Let’s say the only thing true about the pullback from attacking Iran was that the decision was made and transmitted 10 minutes before it was too late.

We returned from Florida yesterday:

At long last we are home safe and sound. The flight was fine, but it was supposed to leave at 1:30; delayed to 2:30; delayed to 4:05; and then they couldn’t extend the bridge so the incoming passengers couldn’t get off; and then after a comfortable flight we were held in a holding pattern; and then after taxiing we were informed that another plane was at our gate and we had to wait for it to clear. Took a cab. That went well. Home around 9:15.

Mueller’s remarks are very subtle. One point missed in all comments I have heard is the insult to Barr.

First comments pointed out Mueller’s reference to respect for Barr as respect for Barr. Very shortly after they realized the respect was given in the narrow context of the release of most of the report.

So far, I have not heard comments, that in the absence of a statement of overall respect for Barr, and in the presence of respect given for the investigators and their agencies, that Mueller is in effect, insulting Barr. This was certainly not missed by Barr.

Referring to Barr’s good faith in this narrow context, and especially “made the report largely public” means there is enough available to proceed with impeachment already. To wait until impeachment to use redactions to nail the case down, and for him to testify when it matters.

“The attorney general then concluded that it was appropriate to provide our report to Congress and to the American people. At one point in time, I requested that certain portions of the report be released and the attorney general preferred to make — preferred to make the entire report public all at once and we appreciate that the attorney general made the report largely public. And I certainly do not question the attorney general’s good faith in that decision.”

By “in this manner” he means: Before the action clearly called for in my report is taken, i.e., prematurely.

“Now, I hope and expect this to be the only time that I will speak to you in this manner…There has been discussion about an appearance before Congress. “

In softball, two strikes and you are OUT! Kelly should make clear to Trump that one first violation of their understanding of his role as White House Chief of Staff – no ambiguity allowed, that is, if it might not be a violation – will be taken as a violation, strike ONE! Strike one being a warning, strike two and you are OUT! If in a week or a day, strike two and I AM OUT!!!

When a dangerous country is on the verge of acquiring, not the nuclear weapons that they already have, but the ability to deliver them, it is time to consider an accommodation that gives them a GREAT LOT in exchange for giving up their nuclear program.

Even if this country and the world had the willingness, even desire, to approach Korea this way, the history of Libya and the developing history with Iran destroys the willingness of a country in Korea’s position to even consider making such a suicidal deal.

Considering the possibility that a President like Donald Trump might want to secure his place in history, if there is any short history to have a place in – except perhaps in some unlikely archeological history – by being the first person in the World to unleash nuclear holocaust …

Why does Donald Trump tweet, not just tweet, but tweet so often and so OFFENSIVELY! Ayn Rand has the answer.

Ayn Rand identifies as a “Second Hander,” an abysmally weak personality, exemplified in the extreme by Donald Trump.

A “Second Hander” is a person whose perception of themselves does not exist from within, but from what they imagine is going on in the minds of others. If someone is thinking of THEM, they must be alive, otherwise NOT!

This characteristic is shared by everyone to some extent. Not of course by Howard Roark or Hank Reardon, but they are characters in Rand’s books. When her syndrome is manifested in the extreme, you get a Donald Trump, who shares company with more infamous pathological power mongers, at least more infamous so far.

Ayn Rand is not alone. In a story, Ray Bradbury – I think it was Bradbury – wrote about dead people on Mars who came alive whenever someone on earth had them in mind.

Talk about an inferiority complex: How about a non-existence complex!

This kind of person has so little sense of self-existence that they have a pathological need to be noticed. In the case of Trump the craving resulting from that need is so extreme that he needs to be forcing people’s attention on him at all times, and in the most extreme ways. The most extreme ways, to assure that the most brains are on him, and at all times, because he can’t live without it.

Ayn Rand’s “Second Hander” concept explains a lot. It answers questions about his targets. Why women for example? Or why the media? If we ask, “What outrageous statement or target will engage the most minds and tongues for the most amount of time?” we understand his choices.

The media for example. The media is, after all, his conduit to as many people as possible.

There are, presumably, deep seated reasons for his misogyny, but even here, for someone who must be alive in someone else’s mind to sense their own existence, women would be obvious targets, even without having personal animosity towards them. Think about this: If he actually had no animus towards women, a sickness, but attacked them, or groped them, just to commandeer at his convenience his presence in their minds, it would be worse. Instead of his carnage resulting from illness, a mitigation, his victims would simply be “road kill!”

Being a “Second Hander” explains why Trump can’t control himself? Question: Which has more power, some ideological principle of self-control, or self-existence. The latter clearly trumps the former.

I myself also suffer some from her syndrome. It sometimes causes me, not to force engagement, but the opposite, to disengage.

A glimpse into another world!

The old days had such charm! Perhaps our time will have its charms when seen from its future?

Time machines! Didn’t know the AAA supported such a bad idea. Probably seemed to make a kind of sense at the time, but not in the long run.