Republicans are doing *so* well at shooting themselves in the gut these days. Here we have a Senator “who knows not of what he speaks”. He’s beyond rude, but I don’t have a better word at the moment. I would say this is even more crass than Trump, and we all know that’s saying something! SMH. What is *wrong* with this guy? With respect to Raw Story+ (subscription may be required for RS Plus):
A Republican U.S. senator used insulting and sexist language to demand that European countries join America and Israel’s war against Iran. “I gave up on Europe helping us years ago,” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) told reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. “They’re all talking,” Marshall continued, citing President Donald Trump’s long-held grievance over defense spending levels among the NATO alliance.
“They told us they would get to 2 percent of GDP, and they never did. Half of them never did. Now they’re probably 5 percent. They’re all talk.” While the U.S. clearly contributes most, analysts contest claims that NATO countries don’t pay their fair share, especially after most European nations increased spending since Trump threatened the fate of NATO at the start of his second term in the White House.
This has gotten old. Not all countries can afford to put ginormous amounts of money into it. They are doing what they can. And they have kicked it up a notch. But Europe is not the US. There are (were) some pretty major differences until Trump threw our country into the fake gold toilet. Now it seems our NATO money is being spent on the Iran war. What a waste. And as I mentioned in a previous piece today, the amount of money wasted on the Iran war makes it worse.
Since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran late last month, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and leaders of other traditional U.S. allies have grappled with how to deal with the Trump administration’s demands that they support a war that remains unpopular across the globe.
On Thursday, Sen. Marshall reached back into 20th-century history to dismiss the Marshall Plan under which U.S. aid helped revive and rebuild Europe in the aftermath of World War Two. “You know, World War II is over with,” Marshall said. “The Marshall Plan is over with.
Ego much, guy? Since when does he know history? Did he actually bother to research something? From the little we’ve seen of him thus far in this column, he *thinks* he knows everything, but I want him to prove it. It seems as if he’s picking and choosing, quoting out of context. The vanity may outweigh actual knowledge.
“It’s time for Europe to put some jeans on, take their skirts off, maybe put some boots on and help the rest of the world out.”
BOOM. There you have it. Could this man be any more arrogant and disgusting? Wait, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know. I’ve seen enough. There’s a bunch more to the article, but I’m trying NOT to write a novel today. He goes on about his background and experience, and waffles about Iran. One small thing? He did admit he was wrong, even though the answer was still nonsense. Gotta CYA. The US and Israel are *not* “the rest of the world”, far from it. Europe does not want anything to do with this war, and rightfully so. It’s illegal. Israel and we started it.
See you soon!
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise that among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest-working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
Sorry to say I live in Kansas; this guy has shown his idiocy since he retired and got elected to the large rural 1st District in Congress, then in 2020 to the Senate. Hard to believe he is/was a medical doctor. There are several people running to replace him this year.
Lorene, I most sincerely hope he gets knocked out. It seems he does more harm than good. So for my curiosity’s sake, I just pulled out my calculator. He said he’s delivered more than 5,000 babies. He would have to deliver one every day for nearly 14 years to get that number. So, I even have my doubts about that. So I’ll be sending good thoughts your way, since I can’t do anything else, and hope he gets clobbered.
From what I understand, the US has never paid our full percentage despite paying more than other countries. So basically, we have no room to talk. But of course the right wing types never look that deeply into an issue. They just gather a talking point and go on the attack.
Y’know, with the fantastic comments you and others make for me, sometimes I wonder if I should be writing the columns! It seems there’s always something I’m missing. But then, my writing is surface and opinion, but still…
Thanks for the information!
The United Nations is a typical example of US behavior in regards to payments due to organizations it’s a member of.
The USA, the world’s biggest freeloader.
As of February 2026, the United States owes over US$4 billion in outstanding dues to the United Nations, with the U.S. responsible for more than 95% of the total unpaid contributions to the regular budget
. While a partial payment of about $160 million was made in February, the massive debt (including $2.19 billion to the regular budget) continues to create severe financial strain and a potential “financial collapse” for the organization.)
https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-us-will-give-un-money-make-it-stronger-more-viable-2026-02-19/
See me censor what I was originally going to say. This is so damn stupid! And I discovered earlier today that we owe the Olympics money. It would be awesome if Trump and co couldn’t go.
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-la-olympics/
Heh.