Contrast and Compare

June 19, 2026 (Vol. 20 No. 23) - The juxtaposition was rich with irony. In Chicago, we celebrated a man who brought intelligence and dignity to the Oval Office while in Paris we watched a vulgarian of a man surrender to a country in which he had engaged in a an unconstitutional and immoral war. The dedication of the Obama Presidential Center highlighted the leadership qualities of the 44th President of the United States, in sharp contrast to the intolerant buffoon seeking to defend and deflect blame for signing a memorandum of understand - shall we call it a surrender document - to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

President Donald Trump spent much of this past week trying to put lipstick on a pig. But the truth of the matter is that the MOU Trump signed fails to achieve any of the goals he set at the outset of the war and is substantially weaker than the nuclear agreement achieved by his precessor - one which Trump subsequently trashed. All this MOU really did was kick the can down the road 6o days. But even that deadline is fluid. From his ill-conceived war, Trump achieved the loss of $29 billion in direct military expenses and an estimated $132 billion in indirect economic consumer costs. And those figures do not include the economic windfall Iran receives from the restoration of its oil exports, the easing of economic sanctions and the payment of $300 billion by the U.S. and its Gulf regional allies by help rebuild Iran. Trump denies Iran will get "a single penny" from the U.S. before it concludes its negotiations. However, the signed MOU document tells us a different story.

And what did we get? Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz, returning waterway to its pre-war status. Iran will not charge vessels for passage through the Strait - for at least 60 days. After that, who knows? Did we achieve regime change? In a word, no. If anything, this younger crowd is more intrangident. And did we eliminate Iran's nuclear program? That was left up to negotiations over the next 60, maybe more, days. In short, we got nothing.

Does this sound like The Art of the Deal to you?

Meanwhile, back in Chicago, former President Barack Obama spoke in loftier terms. He spoke of American values, freedoms, and responsibilities. It was an uplifting speech in which he eviscerated the Trump administration without ever mentioning the President by name. As a former college professor, Obama knew how to deliver his message through the technique known as "contrast and compare." He spoke of his vision, allowing his audience the opportunity to compare it with their understanding of the current regime. Unless you are one who drinks the MAGA Kool-Aid, the message was crystal clear: In a democracy, the power rests with the people, not in the whims of a wannabe king. Obama's speech reminded us of the days when we had adults running the country, not a bunch of party boys with a messianic complex.

The next presidential election is two and one-half years away. (I think it's even money as to whether Trump lives to the end of his term. The man looks like crap.) However, we can't wait until then for the people to take charge. We can do that in November's mid-term election. Democrat control of the House and Senate would hit the brakes on this runaway garbage truck we laughingly refer to as the Trump administration. I've said it before and I will say it again - Friends do not let friends vote Republican. The contrasts and comparisons of this past week serve to drive that point home. That's it for now. Fear the Turtle.