“I don’t recall.” “I don’t remember.” Georgia Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene today took the stand before an administrative law judge in Atlanta to defend her right to be on the ballot in Georgia after five voters challenged her inclusion on the grounds she had violated the third section of the Fourteenth Amendment, which prohibits anyone from holding office who has taken an oath to support the Constitution and then participates in an insurrection or rebellion or gives aid and comfort to someone who does.
Here’s the thing: By and large, the readers of this newsletter are well informed and obtain their news from multiple sources. The same is NOT true for many if not most Republicans. They get their news from Fox, or OANN or Newsmax, or even worse, Joe Rogan or someone like him. They will hear nothing of McCarthy’s duplicity. They will hear nothing of MTG’s sedition (and to the extent that they will, they will AGREE with it). For them, there is no Republican “disarray”.
Governor Insantis' "laws" aren't going to hold up in court. His "redistricting" violates state law even with his appointees there on the court. His Disney attack won't hold up because it violates state law. He may look like the cheapest used car dealer in Florida, but he went to Yale and Harvard Law, and he knows that all this is just performative bullshit. Which is what makes him actually far worse than That Fucking Guy.
What is terrifying is watching this crap metastasize before us. None of what he did this week was anything the traitors were thinking of doing six weeks ago, and now that unhappy horseshit is in the "mainstream" of this seditious conspiracy known as the GOP. It's no longer a political party.
Americans are showing very little outrage at the scandalous behavior of our politicians being exposed on a daily basis by incredible journalists. It’s like , “not my problem” , “ who cares… they’re all crooks” , “ nothing we can do about it”. Ukrainians worry we will lose interest in their plight and they have every right to worry! My God, so many of our citizens have lost interest in our own DEMOCRACY! “Not my problem”!
I am not sure that messing with the Mouse that could roar if pushed is such a great idea. That mouse has the money to push back against a two-bit Governor and the state.
Since Prof. Heather is quoting Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Section 2 should be of interest to all of us. The New Republic:
"Imagine that Speaker Nancy Pelosi were to declare that several states have violated a clause largely unused and forgotten for 154 years: Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment, which mandates that states lose a portion of their congressional delegation if they unduly restrict the right to vote. Sorry, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, but Georgia went too far in rolling back voting rights; your state lost a seat in Congress—and it’s yours."
Its wording: "Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State."
Translation: "Representatives will be figured among the States according to their numbers, counting all the people in the State, except Native Americans who are not taxed. If a State will not let any male citizen over 21 years old vote freely (unless he commits a crime, or takes part in a rebellion), the number of Representatives for that states will be reduced."
There is enough going on here of which some fits denial of voting.
At the beginning of Rachel Maddow’s on Thursday, she brought up something Keven McCarthy said in 2016 when Trump was a candidate plowing through his opponents: “Putin’s paying Trump. No, I mean it, I think Putin is paying Trump.” She didn’t add to that but then went on to reveal the rest of the things McCarthy said that are recorded. And I think McConnell and McCarthy both did their rapid turnaround because Putin’s either paying them or he has something on them. Either way, it sure would be consistent.
The Republican political establishment is a cesspool. Garbage dump of low deplorables in high office. Rampant racism, sexism, gender identity hating, money kissing, lying, cheating and stealing. We need to lose the entire party and everyone in it.
Ron Desantis will ruin Florida’s economy because companies will not invest in a state that will not honor its tax agreements. But, he plans to not be Governor when “the chickens come home to roost”; he plans to be President by then.
"Opponents of the law are suing." The case appears to be the well pled, 'Black Voters, League of Women Voters et al. vs. Florida Secretary of State, et al. Case #148201925, Circuit Court of the 2nd Judicial District. Tallahassee FL. Update: The League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVFL ) Homepage details the goals of non-partisan "Fair Districts" & what that means in Florida. LWVFL Savy procedurally too.
Thank you Professor, for today’s letter. Knowing you’re a historian, your perspective gives us an edge on understanding the news. And MTG’s day in court, connected to 1861. But the repub code word is 1776! After watching her under oath today, (hours and hours I was glued to the screen) believing (wrong!!!) I would learn something new about the insurrection and her role, I did learn one thing. She has the same coach as every other repub under oath and it’s to remember these answers: “I don’t remember”, “I don’t recall” or look kind of puzzled. Repubs with memory issues, no worries for you.
"Truthfulness has never been counted among the political virtues, and lies have always been regarded as justifiable tools in political dealings. Whoever reflects on these matters can only be surprised by how little attention has been paid, in our tradition of philosophical and political thought, to their significance, on the one hand for the nature of action and, on the other, for the nature of our ability to deny in thought and word whatever happens to be the case. This active, aggressive capability is clearly different from our passive susceptibility to falling prey to error, illusion, the distortions of memory, and to whatever else can be blamed on the failings of our sensual and mental apparatus." Hannah Arendt
Republicans could line up small children, shoot them, have it be broadcast on the Fox channel,
and keep their jobs while getting Trump re-elected. We live in a sad, scary country that will get worse and worse - for decades. There's no voting ourselves out of this.
Here’s the thing: By and large, the readers of this newsletter are well informed and obtain their news from multiple sources. The same is NOT true for many if not most Republicans. They get their news from Fox, or OANN or Newsmax, or even worse, Joe Rogan or someone like him. They will hear nothing of McCarthy’s duplicity. They will hear nothing of MTG’s sedition (and to the extent that they will, they will AGREE with it). For them, there is no Republican “disarray”.
It’s both disheartening and infuriating.
“The only one who matters is Trump, [a]nd if Trump is fine, it's not an issue.”
That there folks, is what we call a cult.
Governor Insantis' "laws" aren't going to hold up in court. His "redistricting" violates state law even with his appointees there on the court. His Disney attack won't hold up because it violates state law. He may look like the cheapest used car dealer in Florida, but he went to Yale and Harvard Law, and he knows that all this is just performative bullshit. Which is what makes him actually far worse than That Fucking Guy.
What is terrifying is watching this crap metastasize before us. None of what he did this week was anything the traitors were thinking of doing six weeks ago, and now that unhappy horseshit is in the "mainstream" of this seditious conspiracy known as the GOP. It's no longer a political party.
Liars gonna lie. Cheaters gonna cheat. Grifters gonna grift. Is there no end to the corruption, bad faith and megalomania?
Americans are showing very little outrage at the scandalous behavior of our politicians being exposed on a daily basis by incredible journalists. It’s like , “not my problem” , “ who cares… they’re all crooks” , “ nothing we can do about it”. Ukrainians worry we will lose interest in their plight and they have every right to worry! My God, so many of our citizens have lost interest in our own DEMOCRACY! “Not my problem”!
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Hmmm
I am not sure that messing with the Mouse that could roar if pushed is such a great idea. That mouse has the money to push back against a two-bit Governor and the state.
Since Prof. Heather is quoting Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Section 2 should be of interest to all of us. The New Republic:
"Imagine that Speaker Nancy Pelosi were to declare that several states have violated a clause largely unused and forgotten for 154 years: Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment, which mandates that states lose a portion of their congressional delegation if they unduly restrict the right to vote. Sorry, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, but Georgia went too far in rolling back voting rights; your state lost a seat in Congress—and it’s yours."
Its wording: "Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State."
Translation: "Representatives will be figured among the States according to their numbers, counting all the people in the State, except Native Americans who are not taxed. If a State will not let any male citizen over 21 years old vote freely (unless he commits a crime, or takes part in a rebellion), the number of Representatives for that states will be reduced."
There is enough going on here of which some fits denial of voting.
At the beginning of Rachel Maddow’s on Thursday, she brought up something Keven McCarthy said in 2016 when Trump was a candidate plowing through his opponents: “Putin’s paying Trump. No, I mean it, I think Putin is paying Trump.” She didn’t add to that but then went on to reveal the rest of the things McCarthy said that are recorded. And I think McConnell and McCarthy both did their rapid turnaround because Putin’s either paying them or he has something on them. Either way, it sure would be consistent.
Should Stacey Abrams campaign on making Disney a great deal to move to Atlanta?
The Republican political establishment is a cesspool. Garbage dump of low deplorables in high office. Rampant racism, sexism, gender identity hating, money kissing, lying, cheating and stealing. We need to lose the entire party and everyone in it.
Ron Desantis will ruin Florida’s economy because companies will not invest in a state that will not honor its tax agreements. But, he plans to not be Governor when “the chickens come home to roost”; he plans to be President by then.
“Perjury Taylor Green” as per Marcus4Georgia Flowers 🙃
"Opponents of the law are suing." The case appears to be the well pled, 'Black Voters, League of Women Voters et al. vs. Florida Secretary of State, et al. Case #148201925, Circuit Court of the 2nd Judicial District. Tallahassee FL. Update: The League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVFL ) Homepage details the goals of non-partisan "Fair Districts" & what that means in Florida. LWVFL Savy procedurally too.
Thank you Professor, for today’s letter. Knowing you’re a historian, your perspective gives us an edge on understanding the news. And MTG’s day in court, connected to 1861. But the repub code word is 1776! After watching her under oath today, (hours and hours I was glued to the screen) believing (wrong!!!) I would learn something new about the insurrection and her role, I did learn one thing. She has the same coach as every other repub under oath and it’s to remember these answers: “I don’t remember”, “I don’t recall” or look kind of puzzled. Repubs with memory issues, no worries for you.
"I don't recall." "I don't remember."
"Truthfulness has never been counted among the political virtues, and lies have always been regarded as justifiable tools in political dealings. Whoever reflects on these matters can only be surprised by how little attention has been paid, in our tradition of philosophical and political thought, to their significance, on the one hand for the nature of action and, on the other, for the nature of our ability to deny in thought and word whatever happens to be the case. This active, aggressive capability is clearly different from our passive susceptibility to falling prey to error, illusion, the distortions of memory, and to whatever else can be blamed on the failings of our sensual and mental apparatus." Hannah Arendt
These hard core Trumpist/Tea Party patterns come to mind:
- “own the libs” (allows unlimited corruption to make libs cry)
- “I want government to be so small you can drown it in the bathtub”
- the “stable genius” has a plan that we don’t yet see - but Q will tell us
- “the enemy of my enemy is my friend = Putin, who is also 45’s benefactor
- whataboutism = if you think this is bad, Dems support aborting and trafficking children
- “it’s fake news”
- the authoritarian follower has beliefs that are adhered to so that contradictions are not seen or are ignored (Altemeyer, B, 2006)
- to keep those beliefs in place, own their media and repeat your lies often; also inoculate them against blaming you by blaming the other side first
- admitting to any of this throws the GOP out of power, and we can’t do that because Dems are the source of all evil
- dominate or be dominated, which means if we don’t rig elections they will
- liberty, always
To prevail we need to mobilize everyone who isn’t caught up in that whirlwind to vote and organize and use every legal option.
Republicans could line up small children, shoot them, have it be broadcast on the Fox channel,
and keep their jobs while getting Trump re-elected. We live in a sad, scary country that will get worse and worse - for decades. There's no voting ourselves out of this.