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Egypt Solomon's avatar

This is civilization’s way of putting a bow on bullshit. France had Napoleon, Rome had Titus, we got Trump with his “small, medium, and large” McArches like he’s ordering fries. History doesn’t repeat itself, folks, it burps. Rome, France, England, America… it’s the same greasy meal reheated. Empires love two things, killing foreigners and putting up giant lawn ornaments to remind you they’re still hard.

The Arc de Triomphe, the Arch of Titus, the White House Ballroom Arch, it’s all the same message: we’re winning. But the secret? It’s like the old saying, the bigger the monument, the dumber the empire. America ain’t just repeating history, it’s plagiarizing it, with worse spelling. I don’t think Americans care about that. No, they’ll just drive by the new arch, roll down the window and say, “Hey honey, look, it’s the Arby’s of Trump.”

You win some wars, get cocky, throw a giant party in marble, and then three years later you’re bleeding out in Russia’s snow, wondering why your balls froze off. And America’s doing it with the economy with the companies losing money up 17%. We’re literally rewarding failure. OpenAI is worth half a trillion dollars, and the business model “hope the computer figures it out.” That’s not empire building, that’s a toddler with Play-Doh yelling, “This is my rocket ship!” And the investors are like, “Shut up and take my yacht.” If Rome had this logic, they’d have given Nero a SPAC deal and a reality show.

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Bill's avatar

Amazon lost a billion dollars in ten years. The very first internet bubble startups failed.Because the market was not be ready to embrace them. Look at pets dot com versus chewy. Comparing the United States to ancient Rome is absurd. I do see the parallel. We don't throw people to the lions. We don't walk around in. bed sheets, don't crucify people generally. That said order is required. I saw that stupid meme of Trump with that victory, arch. I actually was hoping it'd be something like the arch in St. Louis across the Potomac river. Cool. A ballroom paid for with no taxpayer money is an afront to people . Wake up and piss off as they say in England... Or at least they used to.... LA LA LA ... WHO IS ALIA FROM ABKVAR..

What's old is new. Dirty feet and sandals are coming back. Be sure to short toilet paper manufacturers. companies.

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Egypt Solomon's avatar

Pets.com died so Chewy could live, it’s survival of the fittest, brought to you by FedEx. And sure, we don’t crucify people, we just bankrupt them with medical bills instead.

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Andre Louw's avatar

We don't throw people to the lions, agreed, but we do blow up boats in international waters we suspect to be transporting drugs to the US where there appears to be an insatiable appetite for said article. Extrajudicial killing is not beyond this administration. Or by declaring war on drugs does this satisfy the Geneva Convention rules on war

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Tlasso's avatar

You guys are funny but fun to read. Love reading all the different viewpoints.

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Egypt Solomon's avatar

They’re calling this episode “War on drugs?” That’s a Cute name, still just US Sanctioned murder with paperwork.

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John S's avatar

I like the way you think ES. Everything is different, everything's the same.

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Egypt Solomon's avatar

Everything’s the same, huh, yeah, except people worship a guy who makes pond scum look like holy water! I’d tip my hat to him, if only to keep the maggots from crawling in.

At the center ring, co-founder of Microsoft, lower than pond scum, lower than the bacteria eating pond scum, lower than the cockroach larvae gnawing on the mold growing on pond scum. None other than……..Bill Gates!

Which just proves your point, everything’s different, everything’s the same, only now it all circles the drain with pond scum and excrement running tech support.

Hahahaha!

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Egypt Solomon's avatar

YES! Finally, politics with an undercard, Pelosi vs. McConnell in walkers!

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MarcusTC's avatar

Wait until we get the UFC cage match on the white house lawn next spring!

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Thomas Vincze's avatar

Wonderful lesson Bill!

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working stiff's avatar

indeed

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Ed Uehling's avatar

Trump’s rambling speech the other day about how much he loves China and hopes it prospers followed by threats to publicly strangle it (and every other country which fails to obey His Majesty. King of the World) symbolizes the pathetic dying gasp of both the US empire and its “leader”. Any foreigner listening must have concluded “how do disengage myself, my company and my country from the grasp of this madman/erratic country?” China, with 5000 years’ experience dealing with attackers said NOTHING, but likely applauded its decision to favor Trump in last year’s election.

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Paul Murray's avatar

"Any foreigner listening"... that's rich. 20,000,000 of them couldn't WAIT to break into the country during the reign of the last "leader" of the US Empire, who not only encouraged and abetted the behavior of the foreigners, he let China buy him with bribes while telling him what a great "leader" he was. DJT may not be your figurative cup of tea, but without him, I'd hate to see where we would be. Best always. PM

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Cartero Atómico's avatar

Unfortunately the bribes go both ways. Those "donors" who are supposedly paying for Donnie's new ballroom are definitely expecting something in return. Meanwhile, Howard Lutnick's children at Cantor Fitzgerald are buying the rights to potential tariff refunds from companies affected by tariffs. Lutnick tells us the tariffs are working while his kids bet against them being legal. Looks like it's not the cream but the scum that rises to the top whether it's Biden, Trump, Bush or Obama.

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Paul Murray's avatar

I agree totally; the White House project at this point in time is a dreadfully bad look, and it's not even necessary. Despite DJT's faults I think the country is in a better place with him NOW than it has been since 2008. I don't think we, as presently constituted, are viable going forward, and we await how it unwinds. Sometimes I think our mentality is: we're bankrupt, and we should spend like hell until the crash. It becomes a self-fulfilling arrangement. Best always. PM

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Cartero Atómico's avatar

Speaking of corruption Bloomberg is reporting that one of the possible reasons for the $40 billion Argentine bailout is that hedge fund managers invested in Argentine bonds speculating that there would be a turnaround in the economy there. The report also said these crooks are friends of Scott Bessent. Surprise, surprise!

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Paul Murray's avatar

What? Are you telling me the Argentine bond speculation isn't going to pay off (legitimately, that is)? And that some of our "friends" got overextended? And that Milei isn't the savior everyone thought he is? That the government "thing" is an insiders' game? I'm shocked. Shocked, I say. That being said, I wouldn't relieve myself on Bloomberg if they were on fire. Thanks for the replies. Best always. PM

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Tlasso's avatar

Actually we will know a lot more after the midterms in Argentina today. If they support Milei then I pity anyone shorting Argentina. Just my opinion.

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John Austin's avatar

As I wrote last year, I don't understand why 'Mericans only had a choice between Biden/Harris, and Trump/Vance. What is wrong with your system, and how can you improve it, so that you get some leaders who are genuinely there for 'the people' and not themselves and their cronies?

Meanwhile, PM and others can only continue to fight the last election, claiming DJT is better than the losers; without looking for a path out of the Uniparty politics, and corruption that goes with it.

Don't you guys have anyone better? Maybe someone unfunded, living in a log cabin somewhere? How do you get that guy to run and win?

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Cartero Atómico's avatar

The problem is the two wings of the War Party along with the media control the election process. Also without a ton of money you can't get publicity for your campaign. But maybe we are just getting what we deserve for our apathy. No matter who the president is deficit spending and wars continue without skipping a beat.

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Tlasso's avatar

Seems wars are not continuing under DJT. Ukraine yes but name some others please. Venezuela? Maybe giving it back to the people would help a million go home from the USA. Don’t know but don’t want China or Russia that close.

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Cartero Atómico's avatar

Funny. You don't want Russia or China that close but we have them surrounded with our military bases. But why should any US soldier put his life in the line for regime change in Venezuela. Look how well that worked out for us in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Iraq, etc. Maybe we should listen to George Washington - beware of foreign entanglements.

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Paul Murray's avatar

"How do you get that guy to run and win?" You don't. Now that you know that, why don't you offer a blueprint? What would you like to see? Best always. PM

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John Austin's avatar

Well, Westminster parliaments work pretty well (not perfectly), in comparison. Most MP's come from blue-collar or white-collar backgrounds.

Some become PM's or Ministers, without ever needing to be Oligarchs, err, sorry, you call them billionaires. (Same thing, ffs).

Howzabout that, then? Give up your failed attempt at a republic, (you did give it a good try), and ask to become a province of Canada while you adjust.

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Paul Murray's avatar

Westminster parliaments?

Thanks for my laugh of the day.

Best always. PM

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Ed Uehling's avatar

Mr. Murphy, you conflate totally unrelated circumstances: no one is saying that citizens of subservient or failing countries don’t want to become part of the “empire”—even when they have been subjected to direct harm by any given empire. Eg., a huge percentage of the 20 million came from Latin America, whose growth has been purposely suppressed by the US since our invasion of Guatemala in 1953, wit Venezuela and Colombia today. Not one of your 20M heard Trump’s rant, btw.

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Paul Murray's avatar

The name is "Murray" btw., unless you intentionally used "Murphy". 1953 would be a far cry from today. We aren't going to agree. I still wish you well. Best always. PM

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Ed Uehling's avatar

My apologies.

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Paul Murray's avatar

Accepted. Many thanks and best always. PM

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Tlasso's avatar

We would be going the way of Europe. More places you can’t safely travel within your own country.

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Paul Murray's avatar

I live in rural county in Indiana with 20,000 residents, per census fewer than 5% of whom are Hispanic. Today,here, on a min dragin town, I saw for the first time a Spanish-only (common in Texas) not dual language, but Spanish-only, billboard, advising people to get screened for pre-diabetes. (I can read Spanish to a degree.) My initial reaction was outrage. Upon reflection, I understood that such is the new reality. As my 97-year old mother often says, "It's all over but the shouting." Best always. PM

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Bob Haskel's avatar

Bill; Couple of things, these are "Orwellian Times" where everything is the opposite of the facts. It's the perfect time for an "Arc de Trump". And you published too soon today. The ballroom is now 300 million. In typical "Developer Don" fashion the project is 50% over budget outta the gate (and will likely reach the cost of the plane from Qatar before it's over), Donny's gotta make a little something on the deal. I'm guessing it will be the "Throne Room of Trump Hall" by the time it's inaugurated. The King of Orange needs a large enough space to accept all of his "tribute". And finally, how about that debt reduction from all the economic growth from tarriffs, manufacturing, investing in companies, etc. It only took two months to add a trillion to the debt. Thank God the Great Donaldo knows bankruptcy. He's certainly the man we want leading the country at a crucial moment like this.

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James ( Jim) Marshall's avatar

It is interesting to see how empires throughout history seem to repeat the same cycles. It appears the end is always the same. The common factor being humans who's nature NEVER seems to change!

Jim Marshall

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Tim Pallies's avatar

I don't have time for this! I have to go buy some call options!

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Frank Westmoreland's avatar

Bill, Of course you conveniently forgot about Fed Chairman Jerome Powell aka Emperor Jerome. He decided to build a much greater palace--via billions--in renovations right in the heart of D.C. aka the Swamp. You think His Excellency, to show, at least superficially, some Fed independence from the Swamp, would have at least built his new Fed palace in Flyover Country, for example, Dayton, OH, Des Moines, IA, Auburn, AL, Las Cruces, NM, Pueblo, CO, etc. far from the Swamp. (Show how much he is down with "the little people.") In these low-cost metro areas, the building construction cost savings would more than offset relocation expenses. And the savings would even enable purchases of private jets for the emperor and his army of assistants (aka bureaucrats) so they'd be spared the indignity of having to fly in small, cramped, commuter commercial jets to Atlanta's Hartsfield, Chicago's O'Hare, Arlington's DFW, or Denver's Denver International on their way to conduct Fed business. And you would think His Excellency could sell his Georgetown mansion and be able to build a super mega mansion in one of these low-cost flyover metro areas.

This is a peculiar omission from you, Bill, because you have at least been consistent at correctly laying so much of the blame for the huge debt runup in the U.S. in the 21st Century at the feet of the "independent" Emperor Jerome, Empress Janet, Emperor Ben, & Emperor Alan and their little god-like Fed governor colleagues. But, of course, this would have somewhat undermined your criticism of Pres. Trump. And we can't have that, can we.

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Ellen's avatar

Noah talking about the Flood while the crowd mocked.

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Buda's avatar

Hello Mr. Bill,

If I understand you correctly, and you are a Christian, that Abraham was given the "promised land"... except for Gaza.  Again, in the Bible I just can't seem to find the "except for Gaza" part.   May I ask you to please help me locate that.

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John Austin's avatar

Hi Buda, perhaps you can explain another mystery of 'Merican thinking for me.

The Nazis were told they were the 'Master Race', and believed it.

Tojo's crowd believed in the superior fighting spirit of Bushido, and Japanese soldiering.

However, Evangelist 'Merican Christians believe others are the 'Chosen Race', and support them in war no matter how fought. That is, they believe somebody else is better than them, in the eyes of their own god..

Taking such Evangelist thinking, and observing that Judaism accepts converts, why don't all the Evangelist Christian 'Mericans convert and join the Chosen People?

Sure, and it'd be no skin off their collective noses?

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Mike Ware's avatar

He’s no Christian. Not by a long shot, sorry.

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Dave J's avatar

I'm sure Bill will get right back to you on that.

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linda shawler's avatar

I always enjoy your mini history lessons Bill!

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rKf's avatar

I feel emboldened. Armed with all this heavy artillery, I’m going to go out and … uh, you know, uh, well, don’t know what I can do…

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Xavier Narutowicz's avatar

“There is nothing new under the sun, it is all vanities of vanities.” Life is war. War is hell. We love it so. We all have clay feet buried in the sand. Our little fiefdoms are so fleeting. What is the purpose; there must be purpose.

Reading article and responses…maybe, not.

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Tlasso's avatar

And that’s why X you turn to God for your purpose. All the rest of this is without purpose. You come into this life naked and you leave naked.

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Joeb's avatar

So, SOMEBODY is making money on AI, just not the investors. SOMEBODY is getting wealthy. If AI has lost millions, SOMEBODY has found those millions.

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Clem Devine's avatar

It is just like when I was farming and prize bulls were about $5000. Suddenly at a sale, two bulls were sold at $60,000 each! I asked a fellow farmer and his response was they sold to each other! They were trying to normalize high prices for the bull calves they bred.

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Richard Redstone's avatar

81 AD — by Domitian to commemorate his brother, Titus. It was Titus who led the siege of Jerusalem, in which he did to the Jews more or less what they now do to the Gazans. He leveled their city, destroyed their temple, and dispersed and enslaved the survivors. Congrats Bill..You always have to add your pathetic antisemitic history revision. There is absolutely no correlation between the atrocities committed by the Fakestinians and Hamas on the Israelis and what Titus did to the Jews. It’s impressive how you can dig so deep to justify your antisemitism. Why are you Irish the way you are. Did some Jewish kid take your lunch money? Did some Jewish judge block a business deal of yours or are you just a plain old garden variety asshat. You and Mamdani should become friends…a match made in heaven. Am Yisrael Chai. Congratulations on missing the biggest bull market in history.

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Andre Louw's avatar

Great article Bill.

I would like to take you up on your offer for free one month subscriptions I may pass on to those I believe may be interested Ie my daughter son and good friend. Try before they buy.

Sadly it does not appear to work I have filled in their 3 email addresses but when I submit the msg comes back requesting a valid email

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Andre Louw's avatar

Apologies I have sorted it out Excellent piece; Thank you

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