Oh how incredibly ironic it is that Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who stole the election from Stacey Abrams by using voter suppression, must now defend Georgia’s voter integrity!!!
I do believe that Raffensperger is a decent person, and tried to run this election ethically (unlike Kemp). However, he is an example of a strong conservative who voted for his party's candidate TWICE, knowing full well that Trump is the epitome of everything Republicans falsely claim to despise. While Trump has delivered beyond their wildest dreams, no "good" person should rejoice in the end justifying the means. They need to realize that they should be careful what they wish for, because it might come true.
I wonder whether Raffensperger and Kemp now see just how dangerous Trump was and is. Although I don't want anyone to get hurt in this mess (our poor hospitals!), I would be glad to know that the rational Republicans among the leadership (lack of integrity notwithstanding) now realize how very dangerous their flagbearer is and even might feel some remorse and embarrassment.
I doubt that remorse and embarrassment are in their DNA. If they were components, their policies would be different and more humane. As I see it, only their wants and needs are to be considered - the rest of the world that is not useful to them can rot.
Pardon me, but I can’t muster much compassion today for my fellow Americans who supported Republicans senatorial candidates in the recent election.
So much for the wisdom of those who voted against Trump but returned the Senate to McConnell & Co as a “check” on incoming President Biden. When I heard that rationale, I nearly became ill, as I see the results playing out today, my stomach churns and my heart aches.
Who among us here, at least those from my generation who grew up in the 60s, would have imagined the military as the last line of defense against a President and his political party run amok, standing up to the Commander in Chief and proclaiming in effect - not on our watch!
Our family has a long military tradition, dating back to before the American Revolution, so I have always had a strong measure of respect for those who sacrificed all to protect our liberty. But I have also been wary of the institution and its immense power.
And here we are today. For the first time in my life, I find myself taking comfort in the knowledge that our military will not permit a sitting President to oust his duly-elected successor, and realize just how slippery a slope it is from where we find ourselves today, to accepting if not supporting, the military leadership should it decide the time had come to oust a sitting President.
I do not believe it will happen this time, but I fear we have crossed an ominous threshold.
I agree that we can take comfort in the strong values, integrity and the binding oath to the Constitution in our military. I am most impressed and thankful to each of them and feel safer in this insane time that they are there for us.
Absolutely. I also, USED to wonder, and blame the "Republican Senate enablers".
Now, I'm recognizing that they really do represent the crazy vocal minority who are our neighbors! I am REALLY conflicted, as I am also a "pollyanna". Sigh, It is not yet time for reconciliation, still have a long fight
ahead of us....come to think of it, i suppose it is a fight forever to keep our democracy safe.
Remember, the first word in "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" is truth. First, the perps admit to the truth. Then the parties work toward reconciliation.
Without admitting that truth in public, there can be no reconciliation.
I have recognized for some time that there is a significant number of the minority citizenry who are entitled to representation. But IMO their leaders, Republican Senators et al., still took an oath to the Constitution which to me transcends an individual's right to demand physical harm to anyone who opposes their reality.
They ALL are to blame. With enough blame left over for the silent majority. Hopefully we all haven't woken up too late. HCR is surely to thank for a lot of my awakening! Thank you professor, et al!
I was taught in grade school that the two characteristics that distinguish our democracy are the rock-solid belief in the peaceful transfer of power and the faithfulness of our military to the Constitution rather than to a single president (or other person). It rocks my world that either of these two pillars might be cracked by not just one soulless man but also by an entire political party.
This entire statement is so beautifully written, very nicely done. Repeating a small portion here because these could all be words out of my mouth:
Who among us here, at least those from my generation who grew up in the 60s, would have imagined the military as the last line of defense against a President and his political party run amok, standing up to the Commander in Chief and proclaiming in effect - not on our watch!
For the first time in my life, I find myself taking comfort in the knowledge that our military will not permit a sitting President to oust his duly-elected successor
I've only seen clips of Trump's 46-minute, demented-loser rant. After raking in $170 million in a blatant con of his supporters, I'm sure he's looking forward to further fleecing of his cult by declaring his candidacy for 2024.
But I think this is much more of a defense mechanism for his trampled psyche. We've all read more than we ever thought we would about malignant narcissistic personality. Clearly, Trump's overwhelming defeat is a wounding that carries a depth of emotional pain we can't fathom. But who really cares after the damages he's inflicted and will continue to inflict?
To me, the biggest story is Senate Republicans and other GOP leaders not speaking out for the sanctity of an election long ago decided. Chuck Grassley, 87, and certainly in his last term, can't bring himself to say publicly that Biden has won. Trump can do him no harm. I don't understand the fear, nor the calculation these elected officials make in not defending what once was sacred. How do they sleep at night?
One can understand intellectually that they are guilty without understanding viscerally how anyone claiming to be human can behave in the ways they do. There are certain behaviors that I hope never to understand on certain levels, if understanding means believing ethical humans could do the same in similar circumstances.
In HCR’s video talk on 12/01/2020, she theorized that the GOP leaders staying silent or defending Trump are positioning themselves to draw support in 2024 from Trump’s base. Grassley dreams of being the oldest president ever?!?!?
I would add to your list of those not speaking out and who actually encourage support of trump the Kenneth Copelands, Pat Robertsons, Paula Whites, Franklin Grahams, Robert Jeffries. And also include in that group all pastors and priests who preach a pro trump message.
I think those churches that choose to allow the preaching of political messages should lose their tax exempt, non-profit standing. Separation of church and state should go both ways!
I'd like to advance an alternate theory for both Trump and the Republicans politicians supporting him. I think they are TRYING to destroy the government. Consciously. Deliberately.
Point: there is a strong thread of racism in the entire Trump phenomenon, based on the caste system of the US Southern States, which resulted in a civil war in the mid-1800's. The point of that war was -- quite explicitly -- to destroy the Yankee Government, and go back to state rule.
Point: the narrative theme of the modern Republican Party, with roots back in the Nine Words of Reagan (echoing racist sentiments going back to the Civil War) was eventually explained by Grover Norquist as the desire to "shrink the government until it can be drowned in a bathtub."
Point: no one -- to my knowledge -- has proffered ANY coherent explanation of how current Republican behavior serves the country. They've pretty much stopped even trying to explain their behavior in those terms.
Republicans represent people still carrying a blood-grudge over a military defeat a century-and-a-half ago (this is quite recent in blood-grudge terms). Republicans have SAID they want to drown the government in a bathtub: it's been their New Deal. The current Republican behavior is destabilizing the government.
I'm having trouble seeing this as a series of unfortunate coincidences....
I’m looking forward to reading Dr. R’s book, How the South Won the Civil War. After just finishing Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, I’m interested in learning more about our political history and especially the role of caste in our society.
The connections I’m seeing between caste and politics is growing every day. If we look at the US in terms of caste and see two castes, the top caste being property owners (the stereotypical old white men) and the bottom caste being laborers (we the people), it makes sense that Republicans are refusing to do anything except defend the rights of property owners and protect property. It would also be in their best interests to dismantle a government that is pushing forward an agenda of all men (people) are created equal. If everyone is equal, how can the caste system remain and keep them in power? And what politician is going to explain away their behavior as “Because I’m better than you?” Political suicide, indeed.
Lena, it sounds like you and I have similar bookshelves - am about to finish “Caste” and begin “How the South Won the Civil War.” Like taking the US History course I never got in school...
I’m listening to the audio version now....by HCR, no less! It’s an eye opener, although the descriptions of what we did to the native Americans are hard to get through. No treaty was left intact, we had no shame or sense of decency at all re them or the slaves/freed slaves. I try to put it into perspective of the “times” but the damage runs through the generations.
There is one Native American treaty that was never broken! The Meusebach-Commanche Treaty signed in 1847 is still celebrated every year in Fredericksburg, TX. HCRs books on How the South Won the Civil War and the one Wounded Knee have just arrived. I'm looking forward to reading them both. Especially interested in Wounded Knee. My great-grandfather's sister was married to Dr. Valentine McGillicuddy who was the Field Agent at Pine Ridge but was fired several years before Wounded Knee because he was calling out the corruption going in Washington cheating the Native Americans out of the food and supplies the government had promised them. My great-grandfather taught agriculture at the Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. So my grandfather and his two brothers were the only white kids attending the School for Native Americans. I gather it was pretty wild.
Sadly, yes. And they were forced onto inhospitable useless land...Until it became valuable when oil or gold or silver was found...or just when it was “in the way”
The Fed Gov of course maintained their powers of "in loco parentis" concerning everything that was under the surface or moving on or over the surface. Thereafter "managing" exploitation for the "good" of the Native. tribes...without allowing them to touch the proceeds for what they might wish for, of course!
Also just read Jody Piccoult’s Small Great Things. She tackles the difficult topic of being a black American facing racism and white supremacy in day to day life.
I read that a cpl years ago and have recommended it to my book club. Picoult always develops her characters thoroughly, and I thought that book was her best.
Me too! My poor library is trying to function with both wings tied because of COVID. However, I see a significant dent in my credit card in my immediate future as I break down and buy both Heather's How the South Won the Civil War and To Make Men Free (I've read both from the library) and Isabel Wilkerson's The Great Migration (which I borrowed) and Caste. I want all these as reference volumes.
Santa's got my list. The kids "and all" have difficulty understanding why I would read such "stuff".....but it makes their life a lot easier for birthdays and Christmas!
If not Bannon then Miller. It was made clear from the beginning that their overall goal was to destroy the government. There is a quote somewhere that I can’t put my hands on right at the moment where trump explicitly said it. For the most part people just seem to have either ignored or forgotten this. We should not be surprised. The old adage, “when someone tells you who they are, believe them” still holds true.
It’s true...in soccer, the striker can’t score if you stop the midfielders from passing them the ball....miller and unseen others are game controllers and need to be seriously addressed
I’ve listened to interviews with IW and must read her book. Thank you for reminding me. I was once both a property owner and a laborer working for minimum wage. BIPOC and artists of all ages worked for me, while a big corporation succeeded in keeping me unprotected by a union. Those who “have” work hard to keep it that way. And I have seen and heard how slavery continues today. It just looks different. ❤️🤍💙
Thanks for the recommendation. I’m on the waiting list for Dr. R’s book as well as Candace Owens Blackout, so in need of a good read right now - and White Trash was available on Libby (love that app!) so I can start reading today!
Interesting panel discussion - Roosevelt House hosts a special evening featuring Nancy Isenberg, author of the groundbreaking bestseller White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America, in conversation with Frank Rich, Writer-at-Large for New York Magazine, and Bill Goldstein, Public Programming Curator for Roosevelt House. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_Gq2qDwFpA
I am just finishing How the South Won the Civil War. Heather has packed the maximum into each paragraph and said SO much so clearly in such a slim volume. What I have felt intuitively since Reagan I now understand in more historically concrete terms. Now I know WHY I've felt this way all this time. Can't wait to read Caste! I learned a lot from Isabel Wilkerson's The Great Migration.
I am agreeing with you.....This looks like it is deliberate..The Republicans are willing players with Trump in this depraved game..no coincidence..................Their silence..........
I believe that this is deliberate, too, and that Trump was chosen because he could be manipulated into this destruction. I doubt that Trump has the intellect or sophistication to have conceived this plan, but he has been a "useful idiot."
No question about it. I read Mary's book, too. He definitely had the "killer instinct" ingrained, and I can't help but wonder how much of it was inherited "nature" and how much was non-"nurture." Bad blood, anyway. Still, his thinking is too primitive and his grasp of historic nuance too lacking to have plotted his destructive rampage alone. Someone saw the potential and manipulated him to his (their) wishes.
Yes, I agree. It's quite calculated and has been in the works for a long time.
I'm wondering if, as time goes by and the new administration settles in and begins to establish a new dialogue, and plan of action, and when people begin to experience some stability - that their homes, livelihoods, and jobs, are no longer being threatened - the inflammatory trump rhetoric will fade away to some degree.
If the leaders, Democrat or Republican, use the same method as trump used, to change the thinking of his followers by repeating the same idea until they begin to believe it, that maybe some will abandon those harmful untruths planted by trump.
My hope is that our country can work to correct the flaws in our system that can be exploited to create a situation like the one we currently suffer from, enjoy peace and prosperity, strengthen our economy and international relationships, and establish that all are equal under the law.
Will people really figure that out quickly? I would hope so, but the Trumpers don't seems to want to change their opinions, even if their lives are not improving.
Why not? Certainly worth a try. Your last paragraph starts with 'my hope'.....it's always a good thing to hope for good things...I hope with you. Thanks.
Joseph Nye Welsh shook his head at McCarthy’s recklessness and cruelty and asked: “Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?
This is what we need to hear from the senate floor. I find it hard to believe that there is no way to stop his behavior or Flynn's. He is a clear danger to our government and yet our elected Republican Senators are not standing up and saying, ENOUGH!
Re-tweeting sedition still adds up to sedition in my book. Flynn wasn't charged with sedition and not pardoned for it. So charge him and make an example! Get him back in preventive detention NOW.
After the guy in Georgia stood up and said "Far Enough!" yesterday, Trump responded with a tweet of the conspiracy theory that has resulted in the death threats. In response to being called out for their hypocrisy, Perdue and the Bimbette of Belsen both chimed in supporting Trump's response. That's who and what these scum are.
Yes, and Stalin signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler that allowed them both to carve up Poland, then when Hitler invaded the USSR, Churchill offered an immediate unconditional alliance. The past is past and can be litigated after the fire is put out. At the moment, anyone who steps up to man a hose is welcome.
Remember how long it took Welsh to call out McCarthy and what cost to countless Americans. I don't believe there was much decency to be found anywhere within the halls of our government during that period. Whenever I hear members of their own party criticize Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Tlaib and Pressley for their outspokenly progressive voices, I think, "You are the kind of spineless worms that allowed McCarthy and the HUAC to terrorize this nation in the 1950's. Have you NO sense of history?"
How does a man rise to become a Lieutenant General in the US army and still possess the operating system to call for an overthrow of the constitution and support a rule by force by a defeated candidate. Not that I doubt that there are bad eggs in every institution but still military folks are at the very least patriotic and have strong adherence to the constitution. Makes me wonder about the shaping forces within the US military that would allow for such a man to rise to rise to the top. Is it the same as in the corporate world, simply just shameless self promotion unhinged from any acts valor or integrity ?
I firmly believe Senators and Representatives need to come together and make a clear public statement saying they cannot support the assault on our democratic republic. Instead of this one or that one making individual comments/statements, or waiting for leadership to stand up to the assaults...there is strength in coming together saying 'enough is enough'.
"Yeah, but they're just stupid Dems. What do they know about true greatness (speaking as dyed-in-the-wool Republicans)?" They're like Voldemort's followers. I find absolutely amazing--and appalling--the amount of shame they seem able to hold within themselves without speaking out. The courage of those who do speak out makes the silent ones look even more despicable and calculating. As Michael Bales asked earlier, how do they even look themselves in the mirror?
I was not going to post anything. I have enough on my plate today as I am attending the funeral of my second brother today (private, family only, social distancing). He had a long history of severe respiratory problems and was in and out of the ICU of their local hospital for over a week. He tested negative for COVID on admission to the hospital; however, he died without his wife and children with him due to visitation restrictions secondary to COVID. I know in my bones that his nurses and aides were there with him (I am a retired nurse) but we as medical staff are poor substitutes for family. I count his death as COVID related.
I too am perturbed by the rhetoric surrounding the election results, of the death threats and attempts to subvert the process. It seems overwhelming. I shake my head at the cowardice of those in the Republican Party who refuse to stand up to 45. My question to them is why do you want people to support you who threaten violence against other citizens. They can just as easily turn against you even if you toe their line.
My solution is to be a gadfly to Mr. McConnell who is unfortunately my senior senator. And by the way, thanks to the person who posted a couple of days ago asking what was wrong with Kentucky Republicans and did not throw all Kentuckians into the mix. However, much we may think our voices do not matter, we have to keep raising them in such a number we are too loud to ignore. I have already been sending daily emails to Mr. McConnell's office about the rhetoric surrounding the election results and also about COVID relief. I am one person with the most hated person in the US next to45 as my senator but I can be a gadfly. And by the way, I am constructing a letter to the Kentucky Democrat Party to needle them into more action.
Forgive any punctuation, spelling and format errors. This is a difficult day.
Rebecca, this post of yours should be a must read and deserves a Gold Star! The question you raise --"My question to them is why do you want people to support you who threaten violence against other citizens. They can just as easily turn against you even if you toe their line" -- is one I have but could not form it as you have so pointedly done.
I need not suggest that you continue to be a thorn in the side of your duly elected representative. Thank you for being a consummate gadfly!
May I add my condolences on the loss of your brother. I pray for brighter days for you.
I am so very sorry about your loss. I lost a brother in June and my own experience of a "virtual" funeral offered little to no closure or peace to help with the grief. As to your being a "gadfly" to Mitch - kudos to you! On behalf of the rest of us who despise him, THANK YOU!
I wanted you to know that your description of being a gadfly to McConnell was just the push I needed to get busy. I wrote to 1/2 the Republican senators today to remind them of their sworn duty under oath to support and defend the Constitution and that their silence was consent for what Trump is doing to our democracy and its institutions, like voting and peaceful transfer of power. I don't know if it will help, but it can't hurt. Thank you for your inspiration and for using your voice for good even in this profoundly sad time. I am so sorry for the loss of your brother.
Wow! it takes all my energy just to write to Mitch. But I will say that Dr Richardson and others have been my inspiration. Thank you for your kind words. We will take back our government.
My heart goes out to you and your family in their pain. Thank you for taking time today to tell us about your brother. And thank you for being a gadfly!!! You are doing essential work.
He might be doing so for the money—he has raised $170 million so far on promises to challenge this election—or because he is worried about the lawsuits he can expect as soon as he is not protected by the presidential office.
That's doors numbers 1 and 2. Door #3 has "both" on it, and that's the door I'll take, Monty.
At the risk of becoming redundant, everyone needs to memorize the following description of the modern American Right, researched by Dr. Theodore Adorno 71 years ago and described by Richard Hofstadter 65 years ago. The truth of the analysis is only more obvious today.
"Unlike most of the liberal dissent of the past, the new dissent not only has no respect for non-conformism, but is based upon a relentless demand for conformity. It can most accurately be called pseudo-conservative — I borrow the term from the study of The Authoritarian Personality published five years ago by Theodore W. Adorno and his associates — because its exponents, although they believe themselves to be conservatives and usually employ the rhetoric of conservatism, show signs of a serious and restless dissatisfaction with American life, traditions and institutions. They have little in common with the temperate and compromising spirit of true conservatism in the classical sense of the word, and they are far from pleased with the dominant practical conservatism of the moment as it is represented by the Eisenhower Administration. Their political reactions express rather a profound if largely unconscious hatred of our society and its ways — a hatred which one would hesitate to impute to them if one did not have suggestive clinical evidence.
"From clinical interviews and thematic apperception tests, Adorno and his co-workers found that their pseudo-conservative subjects, although given to a form of political expression that combines a curious mixture of largely conservative with occasional radical notions, succeed in concealing from themselves impulsive tendencies that, if released in action, would be very far from conservative. The pseudo-conservative, Adorno writes, shows “conventionality and authoritarian submissiveness” in his conscious thinking and “violence, anarchic impulses, and chaotic destructiveness in the unconscious sphere. . . . The pseudo conservative is a man who, in the name of upholding traditional American values and institutions and defending them against more or less fictitious dangers, consciously or unconsciously aims at their abolition.”
Adorno, et.al., may have overdone their reliance on the importance of early childhood experiences. But I completely agree that the controlling mass in today's GOP is anything but truly conservative. Some are openly reactionary, nostalgically pining for an image of an imagined past. But mixed in with these "real American" tropes is a strong strain of chiliastic thinking. This is most open in the statements and policy proposals of those strongly influenced by fundamentalist doctrines. But even for many of the non-doctrinal sort, references are made to a valued past, but the focus seems to be on a time beyond time, a millennium in which in which the righteous shall prevail.
I second your recommendation of Hofstadter's 1954 article, but would also give a shout-out for his 1965 followup "Goldwater and Pseudo-Conservative Politics." Of course, many political and contextual factors have changed. But there are suggestive insights about the takeover of of the GOP by a fringe group of zealous activists. He ends with this:
"But, above all, the far right has become a permanent force in the political order because the things on which it feeds are also permanent: the chronic and ineluctable frustrations of our foreign policy, the opposition to the movement for racial equality, the discontents that come with affluence, the fevers of the culturally alienated who practice what Fritz Stern called in another connection 'the politics of cultural despair.' . . . The movement now uses the techniques it has taken from the radicals while it spends the money it gets from the conservatives. Finally, it moves in the uninhibited mental world of those who neither have nor expect to win responsibility. Its opponents, as men who carry the burdens of government, are aways vulnerable to the discontents aroused by the manifold failures of our society. But the right-wingers, who are willing to gamble with the future, enjoy the wide-ranging freedom of the agitational mind, with its paranoid suspicions, its impossible demands, and its millennial dreams of total victory."
Fifty-five years later we now, most unfortunately, know what happens when they actually do win what are supposed to be positions of responsibility.
Excellent catch on Hofstadter's later work. If you go read Rick Perlstein's "Before the Storm," his history of the Goldwater movement, you see it all laid out as to how it will happen/
Thanks. I've read Perlstein's "Before the Storm" and "Nixonland." For anyone of a certain age, the only thing that chokes down fear and nausea is renewed all-consuming rage. I've started on "Reaganland" but I may have to wait until Jan. 23d to be able to focus clearly.
"The Invisible Bridge" is very good. Back when I was involved in "perfesshunal politics" I had the opportunity of meeting Reagan when he was governor. James Garner's two-word description was accurate: "amiable dunce."
Yes, "Invisible Bridge" is on the list. I could never understand how it was that many people saw Reagan as a great leader. But they say that it takes some time to pass to really evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of any presidential administration. While many of Reagan's appointees were unabashed servants of the plutocracy, they weren't totally talentless grifters. And right about now "amiable dunce" beats hell out of malignant troll.
To me, trump's current behaviour, brooding in the dark, 46 minutes social media rants, pardons and threatening GOP opponents comes down to status, money and psychology.
Not coming out of his lair other than to go to his golf course represents both a need to hide from reality and to recharge his psychic batteries in a safe "comfort zone".
Rants on video release a bit of the extreme psychic tension resulting from exposure of his perversity and paranoia; a massive affront to his narcissism. They are a pathetic attempt to close the stable door after the horse has bolted, to show that his balloon isn't deflated. The resultant downplaying of the "speech" by all the media and lack of real impact on his "difficulties" will redouble his sense of betrayal by the media and both increase his angry frustration and inevitably deepen his depression caused by his growing impotence. Now he needs scapegoats! It, of course, isn't HIS fault!
The pardons have nothing to do with rewarding loyalty, but everything to do with showing his regal munificence and maintaining his patriarchal position in his family and close circle of "servants". I find it difficult to accept that his psychosis would allow him, however, to accept that he would need a pardon....having done only wonderful things for every "ungrateful son-of-a-bitch"....and as he as President can commit no crime!
Threats to all and sundry standing in his way would be par for the Bully's course; he knows no other way. He does not expect it to rectify the election errors but offers him the chance to push the button of similarly paranoiac, sycophantic followers and offer up to them human sacrifices.......bread and games in the election Coliseum!
As his troubled mind will double down on his own "divinity"and the normal "trappings" of such an elevated status, it is normal that he "tax" his "wage slaves" to the hilt in order to offer the vision of pomp and splendor fitting to his rank to his subjects. Nobody can get in the way of this natural process in his mind.....his lawyers will see to that.....and they need money to do the job.
Not a very thrilling prospect for the non-perverse, non-paranoiac other half of the population. However, as this fantasy plays out in Trump's mind somebody else is supposed to organize all this. He has decreed its necessity and rectitude. We are back to Henry 11 of England and his dear Archbishop of Canterbury! However, just like the absent 50,000 poll watchers, he has no tanks, no armies on the move and no General Patton to lead the charge. He will blame them all and devote his life to fighting the courts and taking vengeance on the GOP that just sat on their hands and played the 3 wise monkeys when he needed them to move their rear ends! And with this the constant rant "I will be back"....to make you all pay!
As for the Constitution, which all the Lying Repugnants have sworn to uphold and which has been totally ignored from the Emoluments Clause to our current unfolding Constitutional Crisis, no one has made an effort to use the 25th Amendment to remove this clearly insane, out of control menace in the White House.
This is a very interesting take on the tRump craziness, and right on target. All of tRump's rants/tweets/rallies only feed his ever increasing need to be "seen". And, sight lines have moved elsewhere since the election. We will only see him fall further and further into madness in the next 49 days.
...and this is what worries me-- "poking" the trapped and wounded animal!! 49 days is an eternity of danger in Trump World. His sickness and incompetence would indicate immediate physical removal but the violence that would erupt from that would destroy us during this pandemic. In the short term, we have no exit; in the long term I hope we can recoup enough to have a functional government.
He should be "ring-fenced" so he can only harm himself and not others. But my verb is in the conditional as it depends upon "gentleman's agreements", integrity, honesty and keeping one's word. To quote a recent, unloved and well-gotten-rid-of ex French President " promises only bind those that hear them". Cross your fingers and trust that there is enough of the good stuff around to limit the damage.
I'm very worried about that word exponentially you use. That most people don't understand this virus spreads exponentially is one of the reasons they aren't taking it seriously. When I first realized that our current President was becoming a serious contender to get the Republican nomination in April 2016, I spent two week studying Narcissistic Personality Disorder. In particular, what happens in the end stage of NPD. The best example is Jim Jones and his mass suicide. Please don't drink any of the arsenic laced Kool Aide if it is offered.
I think by that time even his wife will have retired to New York and none of staff will be around for his "grand finale" . Then hopefully, he'll be all alone facing his cool-aid....and the chant will rise up from all sides "Drink, Drink, Drink" . While McConnell watches from the other end of town with a Chesire-cat smile!
He wont drink. He feels that he is too precious! He won't surround himself either at the end in the White House as in reality he hates and disdains the people who sychophantically sing his praises. For him they are the proverbial "lepers" .; canon fodder, losers, schmucks. The WH and his fortress in Florida will isolate him from such contagion.
Every day, I think that there can’t possibly be news that is more shocking, damaging and disheartening than what we have witnessed the day before and then we are subjected to shocking, damaging, disheartening news, yet again. This morning, I read the news about General Flynn sharing the call for martial law, suspension of the Constitution and a demand for a re-vote. This was astonishing and I have been thinking about it all day. I knew he was a treasonous liar, but there must be some sound reasons that he achieved the rank of general and, yet, here he is, a week after he is pardoned for lying and deceit, living up to his pardon bargain with Trump in spades by publicly promoting sedition. Then I hear about the rally in Georgia at which Lin Wood and Sydney Powell called out election officials by name and urged Republicans not to vote, since their votes won’t be secure. Honestly, hearing them urging Republicans not to vote made me laugh out loud, but it was still astonishing. Then, I hear about the dozens of in-house Christmas parties that Trump, Pompeo and others are hosting, which really ticked me off. All of this news, capped off by the grim Coronavirus data, made for another horrible day for America. This is all absolutely crazy and exhausting. And, of course, you have covered it all so well in your daily Letter, Heather. I think that I need to reduce my news consumption and simply read your communication. I can take only so much shock and astonishment in my life and this is all is bat $#*t crazy.
I have also been thinking about all of this in relation to the Questions you posed this week, Heather, about themes in our country’s history and how we might write a new narrative. It is all intertwined, of course. To write a new, more positive narrative, we - the big “we” - need to have a significant shift in many of our persistent themes, our priorities, our institutions and the power structure in this country. Just for starters, we need to change the theme of white supremacy and racism that is woven into every aspect of our country and its institutions. And we need to elect capable, ethical representatives at all levels of our State and federal government. If we don’t do those things, at a minimum, it is going to be very difficult to change or improve our direction and forge a more just and equitable future.
It is way past time when all of us ought to call out the Republican Party - especially their leadership - for aiding and abetting the president's heinous aspirations. Since when have we not understood that "Silence is consent"?To meet their
unequivocally thunderous public silence in response to Agent Chaos's traitorous provocations with vacuous silence --instead of the People's inescapable "No" "How Dare You!" "Shame shame shame!"-- is to leave the "field of sound" reverberating with an unacceptable tone of faux helplessness and denial. In anticipation to those who say - oh, no, that would be more fuel for the fire - it would alienate those crazed millions and bring out the guns! Which is along the same vein of avoidance of drawing a line that has afflicted our governments' past leadership - witness, the barons of Wall Street off scot free from society's (once judicial) requirement to suffer consequences for hurting others, lots of others in 2008. When unlawful behavior by mis-"leadership" by the Peoples' elected representatives is not named in the public arena for what it is --"traitorous complicity by Silence" -- where do you think all that corrupted energy goes? Do you think it just disappears into thin air? Is it not similar to telling your daughter who was just molested by her kind old uncle, "oh, darling, he didn't mean it. Let's not have any more talk of this." Someone wise has said - if you want your "yes" then you must first claim your "no." You can't have your "yes" (to justice) without your "no" (to irresponsibility). We can't have our "yes" to liberty without our "no" to ir-responsibility. Liberty requires responsibility. Right Action. Truth. Justice.
Thank you for writing about this, and bringing our attention back to OUR responsibility to stand up and speak up. We have had long discussions about standing up for democracy, by marching, urging our elected officials (at all levels), our social organizations to become involved, make statements, write letters, carry signs. For a while. Where is that discussion now? We helped get the vote out, helped support the movement to peacefully retain the democratic process. That was the beginning. Where is that discussion now, and where are our commitments to continuing to work for it? I became an official member of NAACP, and am trying to learn how the issues fit together so I can figure out the best way for me to help support the things that need work. Our NAACP is an amazing group, a coalition of both individuals and associations that address the many issues that poor people of all colors face. All these things have a political connection as well as a social one. Wondering if others are exploring the various options for action. An awful lot of it is showing up at the local school board or town council meetings, taking notes, writing letters, or simply reporting back to your "mother group". Accurate information sharing is one of the most important tasks we can do. One of the things I love about my chosen mother group is that I get a good picture of a lot of thing going on, not only in my area, but around the state. This is a simple thing that any of us can do. Or, as some are still doing, just writing letters to the editor or the mayor, or postcards to support voters.
The ever present spirit of " Peace in our time with the Treaty of Munich" in 1938 that sealed the fate of the Czeck Republic and guarrantteed the war starting a year later.
Is it possible to charge Flynn with inciting violence and attempting yo over throw the government? His ties to Russia were treasonous and should have been charged as such not just for lying to the FBI. Its not even been a week and he is at it again.
In fact, why cant Trump be charged? Words matter. When the words of a President are based on lies and conspiracies intended to overturn election results, democracy and incite violence, something must be done.
We need to stop Republicans attack on our democracy by supporting the run off election in Georgia and taking power away from McConnell. Donate to Jon Ossoff and Rev. Warnock
Speaking of, how is it even possible that tRump could run again in 2024? He is delusional. He has proven he does not possess the qualifications required of the job. I so want to believe he would never make it past the “tossing his hat in the ring stage”.
He was not convicted. The law allows 2 terms. It is us, the voters, who have the power and the responsibility to stop him. That is how our system works. We do have the little flaw in the system that we need to address: the outmoded and dysfuntional electoral college system. Let's fix that.
Hey Annie, boy my post was crazy, what I was trying to say, which didn’t come across very well, was a hope that he would be convicted of some of the state crimes that he will likely be deluged with, and should that make him ineligible to seek office. Otherwise, thanks for your response.
Chris, your post was fine. I was the one who didn't come across very well. Sometimes I have so much going on I write short answers that sound abrupt. Rereading it now, I realize it comes across as almost snarky, and I didn't mean THAT at all. In fact, your post kind of tickled me, and it was a legitimate question. I was on my way out and wrote a too-quick response with just the basics. I apologize for that. Yesterday was definitely not one of my better days.
To clarify: an impeachment is similar to an indictment in the legal system, but it is not exactly the same thing. To my knowledge, Trump has not been indicted for anything (though he could be in future). He has been charged with articles of impeachment, a kind of indictment, by the House of Reps, and those articles sent to the Senate, whose responsibility is to try the President and determine his guilt or innocence. They declined to do so, voting against conviction along party lines, and so the articles of impeachment have no part going forward.
The House could impeach on other grounds (god knows there are enough of them), and technically, I suppose they could bring the same charges. With McConnell in place, neither of those options are likely to fly, so why bother?
The thing I (and quite a few others) find interesting is Trump's continuing intense interest in pardons, and his lawyers' inquiries into whether he could pardon his family, and, ahem, perhaps himself. Why would this be of interest if there weren't a perceived need to protect something? Maybe something we don't know about yet, or are getting close to.
As for running for office, I think Heather already got that: it's a ploy for raising money, a grift, and a distraction. Trump hates the White House and hates being President. He has essentially stopped even pretending to fulfill any duties of the office. He loves *running* for the office because it gets him the attention he craves (and the money it brings in). And right now pretending to want to run in 2024 fills in for the fact that he utterly failed as President. By 2024, he will not be a viable candidate. The Republican party will see to that. And his "base" will have moved on to something else.
That's the part to be wary of. They might settle back into their lives, especially if the rest of us have the sense to make room for them. Or they might move their anger and delusions on to something else. But based on what I've been seeing, I don't think it will be the virulence some are trying to work us up over. I wish we'd remember that most of Trump's base are just as diverse and just as uncertain as we are, and most are people just trying to understand what the heck is going on.
This is not aimed at you, btw, but following my train of thought (it is morning, I have little control over this), I bumped into some things a few people here keep bringing up that really bother me: an insistence on calling people they disagree with demeaning names instead of talking to the nature of the disagreement. I'm not here for that. I'm here, like most of us are, trying to understand so that what I say and do can contribute to a solution. Sometimes I get a chance to share that with others and influence how they think about things (or at least raise questions in their minds). When that happens, it is reassuring to me that there IS a way forward.
But a month ago, with basically that same set of facts available, over 70 million people voted to keep Trump in office. 70 million. He still scares the crap out of me.
I am so incensed and I feel so powerless in this black mark on our history with all this sedition and treason and outright disruption, and threatened destruction of our constitution by a crazy man, who is raising millions for this ridiculous onslaught on America and our systems. Firing Chris Krebs, who was in charge of oversight of our elections and who attested to the veracity of the 2020 national presidential elections as one of the most secure. And yet over 40 wasteful and costly lawsuits which Trump instigated and only for one slight favorable ruling there has no gain of any votes or electoral college advantage.
In fact, Biden gained votes in the several recounts Trump demanded.
Worse it is like watching a play in an insane asylum with a terribly inadequate and false speaking cast of characters.
Vehement attacks on many legislators including GOP lawmakers and including one Trump Lawyer, Joe diGenova calling for Chris Krebs to be “taken out at dawn and shot.” Mind you, Chris Krebs did everything right. As did other GOP legislators who would not lie about fraud for Trump are also now peppered with death threats.
I cannot believe my country is being torn apart by this craziness; insanity really. Most of the GOP is silent amidst all of this.
These people work for us...they are not doing their job for us...this is a government “of the people, by the people, for the people” and we, the people are responsible for standing up for our constitution (I vote for non-violently- while many on Trump’s side are threatening violence). After 200 years, we have a mad man for president these 4 years who has literally attacked our constitution and our pillars of government.
We are in midst of the worst worldwide pandemic and the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths has escalated to unbelievable proportions and rising daily. And Trump has no word to any family or any of us unless she tries to take credit for a stock market number of positive news of vaccines.
And he still has the nuclear codes?
And what is he going to do with pardons?
A lot can happen in 50 days and he has dismantled a lot of the pentagon staff and we have junior lower level Trump loyalists acting in the running of our national defense and security.
Yes, and I believe it is very pre-meditated and it is revenge on America for allowing this loss which he is not able to accept.
Mind you the workings for him to tap into to attempt this coup were there and adding 3+ Years of catering to his base and not so subtly brainwashing them with his lies and conspiracy theories- to hold 74million in his thrall, effectively holding the country on a state of deep state siege, it is up to all of us to break the spell and take our democracy back and return to truth and facts.
The hate and greed was always there. Trump is just the willing poster boy for it. So this is the country we’ve ALWAYS lived in and the BS we bought. There is nothing different here, only now the dragon has left the den and it’s reared it’s ugly head for us to see.
NOW we can face it finally and create something different....
Let’s build it together, not by focusing on the dragon, but by courageously pushing forward.
Like in the jaws movie...keep swimming to the pier, DON’T look back. We can do this as long as we don’t focus on fear and we create what we want. Stay strong and sure my friends!
Yes, Trump sees this as a reality TV event, his followers believe him. People are speaking out, yet the GOP in Congress, particularly Mitch McConnell, say nothing. As if they really do not care. Where are the Republicans who united with Democrats, finally, to take away Joseph McCarthy’s power, and who worked with Democrats to tell Nixon he must go? They have disappeared. Now there are Trumpublicans, who have broken their oath to defend the Constitution. There are still scary times.
They don't care, Suzette. That's the problem. They would rather blow everything up and see thousands of their constituents die than see one smidgen of their power move to the other side of the aisle. They are all traitors and criminals.
It's not just that they don't care, my theory is that trump and his followers WANT the black and brown, the elderly populations to be culled by whatever means possible. Covid has helped that mission.
As I was trying, somewhat unsuccessfully, to sleep last night it occurred to me that COVID-19 is trumps/republicans “gas chamber”. They are quite literally culling the minority population, the infirm, the elderly, and those in the lowest income tiers. They can hide behind this virus, and escape histories vilification they way the nazis were vilified for using the gas chambers.
I believe the Holocaust was much different, more deliberate, more intentionally lethal, and more horrific compared to the COVID pandemic. I understand your sense of comparison and disgust with the administration's failure to act. But to suggest that the loss of 6 million men women and children is comparable to the deliberate eradication of living beings starved to death in work camps and detention camps, and who were murdered in gas chambers is to not understand the depravity of the holocaust.
It's not on the same scale as the Holocaust, in numbers or in depravity. It's not the same horrendously organized process. As someone who would have thousands more relatives if not for the Holocaust, I see the differences.
At the same time, Cathy has a point that there are similarities: white supremacist leaders are knowingly acting on behalf of mass death because it works for them. Another similarity: cruelty for its own sake, for example toward immigrants. As with the Nazis, there have been a lot of people who don't really approve of the hatred and cruelty who nevertheless support that government, enabling it by going along.
The Nazis based their Nuremburg Laws on their study of American violence toward Americans of African descent. The white supremacist trump party shares a recent common ancestor with the Nazis. It's unfortunately logical that their attitudes and actions are not unlike.
I keep thinking about the photo on Hitler's desk of antisemitic Henry Ford who was an inspiration to Hitler and mentioned in Mein Kampf. It all feels circular and not in a good way.
One difference today from the depravity of the Holocaust is we know the end of the story on the Holocaust and Hitler. If we were facing a second term of the current President I wouldn't be too sure that it wouldn't get to the level of depravity of the Holocaust. The pandemic might be a "convenience" the current administration and their sycophant far right conservatives is taking advantage of quite deliberately. No more Social Security needed if millions of seniors are dead. The national debt goes down if the government doesn't have to pay for everyone's healthcare because millions are dead. And, very fortunately Hitler didn't have the nuclear button. We need to learn from the horrendous lessons of the Holocaust but I don't feel we need to debate which genocide is or may become more depraved. Our focus should be on making sure none are allowed to happen ever again.
But the Covid is just the start as mass unemployment is likely to follow in its wake as Western governments wind down their exceptional aid packages in the face of horrendous debt burdens and this is likely to be even more deadly throughout the world.
I absolutely agree with you, and hope my comment did not offend you, or anyone else. My feeling and sense of comparison was only in the end result that the general population is unequally affected.
It's not the same event, not even close, but both the Holocaust and the reaction of the Trump administration to the pandemic come from the same mindset.
How a human entity gets to the place where they are unconscious of themselves and others is something I thankfully know nothing of. To say humans need to heal is an understatement. We are witnessing the mindless insanity we keep thinking could never happen again. But it does.
That said, I believe focusing on it keeps us there. Let’s move forward toward what we know is right and good and become the force we really want in the world. Join, prepare, march, pray, help one less fortunate. But don’t sit in this madness focusing on it. It’ll take you down with it!
Could anyone be induced to invoke the 25th Amendment as Trump's connection with reality is miniscule and he rants on and one with lies.? The Emperor has no clothes!
I keep wondering the same thing. He is insane. This isn't new but his behavior as a malignant narcissist sociopath is reaching new depths of ugliness. ... and danger. But, it depends on having a Cabinet that aren't sycophants of the President. Or at least a few that are reasonably sane. So not an option but it will be a very long 49 more days. It is more than his rants though. We can all name the cruelties he is imposing. And a new one is he is even actually making the death penalty more cruel by permitting firing squads and gas chambers. And, he wants all the federal prisoners on death row to be executed before he leaves office. His cruelty is his only response to any thing. In that sense he is a one trick pony. And, what is he up to in the Defense Department putting in inexperienced incapable people and having the Special Ops units of the military like the Navy Seals report to them? Wish someone would convince him to resign on the excuse to he needs to get Pence to pardon him. Each day gets more and more dangerous for America and the world.
Karen I think I may have misubderstood the commentator. There are about five executions scheduled before January 20 that the DOJ is rushing through. There are 54 people on federal death row 1 woman and 53 men. The woman is one of those executions scheduled.
I don't recall hearing any calls for clearing the federal death row. I DO know that they have accelerated executions and are hoping to execute five people before the inauguration. Unfortunately, there might be a real majority in support of that.
5 people before the inauguration sounds like some horrific entertainment spectacle and I am sickened by it. And by having to agree that there might be actual support for this. Dear God, how awful.
Oh how incredibly ironic it is that Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who stole the election from Stacey Abrams by using voter suppression, must now defend Georgia’s voter integrity!!!
Yes, the former incredibly rigged Georgian elections that Stacey Abrams unrigged?
I am savoring that! Fake 45 has pretty much encouraged his followers to threaten Kemp too along with Raffensberger. Nope, Fake 45 has no decency.
I do believe that Raffensperger is a decent person, and tried to run this election ethically (unlike Kemp). However, he is an example of a strong conservative who voted for his party's candidate TWICE, knowing full well that Trump is the epitome of everything Republicans falsely claim to despise. While Trump has delivered beyond their wildest dreams, no "good" person should rejoice in the end justifying the means. They need to realize that they should be careful what they wish for, because it might come true.
‘Careful what you wish for,,,’ I had forgotten that statement, my dearly departed husband used to say that a lot!
I wonder whether Raffensperger and Kemp now see just how dangerous Trump was and is. Although I don't want anyone to get hurt in this mess (our poor hospitals!), I would be glad to know that the rational Republicans among the leadership (lack of integrity notwithstanding) now realize how very dangerous their flagbearer is and even might feel some remorse and embarrassment.
I doubt that remorse and embarrassment are in their DNA. If they were components, their policies would be different and more humane. As I see it, only their wants and needs are to be considered - the rest of the world that is not useful to them can rot.
A very accurate analysis.
I know right? He didn't want to go to jail.
Pardon me, but I can’t muster much compassion today for my fellow Americans who supported Republicans senatorial candidates in the recent election.
So much for the wisdom of those who voted against Trump but returned the Senate to McConnell & Co as a “check” on incoming President Biden. When I heard that rationale, I nearly became ill, as I see the results playing out today, my stomach churns and my heart aches.
Who among us here, at least those from my generation who grew up in the 60s, would have imagined the military as the last line of defense against a President and his political party run amok, standing up to the Commander in Chief and proclaiming in effect - not on our watch!
Our family has a long military tradition, dating back to before the American Revolution, so I have always had a strong measure of respect for those who sacrificed all to protect our liberty. But I have also been wary of the institution and its immense power.
And here we are today. For the first time in my life, I find myself taking comfort in the knowledge that our military will not permit a sitting President to oust his duly-elected successor, and realize just how slippery a slope it is from where we find ourselves today, to accepting if not supporting, the military leadership should it decide the time had come to oust a sitting President.
I do not believe it will happen this time, but I fear we have crossed an ominous threshold.
I agree that we can take comfort in the strong values, integrity and the binding oath to the Constitution in our military. I am most impressed and thankful to each of them and feel safer in this insane time that they are there for us.
Our congressional representatives swore that same oath. I am disgusted.
Absolutely. I also, USED to wonder, and blame the "Republican Senate enablers".
Now, I'm recognizing that they really do represent the crazy vocal minority who are our neighbors! I am REALLY conflicted, as I am also a "pollyanna". Sigh, It is not yet time for reconciliation, still have a long fight
ahead of us....come to think of it, i suppose it is a fight forever to keep our democracy safe.
Remember, the first word in "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" is truth. First, the perps admit to the truth. Then the parties work toward reconciliation.
Without admitting that truth in public, there can be no reconciliation.
Sigh, thank you. Well put.
I have recognized for some time that there is a significant number of the minority citizenry who are entitled to representation. But IMO their leaders, Republican Senators et al., still took an oath to the Constitution which to me transcends an individual's right to demand physical harm to anyone who opposes their reality.
They ALL are to blame. With enough blame left over for the silent majority. Hopefully we all haven't woken up too late. HCR is surely to thank for a lot of my awakening! Thank you professor, et al!
I don't think we disagree, Lynn!
I was taught in grade school that the two characteristics that distinguish our democracy are the rock-solid belief in the peaceful transfer of power and the faithfulness of our military to the Constitution rather than to a single president (or other person). It rocks my world that either of these two pillars might be cracked by not just one soulless man but also by an entire political party.
This entire statement is so beautifully written, very nicely done. Repeating a small portion here because these could all be words out of my mouth:
Who among us here, at least those from my generation who grew up in the 60s, would have imagined the military as the last line of defense against a President and his political party run amok, standing up to the Commander in Chief and proclaiming in effect - not on our watch!
For the first time in my life, I find myself taking comfort in the knowledge that our military will not permit a sitting President to oust his duly-elected successor
Thank you for your kind words - I'm happy this resonated with you.
seconding Roland--so well said. And yes, who would have believed....... Horrifying where we are now (and may yet be in the future.....
Well said.
I've only seen clips of Trump's 46-minute, demented-loser rant. After raking in $170 million in a blatant con of his supporters, I'm sure he's looking forward to further fleecing of his cult by declaring his candidacy for 2024.
But I think this is much more of a defense mechanism for his trampled psyche. We've all read more than we ever thought we would about malignant narcissistic personality. Clearly, Trump's overwhelming defeat is a wounding that carries a depth of emotional pain we can't fathom. But who really cares after the damages he's inflicted and will continue to inflict?
To me, the biggest story is Senate Republicans and other GOP leaders not speaking out for the sanctity of an election long ago decided. Chuck Grassley, 87, and certainly in his last term, can't bring himself to say publicly that Biden has won. Trump can do him no harm. I don't understand the fear, nor the calculation these elected officials make in not defending what once was sacred. How do they sleep at night?
i really don't understand either, and to me that will be the most interesting part of this as history looks back and sorts it all out.
Trump is guilty. The Republicans in Congress are guilty. GOP leaders are guilty. His followers are also to blame. Now does it all make sense to you?
One can understand intellectually that they are guilty without understanding viscerally how anyone claiming to be human can behave in the ways they do. There are certain behaviors that I hope never to understand on certain levels, if understanding means believing ethical humans could do the same in similar circumstances.
Yes, it is better to watch their behaviors. Don't attempt to get inside their heads.
In HCR’s video talk on 12/01/2020, she theorized that the GOP leaders staying silent or defending Trump are positioning themselves to draw support in 2024 from Trump’s base. Grassley dreams of being the oldest president ever?!?!?
I would add to your list of those not speaking out and who actually encourage support of trump the Kenneth Copelands, Pat Robertsons, Paula Whites, Franklin Grahams, Robert Jeffries. And also include in that group all pastors and priests who preach a pro trump message.
I think those churches that choose to allow the preaching of political messages should lose their tax exempt, non-profit standing. Separation of church and state should go both ways!
I'd like to advance an alternate theory for both Trump and the Republicans politicians supporting him. I think they are TRYING to destroy the government. Consciously. Deliberately.
Point: there is a strong thread of racism in the entire Trump phenomenon, based on the caste system of the US Southern States, which resulted in a civil war in the mid-1800's. The point of that war was -- quite explicitly -- to destroy the Yankee Government, and go back to state rule.
Point: the narrative theme of the modern Republican Party, with roots back in the Nine Words of Reagan (echoing racist sentiments going back to the Civil War) was eventually explained by Grover Norquist as the desire to "shrink the government until it can be drowned in a bathtub."
Point: no one -- to my knowledge -- has proffered ANY coherent explanation of how current Republican behavior serves the country. They've pretty much stopped even trying to explain their behavior in those terms.
Republicans represent people still carrying a blood-grudge over a military defeat a century-and-a-half ago (this is quite recent in blood-grudge terms). Republicans have SAID they want to drown the government in a bathtub: it's been their New Deal. The current Republican behavior is destabilizing the government.
I'm having trouble seeing this as a series of unfortunate coincidences....
I’m looking forward to reading Dr. R’s book, How the South Won the Civil War. After just finishing Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, I’m interested in learning more about our political history and especially the role of caste in our society.
The connections I’m seeing between caste and politics is growing every day. If we look at the US in terms of caste and see two castes, the top caste being property owners (the stereotypical old white men) and the bottom caste being laborers (we the people), it makes sense that Republicans are refusing to do anything except defend the rights of property owners and protect property. It would also be in their best interests to dismantle a government that is pushing forward an agenda of all men (people) are created equal. If everyone is equal, how can the caste system remain and keep them in power? And what politician is going to explain away their behavior as “Because I’m better than you?” Political suicide, indeed.
Lena, it sounds like you and I have similar bookshelves - am about to finish “Caste” and begin “How the South Won the Civil War.” Like taking the US History course I never got in school...
I’m listening to the audio version now....by HCR, no less! It’s an eye opener, although the descriptions of what we did to the native Americans are hard to get through. No treaty was left intact, we had no shame or sense of decency at all re them or the slaves/freed slaves. I try to put it into perspective of the “times” but the damage runs through the generations.
As one Native American chief said "the only promise that the whites ever kept was to take all our land" .
There is one Native American treaty that was never broken! The Meusebach-Commanche Treaty signed in 1847 is still celebrated every year in Fredericksburg, TX. HCRs books on How the South Won the Civil War and the one Wounded Knee have just arrived. I'm looking forward to reading them both. Especially interested in Wounded Knee. My great-grandfather's sister was married to Dr. Valentine McGillicuddy who was the Field Agent at Pine Ridge but was fired several years before Wounded Knee because he was calling out the corruption going in Washington cheating the Native Americans out of the food and supplies the government had promised them. My great-grandfather taught agriculture at the Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. So my grandfather and his two brothers were the only white kids attending the School for Native Americans. I gather it was pretty wild.
The Treaty was negotiated by the local private citizens...makes all the difference perhaps.
What a great family history! So interesting!
Enjoy. Wounded Knee was my first.
Sadly, yes. And they were forced onto inhospitable useless land...Until it became valuable when oil or gold or silver was found...or just when it was “in the way”
The Fed Gov of course maintained their powers of "in loco parentis" concerning everything that was under the surface or moving on or over the surface. Thereafter "managing" exploitation for the "good" of the Native. tribes...without allowing them to touch the proceeds for what they might wish for, of course!
Also just read Jody Piccoult’s Small Great Things. She tackles the difficult topic of being a black American facing racism and white supremacy in day to day life.
I read that a cpl years ago and have recommended it to my book club. Picoult always develops her characters thoroughly, and I thought that book was her best.
I have reserved that at the library - apparently there are many others who did the same.
I have Caste on reserve ...
Me too! My poor library is trying to function with both wings tied because of COVID. However, I see a significant dent in my credit card in my immediate future as I break down and buy both Heather's How the South Won the Civil War and To Make Men Free (I've read both from the library) and Isabel Wilkerson's The Great Migration (which I borrowed) and Caste. I want all these as reference volumes.
So much good stuff to read out there! Hope Santa gets you what you need for your personal library! Ho..Ho..Ho.!
Santa's got my list. The kids "and all" have difficulty understanding why I would read such "stuff".....but it makes their life a lot easier for birthdays and Christmas!
😊 Thanks, and the same to all here! 🎁💖
And, didn't Steve Bannon call for the "destruction of the administrative state?" And is he not still whispering in trump's ear?
If not Bannon then Miller. It was made clear from the beginning that their overall goal was to destroy the government. There is a quote somewhere that I can’t put my hands on right at the moment where trump explicitly said it. For the most part people just seem to have either ignored or forgotten this. We should not be surprised. The old adage, “when someone tells you who they are, believe them” still holds true.
It’s true...in soccer, the striker can’t score if you stop the midfielders from passing them the ball....miller and unseen others are game controllers and need to be seriously addressed
I’ve listened to interviews with IW and must read her book. Thank you for reminding me. I was once both a property owner and a laborer working for minimum wage. BIPOC and artists of all ages worked for me, while a big corporation succeeded in keeping me unprotected by a union. Those who “have” work hard to keep it that way. And I have seen and heard how slavery continues today. It just looks different. ❤️🤍💙
a man by the name of Marx would call them the Bourgeois and the Proletariat.
Ave you read Nancy Isenberg's history "White Trash" ?. She also examines the history of caste in America.
Thanks for the recommendation. I’m on the waiting list for Dr. R’s book as well as Candace Owens Blackout, so in need of a good read right now - and White Trash was available on Libby (love that app!) so I can start reading today!
Didn’t know about the Libby app. Thanks!
Libby is AWESOME. I have been able to read so many great books free due to Libby.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/libby-by-overdrive/id1076402606
Overdrive AKA Libby the digital borrowing AP many libraries are tied into.
Interesting panel discussion - Roosevelt House hosts a special evening featuring Nancy Isenberg, author of the groundbreaking bestseller White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America, in conversation with Frank Rich, Writer-at-Large for New York Magazine, and Bill Goldstein, Public Programming Curator for Roosevelt House. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_Gq2qDwFpA
I would add, "Leadership in Turbulent Times", by Doris Kearns Goodwin to the list.
Thanks!
I am just finishing How the South Won the Civil War. Heather has packed the maximum into each paragraph and said SO much so clearly in such a slim volume. What I have felt intuitively since Reagan I now understand in more historically concrete terms. Now I know WHY I've felt this way all this time. Can't wait to read Caste! I learned a lot from Isabel Wilkerson's The Great Migration.
I am agreeing with you.....This looks like it is deliberate..The Republicans are willing players with Trump in this depraved game..no coincidence..................Their silence..........
Agreed!
I believe that this is deliberate, too, and that Trump was chosen because he could be manipulated into this destruction. I doubt that Trump has the intellect or sophistication to have conceived this plan, but he has been a "useful idiot."
According to Mary Trump, that is exactly what he was groomed to be by his father.
No question about it. I read Mary's book, too. He definitely had the "killer instinct" ingrained, and I can't help but wonder how much of it was inherited "nature" and how much was non-"nurture." Bad blood, anyway. Still, his thinking is too primitive and his grasp of historic nuance too lacking to have plotted his destructive rampage alone. Someone saw the potential and manipulated him to his (their) wishes.
Yes, I agree. It's quite calculated and has been in the works for a long time.
I'm wondering if, as time goes by and the new administration settles in and begins to establish a new dialogue, and plan of action, and when people begin to experience some stability - that their homes, livelihoods, and jobs, are no longer being threatened - the inflammatory trump rhetoric will fade away to some degree.
If the leaders, Democrat or Republican, use the same method as trump used, to change the thinking of his followers by repeating the same idea until they begin to believe it, that maybe some will abandon those harmful untruths planted by trump.
My hope is that our country can work to correct the flaws in our system that can be exploited to create a situation like the one we currently suffer from, enjoy peace and prosperity, strengthen our economy and international relationships, and establish that all are equal under the law.
Will people really figure that out quickly? I would hope so, but the Trumpers don't seems to want to change their opinions, even if their lives are not improving.
I don't know... just thought if it works in one direction it could also work in another direction.
Why not? Certainly worth a try. Your last paragraph starts with 'my hope'.....it's always a good thing to hope for good things...I hope with you. Thanks.
when you're infatuated, nothing can sway you. these people idolize this man as a gift straight from the right hand of God.
So true.....can always try.
Joseph Nye Welsh shook his head at McCarthy’s recklessness and cruelty and asked: “Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?
This is what we need to hear from the senate floor. I find it hard to believe that there is no way to stop his behavior or Flynn's. He is a clear danger to our government and yet our elected Republican Senators are not standing up and saying, ENOUGH!
Re-tweeting sedition still adds up to sedition in my book. Flynn wasn't charged with sedition and not pardoned for it. So charge him and make an example! Get him back in preventive detention NOW.
How could that happen, who needs to do this?? I think it is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that he be arrested for sedition!!
Right Stuart!!! Who does it and how? Dem leadership is too chicken to do it, IMHO
Under normal circumstances the DOJ would instruct the FBI to investigate and charge if necessary. As it is the FBI would have to take the initiative.
One of the best things about you Stuart is your breadth of knowledge.
Stuart, I completely agree with Daria. I'm glad you're in our corner!
Hopefully, Biden will be able to initiate the action - that is, IF we can win the runoff, and WHEN we have a new AG who won't interfere with the DOJ.
Thanks. Perhaps a True Patriot (not the FAKE kind) will step forward......
After the guy in Georgia stood up and said "Far Enough!" yesterday, Trump responded with a tweet of the conspiracy theory that has resulted in the death threats. In response to being called out for their hypocrisy, Perdue and the Bimbette of Belsen both chimed in supporting Trump's response. That's who and what these scum are.
The Far Enough speech should be played far and wide.
Trump had to lose the election before these yahoos would finally get enough backbone to speak up.
Yes, and Stalin signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler that allowed them both to carve up Poland, then when Hitler invaded the USSR, Churchill offered an immediate unconditional alliance. The past is past and can be litigated after the fire is put out. At the moment, anyone who steps up to man a hose is welcome.
Remember how long it took Welsh to call out McCarthy and what cost to countless Americans. I don't believe there was much decency to be found anywhere within the halls of our government during that period. Whenever I hear members of their own party criticize Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Tlaib and Pressley for their outspokenly progressive voices, I think, "You are the kind of spineless worms that allowed McCarthy and the HUAC to terrorize this nation in the 1950's. Have you NO sense of history?"
How does a man rise to become a Lieutenant General in the US army and still possess the operating system to call for an overthrow of the constitution and support a rule by force by a defeated candidate. Not that I doubt that there are bad eggs in every institution but still military folks are at the very least patriotic and have strong adherence to the constitution. Makes me wonder about the shaping forces within the US military that would allow for such a man to rise to rise to the top. Is it the same as in the corporate world, simply just shameless self promotion unhinged from any acts valor or integrity ?
I firmly believe Senators and Representatives need to come together and make a clear public statement saying they cannot support the assault on our democratic republic. Instead of this one or that one making individual comments/statements, or waiting for leadership to stand up to the assaults...there is strength in coming together saying 'enough is enough'.
I agree that would be a powerful act, but I just don't see anyone standing up to lead, unfortunately. Maybe when the vote is certified, Dec 8?
....most likely they're waiting for the Georgia senatorial race results?
"Yeah, but they're just stupid Dems. What do they know about true greatness (speaking as dyed-in-the-wool Republicans)?" They're like Voldemort's followers. I find absolutely amazing--and appalling--the amount of shame they seem able to hold within themselves without speaking out. The courage of those who do speak out makes the silent ones look even more despicable and calculating. As Michael Bales asked earlier, how do they even look themselves in the mirror?
A rhetorical quote--an imaginary thought by defensive Congressional Republicans (as clarified in the parentheses. No attribution necessary.
I was not going to post anything. I have enough on my plate today as I am attending the funeral of my second brother today (private, family only, social distancing). He had a long history of severe respiratory problems and was in and out of the ICU of their local hospital for over a week. He tested negative for COVID on admission to the hospital; however, he died without his wife and children with him due to visitation restrictions secondary to COVID. I know in my bones that his nurses and aides were there with him (I am a retired nurse) but we as medical staff are poor substitutes for family. I count his death as COVID related.
I too am perturbed by the rhetoric surrounding the election results, of the death threats and attempts to subvert the process. It seems overwhelming. I shake my head at the cowardice of those in the Republican Party who refuse to stand up to 45. My question to them is why do you want people to support you who threaten violence against other citizens. They can just as easily turn against you even if you toe their line.
My solution is to be a gadfly to Mr. McConnell who is unfortunately my senior senator. And by the way, thanks to the person who posted a couple of days ago asking what was wrong with Kentucky Republicans and did not throw all Kentuckians into the mix. However, much we may think our voices do not matter, we have to keep raising them in such a number we are too loud to ignore. I have already been sending daily emails to Mr. McConnell's office about the rhetoric surrounding the election results and also about COVID relief. I am one person with the most hated person in the US next to45 as my senator but I can be a gadfly. And by the way, I am constructing a letter to the Kentucky Democrat Party to needle them into more action.
Forgive any punctuation, spelling and format errors. This is a difficult day.
Rebecca, this post of yours should be a must read and deserves a Gold Star! The question you raise --"My question to them is why do you want people to support you who threaten violence against other citizens. They can just as easily turn against you even if you toe their line" -- is one I have but could not form it as you have so pointedly done.
I need not suggest that you continue to be a thorn in the side of your duly elected representative. Thank you for being a consummate gadfly!
May I add my condolences on the loss of your brother. I pray for brighter days for you.
I agree with Lynell, you write a great post. Sending some good Wisconsin thoughts your way; I grew up in Lexington, so I think they should find you!
Thank you
Thank you
I am so sorry about the loss of your brother. Please accept my sincerest condolences.
Thank you
I am so very sorry about your loss. I lost a brother in June and my own experience of a "virtual" funeral offered little to no closure or peace to help with the grief. As to your being a "gadfly" to Mitch - kudos to you! On behalf of the rest of us who despise him, THANK YOU!
Thank you
I am so very sorry for your loss, Rebecca.
Oh, Rebecca, my heart is with you and your family.
I wanted you to know that your description of being a gadfly to McConnell was just the push I needed to get busy. I wrote to 1/2 the Republican senators today to remind them of their sworn duty under oath to support and defend the Constitution and that their silence was consent for what Trump is doing to our democracy and its institutions, like voting and peaceful transfer of power. I don't know if it will help, but it can't hurt. Thank you for your inspiration and for using your voice for good even in this profoundly sad time. I am so sorry for the loss of your brother.
Wow! it takes all my energy just to write to Mitch. But I will say that Dr Richardson and others have been my inspiration. Thank you for your kind words. We will take back our government.
Rebecca, may good memories of your brother comfort you at this sad time and, in time, help you smile.
Thank you for your persistent civic action.
Rebecca, please accept my deepest sympathy in the passing of your brother. Thank you for your career in Nursing.
My heart goes out to you and your family in their pain. Thank you for taking time today to tell us about your brother. And thank you for being a gadfly!!! You are doing essential work.
He might be doing so for the money—he has raised $170 million so far on promises to challenge this election—or because he is worried about the lawsuits he can expect as soon as he is not protected by the presidential office.
That's doors numbers 1 and 2. Door #3 has "both" on it, and that's the door I'll take, Monty.
At the risk of becoming redundant, everyone needs to memorize the following description of the modern American Right, researched by Dr. Theodore Adorno 71 years ago and described by Richard Hofstadter 65 years ago. The truth of the analysis is only more obvious today.
"Unlike most of the liberal dissent of the past, the new dissent not only has no respect for non-conformism, but is based upon a relentless demand for conformity. It can most accurately be called pseudo-conservative — I borrow the term from the study of The Authoritarian Personality published five years ago by Theodore W. Adorno and his associates — because its exponents, although they believe themselves to be conservatives and usually employ the rhetoric of conservatism, show signs of a serious and restless dissatisfaction with American life, traditions and institutions. They have little in common with the temperate and compromising spirit of true conservatism in the classical sense of the word, and they are far from pleased with the dominant practical conservatism of the moment as it is represented by the Eisenhower Administration. Their political reactions express rather a profound if largely unconscious hatred of our society and its ways — a hatred which one would hesitate to impute to them if one did not have suggestive clinical evidence.
"From clinical interviews and thematic apperception tests, Adorno and his co-workers found that their pseudo-conservative subjects, although given to a form of political expression that combines a curious mixture of largely conservative with occasional radical notions, succeed in concealing from themselves impulsive tendencies that, if released in action, would be very far from conservative. The pseudo-conservative, Adorno writes, shows “conventionality and authoritarian submissiveness” in his conscious thinking and “violence, anarchic impulses, and chaotic destructiveness in the unconscious sphere. . . . The pseudo conservative is a man who, in the name of upholding traditional American values and institutions and defending them against more or less fictitious dangers, consciously or unconsciously aims at their abolition.”
Adorno, et.al., may have overdone their reliance on the importance of early childhood experiences. But I completely agree that the controlling mass in today's GOP is anything but truly conservative. Some are openly reactionary, nostalgically pining for an image of an imagined past. But mixed in with these "real American" tropes is a strong strain of chiliastic thinking. This is most open in the statements and policy proposals of those strongly influenced by fundamentalist doctrines. But even for many of the non-doctrinal sort, references are made to a valued past, but the focus seems to be on a time beyond time, a millennium in which in which the righteous shall prevail.
I second your recommendation of Hofstadter's 1954 article, but would also give a shout-out for his 1965 followup "Goldwater and Pseudo-Conservative Politics." Of course, many political and contextual factors have changed. But there are suggestive insights about the takeover of of the GOP by a fringe group of zealous activists. He ends with this:
"But, above all, the far right has become a permanent force in the political order because the things on which it feeds are also permanent: the chronic and ineluctable frustrations of our foreign policy, the opposition to the movement for racial equality, the discontents that come with affluence, the fevers of the culturally alienated who practice what Fritz Stern called in another connection 'the politics of cultural despair.' . . . The movement now uses the techniques it has taken from the radicals while it spends the money it gets from the conservatives. Finally, it moves in the uninhibited mental world of those who neither have nor expect to win responsibility. Its opponents, as men who carry the burdens of government, are aways vulnerable to the discontents aroused by the manifold failures of our society. But the right-wingers, who are willing to gamble with the future, enjoy the wide-ranging freedom of the agitational mind, with its paranoid suspicions, its impossible demands, and its millennial dreams of total victory."
Fifty-five years later we now, most unfortunately, know what happens when they actually do win what are supposed to be positions of responsibility.
Excellent catch on Hofstadter's later work. If you go read Rick Perlstein's "Before the Storm," his history of the Goldwater movement, you see it all laid out as to how it will happen/
Thanks. I've read Perlstein's "Before the Storm" and "Nixonland." For anyone of a certain age, the only thing that chokes down fear and nausea is renewed all-consuming rage. I've started on "Reaganland" but I may have to wait until Jan. 23d to be able to focus clearly.
"The Invisible Bridge" is very good. Back when I was involved in "perfesshunal politics" I had the opportunity of meeting Reagan when he was governor. James Garner's two-word description was accurate: "amiable dunce."
Yes, "Invisible Bridge" is on the list. I could never understand how it was that many people saw Reagan as a great leader. But they say that it takes some time to pass to really evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of any presidential administration. While many of Reagan's appointees were unabashed servants of the plutocracy, they weren't totally talentless grifters. And right about now "amiable dunce" beats hell out of malignant troll.
Yes, whatever his faults, I can't see Reagan doing the more "out there" thinks Mangolini has done.
To me, trump's current behaviour, brooding in the dark, 46 minutes social media rants, pardons and threatening GOP opponents comes down to status, money and psychology.
Not coming out of his lair other than to go to his golf course represents both a need to hide from reality and to recharge his psychic batteries in a safe "comfort zone".
Rants on video release a bit of the extreme psychic tension resulting from exposure of his perversity and paranoia; a massive affront to his narcissism. They are a pathetic attempt to close the stable door after the horse has bolted, to show that his balloon isn't deflated. The resultant downplaying of the "speech" by all the media and lack of real impact on his "difficulties" will redouble his sense of betrayal by the media and both increase his angry frustration and inevitably deepen his depression caused by his growing impotence. Now he needs scapegoats! It, of course, isn't HIS fault!
The pardons have nothing to do with rewarding loyalty, but everything to do with showing his regal munificence and maintaining his patriarchal position in his family and close circle of "servants". I find it difficult to accept that his psychosis would allow him, however, to accept that he would need a pardon....having done only wonderful things for every "ungrateful son-of-a-bitch"....and as he as President can commit no crime!
Threats to all and sundry standing in his way would be par for the Bully's course; he knows no other way. He does not expect it to rectify the election errors but offers him the chance to push the button of similarly paranoiac, sycophantic followers and offer up to them human sacrifices.......bread and games in the election Coliseum!
As his troubled mind will double down on his own "divinity"and the normal "trappings" of such an elevated status, it is normal that he "tax" his "wage slaves" to the hilt in order to offer the vision of pomp and splendor fitting to his rank to his subjects. Nobody can get in the way of this natural process in his mind.....his lawyers will see to that.....and they need money to do the job.
Not a very thrilling prospect for the non-perverse, non-paranoiac other half of the population. However, as this fantasy plays out in Trump's mind somebody else is supposed to organize all this. He has decreed its necessity and rectitude. We are back to Henry 11 of England and his dear Archbishop of Canterbury! However, just like the absent 50,000 poll watchers, he has no tanks, no armies on the move and no General Patton to lead the charge. He will blame them all and devote his life to fighting the courts and taking vengeance on the GOP that just sat on their hands and played the 3 wise monkeys when he needed them to move their rear ends! And with this the constant rant "I will be back"....to make you all pay!
As for the Constitution, which all the Lying Repugnants have sworn to uphold and which has been totally ignored from the Emoluments Clause to our current unfolding Constitutional Crisis, no one has made an effort to use the 25th Amendment to remove this clearly insane, out of control menace in the White House.
Wow!
This is a very interesting take on the tRump craziness, and right on target. All of tRump's rants/tweets/rallies only feed his ever increasing need to be "seen". And, sight lines have moved elsewhere since the election. We will only see him fall further and further into madness in the next 49 days.
And the level of his anger will grow exponentially...as no one is "doing anything about it" .
...and this is what worries me-- "poking" the trapped and wounded animal!! 49 days is an eternity of danger in Trump World. His sickness and incompetence would indicate immediate physical removal but the violence that would erupt from that would destroy us during this pandemic. In the short term, we have no exit; in the long term I hope we can recoup enough to have a functional government.
He should be "ring-fenced" so he can only harm himself and not others. But my verb is in the conditional as it depends upon "gentleman's agreements", integrity, honesty and keeping one's word. To quote a recent, unloved and well-gotten-rid-of ex French President " promises only bind those that hear them". Cross your fingers and trust that there is enough of the good stuff around to limit the damage.
I'm very worried about that word exponentially you use. That most people don't understand this virus spreads exponentially is one of the reasons they aren't taking it seriously. When I first realized that our current President was becoming a serious contender to get the Republican nomination in April 2016, I spent two week studying Narcissistic Personality Disorder. In particular, what happens in the end stage of NPD. The best example is Jim Jones and his mass suicide. Please don't drink any of the arsenic laced Kool Aide if it is offered.
https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=40230 We need to have each others' backs on this.
I think by that time even his wife will have retired to New York and none of staff will be around for his "grand finale" . Then hopefully, he'll be all alone facing his cool-aid....and the chant will rise up from all sides "Drink, Drink, Drink" . While McConnell watches from the other end of town with a Chesire-cat smile!
What about his malignant side wanting to take as many people with him as possible?
He wont drink. He feels that he is too precious! He won't surround himself either at the end in the White House as in reality he hates and disdains the people who sychophantically sing his praises. For him they are the proverbial "lepers" .; canon fodder, losers, schmucks. The WH and his fortress in Florida will isolate him from such contagion.
Every day, I think that there can’t possibly be news that is more shocking, damaging and disheartening than what we have witnessed the day before and then we are subjected to shocking, damaging, disheartening news, yet again. This morning, I read the news about General Flynn sharing the call for martial law, suspension of the Constitution and a demand for a re-vote. This was astonishing and I have been thinking about it all day. I knew he was a treasonous liar, but there must be some sound reasons that he achieved the rank of general and, yet, here he is, a week after he is pardoned for lying and deceit, living up to his pardon bargain with Trump in spades by publicly promoting sedition. Then I hear about the rally in Georgia at which Lin Wood and Sydney Powell called out election officials by name and urged Republicans not to vote, since their votes won’t be secure. Honestly, hearing them urging Republicans not to vote made me laugh out loud, but it was still astonishing. Then, I hear about the dozens of in-house Christmas parties that Trump, Pompeo and others are hosting, which really ticked me off. All of this news, capped off by the grim Coronavirus data, made for another horrible day for America. This is all absolutely crazy and exhausting. And, of course, you have covered it all so well in your daily Letter, Heather. I think that I need to reduce my news consumption and simply read your communication. I can take only so much shock and astonishment in my life and this is all is bat $#*t crazy.
I have also been thinking about all of this in relation to the Questions you posed this week, Heather, about themes in our country’s history and how we might write a new narrative. It is all intertwined, of course. To write a new, more positive narrative, we - the big “we” - need to have a significant shift in many of our persistent themes, our priorities, our institutions and the power structure in this country. Just for starters, we need to change the theme of white supremacy and racism that is woven into every aspect of our country and its institutions. And we need to elect capable, ethical representatives at all levels of our State and federal government. If we don’t do those things, at a minimum, it is going to be very difficult to change or improve our direction and forge a more just and equitable future.
It is way past time when all of us ought to call out the Republican Party - especially their leadership - for aiding and abetting the president's heinous aspirations. Since when have we not understood that "Silence is consent"?To meet their
unequivocally thunderous public silence in response to Agent Chaos's traitorous provocations with vacuous silence --instead of the People's inescapable "No" "How Dare You!" "Shame shame shame!"-- is to leave the "field of sound" reverberating with an unacceptable tone of faux helplessness and denial. In anticipation to those who say - oh, no, that would be more fuel for the fire - it would alienate those crazed millions and bring out the guns! Which is along the same vein of avoidance of drawing a line that has afflicted our governments' past leadership - witness, the barons of Wall Street off scot free from society's (once judicial) requirement to suffer consequences for hurting others, lots of others in 2008. When unlawful behavior by mis-"leadership" by the Peoples' elected representatives is not named in the public arena for what it is --"traitorous complicity by Silence" -- where do you think all that corrupted energy goes? Do you think it just disappears into thin air? Is it not similar to telling your daughter who was just molested by her kind old uncle, "oh, darling, he didn't mean it. Let's not have any more talk of this." Someone wise has said - if you want your "yes" then you must first claim your "no." You can't have your "yes" (to justice) without your "no" (to irresponsibility). We can't have our "yes" to liberty without our "no" to ir-responsibility. Liberty requires responsibility. Right Action. Truth. Justice.
Thank you for writing about this, and bringing our attention back to OUR responsibility to stand up and speak up. We have had long discussions about standing up for democracy, by marching, urging our elected officials (at all levels), our social organizations to become involved, make statements, write letters, carry signs. For a while. Where is that discussion now? We helped get the vote out, helped support the movement to peacefully retain the democratic process. That was the beginning. Where is that discussion now, and where are our commitments to continuing to work for it? I became an official member of NAACP, and am trying to learn how the issues fit together so I can figure out the best way for me to help support the things that need work. Our NAACP is an amazing group, a coalition of both individuals and associations that address the many issues that poor people of all colors face. All these things have a political connection as well as a social one. Wondering if others are exploring the various options for action. An awful lot of it is showing up at the local school board or town council meetings, taking notes, writing letters, or simply reporting back to your "mother group". Accurate information sharing is one of the most important tasks we can do. One of the things I love about my chosen mother group is that I get a good picture of a lot of thing going on, not only in my area, but around the state. This is a simple thing that any of us can do. Or, as some are still doing, just writing letters to the editor or the mayor, or postcards to support voters.
Thank you!
The ever present spirit of " Peace in our time with the Treaty of Munich" in 1938 that sealed the fate of the Czeck Republic and guarrantteed the war starting a year later.
❤️❤️❤️
Is it possible to charge Flynn with inciting violence and attempting yo over throw the government? His ties to Russia were treasonous and should have been charged as such not just for lying to the FBI. Its not even been a week and he is at it again.
In fact, why cant Trump be charged? Words matter. When the words of a President are based on lies and conspiracies intended to overturn election results, democracy and incite violence, something must be done.
We need to stop Republicans attack on our democracy by supporting the run off election in Georgia and taking power away from McConnell. Donate to Jon Ossoff and Rev. Warnock
It is clearly sedition and we do not need the 25th to stop this madness of Individual One.
Speaking of, how is it even possible that tRump could run again in 2024? He is delusional. He has proven he does not possess the qualifications required of the job. I so want to believe he would never make it past the “tossing his hat in the ring stage”.
Yes, how is it possible for an indicted, whether or not convicted, impeached former POS OTUS able to run again?!
He was not convicted. The law allows 2 terms. It is us, the voters, who have the power and the responsibility to stop him. That is how our system works. We do have the little flaw in the system that we need to address: the outmoded and dysfuntional electoral college system. Let's fix that.
Hey Annie, boy my post was crazy, what I was trying to say, which didn’t come across very well, was a hope that he would be convicted of some of the state crimes that he will likely be deluged with, and should that make him ineligible to seek office. Otherwise, thanks for your response.
Chris, your post was fine. I was the one who didn't come across very well. Sometimes I have so much going on I write short answers that sound abrupt. Rereading it now, I realize it comes across as almost snarky, and I didn't mean THAT at all. In fact, your post kind of tickled me, and it was a legitimate question. I was on my way out and wrote a too-quick response with just the basics. I apologize for that. Yesterday was definitely not one of my better days.
To clarify: an impeachment is similar to an indictment in the legal system, but it is not exactly the same thing. To my knowledge, Trump has not been indicted for anything (though he could be in future). He has been charged with articles of impeachment, a kind of indictment, by the House of Reps, and those articles sent to the Senate, whose responsibility is to try the President and determine his guilt or innocence. They declined to do so, voting against conviction along party lines, and so the articles of impeachment have no part going forward.
The House could impeach on other grounds (god knows there are enough of them), and technically, I suppose they could bring the same charges. With McConnell in place, neither of those options are likely to fly, so why bother?
The thing I (and quite a few others) find interesting is Trump's continuing intense interest in pardons, and his lawyers' inquiries into whether he could pardon his family, and, ahem, perhaps himself. Why would this be of interest if there weren't a perceived need to protect something? Maybe something we don't know about yet, or are getting close to.
As for running for office, I think Heather already got that: it's a ploy for raising money, a grift, and a distraction. Trump hates the White House and hates being President. He has essentially stopped even pretending to fulfill any duties of the office. He loves *running* for the office because it gets him the attention he craves (and the money it brings in). And right now pretending to want to run in 2024 fills in for the fact that he utterly failed as President. By 2024, he will not be a viable candidate. The Republican party will see to that. And his "base" will have moved on to something else.
That's the part to be wary of. They might settle back into their lives, especially if the rest of us have the sense to make room for them. Or they might move their anger and delusions on to something else. But based on what I've been seeing, I don't think it will be the virulence some are trying to work us up over. I wish we'd remember that most of Trump's base are just as diverse and just as uncertain as we are, and most are people just trying to understand what the heck is going on.
This is not aimed at you, btw, but following my train of thought (it is morning, I have little control over this), I bumped into some things a few people here keep bringing up that really bother me: an insistence on calling people they disagree with demeaning names instead of talking to the nature of the disagreement. I'm not here for that. I'm here, like most of us are, trying to understand so that what I say and do can contribute to a solution. Sometimes I get a chance to share that with others and influence how they think about things (or at least raise questions in their minds). When that happens, it is reassuring to me that there IS a way forward.
Thank you Annie, I was really bummed that tRump was not convicted in Senate, although not realistic, given current Senate.
Yes, there is a lot to be hopeful for, and glad you are part of this community!
But a month ago, with basically that same set of facts available, over 70 million people voted to keep Trump in office. 70 million. He still scares the crap out of me.
Thank you for writing this.
I am so incensed and I feel so powerless in this black mark on our history with all this sedition and treason and outright disruption, and threatened destruction of our constitution by a crazy man, who is raising millions for this ridiculous onslaught on America and our systems. Firing Chris Krebs, who was in charge of oversight of our elections and who attested to the veracity of the 2020 national presidential elections as one of the most secure. And yet over 40 wasteful and costly lawsuits which Trump instigated and only for one slight favorable ruling there has no gain of any votes or electoral college advantage.
In fact, Biden gained votes in the several recounts Trump demanded.
Worse it is like watching a play in an insane asylum with a terribly inadequate and false speaking cast of characters.
Vehement attacks on many legislators including GOP lawmakers and including one Trump Lawyer, Joe diGenova calling for Chris Krebs to be “taken out at dawn and shot.” Mind you, Chris Krebs did everything right. As did other GOP legislators who would not lie about fraud for Trump are also now peppered with death threats.
I cannot believe my country is being torn apart by this craziness; insanity really. Most of the GOP is silent amidst all of this.
These people work for us...they are not doing their job for us...this is a government “of the people, by the people, for the people” and we, the people are responsible for standing up for our constitution (I vote for non-violently- while many on Trump’s side are threatening violence). After 200 years, we have a mad man for president these 4 years who has literally attacked our constitution and our pillars of government.
We are in midst of the worst worldwide pandemic and the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths has escalated to unbelievable proportions and rising daily. And Trump has no word to any family or any of us unless she tries to take credit for a stock market number of positive news of vaccines.
And he still has the nuclear codes?
And what is he going to do with pardons?
A lot can happen in 50 days and he has dismantled a lot of the pentagon staff and we have junior lower level Trump loyalists acting in the running of our national defense and security.
We should all be scared! I am!
This is true. And ironically, in doing so, it is possible that Trump has actually *created* a deep state.
Yes, and I believe it is very pre-meditated and it is revenge on America for allowing this loss which he is not able to accept.
Mind you the workings for him to tap into to attempt this coup were there and adding 3+ Years of catering to his base and not so subtly brainwashing them with his lies and conspiracy theories- to hold 74million in his thrall, effectively holding the country on a state of deep state siege, it is up to all of us to break the spell and take our democracy back and return to truth and facts.
The hate and greed was always there. Trump is just the willing poster boy for it. So this is the country we’ve ALWAYS lived in and the BS we bought. There is nothing different here, only now the dragon has left the den and it’s reared it’s ugly head for us to see.
NOW we can face it finally and create something different....
Let’s build it together, not by focusing on the dragon, but by courageously pushing forward.
Like in the jaws movie...keep swimming to the pier, DON’T look back. We can do this as long as we don’t focus on fear and we create what we want. Stay strong and sure my friends!
Yes, Trump sees this as a reality TV event, his followers believe him. People are speaking out, yet the GOP in Congress, particularly Mitch McConnell, say nothing. As if they really do not care. Where are the Republicans who united with Democrats, finally, to take away Joseph McCarthy’s power, and who worked with Democrats to tell Nixon he must go? They have disappeared. Now there are Trumpublicans, who have broken their oath to defend the Constitution. There are still scary times.
They don't care, Suzette. That's the problem. They would rather blow everything up and see thousands of their constituents die than see one smidgen of their power move to the other side of the aisle. They are all traitors and criminals.
It's not just that they don't care, my theory is that trump and his followers WANT the black and brown, the elderly populations to be culled by whatever means possible. Covid has helped that mission.
As I was trying, somewhat unsuccessfully, to sleep last night it occurred to me that COVID-19 is trumps/republicans “gas chamber”. They are quite literally culling the minority population, the infirm, the elderly, and those in the lowest income tiers. They can hide behind this virus, and escape histories vilification they way the nazis were vilified for using the gas chambers.
Or can they????
I believe the Holocaust was much different, more deliberate, more intentionally lethal, and more horrific compared to the COVID pandemic. I understand your sense of comparison and disgust with the administration's failure to act. But to suggest that the loss of 6 million men women and children is comparable to the deliberate eradication of living beings starved to death in work camps and detention camps, and who were murdered in gas chambers is to not understand the depravity of the holocaust.
It's not on the same scale as the Holocaust, in numbers or in depravity. It's not the same horrendously organized process. As someone who would have thousands more relatives if not for the Holocaust, I see the differences.
At the same time, Cathy has a point that there are similarities: white supremacist leaders are knowingly acting on behalf of mass death because it works for them. Another similarity: cruelty for its own sake, for example toward immigrants. As with the Nazis, there have been a lot of people who don't really approve of the hatred and cruelty who nevertheless support that government, enabling it by going along.
The Nazis based their Nuremburg Laws on their study of American violence toward Americans of African descent. The white supremacist trump party shares a recent common ancestor with the Nazis. It's unfortunately logical that their attitudes and actions are not unlike.
I keep thinking about the photo on Hitler's desk of antisemitic Henry Ford who was an inspiration to Hitler and mentioned in Mein Kampf. It all feels circular and not in a good way.
My parents never ever bought a Ford for that very reason!
Yes, one more of the echo chambers of the era.
Truth
One difference today from the depravity of the Holocaust is we know the end of the story on the Holocaust and Hitler. If we were facing a second term of the current President I wouldn't be too sure that it wouldn't get to the level of depravity of the Holocaust. The pandemic might be a "convenience" the current administration and their sycophant far right conservatives is taking advantage of quite deliberately. No more Social Security needed if millions of seniors are dead. The national debt goes down if the government doesn't have to pay for everyone's healthcare because millions are dead. And, very fortunately Hitler didn't have the nuclear button. We need to learn from the horrendous lessons of the Holocaust but I don't feel we need to debate which genocide is or may become more depraved. Our focus should be on making sure none are allowed to happen ever again.
But the Covid is just the start as mass unemployment is likely to follow in its wake as Western governments wind down their exceptional aid packages in the face of horrendous debt burdens and this is likely to be even more deadly throughout the world.
That would seem to depend on how fast and broadly the vaccines are distributed so the economy can start to recover.
I absolutely agree with you, and hope my comment did not offend you, or anyone else. My feeling and sense of comparison was only in the end result that the general population is unequally affected.
It's not the same event, not even close, but both the Holocaust and the reaction of the Trump administration to the pandemic come from the same mindset.
Agreed.
I totally agree.
I agree with you. The Trump party leaders certainly act as if they see all this mass death and devastation as a benefit, not a problem.
I have thought this many times. I think you are right on the mark.
To be air, trump did try to kill-off his supporters by his campaign rallys.
I completely agree with you..
I agree there.
How a human entity gets to the place where they are unconscious of themselves and others is something I thankfully know nothing of. To say humans need to heal is an understatement. We are witnessing the mindless insanity we keep thinking could never happen again. But it does.
That said, I believe focusing on it keeps us there. Let’s move forward toward what we know is right and good and become the force we really want in the world. Join, prepare, march, pray, help one less fortunate. But don’t sit in this madness focusing on it. It’ll take you down with it!
Could anyone be induced to invoke the 25th Amendment as Trump's connection with reality is miniscule and he rants on and one with lies.? The Emperor has no clothes!
I keep wondering the same thing. He is insane. This isn't new but his behavior as a malignant narcissist sociopath is reaching new depths of ugliness. ... and danger. But, it depends on having a Cabinet that aren't sycophants of the President. Or at least a few that are reasonably sane. So not an option but it will be a very long 49 more days. It is more than his rants though. We can all name the cruelties he is imposing. And a new one is he is even actually making the death penalty more cruel by permitting firing squads and gas chambers. And, he wants all the federal prisoners on death row to be executed before he leaves office. His cruelty is his only response to any thing. In that sense he is a one trick pony. And, what is he up to in the Defense Department putting in inexperienced incapable people and having the Special Ops units of the military like the Navy Seals report to them? Wish someone would convince him to resign on the excuse to he needs to get Pence to pardon him. Each day gets more and more dangerous for America and the world.
When did he say he wants all death row prisoners executed before he leaves office? I have not heard this before now and find it deeply disturbing.
Karen I think I may have misubderstood the commentator. There are about five executions scheduled before January 20 that the DOJ is rushing through. There are 54 people on federal death row 1 woman and 53 men. The woman is one of those executions scheduled.
Thanks for clarifying, Cathy. I would have believed it, though, these people are so awful. I just hadn’t heard it.
Hey, Karen. Here's one article, but there are more. However, I do not know the credibility of these publishers. https://www.theroot.com/trump-administration-fast-tracking-executions-and-tryin-1845768296
Thank you, Lynell.
I don't recall hearing any calls for clearing the federal death row. I DO know that they have accelerated executions and are hoping to execute five people before the inauguration. Unfortunately, there might be a real majority in support of that.
5 people before the inauguration sounds like some horrific entertainment spectacle and I am sickened by it. And by having to agree that there might be actual support for this. Dear God, how awful.
QUESTION:
Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne’er within him burn’d,
As home his footsteps he hath turn’d,
From wandering on a foreign strand!
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no Minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonour’d, and unsung.
~ Sir Walter Scott
ANSWER: Yes.