Promising the list was cool, but agreed, with it in the hands of multiple unknown but likely bad actors for 4 years plus, the likely good of this being actionable in truth is pretty low. Plus, these people are going to get all their sure recompense at the White throne of Christ – as such, this is the closest to heaven they will ever get. Also, are most of these names going to be surprises? I doubt it. People, particularly famous people, seem to enjoy depravity far more, and so I contend that the a large portion of the names on the list would gather the reaction of, “yup, makes sense”.

    But we absolutely cannot allow this to splinter everything apart, right as it feels like we are Rome after Cannae, developing the tactics needed to grind down our enemies: Carthago delenda est. Only our Carthage is the entrenched civil service bureaucracy spawned from the Pendleton Act.

    Liked by 2 people

  13. I’ll say this – for all of my disagreements with Trump, and all of his faults, he hates pedophiles. For this alone I would ride with him to hell.

    Liked by 2 people

  15. 1000x what Sarah has said. Is there “something odd” still about the Epstein thing? Sure. I can see that. But as she points out, we are frying bigger fish. And the Trump post is one of the most important things he’s typed in a while. He’s giving all of us a gentle smack on the cheek and trying to keep us from going all hysterical-like at the worst moment.

    WE have the momentum. WE are winning everywhere (and still not sick of it!) WE are converting significant parts of significant demographics into “not-reflexive-Democrats”. WE have a SecState who is kicking America haters out of the country. (WHEN was the last time the SecState was pro-America, let alone Rubius Maximus-style pro-America?)

    I could go on but I won’t – I’d be preaching to the choir, I think.

    Bottom line: forward, not back.

    -dale

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Yep. The question is whether this is a short term “we need to avoid scrutiny of $something-bad-for-deepstate now” thing or a deliberate attempt to try and split the MAGA tribes seeing that the Elon 3rd party idea seems to have flopped.

    Or possibly both

    Liked by 1 person

      1. “And.”

        The folks who want to keep Trump people and folks who like De Santis angry with each other are also busy stirring the pot.

        I have the sense too many folks in the “very conservative” (self-selected) set are also, “Russia is invincible!” and, “Isolationism forever, no matter what!” types, with a few adding, “But, the JOOOOOOOOOOOOS!” as a side dish.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Add in the “because wymin!” to that list, too, and some race baiting.

          It’s like three big clouds, and a bunch of little sub-options. Make your own Life Long Republican MAGA Supporter!!! Fresh off the printer this morning!

          Liked by 1 person

    2. I think to some extent it is easy for us outside analysts to read intentful planning and decision making that was not actually present.

      Also, if someone has willfully embraced self delusion about their own abilities, and is avoiding records for reasons of incrimination, they may be able to read intent and planning into their decision making that was not actually present at the time.

      But, I have mostly had my head under a rock. I have been reading the Bee, and stuff, but have mostly successfully avoided the news. I remember seeing the Bee, but not having a strong reaction, because back then I had remembered the speculation that Epstein would not have preserved honest reliable records of people he hoped to blackmail.

      I am definitely prone to psychological issues that can compromise my judgement, such as by dooming about situations that are not as catastrophic as I propose they are. I can easily be persuaded that Robinette and Hunter are pedophiles. But, when it comes to Dooming over the Trump administration, Epstein would not be the path that most resonates with me. Here we are, almost six months in, and Trump is still trying to make an example of Harvard and get remedies from it, and most universities in America are still officially allowed to operate.

      Like

  18. Thank you Sarah for helping to talk me down! Trump being Trump is a blessing; we need him to fight and his faults remind us not to worship any human! To paraphrase Robert E. Lee “It is good that Trump can be so goofy else we should grow too fond of him”. A central belief in freedom is we do a better job running lives than any government or king or president. Trump is doing great things and also annoying and goofy at times. We should celebrate the victories as they come – and not get too upset that they are not perfect. The ultimate goal is to free ourselves as much as possible while maintaining some level of order which requires a government.

    Like

  19. Ever worked a stage production? Everyone has <i>seen</i> a play, few have <i>worked</i> a play; I’m referring to stagehands, costumers, lighting techs, the people you never see, or even think of, because if they do it right you never know they’re there.

    And, you might really, really, want Luciano Pavarotti for the lead role in your production, but the best you can do is his second cousin Alfredo because Pavarotti is already booked. Al isn’t quite up to Luciano’s chops, but for this prroduction he’s the best you can do. So, you work with him – voice coaches, tweak the lyrics and musical score a bit, redirect some audience attention with lighting and costume changes, reposition actors on stage, and go with it. Getting 80% as close to perfect as possible is the goal because 100% of everything is unattainable (see: Bondi, Pamela Jo, or nearly anyone other than Attila the Hun; see, also: Trump, Donald John).

    I’ve had the luxury (the penance, actually) of dealing with D.C. up close and personal. However corrupt and/or incompetent you think it mght be, you’re wrong – it’s several orders of magnitude worse, because that’s the default setting for large bureaucracies, especially large bureaucracies dominated by political, social and technical myopes; Pournelle’s Iron Law of Bureaucracy is absolute truth, and the only true solution is transformation into a smoking radioactive crater.

    Since that’s not on the menu – nor should it be – because <i>some</i> government is, despite protests to the contrary, necessary. But…it should be remembered the transition into what we have in Washington today began around 1862 or so, and got dosed with growth vitamins on several occasions since. Heavily dosed. <i>Very</i> heavily dosed on a couple occasions.

    And, having experienced those artificially induced growth spurts, government did not regress to its previous, smaller, state. Mostly because “growth is good” and once grown, it’s easier to find things to do with the new, larger capacity. Whether those “things’ are truly beneficial or not.

    There’s pretty widespread agreement that what we have today is not what we need, and certainly not what we want, the discussion – more like “the perpetual public rending of garments,” actually – is centering around “how” and “what” and those differ based on political, social, and yes, economic, viewpoints. Fortunately, as we remodel we have a set of the original construction plans, so discussion occasionally drifts to whether or not those plans are acceptable. Again, that discussion is driven by viewpoints and dogma, because in human societies everything except birth and death is driven by perception, position and beliefs.

    So, I’m inclined to step back a bit – but only a bit – and let the play continue. I’m an active reviewer, not for money, but the production does seek my support; will I tell my friends “it’s good, go see it” or “nope, stay home and read a book.” Some of both, with a bit more of the first than the latter, is the best this production can hope for, because without Pavarotti, and all who usually work with him, it’s not going to be the 100% that will drive $200 tickets, but the 70-80% that will bring in $60 for the orchestra seats.

    And, despite however good, or bad, the performance happens to be, you’ll still never see the stagehands, costumers and lyricists because you’re not supposed to, and just about all of them shun the limelight anyway because they’re happiest beavering away behind the curtain.

    Like

    1. But it is nice to get recognition from your peers.

      One of my rarely worn treasures is the “Staff,” polo shirt I was given for being prop mistress on a civic chorus production of, “The Mikado.”

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oddly enough, the only standing ovation I ever got was for using a dimmer switch, of all things.

        Admittedly, it was during an improv show, and someone was acting out “Death By Nuclear Device,” but it’s still one of my weirder points of interest. I have been on stage. I have been on stage in principal roles. Yet I got a standing ovation for playing with the only lighting thing I had access to…

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Government is a necessary evil.

      Some folks fixate on ‘necessary’ and ignore ‘evil’ — and then proceed straight to “If some government is necessary, then More is Better!”

      Thus we wind up with a government that is devouring the whole country, cheered on by the commies it’s infested with.

      Liked by 1 person

    4. Something else to consider.

      Assume “the files” name a majority of key figures on both sides, from all three branches of government.

      Not even “Prosecution”, just revealing the list amounts to “overthrow government”.

      Won’t happen by Trump. Never. Dude apparently won’t defy the most egregious bullcrap FurherJudge orders. He isn’t going anywhere near “that’s a Coup!”.

      He isn’t going to go Sith.

      And be glad of it. He might just be one of the least corruptible Presidents since Washington. Note, not “incorruptible”. Just not willing to burn it all down for an easy payback.

      And as a noted “payback” person, would not this be a tempting opportunity?

      Ponder -that-. The whole “files” mess was intended to tempt him into wrecking the Republic, so that the opposition could “save” it with “temporary emergency measures” to “save us from Trump”.

      Now see?

      Liked by 2 people

      1. This is beginning to remind me of the problems that Worf had with the Klingon Empire, he had to accept the corruption for the good of the Empire, until he couldn’t anymore.

        I say that as someone who has accepted virtual discommendation from my Empire.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. The more I read here, the more I think Trump Administration has made lists. Yes, list has innocent people on it, because the data is so corrupt. This topic has already listed two. Those on the list will be looked into. As also stated on this list pedophiles do not stop even after they are caught (unless locked up for life, or executed). Most will be caught with more current crimes.

        Liked by 1 person

  20. I’ve noticed that some of the biggest screamers are from the accounts of people who were all in on DeSantis during the primary.

    They’re also “woke right” to a certain degree, and all in on Ukraine.

    Like

  24. Finally, a sane and incisive counter-intuitive take on this whole mishegoss. I totally agree. Thank you.

    Like

  25. There is another possibility. This is that, while there is (and there surely is) an Epstein file, it was so corrupted by either Epstein, himself, or one or more of his handlers (Soros, perhaps), that it is on no probative value, in the first place, and may falsely implicate perfectly innocent people, in the second.

    “Perfectly innocent people”? Yeah. Works like this, maybe; let us imagine that the John Roberts who flew to Epstein’s Island is, in fact, the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Yes, I chose him as an example for a reason. He’s there on the island and an extremely cute, _extremely_ cute, girl who is fifteen but looks rather older is chatting him up. She’s having a drink which her appearance says she can have. Under some pretext or other – maybe she suddenly feels ill – she gets Roberts to escort her to the general vicinity of the little drunk hookers room.

    All that is videotaped. But the next scene in the video is same girl schlom-schlom- schlomming the schlong of some white dude – you never see his face though, of course, now it could be AI’d in – of the same build as Roberts. Or maybe it’s done through image intensification, which is not especially clear, with someone who does look enough like Roberts in the grainy, green light.

    Enough to convict? Maybe. Enough to convict in the New York Times, WAPO, and Boston Globe? Hell, yes.

    Now imagine further that there are hundreds of these cases. Some may be guilty, others innocent, and you cannot tell the difference.

    Ah, but written files. Oh, puhleeze; those are even easier to forge, when they’re your own files.

    So Bondi says that to Trump: “I cannot tell who is and is not guilty. I can tell you that I do not believe some of these are guilty because they’re fucking GAY but are shown with a girl. Others I just don’t know. If I could get a conviction I am not sure that I should…”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Also, knowing what we know now, would you trust any drink that was served to you on Epstein’s island?

      If Bob Politician or Steve Industrialist were hanging out at the pool and suddenly got a drink with a roofie in it, it’s pretty easy to bundle him back to his room, wait till he’s unconscious, and then take incriminating photos that show every mole on his body.

      Same thing with food, for that matter.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Can also have totally above board “Well Known Nice People” type trips. Possibly including literal little old church ladies, scientists, philanthropists.

      “Oh, we work with disadvantaged youth from Bad Locations, here bring your nice fund raising group to my island with other Nice Philanthropist Types, we have all documents in order 24 year olds of both sexes who are gushing about their many wonderful opportunities and how their education is going, and I’ll host a fund raiser in New York for you next year.”

      You do that once or twice a year and anybody who whispers stuff is hinky is working up-hill against axes.

      “What are you talking about? I’ve been to that island!”

      And folks won’t bring that up after the f’er is arrested, hopefully the one in ’06 but possibly even the ’19 arrest, because who wants to badmouth folks they absolutely know are good people?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. My beloved just commented on the deep,wisdom of Billy Graham, who refused to be in his office (or even on an elevator) alone with any woman other than a relative. Always had a witness.

        Like

        1. Dude knew his classics.

          [yes, humor intended, given the repeated theme of “proposition a prophet and accuse of rape if turned down” in the Bible]

          Like

          1. Or the reverse if you look at the story of Susanna (accuse the faithful woman who turned you down of having an affair with another man).

            Liked by 2 people

    4. Bondi only needs one or two that she can, without using names, publicly declare that she can prove the files have been tapered with. Because the files implicate people where it can be proven the people were not and never could have been where the files implicate they were. That digital was AI manipulated, CD’s re-burned (there are date time stamps embedded when burned), and original destroyed. Faked.

      Thus it comes down to victims willing to file charges, with what is in the Epstein files to back them up. Now the latter is destroyed, corrupted, unreliable, and well past “She said, He says” statue of limitations, even for minors, in most jurisdictions, if not all. Now the guilty He can sue the victim for slander. The victims?

      Fair? Hell no.

      Like

  26. Just days ago Bondi admitted, again the files contained child porn that now Trump says were cooked up by Brennan and Comey. First I’d heard of that. So if you’re rich, powerful, connected or the target of a honeypot spook scheme you can get away with engaging in child porn. Those girls are collateral damage. Got it. You can tell the world you have the files for redaction to protect the innocent for 5 months then say two implausible things; you can’t release them because they contain child porn {I thought that was what the redactions were for} and in almost the same breath without punctuation say they are nothingburgers AND made up by two guys. Nobody ask why those two guys would make up those files with names like Clinton and PRince Andrew in them.

    #Watergate2 #Epsteingate

    Like

    2. “Nobody ask why those two guys would make up those files with names like Clinton and PRince Andrew in them.“

      –

      How else to make them remotely plausible?

      Sarah’s right. Your pay needs to be docked.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Heck, whenever there’s one of those lists, they always throw Pope John Paul II in it. Why? Because they get the support of all the Pope haters. By picking the most unlikely man ever, but whatevs.

        Like

  27. I get a feeling that some of the files were found to be total fabrications, and they figure those were introduced to the files to discredit the accurate ones, and spread doubt, so now much more work sorting the chaff is needed. At this point, if this is the case, they need to just come out with “The files have been tampered with”

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Whether it was stupid or wise of Trump to suggest he would release the files, he said it so he must stand by it or face losing the support of those who have put all their trust in him. He cannot afford to lose his base or he will lose his mandate in the process. He rightly urged us to fight after he was saved by the hand of God. He should take his own advice and Fight, Fight, Fight for justice!

    Like

    1. ABSOLUTELY correct. That headache you’ve been having? you should cut off your head because if you cut it off you can’t have a headache. Am I right?
      You’re either a paid troll or an idiot.
      I’m leaning paid troll. The BASE? Oh. You mean the talking heads? The people who hunched their shoulders and voted for him in the face of all sorts of propaganda against him?
      Frankly, my dear, they don’t give a damn.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I knew I needed to check to see if someone else called him an FBI-Troll!

        “Frankly, my dear, they don’t give a damn.“

        –

        100%

        Like

      2. Oh, we give a damn.

        We’re also used to the media and others trying to rile us up over fabrications.

        I’m going to wait until the dust settles before I react.
        And I recognize that a lot of the reactions I’m being pushed towards are self-destructive. (Like demanding Bondi resign.)

        That said, I want heads on pikes. I am not at all willing to let this be swept under the rug.

        Fīat iūstitia ruat cælum

        Liked by 1 person

  29. Another thing…..everyone remember Jeff Sessions? I had real hopes for that guy, living close enough to Alabama to take note. And then “they,” whoever they are, persuaded him to recuse himself (I am having a very senior morning and forget the details) and that was basically the end of his effectiveness as AG.

    Is this the same folks taking another shot at removing a potentially dangerous AG?

    (Dangerous, but lord, the binders bit was dumb)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The binders was extra stupid. And I DON’T THINK she’s that effective. She’s probably just the best he can get.
      I think she trusted her staffers. I hope Trump spanked her in private.
      One thing I didn’t say in the post: We know this whole stuff started with “Patel and Bongino are going to quit if she doesn’t.” And yet Patel has said he ISN’T and Bongino has said nothing….. Um.

      Like

  30. That was great. I read blogs like this so I can see how how my betters, or those more articulate than me can put my thoughts into words. I think ActBlue is more important, I notice that Ossof a true grifter is using it to raise funds. I don’t even live in GA. Small thing but let everything else go to hell. As you pointed out the perfect is the enemy of the good. We will only get Utopia (meaning nowhere as per Sir Thomas More) when in at least religious terms the Messiah will come. Until then we are all imperfect.

    Like

    1. Somehow my beloved got on the Democratic Party fundraising list. He finds the thrice-daily begging messages…interesting. Complete BS, but interesting.

      Liked by 1 person

      2. That reminds me, I need to send Data Republican money.

        Since she broke that story, the spam measures have been stopping like 90% of the really obvious spam texts.

        (I got my number when I out-processed at Whidbey Island. Seattle blob, must be liberal, and loaded, right? :gag: )

        Like

  31. To me, the incident that has caused me to be cautious about the whole shebang was Alan Dershowitz being named as one of the abusers and then he was able to successfully clear his name.

    It made me wonder how many other “Epstein Dossiers” for 51 Intelligence Officers to sign onto could be outright fabricated and released into the wild. I suspected that he was targeted because he wasn’t staying on the Right Side of History and as a warning to the rest about expressing doubts about the use of lawfare.

    Do I think there are people who are going to avoid answering for crimes against all that is innocent and holy? Absolutely I do. But only on this side of the veil.

    We cannot lose sight of the ultimate goal, which is not vengeance, as satisfying as that might have been, but fixing our economy and stopping the rise of communism as much as possible.

    It would be great if the alphabet agencies could be handed the comeuppance they so greatly deserve, but just because it isn’t happening right this minute and on this topic, doesn’t mean great strides might not be made going forward, as long as we keep our heads and don’t go chasing after stray geese on the field.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. By nature, anything regarding the alphabet agencies is going to be low key. Bad as they are, the job they do does need doing on a more or less constant basis, and I don’t think anybody wants to see what the ChiComs will do if they know that Intel Community is fully disrupted and ineffective for a significant time.

      Liked by 1 person

  32. Bondi initially was excited by FINALLY getting some of the documents. She told the media so.

    Was told to slow-walk the investigation, as it might keep the BBB from passing.

    Also, there are other even MORE important scandals/issues/problems going on to let this cause chaos.

    So, yes, deal with the Chinese/other spies, the economy, the saber-rattling of the tariffed countries, the sneaky moves China is doing to make alliances/en-debt Africa/Russia/EU/Southeast Asia. And a lot of other things.

    Then move on Epstein. Right after the new Congress/Senate is installed. But, to do that without having to throw out a LOT of the politicians, do it AFTER the guys you primaried left/retired/diedd.

    Yeah, I DO think a lot of the RINO stuff is because of blackmail.

    Like

    1. As Foxfier mentioned it’s not QUITE blackmail, but yes.
      I think Bondi was an idiot. Yes, she told us she had them. … did her staffers tell her that? Did she on looking at them realize they were mostly false?

      Like

  33. 100%

    Your #4 is top priority, without it, we will descend back into 2020.

    Also: “if you tell these accounts they’re insane, they call you a pedophile-lover” sounds exactly like all the futile conversations we’ve all had with lefties in our lives who, when we express a different opinion about ANY current thing, call us racists. Think about the methodology here — it ain’t ours.

    Also: “My guess is due to chain of custody, the information is hopelessly corrupted. ” Indeed, those of prior position who controlled whatever there is in that “list” or “file” would be stupid not to corrupt it so as to implicate as many of their enemies as possible, which if treated openly, would smear even more egg on T & Co’s face, to no benefit for anyone decent and sane. Also everything dep729 said.

    I always assumed this admin’s successes necessarily would be of the “death by a thousand cuts” type, and would have to be solidified by a succeeding sane administration. I am awed by what T has been able to accomplish, and by the court support he has enjoyed in such a short time. I still believe my assumption of the need for another admin.

    We all would love for one “nuclear” masterstroke of destruction of the guilty, followed by a new heaven and earth. But really, the world doesn’t work that way, and in that story, the protagonist in that story is no earthly potentate.

    It’s hard to wait for justice, whether in this life or the next, but these oligarchs of pedo-dom are not the first of their kind, and possibly not even the worst of all the atrocities in our nation today. I just watched the online movie “Inside the Va**ine Trials.” That will enrage you too. And there’s a lot more atrocity out there to choose from.

    This won’t be the last brouhaha stirred up to protect the powers by dividing the decent and sane. As Sarah continually preaches, keep your head, keep alert, and keep building. Nehemiah 4:9-12

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Re Susan M’s comment about Dershowitz … that woke me up, too. Why should we believe accusations from that one group of victims any more than we believe accusations from pron stars or suchlike? And it’s been many years since the events in question … how good are anybody’s memories of the past, even or perhaps especially in time of trauma? I know my family’s crisis period completely wiped out many of my personal memories, so maybe I’m just particularly weak, but am I the only one? It bears meditating on.

      Liked by 1 person

      2. Heck I did not know about Dershowitz until Susan M. posted!

        I know President Trump is not one, if only because the left would have been all over him regardless of who else they threw under that train, bus, wreck (tried to post *wreek* for wreck, not a word, but reek works too) combo. “Got him this time!” would have hit the world at warp speed. The usual suspects would have invented anything if they thought they remotely had a chance to pull it off. Too many examples of where they tried, and failed. Not to dismiss Trump threw out Epstein & Co at the hint of impropriety at one of his facilities and he is a known rabid anti-pedophile.

        That is two names in the files that are 100% vindicated innocents.

        Like

  34. I assumed that 1) the files were “curated*” during previous administrations, muddying any waters. 2) A lot of evidence, one way or another, was lost/contaminated/mishandled over the past several years. 3) It disappointed some people, but there are a lot bigger problems right now than The List.

    OK, so some people are truly disappointed that they don’t get to see a pedophile perp walk featuring certain people that they want to see there. Too bad. Let’s focus on the bigger, known fish, and se where those trails lead. Let’s clean out the foreign gangs and their members. Let’s start getting the federal deficit under control, and work on taking back culture and the schools.

    *I vehemently detest with a white-hot passion the fad for using “to curate” to mean select, sort, recommend, or organize. Please leave the word for the museums and libraries, not interior design or paperwork management. *hops off of soapbox*

    Liked by 1 person

    2. By stopping the cartels and coyotes, we are stopping a lot of p*do stuff. That is one consolation.

      Daily Mail had a story about how we stopped an Irish drug cartel. That is a new one on me. I mean, obviously such things exist, but I didn’t know we were helping the Garda.

      Liked by 1 person

      2. Part of why Putin doesn’t like us is that the US helped take out a bunch of Ukrainian organized crime. (We get data, we try to figure out who to give it to so the f’ers get stopped. There’s DEA all over the world.)

        Last I knew, the head of the biggest one was still wanted– and living in Moscow.

        It’s part of why they “knew” Ukraine had to be corrupt, because they removed the existing organized crime. HAS to be replaced with THEIR organized crime, right?!

        Like

        1. Considering the amount of politicians whose families were getting rich off of no-show jobs there, I would argue that the evidence supports it.

          That’s before we even discuss all the money we sent to Ukraine that somehow never left or came back freshly laundered into our political system.

          Like

    3. Groceries are NOT curated, for crying out loud. Really?! Groceries, children’s toys and household goods!?

      You’re going to need a bigger soap box.

      Like

  36. These files and evidence, if they still exist and aren’t corrupted, are not even a medium priority at this time.

    The priority is preventing the Marxist left from regaining power. This means the administration needs to focus on cleaning up elections, dealing with foreign affairs, exposing/punishing corruption and keep a “full court press” on the illegal alien/sedition mess.

    If the files/evidence still do exist in some usable format, how much effort will need to be expended for what results? It’s obvious that “Our Greatest Allies” and intelligence services are deeply mixed up in this mess, so how does an adminstration handle this with a congress that is 90% AIPAC sponsored and spooks that are probably still targeting Trump?

    Blowing up the world to save the world is a leftist tactic.The best Trump and team can do is dig out as much of the corruption as possible and try to make some deals to get more information and keep on saving kids through other means.

    It sucks, but we need to save todays and tomorrows kids.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. “best Trump and team can do is dig out as much of the corruption as possible and try to make some deals to get more information and keep on saving kids through other means.

      It sucks, but we need to save todays and tomorrows kids.”

      –

      It puts the people in the files on a list. Unless they are dead they are still pedophiles. They can be caught because of current acts. Or maybe actions taken to prevent current acts. Would rather the suspects be thwarted than have another victim.

      Like

  38. I’ll need to finish reading the whole thing later – but it’s obvious that you’ve seen the same thing.

    All of the sites that I visit have lately been absolutely crammed with this crap, nearly all by “first time posters.” Bondi must go, OBBB actually bad (with some trying to pull the garbage that overtime/tips deduction is only for itemizers), etc., etc., etc.

    Yes, some are getting impatient at the pace. Which is breakneck compared to his first term. All of the agency heads that he’s managed to get confirmed (which is being slow rolled) are still cleaning the Augean Stables – no matter how big the shovel, it’s a long slog, with Leftist judges keep throwing the manure back in through the doors.

    Yes, Bondi could probably arrest more of them. But that is only the start. They’ll be out on bail (or no bail) in just a couple of hours. She also needs evidence that, at the very least, will convince the general public of their crimes (if not a hand-picked DC, NYC, or LA jury). Which is difficult when she still has so many DNC operatives in the enforcement agencies.

    Ah, sigh. Probably fortunate that I have things to do right now, or the rant would be longer than that of our estimable hostess. Maybe later.

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Really? Now, why ever would this stuff make a USAIN angry?

        What I’ve been doing the last couple weeks is ignoring the obvious operatives, and poking holes in the narrative for those who I recognize as having been sane in the past. All I can really do…

        Liked by 1 person

  39. Anybody that thought the deep state assets in the FBI did not clear out all of the important information from those files, given essentially unlimited time, was just wishcasting.

    Like

      1. And until ya’ll mentioned it, never crossed my mind that they’d add stuff. Take away, yes. Make muddy yes. Add so can be cleared? Nope. Shades of David Weber and the People’s Republic.

        I’m way to honest for my own good, I KNOW there is evil in the world, just have a hard time getting the heart to understand/see it with out a lot of work.

        Which is probably why having me being in a position to pass judgement would be a bad thing. Oh you said that you wanted to kill people? Ok, 50 years no parole. What, they were being rhetorical? To bad I took them at their word. My sense of nuanced is somewhere along the lines of using a 1×1 and not the 2×4 across the head.

        Engineer’s, great at solving physical problems, tend to forget the people aspect of the problem.

        Like

  40. Good post, Sarah, and should be widely re-posted. Spot on reasoning why we all need to keep our eye on the prize. I am currently in the penalty box on X due to a recent post of mine offending someone in their propriety department, and so unable to link this. However, I have bookmarked it so that when I am back and able to comment I can distribute this. Thanks for being a consistent voice of reason during this very pivotal time in which we live. God Bless the USA!

    Like

  41. I agree very much with this take on the Epstein situation. But I’m afraid the saddest part is that even if all the details came out and everyone besides Trump was outed by it, nothing would happen and the normies and NPC’s would go on chewing their cuds.

    Liked by 1 person

    2. To be fair, “Epstein didn’t kill himself” was one of the most wildly successful political memes of our time. It crops up everywhere, everyone on both sides of the aisle pretty much accepts it as fact, and I’ve even overheard people talking about it in public, which is rare for fringe political topics.

      That doesn’t mean normalcy bias and/or propaganda won’t win out in the end, but unlike a lot of other conspiracy-type subjects, there may actually be soil out there for the truth to take root in, assuming the truth ever comes out.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. You cannot delete already posted comments. Sigh.

      My duplicate posts, except one, all have happen when I’m posting from my phone. I need to just read, then not delete comments (they go to email) and reply later from PC. Harder when I first read a post because then I don’t want to wait to post first comment to get more comments.

      Like

  43. Granted, I don’t have a super wide field of friends, but nobody in my circles has been pushing the recent spate of anti-Jew/Israel hate. Not my conservative, liberal, nor libertarian friends. About the only person I even follow on social media at all that goes anywhere near there is Michael Yon, and he was like that before. The anti-Jew stuff seems very astroturfed. A few of the blogs I follow have commented on the “rift” within MAGA. But like I said, it doesn’t seem to be organic.

    As for Epstein, I’m very disappointed in the way things have developed. I wasn’t really expecting a “little black book” with a list of names. But if there are videos of people doing things with underage victims there should be names associated with that evidence. We already know some of the victims, and I’m not looking to out them. But the adults in those videos should be known.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. As to anti-Jew astroturfing, that’s been my personal experience as well. Most of my friends are Jewish (What can I say? I like smart bookish people.), and they’ve seen none of this. My best friend noted that his WASPish neighbors asked him if anybody had bothered them, strongly implying that countermeasures would be taken if that had been the case.

      Liked by 2 people

  44. :waves hand:

    It’s freaking annoying when stuff one pointed out years ago is “revealed” as a “shock”!

    And I’m getting really tired of the folks who assure me they’re super long-time conservatives and….they want to cut down all the laws of England to get at the current Thing.

    Dude! Trump lets bunnies run, stop chasing them!

    Liked by 1 person

  45. Nicely put Hoyt crew (comments & host). I’m also thinking that the Trump administration has been in place for less than six months. Trump came into office in January and then built his administration to deal with things.

    There is a whole lot of “stuff” and the magic list is just a tiny part of it all. I figure the next 18 months will be a lot more interesting and productive. Remember too that it’s in the interest of the “media” and the opposition to keep social and political events stirred up and messy. After the mid-term elections there should be a lot more happening. I’m going to just wait and see!

    Liked by 1 person

  46. This is what it would look like if they thought they had it…and then late in their due-diligence top level pre-reveal review, somebody deep in the bowels of the IC archives popped up with another version of docs they thought they had, and the two versions majorly differed.

    The last minute XiFireDrill has all the marks of “We were walking towards the objective and we almost stepped on that land mine, but now here we are in the middle of this field, and we see more and more mines everywhere we could step next.”

    Like

      1. And then the rapid “uproar” which smells really astroturfey, though real folks have been convinced to jump in as well. That “uproar” seems really conveniently well informed, as if the uproar initiators had inside knowledge of when things were “supposed” to happen, and what last minute surprises would be sprung on those release efforts, and when.

        Those folks in the IC, even the farm-team fringe ones who got riffed and made threats about applying their skills from running color revolutions, have a certain skill set, which includes exactly stuff like this, developing information sources and using inside knowledge gathered from them to organize things intended to appear organic.

        I expect more.

        Liked by 1 person

        2. Ditto.

          I commented at the time that people were freaking out over the leak of an unsigned memo, by a news source that has a history of actively pushing lies.

          And that freak out swelled faster than news of the Texas flood.

          Liked by 2 people

        1. Matter of fact, that was the earliest questioning of her (and Patel), asking why they didn’t lead a team of US Marshals down there and just take the files. And as I pointed out, that’s because they were dealing with an actual mutiny, and didn’t know who they could trust to follow them and not shoot them.

          Thank God the mutineers were more used to backroom dealings than action.

          Liked by 1 person

        2. And speaking of backroom dealers, Steve Bannon decided to open up his cakehole today. “10 percent of the MAGA base will walk….”

          https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/07/14/epstein-fiasco-could-cost-gop-40-house-seats-bannon-says-10-of-the-maga-base-will-walk-away-1567813

          If it wouldn’t damage Elon Musk and SpaceX, I’d love to see someone ask him “So since Elon said you were in the Epstein files, why don’t you sue him for defamation and see what discovery turns up?” Chickenshit……

          Liked by 1 person

        3. They spun it as related to “objecting to scrutiny of politically sensitive investigations,” (then implying it’s only Jan 6th) but James Dennehy, the head of that office, was ordered to resign; memo by Bondi to Patel was Thursday, official “I am resigned” was on Monday.

          So, he was blocking the investigations, and he got removed.

          https://www.syracuse.com/state/2025/03/head-of-fbis-new-york-office-says-hes-retired-from-bureau-after-being-ordered-to-do-so.html

          He was replaced by Christopher G. Raia.

          Depending on how bad it was messed up, that might be part of the issue with the evidence.

          Liked by 1 person

        4. Was trying to figure out who the whistle blower in the office, who told Bondi about the documents, could possibly be–and how they’d manage to protect him, since there’s one heck of a mess and it’s hard to bring back in whistle blowers.

          Had a brain-twisting realization, the guy who was forced to retire may have been the leak.

          Started in the FBI in counter-intel for that office in ’02. Only put in charge last September, so not in when…well, any of the stuff was going on. Retired Marine, so not young.

          We’ve got he was “reported to have resisted politically” yada yada yada and already caught the shift there, one more isn’t that much of a reach.

          He transferred to FBI headquarters in Washington in 2015 and was made a section chief a year later. His other assignments included a stint as a chief of staff in the national security branch, special agent in charge of the counterintelligence and cyber division of the New York field office and special agent in charge of the Newark, New Jersey, field office.

          Depending on when he was in the cyber division, he might have been one of Trump’s guys who did the record breaking pedo round-ups.

          (oh, that reminds me– there’s a lot of “debunkings” on those which only use the ICE child abuse charging numbers, not any of the domestic abusers arrested, not even DEA much less FBI)

          Like

  47. And you’re willing to burn Earth into hell to get to heaven.

    Which really describes… Progressivism. The idea that they can make a heaven on earth and they will do it BAMN.

    A pretty good post, Sarah. And one of my main concerns the last several years has been the tendency to see Trump as a savior, and not see that more work was going to have to be done – on the basis of moving more toward constitutional conservatism. And Bondi is part of that – to either see her as Demon or Angel, right along with Trump as Savior or Jester.

    Liked by 1 person

  48. The smoke always smells like feces, and their mirrors are always cracked. The left can’t tell the truth because if they did they would realize their lives have been nothing but lies. So, they pump out feces smoke and look at themselves through cracked mirrors, pretending they are in the right while the deep state’s fist is lodged up their backsides. If it smells bad, it generally is bad. The choice is simple, be free and think for yourself, or be a puppet with a sore ass.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Much of the anger of the right (Sighs) comes from the fact that for so many years we voted for the lesser of two evils, we see the Hope for Change and Correction, and fear it will once again slip away. The problem with voting for the lesser of two evils is you’re still voting for evil.

      Like

      1. And that’s the best we can hope for this side of heaven. Keep working and stop hoping for everything to be perfect.
        PARTICULARLY while the left can make anyone seem “just like Hitler”. Even if their power is waning.

        Like

  49. Honestly, it had not occurred to me until you mentioned it that the prior administration could have doctored the records.

    It’s obvious in retrospect, but did not occur to me at all until now.

    It also hadn’t occurred to me that Bondi could simply be bad, but the best he can get right now. Again, makes sense in retrospect, but just hadn’t occurred to me.

    Kind of glad I’ve been too otherwise occupied to get spun up in all this latest.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Same.

      I don’t think Bondi is particularly “bad” at the job. Jury is out on that for me. Definitely got played and (was going to say “or”) rolled by someone on this. Would Gaetz not been played/rolled? IDK. They’ve had years to destroy the validity and integrity of the information and setup the incoming AG.

      I’ve only seen one instance of Bondi getting blamed for this. Otherwise it has dropped off the radar. ICE raids, Texas, New Mexico, NC, floods, are taking priority. This is on MEWE, FB, Fox News, and PJ Media. Some of the sources on FB would be screaming about this; nothing.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. The problem is that this isn’t the only thing Bondi’s being blamed for. Almost from Day 1, she’s been blamed for:

        Failing to prosecute the members of the J6 Committee and the Capitol Police for the mistreatment of the J6 protesters.

        Failing to prosecute the “Russia Collusion” hoaxers.

        Failing to prosecute the various judges who have been throwing up unconstitutional limitations on Trump’s agenda.

        Failing to prosecute leaders of sanctuary cities and states for shielding illegal immigrants

        Failing to bring terrorism charges against the pro-Hamas demonstrators, as well as the universities who haven’t stopped the demonstrations, and members of Congress (House and Senate) who are “inciting” them.

        I think that covers most of the areas she’s been criticized over.

        Liked by 1 person

        2. Prosecution takes time. Plus:

          1. Until Bidens auto pen preemptive pardons for the J6 Committee are declared illegal, that is a no go.
          2. Prosecution of Russian Collusion and a few other things are being wrapped up into a huge prosecution that will cover multiple acts over the last 10 years. Will pull in members of legislature, including Pelosi, and a certain Clinton. This will cover a lot of gotchas. This has dropped into news just today.
          3. Judges have been hamstrung by SCOTUS. Some judges are being prosecuted for illegal acts outside their duties. Can they be prosecuted for making judgement on cases? Don’t think so. Removed? IDK I have no clue on how the legal system works.

          First steps of item 1 was Trump’s EO declaring the auto pen pardons illegal. That has been challenged (a given) so until before SCOTUS they are stuck. I expect as the whole Biden decline comes out, a lot more auto pens will be declared null and void. Waiting for that first prosecution to start the whole thing to unravel with massive finger pointing. But not likely to hear anything about it until it is in a courtroom which will then take months.

          The anti-ICE raid protests per EO Trump has said “arrest them for impeding federal agents.” That’ll take out some of the Hamas demonstrators because we know they go from protest to protest. Will it be challenged? Do bears s* in the woods? Of coarse it will be.

          Will end where I started. Prosecution Takes Time. The enemy is betting on that.

          Liked by 1 person

  50. I would just like to point out that Trump first suggested that the Epstein files might have been manipulated, doctored, or otherwise falsified on June 3, 2024 when he was on Fox & Friends Weekend. I think you’re spot on about all of this, Sarah, but I would challenge anyone to go back and show when and how exactly Trump promised to deliver the proverbial goods. He made some typically Trumpy noises about being interested in looking at it and doing what he could with what he sees once he sees it. But to the best of my ability to dig into it, Trump never promised what is being demanded. It seems a bunch of third parties thought they heard something more specific and are holding Trump to their imaginations rather than his words.

    Liked by 2 people

  51. “Would you release the Epstein List if 10% of the people on it were innocent, and you had no way of knowing who?” That’s what it comes down to. I’m sympathetic to the “release it all, no matter the consequences” position, but the possibility of tampering makes it untenable.

    I can also see how coming out and saying “Some unknown number of our files are corrupt” might hurt the administration’s ability to build a legal case in the future. If that’s so, the people asking Trump to explain what’s going on are going to be disappointed.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Grrr. That was supposed to be a reply to Stan. Even worse, I don’t know whether to blame WPDE or me. :-D

      The worst part of letting the wrong people get caught in the gears: pedo crime tends toward ‘guilty until proven innocent’ — at least in the court of media and public opinion — and once accused they can never prove they’re innocent. Straight from “J’accuse!” to chop!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yeah, even a few seeded names would be enough to either discredit the list or commit another atrocity of justice on top of the actual trafficking and abuse. It sucks, but I’m starting to think that was the hand we were dealt. (As a theory, it also has the benefit of explaining what we’re seeing without requiring a huge conspiracy/world-shattering consequences.)

        Liked by 1 person

  53. Trump didn’t run on the Epstein thing … I didn’t vote for him because he promised anything around this … sure it would be nice if somebody besides the Madam got dragged into court over this … but either way it doesn’t matter in the bigger picture … Trump promised us immigration, taxes/economy and energy … all things that effect my life day to day … as long as he stays focused on that everything else is a distraction …

    Given that its likely Mr. E was being funded by various Intelligence groups the odds us of ever getting the full story is close to zero … unless we allow torture nobody involved is going to give up the goods on Epstein …

    This is hardly the hill to die on …

    Liked by 1 person

    2. We don’t even have the full story on much of the shenanigans that have happened in the last 80 years.

      As much as I hate pedos, it’s not the sole reason Trump is in office. I’d rather the resources go to save the Republic as a whole and doing what is legally possible.

      If people want hangings or to fire up the wood chippers, the evidence on the Covid/clot shot scam is mostly out in the open and unburied. And many of the same genocidal elite behind that crud are also pedos.

      Like

    3. See, this is one of the main things that makes it so astroturfey to me: Aside from “Kamala? Hah!!“ I voted for the application of slash-and-burn agriculture on the Federal Government. The moaning and wailing of the GS weenies over a 2% RIF is quartet music to my ears, and what I voted for was Tchaikovsky orchestra with cannons music. Cut moar!!!

      While I can sympathize with the desire to get to the bottom of the IC pedo honeypot op, it’s really small beans in comparison to gutting the bureacracy. THAT’s what I care about, and that’s what I voted for.

      Insisting that “GOP Civil War” is breaking out over this intel asset who blew his own cover being to creepy is just silly to me.

      Liked by 1 person

  54. I was on the phone with a good friend, with whom I go back to college days in the late 1970s. He’s much more “online” than I am, owing partly to having kids and–perforce–online is the only way they communicate their lives with him…I’m sure you know the drill, Sarah!

    Point being, he was all spun up too, and I told him almost exactly what you wrote, and in almost the exact same terms. I think I got him back in off the ledge, but I’m just telling you that it’s widespread but the sane ones who can be reasoned with can be calmed down.

    Hang in there, friend. We’re in this for the long game.

    Like

  55. I saw at least one person online suggest that Trump should fire Bondi, and bring in Gaetz instead.

    Bwahahahahahahahahaha!

    How quickly people forget…

    I’ve been noting in comments that there was at least one confirmed false positive in just the grand jury testimony. This stuff needs to be airtight before it can be released.

    Finally, it’s funny how indignant the Dems suddenly are about this. They sat on it for four years and did nothing. But now that Trump’s in the office, it is critical to the survival of the nation that the Epstein client list is released!

    Liked by 1 person

  56. Carl Benjamin/Sargon of Akkad had an interesting take on this across the pond.

    While I think he is mistaking psy-ops for real anger to some degree, I also think he makes a good point: Epstein is one of the biggest “the elite are above the law, period, full stop” things that have been rubbed in our face.

    Trump campaigned on putting an end to that issue in general and, I think without thinking it through, campaigned on Epstein specifically a little. I’ve heard claims Vance campaigned on it more but have no direct knowledge.

    We have heard so many times people are finally getting their comeuppance with no follow-thru (I’ve been commenting at Insty on Brennan/Comey threads “Is this trust the plan, the walls are closing in, or indictments are just around the corner?” that failure for any consequence to happen is becoming a real issue.

    I know these things take time, but so much time has passed and so many false promises made (the vast majority not by Trump admittedly), and so many tricks like “lack of standing” and “no reasonable prosecutor” (which are very one directional) have succeeded this might blow up no matter how smart Trump and his administration play it.

    There is a cost to destroying trust in institutions and it is ripe for harvest. If it starts rotting in the fields we could be in real trouble.

    Like

    1. Re “above the law”, the biggest for me was The Dowager Empress of Chappaqua getting the “because I said so” exemption for mishandling classified material by Comey.

      Epstein? The dude is dead, either by his own hand or as just rewards. What are they going to do, dig him up and kill him again? If there was anything there in the case files against the GOP it would have been fed into the Ghislane trial. Since it was not, and in fact absolutely nothing came out, it’s just global high society. Getting Bill Gates or whoever is pretty low on my priority list.

      Like

      1. I’m not saying he’s bigger, more that he could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

        And, yes, the reason for that might be third parties not interested in justice but disrupting the US.

        That’s why you don’t let these kind of things accumulate, be it Epstein or Clinton or anyone in between.

        Liked by 1 person

  57. Scrolling through the comments I just had a crazy conspiracy theory.

    Note, I am not claiming this is the case but it is good example of how much trust has been trashed that I can think of it.

    The deadline for the recession bill making some of the DOGE cuts law is Friday. By its nature it can pass the Senate with only 51 votes.

    I suspect there are enough RINOs in the Senate that if they felt safe voting ‘no’ it would fail.

    So, what if the sudden spamming isn’t the left or China or other foreign actors. What if it is the “Never Trump” remnants of the GOP stirring it up so we’re focused on it and not the recission bill.

    Giving cover to allow rescission to tank on some procedural issue.

    That bill failing would be a huge blow to Trump and much more likely to split his coalition than anything about Epstein.

    It sounds crazy just typing it but I can’t say it’s a zero percent possibility.

    Like

    1. Never Trumpers? CCP? FSB? Russian Bots? ex-Foggy Bottom color-revolution-handler RIF GS-ers? Tucker Carlson? Antie Fa? CHuRLA? The people who pay them?

      But you repeat yourself…

      Like

      1. I get it was sarcasm, but we need to not assume all our opponents are acting in consort even if occasional their interests and actions intersect. Assuming it is all one big conspiracy is both demoralizing and possibly blinds us to openings against some of them, which would stop us from culling their ranks.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Fair point. The opposition to this administration ranges from the pitiable NeverTrumpers who are mad their permanent opposition grift was interrupted by winning majorities, and then an icky outsider beat JEB!, to the fundamentally ideologically driven CCP, to the mafioso kleptocracy with dreams of the great Russian Empire Part III. Where wedges can be driven in between these various factions they should, but the downside I see to making that distinction is the temptation to prioritize, say, the CCP over the others and effectively leaving a flank open and an opponent faction free to maneuver.

          Liked by 1 person

    2. More seriously, they’ even desperately flailing around for anything with traction. They think this has some. But as someone noted up-comments here, the topic is already slipping off the news cycle…

      Like

      1. One of the wild things about politics right now is that supposed kill shots have a lifespan measured in days. Bombing/not bombing Iran, Rand/Massie opposing the OBBB and splitting the base, Elon and the America party splitting the base, a bunch of others I’ve literally forgotten…all basically forgotten until the next time they become relevant.

        Liked by 3 people

        1. Massie’s opposition might have been a kill shot, for him. Rand was safer on it given his record and the fact most people trust he’d be a ‘yes’ if absolutely needed.

          Hell, I can imagine his ‘no’ was negotiated to keep him credible with deficit hawks for a future where they need him to sell something else.

          Elon’s party is going nowhere because he’ll have to defend his H1B statements in an environment where, to pick one example, MicroSoft request 14k more H1Bs the same week it laid off 9,000 employees.

          I’m a big surprised how fast the Iran part died, mostly because I expected something more dramatic in retaliation from them. I doubt that would sink Trump, but it would have kept it alive. The only way something like that would sink Trump is boots on the ground somewhere new or maybe a major naval engagement (but with who?).

          Like

    3. It’s a better explanation than anything else I’ve heard.

      Which is admittedly a low bar in this circumstance.

      Like

    4. This is a brilliant thought, HERBN. Of course they will try to do everything they can to distract us while they keep the grift alive!

      Of course they will.

      Like

  59. Like Trump, so far, versus a Harris/Donk/Obama-4th?

    Yes?

    Then don’t play along with the “Let’s You And Him Fight” shenanigans from the Donks.

    If we never see an Epstein tidbit, but we get the permanent tax cuts and devastation of the govMoney scam-funding of Donks, worth it?

    Yes?

    Then don’t play along with the “Let’s You And Him Fight” shenanigans from the Donks.

    Etc.

    Remember that “crawl through napalm and broken glass to vote Trump” attitude?

    Yes?

    Then don’t play along with the “Let’s You And Him Fight” shenanigans from the Donks.

    Liked by 1 person

  61. Trump has the team he needs. It’s a shame Bondi got played, but she’s doing most of what needs to be done – otherwise Trump would replace her. I thought it was strange when this whole Epstein thing flared up while we were winning and winning and winning…

    We may still see something come of Epstein (maybe it will, but it’s not at the top of my list.) We’ve had some real insurrectiony corruption going on for a while, and as long as we see some real justice, and people pay for any number of things that used to be treated as old news it will be a great start.

    Liked by 1 person

  62. At the time Bondi announced the files were on her desk I wondered why now before you’re ready to use them to start a prosecution. Not understanding she was buying a temporary calm at the price of a potential future firestorm? Trusting all of the people reporting to her? Believing the New York FBI had a Come to Jesus moment and had sent her everything they had?

    I believe the files are hopelessly corrupted and useless. We need to go back to the flight logs. Now, they include a lot of innocent people so by themselves they are not much help. What they do is give us a group to look at for red flags and to monitor. Recidivism rate for pedophiles ranges from 5% to 70% with most studies clustered around 40%

    So we should have group of people that can be prosecuted for fresh crimes. It may be the best we can do.

    Liked by 1 person

  63. I do not have a dog in this fight. I will observe that if the DemocRats had -anything- on #OrangeManBad they would have used it in October.

    I will also observe that powerful men have -power-. They can MAKE things happen. And that’s what we see here. Guys pulling strings to get what they want.

    And finally, on a more amusing note, does anyone really think #TheDonald needed to go to #EpsteinIsland to get laid like the rest of those pudgy losers?

    Liked by 1 person

  64. Pingback: That Epstein Thing – Splendid Isolation

  65. Is It Time to Examine Some Taboo Truths About the Fight Against “Pedophiles” and “Sex Offenders”?

    …/… Conservatives have embraced the terms “pedophile” and “sex offender” — as well as the fight against same — but perhaps it’s time to wonder whether those aren’t to be linked to the Left’s hysterical attempts (and hysterical terms) to shame and demonize anybody and everybody who is in the mainstream (racist! sexist! transphobe! colonialist! imperialist! traitor! convicted felon! misogynist! pedophile!) — with words invented out of whole cloth for that very goal — and not a member of some kind of minority (where such accusations are routinely excused and/or ignored).

    That may be the most unvarnished truth about pedophiles: isn’t the main reason the term exists (and was invented) so that leftists have yet another weapon to shame and demonize the average citizen of the United States, as well as of other Western countries, for what is often pretty run-of-the-mill (mis?)behavior?  …/…

    Like

    1. No, “kiddy diddler” is not only bad because the proggies occasionally say it’s bad.

      It’s a limit on sex that they consistently fight to remove.

      And if you think that having sex with children is run of the mill behavior for the average American Citizen, I really really really hope the FBI is in your files.

      Like

  66. I’m coming to believe that L’Affaire Epstein is Pizzagate/QAnon Mk. II — pattern-matching gone pathological where all the clues confirm everyone’s priors and the anticipated outcome would be a sweet comeuppance to everyone on the Hate List. It’s all just Too Good To Check™.

    Meanwhile, the Russian/Chinese/Iranian/Antifa sock puppets and bots stir up maximum dissension and chaos. (Russia didn’t care if Trump won or not, for instance, they just wanted us at each other’s throats.)

    Liked by 1 person

  67. just a few things ive noticed

    1 there are many pictures floating around of DJT with both Epstein and Maxwell. MANY

    2 DJT was close to the clintons at one point,

    how on Gods green earth could he not have some incredibly incriminating photos etc floating around out there

    nust curious

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    1. Yeah, but no. That is utter bullshit.
      Because if they had anything on him, it would have come out years ago. You know that.
      That bullshit is, pardon me, retarded.
      Sure, they ran in the same circles, until Epstein tried to rope him in. And that’s when he banned Epstein from his properties, and went to the police.
      He was the only one. Not the Clintons. None of the circle.
      As for “He palled with the Clintons.” Yeah, dude. I palled with lefties in publishing. Same thing. Only game in town whether you’re trad published or a real estate developer in NY fucking city.

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    2. 1 there are many pictures floating around of DJT with both Epstein and Maxwell. MANY

      Are there?

      “Strangely,” the search for that brings up all the same photo. It’s really obviously from a New York fundraising event.

      There’s a lot more of Trump with Maxwell… except… it’s Robert Maxwell. You know, the wealthy investor.

      And also in fund raising type events.

      Some photos of Trump with Ghislaine or Epstein, as well, but mostly group photos and, again, from public events.

      LE GASP! WE HAVE DISCOVERED– NEW YORK FINANCERS DO A LOT OF PUBLIC EVENTS!!!!!

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    3. Because he had the good sense to not be vulnerable? AFAIK, he is a serial monogamist, and he despises pedos.

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    4. Tommy, you might want to read this:

      https://dailycaller.com/2024/01/02/brad-edwards-jeffrey-epstein-victim-attorney-donald-trump-mar-a-lago/?dicbo=v2-y1HPdJn

      “The only thing that I can say about President Trump is that he is the only person who in 2009, when I served a lot of subpoenas against a lot of people … he is the only person that picked up the phone and said, ‘let’s just talk, I’ll give ya as much time as you want, I’ll tell ya what you need to know,’” Bradley explained.

      And then you might want to find another pile of 🐂💩 to spout.

      Liked by 1 person

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