Nanos: Liberals And Conservatives Down, New Democrats Up.

LPC: 41%;

CPC: 37%;

NDP: 12%.

TylenolTM, If You're Reading...

Sue the shit out of the old fool.

Украина стала уроком, который Запад не сумел усвоить.

Вспомните, как перед началом вторжения в Украину Москва сосредоточила войска и технику на границе, в Беларуси и Крыму. Большинство наблюдателей, включая меня, расценивали это как демонстрацию силы, но не ожидали, что Путин пойдет на вторжение. Мы ошиблись.

У Путина театральные жесты всегда являются неизбежным предвестником ясных и решительных намерений. Он продемонстрировал это Западу на примере Украины. Но если бы не второсортный характер и недостатки российской армии и ее некомпетентное руководство, Украина давно была бы в кармане Москвы.

В последнее время Путин стал более агрессивно тестировать западную оборону, посылая самолеты или дроны в воздушное пространство НАТО в Польше, Эстонии, Латвии и Румынии. Все эти страны, за исключением последней, граничат с Россией или ее анклавом, Калининградской областью. Это не совпадение. Это сигнал о том, что на самом деле замышляет Путин: он зациклен на возвращении прибалтийских государств в орбиту России, и эти вторжения служат для проверки готовности НАТО противостоять этой цели. Россия также оценивает силу и решимость заранее размещенных войск в Эстонии, Латвии и Литве, и не только из интеллектуального любопытства. Нет, господин, Путин хочет провести блицкриг против прибалтийских государств, застав НАТО врасплох. И Путин, и Медведев рассчитали, что у НАТО не хватит воли для полномасштабного наступления на восточном фланге против России в защиту стран Балтии. Они также считают, что Трамп у них в кармане: одним словом, компрометирующая информация.

Я бы сказал, что в российском сознании возвращение стран Балтии в объятия России рассматривается как стратегическая неизбежность. Вопрос не в том, произойдет ли это, а в том, когда. НАТО, по крайней мере публично, этого не понимает. 

Вспомните, что в прошлые века Франция совершила серьезную ошибку, отдав свои несколько акров снега в Северной Америке. Путин рассчитывает на такое мышление в альянсе. Он пришел к выводу, что когда в Восточной Европе неизбежно наступит критический момент, НАТО не хватит мужества сражаться. Это довольно рискованная ставка с его стороны. Очевидно, продолжение следует.

Ukraine Became A Lesson That The West Failed To Learn.

Remember how, before the invasion of Ukraine began, Moscow concentrated troops and equipment on the border, in Belarus and Crimea. Most observers, including myself, saw this as a show of force but did not expect Putin to invade. We were wrong.

Putin's show-and-tell gestures are always an inevitable harbinger of clear and decisive intentions. He demonstrated this to the West in Ukraine. But if it weren't for the second-rate nature and shortcomings of the Russian army and its incompetent leadership, Ukraine would have been in Moscow's pocket long ago.

Recently, Putin has become more aggressive in testing Western defences, sending planes or drones into NATO airspace in Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Romania. All of these countries, except for the last one, border Russia or its enclave, the Kaliningrad Oblast region. This is no coincidence. It is a signal of what Putin is really up to: he is fixated on bringing the Baltic states back into Russia's orbit, and these incursions serve to test NATO's readiness to counter this goal. Russia is also assessing the strength and resolve of the pre-positioned troops in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and not just out of intellectual curiosity. No, sir, Putin wants to launch a blitzkrieg against the Baltic states, catching NATO off guard. Both Putin and Medvedev have calculated that NATO will not have the stomach to launch a full-scale offensive on its eastern flank against Russia in defence of the Baltic states. They also believe they have Trump in their pocket: in a word, kompromat.

I would say that in the Russian mind, the return of the Baltic states to Russia's embrace is seen as a strategic inevitability. The question is not whether it will happen, but when. NATO, at least publicly, does not understand this. 

Remember that in centuries past, France made a serious mistake by letting go of its few acres of snow in North America. Putin is counting on this kind of thinking in the alliance. He's come to the conclusion that when the critical moment arrives in Eastern Europe, NATO will not have the backbone to fight. This is a rather risky gamble on his part. Obviously, to be continued.

Rodriguez : Il est dans une position délicate, mais il mise sur la loi 21.

Le chef libéral est dans une position fragile. Selon Pablo, les Québécois en ont assez de fausses promesses des politiciens. « Je pense que les Québécois ne veulent plus de fausses promesses. » Il croit que l'authenticité doit passer avant tout.  À titre d'illustration, il décrit la position de son parti sur la loi 21 : il ne touche pas à la loi 21. Il y a une sorte d'équilibre, une paix sociale autour de cette loi. Cependant,  Rodriguez a un problème fondamental avec l'utilisation préventive de la clause dérogatoire.  

Le problème pour Pablo est qu'il faisait partie intégrante du Conseil des ministres de l'ancien Premier ministre Justin Trudeau, qui s'opposait farouchement à la loi 21.

Trudeau a été très clair sur la position du gouvernement : Si et quand la question sera portée devant la Cour suprême, en tant que gouvernement fédéral, il interviendra pour protéger et défendre la Charte canadienne des droits et libertés.

Selon Trudeau, il est très probable, voire certain, que cette loi [21] sera portée devant la Cour suprême, car il s'agit d'une question qui touche tous les Canadiens, et même la Charte [des droits et libertés] et la Constitution canadienne.

« Nous devons faire partie de cette discussion. C'est pour ça que le gouvernement fédéral sera là pour défendre les droits de tous les Canadiens et les droits des minorités [...] »

Les déclarations faites par le gouvernement précédent placent Rodriguez dans une position difficile. Il doit essayer d'adopter une approche équilibrée, un exercice très délicat compte tenu de la position majoritaire des Québécois sur cette question. Bien sûr, l'authenticité de sa position en tant que chef du Parti libéral du Québec fera l'objet d'un débat animé, et ce seront les électeurs qui auront le dernier mot sur le revirement de Pablo concernant la loi 21. 

En effet, la contestation de la loi 21 est désormais devant la Cour suprême. Les mémoires ont déjà été déposés et les audiences sont prévues dans quelques mois. Le gouvernement Carney a également changé sa stratégie devant la cour. Il se limitera à contester l'application de la clause dérogatoire. La loi elle-même ne sera pas directement attaquée par les avocats du gouvernement fédéral.

Imbecile Trump Goes After Comey.

And now the Deep State will take Trump down. Never, ever, fuck with the Deep State.

The Polls Are All Over The Place: Who Knows What To Think.

Angus Reid: Conservatives +3;

Liaison: Liberals +6;

Nanos: Liberals +5;

Abacus: Tie.

Kirk Memorial: There Goes Trump's "Third" Term.

Can you say, Erika for President?

Why Is Poilièvre LYING About A Palestinian State?

Over 150 nations have recognized an independent Palestinian state. France, the UK, Canada and Australia are only the latest to do so. 

PP is lying about what Canada is doing: we're recognizing the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah as an independent state. We're not saying that the Gaza Strip under Hamas' control is part of that territory. Some view this as a distinction without a difference, but I disagree with that conclusion.

Pierre should be ashamed of himself for deliberately trying to twist what Canada and so many countries are doing or have already done.

For my part, I view this move as premature. It should not have taken place until all the Israeli and other Jewish hostages were returned to Israel. But given Netanyahu's intransigence on most issues, I can understand why these three nations have chosen to move now. Peace requires an independent Palestinian state, and Bibi will fight that to his last breath, so the end justifies the means.

BOC: Macklem Cuts Rates Again.

With Canada's economy weakening partly as a result of Trump's trade policy and tariffs, the Bank of Canada cut its overnight rate by 25 basis points to 2.5 percent. That rate was also put in place, given that inflation is low and considered weak.

To no one's surprise, interest rate cuts are largely stimulative in nature. An acceleration in the money supply occurs as consumers increasingly take out loans, and banks are more than willing to accommodate them. Interest rate cuts also tend to boost consumer spending and personal indebtedness. 

However, if inflation begins to tick up, the BOC will then find itself at a crossroads: it will likely move to increase QE again, which more often than not has spurred increased inflation. In addition, any increase in the digitization of money (money printing) will reduce the purchasing power of the dollar, which inevitably pushes up the prices of goods and services. Again, price increases will also fuel further inflation, which, if it accelerates too quickly, will require the BOC to reverse course and hike the overnight rate to slow inflation.

All of this to say that the BOC is clueless as to what is required to create sound money. It should follow the lead of most other major central banks and increase gold purchases. Gold acts as a hedge against inflation and further currency depreciation. Gold also tends to, at a minimum, hold its own during inflationary periods and to spike during periods when inflation rises significantly and the currency's purchasing power is falling. 

The other problem, of course, is a political one, with economists largely wedded to discredited Keynesian economic policy. If Canada backed its currency with gold, ours would become one of the strongest and likely most stable currencies in the world in relatively short order. It would also counter the possibility of reckless fiscal policy, but the know-it-alls in Ottawa think they have all the answers, which time and time again they've proven to our collective detriment that they don't. However, it's true that given Canada's lack of economic might, a gold-backed dollar could only go so far in enhancing the credibility of the Canadian dollar as a major exchange instrument, something that Canada has never enjoyed to this point in its history. 

We're About To See If Ford Really Wants To Be Prime Minister.

In short, Ford has a tough balancing act to follow going forward. On the one hand, the relationship between Canada's first ministers has probably never been better, thanks to Carney's approach to federal-provincial-territorial relations. However, with elbows-up largely dissipated, the premiers are probably sensing that it has been replaced by a vacuum, a place reminiscent of the lack of progress achieved during WWI trench warfare. At best, it's a stalemate with Trump, at worst, a total freeze-out with Trump calling the tune and dictating the negotiating terms during ongoing negotiations. 

So far, any disagreement between Ford and Carney on how to approach the Trump Administration has been kept private. Publicly, Ford remains onside with the rest of Team Canada, but given his previous public comments, he can't be happy with the way negotiations are going with the OrangeMenaceTM.

By now, the obvious way to deal with Trump is crystal clear: you have to go at him as hard as possible without giving quarter unless something tangible or valuable is conceded in return. So far, Carney has received nothing but a goose egg in his negotiations with Trump. Ford and the other premiers know that only too well. So, Ford has a choice: he can continue to go along to get along, or he can break publicly with Carney and push for a hard line just like I have. If he does, it will be the mother of all signals that he's running it around in his head to take Carney on after the next Conservative leadership race, which will quickly follow an almost certain CPC election loss.

Ford has gone from publicly praising Carney to complete radio silence. Now he gets to either put up or stay shut up. His choice will tell us a lot more about him and his future political plans than most people realize. Do I think he wants to be PM sooner rather than later? You bet I do.

Carney Sidelines Freeland: Now He Will Pay The Ultimate Political Price.

Like I said, Dom is considered a joke in DC. Not someone who can out-negotiate the Trump minions. Only Freeland is capable of that, and now she has been quite deliberately sidelined with the Ukrainian pablum posting. This only serves to confirm how Carney is a thoroughly unsophisticated novice who knows even less than Trudeau about rational government operations and building for political trade success. 

So remember that you read this here first: as a result, expect stalemate to continue for the rest of the year and Trump to cancel USMCA once the review period commences in the new year. Carney needed a big win, and without Freeland, that became impossible as Carney is about to painfully find out. 

غزة: الانزلاق إلى الجنون.

لدينا اختلافات كبيرة حول هذه القضية، على الرغم من أننا نعارض كلاهما قيام دولة فلسطينية، على الأقل حتى يتم إطلاق سراح جميع الرهائن المتبقين، وهو أمر لن يحدث على الأرجح أبدًا. ولكن إذا حدث ذلك، فإن إنشاء دولة فلسطينية يصبح ضروريًا وحتميًا لمواجهة التأثيرات الشيطانية لحكومة نتنياهو بشكل فعال. نتنياهو لا يهتم بإسرائيل أو شعبها. بالنسبة له، مثل ترامب، الأمر يتعلق بالسلطة فقط. سيتعين على رئيس الوزراء الإسرائيلي المستقبلي أن يفعل ما فعله شارون مع كاديما. بدون هاتين الخطوتين، سيكون السلام مستحيلاً إلى الأبد. لذا، فإن الشعب الإسرائيلي أمامه قرار صعب.

حتى الآن، اعتمد كلانا على التعريف النظري للإبادة الجماعية. لكن الهجوم الحالي على مدينة غزة يعني أننا ندخل مرحلة جديدة، تتطلب أن نقوم بتحديد حجم الإبادة الجماعية المستقبلية للحفاظ على حجتنا. لا أستطيع ذلك ولن أفعله. ترامب هو الوحيد القادر على إيقاف نتنياهو، وإذا لم يفعل ذلك، فسيكون كلاهما متواطئين بشكل مباشر في الإبادة الجماعية ضد الفلسطينيين بشكل عام وضد المدنيين في حماس. الله يراقب. ومن غير المرجح أن يغفر أو ينسى.

עזה: הידרדרות אל הטירוף.

 יש בינינו הבדלים משמעותיים בנושא זה, למרות ששנינו מתנגדים להקמת מדינה פלסטינית, לפחות עד ששאר החטופים ישוחררו, מה שכנראה לעולם לא יקרה. אבל אם זה יקרה, הקמת מדינה פלסטינית תהפוך להכרחית ובלתי נמנעת כדי להתמודד ביעילות עם ההשפעות השטניות של ממשלת נתניהו. נתניהו לא דואג לישראל או לעמה. מבחינתו, כמו טראמפ, הכל קשור רק לכוח. ראש ממשלת ישראל העתידי יצטרך לעשות את מה ששרון עשה עם קדימה. בלי שני הצעדים האלה, שלום הוא בלתי אפשרי באופן קבוע. לכן, העם הישראלי עומד בפני החלטה קשה.

עד כה, שנינו הסתמכנו על ההגדרה המילונית של רצח עם. עם זאת, המתקפה הנוכחית בעיר עזה משמעותה שאנחנו נכנסים לשלב חדש, שמחייב אותנו לכמת את רצח העם העתידי כדי לשמור על טיעוננו. אני לא יכול ולא אעשה זאת. רק טראמפ יכול לעצור את נתניהו, ואם הוא לא יעשה זאת, שניהם יהיו שותפים ישירים לתוצאות של רצח עם נגד הפלסטינים בכלל ואזרחי חמאס בפרט. אלוהים צופה. סביר להניח שהוא לא יסלח ולא ישכח.

Gaza: The Descent Into Madness.

From: WarrenKinsella.com

Warren,

We have significant differences on this issue, even though we both oppose a Palestinian state, at least until all remaining hostages are released, which likely will NEVER happen. But if it does, the establishment of a Palestinian state then becomes imperative and inevitable to counter the satanic influences of the Netanyahu government effectively. Netanyahu cares not about Israel or its people. For him, like Trump, it's only about power. A future Israeli PM will have to do what Sharon did with Kadima. Without both of these steps, peace is permanently impossible. So, the Israeli people have a difficult decision ahead.

To this point, both of us have relied on the textbook definition of genocide. However, the current offensive in Gaza City means that we are entering into a new phase, which requires that we quantify future genocide to maintain our argument. I can't and won't do that. Only Trump can stop Netanyahu, and if he doesn't, then both of them will be directly complicit in a genocidal outcome against the Palestinians generally and  Hamas civilians. God is watching. He is unlikely to forgive or forget.

The Cowardly Scumbag Gets Everyone Fired.

Now, it's Kimmel's turn. The only people who are more pathetic and contemptible are the low-life networks that cave in to the dipshit's pressure. Come on asshole, why don't you send somebody to kill me? Go fuck yourself, POS.

Trump's State Visit To The UK. The Mistake Of A Lifetime.

In three words: Air Force One.

Cerebrum sanguinis vel aneurysma.

Qui medicorum consilium non sequitur.

Ipsos: Six In Ten Canadians (58%) Approve of the Liberal Government’s Performance Under PM Carney.

Six In Ten Canadians (58%) Approve of the Liberal Government’s Performance Under Pm Carney | Ipsos

Sorry, but like Angus Reid, I'm not buying either of these polls. Carney is the ultimate pushover, a master at climbing down from a fight without getting a win or even anything in return. Carney is a tower of jelly. Just blow on him and he'll fall down. So much for Elbows Up!

He took Canadians for a ride in the election, and women were betrayed. This guy definitely isn't a red or pink Liberal, much less a blue one. And no, boys and girls, he isn't a Progressive Conservative. He's a captive of big business interests, a disciple of multinational and large corporations. Again, a plurality of Canadians voted for that without being aware of it. 

Trump, a master of weakness posing as a tower of strength, has Carney pegged as someone who can't take the heat and who has to rapidly leave the kitchen. End of story. So, expect no deal anytime soon, and if one ultimately comes, it will be because Canada caved to get any kind of deal. And if you think this country will be on the losing end, that's nothing compared to what's coming next year when USMCA (CUSMA) gets renegotiated. My prediction: no agreement with Trump tossing USMCA into the trash.

MAGA: Don't Worry Whether Sick or Dying Trump Is Still Scum.

Pretty much sums things up nicely. 

Bolsonaro verdict: Brazilian democracy is now on trial.

In many ways, Brazil is a smaller microcosm of the United States. Both countries are highly polarised nations, where the dividing lines between left and right are very clear and not conducive to political compromise or the exchange of goodwill and collective good faith, both between themselves and in relation to the country's constitution.

In any civilised society, the importance of justice is fundamental and unequivocal. Sentences must reflect not only the justice applied in a court of law, but also the appearance that, given the facts and the law, the verdict handed down was proportionate and fair, considering the charges that led to that person's conviction. In short, it must be perceived that justice has been done for the decision to be considered legitimate and well-founded. 

In this case, the defendant is seventy years old. Bolsonaro was duly convicted of crimes of the highest order, but can it really be said that a sentence of more than 27 years is based solely on judicial considerations and the application of the law? My view is that this verdict is unfair and unreasonable. The defendant is undoubtedly guilty of the charges against him, but this sentence smacks of revenge, an effort to settle political scores within the august confines of the judiciary.

Brazilian democracy should know better than that. Bolsonaro will exercise his constitutional right to appeal before a full panel of eleven members. However, the grounds for a successful appeal cannot be based on a retrial based on the merits of the facts. The appeal is procedural in nature and can also be argued on the basis of the court's competent jurisdiction. If legal irregularities cannot be proven, evidence based on the facts cannot be overturned on appeal. If his appeal is denied, Bolsonaro could receive a sentence of up to forty years.

In the meantime, Bolsonaro remains under house arrest, with his supporters hoping that his party will win next year's presidential elections. This could lead to a future amnesty or pardon law after the fact, which would not be considered entirely legitimate under the law. In practice, this power belongs to the president and, if exercised, cannot be revoked during that president's term. However, a subsequent government could overturn these actions with a future parliamentary majority. Both chambers would have to approve such a law.

And then there is the question of Trump: will the American president make an effort to spirit Bolsonaro out of the country in order to politically contest and reverse the court's verdict? It would be inadvisable for Trump to proceed in this manner, as it would have monumental consequences for relations between Brazil and the United States, but unfortunately, at the end of the day, Trump is Trump.

Veredicto Bolsonaro: a democracia brasileira está agora em julgamento.

Em muitos aspectos, o Brasil é um microcosmo menor dos Estados Unidos. Ambos os países são nações altamente polarizadas, nas quais as linhas divisórias entre a esquerda e a direita são muito claras e não propícias ao compromisso político ou à troca de boa vontade e boa fé coletiva, tanto entre si quanto em relação à constituição do país.

Em qualquer sociedade civilizada, a importância da justiça é fundamental e inequívoca. As sentenças devem refletir não apenas a justiça aplicada em um tribunal, mas também a aparência de que, dados os fatos e a lei, a sentença proferida foi proporcional e justa, considerando as acusações que levaram à condenação dessa pessoa. Em resumo, deve-se perceber que foi feita justiça para que a decisão seja considerada legítima e bem fundamentada. 

Neste caso, o réu tem setenta anos de idade. Bolsonaro foi devidamente condenado por crimes da mais alta ordem, mas será que se pode realmente dizer que uma sentença de mais de 27 anos se baseia exclusivamente em considerações judiciais e na aplicação da lei? Minha opinião é que esse veredicto é injusto e irracional. O réu é, sem dúvida, culpado das acusações feitas contra ele, mas essa sentença cheira a vingança, a um esforço para acertar contas políticas dentro dos augustos limites do judiciário.

A democracia brasileira deveria saber melhor do que isso. Bolsonaro exercerá seu direito constitucional de recorrer perante um painel completo de onze membros. No entanto, os fundamentos para um recurso bem-sucedido não podem se basear em um novo julgamento com base no mérito dos fatos. O recurso é de natureza processual e também pode ser argumentado com base na jurisdição competente do tribunal. Se não for possível provar irregularidades legais, as provas baseadas nos fatos não podem ser anuladas em recurso. Se seu recurso for negado, Bolsonaro poderá receber uma sentença de até quarenta anos.

Enquanto isso, Bolsonaro permanece em prisão domiciliar, com seus apoiadores esperando que seu partido vença as eleições presidenciais do próximo ano. Isso poderia levar a uma futura lei de anistia ou perdão após o fato, o que não seria considerado totalmente legítimo perante a lei. Na prática, esse poder pertence ao presidente e, se exercido, não poderia ser revogado durante o mandato desse presidente. No entanto, um governo subsequente poderia anular essas ações com uma futura maioria parlamentar. Ambas as câmaras teriam que aprovar tal lei.

E depois há a questão de Trump: será que o presidente americano fará um esforço para tirar Bolsonaro do país, a fim de contestar politicamente e reverter a decisão do tribunal? Seria desaconselhável que Trump procedesse dessa maneira, pois isso teria consequências monumentais para as relações entre o Brasil e os Estados Unidos, mas, infelizmente, no final das contas, Trump é Trump.

Legault travaille-t-il pour la CAQ ou le PQ?

À la suite du remaniement ministériel, des rumeurs circulent que Legault prépare à déclencher des élections anticipées. Il est clair que la CAQ n'a pratiquement aucune chance de gagner. Legault envisage-t-il cette option parce qu'il subit des pressions internes pour démissionner de son poste comme chef, ou s'agit-il d'une manœuvre visant à empêcher le PLQ de former un gouvernement ?

Beaucoup d'entre nous pensent que Legault reste souverainiste dans l'âme. N'ayant obtenu aucune concession du gouvernement fédéral depuis le début de son mandat, il n'est pas déraisonnable de conclure qu'il n'aurait aucun problème avec un futur gouvernement du PQ.

Si le PQ forme le prochain gouvernement, nous entrerons à nouveau dans une période souverainiste au Québec. PSPP envisage un référendum au cours du premier mandat d'un gouvernement du PQ.

Quant au PLQ, Rodriguez a besoin de temps pour reconstruire son parti. Des élections prématurées seraient contreproductives. Des élections en 2025 augmenteraient les chances du PQ de former le prochain gouvernement au Québec. Telle est la réalité des choses.

Charlie Kirk.

What a horrible thing. The perpetrator, once convicted, will hopefully get the death penalty.

Cooler heads must prevail on both sides. Country first or no country in the end.

Walter Reed.

Can you say Air Force One?

Watch RFK Catch COVID This Winter And Drop Dead.

Now, that would be delicious irony.

Hum. Trump's Second Inauguration.

Talking about Trump's health is nothing new. Did they REALLY move Trump's inauguration inside the Capitol because of the weather, or was it because Trump likely would have dropped dead outside then and there? Exactly. As Trump would say: weak, weak, weak.

Adler: Ouch!

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority; still more when you superadd the tendency of the certainty of corruption by authority.”

“Despotic power is always accompanied by corruption of morality.”

“Authority that does not exist for Liberty is not authority but force.”

“Everybody likes to get as much power as circumstances allow, and nobody will vote for a self-denying ordinance.”

“Absolute power demoralizes.” 

KOOP: Adler’s high-flying ways discredit Senate

Angus Reid: Carney Slowly Deflating But Where Will That Support Go?

CPC 40%, LPC 38%, with Liberals down six points.

Disaffected Liberals say they will vote NDP, which is not bad news for the CPC, depending on how the vote breaks and where it happens. However, the Pierre millstone is alive and thriving, potentially driving down Conservative support, as 58% of respondents view the CPC leader unfavourably. NO KIDDING...

Wake up, caucus and party members!

Trump: The Old Bastard Isn't Dead Yet.

Lucky us.

PLQ: Rodriguez a besoin d'un siège.

De : Qc125.com

	Cote						Meneur
Léger 2025-08-17, n=977	A+	17	26	9	35	10	PQ +9

Pablo doit se présenter cet automne. L'un de nos députés doit démissionner.

Too Bad I Was Never Disbarred...

I would also have liked to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, but I don't measure up.