Crises often seem to bring out the best and the worst in people, and this one is no exception. It is refreshing and encouraging to hear Democrats tell truth to tyrannical Big Liars. Pritzker spoke, plainly, eloquently, pointedly, and earnestly. That is essential to how we win.
Hey, may be a good time to visit Chicago wearing a protest tee shirt! The Governor is a great supporter of the state. Glad he spoke up. Now, we wait & see what T & his minions try to do to IL.
Democrats telling this truth is too little too late. We are now in a full blown crisis and we still let Trump tell lies about the Biden administration. Thank goodness for this Governor but where is congress? Where is the truth about the Biden admin. The way the democrats let Trump go after Jan 6. I have little faith
It is NOT too little, nor too late. That is an absurdity that too many people are repeating without merit out of pure laziness. And Democrats did NOT let Trump go after January 6, Republicans did. What version of history have you been subscribing to?
The occasion is certainly "piled high with difficulty" to quote Abraham Lincoln. Yet he went on to say "we must disenthrall ourselves" in order to think anew, act anew and save the country. I think it's high time we tried.
Thanks to " It's come to this" I am so discouraged but you have heartened me. Doesn't everyone remember when Biden left, our economy was the envy of the world? Is it because the mainstream media is owned by the rich that they kept on and on about Biden's age and mental state, all the while Trump enlightened us that ' helicopters go up, then they go down" and sharks and whales and windmills and water pressure in showers and dogs and cats are eaten by Haitians were worthy topics to talk about? The Republicans, in their compliance,well, I will never forgive them for ruining this country I love.It wasn't perfect, but we were working on it, and now it's a mess. Suffering abounds. God help us .
And above Mike Johnson was mentioned. There was a bipartisan immigration bill proposed before the election. A person called traitor Johnson up; this person was not elected, held no political position and told him to not let that bill go up for a vote. The immigration bill died. The press should have been shouting this fact from the rooftops. Immigrants were a stupid, dumb issue in the election, according to me and everyone in my circle of friends. Full disclosure: I am married to one, I speak Spanish, my best friend is from Iran, my neighbors are Bulgarian with whom I exchange Christmas cookies. Can everyone just contemplate the suffering that would have been avoided if the orange menace had not called speaker Johnson??!!! They are traitors all with Stephen Miller mixing it with being stark raving mad . It has caused me unbelievable amounts of stress and sadness, to see us like this . Oh yeah, I am also related to gay people whom I love. This happens if you have enough cousins and nieces and nephews, uncles and aunts. I can't believe I am unique. We gotta have courage and fight, peacefully, these horrible excuses for whatever they think they are .
I may be wrong, but, of the seventeen districts in Illinois, there are only three districts held by Republicans, or MAGA would be more accurate. They ran Adam Kinzinger out of the party and he gave up his seat. The media should be pointing out that it is cities and states currently run by Republcans, that have higher murder and crime rates than Chicago, They should be contrasting Trumps lies with the truth, and, facts instead of letting him get off without correction. I applaud Governor Pritzker and Gavin Newsom for leading the fight started by those Democratic state representatives who left their state to make an issue of the power grab in Texas.
Problem is, Daniel, the party of Lincoln no longer exists in the minds of republicans in Illinois. I don’t know how many exist; I just know that almost all have been either bought or sold. The irony is that they have become the new “slave” issue and they don’t even know it.
Exactly! Those who whine about Dems not doing anything about immigration forget all the Dem immigration legislation that was voted down or never debated, only because it would have given the Dems a win. Unconscionable.
I have lived in lily white Oregon all my life. My community is overwhelmingly white. I had a gay Aunt. I am a gay Aunt. I have a much larger lesbian circle of friends as that is my community.
I'll be next to you fighting, and ready to defend anyone who is the victim of "not peaceful" resistance.
Back in the day, such relationships raised few eyebrows. They were just called "Boston marriages." And when Annie Sullivan died, all the newspapers noted she had been "the longtime companion of Helen Keller."
Today, "friends of Dorothy" aren't going quietly into those stuffy little closets anymore. Lavender takes its place at the forefront of the charge.
You have a rich life with such a diversity of people. (My best friend is from Boston, I’m from Chicago. 😌 ) I value the richness of diversity where I come from.
Yet, in the news yesterday was a man and his children that stood by, and watched his legal citizen wife be taken away because she was an immigrant, and still, yes STILL refused let go of their insane belief in DJT's righteousness.
Pam B that is why I carry a pitch fork. Though I try to look innocuous people occasionally do ask why I have a wooden handle protruding from my pants leg, and metal tines above my head. Usually they have a puzzled look when I offer “concealed carry” by way of explanation. In reality it is my idea of an ICE pick for those bullies who deserve it.
Elizabeth, Thank you for this post and pointing out what happened as little johnson scuttled the immigration bill. We live in a diverse neighborhood and I hope we do not see ICE. Both our lawn service and our cleaning service coming this am are immigrants. I worry about them. They all work very hard and are not criminals. Now the regime is going to check all 55 million (I think that is the number I saw) green card holders. That includes our nephew's wife. A number of my ex-students are married to their same sex partners along with some gay friends who I cherish. One of them is going to Lesbos shortly to DJ as part of the International Women's Festival. i hope that she has no trouble returning.
Don't forget that when John Boehner was Speaker of the House a similar bipartisan immigration bill including Republican Sens. Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, John McCain and Jeff Flake among others, was also never allowed to come to a vote on the House floor.
There was a bipartisan immigration bill proposed before the election. A person called traitor Johnson up; this person was not elected, held no political position and told him to not let that bill go up for a vote. The immigration bill died. The press should have been shouting this fact from the rooftops
I guess T's buddies want us all to put our friends & families into columns according to color, creed, sexual identity! They refuse to admit how complex our society really is. They also don't want anyone to find out they may have a 'misfit' in their family.
"Hope is your superpower. Don't let anybody or anything make you hopeless. Hope is the enemy of injustice. Hope is what will get you to stand up when people tell you to sit down."
-- Bryan Stephenson, Director of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Alabama and author of "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption."
More than 70 million people in the USA and a few BILLION people in the world remember a lot of the good that President Biden did. I did not realize that all of us became "nobody". Speak for yourself Sandra Simpson. We are not going to be members of ypur doomsday club.
How do you think we got here? Trump tells voters constantly how Biden should have never been elected. He spreads Biden lies while we sit back and criticize those that nail the problem and the problem is the Dems and the way they get the message across
Little Sandra, he helped student loan borrows retire their debt. He expanded Medicaid. He got the chips and Science act passed. And your sorry self might be alive because of him, bc despite the fantastic development of highly effective vaccines for covid, we couldn't get them distributed. He put together the inoculation program that got it into people.
He got the supply chain unsnarled.
He got us out of afghanistan despite the cluster the orange cocksplat "negotiated" with the afghan government who fled when the taliban came back, because again, the orange witless one fucekd it up.
People with brains and understanding actually do remember what Biden did.
Unfortunately you aren't one of them. I'm sick of stupid people like you.
Why do you bother to read this and not understand? Oh, you're here to troll.
I do not read Ms Simpson as denying the good that Biden did. She is complaining - and rightfully angry - that the press and a lot of the public is letting Trump get away with running Biden down. That's not trolling for a second.
So much press - still! - about Biden's mental slowness, and so very little about Trump's ongoing and increasing dementia - can he finish the same sentence he started? Biden was slow on the uptake sometimes, but not incoherent, not irrelevant and not nasty. Trump is all of those, and corrupt, incompetent and cruel too.
And there's this. Biden got Covid shots in the arms of Americans (despite fake news resistance to vaccines). Life as we knew it came back, and the Infrastructure Act we were waiting for went into motion. Unemployment went down, followed by crime, as those with a job and positive outlook on the future found hope where once there was none. January 20, 2025, is when the shit show came back with a vengeance.
I am beyond negative! I am mad and you should be also. Btw. In “ little “ Sandra’s state NC has paid 1 billion dollars into school vouchers. 1 billion in the last 10 years. If these are private schools with charitable status they pay no property tax, no capital gains tax. One school was recently sold for 92 million dollars. Who is making money here. I am beyond negative.
Jen, I share your frustration with naysayers. Yet, sometimes I am one.
But I have to remind myself – and you – that not everyone is eloquent. Many have trouble sharing their thoughts without benefit of tone of voice, facial expression and gestures. Words alone fail many. Others, in the heat of emotion, tap the "Reply" button without proofreading.
In this enormously troubled time of grief and angst, we need to cut everyone a little slack, and hope they will do the same when we spout off.
but how often do we see the press or any public figure pushing back against Trump's lies about Biden's achievements? Just about never. WAY too much casual acceptance that his term was a failure, when he did a bunch of very good things and would have done more with a majority of the House after 2022.
But what about the voters? The majority of voters had no idea and now trump tells us all daily that Biden ruined the country. How do we counteract that?
That will always confound me. I think it is our culture's need for entertainment. Biden did his work and didn't get caught up in idiotic trivial junk. To me, it was a sense of CALM and someone worthy in control.
Remember how UPSET people were that Jill posted giant hearts (I think it was) on the WH lawn for Valentine's day? Now we have monkey-brain paving over the historic Rose Garden. My God. Sigh.
I loved Joe Biden as president, he did an enormous amount of good, but he also failed us in appointing Garland at the DOJ, who triply failed us in not arresting, the clown we have for president today, for his part in Jan 6. Everything that is happening now is a direct result of that failure, everything! It isn’t Kamala’s fault that we are where we are today, it’s Garland’s. 🤬🤬🤬🙏
Negativity? I agree negativity fuels the fire. We are obsessed with feeding Trump rather than promote the Dems. But I will not stick my head in the sand. Dems have sat back and waited for poles to tell them what to do for too long. Dems have isolated the voters and I am here to help them get back on track. We are not helping the Dems unless we the voters speak out.
Doesn't everyone remember when Biden left, our economy was the envy of the world? Is it because the mainstream media is owned by the rich that they kept on and on about Biden's age and mental state, all the while Trump enlightened us that ' helicopters go up, then they go down"
Or remember when over-concentration of media ownership was prohibited, and for that matter the days of robust antitrust (AKA anti-monopoly). Monopolization of the economy, information and governmental power was always the antithesis of a society of, by and for the people. When purchase is the ultimate power, we are living in a plutocracy, and with classic corruption.
I believe that we will always be "working on it." We will rescue this democracy even though we will have to roll up our sleeves and work together. I have fallen into despondency - a potentially deep hole if ever there was one. Gratefully, I manage to climb out in order to participate with like minded fighters. I guess this might be a cycle for many of us. We must continue to climb out of the hole, into the sunlight, and seek people with goals that we can work for.
It's come to this, what's the difference between if democrats or Trump or the republicans let Trump go after Jan 6? Trump and the republicans are in the same boat and function as one and the democrats wasted a precious time trying to go high, by the book and following the procedures. The end result? We are facing the abyss or we are already falling into it. Had the republicans have a spine and a grain of decency and the democrats done their job, Trump would be in jail and this country would be still Great.
You seem to forget the role of the Supreme Court in all of this. The House did hold T responsible for January 6, as did the Justice Department. And, of course, Republicans refused, with the leadership of Mitch McConnell, to convict the president once he was impeached (for the second time) during his first term. Then, the Republican majority on the court set us up for this by saying that whatever the President does in the course of his duties is not a crime. I'm not sure they'll protect Chicago or any other blue city, but I suppose it's premature to say that. There is no insurrection there (as there was none in the District of Columbia, although the law is different there with regard to the powers of the presidency.)
Bingo. CJ Roberts shamelessly and deliberately squashed Jack Smith’s January 6 case, and then twisted the knife with his “presidential immunity/official duties” ruling. He should be hung for enabling this fascist takeover.
Roberts has always wanted to go down in history as a great leader and a model justice. However, he is earning his legacy as an integral part of the destruction of US democracy. He is leading "The Robbers" Court, robbing citizens of their rights to ensure that his Orange Idol has everything he desires.
John, hang is a weird word in English. When it's a coat on a hook or a picture on a nail, "hung" is the past tense. When a criminal and rope are involved, "hanged" is the past tense.
But I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiment. I'd bring the rope.
Yes the Dems were asleep at the wheel for 40 years or so. Yes Biden appointing garland was a huge mistake. The lack of leadership from the house and most of the senate is disappointing. Yes the seditious 6 on the supreme court is criminal. But the time now demands WE respond. Do whatever you can: write your congress people, speak out, protest. We are all needed and arguing amongst ourselves is self defeating.
While I agree that "arguing amongst ourselves" can be self defeating, it can also lead us to the sorts of epiphanies that build the disciplined solidarity vital for victory against Ted-Bundy-minded enemies, which is precisely what we face.
My own belief is that our foes' ecogenocidal sadism leaves us only two alternatives: fight for democratic socialism or surrender to Auschwitz-caliber barbarism.
The "democratic" part of socialism assumes a necessarily argumentative quest for the best solutions, while the "socialism" part assumes universal agreement on the necessity for economic democracy -- that is, We the People seizing and managing the entire financial system for the common good.
Which is precisely why, when it comes to the decisive moment, the "Democratic" (sic) Party -- as much a tool of the ruling class as the Christonazi/Neoconfederate Party -- will probably prove to be as much our enemy as the MAGATs themselves.
Why did it take Merrick Garland so long to tackle Trump? If he had done it right after Jan 6, when it was fresh in people's minds ....I guess he figured that obviously no one would forget? Then Kevin McCarthy went to mar-a- lago and all the Republicans who had so strongly condemned the attempted coup did an about face. I couldn't believe it...I thought, didn't they know they are on tape? We saw it. We heard them! What the hell type of jello makes up their spines? How can McConnell, Graham and my lovely irritating senator fist in the air Hawley live with themselves.? Holy crap. Hawley all sanctimonious about how important Medicaid is ...then voted for the criminal big bad bill? Screw them all who voted for that anti American piece of sh.t
You might as well ask what's the difference between the truth and an inanity. One happened. The other did not. Misconstruing the two doesn't help us get anywhere.
You are exactly correct. People of good conscience need to stop with this defeated mindset and start defending this country and it's people, and the Constitution that commands it. Freedom is not free, and it's high time everyone started paying for it with loyalty and defense, not complaints and 'hand-wringing'.
Recognizing the unspeakably horrible reality of our circumstances is not defeat.
Indeed It is absolutely essential to fulfilling the first precept of Sun Tzu: knowing the enemy.
Which knowledge -- given the requisite analysis -- allows us to discern the weaknesses that are hidden by the enemy's strengths (and not infrequently inherent in the enemy's capabilities and intentions). This, in turn -- assuming the discipline and courage to exploit those weaknesses -- is what facilitates victory.
And given all that is at stake, victory -- total victory -- is the only way we can ensure not just our species' liberty, but our very survival.
Toward which we desperately need two preliminary realizations: (one) -- that what besets us all has already exploded far beyond the legal boundaries of politics and political crisis; and (two) -- awful truth it is -- that we are in fact at war.
Once back in the dangers a group of singers called Up with People. As a child Ivwas messrmized by their songs and had the album. Later on I thought too too much but looking back their song Freedom isn’t Free fits well today.
Agreed. We have to keep the faith. The alternative--giving up--is unacceptable. We are not in frozen mud filled fox holes getting shot at. We have agency. We need to get out on the streets. We need to raise our voices. We need to force leaders who are not up to the task (Shumer) to step aside or be pushed. We need to mobilize.
It’s far in the distance, but let’s NOT reelect the Republicans WHO ENABLED TRUMP next November. We complain but then we put the a$$holes back in office!!
100 pct not too late. Speaker Johnson is a weak, white christian nationalist who dreams of cozying up with Miller to make America white again. If the House were truly interested in following the constitution, djt would be in jail and we wouldn't be in this mess.
It's, thanks for this excellent post. Too many people are subscribing to the Ds do nothing mantra. And it is clear that death star is falling apart before our very eyes. He is totally bonkers and of course, is being fed by the cabal to keep him stirred up. I see several D pols doing all they can when they control neither half of Congress. Rs control Congress and they are responsible for the fact that Congress is missing in action.
Thank you for your response!!! It does seem SO overwhelming daily trying to deal with everything that is being thrown at us multiple times a day. We NEED encouragement to keep fighting the fight and Abe Lincoln's quote is just what I needed this morning.
She has been watching the wrong media. I keep hearing the same at times....but I also see those at work. We don't have enough people in Indiana that don't watch Fox (Entertainment) News.. It plays on the televison station at our local bank! Makes me sick if I have to go in the lobby! Yes, I have complained...they smile!
The gerrymander fight is on. There is a new playbook. The old rules have been struck down by the Supreme Court. We need to change the gears here as fast as possible for deadly preemptive strikes. Newsom has moved out on this already. Who is next? Hochul. Where are you? Ptitzker. What are you doing?
And even if, in a parallel universe, two impeachments count for nothing, So. Bloody. What?
What are you, clothed in sanctimony doing? 434 days till the mid-terms. Expend every last effort that you can and then, maybe, point fingers. 434. Off you trot.
Well, Sandra, so you're here to light a fire? Like the arsonist who joins the volunteer fire department and sets fires they can fight in order to make themselves appear big, strong, and noble? It's not a good look. Many of us are frightened and horrified by the current state of affairs in our country, and I suspect you're frightened and horrified too. Sometimes fear translates as anger, sometimes it translates as courage, and sometimes both. Many here have chosen courage. To quote Eleanor Roosevelt, "Courage is more exhilarating than fear, and in the long run, it's easier."
Sandra, are you familiar with Connie Schultz who writes the Substack, Hopefully Yours? Today's essay is titled "Farewell, Sidelines". I highly recommend it to you and to our fellow LFAA members.
If you are going to impeach the President you better spend time getting the votes. The Dems did not make their case they did not get the votes. The impeachments fueled trump
Sandra, I defended your right to misspeak elsewhere, but it seems that you're here just to bash Democrats. I remind you, Democrats are not your problem; Republicans are.
Democrats did not "back off." Full stop.
Rather than wasting a lot of pixels here, ranting about how weak Democrats are, I suggest that you channel your anger into something meaningful, like registering more sympathetic voters in your horribly gerrymandered state.
"Democrats did not "back off." Full stop." In plain English, "Bullshit". Schumer+8, sold us out, We were braced for the confrontation, but they decided "death by a thousand cuts" would be better a better option.
Donald, to be clear, I was specifically addressing Sandra's false accusation that Democrats backed off Trump's IMPEACHMENTS. They did not. They pushed it as far as they could until Mitch McConnell torpedoed the convictions in the Senate.
Democratic legislators have often disappointed us, but in the impeachment matters, they did no less than they could.
Sandra is sadly an example of a frustrated leftist. Although that frustration may be justifiable it leads to an expressed negativity that feeds the backlash toward the right at worse, and at least toward an apathy from the middle to avoid involvement.
In crisis there is both danger and opportunity. Time to support the truth-tellers and expose the Oath-breakers. The opportunity is based in TRUTH.
Honest Abe Lincoln said "I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the REAL FACTS"
"It is NOT too little, nor too late. " Thanks. This is a start and an illuminating one. We cannnot count on NYT or WP to fight in public. We have to fight on our own now.
Thank you, It’s Come To This. Thrilled by governor’s
AND Mayor’s responses to DT. It’s what we need to hear. As I listen to ICE sirens it’s comforting to know that protests are ringing around America and here. It inspires me to continue writing postcards to voters.
Sandra, While, on one hand, I, too, despair, on the other I’m reminded that other Democratic leaders across the country are standing against federal overreach: Gavin Newsom (California), Jay Inslee (Washington), Kathy Hochul (New York), Jared Polis (Colorado). Accordingly, it’s incumbent upon all of us to urge those governors who have not yet taken a bold stance to go on the offensive against Trump’s intimidation and cruelty.
I would add that grassroots organizers who reside in Blue States, as we speak, are seeking authoritative guidance from their A.G.s on the potential application of the 10th Amendment as a legitimate basis for asserting state authority in circumstances where federal overreach has caused, or might cause, harm to the citizens of their states.
My point is that the 10th Amendment, as Pritzker inferred, is a powerful affirmation of federalism, a vital feature of American democracy, ensuring that power remains decentralized, accountable, and responsive. Indeed, in a nation as vast and varied as ours, preserving this balance is essential—not just for efficiency, but for freedom.
Constance, While I was only listing governors, I agree about Senator Chris Murphy and would add several other senators and house members to the list though they don’t amount to nearly enough. I also would add Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
As goofy as it may seem, Newsom is actually doing something that is effective, and is taking action to do more. Pritzker may be eloquent, but what is he going to do, when the jackboots show up in Chicago?
You’re one of those people who believe that both parties are the same; there’s no point in voting; that the perfect is the enemy of the good, etc.
People who think like you do gave us Trump I and II. I’m not having it.
Why are you bringing up Biden? He stepped down, Harris took his place on the ticket and ran a decent campaign. Did you stay home because there wasn’t a primary or some such?
When the alternative is so completely unacceptable, you look backwards and wring your hands.
Yes, but now, everyone, be bold, be honest, be brave and do not accept this administration and get him out with all of his corrupt and evil , lawless , sad , complicit accomplices in hurting their very own flag . It is called treason. We have their names. Let them think arrogance can save them. Not a chance.
Brown, Marla was responding to Sandra Simpson, who seems to be on a tear today, bashing Democrats. If you're viewing comments "Top First," Sandra's comment is second from the top.
It might surprise you to learn this has consistently played right into the hands of the Republicans. Do you and all the people who clicked "like" on your statement really think that Democrats bashing is effective? Do you think your habit of doing this helped get us where we are today? Do you know the insinuations against Biden and the Democrats helped elect trump?
I respectfully invite you to go back as far as Biden's Charlottesville speech and on through the years here he repeatedly and literally screamed out that our Democracy was in danger. Then take a look at the record number of Federal judges he installed to try and forestall what he saw coming. The truth about the Biden Administration has been made perfectly clear. You can take the time to learn about the records of his Administration through Congressional Records, Executive Orders, the legitimate reports of his economics record, international records and the records that Dr. Richardson and others wrote of the time Biden was President.
The truth is the real conspiracy is the decades long agenda of Christian Nationalists through organizations such as the Heritage Foundation to produce the driving force of this coup the manifesto Project 2025. The January 6 Committee did an excellent job of prosecuting what occurred on January 6 for all the American people to see.
You seem to be confused with how a political Party runs within the law and one that is lawless. You seem to be confused about which Party is in control of Congress at this time. You seem to be confused about how to support the Party of operating within the Constitution and the one in the business of installing a fascist state in America.
The people in the streets protesting, writing Congress, standing with signs on bridges, getting pushed around by ICE, risking that knock on the door in the night because they speak out don't need your faith.
Here is where we are today. Either get on board or kindly step aside. We are in the process of fighting to save our Democracy.
It will get worse before it gets better. But it is NOT too late. We are finding our voices. They are loud and clear. The pendulum will swing - but it will take resolve and eloquent voices. Let's applaud when we hear them. Governor Pritzker needs our support.
Democrats have made many mistakes. But the resistance is building. New messaging will be easy as the country collapses economically and morally.
Every time that someone says it’s too late brings Trump and his ilk that much closer to achieving their ends. Yes, we have a fight on our hands. But we have no choice but to struggle and push back any way we can. Telling people it’s too late isn’t going to motivate them. Our country has faced challenges before, and I feel a responsibility to past generations – including my grandparents’ generation that fought fascism – to not give in and declare defeat.
There are many of us who hear those hurtful words pointed at Biden. History is not written perfectly but most of us know the truth about Biden and his years of service for this country. Many of us admire him and the relationships he worked to build back after Trump disrespected so many especially some foreign leaders. Biden's life of service, his faith, his love of his family through good times and difficult times only make him a more genuine human being. (and I MISS KAMALA AND HER BEAUTIFUL SMILE! GOD BLESS YOUR WORK IN CALIFORNIA!)
His idea was to build back better....not to take away and destroy. He had no desire to be worshipped. He served to the best of his ability. Biden encouraged everyone. He did not reject human beings but wanted to bring us together.
Speaking of "letting Trump go" he is being protected to do their bidding. His crimes continue to grow....he is doing exactly as he/they planned..."I will speak and it will be done". Only a few of our leaders actually seem to be doing anything....and it is not easy....but thank God for the fierceness of the few because IT IS NEEDED IF WE WANT TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY!
This Washington, DC show of force is a fiasco! I really feel sorry for those men just walking around when they could be doing something productive.
I am sick of Hispanics being used and abused because the President wants to make himself look fierce. What a waste of human life! How disrespectful to amazing hardworking people!
Do not forget Trump's first term as President....do you remember how many men and women left their offices of service. Some of Trump's lackey's went to prison.
Everyone: HCR posted ALL the relevant Pritzker quotes Which is much more than "Democrats telling this truth ...".
Bad actors must now consider:
"We are watching & taking names" ... and further:
"We need to apply force needed to make sure that the arc [of justice ] gets where it needs to go".
The state of Illinois & California have substantial resources including but, not limited economic power, effective legal skills & 11th Amendment state power.
Stand well back if all you are going to do is watch.
I'm looking forward to hearing from Kathy Hochul next. California, Illinois and New York will "trump" whatever trouble Florida and Texas try to stir up.
No. The Democrats certainly did not 'let Trump go' after January 6th. What on earth are you talking about? Were you in a coma during the House Select Committee on the January 6th Attack?
Don’t join the Chicken Little Caucus or the Nothing-Can-Done Club. Don’t litigate the past. Join us in moving forward even though it is hard, indeed, because it is hard.
It wasn’t the Democrats who let Trump off the hook after January 6th. It was the Republican Senators, led my McConnell who did, later aided and abetted by six Supreme Court justices and the half of American voters who put him back in office. We need to be clear about who is responsible for Trump.
I agree, Sandra Simpson, except I don’t think it’s too late. I don’t think we can expect much from our somnolent Democratic Party leadership, but Gov. Pritzker is a Democrat and his speech was outstanding. Nobody lets Trump tell lies. He just does it; every time he opens his mouth. I don’t blame you for feeling so discouraged. I certainly do, at times. But I’m pretty sure you know that now’s not the time to give up.
We must stop asking where Congress is. They are right where the majority wants to be. The Republican majority is not doing nothing. They are doing all they can to facilitate this.
What are we going through? A reality show presidency gone full dystopia, where the Commander in Chief thinks he is auditioning for “President for Life.” We are watching a man confuse delusion with destiny, bruises with strength, and dictatorship with “common sense.”
How do we fix it? Stop normalizing this circus. Call it what it is, an authoritarian power grab. Governors, courts, journalists, and citizens need to resist with relentless clarity. No “both sides,” no hand wringing.
How will it end? Either with the Constitution being used as a prop at his next rally, or with Trump finally discovering that history eats petty tyrants for breakfast. The arc of justice bends, but only if we pull hard enough, and right now it is gym day.
Yes, it's "refreshing and encouraging to hear Democrats tell truth to tyrannical Big Liars", but that is not enough. This is a cold war and nearing a hot war! Governor Pritzker said, “There is no insurrection. ” Well, there is no insurrection in Illinois... yet. Trump began his insurrection in Washington with his private MAGA army on January 6, 2021. Now he is using State National Guard and the U.S. Marines to takeover cities and will soon bring his insurrection to a beautiful big city with midwest manners, Chicago. Trump is using the euphemism “retribution” but make no mistake, Trump is continuing his insurrection to takeover the United States.
Trump's insurrection is why the Second Amendment was ratified; "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed". The reason for a militia is to protect against tyranny; i.e., Trump! The public can purchase Colt “semi-automatic” M4 carbines from major retailers. I believe these are manufactured by union labor under a collective bargaining agreement between Colt's Manufacturing and the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 376. Imagine the news headlines if 100,000 women ordered one each on the same day. Imagine the power of 100,000 well armed and well regulated citizens walking the streets on Saturday morning in response to Trump’s small numbers he intends to send in each city. My point is there are a hell of a lot more of us citizens than them and no member of the National Guard is so stupid that they can’t count.
“—At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it?—Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never!—All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.
At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.” – Abraham Lincoln | 1838.
Nope. I am not buying a weapon. I am committed to non violent resistance even if my opponent uses weapons. Violence begets more violence and everyone loses. I will die for the cause but I will not kill or mame.
The USA is the result of a Revolutionary War; violence and death. Not everyone lost. King George lost. We all won the freedom to enjoy our rights today because of that violence.
I never said we begin violence. I am saying be wise; be ready. That is why the Second Amendment was ratified in 1791. What Trump is doing now in the name of "retribution" is in reality his Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection continued. Only now he is misusing the power of the Presidency to take our country.
I respectfully disagree. Violence begets violence and leaves hurt and trauma in its wake. I recommend the book ‘Why Civil Resistance works’ by Erica Chenoweth. I heard her speak and lecture on the topic. Non violence is twice as successful at political change as violence. My personal life (microcosm) bears this out.
A well regulated militia does not need to be armed if it has authority in numbers. Non-violence is the the only way to do this, as violence can only be met with violence, aggression is met with aggression, anger with anger. Have you learned nothing. If there is violence it will be one sided and the moral Authority falls to those without guns.
In the American revolution the winning side had guns as well as moral high ground. Same with the civil war. Non violence has won many important struggles but when push comes to shove an armed resistance has some advantage. Note the deterrence power of nuclear arms. Imagine 5000 reluctant guardsmen coming up against 100,000 women with semiautomatic weapons. The right sees the opposition as a bunch of squishy liberals clutching pearls and fretting about the rule of law. How can we change this?
If it’s 5000/100,000 the guns are not the deterrent, the people are. We need numbers not guns. And speaking of…we could never have enough so why have any? This is a moral conviction.
I totally understand your stance. It is also my stance, but sometimes it is fun to imagine turning their game back on them. They are cowards at the core of it all.
I will not. My position is a moral one, something your umpteen degrees apparently never caused you to develop and your JD neutered. Yes, I have been aware of what is happening in Palestine and has been happening since I was in grade school in the 1970s. What’s your point? The US gives bazillions of dolllars to Israel and the IDF is committing genocide of the Palestinian people. You think handguns would help them against bombs we give Israel? Your pomposity is revolting, BTW. FU.
B.A. in Social Science (Political Science and History) w/ pre law minor. Enough units for a Women's Studies and also a Chicano Studies minor too but only one was allowed in the transcripts. Then also a J.D. In was in law school I studied "Public Interest Law." Yeah, I leaned about how revolutions begin. In Concord it was a barn full of gun powder and a cannon the Red Coats were looking for. Right now Trump is handing us the Fourth Reich.
I am proud of my governor and all he has done for the state of Illinois. We are not residents of Chicago, but my husband and I are prepared to drop everything to stand shoulder to shoulder with Chicagoans against armed troops sent by this authoritarian government.
This is what the French discovered in 1942 when the Resistance formed. Find your nearest Indivisible chapter and join. Or found an Indivisible chapter.
My husband and I already belong to an active Indivisible chapter. We also belong to a local DEI and Belonging group to help support international university students in our town. There is plenty of work for all of us.
I agree JL Graham, Pritzker’s words carry the weight of history. This is more than a local standoff, it is a test of whether our system can still hold against authoritarian overreach. I recognize how serious this is, and yet I remain hopeful because governors, communities, and everyday people are refusing to yield. The path ahead will not be easy, but the more we stand together in courage and clarity, the more likely that arc bends toward justice.
J L, you said it all. I am so impressed with how complete he spoke on ever level of what we are facing. He spoke with kindness, and how to think and feel towards our military and their job and risks, peaceful protests with guidance and of course all the failings of taco!
Yes, Governor Pritzker was on fire. So were Mayor Johnson and the A.G. Raoul of Illinois. Can not blame them -- what Trump is doing *is not only flying scheiße, but also *remains very disrespectful toward their efforts.
In crisis there is both danger and opportunity. Time to support the truth-tellers and expose the Oath-breakers. The opportunity is based in TRUTH.
Honest Abe Lincoln said "I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the REAL FACTS"
Yes, J L Graham. I actually called his office yesterday morning to encourage him to speak out, to take the air away from ‘heelspurious’, and HE DID! I also asked him to help coalesce the Dem governors to get together as a bulwark vs the vicious gang; and they are vicious. Worse! I urge each of us to call our Dem governors to continue to speak the truth about the little man’s illegal power grabs. I’ll call Pritzger again to compliment him. And NY Governor Hochul, who may indeed be next re NYC.
Yes, force media to do their jobs, he and Gavin are providing vivid meadow stories… and rumors are good too…the bruise is from the IV treatments Dr R (RFK) has him on.
Ryan, my first thought was that the bruise was from his planting his fist into the wall whenever things don't go his way. My ex used to throw tantrums like that until I got tired of his nonsense and tossed his ass out.
77 million products of U.S. schools voted for troops into Chicago?
No question about this. Sick Donald doesn’t just want a police state to crush blue America. He wants to crush America’s mid-term elections next year.
The nation’s highest court has already ruled he’s immune to the Constitution. He doesn’t need law. He doesn’t need Congress. He doesn’t need evidence, or any truths we share with each other in our communities.
Sick Donald wants vengeance on all of us who hold to the ideals of democracy and its institutions.
The siccing of troops on American cities, the raid on John Bolton’s home and office align with criminal Donald’s total vengeance campaigns. Align with his I.C.E. terror goons. With his illegally grabbing from the street and deporting hardworking immigrants. Building concentration camps for his police state. Align with his rolling out the red carpet (literally) for an internationally-indicted war criminal. With having his personal lawyer visit convicted child rapist Ghislaine Maxwell to trade for her lies to cover for him. Align with covering for fellow billionaires who also raped those children. Align with the trillions in tax breaks for fellow billionaires. With his destruction of medical, scientific, environmental, educational, and food programs for ordinary Americans.
The nation’s highest court voted for this. The MAGA Congress voted for this. 77 million products of U.S. schools voted for this.
I can’t like your comment because you indict public school education for our present predicament. There are so many reasons we are here. There isn’t simply one reason. Please stop blaming public education for this situation!
In NC we spent 1 billion dollars in school vouchers in 10 years. One billion dollars for taxpayers. That is why republicans spread lies about public schools. In rural NC public schools are the savior of families. These private school owners are making $$$ and getting subsidized by republicans.
I went to a rural public school in NC, it saved me and seven siblings. My parents supported it 100%. Now schools are under siege with the money grabbers smelling green. Whatever can go wrong will go wrong. (Murphy’s Law if memory serves.). It’s the Republican result when Ayn Rand idiocy and money rule.
I love our local rural public school and so does our community of around 2000 people. Our property taxes are due this week and the mill levy increased by 20%. And I have yet to hear a single person complain about it.
When comparing test scores, the charter schools have proven to be ineffective at teaching students. And yet, in many states, they expect the taxpayers to foot the bill to teach their kids about an invisible spirit in the sky and the Jewish laws that they want to force us to hang in our schools.
If it is so effective to hang the 10 commandments on the wall, why are the white Christian nationalists such moral degenerates?
TN’s gov, Bill Lee, a self-proclaimed “Christian” was determined to force through vouchers this past session and he did. Now it’s reported the schools receiving vouchers are getting more state money per school than public schools. The reason for vouchers is clothed as school choice (parents ALWAYS had choice; I exercised it for my son) but it actually goes back to Brown v. Board of Ed. It just took Rs and their acolytes this long to effect their racism.
GJ, I have a friend who teaches in a small school district west and south of Eugene: Crow Applegate Lorane serves less than 300 students. He is the music teacher for grades 1-12, and puts on at least two "combined" instrumental music concerts, grades 5-12. He's had some amazing musicians of all varieties come from his tiny program.
Ally, the kids were really lucky to have such a great musical experience. The school in ME my daughter went to had an amazing music teacher as well. They were very competitive with the Boston schools when they had their music contests. My daughter was one of the many benefactors of his teaching.
He had several small groups as well as the full band. She played with a steel drum group of about 15-20 kids. I drove them in the school bus to a couple of competitions and had a great time and good tunes.
I do not support private schools and their vouchers. These schools are often exempt from property tax, they pay no capital gains tax and have to admit no child into their school. This is welfare for the rich. Private school vouchers are a burden to taxpayers
Do you know Sandra here’s the funny thing about the Democrats they want choice they should have a choice correct? Isn’t that one of your big precepts…free choice? Well, you don’t want to allow combustion engines in California thank God the Congress turned that over you don’t want to allow smoking except if it’s marijuana, you don’t wanna allow choice of education you don’t wanna allow choice of Healthcare choice of stoves/refrigerators…straws.,, Bloomberg didn’t even want to allow bigger drink sizes. .. actually, did I miss anything? Oh yeah, lightbulbs. and you don’t want to allow choice of guns.
This is the party that you think allows freedom. The best thing that could happen to public education just happened. It went back to the states where it could be handled in a competitive manner from state to state. And I by the feds were you have control.
Touchy subject, but it’s just like Roe v. Wade. You were OK with nine people deciding about abortion, and at the same time you were not Photos of the same court overturning the abortion issue.
Here’s a concept you should think about honestly if you can
Trump could’ve taken me a fortune issue and denied it countrywide if he wanted to federalize the wall he could have but instead he did the smart and democratic thing he suggested ton each state LETS TRY DEMOCRACY….. let’s let the voters decide so in each state, they can decide what they like. What the voters in that state prefer. That’s the way democracy is supposed to work.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
It's public schools in RED STATES mostly that have deliberately been starved for decades by the Republicans for exactly this purpose: an undereducated populace is less likely to learn critical thinking skills so that they are more likely to vote against their own best interests. Which they do again and again and again in red states. They get less opportunity, less services, more desperate, more MEAN. And then the Republicans buy the propaganda machines (Fox News, conservative radio, churches, etc) to focus that meanness and anger on others (immigrants, libs!, coastal elites, womem brown people, etc) instead of themselves who are the real blame for reduced prospects of their people. There are lots of "blue collar" people in MA for example and yet they do NOT vote for this BS. Why is that? Because they are ranked number 2 in Pre-K-12 grade for education. They spent the money for the future and it shows!
Fact is, I love teaching, have ever had greatest loyalty to schools and teaching -- at all levels. I'm well published on this. Have a history. I feel terrible at what commercial interests of the Powell memo's far-right foundations have done to schools. Their damages are facts. They hurt kids. They hurt teachers.
I'm sorry if you refuse to see the mass hurt -- and find it convenient instead to blame me (as if I ever said what you impute). When you could see and cite the many, many novels, memoirs, essay collections, histories, films, and songs which have seen and spoken to the real hurts, the continuing damages.
But over 50 years a teacher. In many countries. All levels.
But the human rights and the teaching go together. Human rights cannot exist without good schools. And good schools cannot exist when the rich and the most deeply corrupt engineer against humanity.
Hello Phil.... Thanks for getting back... Without 'Humanitas', it is Naked Power, the Law Of the Jungle... Good Schools are Civilizing... Thanks for Your Work... Namaste....
Phil, you’ve sensibly condensed the catalogue of crimes brought in by Trump, his cabal and his so-called party of hysterics. Thanks. It’s good to see arranged in on place to be more readily grasped and considered.
You’ve also inspired a great and worthwhile discussion.
I can’t quite understand how you arrive at calling people who attended, I dunno … public schools? … whatever, calling these individuals “products”. It disturbs me that any erudite educator would take such a mechanistic view of human beings and fix it in what? K through 12 ? There’s more to people than what you seem to fix under that lens. That much is made the more obvious by how we got here and the fact that our present circumstances are part of a historically recurrent theme.
It sounds to me like you imagine we can teach our way out of the human condition in a relatively few hours of magic time. I would that it was true. But it’s not. The framework in which an individual develops dwarfs that suggestion.
I don’t disregard or minimize the value of good education. It is priceless, but it is not determinative by any means.
I can only say this, and I suspect it holds widely. Politics and political choices, such as how people select leaders whether politically or in any given context is at least 85% emotional. It is not rational. Politicians and those that work with them know this well.
Also, there’s a hackneyed expression, if all you’ve got is a hammer, everything begins to resemble a nail.
This is a time when we may expect to see similar signs of turmoil throughout many industrialized nations of the world. In fact, we already do.
I sometimes recall the milieu of childhood, all the way through to college, when the community of kids taught each other the things that adults didn't want us to know, or at least were unlikely to approve of; as well as useful things and interesting things that might or might not be true. I think we kind of need to preserve some of that communal conversation (which is what we do here) to preserve democracy. We definitely need relevant school learning as well, and an interest in learning as long as we draw breath. I worry that top-down mass media is eroding our powers of awareness, and that we may let AI do too much thinking for us.
JL, I love what you've said: "...an interest in learning as long as we draw breath." There are a lot of folks who get that diploma/certificate and think "WooHoo, that's it!! I've learned!" and lose interest in learning anything new.
Never stop learning, inquiring, wanting to know things.
And Ally--you know one place I continue to learn? Museums, zoos, etc.
Bad enough Trump is attacking the universities, but these cultural institutions as well?!?!
I could weep over the attacks on the Smithsonian! Years ago, we took our 3 kids to DC. Any parent here might appreciate this: I was shocked, SHOCKED, that they were admission free!! Perhaps it has changed since then, but I ask anyone to look at what the price of one day costs a family. It is generally cheaper to purchase a family membership, which makes sense if you live in the area. For many years, we held a zoo membership and along with packing a picnic, it made it affordable for us.
My parents loved museums, big or small. I did too. It used to be very cheap entertainment. A wise society would retain fees (if any) that keep none away.
"The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man (sic) while he lives."
Albert Schweitzer
It seems to me that applying our capacity to learn keeps our minds and spirits young, or at least youngER than withdrawal of curiosity would. The future is always emerging with some fresh opportunity (or terror) that is there despite indifference. There is always some new "other side of the mountain" that is somehow unique.
Not only "top-down mass media," J L. And not only AI, too.
Though I relish the humor in your citing that -- here on a thread where Putin's team of AI English techies is assiduously pretending to be one "Rick Sender."
JL, I couldn't agree more. Above all my personas, I identify as a "creative," and anyone who knows me personally or professionally would agree.
Decades ago, I began becoming aware that human creativity is waning. At the time, I blamed television. Here's why: When you read a book, it is incumbent on you, the reader, to imagine the scenes, the faces and physiques of the characters, as described by the author. As the reader, you are required to hold those images in your mind throughout the reading of that book so you can keep track of the story.
With television, everything is already imagined for you. You do not have to create anything, because there it is on the screen in front of you.
To my mind, creativity is something like a muscle. You must exercise it daily or it will become atrophied and eventually disappear.
So much of today's technology masquerades as creativity and it's not. AI doesn't create; it regurgitates amalgams – sometimes nonsensical – of material that it sucked up from original sources that were actually created. To see how far we've sunk into non-creativity, one needs look no further than today's advertising. It's nothing more than marketing vomit.
In some ways, a novel is a mental recipe. A play, even more so, as with poetry, and other modes of human communication. We "re-cognize" and recombine. Years ago I was listening to an unremarkable pop song (She's got to be somebody's baby) that contains the line "When the cars and the signs and the streetlights light up the town", and admired it's eloquence. You could just say "when it's nighttime in the city", but the former sets a scene that well beyond the other.
We create our own reality, but (ideally) with fidelity to sensory evidence when needed. We detect electromagnetic radiation of a certain spectra, but we experience color, or experience warmth from the sun on our arm. A tree falling disturbs the atmosphere, but unheard, that is not sound. We experience a certain constellation of chemicals that we >experience< as the taste of honey; and we can recall that experience when someone else refers to it, in the now or in the abstract. I cook creatively by "tasting" spice combinations in my mind (which is some ways I liken to music). Sometimes that works out better than others, and I suspect that top chefs do something like that in much higher definition. Somehow Nature gifted us with astonishing neuroplasticity and creative powers. Yet with great power comes great responsibility.
Am I rambling? What ties this all together is that we are "wired" to create. The The Declaration of Independence was a creative act, as was the US Constitution. Pair imagination with knowledge and you get innovation, in both the sciences and the arts. The marriage of imagination and veracious rigor, along with empathy, are tools for our species' liberation and survival.
But what of this? When I was an adolescent, I posed this question to my younger sister: "What if the color you see as blue, as in the sky, is the color I see as orange? How do you know we all see colors the same? You don't."
She thought for a few moments, then burst into tears, called me the worst name she could think of and ran to her bedroom.
Phil, I do think some films – not most – may be classified as art. As with any visual or aural art, they can show us new ways of looking at or thinking about things. The first of the "franchise films" might have been art, but the sequels are just money-grabs, even if well-produced. However, while films may have artistic and/or cultural value, they still preclude the possibility of our own imagination, especially films based on books. For example, it would be difficult to read Margaret Mitchell's tour de force and not picture Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh as the main characters, nor Tara, as depicted in the iconic film. In any case, films are not a daily presence in life.
Unlike films, which ARE the product, television programs, which simply occupy space in a 24/7 schedule, are merely vehicles to SELL product. The typical hour of television consists of 42 minutes of program and 18 minutes of advertising. TV shows' only purpose is to capture and retain the viewer's attention between advertisements. Thus, TV programming is banal, violent, prurient or sensationalist, having no artistic or cultural value. A few exceptions, such as M*A*S*H and The Twilight Zone, have sneaked out into the wild.
A good education can lift people up; public schools did exactly that for my husband and me. However, there are so many variables beyond the control of public educators.
Education is priceless. A good education is necessary. There isn’t much in-between for most people. All benefit enormously. It can determine your role and interaction with society. At the same time, it doesn’t entirely determine the person you are. It doesn’t shape your heart or your will. Just as it doesn’t give you a different face or hands.
Please read Diane Ravitch's "The Language Police," Bill.
Testing, Bill, determines the determinative, the mechanistic, "the products."
". . . similar signs of turmoil throughout many industrialized nations"? Are you speaking of the hungers for nationalism, and dictators, or are you speaking of the (for profit -- mega billionaire profit) expansion of U.S. testing around the world?
Or have you not put two and two together? Have you not figured out how, in all the countries where people have turned into "products," what happens first?
And please. Speak English. Not hackneyed expressions.
I do agree with the premise that ‘testing’ actually tests nothing. It produces nothing worth having other than huge profits for the “hey, have I got an insta-solution for you!” people. Oh, and a convenient way for bureaucrats to claim “mission accomplished”.
It fits right in with the needs of people with doctorate degrees to prove they can produce something, or anything at all. Many actually do, but not most. Those that do brought gifts with them, not products.
We can all understand and agree on the notion that language shapes thought, or at the very least the expression of it and reciprocally how it is received. There’s the lock and key.
Education without or with testing does not provide either intelligence, wisdom or character. It does provide valuable tools and occasionally insight. And, it is very true, the process can be weaponized.
Yet, it doesn’t explain US election results. The actual demography of the United States is probably a better, though imperfect indicator.
I respect you, Phil. No need for you to cavil. Is that plain enough?
Especially the (p)Rick Sender saturation gibberish and propaganda that inundates these comments and purposefully distracts from constructive conversations, meaningful insights and information.
Horhai, I assume that you don't keep melon rinds and empty food packages around your house indefinitely, because you probably don't have room to store all that garbage. And why would you want to? Eventually, you take the trash to the curb. You wouldn't call that censorship. Blocking trolls is no different.
This is Phill dragging his pet chia pet out for everybody to go ooh and aah over again. To call it a fixation understates the matter. He's like a wind-up Chatty Kathy with a single pre-recorded message when you pull the string.
Your love of being rhetorically cute lets you ignore the many times here that I have cited novels, memoirs, histories, and essay collections focused on complications which you, too, might see if you didn't have rhetorical and repetitive fixations yourself -- if you might have instead even a scintilla of openness to the humanities focused on vital complications.
"Beth, I did not "blame one thing for a large problem."
"The situation of U.S. schools now is part of some very much more serious problems."
Hello Phil.... The semi-ignorant products of US Schools are only part of a larger Societal Problem... We are all awash in new information every day... Too many People choose ignorance... This Society values Entertainment over everything else... Baseball players with 250,000,000 Dollar Contracts, while Teachers have to work multiple Jobs?.... DJT knows this, and takes advantage of Ignorant Arrogance...
" . . . only part of a larger Societal Problem," Apache?
If you know about the Powell memo, and the history of its major far-right foundations, and the facts recited by Wendell Berry, Diane Ravitch, Jennifer Washburn, Robert H. Lustig, Jane Mayer, Kurt Andersen, and others, you'd know the abstraction "Societal Problem" deflects from what actual billionaires and their money have actually been doing.
Actually, Beth, if you read Phil's comment, he enumerated many of the reasons we are here. Also, if you read the whole of Phil's commentary in this forum, he doesn't blame public education per se. In fact, he is a champion of public education, and especially of the educators who work within a corrupt education system and struggle to provide their students the quality education they deserve.
A poor education system isn't the only reason for the unfolding disaster in the U.S., but we cannot deny that it is – and has been – an important contributing factor.
All of us have our particular interests, and when we see trouble in our society, our minds are drawn to causes that we are interested in. Mine is evangelicalism because it has hurt me personally and in my opinion, has done significant damage to American culture. Do I think evangelicalism is the sole cause of our national problems? No. But we cannot deny that it is a motivating force behind Project 2025, which is being implemented as we type these words.
Phil's "cause" is public education and the corruption of it. He contributes a lot to these conversations. You may tire of his emphasis; sometimes I do. But he's not wrong.
Hello Dale... I also blame Secular Stagnation.... I watch the first 'Matrix' Movie, and marvel at how little has changed... The Street Scenes have changed little.... We have better Hand-Helds, and Social Media, but they have been mostly Destructive...
Education is the foundation of our society. How can you not blame the fact that there are some interviews of college people in college today that thought that the capital of Russia was Ukraine. And the Russians were busy fighting the Chinese..
You should see this interview with the morons that we’re educating. I’m on my way out of town but tomorrow I’m going to try to find you the link to see the idiots that are being educated today. They have no idea who hit the twin towers, nor do they have any idea what year it was that it happened and this is all in their lifetimes. They don’t know who we fought in World War II. When somebody asks to tell them something about China, the answer was, there’s a lots of people in China. And you don’t think our education system is broken.
I bought some food in a restaurant and I went to pay the cashier and the check is $18.40 and the guy gave me two dollars back from a 20 and I said the check is 1840s and he said the 40 doesn’t mean anything.
You voted for a convicted fraudster, multiple bankrupt and sexual predator so you have some brass neck calling anyone else a moron. Donald Trump is perhaps the biggest moron Americans have ever elected as president. He thought that Alaska was part of Russia and said that India and Pakistan had been at war over their boundary for 1,500 years. And you elected him and defend him on these comments pages regularly.
You are responding to a 3-year-old infant desperate for attention and here for one reason alone: to get your goat, lock it in the basement and throw away the key. Responding to him just makes him fart in the crowded elevator even harder. Please have mercy on the rest of us and consider not giving him his little heart's desire!
You can't just make the Rick Senders of this world go away. They need to be engaged, vigorously. It's no use people complaining about the ineffectuality of the media in challenging the adminstration and its supporters when they won't do it themselves. These comments pages shouldn't be an echo chamber for the like-minded - it isn't them you need to convince.
No one runs down your country more than Donald Trump. It's part of his patter that only he can fix things and if they're not broken then clearly they don't need fixing. Rick just parrots what he says. He doesn't understand that the morons of whom he speaks form the base of Donald Trump's support. He doesn't understand that Trump himself is a moron. He doesn't realise he's a fool for believing that Trump can fix things this time when he failed to do so the last time he was president.
You're completely free to just ignore him. You can ignore everything that's going on around you as well. You can ignore my comments. Why is this then a problem for you?
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
I agree, Beth. It is possible that inferior schooling in some places has contributed to the rise of Trump, but this is only part of the story, certainly no more important than the rise of social media on the internet as the main information source for millions of Americans.
As I'm sure you know, for every fact, these days, there's at least one alternative "fact".
Phil's comment today is a pretty good one, however. I guess we all have pet peeves.
Rather, a much larger and much more complicated story.
Should it surprise anyone that some otherwise well-"educated" and erstwhile witty appear here to exhibit their high-test-score predilections to see others as living for their own simpleton causalities?
Yes, it's called projection. And they are drawn to me, they who are totally void of humanities themselves, and so desperately seek to project unto me their one-size-fits-all abstractions, their one-causality-explains all linearity.
Agree. Stop blaming public schools. Used to teach public high school and there are few people who complain more bitterly than I about the school system. But for all its faults, it is NOT a good purveyor of political ideology. The move toward bigotry and authoritarianism we are viewing with horror comes from SOMEWHERE, but it doesn't come from public schools.
You are correct, Phil, in stating that the huge number of people who voted for this liar and conman suggests a society in deep trouble. It is possible, even reasonable to doubt the veracity of the election, but here we are. It is startling to think it, but I think this is evidence that lies and constant propaganda are a way stronger force than public education, especially when the young people in school come from homes drowning in Fox News. IMO, the media, including the MSM has been absolutely complicit in taking the nation down this road to ruin. The nation needs gutsy journalists like Murrow, attorneys like Joseph Welch and some politicians with courage like Margaret Chase Smith. Where are they?
It is very likely there was tabulator manipulation. We need to demand district audits in NC and PA to compare to the highly improbable results (as data analysis indicates). It won’t change this ‘24 election, but making people aware that their votes were altered, changed, erased will make them very vigilant at hrs district levels in 26.
Agree, Heather. Both probable manipulation of the vote (way more than one toke over the line, IMO) and voter suppression are key elements of what is going on. Where is the venerable US Senate, once called the greatest deliberate body in the world? Must it ALL be about winning and losing? I guess so when the prizes of winning have been allowed to become so rich. As somebody said above, much can be understood by simply following the money as it is demonstrably re-routed toward those who already have most of it.
I agree EXCEPT the remote manipulation of tabulator data is not so far fetched if you look at the actual district data from Swing States. That Trump with his very low vote turnout and small percentage of win would have lost Dems 88 districts (not one went red to blue) and all seven swing states is pretty far-fetched. That districts came in JUST under the 2% auto-audit number is even more suspicious because it was a way to postpone red flags until more data was examined. There is plenty of data examination at electiontruthalliance.org and it’s not pretty. We need to demand spot audits to protect ‘26.
Sorry, Heather, if I gave the impression that it is far-fetched. I do NOT believe that. In fact, for the reasons that you point out ... AND the fact that dear leader was telling people in advance that the didn't need their votes ... I am morally certain that there was skullduggery. Given tRump's pre-electon rhetoric, the Ds should have been very tightly focused on what was happening, especially after having been hurry-up forced to bring forward a candidate who was probably not optimal. Personally, I thought KH was a most excellent candidate, but you didn't have to listen very hard to hear the dog whistles to sexism and racism. With more time, those might have been overcome -- I hope so, but this is speculation. I'm also appalled that the Ds did not take more action on it when it happened, demanding audits and serious investigation based on just cause. When a fireball leader is needed in the senate, the nation got Chuck Schumer! Indeed such audits could be very useful in '26, IF election infrastructure has not already been seriously compromised and it is possible to (somehow) blunt the R efforts at voter suppression. Imagine a president, demanding redistricting out of usual timing to affect his prospects! At this point, we can't go back but have to move this forward, understanding that the present R-machine will come at the situation with new, possibly unexpected and certainly unprincipled tactics. More and more, I am reminded of the quote attributed to Karl Rove by Ron Suskind in 2004: “We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you’re studying that reality — judiciously, as you will — we’ll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that’s how things will sort out. We’re history’s actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.” This awful game has been running for while, and at the moment, the party focused on just winning without the constraints of ethics or principle IS winning. In this game, like football, defense is important but to put points on the board, one needs a somewhat effective offense.
Thank you for your reply and very relevant quotes. It’s funny but whereas the US Voter is rather casual about certain civil matters (habeas corpus? Contempt rulings? Division of powers? Rule of Law lol) they tend to be very insistent that if and when they vote, their vote counts and goes to their chosen candidate. If audits can prove this remote fraud did happen, and by some miracle it becomes general knowledge despite Fox etc., local district/precincts may be under hyper-watch for accurate counts. We can’t look to the Feds of course. Trump is in a panic because he’s tanking and the complexity of multiple state down-ballot races may be near impossible to manipulate. He’s trying to sabotage the biggest danger to himself and his regime, Dem majorities in the Hill in ‘27-28. I hear he’s just appointed election denier Heather Honey to ‘oversee’ elections, oh boy. What a ride.
John, I realize that asking for or taking a wide view of things doesn’t immediately produce readymade solutions. But consider just in this country alone our history of persons elected. Pretty uneven I think. How did we wind up with a Supply-Side economy, an event in recent memory? How did we have that guy Hoover? Who, as the nation sank deeper into ruin, insisted on continuing policies that propagated the rout. Hey, let’s not forget Tricky Dick, a name befitting a porn actor, and his massively criminal machinations before, during, and after elections. Our voters did save us from Goldwater. That’s in our favor.
Things were even more tumultuous in the prior century.
Lies and propaganda are the tissue of elections in every place that has them throughout the world.
Perhaps ‘American Exceptionalism’ lies in the fact that after all this we still fail to get the picture. We still fall for the same misdirection and gimmicks every time. We cling to our own propaganda like it was the last flotation device in a stormy sea.
Fact is, we’ve long since forgotten who we are and how we got here. Is it a wonder?
Yep ... I generally agree, Bill. Way too many voters have lost sight of what was exceptional about the American initiative from the start. Having been born a Pennsylvanian, I've always admired Ben Franklin. In particular, in this connection, I've been ever mindful of his 1787 response to Elizabeth Willing Powel's question: "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" Franklin replied though the pain of a kidney stone, I believe, "A republic, if you can keep it." There can be no doubt that "the people" have selected leaders with wide retrospective variance, especially in relation to outcome. Some of it has resulted from overall gullibility, I suppose, helped along by lies and false promises that grow in audacity and contradiction to easily established truth (the citizens seem to like this) -- and, as you point out, belief in the myth of American "exceptionalism" that is generally bereft of individual responsibility, i.e., it will all take care of itself. It won't. The present administration is by far the worst of my lifetime wrt to sticking to the principles that IMO account for what is exceptional about the American government. [I have vague memories of people talking about Truman and was lucky enough to have met and interacted personally with Ike (after he was no longer president), so I've seen a few] Nowadays, economic competition (by hook or more often by crook) has been confused with, perhaps even supplanted, the the forces that ought to be the main processes in a civilized society meant to serve 'the whole people'. The present administration is the low point of this confusion, IMO. Is there any way out of it?
All good thoughts, good narrative. Your question, “Is there anyway out of it?”, is the timely one on all lips and in the forefront of what we are doing.
These seem like impossible times. But they are not. The totalitarians would like us all to believe they are. As Phil Balla points out, they twist language and meaning to that purpose. Mostly all I see and hear from them is loud shouting and ranting. Not really very powerful stuff. Nobody likes a purple faced holler, the mainstay of this administration. Perhaps they’ll do each other in. But I won’t wait for it.
Resist. Show up. Don’t scream at the Guard or local police. Don’t spit or assault. Those things don’t accomplish much. Instead, pose questions crafted to be heard, understood and cause more questions to be spawned in the recipient’s mind. This is teaching. It engenders thought.
Above all resist. Show up. And constantly encourage politicians at every level, judiciary and attorneys at every level to uphold our democracy. Don’t neglect the now silent news outlets. Make it seem worthwhile. This is not yet a foundering ship, despite the gaggle of traitors occupying the helm.
I wish, John, that there were clear and simple answers. If there are, I don’t have them.
Ditto, Bill. Non-violent resistance is all we have, and eventually, it HAS to work. The only thing I can't quite agree with is that "nobody likes a purple faced holler". To be sure, none of us here (except a few trolls) do, but where I came from and elsewhere there are a lot of yanks who respond very positively to such bullshit. To them, whether it is true or not is irrelevant. It seems to be instead that somebody is expressing their own frustrations about their own situations and not being able to have all the things pushed at them on TV. Folks like Phil see through it; most in the maga crowd do not. If push comes to shove they have the tool of whataboutism and they use it liberally, making it seem the one side is as bad as the other. They just can't see the asymmetry of the situation. Indeed, it is unimaginable that the ship of state will sink; however, already it is moving way our of alignment with other ships that want to sail in calm peaceful waters so that folks on board can make their lives as good as they can be through participation and the effort that they choose to make. Resistance is good, resistance is necessary, but without the emergence soon of journalists and politicians who can inspire people with a positive vision of a better future that most people can embrace, resistance will not be enough. I'm afraid that the nation will not jump backwards to better times. It must be a jump forward if it is going to matter. Given the way that people are and think, support for good government will come only when a majority of people can see or be shown something better for them personally. Most unfortunately IMO, many cannot see anything for them in social advances generated through identity politics :-( even when they improve life for some of their fellow citizens. If more people could learn to see themselves as part of something bigger, it would be helpful. A good start, echoing back to Phil Balla's comment, might be to reintroduce thoughtful courses in civics, like the one I had, to HS curricula. Mine was 50% about HOW government works, and the other half was about WHY government has to work. It perplexes me to no end to understand that it was removed mainly because of parental complaints, born in the Reagan era. Sad.
Hello Phil... 'Sick Donald', I like that.... 'President Of Europe'?... That Office Doesn't Exist... Today DJT fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook on dubious grounds... Maybe DJT doesn't like the fact that Lisa is a Black Woman... This action is dubious legally, let's see how the Financial Markets react... Sending Troops to occupy Democratic led Cities?... Seems that this bad 3-Year old's Tyrannical tendencies are coming out... JB Pritzker is pushing back, and sounding very cogent, Good For JB... DJT is also threatening Venezuela, and Mexico with Military Strikes... Very Bad... Where is Schumer, and Jeffries in Speaking out against the Military Occupation of American Cities?.... The State Governors have to run States, and not just make Speeches to Empty Rooms.... Go Gavin, Go Pritzker!!! ... DJT, aka the Red Queen, is Spiraling Faster & Deeper into Dementia, and is getting more desperate, as I suspect DJT is getting feedback from the Townhalls, saying that in the case of Free & Fair Elections in 2026, DJT will lose Congress.... Maybe DJT, also fears that the Grim Reaper is coming closer for DJT, and wants to be remembered after DJT has departed this Plain of Existence....
He goes after everyone who criticizes him or makes him look less than stellar -- the person who announced the revised job numbers - fired; the Maryland Governor who invited Trump on a walk in Baltimore ("I gave him lots of money for the bridge, maybe I have to take that back"); Chris Christie ("maybe we need to open the Bridgegate case"); Pritzer (basically: "he should say thank you I'm sending troops, the slob"); etc. etc. And, if you're a black woman it really gets to him.
Thanks Lauriecf.... Maybe DJT hates the USA because DJT is a Convicted Felon, a Multi Bankrupt Business 'Genius', and now DJT is Raging Against the coming Darkness...
"Maybe" DJT doesn't like the fact that Lisa Cook is a Black Woman?! He and Hegseth want to go back to the era when people of color - and women - "knew their place." They have no humanity, no empathy, whatsoever.
Trump’s attempt to fire Ms Cook is not at all dubious. It is flat out illegal. Trump has ignored the laws his entire criminal life. How in the world can a political party expect to be taken seriously while supporting this disastrous bunch of criminals. What kind of mental machinations are required to vote for these amoral, cheating,ignorant Republicans? And these same people claim to be morally superior to the liberals!
No. The Republicans are to blame for this. This has been set up for literally decades by the Republicans! They packed the SC, they starved the schools in red states where they had control, they pushed the whole 'rugged individual' BS, they wooed the racist and the sexist. they catered solely to the rich who bought them their power. One can argue that the Democrats did not do enough to stop it but the primary cause is the Republican Party. Trump is the logical result of a long program by the Republican Party to gain and retain power/wealth solely for power's sake, with no regard for the lives of their voters. They have other 'ideals' (like white Christian nationalism) but their primary 'ideal' is the pursuit of power/wealth for themselves. No other consideration comes close.
Hi, Phil - I would like to hear your opinion about the idea that we seem to be teaching our children "what" to think, instead of "how" to think. I believe that we should begin teaching logical and rhetorical fallacies early, perhaps fourth grade. When I was in 4th grade a friend and I debated with a contingent of Baptists, mostly about religion. Those conversations helped to shape the person I am today, almost 70 years later. I believe that if every citizen today would master the rhetorical and logical fallacies, we could think our way out of this mess we're in.
My Dad, a lawyer, used to play basic logic games with us as kids -- "Since all dogs have tails, are all animals with tails dogs?" -- we had a lot of fun explaining why such statements were wrong!
Bit of a stretch there, Phil. 75 million products of U. S schools voted against it and another 90 million didn’t vote at all. I don’t know where that puts us, but it’s not the indictment of American education I think you want to make. Yeah, there’s a lot of stupid out there, but education or the lack of it is only one factor. We’re 160 years removed from the Civil War, and yet a good 20-25% of this country would happily return us to the days of white man supremacy, plantations, and slavery. They weren’t taught that in school, they learned that at home.
Almost everyone I know is JD. We sent our daughter to a Montessori pre-school, but she transferred to a small public school close to our home near Lincoln, NE.
The public school was K-6 and they combined grades 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6. We were very pleased with the education she received there.
A couple of years later Nebraska banned these small rural schools that they claimed were too expensive to run forcing some students to sit on a bus for over an hour each way.
Often “progress isn’t,”. And now we have toxic hyperbole (meant to deceive) telling us we will ”be great again” and laughing their arses off while raking in the money.
What about the rest of us, Phil? I didn't vote for this MoFo, and neither did any of my friends! We're not all stupid. We're Horrified!! So now it's time to use our guts and our brains to get out from underneath this tyrant! We need more Gavin Newsoms and JB Pritzkers!!! Let's Go!!!
I'm more than a little threatened by DJT's deployment of troops across our Country. My mother was a life long Republican and so were her parents. I believe Donald Trump (Steven Miller) thinks that targeting Democratic Cities with his "show of force" he'll create an illusion of strength that will counteract his damage to our National Economy before the far reaching effects of his tariffs drive up our cost of living any further. This is purely a theatrical invention. Washington D.C.'s crime rate was at a 30 year low.
Don’t fall for it, no doubt about it-this election was hacked/Election Truth Alliance. 97 million did not vote@all. There’s no doubt, we have an intrusion from foreign state actors directing an illegitimate administration pursing extinction level policies.
Do you know how many murders there are in Chicago every weekend? Do you know how many will stop if Trump shows up? Even Chris Matthews called you guys idiots he’s trying to stop crime and you’re telling him not to do it and Chris Matthews and James Carville and morning Joe and Bill Maher or telling you to stop trying to defend the indefensible
How many murders will trump stop in Chicago? Do you think Trump is sending people into high crime areas? No trump is not going into the areas with gang violence and where drive by shootings occur. Think about it. Trump is not seeing to it that every American has a path to a better life through public education and stopping crime in high crime areas
Look at the time stamps. There's no way one troll could oneself issue simultaneously so many posts as does this single moniker which is evidently rather a much larger giddy team of AI English techies Putin is paying.
See how ignorant you are Sandra I’m begging you change the freaking freaking freaking channel that’s all he’s doing in DC he’s pretty sick he’s protecting the federal buildings for tourist but the majority of the troops and policing is being done in the crime ridden areas Do you think you’re hijacking cars in front of the capital 336 car so far this year and so far since Trump has been there a decrease of 88%. I think murders are being committed on the White House lawn know they’re being committed in the bad areas and they haven’t had one murder in 12 days and A few weeks ago there was an article in the DC paper 10 murders in five days. Change the freaking channel and see what’s happening in real life you’re not hearing the total story
Well, Sandra, let me say this for you ignorance is not a personal defect. It’s a lack of information it’s not a judge of your intelligence whatsoever.
And many many people here, and I’m sorry to say, probably you included are willfully ignorant. You don’t wanna know the truth and the fallacy and they made up terms about Fox are just that. Every network makes mistakes. But when you think that Fox isn’t responsive, help responsible by the FTC, please forgive me, but I believe you’re incorrect
I think to yourself what I said earlier 40% less Democrats watch CNN 40% less Democrats watch MSNBC. MSNBC was going to fail and it was spun off to get it out of the way, and the names of the acronym should tell you everything you want to know about MSNBC. Not to mention all the talent they fired because they couldn’t afford it, and they were like left-wing lunatics. CNN is also trying to be spun off but they’re getting a little smarter. People are now calling cnn baby fox. Because they are learning. The legacy media is pretty much done and the only real and if you want to try something truthfully, the only real Walter Cronkite like news story or newscaster is on Fox I believe he’s on at 6 PM East Coast time at his name is Bret baier . Not sure of the spelling. Who has guests from both sides of the aisle? He lets them talk the interview back-and-forth and despite the fact that he’s on Fox and lean slightly right, he welcomes open dialogue and you would learn a lot just by listening to one hour of his show. And see what you think.
I also would like to ask you why you think all these people have left CNN and MS, NBC, and ABC, NBC, and CBS when it comes to news. The answer should be obvious to you to you now and as I’ve said earlier, Fox News viewership control 65% or so of news media now. And has 14 out of the top 15 shows including the five, including Gutfeld, who’s putting late nights on the major networks out of business, including Brett Bair, including Laura Ingraham, including Jessie waters, prime time, and even Hannity. If you’d like to know the back up, I have the links. 65% of the audience doesn’t think Fox is not a news net work. Only the people here who swallowed what they hear so they don’t go and defect.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Things escalated on Aug. 11, 2025, when Trump invoked emergency powers under the Home Rule Act to take temporary federal control of the Metropolitan Police Department—a first in U.S. history. This wasn’t just a symbolic gesture; it sent a message that Washington’s safety isn’t up for debate.
The operation unites multiple federal agencies, from the U.S. Marshals to the DEA, alongside local officers, focusing on the city’s most crime-ridden areas. It’s a unified front that progressive policies have long avoided, often prioritizing rhetoric over results.
National Guard units, activated earlier in August 2025, are now patrolling with firearms, a visible reminder that law enforcement means business. Some might call it overreach, but when homicides drop to zero for nearly two weeks, the data speaks louder than the critics.
Arrests Surge with Tangible Results
By Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, authorities reported 86 arrests and the seizure of 10 illegal guns in a single day. FBI Director Kash Patel noted 26 of those arrests stemmed from FBI operations, including five drug busts. As Patel posted on X, “Keep getting after it”—a sentiment many law-abiding citizens likely share.
The total tally of 1,007 arrests and 111 confiscated firearms, announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Aug. 25, 2025, underscores the operation’s scale. Pirro, speaking on "Fox & Friends," quipped about the guns, “What does that mean? They can't be used to shoot people.”
Her point cuts through the noise—every firearm off the streets is a potential life saved. While some may scoff at such bluntness, it’s hard to argue with the logic when D.C. has seen 101 homicides this year but none in the past 12 days.
The good news is that they're afraid to commit crimes when you have an increased law enforcement presence.” It’s a refreshing change from policies that seem to prioritize offenders over victims, and residents in high-crime areas are reportedly saying “thank you.”
On Aug. 25, 2025, Trump doubled down with two executive orders—one directing D.C. police to charge suspects federally and hold them in federal custody, bypassing cashless bail, and another threatening to cut federal funding to jurisdictions using such bail practices. This isn’t just a crackdown; it’s a rejection of soft-on-crime experiments.
Critics like Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called the efforts “uncoordinated, uncalled-for and unsound,” while claiming only nine arrests occurred under D.C.’s operation. Pirro fired back, suggesting Johnson should hope for similar intervention in Chicago, which has logged 573 homicides in 2024 with a much larger population. With numbers like that, perhaps it’s time for less posturing and more problem-solving.
Zero Homicides: A Milestone Moment
The 12-day streak without a homicide, as Pirro emphasized, is no small feat for a city that was once among the most violent globally. “Policing works,” she declared, and the stats—zero killings since the crackdown intensified—back her up.
She also highlighted a shift in public sentiment: “We've got a government now where the people in D.C. are feeling safer.” While progressive agendas often dominate headlines with promises of reform, it’s concrete action like this that seems to resonate on the ground.
For now, D.C. stands as a test case for what strong law enforcement can achieve, even if it ruffles feathers in City Hall or beyond. Trump’s operation may not fit the narrative of endless dialogue over decisive action, but with over 1,000 arrests and safer streets, it’s hard to dismiss the results. Let’s hope this momentum holds—and spreads to other cities drowning in crime.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Federal troops or not send it those areas but ABSOLUTELY Trump back police are entering only black areas and stopping crime dead in its tracks and if you would ever change the channel and see the interviews with all the blacks saying thank God he’s here I wish he would send more because we can finally get out of our houses. That’s exactly what he would do. He would send troops to South Chicago and he would stop the killing almost immediately, but I’ll tell you what if he did, you would still have shit to say.
In fact, there was a nice little bean today. guess what Trump cured cancer
But the illegals are not getting due process. But the best one is Trump saved six children from drowning today and the Democrats said yeah but he’s denying the sharks A MEAL.
I’ll come back Sandra, if and when he sends troops to South Chicago if the crime goes down and I’ll hold you responsible for being honest. And if it doesn’t, I will say so
The National Guard in DC have not even bothered to patrol areas of DC struggling with crime. They are only patrolling areas where there are federal buildings. It's hard to see how they could have had any effect on crime levels even were it true (which it isn't) that crime levels have fallen since Trump's invasion. The fact that you fall for this BS every time shows what a twit you are.
Hello Russell... DJT will only send Troops where there are Cameras, Tourists, and Rich People... Like DJT's Alaska Summit. this is all just a Reality Show Photo Op... Putin knew this, and was the Winner, the threatened Russian Sanctions were never implemented....
Remember when Trump 1.0 sent troops to the border stop a "caravan" of "murders and rapists"? They didn't do much, but it was great theater. Kinda heavy on the public purse though.
Oh well. "Reagan proved that deficits don't matter" so long as a Republican's in charge.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Thank you, Professor, and thank you, Governor Pritzker for standing up and calling out Trump for what he is. We cannot allow this administration to take over our cities illegally and on false pretenses.
But is HCR and Gov Pritzker reaching an audience that makes a difference in a way that will make a difference? I’m the meantime trump is putting out sound bites lies about Biden and no one seems to care. We can’t take back America until we have a Democratic Party people believe in. Top ten lies Trump told about Biden? Democrats. We must change the narrative
Agreed Sandra. Everyone, maybe brainstorm for solutions. Everyone I know already knows what I know. But I remember when Biden got insulin to thirty five dollars, and a woman on camera claimed trump did that. I almost passed out .
Trump was in the middle of his delusional speech that HCR covers today when I got in the car. I have no clue why MSNBC was compelled to cover it live.
Anyway, I got to hear most of the ramblings HCR details today. My blood was boiling at every lie and the fact that no one ever shouts out that "you are a fuckimg liar." I know that's an instant dismissal from the lame stream media outlet, but everyone here knows that EVERYTHING he says is complete bullshit. Always has been, always will be. So why broadcast it live and then have the talking heads sane wash it afterwords?
Hello Apache. DNC is not offering very much hope for democracy either. They don't want to endorse or support Mamdani for mayor in New York, almost like they would rather lose elections than stop the money flowing from corporate donors, many of which are already acquiescing and cowed by Trump anyway.
So far Jeffries has not endorsed Mamdani. I didn't rank Mamdani when I voted in the primary, feeling he is too young and inexperienced. I definitely do not want Cuomo or Sliwa. I put Brad Lander as my first choice -- not exciting, but very experienced. But I will vote for Mamdani in the election and I feel some optimism about what he could bring to the city.
Hello Lauriecf..... This last Weekend, it came across the Wires, that the GOP is registering more New Voters, then the Demos... Time for the DNC to get a Reality Check... Good Results from the 2026 Elections are not guaranteed.... DJT is still running Congress....
And don't let anyone forget that Trump is a convicted felon, pedophile and more than likely a sex trafficker.
A day should not go by when the lame stream media doesn't talk about Trump and how he is giving Maxwell the equivalent of a pardon.
Joe Biden accomplished so much including fixing so many things Trump fucked up. Thousands of people in my county have high speed Internet for the first time thanks to Biden.
Governor Pritzker has again shown his exceptional leadership skills. I live in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, and I followed his leadership during COVID, which was very helpful given all the conflicting information available from other sources. What he said in his speech was true, and he said it with dignity. I hope he continues to lead in politics, whether at the state or federal level.
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Goodtrouble) as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, and those in a committee that fits your topic. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
ICE COLD... In the Trumpian fevered "wet dream" of his police state, I think Trump imagined that "distractions", media manipulation (FOX newsroom doesn't just "bend the knee" to Trump, it lies prostrate before his swollen ankles), and "flooding the zone" would be just enough for him to get away with his "anything goes", lawless, and brutally racist attacks on immigrants and anyone else blocking the way to his power grab and permanence.
But he miscalculated on the ingenuity, perseverance, and courage of Americans who, much to his displeasure and annoyance, have been busy videotaping ICE atrocities all across the country. Ben Meiselas (of " Meidas Touch") has a twenty minute video of some of these " citizen journalist " tapes. Ben has a favor to ask of us. He wants us to watch this video and share it with others so the world will know how dangerous this authoritarian regime has become. The video speaks for itself. However, that last segment in the video on Kilmar Abrego Garcia has a regime twist. Today he has been "detained"- because he did not plead guilty to the phony charges against him. However, a federal judge barred the regime from deporting him to Uganda pending a further hearing... Such manic cruelty...
If we allow ourselves to wallow in Trumpian despair, we will have given this regime exactly what they want...fear...hopelessness... and capitulation. We cannot do that. The fight is still in play , but we have to stand up and show up in big, big numbers this weekend and participate in the INDIVISIBLE Nationwide Protests. Protests matter! Take courage from Governor Newsom, Governor JB Pritzker (courageous stand against Trump today), Bernie Sanders, the Texans in state congress(Nicole Collier), the citizen videotapers, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and all who protest week after week. Is the small sacrifice of getting out there on the streets for a few hours with those of like-minded purpose to raise our voices against this regime, not worth the effort to try to save our Democracy ? It is not an inconvenience. It is a necessity. We must fight loudly now every chance we get !
At the top of that list should be outrage at the firing of the only Black member of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors. Most of us simply have no idea how serious the consequences of that decision are.
Lisa Cook consistently voted with Jerome Powell to keep interest rates steady, despite a certain screaming toddler's "demand" that he lower them, joined in their decisions by a majority of the Governors. But no White Governors were fired. No White Governor has been the target of a cartoon witch-hunt where silly, trumped-up charges of inappropriate conduct have suddenly materialized out of nowhere. It's offensive even to dignify them by noting that they come "without evidence." It's all made-up shit from start to finish. And they know it. That alone should tell you everything.
Not quite. The reason President Golf Cart wants interest rates lowered has nothing to do with the country's economy, but EVERYTHING do with his. Since January, Greedier-than-Midas has bought at least $100 million worth of bonds. Guess what happens to bond values when interest rates fall? President Emoluments is taking care of himself, the way he always does. He's made 1600 Pennsylvania the address for the biggest extortion racket in the country. 10% from Intel here, 24-karat gifts from Apple there, tariff demands from this country and that one, bribes from Harvard and Columbia just to be left alone, interest rates moving at his command --- it's not 'about the economy, stupid.' It's certainly not about the price of eggs. It's about GRAFT. "I want you to do a little something for me first." We are all Volodymyr Zelenskyy now.
People have nearly lost their minds demanding the opening of the "Epstein Files" -- whatever that even means -- something about a dead child molester that would be beyond the Pale. Yet the real monster is already among us -- open, transparent, direct violations of the Constitution taking place every day. That should channel everyone's rage.
The bond markets aren't going to take kindly to Trump's attack on the Reserve. For a century, an independent Reserve has been the driving force behind America's AAA bond rating. It's why the Chinese own the lion's share of Treasuries -- they're the safest investment in the world. Not any more. It's all about attacking America and lining your own pocket while hiding under a stupid red MAGA hat.
Hello ICTT... Very Good Post.... "President Golf Cart", I like that.... OBW, unless Putin gets him, President Zelensky will outlive DJT... Slava Ukrainii!!!
ICTT, you'll note that President Golf Cart fires women and Blacks in positions of authority (USCG Commandant, US Navy Admiral--both women and General Brown (USAF, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is Black).
Kudos to Governor Pritzker for showing real leadership, real courage, and a real grasp of the situation the nation is facing.
Shame on the Republican Party; in Congress, in various governors’ mansions, and in state legislatures. Their silence in the face of the destruction of American democracy makes them forever guilty of treason even more than the President. Governor Pritzker is right; the pendulum will swing back and, when it does, we will remember who spoke up and who was silent.
Kudos to him for yet another reason, too. As Governor, he can speak for Illinois. 'Nobody here asked for your help, nobody requested anything. You never even asked us our opinion.' It's important people hear the truth. If there were a real emergency, wouldn't any SANE president want to get a state or a city's take on this?
There's no consultation because there's no emergency. There's no there there. Pritzker speaks for those of us even more in your nation's capital, for we *have* no voice, no representation in Congress, no Governor to act in our interests, just a Mayor on tenterhooks right now, with at least a $1 billion gaping need that the Big Ugly Pile of Shit bill removed (and has not yet been reinstated despite a unanimous voice vote in the Senate to the contrary).
So Pritzker not only speaks truth to power, he speaks for those of us without power altogether. Just wanted to add that, thanks!
so what is the situation we are facing I gotta hear this this is gonna be good you’re facing a situation where situation is that the crime is down that the stock market is raging setting all time records that the border is closed that the criminal element is being arrested and/or sent home that men can’t participate in women’s sports?
The only destruction of democracy is what you’re causing… read above and figure it out
So are you one of those people that like form over content there Ralph
I post to many people and I’m very busy posting trying to keep up. I’ve voice text everything and I guess as intelligent as you are you’re able to figure it out. I hope you don’t get eaten by a bare. Lmao. Did you get the meaning of what I said or you were worried about the spelling Sad. This is not my college dissertation. This is arguing and discussing serious facts and points. You wanna deal with dangling participles, and ending sentences with prepositions go back to your classroom and teach theory . This is not a classroom. This is reality. And if you wanna talk the education of this country, the last 40 years of a Democrat control has been miserable and now it’s changing thank goodness. As I have pointed out many times on these threads in 1979 when the department of education was first formed, this country was ranked number one of the world education 30 years later we were number and today were number 40th house that for progress of education. What is happened in the last 40 years has been nothing less than dumbing down of American students.
Instead of criticizing everything, why don’t you have a solution to anything whatsoever? Nothing you have no solutions neither does your party and that’s why they continue to lose. Big time.
Check out “ vote of no confidence in our current federal government” by Robert Reich. It’s a pretty good summation of what is not good in this country at the moment. Perhaps it would help put it in perspective in your mind.
Have you actually ever seen the results of decisions made by Krugman or right? They were almost always incorrect and their ass assumptions because they're not practical applications as their theoretical.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Actually, Gary, I am fun to play with and fun to watch playing golf as I’ve now reached 12 rounds of golf under my age which currently is 76. And about four weeks ago I actually saw a 76 shots lower than my age now go look up that number and see how much fun I am to play golf with. Last I looked the numbers looked like this. I could no longer find the article online but I did find this at one site: " The percentage of golfers who shoot their age on golf courses that are at least 6,000 yards is .0000089%, or less than 9 per million."
I shot a 70 or six shots below my age that is truly remarkable but everything was great pets. Couple of chips went in bottom line and it atested 70. Even better for a lefty golfer
Newsom, Pritzker, Mills (Maine) - and other Governors now in the pipeline - bear truth to the fact that the resistance is really gaining momentum. And not a minute too soon.
The bedrock decency and fundamental tenets of our democracy- flawed as it is in many ways - are starting to push back hard against this grotesque “administration,” so those who continue to grovel before the MAGA and 2025 malignancy best give thought to their place in history…..because it’s going to catch up to them a lot sooner than they think.
The future remains in peril, but it's clear that game is very much in play, and resistance is rising. The Republic, the ecosphere, and our future are all worth saving.
And all you need is an agenda what you don’t have at all. Nine months later and you’re still lost in the Woods thinking that hating Trump or the fighting back is the winning choice which it’s not. Moving forward with an agenda that fits the Americans need is what you need which is exactly what Trump ran on and one
Don’t know if you heard, but there’s even a possibility you may lose New Jersey
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Wow, I read it all! Pritzker really laid it out there. I am impressed. This is all serious stuff and he was telling as most of us see it. Don’t ignore this time, but be aware and help in any way you are able.
Three cheers for Gov Pritzger tonight, tomorrow and all the days that follow until the nation somehow finds a way to remove this galloping, self-absorbed fascist (with the most excellent signature, etc.) from power. Adam Schiff had his number in his sum up to impeachment No. 1, "You will NOT change him". Some years ago, I saw the Chinese military patrols in Lhasa and I recall clearly thinking, "Here is a profound difference between us in the west and them". Now that difference is gone, at least temporarily. Congress is asleep at the switch or most likely, worse, and the illegitimate SCOTUS will not help 'the people' after its scandalous rearrangement. Resistance is all that there is. We must hope that the tide will turn, because right now it is running higher up the beach than I've seen since the abomination at Kent State. Do people have to die to get this escalation the attention that it deserves?
Speaking with a friend of mine today, I recalled a humorous family gathering. We were talking about Halloween costumes. My husband said…well he was going to put a potato on the end of his dick and be a “Dick Tater.” We all laughed our asses off..can someone please do a meme/comic with Trump with a potato on his dick so he can be a “dick tater”????? Just a little levity here.
Chuck Schumer, are you listening to Governor Pritzker? You should have made a speech like this when the cowardly Democrats should have followed Al Green and walked out of the address T**** gave to Congress. Give the leadership of the Senate to someone who has the cojones to do the job.
He might try to hide his right hand to cover a bruise, but he cannot hide the 2-year-old idiocy spewing out that tiny facial sphincter, spouted while "class" sits at rapt attention taking notes.
A stupefied "class" sits there in absolute terror of being banished from the White House for daring to ask a serious question. It already happened once before in February, when Karoline Spokesbarbie fired the 110-year-old White House Correspondents Association over her master's outraged pique that the Associated Press still DARED to refer to the Gulf of Mexico by its real name since the 1600s. Out went the AP, forget about NPR -- in came Bright Fart, Marjorie Traylor-Trash's illiterate husband masquerading as a reporter, and other preening wormtongues who actually asked him hard, biting questions like "why do Democrats hate America so much?" (no, I didn't make that up).
One-third the country hasn't a clue that Washington is a peaceful city, there is no emergency, that all his targets involve Black mayors in blue states, and now the only Black member of the Federal Reserve. They don't know because Faux News fills the airwaves with chickenshit, still going Biden Biden Biden Biden Biden Biden, after all this time.
The Emperor is not just naked, he's small, ugly, brutish, demented, criminal and stupid. From Macbeth, shortly before his demise: "Now does he feel his title hang loose about him, like a giant's robe upon a dwarfish thief."
Facial sphincter. Thank you, Professor. The emperor is leading this country to new heights of success and democratic fulfillment. Leaving the streets with less crime and peaceful, leading the economy, including the stock market to new record highs
Yeah, I guess what the black member of the Fed did in order to deserve such a dispatch? Do you know what moron you actually think the Washington DC is a peaceful city? Why did you go walk the neighborhoods and see how peaceful it is
A congressman got car jacked in pure daylight and it was a Democrat as well
Over 300 carjackings already. And now they’re down to 88%. The white liberals are protesting in the blacks are thrilled.
That is probably the most erudite post I’ve seen in years unfortunately it’s entirely incorrect 180 degrees
Inflation went up in July; prices are still high and are rising. Trump is so angry with the economic data that he's fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics and a governor on the Federal Reserve board. He says he won the election on a promise to reduce prices on the first day of his presidency - he lied!
He hasn't reduced crime in DC, even at the cost of $1m a day. He's citing fake statistics.
you know people ask me why I’m here. And I’m only here for one purpose to expand your mind and your horizons to let you know that you are 2% of America. That’s who you represent the left wing of the left wing of liberals.
You are not representative of the country and at least by now 100 million people don’t think like you but you have no idea how they think or why they think or why they think the way they think. So I know why I’m here but I’m not sure why you were here
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Well, who would believe it? I read 1984 one summer when I was about 12. It creeped me out, and I got the message, but I thought it was overly exaggerated. Now I don't.
My book group just read 1984, & our meeting to discuss it was a very somber affair.
Near the end of the book- when O'brien is torturing Winston- he tells Winston that The Party's consummate objective is to obtain power!
When I read that, I realized what is going on in our country. The Republicans are attempting, with the help of Project 2025, to get ultimate power over us. And they will succeed if we don't resist & protest.
I have had the same problem. Thought Vance’s book club was a great idea, took the book up (after having read it 50 years ago) and can’t even get past the first few pages — it’s too real now.
Government being taken over by a group of zombies with a demented carcass of orange lard as its figurehead, a man once described as a "fucking moron" by his first Secretary of State. Violations of the Emoluments Clause on a daily basis. The militarization of the National Guard for non-existent emergencies. Assertions that Haitians are eating cats and dogs on national TV with only his opponent openly laughing.
No, this is one too-ridiculous even for the SciFI channel. Completely unrealistic. Downright stoopid, even .... 🤪
Pritzker was a Mench each stop all the killings in the black neighborhoods in South Chicago but he’s not doing that is he? Now, let’s see your complaint if Trump comes in with his people and the killing stops. Let’s see you criticize him or blame him for that saving black lives and that’s why you’re even losing black voters. Because the only one protesting Washington DC now are the white liberals. The blacks are saying thank you, Mr. Trump.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Thank you for this! I'm so grateful to the veterans who have begun a sit-in at Union Station as well as those who are providing honest support to the National Guard who've been deployed to DC through the GI hotline -- 1-877-447-4487. If you are National Guard member ordered to violate Constitutional rights, here is the number to the GI Rights Hotline. 1-877-447-4487. There is support for you – you do not have to obey illegal commands.
Crises often seem to bring out the best and the worst in people, and this one is no exception. It is refreshing and encouraging to hear Democrats tell truth to tyrannical Big Liars. Pritzker spoke, plainly, eloquently, pointedly, and earnestly. That is essential to how we win.
The Governor’s speech was exceptional, and I thank you, Heather, for bringing it to our and the nation’s attention.
Hey, may be a good time to visit Chicago wearing a protest tee shirt! The Governor is a great supporter of the state. Glad he spoke up. Now, we wait & see what T & his minions try to do to IL.
Democrats telling this truth is too little too late. We are now in a full blown crisis and we still let Trump tell lies about the Biden administration. Thank goodness for this Governor but where is congress? Where is the truth about the Biden admin. The way the democrats let Trump go after Jan 6. I have little faith
It is NOT too little, nor too late. That is an absurdity that too many people are repeating without merit out of pure laziness. And Democrats did NOT let Trump go after January 6, Republicans did. What version of history have you been subscribing to?
The occasion is certainly "piled high with difficulty" to quote Abraham Lincoln. Yet he went on to say "we must disenthrall ourselves" in order to think anew, act anew and save the country. I think it's high time we tried.
Thanks to " It's come to this" I am so discouraged but you have heartened me. Doesn't everyone remember when Biden left, our economy was the envy of the world? Is it because the mainstream media is owned by the rich that they kept on and on about Biden's age and mental state, all the while Trump enlightened us that ' helicopters go up, then they go down" and sharks and whales and windmills and water pressure in showers and dogs and cats are eaten by Haitians were worthy topics to talk about? The Republicans, in their compliance,well, I will never forgive them for ruining this country I love.It wasn't perfect, but we were working on it, and now it's a mess. Suffering abounds. God help us .
And above Mike Johnson was mentioned. There was a bipartisan immigration bill proposed before the election. A person called traitor Johnson up; this person was not elected, held no political position and told him to not let that bill go up for a vote. The immigration bill died. The press should have been shouting this fact from the rooftops. Immigrants were a stupid, dumb issue in the election, according to me and everyone in my circle of friends. Full disclosure: I am married to one, I speak Spanish, my best friend is from Iran, my neighbors are Bulgarian with whom I exchange Christmas cookies. Can everyone just contemplate the suffering that would have been avoided if the orange menace had not called speaker Johnson??!!! They are traitors all with Stephen Miller mixing it with being stark raving mad . It has caused me unbelievable amounts of stress and sadness, to see us like this . Oh yeah, I am also related to gay people whom I love. This happens if you have enough cousins and nieces and nephews, uncles and aunts. I can't believe I am unique. We gotta have courage and fight, peacefully, these horrible excuses for whatever they think they are .
Need to hear from Congressional Republicans from Illinois. Will they stand with their state, the land of Lincoln?
See you in September in DC.
https://removalcoalition.org/
I may be wrong, but, of the seventeen districts in Illinois, there are only three districts held by Republicans, or MAGA would be more accurate. They ran Adam Kinzinger out of the party and he gave up his seat. The media should be pointing out that it is cities and states currently run by Republcans, that have higher murder and crime rates than Chicago, They should be contrasting Trumps lies with the truth, and, facts instead of letting him get off without correction. I applaud Governor Pritzker and Gavin Newsom for leading the fight started by those Democratic state representatives who left their state to make an issue of the power grab in Texas.
If there are any principled Republicans left, they’re all cowards and won’t do what’s right for fear of retribution.
Problem is, Daniel, the party of Lincoln no longer exists in the minds of republicans in Illinois. I don’t know how many exist; I just know that almost all have been either bought or sold. The irony is that they have become the new “slave” issue and they don’t even know it.
Excellent point.
Exactly! Those who whine about Dems not doing anything about immigration forget all the Dem immigration legislation that was voted down or never debated, only because it would have given the Dems a win. Unconscionable.
I have lived in lily white Oregon all my life. My community is overwhelmingly white. I had a gay Aunt. I am a gay Aunt. I have a much larger lesbian circle of friends as that is my community.
I'll be next to you fighting, and ready to defend anyone who is the victim of "not peaceful" resistance.
Back in the day, such relationships raised few eyebrows. They were just called "Boston marriages." And when Annie Sullivan died, all the newspapers noted she had been "the longtime companion of Helen Keller."
Today, "friends of Dorothy" aren't going quietly into those stuffy little closets anymore. Lavender takes its place at the forefront of the charge.
I’m gonna be right next to you, Ally!
Shoulder-to-shoulder with you, sister.
You Go Sheriff!
Actually Oregon is not lily white That is a myth. Come to my Portland neighborhood and I will show you.
I often wondered about Mrs Cleary. She was an old spinster of about age 50 living in a big ole house by herself across the street from our house.
You have a rich life with such a diversity of people. (My best friend is from Boston, I’m from Chicago. 😌 ) I value the richness of diversity where I come from.
I value the richness of diversity everywhere. It's how this country was built.
Yet, in the news yesterday was a man and his children that stood by, and watched his legal citizen wife be taken away because she was an immigrant, and still, yes STILL refused let go of their insane belief in DJT's righteousness.
Not familiar with the story, but if true, don't let the actions of a few dishearten you from taking on the task ahead.
There were those loyal to the Fuhrer to the bitter end.
Pam B that is why I carry a pitch fork. Though I try to look innocuous people occasionally do ask why I have a wooden handle protruding from my pants leg, and metal tines above my head. Usually they have a puzzled look when I offer “concealed carry” by way of explanation. In reality it is my idea of an ICE pick for those bullies who deserve it.
Elizabeth, Thank you for this post and pointing out what happened as little johnson scuttled the immigration bill. We live in a diverse neighborhood and I hope we do not see ICE. Both our lawn service and our cleaning service coming this am are immigrants. I worry about them. They all work very hard and are not criminals. Now the regime is going to check all 55 million (I think that is the number I saw) green card holders. That includes our nephew's wife. A number of my ex-students are married to their same sex partners along with some gay friends who I cherish. One of them is going to Lesbos shortly to DJ as part of the International Women's Festival. i hope that she has no trouble returning.
Don't forget that when John Boehner was Speaker of the House a similar bipartisan immigration bill including Republican Sens. Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, John McCain and Jeff Flake among others, was also never allowed to come to a vote on the House floor.
Thank you for reminding us:
There was a bipartisan immigration bill proposed before the election. A person called traitor Johnson up; this person was not elected, held no political position and told him to not let that bill go up for a vote. The immigration bill died. The press should have been shouting this fact from the rooftops
I so share your distress and pessimism at the sheer injustice practiced in broad daylight. I'm putting it all on Satan Miller.....
I guess T's buddies want us all to put our friends & families into columns according to color, creed, sexual identity! They refuse to admit how complex our society really is. They also don't want anyone to find out they may have a 'misfit' in their family.
You are unique but in a good way
"Hope is your superpower. Don't let anybody or anything make you hopeless. Hope is the enemy of injustice. Hope is what will get you to stand up when people tell you to sit down."
-- Bryan Stephenson, Director of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Alabama and author of "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption."
Bryan Stephenson is a favorite hero of mine.
Mine, too.
No one remembers anything good Biden did. Trump said in his speech yesterday at least 8 times Biden was a horrible president
More than 70 million people in the USA and a few BILLION people in the world remember a lot of the good that President Biden did. I did not realize that all of us became "nobody". Speak for yourself Sandra Simpson. We are not going to be members of ypur doomsday club.
How do you think we got here? Trump tells voters constantly how Biden should have never been elected. He spreads Biden lies while we sit back and criticize those that nail the problem and the problem is the Dems and the way they get the message across
Do they remember? All I hear is trump repeating over and over the lie that Biden ruined this country. How are we counteracting thst?
Little Sandra, he helped student loan borrows retire their debt. He expanded Medicaid. He got the chips and Science act passed. And your sorry self might be alive because of him, bc despite the fantastic development of highly effective vaccines for covid, we couldn't get them distributed. He put together the inoculation program that got it into people.
He got the supply chain unsnarled.
He got us out of afghanistan despite the cluster the orange cocksplat "negotiated" with the afghan government who fled when the taliban came back, because again, the orange witless one fucekd it up.
People with brains and understanding actually do remember what Biden did.
Unfortunately you aren't one of them. I'm sick of stupid people like you.
Why do you bother to read this and not understand? Oh, you're here to troll.
I do not read Ms Simpson as denying the good that Biden did. She is complaining - and rightfully angry - that the press and a lot of the public is letting Trump get away with running Biden down. That's not trolling for a second.
So much press - still! - about Biden's mental slowness, and so very little about Trump's ongoing and increasing dementia - can he finish the same sentence he started? Biden was slow on the uptake sometimes, but not incoherent, not irrelevant and not nasty. Trump is all of those, and corrupt, incompetent and cruel too.
And there's this. Biden got Covid shots in the arms of Americans (despite fake news resistance to vaccines). Life as we knew it came back, and the Infrastructure Act we were waiting for went into motion. Unemployment went down, followed by crime, as those with a job and positive outlook on the future found hope where once there was none. January 20, 2025, is when the shit show came back with a vengeance.
I am beyond negative! I am mad and you should be also. Btw. In “ little “ Sandra’s state NC has paid 1 billion dollars into school vouchers. 1 billion in the last 10 years. If these are private schools with charitable status they pay no property tax, no capital gains tax. One school was recently sold for 92 million dollars. Who is making money here. I am beyond negative.
Jen, I share your frustration with naysayers. Yet, sometimes I am one.
But I have to remind myself – and you – that not everyone is eloquent. Many have trouble sharing their thoughts without benefit of tone of voice, facial expression and gestures. Words alone fail many. Others, in the heat of emotion, tap the "Reply" button without proofreading.
In this enormously troubled time of grief and angst, we need to cut everyone a little slack, and hope they will do the same when we spout off.
"Orange Cocksplat" -- going to have to remember that one...tho' it would be a very small splat indeed. 🤪
But besides in your posts who is hearing this!??? Dems ignored this at the last presidential election.
And it is not true that no one remembers all the good that Biden did I certainly do and appreciated beyond measure all he for us.
but how often do we see the press or any public figure pushing back against Trump's lies about Biden's achievements? Just about never. WAY too much casual acceptance that his term was a failure, when he did a bunch of very good things and would have done more with a majority of the House after 2022.
But what about the voters? The majority of voters had no idea and now trump tells us all daily that Biden ruined the country. How do we counteract that?
Trump us a liar and a fraud and he is ruining this country.
That will always confound me. I think it is our culture's need for entertainment. Biden did his work and didn't get caught up in idiotic trivial junk. To me, it was a sense of CALM and someone worthy in control.
Remember how UPSET people were that Jill posted giant hearts (I think it was) on the WH lawn for Valentine's day? Now we have monkey-brain paving over the historic Rose Garden. My God. Sigh.
I loved Joe Biden as president, he did an enormous amount of good, but he also failed us in appointing Garland at the DOJ, who triply failed us in not arresting, the clown we have for president today, for his part in Jan 6. Everything that is happening now is a direct result of that failure, everything! It isn’t Kamala’s fault that we are where we are today, it’s Garland’s. 🤬🤬🤬🙏
The orange menace did say that, but you must remember that he's a pathological liar and very mentally incompetent.
This is not about Biden. Stop deflecting the conversation from the demented fascist in our White House.
"No one" are big words.
Biden may have let his legacy suffer at the end, but time will overcome that and as we sink deeper into authoritarianism more will remember.
I remember all the good Biden did!
Sandra, your negativity helps no one.
Negativity? I agree negativity fuels the fire. We are obsessed with feeding Trump rather than promote the Dems. But I will not stick my head in the sand. Dems have sat back and waited for poles to tell them what to do for too long. Dems have isolated the voters and I am here to help them get back on track. We are not helping the Dems unless we the voters speak out.
I trust you are being sarcastic. If not, you won't find support here for your erroneous message.
When you stop listening to the words of a demented, fascist we can talk. You are simply trolling these comments.
Doesn't everyone remember when Biden left, our economy was the envy of the world? Is it because the mainstream media is owned by the rich that they kept on and on about Biden's age and mental state, all the while Trump enlightened us that ' helicopters go up, then they go down"
Or remember when over-concentration of media ownership was prohibited, and for that matter the days of robust antitrust (AKA anti-monopoly). Monopolization of the economy, information and governmental power was always the antithesis of a society of, by and for the people. When purchase is the ultimate power, we are living in a plutocracy, and with classic corruption.
I remember but the Dems left these things out of the last election
Look not at the last battle but forward to the next victory.
I don’t know what you mean “left these things out of the last election.”
I believe that we will always be "working on it." We will rescue this democracy even though we will have to roll up our sleeves and work together. I have fallen into despondency - a potentially deep hole if ever there was one. Gratefully, I manage to climb out in order to participate with like minded fighters. I guess this might be a cycle for many of us. We must continue to climb out of the hole, into the sunlight, and seek people with goals that we can work for.
Elizabeth, thank you for your comment.
It's come to this, what's the difference between if democrats or Trump or the republicans let Trump go after Jan 6? Trump and the republicans are in the same boat and function as one and the democrats wasted a precious time trying to go high, by the book and following the procedures. The end result? We are facing the abyss or we are already falling into it. Had the republicans have a spine and a grain of decency and the democrats done their job, Trump would be in jail and this country would be still Great.
You seem to forget the role of the Supreme Court in all of this. The House did hold T responsible for January 6, as did the Justice Department. And, of course, Republicans refused, with the leadership of Mitch McConnell, to convict the president once he was impeached (for the second time) during his first term. Then, the Republican majority on the court set us up for this by saying that whatever the President does in the course of his duties is not a crime. I'm not sure they'll protect Chicago or any other blue city, but I suppose it's premature to say that. There is no insurrection there (as there was none in the District of Columbia, although the law is different there with regard to the powers of the presidency.)
Bingo. CJ Roberts shamelessly and deliberately squashed Jack Smith’s January 6 case, and then twisted the knife with his “presidential immunity/official duties” ruling. He should be hung for enabling this fascist takeover.
Roberts has always wanted to go down in history as a great leader and a model justice. However, he is earning his legacy as an integral part of the destruction of US democracy. He is leading "The Robbers" Court, robbing citizens of their rights to ensure that his Orange Idol has everything he desires.
Not just the Robbers' Court's chief justice, the entire Republic-killing, Constitution-nullifying, vindictively traitorous Christonazi majority.
John, hang is a weird word in English. When it's a coat on a hook or a picture on a nail, "hung" is the past tense. When a criminal and rope are involved, "hanged" is the past tense.
But I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiment. I'd bring the rope.
Yes the Dems were asleep at the wheel for 40 years or so. Yes Biden appointing garland was a huge mistake. The lack of leadership from the house and most of the senate is disappointing. Yes the seditious 6 on the supreme court is criminal. But the time now demands WE respond. Do whatever you can: write your congress people, speak out, protest. We are all needed and arguing amongst ourselves is self defeating.
While I agree that "arguing amongst ourselves" can be self defeating, it can also lead us to the sorts of epiphanies that build the disciplined solidarity vital for victory against Ted-Bundy-minded enemies, which is precisely what we face.
My own belief is that our foes' ecogenocidal sadism leaves us only two alternatives: fight for democratic socialism or surrender to Auschwitz-caliber barbarism.
The "democratic" part of socialism assumes a necessarily argumentative quest for the best solutions, while the "socialism" part assumes universal agreement on the necessity for economic democracy -- that is, We the People seizing and managing the entire financial system for the common good.
Which is precisely why, when it comes to the decisive moment, the "Democratic" (sic) Party -- as much a tool of the ruling class as the Christonazi/Neoconfederate Party -- will probably prove to be as much our enemy as the MAGATs themselves.
Why did it take Merrick Garland so long to tackle Trump? If he had done it right after Jan 6, when it was fresh in people's minds ....I guess he figured that obviously no one would forget? Then Kevin McCarthy went to mar-a- lago and all the Republicans who had so strongly condemned the attempted coup did an about face. I couldn't believe it...I thought, didn't they know they are on tape? We saw it. We heard them! What the hell type of jello makes up their spines? How can McConnell, Graham and my lovely irritating senator fist in the air Hawley live with themselves.? Holy crap. Hawley all sanctimonious about how important Medicaid is ...then voted for the criminal big bad bill? Screw them all who voted for that anti American piece of sh.t
Do you really expected something different from them Elizabeth?
Garland's tenure was a great disappointment. That, and dealing with Netanyahu are the two policy decisions of Biden I have the most issue with.
Chump will never go to jail if there is one Republican left on the planet. Cult leaders don’t suffer until everyone else suffers more.
He'll will never go to jail because he is well in his way to end up into an asylum .
or the grave...
Given Trump’s health, he will not complete his term.
You might as well ask what's the difference between the truth and an inanity. One happened. The other did not. Misconstruing the two doesn't help us get anywhere.
Wasting time it's not helping either. Time is of essence. We are sinking deeper and deeper by the minute.
You are exactly correct. People of good conscience need to stop with this defeated mindset and start defending this country and it's people, and the Constitution that commands it. Freedom is not free, and it's high time everyone started paying for it with loyalty and defense, not complaints and 'hand-wringing'.
Recognizing the unspeakably horrible reality of our circumstances is not defeat.
Indeed It is absolutely essential to fulfilling the first precept of Sun Tzu: knowing the enemy.
Which knowledge -- given the requisite analysis -- allows us to discern the weaknesses that are hidden by the enemy's strengths (and not infrequently inherent in the enemy's capabilities and intentions). This, in turn -- assuming the discipline and courage to exploit those weaknesses -- is what facilitates victory.
And given all that is at stake, victory -- total victory -- is the only way we can ensure not just our species' liberty, but our very survival.
Toward which we desperately need two preliminary realizations: (one) -- that what besets us all has already exploded far beyond the legal boundaries of politics and political crisis; and (two) -- awful truth it is -- that we are in fact at war.
Once back in the dangers a group of singers called Up with People. As a child Ivwas messrmized by their songs and had the album. Later on I thought too too much but looking back their song Freedom isn’t Free fits well today.
Glad that Governor Pritzker spoke so forcefully and eloquently.
Agreed. We have to keep the faith. The alternative--giving up--is unacceptable. We are not in frozen mud filled fox holes getting shot at. We have agency. We need to get out on the streets. We need to raise our voices. We need to force leaders who are not up to the task (Shumer) to step aside or be pushed. We need to mobilize.
It’s far in the distance, but let’s NOT reelect the Republicans WHO ENABLED TRUMP next November. We complain but then we put the a$$holes back in office!!
100 pct not too late. Speaker Johnson is a weak, white christian nationalist who dreams of cozying up with Miller to make America white again. If the House were truly interested in following the constitution, djt would be in jail and we wouldn't be in this mess.
It's, thanks for this excellent post. Too many people are subscribing to the Ds do nothing mantra. And it is clear that death star is falling apart before our very eyes. He is totally bonkers and of course, is being fed by the cabal to keep him stirred up. I see several D pols doing all they can when they control neither half of Congress. Rs control Congress and they are responsible for the fact that Congress is missing in action.
"we must disenthrall ourselves"...I find this to be the most useful quote I've read in a while. Thanks, Abe, and thanks, ICTT.
Thank you for your response!!! It does seem SO overwhelming daily trying to deal with everything that is being thrown at us multiple times a day. We NEED encouragement to keep fighting the fight and Abe Lincoln's quote is just what I needed this morning.
She has been watching the wrong media. I keep hearing the same at times....but I also see those at work. We don't have enough people in Indiana that don't watch Fox (Entertainment) News.. It plays on the televison station at our local bank! Makes me sick if I have to go in the lobby! Yes, I have complained...they smile!
The gerrymander fight is on. There is a new playbook. The old rules have been struck down by the Supreme Court. We need to change the gears here as fast as possible for deadly preemptive strikes. Newsom has moved out on this already. Who is next? Hochul. Where are you? Ptitzker. What are you doing?
https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/gerrymander-fight?r=3m1bs
Dems did let Trump go. Dems had him. Trumps cabinet resigned. His own people were against him. Then the Dems backed off
Two impeachments is backing off? Are you here to troll the Democrats?
And even if, in a parallel universe, two impeachments count for nothing, So. Bloody. What?
What are you, clothed in sanctimony doing? 434 days till the mid-terms. Expend every last effort that you can and then, maybe, point fingers. 434. Off you trot.
You don’t bring an impeachment unless you have the votes or you can take the facts to the people. Dems hurt themselves instead of trump
I am here to light a fire. To hold our only hope accountable. We are loosing elections against a convicted felon
Well, Sandra, so you're here to light a fire? Like the arsonist who joins the volunteer fire department and sets fires they can fight in order to make themselves appear big, strong, and noble? It's not a good look. Many of us are frightened and horrified by the current state of affairs in our country, and I suspect you're frightened and horrified too. Sometimes fear translates as anger, sometimes it translates as courage, and sometimes both. Many here have chosen courage. To quote Eleanor Roosevelt, "Courage is more exhilarating than fear, and in the long run, it's easier."
Sandra, are you familiar with Connie Schultz who writes the Substack, Hopefully Yours? Today's essay is titled "Farewell, Sidelines". I highly recommend it to you and to our fellow LFAA members.
If you are going to impeach the President you better spend time getting the votes. The Dems did not make their case they did not get the votes. The impeachments fueled trump
Sandra, I defended your right to misspeak elsewhere, but it seems that you're here just to bash Democrats. I remind you, Democrats are not your problem; Republicans are.
Democrats did not "back off." Full stop.
Rather than wasting a lot of pixels here, ranting about how weak Democrats are, I suggest that you channel your anger into something meaningful, like registering more sympathetic voters in your horribly gerrymandered state.
"Democrats did not "back off." Full stop." In plain English, "Bullshit". Schumer+8, sold us out, We were braced for the confrontation, but they decided "death by a thousand cuts" would be better a better option.
Donald, to be clear, I was specifically addressing Sandra's false accusation that Democrats backed off Trump's IMPEACHMENTS. They did not. They pushed it as far as they could until Mitch McConnell torpedoed the convictions in the Senate.
Democratic legislators have often disappointed us, but in the impeachment matters, they did no less than they could.
Jesus you're a dumbass
You can google it
Time to block Sandra?
Sandra is sadly an example of a frustrated leftist. Although that frustration may be justifiable it leads to an expressed negativity that feeds the backlash toward the right at worse, and at least toward an apathy from the middle to avoid involvement.
Where do you get your news? Good grief.
In crisis there is both danger and opportunity. Time to support the truth-tellers and expose the Oath-breakers. The opportunity is based in TRUTH.
Honest Abe Lincoln said "I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the REAL FACTS"
"It is NOT too little, nor too late. " Thanks. This is a start and an illuminating one. We cannnot count on NYT or WP to fight in public. We have to fight on our own now.
How?
Thank you, It’s Come To This. Thrilled by governor’s
AND Mayor’s responses to DT. It’s what we need to hear. As I listen to ICE sirens it’s comforting to know that protests are ringing around America and here. It inspires me to continue writing postcards to voters.
Sandra, While, on one hand, I, too, despair, on the other I’m reminded that other Democratic leaders across the country are standing against federal overreach: Gavin Newsom (California), Jay Inslee (Washington), Kathy Hochul (New York), Jared Polis (Colorado). Accordingly, it’s incumbent upon all of us to urge those governors who have not yet taken a bold stance to go on the offensive against Trump’s intimidation and cruelty.
I would add that grassroots organizers who reside in Blue States, as we speak, are seeking authoritative guidance from their A.G.s on the potential application of the 10th Amendment as a legitimate basis for asserting state authority in circumstances where federal overreach has caused, or might cause, harm to the citizens of their states.
My point is that the 10th Amendment, as Pritzker inferred, is a powerful affirmation of federalism, a vital feature of American democracy, ensuring that power remains decentralized, accountable, and responsive. Indeed, in a nation as vast and varied as ours, preserving this balance is essential—not just for efficiency, but for freedom.
I would also add Connecticut senator Chris Murphy to your list.
Constance, While I was only listing governors, I agree about Senator Chris Murphy and would add several other senators and house members to the list though they don’t amount to nearly enough. I also would add Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
As goofy as it may seem, Newsom is actually doing something that is effective, and is taking action to do more. Pritzker may be eloquent, but what is he going to do, when the jackboots show up in Chicago?
Stay tuned.
Stop. Just bloody stop.
You’re one of those people who believe that both parties are the same; there’s no point in voting; that the perfect is the enemy of the good, etc.
People who think like you do gave us Trump I and II. I’m not having it.
Why are you bringing up Biden? He stepped down, Harris took his place on the ticket and ran a decent campaign. Did you stay home because there wasn’t a primary or some such?
When the alternative is so completely unacceptable, you look backwards and wring your hands.
Bah!
Biden was a great President. Biden saved this country. Trump tries to rewrite history
Yes, but now, everyone, be bold, be honest, be brave and do not accept this administration and get him out with all of his corrupt and evil , lawless , sad , complicit accomplices in hurting their very own flag . It is called treason. We have their names. Let them think arrogance can save them. Not a chance.
Marla. What comment are you referring to?
Brown, Marla was responding to Sandra Simpson, who seems to be on a tear today, bashing Democrats. If you're viewing comments "Top First," Sandra's comment is second from the top.
Repubs let him go after Jan 6, P2025 tells you that and it was ignored by all of us. It hasn’t been politics as usual for decades.
Stop bashing Democrats.
It might surprise you to learn this has consistently played right into the hands of the Republicans. Do you and all the people who clicked "like" on your statement really think that Democrats bashing is effective? Do you think your habit of doing this helped get us where we are today? Do you know the insinuations against Biden and the Democrats helped elect trump?
I respectfully invite you to go back as far as Biden's Charlottesville speech and on through the years here he repeatedly and literally screamed out that our Democracy was in danger. Then take a look at the record number of Federal judges he installed to try and forestall what he saw coming. The truth about the Biden Administration has been made perfectly clear. You can take the time to learn about the records of his Administration through Congressional Records, Executive Orders, the legitimate reports of his economics record, international records and the records that Dr. Richardson and others wrote of the time Biden was President.
The truth is the real conspiracy is the decades long agenda of Christian Nationalists through organizations such as the Heritage Foundation to produce the driving force of this coup the manifesto Project 2025. The January 6 Committee did an excellent job of prosecuting what occurred on January 6 for all the American people to see.
You seem to be confused with how a political Party runs within the law and one that is lawless. You seem to be confused about which Party is in control of Congress at this time. You seem to be confused about how to support the Party of operating within the Constitution and the one in the business of installing a fascist state in America.
The people in the streets protesting, writing Congress, standing with signs on bridges, getting pushed around by ICE, risking that knock on the door in the night because they speak out don't need your faith.
Here is where we are today. Either get on board or kindly step aside. We are in the process of fighting to save our Democracy.
It will get worse before it gets better. But it is NOT too late. We are finding our voices. They are loud and clear. The pendulum will swing - but it will take resolve and eloquent voices. Let's applaud when we hear them. Governor Pritzker needs our support.
Democrats have made many mistakes. But the resistance is building. New messaging will be easy as the country collapses economically and morally.
For now, please share these ideas:
Epstein
Dementia
Inflation
Bill, those three words would actually make a pretty good protest sign. Or a roadside billboard.
Every time that someone says it’s too late brings Trump and his ilk that much closer to achieving their ends. Yes, we have a fight on our hands. But we have no choice but to struggle and push back any way we can. Telling people it’s too late isn’t going to motivate them. Our country has faced challenges before, and I feel a responsibility to past generations – including my grandparents’ generation that fought fascism – to not give in and declare defeat.
Sandra Simpson,
There are many of us who hear those hurtful words pointed at Biden. History is not written perfectly but most of us know the truth about Biden and his years of service for this country. Many of us admire him and the relationships he worked to build back after Trump disrespected so many especially some foreign leaders. Biden's life of service, his faith, his love of his family through good times and difficult times only make him a more genuine human being. (and I MISS KAMALA AND HER BEAUTIFUL SMILE! GOD BLESS YOUR WORK IN CALIFORNIA!)
His idea was to build back better....not to take away and destroy. He had no desire to be worshipped. He served to the best of his ability. Biden encouraged everyone. He did not reject human beings but wanted to bring us together.
Speaking of "letting Trump go" he is being protected to do their bidding. His crimes continue to grow....he is doing exactly as he/they planned..."I will speak and it will be done". Only a few of our leaders actually seem to be doing anything....and it is not easy....but thank God for the fierceness of the few because IT IS NEEDED IF WE WANT TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY!
This Washington, DC show of force is a fiasco! I really feel sorry for those men just walking around when they could be doing something productive.
I am sick of Hispanics being used and abused because the President wants to make himself look fierce. What a waste of human life! How disrespectful to amazing hardworking people!
Do not forget Trump's first term as President....do you remember how many men and women left their offices of service. Some of Trump's lackey's went to prison.
Yet Trump was reelected.
Putin has a new toy.
When Hillary Clinton said Trump was Putin's puppet people laughed at her. Who's laughing now?
Everyone: HCR posted ALL the relevant Pritzker quotes Which is much more than "Democrats telling this truth ...".
Bad actors must now consider:
"We are watching & taking names" ... and further:
"We need to apply force needed to make sure that the arc [of justice ] gets where it needs to go".
The state of Illinois & California have substantial resources including but, not limited economic power, effective legal skills & 11th Amendment state power.
Stand well back if all you are going to do is watch.
I'm looking forward to hearing from Kathy Hochul next. California, Illinois and New York will "trump" whatever trouble Florida and Texas try to stir up.
Really like the last sentence.\ Bryan.
No. The Democrats certainly did not 'let Trump go' after January 6th. What on earth are you talking about? Were you in a coma during the House Select Committee on the January 6th Attack?
Don’t join the Chicken Little Caucus or the Nothing-Can-Done Club. Don’t litigate the past. Join us in moving forward even though it is hard, indeed, because it is hard.
It wasn’t the Democrats who let Trump off the hook after January 6th. It was the Republican Senators, led my McConnell who did, later aided and abetted by six Supreme Court justices and the half of American voters who put him back in office. We need to be clear about who is responsible for Trump.
You are forgetting that the Scotus gave this win to Trump not Biden or Democrats. If your faith resides with them where are you now?
I agree, Sandra Simpson, except I don’t think it’s too late. I don’t think we can expect much from our somnolent Democratic Party leadership, but Gov. Pritzker is a Democrat and his speech was outstanding. Nobody lets Trump tell lies. He just does it; every time he opens his mouth. I don’t blame you for feeling so discouraged. I certainly do, at times. But I’m pretty sure you know that now’s not the time to give up.
We must stop asking where Congress is. They are right where the majority wants to be. The Republican majority is not doing nothing. They are doing all they can to facilitate this.
TROLL
STOP REPLYING TO THIS
LET HER DISAPPEAR
AMERICA IN FREEFALL
What are we going through? A reality show presidency gone full dystopia, where the Commander in Chief thinks he is auditioning for “President for Life.” We are watching a man confuse delusion with destiny, bruises with strength, and dictatorship with “common sense.”
How do we fix it? Stop normalizing this circus. Call it what it is, an authoritarian power grab. Governors, courts, journalists, and citizens need to resist with relentless clarity. No “both sides,” no hand wringing.
How will it end? Either with the Constitution being used as a prop at his next rally, or with Trump finally discovering that history eats petty tyrants for breakfast. The arc of justice bends, but only if we pull hard enough, and right now it is gym day.
Yes, it's "refreshing and encouraging to hear Democrats tell truth to tyrannical Big Liars", but that is not enough. This is a cold war and nearing a hot war! Governor Pritzker said, “There is no insurrection. ” Well, there is no insurrection in Illinois... yet. Trump began his insurrection in Washington with his private MAGA army on January 6, 2021. Now he is using State National Guard and the U.S. Marines to takeover cities and will soon bring his insurrection to a beautiful big city with midwest manners, Chicago. Trump is using the euphemism “retribution” but make no mistake, Trump is continuing his insurrection to takeover the United States.
Trump's insurrection is why the Second Amendment was ratified; "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed". The reason for a militia is to protect against tyranny; i.e., Trump! The public can purchase Colt “semi-automatic” M4 carbines from major retailers. I believe these are manufactured by union labor under a collective bargaining agreement between Colt's Manufacturing and the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 376. Imagine the news headlines if 100,000 women ordered one each on the same day. Imagine the power of 100,000 well armed and well regulated citizens walking the streets on Saturday morning in response to Trump’s small numbers he intends to send in each city. My point is there are a hell of a lot more of us citizens than them and no member of the National Guard is so stupid that they can’t count.
“—At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it?—Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never!—All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.
At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.” – Abraham Lincoln | 1838.
Nope. I am not buying a weapon. I am committed to non violent resistance even if my opponent uses weapons. Violence begets more violence and everyone loses. I will die for the cause but I will not kill or mame.
The USA is the result of a Revolutionary War; violence and death. Not everyone lost. King George lost. We all won the freedom to enjoy our rights today because of that violence.
If we begin violence that will empower the asshole to declare martial law, putting us all in danger.
But we are already in danger, Willie Squillie. ICE is patrolling the streets of Chicago.
I get it. I just don't want to feed the lion and give him what he's hoping for.
I never said we begin violence. I am saying be wise; be ready. That is why the Second Amendment was ratified in 1791. What Trump is doing now in the name of "retribution" is in reality his Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection continued. Only now he is misusing the power of the Presidency to take our country.
I respectfully disagree. Violence begets violence and leaves hurt and trauma in its wake. I recommend the book ‘Why Civil Resistance works’ by Erica Chenoweth. I heard her speak and lecture on the topic. Non violence is twice as successful at political change as violence. My personal life (microcosm) bears this out.
Sadly, given the way things are going that is a choice we will all have to make sooner rather than later.
We understand, Melissa. Some of us agree with you. And some of us are worried that we will be forced to defend ourselves.
A well regulated militia does not need to be armed if it has authority in numbers. Non-violence is the the only way to do this, as violence can only be met with violence, aggression is met with aggression, anger with anger. Have you learned nothing. If there is violence it will be one sided and the moral Authority falls to those without guns.
In the American revolution the winning side had guns as well as moral high ground. Same with the civil war. Non violence has won many important struggles but when push comes to shove an armed resistance has some advantage. Note the deterrence power of nuclear arms. Imagine 5000 reluctant guardsmen coming up against 100,000 women with semiautomatic weapons. The right sees the opposition as a bunch of squishy liberals clutching pearls and fretting about the rule of law. How can we change this?
If it’s 5000/100,000 the guns are not the deterrent, the people are. We need numbers not guns. And speaking of…we could never have enough so why have any? This is a moral conviction.
I totally understand your stance. It is also my stance, but sometimes it is fun to imagine turning their game back on them. They are cowards at the core of it all.
Oh just stop! Have you read the news about what is happening in Gaza?
I will not. My position is a moral one, something your umpteen degrees apparently never caused you to develop and your JD neutered. Yes, I have been aware of what is happening in Palestine and has been happening since I was in grade school in the 1970s. What’s your point? The US gives bazillions of dolllars to Israel and the IDF is committing genocide of the Palestinian people. You think handguns would help them against bombs we give Israel? Your pomposity is revolting, BTW. FU.
B.A. in Social Science (Political Science and History) w/ pre law minor. Enough units for a Women's Studies and also a Chicano Studies minor too but only one was allowed in the transcripts. Then also a J.D. In was in law school I studied "Public Interest Law." Yeah, I leaned about how revolutions begin. In Concord it was a barn full of gun powder and a cannon the Red Coats were looking for. Right now Trump is handing us the Fourth Reich.
I am proud of my governor and all he has done for the state of Illinois. We are not residents of Chicago, but my husband and I are prepared to drop everything to stand shoulder to shoulder with Chicagoans against armed troops sent by this authoritarian government.
This is what it will take to survive! We all have to get involved in whatever way we can.
This is what the French discovered in 1942 when the Resistance formed. Find your nearest Indivisible chapter and join. Or found an Indivisible chapter.
My husband and I already belong to an active Indivisible chapter. We also belong to a local DEI and Belonging group to help support international university students in our town. There is plenty of work for all of us.
I agree JL Graham, Pritzker’s words carry the weight of history. This is more than a local standoff, it is a test of whether our system can still hold against authoritarian overreach. I recognize how serious this is, and yet I remain hopeful because governors, communities, and everyday people are refusing to yield. The path ahead will not be easy, but the more we stand together in courage and clarity, the more likely that arc bends toward justice.
United we stand, divided we fall. Divide and conquer is core "GOP" strategy.
----
A South politician preaches to the poor white man
"You got more than the blacks, don't complain
You're better than them, you been born with white skin," they explain
And the Negro's name
Is used, it is plain
For the politician's gain
As he rises to fame
And the poor white remains
On the caboose of the train
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game
- Dylan
J L, you said it all. I am so impressed with how complete he spoke on ever level of what we are facing. He spoke with kindness, and how to think and feel towards our military and their job and risks, peaceful protests with guidance and of course all the failings of taco!
J. L., so happy to see you batting lead-off today. Some resources:
> Governor Pritzker's fifteen minutes of well-earned fame https://youtu.be/Q04p3OJdhpU;
> other local stake-holders speaking out in Chicago including Illinois A.G. Kwame Raoul, Mayor Brandon Johnson, Senators Duckworth and Durbin as well as civic leaders https://www.c-span.org/program/news-conference/governor-pritzker-press-conference-on-national-guard-being-sent-to-chicago/664792;
> *states ranked by violent crime https://getsafeandsound.com/blog/crime-rate-by-state/; and,
> most violent cities https://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/most-dangerous-places.
Thanks
We watched that on TRMS last night; he was eloquent and powerful.
Yes, Governor Pritzker was on fire. So were Mayor Johnson and the A.G. Raoul of Illinois. Can not blame them -- what Trump is doing *is not only flying scheiße, but also *remains very disrespectful toward their efforts.
Yes. He is up to the task.
Governer Pritzker only made one small error in his wonderful speech. Trump is Miller's compliant lackey, not the other way around.
In crisis there is both danger and opportunity. Time to support the truth-tellers and expose the Oath-breakers. The opportunity is based in TRUTH.
Honest Abe Lincoln said "I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the REAL FACTS"
Kudos to HCR and Pritzker! Need more of this!!!
Yes, J L Graham. I actually called his office yesterday morning to encourage him to speak out, to take the air away from ‘heelspurious’, and HE DID! I also asked him to help coalesce the Dem governors to get together as a bulwark vs the vicious gang; and they are vicious. Worse! I urge each of us to call our Dem governors to continue to speak the truth about the little man’s illegal power grabs. I’ll call Pritzger again to compliment him. And NY Governor Hochul, who may indeed be next re NYC.
Thank you Heather et al!
Yes, force media to do their jobs, he and Gavin are providing vivid meadow stories… and rumors are good too…the bruise is from the IV treatments Dr R (RFK) has him on.
Ryan, my first thought was that the bruise was from his planting his fist into the wall whenever things don't go his way. My ex used to throw tantrums like that until I got tired of his nonsense and tossed his ass out.
Ex-ACTLY, J L Graham! Thank you!
77 million products of U.S. schools voted for troops into Chicago?
No question about this. Sick Donald doesn’t just want a police state to crush blue America. He wants to crush America’s mid-term elections next year.
The nation’s highest court has already ruled he’s immune to the Constitution. He doesn’t need law. He doesn’t need Congress. He doesn’t need evidence, or any truths we share with each other in our communities.
Sick Donald wants vengeance on all of us who hold to the ideals of democracy and its institutions.
The siccing of troops on American cities, the raid on John Bolton’s home and office align with criminal Donald’s total vengeance campaigns. Align with his I.C.E. terror goons. With his illegally grabbing from the street and deporting hardworking immigrants. Building concentration camps for his police state. Align with his rolling out the red carpet (literally) for an internationally-indicted war criminal. With having his personal lawyer visit convicted child rapist Ghislaine Maxwell to trade for her lies to cover for him. Align with covering for fellow billionaires who also raped those children. Align with the trillions in tax breaks for fellow billionaires. With his destruction of medical, scientific, environmental, educational, and food programs for ordinary Americans.
The nation’s highest court voted for this. The MAGA Congress voted for this. 77 million products of U.S. schools voted for this.
I can’t like your comment because you indict public school education for our present predicament. There are so many reasons we are here. There isn’t simply one reason. Please stop blaming public education for this situation!
In NC we spent 1 billion dollars in school vouchers in 10 years. One billion dollars for taxpayers. That is why republicans spread lies about public schools. In rural NC public schools are the savior of families. These private school owners are making $$$ and getting subsidized by republicans.
I went to a rural public school in NC, it saved me and seven siblings. My parents supported it 100%. Now schools are under siege with the money grabbers smelling green. Whatever can go wrong will go wrong. (Murphy’s Law if memory serves.). It’s the Republican result when Ayn Rand idiocy and money rule.
I love our local rural public school and so does our community of around 2000 people. Our property taxes are due this week and the mill levy increased by 20%. And I have yet to hear a single person complain about it.
When comparing test scores, the charter schools have proven to be ineffective at teaching students. And yet, in many states, they expect the taxpayers to foot the bill to teach their kids about an invisible spirit in the sky and the Jewish laws that they want to force us to hang in our schools.
If it is so effective to hang the 10 commandments on the wall, why are the white Christian nationalists such moral degenerates?
TN’s gov, Bill Lee, a self-proclaimed “Christian” was determined to force through vouchers this past session and he did. Now it’s reported the schools receiving vouchers are getting more state money per school than public schools. The reason for vouchers is clothed as school choice (parents ALWAYS had choice; I exercised it for my son) but it actually goes back to Brown v. Board of Ed. It just took Rs and their acolytes this long to effect their racism.
"If it is so effective to hang the 10 commandments on the wall, why are the white Christian nationalists such moral degenerates?"
Because those are THE RULES for thee, not for me!!! Hahahaha! Devilish cackling echoing from tRump's sphincter.
GJ, I have a friend who teaches in a small school district west and south of Eugene: Crow Applegate Lorane serves less than 300 students. He is the music teacher for grades 1-12, and puts on at least two "combined" instrumental music concerts, grades 5-12. He's had some amazing musicians of all varieties come from his tiny program.
Ally, the kids were really lucky to have such a great musical experience. The school in ME my daughter went to had an amazing music teacher as well. They were very competitive with the Boston schools when they had their music contests. My daughter was one of the many benefactors of his teaching.
He had several small groups as well as the full band. She played with a steel drum group of about 15-20 kids. I drove them in the school bus to a couple of competitions and had a great time and good tunes.
Where is your lovely community?
Not sure to whom your comment is addressed, but our school is in Lamoine, ME.
Deborah, why the sarcastic "lovely'?
If you read the comments here, you'll see many indeed live in very fine, humane communities.
This has been true since Woody Guthrie 100 years ago.
True since Stephen Foster 200 years ago.
Sorry, Deborah -- one fellow commenter, Miselle, points out that my detection of sarcasm in your "lovely" was probably uncalled-for on my part.
She's correct. I was wrong. Sorry again.
I went to a rural public school as well
Sandra, kudos to you and your schools but you are not the norm. In most states, kids don’t have a choice but to go to public school.
I do not support private schools and their vouchers. These schools are often exempt from property tax, they pay no capital gains tax and have to admit no child into their school. This is welfare for the rich. Private school vouchers are a burden to taxpayers
Do you know Sandra here’s the funny thing about the Democrats they want choice they should have a choice correct? Isn’t that one of your big precepts…free choice? Well, you don’t want to allow combustion engines in California thank God the Congress turned that over you don’t want to allow smoking except if it’s marijuana, you don’t wanna allow choice of education you don’t wanna allow choice of Healthcare choice of stoves/refrigerators…straws.,, Bloomberg didn’t even want to allow bigger drink sizes. .. actually, did I miss anything? Oh yeah, lightbulbs. and you don’t want to allow choice of guns.
This is the party that you think allows freedom. The best thing that could happen to public education just happened. It went back to the states where it could be handled in a competitive manner from state to state. And I by the feds were you have control.
Touchy subject, but it’s just like Roe v. Wade. You were OK with nine people deciding about abortion, and at the same time you were not Photos of the same court overturning the abortion issue.
Here’s a concept you should think about honestly if you can
Trump could’ve taken me a fortune issue and denied it countrywide if he wanted to federalize the wall he could have but instead he did the smart and democratic thing he suggested ton each state LETS TRY DEMOCRACY….. let’s let the voters decide so in each state, they can decide what they like. What the voters in that state prefer. That’s the way democracy is supposed to work.
Trump is a fascist. He does not support democracy
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Although he is fun to play with.
BS troll. Go away.
I am ignoring you.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Although he is fun to play with.
It's public schools in RED STATES mostly that have deliberately been starved for decades by the Republicans for exactly this purpose: an undereducated populace is less likely to learn critical thinking skills so that they are more likely to vote against their own best interests. Which they do again and again and again in red states. They get less opportunity, less services, more desperate, more MEAN. And then the Republicans buy the propaganda machines (Fox News, conservative radio, churches, etc) to focus that meanness and anger on others (immigrants, libs!, coastal elites, womem brown people, etc) instead of themselves who are the real blame for reduced prospects of their people. There are lots of "blue collar" people in MA for example and yet they do NOT vote for this BS. Why is that? Because they are ranked number 2 in Pre-K-12 grade for education. They spent the money for the future and it shows!
Many follow you, Beth.
Fact is, I love teaching, have ever had greatest loyalty to schools and teaching -- at all levels. I'm well published on this. Have a history. I feel terrible at what commercial interests of the Powell memo's far-right foundations have done to schools. Their damages are facts. They hurt kids. They hurt teachers.
I'm sorry if you refuse to see the mass hurt -- and find it convenient instead to blame me (as if I ever said what you impute). When you could see and cite the many, many novels, memoirs, essay collections, histories, films, and songs which have seen and spoken to the real hurts, the continuing damages.
Not an educator. Just dislike choosing to blame one thing for a large problem.
Beth, I did not "blame one thing for a large problem."
The situation of U.S. schools now is part of some very much more serious problems.
Oh yes you did. You do it every chance you get. You just refuse to see it, that's all....
Sniping gets us …what?
Quote it, ICTT.
Quote the part where I blame "public school education for our present predicament."
Want to keep repeating "yes you did," then find one quote from me where I "blame one thing for a large problem."
Hello Phil... So you are a Teacher?... Are you teaching in Japan?.... In Japan, Teachers are Honored.... Are You teaching English?.... Curious....
Was a time I worked human rights, Apache.
Another time I did just freelance writing.
But over 50 years a teacher. In many countries. All levels.
But the human rights and the teaching go together. Human rights cannot exist without good schools. And good schools cannot exist when the rich and the most deeply corrupt engineer against humanity.
Hello Phil.... Thanks for getting back... Without 'Humanitas', it is Naked Power, the Law Of the Jungle... Good Schools are Civilizing... Thanks for Your Work... Namaste....
Phil, you’ve sensibly condensed the catalogue of crimes brought in by Trump, his cabal and his so-called party of hysterics. Thanks. It’s good to see arranged in on place to be more readily grasped and considered.
You’ve also inspired a great and worthwhile discussion.
I can’t quite understand how you arrive at calling people who attended, I dunno … public schools? … whatever, calling these individuals “products”. It disturbs me that any erudite educator would take such a mechanistic view of human beings and fix it in what? K through 12 ? There’s more to people than what you seem to fix under that lens. That much is made the more obvious by how we got here and the fact that our present circumstances are part of a historically recurrent theme.
It sounds to me like you imagine we can teach our way out of the human condition in a relatively few hours of magic time. I would that it was true. But it’s not. The framework in which an individual develops dwarfs that suggestion.
I don’t disregard or minimize the value of good education. It is priceless, but it is not determinative by any means.
I can only say this, and I suspect it holds widely. Politics and political choices, such as how people select leaders whether politically or in any given context is at least 85% emotional. It is not rational. Politicians and those that work with them know this well.
Also, there’s a hackneyed expression, if all you’ve got is a hammer, everything begins to resemble a nail.
This is a time when we may expect to see similar signs of turmoil throughout many industrialized nations of the world. In fact, we already do.
I sometimes recall the milieu of childhood, all the way through to college, when the community of kids taught each other the things that adults didn't want us to know, or at least were unlikely to approve of; as well as useful things and interesting things that might or might not be true. I think we kind of need to preserve some of that communal conversation (which is what we do here) to preserve democracy. We definitely need relevant school learning as well, and an interest in learning as long as we draw breath. I worry that top-down mass media is eroding our powers of awareness, and that we may let AI do too much thinking for us.
JL, I love what you've said: "...an interest in learning as long as we draw breath." There are a lot of folks who get that diploma/certificate and think "WooHoo, that's it!! I've learned!" and lose interest in learning anything new.
Never stop learning, inquiring, wanting to know things.
And Ally--you know one place I continue to learn? Museums, zoos, etc.
Bad enough Trump is attacking the universities, but these cultural institutions as well?!?!
I could weep over the attacks on the Smithsonian! Years ago, we took our 3 kids to DC. Any parent here might appreciate this: I was shocked, SHOCKED, that they were admission free!! Perhaps it has changed since then, but I ask anyone to look at what the price of one day costs a family. It is generally cheaper to purchase a family membership, which makes sense if you live in the area. For many years, we held a zoo membership and along with packing a picnic, it made it affordable for us.
Miselle, there is still no charge to tour any of the Smithsonian museums except the Cooper Hewitt which is in New York.
My parents loved museums, big or small. I did too. It used to be very cheap entertainment. A wise society would retain fees (if any) that keep none away.
"The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man (sic) while he lives."
Albert Schweitzer
It seems to me that applying our capacity to learn keeps our minds and spirits young, or at least youngER than withdrawal of curiosity would. The future is always emerging with some fresh opportunity (or terror) that is there despite indifference. There is always some new "other side of the mountain" that is somehow unique.
Not only "top-down mass media," J L. And not only AI, too.
Though I relish the humor in your citing that -- here on a thread where Putin's team of AI English techies is assiduously pretending to be one "Rick Sender."
Just one question, Phil. If "Rick Sender" continues its posts, could I please be "Gloria Jean Recipient"?
Yes, Gloria Jean Recipient.
Post away under any alias you like -- even if all the Rick Sender team retire having collected so much of Putin's money to do so.
JL, I couldn't agree more. Above all my personas, I identify as a "creative," and anyone who knows me personally or professionally would agree.
Decades ago, I began becoming aware that human creativity is waning. At the time, I blamed television. Here's why: When you read a book, it is incumbent on you, the reader, to imagine the scenes, the faces and physiques of the characters, as described by the author. As the reader, you are required to hold those images in your mind throughout the reading of that book so you can keep track of the story.
With television, everything is already imagined for you. You do not have to create anything, because there it is on the screen in front of you.
To my mind, creativity is something like a muscle. You must exercise it daily or it will become atrophied and eventually disappear.
So much of today's technology masquerades as creativity and it's not. AI doesn't create; it regurgitates amalgams – sometimes nonsensical – of material that it sucked up from original sources that were actually created. To see how far we've sunk into non-creativity, one needs look no further than today's advertising. It's nothing more than marketing vomit.
In some ways, a novel is a mental recipe. A play, even more so, as with poetry, and other modes of human communication. We "re-cognize" and recombine. Years ago I was listening to an unremarkable pop song (She's got to be somebody's baby) that contains the line "When the cars and the signs and the streetlights light up the town", and admired it's eloquence. You could just say "when it's nighttime in the city", but the former sets a scene that well beyond the other.
We create our own reality, but (ideally) with fidelity to sensory evidence when needed. We detect electromagnetic radiation of a certain spectra, but we experience color, or experience warmth from the sun on our arm. A tree falling disturbs the atmosphere, but unheard, that is not sound. We experience a certain constellation of chemicals that we >experience< as the taste of honey; and we can recall that experience when someone else refers to it, in the now or in the abstract. I cook creatively by "tasting" spice combinations in my mind (which is some ways I liken to music). Sometimes that works out better than others, and I suspect that top chefs do something like that in much higher definition. Somehow Nature gifted us with astonishing neuroplasticity and creative powers. Yet with great power comes great responsibility.
Am I rambling? What ties this all together is that we are "wired" to create. The The Declaration of Independence was a creative act, as was the US Constitution. Pair imagination with knowledge and you get innovation, in both the sciences and the arts. The marriage of imagination and veracious rigor, along with empathy, are tools for our species' liberation and survival.
But what of this? When I was an adolescent, I posed this question to my younger sister: "What if the color you see as blue, as in the sky, is the color I see as orange? How do you know we all see colors the same? You don't."
She thought for a few moments, then burst into tears, called me the worst name she could think of and ran to her bedroom.
You're rambling in most lovely, poignant, and wise ways, JL.
Though, too, Dale, don't some ads play rather nicely with some tropes?
Still, your point taken on what's become of creativity. I'll point my finger at causes other than advertising.
As to film, you credit none of it as art, none of it as memorable, from all countries over the past 110 years?
Phil, I do think some films – not most – may be classified as art. As with any visual or aural art, they can show us new ways of looking at or thinking about things. The first of the "franchise films" might have been art, but the sequels are just money-grabs, even if well-produced. However, while films may have artistic and/or cultural value, they still preclude the possibility of our own imagination, especially films based on books. For example, it would be difficult to read Margaret Mitchell's tour de force and not picture Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh as the main characters, nor Tara, as depicted in the iconic film. In any case, films are not a daily presence in life.
Unlike films, which ARE the product, television programs, which simply occupy space in a 24/7 schedule, are merely vehicles to SELL product. The typical hour of television consists of 42 minutes of program and 18 minutes of advertising. TV shows' only purpose is to capture and retain the viewer's attention between advertisements. Thus, TV programming is banal, violent, prurient or sensationalist, having no artistic or cultural value. A few exceptions, such as M*A*S*H and The Twilight Zone, have sneaked out into the wild.
A good education can lift people up; public schools did exactly that for my husband and me. However, there are so many variables beyond the control of public educators.
Education is priceless. A good education is necessary. There isn’t much in-between for most people. All benefit enormously. It can determine your role and interaction with society. At the same time, it doesn’t entirely determine the person you are. It doesn’t shape your heart or your will. Just as it doesn’t give you a different face or hands.
To a grater or lesser degree, I do believe that education can influence character, so yes, certainly not entirely, but sometimes significantly.
Please read Diane Ravitch's "The Language Police," Bill.
Testing, Bill, determines the determinative, the mechanistic, "the products."
". . . similar signs of turmoil throughout many industrialized nations"? Are you speaking of the hungers for nationalism, and dictators, or are you speaking of the (for profit -- mega billionaire profit) expansion of U.S. testing around the world?
Or have you not put two and two together? Have you not figured out how, in all the countries where people have turned into "products," what happens first?
And please. Speak English. Not hackneyed expressions.
I do agree with the premise that ‘testing’ actually tests nothing. It produces nothing worth having other than huge profits for the “hey, have I got an insta-solution for you!” people. Oh, and a convenient way for bureaucrats to claim “mission accomplished”.
It fits right in with the needs of people with doctorate degrees to prove they can produce something, or anything at all. Many actually do, but not most. Those that do brought gifts with them, not products.
We can all understand and agree on the notion that language shapes thought, or at the very least the expression of it and reciprocally how it is received. There’s the lock and key.
Education without or with testing does not provide either intelligence, wisdom or character. It does provide valuable tools and occasionally insight. And, it is very true, the process can be weaponized.
Yet, it doesn’t explain US election results. The actual demography of the United States is probably a better, though imperfect indicator.
I respect you, Phil. No need for you to cavil. Is that plain enough?
Well, Bill, there's a range of conceits testing does measure.
Things having to do with types of rationality, grouping and its subsets, plus sticking to causality as linear and chronological only.
Again, Diane Ravitch reports well on this in "The Language Police."
Thanks for your good follow-up, Bill.
Thank you.
I have almost stopped reading the comments here. Some readers ramble on about what they “know to be the problem”.
Especially the (p)Rick Sender saturation gibberish and propaganda that inundates these comments and purposefully distracts from constructive conversations, meaningful insights and information.
I blocked that troll -- what a relief that's been!
Horhai, I am wondering why you haven't blocked RS? It's so easy to identify the trolls and get rid of their Fascist and hateful comments.
Yes you’re right I should do that. I don’t like censorship but it’s just not worth seeing his voice texting insanity all over the comments.
I blocked Rick sender a long time ago and I no longer see his crap. Best thing I ever did for my own sanity.
Horhai, I assume that you don't keep melon rinds and empty food packages around your house indefinitely, because you probably don't have room to store all that garbage. And why would you want to? Eventually, you take the trash to the curb. You wouldn't call that censorship. Blocking trolls is no different.
This is Phill dragging his pet chia pet out for everybody to go ooh and aah over again. To call it a fixation understates the matter. He's like a wind-up Chatty Kathy with a single pre-recorded message when you pull the string.
Hey -- can we not squabble here? Clearly we are aligned in most ways -- let's focus on that and step away from the insulting metaphors.
Agreed, Laurie.
Below is what I wrote to Beth, ICTT.
Your love of being rhetorically cute lets you ignore the many times here that I have cited novels, memoirs, histories, and essay collections focused on complications which you, too, might see if you didn't have rhetorical and repetitive fixations yourself -- if you might have instead even a scintilla of openness to the humanities focused on vital complications.
"Beth, I did not "blame one thing for a large problem."
"The situation of U.S. schools now is part of some very much more serious problems."
Hello Phil.... The semi-ignorant products of US Schools are only part of a larger Societal Problem... We are all awash in new information every day... Too many People choose ignorance... This Society values Entertainment over everything else... Baseball players with 250,000,000 Dollar Contracts, while Teachers have to work multiple Jobs?.... DJT knows this, and takes advantage of Ignorant Arrogance...
" . . . only part of a larger Societal Problem," Apache?
If you know about the Powell memo, and the history of its major far-right foundations, and the facts recited by Wendell Berry, Diane Ravitch, Jennifer Washburn, Robert H. Lustig, Jane Mayer, Kurt Andersen, and others, you'd know the abstraction "Societal Problem" deflects from what actual billionaires and their money have actually been doing.
Actually, Beth, if you read Phil's comment, he enumerated many of the reasons we are here. Also, if you read the whole of Phil's commentary in this forum, he doesn't blame public education per se. In fact, he is a champion of public education, and especially of the educators who work within a corrupt education system and struggle to provide their students the quality education they deserve.
A poor education system isn't the only reason for the unfolding disaster in the U.S., but we cannot deny that it is – and has been – an important contributing factor.
All of us have our particular interests, and when we see trouble in our society, our minds are drawn to causes that we are interested in. Mine is evangelicalism because it has hurt me personally and in my opinion, has done significant damage to American culture. Do I think evangelicalism is the sole cause of our national problems? No. But we cannot deny that it is a motivating force behind Project 2025, which is being implemented as we type these words.
Phil's "cause" is public education and the corruption of it. He contributes a lot to these conversations. You may tire of his emphasis; sometimes I do. But he's not wrong.
Hello Dale... I also blame Secular Stagnation.... I watch the first 'Matrix' Movie, and marvel at how little has changed... The Street Scenes have changed little.... We have better Hand-Helds, and Social Media, but they have been mostly Destructive...
Yes, Apache, the list is long. Each of us can point to cause that bothers us especially. I agree with your assessment.
Thanks Dale...
Education is the foundation of our society. How can you not blame the fact that there are some interviews of college people in college today that thought that the capital of Russia was Ukraine. And the Russians were busy fighting the Chinese..
You should see this interview with the morons that we’re educating. I’m on my way out of town but tomorrow I’m going to try to find you the link to see the idiots that are being educated today. They have no idea who hit the twin towers, nor do they have any idea what year it was that it happened and this is all in their lifetimes. They don’t know who we fought in World War II. When somebody asks to tell them something about China, the answer was, there’s a lots of people in China. And you don’t think our education system is broken.
I bought some food in a restaurant and I went to pay the cashier and the check is $18.40 and the guy gave me two dollars back from a 20 and I said the check is 1840s and he said the 40 doesn’t mean anything.
You voted for a convicted fraudster, multiple bankrupt and sexual predator so you have some brass neck calling anyone else a moron. Donald Trump is perhaps the biggest moron Americans have ever elected as president. He thought that Alaska was part of Russia and said that India and Pakistan had been at war over their boundary for 1,500 years. And you elected him and defend him on these comments pages regularly.
You are responding to a 3-year-old infant desperate for attention and here for one reason alone: to get your goat, lock it in the basement and throw away the key. Responding to him just makes him fart in the crowded elevator even harder. Please have mercy on the rest of us and consider not giving him his little heart's desire!
You can't just make the Rick Senders of this world go away. They need to be engaged, vigorously. It's no use people complaining about the ineffectuality of the media in challenging the adminstration and its supporters when they won't do it themselves. These comments pages shouldn't be an echo chamber for the like-minded - it isn't them you need to convince.
No one runs down your country more than Donald Trump. It's part of his patter that only he can fix things and if they're not broken then clearly they don't need fixing. Rick just parrots what he says. He doesn't understand that the morons of whom he speaks form the base of Donald Trump's support. He doesn't understand that Trump himself is a moron. He doesn't realise he's a fool for believing that Trump can fix things this time when he failed to do so the last time he was president.
You're completely free to just ignore him. You can ignore everything that's going on around you as well. You can ignore my comments. Why is this then a problem for you?
You missed the point. You've never taught junior high school, have you?
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Although he is fun to play with.
BS troll.
I agree, Beth. It is possible that inferior schooling in some places has contributed to the rise of Trump, but this is only part of the story, certainly no more important than the rise of social media on the internet as the main information source for millions of Americans.
As I'm sure you know, for every fact, these days, there's at least one alternative "fact".
Phil's comment today is a pretty good one, however. I guess we all have pet peeves.
Thank you, David, but not a peeve for me.
Rather, a much larger and much more complicated story.
Should it surprise anyone that some otherwise well-"educated" and erstwhile witty appear here to exhibit their high-test-score predilections to see others as living for their own simpleton causalities?
Yes, it's called projection. And they are drawn to me, they who are totally void of humanities themselves, and so desperately seek to project unto me their one-size-fits-all abstractions, their one-causality-explains all linearity.
I agree.
Agree. Stop blaming public schools. Used to teach public high school and there are few people who complain more bitterly than I about the school system. But for all its faults, it is NOT a good purveyor of political ideology. The move toward bigotry and authoritarianism we are viewing with horror comes from SOMEWHERE, but it doesn't come from public schools.
Whoever they are, they weren’t the best students in any school. Public, private or home…
You are correct, Phil, in stating that the huge number of people who voted for this liar and conman suggests a society in deep trouble. It is possible, even reasonable to doubt the veracity of the election, but here we are. It is startling to think it, but I think this is evidence that lies and constant propaganda are a way stronger force than public education, especially when the young people in school come from homes drowning in Fox News. IMO, the media, including the MSM has been absolutely complicit in taking the nation down this road to ruin. The nation needs gutsy journalists like Murrow, attorneys like Joseph Welch and some politicians with courage like Margaret Chase Smith. Where are they?
It is very likely there was tabulator manipulation. We need to demand district audits in NC and PA to compare to the highly improbable results (as data analysis indicates). It won’t change this ‘24 election, but making people aware that their votes were altered, changed, erased will make them very vigilant at hrs district levels in 26.
https://thecommoncoalition.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/TheCommonCoalitionReport_5.14_NM.pdf
Agree, Heather. Both probable manipulation of the vote (way more than one toke over the line, IMO) and voter suppression are key elements of what is going on. Where is the venerable US Senate, once called the greatest deliberate body in the world? Must it ALL be about winning and losing? I guess so when the prizes of winning have been allowed to become so rich. As somebody said above, much can be understood by simply following the money as it is demonstrably re-routed toward those who already have most of it.
I agree EXCEPT the remote manipulation of tabulator data is not so far fetched if you look at the actual district data from Swing States. That Trump with his very low vote turnout and small percentage of win would have lost Dems 88 districts (not one went red to blue) and all seven swing states is pretty far-fetched. That districts came in JUST under the 2% auto-audit number is even more suspicious because it was a way to postpone red flags until more data was examined. There is plenty of data examination at electiontruthalliance.org and it’s not pretty. We need to demand spot audits to protect ‘26.
Sorry, Heather, if I gave the impression that it is far-fetched. I do NOT believe that. In fact, for the reasons that you point out ... AND the fact that dear leader was telling people in advance that the didn't need their votes ... I am morally certain that there was skullduggery. Given tRump's pre-electon rhetoric, the Ds should have been very tightly focused on what was happening, especially after having been hurry-up forced to bring forward a candidate who was probably not optimal. Personally, I thought KH was a most excellent candidate, but you didn't have to listen very hard to hear the dog whistles to sexism and racism. With more time, those might have been overcome -- I hope so, but this is speculation. I'm also appalled that the Ds did not take more action on it when it happened, demanding audits and serious investigation based on just cause. When a fireball leader is needed in the senate, the nation got Chuck Schumer! Indeed such audits could be very useful in '26, IF election infrastructure has not already been seriously compromised and it is possible to (somehow) blunt the R efforts at voter suppression. Imagine a president, demanding redistricting out of usual timing to affect his prospects! At this point, we can't go back but have to move this forward, understanding that the present R-machine will come at the situation with new, possibly unexpected and certainly unprincipled tactics. More and more, I am reminded of the quote attributed to Karl Rove by Ron Suskind in 2004: “We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you’re studying that reality — judiciously, as you will — we’ll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that’s how things will sort out. We’re history’s actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.” This awful game has been running for while, and at the moment, the party focused on just winning without the constraints of ethics or principle IS winning. In this game, like football, defense is important but to put points on the board, one needs a somewhat effective offense.
Thank you for your reply and very relevant quotes. It’s funny but whereas the US Voter is rather casual about certain civil matters (habeas corpus? Contempt rulings? Division of powers? Rule of Law lol) they tend to be very insistent that if and when they vote, their vote counts and goes to their chosen candidate. If audits can prove this remote fraud did happen, and by some miracle it becomes general knowledge despite Fox etc., local district/precincts may be under hyper-watch for accurate counts. We can’t look to the Feds of course. Trump is in a panic because he’s tanking and the complexity of multiple state down-ballot races may be near impossible to manipulate. He’s trying to sabotage the biggest danger to himself and his regime, Dem majorities in the Hill in ‘27-28. I hear he’s just appointed election denier Heather Honey to ‘oversee’ elections, oh boy. What a ride.
John, I realize that asking for or taking a wide view of things doesn’t immediately produce readymade solutions. But consider just in this country alone our history of persons elected. Pretty uneven I think. How did we wind up with a Supply-Side economy, an event in recent memory? How did we have that guy Hoover? Who, as the nation sank deeper into ruin, insisted on continuing policies that propagated the rout. Hey, let’s not forget Tricky Dick, a name befitting a porn actor, and his massively criminal machinations before, during, and after elections. Our voters did save us from Goldwater. That’s in our favor.
Things were even more tumultuous in the prior century.
Lies and propaganda are the tissue of elections in every place that has them throughout the world.
Perhaps ‘American Exceptionalism’ lies in the fact that after all this we still fail to get the picture. We still fall for the same misdirection and gimmicks every time. We cling to our own propaganda like it was the last flotation device in a stormy sea.
Fact is, we’ve long since forgotten who we are and how we got here. Is it a wonder?
Yep ... I generally agree, Bill. Way too many voters have lost sight of what was exceptional about the American initiative from the start. Having been born a Pennsylvanian, I've always admired Ben Franklin. In particular, in this connection, I've been ever mindful of his 1787 response to Elizabeth Willing Powel's question: "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" Franklin replied though the pain of a kidney stone, I believe, "A republic, if you can keep it." There can be no doubt that "the people" have selected leaders with wide retrospective variance, especially in relation to outcome. Some of it has resulted from overall gullibility, I suppose, helped along by lies and false promises that grow in audacity and contradiction to easily established truth (the citizens seem to like this) -- and, as you point out, belief in the myth of American "exceptionalism" that is generally bereft of individual responsibility, i.e., it will all take care of itself. It won't. The present administration is by far the worst of my lifetime wrt to sticking to the principles that IMO account for what is exceptional about the American government. [I have vague memories of people talking about Truman and was lucky enough to have met and interacted personally with Ike (after he was no longer president), so I've seen a few] Nowadays, economic competition (by hook or more often by crook) has been confused with, perhaps even supplanted, the the forces that ought to be the main processes in a civilized society meant to serve 'the whole people'. The present administration is the low point of this confusion, IMO. Is there any way out of it?
All good thoughts, good narrative. Your question, “Is there anyway out of it?”, is the timely one on all lips and in the forefront of what we are doing.
These seem like impossible times. But they are not. The totalitarians would like us all to believe they are. As Phil Balla points out, they twist language and meaning to that purpose. Mostly all I see and hear from them is loud shouting and ranting. Not really very powerful stuff. Nobody likes a purple faced holler, the mainstay of this administration. Perhaps they’ll do each other in. But I won’t wait for it.
Resist. Show up. Don’t scream at the Guard or local police. Don’t spit or assault. Those things don’t accomplish much. Instead, pose questions crafted to be heard, understood and cause more questions to be spawned in the recipient’s mind. This is teaching. It engenders thought.
Above all resist. Show up. And constantly encourage politicians at every level, judiciary and attorneys at every level to uphold our democracy. Don’t neglect the now silent news outlets. Make it seem worthwhile. This is not yet a foundering ship, despite the gaggle of traitors occupying the helm.
I wish, John, that there were clear and simple answers. If there are, I don’t have them.
Ditto, Bill. Non-violent resistance is all we have, and eventually, it HAS to work. The only thing I can't quite agree with is that "nobody likes a purple faced holler". To be sure, none of us here (except a few trolls) do, but where I came from and elsewhere there are a lot of yanks who respond very positively to such bullshit. To them, whether it is true or not is irrelevant. It seems to be instead that somebody is expressing their own frustrations about their own situations and not being able to have all the things pushed at them on TV. Folks like Phil see through it; most in the maga crowd do not. If push comes to shove they have the tool of whataboutism and they use it liberally, making it seem the one side is as bad as the other. They just can't see the asymmetry of the situation. Indeed, it is unimaginable that the ship of state will sink; however, already it is moving way our of alignment with other ships that want to sail in calm peaceful waters so that folks on board can make their lives as good as they can be through participation and the effort that they choose to make. Resistance is good, resistance is necessary, but without the emergence soon of journalists and politicians who can inspire people with a positive vision of a better future that most people can embrace, resistance will not be enough. I'm afraid that the nation will not jump backwards to better times. It must be a jump forward if it is going to matter. Given the way that people are and think, support for good government will come only when a majority of people can see or be shown something better for them personally. Most unfortunately IMO, many cannot see anything for them in social advances generated through identity politics :-( even when they improve life for some of their fellow citizens. If more people could learn to see themselves as part of something bigger, it would be helpful. A good start, echoing back to Phil Balla's comment, might be to reintroduce thoughtful courses in civics, like the one I had, to HS curricula. Mine was 50% about HOW government works, and the other half was about WHY government has to work. It perplexes me to no end to understand that it was removed mainly because of parental complaints, born in the Reagan era. Sad.
Hello Phil... 'Sick Donald', I like that.... 'President Of Europe'?... That Office Doesn't Exist... Today DJT fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook on dubious grounds... Maybe DJT doesn't like the fact that Lisa is a Black Woman... This action is dubious legally, let's see how the Financial Markets react... Sending Troops to occupy Democratic led Cities?... Seems that this bad 3-Year old's Tyrannical tendencies are coming out... JB Pritzker is pushing back, and sounding very cogent, Good For JB... DJT is also threatening Venezuela, and Mexico with Military Strikes... Very Bad... Where is Schumer, and Jeffries in Speaking out against the Military Occupation of American Cities?.... The State Governors have to run States, and not just make Speeches to Empty Rooms.... Go Gavin, Go Pritzker!!! ... DJT, aka the Red Queen, is Spiraling Faster & Deeper into Dementia, and is getting more desperate, as I suspect DJT is getting feedback from the Townhalls, saying that in the case of Free & Fair Elections in 2026, DJT will lose Congress.... Maybe DJT, also fears that the Grim Reaper is coming closer for DJT, and wants to be remembered after DJT has departed this Plain of Existence....
He goes after everyone who criticizes him or makes him look less than stellar -- the person who announced the revised job numbers - fired; the Maryland Governor who invited Trump on a walk in Baltimore ("I gave him lots of money for the bridge, maybe I have to take that back"); Chris Christie ("maybe we need to open the Bridgegate case"); Pritzer (basically: "he should say thank you I'm sending troops, the slob"); etc. etc. And, if you're a black woman it really gets to him.
Thanks Lauriecf.... Maybe DJT hates the USA because DJT is a Convicted Felon, a Multi Bankrupt Business 'Genius', and now DJT is Raging Against the coming Darkness...
It had better hurry, he’s been in the spotlight way too long.
"Maybe" DJT doesn't like the fact that Lisa Cook is a Black Woman?! He and Hegseth want to go back to the era when people of color - and women - "knew their place." They have no humanity, no empathy, whatsoever.
Trump has always been a classic racist.
Gee, perhaps there’s one thing “classic” about him besides being just an asshole.
Just saw the orange jackass commented on Swift/Kelce engagement- demonstrating deep thinking about monetary policy- we are in such deep trouble….
Well, he won't be forgotten—unless his successors try to stamp out memory and replace it with some horrible myth.
Hello Progwoman... Will DJT be remembered as "Don The Terrible"?...
Trump’s attempt to fire Ms Cook is not at all dubious. It is flat out illegal. Trump has ignored the laws his entire criminal life. How in the world can a political party expect to be taken seriously while supporting this disastrous bunch of criminals. What kind of mental machinations are required to vote for these amoral, cheating,ignorant Republicans? And these same people claim to be morally superior to the liberals!
Hello Linda.... They belong to a Self-Righteous Cult...
Follow the money.
No. The Republicans are to blame for this. This has been set up for literally decades by the Republicans! They packed the SC, they starved the schools in red states where they had control, they pushed the whole 'rugged individual' BS, they wooed the racist and the sexist. they catered solely to the rich who bought them their power. One can argue that the Democrats did not do enough to stop it but the primary cause is the Republican Party. Trump is the logical result of a long program by the Republican Party to gain and retain power/wealth solely for power's sake, with no regard for the lives of their voters. They have other 'ideals' (like white Christian nationalism) but their primary 'ideal' is the pursuit of power/wealth for themselves. No other consideration comes close.
Hi, Phil - I would like to hear your opinion about the idea that we seem to be teaching our children "what" to think, instead of "how" to think. I believe that we should begin teaching logical and rhetorical fallacies early, perhaps fourth grade. When I was in 4th grade a friend and I debated with a contingent of Baptists, mostly about religion. Those conversations helped to shape the person I am today, almost 70 years later. I believe that if every citizen today would master the rhetorical and logical fallacies, we could think our way out of this mess we're in.
My Dad, a lawyer, used to play basic logic games with us as kids -- "Since all dogs have tails, are all animals with tails dogs?" -- we had a lot of fun explaining why such statements were wrong!
Rather than pairing "what" and "how," David, I'd stress listening to others.
Listening to others reserves our human potency also to ask questions -- which, remember, testing (by careful design) kills.
But essaying opens those humanly communicative arts and skills. (But never the five-paragraph zombie essay which testing makes machine gradable.)
Bit of a stretch there, Phil. 75 million products of U. S schools voted against it and another 90 million didn’t vote at all. I don’t know where that puts us, but it’s not the indictment of American education I think you want to make. Yeah, there’s a lot of stupid out there, but education or the lack of it is only one factor. We’re 160 years removed from the Civil War, and yet a good 20-25% of this country would happily return us to the days of white man supremacy, plantations, and slavery. They weren’t taught that in school, they learned that at home.
I never indict American education, John.
I always quarrel instead with the much larger billionaire forces seeking to control ed.
I am a product of U S schools.
Almost everyone I know is JD. We sent our daughter to a Montessori pre-school, but she transferred to a small public school close to our home near Lincoln, NE.
The public school was K-6 and they combined grades 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6. We were very pleased with the education she received there.
A couple of years later Nebraska banned these small rural schools that they claimed were too expensive to run forcing some students to sit on a bus for over an hour each way.
Often “progress isn’t,”. And now we have toxic hyperbole (meant to deceive) telling us we will ”be great again” and laughing their arses off while raking in the money.
Me, too, JD -- but not of the schools Diane Ravitch describes in "The Language Police."
What about the rest of us, Phil? I didn't vote for this MoFo, and neither did any of my friends! We're not all stupid. We're Horrified!! So now it's time to use our guts and our brains to get out from underneath this tyrant! We need more Gavin Newsoms and JB Pritzkers!!! Let's Go!!!
I'm more than a little threatened by DJT's deployment of troops across our Country. My mother was a life long Republican and so were her parents. I believe Donald Trump (Steven Miller) thinks that targeting Democratic Cities with his "show of force" he'll create an illusion of strength that will counteract his damage to our National Economy before the far reaching effects of his tariffs drive up our cost of living any further. This is purely a theatrical invention. Washington D.C.'s crime rate was at a 30 year low.
Don’t fall for it, no doubt about it-this election was hacked/Election Truth Alliance. 97 million did not vote@all. There’s no doubt, we have an intrusion from foreign state actors directing an illegitimate administration pursing extinction level policies.
Do you know how many murders there are in Chicago every weekend? Do you know how many will stop if Trump shows up? Even Chris Matthews called you guys idiots he’s trying to stop crime and you’re telling him not to do it and Chris Matthews and James Carville and morning Joe and Bill Maher or telling you to stop trying to defend the indefensible
He's a convicted criminal, Rick, you fucking moron. He's pardoned more criminals than have ever been arrested while he's been president.
Your lies are tiresome.
Well, why don’t you tell me what they are go ahead and give it a shot.
How many murders will trump stop in Chicago? Do you think Trump is sending people into high crime areas? No trump is not going into the areas with gang violence and where drive by shootings occur. Think about it. Trump is not seeing to it that every American has a path to a better life through public education and stopping crime in high crime areas
Sandra. Rick Sender is a constant troll on Heather's Substack. Ignore him.
Wendyl, I've posted you on this before.
Look at the time stamps. There's no way one troll could oneself issue simultaneously so many posts as does this single moniker which is evidently rather a much larger giddy team of AI English techies Putin is paying.
I know, Phil. Just trying to alert the maybe new unsuspecting friends here that it's a troll comment. People still respond!
See how ignorant you are Sandra I’m begging you change the freaking freaking freaking channel that’s all he’s doing in DC he’s pretty sick he’s protecting the federal buildings for tourist but the majority of the troops and policing is being done in the crime ridden areas Do you think you’re hijacking cars in front of the capital 336 car so far this year and so far since Trump has been there a decrease of 88%. I think murders are being committed on the White House lawn know they’re being committed in the bad areas and they haven’t had one murder in 12 days and A few weeks ago there was an article in the DC paper 10 murders in five days. Change the freaking channel and see what’s happening in real life you’re not hearing the total story
BS troll
Thank you Rick Sender about attacking me personally by calling me ignorant. That about says it all about the channel you are watching.
Well, Sandra, let me say this for you ignorance is not a personal defect. It’s a lack of information it’s not a judge of your intelligence whatsoever.
And many many people here, and I’m sorry to say, probably you included are willfully ignorant. You don’t wanna know the truth and the fallacy and they made up terms about Fox are just that. Every network makes mistakes. But when you think that Fox isn’t responsive, help responsible by the FTC, please forgive me, but I believe you’re incorrect
I think to yourself what I said earlier 40% less Democrats watch CNN 40% less Democrats watch MSNBC. MSNBC was going to fail and it was spun off to get it out of the way, and the names of the acronym should tell you everything you want to know about MSNBC. Not to mention all the talent they fired because they couldn’t afford it, and they were like left-wing lunatics. CNN is also trying to be spun off but they’re getting a little smarter. People are now calling cnn baby fox. Because they are learning. The legacy media is pretty much done and the only real and if you want to try something truthfully, the only real Walter Cronkite like news story or newscaster is on Fox I believe he’s on at 6 PM East Coast time at his name is Bret baier . Not sure of the spelling. Who has guests from both sides of the aisle? He lets them talk the interview back-and-forth and despite the fact that he’s on Fox and lean slightly right, he welcomes open dialogue and you would learn a lot just by listening to one hour of his show. And see what you think.
I also would like to ask you why you think all these people have left CNN and MS, NBC, and ABC, NBC, and CBS when it comes to news. The answer should be obvious to you to you now and as I’ve said earlier, Fox News viewership control 65% or so of news media now. And has 14 out of the top 15 shows including the five, including Gutfeld, who’s putting late nights on the major networks out of business, including Brett Bair, including Laura Ingraham, including Jessie waters, prime time, and even Hannity. If you’d like to know the back up, I have the links. 65% of the audience doesn’t think Fox is not a news net work. Only the people here who swallowed what they hear so they don’t go and defect.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Although he is fun to play with.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Although he is fun to play with.
Things escalated on Aug. 11, 2025, when Trump invoked emergency powers under the Home Rule Act to take temporary federal control of the Metropolitan Police Department—a first in U.S. history. This wasn’t just a symbolic gesture; it sent a message that Washington’s safety isn’t up for debate.
The operation unites multiple federal agencies, from the U.S. Marshals to the DEA, alongside local officers, focusing on the city’s most crime-ridden areas. It’s a unified front that progressive policies have long avoided, often prioritizing rhetoric over results.
National Guard units, activated earlier in August 2025, are now patrolling with firearms, a visible reminder that law enforcement means business. Some might call it overreach, but when homicides drop to zero for nearly two weeks, the data speaks louder than the critics.
Arrests Surge with Tangible Results
By Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, authorities reported 86 arrests and the seizure of 10 illegal guns in a single day. FBI Director Kash Patel noted 26 of those arrests stemmed from FBI operations, including five drug busts. As Patel posted on X, “Keep getting after it”—a sentiment many law-abiding citizens likely share.
The total tally of 1,007 arrests and 111 confiscated firearms, announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Aug. 25, 2025, underscores the operation’s scale. Pirro, speaking on "Fox & Friends," quipped about the guns, “What does that mean? They can't be used to shoot people.”
Her point cuts through the noise—every firearm off the streets is a potential life saved. While some may scoff at such bluntness, it’s hard to argue with the logic when D.C. has seen 101 homicides this year but none in the past 12 days.
The good news is that they're afraid to commit crimes when you have an increased law enforcement presence.” It’s a refreshing change from policies that seem to prioritize offenders over victims, and residents in high-crime areas are reportedly saying “thank you.”
On Aug. 25, 2025, Trump doubled down with two executive orders—one directing D.C. police to charge suspects federally and hold them in federal custody, bypassing cashless bail, and another threatening to cut federal funding to jurisdictions using such bail practices. This isn’t just a crackdown; it’s a rejection of soft-on-crime experiments.
Critics like Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called the efforts “uncoordinated, uncalled-for and unsound,” while claiming only nine arrests occurred under D.C.’s operation. Pirro fired back, suggesting Johnson should hope for similar intervention in Chicago, which has logged 573 homicides in 2024 with a much larger population. With numbers like that, perhaps it’s time for less posturing and more problem-solving.
Zero Homicides: A Milestone Moment
The 12-day streak without a homicide, as Pirro emphasized, is no small feat for a city that was once among the most violent globally. “Policing works,” she declared, and the stats—zero killings since the crackdown intensified—back her up.
She also highlighted a shift in public sentiment: “We've got a government now where the people in D.C. are feeling safer.” While progressive agendas often dominate headlines with promises of reform, it’s concrete action like this that seems to resonate on the ground.
For now, D.C. stands as a test case for what strong law enforcement can achieve, even if it ruffles feathers in City Hall or beyond. Trump’s operation may not fit the narrative of endless dialogue over decisive action, but with over 1,000 arrests and safer streets, it’s hard to dismiss the results. Let’s hope this momentum holds—and spreads to other cities drowning in crime.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Although he is fun to play with.
Federal troops or not send it those areas but ABSOLUTELY Trump back police are entering only black areas and stopping crime dead in its tracks and if you would ever change the channel and see the interviews with all the blacks saying thank God he’s here I wish he would send more because we can finally get out of our houses. That’s exactly what he would do. He would send troops to South Chicago and he would stop the killing almost immediately, but I’ll tell you what if he did, you would still have shit to say.
In fact, there was a nice little bean today. guess what Trump cured cancer
But the illegals are not getting due process. But the best one is Trump saved six children from drowning today and the Democrats said yeah but he’s denying the sharks A MEAL.
I’ll come back Sandra, if and when he sends troops to South Chicago if the crime goes down and I’ll hold you responsible for being honest. And if it doesn’t, I will say so
The National Guard in DC have not even bothered to patrol areas of DC struggling with crime. They are only patrolling areas where there are federal buildings. It's hard to see how they could have had any effect on crime levels even were it true (which it isn't) that crime levels have fallen since Trump's invasion. The fact that you fall for this BS every time shows what a twit you are.
Hello Russell... DJT will only send Troops where there are Cameras, Tourists, and Rich People... Like DJT's Alaska Summit. this is all just a Reality Show Photo Op... Putin knew this, and was the Winner, the threatened Russian Sanctions were never implemented....
Remember when Trump 1.0 sent troops to the border stop a "caravan" of "murders and rapists"? They didn't do much, but it was great theater. Kinda heavy on the public purse though.
Oh well. "Reagan proved that deficits don't matter" so long as a Republican's in charge.
It's so obvious that only Rick knows why he can't see it for what it is.
Idiot. Go back to your rock in Moscow.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Although he is fun to play with.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Although he is fun to play with.
BS troll
Thank you, Professor, and thank you, Governor Pritzker for standing up and calling out Trump for what he is. We cannot allow this administration to take over our cities illegally and on false pretenses.
But is HCR and Gov Pritzker reaching an audience that makes a difference in a way that will make a difference? I’m the meantime trump is putting out sound bites lies about Biden and no one seems to care. We can’t take back America until we have a Democratic Party people believe in. Top ten lies Trump told about Biden? Democrats. We must change the narrative
Agreed Sandra. Everyone, maybe brainstorm for solutions. Everyone I know already knows what I know. But I remember when Biden got insulin to thirty five dollars, and a woman on camera claimed trump did that. I almost passed out .
Trump was in the middle of his delusional speech that HCR covers today when I got in the car. I have no clue why MSNBC was compelled to cover it live.
Anyway, I got to hear most of the ramblings HCR details today. My blood was boiling at every lie and the fact that no one ever shouts out that "you are a fuckimg liar." I know that's an instant dismissal from the lame stream media outlet, but everyone here knows that EVERYTHING he says is complete bullshit. Always has been, always will be. So why broadcast it live and then have the talking heads sane wash it afterwords?
Getting in the car during/after a delusional FOTUS speech is dangerous for passengers and other drivers 😉 (I plead guilty)
🤣 You're right about that Beth.
When we lived in FL, there was a Mayo Clinic doctor that forced a pregnant woman off the road due to his road rage. Both her and the baby died.
This is so powerful and sad. Biden did the work. Trump takes the credit
Hello Sandra... Where are the DNC DC Democrats?... Have they been Bought Off by their Big Donor $$$ ?...
I stopped donating to the lifeless body.
Hello JD.... Me Too... I only pay for Results....
Hello Apache. DNC is not offering very much hope for democracy either. They don't want to endorse or support Mamdani for mayor in New York, almost like they would rather lose elections than stop the money flowing from corporate donors, many of which are already acquiescing and cowed by Trump anyway.
Not true. DNC endoreses all Democrats in a general election.
So far Jeffries has not endorsed Mamdani. I didn't rank Mamdani when I voted in the primary, feeling he is too young and inexperienced. I definitely do not want Cuomo or Sliwa. I put Brad Lander as my first choice -- not exciting, but very experienced. But I will vote for Mamdani in the election and I feel some optimism about what he could bring to the city.
Hello Lauriecf..... This last Weekend, it came across the Wires, that the GOP is registering more New Voters, then the Demos... Time for the DNC to get a Reality Check... Good Results from the 2026 Elections are not guaranteed.... DJT is still running Congress....
Hope you’re right, because Democrats really need to win in those general elections.
My concern as well.
So what can we as citizens do about it? Nothing has worked thus far.
Make a. List. Biden’s top ten accomplishments. Start publishing info on the great economy Biden left us. Start post if Harris had won
And don't let anyone forget that Trump is a convicted felon, pedophile and more than likely a sex trafficker.
A day should not go by when the lame stream media doesn't talk about Trump and how he is giving Maxwell the equivalent of a pardon.
Joe Biden accomplished so much including fixing so many things Trump fucked up. Thousands of people in my county have high speed Internet for the first time thanks to Biden.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Governor Pritzker has again shown his exceptional leadership skills. I live in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, and I followed his leadership during COVID, which was very helpful given all the conflicting information available from other sources. What he said in his speech was true, and he said it with dignity. I hope he continues to lead in politics, whether at the state or federal level.
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Goodtrouble) as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, and those in a committee that fits your topic. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
ICE COLD... In the Trumpian fevered "wet dream" of his police state, I think Trump imagined that "distractions", media manipulation (FOX newsroom doesn't just "bend the knee" to Trump, it lies prostrate before his swollen ankles), and "flooding the zone" would be just enough for him to get away with his "anything goes", lawless, and brutally racist attacks on immigrants and anyone else blocking the way to his power grab and permanence.
But he miscalculated on the ingenuity, perseverance, and courage of Americans who, much to his displeasure and annoyance, have been busy videotaping ICE atrocities all across the country. Ben Meiselas (of " Meidas Touch") has a twenty minute video of some of these " citizen journalist " tapes. Ben has a favor to ask of us. He wants us to watch this video and share it with others so the world will know how dangerous this authoritarian regime has become. The video speaks for itself. However, that last segment in the video on Kilmar Abrego Garcia has a regime twist. Today he has been "detained"- because he did not plead guilty to the phony charges against him. However, a federal judge barred the regime from deporting him to Uganda pending a further hearing... Such manic cruelty...
If we allow ourselves to wallow in Trumpian despair, we will have given this regime exactly what they want...fear...hopelessness... and capitulation. We cannot do that. The fight is still in play , but we have to stand up and show up in big, big numbers this weekend and participate in the INDIVISIBLE Nationwide Protests. Protests matter! Take courage from Governor Newsom, Governor JB Pritzker (courageous stand against Trump today), Bernie Sanders, the Texans in state congress(Nicole Collier), the citizen videotapers, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and all who protest week after week. Is the small sacrifice of getting out there on the streets for a few hours with those of like-minded purpose to raise our voices against this regime, not worth the effort to try to save our Democracy ? It is not an inconvenience. It is a necessity. We must fight loudly now every chance we get !
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dA2efyRkCVE&pp=0gcJCRsBo7VqN5tD
Michele2: you go girl! Thanks
At the top of that list should be outrage at the firing of the only Black member of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors. Most of us simply have no idea how serious the consequences of that decision are.
Lisa Cook consistently voted with Jerome Powell to keep interest rates steady, despite a certain screaming toddler's "demand" that he lower them, joined in their decisions by a majority of the Governors. But no White Governors were fired. No White Governor has been the target of a cartoon witch-hunt where silly, trumped-up charges of inappropriate conduct have suddenly materialized out of nowhere. It's offensive even to dignify them by noting that they come "without evidence." It's all made-up shit from start to finish. And they know it. That alone should tell you everything.
Not quite. The reason President Golf Cart wants interest rates lowered has nothing to do with the country's economy, but EVERYTHING do with his. Since January, Greedier-than-Midas has bought at least $100 million worth of bonds. Guess what happens to bond values when interest rates fall? President Emoluments is taking care of himself, the way he always does. He's made 1600 Pennsylvania the address for the biggest extortion racket in the country. 10% from Intel here, 24-karat gifts from Apple there, tariff demands from this country and that one, bribes from Harvard and Columbia just to be left alone, interest rates moving at his command --- it's not 'about the economy, stupid.' It's certainly not about the price of eggs. It's about GRAFT. "I want you to do a little something for me first." We are all Volodymyr Zelenskyy now.
People have nearly lost their minds demanding the opening of the "Epstein Files" -- whatever that even means -- something about a dead child molester that would be beyond the Pale. Yet the real monster is already among us -- open, transparent, direct violations of the Constitution taking place every day. That should channel everyone's rage.
The bond markets aren't going to take kindly to Trump's attack on the Reserve. For a century, an independent Reserve has been the driving force behind America's AAA bond rating. It's why the Chinese own the lion's share of Treasuries -- they're the safest investment in the world. Not any more. It's all about attacking America and lining your own pocket while hiding under a stupid red MAGA hat.
Hello ICTT... Very Good Post.... "President Golf Cart", I like that.... OBW, unless Putin gets him, President Zelensky will outlive DJT... Slava Ukrainii!!!
ICTT, you'll note that President Golf Cart fires women and Blacks in positions of authority (USCG Commandant, US Navy Admiral--both women and General Brown (USAF, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is Black).
And sends troops into cities where black women are mayors!
And targets Black mayors in blue states by claiming phony emergencies which only HE can address. But I'm sure that's just a koinkidink.
Thank you for posting that ICTT. Hopefully, the firing won't stand because there are no grounds for it and it is illegal.
Powell is going to do the right thing in spite of her being fired, but it is still pathetic to see her as a target.
Kudos to Governor Pritzker for showing real leadership, real courage, and a real grasp of the situation the nation is facing.
Shame on the Republican Party; in Congress, in various governors’ mansions, and in state legislatures. Their silence in the face of the destruction of American democracy makes them forever guilty of treason even more than the President. Governor Pritzker is right; the pendulum will swing back and, when it does, we will remember who spoke up and who was silent.
Kudos to him for yet another reason, too. As Governor, he can speak for Illinois. 'Nobody here asked for your help, nobody requested anything. You never even asked us our opinion.' It's important people hear the truth. If there were a real emergency, wouldn't any SANE president want to get a state or a city's take on this?
There's no consultation because there's no emergency. There's no there there. Pritzker speaks for those of us even more in your nation's capital, for we *have* no voice, no representation in Congress, no Governor to act in our interests, just a Mayor on tenterhooks right now, with at least a $1 billion gaping need that the Big Ugly Pile of Shit bill removed (and has not yet been reinstated despite a unanimous voice vote in the Senate to the contrary).
So Pritzker not only speaks truth to power, he speaks for those of us without power altogether. Just wanted to add that, thanks!
so what is the situation we are facing I gotta hear this this is gonna be good you’re facing a situation where situation is that the crime is down that the stock market is raging setting all time records that the border is closed that the criminal element is being arrested and/or sent home that men can’t participate in women’s sports?
The only destruction of democracy is what you’re causing… read above and figure it out
Get a grownup to edit your comments before you post and you won’t look so stupid.
So are you one of those people that like form over content there Ralph
I post to many people and I’m very busy posting trying to keep up. I’ve voice text everything and I guess as intelligent as you are you’re able to figure it out. I hope you don’t get eaten by a bare. Lmao. Did you get the meaning of what I said or you were worried about the spelling Sad. This is not my college dissertation. This is arguing and discussing serious facts and points. You wanna deal with dangling participles, and ending sentences with prepositions go back to your classroom and teach theory . This is not a classroom. This is reality. And if you wanna talk the education of this country, the last 40 years of a Democrat control has been miserable and now it’s changing thank goodness. As I have pointed out many times on these threads in 1979 when the department of education was first formed, this country was ranked number one of the world education 30 years later we were number and today were number 40th house that for progress of education. What is happened in the last 40 years has been nothing less than dumbing down of American students.
Instead of criticizing everything, why don’t you have a solution to anything whatsoever? Nothing you have no solutions neither does your party and that’s why they continue to lose. Big time.
BS troll.
Here you go, Rick: https://www.amazon.com/English-Grammar-Dummies-Lifestyle/dp/1119376599
Check out “ vote of no confidence in our current federal government” by Robert Reich. It’s a pretty good summation of what is not good in this country at the moment. Perhaps it would help put it in perspective in your mind.
Have you actually ever seen the results of decisions made by Krugman or right? They were almost always incorrect and their ass assumptions because they're not practical applications as their theoretical.
Reich
Anyone using Robert Reich or Paul Krugman his references pretty much out of their mind
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Although he is fun to play with.
Actually, Gary, I am fun to play with and fun to watch playing golf as I’ve now reached 12 rounds of golf under my age which currently is 76. And about four weeks ago I actually saw a 76 shots lower than my age now go look up that number and see how much fun I am to play golf with. Last I looked the numbers looked like this. I could no longer find the article online but I did find this at one site: " The percentage of golfers who shoot their age on golf courses that are at least 6,000 yards is .0000089%, or less than 9 per million."
I shot a 70 or six shots below my age that is truly remarkable but everything was great pets. Couple of chips went in bottom line and it atested 70. Even better for a lefty golfer
Blocked!!
Newsom, Pritzker, Mills (Maine) - and other Governors now in the pipeline - bear truth to the fact that the resistance is really gaining momentum. And not a minute too soon.
The bedrock decency and fundamental tenets of our democracy- flawed as it is in many ways - are starting to push back hard against this grotesque “administration,” so those who continue to grovel before the MAGA and 2025 malignancy best give thought to their place in history…..because it’s going to catch up to them a lot sooner than they think.
The future remains in peril, but it's clear that game is very much in play, and resistance is rising. The Republic, the ecosphere, and our future are all worth saving.
J L, we don't have the time since our present, not just the future it's in peril.
And all you need is an agenda what you don’t have at all. Nine months later and you’re still lost in the Woods thinking that hating Trump or the fighting back is the winning choice which it’s not. Moving forward with an agenda that fits the Americans need is what you need which is exactly what Trump ran on and one
Don’t know if you heard, but there’s even a possibility you may lose New Jersey
Because you’re meandering in the desert
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Although he is fun to play with.
Wow, I read it all! Pritzker really laid it out there. I am impressed. This is all serious stuff and he was telling as most of us see it. Don’t ignore this time, but be aware and help in any way you are able.
Three cheers for Gov Pritzger tonight, tomorrow and all the days that follow until the nation somehow finds a way to remove this galloping, self-absorbed fascist (with the most excellent signature, etc.) from power. Adam Schiff had his number in his sum up to impeachment No. 1, "You will NOT change him". Some years ago, I saw the Chinese military patrols in Lhasa and I recall clearly thinking, "Here is a profound difference between us in the west and them". Now that difference is gone, at least temporarily. Congress is asleep at the switch or most likely, worse, and the illegitimate SCOTUS will not help 'the people' after its scandalous rearrangement. Resistance is all that there is. We must hope that the tide will turn, because right now it is running higher up the beach than I've seen since the abomination at Kent State. Do people have to die to get this escalation the attention that it deserves?
Speaking with a friend of mine today, I recalled a humorous family gathering. We were talking about Halloween costumes. My husband said…well he was going to put a potato on the end of his dick and be a “Dick Tater.” We all laughed our asses off..can someone please do a meme/comic with Trump with a potato on his dick so he can be a “dick tater”????? Just a little levity here.
Chuck Schumer, are you listening to Governor Pritzker? You should have made a speech like this when the cowardly Democrats should have followed Al Green and walked out of the address T**** gave to Congress. Give the leadership of the Senate to someone who has the cojones to do the job.
Great comment James!!!!!👌
He might try to hide his right hand to cover a bruise, but he cannot hide the 2-year-old idiocy spewing out that tiny facial sphincter, spouted while "class" sits at rapt attention taking notes.
A stupefied "class" sits there in absolute terror of being banished from the White House for daring to ask a serious question. It already happened once before in February, when Karoline Spokesbarbie fired the 110-year-old White House Correspondents Association over her master's outraged pique that the Associated Press still DARED to refer to the Gulf of Mexico by its real name since the 1600s. Out went the AP, forget about NPR -- in came Bright Fart, Marjorie Traylor-Trash's illiterate husband masquerading as a reporter, and other preening wormtongues who actually asked him hard, biting questions like "why do Democrats hate America so much?" (no, I didn't make that up).
One-third the country hasn't a clue that Washington is a peaceful city, there is no emergency, that all his targets involve Black mayors in blue states, and now the only Black member of the Federal Reserve. They don't know because Faux News fills the airwaves with chickenshit, still going Biden Biden Biden Biden Biden Biden, after all this time.
The Emperor is not just naked, he's small, ugly, brutish, demented, criminal and stupid. From Macbeth, shortly before his demise: "Now does he feel his title hang loose about him, like a giant's robe upon a dwarfish thief."
ICTT, another reader has used the phrase "anusmouth". I kinda like "oral sphincter" as well.
Facial sphincter. Thank you, Professor. The emperor is leading this country to new heights of success and democratic fulfillment. Leaving the streets with less crime and peaceful, leading the economy, including the stock market to new record highs
Yeah, I guess what the black member of the Fed did in order to deserve such a dispatch? Do you know what moron you actually think the Washington DC is a peaceful city? Why did you go walk the neighborhoods and see how peaceful it is
A congressman got car jacked in pure daylight and it was a Democrat as well
Over 300 carjackings already. And now they’re down to 88%. The white liberals are protesting in the blacks are thrilled.
That is probably the most erudite post I’ve seen in years unfortunately it’s entirely incorrect 180 degrees
Inflation went up in July; prices are still high and are rising. Trump is so angry with the economic data that he's fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics and a governor on the Federal Reserve board. He says he won the election on a promise to reduce prices on the first day of his presidency - he lied!
He hasn't reduced crime in DC, even at the cost of $1m a day. He's citing fake statistics.
https://apnews.com/article/trump-washington-crime-factcheck-violent-homelessness-db6f809a13800ccc1f4606bb9bf506a8
BS troll
you know people ask me why I’m here. And I’m only here for one purpose to expand your mind and your horizons to let you know that you are 2% of America. That’s who you represent the left wing of the left wing of liberals.
You are not representative of the country and at least by now 100 million people don’t think like you but you have no idea how they think or why they think or why they think the way they think. So I know why I’m here but I’m not sure why you were here
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Although he is fun to play with.
All you succeed in doing, Rick, is putting your colossal ignorance on full display for everyone interested in your drivel to mock you.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Although he is fun to play with.
If someone had written all of this ten years ago, no one would have published it.
It would have been such a BAD novel like no one had ever seen, the WORST novel in all of history.
Well, who would believe it? I read 1984 one summer when I was about 12. It creeped me out, and I got the message, but I thought it was overly exaggerated. Now I don't.
My book group just read 1984, & our meeting to discuss it was a very somber affair.
Near the end of the book- when O'brien is torturing Winston- he tells Winston that The Party's consummate objective is to obtain power!
When I read that, I realized what is going on in our country. The Republicans are attempting, with the help of Project 2025, to get ultimate power over us. And they will succeed if we don't resist & protest.
Orwell meant it to be a warning, not a how-to manual…
Joyce Vance is urging her followers to read 1984, and I bought a new copy, but I can't bear to open it. What's happening is real enough.
I have had the same problem. Thought Vance’s book club was a great idea, took the book up (after having read it 50 years ago) and can’t even get past the first few pages — it’s too real now.
It was the moment campaign contributions became unlimited and Fox News went on the air. We have been lazy
Government being taken over by a group of zombies with a demented carcass of orange lard as its figurehead, a man once described as a "fucking moron" by his first Secretary of State. Violations of the Emoluments Clause on a daily basis. The militarization of the National Guard for non-existent emergencies. Assertions that Haitians are eating cats and dogs on national TV with only his opponent openly laughing.
No, this is one too-ridiculous even for the SciFI channel. Completely unrealistic. Downright stoopid, even .... 🤪
Pritzker is a mensch. Things are escalating. It’s awful. 💔🤮
Pritzker was a Mench each stop all the killings in the black neighborhoods in South Chicago but he’s not doing that is he? Now, let’s see your complaint if Trump comes in with his people and the killing stops. Let’s see you criticize him or blame him for that saving black lives and that’s why you’re even losing black voters. Because the only one protesting Washington DC now are the white liberals. The blacks are saying thank you, Mr. Trump.
Little Ricky is back barking like a little dog in the window.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the sad little man.
Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life as someone's puppet thinking you are wise?
Trump is Putin's puppet, Little man Ricky is Trump's puppet.
He says he "flip-flops", he is only fooling himself, there is no evidence he is anything but a member of Cult Trump. He even wrote that Trump's approval rating is "going through the ceiling" just last week.
RS is simply either a stupid man or lost in himself.
Although he is fun to play with.
Thank you for this! I'm so grateful to the veterans who have begun a sit-in at Union Station as well as those who are providing honest support to the National Guard who've been deployed to DC through the GI hotline -- 1-877-447-4487. If you are National Guard member ordered to violate Constitutional rights, here is the number to the GI Rights Hotline. 1-877-447-4487. There is support for you – you do not have to obey illegal commands.
Thank you for highlighting Governor Pritzker's strong words!
And regarding the bruise on the back of Trump's hand, is he undergoing regular infusions?
That's the theory.
Although infusions could be given in a less visible spot, so not sure about this theory.