By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 5 March 2026 at 10:27 am
Albion will host the 25th Niagara-Orleans League vs. Genesee Region League Exceptional Senior basketball doubleheader on Friday.
The girls game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. followed by the boys contest at 7.
Both the girl and boys series are deadlocked at 12-12 although the G-R has won the last four girls and boys contests.
The roster for the N-O girls team includes Leah Pawlak and Madison Muckle from Albion, Rhoswyn Oakes and Tatianna Maxon from Medina, Kylie McOmber and Millie Owens from Roy-Hart, Hailey Dodge from Barker, Julia Noonan from Newfane and Marissa Brege, Olivia Novak and Cara Swader from Akron.
The G-R girls roster includes Lilly Raduns and Isabella Groves from Lyndonville, Ali VanAmeron, Mia Thom and Ella Turpyn from Holley, Stella Kwiatek from Kendall, Ava Yax from Alexander, Ashanti Caton and Payton Pope from Wheatland-Chili, Peyton Liss, Morgan Conibear and Onolee Easterbrook from Pembroke, and Simone Scharvogel and Megan Jarkiewicz from Byron-Bergen.
The N-O boys squad includes Tyler Cody, Wesley Olles and Nate Gibson from Albion, Vinny Fazio from Roy-Hart, JJ Prynn, Donovan Hefferon and Carson Schwab from Barker, Camlo Flowers from Newfane, Ben Gerstung and Blake Gerstung from Akron and Aidan Neumann, Shamus George and Brock Lepsch from Wilson.
The lineup for the G-R boys team includes Jonny Conte, Jonas Rhodes, Vinnie D’Agostino and Noah Morehouse from Kendall, Colton Smith from Lyndonville, Josh Silpoch from Holley, Owen Schultz from Pembroke, Kingston Woods and Mason Snyder from Alexander, Mason Watterson and Gabe Smith from Oakfield-Alabama and Joel Lamb and Cole DiQuattro from Byron-Bergen.
Democrats asked to repeal legislation that GOP says could increase gas prices by $2 a gallon
These receipts were created and shared by the New York State Republican Conference.
Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt
ALBANY – State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and members of the Senate Republican Conference on Wednesday highlighted an explosive new memo from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) regarding the shockingly high costs of New York’s so-called “green energy” mandates on New Yorkers.
They also called on Democrats to repeal the statute requiring the state to implement a Cap-and-Invest program, a program the state now acknowledges could increase gasoline prices by as much as $2.23 per gallon and raise annual utility bills by up to $4,100 for upstate residents and $2,300 for residents in New York City.
Since Democrats passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) in 2019, Republicans have demanded answers about its cost, expressed concerns about its mandates and questioned if its goals were realistic or achievable.
Last week, it was disclosed that NYSERDA has issued findings that fundamentally agree with much of what Republicans have been saying for the past 7 years – that the Democrat’s Climate Law is unaffordable and failing to meet its own benchmarks.
“This conference has called for transparency and accounting of the true costs of the CLCPA for years. Now, thanks to a memo from NYSERDA, we finally know what we’ve been saying all along – New Yorkers simply cannot afford the Democrats’ green energy mandates,” said Rob Ortt, the Senate Republican leader.
Cap and Invest is part of the Democrats’ CLCPA, a scam known for its so-called “green” mandates on ratepayers. Democrats’ ideological approach to energy issues in this state has caused the highest utility bills New Yorkers have ever seen. Republicans in both the Senate and Assembly are taking action now to provide relief by pushing to scrap the most damaging parts of the CLCPA, especially Cap and Invest.
Governor Hochul’s New York State Energy Research and Development Authority released a memo outlining “likely costs of CLCPA compliance.” In the memo it reads, “The primary driver of these projected cost increases is the Cap-and-Invest program — “the greenhouse gas accounting approach incorporated in statute and regulation, in combination with current emission reduction targets, mean that current law attributes higher emissions to New York than other leading jurisdictions do for the same activity.”
According to NYSERDA Memo, absent changes, within five years:
Gasoline prices could increase by $2.23 per gallon — on top of whatever market prices are at that time. At today’s prices, that would mean roughly $5.25 per gallon.
Natural gas costs could increase by $16.96 per MMBtu.
Upstate households using oil or natural gas could see energy costs increase by more than $4,100 per year.
New York City households using natural gas could see annual gross costs rise by approximately $2,300.
Utility costs for small and medium commercial businesses increase by up to 45% – these costs would be passed down to consumers
Costs for operating a delivery truck would increase by over 60%.
In addition to the disastrous Cap and Invest program, the Senate Republican Conference has unanimously opposed other new energy costs and mandates within the CLCPA that have increased costs and decreased choices being forced under an extreme climate agenda that is unaffordable, unrealistic, and unattainable.
“They continue to champion policies that they unequivocally know are driving up costs and making life less affordable,” Ortt said. “You can’t just say affordability and wish it into existence when your policies are going to add $4,100 to people’s bills and drive gas costs up to $5 or more at the pump. Democrats want to be California-we are on our way. New Yorkers need to understand-to get different policies they need different policy makers.”
As a life-long resident of WNY I want to thank all those responsible for their outstanding responses in preparation for and each day for this winter’s weather.
So often I would waken to the sound of snowplows passing from 4:30-4:50 morning after morning heading to the canal bridge, turning around and often coming back with salt to ensure traffic was safe to travel at early hours. And then, back they would come again during the day, if needed!
We WNYers have had decades of dealing with Mother Nature and have the equipment and the extraordinary staff at all village, town and county levels to maintain the equipment, the repairs, the levels of salt needed for this winter.
It’s been a tough one on all our critters too! The geese are now heading back from the south and we can see some deer, raccoons and skunks beginning to rummage for leftovers in the fields from last year.
Ah, the delights of living in Albion and in WNY as other parts of this entire country still grapple with destroyed powerlines, roads, roofs and entire homes which were never prepared. Thank you!
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2026 at 8:45 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Village of Medina Planning Board Chairman John Dieter, center, looks over a draft of an ordinance for regulating short-term rentals in the village. Planning Board members Chris Goyette, left, and Kathy Blackburn also review the document. Other members at the meeting included Dick Moss, Mary Lewis and David Flynn.
MEDINA – The Village of Medina is working on an ordinance for regulating short-term rentals – the Airbnbs, Vrbos and others locations where people stay up to 30 days.
The Planning Board has been tasked with coming up with a draft ordinance that will go to the Village Board.
“We want to get ahead of this,” code enforcement officer Dan Gardner said about the short-term rentals. “But I know it’s already happening. Currently we have nothing to regulate short-term rentals.”
The STR operators will likely need a special use permit and could be subject to inspections, perhaps every year to three years.
The village currently charges $150 for a special use permit which includes $100 to the village and $50 for the public hearing. That is a one-time fee.
Some communities charge an annual licensing fee. In Kendall, it’s $250. Medina isn’t considering an annual fee to have a short-term rental so far in the discussions by the Planning Board.
One issue is whether Medina will require the operators to have insurance. Kendall requires a $1 million liability insurance for STR owners.
John Dieter, Planning Board chairman, said the board still has a lot of research and homework to do in the draft ordinance for STRs.
John Dieter, the Planning Board chairman, said the board is in discussion stage with the draft ordinance.
A big talking point during the board meeting on Tuesday was whether the STRs should be allowed in the downtown business district. There already is at least one.
Gardner, the code enforcement officer, doesn’t think STRs should be in the downtown, where there are already options for hotel rooms. He said “flooding” the downtown with STRs would hurt the hotel operators.
But board member Mary Lewis said STRs are “a great use” of the upper levels in the central business district. Board member Kathy Blackburn favors allowing them in the downtown with regulations.
The STRs could provide a much-needed source of revenue for the building owners, Blackburn said.
“There might be some cases where we’d want some Airbnbs in the general business district,” Dieter said.
The board will continue to discuss the issue, and could decide to limit the short-term rentals to certain zoning districts.
In some communities there are STRs in garages and secondary buildings on a lot. But in Medina, only one habitable building is allowed on a lot so having STRs in a garage wouldn’t be an option.
Planning Board members and the code enforcement officer said they don’t know how many short-term rentals are currently in the village. Medina started collected a “bed tax” last June and that would provide a list of many of the STRs. In addition to the 8 percent sales tax, there is a 4 percent occupancy tax that goes to Orleans County and the new 2 percent tax to Medina.
Gardner wants all STRs to be registered in the village. Airbnb lists about 20 sites in Medina, and that includes a boat in the canal basin and a tent for “glamping.”
Dieter said the Planning Board will work to finalize recommendations on the STR ordinance that will then be referred to the Village Board, which would need to have a public hearing before it’s adopted.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 4 March 2026 at 10:02 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Christian Moss tries to put up a shot against a pair of Olmsted defenders including Jacari Patterson (15) )during the Mustangs Class B1 title loss to the Owls this evening at SUNY Fredonia.
Combining a stingy, aggressive defense with some timely long range shooting, No. 2 seed Olmsted romped to a 68-33 victory over No. 5 Medina in the Section VI Class B1 championship game this evening at SUNY Fredonia.
Up by six, 14-8, at the end of the first quarter and by 12, 33-21, at the half, Olmsted broke the game wide open in the decisive third period by outscoring Medina 21-8 to race away to a commanding 54-29 lead. Tacari McCray scored 12, including a pair of threes, to lead that decisive uprising by the Owls.
McCray finished with a game high 28 and Jaden Wood added 20 to spearhead the Olmsted attack. Both players had three threes.
Jerrell Nealy led Medina with 13 as Christian Moss added 9, Preston Woodworth 5 and Kolton Fletcher, Kendrick Russaw and Avion Johnson 2 each.
Olmsted will now face B2 champion Tapestry on Sunday for the overall Section VI Class B title and a berth in the state playoffs.
Medina finishes the season at 16-7.
Medina’s Preston Woodworth looks to drive on Olmsted’s Jaden Wood.
Class B2 Tapestry 42, Akron 41
Top seeded Tapestry nipped No. 2 Akron for the Class B2 championship this evening at SUNY Fredonia.
Akron tied the game up twice late, first at 35-35 on a late up by Brodie Hill and again at 40-40 on a three-point play by Ben Gerstung but the Tigers could not gain the lead.
A basket by Daron Williams with 20 seconds to go, which put Tapestry up 42-40 provided the margin of victory.
Derren Brooks finished with 18 to lead Akron as Blake Gerstung added 8 and Ben Gerstung 7.
Medina’s Jimmy Dieter puts up a shot as Olmsted’s Tacari McCray tries for the block.
I am running for Mayor of the Village of Albion because I believe in the power of community service — and I believe our village is ready to put that power to work.
When I walk through our historic downtown district, I see something that many communities would envy: a backbone of beautiful, character-rich buildings that tell the story of Albion’s past. But I also see what our 5,600 residents and visitors see every day — facades that need attention, storefronts that have sat vacant too long, and public spaces that are crying out for a little tender loving care. The good news is that the answer to this challenge is already living right here among us.
Community service, when organized and purposeful, is one of the most powerful tools a municipality has. As mayor, I would work to launch a structured Village Revitalization Volunteer Initiative — a program that connects willing hands from our schools, civic organizations, faith communities, and local businesses with the buildings and green spaces that need them most. From beautification days in the downtown historic district to coordinated cleanup efforts along our historic Erie Canal, we can accomplish together what no budget line item alone can achieve.
Preserving our historic downtown is not just about aesthetics — it is about economic vitality, community pride, and honoring what those who built this village left behind for us. A well-maintained historic district attracts visitors, supports local businesses, and gives residents a place to feel proud of. After all we are the county seat of Orleans County! That is a return on investment that every resident should be able to see and feel.
I also intend to work closely with state and federal historic preservation programs and our very own Historian, Susan Starkweather-Miller, to identify grant funding that can support property owners who want to restore their buildings but need a financial lift to get started. The Village also has at its disposal a grant writer, G&G Municipal Consulting and Grants Writing, who provide additional help in finding and completing grants on behalf of the Village. Community service and smart resource stewardship go hand in hand.
Albion has the people, the history, and the heart to turn this vision into reality. All we need is the leadership and the will to get started. I am asking for your vote — your ideas and your participation.
ALBION – The Orleans County Department of Social Services (DSS) is reminding families, even those without earned income, to file a New York State income tax return so they can take full advantage of the Empire State Child Credit.
New this year (for Tax Year 2025), households with the lowest income, or even no income, can receive the maximum for this credit.
Families can receive up to $1,000 per child under age 4 and up to $330 per child ages 4 to 16. They may also be eligible for other federal and state tax credits. These funds can be used to pay taxes owed, if any, and provide additional cash back to families.
“This program is specifically targeted to families with children, regardless of income, but in order to receive the benefit, you have to file a tax return,” said Orleans County DSS Commissioner Holli Nenni. “It is important that families understand they can receive this cash back even if they don’t normally file taxes or haven’t filed taxes in a while.”
Nenni stressed that filing a tax return for the Empire State Child Credit and receiving cash back will not impact Medicaid, SNAP, Cash Assistance, SSI, or Housing Assistance benefits.
For more information on the program, including how to get assistance in preparing a tax return, visit www.otda.ny.gov/childcredit.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 March 2026 at 3:38 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – East Bank Street reopened to traffic today around noon after the fencing was removed that was put up 15 days ago on Feb. 17.
The fencing was added after a roof collapsed at 20 East Bank Street. Those debris have been removed from the third floor of that building, and the site has been deemed structurally sound, said Chris Kinter, the Village of Albion code enforcement officer.
The owner of the building, Frank Corso, is determining whether to put a temporary roof on the building or a permanent one. Once a roof is back on that will stop water from coming into the building, the second-floor apartments should soon after be available again to tenants, Kinter said.
The building at the end of street at 28 East Bank has reopened its apartments and the first floor storefront also can be used again, Kinter said.
The sidewalk near 20 East Bank St. remains off limits to pedestrians.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 March 2026 at 11:48 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: A pedestrian bridge is planned to be built across the Oak Orchard Creek along Maple Ridge Road (Route 31A) in Medina. This area also will get about 2,000 feet of new sidewalks.
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board hasn’t approved the bid for a pedestrian bridge and sidewalks along Maple Ridge Road because it is awaiting a recommendation from the engineer on the project.
Four construction companies submitted bids for the project. The apparent low bidder, however, isn’t on the state registry for contractors. That is requiring more background work and research from the engineering firm, Barton & Loguidice. The registry verifies that contractors and subcontractors are in compliance with labor laws, including prevailing wage requirements.
Four bids for the project were opened on Feb. 18 and include: $837,448 by RJT Construction Services in Rochester, $943,088 by Keeler Construction in Barre, $977,000 by Rochester Earth Inc. in Churchville, and $1,058,485 by C.P. Ward in Scottsville.
The new bridge and sidewalks have been several years in the waiting. The village in 2021 was awarded a $1,094,196 grant to construct the bridge and sidewalks as part of a multi-use path for pedestrians and bicycles. The funding was awarded by the state through a federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant.
That is covering 80 percent of the project. The remaining 20 percent will be paid locally from the village ($55,000), Town of Shelby ($130,000) and Orleans County ($97,500). The money comes from a revolving loan fund that was administered by the Orleans Economic Development Agency. The state in 2019 required funds be ended with the money staying in the community for projects if they are for handicapped accessible initiatives or if they assist a neighborhood that is predominantly low-income.
The section of Maple Ridge Road by the creek has become busier with a housing development, several new businesses and also the GCC campus center. There are also about 200 available acres in the area being promoted for development by the EDA.
I am Dean Bellack, a 42-year resident of this community and a business owner who spent decades operating in a highly competitive environment where partnerships were not optional — they were survival.
If people didn’t come together, I didn’t eat. That experience shaped how I think, how I work, and how I solve problems. With all respect to the others in this race, that background sets me apart.
I am running for Village Trustee because we cannot continue operating the way we have been. You may disagree with many things in this village — and that’s healthy — but I challenge anyone to disagree with this:
We live in a politically insignificant area, in a state that is crushing us with costs, and our residents cannot continue absorbing tax increases year after year.
Those are facts. And facts require action.
The only way to change the curve is to change how we do business. We cannot keep thinking like a village of 6,000 people trying to solve 21st century problems alone. We must build partnerships — with our towns, our county, our nonprofits, our schools, and our neighboring communities. We must expand our grant efforts dramatically. And we must stop treating collaboration as optional.
My public history shows these results in action.
When I started at the YMCA, the organization was broke, the roof was leaking, and we were dealing with the aftermath of a financial scandal. We were one small, isolated branch with no path forward. We came together, completely remodeled the building, and spent two years working toward a merger with the GLOW YMCA. That merger created stability, doubled revenue, and built an endowment that now funds repairs and long term needs. The YMCA is strong today because we changed the model.
When I volunteered to lead the United Way, we were broke and struggling with trust issues. We rebuilt that organization from the ground up — shifting from a small fundraising group to one that wrote grants for nonprofits, secured county contracts, and achieved financial stability. We created an endowment, restored credibility, and then made the bold decision to drop the United Way model entirely and reform as Orleans Community Connects. Today, OCC is positioned to add asset building roles across the county and bring in resources that individual organizations could never secure alone.
These are not theories. These are results — built through partnerships, planning, and a willingness to change how things are done.
I am for services. I am for a strong, functioning village. But the only way to protect services without breaking taxpayers is to change the model.
If you want to know how I will operate as Trustee, it is simple:
My votes will support partnerships that reduce costs and increase capacity.
My direction will push for greatly expanded grant proposals and shared applications.
My decisions will focus on what is necessary, not what is easy or familiar.
I have lived here for 42 years. I have invested hard in assets here. I owned 43 rental units and improved each. I have built businesses here. I have served this community in multiple roles. And I believe deeply that Medina can thrive — but only if we stop pretending that doing things the same way will produce different results.
It is time to think differently, work differently, and lead differently.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 March 2026 at 10:46 am
Photo courtesy of Erin Townsend Photography: Some of the Roy-Hart cast members in the upcoming production of The Addams Family include back row: Jaycie Heck as Grandma, Willow Clarke as Lurch, Collin Nicosia as Uncle Fester, and Fawn Elko as Wednesday Addams. Front row: Mailynn Dick as Morticia Addams, John Brigham as Gomez Addams and Isaac Schultz as Pugsley Addams.
It’s almost showtime for the local school districts with their annual musical productions.
Here are the upcoming shows:
Kendall Junior-Senior High School – Mary Poppins. The shows are at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 13; and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, in the JSHS Auditorium. Tickets are $7, and can be purchased at the main office. “We can’t wait for you to see this supercalifragilisticexpialidocious production!” the school district stated.
Albion Middle School Theater Department – School House Rock, Live. The shows are Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 14 at 12 and 7 p.m. in the MS Auditorium. Tickets are $5 at the door. “Thanks in advance for your support! Students cannot wait to see you in the audience,” the district stated.
Holley Middle/High School – Shrek the Musical. Shows will be at Holley Junior Senior High School Auditorium on March 13 at 7 p.m., and March 14 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online (click here) or at the Guidance Office. “Come see Holley High School’s talented student performers bring this magical show to life,” the district stated.
Roy-Hart Central School – The Addams Family. Shows are at the Roy-Hart HS Auditorium on Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 14 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 15, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. Click here to purchase tickets online.
Barker Jr.-Sr. High School – The Wizard of Oz. Shows will be at the Herbert F. Ludwig Fine Arts Hall on Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 14 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 15 at 3 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students. To order tickets online, click here.
Lyndonville High School – Peter Pan. Shows are Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 22, at 2 p.m. Tickets will be $5. They can be purchased online (click here). “The production features students in grades 7-12. Join us at Lyndonville’s Stroyan Auditorium in March for this fantastic production!” the district stated.
Medina Junior-Senior High School – High School Musical. Shows are in the school auditorium on Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 21 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12. They can be purchased online. Click here for more information.
Albion High School Drama Department – Annie. Shows will be in the MS Auditorium on Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, March 28 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 presale or at the door.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 4 March 2026 at 8:50 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Angelina DiMascio, left, librarian at the Royalton-Hartland Community Library in Middleport, and Georgia Thomas of Medina discuss plans for an upcoming tea March 12 at the library, presented by English Rose Tea Shoppe, where Thomas volunteers. Here Thomas shows two types of tea cups used centuries ago. The cup on the left has a ledge with an opening in it for men with a mustache. At right is a Nippon porcelain tea cup made in Japan in the 1800s.
MIDDLEPORT – When the Royalton-Hartland Community Library had a request from a Friend of the Library to do a tea, the English Rose Tea Shoppe immediately came to mind.
Library director Angelina DiMascio contacted the tea shop’s owner Cindy Robinson, who turned the request over to tea connoisseur Georgia Thomas.
Georgia Thomas will demonstrate how to make tea at a program March 12 at Royalton-Hartland Community Library in Middleport. After polishing it, she will serve from this tea service which was once a gift to the late Robert H. Newell and is on display at the Medina Historical Society. Newell was founder of the Newell Shirt Factory in Medina.
Thomas not only volunteers to work at the tea shop, but has been drinking tea since she was a child.
Thomas will preside at a program about tea at 6 p.m. March 12 at the library, located at 9 Vernon St. Attendees are invited to dress in their fanciest tea party apparel.
“To me, tea is a family thing,” Thomas said. “My grandmother was Canadian, so she was very British and drank a lot of tea. Mom always made tea and she made tea sandwiches for Dr. Leone’s wife here in Medina. And being an Army wife, I spent a lot of afternoons drinking tea.”
Thomas’ presentation will include how tea became famous, all the instruments used to make and serve tea and foods that go along with tea. She will share how the Dutch and British Tea companies fought over doing business with the East Indies Trading Company.
“We actually had tea here in New Amsterdam, now New York, before the British ever knew what tea was,” Thomas said.
An interesting fact is that originally tea cups didn’t have handles. Tea, sugar and cream would be mixed in the cup and then it was poured into the saucer, which it was drunk from as the cup would be too hot to handle.
The first cup with a handle was designed by a potter in Britain by the name of Wedgewood, Thomas said.
Special cups with a ledge across it and a hole to drink from were used by men with a mustache.
At the March 12 presentation, Thomas will make and serve tea from a silver plated tea service which was owned by Robert H. Newell of Medina’s Newell Shirt Factory. The set had been given to him by a fire company and donated to the Medina Historical Society after Newell’s death. Thomas will have to spend a considerable amount of time polishing the tarnished set.
DiMascio said the program on tea was very timely with television programs such as “Downton Abbey” and “Bridgerton” being so popular right now.
“It is wonderful to learn about the history of tea and bring people in the community together,” DiMascio said.
The library has a full schedule of programs for the entire family all year, according to DiMascio.
One is story time for children up to age 5. Homeschool Hour is popular with home-schooled students and takes place in March at 2 p.m. on the 17th. March 17 events will also feature leprechaun traps at 2 p.m. and a Tween/Teen Tuesday program for youth 10 and older.
Coming up will be a community craft supply swap, in which the public can donate any gently used craft supplies they don’t want or need. On March 28, people can come in and take what they want.
On March 31 the library will offer adult craft night, where they will make spring decoupage plates.
To register for programs, especially the tea presentation on March 12, call the library at (716) 735-3281 or e-mail mdtrpt@nioga.org.
So President Trump orders the bombing of Iran. He says to stop their ability to build a nuclear bomb which he already said the strikes on Iran months ago completely destroyed their capability to do so.
Then he indicates regime change is a goal. His Secretary of State says that Israel was going to bomb Iran so the US had to join them to protect US personnel and interests in the area and regime change was not an objective.
Hostilities commence and the crap hits the fan. US military installations in the area are not significantly hardened and Iranian munitions kill US service members and destroy assets. The commander in chief says there will be casualties as this happens in war, brilliant military mind he is. Then we lose three multimillion dollar aircraft to friendly fire. Actually our own planes were shot down with air defenses supplied by the US.
Iran targets our embassies and consulates in the area and civilian airports, stranding thousands of American citizens and the state department says we can’t help you and you are on your own and get out anyway you can.
So here we are. My take is when you fire every senior experienced and seasoned military leader, others resign rather than support the regime and replace them with Trump loyalists, the force is weakened. Especially when you have a totally incompetent Secretary of Defense.
During the DOGE purge many senior State Department staff were fired or resigned causing a large gap in the ability to anticipate, plan and protect citizens abroad. This is the most reckless and irresponsible administration in the history of the country. This nightmare will only stop when Americans wake up. So again I ask still not enough?
