A key story that got missed yesterday was that the Senate voted 64–19 to allow a bill that includes $95.34 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan to advance a step forward. In terms of domestic politics, this appears to be an attempt by those who controlled the Republican Party before Trump to push back against Trump and the MAGA Republicans.
I saw Trump’s comments on Russia and NATO, which historian Michael Beschloss thought were so important that he shared them on social media.
The 2024 election is (in the words of R. Buckminster Fuller) “mankind’s final exam”. How we answer the question Do we want self-government or dictatorship? will determine if we survive as a creative, innovation driven culture or sink back into one driven by fear and isolation.
We must all find ways to champion the benefits of democracy… so voters understand the opportunities it gives us to “boldly go where humanity has never gone before” … opportunities that will be lost forever if Trump wins!
Whatever the outcome of the vote, Trump cannot be allowed to take office under any circumstances. As has been often said, "the Consitution is not a suicide pact." We know what he did before; we know what he promises to do. Which was to try an destroy the constitutional democratic republic before, and to accomplish the job this time. The "rules" DO NOT INCLUDE a requirement that we nod our heads, hand over the keys to the White House and say "Have a nice day." He is not a legitimate contender for the office of president, because he wants to use it to destroy what he gives an oath - one that means nothing to him - to defend that constitutional republic he is set on destroying. Those two things cannot come together - it's Matter and Anti-Matter, and if they ever touch they will explode.
After reading about trump & MAGA republican attempts to sell US to Russia, this brought tears to my eyes, “Biden’s is a bold new approach to global affairs, based on national rights to self-determination and working finally to bring an end to colonialism.” Wouldn’t that be a sight to behold? Thank you, Professor!
I was astonished that, 24 hours ago, there was absolutely no mention of the bilateral Senate financing bill for Ukraine, Israel, & Taiwan on the webpage of the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Economist, or The Guardian.
Does this mean that editors consider Special Prosecutor Hur’s hit job on President Biden and the prospect that Taylor Swift’s appearance at the Super Bowl are ‘top news’ while massive military and financial aid for Ukraine, Israel, & Taiwan [that has been in limbo since October]doesn’t merit a mention?
Editors should read Heather to find out what is important in daily news!
Not just appreciating you Professor but appreciating you more after every letter you write to shine a light on the wisdom and fearlessness of our “old President”. I’ve tried in a very small way to live by which I believe President Joseph Biden is a stellar example - “There is no shortcut to experience”! And that experience has been his life of dedication to our Democracy.
It has always irked me that Trump essentially collaborated with the enemy (Russia) to benefit his campaign and essentially got away with it. That there may be other hidden relationships/obligations/corruption of Trump by Putin is always a significant possibility but unproven to date. So it gives me great solace that Alvin Bragg's NYC case is 'not about hush money to a porn star' but about illegal campaign donations and related business records violations. So Trump gets away with shaking down Zelensky to aid his campaign (Special thanks to Bill Barr), gets away with russian collusion to aid his campaign (Again, let's hear it for Bill Barr!) BUT that Trump will lose his criminal virginity on campaign related violations in New York just seems apropos. :-))
Our Heather has now presented a most cogent view of the either/or crisis the world faces.
On one hand are governments, collective security groups, and regional others based on the rule of law.
On the other hand are thugs. Putin. Trump. Then a cavalcade of more, all hiding, lurking within governments while they eat away at the rule of law in those governments. Netanyahu trying to kill independent judiciary. Orban and Modi pushing vitriolic nationalisms. Saudi royals sponsoring freelance murders. Erdogan paying off his shoddy construction peers. Ayatollahs funding Shia terror campaigns.
Who most supports, engages the rule of law for international consort? I'm afraid to say it's the people of commerce: bankers, international shippers, corporate interests. And the trouble with them is that, in addition to apparently following the rules of law, many also grow the subterranean chambers of dark money. Think Clarence as poster boy for this on the Supreme Court.
These whom we rely on most all come from our schools or business and schools of law.
Absent from any significant role are schools which could lift humanities to more central position. If they did that, we'd have elites in touch with peoples, nature, and regions with much more individual nuance everywhere.
But our humanities got pushed back, set aside, marginalized in all schools thanks to the predators in the "civilized" organizing for their dark money niches following the Powell memo of 1971.
So now we sit back, and watch the obvious thugs (Putin, Trump, bin Salman, Modi, Erdogan, Netanyahu) mainly only in competition with the so-called civilized who sadly, pathetically depend upon no institutions of any humanities, but our schools of biz ed, judiciaries being eaten from within by such as Clarence and his ilk.
Thanks Heather, this becomes clearer and clearer everyday. I am now convinced that Merrick Garland should resign. The Hur report was unforgivable and given the incredible work Biden has done repairing the damage the previous traitor wrought on both the US and the world which you have so clearly articulated, Merrick Garland allowed a systematic destruction of Biden which he should have dismissed out of hand and continues to obscure the real accomplishments of the democratic administration. I am so frustrated by this continual incompetence that threats our democracy.
Thank you, Professor Richardson, dear shepherd of the sheep. I have taken a break today, later writing GOTV postcards to AZ with background of favorite basketball games, so up late, shocked into another dedication to do all I can to protect US as I did as a small child knitting my first (not very) square for a soldier’s afghan. My question since yesterday is whether SCOTUS is aware of the number of traitors in Congress who outnumber those in the Senate, I believe. The next days and months will be nail biters. Approaching my 90th birthday, I hope we will see Jack Smith’s trial before it.
How good to know the president’s plan for a world without war. May you keep us apprised of how he works at it. Perhaps angry young people would be better democrats if they knew.
I’m in the middle of reading a short graphic non-fiction work by Nora Krug. Two diaries. One by a Ukrainian woman, (a reporter), the other by a Russian man (an artist). Both hate the war. It’s giving me a great picture of what it’s like for ordinary people. One of the Russian’s diary entries is as follows: “It’s impossible to breathe freely here. You live with the fear that they might come for you. I really don’t want my kids to grow up in this atmosphere. I was a teenager in the 90s, after the Soviet Union collapsed. That’s when I fell in love with freedom.”
This is why Ukrainians don’t want to live under Russian rule.
I noticed a Trump supporter about 8 years ago wearing a tee that read “I’d rather live with Russians than liberals. Amazing how his wish may now be coming true.
I saw Trump’s comments on Russia and NATO, which historian Michael Beschloss thought were so important that he shared them on social media.
The 2024 election is (in the words of R. Buckminster Fuller) “mankind’s final exam”. How we answer the question Do we want self-government or dictatorship? will determine if we survive as a creative, innovation driven culture or sink back into one driven by fear and isolation.
We must all find ways to champion the benefits of democracy… so voters understand the opportunities it gives us to “boldly go where humanity has never gone before” … opportunities that will be lost forever if Trump wins!
“In fact,” he said, “I would encourage [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want.”
Scary even to think about.
I’ll never forget Ron Johnson along with other Republican congressmen going to Moscow on the 4th ofJuly almost as if they were summoned
Trump is not the only rich person in America or in Europe with power who has ties to Russia. Look deeper. It’s the Oligarchy Club.
It is no wonder that mainstream media is dissing President Biden and so forgiving of Trump’s sins.
I’ve just started reading this fantastic investigative series through Mother Jones called American Oligarchy.
Give it a look.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/01/american-oligarchy/
Whatever the outcome of the vote, Trump cannot be allowed to take office under any circumstances. As has been often said, "the Consitution is not a suicide pact." We know what he did before; we know what he promises to do. Which was to try an destroy the constitutional democratic republic before, and to accomplish the job this time. The "rules" DO NOT INCLUDE a requirement that we nod our heads, hand over the keys to the White House and say "Have a nice day." He is not a legitimate contender for the office of president, because he wants to use it to destroy what he gives an oath - one that means nothing to him - to defend that constitutional republic he is set on destroying. Those two things cannot come together - it's Matter and Anti-Matter, and if they ever touch they will explode.
“In fact,” he said, “I would encourage [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want.”
Trump's foreign policy in a nutshell
After reading about trump & MAGA republican attempts to sell US to Russia, this brought tears to my eyes, “Biden’s is a bold new approach to global affairs, based on national rights to self-determination and working finally to bring an end to colonialism.” Wouldn’t that be a sight to behold? Thank you, Professor!
I was astonished that, 24 hours ago, there was absolutely no mention of the bilateral Senate financing bill for Ukraine, Israel, & Taiwan on the webpage of the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Economist, or The Guardian.
Does this mean that editors consider Special Prosecutor Hur’s hit job on President Biden and the prospect that Taylor Swift’s appearance at the Super Bowl are ‘top news’ while massive military and financial aid for Ukraine, Israel, & Taiwan [that has been in limbo since October]doesn’t merit a mention?
Editors should read Heather to find out what is important in daily news!
Not just appreciating you Professor but appreciating you more after every letter you write to shine a light on the wisdom and fearlessness of our “old President”. I’ve tried in a very small way to live by which I believe President Joseph Biden is a stellar example - “There is no shortcut to experience”! And that experience has been his life of dedication to our Democracy.
It has always irked me that Trump essentially collaborated with the enemy (Russia) to benefit his campaign and essentially got away with it. That there may be other hidden relationships/obligations/corruption of Trump by Putin is always a significant possibility but unproven to date. So it gives me great solace that Alvin Bragg's NYC case is 'not about hush money to a porn star' but about illegal campaign donations and related business records violations. So Trump gets away with shaking down Zelensky to aid his campaign (Special thanks to Bill Barr), gets away with russian collusion to aid his campaign (Again, let's hear it for Bill Barr!) BUT that Trump will lose his criminal virginity on campaign related violations in New York just seems apropos. :-))
Our Heather has now presented a most cogent view of the either/or crisis the world faces.
On one hand are governments, collective security groups, and regional others based on the rule of law.
On the other hand are thugs. Putin. Trump. Then a cavalcade of more, all hiding, lurking within governments while they eat away at the rule of law in those governments. Netanyahu trying to kill independent judiciary. Orban and Modi pushing vitriolic nationalisms. Saudi royals sponsoring freelance murders. Erdogan paying off his shoddy construction peers. Ayatollahs funding Shia terror campaigns.
Who most supports, engages the rule of law for international consort? I'm afraid to say it's the people of commerce: bankers, international shippers, corporate interests. And the trouble with them is that, in addition to apparently following the rules of law, many also grow the subterranean chambers of dark money. Think Clarence as poster boy for this on the Supreme Court.
These whom we rely on most all come from our schools or business and schools of law.
Absent from any significant role are schools which could lift humanities to more central position. If they did that, we'd have elites in touch with peoples, nature, and regions with much more individual nuance everywhere.
But our humanities got pushed back, set aside, marginalized in all schools thanks to the predators in the "civilized" organizing for their dark money niches following the Powell memo of 1971.
So now we sit back, and watch the obvious thugs (Putin, Trump, bin Salman, Modi, Erdogan, Netanyahu) mainly only in competition with the so-called civilized who sadly, pathetically depend upon no institutions of any humanities, but our schools of biz ed, judiciaries being eaten from within by such as Clarence and his ilk.
Thanks Heather, this becomes clearer and clearer everyday. I am now convinced that Merrick Garland should resign. The Hur report was unforgivable and given the incredible work Biden has done repairing the damage the previous traitor wrought on both the US and the world which you have so clearly articulated, Merrick Garland allowed a systematic destruction of Biden which he should have dismissed out of hand and continues to obscure the real accomplishments of the democratic administration. I am so frustrated by this continual incompetence that threats our democracy.
The arrival of maliscious trolls on Heather’s site is not surprising because of her effective truth telling. No worries. We carry on.
Thank you, Professor Richardson, dear shepherd of the sheep. I have taken a break today, later writing GOTV postcards to AZ with background of favorite basketball games, so up late, shocked into another dedication to do all I can to protect US as I did as a small child knitting my first (not very) square for a soldier’s afghan. My question since yesterday is whether SCOTUS is aware of the number of traitors in Congress who outnumber those in the Senate, I believe. The next days and months will be nail biters. Approaching my 90th birthday, I hope we will see Jack Smith’s trial before it.
How good to know the president’s plan for a world without war. May you keep us apprised of how he works at it. Perhaps angry young people would be better democrats if they knew.
Thank you again.
I’m in the middle of reading a short graphic non-fiction work by Nora Krug. Two diaries. One by a Ukrainian woman, (a reporter), the other by a Russian man (an artist). Both hate the war. It’s giving me a great picture of what it’s like for ordinary people. One of the Russian’s diary entries is as follows: “It’s impossible to breathe freely here. You live with the fear that they might come for you. I really don’t want my kids to grow up in this atmosphere. I was a teenager in the 90s, after the Soviet Union collapsed. That’s when I fell in love with freedom.”
This is why Ukrainians don’t want to live under Russian rule.
I noticed a Trump supporter about 8 years ago wearing a tee that read “I’d rather live with Russians than liberals. Amazing how his wish may now be coming true.