I cannot believe anyone didn’t see this pathetic display as anything other than a scripted joke. Vance and Trump planned to destroy Zelenskyy. They got schooled.
Zelenskyy is an inspiration! The testicular fortitude is something to be admired.
After watching, I immediately donated to the cause and plan to donate more.
For anyone that is able, please think about making a donation to protect democracy.
I disagree. Volodymyr Zelenskyy humiliated the Orange Lunatic and his his acolyte. Let today be the final straw that inspires backbone in the rest of NATO and G7 partners.
We (Canada) share a 1.2 km land border with Denmark (on Han Island between Ellsmere Island and Greenland). Does this mean we can apply for European Union membership?
As my family puts it, Zelenskyy was the actual leader. He was a Man. My president and vice president were just two poser gangsters who defile the offices they sadly squat in for the time being.
With the legislature neutralized and the courts increasingly being ignored we’re coming to a flashpoint on March 14th when appropriations run out. I am hopeful that the Democrats work together to kick off a government shutdown to slam the brakes on this mess. At that point we may see the junta shred any notion of adhering to the rule of law if they ignore a lack of lawful appropriations and just keep spending money. If that happens we would have a fundamental breakdown of the constitutional system here and would need an outside intervention since frankly that would be a functional collapse of law and order in one tier of our government.
This can’t go on. I also don’t think my country will still be a functioning entity when its 250th birthday rolls around. It is time to start thinking of intervention plans and successor states/entities.
I've been trying to deny it, but I have to admit after today I don't believe anything other than a civil war will bring down this twisted administration. I don't know yet what spark will light the tinderbox. Today I learned Hegseth shut down Cyber Command's anti-russian operations. Suppose the EU were to organize a ground assault to join Ukrainian troops. I can easily imagine trump threatening to launch "his" military to fight alongside Russia. Perhaps it would take this to light the match.
Initially I thought it was just Trump being exceptionally Trump -like, but upon more thought, it might be a spectacular very public discussion aimed at turning the American people against Mr. Zalenski and Ukraine to completely remove any remaining support. We all know how Trump loves to put on a show.
Agreed. I think the plan from the start was to bring Zelenskyy in and make him grovel and debase himself. You even saw them trying to demean him for not wearing a suit - as if Trump’s rumpled and ill-fitting blue suit or Vance’s flood pants are the height of fashion. (Fun fact: the "reporter" who asked the question about the suit was Marjorie Taylor Greene's boyfriend.) Then they would force him to sign their deal like a pair of gangsters. Trump could then crow about bringing peace and proceed to plunder their resources.
And what a great deal - Ukraine signs a ceasefire with an actively hostile aggressor who currently occupies Ukrainian territory and has been actively killing civilians. In return, the USA gets $500 billion worth of minerals, and Ukraine gets Trump’s word that Putin won’t attack. But if Putin does attack, the USA will do nothing. Meanwhile, Putin has violated over two dozen other ceasefires he has agreed to over the years.
Zelenskyy has spent the last three years with his country invaded, fighting a war for their very existence. He’s not going to be scared by an orange clown in makeup and his eyeliner-wearing, couch-afficionado sidekick. He took it all with grace and humility and stood up for his country and democratic values to what looked like a pair of petulant toddlers. They got what they wanted though. Either Zelenskyy takes a terrible deal that lets them and Russia carve up his country, or they now have an excuse to overtly throw their lot in with Putin and Russia.
What a mark of shame for the United States. They’ve had some awful people occupy public office over the years, but nothing quite like this pair.
Canada, like many other countries, bought into the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty, that the US would protect us from nuclear aggressors. We fell for it hook line and sinker assuming the US would always be a bastion for the free democratic world and carry the big stick.
It’s time Canada makes some hard choices, the US is no longer a dependable trading partner and protector of our freedom. We have more in common with Europe and need to foster those relationships.
I hate to say it we must also look at building our own nuclear deterrent.
A sovereign nuclear weapon could be built in Canada in less than five years if a program occupied the absolute priority of the entire country and was given unlimited resources. This cannot be accomplished in anything but wartime or in a dictatorship.
And then you have to be able to deliver said weapon for it to be a credible deterrent. We have no missiles, so developing them would need another crash program. We could use aircraft, but this requires both the right platform and basing and would limit our deterrent to only one potential aggressor.
And all this for a weapon that is, in my opinion, militarily useless.
I think we have to admit that we are in an incredibly serious situation in Canada. If we retaliate against Trump’s tariffs the way we could, ie cut off energy, what’s to keep him from taking it and our water, under the guise of national security? He has half the country under his thrall and the major media. He has his courts and kinglike powers atm and I’m not convinced he won’t use them. Thanks for your always cogent essays.
While I am totally with you, I believe it is trump and vance that were humiliated. They showed themselves to be the cowards they truly are. Zelensky is infinitely the man they only wish they could be. Australia stands with Ukraine
Trump is mad, delusional and will only get crazier as he deteriorates but still has complete control of the levers of power. This is heading for real conflict, in what form I don’t know. I think all that can be done diplomatically now is to delay the inevitable. That is very worth doing and the longer the delay bought by pomp and royal meetings the better. It is for us to make the best use of that time to prepare. We are not yet doing any of that. Today was just another wake up call. Europe may have heard but there is no sign yet of that in Canada.
Thank you for the great writing. Zelenskyy has shown the world how it is done when dealing with the Trump administration. No more diplomatic slight of hand when talking or dealing with Trump or any if his cronies. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Disentanglement will be difficult, but needs to be done quickly as you say.
Is there any way that we can remove the Canada military involvement in NORAD and other joint operations without great pain or even active refusal by the US? If we do, what kind of backchannels would exist based on established personal relationships? Some previous posts have hinted at this, but every day seems to sink lower than the last.
Agreed, Zelenskyy just showed us how it is done. He made Captin Bone Spurs and Shady Vance look like weak whinny little bullies. We in Canada have nothing to lose at this point. I'd rather fight like Ukraine then roll over and give my sovereignty away. My forefathers and mothers did not fight in 2 world wars for me to take being Canadian for granted.
I agree (as usual) with most of your insights, but - can we please stop calling the President of the United States "the leader of the free world"? This hasn't been true for such a long time. Thank you.
As always, very well said.
I cannot believe anyone didn’t see this pathetic display as anything other than a scripted joke. Vance and Trump planned to destroy Zelenskyy. They got schooled.
Zelenskyy is an inspiration! The testicular fortitude is something to be admired.
After watching, I immediately donated to the cause and plan to donate more.
For anyone that is able, please think about making a donation to protect democracy.
https://u24.gov.ua/
Testicular Fortitude. Very nice. And yes, he does.
Thank you for this link. I just donated! And am going to share the link on Facebook. :-)
Thank you for the support!!
I disagree. Volodymyr Zelenskyy humiliated the Orange Lunatic and his his acolyte. Let today be the final straw that inspires backbone in the rest of NATO and G7 partners.
I’ve adjusted my title to reflect just this.
We (Canada) share a 1.2 km land border with Denmark (on Han Island between Ellsmere Island and Greenland). Does this mean we can apply for European Union membership?
Two European countries! Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, archipelago about 25 km off the southern coast of Newfoundland are part of France
Fascinating. I just looked it up. Thx.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky_War
As my family puts it, Zelenskyy was the actual leader. He was a Man. My president and vice president were just two poser gangsters who defile the offices they sadly squat in for the time being.
With the legislature neutralized and the courts increasingly being ignored we’re coming to a flashpoint on March 14th when appropriations run out. I am hopeful that the Democrats work together to kick off a government shutdown to slam the brakes on this mess. At that point we may see the junta shred any notion of adhering to the rule of law if they ignore a lack of lawful appropriations and just keep spending money. If that happens we would have a fundamental breakdown of the constitutional system here and would need an outside intervention since frankly that would be a functional collapse of law and order in one tier of our government.
This can’t go on. I also don’t think my country will still be a functioning entity when its 250th birthday rolls around. It is time to start thinking of intervention plans and successor states/entities.
I've been trying to deny it, but I have to admit after today I don't believe anything other than a civil war will bring down this twisted administration. I don't know yet what spark will light the tinderbox. Today I learned Hegseth shut down Cyber Command's anti-russian operations. Suppose the EU were to organize a ground assault to join Ukrainian troops. I can easily imagine trump threatening to launch "his" military to fight alongside Russia. Perhaps it would take this to light the match.
Check out Pam Bondi's (aka Russian asset) orders of late.
I can only find Epstein tapes. Can you hook me with a link?
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/05/pam-bondi-issued-a-flurry-of-orders-on-day-1-as-trumps-attorney-general-00202756
Thanks Annette. And just like that, the USA has a dictator.
Initially I thought it was just Trump being exceptionally Trump -like, but upon more thought, it might be a spectacular very public discussion aimed at turning the American people against Mr. Zalenski and Ukraine to completely remove any remaining support. We all know how Trump loves to put on a show.
Trump did say at the end it would make good television.
Agreed. I think the plan from the start was to bring Zelenskyy in and make him grovel and debase himself. You even saw them trying to demean him for not wearing a suit - as if Trump’s rumpled and ill-fitting blue suit or Vance’s flood pants are the height of fashion. (Fun fact: the "reporter" who asked the question about the suit was Marjorie Taylor Greene's boyfriend.) Then they would force him to sign their deal like a pair of gangsters. Trump could then crow about bringing peace and proceed to plunder their resources.
And what a great deal - Ukraine signs a ceasefire with an actively hostile aggressor who currently occupies Ukrainian territory and has been actively killing civilians. In return, the USA gets $500 billion worth of minerals, and Ukraine gets Trump’s word that Putin won’t attack. But if Putin does attack, the USA will do nothing. Meanwhile, Putin has violated over two dozen other ceasefires he has agreed to over the years.
Zelenskyy has spent the last three years with his country invaded, fighting a war for their very existence. He’s not going to be scared by an orange clown in makeup and his eyeliner-wearing, couch-afficionado sidekick. He took it all with grace and humility and stood up for his country and democratic values to what looked like a pair of petulant toddlers. They got what they wanted though. Either Zelenskyy takes a terrible deal that lets them and Russia carve up his country, or they now have an excuse to overtly throw their lot in with Putin and Russia.
What a mark of shame for the United States. They’ve had some awful people occupy public office over the years, but nothing quite like this pair.
Good read.👍I’m pleased to see Trump and Vance’s behaviours today have also upset many Americans.
Canada, like many other countries, bought into the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty, that the US would protect us from nuclear aggressors. We fell for it hook line and sinker assuming the US would always be a bastion for the free democratic world and carry the big stick.
It’s time Canada makes some hard choices, the US is no longer a dependable trading partner and protector of our freedom. We have more in common with Europe and need to foster those relationships.
I hate to say it we must also look at building our own nuclear deterrent.
Right now most nukes are in the hands of untrustworthy or rogue regimes. Scary.
I’ve argued against this.
A sovereign nuclear weapon could be built in Canada in less than five years if a program occupied the absolute priority of the entire country and was given unlimited resources. This cannot be accomplished in anything but wartime or in a dictatorship.
And then you have to be able to deliver said weapon for it to be a credible deterrent. We have no missiles, so developing them would need another crash program. We could use aircraft, but this requires both the right platform and basing and would limit our deterrent to only one potential aggressor.
And all this for a weapon that is, in my opinion, militarily useless.
Once i heard Tass the Russian media was in the Oval Office I realized these hoodlums had ganged up on yzelelnsky for the benefit of Putin.
I think we have to admit that we are in an incredibly serious situation in Canada. If we retaliate against Trump’s tariffs the way we could, ie cut off energy, what’s to keep him from taking it and our water, under the guise of national security? He has half the country under his thrall and the major media. He has his courts and kinglike powers atm and I’m not convinced he won’t use them. Thanks for your always cogent essays.
Donate to Ukraine: u24.gov.ua
While I am totally with you, I believe it is trump and vance that were humiliated. They showed themselves to be the cowards they truly are. Zelensky is infinitely the man they only wish they could be. Australia stands with Ukraine
Trump is mad, delusional and will only get crazier as he deteriorates but still has complete control of the levers of power. This is heading for real conflict, in what form I don’t know. I think all that can be done diplomatically now is to delay the inevitable. That is very worth doing and the longer the delay bought by pomp and royal meetings the better. It is for us to make the best use of that time to prepare. We are not yet doing any of that. Today was just another wake up call. Europe may have heard but there is no sign yet of that in Canada.
There is no leader of the Free World except possibly from among Scandinavian leaders.
We need a G6 in the short term and also need a Glasses Group (Aus, Can, NZ, UK as the Four Eyes).
Thank you for the great writing. Zelenskyy has shown the world how it is done when dealing with the Trump administration. No more diplomatic slight of hand when talking or dealing with Trump or any if his cronies. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Disentanglement will be difficult, but needs to be done quickly as you say.
Is there any way that we can remove the Canada military involvement in NORAD and other joint operations without great pain or even active refusal by the US? If we do, what kind of backchannels would exist based on established personal relationships? Some previous posts have hinted at this, but every day seems to sink lower than the last.
If Canada were to withdraw I fear it would bring the wrath of Trump and JD
Given what we've already seen, so what.
Agreed, Zelenskyy just showed us how it is done. He made Captin Bone Spurs and Shady Vance look like weak whinny little bullies. We in Canada have nothing to lose at this point. I'd rather fight like Ukraine then roll over and give my sovereignty away. My forefathers and mothers did not fight in 2 world wars for me to take being Canadian for granted.
Trump did not humiliate President Zelenskyy. He tried to but President Zelenskyy was the victor. Be careful how you write.
Thanks for the condescending input.
I’ll write as I see fit.
No intention to be condescending. I am a subscriber and appreciate your work - especially today's piece.
I agree (as usual) with most of your insights, but - can we please stop calling the President of the United States "the leader of the free world"? This hasn't been true for such a long time. Thank you.
I usually don’t. My excuse was that I was angry when I wrote this and just let things flow.