Thank you Heather. It should be repeated and amplified that the threat of stacking the Federal Government with loyalists is not limited to Trump. It is a comprehensive plan assembled by Heritage called Project2025. It doesn’t matter if it is Trump, Haley, or any other Republican. If implemented, the plan will extinguish representative de…
Thank you Heather. It should be repeated and amplified that the threat of stacking the Federal Government with loyalists is not limited to Trump. It is a comprehensive plan assembled by Heritage called Project2025. It doesn’t matter if it is Trump, Haley, or any other Republican. If implemented, the plan will extinguish representative democracy.
At present it is not about Republicans versus Democrats as a voter choice in the United States. It is democracy versus an authoritarian system.
Presidential Transitional Project. It's got a beautiful website, well presented, well organised, policy, how to contact. If you haven't read it, do so urgently. It's doomsday stuff.
It appears our illegitimate legal system cannot handle protecting us from our illegitimate legal system. It attracts the best and the brightest lawyers to undermine every part of our daily lives. The Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation is like John D Rockefeller and Roy Cohen had a baby called Leonard Leo. What they found in Agent Orange was a malignant narcissist who will carry out their agenda as long as his ego and bank debt is paid. Tupperware is a paid government insurrectionists. As many are. And that fucking Steve Bannon. He looks like he's going to drop dead of alcoholism any day now. Can't come soon enough.
Why is that fucking Steve Bannon not locked up in a cell? Such a malicious criminal and yet he’s free to spread his viral hate throughout the world while good hearted people are locked up for smoking weed. Our justice system definitely needs some work
I've been wondering the same thing since his conviction. WTF what is wrong with our legal system. Any one of us would of been imprisoned immediately have conviction and still not seeing day light.
Excellent question!!! If anyone knows the answer, please enlighten us. He’s been a tremendous curse on democracy and humanity for my entire lifetime. Yet, he’s still free and empowered to execute evil in powerful places. We need to change the framework of our justice system so that the powerful white collar crimes that destroy so many lives are held accountable.
The Roger Stone reference reminded me of the 2000 Bush v Gore fiasco including the infamous "Brooks Brothers" riot that stopped the vote counting. Stone claims he organized that. Which raises the names of John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Barrett who provided legal work about the election. And there was also Justice Thomas who was appointed by GHW Bush in 1991 and voted to make W. president by stopping the voting. The Court voted to overturn the decision of the Florida Supreme Court. Do you ever think what the world would be like with Gore instead of W?
Sad to say, Christy, but the Mango Mussolini pardoned him, and that's the answer to your question. He is still embroiled in other legal entanglements but I don't believe those have gone to trial yet.
His lawyers were in appellate court just last month. I can’t find where a decision was made so I’m guessing it’s still pending. But he’ll just appeal to the next level. At least tffg’s appeals aren’t taking this long!!
OMG, Lisa!! Looks like we have gone down the same Rabbit Hole! I love your comment and plan on stealing (um, borrowing) some of your images - notably Agent Orange and (Tommy) Tupperware. It won’t be for publication, but I will, of course, give you kudos for your creativity.
For several days now and merely as a thought-project, I have been trying to put together a description of the Ding-a-Ling Brothers and Trumpy and Bumpy Three-Ring Circus. The rings are JEL - Justice, Elections, and Legislation. I am, of course, describing what “acts” I see in each of the Rings as well as various sideshows. I am also describing the audience reactions, which are showing about 45% cheering on the Ringleader - now named Agent Orange - and 45% booing Agent Orange with 10% sitting on their hands while eating peanuts, popcorn, cracker jacks, and cotton candy - no easy feat to do that “handless,” but, I am seeing what is going on in the audience.
You're adorable. I won't dignify them by calling them their given names. They are all grifting, whoring criminals that get away with murder. The problem with a malignant narcissist is they have something called narcissist rage. It's hair trigger rage. And they rage. Unfortunately, over Thanksgiving I was with one of my malignant narcissist family members. It got so bad in 24 hours I booked a flight home. My husband didn't last that long. They destroy everything they touch. Agent Orange controls his bootlickers with his rage. And then plays the I love you game. The country is involved in an abusive relationship with this man. They all need a support group for codependent relationships.
Sounds like we have had similar experiences lately, Lisa.
As I watch my brain process this stuff, I see myself looking intently at the Rings - Our Justice System, our Election System, and our Legislation System. BUT, I can’t help but see/hear the audience reactions, and I find those reactions (or lack thereof) frightening.
I have to tell you, though, reading and hearing Liz Cheney’s current viewpoints are shockingly encouraging. The Continuum Line between Rachel Maddow and Liz Cheney is dramatic POLICYWISE. But, DEMOCRACYWISE, not so much.
Cheney’s description of her thoughts and emotions as she was watching Mike Pence being rushed to safety on January 6th and her comparison to her reaction to watching her father being rushed to safety after 9/11 and the Bush’s Oval Office speech later about terrorists attacking our buildings, but they can never destroy our democracy/rule of law/founding principles, etc. (paraphrasing here)
This fills me with Fear and Hope at the same time.
I'm always hopeful. How else can I be a Democrat. However, I think apathy is a big enemy. I am incapable of small talk. I go straight to the issue. Even when I got hair done recently, I left telling the whole place to vote Blue and why. I hear political fatigue and my vote doesn't matter from others. I try to turn that thinking around. Even if they blow me off, I'll still try. Another issue is
Racism is built into the fabric of this country. My biracial family members deal with more of it since Agent Orange's election. Especially in the Midwest. Then there's the group that believes JFK, Jr will be our next vice president. Holy fuck!
Sad for your family's political divisions, but it emphasizes how thoroughly divided American voters are. I hope the presidential polls are not reflective of the 2024 actual vote.
It's not so much political as Narcissist Personality Disorder is a dominant mental illness in my family. It's rare. Less than 1% are diagnosed. I have a least a 6 family members that are NPD. Living with them is a nightmare. They are the most abusive people you can imagine. I can tell you without a doubt Agent Orange's kids are a hot fucking mess. No one escapes the multigeneration pain of these people.
Great comment Lisa! If you don't do standup, you've got a second career waiting. Or, you might want a job writing for Jimmy Kimmel or Stephen Colbert. We can not let the Repugnitans ruin this country any more than they've already done.
Actually I did stand up when I was a drug and alcohol counselor. I used a lot humor with that job. I can find humor at a funeral. It's survival for me. I can't shut up. I've tried. I use humor to get one to think and laugh at the same time. Drives my family nuts. I love it.
The man posing, grinning, beside the newly "elected" Trump, standing together in front of a golden doorway after the results were announced. Rhymes with "garage".
You've got the picture Lisa59. And low rents like Sindie-powl will be paid back for jumping out of bed so soon. Not that she was any good would be my guess. And, all the military officers who stand to be promoted are just being hung out there and screw-ten-ized to see who will send the signal that they are quietly going to trade their loyalty to big-orange when the time comes (for promotion).., Huh? Think Fl(y)nn-again! Blammmo.
Anne-Louise, when I came across the Heritage Foundations’s manifesto soon after it dropped, I thought it was a spoof at first. The more I read the more alarmed & hair-on-fire I became. Tried sharing w/ friends & family & got mostly a “meh” response—what?! Fortunately in the intervening months the MSM (well, some of it anyway) is beginning sound the alarm. I still ask folks, friends & acquaintances, if they are aware & if not will email them links to the actual site and to vetted reviews & critiques. I always stress that this is NOT a joke and to pay close attention. I may be old, but still have lots of resistance in me to oppose this.
Appalling AND frightening. Couldn't believe in '16 he'd even be on the ballot-staying up to watch returns was like waiting for nuclear fallout to blow our way. It was the sum of all fears and a perfect storm combined; apathy, denial, greed, ignorance, bias against competent women, racism, a failed media, and failure of our electoral college system.
Lack of critical thinking have kept the implications of exactly what a return of trump in the WH would mean; he views his base as less than nothing (actually, include everyone other than him in that group) - he'll turn on them when they're no longer useful or piss him off. People understand this in their personal lives, they just don't get it in the larger picture.
Or, more likely, political expediency. If they think an attack might work in their favor…Dick Cheney had long called for “war against Iran, Iraq and N Korea” but bemoaned that he lacked “sufficient provocation “. He got it on 9/11/2001. I suspect the same with Netanyahu. A loathesome man
Good for you Barbara. Sturdy, implacable, clever, and legal resistance is going to be needed. America cannot save itself by looking for a savior. That’s been tried. People with real legal power - like Jack Smith - must and will do their jobs. But regardless of how effective they are, it won’t tip the scales if a large number of Americans are hostile, maybe even actively, to them.
The turning of the calendar to January 1 is going to have a huge psychological effect on people. This is the year. As the months go by we are going to see more and more anger and anxiety, threats and creative action on both sides. Most citizens will keep their heads down, but that may not be an option any more. Loyalty test fever is going to accelerate.
This all assumes that Trump wins the primary. Regardless of how reckless and disingenuous the other candidates are, they do not have Trump’s genius for accelerating the temperature of followers to boiling point. Only Trump can.
If it ends up a Biden-Trump showdown, I do not see how the debates will be carried out without interference. They may well be canceled. Every organ grinder with a monkey will be amplifying his or her voice, anger, hatred or fear. On the night of the vote it will be sheer chaos. I do not think we will see a repeat of 2020 when the actual election off with, for the most part, shocking propriety under the circumstances. Phalanxes of police are going to have guard the epicenters of tension. I’m not sure they will be able to.
That is why I hope for Haley 😣or DeSantis 😖 to pull off the nearly impossible and win the nomination. Either one would be a terrible but survivable President . Terrible - it’s obvious why. Just listen to them. Survivable - they would not have the power of MAGA to inculcate fear. Cults have a low track record of success when they change leaders.
Finally there are all the unknown unknowns ahead. Given Americans’ penchant for excess and lack of consideration of consequents, and given that Fate just marches steadily along shaping things in his own way, who knows what else will happen?
The Israel-Hamas conflict is a known unknown right now. I am not comfortable with America’s proximity to this terrible situation, though I do appreciate Biden and Company’s levelheaded approach to it. However it’s not impossible that in 2024 America could have troops seriously engaged with Iran through Hezbollah? How would that affect the MAGA crowd? The Presidential race? China?
This will be a year like no other. Clear-sighted level headed people like you are desperately needed, as much and maybe more than a united Democratic people. Your group gives me confidence. (But not enough to think it’s a slam dunk for democracy :)
Just one more thing to fret over. Hamas knocked him off the front pages. Here I wouldn’t write off Europe - they are very near the ‘belly of the beast’. Surely NATO won’t let Russia off the hook now.
I believe it was David Farenthold on a recent Al Franken podcast who said that if Trump wins, we would get a global replay of the 20th century, with the United States on the other side. Ugh.
Pretty much agree, except for the take on DeSantis (could easily be as monstrous as trump) and Haley. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility in that scenario that Mike Johnson wouldn't be nominated if trump croaked (and don't I wish...).
My take on DeSantis is, I think, pretty much identical to yours. However, DeSantis is essentially a bold technocrat who would hold at best grudging appeal for the dangerous crowd of MAGA true believers. It would be easier for the entire government to keep him in check, because he would never enjoy (?) the same battalions of “death-threateners” that Trump has corralled. The fear factor for those who dare oppose a cult leader would vanish. Barring a Republican sweep, I think DeSantis would struggle to duplicate his successes in Florida.
As for people gathering en masse to nominate Mike Johnson. . . that would certainly be less than ideal. However, he is very untested and might inspire more ridicule than support.
Trump remains the real enemy. He has a feral brilliance tied to a singular lack of conscience.
Eric, excellent summary/observation! This whole thing has the air of a diabolical frenzied circus whilst we humans, carrying fellow species and ecosystems with us, circle the drain. Even Hollywood would reject this as an implausible plot. And yet here we are….so a clarion call to all caring bodies to the guard the ramparts and thwart this takeover!
With age comes perspective gained by living through events. My introduction to politics began in 1952 and I've been hyper aware ever since. We elders have something very valuable to contribute, and bless Heather Cox Richardson for providing this space for us to share our thoughts.
Trouble is, 'bad news' sells. Advertisers love it. So the election of "agent orange" will be a "bad news" event that will guarantee advertisers a huge payback. Killing fields! And, "you" know we will be swamped by it.
I am too frightened to read the site. I refuse to "click" and give it air. I do not doubt your assessment. Free speech magnifying evil comprehensive plan!
A calming path Victoria is to take closer look at where Jack's Smith's Team is going with their trial plan to submit character evidence of Trump's "other crimes, wrongs or acts". Be certain Jack knows his way around Trump's distinct patterns of "wrongs & acts". See, Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE). 404.
Just one example. In 2016 tfg lost the popular Presidential vote by over 3,000,000 votes. Trump's false claims targeting California,Virginia & New Hampshire results were quite elaborate lies with absolutely no evidence. You can be certain Jack Smith has chosen virtually identical false claims in 2020 that will be admitted at trial against tfg.
Bryan, I nearly & quite literally stopped breathing as I read through HCR’s point on letter and the many highly intelligent responses. Jack Smith’s latest addition to dump’s infinite-criminal- rap-sheet has allowed me to exhale, calm down
and uncoil the knots in what’s left in my gray matter and heart.
Thank you Samm. 30 plus years of Trial work calms my perspective.There are many ways to channel the nearly intolerable stress. I garden.in this beautiful time of late Fall.
While I agree with you Bryan, but if Jack can’t get to a court room to share all of his en what. It all truly hinges on Nov 24. This country needs to see a Blue Tsunami across all levels of government to move this country away from this destructive path to authoritarianism.
I do not disagree with your political. action focus Chris. Jack Smith's Team is getting wide coverage including in other judicial venues. Jack sometimes responds to events in the am with a supplementary brief in the afternoon.
Jack's latest filing was treated like "BREAKING NEWS" with his Brief headings posted on MSNBC verbatim.
While of course you are correct, Bryan, I must say that it's still a bit early in the morning for me to read about the FRE. I'm trying to avoid the deep diving into the CCP that my day demands, and you're cutting a bit close to the bone!
I would not send you to the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) in the AM. I posted the correct evidentiary statute for those who Google the law including a pre-law student who is already doing good legal analysis.
If the information HCR shares frightens you, imagine how you’ll feel if - or when - the jack-booted fascists tffg controls stage the 21st century version of Kristallnacht. The time to engage is now, while our vote can be sufficient to turn the tide!
You don't "click" unless you're so interested that you click on one of the tabs across the page. It's not a mouse-trap, like a scam. It inveigles you in, but it can't catch you unless you give it some information by going in further than the cover page.
And yet I wanted to read the darn thing and at least show to my Republican friend that it exists and what is said there. He did not believe me when I told him about it.......said he had never heard it on the news (far right radio talk). And he had never heard the "vermin" comments until I replayed the video. So far right news maybe are not highlighting these 2 things mentioned here...........for what reason?? I am glad folks here know about the Mandate.
Victoria, there are several good sites that critique it—they read it so you don’t have to! One is from the American Prospect (there is no paywall, but they request you register to read): https://prospect.org/politics/2023-11-27-far-right-blueprint-america/ A neighbor of mine, a small businessman (plumber) was recently collecting names to recommend him for a local Democratic org (indeed I signed it), and I asked him if he’d heard about it. He hadn’t, but as we spoke he wrote Project 2025 with a pen on his hand so he could check it out. Later in the day I emailed him the link above. I did read the Heritage intro & wee bit of the 900+ pages (couldn’t stomach much). On their site is an enrollment “opportunity” to join their training program so as to be ready as one of the cadre of potential gov’t employees to be appointed “starting day one”. Yeah, they actually said that. Basically they have published a call for all persons who want an autocratic theocracy to sign up and come together—blatantly ballsy IMHO (but then so so is TFFG).
Progwoman: That was going to be my reply as well. Chilling indeed to consider how far we have traveled in just 8 years to get to this point: when the leading presidential candidate of a major party and likely nominee can utter that response to Hannity's question, AND THERE IS NO COLLECTIVE GASP OR DENUNCIATION FROM HIS PARTY. Chilling also to realize that we who oppose this wannabe dictator are not surprised by any of this.
I shudder to think of what escalatingly dangerous future utterances by this deranged man will reveal of this country.
Yeah, my daughter the history major got lectured by someone that Ukraine used to be a part of "Russia" and they are entitled to have it back. Guess he never heard of the Soviet Union.
Yes you are right. They don’t understand Putin’s expansionist ambitions and they don’t care. Those who are witholding aid of course are on Putin’s side.
The thing about Putin is…if he can’t “win” and have his way, he would just as soon blow it all up. It is horrifying that too many of our rightwing reps are admirers of him. Downright wicked.
Deliberately and with malice, but the presentation is top notch. Scary that some will be impressed. Like the NRx (New Right) that Gregg Olear wrote about on Dec 5. Chilled me to the bone.
Can we please stop stop stop using this weasel word when talking of a bloody reign of terror?
It may be good for academics in ivory towers, but the challenge is to wake America's drugged, sleeping population up to a danger far greater than all historical threats from external enemies. How the hell are we to wake people up with a boring 5 1/2 syllable term they don't even understand.
It's like shooting your own toes one at a time.
For goodness sake...
The enemy's within the gates and all that those who should know better can do is gargle mumbojumbo.
I agree, however, if we need to wake up the masses -they have already tuned out of factual depictions such as catastrophic climate change or post-Citizens United danger raised by obscene concentrations of wealth.
I think far too many people don't care what the system of government is, provided they get to keep their flat screen TV's, the Kardashians are on the "Arts & Entertainment" channel, college football is on Saturday and the NFL is on Sunday. And often they are the same folks who will BBQ hot dogs on July 4th and lose a finger or two to fireworks accidents.
Whether it's called 'authoritarianism' or 'bloody reign of terror' -there are at least 71 million who voted for the orange prison apprentice in 2020 who will say "we don't care as long as it's not woke" -without a clue as to what that means.
During the era of G.W. Bush, there were those who tried to immigration reform passed. The R's killed it. They have ZERO intent on governing or solving our country's problems. The R's killed it, so they could continue to use immigration as a talking point. Then EVIL people like Stephen Miller come along with ideas like family separation, which is a psychopathic policy. The R's only wish to fatten their pockets and those of their robber baron donors.
Border Reform would remove a talking point if that reform pleased most people. What would it look like? More restrictions that don't work or a better funded system of processing the workers we desperately need to get things done - to pay taxes - to contribute to Social Security and Medicare as our population ages out?
There are two jobs for every applicant in the US. Nurses, teachers, and health care workers of all kinds are either retiring or just quitting (many early from burnout). Just try to find a qualified person to provide home care for an elderly relative. Home care is infinitely cheaper and more compassionate than warehousing in "nursing homes". Just try to find child care workers for day care facilities. The lack of employees is punishing our entire "care" system. The elderly and the young suffer accordingly. And mothers stay home because child care is N/A or too expensive. Careers are stunted.
Try to find waitstaff for restaurants - popular eateries are closing for lack of employees. The owners of tech companies that are to build "chip factories" here worry that they won't be able to staff the facilities. Our condo association struggles to find contractors to choose from - lack of workers means they can't always take on new customers. A lack of employees is holding back our basic system of private enterprise.
My version would alienate all who hate the "others". Their version would be a bigger longer wall and shooting from helicopters. Despite the fact that it's an established fact that immigrants commit less crime than native born Americans. But logic is lost when hate is weaponized.
Biden has repeatedly asked Congress to come up with "border reform" and the funding to get it done. But the MAGAs and the Oligarchs don't want it done - it is the perfect campaign ammunition. Which supports your point.
As the Climate Crisis exacerbates food and water deprivation and as more and more governments south of us and in Africa succumb to cartel dominance - the more people will be seeking an escape. They are coming. In very, very large numbers. And they will find a way. Many will die. Many more will be flooding North America and Europe in a desire to survive.
There are two choices: Do nothing and continue the chaos and confusion or fund a system that will manage the millions who we need - and are coming anyway.
Sorry to rant. But there is a great big "help wanted sign" in dozens of professions and industries. And there are thousands of applicants knocking on our doors. We could answer the knock - that's how most of us got here. Our ancestors arrived and worked.
That was a good rant. No need to apologize. I agree. We can’t have our cake and eat it. Of course, I would inject a losing argument by suggesting population control. But that DOA. But it is a solution to earth destruction.
On topic, politics is a nasty business. Anyone need only pick up any well written political history book to read of ridiculous political reasoning. Today the border is one. We don’t have the luxury to snub our collective nose. Get it out of the way. We have too much to lose. Extend in parts, a god damn wall. I don’t give a frick. Just expand the base and get the vote anyway you can. We are certainly at a crossroads as never before. And Trump is only a manifestation of this but an important one. He can and will be gone tomorrow. The politics, reactive problems remain. The Steve Bannon remain. The growing militarization of society remains. Now is the time to just get stupid issues out of the way. It will not harm us. And staying on point, we should outright ban Tik Tok, lol. Allright? It really is harming the behavior of our children. It’s insidious and not so easily identified. But it’s there. And it will add to our base if we democrats show initiative.
Bill A., no rant, just the Cassandra truth. Took the words right outta my mouth. Anyone paying attention could see this coming for many years. We, collectively, had a chance to formulate a considered plan & way forward, but squabbled amongst ourselves instead. A number of years ago I read the book The Earth Without Us….sounded kinda like a paradise!
Kiss a Peach Bill Katz. Im so tired of the border reform BS rhetoric.... I live in a Border State. The only people who scream that are the Repugnant Republicans who manufacture BS. I've seen more danger from white American males
I don’t disagree. My point is to remove this divisive issue from the table. Don’t you understand? Republicans use it like poison to rally their base. I say give them what they want but really don’t want because the issue is more important to exploit over and over again. So please don’t misunderstand me. We need to grow our base. And the optics (which are important) won’t grow if we don’t get this out of the way.
GOP won’t let it pass because they need the talking point. Meanwhile more of the AntiFa crowd could be elevating the good work that Harris has done there:
“President Biden famously dumped the southern border situation in Harris’ lap, and today that “crisis” has become a mere trickle of a problem. Harris played a large role in this, working with multiple Central American governments to reduce the political and economic pressures that were sending people north.
Believing that people with jobs don’t flee their countries, she met with the presidents of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala and pressured US companies doing business in the area to step up and help, securing over $4 billion in local job-creating commitments from 47 major companies — that didn’t pull jobs away from America.”
Agree! Big ticket item there. "Action" into the headlines. Deal with the humanitarian issues, and use $$ for it. Shove it down the conservative throat. In the long run it IS being conservative. We'll save this nation. Cause Nikki to choke.
Your despair re: the sleepy state of much of the American electorate is understandable, especially if you don't get out much yourself. Just as a reminder, there are two numbers I find great comfort in: 81,000,000 and 320. I also find comfort in the election results in places like Kansas, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Virginia.
Very true Steve. It is the heroic work by many dedicated people and organizations who continue to fight to bend the moral arc of the universe toward justice, equity, and democracy. It's important to remember and celebrate that fact.
Yes, I understand the moral arc does not bend itself. So far, the weight of truth has bent and broken even the worst despots and social systems. It will continue to do so, but only with our help.
But until now we have not had a populace glued to their screens 24/7 and AI technology to deceive them. Our public school teachers have an uphill battle.
It’s the dark corners we can’t see into and being on a frontier we have never been that are the most frightening. Polls mean nothing anymore and there is reassurance in that recent elections have supported democracy. But, our imperfect justice system continues to struggle in the face of criminals with the resources and intent to find every obstructive keyhole possible, including stacking SCOTUS with authoritarians.
Steve, I suspect "sleepy" is an inaccurate adjective for our electorate. One suspects the real problem is that most who see what's coming don't want to deal with the incessant and intrusive phone calls, emails, texts, and other forms of unsolicited "opinion polling" that feeds the seemingly endless "polls" and "surveys" which thereby become inaccurate and therefore irrelevant. The only poll with real meaning happens on voting day, whether the R's accept it or not. We're not sleepy, we're tired of the MM and political droning which passes as "news." To be honest, even listening to MSNBC or CNN has become an exercise in hearing the same stuff hashed and rehashed. We live in echo chambers, albeit echo chambers of our own choosing.
Hi John! You are of course right about my choice of the word "sleepy" to describe even a part of the American electorate. I chose that word ironically so as not to sound like too big of an A-hole to the person I was responding to. I do get out some. My kids are millennials, and I work with a fair number of Gen X and Z-ers. I have never seen a more engaged, civic minded group in my life. I used the numbers and election results to say how hopeful I am about what I am seeing.
Polls only show probability. Predicting an election result 11 months away is like predicting the weather for 11 months out, its generally not accurate. Plus, every major poll I am aware of since 2016 has been wrong - even ones taken one or two weeks prior to what ever election they were trying to predict. Why do we continue to put such stock in them?
Facts don't persuade. Stories do. People are anxious to reduce the size of government and increase self-reliance and individual freedom. They feel the majority of DEMs asks too much from government and contributes too little. That's why I support a consumption tax with pre-bates for subsistence level consumption and more foresight and good judgement training in primary education. The majority of Americans cant save 3 months expenses. Universal democracy leads to one vote one time then autocracy. We haven't properly instructed the poor who are being led to bad decisions at the polls and insurrection.
"Numbers matter - but not as much as the storytelling that surrounds the numbers. It’s the difference between data and insight: I never fall into the trap of believing that the numbers speak for themselves."
George, I am anticipating the TFFG’s prison pics—unlike his Clockwork Orange booking glare—mostly cuz I don’t think they let you have hairspray in prison…want to see his new “look”.
The probability that Trump ever sees the inside of a jail cell is very low.
America is built on criminals like Trump getting what they want, when they want it, without consequence.
All of our existing corporations harken back to the original railroad corporations. Go read about that era and you will see the founding principals of corporations and their leaders are your basic fraud and crime, especially during the Civil War.
“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. “Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny ‘failed to take into account man’s almost infinite appetite for distractions.’ In 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us.
“This book is about the possibility that Huxley, not Orwell, was right.”
Key element here: 7 decades of population conditioning via television. Industrial / battle ready grade organizing funded by oligarchs built and operates the infrastructure of persuasion & manipulation, now boosted by AI. It’s evident in current META FB & other social media environments. The apparent level of sophistication and penetration is what would be expected, based on tailorization capabilities. <> Effective countermeasures are probably a combination of face to face communication in public benefit events (real world), using Karin Tamerius - Smart Politics comm techniques, and social & mass media message framing using George Lakoff - Media Lab quidance. Organizing principle could be climate change / environmental degradation effect on quality of life & stagnant social mobility.
The Powell Memo gave rise to an entire ecosystem devoted to concentrating wealth, manufacturing consent, diminishing education, and misdirecting Americans. While much of what you point out as countermeasures are important -there really needs to be an entire countervailing long-term infrastructure funded and developed to undo the generations of damage done by Reagan and post-Reagan politics and wealth concentration, and more importantly providing an aspirational vision of what an equitable, just, and meaningfully democratic America would look like.
I agree & am glad HCR highlighted it in a post. I've been bringing it up in comments on her FB posts for maybe 3 or 4 years, as it seems the right time to pop it in. I'll provide a nexus reference summary of related key elements later. Have work to do outside today.
I hadn’t heard of her. So thanks for the recommendation, good concepts. At first I wasn’t sure what to think of the term “political psychiatrist” (she has been a psychiatrist but is no longer). I have hoped to see a think tank of best scholars of disciplines such as psychiatry and politics. Will be checking it out. Thank you 🙏
Wow, you're a cynical man, George! I would continue to discuss, but I see that my Hulu home screen has a most enticing pic of a bikini clad Kim Kardashian distracting my attention.
We need some downhome language to start getting the meaning of things across to people who can relate to ordinary ways of talking.
Let's start asking questions that really get to people's minds hearts and pocketbooks, using President Biden's way of speaking but even more bluntly. Let's not assume that people understand how things get done, where their local state and federal governments actually get to their ways of doing what we need, usually running things for everybody's good the best they can with what they’ve got to work with.
Let's assume people don't understand how public works work, never studied it. If they are on social security, briefly describe how that actually works and that their own money went into it and it's coming back in a long-term form. What would they do without their social security check? Who's going to return to them the promised money they've already paid in, that our government saved up and reinvested, that then delivers those checks every month? Their church?
Do people know how roads are built by using taxes back into paying for all that construction? Do people know how it's our governments at all the different levels run things we all count on, from building or running the very stuff that affects how we all live every day?
Things are Never perfect, but griping and whining don't make them any better. That's the work of how we as citizens take a closer look at the ways things are actually working now, and getting down to the realities of how and what to change and improve whatever needs to change and improve.
Stop assuming we all speak high falutin college speak, because we don't. Get to what things actually mean, and how just complaining in the first place needs to mean you have a responsibility to get involved for the better - where your anger and frustration can be and needs to be used to construct things better, not tear down what is already doing at least some of the work that we need for us to live in everyday ways.
Where private companies produce stuff we need, for us to use that stuff safely counts on the laws and public departments that look after and enforce that safety to make the food supply, the energy supply, transportation networks, health departments, schools, public safety laws and departments work for us.
Got a complaint? Make suggestions to help something work better, by not just getting all indignant, but by being part of how to work it better, for instance working to elect people who are actually best prepared to do the actual work of it. Not the blowhards who make loudest noises and promise the moon.
Take responsibility. Know your neighbors and get to know new people you can work with, the others who can also join to improve your neighborhoods, help out however you can. Make better suggestions. Get real and realistic. Don't support people who just complain all the time and don't have any actual suggestions that would actually work. Loud and angry just gets you loud and angry.
Take a much closer look at people trying to get elected to see what they've already been doing to prepare for the job, not just what they say they are. People we elect should serve in a public way, should actually understand how public things work before they get the job. If they are trying to continue in a public job, how well have they already done?
Our media at all levels needs to be run, staffed and reported on by people who report the news, the stories, from a much more educated place that doesn't try to get you upset for the sake of it. Not just sitting at a desk and reading out like it's mostly entertainment - that only gets your hackles up, doesn't give you clearer ways to get, to understand and work with steady and reliable information when they read out words that try to make bad look somehow OK. When, opinion is misused to falsely ‘balance’ out the reporting of the day it is a terrible use of the public airwaves.
News analysis is needed especially when people are lying on purpose and should be called out for it. Facts actually matter a lot. Made up facts are harmful, not helpful or how can we even work together to create a more reasonable life?
You can't trust someone who's just trying to make you mad all the time to get what they want.
Use everyday language to get everyday meaning across. We all need it. This can't be some ivory tower lecture time for impressing each other. Why?
This is the most essential time of our lives to be clear, to be truthful, to be working with all the facts we need to make, to actually create the best choices and changes for our whole society. All of us.
Thank you for making all these points that need so badly to be made. There's so much ignorance everywhere of "how it works", so much blissful irresponsibility. Such scant awareness of the responsibility that rests on every American voter's shoulders, given the unimaginable material power that is still America's.
There's reason to doubt that more than a handful of citizens will be aware of this responsibility.
I feel we have made it so hard for so many to have time to learn about stuff we should all know about.
When people are working so hard everyday just to make ends meet they may not have the inclination, or maybe the time and energy, for example, to look up the history of the Palestinians and Israelis, to better understand what is going on there today. I feel this is by design, though I am a cynic.
Also present is competition from scrolling and mindless big screen viewing.
Some smart responsible people I know put up the stop sign with their hands when I talk about these things. They claim to be sick of it. Are they sick of free and fair elections too?
Most days I feel an overwhelming sadness at the loss of innocent life and hatred.
Being realistic is not necessarily a cynical condition unless acknowledging what's right in plain sight is somehow the end and not a beginning of doing things better than you've observed they are now. What's been going on heavily - a lot - since about the end of WWII is the beefing up of the profit-at-all-costs movement of great greed, at the ongoing deepening expense to our world health our earth health and us.
Seeing behind the curtain (Wizard of Oz) has itself been made into a 'specialty' for 'higher' education blah blah blah, as if ordinary people shouldn't believe their own eyes and feelings and do something about it. When everything is for sale the grifters will try to sell you any lie they can: Santos, Trump and most Republicans being the out front hucksters. And why so many don't see good for what it is when being so tired out from the shit storm and being casualties, not yet survivors.
Realism can be your friend. With many, the anger part shows up first, drives itself or is driven by someone else calling it out to actions that are basically self destructive. This is where ignorance overrrides anything reasonable, where promises are made
to satisfy anger rather than real need. How can you change what you don't understand?
Thanks for mentioning the treadmill, living to work instead of working to live. I have long been convinced that it is 100% deliberate. No one can stop people from thinking, but they can be kept so busy that only exceptional human beings like Dr Cox Richardson will manage to think things through.
And here -- a pity to bury this comment, I'll have to repeat it -- despite the quite remarkable quality of HCR's work, I have been wondering both about the cost to her health and how, with the best intentions and the best methodology in the world, to manage the perfect balance between everyday events and context, both immediate and historical.
Now, no tribute would be adequate, but while she has added new dimensions to our perception, interpretation and understanding of events both current and historical, it does seem to me that the daily analysis of news hardly allows enough time fully to digest the significance of those events. Thus, while her work may make up for the weaknesses of current journalism and media focused on moneymaking rather than fulfilling the necessary role of informing society, you'll hate me for saying this, but I am not alone in wondering if a weekly rhythm might not better enable our mentor both to inform us of developments and historical precedents and to deepen her analysis of their implications.
The problem is how to prioritize news items, report the crucial ones adequately AND think through what these developments will mean for us and for the actors concerned. Currently, I have no idea how HCR manages to teach, write books and daily items, live her life and juggle so much factual material in so short a space of time with such understanding of its significance... when even as a younger man I'd have been quite unable to do more than draft press releases, sometimes perhaps providing an account of relevant historical precedents.
It is all done with such virtuosity that I can't help wondering what she could not do, given just a little more time in which to stand back and assimilate it all.
But perhaps I'm being impertinent, this is her business, not mine, and I'm sure she knows how best to perform the task she has undertaken. Even so, she's laboring almost like a war leader and less working around the clock might both be kinder to her and yield results even more remarkable.
If people take me to task for writing these things, I accept the criticism, while being sure that I am not alone in worrying about the cost to our benefactor of so many well-nigh sleepless nights...
Peter, I found the Michael Lewis book The Fifth Risk, within the context of his his focus (admin transitions), to be an excellent primer as to what civil servant & gov’t employees actually DO to keep us safe & the country running. My opinion is that most are in it for being “of service” and not getting rich (I say that as someone who retired after 40+ years as a CA state employee).
My own background as a civil servant first in UK government service, then working for the European Union, while my father served as an officer in the Royal Navy.
What I noticed in the mid-1980s, with the retirement of the generation that had seen war and suffered from it, men and women strongly motivated by a Never Again ethic, was a clear shift from "What's in it for US," to "What's in it for ME?".
By now, we have seen the extreme consequences of this degeneration...
Indulging in overheated hyperbole is the sort of specious rhetoric which obscures more than it reveals and plays on emotion rather than reason. That it works is no recommendation for embracing it as a tactic. As it undercuts coming to consensus through reasoned debate of empirical evidence. Indeed i"It's like shooting your own toes one at a time."
Many in Trump's base may be relatively uneducated and misinformed. But that cannot be said of all those who know better but still hedge their bets on his delivering the GOP agenda. Including the repurposing of the American democratic republic as a clerical fascist state. All the 'movement conservatives' who know exactly what authoritarianism means and are betting they will not only be spared the catastrophe but will profit. Not only those swayed by Alex Jones but those emulating William Buckley.
Why it will take a unified effort on all fronts. Yet opposition to chump seems more splintered than ever. True that WM Buckley would have kicked the Alex Jones worshippers to the curb, but the idiots and the elite (yes, Buckley was an elite snob) have coalesced and are United in making Project 2025 our reality. Even if most of them have no clue that they are doing just that. But the behind-the-scenes drivers know exactly where they are headed.
The mere thought of the potentiality of unification is represented by Liz Cheney. More lawmakers who see the danger should follow her example instead of pathetically shivering in their boots in sheer paralytic fear....
They are the most pathetic cowards. She has more balls than the pack of them. She likely inherited them from her Daddy Dick. If she wins out over chump, Dems should beware…
I usually appreciate your very good judgment, Lin, but when a candidate, backed by a well-presented policy statement, namely Project 2025, actually promises a reign of terror from day one, does it not make sense to take him at his word?
Does it not follow that real danger calls for a healthy reaction of fear?
The awful thing is how extremist politicians and irresponsible media have stoked and maintained a paralyzing state of chronic fear, one that plays into the hands of would-be despots.
Terming Republican assaults on government and civil rights a "reign of terror" just invites right wing 'originalists' to refute it by pointing out that Trump et al are not proposing to set up guillotines on the National Mall.
The Reagan revolution - and those wanting to set up statues of Reagan in every town square, in echo of Daughters of the Confederacy elevating national traitors as heritage heroes - are much more insidious.
My point, Lin, is that we must defend ourselves both from the insidious cultivation of chronic fear and conformism -- the two always go hand in hand -- and a resentful madman's desire to foist upon us the likes of Judge Freisler and Stalin's show trials prosecutor Vyshinski and their methods.
Because you are rational and very sane, you may perhaps underestimate the psychopathology of both would-be dictators and the masses they manipulate.
I have not forgotten the conversation I had when very young with a distinguished German Jewish judge who had been forced to flee his beloved country to save his life. He condemned the failure to execute Hitler after the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich.
After that, nothing could stop the man until untold millions had died.
America is so much more powerful than Hitler's Germany, hence the absolute need to uphold, reform and defend the country's institutions.
As in Nazi Germany, American right wing jurists are emptying national law of justice. In this country, through the ouija board games and specious rhetoric of 'originalism' and 'textualism'. Interpretive strategies long debunked by other disciplines involved in textual analysis.
Although there are many similarities between Nazi and Republican goals and tactics, one must be very self disciplined and specific in one's critique. There are significant differences. Hitler was the head of Nazi Germany; killing him might have effectively derailed Nazism. Trump is merely the figurehead of the Republican drive to clerical fascism. He's only put his brand on the GOP wedding of movement conservatism and populism. Arguably, Mitch McConnell and Leonard Leo have done more institutional - and individual - harm.
I am loathe to use labels like 'psychopathology' but I would say that Republican breaking down the wall between church and state has replaced coming to consensus through reasoned debate of empirical evidence with allegiance to the absolutes of religious creed. Republicans have elided religious ethics and elevated the irrationalities of religious belief. All in the service of unmitigated greed.
Liz Cheney uses the well-known term "dictatorship," which I have adopted as an alternative to "authoritarian regime," "autocracy," etc. for many of the same reasons you state. To me, the concept "American dictatorship" is extremely jarring and precisely what it sounds like this Project 25 and Trump himself are going for.
And I think we should emphasize the absolute corruption and lawlessness (for elites only -- rules for thee, not for me) that unchecked power of a dictatorship unleashes. We see that in Russia, for example. And this emphasis allows for an understandable, basic argument that this movement will ultimately strip citizens of their inherent rights and powers under the Constitution.
This movement may take time to strip citizens... of citizenship. But if, as promised, that stripping starts with a bang on Day One, "ultimately" will not take long.
I'm sorry, I am not referring to you in saying this, Duke SF, but after all I've seen in the course of the past five decades and more, I cannot understand how Americans can be quite so complacent and unimaginative in the face of immense dangers -- immense, even if we completely discount all the country's divisions and institutional ills.
Is no one even vaguely aware of the implications of climate change? Water shortages, desertification, population movements on a scale we can hardly yet imagine, to mention only one or two problems at random.
"I cannot understand how Americans can be quite so complacent and unimaginative..."
In decades of knocking on doors for issues and candidates, literally meeting people where they live, may I say rather than "complacent and unimaginative" - preoccupied and distracted.
Yes, I have been aggravated beyond endurance by the disengagement and blinkered self assurance of some privileged people. But then there is the struggle to 'get by' and 'make do' of the unemployed and working poor, the anxieties of the middle class - and I wonder about the impact on voting of drug use / addiction and alcoholism.
Sometimes it feels like something out of Dickens and Marx. I know people have studied all this but meeting it first hand - feeling hollow talking with a formerly middle class person now living in their car in a parking lot - yes a Democratic administration or majority will make a difference but in the moment the case for voting seems abstract.
And then there is also the even more basic argument that a Trump dictatorship is all about turning us into enemies of one another, retribution, setting us up for a civil war. Is that what people want, or do they want to live their lives in peace and harmony? There is no path to peace or harmony with Trump. It's all retribution, division, fear. How so-called Christians could support that is beyond me. It's absolutely anti-New Testament. But that's another topic.
"How so-called Christians could support that is beyond me. It's absolutely anti-New Testament. "
1. The leap of faith is an embrace of unreason, at best a ritualization of irrationality.
2. Ha. You are leaving out all of the apocalyptic visions of the NT. What reason and science based thinking see as existential threats to be mitigated, religious habits of mind see as signs and wonders heralding the prayed for end times.
Or in Nietzchean and Freudian terms - the strictures and repressions of religious creed, create a pressure cooker of resentment. There is some common sense in ritually balancing carnival and lent. Or else risk the bacchanals of destruction, of Gotterdamerung.
Well-said, lin*. Yes, voters know what "authoritarianism" means, and roughly 60% of white voters are all-in on establishing an authoritarian government. It's not that they don't understand what they're voting for. It's much worse than that. They do know what they're voting for.
Rex, I assume you perceive "roughly 60% of white voters are all-in on establishing an authoritarian government" because some poll or polls have indicated that percentage. But exactly WHO is responding to polls these days? Bots? Trolls? Extremist operatives? One simply can't believe the polls anymore.
Ahhh, certainly likely to be a bit more representative than most polls
...yet still leave out those sending in absentee ballots and early voters which I recall were utilized more heavily by older voters from one party more than the other and perhaps active duty service members; SOOO hard to get an accurate view!
Based in what they say, my guess is that they want a government that will preserve the systemic advantages of white Americans over the rest of the population, and they perceive, correctly, that a fairly elected government will not do that.
Lin, that’s what puzzles me. Tfg has a regularly demonstrated trait of NO loyalty to those sycophants slavishly devoted to him. How do those supporters believe it will be different with them? Are they that deluded?
I think many Republican supporters - funders and voters - have some evidence to think they can ride out the catastrophe relatively unscathed. That their status and/or money will preserve their privileges.
I think others believe the troubles brought on by Republican policy - to our most vulnerable neighbors, fragile planet, and endangered democracy - are the signs and wonders heralding the Second Coming. That what we see as existential problems to be solved, they see as much desired end times.
Yes, they are…and enthralled by him: You Put a Spell On Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvUU44SmjnA He’s like a sleight-of-hand carny barker drawing the gullible into the big tent….
One man, TT! Holding reign over 11 too Military positions. Do not forget their reasoning... To prevent abortion! Without abortion access, annually 700 thousand more mouthes to feed. The father's of unwanted babies have already laid the financing of these proposed "saved" children on the Government, and on the backs of women. Our New Digital age must teach men to ejaculate responsibly. The educating must occur, and, outside of of the Political Arena. We must govern from our abundance. Scarcity has been overcome for human survival.
YES Victoria, and we now have the means through DNA to actually hold perpetrator fathers as well as mothers responsible for their "irresponsible ejaculations!" Take 2 to tango. Oh wait, that will require going through legal means and we are discovering daily how often legal remedies founder when encountering big money...
Exactly. The word 'dictator' is one most of the public understands and it best describes what a DT second term (that would absolutely last until he dies in office) would be. Why aren't we using it in the media, or at least in this forum?
As much as I do not want the US to become a dictatorship, I also don't want the US to be a theocracy. I am a non-theist as are millions of Americans. I abhor the Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Church for foisting their patriarchy on us.
They belief that white men should be in control of everything and it is their right to control everyone else. They don't believe that rape and abuse are crimes that should be prosecuted. You can see how few women were in positions of power in the Trump government. You can count them on one hand.
You put that well, Gary. Thank you. I seem to remember a meme that went around some time ago featuring Dame Maggie Smith in her role as Professor McGonagall saying "Religion is like a penis. Fine to take it out and wave it about, but don't cram it down my throat".
In December 2016 I wondered whether DT, after bankrupting everything he touches, would "turn to the only thing he (thinks) he understands, dictatorship."
"Thinks" seems to be the wrong word for whatever takes place under that strange thatch.
Well, Peter, one would likely better approximate T-Rump's "understanding" as arising from the fairly simple but all-consuming narcissism he feels rather than by any process of actual reasoning that goes on. Reasoning is what he hires all his experts and lawyers for so he can then dismiss any whose opinions don't match or in some way support his feelings.
“Bloody reign of terror,” and the wheels set in motion on day one. Chump and the billionaires are salivating while we moan and grown. Well, that’s better than ignoring, like the MSM has been doing.
Solution: Grow the democratic base by compromising on border protection. By leaving it untended, it becomes poison used by repooplicans over and over and ofr absinthe. We just don’t get it. We are willing to lose the republic by refusing to pass legislation.
Bill, you bring up immigration often, suggesting Dems have a magic wand. Republicans have vetoed every effort at reform short of “close the borders”. The latest efforts seem to have mostly failed this past weekend. You can’t negotiate with the party of “no”.
I know it would seem like I’m against immigration but I’m not. However, I am against illegal entry. Look what it’s done to cities around the nation. You must understand, I’m shrewdly observant of what the poisonous opposition does to rile up the vote count. My response is in a way, use fire against fire. Political battles are often false fronts used only to gain power, influence and money. Let’s fight fire with fire.
“Illegal entry” being the operative phrase. Asylum seekers are completely within their rights under international law. These are the people under vilification. On the other hand those that cross the border illegally for work sustain much of our economy. Free flow seasonally was an accepted practice before the right seized upon it as a political weapon, forcing those who would return home to remain. Approaching regulation of either group, not even considering DACA recipients, requires a complex solution, not a knee jerk reaction by the unserious. And don’t forget, the House GOP wants funding cuts to all groups tasked with handling immigration.
I’m not sure you understand how dirty politics works. You are preoccupied with propriety and I’m preoccupied with winning elections. This is essentially our difference of approach. So after Trump or another acolyte wins, you can huddle around your campfire at the reeducation camp you are sent to for instruction inThe New Snazzy Nazi State of America.
Peter: I feel that way about the incessant use of the term “violating norms.” Sounds so innocuous, like something a person might do by dressing inappropriately or dyeing their hair green.
Peter, I agree totally that we should stop using ‘ authoritarian ‘ as too many Americans likely have no idea what it means. Maybe *dictator* is a better term to use.
It brings back W and his “freedom isn’t free” and “freedom fries” as he had us invading Iraq who was not affecting our freedom. It makes me furious to hear that word misused by Republicans. It’s an insult to the military who do stand for the concept of preservation of freedom.
Sheila, I have taken a closer look at your astute observation of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 1817 "willful suspension of disbelief" analysis. Please repeat as needed. ✔️
George, your response to Heather's letter is a life or death fact regarding who we are as a nation....a nation that has stood for freedom for all .... one vote as powerful as another....this would completely change under Trump.
There would be no support for those countries who desire to be free ie Ukraine. Our relationship with leaders worldwide would be in chaos. The enemies of the "free world" would be let loose. Your faith of choice will not matter....a picture of Trump will be placed at your altars.
If your Oracle Corp. employees believe they could work freely under aTrump Presidency...I am referring to the use of Technology for the purpose of spreading "selected " information....they are living in a fantasy world....they love money more than the ideal of a "free" society.
You were wise in leaving...your character...your gifts and talents can be used for good....to feed the ideal of "freedom". You are leaving a great legacy for your children!
We are far from perfect as a nation and we will not grow stronger if we do not make ourselves aware of what is going on within our government and if we do not address the problems within our education system.
I am very grateful for President Joe Biden and for those working day and night for the ideal of freedom and for respect for all persons under his administration, here and around the world. I am grateful for each and every effort for "Building Back Better" projects and for all involved.
I am so grateful for a fellow citizen who takes a stand, like you and your family, George!
I was fortunate to be at a point in my career where I could make a statement. I recognize many of my peers were not in such a place. While the personal economics aren't necessarily for the squeamish -I'm honored to be shoulder to shoulder with so many people I admire and respect -who have sacrificed more throughout their lives.
George, thank you for your courage. It’s sad how many people like Catz believe “yes, he hates Muslims and women, but he looooves ME, so I’ll help him,”
Even folks as smart as Safra can be seduced by Trump. She may view him as a temporary means to an end for whatever objectives she may ultimately have -other personal wealth, power, or both, but the simple reality is Trump only loves Trump. Everyone else must pay homage to the king.
I'm tempted to call you (in retrospect) prescient. :-)
Reading your link above, I tried to remember how I'd felt about it back then -- it seems so long ago -- and dug up two of my own old posts dating from 2015 and 2016 respectively.
I think the Trump dumpster-fire-to-come was clearly visible back in 2015 for anyone paying attention. The tragedy has been that so few were paying attention, and how many STILL have their heads buried in ... um ... the sand. Let's leave it at that.
Thank you (six years late, but heartfelt) for your public resignation, and the work you've been doing since.
There is a long road ahead. Grateful to all who do appreciate the dangers of another Trump admin and for all who understand some of the challenges of being early to the party. 🤓
Thank you Heather. It should be repeated and amplified that the threat of stacking the Federal Government with loyalists is not limited to Trump. It is a comprehensive plan assembled by Heritage called Project2025. It doesn’t matter if it is Trump, Haley, or any other Republican. If implemented, the plan will extinguish representative democracy.
At present it is not about Republicans versus Democrats as a voter choice in the United States. It is democracy versus an authoritarian system.
Project 2025.
Presidential Transitional Project. It's got a beautiful website, well presented, well organised, policy, how to contact. If you haven't read it, do so urgently. It's doomsday stuff.
It appears our illegitimate legal system cannot handle protecting us from our illegitimate legal system. It attracts the best and the brightest lawyers to undermine every part of our daily lives. The Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation is like John D Rockefeller and Roy Cohen had a baby called Leonard Leo. What they found in Agent Orange was a malignant narcissist who will carry out their agenda as long as his ego and bank debt is paid. Tupperware is a paid government insurrectionists. As many are. And that fucking Steve Bannon. He looks like he's going to drop dead of alcoholism any day now. Can't come soon enough.
Why is that fucking Steve Bannon not locked up in a cell? Such a malicious criminal and yet he’s free to spread his viral hate throughout the world while good hearted people are locked up for smoking weed. Our justice system definitely needs some work
I've been wondering the same thing since his conviction. WTF what is wrong with our legal system. Any one of us would of been imprisoned immediately have conviction and still not seeing day light.
Apparently he has lots of money or his friends have lots of money!
the Mercers have lots and lots and lots of money.
He’ll probably be dead from cirrhosis before all the appeals are finished at this rate
One can only hope.
And why is Roger Stone still running around behind the scene doing evil?
Excellent question!!! If anyone knows the answer, please enlighten us. He’s been a tremendous curse on democracy and humanity for my entire lifetime. Yet, he’s still free and empowered to execute evil in powerful places. We need to change the framework of our justice system so that the powerful white collar crimes that destroy so many lives are held accountable.
Trump pardoned Stone, & many others:
https://apnews.com/article/steve-bannon-trump-pardons-broidy-66c82f25134735e742b2501c118723bb
We need to do that, but in the meantime, we have to get louder and drown out these jerks. I'm sick of listening to them.
Trump pardoned Stone.
The Roger Stone reference reminded me of the 2000 Bush v Gore fiasco including the infamous "Brooks Brothers" riot that stopped the vote counting. Stone claims he organized that. Which raises the names of John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Barrett who provided legal work about the election. And there was also Justice Thomas who was appointed by GHW Bush in 1991 and voted to make W. president by stopping the voting. The Court voted to overturn the decision of the Florida Supreme Court. Do you ever think what the world would be like with Gore instead of W?
Many times!!!
Sad to say, Christy, but the Mango Mussolini pardoned him, and that's the answer to your question. He is still embroiled in other legal entanglements but I don't believe those have gone to trial yet.
His lawyers were in appellate court just last month. I can’t find where a decision was made so I’m guessing it’s still pending. But he’ll just appeal to the next level. At least tffg’s appeals aren’t taking this long!!
Bannon was pardoned by trump, also Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn & many others.
https://apnews.com/article/steve-bannon-trump-pardons-broidy-66c82f25134735e742b2501c118723bb
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/07/10/trump-ally-steve-bannon-unpaid-legal-bills.html
Jeff at it again https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=1162742&post_id=139471339&utm_source=post-email-title&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=dg3z&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo2Mjc0MDcsInBvc3RfaWQiOjEzOTQ3MTMzOSwiaWF0IjoxNzAxODgwNTk5LCJleHAiOjE3MDQ0NzI1OTksImlzcyI6InB1Yi0xMTYyNzQyIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.sndQ-_RNR3Z_-G-25O79S8D1omhP33Ps_fMxQV4Kx8I
Thank you for that. I've been wondering the same thing about so many of these people.
OMG, Lisa!! Looks like we have gone down the same Rabbit Hole! I love your comment and plan on stealing (um, borrowing) some of your images - notably Agent Orange and (Tommy) Tupperware. It won’t be for publication, but I will, of course, give you kudos for your creativity.
For several days now and merely as a thought-project, I have been trying to put together a description of the Ding-a-Ling Brothers and Trumpy and Bumpy Three-Ring Circus. The rings are JEL - Justice, Elections, and Legislation. I am, of course, describing what “acts” I see in each of the Rings as well as various sideshows. I am also describing the audience reactions, which are showing about 45% cheering on the Ringleader - now named Agent Orange - and 45% booing Agent Orange with 10% sitting on their hands while eating peanuts, popcorn, cracker jacks, and cotton candy - no easy feat to do that “handless,” but, I am seeing what is going on in the audience.
Anyway, thanks, Lisa!!
You're adorable. I won't dignify them by calling them their given names. They are all grifting, whoring criminals that get away with murder. The problem with a malignant narcissist is they have something called narcissist rage. It's hair trigger rage. And they rage. Unfortunately, over Thanksgiving I was with one of my malignant narcissist family members. It got so bad in 24 hours I booked a flight home. My husband didn't last that long. They destroy everything they touch. Agent Orange controls his bootlickers with his rage. And then plays the I love you game. The country is involved in an abusive relationship with this man. They all need a support group for codependent relationships.
Sounds like we have had similar experiences lately, Lisa.
As I watch my brain process this stuff, I see myself looking intently at the Rings - Our Justice System, our Election System, and our Legislation System. BUT, I can’t help but see/hear the audience reactions, and I find those reactions (or lack thereof) frightening.
I have to tell you, though, reading and hearing Liz Cheney’s current viewpoints are shockingly encouraging. The Continuum Line between Rachel Maddow and Liz Cheney is dramatic POLICYWISE. But, DEMOCRACYWISE, not so much.
Cheney’s description of her thoughts and emotions as she was watching Mike Pence being rushed to safety on January 6th and her comparison to her reaction to watching her father being rushed to safety after 9/11 and the Bush’s Oval Office speech later about terrorists attacking our buildings, but they can never destroy our democracy/rule of law/founding principles, etc. (paraphrasing here)
This fills me with Fear and Hope at the same time.
I'm always hopeful. How else can I be a Democrat. However, I think apathy is a big enemy. I am incapable of small talk. I go straight to the issue. Even when I got hair done recently, I left telling the whole place to vote Blue and why. I hear political fatigue and my vote doesn't matter from others. I try to turn that thinking around. Even if they blow me off, I'll still try. Another issue is
Racism is built into the fabric of this country. My biracial family members deal with more of it since Agent Orange's election. Especially in the Midwest. Then there's the group that believes JFK, Jr will be our next vice president. Holy fuck!
In case you miss this below.
Lisa, you and Paul need to sit down in a hip coffee joint and keep talking. I want to be the fly hovering over the scone, so to speak.
No need for me to write what you two already have.
Sad for your family's political divisions, but it emphasizes how thoroughly divided American voters are. I hope the presidential polls are not reflective of the 2024 actual vote.
It's not so much political as Narcissist Personality Disorder is a dominant mental illness in my family. It's rare. Less than 1% are diagnosed. I have a least a 6 family members that are NPD. Living with them is a nightmare. They are the most abusive people you can imagine. I can tell you without a doubt Agent Orange's kids are a hot fucking mess. No one escapes the multigeneration pain of these people.
Great comment Lisa! If you don't do standup, you've got a second career waiting. Or, you might want a job writing for Jimmy Kimmel or Stephen Colbert. We can not let the Repugnitans ruin this country any more than they've already done.
Actually I did stand up when I was a drug and alcohol counselor. I used a lot humor with that job. I can find humor at a funeral. It's survival for me. I can't shut up. I've tried. I use humor to get one to think and laugh at the same time. Drives my family nuts. I love it.
Scary s**t...this horrific potentiality is making me revisit our move-to-Canada-or-Greece scheme....
What about the English under-the-radar hyena? he's not just a bystander, and somehow he manages to wear an invisibility hat.
Who?
The man posing, grinning, beside the newly "elected" Trump, standing together in front of a golden doorway after the results were announced. Rhymes with "garage".
You’re talking about Nigel Farage? He was one of the main architects of Brexit. Is he assisting Trump now? If so, I’ve not heard.
Ohhhh. Him!
You've got the picture Lisa59. And low rents like Sindie-powl will be paid back for jumping out of bed so soon. Not that she was any good would be my guess. And, all the military officers who stand to be promoted are just being hung out there and screw-ten-ized to see who will send the signal that they are quietly going to trade their loyalty to big-orange when the time comes (for promotion).., Huh? Think Fl(y)nn-again! Blammmo.
Now that’s an ugly thought. My mind can’t accept that route of thinking. Tubs is too stupid to come up with that sort of plan.
Yeah maybe it’s not his plan.
Yesterday would not be soon enough to say bye bye to SB.
SB is rotting from the inside out. If Washington DC sobered up I wonder how different this country would like.
Lisa59 i dont understand the Tupperware reference, can you please educate me? I love your comment....
I'm referring to that asshole Tuberville.
Lisa59. So well done. Disgrace we are eating our own lunch.
Anne-Louise, when I came across the Heritage Foundations’s manifesto soon after it dropped, I thought it was a spoof at first. The more I read the more alarmed & hair-on-fire I became. Tried sharing w/ friends & family & got mostly a “meh” response—what?! Fortunately in the intervening months the MSM (well, some of it anyway) is beginning sound the alarm. I still ask folks, friends & acquaintances, if they are aware & if not will email them links to the actual site and to vetted reviews & critiques. I always stress that this is NOT a joke and to pay close attention. I may be old, but still have lots of resistance in me to oppose this.
Isn’t it appalling that even after 6 years, people are reluctant to believe the danger we are in!
Appalling AND frightening. Couldn't believe in '16 he'd even be on the ballot-staying up to watch returns was like waiting for nuclear fallout to blow our way. It was the sum of all fears and a perfect storm combined; apathy, denial, greed, ignorance, bias against competent women, racism, a failed media, and failure of our electoral college system.
Lack of critical thinking have kept the implications of exactly what a return of trump in the WH would mean; he views his base as less than nothing (actually, include everyone other than him in that group) - he'll turn on them when they're no longer useful or piss him off. People understand this in their personal lives, they just don't get it in the larger picture.
DL, “perfect storm” hits the nail on the head…dead on.
TY!
It seems to be human nature to ignore danger. Look what happened with the warnings about a Hamas attack.
Or, more likely, political expediency. If they think an attack might work in their favor…Dick Cheney had long called for “war against Iran, Iraq and N Korea” but bemoaned that he lacked “sufficient provocation “. He got it on 9/11/2001. I suspect the same with Netanyahu. A loathesome man
Good for you Barbara. Sturdy, implacable, clever, and legal resistance is going to be needed. America cannot save itself by looking for a savior. That’s been tried. People with real legal power - like Jack Smith - must and will do their jobs. But regardless of how effective they are, it won’t tip the scales if a large number of Americans are hostile, maybe even actively, to them.
The turning of the calendar to January 1 is going to have a huge psychological effect on people. This is the year. As the months go by we are going to see more and more anger and anxiety, threats and creative action on both sides. Most citizens will keep their heads down, but that may not be an option any more. Loyalty test fever is going to accelerate.
This all assumes that Trump wins the primary. Regardless of how reckless and disingenuous the other candidates are, they do not have Trump’s genius for accelerating the temperature of followers to boiling point. Only Trump can.
If it ends up a Biden-Trump showdown, I do not see how the debates will be carried out without interference. They may well be canceled. Every organ grinder with a monkey will be amplifying his or her voice, anger, hatred or fear. On the night of the vote it will be sheer chaos. I do not think we will see a repeat of 2020 when the actual election off with, for the most part, shocking propriety under the circumstances. Phalanxes of police are going to have guard the epicenters of tension. I’m not sure they will be able to.
That is why I hope for Haley 😣or DeSantis 😖 to pull off the nearly impossible and win the nomination. Either one would be a terrible but survivable President . Terrible - it’s obvious why. Just listen to them. Survivable - they would not have the power of MAGA to inculcate fear. Cults have a low track record of success when they change leaders.
Finally there are all the unknown unknowns ahead. Given Americans’ penchant for excess and lack of consideration of consequents, and given that Fate just marches steadily along shaping things in his own way, who knows what else will happen?
The Israel-Hamas conflict is a known unknown right now. I am not comfortable with America’s proximity to this terrible situation, though I do appreciate Biden and Company’s levelheaded approach to it. However it’s not impossible that in 2024 America could have troops seriously engaged with Iran through Hezbollah? How would that affect the MAGA crowd? The Presidential race? China?
This will be a year like no other. Clear-sighted level headed people like you are desperately needed, as much and maybe more than a united Democratic people. Your group gives me confidence. (But not enough to think it’s a slam dunk for democracy :)
No offense. 😄
And so we wait.
Putin is very close to winning. Just look at yesterday's senate fight - R's holding Ukraine funding hostage. He'll get both Ukraine and the US gov't.
Just one more thing to fret over. Hamas knocked him off the front pages. Here I wouldn’t write off Europe - they are very near the ‘belly of the beast’. Surely NATO won’t let Russia off the hook now.
So much to worry about all at once 🙄
Surely a few events will slide our way.
I’m pretty sure Putin is aiding and abetting Hamas to be on those front pages
I believe it was David Farenthold on a recent Al Franken podcast who said that if Trump wins, we would get a global replay of the 20th century, with the United States on the other side. Ugh.
Pretty much agree, except for the take on DeSantis (could easily be as monstrous as trump) and Haley. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility in that scenario that Mike Johnson wouldn't be nominated if trump croaked (and don't I wish...).
My take on DeSantis is, I think, pretty much identical to yours. However, DeSantis is essentially a bold technocrat who would hold at best grudging appeal for the dangerous crowd of MAGA true believers. It would be easier for the entire government to keep him in check, because he would never enjoy (?) the same battalions of “death-threateners” that Trump has corralled. The fear factor for those who dare oppose a cult leader would vanish. Barring a Republican sweep, I think DeSantis would struggle to duplicate his successes in Florida.
As for people gathering en masse to nominate Mike Johnson. . . that would certainly be less than ideal. However, he is very untested and might inspire more ridicule than support.
Trump remains the real enemy. He has a feral brilliance tied to a singular lack of conscience.
Eric, excellent summary/observation! This whole thing has the air of a diabolical frenzied circus whilst we humans, carrying fellow species and ecosystems with us, circle the drain. Even Hollywood would reject this as an implausible plot. And yet here we are….so a clarion call to all caring bodies to the guard the ramparts and thwart this takeover!
You’re a fighter!
I like it. I think America will find more of your caliber.
With age comes perspective gained by living through events. My introduction to politics began in 1952 and I've been hyper aware ever since. We elders have something very valuable to contribute, and bless Heather Cox Richardson for providing this space for us to share our thoughts.
Trouble is, 'bad news' sells. Advertisers love it. So the election of "agent orange" will be a "bad news" event that will guarantee advertisers a huge payback. Killing fields! And, "you" know we will be swamped by it.
Keep sharing your thoughts and warnings, Barbara!
Good citizens such as yourself, especially those from one of the cooler places in our cool Golden State, are indispensable!
Not a bad idea to check out- know your enemy!
I am too frightened to read the site. I refuse to "click" and give it air. I do not doubt your assessment. Free speech magnifying evil comprehensive plan!
A calming path Victoria is to take closer look at where Jack's Smith's Team is going with their trial plan to submit character evidence of Trump's "other crimes, wrongs or acts". Be certain Jack knows his way around Trump's distinct patterns of "wrongs & acts". See, Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE). 404.
Just one example. In 2016 tfg lost the popular Presidential vote by over 3,000,000 votes. Trump's false claims targeting California,Virginia & New Hampshire results were quite elaborate lies with absolutely no evidence. You can be certain Jack Smith has chosen virtually identical false claims in 2020 that will be admitted at trial against tfg.
Bryan, I nearly & quite literally stopped breathing as I read through HCR’s point on letter and the many highly intelligent responses. Jack Smith’s latest addition to dump’s infinite-criminal- rap-sheet has allowed me to exhale, calm down
and uncoil the knots in what’s left in my gray matter and heart.
Thank you!
Thank you Samm. 30 plus years of Trial work calms my perspective.There are many ways to channel the nearly intolerable stress. I garden.in this beautiful time of late Fall.
Bryan Sean McKown - "I garden.in this beautiful time of late Fall."
Your Link gives me this warning:
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Your Malwarebytes Premium blocked this website because it may contain a Trojan.
We strongly recommend you do not continue.
I'm so there with you!
While I agree with you Bryan, but if Jack can’t get to a court room to share all of his en what. It all truly hinges on Nov 24. This country needs to see a Blue Tsunami across all levels of government to move this country away from this destructive path to authoritarianism.
I do not disagree with your political. action focus Chris. Jack Smith's Team is getting wide coverage including in other judicial venues. Jack sometimes responds to events in the am with a supplementary brief in the afternoon.
Jack's latest filing was treated like "BREAKING NEWS" with his Brief headings posted on MSNBC verbatim.
Thank you for this crumb of hope....
While of course you are correct, Bryan, I must say that it's still a bit early in the morning for me to read about the FRE. I'm trying to avoid the deep diving into the CCP that my day demands, and you're cutting a bit close to the bone!
I would not send you to the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) in the AM. I posted the correct evidentiary statute for those who Google the law including a pre-law student who is already doing good legal analysis.
Ha! Much appreciated.
If the information HCR shares frightens you, imagine how you’ll feel if - or when - the jack-booted fascists tffg controls stage the 21st century version of Kristallnacht. The time to engage is now, while our vote can be sufficient to turn the tide!
They’ll definitely have a Reichstag fire first. Then Kristallnacht. Then the camps for political prisoners.
You don't "click" unless you're so interested that you click on one of the tabs across the page. It's not a mouse-trap, like a scam. It inveigles you in, but it can't catch you unless you give it some information by going in further than the cover page.
Yes it can. Websites track who visits. Cookies. You don't need to leave data.
And yet I wanted to read the darn thing and at least show to my Republican friend that it exists and what is said there. He did not believe me when I told him about it.......said he had never heard it on the news (far right radio talk). And he had never heard the "vermin" comments until I replayed the video. So far right news maybe are not highlighting these 2 things mentioned here...........for what reason?? I am glad folks here know about the Mandate.
Victoria, there are several good sites that critique it—they read it so you don’t have to! One is from the American Prospect (there is no paywall, but they request you register to read): https://prospect.org/politics/2023-11-27-far-right-blueprint-america/ A neighbor of mine, a small businessman (plumber) was recently collecting names to recommend him for a local Democratic org (indeed I signed it), and I asked him if he’d heard about it. He hadn’t, but as we spoke he wrote Project 2025 with a pen on his hand so he could check it out. Later in the day I emailed him the link above. I did read the Heritage intro & wee bit of the 900+ pages (couldn’t stomach much). On their site is an enrollment “opportunity” to join their training program so as to be ready as one of the cadre of potential gov’t employees to be appointed “starting day one”. Yeah, they actually said that. Basically they have published a call for all persons who want an autocratic theocracy to sign up and come together—blatantly ballsy IMHO (but then so so is TFFG).
Chilling.
Progwoman: That was going to be my reply as well. Chilling indeed to consider how far we have traveled in just 8 years to get to this point: when the leading presidential candidate of a major party and likely nominee can utter that response to Hannity's question, AND THERE IS NO COLLECTIVE GASP OR DENUNCIATION FROM HIS PARTY. Chilling also to realize that we who oppose this wannabe dictator are not surprised by any of this.
I shudder to think of what escalatingly dangerous future utterances by this deranged man will reveal of this country.
I am so afraid congress is not going to authorize money for UK and Putin is going to annihilate the world.
All those people who want to stop providing assistance to Ukraine really don't understand the stakes.
Yeah, my daughter the history major got lectured by someone that Ukraine used to be a part of "Russia" and they are entitled to have it back. Guess he never heard of the Soviet Union.
Some are simply proPutin
Yes you are right. They don’t understand Putin’s expansionist ambitions and they don’t care. Those who are witholding aid of course are on Putin’s side.
The thing about Putin is…if he can’t “win” and have his way, he would just as soon blow it all up. It is horrifying that too many of our rightwing reps are admirers of him. Downright wicked.
Absolutely right, Doug!
I'm curious to know if Hannity followed up on Trump's Pinochet-esque response of "Except for Day One"
Yep. Like a phial of poison.
Deliberately and with malice, but the presentation is top notch. Scary that some will be impressed. Like the NRx (New Right) that Gregg Olear wrote about on Dec 5. Chilled me to the bone.
Thank you. Going on that website right now.
Here's the website https://www.project2025.org/
"An authoritarian system."
Can we please stop stop stop using this weasel word when talking of a bloody reign of terror?
It may be good for academics in ivory towers, but the challenge is to wake America's drugged, sleeping population up to a danger far greater than all historical threats from external enemies. How the hell are we to wake people up with a boring 5 1/2 syllable term they don't even understand.
It's like shooting your own toes one at a time.
For goodness sake...
The enemy's within the gates and all that those who should know better can do is gargle mumbojumbo.
I agree, however, if we need to wake up the masses -they have already tuned out of factual depictions such as catastrophic climate change or post-Citizens United danger raised by obscene concentrations of wealth.
I think far too many people don't care what the system of government is, provided they get to keep their flat screen TV's, the Kardashians are on the "Arts & Entertainment" channel, college football is on Saturday and the NFL is on Sunday. And often they are the same folks who will BBQ hot dogs on July 4th and lose a finger or two to fireworks accidents.
Whether it's called 'authoritarianism' or 'bloody reign of terror' -there are at least 71 million who voted for the orange prison apprentice in 2020 who will say "we don't care as long as it's not woke" -without a clue as to what that means.
Too apt, George, too true.
That's why the only possible way of stirring this slumbering mass of couch potatoes and wargames fantasists is to scare the s*** out of them.
Everyone will drown when this ship goes down. If this ship goes down. And the turbulence will drag down others.
All for that wretched grotesque goon of an Apprentice Antichrist...
Pass border reform and we remove a talking point. All this mumbo jumbo fear mongering is kooky.
Except it takes both houses to do that and one of them prefers using it as a talking point rather than actually, you know, governing.
It is their way of keeping it an issue; never deal with it and it won't go away so you get to use it as a talking point/weapon.
During the era of G.W. Bush, there were those who tried to immigration reform passed. The R's killed it. They have ZERO intent on governing or solving our country's problems. The R's killed it, so they could continue to use immigration as a talking point. Then EVIL people like Stephen Miller come along with ideas like family separation, which is a psychopathic policy. The R's only wish to fatten their pockets and those of their robber baron donors.
Border Reform would remove a talking point if that reform pleased most people. What would it look like? More restrictions that don't work or a better funded system of processing the workers we desperately need to get things done - to pay taxes - to contribute to Social Security and Medicare as our population ages out?
There are two jobs for every applicant in the US. Nurses, teachers, and health care workers of all kinds are either retiring or just quitting (many early from burnout). Just try to find a qualified person to provide home care for an elderly relative. Home care is infinitely cheaper and more compassionate than warehousing in "nursing homes". Just try to find child care workers for day care facilities. The lack of employees is punishing our entire "care" system. The elderly and the young suffer accordingly. And mothers stay home because child care is N/A or too expensive. Careers are stunted.
Try to find waitstaff for restaurants - popular eateries are closing for lack of employees. The owners of tech companies that are to build "chip factories" here worry that they won't be able to staff the facilities. Our condo association struggles to find contractors to choose from - lack of workers means they can't always take on new customers. A lack of employees is holding back our basic system of private enterprise.
My version would alienate all who hate the "others". Their version would be a bigger longer wall and shooting from helicopters. Despite the fact that it's an established fact that immigrants commit less crime than native born Americans. But logic is lost when hate is weaponized.
Biden has repeatedly asked Congress to come up with "border reform" and the funding to get it done. But the MAGAs and the Oligarchs don't want it done - it is the perfect campaign ammunition. Which supports your point.
As the Climate Crisis exacerbates food and water deprivation and as more and more governments south of us and in Africa succumb to cartel dominance - the more people will be seeking an escape. They are coming. In very, very large numbers. And they will find a way. Many will die. Many more will be flooding North America and Europe in a desire to survive.
There are two choices: Do nothing and continue the chaos and confusion or fund a system that will manage the millions who we need - and are coming anyway.
Sorry to rant. But there is a great big "help wanted sign" in dozens of professions and industries. And there are thousands of applicants knocking on our doors. We could answer the knock - that's how most of us got here. Our ancestors arrived and worked.
Does anyone have a good detailed plan?
That was a good rant. No need to apologize. I agree. We can’t have our cake and eat it. Of course, I would inject a losing argument by suggesting population control. But that DOA. But it is a solution to earth destruction.
On topic, politics is a nasty business. Anyone need only pick up any well written political history book to read of ridiculous political reasoning. Today the border is one. We don’t have the luxury to snub our collective nose. Get it out of the way. We have too much to lose. Extend in parts, a god damn wall. I don’t give a frick. Just expand the base and get the vote anyway you can. We are certainly at a crossroads as never before. And Trump is only a manifestation of this but an important one. He can and will be gone tomorrow. The politics, reactive problems remain. The Steve Bannon remain. The growing militarization of society remains. Now is the time to just get stupid issues out of the way. It will not harm us. And staying on point, we should outright ban Tik Tok, lol. Allright? It really is harming the behavior of our children. It’s insidious and not so easily identified. But it’s there. And it will add to our base if we democrats show initiative.
Bill A., no rant, just the Cassandra truth. Took the words right outta my mouth. Anyone paying attention could see this coming for many years. We, collectively, had a chance to formulate a considered plan & way forward, but squabbled amongst ourselves instead. A number of years ago I read the book The Earth Without Us….sounded kinda like a paradise!
So well stated!!! Thank you.
Kiss a Peach Bill Katz. Im so tired of the border reform BS rhetoric.... I live in a Border State. The only people who scream that are the Repugnant Republicans who manufacture BS. I've seen more danger from white American males
I don’t disagree. My point is to remove this divisive issue from the table. Don’t you understand? Republicans use it like poison to rally their base. I say give them what they want but really don’t want because the issue is more important to exploit over and over again. So please don’t misunderstand me. We need to grow our base. And the optics (which are important) won’t grow if we don’t get this out of the way.
Me too. i am living 40 miles from the Border now. Republicans howl into the wind.
GOP won’t let it pass because they need the talking point. Meanwhile more of the AntiFa crowd could be elevating the good work that Harris has done there:
“President Biden famously dumped the southern border situation in Harris’ lap, and today that “crisis” has become a mere trickle of a problem. Harris played a large role in this, working with multiple Central American governments to reduce the political and economic pressures that were sending people north.
Believing that people with jobs don’t flee their countries, she met with the presidents of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala and pressured US companies doing business in the area to step up and help, securing over $4 billion in local job-creating commitments from 47 major companies — that didn’t pull jobs away from America.”
https://hartmannreport.com/p/will-vp-harris-drawing-a-line-in-193?utm_source=%2Finbox&utm_medium=reader2
In the dirty world of politics, optics win elections.
Agree! Big ticket item there. "Action" into the headlines. Deal with the humanitarian issues, and use $$ for it. Shove it down the conservative throat. In the long run it IS being conservative. We'll save this nation. Cause Nikki to choke.
So damn scary
Your despair re: the sleepy state of much of the American electorate is understandable, especially if you don't get out much yourself. Just as a reminder, there are two numbers I find great comfort in: 81,000,000 and 320. I also find comfort in the election results in places like Kansas, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Virginia.
Don’t get too comfortable, the fix is all planned out. Will take a jolt to get the slumbering aroused.
Very true Steve. It is the heroic work by many dedicated people and organizations who continue to fight to bend the moral arc of the universe toward justice, equity, and democracy. It's important to remember and celebrate that fact.
Yes, I understand the moral arc does not bend itself. So far, the weight of truth has bent and broken even the worst despots and social systems. It will continue to do so, but only with our help.
But until now we have not had a populace glued to their screens 24/7 and AI technology to deceive them. Our public school teachers have an uphill battle.
It’s the dark corners we can’t see into and being on a frontier we have never been that are the most frightening. Polls mean nothing anymore and there is reassurance in that recent elections have supported democracy. But, our imperfect justice system continues to struggle in the face of criminals with the resources and intent to find every obstructive keyhole possible, including stacking SCOTUS with authoritarians.
Steve, I suspect "sleepy" is an inaccurate adjective for our electorate. One suspects the real problem is that most who see what's coming don't want to deal with the incessant and intrusive phone calls, emails, texts, and other forms of unsolicited "opinion polling" that feeds the seemingly endless "polls" and "surveys" which thereby become inaccurate and therefore irrelevant. The only poll with real meaning happens on voting day, whether the R's accept it or not. We're not sleepy, we're tired of the MM and political droning which passes as "news." To be honest, even listening to MSNBC or CNN has become an exercise in hearing the same stuff hashed and rehashed. We live in echo chambers, albeit echo chambers of our own choosing.
Hi John! You are of course right about my choice of the word "sleepy" to describe even a part of the American electorate. I chose that word ironically so as not to sound like too big of an A-hole to the person I was responding to. I do get out some. My kids are millennials, and I work with a fair number of Gen X and Z-ers. I have never seen a more engaged, civic minded group in my life. I used the numbers and election results to say how hopeful I am about what I am seeing.
Polls only show probability. Predicting an election result 11 months away is like predicting the weather for 11 months out, its generally not accurate. Plus, every major poll I am aware of since 2016 has been wrong - even ones taken one or two weeks prior to what ever election they were trying to predict. Why do we continue to put such stock in them?
Well then, AMEN says I ,Steve!
I am SO glad you are out there and active!...especially with the younger voters and should-be voters.
Check out Simon Rosenberg.
Has anyone noticed the deficit has declined $2.3 Trillion since 2020?
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crfb.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Finline-images%2FCOVID_relief_ending.jpg&tbnid=1S-3z0ieqvSBiM&vet=1&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crfb.org%2Fblogs%2Fdid-president-biden-reduce-deficit-1-trillion&docid=tQyFCPuUVJmeCM&w=960&h=720&hl=en-US&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim%2Fm4%2F3
Yup. And, 3rd Quarter 2023 GDP has been fined tuned UP to be around 5.2% with a robust "Holiday Season" underway.
Growing GDP will increase revenue and reduce the deficit going forward, hopefully more than increases in entitlements.
Why isn't this blasted by the WH on a daily basis?
Facts don't persuade. Stories do. People are anxious to reduce the size of government and increase self-reliance and individual freedom. They feel the majority of DEMs asks too much from government and contributes too little. That's why I support a consumption tax with pre-bates for subsistence level consumption and more foresight and good judgement training in primary education. The majority of Americans cant save 3 months expenses. Universal democracy leads to one vote one time then autocracy. We haven't properly instructed the poor who are being led to bad decisions at the polls and insurrection.
"Numbers matter - but not as much as the storytelling that surrounds the numbers. It’s the difference between data and insight: I never fall into the trap of believing that the numbers speak for themselves."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/chriswestfall/2020/10/28/why-storytelling-beats-statistics-but-only-100-of-the-time/
orange prison apprentice ❤️. I'm going to borrow that. It goes with orange Jesus.
I often dream of Netflix and NBC in a bidding war: "Orange is the New Orange" versus NBC's "Prison Apprentice".
I'd watch either.
George, I am anticipating the TFFG’s prison pics—unlike his Clockwork Orange booking glare—mostly cuz I don’t think they let you have hairspray in prison…want to see his new “look”.
It's obvious, but I have to add that I can't wait to see him in an orange jumpsuit. Somebody had to say it.
The probability that Trump ever sees the inside of a jail cell is very low.
America is built on criminals like Trump getting what they want, when they want it, without consequence.
All of our existing corporations harken back to the original railroad corporations. Go read about that era and you will see the founding principals of corporations and their leaders are your basic fraud and crime, especially during the Civil War.
🤣
You nailed it.
“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. “Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny ‘failed to take into account man’s almost infinite appetite for distractions.’ In 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us.
“This book is about the possibility that Huxley, not Orwell, was right.”
https://principatoscuola.it/huxley-vs-orwell-competing-visions-of-the-future-in-brave-new-world-and-1984/
Ahem, methinks Huxley and Orwell perfectly “bookend” the issue (sorry, couldn’t resist!).
Key element here: 7 decades of population conditioning via television. Industrial / battle ready grade organizing funded by oligarchs built and operates the infrastructure of persuasion & manipulation, now boosted by AI. It’s evident in current META FB & other social media environments. The apparent level of sophistication and penetration is what would be expected, based on tailorization capabilities. <> Effective countermeasures are probably a combination of face to face communication in public benefit events (real world), using Karin Tamerius - Smart Politics comm techniques, and social & mass media message framing using George Lakoff - Media Lab quidance. Organizing principle could be climate change / environmental degradation effect on quality of life & stagnant social mobility.
The Powell Memo gave rise to an entire ecosystem devoted to concentrating wealth, manufacturing consent, diminishing education, and misdirecting Americans. While much of what you point out as countermeasures are important -there really needs to be an entire countervailing long-term infrastructure funded and developed to undo the generations of damage done by Reagan and post-Reagan politics and wealth concentration, and more importantly providing an aspirational vision of what an equitable, just, and meaningfully democratic America would look like.
We need to give rise to the Powell Memo more often here. thanks.
I agree & am glad HCR highlighted it in a post. I've been bringing it up in comments on her FB posts for maybe 3 or 4 years, as it seems the right time to pop it in. I'll provide a nexus reference summary of related key elements later. Have work to do outside today.
Perfectly put, George
I hadn’t heard of her. So thanks for the recommendation, good concepts. At first I wasn’t sure what to think of the term “political psychiatrist” (she has been a psychiatrist but is no longer). I have hoped to see a think tank of best scholars of disciplines such as psychiatry and politics. Will be checking it out. Thank you 🙏
Can we not use the term "the masses"? It sounds like something from Karl Marx.
On the Marx scale -I try to tend toward Groucho.
If there's a particular well-accepted term that's preferable, I'll commit to using it!
Actually, I should have said Stalinism.
Wow, you're a cynical man, George! I would continue to discuss, but I see that my Hulu home screen has a most enticing pic of a bikini clad Kim Kardashian distracting my attention.
Nailed it!
(Feel free to take and use this:)
We need some downhome language to start getting the meaning of things across to people who can relate to ordinary ways of talking.
Let's start asking questions that really get to people's minds hearts and pocketbooks, using President Biden's way of speaking but even more bluntly. Let's not assume that people understand how things get done, where their local state and federal governments actually get to their ways of doing what we need, usually running things for everybody's good the best they can with what they’ve got to work with.
Let's assume people don't understand how public works work, never studied it. If they are on social security, briefly describe how that actually works and that their own money went into it and it's coming back in a long-term form. What would they do without their social security check? Who's going to return to them the promised money they've already paid in, that our government saved up and reinvested, that then delivers those checks every month? Their church?
Do people know how roads are built by using taxes back into paying for all that construction? Do people know how it's our governments at all the different levels run things we all count on, from building or running the very stuff that affects how we all live every day?
Things are Never perfect, but griping and whining don't make them any better. That's the work of how we as citizens take a closer look at the ways things are actually working now, and getting down to the realities of how and what to change and improve whatever needs to change and improve.
Stop assuming we all speak high falutin college speak, because we don't. Get to what things actually mean, and how just complaining in the first place needs to mean you have a responsibility to get involved for the better - where your anger and frustration can be and needs to be used to construct things better, not tear down what is already doing at least some of the work that we need for us to live in everyday ways.
Where private companies produce stuff we need, for us to use that stuff safely counts on the laws and public departments that look after and enforce that safety to make the food supply, the energy supply, transportation networks, health departments, schools, public safety laws and departments work for us.
Got a complaint? Make suggestions to help something work better, by not just getting all indignant, but by being part of how to work it better, for instance working to elect people who are actually best prepared to do the actual work of it. Not the blowhards who make loudest noises and promise the moon.
Take responsibility. Know your neighbors and get to know new people you can work with, the others who can also join to improve your neighborhoods, help out however you can. Make better suggestions. Get real and realistic. Don't support people who just complain all the time and don't have any actual suggestions that would actually work. Loud and angry just gets you loud and angry.
Take a much closer look at people trying to get elected to see what they've already been doing to prepare for the job, not just what they say they are. People we elect should serve in a public way, should actually understand how public things work before they get the job. If they are trying to continue in a public job, how well have they already done?
Our media at all levels needs to be run, staffed and reported on by people who report the news, the stories, from a much more educated place that doesn't try to get you upset for the sake of it. Not just sitting at a desk and reading out like it's mostly entertainment - that only gets your hackles up, doesn't give you clearer ways to get, to understand and work with steady and reliable information when they read out words that try to make bad look somehow OK. When, opinion is misused to falsely ‘balance’ out the reporting of the day it is a terrible use of the public airwaves.
News analysis is needed especially when people are lying on purpose and should be called out for it. Facts actually matter a lot. Made up facts are harmful, not helpful or how can we even work together to create a more reasonable life?
You can't trust someone who's just trying to make you mad all the time to get what they want.
Use everyday language to get everyday meaning across. We all need it. This can't be some ivory tower lecture time for impressing each other. Why?
This is the most essential time of our lives to be clear, to be truthful, to be working with all the facts we need to make, to actually create the best choices and changes for our whole society. All of us.
Thank you for making all these points that need so badly to be made. There's so much ignorance everywhere of "how it works", so much blissful irresponsibility. Such scant awareness of the responsibility that rests on every American voter's shoulders, given the unimaginable material power that is still America's.
There's reason to doubt that more than a handful of citizens will be aware of this responsibility.
I feel we have made it so hard for so many to have time to learn about stuff we should all know about.
When people are working so hard everyday just to make ends meet they may not have the inclination, or maybe the time and energy, for example, to look up the history of the Palestinians and Israelis, to better understand what is going on there today. I feel this is by design, though I am a cynic.
Also present is competition from scrolling and mindless big screen viewing.
Some smart responsible people I know put up the stop sign with their hands when I talk about these things. They claim to be sick of it. Are they sick of free and fair elections too?
Most days I feel an overwhelming sadness at the loss of innocent life and hatred.
Being realistic is not necessarily a cynical condition unless acknowledging what's right in plain sight is somehow the end and not a beginning of doing things better than you've observed they are now. What's been going on heavily - a lot - since about the end of WWII is the beefing up of the profit-at-all-costs movement of great greed, at the ongoing deepening expense to our world health our earth health and us.
Seeing behind the curtain (Wizard of Oz) has itself been made into a 'specialty' for 'higher' education blah blah blah, as if ordinary people shouldn't believe their own eyes and feelings and do something about it. When everything is for sale the grifters will try to sell you any lie they can: Santos, Trump and most Republicans being the out front hucksters. And why so many don't see good for what it is when being so tired out from the shit storm and being casualties, not yet survivors.
Realism can be your friend. With many, the anger part shows up first, drives itself or is driven by someone else calling it out to actions that are basically self destructive. This is where ignorance overrrides anything reasonable, where promises are made
to satisfy anger rather than real need. How can you change what you don't understand?
Thanks for mentioning the treadmill, living to work instead of working to live. I have long been convinced that it is 100% deliberate. No one can stop people from thinking, but they can be kept so busy that only exceptional human beings like Dr Cox Richardson will manage to think things through.
And here -- a pity to bury this comment, I'll have to repeat it -- despite the quite remarkable quality of HCR's work, I have been wondering both about the cost to her health and how, with the best intentions and the best methodology in the world, to manage the perfect balance between everyday events and context, both immediate and historical.
Now, no tribute would be adequate, but while she has added new dimensions to our perception, interpretation and understanding of events both current and historical, it does seem to me that the daily analysis of news hardly allows enough time fully to digest the significance of those events. Thus, while her work may make up for the weaknesses of current journalism and media focused on moneymaking rather than fulfilling the necessary role of informing society, you'll hate me for saying this, but I am not alone in wondering if a weekly rhythm might not better enable our mentor both to inform us of developments and historical precedents and to deepen her analysis of their implications.
The problem is how to prioritize news items, report the crucial ones adequately AND think through what these developments will mean for us and for the actors concerned. Currently, I have no idea how HCR manages to teach, write books and daily items, live her life and juggle so much factual material in so short a space of time with such understanding of its significance... when even as a younger man I'd have been quite unable to do more than draft press releases, sometimes perhaps providing an account of relevant historical precedents.
It is all done with such virtuosity that I can't help wondering what she could not do, given just a little more time in which to stand back and assimilate it all.
But perhaps I'm being impertinent, this is her business, not mine, and I'm sure she knows how best to perform the task she has undertaken. Even so, she's laboring almost like a war leader and less working around the clock might both be kinder to her and yield results even more remarkable.
If people take me to task for writing these things, I accept the criticism, while being sure that I am not alone in worrying about the cost to our benefactor of so many well-nigh sleepless nights...
Peter, I found the Michael Lewis book The Fifth Risk, within the context of his his focus (admin transitions), to be an excellent primer as to what civil servant & gov’t employees actually DO to keep us safe & the country running. My opinion is that most are in it for being “of service” and not getting rich (I say that as someone who retired after 40+ years as a CA state employee).
My own background as a civil servant first in UK government service, then working for the European Union, while my father served as an officer in the Royal Navy.
What I noticed in the mid-1980s, with the retirement of the generation that had seen war and suffered from it, men and women strongly motivated by a Never Again ethic, was a clear shift from "What's in it for US," to "What's in it for ME?".
By now, we have seen the extreme consequences of this degeneration...
"... a bloody reign of terror"
Indulging in overheated hyperbole is the sort of specious rhetoric which obscures more than it reveals and plays on emotion rather than reason. That it works is no recommendation for embracing it as a tactic. As it undercuts coming to consensus through reasoned debate of empirical evidence. Indeed i"It's like shooting your own toes one at a time."
Many in Trump's base may be relatively uneducated and misinformed. But that cannot be said of all those who know better but still hedge their bets on his delivering the GOP agenda. Including the repurposing of the American democratic republic as a clerical fascist state. All the 'movement conservatives' who know exactly what authoritarianism means and are betting they will not only be spared the catastrophe but will profit. Not only those swayed by Alex Jones but those emulating William Buckley.
Why it will take a unified effort on all fronts. Yet opposition to chump seems more splintered than ever. True that WM Buckley would have kicked the Alex Jones worshippers to the curb, but the idiots and the elite (yes, Buckley was an elite snob) have coalesced and are United in making Project 2025 our reality. Even if most of them have no clue that they are doing just that. But the behind-the-scenes drivers know exactly where they are headed.
The mere thought of the potentiality of unification is represented by Liz Cheney. More lawmakers who see the danger should follow her example instead of pathetically shivering in their boots in sheer paralytic fear....
They are the most pathetic cowards. She has more balls than the pack of them. She likely inherited them from her Daddy Dick. If she wins out over chump, Dems should beware…
Say it like it is Jeri!
I usually appreciate your very good judgment, Lin, but when a candidate, backed by a well-presented policy statement, namely Project 2025, actually promises a reign of terror from day one, does it not make sense to take him at his word?
Does it not follow that real danger calls for a healthy reaction of fear?
The awful thing is how extremist politicians and irresponsible media have stoked and maintained a paralyzing state of chronic fear, one that plays into the hands of would-be despots.
Terming Republican assaults on government and civil rights a "reign of terror" just invites right wing 'originalists' to refute it by pointing out that Trump et al are not proposing to set up guillotines on the National Mall.
The Reagan revolution - and those wanting to set up statues of Reagan in every town square, in echo of Daughters of the Confederacy elevating national traitors as heritage heroes - are much more insidious.
My point, Lin, is that we must defend ourselves both from the insidious cultivation of chronic fear and conformism -- the two always go hand in hand -- and a resentful madman's desire to foist upon us the likes of Judge Freisler and Stalin's show trials prosecutor Vyshinski and their methods.
Because you are rational and very sane, you may perhaps underestimate the psychopathology of both would-be dictators and the masses they manipulate.
I have not forgotten the conversation I had when very young with a distinguished German Jewish judge who had been forced to flee his beloved country to save his life. He condemned the failure to execute Hitler after the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich.
After that, nothing could stop the man until untold millions had died.
America is so much more powerful than Hitler's Germany, hence the absolute need to uphold, reform and defend the country's institutions.
As in Nazi Germany, American right wing jurists are emptying national law of justice. In this country, through the ouija board games and specious rhetoric of 'originalism' and 'textualism'. Interpretive strategies long debunked by other disciplines involved in textual analysis.
Although there are many similarities between Nazi and Republican goals and tactics, one must be very self disciplined and specific in one's critique. There are significant differences. Hitler was the head of Nazi Germany; killing him might have effectively derailed Nazism. Trump is merely the figurehead of the Republican drive to clerical fascism. He's only put his brand on the GOP wedding of movement conservatism and populism. Arguably, Mitch McConnell and Leonard Leo have done more institutional - and individual - harm.
I am loathe to use labels like 'psychopathology' but I would say that Republican breaking down the wall between church and state has replaced coming to consensus through reasoned debate of empirical evidence with allegiance to the absolutes of religious creed. Republicans have elided religious ethics and elevated the irrationalities of religious belief. All in the service of unmitigated greed.
Liz Cheney uses the well-known term "dictatorship," which I have adopted as an alternative to "authoritarian regime," "autocracy," etc. for many of the same reasons you state. To me, the concept "American dictatorship" is extremely jarring and precisely what it sounds like this Project 25 and Trump himself are going for.
And I think we should emphasize the absolute corruption and lawlessness (for elites only -- rules for thee, not for me) that unchecked power of a dictatorship unleashes. We see that in Russia, for example. And this emphasis allows for an understandable, basic argument that this movement will ultimately strip citizens of their inherent rights and powers under the Constitution.
This movement may take time to strip citizens... of citizenship. But if, as promised, that stripping starts with a bang on Day One, "ultimately" will not take long.
I'm sorry, I am not referring to you in saying this, Duke SF, but after all I've seen in the course of the past five decades and more, I cannot understand how Americans can be quite so complacent and unimaginative in the face of immense dangers -- immense, even if we completely discount all the country's divisions and institutional ills.
Is no one even vaguely aware of the implications of climate change? Water shortages, desertification, population movements on a scale we can hardly yet imagine, to mention only one or two problems at random.
"I cannot understand how Americans can be quite so complacent and unimaginative..."
In decades of knocking on doors for issues and candidates, literally meeting people where they live, may I say rather than "complacent and unimaginative" - preoccupied and distracted.
Yes, I have been aggravated beyond endurance by the disengagement and blinkered self assurance of some privileged people. But then there is the struggle to 'get by' and 'make do' of the unemployed and working poor, the anxieties of the middle class - and I wonder about the impact on voting of drug use / addiction and alcoholism.
Sometimes it feels like something out of Dickens and Marx. I know people have studied all this but meeting it first hand - feeling hollow talking with a formerly middle class person now living in their car in a parking lot - yes a Democratic administration or majority will make a difference but in the moment the case for voting seems abstract.
Hmmmm, Duke, perhaps the moniker “dicDONtaitorship”??
haha! With a "k" before the "D" maybe?
And then there is also the even more basic argument that a Trump dictatorship is all about turning us into enemies of one another, retribution, setting us up for a civil war. Is that what people want, or do they want to live their lives in peace and harmony? There is no path to peace or harmony with Trump. It's all retribution, division, fear. How so-called Christians could support that is beyond me. It's absolutely anti-New Testament. But that's another topic.
"How so-called Christians could support that is beyond me. It's absolutely anti-New Testament. "
1. The leap of faith is an embrace of unreason, at best a ritualization of irrationality.
2. Ha. You are leaving out all of the apocalyptic visions of the NT. What reason and science based thinking see as existential threats to be mitigated, religious habits of mind see as signs and wonders heralding the prayed for end times.
Or in Nietzchean and Freudian terms - the strictures and repressions of religious creed, create a pressure cooker of resentment. There is some common sense in ritually balancing carnival and lent. Or else risk the bacchanals of destruction, of Gotterdamerung.
Well-said, lin*. Yes, voters know what "authoritarianism" means, and roughly 60% of white voters are all-in on establishing an authoritarian government. It's not that they don't understand what they're voting for. It's much worse than that. They do know what they're voting for.
Agreed, Rex. It is what they want; I can think of no other explanation.
Rex, I assume you perceive "roughly 60% of white voters are all-in on establishing an authoritarian government" because some poll or polls have indicated that percentage. But exactly WHO is responding to polls these days? Bots? Trolls? Extremist operatives? One simply can't believe the polls anymore.
Exit polls, 2016 and 2020.
Ahhh, certainly likely to be a bit more representative than most polls
...yet still leave out those sending in absentee ballots and early voters which I recall were utilized more heavily by older voters from one party more than the other and perhaps active duty service members; SOOO hard to get an accurate view!
rex, 60%? That seems surprisingly high. Where can I read a study?
Exit polls, 2016 and 2020.
Ah, er, um
What exit polls? Taken Where?
Why are they voting for an authoritarian government?
Based in what they say, my guess is that they want a government that will preserve the systemic advantages of white Americans over the rest of the population, and they perceive, correctly, that a fairly elected government will not do that.
Lin, that’s what puzzles me. Tfg has a regularly demonstrated trait of NO loyalty to those sycophants slavishly devoted to him. How do those supporters believe it will be different with them? Are they that deluded?
I think many Republican supporters - funders and voters - have some evidence to think they can ride out the catastrophe relatively unscathed. That their status and/or money will preserve their privileges.
I think others believe the troubles brought on by Republican policy - to our most vulnerable neighbors, fragile planet, and endangered democracy - are the signs and wonders heralding the Second Coming. That what we see as existential problems to be solved, they see as much desired end times.
Go figure.
Yes, they are…and enthralled by him: You Put a Spell On Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvUU44SmjnA He’s like a sleight-of-hand carny barker drawing the gullible into the big tent….
ML, “Deluded to be Included”, till they’re not
One man, TT! Holding reign over 11 too Military positions. Do not forget their reasoning... To prevent abortion! Without abortion access, annually 700 thousand more mouthes to feed. The father's of unwanted babies have already laid the financing of these proposed "saved" children on the Government, and on the backs of women. Our New Digital age must teach men to ejaculate responsibly. The educating must occur, and, outside of of the Political Arena. We must govern from our abundance. Scarcity has been overcome for human survival.
YES Victoria, and we now have the means through DNA to actually hold perpetrator fathers as well as mothers responsible for their "irresponsible ejaculations!" Take 2 to tango. Oh wait, that will require going through legal means and we are discovering daily how often legal remedies founder when encountering big money...
"reasoned debate of empirical evidence" does not seem to be an option as faith has trumped facts.
Exactly. The word 'dictator' is one most of the public understands and it best describes what a DT second term (that would absolutely last until he dies in office) would be. Why aren't we using it in the media, or at least in this forum?
As much as I do not want the US to become a dictatorship, I also don't want the US to be a theocracy. I am a non-theist as are millions of Americans. I abhor the Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Church for foisting their patriarchy on us.
They belief that white men should be in control of everything and it is their right to control everyone else. They don't believe that rape and abuse are crimes that should be prosecuted. You can see how few women were in positions of power in the Trump government. You can count them on one hand.
You put that well, Gary. Thank you. I seem to remember a meme that went around some time ago featuring Dame Maggie Smith in her role as Professor McGonagall saying "Religion is like a penis. Fine to take it out and wave it about, but don't cram it down my throat".
Ally, REALLY glad I was not drinking anything when I read this!
...and Gary, the very few women had to be physically attractive.
In December 2016 I wondered whether DT, after bankrupting everything he touches, would "turn to the only thing he (thinks) he understands, dictatorship."
"Thinks" seems to be the wrong word for whatever takes place under that strange thatch.
Well, Peter, one would likely better approximate T-Rump's "understanding" as arising from the fairly simple but all-consuming narcissism he feels rather than by any process of actual reasoning that goes on. Reasoning is what he hires all his experts and lawyers for so he can then dismiss any whose opinions don't match or in some way support his feelings.
“Bloody reign of terror,” and the wheels set in motion on day one. Chump and the billionaires are salivating while we moan and grown. Well, that’s better than ignoring, like the MSM has been doing.
Ignoring in many instances; aiding and abetting in others.
Solution: Grow the democratic base by compromising on border protection. By leaving it untended, it becomes poison used by repooplicans over and over and ofr absinthe. We just don’t get it. We are willing to lose the republic by refusing to pass legislation.
Bill, you bring up immigration often, suggesting Dems have a magic wand. Republicans have vetoed every effort at reform short of “close the borders”. The latest efforts seem to have mostly failed this past weekend. You can’t negotiate with the party of “no”.
I know it would seem like I’m against immigration but I’m not. However, I am against illegal entry. Look what it’s done to cities around the nation. You must understand, I’m shrewdly observant of what the poisonous opposition does to rile up the vote count. My response is in a way, use fire against fire. Political battles are often false fronts used only to gain power, influence and money. Let’s fight fire with fire.
“Illegal entry” being the operative phrase. Asylum seekers are completely within their rights under international law. These are the people under vilification. On the other hand those that cross the border illegally for work sustain much of our economy. Free flow seasonally was an accepted practice before the right seized upon it as a political weapon, forcing those who would return home to remain. Approaching regulation of either group, not even considering DACA recipients, requires a complex solution, not a knee jerk reaction by the unserious. And don’t forget, the House GOP wants funding cuts to all groups tasked with handling immigration.
I’m not sure you understand how dirty politics works. You are preoccupied with propriety and I’m preoccupied with winning elections. This is essentially our difference of approach. So after Trump or another acolyte wins, you can huddle around your campfire at the reeducation camp you are sent to for instruction inThe New Snazzy Nazi State of America.
Ok I’m being silly but I made my point.
I think "authoritarian dictatorship" carries a bit more weight than "authoritarian system."
A "system" has rules. A "dictator" does not.
I’m convinced that many don’t care. They don’t know history and don’t at all understand the implications.
Agree call it Dictatorship
Peter: I feel that way about the incessant use of the term “violating norms.” Sounds so innocuous, like something a person might do by dressing inappropriately or dyeing their hair green.
I agree, it is not a strong enough word to grab attention!
It's not a weasel word.
Not in itself. In relation to the demands of the situation.
A mafia boss may be authoritarian in his dealings with underlings but it would be a euphemism to call him an authoritarian.
Peter, I agree totally that we should stop using ‘ authoritarian ‘ as too many Americans likely have no idea what it means. Maybe *dictator* is a better term to use.
Freedom vs Dictatorship
Sheila - Good clear words which no one will misunderstand - "Freedom vs Dictatorship".
“Freedom” is one of the main buzzwords of the cult. Oxymoron to the max.
Jeri, freedom vs freedumb me thinks.
Love those opposing thoughts. My ex-bff’s chump loving son, did nothing but scream “freedom isn’t free” until I moved out of hearing range.
It brings back W and his “freedom isn’t free” and “freedom fries” as he had us invading Iraq who was not affecting our freedom. It makes me furious to hear that word misused by Republicans. It’s an insult to the military who do stand for the concept of preservation of freedom.
Still pisses me off to the max
Agree -- we can own this for Democrats!
Sheila, I have taken a closer look at your astute observation of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 1817 "willful suspension of disbelief" analysis. Please repeat as needed. ✔️
That should be our mantra-“Freedom v Dictatorship “.
A battle for humanity: Honest Joe vs the Tryant
A complicated messy freedom versus a nice tidy simple dictatorship.
tempting?
Freedom and a meaningful democracy are always messy, yet well worth it.*
(*except where void or prohibited by oligarchs, the power-mad, and the inherently corrupt).
And cheap. A yrillionaires dream.
No, not at all! Why do you ask?
Because that is your choice
George, your response to Heather's letter is a life or death fact regarding who we are as a nation....a nation that has stood for freedom for all .... one vote as powerful as another....this would completely change under Trump.
There would be no support for those countries who desire to be free ie Ukraine. Our relationship with leaders worldwide would be in chaos. The enemies of the "free world" would be let loose. Your faith of choice will not matter....a picture of Trump will be placed at your altars.
It is why I infamously left Oracle Corp. to work with a small group of volunteers to build civ.works.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/dec/21/oracle-executive-resigns-ceo-safra-catz-donald-trump
George A. Polisner,
If your Oracle Corp. employees believe they could work freely under aTrump Presidency...I am referring to the use of Technology for the purpose of spreading "selected " information....they are living in a fantasy world....they love money more than the ideal of a "free" society.
You were wise in leaving...your character...your gifts and talents can be used for good....to feed the ideal of "freedom". You are leaving a great legacy for your children!
We are far from perfect as a nation and we will not grow stronger if we do not make ourselves aware of what is going on within our government and if we do not address the problems within our education system.
I am very grateful for President Joe Biden and for those working day and night for the ideal of freedom and for respect for all persons under his administration, here and around the world. I am grateful for each and every effort for "Building Back Better" projects and for all involved.
I am so grateful for a fellow citizen who takes a stand, like you and your family, George!
Thank you Emily.
A VERY impressive display of putting your money and career where your mouth is (and beliefs and principles)! I salute you!
Thank you John.
I was fortunate to be at a point in my career where I could make a statement. I recognize many of my peers were not in such a place. While the personal economics aren't necessarily for the squeamish -I'm honored to be shoulder to shoulder with so many people I admire and respect -who have sacrificed more throughout their lives.
George, thank you for your courage. It’s sad how many people like Catz believe “yes, he hates Muslims and women, but he looooves ME, so I’ll help him,”
Even folks as smart as Safra can be seduced by Trump. She may view him as a temporary means to an end for whatever objectives she may ultimately have -other personal wealth, power, or both, but the simple reality is Trump only loves Trump. Everyone else must pay homage to the king.
Rather than a king, a mafia boss. Eventually, everything he touches is damaged.
Good on ya, George, wish that more folk had the courage of their convictions instead of “letting it ride” until it’s hard to correct course.
I'm tempted to call you (in retrospect) prescient. :-)
Reading your link above, I tried to remember how I'd felt about it back then -- it seems so long ago -- and dug up two of my own old posts dating from 2015 and 2016 respectively.
https://themonthebard.substack.com/p/the-rise-of-trump
https://themonthebard.substack.com/p/death-of-a-nation
I think the Trump dumpster-fire-to-come was clearly visible back in 2015 for anyone paying attention. The tragedy has been that so few were paying attention, and how many STILL have their heads buried in ... um ... the sand. Let's leave it at that.
Thank you (six years late, but heartfelt) for your public resignation, and the work you've been doing since.
There is a long road ahead. Grateful to all who do appreciate the dangers of another Trump admin and for all who understand some of the challenges of being early to the party. 🤓
Check out this video from The Rachel Maddow Show on @nbchttps://nbc.app.link/oR6PJOW7iFb
Link doesn’t work.
Voters need to know how deep this threat is ..it is not just Trump!
The voter choice is democracy or dictatorship.
Here's the website for Project 2025 https://www.project2025.org/
You have to give them your email address in order to get any information at this site. No way am I going to do that.
Very true.
George, you’re so right! The media must question all the candidates about individual sections of Project 2025. Give them sunshine!
"Trump University" under a new name.
I seem to recall that Bush/Cheney did exactly the same thing during their nasty reign.