Artemis II splashdown was spectacular. So was the fall of Eric Swalwell. (Photo credit NASA screenshot)

Some know right from wrong

Last weekend, when the magnitude of the Eric Swalwell mess was becoming evident, I predicted on social media (see screenshot below) that Swalwell would leave Congress before the Strait of Hormuz re-opened. It was a rare moment when I wished I was a betting man.

A prop bet would’ve netted me vacation money. Another bet, on how quickly Republicans would call for Swalwell’s ouster from Congress (they did so immediately), would have added to my winnings. Same for a bet on how fast Democrats would demand that Swalwell step down. Calls from Democrats for Swalwell to immediately leave Congress were at least as forceful as Republican demands. As is always the case – proven again when Republicans Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene insisted on the release of the Epstein files – pressure intensifies twofold when a party goes after one of their own.

Last weekend a desperate Rep. Swalwell (D-Calif) uploaded a video proclaiming his innocence. Swalwell, the leading Democrat in the race to replace Gavin Newsom as California’s governor, dug in his heels. Swalwell said he would fight the “false” rape charges while staying in the gubernatorial primary, a contest less than 30 days away. Tellingly, Swalwell admitted to unspecific “mistakes” as he apologized to his wife.

To their credit Democrats did not hesitate. Big names like Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries and Adam Schiff insisted that Swalwell scram. Endorsements and the deep-pocket money crowd disappeared faster than a cocktail in front of Pete Hegseth. Dems immediate action stands 180-degrees from spineless Republicans who for a decade have accommodated Trump’s record-setting corruption, criminality and peerless stupidity.

When the first rape allegation became public Swalwell faced an instant avalanche of disgust. For a few days the scandal rivaled Epstein and Iran as the lead news story. And the glow of Artemis II completing a successful, fantastic Moon mission didn’t provide cover for Swalwell. Within days more accusers appeared, with equally sordid tales of another narcissist, sex predator gone wild. Reportedly, among female staffers on Capitol Hill, Swalwell had a reputation of pursuing young women, sometimes using sexually explicit social media messages.

Abruptly, Swalwell did the right thing, ending his campaign for governor and quitting Congress. Momentarily, Swalwell had become the distraction Trump longed for. But with Dems taking immediate corrective action and Swalwell’s resignation, the pressure on Trump and his crooked DOJ only intensifies. If Eric Swalwell is facing the music, why not Trump? Now in his darkest hour, Swalwell may end up doing to Trump what he couldn’t do as an impeachment manager during Trump’s second impeachment: help bring Trump down by engaging in the legal process that surrounds his own scandal.

To their credit, Democrats did right by aggressively pushing the creep Swalwell out of office – the opposite of chicken Republicans who continue to ride dirty with their 34x felon, adjudicated rapist, almost assuredly pedophile Trump.

Democrats ran Swalwell out of D.C. without the need for a House expulsion vote, whereas 112 House Republicans supported George Santos by voting against his expulsion from Congress. Due to Democrats unequivocal immediate action, I do not plan to comment on the Swalwell situation in the future, other than in juxtaposition to the subterfuge that hallmarks the delayed release of the full, unredacted Epstein files, a.k.a. Trump-Epstein files.

More social media doozies

Last week’s opine featuring social media content drew a groundswell of positive reaction. Below are more keen observations from people I come across, primarily on Bluesky social media. Then I close with a response regarding how long it will take to rebuild Iran… and America.

Self-proclaimed Christian Trump refused to place his left hand on the Bible during his second inauguration. (Photo credit Fox 4 screenshot)

Trump said it will take Iran 20 years to rebuild. Maybe, but how many years will it take America to rebuild? The Supreme Court is a shell of itself. Congress mostly underperforms. How long for critical government departments to recover, e.g. Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, National Institute of Health, FBI, Department of Justice, Department of Education, Federal Aviation Administration, USAID (the list goes on)? What about American's lost trust in science and vaccines? For example, we are on target to lose measles eliminated status by early 2027.

The destruction Trump, his enablers, supporters and apologists have caused while tearing America apart is corrupt, immoral and much of it is criminal. Our global reputation is in tatters.

Who would ever trust America again? And how long will it take to regain their trust?

DID THE RIGHT THING