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Is There an Adult in the Room? [1]

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Date: 2025-06-23

“Our President will start a war with Iran because he has absolutely no ability to negotiate.” That quote is not from a war-weary Democrat or even a recalcitrant Republican like Rep. Thomas Massie after the bombing raid on Iran. It is a quote from the current President, Donald Trump, about former President Barack Obama, in one of the most significant cases of jamais vu projectionism in U.S. history. The above quote or criticism of Mr. Obama surfaced following Donald Trump’s order to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities. Donald Trump issued that video statement in November 2011. After nearly a month of falling poll numbers, the President authorized the bombing mission. This is significant because the current president accused a former president of playing domestic politics with Iran: “In order to get elected, Barack Obama will start a war with Iran,” Trump posted on Twitter. If this all sounds like a meet-me-after-school at 3 o’clock playground fight, it is because the President of the United States reacts to crises like a child.

Democrats and democratic values are again in the position of parental spoilsports to a petulant and irrational president. Whether one agreed or disagreed with the U.S. bunker-busting attack on Iran Saturday, Democrats are again tasked with separating the tantrum from the strategy. Hopefully, Democrats learned a lesson and will not help give candy to the children like they did in 2003 with the George W. Bush administration. Democrats, except one—former Representative and now Mayor of Oakland, California, Barbara Lee—sided with the foot-stomping and permitted the childish response because it was the easiest way to quell the rage. Predictably, Trump sycophant Senator Lindsey Graham (SC) raced to a Sunday morning talk show microphone to put a verbal stick on his shoulder—daring the enemy to knock it off. Vice President JD Vance continued with a novel talking point, saying, “We’re not at war with Iran,” Vance said. “We’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program.” The language and veracity of the Trump administration do not engender trust. The lack of credibility from both Trump and Vance was on display in two instances. First, Mr. Trump told us the Iranian nuclear program was ‘obliterated,’ which was contradicted by Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, who said a damage assessment has yet to be determined. ‘Battle damage assessment is ongoing,’ said General Caine.

In an unrelated matter, Friday, VP Vance referred to California Senator Alex Padilla as Jose Padilla, who was convicted in 2007 of conspiracy to murder, kidnap, and maim individuals in a foreign country; conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists; and providing material support to terrorists. The fact that Vance recalled a name that could be considered a racist generic moniker for someone of Hispanic heritage is made worse by the fact that Alex Padilla is a U.S. senator, for whom Vance—as Vice President—is the sitting president of the Senate. As I finished this piece, it was announced that the Iranians had launched missiles at the U.S. base in Qatar. President Trump lacks both the temperament and the understanding to avoid war. Much like a child, I fear his response will be unmeasured, unpredictable, and unhinged. Again, it is left to the Democrats to call a timeout because the toadies and cowards in the GOP will practice radio and brain silence, awaiting the next tantrum, or they will jump off the cliff because Little Donnie did it.

Your Vote is Still Your Voice

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/6/23/2329672/-Is-There-an-Adult-in-the-Room?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

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