DICTATOR DIPLOMACY DISFUNCTION

Trump, Putin, and the Fantasy of Dictator Diplomacy

When Vladimir Putin escalated his war of aggression in Ukraine, killing civilians, annexing territory, and openly challenging the post-WWII order, Donald Trump's reaction was telling. He didn’t condemn the act. He didn’t call out the criminal behavior. He didn’t speak to the suffering of the Ukrainian people. No, he said, “I’m not happy about that.”

Why? Because, in Trump’s mind, the real betrayal wasn’t the invasion. It was that his friend Putin didn’t consult him first.

This is how the world’s most dangerous narcissist processes global events: through the bruised ego of a man who believes that international war crimes are secondary to whether he’s feeling personally snubbed.

Let’s be clear: Putin is a brutal autocrat who rules by force and fear. His so-called alliances are built not on friendship but on necessity, convenience, and shared enemies. He does not need friends. He needs tools. And for a time, Trump played the part well.

But now, the illusion is shattered. Trump thought he could “get along” with fellow strongmen and that authoritarian rule would be a passport to mutual respect and cooperation. Instead, he learned the lesson every narcissist eventually faces: real dictators don’t care about your feelings. They don’t honor loyalty. They don’t return favors. They pursue raw power and crush those who get in the way.

So no, Mr. Trump, this isn’t about you. It’s about a criminal regime in Moscow that has invaded a sovereign country, slaughtered civilians, and thumbed its nose at every rule of civilized conduct. The time for naive bromance and “I think we’ll get along great” diplomacy is over.

Putin only understands force, and it’s time the United States starts responding with precisely that.

That means increased intelligence, more military aid, and direct support to Ukraine’s defenses. No more half-measures. No more fearing Putin’s tantrums. He pushed Europe to the brink; now we go back.

That means sanctions with teeth, real ones that cut off oligarch wealth, sever financial lifelines, and kneecap the Kremlin’s war machine. Economic war is war, too, and it’s one the West can win without firing a shot.

And yes, it means preparing for escalation, including the nuclear threat. Because appeasement has never stopped a tyrant. Only strength and resolve have. We didn’t back down in the face of Hitler. We didn’t flinch when the Cold War turned hot in Korea or Cuba. And we cannot turn away now simply because Trump can’t get over the fact that his pal Vlad won’t return his calls.

Trump’s entire worldview is built on the false belief that personal charm is a substitute for policy, that manipulation is stronger than morality, and that dictators are just misunderstood CEOs with bigger weapons. It’s childish. It’s delusional. And in the face of real geopolitical threats, it’s outright dangerous.

The lesson here isn’t just about Putin. It’s about Trump. His unfitness for leadership isn’t a matter of ideology. It’s psychological. He is incapable of seeing beyond himself. His lens is always personal. And in the ruthless world of authoritarianism, that makes him a mark, not a master.

The U.S. must support Ukraine not just to protect democracy abroad but also to remind the world that we still stand for something beyond our leaders’ personal feelings. The time to act is now, with force, clarity, and the full understanding that dictators don't need friendship. They need to be stopped.

William James Spriggs

TRUMP'S BIG LIE

Fraud, Waste, and Abuse: The Big Lie Behind Trump’s Biggest Crime

Donald Trump has always had a signature move: accuse others of the very crimes he commits. It is not just deflection; it’s projection. It’s not just hypocrisy; it’s strategy. And perhaps nowhere is this more shamelessly on display than in his crusade against so-called “fraud, waste, and abuse” in the federal government.

Trump did not fight fraud, waste, and abuse. He embodied them, supercharged them, and used the slogan as a cover for the most aggressive dismantling of public trust and public service in American history.

Let’s begin with the facts: prior administrations had their share of inefficiencies. However, those instances were often minor and subject to rigorous oversight by the Inspectors General, the Government Accountability Office, and the Department of Justice. These internal mechanisms worked. Fraud was detected, waste was addressed, and abuses were prosecuted.

Until Trump.

Under Trump, the watchdogs responsible for rooting out government wrongdoing were fired, sidelined, or replaced by loyalists. Independent Inspectors General were systematically purged. The Department of Justice was twisted into a personal legal defense fund for the president and a political weapon against his opponents. The fox was not just guarding the henhouse; it had eaten the hens and was now selling their eggs at a profit.

Yet, through it all, Trump kept repeating the lie: that he was cleaning up Washington, that he alone could root out the rot, and that he was the guardian of taxpayer dollars.

In reality, he was robbing the public blind.

Trump's idea of “draining the swamp” was to drain the lifeblood from essential government agencies, gut environmental protections, sabotage public health infrastructure, and freeze or eliminate services for veterans, the disabled, the elderly, and the poor. In the name of removing waste, Trump ensured that countless Americans were denied lifesaving services. Some will die as a result.

Meanwhile, who benefitted? The wealthy, the corporations, the Trump family, his allies, and his donors. Trump used the language of fiscal responsibility as a smokescreen for theft. His tax policies were a massive wealth transfer to the top, paid for with cuts to social services, regulatory rollback, and chaos.

This was not just waste; it was intentional sabotage. It was not just fraud; it was state-sanctioned grift. It was not just abuse; it was an assault on the very idea of government by and for the people.

And all the while, his followers cheered.

Why? Because the slogan “fraud, waste, and abuse” is effective. It appeals to everyone—nobody wants their money wasted. But Trump turned that common cause into a con job. He pretended to be the sheriff while looting the town. And now, he wants to finish the job.

We must not let him.

William James Spriggs

MERRILLVILLE

Welcome to Merrillville

(A Tribute to Merrill Gardens, Kissimmee, FL)

We call it Merrillville with pride and with cheer,
A place where the golden years blossom right here.
It’s Merrill Gardens, yes, but add a twist,
A village of laughter too precious to miss.

Here, freedom’s the rule and joy is the guide,
You live how you wish, with nothing to hide.
Prefer quiet reading or planned happy hours?
You’ll find both embraced with musical powers.

From bingo to chorus, to greetings in tune,
To poetry spun by a resident loon,
Yes, a poet among us, with rhythm and rhyme,
Reminding us daily that life still has time.

The food is first-rate, the desserts divine,
And the coffee? Perhaps with a splash of red wine?
Entertainment arrives with flair and finesse,
From parties and dancing to sartorial dress.

Some stroll in the gardens, some sit and debate,
Some host Bingo nights or just meditate.
There’s room for all passions, from calm to the bold,
And every new story is welcomed and told.

No fences on joy, no limits on will,
We thrive in this haven some call Merryville.
It’s not just a building, it’s freedom with flair,
A home where each moment is lighter than air.

So here’s to our village, our laughter, our song,
To friendship, to living, and to growing strong.
With harmony rising and spirits that shine,
The experience here defies father time.

.

 

THE THRILL OF THE LIE

The Thrill of the Lie: Why Trump’s Followers Embrace the Fiction

There is no longer any question that Donald Trump lies. He lies daily, flagrantly and unapologetically. He lies when the truth is readily available. He lies when it’s inconvenient when it’s irrelevant, and even when it’s dangerous. His lies are not occasional misstatements or rhetorical flourishes; they are foundational to his political strategy, central to his public persona, and essential to his movement.

One of the more persistent examples is his lie about tariffs. Trump repeatedly claims that foreign nations, particularly China, are paying billions to the United States through tariffs he imposed. This is categorically false. Tariffs are import taxes paid by the American importer who receives the goods, not the foreign exporter. That cost is then passed on to the American consumer through higher prices. It is a tax on Americans, not on China.

This is not an obscure economic theory but a basic and easily verifiable fact. Yet Trump continues to say the opposite, and millions believe him or pretend to. The real question, then, is not why Trump lies. We know why. It benefits him. The real question is why his followers love it.

The answer is both disturbing and revealing because lying has become a thrill.

In Trump's world, lying is no longer immoral; it is performative, entertaining, and oddly empowering. When he lies, and millions repeat it as gospel, they aren't just deceiving others. They’re participating in a communal game of “make-believe” where facts are malleable, and reality is negotiable. They are in on the con, making them feel clever, rebellious, and free.

Inventing your own reality and getting others to accept it is to experience a power usually reserved for gods and dictators. It liberates you from accountability, erases the shame of ignorance, and creates the illusion of control in a world that otherwise feels chaotic and uncontrollable.

Trump’s followers don’t call him out because he isn’t just their leader; he is their avatar. His lies are their lies. His delusions validate theirs. When he declares something false to be true, they cheer, not because they are fooled but because they no longer care what’s real. What matters is that they win the argument. That they own the libs. That their side feels right.

In this twisted new reality, lies are not shameful but admired. Not because they are believed but because they are believable enough to sow doubt, blur lines, and distort the public square. The goal is not truth but dominance, not persuasion but submission.

And in that sense, Trump has pulled off the greatest con of all, not just lying to the American people but making lying itself the new form of truth.

William James Spriggs 

HAPPINESS

What Happiness Is

It is not in noise or neon light,
Nor in the rush of youthful flight.
It’s not in riches, fame, or speed,
But something slower, more in need.

It is the hush of morning’s grace,
A knowing glance, a steady pace.
It’s hearing your name in a hallway song,
And feeling, at last, that you still belong.

It isn’t control, we’ve lost that, it’s true.
The world’s been handed to a reckless new crew.
Our hands don’t build as they once could,
Our voices now softer, but still understood.

We are the keepers of stories and scars,
Of courtroom battles and time beneath stars.
Of raising a child, of building a name,
Though now they instruct us, we taught them the game.

Happiness hides in the simplest of things:
A shared slice of pie, a barbershop sing.
A smoke with a friend, a warm patch of sun,
A memory rising when the day is done.

It is not the joy of dancing on air,
But the dignity found in an old wooden chair.
It’s not always laughter or bright party rooms,
But kindness that lingers and softens the gloom.

So let others chase what fades overnight,
We’ve lived long enough to see the real light.
Happiness dwells where the patient abide,
And walks, not runs,  at our slower side.

 

YVONNE

To Yvonne, on Mother's Day

You are the light that fills this place,
A smile that warms, a heart of grace.
You serve with joy, you laugh, you care,
Spreading love everywhere.

Vivacious spirit, always bright,
You turn each meal into delight.
A mother, grandmother, friend so true,
The world is better because of you.

On this Mother's Day, we celebrate,
The love you give, the lives you shape.
Your children grown, your heart still wide,
A mother's pride you cannot hide.

Noble in all the ways you live,
A heart that knows just how to give.
From family to friends, you are the key,
That unlocks joy for all to see.

Never-ending is the care you show,
With every smile, your kindness flows.
Your brother Tony sings your praise,
With love and joy, on this special day.

Ever grateful, we say to you,
For all you are, for all you do.
Today we pause, we thank, we cheer,
Happy Mother’s Day, Yvonne, dear!

 

CHORUS

The Patriotic Pipes of Merrillville

(or: “The Chorus of the Nearly-Immortal”)

We gather each week with a song in our hearts,
With voices that warble and pitch off the charts.
From “Yankee Doodle” to “Mr. Sandman,”
We belt it all out because, yes, we still can!

Twenty or more ladies, all noble and spry,
With sparkle and sass and a glint in each eye.
Three gallant men do their musical part,
Though we think one’s just there to win someone’s heart.

We sing the anthem with pride and with poise,
Though some think the high notes are just background noise.
We march to the beat, or at least try our best,
A half-step behind, but with vigor and zest.

We’re not quite the Met, but we do have some flair,
(And matching old cardigans, some of us swear).
We wobble, we giggle, we sometimes forget,
But oh, what a show when we’re all in duet!

So raise up your flag and your hearing aids too,
For the spirit of freedom is singing in you!
In this fine chorus, we’re legends and mates,
While searching for Broadway’s opening dates.