Last night, lawyers for Ed Vallejo, one of 11 members of the right-wing Oath Keepers gang accused of seditious conspiracy for their actions surrounding January 6, filed a motion for Vallejo’s release from pretrial jail.
It's fair to say that democracy will not stand unless the perpetrators of the insurrection are found guilty and punished according to the law. If not, they'll escalate their next assault to finally achieve their treasonous goals. I for one am in awe of what the Jan. 6 committee has learned. And I'm increasingly confident that the Justice Department will successfully prosecute these crimes, despite the high bar of proof required.
Barring insurrectionist Marjorie Taylor Greene from seeking re-election and eventually others in Congress would be a thunderbolt of deterrence.
Michael, I'm hesitant to get my confidence up too high until charges against the movers and shakers are filed. For instance, I can't imagine how Guilfoyle, under oath, could sit for 9 hours before the committee and not have her pants on fire by the end of her testimony. She's a former prosecuting attorney so she knows what's at stake in no uncertain terms. She had to make a very clear, cut and dried choice – perjure herself and lie like a rug or tell the truth and throw Donald & Co. under the bus. I don't see the latter happening. So, will Guilfoyle and others ultimately be tried for lying under oath rather than planning and financing the January 6th attack on Congress? Time will tell.
As for MTG – she will be able to hold it together for precisely two minutes before she unravels and reverts to type. Will she be removed from the ballot? I hope so, but I have my doubts. And, if she remains on the ballot are there enough Republicans/Independents unhappy with her to flip Democrat? Here, too, I have my doubts.
Daria, I actually think Guilfoyle might actually throw some of the tRumpsters under/into the dumpster. That she sat there for 9 hours and didn't plead the fifth a million times indicates to me that she had something to say that kept the committee in thrall. We'll see. As for Ms three names, I agree she'll revert to type after only a few minutes. But, that may get her thrown off the ballot. We can only hope.
I think we really need to redefine smart. Getting through any kind of higher education doesn't preclude being narrow-minded, bigoted, greedy, self-serving, etc.
I know at least one attorney where this applies. She had a sweet job until she put something up her nose. She was also irritatingly regressive and ended up married to a predator. So she may have passed the bar, but....
Sociopath... that's one I left out. High I.Q., sociopaths / narcissists, and recently I read about a new classification and named variety *of narcissist. Can't recall the name just now, but I'm certain the term will soon make it's way back around - especially by the time all these investigations are done.
Both schools are notorious for letting in not that bright people who have connections or pull strings. These two show they are above nothing to get their way. I would not count on fair entrance or work while there.
She actually did pretty well as a prosecutor - check out her Wikipedia entry.. She also used to date Gavin Newsom. She wasn't always a MAGA, but once inside that Maga-echo chamber/grifter mindset, she apparently became mentally lazy. Let's see if her cooperation with the committee sharpened her mind or if she was just extending the grift.
Guilfoyle was a young, attractive assistant DA when she prosecuted a couple whose dogs attacked and killed a neighbor. It was a very high profile case in SF and filled with all sorts of juicy gossip and tabloid fodder. Was Guilfoyle a talented attorney? Perhaps. She milked it for all it was worth. The case gave her the publicity that eventually propelled her to Fox, then becoming tabloid fodder herself. Like many others in the former guy’s orbit, she believed/s she is just so very special, pledging allegiance to a man who holds no allegiance to anyone but himself. May she and djt jr have a long happy marriage.
Smarts and ambition have nothing to do with morality and ethics. I can come up with a whole list of smart unethical people with Justice Thomas at the top....
Chad Mizelli has moved-on from tfg's appointment of him in an "Acting" Homeland Security position to work for Jared Jushner 's new "investment" vehicle; $2 Billion from Saudi quid pro quo sources.
Guilfoyle was not known for diligent prosecutorial work in court. Guilofoyle was the "2nd Chair" in an infamous SF case ( vicious dogs kill neighbor in the Hallway) before being hired at the Fox propganda outlet.
"Guilfoyle studied at University of California, Davis, and the University of San Francisco, and was a prosecuting attorney in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California. She was an assistant district attorney in San Francisco from 2000 to 2004."
Thank you Daria for that deeper background. Speaking of operatives, I am very conerned about the role of Trump appointed Judge Kathryn Mizelle ( 34 I think ) who sits in the Middle District of Florida in position to review a number of Florida cases. Judge Mizelle just struck down jet travel mask mandates -- a ruling that is now being challenged by the DOJ. Mizelle pushes Federalist Society Sophistry & is a former clerk to Justice Thomas. Mizelle's spouse is Chad Mizelle who was a Trump "Acting" General Counsel for Homeland Security. My major concern is Judge K. Mizelle is acting as well with more power.
The troublesome thing, too, is the fact that Mizelle has potentially 50 or more years a head of her on the bench. She was rated unqualified for a seat on the bench by the ABA because of her significant lack of trial experience. But then, we're stuck with Amy Coney Barrett as well, who is definitely unqualified to fill the roll of supreme court justice.
Those federal judgeships are an example of the kind of smart that has nothing to do with books and everything to do with the combination of cunning, ruthlessness, and power (or the hunger for it). The Federalist Society compiled and guarded the list--the qualifications were young, healthy, far-right politics, manageable. The held onto that list until the right moment. They gave that list to Mitch McConnell. Mitch McConnell presented it to TFG as his negotiating tool for getting his way on some major issues.
It's also remarkable to me, and impressive, that the Federalist Society has operated under the radar for so long.
Kathryn Kimball Mizelle “…after a thorough peer review evaluation and careful deliberation - that the nominee presently does not meet the requisite minimum standard of experience necessary to perform the responsibilities required by the high office of a federal trial judge. …”
I think, in real terms, Guilfoyle is an opportunist, aka, a gold digger. I mean, she goes from being the Governor of California's wife to the "fiancee" of a "billionaire" president's son. She may soon find out the hard way that all that glitters is not gold.
Daria I feel that for well over a year we have been watching a video of the Titanic approaching an iceberg. It’s past time for a massive legal crash, perpetrators struggling for lifeboats, and many of these rats being tried, convicted, and sent to the slammer.
On Watergate, many of the perps went to jail. If this does not occur as an aftermath of the BIG LIE [refuted in at least 60 court decisions] and the 1/6 insurrection, then justice and the law will have been tossed into the garbage. If the Stench Court doesn’t acknowledge this, then they should take their ‘sacrosanct originalism’ and shove it up the Constitution’s ass.
As Ruth Ben Ghiat wrote "...ballot box victories alone don’t stop autocrats but the law can. “It takes prosecution and conviction to deflate their personality cults,” Ben-Ghiat said. “That’s what it takes.”"
Unfortunately I have to agree with you Daria. My gut feel is that unless something happens to hold people accountable the upcoming midterms are going to show a weak turnout. And I wouldn't blame people. This slow moving coup is mowing America down and no one seems to be able to stop it.
"Nearly two years later — after a riot, an impeachment, and a monomaniacal campaign to punish the Republicans who tried to hold him accountable — Ben-Ghiat has ample proof of her thesis. And she professes even more concern that Trump’s sway over the GOP has permanently transformed the party’s political culture. “He’s changed the party to an authoritarian party culture,” she told me. “So not only do you go after external enemies, but you go after internal enemies. You’re not allowed to have any dissent.”
With the midterms and some key governors races approaching, Ben-Ghiat is looking around the corner again. She sees dangerous signs of autocracy seeping into state houses and governors’ mansions where leaders such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are executing policies and enacting laws that mimic Trump but with a smoother, less bombastic style."
Barbara, thanks for the Ben-Ghiat piece. Her statement, regarding the lack of a unified message is something many here have brought up time and again.
The republicans use the drip, drip, drip of the same message over and over again at all levels, from the top down. We do not. As Ben-Ghiat says, "Democrats don’t have that force of concentration of message, that repetition, and that’s a failing in this [political] environment.
Dems don’t have Rupert and the lies blasted at 90 decibels 24/7. And the MSM is intrigued with the tinsel at Fox. We need Bloomberg, any hope he still loves us???
You may be right, Barbara, but I’m afraid I will blame people for not voting in the midterms as it’s probable that the very continuance of democracy depends on the 2022 election outcomes. I see no grievance more important than that, though, of course, I strongly hope for accountability as well.
I will blame them, too, I'm afraid. The argument that all is hopeless and one vote won't matter drives me mad. Maybe it won't. Do it anyway. I try hard to grab hold of each shred of hope but, honestly, I can't say I see any in this landscape. We are not winning this war, and I do believe it is a war. Way back from Trump's 2015 campaign, the first move toward an authoritarian take-over was in play--create chaos, confuse reality, move so fast and make so much noise that no one can follow or adjust and maintain their normal daily way of observing, taking a breath, then responding. We all were driven nearly mad by the sheer volume, then a kind of numbness set in, then the fear. But even the fear was unreliable because we didn't have time even to be afraid about one thing before the next dervish whirled by. And we were certainly driven into enough of a stupor to be entirely unable to think, to connect the dots, understand the bigger picture of what was happening, and to come up with a strategy to combat it.
Keep screaming. I intend to keep making good trouble for as long as my breath holds out. I look back on half a century of what sometimes seems like the same darned war and I'm sure there are people who might or might not care about me but who definitely wonder if I'm ever going to shut up. I hope not I hope we all keep yelling out heads off because this situation looks to me like one of those perfect. storms where the world might actually be undergoing a paradigm shift.
I was talking with a friend at lunch today about all this. Our feeling is that the 2022 midterms will tell the story. Our fingers are crossed the January 6 Commission and Garland come through. with some top level convictions.
Barbara, I do believe that is exactly what will happen. Let's face it, if nothing comes of the Insurrection given compounding evidence, what really is the point?
I woke up and thought, why am I'm suddenly confident? It may be because the case against the insurrectionists appear so strong. But, as we know, strong cases don't guarantee results. Or maybe I'm influenced by the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people, who stand as an inspiration for anyone who cherishes democracy.
MTG? I detest her so much that I've been lulled into wishful thinking.
I am very confident! In the Jan 6 Committe, the DOJ, and heroines like Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow!!! (Full disclosure: I am a Michigander).
If only more elected officials stood up for what is right, and spoke their truth like State Senator McMorrow, some eye’s might be opened to the lies the republicans are spewing. Very powerful words that she said so well. She is my hero.
Hear, hear, Michael! I'm glad to read of your confidence. There are many discouraged folks on today's LFAA. That's a sure sign that there is a lull in the progress of our Democracy. Also, as the war goes in Ukraine, so goes our courage at home. Ukrainian troops are headed to a very tough battle in the Donbas. May we all prevail—there and here.
Hi, daria! (You've changed your location -- no longer in Merida?) We've no idea whether Guilfoyle simply claimed protection by the Fifth (she should have), and since MTG hasn't been judged an insurrectionist (yet, I hope), the challenge will almost certainly fail. But they are merely grist in the mill, so to speak, which grinds exceedingly fine. (Whether flour or dust comes out, we'll have to wait to see.)
Thanks for the welcome! It sounds bizarre, but that's exactly what happens when someone is required to appear but refuses to cooperate. There are nuances to the Fifth exercise that I've quite forgotten, but it does boil down to sitting in a room for hours listening to a scumbag claim the Fifth over and over and over and over...
I agree with your points and your doubts. Our AG is plodding along while the clickbait-crazed media predicts doom and gloom for the Democrats in the midterms. We need fire-in-the-belly from someone, somewhere to expose tRumpster for the criminal he is and lock him up along with his insurrectionists. What is Garland doing?? BTW: How do Cruz and Hawley not fall under the same 'rules' as MTG? Perhaps they didn't use her direct, assaulting language. I, too, find it messy and frustrating.
Cruz, Hawley, and others could be in trouble if they were involved in what amounts to a conspiracy to "decertify" the electoral votes. By that I mean if they knew of the plot and then voted in the Senate as they did. I'm speculating.
Lee Anne, I agree entirely that we need that fire-in-the-belly that the Republicans seem to have in abundance. It's effective and a symptom of obsession, the single vision of the zealot. What is Merrick Garland doing? There's no way to tell. We (or at least, I) assumed he would come into that position with an irresistible mix of integrity, determination to restore integrity to the department, and a good dollop of righteous indignation, resentment, and a thoroughly unethical desire to get a little revenge. Minus the personal grievance, not unlike Mueller, who was meticulous in his preparation and cowardly in his conclusions and his execution of those. There is a time to stop doing the research and take a risk. I am, frankly, terrified when I look at this world and what's happening in the DOJ right now, and even with the fine work of the Jan 6 committee, is like a flashback to the weeks and months of waiting for the Mueller report.
Hawley, Cruz, Graham and others who manage to remain relatively unscathed know how far they can push the envelope. They're lawyers who paid attention. (Other lawyers like Sidney Powell and the Former Hiz Honor of NYC, Guiliani, et al., appear to have slept through a significant part of law school.)
No matter, I agree. It is all very fussy and frustrating. I think the DOJ is so afraid of being hamstrung by the republicans, again, they are simply willing to shuffle rather than stride.
You are right about Hawley, Cruz, Graham. I hadn't thought about it. However, the DOJ needs to act because they might be working under an authoritarian. I lost all respect for Garland. Also, I don't believe he had much experience prosecuting ... more judicial posts. So, judges tend to ponder. Prosecutors are aggressive.
You are correct about the difference between judges and prosecutors. We need to ditch the whole idea of lifetime appointments on ANY federal bench. ( Or any government office.)
Michael, If MTG is barred from reelection, which I think is a long shot -- the last number years (many) have burned down my optimism -- the good will come with the bad because barring her will trigger violence. That's okay, we have to learn to deal with violence and not in a weak kneed way. Doesn't Heather seem a tad optimistic about the bad guys' future? I know I won't get too enthusiastic ahead of time. End of May -- early June and the January 6th Commission takes the stage. It will be some show.
Morning, Fern! My preference is that the voters hand her her walking papers. Support Marcus Flowers (or whoever wins the Dem primary). https://youtu.be/T62435ipv_g
Morning, Lynell! Having the voters hand MTG her walking papers would be my preference as well, but I'd take either. She's poison...and crazy to boot. Bad combination.
Question: if, God forbid, she were to be re-elected, would she still be locked out of committee assignments? What good is a representative who can’t really do anything for her district, not that she would have anyway. She’s only in politics to garner attention for herself, like being on “Survivor.”
That's a good question, Jenn. Not sure if they do a rewind with each new session of Congress? That said, I get the idea her constituents think she's doing a great job putting a wedge wherever she can toward progress. Sad.
MaryPat, I saw her speech yesterday. Mallory McMorrow is the best communicator -- like her name, too. I'm very busy now, but I'm going to email you tonight about messaging the American people in a different way, 'the truth with style'. Congresswoman, McMorrow, would be sensational in the cast. Later, MaryPat. 🌻 🟥 🟦
Fern, my guess is that dumping mTg won't amount to a yellow hole in the snow. Her behavior has made her a liability for any one of the Big aRse party seeking an office.
MadRussian, I think she is a violence generator. Extreme behavior is increasing in various states, and she is perfect figurehead. Whatever she is, it is bad.
I like popcorn, too. One of the small number of possibilities that I am optimistic about is the 1/6 Commission's live hearings. It is a very strong group and the Commission has a load of material -- could this be IT?! 🤞🏼
Hello Ashley. I have thought to email you. It has been a busy week so far. I hope that you are smiling; there's warmth and satisfaction in a smile. We have beautiful spring blossoms, greener and greener grass and leaves opening. Ah, I treasure the routes in our minds leading to good company, music, cooking, exploring... We'll be in touch for more in the coming days. Stay bright and open. Cheers, Ashley.
Tis full days here as well. Smiling through it, enjoying the vernal greening. May our paths continue to keep us in sync, through kindred spirit goodness. Please keep me updated on Allen and Tanya. 💙
“It's fair to say that democracy will not stand unless the perpetrators of the insurrection are found guilty and punished according to the law. If not, they'll escalate their next assault …”
The “next assault “ is underway. Legally and in plain sight. Voter suppression. Redistricting. Gerrymandering.
No longer a need for violence.
The Supreme Court is lost.
The battle for the Congress has been scheduled for November 8th.
In the meantime, the Democratic MEDIA should 'front page' every aspect of how 'that individual' has broken the law. And, I must add...don't blah blah. Just "front page" the sucker.., just like is being done by the Big aRse networks. Fight fire with fire, but be clever!
This helps answer the question that has been at the core of my dismay since the beginning of the Trump koolaid era, “How do these people find each other?”
That quote from Frank Wilhoit sums up the antebellum Slavepower's use of John Locke, the Philosopher of Slavery, to justify their "peculiar institution."
Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow took to the Senate floor and delivered a fiery rebuttal that has gone viral. McMorrow’s key point was this: "𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯."
It was really not so long ago, when I walked into the middle of the Civil Rights Movement at Emory University, that the passion and outrage started every day. There were all sorts of flaws, and flawed people, involved in that struggle, but the deep commitment, the focus, the belief strong enough to put our lives on the line--as several did and lost them in that summer of 1964 in Mississippi. How did all that dissolve so quickly? Probably a naive. question from an old woman counting up her regrets. Thank you all for being here.
Wow! You were there! Yes, we need to resurrect that passion, deep commitment, focus and belief. I don't think all that dissolved as much as we put it into the hands of Civil Rights bills, and trusted they would work. Not. At its base, it is a war of Hate vs. Love. I pray we do not have to put our lives on the line, but my experience in Michigan is that we have very many well armed hate militias at the ready. So we organize again: WE WILL NOT LET HATE WIN.
Good morning, MaryPat. I was there indeed, but mostly that just means I'm old. What scares me is that it's the other side that seems to have the passion and the commitment to their idea of what's right for the world. The Mitch McConnell's who are committed to nothing more complex than power have found willing foot soldiers in the extremists among the evangelicals (and I do mean extremists, not evangelicals in general) who are true believers, who do feel that the moral, good, best thing to do for this country and the world, is to turn America into a Christian nation. And that will break down the entire structure on which this country was created. Good old Barry Goldwater said that if the "preachers" ever took over the Republican Party there would no longer be s Republicsn party.
I think that outrage was scattered and sputtering and scared. And I think we were lacking the articulation of that outrage, which McMarrow (can we call her "Mallory?!") just did for us, with, I might add, a healthy dose of courage and Mama Bear ferocity! Leaders from across the country, and especially within the Democratic Party, must coalesce around her clarion call: "WE WILL NOT LET HATE WIN." Hate is what won in Hitler Germany, hate is winning in Putin Russia. WE will not let hate win here.
I believe her last stop was on the Moskva in memory of those Ukraine soldiers who famously told the Russian navy what they could do with their surrender offer.
I’m praying her next stop is Mariupol to support the Ukrainian troops there and maybe a stop over to the beltway a for domestic visit?? She is very busy these days. I grew up with the saying “What goes around comes around” and man I am so ready for the come around.
It’s as if Timothy McVeigh were alive and well and plotting again, but this time he has inside help at the highest levels. We must Prosecute every one of them.
I think it's important to keep in mind the principle of the FCC's now-defunct Fairness Doctrine: Present the opposing side of the argument. So here I go...
I think it's important to keep in mind what was going on in the minds of Trump and his supporters. The Jan. 6 riot couldn't have been an "insurrection" unless Trump and company were confident of support from both the military (including soldiers and top-level officers), as well as support from the Supreme Court. That almost demands the conclusion that Trump and company had (or thought they had) a green light from both, because they had (or thought they had) hard, damning evidence of widespread vote fraud.
I was regularly posting a sort of blog during the events leading up to Jan. 6, at the "Community Sharing" facebook page of the Organization of Professional Astrologers. I observed as Sidney Powell, on Trump's behalf, started talking publicly about the "Kraken." I did a google search and found the Department of Defense's "Kraken" website (most of it was inaccessible): a suite of cyber-surveillance capabilities that can supposedly observe and record more or less everything you do on the internet or within range of a security camera.
And then... Trump threw Sidney Powell under the bus, and the DOD's Kraken website disappeared.
One could suppose that Trump knew he had damning evidence, but he was told in no uncertain terms that he must not disclose it publicly, to protect the top-secret Kraken (and possibly protect its operators, who were doing who knows what in terms of snooping on unsuspecting people all over the world).
However, there was an ostensibly legal way for Trump to proceed, if he could get the perpetrators of the election fraud (if indeed there were any) into secret military courts, where Kraken evidence could be used in summary trials. This, of course, would depend on Trump declaring martial law, which in turn depended on his pet demonstrators disrupting the vote certification in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. When the latter failed, I imagine that Trump pulled the plug on something like the following scenario (which I posted back in December 2020):
1. In 2006, Congress passed a law providing for "enemy combatants" to be locked up indefinitely without a hearing.
2. Further law provides for those accused of "cyber-warfare" to be tried in military courts.
3. Trump is ready to arrest hundreds and hundreds of Democratic officials, down to the county level, with sweeping charges of a massive plot to steal the election.
4. The President declares them to be "enemy combatants" in a cyber-warfare insurrection, so they are all held without bail or a hearing. Maybe some of them will be offered a plea deal if they confess and name names.
5. Per the relevant act of Congress, these alleged cyber-warfare enemy combatant insurrectionists will be tried in military courts, and judgment will be very swift for those who happen to be Democratic electors.
6. Found guilty, these Democratic electors will be barred from serving as electors, per Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
7. Trump wins in the Electoral College by a big majority of the reduced total.
8. Any Democratic Congresspeople or Senators who get convicted are now barred from serving on Capitol Hill (per the same Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution), giving the Republicans big majorities in Congress.
9. Congress, empowered by the constitutional provision to guarantee republican governments in the individual states, goes on a rampage rooting out cyber-fascists.
10. The prisons are filled with mainstream news media directors and editors and reporters who are convicted of peddling "fake news" as accessories to the cyber-fascist insurrection.
I DO recommend you become a screen writer for NetFlix. Not Hollywood though.
This is one of the best Conspiracy Theories I have read, and, furthermore, I congtratulate you on writing it instead of throwing it into the huge trash bin of YouTube.
Welp.., A huge part of this world has succumbed to 'communist' type rule. Rule where a report can be made on ones neighbor (for reward) for favorable consideration. And, this is exactly what is taking place here under the guise of religion, or simply law (Texas?). Oh heck, just call it "family values".., huh?
While much of your scenario and timeline seem far fetched, I'm sure Trump was within a hair's breadth of acting on some of the things you mention. The fact that the military stated they would not comply with his wishes was probably instrumental in quashing some of his other plans. The other thing that leads me to believe he was working steadily toward a coup is this: Trump, during the 2016 election cycle, was already using the stolen election mantra to prime his base. After he was inaugurated he kept plucking at that one string. For four long years election fraud, stolen elections, rigged elections, became Trump's battle cry so by the time 2020 rolled around his base was willing and able to rally in his name.
And, John, look, how many people willingly put their careers in jeopardy. Why would anyone risk trashing a viable career unless they had a "promise" that they'd share in the spoils of his victory? The power of a successful con man can never, ever be under estimated. The one power he no longer has, however, is the power of the presidential pardon. Those who stood by him currently do not have the benefit of that magic get out of jail free card. For them, that's a very big problem.
Two things: First, I cannot believe that Trump or his close supporters actually believed there was election fraud or a stolen vote. His actions to "find" nonexistent votes to put him over the top in GA shows that he knew he lost the popular vote again. Second, I am thankful you didn't work for his administration and put forth your proposal alongside Eastman. The former guy and his cronies were just crazy enough for this scenario to put a twinkle in their eyes.
Yehawes, I think that, if you closely read the transcript of exactly what Trump said about the votes in Georgia, it makes sense to conclude that he was referring to votes that he believed (or wanted to believe) actually existed.
I don't think he's highly intelligent but I think he is highly skilled in saying things so nothing he says can be held against him, but so that the message is clear to the intended recipient. It's how the mob speaks and it's almost like a language. Native speakers don't have to be especially bright to absorb their language through immersion. I do think he tends to believe what he wants to believe, but I also believe that even he would have known that if there was any actual evidence someone would have presented it in some form. Plus, as others have pointed out, why would he begin this stance so long before the election? I sometimes find I hear wiggle room in statements, and can believe they were intended other than in the way political opponents "hear" them, but this was not one of those cases. Just me - I don't believe he believed himself.
I read this with interest for several reasons. First, I am always glad to read a comprehensible (not word salad) viewpoint that differs from the usual. Second, I believe that careful consideration of the meaning of words is very, very important. "The pursuit of happiness" has always seemed to me a bit wiggly. What does that really mean? Third, you are obviously a thinking person who has given his ideas a lot of thought and research. I looked you up and read some articles you have written, and that started me on an interesting rabbit hole this morning. Thank you.
John, your plot sounds like “1984” revised. But, with all the evidence we, the public, have so far, maybe you’re on the right track. Or not. Wouldn’t it be a great day, when the criminals are held to account and we can move forward ?!
John - I will acknowledge that none of us know all that goes on behind closed doors at the highest levels of our government. And further, if we all of a sudden did, we might get some pretty large surprises.
But I will also say that the scenario that you present here is very far fetched, even for someone as evil as Trump. And especially knowing how inept he is, and how his minions underperform in any area where competence is required. As my hero Carl Sagan said "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence". Also, our country's news media are amazing. Flawed deeply, but amazing. Very difficult to hide a sprawling conspiracy without exposure.
You will get some ridicule, but keep it coming. Keep us honest.
Given the hatred expressed towards "Libtards" aka Democrats, any such orders issued by 'a President'..., THE Commander in Chief, no less! they would be carried out with enthusiasm, by the many millions who DID vote for him.
I continue to wish that January 6 be described as an attack on CONGRESS rather than an attack on the Capitol. The building may be a metaphorical stand-in for the Legislature. In poetry this is called metonymy. No need for poetry here. Plain speech is better.
Thanks for that, Tom. Language is clearly our most dangerous and least understood technology. It always has been. Thoughtless people took up arms against the United States Congress because the GOP insurrectionist leaders provided the words to justify the violence.
January 6th, Attempted Insurrection, does it for me. Of course it was more accurately 'a camping trip for morons' that resulted in a fight for restroom access.
“... and might ... affect the candidacy of the former president should he run again in 2024.”
He will never run for office again. I just don’t see it. Arguably there will someday be located the fire at the center of this gigantic billowing cloud of dense smoke, meaning the legal system will eventually catch up with Houdini and nail his ass. Some court will get that job done. But anyway the Republican pols with a brain, the hacks who acutely track which way the political winds blow, realize:
• He lost the House in 2018
• He lost the WH in 2020
• He somehow lost the Senate on Jan. 5, 2021.
And then he lost his Twitter account and a whole lot more since then. This guy magnetically pulls opposition out of nowhere. He was arguably the inspiration for that completely unexpected and astonishing Georgia vote that gave the blue team control of the Senate with a wafer-thin margin.
Well, Roland, his narcissistic self will want to run again, and I hope he does if that will split the GOP. But this does not mean he will never HOLD office again, given the GOP's thus far successful efforts to rig voting at the state level.
My biggest worry is that a younger, more clever version of Trump (DeSantis?) will sweep the monstrous one's dumb-ass followers off their feet, steal the 2024 elections and enact Rick Scott's proposals to turn our clock back past Ft. Sumpter into the antebellum period or -- why not? -- even the antediluvian. The religious Right would love that, and the rest of us will wish that Putin had just nuked us and been done with it.
David You use a phrase “The religious right”that ranks high in the sanctum of false facts. It is not ‘religious,’ if one thinks of the Christianity of Jesus Christ. And it is wrong on all that reflects the America envisaged by the founding fathers. Jim Bakker, Pat Robertson, and others are as far from the Apostles as I am from being a nuclear physicist.
You're right, Keith, that was lazy of me. I should have said "the so-called religious right" or perhaps "the Jesus loathing religious right" or even "the Trump's-ass-licking religious right." Thanks for the dressing down.
If Americans are ignorant enough to elect a government based on Rick Scott's plan, then, perhaps they deserve the government results they get?
Perhaps, all those white folks now retired, collecting BOTH pensions and Social Security, over 70, sitting around watching Fox News and ranting about Socialism (which they collect every month) will awaken from their slumber when both of those checks don't show up.
Maybe Rick Scott is what we NEED to happen.
After all those 70+ year olds can no longer book their three cruises a year and a month in Italy because their "Socialism" is gone, their eyes may open and Tucker might sound a little different?
Or, maybe not? But, I would not exactly cry if suddenly all that largesse that neither I nor my own kids will never see dries up for them. Honestly.
Social security is not largesse. People pay into it over the course of their working lives, just like they do with a 401(k).
But I get your point. I remember talking to my Republican mom about the ACA and she was going on about socialized medicine. When I pointed out that she was on Medicare, and what exactly that was, she got pretty quiet. Socialism for me, but not for thee, huh?
The problem with all those 70+ year olds is that not all of them are Republican. I’m merely 67, but have been working since I was 14, And still work - because I like what I do and because my health allows me to - I count that blessing every damn day.
I have many friends, all of them Dems, who have various health problems and can’t work. Nor could they find professional work any more because age discrimination is quite real - and I know you understand how pernicious discrimination is when just trying to live a life.
My Republican neighbor just lost her husband to COVID after enjoying a month in Florida. Mary is a complete mess - but is trying hard to figure out what’s next. Having lost my husband to ALS just 18 months ago, I can relate to her loss and empathize. Without her husband’s SS, Mary would be in seriously rough shape as she raised children and didn’t start working until she was in her 50’s. Its hard enough to cope with the loss of Al without adding the loss of her home too.
What Rick Scott proposed is terrifying for many. And despite my deep white privilege, I’d like, at some point, to collect what I’ve paid in. I’ve also got Italy on my bucket list - I’m an artist. The Uffizi has been calling my name since my art history class my sophomore year in college. Is that something I should just give up on? No, of course not!
I get what you are saying Mike, that a lot of folks would have to wake the hell up if SS and Medicare were eliminated. But that would also create unmeasurable suffering- and not just among those that can afford the cruises. They mostly might be left with just one cruise a year. Others would literally die in deep misery and poverty. Lets not experiment, shall we not?
Are you serious? You just trashed and suggested it a good social experiment that the earnings of thousands of retirees dry up to out the true intentions of Voldemort Scott. Do you think this is some stupid immature playground exercise, Mike? Quit playing into the titillating scenarios of “well old people who watch Fox deserve to have their pensions and Soc Security yanked”. That is ridiculous and against every principle of social safety net.
In my assisted living facility, I hear how Dems will take our freedom and how chump will kick butt when he (the best president we have ever had) returns to power. These are not the demented ones.
I thank all of you. It's running about $100,000 a year in medical costs to keep me going. I am considered in generally good health for my age and the 20 medical condiitions I have. I am getting on the crackly side but expect I will likely to continue for another few years and live independently with my bride of 59 years. Thankful for Medicare, 60 plus years of medical insurance, discretionary funds to supplement costs, and 15 fine medical professionals who help me. Who says you cannot by friendships? I truly believe this should be the conditions available to everyone, not the exception. So I've considered the Scott and Paul Ryan schemes nonsensical.
Fred You, like me, are a a vintage auto that requires tender lovely care. Without Medicare (I just booked another ‘minor’ surgery today), my wife and I would have been obliged to find hundreds of thousands of dollars from somewhere.
Medicare, thanks to the Democrats, is a right, not a privilege. Ditto with Social Security, thanks to FDR. [We pay an appropriate fee for both.] The Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) has provided health care as a right to countless millions of Americans.
Tim Scott and Paul Ryan, who I had forgotten after his brief flash on the dangerous ideas scene, may be courting Republican plutocrats. They certainly don’t address the basic needs (and rights) of the great majority of Americans.
Also, nothing in the blather of Scott and Ryan would affect the medical privilege accorded to members of Congress. Shouldn’t what’s fit for the gander also be fit for the goose? Goose the Republican plutocrats.
It runs about $1000 a year to keep me healthy and mouthy. And you are very welcome, Fred! I am sorry for your maladies, but thrilled you have coverage, and great presence of mind to contribute here.
I'm good, so thanks. A guy I worked with In Michigan pointed out that 95% of all medical costs occur in the last five (more likely 3) years of life. That struck me as absurd until I was no longer indestructible and tracked all the costs; premiums, copays, payments by Medicare and insurance, etc. I'm more expensive than an ex. 😉
I wish to protest — mildly. I am 77 years old, my husband just turned 94. Yes, we both have pension and social security. Mine, because I’m a woman, was at the minimum payout of $714 per month, but I went back to work (at minimum scale wages and worked until I was 72. That provided me with a little higher SS check.
Now — those are the numbers — Here is the truth behind them. Neither of us can afford three cruises a year or a month in Italy, nor would we want to. Just sayin’ stereotyping is never a good choice to create consensus. But I’m NOT singling you out, just making a general point for all of us (myself included) to avoid making stereotypical statements that don’t fit individuals within any group. Peace.
Many many folks who are approaching or have passed age 70 are not sitting around watching faux news and decrying socialism. Boomers are not a monolithic bloc. I have friends from both sides. Mike, please don’t lump us all together. I’m a democratic socialist.
Mike, this is just about the most ignorant and off-base comments I have seen you make. I'm disappointed in you. You are capable of better than this kind of mindless diatribe that resembles the kind of stuff the right wing comes up with, unrelated to facts. I am 70+. I am taken for white (not my fault). I am retired. I do not watch Fox news. I do rant a bit about socialism, because I think it has something we need on offer. I know exactly what Social Security is, and I have a small pension just big enough to put me right on that edge that disqualifies me from benefits I need. I have never taken a cruise, never been to Italy (something I regret). And I work very very hard with a lot of other people in the same position to try to make sure the coming elections are taken seriously. Most of the grunt work is done by us older folks who see the America we worked for going down the drain.
Get off your effing high horse and cut the drivel. I'd appreciate an apology, because you are way the hell out of line.
Hey Mike.., may I enquire as to your age? Do you drink? Do you buy gasoline or diesel or AvGas 100LL? Water-ski? Live in a house.., in your car.., or under a bridge? Have any friends? Mike..can I be your friend.. I race boats? Not drugboats!
I am sorry to confuse. I believe health is a right and that it is in the interest of all of us that to be provided for. No one should be deprived of good health care because they can't afford the premiums or copay or costs to be treated while young or beyond their expiration date as I am.. I am fortunate to have been healthy, vigorous, for most of my life. That has changed as we aged. I have Medicare, supplement insurance, and access to state-of-the-art medical treatment from doctors and other medical and mental health ractitioners who know me and work with me in my health journey. I believe everyone deserves the coverage I am fortunate to have. You, my poverty-stricken sister and risk taking grandchildren, and the people living in Arkasas or Mississippi or Montana should be able to taken care of and get the care they need because they deserve it. It shouldn't be difficult to have. Employer and pension benefits can be a vehicle for some, as was the case for me. Health care access should be universal and not need or income/employment required and absolutely affordable. I hope I am clearer.
Yes, something that I've worried about as well - the younger, smarter inheritor of the Orange mantle once he is out of the picture one way or another. I don't believe it will be one of his progeny, even though they have tried to hitch their wagon to the 'cause'. Someone more smart psychopath, less navel-gazing narcissist, as stomach churning as that is to contemplate.
Stuart I fervently support your desire for a Churchillian moment, but I would question whether this requires a cigar and cognac for breakfast. I recall when FDR burst into Winnie’s room at the White House in 1941 and found him stark naked. Winnie’s response: “I have nothing to hide from my American ally.” [Of course he did hide for months that he had intelligence that Hitler had scrubbed the invasion of England, but Winnie had his own interpretation of ‘need to know.’]
Stuart, your opinion about the France's presidential election interests me. America is so mired in its own mess, perhaps, few us give a moment to the importance of the election results in France. Has LePenn's and le père's scandal reduced her chances by much? It's impossible to predict but what is your sense of it?
Fern, the father is nolonger with us politically and the daughter has "normalized" considerably her party. By default of being listened to by any other party she is largely supported by a large proportion of the "workers" and the non-Parisian population. As one often finds with such anti-elite politicians she identifies clearly the problems but her solutions are not necessarily the best. Macron listens to no one as he considers he alone understands and knows what to do. He is largely "shepherded by the consultants from Mackinsey. He bridges no contradiction and has little use for individual liberty using Orwellian Novlangue to project his own fears and autocratic tendencies upon those resisting him. We are caught between a rock and a hard place, he is clinically psychopathic and she is not really up to the job. Thankfully the 3rd round concerns the elections to parliament in which neither will have a majority necessary to government and will thus have no power to do whatever. The battle will then hit the streets in September as the then governing coalition will please no one...and necessarily be weak. As of tonight Macron probably will win but by an extremely small margin but she might do exactly the same.
Thank you for, once again, gathering the connected stories together with a bow. I’d have loved to be a fly on the wall during Kimberly’s deposition.
After the Mueller debacle, it’s hard to hold out hope that the televised hearings will change minds. I’d like to see the major news sources cover the stories over and over again, in the hope that exposure to a firehose of incriminating evidence will change some hearts and minds.
Congressman Raskin said it very clearly “This was a coup organized by the president against the vice president and against the Congress in order to overturn the 2020 presidential election.” It is becoming so clear that these people will go down in history equal to the villains & knaves who plotted to kidnap or kill Lincoln in Baltimore in 1861 and in DC in 1865. If twitter and cell phones had existed in 1861 we'd very likely have a record of evidence similar to this about the Pratt Street Riot in Baltimore...that it was not "spontaneous combustion" but a plot that really started out to kill or kidnap Lincoln a month earlier and then unleashed it's pent up anger on the US troops moving through the streets. The "first blood" of the Civil War. And now 160 years later we are still dealing with core issues of white supremacy.
The world is. People of color will rule it one day. White will need to pay attention, because white will then stand out in the crowd and endure discrimination. I've had the privilege of working amongst too many, extremely capable, "persons-of-color". Just remember this old adage: Competition improves the breed. Racing boats and motorcycles taught me that.
True, but. . . Eventually there will be lots of people with both white and non-white parents and grandparents. I wonder if a “drop” of white blood or a larger percentage of white ancestry will qualify people for white privilege. (Other than in their own minds.)
In NY State, a black lieutenant governor is very publicly arrested by the FBI for campaign fraud and resigns soon after. His crimes seem rather tame compared to those committed by the white Former Guy and his family and followers. And yet not a single arrest of any of these white folks. I hate how I’m becoming cynical but…
I don't know whether this edition went out to everyone. I am on the West Coast and didn't receive it and accessed it by logging into the blog.
To the substance, It looks like a long legal battle is underway and will continue for some time. If the insurrectionists now holding office are disqualified, that will intensely rile up their constituents and the rest of the far right. How far will they escalate then? And yet, what else can be done at this point? If all Democratic senators had held together and passed voting rights legislation, the upcoming elections wouldn't be nearly as vulnerable to subversion. Addressing this through lawsuits that could disqualify elected members of congress could lead us into a very dangerous situation even if justice is served. These are scary times.
A ton hangs on the Jan 6th Committee purification of the findings. Of course disputable garbage (chaff) and bold-faced lies (so convincing) presented by legal scholars(?) will need to be succinctly dealt with. The court should not suffer fools.
The existence of MTG is proof my ancestors were too lenient when they made their walking tour of the former prison colony known as Georgia. As does the existence of most of the other traitor scum mentioned in tonight's post.
Tc, I was really really hoping you'd read (above) John Schmeeckle's post today and comment (like Mike S did). I got soundly smacked the other day for calling him a troll. I don't know WHAT to make of his post today. I am smacking myself for even reading it, but I took to heart the comment someone made to me saying we need to listen to opposing views on this forum.
Miselle. It’s not opposing. It’s seditious. I didn’t smack you. I agree with you 100%. A troll that is being encouraged, complimented and complemented, and invited to a polite tea party.
Jeri “Cognitive dissonance”—love it. Like adding butter in cooking, cognitive dissonance is a blanket that explains and smothers a broad range of Bull Shitters (and worse).
I fear that America already presents itself as government “of, by and for the criminals” thanks to Citizens United and all of the dark money now owning our elected officials.
Amen. I also think of my father and so many other soldiers fighting through WWII. For what? To allow a nation of oligarchs and other corrupt clubs who have taken control of the nation. No, I don't think so. They're likely to call from the grave, "How could you do this to us? How could you allow the corrupt of the nation to take control?"
On top of that, we have trump saying that the soldiers killed in action were "suckers". And, I didn't hear an outcry from the public nor from the veterans' organizations. A few months after trump's comments concerning vets, I received a letter from the American Legion appealing to me to become a member. The letter stated, "All Americans respect the sacrifices you made..." I don't think so. I'm preparing a letter to them replying, "Why would I join a veterans' organization which doesn't stand up for the veterans?" Is even the American Legion afraid of the alleged bone spur, draft dodging president?
When the marshals bring in Trump and need a cell they can release Vallejo, until then keep him locked up for the safety of the democracy. How can this country even aspire to a position of leadership in the civilized world when so many of its least informed citizens want a government that looks just like the one the barbarians attacking Ukraine have?
At the bottom of it all here we are witnessing the fight between an informed democracy and an ignorant autocracy. Talk to some of your Trumpian neighbors; they'll make that plain enough.
How about ILL-informed? Full of alternative facts. But "Least informed" will suffice. Ignorance of the 14th Amendment, opposed to socialism, and totally unaware that we are tipping our plate toward communism. Huh? Yeah, reporting on ones neighbor for seking an abortion. letting ministers into state governments directing "true" family values. Don't hand me any conspiracy theory baloney, this is happening. It's how China and Russia and N.Korea run their show. Scott, Cawthorne, mTg, MoBrooks, et al are conspirators, and just too stupid to see it.
"The lawyer’s argument is that Vallejo should be let out of prison because the real culprits were former president Trump—who convinced Vallejo that the election was stolen and that the country must be protected"
I almost completely agree with Vallejo that he should be let out of prison. Almost.
However, I was also aware of Trump's tweets to organize for a Jan 06 March (my wife has twitter).
Twelve seconds after reading Trump's tweets with my wife holding her phone for me to see, I mentally discarded the information as a lie and a call to those so ignorant that they may not see the lie.
But, I almost agree because: I have been lucky to be a strong reader since 1st Grade. Not everyone is. Not everyone has that chance at a good teacher and a quiet class in 1st Grade.
So, for those with less ability to discern, due to the luck of the draw, I DO think we should be considering letting some of the Jan 06 folks go.
Because, Trump DID convince them that their government was at risk and they DID think they were being patriots on that day (most of them).
I don't think Stewart Rhodes is in that benign category however.
But, I do think Vallejo might be.
I also think that it is TRUMP that should be in jail and TRUMP should be asking to be let out.
BUT, he is already free to raise money, lie, make stuff up, go on Tucker Carlson, phone his Daddy Putin for more instructions and generally do whatever he wants.
Even though we all knew and know, from Jan 06, that he was a criminal that had sponsored an illegal coup.
Nope. Even the stupid and ignorant are culpable for their acts. Now, if folks wish to pursue their innocence based on the concept that Right WIng Extremism is a product of a mental defect, then they may have a case...
I guess I was not arguing vociferously for the stupid and ignorant to be let off, because, I DO want to see Trump arrested and jailed, as I pointed out.
I wish people would stop viewing this as a movie, hoping for a good, neat, and tidy ending. The only good ending will be if we, the voters, use this information in public discourse to push for democracy. We cannot punish Republicans into sanity. Arrests will not solve anything unless we lay the groundwork first.
So many of us want promises that things will be fine before emotionally investing in democracy. Its wrong and holding the discourse back. Even more claim that there's just no point to anything if we don't get to see Trump in jail, as if that matters more than what actually happens yo the rest of us 330,000,000...
True justice sometimes lets the guilty go free because we rely on procedures, not emotions. We would be stronger if we followed the lead of John Adams and embraced that strength in our system.
As long as the United States of America is arresting a black man exiting a 7-11 with a loaf of bread, stolen to feed his kids because nobody will hire him, in order to toss him into Angola prison to work that huge farm,
I am going to push for the LEADERS of the coup on Jan 06, like Trump, to be likewise tossed into Angola prison for a few summers of picking cotton.
I'm not concerned with making the Republicans sane - that choice was gone long ago (around Nixon's entry to office). I'm concerned that rabid dogs need to be dealt with the way rabid dogs are generally dealt with.
It is also fun to read for folks like me who feel as if we're in the front row watching our civilization's greatest tragedy. It's really quite gripping! Shakespeare would have had a field day with our politicians.
Fascinating reading, partly because it sounds like a bunch of children planning a raid on a neighboring clubhouse, and partly because they sound so angry about...what, exactly? Kimberley Guilfoyle said they would not allow Democrats to steal their dream. I am at a loss to understand exactly what their dream was. To keep Trump in office, but what had he done for them except goad them to be mad? Were they all so grateful that he was backing away from NATO and embracing Vladimir Putin? Were they delighted that he ignored the seriousness of Covid? Do they hate the earth so much that environmental laws infuriated them? I suspect none of the above. There's one thing at the core of their hatred. They hate people of color. Period. They hate that Democrats elected a Black man as President. Hated it. It drove them insane.
That election was certainly the catalyst. The war against "other" is simmering as well. Don't forget the "other" of immigrants, women, LGBTQ+ and religions other than Evangelical Christian.
It's fair to say that democracy will not stand unless the perpetrators of the insurrection are found guilty and punished according to the law. If not, they'll escalate their next assault to finally achieve their treasonous goals. I for one am in awe of what the Jan. 6 committee has learned. And I'm increasingly confident that the Justice Department will successfully prosecute these crimes, despite the high bar of proof required.
Barring insurrectionist Marjorie Taylor Greene from seeking re-election and eventually others in Congress would be a thunderbolt of deterrence.
Michael, I'm hesitant to get my confidence up too high until charges against the movers and shakers are filed. For instance, I can't imagine how Guilfoyle, under oath, could sit for 9 hours before the committee and not have her pants on fire by the end of her testimony. She's a former prosecuting attorney so she knows what's at stake in no uncertain terms. She had to make a very clear, cut and dried choice – perjure herself and lie like a rug or tell the truth and throw Donald & Co. under the bus. I don't see the latter happening. So, will Guilfoyle and others ultimately be tried for lying under oath rather than planning and financing the January 6th attack on Congress? Time will tell.
As for MTG – she will be able to hold it together for precisely two minutes before she unravels and reverts to type. Will she be removed from the ballot? I hope so, but I have my doubts. And, if she remains on the ballot are there enough Republicans/Independents unhappy with her to flip Democrat? Here, too, I have my doubts.
The whole mess is agonizing.
Daria, I actually think Guilfoyle might actually throw some of the tRumpsters under/into the dumpster. That she sat there for 9 hours and didn't plead the fifth a million times indicates to me that she had something to say that kept the committee in thrall. We'll see. As for Ms three names, I agree she'll revert to type after only a few minutes. But, that may get her thrown off the ballot. We can only hope.
Guilfoyle is a former prosecutor??? I didn’t think she was that smart.
I think we really need to redefine smart. Getting through any kind of higher education doesn't preclude being narrow-minded, bigoted, greedy, self-serving, etc.
Plus there are types of cunning that aren't the classic idea of smart but have very high social survival value.
Machiavellian to the core
Look at my comment above
I know at least one attorney where this applies. She had a sweet job until she put something up her nose. She was also irritatingly regressive and ended up married to a predator. So she may have passed the bar, but....
Exactly, Hitler, and Putin are “ smart” in a pathetic, and demented sociopathic way too!
Sociopath... that's one I left out. High I.Q., sociopaths / narcissists, and recently I read about a new classification and named variety *of narcissist. Can't recall the name just now, but I'm certain the term will soon make it's way back around - especially by the time all these investigations are done.
Was it malignant narcissist?
That has been proven many times over e.g. Ted Cruz (Harvard Law) Josh Hawley (Yale Law). I wonder if those law schools are proud of these graduates.
Both schools are notorious for letting in not that bright people who have connections or pull strings. These two show they are above nothing to get their way. I would not count on fair entrance or work while there.
Maybe they're too supercilious to care.
I think you’re exactly correct!
Diabolical ? Criminal mastermind ? Lex Luther ?
Oh let me add John Eastman (University of Chicago Law school).
Someone has to graduate at the bottom of the class. And how did she do as a prosecutor?
OMG Barbara, best comment I've read in ages!! Thanks, I needed the laugh!
What do they call the person who graduated at the bottom of the class in medical school? Doctor.
Bonnie, 40+ years as a medical laboratory technologist who worked in major medical centers in Chicago, I concur with you.
Lol
She actually did pretty well as a prosecutor - check out her Wikipedia entry.. She also used to date Gavin Newsom. She wasn't always a MAGA, but once inside that Maga-echo chamber/grifter mindset, she apparently became mentally lazy. Let's see if her cooperation with the committee sharpened her mind or if she was just extending the grift.
So many really loved that taste of power, so much so that it overrode every human instinct. Let me count how many…
Steve, she was married to him for about 5 years. That's about a 9 on the creepy scale.
No, she was actually married to Newsom but for a very short time. He had a drinking problem, confessed, and got his act together.
🤐
Guilfoyle was a young, attractive assistant DA when she prosecuted a couple whose dogs attacked and killed a neighbor. It was a very high profile case in SF and filled with all sorts of juicy gossip and tabloid fodder. Was Guilfoyle a talented attorney? Perhaps. She milked it for all it was worth. The case gave her the publicity that eventually propelled her to Fox, then becoming tabloid fodder herself. Like many others in the former guy’s orbit, she believed/s she is just so very special, pledging allegiance to a man who holds no allegiance to anyone but himself. May she and djt jr have a long happy marriage.
In prison
Well-said.
You are kinder than I am. May they rot in oblivion
I know
lol.. !
Smarts and ambition have nothing to do with morality and ethics. I can come up with a whole list of smart unethical people with Justice Thomas at the top....
And one of Justice Thomas' former clerks, Judge Kathryn Mizelle, Middle District Florida.
Not to refute your statement, but I have never thought Clarence Thomas is smart. Same for Brett Kavanaugh. Little toadies!
I believe you....
Right. One look at most CEOs and you can see that ethics and morality have nothing to do with smarts and ambition.
Chad Mizelli has moved-on from tfg's appointment of him in an "Acting" Homeland Security position to work for Jared Jushner 's new "investment" vehicle; $2 Billion from Saudi quid pro quo sources.
... 'And' he thought he married well.
Guilfoyle was not known for diligent prosecutorial work in court. Guilofoyle was the "2nd Chair" in an infamous SF case ( vicious dogs kill neighbor in the Hallway) before being hired at the Fox propganda outlet.
Well, she's engaged to Donald Jr., so...
Good one. So true.
Yup.
"Guilfoyle studied at University of California, Davis, and the University of San Francisco, and was a prosecuting attorney in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California. She was an assistant district attorney in San Francisco from 2000 to 2004."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberly_Guilfoyle
Thank you Daria for that deeper background. Speaking of operatives, I am very conerned about the role of Trump appointed Judge Kathryn Mizelle ( 34 I think ) who sits in the Middle District of Florida in position to review a number of Florida cases. Judge Mizelle just struck down jet travel mask mandates -- a ruling that is now being challenged by the DOJ. Mizelle pushes Federalist Society Sophistry & is a former clerk to Justice Thomas. Mizelle's spouse is Chad Mizelle who was a Trump "Acting" General Counsel for Homeland Security. My major concern is Judge K. Mizelle is acting as well with more power.
The troublesome thing, too, is the fact that Mizelle has potentially 50 or more years a head of her on the bench. She was rated unqualified for a seat on the bench by the ABA because of her significant lack of trial experience. But then, we're stuck with Amy Coney Barrett as well, who is definitely unqualified to fill the roll of supreme court justice.
Those federal judgeships are an example of the kind of smart that has nothing to do with books and everything to do with the combination of cunning, ruthlessness, and power (or the hunger for it). The Federalist Society compiled and guarded the list--the qualifications were young, healthy, far-right politics, manageable. The held onto that list until the right moment. They gave that list to Mitch McConnell. Mitch McConnell presented it to TFG as his negotiating tool for getting his way on some major issues.
It's also remarkable to me, and impressive, that the Federalist Society has operated under the radar for so long.
Kathryn Kimball Mizelle “…after a thorough peer review evaluation and careful deliberation - that the nominee presently does not meet the requisite minimum standard of experience necessary to perform the responsibilities required by the high office of a federal trial judge. …”
- American Bar Association - 8 Sep 2020
A very dear friend of mine was on that ABA committee that rated her unqualified. Her disappointment upon Mizelle's appointment was profound.
But she rules the fools, and all of us
There is a difference between smart and wise.
She also was on Fox for a lot of years. She has listened to a lot of disinformation! To state in a nice manner!
I think, in real terms, Guilfoyle is an opportunist, aka, a gold digger. I mean, she goes from being the Governor of California's wife to the "fiancee" of a "billionaire" president's son. She may soon find out the hard way that all that glitters is not gold.
Who said she was? A label? Don’t think so. Choices in life are a much better undicator
She’s not.
Reverted to fluff…
Daria I feel that for well over a year we have been watching a video of the Titanic approaching an iceberg. It’s past time for a massive legal crash, perpetrators struggling for lifeboats, and many of these rats being tried, convicted, and sent to the slammer.
On Watergate, many of the perps went to jail. If this does not occur as an aftermath of the BIG LIE [refuted in at least 60 court decisions] and the 1/6 insurrection, then justice and the law will have been tossed into the garbage. If the Stench Court doesn’t acknowledge this, then they should take their ‘sacrosanct originalism’ and shove it up the Constitution’s ass.
As Ruth Ben Ghiat wrote "...ballot box victories alone don’t stop autocrats but the law can. “It takes prosecution and conviction to deflate their personality cults,” Ben-Ghiat said. “That’s what it takes.”"
I recall John Mitchell in cuffs, glory day.
Good one Keith, especially re: the "Stench Court."
Yup and I want language that includes Trump and execution in the same sentence.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Unfortunately I have to agree with you Daria. My gut feel is that unless something happens to hold people accountable the upcoming midterms are going to show a weak turnout. And I wouldn't blame people. This slow moving coup is mowing America down and no one seems to be able to stop it.
"Nearly two years later — after a riot, an impeachment, and a monomaniacal campaign to punish the Republicans who tried to hold him accountable — Ben-Ghiat has ample proof of her thesis. And she professes even more concern that Trump’s sway over the GOP has permanently transformed the party’s political culture. “He’s changed the party to an authoritarian party culture,” she told me. “So not only do you go after external enemies, but you go after internal enemies. You’re not allowed to have any dissent.”
With the midterms and some key governors races approaching, Ben-Ghiat is looking around the corner again. She sees dangerous signs of autocracy seeping into state houses and governors’ mansions where leaders such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are executing policies and enacting laws that mimic Trump but with a smoother, less bombastic style."
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/04/16/history-shows-trump-personality-cult-end-00024941#:~:text=The%20One%20Way%20History%20Shows%20Trump%E2%80%99s%20Personality%20Cult%20Will%20End
Barbara, thanks for the Ben-Ghiat piece. Her statement, regarding the lack of a unified message is something many here have brought up time and again.
The republicans use the drip, drip, drip of the same message over and over again at all levels, from the top down. We do not. As Ben-Ghiat says, "Democrats don’t have that force of concentration of message, that repetition, and that’s a failing in this [political] environment.
Dems don’t have Rupert and the lies blasted at 90 decibels 24/7. And the MSM is intrigued with the tinsel at Fox. We need Bloomberg, any hope he still loves us???
You may be right, Barbara, but I’m afraid I will blame people for not voting in the midterms as it’s probable that the very continuance of democracy depends on the 2022 election outcomes. I see no grievance more important than that, though, of course, I strongly hope for accountability as well.
I will blame them, too, I'm afraid. The argument that all is hopeless and one vote won't matter drives me mad. Maybe it won't. Do it anyway. I try hard to grab hold of each shred of hope but, honestly, I can't say I see any in this landscape. We are not winning this war, and I do believe it is a war. Way back from Trump's 2015 campaign, the first move toward an authoritarian take-over was in play--create chaos, confuse reality, move so fast and make so much noise that no one can follow or adjust and maintain their normal daily way of observing, taking a breath, then responding. We all were driven nearly mad by the sheer volume, then a kind of numbness set in, then the fear. But even the fear was unreliable because we didn't have time even to be afraid about one thing before the next dervish whirled by. And we were certainly driven into enough of a stupor to be entirely unable to think, to connect the dots, understand the bigger picture of what was happening, and to come up with a strategy to combat it.
What a great description. You definitely hit the mark with what we were going through.
You described me to a tee, but I am still viable as a voter, and a screamer of the truth. But who listens…
Keep screaming. I intend to keep making good trouble for as long as my breath holds out. I look back on half a century of what sometimes seems like the same darned war and I'm sure there are people who might or might not care about me but who definitely wonder if I'm ever going to shut up. I hope not I hope we all keep yelling out heads off because this situation looks to me like one of those perfect. storms where the world might actually be undergoing a paradigm shift.
I was talking with a friend at lunch today about all this. Our feeling is that the 2022 midterms will tell the story. Our fingers are crossed the January 6 Commission and Garland come through. with some top level convictions.
Barbara, I do believe that is exactly what will happen. Let's face it, if nothing comes of the Insurrection given compounding evidence, what really is the point?
Barbara, thanks for the response. My gut feel in re the midterms mirrors yours. I will read the Ben-Ghiat article then circle back.
I woke up and thought, why am I'm suddenly confident? It may be because the case against the insurrectionists appear so strong. But, as we know, strong cases don't guarantee results. Or maybe I'm influenced by the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people, who stand as an inspiration for anyone who cherishes democracy.
MTG? I detest her so much that I've been lulled into wishful thinking.
I am very confident! In the Jan 6 Committe, the DOJ, and heroines like Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow!!! (Full disclosure: I am a Michigander).
WE WILL NOT LET HATE WIN!
https://fb.watch/cw5p_w1PH7/
I saw Michigan State Senator McMorrow's speech to the MI Senate on The Last Word last night. Powerful words!
💙💜❤
I LOVE McMorrow!!!!
If only more elected officials stood up for what is right, and spoke their truth like State Senator McMorrow, some eye’s might be opened to the lies the republicans are spewing. Very powerful words that she said so well. She is my hero.
Perhaps McMorrow has given them courage to do that. Do you think folks will start calling her "Mallory?" A Hillary but with passion?
Go Tigers
Hear, hear, Michael! I'm glad to read of your confidence. There are many discouraged folks on today's LFAA. That's a sure sign that there is a lull in the progress of our Democracy. Also, as the war goes in Ukraine, so goes our courage at home. Ukrainian troops are headed to a very tough battle in the Donbas. May we all prevail—there and here.
I bet Kimberly lies and hopes a GOOP (grand old oligarch party) congress hobbles DOJ and suppresses Jan 6. This is an American Z coming into focus.
I hope your wrong, but...
So now when I see Guilfoyle, I will have the image of her pants on fire. And yes, Gangrene will lose it when she has to testify.
😂 it’s a great image
😂
It’s dawned on the foot soldiers that they were simply pawns in a much larger plan. While they face immediate punishment, the generals go free.
SOS in high stakes politics.
Hi, daria! (You've changed your location -- no longer in Merida?) We've no idea whether Guilfoyle simply claimed protection by the Fifth (she should have), and since MTG hasn't been judged an insurrectionist (yet, I hope), the challenge will almost certainly fail. But they are merely grist in the mill, so to speak, which grinds exceedingly fine. (Whether flour or dust comes out, we'll have to wait to see.)
Hi Dick! Nah, MID is the airport abbreviation for Mérida. Oh, yeah, I forgot about the 5th. I was writing while sleep deprived!
My favorite name is back, Dirk! I doubt about claiming the Fifth Amendment for 9 hours though. Surely she must have said something of substance.
HA! Substance! (Abuse?)
Good one!
Thanks for the welcome! It sounds bizarre, but that's exactly what happens when someone is required to appear but refuses to cooperate. There are nuances to the Fifth exercise that I've quite forgotten, but it does boil down to sitting in a room for hours listening to a scumbag claim the Fifth over and over and over and over...
I agree with your points and your doubts. Our AG is plodding along while the clickbait-crazed media predicts doom and gloom for the Democrats in the midterms. We need fire-in-the-belly from someone, somewhere to expose tRumpster for the criminal he is and lock him up along with his insurrectionists. What is Garland doing?? BTW: How do Cruz and Hawley not fall under the same 'rules' as MTG? Perhaps they didn't use her direct, assaulting language. I, too, find it messy and frustrating.
Cruz, Hawley, and others could be in trouble if they were involved in what amounts to a conspiracy to "decertify" the electoral votes. By that I mean if they knew of the plot and then voted in the Senate as they did. I'm speculating.
And wouldn't it just make your day to think they might be in trouble? I'd be smiling at least until lunch time :-)
Exactly.
Lee Anne, I agree entirely that we need that fire-in-the-belly that the Republicans seem to have in abundance. It's effective and a symptom of obsession, the single vision of the zealot. What is Merrick Garland doing? There's no way to tell. We (or at least, I) assumed he would come into that position with an irresistible mix of integrity, determination to restore integrity to the department, and a good dollop of righteous indignation, resentment, and a thoroughly unethical desire to get a little revenge. Minus the personal grievance, not unlike Mueller, who was meticulous in his preparation and cowardly in his conclusions and his execution of those. There is a time to stop doing the research and take a risk. I am, frankly, terrified when I look at this world and what's happening in the DOJ right now, and even with the fine work of the Jan 6 committee, is like a flashback to the weeks and months of waiting for the Mueller report.
Hawley, Cruz, Graham and others who manage to remain relatively unscathed know how far they can push the envelope. They're lawyers who paid attention. (Other lawyers like Sidney Powell and the Former Hiz Honor of NYC, Guiliani, et al., appear to have slept through a significant part of law school.)
No matter, I agree. It is all very fussy and frustrating. I think the DOJ is so afraid of being hamstrung by the republicans, again, they are simply willing to shuffle rather than stride.
You are right about Hawley, Cruz, Graham. I hadn't thought about it. However, the DOJ needs to act because they might be working under an authoritarian. I lost all respect for Garland. Also, I don't believe he had much experience prosecuting ... more judicial posts. So, judges tend to ponder. Prosecutors are aggressive.
You are correct about the difference between judges and prosecutors. We need to ditch the whole idea of lifetime appointments on ANY federal bench. ( Or any government office.)
Questions that plague my every waking moment, rotating from one evil actor to the next. Seems a never-ending supply of wannabe traitors…
Daria, I agree 100% on every point.
Don't Doubt!
Michael, If MTG is barred from reelection, which I think is a long shot -- the last number years (many) have burned down my optimism -- the good will come with the bad because barring her will trigger violence. That's okay, we have to learn to deal with violence and not in a weak kneed way. Doesn't Heather seem a tad optimistic about the bad guys' future? I know I won't get too enthusiastic ahead of time. End of May -- early June and the January 6th Commission takes the stage. It will be some show.
Morning, Fern! My preference is that the voters hand her her walking papers. Support Marcus Flowers (or whoever wins the Dem primary). https://youtu.be/T62435ipv_g
Morning, Lynell! Having the voters hand MTG her walking papers would be my preference as well, but I'd take either. She's poison...and crazy to boot. Bad combination.
I'll take either as well, Alexander, though being voted out doesn't conjure up cries of martyrdom as being kicked out does...morning!
Question: if, God forbid, she were to be re-elected, would she still be locked out of committee assignments? What good is a representative who can’t really do anything for her district, not that she would have anyway. She’s only in politics to garner attention for herself, like being on “Survivor.”
McCarthy said she will receive much better committee assignments. Will that hold if she's reelected, only the shadow knows.
Lovely reference. I was scared to death by that show when I was little. Now scared to death by real people doing dastardly things.
Thanks, Fern. No doubt. All the more reason to vote blue in '22...and once more in '24!
She will be the Sergeant of Real Arms. A true gun-toting Annie Oakley!
That's a good question, Jenn. Not sure if they do a rewind with each new session of Congress? That said, I get the idea her constituents think she's doing a great job putting a wedge wherever she can toward progress. Sad.
Hi Lynell. I'll check that out in a few days. Salud!
Thanks, Fern...Saluto!
WE WILL NOT LET HATE WIN, FERN!!
https://fb.watch/cw5p_w1PH7/
MaryPat, I saw her speech yesterday. Mallory McMorrow is the best communicator -- like her name, too. I'm very busy now, but I'm going to email you tonight about messaging the American people in a different way, 'the truth with style'. Congresswoman, McMorrow, would be sensational in the cast. Later, MaryPat. 🌻 🟥 🟦
My County Democrats sent this to me; I emailed them back to say we need our reps in VA doing/saying the same thing!
The Democratic Party is looking for a strong message? There it is!!
WE WILL NOT LET HATE WIN!
Yes!
Fern, my guess is that dumping mTg won't amount to a yellow hole in the snow. Her behavior has made her a liability for any one of the Big aRse party seeking an office.
MadRussian, I think she is a violence generator. Extreme behavior is increasing in various states, and she is perfect figurehead. Whatever she is, it is bad.
I can’t wait! 🍿
I like popcorn, too. One of the small number of possibilities that I am optimistic about is the 1/6 Commission's live hearings. It is a very strong group and the Commission has a load of material -- could this be IT?! 🤞🏼
I am strongly visualizing in prayer that it is!!! 💕🙏🏽💕
Hello, dear Fern! 🕊
Hello Ashley. I have thought to email you. It has been a busy week so far. I hope that you are smiling; there's warmth and satisfaction in a smile. We have beautiful spring blossoms, greener and greener grass and leaves opening. Ah, I treasure the routes in our minds leading to good company, music, cooking, exploring... We'll be in touch for more in the coming days. Stay bright and open. Cheers, Ashley.
Tis full days here as well. Smiling through it, enjoying the vernal greening. May our paths continue to keep us in sync, through kindred spirit goodness. Please keep me updated on Allen and Tanya. 💙
“It's fair to say that democracy will not stand unless the perpetrators of the insurrection are found guilty and punished according to the law. If not, they'll escalate their next assault …”
The “next assault “ is underway. Legally and in plain sight. Voter suppression. Redistricting. Gerrymandering.
No longer a need for violence.
The Supreme Court is lost.
The battle for the Congress has been scheduled for November 8th.
In the meantime, the Democratic MEDIA should 'front page' every aspect of how 'that individual' has broken the law. And, I must add...don't blah blah. Just "front page" the sucker.., just like is being done by the Big aRse networks. Fight fire with fire, but be clever!
We are still in a slow rolling coup. And, yes, the outlook is grim.
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘯'𝘴 𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺; 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴.” --John Kenneth Galbraith
“𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘵: ‘𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯-𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘸 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵-𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘸 𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵.’” --Frank Wilhoit
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽'𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 -- https://hartmannreport.com/p/how-democratic-outrage-can-end-trumps?s=r
This helps answer the question that has been at the core of my dismay since the beginning of the Trump koolaid era, “How do these people find each other?”
Excellent, Ron, Network and comparison of Hunter and Jared's Saudi payout.
That quote from Frank Wilhoit sums up the antebellum Slavepower's use of John Locke, the Philosopher of Slavery, to justify their "peculiar institution."
Love Galbraith’s quote. Never more on target. Had not seen Wilhoit’s but could not describe them better.
WE WILL NOT LET HATE WIN!
https://fb.watch/cw5p_w1PH7/
Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow took to the Senate floor and delivered a fiery rebuttal that has gone viral. McMorrow’s key point was this: "𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯."
***********************
"𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘔𝘤𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸’𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯? 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘔𝘤𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 “𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳” 𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘓𝘎𝘉𝘛𝘘 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.
𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘔𝘤𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸’𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘯𝘰 𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘔𝘤𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸—𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 “𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯.” 𝘐𝘧 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘔𝘤𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸’𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦." --Robert B. Hubbell
McMorrow definitely won the internet yesterday.
It's worth re-watching, isn't it?
💙 Nine times so far!
It was really not so long ago, when I walked into the middle of the Civil Rights Movement at Emory University, that the passion and outrage started every day. There were all sorts of flaws, and flawed people, involved in that struggle, but the deep commitment, the focus, the belief strong enough to put our lives on the line--as several did and lost them in that summer of 1964 in Mississippi. How did all that dissolve so quickly? Probably a naive. question from an old woman counting up her regrets. Thank you all for being here.
Wow! You were there! Yes, we need to resurrect that passion, deep commitment, focus and belief. I don't think all that dissolved as much as we put it into the hands of Civil Rights bills, and trusted they would work. Not. At its base, it is a war of Hate vs. Love. I pray we do not have to put our lives on the line, but my experience in Michigan is that we have very many well armed hate militias at the ready. So we organize again: WE WILL NOT LET HATE WIN.
Good morning, MaryPat. I was there indeed, but mostly that just means I'm old. What scares me is that it's the other side that seems to have the passion and the commitment to their idea of what's right for the world. The Mitch McConnell's who are committed to nothing more complex than power have found willing foot soldiers in the extremists among the evangelicals (and I do mean extremists, not evangelicals in general) who are true believers, who do feel that the moral, good, best thing to do for this country and the world, is to turn America into a Christian nation. And that will break down the entire structure on which this country was created. Good old Barry Goldwater said that if the "preachers" ever took over the Republican Party there would no longer be s Republicsn party.
💜❤💚💙💛
Wow, and yes. What we lack is simply that--Outrage
It’s not outrage that is lacking. Where is the leadership to coalesce the movement?
I think that outrage was scattered and sputtering and scared. And I think we were lacking the articulation of that outrage, which McMarrow (can we call her "Mallory?!") just did for us, with, I might add, a healthy dose of courage and Mama Bear ferocity! Leaders from across the country, and especially within the Democratic Party, must coalesce around her clarion call: "WE WILL NOT LET HATE WIN." Hate is what won in Hitler Germany, hate is winning in Putin Russia. WE will not let hate win here.
That’s it in a nutshell. Forgot Wilhoit’s name. Thanks!
That is my prayer as well. Justice will prevail and if it doesn’t my girl Karma will take care of it. 😉
Maureen, is your girl Karma in Ukraine? I hope so.
I believe her last stop was on the Moskva in memory of those Ukraine soldiers who famously told the Russian navy what they could do with their surrender offer.
I’m praying her next stop is Mariupol to support the Ukrainian troops there and maybe a stop over to the beltway a for domestic visit?? She is very busy these days. I grew up with the saying “What goes around comes around” and man I am so ready for the come around.
Left hand went to my heart, while reading your post. Thank you, Maureen. I will copy it for Allen and Tanya. 🌻
💛💙
Many hearts!
It’s as if Timothy McVeigh were alive and well and plotting again, but this time he has inside help at the highest levels. We must Prosecute every one of them.
I think it's important to keep in mind the principle of the FCC's now-defunct Fairness Doctrine: Present the opposing side of the argument. So here I go...
I think it's important to keep in mind what was going on in the minds of Trump and his supporters. The Jan. 6 riot couldn't have been an "insurrection" unless Trump and company were confident of support from both the military (including soldiers and top-level officers), as well as support from the Supreme Court. That almost demands the conclusion that Trump and company had (or thought they had) a green light from both, because they had (or thought they had) hard, damning evidence of widespread vote fraud.
I was regularly posting a sort of blog during the events leading up to Jan. 6, at the "Community Sharing" facebook page of the Organization of Professional Astrologers. I observed as Sidney Powell, on Trump's behalf, started talking publicly about the "Kraken." I did a google search and found the Department of Defense's "Kraken" website (most of it was inaccessible): a suite of cyber-surveillance capabilities that can supposedly observe and record more or less everything you do on the internet or within range of a security camera.
And then... Trump threw Sidney Powell under the bus, and the DOD's Kraken website disappeared.
One could suppose that Trump knew he had damning evidence, but he was told in no uncertain terms that he must not disclose it publicly, to protect the top-secret Kraken (and possibly protect its operators, who were doing who knows what in terms of snooping on unsuspecting people all over the world).
However, there was an ostensibly legal way for Trump to proceed, if he could get the perpetrators of the election fraud (if indeed there were any) into secret military courts, where Kraken evidence could be used in summary trials. This, of course, would depend on Trump declaring martial law, which in turn depended on his pet demonstrators disrupting the vote certification in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. When the latter failed, I imagine that Trump pulled the plug on something like the following scenario (which I posted back in December 2020):
1. In 2006, Congress passed a law providing for "enemy combatants" to be locked up indefinitely without a hearing.
2. Further law provides for those accused of "cyber-warfare" to be tried in military courts.
3. Trump is ready to arrest hundreds and hundreds of Democratic officials, down to the county level, with sweeping charges of a massive plot to steal the election.
4. The President declares them to be "enemy combatants" in a cyber-warfare insurrection, so they are all held without bail or a hearing. Maybe some of them will be offered a plea deal if they confess and name names.
5. Per the relevant act of Congress, these alleged cyber-warfare enemy combatant insurrectionists will be tried in military courts, and judgment will be very swift for those who happen to be Democratic electors.
6. Found guilty, these Democratic electors will be barred from serving as electors, per Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
7. Trump wins in the Electoral College by a big majority of the reduced total.
8. Any Democratic Congresspeople or Senators who get convicted are now barred from serving on Capitol Hill (per the same Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution), giving the Republicans big majorities in Congress.
9. Congress, empowered by the constitutional provision to guarantee republican governments in the individual states, goes on a rampage rooting out cyber-fascists.
10. The prisons are filled with mainstream news media directors and editors and reporters who are convicted of peddling "fake news" as accessories to the cyber-fascist insurrection.
John,
John, I must say,
I DO recommend you become a screen writer for NetFlix. Not Hollywood though.
This is one of the best Conspiracy Theories I have read, and, furthermore, I congtratulate you on writing it instead of throwing it into the huge trash bin of YouTube.
Very well done.
Welp.., A huge part of this world has succumbed to 'communist' type rule. Rule where a report can be made on ones neighbor (for reward) for favorable consideration. And, this is exactly what is taking place here under the guise of religion, or simply law (Texas?). Oh heck, just call it "family values".., huh?
Yes, well most of Netflix content has gone the way of MTV
Exactly!
Mr. Shmeekle is a very ?"creative"? writer, isn't he/it?
John, here's a bit of info about the DOD's Kraken program from an article posted by the US Army in 2011. Others might be interested in reading this.
https://www.army.mil/article/64655/kraken_provides_needed_intelligence_force_protection_at_nie
While much of your scenario and timeline seem far fetched, I'm sure Trump was within a hair's breadth of acting on some of the things you mention. The fact that the military stated they would not comply with his wishes was probably instrumental in quashing some of his other plans. The other thing that leads me to believe he was working steadily toward a coup is this: Trump, during the 2016 election cycle, was already using the stolen election mantra to prime his base. After he was inaugurated he kept plucking at that one string. For four long years election fraud, stolen elections, rigged elections, became Trump's battle cry so by the time 2020 rolled around his base was willing and able to rally in his name.
And, John, look, how many people willingly put their careers in jeopardy. Why would anyone risk trashing a viable career unless they had a "promise" that they'd share in the spoils of his victory? The power of a successful con man can never, ever be under estimated. The one power he no longer has, however, is the power of the presidential pardon. Those who stood by him currently do not have the benefit of that magic get out of jail free card. For them, that's a very big problem.
Two things: First, I cannot believe that Trump or his close supporters actually believed there was election fraud or a stolen vote. His actions to "find" nonexistent votes to put him over the top in GA shows that he knew he lost the popular vote again. Second, I am thankful you didn't work for his administration and put forth your proposal alongside Eastman. The former guy and his cronies were just crazy enough for this scenario to put a twinkle in their eyes.
Plans were being made even before the election was held. Eastman, if memory serves.
Plans were being made before the 2016 election.
Wow! Beyond predicting a rigged election and Russian and Cambridge Analytical help?
Yehawes, I think that, if you closely read the transcript of exactly what Trump said about the votes in Georgia, it makes sense to conclude that he was referring to votes that he believed (or wanted to believe) actually existed.
I don't think he's highly intelligent but I think he is highly skilled in saying things so nothing he says can be held against him, but so that the message is clear to the intended recipient. It's how the mob speaks and it's almost like a language. Native speakers don't have to be especially bright to absorb their language through immersion. I do think he tends to believe what he wants to believe, but I also believe that even he would have known that if there was any actual evidence someone would have presented it in some form. Plus, as others have pointed out, why would he begin this stance so long before the election? I sometimes find I hear wiggle room in statements, and can believe they were intended other than in the way political opponents "hear" them, but this was not one of those cases. Just me - I don't believe he believed himself.
You may already be aware of the long history if vote fraud, including computerized vote fraud.
I read this with interest for several reasons. First, I am always glad to read a comprehensible (not word salad) viewpoint that differs from the usual. Second, I believe that careful consideration of the meaning of words is very, very important. "The pursuit of happiness" has always seemed to me a bit wiggly. What does that really mean? Third, you are obviously a thinking person who has given his ideas a lot of thought and research. I looked you up and read some articles you have written, and that started me on an interesting rabbit hole this morning. Thank you.
But I disagree about your definition on insurrection. It was an insurrection.
Beware of rabbit holes
Ha! But I love to learn that way. Ask a question, then find the answer, which leads to new questions to ask.
John, your plot sounds like “1984” revised. But, with all the evidence we, the public, have so far, maybe you’re on the right track. Or not. Wouldn’t it be a great day, when the criminals are held to account and we can move forward ?!
This John needs flushing.
You be illin'
https://youtu.be/19tjJ0G-8V4
John - I will acknowledge that none of us know all that goes on behind closed doors at the highest levels of our government. And further, if we all of a sudden did, we might get some pretty large surprises.
But I will also say that the scenario that you present here is very far fetched, even for someone as evil as Trump. And especially knowing how inept he is, and how his minions underperform in any area where competence is required. As my hero Carl Sagan said "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence". Also, our country's news media are amazing. Flawed deeply, but amazing. Very difficult to hide a sprawling conspiracy without exposure.
You will get some ridicule, but keep it coming. Keep us honest.
Given the hatred expressed towards "Libtards" aka Democrats, any such orders issued by 'a President'..., THE Commander in Chief, no less! they would be carried out with enthusiasm, by the many millions who DID vote for him.
I continue to wish that January 6 be described as an attack on CONGRESS rather than an attack on the Capitol. The building may be a metaphorical stand-in for the Legislature. In poetry this is called metonymy. No need for poetry here. Plain speech is better.
I’ve heard it referred to regularly as a siege upon the Capitol Bldg to allow a disruption of Congressional proceeding to certify the electors.
I believe calling it a siege is accurate.
The insurrection includes all pre planning as it is being discovered.
Well said!
Few understand the difference.
Thanks for that, Tom. Language is clearly our most dangerous and least understood technology. It always has been. Thoughtless people took up arms against the United States Congress because the GOP insurrectionist leaders provided the words to justify the violence.
Thank you.
Excellent point. Words matter.
January 6th, Attempted Insurrection, does it for me. Of course it was more accurately 'a camping trip for morons' that resulted in a fight for restroom access.
Right on!
Here, Here!
“... and might ... affect the candidacy of the former president should he run again in 2024.”
He will never run for office again. I just don’t see it. Arguably there will someday be located the fire at the center of this gigantic billowing cloud of dense smoke, meaning the legal system will eventually catch up with Houdini and nail his ass. Some court will get that job done. But anyway the Republican pols with a brain, the hacks who acutely track which way the political winds blow, realize:
• He lost the House in 2018
• He lost the WH in 2020
• He somehow lost the Senate on Jan. 5, 2021.
And then he lost his Twitter account and a whole lot more since then. This guy magnetically pulls opposition out of nowhere. He was arguably the inspiration for that completely unexpected and astonishing Georgia vote that gave the blue team control of the Senate with a wafer-thin margin.
Well, Roland, his narcissistic self will want to run again, and I hope he does if that will split the GOP. But this does not mean he will never HOLD office again, given the GOP's thus far successful efforts to rig voting at the state level.
My biggest worry is that a younger, more clever version of Trump (DeSantis?) will sweep the monstrous one's dumb-ass followers off their feet, steal the 2024 elections and enact Rick Scott's proposals to turn our clock back past Ft. Sumpter into the antebellum period or -- why not? -- even the antediluvian. The religious Right would love that, and the rest of us will wish that Putin had just nuked us and been done with it.
David You use a phrase “The religious right”that ranks high in the sanctum of false facts. It is not ‘religious,’ if one thinks of the Christianity of Jesus Christ. And it is wrong on all that reflects the America envisaged by the founding fathers. Jim Bakker, Pat Robertson, and others are as far from the Apostles as I am from being a nuclear physicist.
You're right, Keith, that was lazy of me. I should have said "the so-called religious right" or perhaps "the Jesus loathing religious right" or even "the Trump's-ass-licking religious right." Thanks for the dressing down.
Ha! Ha! Ha! I needed a laugh! Thanks!
The religious right is wrong, wrong, wrong
If Americans are ignorant enough to elect a government based on Rick Scott's plan, then, perhaps they deserve the government results they get?
Perhaps, all those white folks now retired, collecting BOTH pensions and Social Security, over 70, sitting around watching Fox News and ranting about Socialism (which they collect every month) will awaken from their slumber when both of those checks don't show up.
Maybe Rick Scott is what we NEED to happen.
After all those 70+ year olds can no longer book their three cruises a year and a month in Italy because their "Socialism" is gone, their eyes may open and Tucker might sound a little different?
Or, maybe not? But, I would not exactly cry if suddenly all that largesse that neither I nor my own kids will never see dries up for them. Honestly.
Social security is not largesse. People pay into it over the course of their working lives, just like they do with a 401(k).
But I get your point. I remember talking to my Republican mom about the ACA and she was going on about socialized medicine. When I pointed out that she was on Medicare, and what exactly that was, she got pretty quiet. Socialism for me, but not for thee, huh?
Hello, dear KR!
Hey, Ashley!
The problem with all those 70+ year olds is that not all of them are Republican. I’m merely 67, but have been working since I was 14, And still work - because I like what I do and because my health allows me to - I count that blessing every damn day.
I have many friends, all of them Dems, who have various health problems and can’t work. Nor could they find professional work any more because age discrimination is quite real - and I know you understand how pernicious discrimination is when just trying to live a life.
My Republican neighbor just lost her husband to COVID after enjoying a month in Florida. Mary is a complete mess - but is trying hard to figure out what’s next. Having lost my husband to ALS just 18 months ago, I can relate to her loss and empathize. Without her husband’s SS, Mary would be in seriously rough shape as she raised children and didn’t start working until she was in her 50’s. Its hard enough to cope with the loss of Al without adding the loss of her home too.
What Rick Scott proposed is terrifying for many. And despite my deep white privilege, I’d like, at some point, to collect what I’ve paid in. I’ve also got Italy on my bucket list - I’m an artist. The Uffizi has been calling my name since my art history class my sophomore year in college. Is that something I should just give up on? No, of course not!
I get what you are saying Mike, that a lot of folks would have to wake the hell up if SS and Medicare were eliminated. But that would also create unmeasurable suffering- and not just among those that can afford the cruises. They mostly might be left with just one cruise a year. Others would literally die in deep misery and poverty. Lets not experiment, shall we not?
Well said. Thank You.
Are you serious? You just trashed and suggested it a good social experiment that the earnings of thousands of retirees dry up to out the true intentions of Voldemort Scott. Do you think this is some stupid immature playground exercise, Mike? Quit playing into the titillating scenarios of “well old people who watch Fox deserve to have their pensions and Soc Security yanked”. That is ridiculous and against every principle of social safety net.
Voldemort Scott has got to go.
In my assisted living facility, I hear how Dems will take our freedom and how chump will kick butt when he (the best president we have ever had) returns to power. These are not the demented ones.
😟
I thank all of you. It's running about $100,000 a year in medical costs to keep me going. I am considered in generally good health for my age and the 20 medical condiitions I have. I am getting on the crackly side but expect I will likely to continue for another few years and live independently with my bride of 59 years. Thankful for Medicare, 60 plus years of medical insurance, discretionary funds to supplement costs, and 15 fine medical professionals who help me. Who says you cannot by friendships? I truly believe this should be the conditions available to everyone, not the exception. So I've considered the Scott and Paul Ryan schemes nonsensical.
Fred You, like me, are a a vintage auto that requires tender lovely care. Without Medicare (I just booked another ‘minor’ surgery today), my wife and I would have been obliged to find hundreds of thousands of dollars from somewhere.
Medicare, thanks to the Democrats, is a right, not a privilege. Ditto with Social Security, thanks to FDR. [We pay an appropriate fee for both.] The Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) has provided health care as a right to countless millions of Americans.
Tim Scott and Paul Ryan, who I had forgotten after his brief flash on the dangerous ideas scene, may be courting Republican plutocrats. They certainly don’t address the basic needs (and rights) of the great majority of Americans.
Also, nothing in the blather of Scott and Ryan would affect the medical privilege accorded to members of Congress. Shouldn’t what’s fit for the gander also be fit for the goose? Goose the Republican plutocrats.
Dear Not Doc Wheelock, you are a rare and wondrous representation of your vintage!
Ashley A wine 88-years-old almost certainly is old, spoiled, and tasteless. An 88-year-old pain in the ass is still tasteless, but with a sizzle.
Good suggestion. Pity the goose, though.
It runs about $1000 a year to keep me healthy and mouthy. And you are very welcome, Fred! I am sorry for your maladies, but thrilled you have coverage, and great presence of mind to contribute here.
I'm good, so thanks. A guy I worked with In Michigan pointed out that 95% of all medical costs occur in the last five (more likely 3) years of life. That struck me as absurd until I was no longer indestructible and tracked all the costs; premiums, copays, payments by Medicare and insurance, etc. I'm more expensive than an ex. 😉
Lol and more worth it, I’m thinking.
😄
Agree Fred. Schemes proposed that are totally without any merit.
Scott & Paul Ryan schemes you mean? I hope?!
I wish to protest — mildly. I am 77 years old, my husband just turned 94. Yes, we both have pension and social security. Mine, because I’m a woman, was at the minimum payout of $714 per month, but I went back to work (at minimum scale wages and worked until I was 72. That provided me with a little higher SS check.
Now — those are the numbers — Here is the truth behind them. Neither of us can afford three cruises a year or a month in Italy, nor would we want to. Just sayin’ stereotyping is never a good choice to create consensus. But I’m NOT singling you out, just making a general point for all of us (myself included) to avoid making stereotypical statements that don’t fit individuals within any group. Peace.
👍
I hope you have had a good life. I know that working is never the best although there are some who are not as well.
Many many folks who are approaching or have passed age 70 are not sitting around watching faux news and decrying socialism. Boomers are not a monolithic bloc. I have friends from both sides. Mike, please don’t lump us all together. I’m a democratic socialist.
Mike, this is just about the most ignorant and off-base comments I have seen you make. I'm disappointed in you. You are capable of better than this kind of mindless diatribe that resembles the kind of stuff the right wing comes up with, unrelated to facts. I am 70+. I am taken for white (not my fault). I am retired. I do not watch Fox news. I do rant a bit about socialism, because I think it has something we need on offer. I know exactly what Social Security is, and I have a small pension just big enough to put me right on that edge that disqualifies me from benefits I need. I have never taken a cruise, never been to Italy (something I regret). And I work very very hard with a lot of other people in the same position to try to make sure the coming elections are taken seriously. Most of the grunt work is done by us older folks who see the America we worked for going down the drain.
Get off your effing high horse and cut the drivel. I'd appreciate an apology, because you are way the hell out of line.
Yes, “way the hell”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kscfpOq60Ws
Thank you Annie for reminding me of this (linked above)
Janet, I'd seen this years ago, and deeply moved then. More so now. I'm so grateful you posted the link. I've saved it to return to. Again and again.
If you’ve Spotify there’s a better rendition from Ms. Sorrel’s album there. Yes, so moving indeed.
Most pensions have gone the way of the Do Do.
Hey Mike.., may I enquire as to your age? Do you drink? Do you buy gasoline or diesel or AvGas 100LL? Water-ski? Live in a house.., in your car.., or under a bridge? Have any friends? Mike..can I be your friend.. I race boats? Not drugboats!
I just ordered HCR's "To Make Men Free. Thank you for posting this in your bio.
It’s not that we will vote for the evil, but that the evil will overturn our vote
Not sure what you're saying - that those with other pensions shouldn't get social security or that you don't mind if no one gets it.
I am sorry to confuse. I believe health is a right and that it is in the interest of all of us that to be provided for. No one should be deprived of good health care because they can't afford the premiums or copay or costs to be treated while young or beyond their expiration date as I am.. I am fortunate to have been healthy, vigorous, for most of my life. That has changed as we aged. I have Medicare, supplement insurance, and access to state-of-the-art medical treatment from doctors and other medical and mental health ractitioners who know me and work with me in my health journey. I believe everyone deserves the coverage I am fortunate to have. You, my poverty-stricken sister and risk taking grandchildren, and the people living in Arkasas or Mississippi or Montana should be able to taken care of and get the care they need because they deserve it. It shouldn't be difficult to have. Employer and pension benefits can be a vehicle for some, as was the case for me. Health care access should be universal and not need or income/employment required and absolutely affordable. I hope I am clearer.
Yes, something that I've worried about as well - the younger, smarter inheritor of the Orange mantle once he is out of the picture one way or another. I don't believe it will be one of his progeny, even though they have tried to hitch their wagon to the 'cause'. Someone more smart psychopath, less navel-gazing narcissist, as stomach churning as that is to contemplate.
"He will never run for office again. I just don’t see it."
Another quote from 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽'𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 -- https://hartmannreport.com/p/how-democratic-outrage-can-end-trumps?s=r
"𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘤; 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴; 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵 ...
𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘗𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘞𝘢𝘳 𝘐𝘐𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦’𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘜𝘬𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦. 𝘐𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 2020 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦 7-𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘉𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯."
The Outrage Begins!!
We Will Not Let Hate Win!
https://fb.watch/cw5p_w1PH7/
Don’t forget to factor in his own mental and physical health — neither of which bode well for future functionality.
We shall fight in the courts, we shall fight at the ballot box, we shall fight at every level of government, we shall never surrender.
A little Churchillian adaptation to start the day always goes down well.
Stuart I fervently support your desire for a Churchillian moment, but I would question whether this requires a cigar and cognac for breakfast. I recall when FDR burst into Winnie’s room at the White House in 1941 and found him stark naked. Winnie’s response: “I have nothing to hide from my American ally.” [Of course he did hide for months that he had intelligence that Hitler had scrubbed the invasion of England, but Winnie had his own interpretation of ‘need to know.’]
Foremost in his mind being Britain's particular national interests and needs which were not totally concomitant with those of FDR's America.
Stuart, your opinion about the France's presidential election interests me. America is so mired in its own mess, perhaps, few us give a moment to the importance of the election results in France. Has LePenn's and le père's scandal reduced her chances by much? It's impossible to predict but what is your sense of it?
Fern, the father is nolonger with us politically and the daughter has "normalized" considerably her party. By default of being listened to by any other party she is largely supported by a large proportion of the "workers" and the non-Parisian population. As one often finds with such anti-elite politicians she identifies clearly the problems but her solutions are not necessarily the best. Macron listens to no one as he considers he alone understands and knows what to do. He is largely "shepherded by the consultants from Mackinsey. He bridges no contradiction and has little use for individual liberty using Orwellian Novlangue to project his own fears and autocratic tendencies upon those resisting him. We are caught between a rock and a hard place, he is clinically psychopathic and she is not really up to the job. Thankfully the 3rd round concerns the elections to parliament in which neither will have a majority necessary to government and will thus have no power to do whatever. The battle will then hit the streets in September as the then governing coalition will please no one...and necessarily be weak. As of tonight Macron probably will win but by an extremely small margin but she might do exactly the same.
Thank you, Stuart. Any place to go -- Scotland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, Portugal -- when are you leaving?
Thank you for, once again, gathering the connected stories together with a bow. I’d have loved to be a fly on the wall during Kimberly’s deposition.
After the Mueller debacle, it’s hard to hold out hope that the televised hearings will change minds. I’d like to see the major news sources cover the stories over and over again, in the hope that exposure to a firehose of incriminating evidence will change some hearts and minds.
NPR reports today that a candidate's history of domestic violence no longer seems to bother republican voters either. Autocrats gotta autocrat.
😠
Congressman Raskin said it very clearly “This was a coup organized by the president against the vice president and against the Congress in order to overturn the 2020 presidential election.” It is becoming so clear that these people will go down in history equal to the villains & knaves who plotted to kidnap or kill Lincoln in Baltimore in 1861 and in DC in 1865. If twitter and cell phones had existed in 1861 we'd very likely have a record of evidence similar to this about the Pratt Street Riot in Baltimore...that it was not "spontaneous combustion" but a plot that really started out to kill or kidnap Lincoln a month earlier and then unleashed it's pent up anger on the US troops moving through the streets. The "first blood" of the Civil War. And now 160 years later we are still dealing with core issues of white supremacy.
The world is. People of color will rule it one day. White will need to pay attention, because white will then stand out in the crowd and endure discrimination. I've had the privilege of working amongst too many, extremely capable, "persons-of-color". Just remember this old adage: Competition improves the breed. Racing boats and motorcycles taught me that.
Our great grandchildren, I am told, willl be brown. The USA melting pot!
I think that white supremacy will never die. (Sad face 😔) It just goes into hiding, usually in plain sight.
True, but. . . Eventually there will be lots of people with both white and non-white parents and grandparents. I wonder if a “drop” of white blood or a larger percentage of white ancestry will qualify people for white privilege. (Other than in their own minds.)
I needed this reframe. Haha
Hmmm... Good point.
In order for that to change, we would have to have implementation of all “physicians” healing themselves.
In NY State, a black lieutenant governor is very publicly arrested by the FBI for campaign fraud and resigns soon after. His crimes seem rather tame compared to those committed by the white Former Guy and his family and followers. And yet not a single arrest of any of these white folks. I hate how I’m becoming cynical but…
I don't know whether this edition went out to everyone. I am on the West Coast and didn't receive it and accessed it by logging into the blog.
To the substance, It looks like a long legal battle is underway and will continue for some time. If the insurrectionists now holding office are disqualified, that will intensely rile up their constituents and the rest of the far right. How far will they escalate then? And yet, what else can be done at this point? If all Democratic senators had held together and passed voting rights legislation, the upcoming elections wouldn't be nearly as vulnerable to subversion. Addressing this through lawsuits that could disqualify elected members of congress could lead us into a very dangerous situation even if justice is served. These are scary times.
I had to log into the blog to access it as well.
Me, too.
Yes. I missed it too.
I'm detecting a pattern. I got here via Substack.
I had to access blog as well.
A ton hangs on the Jan 6th Committee purification of the findings. Of course disputable garbage (chaff) and bold-faced lies (so convincing) presented by legal scholars(?) will need to be succinctly dealt with. The court should not suffer fools.
Can you clarify for me what you mean by "purification of the findings"?
Not available yesterday, showed up today…
(Happening to me for awhile now)
The existence of MTG is proof my ancestors were too lenient when they made their walking tour of the former prison colony known as Georgia. As does the existence of most of the other traitor scum mentioned in tonight's post.
Tc, I was really really hoping you'd read (above) John Schmeeckle's post today and comment (like Mike S did). I got soundly smacked the other day for calling him a troll. I don't know WHAT to make of his post today. I am smacking myself for even reading it, but I took to heart the comment someone made to me saying we need to listen to opposing views on this forum.
Miselle. It’s not opposing. It’s seditious. I didn’t smack you. I agree with you 100%. A troll that is being encouraged, complimented and complemented, and invited to a polite tea party.
I find it sickening to read here.
Miselle “Troll’ indeed! Such language from a lady. I simply posted “This John should be flushed.”
My head spins, don’t need him. Got enough cognitive dissonance. I will pass with no regret
K
Jeri “Cognitive dissonance”—love it. Like adding butter in cooking, cognitive dissonance is a blanket that explains and smothers a broad range of Bull Shitters (and worse).
TC, two sentences that say it all. Thanks!!
"This might... affect the candidacy of the former president should he run again in 2024."
Seen from outside, this very phrase presents America as a very bad joke.
A land in which crime has been shown to pay, and where nothing pays like it.
Will America now bequeath the world government of, by and for criminals?
That is the question.
I fear that America already presents itself as government “of, by and for the criminals” thanks to Citizens United and all of the dark money now owning our elected officials.
Yes, it stinks.
Did my father fight for this, did the boys who suffered and won the Battle of the Bulge fight and die for this... travesty?
We now face a reckoning.
THE RECKONING.
Amen. I also think of my father and so many other soldiers fighting through WWII. For what? To allow a nation of oligarchs and other corrupt clubs who have taken control of the nation. No, I don't think so. They're likely to call from the grave, "How could you do this to us? How could you allow the corrupt of the nation to take control?"
On top of that, we have trump saying that the soldiers killed in action were "suckers". And, I didn't hear an outcry from the public nor from the veterans' organizations. A few months after trump's comments concerning vets, I received a letter from the American Legion appealing to me to become a member. The letter stated, "All Americans respect the sacrifices you made..." I don't think so. I'm preparing a letter to them replying, "Why would I join a veterans' organization which doesn't stand up for the veterans?" Is even the American Legion afraid of the alleged bone spur, draft dodging president?
Wheww...they will experience the errors in their ways. We'll be better for it.
Clinging to a thread that MTG and dumbass Madison Cawthorne don’t return to office. Both are despicable and a disgrace.
When the marshals bring in Trump and need a cell they can release Vallejo, until then keep him locked up for the safety of the democracy. How can this country even aspire to a position of leadership in the civilized world when so many of its least informed citizens want a government that looks just like the one the barbarians attacking Ukraine have?
At the bottom of it all here we are witnessing the fight between an informed democracy and an ignorant autocracy. Talk to some of your Trumpian neighbors; they'll make that plain enough.
How about ILL-informed? Full of alternative facts. But "Least informed" will suffice. Ignorance of the 14th Amendment, opposed to socialism, and totally unaware that we are tipping our plate toward communism. Huh? Yeah, reporting on ones neighbor for seking an abortion. letting ministers into state governments directing "true" family values. Don't hand me any conspiracy theory baloney, this is happening. It's how China and Russia and N.Korea run their show. Scott, Cawthorne, mTg, MoBrooks, et al are conspirators, and just too stupid to see it.
"The lawyer’s argument is that Vallejo should be let out of prison because the real culprits were former president Trump—who convinced Vallejo that the election was stolen and that the country must be protected"
I almost completely agree with Vallejo that he should be let out of prison. Almost.
However, I was also aware of Trump's tweets to organize for a Jan 06 March (my wife has twitter).
Twelve seconds after reading Trump's tweets with my wife holding her phone for me to see, I mentally discarded the information as a lie and a call to those so ignorant that they may not see the lie.
But, I almost agree because: I have been lucky to be a strong reader since 1st Grade. Not everyone is. Not everyone has that chance at a good teacher and a quiet class in 1st Grade.
So, for those with less ability to discern, due to the luck of the draw, I DO think we should be considering letting some of the Jan 06 folks go.
Because, Trump DID convince them that their government was at risk and they DID think they were being patriots on that day (most of them).
I don't think Stewart Rhodes is in that benign category however.
But, I do think Vallejo might be.
I also think that it is TRUMP that should be in jail and TRUMP should be asking to be let out.
BUT, he is already free to raise money, lie, make stuff up, go on Tucker Carlson, phone his Daddy Putin for more instructions and generally do whatever he wants.
Even though we all knew and know, from Jan 06, that he was a criminal that had sponsored an illegal coup.
Nope. Even the stupid and ignorant are culpable for their acts. Now, if folks wish to pursue their innocence based on the concept that Right WIng Extremism is a product of a mental defect, then they may have a case...
I guess I was not arguing vociferously for the stupid and ignorant to be let off, because, I DO want to see Trump arrested and jailed, as I pointed out.
:-)
Actually you just stated that “we should be considering letting some of the Jan 6th folks go”. Who is “we”?
Is it within the realm of possibility that they be “de-programmed” before being released? Asking for a friend . . .
I wish people would stop viewing this as a movie, hoping for a good, neat, and tidy ending. The only good ending will be if we, the voters, use this information in public discourse to push for democracy. We cannot punish Republicans into sanity. Arrests will not solve anything unless we lay the groundwork first.
So many of us want promises that things will be fine before emotionally investing in democracy. Its wrong and holding the discourse back. Even more claim that there's just no point to anything if we don't get to see Trump in jail, as if that matters more than what actually happens yo the rest of us 330,000,000...
True justice sometimes lets the guilty go free because we rely on procedures, not emotions. We would be stronger if we followed the lead of John Adams and embraced that strength in our system.
Mikelle,
As long as the United States of America is arresting a black man exiting a 7-11 with a loaf of bread, stolen to feed his kids because nobody will hire him, in order to toss him into Angola prison to work that huge farm,
I am going to push for the LEADERS of the coup on Jan 06, like Trump, to be likewise tossed into Angola prison for a few summers of picking cotton.
It only seems fair.
I'm not concerned with making the Republicans sane - that choice was gone long ago (around Nixon's entry to office). I'm concerned that rabid dogs need to be dealt with the way rabid dogs are generally dealt with.
You mean a little TLC and a tight muzzle?
No, the other thing you do when they're foaming at the mouth and you're in danger of being bitten.
Exactly
Accountability. Our responsibility. To all.
It Is a privilege to observe a talented historian excavating a troubled and conflicted territory before she writes about it as an historian!
It is also fun to read for folks like me who feel as if we're in the front row watching our civilization's greatest tragedy. It's really quite gripping! Shakespeare would have had a field day with our politicians.
Fascinating reading, partly because it sounds like a bunch of children planning a raid on a neighboring clubhouse, and partly because they sound so angry about...what, exactly? Kimberley Guilfoyle said they would not allow Democrats to steal their dream. I am at a loss to understand exactly what their dream was. To keep Trump in office, but what had he done for them except goad them to be mad? Were they all so grateful that he was backing away from NATO and embracing Vladimir Putin? Were they delighted that he ignored the seriousness of Covid? Do they hate the earth so much that environmental laws infuriated them? I suspect none of the above. There's one thing at the core of their hatred. They hate people of color. Period. They hate that Democrats elected a Black man as President. Hated it. It drove them insane.
That election was certainly the catalyst. The war against "other" is simmering as well. Don't forget the "other" of immigrants, women, LGBTQ+ and religions other than Evangelical Christian.
No question. The war against "other." (Shudder).
As Michigan State Senator, Mallory McMarrow declated yesterday:
WE WILL NOT LET HATE WIN!!
https://fb.watch/cw5p_w1PH7/
THEIR dream.