Last night, Special Counsel Jack Smith asked the Supreme Court to decide Trump’s claim that he is immune from any and all criminal prosecution for anything he did while in office.
I enjoy reading your letters every night. I want to take issue of the way you and other media outlets frame criticism of the Republican Party. You cite reasons for Republicans refusing to aid Ukraine as not wanting to give Pres. Biden a win or because they want to keep the immigration issue front center to take attention off of abortion. As if there is actually a Republican "Party."
Can we drop this fantasy? Republicans are completely loyal to authoritarian Donald Trump. Trump orders and they follow. So please start framing it correctly. Say 'Donald Trump has ordered Republicans not to aid Ukraine.' Say 'Donald Trump is ordering Republicans to hold a non-transparent impeachment inquiry of Pres. Biden.' Doesn't that make it much clearer? With this frame, we instantly understand that immigration and abortion are just distractions. Whereas we know for a fact that Trump and Putin are allies who wish to destroy NATO. Trump told this to us and the world for four years. The formula "Trump orders Republicans to..." really stops a lot of stupid debate. It also might make us Democrats not sound like imbeciles—like when we express dismay that Republicans don't seem to understand that withholding aid to Ukraine endangers our American freedom. Didn't we get the memo on January 6? Republicans want an end to our Constitution and American freedom. Let's start acting like we got the message. Please!
Agree with you, Russell. It does seem as though some members of Congress ignore the needs of their constituents to appease Trump and he is pulling their strings, to include Speaker Johnson, but I don’t think Heather would put that in writing without source links. Maybe Republicans will “get it” when we’re in WW III and our kids are being drafted.
Appreciate your comment. I'm trying to persuade Democrats to drop the fantasy that Republicans at some point will "get it." They've made their choice. It's us Democrats who need to face reality. We need to ask ourselves why we're continuing to be led by the nose with Republican distractions. In the case of Ukraine, why isn't the Democratic leadership or the media just matter-of-factly ignoring the distracting Republican immigration argument and instead instantly pointing out that Republicans are following Trump's wishes to aid Putin and undermine NATO? Why should we Democrats let Trump frame every issue the way he wants? That's the real question. Republicans made their choice collectively on January 6. Why are Democrats pretending otherwise? Why aren't we taking the lead and demanding Republicans defend any action they take as not being specifically at Trump's bidding to destroy our democracy. Don't you think we need that clarity and should be demanding it from our elected officials and the media generally?
While I really want to, I cannot disagree with this assessment, Russell. I am not sure that tfg is all that, because I think that the billionaire-to-excess class (Leo and Koch being in the foreground of that group) are the ones really pulling the strings, and there is also the heavy influence of those $$$ in today's batch of traitorous RepulbiKans along with having to kiss tfg's ...er, ring. Or orange posterior (which is probably pasty white because it doesn't take makeup well, but I digress)
But for some grotesque reason, Trump is their chosen balloon... it seems no matter how horrible and unAmerican....unpatriotic his choices are ...Trump is elevated....paraded out front....
Trump is just a tool that was thrust into this oversized fantasy roll by Republican voters. American oligarchs would probably prefer a candidate with some intelligence and restraint, but voters want the entertainment Trump provides. MAGA is more than Donald Trump. It's the Frankenstein story. Who can control the monster and who is the monster?
You're welcome. Yes, when we frame Republicans exclusively as loyal vassals to Trump, all the distractions melt away. Impeachment inquiry to Pres. Biden without charges? Trump's revenge for his own trials. Withholding aid to Ukraine (and probably Israel too)? Trump's alliance with Putin. Draconian immigration restrictions? Trump preparing Americans for detention and concentration camps. Barbaric abortion policies and threats to prosecute women traveling out of state? Easing Americans into restrictions of our most basic rights. Tommy Johnson delaying military promotions? Giving Trump an easy path forward to build a military loyal only to him. Not allowing Congress to pass anything substantial? Yes to ensure Democrats have no legislative victories, but also to pave the way for Trump to control the Legislative Branch once he returns to office.
Isn't it something how all the other rationalizations for Republican stances and actions just magically disappear? We have to remember that Republicans dutifully avoid any governing platform other than loyalty to Trump. If we frame everything then as following the wishes of Trump, we stop chasing our tails and can react rationally. For instance, Trump proudly states he'll only be a dictator his first day in office. Our media can then calmly translate, "Oh, Trump and his machine are confident they now have methods to overcome all the safeguards that prevented his successful insurrection 3 years ago."
More importantly, instead of screaming at Republicans as most liberal media insist on doing (an insane reaction in my opinion), we can focus asking some important questions to the Democratic Party and to the federal government. Such as, why are you all incapable of protecting our Constitution? How in any rational interpretation of the Constitution is a professed despot who openly fomented an insurrection allowed to run again for office? Is your fear of reprisal that great that you are reluctant to defend our liberties? Yeah, those kinds of questions. And do it in a public forum, perhaps in the way University presidents were asked to justify their refusal to condemn students calling for Jewish genocide.
Exactly, Russell! It’s about time we call it what it is: Putin owns Trump and the Republican party, and they will execute his orders. The decision to stop funding for Ukraine isn’t “astonishing” at all, it’s just puppets following orders.
These events from the past might alert us to beware of similar mistakes in the future:
"Hitler is regarded as one of history's great villains. So it's easy to forget how slowly and reluctantly the worlds most powerful democracies mobilized to stop him. France and Britain did declare war on Germany two days after the invasion of Poland, but it would take them another eight months before they engaged in full-scale war with the Nazis. The United States wouldn't join the war against Hitler until December 1941, a full two years after the war began. (....)
The short answer is that Adolf Hitler was a ruthless dictator with dreams of conquering all of Europe. Annexing Poland was a step in that larger plan. The Polish military wasn't powerful enough to resist him, and Hitler calculated — correctly, as it turns out — that Europe's other powers wouldn't intervene in time. The invasion of Poland occurred almost exactly 25 years after the start of World War I in August 1914. That war ended in Germany's defeat, and in 1919 the victorious allies carved up territory that had been part of Germany, Austria-Hungary (Germany's defeated ally), and Russia ....
After World War I, the allies took territory away from Germany....
Hitler was contemptuous of these new nations, which he regarded as artificial creations of the Allies. There were significant German populations in both countries, and Hitler used trumped-up concern for their welfare as a pretext to demand territorial concessions."
... also, didn't Hitler spend time in prison, then after release, became "der fuhrer" ...?
So, even if tfg is convicted and sent to prison, isn't it possible he still could follow the same path (which, by the way, ultimately ended in suicide (post genocide)) ...?
At least there's this, though: tffg is much older than Hitler was (suicide at 56), he's morbidly obese, and rapidly deteriorating cognitively, too. He's a menace every second that he lives, but he doesn't have long.
He may be immune to cheeseburgers at this point, or perhaps even the devil doesn't want him. Or he might just flash-evaporate in a hissy-fit of rage. Meanwhile Putin is still very much in charge of Russia.
Jennifer, exactly. But as I've said here before, instead of wishing for that, I'd be happy if he were just Raptured away. Him and all his theocrat supporters.
If tffg goes to trial he gets convicted. His attorneys know that. So, what is the attorneys' primary mission? To keep tffg out of an orange jump suit? Work out a plea deal: Tffg pleads guilty and is retired from public life completely and totally, confined to Mar a Lago for the next 5 to 10 years, though Alexandra doesn't think that he has that much time left. I'm now 83 1/2. I hope to live long enough to see that day so that I can dance in the streets.
I have a feeling this story is less about tfg whose big act is a distraction from wheels turning backstage for younger, healthier players to pick up the baton and run with it ... kind of like a relay race ...
Richard, I don’t know where you are geographically, but someone who lands a hole-in-one must be able to boogie. So. I’ll be wildly dancing along with you (in MA ) IF that happens.
Meanwhile, my 2 sisters I continue to read HCR’s historically excellent Letters daily knowing that history can repeat itself ad nauseam especially if you don’t know the consequences of the past.
Samm, I am now in central Florida, Florida, the home of the mostly Fascist Taliban Republicans. But, prior to moving here for retirement 8 years ago, I spent 42 years in California and before that 6 years in Cambridge (grad school and law school.) I remember 1969 when it was below freezing for 60 straight days, a veritable Winter Wonderland. I have a feeling probably fueled by a hope that we'll be dancing soon.
Jennifer, what we could do is to recruit some 12-year olds to put together a network where we could all dance for all to see with reckless abandon. The words of Martin Luther King, Jr. come to my mind: "Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last."
Ahhh, you must live close to the Villages or in them. Bummer for you if you do. When Covid-19 hit we ended our snow-birding life of flitting between Maine and Jacksonville, FL. My neighbors in FL were all retired MAGANAZIs from the midwest. Very nice people, until someone brought up politics.
And no offense, but Florida weather sucks between May 1 and October 1. Plus property taxes and homeowner's insurance is out of control. Soon, FL will come begging to the Federal government to bail them out of their insurance crisis.
LOL, I am 100 miles south of The Villages, in Lakeland (central Florida.) Yes, Florida has a large number of MAGA/KKK or, as you accurately state it, MAGANAZIS. But the electorate is now divided in many places, such as the one here or a pretty close division, with Republicans at about 37%, Democrats at about 35% and NPAs at 28%. A lot of people are simply disaffected.
DeSantis was my Congressman when he was first elected to Congress. I attended a few of his town halls, which were very well attended. He was actually pretty moderate in those meetings and thoughtfully answered the questions people asked.
Since then, he has shifted so far to the right he is unrecognizable. And his policies as governor are nothing short of Fascist. For someone that's a parent, he has no ability to interact with them at all. His interactions in Iowa have been an embarrassment.
And his wife is even worse I fear. Thank goodness she isn't in politics.
But what's kind of fun is the feud between DeSantis and Rick Scott. Clearly they hate each other.
DeSantis' wife is the Satan in the name. Ron is now pure Fascist. Rick Scott won the Senate seat by 10,500 votes. I wish that we had a heavy hitter going against him, but I can't even remember the name of the lady challenging him.
Her name is Debbie Mucarsal-Powell. I would like to believe that Scott is beatable because of his wanting to end social security as we know it. If she can hammer that home, the fact that he defrauded Medicare for over $100 million, bought his seat with $70 million of our money and hates women because of his stance on women's health care. And he's also no one's idea of handsome. But it will take a lot of money. The Lincoln Project could help.
It is a steep uphill climb just for her to get name recognition. I agree, Scott is a low life who wants to squeeze the life out of ordinary people. I don't know that Scott is as cruel as DeSantis and DeSantis' wife, but he has no business in government.
Richard, your dance card is filling up fast! But I will be so freaking thrilled when that fine day comes I would fly to Florida to have that dance in person with you.
It is interesting, the matter of age. No one ever comes close to guessing my age, usually somewhere in the 60's. So, age is not a defining criterion. I still write letters and columns published by the local newspapers (Lakeland Ledger and the Orlando Sentinel.) This is one that will be published this coming Sunday in the Lakeland Ledger. I had to trim it down to 200 words.
Letter writer, Walt Back (Congress not engaged in meaningful governance, 12/10/2023) and I both benefit from Social Security and Medicare. We're the lucky ones. Chances are that our fellow Americans in their 40's, 50's and 60's won't get it. Why? When Ronald Reagan took office the national debt was less than $1 trillion. It is now $33 trillion. Mr. Back claims that Congress hasn’t been doing its job. In fact, virtually no Republican-controlled Congress has done its job going back to President Reagan.
Why? How have Republican politicians failed the American Middle Class, and how did they do it? Forty-eight million of the fifty million jobs created in this country in the past fifty years have been when Democrats controlled the government. Three of the last Republican administrations have ended in recessions, with the G.W. Bush administration taking us to the brink of a depression. Every Republican administration has done nothing about our nation's infrastructure, but Pres. Biden has and is.
Pres. Trump bragged about the massive tax cuts in 2017 and told his wealthy friends, "You all just got a lot richer." He added $8.2 trillion to the national debt with this stunt. We need to tax the wealthy.
Hitler was imprisoned after the failure of the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch in Munich and used the time he spent in prison -- 9 months out of a 5 year sentence -- to write Mein Kampf.
Following the failure of this direct attempt to overthrow the Republic, Hitler decided to aim for power and an end to democratic government via the ballot box.
First and paramount, the absurdly light sentence for high treason.
Compare this with the fact that those responsible for the January 6th Putsch still walk free and the direct attempt to overthrow Congress has been followed by an unprecedented 1071 Day Putsch, upholding the lie that was the pretext for that direct assault on the United States of America.
*
Compare the facts just outlined.
Ponder what they tell the world about the United States of America and prospects for the global survival of representative government.
Compare the foregoing with a medical bulletin for a critically ill patient suffering from a life-threatening cancer.
*
A BLANK SPACE HERE FOR READERS TO FACE THE FACTS.
*
[In 1961, I had the privilege of hearing the views of a distinguished former German judge on the consequences of the light sentence imposed on Adolf Hitler when found guilty of high treason.
Dr. Reinhold Regensburger, a patriotic German, was stripped by the Nazi regime of his position as a judge because of his Jewish religion and forced to flee to England in 1939. He lived in Cambridge until his death in 1972.
You can read the bare bones of his biography in Wikipedia.]
Hmm ..., yes, I can relate to that ... a bit like being an awake and aware human being in a culture of cosmetic clones ... we do exist - and the treasure you bury here, even if only heard by one - or a few - is treasure found, not lost ... imagine how small and insignificant a drop of water must feel in relation to the whole ocean - or a cell in a body - how can it know what it contributes to the whole body - or how it contains the whole within the field of it's manifestation ... I deeply appreciate perspectives you share Peter ... rising now to preruse the works of one resembling a Dirigible - and find a way to afford access ... ah, ancient roots of language will continue to grow - even as cuttings in a jar ... life will go on - one way or another - and goodness will prevail in the long run ... I feel that deeply in my heart ... how can it not be so ...?!
It's true. There is a crucial difference - when Hitler went to prison in 1923 following the Beer Hall Putsch, a decade before he came to power, he was 34 years old. He was 43 when he came to power.
I had often thought about the fact that trump could spend time in prison and emerge as a populist hero as did Hitler. The comparisons are hard to miss.
about thr fact that "Trump's claim that he is immune from any and all criminal prosecution for anything he did while in office" is chilling.
"He has requested the charges against him be dismissed because of that immunity." Again, chilling.
He doesn't ask for charges to be dismissed because he is innocent. (Well, I'm sure he has said this), but because he had the RIGHT to do and say anything he wanted BECAUSE he was the President.
He's not fighting back because he is innocent, but because he's guilty and does not want to suffer the consequences. (By the way, when WILL he suffer any consequences?)
It's like thieves saying, "I'm not sorry I did what I did. I'm sorry I got caught and what I did should be overlooked, because.... that's what thieves do."
"Trump's claim that he is immune from any and all criminal prosecution for anything he did while in office" is chilling." Yes. But it is totally convincing to his magate army.
Agreed - but, as others are pointing out, age and declining health could influence the equation - then again, if he is a vampire and can live forever ...,
We need his own to take him down. Since he is such a dependably transactional guy, this should be possible if we constantly point out how he is undermining the very people he professes are his base. Crack their solidarity.
And one has to wonder, if Hitler had just remained in his borders as Franco did, would he have been able to remain in power until nature took it course? I think so. It took his land grabbing to bring the others into the war. As long as a dictator stays in his own borders, they get left alone.
Hitler was found guilty and imprisoned in 1924 for his involvement in the Beer Hall Putsch. It was while he served nine months before being released, though he was sentenced to five years, that he wrote Mein Kampf. I wonder how different the world would have been if he’d served the full sentence.
"Biden urged Congress “to pass the supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for the holiday recess—before they give Putin the greatest Christmas gift they could possibly give him.”" Why didn't I see this on CNN?
Under the new CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery and new CNN CEO last year things have changed. They thought, and apparently agree, that CNN was too politically partisan. Remember the town hall for Trump? I stopped watching CNN after that. Last week I decided to see how things were going over there and listened to some program for about a half hour. I noticed a difference. I don't even know what show or host was talking or who she was interviewing, but she was putting questions out there regarding Biden's accomplishments, that is, playing "devil's advocate." I turned it off. Then I researched CNN's ratings in comparison to Fox and MSNBC. CNN's ratings are growing, Fox is loosing ground, and MSNBC is about the same. Also, saw that Newsmax is growing at the fastest rate in comparison to these programs. In any case, it's all about the ratings ($$$) and yes, I was disheartened to think that it's possible that more people are getting more interested in hearing untruths and not wanting to know about the current successes in the executive branch and foreign affairs.
Since about 47% of voters voted for Trump in 2020, despite his having failed his own program, I'm not surprised that Newsmax is growing and CNN is veering to the populist right. The demographic that watches cable TV are mostly Trump voters.
Well, yes, it must be dying if only Boomers - who constitute most of the elder generation now - are the majority of who watch it. But in the meantime, they are all chasing the same diminishing pot of people.
‘“The problem is that many members of Congress don’t want to see President Biden win on any front,’ [Fiona] Hill said.”
I think that, and keeping immigration policy an active campaign issue, is the motivation for recalcitrance on Ukraine funding. It is also an indication of the weakness of Republican congressional leadership that a small group of radicals can torpedo such an important issue that is supported by a significant majority of the party.
... a lot of people have supported Ukraine independently, lending their expertise and experience to the fight - not under the umbrella of government action ... is there enough independent wealth in the "free world" to generate financial support for Ukraine until the USA can come to terms with internal dysfunction - like a GoFundMe account?
It couldn’t hurt but it could never replace US gov’t. support that can put almost endless amounts of military hardware, ammunition, etc. on the ground in Ukraine in a week, or less, and keep it coming. It would take a GoFundMe charity over a year, after they had collected many $billions, to organize and maybe accomplish a one-time delivery.
If there was a charity I trusted to get humanitarian aid to Ukrainians in need, I would make monthly donations.
Until then, I’ll keep replacing the small blue and yellow Ukrainian flags on my two vehicles’ radio antennas that get shredded by the wind.
I am reminded of a Bible story regarding your comment...comparing small givings ...which would be my givings compared to givings from our government ie most of us together.....
Jesus was teaching a large crowd of people....it was getting late and Jesus' disciples reminded Jesus that those persons who came to lisen to Him may be tired and hungry. Those attending were asked to bring food to the disciples for Jesus to bless. The mother of a little boy had prepared a basket of loaves and fishes which he gave the disciples. The disciples brought the food to Jesus which He blessed. The crowd shared the abundance and there were even leftovers. (Matthew 15:32-39 and Mark 8:1-9 ie "The Feeding of the 4,000)
It is a story of faith....love and compassion. Maybe our "small" givings could be multiplied also....
Yup, fishes and loaves - enough to go around ... I get emails from so many candidates and causes asking for donations of any amount, no matter how small - they say this is how they finance their works not accepting support from mega corporations ... which, it would seem, is where our stubborn, uncompromising obstructionists get their support ... so, what do they support? What really is freedom ... independence ... true value ...?
If these self serving power brokers can invest in their brand of idealism at tax payer expense - calling it the Will of God - let individual people invest according to their own true conscience and deduct accordingly ...!!
I surely would be able to give to support Ukraine, especially if I could be confident it would go to support their need for equipment for fighting the war and warm clothing and food for the Ukrainian soldiers My givings would be small of course compared to others....but I want to help them. I believe in the fight for the rule of Ukranians over their own country. I believe our country should continue to do all we can to support freedom.
I also believe....regarding another battle, that the prime minister of Israel needs to go. This is not in regard to faith....I believe in freedom of religion. My heart is broken into pieces at the death of Palestinians. It is more than enough!!!! We cannot support this slaughter of innocent human beings!!!! Those who are responsible ...all of you...need to be brought to trial....and this is everyone.....including those who are trying to hide behind a faith they are not living out.....be honest ie it is personal power you are seeking! We must support life and hope and decency wherever we are able. It is who we are as Americans.....imperfect though we ARE!!! Supporting dictatorships and inhumanity forced upon our fellow human population is not the place I want to live in my mind or heart.
We must be better at compromise.....listening to one another....this is better for our entire planet. There is so much more good we could do if we work for the wellbeing of everyone. We are more interconnected than we realize. With hard work, we CAN do this.
Donating Jeff Bezos' yacht would help a lot. In fact what happened to the seizure of Russian oligarch assets at the start of the "aggression?" Right there we have a few billion dollars or more.
A pretty passive majority, it would seem. Their "superpower" up till now has been to tell all the same lies in endless unison, but reality is starting to intrude.
Because this is just what everyone wants—a third land war in Europe. Have these idiots learned nothing from two world wars? Is their entire existence one giant game of gotcha?
And who the ultimate loser? Not just Joe Biden and the Democrats, but the world. If Putin gets his way (and he will, if we stand down in Ukraine), there will be no stopping him.
And all this because these idiots in Congress are so wrapped up in licking the boots of Orange Jesus.
A third land war in Europe? Try a 33rd. WW2 wasn't even the worst of it - the Thirty Years War was a lot more damaging, and WW1 left just as many marks as WW2, and in fact, a poor postwar settlement led to WW2. Our continent has been ravaged for a long time, which is why the EU has broad support.
Earlier this month, the news media reported that Biden had bypassed Congressional review sell Israel $106 million worth of artillery shells. This $106 million would have been part of the $14.3 billion in the proposed package. Small potatoes compared to the total package, but a response, according to the press, consistent with past emergency responses.
Was that $106 million intended to create a path for bypassing Congress for some aid to Ukraine? Zelensky's visit to the US demonstrated the emergency nature of Ukraine's need. Let's see if Biden follows through with the part of the $60 billion intended for Ukraine that is the most urgent. Perhaps a slew of the Bradley vehicles that the US has in storage -- vehicles which would be really useful for Ukraine's wintertime battles with Russia and no longer used by the US.
We have come to understand that Biden is willing to be as tough as he needs to be. If he proceeds, will the Republicans decide to attempt to impeach him for such a sale? It is not as if it was never done before. In 2019, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo determined that an emergency allowed a sale of $8 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan. During the Gulf War, GHW Bush made an an emergency sale to the Saudis.
I am looking forward to seeing how Joe Biden operates. He is not going to allow the western world crumble because of a dozen or two extreme right wing Congressmen.
TFFG illegally moved $15 billion from defense budget projects to build his porous few miles of wall. Plus, he put tariffs on goods from China and many other countries, which the TFFG administration claimed gives the President the authority to raise tariffs without any limits during a national emergency of any kind. Almost all legal scholars disagreed. These tariffs amount to one of the largest tax increases ever amounting to $80 billion tax increase on $380 billion of goods. Talk about inflationary. But I digress.
So Biden should just do it claiming it is a national emergency and he has the power to do it granted him by Congress.
The common element to all these items is Republican extortion.
They've reached a point where they believe they can hold us all hostage in order to coerce us into giving in to their demands. What has emboldened them so? And what makes them believe that any successes this approach might give them could be anything but transitory?
You are so right, Gary, and isn't extortion a Federal crime??? Those lame brained a-holes in the Fascist GQP should all be arrested and thrown in jail for their blatant obstruction and criminal behavior. I am fed up with their juvenile and arrogant attitude just for the sole cause of exacting revenge against Democrats and Pres. Biden and appeasing their supreme orange jackass.
Well, and their billionaire benefactors. After 40+ years of so-called "Supply-Side (aka the very, very rich) Economics" which boats are riding high? Which are beached or on rough water?
They forgot the include historical examples of universal prosperity when the rich run the show. Feudalism? Bah, humbug. The Gilded Age? It sucked. But my public school history book seemed to indicate we'd outgrown all that.
Yes, i agree. All of this crap with these greedy a-holes started with the half ass former actor, Ronny Raygun. ''Trickle Down,'' The trickle dried up as fast as it trickled down, nothing left after that.
It's Mob mentality. It's certainly betrayal of the common weal. More people need to point to that. Who benefits? Who is getting shafted and who's going to clean up the mess?
Why aren’t we realizing that Trump and MAGA Republicanwant Ukraine to fail for two main reasons: (1) It will hurt Biden politically and help advance Trump. And, more importantly,
(2) It is “retribution” to Zelensky for not “playing-ball” with Trump and giving root to Trump’s
first impeachment. So, the Republicans are willing to sacrifice the entire country of Ukraine and cause great harm to the security of the USA, and thus not support our Constitution for “high-school” political gain. Bloody hands; sounds like treason to me.
They are being vindictive to the nth degree. How did they even get elected? Apparently there are a LOT of people in the US who have never learned how to be adults. And they're ruining it for all of us. Even for themselves, but they're too wrapped up in themselves to realize it.
We, with a lot of encouragement from the media, have made politics into a sports arena as shallow as a scoreboard; not an adult responsibility of all citizens. Up until recently. "news" seemed more focused on the food fights than the consequences, and it's still failing an "informed electorate".
Dictators are openly Trumps heroes, his role model. Harlan Crow is definitely kinky. Somehow, even in WWII, pro-Hitler was OK for those with lots of money.
I have the impression that USA already has provided older equipment to Ukraine, while investing allocated finds to develop new modern equipment to replace the old ... so, not much of a change there ...
I recall Trump declaring an emergency to send thousands of troops to the border to repel a murderous "caravan", that somehow ceased to be a problem after an election.
"Many members of Congress don’t want to see President Biden win on any front.”
Yes, I see that and agree. We're dealing with some cold, calculating people whose Reptilian Complexes in their brains are dominant. These snakes cannot be reasoned with; they can only be defeated. Let us not kid ourselves with who and what we're dealing with: the worst of the worst.
Republicans now are in full anti American mode because they want power. Except they are actually ceding power to Putin. This makes the entire Republican Party enemies of Democracy.
Plutocrats seem to have a place in any government, but I think the "GOP" turned against democracy wholesale with Reagan and toward pure plutocracy. They claim to be in favor of "small government", but not when it comes to advancing their own agendas, or those of their billionaire patrons. What they have reduced is voting rights, women's rights, minority rights, worker's rights, public schools and support for state colleges, the post office, parks and recreation, public health, anything by and for the people.
They let us pay the bills. Wouldn’t that fact get people riled up enough to want change that isn’t about a spoiled rotten, immature, evil, hateful human?
Charles Koch and his bagman Leonard Leo have put into question whether the United States has even the simulacrum an independent judiciary. What may most inform the Court's decision is that the Koch machine has endorsed a Trump primary opponent. Thus even a finding for the United States would be a product of political expediency. The plutocrat puppet masters, not trusting their populist base, may have their insidiously crafted high court belatedly derail this unseemly autocrat.
The producers may be working to take Trump off the stage, but every Republican member of Congress is still playing by his script. Trump may not get to act out his retribution directly on Biden and the US government, but by supporting Trump's retribution on Zelensky and Ukraine, Republicans are mocking America on the world stage. This is a perverse spin on America First. But this is MAGA Mike and MAGA Mitch playing the same old MAGA song.
Department of State Office of the Historian OCB files, lot 61 D 385, "Prestige Project"
A sample:
"...Reported Decline in United States Prestige Abroad
The reported decline in American prestige abroad is considered separately in each of the general regions of the globe. Attitudes toward the United States are influenced by diverse factors in the different areas, many of them directly opposite in impact, so that no significant common trend can be deduced. Therefore, the problem will be dealt with separately in each of the following arbitrary groupings of the free world:
I. Europe and Canada
II. Far East and Western Pacific
III. Near East and South Asia
IV. Latin America..."
Back then our prestige was pretty great and getting better as Eisenhower took Office. Our prestige around the world declined, had a few good moments, but then started to look like a dumpster fire with Trump insulting the CIA on his first day, and the cockeyed attempts to get friendly with some of the most despotic rulers around the world as he tried to gut the United Nations, NATO, etc. Seema sort of like gutting the real police and firefighters as you set the world on fire.
How can people support letting Ukraine burn down, so much it and much of the world has so much to lose if that is allowed to happen.
Prioritizing Sotomayor's possible crime (vs Giini Thomas and the whole Jan 6 mob), seems like cops ignoring a carjacking to chase kids ding dong-ditching at someone's door bell.
ThankYou for your very interesting and informative comment. Old State Department docs. I will have to look at that.
As an American Jew and a Zionist, for decades I've thought that the appropriation of Zionism by Jewish and Christian right wing religious extremists (here and in Israel) would be the end of Israel. And a danger to the US in the sense of making unconditional support for any Israeli government policy an American political wedge issue/litmus test. And especially the increasingly extremist Netanyahu administrations.
And now I feel I am watching it in real time. On the world stage and at home. Especially with a left wing itching for an excuse to give Trump/GOP the presidency. Again.
The short answer is the non- Klown Kar Kawkus that are terrified of losing their seats in Congress. If you have to sell your soul to keep your job, how is that job worth it?
We have allowed "representation" of the public's will to be a road to riches, and of access to the world of the 1%. Public service should be honored, but also also be a discipline; as for a soldier, to put the public duty first. When we become fans of political celebrity we seem lose track of our "business" relationship with our own hired agents, and of our responsibility to the environment that sustains a decent life for all, both physically and politically. To form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.
It has gotten to the point that I can’t watch the schitt show anymore. To see a brave, strong leader of his grievously-damaged country beg before the whiny cowards of the treasonous republicans is too much. I am so ashamed and will never be able to tolerate any who wave the republican banner of fascism.
Jeri -- the present day gop is nihilistic, and fascism is the means to the end. And they are certainly treasonous cowards, in addition to being duplicitous nationalistic fiends being manipulated by wealthy oligarchs (Leo, Crow, the Heritage Institute, Putin, Orban, et al.) I really dislike using dehumanizing language against others, so that's as far as I'll go, but...
Jeri, some hope here in the Keys. Three of my neighbors, who dutifully replaced their tattered Trump flags as necessary, have taken them down. I hope it holds.
Do you think Nikki is “right time, right place”? I want someone to question her position on Project 2025. With Koch behind her do I assume her an acolyte?
I enjoy reading your letters every night. I want to take issue of the way you and other media outlets frame criticism of the Republican Party. You cite reasons for Republicans refusing to aid Ukraine as not wanting to give Pres. Biden a win or because they want to keep the immigration issue front center to take attention off of abortion. As if there is actually a Republican "Party."
Can we drop this fantasy? Republicans are completely loyal to authoritarian Donald Trump. Trump orders and they follow. So please start framing it correctly. Say 'Donald Trump has ordered Republicans not to aid Ukraine.' Say 'Donald Trump is ordering Republicans to hold a non-transparent impeachment inquiry of Pres. Biden.' Doesn't that make it much clearer? With this frame, we instantly understand that immigration and abortion are just distractions. Whereas we know for a fact that Trump and Putin are allies who wish to destroy NATO. Trump told this to us and the world for four years. The formula "Trump orders Republicans to..." really stops a lot of stupid debate. It also might make us Democrats not sound like imbeciles—like when we express dismay that Republicans don't seem to understand that withholding aid to Ukraine endangers our American freedom. Didn't we get the memo on January 6? Republicans want an end to our Constitution and American freedom. Let's start acting like we got the message. Please!
Agree with you, Russell. It does seem as though some members of Congress ignore the needs of their constituents to appease Trump and he is pulling their strings, to include Speaker Johnson, but I don’t think Heather would put that in writing without source links. Maybe Republicans will “get it” when we’re in WW III and our kids are being drafted.
Not unless the kids of members of congress are sent to fight, and this seldom happens- also congress people don't care a bit about our kids.
The repubs respond to their donors only.
Exactly. Ukraine doesn’t have a PAC like AIPAC.
Appreciate your comment. I'm trying to persuade Democrats to drop the fantasy that Republicans at some point will "get it." They've made their choice. It's us Democrats who need to face reality. We need to ask ourselves why we're continuing to be led by the nose with Republican distractions. In the case of Ukraine, why isn't the Democratic leadership or the media just matter-of-factly ignoring the distracting Republican immigration argument and instead instantly pointing out that Republicans are following Trump's wishes to aid Putin and undermine NATO? Why should we Democrats let Trump frame every issue the way he wants? That's the real question. Republicans made their choice collectively on January 6. Why are Democrats pretending otherwise? Why aren't we taking the lead and demanding Republicans defend any action they take as not being specifically at Trump's bidding to destroy our democracy. Don't you think we need that clarity and should be demanding it from our elected officials and the media generally?
While I really want to, I cannot disagree with this assessment, Russell. I am not sure that tfg is all that, because I think that the billionaire-to-excess class (Leo and Koch being in the foreground of that group) are the ones really pulling the strings, and there is also the heavy influence of those $$$ in today's batch of traitorous RepulbiKans along with having to kiss tfg's ...er, ring. Or orange posterior (which is probably pasty white because it doesn't take makeup well, but I digress)
Ally!! I'm eating breakfast as I read! I didn't need the image of the Trump butt!
But I will keep it in mind when the neighbors start delivering all the home-made Christmas treats. Might keep off a few holiday pounds.
Yeah, I hate it when my mind does that... especially before breakfast. 🤮
So glad to hear that tradition continues.
Leo, Koch, Putin...
Ally House,
But for some grotesque reason, Trump is their chosen balloon... it seems no matter how horrible and unAmerican....unpatriotic his choices are ...Trump is elevated....paraded out front....
Trump is just a tool that was thrust into this oversized fantasy roll by Republican voters. American oligarchs would probably prefer a candidate with some intelligence and restraint, but voters want the entertainment Trump provides. MAGA is more than Donald Trump. It's the Frankenstein story. Who can control the monster and who is the monster?
Thank you. That’s exactly what I believe. The Republicans take their orders from Trump. We need to frame the conversation that way.
You're welcome. Yes, when we frame Republicans exclusively as loyal vassals to Trump, all the distractions melt away. Impeachment inquiry to Pres. Biden without charges? Trump's revenge for his own trials. Withholding aid to Ukraine (and probably Israel too)? Trump's alliance with Putin. Draconian immigration restrictions? Trump preparing Americans for detention and concentration camps. Barbaric abortion policies and threats to prosecute women traveling out of state? Easing Americans into restrictions of our most basic rights. Tommy Johnson delaying military promotions? Giving Trump an easy path forward to build a military loyal only to him. Not allowing Congress to pass anything substantial? Yes to ensure Democrats have no legislative victories, but also to pave the way for Trump to control the Legislative Branch once he returns to office.
Isn't it something how all the other rationalizations for Republican stances and actions just magically disappear? We have to remember that Republicans dutifully avoid any governing platform other than loyalty to Trump. If we frame everything then as following the wishes of Trump, we stop chasing our tails and can react rationally. For instance, Trump proudly states he'll only be a dictator his first day in office. Our media can then calmly translate, "Oh, Trump and his machine are confident they now have methods to overcome all the safeguards that prevented his successful insurrection 3 years ago."
More importantly, instead of screaming at Republicans as most liberal media insist on doing (an insane reaction in my opinion), we can focus asking some important questions to the Democratic Party and to the federal government. Such as, why are you all incapable of protecting our Constitution? How in any rational interpretation of the Constitution is a professed despot who openly fomented an insurrection allowed to run again for office? Is your fear of reprisal that great that you are reluctant to defend our liberties? Yeah, those kinds of questions. And do it in a public forum, perhaps in the way University presidents were asked to justify their refusal to condemn students calling for Jewish genocide.
Exactly, Russell! It’s about time we call it what it is: Putin owns Trump and the Republican party, and they will execute his orders. The decision to stop funding for Ukraine isn’t “astonishing” at all, it’s just puppets following orders.
Thank you for capturing the issues of the day. Your letters give us reasons to speak up and act in support of freedom and democracy.
These events from the past might alert us to beware of similar mistakes in the future:
"Hitler is regarded as one of history's great villains. So it's easy to forget how slowly and reluctantly the worlds most powerful democracies mobilized to stop him. France and Britain did declare war on Germany two days after the invasion of Poland, but it would take them another eight months before they engaged in full-scale war with the Nazis. The United States wouldn't join the war against Hitler until December 1941, a full two years after the war began. (....)
The short answer is that Adolf Hitler was a ruthless dictator with dreams of conquering all of Europe. Annexing Poland was a step in that larger plan. The Polish military wasn't powerful enough to resist him, and Hitler calculated — correctly, as it turns out — that Europe's other powers wouldn't intervene in time. The invasion of Poland occurred almost exactly 25 years after the start of World War I in August 1914. That war ended in Germany's defeat, and in 1919 the victorious allies carved up territory that had been part of Germany, Austria-Hungary (Germany's defeated ally), and Russia ....
After World War I, the allies took territory away from Germany....
Hitler was contemptuous of these new nations, which he regarded as artificial creations of the Allies. There were significant German populations in both countries, and Hitler used trumped-up concern for their welfare as a pretext to demand territorial concessions."
https://www.vox.com/2014/9/1/6084029/hitlers-invasion-of-poland-explained
... also, didn't Hitler spend time in prison, then after release, became "der fuhrer" ...?
So, even if tfg is convicted and sent to prison, isn't it possible he still could follow the same path (which, by the way, ultimately ended in suicide (post genocide)) ...?
At least there's this, though: tffg is much older than Hitler was (suicide at 56), he's morbidly obese, and rapidly deteriorating cognitively, too. He's a menace every second that he lives, but he doesn't have long.
He may be immune to cheeseburgers at this point, or perhaps even the devil doesn't want him. Or he might just flash-evaporate in a hissy-fit of rage. Meanwhile Putin is still very much in charge of Russia.
Alexandra, I’ve been thinking for years he has the perfect set up for having a fatal stroke. His anger seems to be keeping him alive. Yet…
Jennifer, exactly. But as I've said here before, instead of wishing for that, I'd be happy if he were just Raptured away. Him and all his theocrat supporters.
If tffg goes to trial he gets convicted. His attorneys know that. So, what is the attorneys' primary mission? To keep tffg out of an orange jump suit? Work out a plea deal: Tffg pleads guilty and is retired from public life completely and totally, confined to Mar a Lago for the next 5 to 10 years, though Alexandra doesn't think that he has that much time left. I'm now 83 1/2. I hope to live long enough to see that day so that I can dance in the streets.
I have a feeling this story is less about tfg whose big act is a distraction from wheels turning backstage for younger, healthier players to pick up the baton and run with it ... kind of like a relay race ...
Richard, I don’t know where you are geographically, but someone who lands a hole-in-one must be able to boogie. So. I’ll be wildly dancing along with you (in MA ) IF that happens.
Meanwhile, my 2 sisters I continue to read HCR’s historically excellent Letters daily knowing that history can repeat itself ad nauseam especially if you don’t know the consequences of the past.
Samm, I am now in central Florida, Florida, the home of the mostly Fascist Taliban Republicans. But, prior to moving here for retirement 8 years ago, I spent 42 years in California and before that 6 years in Cambridge (grad school and law school.) I remember 1969 when it was below freezing for 60 straight days, a veritable Winter Wonderland. I have a feeling probably fueled by a hope that we'll be dancing soon.
Would love yo dance with you Richard. Alas, FL is a ways from CO
Jennifer, what we could do is to recruit some 12-year olds to put together a network where we could all dance for all to see with reckless abandon. The words of Martin Luther King, Jr. come to my mind: "Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last."
I will be dancing with all of you in New Jersey whether we can see each other or not. It will be the biggest cause to celebrate in my lifetime.
I’ll join you from PA!
Hmmm… an excellent idea! I’m up before day break.
Ahhh, you must live close to the Villages or in them. Bummer for you if you do. When Covid-19 hit we ended our snow-birding life of flitting between Maine and Jacksonville, FL. My neighbors in FL were all retired MAGANAZIs from the midwest. Very nice people, until someone brought up politics.
And no offense, but Florida weather sucks between May 1 and October 1. Plus property taxes and homeowner's insurance is out of control. Soon, FL will come begging to the Federal government to bail them out of their insurance crisis.
LOL, I am 100 miles south of The Villages, in Lakeland (central Florida.) Yes, Florida has a large number of MAGA/KKK or, as you accurately state it, MAGANAZIS. But the electorate is now divided in many places, such as the one here or a pretty close division, with Republicans at about 37%, Democrats at about 35% and NPAs at 28%. A lot of people are simply disaffected.
DeSantis was my Congressman when he was first elected to Congress. I attended a few of his town halls, which were very well attended. He was actually pretty moderate in those meetings and thoughtfully answered the questions people asked.
Since then, he has shifted so far to the right he is unrecognizable. And his policies as governor are nothing short of Fascist. For someone that's a parent, he has no ability to interact with them at all. His interactions in Iowa have been an embarrassment.
And his wife is even worse I fear. Thank goodness she isn't in politics.
But what's kind of fun is the feud between DeSantis and Rick Scott. Clearly they hate each other.
DeSantis' wife is the Satan in the name. Ron is now pure Fascist. Rick Scott won the Senate seat by 10,500 votes. I wish that we had a heavy hitter going against him, but I can't even remember the name of the lady challenging him.
Her name is Debbie Mucarsal-Powell. I would like to believe that Scott is beatable because of his wanting to end social security as we know it. If she can hammer that home, the fact that he defrauded Medicare for over $100 million, bought his seat with $70 million of our money and hates women because of his stance on women's health care. And he's also no one's idea of handsome. But it will take a lot of money. The Lincoln Project could help.
And yes, DeSatan's wife is a _____. Fill in your own uncomplimentary noun.
It is a steep uphill climb just for her to get name recognition. I agree, Scott is a low life who wants to squeeze the life out of ordinary people. I don't know that Scott is as cruel as DeSantis and DeSantis' wife, but he has no business in government.
Richard, your dance card is filling up fast! But I will be so freaking thrilled when that fine day comes I would fly to Florida to have that dance in person with you.
Absolutely Alexandra. Party time!!!!!
Merely a year younger, Richard. May I have this dance?
It is interesting, the matter of age. No one ever comes close to guessing my age, usually somewhere in the 60's. So, age is not a defining criterion. I still write letters and columns published by the local newspapers (Lakeland Ledger and the Orlando Sentinel.) This is one that will be published this coming Sunday in the Lakeland Ledger. I had to trim it down to 200 words.
Letter writer, Walt Back (Congress not engaged in meaningful governance, 12/10/2023) and I both benefit from Social Security and Medicare. We're the lucky ones. Chances are that our fellow Americans in their 40's, 50's and 60's won't get it. Why? When Ronald Reagan took office the national debt was less than $1 trillion. It is now $33 trillion. Mr. Back claims that Congress hasn’t been doing its job. In fact, virtually no Republican-controlled Congress has done its job going back to President Reagan.
Why? How have Republican politicians failed the American Middle Class, and how did they do it? Forty-eight million of the fifty million jobs created in this country in the past fifty years have been when Democrats controlled the government. Three of the last Republican administrations have ended in recessions, with the G.W. Bush administration taking us to the brink of a depression. Every Republican administration has done nothing about our nation's infrastructure, but Pres. Biden has and is.
Pres. Trump bragged about the massive tax cuts in 2017 and told his wealthy friends, "You all just got a lot richer." He added $8.2 trillion to the national debt with this stunt. We need to tax the wealthy.
Richard Sutherland
Definitely!
Hitler was imprisoned after the failure of the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch in Munich and used the time he spent in prison -- 9 months out of a 5 year sentence -- to write Mein Kampf.
Following the failure of this direct attempt to overthrow the Republic, Hitler decided to aim for power and an end to democratic government via the ballot box.
[Cfr. Holocaust Encyclopedia, encyclopedia.ushmm.org]
There are plainly lessons in this.
First and paramount, the absurdly light sentence for high treason.
Compare this with the fact that those responsible for the January 6th Putsch still walk free and the direct attempt to overthrow Congress has been followed by an unprecedented 1071 Day Putsch, upholding the lie that was the pretext for that direct assault on the United States of America.
*
Compare the facts just outlined.
Ponder what they tell the world about the United States of America and prospects for the global survival of representative government.
Compare the foregoing with a medical bulletin for a critically ill patient suffering from a life-threatening cancer.
*
A BLANK SPACE HERE FOR READERS TO FACE THE FACTS.
*
[In 1961, I had the privilege of hearing the views of a distinguished former German judge on the consequences of the light sentence imposed on Adolf Hitler when found guilty of high treason.
Dr. Reinhold Regensburger, a patriotic German, was stripped by the Nazi regime of his position as a judge because of his Jewish religion and forced to flee to England in 1939. He lived in Cambridge until his death in 1972.
You can read the bare bones of his biography in Wikipedia.]
Thank you, as always, for historic insight and perspective ...
Kathleen, thank you, but I still feel about as useful as a dog burying a bone when I comment on this site.
If only it was like that.
The messages buried in metal boxes and milk churns by those about to die in the Warsaw ghetto could not be more precious.
The messages we are burying here concern the life and death of not only our community, not only our people, but our whole world.
Hmm ..., yes, I can relate to that ... a bit like being an awake and aware human being in a culture of cosmetic clones ... we do exist - and the treasure you bury here, even if only heard by one - or a few - is treasure found, not lost ... imagine how small and insignificant a drop of water must feel in relation to the whole ocean - or a cell in a body - how can it know what it contributes to the whole body - or how it contains the whole within the field of it's manifestation ... I deeply appreciate perspectives you share Peter ... rising now to preruse the works of one resembling a Dirigible - and find a way to afford access ... ah, ancient roots of language will continue to grow - even as cuttings in a jar ... life will go on - one way or another - and goodness will prevail in the long run ... I feel that deeply in my heart ... how can it not be so ...?!
... uhm, oops, guess I should have paid attention in German language class!
It's true. There is a crucial difference - when Hitler went to prison in 1923 following the Beer Hall Putsch, a decade before he came to power, he was 34 years old. He was 43 when he came to power.
I had often thought about the fact that trump could spend time in prison and emerge as a populist hero as did Hitler. The comparisons are hard to miss.
Harvey, I have often thought
about thr fact that "Trump's claim that he is immune from any and all criminal prosecution for anything he did while in office" is chilling.
"He has requested the charges against him be dismissed because of that immunity." Again, chilling.
He doesn't ask for charges to be dismissed because he is innocent. (Well, I'm sure he has said this), but because he had the RIGHT to do and say anything he wanted BECAUSE he was the President.
He's not fighting back because he is innocent, but because he's guilty and does not want to suffer the consequences. (By the way, when WILL he suffer any consequences?)
It's like thieves saying, "I'm not sorry I did what I did. I'm sorry I got caught and what I did should be overlooked, because.... that's what thieves do."
"Trump's claim that he is immune from any and all criminal prosecution for anything he did while in office" is chilling." Yes. But it is totally convincing to his magate army.
That makes it more chilling!!
fortunately his age and health are huge limits he can not surpass
Agreed - but, as others are pointing out, age and declining health could influence the equation - then again, if he is a vampire and can live forever ...,
We need his own to take him down. Since he is such a dependably transactional guy, this should be possible if we constantly point out how he is undermining the very people he professes are his base. Crack their solidarity.
Yes, Hitler spent a short time in prison. He used his time there to write the first part of Mein Kampf (My Struggle). He was released early.
And one has to wonder, if Hitler had just remained in his borders as Franco did, would he have been able to remain in power until nature took it course? I think so. It took his land grabbing to bring the others into the war. As long as a dictator stays in his own borders, they get left alone.
Seems that way, unless they have something others want, like oil.
Hitler was found guilty and imprisoned in 1924 for his involvement in the Beer Hall Putsch. It was while he served nine months before being released, though he was sentenced to five years, that he wrote Mein Kampf. I wonder how different the world would have been if he’d served the full sentence.
I wonder how different our history might have been if Nixon, irrespective of any charge or sentencing, had not effectively be held above the law?
"Biden urged Congress “to pass the supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for the holiday recess—before they give Putin the greatest Christmas gift they could possibly give him.”" Why didn't I see this on CNN?
Under the new CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery and new CNN CEO last year things have changed. They thought, and apparently agree, that CNN was too politically partisan. Remember the town hall for Trump? I stopped watching CNN after that. Last week I decided to see how things were going over there and listened to some program for about a half hour. I noticed a difference. I don't even know what show or host was talking or who she was interviewing, but she was putting questions out there regarding Biden's accomplishments, that is, playing "devil's advocate." I turned it off. Then I researched CNN's ratings in comparison to Fox and MSNBC. CNN's ratings are growing, Fox is loosing ground, and MSNBC is about the same. Also, saw that Newsmax is growing at the fastest rate in comparison to these programs. In any case, it's all about the ratings ($$$) and yes, I was disheartened to think that it's possible that more people are getting more interested in hearing untruths and not wanting to know about the current successes in the executive branch and foreign affairs.
Since about 47% of voters voted for Trump in 2020, despite his having failed his own program, I'm not surprised that Newsmax is growing and CNN is veering to the populist right. The demographic that watches cable TV are mostly Trump voters.
Annis, Cable TV is a dying thing. Its expensive compared to a host of options and provides content that appeals to a diminishing base
The faster it dies the better. Unplug, Go Antenna
Well, yes, it must be dying if only Boomers - who constitute most of the elder generation now - are the majority of who watch it. But in the meantime, they are all chasing the same diminishing pot of people.
Bad news sells. If there is any bias against Biden those in the media can confirm their bias with a negative narrative. Confirmation bias.
CNN had a bigger story? Something everybody cares about? like, what?
... hair care, and keeping that summer tan through the cold winter months ...?
Mumble mumble ... Kardashian ... mumble ... Taylor Swift ... $700m baseball contract ... mumble mumble
OK, OK. I get it. Unfortunately.
Too funny. Yep. Something Americans actually care about!
Don't forget the new Beyoncé tour!
People still watch CNN?
‘“The problem is that many members of Congress don’t want to see President Biden win on any front,’ [Fiona] Hill said.”
I think that, and keeping immigration policy an active campaign issue, is the motivation for recalcitrance on Ukraine funding. It is also an indication of the weakness of Republican congressional leadership that a small group of radicals can torpedo such an important issue that is supported by a significant majority of the party.
... a lot of people have supported Ukraine independently, lending their expertise and experience to the fight - not under the umbrella of government action ... is there enough independent wealth in the "free world" to generate financial support for Ukraine until the USA can come to terms with internal dysfunction - like a GoFundMe account?
It couldn’t hurt but it could never replace US gov’t. support that can put almost endless amounts of military hardware, ammunition, etc. on the ground in Ukraine in a week, or less, and keep it coming. It would take a GoFundMe charity over a year, after they had collected many $billions, to organize and maybe accomplish a one-time delivery.
If there was a charity I trusted to get humanitarian aid to Ukrainians in need, I would make monthly donations.
Until then, I’ll keep replacing the small blue and yellow Ukrainian flags on my two vehicles’ radio antennas that get shredded by the wind.
There’s a metaphor there.
Ralph Averill,
I am reminded of a Bible story regarding your comment...comparing small givings ...which would be my givings compared to givings from our government ie most of us together.....
Jesus was teaching a large crowd of people....it was getting late and Jesus' disciples reminded Jesus that those persons who came to lisen to Him may be tired and hungry. Those attending were asked to bring food to the disciples for Jesus to bless. The mother of a little boy had prepared a basket of loaves and fishes which he gave the disciples. The disciples brought the food to Jesus which He blessed. The crowd shared the abundance and there were even leftovers. (Matthew 15:32-39 and Mark 8:1-9 ie "The Feeding of the 4,000)
It is a story of faith....love and compassion. Maybe our "small" givings could be multiplied also....
Thank you, Emily.
I like, “Praise the Lord, but pass the ammunition.”
Yup, fishes and loaves - enough to go around ... I get emails from so many candidates and causes asking for donations of any amount, no matter how small - they say this is how they finance their works not accepting support from mega corporations ... which, it would seem, is where our stubborn, uncompromising obstructionists get their support ... so, what do they support? What really is freedom ... independence ... true value ...?
... and make it tax deductable!!
If these self serving power brokers can invest in their brand of idealism at tax payer expense - calling it the Will of God - let individual people invest according to their own true conscience and deduct accordingly ...!!
... these folks say they want Jesus to govern ...?
Ok by me - the first thing Jesus would do is turn their weapons into plowshares, then turn their tables over and drive them from the Temple ...!!
*******
"Turn, Turn, Turn"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GbPl91kTFro
*******
"To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
"A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
"To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
"A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together
"To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
"A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing
"To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
"A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late!"
*****
Written by: Pete Seeger
Album: 20 Essential Tracks from the Box Set: 1965-1990
Released: 1993
(From Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
Kathleen Allen,
I surely would be able to give to support Ukraine, especially if I could be confident it would go to support their need for equipment for fighting the war and warm clothing and food for the Ukrainian soldiers My givings would be small of course compared to others....but I want to help them. I believe in the fight for the rule of Ukranians over their own country. I believe our country should continue to do all we can to support freedom.
I also believe....regarding another battle, that the prime minister of Israel needs to go. This is not in regard to faith....I believe in freedom of religion. My heart is broken into pieces at the death of Palestinians. It is more than enough!!!! We cannot support this slaughter of innocent human beings!!!! Those who are responsible ...all of you...need to be brought to trial....and this is everyone.....including those who are trying to hide behind a faith they are not living out.....be honest ie it is personal power you are seeking! We must support life and hope and decency wherever we are able. It is who we are as Americans.....imperfect though we ARE!!! Supporting dictatorships and inhumanity forced upon our fellow human population is not the place I want to live in my mind or heart.
We must be better at compromise.....listening to one another....this is better for our entire planet. There is so much more good we could do if we work for the wellbeing of everyone. We are more interconnected than we realize. With hard work, we CAN do this.
Well said Emily!! This might be a good place to post my prayer for America ...:
prayer for america
. . . how can people pillage
. . . murder . . . rape . . .
all in the name of the LORD . . . ?
Awesome Holy Host
Whose Name I Do Not Know
Will you suffer wounded souls to heal . . .
Can you for give our trespass . . . ?
Inspire our vision -- Please
Dispel this ignorance -- Wisdom
Endow our hearts with Compassion
Empower our lives with Truth . . .
Hallowed Breath of Life
Embrace this child who wanders
. . . still lost -- at such cost . . .
Secure this vessel -- Inspire her song
Absorb her fears -- Bestow her tears . . .
Ocean of Most Wholesome Love
. . . Cleanse . . . Consecrate . . .
Bless Your Children With Peace
In The Name of All That Is True . . . .
https://tahomahome.weebly.com/prayer-for-america.htm
***********************************************************
... and this ... again ...:
'til such a time
... we who wander
caught within
days passed
face saving
out of phase
must find
some incentive
even sense
to persevere
'til such a time
within closed minds
as tempests die
we lose our lies
and life's unholy
whirlwinds
unwind ....
https://tahomahome.weebly.com/til-such-a-time.html
********************************************************
What an intriguing thought !!!
Donating Jeff Bezos' yacht would help a lot. In fact what happened to the seizure of Russian oligarch assets at the start of the "aggression?" Right there we have a few billion dollars or more.
A pretty passive majority, it would seem. Their "superpower" up till now has been to tell all the same lies in endless unison, but reality is starting to intrude.
Because this is just what everyone wants—a third land war in Europe. Have these idiots learned nothing from two world wars? Is their entire existence one giant game of gotcha?
And who the ultimate loser? Not just Joe Biden and the Democrats, but the world. If Putin gets his way (and he will, if we stand down in Ukraine), there will be no stopping him.
And all this because these idiots in Congress are so wrapped up in licking the boots of Orange Jesus.
A third land war in Europe? Try a 33rd. WW2 wasn't even the worst of it - the Thirty Years War was a lot more damaging, and WW1 left just as many marks as WW2, and in fact, a poor postwar settlement led to WW2. Our continent has been ravaged for a long time, which is why the EU has broad support.
Earlier this month, the news media reported that Biden had bypassed Congressional review sell Israel $106 million worth of artillery shells. This $106 million would have been part of the $14.3 billion in the proposed package. Small potatoes compared to the total package, but a response, according to the press, consistent with past emergency responses.
Was that $106 million intended to create a path for bypassing Congress for some aid to Ukraine? Zelensky's visit to the US demonstrated the emergency nature of Ukraine's need. Let's see if Biden follows through with the part of the $60 billion intended for Ukraine that is the most urgent. Perhaps a slew of the Bradley vehicles that the US has in storage -- vehicles which would be really useful for Ukraine's wintertime battles with Russia and no longer used by the US.
We have come to understand that Biden is willing to be as tough as he needs to be. If he proceeds, will the Republicans decide to attempt to impeach him for such a sale? It is not as if it was never done before. In 2019, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo determined that an emergency allowed a sale of $8 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan. During the Gulf War, GHW Bush made an an emergency sale to the Saudis.
I am looking forward to seeing how Joe Biden operates. He is not going to allow the western world crumble because of a dozen or two extreme right wing Congressmen.
TFFG illegally moved $15 billion from defense budget projects to build his porous few miles of wall. Plus, he put tariffs on goods from China and many other countries, which the TFFG administration claimed gives the President the authority to raise tariffs without any limits during a national emergency of any kind. Almost all legal scholars disagreed. These tariffs amount to one of the largest tax increases ever amounting to $80 billion tax increase on $380 billion of goods. Talk about inflationary. But I digress.
So Biden should just do it claiming it is a national emergency and he has the power to do it granted him by Congress.
Excellent points Leonard. I was thinking a lot of the same.
I thought Biden announced with Zelensky yesterday at their press conference, an aid package of his own for Ukraine, that did not depend on congress.
I did not see that.
NBC News reports: “Biden announces $200M in aid for Ukraine as Zelensky meets gop skepticism in Congress”
Thank you.
The common element to all these items is Republican extortion.
They've reached a point where they believe they can hold us all hostage in order to coerce us into giving in to their demands. What has emboldened them so? And what makes them believe that any successes this approach might give them could be anything but transitory?
You are so right, Gary, and isn't extortion a Federal crime??? Those lame brained a-holes in the Fascist GQP should all be arrested and thrown in jail for their blatant obstruction and criminal behavior. I am fed up with their juvenile and arrogant attitude just for the sole cause of exacting revenge against Democrats and Pres. Biden and appeasing their supreme orange jackass.
Well, and their billionaire benefactors. After 40+ years of so-called "Supply-Side (aka the very, very rich) Economics" which boats are riding high? Which are beached or on rough water?
Or sunk
They called it “Trickle Down “. Did we not realize that you suffer if you live downstream from a sewer?
They forgot the include historical examples of universal prosperity when the rich run the show. Feudalism? Bah, humbug. The Gilded Age? It sucked. But my public school history book seemed to indicate we'd outgrown all that.
Yes, i agree. All of this crap with these greedy a-holes started with the half ass former actor, Ronny Raygun. ''Trickle Down,'' The trickle dried up as fast as it trickled down, nothing left after that.
It's Mob mentality. It's certainly betrayal of the common weal. More people need to point to that. Who benefits? Who is getting shafted and who's going to clean up the mess?
Just doing their Russian master's bidding.
Why aren’t we realizing that Trump and MAGA Republicanwant Ukraine to fail for two main reasons: (1) It will hurt Biden politically and help advance Trump. And, more importantly,
(2) It is “retribution” to Zelensky for not “playing-ball” with Trump and giving root to Trump’s
first impeachment. So, the Republicans are willing to sacrifice the entire country of Ukraine and cause great harm to the security of the USA, and thus not support our Constitution for “high-school” political gain. Bloody hands; sounds like treason to me.
Paul Martino
They are being vindictive to the nth degree. How did they even get elected? Apparently there are a LOT of people in the US who have never learned how to be adults. And they're ruining it for all of us. Even for themselves, but they're too wrapped up in themselves to realize it.
We, with a lot of encouragement from the media, have made politics into a sports arena as shallow as a scoreboard; not an adult responsibility of all citizens. Up until recently. "news" seemed more focused on the food fights than the consequences, and it's still failing an "informed electorate".
One additional reason: they are Putin fans
Dictators are openly Trumps heroes, his role model. Harlan Crow is definitely kinky. Somehow, even in WWII, pro-Hitler was OK for those with lots of money.
And Putin$ puppets.
I think the Biden Administration should go ahead and provide the funding to Ukraine without “regular, customary” approval.
Just take a hand vote in the Senate and a hand vote in the House, and if more than 50% of each body votes “yes”, implement the funding.
Our country cannot afford, nor tolerate, a minority of traitorous extremists putting our country’s security at risk!
Didn't the administration just provide emergency funding for Israel without congressional involvement?
Not funding but ammunition for tanks. Tonight I read somewhere that he is considering providing equipment to Ukraine that will need to be replaced.
I have the impression that USA already has provided older equipment to Ukraine, while investing allocated finds to develop new modern equipment to replace the old ... so, not much of a change there ...
I recall Trump declaring an emergency to send thousands of troops to the border to repel a murderous "caravan", that somehow ceased to be a problem after an election.
Lend Lease program?
"Many members of Congress don’t want to see President Biden win on any front.”
Yes, I see that and agree. We're dealing with some cold, calculating people whose Reptilian Complexes in their brains are dominant. These snakes cannot be reasoned with; they can only be defeated. Let us not kid ourselves with who and what we're dealing with: the worst of the worst.
Republicans now are in full anti American mode because they want power. Except they are actually ceding power to Putin. This makes the entire Republican Party enemies of Democracy.
Plutocrats seem to have a place in any government, but I think the "GOP" turned against democracy wholesale with Reagan and toward pure plutocracy. They claim to be in favor of "small government", but not when it comes to advancing their own agendas, or those of their billionaire patrons. What they have reduced is voting rights, women's rights, minority rights, worker's rights, public schools and support for state colleges, the post office, parks and recreation, public health, anything by and for the people.
And JL,
They let us pay the bills. Wouldn’t that fact get people riled up enough to want change that isn’t about a spoiled rotten, immature, evil, hateful human?
Charles Koch and his bagman Leonard Leo have put into question whether the United States has even the simulacrum an independent judiciary. What may most inform the Court's decision is that the Koch machine has endorsed a Trump primary opponent. Thus even a finding for the United States would be a product of political expediency. The plutocrat puppet masters, not trusting their populist base, may have their insidiously crafted high court belatedly derail this unseemly autocrat.
The producers may be working to take Trump off the stage, but every Republican member of Congress is still playing by his script. Trump may not get to act out his retribution directly on Biden and the US government, but by supporting Trump's retribution on Zelensky and Ukraine, Republicans are mocking America on the world stage. This is a perverse spin on America First. But this is MAGA Mike and MAGA Mitch playing the same old MAGA song.
Regarding Republicans mocking America on the world stage, I'm starting to try to find time to go through the old State Department document at
https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1952-54v01p2/d223
Department of State Office of the Historian OCB files, lot 61 D 385, "Prestige Project"
A sample:
"...Reported Decline in United States Prestige Abroad
The reported decline in American prestige abroad is considered separately in each of the general regions of the globe. Attitudes toward the United States are influenced by diverse factors in the different areas, many of them directly opposite in impact, so that no significant common trend can be deduced. Therefore, the problem will be dealt with separately in each of the following arbitrary groupings of the free world:
I. Europe and Canada
II. Far East and Western Pacific
III. Near East and South Asia
IV. Latin America..."
Back then our prestige was pretty great and getting better as Eisenhower took Office. Our prestige around the world declined, had a few good moments, but then started to look like a dumpster fire with Trump insulting the CIA on his first day, and the cockeyed attempts to get friendly with some of the most despotic rulers around the world as he tried to gut the United Nations, NATO, etc. Seema sort of like gutting the real police and firefighters as you set the world on fire.
How can people support letting Ukraine burn down, so much it and much of the world has so much to lose if that is allowed to happen.
Prioritizing Sotomayor's possible crime (vs Giini Thomas and the whole Jan 6 mob), seems like cops ignoring a carjacking to chase kids ding dong-ditching at someone's door bell.
Another Mainer. Yeah, Susan Collins. Arghh.
ThankYou for your very interesting and informative comment. Old State Department docs. I will have to look at that.
As an American Jew and a Zionist, for decades I've thought that the appropriation of Zionism by Jewish and Christian right wing religious extremists (here and in Israel) would be the end of Israel. And a danger to the US in the sense of making unconditional support for any Israeli government policy an American political wedge issue/litmus test. And especially the increasingly extremist Netanyahu administrations.
And now I feel I am watching it in real time. On the world stage and at home. Especially with a left wing itching for an excuse to give Trump/GOP the presidency. Again.
Good assessment, lin.
ThankYou. As always:)
If majorities in both houses want the Ukraine funding, what rules are permitting the radical Right to block it?
The short answer is the non- Klown Kar Kawkus that are terrified of losing their seats in Congress. If you have to sell your soul to keep your job, how is that job worth it?
We have allowed "representation" of the public's will to be a road to riches, and of access to the world of the 1%. Public service should be honored, but also also be a discipline; as for a soldier, to put the public duty first. When we become fans of political celebrity we seem lose track of our "business" relationship with our own hired agents, and of our responsibility to the environment that sustains a decent life for all, both physically and politically. To form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.
... short hairs ..?
It has gotten to the point that I can’t watch the schitt show anymore. To see a brave, strong leader of his grievously-damaged country beg before the whiny cowards of the treasonous republicans is too much. I am so ashamed and will never be able to tolerate any who wave the republican banner of fascism.
Jeri -- the present day gop is nihilistic, and fascism is the means to the end. And they are certainly treasonous cowards, in addition to being duplicitous nationalistic fiends being manipulated by wealthy oligarchs (Leo, Crow, the Heritage Institute, Putin, Orban, et al.) I really dislike using dehumanizing language against others, so that's as far as I'll go, but...
I agree, having trouble finding human traits in my neighborhood.
Jeri, some hope here in the Keys. Three of my neighbors, who dutifully replaced their tattered Trump flags as necessary, have taken them down. I hope it holds.
My magat bro said he was sick of him. Doubt that he will vote Biden, but miracles still happen
Do you think Nikki is “right time, right place”? I want someone to question her position on Project 2025. With Koch behind her do I assume her an acolyte?
We know the answer, all repubs are in on Project 25
I'm with you on this Jeri. It has really affected my state of mind which leads to a struggle with my health.
Sure makes my trying to abide by the Golden Rule a rough slog.
“Texas is a fine place for men and dogs, but hell on women and horses.”
— Molly Ivins
And that was back when Texans had hope