Seeing Trump's rides to surrender to Georgia for booking on 13 felony counts and return to his home Bedminster, NJ, reverberated with the Trump years.
It was strongest to watch in silence, without the chatter of on-air reporters/analysts/hosts/commentators.
It was during his ride through streets of Atlanta on the way to jail that I sat up. It felt as a communion with fellow citizens.
There was also the relative quiet of his cult. A silence that spoke with possibility of hope down the road.
Below is a gifted link to The Washington Post’s article, ‘Trump’s mug shot was released by Georgia officials. He is the first former president to take one.’
The article includes his mug shot. Look at Trump’s eyes. Those eyes give him away, and they are hard to look at, just as living in The Trump Years have been hell. This shot is our memento for The Trump Years in America, thanks to The Fulton County Jail in Georgia. See the sheriff’s badge on the top right.
WHAT A MUG SHOT! THE TRUMP YEARS! MAY THEY END! IT CANNOT BE SOON ENOUGH!
I’ve been catching remarks throughout the day about the gravity of this moment, such a sad thing for the country to grapple with...The hell with that..Not me, I’m not sad about this, the stupidity of a faction of the American people, power hungry office holders, with no fealty to The Constitution they swore an oath to, or to our founding principles put this fucking grifter family and their pilot fish hangers on into the highest office in the country..The Senate could have prevented all of this shit..From November 2020 to today..
I hope Trump dies in prison if not sooner!! What I am upset about is that it took four trips to be arrested for a mugshot to be taken..There should be four of them..
With Trumps arrests it has demonstrated that there is a two tiered system of justice in this country..one for the rich and well connected and one for everyone else..and that’s without entering into the issue of race..Rule of law my ass!
But I take my hat off to DA Fani Willis of Fulton County Georgia..The only one to see to it that all the procedures were done correctly..
P.S. In my original posting of this reply, as was so eloquently pointed out to me this morning by one of our community, I misused teared instead of tiered..I have since corrected my error..And appreciate with affection having been so corrected..
Sam, there has been a two or three or four tiered justice, economic, health, educational, housing...systems in this country for most of its existence, if not all.
Fern, you are absolutely right..my example is of the moment playing out with the wealthy old white man with societal station and the administration of justice, but the unfairness is systematic throughout all of your other examples..And to a deeper level depending on which one and the racism and bigotry..
For those decrying his mug shot, I think the photographer did him a huge favor: hid his double chin, and put a blinding light over his head. That shielded the view of his scalp under that thinning comb over.
Who of us has ever been posed so flatteringly for our driver's license?
(Appears to be about a pound of makeup on that face, too)
How long do you think he had to spend trying out different looks in the mirror before his mug shot. Somewhere I read he was going for a Churchilian look :)
If you can, read Mary Trump's take on the mugshot. It takes knowing someone really really well to interpret something like that, and I think it's fair to say Mary knows him very very well. She interprets his expression as that of pure rage. On reflection, I think she's right.
What struck me about the mug shot is how much it resembled many ordinary news photos of the guy -- not the posed Oval Office pictures but the ones where he's addressing a crowd. There's less vitality in the mug shot but the expression is familiar. This is consistent with Mary Trump's interpretation, I think. In Trump that undercurrent of rage is always there, and when it erupts there's ketchup on the wall.
This mug shot alone shows how he is receiving extraordinarily special treatment. I have never seen a mug shot showing such defiance. There should never have been a 'pose' allowed. What happened to looking straight into the camera with a neutral expression? This plays right into trump's dirty hands. Makes me gag.
Miselle, I was thinking the same thing! His intention, I think, was to appear menacing, but I'm sure he also was hoping to compensate for all of the candid shots lately, showing how old, pale, fat and ugly he is. I'm sure he posed in the mirror for hours.
I wonder how long it took his makeup person to get his hair and makeup juuuuust right. They must have worked together for days once he chose "the look" to make sure the foundation didn't crack, or the mascara run, in the heat and humidity of the Fulton County Jail. After he got out of his last ever (I devoutly hope) motorcade.
And on a side note, October is going to be a very busy month for him, because HE COULD BE CALLED AS A WITNESS in Cheesybro's trial, now set for October 23. Now, wouldn't THAT be interesting?
Who knew that our symbol, Lady Justice holding the scales of Truth (facts, in this most important matter of our democracy, would be a very intelligent, no-nonsense black woman. The symbology of this moment is stunningly poetic.
However, I'll save the champagne and popcorn for the day we see mugshots for the all or most of the anti-democracy co-conspirators and their arrogant cult leader, including those still in our employment, behind bars. That will be true Justice for us and our democracy.
Agreed. I used to describe the application of criminal law like a pyramid. At it's base, is the conduct, in this case, unlawful conduct. The first few steps as you get narrower are petty crime, property crime, more involved property crime, crimes against persons, then those that rise up the level with increasing injury, to causing death at the pinnacle. I've investigated and made arrests in all levels of those crimes. I have also learned that "justice" is a weird thing. Sometimes, there is no justice as we know it.
There is a defense to conduct that is otherwise criminal; justification. That is the slippery slope that we are looking at as these cases move forward; the justification that those who engaged in the conduct charged employ is their belief that they were wronged, all facts to the contrary. It will be interesting to see how this progresses. I devoutly hope that for all the "sincerely held beliefs" that these criminals are relying on are held to be fallacies and not rising to the level of justification for conduct.
Yes! Lock up the complicit House members, and throw in a few Senators. Maybe build a special facility for them, on the cheap, so they have to live with each other 24/7.
Good for you, Sam. I was elated when the news broke with that stupid caricature for a mug shot. I did a happy dance, I didn't whoop and holler because I didn't want to disturb my neighbors. I do have faith in our legal system that he will be convicted and serve jail time - I hope in Georgia.
That system needs to give way to truth and Justice for all! But as long as nearly one third of the country is led by people who support utterly criminal activity and punish those with very minor infractions, well,… we have a LOT OF WORK TO DO. Thanks HCR and others who work for the good.
Did you know that in Georgia the Republican legislators have enacted a law that can and obviously was intended to yank Fani Willis out of that position so their own self centered abusers can reappoint and attempt to throw this case out. Trump was a grifter, user, and abuser long before he cheated his way into the presidency. He should have been in jail long before this. Stop elevating him and convict him of his crimes the same way any one else would be. We will not fall apart as a nation if we do. We will survive any blow back from this and be all the better for it.
That law takes effect October 1st. They WILL immediately move to oust Fani Willis from her position and move to cancel all the indictments. Will see how the appeals go….all the way to the Supreme Court?
Love your anti-science comment. His muddling of the COVID debacle has angered me so much for the last few years. To me, a COVID (and vaccine) denier is living proof of ignorance. Any middle schooler can explain the reality of viruses. Denying it? Perhaps a sign of an emotional disorder.
Here in West Michigan, anti-maskers and COVID deniers won 9 of 11 seats on our county commission and are trying their best to defund and dismantle the award-winning, nationally recognized health department.
I lived in western Michigan for five years. Geographically, it a lovely place although winter is too cold for me. The population is very conservative, and there are a lot of people of Dutch heritage who forebears brought their Dutch Reformed religion with them.
I read an article about the sexual health educator who is being targeted by the far right reactionary members of the county commission. Those commissioners, like the Puritans In Massachusetts, want freedom of religion. They want others to practice religion THEIR way. Their religious heritage is my way or the highway. The sexual health educator with the Ottawa County Health Department had worked for years to bring down the numbers that we would want to bring down. Fewer teen pregnancies, fewer abortions, more use of contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies in vulnerable populations, especially the poor. Now these radical reactionaries are accusing this woman of being a "groomer" because she has done such a good job of her job. These crazy reactionaries are lying to get attention while they hurt a fine person for working to improve life for vulnerable people.
Ann, the similarities between the library board members teaming with some of the townspeople to vote to defund their own town library in Michigan over a few books they didn't like and those wanting to defund the public health dept are striking and insane! Cutting off your nose to spite your face.
"OUR" anti-science president? He clearly was not OUR president, he even made that clear in words. Alas, and now thanks to an amazingly brave, talented, learned and determined Georgia woman he is "our" Inmate # P01135809. Use that more fitting moniker going forward.
Agreed. My sadness is about all the harm he’s inflicted on others his entire life without consequences. These indictments offer some hope that he will finally be held accountable. This isn’t just about him, it’s about wether or not “justice for all” has any meaning in our nation.
Now, the fate of the Republican Party will be determined by the American voters. There is some hope that on the federal level many of the MAGA people could be pushed out of Congress. Gerrymandering will make it more difficult.
Also, so many red state legislatures are full of MAGA extremists who feel no obligation to follow laws, as demonstrated by how Alabama is defying the Supreme Court.
"It is quite a thing to see leading Republicans—including a former president—in mugshots for their assault on our democracy and to know that party leadership supports their actions. Indeed, it is unprecedented, and for those who remember what a grand party the Republicans have been at times in their history—Lincoln, after all, was a Republican, and so were Theodore Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower—it is a sad end.
But an end it is. The authoritarians who have taken over the party have abandoned their history and are now building something altogether different."
We the People will have to make sure that our country is represented by people who believe in and will abide by the spirit and the word of our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution as amended. It's our country, of us and by us and for us.
Trump flies in on a private jet, is chauffeured in a motorcade and released on bail, while the single black coconspirator booked thus far still sits in a jail cell in Fulton County. Tiers of justice personified.
I feel your anger, I feel your pain. I almost cheered at his arrest but it was a terrible moment in our history. Biden needs a speech writer to inspire us, to give us hope, and to help us turn a page.
Thanks Kathy, however, I must give credit where credit is due..It came from a description of Lindsey Graham by Steve Schmidt in one of his essays..It's the perfect name for what these cretins are..
Here is a brief description of it's behavior from Wikipedia,
"The pilot fish congregates around sharks, rays, and sea turtles, where it eats ectoparasites on, and leftovers around the host species"
Such an appropriate way to define those in Trump's circle..
Some people get million or more dollar bails for lesser crimes. He jokes about escaping. This might not be a bad idea. I don't think you could be president from Russia or some country which cannot turn him over.
Our best hope is that he does escape and goes to be with his buddy, Putin. The Russians won’t extradite him. But wait, I spoke too soon, maybe his supporters will send money for his ransom. OMG!
By pointing out my periodic poor command of English Grammar, you remind me of my detest friend Julia, who on the most regular basis corrects my besmirching of the same..All I am left with at this point is to thank you for your kind approach in correcting me..And to say that I’m pleased that you have found my error useful..Mine is a constant path of growth and learning..
Alternatively, keep the price the same and market them to MAGAts: "Stick the mug on your mail to stick it to the deep state! Let the post office know where the patriots live!"
Use the couple hundred million in funds to pay for all the new electric trucks! Plus, take note of the return addresses so if someone tries that anthrax thing again we have a good list of where to start looking.
I've seen comments in French to the effect that the picture was obviously well set-up beforehand (hair, makeup, lighting) by expert photographers. I think they're right. Where is that ordinary full-face picture with name and number? This is fake, like everything else he presents to the public.
Call me crazy, but TFG's mugshot is just "off," as in liberally photoshopped.
1) Part of his jowly face (lower right side, in shadow) seems to have been aggressively shaved away in post-photo editing, making him seem thinner than he is (perhaps to support the assertion that he weighs 215 pounds).
2) Look at his left shoulder. Do you notice that his blue suit coat doesn't really have a lapel? There's the hint of one, but much of it has been airbrushed out.
3) I was able to use some of my editing tools to zoom in on the image, and I was surprised to see that not only was the suit itself outlined in a thin black line, but his FACE, especially the entire lower half, has a similar black outline. There is also an outline cutting through his right ear.
4) Move your gaze to the misty blond "hair" -- which looks like a cloud -- on the left side, and compare it to the sharp little hairs out of place above his shoulder on the right side. That little cloud is airbrushed, too, as well as his left eyebrow.
5) The lines on his face have been enhanced by a dark maroon lining to seem more deep and severe than they are, including the vertical line on the brow, and the "shadow" separating light from dark from the bottom of his nose to his upper lip.
6) If the mugshot is indeed authentic, why is the light so dramatically different from the other 17 mugshots that were taken? And what jailhouse photographer in his right mind would let somebody be photographed not facing straight on into the lens?
The editing isn't great, but it's good enough to fool most people into thinking the subject is real.
I honestly don't know why photographers all over the world aren't weighing in on what seems so obvious to me. The only question I have is this: was TFG allowed to provide the mugshot and not have to endure the direct gaze of the unforgiving lens and light?
What always gets me is how the guy is so obviously, cartoonishly evil, and looks the part. Like, even an old-timey comic book artist would think, "Maybe I should tone this down? Leave some room for nuance? Make this guy just a little more human, and less purely gargoyle?" And yet...
Even Hitler and Stalin knew to incorporate a put-together look to draw in the masses, and covered up their epic psychopathy with a well-trimmed 'stache. But here we have their 21st-century wannabe content to just look like a Halloween mask that has been sitting out under a magnifying glass, and some people are still drawn in. Astonishing.
You nailed it! And he's startlingly oblivious to it while we see the effort he put into "making a face" plain as day. What psychopathy allows this person to see what he wishes in his image instead of reality? A healthy person would see the image and, embarrassed, hastily reject it — but this guy publishes it!
That look. Trying to look tough. My first reaction was that he was auditioning for a part in a Marvel movie. He got it wrong. Villains in shows like that display diabolical smiles. Like they have a trick to escape that will surprise everyone. A sick devilish sense of humor. But this old putz of a former pres has nothing to laugh about. He is cornered. This is part of a long spiral dive to oblivion and a special place in history.
He just wants to goad his minions into taking up arms— he wants to look as though he will never back down. I’ve come to believe EVERYTHING he does is for amassing power — so it is with this. He probably practiced in a mirror.
Will, despite his fairly obvious defects in both appearance and behavior, "some people [so many people] are still drawn in" because of a need to belong. I proffer the following about the human condition:
Facts vs. the Tribe
• Humans are herd animals: We want to fit in,
to bond with others, and to earn the respect
and approval of our peers. Such inclinations
are essential to our survival.
• For most of our evolutionary history, our
ancestors lived in tribes.
• Becoming separated from the tribe—or worse,
being cast out—was a death sentence.”
James Clear – Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds, 2018
Facts vs. Beliefs
• Humans need a reasonably accurate view of the
world in order to survive. If your model of reality is
wildly different from the actual world, then you
struggle to take effective actions each day.
• However, truth and accuracy are not the only things
that matter to the human mind;
• humans also have a deep desire to belong.
• In many circumstances, social connection is actually
more helpful to your daily life than understanding
Nail on head, Cali Will! As for your earlier post re: a stamp, you forget that the Postmaster General is the yutz DeJoy who was appointed by TFG and so that whole thing could backfire badly. The USPS is functioning despite him rather than with him.
I would suppose if TUMP had a 'stache' it would be shaggy and have a burnt orange tinge to it. or maybe a hint of pink in it too...thank you for your great reply. It was good.
It's probably all compensatory for what is hidden. He crows and preens and hurls insults and belittles and degrades those who he fears, all to hide his deep sense of inadequacy. All of which appeals to a segment of the population who also feel this way. "Othering" is an ignorant and common way that people try to make themselves feel better, which because it's only temporary, they have to keep it up so as to ward off the terrible feelings and the acknowledgment of their own failings. He looks like a two year old trying to appear tough and unaffected by his humiliation.
It's the red reddened whites of his eyes and the red edges of his lids that got to me--the look of someone who hasn't slept well in a long time.
What stood out to me was that Trump "fired" his lead Georgia attorney for one who has represented rappers in RICO cases in Georgia. I wonder whether Drew Fielding, Trump's previous Georgia lead attorney, withdrew after the after the bond negotiations because Trump stiffed him or because he saw that Trump would not adhere to his legal advice, and would try to intimidate witnesses and co-defendents.
Also on my radar is Chesebro pushing for a speedy trial. There was coverage from MSNBC on You Tube that said that this could be a tactic to test whether Fani Willis is ready to go to trial,and she would to have to try him only on the evidence that is directly linked to his part in the RICO activities--Cheseboro gives up more time to examine the evidence in discovery and the ability to have pre-trial motions, but it would make Fani Willis show her trial strategy in advance of the case against Trump. If Cheseboro is acquitted by a jury it would weaken the overall case. It's like he is choosing to be a stalking horse--which benefits Trump more than it does him. I wonder what Trump has promised him in return--when a pardon clearly cannot be on the table.
Both lawyers, Fielding, who has left, and Sadow, who was hired, have represented rap artists.
'A Georgia judge on Thursday signed off on a quick turnaround to the start of the trial for Kenneth Chesebro, one of 18 defendants charged alongside former President Donald Trump in connection with alleged efforts to overturn the state's 2020 election results.'
'The ruling, scheduling an Oct. 23 start to Chesebro's trial, came just after Trump's newly appointed attorney said he would move to sever the former president's case from Chesebro or any other defendant who sought an expedited timeline.'
'Earlier Thursday, Fani Willis, the district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia, asked Judge Scott McAfee to set Oct. 23 as the start of the trial for all defendants. Her office's request came after Chesebro had demanded a speedy trial, which under Georgia law gave Willis' office until the end of October to begin the case.' (CBSNews) See link below.
Then why is it mentioned so often? There seems to be some implication. People seem to be implying that a lawyer who would represent a rapper has fewer scruples. In fact why is it mentioned at all if it isn't relevant in some way?
Christopher, I don't know what you are getting at with your suspicion of what? Subscribers do a lot of quoting from articles and reports. Stories that include lawyers, doctors business people, entertainers, etc., often provide background info.
'Atlanta has been aptly dubbed both the “hip hop center of gravity” by The New York Times and “the new cultural capital of America” by The Daily Beast, and has been holding titles like these since the 90’s. Many of the U.S.’s top hip hop and rap artists came from Atlanta: T.I., Gucci Mane, Ludacris, Young Thug, Kelly Rowland, Childish Gambino, Soulja Boy, Future, 2 Chainz, Migos, André 3000 all call Atlanta their hometown.' (USATV) Given the music scene in Atlanta, it seems there are a good number of potential clients.
"Democracy used to mean that anyone can grow up to be president of the United States. Now it seems to mean that anyone who HASN'T grown up can be president of the United States."
Never in my 75 years did I think I would see so many Americans proud of the fact that they will vote for a CRIMINAL to be the president of these United States.
I wish there were stickers to be passed out at voting stations that read, " I voted! For a criminal!"
Thank you for this, Fern. I have posted it to my Facebook page.
On another matter, HCR writes: "In our system, Trump, like any defendant, is presumed innocent until proven guilty."
This is essentially a term of art. What it means simply is that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt the facts of the case against Trump (or any other defendant.) I do not presume that he is innocent. The only issue is proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Good to see you, Richard. Yes, we are depending on the prosecutors. I also think that Trump & Enablers gave them a lot of evidence to present. It is a matter of them effectively showing and telling their stories.
There is always the risk that a MAGA could get on the jury and refuse to convict. That will be the defense strategy.
Still, I think that there is a very good chance that the case against Trump will not go to trial, that there will be a plea deal where Trump agrees to house arrest, with conditions, probably for at least five years or the rest of his life. Same with Giuliani, who faces the real prospect of spending the rest of his miserable life in prison.
Richard, if my counting is correct, Trump has three separate criminal cases. Are you thinking that he won't go to trial on any of the three? Could the example you have given be applied, perhaps, in different ways to all three of those cases?
There are a number of shadows with going to trial and not going to trial. On one side, it is important for MAGAs and those aligned with them to witness the process of exposing Trump. It may cool the hatred, of course, just going to trial before the case is in motion could inflame the far-right leading to a lot of political violence. We are in volatile times, Richard!
It would seem Richard that the other issue is finding then picking 12+ jurors who can come to agreement beyond a reasonable doubt. Do more than 12 people exist in Georgia who have NOT been exposed to coverage of TFG??! And if so, what kind of people will they be?
I think it’s more about finding a jury who can put aside what they are already aware of and consider only the evidence. I have a vague memory of recently reading a quote from one of the Georgia grand jurors who said something along the lines of “If everyone knew all the evidence we have seen, this country would not be divided.” Here’s to hoping that the evidence is indeed overwhelming.
AGREED KR! Yet I fret that someone saying s/he "can put aside what they are already aware of" is too much like 80% of male drivers who are convinced they are excellent drivers...
There’s a big difference between presumed innocent until proven guilty and supporting a candidate after they have been convicted. Have none of the VP-wannabes read the Constitution? How can these jackals make Chris Christy seem sensible- even to someone from NJ?
When we have seen his actions and heard his words with our own eyes and ears, we have no doubt of his guilt. The case should be airtight. Let’s hope it is.
Trump did the Kubrick Stare in the vein of Nicholson in The Shining. It's when a stares with a forward tilt to indicate they are at the height of their derangement.
I think that Trump's Mug is a work of art. Warhol, Lichtenstein and Wesselmann, to name of few, would have enjoyed it. Without sticking to pop artists, de Kooning might have thought Donald's face right up his alley. What Trump couldn't control of that picture, ah, control, another subject. What he could not control are the marks of the man's soul that live on his face.
Actually went to high school with "wise guys" who tugged on their overcoats in a like manner to Donald. Could spot them immediately across a crowded room.
Thanks for the mental picture, Fern. Can you imagine that face duplicated numerous times like Campbell soup cans or Marilyn or Monroe? Think I will pass.
Correct re: Nicholson! That has been in the back of my brain this morning and you brought it forward to the thinking part. Coffee helped, but you nailed it!
BlueRootsRadio, right and I know of the cultural reference to Clockwork Orange but never watched it. That would be too frightening for me. But it makes you wonder if the stare was intentionally patterned after Kubrick's.
Yes, the eyes are chilling to look at. The naked rage. The evil, destroying world view...absent of joy, beauty and soul. I feel grateful for his age - that he is 77 and not 47. He can't be gone soon enough.
In the WAPO article, underneath his obviously much practiced (in front of a mirror) menacing expression mug shot, was a photo of him walking to the limo after his booking and showing a stooped, defeated (Never Surrender, my ass) rotted old man.
While TFG may leave us soon, the MAGA/KKK adherents are here for the long haul. They won't be satisfied unless they have installed a White Protestant theocratic autocracy.
If TFG's lawyers are any good, they'll get TFG and the prosecutors to cut a deal - lifetime confinement to house arrest, no public pronouncements, no acceptance of any pardons.
Daniel, I'm certain that the prosecutors will draw up an air-tight agreement. It is almost beyond comprehension that his attorneys would not want to cut a deal. The law and the evidence are against Trump, in big numbers.
Ally, I'm blushing. Thank you for pointing out something I've never dreamed upon. I made several comments, but the way replies are falling, I know know which of my comments you are referring to.
Thanks for that Fern..I was in the process of canceling The Washington Post yesterday, as I did with the NYT..due to some of their political reporters attending a dinner with members of the Trump campaign on the eve of the GOP debate..they offered it to me at one point for a buck a month for a year..I figured that was at least worth Jennifer Rubin..so I accepted..
Everyone should know that political reporters from the NYT, WaPo, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and other outlets were in Milwaukee that night breaking bread with Jason Miller and two other Trump campaign staffers..people like Robert Costa, Dana Bash, Kristin Welker..This transactional political reporting has and is killing the independence of our media..Here, take a listen to this..
Sam, to be polite, I'm under impressed with Olbermann's accusations -- and he says, 'fire them'! Reporters can't get the facts if they don't schmooze, interview, hangout...and that includes spending time with people you don't like or approve of.
There is active investigative reporting and there’s transactional reporting..Olbermann’s podcast is not the only place reporting this..This behavior crossed a line..It undermines credibility, objectivity, integrity and true independence..Olbermann may seem over the top, but he’s right..
Please understand Fern, I like the WaPo..and again, not all reporters are cut from the same cloth. It’s the political reporting that has taken a self inflicted blow..By this kind of behavior and the example of holding onto information for a book.. at the end of the day, who does it serve them the source or the American people?
Sam, I worked in public affairs programing for many years as a researcher, associate producer of news, producer, series and specials producer, which included writing, directing and supervising staff, etc., for PBS; a metropolitan area, public television station and local WCBS-TV. It has been a while since I've been in the business, but I think it is fair to consider myself a vet when discussing aspects of this arena and the crucial role journalism plays in society.
Sam, I would not throw a blanket over all of the reporters with WAPO, NYTimes and the other news organizations. I know a good number of reporters as a reader that are serving us well. Keith Olbermann is very dramatic and assertive. My practice is to take time and effort if a journalist I have respected is called out -- by whom and what are the details. Keith Olbermann may not be the last word.
PS Think about including 'Today's WorldView' in you reading of WAPO. I have a high regard for its work.
Fern, I concur..not all reporters are cut from the same cloth..However, appearances are everything..I have to consider how much inside information was held back for pending book deals..Consider the Woodward recordings at the time.. How many dead due to what Trump was saying in public and compare it to what he told Woodward..
Sam, if you listen to the tapes Woodward pushed him hard, HARD! Again, Sam, the devil is in the details. Are you moving in a direction that would take a machete to what is already a much too small number of journalists in the country. State and local news -- what kind of shape are they in? I hope you slow down. Democracy cannot survive without journalists.
I am with you Fern..we need journalists, And it is important to take things one step at a time. Yes, Woodward pushed him hard..but how long did he hold onto that info? Was the book that came out a year later as helpful as taking what he learned and made it public contemporaneously? I suppose it’s a matter of perspective..in the line item of COVID 19..How many people may have avoided death had that been made public at the time..
Some of these people are just too cozy with their sources..Who benefits from a transactional media?
How about that CNN town hall? Who benefited from that?
HCR writes: "The Republicans on stage last night have abandoned democracy, and in that they accurately represent their party." HCR says this because most of the Republicans at the debate said they will support the multiply-indicted Trump if he is the nominee. HCR's condemnation of the Republicans is based on the presuppositions that (1) Biden fairly won the 2020 presidential election, and (2) Trump and the Republicans knew this and willfully conspired to overturn a lawful election.
But perhaps it was (also) Biden who is no longer democratic. The evidence is clear, based on a pattern of discrepancies from the exit polls, that Biden stole the Democratic nomination from Bernie Sanders. HCR and others continue to wilfully and hypocritically ignore this.
Regarding the Trump situation, former Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz has a very different approach from HCR. He said:
“What if a court ultimately rules that Donald Trump had a right under the First Amendment to make his Jan. 6 speech and to do what he did? Then Jack Smith will have conspired to deny him of that right. That’s how serious this is.
“Jack Smith … deliberately, willfully and maliciously leaves out the words that President Trump spoke on Jan. 6 in his terrible speech, which I disagree with, but what he said was, ‘I want you to assemble peacefully and patriotically.’
“Jack [Smith] leaves that out. That is a lie, a lie, an omission lie, and if you’re going to indict somebody for telling lies, don’t tell lies in the indictment. If you’re going to indict somebody for denying people their constitutional rights, don’t deny them their constitutional rights by indicting them for free speech. That’s how hypocritical this is.”
"Dershowitz: Jack Smith Could Be ‘Indicted’ If Trump Wins Case Against Him"
It seems to me that you believe that Heather, as well as most of the American and foreign media, willfully overlook what you and the mathematician contest to be so: that Biden stole the nomination. When it’s you and the mathematician on one side, and you mention nobody else, I have to wonder if both of your biases have led you to miss something. When I did a search on various search engines, playing around with search terms like “Biden stole Sanders presidential nomination”, I found nothing significantly connected to what you are intimating. More, if what you’re intimating were true, Fox and Breitbart would have been all over it. And would continue so to be. Alas, that’s not the case. So it’s either a grand conspiracy against this mathematician’s findings by both CNN AND Fox, or...more likely...the mathematician and you don’t have all the facts on your side.
More, you diminish yourself by name-calling folks, (whom you should just ignore). We are “Internet people”, which means all this is and isn’t real, and if you get emotional jollies from being disputatious with “Internet people” for no reasonable purpose, I suggest you reevaluate your priorities.
And when the "peaceful and patriotic" folks attacked Capitol police, broke into and trashed the building, tried to hunt down the vice president and others--the former president watched TV coverage of the destruction for hours without saying a word or calling off his mob.
OK, first, polls in this country have been inaccurate for so long that they are laughable. Second, Tr*** is not being charged with his words before the insurrection January 6th -- read the damn charges, sir. Also, I would suggest that you balance out your sources where you get your opinions and you would sound a bit more intelligent.
Trump speaks out of both sides of his mouth all the time. Dershowitz might raise some questions here as "free speech" and what is inciting imminent lawless action are tricky issues, but he seems to me to dump reason for politics. He is welcome to hold that opinion, but should he be teaching law?
Pretty certain that the jury, encouraged by Trump's defense attorneys, will consider your point. That said, Jack Smith will likely offer up a half-dozen similar occasions where Trump played both sides of the field in order to gaslight his audience and explain how it all works. Trump's a master of this technique, but I have to believe that Smith will be prepared to educate the jury and that thoughtful individuals will understand and see through his obfuscation techniques.
Yes, the notion that TFG can't be guilty if he really believes his conspiracies is very popular on the right, and for obvious reasons: it would make a determination of guilt virtually impossible.
Legally, it's total BS.
This might help: https://terikanefield.com/criminal-law-101-trumps-j6-indictment/ "Trump’s motive for committing the crime doesn’t matter because a good motive does not get a person off the hook for committing a crime. “I hit my neighbor with a baseball bat because I genuinely believed he robbed my house” will not fly. I can genuinely believe my neighbor doesn’t have the right to vote, but that doesn’t allow me to go into her mailbox, steal her ballot, and tear it up."
Seriously, that's a four-year-old's "mad face". Anger, frustration, thwarted purpose, fury - and about as menacing as a wet sock. It's a "you're not the boss of me" face. Look past the makeup and blow-dry, and the 70 years of abuse (self- and by and of others - and let's not get into specifics) and you can see it shining forth - one who wants to be taken seriously, but we. just. can't.
Didn't see his walk of shame, but were there "thousands" of his fans lining the streets with I love you signs? I know at some of his other trips to the court house there was a whisper not a roar of minions.
Some days it feels like the world around me is crumbling. I guess it is. I’ve lived through assassinations and more, but never did I think I’d witness the ongoing premeditated murder of a political party and our democracy.
I would like to encourage you to see the beauty in your world and not allow a long time loser with a big mouth and a bit of money to distort how you see your world.
Go outside today and look around. It is the height of the butterfly season and there still are some, though, many fewer now when compared to being a kid 55 years ago. Those butterflies are beautiful. I saw a nearly completely black one, with just a bit of yellow yesterday.
For me today?
I laughed my arse off looking at Trump's mug shot. It was absolutely WONDERFUL to see a rich white man get called in to get a mug shot by a black woman who is going after HIM like he went after Ruby Freeman.
I honestly have not felt this GREAT in many years. America! Where a black woman can put a stupid, rich, white man in jail and, perhaps she will!! This is real progress! Not so long ago it was LEGAL for a guy like Trump to rape Fani Willis and then sell her child. Now? She is going to put him in jail!
I just hope the Georgia prison system finds Trump the right cellmate to spend the rest of his life getting to know and becoming friends with.
A wonderful day indeed.
Addenda: I do also hope that Ms. Willis has good security around her because, as Dr. Richardson points out, there are a fair number of Americans who take dim view of a black woman going after a rich, dumb, white man. I am not one of them obviously, but, they exist.
While I realize you meant to be kind, you made an inaccurate assumption about how I live my life and felt the need to help me. One can enjoy each day and also hold sadness about events in the world.
Thank you, Mike S! We all need your excellent suggestion. Time to enjoy what we find pleasant and prepare ourselves for setting the country on a better path. The law will take care of much of the detritus. What doesn’t get caught, we can encourage our senators to take in hand one way or another.
Remember John Dean, “We have a cancer within-close to the presidency, that's growing. It's growing daily. It's compounding. It grows geometrically now, because it compounds itself.”
Now it has metastasized to the nation and our democracy. There are Americans actually considering a president serving from prison. As the Professor explains, it comes from a dystopian racist past that we are subjected to daily. And we have little mini-Trump hopefuls popping out of the woodwork. Plus we're greeted with the notion that everyman is an island. I don’t think so. Remember our revolution? How would it have gone without the French fleet and all sorts of other French support?
It's scary to read Republican commentary on the "debate." They've bought into this tumor of a man - hook, link and sinker. But I'm starting to believe the growing dead weight of this criminal (that he lied about in booking!) takes all his cronies down. We have to donate, vote, volunteer, donate again.
So true Alexandra! To make sure these cronies do not just 'go down', lengthy sentences of incarceration are needed. The lesson from the Civil War Reconstruction to Nixon is, authoritarians needs to be vanquished, totally destroyed, or else they sprout green shoots like Daughters of the Confederacy.
100%, 100Panthers. The Confederacy was the cancer, and still is. These modern Confederates have been operating on the historically accurate principle that treason won't be punished. Fani Willis is a superheroine. There are not enough words to describe how much I admire her.
"Willis previously proposed March 4, 2024, as a start date, but after co-defendant Kenneth Chesebro demanded a speedy trial earlier this week, she called his bluff and requested that the trial begin on Oct. 23, 2023." She said she is ready to try ALL defendants in 2 months! Bet ya the Target nearest the courthouse is out of adult diapers!
Metastasized to the nation indeed! The center, now wafer thin, could not hold. In the 1950s, when over 80% of Americans were white and 90% of them supported the systemic oppression of the other 20%, there was a thick, solid center ensuring the preservation of white advantages. Brown v Board cracked that center, and I can still hear the pigs squealing about bussing. Then LBJ got the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts through Congress in the mid-sixties, and (as LBJ predicted) the center broke down completely, and all pretense of humanity in the political party on the wrong side of center went rushing down the drain. Since then, the Americans on the wrong side of center have gotten ever more vicious. It is a small consolation that, today, the coalition on the humane side of center includes roughly 40% of white Americans, way up from 10% in the 1950s and that, plus demographic changes, has brought that coalition that’s on the humane side of center from roughly 30% of the electorate then up to about 50% of the electorate now. But the odds of that being enough to save democracy seem mighty slim, what with no center and almost all of the assault rifles and inclination to violence lying on the wrong side.
In the last six years, 32 million young Americans became eligible to vote while approximately 20 million older Americans died. The is no doubt that these potential younger voters overwhelmingly support the key issues before our electorate next November 2024: save our democracy, protection of reproductive rights, protection of LGBTQ rights, effective gun control legislation on a national basis, and massive federal investment asap in control of climate change. Registration of these young voters on a massive basis in key congressional districts and and encouragement of their “turnout” in the general election will be accomplished by a brilliant and effective group of Harvard students who run a nonpartisan 501c3 organization at www.Turnup.us/. Please click on that website now and please support their efforts to save our democracy! Thank you.
Thank you Ira. After getting lost or reveling in the mug shot and the 91 counts against the Putz that was a Pres, I needed someone to get us back into action.
Nothing matters more than a Blue Victory next year. And as you and I keep reminding folks, it is the votes of our young people who will make a difference. They are furious about Republican positions that deny science and tear away women's rights.
If there is anyone reading this who hasn't met Zev Shapiro at the organization Ira refers to, PLEASE go to www.turnup.us and be inspired by his creativity and effectiveness.
We can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can watch the sideshow of Trumps spiral dive into criminal oblivion AND take positive action to out vote a political party that has been captured by "cave people". Gen Y and Gen Z look at their elders who embrace religious nonsense to suppress women's rights with disdain. They look at the wildfires around the world and they ask "why??!!" and what are we doing about it?
The only roadblock to returning to sanity in public policy on these issues is a lack of participation. We have the numbers. We just have to show up! www.turnup.us
Wonderfully said Bill! Thank you for focusing on the critically deficient voting strategy of the Democratic Party institutions and their enormous singing choir-- namely send more money folks for us to waste on TV...wait for it please...that no-one 18 or older under the age of 30 watches--no-one! Want proof? Just ask any mother or father who has one of those younger folks still at home? And if you are a Substacker who is a parent of them, please weigh in and tell Bill and me that we are right or wrong?
So how are these aggressive campaign orgs spending their money to attract multi- millions of 18 to 29s to register and vote?
Correct! The DNC should be advertising on "MineCraft" and "Call to Duty" and every other game and social media vehicle seen on PHONES and tablets.
TV advertising convinces nobody. Most people watching cable news have made up their minds. They are locked in for the good guys or the bad guys. The place to be is the place that will drive TURNOUT. There is NO changing of minds. There is only getting people to vote. There are way more of "US" than "Them" - especially in that younger demographic.
Bill: Somehow I lost my reply to your excellent comment. But there are many other days. My other beef is that the usual supporting orgs (you know the usual ones which fill your incoming email list) are endlessly raising money for totally safe incumbents, or safe candidates replacing those incumbents, without a dime going to VR of 18s to 29s? How stupid?
Absolutely! Particularly when we are talking about 32 MILLION already eligible and perhaps 5 Million more who come of age to vote in the next 16 months! Can we just ignore them and waste billions on tv?
Thanks, Ira! The heart-warming thing about your data re:old folks passing; being replace by young, more agile minds, makes my day. I am one of the “older Americans” hoping I will be able to add one extra vote to the 32 m ‘youngsters’ who will have their first shots at defending our democracy.
Your comments reminded me that two of my three granddaughters will be among the voters you mention. Both are very aware of our current situation . The younger of the two has turned 18 in the past week and “can’t wait to vote”. (BTW, the third granddaughter is still a preteen but is at least as cognizant of the scene as the older two.). Let’s hope common sense and logic wins.
You obviously have a well informed family Anne! I will soon start listing one or two possible CDs each day for nonpartisan voter reg that folks like you can concentrate your effort to get friends and family to contribute to www.turnup.us/. Thanks agin Anne. We can do this!
Yes, and Turnup.us is one of many well-organized get-out-the-vote efforts. I work with one focusing on CA-22 in the California Central Valley and with one focusing on northeast Arizona. Both support trained, local organizers, and help with everything from voter registration to household necessities. The goal is to build community and bring it along as a political force.
Yes. The Democratic Party should put most of the money into get-out-the-vote. A billion might do it. And local organizers, trained and paid, should be at the center of it. Unfortunately, the Party leaves most of it to us amateurs and spends its money on TV ads.
I agree with you general views, of course, but I question your comment that the "coalition on the humane side of center" was 10% white in the 50s. That's really ridiculous to assert. In 1960, the population was 180,000,000 with 160,000,000 white and 20,000,000 people of color (contrasted with today, total is 330,000,000 and 200,000,000 white and 130,000,000 POC). If you take your number and apply it to the populations in 1960, you would have only 16,000,000 white people (10%) in the Democratic party and assume ALL of the people of color (although that could not be true), you would only have 36,000,000 people as Democrats and 140,000,000 GOP.
FAR FAR more white people in the late 1950s supported civil rights and the advancement of POC. It may not have been a majority of whites, but it was a very very large number, way more than 10%. If not, how would John Kennedy been elected?
It is a complex subject, and I agree that there has been a "white flight" from the "humane side" as you put it, over the years, resulting in the current state of our nation where 50,000,000 adults can actually seriously consider supporting a man like Trump. But its not fair to say that in the 50s the vast majority of white people were bigoted. I was growing up in the 50s and I was part of a very large liberal population in (guess which state!?) Arizona. I think you probably need to look closer at both the data and at various books and articles that have been written about this subject.
Yeah... if the number was as small as Rex says, political passage of the Civil Rights Acts would have been impossible. Makes me curious to see what research has been done to attempt to quantify prior attitudes, though.
Yes-America would have never made progress with racism without the support of some White people. It was never a majority though. There were many who put their lives on the line just as the abolitionists did when it came to slavery.
Unfortunately the passage of laws is never enough because they’ve effectively been circumvented.
Racism is alive and well-always has been a problem that we’ve yet to overcome. Schools and neighborhoods are still segregated, voting for Black folks is still perilous and having Black skin makes you a target for all kinds of violence from citizens and police alike.
Politicians rely on racism. It’s the most effective tool for divide and conquer. The “southern strategy”works. No one will be “free” until we root out racism.
I might be naive, but I was a kid in the 50’s and I grew up in a desegregated world being a military brat. I did not see bigotry in general, although I did see it occasionally on an individual basis. So I agree with Jon regarding his comment that our white population was not overwhelmingly bigoted. Let us hope it is the same today. Let us hope that the “haters” are smaller in number than their loud voices might indicate. Let us hope that reasonableness and democracy prevail.
I do not want ANYONE to think I was suggesting that there was no bigotry in the 50s. Bigotry was rampant back then, and not just in the South. I just don't think it was 90% of the white population. I actually think bigotry has grown in the white population over the past 3-4 decades (since the end of the Viet Nam war, mostly fomented by the idea that the country is "slipping away" from the white population).
Racism is not just an individual act. It’s built into our systems and society. If you’re not negatively affected by it you may not see racism for what it really is-a destructive, evil force.
I grew up in a lower middle-class white community in Kansas in the 1950s and saw many people with liberal views on race, but they were a small percentage of the white population. It's perhaps true that the percentage of conscious racists in the 1950s was well under 90%, but 90% were cussing "Bussing!", "Bussing!", "Bussing!", just like the 60% who are squealing "Woke!", "Woke!", "Woke!" (as a pejorative) now. Ten percent, remember, is many people because the population is large, but "many" doesn't make a strong political force. Political power comes from large percentages, not large numbers.
No insult intended but I think the midwest community hat you grew up in isn't necessarily a good example to draw percentages or absolute numbers from. Small midwest communities were (and still are) much "whiter" than say large cities (where the population centers are and where diversity is more likely to at leastt not manifest itself in outright racism across the board (not saying that racist attitudes do not play a part however). My point is that sure you probably had a larger percentage of your population that might have been yelling "no bussing" but comparatively, in larger cities you would have significant percentages of both POC and white populations who supported it (at least grudgingly). That would also be true on the coasts I expect. This just comes back to my point that any estimate that only 10% of the white population in the 50s and early 60s supported non-racist policies and attitudes just doesn't seem correct. It might not have been 90% or even 50% but it was a lot more than 10%.
I lived in the biggest city in Kansas. Like most cities, it leaned Democratic, but it wasn’t just Republicans who were complaining (to put it mildly) about bussing. That was a dog whistle, like “woke” is now, for an all-out effort to preserve systemic white advantages, and it worked vey well, and not just in Kansas. When I left Kansas (which I did as soon as I could) and went to Silicon Valley (before it became known as Siilicon Valley), I was greatly relieved but still found plenty of white people intent in preserving their systemic advantages. Probably not 90% in that area, but well over 60%.
Rex-your analysis gets to the root of our problems. It’s important for Americans to realize that racism has always been a driving force in shaping our systems and society.
HCR details the history. Every time ideas and actions related to equality for Black Americans surface, there’s trouble and turmoil in this nation.
Think about it-the Civil War, Reconstruction, Civil Rights, Rodney King, Obama’s election, George Floyd and so much more.
We need to realize that racism trumps (pun intended) everything. Yet we rarely discuss race. I can see no other reason for so many White people to support Trump and the Republicans.
Maybe one day we will overcome-let’s hope so. When we move beyond dividing and classifying people by skin color then we can begin living up to our ideals and really be an “exceptional” nation.
Rex, there's a few of us over on the right side (that is to say, not the wrong side of this) that have the skills and the hardware to defeat the wrong side.
Yes, I think the people who sympathize with kleptocratic autocracy (most of whom are motivated mostly by racism, egged on by the wealthy few who benefit financially from kleptocratic autocracy) can be defeated at the polls, but just barely, with a sufficiently energetic get-out-the-vote effort, which is where I put all the time and money I can muster. However, defeating them at the polls won't be enough. They comprise roughly half of the population, and about two-thirds of them (which comes to about a third of the population) are murderous thugs. I don't know how democracy can survive when it is opposed by a third of the population, especially when that third has almost all the guns, and dominates the field in violent inclinations, to boot. We can't throw them all in jail, and if they're not confined, they'll be out there fomenting violence. At the same time, the wealthy ones will be gumming up the system with well-financed lawsuits. The few oligarchs who are charged with crimes will stretch out their prosecutions long enough to make them evaporate. Of course, a few thousand violent peons may be jailed, and that might discourage the more timid among them, but whether that will be enough to save democracy is a dicey question. I'm peddling as fast as I can, but I don't expect to succeed.
I had hoped that Nixon's shame would arrest the spread of corruption of corruption for some time to come, but Ford resuscitated it. Reagan spread it party-wide.
That I have believed, is and has been 'exhibit A' cause of this chaos in our modern times, the 1950's to present generation. That is the absolute failure to affect deserved proportionate consequences of any kind in that pool of events JL. Pardon powers need some limitations, exclusions, etc., in law. It can't remain a 'magic wand' without qualifications. We need language as well regarding lying SCOTUS prospects as well. jmho - What's your thoughts friend ?
I could not watch the debate and chose to watch tennis and the Yankees. I did listen to various commentaries about the debate and thought Ari Melbers comment was intuitive. He said something like, all the candidates on the stage were akin to Trump's little children and were carrying on Daddy's fight even if he wasn't there. The image of the motorcade escorting him to the station for his arrest and mug shot and his plane on the tarmac waiting to take him back to NJ are shocking. Its surreal and sad. He is a horrible destructive evil strain of a virus.
Thank you Heather. And let’s not forget the members of the Senate and the House who remain active, seemingly as accessories after the fact, who voted against certification of the 2020 election results.
Your attitude toward HCR's position would seem to be very different from that of former Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, who said:
“What if a court ultimately rules that Donald Trump had a right under the First Amendment to make his Jan. 6 speech and to do what he did? Then Jack Smith will have conspired to deny him of that right. That’s how serious this is.
“Jack Smith … deliberately, willfully and maliciously leaves out the words that President Trump spoke on Jan. 6 in his terrible speech, which I disagree with, but what he said was, ‘I want you to assemble peacefully and patriotically.’
“Jack [Smith] leaves that out. That is a lie, a lie, an omission lie, and if you’re going to indict somebody for telling lies, don’t tell lies in the indictment. If you’re going to indict somebody for denying people their constitutional rights, don’t deny them their constitutional rights by indicting them for free speech. That’s how hypocritical this is.”
"Dershowitz: Jack Smith Could Be ‘Indicted’ If Trump Wins Case Against Him"
Freedom of speech is not absolute and it most certainly doesn’t protect incitement of imminent illegal action, violence, or insurrection. Dershowitz simply wants to be next in line for a collection of unpaid invoices for the twice impeached, indicted, future prisoner apprentice.
Trump’s speech is not per se criminal and Jack Smith does not claim that it was so Dershowitz is wrong as usual. The federal indictment is much more inclusive and specific as to his criminal acts!
Unfortunately, no. A former president is protected for life, unless the Congress by majority vote in BOTH chambers removes that protection. Presidential pensions are federal and are not removed because of criminal conviction.
More shocking that we have no restriction on convicts (even those in prison) running for President (or other federal office). We would need to pass constitutional amendments for these issues because the Supreme Court has ruled repeatedly that the only qualifications that can be imposed on elected federal office holders are those stated in the Constitution. Should we? I don't know. There is an old adage that hard cases make bad law. I.e., don't adjust the law to deal with limited or one-of-a-kind cases and situations because you (a) probably don't need to do that and (b) what you will end up with may be worse than the problem you thought you had. This has never happened before and we should be cautious before using it to justify major changes in the Constitution (assuming we could even make that happen which is doubtful at least for the foreseeable future).
I have always maintained that there needs to be an Amendment that requires any candidate for President or Vice President to have served as either a Governor, Senator, or General. There is a reason that until recently that seemed an unspoken requirement. Nothing can fully prepare you for the job regardless, but any government experience less than that level and you truly cannot know what the heck you are doing. I thought this before 2016, and I think so doubly since then.
Oh, there you go again. Using common sense. So, you are saying qualification matters?
I doubt such a logical approach could ever be law. But at one time, such concepts were common sense and most Americans liked the idea of "experience". It's really a DUH.
I spent decades hiring thousands of employees. The FIRST thing any manager with a brain does is look at experience and whether it applies to the job in question. Suggesting that a "businessman" whose specialty was bankrupt casinos, over priced hotels and selling real estate to Russians is somehow a background for the leader of the free world staggers the mind of anyone who has ever read a job application.
Trump becoming President was the equivalent of putting the CEO of a pizza chain in charge of the CIA or the army. And this idea that an "outsider" should come to town to "drain the swamp" is naive populist BS.
Interesting, Bill. I was never in the "hiring" position. My career was in law enforcement (I tested with about 8 different agencies before being hired) and I had a degree in Criminology from a 4 year college. My prior work experience had been in retail grocery (excellent way back then to earn money for school, especially with a store owner that let me work reduced schedules during the seasons where I played competitive athletics) and included some time as "night manager" where I had some supervisory authority. Then and now, military experience was seen as a given entry point, as long as other qualifications were met.
The outcome of that hiring paradigm was that the guys (all guys then, not now) who were military had a bit of a head start, but by the time the year of probation was up, there was no advantage. I had the opportunity in my career to be an FTO, or field training officer (aside: more than half of the current supervisory structure of the agency I retired from are former trainees of mine, to include the Chief Deputy and Patrol Captain). One thing that I learned is that life experience was as important as military service or being a Police Explorer Scout or Reserve Deputy. When dealing with the public, life experience and empathy are crucial skills that are hard to quantify.
Good point, Will. Although I personally disliked Hilary, I voted for her. I did think that she was well prepared for the office, arguably the best prepared person ever. Why? She is an attorney. While SHE was not governor, her husband was, and seeing how she was always closely involved in his administrations, she must have been very aware of how a state is run.
She became the wife of a POTUS, and worked very hard to improve healthcare--learning how difficult it was to promote change. She was a US Senator. And she was Secretary of State! She certainly understood what the job involved.
Before anyone mentions it, I financially supported Bernie for POTUS. I am sure there will be arguments that he had the nomination stolen from him. That is not the point I am trying to make.
I fully agree with you, Will, from Cal. i have been thinking the same thing since 2016 when that cretin Donald TUMP became Dictator and was letting his crime family members picking out his Cabinet staff. That alone told me what a farce and a phony that TUMP was going to be.
Interesting idea. It would never pass the constitutional amendment requirement I am sure, but it is definitely a good idea. I might be a LITTLE more liberal on this, for instance maybe two terms as Congresscritter would work too. And it would be reasonable to permit a VP to NOT be qualified this way and then serving as VP would qualify you. But in general, in a democracy, it should be up to the people to make these decisions by voting properly. Its the same as term limits. I am adamantly opposed to term limits. For me, you should limit someone's term by voting them out of office. Otherwise, you are permitting laws to serve in place of the judgement of the people, and the reason is because you don't trust the judgement of the people. If that is the case, your democracy is doomed anyway. If the people can't be trusted than the government is just a sham.
Jon, perhaps a federal pension would not be forfeit for just any criminal conviction, but what about one for having violated U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 3, or 18 USC §2383 by participating in an insurrection or rebellion, or having violated any one or more of the statutes governing classified documents, as alleged? I mean, this isn't just a B-Flat mass murder - at least as far as we know - but a violation of his oath to uphold the Constitution. Wretched individual.
Thank you Professor, the marking of a sad day for our country. I hope all those involved including congressman will be held to the letter of the law and made examples for the traitors they are
The former basketball star Rex Chapman posted what looks to be a current photo of himself at the free-throw line on Twitter. He said this is what 6'3" and 215 pounds look like. Chapman is lean and buff.
Someone help me out here---there was a story about his height, and as an example, there was a photo of him standing next to Obama at the Inauguration. Obama's height was known and comparing Trump to him...........uh...............
TUMP is more like, 6'0'' and 415. I have heard he wears these '' high lift'' shoes to make him look taller, i don't know if that is true or not, it was something i read about a year ago.
Early again! I hope this means you are having a restful rest of your summer. Just caught up with your political chat. I’m so grateful you do those in addition to your letters, your podcast with Joanne and your books. But your chats are priceless. I don’t know why but I get such a sense of community there. 🤓
And has created a community here. Other than the fact that we are separated by time and distance, this community joins me for my morning coffee here at my home, just as if we all met at the local coffee house for morning coffee and talked the events of the day.
I think I must first have encountered Heather in 2020 through her Facebook posts and especially her Tuesday and Thursday live chats. The community-builder voice comes through even more clearly when it's backed up by her actual voice (not to mention the Heatherisms that don't generally make it into print, like "Congresscritters" or "He said, 'Dude, you' - no, he didn't actually say 'dude', I'm paraphrasing - ").
Let's turn to the dictionary for synonyms for authoritarianism to drive home how chilling Heather's closing paragraph is:
- tyranny
- dictatorship
- fascism
- autocracy
- totalitarianism
Those are the first five. Lower on the Merriam-Webster page are antonyms as well. They further paint a can't-look-away picture of the fight we're locked in. They include freedom, democracy, and self-rule — all now under dire, out-in-the-open threat.
I'm partly just making this up, but it seems to me that authoritarianism is a manifestation of extreme narcissism. Not just the dear Fearless Leader, but cult following that gets stroked with some form of flattering supremacism in exchange for being used. Trump, and salient Republicans in general are way full of themselves. Some people are genuine resources as experts, but authoritarians invest ultimate veracity in some person, Il Duce, Big Brother, whatever,regarding the final arbiter of truth as human. Apart from the fact that all known sentient awareness is the product of a nervous system, others seek to verify one's own beliefs, in logic, evidence and in collaborative and critical thought and dialog (so far as practical); the aspiration of The Enlightenment.
And at the core of those nervous systems are extreme insecurity - lives damaged from birth and shaped by horrible parents. Their projected self image is an exaggerated form of subterfuge because their real self image is that of a quivering, frightened little child. They twist their personal fear into terrorizing others. They are the ultimate fakers.
Authoritarianism relies on violence to affect human behavior; shunning if not outright physical violence. Kids are terrified into conformity via PTSD. I works, but at a terrible price, and often with ugly side effects. There may be an ethical system, but it's the "just following orders" kind. The assumption of supremacy of the cult keepers makes predatory behavior behavior toward those of a lower presumed status acceptable, even a state to glory in. And isn't that really what we mean by the word "evil", in the sense that applies to Hitler?
The 9/11 attackers were immersed in such a self-validating narcissistic delusion that they were willing to kill themselves to kill thousands of vulnerable others. They were fanatics, as opposed to opportunists, the sort Trump is. Both dispense evil.
Right, but notice where there "brave" leader was? These "strongmen" are not, they just inspire others to do their evil. I keep waiting for someone to push the orange coward in the nose in public. Can you imagine is Hillary had turned around on that debate stage and walk up to him and told him to sit down?
Another factor is simply that they intensely believe that the nation must mesh with their perceived reality. There is no room for the ambiguity that is inescapable in life and is a fundamental part of democracy.
Churchill is supposed to have said "Nature never draws a line without smudging it.". That seems to be true and not true at the quantum level, but certainly true at the human level. Reality is four dimensional when you notice the inevitable flow of time; not flat or linear, as some would have it.
I've often mused for a very long time that an intentional, intensive effort at broad general education has been and is still overdue. Specifically regarding not only those terms, synonyms and antonyms, but education regards the real and mythical threats to our system we swore oaths to, such as : if a man or woman leans or wears a party or personal political philosophy of say, Socialist, or Social Democrat such Sanders, that of itself is no threat to our system's underlying strength and sustainability, as long as the checks and balances are intact and fortified as designed. Does that make sense.... my mind went off on auto pilot for a minute, and I don't feel like editing.
I keep thinking about the fact that Heather has made the study of the Republican party her field of history. Now, judging by those final comments, she thinks it's imploding. That must be an eerie feeling, to see the subject of your life's work change so dramatically.
Heather has stated that she is probably the foremost expert on the history of the Republican party, but she has also repeatedly stated that her field of study is American political history from the late 1700s to the present. That would include the history of the Republican party, but not exclusive to it, and would also include the stunning reversal of roles among the parties in the late 19th century-early 20th centuries. She is also an expert in other aspects of our nation's political history during that period. No doubt she, like many of us, is gobsmacked by seeing the extreme changes in the Republican party over last 30-40 years. But as a historian, this IS her life's work: documenting the changes throughout the history of the USA, and the factors behind it. Now, as a historian, she has the unique advantage of being able to grasp and explain what is happening in real time as she places them in historical perspective. As a citizen, she has frequently expressed the same kinds of concerns we do about how these changes are affecting democracy. Her subject hasn't changed, but her focus has.
The surprising thing is that it took 236 years for someone to try this. There is a coup sized hole in the constitution and it was there from the start.
Yes. Thomas Rick's book First Principles explained how much the Founders believe in virtue of the leaders. There were few among them that were not and they knew it.
What the conservative/libertarians have been doing is abandoning virtue that push one to follow norms and ethics. It requires integrity. Sadly that seems nonexistent in these people.
You read the Lewis Powell Memo you find the basis and playbook.
Why do you say that, Annabel? What hole? This whole situation has been aberrant from the start, but it doesn't mean there is something structually wrong. You can dislike the Electoral College, but it has its benefits too, and if we switched to a strict popular vote, then many many people in the country would feel disenfranchised too. It should be adjusted, I agree, but I still don't see any "coup-sized hole", not assuming the courts acted properly. Now, with the current Supreme Court, there are some concerns, I agree, but hopefully they will rise up and do the right thing when these cases finally land in their lap (as they almost certainly will). No matter WHAT people think, even about Thomas and Alito, I have to keep my own faith that NONE of them would actually support such an insane set of actions as happened in Jan 2021.
I dint see a "coup sized hole' either, but no Supreme Court with Alito and Thomas can truly be trusted. Also, there are no "benefits" to be gained from the electoral college. It remains the rotting appendix within our body politic
It's not that long and it's well written. Setting up some rules for who can or can't hold public office seems like common sense to me.
If states are allowed to prohibit citizens from simply voting because of a criminal record, why on God's Green (it's getting brown) Earth wouldn't we have some basic standards that prevent crooks from becoming leaders?
My Republican parents, moderates that they were who both became Democrats after the vitriolic 1992 GOP Convention, are rolling over somewhere in the spirit world, astonished that in the 20 plus years after their deaths our nation elected a failed real estate salesman turned reality TV personality.
I also read that when he was about 11 or12 years old when he was in grade school, he got very angry at one of his school teachers and TUMP hit him in the face with his fist. His Father sent him to Military School after that. TUMP was very bad even when he was a child.
That was when he was six, and nothing was done - it was the rocks at the playpen that got him sent to juvenile delinquent finishing school, er, I mean military academy.
I was just saying the same thing to my husband. Ironic that Burnett literally jumped ship in LA and started his sordid life in America as an illegal immigrant.
Sounds like my folks, as well. They were "I like Ike" folks. Perhaps they are sharing a cocktail in that spirit world, raising a glass to the mug shot?
"Reagan tied government defense of civil rights to socialism, insisting that the government was using tax dollars from hardworking Americans to give handouts to lazy people, often using code words to mean "Black.' "
One of Reagan's "codewords" was captured on tape prior to his presidency:
“To watch that thing on television, as I did, to see those, those monkeys from those African countries – damn them, they’re still uncomfortable wearing shoes!”
GE and other big business es used Reagan, then turned to W (who realized in 2006 how he'd been used by Cheney, etal), and then Putin pushed Trump to the forefront. All were useful idiots (prior to modern day, Warren Harding was another.
They never stopped using 'code words' JL. When I finally cracked that code 15 or 20 years ago, it was like a bright light went on for me. When I tossed their words back at them, I got big time pushback, and outright threats, making myself a 'mark'. Ironic as it's always seemed to me, my opinion of the strength / backbone of the unholy coalition that makes up today's gop leadership is commerce interests who would break the backs of people and unions, and seek to enshrine "capitalism" within our Constitution, among other goals. The other principle 'leg' is a fundamental christian coalition, who would enshrine a national religion umbrella within the constitution, and as always, keep those tithes / sheathes filling the collection plates. Both of just those two coalition 'legs' have made horrible compromises to any principle that makes their 'tents' larger - to include avowed bigots, supremacists, etc.
"At last night’s Republican primary debate, all the candidates except former New Jersey governor Chris Christie and former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson pledged they would support Trump as the 2024 Republican nominee even if he’s convicted." (Huh. The *former* officeholders. Interesting coincidence.)
Or, to put in another way, Republicans would rather support a *convicted crimminal* than a Democrat. Considering the crimes involved, clearly they would rather support a *traitor* than a Democrat. In their eyes, being a Democrat - a fellow American of a different political persuasion - is lower than being a crimminal, an even worse form of treason, and this seems so self-evident to them that they have no qualms making it known in the most public fashion.
These people claim they are ready to lead a nation of 350 million, yet have no hesitation pledging fealty to someone else who is not even in the room. Someone who - simultaneously - is referring to all opposed to him, a group that includes me and my family, as "animals."
I'm known for being prone to lean toward the lugubrious, but there really is nothing else to be said here.
To the members on this forum who are true conservatives or former Republicans, I am very grateful for you. We may not agree on everything, but we both have chosen to stand with truth, integrity, and empathy over lies, cowardice, and hatefulness. To those still in the cult, I don't like you either, and I'll continue to see you at the ballot box.
Will, I have given up hope that any elected person with (R) after their name has no integrity nor courage. I will give Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger the nod of integrity and courage, and I would encourage them to try and take their party back.
Glimpses of light from a distance are finally revealing the truth - about our country, those four awful years, about the grift from the tax cuts to the pandemic relief, and about the man who tried to steal it all away from the American people. Yet, we are still so far away from the light of truth, and the correctness that only Justice brings. We must March on and demand it, without favor or even forgiveness, if we are ever to heal together.
It seems to me that, to the degree it is possible, real justice embraces the whole story. Who is gaining, who is suffering, and why? "Equal Justice under Law" is engraved on the SCOTUS building. That's aspirational, of course, but we come a lot closer at certain times than others. The "love" of money and power is a powerful corrupter. It's the "all" part that makes it justice; fair treatment for some and not for others is not justice, or at least damaged justice. Impunity for some is not justice.
Some don't want justice at all, they want to bully. Perhaps the most important mission of government is to curtail bullying, and here I include rape and murder, but those who would be bullies defame that as "the nanny state".
I beg the pardon of any pro's Jon. He's comfortable behind a camera and microphone to be 'clearer'. *edit in > You no doubt resent that Reagan, even though a failure as one, is still considered by some as a former 'actor'. The reality of course is that GE rescued, revived, supported, and honor transformed him into a different empty shill. Yes shill, not shell.
I would argue that he wasn't a failure as an actor. He made a lot of films (almost 100) along with a lot of television and was considered easy to work with and a reasonably decent actor albeit not a Brando or anything like that. For the record, I hated Reagan as both Governor of California and President, but I think he was clearly in a different class than Trump. I am not sure where you think GE "rescued" him. Sure they made him their spokesperson and made him much more wealthy, but they also got a guy who was at least well liked by a large part of the public.
He played corny faux folksy adequately, though even as kid he seemed phony to me. Perhaps I underestimate that part of him. As a kid I admired Cary Grant and James Mason; seemingly smooth and competent characters.
Contemporary media commented on how out of it Reagan seemed from the start of his presidency, but made excuses for him. I don't know how much of the "Reagan Revolution" was his brainchild and how much he was primarily its salesman. Reagan trashed "government" but it was really a weasel-worded attack on democracy, extolling plutocracy in its place. Trump rose from the seed the Reagan administration planted. Reagan's Interior wanted to decide species protection based on the species commercial value. Reagan tried to shutter Nixon's EPA. Even Republicans had been willing to vote for Nixon's conviction; thus his resignation. "Gilded Age" style plutocracy and corruption (that and institutionalized racism, the shame of Democrats) seized the "GOP" in a new and more fundamental way.
Seeing Trump's rides to surrender to Georgia for booking on 13 felony counts and return to his home Bedminster, NJ, reverberated with the Trump years.
It was strongest to watch in silence, without the chatter of on-air reporters/analysts/hosts/commentators.
It was during his ride through streets of Atlanta on the way to jail that I sat up. It felt as a communion with fellow citizens.
There was also the relative quiet of his cult. A silence that spoke with possibility of hope down the road.
Below is a gifted link to The Washington Post’s article, ‘Trump’s mug shot was released by Georgia officials. He is the first former president to take one.’
The article includes his mug shot. Look at Trump’s eyes. Those eyes give him away, and they are hard to look at, just as living in The Trump Years have been hell. This shot is our memento for The Trump Years in America, thanks to The Fulton County Jail in Georgia. See the sheriff’s badge on the top right.
WHAT A MUG SHOT! THE TRUMP YEARS! MAY THEY END! IT CANNOT BE SOON ENOUGH!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/24/donald-trump-mugshot-georgia/
The USPS should release a new stamp with that mug shot. Value: two cents.
I’ve been catching remarks throughout the day about the gravity of this moment, such a sad thing for the country to grapple with...The hell with that..Not me, I’m not sad about this, the stupidity of a faction of the American people, power hungry office holders, with no fealty to The Constitution they swore an oath to, or to our founding principles put this fucking grifter family and their pilot fish hangers on into the highest office in the country..The Senate could have prevented all of this shit..From November 2020 to today..
I hope Trump dies in prison if not sooner!! What I am upset about is that it took four trips to be arrested for a mugshot to be taken..There should be four of them..
With Trumps arrests it has demonstrated that there is a two tiered system of justice in this country..one for the rich and well connected and one for everyone else..and that’s without entering into the issue of race..Rule of law my ass!
But I take my hat off to DA Fani Willis of Fulton County Georgia..The only one to see to it that all the procedures were done correctly..
P.S. In my original posting of this reply, as was so eloquently pointed out to me this morning by one of our community, I misused teared instead of tiered..I have since corrected my error..And appreciate with affection having been so corrected..
Sam, there has been a two or three or four tiered justice, economic, health, educational, housing...systems in this country for most of its existence, if not all.
Fern, you are absolutely right..my example is of the moment playing out with the wealthy old white man with societal station and the administration of justice, but the unfairness is systematic throughout all of your other examples..And to a deeper level depending on which one and the racism and bigotry..
For those decrying his mug shot, I think the photographer did him a huge favor: hid his double chin, and put a blinding light over his head. That shielded the view of his scalp under that thinning comb over.
Who of us has ever been posed so flatteringly for our driver's license?
(Appears to be about a pound of makeup on that face, too)
How long do you think he had to spend trying out different looks in the mirror before his mug shot. Somewhere I read he was going for a Churchilian look :)
LOL. He just looked very angry that someone dared to take a mug shot.
What? He has no clue of who Churchill was
Churchill, he's not.
https://fsnewsonline.co.za/never-give-in-not-up/
If you can, read Mary Trump's take on the mugshot. It takes knowing someone really really well to interpret something like that, and I think it's fair to say Mary knows him very very well. She interprets his expression as that of pure rage. On reflection, I think she's right.
What struck me about the mug shot is how much it resembled many ordinary news photos of the guy -- not the posed Oval Office pictures but the ones where he's addressing a crowd. There's less vitality in the mug shot but the expression is familiar. This is consistent with Mary Trump's interpretation, I think. In Trump that undercurrent of rage is always there, and when it erupts there's ketchup on the wall.
Which should be added to his stated weight of 215.
I did wonder where that had come from and then read that's what he reported. I wish I could lie to my doctor like that.
He should be weighed in as well as photographed for his next indictment.
I'm 5'6" and have a similar physique. I weigh in at 225.
Yes really, don’t they actually weigh people instead of asking how much you weigh? I estimate Trump closer to 250-275
This mug shot alone shows how he is receiving extraordinarily special treatment. I have never seen a mug shot showing such defiance. There should never have been a 'pose' allowed. What happened to looking straight into the camera with a neutral expression? This plays right into trump's dirty hands. Makes me gag.
Me too. Maybe they took two...the other in repose!
Miselle, I was thinking the same thing! His intention, I think, was to appear menacing, but I'm sure he also was hoping to compensate for all of the candid shots lately, showing how old, pale, fat and ugly he is. I'm sure he posed in the mirror for hours.
Nancy
Google Churchill's photo after his "Never, never, never give up" speech. Booking photo is absolutely a posed rip off.
"You, Sir, are no Churchill!" Poor imitation. Looks like he needs a couple doses of X-Lax.
I wonder how long it took his makeup person to get his hair and makeup juuuuust right. They must have worked together for days once he chose "the look" to make sure the foundation didn't crack, or the mascara run, in the heat and humidity of the Fulton County Jail. After he got out of his last ever (I devoutly hope) motorcade.
And on a side note, October is going to be a very busy month for him, because HE COULD BE CALLED AS A WITNESS in Cheesybro's trial, now set for October 23. Now, wouldn't THAT be interesting?
Too bad it's not filled with lead like that on the face of Elizabeth I.
Why was this professional photographing, primping and planning allowed???
“…systems in this country for most of its existence, if not all.”
Should read, “in this world.”
The subject under discussion was Trump and the US.
But we're supposed to be bending toward justice.
Who knew that our symbol, Lady Justice holding the scales of Truth (facts, in this most important matter of our democracy, would be a very intelligent, no-nonsense black woman. The symbology of this moment is stunningly poetic.
However, I'll save the champagne and popcorn for the day we see mugshots for the all or most of the anti-democracy co-conspirators and their arrogant cult leader, including those still in our employment, behind bars. That will be true Justice for us and our democracy.
Agreed. I used to describe the application of criminal law like a pyramid. At it's base, is the conduct, in this case, unlawful conduct. The first few steps as you get narrower are petty crime, property crime, more involved property crime, crimes against persons, then those that rise up the level with increasing injury, to causing death at the pinnacle. I've investigated and made arrests in all levels of those crimes. I have also learned that "justice" is a weird thing. Sometimes, there is no justice as we know it.
There is a defense to conduct that is otherwise criminal; justification. That is the slippery slope that we are looking at as these cases move forward; the justification that those who engaged in the conduct charged employ is their belief that they were wronged, all facts to the contrary. It will be interesting to see how this progresses. I devoutly hope that for all the "sincerely held beliefs" that these criminals are relying on are held to be fallacies and not rising to the level of justification for conduct.
Yes! Lock up the complicit House members, and throw in a few Senators. Maybe build a special facility for them, on the cheap, so they have to live with each other 24/7.
A deep case of the bends...
Good for you, Sam. I was elated when the news broke with that stupid caricature for a mug shot. I did a happy dance, I didn't whoop and holler because I didn't want to disturb my neighbors. I do have faith in our legal system that he will be convicted and serve jail time - I hope in Georgia.
That system needs to give way to truth and Justice for all! But as long as nearly one third of the country is led by people who support utterly criminal activity and punish those with very minor infractions, well,… we have a LOT OF WORK TO DO. Thanks HCR and others who work for the good.
Did you know that in Georgia the Republican legislators have enacted a law that can and obviously was intended to yank Fani Willis out of that position so their own self centered abusers can reappoint and attempt to throw this case out. Trump was a grifter, user, and abuser long before he cheated his way into the presidency. He should have been in jail long before this. Stop elevating him and convict him of his crimes the same way any one else would be. We will not fall apart as a nation if we do. We will survive any blow back from this and be all the better for it.
That law takes effect October 1st. They WILL immediately move to oust Fani Willis from her position and move to cancel all the indictments. Will see how the appeals go….all the way to the Supreme Court?
Awful R move, Deborah. They have such contempt for truth.
I have read that Kemp is not keen to remove her..
The gravity of the moment, as irrefutable as that apple falling from the tree and striking Sir Isaac on the head. Gravity.
Ironic. Was Gravity got our anti-science president.
Love your anti-science comment. His muddling of the COVID debacle has angered me so much for the last few years. To me, a COVID (and vaccine) denier is living proof of ignorance. Any middle schooler can explain the reality of viruses. Denying it? Perhaps a sign of an emotional disorder.
Here in West Michigan, anti-maskers and COVID deniers won 9 of 11 seats on our county commission and are trying their best to defund and dismantle the award-winning, nationally recognized health department.
I lived in western Michigan for five years. Geographically, it a lovely place although winter is too cold for me. The population is very conservative, and there are a lot of people of Dutch heritage who forebears brought their Dutch Reformed religion with them.
I read an article about the sexual health educator who is being targeted by the far right reactionary members of the county commission. Those commissioners, like the Puritans In Massachusetts, want freedom of religion. They want others to practice religion THEIR way. Their religious heritage is my way or the highway. The sexual health educator with the Ottawa County Health Department had worked for years to bring down the numbers that we would want to bring down. Fewer teen pregnancies, fewer abortions, more use of contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies in vulnerable populations, especially the poor. Now these radical reactionaries are accusing this woman of being a "groomer" because she has done such a good job of her job. These crazy reactionaries are lying to get attention while they hurt a fine person for working to improve life for vulnerable people.
But of course.
You have a lot of work to do! Like me, we are all getting busy with county commisisions, school boards, etc.
Ann, the similarities between the library board members teaming with some of the townspeople to vote to defund their own town library in Michigan over a few books they didn't like and those wanting to defund the public health dept are striking and insane! Cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Ann, the R Party also in MI has went off the rails.
Ann, which county? My daughter goes to school in Kalamazoo.
Just because he feeds on Mar-a-Logo chocolate cake doesnt mean he lives. Just check out his ignorance [?] beside his band of "Renfields."
"OUR" anti-science president? He clearly was not OUR president, he even made that clear in words. Alas, and now thanks to an amazingly brave, talented, learned and determined Georgia woman he is "our" Inmate # P01135809. Use that more fitting moniker going forward.
I like to think of Defendant Donny as POS135809.
Who cares what his number is, get him convicted!
I just call him “The Defendant”.
Agreed. My sadness is about all the harm he’s inflicted on others his entire life without consequences. These indictments offer some hope that he will finally be held accountable. This isn’t just about him, it’s about wether or not “justice for all” has any meaning in our nation.
Perplexing isn’t it, how anyone with an intellect could support this sleaze?
Now, the fate of the Republican Party will be determined by the American voters. There is some hope that on the federal level many of the MAGA people could be pushed out of Congress. Gerrymandering will make it more difficult.
Also, so many red state legislatures are full of MAGA extremists who feel no obligation to follow laws, as demonstrated by how Alabama is defying the Supreme Court.
"It is quite a thing to see leading Republicans—including a former president—in mugshots for their assault on our democracy and to know that party leadership supports their actions. Indeed, it is unprecedented, and for those who remember what a grand party the Republicans have been at times in their history—Lincoln, after all, was a Republican, and so were Theodore Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower—it is a sad end.
But an end it is. The authoritarians who have taken over the party have abandoned their history and are now building something altogether different."
We the People will have to make sure that our country is represented by people who believe in and will abide by the spirit and the word of our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution as amended. It's our country, of us and by us and for us.
Trump flies in on a private jet, is chauffeured in a motorcade and released on bail, while the single black coconspirator booked thus far still sits in a jail cell in Fulton County. Tiers of justice personified.
I think he assaulted an FBI agent. A level of physical violence none of the others reached.
Yes- that’s interesting and par for the course of different tiers of justice for the one black defendant. Shameful
He also is the only conspirator who assaulted a federal official.
Right, he belongs in jail. I don’t care what color he is, it has to do with his actions.
Yes, quite correct..
I feel your anger, I feel your pain. I almost cheered at his arrest but it was a terrible moment in our history. Biden needs a speech writer to inspire us, to give us hope, and to help us turn a page.
PRESIDENT Biden gives me hope and has turned the page for us with calm and steady, strong and effective governing.
Agree, remember the motto for Biden, Savvy, Seasoned, and Sane!
Agreed. Did Ted Sorensen leave us any English majors?
I agree completely and thank you! it’ll be a happy day when that asshole, and Giuliani, Eastman, Meadows, et Al. all die in prison!
Sam, great comment. Thanks
You're welcome Harvey..I appreciate your kind words..
Love the "pilot fish hangers on"
Thanks Kathy, however, I must give credit where credit is due..It came from a description of Lindsey Graham by Steve Schmidt in one of his essays..It's the perfect name for what these cretins are..
Here is a brief description of it's behavior from Wikipedia,
"The pilot fish congregates around sharks, rays, and sea turtles, where it eats ectoparasites on, and leftovers around the host species"
Such an appropriate way to define those in Trump's circle..
O
Some people get million or more dollar bails for lesser crimes. He jokes about escaping. This might not be a bad idea. I don't think you could be president from Russia or some country which cannot turn him over.
Our best hope is that he does escape and goes to be with his buddy, Putin. The Russians won’t extradite him. But wait, I spoke too soon, maybe his supporters will send money for his ransom. OMG!
Here is an excellent piece on the peril facing Trump:
https://theconversation.com/fulton-county-charges-donald-trump-with-racketeering-other-felonies-a-georgia-election-law-expert-explains-5-key-things-to-know-211582
Amen
Martha,
By pointing out my periodic poor command of English Grammar, you remind me of my detest friend Julia, who on the most regular basis corrects my besmirching of the same..All I am left with at this point is to thank you for your kind approach in correcting me..And to say that I’m pleased that you have found my error useful..Mine is a constant path of growth and learning..
Cheers,
Sam
Alternatively, keep the price the same and market them to MAGAts: "Stick the mug on your mail to stick it to the deep state! Let the post office know where the patriots live!"
Use the couple hundred million in funds to pay for all the new electric trucks! Plus, take note of the return addresses so if someone tries that anthrax thing again we have a good list of where to start looking.
Wonderful idea, Will.
Yes…much better idea!
Right up there with that now classic Ukrainian stamp with the caption "F**k you Russian warship"!
I have the t-shirt with the Ukrainian soldier giving the Russians the finger.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
lol Betsy !
With the Sheriff's badge in place, though.
Printed on toilet paper? (without the badge - it certainly deserves better treatment than being associated with that face in that place)
I've seen comments in French to the effect that the picture was obviously well set-up beforehand (hair, makeup, lighting) by expert photographers. I think they're right. Where is that ordinary full-face picture with name and number? This is fake, like everything else he presents to the public.
I wish to NEVER have to see his face again. He has had enough air time. ENOUGH!
Call me crazy, but TFG's mugshot is just "off," as in liberally photoshopped.
1) Part of his jowly face (lower right side, in shadow) seems to have been aggressively shaved away in post-photo editing, making him seem thinner than he is (perhaps to support the assertion that he weighs 215 pounds).
2) Look at his left shoulder. Do you notice that his blue suit coat doesn't really have a lapel? There's the hint of one, but much of it has been airbrushed out.
3) I was able to use some of my editing tools to zoom in on the image, and I was surprised to see that not only was the suit itself outlined in a thin black line, but his FACE, especially the entire lower half, has a similar black outline. There is also an outline cutting through his right ear.
4) Move your gaze to the misty blond "hair" -- which looks like a cloud -- on the left side, and compare it to the sharp little hairs out of place above his shoulder on the right side. That little cloud is airbrushed, too, as well as his left eyebrow.
5) The lines on his face have been enhanced by a dark maroon lining to seem more deep and severe than they are, including the vertical line on the brow, and the "shadow" separating light from dark from the bottom of his nose to his upper lip.
6) If the mugshot is indeed authentic, why is the light so dramatically different from the other 17 mugshots that were taken? And what jailhouse photographer in his right mind would let somebody be photographed not facing straight on into the lens?
The editing isn't great, but it's good enough to fool most people into thinking the subject is real.
I honestly don't know why photographers all over the world aren't weighing in on what seems so obvious to me. The only question I have is this: was TFG allowed to provide the mugshot and not have to endure the direct gaze of the unforgiving lens and light?
He probably thought this would have a better sale value on a t-shirt.
Cute!
WHAT ??? Haven't we had enough of this morbid chapter in American history?
With FOREVER under this monster face? Buy the T-shirt if you really need reminding.
I want to know how many takes before he was satisfied with it. Oh please speak up witnesses in the room!
They'd have to pay me to take it.
Something you would not give two cents for.
It would be funny, but I don't want to see him if I can manage that. Not even in a mug shot!
Not worth two cents. I wouldn't pay two cents for a picture of Trump.
Love it.
What i saw in ''those eyes'' of Donald TUMP, is pure hate, and unrelenting evil. That ugly mug shot defined what TUMP really is, a MONSTER.
What always gets me is how the guy is so obviously, cartoonishly evil, and looks the part. Like, even an old-timey comic book artist would think, "Maybe I should tone this down? Leave some room for nuance? Make this guy just a little more human, and less purely gargoyle?" And yet...
Even Hitler and Stalin knew to incorporate a put-together look to draw in the masses, and covered up their epic psychopathy with a well-trimmed 'stache. But here we have their 21st-century wannabe content to just look like a Halloween mask that has been sitting out under a magnifying glass, and some people are still drawn in. Astonishing.
"...obviously, cartoonishly evil."
You nailed it! And he's startlingly oblivious to it while we see the effort he put into "making a face" plain as day. What psychopathy allows this person to see what he wishes in his image instead of reality? A healthy person would see the image and, embarrassed, hastily reject it — but this guy publishes it!
"Cartoonishly evil". You are a word meister!
That look. Trying to look tough. My first reaction was that he was auditioning for a part in a Marvel movie. He got it wrong. Villains in shows like that display diabolical smiles. Like they have a trick to escape that will surprise everyone. A sick devilish sense of humor. But this old putz of a former pres has nothing to laugh about. He is cornered. This is part of a long spiral dive to oblivion and a special place in history.
He just wants to goad his minions into taking up arms— he wants to look as though he will never back down. I’ve come to believe EVERYTHING he does is for amassing power — so it is with this. He probably practiced in a mirror.
Will, despite his fairly obvious defects in both appearance and behavior, "some people [so many people] are still drawn in" because of a need to belong. I proffer the following about the human condition:
Facts vs. the Tribe
• Humans are herd animals: We want to fit in,
to bond with others, and to earn the respect
and approval of our peers. Such inclinations
are essential to our survival.
• For most of our evolutionary history, our
ancestors lived in tribes.
• Becoming separated from the tribe—or worse,
being cast out—was a death sentence.”
James Clear – Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds, 2018
Facts vs. Beliefs
• Humans need a reasonably accurate view of the
world in order to survive. If your model of reality is
wildly different from the actual world, then you
struggle to take effective actions each day.
• However, truth and accuracy are not the only things
that matter to the human mind;
• humans also have a deep desire to belong.
• In many circumstances, social connection is actually
more helpful to your daily life than understanding
the truth of a particular fact or idea.
• James Clear – Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds, 2018
Facts vs Social Connection
• In many circumstances, social connection is
actually more helpful to your daily life than
understanding the truth of a particular fact or
idea.
• People are embraced or condemned according to
their beliefs, so one function of the mind may be
to hold beliefs that bring the belief-holder the
greatest number of allies, protectors, or disciples,
rather than beliefs that are most likely to be
true.”
• Steven Pinker, PhD (Harvard Psychologist)
Facts vs. Value of Beliefs
• We don't always believe things because they are
correct.
• Sometimes we believe things because they make
us look good to the people we care about.
• False beliefs can be useful in a social sense even if
they are not useful in a factual sense. For lack of a
better phrase, we might call this approach
“factually false, but socially accurate.”
• When we have to choose between the two,
people often select friends and family over facts.
Nail on head, Cali Will! As for your earlier post re: a stamp, you forget that the Postmaster General is the yutz DeJoy who was appointed by TFG and so that whole thing could backfire badly. The USPS is functioning despite him rather than with him.
I would suppose if TUMP had a 'stache' it would be shaggy and have a burnt orange tinge to it. or maybe a hint of pink in it too...thank you for your great reply. It was good.
he practices that in the mirror daily!
A friend’s daughter said it looked like it was from The Simpsons.
You are right on Will
It's probably all compensatory for what is hidden. He crows and preens and hurls insults and belittles and degrades those who he fears, all to hide his deep sense of inadequacy. All of which appeals to a segment of the population who also feel this way. "Othering" is an ignorant and common way that people try to make themselves feel better, which because it's only temporary, they have to keep it up so as to ward off the terrible feelings and the acknowledgment of their own failings. He looks like a two year old trying to appear tough and unaffected by his humiliation.
He's a Droogie, from Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange.
Or a republication of Manson's MUG shot.
It's 7:45 in the morning and I've already lost my lunch.
Understood.
John, yes, hate and evil, but also a performer, a performing huckster and charlatan.
It's the red reddened whites of his eyes and the red edges of his lids that got to me--the look of someone who hasn't slept well in a long time.
What stood out to me was that Trump "fired" his lead Georgia attorney for one who has represented rappers in RICO cases in Georgia. I wonder whether Drew Fielding, Trump's previous Georgia lead attorney, withdrew after the after the bond negotiations because Trump stiffed him or because he saw that Trump would not adhere to his legal advice, and would try to intimidate witnesses and co-defendents.
Also on my radar is Chesebro pushing for a speedy trial. There was coverage from MSNBC on You Tube that said that this could be a tactic to test whether Fani Willis is ready to go to trial,and she would to have to try him only on the evidence that is directly linked to his part in the RICO activities--Cheseboro gives up more time to examine the evidence in discovery and the ability to have pre-trial motions, but it would make Fani Willis show her trial strategy in advance of the case against Trump. If Cheseboro is acquitted by a jury it would weaken the overall case. It's like he is choosing to be a stalking horse--which benefits Trump more than it does him. I wonder what Trump has promised him in return--when a pardon clearly cannot be on the table.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLIboOVKxSI
Both lawyers, Fielding, who has left, and Sadow, who was hired, have represented rap artists.
'A Georgia judge on Thursday signed off on a quick turnaround to the start of the trial for Kenneth Chesebro, one of 18 defendants charged alongside former President Donald Trump in connection with alleged efforts to overturn the state's 2020 election results.'
'The ruling, scheduling an Oct. 23 start to Chesebro's trial, came just after Trump's newly appointed attorney said he would move to sever the former president's case from Chesebro or any other defendant who sought an expedited timeline.'
'Earlier Thursday, Fani Willis, the district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia, asked Judge Scott McAfee to set Oct. 23 as the start of the trial for all defendants. Her office's request came after Chesebro had demanded a speedy trial, which under Georgia law gave Willis' office until the end of October to begin the case.' (CBSNews) See link below.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-trial-date-fulton-county-georgia-fani-willis-proposal-october-23/
Is there anything wrong with representing rap artists?
No one implied that there was anything wrong with representing rap artists.
Then why is it mentioned so often? There seems to be some implication. People seem to be implying that a lawyer who would represent a rapper has fewer scruples. In fact why is it mentioned at all if it isn't relevant in some way?
Christopher, I don't know what you are getting at with your suspicion of what? Subscribers do a lot of quoting from articles and reports. Stories that include lawyers, doctors business people, entertainers, etc., often provide background info.
'Atlanta has been aptly dubbed both the “hip hop center of gravity” by The New York Times and “the new cultural capital of America” by The Daily Beast, and has been holding titles like these since the 90’s. Many of the U.S.’s top hip hop and rap artists came from Atlanta: T.I., Gucci Mane, Ludacris, Young Thug, Kelly Rowland, Childish Gambino, Soulja Boy, Future, 2 Chainz, Migos, André 3000 all call Atlanta their hometown.' (USATV) Given the music scene in Atlanta, it seems there are a good number of potential clients.
I would suggest you question the media, as we all do, too often, but rightfully.
Her trial “strategy” is simple: put the evidence forward to the jury involving Chesebro which she referred to in the overall indictment.
When I saw the mugshot I immediately thought of a four year old practicing scary faces in the mirror. Trump never got past that age.
I tweaked a quote during his presidency-
"Democracy used to mean that anyone can grow up to be president of the United States. Now it seems to mean that anyone who HASN'T grown up can be president of the United States."
There's a bunch of them out there Pam! Keep your chin up.
Chris, Thank you!
Never in my 75 years did I think I would see so many Americans proud of the fact that they will vote for a CRIMINAL to be the president of these United States.
I wish there were stickers to be passed out at voting stations that read, " I voted! For a criminal!"
a petulant child look, apologies to real children.
Thank you for this, Fern. I have posted it to my Facebook page.
On another matter, HCR writes: "In our system, Trump, like any defendant, is presumed innocent until proven guilty."
This is essentially a term of art. What it means simply is that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt the facts of the case against Trump (or any other defendant.) I do not presume that he is innocent. The only issue is proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Good to see you, Richard. Yes, we are depending on the prosecutors. I also think that Trump & Enablers gave them a lot of evidence to present. It is a matter of them effectively showing and telling their stories.
There is always the risk that a MAGA could get on the jury and refuse to convict. That will be the defense strategy.
Still, I think that there is a very good chance that the case against Trump will not go to trial, that there will be a plea deal where Trump agrees to house arrest, with conditions, probably for at least five years or the rest of his life. Same with Giuliani, who faces the real prospect of spending the rest of his miserable life in prison.
Richard, if my counting is correct, Trump has three separate criminal cases. Are you thinking that he won't go to trial on any of the three? Could the example you have given be applied, perhaps, in different ways to all three of those cases?
Perhaps, some sort of global settlement.
There are a number of shadows with going to trial and not going to trial. On one side, it is important for MAGAs and those aligned with them to witness the process of exposing Trump. It may cool the hatred, of course, just going to trial before the case is in motion could inflame the far-right leading to a lot of political violence. We are in volatile times, Richard!
It would seem Richard that the other issue is finding then picking 12+ jurors who can come to agreement beyond a reasonable doubt. Do more than 12 people exist in Georgia who have NOT been exposed to coverage of TFG??! And if so, what kind of people will they be?
I think it’s more about finding a jury who can put aside what they are already aware of and consider only the evidence. I have a vague memory of recently reading a quote from one of the Georgia grand jurors who said something along the lines of “If everyone knew all the evidence we have seen, this country would not be divided.” Here’s to hoping that the evidence is indeed overwhelming.
AGREED KR! Yet I fret that someone saying s/he "can put aside what they are already aware of" is too much like 80% of male drivers who are convinced they are excellent drivers...
There’s a big difference between presumed innocent until proven guilty and supporting a candidate after they have been convicted. Have none of the VP-wannabes read the Constitution? How can these jackals make Chris Christy seem sensible- even to someone from NJ?
When we have seen his actions and heard his words with our own eyes and ears, we have no doubt of his guilt. The case should be airtight. Let’s hope it is.
I like the way you describe this! It absolutely nails it for me.
Yup - those eyes and that mug...
May that bully’s career be over, his influence and affluence gone.
Jean-Pierre, I like where you took the mug shot. Your post reminded me of a Buddy Holly song. I hope that you enjoy it.
'The Buddy Holly Story Maybe Baby'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGFcIVlZrfU&pp=ygUWbWF5YmUgYmFieSBidWRkeSBob2xseQ%3D%3D
Trump did the Kubrick Stare in the vein of Nicholson in The Shining. It's when a stares with a forward tilt to indicate they are at the height of their derangement.
I think that Trump's Mug is a work of art. Warhol, Lichtenstein and Wesselmann, to name of few, would have enjoyed it. Without sticking to pop artists, de Kooning might have thought Donald's face right up his alley. What Trump couldn't control of that picture, ah, control, another subject. What he could not control are the marks of the man's soul that live on his face.
I keep thinking of the side by side montages of Trump and Manson exhibiting their nearly indistinguishable involuntary facial tics.
Actually went to high school with "wise guys" who tugged on their overcoats in a like manner to Donald. Could spot them immediately across a crowded room.
Thanks for the mental picture, Fern. Can you imagine that face duplicated numerous times like Campbell soup cans or Marilyn or Monroe? Think I will pass.
Put this to music, Fern. A best seller!
The forward tilt is evident not only in this photo—it also is seen in his stance.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-fallible-mind/202010/we-are-entitled-ask-president-trump-his-brain-scan?amp
Correct re: Nicholson! That has been in the back of my brain this morning and you brought it forward to the thinking part. Coffee helped, but you nailed it!
Nailed it, BlueRootsRadio. Who could forget Nicholson's "Here's Johnny!" mug pushing through the shards of door.
Think about Clockwork Orange too. Kubrick used this in a lot of films.
BlueRootsRadio, right and I know of the cultural reference to Clockwork Orange but never watched it. That would be too frightening for me. But it makes you wonder if the stare was intentionally patterned after Kubrick's.
Been a while since I've seen it, not my favorite Kubrick work but it didn't damage me for life either. ;-)
I'm glad, BlueRootsRadio!:-)
Those lying lips, those soulless eyes...
His eyes were like Charles Manson's.
Yes, the eyes are chilling to look at. The naked rage. The evil, destroying world view...absent of joy, beauty and soul. I feel grateful for his age - that he is 77 and not 47. He can't be gone soon enough.
In the WAPO article, underneath his obviously much practiced (in front of a mirror) menacing expression mug shot, was a photo of him walking to the limo after his booking and showing a stooped, defeated (Never Surrender, my ass) rotted old man.
While TFG may leave us soon, the MAGA/KKK adherents are here for the long haul. They won't be satisfied unless they have installed a White Protestant theocratic autocracy.
Excellent analysis! As I watched this, it was kind of...”let this be over, soon.”
Let’s get this guy convicted, jailed, or whatever they intend to do with him. But get him out of the political picture.
If TFG's lawyers are any good, they'll get TFG and the prosecutors to cut a deal - lifetime confinement to house arrest, no public pronouncements, no acceptance of any pardons.
And NO RUNNING FOR, OR APPOINTMENTS TO, ANY PUBLIC OFFICE, EVER!
Daniel, I'm certain that the prosecutors will draw up an air-tight agreement. It is almost beyond comprehension that his attorneys would not want to cut a deal. The law and the evidence are against Trump, in big numbers.
Your first four stanzas make up a fabulous beat poem, Fern.
Ally, I'm blushing. Thank you for pointing out something I've never dreamed upon. I made several comments, but the way replies are falling, I know know which of my comments you are referring to.
Thanks for that Fern..I was in the process of canceling The Washington Post yesterday, as I did with the NYT..due to some of their political reporters attending a dinner with members of the Trump campaign on the eve of the GOP debate..they offered it to me at one point for a buck a month for a year..I figured that was at least worth Jennifer Rubin..so I accepted..
Everyone should know that political reporters from the NYT, WaPo, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and other outlets were in Milwaukee that night breaking bread with Jason Miller and two other Trump campaign staffers..people like Robert Costa, Dana Bash, Kristin Welker..This transactional political reporting has and is killing the independence of our media..Here, take a listen to this..
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/countdown-with-keith-olbermann/id1633301179?i=1000625506172
Sam, to be polite, I'm under impressed with Olbermann's accusations -- and he says, 'fire them'! Reporters can't get the facts if they don't schmooze, interview, hangout...and that includes spending time with people you don't like or approve of.
There is active investigative reporting and there’s transactional reporting..Olbermann’s podcast is not the only place reporting this..This behavior crossed a line..It undermines credibility, objectivity, integrity and true independence..Olbermann may seem over the top, but he’s right..
...did you say 'over the top'?
Please understand Fern, I like the WaPo..and again, not all reporters are cut from the same cloth. It’s the political reporting that has taken a self inflicted blow..By this kind of behavior and the example of holding onto information for a book.. at the end of the day, who does it serve them the source or the American people?
Sam, I worked in public affairs programing for many years as a researcher, associate producer of news, producer, series and specials producer, which included writing, directing and supervising staff, etc., for PBS; a metropolitan area, public television station and local WCBS-TV. It has been a while since I've been in the business, but I think it is fair to consider myself a vet when discussing aspects of this arena and the crucial role journalism plays in society.
Yep..
Sam, I would not throw a blanket over all of the reporters with WAPO, NYTimes and the other news organizations. I know a good number of reporters as a reader that are serving us well. Keith Olbermann is very dramatic and assertive. My practice is to take time and effort if a journalist I have respected is called out -- by whom and what are the details. Keith Olbermann may not be the last word.
PS Think about including 'Today's WorldView' in you reading of WAPO. I have a high regard for its work.
Fern, I concur..not all reporters are cut from the same cloth..However, appearances are everything..I have to consider how much inside information was held back for pending book deals..Consider the Woodward recordings at the time.. How many dead due to what Trump was saying in public and compare it to what he told Woodward..
Sam, if you listen to the tapes Woodward pushed him hard, HARD! Again, Sam, the devil is in the details. Are you moving in a direction that would take a machete to what is already a much too small number of journalists in the country. State and local news -- what kind of shape are they in? I hope you slow down. Democracy cannot survive without journalists.
I am with you Fern..we need journalists, And it is important to take things one step at a time. Yes, Woodward pushed him hard..but how long did he hold onto that info? Was the book that came out a year later as helpful as taking what he learned and made it public contemporaneously? I suppose it’s a matter of perspective..in the line item of COVID 19..How many people may have avoided death had that been made public at the time..
Some of these people are just too cozy with their sources..Who benefits from a transactional media?
How about that CNN town hall? Who benefited from that?
Sam, I live in NYC and tried to be helpful in real ways. NYC, Sam! My opinion of Trump, I'm a witness.
HCR writes: "The Republicans on stage last night have abandoned democracy, and in that they accurately represent their party." HCR says this because most of the Republicans at the debate said they will support the multiply-indicted Trump if he is the nominee. HCR's condemnation of the Republicans is based on the presuppositions that (1) Biden fairly won the 2020 presidential election, and (2) Trump and the Republicans knew this and willfully conspired to overturn a lawful election.
But perhaps it was (also) Biden who is no longer democratic. The evidence is clear, based on a pattern of discrepancies from the exit polls, that Biden stole the Democratic nomination from Bernie Sanders. HCR and others continue to wilfully and hypocritically ignore this.
The starting point for analyzing Biden's theft of the 2020 nomination is the Massachusetts primary: https://tdmsresearch.com/2020/03/04/massachusetts-2020-democratic-party-primary/
Regarding the Trump situation, former Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz has a very different approach from HCR. He said:
“What if a court ultimately rules that Donald Trump had a right under the First Amendment to make his Jan. 6 speech and to do what he did? Then Jack Smith will have conspired to deny him of that right. That’s how serious this is.
“Jack Smith … deliberately, willfully and maliciously leaves out the words that President Trump spoke on Jan. 6 in his terrible speech, which I disagree with, but what he said was, ‘I want you to assemble peacefully and patriotically.’
“Jack [Smith] leaves that out. That is a lie, a lie, an omission lie, and if you’re going to indict somebody for telling lies, don’t tell lies in the indictment. If you’re going to indict somebody for denying people their constitutional rights, don’t deny them their constitutional rights by indicting them for free speech. That’s how hypocritical this is.”
"Dershowitz: Jack Smith Could Be ‘Indicted’ If Trump Wins Case Against Him"
https://conservativebrief.com/dershowitz-jack-75443/
Troll! Back under the bridge with ye! We shalt not entertain your cursed riddles!
Um, you're the one whose post lacks both facts and reasoned conclusions. Troll.
It seems to me that you believe that Heather, as well as most of the American and foreign media, willfully overlook what you and the mathematician contest to be so: that Biden stole the nomination. When it’s you and the mathematician on one side, and you mention nobody else, I have to wonder if both of your biases have led you to miss something. When I did a search on various search engines, playing around with search terms like “Biden stole Sanders presidential nomination”, I found nothing significantly connected to what you are intimating. More, if what you’re intimating were true, Fox and Breitbart would have been all over it. And would continue so to be. Alas, that’s not the case. So it’s either a grand conspiracy against this mathematician’s findings by both CNN AND Fox, or...more likely...the mathematician and you don’t have all the facts on your side.
More, you diminish yourself by name-calling folks, (whom you should just ignore). We are “Internet people”, which means all this is and isn’t real, and if you get emotional jollies from being disputatious with “Internet people” for no reasonable purpose, I suggest you reevaluate your priorities.
No sarcasm intended.
David Daniel,
Thank you for being civil.
You avoid any consideration of the rather gross statistical anomoly that is discussed by Theodore de Macedo Soares.
Here is another example of an "invisible" subject that "doesn't exist" in the mainstream news media:
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-15-2023/comment/11967315
p.s. Republicans don't talk about it because they've been doing the same thing, notably in Senate races.
"What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?"
"What do you mean? African or European swallow?"
This might help:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Gq_bjaI0NTo&si=igR8lcoixydTOR9y
And when the "peaceful and patriotic" folks attacked Capitol police, broke into and trashed the building, tried to hunt down the vice president and others--the former president watched TV coverage of the destruction for hours without saying a word or calling off his mob.
Ann W,
I imagine that your argument will be emphasized by the prosecution. I look forward to seeing what comes up in court.
OK, first, polls in this country have been inaccurate for so long that they are laughable. Second, Tr*** is not being charged with his words before the insurrection January 6th -- read the damn charges, sir. Also, I would suggest that you balance out your sources where you get your opinions and you would sound a bit more intelligent.
Exit polls are different.
Trump speaks out of both sides of his mouth all the time. Dershowitz might raise some questions here as "free speech" and what is inciting imminent lawless action are tricky issues, but he seems to me to dump reason for politics. He is welcome to hold that opinion, but should he be teaching law?
You seem to want to overlook Dershowitz's point that Jack Smith lied by omission in the indictment.
Pretty certain that the jury, encouraged by Trump's defense attorneys, will consider your point. That said, Jack Smith will likely offer up a half-dozen similar occasions where Trump played both sides of the field in order to gaslight his audience and explain how it all works. Trump's a master of this technique, but I have to believe that Smith will be prepared to educate the jury and that thoughtful individuals will understand and see through his obfuscation techniques.
That entire speech on the Ellipse was a lie, so what?
I suspect that the prosecution will have to prove that. Perhaps you could explain your chain of reasoning that led to your conclusion.
To me, Trump’s behavior makes no sense whatsoever unless he believed that the election was stolen.
However, there are three possibilities:
1) His belief was a self-serving delusion.
2) His belief was on shaky ground, but there might be enough evidence to convince a jury.
3) He had solid, smoking-gun evidence that the election was stolen, but it was classified.
We all will wait and see what comes up in court...
Yes, the notion that TFG can't be guilty if he really believes his conspiracies is very popular on the right, and for obvious reasons: it would make a determination of guilt virtually impossible.
Legally, it's total BS.
This might help: https://terikanefield.com/criminal-law-101-trumps-j6-indictment/ "Trump’s motive for committing the crime doesn’t matter because a good motive does not get a person off the hook for committing a crime. “I hit my neighbor with a baseball bat because I genuinely believed he robbed my house” will not fly. I can genuinely believe my neighbor doesn’t have the right to vote, but that doesn’t allow me to go into her mailbox, steal her ballot, and tear it up."
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
NOT
And we fight. We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore.
Know your enemy...
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/august-23-2023/comment/39053591
Seriously, that's a four-year-old's "mad face". Anger, frustration, thwarted purpose, fury - and about as menacing as a wet sock. It's a "you're not the boss of me" face. Look past the makeup and blow-dry, and the 70 years of abuse (self- and by and of others - and let's not get into specifics) and you can see it shining forth - one who wants to be taken seriously, but we. just. can't.
Didn't see his walk of shame, but were there "thousands" of his fans lining the streets with I love you signs? I know at some of his other trips to the court house there was a whisper not a roar of minions.
Some days it feels like the world around me is crumbling. I guess it is. I’ve lived through assassinations and more, but never did I think I’d witness the ongoing premeditated murder of a political party and our democracy.
Ginni,
I would like to encourage you to see the beauty in your world and not allow a long time loser with a big mouth and a bit of money to distort how you see your world.
Go outside today and look around. It is the height of the butterfly season and there still are some, though, many fewer now when compared to being a kid 55 years ago. Those butterflies are beautiful. I saw a nearly completely black one, with just a bit of yellow yesterday.
For me today?
I laughed my arse off looking at Trump's mug shot. It was absolutely WONDERFUL to see a rich white man get called in to get a mug shot by a black woman who is going after HIM like he went after Ruby Freeman.
I honestly have not felt this GREAT in many years. America! Where a black woman can put a stupid, rich, white man in jail and, perhaps she will!! This is real progress! Not so long ago it was LEGAL for a guy like Trump to rape Fani Willis and then sell her child. Now? She is going to put him in jail!
I just hope the Georgia prison system finds Trump the right cellmate to spend the rest of his life getting to know and becoming friends with.
A wonderful day indeed.
Addenda: I do also hope that Ms. Willis has good security around her because, as Dr. Richardson points out, there are a fair number of Americans who take dim view of a black woman going after a rich, dumb, white man. I am not one of them obviously, but, they exist.
While I realize you meant to be kind, you made an inaccurate assumption about how I live my life and felt the need to help me. One can enjoy each day and also hold sadness about events in the world.
Thank you, Mike S! We all need your excellent suggestion. Time to enjoy what we find pleasant and prepare ourselves for setting the country on a better path. The law will take care of much of the detritus. What doesn’t get caught, we can encourage our senators to take in hand one way or another.
Attempted murder of the latter, but it's being actively curtailed. That's got to stop.
It ain’t “ murder of a political party “, it’s suicide. I hope
Remember John Dean, “We have a cancer within-close to the presidency, that's growing. It's growing daily. It's compounding. It grows geometrically now, because it compounds itself.”
Now it has metastasized to the nation and our democracy. There are Americans actually considering a president serving from prison. As the Professor explains, it comes from a dystopian racist past that we are subjected to daily. And we have little mini-Trump hopefuls popping out of the woodwork. Plus we're greeted with the notion that everyman is an island. I don’t think so. Remember our revolution? How would it have gone without the French fleet and all sorts of other French support?
It's scary to read Republican commentary on the "debate." They've bought into this tumor of a man - hook, link and sinker. But I'm starting to believe the growing dead weight of this criminal (that he lied about in booking!) takes all his cronies down. We have to donate, vote, volunteer, donate again.
So true Alexandra! To make sure these cronies do not just 'go down', lengthy sentences of incarceration are needed. The lesson from the Civil War Reconstruction to Nixon is, authoritarians needs to be vanquished, totally destroyed, or else they sprout green shoots like Daughters of the Confederacy.
100%, 100Panthers. The Confederacy was the cancer, and still is. These modern Confederates have been operating on the historically accurate principle that treason won't be punished. Fani Willis is a superheroine. There are not enough words to describe how much I admire her.
WELL said!
"Willis previously proposed March 4, 2024, as a start date, but after co-defendant Kenneth Chesebro demanded a speedy trial earlier this week, she called his bluff and requested that the trial begin on Oct. 23, 2023." She said she is ready to try ALL defendants in 2 months! Bet ya the Target nearest the courthouse is out of adult diapers!
Judge ordered Chesebro to trial on October 23, 2023! https://twitter.com/MacFarlaneNews/status/1694809353230967227
Metastasized to the nation indeed! The center, now wafer thin, could not hold. In the 1950s, when over 80% of Americans were white and 90% of them supported the systemic oppression of the other 20%, there was a thick, solid center ensuring the preservation of white advantages. Brown v Board cracked that center, and I can still hear the pigs squealing about bussing. Then LBJ got the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts through Congress in the mid-sixties, and (as LBJ predicted) the center broke down completely, and all pretense of humanity in the political party on the wrong side of center went rushing down the drain. Since then, the Americans on the wrong side of center have gotten ever more vicious. It is a small consolation that, today, the coalition on the humane side of center includes roughly 40% of white Americans, way up from 10% in the 1950s and that, plus demographic changes, has brought that coalition that’s on the humane side of center from roughly 30% of the electorate then up to about 50% of the electorate now. But the odds of that being enough to save democracy seem mighty slim, what with no center and almost all of the assault rifles and inclination to violence lying on the wrong side.
In the last six years, 32 million young Americans became eligible to vote while approximately 20 million older Americans died. The is no doubt that these potential younger voters overwhelmingly support the key issues before our electorate next November 2024: save our democracy, protection of reproductive rights, protection of LGBTQ rights, effective gun control legislation on a national basis, and massive federal investment asap in control of climate change. Registration of these young voters on a massive basis in key congressional districts and and encouragement of their “turnout” in the general election will be accomplished by a brilliant and effective group of Harvard students who run a nonpartisan 501c3 organization at www.Turnup.us/. Please click on that website now and please support their efforts to save our democracy! Thank you.
Thank you Ira. After getting lost or reveling in the mug shot and the 91 counts against the Putz that was a Pres, I needed someone to get us back into action.
Nothing matters more than a Blue Victory next year. And as you and I keep reminding folks, it is the votes of our young people who will make a difference. They are furious about Republican positions that deny science and tear away women's rights.
If there is anyone reading this who hasn't met Zev Shapiro at the organization Ira refers to, PLEASE go to www.turnup.us and be inspired by his creativity and effectiveness.
We can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can watch the sideshow of Trumps spiral dive into criminal oblivion AND take positive action to out vote a political party that has been captured by "cave people". Gen Y and Gen Z look at their elders who embrace religious nonsense to suppress women's rights with disdain. They look at the wildfires around the world and they ask "why??!!" and what are we doing about it?
The only roadblock to returning to sanity in public policy on these issues is a lack of participation. We have the numbers. We just have to show up! www.turnup.us
Wonderfully said Bill! Thank you for focusing on the critically deficient voting strategy of the Democratic Party institutions and their enormous singing choir-- namely send more money folks for us to waste on TV...wait for it please...that no-one 18 or older under the age of 30 watches--no-one! Want proof? Just ask any mother or father who has one of those younger folks still at home? And if you are a Substacker who is a parent of them, please weigh in and tell Bill and me that we are right or wrong?
So how are these aggressive campaign orgs spending their money to attract multi- millions of 18 to 29s to register and vote?
Correct! The DNC should be advertising on "MineCraft" and "Call to Duty" and every other game and social media vehicle seen on PHONES and tablets.
TV advertising convinces nobody. Most people watching cable news have made up their minds. They are locked in for the good guys or the bad guys. The place to be is the place that will drive TURNOUT. There is NO changing of minds. There is only getting people to vote. There are way more of "US" than "Them" - especially in that younger demographic.
Bill: Somehow I lost my reply to your excellent comment. But there are many other days. My other beef is that the usual supporting orgs (you know the usual ones which fill your incoming email list) are endlessly raising money for totally safe incumbents, or safe candidates replacing those incumbents, without a dime going to VR of 18s to 29s? How stupid?
Absolutely! Particularly when we are talking about 32 MILLION already eligible and perhaps 5 Million more who come of age to vote in the next 16 months! Can we just ignore them and waste billions on tv?
Thanks, Ira! The heart-warming thing about your data re:old folks passing; being replace by young, more agile minds, makes my day. I am one of the “older Americans” hoping I will be able to add one extra vote to the 32 m ‘youngsters’ who will have their first shots at defending our democracy.
Your comments reminded me that two of my three granddaughters will be among the voters you mention. Both are very aware of our current situation . The younger of the two has turned 18 in the past week and “can’t wait to vote”. (BTW, the third granddaughter is still a preteen but is at least as cognizant of the scene as the older two.). Let’s hope common sense and logic wins.
You obviously have a well informed family Anne! I will soon start listing one or two possible CDs each day for nonpartisan voter reg that folks like you can concentrate your effort to get friends and family to contribute to www.turnup.us/. Thanks agin Anne. We can do this!
Yes, and Turnup.us is one of many well-organized get-out-the-vote efforts. I work with one focusing on CA-22 in the California Central Valley and with one focusing on northeast Arizona. Both support trained, local organizers, and help with everything from voter registration to household necessities. The goal is to build community and bring it along as a political force.
Terrific but rarely used elsewhere!
Yes. The Democratic Party should put most of the money into get-out-the-vote. A billion might do it. And local organizers, trained and paid, should be at the center of it. Unfortunately, the Party leaves most of it to us amateurs and spends its money on TV ads.
Absolutely true! Never would happen because the consultants to every federal candidate get a kickback from the money spent on tv etc
I agree with you general views, of course, but I question your comment that the "coalition on the humane side of center" was 10% white in the 50s. That's really ridiculous to assert. In 1960, the population was 180,000,000 with 160,000,000 white and 20,000,000 people of color (contrasted with today, total is 330,000,000 and 200,000,000 white and 130,000,000 POC). If you take your number and apply it to the populations in 1960, you would have only 16,000,000 white people (10%) in the Democratic party and assume ALL of the people of color (although that could not be true), you would only have 36,000,000 people as Democrats and 140,000,000 GOP.
FAR FAR more white people in the late 1950s supported civil rights and the advancement of POC. It may not have been a majority of whites, but it was a very very large number, way more than 10%. If not, how would John Kennedy been elected?
It is a complex subject, and I agree that there has been a "white flight" from the "humane side" as you put it, over the years, resulting in the current state of our nation where 50,000,000 adults can actually seriously consider supporting a man like Trump. But its not fair to say that in the 50s the vast majority of white people were bigoted. I was growing up in the 50s and I was part of a very large liberal population in (guess which state!?) Arizona. I think you probably need to look closer at both the data and at various books and articles that have been written about this subject.
Thanks for listening :-).
Yeah... if the number was as small as Rex says, political passage of the Civil Rights Acts would have been impossible. Makes me curious to see what research has been done to attempt to quantify prior attitudes, though.
The Civil Rights Act wasn't passed in the 1950s.
It was passed in 1964. My argument against your number of 10% still stands.
Yes-America would have never made progress with racism without the support of some White people. It was never a majority though. There were many who put their lives on the line just as the abolitionists did when it came to slavery.
Unfortunately the passage of laws is never enough because they’ve effectively been circumvented.
Racism is alive and well-always has been a problem that we’ve yet to overcome. Schools and neighborhoods are still segregated, voting for Black folks is still perilous and having Black skin makes you a target for all kinds of violence from citizens and police alike.
Politicians rely on racism. It’s the most effective tool for divide and conquer. The “southern strategy”works. No one will be “free” until we root out racism.
I might be naive, but I was a kid in the 50’s and I grew up in a desegregated world being a military brat. I did not see bigotry in general, although I did see it occasionally on an individual basis. So I agree with Jon regarding his comment that our white population was not overwhelmingly bigoted. Let us hope it is the same today. Let us hope that the “haters” are smaller in number than their loud voices might indicate. Let us hope that reasonableness and democracy prevail.
I do not want ANYONE to think I was suggesting that there was no bigotry in the 50s. Bigotry was rampant back then, and not just in the South. I just don't think it was 90% of the white population. I actually think bigotry has grown in the white population over the past 3-4 decades (since the end of the Viet Nam war, mostly fomented by the idea that the country is "slipping away" from the white population).
Racism is not just an individual act. It’s built into our systems and society. If you’re not negatively affected by it you may not see racism for what it really is-a destructive, evil force.
I do not disagree, Gina. I was just speaking if my own experiences growing up.
I grew up in a lower middle-class white community in Kansas in the 1950s and saw many people with liberal views on race, but they were a small percentage of the white population. It's perhaps true that the percentage of conscious racists in the 1950s was well under 90%, but 90% were cussing "Bussing!", "Bussing!", "Bussing!", just like the 60% who are squealing "Woke!", "Woke!", "Woke!" (as a pejorative) now. Ten percent, remember, is many people because the population is large, but "many" doesn't make a strong political force. Political power comes from large percentages, not large numbers.
No insult intended but I think the midwest community hat you grew up in isn't necessarily a good example to draw percentages or absolute numbers from. Small midwest communities were (and still are) much "whiter" than say large cities (where the population centers are and where diversity is more likely to at leastt not manifest itself in outright racism across the board (not saying that racist attitudes do not play a part however). My point is that sure you probably had a larger percentage of your population that might have been yelling "no bussing" but comparatively, in larger cities you would have significant percentages of both POC and white populations who supported it (at least grudgingly). That would also be true on the coasts I expect. This just comes back to my point that any estimate that only 10% of the white population in the 50s and early 60s supported non-racist policies and attitudes just doesn't seem correct. It might not have been 90% or even 50% but it was a lot more than 10%.
I lived in the biggest city in Kansas. Like most cities, it leaned Democratic, but it wasn’t just Republicans who were complaining (to put it mildly) about bussing. That was a dog whistle, like “woke” is now, for an all-out effort to preserve systemic white advantages, and it worked vey well, and not just in Kansas. When I left Kansas (which I did as soon as I could) and went to Silicon Valley (before it became known as Siilicon Valley), I was greatly relieved but still found plenty of white people intent in preserving their systemic advantages. Probably not 90% in that area, but well over 60%.
Furthermore, it’s still 90% of white voters in most rural areas.
Wow Rex; awesome compilation; you have thought about this at great length. Bravo !
Rex-your analysis gets to the root of our problems. It’s important for Americans to realize that racism has always been a driving force in shaping our systems and society.
HCR details the history. Every time ideas and actions related to equality for Black Americans surface, there’s trouble and turmoil in this nation.
Think about it-the Civil War, Reconstruction, Civil Rights, Rodney King, Obama’s election, George Floyd and so much more.
We need to realize that racism trumps (pun intended) everything. Yet we rarely discuss race. I can see no other reason for so many White people to support Trump and the Republicans.
Maybe one day we will overcome-let’s hope so. When we move beyond dividing and classifying people by skin color then we can begin living up to our ideals and really be an “exceptional” nation.
Rex, there's a few of us over on the right side (that is to say, not the wrong side of this) that have the skills and the hardware to defeat the wrong side.
Yes, I think the people who sympathize with kleptocratic autocracy (most of whom are motivated mostly by racism, egged on by the wealthy few who benefit financially from kleptocratic autocracy) can be defeated at the polls, but just barely, with a sufficiently energetic get-out-the-vote effort, which is where I put all the time and money I can muster. However, defeating them at the polls won't be enough. They comprise roughly half of the population, and about two-thirds of them (which comes to about a third of the population) are murderous thugs. I don't know how democracy can survive when it is opposed by a third of the population, especially when that third has almost all the guns, and dominates the field in violent inclinations, to boot. We can't throw them all in jail, and if they're not confined, they'll be out there fomenting violence. At the same time, the wealthy ones will be gumming up the system with well-financed lawsuits. The few oligarchs who are charged with crimes will stretch out their prosecutions long enough to make them evaporate. Of course, a few thousand violent peons may be jailed, and that might discourage the more timid among them, but whether that will be enough to save democracy is a dicey question. I'm peddling as fast as I can, but I don't expect to succeed.
I had hoped that Nixon's shame would arrest the spread of corruption of corruption for some time to come, but Ford resuscitated it. Reagan spread it party-wide.
That I have believed, is and has been 'exhibit A' cause of this chaos in our modern times, the 1950's to present generation. That is the absolute failure to affect deserved proportionate consequences of any kind in that pool of events JL. Pardon powers need some limitations, exclusions, etc., in law. It can't remain a 'magic wand' without qualifications. We need language as well regarding lying SCOTUS prospects as well. jmho - What's your thoughts friend ?
I could not watch the debate and chose to watch tennis and the Yankees. I did listen to various commentaries about the debate and thought Ari Melbers comment was intuitive. He said something like, all the candidates on the stage were akin to Trump's little children and were carrying on Daddy's fight even if he wasn't there. The image of the motorcade escorting him to the station for his arrest and mug shot and his plane on the tarmac waiting to take him back to NJ are shocking. Its surreal and sad. He is a horrible destructive evil strain of a virus.
Snow White and his dwarves.
"I could not watch the debate and chose to watch tennis and the Yankees."
In other words, you have some self- respect and decent priorities. Congrats, Ellen!
The Yankees are almost as hard to watch.
Painful.
And, where was it that the devil went down to....? Lady Justice's state. Delish. Love her as she refuses to play games with the devil and his cohorts.
Thank you Heather. And let’s not forget the members of the Senate and the House who remain active, seemingly as accessories after the fact, who voted against certification of the 2020 election results.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/07/us/elections/electoral-college-biden-objectors.html
George A. Polisner,
Your attitude toward HCR's position would seem to be very different from that of former Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, who said:
“What if a court ultimately rules that Donald Trump had a right under the First Amendment to make his Jan. 6 speech and to do what he did? Then Jack Smith will have conspired to deny him of that right. That’s how serious this is.
“Jack Smith … deliberately, willfully and maliciously leaves out the words that President Trump spoke on Jan. 6 in his terrible speech, which I disagree with, but what he said was, ‘I want you to assemble peacefully and patriotically.’
“Jack [Smith] leaves that out. That is a lie, a lie, an omission lie, and if you’re going to indict somebody for telling lies, don’t tell lies in the indictment. If you’re going to indict somebody for denying people their constitutional rights, don’t deny them their constitutional rights by indicting them for free speech. That’s how hypocritical this is.”
"Dershowitz: Jack Smith Could Be ‘Indicted’ If Trump Wins Case Against Him"
https://conservativebrief.com/dershowitz-jack-75443/
Freedom of speech is not absolute and it most certainly doesn’t protect incitement of imminent illegal action, violence, or insurrection. Dershowitz simply wants to be next in line for a collection of unpaid invoices for the twice impeached, indicted, future prisoner apprentice.
https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/what-does
George, 'twould seem Alan Dershowitz, the Clarence Thomas of academic lawyers, is repeatedly quoted for exactly the same reasons!...
Dershowitz is quite popular with reactionaries, for obvious reasons.
Trump’s speech is not per se criminal and Jack Smith does not claim that it was so Dershowitz is wrong as usual. The federal indictment is much more inclusive and specific as to his criminal acts!
He is no longer president #45.
He is inmate #P01135809.
If he is convicted, shouldn't his pension and security and every other perk end?
Unfortunately, no. A former president is protected for life, unless the Congress by majority vote in BOTH chambers removes that protection. Presidential pensions are federal and are not removed because of criminal conviction.
More shocking that we have no restriction on convicts (even those in prison) running for President (or other federal office). We would need to pass constitutional amendments for these issues because the Supreme Court has ruled repeatedly that the only qualifications that can be imposed on elected federal office holders are those stated in the Constitution. Should we? I don't know. There is an old adage that hard cases make bad law. I.e., don't adjust the law to deal with limited or one-of-a-kind cases and situations because you (a) probably don't need to do that and (b) what you will end up with may be worse than the problem you thought you had. This has never happened before and we should be cautious before using it to justify major changes in the Constitution (assuming we could even make that happen which is doubtful at least for the foreseeable future).
I have always maintained that there needs to be an Amendment that requires any candidate for President or Vice President to have served as either a Governor, Senator, or General. There is a reason that until recently that seemed an unspoken requirement. Nothing can fully prepare you for the job regardless, but any government experience less than that level and you truly cannot know what the heck you are doing. I thought this before 2016, and I think so doubly since then.
Oh, there you go again. Using common sense. So, you are saying qualification matters?
I doubt such a logical approach could ever be law. But at one time, such concepts were common sense and most Americans liked the idea of "experience". It's really a DUH.
I spent decades hiring thousands of employees. The FIRST thing any manager with a brain does is look at experience and whether it applies to the job in question. Suggesting that a "businessman" whose specialty was bankrupt casinos, over priced hotels and selling real estate to Russians is somehow a background for the leader of the free world staggers the mind of anyone who has ever read a job application.
Trump becoming President was the equivalent of putting the CEO of a pizza chain in charge of the CIA or the army. And this idea that an "outsider" should come to town to "drain the swamp" is naive populist BS.
Interesting, Bill. I was never in the "hiring" position. My career was in law enforcement (I tested with about 8 different agencies before being hired) and I had a degree in Criminology from a 4 year college. My prior work experience had been in retail grocery (excellent way back then to earn money for school, especially with a store owner that let me work reduced schedules during the seasons where I played competitive athletics) and included some time as "night manager" where I had some supervisory authority. Then and now, military experience was seen as a given entry point, as long as other qualifications were met.
The outcome of that hiring paradigm was that the guys (all guys then, not now) who were military had a bit of a head start, but by the time the year of probation was up, there was no advantage. I had the opportunity in my career to be an FTO, or field training officer (aside: more than half of the current supervisory structure of the agency I retired from are former trainees of mine, to include the Chief Deputy and Patrol Captain). One thing that I learned is that life experience was as important as military service or being a Police Explorer Scout or Reserve Deputy. When dealing with the public, life experience and empathy are crucial skills that are hard to quantify.
Good point, Will. Although I personally disliked Hilary, I voted for her. I did think that she was well prepared for the office, arguably the best prepared person ever. Why? She is an attorney. While SHE was not governor, her husband was, and seeing how she was always closely involved in his administrations, she must have been very aware of how a state is run.
She became the wife of a POTUS, and worked very hard to improve healthcare--learning how difficult it was to promote change. She was a US Senator. And she was Secretary of State! She certainly understood what the job involved.
Before anyone mentions it, I financially supported Bernie for POTUS. I am sure there will be arguments that he had the nomination stolen from him. That is not the point I am trying to make.
I fully agree with you, Will, from Cal. i have been thinking the same thing since 2016 when that cretin Donald TUMP became Dictator and was letting his crime family members picking out his Cabinet staff. That alone told me what a farce and a phony that TUMP was going to be.
Interesting idea. It would never pass the constitutional amendment requirement I am sure, but it is definitely a good idea. I might be a LITTLE more liberal on this, for instance maybe two terms as Congresscritter would work too. And it would be reasonable to permit a VP to NOT be qualified this way and then serving as VP would qualify you. But in general, in a democracy, it should be up to the people to make these decisions by voting properly. Its the same as term limits. I am adamantly opposed to term limits. For me, you should limit someone's term by voting them out of office. Otherwise, you are permitting laws to serve in place of the judgement of the people, and the reason is because you don't trust the judgement of the people. If that is the case, your democracy is doomed anyway. If the people can't be trusted than the government is just a sham.
I agree on all points with you, and your last sentence really holds true, ''If the people can't be trusted, then the government is just a sham...
Or mayor.
Thanks. Man o man.
This points back to ‘he never should have been allowed to cross the threshold of our White House.’
Democracy is a mess, even when it is working. But better than the others, as the saying goes . . . b.rad
Jon, perhaps a federal pension would not be forfeit for just any criminal conviction, but what about one for having violated U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 3, or 18 USC §2383 by participating in an insurrection or rebellion, or having violated any one or more of the statutes governing classified documents, as alleged? I mean, this isn't just a B-Flat mass murder - at least as far as we know - but a violation of his oath to uphold the Constitution. Wretched individual.
They've given you a number, and taken 'way your name.... (maybe)
Hopefully a future inmate. But I like referring to him as "P01135809" instead of "TFG" or "45"
PO113' to his friends.
Does stone have anymore room for a president's mug tattooed on his back?
If not, he can tatt #45's inmate number around his neck.
Thank you Professor, the marking of a sad day for our country. I hope all those involved including congressman will be held to the letter of the law and made examples for the traitors they are
215# 6'3"? Oh look.....lie #2313827
The former basketball star Rex Chapman posted what looks to be a current photo of himself at the free-throw line on Twitter. He said this is what 6'3" and 215 pounds look like. Chapman is lean and buff.
Someone help me out here---there was a story about his height, and as an example, there was a photo of him standing next to Obama at the Inauguration. Obama's height was known and comparing Trump to him...........uh...............
215? Oh my god.
I know, right? 215? In what unit of measurement, exactly? English stones? Gallons-of-bullshit? Hamburders-since-yesterday?
And blobs of orange protoplasm.
All I want to know is: what brand of scale did he use. I want one just like it.
Lol
That was just unbelievable stupidity. The whole internet is dying laughing.
TUMP is more like, 6'0'' and 415. I have heard he wears these '' high lift'' shoes to make him look taller, i don't know if that is true or not, it was something i read about a year ago.
Alexandra, see "Bonnies" theory above to make 215. But, is not Helium which as High School Chem taught is & other Commenters know is an"inert" gas.
Brought to mind the baby Trump blimp..😂
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-64411569
My husband is 6’2” 250. He looks svelte next to Donny.
I thought maybe it was a type-o, 6'3" and 315lbs maybe...
Early again! I hope this means you are having a restful rest of your summer. Just caught up with your political chat. I’m so grateful you do those in addition to your letters, your podcast with Joanne and your books. But your chats are priceless. I don’t know why but I get such a sense of community there. 🤓
Brandy, you get that sense because Heather is a firm believer in the value of community.
And has created a community here. Other than the fact that we are separated by time and distance, this community joins me for my morning coffee here at my home, just as if we all met at the local coffee house for morning coffee and talked the events of the day.
I think I must first have encountered Heather in 2020 through her Facebook posts and especially her Tuesday and Thursday live chats. The community-builder voice comes through even more clearly when it's backed up by her actual voice (not to mention the Heatherisms that don't generally make it into print, like "Congresscritters" or "He said, 'Dude, you' - no, he didn't actually say 'dude', I'm paraphrasing - ").
Agree, Brandy!
Let's turn to the dictionary for synonyms for authoritarianism to drive home how chilling Heather's closing paragraph is:
- tyranny
- dictatorship
- fascism
- autocracy
- totalitarianism
Those are the first five. Lower on the Merriam-Webster page are antonyms as well. They further paint a can't-look-away picture of the fight we're locked in. They include freedom, democracy, and self-rule — all now under dire, out-in-the-open threat.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authoritarianism
That closing paragraph says quite simply that they are not worthy of votes. That they must not be voted for. This is in deadly earnest.
The closing paragraph is chilling! Oh so chilling!
I'm partly just making this up, but it seems to me that authoritarianism is a manifestation of extreme narcissism. Not just the dear Fearless Leader, but cult following that gets stroked with some form of flattering supremacism in exchange for being used. Trump, and salient Republicans in general are way full of themselves. Some people are genuine resources as experts, but authoritarians invest ultimate veracity in some person, Il Duce, Big Brother, whatever,regarding the final arbiter of truth as human. Apart from the fact that all known sentient awareness is the product of a nervous system, others seek to verify one's own beliefs, in logic, evidence and in collaborative and critical thought and dialog (so far as practical); the aspiration of The Enlightenment.
And at the core of those nervous systems are extreme insecurity - lives damaged from birth and shaped by horrible parents. Their projected self image is an exaggerated form of subterfuge because their real self image is that of a quivering, frightened little child. They twist their personal fear into terrorizing others. They are the ultimate fakers.
Authoritarianism relies on violence to affect human behavior; shunning if not outright physical violence. Kids are terrified into conformity via PTSD. I works, but at a terrible price, and often with ugly side effects. There may be an ethical system, but it's the "just following orders" kind. The assumption of supremacy of the cult keepers makes predatory behavior behavior toward those of a lower presumed status acceptable, even a state to glory in. And isn't that really what we mean by the word "evil", in the sense that applies to Hitler?
Narcissism is an authoritarian trait. A keep one.
The 9/11 attackers were immersed in such a self-validating narcissistic delusion that they were willing to kill themselves to kill thousands of vulnerable others. They were fanatics, as opposed to opportunists, the sort Trump is. Both dispense evil.
Right, but notice where there "brave" leader was? These "strongmen" are not, they just inspire others to do their evil. I keep waiting for someone to push the orange coward in the nose in public. Can you imagine is Hillary had turned around on that debate stage and walk up to him and told him to sit down?
Another factor is simply that they intensely believe that the nation must mesh with their perceived reality. There is no room for the ambiguity that is inescapable in life and is a fundamental part of democracy.
Churchill is supposed to have said "Nature never draws a line without smudging it.". That seems to be true and not true at the quantum level, but certainly true at the human level. Reality is four dimensional when you notice the inevitable flow of time; not flat or linear, as some would have it.
I've often mused for a very long time that an intentional, intensive effort at broad general education has been and is still overdue. Specifically regarding not only those terms, synonyms and antonyms, but education regards the real and mythical threats to our system we swore oaths to, such as : if a man or woman leans or wears a party or personal political philosophy of say, Socialist, or Social Democrat such Sanders, that of itself is no threat to our system's underlying strength and sustainability, as long as the checks and balances are intact and fortified as designed. Does that make sense.... my mind went off on auto pilot for a minute, and I don't feel like editing.
Yes, but I'm only one cup of coffee in.
I keep thinking about the fact that Heather has made the study of the Republican party her field of history. Now, judging by those final comments, she thinks it's imploding. That must be an eerie feeling, to see the subject of your life's work change so dramatically.
Heather has stated that she is probably the foremost expert on the history of the Republican party, but she has also repeatedly stated that her field of study is American political history from the late 1700s to the present. That would include the history of the Republican party, but not exclusive to it, and would also include the stunning reversal of roles among the parties in the late 19th century-early 20th centuries. She is also an expert in other aspects of our nation's political history during that period. No doubt she, like many of us, is gobsmacked by seeing the extreme changes in the Republican party over last 30-40 years. But as a historian, this IS her life's work: documenting the changes throughout the history of the USA, and the factors behind it. Now, as a historian, she has the unique advantage of being able to grasp and explain what is happening in real time as she places them in historical perspective. As a citizen, she has frequently expressed the same kinds of concerns we do about how these changes are affecting democracy. Her subject hasn't changed, but her focus has.
The surprising thing is that it took 236 years for someone to try this. There is a coup sized hole in the constitution and it was there from the start.
Yes. Thomas Rick's book First Principles explained how much the Founders believe in virtue of the leaders. There were few among them that were not and they knew it.
What the conservative/libertarians have been doing is abandoning virtue that push one to follow norms and ethics. It requires integrity. Sadly that seems nonexistent in these people.
You read the Lewis Powell Memo you find the basis and playbook.
Indeed Annabel
Why do you say that, Annabel? What hole? This whole situation has been aberrant from the start, but it doesn't mean there is something structually wrong. You can dislike the Electoral College, but it has its benefits too, and if we switched to a strict popular vote, then many many people in the country would feel disenfranchised too. It should be adjusted, I agree, but I still don't see any "coup-sized hole", not assuming the courts acted properly. Now, with the current Supreme Court, there are some concerns, I agree, but hopefully they will rise up and do the right thing when these cases finally land in their lap (as they almost certainly will). No matter WHAT people think, even about Thomas and Alito, I have to keep my own faith that NONE of them would actually support such an insane set of actions as happened in Jan 2021.
I dint see a "coup sized hole' either, but no Supreme Court with Alito and Thomas can truly be trusted. Also, there are no "benefits" to be gained from the electoral college. It remains the rotting appendix within our body politic
My answer is long so I put in in a note:
https://substack.com/profile/23555657-annabel-ascher/note/c-39029937?r=e0vnt&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
It's not that long and it's well written. Setting up some rules for who can or can't hold public office seems like common sense to me.
If states are allowed to prohibit citizens from simply voting because of a criminal record, why on God's Green (it's getting brown) Earth wouldn't we have some basic standards that prevent crooks from becoming leaders?
My Republican parents, moderates that they were who both became Democrats after the vitriolic 1992 GOP Convention, are rolling over somewhere in the spirit world, astonished that in the 20 plus years after their deaths our nation elected a failed real estate salesman turned reality TV personality.
A lifelong criminal from when he was caught at age 10 throwing rocks at a toddler in a playpen next door.
I also read that when he was about 11 or12 years old when he was in grade school, he got very angry at one of his school teachers and TUMP hit him in the face with his fist. His Father sent him to Military School after that. TUMP was very bad even when he was a child.
That was when he was six, and nothing was done - it was the rocks at the playpen that got him sent to juvenile delinquent finishing school, er, I mean military academy.
I blame Mark Burnett for this whole sordid mess. I hope he’s proud of the monster he created.
I was just saying the same thing to my husband. Ironic that Burnett literally jumped ship in LA and started his sordid life in America as an illegal immigrant.
Sounds like my folks, as well. They were "I like Ike" folks. Perhaps they are sharing a cocktail in that spirit world, raising a glass to the mug shot?
I blame Mark Burnett for this whole unhappy mess. I hope he’s proud of the monster her created.
"Reagan tied government defense of civil rights to socialism, insisting that the government was using tax dollars from hardworking Americans to give handouts to lazy people, often using code words to mean "Black.' "
One of Reagan's "codewords" was captured on tape prior to his presidency:
“To watch that thing on television, as I did, to see those, those monkeys from those African countries – damn them, they’re still uncomfortable wearing shoes!”
As James Garner - who knew Reagan well - said, "an amiable dunce."
GE and other big business es used Reagan, then turned to W (who realized in 2006 how he'd been used by Cheney, etal), and then Putin pushed Trump to the forefront. All were useful idiots (prior to modern day, Warren Harding was another.
They never stopped using 'code words' JL. When I finally cracked that code 15 or 20 years ago, it was like a bright light went on for me. When I tossed their words back at them, I got big time pushback, and outright threats, making myself a 'mark'. Ironic as it's always seemed to me, my opinion of the strength / backbone of the unholy coalition that makes up today's gop leadership is commerce interests who would break the backs of people and unions, and seek to enshrine "capitalism" within our Constitution, among other goals. The other principle 'leg' is a fundamental christian coalition, who would enshrine a national religion umbrella within the constitution, and as always, keep those tithes / sheathes filling the collection plates. Both of just those two coalition 'legs' have made horrible compromises to any principle that makes their 'tents' larger - to include avowed bigots, supremacists, etc.
"At last night’s Republican primary debate, all the candidates except former New Jersey governor Chris Christie and former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson pledged they would support Trump as the 2024 Republican nominee even if he’s convicted." (Huh. The *former* officeholders. Interesting coincidence.)
Or, to put in another way, Republicans would rather support a *convicted crimminal* than a Democrat. Considering the crimes involved, clearly they would rather support a *traitor* than a Democrat. In their eyes, being a Democrat - a fellow American of a different political persuasion - is lower than being a crimminal, an even worse form of treason, and this seems so self-evident to them that they have no qualms making it known in the most public fashion.
These people claim they are ready to lead a nation of 350 million, yet have no hesitation pledging fealty to someone else who is not even in the room. Someone who - simultaneously - is referring to all opposed to him, a group that includes me and my family, as "animals."
I'm known for being prone to lean toward the lugubrious, but there really is nothing else to be said here.
To the members on this forum who are true conservatives or former Republicans, I am very grateful for you. We may not agree on everything, but we both have chosen to stand with truth, integrity, and empathy over lies, cowardice, and hatefulness. To those still in the cult, I don't like you either, and I'll continue to see you at the ballot box.
Will, I have given up hope that any elected person with (R) after their name has no integrity nor courage. I will give Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger the nod of integrity and courage, and I would encourage them to try and take their party back.
And so curious that the former vp, who was ready to be thrown to the lions, professes fealty to tfg
Proof that what we are dealing with here is a cult, not a political party.
Glimpses of light from a distance are finally revealing the truth - about our country, those four awful years, about the grift from the tax cuts to the pandemic relief, and about the man who tried to steal it all away from the American people. Yet, we are still so far away from the light of truth, and the correctness that only Justice brings. We must March on and demand it, without favor or even forgiveness, if we are ever to heal together.
It seems to me that, to the degree it is possible, real justice embraces the whole story. Who is gaining, who is suffering, and why? "Equal Justice under Law" is engraved on the SCOTUS building. That's aspirational, of course, but we come a lot closer at certain times than others. The "love" of money and power is a powerful corrupter. It's the "all" part that makes it justice; fair treatment for some and not for others is not justice, or at least damaged justice. Impunity for some is not justice.
Some don't want justice at all, they want to bully. Perhaps the most important mission of government is to curtail bullying, and here I include rape and murder, but those who would be bullies defame that as "the nanny state".
AND he (seems to have) lied in his statement of height and weight. The absurdity won't lel me alone.
See Also: https://mas.to/@mickeleh/110947601041026665
I would pay to see one round with him and Muhammad Ali.
I'M 84 and would love one round with him.
Even a flyweight contender could do the job Michael. lol.. He's a known coward, full of only bs, and acting skills.
As an actor, I take sincere umbrage at the idea that he has ACTING skills LOL... BS for sure, but not acting skills :-)
Uta Hagen would posit he lacks specificity, authenticity, and preparation, and be appropriately displeased.
I beg the pardon of any pro's Jon. He's comfortable behind a camera and microphone to be 'clearer'. *edit in > You no doubt resent that Reagan, even though a failure as one, is still considered by some as a former 'actor'. The reality of course is that GE rescued, revived, supported, and honor transformed him into a different empty shill. Yes shill, not shell.
I would argue that he wasn't a failure as an actor. He made a lot of films (almost 100) along with a lot of television and was considered easy to work with and a reasonably decent actor albeit not a Brando or anything like that. For the record, I hated Reagan as both Governor of California and President, but I think he was clearly in a different class than Trump. I am not sure where you think GE "rescued" him. Sure they made him their spokesperson and made him much more wealthy, but they also got a guy who was at least well liked by a large part of the public.
I thought he made his money from "Borax" ! /s
He played corny faux folksy adequately, though even as kid he seemed phony to me. Perhaps I underestimate that part of him. As a kid I admired Cary Grant and James Mason; seemingly smooth and competent characters.
Contemporary media commented on how out of it Reagan seemed from the start of his presidency, but made excuses for him. I don't know how much of the "Reagan Revolution" was his brainchild and how much he was primarily its salesman. Reagan trashed "government" but it was really a weasel-worded attack on democracy, extolling plutocracy in its place. Trump rose from the seed the Reagan administration planted. Reagan's Interior wanted to decide species protection based on the species commercial value. Reagan tried to shutter Nixon's EPA. Even Republicans had been willing to vote for Nixon's conviction; thus his resignation. "Gilded Age" style plutocracy and corruption (that and institutionalized racism, the shame of Democrats) seized the "GOP" in a new and more fundamental way.
That would be like dropping an "A" bomb on a cockroach.