The Biden administration emphasized today its whole-of-government response to addressing the damage caused by Hurricane Idalia—which hit Florida yesterday before moving north into Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina—and by the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, which broke out on August 8.
Perhaps Clarence Thomas’ wealthy donors should pay for all the travel of frightened and desperate women and their families due to the Dobbs decision. I have very little sympathy for Clarence Thomas being concerned about his safety when he willfully disregards an entire genders safety, security, and body autonomy.
LH, Thomas brought the danger directly to all women in society with the overturning of Roe. He must be held accountable for his corruption and deceit to line his pockets and bank accounts will ill-begotten wealth. A disgusting, vile man. His wife is no better. I want them both locked up!
When judges in a supreme Court are corrupt, whom should those who seek justice ran into? It is hard to imagine that the Clarence Thomases of this world can perpetuate corruption in a system that is designed prevent the misuse of resources, promote fairness, make justice a virtue to be upheld, safeguard the constitution (the very basic and foundational reference document), adhere to democratic ideals, and generally do what is right for the country. What type of oath do these judges use to be sworn in? If Clarence Thomas is capable of receiving donations from the wealthy, then you can imagine how many people have bought justice from him and disadvantage others who are desperately in need of justice. He has perhaps become a voice of the wealthy rather than the oppressed in the Supreme Court, a move that is not healthy for the country. Such incidences have happened in Kenya where there is a corruption enterprise, a group of wealthy cartels in almost every industry who want to protect their deals and sometimes hoard goods. In this regard, certain cases are directed to particular judges because they can deliver predetermined verdicts that favor the highest bidders. If this is also perpetuated in a judicial system and moreso in America, then you can imagine the extent of the rot in the judiciary exacerbated by the Thomases. His investigation should be broad to cover all the years he has been judge and cases that he has executed. Who knows? May be his prosecution will reveal delivered injustices to those who deserve justice.
I welcome you to my newsletter. It is free to be my subscriber. I only rely on donations.
Edwin , your insightful response regarding the character of one of our Supreme Court justices reminds me of the good character of our current President.
President Joe Biden continues to work for the people who elected him as well as for the people who hate him.
Mitch McConnell may be in a different political party, but he and Joe have known one another for years. Joe was checking on Mitch even in the midst of working to help those states and fellow human beings harmed by the recent hurricane.
I concur with you. Joe Biden, if am not wrong, has showcased himself as a human being first and then a countryman as a president. That's why his responses are well-thought, informed, proactive, and free from polarisation despite getting extreme criticism from Republican. And I celebrate him 🙏
Edwin, The Constitution Center podcast featured a discussion of Montesquieu and the Constitution https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCr7X8FydYY This conversation with eminent scholars is peppered with terms like virtue, moderation, not to mention the ultimate human weakness: power, 'the cancer of society'. All the values the Founding Fathers explored when cobbling together our country's foundational document can be traced to Montesquieu's writings. I had to listen more than once to absorb the terms and interpretations (Federalist and Anti-Federalist) imbedded in Montesquieu's theories. It is well worth your time.
But if Chairman Biden had believed Anita Hill and stopped the Judiciary Committee's endorsement of Thomas to the Supreme Court, would we be here today?
This is a reasonable question. My blood still boils over the way Anita Hill was treated. But let's remember that the sexism that surrounded that hearing was embedded in society. And to a slightly lesser degree, it still is.
I also am angry at Biden for his part in the insane "tough on crime" bill that has incarcerated too many for too long. That bill was a crime against humanity.
But I looked in the mirror today. And I saw a flawed person. I like who I am and most of what I have done. But there are a few mistakes that will haunt me forever. I think mirrors work that way for most of us. Even Presidents. Imperfect, yes.
So with all that in mind, I step back and loudly proclaim Joe Biden may be the most moral, compassionate, effective and important President since FDR.
Bill, we all grow as we age and most of us are regretful of some of our past actions. Watching Biden these last years as vice president and now president has brought me hope.
I agree with you, Bill. Biden has grown. We cannot afford to chuck him for past errors when he is doing so much good now. Unlike tfg, he broke no laws. He was stuck in the old patriarchal mindset that still reigns in a large part of our society.
Some people get older and wisr. Others just get old.
So true Bill. Which is why we have to work hard to re-elect him again. Compared to Trump and the other Repub candidates there is none that even come close to the terrific job he has done for us all!
Biden is a better man than he was in those days, and it's very true that until Anita Hill (who is a Black woman, who were mostly invisible back in those days) brought the term "sexual harassment" into the mainstream, Americans had literally no idea what it meant, and many thought that if a woman entered the workplace being harassed was part of the job. I remember my mother watching the confirmation hearings and disparaging Anita Hill, saying she was liar looking for attention. We've come a long way since those days, but we've got a long way to go too.
I think that Biden as grown along with our society, which is FINALLY believing that innocent women can have terrible things done to them by powerful men.
Bill, if you want to see a brilliant parody of sexism, put on your pink tie and go see the Barbie movie. It's hilarious and there are unlimiited patriarchal zingers and bits of wisdom throughout.
Sadly, you are right. Life is full of these sad and regrettable occurrences. When was the last time a Republican president appointed anyone of high character to the Supreme Court? Eisenhower appointing Earl Warren? That was 70 years ago.
This is one of Joe's great mistakes and when I saw that hearing again, I was furious. I am sure there was some kind of politics going on behind the scenes and perhaps part of the problem was that Thomas was black and they were looking for someone to replace Thurgood Marshall. Now what makes me furious is the House wasting taxpayer money investigating the federal response to Maui and their other nonsense.
Is the House doing any thing except trying to impeach everyone in sight. I thought impeachment was for a president who had failed in his duties, not for judges trying to seek the truth or people in general.
If Bush / Cheney hadn't lied about weapons of mass destruction would we be here today? We can't blame one incident in history on all the ills in the world today, can we?
Clarence Thomas was nominated by George W. Bush because he believed that Ted Kennedy would never vote against a Black Man, no matter how conservative. And he was right!
It's easy for us to look back and think 'what if' those may years ago. But if we are honest, many were not persuaded at the time by Anita Hill's revelation. It was a different time, a different attitude and a different vision of Clarence Thomas than we have now. Perhaps many of us have developed our awakening, just as President Biden has from time, growth, wisdom and a clarity in vision brought about by a history of Thomas's scandalous behavior.
Tragically, President Biden was one of the Senators who voted for clearance's appointment to SCOTUS -- after he pulled the "high tech lynching!" accusation, following attorney Anita Hill's devastating testimony about his actions when she had to work with him.
I do not think young people are greedy nor are old people greedy. It s the republican leaders who are greedy. These people want to remain in power and the world is moving away from them and they cannot face that. Eventually these republicans will need the young people to take care of them.
I hope. I read that the younger people are not supporting trump. If the democratic numbers stay the same, trumpers at 50% , if trumpers lose numbers because of his antics, the percentages could go democratic.
"because of his antics" The whole party has morphed into a malignant nightmare clown-car. Piloting the ship of state? We just grazed the iceberg (not including a wake of broken families and excess COVID deaths) the last time around, and the climate storm gathers apace.
The profound ignorance and gullibility is really shocking to me. What a tortured inner life these people must live, believing the apocalyptic nonsense that has no rational solution. When I talked to one recently, what I came away with was how helpless they must feel. There is no way out for them but violence, since the beliefs are so ridiculous and have no solution in reality.
"profound ignorance and gullibility" - typical cult; how it ate the brains of so many will puzzle us for decades. I lay the credit/blame at the feet of Ronnie and Rupert. In 1985, an article by Louis Lehman in the StLouis Post Dispatch laid it all out, just like the 2015 Project does this day.
This is one of the reasons trump and company want to move their court trials away from places like NY ( a lot of people hate him) and GA where he probably regards the judge as a hanging judge. That's why his minions are trying to impeach her to get her off the case. Notice there is no complaints from the republicans about the trump leaning judge Cannon in FL.
Edwin, it isn't only Lynn who finds long writings easier to read/take in when broken up into paragraphs. I read your very interesting and informed posts but would really prefer a few paragraph breaks. But you for all of your thoughtful commentary.
Elizabeth, you have taken the words right out my mouth! You are absolutely correct. Thomas is scum in a robe. He has become a grifter that’s on the take, selling decisions from the highest court in this nation.
It’s quite clear that this Supreme Court didn’t think of the hood of the people when it made this decision, or any decision it’s made on any case for that matter.
What needs to happen is every member of the Supreme Court needs to be investigated thoroughly to ensure they are living up to the highest standards. If they are found to have violated the law, the ethics of a justice, then they need to be immediately removed and prosecuted.
Unfortunately impeachment would result in a trial in the Senate. None of the Republican senators would vote to convict strictly on partisan grounds. McConnell would not allow it. Based on the current makeup of the Senate, 17 of them would need to vote to convict along with all the Democrats in order to remove Thomas or any other judge.
Mitch McConnell's days in the Senate could be limited. He had another "frozen" episode. His aide managed the situation like a daughter with an impaired elderly father. Problem is McConnell is Senate minority leader with a big role.
He might be suffering from petit mal seizures which seem to have started subsequent to his recent fall. I think he needs to see a neurologist before he blanks out while crossing the street or walking downstairs. It's also probably time for him to retire.
This is very true, Mike. With the makeup we now have in the Senate, and House of Representatives, there’s no way we’ll ever get the votes to out any of these justices. The ones that need to be expelled are all Trump appointees. There’s way to hang Trump lovers in Congress!
This is another reason we all have gif to cite 🧢🧢🧢🧢in all the upcoming elections the next 6 to 8 years!
For decades, Jenn. SMH...the others too are corrupt and the decisions they made on the court should ALL be examined for invalidity based on relationships with those who gained by “winning” cases. Disgusting.
And they smack of privilege. How about members of the LGBTQ+ community who are in the cross hairs of the GOP and all the acts of violence born of their hate filled rhetoric?
'Conservative Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito are increasingly going on offense as they seek to push back against a firestorm of ethics controversies.'
'When Thomas’s annual financial disclosure was released Thursday, the justice’s personal attorney simultaneously circulated an unusual six-page statement tearing into “left wing” groups that he said had “weaponized” ethics against Thomas.'
'Alito earlier had spoken out under his own name in a rare op-ed and interview he gave to The Wall Street Journal’s conservative-leaning opinion section.'
'Alito in the interview called recent stories about him “nonsense” and suggested the Supreme Court bar should be defending him.'
“But that’s just not happening. And so at a certain point I’ve said to myself, nobody else is going to do this, so I have to defend myself,” Alito told the paper.'
'Public statements from Alito and Thomas’s attorney give the impression that both justices are sick of sitting back and taking criticism from the media and Senate Democrats.'
'The written remarks by Elliot Berke, Thomas’s personal attorney, were particularly striking Thursday.'
“No Justice, Justice Thomas included, should be subjected to such political blood sport,” Berke wrote. “It is painfully obvious that these attacks are motivated by hatred for his judicial philosophy, not by any real belief in any ethical lapses.” (The Hill) See link to the article below.
What is shocking to me is that our highest court in our nation fails to recognize blatantly obvious ethical standards apply to them, in their hallowed positions of Supreme Justices.
As shocked and betrayed as I feel about Dobbs, I am stunned that a justice could unabashedly suggest that: no one told me it was a problem, so therefore, it was not. And, lookee-lookee....now I AM heretofore reporting all goodies obtained under the table from generous friends who support “my” judgements, since this has now been brought to my attention as “unpopular”. And,....this unpleasant public reaction is, after all, merely mean spirited politics. We are very honorable!!!
Alito and Thomas and even Roberts all need to to recognize that they are, as ethical leaders of this country, obligated by inference of the dignity of their office, to the highest of ethical standards, and if they can’t figure out what that might mean, they have no business serving a lifetime appointment on the highest court of the land.
Perhaps the most striking and alarming aspect of this whole Supreme Court grift and graft story is the silence of the Chief Justice. The fact that Roberts has not stepped up to establish a formal and enforceable set of rules - a code of conduct, if you will - speaks volumes about the pervasive corruption of this court.
Roberts can't get officially upset that his fellow justices have been bought and paid for. Because through the glaringly obvious corrupt behavior of he and his wife, some of the greatest offenses have been from him.
'John Roberts can’t get a Supreme Court ethics code. Alito’s interview shows why
When the Supreme Court left for its summer recess in June, the justices were at a stalemate on adopting a formal ethics code.'
'Chief Justice John Roberts has been seeking unanimity among the nine justices for firm ethics standards, CNN has learned, but such agreement has eluded him. It is not clear what standards a majority might be considering and the reasoning of the holdouts.'
'Justice Samuel Alito’s new comments in a Wall Street Journal interview suggest why he and perhaps other justices might be resisting and rebuffing outside pressure related to ethics, despite escalating controversy over justices’ lavish travel and other off-bench behavior.'
'The Supreme Court, Wednesday , June 28, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Supreme Court stands by its guidelines after report raises new ethics questions
Alito said he “voluntarily follows disclosure statutes that apply to lower court judges,” and he expressed disdain for congressional efforts to persuade the justices to adopt their own ethics rules.'
'“I know this is a controversial view, but I’m going to say it,” Alito said.' “No provision in the Constitution gives them the authority to regulate the Supreme Court – period.”
'Alito’s broader remarks reflected a belief that outside critics, not the justices themselves, are the source of legitimacy concerns engulfing the high court.' (CNN) See link below.
Thanks for the link. It paints a clearer picture. But the naive assumption of the article is that Roberts actually wants to clean up the court. I believe he wants to create the appearance of propriety but it's too late for that. His legacy is a mess.
And this should bother us:
"Chief Justice John Roberts has been seeking unanimity among the nine justices for firm ethics standards..."
A CHIEF Justice may not have the actual authority (I don't know, couldn't he?) to establish some clear boundaries and codes with respect to gifts and recusal when hearing cases presented by donors or friends who got their jobs through the Chief's wife!
But he COULD stand tall with some basics that would be obvious and acceptable to any logical person opposed to corruption. He COULD speak clearly about what should be acceptable or not. But as I said. He won't. Because he and his wife have become rich through the same web of corruption as Alito and Thomas. Roberts is essentially the Chief Con Man.
Bill, I am not ready to accuse the CNN reporter of making a 'naive assumption' with reference to Roberts' motives. The impression I received is that unanimity among the Justices about a uniform code of ethics would not be achievable. I find it totally inappropriate to leave the creation of a proper code of ethics to the Courts' Justices, when an independent panel of legal experts would the more sensible approach.
"an independent panel of legal experts would the more sensible approach." Yes!
And from what I have learned it already exists. The Code of Conduct for all other judges employed by the Federal Government would be a starting point, no? And then, since it's the "Supreme Court" the panel could tighten it up even more. They could have "Supreme Integrity"!
Bill, with respect to your quote, 'Because through the glaringly obvious corrupt behavior of he and his wife, some of the greatest offenses have been from him.', I do not know whether that is correct. Given the questionable ethics of Justices Thomas and Alioto, it isn't clear to me which of the Justices may be most unethical. I thought some clarification about the Chief Justice, in this regard, would be helpful to readers. The following was copied from an article about the matter in The New York Times:
'At the Supreme Court, Ethics Questions Over a Spouse’s Business Ties
'The chief justice’s wife, Jane Sullivan Roberts, has made millions in her career recruiting lawyers to prominent law firms, some of which have business before the court. Now, a letter sent to Congress claims that may present a conflict of interest.'
'After Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joined the Supreme Court, his wife, Jane Sullivan Roberts, gave up her career as a law firm partner to become a high-end legal recruiter in an effort to alleviate potential conflicts of interest. Mrs. Roberts later recalled in an interview that her husband’s job made it “awkward to be practicing law in the firm.”
'Now, a former colleague of Mrs. Roberts has raised concerns that her recruiting work poses potential ethics issues for the chief justice. Seeking an inquiry, the ex-colleague has provided records to the Justice Department and Congress indicating Mrs. Roberts has been paid millions of dollars in commissions for placing lawyers at firms — some of which have business before the Supreme Court, according to a letter obtained by The New York Times.'
'In his letter last month, Kendal Price, a 66-year-old Boston lawyer, argued that the justices should be required to disclose more information about their spouses’ work. He did not cite specific Supreme Court decisions, but said he was worried that a financial relationship with law firms arguing before the court could affect justices’ impartiality or at least give the appearance of doing so.'
“I do believe that litigants in U.S. courts, and especially the Supreme Court, deserve to know if their judges’ households are receiving six-figure payments from the law firms,” Mr. Price wrote.'
'In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Supreme Court, Patricia McCabe, said that all the justices were “attentive to ethical constraints” and complied with financial disclosure laws. The chief justice and his wife had also consulted the code of conduct for federal judges, Ms. McCabe said, including a 2009 advisory opinion that a judge “need not recuse merely because” his or her spouse had worked as a recruiter for a law firm with issues before the court.' (NYTimes) See gifted link below.
Traditionally, a judge or public official who has a sense of high ethics acts simply based on the PERCEPTION of influence. If Roberts and his wife wanted to really show how uninfluenced he is, they could have agreed that she would apply her legal training to another form of work in the field of law. There are many ways that "connected" attorneys can make millions.
So instead of doing this elaborate dance of rationalization (maybe this, maybe that) she could have simply found other lucrative work when he became Chief Justice. A person in a role like that needs to lead by example and there shouldn't be even the tiniest hint of conflict. It's not hard to do. You just commit to it.
All JMO. I do appreciate the info you provide. Thanks!
We agree, Bill. I refrain from writing exactly what I think of Roberts, but with that hint, it's no secret.
Colorful language, fierce rhetoric, exaggeration, a host of enemies, endless lies, self-serving, and dramatic scenes have their allure in fiction, non-fiction and in America during The Trump Years. Digging out the details, the context, the evidence, compiling the facts is the work of journalism and historians. It can be boring, but the road to the truth is what counts most of all.
I would reply, "Justice Thomas, this is America, not Russia! You are appointed to serve the ctizens of the United States of America!.....each and all of us....NOT JUST THOSE WHO TAKE YOU AND JEN ON FUN TRIPS!
Sadly, our Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life and are above the law.
The despicable Leonard Leo bought two mansions on Mt. Desert Island in ME after hand selecting 1) donors for Thomas and Alito and 2) hand picking Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Comey-Barrett. Several protests have been staged by the good people of ME at his property this summer. He had the local police arrest one of them and now there is a civil lawsuit against the police department. So the taxpayers of the town will pay for Leo's indiscretions yet again.
The minority head of the Republican Party in Maine's House defended him saying they are bashing him because he is Catholic and a conservative. No one has said a word about his being Catholic or being a conservative. This is typical Republican gaslighting.
Thomas called Leo the 3rd most powerful man in the world. I don't often agree with Thomas, but he may be right about that.
Susan Collins can thank Leo for getting her reelected as he raised tens of millions for her reelection which, she barely won.
I can't help thinking that the supreme court needs an ombudsman type position created with the skill, credibility, and power to investigate complaints made against the justices and other court personnel to determine their merit. If such an office existed, these issues would have been settled, one way or another, by now. If Thomas and Alito have not made any serious ethics violations, as they claim, this matter would have been put to rest.
As it is now, innocent or not (I am trending to the "or not" camp), the entire court's ethical standing is eroding (yes, many other things are contributing to this), all because we really cannot know the truth of these allegations. By taking no action, Roberts is allowing the entire court to suffer. This will be his legacy; failing to be the adult in the room when we desperately need one.
Steve, the fact that your suggestion is sensible spells out the Court as being reprehensible. It is not ethical and, therefore, requires monitoring. To widen the view how deep and wide is corruption in the US? How much of that is responsible for the election of Trump and others, who have no business holding elective office?
Hi Fern! There is no question corruption exists on all levels of the US government. That is the whole reason for our system of checks and balances. Corruption takes many forms. What pains me most is the silence/duplicity of those who should be acting as agents of our checks and balances system either saying nothing or actively aiding those trying to destroy it. When we needed a boxer, McConnell continued playing chess. When we needed a school-yard monitor, Roberts continued eating lunch with his friends. When we needed a fire-and-brimstone preacher, Pence continued to be a sycophantic pharisee.
These are all deep, repeated, moral failings, not simple mistakes made by good people. Trump and his ilk would have no traction if Republican leadership was up to its job. The irony is, if the Trumpers take over, they will be even less relevant than they are now.
And with that excellent comment nothing else needs to be said.
Thank you LH!
Of course “nothing else needs to be said “never stopped me before..... we should all be taking the slimy Thomas’s corruption as an insult to our Nation. Of course they can’t spell( the Thomas’s) that is. Other wise they would hang “SHAME” on their bibs!
You know, besides the moral and political sentiments and hearing regularly from people who see what a confounded mess is happening, one thing I love about this group is that no one replied to my little joke with a long and earnest lecture about how illogical it would be to do that.
Thanks Heather, how you can put so much information so clearly and to the point is remarkable.
Here we are in the middle of natures raging at our excesses and the GOP is ready to ask for help, (hint Florida) but they will never admit they are the source of the problem, deniers on every important issues that affect their constituency's. They take credit for everything they vote against. They have no moral compass. How can they participate in a democracy. Somebody should tell their mothers.
Ellen, it takes people talking to people about her, what she voted against to keep from them receiving the benefits. What’s she’s not done while in office. The tax dollars she had wasted. People need to be talking about all these republicans to let others know that none of them are there for us. All they are there fir is grifting money from us into their own pockets.
Something else. If yiu get opportunity to attend one of their ‘rallies’ ‘town hall meetings’, feel free in in Q & A portion to call them out about how they voted in these particular bills. Why they voted against them instead of fir them, since the bills were designed to help all folks instead of a certain demographic group.
Thankfully, Stefanik is not my representative, but her district is not far away and I know many people who would vote her out in a heartbeat. If I remember correctly, Stefanik rarely has town-hall type meetings... too "on the spot" for her, probably.
I am glad she’s not your rep! Yes, she should be asked embarrassing questions. All of them must be approached to have them admit to their misdeeds. Ex: Why are you taking credit for your district when you voted against (xyz)?
All of the things Professor Richardson outlined in today’s Letters are becoming commonplace. From historic weather events to a failure of fully half of our politicians to make any attempt to address solutions, but rather use climate induced natural disasters as an excuse to diminish the current administration and agencies like FEMA (now critically underfunded) in providing needed assistance, these self serving agents of the oligarchy are destroying our country for their own political and economic gain. By systematically lying, promoting confusion and by throwing down roadblocks on all levels, state and federal, to twist facts to their advantage, they hope to remake this nation into their own demented playground. While the level of corruption in our federal courts all the way up to SCOTUS has become a blaring klaxon and a blinding, flashing red light, it’s just another example of the extremes to which these people will go to achieve their ends.
All of this has become patently obvious to about half of the American people, but the unvarnished truth never filters down to the other half, and herein lies the real problem. We, ALL of us, have gradually become tolerant of a media, largely owned by those same oligarchs, that is willing to sell its integrity for material gain. Here I include not just the traditional press but all channels used today to convey information, or misinformation, including social media and even the lily-livered “main stream” media. These channels must be strictly held to account, or there will be no salvaging this country.
The usual suspects will howl “FOUL! FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATION! MINISTRY OF TRUTH!” etc. There can be no gentile way to say this: Fuck them! We need to rein in the media, and now! It couldn’t be any worse to do something about this cancer than to let it progress. It’ll take a huge win by the left in November 2024 to achieve this, including super majorities in both the House and Senate. But I believe it’s our last remaining hope.
You are hitting on the core problem. Much of the fascist MAGA movement is powered by the so-called Main Stream Media that continues to act and talk as if there is not a coup under way. Every time they allow a Senator or House Rep to spout lies on TV or in an interview they are aiding the coup. They should be stopping these monsters in their tracks mid interview every time they babble fantastical nonsense. Instead we get the veneer of fairness and "listening to both sides".
So I only take issue with one word in your comment. We shouldn't be "reining" in the media. We should require them to do their jobs. Report the damn truth and call out the lies on the spot. We need a media that investigates and then castigates the fascists and their fabrications.
It's time for a real muckraking Ida Tarbell to come from the grave or outer space or wherever such heroes exist. Broadcasters like Lester Holt or Amna Nawaz need to hold some feet to the fire.
How about:
"Tell us about Project 2025 and what that means, Senator. Do you support the dismantling of the Federal Government? Why haven't you abandoned a Presidential candidate who has been charged with 91 felonies...who has admitted to sexual abuse, admitted to stealing top secret documents and has encouraged the overthrow of democracy - including the assassination of his own vice President...Senator, please explain this to the American public. Sir....sir...no, that's not true and you know it. Please answer our questions. And, sir, if former President Trump is convicted, will you still support him just because he is not a Democrat? No, sir, sir, sir.... Certainly you hold your bladder long enough to answer at least one of our questions...."
Bill, if only! I'd pay double to see this kind of confrontation. Another issue I have is that the national Dem Party needs to figure out how to shout from the rooftops all that the Biden admin has accomplished. Where are the billboards? Where are the full page ads in local papers that point out what has been done to help that community? Those voices that show up on MSM, and good that they do, are talking to those of us already in the know, in agreement. I don't send the national party any $$ because of this. I support the candidates I choose, but until the Dems get a louder, stronger voice, I will not support the party.
Mimi, I think they are starting to do this. I’ve recently seen a few commercial spots on TV that tout this Admin’s efforts & successes…it was good to see it. I hope there will be more.
Mimi, the Biden administration began a &25 million dollar ad campaign the Wednesday night of the Republican debate. The ads ran throughout the debate, on all networks. They are still running. I have seen them in MSNBC, NBC, ABC, and CBS. I have aide seen them on ESPN, and SEC Networks.
I have no idea about the FOX networks. I don’t know about any of them, but I did read through this grapevine here someplace that FOX refused to run the ads.
This is correct. And I feel it can be done effectively saying ‘you don’t really agree with that ,do you? What about the multiple claims that have no proof? Or perhaps you have found some truth...What about the investigations that proved this was not true. What about ....’ this is how we do it. Yes giving them ‘fair press time’ is bogus!
Bill, when I used the term "rein in the media" I was thinking not only of literally shutting down Fox's ongoing lie campaign but also the point you made about the mainstream media: ‘Instead we get the veneer of fairness and "listening to both sides"’. I totally agree that this pseudo “fairness” doctrine is benefiting the oligarchy. But make no mistake, their agenda is not “fairness”, it’s a pure financial calculation; they are reluctant to offend ANYONE, including that portion of their audience that leans even slightly right. In this respect, they too need to be made accountable and forced to do some objective reporting of the news.
While I got a kick out of your parody of Amna Nawaz holding some Republican senator’s feet to the fire in an interview, I was also reminded of the last time I saw Chuck Todd try to do that to Mike Pence. Pence is an absolute artist at blathering on and on over the top of any objection raised by an interviewer and sometimes it goes on for minutes. I think perhaps a more effective way to handle this behavior would be to give the guy all the time in the world to make an idiot of himself by nodding enthusiastically and smiling while running a traveling caption beneath the picture that might say “This is BS! Notice how Mr. Pence has again totally ignored the basic question and has pivoted to a completely unrelated topic and will soon predictably shift to a campaign stump speech touting his accomplishments …. his ramblings are purely for the purpose of maximizing the benefit of his free exposure on Meet the Press and to prevent Mr. Todd from asking any further embarrassing questions …. and further note that Mr Pence has now spoken continuously for two minutes and fifty one seconds without touching the question that was asked ….” Just a thought ;-)
Bill, these are questions that need to be ask, and I guess the only way that they can be ask is some of us attend their ‘town hall meetings’, or one if their ’rallies’.
I know for a fact that several of the hosts on MSNBC have invited numerous of them to come and be in their program, but they all apparently have forgotten to check their emails and forgotten how a phone works. None of them have responded to their request. Joe Scarborough, Katty Tur, and several of the evening/prime time hosts have all invited several of the legislators, congressmen/women on their programs from the Republican side, but they flat refuse to respond to their request.
LeMoine, the results of the brainwashing of fellow Americans is what hurts me most. All the Republicans want is their vote and their money as they attempt to seize power.
Emily, I agree. To see my former friends and colleagues become MAGAt mouth breathers (and sorry for the insult to mouth breathers) has been depressing. To have watched my father-in-law become a rabid MAGAT and lose all of his common sense and knowledge of history to the kool-aid was horrible.
LeMoine, keep on preaching my friend! I say this in here every day, exactly what you have said. If WE, THE PEOPLE, don’t get out and VOTE BLUE, then WE, THE PEOPLE, are the only ones to blame. We must keep Biden/Harris in office one more term, AND WE MUST make the House of Representatives and the Senate both Super Majority.
We must also rid every state of every Republican politician that spouts lies, and refuses to follow the Constitution and uphold our Democracy. This bill💩💩💩this bunch of Trumpublicans is spewing is garbage. It’s time to “clean house”!
This will take at least three election cycles, so the next 8 years we must be extremely vigilant. We must take this country back through the ballot box, or lose it!
Patricia, I’m 71, never missed an election, even being homebound and disabled. Georgia changed their voting laws to prevent folks like me, the elderly, the disabled, from voting. They now gave it where the election ifffices can only mail out the ballots within two weeks of the ejection, and when we receive them, we only have a week to fill out and return.
I am always ready fir mine. It goes back in my mailbox the very day I receive it so it goes back to them the next day.
I’m stressing to everyone to vote! We have got to vote 🧢💙🧢💙🧢💙 in every single election the next 6-8 years. We have gut to replace every Republican in our local, state, federal political offices.
They won’t expelled none of them for breaking the law, we will fire them at the polls!
Love that confidence. Lucid Zoom today..a question was asked if the 14th AMMENDMENT could be used for others to DISQUALIFY them..posed a real plan of action for groups to unite under…but your note of how the voting laws have changed needs to take precedence and be reiterated in your state. I did not know this but BET there’s a lot of states having done the same thing…please people let us know if your state has also done this! Let’s spread that information!
Thanks, Patricia. I’m just voicing my thoughts and opinions on these topics.
Being unable to get out of this damn apartment and go to meetings, talk to people, and try to physically make a difference, I’m hoping my words inspire others to go do what I wish I could physically do.
All I know is if we dint get people fired up across this country, in ALL 50 states, we are in deep trouble. We will be living under the Dictatorship of an imprisoned dictator, Donald J. Trump, the 🍓💩🤡!!!
I am trying to do my part by asking my 24 hour fitness to switch Newsmax (which I see on many of the TVs) to local news. Many TVs are already on Fox which is bad enough. They sometimes comply. Before DirecTV cut the cord with OAN, I asked them to change the channel and told them that OAN was poison.
What a clincher! The perfect book, film, pamphlet title...
Yet we can be sure their poor mothers knew all too well. They will have had to live with the arrested development of their lifelong-mega-tantrum-carpet-chewing offspring.
I have known, since I worked in jr high and high school, that all Moms are not the same. Mine was flawed but wouldn't put up with blowing your own horn, not accepting responsibility, and other societal norms. I learned that many "moms" just followed the path of least resistance and raised monsters. Some just made excuses for their monsters, all day, every day. I read a great quote, along the lines of "remember parents, when you get through with them, the rest of us have to deal with them." How true.
School nurses were my heroes when I was a school counselor. Great title. Mine is “Parenthood equals Temporary Insanity.” Also, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
Strange as it seemed, I noticed that kids who were ashamed of their pathetic excuse for parents in 9th grade, became more and more like them by graduation. Maybe just my experience. Had a soft spot for ninth grade boys, they seemed to flounder so before settling. Many girls became “hard” earlier, maybe because of cliques. Anyway my blather about those who are now middle aged.
Barbara, I have the utmost respect for nurses. Period. But school nurses. Whew! They are really special. They deal with the aches, pains, illnesses of the children every day. Plus, they have the headaches of dealing with the parents who mostly don’t give a damn about their children.
Christopher, and President Joe Biden is PRESIDENT for all Americans....even states governed (controlled?) by members of a political party that is working to replace our freedoms with their prejudices and questionable ideologies regarding leadership.
The sign of a good policy is when those who were initially against it start endorsing it. Taking credit for something you tried to kill is an odd, disingenuous, way to endorse something, but it is an endorsement. The press and Democrats need to start pointing this out.
The rubber is meeting the road now: participants in the January 6 storming of our Capitol are having their day in court and ... well ... they are getting convicted and subsequently sentenced to lengthy terms of hard time. Good on ‘em.
Project 2025 is the chilling Republican game plan for installing an authoritarian government in the US if they win in next election cycle. It aims to replace career government officials partisan hacks who will hew to the Republican Party line. It is there in plain sight and has been for a while, but it is amazing to me that it has been able to "fly under the radar" of the media for so long.
Every person who wants to defend our democracy needs to read this document so they know what we have to defend against.
I'd like the DNC to be much more vocal/visible. My main awareness of the DNC is the tens of emails I get each day asking for donations. No money from me until I see how they can "fight back" against the loud and lying Repubs.
Georgia, this “manifesto” was put forth in January of this year and I only became aware of it a couple of months ago (I don’t actively follow Heritage Foundation’s work). I finally saw a segment this week on MSNBC raising the alarm and covering their plan. Even reading the HF’s January announcement was scary. In the last day or so Tom Hartman’s Substack had a good synopsis of the 900+ page; here is a link in case anyone wants to view it (you don’t have to be a paid subscriber to read it):
I saw it back in January and posted about it back then. It is amazing to me that it has flown under the radar this long. But maybe it is saying that Democrats are so siloed that they don't bother to read or search for what the Republican "elite" are saying. They rely on the Trump and Freedom Caucus sound bites and not on the game plan of the authoritarian intellectuals at the Heritage Foundation. They openly messaged their plan to subvert the judiciary. Now they are aiming at the entire Federal Government.
But IS it in the media? And in what way? Do they tell it like it is (“hey people, the GOP have formulated a plan to turn the USA into a fascist dictatorship!”), or are they peddlin it as “finally, no more weak presidents, now comes a strong government, hurrah”, or are they ignoring it and riding around on Biden’s age?
Biden’s age is a truth they can run into the ground while ignoring the calamities the republicans have done, are doing, and plan to do. All while Rome burns and they fiddle
If people are going to make age an issue, we have McConnell freezing up on camera again and Feinstein unsure of where she is. This is a bipartisan problem.
yes, it is. But chump has no excuse for being "deliberately demented." Repubs have plenty of young politicians who have selective dementia. At least my husband didn't choose to be ignorant.
Yes, Jeri and as Biden continues to lead and to serve and to encourage...not only encouraging freedom here but throughout the world. He has alot on his plate which holds a big serving of experience and at the table with him, he has included some great men and women who are working with our President to serve , to mend relationships, to work hard at bringing our world and country together...to give us all a little hope...to keep moving "freedom" forward.
It is also great to see work being done regarding our oceans....as well as continued work being done to address air quality.
And Yes, we hear regularly of the hellish fighting in Ukraine. Just give in to those in the Republican Party who want to discontinue our support for the ideal of FREEDOM.
Realize...WE, the great country of Democracy ...will be on the "chopping block". Those who oppose working...and when necessary...fighting for freedom....our own and our likeminded citizens of this planet.....will find themselves in a very different world.
Do we want to exist in a country controlled by self-centered cruel , self-indulgent "rulers"? Do you want to have everything in your life controlled by such persons?
As you can see....Zelensky and the people of Ukraine are paying the price for freedom...for having a voice in their governance...in their family's life choices.
Thanks to Heather and the women and men of like character who are "sounding the alarm!!!!"
"Do we want to exist in a country controlled by self-centered cruel , self-indulgent "rulers"? Do you want to have everything in your life controlled by such persons?"
Sadly, a lot of people do. They are actually screaming for it. But I don't know if they _really_ want it, or _made to think_ they want it... I mean, nobody in their sane mind would want to live under a fascist Nazi regime - not unless they are absolute sadists and sycophants, that is.
Trouble is, if America's democracy fails and succumbs to authoritarianism, there is no way that democracy in Europe can survive. All in all, it would mean the end of democracy altogether. In that sense, the American voters have a far larger responsibility than most of them realize.
Dutch Mike, I agree with your assessment. What I see in my MAGAt friends is they want MY life controlled (no abortion, no gay marriage, no gender affirming care for my friends, forced to go to a white Christian nationalist church) but not theirs.
If the largest democracy in the world crashes, the forces that want to see democracy and its principles utterly destroyed will surely take the momentum. It will be damned hard to counter that blow without the US...
Well Dutch, the MSM HAVE attended to Mitch McConnell's "freeze-ups" reasonably accurately and repeatedly. Perhaps even more sadly while less visibly, Democrats have had more trouble persuading our own Diane Feinstein that her various health difficulties (shingles?) have significantly and materially affected the Democrats efforts to counteract the Republican craziness.
Everyone needs to know and understand that the Heritage Foundation plan is, in essence, the Republican platform. It nust be addressed in datail to help people understand its implications and consequences.
Simply doing his job, YES. I could give him a big grateful hug (but no kiss! I'd probably be arrested for sexual aggression). And his response to gossipy reporters re Mitch McConnell - I've talked to him, he's an old friend, he's fine. After a concussion there's bound to be a few episodes like that. (Or words to that effect).
Cyberbully weighing in at 215 lbs is also a compulsive liar. Physically and mentally and LEGALLY unfit for office. It’s in the Constitution in plain English.
I cannot think of anything more disgusting than the Fat Defendant with his posturing and that evangelistic whine. I remember when he first burst out like a risen sun, with Farage hyena-like by his side, I thought "They've elected Elmer Gantry!"
in contrast. Trump spouting off in numerous vids on Truth Social about various grievances, but not a word of concern about a man who helped him and his cause for 4 years in the senate. In the inimitable words of Bugs Bunny, "What a Maroon!"
Clarence Thomas’s failure to report his travel paid by Harlan Crowe was no more “inadvertent” than the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin. The Justices are the puppets of Leonard A. Leo and a cabal of religious and powerful extremists - The Federal Society and The Heritage Action Fund along with others who have and will continue to buy power to impose their dogma and unregulated capitalism on this country.
Vote in 2023 & 2024! Get out the vote by registering and helping others to vote if you believe in freedom, justice and opportunity for all.
Yes. Vote and pledge to get as many other non-voters to the voting booth as is humanly possible. There are way more reasonable and fair minded folks than there are fascists. We just need them to participate. We need to break through the "all politicians are the same" BS logjam.
I was shocked to realize that we apparently do not pay our justices a living wage and thereby force them to depend on the largesse of strangers, I mean, friends.
One of Biden's character traits I most admire, (there are several), is his ability to take the High Road when emergencies like the Maui and FL ones arise. He acts presidential, he contacted the governors prior to Idalia landing, he assured the stinker in FL that disaster help would be available, and he isn't tossing rolls of paper towels out in HI.
And I chuckle at his Irish verbal left jabs and uppercuts to intransigents like Gaetz ,MTG , and Tuberville when they vote against IRA $$$ but take credit when they recieve their share.
I am positively thrilled that Joe Biden is my president.
Clarence Thomas is an extremely entitled, petty individual who lies badly and plays the martyr when anyone has the audacity to question his self-perceived awesomeness. Sounds an awful lot like someone else who has been spending quite a bit of time in court lately.
Yup. It’s a pattern that every right-wing extremist displays: shouting, coming in swinging, laughing about other peoples’ suffering, and as soon as somebody counters, they go all “boohoo, they’re being mean to me”. Cowards.
I just have to ponder out loud and wonder if Fl Governor (I live in FTLD) is actually going to release funds to the people who need them. Ft Myers is still a mess and the beach area just flooded again from the storm surge.
Who can be your eyes and ears in the government, as it were, in Floriduh? That’s where I would start. Try to work with DC to make them accountable. Such liars and thieves are in charge...
Excellent suggestion. Those funds are OUR tax dollars, not DeSatan’s private bank account to burn more books or throw more rightfully elected public servants out of office. We have every right to oversee how the devil is spending our money….omg.
I hope all my Florida peeps are safe and fared ok with Idalia.💙
I also hope DeSantis is not starting a trend with all the “climate change is a hoax “ folks by refusing the IRA/climate funding. So far, he’s the only one.
I know of at least one person who replaced a 25–year old heat pump and was expecting the 2000$ rebate….but DeSantis says NOT happening. We just had a @#$&ing CAT 3 hurricane !!! A number of news sites are covering so hopefully many Floridians will be informed. But sadly many are concerned with…surviving a CAT3 hurricane !!!( rant over)😡
From the article: "Today’s Republicans have abandoned the Reagan-era Republican plan to gut the federal government and are instead determined to capture it, replacing nonpartisan civil servants with Republican extremists who will carry out the ideals of Trump or any candidate like him who can defeat Biden in 2024. Their nearly-1,000-page plan, called “Project 2025,” calls for politicizing the Department of Justice and law enforcement officers and giving far more power to the president."
What further proof do you need, America, for the Nazification of the United States? They are advertising it in broad daylight -- so you won't be surprised when it happens. The problem is, they just might be unstoppable, just like Hitler was. Where is the outrage? Where is the rage? Why are the college campuses silent? If the students disengage, we are doomed. They are silent.
I never believed the Reagan "small government" thing. Republican run goverment since was never small except in the sense of "That's small of you". Rather it tends to be very heavy handed. What Reagan mocked and despised was democracy and the general welfare, the common weal. He touted the allegedly superior leadership of plutocrats. Republicans have since traded dog whistles for bull horns, but the plutocratic agenda remains, with plutocratic favors (such as Thomas currently enjoys) calling the tune.
Seen for what he really was. Too much top-down screen time can easily distort our sense of reality, as it shows only what someone else wants you to see. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4631421.stm The powers that be waited till long after Reagan's death to show a glimpse of Reagan backstage
"The two were discussing the Tanzanian delegation’s reaction to the vote, after delegates danced in the chamber.
and yet I still encounter liberals in person and in print who refer to Reagan as the last responsible Republican president.
Seeing things for what they are, including, best we can, ourselves are key to justice, innovation and resilience, no? We are all only human, but Big Lies are big trouble and folly too often a deadly trap.
Heard so much racist schitt in my young life. Would be nice if those in charge would set a better example than our families did. I think I would have been more radical than H. Rapp Brown, if I had been born black. Racism = hatred for no reason whatsoever. Never have figured out what the deal was with Jews,
At least as I see it, I think there is a natural distrust/interest among us mammals for what is different. Dogs we have had would sometimes bark at any new object in the yard, animate or not. I think kids grasp stories like "Dumbo" and "The Ugly Duckling". It appears to me from experience and from dramas I have seen from around the world that kids tend to gang up against the one who is "different". Not always, of course, but it is common, though difference of some sorts can also lead to celebrity.
Those who aspire to dominate us, even among those kids, use difference as a wedge to divide and conquer. For example, demonizing immigrants. Demonizing homosexuality as if it were some kind of harm. Insisting on conformity in modes of dress, etc. The USSR even attacked innovative instrumental classical music. The notion is to live like a king, or as one, by training people to be obedient robots.
Since the robots get stuck with most of the work for a bare reward, you would think that would be a very hard sell, so tyrants tend to encourage an out-group with few if any rights. The power of tyranny comes from the top of a stratified society, with rewards and punishments passed down though the ranks. The serfs get kicked around, but are provided with "untouchable", right-less out groups who define the lowest status; so the serfs identify with and defend the little slice of status they have, and can feel superior to others in a society in which feeling superior to others is the glue that holds the whole thing together. Or so it seems to me.
I replied to this a couple of days ago, and it disappeared. So one more time. You brought up something that has bothered me on and off since my daughter and grands watched Sesame Street long ago. The song, “one of these things is not like the others” made me wince although it was the most innocent of songs. It was just a way to teach categories and abstractions (which of these things doesn’t belong). But it also might help people see “others” when that is not the purpose. It’s a small thing but one of many things children are exposed to that categorize people, not just things. You are right that our tribal tendencies often result in ganging up on the “different.”
I was one of two people who attended a funeral for a black man several years ago. The people there were kindness itself, but I still found my self searching for the other white person I knew. This surprised me as I had left my NC childhood behind long ago. This brought home to me how we sort of gravitate toward our tribe, even with the best motives. This comes from early on and is hard to recognize sometime, much less change. “…use (ing) difference as a wedge to divide and conquer” is the game plan for the haters. You nailed it…
I keep posting this one, but, apart from some outdated language, it so nails the problem with supremacy:
"Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit, and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors. Familiarize yourselves with the chains of bondage and you are preparing your own limbs to wear them. Accustomed to trample on the rights of those around you, you have lost the genius of your own independence, and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises." - Lincoln
Yes, James Burnham, where is the outrage? Even here, among LFAA readers.
I've been yelling this here at the top of my voice, but get the feeling that it is impolite to raise my voice or mention Hitler and how he came to power.
In the run-up to the 2016 election, such things could not even be alluded to, however indirectly.
Complacency dictates that "IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE", just as in 2016 it dictated that Drumpf could not become President.
Exceptional complacency, armor-plated American complacency. Please do not disturb my beauty sleep...
[Today I glimpsed a Financial Times headline over the razor wire on top of their paywall... warning of a hidden danger for the 2024 election: a third party...]
I got banned from FB and Twitter for mentioning chump and the Nazis in the same post, more than once. This was in 2020, when the evidence was clear for all to see, those not blind that is
Ah, the importance of keeping'em blind, deaf, mindless.
This may not be my religion, but I keep on hearing those words of the prophet Isaiah:
"And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed."
James, I have observed the same. Which movie had the most attendees: Oppenheimer or Barbie.....I think it was Barbie. No offense....just a picture of the reality in which we are living.
I have not seen Barbie, but it is my understanding from those who have is that it is not what you think. They report It is a powerful attack on patriarchy.
Putting this all together as you have done, it’s no wonder the Country is on the verge of a collective nervous breakdown. Or, maybe it’s just me. But no doubt we have so much work to do. And it’s like these natural disasters. It will take a very long time but in our collective case we must be there always making it better.
Project 2025 was horrifying. The American Blueprint for Authoritarian Rule coupled with a press who thinks 2024 is a horserace and not the existential threat it is just reminds us that even without Trump we have to rebuild the fabric that we hold so dear.
I got on the particulars on that “Blueprint”. It is being funded by oligarchs through their various right wing mechanisms. If you have ever read anything about oligarchs, especially American ones, remember that they are generally strange people who do not know how to interact publicly. That means they have no stake in reality so it may not go as they planned. Usually they need surrogates to do the work. You,, on the other hand represent yourself, so you have a bigger stake and more passion.
Understand and agree. But thus assumes Biden wins. Schedule F civil servant replacements is now the goal of the 3 top candidates. MAGA power players have been working on this since the day Trump left office. It isn’t as far fetched as it once was. So let’s all hope we vote by wide enough margins to stop the ugly direction parts of our Country are headed in.
I was waiting last night and tonight. Still too many clouds. But the night before last it was beautiful with a outer ring of pink. Taking a breath is the perfect advice. Now you sound like Connie Schultz (Sherrod’s wife ) if I am remembering correctly.
Jeri, I can't remember where I read this years ago, I think it might have been in a novel. Anyhow, the person was talking about how their mother always went to the defense of anyone being discussed, so as a joke, he (I think it was a he) and his siblings decided to rant on about the evils and sins of Satan. End result? His mother declared that she would pray for the redemption of the devil!! And he had no doubt that she did.
I am not at all a fan of Elon Musk, I don't do "X" or any social media, either. I have one teeny tiny itsy bitsy fragment of pity for Elon--he's missing his greatest opportunity.
Many may laud his Space X and Tesla, but I think of all those billions of dollars he has and what he could do for humanity with them! Recall the 60 Minute segment a year or so ago, of the town that had no sewage system? He could fix that and never feel the pain. Flint's water problem? That would cost more, but again, wouldn't break him.
He certainly appears to want to sway politics, maybe even entertains the idea he could be elected to something. He could go down in history as the greatest humanitarian that ever lived.
I believe in the power of prayer, to whatever higher power you believe in, (and even the power of just calming yourself by it.) I contemplate what it is like to have so many angry thoughts against you sent out into the universe.
Imagine what it would be like to be nearly universally loved and admired, and with his billions, he could be that person. Money put into national parks for generations to enjoy. Infusing money into really looking into what works to control gun violence. Underwrite innovative STEM curriculums in schools nationwide. Fund research into cancer cures. How about every single newborn in the US is sent home with a box of 10 books for their loved ones to read to them?
He will die as we all will die. What will be his final thoughts? I wonder what it would be like to know that when you die, the entire nation, if not world would mourn? To know that 100 years from now, a subject would come up and it would be said "we have Elon to thank for that."
Couldn’t agree more, although I’m missing that fragment of pity for him because he chooses to be a waste of space. No matter how smart he is, he will leave a legacy of money to his children and a world poorer for his having been in it. To me, inherited money is a pox in most cases.
I can’t help but love the first paragraph. I saw this Churchill quote and it fits. “If Hitler invaded hell, I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons.”
Thank you. I know you are right. After the murders last week I have decided I need a break from politics and tragedies. I booked a flight to see my family and friends. Some good healing time to return refreshed to continue the good fight. Thanks again. It’s good we all have each other. Stay well.
It is not just you. And I think it is more than just a nervous breakdown; a president who planned to obstruct the peaceful transition of power and fomented an insurrection is more than just nervous. It strikes at the core of our country.
“Thomas also suggested he needed to travel on private planes because “the increased security risk following the Dobbs opinion leak” meant that his “security detail recommended noncommercial travel whenever possible.”
Yeah, and he’s supposed to be a Catholic, he and the wife, “practicing Catholics”. I wonder if he he know which Commandments he breaks?
The most obvious are “Justice, Justice you shall pursue” and the injunction against judges taking bribes. There’s probably enough for an alphabet book.
Fascists hide their motives for complete control by finding scapegoats, ignoring consequences of their actions, and sending up smoke screens to prove that everyone else is the problem, not them. Fascists detest women and do not want them in leadership positions. Fascists want only strong, testosterone fueled "real men" in charge and denigrate LGBTQ+ as enemies of society. We are in the middle of a fascist upwelling, and we need to call these Hitler wannabes what they are. The enemy IS within, far more destructive to our freedom than Russia, China, or North Korea ever will be. Kevin McCarthy is an enemy. Ron DeSantis is an enemy. Jordan of Ohio is an enemy. Do not mince words. Sarah Palin is correct that there will be a war, and it is her fascist brethren who will start it.
Perhaps Clarence Thomas’ wealthy donors should pay for all the travel of frightened and desperate women and their families due to the Dobbs decision. I have very little sympathy for Clarence Thomas being concerned about his safety when he willfully disregards an entire genders safety, security, and body autonomy.
LH, Thomas brought the danger directly to all women in society with the overturning of Roe. He must be held accountable for his corruption and deceit to line his pockets and bank accounts will ill-begotten wealth. A disgusting, vile man. His wife is no better. I want them both locked up!
When judges in a supreme Court are corrupt, whom should those who seek justice ran into? It is hard to imagine that the Clarence Thomases of this world can perpetuate corruption in a system that is designed prevent the misuse of resources, promote fairness, make justice a virtue to be upheld, safeguard the constitution (the very basic and foundational reference document), adhere to democratic ideals, and generally do what is right for the country. What type of oath do these judges use to be sworn in? If Clarence Thomas is capable of receiving donations from the wealthy, then you can imagine how many people have bought justice from him and disadvantage others who are desperately in need of justice. He has perhaps become a voice of the wealthy rather than the oppressed in the Supreme Court, a move that is not healthy for the country. Such incidences have happened in Kenya where there is a corruption enterprise, a group of wealthy cartels in almost every industry who want to protect their deals and sometimes hoard goods. In this regard, certain cases are directed to particular judges because they can deliver predetermined verdicts that favor the highest bidders. If this is also perpetuated in a judicial system and moreso in America, then you can imagine the extent of the rot in the judiciary exacerbated by the Thomases. His investigation should be broad to cover all the years he has been judge and cases that he has executed. Who knows? May be his prosecution will reveal delivered injustices to those who deserve justice.
I welcome you to my newsletter. It is free to be my subscriber. I only rely on donations.
Edwin , your insightful response regarding the character of one of our Supreme Court justices reminds me of the good character of our current President.
President Joe Biden continues to work for the people who elected him as well as for the people who hate him.
Mitch McConnell may be in a different political party, but he and Joe have known one another for years. Joe was checking on Mitch even in the midst of working to help those states and fellow human beings harmed by the recent hurricane.
What a great human being!
I concur with you. Joe Biden, if am not wrong, has showcased himself as a human being first and then a countryman as a president. That's why his responses are well-thought, informed, proactive, and free from polarisation despite getting extreme criticism from Republican. And I celebrate him 🙏
Edwin, The Constitution Center podcast featured a discussion of Montesquieu and the Constitution https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCr7X8FydYY This conversation with eminent scholars is peppered with terms like virtue, moderation, not to mention the ultimate human weakness: power, 'the cancer of society'. All the values the Founding Fathers explored when cobbling together our country's foundational document can be traced to Montesquieu's writings. I had to listen more than once to absorb the terms and interpretations (Federalist and Anti-Federalist) imbedded in Montesquieu's theories. It is well worth your time.
This is worthy of my read. I have saved. Thanks
Me too.
But if Chairman Biden had believed Anita Hill and stopped the Judiciary Committee's endorsement of Thomas to the Supreme Court, would we be here today?
This is a reasonable question. My blood still boils over the way Anita Hill was treated. But let's remember that the sexism that surrounded that hearing was embedded in society. And to a slightly lesser degree, it still is.
I also am angry at Biden for his part in the insane "tough on crime" bill that has incarcerated too many for too long. That bill was a crime against humanity.
But I looked in the mirror today. And I saw a flawed person. I like who I am and most of what I have done. But there are a few mistakes that will haunt me forever. I think mirrors work that way for most of us. Even Presidents. Imperfect, yes.
So with all that in mind, I step back and loudly proclaim Joe Biden may be the most moral, compassionate, effective and important President since FDR.
Bill, we all grow as we age and most of us are regretful of some of our past actions. Watching Biden these last years as vice president and now president has brought me hope.
I agree with you, Bill. Biden has grown. We cannot afford to chuck him for past errors when he is doing so much good now. Unlike tfg, he broke no laws. He was stuck in the old patriarchal mindset that still reigns in a large part of our society.
Some people get older and wisr. Others just get old.
So true Bill. Which is why we have to work hard to re-elect him again. Compared to Trump and the other Repub candidates there is none that even come close to the terrific job he has done for us all!
Biden is a better man than he was in those days, and it's very true that until Anita Hill (who is a Black woman, who were mostly invisible back in those days) brought the term "sexual harassment" into the mainstream, Americans had literally no idea what it meant, and many thought that if a woman entered the workplace being harassed was part of the job. I remember my mother watching the confirmation hearings and disparaging Anita Hill, saying she was liar looking for attention. We've come a long way since those days, but we've got a long way to go too.
Totally agree.
Human and very kind, decent , knowledgeable and a good President. He is For the People.
I think that Biden as grown along with our society, which is FINALLY believing that innocent women can have terrible things done to them by powerful men.
Bill, if you want to see a brilliant parody of sexism, put on your pink tie and go see the Barbie movie. It's hilarious and there are unlimiited patriarchal zingers and bits of wisdom throughout.
I wonder what Donald Trump and his ilk see when they look in the mirror. Only his red tie, I imagine.
The word “president “ is only capitalized when referring directly to or naming a president.
Not lesser, maybe just more enlightened men. However, none of them exist in the Republican Cult called a Party.
Sadly, you are right. Life is full of these sad and regrettable occurrences. When was the last time a Republican president appointed anyone of high character to the Supreme Court? Eisenhower appointing Earl Warren? That was 70 years ago.
This is one of Joe's great mistakes and when I saw that hearing again, I was furious. I am sure there was some kind of politics going on behind the scenes and perhaps part of the problem was that Thomas was black and they were looking for someone to replace Thurgood Marshall. Now what makes me furious is the House wasting taxpayer money investigating the federal response to Maui and their other nonsense.
Is the House doing any thing except trying to impeach everyone in sight. I thought impeachment was for a president who had failed in his duties, not for judges trying to seek the truth or people in general.
If Bush / Cheney hadn't lied about weapons of mass destruction would we be here today? We can't blame one incident in history on all the ills in the world today, can we?
If only... Lincoln had not been assassinated. If only... the victors in WWI had not saddled Germany with un-payable debt.
Clarence Thomas was nominated by George W. Bush because he believed that Ted Kennedy would never vote against a Black Man, no matter how conservative. And he was right!
George H W Bush, 1991
It's easy for us to look back and think 'what if' those may years ago. But if we are honest, many were not persuaded at the time by Anita Hill's revelation. It was a different time, a different attitude and a different vision of Clarence Thomas than we have now. Perhaps many of us have developed our awakening, just as President Biden has from time, growth, wisdom and a clarity in vision brought about by a history of Thomas's scandalous behavior.
If he had at least listened to those who wanted to support her contention that the man is a predator…
Well, one does not know that we would not have gotten another conservative, but at least they would not be a bought justice …
Tragically, President Biden was one of the Senators who voted for clearance's appointment to SCOTUS -- after he pulled the "high tech lynching!" accusation, following attorney Anita Hill's devastating testimony about his actions when she had to work with him.
Absolutely a good man.
99.99% of the judges in the U.S. would not do or take what Clarence Thomas has done. Thomas is a hollow shell without a moral compass.
We is worse- he is hostilely giving us all the finger!!
GOP = Government Outcomes for a Price.
Greedy Old People
Lots of selfish young people and greedy old people in the world. They are not a political party. Ageism perceptions.
I do not think young people are greedy nor are old people greedy. It s the republican leaders who are greedy. These people want to remain in power and the world is moving away from them and they cannot face that. Eventually these republicans will need the young people to take care of them.
😡I are an Old People...and even I know that it is usually a mistake to make that sort of generalization.
Great Obsolete Party
I hope. I read that the younger people are not supporting trump. If the democratic numbers stay the same, trumpers at 50% , if trumpers lose numbers because of his antics, the percentages could go democratic.
"because of his antics" The whole party has morphed into a malignant nightmare clown-car. Piloting the ship of state? We just grazed the iceberg (not including a wake of broken families and excess COVID deaths) the last time around, and the climate storm gathers apace.
And the youngest voters are most likely to sit out elections. Plutocrats are %#&ing up their future, and it would be crazy to sit this one out.
Yes, there was a time...
Flowery but powerful, an excerpt from Edwin Markham's "Lincoln, Man of the People":
"The rafters of the Home. He held his place—
Held the long purpose like a growing tree—
Held on through blame and faltered not at praise.
And when he fell in whirlwind, he went down
As when a lordly cedar, green with boughs,
Goes down with a great shout upon the hills,
And leaves a lonesome place against the sky."
Thank you, Edwin, both for understanding the rot at the top of American Government and the consequences of our not doing something to correct it.
Sadly, it’s not a news flash to those not in a MAGAt coma
I continue to call them MAGAts too.
The profound ignorance and gullibility is really shocking to me. What a tortured inner life these people must live, believing the apocalyptic nonsense that has no rational solution. When I talked to one recently, what I came away with was how helpless they must feel. There is no way out for them but violence, since the beliefs are so ridiculous and have no solution in reality.
I guess that’s the point.
"profound ignorance and gullibility" - typical cult; how it ate the brains of so many will puzzle us for decades. I lay the credit/blame at the feet of Ronnie and Rupert. In 1985, an article by Louis Lehman in the StLouis Post Dispatch laid it all out, just like the 2015 Project does this day.
Jen, I'm with you on the "profound ignorance and gullibility". I just don't get it.
I call them trumpers with a small "T" trump is the same. I loved it when the judge called him Mr. trump.
Thank you Fay Reid
Very well said. Where is Justice if not in the Supreme Court. Who can be trusted?
This is one of the reasons trump and company want to move their court trials away from places like NY ( a lot of people hate him) and GA where he probably regards the judge as a hanging judge. That's why his minions are trying to impeach her to get her off the case. Notice there is no complaints from the republicans about the trump leaning judge Cannon in FL.
Hi, Edwin - would you consider breaking your comments up into paragraphs? They would be easier to read, at least for me.
And your content is usually well worth reading, so I struggle through, but paragraphing would be appreciated.
Sure Lynn Spann and I am sorry that you are struggling to read them. Thank you for reminding me that.
Edwin, it isn't only Lynn who finds long writings easier to read/take in when broken up into paragraphs. I read your very interesting and informed posts but would really prefer a few paragraph breaks. But you for all of your thoughtful commentary.
Well noted. Thank you so much.
Excellent observation. I am a subscriber. Thank you, Edwin!
I really appreciate your time and contribution. Thank you
Elizabeth, you have taken the words right out my mouth! You are absolutely correct. Thomas is scum in a robe. He has become a grifter that’s on the take, selling decisions from the highest court in this nation.
It’s quite clear that this Supreme Court didn’t think of the hood of the people when it made this decision, or any decision it’s made on any case for that matter.
What needs to happen is every member of the Supreme Court needs to be investigated thoroughly to ensure they are living up to the highest standards. If they are found to have violated the law, the ethics of a justice, then they need to be immediately removed and prosecuted.
What an apt typo. The court was indeed thinking of “the hood of the people” - as in Klan hoods, or hoodwinking.
That’s what I get for doing this after midnight, or early in the morning. I forget to double read what I type before posting.
But, in this case, it works both ways. The Supreme Court isn’t working for the GOOD of the people anymore. Just the HOOD people!
Unfortunately impeachment would result in a trial in the Senate. None of the Republican senators would vote to convict strictly on partisan grounds. McConnell would not allow it. Based on the current makeup of the Senate, 17 of them would need to vote to convict along with all the Democrats in order to remove Thomas or any other judge.
Mitch McConnell's days in the Senate could be limited. He had another "frozen" episode. His aide managed the situation like a daughter with an impaired elderly father. Problem is McConnell is Senate minority leader with a big role.
Because he is the minority leader, and let’s be honest potentially majority leader, his infirmity is more serious.
He might be suffering from petit mal seizures which seem to have started subsequent to his recent fall. I think he needs to see a neurologist before he blanks out while crossing the street or walking downstairs. It's also probably time for him to retire.
This is very true, Mike. With the makeup we now have in the Senate, and House of Representatives, there’s no way we’ll ever get the votes to out any of these justices. The ones that need to be expelled are all Trump appointees. There’s way to hang Trump lovers in Congress!
This is another reason we all have gif to cite 🧢🧢🧢🧢in all the upcoming elections the next 6 to 8 years!
Elisabeth, YES!!
Was Clarence Thomas not taking gifts from Harlan Crow BEFORE the Dobbs decision?
For decades, Jenn. SMH...the others too are corrupt and the decisions they made on the court should ALL be examined for invalidity based on relationships with those who gained by “winning” cases. Disgusting.
Yes.
Absolutely, lock them up and Alito as well.
I hope that they have no children. I have never heard mention of them.
His statements regarding security needs are a bit whimsical. (I’m trying to be nice)
Bill, I just call it BS!!
Yup, all of the above.
I think he was taking those trips before the Dobbs leak.
And they smack of privilege. How about members of the LGBTQ+ community who are in the cross hairs of the GOP and all the acts of violence born of their hate filled rhetoric?
After all this , no more nicey nicey.
Truly...and what does he know of any woman’s life path when an unwanted pregnancy suddenly becomes the only reality she is living in.
LH, you surely know that clearance is full of BS when he talks about his "safety" after threats re the Dobbs leak!
what about all those years before the Dobbs Leak?
I’m sure Ginni keeps him focused on what is important
'Conservative Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito are increasingly going on offense as they seek to push back against a firestorm of ethics controversies.'
'When Thomas’s annual financial disclosure was released Thursday, the justice’s personal attorney simultaneously circulated an unusual six-page statement tearing into “left wing” groups that he said had “weaponized” ethics against Thomas.'
'Alito earlier had spoken out under his own name in a rare op-ed and interview he gave to The Wall Street Journal’s conservative-leaning opinion section.'
'Alito in the interview called recent stories about him “nonsense” and suggested the Supreme Court bar should be defending him.'
“But that’s just not happening. And so at a certain point I’ve said to myself, nobody else is going to do this, so I have to defend myself,” Alito told the paper.'
'Public statements from Alito and Thomas’s attorney give the impression that both justices are sick of sitting back and taking criticism from the media and Senate Democrats.'
'The written remarks by Elliot Berke, Thomas’s personal attorney, were particularly striking Thursday.'
“No Justice, Justice Thomas included, should be subjected to such political blood sport,” Berke wrote. “It is painfully obvious that these attacks are motivated by hatred for his judicial philosophy, not by any real belief in any ethical lapses.” (The Hill) See link to the article below.
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4181847-thomas-alito-go-on-the-attack-over-supreme-court-ethics/
What is shocking to me is that our highest court in our nation fails to recognize blatantly obvious ethical standards apply to them, in their hallowed positions of Supreme Justices.
As shocked and betrayed as I feel about Dobbs, I am stunned that a justice could unabashedly suggest that: no one told me it was a problem, so therefore, it was not. And, lookee-lookee....now I AM heretofore reporting all goodies obtained under the table from generous friends who support “my” judgements, since this has now been brought to my attention as “unpopular”. And,....this unpleasant public reaction is, after all, merely mean spirited politics. We are very honorable!!!
Alito and Thomas and even Roberts all need to to recognize that they are, as ethical leaders of this country, obligated by inference of the dignity of their office, to the highest of ethical standards, and if they can’t figure out what that might mean, they have no business serving a lifetime appointment on the highest court of the land.
Perhaps the most striking and alarming aspect of this whole Supreme Court grift and graft story is the silence of the Chief Justice. The fact that Roberts has not stepped up to establish a formal and enforceable set of rules - a code of conduct, if you will - speaks volumes about the pervasive corruption of this court.
Roberts can't get officially upset that his fellow justices have been bought and paid for. Because through the glaringly obvious corrupt behavior of he and his wife, some of the greatest offenses have been from him.
'John Roberts can’t get a Supreme Court ethics code. Alito’s interview shows why
When the Supreme Court left for its summer recess in June, the justices were at a stalemate on adopting a formal ethics code.'
'Chief Justice John Roberts has been seeking unanimity among the nine justices for firm ethics standards, CNN has learned, but such agreement has eluded him. It is not clear what standards a majority might be considering and the reasoning of the holdouts.'
'Justice Samuel Alito’s new comments in a Wall Street Journal interview suggest why he and perhaps other justices might be resisting and rebuffing outside pressure related to ethics, despite escalating controversy over justices’ lavish travel and other off-bench behavior.'
'The Supreme Court, Wednesday , June 28, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Supreme Court stands by its guidelines after report raises new ethics questions
Alito said he “voluntarily follows disclosure statutes that apply to lower court judges,” and he expressed disdain for congressional efforts to persuade the justices to adopt their own ethics rules.'
'“I know this is a controversial view, but I’m going to say it,” Alito said.' “No provision in the Constitution gives them the authority to regulate the Supreme Court – period.”
'Alito’s broader remarks reflected a belief that outside critics, not the justices themselves, are the source of legitimacy concerns engulfing the high court.' (CNN) See link below.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/31/politics/supreme-court-ethics-alito-roberts/index.html
Fern,
Thanks for the link. It paints a clearer picture. But the naive assumption of the article is that Roberts actually wants to clean up the court. I believe he wants to create the appearance of propriety but it's too late for that. His legacy is a mess.
And this should bother us:
"Chief Justice John Roberts has been seeking unanimity among the nine justices for firm ethics standards..."
A CHIEF Justice may not have the actual authority (I don't know, couldn't he?) to establish some clear boundaries and codes with respect to gifts and recusal when hearing cases presented by donors or friends who got their jobs through the Chief's wife!
But he COULD stand tall with some basics that would be obvious and acceptable to any logical person opposed to corruption. He COULD speak clearly about what should be acceptable or not. But as I said. He won't. Because he and his wife have become rich through the same web of corruption as Alito and Thomas. Roberts is essentially the Chief Con Man.
Bill, I am not ready to accuse the CNN reporter of making a 'naive assumption' with reference to Roberts' motives. The impression I received is that unanimity among the Justices about a uniform code of ethics would not be achievable. I find it totally inappropriate to leave the creation of a proper code of ethics to the Courts' Justices, when an independent panel of legal experts would the more sensible approach.
"an independent panel of legal experts would the more sensible approach." Yes!
And from what I have learned it already exists. The Code of Conduct for all other judges employed by the Federal Government would be a starting point, no? And then, since it's the "Supreme Court" the panel could tighten it up even more. They could have "Supreme Integrity"!
Bill, with respect to your quote, 'Because through the glaringly obvious corrupt behavior of he and his wife, some of the greatest offenses have been from him.', I do not know whether that is correct. Given the questionable ethics of Justices Thomas and Alioto, it isn't clear to me which of the Justices may be most unethical. I thought some clarification about the Chief Justice, in this regard, would be helpful to readers. The following was copied from an article about the matter in The New York Times:
'At the Supreme Court, Ethics Questions Over a Spouse’s Business Ties
'The chief justice’s wife, Jane Sullivan Roberts, has made millions in her career recruiting lawyers to prominent law firms, some of which have business before the court. Now, a letter sent to Congress claims that may present a conflict of interest.'
'After Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joined the Supreme Court, his wife, Jane Sullivan Roberts, gave up her career as a law firm partner to become a high-end legal recruiter in an effort to alleviate potential conflicts of interest. Mrs. Roberts later recalled in an interview that her husband’s job made it “awkward to be practicing law in the firm.”
'Now, a former colleague of Mrs. Roberts has raised concerns that her recruiting work poses potential ethics issues for the chief justice. Seeking an inquiry, the ex-colleague has provided records to the Justice Department and Congress indicating Mrs. Roberts has been paid millions of dollars in commissions for placing lawyers at firms — some of which have business before the Supreme Court, according to a letter obtained by The New York Times.'
'In his letter last month, Kendal Price, a 66-year-old Boston lawyer, argued that the justices should be required to disclose more information about their spouses’ work. He did not cite specific Supreme Court decisions, but said he was worried that a financial relationship with law firms arguing before the court could affect justices’ impartiality or at least give the appearance of doing so.'
“I do believe that litigants in U.S. courts, and especially the Supreme Court, deserve to know if their judges’ households are receiving six-figure payments from the law firms,” Mr. Price wrote.'
'In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Supreme Court, Patricia McCabe, said that all the justices were “attentive to ethical constraints” and complied with financial disclosure laws. The chief justice and his wife had also consulted the code of conduct for federal judges, Ms. McCabe said, including a 2009 advisory opinion that a judge “need not recuse merely because” his or her spouse had worked as a recruiter for a law firm with issues before the court.' (NYTimes) See gifted link below.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/31/us/john-roberts-jane-sullivan-roberts.html?unlocked_article_code=D7sntBskEP3mp8vq04oVdsjDQ9VRpkLq0veQrCp9CikzewhN_77HDNlA5tDjPuElca75OX9l7uwqCMSBf02AOiS9OphZUVHYY9nwR2wql0PYmTLTuZS98-Qg_Y24wAwI4VXROKR-1vXmLZpYzGEgIz4kQd8A-FiLmViY5JnzNATbm_ryXjPL5yy9pu0zRD-_ham_7WFxK5ZlNJkQJqxUL-fJbCajzXLGxJBVs9ZejlLseuTCgYs1jlaevi0aHGB5sPfnRsGXaXhrDGBy9_jcWq2_oYmSkh4F9aFYoPHh3CFtwTVX1WEVAhRBfKAcrMb9hPD2hLB-hGCkx53SgGDg-5NswsYuoVo&smid=url-share
Traditionally, a judge or public official who has a sense of high ethics acts simply based on the PERCEPTION of influence. If Roberts and his wife wanted to really show how uninfluenced he is, they could have agreed that she would apply her legal training to another form of work in the field of law. There are many ways that "connected" attorneys can make millions.
So instead of doing this elaborate dance of rationalization (maybe this, maybe that) she could have simply found other lucrative work when he became Chief Justice. A person in a role like that needs to lead by example and there shouldn't be even the tiniest hint of conflict. It's not hard to do. You just commit to it.
All JMO. I do appreciate the info you provide. Thanks!
We agree, Bill. I refrain from writing exactly what I think of Roberts, but with that hint, it's no secret.
Colorful language, fierce rhetoric, exaggeration, a host of enemies, endless lies, self-serving, and dramatic scenes have their allure in fiction, non-fiction and in America during The Trump Years. Digging out the details, the context, the evidence, compiling the facts is the work of journalism and historians. It can be boring, but the road to the truth is what counts most of all.
maybe Alito and Thomas should practice Ethics so that they will not be found to have none.
I would reply, "Justice Thomas, this is America, not Russia! You are appointed to serve the ctizens of the United States of America!.....each and all of us....NOT JUST THOSE WHO TAKE YOU AND JEN ON FUN TRIPS!
Sadly, our Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life and are above the law.
The despicable Leonard Leo bought two mansions on Mt. Desert Island in ME after hand selecting 1) donors for Thomas and Alito and 2) hand picking Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Comey-Barrett. Several protests have been staged by the good people of ME at his property this summer. He had the local police arrest one of them and now there is a civil lawsuit against the police department. So the taxpayers of the town will pay for Leo's indiscretions yet again.
The minority head of the Republican Party in Maine's House defended him saying they are bashing him because he is Catholic and a conservative. No one has said a word about his being Catholic or being a conservative. This is typical Republican gaslighting.
Thomas called Leo the 3rd most powerful man in the world. I don't often agree with Thomas, but he may be right about that.
Susan Collins can thank Leo for getting her reelected as he raised tens of millions for her reelection which, she barely won.
I can't help thinking that the supreme court needs an ombudsman type position created with the skill, credibility, and power to investigate complaints made against the justices and other court personnel to determine their merit. If such an office existed, these issues would have been settled, one way or another, by now. If Thomas and Alito have not made any serious ethics violations, as they claim, this matter would have been put to rest.
As it is now, innocent or not (I am trending to the "or not" camp), the entire court's ethical standing is eroding (yes, many other things are contributing to this), all because we really cannot know the truth of these allegations. By taking no action, Roberts is allowing the entire court to suffer. This will be his legacy; failing to be the adult in the room when we desperately need one.
Steve, the fact that your suggestion is sensible spells out the Court as being reprehensible. It is not ethical and, therefore, requires monitoring. To widen the view how deep and wide is corruption in the US? How much of that is responsible for the election of Trump and others, who have no business holding elective office?
Hi Fern! There is no question corruption exists on all levels of the US government. That is the whole reason for our system of checks and balances. Corruption takes many forms. What pains me most is the silence/duplicity of those who should be acting as agents of our checks and balances system either saying nothing or actively aiding those trying to destroy it. When we needed a boxer, McConnell continued playing chess. When we needed a school-yard monitor, Roberts continued eating lunch with his friends. When we needed a fire-and-brimstone preacher, Pence continued to be a sycophantic pharisee.
These are all deep, repeated, moral failings, not simple mistakes made by good people. Trump and his ilk would have no traction if Republican leadership was up to its job. The irony is, if the Trumpers take over, they will be even less relevant than they are now.
Amen! AMEN!!
And don't forget the harm brought to LBGTQ people by absolutley absurd-hate contriving SCOTUS decisons.
LH,
And with that excellent comment nothing else needs to be said.
Thank you LH!
Of course “nothing else needs to be said “never stopped me before..... we should all be taking the slimy Thomas’s corruption as an insult to our Nation. Of course they can’t spell( the Thomas’s) that is. Other wise they would hang “SHAME” on their bibs!
I couldn’t care less about Thomas’ safety, but I love your suggestion about women 🙏
Is Secret Service protecting him?
Is nothing of consequence going to happen to this man? So outrageous
Former President Sues Hurricane for Destroying Mar-a-Lago. Claims Opponents have Weaponized the Weather.
Don’t give him any ideas.
No problem. He hasn’t won a lawsuit in years. Maybe not ever.
Trump and DeSantis draw up a non-disclosure agreement for all truth.
He probably yells at clouds too.
It is getting that weird.
JJ, you win the prize for the best comment of the week!
Pure gold!
JJ, Thanks for the laugh this morning. But as SPW states, don't give him any ideas. He'll try anything.
🤣 that takes the cake!
LOL!
Perfect! Love this!
You know, besides the moral and political sentiments and hearing regularly from people who see what a confounded mess is happening, one thing I love about this group is that no one replied to my little joke with a long and earnest lecture about how illogical it would be to do that.
I request the highest of fives.
Salud 🗽
Thanks Heather, how you can put so much information so clearly and to the point is remarkable.
Here we are in the middle of natures raging at our excesses and the GOP is ready to ask for help, (hint Florida) but they will never admit they are the source of the problem, deniers on every important issues that affect their constituency's. They take credit for everything they vote against. They have no moral compass. How can they participate in a democracy. Somebody should tell their mothers.
Stefanik is driving us nuts constantly touting programs and funding she voted against.
She’s a real pain in the A**! When is she up for reelection?
Every two years, just like the rest of all the House members.
Not soon enough. Unfortunately, Stefanik is very popular in parts of her district.
Ellen, it takes people talking to people about her, what she voted against to keep from them receiving the benefits. What’s she’s not done while in office. The tax dollars she had wasted. People need to be talking about all these republicans to let others know that none of them are there for us. All they are there fir is grifting money from us into their own pockets.
Something else. If yiu get opportunity to attend one of their ‘rallies’ ‘town hall meetings’, feel free in in Q & A portion to call them out about how they voted in these particular bills. Why they voted against them instead of fir them, since the bills were designed to help all folks instead of a certain demographic group.
Thankfully, Stefanik is not my representative, but her district is not far away and I know many people who would vote her out in a heartbeat. If I remember correctly, Stefanik rarely has town-hall type meetings... too "on the spot" for her, probably.
She probably doesn’t. She knows she’ll get embarrassed. Typical Republican politician!!! Ducking questions is their specialty!
I am glad she’s not your rep! Yes, she should be asked embarrassing questions. All of them must be approached to have them admit to their misdeeds. Ex: Why are you taking credit for your district when you voted against (xyz)?
Hope you’re planning to work against her—at least make sure her lack of support for the things people appreciate is known.
Lots of entrenched Republican old timers who vote party line without any knowledge of policy.
Exactly as it is here in Texas.
Point that (and all the other who do the same ) out every time such happens.
Could not agree more!
I actually laughed out loud.
All of the things Professor Richardson outlined in today’s Letters are becoming commonplace. From historic weather events to a failure of fully half of our politicians to make any attempt to address solutions, but rather use climate induced natural disasters as an excuse to diminish the current administration and agencies like FEMA (now critically underfunded) in providing needed assistance, these self serving agents of the oligarchy are destroying our country for their own political and economic gain. By systematically lying, promoting confusion and by throwing down roadblocks on all levels, state and federal, to twist facts to their advantage, they hope to remake this nation into their own demented playground. While the level of corruption in our federal courts all the way up to SCOTUS has become a blaring klaxon and a blinding, flashing red light, it’s just another example of the extremes to which these people will go to achieve their ends.
All of this has become patently obvious to about half of the American people, but the unvarnished truth never filters down to the other half, and herein lies the real problem. We, ALL of us, have gradually become tolerant of a media, largely owned by those same oligarchs, that is willing to sell its integrity for material gain. Here I include not just the traditional press but all channels used today to convey information, or misinformation, including social media and even the lily-livered “main stream” media. These channels must be strictly held to account, or there will be no salvaging this country.
The usual suspects will howl “FOUL! FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATION! MINISTRY OF TRUTH!” etc. There can be no gentile way to say this: Fuck them! We need to rein in the media, and now! It couldn’t be any worse to do something about this cancer than to let it progress. It’ll take a huge win by the left in November 2024 to achieve this, including super majorities in both the House and Senate. But I believe it’s our last remaining hope.
You are hitting on the core problem. Much of the fascist MAGA movement is powered by the so-called Main Stream Media that continues to act and talk as if there is not a coup under way. Every time they allow a Senator or House Rep to spout lies on TV or in an interview they are aiding the coup. They should be stopping these monsters in their tracks mid interview every time they babble fantastical nonsense. Instead we get the veneer of fairness and "listening to both sides".
So I only take issue with one word in your comment. We shouldn't be "reining" in the media. We should require them to do their jobs. Report the damn truth and call out the lies on the spot. We need a media that investigates and then castigates the fascists and their fabrications.
It's time for a real muckraking Ida Tarbell to come from the grave or outer space or wherever such heroes exist. Broadcasters like Lester Holt or Amna Nawaz need to hold some feet to the fire.
How about:
"Tell us about Project 2025 and what that means, Senator. Do you support the dismantling of the Federal Government? Why haven't you abandoned a Presidential candidate who has been charged with 91 felonies...who has admitted to sexual abuse, admitted to stealing top secret documents and has encouraged the overthrow of democracy - including the assassination of his own vice President...Senator, please explain this to the American public. Sir....sir...no, that's not true and you know it. Please answer our questions. And, sir, if former President Trump is convicted, will you still support him just because he is not a Democrat? No, sir, sir, sir.... Certainly you hold your bladder long enough to answer at least one of our questions...."
Bill, I would love to see any member of the media ask those questions!
Bill, if only! I'd pay double to see this kind of confrontation. Another issue I have is that the national Dem Party needs to figure out how to shout from the rooftops all that the Biden admin has accomplished. Where are the billboards? Where are the full page ads in local papers that point out what has been done to help that community? Those voices that show up on MSM, and good that they do, are talking to those of us already in the know, in agreement. I don't send the national party any $$ because of this. I support the candidates I choose, but until the Dems get a louder, stronger voice, I will not support the party.
Mimi, I think they are starting to do this. I’ve recently seen a few commercial spots on TV that tout this Admin’s efforts & successes…it was good to see it. I hope there will be more.
Glad you have seen some ads, Barbara. I hope they were not just on MSNBC.
Mimi, the Biden administration began a &25 million dollar ad campaign the Wednesday night of the Republican debate. The ads ran throughout the debate, on all networks. They are still running. I have seen them in MSNBC, NBC, ABC, and CBS. I have aide seen them on ESPN, and SEC Networks.
I have no idea about the FOX networks. I don’t know about any of them, but I did read through this grapevine here someplace that FOX refused to run the ads.
This is correct. And I feel it can be done effectively saying ‘you don’t really agree with that ,do you? What about the multiple claims that have no proof? Or perhaps you have found some truth...What about the investigations that proved this was not true. What about ....’ this is how we do it. Yes giving them ‘fair press time’ is bogus!
Thanks , Bill. Good point!
💙💙VOTE💙💙
Bill, when I used the term "rein in the media" I was thinking not only of literally shutting down Fox's ongoing lie campaign but also the point you made about the mainstream media: ‘Instead we get the veneer of fairness and "listening to both sides"’. I totally agree that this pseudo “fairness” doctrine is benefiting the oligarchy. But make no mistake, their agenda is not “fairness”, it’s a pure financial calculation; they are reluctant to offend ANYONE, including that portion of their audience that leans even slightly right. In this respect, they too need to be made accountable and forced to do some objective reporting of the news.
While I got a kick out of your parody of Amna Nawaz holding some Republican senator’s feet to the fire in an interview, I was also reminded of the last time I saw Chuck Todd try to do that to Mike Pence. Pence is an absolute artist at blathering on and on over the top of any objection raised by an interviewer and sometimes it goes on for minutes. I think perhaps a more effective way to handle this behavior would be to give the guy all the time in the world to make an idiot of himself by nodding enthusiastically and smiling while running a traveling caption beneath the picture that might say “This is BS! Notice how Mr. Pence has again totally ignored the basic question and has pivoted to a completely unrelated topic and will soon predictably shift to a campaign stump speech touting his accomplishments …. his ramblings are purely for the purpose of maximizing the benefit of his free exposure on Meet the Press and to prevent Mr. Todd from asking any further embarrassing questions …. and further note that Mr Pence has now spoken continuously for two minutes and fifty one seconds without touching the question that was asked ….” Just a thought ;-)
Bill, these are questions that need to be ask, and I guess the only way that they can be ask is some of us attend their ‘town hall meetings’, or one if their ’rallies’.
I know for a fact that several of the hosts on MSNBC have invited numerous of them to come and be in their program, but they all apparently have forgotten to check their emails and forgotten how a phone works. None of them have responded to their request. Joe Scarborough, Katty Tur, and several of the evening/prime time hosts have all invited several of the legislators, congressmen/women on their programs from the Republican side, but they flat refuse to respond to their request.
LeMoine, the results of the brainwashing of fellow Americans is what hurts me most. All the Republicans want is their vote and their money as they attempt to seize power.
Their heros are Putin and Orban.
Emily, I agree. To see my former friends and colleagues become MAGAt mouth breathers (and sorry for the insult to mouth breathers) has been depressing. To have watched my father-in-law become a rabid MAGAT and lose all of his common sense and knowledge of history to the kool-aid was horrible.
LeMoine, keep on preaching my friend! I say this in here every day, exactly what you have said. If WE, THE PEOPLE, don’t get out and VOTE BLUE, then WE, THE PEOPLE, are the only ones to blame. We must keep Biden/Harris in office one more term, AND WE MUST make the House of Representatives and the Senate both Super Majority.
We must also rid every state of every Republican politician that spouts lies, and refuses to follow the Constitution and uphold our Democracy. This bill💩💩💩this bunch of Trumpublicans is spewing is garbage. It’s time to “clean house”!
This will take at least three election cycles, so the next 8 years we must be extremely vigilant. We must take this country back through the ballot box, or lose it!
3 election cycles vote and vote 💙 that’s mid terms too folks
Well said , Daniel
Patricia, I’m 71, never missed an election, even being homebound and disabled. Georgia changed their voting laws to prevent folks like me, the elderly, the disabled, from voting. They now gave it where the election ifffices can only mail out the ballots within two weeks of the ejection, and when we receive them, we only have a week to fill out and return.
I am always ready fir mine. It goes back in my mailbox the very day I receive it so it goes back to them the next day.
I’m stressing to everyone to vote! We have got to vote 🧢💙🧢💙🧢💙 in every single election the next 6-8 years. We have gut to replace every Republican in our local, state, federal political offices.
They won’t expelled none of them for breaking the law, we will fire them at the polls!
Love that confidence. Lucid Zoom today..a question was asked if the 14th AMMENDMENT could be used for others to DISQUALIFY them..posed a real plan of action for groups to unite under…but your note of how the voting laws have changed needs to take precedence and be reiterated in your state. I did not know this but BET there’s a lot of states having done the same thing…please people let us know if your state has also done this! Let’s spread that information!
Excellent Daniel, excellent! 👏
Thanks, Patricia. I’m just voicing my thoughts and opinions on these topics.
Being unable to get out of this damn apartment and go to meetings, talk to people, and try to physically make a difference, I’m hoping my words inspire others to go do what I wish I could physically do.
All I know is if we dint get people fired up across this country, in ALL 50 states, we are in deep trouble. We will be living under the Dictatorship of an imprisoned dictator, Donald J. Trump, the 🍓💩🤡!!!
I am trying to do my part by asking my 24 hour fitness to switch Newsmax (which I see on many of the TVs) to local news. Many TVs are already on Fox which is bad enough. They sometimes comply. Before DirecTV cut the cord with OAN, I asked them to change the channel and told them that OAN was poison.
It is indeed
Thanks for the chuckle-inducing last sentence.
Didn’t Desantis say in a press conference that he WANTED NO FEDERAL HELP FOR FL? Was that actually the day he ASKED FOR FEDERAL HELP FOR FL?
"Somebody should tell their mothers."
What a clincher! The perfect book, film, pamphlet title...
Yet we can be sure their poor mothers knew all too well. They will have had to live with the arrested development of their lifelong-mega-tantrum-carpet-chewing offspring.
Blaming the parents is perfectly acceptable and appropriate.
If they are like Gorsuch’s mother, they were the problem to start with.
You mean the mother who attempted to destroy the agency she was charged with running? THAT kind of mother?
And the mother of Trump who helped create a loveless, insecure low life of a quivering criminal bully?
I am a fan of most moms but...
I have known, since I worked in jr high and high school, that all Moms are not the same. Mine was flawed but wouldn't put up with blowing your own horn, not accepting responsibility, and other societal norms. I learned that many "moms" just followed the path of least resistance and raised monsters. Some just made excuses for their monsters, all day, every day. I read a great quote, along the lines of "remember parents, when you get through with them, the rest of us have to deal with them." How true.
The working title for my book, memoirs of a school nurse, is "The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the A$$hole"
School nurses were my heroes when I was a school counselor. Great title. Mine is “Parenthood equals Temporary Insanity.” Also, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
Strange as it seemed, I noticed that kids who were ashamed of their pathetic excuse for parents in 9th grade, became more and more like them by graduation. Maybe just my experience. Had a soft spot for ninth grade boys, they seemed to flounder so before settling. Many girls became “hard” earlier, maybe because of cliques. Anyway my blather about those who are now middle aged.
Barbara, I have the utmost respect for nurses. Period. But school nurses. Whew! They are really special. They deal with the aches, pains, illnesses of the children every day. Plus, they have the headaches of dealing with the parents who mostly don’t give a damn about their children.
“Raise them right, moms. They may grow up to be our future leaders. Raise them wrong, they’ll grow up dealing with me, in the penitentiary!”
May be both these days
Absolutely! Seems our politicians are learning they are nit “Above the Law” anymore!
Christopher, and President Joe Biden is PRESIDENT for all Americans....even states governed (controlled?) by members of a political party that is working to replace our freedoms with their prejudices and questionable ideologies regarding leadership.
The sign of a good policy is when those who were initially against it start endorsing it. Taking credit for something you tried to kill is an odd, disingenuous, way to endorse something, but it is an endorsement. The press and Democrats need to start pointing this out.
"Somebody should tell their mothers" - you crack me up Christopher.
A smile quickly slides up my lips... sexual aggression...
The rubber is meeting the road now: participants in the January 6 storming of our Capitol are having their day in court and ... well ... they are getting convicted and subsequently sentenced to lengthy terms of hard time. Good on ‘em.
“Book ‘em, Dano ... Treason.”
I wish I could “like” this post more than once. Perhaps 100 times. Consider it done.
https://www.project2025.org/
Project 2025 is the chilling Republican game plan for installing an authoritarian government in the US if they win in next election cycle. It aims to replace career government officials partisan hacks who will hew to the Republican Party line. It is there in plain sight and has been for a while, but it is amazing to me that it has been able to "fly under the radar" of the media for so long.
Every person who wants to defend our democracy needs to read this document so they know what we have to defend against.
It can't be said often enough. I'd like the DNC to put it in an ad.
I'd like the DNC to be much more vocal/visible. My main awareness of the DNC is the tens of emails I get each day asking for donations. No money from me until I see how they can "fight back" against the loud and lying Repubs.
More transparency might be helpful. I keep promising myself that I will add up the donations I am asked for in a single day.
Same
Georgia, this “manifesto” was put forth in January of this year and I only became aware of it a couple of months ago (I don’t actively follow Heritage Foundation’s work). I finally saw a segment this week on MSNBC raising the alarm and covering their plan. Even reading the HF’s January announcement was scary. In the last day or so Tom Hartman’s Substack had a good synopsis of the 900+ page; here is a link in case anyone wants to view it (you don’t have to be a paid subscriber to read it):
https://hartmannreport.com/p/the-shocking-gop-plan-to-dismantle-e60?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email. I am surprised that more folks aren’t ringing alarm bells over this as, to me, it seems they are proposing the USA be a “democracy” like Hungary or Türkiye has become…whittling it away from the inside.
I saw it back in January and posted about it back then. It is amazing to me that it has flown under the radar this long. But maybe it is saying that Democrats are so siloed that they don't bother to read or search for what the Republican "elite" are saying. They rely on the Trump and Freedom Caucus sound bites and not on the game plan of the authoritarian intellectuals at the Heritage Foundation. They openly messaged their plan to subvert the judiciary. Now they are aiming at the entire Federal Government.
Yeah, to me it’s a “hair on fire” pay attention & resist situation!
Thank you for this link.
They are saying it out loud, read and weep. Then kick arse…
But IS it in the media? And in what way? Do they tell it like it is (“hey people, the GOP have formulated a plan to turn the USA into a fascist dictatorship!”), or are they peddlin it as “finally, no more weak presidents, now comes a strong government, hurrah”, or are they ignoring it and riding around on Biden’s age?
Biden’s age is a truth they can run into the ground while ignoring the calamities the republicans have done, are doing, and plan to do. All while Rome burns and they fiddle
If people are going to make age an issue, we have McConnell freezing up on camera again and Feinstein unsure of where she is. This is a bipartisan problem.
yes, it is. But chump has no excuse for being "deliberately demented." Repubs have plenty of young politicians who have selective dementia. At least my husband didn't choose to be ignorant.
Yes, Jeri and as Biden continues to lead and to serve and to encourage...not only encouraging freedom here but throughout the world. He has alot on his plate which holds a big serving of experience and at the table with him, he has included some great men and women who are working with our President to serve , to mend relationships, to work hard at bringing our world and country together...to give us all a little hope...to keep moving "freedom" forward.
It is also great to see work being done regarding our oceans....as well as continued work being done to address air quality.
And Yes, we hear regularly of the hellish fighting in Ukraine. Just give in to those in the Republican Party who want to discontinue our support for the ideal of FREEDOM.
Realize...WE, the great country of Democracy ...will be on the "chopping block". Those who oppose working...and when necessary...fighting for freedom....our own and our likeminded citizens of this planet.....will find themselves in a very different world.
Do we want to exist in a country controlled by self-centered cruel , self-indulgent "rulers"? Do you want to have everything in your life controlled by such persons?
As you can see....Zelensky and the people of Ukraine are paying the price for freedom...for having a voice in their governance...in their family's life choices.
Thanks to Heather and the women and men of like character who are "sounding the alarm!!!!"
"Do we want to exist in a country controlled by self-centered cruel , self-indulgent "rulers"? Do you want to have everything in your life controlled by such persons?"
Sadly, a lot of people do. They are actually screaming for it. But I don't know if they _really_ want it, or _made to think_ they want it... I mean, nobody in their sane mind would want to live under a fascist Nazi regime - not unless they are absolute sadists and sycophants, that is.
Trouble is, if America's democracy fails and succumbs to authoritarianism, there is no way that democracy in Europe can survive. All in all, it would mean the end of democracy altogether. In that sense, the American voters have a far larger responsibility than most of them realize.
Dutch Mike, I agree with your assessment. What I see in my MAGAt friends is they want MY life controlled (no abortion, no gay marriage, no gender affirming care for my friends, forced to go to a white Christian nationalist church) but not theirs.
The earth awaits the answer.
...or provides the answer...
Why should 'democracy' in Europe not survive?
If the largest democracy in the world crashes, the forces that want to see democracy and its principles utterly destroyed will surely take the momentum. It will be damned hard to counter that blow without the US...
So true, it is a "screenshot" of our future if we don't run the traitors out.
Well Dutch, the MSM HAVE attended to Mitch McConnell's "freeze-ups" reasonably accurately and repeatedly. Perhaps even more sadly while less visibly, Democrats have had more trouble persuading our own Diane Feinstein that her various health difficulties (shingles?) have significantly and materially affected the Democrats efforts to counteract the Republican craziness.
Everyone needs to know and understand that the Heritage Foundation plan is, in essence, the Republican platform. It nust be addressed in datail to help people understand its implications and consequences.
An authoritarian manifesto disguised as a party platform for the illiterate.
That is horrendous.
Thx Professor. President Joe simply doing his job. Good man.
Simply doing his job, YES. I could give him a big grateful hug (but no kiss! I'd probably be arrested for sexual aggression). And his response to gossipy reporters re Mitch McConnell - I've talked to him, he's an old friend, he's fine. After a concussion there's bound to be a few episodes like that. (Or words to that effect).
That comment on McConnell comes from a good man with class. An incredible opposite of the Fat Defendant from Mierda Lardo.
Cyberbully weighing in at 215 lbs is also a compulsive liar. Physically and mentally and LEGALLY unfit for office. It’s in the Constitution in plain English.
Or as a poster I saw put it…
Don RICO de Maralago. Over an illustration of TFG in a sombrero, mustaches and a bandolier.
Very nice! I can "see" it. A laugh with my coffee. (I wince a little when I see RICO - it's my son's name, short for Enrico.)
I cannot think of anything more disgusting than the Fat Defendant with his posturing and that evangelistic whine. I remember when he first burst out like a risen sun, with Farage hyena-like by his side, I thought "They've elected Elmer Gantry!"
Yep, Donald Jesus Christ!
"I am your warrior, I am your justice, I am your retribution". Alpha and Omega. The Omega can't come soon enough.
in contrast. Trump spouting off in numerous vids on Truth Social about various grievances, but not a word of concern about a man who helped him and his cause for 4 years in the senate. In the inimitable words of Bugs Bunny, "What a Maroon!"
Indeed. Has anybody ever dared tell him that "Truth Social" is a ridiculous name?
Or perhaps more accurately, complexly doing his job!
Clarence Thomas’s failure to report his travel paid by Harlan Crowe was no more “inadvertent” than the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin. The Justices are the puppets of Leonard A. Leo and a cabal of religious and powerful extremists - The Federal Society and The Heritage Action Fund along with others who have and will continue to buy power to impose their dogma and unregulated capitalism on this country.
Vote in 2023 & 2024! Get out the vote by registering and helping others to vote if you believe in freedom, justice and opportunity for all.
Yes. Vote and pledge to get as many other non-voters to the voting booth as is humanly possible. There are way more reasonable and fair minded folks than there are fascists. We just need them to participate. We need to break through the "all politicians are the same" BS logjam.
And for young people send them to www.turnup.us
It is so easy for potential first time voters to register! And they are mostly disgusted by the policies of the MAGA maniacs.
Thomas' doctor recommend R&R at fancy resorts and this was the only way?
I was shocked to realize that we apparently do not pay our justices a living wage and thereby force them to depend on the largesse of strangers, I mean, friends.
I know. They must ply the streets their begging bowls till something falls in.
You just call out my name, and you know wherever I am
I'll come running, to bribe you again....
Yeah! Right!
One of Biden's character traits I most admire, (there are several), is his ability to take the High Road when emergencies like the Maui and FL ones arise. He acts presidential, he contacted the governors prior to Idalia landing, he assured the stinker in FL that disaster help would be available, and he isn't tossing rolls of paper towels out in HI.
And I chuckle at his Irish verbal left jabs and uppercuts to intransigents like Gaetz ,MTG , and Tuberville when they vote against IRA $$$ but take credit when they recieve their share.
I am positively thrilled that Joe Biden is my president.
I stand in support of every word you have written here! Thank you💕
Would like to have heard the conversation when the President called the Florida governor.
A perfect phone call
Clarence Thomas is an extremely entitled, petty individual who lies badly and plays the martyr when anyone has the audacity to question his self-perceived awesomeness. Sounds an awful lot like someone else who has been spending quite a bit of time in court lately.
Yup. It’s a pattern that every right-wing extremist displays: shouting, coming in swinging, laughing about other peoples’ suffering, and as soon as somebody counters, they go all “boohoo, they’re being mean to me”. Cowards.
I just have to ponder out loud and wonder if Fl Governor (I live in FTLD) is actually going to release funds to the people who need them. Ft Myers is still a mess and the beach area just flooded again from the storm surge.
Who can be your eyes and ears in the government, as it were, in Floriduh? That’s where I would start. Try to work with DC to make them accountable. Such liars and thieves are in charge...
Engage with the FEMA people. They are responsible for auditing the funds.
Excellent suggestion. Those funds are OUR tax dollars, not DeSatan’s private bank account to burn more books or throw more rightfully elected public servants out of office. We have every right to oversee how the devil is spending our money….omg.
I hope all my Florida peeps are safe and fared ok with Idalia.💙
I also hope DeSantis is not starting a trend with all the “climate change is a hoax “ folks by refusing the IRA/climate funding. So far, he’s the only one.
I know of at least one person who replaced a 25–year old heat pump and was expecting the 2000$ rebate….but DeSantis says NOT happening. We just had a @#$&ing CAT 3 hurricane !!! A number of news sites are covering so hopefully many Floridians will be informed. But sadly many are concerned with…surviving a CAT3 hurricane !!!( rant over)😡
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/30/desantis-refuses-biden-climate-ir
Don't give him ideas.
A certain Russian autocrat's career got going with the siphoning-off of western funding to aid citizens.
From the article: "Today’s Republicans have abandoned the Reagan-era Republican plan to gut the federal government and are instead determined to capture it, replacing nonpartisan civil servants with Republican extremists who will carry out the ideals of Trump or any candidate like him who can defeat Biden in 2024. Their nearly-1,000-page plan, called “Project 2025,” calls for politicizing the Department of Justice and law enforcement officers and giving far more power to the president."
What further proof do you need, America, for the Nazification of the United States? They are advertising it in broad daylight -- so you won't be surprised when it happens. The problem is, they just might be unstoppable, just like Hitler was. Where is the outrage? Where is the rage? Why are the college campuses silent? If the students disengage, we are doomed. They are silent.
I never believed the Reagan "small government" thing. Republican run goverment since was never small except in the sense of "That's small of you". Rather it tends to be very heavy handed. What Reagan mocked and despised was democracy and the general welfare, the common weal. He touted the allegedly superior leadership of plutocrats. Republicans have since traded dog whistles for bull horns, but the plutocratic agenda remains, with plutocratic favors (such as Thomas currently enjoys) calling the tune.
Exactly, Reagan should be put on the trash heap of history
Seen for what he really was. Too much top-down screen time can easily distort our sense of reality, as it shows only what someone else wants you to see. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4631421.stm The powers that be waited till long after Reagan's death to show a glimpse of Reagan backstage
"The two were discussing the Tanzanian delegation’s reaction to the vote, after delegates danced in the chamber.
“To watch that thing on television, as I did, to see those, those monkeys from those African countries – damn them, they’re still uncomfortable wearing shoes!” Reagan tells Nixon, who erupts in laughter." https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/31/ronald-reagan-racist-recordings-nixon
and yet I still encounter liberals in person and in print who refer to Reagan as the last responsible Republican president.
Seeing things for what they are, including, best we can, ourselves are key to justice, innovation and resilience, no? We are all only human, but Big Lies are big trouble and folly too often a deadly trap.
Heard so much racist schitt in my young life. Would be nice if those in charge would set a better example than our families did. I think I would have been more radical than H. Rapp Brown, if I had been born black. Racism = hatred for no reason whatsoever. Never have figured out what the deal was with Jews,
At least as I see it, I think there is a natural distrust/interest among us mammals for what is different. Dogs we have had would sometimes bark at any new object in the yard, animate or not. I think kids grasp stories like "Dumbo" and "The Ugly Duckling". It appears to me from experience and from dramas I have seen from around the world that kids tend to gang up against the one who is "different". Not always, of course, but it is common, though difference of some sorts can also lead to celebrity.
Those who aspire to dominate us, even among those kids, use difference as a wedge to divide and conquer. For example, demonizing immigrants. Demonizing homosexuality as if it were some kind of harm. Insisting on conformity in modes of dress, etc. The USSR even attacked innovative instrumental classical music. The notion is to live like a king, or as one, by training people to be obedient robots.
Since the robots get stuck with most of the work for a bare reward, you would think that would be a very hard sell, so tyrants tend to encourage an out-group with few if any rights. The power of tyranny comes from the top of a stratified society, with rewards and punishments passed down though the ranks. The serfs get kicked around, but are provided with "untouchable", right-less out groups who define the lowest status; so the serfs identify with and defend the little slice of status they have, and can feel superior to others in a society in which feeling superior to others is the glue that holds the whole thing together. Or so it seems to me.
I replied to this a couple of days ago, and it disappeared. So one more time. You brought up something that has bothered me on and off since my daughter and grands watched Sesame Street long ago. The song, “one of these things is not like the others” made me wince although it was the most innocent of songs. It was just a way to teach categories and abstractions (which of these things doesn’t belong). But it also might help people see “others” when that is not the purpose. It’s a small thing but one of many things children are exposed to that categorize people, not just things. You are right that our tribal tendencies often result in ganging up on the “different.”
I was one of two people who attended a funeral for a black man several years ago. The people there were kindness itself, but I still found my self searching for the other white person I knew. This surprised me as I had left my NC childhood behind long ago. This brought home to me how we sort of gravitate toward our tribe, even with the best motives. This comes from early on and is hard to recognize sometime, much less change. “…use (ing) difference as a wedge to divide and conquer” is the game plan for the haters. You nailed it…
I keep posting this one, but, apart from some outdated language, it so nails the problem with supremacy:
"Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit, and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors. Familiarize yourselves with the chains of bondage and you are preparing your own limbs to wear them. Accustomed to trample on the rights of those around you, you have lost the genius of your own independence, and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises." - Lincoln
Yes, James Burnham, where is the outrage? Even here, among LFAA readers.
I've been yelling this here at the top of my voice, but get the feeling that it is impolite to raise my voice or mention Hitler and how he came to power.
In the run-up to the 2016 election, such things could not even be alluded to, however indirectly.
Complacency dictates that "IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE", just as in 2016 it dictated that Drumpf could not become President.
Exceptional complacency, armor-plated American complacency. Please do not disturb my beauty sleep...
[Today I glimpsed a Financial Times headline over the razor wire on top of their paywall... warning of a hidden danger for the 2024 election: a third party...]
I got banned from FB and Twitter for mentioning chump and the Nazis in the same post, more than once. This was in 2020, when the evidence was clear for all to see, those not blind that is
Ah, the importance of keeping'em blind, deaf, mindless.
This may not be my religion, but I keep on hearing those words of the prophet Isaiah:
"And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed."
I know some bible verses too. Christians these days just love "prosperity gospel." About as unJesus like as any blather.
Peter, a verse well chosen.
I guess they ignore Ivana's assertion that her former husband slept with a copy of Mein Kampf under the mattress. Maybe it's buried with her in NJ.
Nah, bet he keeps it close, or maybe he memorized it.
James, I have observed the same. Which movie had the most attendees: Oppenheimer or Barbie.....I think it was Barbie. No offense....just a picture of the reality in which we are living.
I have not seen Barbie, but it is my understanding from those who have is that it is not what you think. They report It is a powerful attack on patriarchy.
Just another day in the US, where attempted coups and ethics violations are now everyday occurrences.
I guess Clarence Thomas must be prescient because he took free trips to preemptively protect himself before the Dobbs decision. <sarcasm>
Mary, I noted that as well.
Putting this all together as you have done, it’s no wonder the Country is on the verge of a collective nervous breakdown. Or, maybe it’s just me. But no doubt we have so much work to do. And it’s like these natural disasters. It will take a very long time but in our collective case we must be there always making it better.
There are lots of us who are worried. You are not alone. If we roll up our sleeves and work together, we can get through this together.
Project 2025 was horrifying. The American Blueprint for Authoritarian Rule coupled with a press who thinks 2024 is a horserace and not the existential threat it is just reminds us that even without Trump we have to rebuild the fabric that we hold so dear.
I got on the particulars on that “Blueprint”. It is being funded by oligarchs through their various right wing mechanisms. If you have ever read anything about oligarchs, especially American ones, remember that they are generally strange people who do not know how to interact publicly. That means they have no stake in reality so it may not go as they planned. Usually they need surrogates to do the work. You,, on the other hand represent yourself, so you have a bigger stake and more passion.
Understand and agree. But thus assumes Biden wins. Schedule F civil servant replacements is now the goal of the 3 top candidates. MAGA power players have been working on this since the day Trump left office. It isn’t as far fetched as it once was. So let’s all hope we vote by wide enough margins to stop the ugly direction parts of our Country are headed in.
55% would be good
You got that right!
Well, you can add Betsy DeVos to that oligarch list as well as her brother, Erik Prince. They make me shiver!
She’s in Michigan, now. Was Trump’s Secretary of Education. Evangelical. Opponent of Public Schools. Dumber than a post, right?
Actually MAGA dept. of Miseducation with an Orwellian veneer.
Good chatting. I have to finish packing. Have a lovely and safe Labor Day weekend.
Thanks.
If your night sky is clear, look at that beautiful blue super moon. And take a breath!
I was waiting last night and tonight. Still too many clouds. But the night before last it was beautiful with a outer ring of pink. Taking a breath is the perfect advice. Now you sound like Connie Schultz (Sherrod’s wife ) if I am remembering correctly.
Safe travels!
Good point, some have the good sense to stay in the background and not become the joke Elon Musk is. But they ALL are dangerous to ALL of us
Jeri, I can't remember where I read this years ago, I think it might have been in a novel. Anyhow, the person was talking about how their mother always went to the defense of anyone being discussed, so as a joke, he (I think it was a he) and his siblings decided to rant on about the evils and sins of Satan. End result? His mother declared that she would pray for the redemption of the devil!! And he had no doubt that she did.
I am not at all a fan of Elon Musk, I don't do "X" or any social media, either. I have one teeny tiny itsy bitsy fragment of pity for Elon--he's missing his greatest opportunity.
Many may laud his Space X and Tesla, but I think of all those billions of dollars he has and what he could do for humanity with them! Recall the 60 Minute segment a year or so ago, of the town that had no sewage system? He could fix that and never feel the pain. Flint's water problem? That would cost more, but again, wouldn't break him.
He certainly appears to want to sway politics, maybe even entertains the idea he could be elected to something. He could go down in history as the greatest humanitarian that ever lived.
I believe in the power of prayer, to whatever higher power you believe in, (and even the power of just calming yourself by it.) I contemplate what it is like to have so many angry thoughts against you sent out into the universe.
Imagine what it would be like to be nearly universally loved and admired, and with his billions, he could be that person. Money put into national parks for generations to enjoy. Infusing money into really looking into what works to control gun violence. Underwrite innovative STEM curriculums in schools nationwide. Fund research into cancer cures. How about every single newborn in the US is sent home with a box of 10 books for their loved ones to read to them?
He will die as we all will die. What will be his final thoughts? I wonder what it would be like to know that when you die, the entire nation, if not world would mourn? To know that 100 years from now, a subject would come up and it would be said "we have Elon to thank for that."
What an opportunity he is missing!!
Couldn’t agree more, although I’m missing that fragment of pity for him because he chooses to be a waste of space. No matter how smart he is, he will leave a legacy of money to his children and a world poorer for his having been in it. To me, inherited money is a pox in most cases.
I can’t help but love the first paragraph. I saw this Churchill quote and it fits. “If Hitler invaded hell, I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons.”
Thank you. I know you are right. After the murders last week I have decided I need a break from politics and tragedies. I booked a flight to see my family and friends. Some good healing time to return refreshed to continue the good fight. Thanks again. It’s good we all have each other. Stay well.
Glad you took time for self-care. It is critically important.
Big money can buy media and battalions. Democracy has to earn it; but can and does happen.
It is not just you. And I think it is more than just a nervous breakdown; a president who planned to obstruct the peaceful transition of power and fomented an insurrection is more than just nervous. It strikes at the core of our country.
“Thomas also suggested he needed to travel on private planes because “the increased security risk following the Dobbs opinion leak” meant that his “security detail recommended noncommercial travel whenever possible.”
Yeah, and he’s supposed to be a Catholic, he and the wife, “practicing Catholics”. I wonder if he he know which Commandments he breaks?
The most obvious are “Justice, Justice you shall pursue” and the injunction against judges taking bribes. There’s probably enough for an alphabet book.
Commandments are for suckers. Unless he and Ginni get to rewrite them
Apparently they haven't been practicing very hard.
Fascists hide their motives for complete control by finding scapegoats, ignoring consequences of their actions, and sending up smoke screens to prove that everyone else is the problem, not them. Fascists detest women and do not want them in leadership positions. Fascists want only strong, testosterone fueled "real men" in charge and denigrate LGBTQ+ as enemies of society. We are in the middle of a fascist upwelling, and we need to call these Hitler wannabes what they are. The enemy IS within, far more destructive to our freedom than Russia, China, or North Korea ever will be. Kevin McCarthy is an enemy. Ron DeSantis is an enemy. Jordan of Ohio is an enemy. Do not mince words. Sarah Palin is correct that there will be a war, and it is her fascist brethren who will start it.