Stephen Vajs
@smvajs.bsky.social
I wonder how the Commander-in-Chief's understudy felt about the "No beardos" crack.
October 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I wonder how the Commander-in-Chief's understudy felt about the "No beardos" crack.
I read that DoD is going to restore the portrait of Robert E. Lee at West Point
I cannot think of a clearer way to say to the cadets, "That oath you took...if it gets imconvenient, you can just forget it. Okay?"
I cannot think of a clearer way to say to the cadets, "That oath you took...if it gets imconvenient, you can just forget it. Okay?"
August 29, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I read that DoD is going to restore the portrait of Robert E. Lee at West Point
I cannot think of a clearer way to say to the cadets, "That oath you took...if it gets imconvenient, you can just forget it. Okay?"
I cannot think of a clearer way to say to the cadets, "That oath you took...if it gets imconvenient, you can just forget it. Okay?"
When I was a kid there was a favored drink (mostly limited to darkened playgrounds and fields), the malt liquor called Colt 45.
Now, there is a new, more intoxicating, drink called Cult 45.
Now, there is a new, more intoxicating, drink called Cult 45.
August 27, 2025 at 10:14 PM
When I was a kid there was a favored drink (mostly limited to darkened playgrounds and fields), the malt liquor called Colt 45.
Now, there is a new, more intoxicating, drink called Cult 45.
Now, there is a new, more intoxicating, drink called Cult 45.
Donald Trump wants the Nobel Peace prize after all Theodore Roosevelt was so awarded for negotiating an end to the Russo- Japanese War.
But Mr Trump's negotiating technique seems more likely to earn him the Neville Chamberlain prize. Instead of a gold medal, he will receive "a scrap of paper."
But Mr Trump's negotiating technique seems more likely to earn him the Neville Chamberlain prize. Instead of a gold medal, he will receive "a scrap of paper."
August 18, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Donald Trump wants the Nobel Peace prize after all Theodore Roosevelt was so awarded for negotiating an end to the Russo- Japanese War.
But Mr Trump's negotiating technique seems more likely to earn him the Neville Chamberlain prize. Instead of a gold medal, he will receive "a scrap of paper."
But Mr Trump's negotiating technique seems more likely to earn him the Neville Chamberlain prize. Instead of a gold medal, he will receive "a scrap of paper."
I see the President's swollen ankles are being attributed to venous insufficiency. What he doesn't have, however, is veniality insufficiency.
July 18, 2025 at 1:34 PM
I see the President's swollen ankles are being attributed to venous insufficiency. What he doesn't have, however, is veniality insufficiency.
I never liked the name "Homeland Security" because I saw it too easily slip into "Heimat Sicherheit.". With the opening of Alligator Auschwitz, the parallel is too troubling.
July 15, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I never liked the name "Homeland Security" because I saw it too easily slip into "Heimat Sicherheit.". With the opening of Alligator Auschwitz, the parallel is too troubling.
Brexit rigidified the UK's relationship with its largest trading partner. The UK suffers from that madness. Isn't our tariff madness of the same species?
July 15, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Brexit rigidified the UK's relationship with its largest trading partner. The UK suffers from that madness. Isn't our tariff madness of the same species?
I am surprised at the degree we have normalized the un-Constitutional behavior of the President simply declaring tariffs for whatever reason he deems. This ignores the requirement that tax bills - is a tariff anything but a tax - must originate in the In House. Brazil is an example.
July 15, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I am surprised at the degree we have normalized the un-Constitutional behavior of the President simply declaring tariffs for whatever reason he deems. This ignores the requirement that tax bills - is a tariff anything but a tax - must originate in the In House. Brazil is an example.
Headline in Financial Times on June 5: "Bessent vows US will never default ..." This depressed me deeply because in my career at Treasury, no Secretary had to make such a declaration. The thought of a US default was so unimaginable that no one would have to declare. We are on a bad road.
June 6, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Headline in Financial Times on June 5: "Bessent vows US will never default ..." This depressed me deeply because in my career at Treasury, no Secretary had to make such a declaration. The thought of a US default was so unimaginable that no one would have to declare. We are on a bad road.
The WH Press Secretary claims that if Amazon posts the tariffs costs of goods, that would be a "hostile, political act.". Why? I don't think it is so when CVS or Safeway posts on my receipt how much I paid in sales tax. A tariff is the same type of ad valorem tax on a transaction. Show it
April 29, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The WH Press Secretary claims that if Amazon posts the tariffs costs of goods, that would be a "hostile, political act.". Why? I don't think it is so when CVS or Safeway posts on my receipt how much I paid in sales tax. A tariff is the same type of ad valorem tax on a transaction. Show it
Tesla stock appears to have lost about 44% of its value this year. Will Tesla's board of directors reclaim the $50 million bonus it awarded him last summer?
April 22, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Tesla stock appears to have lost about 44% of its value this year. Will Tesla's board of directors reclaim the $50 million bonus it awarded him last summer?
Why was Kristi Noem carrying $3,000 in cash? What is wrong with credit cards? Maybe she doesn't want a paper trail to one of DC's ubiquitous Central American restaurants.
April 21, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Why was Kristi Noem carrying $3,000 in cash? What is wrong with credit cards? Maybe she doesn't want a paper trail to one of DC's ubiquitous Central American restaurants.
I don't want to seem conspiratorial, but I can't help suspecting that DJT is targeting Fed Chair Powell as someone to blame when Trump's economic policies turn the economy sour.
April 21, 2025 at 9:14 PM
I don't want to seem conspiratorial, but I can't help suspecting that DJT is targeting Fed Chair Powell as someone to blame when Trump's economic policies turn the economy sour.
On Monday, the annual White House Easter egg roll will take place for the first time under a series of corporate sponsorships - Meta, Amazon, NYSE, etc. The temptation remains to imagine other, less traditional, sponsors that could leave parents with awkward questions on Monday night. Suggestions?
April 19, 2025 at 7:38 PM
On Monday, the annual White House Easter egg roll will take place for the first time under a series of corporate sponsorships - Meta, Amazon, NYSE, etc. The temptation remains to imagine other, less traditional, sponsors that could leave parents with awkward questions on Monday night. Suggestions?
If the democracy survives these shocks and "reforms," What form from history will it take? Will it look like the New Deal after the ravages of the 1920s Republican era? Or, will it look like the years during and after Reconstruction when a defeated party refused to accept the Nation's judgement?
April 19, 2025 at 3:59 PM
If the democracy survives these shocks and "reforms," What form from history will it take? Will it look like the New Deal after the ravages of the 1920s Republican era? Or, will it look like the years during and after Reconstruction when a defeated party refused to accept the Nation's judgement?
After seeing how the Alien Enemies Act is being abused, I can only be grateful that the companion Sedition Act, which made criticizing the government a crime, died in 1800.
April 19, 2025 at 2:08 PM
After seeing how the Alien Enemies Act is being abused, I can only be grateful that the companion Sedition Act, which made criticizing the government a crime, died in 1800.
Tonight makes the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere"s and others' rides. As part of the commemoration, we even have a presidentA playing George III.
April 18, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Tonight makes the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere"s and others' rides. As part of the commemoration, we even have a presidentA playing George III.
Ford planned 200,000 Edsel sales. They sold about 60,000.
Tesla expected 250,000 Cybertrucks annually. They sold fewer than 50,000.
So, more Edsels were sold than Cybertrucks in a market, in population, of half of today's size.
Tesla expected 250,000 Cybertrucks annually. They sold fewer than 50,000.
So, more Edsels were sold than Cybertrucks in a market, in population, of half of today's size.
April 8, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Ford planned 200,000 Edsel sales. They sold about 60,000.
Tesla expected 250,000 Cybertrucks annually. They sold fewer than 50,000.
So, more Edsels were sold than Cybertrucks in a market, in population, of half of today's size.
Tesla expected 250,000 Cybertrucks annually. They sold fewer than 50,000.
So, more Edsels were sold than Cybertrucks in a market, in population, of half of today's size.
The White House seems to want the US to exist without imports. Such an economy is called autarky.
The White House probably likes this term; maybe because it sounds so much like autocracy.
The White House probably likes this term; maybe because it sounds so much like autocracy.
April 8, 2025 at 5:20 PM
The White House seems to want the US to exist without imports. Such an economy is called autarky.
The White House probably likes this term; maybe because it sounds so much like autocracy.
The White House probably likes this term; maybe because it sounds so much like autocracy.
He has his face on the card. Frankly, I would settle for having his face on a postage stamp.
President Trump proudly showed off the design of his administration’s new $5 million “gold card”
Yes, this is a real thing.
Yes, this is a real thing.
April 4, 2025 at 4:57 PM
He has his face on the card. Frankly, I would settle for having his face on a postage stamp.
There are some things that cannot be taught; they can only be learned.
March 28, 2025 at 11:23 PM
There are some things that cannot be taught; they can only be learned.
This is from elsewhere, but it is brilliant.
March 28, 2025 at 4:30 PM
This is from elsewhere, but it is brilliant.
I used to live in a brave country. Can you remember when we were so strong? youtube.com/watch?v=hF6C...
youtube.com
February 28, 2025 at 11:37 PM
I used to live in a brave country. Can you remember when we were so strong? youtube.com/watch?v=hF6C...
Will we mark today as the day the U.S. resigned its position as leader of the Free World? We may still be a world leader...maybe soon without followers...but of the Free World, no. (Maybe Elon accidentally shut down the position.)
February 28, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Will we mark today as the day the U.S. resigned its position as leader of the Free World? We may still be a world leader...maybe soon without followers...but of the Free World, no. (Maybe Elon accidentally shut down the position.)