The election of 2000 was back in the news this week, when Nate Cohn of the New York Times reminded readers of his newsletter, using a map by data strategist and consultant Matthew C. Isbell, that the unusual butterfly ballot design in Palm Beach County that year siphoned off at least 2,000 votes intended for Democratic candidate Al Gore to far-right candidate Pat Buchanan.
Joe Biden is 100% correct. Trump is a "sick fuck". The two candidates couldn’t be more different. Trump campaigns on a ‘strong man’ retribution theme, he offers nothing, not even to his supporters. President Biden has a three-year track record of accomplishment and is sending a message of hope and encouragement. Selling that as a 50/50 choice takes dedication and effort.
I passed along this “get tough” message I received and posted in 2016 and 2020. It is both sad and unbelievable this appeal has not aged at all and must be stated again eight years after first receiving it.
“Voting is not enough! Every single Democrat needs to wake up and realize what's at stake here! Our entire democracy is on the line. You need to vote, campaign, donate, volunteer, be active on social media, and have hard conversations with friends and family. If all you do is vote, don't complain when trump takes away your rights and freedoms.” 215 days.
Obviously, on HCR’s substack, I am preaching to the choir. But we all know someone that is not part of our community that may be receptive to this message. Thank you for reading, we really are all in this together. If trump wins, America dies.
I will keep working on my parents to vote against Trump or at least neutral (2 votes!) in our upcoming cribbage matches. They are conservative Christians, but I can point them to life long friends that are still Christians but are taking a more liberal path and will reject Trump.
Myself I am an agnostic Unitarian, former physicist where my faith in organized religion was tested and lost out mainly to questions about what is indeed possible and probable.
And how life long conservative Christians can get behind a lying, thrice married, serial philandering bully is one of the enduring mysteries of our time.
People who take care of other people who are poor or in need, that is the job to which Christianity proclaims allegiance. By that measure, Donald Trump has no right to call himself Christian
Nor do millions of other people. These people are "cultural Christians." They and their families go to church several times a year, especially on holy days like Christmas and Easter. They are good people in that they don't murder anyone, steal from others, or commit adultery. But they don't have an up close and personal relationship with Christ. I am taking the definition from the book "Unsaved Christians" by Dean Inserra. These folks are Christians simply because they aren't Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, etc. They don't grasp the central tenet of the religion they claim to adhere to. Jesus of the Bible did not force himself on anyone like the abhorrent right wing nationalists are trying to do.
The Greatest Generation, who saved the world in WWII are nearly completely passed away. Their collective memories, with rare exceptions, are gone with them. They sacrificed to defeat evil. People like tRump, MAGA Mike Johnson, etc. have NO concept of the term sacrifice. They are the next round of evil.
There are daily worshipers still enthralled with Joel Osteen. The gilded road of Rome with false promises of riches and hope as indulgences are sold to the unwitting.
I've been absolutely gobsmacked a the number of social worker colleagues I have, people who have seen first-hand the deleterious effects of fiscal policies advanced by the R agenda, who still step up to vote R and proclaim that the Ds are destroying the world. There's a lot I don't like about how the D's run things- they often leave struggling people out of the equation in favor of big ideas (throwing a buttload of shade at student lending AND the fixes here) but their crimes are of ivory tower ignorance and lack of practical thinking, rather than straight-on malfeasance and ill will.
Many people wouldn't consider voting for Reagan in 1980 because he had been divorced. And today, the white faux-Christian worship him (TFFG) and let slide his low moral character.
It is not at all mysterious why people of faith voted for Trump. In three words - the Supreme Court. Now in two words - Christian Nationalism.
Wrongly maligned right wingers rightly understand that voting is a united exercise in taking power to achieve shared goals.
While mysteriously, leftish voters misunderstand voting to be an individual exercise in personal expression.
When the Left listened to labor leaders and civil rights leaders those voters understood in unity there is strength and the ballot box is the path to government power. Now, indulging in purity tests, pipe dreams, and Pied Pipers, these voters are indifferent or proud of giving that power to racist right wing religious extremist populists shilling for plutocrats.
I'm sorry: what?? (Maybe it's because it's early in the morning, but I am not understanding your stance, if I'm even understanding it. But as far as I do understand it, I disagree.)
I absolutely get where lin is coming from. I've heard it from my friends. These are people who are disillusioned with the D machine that is picking winners and losers and feeling like they have to hold their nose and vote for Biden. I felt that way last time around- having leaned heavily toward Klobuchar- but have come to generate tremendous respect for many aspects of what/ how Biden is doing the job. That said, for one issue voters, Palestine has liquefied their bowels. That we traded another massive shipment of arms to Israel the day they hunted down and killed aid workers speaks to that. We are participating in a genocide. What I know is that we have many times before and will, likely many times again because killing is good money. The question is, do we lose our democracy in the process? Maybe.
While I HATE what is going on in Gaza and have always disliked Netanyahu ... significantly... I feel that Biden is doing a wonderful job. I don't agree with everything he does, but I don't know what he knows, I don't have the experience he does. I have to rely on his experience and that of his advisors and believe he has the country's best interest at heart. With all that's going on, can you imagine if tffg was in charge?
Is POTUS and Blinken and whoever else needs to, getting boatloads of letters from the liquified bowels people. Are they using their voices and minds to make their point? I hope so, but am curious!
Yes. Well. If you want to explain what you do not understand/understand and what you disagree with then I'd have a chance at replying in a hopefully useful way.
lin, for the record, I understand what you are saying. The far left (and I have been castigated for using that term here) does not understand often that politics is the art of the possible. Where I live, people who call themselves socialists will not get elected, for example. In a truly baffling example, in Oregon we have in the D primary for the 6th Congressional District, a black woman who has been a legislator and has beaten the current incumbent in a legislative race. A black caucus came out for the woman, white, who lost in the last general election and cannot win in here in Marion County, but she speaks to the far left. Actually, I think the latter will not prevail in the primary this time, so by the general, it may be a moot point.
Having re-read this, I am guessing that the people to whom you refer in that last paragraph are a sub-set of the Left? Such as the people who vote for 3rd party candidates who are aligned with their personal beliefs, as opposed to the candidate who, while not perfect, can actually win and do the most good? If that's what you're saying, then I do agree with you. (Sorry to be slow responding, but yesterday was a work day.)
In campaigning, I was taught never to argue my case but to listen to the voter, find some common ground to build on, and keep reinforcing that.
If one argues, the other person will 'dig in' and keep reinforcing their objections. If they reiterate agreement on common ground then they might bring themselves around to broader agreement.
So hard sometimes to keep my disappointment/grief/rage at discovering how people really think/feel under wrap. Trying to work on it to be more effective but it’s a major challenge to not be reactive.
Lin, can you give an example of "wrongly maligned" right wingers? Between the christofascists and the white supremacists, I can't think of any who are "wrongly" maligned. I suspect there are still some moderate conservatives out there, but they have clearly thrown their lot in with the rwnjs, and so are fairly counted among them.
Fundamental differences in ways of thinking between the conservative and progressive minds is contributive. It’s complicated and multifactorial but I recognize that of which you speak. The ease of using religion as a cult base also, as you’re already half way there
Yes. I think the human condition is that things are in flux and we don't know all we need to make the decisions we must. I think there are two reactions to this. A felt need to pin things down, to get it right. Or a sense of exhilaration at the possibilities. I think the first trends to religious creed and political ideology. And the second to scientific method - experimentation, observation, coming to consensus through reasoned debate of empirical evidence, revision.
I think the reason the Founders separated church and state, in part, was to keep our system adaptive and with the potential and protocols for making progress towards a more perfect union - ie towards the greater equality they aspired to.
My philosophy teacher discussed it as the tension between contradictory desires ... for self-identity (things fixed over time) and for self-sufficiency (adaptive change over time.) And the question of how much adaptive change can there be until something becomes something else.
Swbv, I think that those "life long conservative Christians" are the ones who firmly believe that men should be the "lord and master" over his "household", and who buy into the version of white supremacy sold at the front of their church every Sunday. This version of the gospel has nothing to do with the teachings of Christ, and everything to do with male domination of the family and the world.
They could have 10 daughters, but if their stance is that men rule over women, they will never vote anything that gives them equal rights. Because the men are in charge and make the decisions.
I was looking for info about this new trump bible. This Brian Burch, who is president of the Catholic Vote, said," It is refreshing to hear a candidate talk this way....undoubtedly an ally to Catholics and all people of faith." The article then goes on to say how Burch slams Biden for targeting and decimating religious freedom protections.
Frank please be aware about who the Catholic Vote.org is ; “CatholicVote Civic Action is inspired and organized by faithful Catholic laity. For this reason, we do not claim to speak for any individual bishop or the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. We represent the voices of millions of Catholics across America who seek to renew our country and our culture, in full communion with and 100% faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
PAID FOR BY CATHOLICVOTE CIVIC ACTION IS A 501(C)4 ORGANIZATION. DONATIONS ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
I get ya Swbv. My sister is an Evangelical married to a CPA who has a plethora of wealthy clients. She gets vehemently pissed when I bring up the fact that Trump is a fascist and the risk we all take as a country if he gets back in the White House. I can see, for them, it's all about the money. For me, it's all about Democracy. Sadly, I can't even talk to her.
The lie even bigger than "the big lie" about the election is the idea that God has ordained Trump to rule the USA. They point to a story in the Bible (don't they always) about King David being a philandering and murderous tyrant saying, "God picks flawed people to do his bidding sometimes." If one's cult leader has been anointed by God, then no wrong is too foul for Evangelical Christians to get behind. Criminal behaviors, to include assault and rape, threats of violence and sowing division just don't matter. "God picked him anyway," you see. This last bit is best uttered with chin jutted firmly out. When I ask "How do you KNOW God picked him?" I simply get a hostile stare. But I don't have to ask really, it's mostly likely because their religious leaders told them so. The rot is in the pulpits, and then they wonder why people are leaving the churches in droves.
My daughters are in their 20’s…they vote. They are upset with Biden’s response to Israel/Hamas war. It’s understandable.
I keep thinking how would trump deal with this?
I suspect that he would tell Mr Bibi Netanyahu “ Flatten Gaza…Jared will develop the seaside properties for his rich friends in Saudi Arabia and the poor Palestinians will get nothing.
No matter what the U.S. government does
This is a war that Biden can’t win.
Trump and his MAGA power brokers will stop at nothing to install his right wing dictatorship!
Hopefully you can get through to them, not just in all the ways Trump would handle this tragic situation callously and make matters so much worse for the Palestinians, but also the many ways that he will make their lives worse. Explain to them that he would get to appoint countless federal judges who will rule against everything they hold sacred. They need to understand it would be game over.
Just shows what a phony made-up religion Christianity is. The basic 10 principles can be changed for the circumstances. George Carlins piece reduces them to 2 - don't kill people and don't fool around with the neighbors wife
...not to mention serial liar, misogynist, racist, grifter, and so on. It is baffling, until you heard it explained by Tim Alberta. The answer to the mystery is, essentially, power.
Yes do it. I once approached the manager of a Connecticut election for senate. My candidate who is now governor, was running against Joe Lieberman who was running as an independent but was really republican. I suggested that the campaign begin a program to encourage every supporter to find one person, just one, who might likely vote for the candidate but would probably not vote at all. In theory, this could double the vote count. The manager didn’t take me seriously and his candidate lost. I’ve suggest something similar with Biden but it likely went nowhere. Too bad. It’s an interesting concept. I choose a friend who wasn’t very politically concerned and worked on her for a few months leading to election. I called her on Election Day to ask if she needed a ride but she told me that she had already voted.
My husband and I are early risers who are from far eastern Minnesota and swim at a YMCA in western Wisconsin. While waiting for the Y to open at 5 we chat with some fellow early birds who are listening to Trump's message. We are able to relate our experiences with people fleeing the failed state in Venezuela. One of our foreign exchange students was from there and her family is unable to get medicine or basic hygiene products, has rolling electric black outs and has had sham elections for decades. People are leaving countries to find a better life, not because they are criminals ejected by their government. Not sure if we are changing minds, but some of the rhetoric has mellowed and the discussions are civil.
Aggressive Repressive Regressive Party Jeri, or as someone pointed out last week, the pirate party. In thinking about it they are the pirate party. They steal elections and take away freedoms from all Americans.
The only conservative thing they have done is to promote Fascism which is by definition conservative.
Aside from perverting religion, the takeaway from today's HCR for me is as Gary points out that they are simply "Stealing Elections". Heather confirms: "In one 70,000-person town in Michigan, a single activist challenged more than a thousand voters, Elias reported, and in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, right-wing activists have already challenged 16,000 voters and intend to challenge another 10,000." They are boasting "that their system 'can and will change elections in America forever.' "
Ok so, we know everyone in this blog wants to do things the "right" way. But, if this is legal and we can't stop them from challenging and purging voting roles in critical states, can we not do the same? Instead of writing postcards, can the Dems go on similar organized missions to challenge and purge right wing voters?....Make it "Fair and Balanced?" Enough is enough.
I try to be rational but this is more than angering. Al Gore really was POTUS but they Stole it from him and us and they're doing it again. There has to be a way to stop or at least counter this purging of voters. If someone has a better way, please think hard and bring it.
We need immigrants and we are all immigrants. The Republicans have rejected immigration policy reform for years even when their minority elected W was in the WH. Of course, because they need it as an election issue. When will people wake up to the extreme hypocrisy of the GOP? (GOP policies in general have tended to be motivated by, to put it bluntly, racism. Although they always have some rationalization to justify their positions.)
This border issue illustrates their need to have an election issue. That's why trump has been leaning Johnson and the rad reps n ot pass any bill supporting it. He wants the claim to fame.
Interesting strategy but don't give up. We have alot to lose in this election. Being vigilant, and motivating anyone to vote is worth our freedom and our Democracy.
“Christians are preaching chump from the pulpit, in many churches. Do they not know the difference. It’s a question I ask myself often. Thank Karl Rove for turning churches into arms of the Republican Party in 2004. The tea party and chump just continue the charade. Religion uses “faith” to counter any arguments about what is possible and probable. I believe that there is so much that we don’t know that “possible and probable” are yet to be defined. But I know for sure that the cult and the idiotic leaders, religious and otherwise, are extreme know-nothings pretending to know all. What a scam….
Rove now speaks out against Trump at least. Rove has done a lot of damage that needs rectifying in the little time we have left before November. He better keep talking.
lol :) one popular slang is "loose woman", on the sober side I'm grateful most cats get neutered, used to be endless alley yowls and fights in the streets at night esp
Be careful what you ask for. He talks out of both sides as normal discourse. He led the way to this disaster. I remember Texas in 1994. Such arrogant and deliberate lies. Just watched. Damn, it sounds to me like he would be fine with chump if he would just let the followers take the consequences and leave the leaders alone. Typical Karl
According to the Economist's Ron Dicker, Karl Rove, the GOP strategist who helped guide George W. Bush to two presidential victories, advised President Joe Biden’s campaign to “go hard” at Donald Trump’s embrace of the “thugs” who stormed the Capitol in 2021.
Glad he said something sensible after foisting W on us for two terms. He was the cretin who made churches arms of the repub party in 2004. I remember Texas in 1994, dirty tricks and lies from both sides of his mouth. He can go to hell. Dems should be careful...
Matt, has not our faith in organized politics been tested and lost out mainly to questions about what is indeed possible and probable?
We have all seen far too much of what for a long time appeared to be neither.
In general, my life experience has undermined all notions of what is possible or probable and heightened awareness of my ignorance.
People find adhering to habitual beliefs more reassuring than responding to evidence. And this attitude persists... until it is too late to counter the effects of delusions.
Faith is *the* problem in politics. It has replaced reason.
Interestingly the 'faithful' are more reasonable in their voting. They unite to take power to achieve shared goals. What is unreasonable, is that their culture war goals are so important to them that they sacrifice their economic opportunities for the opportunity to enforce their religious creed and establish their social bigotry as the law of the land.
Lin, there is broad agreement between us on much that you have just written now and at many other times, but I was not writing about "them" or "their" religious faith, I was writing about our unthinking and unwarranted confidence in systems and institutions political, economic and social which we have taken for granted but done nothing to sustain or support. And in so doing, I was speaking of all of us, right across the political spectrum.
I must insist on this because of the common delusion that "others have their beliefs, WE have knowledge".
I blame part of this neglectful and thoroughly unhealthy attitude, which has done so much to undermine our societies, on something especially prevalent in America: blind faith in creeds inculcated but neither understood nor understandable, and correspondingly blind faith in things totally incompatible with the tenets of religion...
That kind of double-bind leads to madness. And given the guaranteed failure of the kind of lazy dreaming we all know, it is a violent, paranoid, venomous resentment, seeking out scapegoats for a failure which is in reality, that of a whole society.
And when the violence and the venom do not come from the enemy within the gates, they come at us from foes and envious rivals without.
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I do want to add that there is such a thing as rational faith, a more practical setting for living our lives. Blaise Pascal's wager might be one example, but there are others, and they don't necessarily involve dependence on deities or any "external" powers.
" I was writing about our unthinking and unwarranted confidence in systems and institutions political, economic and social which we have taken for granted but done nothing to sustain or support. "
Yes, for Hannah Arendt, the banality of evil was how thoughtlessness did harm.
I contrast faith with reason, in the sense of the difference between coming to an absolute consensus through the leap of faith which defies the gravity of empirical evidence. And the revisable scientific method of coming to consensus through reasoned debate of empirical evidence.
And yes, across the political spectrum the dangers of blind or blinkered embrace of creed and/or ideology.
However, we do all tend to hew to beliefs, often shared yet not thought through.
Shedding those is as tearful a business as peeling an onion... to find nothing in the middle...
I have found it more useful to place what one cannot understand on a shelf and to put oneself serious questions, basic questions. This may be a slow process, but answers do come, and with them, further questions.
Regarding your last paragraph, I couldn't disagree more. A much more practical, rooted in reality as we know it, is that we are here and have no fracking clue as to why or how. And so we'd better make the best of it and not continue to frack up the planet!
What's curious is the paradox between the deepest possible agreement and apparent disagreement.
You say "We are here and have no fracking clue as to how or why".
I wandered alone on that mountainside at age 8 asking myself "Why am I here?". I sensed there was a forgotten reason for my being here but, try as I might, I could not find it.
The weird thing was a deep simultaneous sense of belonging, oneness with, intense love for this endlessly wonderful world, and vast freedom like sky and sea; yet of something missing.
Rather than simply stop at "I haven't a fracking clue as to why or how I'm here" that question which would never quite go away: Why am I here?
And others: What am I? What are we?
Having good parents, I was not concerned much with the how...
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I wrote elsewhere that I'd lost something I'd written you.
Being the perfect antigeek, I found and posted my draft but don't know if it has found the thread.
Responding to evidence, Peter, is the thing that I am beginning to understand. Some people don't take in what is happening around them and reformulate their life view. Alot of people see what's going on around them and only take in what supports the story in their heads.
It really is spot on....and such a curious behavior. I really think is is a behavior that does not contribute to survival and it is the reason we are in such a poor state as a nation.
I can name a few stories unsupported by facts....trickle down economics, high taxes on corporations keep them from investing in their business...(High taxes actually push corporations to invest in research, better employee benefits, higher wages as corporations would rather do that than pay taxes on a large net profit)
To your stories unsupported by facts, add "Republican presidents are better for the economy." Democrats end up having to clean up the messes made by Republicans who enact huge tax cuts or spend obscene amounts of money on defense contracts.
But we are up against those who want mass conditioning, not education; a herd easily driven and exploited, not a population of persons willing and able to think for themselves.
To their very short-term advantage, but a grave disservice to the nation.
The people we are up against are like spoiled brats who want everything their own way. That's no life for human beings! The attitude is is so unhealthy for mind, for body, for spirit. So far removed from entrepreneurial spirit. Real challenges bring grist to our mill.
i was born and raised as republican and catholic. I get that people vote what they associate with as the grown ups around us talked about. There were no opposing views to hear and of course we didn’t have social media (we played outside all day) However, Peter Burnett, I have remained open minded, rebellious at times, and have been able to reason for myself. Not all people have that ability. My ignorance in politics stems from “do what I do” no need to look further.
Regarding what is possible and probable, I was mainly referring to the very hard task of reconciling religion with known physics, and the very unlikelihood of some all powerful conscious entity being in charge of it all.
But I agree that politics is another pickle altogether! And your thoughts on this matter are spot on!
We need to tackle the-not-burning-of-fossil-fuels problem in an urgent manner. But we don't seem to be up for the job.
I may not have been ready for physics at age 8 but, living in South Africa towards the end of the Cape peninsula, I was fascinated by Nature, mountains, sea, rocks, trees, vast spaces, the southern night sky, the rhythms of the seasons. And all the animals, from baboons to fish, from canaries to penguins.
The religious could have caught my attention with that phrase of Bernard of Clairvaux about mountains, rocks and trees. Without that, all attempts failed completely.
I am not going to enter into a discussion of religion here, except to comment that there are so many forms besides the degraded, anemic monotheisms we see too much of, and the corresponding mono-atheism...
Anemic, because all attention is directed outwards, totally ignoring the presence and potential of the thinker, the perceiver, that human body/mind and the almost inconceivable complexity of the human brain.
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Matt, I'd lost this and recovered it. The last paragraph goes, as you can see, right beyond issues of religion, but by no means excludes them.
I don't see this simply as a blind spot. If I think of the very bright physicist in my own extended family, he seems so utterly absorbed by, fascinated by the play of his findings that everything, all awareness, all pleasure is there, the observer's presence forgotten.
This and the passion involved seem beautiful to me as an outsider, but my attention goes more to the thinker, the seeker, and his or her innate potential.
*
It is curious that the brain of a genius and the village idiot may not seem very different in structure.
Do we humans not neglect our givens—their immense range and variety—at our peril?
You might find it productive to suggest Mr. Trump is the predictably clever incarnation of The Devil himself— it’s exactly how slick it appears in the Bible. A glittering gluttonous and deceitful yellow calf being falsely worshipped, (using fear as fork.) Real Christians follow a man who advocated love, humility and acceptance. Ask them which they worship?
I'm glad to hear you say that about Religion. in 2013, my son got a motorcycle and was killed as so many are. He was 44 with wife and two children. As I was grieving, I realized I still didn't need Religion in my life.
I'm sorry you lost your son in that manner. As someone who had to give up motorcycling when I could no longer physically ride, I deeply understand the draw of riding. I was roughly the same age when I started riding, but I was also endowed with what I call the "'fraidy cat" gene, where I never pushed the boundaries.
I understand where you got to in your grief. My deepest condolences.
He got a motorcycle used in NC. He spent the day fixing it up. The whole condominium was around him having a party while he worked. He then took it out for a test drive. Going through an intersection with the green light, he had a young girl turn left in front of him "Look twice and save a life" He smashed into her car and was thrown. One of the people behind him knew who he was. He was taken still alive to emergency and died during surgery. She went to court and got a misdemeaner ticket. But then she has to remember this the rest of her life, each and every day. I made sure the OBIt got in the Greensboro news paper. And I'll never forget when he told me he'd gotten a motorcycle, that I rolled my eyes. He had given up drinking so that also wasn't involved. Thank you for caring. His children are now in college. One needs one course to graduate. One is taking a BSN nursing course.
I am not religious. I feel that religion has been one of the most divisive of the world’s philosophies — but that is a question for another time. But my feelings have been reinforced when I read how Evangelical Christians have taken anti-abortion and anti-gay as the major tenant of their belief. The part of that Trump plays on is that people who will hold those beliefs so strongly, and I don’t doubt that they do, are people who don’t look for evidence, logical consistency, or at the effects of their beliefs have on other people. They believe what their minister, or an authority figure tells them. ALSO, I think most of Trump’s devoted followers are not church-going evangelicals, they base their devotion to Trump more on being white, than Christian, or else more for his support of greed and corruption. Just in reading today’s Letter, you see how everyone involved with Trump is corrupt. Every deal he makes is illegal. But he has always done that. He learned it from his father. He becomes furious when someone challenges him because he believes that is the only way to do business: lie, cheat, screw people, not pay, sue, and have no regard for the damage he does. He’s usually proud of the damage he does. Many people see that as powerful. They admire the way he fights back and gets away with it. And he does get away with it. That’s why the corruption of the court system has been so harmful to democracy. What do you think Eileen?
Regarding strongly held belief systems, this is the hardest thing to combat. In my opinion, one must constantly subject their belief system to reality, constantly revising. This is hard work! And at the end of the day, you end up being ok with uncertainty, which is the only rational position!
Trump has a new Bible out. I believe it is called the God Bless the USA Bible. It includes the Protestant canon of sacred scripture as well as America's founding documents. Don't ask for any recommendations for passages from trump. That's too personal.
Combining religion and politics. What could possibly go wrong?
We had our cribbage match, which I won, but then lost at golf (another card game). I jokingly suggested to my dad that he should just write in himself rather than vote for Trump. Obviously the conversation needs to get more serious, for example losing democracy in the US and giving up Ukraine to Russia.
Glad that you won. I haven't played cribbage in years. I don't know the card game golf. My dad passed away long ago, but since he listened to Rush, I do wonder what he would make of death star. Good luck in persuading your dad that death star is not a good idea.
Yes, keep at it and civilized over those cribbage matches. I did just read that a core constituency of Republican voters is married couples, in the US a slight majority, say 55%, tend to back the GOP. MInd you that report was in 21. Dems pick up big on "all other".
If you keep working on your parents, you have a small chance of moving two votes from the Trymp column to some other colimn. Maybe to Biden. Maybe not. If you give up on converting your parents and invest the same effort in a well-orgsnized get-out-the-vote project, you have a good chsnce of moving dozens of votes to Biden’s column. Trying to convert Trump voters is a monumentally inefficient way to help save US democracy.
There was a similar message abiut doing more a couple months ago. It motivated me to buy a Joe Biden 2024 t-shirt that I wear to play pickleball. Once a week. It has created a lot of opportunities for conversation to say the least.
My wife, who is conflict-phobic, demands that I hide my "Vote Democrat" pin when I am in public. I resist. I have tried to tell her that I must remain confident that wearing it may mean something to someone. I want it to start a conversation.
In fact, not long ago, at a customer-service counter at a large retail establishment here in West Michigan, the clerk brightened up when she saw my pin (bright blue, 1-1/2 inch diameter). She thanked me for wearing it and told me that earlier that morning, she had been confronted by a customer wearing a "Jesus = Trump" baseball cap.
I have compromised with my wife. I keep my pin in my pocket when we are in church on Sunday morning.
Vincent, I live in a red county in Florida. I have been wearing my Biden/Harris t-shirt since Feb and have had ONLY positive responses and meaningful discussions. It’s been fun and empowering!
When I was gathering shopping carts, I would compliment people on their bumper stickers, and we would chat a bit. Too soon for the real political stickers to come out, but it will be interesting to see if they show any creativity. I had a special sticker made: The gullible and their freedom are soon parted. I guess it all depends on who is reading it.
I live in Kalamazoo. small world. Good for you to wear the button. Not wearing it in church seem to be a reasonable compromise. We got to be Vocal, viable and Vote.
Vincent Schumacher, church is where you should wear it. If your fellow church goers dislike it, their “true” feelings about Christianity should be questioned. It’s baffling to me
Even so, I am not out to confront my fellow parishioners or question their sincerity. And I certainly do not want to create unnecessary tension within the congregation.
My view is that within the church community should be one place where a civil and frank conversation can be had among people who share some explicit common beliefs and values. Where else is there?
Some qualifications are in order. If I were an usher or a communion assistant or a council member present and active in a congregational function, I think I would be out of order to wear a badge or pin announcing my affiliation with any organization (political or otherwise) other than the church.
Members should not feel compelled to hide their political leanings. That goes as well for those who, for whatever reason, cannot envision themselves ever voting for a Democrat. In my mind, wearing a party-affiliation pin of any sort is (or should be interpreted as) an invitation to a respectful discussion. That discussion should not be allowed to disrupt the peace of the assembly or the work of the congregation.
A friend of mine from church and I went together to Holland, Michigan, last week to join a street protest against the Israeli siege and bombing of Gaza.
For years, I’ve turned my body into a walking billboard — wearing candidate T-shirts almost daily for months before the election, it’s amazing how many opportunities for conversation it provides. T-shirt’s, yard signs, bumper stickers, and jewelry — I do all of the above and am thankful for all of the smiles, high fives, and positive conversations they’ve sparked (and this is in Texas!)
The book "Everything Trump Touches Dies" by Rick Wilson comes to mind. The book is humorous, the current situation is not. I agree there are millions of people who, somehow, remain uninformed re: the MAGA threat. I work with some of them. I keep a list of the Biden administration's accomplishments handy when the subject comes up.
"One group boasted that their system “can and will change elections in America forever.”
Rather like the election of 2000."
In 2000, with a boost from the Supreme Court and Ralph Nader, GW Bush introduced a christian nationalist politics of faith.
In 2024, with a boost from vote splitting candidates and the voters who love them, Trump would establish a Christian Nationalist regime.
Voters have many enticements and excuses to not vote for Biden. There is only one outcome - electing Trump.
America will not die. But a democratic republic would be repurposed as a corporate clerical fascist state. Many would not notice the difference. Until, as with Dobbs, they do.
lin- I cannot in good conscience use "Christian", as in "Christian" Nationalist. I refer to them as "faux-Christian Nationalists, because their beliefs and values are antithetical to what I believe the words of Jesus in the Bible say.
HCR refers to them as evangelicals which is probably more apt than the faux-Christian.
I am a non-theist but after attending Sunday school and Bible Study, I support the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Trump and his campaign have been comparing him to Jesus which I consider blasphemy.
They call themselves Christian Nationalists. Throughout history political players have used religion for their own power plays.
It is a great tragedy today that racist right wing religious extremists dominate politics and government for their own purposes. Often at odds with better readings of religious texts and traditions. Extremists of many religions and in many regions.
Gary, as someone who has been beaten with a Bible for who I am by "good Christians" I have NO PROBLEM using their self-proclaimed "Christian Nationalism" moniker. If you want to identify as a Christian, own it all. Not just the "Christ-like" part.
Was Jesus Christ even a real person or were the Gospels made up like Greek and Norse mythology? If Jesus was a made up character like Thor or Zeus then I'm all in on their self-proclaimed moniker.
But I admit that I was brainwashed by my years of going to Sunday school and church. So my hangup is that I try to adhere to the teachings of this Jesus whatever he is and I resent the Christian Nationalists for pretending they are doing what Jesus would.
As a fellow non-theist I see your point and if that's what they want to call themselves -- then why should I care?
Gary, my "go to" line is "I don't need an imaginary sky pilot to tell me what is good, or how to behave, or threaten me with purgatory if I don't do what they sky pilot says."
You can be an honest, moral person without being affiliated with any religion whatsoever.
Hey Ally, that is what music is for. There is no bullshit, just coming together. A quote from Paul Hindemith that our conductor shared at our past concert:
" People who make music together cannot be enemies, at least while the music lasts."
Bingo, exactly, Trump will stop at NOTHING...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. He needs to win to pardon himself and keep the Russian oligarchs and Putin behind him. Because their motive is to take down the United States of America because we have always been in Russia way. With the maluable and very weak Trump under Putin’s hand we face an unknown world. It's not going to pretty...at all.
I've been looking for an opening to say this, and here it is. I just returned from visiting the American Cemetery in Normandy. Over 9,300+ soldiers are buried there. One "battle" cost the lives of 9,300+ Americans and an almost equal number of Canadians and British. I thought I would be able to take a picture to this to show the enormity of this. I had to scroll with my video, instead.
All these lives sacrificed so we wouldn't have to live under an authoritarian ruler. To vote for someone who has blatantly said he would like to be a dictator, get rid of vermin, punish enemies, and be in charge (not responsible-there is a difference) of all the branches and cabinets in the government is unthinkable. It would be worse than spitting on these soldiers' graves. Let's sledge hammer the markers after spray painting them. The would have given up so much for nothing.
I've not yet been to Normandy, but plan to do so. I played in a couple bands with a fellow; clarinet player, small in stature, had been a wrestler in college and was (post war) a college professor and coach. He parachuted into Normandy as a 1st Lieutenant, and was awarded the Croix de Guerre for his service. One of the nicest, unassuming people you'd ever meet. He lost most of the men in his platoon although he personally had saved two of them.
My Dad flew bombers out of England. I am going see if I can find out if he participated in it. He might have joined too late. He did say that on one of his return runs that his locker was emptied. He never elaborated on that.
Watching the documentaries and seeing the films of hundreds of soldiers parachuting, I thought that they either had be crazy or extremely brave. With the wind blowing, off course, darkness, etc. a lot of them didn't make it. I wonder if they had the more advanced parachutes where you have some control where you land things might have been better. It seems that the Germans flooded a lot of fields; and because they were weighted down so much, quite a few drowned. Then there were the ones who landed right in the middle of a town where the Germans were stationed.
Hoyt, thank you for urging Ds to do all they can. I just posted the letter to Facebook where I urged people to do more than vote and also to make sure their registration is valid.
Thank you, but we have lots of people here who are very active and deserving of much more praise than I. I hope they and you are all rewarded for their efforts.
Beautiful message and perfectly said. It's definitely true want you said. I am 70 years old and seeing alot in my lifetime. It is critical for everyone get involved. Never in my 70 years, I thought I would have to fight for my freedom and our Democracy.
I am more concerned with the lack of the justice principle that no one is above the law and every one is treated equal. Why AG Garland has not brought out the Logan Act to prosecute Trump and Speaker Johnson? The act explained here yesterday's news latter.
IMHO Garland is scared. He is unwilling to go the distance with any charge on a republican because he fears reprisal and concern for his reputation in the history books. He is a moderate which is why Obama chose him for the SC to get him past the republicans. Biden made a mistake in Garland but at the time most people thought it a good idea until we found out his unwillingness to prosecute without thinking about politics.
I ran across this on Daily Kos today. It's a quote from Scientific American:
Studies overwhelmingly find no evidence that U.S. immigrants, including those who are undocumented, commit more crimes than native-born Americans. And now a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA that draws from a detailed and well-sourced data set comes to an even more dramatic conclusion. It reports that between 2012 and 2018, compared with their U.S.-born neighbors, undocumented immigrants in Texas were less than half as likely to be arrested for violent crimes or drug offenses and less than a quarter as likely to be arrested for property crimes.
“Simply put, we found that undocumented immigrants have lower felony arrest rates than both legal immigrants and, especially, native-born U.S. citizens,” says study co-author Michael Light, a sociologist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
In my 73 yrs, I have found that most immigrants are better citizens than many natives. Perhaps it’s because they have a greater appreciation of all that we have here than many natives, who take it for granted.
I'd rather the immigrants stay and MAGA leave. Immigrants, for the most part, are people looking for safety and opportunity. MAGA is just an evil entity that is more dangerous to our country than any immigrant.
Even TFFG would rather hire an undocumented immigrant than an American. He hires H-2b's when he can and if he can't he's more than happy to hire undocumented immigrants.
I think neither Orban nor Putin would want a lot of MAGA's. The both of them, especially Putin, just want to manipulate MAGA's to undermine American liberal democracy.
Ralph, I've worked for almost 50 years with immigrants and hired many of them for construction projects and other jobs.
Most of them came here to work and build a better life for their families. Plus, it seems that most of them work harder than many Americans and certainly take pride in their work. The last thing they want is to be deported for committing a crime.
For the most part, they realize that the quality of their work is important for them to keep working.
I am a Spanish speaking white American. I always hire migrants for any job needed. They work hard and without them wouldn’t have anyone to work at all.
Absolutely, a lot of immigrants really step up once they're here, bringing fresh energy and perspectives to the table. They've often had to jump through hoops to get here, so they don't take anything for granted. This drive and appreciation can make them super committed to giving back and making a difference in their new community.
Many years ago I was prowling around the grounds of the California State Library in Sacramento, examining a (new to me) camphor tree. I would have been hard to see in the bushes, and there was no one else around. Then, I saw a young-ish man who appeared to be Pakistani or something, ride up, get off his bicycle, and face a large US flag that was waving overhead, then put his hand over his heart. Then he continued on his way. I'm not so keen on flag waving, but that left a tear in my eye.
Good one J L. HCR correctly noted that a Texas lawyer [ Aaron Lloyd Nielsen ] told the 5th Circuit that Texas "may have gone too far." Actually Governor Abbott has admitted that Texas' SB4 was modeled after an Antonin Scalia sole dissent in 2012.
See, David G. Savages recent L.A. Times' article, "An old Scalia dissent is driving Texas' immigration dispute" with Federal law. Of course, dissents have no weight on SCOTUS' Constitutional Opinions.
Texas is attempting to pitch Scalia's "sovereign states" dicta to any five (5) of the current Justices. Texas may already have as many as four (4) SCOTUS votes right now assuming there is no change in the structure of SCOTUS or the number of Justices.
Scalia’s evil lives on. How smart of Texas to look for a dissent (loser position) to base their brilliant law on. Catch them if you can. But look at the damage and the wasted time.
I wrote this about a month ago - supporting your position. Despite the title, this letter is about NEEDING more immigrants to solve more than one problem.
They are cheated out of promised wages, and most often unable to get licenses and insurance. They have almost zero ability to report thefts from them, or other crimes against them (or even our citizens). That means they also don't want to be innocent witnesses that can help stop real criminals with information they can provide (beyond police using it without having to have them exposed to legal consequences that could get them deported).
I could appreciate a truck with 3 who I assume were undocumented who pulled off the freeway to warn a medical facility of a brush fire, making sure the people were safe before they ran back to the truck to get away before anyone could identify them or the truck .
There was no way I was going to try to get close enough to identify them or the truck, just very appreciative of the personal risk they took to make sure others were safe.
Yep. A felony conviction for even someone here on a green card means deportation.
I know someone from St. Stephen, NB that has been in the US for 30 years. He was arrested for a felony DUI because the people involved in the crash were seriously hurt plus he was way over the limit. His lawyer plead the felony down to a misdemeanor. He still served 6 months in county jail, but he wasn't deported.
This is definitely true and you have the facts to prove it. Trump and his mega Republicans know it's true also. Unfortunately Trump used immigration as a hatered political strategy to gravitate his base. Now it has mutated into division and violence against innocent people who want to come to this country to work. Like the immigrants who sacrificed their life's working at 1 am. to cover pot holes at the bridge at Baltimore.
I live in Florida and remember the Brooks Brothers riot quite well. If you think that these efforts don’t matter, think again. Roger Stone (and a sympathetic Supreme Court) delivered the presidency to George W. Bush. By a measly 537 votes.
But even though the Florida Supreme Court upheld the six-week abortion ban, it also allowed the voters a voice on the November ballot, making Florida “Ground Zero” according to Rick Wilson.
So let’s remember the three V’s: be vigilant, be vociferous, and VOTE!
Roger Stone just keeps popping up all over the place. Wonder what he's up to now. I'm guessing he's figuring out a way to keep Alan Grayson from registering 1,000,000 FL dems.
Voting is easy, but if we can we need to
Get Out The Vote
by supporting Grayson, Abrams, Rorke, MoveOn, etc.
Roger Stone is such an unsavory character committing so many nefarious acts and involved in criminality behind the scenes of already horrible Republican candidates that he seems to be an actual Bond villain or a comic book supervillain. He even looks and reminds me of the Penguin from the Batman comics. https://twitter.com/jdlovitz/status/1088858113493647362
Even more bizarre and disturbing is the fact that he has Nixon's face tattooed on his back.
Lots of tattoos is a psychological method of changing who you are because you don’t like your original self. How do you know about Stone’s tattoo of Nixon? It is weird if true, but honestly I find the many crimes he has committed far more disturbing.
Ah, thanks for the info about interior motivations. I guess it helps confirm first impressions, to have details of how disturbed and cray-cray various members of the current plot to bring down the government of the United States actually are. Makes it easier to stop giving them the benefit of the doubt.
A huge problem for our country is that so many have been “giving them the benefit of the doubt for so long”. When love and altruism are your MO it’s hard to imagine that it isn’t the same for everyone. It helps to be a student of violence and the human mind. Maybe we should give more respect to the experts in the field. Dr. Bandy Lee comes to mind.
Let's see how quickly the R's decide to require a 70% threshold instead of the proposed 60% to allow the ballot initiative to take effect...another state tried to do the same by trying to require the margin to be 60% but the 50% was enforced.
I was living in Paris when Dubya got in. There were internet jokes about the Florida votes. And, to start with, about Dubya. I remember a newspaper comment a few months later: "What are the Americans up to? There's total silence." Follow the dots.
Because the GOP blusters about law and order while engaging in the opposite and Democrats actually believe in law and order and want fairness, equality, justice and peace.
Actually it was 537 votes more popular votes awarded to Bush. The only reason for me to be a bit picky about the actual vote was that it happened to be the same as the total votes cast in the Electoral College (271 for Bush/Cheney, 266 for Gore/Lieberman, though 267 were pledged to vote for Gore/Lieberman). One Elector from D.C. abstained making the total 1 less than the 538 normally cast.
If the popular vote assigned to Gore/Lieberman had been 538 popular votes higher, they would have won with 292 EC votes to 246. Florida at the time had 25 Electoral votes so, if added to the 267 (instead of 266 with the abstaining vote), would make a 46 vote margin for Gore/Lieberman.
As it was the abstaining vote let Bush/Cheney be declared the winners by a 5 EC vote margin (instead of a4 vote margin if the Elector had voted as pledged).
Thanks for correcting my typo! You are right. And if not for the Stone et al shenanigans, the difference would have been made up with a couple of more days of counting.
It is not surprising that Mitch McConnell is behind the ignoring of the rules set forth by the Judicial Conference. The more these rogue R party judges are at the helm, the more women lose their rights as well as black folks losing their voting rights. Schumer is a little too calm for me when he said that the decision of the one judge not to comply was “unfortunate”. I want him to tear the judge’s throat out!! He already has messed with women re: mifepristone. Between these issues plus Ukraine and Israel, especially the killings of the WCK workers, it’s hard to keep positive. But one thing is certain, the more the R’s try to work against us, the more we come out fighting.
The more saboteur judges the "GOP" manages to place, the more equal protection, due process, and “a government of laws, and not of men” goes down the drain.
Is she just plain stupid or is she purposely being obtuse in her rulings?
As far right as the 11th circuit is even they may end up replacing her on this case.
Remember when McConnell scolded Leo and the Trump administration for nomination extremely unqualified judges? Some of them had never been inside of a court room.
Sadly, I don't believe she is either. She is 100% intentional in what she is doing. She is also both inexperienced in trial settings and completely unqualified to be on the bench.
I’ll just throw this out here; my husband doesn’t agree. I think she’s done everything so far to prove to Biden’s predecessor that she’s thankful to him for her position, but is going too far so that she’ll be thrown off the case and not be responsible for final judgment. She’s trying to have it both ways; hopefully, she’ll lose her judgeship. Wishful thinking.
Of the myriad reasons not to vote for TFFG, the possibility that Leonard Leo spearheads another couple hundred unqualified anti-abortion judges that will undermine the law is among the most important.
Gary, I tried to tell my "purist" Democratic friends that the 2016 election was about the Supreme Court, and to cast a third party vote or to fail to vote was going to cost us the Court. They wanted their ideal mate, not a bus that got them closer to where they wanted to be, and look at where we got to.
I tried to tell some of my purist friends not to sit out Nixon- Humphrey largely on the basis of the power of appointment. They were understandably offended by the shabby way the DNC had treated anti-war candidates, but that said, Nixon was clearly not "just the same" as Humphrey as they were insisting.
Well, the G.O.P. (sic . . . sick) is digging its own grave. I wish it did not take so long. Need fresh blood down-ballot to entrench a new New Deal coalition.
It's not over Israel, it's over Netanyahu's butchering of civilians in Gaza and the fact that the US is still supplying arms to Israel.
His approval rating in Israel is about as bad as SCOTUS in the US.
The Republicans will lie, cheat and steal every vote they can. This is just another example of the MSM's sensationalism in reporting to maximize advertising dollars.
Remember, that Bibi slept in Jared Kushner's bed when he was in the US. Bibi is a friend of TFFGs, or at least he was. And Bibi does need to go. But, he's like TFFG, he's in serious legal trouble so he will delay leaving as long as he can.
The youth have the most to lose if they let King Con into the Oval Office for another 4 years. There will be millions more dead children throughout the world. Protesting is great. Voting against humanity not so much!
I would ask the youth, what did a resistance vote against Hillary Clinton get you? Three more corporatist Christian Dominionist SCOTUS judges and a loss of a woman’s agency over her own body and health! It matters. A better government is a lot of hard work and heartbreak. No one can deliver it on a silver platter. Study history, or at least read LFAA every day.
But today 4/4 I heard White House news that Biden explained to Netanyahu that more military aid would be contingent upon how Israel treats the people in Gaza.
Marlene, I need to be more informed/educated regarding what you are talking about. What is the Judicial Conference, and the rules that Mitch and others are ignoring?
“At the national level, the Judicial Conference serves as the policymaking body for the federal courts. It convenes twice a year to consider administrative and policy issues affecting the federal court system, and to make recommendations to Congress concerning legislation involving the Judicial Branch.”
The constant evolution of a better system of government plus the falling asleep at the wheel that comes with a full stomach. Need to keep learning new ways to keep the foxes out of the henhouses
Everything societal is complicated these days, but sufficient insistence on fairness, good faith, and integrity could ease us over the rough spots. Without that, there is not much left to fix.
I see so little push back from our Government concerning Netanyahu that frankly, they lost me.
I took a very hard stance against a friend that spoke up about our Government being complicit with Netanyahu and what his goals were.
Guess what, my friend was completely right. I remember saying "our Government would never be part of a vile plan that would bring harm to innocent people." Boy, do I have egg on my face.
Thank you for mentioning the famous butterfly ballot in Florida in 2000. I'm sure a lot of people today don't know about it. There is no question that Gore won Florida by many thousands of votes. The Rehnquist Court is alive and well today, only much much worse. And the Brooks Brothers thugs have simply morphed into armed ones hauling Joe Biden's corpse around in a pickup truck. It's still the same Republican Party.
The Republicans have been despicable, mean spirited, thugs veering towards fascism for the entire 55 years that I've been alive.
But this incarnation of the Republican Party has mutated into something far worse than I could have ever imagined or care to see, it's not the same Party anymore even as bad as it was...
Ugh. The "hanging chads" episode. A badly designed ballot + a bad Secretary of State + a bad Extreme Court (that had no basis for deciding how a state run election should be run) = Two multi-trillion $ stupid wars that caused enormous death and suffering - and wrecked nations and our international reputation. Heather makes the point that elections are often decided on the margins of error. And the resulting catastrophes are mind boggling.
And aside from the needless devastation...what if Gore had become president and the US had begun seriously investing in renewable energy and other climate concerned measures - 24 years ago? How many lives could have been saved, improved? How many more kids could have been fed and cared for?
Nixon created the EPA and wanted to find an alternative to gasoline engines; the one anomaly in his otherwise creepy past. Carter was very pro-environment. Reagan hated the EPA and tried to get rid or it. Appointed Gorsuch and Watt.
But to what end? Follow the money. Who benefited, and continues to benefit? Who and what gets the shaft? To what end?
Thank you for the reminder and for sounding the alarm about the devious and anti-democratic skulduggery the GQP continues to commit to suppress voting.
Seems like voting is foundational to government of the people, by the people, for the people. Break that and break everything. It is not an unalienable right that enables all the others?
Any vote, improperly denied, by error or by malice should be considered unacceptable. No effort can be spared to insure that all who are eligible to vote are not prevented or impeded from doing so, and that every vote counts. It is unethical, irresponsible, and potentially dangerous to do otherwise, as worldwide and historic events amply demonstrate.
Sadly, the right to vote is NOT inalienable. and never has been, because the regulation of elections is left to the states. The ONLY way to beat this is to enact federal election laws with teeth, i.e. the John Lewis Voting Rights Act with serious enforcement provisions. Not happening very soon, I fear.
It's been called the American Experiment for a reason, and it still has many bugs. Fortunately we were provided with means to patch those bugs with sufficient solidarity and will. The notion that there are better (and worse) angels in our nature is old, widespread, and consistent, if always at war with greed, aggression, and hubris. Darwin is defamed for somehow advocating treachery, but in reality, he recognized our capacities for cooperation, compassion and conscience. Liberty is an individual right and a social responsibility. It is a universal right or to the degree it is not, it is tyranny; impunity for the privileged and subjugation for those who are not. We have to choose or lose the choice.
"What constitutes the bulwark of our own liberty and independence? It is not our frowning battlements, our bristling sea coasts, the guns of our war steamers, or the strength our gallant and disciplined army? These are not our reliance against a resumption of tyranny in our fair land. All of those may be turned against our liberties, without making us weaker or stronger for the struggle. Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men (sic), in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit, and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors. Familiarize yourselves with the chains of bondage and you are preparing your own limbs to wear them. Accustomed to trample on the rights of those around you, you have lost the genius of your own independence, and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises."
Any who frivolously interfere with the right of another individual to vote should be fined and exposed to the same criminal consequences of a deliberately fraudulent vote. That would expose those who personally try to preemptively challenge thousands of other individuals right to vote to the consequences of each and everyone would have faced if they had in fact tried to vote fraudulently.
Thanks Heather, the reminder of 2000, which burns in my memory led us to forever wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (especially Iraq that depleted our moral standing in the world) as well as the implosion of our economic security. Yes voting matters and vigilance to every little detail that the GOP takes to disenfranchise voters must be accelerated.
Pat Buchanon was the recipient of about 3,000 votes on the butterfly ballot that were intended for Gore. He admitted it! How different the world woud be if W Bush and Trump had never entered the White House. But then W was assisted by the Rehnquist Court. Trump has even better odds now!
Why is our society so offended when someone cheats at sports and wink and nudge when at cheating when the future of our society is at stake? Why do we permit so many schemes to take votes by treachery rather than truly equal protection under law?
Anthony, one of the best political cartoons I ever saw was a drawing of the eastern seaboard done as a drawing of Uncle Sam with Florida "dangling" as it does, with a doctor telling him "you have electile dysfunction there, sir".
To learn that three of our sitting SCROTUS judges worked on that case in Florida boggles my mind.
It still strikes me as ironic that had Al Gore won his home state of Tennessee, he would have won the Electoral College vote, and “hanging chads” would not have entered our national conscience. 🙄 Just saying.
HCR points out that (old school) Republicans created a graduated federal income tax to pay for the Civil War. Bush II slashed taxes (mostly for the rich) while declaring two quagmire wars. He left us in a "Great Recession". You might think Republicans might want to clean their act, but you would be wrong. Greed uber alles.
It is disheartening to recognize how much the Republicans corrupt our institutions and democratic processes. The positive take away from today's letter, however, remains that there are more who believe in democracy than in the oligarchy of the right wing minority. Sure hope Democrats can get the vote out.
This judge-shopping exploit, which was scuttled momentarily by the Judicial Conference, before Leonard Leo's c̶r̶y̶-̶b̶a̶b̶i̶e̶s̶ minions pushed back and the JC backed down, got me to looking up how an Article III federal judge is impeached. Just like you'd expect: impeached in the House of Representatives, and tried in the Senate.
I'm glad to hear there are encouraging signs of support for democracy. The fascist wing of the Republican Party is desperate to seduce the country away from its foundational moorings before democracy screws up their plans and pocketbooks. In what universe should there be any law that is opposed by a supermajority of the citizenry? Yet the minoritarian Republican Party feels entitled to dictate terms as if it deserved to be taken seriously. Abortion is just one example.
Allowing the corporate oligarchy to neutralize the underpinnings of American social order in favor of dictatorship should be more alarming to more folks, don't you think? We're looking at a ten-alarm fire.
If you watched 60 Minutes, you have probably also concluded, from the evidence presented, that Russia has a device that is behind the whole Havana Syndrome. When I saw that Bellingcat was also involved in the investigation internationally I knew the A Team was on the case. One person commented that he thinks Putin's biggest coup is this Russian wizardry that American ingenuity still has not figured out how to defend against or countervail.
It is now national news that Russian bullet points were being fed directly to Republican Congressional hearings and debunked by credible sources time and again.
Sheesh. I sure hope HCR has a team backing her up. So many different-yet-connected topics to update us on. Thanks for keeping us up to date...even if it makes it impossible to sleep at night.
So…are the voters who have been challenged informed about the challenge and told how to get their voting rights back? And do challenged voters have legal recourse against the people doing the challenging? I
I know that if something like that happened to me, this little old lady would be at the County Elections Board office pounding my cane on the Supervisor’s desk.!
People are NOT notified if their name is purged (usually because they have moved -even within their own State- or have not voted in the past couple of elections). Everyone should regularly check his/her voter status at their State elections office (easy to find online). Otherwise the only way you know is being told when you show up to vote and then it’s too late.
I had cast my mail in ballot in one of the first few elections after Oregon enacted vote by mail that my ballot was rejected because my signature didn't match. I went down to the elections office, showed my ID and explained the change. I was permitted to sign a new card and have my ballot counted.
The "why" as to the signature change was because of another deputy with the same initials as me, and with a similar script for his signature that I wanted NOTHING to do with (subsequently vindicated, because he was ultimately fired, and subsequently convicted for conspiracy for murder where he was still in possession of one of our agency uniforms...)
I loathe Republicans. If you can even call them that anymore. MAGA fascists is a more apt descriptor. What a loathsome, utterly detestable group of sick fcks that are. I can only imagine the defeated, depressed, infuriated, impotent way that I feel must mirror somewhat to how it felt to exist in Nazi Germany in the 1930s watching horrible people do horrible things.
Well, I have to break etiquette and make a comment only tangentially related to tonight's letter...
Boy Howdy, Jiggity Jig, I did it! I can't believe it, but I did it! Using my new favorite search platform, the PerplexityAI.com search engine, I found a number of companies that will produce a political yard sign! I spent a bit more than I anticipated and had to modify someone else's pre-made template due to my lack of originality in graphic arts, but sometime in the next 2 weeks a package will arrive at my door with 10, count'm, 10 yard signs and hardware that have the usual Stars and Stripes background and say "Elect Donald Trump for Dictator, 2024 United States of America". Technically incorrect of course, as the fated, almost unspeakable event would occur in early 2025 on Inauguration day, but the concept won't be lost on anyone. Now, I'll go out in the dark of night and plant them in places around my neighborhood that are not anyone's front yard and see just how long they last, how quickly they will be defaced by spray paint, gunshots, smeared excrement or other established MAGA tricks taken from the January 6 US Capital playbook.
I feel strangely empowered by this little act of anticipated defiance, much more so than after making a token donation at ActBlue, which has only resulted in a literal blizzard of recurring solicitations from across the country for candidates for every conceivable public office ranging from the US Senate to county vital statistics recording clerk. Why, oh why, won't these political donation clearing houses protect the identity and contact information of donors who want to donate precisely what they HAVE donated without reading the sob stories of cataclysmic urgency of every other candidate for office in the entire US of A?
You nailed my sentiments exactly. The constant “urgent deadline” requests are beyond the pale. I chose my donations very thoughtfully and I greatly resent the intrusion into my mailbox!!!
Some other ideas for political yard signs: TRUMP/PUTIN 2024, 2028, 2032... , DT = DickTator, Roe, Roe, Roe your Vote (not original to me, I'm sorry to say), VOTE, LIKE YOUR VOTE DEPENDS ON IT!, VOTE REPUBLICAN - TAX THE POOR FEED THE RICH, Gerrymandering, Bankruptcy, Rape Trump 2024. There may be more coming in the future :)
Love the yard sign idea! Maybe I need to make “Enforce the Logan Act Now— Treason is a CRIME” signs with a little USA flag.
About ActBlue and Dem fund-raising tactics in general, I could not agree more! I now reply to every text and email with the same message: “This is exactly why I no longer donate financially to the Democratic Party” and then I block them. Here’s hoping they look in their records to see just how much I have contributed in the past. I really don’t appreciate being treated like a dumb Trumper being bled for cash. I don’t know why they don’t set up a system where people can more effectively priority target their state’s issues and candidates. Once a donation is made, THAT would be the moment to OFFER that people can contribute to other causes and give a list with links.
The stealing of elections by Republicans must be stopped. Also, the Russian infiltration into our government by proxies like Mike Johnson who work for Treacherous-treasonous-traitorous-tantruming-Trump must be stopped.
I know. Al Gore should have been president if not for the made up hanging chads, Jeb Bush as governor stealing it and the Supreme Court stealing it too.
To be clear, it was the cult that is now the MAGA group that stole it. The "commanders" of the Handmaids Tale- the faux christians that see themselves as soldiers of God. I call them fake because the God they fight for is a weak, feckless idol of money and power. The god they believe in is not the all powerful being, but a weak, selfish god that must have the people do the dirty work.
It is the God of "I'm better than others because of my gender and my skin color, and I can boss my wife and my children around like slaves." So, since they do not follow the teachings of Christ, but instead worship treacherous-treasonous-traitorous-tantruming-Trump, they are not Christians either, but brainwashed members of the Cult of Trump!
Joe Biden is 100% correct. Trump is a "sick fuck". The two candidates couldn’t be more different. Trump campaigns on a ‘strong man’ retribution theme, he offers nothing, not even to his supporters. President Biden has a three-year track record of accomplishment and is sending a message of hope and encouragement. Selling that as a 50/50 choice takes dedication and effort.
I passed along this “get tough” message I received and posted in 2016 and 2020. It is both sad and unbelievable this appeal has not aged at all and must be stated again eight years after first receiving it.
“Voting is not enough! Every single Democrat needs to wake up and realize what's at stake here! Our entire democracy is on the line. You need to vote, campaign, donate, volunteer, be active on social media, and have hard conversations with friends and family. If all you do is vote, don't complain when trump takes away your rights and freedoms.” 215 days.
Obviously, on HCR’s substack, I am preaching to the choir. But we all know someone that is not part of our community that may be receptive to this message. Thank you for reading, we really are all in this together. If trump wins, America dies.
I will keep working on my parents to vote against Trump or at least neutral (2 votes!) in our upcoming cribbage matches. They are conservative Christians, but I can point them to life long friends that are still Christians but are taking a more liberal path and will reject Trump.
Myself I am an agnostic Unitarian, former physicist where my faith in organized religion was tested and lost out mainly to questions about what is indeed possible and probable.
And how life long conservative Christians can get behind a lying, thrice married, serial philandering bully is one of the enduring mysteries of our time.
People who take care of other people who are poor or in need, that is the job to which Christianity proclaims allegiance. By that measure, Donald Trump has no right to call himself Christian
Nor do millions of other people. These people are "cultural Christians." They and their families go to church several times a year, especially on holy days like Christmas and Easter. They are good people in that they don't murder anyone, steal from others, or commit adultery. But they don't have an up close and personal relationship with Christ. I am taking the definition from the book "Unsaved Christians" by Dean Inserra. These folks are Christians simply because they aren't Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, etc. They don't grasp the central tenet of the religion they claim to adhere to. Jesus of the Bible did not force himself on anyone like the abhorrent right wing nationalists are trying to do.
The Greatest Generation, who saved the world in WWII are nearly completely passed away. Their collective memories, with rare exceptions, are gone with them. They sacrificed to defeat evil. People like tRump, MAGA Mike Johnson, etc. have NO concept of the term sacrifice. They are the next round of evil.
There are daily worshipers still enthralled with Joel Osteen. The gilded road of Rome with false promises of riches and hope as indulgences are sold to the unwitting.
Jenn, It seems these folks are much more committed than just twice a year?
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/12/01/evangelicals-american-politics-tim-alberta-book-excerpt-00129319
https://twocare.org/the-gathering-the-religious-rights-cash-cow/
The gospels are replete with Jesus' reported words to care for the poor, the sick. He was generous with whom he healed, rich or poor.
I've been absolutely gobsmacked a the number of social worker colleagues I have, people who have seen first-hand the deleterious effects of fiscal policies advanced by the R agenda, who still step up to vote R and proclaim that the Ds are destroying the world. There's a lot I don't like about how the D's run things- they often leave struggling people out of the equation in favor of big ideas (throwing a buttload of shade at student lending AND the fixes here) but their crimes are of ivory tower ignorance and lack of practical thinking, rather than straight-on malfeasance and ill will.
I’ve seen a few. Nurses and social workers. 😳😳
Mind boggling
...not to mention that he practically calls himself Jesus.
Many people wouldn't consider voting for Reagan in 1980 because he had been divorced. And today, the white faux-Christian worship him (TFFG) and let slide his low moral character.
Low?
How bout nonexistent
My Catholic grandma didn’t vote for Reagan for that reason. She loved Jimmy Carter.
Not enough didn’t consider voting for Reagan.
He willing to sell out his louche ways (at least for others) to capture the anti-abortion vote. What a gigantic hypocrite.
He is even hedging on the anti-abortion stance. He was pro choice a while back.
I’d like to know how many women that he’s been with have had abortion on his dollar
It is not at all mysterious why people of faith voted for Trump. In three words - the Supreme Court. Now in two words - Christian Nationalism.
Wrongly maligned right wingers rightly understand that voting is a united exercise in taking power to achieve shared goals.
While mysteriously, leftish voters misunderstand voting to be an individual exercise in personal expression.
When the Left listened to labor leaders and civil rights leaders those voters understood in unity there is strength and the ballot box is the path to government power. Now, indulging in purity tests, pipe dreams, and Pied Pipers, these voters are indifferent or proud of giving that power to racist right wing religious extremist populists shilling for plutocrats.
I'm sorry: what?? (Maybe it's because it's early in the morning, but I am not understanding your stance, if I'm even understanding it. But as far as I do understand it, I disagree.)
I absolutely get where lin is coming from. I've heard it from my friends. These are people who are disillusioned with the D machine that is picking winners and losers and feeling like they have to hold their nose and vote for Biden. I felt that way last time around- having leaned heavily toward Klobuchar- but have come to generate tremendous respect for many aspects of what/ how Biden is doing the job. That said, for one issue voters, Palestine has liquefied their bowels. That we traded another massive shipment of arms to Israel the day they hunted down and killed aid workers speaks to that. We are participating in a genocide. What I know is that we have many times before and will, likely many times again because killing is good money. The question is, do we lose our democracy in the process? Maybe.
While I HATE what is going on in Gaza and have always disliked Netanyahu ... significantly... I feel that Biden is doing a wonderful job. I don't agree with everything he does, but I don't know what he knows, I don't have the experience he does. I have to rely on his experience and that of his advisors and believe he has the country's best interest at heart. With all that's going on, can you imagine if tffg was in charge?
Is POTUS and Blinken and whoever else needs to, getting boatloads of letters from the liquified bowels people. Are they using their voices and minds to make their point? I hope so, but am curious!
Yes. Well. If you want to explain what you do not understand/understand and what you disagree with then I'd have a chance at replying in a hopefully useful way.
lin, for the record, I understand what you are saying. The far left (and I have been castigated for using that term here) does not understand often that politics is the art of the possible. Where I live, people who call themselves socialists will not get elected, for example. In a truly baffling example, in Oregon we have in the D primary for the 6th Congressional District, a black woman who has been a legislator and has beaten the current incumbent in a legislative race. A black caucus came out for the woman, white, who lost in the last general election and cannot win in here in Marion County, but she speaks to the far left. Actually, I think the latter will not prevail in the primary this time, so by the general, it may be a moot point.
Having re-read this, I am guessing that the people to whom you refer in that last paragraph are a sub-set of the Left? Such as the people who vote for 3rd party candidates who are aligned with their personal beliefs, as opposed to the candidate who, while not perfect, can actually win and do the most good? If that's what you're saying, then I do agree with you. (Sorry to be slow responding, but yesterday was a work day.)
I have an older sibling who fits this to a "T". No amount of discussion will change her mind.
In campaigning, I was taught never to argue my case but to listen to the voter, find some common ground to build on, and keep reinforcing that.
If one argues, the other person will 'dig in' and keep reinforcing their objections. If they reiterate agreement on common ground then they might bring themselves around to broader agreement.
So hard sometimes to keep my disappointment/grief/rage at discovering how people really think/feel under wrap. Trying to work on it to be more effective but it’s a major challenge to not be reactive.
I hope it is still possible to find common ground. It is difficult when you have competing versions of the truth.
Even if they don’t realize that’s what they’re doing — that’s what they’re doing.
Lin, can you give an example of "wrongly maligned" right wingers? Between the christofascists and the white supremacists, I can't think of any who are "wrongly" maligned. I suspect there are still some moderate conservatives out there, but they have clearly thrown their lot in with the rwnjs, and so are fairly counted among them.
Fundamental differences in ways of thinking between the conservative and progressive minds is contributive. It’s complicated and multifactorial but I recognize that of which you speak. The ease of using religion as a cult base also, as you’re already half way there
Yes. I think the human condition is that things are in flux and we don't know all we need to make the decisions we must. I think there are two reactions to this. A felt need to pin things down, to get it right. Or a sense of exhilaration at the possibilities. I think the first trends to religious creed and political ideology. And the second to scientific method - experimentation, observation, coming to consensus through reasoned debate of empirical evidence, revision.
I think the reason the Founders separated church and state, in part, was to keep our system adaptive and with the potential and protocols for making progress towards a more perfect union - ie towards the greater equality they aspired to.
My philosophy teacher discussed it as the tension between contradictory desires ... for self-identity (things fixed over time) and for self-sufficiency (adaptive change over time.) And the question of how much adaptive change can there be until something becomes something else.
You are stereotyping
I am generalizing. There is a difference.
You say tomato…
Swbv, I think that those "life long conservative Christians" are the ones who firmly believe that men should be the "lord and master" over his "household", and who buy into the version of white supremacy sold at the front of their church every Sunday. This version of the gospel has nothing to do with the teachings of Christ, and everything to do with male domination of the family and the world.
Probably right. But... what I don't get is: many, many of those same men have daughters. And wives. How about putting family first?
They could have 10 daughters, but if their stance is that men rule over women, they will never vote anything that gives them equal rights. Because the men are in charge and make the decisions.
I think that thinking is a sizable minority. Most men don’t like Gilead either
Can you say RATIONALIZE? There is no limit to people's ability to rationalize.
Right, self preservation. Denial of facts protects one’s ego which preserves the will to live 🤷🏻♀️
How doe we create more resilience?
Roe v Wade and god in schools, the promised land! Last thing most evangelicals are going to do is seek godless Blue.
and all books out. no books in schools ever again back to slates and chalk. and the switch and dunce caps.
I thought it was about content, and by implication, mind control, not books as much.
I was looking for info about this new trump bible. This Brian Burch, who is president of the Catholic Vote, said," It is refreshing to hear a candidate talk this way....undoubtedly an ally to Catholics and all people of faith." The article then goes on to say how Burch slams Biden for targeting and decimating religious freedom protections.
Kind of sad, isn’t it? Burch has let his anti abortion fervency over whelm truth, decency, and, apparently care for women.
The Pope needs to smack that guy upside the head.
Google Leonard Leo's speech on getting an award from Becket Law.
https://www.becketlaw.org/leonard-leo-speech-2017-canterbury-medal-gala/
Frank please be aware about who the Catholic Vote.org is ; “CatholicVote Civic Action is inspired and organized by faithful Catholic laity. For this reason, we do not claim to speak for any individual bishop or the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. We represent the voices of millions of Catholics across America who seek to renew our country and our culture, in full communion with and 100% faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
PAID FOR BY CATHOLICVOTE CIVIC ACTION IS A 501(C)4 ORGANIZATION. DONATIONS ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
©2024 CatholicVote.org | All Rights Reserved “
Just to be clear, it is not the opinions of all faithful Catholics as not to be misleading.
I am not familiar with the organization. I just figured he was like a union leader or political party group and was representing its constituents.
I get ya Swbv. My sister is an Evangelical married to a CPA who has a plethora of wealthy clients. She gets vehemently pissed when I bring up the fact that Trump is a fascist and the risk we all take as a country if he gets back in the White House. I can see, for them, it's all about the money. For me, it's all about Democracy. Sadly, I can't even talk to her.
No mystery. He is a professional con man and he is good at conning. They believe what they want to believe.
The lie even bigger than "the big lie" about the election is the idea that God has ordained Trump to rule the USA. They point to a story in the Bible (don't they always) about King David being a philandering and murderous tyrant saying, "God picks flawed people to do his bidding sometimes." If one's cult leader has been anointed by God, then no wrong is too foul for Evangelical Christians to get behind. Criminal behaviors, to include assault and rape, threats of violence and sowing division just don't matter. "God picked him anyway," you see. This last bit is best uttered with chin jutted firmly out. When I ask "How do you KNOW God picked him?" I simply get a hostile stare. But I don't have to ask really, it's mostly likely because their religious leaders told them so. The rot is in the pulpits, and then they wonder why people are leaving the churches in droves.
There is rot in the pulpit’s… and addled brains in the pews!
My daughters are in their 20’s…they vote. They are upset with Biden’s response to Israel/Hamas war. It’s understandable.
I keep thinking how would trump deal with this?
I suspect that he would tell Mr Bibi Netanyahu “ Flatten Gaza…Jared will develop the seaside properties for his rich friends in Saudi Arabia and the poor Palestinians will get nothing.
No matter what the U.S. government does
This is a war that Biden can’t win.
Trump and his MAGA power brokers will stop at nothing to install his right wing dictatorship!
Hopefully you can get through to them, not just in all the ways Trump would handle this tragic situation callously and make matters so much worse for the Palestinians, but also the many ways that he will make their lives worse. Explain to them that he would get to appoint countless federal judges who will rule against everything they hold sacred. They need to understand it would be game over.
Til death do them part
Just shows what a phony made-up religion Christianity is. The basic 10 principles can be changed for the circumstances. George Carlins piece reduces them to 2 - don't kill people and don't fool around with the neighbors wife
...not to mention serial liar, misogynist, racist, grifter, and so on. It is baffling, until you heard it explained by Tim Alberta. The answer to the mystery is, essentially, power.
Look for the racism.
Yes do it. I once approached the manager of a Connecticut election for senate. My candidate who is now governor, was running against Joe Lieberman who was running as an independent but was really republican. I suggested that the campaign begin a program to encourage every supporter to find one person, just one, who might likely vote for the candidate but would probably not vote at all. In theory, this could double the vote count. The manager didn’t take me seriously and his candidate lost. I’ve suggest something similar with Biden but it likely went nowhere. Too bad. It’s an interesting concept. I choose a friend who wasn’t very politically concerned and worked on her for a few months leading to election. I called her on Election Day to ask if she needed a ride but she told me that she had already voted.
My husband and I are early risers who are from far eastern Minnesota and swim at a YMCA in western Wisconsin. While waiting for the Y to open at 5 we chat with some fellow early birds who are listening to Trump's message. We are able to relate our experiences with people fleeing the failed state in Venezuela. One of our foreign exchange students was from there and her family is unable to get medicine or basic hygiene products, has rolling electric black outs and has had sham elections for decades. People are leaving countries to find a better life, not because they are criminals ejected by their government. Not sure if we are changing minds, but some of the rhetoric has mellowed and the discussions are civil.
You are working for sanity. Thank you. Chump’s message is hate and whine. So enticing, keep the good work early birds
Aggressive Repressive Regressive Party Jeri, or as someone pointed out last week, the pirate party. In thinking about it they are the pirate party. They steal elections and take away freedoms from all Americans.
The only conservative thing they have done is to promote Fascism which is by definition conservative.
ARR!
Only with propaganda (social media provides it with a great mask on) can the cretins fool enough people to make hate popular. Hitler knew that.
Aside from perverting religion, the takeaway from today's HCR for me is as Gary points out that they are simply "Stealing Elections". Heather confirms: "In one 70,000-person town in Michigan, a single activist challenged more than a thousand voters, Elias reported, and in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, right-wing activists have already challenged 16,000 voters and intend to challenge another 10,000." They are boasting "that their system 'can and will change elections in America forever.' "
Ok so, we know everyone in this blog wants to do things the "right" way. But, if this is legal and we can't stop them from challenging and purging voting roles in critical states, can we not do the same? Instead of writing postcards, can the Dems go on similar organized missions to challenge and purge right wing voters?....Make it "Fair and Balanced?" Enough is enough.
I try to be rational but this is more than angering. Al Gore really was POTUS but they Stole it from him and us and they're doing it again. There has to be a way to stop or at least counter this purging of voters. If someone has a better way, please think hard and bring it.
We need immigrants and we are all immigrants. The Republicans have rejected immigration policy reform for years even when their minority elected W was in the WH. Of course, because they need it as an election issue. When will people wake up to the extreme hypocrisy of the GOP? (GOP policies in general have tended to be motivated by, to put it bluntly, racism. Although they always have some rationalization to justify their positions.)
This border issue illustrates their need to have an election issue. That's why trump has been leaning Johnson and the rad reps n ot pass any bill supporting it. He wants the claim to fame.
For sure, keep things civil, end it if things go south. Agree to disagree and let the equally available ballot box decide til the next time.
At least she voted as opposed to sitting on her hands.
Interesting strategy but don't give up. We have alot to lose in this election. Being vigilant, and motivating anyone to vote is worth our freedom and our Democracy.
👍🏽
“Christians are preaching chump from the pulpit, in many churches. Do they not know the difference. It’s a question I ask myself often. Thank Karl Rove for turning churches into arms of the Republican Party in 2004. The tea party and chump just continue the charade. Religion uses “faith” to counter any arguments about what is possible and probable. I believe that there is so much that we don’t know that “possible and probable” are yet to be defined. But I know for sure that the cult and the idiotic leaders, religious and otherwise, are extreme know-nothings pretending to know all. What a scam….
Rove now speaks out against Trump at least. Rove has done a lot of damage that needs rectifying in the little time we have left before November. He better keep talking.
Wiki is not yet up to date on that , best described as a Republican "alley cat" all to ready for dirty tricks through his careers, apologies notwithstanding. He was a major "architect" of the 2nd Iraq war, and we all know how un- bonafide the justification for that was. ... OK, found Ari Melber recent interview him, worth a little listen ... https://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari/watch/-thug-sons-of-b-tches-see-trump-felons-scorched-by-gop-s-karl-rove-in-warning-for-2024-loss-208269893855
Please Frank, don't demean alley cats
lol :) one popular slang is "loose woman", on the sober side I'm grateful most cats get neutered, used to be endless alley yowls and fights in the streets at night esp
Be careful what you ask for. He talks out of both sides as normal discourse. He led the way to this disaster. I remember Texas in 1994. Such arrogant and deliberate lies. Just watched. Damn, it sounds to me like he would be fine with chump if he would just let the followers take the consequences and leave the leaders alone. Typical Karl
If we allow these extreme no-nothings get away with these scams then we have ourselves to blame. This election is to important.
It's up to stop this propaganda and and inform them about the truth.
Some people care and try, some don’t give a whit, who is “ourselves.” Ever try to inform a MAGAt about anything.
According to the Economist's Ron Dicker, Karl Rove, the GOP strategist who helped guide George W. Bush to two presidential victories, advised President Joe Biden’s campaign to “go hard” at Donald Trump’s embrace of the “thugs” who stormed the Capitol in 2021.
“I
Glad he said something sensible after foisting W on us for two terms. He was the cretin who made churches arms of the repub party in 2004. I remember Texas in 1994, dirty tricks and lies from both sides of his mouth. He can go to hell. Dems should be careful...
YES, I am aware. The more important his statement. I agree. Proceed with caution.
Karl Rove, according to The
Matt, has not our faith in organized politics been tested and lost out mainly to questions about what is indeed possible and probable?
We have all seen far too much of what for a long time appeared to be neither.
In general, my life experience has undermined all notions of what is possible or probable and heightened awareness of my ignorance.
People find adhering to habitual beliefs more reassuring than responding to evidence. And this attitude persists... until it is too late to counter the effects of delusions.
Faith is *the* problem in politics. It has replaced reason.
Interestingly the 'faithful' are more reasonable in their voting. They unite to take power to achieve shared goals. What is unreasonable, is that their culture war goals are so important to them that they sacrifice their economic opportunities for the opportunity to enforce their religious creed and establish their social bigotry as the law of the land.
Lin, there is broad agreement between us on much that you have just written now and at many other times, but I was not writing about "them" or "their" religious faith, I was writing about our unthinking and unwarranted confidence in systems and institutions political, economic and social which we have taken for granted but done nothing to sustain or support. And in so doing, I was speaking of all of us, right across the political spectrum.
I must insist on this because of the common delusion that "others have their beliefs, WE have knowledge".
I blame part of this neglectful and thoroughly unhealthy attitude, which has done so much to undermine our societies, on something especially prevalent in America: blind faith in creeds inculcated but neither understood nor understandable, and correspondingly blind faith in things totally incompatible with the tenets of religion...
That kind of double-bind leads to madness. And given the guaranteed failure of the kind of lazy dreaming we all know, it is a violent, paranoid, venomous resentment, seeking out scapegoats for a failure which is in reality, that of a whole society.
And when the violence and the venom do not come from the enemy within the gates, they come at us from foes and envious rivals without.
*
I do want to add that there is such a thing as rational faith, a more practical setting for living our lives. Blaise Pascal's wager might be one example, but there are others, and they don't necessarily involve dependence on deities or any "external" powers.
" I was writing about our unthinking and unwarranted confidence in systems and institutions political, economic and social which we have taken for granted but done nothing to sustain or support. "
Yes, for Hannah Arendt, the banality of evil was how thoughtlessness did harm.
I contrast faith with reason, in the sense of the difference between coming to an absolute consensus through the leap of faith which defies the gravity of empirical evidence. And the revisable scientific method of coming to consensus through reasoned debate of empirical evidence.
And yes, across the political spectrum the dangers of blind or blinkered embrace of creed and/or ideology.
Your closing sentence is an essential safeguard.
However, we do all tend to hew to beliefs, often shared yet not thought through.
Shedding those is as tearful a business as peeling an onion... to find nothing in the middle...
I have found it more useful to place what one cannot understand on a shelf and to put oneself serious questions, basic questions. This may be a slow process, but answers do come, and with them, further questions.
Regarding your last paragraph, I couldn't disagree more. A much more practical, rooted in reality as we know it, is that we are here and have no fracking clue as to why or how. And so we'd better make the best of it and not continue to frack up the planet!
Matt, I didn't see this contribution of yours.
What's curious is the paradox between the deepest possible agreement and apparent disagreement.
You say "We are here and have no fracking clue as to how or why".
I wandered alone on that mountainside at age 8 asking myself "Why am I here?". I sensed there was a forgotten reason for my being here but, try as I might, I could not find it.
The weird thing was a deep simultaneous sense of belonging, oneness with, intense love for this endlessly wonderful world, and vast freedom like sky and sea; yet of something missing.
Rather than simply stop at "I haven't a fracking clue as to why or how I'm here" that question which would never quite go away: Why am I here?
And others: What am I? What are we?
Having good parents, I was not concerned much with the how...
*
I wrote elsewhere that I'd lost something I'd written you.
Being the perfect antigeek, I found and posted my draft but don't know if it has found the thread.
Patience...
Responding to evidence, Peter, is the thing that I am beginning to understand. Some people don't take in what is happening around them and reformulate their life view. Alot of people see what's going on around them and only take in what supports the story in their heads.
It really is spot on....and such a curious behavior. I really think is is a behavior that does not contribute to survival and it is the reason we are in such a poor state as a nation.
I can name a few stories unsupported by facts....trickle down economics, high taxes on corporations keep them from investing in their business...(High taxes actually push corporations to invest in research, better employee benefits, higher wages as corporations would rather do that than pay taxes on a large net profit)
Ah well....
To your stories unsupported by facts, add "Republican presidents are better for the economy." Democrats end up having to clean up the messes made by Republicans who enact huge tax cuts or spend obscene amounts of money on defense contracts.
Susan, others too, I was responding to Lin's comment on my phone when, typically, what I had written (was?) disappeared.
You, Ellen and others have made one of my main points. Thank you.
However, I was not speaking of "their" view, as opposed to "ours", I was thinking of all of us and how we have all taken far too much for granted.
Now I'll go back to Lin and try to reconstruct what I was saying to him...
This is why critical thinking is such an important subject to teach in schools.
But we are up against those who want mass conditioning, not education; a herd easily driven and exploited, not a population of persons willing and able to think for themselves.
Yes, I have always felt it was to their advantage to block education to the masses , easier to manipulate unsmart people.
To their very short-term advantage, but a grave disservice to the nation.
The people we are up against are like spoiled brats who want everything their own way. That's no life for human beings! The attitude is is so unhealthy for mind, for body, for spirit. So far removed from entrepreneurial spirit. Real challenges bring grist to our mill.
Bloated parasitism. Nothing more, nothing less.
i was born and raised as republican and catholic. I get that people vote what they associate with as the grown ups around us talked about. There were no opposing views to hear and of course we didn’t have social media (we played outside all day) However, Peter Burnett, I have remained open minded, rebellious at times, and have been able to reason for myself. Not all people have that ability. My ignorance in politics stems from “do what I do” no need to look further.
USA is nested with tribal networks. Sociology 101 I'm afraid.
Regarding what is possible and probable, I was mainly referring to the very hard task of reconciling religion with known physics, and the very unlikelihood of some all powerful conscious entity being in charge of it all.
But I agree that politics is another pickle altogether! And your thoughts on this matter are spot on!
We need to tackle the-not-burning-of-fossil-fuels problem in an urgent manner. But we don't seem to be up for the job.
I understand.
I may not have been ready for physics at age 8 but, living in South Africa towards the end of the Cape peninsula, I was fascinated by Nature, mountains, sea, rocks, trees, vast spaces, the southern night sky, the rhythms of the seasons. And all the animals, from baboons to fish, from canaries to penguins.
The religious could have caught my attention with that phrase of Bernard of Clairvaux about mountains, rocks and trees. Without that, all attempts failed completely.
I am not going to enter into a discussion of religion here, except to comment that there are so many forms besides the degraded, anemic monotheisms we see too much of, and the corresponding mono-atheism...
Anemic, because all attention is directed outwards, totally ignoring the presence and potential of the thinker, the perceiver, that human body/mind and the almost inconceivable complexity of the human brain.
*
Matt, I'd lost this and recovered it. The last paragraph goes, as you can see, right beyond issues of religion, but by no means excludes them.
I don't see this simply as a blind spot. If I think of the very bright physicist in my own extended family, he seems so utterly absorbed by, fascinated by the play of his findings that everything, all awareness, all pleasure is there, the observer's presence forgotten.
This and the passion involved seem beautiful to me as an outsider, but my attention goes more to the thinker, the seeker, and his or her innate potential.
*
It is curious that the brain of a genius and the village idiot may not seem very different in structure.
Do we humans not neglect our givens—their immense range and variety—at our peril?
My reply to you disappeared just before posting.
I may return to the matter. And to a huge blind spot at the center of most people's world view.
Meanwhile, I sympathize.
You might find it productive to suggest Mr. Trump is the predictably clever incarnation of The Devil himself— it’s exactly how slick it appears in the Bible. A glittering gluttonous and deceitful yellow calf being falsely worshipped, (using fear as fork.) Real Christians follow a man who advocated love, humility and acceptance. Ask them which they worship?
The followers of the antichrist shall wear his mark upon their forehead.. Cue red MAGA hat.
I'm glad to hear you say that about Religion. in 2013, my son got a motorcycle and was killed as so many are. He was 44 with wife and two children. As I was grieving, I realized I still didn't need Religion in my life.
I'm sorry for your loss. I look forward to the day when more people find the courage to live without religion.
Amen.
I'm sorry you lost your son in that manner. As someone who had to give up motorcycling when I could no longer physically ride, I deeply understand the draw of riding. I was roughly the same age when I started riding, but I was also endowed with what I call the "'fraidy cat" gene, where I never pushed the boundaries.
I understand where you got to in your grief. My deepest condolences.
He got a motorcycle used in NC. He spent the day fixing it up. The whole condominium was around him having a party while he worked. He then took it out for a test drive. Going through an intersection with the green light, he had a young girl turn left in front of him "Look twice and save a life" He smashed into her car and was thrown. One of the people behind him knew who he was. He was taken still alive to emergency and died during surgery. She went to court and got a misdemeaner ticket. But then she has to remember this the rest of her life, each and every day. I made sure the OBIt got in the Greensboro news paper. And I'll never forget when he told me he'd gotten a motorcycle, that I rolled my eyes. He had given up drinking so that also wasn't involved. Thank you for caring. His children are now in college. One needs one course to graduate. One is taking a BSN nursing course.
❤️🩹❤️🩹
That is so hard.
I am not religious. I feel that religion has been one of the most divisive of the world’s philosophies — but that is a question for another time. But my feelings have been reinforced when I read how Evangelical Christians have taken anti-abortion and anti-gay as the major tenant of their belief. The part of that Trump plays on is that people who will hold those beliefs so strongly, and I don’t doubt that they do, are people who don’t look for evidence, logical consistency, or at the effects of their beliefs have on other people. They believe what their minister, or an authority figure tells them. ALSO, I think most of Trump’s devoted followers are not church-going evangelicals, they base their devotion to Trump more on being white, than Christian, or else more for his support of greed and corruption. Just in reading today’s Letter, you see how everyone involved with Trump is corrupt. Every deal he makes is illegal. But he has always done that. He learned it from his father. He becomes furious when someone challenges him because he believes that is the only way to do business: lie, cheat, screw people, not pay, sue, and have no regard for the damage he does. He’s usually proud of the damage he does. Many people see that as powerful. They admire the way he fights back and gets away with it. And he does get away with it. That’s why the corruption of the court system has been so harmful to democracy. What do you think Eileen?
Regarding strongly held belief systems, this is the hardest thing to combat. In my opinion, one must constantly subject their belief system to reality, constantly revising. This is hard work! And at the end of the day, you end up being ok with uncertainty, which is the only rational position!
Trump has a new Bible out. I believe it is called the God Bless the USA Bible. It includes the Protestant canon of sacred scripture as well as America's founding documents. Don't ask for any recommendations for passages from trump. That's too personal.
Combining religion and politics. What could possibly go wrong?
And what could possibly go right?
Matt. good for you. As in the post below, why would any Christian, conservative or otherwise, support someone who behaves like the AntiChrist.
We had our cribbage match, which I won, but then lost at golf (another card game). I jokingly suggested to my dad that he should just write in himself rather than vote for Trump. Obviously the conversation needs to get more serious, for example losing democracy in the US and giving up Ukraine to Russia.
Glad that you won. I haven't played cribbage in years. I don't know the card game golf. My dad passed away long ago, but since he listened to Rush, I do wonder what he would make of death star. Good luck in persuading your dad that death star is not a good idea.
Yes, keep at it and civilized over those cribbage matches. I did just read that a core constituency of Republican voters is married couples, in the US a slight majority, say 55%, tend to back the GOP. MInd you that report was in 21. Dems pick up big on "all other".
If you keep working on your parents, you have a small chance of moving two votes from the Trymp column to some other colimn. Maybe to Biden. Maybe not. If you give up on converting your parents and invest the same effort in a well-orgsnized get-out-the-vote project, you have a good chsnce of moving dozens of votes to Biden’s column. Trying to convert Trump voters is a monumentally inefficient way to help save US democracy.
We can do both. It’s possible, and maybe when it’s loved ones we’re doing it as much for them as for anyone. 💙
Have you asked your folks how often they think Trump seeks guidance from the Almighty?
That wouldn't go down well :-).
Good for you. Just tell your folks that their benefits will taken away.
Such as Society Security, Medicare and their freedom to live in free country.
good going! this will help. we need commitments like this from every person who reads Heather's newsletter. Well done!
Thank you!
Matt, ask your parents: "What would Jesus do?" If they don't want to vote for Biden, suggest they write in a candidate of their choice.
That is a conversation I don't care to engage in, but I think I can refer my parents to their life-long Christian friends that could argue the point.
There was a similar message abiut doing more a couple months ago. It motivated me to buy a Joe Biden 2024 t-shirt that I wear to play pickleball. Once a week. It has created a lot of opportunities for conversation to say the least.
Patrick:
Good for you!
My wife, who is conflict-phobic, demands that I hide my "Vote Democrat" pin when I am in public. I resist. I have tried to tell her that I must remain confident that wearing it may mean something to someone. I want it to start a conversation.
In fact, not long ago, at a customer-service counter at a large retail establishment here in West Michigan, the clerk brightened up when she saw my pin (bright blue, 1-1/2 inch diameter). She thanked me for wearing it and told me that earlier that morning, she had been confronted by a customer wearing a "Jesus = Trump" baseball cap.
I have compromised with my wife. I keep my pin in my pocket when we are in church on Sunday morning.
\Vince S
Vincent, I live in a red county in Florida. I have been wearing my Biden/Harris t-shirt since Feb and have had ONLY positive responses and meaningful discussions. It’s been fun and empowering!
I keep my t-shirt at home when I’m at yoga.🧘🏻♀️
👕🛒
Kathy:
Thank you.
I'll have to tell my wife!
\Vince S
When I was gathering shopping carts, I would compliment people on their bumper stickers, and we would chat a bit. Too soon for the real political stickers to come out, but it will be interesting to see if they show any creativity. I had a special sticker made: The gullible and their freedom are soon parted. I guess it all depends on who is reading it.
Wear it and always show respect....
I live in Kalamazoo. small world. Good for you to wear the button. Not wearing it in church seem to be a reasonable compromise. We got to be Vocal, viable and Vote.
Vincent Schumacher, church is where you should wear it. If your fellow church goers dislike it, their “true” feelings about Christianity should be questioned. It’s baffling to me
Pat:
I agree with you.
Even so, I am not out to confront my fellow parishioners or question their sincerity. And I certainly do not want to create unnecessary tension within the congregation.
My view is that within the church community should be one place where a civil and frank conversation can be had among people who share some explicit common beliefs and values. Where else is there?
Some qualifications are in order. If I were an usher or a communion assistant or a council member present and active in a congregational function, I think I would be out of order to wear a badge or pin announcing my affiliation with any organization (political or otherwise) other than the church.
Members should not feel compelled to hide their political leanings. That goes as well for those who, for whatever reason, cannot envision themselves ever voting for a Democrat. In my mind, wearing a party-affiliation pin of any sort is (or should be interpreted as) an invitation to a respectful discussion. That discussion should not be allowed to disrupt the peace of the assembly or the work of the congregation.
A friend of mine from church and I went together to Holland, Michigan, last week to join a street protest against the Israeli siege and bombing of Gaza.
Have I sufficiently complicated the issue?
Further note: The ELCA Presiding Bishop, Elizabeth Eaton, with the approval of the Church, has issued a statement on the conflict in Gaza. https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Statement_on_Israel_Hamas_War102023.pdf
\Vince S
Keep the momentum going!!!!
What didvyou get in return? It IS their feathers youvshould try to ruffle. The Cristians at church!!
For years, I’ve turned my body into a walking billboard — wearing candidate T-shirts almost daily for months before the election, it’s amazing how many opportunities for conversation it provides. T-shirt’s, yard signs, bumper stickers, and jewelry — I do all of the above and am thankful for all of the smiles, high fives, and positive conversations they’ve sparked (and this is in Texas!)
Love your comment 💙💙🇺🇸🇺🇸
💙💙
That is great! Thank you!
Great idea
Great!!!!
Republicans can’t win with their shitty candidates or their shitty platforms…..so they cheat by disenfranchising others.
Add this to the 10,000 other reasons to hate republicans.
Vote 💙 💙💙💙💙💙
Remember in 2020, the GOP platform was "whatever Donald Trump says it is."
Ha! He is such a dolt isn’t he!
The book "Everything Trump Touches Dies" by Rick Wilson comes to mind. The book is humorous, the current situation is not. I agree there are millions of people who, somehow, remain uninformed re: the MAGA threat. I work with some of them. I keep a list of the Biden administration's accomplishments handy when the subject comes up.
Thank you!!!
"One group boasted that their system “can and will change elections in America forever.”
Rather like the election of 2000."
In 2000, with a boost from the Supreme Court and Ralph Nader, GW Bush introduced a christian nationalist politics of faith.
In 2024, with a boost from vote splitting candidates and the voters who love them, Trump would establish a Christian Nationalist regime.
Voters have many enticements and excuses to not vote for Biden. There is only one outcome - electing Trump.
America will not die. But a democratic republic would be repurposed as a corporate clerical fascist state. Many would not notice the difference. Until, as with Dobbs, they do.
lin- I cannot in good conscience use "Christian", as in "Christian" Nationalist. I refer to them as "faux-Christian Nationalists, because their beliefs and values are antithetical to what I believe the words of Jesus in the Bible say.
HCR refers to them as evangelicals which is probably more apt than the faux-Christian.
I am a non-theist but after attending Sunday school and Bible Study, I support the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Trump and his campaign have been comparing him to Jesus which I consider blasphemy.
They call themselves Christian Nationalists. Throughout history political players have used religion for their own power plays.
It is a great tragedy today that racist right wing religious extremists dominate politics and government for their own purposes. Often at odds with better readings of religious texts and traditions. Extremists of many religions and in many regions.
Gary, as someone who has been beaten with a Bible for who I am by "good Christians" I have NO PROBLEM using their self-proclaimed "Christian Nationalism" moniker. If you want to identify as a Christian, own it all. Not just the "Christ-like" part.
Was Jesus Christ even a real person or were the Gospels made up like Greek and Norse mythology? If Jesus was a made up character like Thor or Zeus then I'm all in on their self-proclaimed moniker.
But I admit that I was brainwashed by my years of going to Sunday school and church. So my hangup is that I try to adhere to the teachings of this Jesus whatever he is and I resent the Christian Nationalists for pretending they are doing what Jesus would.
As a fellow non-theist I see your point and if that's what they want to call themselves -- then why should I care?
Gary, my "go to" line is "I don't need an imaginary sky pilot to tell me what is good, or how to behave, or threaten me with purgatory if I don't do what they sky pilot says."
You can be an honest, moral person without being affiliated with any religion whatsoever.
I know many atheists and agnostics that are honest and moral.
I love your go to line..
Hey Ally, that is what music is for. There is no bullshit, just coming together. A quote from Paul Hindemith that our conductor shared at our past concert:
" People who make music together cannot be enemies, at least while the music lasts."
Bingo, exactly, Trump will stop at NOTHING...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. He needs to win to pardon himself and keep the Russian oligarchs and Putin behind him. Because their motive is to take down the United States of America because we have always been in Russia way. With the maluable and very weak Trump under Putin’s hand we face an unknown world. It's not going to pretty...at all.
We are in a twilight zone, there is no way all this shit is real.
That last line, Hoyt-if Trump wins, America dies. Chilling but so very true. I’m sharing that-thank you.
It is chilling Jen. I wish we did not have that constantly hanging over our head, but here we are.
I've been looking for an opening to say this, and here it is. I just returned from visiting the American Cemetery in Normandy. Over 9,300+ soldiers are buried there. One "battle" cost the lives of 9,300+ Americans and an almost equal number of Canadians and British. I thought I would be able to take a picture to this to show the enormity of this. I had to scroll with my video, instead.
All these lives sacrificed so we wouldn't have to live under an authoritarian ruler. To vote for someone who has blatantly said he would like to be a dictator, get rid of vermin, punish enemies, and be in charge (not responsible-there is a difference) of all the branches and cabinets in the government is unthinkable. It would be worse than spitting on these soldiers' graves. Let's sledge hammer the markers after spray painting them. The would have given up so much for nothing.
I've not yet been to Normandy, but plan to do so. I played in a couple bands with a fellow; clarinet player, small in stature, had been a wrestler in college and was (post war) a college professor and coach. He parachuted into Normandy as a 1st Lieutenant, and was awarded the Croix de Guerre for his service. One of the nicest, unassuming people you'd ever meet. He lost most of the men in his platoon although he personally had saved two of them.
My Dad flew bombers out of England. I am going see if I can find out if he participated in it. He might have joined too late. He did say that on one of his return runs that his locker was emptied. He never elaborated on that.
Watching the documentaries and seeing the films of hundreds of soldiers parachuting, I thought that they either had be crazy or extremely brave. With the wind blowing, off course, darkness, etc. a lot of them didn't make it. I wonder if they had the more advanced parachutes where you have some control where you land things might have been better. It seems that the Germans flooded a lot of fields; and because they were weighted down so much, quite a few drowned. Then there were the ones who landed right in the middle of a town where the Germans were stationed.
I have another friend whose Dad was a B26 tail gunner. My Dad was a meteorologist who worked the first weather station in the China/Burma theater.
It is no longer possible to be a decent human being and a Republican at the same time.
And many of them seem to go to great lengths to see how indecent they can be, they are exasperating, i try to avoid them at all cost Rex.
Amen to everything you've just said. Organize organize organize. And don't forget the money!
SCARY THAN SH__🤬. The Republican (anti Americans) never stop trying to destroy our democratic country. And a sick sick man is their leader@&#*+%
That sick sick man makes all of us sick. Sick and tired of his existence. Why cant he just die.
Hoyt, thank you for urging Ds to do all they can. I just posted the letter to Facebook where I urged people to do more than vote and also to make sure their registration is valid.
We need millions more like you Michele, let us pray you are rewarded for your efforts.
Thank you, but we have lots of people here who are very active and deserving of much more praise than I. I hope they and you are all rewarded for their efforts.
Thanks for this! I'll be including it in my weekly email to postcarding comrades!
fantastic!
Beautiful message and perfectly said. It's definitely true want you said. I am 70 years old and seeing alot in my lifetime. It is critical for everyone get involved. Never in my 70 years, I thought I would have to fight for my freedom and our Democracy.
Amen Patricia, 73 here and equally outraged this is how we have to spend our golden years.
I am more concerned with the lack of the justice principle that no one is above the law and every one is treated equal. Why AG Garland has not brought out the Logan Act to prosecute Trump and Speaker Johnson? The act explained here yesterday's news latter.
IMHO Garland is scared. He is unwilling to go the distance with any charge on a republican because he fears reprisal and concern for his reputation in the history books. He is a moderate which is why Obama chose him for the SC to get him past the republicans. Biden made a mistake in Garland but at the time most people thought it a good idea until we found out his unwillingness to prosecute without thinking about politics.
I ran across this on Daily Kos today. It's a quote from Scientific American:
Studies overwhelmingly find no evidence that U.S. immigrants, including those who are undocumented, commit more crimes than native-born Americans. And now a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA that draws from a detailed and well-sourced data set comes to an even more dramatic conclusion. It reports that between 2012 and 2018, compared with their U.S.-born neighbors, undocumented immigrants in Texas were less than half as likely to be arrested for violent crimes or drug offenses and less than a quarter as likely to be arrested for property crimes.
“Simply put, we found that undocumented immigrants have lower felony arrest rates than both legal immigrants and, especially, native-born U.S. citizens,” says study co-author Michael Light, a sociologist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/4/2/2233104/-Trump-lied-about-talking-to-a-murder-victim-s-family-It-never-happened#comment_88370132
In my 73 yrs, I have found that most immigrants are better citizens than many natives. Perhaps it’s because they have a greater appreciation of all that we have here than many natives, who take it for granted.
I'd rather the immigrants stay and MAGA leave. Immigrants, for the most part, are people looking for safety and opportunity. MAGA is just an evil entity that is more dangerous to our country than any immigrant.
Agreed! We could trade MAGA’s for immigrants, but who would want the MAGA’s?
Even TFFG would rather hire an undocumented immigrant than an American. He hires H-2b's when he can and if he can't he's more than happy to hire undocumented immigrants.
Putin?
That's what I was going to say! Putin can have them all.
Idk. Maybe Alcatraz? 😂 They could all live and fight with each other while we fix everything they broke.
Orban, perhaps?
I think neither Orban nor Putin would want a lot of MAGA's. The both of them, especially Putin, just want to manipulate MAGA's to undermine American liberal democracy.
Agreed!
Ralph, I've worked for almost 50 years with immigrants and hired many of them for construction projects and other jobs.
Most of them came here to work and build a better life for their families. Plus, it seems that most of them work harder than many Americans and certainly take pride in their work. The last thing they want is to be deported for committing a crime.
For the most part, they realize that the quality of their work is important for them to keep working.
I’m a retired construction worker and had the same experience working with immigrants, legal and otherwise.
I am a Spanish speaking white American. I always hire migrants for any job needed. They work hard and without them wouldn’t have anyone to work at all.
72 here :)
Absolutely, a lot of immigrants really step up once they're here, bringing fresh energy and perspectives to the table. They've often had to jump through hoops to get here, so they don't take anything for granted. This drive and appreciation can make them super committed to giving back and making a difference in their new community.
My experience has been the same Michael. As they say in Texas, clear eyes, full hearts.
Many years ago I was prowling around the grounds of the California State Library in Sacramento, examining a (new to me) camphor tree. I would have been hard to see in the bushes, and there was no one else around. Then, I saw a young-ish man who appeared to be Pakistani or something, ride up, get off his bicycle, and face a large US flag that was waving overhead, then put his hand over his heart. Then he continued on his way. I'm not so keen on flag waving, but that left a tear in my eye.
If I were trying to flee an unsafe situation in my home country, I would bend over backwards to be a MODEL citizen if I wanted to enter the US.
I try to be extra polite in other countries.
Good one J L. HCR correctly noted that a Texas lawyer [ Aaron Lloyd Nielsen ] told the 5th Circuit that Texas "may have gone too far." Actually Governor Abbott has admitted that Texas' SB4 was modeled after an Antonin Scalia sole dissent in 2012.
See, David G. Savages recent L.A. Times' article, "An old Scalia dissent is driving Texas' immigration dispute" with Federal law. Of course, dissents have no weight on SCOTUS' Constitutional Opinions.
Texas is attempting to pitch Scalia's "sovereign states" dicta to any five (5) of the current Justices. Texas may already have as many as four (4) SCOTUS votes right now assuming there is no change in the structure of SCOTUS or the number of Justices.
Scalia’s evil lives on. How smart of Texas to look for a dissent (loser position) to base their brilliant law on. Catch them if you can. But look at the damage and the wasted time.
Not good for this Texan.
True that.
Well, J.L., thank you for this most welcome news!
I wrote this about a month ago - supporting your position. Despite the title, this letter is about NEEDING more immigrants to solve more than one problem.
https://billalstrom.substack.com/p/fix-social-security-now
Yes! Well done, Bill.
I wonder why that is. Could it just be that undocumented immigrants are afraid they would be deported if they were caught?
They are cheated out of promised wages, and most often unable to get licenses and insurance. They have almost zero ability to report thefts from them, or other crimes against them (or even our citizens). That means they also don't want to be innocent witnesses that can help stop real criminals with information they can provide (beyond police using it without having to have them exposed to legal consequences that could get them deported).
I could appreciate a truck with 3 who I assume were undocumented who pulled off the freeway to warn a medical facility of a brush fire, making sure the people were safe before they ran back to the truck to get away before anyone could identify them or the truck .
There was no way I was going to try to get close enough to identify them or the truck, just very appreciative of the personal risk they took to make sure others were safe.
Yep. A felony conviction for even someone here on a green card means deportation.
I know someone from St. Stephen, NB that has been in the US for 30 years. He was arrested for a felony DUI because the people involved in the crash were seriously hurt plus he was way over the limit. His lawyer plead the felony down to a misdemeanor. He still served 6 months in county jail, but he wasn't deported.
Heard the same thing as well. What to do with the anti-immigrant herd.
That makes sense. People who are undocumented won’t risk discovery and deportation by knowingly committing a crime.
I agree JL!!!I believe immigrants aren’t being treated fairly!!
What Trump does is criminal, even apart from the broken families separated on his orders.
Thank you for challenging lies with facts JL.
This is definitely true and you have the facts to prove it. Trump and his mega Republicans know it's true also. Unfortunately Trump used immigration as a hatered political strategy to gravitate his base. Now it has mutated into division and violence against innocent people who want to come to this country to work. Like the immigrants who sacrificed their life's working at 1 am. to cover pot holes at the bridge at Baltimore.
This has been well documented in many trustworthy studies and publications. Thank you for the reinforcement.!
Immigrants are destroying this country, but it’s only the immigrants from Australia named Murdoch who are a problem.
I live in Florida and remember the Brooks Brothers riot quite well. If you think that these efforts don’t matter, think again. Roger Stone (and a sympathetic Supreme Court) delivered the presidency to George W. Bush. By a measly 537 votes.
But even though the Florida Supreme Court upheld the six-week abortion ban, it also allowed the voters a voice on the November ballot, making Florida “Ground Zero” according to Rick Wilson.
So let’s remember the three V’s: be vigilant, be vociferous, and VOTE!
Roger Stone just keeps popping up all over the place. Wonder what he's up to now. I'm guessing he's figuring out a way to keep Alan Grayson from registering 1,000,000 FL dems.
Voting is easy, but if we can we need to
Get Out The Vote
by supporting Grayson, Abrams, Rorke, MoveOn, etc.
Roger Stone is such an unsavory character committing so many nefarious acts and involved in criminality behind the scenes of already horrible Republican candidates that he seems to be an actual Bond villain or a comic book supervillain. He even looks and reminds me of the Penguin from the Batman comics. https://twitter.com/jdlovitz/status/1088858113493647362
Even more bizarre and disturbing is the fact that he has Nixon's face tattooed on his back.
I would rather talk to Nixon on Stone's back than talk to his frontside. Ugh. He's almost as disgusting as TFFG.
Lots of tattoos is a psychological method of changing who you are because you don’t like your original self. How do you know about Stone’s tattoo of Nixon? It is weird if true, but honestly I find the many crimes he has committed far more disturbing.
It’s well documented in numerous places. Takes a little curiosity to find a photo of it. He’s very proud of it and does not try to hide it
Ah, thanks for the info about interior motivations. I guess it helps confirm first impressions, to have details of how disturbed and cray-cray various members of the current plot to bring down the government of the United States actually are. Makes it easier to stop giving them the benefit of the doubt.
Absolutely!!
A huge problem for our country is that so many have been “giving them the benefit of the doubt for so long”. When love and altruism are your MO it’s hard to imagine that it isn’t the same for everyone. It helps to be a student of violence and the human mind. Maybe we should give more respect to the experts in the field. Dr. Bandy Lee comes to mind.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dangerous_Case_of_Donald_Trump
As Barb McQuade says, the bigger question is what’s keeping him from adding the king of con?
https://twitter.com/BarbMcQuade/status/1281927921280659456?lang=en
That is very strange and disturbing.
Is there any historical precedent for overturning s presidential pardon? If so, Stone would be a good test case.
Roger Stone even brags about his trickery in "Get Me Roger Stone" at https://www.netflix.com/title/80114666
Thanks, I think I do remember hearing about that one. I'll have to check that out if I can stomach it.
Unsavory is too kind an adjective to describe Roger Stone.
Yes truly it is too kind of a word for him. Even 4 letter cuss words seem too nice to describe him.
Voting is easy but informed voting is an ongoing effort.
He is more dangerous when we don’t hear from him.
Matt Schlapp, head of CPAC, was a ‘Brooks Brothers Riot’ participant.
Justices Roberts, Kavanaugh and Barrett all worked on Bush's legal team during that colossal steal.
That little tidbit upsets me greatly, and has since I first learned of it. I am absolutely disgusted.
I know. One could almost imagine it as payback.
They will never forget the win that the dirty tricks gave them in Florida. Especially since it was blessed by the old guard.
Let's see how quickly the R's decide to require a 70% threshold instead of the proposed 60% to allow the ballot initiative to take effect...another state tried to do the same by trying to require the margin to be 60% but the 50% was enforced.
That was Ohio, arguably THE most corrupt state in the union.
I was living in Paris when Dubya got in. There were internet jokes about the Florida votes. And, to start with, about Dubya. I remember a newspaper comment a few months later: "What are the Americans up to? There's total silence." Follow the dots.
An follow the money.
Because the GOP blusters about law and order while engaging in the opposite and Democrats actually believe in law and order and want fairness, equality, justice and peace.
You're so right. Empty vessels make the most sound.
Actually it was 537 votes more popular votes awarded to Bush. The only reason for me to be a bit picky about the actual vote was that it happened to be the same as the total votes cast in the Electoral College (271 for Bush/Cheney, 266 for Gore/Lieberman, though 267 were pledged to vote for Gore/Lieberman). One Elector from D.C. abstained making the total 1 less than the 538 normally cast.
If the popular vote assigned to Gore/Lieberman had been 538 popular votes higher, they would have won with 292 EC votes to 246. Florida at the time had 25 Electoral votes so, if added to the 267 (instead of 266 with the abstaining vote), would make a 46 vote margin for Gore/Lieberman.
As it was the abstaining vote let Bush/Cheney be declared the winners by a 5 EC vote margin (instead of a4 vote margin if the Elector had voted as pledged).
Thanks for correcting my typo! You are right. And if not for the Stone et al shenanigans, the difference would have been made up with a couple of more days of counting.
It is not surprising that Mitch McConnell is behind the ignoring of the rules set forth by the Judicial Conference. The more these rogue R party judges are at the helm, the more women lose their rights as well as black folks losing their voting rights. Schumer is a little too calm for me when he said that the decision of the one judge not to comply was “unfortunate”. I want him to tear the judge’s throat out!! He already has messed with women re: mifepristone. Between these issues plus Ukraine and Israel, especially the killings of the WCK workers, it’s hard to keep positive. But one thing is certain, the more the R’s try to work against us, the more we come out fighting.
The more saboteur judges the "GOP" manages to place, the more equal protection, due process, and “a government of laws, and not of men” goes down the drain.
I would put Judge Aileen (loose) Cannon in the group!
But of course. As complicit as it gets.
Is she just plain stupid or is she purposely being obtuse in her rulings?
As far right as the 11th circuit is even they may end up replacing her on this case.
Remember when McConnell scolded Leo and the Trump administration for nomination extremely unqualified judges? Some of them had never been inside of a court room.
Sadly, I don't believe she is either. She is 100% intentional in what she is doing. She is also both inexperienced in trial settings and completely unqualified to be on the bench.
I’ll just throw this out here; my husband doesn’t agree. I think she’s done everything so far to prove to Biden’s predecessor that she’s thankful to him for her position, but is going too far so that she’ll be thrown off the case and not be responsible for final judgment. She’s trying to have it both ways; hopefully, she’ll lose her judgeship. Wishful thinking.
Of the myriad reasons not to vote for TFFG, the possibility that Leonard Leo spearheads another couple hundred unqualified anti-abortion judges that will undermine the law is among the most important.
Gary, I tried to tell my "purist" Democratic friends that the 2016 election was about the Supreme Court, and to cast a third party vote or to fail to vote was going to cost us the Court. They wanted their ideal mate, not a bus that got them closer to where they wanted to be, and look at where we got to.
I tried to tell some of my purist friends not to sit out Nixon- Humphrey largely on the basis of the power of appointment. They were understandably offended by the shabby way the DNC had treated anti-war candidates, but that said, Nixon was clearly not "just the same" as Humphrey as they were insisting.
Well, the G.O.P. (sic . . . sick) is digging its own grave. I wish it did not take so long. Need fresh blood down-ballot to entrench a new New Deal coalition.
They have turned into the Zombie apocalypse
I fear we’re losing the youth vote over Israel. 😥
It's not over Israel, it's over Netanyahu's butchering of civilians in Gaza and the fact that the US is still supplying arms to Israel.
His approval rating in Israel is about as bad as SCOTUS in the US.
The Republicans will lie, cheat and steal every vote they can. This is just another example of the MSM's sensationalism in reporting to maximize advertising dollars.
Remember, that Bibi slept in Jared Kushner's bed when he was in the US. Bibi is a friend of TFFGs, or at least he was. And Bibi does need to go. But, he's like TFFG, he's in serious legal trouble so he will delay leaving as long as he can.
100%. That is how much I agree with you. Totally.
I agree with you, but anecdotally I hear many who still can’t vote for Biden if he doesn’t “do something” about Israel. 🤞🤞🤞
Everything is Biden's fault -- the border, the price of gasoline and food, supply chains, Ukraine and Israel. Maybe Bibi will be voted out soon.
Are they writing letters, using their voices and asking him to do something? Biden will respond where the other candidates won’t. It matters.
The youth have the most to lose if they let King Con into the Oval Office for another 4 years. There will be millions more dead children throughout the world. Protesting is great. Voting against humanity not so much!
I agree, but people are stubborn. 😵💫
I would ask the youth, what did a resistance vote against Hillary Clinton get you? Three more corporatist Christian Dominionist SCOTUS judges and a loss of a woman’s agency over her own body and health! It matters. A better government is a lot of hard work and heartbreak. No one can deliver it on a silver platter. Study history, or at least read LFAA every day.
I agree with you & am Dem all the way, but nervous.
Just what we don’t need, another drain on Joe
Agreed
Hopefully, the Biden team will take notice and recommend corrective action.
🤞🤞🤞
But today 4/4 I heard White House news that Biden explained to Netanyahu that more military aid would be contingent upon how Israel treats the people in Gaza.
Marlene, I need to be more informed/educated regarding what you are talking about. What is the Judicial Conference, and the rules that Mitch and others are ignoring?
I had to look them up, too. Try this. Note they recommend policy, they don’t mandate it.
https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/governance-judicial-conference
“At the national level, the Judicial Conference serves as the policymaking body for the federal courts. It convenes twice a year to consider administrative and policy issues affecting the federal court system, and to make recommendations to Congress concerning legislation involving the Judicial Branch.”
The US judiciary system doesn't seem to work perfectly well. Could it be that it's too complicated?
The constant evolution of a better system of government plus the falling asleep at the wheel that comes with a full stomach. Need to keep learning new ways to keep the foxes out of the henhouses
Everything societal is complicated these days, but sufficient insistence on fairness, good faith, and integrity could ease us over the rough spots. Without that, there is not much left to fix.
As you say.
See Heather's letter tonite/morning.
Marlene, I completely agree.
I see so little push back from our Government concerning Netanyahu that frankly, they lost me.
I took a very hard stance against a friend that spoke up about our Government being complicit with Netanyahu and what his goals were.
Guess what, my friend was completely right. I remember saying "our Government would never be part of a vile plan that would bring harm to innocent people." Boy, do I have egg on my face.
Tear the judges throat out, by all means.
"In local elections in the St. Louis, Missouri, area on Tuesday, voters rejected all 13 right-wing candidates for school boards..."
Is this a misprint or has hell frozen over?
Now, that’s a major step in the right direction! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
maybe Hell is running out of O2?
Thank you for mentioning the famous butterfly ballot in Florida in 2000. I'm sure a lot of people today don't know about it. There is no question that Gore won Florida by many thousands of votes. The Rehnquist Court is alive and well today, only much much worse. And the Brooks Brothers thugs have simply morphed into armed ones hauling Joe Biden's corpse around in a pickup truck. It's still the same Republican Party.
The Republicans have been despicable, mean spirited, thugs veering towards fascism for the entire 55 years that I've been alive.
But this incarnation of the Republican Party has mutated into something far worse than I could have ever imagined or care to see, it's not the same Party anymore even as bad as it was...
They are Nazis, plain and simple.
Truman called them out with no mincing of words.
Ugh. The "hanging chads" episode. A badly designed ballot + a bad Secretary of State + a bad Extreme Court (that had no basis for deciding how a state run election should be run) = Two multi-trillion $ stupid wars that caused enormous death and suffering - and wrecked nations and our international reputation. Heather makes the point that elections are often decided on the margins of error. And the resulting catastrophes are mind boggling.
And aside from the needless devastation...what if Gore had become president and the US had begun seriously investing in renewable energy and other climate concerned measures - 24 years ago? How many lives could have been saved, improved? How many more kids could have been fed and cared for?
Nixon created the EPA and wanted to find an alternative to gasoline engines; the one anomaly in his otherwise creepy past. Carter was very pro-environment. Reagan hated the EPA and tried to get rid or it. Appointed Gorsuch and Watt.
But to what end? Follow the money. Who benefited, and continues to benefit? Who and what gets the shaft? To what end?
Thank you for the reminder and for sounding the alarm about the devious and anti-democratic skulduggery the GQP continues to commit to suppress voting.
Seems like voting is foundational to government of the people, by the people, for the people. Break that and break everything. It is not an unalienable right that enables all the others?
Any vote, improperly denied, by error or by malice should be considered unacceptable. No effort can be spared to insure that all who are eligible to vote are not prevented or impeded from doing so, and that every vote counts. It is unethical, irresponsible, and potentially dangerous to do otherwise, as worldwide and historic events amply demonstrate.
Sadly, the right to vote is NOT inalienable. and never has been, because the regulation of elections is left to the states. The ONLY way to beat this is to enact federal election laws with teeth, i.e. the John Lewis Voting Rights Act with serious enforcement provisions. Not happening very soon, I fear.
It's been called the American Experiment for a reason, and it still has many bugs. Fortunately we were provided with means to patch those bugs with sufficient solidarity and will. The notion that there are better (and worse) angels in our nature is old, widespread, and consistent, if always at war with greed, aggression, and hubris. Darwin is defamed for somehow advocating treachery, but in reality, he recognized our capacities for cooperation, compassion and conscience. Liberty is an individual right and a social responsibility. It is a universal right or to the degree it is not, it is tyranny; impunity for the privileged and subjugation for those who are not. We have to choose or lose the choice.
"What constitutes the bulwark of our own liberty and independence? It is not our frowning battlements, our bristling sea coasts, the guns of our war steamers, or the strength our gallant and disciplined army? These are not our reliance against a resumption of tyranny in our fair land. All of those may be turned against our liberties, without making us weaker or stronger for the struggle. Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men (sic), in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit, and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors. Familiarize yourselves with the chains of bondage and you are preparing your own limbs to wear them. Accustomed to trample on the rights of those around you, you have lost the genius of your own independence, and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises."
Abraham Lincoln
Any who frivolously interfere with the right of another individual to vote should be fined and exposed to the same criminal consequences of a deliberately fraudulent vote. That would expose those who personally try to preemptively challenge thousands of other individuals right to vote to the consequences of each and everyone would have faced if they had in fact tried to vote fraudulently.
Jim, both Mark Meadows and his wife fraudulently voted and because they were elite Republicans, absolutely nothing happened to either of them.
If it had been anyone else they would have been fined, charged or both.
THIS. Either way, it is theft of a fundamental human right.
Thanks Heather, the reminder of 2000, which burns in my memory led us to forever wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (especially Iraq that depleted our moral standing in the world) as well as the implosion of our economic security. Yes voting matters and vigilance to every little detail that the GOP takes to disenfranchise voters must be accelerated.
The issue I remember so well is “ the hanging chad!”
Pat Buchanon was the recipient of about 3,000 votes on the butterfly ballot that were intended for Gore. He admitted it! How different the world woud be if W Bush and Trump had never entered the White House. But then W was assisted by the Rehnquist Court. Trump has even better odds now!
And I didn’t think it could get worse. Silly me.
Why is our society so offended when someone cheats at sports and wink and nudge when at cheating when the future of our society is at stake? Why do we permit so many schemes to take votes by treachery rather than truly equal protection under law?
Anthony, one of the best political cartoons I ever saw was a drawing of the eastern seaboard done as a drawing of Uncle Sam with Florida "dangling" as it does, with a doctor telling him "you have electile dysfunction there, sir".
To learn that three of our sitting SCROTUS judges worked on that case in Florida boggles my mind.
What a cluster that was to watch....
I lived down the street from Florida Supreme Court. Lots of news trucks and pissed off people.
It still strikes me as ironic that had Al Gore won his home state of Tennessee, he would have won the Electoral College vote, and “hanging chads” would not have entered our national conscience. 🙄 Just saying.
So much irony, it defines us
And ended many lives. Lies kill.
HCR points out that (old school) Republicans created a graduated federal income tax to pay for the Civil War. Bush II slashed taxes (mostly for the rich) while declaring two quagmire wars. He left us in a "Great Recession". You might think Republicans might want to clean their act, but you would be wrong. Greed uber alles.
It is disheartening to recognize how much the Republicans corrupt our institutions and democratic processes. The positive take away from today's letter, however, remains that there are more who believe in democracy than in the oligarchy of the right wing minority. Sure hope Democrats can get the vote out.
Hope's not enough. Got to. Must. And guard it. Dishonest might is going to prevail over honest right otherwise.
This judge-shopping exploit, which was scuttled momentarily by the Judicial Conference, before Leonard Leo's c̶r̶y̶-̶b̶a̶b̶i̶e̶s̶ minions pushed back and the JC backed down, got me to looking up how an Article III federal judge is impeached. Just like you'd expect: impeached in the House of Representatives, and tried in the Senate.
I'm glad to hear there are encouraging signs of support for democracy. The fascist wing of the Republican Party is desperate to seduce the country away from its foundational moorings before democracy screws up their plans and pocketbooks. In what universe should there be any law that is opposed by a supermajority of the citizenry? Yet the minoritarian Republican Party feels entitled to dictate terms as if it deserved to be taken seriously. Abortion is just one example.
Allowing the corporate oligarchy to neutralize the underpinnings of American social order in favor of dictatorship should be more alarming to more folks, don't you think? We're looking at a ten-alarm fire.
If you watched 60 Minutes, you have probably also concluded, from the evidence presented, that Russia has a device that is behind the whole Havana Syndrome. When I saw that Bellingcat was also involved in the investigation internationally I knew the A Team was on the case. One person commented that he thinks Putin's biggest coup is this Russian wizardry that American ingenuity still has not figured out how to defend against or countervail.
It is now national news that Russian bullet points were being fed directly to Republican Congressional hearings and debunked by credible sources time and again.
Ten alarm fire, at least
Sheesh. I sure hope HCR has a team backing her up. So many different-yet-connected topics to update us on. Thanks for keeping us up to date...even if it makes it impossible to sleep at night.
So…are the voters who have been challenged informed about the challenge and told how to get their voting rights back? And do challenged voters have legal recourse against the people doing the challenging? I
I know that if something like that happened to me, this little old lady would be at the County Elections Board office pounding my cane on the Supervisor’s desk.!
People are NOT notified if their name is purged (usually because they have moved -even within their own State- or have not voted in the past couple of elections). Everyone should regularly check his/her voter status at their State elections office (easy to find online). Otherwise the only way you know is being told when you show up to vote and then it’s too late.
I had cast my mail in ballot in one of the first few elections after Oregon enacted vote by mail that my ballot was rejected because my signature didn't match. I went down to the elections office, showed my ID and explained the change. I was permitted to sign a new card and have my ballot counted.
The "why" as to the signature change was because of another deputy with the same initials as me, and with a similar script for his signature that I wanted NOTHING to do with (subsequently vindicated, because he was ultimately fired, and subsequently convicted for conspiracy for murder where he was still in possession of one of our agency uniforms...)
I loathe Republicans. If you can even call them that anymore. MAGA fascists is a more apt descriptor. What a loathsome, utterly detestable group of sick fcks that are. I can only imagine the defeated, depressed, infuriated, impotent way that I feel must mirror somewhat to how it felt to exist in Nazi Germany in the 1930s watching horrible people do horrible things.
My sentiments exactly
Jessie, you spoke my heart. Thank you.
Cheating and intimidating is all they have left. They know they can’t win fairly, so they’ll do anything they can to derail democracy. Dark times.
Nicole Wallace pointed out yesterday afternoon that over 400 voter repression laws have been passed in red states since 2020.
If it's such a great thing to be a TFFG sycophant, why do they have to cheat to win?
Well, I have to break etiquette and make a comment only tangentially related to tonight's letter...
Boy Howdy, Jiggity Jig, I did it! I can't believe it, but I did it! Using my new favorite search platform, the PerplexityAI.com search engine, I found a number of companies that will produce a political yard sign! I spent a bit more than I anticipated and had to modify someone else's pre-made template due to my lack of originality in graphic arts, but sometime in the next 2 weeks a package will arrive at my door with 10, count'm, 10 yard signs and hardware that have the usual Stars and Stripes background and say "Elect Donald Trump for Dictator, 2024 United States of America". Technically incorrect of course, as the fated, almost unspeakable event would occur in early 2025 on Inauguration day, but the concept won't be lost on anyone. Now, I'll go out in the dark of night and plant them in places around my neighborhood that are not anyone's front yard and see just how long they last, how quickly they will be defaced by spray paint, gunshots, smeared excrement or other established MAGA tricks taken from the January 6 US Capital playbook.
I feel strangely empowered by this little act of anticipated defiance, much more so than after making a token donation at ActBlue, which has only resulted in a literal blizzard of recurring solicitations from across the country for candidates for every conceivable public office ranging from the US Senate to county vital statistics recording clerk. Why, oh why, won't these political donation clearing houses protect the identity and contact information of donors who want to donate precisely what they HAVE donated without reading the sob stories of cataclysmic urgency of every other candidate for office in the entire US of A?
You nailed my sentiments exactly. The constant “urgent deadline” requests are beyond the pale. I chose my donations very thoughtfully and I greatly resent the intrusion into my mailbox!!!
Same here, Christine.
Some other ideas for political yard signs: TRUMP/PUTIN 2024, 2028, 2032... , DT = DickTator, Roe, Roe, Roe your Vote (not original to me, I'm sorry to say), VOTE, LIKE YOUR VOTE DEPENDS ON IT!, VOTE REPUBLICAN - TAX THE POOR FEED THE RICH, Gerrymandering, Bankruptcy, Rape Trump 2024. There may be more coming in the future :)
Nice Steve. I love the Roe Roe Roe your vote. Here is some not so clever ones the Republicans could roll out...
Suppress Women's Rights -- Vote Republican
Racism is Cool - Vote Republican
Legalize Fraud and Corruption - Vote Republican
One Religion One God - Vote Republican
Good for you. I won’t donate through ActBlue anymore. So sick of the onslaught of crap.
Love the yard sign idea! Maybe I need to make “Enforce the Logan Act Now— Treason is a CRIME” signs with a little USA flag.
About ActBlue and Dem fund-raising tactics in general, I could not agree more! I now reply to every text and email with the same message: “This is exactly why I no longer donate financially to the Democratic Party” and then I block them. Here’s hoping they look in their records to see just how much I have contributed in the past. I really don’t appreciate being treated like a dumb Trumper being bled for cash. I don’t know why they don’t set up a system where people can more effectively priority target their state’s issues and candidates. Once a donation is made, THAT would be the moment to OFFER that people can contribute to other causes and give a list with links.
The stealing of elections by Republicans must be stopped. Also, the Russian infiltration into our government by proxies like Mike Johnson who work for Treacherous-treasonous-traitorous-tantruming-Trump must be stopped.
Linda, this has been a conservative practice for decades.
I know. Al Gore should have been president if not for the made up hanging chads, Jeb Bush as governor stealing it and the Supreme Court stealing it too.
To be clear, it was the cult that is now the MAGA group that stole it. The "commanders" of the Handmaids Tale- the faux christians that see themselves as soldiers of God. I call them fake because the God they fight for is a weak, feckless idol of money and power. The god they believe in is not the all powerful being, but a weak, selfish god that must have the people do the dirty work.
It is the God of "I'm better than others because of my gender and my skin color, and I can boss my wife and my children around like slaves." So, since they do not follow the teachings of Christ, but instead worship treacherous-treasonous-traitorous-tantruming-Trump, they are not Christians either, but brainwashed members of the Cult of Trump!
the might is right crew - I have the might and i determine the right.