300 Comments

I found 45's assertion that without his help, Mr. McConnell would not have been re-elected laughable. Speaking as a Kentuckian (never voted for Mitch, never will), Mitch did not need the little help that 45 offered. Despite people stating they do not like Mitch, they still voted for him and against their own best interest. Just throw around a few key words such as socialist, baby-killer, gun control and there is Mitch's re-election. I put partial blame on the state Democratic party strategy that always seems to be on the defensive rather than offensive and have told them so. In actuality, I see Mitch a larger threat than 45.

The assertion now that the soon to be ex-president wants to send everyone more money indicates to me that his thinking is becoming more irrational. I think he believes if he vetoes bills, the public will rise up and declare him the winner. He thinks like a three or four year old or like someone in early stages of dementia. He obviously never took a basic civics course. Of course as this election definitely proved, many of my fellow citizens need a massive refresher course in civics and history.

I am taking Dr. Richardson's advice and not worry about January 6. I have already taken her advice and have started putting pressure on my elected officials about issues I care about. After all, as I reminded Mitch, we are the bosses.

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I agree about McConnell being a larger threat. He’s enabled 45 for his own purposes. His actions are deplorable. I believe he will rot in hell.

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They all will. Karen Pence getting vaccinated was one of the most hypothetical things I’ve ever seen. Self-proclaimed Christians doing exactly the opposite of what Jesus would do. I’m still incredibly angry about that. Add Rubio and Ernst to that list, and my fury just grows.

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Much as I dislike Pence, many evangelicals see him as a leader, and he is VP, so it makes sense to me for the Pences to get vaccinated publicly. Marco Rubio has not such excuse.

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I don’t disagree about Pence. I think his example was important. But not his wife. She jumped the line. As did Rubio. Members of Congress like Pelosi and McConnell, fine - they are older, and more at risk. It’s the young healthy ones that upset me. I don’t think I’ll be in line until August if I’m lucky! Grrrr. And I’m not young, and feel very vulnerable. My husband is a professor, and hopefully he will be able to get it sooner so he can get back in the classroom.

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Ugh! Hypocritical!

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One thought though......if the Dems take the 2 seats in Georgia, he can now blame McConnell etc and further alienate his crazies from the elephants competing with him to control the herd! Loss of control of the Senate will be portrayed as treason by those opposing him.

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Are you thinking there will be a schism and that this will help the Democrats? While I like the idea that Americans who desperately need aide could get bigger stimulus checks, I am wary of “help” from trump, even when it’s a byproduct of his fight with Republican leaders who have finally turned away from his path toward destruction. Maybe that’s looking a gift horse in the mouth when an old horse is better than no horse, and a horse from a thief is no less a horse for being ill-gotten.

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More likely that he'll be able to delay the measure until Jan 6th or there abouts using it as a lever against McConnell. If he wins Georgia, it will be because Trump had promised $2000 and if he loses it'll be because McConnell resisted! Neither want schism, just to be in sole control.

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I admire how you can think so strategically. Your comments are fun to read after I go through the newsletter. I never believe Republicans are as crazy as they act.

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The agenda is always beyond the surface of the waters we are watching. While we fight over the stream, they are over at the river taking what they want. Always.

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The "crazies" you refer to are a bigger problem than Trump. They were happy to be able to use him for four years. Their undemocratic, bigoted, anti-government, business-funded agenda remains. Right now, in their caves, they are deliberating as to whom they should next support.

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The real crazies as you rightly suggest would have liked to control Trump but they couldn't...if you can say that Trump has an agenda it was like that of the crazies. The really crazy ones don't live in caves but inhabit big mansion estates behind guards and security systems...Koch etc! They will indeed look to replace Trump with THIER MAN! That will be the true fight for the "heart" (if one can use such a term) of the Republican Party.

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Agree. McConnell is much more of a threat than 45 going forward. He is just as soulless but with the cunning and stealth to slow poison all democratic institutions. Pure evil genius is an apt description.

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That may be so, however, DJT tends to accuse perceived opponents (those who do not suck up to him) of the very things he himself is doing ... a recent article noted a discrepancy between Oklahoma voters favoring Biden, but not McGrath - why would they vote for Biden, then turn and vote for McConnell?

Is it not true that irregularities attributed to Dems in 2020 are similar to those that showed up with Repos after the fact.in 2016?

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Could it be that the election was indeed rigged - for Trump to win -

And the plot was foiled, somehow ... leaving him to complain about fraud, because he was sooo sure he would win?

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Foiled by the flood of absentee votes perhaps.

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Mmm-hmm, ... I don't want to be alarmist either, so focussing on prayer for health and well-being for all who dare to serve with conscience and integrity and stand up to morbid corruption that permeates the fabric of our world ... what can awaken peoples' hearts to honor life, truth and love, to respect each other - the whole living universe - to put down the guns and pick up ploughshares ... to live in peace ...?

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I think you meant Kentucky voters, not Oklahoma voters?

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... ah yes, thank you Marcy ...!!

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Well, I would guess that Oklahoma votes for McGrath wouldn't be counted in Kentucky...

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🧐😁🧐

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Someone posted a link to an article yesterday questioning Mitch’s vote totals. What do you think?

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Yes! This one. My question is: What authority could/would investigate, and if the Kentucky election(s) were proven to be rigged, what can be done about it?

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That's my question, too, Bob. I'm guessing a Senator or Congressman could open an investigation or demand a recount just like 45 had done.

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After I read the DC Repot article (and I wondered about its reliability, too, though the reporter’s writing seemed above average and thorough, and found an article by media bias fact check—its finding was that DCReport has a left-center bias and a high reliability rating)), I imagined that if McConnell (and Lindsay Graham and others) read their voting machines somehow so that they would win than the penalty, in addition to losing their positions, should be a kin to those of athletes who have been found to be using performance-enhancing drugs and lose all awards won during their compromised careers. The Supremes he forced through would be removed, Merrick Garland would be nominated again, all McConnell tax cuts and regulation-rollbacks would be reversed. What say you?

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Is DCReports a credible news source?

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Its founder and editor is David Cay Johnston, who has many credits to his name.

With the publication of this piece on the Kentucky election, I am going to pay more attention to DCReports.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Cay_Johnston

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Thanks for this link. I’ve seen him many times on TV, often on “The Beat” with Ari Melber. He is very knowledgeable and has a ton of credibility.

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Thank you!

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I consider David Cay Johnson and DC Reports a credible source.

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Thanks!

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Yep, that's the one ... rotting fish smells really bad!!

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“...a system in the DOJ that insures that pardons are doled out for reasons of grace and mercy...”

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-hijacks-pardon-process-creates-system-for-personal-favors-special-access-98310213598

Grace and Mercy, where have you been? We can only imagine that these attributes have existed during trump’s reign.

I spent Inauguration Day in January 2017 on Boston Common with millions of others world-wide taking part in the “Women’s March” (though not only for women). It was a memorable and moving day, the experience has helped me to survive these past 4 years. Who could have predicted that our precious United States democracy would be pushed to the brink? Who knew that the silver lining of these 4 years would be that so many of us have been motivated to educate (or remind) ourselves about civics and the workings of government?

As we hold with our fingernails on the cliff edge, dangling over the precipice of fascism, I thank goodness for the supports from so many... including Heather and our Founders. The Constitution is our safety net and Democracy is our guiding light.

🇺🇸Oh say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

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I knew. I lost friends over the election because I accused trump of being a fascist wannabe. My friends said the Obama was a fascist. We no longer speak because we live in different realities. Studying fascism since I was a young girl, the tactics DJT used, his personality and narcissism and hunger for power and attention were all clear signs we were really in much more trouble than just Mitch and his cronies.

It has been excruciating to try to stop this for five long years. I am exhausted. However, if I can get over the fact that justice may never be served to these traitors/seditionists, I take heart that it has awakened America and the world to how our Great Experiment can be attacked by our own people (supported by hostile foreign entities). And our foundation, our shadows and our history that many Americans do not really understand need to come into the light. We are a very adolescent country. This is our moment to stand up, grow up and make very mature and informed decisions in order to save this democracy and right a lot of wrongs and block all loopholes for malice against a functional democracy.

I do not think I am wrong in asking Americans to have some humility. What we find atrocious in others' history, say, Germany 1930's-40's, our own ancestors committed similar holocausts on our Native People and on people from Africa who were dragged here to work for (white) colonials. This may be a very bitter pill. But it is our reality. We may need to sober up and re-vision "Proud Patriot." I don't feel proud of our history of wealth built on the oppression and deaths of others. This coup on our country has brought out our darkest secrets-- massive sexual assault on women and the privileged white man's wish to keep them subservient in their misogyny, crimes against Native Americans and African Americans and vast racism against the "other." Selective education and history being written via the victor's lens. In effect, anywhere that the old patriarchy has had a knee on our necks-- education, gerrymandering, electoral college, lobbying, and on and on. Big money and corporations controlling our environments and taking capitalism to the furthest extremes on the pendulum have knocked our system totally out of balance. Truth and Facts have been destroyed by politicians and civilians with metaphorical and literal AK47's, rendering our democracy barely breathing. You cannot have a democracy where Trust, Truth and Justice is shot off at the knee and the privileged keep theirs knees on our necks. This is history being repeated again and again.

But we are a vast collection of people, mostly with good hearts, from all over the world. This is our moment. Let that sink in. This is our moment.

It is critical for us to establish a Truth Commission. And it is critical that we bring this Great Experiment, that certain forces are trying their damnedest to destroy, into this century, despite homegrown terrorists and brainwashed citizens. Some of them are waking up.

And though I really struggle within myself to forgive them for their blind devotion to all this terror and seeming crimes against us, that they have supported, I will rise to this occasion for the sake of moving us forward. Justice should be served, but the Reformation of our systems and control of the pandemic are primary.

We each need to find what areas we are most interested in helping to reform and focus.

For me it is the Truth Commission as a major protective mechanism. I have a lot to learn about that and am hoping greater minds here have more knowledge and we can lead this charge and take it beyond our forum here.

I do believe that Justice being served is important. Those who have participated in this coup need to step out of public service and lose all benefits therein. And I may be very disappointed, as I have been for the past four years with all these teflon criminals.

Sorry for the long rant.

May everyone find some peace, warmth, a full belly and a little light through our collective grief this Christmas. May 2021 allow us to use our knowledge and energies to take All of Us in our country forward rippling out into the greater world. Guess I still haven't lost my idealism...

There is something about the US in USA that I feel we need to cherish right now. It is going to take exactly the US in the USA to move us into the future.

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To be honest, I relish hearing from HCR but also from everyone here. To KNOW that there are good, decent, intelligent people who truly care about our country AND those of us who live here - and believe in the same things I do. Its uplifting to hear after all those twits who believe in trumpism. (there are many other "terms" I could use but twits works)

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That has been the greatest gift. First HCR brings context and scaffolding to the daily news. Then she offers history classes to all of us with a newfound desire to explore what we missed, and then she offers a community of like minded folk who aren’t alone out here anymore.

The definition of hopefulness. And HCR is right, there are enough of us out here to retake the moral ground of clarity and values and trueness. We will continue to grow in numbers out there because each of us can spread this in our own communities.

I think of the shock that I had that the religious faith of really good people could poison their view of Biden. With the clarity of fact learned here I could take a better tone, but not ignore the opportunity, to plant a seed that could grow.

As the news media has left the burning building to ruin itself, we are seeing a major reframing of the daily conversations.

And the monsters in the mirror may look larger than they are.

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Amen

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That's the best rant I've heard in a long time, Penelope. May you and we never lose our idealism and our belief that we, individually, can overcome our despair and horror—Tя☭mp just pardoned murderers!—and, as a people, as US, unite to find and share the light starting in 28 days.

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It is so heartening to be with people who really want to make change and are respectfully struggling to understand and think on difficult things how that change might happen and how history can be repeated or work on Democracy Reformation. Of course, we have needed this time to go inside, which the pandemic, in it's own sordid and twisted way has also offered some of us an opportunity to quietly go within, to connect and grow. (Mine is not ALWAYS very quiet within!). This forum of intriguing people has been the most consistent, connected-wise, educational and stimulating I have found. Many thanks to all of us, it is sometimes a real test to be level-headed in this era.

Youtube suspended me last week. I guess I said too much about sedition because I try never to be inflammatory, except where it is earned. They never said what exactly I commented on that resulted in the block. Whilst I felt the injustice of having my freedom of speech curtailed, despite the one and only appeal aloud, I also felt that I was wasting a LOT of time "wrestling with pigs" who wanted to drink tears of anti-trumpians. It was a waste of my time and constant insults to my intelligence for the past five years. It impacted me physically sometimes. As soon as I felt that discomfort, I knew I stayed at the party too long. So, I am now celebrating that I am free! I can still see YT things, just not subscribe or comment.

This regime has forced many of us to be like addicts to the constant news trauma and responses to it, just to stay informed and act whenever possible.

Now I get my fix here. I feel a lot healthier and more productive with my time.

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Looks like you got a badge of honor from youTube! I was kicked off of Twitter permanently for things I said about Fake 45. I miss it but they carried a fool’s Twitter account, allowing him to say incendiary things without standing up to him. They too are complicit.

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All of Social Media is complicit, and their business models of bringing you back by raising your blood pressure are why things are as they are. You can track the worst of all this directly with the rise of FB. You're lucky to be gone from Twitter, the most obviously-shitty of the "platforms."

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Honestly, I think FB is much worse seeing how they allowed neo-Nazis and other white supremacists to engage in online personal attacks against people.

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Boy, I must be naive. I have seen lots of YouTube videos that were not complimentary to 45. What immediately comes to mind is Randy Rainbow!

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I love RR! What a talented, pandemic prince, I mean princess!

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Oops, just re-read you said Twitter, Marlene. But I have read lots of negative things on Twitter as well.

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Love the badge of honor!! Yes, I am sure it was a regime supporter that knocked me off. And when I looked into taking my freedoms of speech further-- it is owned by a bigger compan that I do not want to state as they my knock me off other forums and mail accounts. I decided it was a good time to reign in my angst anyway since we are almost at the end of the trump era. My suspension, without my day in court, for trying help people understand sedition, fascism, and social democracy is indicative to me that YT is not neutral. It has been a taste of what an oppressive regime feels like. It is very sobering.

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Thank you Penelope, for writing such heartfelt posts. I can definitely relate to your writings as I too struggle with what you so articulately put into context.

No more “wrestling with pigs” for me.. It never works, and we just get dragged down in the mud.

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Blessings to you, Penelope! See you in two weeks?

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I totally agree!

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Thank you for your idealism! It brought me to tears. I believe and feel everything you so brilliantly stated. If I may use a line or two? I will join you in your boat, help lift the sails so we can move with speed to an in lighted future.

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Absolutely, Bonnie. Use whatever you desire. We need lots of people on this ship, and we need to spread it beyond Heather's flock. ("Herd" is also tainted for me like "rally" so for now I use flock).

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This is such a powerful and truth-based “rant” — thank you for writing out your thoughts. I really think you are naming the big forces we need to honor in order to continue our growth toward the better in this country. I really appreciate your focus here.

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And I appreciate your response!

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PS. Let’s not forget how we treated the Americans of Japanese decent.

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Quite depressing to think of how many people whose only "sin" was not to be white and how many of those suffered because of it. Well, before long, white will be in the minority - how in the world will these bigots dominate then?

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We do have sins and stains that we need to admit. Then we can do something about it. It would be nice to learn our true history in school instead of the whitewashed pablum we’re fed. From there discussions can take place, appropriate to age of course. That would be a start. Hopefully, when Whites are the minority, they will discover that dominating the “others” isn’t necessary. There are so many different “hate” organizations in the US. We really have a lot of work to do!

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Dear Evelyn, I attempted to cover all oppressed people, I hope by including who the patriarchy see as "the other" in addition to Native Americans and Africans. Japanese, Latinos, so many non-whites should be included, you are so right. Did any of our history books talk about how Japanese Americans rounded in many states and put into internment camps? I lived in northern CA for a period. As I was exploring far out into the northern part of CA, I found a small village with a Japanese temple that made me so curious. Then I learned about the Tule Lake Segregation Camp from 1943- 1944. Then I learned about all the camps where our Japanese citizens were taken to around multiple states on the west coast.

Yes, it is a strange experience to love your country but be not proud of significant periods and actions. Pounding one's patriotic chest with pride should be tempered by our shadows. I am not sure if I have been tempered because in my "mutt hood," I am, genetically, a Daughter of the American Revolution as well as the granddaughter of Cherokee great, great great grandparents. Incredibly humbling what my white ancestors did to my Native ancestors. And here I am, standing here, looking through these green eyes at this world that has been given to us, trying so hard to see and understand, with my fellow country men and women and other, and figure out the right things to do. It is really quite awesome where we are at this very moment in time. We actually have more power than all our ancestors because we have these little keyboards and we tap out little symbols to one another (even around the world in a few minutes!!) that can connect ideas and dreams. I think, when we move the noisy, alternative reality over to the corner, we can ratchet forward more rapidly than all our ancestors have before us. Isn't that a great thought for us?

I am taking a break. No more tapping on this keyboard for awhile.

Peace to you, deep into your hearts and souls.

Sorry, evelyn, you just got me going again!!

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I truly cannot imagine being there where that inhumane treatment was carried out - have seen movies & tv programs about it but actually being near there & feeling as you felt? Cant imagine - you deserve a break from the keyboard! This country owes so much to the people it destroyed in one way or another. But WE here do comprehend what happened AND will all do our best to try to prevent it from happening again. Youre right - we DO have more power - I just hope we are able to DO something with it. Have a good rest & much peace.

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Dear Penelope, I loved what you said and how you said it. I was just adding that PS. I’m an American of Mexican heritage. My maternal grandmother was from Monterrey, Mexico. I don’t know if she came across to TX to have my mother legally or not. Both of my parents had stories of how they were treated by White people that made me sad. I also love my country but I know we have not always done what’s right. I think that there is a fear that White will become the minority, and maybe the fear is that all us “others” will mistreat them. How will they feel after they discover that we’re wonderful people after all?!! Keep on “going” (after you rest).

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While I do understand your sentiment about the necessity for objective truth in our daily lives and in our government, from top to bottom, I cannot imagine anything worse than creating a governmental commission dedicated to holding people accountable to the truth.

You might want to have another read of Orwell's prescient, frightening book, 1984. In it, the ironically named "Ministry of Truth" had as its primary purpose the exact opposite of ensuring truth -- they took care of the details needed to falsify the official records of historical events in order to support the government's current aims.

Propaganda, historic revisionism, and outright lies are the purview of authoritarians and autocrats, and handing them an official instrument for fabrication and manipulation is not something I'd willingly vote for. Unless there is a foolproof way to create safeguards against political bias or factionalism, I'm not willing to walk through an open door into dystopian unreality.

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I agree with you wholeheartedly. That is why it would need to be created very, very carefully. Stuart's resources intimate the positives and the failures of such Commissions. But, the Native Americans had Councils that use very specific guidelines when an issue comes up that impacts the entire tribe. And as we have seen with the Republicans, tribes can be bought, threatened and silenced into being complicit. Their powers would have to be as non-partisan council. I was trained in The Way of Council via professors at The School for International Training (formerly the Experiment for International Living). There are ways, but of course, the people who participate have to be dedicated to Truth, Justice, Democracy, etc.. Appears we manifested Orwells' dystopian world, anyway. Perhaps if we had had a Truth Commission we may have had people unafraid to speak the truth...people not owned by party or of news magnates, or beholden to hostile foreign entities. And we do need a Council to vet potential candidates who run to make sure they are competent, logical, rational, reasonable, diplomatic, educated, able to be solvent, have studied civics, and can pass the same scrutiny other governmental employees have to pass in order to get security clearances. Same with all governmental employees. That would root out all these lackeys and billionaires who pay to play.

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I think that the Native American system and philosophy of justice is an excellent starting point.

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Penelope, we need a failsafe plan for that commission. Perhaps making each candidate take a “truth serum” would alleviate or doubts

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Normal employers have job descriptions for their employees. If you cannot fulfill your job responsibilities and are not competent, which is pretty much a simple checklist, you are asked to fine work elsewhere.

The Truth Commission (or whatever it is called) could have the overseeing of those responsibilities for The People. That is what has felt horrific. The People have had their hands tied behind their backs while brainwashing and lying and corruption were blatantly paraded in front of us for five years. (oh, man, I was supposed to take a vacation from this this afternoon, and here I go again!). When Congress fails to do their jobs, then the Commission or Council steps in with a Standards type of warning for people to do their jobs or pay the consequence of losing public service. Hopefully we would never need it, but I would not bet on it. As a taxpayer/employer of elected officials, I want more checks and balances on who is allowed to govern. No lifetime positions. People change, or derange, or can be corrupted as we have seen.

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I so want that also! Accountability and honesty sure has gone by the wayside. Deterioration is what we are seeing.

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Thank you for your writing. Don’t apologize! You nailed it. I agree about the Truth Commission. Even if those at the top never face justice, because they are pardoned or because we are trying to reconcile, we badly need to know, if only so we can institute reform that might stop the next ones to try this.

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Excellent rant - and totally, completely right on point, on all points.

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Penelope, thank you for saying so well what I also believe.

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So articulately and perfectly stated!

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Thank you!

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Peace be with you! Your words spoke truth to my tired soul. Twenty. Seven. Days.

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There are a lot of tired souls in the world. Rest up. I am bout to take a two-week break and go inside. I will be paying attention a wee bit each day, but limiting my exposure to rejuvenate my being after these 5 years of what has felt like torture.

Peace to you through these Last Days of of this discombobulating era. I try to imagine we have been in a very painful birth canal of a new nation, and we will be stronger in our broken places. Just look at the diversity of the people being brought into our government with this new administration. We never would have done this with Hillary. We have to thank (holding our collective noses) DJT and his criminal cabal for forcing all of this to our consciousnesses and awakening us.

Weird vision, hunh? Trump is like all the worst parts of humanity's psyche rolled into one utterly empty, unhappy shell. If he did not nauseate me so much and allow so many people to die, and put children in cages like Hitler, I might feel one little iota of sorrow for him. I am not that evolved yet.

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Could you imagine if Hillary had done one-tenth of this?

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I too went to the Women’s March on Washington with my daughter. And through the following 4 years of watching all the lies, the breakdown of democracy, the inhumane treatment of the disenfranchised, while cow towing to the privileged, I was sure that on my 53rd birthday, Americans vowed to fix this mess. There was also a turnover in the House, an impeachment trial, and a clear demonstration that a Republican government will never get America through this pandemic with leadership.

January 20 will not mark the end of the pandemic, systematic racism and discrimination, or climate crisis, but it’s a start. And for you folks who want to complain, DO SOMETHING! Don’t be a critic without jumping in to find a solution.

Voting Rights

Inclusion

Climate Solutions

Immigrant Rights

And so much more. There are plenty of organizations that need our help.

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I think many of us are trying to do that. Each of us needs to focus on which issue/issues that light our fires and find how to put our energy there. Thanks for the ideas!

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I am sure everyone who subscribes to Letters From An American has decided to make themselves more aware about “how the sausage is made” in government. 10 years ago, some crazy nutcases were talking about “Death Panels,” and I still didn’t get it that the continued bombardment of “Boogie Man” lies would stick with Americans. Well no more. Awareness is the first step, and it’s what I appreciate about this group the most.

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I, too, was out marching on January 21st, 2017, with about a million of my nearest, dearest countrymen and women at the Women's March in Washington, DC. That whole day was enough to motivate me for the struggles we have faced as a nation in these past 4 years. I agree with you completely about the support and the goodness of those who share our journey. Once we stop believing in those things, we are doomed.

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I took my daughters to DC also which turned out to be very memorable for them and for me.

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Today was a big history lesson regarding presidential pardons. The Constitution will have to include language not permitting a rogue leader to pardon his/her corrupt friends or family members. Can’t wait for Congress to get on that!

Also, watching the worst of the worst Repubs get their shots, you know, for the virus that they said didn’t exist, was totally nauseating. They were so eager to roll up their sleeves but what about frontline workers who are exposed to this day in and day out? It’s a travesty!

So who is going to follow Fake 45 now that he wants to give everyone a $2000 check in lieu of $300 or $600? Pelosi snd Schumer jumped right on that and said “Yeah, let’s give everybody $2000”! What if it happens? Will Fake 45 redeem himself with the Dems?

Lastly, Alex Padilla was chosen to replace Kamala Harris’ senate seat in CA by Gov Newsom. Most women here wanted another woman of color but Padilla has a history of having parents who came from Mexico, met in the US, married, and both worked hard at menial jobs to raise their children. Padilla ended up at M.I.T. but ended up in public service because he couldn’t stand injustice towards his people. He will make a wonderful senator and add yet more to our already rainbow party.

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Sounds like Alex Padilla will be a great Senator, We are both alumni of M.I.T. Saw that he was wearing his Brass Rat (the affectionate name for the M.I.T. class ring - the gold ring has a beaver, the engineer of the animal world on it - hence the moniker Brass Rat).

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Thanks, Cathy and Marlene for endorsing Alex Padilla. From what I read about him, I, too think he will serve California and the nation well.

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I find myself annoyed with the fact that he is the *first* Latino to hold that office, ever. That it has taken this long for a state with a substantial citizen and immigrant population with origins and deep connections to Latin America is just bizarro to me. I say this partially as someone born in California who loves my Motherstate, and as someone interested in fairness and representation. I mean, I’m glad that barrier has been crossed but still aggravated it took this long.

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Yes, I certainly agree with you. Has taken way too long and shows what CA is all about too... denial. Newsom, through all of his many missteps, he at least, has recognized women and men of color.

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Whither goest the mob? The MAGA Mob. The Red Hats. That is the question on the minds of Trump's former congressional loyalists, especially a couple of Georgia senators. It probably should be a concern to all of us as well. You can buy a lot of loyalty with 2 grand of free money. But even without the cash, Trump's army of devotion has never distinguished itself with critical thinking, as with their idol. Trump's individual irrationality could easily become their collective irrationality.

We have twenty-eight days of Trump as a cornered animal. In his mind, even his pal Putin has abandoned him. Whatever happens, the Republican Party bears more responsibility than Trump; he never knew any better. They did.

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"...he never knew any better. They did." True and well put.

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If the Cheeto had demanded that Congress pass a bill in July with that $2000 payment and forced Murderous Mitch to get it though the Senate, he would have won. Now, it is far too late--and he is just having a toddler tantrum moment.

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Perhaps, yet it’s horrifying to think that the a decisive percentage of the electorate would overlook years of relentless corruption and malfeasance for a $1400 increase.

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He's trying frantically to buy votes in Georgia with money that isn't his ... and that Republicans would never vote to approve. He opted out of the negotiations for this package so now he should shut up and get back on the golf course.

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You mean the golf club at Sing Sing?

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Thank you Heather. I watched Heather's chat yesterday and was glad you are not worried about difficulties on Jan 6th. 45's constant aberrations, which have not been dealt with as they would have been in previous administrations, have kept me in a state of anxiety. I so look forward next year to being able to wake up and not ask myself "what has the president done now"!

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FWIW, a Vanity Fair interview with Michael Cohen I read yesterday said, in essence, NY authorities are locked and loaded for Trump. He demurred when asked if he was working with them, or at least the specifics. I hope they have supoena cannons pointed at the WH January 20, frankly.

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Well, now, Marcy, that's a visual we can all live with!

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😙

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We can certainly hope the SDNY is ready to go on the afternoon of January 20th. And, as disgusting as it is that trump is opening the trap door and letting the rats out, I suspect it won’t be long when most of them will be involved in new illegal activities that can be prosecuted. They are an unsavory group for sure and not too bright. I’m wondering if they could be placed on a “terrorist” no fly list!

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So my understanding is that SDNY is federal and prosecutes federal crimes. It is part of DOJ. That’s why US attorneys like Preet Bharara and Geoffrey Bergman (both at SDNY) can be fired by the president or the AG. Now Letitia James (NY state AG) and Cyrus Vance(NY county, aka Manhattan) District Attorney will indeed have teeth. So we may expect more shenanigans with the SDNY but the back up players in NY are still ready and willing.

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Agree. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny The SDNY has far reaching jurisdiction so between them and state level players across the country, I'm looking forward to any time these rodents pop up above the dirt line, they are indicted, prosecuted, found guilty, and jailed (housed in whatever state penal system necessary). State penitentiaries are not "Club Fed".

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Oh, I just had such a pleasant visual of Trump in court as defendant and charges being read...then, the judge not allowing bail as Trump would be considered a flight risk. Be still my heart.

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It was a great chat!

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This tip will get me to the recording today. Im glad y’all mentioned it.

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They are all excellent. I listen, and re-listen, because there is so much to learn. What a gift, these are.

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C F Major, I plan to listen to it again. I kind of think of it as a pep talk ☺️

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Exactly!

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I love the ones that bring the zeal.

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These pardons are unconscionable - all of them, but especially the convicted Blackwater murderers. And one of the pardons went to someone who defrauded Medicare of more than $1 billion, was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. That’s just insane! Trump’s pardoning someone for stealing from the government that he supposedly runs! If someone stole millions from one of his businesses, would he let him walk free? Of course not! Trump is intent on leaving nothing but scorched earth behind him. He’s despicable.

I have been wondering in the last couple of weeks, as the horror of this defiant, insane Trump continues to unfold, if any of the people who voted for him in November are feeling regretful or guilty about their vote. Not the crazy, flag-waving rally attendees (they’re still in the cult), but the seemingly intelligent conservatives, who set aside their conscience and morality when casting their votes, because their priority was to protect their personal assets. What might they be thinking now, 6 weeks into this post-election and pardon insanity? If there isn’t a substantial number now feeling some regret for their votes, we have some very dark times ahead of us. Of course, if that group hadn’t seen enough before November 3rd to know that Trump was a despicable, amoral criminal, who did not deserve their votes, perhaps they will never budge from their blind, selfish position.

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Mary Anne, I would be interested in a 60 Minutes interview of a panel of those hypothetical conservatives who are finally seeing the light —and regretting their contributions to the darkness of the last four years. My own selfish, personal bitterness is the loss of a long-time, funny friend who voted for him both times and defended that, believed the lies Fox News told, and refuses to talk to me about any of what has happened post-election. I wish that friend would feel regret so I can begin to respect him again. 😕

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I know the feeling and it is such a strange phenomenon! How can otherwise intelligent people buy these lies and not see what is clearly happening? It’s like they keep insisting the sky is green even as they are looking right at it. It’s painful and mentally and emotionally destabilizing.

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I feel that way, too, Pamsy.

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Jeanne, my son has a couple friends who believed the crap - refused to talk about it before the election - one doesnt even speak to him now. Guys who grew up with him & have been friends since childhood. Everyone has stories like that now.

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I have heard that. Even married couples. It’s very sad. Sometimes, if I think of my friend as somehow having a compromised brain, I think I can still spend tome with him, but it’s changed now.

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Back in the fall of 2016, an intelligent, well-educated woman with whom I spent considerable time, and who I trusted, decided that HRC was the Devil, incarnate, and determined that she "stole" the nomination from Sanders, so was undeserving of a vote, even though she hated the thought of voting for DJT. I couldn't convince her, and we've lived for more than four years now with the direct result of her obstinate, unreasoning insistence. I cut all ties with her fewer than 100 days into the regime. I don't want to spend any time at all with deliberately dumb, willfully blind people. life's just too short.

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Heck, Trump is embezzling from the government so it only stands to reason he'd pardon a fellow embezzler..

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It’s been such a clear reveal after the election that he always was in it only for himself. Never the country. Never for service to country. I have to believe that his spell over thinking people is clearing. And to me, this 4 years has been about a trance he put on people who were afraid — and he reinforced by literally abusing America every day in his speech and his taunts. Biden possesses the personality to pop those bubbles of fear one by one.

We do however need to keep Biden in a protective bubble because of the lone wolf actors out there. Send up a moment of silence for his safety everyday.

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I agree regarding Biden's and Harris's safety. Ive worried about that since the election. Hope the secret service is also aware of the excess dangers for both of them. On a somewhat lighter side - wonder how the SS will pick the agents that HAVE to watch over numnuts afterwards - draw straws - loser gets the job???

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I am just starting to read “Hiding in Plain Sight” which delves into Fake 45’s longtime relationships with oligarchs in Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. It’s just getting juicy as the intro was about the author and her background which led her to study the Russian history and rule. This led her to Fake 45. Fascinating book!

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I finished reading it a few weeks ago and immediately purchased multiple copies to give as gifts. Really looking forward to the discussions this will lead to.

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Mary Anne, I wonder if they are concerned at all . With Trump, they swung the court to the right and those judges will revise the law irrevocably. Trump has "reformed" the tax code to enhance their incomes and diminish their funding of "welfare" programs. Trump has assisted states in defeating unions, protesters, and electing more down ballot Republicans. If you are interested only in your financial and political power, Trump looks like a blessing. The wealthy, brazen are chuckling. They got everything they wanted. And now Biden will come in an stabilize the country that Trump destabilized. They played a perfect game of chess. I think the damage to us "others" and the damage to the moral values of our country will be long-lived and cruel.

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I hear you. I see it. I also have to believe that we are becoming a people who won’t let this stand. We learned a lot during this year of the great awakening. What Georgia has taught us is Huge. My birth state is changing up real good right now. Couldn’t ask for a better teacher.

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This is the encouraging and hopeful part. I am glad you are witnessing this change in your home state!

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I wish I could believe there are some who voted for tRump in Nov now regret that vote. If they didn't know then what an immoral, unempathic, a&^hole he is, they wouldn't have a sudden change of heart now. Just more of the same now, only crazier.

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My parents (now deceased) were life long republicans. They pulled the lever for Obama twice as they simply could not get their heads around the direction of the Republican Party nor, the first round, at such a lack of judgement of John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin. My mother became much more liberal and progressive as she got older. Being part of the WWII generation, they would have been in total disbelief and so fearful by what happened to our country the past 4 years. Trump’s narcissistic personality, lack of character, abysmal “business” experience, was an open book for decades, and on full display for the rest of the country during the primaries. Those who could not see the evil in trump then, voted for him, and continued to support and defend his brand of “presidency”/dictatorship are not going to change their stripes now.

Just like it was (and still is) difficult to understand how ordinary Germans could embrace the rise of Hitler and the Nazi regime, we have now experienced the same type of group behavior. There is a lot of psychological study behind all of this, but fear is one component that allows evil to thrive and all dictators use it to control people.

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My best friend voted for Trump the first time because she and her family always vote Republican. She had changed her mind very sharply after a couple of years.

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A few months ago an attorney that I listened to was telling of something that could be done because he didn’t go through the proper channels to do these pardons. I guess time will tell.

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I believe the pardons could be invalidated if it's proved that Trump was engaged in a conspiracy with the people he pardoned. Or so I've read.

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Good question. It looks like Pat Robertson has about-faced, and he's crazier than Trump.

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If they didn’t see, or care about it before during all of his law-breaking abuse of power, his cozying up to brutal dictators, and his in-your-face financial self-serving and utter disregard for the country and it’s people, then I doubt they will care now. And the “they” includes a shocking number of congressmen. Having said that, I hope you are right.

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Someone commented on the value of this chat group, and I would humbly like to second that comment. HCR’s letter provides the scaffold and the group provides little, and sometimes large, finishing touches with wisdom and grace. Both the letter and the comment section give me needed doses of hope in the future.

Last evening Kathryn and I did see the Nativity Star much more clearly than the night before. I used field glasses which may have been a mistake, because I realized I could not hold them still. I am in awe that I can look at the sky and see a phenomenon that occurs every 800 years or so, and is so elegantly explained by the scientists. A little faith in humankind to go with hope.

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Absolutely agree. This community has been a lifeline, support group, and information source. So happy to be a part of it.

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Agree on all accounts, Bill, re Dr. R's Letters and our chat group. Woe is me on the Nativity Star as we here in Northern Virginia have had 3 evenings of cloudy weather December 20, 21, and 22. Hoping tonight will let us see the aftermath of the two planets. Lord knows, I don't have it in me to wait another 800 years!!

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Lovely comment, Bill. And I also value this group.

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I totally agree. I have learned so much from all of you. I had no idea how hopeful this conversation would be. Thank you.

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I am with you on this.

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Firstly, I would like to thank HCR for creating this community with her amazing daily essays and every single person who is on this conversation feed. You have kept me sane, made me think hard about stuff I sometimes try to avoid, and have become the group to whom I go to take my "temperature" so that I don't go too far off the deep end when I am having a "shout at the radio" moment. I hope everyone has a safe, joyful, and calm holiday.

Secondly, I admit that my "shout at the radio" moment this morning was in response to the Cheeto's tantrum (it is an insult to toddlers everywhere to compare him to one, even though I did so in a reply to one of you) but it was a "laugh-shake head-go make coffee" moment. Because if Flynn, Giuliani, and Powell are telling him that Twitter videos will be the best way to communicate and that reading out the pittances we provide to aid foreign governments that depend on us (although not crazy about supporting the dictatorship in Egypt) will educate the American people, they are also deluded and it merely has the result of demonstrating just how ignorant he is.

Trump would have won the election if he had supported the Dems stimulus package way back in June or July--especially if he had demanded more money in the single-time payments. But he was too "busy" playing golf and going to rallies. So perhaps we should be thankful that his own obsessions with self-adulation and lying about his handicap meant that Murdering Mitch and his Malevolent Minions were in charge, because their absolute contempt for everyday Americans became obvious enough to tip the scales for Biden and Harris.

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That trump would offer the possibility of increasing payments to $2000 not only is a slap at mcconnell but also an attempt to rally people who believe in fairy tales to back him in overturning the election. mcconnell has always been the bigger threat in the long run and for a longer time. He has controlled what gets to the floor for a vote for almost 12 years now. Sadly since it appears that KY is determined to vote against not only their own best interests but those of all of us we need to work to flip the Senate blue so our country can get back to some semblance of normal.

If trump was not president he would have been committed long ago for mental evaluation and treatment. The delusional behavior alone would have been enough to earn him that trip.

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And if he was someone’s grandfather they would have taken away his car keys already.

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If he ever drove himself...

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As a conservative commentator at the Bulwark pointed out - Trump made no direct threat of a veto. He's not trying to get people more money, he's setting up being able to *tell* peop[e he wanted to get them more money, but "the establishment" wouldn't let him do it.

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I think you might be reading too much strategy into this. I think the fact that he's "giving the people more relief," is simply a side effect of him wanting to relieve himself on Mitch McConnell, out of pure vindictiveness.

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Your dispassionate analysis of our President's horrendous actions is even more persuasive and powerful than spouting invective against his cancer on our democracy.

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I keep hoping that I can learn to speak calmly and dispassionately like that. I think I could be more persuasive that way, too.

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Jeanne you are a far better woman than I. I am all about the invective.

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But Linda, remember what George Bernard Shaw said “Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.”

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New motto--Never wrestle with pigs! Thanks for the laugh!! I wish I had heard that five years ago.

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Ohh, that nailed it and gave me a laugh. I just walk away from the pig pen anymore because I go into a full-on spit spewing rant if I don’t. I wish I could be calm and rational when “discussing” these matters.

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Haha! I appreciate your honesty! Believe me, I have a long way to go to be an example of calmness in response to Republicans. Your note here made me laugh out loud!

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Speaking of Republicans. My favorite laugh came from a 12 year old friend of my daughter back during Reagan.

ME: Hannah, have you any ideas about what you want to be when you are older?

H: Rich enough to be a Republican.

And of course she instead held true to her own values and lives and loves raising dogs and kids on a little plot of land north of the city. But she knew it early on.

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Whew! Smart kid! Glad she kept her values!

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I've had to learn to take a deep breath & think of a calm way to ask "where the f did you get that idea?" I have friends I'm not ready to give up on & a son & dil who are living with me.

Trouble is, it usually sounds better in my head than what comes out of my mouth!

I've also taken to heart HCR's comment about not giving head space to djt & the other crazies. Trying to avoid click bait too so that media will focus on something else.

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True. True. True. We can learn from this.

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Toddler temper tantrum on full display, threatening to veto the bill, pardoning convicted mercenary murderers, expediting executions, continuing to lie and cover up for the Russians, ignoring the massive cyber hack - the list of insanity seems endless and will only grow in the 28 days remaining of 45's reign over our country. It has turned out to be so much worse than anyone ever expected when he took office, with a pandemic that has ravaged our country because 45 was too ignorant to believe science and too delusional to take action to mitigate the disaster of insufficient PPE and instead propagate misinformation from day 1.

I can only hope that the country will never again sink to the depths of these past 4 years, starting with closing all the loopholes that have enabled 45 to basically do as he wished, unchecked through all branches of the government. The DOJ must never again become the tool of a single mentally ill would-be dictator.

So grateful for Heather's daily dissection and summaries. Thank you, Heather, for helping us cling to our sanity. Rest well and stay healthy! 💜

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Justjaniceo, your letter so succinctly describes the wretchedness of Trump’s presidency and the destruction it caused —and is still causing. You write very well!

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I have now got the countdown clock until noon on January 21, 2020 running on my desktop. Here is the link: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/to?p0=263&iso=20210120T12&msg=Time%20left%20until%20Trump%20leaves%20office

Right now it says 28 days 9 hours 15 minutes 56 seconds. Enjoy!

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Love that! I appoint you as our time keeper so we can all rejoice together.

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I accept! The champagne is already being chilled.

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You mean January 20, 2021, right?

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Yes, typo.

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Cathy, you’re an MIT-educated engineer—I say let’s make it January 20, 2020 and cancel this last year of Trump’s term. Can you take care of that for us? Please? 🥰

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Love it! What we need is a TARDIS . . .

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We got a female doctor before a female president in the USA.

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If I could just find a handy black hole to dump it in....

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That's what I thought she had in mind...!

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Would anyone kindly share how one puts it on their screen desktop?

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I just have a browser open to that page and then reduced the window size as much as I could. I don't see a desktop download for it. 28 days, 0 hours, 16 minutes, 36 seconds

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Thanks, Cathy. I noticed the "instructions" were for websites. So I just have it open, too.

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Just put it on my screen! Thanks!

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Twenty eight days. Four weeks. Give me strength.

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Pardon me. I meant "Give us strength."

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"Pardon me" is a loaded phrase these days.......

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Get'em while they're hot!

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Throughout my lifetime (almost 70 yrs) there have been MANY people who truly deserved a Pardon. And they were not granted one for many reasons, but mostly because of 'politics.' In 45's reign the pardon has gone waaay beyond politics into biblical proportions.

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28 days is one moon. That feels extra close and sacred now.

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I don't understand the "time has run out" comment vis a vis a veto override. One can get anywhere in the US within 8 hours or so and I'm confident the 534 members who are in DC can afford the airfare. Mr. Gaetz can ask Ms. Gabbard to cast his vote again. Congress has to understand and accept the idea that they work for us, not the other way around and we then have to hold them to that. I missed a lot of family time at the holidays due to work requirements, no reason why they can't be late for Christmas Eve dinner.

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Read many of your comments this morning, and one thought keeps coming to mind. Did any of us really think Trump would suddenly become rational at this stage of the game? Did any of us really expect him not to pardon his "loyal" criminals? He has 28 days left to wreak havoc, and he will absolutely do so. Hang on to your hats, the ride is gathering speed...

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This was one of the most expected thing this year. Yet 74 million people voted for him and are not going away on January 20. If President Biden still believes in unity then it's going to be four more years of continuous car crashes before a republican gains the presidency again.

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When I first heard about Blackwater early in the DT presidency, I expected them to become DTs personal Praetorius Guard or his SS. I can't help but wonder if every pardon has a quid pro quo behind it....

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We started to hear about such nefarious "black", private mercenary operations under puppet-master, VP Cheney.

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Just looked it up. Blackwater was started by Erik Prince and another guy in 1997. In 1998 they bought a dark swamp in North Carolina as 6,000 acre training facility, hence the name Blackwater. https://silentprofessionals.org/blackwater/

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Cathy, I couldn't find what date this article was published. There is a December 22, 2020 update about 45's pardons, however.

Here's a quote from the article below which I thought was interesting:

"Erik Prince currently heads a private equity firm called Frontier Resource Group (FRG) and is chairman of Frontier Services Group Ltd (FSG Ltd), a Bermuda-incorporated logistics and transport company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Frontier Services Group is backed by China’s state-owned CITIC Group and Hong Kong-based investor Chun Shun Ko. FSG Ltd advises and supports Chinese investment in oil and gas exploration operations in Africa. Prince had planned to build a diesel refinery in South Sudan but the operation was suspended, even though $10 million (USD) had already been invested in the project."

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The tangled webs of connections and shell companies are always enlightening.

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I seem to recollect that Prince sold his share in this oil an finance business a number of years ago

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The article mentions he had sold out beforehand.

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It looks like it is a site you go to to hire them or other security/mercenary personnel. So an armed security guard in Afghanistan pays $60,000/year plus medical! Isn't that nice they include medical expenses?

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Thank you for this background research.

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I have read that he is Betsy Devos brother. Is that true or is that fake?

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Horrible person along with his sister, the good ole Betsy DeVos.

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Ooh, very creepy.

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