215 Comments
User's avatar
Jeffrey Shapiro's avatar

I am randomly choosing this column to express my appreciation for Don’s amazingly perceptive and humorous daily commentary on DC politics. It is also incredible that Don is able to generate this content reliably and consistently six days a week. Finally, I can’t help but close my comment with the further appreciation that all of this is available at five bucks a month. Don, I think you can get at least 10 bucks a month from your loyal subscribers. Go for it!

Danimal28's avatar

You can always pay more, sir.

Marlan Hoerer's avatar

Maybe Jeff can randomly sponsor 50 of us retogs who are less than wealthy.//sarc

Dr. Gonzo's avatar

Hey Jeff, whose side are you on? $10 is good $5 is better. I agree it's good stuff and all from West Virginia of all places.

Shrugged's avatar

May I remind you Don Surber is a voluntary immigrant to WVa, abandoning previous associations with Cleveland, OH, home of the Browns and a river that caught fire. Do you blame him?

I'm at the point in life where a small log cabin in the backhills of WVa - with a good spring and lots of firewood - makes a hell of a lot of sense.

darrell's avatar

Remember Don's removing the state sign that read Welcome to West Va Wild and Wonderful To: "Move along, move along, nothing to see here."

Don Reed's avatar

Post a P.O. Box number. I'll gladly pay!

Don Reed's avatar

And where were we about seven years ago, may I ask?

January 22, 2018:

CNN dummy asked Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL-D.) how the Democrats could have justified shutting down the government - name one reason for doing so:

DWS (winging it): "The potential for momentum."

Someone responded:

"Debbie is the kind of person who gets trapped on an escalator when the power goes out."

I like today (the present) much more than the past.

Don Reed's avatar

In case the nonsense written by the NY Times caused confusion:

NYT: "Thune spoke ... several Republicans aired discomfort with Vought’s moves after the shutdown went into effect. Rep. Mike Lawler ... while Reps. Blake Moore of Utah and Brian Babin of Texas spoke up on a private House GOP call with Vought raising qualms about potential mass layoffs.

Vought did not raise qualms "about potential layoffs." Moore and Babin did:

"Rep. Mike Lawler ..., while Reps. Blake Moore of Utah and Brian Babin of Texas spoke up on a private House GOP call with Vought [end of sentence - period. Moore and Babin raised] qualms about potential mass layoffs."

Wim de Vriend's avatar

The NY Times prints so many lies ... why would you expect them to write perfect grammar? To make up for those?

Don Reed's avatar

10/03/25: We share the same sense of humor and opinion of the "once-great" Times (my opinion of it in 1974; now a zombie version of its former self, just like The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live).

My point here was that no one is immune to the temptation to pack TMSIS ("too much sh*t in one sentence"), dozens of examples of which can be found daily, everywhere.

darrell's avatar

Shut up Jeffrey. ....lol lol lol

James Mead's avatar

As an old geezer living on a fixed income

Jeff will you pay my extra $5 per month?

Thanks

Bill Caffery's avatar

Completely agree with Jeffrey.

Playswithneedles's avatar

“ Gardens aren’t the only place you find pansies.”

What a perfect way to start the day! Thank you, Don!

PJT36's avatar

I always wondered why pansies got a bad rap. They're a pretty tough little flower. Annuals in New England, but they're perennials in every zone south of here.

Jeremy R's avatar

A pansy by name of Van Bloom

Took a lesbian up to his room.

They argued all night

About who had the right

To do what, with which and to whom

PM's avatar

My 'aphrodisiac to a nymphomaniac' pales in comparison.

darrell's avatar

Well I have decided to trans to a woman and since it's my right to be a chameleon I'll go from there to lesbianism.

darrell's avatar

you killing me Jeremy, your killing me....lol

Jim Nelson's avatar

Excellent. Now do a transgender limerick.

Wim de Vriend's avatar

For now, this is the best I can do. Any help appreciated ...

There once was a deadbeat transgender,

who went on a Jack Daniels' bender

as he hit the floor,

someone opened the door,

and said: "Would you be my next lender?"

Jim Nelson's avatar

There once was a tranny named Mick

Who thought, I know just the trick.

Tho I'm bearded and burly

I feel like a girlie

And proceeded to cut off his ...

Wim de Vriend's avatar

Darn, I can't think of a word that rhymes with that!

Retirednottired's avatar

Nothing funny about trannies.

Jeremy R's avatar

Sorry, I didn't originate it, I first heard it back around 1973.

BH's avatar

Could be related to the “Pansy Craze” of the late 1920s to the mid 1930s in hollywood? I saw a very interesting and brief expose of this time in history, not too long ago.

I love pansy flowers-so cheery, and yes, amazingly resilient.

Bill Caffery's avatar

Perfect characterization for Obama, our loathsome and venal ex-president.

Alice Ball's avatar

When they lose the midterms! Lord they’re a stupid bunch. I keep reading MSM remarks like it’s Trump‘s revenge! It’s Trump‘s retribution! It’s Trump‘s reckoning! And I think, are any of you paying attention? Did you really think that everything that has happened for the last 10 years would come at no price? That you could literally be the slimeballs of the universe and cheat and lie and in general be the nastiest vilest humans in the United States and just get away with that? That the Trump voters do not want exactly what Trump is doing? I would posit that voters want the reckoning as much or more than Trump does. Full speed ahead! MAGA🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Greg's avatar

In reality, the leftists NEVER cave in. Until they are beaten into the ground.

Alice Ball's avatar

Correct. Which is why we must continue with 👊💪👊💪

Greg's avatar

INTO THE GROUND

Don Reed's avatar

10/03/25: Below it.

Don Reed's avatar

And interred forever (we hope). In the 1830s, a French journalist found one of Napoleon's mistresses now working in a train station lost & found. Which is where everyone connected with the Obamas should be exiled to.

Damn the torpedoes's avatar

It would be nice if this made the democrats go the way of the Whigs…however, republicans have this nasty habit of caving and snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Trump is trying to teach them how to be bold, but as the NYTimes points out, we have our whiners. Don, wherever did you find that clip? Hysterical and perfect, complete with sombreros…and the pansy hanging a frilly valance while big Mike directs him from below? You’re killing me!

Jeremy R's avatar

Totally agree except regarding the time line. This has been going on for sixteen years! Ever since the idiot version of communism entered the oval office.

Jeremy R's avatar

Prior to that we had the closet liberal Bush undermining our freedom in the name of patriotism and before that worthless Willie getting Lewinsky's in the oral office. Although back then it was HiLlARy doing most of the evil deeds.

I could make this a study of donk behavior back to the 1830's and all it would show is that evil hasn't changed much.

I only picked the 16 number to coincide with the light bringer plunging us into darkness.

Bottom line, it's been happening for a very long time, you are right about that, sixteen since obamunism showed that there are things worse than communism. Prior to Barry we foolishly believed it couldn't be worse.

Joseph Kaplan's avatar

Can’t they ever see that it is our revenge our retribution and trump is our agent? When the millions who turned out for Charlie go the polls next year they will see real retribution.

Alice Ball's avatar

Agreed Joseph. I think that maybe we wouldn't have been able to coalesce to make our reckoning a real thing without a true change agent like Trump going at them and never backing down. AND, Substacks like Don's to daily expose the hypocrisy of the left, their politicians, the RINOs, and the media. I read about 10 Substacks that I think are really good, honest, into exposing hypocrisy & peeling the onion. But Trump is the Gray Champion & we desperately needed him to bulldoze DC in his perfect bull-in-a-china-shop fashion. MAGA

Subvet's avatar

I pray that you are right.

Don Reed's avatar

10/03/25: Perfectly stated! Thank you.

PM's avatar

ACA, an oxymoron, aka Obamacare, was all the left had left, and soon it will be DOGED. History will remember it as Divisive, Destructive, Deleterious. Long as I’m on a roll, the lightbringer will also be known as a Deadbeat. He promised Chicago $470 million toward his ‘Center’. He has delivered $1 million. A minority-owned subcontractor, II in One Concrete, has filed a $40 million racial discrimination lawsuit against Thornton Tomasetti, the structural engineering firm for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. As of September 2025, the estimated total cost for the Obama Presidential Center has ballooned to $850 million, nearly triple its initial 2016 estimate of $300 million. You can’t make this s*** up.

Don Reed's avatar

10/03/25: That pile of crap was actually designed by an accredited, registered architect? It looks like a 450-ton, all-concrete Pez dispenser!

PM's avatar

You're too kind. Where were the protestors, community residents, and environmental advocates who opposed the cutting down of hundreds of trees in Chicago's Jackson Park for the construction of the Obama Presidential Center?

Shrugged's avatar

"ACA, an oxymoron, aka Obamacare, was all the left had left, and soon it will be DOGED. History will remember it as Divisive, Destructive, Deleterious."

History should also remember the Republicans who then ran on taking it out with their effusive campaign promises, totally reneged on it and left it fully in place. Why did they care? They have premium health insurance - probably first dollar coverage without a premium or deductible - along with the premium retirement plan that never, I repeat never, is under threat of running out of money.

ACA should be DOGED but it isn't the Republicans who will do it. There are still too many GOP who wanted to fund USAID and restore benefits to illegal aliens.

I make a clear distinction between MAGA and the GOP in hopes that someday there will be a convenient riving between them.

Retirednottired's avatar

I am amused and bemused thinking about how one of the Dems “gimmies” is renewed subsidies for ACA. They are desperate to continue covering up the REAL cost of this boondoggle, knowing full well that they will be savaged by the public when the real costs are revealed and passed on to the users.

Jake's avatar

A big black mole on Obamas face that once seen can't be forgotten.

JT's avatar

Is anybody reporting on this? Because DAMN! The Swindler-in-Chief needs investigating.

John Wiles's avatar

And, truthfully, I hope they lose midterms dramatically and poignantly. There are lots of young people who may vote in midterms because they 'get it' regarding voting and the consequences thereof. Young people are not stupid, and they are no longer brainwashed on a number of levels. Is the future income money in a debt-ridden college education or in the trades? Hmmmmmm. Educational debt or exceptional in-demand earning power. We have a chance right now. The chance is that those in the middle and the right of the Intelligence Bell Curve will start acting on their intelligence and get our country back to what it could and should be. Is this a bit of prayer? You bet it is. Join in.

Cookie McCall's avatar

And for all those nice young people who have become voters, we have our dearly departed friend, Charlie Kirk and the organization he had the foresight to form, to be the recipient of our eternal gratitude

JR's avatar

Just a thought going forward. Since a good number Republicans are all about the money, Thune's comments about how Vought is out of his control is not surprising. The professional Republicans can't abide having Trump burrowing into the Unitarities cash cows like this!

Wim de Vriend's avatar

Obviously the trades, meaning the building trades, are the future, especially given today's home prices. I know somebody who spent 2 or 3 years building houses ALL BY HIMSELF, and is now a solid multi-millionaire.

Catherine Kasparian's avatar

The Dems don’t know how to read the room. DJT is doing what we voted for. And he has a cabinet this time that is better vetted and supports him.

Marlan Hoerer's avatar

My hope is some of the PDJT cabinet are in the PJDV cabinet.

Don Reed's avatar

10/03/25: What a tragedy it has been (for them only) that they couldn't rig consecutive presidential elections...

darrell's avatar

True. Who here was at J6?

Don Reed's avatar

10/03/25: Not I. Too old. Too cold. Had enough of that stuff in Alaska. And as we gradually found out, there would be no chance of reversing The 2020 Cheat because a good many of the people picked by Trump 2016-2020 stabbed him in the back.

Dennis's avatar

Payback, like karma, is a bitch, ain’t it? ACTUALLY - it’s not. It’s Donald J. Trump, collecting what’s long overdue to almost all Americans (Dem politicos excluded). It’s Friday! Enjoy your weekend and the musical sound of much moaning and gnashing of teeth from the Dems.

Shrugged's avatar

I think one of the root problems for the Democrats is the 'brains' behind their strategies originate with only a few faceless people back stage who provide their front-stage actors their 'scripted lines'. Most Democrat politicians are DEI hires who aren't smart enough to form a logical thought on their own. AOC, Maxine Waters, and Jasmine Crockett quickly come to mind.

The opposition, the Republicans, in general, are each a stand-alone argument for the Constitution and morals/ethics-driven platform they live for in their public service. Not perfect - as there are exceptions - but as a class of politicians, hold a much smarter and stable group of independent thinkers who can muster a logical thought on demand.

Humor is a highly intelligent cognitive process. To understand and appreciate a joke is to recognize the violation caused in the punchline for it to be funny. The Republicans are vastly more intelligent than the Democrats which is why they (We) can meme till the cows come home and ROFL while Democrats pout and stomp their feet in protest.

Jim Nelson's avatar

Ding, ding, ding!

Suzie's avatar

Personally I am seriously not a fan of using the “retribution” angle as the explanation for what Trump is trying to do. While one can’t help but feel some measure of satisfaction that the Left is now on the back foot, and experiencing consequences for a change for all their malicious malfeasance and flagrant fleecing of the people’s hard earned money, to project the efforts as merely that misses the true, and far more important big picture. Not only that, it plays into the Left’s message that Trumps efforts are bad for the country, and personally motivated, even lawless or dictatorial. All of which are patently untrue.

What’s happening is none of those things, but is utterly essential in first, exposing the government’s decades of corruption and lawlessness, and most especially the Congress’s abuse of the people’s trust in having allowed it all on their watch. And second, in making the tough decisions and moves necessary to fix it.

There is a 32 trillion dollar axe hanging over the head of every American because of Congress’s decades of profligate, never ending spending and laundering of our money for all their pet projects and devious political schemes.

There is no painless way out this and that’s what the people need to hear, know and understand because our so-called representatives in government refuse to address it.

So let the Left squeal and whine and shout and call it retribution all they want.

But we don't have to play their game and let that lie paper over the reality and true message that this is their fault, that it is they who’ve put us here, that they made this mess, and placed this country on a time bomb of debt, and they damn well better get on board to help fix it.

We don’t not have the luxury of time.

Jake's avatar

I can't remember which talking head of the MSM said it but she said we're exposing all of these lies and the Republicans don't care. One of the Trumpsters greatest accomplishments is bringing the populace to the point where nothing the press says matters. We don't believe then and we don't care Margaret.....

steph_gray's avatar

I think it was Mika?

Shrugged's avatar

"Personally I am seriously not a fan of using the “retribution” angle as the explanation for what Trump is trying to do."

It's not the correct term for it and all of MAGA knows it. The problem with this misunderstanding is messaging as you and I have discussed in previous posts. Lawfare is unconstitutional and a violation of everything we stand for in this country and Trump was over-run with it to the point where it would have destroyed anyone with lesser means. Now, to prosecute that constitutional violation is too easily seen as "pay back" or retribution. It does feel good to see it FINALLY happening.

This misnomer - among dozens the leftists have invented and apply daily (gender-affirming care) - must also be a re-education point as we move forward.

One of Trump's biggest problems is the absence of effective and repetitive messaging through enough channels to affect public perception. Of course, the legacy media is mostly to blame for for the misunderstanding. The GOP is responsible for not correcting it.

Suzie's avatar

Yes and the Republican Party has historically always sucked at messaging. They either remain silent or whenever they speak they get all wonky or lost in the weeds.

Vance, Rubio and Stephen Miller exemplify the full throated and “push back and take no nonsense” approach to concise messaging that Republican politicians need to emulate.

Sadly they’ve been too slow - or too cowardly or corrupted - to catch on.

Cookie McCall's avatar

I completely agree with you Suzie

Damn the torpedoes's avatar

Me too! Donald Trump is busy saving our country, and the Sombrero meme, though funny, is true. The dems have been raiding the treasury for far too long. When Vought gets done with firing all the sloths they’ve hired in the past thirty years, he’s going to take down the IRS and fed and release us all from the shackles they’ve spent us into since the ‘30’s. Once people see the difference in their paychecks and spending ability, the democrats will “poof” disappear! At least if they don’t kill us all first, which I never would underestimate their willingness to do.

steph_gray's avatar

I voted for what Vought is doing...

(Yes, they rhyme. Neat huh?)

Greg Martin's avatar

“…firing all the sloths …” Epic! 😎

Hugh Wayne Black's avatar

The Sombrero memes bother the Dems so much because they’re true. Too close to truth makes Dems squirm. Like sunlight to Vampires. Oops, redundant.

Subvet's avatar

Susie I wish there was a "MEGA LIKE" button. You are spot on, but then you usually are.

TeaPartyGal's avatar

Amen--Suzie nailed it!

Marlan Hoerer's avatar

Suzie is El-Rushbo percentage right doncha know.

Jim Nelson's avatar

Suzie, what the Dems call revenge or retribution is simply the pendulum swinging back from the Leftist agenda to the Common Sense agenda. Open borders, climate scare scams, cashless bail, and other insane Democrat policies took America to the brink. Just like Jimmy Carter gave us Ronald Reagan, Obama-Biden-Harris gave us Donald J. Trump and Co. Having said that, we must do our level best to keep the pendulum on our side for a long time to fix some deep-seated problems.

PM's avatar
Oct 3Edited

32 tril?-take a look at the clock, Suzie: https://www.usdebtclock.org/#

Suzie's avatar

Ok 37 trillion.

Wim de Vriend's avatar

We do if we have a few years of the federal government running a surplus. Stranger things have happened.

steph_gray's avatar

Jack Posobeic says "reciprocity" instead.

Suzie's avatar

Reciprocity still smacks of “pay back”. That’s not correct either. The actions display the RESTORATION of the Rule of Law, particularly when it comes to the indictments of Trump’s persecutors. They egregiously abused the law and broke their sworn oaths to uphold the Constitution and that requires consequences.

And when it comes to the Congress, the shutdown or recissions, or whatever goes in there, these are the utterly essential acts prompted by the now existential choice which demands a return to fiscal sanity and common sense measures to get us off the path of destruction we’ve been speeding down for years - with an urgency like our lives and the very future of this country depend on it.

Wim de Vriend's avatar

I dunno 'bout that. Leftists are the most vengeful people to be found anywhere. So I'm OK with payback, after all they've done -- and are still doing.

John Swindall's avatar

I was gonna rake the yard today, but with the government shut down, the leaves can’t fall.

steph_gray's avatar

My keyboard was briefly in danger and my cat jumped. 🤣

Don Reed's avatar

10/03/25: I shoulda thought of that one before I went out to water the lawn. Oops! Water supply is essential. No one laid off. Darn. AOC, please rescue us from this White House madman!

Danimal28's avatar

Term limited presidents don't give a F... As witnessed after the Lightbringer 'modernized' the Smith-Mundt Act propagandizing against Americans in 2013.

Tmitsss's avatar

How was Taylor Swift able to release her new album during a Federal Government shutdown?

steph_gray's avatar

Comey must have pulled some strings.

Don Reed's avatar

10/03/25: No penalty flags. The NFL refs got laid off.

Retirednottired's avatar

More important, who cares?

BJ54's avatar

Uh... Her album was a business decision not a government bureaucrat or program?

Suzie's avatar

I think you missed the joke there.

PM's avatar

'Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are buckling in for a protracted government shutdown, something that experts say could begin to have a significant impact on the economy and put pressure on President Trump to negotiate a deal with Democrats'. Whistling past the graveyard. Apologies to Neil-🎵I’d have sworn that with time, thoughts of shutdown would leave their heads. I was wrong, now I find, just one thing makes any sense. I really thought not even the lunatic left was crazy enough to shut ‘er down. I wondered why they picked this hill to die on. Then I realized there are no more hills to die on. The lunatic left just can’t square this circle: ‘We can never return to the horrific dystopia of…..keeping the money you earn and using it to provide for your family instead of strangers who hate you’.

jdm's avatar

I particularly enjoy when DemoCommies admit that they know what DJT is doing, "Political revenge [...] he hates his enemies; he is the retribution", but they don't understand (Heeeeey! you can't do that!). Pre-DJT Republicans always let the DemoCommies get away with anything.

Michael Davis's avatar

Republican leadership of the past folds up like a cheap beach chair when MSM got focused on them. Trump fights back. We need more blood and guts developer presidents.

Suzie's avatar

We need Congressional representatives with cojones just as much if not more!

Marlan Hoerer's avatar

Maybe some reps and sens who understand civics and sworn oaths would help.

Don Reed's avatar

10/03/25: There was only ONE political party until Trump HAD HAD ENOUGH.

Gail W's avatar

VERY TRUE!!

There was THE ESTABLISHMENT.

And now there is MAGA. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

THOSE are the TWO parties.

Cookie McCall's avatar

This must be the whirlwind that Cheeseburger Chuck was referring to back in the day

Joe Summers's avatar

My 1st response was “Never. Republicans will cave first.” I hope the GOP has the stamina to play this thru.

Steve (recovering lawyer)'s avatar

Every Senator and Congressman has a website that provides constituents an opportunity to express their opinions on every subject. I have sent a missive daily to my republican Senator and Congressman urging them to continue to support the President and resist any inclination to cave to the democrats. I suggest everyone do likewise. It is our Constitutional right, so exercise it, people!

Subvet's avatar

Great idea. I am on it today. My congressman has been pretty good about things. My Senators are both democrats due to the stupidity of our "republican" governor. If you guessed I am in Georgia you would be correct.

Wim de Vriend's avatar

I have never had any luck contacting either state or federal lawmakers. Never even an acknowledgement.

Adorable Deplorable's avatar

Would love to be optimistic that these cuts will stay with even more to come. But at the end of the day we are all represented by a Uniparty who really don't have the gumption to all of the sudden become fiscally responsible.