Why?
Why do you do that?
That 111 posts that could have been made to fill the bread.
Let's start the day off with a Putt-Putt trick shot!
Reports: Trump Could Opt Out of Upcoming NATO Summit
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/trump-nato-summit-defense/2025/05/02/id/1209250/
Friday, 02 May 2025 07:45 AM EDT
President Donald Trump could opt to skip the upcoming NATO summit in the Netherlands in June unless other members of the multi-national defense alliance do not act on sharing more of the costs of the alliance, according to reports Friday.
Reuters, citing the German Spiegel magazine, reported that European diplomatic sources say Trump is pressuring the countries, particularly Germany, to increase spending on defense, reports The Jerusalem Post.
Trump has long called for the European allied nations to increase their spending, and last week, when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, the topic was further discussed, according to a DOD readout of their conversation.
The two secretaries discussed shared priorities, including the "administration's intent for European allies to assume primary responsibility for Europe's conventional defenses," the administration reported, adding that Hegseth "commended Germany on recent actions to lift its debt brake while urging the Minister to actualize defense spending increases and accelerate development of credible capabilities."
Thursday, NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker told Newsmax that Europe's NATO allies will step up to handle more of their defense.
"The United States is not going to leave Europe. But at the same time, we need to equalize," Whitaker said, adding that the European allies understand they need to pay more on defense spending.
"We need to make sure that our European allies, as President Trump always says, pay their fair share, and we're going to see significant developments as we head to the summit in June," Whitaker said, giving no indication about Trump's personal plans on attending the gathering.
Trump has long argued that NATO member states should ramp up their military spending, including telling reporters in the Oval Office in March that the United States would not defend other countries that he does not think are spending enough money.
"It's common sense, right?" he said at the time. "If they don't pay, I'm not going to defend them. No, I'm not going to defend them."
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114438133391772441
https://justthenews.com/events/holdborder-czar-tom-homan-agent-del-cueto-receive-awards-extravaganza-defending-us-borders
We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve!
May 02, 2025, 6:25 AM
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114437989795464761
Army Plans for Trump Birthday Parade Call for 6,600 Soldiers
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/army-parade-donald-trump/2025/05/01/id/1209197/
Thursday, 01 May 2025 08:20 PM EDT
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Detailed Army plans for a potential military parade on President Donald Trump's birthday in June call for more than 6,600 soldiers, at least 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands, and possibly a couple thousand civilians, The Associated Press has learned.
The planning documents, obtained by the AP, are dated April 29 and 30 and have not been publicly released. They represent the Army's most recent blueprint for its long-planned 250th birthday festival on the National Mall and the newly added element — a large military parade that Trump has long wanted but is still being discussed.
While the slides do not include any price estimates, it would likely cost tens of millions of dollars to put on a parade of that size. Costs would include the movement of military vehicles, equipment, aircraft, and troops from across the country to Washington and the need to feed and house thousands of service members.
High costs halted Trump's push for a parade in his first term, and the tanks and other heavy vehicles that are part of the Army's latest plans have raised concerns from city officials about damage to roads.
Asked about plans for a parade, Army spokesman Steve Warren said Thursday that no final decisions have been made.
Col. Dave Butler, another Army spokesman, added that the Army is excited about the plans for the birthday festival.
"We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us," said Butler. "We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers. A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned."
Others familiar with the documents, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans have not been finalized, said they represent the Army's plans as it prepares for any White House approval of the parade. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
There has been no formal approval yet. Changes to the plans have been made in recent weeks and more are likely.
Much of the equipment would have to be brought in by train or flown in.
Some equipment and troops were already going to be included in the Army's birthday celebration, which has been in the works for more than a year. The festival was set to involve an array of activities and displays on the National Mall, including a fitness competition, climbing wall, armored vehicles, Humvees, helicopters, and other equipment.
A parade, however, would increase the equipment and troops involved. According to the plans, as many as 6,300 of the service members would be marching in the parade, while the remainder would be responsible for other tasks and support.
The Army's early festival plans did not include a parade. But its 250th birthday celebration on June 14 happens to coincide with Trump's 79th birthday, and officials confirmed last month that the Army had started discussions about adding a parade.
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The plans say the parade would showcase the Army's 250 years of service and foresee bringing in soldiers from at least 11 corps and divisions nationwide. Those could include a Stryker battalion with two companies of Stryker vehicles, a tank battalion and two companies of tanks, an infantry battalion with Bradley vehicles, Paladin artillery vehicles, Howitzers, and infantry vehicles.
There would be seven Army bands and a parachute jump by the Golden Knights. And documents suggest that civilian participants would include historical vehicles and aircraft and two bands, along with people from veterans groups, military colleges, and reenactor organizations.
According to the plan, the parade would be classified as a national special security event, and that request has been submitted by the National Park Service and is under review.
And it is expected that the evening parade would be followed by a concert and fireworks.
One of the documents raises concerns about some limitations, which include where troops would be housed and "significant concerns regarding security requirements" as equipment flows into the city. It says the biggest unknown so far is which units would be participating.
In his first term, he proposed having a parade after seeing one in France on Bastille Day in 2017. Trump said that after watching the two-hour procession along the famed Champs-Elysees that he wanted an even grander one on Pennsylvania Avenue.
That plan was ultimately dumped due to the huge costs — with one estimate of a $92 million price tag — and other logistical issues. Among those were objections from city officials who said including tanks and other heavy armored vehicles would tear up the roads.
Trump said in a social media post in 2018 that he was canceling the event over the costs and accused local politicians of price gouging.
This year, as plans progressed for the Army to host its birthday festival in Washington, talk about a parade began anew.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged in April that the administration reached out to the city about holding a parade on June 14 that would stretch from Arlington, Virginia, where the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery are located, across the Potomac River and into Washington.
Bowser at the time said she didn't know if the event was being "characterized as a military parade" but added that tanks rolling through the city's streets "would not be good."
"If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads," she said.
In 2018, the Pentagon appeared to agree. A memo from the defense secretary's staff said plans for the parade — at that time — would include only wheeled vehicles and no tanks to minimize damage to local infrastructure.
Gasoline just broke $1.98 a Gallon, lowest in years, groceries (and eggs!) down, energy down, mortgage rates down, employment strong, and much more good news, as Billions of Dollars pour in from Tariffs. Just like I said, and we’re only in a TRANSITION STAGE, just getting started!!! Consumers have been waiting for years to see pricing come down. NO INFLATION, THE FED SHOULD LOWER ITS RATE!!! DJT
May 02, 2025, 7:45 AM
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114438304481024140
Just saw a comment on that post where they were say it was 1.54 in Tennessee.
The 'Who is Q' question?
In the UK, there are 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) who represent constituencies across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Why do we have more district judges than Parliment has MPs?
For that matter, why do we need 670 district judges?
Something about this setup just doesn't seem right.
Think I'll start drinking rum!
Busting out the top!
OK, who ordered the idiot platter?
Morgan's Private Stock was my fav.
Nice!