I was stunned by Daniel Kelly's petty, bitter tirade! The news anchors had looks of astonishment on their faces when they cut back to the studio! This Wisconsinite is thrilled to have Janet Protaseiwicz on our Supreme Court.
Badgers are also tenacious, they don't let go and they will face up to anything no matter how powerful. Politicians could learn a lot and emulate them.
They know. My last visit there I saw lots of yard signs for "Fair Maps." Swinging out of the Republicans' installing a corrupt state supreme court is the way they will end this nonsense by breaking the chains of gerrymander. If the Republicans try to impeach Evers as a vindictive reprisal for the Wisconsinites vote to reclaim their state, I expect their party to get pounded like never before.
The Republican who won that seat did so with a 1.8% margin. In that incredibly red, gerrymandered district, the Republican in the last election won by over 8%. Disappointing, certainly. A surprise, certainly not. There is obviously more work to be done.
He was never elected to office. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by Scott Walker. This is his second unsuccessful bid to get back on the Supreme Court.
Very interesting, Sally. Thank you. Once you explained that he was appointed by Scott Walker, rather than elected, his low class, entitled behavior made a lot more sense.
Indeed. Graciousness in defeat is a lost art for Rs. With the election of death star aka mafia don a lot of these people rose out of the swamp and showed us just how uncivil they are. As for Scott Walker, I grimaced every time I heard what he was doing. I remember a story about someone trying to get a son registered for the first time. Lots of hoops.
Lost for Rs is also the art of working for good governance for their constituency. Now it is, from what I see, mostly about power plays - any governance seems to be legislating morality (just another power play in order to try and hold onto power by pleasing the Christian Right)
Brenda It happens all the time....and it's not new. I worked in GOP politics in MD in the 80's & 90's (talk about a minority) helping train candidates on how to present a speech, how to deal with the media and we made TV spots for them....from City Council races at first and eventually up to Congress. Most of our Red candidates won in our overwhelming Blue state. I helped one very conservative Dem when they came to me. He was making the jump from State rep to State senate and had a consultant from out of GA. The consultant wanted to shoot the TV spots in film...and I asked him if he really thought that would buy one more vote ? He just stared at me. Local boys weren't supposed to question the great oz from Atlanta. He wanted to use his film guy and add about $10,000 to the budget. They had 3 canned scripts they used everywhere...just insert the local candidate. Nice gig...
Back to R's... I just told this story yesterday about how I walked away from that part of my career because of how petty and juvenile some of the people were, especially at the State level of GOP party "leadership". I felt the irony at that time was, they were Christian Conservatives. Because of my work and reputation at the time, I was trusted and heard their behind closed doors pettiness. They really believed that the ends justified the means....and they talked like Jr High entitled brats. I stuck around to find out what was going on...then I worked with Congresswoman Bentley to take the party back from them. We won...and I walked away from political consulting.... but maintained a working relationship with Helen on her Maritime consulting. By the time she died we didn't agree on much politically...but we worked very closely on maritime education efforts and preserving that history...and I still do.
Frank that's a very good question. I won't contribute to either party. I will contribute to individual candidates and to specific causes. I'm a registered D because I live in Baltimore and there's more Green party in this city than R's. You have to be registered D to vote in the primary, because that's where the election is at. No R has poled more than 30% in my VERY diverse district in years.
I have not coached a candidate or made a TV spot for one in over 20 years. I did produce a documentary titled "Fracking Western Maryland?" 5-6 years ago that I made as a journalism exercise. I took no position...had no agenda in the making of the film except to try and discern whether fracking made sense for Western Maryland. The finished film was used by the Sierra Club and other environmental groups in the year before Fracking was eventually banned in MD. Many people have said they believe the film helped create the ban because of it's information value.
I became an activist for the ban in the last 3-4 months before the vote, because I believed it was right for MD and I could not sit it out, knowing what I knew. After that I worked hard to defeat my D State Senator, Joan Carter Conway who was head of the Environmental Committee and had tried to table the issue in her committee. She was great at smoke & mirrors. However she lost control of the issue. The D party establishment supported her for re-election including our Congressman Elijah Cummings who I respected deeply. The Baltimore Sierra Club and others worked together to to defeat her and we did. That was very full filling. This is a video I made of Joan on the floor that we posted just before the Senate vote. She had stated that she thought the Gov would veto the bill.
Very interesting. Fracking though put the US in a net positive hydrocarbon position, though it won't last forever, as oil and gas out of the ground won't, not to mention climate change which is going to run up a huge bill in terms of financial, property and human capital.
I totally understand. I'm not for pulling the plug on all fracking tomorrow. It was just a VERY bad idea for Western Maryland. Garrett County has a 4 season outdoor tourism economy with water EVERYWHERE. I'm ok with it for now in the middle of nowhere...but we need to develop wind, solar and other sustainable energy as quickly as possible. Here's my doc...just watch the first 3-4 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbugs2iebf0&t=47s
"... and they talked like Jr High entitled brats."
Yes, but between CPAC, the Heritage Foundation, the Federalist Society and others of their ilk, they are pretty well-organized Jr High entitled brats. Witness Kavanaugh.
Actually, he didn’t rise to higher office. Thankfully! He was previously appointed to the state Supreme Court by Republican Governor Scott Walker to fill out a term. When he ran for the position he was defeated. This was his second try.
Fortunately the voters were smart enough both times to see who he was. Too bad that didn't happen with tRUMP but it might this time. He's looking REALLY old and fat lately.
Pettiness has been a trend in the Republican Party -- at all levels -- for a long time. We barely survived the last Republican president. May he never darken our doorstep again.
Or, as one among us has suggested, tffg 🙃. Not difficult to imagine what the extra f stands for, and it feels like a little steam vent on my rage when I use it.
Technically, I think thst would apply after conviction, but magats don’t follow that rule, and maybe their practices should be followed since it’s their man.
My thoughts but we have so many of them. I think it is the people that fail to vote that could make the difference. And how do we get them to go to the polls.
They live in a different world and don't see their form of "government" as tyranny. Rather than seeing their leaders as tyrants, they see them messiahs who are saving them from the tyrannical Democrats.
Petty? It's beyond imaginable... downright rude, uneducated. Too bad when well-educated news anchors are only allowed to show polite astonishment, without asking for Kelly's etiquette and ethics, but I bet he doesn't know those words and is unable to spell them, much less behave accordingly. Back to kindergarten...
Well, petty, mean and misogynistic are always the characteristics we look for in a supreme court justice (I need a sarcasm font.) The fact that he lost to a woman galled him to no end.
🤣🤣🤣Marli, is it possible that the battle of the sexes is really the one we’re having before the whole world? I learned some years ago to call Americans “the bad teenagers on the block.” Living in France at the time (Iraq War), that was what I saw from “the other side.” Republican desire to kill off anyone who wants real democracy (racism and ageism) and their gun fetishism is simply adolescent. (Seeing DeSantis every day on TV reinforces the opinion stated above.)
I think it is certainly one of the most salient points of conflict: we are fighting a patriarchal supremacism that restricts its membership to men who are white, conservative Christian (even if only in appearance..), authoritarian, wealthy, cis-gendered, heteronormative, and able-bodied. The list does not end there, but those are the categories I immediately recognize as those by which the rest of us are cast as the Other, as evil, as a threat to "order."
Which is why mainstream feminism itself has had to diversify beyond its origins as a straight white woman's feminism: it turns out that race, sexuality, gender variance, disability, and class are all feminist issues as well.
It seems to me that in general, just about every step in terms of "progress" (racial and religious integration, equal rights, more women in higher positions, acceptance of LGBTQ etc) is being turned back inch by inch, or more, by insecure narcissist unhinged RICH power mongers. All this is not the work of one insanely stable genius, but he needs to take the brunt of the blame, together with a Dan Kelly, whose rudeness, incivility and respectless behavior would not be tolerated had tfg's behavior not been tolerated for too long.
Sally Why are you stunned by Daniel Kelly’s ‘petty, bitter tirade? ‘ He seems rather mild mannered compared to his ring master, Bone Spur Donald. Threatening ‘death and destruction’ at the time of his initial criminal indictment sets the tone for his foul-mouthed, bitter sycophants.
Wisconsin’s most famous citizen is ‘Fighting Bob’ LaFollette, the distinguished progressive Republican who ‘out progressived’ Teddy Roosevelt. Its most infamous citizen was Joseph McCarthy, who was a calumny for his country.
Today Wisconsins should proudly be singing ON WISCONSIN, ON WISCONSIN, which is the fight song of the Badgers and the state anthem.
ON WISCONSIN was the battle cry of Lt. Arthur McArthur, Jr. (Father of Douglas McArthur) at the Civil War Battle of Missionary Ridge that rallied his Wisconsin regiment and won him the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Thanks for that bit of history. I'm a former Wisconsinite and did not know about Lt. Arthur McArthur. I'm looking to move back to Wisconsin in 2024 hoping sanity prevails before I return.
I am thrilled for all of us that Judge Janet won with such a clear, resounding majority! I never heard of Daniel Kelly until today, but I was not surprised. He is the voice of a bitter petty group called the GOP. Congratulations and thanks are in order for this historic election. Thank you, WIsconsin!
Kelly is just parroting other REPUBLICAN'TS like tRUMP and Lake et al who think they're showing their patriotism by whining and/or refusing to concede. Instead they're just pathetic whiny children and criminals.
Sally, Daniel Kelly’s angry playground response is merely following his party’s “lost election” protocol: deny, denounce, deride. We all know where it comes from--the Loser-in-Chief himself. Long may he LOSE.
I've stopped being stunned by the selfish rudeness of too many republicans and now expect it as a manifestation of their world view. They are miserable, paranoid, angry, and privileged all at once, and think that 'their' people are too, so will agree, indeed applaud, their ugly behavior. Criminal Defendant # 491 396 R1 (Thank you, Bryan Sean McKown), happens to be the loudest, largest media ear worm we have to contend with, but there are many others with GOP tattooed on their psyches who are emulating him. My mother used to tell us to be careful who we hung out with, because “ Before you know it, you’re acting like them.” Seems she was right.
Not sure how you wrote these amazing recaps of the daily news and then can go to sleep. These are very disturbing advancements of voter suppression. I am thrilled for the Judge in Wisconsin and the mayor in Chicago but the rest is just unbelievably disturbing.
thank you for your excellent recording of this difficult time in our history.
I always pounce on the Letter, to read the truth, no matter how unpleasant, told by someone who shirks nothing and yet keeps her back straight and her head high.
Yep. I can just see a gun-brandishin' voter burstin' through the saloon doors--cue Good Bad Ugly whistle theme . . . "Ahm heah ta vote." . . . and spinnin' his piece back into his holster.
Glad you liked it! I have him/her spinning the gun back into its holster instead of going to the dark side of what might have happened in our current crazy climate . . .
'Panicky Matt Gaetz Stops Payment on Several Checks'
'WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Rep. Matt Gaetz announced that he has decided to stop payment on several checks he wrote to a variety of payees.'
'Gaetz, who appeared panicky and sweaty while talking to reporters, refused to reveal the identity of the payees, but said that he came to the stop-payment decision in the middle of Tuesday afternoon.' (Satire, NewYorker)
Marlene, my New Yorker subscription ran out too, but I still get The Borowitz Reports emailed to me! Wish I could figure how that happened so I could share the fortunate formula with you 😁
California went thru this in the 60's when UC Santa Cruz opened and started attracting young people (oh no!) to the conservative local town. Santa Cruz barred student ID as valid for voting locally, but the Supreme Court ultimately overturned that.
Don't you have to REGISTER to vote? How do you prove citizenship and residency? Check out voting in states with all mail in ballots for REGISTERED voters. Our citizenship task is to encourage voter registration and help with voter registration and encourage registered voters to VOTE. Be woke, vote.
lol Fern... My comment was to "E. Dransfield". Carn sarn autocorrect ! Generally I have it turned off. My spelling is better than the auto thing anyway. Cheers Fern !
Jean, I live just a few short miles from Idaho, but it has been amazing to see how deeply radical the state has become. Militia members train there and are not stopped. I have family members that are deep in the conspiracy world who I no longer talk to about their radical way of thinking. Too much hate and distrust for me to deal with. You were wise to leave and I'm sure many more will be moving as well.
Help me understand why you believe a “Student-ID” should achieve the “threshold-of-proof” that someone is a resident of Idaho? You do realize there are many “out-of-state-students” in every college town across America…yes/no?
In order to obtain a student ID you must provide “an official government ID” containing your photo (drivers license) and a copy of your class schedule.
Shouldn’t this be enough to vote in the local election where a student currently resides?
Idaho Congress passes new voting regulation to protect Idaho from out of state student participation
“It is illegal to use any postal entity to pass official absentee ballot choices across our state lines. Violation results in an automatic felony conviction disqualifying offender from any future participation in the election process
Statute upheld by the SCOTUS citing “States Rights” provision of the Confederate Constitution
Steve, your question is a Catch-22; you are not a resident of a state if you do not reside in that state. The only reason for this "in state/out of state" dichotomy for colleges is regarding the tuition that is paid. Your are a resident of where you are domiciled (excluding those on active duty military, or employed out of the country; then you are a resident of your "home of record"). If you reside in a dormitory on campus and do not drive, what are you supposed to use as your proof of residence?
This issue resulted in a court decision in New York State during my college years. As I recall, students were then able to vote on campus instead of traveling home to vote. That was my first time voting.
You make some great points. Seems to me the “system” needs a revisit. A college dorm is not a permanent residence — and yet, how can we make it easy for college students to vote and still keep “clean” and “updated” voting records with this group?
I don’t know how it is any more with college students these days, but as an undergrad, I averaged 3-4 residences a year as roommates came and went; I fail to see how that is different from living in a dorm for 9 months and other housing for three. I know that I registered to vote at every residence I lived at.
I suspect that voter rules in each of the several states may differ, and without a national policy, that might be hard to do. Oregon has “motor voter” registration, and when you get an Oregon DL, you are registered to vote (assuming you are eligible). I knew people at college who kept their home address, and people who changed their addresses to where they were living.
Today the Kansas legislature overturned the governor’s veto of a bill that will require genital inspection of students wanting to play on sports teams.
Even writing that sentence disgusts me. The holier-than-though zealots working to destroy the country in so many ways are just getting started. Unless we stop them. Wisconsin is the gold-standard model in how to so so.
What kind of parent would ever even consider allowing her child's genitals to be examined for any purpose other than a medical one? I can see all the kids' parents refusing - so, no school teams at all.
Inspections of genitalia now? Fear not...the rich and powerful parents will find a way to wiggle round the requirement but it will remain as a tool to harass others when needed.
"...popes were subjected to an examination whereby, having sat on a so-called sedia stercoraria or ‘dung chair’ containing a hole, a cardinal had to reach up and establish that the new pope had testicles before announcing "Duos habet et bene pendentes" ("He has two and they dangle nicely")"
LOVE how we get further educated to the crucial rituals of our major institutions! Does the Vatican prescribe what happens should the genital inspecting cardinal NOT be able to make such a declaration?
Soon after reading your comment, Michael, I thought of a long line of former and current Catholic priests waiting to be assigned as inspectors of the boys' penises.
Unfortunately, that's the world we live in. Republicans like to throw around the word pedophilia. Yet the Republicans are inviting it.
States like Kansas are inviting a decrease in population. Laws like this plus extreme anti-abortion restrictions, non-existent gun control, censorship, and more will also make them less attractive to big companies because the hiring pool will diminish. I read today that the University of Florida is having trouble hiring professors after DeSantis messed with the curriculum.
Why have I come to connect DeSantis with pedophilia? Doesn't he seem particularly interested in the subject? He claims to be protecting the children or, maybe, he is projecting? As we say, 'just asking'.
Conservative obsession with all things sexual belies their unconscious motivations. When natural sexual urges are suppressed rather than allowed to be expressed in socially acceptable ways, they can go underground, become twisted and still be expressed, in less acceptable ways.
How Much Money Has the Catholic Church Paid to Sexual Abuse Victims? Over the course of several decades, the Catholic Church in the United States have paid out more than $3 billion in sexual abuse settlements.
Curious to hear some examples of DeSantis and pedophilia? Perhaps you’re talking about Joe Biden showering with his daughter — not to mention the relentless SNIFFING over the years. Wanna talk about a pedophile?
Yes. I agree. Bring the receipts. I have a video of Big Foot. We do however, have photos of Donald Trump with Jeffery Epstein. A known sexual predator who recruited underage girls for sexual liaisons with wealthy older pedophiles like Trump and his perverted ilk.
Steve, I am giving you the benefit of the doubt (why, I don't know) but I am.
I have found this "sniffing" thing to be a ridiculous, argument, truly. Here is my thoughts.
Research has found that mothers can identify which blanket their newborns were wrapped in, just by the scent. Perhaps this is a leftover of ancient animals origins, whatever, but IMHO, this sense is not given the credit that vision or hearing gets. Certainly for me, the scent of my babies was a soothing scent and actually helped in breastfeeding, as I was actually advised to sniff them to help my milk let down.
I continue to "smell" my family. They know that when I hug my adult children, I smell them. I don't snort like a pig, but I do inhale. I don't find this weird or strange at all. Their scent is as much as a joy as seeing them in person or hearing their voices. If I go blind, as macular degeneration runs in the family, as does deafness--well, I will still have their scent.
How many times have you seen reference to lovers enjoying the scent of their partner left on their sheets? Is this it? Does "sniffing" someone always have a sexual reference to you? It seems to me that the GOP, especially the MAGA contingent is overly concerned by sex. But that is a diatribe for another time.
Do you enjoy the smell of autumn leaves? Meat on the grill? Fresh baked bread? The air up high in the mountains? I'd add a new car, many find that a good smell, to me it is offgassing, but our sense of smell protects us as well. That's why they add that smell to natural gas. Certainly we wouldn't eat something that smells "off." Is there something weird about that?
Do you have children? Did you ever bathe them or did their mother do it all? Having had three children and a "touchy" back, I can tell you that there were times that pulling them in a shower was easier than straining over a deep porcelain tub. I'm not sure exactly how one would teach a child how to shower themselves without pulling them in with you. I have no idea how old his daughter was, I doubt she was very old, but again, WHY do the Conservative Christian/MAGA/GOP seem to equate EVERYTHING with sex?
I have to say, one of the most difficult questions that I rolled about in my mind raising children was how to teach them about sex without making them prudish but also not raising them to be of low morals.
I am not sure that keeping young women totally ignorant of the male body until their wedding night is the best approach. If the religious right finds the statue of David dangerous, why do they think that a naked man with an erect penis will suddenly be totally acceptable? Or is it expected that the woman will just submit to the man? (An aside, I'm 66. I recall a friend saying how much her mother looked forward to grandchildren, and saying "funny how it's no sex/no sex/no sex, then some words are said over you and they want you to go at it like rabbits."
Also, I have to say, I get so tired of the "whatabout" of the GOP. Really. Address the point at hand, don't deflect. It might work on your own base, but it does nothing to change the opposition and it certainly does not convince the Independents, and *SURPRISE!!* it is the Independent voters that ultimately decide who wins elections.
I would prefer to report your comment to the administration here, that is what the good people of the forum generally do with propaganda (note I said, "propaganda" not true debate/discussion, as we do have various points of view) but I think everyone reading thus far (thanks for the patience!!) will want to see what I am responding to.
Undoubtedly, there will be more comments added to this, but I will choose to not engage with you further.
A further few thoughts, Steve, after I showered this morning.
Do you slap on some aftershave, or men's cologne? If you do, why? Do you want to smell good to someone?
Do you apply deodorant? Why? Do you want your smell to not offend someone?
You really need to think about your original post and what you are trying to accomplish. Are you parroting something from Fox? From all the news of a month ago, you certainly must know what they think of their viewers, right?
Or do you have a particular interest in pedophilia? That itself is.......interesting.
Miselle, as a feller “smeller,” thank you. Those who don’t use their noses miss a lot. It’s possible of course that lots of those who are using their noses are not aware of the extent of their dependence on scent.
The difference is — you’re smelling your own children/family members. Entirely different altogether. Most will agree that smelling complete stranger’s kids is unacceptable (then again, maybe not)?
I see this as an under estimated consequence for all Red states legislating anti this & that laws. People starting their careers & families will think twice about locating in restrictive states no matter how attractive the other amenities .
Can they find people to hire? In MT there is a teacher shortage, medical personal shortage. Trades people. There are hiring signs everywhere for all kinds of job vacancies
That's happening everywhere. I'd imagine that some companies will bring workers with them, if they're relocating from other areas, at least at the beginning. It probably depends on the specific industry, and whether the wages paid for the jobs are competitive.
You're talking of the RC variant of the dirty mind.
I have wondered whether the current American obsession with "gender" (as opposed, here, to "human") may not have a horrible and very physical origin.
It must have been about 40 years ago that I read of a widespread phenomenon in a major river of fish with gender anomalies... and wondered what this might portend for humans and other animals drinking water abstracted from this source.
I wrote to a medical authority about this but of course got no answer.
With all that's gotten into the aquifers and the food chain... is it surprising that we are seeing hormonal changes like plummeting sperm counts?
*
Nevertheless, gender issues blind us to a far deeper imbalance: we speak of "white suprematism" but macho monopoly power is a far greater threat.
The kind of society, the kind of mentality it promotes is crippled:
Actually, only humans have gender, since it's a socially constructed concept. All other animals only have biological sex. Gender does draw on the stereotypical differences between the sexes, and is imposed on all members of the sex group, regardless of whether it fits the person or not. That's the root of many of the problems people have with gender.
Good point, Peter. I wonder, as well, about a connection between the ignorance that is widespread, and revelations about the lead in our city water, air, and soil.
Virginia, I'm slightly puzzled by your comment, in particular the last sentence.
I know this will seem strange to many but... don't we need a modicum of skepticism about what we call "progress"? That and humility in keeping with our immense collective responsibilities.
Progress always comes at a cost, there is gain and there's a corresponding loss. We tend to overvalue the gain and undervalue the loss or simply to take absolutely no account of it...
Of course, there's plenty to be proud of and grateful for, plenty of reason for saying good riddance for this or that.
Still, the hubris that comes with believing that the latest generations are necessarily better than those that went before means that such beliefs are not just silly and immature but dangerous.
We may have a remarkably advanced technological civilization with change accumulating at ever- accelerating speed -- look no steering! Look no brakes! And now... look no hands! Human brains and skills are bypassed...
Yet the cost threatens life on earth as it has evolved to this point in time... and the survival of our species. Quite a price...
“Medieval thinking” is refusal to recognize the fallacy of “better living through chemistry. I quoted that old ad in defense of frogs and people. Pure sarcasm. Learned years ago about what chemicals in agricultural drainage ditches was doing to frogs and understood the implications.
Sometimes it's better to underststand in two stages, the first being confusion.
It's like rising in the morning to find everything fogbound, then the sun shines through and mists clear.
I didn't know the slogan "Better living through chemistry", hence the confusion.
As for "medieval thinking", I've just been through a phase of sheer horror at ecclesiastical oppression and obscurantism -- after a visit to Rome -- but the sun was always there, even when fog blanketed the land.
And though I was surprised, I could well understand the friend who, after seeing Paris for the first time, was far more taken with the exterior -- yes, only the exterior -- of Amiens Cathedral.
Sheila B, per an "Every State Fact Sheet" I found that I will try and link here:
On average, 31 children (I believe the universal designator is under 18 years old) die from gun violence. 49% of those are suicides. Non-white youth are 4 times as likely as white youth to die from gun violence.
"Today the Kansas legislature overturned the governor’s veto of a bill that will require genital inspection of students wanting to play on sports teams."
I am totally puzzled by such a law.
IF, for example, (I am a guy):
If I have my genitals cut off and am surgically modified to be a girl, how will anyone know by inspecting me in the locker room???
And of course those whose responsibility (duty? privilege?) it will be to inspect the genitals will have to have full background checks, psychological testing, etc. I mean, that must be in the new law somewhere, no?
It does beg the questions: who, exactly, is going to perform these exams? Under what conditions? How will they be supervised? I hope school nurses will not be roped into this.
😳😳😳 the party of pedophiles wants to inspect children’s genitalia. Imagine the fun a progressive propaganda equivalent to Fox could have with that 😳 and they wouldn’t even have to lie!!!!
I don't know about Michael, Lynn or Fern, but I'm for the law being the same for everyone, democracy being of the one-person/one vote variety and the church being separate from the state, with automatic voter registration for all citizens of voting age.
What is it about biological men playing on biological women's sports teams that you're not okay with, Steve? Does it keep you awake at night?
I'm not Steve, so I'm not speaking for him, but I will point out that both of your tones are patronizing and don't invite a healthy discussion about a complex and divisive issue. Regardless, I'll step into the trans minefield and point out a couple of reasons:
Biological men who have gone through puberty have clear physiological advantages over women, such as greater muscle mass, higher bone density, and greater lung capacity, that can give them an unfair advantage in competition. This is a primary reason that almost all sports have divisions for biological women and biological men, which until the recent increase in trans activism wasn't even something people were questioning.
In contact sports, there is also a higher risk of injury to bio females from bio males who have the above mentioned advantages. Just as I believe age categories in sports are a good idea (I don't want my 7 year old son playing football against a 16 year old boy) I also believe that rules that ensure equality and minimize risk of injury for bio females are a good idea (I don't want my 19 year old daughter, who plays rugby in college, to play against 18-21 year old bio males).
The solution I've heard suggested in order to include trans athletes (whether FTM or MTF) is to create a third Open Division that would open to anyone. It is not a perfect solution but I don't see a path to a perfect solution.
I've been thinking about your comment regarding the problems inherent in transgender men (those who have undergone surgical and hormonal treatment so as to make their sex change complete) competing in sports against women, and I think your analysis is right on the mark. It's an issue I had not thought much about before.
Having jumped into the thread part way through in response to a somewhat inane exchange about pedophilia and "sniffing" and genitalia inspections, I let my patronizing self respond rudely to Steve's reasonable question, though several of his earlier comments were far less reasonable and were justly contested by other participants. I might have done well to save my patronizing for a worthier target and a more important problem, you know, something existential like nuclear war or global warming.
In any case, I bear no ill will toward any of the people who take the trouble to express themselves here, however much I may strongly disagree with the opinions some of them express. To Steve's credit, he is not just preaching to the choir here at HCR's Letter, that's for sure.
Hi David, thanks for your thoughtful reply. I wrote an initial response a few minutes ago but I think I fat-fingered the wrong button and it may have vanished (alas).
In any case - the gist of it was that, perhaps like you, it does not come naturally to me to balance my passion with patience every time I reply to someone. In my better moments I remind myself to be more like the person my dog thinks I am and that HCR would be glad to have in her comments section. In any case, I appreciate the "marketplace of ideas" that emerges when we all listen and learn and exercise some humility as you have done. Beers on me if you find yourself in Charlottesville VA :-)
Well Hi, Dad. You live in a nice part of the world. I remember visiting Monticello back in the early 60's. Our family lived in DC and my real Dad was a history buff, specialized in the Civil War and with a passionate interest in old battlefields. If you ever make it to Italy (Province of Macerata), the wine's on me. Have a good one.
I just responded to Just a Dad's comment, and I'm sorry for the snarky tone in my response to your perfectly reasonable question. Some of your other comments I found less reasonable, but such is life. Have a good day.
If we are going to maintain a democracy..or perhaps ‘save’ our very ‘challenged’ democracy we desperately need folks like Heather who can so clearly identify the key issues, the key players, the key problems and the helpful ‘ways’ of dealing with the whole ‘challenge’.
Heather brings all that highly trained historian’s skill set and her own particular multifaceted range of concerns together to produce articles like this one and her earlier ‘Wisconsin’ segments.
It’s invaluable…no one does it better that I’ve found…..many many thanks.
I do too…send it privately on to family and friends….daily….but it would be interesting to know if it’s possible to get these ‘letters’ into some larger publications..feel sure there are legal issues etc….
You know Gayle this might not be a bad time to do a little creative ‘problem-solving’ ….where else…could Heather’s ‘pieces’ be shared? Any other locations?
She could have a page in The Atlantic. Rolling Stone could do a piece on her to open it up to that crowd. You know, we’re probably not the first ones to think of how to spread the word. Still, I think getting these nearly daily Letters out to the general public would be so healthy for our country!
Maybe Rachael Maddow could have her on her show, or Stephen Colbert? Ultimately, of course, it’s up to Heather. It wouldn’t surprise me to find she gets offers to publish often. There’s probably more to it than we realize, and maybe she would prefer keeping her Maine lifestyle simple as possible. That MAGA mob is so vicious. I can understand how she might want to keep it as it is. We want to keep her safe & healthy. After all, she’s becoming a National Treasure to we who love and appreciate her clear and factual take on our history in the making, including how we got here!
Interesting comments Gayle….judging from the fact that SHARE opportunities are linked at the end of each ‘letter’ think it’s pretty safe to assume that SHARING both personally and to other locations like FACEBOOK has already occurred to Heather,….
How much ‘sharing’ AND ‘HOW’ shared and to whom is clearly the question….in the ‘old days’ we used Letters to the Editor and other currently simplistic modes…
I think I’m asking the current ‘social networking’ questions….
What’s the best strategy to get Heathers materials out to the most number of people possible in 2023?
Mine too; somewhat preaching to the choir BUT a neighbor who immigrated from Czchoslovakia many years ago sometimes comments about her experience in an authoritarian state and what it looks like. I find that very helpful to the discussion.
Oddly, I found enough bright spots in today's letter to buoy my spirits. The youth mobilizing, Janet Protasiewicz's election, TFG fading from the spotlight in spite of himself all bode well for democracy. Oh, I have no illusions, this is still going to be a steep uphill climb, that of reaffirming and securing democracy, but it feels as though more people are getting it, that the Republicans are a toxic, vindictive, greedy lot.
It's about time we start focusing on the rise of Christian Nationalism and the imposition of minority religious views on the majority. I've been calling them the American Taliban since just after the 2016 election. On this eve of Passover, "let my people go" can be restated, "Leave the majority alone". May at least the plague of unpopularity at the polls be visited upon the American Taliban.
Christian Nationalism is such a fake term. It betrays ignorance of any genuine faith. It amounts to the idolatry which is condemned throughout the Bible, old and new testaments.
Fascist racist ideologues bent on power. There is nothing truly Christian about such hate and lust for power. Fanatics. When will mainline clergy speak out ?
the old adage " what would JESUS DO ?" HE Certainly would not, DO, What ANY LOST HEARTS ! , Would be Doing, IN this CHAOS, This Country is IN, IN this "SEASON!"
No, he remained courageous and true, but he was against violence (remember Peter in the Garden?). However, that country was not in chaos because it was under Roman rule, very strict. Unfortunately Pilate, the Roman governor, was afraid of losing power so he went with what seemed to be the popular vote, which as we are told was organised by the religious leaders so that they could get rid of Jesus. Nothing has changed.
There's a good article in the April 3 issue of The New Yorker by Kelefa Sanneh about this very topic - "Under God: How Christian is Christian Nationalism?" Basically the premise is it's more tribal identity than religious belief. Don't know if the link will work https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/04/03/how-christian-is-christian-nationalism
How many times have we seen the former president worshipping in church? The media would certainly cover it if he did. Holding a Bible during a news conference doesn't count.
A few hours ago, Republican legislators in Wisconsin suggested that they will “impeach” the just elected Supreme Court Judge as a way of overcoming her election as her support for abortion rights is “corrupt.” They have majority control in the State Senate which apparently has the right to impeach judges by majority vote! If they do this, it will justifiably mark the end of the Republican Party in Wisconsin! And, I submit, it should send a message to all other purple and moderately red states that unless their own Governor and Republican legislators affirmatively disavow such reprehensible action, the fair minded and democracy loving majority of citizens in their state will throw them out of office in the very next election by popular vote! Folks, it us all coming to a head in 24--our Democracy with a big D is on the line everywhere! We all must make a major effort to preserve it! The youth vote in Wisconsin stood on line for hours to cast their votes for their new Supreme Court Jystice and all the Wisconsin media report that is why she won! Here’s the evidence: in Madison County where the University is she won by 82% to 18% by well over 150,000 vote margin! Please go to www.turnup.us/ and support their massive nonpartisan youth registration effort now in 2,000 high schools in competitive states and make a generous tax deductible contribution for their work going forward to Nov 24! It’s on the line so let’s rise up together to help our young students register and vote in a nonpartisan effort! Thank you and please let me know your thoughts?
Ira, thank you for pointing to the www.turnup.us site! This is a worthy group to support. You have pointed out a significant group showing us how they are organizing, coming of age to vote, and making a difference in the elections. I have heard others say, and I agree that our young citizens will be a huge part of saving our democracy. They are tuned in, fired up, and, by and large, vote for Democrats. Whenever I feel myself moving toward hopelessness and sorrow, I try to focus on the youth vote. They carry a passionate energy, and as more and more of them turn 18 and start voting, this bodes well for our country's sake. At this point, it is clear the Republican party is lost, and I don't see it turning around. There is only one serious and responsible political party now. I know I am preaching to the choir, but seeing what has happened to the GOP still astonishes me. That party is no longer a truly "conservative" party. They don't stand for the tenets of true conservatism; unfortunately, they don't stand for anything relevant to a political party. To use a somewhat quaint phrase, "My mind is blown." As many already know, they didn't even offer a party platform in 2020, and I am not sure they did in 2016 either; it was just whatever TFG wants, says, does, ad nauseam. I hope my memory serves me correctly; perhaps others can clarify what I have missed. I think it is sad to consider one of our political parties has become so lost; even though I didn't identify with their policies, I still felt the value of having serious-minded, credible people debating their views worked out to be a moderating factor in many or at least some cases. Talk about "lost cause" only in a different way this time. Rant over!
"My mind is blown." Pretty sure this hippie heard it first when she was 18! YES to supporting efforts to register young people to vote! Also support (and start in your locale) the League of Women Voters program reaching students in high scholl through their program:
When the democracy with the big D is under represented and overrun by unfair political tactics like gerrymandering, it's the democracy with a small d that is failing. Party over country and foundational ideals leads to fascism.
The GOP has pulled out all the stops which they have stashed in their back pockets for just such a time as we are in. Now that the tide is turning against them they are determined to defeat democracy before we use it to boot them out. State senators in Wisconsin have apparently been talking about impeaching Judge Janet Protasiewicz. We have a monumental fight on our hands. Unfortunately they have a lot of guns.
Friends, please keep an eye on Florida. Everyday, more and more outrageous authoritarian bills are being proposed and passed by the GOP supermajority, giving Desantis more and more power. My concern is that his blunders nationally will make him even more defiant in this state, to satisfy his ridiculous ego at the expense of lives. Like a cornered toddler (note tfg’s increasingly unhinged behavior), he’ll come out swinging as he loses ground, if the polls are to be believed. Note lgbtq items, the space program, the Disney debacle, educational whitewashing, book bans, abortion limits, calls for a Florida Guard, attacks on school and hospital boards by his hand-picked followers...everyday there are more examples. Please watch this and amplify it wherever you are in our country to prevent him from ever gaining national office. Please.
YES. That is the last straw... I'm telling my son that I disappprove of his (thus far) yearly trips to Disneyworld until such time as this idiocy is stopped. Florida, in my book, is off limits for me and mine. DeathSantis and his Republican minions can go to hell.
But how are Republicans doing in the Wisconsin House, that must first vote to impeach before the Wisconsin Senate can conduct a trial? From a Wisconsin government website:
" IMPEACHMENT
Removal of: Civil Officers of the State (“civil officers” is not defined)
Initiated by: The Legislature
Impeachment is a procedure that allows the Legislature to remove any civil officer of the state for specific reasons. Removing an official through impeachment is a two-step process: (1) the State Assembly votes to impeach; and (2) the State Senate tries the impeachment. The Assembly may impeach an elected official by a majority vote based on specific reasons:
- corrupt conduct in office or for the commission of a crime or misdemeanor. [Wis. Const. art. VII, s. 1, and s. 17.06 (1), Stats.] If a majority of the Assembly votes to impeach, the impeachment moves to the Senate.
The Senate may then conduct a trial of the impeachment. The Senators act as a court and try the elected official according to the evidence. If 2/3rds of the Senators present vote to convict the elected official, the official is convicted (which is typically referred to as “being impeached”).
Impeachment removes an elected official from office. It does not impose a criminal sentence or other criminal penalty. "
That same document says that Senate and House members can be recalled by the voting public, so if the Wisconsin voting public is engaged, the offending Republican politicians can be threatened this way. But before that needs to happen, elected Wisconsin Democrats are protected from impeachment by a Democratic majority in the Wisconsin House. The Wisconsin Senate can fume all it wants.
They have two thirds of the State Assemby and State Senate seats as well as 2/3rds of Wisconsin’s congressional Representatives in the U.S. House. That’s what being the most gerrymandered state in the country has done for the GOP in Wisconsin.
I am not in any way a religious person, actually I'm an apatheist, with a strong belief that if there were a god he/she would not allow people to be so self-centered and stupid. Thank god, as the saying goes, for folks like Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, governor Laura Kelly from Kansas, and their kind of people. HRC it is people like you, as well as those doing the job such as Justin Kanew, who work to keep us, We the People, informed. Good on ya all! Oh, and for those who don’t know, an aptheist is an atheist who doesn’t care.
Simple, Mike.... as an atheist I'm a non-believer and being apathetic about any form of religion I have no interest, enthusiasm, or concern about the entire topic. However, at the same time I am a very strong supporter of the work of Mother Nature. Go figure.......
I wish I could be so. I grew up in a very fundamentalist Christian religion and it took too many years figure out why I was so confused. Since I realized that religion of any form is BS, overcoming the damage to me causes me much anger when I see it being pushed onto others. Thanks for the definition.
To say that the state of our country is a mess doesn't make a strong enough statement. These are terrifying times. I remember when the former president was elected and I heard people say, "How bad could it be?" and ""It's only four years." But now look where those four years have taken us. He did so much damage to our country (and continues to do) by getting three judges on the Supreme Court, by appealing to and even courting white nationalists, by encouraging violence, by cutting taxes for the rich and corporations so our economy has suffered, by allowing attacks on minorities and anyone who is different, etc. etc. He opened the Pandora's box of everything that is bad in our society and now those people will always be with us.
Now people like Dan Kelly are willing and able to get up and insult and try to belittle their opponent when they lose and some people accept this behavior as "normal". Of course we have a former president that exhibits this same behavior and still thousands of people follow him. It's NOT normal nor is it acceptable. I don't get it.
I am from Michigan , born there, raised there, and still live there. I am very proud of Governor Whitmer and for the people of Michigan for voting for democracy. But we lived for 40 years under gerrymandered districts and GOP fools "leading" our state. It has been an uphill battle that other states must also fight if we are going to have a strong United States.
Thank you Heather Cox Richardson for another letter that enlightens all of us!
I am a Californian. I cannot claim to know much about Michigan's politics. If my memory serves, Michigan was a purple state before the color coded labelling of States existed. One year it was Republican, the next Democratic.
Gretchen Whitmer is positioned close to the crest of the wave of the future. She is a woman, relatively young for a major political player, and has all the particular non-policy chops that any political up and comer needs. She is attractive, she is passionate, and she was the first Democrat in the era of Despicable Don to show ready courage in the face of the ignorant and violent tendencies of the MAGA brown shirts. Let's not forget that not only did the MAGA cowards come for her first and foremost with their phallic substitute guns proliferating, they tried to kidnap and possibly assassinate her.
As a heterosexual man who loves women, I am outraged by the treatment she and many similarly situated women have received from these lowlifes who seem to readily direct their misplaced and ignorant anger not toward powerful men and institutions, but directly toward brave and clear spoken women.
In the event that Biden declines to run, there will be many fully capable Democratic aspirants for the Oval Office. Kamala, Gavin, Elizabeth, Bernie, Sherrod, etc. But a photogenic, battle tested Govenor from a midwestern swing state, with the locks of Hedy Lamar and the principles of Susan B. Anthony cannot be underestimated.
Thank you. Currently, Michigan is lead by several strong women in addition to "Big Gretch" as we call her. We have Dana Nessell as Attorney General. She is an openly Lesbian (married) woman and smart as a whip. We also have Jocelyn Benson as our Secretary of State, so she is in charge of our elections. All three of these very brave and smart women are leaders in their own right and we are so lucky to have all of them. Sadly, so many people judge female leaders based on looks and men don't have that battle to fight. Just look at Mitch McConnell or the former president if you want to see ugly.
I'm another expat Michigander, and I'm oh so glad to see the leadership of the state break free of the shackles of the Republican party. The three you cite are shining examples of good governance, and I hope Michigan continues its move towards sanity.
Four years before that, Gretchen Whitmer had spent 2 years hiking, biking, snow shoeing and cross country skiing through every county, city, town and village, meeting us and listening to us lamenting "Fix the damn roads!" which she then did!
It's more complicated than that, of course. I remember in 2009 meeting my Republican state rep for a cup of coffee because he wanted to offer me advice on my new business, but all he really wanted to talk (gloat) about was how "we've jerrymandered this state so well those damn Democrats will never win again!" I was, as many of my colleagues were, a "Milliken Republican", named for our well loved former governor who made environment, education and women's rights his priorities. Then our party of common sense and good business got hijacked by big oil and greed. Gretchen will make a terrific President.
Having watched (part of) Kelly's tirade, feeling disgusted that he could even garner one vote in Wisconsin, I was heartened by Gretchen Whitmer's speech as she signed the law repealing Michigan's 1931 abortion ban. Such a contrast, between a sniveling, lying Republican and a woman who, to my lights, would get my vote for the Oval Office.
Heather -- Thank you so much for your focused and important reporting and analysis. Please give us more information about the money that is paying for all the Republican efforts to undermine our democracy. How much is going to each state, to destroy local government, state government, etc. It's wonderful that the people of Wisconsin are pushing back, and hopefully others will also, and the momentum will grow. But meantime, people need to know about all the dirty money that feeds the right. The Koch operation has undermined our government for many years!!! It happens because of their money. Please help shine a brighter light on it. Many, many thanks.
YES! PLEASE! We continue to learn of numerous instances of money pouring into Republican coffers and politicians and now we have news of a SCOTUS justice routinely receiving travel on his private jet and vacations on his luxury yacht from a conservative donor (Harlan Crow) over the past 20 years without feeling any need to report these benefits on his required financial disclosure forms! (https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-scotus-undisclosed-luxury-travel-gifts-crow) This on top of Thomas' failure to recuse himself from cases directly involving his wife's activities. Yet another Repub (and in this instance not a "white male") who sees himself as being above the law.
Kelly is a bitter pill. This isn't the first rodeo he's lost by a double digit margin. Meanwhile, observing and participating in our increasingly polarized American experiment leaves me with a bitter taste also. Perhaps it's my age or perhaps every era faces great fronts of social despair and destruction. I'm still in it. Not going anywhere yet. Pitching up with my bitter boomer self. There are more Wisconsins afoot.
It seems to me that the MAGA Christian nationalists are the same folks spreading fear of Sharia law taking hold in the USA, not long ago. Religious extremism is a misfit here in our country, but the MAGA people won’t give up, instead they double down. How long can this go on?
Religious extremism is extreme, but I wonder if it's really religious? At the very least, there seems to be a stark distinction between those who aggressively celebrate and promote their own narcissism and those who attempt to diminish it; hubris vs humility, supremacy vs compassion.
I dunno, Jack, my MAGAt friends absolutely jumped all over me when I posted that there was no difference, in my mind, between Sharia Law and what their churches were proposing. I engaged for a while, but got really fed up with giving them so much rent free space in my head I quit.
Reading a very interesting book by historian Jon Meacham titled "American Gospel." It seems as if we haven't drifted that far from our Puritan ancestors. The "Puritans" are alive and well in the US today.
The theology that informs the current theocrats' attempts to take control of our government makes the ideology of the original Puritans look tame. Read Julie Ingersoll's "Building God's Kingdom: Inside the World of Christian Reconstruction."
Thank you, Don, for this book recommendation. As a lay pastor in the Presbyterian Church USA, I feel it's important to stay on top of how theology and faith continue to evolve in the US.
PRRI.org site with lots of info re CN. There are several books too. It is not rational or logical. It is really not about the Christian religion. Evangelicals , not all, are more engaged in CN than others. What they believe is not what Christ taught but all the induced side bars of belief created by men who created "the church".
I was stunned by Daniel Kelly's petty, bitter tirade! The news anchors had looks of astonishment on their faces when they cut back to the studio! This Wisconsinite is thrilled to have Janet Protaseiwicz on our Supreme Court.
He did himself and his party no favors. Wisconsin residents don't like threats. Badgers bite back.
Badgers are good. Industrious and brave.
I know my mouth hung open in astonishment as I watched Kelly’s pouty face. What a sniveling baby!
I am so proud of Wisconsin!
Badgers are also smart. The Great Lakes states are becoming greater.
Those I know are. Taught in University of WI for 13 years, so I knew a lot of them.
... and sharp teeth too.
Badgers are also tenacious, they don't let go and they will face up to anything no matter how powerful. Politicians could learn a lot and emulate them.
Let’s hope sore losers are always rejected.
Then Wisconsonites might need to explain how their Senate just got a supermajority (2/3) in their Senate.
They know. My last visit there I saw lots of yard signs for "Fair Maps." Swinging out of the Republicans' installing a corrupt state supreme court is the way they will end this nonsense by breaking the chains of gerrymander. If the Republicans try to impeach Evers as a vindictive reprisal for the Wisconsinites vote to reclaim their state, I expect their party to get pounded like never before.
The Republican who won that seat did so with a 1.8% margin. In that incredibly red, gerrymandered district, the Republican in the last election won by over 8%. Disappointing, certainly. A surprise, certainly not. There is obviously more work to be done.
How could someone this petty ever rise to higher office?
He was never elected to office. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by Scott Walker. This is his second unsuccessful bid to get back on the Supreme Court.
Very interesting, Sally. Thank you. Once you explained that he was appointed by Scott Walker, rather than elected, his low class, entitled behavior made a lot more sense.
If anyone had an unworthy opponent in this race, it was Janet Protasiewicz.
Isn't it interesting how Republicans project?
Yes. Another perfect example of projection when he said he didn't have a worthy opponent.
Indeed. Graciousness in defeat is a lost art for Rs. With the election of death star aka mafia don a lot of these people rose out of the swamp and showed us just how uncivil they are. As for Scott Walker, I grimaced every time I heard what he was doing. I remember a story about someone trying to get a son registered for the first time. Lots of hoops.
Lost for Rs is also the art of working for good governance for their constituency. Now it is, from what I see, mostly about power plays - any governance seems to be legislating morality (just another power play in order to try and hold onto power by pleasing the Christian Right)
Not only graciousness in defeat, but the notion of admission of defeat has been lost to the Rs.
I was so glad to see the execrable Scott walker go. Thanks for letting us know where Kelly came from. The purge continues.
That was a happy day indeed! I'm so happy we have Tony Evers!
Obviously there are good reasons why he can’t get elected...
Right? Election denier, woman-hater, tRUMP butt-kisser.
Wow!
Brenda It happens all the time....and it's not new. I worked in GOP politics in MD in the 80's & 90's (talk about a minority) helping train candidates on how to present a speech, how to deal with the media and we made TV spots for them....from City Council races at first and eventually up to Congress. Most of our Red candidates won in our overwhelming Blue state. I helped one very conservative Dem when they came to me. He was making the jump from State rep to State senate and had a consultant from out of GA. The consultant wanted to shoot the TV spots in film...and I asked him if he really thought that would buy one more vote ? He just stared at me. Local boys weren't supposed to question the great oz from Atlanta. He wanted to use his film guy and add about $10,000 to the budget. They had 3 canned scripts they used everywhere...just insert the local candidate. Nice gig...
Back to R's... I just told this story yesterday about how I walked away from that part of my career because of how petty and juvenile some of the people were, especially at the State level of GOP party "leadership". I felt the irony at that time was, they were Christian Conservatives. Because of my work and reputation at the time, I was trusted and heard their behind closed doors pettiness. They really believed that the ends justified the means....and they talked like Jr High entitled brats. I stuck around to find out what was going on...then I worked with Congresswoman Bentley to take the party back from them. We won...and I walked away from political consulting.... but maintained a working relationship with Helen on her Maritime consulting. By the time she died we didn't agree on much politically...but we worked very closely on maritime education efforts and preserving that history...and I still do.
Are you active politically these days? Nice nitty gritty piece you just did.
Frank that's a very good question. I won't contribute to either party. I will contribute to individual candidates and to specific causes. I'm a registered D because I live in Baltimore and there's more Green party in this city than R's. You have to be registered D to vote in the primary, because that's where the election is at. No R has poled more than 30% in my VERY diverse district in years.
I have not coached a candidate or made a TV spot for one in over 20 years. I did produce a documentary titled "Fracking Western Maryland?" 5-6 years ago that I made as a journalism exercise. I took no position...had no agenda in the making of the film except to try and discern whether fracking made sense for Western Maryland. The finished film was used by the Sierra Club and other environmental groups in the year before Fracking was eventually banned in MD. Many people have said they believe the film helped create the ban because of it's information value.
I became an activist for the ban in the last 3-4 months before the vote, because I believed it was right for MD and I could not sit it out, knowing what I knew. After that I worked hard to defeat my D State Senator, Joan Carter Conway who was head of the Environmental Committee and had tried to table the issue in her committee. She was great at smoke & mirrors. However she lost control of the issue. The D party establishment supported her for re-election including our Congressman Elijah Cummings who I respected deeply. The Baltimore Sierra Club and others worked together to to defeat her and we did. That was very full filling. This is a video I made of Joan on the floor that we posted just before the Senate vote. She had stated that she thought the Gov would veto the bill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o1-AAU9q-w
Right now I'm working on getting a doc funded titled "Monumental Struggle" via an Indiegogo campaign.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/monumental-struggle-documentary/x/8502925#/
so this is how I now am "political".
I always liked the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band by the way...never worked with them though. Peace
Very interesting. Fracking though put the US in a net positive hydrocarbon position, though it won't last forever, as oil and gas out of the ground won't, not to mention climate change which is going to run up a huge bill in terms of financial, property and human capital.
I totally understand. I'm not for pulling the plug on all fracking tomorrow. It was just a VERY bad idea for Western Maryland. Garrett County has a 4 season outdoor tourism economy with water EVERYWHERE. I'm ok with it for now in the middle of nowhere...but we need to develop wind, solar and other sustainable energy as quickly as possible. Here's my doc...just watch the first 3-4 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbugs2iebf0&t=47s
"... and they talked like Jr High entitled brats."
Yes, but between CPAC, the Heritage Foundation, the Federalist Society and others of their ilk, they are pretty well-organized Jr High entitled brats. Witness Kavanaugh.
👋 👋 👋 👋 👋 👋 👋
Actually, he didn’t rise to higher office. Thankfully! He was previously appointed to the state Supreme Court by Republican Governor Scott Walker to fill out a term. When he ran for the position he was defeated. This was his second try.
Fortunately the voters were smart enough both times to see who he was. Too bad that didn't happen with tRUMP but it might this time. He's looking REALLY old and fat lately.
He’s a Republican beholding to power.
Koch brothers, Peter Thiel, other right wing billionaires, Rupert Murdoch and a huge megaphone for spouting propaganda.😡😡😡😡😡
Pettiness has been a trend in the Republican Party -- at all levels -- for a long time. We barely survived the last Republican president. May he never darken our doorstep again.
Gerrymandering
Uh, TFG??
MTG?
Yup — and AOC as well.
AOC is very smart and decent.
AOC organized relief for Texas when Cruz went to Cancun.
AOC is smart and hard working.
Marjorie Taylor Greene
The Former Guy (a.k.a Trump)
Or, as one among us has suggested, tffg 🙃. Not difficult to imagine what the extra f stands for, and it feels like a little steam vent on my rage when I use it.
Christy, I called him that long before he became "former". 🤭
Kelly and how about trump and others, Congress if filled with petty idiots. The list is long.
There are so many others . . . starting with TFG.
“TFG” is passé. It’s “defendant” now. Or the long form, “criminal defendant.”
Got that right Rex, Criminal Defendant # 491 396 R1. Hat Tip to Substack Author, Michael Moore.
I read with pleasure Michael Moore's piece and I recommend it. I also posted it on my Facebook page.
How about "perp"?
Technically, I think thst would apply after conviction, but magats don’t follow that rule, and maybe their practices should be followed since it’s their man.
Or, more simply, Queens Man.
"Queens Man" - an anthropological term, referring to the beforetime.
Once a Queen’s man, always a Queen’s man.
Yes! TCD!
Or TFFG
Music to my ears!
My thoughts but we have so many of them. I think it is the people that fail to vote that could make the difference. And how do we get them to go to the polls.
And that is the most important question of our time! Thank you Brenda.
I hope all will start to ask why it is that tyranny seems ok to so many.
They live in a different world and don't see their form of "government" as tyranny. Rather than seeing their leaders as tyrants, they see them messiahs who are saving them from the tyrannical Democrats.
Hmmm...we once had a president like that!
How? Look at Trump!
45 did it
How did TTFG rise to office?
Petty? It's beyond imaginable... downright rude, uneducated. Too bad when well-educated news anchors are only allowed to show polite astonishment, without asking for Kelly's etiquette and ethics, but I bet he doesn't know those words and is unable to spell them, much less behave accordingly. Back to kindergarten...
Well, petty, mean and misogynistic are always the characteristics we look for in a supreme court justice (I need a sarcasm font.) The fact that he lost to a woman galled him to no end.
His grammar isn't too hot either - or else he intended to be even more grossly insulting - "opponent to WHICH I could concede"
I caught that dehumanizing remark... a complete ass, that Kelly.
He probably doesn't include "whom" as a working member of his vocabulary.
It might be a lefty Soros-backed word!
😂😂😂
I'm dying here🤣
🤣😁☺️
🤣🤣🤣Marli, is it possible that the battle of the sexes is really the one we’re having before the whole world? I learned some years ago to call Americans “the bad teenagers on the block.” Living in France at the time (Iraq War), that was what I saw from “the other side.” Republican desire to kill off anyone who wants real democracy (racism and ageism) and their gun fetishism is simply adolescent. (Seeing DeSantis every day on TV reinforces the opinion stated above.)
I think it is certainly one of the most salient points of conflict: we are fighting a patriarchal supremacism that restricts its membership to men who are white, conservative Christian (even if only in appearance..), authoritarian, wealthy, cis-gendered, heteronormative, and able-bodied. The list does not end there, but those are the categories I immediately recognize as those by which the rest of us are cast as the Other, as evil, as a threat to "order."
Which is why mainstream feminism itself has had to diversify beyond its origins as a straight white woman's feminism: it turns out that race, sexuality, gender variance, disability, and class are all feminist issues as well.
It seems to me that in general, just about every step in terms of "progress" (racial and religious integration, equal rights, more women in higher positions, acceptance of LGBTQ etc) is being turned back inch by inch, or more, by insecure narcissist unhinged RICH power mongers. All this is not the work of one insanely stable genius, but he needs to take the brunt of the blame, together with a Dan Kelly, whose rudeness, incivility and respectless behavior would not be tolerated had tfg's behavior not been tolerated for too long.
Sally Why are you stunned by Daniel Kelly’s ‘petty, bitter tirade? ‘ He seems rather mild mannered compared to his ring master, Bone Spur Donald. Threatening ‘death and destruction’ at the time of his initial criminal indictment sets the tone for his foul-mouthed, bitter sycophants.
Wisconsin’s most famous citizen is ‘Fighting Bob’ LaFollette, the distinguished progressive Republican who ‘out progressived’ Teddy Roosevelt. Its most infamous citizen was Joseph McCarthy, who was a calumny for his country.
Today Wisconsins should proudly be singing ON WISCONSIN, ON WISCONSIN, which is the fight song of the Badgers and the state anthem.
ON WISCONSIN was the battle cry of Lt. Arthur McArthur, Jr. (Father of Douglas McArthur) at the Civil War Battle of Missionary Ridge that rallied his Wisconsin regiment and won him the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Thanks for that bit of history. I'm a former Wisconsinite and did not know about Lt. Arthur McArthur. I'm looking to move back to Wisconsin in 2024 hoping sanity prevails before I return.
I am thrilled for all of us that Judge Janet won with such a clear, resounding majority! I never heard of Daniel Kelly until today, but I was not surprised. He is the voice of a bitter petty group called the GOP. Congratulations and thanks are in order for this historic election. Thank you, WIsconsin!
Kelly is just parroting other REPUBLICAN'TS like tRUMP and Lake et al who think they're showing their patriotism by whining and/or refusing to concede. Instead they're just pathetic whiny children and criminals.
Heaven forbid they concede with grace and look unmanly.
We Michiganders are happy for you!
We Did It! Hopefully Wisconsin can, too!
Redistricting – Voters Not Politicians https://votersnotpoliticians.com/redistricting/
Sally, Daniel Kelly’s angry playground response is merely following his party’s “lost election” protocol: deny, denounce, deride. We all know where it comes from--the Loser-in-Chief himself. Long may he LOSE.
Congratulations! Hopefully, Wisconsin will get back its one voter one vote representation.
I gave probably more than twice as much as my next largest donation to Janet P's campaign, and I'm relieved that she won.
Kelly's own mouth demonstrated his injudiciousness, a stunning self-generated disqualification for the role he was seeking!
I've stopped being stunned by the selfish rudeness of too many republicans and now expect it as a manifestation of their world view. They are miserable, paranoid, angry, and privileged all at once, and think that 'their' people are too, so will agree, indeed applaud, their ugly behavior. Criminal Defendant # 491 396 R1 (Thank you, Bryan Sean McKown), happens to be the loudest, largest media ear worm we have to contend with, but there are many others with GOP tattooed on their psyches who are emulating him. My mother used to tell us to be careful who we hung out with, because “ Before you know it, you’re acting like them.” Seems she was right.
Kelly's response should not be surprising when it is perfectly in character. Thank all the thinking people of WI who voted.
These fascists are definitely smoking their own product....
Not sure how you wrote these amazing recaps of the daily news and then can go to sleep. These are very disturbing advancements of voter suppression. I am thrilled for the Judge in Wisconsin and the mayor in Chicago but the rest is just unbelievably disturbing.
thank you for your excellent recording of this difficult time in our history.
I always pounce on the Letter, to read the truth, no matter how unpleasant, told by someone who shirks nothing and yet keeps her back straight and her head high.
Hooray for history professors with enormous integrity! This one now! (Where is the cheering emoji?)
🙌👏
Idaho's H.B. 340, in order to vote, individuals would have to produce
A current Idaho driver’s license or ID card,
A current passport or other ID issued by the federal government,
A current tribal identification card or
A current Idaho concealed carry permit.
Notably, the bill excludes student IDs from the list of acceptable IDs for registration and removes them as an option to prove residency.
Do you understand that? You can vote with a concealed carry permit, but not a student ID. Idaho is traveling down the voter suppression trail.
Wow.
In Idaho “you can vote with a concealed carry permit but not a student i.d.”
Just absorbing that.
Thank you for pointing that out, E. Dransfield.
Pretty soon they won't even need CCPs . . .
No CCP necessary, just show your gun....
Yep. I can just see a gun-brandishin' voter burstin' through the saloon doors--cue Good Bad Ugly whistle theme . . . "Ahm heah ta vote." . . . and spinnin' his piece back into his holster.
Very funny -- let's spoof those crazies. SNL should run with this!
Glad you liked it! I have him/her spinning the gun back into its holster instead of going to the dark side of what might have happened in our current crazy climate . . .
Me too!
'Panicky Matt Gaetz Stops Payment on Several Checks'
'WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Rep. Matt Gaetz announced that he has decided to stop payment on several checks he wrote to a variety of payees.'
'Gaetz, who appeared panicky and sweaty while talking to reporters, refused to reveal the identity of the payees, but said that he came to the stop-payment decision in the middle of Tuesday afternoon.' (Satire, NewYorker)
🤣🤣 Thanks. Fern! My New Yorker subscription ran out. I just love Andy but you know that.
Marlene, my New Yorker subscription ran out too, but I still get The Borowitz Reports emailed to me! Wish I could figure how that happened so I could share the fortunate formula with you 😁
New Yorker subscription price got higher than I wanted to pay. The Borowitz email was live for a while but eventually you’ll lose it
Thanks for the heads-up, Dave. Just confirms that nothing is for free—for too long, anyway.
…and I love to have you around, Marlene. Andy is a big help with that.
Why yes he is!💞
I love his humor; he always hits the nail right on the head.
Idaho has been in the hands of white nationalists for a long time so this recent weirdness really doesn't surprise me.
MT is right behind you! The only thing saving MT right now is it's constitution that is under attack On all fronts.
They learned from TX. Student ID doesn’t count but a hunting ID does
California went thru this in the 60's when UC Santa Cruz opened and started attracting young people (oh no!) to the conservative local town. Santa Cruz barred student ID as valid for voting locally, but the Supreme Court ultimately overturned that.
Santa Cruz CHANGED.
Should run this through the state supreme court? Is it balanced and fair?
Don't you have to REGISTER to vote? How do you prove citizenship and residency? Check out voting in states with all mail in ballots for REGISTERED voters. Our citizenship task is to encourage voter registration and help with voter registration and encourage registered voters to VOTE. Be woke, vote.
omg... Thanks for E. Horrible
Any time that I can, I will, D4N.
lol Fern... My comment was to "E. Dransfield". Carn sarn autocorrect ! Generally I have it turned off. My spelling is better than the auto thing anyway. Cheers Fern !
Dear E.,
As I have said before, I grew up in Idaho. I left in 1964. Since then the environment both politically and naturally has gone down hill.
Anyone who votes for “pro-life”and for Pro-guns” is a contradiction of reality, integrity. And certainly not a Christian. They simply are angry.
Jean, I live just a few short miles from Idaho, but it has been amazing to see how deeply radical the state has become. Militia members train there and are not stopped. I have family members that are deep in the conspiracy world who I no longer talk to about their radical way of thinking. Too much hate and distrust for me to deal with. You were wise to leave and I'm sure many more will be moving as well.
Same list in TN
Despicable!
❗️ ❗️ ❗️
E. Dransfield, they’re just following Texas’ lead.
Dear E. Dransfield,
Help me understand why you believe a “Student-ID” should achieve the “threshold-of-proof” that someone is a resident of Idaho? You do realize there are many “out-of-state-students” in every college town across America…yes/no?
Yes, and in most states, students are allowed to vote where they attend school. The only firm rule is that you can only vote once.
And why not?
In order to obtain a student ID you must provide “an official government ID” containing your photo (drivers license) and a copy of your class schedule.
Shouldn’t this be enough to vote in the local election where a student currently resides?
So you think that college students should have to fly home to vote? Really?
Couldn't they just get absentee ballots?
Maybe they should pay a poll tax, too.
“Dave Fake News” reports
Idaho Congress passes new voting regulation to protect Idaho from out of state student participation
“It is illegal to use any postal entity to pass official absentee ballot choices across our state lines. Violation results in an automatic felony conviction disqualifying offender from any future participation in the election process
Statute upheld by the SCOTUS citing “States Rights” provision of the Confederate Constitution
Byline: DFN Cub Reporter, Dave
Confederate Constitution?..
Steve, your question is a Catch-22; you are not a resident of a state if you do not reside in that state. The only reason for this "in state/out of state" dichotomy for colleges is regarding the tuition that is paid. Your are a resident of where you are domiciled (excluding those on active duty military, or employed out of the country; then you are a resident of your "home of record"). If you reside in a dormitory on campus and do not drive, what are you supposed to use as your proof of residence?
This issue resulted in a court decision in New York State during my college years. As I recall, students were then able to vote on campus instead of traveling home to vote. That was my first time voting.
Dear Ally House,
You make some great points. Seems to me the “system” needs a revisit. A college dorm is not a permanent residence — and yet, how can we make it easy for college students to vote and still keep “clean” and “updated” voting records with this group?
Hmmmm??
I don’t know how it is any more with college students these days, but as an undergrad, I averaged 3-4 residences a year as roommates came and went; I fail to see how that is different from living in a dorm for 9 months and other housing for three. I know that I registered to vote at every residence I lived at.
I suspect that voter rules in each of the several states may differ, and without a national policy, that might be hard to do. Oregon has “motor voter” registration, and when you get an Oregon DL, you are registered to vote (assuming you are eligible). I knew people at college who kept their home address, and people who changed their addresses to where they were living.
Beyond disgusting
A friend in Idaho wrote that someone in the state legislature there was working on a law to make it illegal to get a Covid vaccine. Unbelievable!
If this litany of bad news wasn’t bad enough...
Today the Kansas legislature overturned the governor’s veto of a bill that will require genital inspection of students wanting to play on sports teams.
Even writing that sentence disgusts me. The holier-than-though zealots working to destroy the country in so many ways are just getting started. Unless we stop them. Wisconsin is the gold-standard model in how to so so.
What kind of parent would ever even consider allowing her child's genitals to be examined for any purpose other than a medical one? I can see all the kids' parents refusing - so, no school teams at all.
That would be a clear enough indication of dissent!
That would get a reversal of the law very quickly. Or bring down the education system.
Inspections of genitalia now? Fear not...the rich and powerful parents will find a way to wiggle round the requirement but it will remain as a tool to harass others when needed.
The absurdity is delicious!
Imagine a genital inspector at the door of every public toilet!
I think we should start with genital inspection as a requirement for office; starting with membership in the Kansas Legislature.
Sounds like "Duos habet et bene pendentes"...
[Go look those words up if you want to know their meaning and the nature and purpose of the inspection to which they relate...]
Spoiler Alert
"...popes were subjected to an examination whereby, having sat on a so-called sedia stercoraria or ‘dung chair’ containing a hole, a cardinal had to reach up and establish that the new pope had testicles before announcing "Duos habet et bene pendentes" ("He has two and they dangle nicely")"
LOVE how we get further educated to the crucial rituals of our major institutions! Does the Vatican prescribe what happens should the genital inspecting cardinal NOT be able to make such a declaration?
He has two, and they hang nicely".
TL Mills: why only one 🤣? This is MUCH funnier than learning that the church only “gave” women souls in the 12th century.
🤣
I think the minimum requirement for genital inspectors is that they be naked.
Although it smacks of pedophilia, doesn't it? A naked adult, gazing at children's genitalia? Who do you think would volunteer for the job?
Wait, wait, I know! GYM Jordan will be delighted to volunteer!...plenty of experience to recommend him!
Gym Jordan
Good question, J. Nol. Not sure I want to know the answer.
Gaetz?
Lol. Was wondering when this might come up!
Soon after reading your comment, Michael, I thought of a long line of former and current Catholic priests waiting to be assigned as inspectors of the boys' penises.
Unfortunately, that's the world we live in. Republicans like to throw around the word pedophilia. Yet the Republicans are inviting it.
States like Kansas are inviting a decrease in population. Laws like this plus extreme anti-abortion restrictions, non-existent gun control, censorship, and more will also make them less attractive to big companies because the hiring pool will diminish. I read today that the University of Florida is having trouble hiring professors after DeSantis messed with the curriculum.
Why have I come to connect DeSantis with pedophilia? Doesn't he seem particularly interested in the subject? He claims to be protecting the children or, maybe, he is projecting? As we say, 'just asking'.
I’ve been saying (he is projecting his own unresolved issues) that for months! Like someone I used to work with said, “ he ain’t right”.
Conservative obsession with all things sexual belies their unconscious motivations. When natural sexual urges are suppressed rather than allowed to be expressed in socially acceptable ways, they can go underground, become twisted and still be expressed, in less acceptable ways.
How Much Money Has the Catholic Church Paid to Sexual Abuse Victims? Over the course of several decades, the Catholic Church in the United States have paid out more than $3 billion in sexual abuse settlements.
And it doesn't appear it will stop... with the news from Baltimore.
Dear Fern,
Curious to hear some examples of DeSantis and pedophilia? Perhaps you’re talking about Joe Biden showering with his daughter — not to mention the relentless SNIFFING over the years. Wanna talk about a pedophile?
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Joe+Biden+little+girls
You're not going to last long here buddy because we expect real info not some stupid utube video.
Go back to brightfart where you'll feel much more welcomed
Yes. I agree. Bring the receipts. I have a video of Big Foot. We do however, have photos of Donald Trump with Jeffery Epstein. A known sexual predator who recruited underage girls for sexual liaisons with wealthy older pedophiles like Trump and his perverted ilk.
he's been reported. including the suspicious "you tube" piece of crap.
Beth: Brightfart?
🤣👏
Dear Beth,
“You're not going to last long here buddy because we expect real info not some stupid utube video”
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. There are multiple sites showing JB’s “sniffing” young girls. Sorry you’re so blinded by your “Zealotism” for all-things “Democrat.” https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/zealotism
Truth be told, each party has its WARTS — even though you refuse to acknowledge them.
PS — are you the welcoming committee? Clearly you’re not very good at it…🙄
Steve, I am giving you the benefit of the doubt (why, I don't know) but I am.
I have found this "sniffing" thing to be a ridiculous, argument, truly. Here is my thoughts.
Research has found that mothers can identify which blanket their newborns were wrapped in, just by the scent. Perhaps this is a leftover of ancient animals origins, whatever, but IMHO, this sense is not given the credit that vision or hearing gets. Certainly for me, the scent of my babies was a soothing scent and actually helped in breastfeeding, as I was actually advised to sniff them to help my milk let down.
I continue to "smell" my family. They know that when I hug my adult children, I smell them. I don't snort like a pig, but I do inhale. I don't find this weird or strange at all. Their scent is as much as a joy as seeing them in person or hearing their voices. If I go blind, as macular degeneration runs in the family, as does deafness--well, I will still have their scent.
How many times have you seen reference to lovers enjoying the scent of their partner left on their sheets? Is this it? Does "sniffing" someone always have a sexual reference to you? It seems to me that the GOP, especially the MAGA contingent is overly concerned by sex. But that is a diatribe for another time.
Do you enjoy the smell of autumn leaves? Meat on the grill? Fresh baked bread? The air up high in the mountains? I'd add a new car, many find that a good smell, to me it is offgassing, but our sense of smell protects us as well. That's why they add that smell to natural gas. Certainly we wouldn't eat something that smells "off." Is there something weird about that?
Do you have children? Did you ever bathe them or did their mother do it all? Having had three children and a "touchy" back, I can tell you that there were times that pulling them in a shower was easier than straining over a deep porcelain tub. I'm not sure exactly how one would teach a child how to shower themselves without pulling them in with you. I have no idea how old his daughter was, I doubt she was very old, but again, WHY do the Conservative Christian/MAGA/GOP seem to equate EVERYTHING with sex?
I have to say, one of the most difficult questions that I rolled about in my mind raising children was how to teach them about sex without making them prudish but also not raising them to be of low morals.
I am not sure that keeping young women totally ignorant of the male body until their wedding night is the best approach. If the religious right finds the statue of David dangerous, why do they think that a naked man with an erect penis will suddenly be totally acceptable? Or is it expected that the woman will just submit to the man? (An aside, I'm 66. I recall a friend saying how much her mother looked forward to grandchildren, and saying "funny how it's no sex/no sex/no sex, then some words are said over you and they want you to go at it like rabbits."
Also, I have to say, I get so tired of the "whatabout" of the GOP. Really. Address the point at hand, don't deflect. It might work on your own base, but it does nothing to change the opposition and it certainly does not convince the Independents, and *SURPRISE!!* it is the Independent voters that ultimately decide who wins elections.
I would prefer to report your comment to the administration here, that is what the good people of the forum generally do with propaganda (note I said, "propaganda" not true debate/discussion, as we do have various points of view) but I think everyone reading thus far (thanks for the patience!!) will want to see what I am responding to.
Undoubtedly, there will be more comments added to this, but I will choose to not engage with you further.
A further few thoughts, Steve, after I showered this morning.
Do you slap on some aftershave, or men's cologne? If you do, why? Do you want to smell good to someone?
Do you apply deodorant? Why? Do you want your smell to not offend someone?
You really need to think about your original post and what you are trying to accomplish. Are you parroting something from Fox? From all the news of a month ago, you certainly must know what they think of their viewers, right?
Or do you have a particular interest in pedophilia? That itself is.......interesting.
Miselle, as a feller “smeller,” thank you. Those who don’t use their noses miss a lot. It’s possible of course that lots of those who are using their noses are not aware of the extent of their dependence on scent.
MISELLE ! AS GOD ! Has given Women., the POWER, of PROCREATION, .... YOU have Hit, the Nail ! on the HEAD !
Dear Miselle,
The difference is — you’re smelling your own children/family members. Entirely different altogether. Most will agree that smelling complete stranger’s kids is unacceptable (then again, maybe not)?
Have a fabulous day!
Brava!
Bishop admits abuse, resigns
https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2002/03/09/bishop-admits-abuse-resigns/
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/ron-desantis-the-catholic-rival-feared-by-trump/&ved=2ahUKEwjEpK7Z55T-AhWUVKQEHdfBBmsQFnoECBMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3NF-5cjrU37NdX-v8WLvol
I see this as an under estimated consequence for all Red states legislating anti this & that laws. People starting their careers & families will think twice about locating in restrictive states no matter how attractive the other amenities .
I agree, but it doesn't seem to stop companies from moving to Texas.
Can they find people to hire? In MT there is a teacher shortage, medical personal shortage. Trades people. There are hiring signs everywhere for all kinds of job vacancies
That's happening everywhere. I'd imagine that some companies will bring workers with them, if they're relocating from other areas, at least at the beginning. It probably depends on the specific industry, and whether the wages paid for the jobs are competitive.
I always like to ask fir definitions of the words they use.... crickets.....
You're talking of the RC variant of the dirty mind.
I have wondered whether the current American obsession with "gender" (as opposed, here, to "human") may not have a horrible and very physical origin.
It must have been about 40 years ago that I read of a widespread phenomenon in a major river of fish with gender anomalies... and wondered what this might portend for humans and other animals drinking water abstracted from this source.
I wrote to a medical authority about this but of course got no answer.
With all that's gotten into the aquifers and the food chain... is it surprising that we are seeing hormonal changes like plummeting sperm counts?
*
Nevertheless, gender issues blind us to a far deeper imbalance: we speak of "white suprematism" but macho monopoly power is a far greater threat.
The kind of society, the kind of mentality it promotes is crippled:
A bird with one wing.
Actually, only humans have gender, since it's a socially constructed concept. All other animals only have biological sex. Gender does draw on the stereotypical differences between the sexes, and is imposed on all members of the sex group, regardless of whether it fits the person or not. That's the root of many of the problems people have with gender.
Good point, Peter. I wonder, as well, about a connection between the ignorance that is widespread, and revelations about the lead in our city water, air, and soil.
Not just lead, which messed up the Roman empire and has done so much harm to this day...
Now we have "progress"... and endocrine disruptors...
I read the same and think of it during all of this noise. “Better living through chemistry” and its surprises. Meanwhile, medieval thinking.
Virginia, I'm slightly puzzled by your comment, in particular the last sentence.
I know this will seem strange to many but... don't we need a modicum of skepticism about what we call "progress"? That and humility in keeping with our immense collective responsibilities.
Progress always comes at a cost, there is gain and there's a corresponding loss. We tend to overvalue the gain and undervalue the loss or simply to take absolutely no account of it...
Of course, there's plenty to be proud of and grateful for, plenty of reason for saying good riddance for this or that.
Still, the hubris that comes with believing that the latest generations are necessarily better than those that went before means that such beliefs are not just silly and immature but dangerous.
We may have a remarkably advanced technological civilization with change accumulating at ever- accelerating speed -- look no steering! Look no brakes! And now... look no hands! Human brains and skills are bypassed...
Yet the cost threatens life on earth as it has evolved to this point in time... and the survival of our species. Quite a price...
“Medieval thinking” is refusal to recognize the fallacy of “better living through chemistry. I quoted that old ad in defense of frogs and people. Pure sarcasm. Learned years ago about what chemicals in agricultural drainage ditches was doing to frogs and understood the implications.
Thank you for your long response.
Thank you, Virginia.
Sometimes it's better to underststand in two stages, the first being confusion.
It's like rising in the morning to find everything fogbound, then the sun shines through and mists clear.
I didn't know the slogan "Better living through chemistry", hence the confusion.
As for "medieval thinking", I've just been through a phase of sheer horror at ecclesiastical oppression and obscurantism -- after a visit to Rome -- but the sun was always there, even when fog blanketed the land.
And though I was surprised, I could well understand the friend who, after seeing Paris for the first time, was far more taken with the exterior -- yes, only the exterior -- of Amiens Cathedral.
Medieval thinking and action...
Another synergy, now lost.
And it affects a grand total of one person at the moment. One.
Wonder how many kids in Kansas will die from gun violence this year?
Sheila B, per an "Every State Fact Sheet" I found that I will try and link here:
On average, 31 children (I believe the universal designator is under 18 years old) die from gun violence. 49% of those are suicides. Non-white youth are 4 times as likely as white youth to die from gun violence.
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://maps.everytownresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Every-State-Fact-Sheet-2.0-042720-Kansas.pdf
✅✅
Michael,
"Today the Kansas legislature overturned the governor’s veto of a bill that will require genital inspection of students wanting to play on sports teams."
I am totally puzzled by such a law.
IF, for example, (I am a guy):
If I have my genitals cut off and am surgically modified to be a girl, how will anyone know by inspecting me in the locker room???
Dumb and dumber for sure.
❗️ ❗️ ❗️
And of course those whose responsibility (duty? privilege?) it will be to inspect the genitals will have to have full background checks, psychological testing, etc. I mean, that must be in the new law somewhere, no?
It does beg the questions: who, exactly, is going to perform these exams? Under what conditions? How will they be supervised? I hope school nurses will not be roped into this.
😳😳😳 the party of pedophiles wants to inspect children’s genitalia. Imagine the fun a progressive propaganda equivalent to Fox could have with that 😳 and they wouldn’t even have to lie!!!!
An older, sourced list on twitter:
https://twitter.com/HackingButLegal/status/1370965271456927746
I really hope someone challenges this requirement. Right to privacy?? This is just insane.
Dear Michael / Lynn / and Fern,
Are you for “Biological-Men” playing on “Biological-Women’s” sports teams?
You’re OK with that?
Dear Steve,
I don't know about Michael, Lynn or Fern, but I'm for the law being the same for everyone, democracy being of the one-person/one vote variety and the church being separate from the state, with automatic voter registration for all citizens of voting age.
What is it about biological men playing on biological women's sports teams that you're not okay with, Steve? Does it keep you awake at night?
It's okay, you can tell me.
I'm not Steve, so I'm not speaking for him, but I will point out that both of your tones are patronizing and don't invite a healthy discussion about a complex and divisive issue. Regardless, I'll step into the trans minefield and point out a couple of reasons:
Biological men who have gone through puberty have clear physiological advantages over women, such as greater muscle mass, higher bone density, and greater lung capacity, that can give them an unfair advantage in competition. This is a primary reason that almost all sports have divisions for biological women and biological men, which until the recent increase in trans activism wasn't even something people were questioning.
In contact sports, there is also a higher risk of injury to bio females from bio males who have the above mentioned advantages. Just as I believe age categories in sports are a good idea (I don't want my 7 year old son playing football against a 16 year old boy) I also believe that rules that ensure equality and minimize risk of injury for bio females are a good idea (I don't want my 19 year old daughter, who plays rugby in college, to play against 18-21 year old bio males).
The solution I've heard suggested in order to include trans athletes (whether FTM or MTF) is to create a third Open Division that would open to anyone. It is not a perfect solution but I don't see a path to a perfect solution.
Hello Just a Dad,
I've been thinking about your comment regarding the problems inherent in transgender men (those who have undergone surgical and hormonal treatment so as to make their sex change complete) competing in sports against women, and I think your analysis is right on the mark. It's an issue I had not thought much about before.
Having jumped into the thread part way through in response to a somewhat inane exchange about pedophilia and "sniffing" and genitalia inspections, I let my patronizing self respond rudely to Steve's reasonable question, though several of his earlier comments were far less reasonable and were justly contested by other participants. I might have done well to save my patronizing for a worthier target and a more important problem, you know, something existential like nuclear war or global warming.
In any case, I bear no ill will toward any of the people who take the trouble to express themselves here, however much I may strongly disagree with the opinions some of them express. To Steve's credit, he is not just preaching to the choir here at HCR's Letter, that's for sure.
Hi David, thanks for your thoughtful reply. I wrote an initial response a few minutes ago but I think I fat-fingered the wrong button and it may have vanished (alas).
In any case - the gist of it was that, perhaps like you, it does not come naturally to me to balance my passion with patience every time I reply to someone. In my better moments I remind myself to be more like the person my dog thinks I am and that HCR would be glad to have in her comments section. In any case, I appreciate the "marketplace of ideas" that emerges when we all listen and learn and exercise some humility as you have done. Beers on me if you find yourself in Charlottesville VA :-)
Well Hi, Dad. You live in a nice part of the world. I remember visiting Monticello back in the early 60's. Our family lived in DC and my real Dad was a history buff, specialized in the Civil War and with a passionate interest in old battlefields. If you ever make it to Italy (Province of Macerata), the wine's on me. Have a good one.
Dear Just a Dad,
100% spot-on…well stated…bravo! 👏
Dear David,
Just A Dad nailed it…please be sure and read his post…100% spot-on.
Hello Steve,
I just responded to Just a Dad's comment, and I'm sorry for the snarky tone in my response to your perfectly reasonable question. Some of your other comments I found less reasonable, but such is life. Have a good day.
Why not, most of our families came as immigrants ?
Dear Fern,
“Why not, most of our families came as immigrants?”
Huh? What does that mean? How does that relate to the topic about “Biological-Men” playing on “Biological-Women’s” sports teams?
The NCAA has an appropriate policy that has ruled sports, and I think this is an issue that government should stay out of.
https://www.ncaa.org/news/2022/1/19/media-center-board-of-governors-updates-transgender-participation-policy.aspx
If we are going to maintain a democracy..or perhaps ‘save’ our very ‘challenged’ democracy we desperately need folks like Heather who can so clearly identify the key issues, the key players, the key problems and the helpful ‘ways’ of dealing with the whole ‘challenge’.
Heather brings all that highly trained historian’s skill set and her own particular multifaceted range of concerns together to produce articles like this one and her earlier ‘Wisconsin’ segments.
It’s invaluable…no one does it better that I’ve found…..many many thanks.
‘Letters From An American’ should be in every newspaper ... at least the Sunday editions!
It goes in my Facebook feed everyday…
Mine too and I send it out to about 50 friends who have left FB because they got so disgusted with it.
I do too…send it privately on to family and friends….daily….but it would be interesting to know if it’s possible to get these ‘letters’ into some larger publications..feel sure there are legal issues etc….
Perhaps we should be asking Heather?
Please ask someone! I share with my family, but would like to spread her knowledge to everyone.
Well done!!!!
I left FB when I signed up with Substack. Been reading Heather for a few years now.
Mine Too! 👍🏼
You know Gayle this might not be a bad time to do a little creative ‘problem-solving’ ….where else…could Heather’s ‘pieces’ be shared? Any other locations?
She could have a page in The Atlantic. Rolling Stone could do a piece on her to open it up to that crowd. You know, we’re probably not the first ones to think of how to spread the word. Still, I think getting these nearly daily Letters out to the general public would be so healthy for our country!
Maybe Rachael Maddow could have her on her show, or Stephen Colbert? Ultimately, of course, it’s up to Heather. It wouldn’t surprise me to find she gets offers to publish often. There’s probably more to it than we realize, and maybe she would prefer keeping her Maine lifestyle simple as possible. That MAGA mob is so vicious. I can understand how she might want to keep it as it is. We want to keep her safe & healthy. After all, she’s becoming a National Treasure to we who love and appreciate her clear and factual take on our history in the making, including how we got here!
Interesting comments Gayle….judging from the fact that SHARE opportunities are linked at the end of each ‘letter’ think it’s pretty safe to assume that SHARING both personally and to other locations like FACEBOOK has already occurred to Heather,….
How much ‘sharing’ AND ‘HOW’ shared and to whom is clearly the question….in the ‘old days’ we used Letters to the Editor and other currently simplistic modes…
I think I’m asking the current ‘social networking’ questions….
What’s the best strategy to get Heathers materials out to the most number of people possible in 2023?
Mine too; somewhat preaching to the choir BUT a neighbor who immigrated from Czchoslovakia many years ago sometimes comments about her experience in an authoritarian state and what it looks like. I find that very helpful to the discussion.
Mine, too.
Same here.
👋 👋 👋 👋 👋 👋 👋
Oddly, I found enough bright spots in today's letter to buoy my spirits. The youth mobilizing, Janet Protasiewicz's election, TFG fading from the spotlight in spite of himself all bode well for democracy. Oh, I have no illusions, this is still going to be a steep uphill climb, that of reaffirming and securing democracy, but it feels as though more people are getting it, that the Republicans are a toxic, vindictive, greedy lot.
Malignant narcissists. Trump is a prime example, but they've virtually all signed on.
Yes, so did I, Carmen.
It's about time we start focusing on the rise of Christian Nationalism and the imposition of minority religious views on the majority. I've been calling them the American Taliban since just after the 2016 election. On this eve of Passover, "let my people go" can be restated, "Leave the majority alone". May at least the plague of unpopularity at the polls be visited upon the American Taliban.
Christian Nationalism is such a fake term. It betrays ignorance of any genuine faith. It amounts to the idolatry which is condemned throughout the Bible, old and new testaments.
Fascist racist ideologues bent on power. There is nothing truly Christian about such hate and lust for power. Fanatics. When will mainline clergy speak out ?
the old adage " what would JESUS DO ?" HE Certainly would not, DO, What ANY LOST HEARTS ! , Would be Doing, IN this CHAOS, This Country is IN, IN this "SEASON!"
No, he remained courageous and true, but he was against violence (remember Peter in the Garden?). However, that country was not in chaos because it was under Roman rule, very strict. Unfortunately Pilate, the Roman governor, was afraid of losing power so he went with what seemed to be the popular vote, which as we are told was organised by the religious leaders so that they could get rid of Jesus. Nothing has changed.
Hey, I didn’t light my Yahrzeit candle for nothing!
There's a good article in the April 3 issue of The New Yorker by Kelefa Sanneh about this very topic - "Under God: How Christian is Christian Nationalism?" Basically the premise is it's more tribal identity than religious belief. Don't know if the link will work https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/04/03/how-christian-is-christian-nationalism
How many times have we seen the former president worshipping in church? The media would certainly cover it if he did. Holding a Bible during a news conference doesn't count.
Link worked for me, thank you.
A few hours ago, Republican legislators in Wisconsin suggested that they will “impeach” the just elected Supreme Court Judge as a way of overcoming her election as her support for abortion rights is “corrupt.” They have majority control in the State Senate which apparently has the right to impeach judges by majority vote! If they do this, it will justifiably mark the end of the Republican Party in Wisconsin! And, I submit, it should send a message to all other purple and moderately red states that unless their own Governor and Republican legislators affirmatively disavow such reprehensible action, the fair minded and democracy loving majority of citizens in their state will throw them out of office in the very next election by popular vote! Folks, it us all coming to a head in 24--our Democracy with a big D is on the line everywhere! We all must make a major effort to preserve it! The youth vote in Wisconsin stood on line for hours to cast their votes for their new Supreme Court Jystice and all the Wisconsin media report that is why she won! Here’s the evidence: in Madison County where the University is she won by 82% to 18% by well over 150,000 vote margin! Please go to www.turnup.us/ and support their massive nonpartisan youth registration effort now in 2,000 high schools in competitive states and make a generous tax deductible contribution for their work going forward to Nov 24! It’s on the line so let’s rise up together to help our young students register and vote in a nonpartisan effort! Thank you and please let me know your thoughts?
Ira, thank you for pointing to the www.turnup.us site! This is a worthy group to support. You have pointed out a significant group showing us how they are organizing, coming of age to vote, and making a difference in the elections. I have heard others say, and I agree that our young citizens will be a huge part of saving our democracy. They are tuned in, fired up, and, by and large, vote for Democrats. Whenever I feel myself moving toward hopelessness and sorrow, I try to focus on the youth vote. They carry a passionate energy, and as more and more of them turn 18 and start voting, this bodes well for our country's sake. At this point, it is clear the Republican party is lost, and I don't see it turning around. There is only one serious and responsible political party now. I know I am preaching to the choir, but seeing what has happened to the GOP still astonishes me. That party is no longer a truly "conservative" party. They don't stand for the tenets of true conservatism; unfortunately, they don't stand for anything relevant to a political party. To use a somewhat quaint phrase, "My mind is blown." As many already know, they didn't even offer a party platform in 2020, and I am not sure they did in 2016 either; it was just whatever TFG wants, says, does, ad nauseam. I hope my memory serves me correctly; perhaps others can clarify what I have missed. I think it is sad to consider one of our political parties has become so lost; even though I didn't identify with their policies, I still felt the value of having serious-minded, credible people debating their views worked out to be a moderating factor in many or at least some cases. Talk about "lost cause" only in a different way this time. Rant over!
"My mind is blown." Pretty sure this hippie heard it first when she was 18! YES to supporting efforts to register young people to vote! Also support (and start in your locale) the League of Women Voters program reaching students in high scholl through their program:
https://www.lwv.org/educating-voters/high-school-voter-registration
Great rant.
When the democracy with the big D is under represented and overrun by unfair political tactics like gerrymandering, it's the democracy with a small d that is failing. Party over country and foundational ideals leads to fascism.
So hope you are right
Guaranteed!
The GOP has pulled out all the stops which they have stashed in their back pockets for just such a time as we are in. Now that the tide is turning against them they are determined to defeat democracy before we use it to boot them out. State senators in Wisconsin have apparently been talking about impeaching Judge Janet Protasiewicz. We have a monumental fight on our hands. Unfortunately they have a lot of guns.
How can they impeach without cause? Oh I forgot, they are Republican.
And, on the same night they lost the Supreme Court seat, Republicans gained a super-majority in the Senate.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/05/wisconsin-senate-supermajority-impeachment-power
Friends, please keep an eye on Florida. Everyday, more and more outrageous authoritarian bills are being proposed and passed by the GOP supermajority, giving Desantis more and more power. My concern is that his blunders nationally will make him even more defiant in this state, to satisfy his ridiculous ego at the expense of lives. Like a cornered toddler (note tfg’s increasingly unhinged behavior), he’ll come out swinging as he loses ground, if the polls are to be believed. Note lgbtq items, the space program, the Disney debacle, educational whitewashing, book bans, abortion limits, calls for a Florida Guard, attacks on school and hospital boards by his hand-picked followers...everyday there are more examples. Please watch this and amplify it wherever you are in our country to prevent him from ever gaining national office. Please.
Don’t forget permitless open carry. Im so angry I could spit. WTH.
YES. That is the last straw... I'm telling my son that I disappprove of his (thus far) yearly trips to Disneyworld until such time as this idiocy is stopped. Florida, in my book, is off limits for me and mine. DeathSantis and his Republican minions can go to hell.
Jen, look up Dick Batchelor's two columns in the Tampa Times recently.
He is a Democrat, former State Representative. He is at least one voice calling out and challenging DeSantis's actions in our State.
But how are Republicans doing in the Wisconsin House, that must first vote to impeach before the Wisconsin Senate can conduct a trial? From a Wisconsin government website:
" IMPEACHMENT
Removal of: Civil Officers of the State (“civil officers” is not defined)
Initiated by: The Legislature
Impeachment is a procedure that allows the Legislature to remove any civil officer of the state for specific reasons. Removing an official through impeachment is a two-step process: (1) the State Assembly votes to impeach; and (2) the State Senate tries the impeachment. The Assembly may impeach an elected official by a majority vote based on specific reasons:
- corrupt conduct in office or for the commission of a crime or misdemeanor. [Wis. Const. art. VII, s. 1, and s. 17.06 (1), Stats.] If a majority of the Assembly votes to impeach, the impeachment moves to the Senate.
The Senate may then conduct a trial of the impeachment. The Senators act as a court and try the elected official according to the evidence. If 2/3rds of the Senators present vote to convict the elected official, the official is convicted (which is typically referred to as “being impeached”).
Impeachment removes an elected official from office. It does not impose a criminal sentence or other criminal penalty. "
That same document says that Senate and House members can be recalled by the voting public, so if the Wisconsin voting public is engaged, the offending Republican politicians can be threatened this way. But before that needs to happen, elected Wisconsin Democrats are protected from impeachment by a Democratic majority in the Wisconsin House. The Wisconsin Senate can fume all it wants.
They have two thirds of the State Assemby and State Senate seats as well as 2/3rds of Wisconsin’s congressional Representatives in the U.S. House. That’s what being the most gerrymandered state in the country has done for the GOP in Wisconsin.
😨😱😡🤬
Sadly, so do we. Of course, if they come for us with guns, guns we will have, too. And so it begins...
Civil War II?
I am not in any way a religious person, actually I'm an apatheist, with a strong belief that if there were a god he/she would not allow people to be so self-centered and stupid. Thank god, as the saying goes, for folks like Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, governor Laura Kelly from Kansas, and their kind of people. HRC it is people like you, as well as those doing the job such as Justin Kanew, who work to keep us, We the People, informed. Good on ya all! Oh, and for those who don’t know, an aptheist is an atheist who doesn’t care.
Perfect!
Bill, we’ll said. But I’m not sure I understand what it is that you don’t care about?
Simple, Mike.... as an atheist I'm a non-believer and being apathetic about any form of religion I have no interest, enthusiasm, or concern about the entire topic. However, at the same time I am a very strong supporter of the work of Mother Nature. Go figure.......
I wish I could be so. I grew up in a very fundamentalist Christian religion and it took too many years figure out why I was so confused. Since I realized that religion of any form is BS, overcoming the damage to me causes me much anger when I see it being pushed onto others. Thanks for the definition.
To say that the state of our country is a mess doesn't make a strong enough statement. These are terrifying times. I remember when the former president was elected and I heard people say, "How bad could it be?" and ""It's only four years." But now look where those four years have taken us. He did so much damage to our country (and continues to do) by getting three judges on the Supreme Court, by appealing to and even courting white nationalists, by encouraging violence, by cutting taxes for the rich and corporations so our economy has suffered, by allowing attacks on minorities and anyone who is different, etc. etc. He opened the Pandora's box of everything that is bad in our society and now those people will always be with us.
Now people like Dan Kelly are willing and able to get up and insult and try to belittle their opponent when they lose and some people accept this behavior as "normal". Of course we have a former president that exhibits this same behavior and still thousands of people follow him. It's NOT normal nor is it acceptable. I don't get it.
I am from Michigan , born there, raised there, and still live there. I am very proud of Governor Whitmer and for the people of Michigan for voting for democracy. But we lived for 40 years under gerrymandered districts and GOP fools "leading" our state. It has been an uphill battle that other states must also fight if we are going to have a strong United States.
Thank you Heather Cox Richardson for another letter that enlightens all of us!
Excellent, Colette.
I am a Californian. I cannot claim to know much about Michigan's politics. If my memory serves, Michigan was a purple state before the color coded labelling of States existed. One year it was Republican, the next Democratic.
Gretchen Whitmer is positioned close to the crest of the wave of the future. She is a woman, relatively young for a major political player, and has all the particular non-policy chops that any political up and comer needs. She is attractive, she is passionate, and she was the first Democrat in the era of Despicable Don to show ready courage in the face of the ignorant and violent tendencies of the MAGA brown shirts. Let's not forget that not only did the MAGA cowards come for her first and foremost with their phallic substitute guns proliferating, they tried to kidnap and possibly assassinate her.
As a heterosexual man who loves women, I am outraged by the treatment she and many similarly situated women have received from these lowlifes who seem to readily direct their misplaced and ignorant anger not toward powerful men and institutions, but directly toward brave and clear spoken women.
In the event that Biden declines to run, there will be many fully capable Democratic aspirants for the Oval Office. Kamala, Gavin, Elizabeth, Bernie, Sherrod, etc. But a photogenic, battle tested Govenor from a midwestern swing state, with the locks of Hedy Lamar and the principles of Susan B. Anthony cannot be underestimated.
Thank you. Currently, Michigan is lead by several strong women in addition to "Big Gretch" as we call her. We have Dana Nessell as Attorney General. She is an openly Lesbian (married) woman and smart as a whip. We also have Jocelyn Benson as our Secretary of State, so she is in charge of our elections. All three of these very brave and smart women are leaders in their own right and we are so lucky to have all of them. Sadly, so many people judge female leaders based on looks and men don't have that battle to fight. Just look at Mitch McConnell or the former president if you want to see ugly.
I'm another expat Michigander, and I'm oh so glad to see the leadership of the state break free of the shackles of the Republican party. The three you cite are shining examples of good governance, and I hope Michigan continues its move towards sanity.
I grew up in MI but we moved to CA and lived there for 10 years.
Got a lot of rural people (like CA) who watch faux and believe the lies they tell.
But most people in MI are good people who like fairness.
I want to praise CA for looking out for their people.
When we tried to get my husband's disability the company fought us tooth and nail until I found out CA had sued them and won.
Because our policy was written in CA they had to follow the rules set in place by the lawsuit. So we got his disability thanks to CA.
And I know that if we hadn't gotten that money my husband would be a drooling idiot now or worse be dead.
So thank you CA for giving me extra years with my husband.
One year Michigan turned Democrat because 2 years before we approved our redistricting ballot initiative:
Redistricting – Voters Not Politicians https://votersnotpoliticians.com/redistricting/
Four years before that, Gretchen Whitmer had spent 2 years hiking, biking, snow shoeing and cross country skiing through every county, city, town and village, meeting us and listening to us lamenting "Fix the damn roads!" which she then did!
It's more complicated than that, of course. I remember in 2009 meeting my Republican state rep for a cup of coffee because he wanted to offer me advice on my new business, but all he really wanted to talk (gloat) about was how "we've jerrymandered this state so well those damn Democrats will never win again!" I was, as many of my colleagues were, a "Milliken Republican", named for our well loved former governor who made environment, education and women's rights his priorities. Then our party of common sense and good business got hijacked by big oil and greed. Gretchen will make a terrific President.
You are so right, MaryPat! And, she is "Fixing the Damn Roads"!
https://fb.watch/jKHhqDEhx5/?mibextid=6aamW6
Thank you, Mary Pat!
Having watched (part of) Kelly's tirade, feeling disgusted that he could even garner one vote in Wisconsin, I was heartened by Gretchen Whitmer's speech as she signed the law repealing Michigan's 1931 abortion ban. Such a contrast, between a sniveling, lying Republican and a woman who, to my lights, would get my vote for the Oval Office.
Heather -- Thank you so much for your focused and important reporting and analysis. Please give us more information about the money that is paying for all the Republican efforts to undermine our democracy. How much is going to each state, to destroy local government, state government, etc. It's wonderful that the people of Wisconsin are pushing back, and hopefully others will also, and the momentum will grow. But meantime, people need to know about all the dirty money that feeds the right. The Koch operation has undermined our government for many years!!! It happens because of their money. Please help shine a brighter light on it. Many, many thanks.
YES! PLEASE! We continue to learn of numerous instances of money pouring into Republican coffers and politicians and now we have news of a SCOTUS justice routinely receiving travel on his private jet and vacations on his luxury yacht from a conservative donor (Harlan Crow) over the past 20 years without feeling any need to report these benefits on his required financial disclosure forms! (https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-scotus-undisclosed-luxury-travel-gifts-crow) This on top of Thomas' failure to recuse himself from cases directly involving his wife's activities. Yet another Repub (and in this instance not a "white male") who sees himself as being above the law.
We live in scary times. Republican fascism is real.
Kelly is a bitter pill. This isn't the first rodeo he's lost by a double digit margin. Meanwhile, observing and participating in our increasingly polarized American experiment leaves me with a bitter taste also. Perhaps it's my age or perhaps every era faces great fronts of social despair and destruction. I'm still in it. Not going anywhere yet. Pitching up with my bitter boomer self. There are more Wisconsins afoot.
This Billie is with you! Hang tough with me!❤️🐼
It seems to me that the MAGA Christian nationalists are the same folks spreading fear of Sharia law taking hold in the USA, not long ago. Religious extremism is a misfit here in our country, but the MAGA people won’t give up, instead they double down. How long can this go on?
Religious extremism is extreme, but I wonder if it's really religious? At the very least, there seems to be a stark distinction between those who aggressively celebrate and promote their own narcissism and those who attempt to diminish it; hubris vs humility, supremacy vs compassion.
Well, they hide behind the presumption that it’s “religious”. They are about as Christian as Fake 45 is!
Look @ PRRI.org It is about the church men created & not about what Christ taught.
Maybe it is based on hatred of anyone different from themselves.
For some it's fear...
First comes fear, then hatred, usually.
Not even remotely religious, as I learned it in my youth. Of course, they pretended better back then…
I dunno, Jack, my MAGAt friends absolutely jumped all over me when I posted that there was no difference, in my mind, between Sharia Law and what their churches were proposing. I engaged for a while, but got really fed up with giving them so much rent free space in my head I quit.
Clearly you cannot argue, persuade, or convince them to change their strongly held beliefs. Beliefs are stronger than facts.
Reading a very interesting book by historian Jon Meacham titled "American Gospel." It seems as if we haven't drifted that far from our Puritan ancestors. The "Puritans" are alive and well in the US today.
The theology that informs the current theocrats' attempts to take control of our government makes the ideology of the original Puritans look tame. Read Julie Ingersoll's "Building God's Kingdom: Inside the World of Christian Reconstruction."
Thank you, Don, for this book recommendation. As a lay pastor in the Presbyterian Church USA, I feel it's important to stay on top of how theology and faith continue to evolve in the US.
PRRI.org site with lots of info re CN. There are several books too. It is not rational or logical. It is really not about the Christian religion. Evangelicals , not all, are more engaged in CN than others. What they believe is not what Christ taught but all the induced side bars of belief created by men who created "the church".