139 Comments
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ArcticStones's avatar

It has become all the rage for politicians to drop the F-word, apparently believing that it makes them seem more folksy and authentic.

I beg to differ! The very least our cursing politicians can do is to be a touch creative. Can you imagine Chuck Schumer dropping the F-bomb? I think we can agree that it would seem totally artificial. (Edit: He has and it did.)

Schumer could, however, reach for some old-school curse words, possibly Yiddish. Here is a suggested example:

"Oy vey! Donald Trump is a putz, a schmuck, a schlimazel, a shlemiel and a shmendrik. He is filling the White House with tchatchkes and schlock, and the world is tired of his endless kvetsh." 

– Chuck Schumer (with newfound chutzpah)

KBH's avatar

I've used "putz" a lot lately--particularly in referring to Trump's R enablers in Congress. And I'm not even Jewish! But it's a very accurate and descriptive term.

BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

You are late to the party: He's already dropped the F-bomb, but sadly, though he's from NY, it was remarkably unimpressive.

And the Yiddish words you quote are not really curses. Yiddish curses are pretty much idiomatic (though I'm far from the expert on this - hat tip to the dear and darling Michael Wex).

MrsCQ's avatar

Schumer did drop the F bomb and it was so cringy and inauthentic. 😬

ClaireC's avatar

As someone who loves Yiddish expressions, this makes me smile. Hubby and I were watching something and he had to ask me (he wasn't born in US), what's a putz?

Despite not being Jewish, I know the meaning of every Yiddish word in your post. NYers use Yiddish expressions all the time. :)

Stu Weiss's avatar

I vote for “meshugganah”. Look it up and it fits to a T. Simon is being a mensch!

ArcticStones's avatar

Oh, man! You’re right, it would have been so much better with that word included. And, yes, Simon is a mensch – always!

Colleen's avatar

As more and more use the F word, I've elected it the word of the year!

ArcticStones's avatar

Nah. A lot of the right-wing men using the F word are Incels. That includes the pathetic neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes who has admitted he’s never slept with a woman (or, more accurately, engaged in waking activities with a woman). In other words, they are non-fuckers.

Colleen's avatar

Since many are using the F word, I've nominated it the word of the year!

Sheila's avatar

Congress needs to read those words from Dr. MartinLuther King. Someone needs to put a fire underneath them!! Will they ever realize that because of their idleness our country is suffering?

CH's avatar

This day brings us another opportunity to stand up for justice and equality and fight back against racism.

Do not despair, sit, cry, wring hands. Get out today wherever you are and join us on the streets while you still have that opportunity, given to you by those with COURAGE.

See you out there…

Leigh Horne's avatar

Yes, courage!!!! And also critical thinking. Anyone else out there imagine that 1500 Artic-ready paratroopers might be headed for Greenland rather than Minneapolis? Trump like any con man is past master of the old 'Bait and Switch.'

Nicholas Behm's avatar

Yes, if they were meant for MN, they would be there already. He has shown no restraint in ordering the National Guard to American streets. That the paratroopers are ostensibly preparing for deployment to MN is nothing more than dissimulation.

Stephen Goetz's avatar

Right on, Leigh Horne!

Sarah Marshall's avatar

I would love to know what Senators and Reps subscribe to Hopium . . .

Stu Weiss's avatar

One of the reasons I like posting here is that many of them do (or at least staff read Hopium, staff are often the key). I would like to see a list. Even starting with all the electeds that Simon has had on. Can be a tool to get more subscribed.

Barry's avatar

The madman gets madder and madder. Completely unhinged psychopath with no guardrails.

Catherine Giovannoni's avatar

Well that letter to Norway takes the cake. The 25th Amendment cake.

It would only take a few Republicans to declare themselves Independents and to caucus with the Democrats to start to turn this around. I know we're long past, "Have you, at last, no decency?" territory, but I'm hoping we're not past "Have you, at last, no instinct for self-preservation?" territory.

I'll call my congressman and senators and work on my postcards to NC voters today.

Nicholas Behm's avatar

I commented similarly, too.

Simon, can you give us any insight into whether DEM leaders have approached vulnerable GOP reps about caucusing with them? If they haven’t done this, why?

ArcticStones's avatar

A great suggestion from Linda Weide, in her comment to today’s blog from historian Heather Cox Richardson:

"Greenland should start calling itself "the Trump-Epstein Files Distraction Land"."

Blake's avatar

As I’ve been preaching to friends and family….reelection begot by self preservation always ‘prevails’ in the end right, wrong, or indifferent as to how it’s reached. We invade a NATO ally or step inside just enough, the GOP loses the midterms, and they know that, period! Don’t be surprised too, if even our top military officials refuse such illegality. NO ONE wants war with our own NATO alliance! Guarantee Trump didn’t expect the force of pushback and unity by Europe/NATO either. Yes, he’s further unhinged but he’s also a TACO at heart. It may…may…very well take the military stepping and going to Congress to demand they get this SOB outa there cuz they’re not putting us at war with our allies. Call me naive, but I feel that writing is on the wall more than that of an ‘irreversible Nazi-America.’

Blake's avatar

Simon, I’ve seen from several sources now including even Anthony Scaramucci (who surely still has access to congressional members) that Trump has been told by GOP senators (not sure how many) should he invade Greenland, he’ll be impeached and removed. Call me naive, but I’ve long now had an instinctive sense it will be Trump’s incessant need to play God on the world stage that will essentially remove him/take him down. As dangerously as he’s flirting with war against Europe, I still feel we won’t actually get there, certainly not into the thick of a war with NATO anyway. I sense the military buildup all over will essentially be the worst of it and I hope I’m right. With that said, I encourage our Hopium family, against seeming odds, not to be completely surprised if Trump actually isn’t in office come the Midterm elections. But even still, we keep fighting. Happy MLK Day to all ✌️💕.

Nicholas Behm's avatar

I would like to believe this; I really would. But, if the unhinged threat of invading Greenland is sufficient to motivate the GOP to impeach/remove, I can’t imagine actually invading Greenland would be either.

They also had no problem with invading Venezuela, abducting Maduro, allowing Maduro’s regime to maintain tyrannical power, stealing oil, and then selling that oil, the profits of which are stashed in an off-shore account controlled by Trump.

Abomination fails to describe all this sufficiently.

Jenny Ellsworth's avatar

I agree. Also, it seems like it is far easier to not invade another country and start a war than it would be to stop it once troops are there. Or to repair the damage to lives, cities, alliances, and all the other casualties.

There is no bottom to their depravity or ceiling to their greed. We have waited ten years for Rs as a group to see how awful T**** is. They never, ever will.

Blake's avatar

Reelection and self preservation outlasts the 🍊 🤡. Doesn’t excuse their enabling at all. But that vulnerable electability reality WILL set in one way or another. It’s inevitable!

Blake's avatar

I don’t fully disagree. However, right, wrong, or indifferent, cuz remember, we’re past rational thinking patterns all around….invading a NATO ally especially when ALL of NATO is basically telling us they’re ready to fight should Trump be this stupid and not be stopped beforehand (which I still have doubts about feeling he actually will be) essentially calling our bluff…is a whole different ballgame.

It is VERY possible even our most senior military officials will refuse such an order to invade as it’s illegal to invade a NATO ally. Venezuela, while frowned upon by many as to how we did it and the why after the fact, was nonetheless, seen by many in the GOP not as as invasion but initially as a follow through from decades of moving to remove Maduro. It was seen as a ‘police action’ due to the ‘drug spin.’ Again, how we did this and Trump’ intentions are anything but kosher and in normal times, he’d have been both impeached and removed over that.

But NATO? Different story! No cocaine labs in Greenland nor threats against the U.S. by them. Politicians care most about one thing! Reelection! That begets self preservation. They’ll bend to that when all said and done in spite of the damage they’ve helped cause thus far. Invading Greenland and subsequent war with NATO means they don’t win the midterms, period! What Trump has not expected I guarantee, is the level of pushback/force from Europe! Even his flailing self knows he can’t afford a war with Europe.

Michael G Baer's avatar

Trump tests boundaries and pulls back with enough pushback. Remember TACO?

But that was earlier, he's crazier now,so it may no longer apply.

If we can target the GOP electeds who are considering impeachment, we could organize a massive effort to jam their phone lines....

Jenny Ellsworth's avatar

TACO doesn’t seem as true anymore. Pure speculation but what would happen if his doctors told him he only has a short time left? I feel like it would look like this.

Elizabeth T.'s avatar

What do you think is going on in Vance's mind?!

Blake's avatar

“Can we make this soon please? I’m itching to take over!” 😂😂😂😬

In all seriousness though, and I know this sounds crazy cuz it defies the logistics of our system (then again, what’s logical anymore these days?!?)…should Vance technically step in before midterms or before the end of Trump’s term, I don’t anticipate him lasting long either. Something tells me (and I don’t say this to come across conspiratorial) we’re on the precipice of a congressional landscape we’ve never experienced before. I don’t want to write up too much of the ‘rabbit hole’ scenario here but I have a feeling this year will bring positive/necessary change in the face of it also being both unprecedented and uncertain.

I feel the worst case scenario will ultimately be Vance steps in to become a lame duck (even with Thiel in his ear) cuz Congress will feel they owe him ZILCH! Best case scenario, this whole administration eventually falls before 2028 and we endure a sort of congressional coalition council ahead of the next election (including aid from past Presidents and Generals etc.). Yes, I know how that sounds when I say it. However, Trump is pushing us closer to a place where this scenario is not as implausible as in the past. So, take or leave that for what it’s worth. Guess we’ll find out. Either way, we’ve gotta ride these waves and keep vigilant no matter what ✌️💕.

Michael G Baer's avatar

Well if we follow the Constitutional line of succession it goes from Vance, to l'il Mikey Johnson, to 92 year old Chuck Grassley...

But if Vance became prez he would name a VP to be in the 1st position. So none of it looks good, but we still must work to get Trump off the stage.

Blake's avatar

I say, expect the unexpected these days. Trump and cronies may push themselves and subsequently us, to abandon the line of succession for the health of maintaining our Republic. Sure, we’ll believe that when we see it of course. However, it’s no longer an ‘implausibility’ either. As unprecedented and uncertain as such a scenario would be, it arguably could end up the healthiest scenario just the same. I’m very interested to know how Obama, Biden, Clinton, Bush, Jack Smith, General Miley, General Kelly, and many others are conversing/coordinating in the background. Never say never! Not to mention, each of those names I mentioned undoubtedly still have exclusive access one way or another and remain with long tentacles if you will. Timing is everything and some things we are just not supposed to know. Ye a tad bit of faith when all seems hopeless. That’s when the unexpected chimes in 🤷🏻‍♂️🙏✌️.

Cindy Wiggins's avatar

The military leaders darn well better refuse to attack a NATO ally.

Ted N's avatar
4hEdited

Could you provide a link? This is welcome news. GOP senators need to establish a clear set of red lines.

Ted N's avatar

Found a link. I am not in a position where I can recommend Scaramucci as a source, I’ll let others weigh in.

For my part, I’m calling to make it clear to my senators the have to do more to stop him.

https://x.com/Scaramucci/status/2012720911783243890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Ted N's avatar

Also sorry for the link to X. I know many on this platform won’t click an X link lol

Ted N's avatar
3hEdited

Better, from an actual GOP rep:

Bacon says he would ‘lean’ toward Trump impeachment if Greenland invaded: ‘Utter buffoonery’

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5692379-don-bacon-donald-trump-impeachment-greenland-invasion/amp/

“It’s ridiculous that this has to even be done,” Bacon told the Omaha World-Herald. “But when the president talks about taking Greenland one way or the other way every day this last week or so and that it’s unacceptable if Greenland refuses to be part of the United States, I felt like I needed to make a statement that Republicans disagree.”

Michael G Baer's avatar

Bacon describes invading Greenland as "utter bufoonery" Let's leverage that, highlight that, engage on that, promote that.

Steven Klebe's avatar

From your keyboard to God's ears!

Michael G Baer's avatar

In The Hill article Republican Senators McConnell, Lankford, Tillis, Murkowski, Wicker and Collins all spoke against it

Bacon and Massie in the House...

Lets find more and leverage them. Lets find out who might get it if we have a massive phone calling action

Blake's avatar

Respectfully, I actually disagree with that even against the odds we’ve faced thus far. With the GOP breakage occurring against Trump on this very issue, potentially pushing us towards war with our own NATO alliance, the notion he could ‘get away with threatening nukes’ is now even in spite of everything, alarmist in all reality. NO ONE wants war with Europe/NATO, period! Trump included although half the time he doesn’t even know what the hell he wants, cuz he’s not even all there! Remember…reelection via self preservation will outlast this idiot. Our top military officials won’t even abide by such an egregious request.

Michael G Baer's avatar

Im confused how your comment is relative to my comment?

Perhaps it was meant elsewhere in the thread?

Faith Wilson's avatar

Unfortunately, trump could threaten to lob nukes at Europe and the Senate vote would be 50-51 with Vance as tie breaker, and the defectors claiming “he said the bombs wouldn’t be THAT destructive.”

Michael G Baer's avatar

I agree with Blake above. Congress will not endorse a nuclear war, particularly on a NATO ally, and neither will the top military brass...

That Trump.might suggest it... thats anybody's guess.

Blake's avatar

Yes it was, I’m sorry. I think I pressed the wrong reply button 😂. That’s what happens when we’re all talking too much on here 😂. Anyway, to yours however, we’ll get through this! We shall prevail!

ArcticStones's avatar

On the premier Norwegian news site NRK.no, the top headline and six or eight stories (depending on when you looked) were about Trump’s threats to take Greenland. While Norwegian news is noted for its restrain and understatement, one of the headlines asked quite bluntly:

"Has Trump lost his mind?"

Another headline pointed out that Europe supports America and its debt by purchasing an astronomic amount of US Treasury Bonds – and is currently said to hold about twice as much as China and the rest of Asia.

One strategist recommended that if Trump doesn’t back down from his threat to use military force against a fellow NATO country, that Europe weaponize this debt.

I’ll let someone better versed in macroeconomics detail the consequences on Europe doing so. But I believe the consequences for the American economy would be dire.

BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

While I've kept in mind all this time the reality of Impeachment Fatigue, especially since conviction might be out of reach even under the best of midterm outcomes, I am, more and more, leaning toward impeachment as a constitutional duty regardless of the likelihood of conviction.

Trump's remarks about Greenland in light of being snubbed for the Nobel are as unambiguous proof as anything that he's not compos mentis and belongs in a long-term care facility with round-the-clock care staff, not the White House.

BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

And, someone needs to change the big baby's diaper, like, STAT, because he's getting really cranky.

ArcticStones's avatar

Even Donald’s XL adult diaper won’t contain his massive oral diarrhea!

Mingo's avatar

I've been saying that for months. Apparently he doesn't differentiate between the government of Norway and the Nobel committee. When are our elected leaders going to start fighting back? I call my senators and rep here in AZ several times a week and they seem to have backbone. But what about the rest of the party? Innocent people's lives are turned upside down for no reason.

Michael G Baer's avatar

Breaking news... Trump HAS lost his mind. We should all contact the New York Times tipline.

Madam Geoffrin's avatar

That’s very funny. 😆

Michael G Baer's avatar

... but I'm serious

Patrick's avatar

Are you sure it wasn't -10F? I know it was in the forecast that it wouldn't get above zero, either today or yesterday.

The Hmong situation, of all the despicable things, is infuriating. The Hmong, as I'm sure Hopium people know, came here decades ago after being our allies in the Vietnam War. So they wouldn't get killed. I saw another video of a Hmong man refusing to open his front door to an ICE agent. This is just fucking off the charts evil.

John Payne's avatar

The attack on the Hmong being led by Cadet Bone Spurs really takes the cake. I hope he loses support from Vietnam vets over this.

Patrick's avatar
4hEdited

It's an interesting point you make. I hadn't thought about that angle.

There are many Hmong in Minnesota, especially St. Paul. It must be one of the largest Hmong communities in the country.

John Payne's avatar

Same in south Sacramento. The 4th of July fireworks in that area are off the charts

ArcticStones's avatar

KENTUCKY: Strange good news for Democrats

Elon Musk has just donated $10 million dollars to Nate Morris, a pro-Trump candidate who is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Mitch McConnell retirement. This is the largest donation Musk has ever made in a Senate race.

Why is this good news for Democrats? Well, Morris is an outsider and an underdog. If Musk’s massive donation actually lifts him to the Republican nomination, Nate Morris is the one candidate who just might make the Kentucky Senate race competitive for us!

https://www.axios.com/2026/01/19/elon-musk-10-million-campaign-donation-kentucky

Patrick's avatar

Malcom Nance was online saying those two battalions from AK represent our extreme Arctic division, and could also be deployed to Greenland. There are plenty of National Guard already in Minnesota who live there. The division he is mobilizing are paratroopers.

Minnesota and Greenland combined could end this fucking nightmare.

Bison Doc's avatar

Here's a link to Nance's video about a possible invasion of Greenland.

https://substack.com/@malcolmnance/note/c-201969018

Patrick's avatar

Here is a simple BUMPER STICKER for Democrats and pro-democracy advocates: FREEZE ICE!! A simple idea to reset an organization that has had some functionality in the past but has now gone rogue. We have to make a better choice (Representative Crockett seems to agree with many of my assertions in this excellent Daily Beast interview): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5SSwmAEiVk.

Per Dr. George, Dolos will become more violent/active as he experiences NARCISSISTIC COLLAPSE (mostly from Epstein haunting him): https://frankgeorge8675309.substack.com/p/this-is-not-politics-its-the-next .

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”

― Frank Herbert, Dune

Understanding Dolos in five points:

1. “Fill an immediate need, and don’t worry about the long-term future consequences.”

2. “Bend the rules, because the past doesn’t matter.”

3. “Put on a show, to celebrate the greatness of the here-and-now moment.”

4. “Exert maximal pressure, because you probably won’t see these losers again, so they can’t hurt you down the road.”

5. Always win-and then move on, ever so quickly, to the next battle.”

McAdams, Dan P. The Strange Case of Donald J. Trump: A Psychological Reckoning. Oxford University Press, 2020 [pp 50].

“[I]f it were up to [Stephen] Miller, there’d only be 100 million people in this country, and they’d all look like Miller.”

- Donald J. Trump (2024)

“Again, it all goes back to I think the person running the country right now is a DEAD PEDOPHILE [emphasis mine].”

- Professor Scott Galloway (NYU), Founder of Prof G Media

Epstein, Epstein, Epstein (BINGO from the former Federal Prosecutor at timestamp - 3:18): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAEl2XCkgLE .

Folks:

VP Harris gave a brief speech during a King Day Breakfast event this weekend in Chicago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Noq8gtR_xoo&list=TLPQMTkwMTIwMjYfde72G7_k2A. It must be remembered that Dr. King was assassinated the day after he said these eerily prophetic words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e49VEpWg61M . He was 39. More importantly, MLK, Jr. believed in this country and the possibility of “The Beloved Community”: https://thekingcenter.org/about-tkc/the-king-philosophy/

As human as he was, Dr. King was certainly a better man than I could ever be in a hundred lifetimes. In fact, he was in Tennessee (home of the First Klan) because of a sanitation workers’ strike initiated by the crushing death of two Black sanitation workers in their own garbage truck because they were not allowed to enter a nearby building during a rainstorm under segregation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Echol_Cole_and_Robert_Walker.

Unfortunately, many in the Dolos regime and his followers believe that White males have been the aggrieved party since the end of the Civil War (from 1865). This concept does seem quite AHISTORICAL. Stephen Miller may want to read some of the growing number of BANNED BOOKS to get better information (rather than “The Turner Diaries” and “The Camp of the Saints” - read online, and PLEASE DO NOT BUY). I’m pretty certain that most Black males would resist the need to sit inside garbage trucks going forward: https://tnmuseum.org/junior-curators/posts/i-am-a-man-dr-king-and-the-memphis-sanitation-workers-strike.

CARTHAGO DELENDA EST (via nonviolence).

P.S.: Do the following now! FIRST, TEACH CIVICS. Second, register voters. THIRD, TEACH CIVICS. Rinse. Repeat.

P.P.S.: The political philosopher, Vlad Vexler, has a powerful take on the malignant narcissism of Dolos: https://substack.com/home/post/p-184773823 .

ArcticStones's avatar

From what we’ve seen or the Mad King, #5 should be tweaked a touch:

5. Always *claim you’ve won* – and then move on, ever so quickly, to the next battle.”

John Payne's avatar

Thanks Simon -- I'll write my MOCs later today with asking them for courage and following MLK Jr.'s example. Absolutely horrified by that treatment of a Hmong elder.

Off this morning to help out at a workshop for local immigrants who need work permits.

Anti-ICE protest Saturday in Rancho Cordova CA near Sac. About 100 at a busy intersection for two hours. My sign was "There's Slime in the ICE" borrowed from one in MN. Anecdotally, I would say the energy is higher on both sides in terms of driver support and negative reactions. Had a beer can thrown in our direction from an almost stereotypical truckload of yahoos.

A trump train came to a small ICE protest in downtown Sac, attacked a protester and smashed a vehicle's windshield. See link. I do believe things are ramping up. https://www.kcra.com/article/anti-ice-protester-attacked-in-sacramento-police-say/70035004

Stu Weiss's avatar

On Saturday in Redwood City (300+ people) we had a pickup truck with flags, including “Latinos for Trump” flying in the bed, pass a couple times. We just laughed our asses off into the open window.

LParker's avatar
4hEdited

Self reporting: Left messages for and sent e-mails to Schiff, Padilla, a Pelosi, pleading that they use all levers of government at their disposal to rein in ICE behavior and to mount a robust effort to call out the Administration's lawlessness, self dealing, and corruption and failure to uphold the Constitution.

Nana Booboo's avatar

A St. Paul friend told me the reason why they're going after elderly Hmong like Saly is they found out that while these people are citizens, they often didn't learn English and so are easily tricked by ICE.

It's how ICE tries to get their 3,000 a day arrest quota set by Stevie Miller

Marcia's avatar

I cannot bring myself to click “like” for your post, but I’m truly appreciative that you’ve shared this insight about these hideous thugs and their depraved strategies. Thank you, Nana.

Nana Booboo's avatar

No worries! I want people to see why ICE is about to get hit with so many lawsuits they soon won't have gas money