Today, retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman sued Donald Trump, Jr., Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, and others, as well as Fox News Channel personalities, including Laura Ingraham, for obstructing an official proceeding “by intimidating and retaliating against a key witness.” The lawsuit describes an “intentional, concerted campaign of unlawful intimidation and retaliation against a sitting Director of the National Security Council and decorated military officer…to prevent him from and then punish him for testifying truthfully before Congress during impeachment proceedings against President Trump.”
Quite the contrast Lt Col Vindman is to the TFG’s presidency as Col Oliver North was to the Regan presidency.
Thank you Col Vindman for reminding us that honesty, integrity, character, decency, and the rule of law, all matter in a democracy. Thank you for demonstrating the moral courage, at great personal and professional risk and sacrifice. Robert Kennedy said , "Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change the world which yields most painfully to change."
Thank you Col Vindman for inspiring us through your example and sacrifice, and recalling us of our duties as American citizens.
I think what was done to this honest and courageous man by TFG was the tipping point to the fall of our democracy. I couldn’t believe this could happen here. This United States Colonel with immense integrity who truly believes that “right matters” and stood up to protect our democracy is retaliated against and removed from his position. As well as his brother who wasn’t even involved. This incident solidified my suspicions and fears that we had a tinpot dictator/ mob boss as our president. And it just got worse from there.
Russian scholar Nancy Reisman calls the TFG’s style of governing “ THUG- OCRACY”. IMHO this label is designed to fit him like a correctional orange leisure suit.
Remember Sadam being pulled out of the Dirt, that spider hole in dirty pajamas, long hair, bearded and haggard? The regular Iraq’s so relieved of decades of brutal oppression, fear and anxiety, and the Sunni minority humbled. Could you feel the healing begin in that moment?
I hope we get to see TFG in handcuffs, Orange jumpsuit, pale, ( no spray tan service in jail, no ridiculous tupe’, and no baggie suit and dumb 40 inch red tie. “Fictional successful businessman DJT”, is a mythical creation, he is not real, he’s been “created” like the Marlboro Man, he is only a marketing creation. And that probably makes him even more dangerous.
We need this reality to happen. How many bomb threats have occurred at HBCU’s this week? How many neo Nazi groups are gathering and menacing in broad day light around the country? How many QOP’s are attacking the idea of a black woman on the Supreme Court before it has even happened? How many QOP officials Aren’t saying anything about TFG’s comments calling for violence in the streets of our cities?
Until TFG is charged and found guilty by a jury of his peers, the threat to decency, the rule of law, and democracy is real.
I'm concerned that these militia groups are infiltrating everywhere across this country. I was disturbed to read that Vermont is 8th in the nation for possession of guns and I've read that there are at least 4 of these groups living in the state "off the grid", 200 of whom chartered a bus to invade the Capital on 1/6/21. When are we going to hear that armed intimidation of voters is against the law and put these people away! There HAS to be accountability!
if only we could truly learn from history. However if we don’t read it and we don’t teach it and we ban books, that will be difficult to do. Fortunately so far that is a desperate minority. We need to let our voices be heard, loud and strong, if we are to continue to live in a free and healthy society.
You are right, and right to be concerned about these militia groups, but from what we have learned in Michigan (attack on our Capitol, plan to kidnap our amazing Governor), the appropriate federal agencies were and are infiltrating the infiltraters. The January 6 attempted coup turned out to be a perfect round up of the baddest. The investigation into that, and into tRump's treasonous role in it, is critical for mapping out the lairs of all these Brown Shirts so when indictments are imminent, the king WILL go down, but the country won't.
We all should be concerned about this. These groups are taught/trained (Turner diaries) to operate independently like independent cells with decentralized leadership. Sound familiar?
If only the feds worked as hard to stop domestic terrorists as international ones, like the head of ISIS. It should be a top priority. Jail time is the best deterrent.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
Thanks, George. If there is an organization that is paying his legal fees, all or in part, I'd donate to them. I'd prefer donating directly to AV. I'll buy the book anyway, but part of that money goes to 3rd parties too.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
I hate to be the one to throw ice water on your rosy view of this country and government, but Vindman is far from the first guy things like this have happened to. You could lose him in the crowd if you got them all together - and that's just the ones still alive.
I guess I didn’t articulate very well. I know Vindeman isn’t the first. This case was just so in your face with TFGs ruthless dictator traits on full display that it shook me.
The lionization of Vindman strikes me more as a sign of the rot within the Republicans under Trump. A man just “doing his duty” stands out in bleak contrast to the great majority who fetishized ‘duty’ into servility to Trump. If the full story of Vindman’s coming to the notice of Trump is that he merely expressed uneasiness about the infamous Ukraine call, then this says far more about the inner circle than it does about him.
The decision to throw out both Vindman and his brother in humiliating manner came, no doubt, after a nanosecond of reflection by Trump.
The lawsuit will be buried under a coming avalanche of new stories. But at least for today it stands as an indication that Trump pissed off the wrong guy.
100% agree as to rot within the GOP, under Trump and continuing under FOX news's Tucker Carlson, MTG, Matt Gaetz, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, etc.! MLK's oft repeated claim that the arc of history always bends toward justice is admirable but that arc is so long and so often obstructed/detoured that those in most need of justice at the moment will not be around to see/enjoy justice; at least, I fear that is the case. If Vindman is successful in his suit, that arc may be back on track.
This lawsuit comes at a key time, as if the clarion call for Trump to be outed, is marching closer and soon. We are watching in real time his desperation, including his hate for his VP who stood beside him after 1/6. That should be a lesson to the others who have been thrown under the bus, but so far there is still abundant silence. Or at least that brings some hope to the increasingly disillusioning state of our nation.
The benefit of public and televised hearings, especially calling key witnesses, who are courageous and care about and are loyal to country over loyalty to a criminal president cannot be overstated. Yes, we are forever in debt to the heroes in our midst.
Agreed, especially in the case of Trump. How many of those who worked for himk his wife, or his kids while they were in the WH, have had their names and careers ended, mocked, or tarnished, in some case irretrievably?
And how many of those now still Maga-minded, still sticking up for him and/or trying to coverup his malfeasance/dereliction of duty will find themselves defendants in civil or criminal cases?
So far 700 of his "followers" participating in the 01/06/21 have been charged with various felonies and/or misdemeanors. And the investigations are on going.
In the end, some folks are masochists, and all who still support Trump and his acolytes seem to be masochists: they cannot admit they fell for a criminal, made a mistake, so they continue to let themselves be used.
Some of them are focused on some single issue like abortion. Others love the behavior he models....don't like something like masks, so he has given them carte blanche to create havoc and intimidate. The Oregon legislature began its session yesterday and sure enough the anti-mask mob was at the door. Some finally got in citing religious or medical reasons. My feeling is no mask, no entry, period. People do now have to pass through metal detectors.
No idea. The fundies around here are an absolute menace. They will not get a vaccine, mask, keep social distance....nothing and here they are whining and likely lying to get into the Capitol building. God protects them, you know. But the virus doesn't care about religion or politics or anything else except finding a host.
So, you say, this Colonial Vindman's whose self-sacrificing revelations about the blasphemous braggart who IS guilty of destroying American democracy...
So, you say, that same Colonial Vindman who is the truly loved American hero by all those who also love HCR's efforts of educating us about the truth...
So you say, Colonial Vindman's determination to save our Nation can so blithely be cast into the nebulosity of obscurity's fog...
So I say you will find here a vast majority's passionate disputation about your account of Colonial Vindman and
Instead witness such majority's effusiveness about America's brilliant shining star of courageousness that is well beyond the pale of our concomitant American Patriots!
Unfortunately, there are a lot of Americans, still, who "couldn't believe this could happen here". I may be a bit jaded, but I am awaiting the first reports of the sudden and mysterious deaths of past and potential witnesses to the misdeeds of our former democratically elected President. Our time is running out while Trump is still running free.
Well, Judith, if a pollster had asked me before the last election about the need for armed rebellion to "protect liberties", I might have been among the one third, though the liberties I have in mind are not the same ones most of the Jan. 6th crowd are fantasizing about. Poverty, racism, climate change, wealth disparity, abortion, gun violence, healthcare, world peace, etc. all involve "liberties" in one way or another, and if the far-right crazies take up arms in an organized way, someone will need to oppose them. I'm not sure peaceful demonstrations and well-reasoned arguments will be enough to save our country. That said, armed violence is almost inconceivably stupid and selfdefeating, but we Americans are no strangers to it, and I'm afraid it's a real possibility.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
"tipping point to the fall of our democracy. " I wasn't aware our Democracy had fallen. Cherry picking any one thing and giving it undue weight in the pantheon of American History is dangerous.
Let us all be quite clear in our rhetoric. I object to the use of the term political crimes or political trials. The U.S. Criminal Code has no distinct category of crimes labeled as “political” crimes. The offenses committed by Trump and others in his circle are simply crimes and covered by various criminal statutes in the U.S. Criminal Code. There are no special judicial procedures for prosecution of those crimes, nor are there special federal courts where those trials are heard. It is not possible to appeal a federal criminal conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court which has no jurisdiction of criminal matters. It is possible to investigate, charge, indict, and convict a political figure of a criminal offense. However, that does not make it a political crime or a political trial. It remains a violation of the U.S. Criminal Code and a crime. I see no justifiable reason to excuse the crimes because the criminal who committed it happens to be either a current or former politician.
I see an even greater imperative to take action when it is an elected person, at any government level, who commits these crimes. When an individual asks for our vote to place that individual in a position of power, a position that directly or indirectly impacts our personal liberty or life, that person is asking for our trust. When an individual raises his/her right hand and takes that Oath to protect the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic and promises to "faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God." voters have every right to expect that person, and every one like him/her, to do just that. And when such a person betrays that Oath and commitment, the people have the right and responsibility to hold him/her accountable. Betraying our trust may not be a crime but violating that Oath is, especially when people are hurt or damaged. Col. Vindman is a better American than a lot of people holding elected office in our government these days. From this voter and American, I am thankful he upheld his Oath and that it continues to guide his actions.
I do not believe that it is true that the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction of criminal matters. What is true is that it is basically an appellate court and it does not have original jurisdiction to try cases, unless they involve suits between the states or case brought against ambassadors and other public ministers. (Const. Art. III, Sec.2)
For an informative summary of criminal cases decided by the Court in the last term see https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/significant-criminal-cases-from-the-5422487/. These ranged from search and seizure issues, to the 6th amendment (unanimous jury issue), to statutory interpretation of criminal computer fraud laws, to the application of the plain error doctrine. The cases heard include Federal prosecutions and state ones if there is a Constitutional issue present.
I apologize and stand corrected. However, I do think this deserves a bit of clarification. The Supreme Court is as you stated an "appellate court" and as such has no original jurisdiction in criminal cases. As an appellate court, however, it can hear cases where there may have been a "procedural" error, additional exculpatory evidence subsequently discovered after the original hearing, or a misinterpretation of the criminal statute. Examples of procedural errors could be improper instructions to the jury, racial bias in seating the jury, incorrect judicial rulings during the original proceedings, and many more. Examples of misinterpretation of the law would cover the situation already suggested in the case of the reversal of findings in the "Bridgegate" cases, where it was determined there was wrongdoing but that it was not the "public corruption" which were the charges for which the defendants were tried - effectively the ruling was the case was "wrongly charged." Had the prosecutors charged the case differently another conviction on different charges might have stood.
In cases related to political figures, the charges are often, but not always, of public corruption nature. They generally relate to defrauding the government, misuse of public funds, accepting a bribe in return for political favors, or some similar charge. They are rarely charges of a RICO or conspiracy nature, or as serious as seditious conspiracy. However, it would certainly not be the first time a political figure was charged with some form of election fraud charges or election interference crimes. The mere fact that someone is a political figure would quite unlikely be grounds that would alone cause any appellate court, let alone the Supreme Court, to accept a case on appeal.
However, yes under the circumstances discussed above relating to acceptable grounds for appeal, it is possible for the Supreme Court to accept an appeal generated from a criminal case. However, it must be remembered this is not a "retrial" of the original case but rather the appellate court reviewing the circumstances only on the grounds of the appeal. You will not get an appeal accepted simply by saying, "I didn't do it and I should have not been found guilty." You have to do a lot better than that. Perhaps in Trump's case, his best defense would be mental incapacity.
Thank you for the clarification and my comments aren't met to detract from your excellent central point that we don't have a "political" criminal code. Unfortunately I'm not sure that we don't have politically biased judges and that in any trial as complex as one charging Trump, there won't be multiple opportunities for the bias to emerge. Key issues could include the necessary intent (mens rea) under various statutes, defenses along the lines of "my lawyers said I was within my rights" , attorney-client and other privileges, 1st amendment questions (did he really intend to set a fire in the Congressional theater) and the more common arguments over including and excluding witnesses and evidence. I'm sure all of this is one reason for AG Garland's cautious, methodical approach combined with the need for jury unanimity. Is it better to have charged and lost, or not to charge at all? I think the former but it's not an easy question.
I likewise agree with your comments as well. Although I am neither a lawyer nor do I pretend to be, I do lead a firm with my partner who has multiple law degrees. Our firm does provide legal services, primarily to in-house corporate legal departments, on contracts, intellectual property rights, and litigation support. Our firm’s area of expertise does not extend to criminal prosecutions or defense of them, although we do often provide guidance to corporate executives of our clients on matters related to corporate governance practices and “ethics” matters.
Having said this I do believe despite Trump’s apparent belief in his own cleverness, he is basically a buffoon. He also is surrounded, for a variety of reasons not the least of which is his history of not paying his legal bills, a cartoonish brigade of lawyers of at best marginal competence that is generally unrelated to the areas of law on which they are advising him.
The senior prosecutorial teams within the DOJ are contrastingly extremely competent. I am quite convinced if DOJ decides to bring a case it will see the best of those legal assassins assigned to that team. Were I given the choice of being a DOJ prosecutor on a case against Trump or the opportunity to be his defense counsel that decision would not be a coin flip.
Bill, I followed your exchange with Bruce as best I could. My simple question with reference to charges against Trump should they be brought by the DOJ has to do with whether he would tried by the supreme court given the low odds that a Constitutional issue or issues would be present?
Laurence Tribe, is an American legal scholar and renowned Harvard Law Professor who has argued cases 36 times before the U.S. Supreme Court and 26 times before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. His record in those trials is pretty impressive and he is considered among the leading legal scholars of Constitutional Law. He has cited numerous times both in media interviews and in print his views on specific criminal statutes in the U.S. Criminal Code he believes Trump has violated. The list is reasonably lengthy and the specific crimes are quite serious with severe punishments. None of those would be cases if brought that would first be heard in the Supreme Court.
He would not be tried by the Supreme Court but issues arising from a lower court trial or issues stemming from an investigation or indictment by DOJ could make their way to the Supremes.
The SCOTUS doesn't "re-try" anything. They do have some very narrow fields of original jurisdiction but I doubt it amounts to anywhere near 1 % of their caseload since its establishment. It's an appellate Court.
Absolutely correct. Also, the Supreme Court generally hears only approximately 80 cases in a given term. That is a very small fraction (less than 1%) of the estimated over 10,000 petitions of certiorari they receive each year. Most of the time whatever the lower appellate court has ruled stands. It is quite likely that the would-be emperor Trump would insist on running any convictions through an appeals process. However, he would quite likely have to begin that process in a federal appeals court, not at the Supreme Court. It may or may not ever reach the Supreme Court.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
If you are on Twitter you can find Col Vindman through his wife. I will sent her a tweet to inquire as to any fund that has been set up to support his legal action.
PLEASE POST HERE IN A WAY THAT ALL OF US, (even those old farts who are computer illiterate and unfamiliar with Twitter), WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE CONTACT INFORMATION ENABLEING US TO GENEROUSLY CONTRIBUTE ALL WE CAN AFFORD TO ASSURE COLONIAL VINDMAN'S SUCCESSFUL VICTORY OVER THE CREEPS WHO THOUGHT THEY COULD DESTROY THE AMERICAN HERO OF PATRIOTISM!
Could the Vindmans establish a special bank/escrow account that could only accept valid credit card contributions with no possibility of withdrawals by anyone other than Vindman himself?
I can't go there with you in any comparison to Oliver North. Vindman reported the transgression and never shied away from exposing TFG's misdeeds to which Vindmam was a witness. North followed an order he knew was illegal and covered it up until given immunity. North should have been Court Martialed and put in jail. Then, perhaps he wouldn't have been around for the mischief with the NRA.
I agree- in my view, Oliver North enabled treachery and deception- Vindman at great professional and perhaps personal risk called attention to Trump's attempt to sabotage US foreign policy in order to hold on to political power. In terms of moral rectitude, I see them at opposite ends of the spectrum.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
"Lt Col Vindman is to the TFG’s presidency as Col Oliver North was to the Regan presidency."
What the What? I think you are trying to say that Vindman would not be complicit in Trump's Ukraine abuses, while North was an active participant in Reagan's Iran Contra abuses. But that is not actually what you said.
Vindman is a whistleblower who stepped up to expose Trump's misdeeds. And continues to be punished by the Republican establishment.
North is a miscreant who carried out Reagan's undercover misdeeds. And was later summoned before Congress to testify. He continues to be a fixture of the GOP.
These two National Security advisors played very different roles in the two administrations. Vindman upheld the law, North broke it.
William Barr played the same role in the Republican Trump Ukraine scandal as he did in the Republican Reagan Bush Iran Contra scandal. Having helped clean up one mess, he was brought to clean up another.
“Quite the contrast Lt Col Vindman is to the TFG’s presidency as Col Oliver North was to the Regan presidency.“ Wow, it’s taking me forever to figure this out. I finally got it. Vindman is a huge contrast to North. Because of the word “as,” that makes one jump to the knee-jerk conclusion you’re comparing them. *whew*
Vindman is a huge contrast to North. A refreshing contrast. An extreme contrast. Got it.
Thanks Roland, I'm not a professional writer, obviously! But I remember writing a lot of compare and contrasting papers way back when. The contrasting of people, events, issues, I always found to be better at learning and teaching than comparisons. I didn't think so many would misinterpret my meaning or intention. That alone is pretty interesting to me now.
Ted, I agree, the contrast between Vindman's sense of honor and duty to country and North's lack thereof are about as far apart as one can get. We are fortunate that Vindman was in the "right place" at the "right time". (Ted, I think some folks have misread your 1st sentence.)
One consistent sign of a foreign troll or sentinel , is their lack of understanding the nuances of a language that is not native to them. Somebody is probably checking with their commissar the differences and meanings of contrast and compare in the English language. Other people may just be reading to fast in the busy world that is daily life. Eventually they will get it.
Amen. North was truly a Reagan puppet and ready to do any illegal and immoral act Reagan asked of him. (I still have visions of North and his secretary (Fawn or Dawn) rapidly and endlessly shredding incriminating papers regarding the Iran-Contra crimes.) Vindman is a person of principle who stands on truth and strong ideals.
It is good to know that there are people who recognize the truth and are willing to stand up for it. Lt. Col. Vindman is a much better example of patriotism than trump and his supporters. Actions speak louder than words. Trump folks, like the Jim Jones people, have drunk the Kool-Aid. I’m not sure they would recognize the truth if if walked up and slapped them in the face.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
Linda Tripp lied to her friend (some friend) to get hold of evidence that would show Bill Clinton not having the wherewithal to say no to sex. She used dishonesty and betrayal of a friend to catch a president lying about sex.
Lt. Col. Vindman behaved honorably the entire time, and as a result the public learned that tfg had been shaking down a foreign head of state, illegally witholding necessary money for self defense appropriated by Congress to procure an announcement of an investigation into the family of a political rival.
So? Both produced "evidence"; were the darlings of the opposing Parties; contributed to impeachment charges; and their action led nowhere. Further, she was fired from her job and subsequently filed a court case against the government.
Star(r) witnesses towards both modern presidential impeachments are written in history and will remain that way. The wrath each incurred afterwards is also familiar. It is unfortunate how closed minds color interpretations of these facts and even seek to assail folks who allow themselves to think freely.
William, no one here has assailed you personally. A person such as you or me who puts out ideas into a discussion forum has to be prepared for others to have different ideas. While your description of similarities is interesting, and even amusing, IMO the differences in character as shown by scheming (Tripp) vs honorable (Vindman) actions are far more important. You can call that a closed mind if you want.
You seem to imply that Lt Col Vindman, Fiona Hill, Ambassador Yovanovitch, and the other public servants who testified to Trump's illegal shakedown are all no better than Linda Tripp finagling a dress with evidence of non-marital consensual presidential sex. If that is not what you meant, please clarify.
I would suggest that calling other people's ideas an "abomination" is really not the best way to get started with intellectualism.
You wish to qualify people's intent, and I haven't criticized your idea or that of others, however, I would also proffer the danger in imposing an unqualified view of what the intent of others is or providing commentary on their "character". It seems, you wish to decry Tripp based on your belief of her as a person, rather than accept or discuss my observation that they served similar roles in the last two presidential impeachments.
The Facts are: Tripp and Vindman produced key evidence towards their respective cases. As I explained, this resulted in great polarization (but no real outcome) followed by political retribution (which still seems to linger, hence this dialogue).
Lastly, I don't believe it is fair or right to proclaim some folks as "better" than others; that is really a road I don't rally upon. Sorry.
In textual analysis, which is what this thread is partly about, 'author intent' has long been superseded by 'reader response' and other critical approaches.
I care nothing about your intent.
My response to your statement, is that linking those two names, those two persons, is an abomination. On the level of language and in the context of history and of society.
If we are discussing the innate worth of a person as a human being, yes, we are all equal. Some people’s actions are demonstrably better than others. To offer an example within the constrained arena of elected Republicans in Florida: Sen Rick Scott condemned the NeoNazis’ hate rally in Orlando. Governor Desantis not only refused to criticize Nazi hate, his press person twice suggested it was unfair to ask that of him. Therefore I regard Scott’s behavior as morally better than that of his governor.
It seems you posted a gamut of obfuscation for some reason and ended with a change of subject. None of it relates to this sub-discussion.
Further, it does not discount the fact that both Tripp and Vindman were key evidential players in POTUS impeachments and they are both praised/demeaned according to ones political beliefs.
Therefore, I think understanding their similarity is probably more important that immediately recoiling to denounce it.
In a 'compare and contrast' scenario, understanding the relative significance of similarities and differences is essential.
On the level of language, rhetorical turns come with an allegiance to fact and a burden of responsibility.
I can list all the ways in which cats and dogs, apples and oranges, planets and stars are similar. But to be useful and honest, I would have to admit that the ways they differ are more significant to understanding the world I live in and how to take ethical action.
Apologies for having misread your opening sentence! Lack of careful reading on my part. But it gave several of us the opportunity to express our discontent with North!!
No worries! I'm thinking of all the impressionable young minds that Regan/North was able to fool then. I was young then, and I don't think I , nor a lot of boys understood how bad North was. Same as young minds today might not fully understand how bad TFG is now. Its one of the things that most disgusts me about TFG, his horrible example of demagoguery, lying, cheating, and corruption ( not leadership) to young men and what they can get away with. It offends me deeply that more R's can not stand up to this idiot. It is a symptom that something is very wrong with the QOP. They can never be trusted.
It is not a comparison. Its a "contrast" as in the opposite of many traits. Vindman is ethical, moral, and legal. North was none of those. While Col North sought to cover up an illegal president's orders, Vindman sought to expose TFG's illegal abuse of power.
What I key in on with humility, is that Vindman, an immigrant, is undertaking the moral journey of holding trump-verse accountable. And America. He knows we can do better, and he’s willing to stay in the ring to push us to do exactly that. I see this as a showdown of American Values in the most basic terms. Vindman is “We The People”.
In his interview on MSNBC, he forcefully told the audience that he would NOT be intimidated or made fearful. He is powerfully strong and determined and RIGHT and I hope he takes all of them to the cleaners!
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
Lt. Col. Vindman is as close to being as true hero as there ever was one. He never backed away nor backed down. He heard the conversation, he reported it, and then was basically told to forget about what he heard. He didn't and we should all be ever so grateful for his bravery to uphold the law. I certainly am.
We see what is happening to our country as frightening and it is, but that is exactly the way the party of these Republicans want us to be. Let's review a little:
January 6th changed our lives more than we could ever imagine. Hordes of mostly white supremacists were unleashed on the Capitol, ready to destroy people who stood in their way and to obliterate democracy. They desecrated our House; they maimed and murdered. Why...why did they do that? I have asked that question so many times but I think I know now. Of course, TFG planted seeds everywhere with his ongoing hateful rhetoric and his sheep ate them all up. See, finally our government, having elected Joe Biden, would be diverse, just looking like what our country actually is. This prospect agitated the hell out of white people and so when you have wealthy people like Ginni Thomas, the Mercer family, the Kochs, the owners or CEOs of Coca Cola, and AT&T backing them, then chaos occurs. Our government had changed. Women were elected and people of color secured seats in the House and Senate. Was too much for the good ole boys network so they just had to shake things up.
Neo-Nazis are blatantly appearing in daylight. Threats of bombs on black colleges are increasing. The FBI is supposedly investigating. It is our job to publicly call these monsters out. Please do so via Twitter, FB, postcards, or calls.
I have tremendous respect for Lt. Col. Vindman. Tonight’s letter and accounts of the former President’s practice of tearing up paperwork reminded me of something I have been wondering for months. Did they find the written summary of “the perfect conversation” former President Trump had with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky? You may remember the last administration had locked it away in a top secret, highly classified security file only two people had access to.
For some reason this page isn’t allowing me to paste a link to the infamous transcript, but I was able to find it by googling “President Trump perfect conversation transcript”. CNN also offers an annotated version.
Love all of this, Marlene, but you knew that already.
The Obamas in the WH started this drama. Until then, they were all still kind of lethargically dozing in their reverie of a society with whites in charge. No more. Now it’s war.
Yep, the “tea party” nuts just couldn’t stand those deep tans. Just like now, the same nuts think that a black woman couldn’t possibly be as qualified as a white man. That tan seems to negate brains in the view of these scaredy cats. They think that POC in power will treat them as they have been treated. Lordy, wouldn’t that be a hoot…
See that’s what bothers me. And it’s not just Black Americans. Any Ppl of color that throughout our history that contributed for the “Betterment of All of Us “ go unrecognized . Like for instance the Black Senators that gave us the 13th,14th,and 15th Amendments. If it wasn’t for them there wouldn’t be “ White Privilege “. Only White Rich men had All the privileges . I didn’t learn that in History or Civic class in the late 50’s or 60’s. It was the Black man that gave the White man a hands up.They need to know that.
I worked at NASA during this time and I never heard of her and it was a much smaller organization in the 60's. But I was a Procurement Clerk, so peon at work. She should have been a hero to all of us, grunts and geniuses alike.
Roland, goggle “how do I contact Substack”. A page comes up and you need to click on “I need something else”. Then a form comes up. Fill it out and state your complaint. Strength by numbers!
The Guardian had a good op-ed on this today (link follows)-<snip>Conservatives see Biden’s announcement as an indication of how powerful the forces of liberalism, “wokeism,” and multiculturalism – those radically “Un-American” ideas that are threatening “real” (read: white Christian patriarchal) America – have already become. In this way, Biden’s pledge is perceived as yet more evidence that the Right is on the retreat. It is impossible to understand conservative politics in general without grappling with this pervasive siege mentality. <snip>https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/feb/02/joe-biden-supreme-court-nominee-right-reaction-black-female-nominee
Siege mentality is right, only they are the ones "sieging." What bs, they have been on the warpath since Nixon and especially Ronnie and his pal Rupert.
They think that and less Rights for them. It is beyond their comprehension that “ Equal “ means “ Everyone “.They have in their heads they are better off getting screwed by “Big Corp “ ? Right ? Right now they are paying more in Tax’s that them. Just wait until 2025, the Tax Cuts go away for the poor and Middle class and are permeant for Big Corp, the Elite Rich. You think they are whiners now ! Haha ! They better hope a Democrat is in Office.It really is important to read the fine print.
And bolder, they feel it’s their last chance so the money will motivate the mobs to madness. Excessive and sinister devotion to manipulative evil creates danger to all who are not so afflicted
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
That's very exciting news about Army LTC Vindman suing trump. Vindman could do wonders for the country; not only to completely clear his record and be acknowledged for very honorable service to the country; but further to bring trump to accountability for his illegal and bullying actions against Vindman. And there's some wonderful irony in his family immigrating to the U.S. from the Ukraine and being true believers in the real democratic ideals of the country. I hope Vindman calls for witnesses from among t's slew of sycophants and slugs who carry t's coattails where he goes. It's time for all of them to face multiple trials. t should be bankrupted and sent to a Supermax for some years to reconsider his direction in life. Vindman is a brave man and should be acknowledged nationally.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
I salute Lt. Col Vindman. I appreciate him, his brother - their entire and combined family. I hope he wins his lawsuit. I hope he funds his retirement along with that of his brother’s. I hope he funds his children’s education(s).
I want 45 in jail. I am so tired of that loser clowning around with people’s lives. He’s a demented piece of work showcasing the very worst of our species. I’m exhausted from his BS.
I want his demise to be public and pitiful. His base needs to be embarrased by his lack of courage. He needs to be abased in front of the world. And even that might not shut him up.
When J.K. Rowling created Voldemort, none us dreamed 45. Not a single one of us could even dare imagine that a real life piece of work would so clealry imitate art.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
What tfg and his louts did to Lt. Colonel Vindman was utterly unconscionable! I hope with every fiber of my being that he wins his case. He deserves retribution on so many levels.
Thank you, Heather, for your focus on this patriot tonight. It behooves us all to be reminded of a brave and noble citizen who has acted with such dignity and integrity. And finally, Heather, your concluding lines are spot on!
"And so we are back to where we were in 2019, when Vindman first reminded us that in America, right matters. At long last, will most of us decide that it does?"
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
EXCELLENT CONCEPT! How can we start a fund in this newsletter? I pray there will be immense enthusiasm to actually do something instead of just talking about, "...Something should be done about that..."
"And so we are back to where we were in 2019, when Vindman first reminded us that in America, right matters. At long last, will most of us decide that it does?"
Possibly not, because the partisan divide is now so wide due to the political gaslighting and disinformation disseminated by the Trump Republican propaganda machine, but here's hoping. Lt. Colonel Vindman is a Brother in Arms, an exemplary one at that, a courageous, patriotic American of impeccable integrity who stood tall, above and beyond the call of duty, at the expense of his own career and spoke the truth, upholding his sacred oath to defend the Constitution no matter what in order to do what's right to ensure the preservation of Democracy. It is therefore the duty of all American veterans, indeed of all citizens who care about equality, freedom and Justice, to stand with him, to demonstrate that right does matter, to back him and celebrate his example as an officer of extraordinary moral courage who is a credit to his nation and a champion of the highest principles of public service. I echo my friend Peter Ralston's praise of this great American: "I am proud beyond words of Lt. Colonel Vindman."
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
In an age when we hear from every corner the metaphorically deaf, dumb and blind political neo-autocrats effectively trump-eting "Might is Right", we now have a very clear direction given by Col. Vindeman and many brave men before him that they are wrong and democracy will fight them all the way . "Right is Might" is the clarion call of freedom in America and in the free world.
Except that “right” has such a stench. We shall reclaim the word. Like we need to make “republican” as vile a word as they have tried to make “liberal”
Equally important to reclaim the word "conservative", and come up with a sufficiently descriptive word that describes the people who currently claim that label.
Lt. Col Alexander Vindman and Fiona Hill were two of the most courageous and effective volunteer witnesses at Trump’s second impeachment trial. Then Vindman was summarily removed from his National Security Council position, and, after his well-earned promotion was scrubbed, he felt obliged to resign from his distinguished professional career.
It is fitting that Vindman has filed an intimidation/retaliation suit against Giuliani, Fox, and others of their ilk at the same time that Sarah Palin (once she recovers from Covid-19 and deigns to wear a mask when she dines out in NYC) is preparing to testify at a trial where she is suing the New York Times for ‘slander.’
The contrast between Vindman’s and Palin’s suits for me are book ends of the Trump presidency.
Damn, hadn’t heard of Palin’s idiocy. What could they have said that would be as bad as she has been from the first day McCain plucked her out of mediocrity
Hearings not starting until April reduces the chances that the Justice Department will get criminal referrals and act upon them before the election. Wonder if there's a chance that the committee is sharing information with the department now.
It is disappointing that public hearings of the January 6 Committee won’t be until April or May. However, tonight on MSNBC, Adam Schiff said that there is no reason for the Justice Department to wait until the January 6 Committee has completed its investigation to proceed with Justice Department investigations and/or charges against individuals. I understood him to say that the Committee’s job is not to make recommendations for criminal prosecutions, but to uncover and piece together exactly what happened and who was involved. The Justice Department should be doing their own investigations, he said. Of course, I assume that the information that the Committee gathers will be helpful to the Justice Department, but Representative Schiff was clear that there is no reason for the Justice Department to be waiting for the January 6 Committee to complete their work. Hopefully, there is a lot more investigating going on in the Justice Department than we can know.
Agree. The committee has made the Justice Department's job much easier, as in here's who did what and when, and here's the evidence. Of course the department must determine the appropriate charges that can be proven based on that evidence and, in some cases, seek more evidence. Then it must persuade a grand jury to issue indictments. Given the complexity of what happened and how many people are involved, the undertaking is monumental. I remain confident justice will be done, though my certainty wavers at times.
This is what they are hoping for! To push it past midterms when they can cheat and gerrymander their way back in and toss the case. Right matters to me, but I know for many people here in the USA, it doesn’t. I don’t know where the future is going but I can say that I will fight for our country to stay a democracy.
IF Republicans take control of the House in the midterms, they can disband the 1/6 Committee but they cannot stop whatever the DOJ is working toward. Democrats and Independents must turn out in droves in upcoming primaries and in Nov. 2022 so that it will be harder, in those states that now have laws to enable partisan legislators or newly-elected partisan state Secretaries of State to overturn results, if there is a massive differential between Republican and Democrat votes for candidates for the House & the Senate.
And IF that happens (1/6 Committee shut down), the record of what has been collected so far will remain; I have faith that the Chair & members of the Committee will ensure that those records cannot be locked up or destroyed. Especially since, I believe, much of what is being discovered is being shared contemporaneously with DOJ.
Invoking the recent plight of retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, today’s newsletter concludes with the question: Will most of us decide that “right” in America still matters? I believe it could matter if enough of us, even in practically hopeless situations, can summon the will and the courage to persevere because, like Vindman, we believe the struggle is right and just and moral.
GOP desperation is evident, existing from the top all the way down to targeting regular citizens. For a while now I’ve been getting a call, which I do not answer, form an 814 number. Specifically (814) 762-6074. Yesterday while I was driving I received four text messages of pro trump memes, followed by a call. Because I was driving I didn’t pay a lot of attention to the messages until I received the call and answered. All the male said was “I sent you a few text messages! How did you like them?!!?”, then he laughed and hung up. It was followed up by two more text messages and another call talking about how trump was going to retake our country. The GOP and the trump minions have sunk to an unbelievable low, a frightening low. But I took the oath to our nation years ago before heading to Vietnam and will never back down to the cowards and traitors who support fascism and the former guy.
I forgot to mention in my post, the caller knew my name. So it was creepy and some what disconcerting. So I reported and blocked the number. If it continues I’ll send it on to the FBI but I’m sure they have bigger fish to fry.
Wow, this is disturbing. As a resident of Pennsylvania, and the area covered by the 814 area code, it saddens and angers me that this happened to you. Pennsylvania is becoming a cesspool of radicalized Republicans and far right white nationalists. It's as dire here as it is in other states that are getting far more attention. Check out Doug Mastriano, Scott Perry, Mike Kelly, Jake Corman, or any of the illustrious PA. citizens who have been charged with participating in the January 6th insurrection. The KKK paid a visit to my area prior to the 2020 election and left bags filled with birdseed plus their hateful propaganda on the properties of people who had Biden/Harris signs in their yards. It was a wet, windy weekend and it was surmised that birdseed was added to keep the bags from blowing away. There are Trump flags, Trump/Pence signs, Confederate flags, and other signage on display on numerous properties. My personal favorite is a Trump 2024 banner affixed to the fence surrounding a waste water treatment plant. I found it fitting. What has happened to you is, as you say, a new low. I hope you will take whatever action you deem necessary to protect yourself and to hold the person responsible to account. Stay safe and well.
Quite the contrast Lt Col Vindman is to the TFG’s presidency as Col Oliver North was to the Regan presidency.
Thank you Col Vindman for reminding us that honesty, integrity, character, decency, and the rule of law, all matter in a democracy. Thank you for demonstrating the moral courage, at great personal and professional risk and sacrifice. Robert Kennedy said , "Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change the world which yields most painfully to change."
Thank you Col Vindman for inspiring us through your example and sacrifice, and recalling us of our duties as American citizens.
I think what was done to this honest and courageous man by TFG was the tipping point to the fall of our democracy. I couldn’t believe this could happen here. This United States Colonel with immense integrity who truly believes that “right matters” and stood up to protect our democracy is retaliated against and removed from his position. As well as his brother who wasn’t even involved. This incident solidified my suspicions and fears that we had a tinpot dictator/ mob boss as our president. And it just got worse from there.
Russian scholar Nancy Reisman calls the TFG’s style of governing “ THUG- OCRACY”. IMHO this label is designed to fit him like a correctional orange leisure suit.
Remember Sadam being pulled out of the Dirt, that spider hole in dirty pajamas, long hair, bearded and haggard? The regular Iraq’s so relieved of decades of brutal oppression, fear and anxiety, and the Sunni minority humbled. Could you feel the healing begin in that moment?
I hope we get to see TFG in handcuffs, Orange jumpsuit, pale, ( no spray tan service in jail, no ridiculous tupe’, and no baggie suit and dumb 40 inch red tie. “Fictional successful businessman DJT”, is a mythical creation, he is not real, he’s been “created” like the Marlboro Man, he is only a marketing creation. And that probably makes him even more dangerous.
We need this reality to happen. How many bomb threats have occurred at HBCU’s this week? How many neo Nazi groups are gathering and menacing in broad day light around the country? How many QOP’s are attacking the idea of a black woman on the Supreme Court before it has even happened? How many QOP officials Aren’t saying anything about TFG’s comments calling for violence in the streets of our cities?
Until TFG is charged and found guilty by a jury of his peers, the threat to decency, the rule of law, and democracy is real.
I'm concerned that these militia groups are infiltrating everywhere across this country. I was disturbed to read that Vermont is 8th in the nation for possession of guns and I've read that there are at least 4 of these groups living in the state "off the grid", 200 of whom chartered a bus to invade the Capital on 1/6/21. When are we going to hear that armed intimidation of voters is against the law and put these people away! There HAS to be accountability!
“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody, ought not to be trusted by anybody.” - Thomas Paine
if only we could truly learn from history. However if we don’t read it and we don’t teach it and we ban books, that will be difficult to do. Fortunately so far that is a desperate minority. We need to let our voices be heard, loud and strong, if we are to continue to live in a free and healthy society.
You are right, and right to be concerned about these militia groups, but from what we have learned in Michigan (attack on our Capitol, plan to kidnap our amazing Governor), the appropriate federal agencies were and are infiltrating the infiltraters. The January 6 attempted coup turned out to be a perfect round up of the baddest. The investigation into that, and into tRump's treasonous role in it, is critical for mapping out the lairs of all these Brown Shirts so when indictments are imminent, the king WILL go down, but the country won't.
We all should be concerned about this. These groups are taught/trained (Turner diaries) to operate independently like independent cells with decentralized leadership. Sound familiar?
If only the feds worked as hard to stop domestic terrorists as international ones, like the head of ISIS. It should be a top priority. Jail time is the best deterrent.
Although you have to admit, ted, the orange jumpsuit might go well with the Toupé and spray-on tan 😉
True that!
Until TFG actually appears human, he remains a threat to humanity. ha ha!
Of course I agree with you completely, just having a little fun
😂
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
Is there a way to give to Vindman directly? If so, please post a link? Thanks!
Buy his book RIGHT MATTERS HERE.
My husband got it for me for Christmas ❤
Correct title is "Here, Right Matters". Took me awhile to get it right, myself.
I have just now discovered that Colonial Vindman has become a member of the Lawfare Institute.
However, as far as I can immediately determine they do not have any way to contact them except for this below listed snail-mail address...
which is, I guess, better than nothing, Eh!?
Lawfare Institute
P.O. Box 33226
Washington, DC 20033
What now...any suggestions?
Thanks, George. If there is an organization that is paying his legal fees, all or in part, I'd donate to them. I'd prefer donating directly to AV. I'll buy the book anyway, but part of that money goes to 3rd parties too.
I am trying to find a way...I need your help in this matter...do you know how to research a contribution resource...I sure hope so...thanks
That's why one of my nicknames is mafia don.
Exactly!!
Perfect!
😂 👍
Correction…it was Nancy Reis…
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
I hate to be the one to throw ice water on your rosy view of this country and government, but Vindman is far from the first guy things like this have happened to. You could lose him in the crowd if you got them all together - and that's just the ones still alive.
I guess I didn’t articulate very well. I know Vindeman isn’t the first. This case was just so in your face with TFGs ruthless dictator traits on full display that it shook me.
The lionization of Vindman strikes me more as a sign of the rot within the Republicans under Trump. A man just “doing his duty” stands out in bleak contrast to the great majority who fetishized ‘duty’ into servility to Trump. If the full story of Vindman’s coming to the notice of Trump is that he merely expressed uneasiness about the infamous Ukraine call, then this says far more about the inner circle than it does about him.
The decision to throw out both Vindman and his brother in humiliating manner came, no doubt, after a nanosecond of reflection by Trump.
The lawsuit will be buried under a coming avalanche of new stories. But at least for today it stands as an indication that Trump pissed off the wrong guy.
100% agree as to rot within the GOP, under Trump and continuing under FOX news's Tucker Carlson, MTG, Matt Gaetz, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, etc.! MLK's oft repeated claim that the arc of history always bends toward justice is admirable but that arc is so long and so often obstructed/detoured that those in most need of justice at the moment will not be around to see/enjoy justice; at least, I fear that is the case. If Vindman is successful in his suit, that arc may be back on track.
This lawsuit comes at a key time, as if the clarion call for Trump to be outed, is marching closer and soon. We are watching in real time his desperation, including his hate for his VP who stood beside him after 1/6. That should be a lesson to the others who have been thrown under the bus, but so far there is still abundant silence. Or at least that brings some hope to the increasingly disillusioning state of our nation.
Why Bill Barr resigned. But he has been in front of the 1/6 Comm. ?
But he was one who was on tv the whole time, it matters whether evil is done in the dark or in prime time. Sadly
The benefit of public and televised hearings, especially calling key witnesses, who are courageous and care about and are loyal to country over loyalty to a criminal president cannot be overstated. Yes, we are forever in debt to the heroes in our midst.
Agreed, especially in the case of Trump. How many of those who worked for himk his wife, or his kids while they were in the WH, have had their names and careers ended, mocked, or tarnished, in some case irretrievably?
And how many of those now still Maga-minded, still sticking up for him and/or trying to coverup his malfeasance/dereliction of duty will find themselves defendants in civil or criminal cases?
So far 700 of his "followers" participating in the 01/06/21 have been charged with various felonies and/or misdemeanors. And the investigations are on going.
In the end, some folks are masochists, and all who still support Trump and his acolytes seem to be masochists: they cannot admit they fell for a criminal, made a mistake, so they continue to let themselves be used.
Some of them are focused on some single issue like abortion. Others love the behavior he models....don't like something like masks, so he has given them carte blanche to create havoc and intimidate. The Oregon legislature began its session yesterday and sure enough the anti-mask mob was at the door. Some finally got in citing religious or medical reasons. My feeling is no mask, no entry, period. People do now have to pass through metal detectors.
Just read that some put on masks and then took them off once inside. Yep, let's keep spreading the virus.
👍 So many have had to hire Security at home and work. Happing where I live.
Forgive me, but I must point out, with tongue in cheek, that hiring extra security is the R vision of creating jobs — don’tcha know.
Whoever heard of a mask being a religious problem? What nonsense.
No idea. The fundies around here are an absolute menace. They will not get a vaccine, mask, keep social distance....nothing and here they are whining and likely lying to get into the Capitol building. God protects them, you know. But the virus doesn't care about religion or politics or anything else except finding a host.
Yes, and we have to wonder if (and why) those 700 really believe their leader will be president again someday and pardon them, as he has promised.
Rupert
Gee whiz! So America ain't so wonderful, Eh!?
So, you say, this Colonial Vindman's whose self-sacrificing revelations about the blasphemous braggart who IS guilty of destroying American democracy...
So, you say, that same Colonial Vindman who is the truly loved American hero by all those who also love HCR's efforts of educating us about the truth...
So you say, Colonial Vindman's determination to save our Nation can so blithely be cast into the nebulosity of obscurity's fog...
So I say you will find here a vast majority's passionate disputation about your account of Colonial Vindman and
Instead witness such majority's effusiveness about America's brilliant shining star of courageousness that is well beyond the pale of our concomitant American Patriots!
I agree with U TC. But to my knowledge I don’t recall it being under similar circumstances ? Yes ? Who ?
Don Seligman...
Unfortunately, there are a lot of Americans, still, who "couldn't believe this could happen here". I may be a bit jaded, but I am awaiting the first reports of the sudden and mysterious deaths of past and potential witnesses to the misdeeds of our former democratically elected President. Our time is running out while Trump is still running free.
"Almost eight years before the Capitol was attacked by partisans bent on reversing the results of an election, nearly one-third of Americans surveyed – and a whopping 44% of Republicans – said in a 2013 PublicMind poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University that armed rebellion might soon be necessary in the U.S. to protect liberties." https://theconversation.com/american-support-for-conspiracy-theories-and-armed-rebellion-isnt-new-we-just-didnt-believe-it-before-the-capitol-insurrection-173486
Well, Judith, if a pollster had asked me before the last election about the need for armed rebellion to "protect liberties", I might have been among the one third, though the liberties I have in mind are not the same ones most of the Jan. 6th crowd are fantasizing about. Poverty, racism, climate change, wealth disparity, abortion, gun violence, healthcare, world peace, etc. all involve "liberties" in one way or another, and if the far-right crazies take up arms in an organized way, someone will need to oppose them. I'm not sure peaceful demonstrations and well-reasoned arguments will be enough to save our country. That said, armed violence is almost inconceivably stupid and selfdefeating, but we Americans are no strangers to it, and I'm afraid it's a real possibility.
Yes.
And, as with much (all) of TFG’s unpresidential behavior, in broad daylight.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
"tipping point to the fall of our democracy. " I wasn't aware our Democracy had fallen. Cherry picking any one thing and giving it undue weight in the pantheon of American History is dangerous.
Let us all be quite clear in our rhetoric. I object to the use of the term political crimes or political trials. The U.S. Criminal Code has no distinct category of crimes labeled as “political” crimes. The offenses committed by Trump and others in his circle are simply crimes and covered by various criminal statutes in the U.S. Criminal Code. There are no special judicial procedures for prosecution of those crimes, nor are there special federal courts where those trials are heard. It is not possible to appeal a federal criminal conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court which has no jurisdiction of criminal matters. It is possible to investigate, charge, indict, and convict a political figure of a criminal offense. However, that does not make it a political crime or a political trial. It remains a violation of the U.S. Criminal Code and a crime. I see no justifiable reason to excuse the crimes because the criminal who committed it happens to be either a current or former politician.
I'm glad to know that the Stench Court has no authority to reverse tfg's future criminal convictions.
I see an even greater imperative to take action when it is an elected person, at any government level, who commits these crimes. When an individual asks for our vote to place that individual in a position of power, a position that directly or indirectly impacts our personal liberty or life, that person is asking for our trust. When an individual raises his/her right hand and takes that Oath to protect the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic and promises to "faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God." voters have every right to expect that person, and every one like him/her, to do just that. And when such a person betrays that Oath and commitment, the people have the right and responsibility to hold him/her accountable. Betraying our trust may not be a crime but violating that Oath is, especially when people are hurt or damaged. Col. Vindman is a better American than a lot of people holding elected office in our government these days. From this voter and American, I am thankful he upheld his Oath and that it continues to guide his actions.
Absolutely! "Col. Vindman is a better American than a lot of people holding elected office in our government these days."
Thank you for the clarification.
I do not believe that it is true that the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction of criminal matters. What is true is that it is basically an appellate court and it does not have original jurisdiction to try cases, unless they involve suits between the states or case brought against ambassadors and other public ministers. (Const. Art. III, Sec.2)
For an informative summary of criminal cases decided by the Court in the last term see https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/significant-criminal-cases-from-the-5422487/. These ranged from search and seizure issues, to the 6th amendment (unanimous jury issue), to statutory interpretation of criminal computer fraud laws, to the application of the plain error doctrine. The cases heard include Federal prosecutions and state ones if there is a Constitutional issue present.
Bill,
I apologize and stand corrected. However, I do think this deserves a bit of clarification. The Supreme Court is as you stated an "appellate court" and as such has no original jurisdiction in criminal cases. As an appellate court, however, it can hear cases where there may have been a "procedural" error, additional exculpatory evidence subsequently discovered after the original hearing, or a misinterpretation of the criminal statute. Examples of procedural errors could be improper instructions to the jury, racial bias in seating the jury, incorrect judicial rulings during the original proceedings, and many more. Examples of misinterpretation of the law would cover the situation already suggested in the case of the reversal of findings in the "Bridgegate" cases, where it was determined there was wrongdoing but that it was not the "public corruption" which were the charges for which the defendants were tried - effectively the ruling was the case was "wrongly charged." Had the prosecutors charged the case differently another conviction on different charges might have stood.
In cases related to political figures, the charges are often, but not always, of public corruption nature. They generally relate to defrauding the government, misuse of public funds, accepting a bribe in return for political favors, or some similar charge. They are rarely charges of a RICO or conspiracy nature, or as serious as seditious conspiracy. However, it would certainly not be the first time a political figure was charged with some form of election fraud charges or election interference crimes. The mere fact that someone is a political figure would quite unlikely be grounds that would alone cause any appellate court, let alone the Supreme Court, to accept a case on appeal.
However, yes under the circumstances discussed above relating to acceptable grounds for appeal, it is possible for the Supreme Court to accept an appeal generated from a criminal case. However, it must be remembered this is not a "retrial" of the original case but rather the appellate court reviewing the circumstances only on the grounds of the appeal. You will not get an appeal accepted simply by saying, "I didn't do it and I should have not been found guilty." You have to do a lot better than that. Perhaps in Trump's case, his best defense would be mental incapacity.
Thank you for the clarification and my comments aren't met to detract from your excellent central point that we don't have a "political" criminal code. Unfortunately I'm not sure that we don't have politically biased judges and that in any trial as complex as one charging Trump, there won't be multiple opportunities for the bias to emerge. Key issues could include the necessary intent (mens rea) under various statutes, defenses along the lines of "my lawyers said I was within my rights" , attorney-client and other privileges, 1st amendment questions (did he really intend to set a fire in the Congressional theater) and the more common arguments over including and excluding witnesses and evidence. I'm sure all of this is one reason for AG Garland's cautious, methodical approach combined with the need for jury unanimity. Is it better to have charged and lost, or not to charge at all? I think the former but it's not an easy question.
Bill,
I likewise agree with your comments as well. Although I am neither a lawyer nor do I pretend to be, I do lead a firm with my partner who has multiple law degrees. Our firm does provide legal services, primarily to in-house corporate legal departments, on contracts, intellectual property rights, and litigation support. Our firm’s area of expertise does not extend to criminal prosecutions or defense of them, although we do often provide guidance to corporate executives of our clients on matters related to corporate governance practices and “ethics” matters.
Having said this I do believe despite Trump’s apparent belief in his own cleverness, he is basically a buffoon. He also is surrounded, for a variety of reasons not the least of which is his history of not paying his legal bills, a cartoonish brigade of lawyers of at best marginal competence that is generally unrelated to the areas of law on which they are advising him.
The senior prosecutorial teams within the DOJ are contrastingly extremely competent. I am quite convinced if DOJ decides to bring a case it will see the best of those legal assassins assigned to that team. Were I given the choice of being a DOJ prosecutor on a case against Trump or the opportunity to be his defense counsel that decision would not be a coin flip.
Bill, I followed your exchange with Bruce as best I could. My simple question with reference to charges against Trump should they be brought by the DOJ has to do with whether he would tried by the supreme court given the low odds that a Constitutional issue or issues would be present?
Laurence Tribe, is an American legal scholar and renowned Harvard Law Professor who has argued cases 36 times before the U.S. Supreme Court and 26 times before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. His record in those trials is pretty impressive and he is considered among the leading legal scholars of Constitutional Law. He has cited numerous times both in media interviews and in print his views on specific criminal statutes in the U.S. Criminal Code he believes Trump has violated. The list is reasonably lengthy and the specific crimes are quite serious with severe punishments. None of those would be cases if brought that would first be heard in the Supreme Court.
Fern,
He would not be tried by the Supreme Court but issues arising from a lower court trial or issues stemming from an investigation or indictment by DOJ could make their way to the Supremes.
I have often expected that mental incapacity would be his ultimate defense, especially as his behavior exponentially degraded over time.
The SCOTUS doesn't "re-try" anything. They do have some very narrow fields of original jurisdiction but I doubt it amounts to anywhere near 1 % of their caseload since its establishment. It's an appellate Court.
Absolutely correct. Also, the Supreme Court generally hears only approximately 80 cases in a given term. That is a very small fraction (less than 1%) of the estimated over 10,000 petitions of certiorari they receive each year. Most of the time whatever the lower appellate court has ruled stands. It is quite likely that the would-be emperor Trump would insist on running any convictions through an appeals process. However, he would quite likely have to begin that process in a federal appeals court, not at the Supreme Court. It may or may not ever reach the Supreme Court.
Thank you! Does this mean I will sleep better at night? Nah, not yet, but maybe soon?
And yet the SC reversed the NJ Bridgegate convictions of Baroni and Kelly. Were these not criminal?
Search up for Bridgegate and read BruceC's explanation for the basis of reversal.
Thank you, BruceC. We're all overwrought, and clarity is important.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
If you are on Twitter you can find Col Vindman through his wife. I will sent her a tweet to inquire as to any fund that has been set up to support his legal action.
THANK YOU RUSTY FAIRBANKS!
EXCELLENT NEWS!
PLEASE POST HERE IN A WAY THAT ALL OF US, (even those old farts who are computer illiterate and unfamiliar with Twitter), WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE CONTACT INFORMATION ENABLEING US TO GENEROUSLY CONTRIBUTE ALL WE CAN AFFORD TO ASSURE COLONIAL VINDMAN'S SUCCESSFUL VICTORY OVER THE CREEPS WHO THOUGHT THEY COULD DESTROY THE AMERICAN HERO OF PATRIOTISM!
Could the Vindmans establish a special bank/escrow account that could only accept valid credit card contributions with no possibility of withdrawals by anyone other than Vindman himself?
What makes you think federal criminal convictions can't be appealed? Of course they can.
Keeping in mind that prosecution for "political crimes" is a hallmark of dictators.
I can't go there with you in any comparison to Oliver North. Vindman reported the transgression and never shied away from exposing TFG's misdeeds to which Vindmam was a witness. North followed an order he knew was illegal and covered it up until given immunity. North should have been Court Martialed and put in jail. Then, perhaps he wouldn't have been around for the mischief with the NRA.
I agree- in my view, Oliver North enabled treachery and deception- Vindman at great professional and perhaps personal risk called attention to Trump's attempt to sabotage US foreign policy in order to hold on to political power. In terms of moral rectitude, I see them at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Right you are - no comparison.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
"Lt Col Vindman is to the TFG’s presidency as Col Oliver North was to the Regan presidency."
What the What? I think you are trying to say that Vindman would not be complicit in Trump's Ukraine abuses, while North was an active participant in Reagan's Iran Contra abuses. But that is not actually what you said.
Vindman is a whistleblower who stepped up to expose Trump's misdeeds. And continues to be punished by the Republican establishment.
North is a miscreant who carried out Reagan's undercover misdeeds. And was later summoned before Congress to testify. He continues to be a fixture of the GOP.
These two National Security advisors played very different roles in the two administrations. Vindman upheld the law, North broke it.
William Barr played the same role in the Republican Trump Ukraine scandal as he did in the Republican Reagan Bush Iran Contra scandal. Having helped clean up one mess, he was brought to clean up another.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/opinion/trump-russia-iran-contra.html
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/08/trump-ukraine-call-impeachment-vindman/619617/
Ted did use the word “contrast”.
Thanks Eric!
“Quite the contrast Lt Col Vindman is to the TFG’s presidency as Col Oliver North was to the Regan presidency.“ Wow, it’s taking me forever to figure this out. I finally got it. Vindman is a huge contrast to North. Because of the word “as,” that makes one jump to the knee-jerk conclusion you’re comparing them. *whew*
Vindman is a huge contrast to North. A refreshing contrast. An extreme contrast. Got it.
Thanks Roland, I'm not a professional writer, obviously! But I remember writing a lot of compare and contrasting papers way back when. The contrasting of people, events, issues, I always found to be better at learning and teaching than comparisons. I didn't think so many would misinterpret my meaning or intention. That alone is pretty interesting to me now.
Ted, I agree, the contrast between Vindman's sense of honor and duty to country and North's lack thereof are about as far apart as one can get. We are fortunate that Vindman was in the "right place" at the "right time". (Ted, I think some folks have misread your 1st sentence.)
Good take. Vindman ( a good guy) will take current tfg down as did North ( a not so good guy) did to another tfg.
One consistent sign of a foreign troll or sentinel , is their lack of understanding the nuances of a language that is not native to them. Somebody is probably checking with their commissar the differences and meanings of contrast and compare in the English language. Other people may just be reading to fast in the busy world that is daily life. Eventually they will get it.
And I was among them! I despised Ollie North then and now and failed to read the opening sentence carefully.
Amen. North was truly a Reagan puppet and ready to do any illegal and immoral act Reagan asked of him. (I still have visions of North and his secretary (Fawn or Dawn) rapidly and endlessly shredding incriminating papers regarding the Iran-Contra crimes.) Vindman is a person of principle who stands on truth and strong ideals.
It is good to know that there are people who recognize the truth and are willing to stand up for it. Lt. Col. Vindman is a much better example of patriotism than trump and his supporters. Actions speak louder than words. Trump folks, like the Jim Jones people, have drunk the Kool-Aid. I’m not sure they would recognize the truth if if walked up and slapped them in the face.
Good take. Vindman ( a good guy) will take current tfg down as did North ( a not so good guy) did to another tfg.
Seriously. Neither Reagan nor Bush were taken down by Iran Contra. And Republicans continue to obstruct every effort to hold Trump accountable.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
Trump's Vindman is more like Clinton's Linda Tripp.
Not at all.
Linda Tripp lied to her friend (some friend) to get hold of evidence that would show Bill Clinton not having the wherewithal to say no to sex. She used dishonesty and betrayal of a friend to catch a president lying about sex.
Lt. Col. Vindman behaved honorably the entire time, and as a result the public learned that tfg had been shaking down a foreign head of state, illegally witholding necessary money for self defense appropriated by Congress to procure an announcement of an investigation into the family of a political rival.
I believe Lewinsky was freely discussing/bragging about her tryst.
Further, both Vindman and Tripp had Blue Dress Blues ;)
Not to mention, both were equally effective in bringing down the POTUS <rolleyes>
Maybe, but Tripp coaxed Lewinsky to give her the dress with lies about what she was going to do with it.
So? Both produced "evidence"; were the darlings of the opposing Parties; contributed to impeachment charges; and their action led nowhere. Further, she was fired from her job and subsequently filed a court case against the government.
Like it or not, they are rife with similarity
Listing transient and broad consequences their actions had does not make the heart of their motivations, loyalties, and actions remotely alike.
Linda Tripp was no Alexander Vindman. History will not mention them in the same breath.
No dice. Similarities with relatively little significance - in the greater context of ethics in government.
To even link those two names is an abomination. Aside from being a bad analogy.
Star(r) witnesses towards both modern presidential impeachments are written in history and will remain that way. The wrath each incurred afterwards is also familiar. It is unfortunate how closed minds color interpretations of these facts and even seek to assail folks who allow themselves to think freely.
William, no one here has assailed you personally. A person such as you or me who puts out ideas into a discussion forum has to be prepared for others to have different ideas. While your description of similarities is interesting, and even amusing, IMO the differences in character as shown by scheming (Tripp) vs honorable (Vindman) actions are far more important. You can call that a closed mind if you want.
You seem to imply that Lt Col Vindman, Fiona Hill, Ambassador Yovanovitch, and the other public servants who testified to Trump's illegal shakedown are all no better than Linda Tripp finagling a dress with evidence of non-marital consensual presidential sex. If that is not what you meant, please clarify.
ThankYou JoanF for your gracious and elucidating reply. You are a fine mediator.
I would suggest that calling other people's ideas an "abomination" is really not the best way to get started with intellectualism.
You wish to qualify people's intent, and I haven't criticized your idea or that of others, however, I would also proffer the danger in imposing an unqualified view of what the intent of others is or providing commentary on their "character". It seems, you wish to decry Tripp based on your belief of her as a person, rather than accept or discuss my observation that they served similar roles in the last two presidential impeachments.
The Facts are: Tripp and Vindman produced key evidence towards their respective cases. As I explained, this resulted in great polarization (but no real outcome) followed by political retribution (which still seems to linger, hence this dialogue).
Lastly, I don't believe it is fair or right to proclaim some folks as "better" than others; that is really a road I don't rally upon. Sorry.
In textual analysis, which is what this thread is partly about, 'author intent' has long been superseded by 'reader response' and other critical approaches.
I care nothing about your intent.
My response to your statement, is that linking those two names, those two persons, is an abomination. On the level of language and in the context of history and of society.
If we are discussing the innate worth of a person as a human being, yes, we are all equal. Some people’s actions are demonstrably better than others. To offer an example within the constrained arena of elected Republicans in Florida: Sen Rick Scott condemned the NeoNazis’ hate rally in Orlando. Governor Desantis not only refused to criticize Nazi hate, his press person twice suggested it was unfair to ask that of him. Therefore I regard Scott’s behavior as morally better than that of his governor.
Watergate, Iran Contra, ClintonStarr sex follies, Ukraine. And all involved. Any analogies offered here do more to obscure than to elucidate.
What is consistent is the decline of the GOP . Its resentment of Federal government and of the rule of law.
Thank you. What a slippery slope this discussion has found itself in!
It seems you posted a gamut of obfuscation for some reason and ended with a change of subject. None of it relates to this sub-discussion.
Further, it does not discount the fact that both Tripp and Vindman were key evidential players in POTUS impeachments and they are both praised/demeaned according to ones political beliefs.
Therefore, I think understanding their similarity is probably more important that immediately recoiling to denounce it.
In a 'compare and contrast' scenario, understanding the relative significance of similarities and differences is essential.
On the level of language, rhetorical turns come with an allegiance to fact and a burden of responsibility.
I can list all the ways in which cats and dogs, apples and oranges, planets and stars are similar. But to be useful and honest, I would have to admit that the ways they differ are more significant to understanding the world I live in and how to take ethical action.
OMG ! Was she the one who said Monica still had the “ Blue Dress ?” I hadn’t thought of her in yrs . 😂
Apologies for having misread your opening sentence! Lack of careful reading on my part. But it gave several of us the opportunity to express our discontent with North!!
No worries! I'm thinking of all the impressionable young minds that Regan/North was able to fool then. I was young then, and I don't think I , nor a lot of boys understood how bad North was. Same as young minds today might not fully understand how bad TFG is now. Its one of the things that most disgusts me about TFG, his horrible example of demagoguery, lying, cheating, and corruption ( not leadership) to young men and what they can get away with. It offends me deeply that more R's can not stand up to this idiot. It is a symptom that something is very wrong with the QOP. They can never be trusted.
OMG ... Comparing Col. Vindman to Oliver North is one of the most absurd postings I have ever read in HCR comments section. Totally apples to turds.
Stephen, reread the first sentence again.
It is not a comparison. Its a "contrast" as in the opposite of many traits. Vindman is ethical, moral, and legal. North was none of those. While Col North sought to cover up an illegal president's orders, Vindman sought to expose TFG's illegal abuse of power.
Truth spoken here ! There sure is an ‘Economy ‘ of it lately.
What I key in on with humility, is that Vindman, an immigrant, is undertaking the moral journey of holding trump-verse accountable. And America. He knows we can do better, and he’s willing to stay in the ring to push us to do exactly that. I see this as a showdown of American Values in the most basic terms. Vindman is “We The People”.
Vindman is an example of "the Best Of Us". Outstanding example of Truth and Honesty.
In his interview on MSNBC, he forcefully told the audience that he would NOT be intimidated or made fearful. He is powerfully strong and determined and RIGHT and I hope he takes all of them to the cleaners!
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
Lt. Col. Vindman is as close to being as true hero as there ever was one. He never backed away nor backed down. He heard the conversation, he reported it, and then was basically told to forget about what he heard. He didn't and we should all be ever so grateful for his bravery to uphold the law. I certainly am.
We see what is happening to our country as frightening and it is, but that is exactly the way the party of these Republicans want us to be. Let's review a little:
January 6th changed our lives more than we could ever imagine. Hordes of mostly white supremacists were unleashed on the Capitol, ready to destroy people who stood in their way and to obliterate democracy. They desecrated our House; they maimed and murdered. Why...why did they do that? I have asked that question so many times but I think I know now. Of course, TFG planted seeds everywhere with his ongoing hateful rhetoric and his sheep ate them all up. See, finally our government, having elected Joe Biden, would be diverse, just looking like what our country actually is. This prospect agitated the hell out of white people and so when you have wealthy people like Ginni Thomas, the Mercer family, the Kochs, the owners or CEOs of Coca Cola, and AT&T backing them, then chaos occurs. Our government had changed. Women were elected and people of color secured seats in the House and Senate. Was too much for the good ole boys network so they just had to shake things up.
Neo-Nazis are blatantly appearing in daylight. Threats of bombs on black colleges are increasing. The FBI is supposedly investigating. It is our job to publicly call these monsters out. Please do so via Twitter, FB, postcards, or calls.
We are getting closer. They're scared.
I have tremendous respect for Lt. Col. Vindman. Tonight’s letter and accounts of the former President’s practice of tearing up paperwork reminded me of something I have been wondering for months. Did they find the written summary of “the perfect conversation” former President Trump had with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky? You may remember the last administration had locked it away in a top secret, highly classified security file only two people had access to.
For some reason this page isn’t allowing me to paste a link to the infamous transcript, but I was able to find it by googling “President Trump perfect conversation transcript”. CNN also offers an annotated version.
Try closing this page and opening a new one. That fixed the problem for me.
Appreciate the tip, Roland, but all the usual fixes are failing. My guess: the latest update to my phone uploaded gremlins.
Shoot
“We are getting closer. They're scared.”
Love all of this, Marlene, but you knew that already.
The Obamas in the WH started this drama. Until then, they were all still kind of lethargically dozing in their reverie of a society with whites in charge. No more. Now it’s war.
Yep, the “tea party” nuts just couldn’t stand those deep tans. Just like now, the same nuts think that a black woman couldn’t possibly be as qualified as a white man. That tan seems to negate brains in the view of these scaredy cats. They think that POC in power will treat them as they have been treated. Lordy, wouldn’t that be a hoot…
And lets remember who manually did all the math to get men on the moon: Katherine Johnson!
See that’s what bothers me. And it’s not just Black Americans. Any Ppl of color that throughout our history that contributed for the “Betterment of All of Us “ go unrecognized . Like for instance the Black Senators that gave us the 13th,14th,and 15th Amendments. If it wasn’t for them there wouldn’t be “ White Privilege “. Only White Rich men had All the privileges . I didn’t learn that in History or Civic class in the late 50’s or 60’s. It was the Black man that gave the White man a hands up.They need to know that.
I worked at NASA during this time and I never heard of her and it was a much smaller organization in the 60's. But I was a Procurement Clerk, so peon at work. She should have been a hero to all of us, grunts and geniuses alike.
Isn’t that just pathetic? You were right in the midst of a heroine and you didn’t even know it!
As Kimberly Jones said: “They are lucky that what Black people are looking for is equality and not revenge.”
Can’t “heart” what you and Hale said. Dang, so frustrating!
I closed that page and opened a new page, and now they’re working again. Baffling.
Having exactly the same problem. Does anyone want to contact Substack?
Roland, goggle “how do I contact Substack”. A page comes up and you need to click on “I need something else”. Then a form comes up. Fill it out and state your complaint. Strength by numbers!
I tried but to no avail…
The Guardian had a good op-ed on this today (link follows)-<snip>Conservatives see Biden’s announcement as an indication of how powerful the forces of liberalism, “wokeism,” and multiculturalism – those radically “Un-American” ideas that are threatening “real” (read: white Christian patriarchal) America – have already become. In this way, Biden’s pledge is perceived as yet more evidence that the Right is on the retreat. It is impossible to understand conservative politics in general without grappling with this pervasive siege mentality. <snip>https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/feb/02/joe-biden-supreme-court-nominee-right-reaction-black-female-nominee
So true. Good read.
Great article on the right's reaction to Biden's promise.
Siege mentality is right, only they are the ones "sieging." What bs, they have been on the warpath since Nixon and especially Ronnie and his pal Rupert.
They think that and less Rights for them. It is beyond their comprehension that “ Equal “ means “ Everyone “.They have in their heads they are better off getting screwed by “Big Corp “ ? Right ? Right now they are paying more in Tax’s that them. Just wait until 2025, the Tax Cuts go away for the poor and Middle class and are permeant for Big Corp, the Elite Rich. You think they are whiners now ! Haha ! They better hope a Democrat is in Office.It really is important to read the fine print.
And if it comes to it physically is the Nat’l Guard, Homeland Security and LEO ‘s going to stand for Democracy Or…..The Base ?
And bolder, they feel it’s their last chance so the money will motivate the mobs to madness. Excessive and sinister devotion to manipulative evil creates danger to all who are not so afflicted
Gotta get dark money out of Congress once and for all!
Excellent roadmap to this current crisis in America.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
That's very exciting news about Army LTC Vindman suing trump. Vindman could do wonders for the country; not only to completely clear his record and be acknowledged for very honorable service to the country; but further to bring trump to accountability for his illegal and bullying actions against Vindman. And there's some wonderful irony in his family immigrating to the U.S. from the Ukraine and being true believers in the real democratic ideals of the country. I hope Vindman calls for witnesses from among t's slew of sycophants and slugs who carry t's coattails where he goes. It's time for all of them to face multiple trials. t should be bankrupted and sent to a Supermax for some years to reconsider his direction in life. Vindman is a brave man and should be acknowledged nationally.
Hear hear 👏 👏 👏 👏
Alex Vindman is a true American. I read his book, "Here, Right Matters". Simply written but excellent.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=here%2C+right+matters+alexander+vindman&crid=3K0S3XPXNK2M&sprefix=%22Here%2C+Right+Matters%22%2Caps%2C83&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_20
I recommend Barnes and Noble where I bought my copy as soon as Vindman's book came out. Amazon gets enough business from innumerable products - share the wealth with an actual online bookstore. It's available in almost any format you may prefer. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/here-right-matters-alexander-vindman/1137979738?ean=9780063079427
Thanks for mentioning his book. I'll get it today.
Yes, Vindman's part in bringing to light the defeated former president's scheme to become top autocrat must have a place in history. It must.
Is there a way to donate towards his legal expenses?
Buy his book. That's what I did when it 1st came out. It was my small way to thank him. It's a good read.
Me too, got it with a $50 donation to VoteVets.
“Completely clear his record” of what? Vindman is guilty of doing his patriotic duty to protect his country from thugs in high office.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
I salute Lt. Col Vindman. I appreciate him, his brother - their entire and combined family. I hope he wins his lawsuit. I hope he funds his retirement along with that of his brother’s. I hope he funds his children’s education(s).
I want 45 in jail. I am so tired of that loser clowning around with people’s lives. He’s a demented piece of work showcasing the very worst of our species. I’m exhausted from his BS.
I want his demise to be public and pitiful. His base needs to be embarrased by his lack of courage. He needs to be abased in front of the world. And even that might not shut him up.
When J.K. Rowling created Voldemort, none us dreamed 45. Not a single one of us could even dare imagine that a real life piece of work would so clealry imitate art.
Orange Sewage circling down the drain. I’m looking forward to it too. Love every word, Pj.
Currently he is a clown with a flamethrower, may he spontaneously combust
That would work also ! 😂
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
What tfg and his louts did to Lt. Colonel Vindman was utterly unconscionable! I hope with every fiber of my being that he wins his case. He deserves retribution on so many levels.
Thank you, Heather, for your focus on this patriot tonight. It behooves us all to be reminded of a brave and noble citizen who has acted with such dignity and integrity. And finally, Heather, your concluding lines are spot on!
"And so we are back to where we were in 2019, when Vindman first reminded us that in America, right matters. At long last, will most of us decide that it does?"
Louts. Cretins. Punks. Mob.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
Should we start a fund or is there one already?
EXCELLENT CONCEPT! How can we start a fund in this newsletter? I pray there will be immense enthusiasm to actually do something instead of just talking about, "...Something should be done about that..."
Let's DO IT.
How can I be of service to you Rowshan?!
I have just now discovered that Colonial Vindman has become a member of the Lawfare Institute.
However, as far as I can immediately determine they do not have any way to contact them except for this below listed snail-mail address...
which is, I guess, better than nothing, Eh!?
Lawfare Institute
P.O. Box 33226
Washington, DC 20033
What now...any suggestions?
The wheels of Justice grind slowly, grinding comes before the hammer. That’s next.
Nice Sandy. From the Ox to the Tiger.
Year of the Ox = grinding
Year of the Tiger = hammer
"And so we are back to where we were in 2019, when Vindman first reminded us that in America, right matters. At long last, will most of us decide that it does?"
Possibly not, because the partisan divide is now so wide due to the political gaslighting and disinformation disseminated by the Trump Republican propaganda machine, but here's hoping. Lt. Colonel Vindman is a Brother in Arms, an exemplary one at that, a courageous, patriotic American of impeccable integrity who stood tall, above and beyond the call of duty, at the expense of his own career and spoke the truth, upholding his sacred oath to defend the Constitution no matter what in order to do what's right to ensure the preservation of Democracy. It is therefore the duty of all American veterans, indeed of all citizens who care about equality, freedom and Justice, to stand with him, to demonstrate that right does matter, to back him and celebrate his example as an officer of extraordinary moral courage who is a credit to his nation and a champion of the highest principles of public service. I echo my friend Peter Ralston's praise of this great American: "I am proud beyond words of Lt. Colonel Vindman."
I bought his book to show my support for him. It was my small way of thanking him. I was pleased to find that it's a very good read.
I bought his book also and found it to be an easy read and interesting. Not a flowery writer:) You could hear him in his style.
All of us here...every single one of us here...Every single American Citizen who loves America, who loves all those who protect America at the expense of their own life MUST find a way to contribute abundantly to Colonel Alexander Vindman directly...we must honor those who have, in the face of personal adversity, numerous attacks upon themselves and family members and who continue to honor their promise that, "...here right matters..."
Please! Let us all do all we can to financially contribute DIRECTLY to Colonel Vindman TODAY RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE!
Make sure Colonel Vindman truly knows the astounding amount of love we have for him...
that he knows and trusts in how many Americans have taken the few minutes out of just one of their days to personally do all it takes to give to a small fraction of their time and money to a true self-sacrificing American Patriot.
Let your love of this man inspire you to give to him TODAY...RIGHT NOW...PLEASE!
In an age when we hear from every corner the metaphorically deaf, dumb and blind political neo-autocrats effectively trump-eting "Might is Right", we now have a very clear direction given by Col. Vindeman and many brave men before him that they are wrong and democracy will fight them all the way . "Right is Might" is the clarion call of freedom in America and in the free world.
Except that “right” has such a stench. We shall reclaim the word. Like we need to make “republican” as vile a word as they have tried to make “liberal”
Much better to restablish the true meaning of the words and the values that underpin them.
Equally important to reclaim the word "conservative", and come up with a sufficiently descriptive word that describes the people who currently claim that label.
Keep Calm and Carry On
Stuart, well said. Right is might!
Lt. Col Alexander Vindman and Fiona Hill were two of the most courageous and effective volunteer witnesses at Trump’s second impeachment trial. Then Vindman was summarily removed from his National Security Council position, and, after his well-earned promotion was scrubbed, he felt obliged to resign from his distinguished professional career.
It is fitting that Vindman has filed an intimidation/retaliation suit against Giuliani, Fox, and others of their ilk at the same time that Sarah Palin (once she recovers from Covid-19 and deigns to wear a mask when she dines out in NYC) is preparing to testify at a trial where she is suing the New York Times for ‘slander.’
The contrast between Vindman’s and Palin’s suits for me are book ends of the Trump presidency.
Fiona Hill remains one of my favorites. The two testifying were without a doubt what public servants look like and how duty is fulfilled.
Yes, Fiona Hill has proven herself as a highly intelligent woman thus, very dangerous to the Repubs.
Damn, hadn’t heard of Palin’s idiocy. What could they have said that would be as bad as she has been from the first day McCain plucked her out of mediocrity
Oh Palin went back to restaurant and dined outside. Not sure if she was "recovered" though........
I’m right behind this man!
Go Vindman!
Hearings not starting until April reduces the chances that the Justice Department will get criminal referrals and act upon them before the election. Wonder if there's a chance that the committee is sharing information with the department now.
It is disappointing that public hearings of the January 6 Committee won’t be until April or May. However, tonight on MSNBC, Adam Schiff said that there is no reason for the Justice Department to wait until the January 6 Committee has completed its investigation to proceed with Justice Department investigations and/or charges against individuals. I understood him to say that the Committee’s job is not to make recommendations for criminal prosecutions, but to uncover and piece together exactly what happened and who was involved. The Justice Department should be doing their own investigations, he said. Of course, I assume that the information that the Committee gathers will be helpful to the Justice Department, but Representative Schiff was clear that there is no reason for the Justice Department to be waiting for the January 6 Committee to complete their work. Hopefully, there is a lot more investigating going on in the Justice Department than we can know.
Adam's not a Senator (yet). :-)
My mistake, T.C. It’s late… Thanks for the correction.
Like I said, not a Senator yet. I was actually laughing (not at you) about that.
Damn, I hope and pray
Agree. The committee has made the Justice Department's job much easier, as in here's who did what and when, and here's the evidence. Of course the department must determine the appropriate charges that can be proven based on that evidence and, in some cases, seek more evidence. Then it must persuade a grand jury to issue indictments. Given the complexity of what happened and how many people are involved, the undertaking is monumental. I remain confident justice will be done, though my certainty wavers at times.
Working in tandem, I bet, with Fani from Georgia and maybe Letitia James. Maybe, just maybe, it will be a blockbuster!!
This is what they are hoping for! To push it past midterms when they can cheat and gerrymander their way back in and toss the case. Right matters to me, but I know for many people here in the USA, it doesn’t. I don’t know where the future is going but I can say that I will fight for our country to stay a democracy.
IF Republicans take control of the House in the midterms, they can disband the 1/6 Committee but they cannot stop whatever the DOJ is working toward. Democrats and Independents must turn out in droves in upcoming primaries and in Nov. 2022 so that it will be harder, in those states that now have laws to enable partisan legislators or newly-elected partisan state Secretaries of State to overturn results, if there is a massive differential between Republican and Democrat votes for candidates for the House & the Senate.
And IF that happens (1/6 Committee shut down), the record of what has been collected so far will remain; I have faith that the Chair & members of the Committee will ensure that those records cannot be locked up or destroyed. Especially since, I believe, much of what is being discovered is being shared contemporaneously with DOJ.
I've signed up with two groups to assist with getting out the vote:
https://postcardstovoters.org/ and https://www.turnoutpac.org/postcards/ The latter focuses on swing states.
Invoking the recent plight of retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, today’s newsletter concludes with the question: Will most of us decide that “right” in America still matters? I believe it could matter if enough of us, even in practically hopeless situations, can summon the will and the courage to persevere because, like Vindman, we believe the struggle is right and just and moral.
GOP desperation is evident, existing from the top all the way down to targeting regular citizens. For a while now I’ve been getting a call, which I do not answer, form an 814 number. Specifically (814) 762-6074. Yesterday while I was driving I received four text messages of pro trump memes, followed by a call. Because I was driving I didn’t pay a lot of attention to the messages until I received the call and answered. All the male said was “I sent you a few text messages! How did you like them?!!?”, then he laughed and hung up. It was followed up by two more text messages and another call talking about how trump was going to retake our country. The GOP and the trump minions have sunk to an unbelievable low, a frightening low. But I took the oath to our nation years ago before heading to Vietnam and will never back down to the cowards and traitors who support fascism and the former guy.
If any of those messages were threatening, you might consider reporting them and that caller's number to the FBI.
I forgot to mention in my post, the caller knew my name. So it was creepy and some what disconcerting. So I reported and blocked the number. If it continues I’ll send it on to the FBI but I’m sure they have bigger fish to fry.
Get it on the record. Who knows how many others are being targeted personally as you have been.
YIKES!
Hmmmm! I just declined to answer an unknown caller from area code 814. No voice message left so have blocked.
Wow, this is disturbing. As a resident of Pennsylvania, and the area covered by the 814 area code, it saddens and angers me that this happened to you. Pennsylvania is becoming a cesspool of radicalized Republicans and far right white nationalists. It's as dire here as it is in other states that are getting far more attention. Check out Doug Mastriano, Scott Perry, Mike Kelly, Jake Corman, or any of the illustrious PA. citizens who have been charged with participating in the January 6th insurrection. The KKK paid a visit to my area prior to the 2020 election and left bags filled with birdseed plus their hateful propaganda on the properties of people who had Biden/Harris signs in their yards. It was a wet, windy weekend and it was surmised that birdseed was added to keep the bags from blowing away. There are Trump flags, Trump/Pence signs, Confederate flags, and other signage on display on numerous properties. My personal favorite is a Trump 2024 banner affixed to the fence surrounding a waste water treatment plant. I found it fitting. What has happened to you is, as you say, a new low. I hope you will take whatever action you deem necessary to protect yourself and to hold the person responsible to account. Stay safe and well.
I appreciate your service, Tom. My husband is a Vietnam vet also (68-69).
Wow. I’d block that number! But it’s kind of frightening, isn’t it?
Reported and blocked. Hopefully it stops the harassment.