How is it that the mainstream press isn’t making sure the public knows about Trump’s many costly golf outings and time spent at Mara-largo and that both those things are directly lining Trump’s pockets while jobs and budgets are being slashed, National Parks are suffering, etc.
I just sent an email to Musk. It’s nasty but bear with me. I’m exercising my 1st amendment right.
Dear Mr Musk,
As a federal employee, I just sent you my manure from my asshole for you to eat. Please reheat, add salt and pepper, and enjoy lunch. This is what I have accomplished for the past few weeks.
That's great, but the cost to the US government, as HCR enumerated, should also be there as a cumulative chart. Also, where the heck does a dozen eggs cost over $7? Is that common everywhere else?
I pray to God that nobody commenting here is shopping at the trustifarian owned Walmart. The Walton family are Trumpian oligarchs that underpay their workers and overcharge their customers. They are evil.
I dono. Costco has 2 dozen eggs for $8-$12 I didn’t look because I can afford them and I wanted eggs. The marketplace has priced them. If too much I could always go get a hotdog and soda with one refill for a buck fifty. Cheeses.
I would like to defend all Presidents: A little over 25% of seven days is not quite two days. Normally working people get two days off a week. Eisenhower, Obama, etc all were entitled to two days off a week. And all were derided for it.
The mainstream press is owned by Trump sycophants. I suspect that they are soft-pedaling their coverage out of fear of retribution from Trump and his MAGA cult members.
Maybe they should read the Bible a bit more closely..
I snitched this from FB last night - don't know who the author is -
“The car in front of me had a bumper sticker on it. It read: "Pray for Trump Psalm 109:8." When I got home l opened my bible to the scripture and read it and started laughing.
Psalm 109:8 -"Let his days be few and brief; And let others step forward to replace him."
The Letters in this issue are unbelievably beautifully composed and superb! I plan to re-read at least 3 times to have all of HCR’s statements gel in my mind.
Christian Nationalist minister Wiley Drake started using this particular psalm against President Obama, and it obviously failed where President Obama was concerned. It may be amusing where the faux “Christian” is concerned but I don’t want imprecatory prayer. Wanting justice for the nation and people is a different matter. It seems our system isn’t really capable of true justice anymore.
Perhaps it is trending towards being a tad more aggressive, but it is long overdue and still insufficient. For example, it has taken forever for the NYT to label what Trump utters as “lies” when any sane person has known this to be the case for years.
Compare the headlines when trump fired general brown; the guardian called it for what it was “trump fires black join chiefs…” where as NYT & wapo made it sound like just another federal worker losing their job. And the LA times didn’t even bother to cover it!
I would imagine Gen. Brown is a far more capable and experienced leader than either Trump or Hegseth, and Gen. Brown’s capabilities brought out Trump’s insecurities. Sometimes when Trump is in public and ”speaking,” Trump comes across as one of the most insecure people I’ve ever seen.
Yes. But they are the last I sections I look at on occasion, when I have the time. And I only have to read a few sentences to determine if I will keep on reading. Far too many other places at my finger tips to get the unadulterated facts and truth.
Their article headlines tend to be along the lines of - "Trump disrupts conventional process" Beige and bland. Although yesterday the NYT did have an article headline about Trump's perpetual lying - so maybe they are finally coming around.
Community, I think the major message of tonight's LFAA is that the Trump-Musk-Vance & Maga Boat is taking on water fast.
The Musk memo,"What Do You D?o" is X spam and essentially a nullity. Employees of the the VA, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs which is the 2nd largest department behind the DOD, the State Department & FBI are all U.S. Govt. personnel.
As I posted last week the lawsuit filed at SDNY by the Association of Administrative Law judges & Others lays out the origin story of 4 fictitious 'DOGE names. Elon Musk is a named Defendant. Paragraph 3 of Case No. 1:25:cv-01237 spells out the sordid Trump-Musk shell game named 'DOGE'.
When the MAGA Boat sinks don't get sucked down as it plummets to the bottom.
I've been getting those since I jettisoned the NYT in January. Same with the local gazette. Maybe they'll listen someday, and start calling a spade a spade.
You have nothing to suspect Mark, you can risk betting a dozen eggs and be the sure winner about the mainstream press being own by the scumbag president and his band of oligarchs.
Because they are afraid. If they stop bowing down before the Ogre, what will happen? Will they lose their broadcast license? Will they be caught in a web of nefarious law suits? We are not dealing with a group that believes in democracy. These are the same kind of characters who brought down the Roman empire. And the Ides of March is soon upon us.
I like Vance for Brutus. Angus King could, I think, deliver "We come to bury, not to praise." That's the tougher role to play, as it should really be a staunch Republican. Chris Christie? Michael Luttig?
The MSM has made it clear they have no interest in doing that. We need to simply walk away and abandon them to their fate. The majority of Americans do not get their news from them. What are we doing to get true news to folks who need it? That’s a more fruitful question than hoping in futility that the MSM will get it together. They’re irrelevant at this point.
If you are calling the 4th estate irrelevant, at least cite the most important aspect why, mention the fact that the overwhelming majority of Americans are consuming their news on Facebook and their FB news feeds.
The headlines remind me of when Trump had his former VP Pence stay at his Trump resort in Western Ireland, entirely across the country where Pence was to meet with the Irish PM.
Donald's entire life has been a scam. Bend the law. Break the law. Grab and steal and cheat and lie and deceive. This is not news. But when he speaks, he lies. And the Press repeats it as true. They used to ask Why but they avoid digging for Reasons in Trump stories. Trump makes money with every lie. So does the Press.
Can we just say, out loud, This is Wrong. It's way past time for all of us, the grownups, the news media, the elected representatives, all of the free people of America: This is Wrong.
"Locke noted that when a leader disregards constitutional order, he gives up legitimacy and the people are justified in treating him as a 'thief and a robber.'"
People are running scared; that is why. Being a life-long bachelor in my late sixties leaves me with few attachments outside immediate family and cherished cousins to get whussy over. Dr Richardson enjoys every right to take pride in your home-state. ✍️ https://www.c-span.org/clip/us-senate/user-clip-senator-king-i-me-shows-us-what-an-independent-really-is/5154666 ⚖️ Here is the speech by Senator King; the particularly poignant passage that you cite runs roughly from the sixteen minute twenty-second mark until the twenty-three minute, fifteen second mark. 🪞
Time for the blue states to break the bank-transfer links from employers to D.C.; to collect the taxes in their capitals; and, withhold tax funds. Release to D.C. AT MOST the receipts from D.C. in the previous year (to eliminate the overage that blue states send to D.C. to subsidize red states). 🛑
Additionally, when Trump tries to drumpf a blue state of disaster relief funds, for example, then that state applies withheld tax funds to fund said relief. and forwards the net balance to Washington. Many people, will undoubtedly blow a gasket. (Like the Trumpanzee fake news about water released in California.) ⚖️
They may not understand human nature and conflict. They fail to account for stated Trumpian behavior and to anticipate where that authoritarianism is headed. 😵
The hearing for the nominee to direct the O.M.B. revealed open talk within the M.A.G.A. brain-drain, if not yet practice, of impoundment (e.g., suspending or ending F.E.M.A. operations). 😲
Now, with his diktat from the O.M.B., that practice has started the Trumpian attempt to shred the Constitution in favor of divine-right insanity. Where will funds for grants and agencies relegated to formaldehyde go? 🤢
Theorizing about what might cause a civil war over a wire transfer mechanism, when such civil disorder has likely started, is as brilliant as trying to bail out the Titanic with a tea-spoon. The Great Civil War of the nineteenth century did not start at Fort Sumter or even with secession; its started five years earlier with Bleeding Kansas. 😰
Now, this particular idea may not work. But some form of it can at least support initiatives. We need ideas to break down and re-assemble or refine in muscular non-violent responses if we are to avoid civil war. Or, maybe John Brown was right, after all. 😱
Attacking someone's proposed response right now is about as helpful as Florence Nightingale handing out LSD for a head cold. 💔
No do not hector me, s.v.p., about the finer points of the law that are NOT in the Constitution; 🙏 pedantry while I pee my pants gets me nowhere. 😰 This resistance may never need to come to pass to re-balance the republican separation of powers at the heart of our Republic's rule-of-law; ⚖️ the threat, however, must be credible and people willing to follow through. 🛑 In short, call the bully's bluff. 🤬
It's no secret, I had heard it. The real question is when will people admit they were wrong, they do not want an autocrat if that is the cost of 'owning the Libs'? When will Americans have their 1950-Senator Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME) moment and put an end to this crap? In reality, nothing undemocratic has happened in the Trump administration. It has followed every court order, so far, and he is doing exactly what he told people he would do. That's democracy.
Thank you for this, as a proud Mainer. Maine's state motto is "Dirigo"--I lead. Hopefully the rest of the country will follow Senator King, Governor Mills, and other conscientious Mainers.
I live in CA now but lived for 45 years in Maine. Mainers are not easily cowed by bullies and are ferocious defenders of what is right. Susan Collins may have strayed but Governor Mills and Angus King will never give in to the dark side.
Angus King is a true statesman and I would love to see more attention given to him and his gift of oratory. He needs to say more if they will give him the time of day. He clearly knows the Constitution unlike so many in Congress in this day and age, surprisingly. He is inspirational and motivational.
His speech was wonderful and inspiring. I’m impressed with him and your governor. Why does it seem that it’s more women who are standing up to trump? Why are the R men such cowards!
I hope those of us who reside in other states will quickly be as well represented by the representatives we sent to Washington as the people of Maine are currently being represented by theirs.
With such fierce politicians like King and especially Mills, why have Mainers put up with Collins for so long? I genuinely do not understand why she and her weasely ways have not been voted out yet.
Sadly, he's been impeached twice already and the Republicans - all but s brave couple - refused to vote him out. I wouldn't expect more of them third time around.
If you haven’t heard, their rallying cry is, this is our last chance, we will never have another chance to stick it to the libs. Or words to that effect. That gets the wafflers lined up. Just defeat the libs. Rush told them so. Last chance…
Elected Republicans (like Democrats) are totally dependent on campaign money. Musk has used the “primaried” threat to keep them in place. I’m not sure why they want to stay in Congress as slaves of Trump and Musk, but their silence so far suggests they can tolerate the shame.
Presumably they will not have to show their faces in public
There is a way out for both parties in campaign finance vouchers, but our democratic leaders are too embarrassed by their past life of grubbing for dollars from the liberal 20% to raise the banner.
It seems from the performance that we are getting from Angus King and Bernie Sanders, we would do well by electing far more independents. They seem to show more integrity, MUCH more courage, and we citizens need both to be represented at all. I don't intend to passively remain represented by stooges selected for me by Musk and AIPAC.
I sometimes tell people to wait until morning to read Heather if reading it bothers you and keeps you from sleeping. Tonight I was still up and here it came. Thank you, Heather, and god bless you. I think I’ll sleep just fine tonight.
I am on the west coast and never read her the night of, always the next morning. For some reason I decided to go ahead and read this tonight. I am glad I did.
"Locke noted that when a leader disregards constitutional order, he gives up legitimacy and the people are justified in treating him as a 'thief and a robber.'"
Yikes, sounds all too likely. I always remember the 1990 Vanity Fair article reporting about Trump keeping a copy of Hitler's speeches on his bed stand. Never have figured out why that story, so revealing in fact and detail, didn't get a whole lot more play.
It seems more and more apparent that the Trump-Musk goals go beyond accumulating power and wealth. My impression is that the point of their actions is to destroy America, especially including our allies and institutions, to satisfy Putin, their benefactor, funder, and minder. Putin most likely also holds kompromat - a lot of kompromat - over their heads. Putin wants to be emperor of the world, and he's got willing accomplices to achieve that.
This has been apparent for many years. The question is, even if Republican senators tolerate it, will we? We have it in our hands to change this. The storming of the Bastille is not a one and done event.
Ralph is where this road began, more or less. His bloated ego gave us W, who was just practice for chump. I had been a fan, but I saw his goal and he is as narcissist as chump.
"Locke noted that when a leader disregards constitutional order, he gives up legitimacy and the people are justified in treating him as a 'thief and a robber.'"
one on the best LFAA letters yet...i am starting feel a glimmer of hope. I am thankful to not get a nice photo tonight, but Dr. HCR, please take a day off! I know...how can you with all the BS...but we all have to take care of ourselves first...so we can keep up the fight!
Thank you for another great synopsis. I got an email from Cruz that deftly sidestepped the crises in the federal government civilian workforce to applaud his bills that require implementation by those same civilian workers. I hope that other Congress members follow the example of Angus King and Janet Mills in standing up for constitutional law.
This edition from Heather is exactly what I have been thinking. The Congress has to take back their power which is being side stepped. It is massively important that we call representatives and senators daily to leave messages to that effect. And ….Arrest those robber barons at the same time.
YES Margo! We are fighting a KLEPTOCRACY in the making:
"Locke noted that when a leader disregards constitutional order, he gives up legitimacy and the people are justified in treating him as a 'thief and a robber.'"
I'm waiting to see a coherent response from all Democratic senators and representatives laying out what they need from all of us, getting off their asses and doing some real leading for a change. After all, we're in this mess partly because they failed us horrifically in the last election. If we get through this, the Democratic party is going to have to do some serious re-structuring -- giving up its neo-liberal economics of predation -- taking back FDR's vision of building the public good, securing rights for individuals, reinvigorating the notion that each of us must contribute to and defend our democracy as the tool by which a life of meaning and honor can be achieved.
I think we failed the Democrats in the last election and I really liked the Biden Harris programs. Get a Democratic House and Senate with our health and social programs restored and expanded. Vote Blue.
Dems were flim flamed as were we all. Muskrat bought the election, riding in at the last minute promising MAGAts and other low life’s a change like none other. No cure for stupid, but we need to revamp and get our voice back.
How is it that the mainstream press isn’t making sure the public knows about Trump’s many costly golf outings and time spent at Mara-largo and that both those things are directly lining Trump’s pockets while jobs and budgets are being slashed, National Parks are suffering, etc.
Well, then it is up to us. Spread this far and wide:
https://trumpgolftrack.com/
Thanks for this. I just posted it on Facebook.
I just sent an email to Musk. It’s nasty but bear with me. I’m exercising my 1st amendment right.
Dear Mr Musk,
As a federal employee, I just sent you my manure from my asshole for you to eat. Please reheat, add salt and pepper, and enjoy lunch. This is what I have accomplished for the past few weeks.
Signed; A Federal Employee
working up a song, eh, Bill?
No. Just in solidarity with federal employees. That song was already written 7 years ago.
I as just saying tonight why aren’t we seeing this record of his golfing… thanks!
That's great, but the cost to the US government, as HCR enumerated, should also be there as a cumulative chart. Also, where the heck does a dozen eggs cost over $7? Is that common everywhere else?
Yesterday, here in Kentucky, a dozen eggs were $5.97 at Walmart, $5.94 at Krogers, and $3.00 at the farmers market.
I pray to God that nobody commenting here is shopping at the trustifarian owned Walmart. The Walton family are Trumpian oligarchs that underpay their workers and overcharge their customers. They are evil.
Shop local wherever you are.
I dono. Costco has 2 dozen eggs for $8-$12 I didn’t look because I can afford them and I wanted eggs. The marketplace has priced them. If too much I could always go get a hotdog and soda with one refill for a buck fifty. Cheeses.
$11.00 in some places. Almost $1.00 per egg.
COVID pricing has returned.
Yesterday, a dozen eggs were $7.99 at Hannaford in Damariscotta, ME
yes!
not in eastern Canada
Excellent!
Meidas Touch has gone ahead of Fox. Midas touch has more followers.
I would like to defend all Presidents: A little over 25% of seven days is not quite two days. Normally working people get two days off a week. Eisenhower, Obama, etc all were entitled to two days off a week. And all were derided for it.
just did
The mainstream press is owned by Trump sycophants. I suspect that they are soft-pedaling their coverage out of fear of retribution from Trump and his MAGA cult members.
Maybe they should read the Bible a bit more closely..
I snitched this from FB last night - don't know who the author is -
“The car in front of me had a bumper sticker on it. It read: "Pray for Trump Psalm 109:8." When I got home l opened my bible to the scripture and read it and started laughing.
Psalm 109:8 -"Let his days be few and brief; And let others step forward to replace him."
This is AWESOME!!!
The Letters in this issue are unbelievably beautifully composed and superb! I plan to re-read at least 3 times to have all of HCR’s statements gel in my mind.
I love this! It's simply perfect. So tempted... it would be the first religious sticker I put on anything.
Thank you for sharing this!
Yep. Big smile.
Christian Nationalist minister Wiley Drake started using this particular psalm against President Obama, and it obviously failed where President Obama was concerned. It may be amusing where the faux “Christian” is concerned but I don’t want imprecatory prayer. Wanting justice for the nation and people is a different matter. It seems our system isn’t really capable of true justice anymore.
What Ive read in eg the NYT, Wapo doesn't sounds like soft-pedalling. Their reports align with eg BBC, Guardian in the UK.
Yes, on occasion, but there is still far too much sane washing going on.
Perhaps it is trending towards being a tad more aggressive, but it is long overdue and still insufficient. For example, it has taken forever for the NYT to label what Trump utters as “lies” when any sane person has known this to be the case for years.
I agree, Frank. Their coverage has become markedly more aggressive.
I'm glad to hear it. Maybe they're fighting back.
Maybe they're trying to retrieve their lost readers.
In that case, YAY us!! We won!
Anything for a buck, perhaps?
Now that the election is over.
Compare the headlines when trump fired general brown; the guardian called it for what it was “trump fires black join chiefs…” where as NYT & wapo made it sound like just another federal worker losing their job. And the LA times didn’t even bother to cover it!
I would imagine Gen. Brown is a far more capable and experienced leader than either Trump or Hegseth, and Gen. Brown’s capabilities brought out Trump’s insecurities. Sometimes when Trump is in public and ”speaking,” Trump comes across as one of the most insecure people I’ve ever seen.
Not the WP opinion section. Bezos is controlling the editorial and opinion sections.
Yes. But they are the last I sections I look at on occasion, when I have the time. And I only have to read a few sentences to determine if I will keep on reading. Far too many other places at my finger tips to get the unadulterated facts and truth.
Their article headlines tend to be along the lines of - "Trump disrupts conventional process" Beige and bland. Although yesterday the NYT did have an article headline about Trump's perpetual lying - so maybe they are finally coming around.
Yes fear of billionaires and ugly men in black trucks with guns and weird grey flags…toxic males!
Community, I think the major message of tonight's LFAA is that the Trump-Musk-Vance & Maga Boat is taking on water fast.
The Musk memo,"What Do You D?o" is X spam and essentially a nullity. Employees of the the VA, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs which is the 2nd largest department behind the DOD, the State Department & FBI are all U.S. Govt. personnel.
As I posted last week the lawsuit filed at SDNY by the Association of Administrative Law judges & Others lays out the origin story of 4 fictitious 'DOGE names. Elon Musk is a named Defendant. Paragraph 3 of Case No. 1:25:cv-01237 spells out the sordid Trump-Musk shell game named 'DOGE'.
When the MAGA Boat sinks don't get sucked down as it plummets to the bottom.
As of today, I'm officially unsubscribed. They send me alluring little anti-trump teasers.
I've been getting those since I jettisoned the NYT in January. Same with the local gazette. Maybe they'll listen someday, and start calling a spade a spade.
You have nothing to suspect Mark, you can risk betting a dozen eggs and be the sure winner about the mainstream press being own by the scumbag president and his band of oligarchs.
Because they are afraid. If they stop bowing down before the Ogre, what will happen? Will they lose their broadcast license? Will they be caught in a web of nefarious law suits? We are not dealing with a group that believes in democracy. These are the same kind of characters who brought down the Roman empire. And the Ides of March is soon upon us.
Yeah. The Ides of March. GO GET HIM, BRUTUS!
Ooh, who's cast as Brutus? And who Mark Antony?
I like Vance for Brutus. Angus King could, I think, deliver "We come to bury, not to praise." That's the tougher role to play, as it should really be a staunch Republican. Chris Christie? Michael Luttig?
Wait...I like shock casting. I'm seeing Gym Jordan waving his arms and yelling "FRIENDS! Republicans! MAGA! Shaddap 'n listen a me!"
He will never…
Vance is worst than the scumbag president.
Yes, and with Trump and his MAGA minions, the barbarians are already within the gates.
The MSM has made it clear they have no interest in doing that. We need to simply walk away and abandon them to their fate. The majority of Americans do not get their news from them. What are we doing to get true news to folks who need it? That’s a more fruitful question than hoping in futility that the MSM will get it together. They’re irrelevant at this point.
"... futility that the MSM will get it together. They’re irrelevant at this point."
When Heather Cox Richardson and all sorts of independent media cite WaPo and NYTimes investigative reporting, it's mistaken to call them irrelevant.
Absolutely lin., those investigative reporting are like islands in an ocean but they are there. We should pay attention.
If you are calling the 4th estate irrelevant, at least cite the most important aspect why, mention the fact that the overwhelming majority of Americans are consuming their news on Facebook and their FB news feeds.
That's just about the worst thing you could do.
To my surprise, I discovered MSNBC it's doing a pretty good job regarding detailed information.
Trump Had Deal With Scotland Airport That Sent Flight Crews to His Resort - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/09/us/politics/trump-hotel-turnberry.html
Inside the Military’s 5-Star Layovers at a Trump Resort in Scotland - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/12/us/politics/trump-turnberry-military.html
Military has spent nearly $200,000 at Trump’s Scottish resort since 2017 - POLITICO
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/18/military-trumps-scottish-resort-1501877
House stonewalled in probe of military sleepovers at Trump resort
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/house-stonewalled-probe-military-sleepovers-trump-resort-n1051031
Pentagon spent at least $184,000 at Trump Turnberry resort in Scotland - ABC News
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pentagon-spent-184000-trump-turnberry-resort-scotland/story?id=65701897
Receipts show foreign officials spent more than $750,000 at Trump's D.C. hotel : NPR
https://www.npr.org/2022/11/14/1136682162/foreign-officials-750-000-dollars-trump-hotel-dc
Trump Hotel: Conflicts of Interest in Washington, DC
https://time.com/donald-trumps-suite-of-power/
Trump Organization in talks to repurchase Washington DC hotel lease, WSJ reports | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-organization-talks-repurchase-washington-dc-hotel-lease-wsj-reports-2025-01-10/
Thank you.
The headlines remind me of when Trump had his former VP Pence stay at his Trump resort in Western Ireland, entirely across the country where Pence was to meet with the Irish PM.
They are afraid of not having access.
Not the “free press” at all. They are the intimidated Press.
The AP defies tyranny by calling the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of Mexico. The Ministry of Truth is not amused.
That is a stupid and petty move, but so typical of Trump.
Donald's entire life has been a scam. Bend the law. Break the law. Grab and steal and cheat and lie and deceive. This is not news. But when he speaks, he lies. And the Press repeats it as true. They used to ask Why but they avoid digging for Reasons in Trump stories. Trump makes money with every lie. So does the Press.
Can we just say, out loud, This is Wrong. It's way past time for all of us, the grownups, the news media, the elected representatives, all of the free people of America: This is Wrong.
The President and Elon Musk may or may not be criminals. But they are behaving like criminals.
So if it lies like a criminal, and breaks the law like a criminal....
Actually hearing he has been golfing is a relief to me because that’s a few hours a day he’s not trying to take over the country!🤯😱🫣😭
Trump's a pretty lazy sod, which is why his evil plots are rather clumsy. That is starting to bite him I think.
Agree, Carol, but then who is driving the ship of state….or is it just adrift during those hours/days? Scary!
Think Edgar Bergen, Donald McCarthy
No doubt, the owners of these media are in Trump’s service as would be oligarchs.
Meanwhile at a town hall in Couer d’Alene, idaho a woman is hog tie ed and carried out for speaking out.
https://youtube.com/shorts/hhJdH63d6zM?si=W6cPAtkw8_sAWtd8
😱
Can’t heart this but thanks for reposting it.
KLEPTOCRACY in the making:
"Locke noted that when a leader disregards constitutional order, he gives up legitimacy and the people are justified in treating him as a 'thief and a robber.'"
People are running scared; that is why. Being a life-long bachelor in my late sixties leaves me with few attachments outside immediate family and cherished cousins to get whussy over. Dr Richardson enjoys every right to take pride in your home-state. ✍️ https://www.c-span.org/clip/us-senate/user-clip-senator-king-i-me-shows-us-what-an-independent-really-is/5154666 ⚖️ Here is the speech by Senator King; the particularly poignant passage that you cite runs roughly from the sixteen minute twenty-second mark until the twenty-three minute, fifteen second mark. 🪞
SPEAKING OF RESISTANCE . . . .
Time for the blue states to break the bank-transfer links from employers to D.C.; to collect the taxes in their capitals; and, withhold tax funds. Release to D.C. AT MOST the receipts from D.C. in the previous year (to eliminate the overage that blue states send to D.C. to subsidize red states). 🛑
Additionally, when Trump tries to drumpf a blue state of disaster relief funds, for example, then that state applies withheld tax funds to fund said relief. and forwards the net balance to Washington. Many people, will undoubtedly blow a gasket. (Like the Trumpanzee fake news about water released in California.) ⚖️
They may not understand human nature and conflict. They fail to account for stated Trumpian behavior and to anticipate where that authoritarianism is headed. 😵
The hearing for the nominee to direct the O.M.B. revealed open talk within the M.A.G.A. brain-drain, if not yet practice, of impoundment (e.g., suspending or ending F.E.M.A. operations). 😲
Now, with his diktat from the O.M.B., that practice has started the Trumpian attempt to shred the Constitution in favor of divine-right insanity. Where will funds for grants and agencies relegated to formaldehyde go? 🤢
Theorizing about what might cause a civil war over a wire transfer mechanism, when such civil disorder has likely started, is as brilliant as trying to bail out the Titanic with a tea-spoon. The Great Civil War of the nineteenth century did not start at Fort Sumter or even with secession; its started five years earlier with Bleeding Kansas. 😰
Now, this particular idea may not work. But some form of it can at least support initiatives. We need ideas to break down and re-assemble or refine in muscular non-violent responses if we are to avoid civil war. Or, maybe John Brown was right, after all. 😱
Attacking someone's proposed response right now is about as helpful as Florence Nightingale handing out LSD for a head cold. 💔
No do not hector me, s.v.p., about the finer points of the law that are NOT in the Constitution; 🙏 pedantry while I pee my pants gets me nowhere. 😰 This resistance may never need to come to pass to re-balance the republican separation of powers at the heart of our Republic's rule-of-law; ⚖️ the threat, however, must be credible and people willing to follow through. 🛑 In short, call the bully's bluff. 🤬
Well, MSNBC just cancelled Joy Reid’s show. So, I would not hold my breath. 🙄
What?????
🤬
They are genuflecting toward Trump.
''Half of Trump’s first month in office saw him visiting Trump properties
On one-third of the first 31 days of his second term, Trump played golf.''
February 20, 2025
Washington Post February 20, 2025 (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/02/20/trump-second-term-golfing-resorts/)
It's no secret, I had heard it. The real question is when will people admit they were wrong, they do not want an autocrat if that is the cost of 'owning the Libs'? When will Americans have their 1950-Senator Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME) moment and put an end to this crap? In reality, nothing undemocratic has happened in the Trump administration. It has followed every court order, so far, and he is doing exactly what he told people he would do. That's democracy.
It’s at times like these I wish Maine had another Angus King or Margaret Chase Smith rather than the faux concerned Susan Collins.
I've only heard it mentioned on MSNBC thus far.
Thank you for this, as a proud Mainer. Maine's state motto is "Dirigo"--I lead. Hopefully the rest of the country will follow Senator King, Governor Mills, and other conscientious Mainers.
I live in CA now but lived for 45 years in Maine. Mainers are not easily cowed by bullies and are ferocious defenders of what is right. Susan Collins may have strayed but Governor Mills and Angus King will never give in to the dark side.
Angus King is a true statesman and I would love to see more attention given to him and his gift of oratory. He needs to say more if they will give him the time of day. He clearly knows the Constitution unlike so many in Congress in this day and age, surprisingly. He is inspirational and motivational.
His speech was wonderful and inspiring. I’m impressed with him and your governor. Why does it seem that it’s more women who are standing up to trump? Why are the R men such cowards!
I agree! He made a wonderful speech 2 weeks ago on the Senate floor that I shared and posted.
Susan Collins is the best example of a spineless coward
I know. She is a poor substitute for someone like Margaret Chase Smith.
Correct JD, and competing head to head with Joni Ernst. The one of those two that finishes ahead is the looser.
Adore Angus. Hope Susan is defeated soundly.
There is some speculation that Mills will challenge Collin’s in 26 …Maine has a 2 term governor limit
KSC, and Collins is way past the smell test buy many years.
Janet Mills and Angus King for Pres/VP 2028 (if not sooner)
I hope those of us who reside in other states will quickly be as well represented by the representatives we sent to Washington as the people of Maine are currently being represented by theirs.
Don't forget CD1 Rep. Chellie Pingree.
With such fierce politicians like King and especially Mills, why have Mainers put up with Collins for so long? I genuinely do not understand why she and her weasely ways have not been voted out yet.
HRC's parting shot today was a Rosie-the-Riveter gesture from a Mainer.
“As Maine goes, so goes the nation.”
Damn, I hope so! Janet Mills’ response to Trump at the Governors conference was pitch perfect; “see you in court.”
And, I would add, time to arrest Musk for unauthorized use of private taxpayer data, and time to impeach the Lazy golfing Felon!
As Captain Picard would say, “Make it so!”
Isn't going to happen with these dug-in republicans in the majority.
I hope so much that we win the House and Senate at the midterms and impeach this sack of shit of a human the vey next day....
Sadly, he's been impeached twice already and the Republicans - all but s brave couple - refused to vote him out. I wouldn't expect more of them third time around.
If you haven’t heard, their rallying cry is, this is our last chance, we will never have another chance to stick it to the libs. Or words to that effect. That gets the wafflers lined up. Just defeat the libs. Rush told them so. Last chance…
Don’t give up! Lean on Republicans in Congress!
Can we afford to wait that long?
Easy answer Arnold: No.
Sophia, first we have to get to the midterms which I strongly doubt we'll have one.
Elected Republicans (like Democrats) are totally dependent on campaign money. Musk has used the “primaried” threat to keep them in place. I’m not sure why they want to stay in Congress as slaves of Trump and Musk, but their silence so far suggests they can tolerate the shame.
Presumably they will not have to show their faces in public
There is a way out for both parties in campaign finance vouchers, but our democratic leaders are too embarrassed by their past life of grubbing for dollars from the liberal 20% to raise the banner.
It seems from the performance that we are getting from Angus King and Bernie Sanders, we would do well by electing far more independents. They seem to show more integrity, MUCH more courage, and we citizens need both to be represented at all. I don't intend to passively remain represented by stooges selected for me by Musk and AIPAC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw0F8G4-dMw I'm not the only one who noticed, as evidenced by the last 6-7 minutes of this.
Taxpayer funding of elections is critical. Us not rich folks can’t do the job that needs to be done. It’s why we are at the mercy of evil, as we post.
The perks Michael, the perks....
https://trumpgolftrack.com/
Heather, you always close on a meaningful note, and today's is exceptional (and heartening).
Thank you for all that you do.
I sometimes tell people to wait until morning to read Heather if reading it bothers you and keeps you from sleeping. Tonight I was still up and here it came. Thank you, Heather, and god bless you. I think I’ll sleep just fine tonight.
I am on the west coast and never read her the night of, always the next morning. For some reason I decided to go ahead and read this tonight. I am glad I did.
ME TOO. Good night all. Sleep well. You too Dr. HCR. Please take care of yourself.
I have had to wait until morning to read it a number of times lately. Glad to read tonight's though!
Same here, thanks for a bit of uplift tonight.
The sane in Maine state plainly what is sane.
(I think they've got it! By George, they've got it!)
Lol ~
I’m beginning to think that Trump has seen the memes of Hitler destroying German democracy in 53 days and deciding that he could do it faster.
He wants to out-Hitler… Hitler!
The orange narcissist is jealous of all the attention that Hitler got.
He may try a little square moustache. Black, of course. If he can still grow facial hair.
Spoiled babies don't grow facial heir but they can use a sharpie, the same he uses to sign dictatorial orders in stake house menus to outline one.
YES! KLEPTOCRACY in the making:
"Locke noted that when a leader disregards constitutional order, he gives up legitimacy and the people are justified in treating him as a 'thief and a robber.'"
Yikes, sounds all too likely. I always remember the 1990 Vanity Fair article reporting about Trump keeping a copy of Hitler's speeches on his bed stand. Never have figured out why that story, so revealing in fact and detail, didn't get a whole lot more play.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/08/donald-trump-marie-brenner-ivana-divorce
That was also my thought!!
They have, it has been the goal all along.
It seems more and more apparent that the Trump-Musk goals go beyond accumulating power and wealth. My impression is that the point of their actions is to destroy America, especially including our allies and institutions, to satisfy Putin, their benefactor, funder, and minder. Putin most likely also holds kompromat - a lot of kompromat - over their heads. Putin wants to be emperor of the world, and he's got willing accomplices to achieve that.
This has been apparent for many years. The question is, even if Republican senators tolerate it, will we? We have it in our hands to change this. The storming of the Bastille is not a one and done event.
American Spring? Not soon enough?
Apparent but denied by many, despite being clear to any with half a brain
Laurie, from day one ,going back to when project 2025 was conceived, it was a global enterprise by design.
Thank you, Heather Cox Richardson.
Sent to hr@opm.gov today:
Please King Elon don’t take my job!
My accomplishments last week.
1. Took a crap on my gold toilet.
2. Played golf like a champion.
3. Declared my allegiance to Russia and insulted Europe and Ukraine.
4. Sold some invisible trading cards and crypto coins with my name on them.
5. Followed your instructions to a T.
Your friend, Donald
🤞🏼Get up, stand up, stand up for our rights!
hi Suzette, that sounds like Ralph Nader’s podcast theme song!
https://open.substack.com/pub/ralphnader/p/demolition-in-dc-developments-in?r=kxzps&utm_medium=ios
Ralph is where this road began, more or less. His bloated ego gave us W, who was just practice for chump. I had been a fan, but I saw his goal and he is as narcissist as chump.
YES! KLEPTOCRACY in the making:
"Locke noted that when a leader disregards constitutional order, he gives up legitimacy and the people are justified in treating him as a 'thief and a robber.'"
one on the best LFAA letters yet...i am starting feel a glimmer of hope. I am thankful to not get a nice photo tonight, but Dr. HCR, please take a day off! I know...how can you with all the BS...but we all have to take care of ourselves first...so we can keep up the fight!
During this upcoming budget vote, democrats can vote NO until Musk is out. We will talk when Musk is out. We will reach out when Musk is out.
Close down the government until Musk is out.
He has it in chaos and disfunction so close it down until Musk is out.
Thank you for another great synopsis. I got an email from Cruz that deftly sidestepped the crises in the federal government civilian workforce to applaud his bills that require implementation by those same civilian workers. I hope that other Congress members follow the example of Angus King and Janet Mills in standing up for constitutional law.
This edition from Heather is exactly what I have been thinking. The Congress has to take back their power which is being side stepped. It is massively important that we call representatives and senators daily to leave messages to that effect. And ….Arrest those robber barons at the same time.
YES Margo! We are fighting a KLEPTOCRACY in the making:
"Locke noted that when a leader disregards constitutional order, he gives up legitimacy and the people are justified in treating him as a 'thief and a robber.'"
I'm waiting to see a coherent response from all Democratic senators and representatives laying out what they need from all of us, getting off their asses and doing some real leading for a change. After all, we're in this mess partly because they failed us horrifically in the last election. If we get through this, the Democratic party is going to have to do some serious re-structuring -- giving up its neo-liberal economics of predation -- taking back FDR's vision of building the public good, securing rights for individuals, reinvigorating the notion that each of us must contribute to and defend our democracy as the tool by which a life of meaning and honor can be achieved.
I think we failed the Democrats in the last election and I really liked the Biden Harris programs. Get a Democratic House and Senate with our health and social programs restored and expanded. Vote Blue.
Dems were flim flamed as were we all. Muskrat bought the election, riding in at the last minute promising MAGAts and other low life’s a change like none other. No cure for stupid, but we need to revamp and get our voice back.
Oh, they got change alright, but not change that would benefit them.