Today’s big story continues to be Trump’s statement that he “would encourage [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want” to countries that are part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) if those countries are, in his words, “delinquent.” Both Democrats and Republicans have stood firm behind NATO since Dwight D.
Thanks Heather, we live in an environment where we think the GOP has gone as low as it can go then it manages to go even lower. You would have to search the Universe to find a more irresponsible and reprehensible group of politicians. All of our WWll veterans are turning in their graves. The GOP wants us to become a third world country. They are certainly on their way.
Mike Johnson needs to understand that he is the Speaker of Our House. It's the People's House, not his. And a bipartisan majority of Our Representatives want to sustain aid to Ukraine. How dare he allow a minority faction of MAGA extremists to betray us, our European allies and the courageous Ukrainian resistance.
We need to do more than just complain in the comments section. We need to raise our voices and be heard where it counts.
Everyone reading this can help by calling your Representative and urge them to pass the Ukraine aid package using whatever parliamentary procedure is available (discharge petition, etc.) as soon as it passes the Senate. If you don't know their number, call the U S Capitol switchboard (202) 224-3121.
For more information, and the phone numbers of six influential "traditional Republicans" to call, please visit www.FeathersOfHope.net
Trouble is, we don't exist for Speaker Howdy Doody. The only people who do exist for him are fellow co-religionists who have as their mission to push, warp, force all the world into the commonality to which they've packaged themselves.
They don't like so many other types of people -- and types is what we're left with as only option for these ideologues as quite proudly they've no personal, individual identities themselves. And zero schooling, no humanities, to see any "others" as individuals.
Imaginatively this takes us back thousands of years to earliest, most atavistic tribalism.
Phil, At this moment, we are right to fear the emergence of ancient tribalisms accompanied by the “gangsterization” of culture rightly characterized as “I want power now. I want pleasure now. I want property now. Your property. Give it to me.”
While there’s no overnight solution, I believe we need to begin, neighborhood by neighborhood, resuscitating a sense of what it is to be human, with all its decency, integrity, and compassion. When these values are practiced, a movement can emerge.
Sadly, they have had 40+ years while we have 8 months. I think we could have a million-man-March and nobody would notice. Too busy locked on to the crazy man.
Jeri, Considering I am part of a group nearly at the stage of reaching out to political-lightening-rod-type-figures to help bring recognition to a project that includes a nationwide March for democracy on July 4th, and also entails other marches across the country, likely embedded in existing parades and holiday events, I imagine you would hope I prove you wrong.
After the Ssndy Hook slaughter of the innocents I called for a march on Washington from Woodstock, Vermont, in colonial militia attire and kit minus the guns, to call for the repeal of the Second Amendment. I did this in the form of a colonial militia notice to be posted on the Green and printed in the paper. I posted it on my church bulletin board. No one commented on it except the Priest, who told me effectively to mindy own business because the Episcopal Bishops of America have this matter well in hand. When I submitted the notice to the Valley News and requested a quote for placing it as an advertisement, I was ignored.
.... Of did get a quote for printing it from a printer who engages in colonial reenactments up on Canada. He told me I had no idea how much trouble it would get me in were I append name to the thing and publish it.
....Briefly, it would get me killed. And were such a march to have occurred, others participating would have been.
But that is what it would take for this nation to come about on the issue of gun control and require both Congress and the Supreme Court to accept the reimposition of the assault weapons ban.
Though after Citizens United, I am not sure even this would work.
The House has frequently been the domain of radicals. Today worse than ever. The original sin here is unlimited campaign funding since money dictates special interest which frequently lead to less compromising along with gerrymandering. So what to do. Try again with a border enforcement inclusion this time without mandatory 5000 crossing the border each week. This added feature I saw was a deal breaker even before it reached the House. Just drop it and give in there is no choice. Speaker will probably reject it anyway but at least this can be successfully used as an election issue. That’s all we can do. I keep thinking that Trump is a gift to Biden for all his apparent faults. Let’s not kill the goose yet. And a word of advice to us democrats; Get ride of the extreme progressive issues they don’t sell to the main body politic and we are watching the end result of this.
I’m not going to get scadaddled in specifics. No need to. I’ve had this discussion countless times in the past. I’m a centrist. I’m registered as a democrat solely so I can vote in the primaries in my town of very blue Hartford. I am clearly not partisan. And when I read or hear partisan democratic talking points, some of which I agree with others I don’t, I ruminate that we all don’t understand how to built super majorities anymore. We are likely condemned to squeak by every election cycle. This anyway, is my perspective. You have a different perspective. I don’t need to yap about issues at hand. I’m not about to convince anyone. This is who is am. You are who you are. Cool. We are not that Big Tent anymore. It would be nice if we were but we are not.
Now we are on the very cusp of a Titanic shift toward nationalism, authoritarianism. We are unable to see the bigger picture. It’s happening in Europe and it’s happening here. The Europeans don’t understand it either. Are we all doomed to repeat history. In my humble opinion, we are. Enjoy your day.
Yo... BILL!! Agree'd. #45, a jack-ass and buffoon whose only strategy exists at the end of his dick. Which as us males know, our actions become more stupid as it enlarges lowering blood-flow to our brain. And, with his obviously 'small' brain the reactionis pre-dick-table(pun intended!) as we see. I mean, you wouldn't have seen Maggie Haberman on his staff or behind a desk in his administration..., she's "not my type" surely. Now Alieena Habeenah.... hohoho... she fits in. Huh? Anyway, in keeping with what you said about taking advantage of #45's preposterous behavior, you are correct, it is indeed a trove even Mad Magazine would be pushed to come up with. I mean, #45 is so fullof s-- t his eyes must be brown.., and the rest toilet paper. Yeah.. I learned that in hi-school.
At what point do you stop trying to demonstrate kindness and reason with a fervent party out to destroy what we value and begin to actually say no and do something about it.
Steve, My reply to Phil was aspirational. At this moment, in my view, Democrats have to be willing to engage in war. The other side has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to hold power. Accordingly, contrary to Trump who presents himself as a savior, particularly of white people, Democrats need to go where the trouble is in this country, the trouble that Donald Trump is stoking, the trouble that Donald Trump is making worse, and show, receipts in hand, particularly for those who doubt that Democrats care about the wreckage of their dreams, that they can work jointly on legitimate issues and grievances.
My experience is that the extreme right cannot be reasoned or coddled into clarity about anything to do with patriotism or adherence to law. They only whine and nurse their grudges. There is no remedy but to throw the bums out.
Yes. Losing our faith in humanity deepens the abyss. What you propose is happening in many places and must continue regardless of the odds of immediate ‘success.’
In the memorable words of Linus, "I love humanity. It's people I can't stand." Likewise, I really cannot stand the mob roaring and clapping at trampler's rallies. In some ways they have truly rejected their own humanity by giving fealty to that monster. I hope for their sakes they regain their senses and don't go to their graves still loving to lick trampler's boots, but I despair of them. I want to concentrate on the people who have not sold their souls - new voters, as-yet-uncommitted voters, laissez-faire Democrats, and anyone else who still remains a member of the human community.
Fear won't get us anywhere. We need to take our stand on human rights and the constitution and vote all these deviants out of office. I think of the opening scenes of Gladiator, where Aurelius' army efficiently puts the Germanic tribe down. We must be Centurions, not frightened slaves.
Lauren, When living through one of the more terrifying moments in human history, fear is an understandable response. The point is that we not let it paralyze us. In that regard, my sense is that virtually every HCR subscriber is in the fight.
Feelings are more powerful than reason. Fear is natural. I feel obligated to encourage myself and others not to let it or its partner, paralysis, prevail. When we are calm we can think of solutions to whatever ails us. IMHO the solution to America's worst problems is to vote out the R's. If true conservatism ever returns to the right wing we can welcome the Republican party back into our government.
"Former NATO supreme commander Wesley Clark called Trump's comments 'treasonous'". That makes Anne Applebaum's point about Little Marco's & Lapdog Lindsay's dutifully downplaying them treasonous, also.
Much more than only campaign contributions it's another open-mike signal to the Kremlin to flood-the-zone with their bot factories of every false flag, anti-democratic, AI-developed lie they can think of to help him as they did brazenly and worked in 2016.
Political pressure from the WH and Congress should be brought to bear on Meta, YouTube, Google and every media outlet inc known sources like Murdoch & Musk whose govt contracts could be cancelled for reportedly allowing Russia to use his Starlink system over Ukraine. This next 9 months is likely to be like nothing we've ever seen and we need to be prepared for it this time.
I definitely agree. Musk got taken down when the Delaware chancellor of their corporate court smacked down the board’s decision to award him $56B in salary. The chancellor found the board was not disinterested and their members were far too cozy with Musk.
I’ve seen some whispers online that the Russians are now using Starlink in Ukraine. If true, that is just simply terrible. I’m not usually a big fan of nationalizing companies, but I’d be all for it in this case. Wouldn’t that be a huge violation of sanctions?
How long before he dumps Lindsey and Marco? Maybe they can join McCarthy. He needs more room on the crazy train for Elon and Zuck. Social media is as much a megaphone for him as Fox.
I think there is more going on here with Graham and Rubio. Both have been "super hawks" on defense re: Russia. The only answer I can come up with is that Trump has dirt on both of them. I am beginning to feel as if he has files like J. Edgar Hoover had. Something is just not right when two guys who have solid careers just spin on a dime and follow the "boss's" orders. I heard Rubio speaking and he sounded like a chastened puppy dog. That is NOT his style.
Trump may be using more than direct intimidation. He might be using information. Classic, isn't it?
"like nothing we've ever seen"... Im afraid so! No humour really intended but this like Terminator 2 when the T1000 "just keeps coming back? Those suggesting active involvement in the 2024 election campaigns have it nailed.
No..nonono..Kathy.., read my comment and you'll see what really occupies #45s' mind. It's what he's gong to do to them in the end (err with 'the end'). Hahahaa..,yup..., it's where his "strategy" exists. Consider him the Titanic. He's going to go down, if we can just hang on,it's been a slow ride (SlowRide - FogHat 1975)
Phil, I have been looking for something to call the current Speaker and Howdy Doody does fit. Right now I am reading a history of the ancient Rome and their 700 year rivalry with Persia....any of the kingdoms and empires in the area of Iraq and Iran. Right now it is mostly the Parthian empire and lots of smaller kingdoms trying to decide which empire to support. It involves asking for help in some situations and not getting it if either side decided it wasn't worth it. And of course, lots of murders and assassinations. Then there were some Roman generals and emperors deciding this area was a good place to make their mark with various disasters and successes. I am reminded of what we have right now in Ukraine and also in the general area of the middle east.
There's probably some real truth in Johnson feeling he's been chosen by God, Moses no less, wow! but I've run into all sorts of people who feel they are "chosen".... the OT/NT has a litany of the self-chosen "God chosen"... it's the perfect lock-down mechanism for closed minds.
I just sent an email to Tom Emmer, my Minnesota US House Representative. Oh what would be the difference if he had gained the speakership in the US House.
I'm busy lighting up Fischbach's ass. She is more misogynistic than most men I know. She reminds me of Nazi guard in a woman's concentration camp. She is an insurrectionist. She joined the lawsuit to end abortion medication. She is a racist. So are 80% of her voters. Rural Minnesota. Small farmers, who's farm have been swallowed up by corporate farms. Left out of those subsidies that went to the top 2% of corporate farms. But, yet they still vote Republican. And they are begging migrants for help.
Interesting points you are making, Lisa! Church going God fearing folks also, I would gather! They hear from the pews how the Dems are a Satanic coalition.
Satan is everywhere, they proclaim. Which is a way of saying, 'I dont have to take responsibility for my actions'. These are aging out communities. They spend their days watching Fox and going to funerals. These towns are dying across the country. Especially the farm towns. I see it on our road trips around the country.
Not hard to connect those dots. Sorry they can’t seem to. Small farms will save agriculture and society if done ecologically. Even the UN has acknowledged that.
Cynical response: that's what they get for voting against their own interest and keeping themselves too ignorant to ascertain where their interest lies.
Don't get me wrong, any small biz that got swallowed up by big corps. has my sympathy. My theme for today and pretty much every day is vote them out. If we don't clean out the rot, the country will get gangrene. We might have to excise Texas to save the body politic.
Thanks Jerry. Mission accepted. I am glad to see Thom Tillis is on board, although his track record of standing strong on issues is hardly iron-clad.
As for Johnson, he's more concerned with covering his own butt than keeping the world safe, or even maintaining the commitments of his country. A 'sniveling knave' if ever there was one.
Yes indeed. How dare they? How can a small number of “representatives” bring about chaos? Democracy is a wonderful concept. The idea that a majority of citizens can actually bring about their will is the myth we tell ourselves. We have a kind of democracy. Representative democracy with many arcane rules and an organizing document written over two hundred years ago by a very select group of men. We are now entering a period of extreme uncertainty and extreme danger. The idea that a few ignorant self serving individuals can bring over 340 million people to this juncture by the application of “rules” and not the constitution is absurd. Trump’s pronouncements are becoming increasingly irrational. Each day is yet another reminder of the need for an overhaul of the constitution to bring our form of government into the 21st century and to make it more “democratic”.
Jerry, Thank you for urging us to do our part to press for a discharge petition were a bill to pass in the Senate and advance to the House. I would note I had understood, before a House member could file a discharge motion, the bill, first, had to be introduced and referred to a standing committee for 30 days. Please correct me if I have gotten anything wrong.
You are correct, Barbara Jo. But I'm guessing that Minority Leader Jeffries anticipated this and already has a stealth bill in some committee. That's what he did for the debt ceiling increase last year.
BTW, Mr. Jeffries began suggesting a discharge petition a few days ago, and centrist Republican Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) also subtly refers to it in this recent statement:
"I know we need to get aid to Israel quickly, and it’s in our national security interests to keep Ukraine independent and help Ukrainians defeat Russia’s barbaric invasion by sending them military weapons. I’ll work with the likeminded folks and the Speaker to determine what is best way to move forward," Bacon said.
Ken Buck has suddenly grown a spine, and of course he's leaving. I have called and thanked him, when I used to rail at him.
And I'll be working for whichever dem runs against Boebert in my district, or whichever of the republicans they nominate. 5 of the 7 have proudly noted they've been arrested.
😱Such is the 180° spin of what was once the party of order, rules and laws. Hard to believe that 5 of the 7 candidates actually BRAG about their arrest records. Good Lord, how low can we fall?
Someone should take Johnson to the woodshed. He is the man who says he was "Chosen" by God for the speakership. Johnson is a dark and sinister ideologue who bows to Trump's wishes and believes all gays should be made pure. In other words, cured by any means necessary to make them straight. The evil darkness that has taken hold of the Republican Party may very well do permanent damage to our country while they relish in the process of doing so. Johnson is a Christo-fascist member of a "secret" Christian society. As an ordained Christian graduate seminarian, I must ask: What is it about Jesus that must be kept so secret? Easy answer: They are not Christian by any measure. They are anti-patriots, the political equivalent of the anti-Christ. They are power-struck zealots who have set out to ruin or destroy our republic. They are up to no good and up to everything bad and evil.
As a resident of MA, I know Rep Stephen Lynch will be voting in favor of the Ukraine aid package, and I just called to ask him to do whatever he can to get this passed!
I don't think Johnson played nice in the sandbox. He may still be stuck there, with his bully buddies and religious hypocrites. He certainly never learned that we're all "God's Children" or that it is self evident that we're all born equal.
They certainly are, and I think it should be shouted from every rooftop that Rump will destroy NATO because Putin TOLD HIM TO. And the Great Orange Dictator will do just that, to gain favour with his Lord, Master and Idol: Sauron in the Kremlin. The GOP is bought and sold by Russia, and Rump will plunge the world into World War III just for his own pathetic gain.
I like the reference to The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien certainly knew what he was talking about and we are witnessing it in real time as one Republican after another succumbs to the fatal attraction of the ring of power. Nevertheless I am still appalled and dumbfounded that this is happening in the United States, despite how ‘flawed’ its democracy is. (See democracy ratings of Transparency International.)
Tolkien sure knew about the corrupting force that worldly power holds... And, just like Sauron, Putin is also very good at playing big in the long game.
P.S. And the real loser in this game will be the planet. Both Chump and Putin couldn't care a rat's ass for the environment - as long as they can stay in power, everything's fine for them.
We all know this is true. What I am concerned about is that none of his followers will ever read Heather’s words. No MAGA will ever agree with most of the historians and political intellects simply because they won’t read. It is like banging your drum in a vacuum.
It sure is. As long as we've types like John Sméagol around who keep defending Putin and pointing to Biden as the source of all evil, we're not getting anywhere. I'm almost curious to see how he will react when Putin launches his endgame and WWIII starts. And I'm waiting for Tom High to come crashing in with a flying kick, all screaming, swearing and insulting...
The war is on, John. Dutch Mike is absolutely right. This is not a normal election year. Trump and the Government of Putin (GOP) are all in to take us down. The sad part is they don’t even have to win the election. The Steve plans (Bannon and Miller) gather steam while we knit on the sidelines.
The United States, with Biden as a point man, built up the military of Ukraine’s corrupt far-right thug regime where Interior Minister Avakov, political boss of the neo-Nazis, controlled the police stations, precipitating rebellion in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking areas (about half the country). Ukraine in 2022 built up its troops on the line of contact in the Donbass, preparing to invade. Russia then signed mutual defense treaties with the breakaway Donbass republics. As Ukrainian oligarchs fled (draining the Kyiv airport of rental jets) and Lloyd's stopped insuring Ukrainian cargoes, Ukraine began its pre-invasion bombardment, and Russia intervened.
Ukraine's history is complex and ancient. As you know there is no love lost between Ukraine and Russia - especially after the Stalin era starvation of millions of Ukrainians. I will agree Ukraine has a history of corruption. I will also agree that a little known, thought to be light weight, Zelenskyy, like few others throughout world history, started a new chapter of Ukrainian history and embraced democracy. He demonstrated the power of leadership like few others. He has fought against corruption. Does some corruption remain? Sure it does - just like it is rampant right now in the US and in most countries. However, the bottom line is this, Putin invaded a sovereign nation, in large part because he thought the world would not be watching or reacting. He thought NATO would cave because of Trump's rhetoric and actions, and given the inaction by the Obama administration when he invaded Crimea after a corrupt pro-Russian puppet President was overwhelmingly voted out. Putin and Trump were wrong.
Russia did not intervene, it attacked sovereign Ukrainian soil, not only in the Donbass but also greater Ukraine. It stole children and committed war crimes. Nations have a right to self determination and in history there comes a time when every generation faces their Sudetanland aka Alamo moment. Ours is now, no backbone? Another "peace in our time". In this invasion Russia is not heroic nor is it the hailed liberator. It is merely a nation seeking brutal reestablishing of a past empire, just as Putin has declared in his speeches.
Steve Hinds, you ably summarize Establishment talking points, without any evidence.
I remember the story about Saddam Hussein's soldiers dumping babies in the hospital out of incubators onto the floor to die. This story inflamed the whole country, including me, and helped justify our war against Iraq. Then, afterwards, it was widely reported that the story was a bare-faced lie.
I have seen much of the same in the barrage of propaganda against Russia, but I have no doubt that some of the stories of atrocities are true.
Isolated acts by military units are different from a systematic policy. I have been taking a wait-and-see attitude, remembering how we all got brainwashed in the past.
Regarding the "kidnapped" children, I remember reading that Russia relocated orphans from a war zone to safety in Russia. What's the true story, and how do we find out?
I think that, regarding why the war "unfroze" in 2022, Russia has a case that should be considered, and I think that there is a lot of misinformation exaggerating Russian atrocities, but I think that some atrocities definitely did happen, just like the United States did in Vietnam and Iraq. I said more in this reply:
My position is that we need to accept that we can't defeat the Russians militarily, which means that we'll eventually have to negotiate with them, so it makes sense to be aware of their side of the story and the underlying big picture.
Furthermore, our government is broke, and Congress is broken:
Biden's reckless policy, supported by leading Democrats and Republicans since Obama was President, has been to shore up Ukraine's thuggish government and use Ukraine as a weapon against Russia. America leaders, especially Biden, have foolishly undermined American national security and wasted military resources.
I've said more about Ukraine's brutal far-right thug regime here:
Dark money flows through their veins. They are being propped up to overthrow our democracy because they know they cannot win as the party of white evangelicals. Their war is on and well-funded.
I am wondering why trump endorsed Sheehy instead of Rosendale who has so kissed up to trump. Sheehy is a millionaire that can provide trump with $$$$$$. Follow the $$$$$. Beside reforming the electoral college, getting dark $$$$$$ out of politics would go a long way in the future to get fascist out of politics
Unfortunately, we will have to first pry the MAGAts who are already in Congress, out by sheer numbers of votes. Because they will hang onto their power until their cold dead fingers are forced to let go. Once most of the fringe right-wing radicals are kicked out....I'm hoping and praying that Congress will begin to act more like a body of rational beings who faithfully represent their constituents interests AND their country's interests.
I was interested in the statement made on PBS’ political hour with Ami and Tamara stating TFFG makes speeches ( campaigning rhetoric) but the audience is small…except for repeating the press and people do of it….i underscore this folks. It’s hard not to, the world is in an uproar about it today and increasingly so . As it was earlier suggested “it was getting rough and going to get a lot rougher”.
There’s a feeling of astonishment in every corner except theirs.
It’s food for their ego and base declined as it is, getting to a point of chopping the legs off American’s stand alone Big Brother claim.
It is without a doubt the biggest slap in the face to US AMERICANS as the rest of the world depending on us.
For those who support and supported him , his sycophants, the liars-cheats-screaming-crotch grabbing-putin supporting-headline seeking TREASON TRAITOR TARTS
WE THE PEOPLE are going to …..💙💙VOTE YOU OUT FOREVER💙💙
I just wonder why some military people support trump. Republicans keep digging this hole, they should consult Jules Verne for sigh seeing hints while on their journey to the center of the earth.
That fatal hamberder had best be getting its shoes on and its act together, because time is getting short for The Traitor to have that massive fatal myocardial infarction, mid-rant at one of the hatealongs, in front of the seething Inadequates, hitting the floor behind the podium face-first, stone cold gone.
Is this the place for that Clarence Darrow (I think it is) quote I have never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituary notices with great pleasure?
I compare DJT to a rabid animal, but much more dangerous than a rabid animal. When Adolf Hitler committed suicide at the end of World War 2, it was such a relief to the entire planet.
I keep wondering why he hasn't already. His lifestyle certainly looks like an actuarial table's perfect morsel for the grim reaper. Are you off inhabiting Brad Pitt's body? Get back to work, pal.
In theory, yes. A complete overhaul of the electoral system, including elimination of the electoral college, a complete overhaul of the US Supreme Court, a complete overall of the department of justice. Jail time for those who would foment bigotry and insurrection in the United States. Taxation of those churches who engage in political activity with contempt for the separation of church and state. These are a few of the things that come to mind…..of the things that could theoretically be implemented to address the rushing tide of fascism in this country. The operative word here is theoretical.
All sensible solutions. I like the taxing part, in particular. But that's just one of my favorite subjects. Your first four ideas are actually more critical.
Lets add universities| non tax paying colleges, especially the ones set up with Koch money to your list, psych evaluations for law enforcement people, and once and for all get rid of the guns!
I thought something good came from Nixon’s evil. They just made sure that they didn’t get caught again until they couldn’t be stopped. Would love to believe your take, but my mind freezes up.
To speed things up, that fatal hamberder will need some seasoning to add flavor to it. The seasoning will taste similar to almonds... good old cyanide salt. Quick and easy. Gone in 15 minutes. Planet Earth is safe now.
I wish for that too, for the first time in my life, wishing ill on another person. And yet. I think Biden’s best chance for victory is if he runs against Trump. So maybe not just yet. November 15 ish sounds good.
eh... I've been (uncharacteristically) been dreaming up prolonged, painful diseases that aren't well managed. ones where the sufferer prays for death. Unfortunately that won't turn around his cult.
Well...there are those lesions on Yamface's fingers...and late-stage syphilis is about as prolonged and potentially painful as it gets....
Personally I have my doubts that syphilis is what caused the finger lesions (Syph is relatively easy to cure if antibiotics are taken soon after the diagnoses)
I also doubt it's syphilis. could be mundane dermatitis of some sort. I'm thinking something mortifying for a narcissist. Or he could get full-blown dementia like his father. Or get stranded in the middle of the Pacific.
This is a watershed moment for the 2024 election. It is correct to say Trump’s remark amounted to treason. Beau of the Fifth Column posted a video explaining why what Trump said matches the Constitution’s definition of treason (link below).
But what matters to me is WHAT THE NEWS MEDIA DOES WITH THIS STORY. It MUST become the cornerstone story of the election! Biden’s age is NOTHING compared to Trump’s stated threat to destroy NATO … the greatest gift to his “friend” Putin imaginable… greater than giving Ukraine to Putin, to me.
In any other year, this would be DISQUALIFYING to Trump, and all news organizations would treat him as an enemy to America as well as to NATO going forward. Sadly, I don’t expect that to happen on the force of Trump’s statement alone.
I hope the Biden campaign realizes this is the opening they need to destroy Trump. As Steve Schmidt says, the election will turn on who it’s about. If it’s about Biden’s age, he will lose. If it’s about Trump as a threat to world peace and stability, he will lose.
How can we help insure this election is about Trump? I think it’s up to each of us to answer that question for ourselves. But make it about Trump we must!!!
Trump's comment about being able to do anything he wanted to women would have been disqualifying. His Stormy Daniels payoff would have been disqualifying. His mocking a disabled reporter would have been disqualifying. His behavior with respect to the Latino Judge would have been disqualifying. The court case loss with regards to Trump University would have been disqualifying. His loss of the court case with respect to his "family charity" would have disqualifying. His behavior at press conferences would have been disqualifying. Hugging the American flag should have been disqualifying. Have you ever seen a grown adult do that? No it doesn't show the proper respect. His comments about McCain should have been disqualifying. All of his comments about veterans should have been disqualifying. The fact that he didn't pay attention during the presidential daily briefs should have been disqualifying. The fact that he didn't listen to any of the experts around him should have been disqualifying. The fact that he didn't listen to the State Department protocol briefings before he met with foreign dignitaries made him an embarrassment to the country. I'm too depressed to go on.
With you, Paula. Depressed and frightened. The worst part? He’s a sick, vile, evil ignoramous-but SO MANY people here in Fla and around the country think he’s the key to better. The absolute degeneration of our society-or at least the normalizing of the worst that we can be-that he has unleashed is incomprehensible to me. I worry for my kids and my kids’ kids-how can what has been unleashed ever be tamed? I fear the murder of democracy in our lifetime.
Hang in there, Jen. Down in Florida you’re surrounded. Try to maintain your sanity for nine more months and see if things aren’t looking a bit brighter. The 2024 election will be the great sifting and I think the neo-fascists who pull the lever for Donald Trump will provide around 35% for the Mussolini/Hitler ticket. That won’t be enough. I expect that election to mark the beginning of the end of this nine year national nightmare.
All my kids and grandkids live in Florida. A drive through central Florida is depressing as is a drive on I-10 through the Panhandle. Trump country. Those folks don't understand that tfg would not have anything to do with them. If he did business with them, he would try to cheat them out of money owed. The creep is running for president TO STAY OUT OF JAIL!!! He doesn't have any ideas for the country other than revenge and project 2025, which is a billionaires' project to return the US to the kleptocracy of the Gilded Age.
The one I always think of first was that he said he could murder somebody on a busy street in broad daylight and get clean away with it.
In my secret heart the reply I hear is "Karma is a Bitch!" or "What goes around, comes around" because we should not be made to suffer such speech and behavior in a civilized society. Little kids hear those things as well as the rest of us.
If trompy were to win the immunity case (he won't, or at least shouldn't,) I can picture Dark Brandon shooting him in Times Square and getting away with it, because, immunity. The traitor must be treated as such.
Swear words. Young Kyle was 17 when he travelled from Illinois to Wisconsin, where he used an AR15 combat assault rifle (I was was not a grunt, but we all carried an M16 in Vietnam, in case we needed it some day -- there is a switch that changes between fully automatic and semi-automatic. There is very little difference between auto and semi-auto -- if you know or meet a grunt, ask him his opinion about the difference between automatic and semi-automatic -- sometimes they used semi-auto to save ammo, or so I was told). Rittenhouse, in his 17-year-old minor's immature mind, no doubt in my mind, went to Kenosha hoping to shoot somebody. He murdered two people in the street, and seriously injured a third. The jury found him not guilty, due to "self-defense". Many people believe justice was not served. Maybe 45 would be exonerated under similar circumstances. It ain't right. Note that I may be a little extra indignant about that incident because it occurred about three city blocks from the house where my Mother grew up in Kenosha.
So true. Just look at the history of what the conservatives have done in the last 50 years from Nixon, Reagan, HW Bush, GW Bush and then orange face. Every dirty trick they could some up with in the shadows and we would only find out after nothing could be done. They twisted the law to their favor. All of those administrations ran on ethics, law and order while violating them all.
Rickey, what makes you call them "conservatives"? I understand that Fascism is conservative by definition, but they want to roll back the treatment and support of women, children, underprivileged and people of color. They want to bring back slavery and reduce benefits we paid into our entire lives.
Funny how things get turned upside down. Like the term 'the gay nineties' for example. A 'gay' period of time. Now, a 'lifestyle'. Personally, I wish those humbug "conservative" would recognize and appreciate the "gaiety" that embodies our nation and quit trying to dumb it down by burning library books, enforcement of biblical scribbling, and impolite behavior. Like.., try to be nice, don't fake it.
He's gotten away with it because the GQP has manifested into a criminal entity. Since Leonard Leo and the gang of alt-right Billionaires groomed a couple of Supreme Court Justices to give them Citizens United. It's been balls to the walls floodgate of dark money. They own the Court and they own many parts of our MSM. Charles Koch loves Putin. They go way back. The fucking Billionaires will have their knees on all our throats.
By the way, per Project 2025, funding for Ukraine and any other country for that matter will be shut down.
Well, I don't know how old you are, but your memory is excellent, and what you recall is sickening. Makes me want to send a copy of this to every Republican I know.
We do... I see a lot of emojis here, but I don't know how to catch them. Most of them are too OTT anyway - rolling around, full of teeth and tears and sweat. If I could just use that little face with a wink. But I can't make it "take".
Thanks Heather, we live in an environment where we think the GOP has gone as low as it can go then it manages to go even lower. You would have to search the Universe to find a more irresponsible and reprehensible group of politicians. All of our WWll veterans are turning in their graves. The GOP wants us to become a third world country. They are certainly on their way.
Mike Johnson needs to understand that he is the Speaker of Our House. It's the People's House, not his. And a bipartisan majority of Our Representatives want to sustain aid to Ukraine. How dare he allow a minority faction of MAGA extremists to betray us, our European allies and the courageous Ukrainian resistance.
We need to do more than just complain in the comments section. We need to raise our voices and be heard where it counts.
Everyone reading this can help by calling your Representative and urge them to pass the Ukraine aid package using whatever parliamentary procedure is available (discharge petition, etc.) as soon as it passes the Senate. If you don't know their number, call the U S Capitol switchboard (202) 224-3121.
For more information, and the phone numbers of six influential "traditional Republicans" to call, please visit www.FeathersOfHope.net
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Nice, Jerry -- fancying it "Our House."
Trouble is, we don't exist for Speaker Howdy Doody. The only people who do exist for him are fellow co-religionists who have as their mission to push, warp, force all the world into the commonality to which they've packaged themselves.
They don't like so many other types of people -- and types is what we're left with as only option for these ideologues as quite proudly they've no personal, individual identities themselves. And zero schooling, no humanities, to see any "others" as individuals.
Imaginatively this takes us back thousands of years to earliest, most atavistic tribalism.
Phil, At this moment, we are right to fear the emergence of ancient tribalisms accompanied by the “gangsterization” of culture rightly characterized as “I want power now. I want pleasure now. I want property now. Your property. Give it to me.”
While there’s no overnight solution, I believe we need to begin, neighborhood by neighborhood, resuscitating a sense of what it is to be human, with all its decency, integrity, and compassion. When these values are practiced, a movement can emerge.
Sadly, they have had 40+ years while we have 8 months. I think we could have a million-man-March and nobody would notice. Too busy locked on to the crazy man.
Jeri, Considering I am part of a group nearly at the stage of reaching out to political-lightening-rod-type-figures to help bring recognition to a project that includes a nationwide March for democracy on July 4th, and also entails other marches across the country, likely embedded in existing parades and holiday events, I imagine you would hope I prove you wrong.
Oh please, I'd love it.
Barbara, this is a wonderful idea. I hope it gains traction.
After the Ssndy Hook slaughter of the innocents I called for a march on Washington from Woodstock, Vermont, in colonial militia attire and kit minus the guns, to call for the repeal of the Second Amendment. I did this in the form of a colonial militia notice to be posted on the Green and printed in the paper. I posted it on my church bulletin board. No one commented on it except the Priest, who told me effectively to mindy own business because the Episcopal Bishops of America have this matter well in hand. When I submitted the notice to the Valley News and requested a quote for placing it as an advertisement, I was ignored.
.... Of did get a quote for printing it from a printer who engages in colonial reenactments up on Canada. He told me I had no idea how much trouble it would get me in were I append name to the thing and publish it.
....Briefly, it would get me killed. And were such a march to have occurred, others participating would have been.
But that is what it would take for this nation to come about on the issue of gun control and require both Congress and the Supreme Court to accept the reimposition of the assault weapons ban.
Though after Citizens United, I am not sure even this would work.
I tried that just a little less than 20 years ago, I failed when I got no response nor backing. But then I am just little old me.
The House has frequently been the domain of radicals. Today worse than ever. The original sin here is unlimited campaign funding since money dictates special interest which frequently lead to less compromising along with gerrymandering. So what to do. Try again with a border enforcement inclusion this time without mandatory 5000 crossing the border each week. This added feature I saw was a deal breaker even before it reached the House. Just drop it and give in there is no choice. Speaker will probably reject it anyway but at least this can be successfully used as an election issue. That’s all we can do. I keep thinking that Trump is a gift to Biden for all his apparent faults. Let’s not kill the goose yet. And a word of advice to us democrats; Get ride of the extreme progressive issues they don’t sell to the main body politic and we are watching the end result of this.
Bill Katz, Specifically what "extreme progressive issues they don’t sell to the main body politic" should Democrats get rid of?
I’m not going to get scadaddled in specifics. No need to. I’ve had this discussion countless times in the past. I’m a centrist. I’m registered as a democrat solely so I can vote in the primaries in my town of very blue Hartford. I am clearly not partisan. And when I read or hear partisan democratic talking points, some of which I agree with others I don’t, I ruminate that we all don’t understand how to built super majorities anymore. We are likely condemned to squeak by every election cycle. This anyway, is my perspective. You have a different perspective. I don’t need to yap about issues at hand. I’m not about to convince anyone. This is who is am. You are who you are. Cool. We are not that Big Tent anymore. It would be nice if we were but we are not.
Now we are on the very cusp of a Titanic shift toward nationalism, authoritarianism. We are unable to see the bigger picture. It’s happening in Europe and it’s happening here. The Europeans don’t understand it either. Are we all doomed to repeat history. In my humble opinion, we are. Enjoy your day.
Yo... BILL!! Agree'd. #45, a jack-ass and buffoon whose only strategy exists at the end of his dick. Which as us males know, our actions become more stupid as it enlarges lowering blood-flow to our brain. And, with his obviously 'small' brain the reactionis pre-dick-table(pun intended!) as we see. I mean, you wouldn't have seen Maggie Haberman on his staff or behind a desk in his administration..., she's "not my type" surely. Now Alieena Habeenah.... hohoho... she fits in. Huh? Anyway, in keeping with what you said about taking advantage of #45's preposterous behavior, you are correct, it is indeed a trove even Mad Magazine would be pushed to come up with. I mean, #45 is so fullof s-- t his eyes must be brown.., and the rest toilet paper. Yeah.. I learned that in hi-school.
Or perhaps hope for some kind of a JFK arrangement.
At what point do you stop trying to demonstrate kindness and reason with a fervent party out to destroy what we value and begin to actually say no and do something about it.
Steve, My reply to Phil was aspirational. At this moment, in my view, Democrats have to be willing to engage in war. The other side has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to hold power. Accordingly, contrary to Trump who presents himself as a savior, particularly of white people, Democrats need to go where the trouble is in this country, the trouble that Donald Trump is stoking, the trouble that Donald Trump is making worse, and show, receipts in hand, particularly for those who doubt that Democrats care about the wreckage of their dreams, that they can work jointly on legitimate issues and grievances.
My experience is that the extreme right cannot be reasoned or coddled into clarity about anything to do with patriotism or adherence to law. They only whine and nurse their grudges. There is no remedy but to throw the bums out.
Yes. Losing our faith in humanity deepens the abyss. What you propose is happening in many places and must continue regardless of the odds of immediate ‘success.’
In the memorable words of Linus, "I love humanity. It's people I can't stand." Likewise, I really cannot stand the mob roaring and clapping at trampler's rallies. In some ways they have truly rejected their own humanity by giving fealty to that monster. I hope for their sakes they regain their senses and don't go to their graves still loving to lick trampler's boots, but I despair of them. I want to concentrate on the people who have not sold their souls - new voters, as-yet-uncommitted voters, laissez-faire Democrats, and anyone else who still remains a member of the human community.
Fear won't get us anywhere. We need to take our stand on human rights and the constitution and vote all these deviants out of office. I think of the opening scenes of Gladiator, where Aurelius' army efficiently puts the Germanic tribe down. We must be Centurions, not frightened slaves.
Lauren, When living through one of the more terrifying moments in human history, fear is an understandable response. The point is that we not let it paralyze us. In that regard, my sense is that virtually every HCR subscriber is in the fight.
Agreed, Barbara Jo.
Feelings are more powerful than reason. Fear is natural. I feel obligated to encourage myself and others not to let it or its partner, paralysis, prevail. When we are calm we can think of solutions to whatever ails us. IMHO the solution to America's worst problems is to vote out the R's. If true conservatism ever returns to the right wing we can welcome the Republican party back into our government.
He also thinks only of his campaign contributors.
"Former NATO supreme commander Wesley Clark called Trump's comments 'treasonous'". That makes Anne Applebaum's point about Little Marco's & Lapdog Lindsay's dutifully downplaying them treasonous, also.
Much more than only campaign contributions it's another open-mike signal to the Kremlin to flood-the-zone with their bot factories of every false flag, anti-democratic, AI-developed lie they can think of to help him as they did brazenly and worked in 2016.
Political pressure from the WH and Congress should be brought to bear on Meta, YouTube, Google and every media outlet inc known sources like Murdoch & Musk whose govt contracts could be cancelled for reportedly allowing Russia to use his Starlink system over Ukraine. This next 9 months is likely to be like nothing we've ever seen and we need to be prepared for it this time.
I definitely agree. Musk got taken down when the Delaware chancellor of their corporate court smacked down the board’s decision to award him $56B in salary. The chancellor found the board was not disinterested and their members were far too cozy with Musk.
Musk’s disaster in buying and running X (Twitter) has been so bad that he’s losing money with his other businesses like Tesla.
Lapdog Lindsey (aka Lady) G and Little Marco are disgraceful Trump toadies.
I’ve seen some whispers online that the Russians are now using Starlink in Ukraine. If true, that is just simply terrible. I’m not usually a big fan of nationalizing companies, but I’d be all for it in this case. Wouldn’t that be a huge violation of sanctions?
How long before he dumps Lindsey and Marco? Maybe they can join McCarthy. He needs more room on the crazy train for Elon and Zuck. Social media is as much a megaphone for him as Fox.
Jeri,
I think there is more going on here with Graham and Rubio. Both have been "super hawks" on defense re: Russia. The only answer I can come up with is that Trump has dirt on both of them. I am beginning to feel as if he has files like J. Edgar Hoover had. Something is just not right when two guys who have solid careers just spin on a dime and follow the "boss's" orders. I heard Rubio speaking and he sounded like a chastened puppy dog. That is NOT his style.
Trump may be using more than direct intimidation. He might be using information. Classic, isn't it?
"like nothing we've ever seen"... Im afraid so! No humour really intended but this like Terminator 2 when the T1000 "just keeps coming back? Those suggesting active involvement in the 2024 election campaigns have it nailed.
Republicans these days either get voted out or win by cheating.
No..nonono..Kathy.., read my comment and you'll see what really occupies #45s' mind. It's what he's gong to do to them in the end (err with 'the end'). Hahahaa..,yup..., it's where his "strategy" exists. Consider him the Titanic. He's going to go down, if we can just hang on,it's been a slow ride (SlowRide - FogHat 1975)
Phil, I have been looking for something to call the current Speaker and Howdy Doody does fit. Right now I am reading a history of the ancient Rome and their 700 year rivalry with Persia....any of the kingdoms and empires in the area of Iraq and Iran. Right now it is mostly the Parthian empire and lots of smaller kingdoms trying to decide which empire to support. It involves asking for help in some situations and not getting it if either side decided it wasn't worth it. And of course, lots of murders and assassinations. Then there were some Roman generals and emperors deciding this area was a good place to make their mark with various disasters and successes. I am reminded of what we have right now in Ukraine and also in the general area of the middle east.
Johnson also has some egotism in comparing himself to Moses. Johnson’s a cheap theocrat who blindly worships Trump.
Johnson just plain creeps me out.
Can’t help but think of the line from The Maltese Falcon: “The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter.”
Yes. He seems robotic. Maybe he is...
He seems like a Stepford Wife to me.
There's probably some real truth in Johnson feeling he's been chosen by God, Moses no less, wow! but I've run into all sorts of people who feel they are "chosen".... the OT/NT has a litany of the self-chosen "God chosen"... it's the perfect lock-down mechanism for closed minds.
In Fiddler on the Roof, Tevye says to God: “Next time, couldn’t you choose someone else?”
THE problem with the OVERLY chosen... Fiddler exceptional notwithstanding. Great musical/movie saw when i was a young adult.
Didn't Jesus say something along those lines in Gethsemane?
it's the perfect lock-down mechanism for closed minds.
You nailed it!
Speaker Mike Johnson is not caving to the MAGA extremists. He IS a MAGA extremist. And he reigns by consent of the greater GOP.
I just sent an email to Tom Emmer, my Minnesota US House Representative. Oh what would be the difference if he had gained the speakership in the US House.
I'm busy lighting up Fischbach's ass. She is more misogynistic than most men I know. She reminds me of Nazi guard in a woman's concentration camp. She is an insurrectionist. She joined the lawsuit to end abortion medication. She is a racist. So are 80% of her voters. Rural Minnesota. Small farmers, who's farm have been swallowed up by corporate farms. Left out of those subsidies that went to the top 2% of corporate farms. But, yet they still vote Republican. And they are begging migrants for help.
Interesting points you are making, Lisa! Church going God fearing folks also, I would gather! They hear from the pews how the Dems are a Satanic coalition.
Satan is everywhere, they proclaim. Which is a way of saying, 'I dont have to take responsibility for my actions'. These are aging out communities. They spend their days watching Fox and going to funerals. These towns are dying across the country. Especially the farm towns. I see it on our road trips around the country.
Happens to include the largest white male suicide demographic. Without being political about it, this is depression in excess.
This is so sad, because they are good people........turned to hateful cult members.
Not hard to connect those dots. Sorry they can’t seem to. Small farms will save agriculture and society if done ecologically. Even the UN has acknowledged that.
The irony is soul crushing for anyone who understands what irony is.
Cynical response: that's what they get for voting against their own interest and keeping themselves too ignorant to ascertain where their interest lies.
Don't get me wrong, any small biz that got swallowed up by big corps. has my sympathy. My theme for today and pretty much every day is vote them out. If we don't clean out the rot, the country will get gangrene. We might have to excise Texas to save the body politic.
Tom Emmer would also do whatever the orange Jesus told him to do. He’s just a puppet.
Precious little I fear.
Thanks Jerry. Mission accepted. I am glad to see Thom Tillis is on board, although his track record of standing strong on issues is hardly iron-clad.
As for Johnson, he's more concerned with covering his own butt than keeping the world safe, or even maintaining the commitments of his country. A 'sniveling knave' if ever there was one.
Tillis is leaving the Senate. Not much the crazies can do to him.
A sniveling knave with an expensive haircut
Yes indeed. How dare they? How can a small number of “representatives” bring about chaos? Democracy is a wonderful concept. The idea that a majority of citizens can actually bring about their will is the myth we tell ourselves. We have a kind of democracy. Representative democracy with many arcane rules and an organizing document written over two hundred years ago by a very select group of men. We are now entering a period of extreme uncertainty and extreme danger. The idea that a few ignorant self serving individuals can bring over 340 million people to this juncture by the application of “rules” and not the constitution is absurd. Trump’s pronouncements are becoming increasingly irrational. Each day is yet another reminder of the need for an overhaul of the constitution to bring our form of government into the 21st century and to make it more “democratic”.
In some international comparisons I've encountered, USA has fallen into the "imperfect democracies" category. You'll do better in ex-Nazi Germany. https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/10/21/spring-2021-democracy-appendix-a-classifying-democracies/
Jerry Jackal Johnson is a puppet and Trump in the puppeteer. ‘Nuff said?
Keith, hence Phil Balla's "Howdy-Doody of the House" seems particularly apt!
Jerry, Thank you for urging us to do our part to press for a discharge petition were a bill to pass in the Senate and advance to the House. I would note I had understood, before a House member could file a discharge motion, the bill, first, had to be introduced and referred to a standing committee for 30 days. Please correct me if I have gotten anything wrong.
You are correct, Barbara Jo. But I'm guessing that Minority Leader Jeffries anticipated this and already has a stealth bill in some committee. That's what he did for the debt ceiling increase last year.
BTW, Mr. Jeffries began suggesting a discharge petition a few days ago, and centrist Republican Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) also subtly refers to it in this recent statement:
"I know we need to get aid to Israel quickly, and it’s in our national security interests to keep Ukraine independent and help Ukrainians defeat Russia’s barbaric invasion by sending them military weapons. I’ll work with the likeminded folks and the Speaker to determine what is best way to move forward," Bacon said.
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Onward!
he. does. not. care.
He is a ZEALOT.
Ken Buck has suddenly grown a spine, and of course he's leaving. I have called and thanked him, when I used to rail at him.
And I'll be working for whichever dem runs against Boebert in my district, or whichever of the republicans they nominate. 5 of the 7 have proudly noted they've been arrested.
😱Such is the 180° spin of what was once the party of order, rules and laws. Hard to believe that 5 of the 7 candidates actually BRAG about their arrest records. Good Lord, how low can we fall?
Probably the only thing they ever did worthy of note.
My latest comment on HuffPost:
Someone should take Johnson to the woodshed. He is the man who says he was "Chosen" by God for the speakership. Johnson is a dark and sinister ideologue who bows to Trump's wishes and believes all gays should be made pure. In other words, cured by any means necessary to make them straight. The evil darkness that has taken hold of the Republican Party may very well do permanent damage to our country while they relish in the process of doing so. Johnson is a Christo-fascist member of a "secret" Christian society. As an ordained Christian graduate seminarian, I must ask: What is it about Jesus that must be kept so secret? Easy answer: They are not Christian by any measure. They are anti-patriots, the political equivalent of the anti-Christ. They are power-struck zealots who have set out to ruin or destroy our republic. They are up to no good and up to everything bad and evil.
Woodshed? How about a trip to .....>> DELIVERANCE >( oinkkk oinkkk!
Call Speaker Johnson at (202) 225-2777 and ask him to bring the Ukraine funding package to the House floor.
We could try it, but my guess is that we won't be able to record a message unless we live in his district.
People not in Johnson's district have told me that they've been able to leave a message for him. Every call counts!
Good.
Yes, Susan. Definitely call the Speaker. But that is Mike Johnson's old number. Since becoming Speaker, his new number is (202) 225-4000 .
.
Thanks!
Thanks for the link Jerry. Will make some calls to representatives. It’s something at least.
As a resident of MA, I know Rep Stephen Lynch will be voting in favor of the Ukraine aid package, and I just called to ask him to do whatever he can to get this passed!
Discharge petition sounds like a plan: Here’s politico’s article.
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/02/08/congress/dems-open-to-discharge-petition-00140539
I don't think Johnson played nice in the sandbox. He may still be stuck there, with his bully buddies and religious hypocrites. He certainly never learned that we're all "God's Children" or that it is self evident that we're all born equal.
They certainly are, and I think it should be shouted from every rooftop that Rump will destroy NATO because Putin TOLD HIM TO. And the Great Orange Dictator will do just that, to gain favour with his Lord, Master and Idol: Sauron in the Kremlin. The GOP is bought and sold by Russia, and Rump will plunge the world into World War III just for his own pathetic gain.
I like the reference to The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien certainly knew what he was talking about and we are witnessing it in real time as one Republican after another succumbs to the fatal attraction of the ring of power. Nevertheless I am still appalled and dumbfounded that this is happening in the United States, despite how ‘flawed’ its democracy is. (See democracy ratings of Transparency International.)
Tolkien sure knew about the corrupting force that worldly power holds... And, just like Sauron, Putin is also very good at playing big in the long game.
Eventually the game ends for all of us. Even Putin will have to step into the void we call death. Maybe sooner than later.
That's why he's in a hurry to establish his Great Russian Empire. Putin isn't 35 anymore...
But no shots fired, chump would roll over his first day, the dictator day, after that he would bow to Putin. Deal done.
Yep, that's *exactly* how it's gonna play out!
P.S. And the real loser in this game will be the planet. Both Chump and Putin couldn't care a rat's ass for the environment - as long as they can stay in power, everything's fine for them.
We've got to give it our best shot...
Of course, you gotta!! It's no use laying down, rolling over and playing dead...
That will come soon enough, for real. Kick arse while you can...
We all know this is true. What I am concerned about is that none of his followers will ever read Heather’s words. No MAGA will ever agree with most of the historians and political intellects simply because they won’t read. It is like banging your drum in a vacuum.
It sure is. As long as we've types like John Sméagol around who keep defending Putin and pointing to Biden as the source of all evil, we're not getting anywhere. I'm almost curious to see how he will react when Putin launches his endgame and WWIII starts. And I'm waiting for Tom High to come crashing in with a flying kick, all screaming, swearing and insulting...
They are defended against any self-reflection
Spot on, Dutch Mike. We are already there and it grows worse every single day.
I agree 💯 I guess now we know the focus of the "private " meeting between T***p and Putin in Helsinki 😡
Yup... "You hand me over the US and Europe, and I will reward you with riches untold"...
Dutch Mike is foaming at the mouth again.
The war is on, John. Dutch Mike is absolutely right. This is not a normal election year. Trump and the Government of Putin (GOP) are all in to take us down. The sad part is they don’t even have to win the election. The Steve plans (Bannon and Miller) gather steam while we knit on the sidelines.
Please do not feed the troll.
You are entitled to your opinion. Here's mine:
The United States, with Biden as a point man, built up the military of Ukraine’s corrupt far-right thug regime where Interior Minister Avakov, political boss of the neo-Nazis, controlled the police stations, precipitating rebellion in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking areas (about half the country). Ukraine in 2022 built up its troops on the line of contact in the Donbass, preparing to invade. Russia then signed mutual defense treaties with the breakaway Donbass republics. As Ukrainian oligarchs fled (draining the Kyiv airport of rental jets) and Lloyd's stopped insuring Ukrainian cargoes, Ukraine began its pre-invasion bombardment, and Russia intervened.
Ukraine's history is complex and ancient. As you know there is no love lost between Ukraine and Russia - especially after the Stalin era starvation of millions of Ukrainians. I will agree Ukraine has a history of corruption. I will also agree that a little known, thought to be light weight, Zelenskyy, like few others throughout world history, started a new chapter of Ukrainian history and embraced democracy. He demonstrated the power of leadership like few others. He has fought against corruption. Does some corruption remain? Sure it does - just like it is rampant right now in the US and in most countries. However, the bottom line is this, Putin invaded a sovereign nation, in large part because he thought the world would not be watching or reacting. He thought NATO would cave because of Trump's rhetoric and actions, and given the inaction by the Obama administration when he invaded Crimea after a corrupt pro-Russian puppet President was overwhelmingly voted out. Putin and Trump were wrong.
Russia did not intervene, it attacked sovereign Ukrainian soil, not only in the Donbass but also greater Ukraine. It stole children and committed war crimes. Nations have a right to self determination and in history there comes a time when every generation faces their Sudetanland aka Alamo moment. Ours is now, no backbone? Another "peace in our time". In this invasion Russia is not heroic nor is it the hailed liberator. It is merely a nation seeking brutal reestablishing of a past empire, just as Putin has declared in his speeches.
Steve Hinds, you ably summarize Establishment talking points, without any evidence.
I remember the story about Saddam Hussein's soldiers dumping babies in the hospital out of incubators onto the floor to die. This story inflamed the whole country, including me, and helped justify our war against Iraq. Then, afterwards, it was widely reported that the story was a bare-faced lie.
I have seen much of the same in the barrage of propaganda against Russia, but I have no doubt that some of the stories of atrocities are true.
Isolated acts by military units are different from a systematic policy. I have been taking a wait-and-see attitude, remembering how we all got brainwashed in the past.
Regarding the "kidnapped" children, I remember reading that Russia relocated orphans from a war zone to safety in Russia. What's the true story, and how do we find out?
I think that, regarding why the war "unfroze" in 2022, Russia has a case that should be considered, and I think that there is a lot of misinformation exaggerating Russian atrocities, but I think that some atrocities definitely did happen, just like the United States did in Vietnam and Iraq. I said more in this reply:
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-17-2023-14e/comment/47632143
My position is that we need to accept that we can't defeat the Russians militarily, which means that we'll eventually have to negotiate with them, so it makes sense to be aware of their side of the story and the underlying big picture.
Furthermore, our government is broke, and Congress is broken:
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-18-2024/comment/47632311
Biden's reckless policy, supported by leading Democrats and Republicans since Obama was President, has been to shore up Ukraine's thuggish government and use Ukraine as a weapon against Russia. America leaders, especially Biden, have foolishly undermined American national security and wasted military resources.
I've said more about Ukraine's brutal far-right thug regime here:
https://substack.com/profile/85178460-john-schmeeckle/note/c-46724624
Yeah, that's the second time you've published the same unhinged paragraph.
You mockingly dismiss without engaging.
Trump talks exactly like the ole mafia Dons of New York. Why so many cannot understand this buffoonery is anyone’s guess.
Dark money flows through their veins. They are being propped up to overthrow our democracy because they know they cannot win as the party of white evangelicals. Their war is on and well-funded.
I am wondering why trump endorsed Sheehy instead of Rosendale who has so kissed up to trump. Sheehy is a millionaire that can provide trump with $$$$$$. Follow the $$$$$. Beside reforming the electoral college, getting dark $$$$$$ out of politics would go a long way in the future to get fascist out of politics
Unfortunately, we will have to first pry the MAGAts who are already in Congress, out by sheer numbers of votes. Because they will hang onto their power until their cold dead fingers are forced to let go. Once most of the fringe right-wing radicals are kicked out....I'm hoping and praying that Congress will begin to act more like a body of rational beings who faithfully represent their constituents interests AND their country's interests.
Not just our WWII veterans. As a career officer since Cold War days, having stood at the free side of the Iron Curtain, this is serious.
My father is one who is turning in his grave.
I was interested in the statement made on PBS’ political hour with Ami and Tamara stating TFFG makes speeches ( campaigning rhetoric) but the audience is small…except for repeating the press and people do of it….i underscore this folks. It’s hard not to, the world is in an uproar about it today and increasingly so . As it was earlier suggested “it was getting rough and going to get a lot rougher”.
There’s a feeling of astonishment in every corner except theirs.
It’s food for their ego and base declined as it is, getting to a point of chopping the legs off American’s stand alone Big Brother claim.
It is without a doubt the biggest slap in the face to US AMERICANS as the rest of the world depending on us.
For those who support and supported him , his sycophants, the liars-cheats-screaming-crotch grabbing-putin supporting-headline seeking TREASON TRAITOR TARTS
WE THE PEOPLE are going to …..💙💙VOTE YOU OUT FOREVER💙💙
Unbidden, the phrase "Make America a sh*thole country, vote Trump 2024" has been roiling around in my head for the past week or two. Now I know why.
I just wonder why some military people support trump. Republicans keep digging this hole, they should consult Jules Verne for sigh seeing hints while on their journey to the center of the earth.
That fatal hamberder had best be getting its shoes on and its act together, because time is getting short for The Traitor to have that massive fatal myocardial infarction, mid-rant at one of the hatealongs, in front of the seething Inadequates, hitting the floor behind the podium face-first, stone cold gone.
Is this the place for that Clarence Darrow (I think it is) quote I have never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituary notices with great pleasure?
Because, yes.
I compare DJT to a rabid animal, but much more dangerous than a rabid animal. When Adolf Hitler committed suicide at the end of World War 2, it was such a relief to the entire planet.
A rabid animal did not choose its condition….and was once a cool part of nature.
Trump, on the other hand, is $hitonnashoe with zero value….and has been his entire life.
Soulless
a nothing
#45... aka: SFB/POS/Moron/SOB/SMF/CS/NN/AH/(R)/R/....."I'm immune!" Really? From what..., deliverance? Not at Rikers, better bring some soap.
I think that was Mark Twain....
Believe it was Darrow, but Twain reportedly said “ I didn’t attend his funeral, but I sent a note saying I approved of it.”
Hard to get me to laugh today, but you and Twain did it!
So glad, I get a laugh from some comments as well. None from trolls yet.
Letters from the earth, MT
Twain is always worth a laugh with a whammie. Love his take on about anything.
I never heard this before, but Mr. Darrow could make a nice turn of phrase when he had an opinion.
I love Ann Coulters recent comment on Trump and what’s the best thing he could do for the country…
Wait, what? That formerly insane writer actually CRITICIZED TRUMP???
2/4/24
“ Responding to another user asking "in her opinion" what Trump "needs to do" to "help us take America back," she did not mince words.
"Maybe he could die?" Coulter asked.
**********
Can I get a hallelujah my brothas and sistas?
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Yes'm! A huge Harlem Hallelujah!
I keep wondering why he hasn't already. His lifestyle certainly looks like an actuarial table's perfect morsel for the grim reaper. Are you off inhabiting Brad Pitt's body? Get back to work, pal.
Yes, it's a surprise, but she is anti-Trump. (Probably because he isn't Bad Enough)
Mark Twain
exactly.
It certainly is!
Poetic, this, and entirely appropriate.
The Devil is giving him overtime.
For a reason me thinks. Could something spectacularly good come from the life of Trump?
In theory, yes. A complete overhaul of the electoral system, including elimination of the electoral college, a complete overhaul of the US Supreme Court, a complete overall of the department of justice. Jail time for those who would foment bigotry and insurrection in the United States. Taxation of those churches who engage in political activity with contempt for the separation of church and state. These are a few of the things that come to mind…..of the things that could theoretically be implemented to address the rushing tide of fascism in this country. The operative word here is theoretical.
All sensible solutions. I like the taxing part, in particular. But that's just one of my favorite subjects. Your first four ideas are actually more critical.
Lets add universities| non tax paying colleges, especially the ones set up with Koch money to your list, psych evaluations for law enforcement people, and once and for all get rid of the guns!
Theoretical as opposed to actual…
Could the Greedy Old Plutocrats have finally overplayed their hand?
As far as Donald’s handpicked successors to the RNC, my immediate thought was: money-laundering. The biggest grift yet.
Trump's choices are those of a playboy/mobster/tyrant. Basically evil.
Not even as an organ donor.
Eeuwww! Who would want his tired old probably useless organs?
I thought something good came from Nixon’s evil. They just made sure that they didn’t get caught again until they couldn’t be stopped. Would love to believe your take, but my mind freezes up.
What good came from Nixon's time?
Jordan and Dirksen made me think that they had learned their lesson. They just went underground. Evil wasn't the least bit defeated.
You mean like a rose bush growing from his grave?
Again Tom, Lettuce Prey!
To speed things up, that fatal hamberder will need some seasoning to add flavor to it. The seasoning will taste similar to almonds... good old cyanide salt. Quick and easy. Gone in 15 minutes. Planet Earth is safe now.
His perfect palate doesn't like seasoning only ketchup.
I wish for that too, for the first time in my life, wishing ill on another person. And yet. I think Biden’s best chance for victory is if he runs against Trump. So maybe not just yet. November 15 ish sounds good.
eh... I've been (uncharacteristically) been dreaming up prolonged, painful diseases that aren't well managed. ones where the sufferer prays for death. Unfortunately that won't turn around his cult.
Well...there are those lesions on Yamface's fingers...and late-stage syphilis is about as prolonged and potentially painful as it gets....
Personally I have my doubts that syphilis is what caused the finger lesions (Syph is relatively easy to cure if antibiotics are taken soon after the diagnoses)
I also doubt it's syphilis. could be mundane dermatitis of some sort. I'm thinking something mortifying for a narcissist. Or he could get full-blown dementia like his father. Or get stranded in the middle of the Pacific.
Put that event on television, and I think the audience worldwide would be larger than that of this past Super Bowl, larger even than the World Cup.
Absolutely right.
If only
I really hope for that.
I dream, love the image
...uh oh... anybody have Ivanka's phone number. Just send her a text, she might be "busy".
Pure poetry!
Old Hollywood rule: Flattery will get you *everywhere* Stephanie. :-)
This is a watershed moment for the 2024 election. It is correct to say Trump’s remark amounted to treason. Beau of the Fifth Column posted a video explaining why what Trump said matches the Constitution’s definition of treason (link below).
But what matters to me is WHAT THE NEWS MEDIA DOES WITH THIS STORY. It MUST become the cornerstone story of the election! Biden’s age is NOTHING compared to Trump’s stated threat to destroy NATO … the greatest gift to his “friend” Putin imaginable… greater than giving Ukraine to Putin, to me.
In any other year, this would be DISQUALIFYING to Trump, and all news organizations would treat him as an enemy to America as well as to NATO going forward. Sadly, I don’t expect that to happen on the force of Trump’s statement alone.
I hope the Biden campaign realizes this is the opening they need to destroy Trump. As Steve Schmidt says, the election will turn on who it’s about. If it’s about Biden’s age, he will lose. If it’s about Trump as a threat to world peace and stability, he will lose.
How can we help insure this election is about Trump? I think it’s up to each of us to answer that question for ourselves. But make it about Trump we must!!!
Beau of the Fifth Column's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz9n2KWw214
Trump's comment about being able to do anything he wanted to women would have been disqualifying. His Stormy Daniels payoff would have been disqualifying. His mocking a disabled reporter would have been disqualifying. His behavior with respect to the Latino Judge would have been disqualifying. The court case loss with regards to Trump University would have been disqualifying. His loss of the court case with respect to his "family charity" would have disqualifying. His behavior at press conferences would have been disqualifying. Hugging the American flag should have been disqualifying. Have you ever seen a grown adult do that? No it doesn't show the proper respect. His comments about McCain should have been disqualifying. All of his comments about veterans should have been disqualifying. The fact that he didn't pay attention during the presidential daily briefs should have been disqualifying. The fact that he didn't listen to any of the experts around him should have been disqualifying. The fact that he didn't listen to the State Department protocol briefings before he met with foreign dignitaries made him an embarrassment to the country. I'm too depressed to go on.
With you, Paula. Depressed and frightened. The worst part? He’s a sick, vile, evil ignoramous-but SO MANY people here in Fla and around the country think he’s the key to better. The absolute degeneration of our society-or at least the normalizing of the worst that we can be-that he has unleashed is incomprehensible to me. I worry for my kids and my kids’ kids-how can what has been unleashed ever be tamed? I fear the murder of democracy in our lifetime.
I fear it too, but keep hoping that enough people are getting sick and tired of wrestling with the pigs.
Hang in there, Jen. Down in Florida you’re surrounded. Try to maintain your sanity for nine more months and see if things aren’t looking a bit brighter. The 2024 election will be the great sifting and I think the neo-fascists who pull the lever for Donald Trump will provide around 35% for the Mussolini/Hitler ticket. That won’t be enough. I expect that election to mark the beginning of the end of this nine year national nightmare.
Let us hope!
William-thank you. I hope you are right! As someone smarter than me coined on here-from your keyboard to God’s inbox. Thank you.
In 2004, I visited DC and thought that W didn’t have a chance. Texas was right. Silly me.
2024 is the year of reckoning.
All my kids and grandkids live in Florida. A drive through central Florida is depressing as is a drive on I-10 through the Panhandle. Trump country. Those folks don't understand that tfg would not have anything to do with them. If he did business with them, he would try to cheat them out of money owed. The creep is running for president TO STAY OUT OF JAIL!!! He doesn't have any ideas for the country other than revenge and project 2025, which is a billionaires' project to return the US to the kleptocracy of the Gilded Age.
Murder of democracy. It's happening now. We may be too late.
We're experiencing "Death by a Thousand Cuts" with Trump.
I fear for our adult children, but I also, selfishly, fear the coming instability will wreck my 401K.
I wish poverty on chump, not the rest of us.
My 1st thought was, "isn't she being too kind?"
(Edit: I had to correct 2st to 1st. I guess I'm not qualified to run for president)
That’s a legit fear.
No mystery here, in plain sight.
The one I always think of first was that he said he could murder somebody on a busy street in broad daylight and get clean away with it.
In my secret heart the reply I hear is "Karma is a Bitch!" or "What goes around, comes around" because we should not be made to suffer such speech and behavior in a civilized society. Little kids hear those things as well as the rest of us.
If trompy were to win the immunity case (he won't, or at least shouldn't,) I can picture Dark Brandon shooting him in Times Square and getting away with it, because, immunity. The traitor must be treated as such.
Or do you mean Kyle Rittenhouse?
Swear words. Young Kyle was 17 when he travelled from Illinois to Wisconsin, where he used an AR15 combat assault rifle (I was was not a grunt, but we all carried an M16 in Vietnam, in case we needed it some day -- there is a switch that changes between fully automatic and semi-automatic. There is very little difference between auto and semi-auto -- if you know or meet a grunt, ask him his opinion about the difference between automatic and semi-automatic -- sometimes they used semi-auto to save ammo, or so I was told). Rittenhouse, in his 17-year-old minor's immature mind, no doubt in my mind, went to Kenosha hoping to shoot somebody. He murdered two people in the street, and seriously injured a third. The jury found him not guilty, due to "self-defense". Many people believe justice was not served. Maybe 45 would be exonerated under similar circumstances. It ain't right. Note that I may be a little extra indignant about that incident because it occurred about three city blocks from the house where my Mother grew up in Kenosha.
Much of my significant other's family lived in and around Kenosha at that time. (Four of them are now deceased).
So true. Just look at the history of what the conservatives have done in the last 50 years from Nixon, Reagan, HW Bush, GW Bush and then orange face. Every dirty trick they could some up with in the shadows and we would only find out after nothing could be done. They twisted the law to their favor. All of those administrations ran on ethics, law and order while violating them all.
Rickey, what makes you call them "conservatives"? I understand that Fascism is conservative by definition, but they want to roll back the treatment and support of women, children, underprivileged and people of color. They want to bring back slavery and reduce benefits we paid into our entire lives.
Aren't they really repressive regressives?
Conservative is the name they chose for themselves, and for the past 50 years they’ve made a mockery of it.
Funny how things get turned upside down. Like the term 'the gay nineties' for example. A 'gay' period of time. Now, a 'lifestyle'. Personally, I wish those humbug "conservative" would recognize and appreciate the "gaiety" that embodies our nation and quit trying to dumb it down by burning library books, enforcement of biblical scribbling, and impolite behavior. Like.., try to be nice, don't fake it.
He's gotten away with it because the GQP has manifested into a criminal entity. Since Leonard Leo and the gang of alt-right Billionaires groomed a couple of Supreme Court Justices to give them Citizens United. It's been balls to the walls floodgate of dark money. They own the Court and they own many parts of our MSM. Charles Koch loves Putin. They go way back. The fucking Billionaires will have their knees on all our throats.
By the way, per Project 2025, funding for Ukraine and any other country for that matter will be shut down.
SFB (#45).., a'wanted man'. Rikers is ready.
Well, I don't know how old you are, but your memory is excellent, and what you recall is sickening. Makes me want to send a copy of this to every Republican I know.
He did play a lot of golf.
And cheated infamously.
We need a laugh emoji!
We do... I see a lot of emojis here, but I don't know how to catch them. Most of them are too OTT anyway - rolling around, full of teeth and tears and sweat. If I could just use that little face with a wink. But I can't make it "take".
Cheating is not playing golf. It’s something, but not golf.
😉
😉