I guess I just don't understand how people can openly call for violence against others and get away with it. Or how an elected official can suggest revolution is being planned without being brought down/arrested for inciting riot. I sure wish the Jan 6 committee would get on with the investigation and bring some of these people into the light. Show us how they helped plan and finance the insurrection. Please, just give us something other than "demanding that info be preserved" I fear this investigation will last well into 2022, and by that time the rethuglicans will have succeeded in complete voter suppression. (Sorry for this rant...just feeling there is little good in our fellow human being right now.)
The failure to prosecute right wing agitators, even ones elected to office, who say treasonous things weakens democracy. But taking action against them does too. The January 6 hearings are a waste of time unless their findings result in indictments and trials. Either way, democracy loses. We are witnessing the bitter fruit which can grow from the seeds of democracy.
Where was Pelosi when the Capitol police asked for immediate help? Where was she when the intelligence community told her months in advance of a probable riot at the Capitol? Democracy is not bitter fruit. Power-mad politicians block democracy. Also, our system of government is a Republic, not a democracy.
Pelosi has nothing to do with security at the Capitol. The Capitol police ask for help directly from the pentagon. We are a Republic, but that is not a system of gov’t. We are a democracy, but not a direct democracy. we are a representative democracy.
Whatever in the world would prompt a House Speaker to intercede in an Executive Branch Security matter? The intelligence reports were part of the White House knowledge and the President and his staff encouraged the coup attempt by refusing to take action.
Nancy Pelosi’s role on January 6 was to coordinate with the Senate on the electoral college vote.
Since when is the speaker of the House responsible for outside security? "Pelosi" was plenty busy avoiding confrontation from "Power mad" rioters likely to do her serious, if not fatal harm.
Capitol Police were fully and dutifully engaged in protecting the speaker and her constituents from the cat-calling ("Nancy where are you?"), desk-sitting, breaking and entering insurgents, one of whom paid the ultimate price, goaded to her death by churlish, depraved mongrels conducting a "peaceful" rally.
That is, you feckless, visionless oaf, where "Pelosi" was when her protectors fruitlessly called the Pentagon for assistance.
Take your right wing traitor bullshit somewhere else, asswipe. Like over to FleeceBlock, where the fact you're a senile old white male fuckwit won't be so blindingly obvioyus.
TCinLA, I agree with you on that, but bear in mind that if "Dale Ilene Berman" gets enough people angry here to derail some useful discussion, he will have achieved one of his goals even if he never writes another word.
I surmise that Dale Ilene is female, not that Dale being female in any way negates your withering commentary, nor does it change my mind about avoiding her.
Republic vs democracy. It is both. We aren’t a “pure” or “direct” democracy. We are absolutely a representational democracy. Surprised so many are confused about this
It takes someone who actually studied "civics" as I am sure you did, to know that stuff. Most native Americans, who don't receive the benefit of having to study and be tested on their knowledge to become citizens, are political illiterates.
You fascists have been pushing that "our system of government is a Republic, not a democracy" BS since the 1964 and 1965 Voting Rights Acts, as a pathetic excuse for preventing the Wrong Kind of People from Voting. Now it's also an excuse for killing anyone who isn't part of your cult. But then, you've done that before as well, haven't you? Maybe you should just get your white sheet and armband and come out of the closet.
Your questions don't deserve answers because they are, sorry, just stupid. It's like you just watched something on Fox News. As many have pointed out it was not her job to manage security. Try to draw inside the lines.
BTW, we live in a democratic republic, it's technically a hybrid.
Where was Pelosi? Really? The more important question is ‘where was Trump?’ Oh yeah, after goading his followers to march on the Capitol, he was watching those tourists break into the Capitol, assaulting Capitol and Metro police and parading through the Capitol with confederate battle flags on TV. It took him hours to give the most ineffectual request for his followers to come; his remark that the insurrectionists should “Go home. We love you” was especially touching.
A republic (Latin: res publica, meaning "public affair") is a form of government in which "power is held by the people and their elected representatives". In republics, the country is considered a "public matter", not the private concern or property of the rulers. The primary positions of power within a republic are attained through democracy or a mix of democracy with oligarchy or autocracy rather than being unalterably occupied by any given family lineage or group. With modern republicanism, it has become the opposing form of government to a monarchy and therefore a modern republic has no monarch as head of state.
Democracy (Greek: δημοκρατία, dēmokratiā, from dēmos 'people' and kratos 'rule'[1]) is a form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation ("direct democracy"), or to choose governing officials to do so ("representative democracy"). Who is considered part of "the people" and how authority is shared among or delegated by the people has changed over time and at different rates in different countries, but over time more and more of a democratic country's inhabitants have generally been included. Cornerstones of democracy include freedom of assembly and speech, inclusiveness and equality, membership, consent, voting, right to life and minority rights.
A democratic republic is a form of government operating on principles adopted from a republic and a democracy. Rather than being a cross between two entirely separate systems, democratic republics may function on principles shared by both republics and democracies.
In the US, the notion that a republic was a form of democracy was common from the time of its founding, and the concepts associated with representative democracy (and hence with a democratic republic) are suggested by John Adams (writing in 1784):
"No determinations are carried, it is true, in a simple representative democracy, but by consent of the majority or their representatives."
The U.S. is also a constitutional democracy. When Benjamin Franklin was leaving the Continental Congress when the Constitution was written, he was asked what form of government do we have. He replied: "A Republic, if we can keep it."
Hope we can keep it! It's not clear at the moment.
I have to agree we are now an oligarchic kleptocracy. Robbing from the poor and middle class and giving to the rich. We still have a chance to swing back to being a democratic republic. And, yes, Citizens United has to be overturned. Money is not free speech; corporations do not have more rights than the People.
One PERSON, one Vote; not One million dollars and I own your vote in Congress.
the irony of the citizens united decision is that corporations were created as a buffer between the individual owners of a business and the general public, as a way of protecting the assets of the owners from a lawsuit. you can sue the corporation, but not the individual owners. (of course, they can be arrested if they have committed a crime.) as i understand it, corporations are precisely not people.
I completely agree with you. I was going to write the exact same thing and don’t need to thanks to you. These giant ponderous investigations are all good, but we have a situation on the ground that needs immediate attention. They are planning to come for us. This wonderful government of Biden et al needs to take steps to cut them off at the pass before they get rolling.
The visual of the gallows and hangman's noose and the cries for Pence and Pelosi during the terrorist riot in our Capital really should make our American DOJ stand up to full attention and intervene immediately. Where are you and fascism continues to rise? I think we all need to flood our government with sanity letters.
Our rights across the country should not be able to be suppressed. I is a federal crime against our people— what these terrorists are committing on democracy.
Three hundred of the hard-core rioters were arrested and charged. Thinking of our people as children who need party guidance is terrorism. Forcing people to act when they know better is terrorism. Causing inflation that swamps wages is terrorism. Take a good look and cut the panting language.
Sorry, Dale, This is the wrong audience for your fear baiting hyperbole and misinformation. Income disparity and politicians being bought by big donor money is what is keeping wages down. Everything possible is going to the Elite 1%. That is the real cause of your anger I would guess - income disparity. You pay more taxes than 60 huge corporations making billions put together if you pay just $1 of taxes. Very few of them have raised wages in years. They don't care about you and me. They only care about power and money and you are delighting them by playing the role of useful idiot for them. They will never care about raising wages because they think you, the 99%, are just lazy when you can't make a decent living off poverty level wages.
I realize that some people have been arrested for these crimes, but not the seditionist party who are the instigators, fomenters and continue to be allowed to be lawmakers in our government. I am talking about the rising of these fanatic fascists and no large scale interventions or appear to be happening. I am talking about bills being passed everyday that attack our rights to vote and should be illegal. This is hardly panting and I find your comment slightly offensive. I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you perhaps just do not understand what I wrote.
!!! Since you hearted me, TC, I was just going to respond to you and say the you would probably have had a very different response to my ovary, overly-measured, diplomatic, fact-based, gentle sword of clarity to Dale. Then I arrive and see that you are in full throttle with your blasts words. This, is a great example of an ovarian response vs a cajones' response, even if to a troll. We need both, but used at the right times. You will never die from hypertension, my friend. You withhold nothing.
This is not a rant, this is a call for justice. Something we have not seen enough of due to the Party of Sedition's infiltration and destruction across our land.
I have to admit, when such ploppers show up and try to dominate, I scroll through even faster! I guess for $5 they have a right to play games, but for MY $5, I prefer to follow those whom I respect and who offer substance rather than tidbits of tomfoolery! Thanks, TC!
And this selfish (or unaware) notion that ALL speech is protected speech. It is not. ‘Fighting words’, ‘incitement to imminent lawless action’, and ‘true threats’ are a few distinctive ones that are not.
They (Dale) are trolling for readers to their substack page. This is hardly the place to provide them. Oops, gotta fly, I have an 11:30 dentist appointment I forgot all about!!!!!
Pam, I completely agree. The investigation will ultimately land in the GOP's hands after the mid terms to be tossed in the trash, just like the initial Committee, Mueller Report, both Impeachments of Trump.....
We have spiraled to the place in this Country where truth simply doesn't matter.
Listen to Heather and Joanne's August 31 Now and Then podcast which addresses how represented America really has been since its inception. I think this is free:
Right with you, Pam!! I couldn't agree more and I too (like Ned) was going to say what you said! While "craziness" has always been with us, we are experiencing a disintegration on a national level with frightening speed and visibility and with the potential for some really bad outcomes.
Elected officials need to be able to get restraint orders against these hoodlums threatening their lives in the very least! Unfortunately it is another way to put puppets into key positions for elections and school boards when the professionals leave because they feel they can't endanger their families. Autocracy at it's ugliest.
I agree with Shaf below - this didn't read as a rant to me. I don't know how these people can threaten elected officials and not be arrested. I don't know how Cawthorn can continue in office when he is literally inciting the violent overthrow of government.
No legal expert here but calling for violence is protect free speech if the danger is not imminent. If the preppy punk from NC had said "Let's go bust them out of jail", and then the crowd went to do it, then he could have been charged.
Any and all lawyers out there please correct me if I'm wrong.
Free speech is as troubling as it is joyful. It can and will be used against those cowards calling for violence in hope someone in the crowed will be incited to do it.
We know those MoC doing the investigation appreciate the gravity of the situation.
Ranting is good, let it out but then channel that energy into anger to fight back.
I would hope that election officials and school officials being threatened by angry hoodlums should have some recourse like a restraining order to keep these nuts away from their homes and family.
My granddaughter's school district refused to have a mask mandate. The district leans heavily Republican with plenty of sign waving loudmouths at the meetings. My daughter, the lawyer, was pissed. She is recovering from surgery and couldn't go to the meetings so she sent an email.
Today the district sent out texts and emails proclaiming masks are now mandatory starting tomorrow. My daughter got mad, fought back and now the kids will be masked. One of the members wrote her to say her letter was instrumental in changing minds. Not saying it was all her, just saying we don't have to take it without a fight.
I hope some legal experts can weigh in on this. I hope there is more teeth in the law to deal with threats and bullying. We can't lose good people from political life who are justifiably worried for themselves and their families and therefore retreat leaving the field open for thugs.
If that sort of comment doesn't constitute a terroristic threat, I don't know what does. It all goes to the years that we were stunned by TFG, but thought there were checks and balances in place, only to find that there weren't.
I fear this will investigation will go well beyond 2022, with the quest for records tied up in the courts for years (much like T’s tax records). By the time the committee gets the records it needs it will be too late to stop the takeover of our government by the fascist rethuglicans.
Unless we sacrifice democracy to fend off fascism. The ancient Greeks turned to "tyrants" is such situations. But once there, it's difficult to go back.
Shakespeare said the truth will always come out when it is needed. His times were politically and religiously dangerous. Coups were a constant threat. Yet, here we are.
Those times were sufficienly dangerous so that duing the ensuing century, many of those out of power saw fit to emigrate to a new English colony starting up across the Atlantic.
This didn't sound like a rant at all. Democrats as always lack the killer instinct. I have no faith in all the demanding that the select committee is doing. Republicans get away with everything because of their unified and homogenous voters. I kept hoping that January 6 would change how Democrats approach things but I was sadly wrong.
Apart from Trumpeting elephants, the current drum beat against President Biden on Afghanistan will precipitously diminish over the coming weeks and months. Almost certainly there will be hearings on why many more Afghans who served the American government were not pre-certified for evacuation. In the Foreign Service I painfully learned the difference between the State Department’s authority to issue visas and the immutable right of the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reject or accept those who arrive in the United States.
The USCIS historically has been the naysayer on many attempts to broaden immigration, including responding to emergency situations. The USCIA is constrained by legislation and by a general internal attitude to interpret harsh existing laws and regulations. I would not be surprised if Stephen Miller, Trump’s hatchet man on immigration, played a major role in introducing operational constraints within USCIS. [I have read nothing about the USCIS in recent articles on the failure to swiftly identify and process the multitude of Afghans who had worked for the American government and were endangered by a Taliban takeover.]
After Trump’s one-sided February, 2020 scuttle-and-run agreement with the Taliban [promisse to remove our troops in return for a Taliban promise not to attack them, release of 1000s of imprisoned Taliban fighters and more], THE APPROVAL OF AFGHAN EVACUEES ACTUALLY DECLINED IN 2021. It increased moderately in the first months of President Biden’s administration.
Clearly the pandemic played a significant role in the processing of potential Afghan evacuees. Visa processing was sharply curtailed or even suspended at American consulates. I presume that a large portion of the USCIS staff did not go to the office.
Whatever the reasons, we did a tremendous disservice to those Afghans who had served us and were in personal danger. With urgency and common sense, I believe that far more could have been accomplished before a frenetic evacuation. This could have included legal depositions from American personnel attesting to the service and character of their current and past Afghan employees.
Some will focus on the failure of intelligence prior to the ‘precipitous collapse’ of the Afghan military and police. While Monday morning quarterbacks can have a field day, I believe that the investigation results will be muddy.
Currently President Biden is being targeted on various fronts: 1) he was unprepared for this ‘precipitous collapse’ and its aftermath; 2) he shouldn’t have placed American military into such a dangerous situation in which we were dependent on Taliban security; and 3) our military should have remained in Afghanistan after his August 31st deadline. In my view, 1) can be the topic of an endless circular debates, while 2) and 3) are contradictory.
When the smoke clears, what I find obvious is that President Biden decisively ended our 20 years of war without end and he facilitated, in barely two weeks, the evacuation of over 120,000 human beings under the most vexing and dangerous circumstances. It was a tragedy that over a dozen American military and 170 Afghans were killed and many more wounded by an ISIS-K bomb. From the outset, such an assault was considered highly probable. The U. S. And the Taliban, from mutual self interest, worked together to prevent terrorists attacks. Sadly, they were unable to abort them all.
I applaud Biden for being presidential. On President Truman’s desk was a sign THE BUCK STOPS HERE. In my view, Biden was Trumanesque.
"Trump’s one-sided February, 2020 scuttle-and-run agreement with the Taliban [promisse to remove our troops in return for a Taliban promise not to attack them, release of 1000s of imprisoned Taliban fighters"
Yes, that was a Surrender agreement written by Putin for Trump to sign.
Auto parts stores in the D.C. area are reporting a tremendous rush to purchase rear-view mirrors. They are flying off the shelves as soon as fresh supplies comes in.
Thank you for your experienced and knowledgeable assessment, Keith. Do you also think that our 20 years in Afghanistan is due to the Military Industrial Complex that Eisenhower warned us of? Isn't it now much beyond Eisenhower's nightmare? Who is putting our military at risk -- those Republican Donors/Contractors, that Industrial Superrich Military Industrial Complex? Why do we have such a gigantic military in this time of Technology?
Fern Our military is quicker to go into a situation than to withdraw. The only swift withdrawal that I can recall is Somalis in 1993 (Blackhawk Down). General Powell, who was conservative about military interventions, referred to the Pottery Barn sign: IF YOU BREAK IT, YOU OWN IT. As for Congress, the military endeavors to get subcontractors from virtually every state.
Keith, In your somewhat diplomatic reply, I take it that the enormous size of the military is due our political/financial equation, under which foreign policy, intelligence, military and congressional decisions are frequently made to transfer enormous sums of money from the defense budget into private hands and not based on the security needs of the country. It appears then that America has a deeply corrupt defense enterprise, for the most part, unconnected to the real security needs of the country. Not to be passed over, this puts the lives of our soldiers at great and unnecessary risk.. Have I fairly interpreted your spare but pointed response?
I was a diplomat who operated alone with a M-16 and .45 in rebel-infested Congolese provinces and slugged the White House African honcho. I believe that the military buys expensive toys that are more for flash than our military needs. The aircraft carrier supplanted the battleship, BUT I find no justification for $13 billion for a carrier before planes, crew, and support armada. We don’t dare take these close to any major force, since rockets can sink the suckers. Our fighter planes are ‘state-of-the-art, extremely expensive, and don’t have the range to hit many enemy targets. The development of any of these weapons takes far longer than initially predicted with a cost that is way above the phony first estimates. “Nuff for now from this ‘diplomat.’
Thank you, Keith. I appreciate the information that you shared with us.. I knew you were a diplomat that is why I chose that description instead of 'minimal', which seemed to apply as well.
"I believe that far more could have been accomplished before a frenetic evacuation."
No one could foresee that the Afghani Army would immediately crumble and disappear or that the legit Afghani President would grab a suitcase of money and abandon his people. Biden was dealt a terrible hand and he and our valiant service members did a Herculean job!
"he shouldn’t have placed American military into such a dangerous situation in which we were dependent on Taliban security"
Taliban swooped in to fill the vacuum left by the deserters. We weren't depending on them for security; they were one more roadblock to getting everyone out.
Absolutely agree with you that Biden was Trumanesque! The fact he couldn't get everyone out will haunt him, and us, the rest of our days. As I said, we all have to play the hand we were dealt.
When the former guy made the agreement it was calculated: A. The terrible end would be in his second term so he would not care about his personal re election, or B. It would be the other party terrible end and he could whip up anger and blame them.
I referenced earlier Malcolm Nance who was on Michael Cohen's podcast. One of the very interesting things he said was that Tramp wanted to remove ALL military right before the inauguration. His plan was to remove the military and watch the chaos unfold just as President Biden was taking office. His advisors stopped him, thus the 2,500 forces that remained. Can you imagine the situation that Biden would have inherited with no troops there to assist????
Re your comment: "I would not be surprised if Stephen Miller, Trump’s hatchet man on immigration, played a major role in introducing operational constraints within USCIS."
I did hear something on this subject recently. I cannot remember the source - maybe Nance? But the reporter described deliberate actions that Miller took to interfere with the processes needed to evacuate those individuals.
Ellen Thanks. I simply assumed that this is something that Slimy Stephen would do, since his anti-immigrant vendetta is Himmleresque.. I was surprised to see that he was married a few months ago. Stephen/positive emotions is an oxymoron.
Cawthorn, Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Jim Jordan, Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, Mo Brooks, Matt Gaetz, Louie Gohmert, Jody Hice, and Scott Perry - the Confederate Traitor Caucus. Interesting to note that only five of them aren't from the Traitor States of the South.
Cawthorn likes to tell people he was admitted to the Naval Academy before his accident, except the truth is he had already been rejected from the academy on application, for unstated "moral grounds." I wonder if they have anything to do with his going to Germany before his election campaign, to visit old Nazi sites. He is in fact a neo-Nazi. (also an incel who was credibly accused of harassing women in college).
I'd love to cast him in the remake of "Kiss of Death," and let him be the one in the wheelchair Tommy Udo straps into the chair then pushes it down the long flight of stairs.
"Far right radical revolutionary" - there's a one word synonym for that word salad. Seven letters, starts with "f" and ends with "t."
These people need to be arrested for treason under the clause "making war on the United States." And the rest of the Trumpscum.
This is just one example of one radical Republican who just happens to be a United States Senator:
'COLD SPRING, Kentucky — Hatred of former President Donald Trump has kept researchers from looking into the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin and other drugs to treat COVID-19, Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul told constituents on Friday.'
'The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control have warned people using ivermectin, a drug used to treat parasitic worm infections in humans and livestock, is dangerous. The FDA went as far as tweeting out a reminder on August 21, "You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, y'all. Stop it."
'But Paul encouraged more research'.
"The hatred for Trump deranged these people so much, that they're unwilling to objectively study it," Paul said to the 60 people squeezed into the Cold Spring City Council chambers in this Northern Kentucky suburb just south of Cincinnati. "So someone like me that's in the middle on it, I can't tell you because they will not study ivermectin." (Cincinnati Enquirer)
'Last week, Peter Wehner, who served in the Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush administrations, pointed out in The Atlantic that the right wing has moved to such extremism that former president Trump, whose behavior seemed so shocking in 2015 and 2016, is now being sidelined by lawmakers and pundits who are even more extreme' (The Letter)
Our news stories in newspapers, on the internet, TV stations, cable outlets and social media are frequently bizarre, unbelievable, outlandish, frightening, extreme and untrue. It is wild out there, more unnerving to many than the typical Hollywood horror movie and that's because it is our real-life horror in America. The Letter reminds us that some normal stuff is going on, too.
One of our biggest horror stories that is rarely put into perspective is our enormous wealth gap. How much of the horror going on in America has to do with it. How much are the anti-government, anti-taxes, anti-regulation movements fueled and funded by the Donor Class? Those movements are very good for the superrich and no one else. How much is the 'individualism; anti-authority, anti-facemasks behavior in the country, highlighted recently in a Letter, is stoked by the superrich? The Donor Class doesn't want government in their way, even though it can be a big help to the rest of us.
Deceit, manipulation, propaganda, conspiracies, scapegoating, payoffs and corruption that's the name game in America and many millions of regular folks have been taken in by it -- all the way in. Those 'sheep' are now wild with rage against the people that are not them. The 'sheep' are now very dangerous.
While not exactly the same, we can see parallels of today's trouble in America's past. 'As the United States grew into the world’s leading industrial power during the late 19th century, those atop the economic ladder in America’s Gilded Age accumulated spectacular fortunes. By 1890, the country’s 4,000 millionaires held 20 percent of the country’s wealth, and with that enormous affluence came colossal political corruption.'
'Corporate titans could buy anything they wanted—including politicians. Richard White, professor emeritus of history at Stanford University and author of The Republic for Which It Stands: The United States During Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865-1896, says the Gilded Age was among the most corrupt eras in American history primarily because of “the rise of corporations and the growth of modern means of communication that intensified the way corruption can work.” (History Stories, A&E Network)
'The wealth of the richest 0.00001% of the U.S. now exceeds that of the prior historical peak, which occurred in the Gilded Age, according to economist Gabriel Zucman.'
'In the late 19th century, the U.S. experienced rapid industrialization and economic growth, creating an inordinate amount of wealth for a handful of families. This era was also known for its severe inequality; and some have called the period that began around 1990 a “Second Gilded Age.” Back then, just four families represented the richest 0.00001% – today’s equivalent is 18 families.'
'Zucman, a French economist whose doctoral advisor was the historical economist Thomas Piketty, author of bestseller “Capital in the Twenty-First Century,” released data this week showing that as of July 1, the top 0.00001% richest people in the U.S. held 1.35% of the country’s total wealth. These 18 families include those of Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates.'
'Zucman used real-time data from Forbes for the calculations. In 1913, at the end of the Gilded Age, the Rockefeller, Frick, Carnegie, and Baker families – names all tied to monopolistic power – held 0.85% of the country's total wealth.'
'The richest 0.01% — around 18,000 U.S. families — have also surpassed the wealth levels reached in the Gilded Age. These families hold 10% of the country’s wealth today, Zucman wrote. By comparison, in 1913, the top 0.01% held 9% of U.S. wealth, and a mere 2% in the late 1970s.'
'The increasing concentration of wealth comes as the ultra-rich face more scrutiny for the money they’re not paying in taxes. Recent reports have highlighted that because so much of their wealth consists of unrealized gains in stocks and real estate, they pay little or nothing in income tax. Many CEOs and founders take small salaries given their outsized stock holdings, as lower capital gains tax is preferable to a higher tax on ordinary income.'
Zucman gained fame in 2019 as an architect of then-presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s wealth tax plan, which aimed to address the fact that the extremely rich pay little in taxes compared to their net worth. The plan would have imposed a 2% tax on net wealth above $50 million and 6% above $1 billion.' (Yahoo Finance)
So subscribers, this wealth gap is a big, big deal. Biden's moves legislatively and by executive order have been to bring the American people to the dinner table He could change the capitalistic equation by seeing to it that the American people get a much bigger piece of the pie. In time, narrowing that gap could also stem the grievance, quiet the anger, lessen the resistance and provide some civics lessons.
"The Donor Class doesn't want government in their way, even though it can be a big help to the rest of us."
This single sentence is indeed the flaw in the system that John Adams, primarily, with his Massachusetts Constitution, derived as a "representative" form of government. Hamilton and the entire Constitutional Convention used Adam's work as the model for the work done in 1787.
At the time John Adams wrote the MA Constitution, the "donor class" was small, perhaps only one person in Adams mind: John Hancock. Hancock did, after hiring Adams to represent him in attempting to get the British to remove the taxes on his "illegal" rum running into Boston harbor, also partly fund the First and Second Continental Congress.
Hancock did not, after the Revolutionary War, ever pay taxes on his rum running into Boston Harbor.
Hence, a founding principal of the United States was a big donor getting lower taxes. Most folks don't realize this fact.
But, John Adams did not view Hancock's support as a threat because Adams was a completely intellectually honest man, while Hancock was clearly more flexible, he was not asking Adams to do anything that Adams would refuse to do.
The fact that the Constitution did not recognize that the growth in size of the John Hancock's of the world, and, the change in culture from a mostly local view that respected the local representatives and left them honest, would result in America slowly becoming a failed state because of giant Corporate donations to people wholly without John Adam's stubborn ethical will is a big miss.
But, I think it is a miss that is understandable. John Adams had no way to know that Raytheon would be declared an honest to goodness "Citizen" by the Supreme Court.
Aye, well, if you have ever worked at Raytheon, or any military contractor, the color might seem somewhat blindingly white.
But, of course, once in a great while, while complaining mightily about affirmative action behind closed doors, they do hire a Black person with a 3.95 GPA and four relevant internships.
Then, they go back to normal and hire the relatives of employees who have a 2.6 GPA and sat home gaming during the summers making sure "blindingly white" is the status quo.
Great essay Fern. You succinctly describe the pickle we’re in. The path to sanity appears to be closing.
My sister, who is vehemently opposed to Covid vaccines, is hospitalized with Covid pneumonia, fighting for her life. She is the last one infected in a small house with 6 adults and 4 children. Only 2 adults were vaccinated. All but 1 got sick. It will change nothing, no lessons have been learned.
My emotions are running wild between anger, sadness and fear.
Thank you all for your support and kind words. This community strengthens me for the challenges ahead. The two nephews I’m closest to were vaccinated, a small victory.
Oh, Diane, I'm sorry to hear this. I resonate with all your emotions. None of it makes any sense. My husband has 6 employees; only one has refused to be vaccinated. His son returned home from the hotspot where he's been living a couple weeks ago, and has since learned that one of his roommates, 40 years old, became symptomatic, hospitalized and died from Covid in the space of 3 days. The unvaxed employee, 61, seemed truly shocked to hear this could happen to a 40 year old. He believed it because his son told him, and no doubt was shocked himself, but how can anyone be shocked by this at this point??? Willful oppostional persistent ignorance. WOPI. I just coined a new term.
Our sad stories keep piling up, and, yet, here you are -- with a perfect description of them, you named their 'condition' to a T: as Willful, Oppositional, Persistent Ignorance. Please, Beth, don't forget the 'i' after the 's' in 'Oppositional' and please, always spell it out!
I fully embrace you Diane. Your story is hard to hear and more painful still that there are too many more women and men with families just like yours. We will make a better place; we'll get there, and we must support and embrace one another through this painful mess.
“So subscribers, this wealth gap is a big, big deal. Biden's moves legislatively and by executive order have been to bring the American people to the dinner table He could change the capitalistic equation by seeing to it that the American people get a much bigger piece of the pie. In time, narrowing that gap could also stem the grievance, quiet the anger, lessen the resistance and provide some civics lessons.” Fern this is exactly what is needed and yet those who will benefit from it seem blinded by hate, anger and their cultish worship of TFG and his minions. They won’t accept any thing Biden does as being good for them. How do the Democrats break through this wall of ignorance.
Sharon, I believe their feelings and beliefs are comprised by a combination of factors - changes in nature of work; feeling as though they were lied to (of course, they have bought into another type of lies); fading communities;, not receiving support from either party; biases, social media; propaganda; tribalism...I'm no expert. We hear various ideas about how to address it; it is too early to tell how legislative achievements will impress them. It also feels late in the game, but, to put is simply -- we are where we are. More grass roots organization would help, citizen pressure to pass national voting rights legislation, keeping at it -- that's what we do.
I hope citizen pressure ramps up more. So many people seem oblivious that our democracy is slipping away by Republican state legislatures passing these voter suppression laws… and redistricting will be the nail in the coffin.
The Democratic Party hasn't planted itself in so-called unfriendly places and or enough rural areas, for the most part. Howard Dean called for the party to plant seeds all over the country and it did not. Is there recruitment of young folks? What is happening in high schools and colleges in terms of political outreach, volunteering for community work? The pandemic limits some kinds of activities, but what is possible, even now, to develop community news outlets, tutoring, work with food banks, hooking up with gun control organizations and other grassroots organizations... when will the party and the people learn? Call local legislators to find out what they are up to and whether you can be of service. It is important to lower the social animosity, which has become a very serious factor, so looking for groups or forming them toward addressing 'tribal warfare' is imperative. We need to get our juices up as well as applying creative thinking and spunk. Try to talk with a few people who you are comfortable with on a regular basis to share experiences, ideas and fears. Having support and some laughs are the foundations of of social engagement. Remaining active and connected to other people are most important.
I live in one of those rural communities you referred to. I’m considered a “come here” as are the majority of the other Democrats I’ve met who have moved out of urban areas and retired to a rural, but also a coastal area, of VA. I meet 3 times a week with locals to exercise in a Baptist church hall. I’m one of the few who don’t belong to the church but they’ve accepted me and seem to like me. However, we are clearly divided when it comes to politics and mask mandates and discussion is curtailed. I guess we’ve all decided if we want to play together at exercise, it needs to remain neutral. I do my part by writing postcards and making contributions when I can but I feel I need to do more.
Beginning with Ronald Reagan, those who could most benefit from the ideals and programs of the FDR, Eisenhower and Johnson administrations voted against their best interest and for Ronald Reagan's openly admitted "trickle very little down to you peons" economic approach.
However, as Dr. Richardson has pointed out, he looked like a Western Cowboy, complete with a rich tasting Ranch, so those folks most benefitting and in need of a useful government identified with him in their unhinged imaginations.
Just saw a post yesterday about a high end resort town in Colorado(?) where the town is partially shut down because they can't find employees to run the shops & restaurants ~ because no one can afford to live/work there except the wealthy.
We have a lot of that here in NH. A nurse colleague was just telling me about a recent day she and her husband took their two young grandchildren for an outdoor jaunt in our white mountains. They purposely went on a Tuesday, hoping to avoid the biggest of the summer's end tourists. They had a nice day but they drove across and all around both sides of the famed Kancamangus Highway between Lincoln and North Conway and could not find a place open to get any takeout meal at all. They were all closed. It seems because of lack of staffing they've chosen to close some days when normally these places are open daily in summer. They seem to all have chosen Tuesday, which seems a little shortsighted - maybe they could have talked about that, spread the opportunity around a bit amongst themselves? Anyway my friend finally found a pizza place that was open but because they were the ONLY one open in this very touristy area, they were totally swamped. The staff were nearly in tears trying to keep up. On the Seacoast, another famous seafood restaurant, Newick's, has had to post a sign on the door detailing the abuse the staff has endured from customers this year and warning patrons if they can't be patient and decent not to bother coming in. I'm glad at least that owner is standing up for his staff.
The mountain towns have always struggled to find staff. Back in the early 90s, Aspen became the first town in America where the average price of a home was above a million dollars. Workers had to live "down valley" in Carbondale and commute 30 miles to work each way. All the resort towns bring in workers from other countries, frequently from Mexico and South America, sometimes from Europe or Australia. Many of the housekeepers and grocery workers are from Poland.
What's happening now is different and much more widespread. I was in Dundee, Oregon a few weeks ago and a restaurant served lunch only (no dinner) because it couldn't find staff. It's not rich areas that are struggling these days: it's everywhere. (Coincidentally, I spent last week in Beaver Creek, among the highest of high-end Colorado resorts, and found helpful and friendly staff everywhere. Somehow, when money is involved, people find ways to solve problems. Perhaps my $25 shrimp cocktail helped them afford their staff. But we won't want a country full of $25 shrimp cocktail. It's not good for working people.)
I've never seen so many help-wanted signs, and I was trying to hire retail workers in 1999. It was tough, and the quality wasn't good, but we didn't have to cut hours or close our doors. Businesses are closing now.
It's not because people can't afford to live on the wages. It's that people refuse to do the work. Heather's column cheers that government payments lifted people out of poverty--but she's looking at a period of only a couple of months. What about longer term? It's no wonder the businesses can't find people to hire, when the workers are paid to stay home. I have friends who own restaurants, and their (now former) employees tell them so.
There are always unintended consequences. I live in a suburb, not rich, not poor. We've cut way down on our restaurant-eating because the service is so bad. I've had to walk out of restaurants full of empty tables because the remaining staff can cover only a fraction of the tables. Great!, say the champions of labor. Power to the people. Take this job and shove it. All the trendy slogans. I'll be fine; I can cook at home. Whole Foods (owned by Amazon) will continue to grow.
What happens next? Many restaurants will close, hurting not only the entrepreneurs who put everything into them but also (would-be) workers who have no place to go when we restore sanity to our econommic policy. Many restaurants will find ways to convert to less labor-intensive models, perhaps becoming fast-casual or self-service. I looked at visiting Salida (a not high-end Colorado resort town) this week and came across something I hadn't seen before: a "self-service" hotel. (Reviewers expressed alarm at finding an uncooperative door code with no one to turn to for help.) Can we be surprised? If labor goes on strike, the resourceful will find ways to thrive without labor. Necessity spurs innovation. The net result will be ever-fewer service jobs and a widening gap between rich and working people (now, non-working people). Inflation caused by pouring money into the sytem (which we're already seeing) will make things tougher on the poor and those on fixed incomes.
Colorado high-end towns will be fine. They already import eager workers from around the world, willing to work harder than ours anyway. It's the average towns and cities that will be rolling up the sidewalks and shuttering the doors.
Much of what you mention being true there is the same here. But it's not true in NH that people are not interested in working nor is it true that they can afford to live where they work. Many people who live in Portsmouth and Exeter work in Boston, people who work in Portsmouth live in Dover, people who work in Dover live in Rochester, and so on. I grew up in Exeter but as an adult have never been able to afford to live there. I work in Concord and could probably afford to live there in a much smaller house than I live in now. The hospital where I work as an RN just announced they will start all staff at minimum of $15/hr which I naively thought was so great, so getting with the times, then I read an article about how NH hospitals and long term care facilities are losing their housekeeping and food service staff for grocery and fast food stores that are finally paying more out of desperation for employees. So it's just out of desperation not a sense of equity that they made that decision. Of course our governor ended extra unemployment payments and reinstated the must be actively looking for work to receive any benefit at all back in April, anticipating businesses would be looking to gear up for the hopefully busy summer. But we keep our state minimum wage at $7.35/hr like the feds so that just in case the bubble bursts we can go back to slave wages. With a vacancy rate of 0.6%, housing in general is cut throat and affordable housing is non-existent. We could sell at a great price now but there's no where for us to go. At nearly 60, I didn't expect to be grateful I'm no longer young, but I am. There's few real opportunities for them.
I too am an RN and live in NH but thankfully retired. I shudder to see what the ultra right wing Republican-majority legislature will do to the redistricting process. Of course Sununu vetoed the attempts to create an independent redistricting process (twice if I remember correctly.) Don't forget our "friendly" moniker is "Sunono" since he vetoed some 79 bills when Democrats were the majority in the legislature. Now that the R's are the majority, he has gladly signed atrocious bills that hurt the poor and Democrats. End of rant.
Anat Shenker-Osorio calls this Donor Class a faction that has indeed operated in various permutations since the founding of this country. Factions of privilege, wealth, and power drove global colonization before that. Anat specializes in effective political messaging.
Just searched Anat Shenker-Osorio and found promising material.
I think I saw the kind of statement she recommends, recently in a piece by Patrick Lawrence called, "Some Cherry Garcia Please." He wrote a long exploration of the significance of Ben and Jerry's boycotting illegal settlements on stolen Palestinian land. https://consortiumnews.com/2021/07/26/patrick-lawrence-some-cherry-garcia-please/
His last paragraphs were so well stated I just reread them and found that my memory of it was even clearer ;- )
Excellent, very well reasoned link to a piece about Israel's practices against the Palestinians; the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions organization and Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield decision not to sell some of their delicious flavors to Israel as a result of the country's settlements on the West Bank and in occupied East Jerusalem. This boycott wasn't so sweet for Israel. Ben & Jerry's ice cream is not easy to live without.
Interesting thing about Patrick Lawrence's article on Consortiumnews.com was, what I heard so clearly was the betrayal of core ethics common in dominating countries in the selective blindness of their faith groups, entirely observable in our country. I was quoting him as saying he was angry that with all its attacks on indigenous people of the land - Zionism has dragged Judaism into the gutter. That was the understanding he shared. It was left to the reader to render its essence.
At the core, it is a strong moral argument. Morality been banging on America as the door is closing. I'm seeing that door start to open a bit again, but it's tentative.
And if we win our country back, all those benefits and perks need to be reneged for all seditionists dependent on our "socialist democracy" support of them with our hard earned taxes. Maybe it is time to stop all payments to them from us "goddamned socialists." And who the hell do they think is paying for their free vaccines and ventilators, and morgue trucks? Ahhhh, I better stop and go for a walk and visit my beaver friends, a truly industrious, seemingly socially aware animal who creates lovely environments that other animals and humans enjoy. (during floods, they have allowed muskrats, otters and ducks inside their large lodges for protection). They help slow the water down for our village and the sand filtrates and cleans the water supply. They don't care about anyone's color, fur vs. feathers, or bank accounts. Wish the seditionists could do the same for their own species.
At last, a 20 year mistake comes to an ending. Time to take a long deep breath.
Tomorrow we'll resume our attempts to make sense of where this puts us.
Cawthorn, various protestors, and 'pundits' like Carlson are dancing around advocating an armed overthrow of the US Government. That's actionable. They'd best tread carefully.
I'm sure they believe they already are being careful, but by nodding and winking and mugging too hard for the cameras they might easily step over the line. If that happens and their bluff gets called, watch the backwards tapdancing that follows! It should be spectacular.
Again, anarchy is the result of a lack of accountability, and these specimens are counting on that.
Myself, I don't believe they're as immune to consequences as they believe they are.
If, indeed, they're being watched, it seems they've already dug the hole, and someone needs to step in with a shovel and bury them...i.e point the finger of treason at them.
With you, Gary. More consequences are in the near future. I believe Dr R is correct, some of the current rhetoric and repug screeching is just desperate distraction.
Besides introducing us to the mental aberration “Narcissistic Personality Disorder” Don the Con early on during his campaigning rallies in 2015 made us aware of “Stochastic Terrorism” when he goaded his cult following from the podium to do violence against anyone in disagreement with his insanity.
Now it has become the norm among those cult followers in the Repugnant Party to use “Scripted Violence” to intimidate ppl with the threat of terrorism.
David Neiwert, who wrote the 2017 book “Alt-America,” defines it as:
“Scripted violence is where a person who has a national platform describes the kind of violence that they want to be carried out. He identifies the targets and leaves it up to the listeners to carry out this violence. It is a form of terrorism. It is an act and a social phenomenon where there is an agreement to inflict massive violence on a whole segment of society. Again, this violence is led by people in high-profile positions in the media and the government. They're the ones who do the scripting, and it is ordinary people who carry it out. ...”
These terms “Stochastic Terrorism with Scripted Violence” are academic and not worded into any laws but they should fall under established concepts such as “Inciting Riots” and it is very troubling that this form of “Hate Speech” is going unchallenged. It is classic “shouting fire in a crowded theater” to the Supreme Court limits on free speech.
I would love to see the language of "scripted violence" added to the definition for "inciting a riot". It is consistent with the intent of the law, but the "national platform" gives the out of being "one removed" from the actual riot. Fascinating information!
My guess is that the Senate is still too far right to call it what it is. Mitch and Co. continue to say it was just that boys will be boys, as does the House minority leader McCarthy. However, individuals have been prosecuted and some have begun jail terms, if you mean Jan 6 per se. I take heart that some social media are closing the accounts of the most rabid fomenters. Free speech is still a powerful mantra and those Trumpers are just waiting for a government misstep so they can go to their battle stations. Remember, the rabble never did have good manners. Our national history is full of similar episodes. Take heart!
Rob! I’ve never heard or read the term “Stochastic Terrorism”. Thank you for your very lit up post today. Also good reminder of former’s central brain-f*ck mis-wired misfiring problem…NPD-narcissistic personality disorder.
Root of it with many leading this violence and scripting the message from their microphones.
Thanks for providing these terms. I think that naming specific behavior using dictionary (impartial, accurate) definitions is an extremely important. Say what a thing actually is without any sort of spin, then you hold it in your hand. You can look at it objectively and judge if it is appropriate in certain circumstances, and you can clearly explain why or why not. Name, then hold to account.
We are heading for another violent attack on our government, and I fear that this will take place sooner rather than later. With every day that the overtly seditious activities of Cawthorn et als go unpunished, those odds increase. As the professor noted, it is inspiring lower level politicians to become even more extreme, and honestly, I blame the Justice Department for what is going on. Why is it not going after each and every one of these individuals who threaten government officials? Why is (for example) Steve Lynch not being hauled before a judge this morning and charged with making terroristic threats? Why has that man at the Santa Monica mask mandate vote not been arrested yet? I would assume that he is on video and can be identified. It's on the Justice Department to make these people pay a (criminal) price for their threats and sedition. The longer it does not do so, the worse the threats will become and the more likely that a repeat of 1/6 will take place.
We are indeed. I am afraid that DOJ was left in too much of a mess, and that Merrick Garland is either hopelessly hamstrung by what he was left, or the wrong fit for the position of AG under these sorts of circumstances. It may well be "unprecedented" for there to be an investigation of sitting congressmen/congresswomen for sedition; we are in uncharted waters, and precedent may well need to be set by someone willing to take on that challenge.
So, no consequences for inciting violence because of fear that the consequences will incite violence?!?! This is the sad truth of situation we find ourselves in today, and is seriously f***ed up!
The two legal prongs that constitute incitement of imminent lawless action are as follows: Advocacy of force or criminal activity does not receive First Amendment protections if (1) the advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action, and (2) is likely to incite or produce such action.
Quick research indicates that SCOTUS is focused on the “imminent lawless action” part. I.e. “Grab you guns and follow me” and not general opinion about a future action.
“Forget going into these school boards with freaking data. You go into these school boards to remove them. I’M GOING IN WITH 20 STRONG MEN AND I’M GONNA GIVE THEM AN OPTION—THEY CAN LEAVE OR THEY CAN BE REMOVED,” sounds like an imminent lawless action to me.
I believe it is unfair to blame the DOJ or any department at this time. These departments were hollowed out by the previous administration. Merrick Garland is doing the best that one man can do with multiple issues on his plate. The blame game is never ending and accomplishes nothing. Telling the truth, asking questions, opening our eyes and trying to open others eyes to the violence that is being planned by our own citizens against our own government is what needs to be our focus. Not blaming this department or that. It’s disheartening to all of us that, as yet, none of the real culprits are being held accountable. The wheels of justice turn slowly and our election cycles come quickly and often derail justice. It’s a conundrum. Our best defense, in my opinion, is passing the voting rights laws to at least give us a chance to fend off minority rule by the far right.
These are not normal times. The house is on fire. The DOJ is plodding. *Any* kind of action would be welcome, as it would begin to persuade us that they might come out swinging soon.
I sing no paeans of praise to Merrick Garland. Americacneeds someone willing, nay eager, to go for the jugular.
If they are doing something, they need too publicize it so that we all know what is being done. Are they afraid of the "locked and loaded?" Or are castrated by the previous admin's carve out and infiltration of our DOJ? Does anyone have any cajones to help us?
Ovaries may be less at risk but don't they deserve more recognition in the lingo?
I've started reading Circe, the character in the Odyssey who in Madeline Miller's novel demonstrates bravery and compassion as she recognizes her own powers, as she and Prometheus take exception to the gods. Am looking forward to the rest of the chapters now.
JC, Ovaries are incredibly important in this fight. But my philosophy from a rather Jungian therapist point of view: Ovaries contain a different, receptive, feminine energy than cajones. Men have differing levels of this feminine energy just as women or non-binaries have different levels of masculine energy. The feminine energies are
receptive and know how to take in "seeds" and use that knowledge to sort out how to respond and decipher the best path in which to proceed. They consider the well-being of all of those alive because that is their primary function. They can fight, but it is usually with a Sword of Truth, cutting through the BS. We need both energies to stay in balance. Ovaries can call upon those with more masculine energy (testosterone)-- the doers and warriors to protect whatever is being seeded (ideas, inventions, connections, democracies, equality, philosophies, art, poetry, dance, music, etc) via a battle. Today represented by guns that shoot and bombs that explode (rather penile, no?). Our warriors protect that which wants to be brought to life into the world within all of us. As women are given more power their use of the Sword and the Scales of Justice and Shining the Light of Liberty. Perhaps, it was somewhat prophetic and unbeknownst to our forefathers who used the symbols of the feminine to weigh and balance actions with light. There are more women in our government and many governments across the globe than ever before. They will lead in a different way, and they will not tolerate much debauchery or ignorance. As Penelope in the myth, I have been very patient for years, and I continually weave and unravel a shroud that I do not want us to have to lay over our young, fragile democracy.
I do have a large steel replica of Excalibur on the wall being held by the alabaster arm and hand of The Lady of the Lake. I am pretty much fed up with this weaving of a shroud and and more interested in cutting through the BS to the Truth and a new future for myself and others. This is completely backed up by my Ovaries. Odysseus has been playing around finding himself for way too long. I done with fulfilling the mythology of The Good Wife. I just chucked my loom out the tower window and am off to get in some Good Trouble.
One of my favorite brief political statements leaves out the larger reality of responsible initiatives the Squad does engage, but it's a fun quote. It's been posted on our wall for a couple of years now:
AOC: Oh no!! They've discovered our conspiracy to care for children and save the planet! (There's a screen shot from Fox News with headshots of the four smiling legislators next to a list of "Radical New Democratic Ideas *Free college for all *Free healthcare for all *Abolish ICE *Green New Deal).
Write to DecencyandDemocracy@gmail.com and I can send you a photo. Women that pick up this sword have the most amazing looks on their faces when they feel its' weight and power. We are not trained to feel that kind of power, at least in my day...
Just think. The DOJ doesn't appear to have any of what many GOP House "members" are. (hint: they come in pairs).
Also, in Italy -- a still-functioning democracy, unlike ours -- even women commonly say "Mi hai rotto i coglioni" (rotto = past participle of "to break"), even though they have none except figuratively (and painlessly). Italians also love to "testiculate".
My husband, an old fashioned gentleman unwilling to be vulgar in front of the children, frequently told them “non rompere le scatole!” (Don’t break the boxes.)
The GOP House members seem to be missing some critical body parts: spines and coglioni.
Thank you, I am studying Italian and this is perfect. I asked my Italian "sista" several years back how the Italian people survive under a mafioso controlled country. She shrugged and said that you just get used to it and live your own lives. Unfortunately, there are POC amongst us who do not have that privilege or just living their own lives. She told me about the organized "clubs" that are more (underground) that have very high goals for Italy. Much like this underground club here that has higher hopes for America.
Little pisspots like Cawthorn, Greene and countless other amped up nobodies sense that the good guys are on the run and that they are completely shielded from repercussions.
So good people, who don’t happen to be lion-hearted, opt out of being the centre of attention. They choose to cede school board positions, minor political roles saying that it is not worth the grief.
Physical courage does not come easily to most of us. We need the law to back us up.
The law is perceived now - by both sides- as being strikingly MIA.
Although most of the goons’ words come straight from the amygdala, it’s now showing to be a particularly effective strategy.
It doesn't take but one or two cynical billionaires to toss "pocket change" to opportunistic media and political operations to distract us from responsible government decisions. Venues like this one and the independent media like Common Dreams, Truthout, etc, are essential for thoughtful, focused, reality based democracy to survive.
On my, my wife’s and all the other sensible but, unfortunately, minority of voters in the 11th District of NC, I like to apologize for the representation of Madison Cawthorn.
I will be happy to help. I can't do much about the scoundrels in my state, but I can send a little $ to whomever runs against Cawthorn. And like you, I too offer apologies on behalf of those of us in this state who haven't YET turned our state purple. We're working on it though.
For the offer of a donation. And to offer an apology for all the crimson red Hoosiers holding office and doing all they can to tell everyone else how to live their lives.
Three anti-vax conservative radio hosts have died from Covid in one month
(Two of the three publicly changed their stance before passing away)
“Bogus,” Dick Farrel called Covid vaccines. “Promoted by people that lied.”
“I’m not taking it, are you kidding me? Mr Anti-Vax?’ said Marc Bernier.
“If you’re not at high risk of dying from Covid then you’re probably safer not getting it,” said Phil Valentine.
All three men, influential conservative radio hosts well known for their vaccine scepticism, went on to die of Covid within a year of their comments, and within just a month of each other.
Science, education, outright begging and pleading falls on deaf ears. Resistors cling steadfastly to bizarre conspiracy theories, or worse, paint those who got vaccinated as brainless sheep willing to be guinea pigs.
I surrender. Decisions have consequences. No more tears for those begging for vaccination from their ICU beds right before they're intubated.
However, they are threatening innocent lives by their selfishness during a global pandemic that is killing people and children around the world and more so in their own red states. This is about taking a jab for all of us. This is about dropping dangerous Individualist ideology to stop a deadly virus that mutates and continues to destroy. The Party of Sedition had the power to slow this down so we could all be safer. They did nothing. And our medical people and caregivers are really struggling to have to deal with this spike in deathly caregiving all over again. It is despicably unfair to them because this was preventable.
My next set of posters will be JJ explaining just how many times he did talk with tRUMP on the 6th. Hysterical moment watching him talk in concentric circles while declaring his “uninvolvement” in the riots.
There was no example of blatant lying and having been caught better than that display by Jordan. What I noted also was the attitude and questioning of the journalist. I literally laughed heartily.
Time for some nation building and promoting democracy at home? I'm relieved my son in the military and his fellow soldiers won't be going to Afghanistan again. I do feel anxiety about deployments they might have here at home to defend democracy, like we saw with the National Guard in the Capitol after January 6. We need voting rights protected as well as so many other initiatives like infrastructure and these efforts to fight childhood poverty. We can do this, though
I’m not a warring person, but this time if there’s ANYTHING like the January attack, military and police need to be armed and instructed to used that armament if needed. Damn it! Enough of our trained military and police being sitting ducks!!
I think our military need to stand guard. These thuglicans only understand strength via armed men and women who mean business. It is time for our military to quell this seditious behavior. It is what we pay our big money for and it is time that it is used for our safety in the middle of a fetching pandemic!
If the out of shape white guys huffing and puffing up the stairs of the capitol are who your son will encounter going forward he need not worry. Upon seeing his calm and stern face at the top of the stairs, those guys will fall all over each trying to breathlessly run back down those stairs.
Those "out of shape white guys " hurt a lot of people. Thinking of having one of my children put in that position would worry me too. Hopefully if there is a next time (likely) there will be sufficient numbers to prevent that!
Don't worry too much. The Capitol police, under trained and understaffed, who last endured the loser class in America were not properly supported by training, armaments or preparation and the leader of the free world was HOPING they would be overcome and killed.
The US Army? Unless it has changed in recent years, the US Army will make quick work of the loser class of out of shape white guys with sticks and bear spray.
My husband worked for 20 years on Capitol Hill. I know the Capitol Police. They fought like lions on January 6th and some gave their lives to protect our lawmakers and our democracy. You might reconsider being so flip about other people's children, spouses, fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers. I'm concerned for them all
ClaireBlue: My apology. By "undertrained and understaffed" I mean nothing against the Capitol police themselves. I mean that they were not prepared for warlike behavior. They are not trained in war. They may have done some terrorist exercises but never with thousands of terrorists in the simulation.
I have great respect for the Capitol police who, even though undertrained and understaffed DID managed to keep the attackers at bay long enough for the Congress to escape.
Again, no disrespect mean. Those guys, all things considered, did a great job indeed.
The language of insurrection, the threats advancing the use of guns and violence, the hatred and madness emanating from a far right that has lost its ethical way, culminate in a GOP whose vision is to advance and rule through fear.
But, at the same time, dear Prof. HCR, you signal, quite rightly, toward all the good that the Biden administration is aiming for. It would, I believe, serve us well to remind ourselves of FDR's poignant words: "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
Exactly. I was just about to respond to Rev. Judith on how tyranny's greatest tool is FEAR. And the internet is the greatest megaphone invented to assist in tyranny. Our justice system, FBI and military need to step in mightily against these fascists wanting to takeover our government. Tick tock. Please, Justice, be served as swiftly as possible. The well-being of our elected officials across the country, and our democracy, and then us, is in serious, lethal jeopardy. Do we have a DOJ and FBI working for us anymore? Write to them and report what you see, hear and read (from credible sources).
I trust AG Merrick Garland and the FBI to get it done. I don't trust my local sherriff, proud boy neighbor, county commissioner, state representative...
OK, You scared me tonight. Angry people ready to turn to violence. Why are they so angry? What percent of the population do they represent? What percent of the media airtime and traffic on social media do they get? Isn't threatening people's lives against the law? On the other hand, you did give me some optimism with how the destruction from Ida is being handled and the child tax credit's impact on poverty. Which reality is going to be our future? This seems a lady versus the tiger moment. Which door do we choose?
I, too, wonder about the basis for all this anger on the right. I suspect much of it derives from fear -- a non-specific, amorphous fear provoked by multiple threats to our safety, well-being, and confidence in a peaceful, healthy future. And sadly, "they" (right-wingers) are not alone in this fear. I am shocked by my own anger at times when I watch/read the news, and consider how perilous everything seems -- wildfires, floods, anti-vaxxers, covid numbers climbing, terrorists, etc. Yikes!
Has anyone mentioned to Tucker that President Bush started the "terrible" war in Afghanistan? Tucker Carlson told his audience that no leader had apologized for “these terrible decisions” in Afghanistan. How about mentioning Bush/Cheney for starting the whole 20-year disaster and Trump for ending it with no plan?
I agree with those who say it is not worth bothering trying to fact check, provide rational and real talking points, and refer to history as mechanisms to stem the flood of disinformation (it isn't "misinformation" because the flood is deliberate). The only way to deal with this stuff is to be vigilant about charging people for threatening violence, to sue the s**t out of the fascist disinformation organizations and their mouthpieces, and to keep on slogging through the legislative agenda. There are ways to make it clear to people who are resistant to reality that their positions are wrong, but the problem is that most of those types are offended when their ignorance is revealed and they dig in even harder. If you couple that with the panic the extremists feel because their tactics are not working, and you get all kinds of scary scenarios potentially playing out.
I've been thinking that posting pictures of all of these arseholes under the heading "Our Taliban" might be an effective method of presentation.
I guess I just don't understand how people can openly call for violence against others and get away with it. Or how an elected official can suggest revolution is being planned without being brought down/arrested for inciting riot. I sure wish the Jan 6 committee would get on with the investigation and bring some of these people into the light. Show us how they helped plan and finance the insurrection. Please, just give us something other than "demanding that info be preserved" I fear this investigation will last well into 2022, and by that time the rethuglicans will have succeeded in complete voter suppression. (Sorry for this rant...just feeling there is little good in our fellow human being right now.)
The failure to prosecute right wing agitators, even ones elected to office, who say treasonous things weakens democracy. But taking action against them does too. The January 6 hearings are a waste of time unless their findings result in indictments and trials. Either way, democracy loses. We are witnessing the bitter fruit which can grow from the seeds of democracy.
Where was Pelosi when the Capitol police asked for immediate help? Where was she when the intelligence community told her months in advance of a probable riot at the Capitol? Democracy is not bitter fruit. Power-mad politicians block democracy. Also, our system of government is a Republic, not a democracy.
Pelosi has nothing to do with security at the Capitol. The Capitol police ask for help directly from the pentagon. We are a Republic, but that is not a system of gov’t. We are a democracy, but not a direct democracy. we are a representative democracy.
... in name only ...
Pelosi? That name should be the very least of your inquiries seeking blame.
Whatever in the world would prompt a House Speaker to intercede in an Executive Branch Security matter? The intelligence reports were part of the White House knowledge and the President and his staff encouraged the coup attempt by refusing to take action.
Nancy Pelosi’s role on January 6 was to coordinate with the Senate on the electoral college vote.
Pelosi? PELOSI?
Since when is the speaker of the House responsible for outside security? "Pelosi" was plenty busy avoiding confrontation from "Power mad" rioters likely to do her serious, if not fatal harm.
Capitol Police were fully and dutifully engaged in protecting the speaker and her constituents from the cat-calling ("Nancy where are you?"), desk-sitting, breaking and entering insurgents, one of whom paid the ultimate price, goaded to her death by churlish, depraved mongrels conducting a "peaceful" rally.
That is, you feckless, visionless oaf, where "Pelosi" was when her protectors fruitlessly called the Pentagon for assistance.
I'd guess we have an insurgent - just as ignorant as the people he/she is associated with.
Take your right wing traitor bullshit somewhere else, asswipe. Like over to FleeceBlock, where the fact you're a senile old white male fuckwit won't be so blindingly obvioyus.
TCinLA, I agree with you on that, but bear in mind that if "Dale Ilene Berman" gets enough people angry here to derail some useful discussion, he will have achieved one of his goals even if he never writes another word.
TC, we know we can count on you in cases like this, but now it's time to cut off his/her/it's oxygen.
I surmise that Dale Ilene is female, not that Dale being female in any way negates your withering commentary, nor does it change my mind about avoiding her.
Right you are. I was too busy being annoyed to take "Ilene" into consideration. However, she could still be "it", right? Aren't bots androgynous?
Done a couple hours ago.
We are a democratic Republic. It isn't an "or", it is an "and".
Where was DT to OK use of the National Guard? Watching TV and gleefully watching the wildness of the riot.
He was calling the Pentagon, telling Mike Flynn's brother's help in keeping our troops from quelling the insurrection.
Republic vs democracy. It is both. We aren’t a “pure” or “direct” democracy. We are absolutely a representational democracy. Surprised so many are confused about this
It takes someone who actually studied "civics" as I am sure you did, to know that stuff. Most native Americans, who don't receive the benefit of having to study and be tested on their knowledge to become citizens, are political illiterates.
You fascists have been pushing that "our system of government is a Republic, not a democracy" BS since the 1964 and 1965 Voting Rights Acts, as a pathetic excuse for preventing the Wrong Kind of People from Voting. Now it's also an excuse for killing anyone who isn't part of your cult. But then, you've done that before as well, haven't you? Maybe you should just get your white sheet and armband and come out of the closet.
Snap!
Now I am certain that I will not support "Dale's Newsletter."
Your questions don't deserve answers because they are, sorry, just stupid. It's like you just watched something on Fox News. As many have pointed out it was not her job to manage security. Try to draw inside the lines.
BTW, we live in a democratic republic, it's technically a hybrid.
Where was Pelosi? Really? The more important question is ‘where was Trump?’ Oh yeah, after goading his followers to march on the Capitol, he was watching those tourists break into the Capitol, assaulting Capitol and Metro police and parading through the Capitol with confederate battle flags on TV. It took him hours to give the most ineffectual request for his followers to come; his remark that the insurrectionists should “Go home. We love you” was especially touching.
should have typed "leave" instead of "come" in last sentence. my bad.
Would you be willing to share your understanding about the difference between a Republic and a democracy?
This is all patched together from Wikipedia:
A republic (Latin: res publica, meaning "public affair") is a form of government in which "power is held by the people and their elected representatives". In republics, the country is considered a "public matter", not the private concern or property of the rulers. The primary positions of power within a republic are attained through democracy or a mix of democracy with oligarchy or autocracy rather than being unalterably occupied by any given family lineage or group. With modern republicanism, it has become the opposing form of government to a monarchy and therefore a modern republic has no monarch as head of state.
Democracy (Greek: δημοκρατία, dēmokratiā, from dēmos 'people' and kratos 'rule'[1]) is a form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation ("direct democracy"), or to choose governing officials to do so ("representative democracy"). Who is considered part of "the people" and how authority is shared among or delegated by the people has changed over time and at different rates in different countries, but over time more and more of a democratic country's inhabitants have generally been included. Cornerstones of democracy include freedom of assembly and speech, inclusiveness and equality, membership, consent, voting, right to life and minority rights.
A democratic republic is a form of government operating on principles adopted from a republic and a democracy. Rather than being a cross between two entirely separate systems, democratic republics may function on principles shared by both republics and democracies.
In the US, the notion that a republic was a form of democracy was common from the time of its founding, and the concepts associated with representative democracy (and hence with a democratic republic) are suggested by John Adams (writing in 1784):
"No determinations are carried, it is true, in a simple representative democracy, but by consent of the majority or their representatives."
The U.S. is also a constitutional democracy. When Benjamin Franklin was leaving the Continental Congress when the Constitution was written, he was asked what form of government do we have. He replied: "A Republic, if we can keep it."
Hope we can keep it! It's not clear at the moment.
Cathy, you rawk!
Our system of government is an oligarchy, set in place by Roberts and the Citizens United decision.
I have to agree we are now an oligarchic kleptocracy. Robbing from the poor and middle class and giving to the rich. We still have a chance to swing back to being a democratic republic. And, yes, Citizens United has to be overturned. Money is not free speech; corporations do not have more rights than the People.
One PERSON, one Vote; not One million dollars and I own your vote in Congress.
the irony of the citizens united decision is that corporations were created as a buffer between the individual owners of a business and the general public, as a way of protecting the assets of the owners from a lawsuit. you can sue the corporation, but not the individual owners. (of course, they can be arrested if they have committed a crime.) as i understand it, corporations are precisely not people.
I completely agree with you. I was going to write the exact same thing and don’t need to thanks to you. These giant ponderous investigations are all good, but we have a situation on the ground that needs immediate attention. They are planning to come for us. This wonderful government of Biden et al needs to take steps to cut them off at the pass before they get rolling.
Absolutely. That train pulled out of the station and is gaining speed. It needs an intervention.
They? Paranoia is the result of propaganda. Trust no one.
False. “Trust no one”. Paranoia is not a solution. You seem to be a right wing troll Dale
They (that is, people like you) are openly saying that they're going kill us if they can. Did you even read the article? I'm guessing not.
Cut off the oxygen.
Go Make Am,erica Great Again by catching the virus and permanently departing, old boomer moron.
Ned, they are already burning us at the stakes, my friend.
The visual of the gallows and hangman's noose and the cries for Pence and Pelosi during the terrorist riot in our Capital really should make our American DOJ stand up to full attention and intervene immediately. Where are you and fascism continues to rise? I think we all need to flood our government with sanity letters.
Our rights across the country should not be able to be suppressed. I is a federal crime against our people— what these terrorists are committing on democracy.
Three hundred of the hard-core rioters were arrested and charged. Thinking of our people as children who need party guidance is terrorism. Forcing people to act when they know better is terrorism. Causing inflation that swamps wages is terrorism. Take a good look and cut the panting language.
Sorry, Dale, This is the wrong audience for your fear baiting hyperbole and misinformation. Income disparity and politicians being bought by big donor money is what is keeping wages down. Everything possible is going to the Elite 1%. That is the real cause of your anger I would guess - income disparity. You pay more taxes than 60 huge corporations making billions put together if you pay just $1 of taxes. Very few of them have raised wages in years. They don't care about you and me. They only care about power and money and you are delighting them by playing the role of useful idiot for them. They will never care about raising wages because they think you, the 99%, are just lazy when you can't make a decent living off poverty level wages.
Another terrific Cathy Learoyd takedown.
Oooh la la, Kathy!!
I realize that some people have been arrested for these crimes, but not the seditionist party who are the instigators, fomenters and continue to be allowed to be lawmakers in our government. I am talking about the rising of these fanatic fascists and no large scale interventions or appear to be happening. I am talking about bills being passed everyday that attack our rights to vote and should be illegal. This is hardly panting and I find your comment slightly offensive. I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you perhaps just do not understand what I wrote.
Ignore this fool. His purpose here is to disrupt our discussion.
Stuff it, shitheaded old senile boomer moron troll.
!!! Since you hearted me, TC, I was just going to respond to you and say the you would probably have had a very different response to my ovary, overly-measured, diplomatic, fact-based, gentle sword of clarity to Dale. Then I arrive and see that you are in full throttle with your blasts words. This, is a great example of an ovarian response vs a cajones' response, even if to a troll. We need both, but used at the right times. You will never die from hypertension, my friend. You withhold nothing.
You seem to be ranting Dale
This is not a rant, this is a call for justice. Something we have not seen enough of due to the Party of Sedition's infiltration and destruction across our land.
I know, I am an expert and earned my Ph.D. in Ranting since 2016. Perhaps two.
Yeah, me too. Plus an honorary.
Ranting and offering solutions to tough problems conflict.
Mis-assigning blame for the security lapses on January 6 does not show a very strong sense of analytical thinking. Grind your ax elsewhere.
Are you a woman? Obv not. Ranting and offering solutions are yin and yang.
Dale: what’s your solution.
You're a persistent old senile white male Boomer fuckwit, aren't you?
I have to admit, when such ploppers show up and try to dominate, I scroll through even faster! I guess for $5 they have a right to play games, but for MY $5, I prefer to follow those whom I respect and who offer substance rather than tidbits of tomfoolery! Thanks, TC!
TC, you totally crack me up sometimes.
I think we need to start an adjunct cabinet under VP Kamala Harris. Proper advisory board. Rants and solutions abundant.
And this selfish (or unaware) notion that ALL speech is protected speech. It is not. ‘Fighting words’, ‘incitement to imminent lawless action’, and ‘true threats’ are a few distinctive ones that are not.
The core of this is disinformation that has been weaponized
No.
The core of this is a disinterested, poorly educated, lonely populace that is ripe for disinformation.
Wrong information and propaganda are tools of a power-mad group; no party is innocent of these faults, but "progressives" spew both.
Shushie on “spewing” and “panting language”. If you are trying to be intellectually provocative, big fail. “Trust no one”? Fail. Find a mountaintop.
They (Dale) are trolling for readers to their substack page. This is hardly the place to provide them. Oops, gotta fly, I have an 11:30 dentist appointment I forgot all about!!!!!
Her FB page hasn't had a post since December 2016.
Sigh!
Exactly, Daria. I always tell myself to not encourage the Russians!
Back to the barracks, comrade troll, no borscht for you tonight,.
Dale. Give an example of progressive disinformation
Pam, I completely agree. The investigation will ultimately land in the GOP's hands after the mid terms to be tossed in the trash, just like the initial Committee, Mueller Report, both Impeachments of Trump.....
We have spiraled to the place in this Country where truth simply doesn't matter.
... too many people have too much to hide - so are driving with the brakes on when it comes to getting real with the truth ...
When did people in power not hide? Staying in power is seductive.
Troll
... and, I have to ask, has America ever really had a truly representative government? ... bits and pieces - here and there ...
Listen to Heather and Joanne's August 31 Now and Then podcast which addresses how represented America really has been since its inception. I think this is free:
https://cafe.com/now-and-then/attacking-and-defending-voting-rights/
Excellent talk supporting the mood of the community following today’s Letter.
Good morning Lynell!
Truth always matters. No party has a lock on it. Don't despair. Find truth.
Troll
Right with you, Pam!! I couldn't agree more and I too (like Ned) was going to say what you said! While "craziness" has always been with us, we are experiencing a disintegration on a national level with frightening speed and visibility and with the potential for some really bad outcomes.
Elected officials need to be able to get restraint orders against these hoodlums threatening their lives in the very least! Unfortunately it is another way to put puppets into key positions for elections and school boards when the professionals leave because they feel they can't endanger their families. Autocracy at it's ugliest.
I agree with Shaf below - this didn't read as a rant to me. I don't know how these people can threaten elected officials and not be arrested. I don't know how Cawthorn can continue in office when he is literally inciting the violent overthrow of government.
No legal expert here but calling for violence is protect free speech if the danger is not imminent. If the preppy punk from NC had said "Let's go bust them out of jail", and then the crowd went to do it, then he could have been charged.
Any and all lawyers out there please correct me if I'm wrong.
Free speech is as troubling as it is joyful. It can and will be used against those cowards calling for violence in hope someone in the crowed will be incited to do it.
We know those MoC doing the investigation appreciate the gravity of the situation.
Ranting is good, let it out but then channel that energy into anger to fight back.
I would hope that election officials and school officials being threatened by angry hoodlums should have some recourse like a restraining order to keep these nuts away from their homes and family.
My granddaughter's school district refused to have a mask mandate. The district leans heavily Republican with plenty of sign waving loudmouths at the meetings. My daughter, the lawyer, was pissed. She is recovering from surgery and couldn't go to the meetings so she sent an email.
Today the district sent out texts and emails proclaiming masks are now mandatory starting tomorrow. My daughter got mad, fought back and now the kids will be masked. One of the members wrote her to say her letter was instrumental in changing minds. Not saying it was all her, just saying we don't have to take it without a fight.
Would love to see the letter to see how it was instrumental in changing minds.
Take the energy of anger and channel it into something constructive to fix the problem.
I hope some legal experts can weigh in on this. I hope there is more teeth in the law to deal with threats and bullying. We can't lose good people from political life who are justifiably worried for themselves and their families and therefore retreat leaving the field open for thugs.
We can't let bad people intimidate good people doing a difficult job for little or no pay. Sometimes you have to call them out to make them back down.
If that sort of comment doesn't constitute a terroristic threat, I don't know what does. It all goes to the years that we were stunned by TFG, but thought there were checks and balances in place, only to find that there weren't.
I fear this will investigation will go well beyond 2022, with the quest for records tied up in the courts for years (much like T’s tax records). By the time the committee gets the records it needs it will be too late to stop the takeover of our government by the fascist rethuglicans.
Unless we sacrifice democracy to fend off fascism. The ancient Greeks turned to "tyrants" is such situations. But once there, it's difficult to go back.
As Churchill phrased it “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all others.” Tyranny didn’’t work too well after the death of Pericles.
Shakespeare said the truth will always come out when it is needed. His times were politically and religiously dangerous. Coups were a constant threat. Yet, here we are.
Those times were sufficienly dangerous so that duing the ensuing century, many of those out of power saw fit to emigrate to a new English colony starting up across the Atlantic.
"Shakespeare said the truth will always come out when it is needed." Really? Where, exactly, did he write that?
You've never actually read a work of Shakespeare, have you? You're just trolling.
This didn't sound like a rant at all. Democrats as always lack the killer instinct. I have no faith in all the demanding that the select committee is doing. Republicans get away with everything because of their unified and homogenous voters. I kept hoping that January 6 would change how Democrats approach things but I was sadly wrong.
Amen.
Apart from Trumpeting elephants, the current drum beat against President Biden on Afghanistan will precipitously diminish over the coming weeks and months. Almost certainly there will be hearings on why many more Afghans who served the American government were not pre-certified for evacuation. In the Foreign Service I painfully learned the difference between the State Department’s authority to issue visas and the immutable right of the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reject or accept those who arrive in the United States.
The USCIS historically has been the naysayer on many attempts to broaden immigration, including responding to emergency situations. The USCIA is constrained by legislation and by a general internal attitude to interpret harsh existing laws and regulations. I would not be surprised if Stephen Miller, Trump’s hatchet man on immigration, played a major role in introducing operational constraints within USCIS. [I have read nothing about the USCIS in recent articles on the failure to swiftly identify and process the multitude of Afghans who had worked for the American government and were endangered by a Taliban takeover.]
After Trump’s one-sided February, 2020 scuttle-and-run agreement with the Taliban [promisse to remove our troops in return for a Taliban promise not to attack them, release of 1000s of imprisoned Taliban fighters and more], THE APPROVAL OF AFGHAN EVACUEES ACTUALLY DECLINED IN 2021. It increased moderately in the first months of President Biden’s administration.
Clearly the pandemic played a significant role in the processing of potential Afghan evacuees. Visa processing was sharply curtailed or even suspended at American consulates. I presume that a large portion of the USCIS staff did not go to the office.
Whatever the reasons, we did a tremendous disservice to those Afghans who had served us and were in personal danger. With urgency and common sense, I believe that far more could have been accomplished before a frenetic evacuation. This could have included legal depositions from American personnel attesting to the service and character of their current and past Afghan employees.
Some will focus on the failure of intelligence prior to the ‘precipitous collapse’ of the Afghan military and police. While Monday morning quarterbacks can have a field day, I believe that the investigation results will be muddy.
Currently President Biden is being targeted on various fronts: 1) he was unprepared for this ‘precipitous collapse’ and its aftermath; 2) he shouldn’t have placed American military into such a dangerous situation in which we were dependent on Taliban security; and 3) our military should have remained in Afghanistan after his August 31st deadline. In my view, 1) can be the topic of an endless circular debates, while 2) and 3) are contradictory.
When the smoke clears, what I find obvious is that President Biden decisively ended our 20 years of war without end and he facilitated, in barely two weeks, the evacuation of over 120,000 human beings under the most vexing and dangerous circumstances. It was a tragedy that over a dozen American military and 170 Afghans were killed and many more wounded by an ISIS-K bomb. From the outset, such an assault was considered highly probable. The U. S. And the Taliban, from mutual self interest, worked together to prevent terrorists attacks. Sadly, they were unable to abort them all.
I applaud Biden for being presidential. On President Truman’s desk was a sign THE BUCK STOPS HERE. In my view, Biden was Trumanesque.
"Trump’s one-sided February, 2020 scuttle-and-run agreement with the Taliban [promisse to remove our troops in return for a Taliban promise not to attack them, release of 1000s of imprisoned Taliban fighters"
Yes, that was a Surrender agreement written by Putin for Trump to sign.
And so, Trump did.
Of course, but somewhere another deposit in another off shore account
5000 released Taliban fighters, I believe.
Auto parts stores in the D.C. area are reporting a tremendous rush to purchase rear-view mirrors. They are flying off the shelves as soon as fresh supplies comes in.
Good one Jack!
Do you have scouts there, Jack, so you can provide us with timely updates?
Thank you for your experienced and knowledgeable assessment, Keith. Do you also think that our 20 years in Afghanistan is due to the Military Industrial Complex that Eisenhower warned us of? Isn't it now much beyond Eisenhower's nightmare? Who is putting our military at risk -- those Republican Donors/Contractors, that Industrial Superrich Military Industrial Complex? Why do we have such a gigantic military in this time of Technology?
Fern Our military is quicker to go into a situation than to withdraw. The only swift withdrawal that I can recall is Somalis in 1993 (Blackhawk Down). General Powell, who was conservative about military interventions, referred to the Pottery Barn sign: IF YOU BREAK IT, YOU OWN IT. As for Congress, the military endeavors to get subcontractors from virtually every state.
Keith, In your somewhat diplomatic reply, I take it that the enormous size of the military is due our political/financial equation, under which foreign policy, intelligence, military and congressional decisions are frequently made to transfer enormous sums of money from the defense budget into private hands and not based on the security needs of the country. It appears then that America has a deeply corrupt defense enterprise, for the most part, unconnected to the real security needs of the country. Not to be passed over, this puts the lives of our soldiers at great and unnecessary risk.. Have I fairly interpreted your spare but pointed response?
I was a diplomat who operated alone with a M-16 and .45 in rebel-infested Congolese provinces and slugged the White House African honcho. I believe that the military buys expensive toys that are more for flash than our military needs. The aircraft carrier supplanted the battleship, BUT I find no justification for $13 billion for a carrier before planes, crew, and support armada. We don’t dare take these close to any major force, since rockets can sink the suckers. Our fighter planes are ‘state-of-the-art, extremely expensive, and don’t have the range to hit many enemy targets. The development of any of these weapons takes far longer than initially predicted with a cost that is way above the phony first estimates. “Nuff for now from this ‘diplomat.’
Thank you, Keith. I appreciate the information that you shared with us.. I knew you were a diplomat that is why I chose that description instead of 'minimal', which seemed to apply as well.
"I believe that far more could have been accomplished before a frenetic evacuation."
No one could foresee that the Afghani Army would immediately crumble and disappear or that the legit Afghani President would grab a suitcase of money and abandon his people. Biden was dealt a terrible hand and he and our valiant service members did a Herculean job!
"he shouldn’t have placed American military into such a dangerous situation in which we were dependent on Taliban security"
Taliban swooped in to fill the vacuum left by the deserters. We weren't depending on them for security; they were one more roadblock to getting everyone out.
Absolutely agree with you that Biden was Trumanesque! The fact he couldn't get everyone out will haunt him, and us, the rest of our days. As I said, we all have to play the hand we were dealt.
When the former guy made the agreement it was calculated: A. The terrible end would be in his second term so he would not care about his personal re election, or B. It would be the other party terrible end and he could whip up anger and blame them.
Standard system for “care only about self” guy
I referenced earlier Malcolm Nance who was on Michael Cohen's podcast. One of the very interesting things he said was that Tramp wanted to remove ALL military right before the inauguration. His plan was to remove the military and watch the chaos unfold just as President Biden was taking office. His advisors stopped him, thus the 2,500 forces that remained. Can you imagine the situation that Biden would have inherited with no troops there to assist????
Re your comment: "I would not be surprised if Stephen Miller, Trump’s hatchet man on immigration, played a major role in introducing operational constraints within USCIS."
I did hear something on this subject recently. I cannot remember the source - maybe Nance? But the reporter described deliberate actions that Miller took to interfere with the processes needed to evacuate those individuals.
Ellen Thanks. I simply assumed that this is something that Slimy Stephen would do, since his anti-immigrant vendetta is Himmleresque.. I was surprised to see that he was married a few months ago. Stephen/positive emotions is an oxymoron.
I believe it has been reported that Miller's hand in it was very active.
Good morning Keith. Excellent grounding information.
Very helpful to have someone with inside knowledge of how these things work. Thank you.
Every. Word. You. Said. 👏 sending messages to admin leaders praising and thanking them.
Nicely written, Keith
Cawthorn, Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Jim Jordan, Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, Mo Brooks, Matt Gaetz, Louie Gohmert, Jody Hice, and Scott Perry - the Confederate Traitor Caucus. Interesting to note that only five of them aren't from the Traitor States of the South.
Cawthorn likes to tell people he was admitted to the Naval Academy before his accident, except the truth is he had already been rejected from the academy on application, for unstated "moral grounds." I wonder if they have anything to do with his going to Germany before his election campaign, to visit old Nazi sites. He is in fact a neo-Nazi. (also an incel who was credibly accused of harassing women in college).
I'd love to cast him in the remake of "Kiss of Death," and let him be the one in the wheelchair Tommy Udo straps into the chair then pushes it down the long flight of stairs.
"Far right radical revolutionary" - there's a one word synonym for that word salad. Seven letters, starts with "f" and ends with "t."
These people need to be arrested for treason under the clause "making war on the United States." And the rest of the Trumpscum.
Indeed it does appear that the US is no longer able to identify treason and apply the proper punishment.
Oh, yeah, I just remembered that Cawthorn’s classmates at Patrick Henry College didn’t want to to see him in Congress.
TOM FIEDLER• OCT 23, 2020
https://www.bpr.org/post/nc11-attack-madison-cawthorns-schoolmates-goes-viral#stream/0
I read that and saw that apparently he's related to Mark Meadows-'nuff to convince me...
Fascist.
Thanks TC, keeping it simple.
This is just one example of one radical Republican who just happens to be a United States Senator:
'COLD SPRING, Kentucky — Hatred of former President Donald Trump has kept researchers from looking into the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin and other drugs to treat COVID-19, Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul told constituents on Friday.'
'The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control have warned people using ivermectin, a drug used to treat parasitic worm infections in humans and livestock, is dangerous. The FDA went as far as tweeting out a reminder on August 21, "You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, y'all. Stop it."
'But Paul encouraged more research'.
"The hatred for Trump deranged these people so much, that they're unwilling to objectively study it," Paul said to the 60 people squeezed into the Cold Spring City Council chambers in this Northern Kentucky suburb just south of Cincinnati. "So someone like me that's in the middle on it, I can't tell you because they will not study ivermectin." (Cincinnati Enquirer)
'Last week, Peter Wehner, who served in the Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush administrations, pointed out in The Atlantic that the right wing has moved to such extremism that former president Trump, whose behavior seemed so shocking in 2015 and 2016, is now being sidelined by lawmakers and pundits who are even more extreme' (The Letter)
Our news stories in newspapers, on the internet, TV stations, cable outlets and social media are frequently bizarre, unbelievable, outlandish, frightening, extreme and untrue. It is wild out there, more unnerving to many than the typical Hollywood horror movie and that's because it is our real-life horror in America. The Letter reminds us that some normal stuff is going on, too.
One of our biggest horror stories that is rarely put into perspective is our enormous wealth gap. How much of the horror going on in America has to do with it. How much are the anti-government, anti-taxes, anti-regulation movements fueled and funded by the Donor Class? Those movements are very good for the superrich and no one else. How much is the 'individualism; anti-authority, anti-facemasks behavior in the country, highlighted recently in a Letter, is stoked by the superrich? The Donor Class doesn't want government in their way, even though it can be a big help to the rest of us.
Deceit, manipulation, propaganda, conspiracies, scapegoating, payoffs and corruption that's the name game in America and many millions of regular folks have been taken in by it -- all the way in. Those 'sheep' are now wild with rage against the people that are not them. The 'sheep' are now very dangerous.
While not exactly the same, we can see parallels of today's trouble in America's past. 'As the United States grew into the world’s leading industrial power during the late 19th century, those atop the economic ladder in America’s Gilded Age accumulated spectacular fortunes. By 1890, the country’s 4,000 millionaires held 20 percent of the country’s wealth, and with that enormous affluence came colossal political corruption.'
'Corporate titans could buy anything they wanted—including politicians. Richard White, professor emeritus of history at Stanford University and author of The Republic for Which It Stands: The United States During Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865-1896, says the Gilded Age was among the most corrupt eras in American history primarily because of “the rise of corporations and the growth of modern means of communication that intensified the way corruption can work.” (History Stories, A&E Network)
'The wealth of the richest 0.00001% of the U.S. now exceeds that of the prior historical peak, which occurred in the Gilded Age, according to economist Gabriel Zucman.'
'In the late 19th century, the U.S. experienced rapid industrialization and economic growth, creating an inordinate amount of wealth for a handful of families. This era was also known for its severe inequality; and some have called the period that began around 1990 a “Second Gilded Age.” Back then, just four families represented the richest 0.00001% – today’s equivalent is 18 families.'
'Zucman, a French economist whose doctoral advisor was the historical economist Thomas Piketty, author of bestseller “Capital in the Twenty-First Century,” released data this week showing that as of July 1, the top 0.00001% richest people in the U.S. held 1.35% of the country’s total wealth. These 18 families include those of Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates.'
'Zucman used real-time data from Forbes for the calculations. In 1913, at the end of the Gilded Age, the Rockefeller, Frick, Carnegie, and Baker families – names all tied to monopolistic power – held 0.85% of the country's total wealth.'
'The richest 0.01% — around 18,000 U.S. families — have also surpassed the wealth levels reached in the Gilded Age. These families hold 10% of the country’s wealth today, Zucman wrote. By comparison, in 1913, the top 0.01% held 9% of U.S. wealth, and a mere 2% in the late 1970s.'
'The increasing concentration of wealth comes as the ultra-rich face more scrutiny for the money they’re not paying in taxes. Recent reports have highlighted that because so much of their wealth consists of unrealized gains in stocks and real estate, they pay little or nothing in income tax. Many CEOs and founders take small salaries given their outsized stock holdings, as lower capital gains tax is preferable to a higher tax on ordinary income.'
Zucman gained fame in 2019 as an architect of then-presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s wealth tax plan, which aimed to address the fact that the extremely rich pay little in taxes compared to their net worth. The plan would have imposed a 2% tax on net wealth above $50 million and 6% above $1 billion.' (Yahoo Finance)
So subscribers, this wealth gap is a big, big deal. Biden's moves legislatively and by executive order have been to bring the American people to the dinner table He could change the capitalistic equation by seeing to it that the American people get a much bigger piece of the pie. In time, narrowing that gap could also stem the grievance, quiet the anger, lessen the resistance and provide some civics lessons.
"The Donor Class doesn't want government in their way, even though it can be a big help to the rest of us."
This single sentence is indeed the flaw in the system that John Adams, primarily, with his Massachusetts Constitution, derived as a "representative" form of government. Hamilton and the entire Constitutional Convention used Adam's work as the model for the work done in 1787.
At the time John Adams wrote the MA Constitution, the "donor class" was small, perhaps only one person in Adams mind: John Hancock. Hancock did, after hiring Adams to represent him in attempting to get the British to remove the taxes on his "illegal" rum running into Boston harbor, also partly fund the First and Second Continental Congress.
Hancock did not, after the Revolutionary War, ever pay taxes on his rum running into Boston Harbor.
Hence, a founding principal of the United States was a big donor getting lower taxes. Most folks don't realize this fact.
But, John Adams did not view Hancock's support as a threat because Adams was a completely intellectually honest man, while Hancock was clearly more flexible, he was not asking Adams to do anything that Adams would refuse to do.
The fact that the Constitution did not recognize that the growth in size of the John Hancock's of the world, and, the change in culture from a mostly local view that respected the local representatives and left them honest, would result in America slowly becoming a failed state because of giant Corporate donations to people wholly without John Adam's stubborn ethical will is a big miss.
But, I think it is a miss that is understandable. John Adams had no way to know that Raytheon would be declared an honest to goodness "Citizen" by the Supreme Court.
No way at all.
And what color is the Donor class??
Aye, well, if you have ever worked at Raytheon, or any military contractor, the color might seem somewhat blindingly white.
But, of course, once in a great while, while complaining mightily about affirmative action behind closed doors, they do hire a Black person with a 3.95 GPA and four relevant internships.
Then, they go back to normal and hire the relatives of employees who have a 2.6 GPA and sat home gaming during the summers making sure "blindingly white" is the status quo.
Aye, aye. And Oy to where we are in America right now.
Or more accurately, AGAIN.
Great essay Fern. You succinctly describe the pickle we’re in. The path to sanity appears to be closing.
My sister, who is vehemently opposed to Covid vaccines, is hospitalized with Covid pneumonia, fighting for her life. She is the last one infected in a small house with 6 adults and 4 children. Only 2 adults were vaccinated. All but 1 got sick. It will change nothing, no lessons have been learned.
My emotions are running wild between anger, sadness and fear.
Thank you all for your support and kind words. This community strengthens me for the challenges ahead. The two nephews I’m closest to were vaccinated, a small victory.
I live in hope.
Supporting your hope, Diane, with my own. It strengthens daily and is my warrior’s shield.
Brava!
Oh, Diane, I'm sorry to hear this. I resonate with all your emotions. None of it makes any sense. My husband has 6 employees; only one has refused to be vaccinated. His son returned home from the hotspot where he's been living a couple weeks ago, and has since learned that one of his roommates, 40 years old, became symptomatic, hospitalized and died from Covid in the space of 3 days. The unvaxed employee, 61, seemed truly shocked to hear this could happen to a 40 year old. He believed it because his son told him, and no doubt was shocked himself, but how can anyone be shocked by this at this point??? Willful oppostional persistent ignorance. WOPI. I just coined a new term.
Our sad stories keep piling up, and, yet, here you are -- with a perfect description of them, you named their 'condition' to a T: as Willful, Oppositional, Persistent Ignorance. Please, Beth, don't forget the 'i' after the 's' in 'Oppositional' and please, always spell it out!
typing too fast!
Quick witted, too!
I fully embrace you Diane. Your story is hard to hear and more painful still that there are too many more women and men with families just like yours. We will make a better place; we'll get there, and we must support and embrace one another through this painful mess.
I'm so sorry. I hope the children find a way to develop critical thinking skills.
So sad for the sadness and loss in your family
“So subscribers, this wealth gap is a big, big deal. Biden's moves legislatively and by executive order have been to bring the American people to the dinner table He could change the capitalistic equation by seeing to it that the American people get a much bigger piece of the pie. In time, narrowing that gap could also stem the grievance, quiet the anger, lessen the resistance and provide some civics lessons.” Fern this is exactly what is needed and yet those who will benefit from it seem blinded by hate, anger and their cultish worship of TFG and his minions. They won’t accept any thing Biden does as being good for them. How do the Democrats break through this wall of ignorance.
Sharon, I believe their feelings and beliefs are comprised by a combination of factors - changes in nature of work; feeling as though they were lied to (of course, they have bought into another type of lies); fading communities;, not receiving support from either party; biases, social media; propaganda; tribalism...I'm no expert. We hear various ideas about how to address it; it is too early to tell how legislative achievements will impress them. It also feels late in the game, but, to put is simply -- we are where we are. More grass roots organization would help, citizen pressure to pass national voting rights legislation, keeping at it -- that's what we do.
I hope citizen pressure ramps up more. So many people seem oblivious that our democracy is slipping away by Republican state legislatures passing these voter suppression laws… and redistricting will be the nail in the coffin.
The Democratic Party hasn't planted itself in so-called unfriendly places and or enough rural areas, for the most part. Howard Dean called for the party to plant seeds all over the country and it did not. Is there recruitment of young folks? What is happening in high schools and colleges in terms of political outreach, volunteering for community work? The pandemic limits some kinds of activities, but what is possible, even now, to develop community news outlets, tutoring, work with food banks, hooking up with gun control organizations and other grassroots organizations... when will the party and the people learn? Call local legislators to find out what they are up to and whether you can be of service. It is important to lower the social animosity, which has become a very serious factor, so looking for groups or forming them toward addressing 'tribal warfare' is imperative. We need to get our juices up as well as applying creative thinking and spunk. Try to talk with a few people who you are comfortable with on a regular basis to share experiences, ideas and fears. Having support and some laughs are the foundations of of social engagement. Remaining active and connected to other people are most important.
Just copied this formula to share with thoughtful, mobilized folks still seeking such advice.
Thank you, jc. The animosity seers our hearts and needs to heal.
I live in one of those rural communities you referred to. I’m considered a “come here” as are the majority of the other Democrats I’ve met who have moved out of urban areas and retired to a rural, but also a coastal area, of VA. I meet 3 times a week with locals to exercise in a Baptist church hall. I’m one of the few who don’t belong to the church but they’ve accepted me and seem to like me. However, we are clearly divided when it comes to politics and mask mandates and discussion is curtailed. I guess we’ve all decided if we want to play together at exercise, it needs to remain neutral. I do my part by writing postcards and making contributions when I can but I feel I need to do more.
Beginning with Ronald Reagan, those who could most benefit from the ideals and programs of the FDR, Eisenhower and Johnson administrations voted against their best interest and for Ronald Reagan's openly admitted "trickle very little down to you peons" economic approach.
However, as Dr. Richardson has pointed out, he looked like a Western Cowboy, complete with a rich tasting Ranch, so those folks most benefitting and in need of a useful government identified with him in their unhinged imaginations.
Just saw a post yesterday about a high end resort town in Colorado(?) where the town is partially shut down because they can't find employees to run the shops & restaurants ~ because no one can afford to live/work there except the wealthy.
Their privileged lives are only possible because of the services working people provide. Karma is catching up.
We have a lot of that here in NH. A nurse colleague was just telling me about a recent day she and her husband took their two young grandchildren for an outdoor jaunt in our white mountains. They purposely went on a Tuesday, hoping to avoid the biggest of the summer's end tourists. They had a nice day but they drove across and all around both sides of the famed Kancamangus Highway between Lincoln and North Conway and could not find a place open to get any takeout meal at all. They were all closed. It seems because of lack of staffing they've chosen to close some days when normally these places are open daily in summer. They seem to all have chosen Tuesday, which seems a little shortsighted - maybe they could have talked about that, spread the opportunity around a bit amongst themselves? Anyway my friend finally found a pizza place that was open but because they were the ONLY one open in this very touristy area, they were totally swamped. The staff were nearly in tears trying to keep up. On the Seacoast, another famous seafood restaurant, Newick's, has had to post a sign on the door detailing the abuse the staff has endured from customers this year and warning patrons if they can't be patient and decent not to bother coming in. I'm glad at least that owner is standing up for his staff.
Poor things. No one to outsource to for their care. Failure of the wealth class.
The mountain towns have always struggled to find staff. Back in the early 90s, Aspen became the first town in America where the average price of a home was above a million dollars. Workers had to live "down valley" in Carbondale and commute 30 miles to work each way. All the resort towns bring in workers from other countries, frequently from Mexico and South America, sometimes from Europe or Australia. Many of the housekeepers and grocery workers are from Poland.
What's happening now is different and much more widespread. I was in Dundee, Oregon a few weeks ago and a restaurant served lunch only (no dinner) because it couldn't find staff. It's not rich areas that are struggling these days: it's everywhere. (Coincidentally, I spent last week in Beaver Creek, among the highest of high-end Colorado resorts, and found helpful and friendly staff everywhere. Somehow, when money is involved, people find ways to solve problems. Perhaps my $25 shrimp cocktail helped them afford their staff. But we won't want a country full of $25 shrimp cocktail. It's not good for working people.)
I've never seen so many help-wanted signs, and I was trying to hire retail workers in 1999. It was tough, and the quality wasn't good, but we didn't have to cut hours or close our doors. Businesses are closing now.
It's not because people can't afford to live on the wages. It's that people refuse to do the work. Heather's column cheers that government payments lifted people out of poverty--but she's looking at a period of only a couple of months. What about longer term? It's no wonder the businesses can't find people to hire, when the workers are paid to stay home. I have friends who own restaurants, and their (now former) employees tell them so.
There are always unintended consequences. I live in a suburb, not rich, not poor. We've cut way down on our restaurant-eating because the service is so bad. I've had to walk out of restaurants full of empty tables because the remaining staff can cover only a fraction of the tables. Great!, say the champions of labor. Power to the people. Take this job and shove it. All the trendy slogans. I'll be fine; I can cook at home. Whole Foods (owned by Amazon) will continue to grow.
What happens next? Many restaurants will close, hurting not only the entrepreneurs who put everything into them but also (would-be) workers who have no place to go when we restore sanity to our econommic policy. Many restaurants will find ways to convert to less labor-intensive models, perhaps becoming fast-casual or self-service. I looked at visiting Salida (a not high-end Colorado resort town) this week and came across something I hadn't seen before: a "self-service" hotel. (Reviewers expressed alarm at finding an uncooperative door code with no one to turn to for help.) Can we be surprised? If labor goes on strike, the resourceful will find ways to thrive without labor. Necessity spurs innovation. The net result will be ever-fewer service jobs and a widening gap between rich and working people (now, non-working people). Inflation caused by pouring money into the sytem (which we're already seeing) will make things tougher on the poor and those on fixed incomes.
Colorado high-end towns will be fine. They already import eager workers from around the world, willing to work harder than ours anyway. It's the average towns and cities that will be rolling up the sidewalks and shuttering the doors.
Much of what you mention being true there is the same here. But it's not true in NH that people are not interested in working nor is it true that they can afford to live where they work. Many people who live in Portsmouth and Exeter work in Boston, people who work in Portsmouth live in Dover, people who work in Dover live in Rochester, and so on. I grew up in Exeter but as an adult have never been able to afford to live there. I work in Concord and could probably afford to live there in a much smaller house than I live in now. The hospital where I work as an RN just announced they will start all staff at minimum of $15/hr which I naively thought was so great, so getting with the times, then I read an article about how NH hospitals and long term care facilities are losing their housekeeping and food service staff for grocery and fast food stores that are finally paying more out of desperation for employees. So it's just out of desperation not a sense of equity that they made that decision. Of course our governor ended extra unemployment payments and reinstated the must be actively looking for work to receive any benefit at all back in April, anticipating businesses would be looking to gear up for the hopefully busy summer. But we keep our state minimum wage at $7.35/hr like the feds so that just in case the bubble bursts we can go back to slave wages. With a vacancy rate of 0.6%, housing in general is cut throat and affordable housing is non-existent. We could sell at a great price now but there's no where for us to go. At nearly 60, I didn't expect to be grateful I'm no longer young, but I am. There's few real opportunities for them.
I too am an RN and live in NH but thankfully retired. I shudder to see what the ultra right wing Republican-majority legislature will do to the redistricting process. Of course Sununu vetoed the attempts to create an independent redistricting process (twice if I remember correctly.) Don't forget our "friendly" moniker is "Sunono" since he vetoed some 79 bills when Democrats were the majority in the legislature. Now that the R's are the majority, he has gladly signed atrocious bills that hurt the poor and Democrats. End of rant.
Anat Shenker-Osorio calls this Donor Class a faction that has indeed operated in various permutations since the founding of this country. Factions of privilege, wealth, and power drove global colonization before that. Anat specializes in effective political messaging.
https://www.facebook.com/podsaveamerica/videos/anat-shenker-osorio-on-the-importance-of-the-jan-6-select-committee/163727725747063/
Thanks Ellie!
Just searched Anat Shenker-Osorio and found promising material.
I think I saw the kind of statement she recommends, recently in a piece by Patrick Lawrence called, "Some Cherry Garcia Please." He wrote a long exploration of the significance of Ben and Jerry's boycotting illegal settlements on stolen Palestinian land. https://consortiumnews.com/2021/07/26/patrick-lawrence-some-cherry-garcia-please/
His last paragraphs were so well stated I just reread them and found that my memory of it was even clearer ;- )
Now to watch Anat on vimeo!
Excellent, very well reasoned link to a piece about Israel's practices against the Palestinians; the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions organization and Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield decision not to sell some of their delicious flavors to Israel as a result of the country's settlements on the West Bank and in occupied East Jerusalem. This boycott wasn't so sweet for Israel. Ben & Jerry's ice cream is not easy to live without.
Interesting thing about Patrick Lawrence's article on Consortiumnews.com was, what I heard so clearly was the betrayal of core ethics common in dominating countries in the selective blindness of their faith groups, entirely observable in our country. I was quoting him as saying he was angry that with all its attacks on indigenous people of the land - Zionism has dragged Judaism into the gutter. That was the understanding he shared. It was left to the reader to render its essence.
At the core, it is a strong moral argument. Morality been banging on America as the door is closing. I'm seeing that door start to open a bit again, but it's tentative.
Pretty good companion for MLK's noting that Militarism is often winked at by American Christianity.
I'm a no Facebook kind of radical.
Thank you, Ellie.
And if we win our country back, all those benefits and perks need to be reneged for all seditionists dependent on our "socialist democracy" support of them with our hard earned taxes. Maybe it is time to stop all payments to them from us "goddamned socialists." And who the hell do they think is paying for their free vaccines and ventilators, and morgue trucks? Ahhhh, I better stop and go for a walk and visit my beaver friends, a truly industrious, seemingly socially aware animal who creates lovely environments that other animals and humans enjoy. (during floods, they have allowed muskrats, otters and ducks inside their large lodges for protection). They help slow the water down for our village and the sand filtrates and cleans the water supply. They don't care about anyone's color, fur vs. feathers, or bank accounts. Wish the seditionists could do the same for their own species.
Penelope, it is not lost yet.
It is teetering...and I am an optimist, and exhausted optimist.
Hold on!
At last, a 20 year mistake comes to an ending. Time to take a long deep breath.
Tomorrow we'll resume our attempts to make sense of where this puts us.
Cawthorn, various protestors, and 'pundits' like Carlson are dancing around advocating an armed overthrow of the US Government. That's actionable. They'd best tread carefully.
I'm sure they believe they already are being careful, but by nodding and winking and mugging too hard for the cameras they might easily step over the line. If that happens and their bluff gets called, watch the backwards tapdancing that follows! It should be spectacular.
Again, anarchy is the result of a lack of accountability, and these specimens are counting on that.
Myself, I don't believe they're as immune to consequences as they believe they are.
If, indeed, they're being watched, it seems they've already dug the hole, and someone needs to step in with a shovel and bury them...i.e point the finger of treason at them.
I'm concerned that the people watching them locally (Police) are also supporting them.
I hope you’re right. I hope they are being watched.
I don’t know what is actionable any longer. We are on a very slippery slope.
Me neither. Where is the floor?
They aren't. This is NOT free speech. Tucker Carlson and his ilk are calling "FIRE" in a crowd. Like, fire on a crowd.
With you, Gary. More consequences are in the near future. I believe Dr R is correct, some of the current rhetoric and repug screeching is just desperate distraction.
THE REPUGNANT PARTY INSANE TERRORISTS
Besides introducing us to the mental aberration “Narcissistic Personality Disorder” Don the Con early on during his campaigning rallies in 2015 made us aware of “Stochastic Terrorism” when he goaded his cult following from the podium to do violence against anyone in disagreement with his insanity.
Now it has become the norm among those cult followers in the Repugnant Party to use “Scripted Violence” to intimidate ppl with the threat of terrorism.
David Neiwert, who wrote the 2017 book “Alt-America,” defines it as:
“Scripted violence is where a person who has a national platform describes the kind of violence that they want to be carried out. He identifies the targets and leaves it up to the listeners to carry out this violence. It is a form of terrorism. It is an act and a social phenomenon where there is an agreement to inflict massive violence on a whole segment of society. Again, this violence is led by people in high-profile positions in the media and the government. They're the ones who do the scripting, and it is ordinary people who carry it out. ...”
These terms “Stochastic Terrorism with Scripted Violence” are academic and not worded into any laws but they should fall under established concepts such as “Inciting Riots” and it is very troubling that this form of “Hate Speech” is going unchallenged. It is classic “shouting fire in a crowded theater” to the Supreme Court limits on free speech.
I would love to see the language of "scripted violence" added to the definition for "inciting a riot". It is consistent with the intent of the law, but the "national platform" gives the out of being "one removed" from the actual riot. Fascinating information!
I cannot for the life of me figure out why these threats of violence are going unpunished!! 😡😡😡
My guess is that the Senate is still too far right to call it what it is. Mitch and Co. continue to say it was just that boys will be boys, as does the House minority leader McCarthy. However, individuals have been prosecuted and some have begun jail terms, if you mean Jan 6 per se. I take heart that some social media are closing the accounts of the most rabid fomenters. Free speech is still a powerful mantra and those Trumpers are just waiting for a government misstep so they can go to their battle stations. Remember, the rabble never did have good manners. Our national history is full of similar episodes. Take heart!
Rob! I’ve never heard or read the term “Stochastic Terrorism”. Thank you for your very lit up post today. Also good reminder of former’s central brain-f*ck mis-wired misfiring problem…NPD-narcissistic personality disorder.
Root of it with many leading this violence and scripting the message from their microphones.
Thanks for providing these terms. I think that naming specific behavior using dictionary (impartial, accurate) definitions is an extremely important. Say what a thing actually is without any sort of spin, then you hold it in your hand. You can look at it objectively and judge if it is appropriate in certain circumstances, and you can clearly explain why or why not. Name, then hold to account.
We are heading for another violent attack on our government, and I fear that this will take place sooner rather than later. With every day that the overtly seditious activities of Cawthorn et als go unpunished, those odds increase. As the professor noted, it is inspiring lower level politicians to become even more extreme, and honestly, I blame the Justice Department for what is going on. Why is it not going after each and every one of these individuals who threaten government officials? Why is (for example) Steve Lynch not being hauled before a judge this morning and charged with making terroristic threats? Why has that man at the Santa Monica mask mandate vote not been arrested yet? I would assume that he is on video and can be identified. It's on the Justice Department to make these people pay a (criminal) price for their threats and sedition. The longer it does not do so, the worse the threats will become and the more likely that a repeat of 1/6 will take place.
We are indeed. I am afraid that DOJ was left in too much of a mess, and that Merrick Garland is either hopelessly hamstrung by what he was left, or the wrong fit for the position of AG under these sorts of circumstances. It may well be "unprecedented" for there to be an investigation of sitting congressmen/congresswomen for sedition; we are in uncharted waters, and precedent may well need to be set by someone willing to take on that challenge.
Or maybe Garland sees an arrest while someone is exercising their First Amendment rights as just the spark needed to ignite the tinder.
A front page outrage story lasting well into midterms.
So, no consequences for inciting violence because of fear that the consequences will incite violence?!?! This is the sad truth of situation we find ourselves in today, and is seriously f***ed up!
Incitement of violence.
The two legal prongs that constitute incitement of imminent lawless action are as follows: Advocacy of force or criminal activity does not receive First Amendment protections if (1) the advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action, and (2) is likely to incite or produce such action.
Quick research indicates that SCOTUS is focused on the “imminent lawless action” part. I.e. “Grab you guns and follow me” and not general opinion about a future action.
https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/970/incitement-to-imminent-lawless-action
“Forget going into these school boards with freaking data. You go into these school boards to remove them. I’M GOING IN WITH 20 STRONG MEN AND I’M GONNA GIVE THEM AN OPTION—THEY CAN LEAVE OR THEY CAN BE REMOVED,” sounds like an imminent lawless action to me.
😩😩😩
It is. I am beyond sick of hearing this excuse as a reason to not hold people accountable for their actions.
I think you've nailed it!
Yes, this!
I believe it is unfair to blame the DOJ or any department at this time. These departments were hollowed out by the previous administration. Merrick Garland is doing the best that one man can do with multiple issues on his plate. The blame game is never ending and accomplishes nothing. Telling the truth, asking questions, opening our eyes and trying to open others eyes to the violence that is being planned by our own citizens against our own government is what needs to be our focus. Not blaming this department or that. It’s disheartening to all of us that, as yet, none of the real culprits are being held accountable. The wheels of justice turn slowly and our election cycles come quickly and often derail justice. It’s a conundrum. Our best defense, in my opinion, is passing the voting rights laws to at least give us a chance to fend off minority rule by the far right.
Thoughtful post, but I disagree.
These are not normal times. The house is on fire. The DOJ is plodding. *Any* kind of action would be welcome, as it would begin to persuade us that they might come out swinging soon.
I sing no paeans of praise to Merrick Garland. Americacneeds someone willing, nay eager, to go for the jugular.
If they are doing something, they need too publicize it so that we all know what is being done. Are they afraid of the "locked and loaded?" Or are castrated by the previous admin's carve out and infiltration of our DOJ? Does anyone have any cajones to help us?
Ovaries may be less at risk but don't they deserve more recognition in the lingo?
I've started reading Circe, the character in the Odyssey who in Madeline Miller's novel demonstrates bravery and compassion as she recognizes her own powers, as she and Prometheus take exception to the gods. Am looking forward to the rest of the chapters now.
JC, Ovaries are incredibly important in this fight. But my philosophy from a rather Jungian therapist point of view: Ovaries contain a different, receptive, feminine energy than cajones. Men have differing levels of this feminine energy just as women or non-binaries have different levels of masculine energy. The feminine energies are
receptive and know how to take in "seeds" and use that knowledge to sort out how to respond and decipher the best path in which to proceed. They consider the well-being of all of those alive because that is their primary function. They can fight, but it is usually with a Sword of Truth, cutting through the BS. We need both energies to stay in balance. Ovaries can call upon those with more masculine energy (testosterone)-- the doers and warriors to protect whatever is being seeded (ideas, inventions, connections, democracies, equality, philosophies, art, poetry, dance, music, etc) via a battle. Today represented by guns that shoot and bombs that explode (rather penile, no?). Our warriors protect that which wants to be brought to life into the world within all of us. As women are given more power their use of the Sword and the Scales of Justice and Shining the Light of Liberty. Perhaps, it was somewhat prophetic and unbeknownst to our forefathers who used the symbols of the feminine to weigh and balance actions with light. There are more women in our government and many governments across the globe than ever before. They will lead in a different way, and they will not tolerate much debauchery or ignorance. As Penelope in the myth, I have been very patient for years, and I continually weave and unravel a shroud that I do not want us to have to lay over our young, fragile democracy.
I do have a large steel replica of Excalibur on the wall being held by the alabaster arm and hand of The Lady of the Lake. I am pretty much fed up with this weaving of a shroud and and more interested in cutting through the BS to the Truth and a new future for myself and others. This is completely backed up by my Ovaries. Odysseus has been playing around finding himself for way too long. I done with fulfilling the mythology of The Good Wife. I just chucked my loom out the tower window and am off to get in some Good Trouble.
Thanks, Penelope, for reaching beyond the shroud!
One of my favorite brief political statements leaves out the larger reality of responsible initiatives the Squad does engage, but it's a fun quote. It's been posted on our wall for a couple of years now:
AOC: Oh no!! They've discovered our conspiracy to care for children and save the planet! (There's a screen shot from Fox News with headshots of the four smiling legislators next to a list of "Radical New Democratic Ideas *Free college for all *Free healthcare for all *Abolish ICE *Green New Deal).
That is brilliant! Love that conspiracy group of women. Enjoy Circe!
Oh, Penelope, such brilliant language! And, what I would give to see your replica (beyond your vivid words above)!
Write to DecencyandDemocracy@gmail.com and I can send you a photo. Women that pick up this sword have the most amazing looks on their faces when they feel its' weight and power. We are not trained to feel that kind of power, at least in my day...
Ah, cajones! In Italian, "coglioni".
Just think. The DOJ doesn't appear to have any of what many GOP House "members" are. (hint: they come in pairs).
Also, in Italy -- a still-functioning democracy, unlike ours -- even women commonly say "Mi hai rotto i coglioni" (rotto = past participle of "to break"), even though they have none except figuratively (and painlessly). Italians also love to "testiculate".
Please forgive me, Penelope, just trying to help.
My husband, an old fashioned gentleman unwilling to be vulgar in front of the children, frequently told them “non rompere le scatole!” (Don’t break the boxes.)
The GOP House members seem to be missing some critical body parts: spines and coglioni.
And brains. Yes, they need to be crammed back into their scatole.
Thank you, I am studying Italian and this is perfect. I asked my Italian "sista" several years back how the Italian people survive under a mafioso controlled country. She shrugged and said that you just get used to it and live your own lives. Unfortunately, there are POC amongst us who do not have that privilege or just living their own lives. She told me about the organized "clubs" that are more (underground) that have very high goals for Italy. Much like this underground club here that has higher hopes for America.
Fear.
Little pisspots like Cawthorn, Greene and countless other amped up nobodies sense that the good guys are on the run and that they are completely shielded from repercussions.
So good people, who don’t happen to be lion-hearted, opt out of being the centre of attention. They choose to cede school board positions, minor political roles saying that it is not worth the grief.
Physical courage does not come easily to most of us. We need the law to back us up.
The law is perceived now - by both sides- as being strikingly MIA.
Although most of the goons’ words come straight from the amygdala, it’s now showing to be a particularly effective strategy.
Fear sows doubt. We are sinking into it now.
It doesn't take but one or two cynical billionaires to toss "pocket change" to opportunistic media and political operations to distract us from responsible government decisions. Venues like this one and the independent media like Common Dreams, Truthout, etc, are essential for thoughtful, focused, reality based democracy to survive.
Exactly.
On my, my wife’s and all the other sensible but, unfortunately, minority of voters in the 11th District of NC, I like to apologize for the representation of Madison Cawthorn.
We will do all we can to remove him in 2022!!
Please do. He is an embarrassment to NC.
How did he get elected to begin with? Seems sooooo right of Attila the Hun.
And Trump? Oh, I forgot, he was installed.
I will be happy to help. I can't do much about the scoundrels in my state, but I can send a little $ to whomever runs against Cawthorn. And like you, I too offer apologies on behalf of those of us in this state who haven't YET turned our state purple. We're working on it though.
Same here.
For the offer of a donation. And to offer an apology for all the crimson red Hoosiers holding office and doing all they can to tell everyone else how to live their lives.
[From the "Karma is a b***h" department]
Three anti-vax conservative radio hosts have died from Covid in one month
(Two of the three publicly changed their stance before passing away)
“Bogus,” Dick Farrel called Covid vaccines. “Promoted by people that lied.”
“I’m not taking it, are you kidding me? Mr Anti-Vax?’ said Marc Bernier.
“If you’re not at high risk of dying from Covid then you’re probably safer not getting it,” said Phil Valentine.
All three men, influential conservative radio hosts well known for their vaccine scepticism, went on to die of Covid within a year of their comments, and within just a month of each other.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/radio-hosts-republican-covid-death-b1911332.html
Too bad, so sad. I’m normally an empathetic person, but I’ve become hardened where anti-vaxxers are concerned.
Same. Zero sympathy for them. None whatsoever.
Way less than zero
Certified Infection Preventionist suffering Vaccination Fatigue.
Science, education, outright begging and pleading falls on deaf ears. Resistors cling steadfastly to bizarre conspiracy theories, or worse, paint those who got vaccinated as brainless sheep willing to be guinea pigs.
I surrender. Decisions have consequences. No more tears for those begging for vaccination from their ICU beds right before they're intubated.
Part of me says they got what they deserve but I can't ignore the effort to do no harm. I'm sure that's what you meant.
However, they are threatening innocent lives by their selfishness during a global pandemic that is killing people and children around the world and more so in their own red states. This is about taking a jab for all of us. This is about dropping dangerous Individualist ideology to stop a deadly virus that mutates and continues to destroy. The Party of Sedition had the power to slow this down so we could all be safer. They did nothing. And our medical people and caregivers are really struggling to have to deal with this spike in deathly caregiving all over again. It is despicably unfair to them because this was preventable.
I can't rejoice in this only because I'm afraid that for each of them, there are at least 20 clamoring to take over their bullhorn.
From Ohio and stalking JJ(Jim Jordan).
My next set of posters will be JJ explaining just how many times he did talk with tRUMP on the 6th. Hysterical moment watching him talk in concentric circles while declaring his “uninvolvement” in the riots.
There was no example of blatant lying and having been caught better than that display by Jordan. What I noted also was the attitude and questioning of the journalist. I literally laughed heartily.
🙂😆😅🤣. Must get those posters! Do you design?
Because no one will check his phone records will they?
{{chuckles}}
Awaiting a chance to order. JJ sure does manage to appear ready to run when asked that tRmp call question, and does not get better with practice
What a mad mad world! I can only fight this fight to the best of my ability and continue to believe in the power of good over evil.
Time for some nation building and promoting democracy at home? I'm relieved my son in the military and his fellow soldiers won't be going to Afghanistan again. I do feel anxiety about deployments they might have here at home to defend democracy, like we saw with the National Guard in the Capitol after January 6. We need voting rights protected as well as so many other initiatives like infrastructure and these efforts to fight childhood poverty. We can do this, though
I’m not a warring person, but this time if there’s ANYTHING like the January attack, military and police need to be armed and instructed to used that armament if needed. Damn it! Enough of our trained military and police being sitting ducks!!
I think our military need to stand guard. These thuglicans only understand strength via armed men and women who mean business. It is time for our military to quell this seditious behavior. It is what we pay our big money for and it is time that it is used for our safety in the middle of a fetching pandemic!
Lethal force. Period.
If the out of shape white guys huffing and puffing up the stairs of the capitol are who your son will encounter going forward he need not worry. Upon seeing his calm and stern face at the top of the stairs, those guys will fall all over each trying to breathlessly run back down those stairs.
So, don't worry.
Those "out of shape white guys " hurt a lot of people. Thinking of having one of my children put in that position would worry me too. Hopefully if there is a next time (likely) there will be sufficient numbers to prevent that!
It's the bear spray, COVID, projectiles, flag poles, tasers, and other weapons I worry about
Don't worry too much. The Capitol police, under trained and understaffed, who last endured the loser class in America were not properly supported by training, armaments or preparation and the leader of the free world was HOPING they would be overcome and killed.
The US Army? Unless it has changed in recent years, the US Army will make quick work of the loser class of out of shape white guys with sticks and bear spray.
My husband worked for 20 years on Capitol Hill. I know the Capitol Police. They fought like lions on January 6th and some gave their lives to protect our lawmakers and our democracy. You might reconsider being so flip about other people's children, spouses, fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers. I'm concerned for them all
ClaireBlue: My apology. By "undertrained and understaffed" I mean nothing against the Capitol police themselves. I mean that they were not prepared for warlike behavior. They are not trained in war. They may have done some terrorist exercises but never with thousands of terrorists in the simulation.
I have great respect for the Capitol police who, even though undertrained and understaffed DID managed to keep the attackers at bay long enough for the Congress to escape.
Again, no disrespect mean. Those guys, all things considered, did a great job indeed.
Thank you for this - I do understand and appreciate your underlying point
The language of insurrection, the threats advancing the use of guns and violence, the hatred and madness emanating from a far right that has lost its ethical way, culminate in a GOP whose vision is to advance and rule through fear.
But, at the same time, dear Prof. HCR, you signal, quite rightly, toward all the good that the Biden administration is aiming for. It would, I believe, serve us well to remind ourselves of FDR's poignant words: "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
Exactly. I was just about to respond to Rev. Judith on how tyranny's greatest tool is FEAR. And the internet is the greatest megaphone invented to assist in tyranny. Our justice system, FBI and military need to step in mightily against these fascists wanting to takeover our government. Tick tock. Please, Justice, be served as swiftly as possible. The well-being of our elected officials across the country, and our democracy, and then us, is in serious, lethal jeopardy. Do we have a DOJ and FBI working for us anymore? Write to them and report what you see, hear and read (from credible sources).
I trust AG Merrick Garland and the FBI to get it done. I don't trust my local sherriff, proud boy neighbor, county commissioner, state representative...
OK, You scared me tonight. Angry people ready to turn to violence. Why are they so angry? What percent of the population do they represent? What percent of the media airtime and traffic on social media do they get? Isn't threatening people's lives against the law? On the other hand, you did give me some optimism with how the destruction from Ida is being handled and the child tax credit's impact on poverty. Which reality is going to be our future? This seems a lady versus the tiger moment. Which door do we choose?
I, too, wonder about the basis for all this anger on the right. I suspect much of it derives from fear -- a non-specific, amorphous fear provoked by multiple threats to our safety, well-being, and confidence in a peaceful, healthy future. And sadly, "they" (right-wingers) are not alone in this fear. I am shocked by my own anger at times when I watch/read the news, and consider how perilous everything seems -- wildfires, floods, anti-vaxxers, covid numbers climbing, terrorists, etc. Yikes!
The fear is that they are being left behind...that BIPOC are taking over, and "getting all the goods".
I wonder how much of their anger is performative. They need it to keep their jobs bc they are definitely not interested in governing.
"Angertainment" brings in the bucks.
Apt phrase and Faux Snooze uses it well.
Has anyone mentioned to Tucker that President Bush started the "terrible" war in Afghanistan? Tucker Carlson told his audience that no leader had apologized for “these terrible decisions” in Afghanistan. How about mentioning Bush/Cheney for starting the whole 20-year disaster and Trump for ending it with no plan?
I agree with those who say it is not worth bothering trying to fact check, provide rational and real talking points, and refer to history as mechanisms to stem the flood of disinformation (it isn't "misinformation" because the flood is deliberate). The only way to deal with this stuff is to be vigilant about charging people for threatening violence, to sue the s**t out of the fascist disinformation organizations and their mouthpieces, and to keep on slogging through the legislative agenda. There are ways to make it clear to people who are resistant to reality that their positions are wrong, but the problem is that most of those types are offended when their ignorance is revealed and they dig in even harder. If you couple that with the panic the extremists feel because their tactics are not working, and you get all kinds of scary scenarios potentially playing out.
I've been thinking that posting pictures of all of these arseholes under the heading "Our Taliban" might be an effective method of presentation.
I like that idea, but would it backfire -- would they simply welcome the attention?
No. That kind of action crumbles their cookie.