Although no one has seen the charges, MAGA Republican lawmakers reacted to the decision of a grand jury of ordinary citizens to charge a former president by preemptively accusing Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg of abusing the power of the government against MAGA Republicans.
"Those who call for a new post-liberal order want to “reconquer public institutions all over the United States,” as Christopher Rufo put it after Florida governor Ron DeSantis appointed him to the board of New College as part of a mission to turn the progressive school into a right-wing bastion. “If we can take this high-risk, high-reward gambit and turn it into a victory,” Rufo told Michelle Goldberg of the New York Times, “we’re going to see conservative state legislators starting to reconquer public institutions all over the United States.”"
This is the key strategy that the post-liberals have adopted and it starts with local elections at the lowest level--the town councils and local school boards all over American. It is where the fight against them needs to be fought--and it is where and how we need to fight for and defend our Democracy.
Lots of us followers of Heather have struggled with how best to make a difference. It just requires that you go to these meetings and speak to show support, to get to know your local candidates and support those who understand what is at stake.
Heather has given us lots of ammunition to use--clear and cogent explanations of what is happening and why it matters and how the post liberal white Christian nationalism threatens democracy.
So the “lock her up” people who for years pleaded for the legal system to be weaponized to incarcerate a political opponent are now crying crocodile tears and are accusing the Manhattan district attorney and the members of the grand jury of weaponizing the legal system because their leader has been indicted. It’s true; every accusation by the current GOP is a confession.
“This is an extreme move to use the resources of Congress to interfere with a criminal investigation at the state and local level and block an indictment.” It is, he said, “the kind of political culture you find in authoritarian dictatorships.”
The scary and sad and infuriating thing is that Sargent is not exaggerating. This is part and parcel of how despotic states routinely operate.
I would like to remind everyone here that over 1 million people died of Covid. Some are still dying. Not all were Repubs but many were so they won’t be able to vote. We cannot lose that perspective. We are dealing with the worst of the worse crazies in Congress. They are quite frankly, equal in their nonsensical rhetoric. Let’s take our fear out of it. What’s left? Some very worried and scared folks who know their asses may be next in getting indicted. This is their way of lashing out. They need to create diversions, just like their fearless leader taught them. Be not afraid of them as they are desperate men and women.
I am getting progressively depressed about the future of this country. Predictions of a new "Civil War" are starting to sound increasingly realistic, rather than fantastical. Of course, such a Civil War would not be a "War Between the States," but a highly disorganized right-wing insurrection, in all parts of the country against the existing institutions of our Democracy and Rule of Law. And it would be violent because of the high prevalence of weapons of war in the hands of ordinary American people.
In any case, what will undoubtedly happen--indeed, is already happening--is an increasingly growing emigration of educated, liberal Americans out of this benighted country, into other countries not run by brain-washed, right-wing hoards of undereducated White racist rednecks.
In spite of my fear from the violence and ungodly rhetoric from the neo confederates, I am learning - from your scholarship and soul - and applying it every way I know how - as is my patriotic duty.
This 'nouveau retrumplican' party is revealing its authoritarian roots, attempting to hurdle the United States toward a fascist dictatorship at full speed ahead. They want a country where white men rule, women 'know their place', and children quietly obey their fathers. They need that blithering dummy to 'pretend lead' them because he has worked the 'patriotic clown' figure to perfection with the semi-literate cult. Thank goodness for people like District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the intelligent voters of New York, The Attorney General, and Department of Justice, and the legal segment of the City of Atlanta Georgia; with these real patriots we will prevail. Thank you Dr. Richardson for keeping us so well informed
These MAGA Republicans are making me feel I need to pinch myself to wake up from this frightening dream of their hypocrisy and forcing a minority rule theocracy on us. Oh, I forgot ... we are "woke" already -- this is not a dream!
After reading this extraordinary article from Dr. Richardson, and these extremely detailed replies, I find that everything going through my head has been pretty well versed.
I would like to point out, and remind everyone, that we the people have a hell of a lot of work ahead of us. Not only for the 2024 election, but every election after that. We must, MUST, get these radical republicans out of office.
We know every one of them have committed crimes against democracy. We know that every one of them are interested in one thing, and one thing only. Getting TFG back in office so they can finish turning this country from a democracy to a dictatorship. IF TFG gets back in office, the United States 🇺🇸 of America will cease to exist as it is today. As our forefathers intended it to be.
When TFG gained access to the Oval Office, he started his attack. He did away with free trade, he did away with our involvement with NATO, and other world organizations we had been member, and a leading country of, so we would be lined up to ally with the likes of Russia, China, North Korea, and other communist nations in the world.
We have our work cut out for us, across this nation, to get these republicans out of office in all levels of government. We need to identify them in every single state in this country, list them for all to see, and fight to get them removed from office.
We have a lot of work to get done, and a short time to do it. I’m confident that democracy will prevail. We just have to work hard to keep it.
Hold on a minute. The sky really isn't falling! Remember this. There is a Democratic President who happens to have veto power, a Democratic Senate, an extremely capable Cabinet and we are internationally respected once again. At this very moment the Government of the United States of America is functioning exactly as it should. All 3 branches are still separate and equal.
As to the House of Representatives. There are 435 members in the House. Of these 435 members:
Committee on the Judiciary:
24 Republicans (9 trumpers)
19 Democrats
Committee on Oversight:
25 Republicans (11 trumpers)
20 Democrats
This makes 20 trumpers out of the total 88 members on these Committees.
Now ask yourself this. What laws have they passed? What has been Bragg's responses to Jordan? If you have a moment from needlessly worrying watch some tube moments of Raskin, Bush, Porter, AOC, Garcia, Goldman, Connolly, Moskowitz etc. successfully rebutting, humiliating and holding to task the unprepared, fact free, circus work of the Republican members. The Democratic members of the Committee and the Democratic witnesses came prepared, aggressive and credible.
Sargent is exaggerating. He is selling papers/clicks. Stay out of the rabbit hole because we have better things to do. I strongly urge you to check out Simon Rosenberg on his Substack blog Hominum.
I must be naive to have believed that guys that claim to be Republican moderates, like Youngkin and Jeb Bush, would allow the legal process in New York to proceed without legitimizing the far-right response.
I think Trump needs to be held to account but I find no pleasure in his indictment nor will I his conviction. That said, I have faith in the jury system that all of these Republican politicians appear not to trust when it is one of them subject to trial and not a young black male.
That juxtaposition needs to be spoken. It also needs to be repeated ad nauseam that it was Attorney General Barr’s federal Justice Department that not only prosecuted Cohen for the same crime, stating it was done at the bequest and interest of “Individual One” (Trump) who was not prosecuted because he was a sitting president. Cohen, after his release, was re-imprisoned because he he wouldn’t silence himself.
Their defense of Trump and attacks on Bragg are de facto proof that they do not believe in equal justice under the law. It is they who weaponize the levers if government and we need to be vigilant in protecting the rule of law from fascist attacks.
"The position of those embracing a post-liberal order is a far cry from the Reagan Republicans’ claim to want small government and free markets."
It seems to me that Reaganomics was essentially a fraud and was always a slight-of-hand coup by plutocrats. For all of the vocal government-bashing, Reagan Republicans have sure been drawn to the levers of governmental power, displaying by many forms or antidemocratic treachery that they want them all for themselves. No one want's to be micromanaged, and the cry of "small government" has some appeal to it, but notice how heavy-handed government has become, even under Reagan, and certainly Bush the Second, and Trump. It's only those features of government that aid or protect the disadvantaged, the public interest, or corporate or official accountability, that have been ended, eroded, or sidetracked. Republicans actually love government, so long as it's by them, and for them.
And is a "free market" one (as in a free society) in which there is equal opportunity? Or is it one that puts up no barrier to monopolies and cartels (trusts)? Republicans appear to very much prefer the latter description; but then, is substantial domination by any segment of society of the rest of its citizens, economically, politically, or both, meaningfully labeled "free"?
Thank you Heather Cox Richardson for another enlightening letter. Sadly, I think you have brought to light how this deranged group are continuing their assault on the very democracy that we all love. The right wing fanatics have always been afraid of letting go of their power and respecting the rights of us ordinary Americans. It reminds me of the millions of uninformed and easily lead people who put men like Hitler, Stalin, Bolsonaro, Noriega, Castro, etc., etc. on a pedestal and then followed them to their own doom. I am saddened and frightened that they seemingly have such loud voices and power. We can take away their power with our votes...their loud voices..hopefully, that will be their issue
To counter the distorted MAGA narrative advanced not just by Republican leaders but also by a bloc I sense increasingly is abating, I contend we are obligated repeatedly to amplify that the system that led to Trump’s indictment demonstrates that the rule of law depends on our having institutions we can trust, a mutuality that, in turn, depends on the idea that no one is above the law. I imagine that all of us at some time since 2016 likely contemplated a possible fatal weakening of our civic institutions and also a Presidency eager and able to consolidate power, wherein the rule of law could be subjugated to an individual. Accordingly, however important other things are, speaking for myself, I take heart from sensing that the mind of the country, overall, at this moment, is focused on the idea that protecting the key mechanisms of American democracy entails holding everyone, as the facts warrant, accountable for their actions.
"Those who call for a new post-liberal order want to “reconquer public institutions all over the United States,” as Christopher Rufo put it after Florida governor Ron DeSantis appointed him to the board of New College as part of a mission to turn the progressive school into a right-wing bastion. “If we can take this high-risk, high-reward gambit and turn it into a victory,” Rufo told Michelle Goldberg of the New York Times, “we’re going to see conservative state legislators starting to reconquer public institutions all over the United States.”"
This is the key strategy that the post-liberals have adopted and it starts with local elections at the lowest level--the town councils and local school boards all over American. It is where the fight against them needs to be fought--and it is where and how we need to fight for and defend our Democracy.
Lots of us followers of Heather have struggled with how best to make a difference. It just requires that you go to these meetings and speak to show support, to get to know your local candidates and support those who understand what is at stake.
Heather has given us lots of ammunition to use--clear and cogent explanations of what is happening and why it matters and how the post liberal white Christian nationalism threatens democracy.
So the “lock her up” people who for years pleaded for the legal system to be weaponized to incarcerate a political opponent are now crying crocodile tears and are accusing the Manhattan district attorney and the members of the grand jury of weaponizing the legal system because their leader has been indicted. It’s true; every accusation by the current GOP is a confession.
“This is an extreme move to use the resources of Congress to interfere with a criminal investigation at the state and local level and block an indictment.” It is, he said, “the kind of political culture you find in authoritarian dictatorships.”
The scary and sad and infuriating thing is that Sargent is not exaggerating. This is part and parcel of how despotic states routinely operate.
I would like to remind everyone here that over 1 million people died of Covid. Some are still dying. Not all were Repubs but many were so they won’t be able to vote. We cannot lose that perspective. We are dealing with the worst of the worse crazies in Congress. They are quite frankly, equal in their nonsensical rhetoric. Let’s take our fear out of it. What’s left? Some very worried and scared folks who know their asses may be next in getting indicted. This is their way of lashing out. They need to create diversions, just like their fearless leader taught them. Be not afraid of them as they are desperate men and women.
I am getting progressively depressed about the future of this country. Predictions of a new "Civil War" are starting to sound increasingly realistic, rather than fantastical. Of course, such a Civil War would not be a "War Between the States," but a highly disorganized right-wing insurrection, in all parts of the country against the existing institutions of our Democracy and Rule of Law. And it would be violent because of the high prevalence of weapons of war in the hands of ordinary American people.
In any case, what will undoubtedly happen--indeed, is already happening--is an increasingly growing emigration of educated, liberal Americans out of this benighted country, into other countries not run by brain-washed, right-wing hoards of undereducated White racist rednecks.
Thank you Heather.
In spite of my fear from the violence and ungodly rhetoric from the neo confederates, I am learning - from your scholarship and soul - and applying it every way I know how - as is my patriotic duty.
This 'nouveau retrumplican' party is revealing its authoritarian roots, attempting to hurdle the United States toward a fascist dictatorship at full speed ahead. They want a country where white men rule, women 'know their place', and children quietly obey their fathers. They need that blithering dummy to 'pretend lead' them because he has worked the 'patriotic clown' figure to perfection with the semi-literate cult. Thank goodness for people like District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the intelligent voters of New York, The Attorney General, and Department of Justice, and the legal segment of the City of Atlanta Georgia; with these real patriots we will prevail. Thank you Dr. Richardson for keeping us so well informed
These MAGA Republicans are making me feel I need to pinch myself to wake up from this frightening dream of their hypocrisy and forcing a minority rule theocracy on us. Oh, I forgot ... we are "woke" already -- this is not a dream!
After reading this extraordinary article from Dr. Richardson, and these extremely detailed replies, I find that everything going through my head has been pretty well versed.
I would like to point out, and remind everyone, that we the people have a hell of a lot of work ahead of us. Not only for the 2024 election, but every election after that. We must, MUST, get these radical republicans out of office.
We know every one of them have committed crimes against democracy. We know that every one of them are interested in one thing, and one thing only. Getting TFG back in office so they can finish turning this country from a democracy to a dictatorship. IF TFG gets back in office, the United States 🇺🇸 of America will cease to exist as it is today. As our forefathers intended it to be.
When TFG gained access to the Oval Office, he started his attack. He did away with free trade, he did away with our involvement with NATO, and other world organizations we had been member, and a leading country of, so we would be lined up to ally with the likes of Russia, China, North Korea, and other communist nations in the world.
We have our work cut out for us, across this nation, to get these republicans out of office in all levels of government. We need to identify them in every single state in this country, list them for all to see, and fight to get them removed from office.
We have a lot of work to get done, and a short time to do it. I’m confident that democracy will prevail. We just have to work hard to keep it.
Hold on a minute. The sky really isn't falling! Remember this. There is a Democratic President who happens to have veto power, a Democratic Senate, an extremely capable Cabinet and we are internationally respected once again. At this very moment the Government of the United States of America is functioning exactly as it should. All 3 branches are still separate and equal.
As to the House of Representatives. There are 435 members in the House. Of these 435 members:
Committee on the Judiciary:
24 Republicans (9 trumpers)
19 Democrats
Committee on Oversight:
25 Republicans (11 trumpers)
20 Democrats
This makes 20 trumpers out of the total 88 members on these Committees.
Now ask yourself this. What laws have they passed? What has been Bragg's responses to Jordan? If you have a moment from needlessly worrying watch some tube moments of Raskin, Bush, Porter, AOC, Garcia, Goldman, Connolly, Moskowitz etc. successfully rebutting, humiliating and holding to task the unprepared, fact free, circus work of the Republican members. The Democratic members of the Committee and the Democratic witnesses came prepared, aggressive and credible.
Sargent is exaggerating. He is selling papers/clicks. Stay out of the rabbit hole because we have better things to do. I strongly urge you to check out Simon Rosenberg on his Substack blog Hominum.
I must be naive to have believed that guys that claim to be Republican moderates, like Youngkin and Jeb Bush, would allow the legal process in New York to proceed without legitimizing the far-right response.
I think Trump needs to be held to account but I find no pleasure in his indictment nor will I his conviction. That said, I have faith in the jury system that all of these Republican politicians appear not to trust when it is one of them subject to trial and not a young black male.
That juxtaposition needs to be spoken. It also needs to be repeated ad nauseam that it was Attorney General Barr’s federal Justice Department that not only prosecuted Cohen for the same crime, stating it was done at the bequest and interest of “Individual One” (Trump) who was not prosecuted because he was a sitting president. Cohen, after his release, was re-imprisoned because he he wouldn’t silence himself.
Their defense of Trump and attacks on Bragg are de facto proof that they do not believe in equal justice under the law. It is they who weaponize the levers if government and we need to be vigilant in protecting the rule of law from fascist attacks.
Why can't these scum go catch COVID and die? Make America Great Again with their permanent departures.
"The position of those embracing a post-liberal order is a far cry from the Reagan Republicans’ claim to want small government and free markets."
It seems to me that Reaganomics was essentially a fraud and was always a slight-of-hand coup by plutocrats. For all of the vocal government-bashing, Reagan Republicans have sure been drawn to the levers of governmental power, displaying by many forms or antidemocratic treachery that they want them all for themselves. No one want's to be micromanaged, and the cry of "small government" has some appeal to it, but notice how heavy-handed government has become, even under Reagan, and certainly Bush the Second, and Trump. It's only those features of government that aid or protect the disadvantaged, the public interest, or corporate or official accountability, that have been ended, eroded, or sidetracked. Republicans actually love government, so long as it's by them, and for them.
And is a "free market" one (as in a free society) in which there is equal opportunity? Or is it one that puts up no barrier to monopolies and cartels (trusts)? Republicans appear to very much prefer the latter description; but then, is substantial domination by any segment of society of the rest of its citizens, economically, politically, or both, meaningfully labeled "free"?
Thank you Heather Cox Richardson for another enlightening letter. Sadly, I think you have brought to light how this deranged group are continuing their assault on the very democracy that we all love. The right wing fanatics have always been afraid of letting go of their power and respecting the rights of us ordinary Americans. It reminds me of the millions of uninformed and easily lead people who put men like Hitler, Stalin, Bolsonaro, Noriega, Castro, etc., etc. on a pedestal and then followed them to their own doom. I am saddened and frightened that they seemingly have such loud voices and power. We can take away their power with our votes...their loud voices..hopefully, that will be their issue
To counter the distorted MAGA narrative advanced not just by Republican leaders but also by a bloc I sense increasingly is abating, I contend we are obligated repeatedly to amplify that the system that led to Trump’s indictment demonstrates that the rule of law depends on our having institutions we can trust, a mutuality that, in turn, depends on the idea that no one is above the law. I imagine that all of us at some time since 2016 likely contemplated a possible fatal weakening of our civic institutions and also a Presidency eager and able to consolidate power, wherein the rule of law could be subjugated to an individual. Accordingly, however important other things are, speaking for myself, I take heart from sensing that the mind of the country, overall, at this moment, is focused on the idea that protecting the key mechanisms of American democracy entails holding everyone, as the facts warrant, accountable for their actions.
Thank you Heather for the 3 truest words:
REPUBLICAN'TS are wrong.
Criminals belong in jail not in the White House.