The Conservative Cave

The phrase "magical thinking" has often been used in reference to the left's economic policies. It seems to apply to their foreign policy as well:

1. Give Iran money.

2. ???

3. Iran deal worked!

The narrative Progs are trying sell is that Obama and LIEden had things working perfectly, and Trump F'ed it up. Of course, had Trump done nothing and Iran had lobbed a nuclear-tipped missile at Israel, which Iran may have been months away from doing, Progs would have blamed Trump for doing nothing (while secretly rejoicing at whatever damage was done to Israel).

I thought slow Joe cured cancer

Spanberger’s Signing Statement Laid the Groundwork for Overturning Virginia’s ‘Assault Weapons’ Ban

https://www.shootingnewsweekly.com/gun-control/spanbergers-signing-statement-laid-the-groundwork-for-overturning-virginias-assault-weapons-ban/

After the [Virginia] Democrats took power recently, they went on a frenzy of tax and liberal legislative measures. The sharp move to the far left is out of sync with a purple state that remains roughly evenly divided. While [Gov. Abigail] Spanberger (who ran on being a moderate) has pushed forward many of these measures, she sought to moderate one bill banning so-called “assault firearms.”

Spanberger released a statement that:

Quote

“I am signing this bill into law because firearms designed to inflict maximum casualties do not belong on our streets. We are taking this step to protect families and support the law enforcement officers who work every day to keep our communities safe. While the General Assembly chose not to adopt my amendment that specifically carves out certain firearms frequently used for hunting, I will work with the patrons to clarify this language.”

I think this is called an admission against interest. While a court may declare part of a law unconstitutional if there is a severability clause in that law, a court cannot create an exception that is not in the law so that it satisfies Bruen. Further, that such an exception was proposed and rejected proves that banning common-use guns was conscious and intentional.

Obama Just Claimed His Iran Deal Worked. Here’s the Proof It Didn’t.

https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/05/17/obama-just-claimed-his-iran-deal-worked-heres-the-proof-it-didnt-n4952961

Obama took veiled shots at President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, and dared to claim his diplomacy was a smashing success. "There's no dispute that it worked, and we didn't have to kill a whole bunch of people or shut down the Strait of Hormuz," Obama said.
...
In fact, Operation Epic Fury wouldn't have been necessary at all if the JCPOA had delivered what Obama promised. Instead of blocking Iran's path to nuclear weapons, the deal functioned as an act of appeasement that empowered and enriched one of the world's most dangerous regimes.

Let’s go back to before the nuclear deal was even signed. It was such a bad deal that Obama couldn't even get it ratified by the Senate. Even Chuck Schumer opposed it, noting that under Obama’s agreement, Iran “will be able to achieve its dual goals of eliminating sanctions while ultimately retaining its nuclear and non-nuclear power.”
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Obama and his team marketed the JCPOA as a landmark diplomatic achievement. What they actually delivered was a massive financial gift to Tehran. Sanctions were lifted, granting the Iranian regime access to an estimated $150 billion in previously frozen assets. The U.S. also covertly sent the mullahs $1.7 billion in cash. Every major concession in the deal strengthened Iran, giving the regime money and breathing room to develop nuclear weapons, instead of constraining its behavior.

Iran wasted no time making clear it had no intention of honoring even the letter of the agreement, let alone its spirit. Within three months of signing, Tehran test-fired ballistic missiles in open defiance of UN resolutions. German intelligence later reported that Iran continued seeking technology for a military nuclear program after the deal was signed. The IAEA documented repeated violations of material limits.

But, here’s the thing… even Obama conceded that Iran was at least violating the "spirit" of the deal. Even outlets typically sympathetic to Obama couldn't ignore the problems. In 2015, the New York Times reported that Iran had breached its enrichment limits before the deal was even finalized. Inspectors found that while the Obama White House insisted Iran's nuclear program was "frozen," the country's nuclear stockpile actually grew by roughly 20%. Iran was supposed to convert certain nuclear materials for peaceful use; instead, it let its stockpile expand while U.S. officials looked the other way.

Obama's JCPOA was so successful that it delivered its (= Obama's) intent, fully-funding Iran's nuclear weapons effort.

Bill Maher Did What No Late Night Comic Dared

https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/bill-maher-antisemitism-democrats-republicans-culture/?cc

Bill Maher has watched in horror as antisemitism spiked worldwide following the Oct. 7 terror attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis and captured hundreds more.

It’s even worse than that. Some Democrats and Republicans have either failed to acknowledge the constant harassment, and worse, of Jewish people or promoted it.

Ask Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s popular Jewish Governor. He was incredulously passed over for the VP slot in 2024 by the Democrats, despite leading a must-win swing state.
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(Maher's) May 15 “Real Time with Bill Maher” monologue skewered anti-Israel rage. No punches pulled.

“It’s everyone’s right in a free country to be Antisemitic, but enough with hiding behind Israel, or Zionism or Netanyahu,” Maher said. “[If you think] when it comes to human rights, Israel is the monster country of all time, you either don’t read or you don’t care about your own hypocrisy. Because there are so many worse places.”

“That’s how you know it’s antisemitism. It’s the inconsistency,” he added.

The extreme double-standard is a useful diagnostic.