33 Comments
User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
Barbara Mullen's avatar

I said the same thing yesterday in different words. Can someone tell me exactly what power trump has at this moment to do anything? Much less destroy the Constitution. Silence by some Republicans is most likely complicity from the likes of Greene, Gosar and Gaetz. In others like McConnell silence is waiting for this latest verbal vomiting to blow over.

One thing is for sure big baby narcissist trump's tantrum got everyone's attention. Just like he intended.

Expand full comment
Joan Friedman (MA, from NY)'s avatar

Trump calls explicitly to terminate the Constitution. Within days, 45 thousand people lose electricity following an attack on electrical substations, in the same county where masked Proud Boys gather to disrupt a drag story time. These are the same Proud Boys who followed Trump’s incitement to attack the US Capital. Ok

Expand full comment
Joan Friedman (MA, from NY)'s avatar

To continue: knocking out electricity is the same tactic being used by Putin’s army against the Ukrainians.

Expand full comment
Jon Margolis's avatar

B..b..b..but Hunter Biden’s laptop!

Expand full comment
MaryPat's avatar

The Brown Shirts are bearing his arms.

Expand full comment
Kathy Clark's avatar

I saw this and it is worrisome.

Expand full comment
Annie D Stratton's avatar

Shooting out transformers was a sport among certain rebellious teen-age boys when I was a kid. I put many of the so-called "base" followers of Trump in a similar category. It's an excuse to act out and feel more important than they are. I'm not convinced that this act is somehow associated with Trump's words, Maybe they are, . but it's good to keep in mind that meaningless vandalism is an old American tradition. But, either way, somewhere along the line, whoever did it is going to want to take "credit", and it will leak out.

Expand full comment
Francine Fein's avatar

It’s about the money. It’s always about the money. And perhaps with a little blackmail thrown in for good measure.

Expand full comment
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

Barbara, You answered your question.

Expand full comment
Barbara Mullen's avatar

Whatever Fern.

We could be focusing on asking those Republicans about women's rights, book banning, same sex marriage NATO, Ukraine or fiscal policies. Instead, the pundits are overfocused on this narcissist nutcase's latest temper tantrum.

There is actually hysteria among commenters. For what?

Expand full comment
Mike S's avatar

"For what?"

Good question Barbara. It made me think about how easy it is to point in another direction, around a small child, and say: "Look Butterfly!!!" and have them stop crying or stop doing whatever they were doing.

Your point: Trump yells "Look Butterfly" and suddenly all of the real issues? Nobody is talking about anymore.

We are talking about something the Republicans have been doing for a while now. Ignoring the Constitution or tring to get the Supreme Court to nullify it. Not new.

I Agree. Trump makes it look easy to keep the conversation away from real issues and keep it focussed on, well, him.

Expand full comment
Barbara Mullen's avatar

Thanks Mike. I am taking a good beating on my position. You make a good point. The Republicans could care less about the Constitution. Trump never cared about it. This time he said the bad part out loud because of a temper tantrum.

I've been told to "be very afraid." When a group of frightened citizens come together it can turn into a group-think mob in an instant.

Expand full comment
Annie D Stratton's avatar

Thanks to both Mike and you, Barbara. I am so tired of T pulling our chains and some people all too happy to use it to try to get us all to freakout so they look important raising the alarm. I am glad you and others keep trying to bring the conversation back to adult level.

Expand full comment
Barbara Mullen's avatar

Thanks Annie.

Expand full comment
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

What hysteria among commenters? Would you say there is no reason for concern? Are you looking forward to the Republican majority in the house and endless garbage day after day, not that our government has been a model of discourse?

PS I think we will be pointing out how the use of 'investigations' is a cover for the Republicans not governing and ignoring the needs of the American people, which will be spelled out.

Expand full comment
Suz-an's avatar

so what else is new? the People are getting really, really tired of it all... and that's what's actually changing. NO big red wave! that's a BFD!!

if we all react to the big baby tantrum and run around with our hair on fire... so they get to 'own' us... without them even trying ... well, who's 'winning' there? waste of our own resources on every level.

we need to back off and stop focusing on them. we have much more important productive and constructive work to do to save our country.

Expand full comment
Barbara Mullen's avatar

Excellent comment. Thanks

Expand full comment
MLRGRMI's avatar

For advertising dollars tied to viewer engagement. A simple equation. “News” & “Media” does not equal “informed citizenry”.

Expand full comment
Sharon Foster (CT)'s avatar

Even though he currently holds no office, FPOTUS is the presumptive nominee for 2024 and the leader of the Republican Party. That's why no one in elected office will contradict him; they need to keep his voters on their side.

Expand full comment
Annie D Stratton's avatar

It might be more nuanced than that. T has some pretty serious contenders, and a lot of Republicans distancing themselves from him, especially at state level, which is where the 2024 primaries will decide who the nominee will be. I am pretty sure at this time T is no longer the "presumptive leader" of the Republican Party. His message was for the Trump party, a now-fringe offshoot of the Republicans. The elected Congressional Republicans who aligned with him are now looking much like deer caught in the headlights of something coming toward them and they don't know what direction to move. They lose if they stand by T (see results of 2022 election). They don't know what they risk by speaking against him. Thus, the silence of fear. It will be interesting to see them wiggle out of this (or not).

Expand full comment
Barbara Jo Krieger's avatar

Barbara & Suz-an, Regrettably, if past is prologue, I would maintain, were Trump and his coterie to be successful at distracting enough whites into believing they are the true victims and MAGA were their saviors, I wouldn’t expect many, if any, Republicans to break their silence, shameful as that sounds.

Expand full comment
Barbara Mullen's avatar

I am not worried about it. Can we get about the business of Governing please?

Expand full comment
Barbara Jo Krieger's avatar

Barbara, While I will continue to monitor the hard right, my main focus, as it always has been, will be to support every initiative that distinguishes Dems who are intent on delivering for working families from Republicans who have no policy initiatives except ones arising from greedy and self-serving interests.

Expand full comment
Suz-an's avatar

all of those who are NOT (authentically) intent on delivering for working families also need to be recognized. it's not really R vs. D as much as it is Up vs. Down... and more people seem to know that.

Rs are usually more upfront about it... however, some (Cruz, Hawley, Rubio) are suspiciously now co-opting Ds on claiming to be pro-labor... so that's something to watch.

Expand full comment
Barbara Jo Krieger's avatar

Suz-an, You’re right that we have to keep a watchful eye on Ted Cruz type Republicans masquerading as pro-labor, who, for example, just voted for paid sick leave for railway workers (a vote that had no chance of overcoming a filibuster), while not long ago, voting against a $15 hourly minimum wage, paid family and sick leave, extending the child tax credit, affordable, quality childcare, and the like.

Expand full comment
Barbara Jo Krieger's avatar

Suz-an, I write because I edited a reply (see below) that I needed to rework so that it clearly conveyed how I had intended to respond to your comment.

Expand full comment
Barbara Mullen's avatar

Why do people call the Republicans by the complete spelling and shorten the name Democrats?

Let's use the complete word. Democrats.

Expand full comment
Barbara Jo Krieger's avatar

Barbara, I suppose the term “Dems” both cuts down on typing and also conveys a degree of familiarity. However, if it bothers you, I’ll try to be aware.

Expand full comment
Barbara Mullen's avatar

If it cuts down on typing then people can shorten the word Republican. It doesn't bother me except in the sense of seeing Republicans use the shortened version of Democrats with derision. But it's your choice.

Expand full comment
Barbara Jo Krieger's avatar

Barbara, To clarify, Republicans refer to our Party as the “Democrat” Party, a term neither I nor I imagine anyone here ever would use.

Expand full comment
Craig's avatar

We can coin the term "Rich Fascist Party" but I don't really think it matters, no matter how accurate it is... Repubs won't care.

Expand full comment
Barbara Jo Krieger's avatar

Craig, The previous exchange needed some levity. Thanks.

Expand full comment
Suz-an's avatar

neither am i. most people are just trying to live their lives, raise their kids, pay their bills and have some fun once in a while. Governing!! yes... what a concept. whoever does that... will have their support.

Expand full comment