Thoughts for the Day, August 13, 2025: More on the DC takeover.

More thoughts on Trump employing federal agents in D.C.

I received feedback from some subscribers on my comments on Monday about Trump taking over Washington D.C. Here are excerpts from the feedback.

Subscriber 1: One of the important budget items in the ominibus spending bill the republicans passed is the first national-level domestic police force. Translated into German, that is Geheime Staatspolizei. Too many syllables for frequent use, of course, so we shorten. (Gestopo) But the U.S. didn’t have one of those before — ever — and it is now building one. That’s beyond ICE and needs to be understood very loudly and clearly everywhere.

There is a segment of the population that welcomes it, of course. So the segment that wants to “sit this one out” need to be presented with the question whether they really want to live in the country after enough of an apparatus of terror has been built at the national level, that the minority who do want it can maintain control even if the checked-out ones decide they don’t like it. In addition to having a plan for something concrete to do, getting some of the ones in the middle off the couch will be part of the project. This is my Question of the Day

Subscriber 2: This comes from an article that appeared in the Politico.

Trump this week invoked the Home Rule Act, effectively handing the executive branch control over Washington’s police for up to 30 days. Beyond that, Trump would have to go through Congress for an extension authorization.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested that he could avoid congressional approval to extend his 30-day federal takeover of Washington’s police, amid his efforts to wrest control of the capital’s law enforcement.

“If it’s a national emergency we can do it without Congress, but we expect to be before Congress very quickly,” Trump said. “I don’t want to call a national emergency. If I have to, I will.”

Trump also announced that he was working with congressional Republicans to put forward a crime bill initially targeted at Washington but intended as a “beacon” for other Democratic cities such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. “We’re going to need a crime bill that we’re going to be putting in, and it’s going to pertain initially to D.C.,” Trump said. “We’re going to be asking for extensions on that, long-term extensions, because you can’t have 30 days.”

Subscriber 3: ….it struck me that this latest move by Trump to take over policing of Washington, D.C. is for far more nefarious purposes than simply distracting from the unreleased Epstein files (though effective at that, as well). It seems evident to me, having learned to look for the very WORST possible motivations behind Trump's every move, that he's actually intent on creating his own version of 'Fortress Berlin' in Washington, D.C., for the purposes of precluding any mass demonstrations there against him and against his anti-democratic authoritarian actions. Even worse, I have to think that he's preparing a 'safe zone' for after the 2026 mid-terms as he and the MAGA Republicans openly attempt to subvert any election results that they may fear losing...AND is preparing for 2028 Presidential and other elections protest when he again openly tries to subvert any losing results and/or actually tries to prevent the elections from even being held so that he and his cronies can continue in 'power.'

Taking over Washington D.C, and other major cities under the guise of national security is straight from the authoritarian playbook.

In 2020, the thought never occurred to me that we wouldn’t have a peaceful transfer of power if Biden won the election. I believed it right up until January 6, 2021, when I watched the insurrection happen on live TV. From that point on, I have no doubt that Trump will do whatever is necessary to stay in power after January 20, 2029. All the signs are there, and we are fools if we ignore them.

This leads me to my Quote of the Day, which I have posted a few times in this blog. It is a reminder of what can happen if we sit back and watch.

From Confession by Martin Niemoller

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me

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CURE Auto Insurance

From the first time a CURE auto insurance commercial, I have despised the commercial. It looked to me like it was a slick CEO using his money to allow him to sit with local celebrities to endorse his product. The first one included Rick Mahorn, and then came some of the Lions, and now it is the Tigers, including Tarik Skubal and Spencer Torkelson.

I first became aware of problems with CURE when a electronic sign on I75 controlled by MDOT indicated that CURE was one of the smallest of Michigan’s 26 auto insurers, but they had they were in the top five for most complaints of all auto insurers in Michigan during a recent year.

I have since done my research and confirmed the information. The story in New Jersey where CURE originated is very similar.

I wish our local celebrities would do their homework before they endorse a product, especially when a slick-looking CEO wants to be part of the commercial. My gut was not wrong. CURE Auto Insurance gets my Onion of the Day

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The Tigers

Today’s 1-0 win over the last place White Sox may have been the most important win of the season for the Tigers who are now 70 and 52. Three pitchers who were not on the roster August 1 pitched two-hit baseball for the game.

Rookie Troy Melton was brilliant for the first five innings. He faced the minimum of 12 batters through four innings and when the leadoff batter in the fifth inning greeted Melton with a double, Melton calmly struck out the next three batters. Sawyer Gibson-Long coming off a 45-day stint on the disabled list, pitched two shut out innings. In the eighth inning, newly acquired Kyle Finnigan continued his superb work by getting the three batters he faced. Will Vest, who has been the Tiger’s primary closer during the year, preserved the victory with a clean ninth inning.

Troy Melton, 24, has been very impressive in his two starts, and in his long relief appearances since being brought up in July. Sawyer Gibson-Long can be a game changer if he pitches like he did today. Of his 17 pitches, 15 were for strikes. This allowed him to get through 2 innings very efficiently making him available for Thursday or Friday.

There is no question, the Tiger relief pitching has been suspect at best for the last six weeks. If Melton, Gibson-Long and Finnigan can shore up the bullpen, the Tigers will be in good shape heading into the remaining 40 games.

If the Tigers win 20 of their remaining games, they will end up with 90 wins. This would force the Guardians to win 28 of 44 games to catch the Tigers. The Guardians and Tigers play each other six times in September so anything is possible.

My Blog

I write this blog for my own well-being. It has been a labor of love for over five years. During the early years, I was averaging less than 30 subscribers and 20 views per individual blog. I remember getting excited when I hit 100 views one day. The platform I was using was not user friendly and I was spending a lot of time formatting and stuff. I persevered but I started questioning whether it was worth my time. Just when I was ready to cut back to once a week, Substack came along and made things so much easier.

There are now175 subscribers, and I am averaging nearly 300 views per blog. My July 21 blog, which included the first chapter of Project 2026/2028 had over 500 views.

I want to thank all of you for subscribing. I love hearing from you. Feel free to share your thoughts with me and provide feedback. It helps me improve.

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Quote of the Day: See above

Orchid of the Day: The subscribers to the Thoughts for the Day.

Onion of the Day: CURE Auto Insurance. See above.

Question of the Day: Do you want to live in the country after enough of an apparatus of terror has been built at the national level, that the minority who do want it can maintain control even if the checked-out ones decide they don’t like it?

Lyrics of the Day: You, who are on the road Must have a code
That you can live by. And so become yourself Because the past is just a goodbye

Don't you ever ask them, "Why?" If they told you, you would cry
So, just look at them and sigh And know they love you

If you think you know the lyrics send me your answer in the comments section of the blog.

Answer to Lyrics of the Day for August 11: What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye

Video of the Day: Enjoy. Under the Boardwalk performed by John Mellencamp.