Weekend Quotables
It's time for Trump to junk his 'Madman' front.
Protests against Trump are being held in all 50 states today. Some are being organized under the banner of “Not My President’s Day.”
Trump is still pursuing his Madman Theory of diplomacy—the idea that an unpredictable and irrational leader has an advantage in international bargaining.
It was a little over a week ago that Trump made his “all hell will break out” threat if all of the Israeli hostages weren't returned by Saturday at 12 o'clock.
And if they're not returned – all of them, not in drips and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two – by Saturday at 12 o'clock. And after that, I would say, all hell is going to break out."
Since all hell already broke out in Gaza and the West Bank, that could only mean that the so-called “ceasefire” in Gaza would be called off.
Well, Saturday has come and gone. Hamas released just three hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian imprisoned hostages, which was in line with the previously agreed-upon number. Despite the threats from Trump and Netanyahu and the hundreds of Israeli violations, the ceasefire is still intact.
But it may be time for DT to junk the Madman Theory.
More Weekend Quotables
Jim Acosta, former CNN anchor
“News organizations in Washington should be banding together to send the message that members of the press will determine how they cover the news, not the White House… Trump may respond by inviting only sycophants and right-wing hacks to chronicle his daily decrees,” Acosta continued. “Fine. Let the American people soak that in — the image of an aspiring autocrat and his servile propagandists.” — Substack
Michael Sean Winters on Pope Francis’ immigration letter
Praising any aspect of Trump's immigration policy at this moment is like noting that Eva Braun was good to the cats. — National Catholic Reporter
Donald Trump is above the law
“He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.” — NY Times
Zül-Qarnain Nantambu
The New Orleans-based artist knew he had a decision to make. Here he was on one of the world’s biggest stages — with millions tuned in for the Super Bowl LIX halftime performance. “I can’t live in America — live in a lap of luxury — while those are suffering, without trying to help or bring attention to it.” — The Intercept
Maureen Dowd, columnist
Who will stand up to Trump at high noon? Republicans are cowering, and Democrats are frozen like the townsfolk in westerns when the bad guys take over. — NY Times
Congressman Robert Garcia (D-CA)
CNN’s Brianna Keilar: Do you think that calling Elon Musk a dick is effective messaging?
Garcia: Well, he is a dick. — CNN
The NYT quote is from Napolean, or at least a movie version of him at Waterloo, where Trump may have found it Napolean was more colorful, saying he wasn't crowned Emporer, but found the Crown in the gutter, and put it on his own head--to serve the people, of course.