"On his podcast, Bannon addressed Pence, saying: “You are a stone cold coward…. My head’s blowing up.... I can’t take Pence…and Marc Short and all these Koch guys up there ratting out Trump up on Capitol Hill right now.”
Ratting out Trump. That's rich. One of Trump's own stooges finally fesses up and tells it like it is. Heather, I don't know how you can sift through this muck day in and day out and maintain a semblance of sanity. I realize it's your passion, but my God, you must have nerves of steel! Thank you for every moment you devote to untangling our past and present to get to the truth.
I'm in my 70's and never thought American politics would come to this. I have to keep going back to "they have no logic", or my head explodes too! If the Democrats had instigated the insurrection, there would be screams and yelling from all Republicans, and calls for executions. Wait... they already are doing that, despite being the instigators! Thank you, Heather, yet again.
He saw the seeds being planted when few others did, kept me awake at night too as I watched the evil spread under the guise of patriotism and religious fervor. I wonder if he’s the most depressed man in America.
They are like a criminal mob or a gang where there is a concerted effort to intimidate and punish anyone who is talking. Right now I am reading a Swedish noir novel and most of it is about how they induce kids into the gang and then put them through hoops to become full members as they become older. This may include punishing the rats...in this case, shooting knee caps and the one in prison a murder made to look like suicide. As I read, I did wonder how many of our criminal gang have resorted to some kind intimidation.
"...and the one in prison a murder made to look like a suicide..."
Hmmm
Just like Epstein, EH!?
The criminal mob consisting of the most "Elite" moneyed fat white rich old men that remain in the shadows of social respectability while sneaking illegal perversions permanently defiling innocents' self-perception.
And
Suffering no legal consequence except for the very brief embarrassment of "Breaking News" headline quietly snuffed out by the same power who snuffed out Epstein while incarcerated in a highly secure "Lock-Down" cell with 24hr surveillance!
He was murdered for sure. A sleeping guard? Two broken cameras and the only surveillance video “accidentally erased?” It’s so obvious it’s laughable! It makes me sick.
INDEED...and NO investigating news follow up...it is as if it never happened...and now we see the enormous power of the moneyed elite fat old white perverted men's control of American justice system, Eh!?
“…moneyed elite fat old white perverted men…” sounds like TFG. And how did he (completely unqualified) get nominated in the first place, his name even conjured up in a backroom hideaway?
In Russia, the mob is an informal off the books part of the intelligence services. Both for fundraising from illegal activity and enforcement of political adversaries, and dirty tricks, etc.
Hmmm...not stupid. Arrogant, cunning, for sure. Bannon is a sociopath, like Drumpf, the Mercers, Charles Koch, Stephen Schwarzman and their lesser known oligarch parasites.
Daria . . . Agree. I don't know how Heather's head doesn't explode! I'm nowhere near as immersed and while her letters and videos have brought order to chaos, periodically I have to step away to keep my sanity. I also find kayaking (when I don't fall in the water getting in or out!) helps calm the mind. As a former colleague said to me years ago when we were going through very tough times at work, "you're in your 50's so you still think there's "effin" hope. By the time you hit your mid-60's that reality changes." I still waffle between hope and reality and am in complete denial regarding age! 🙄
I’m in my 70s, and I still practice hope. It’s part temperament, part spiritual discipline, part political action. Anyone can do it. For that matter, I’ve also found landing in the water when kayaking to be very helpful in focusing the mind.
Joan In my late 80s I still emit hope. [My aunt and great aunt were named Hope, so, perhaps, I was blessed at birth.] I have witnessed and personally experienced lots of downs and ups in my life. There have been periods of despair and moments of joy. I find joy with my grand kids and despair from daily headlines.
I believe that an upbeat attitude can change one’s personal chemistry and positively affect those around us. While my wife often is consumed by the gloom of the moment, almost like a duck much of this rolls off my back. I am profoundly distressed by some happenings in my country and around the world. Unlike Lazarus (and God’s bet with the devil), I have yet to succumb to the ‘inevitable.’
After the doom and gloom of Trump, Biden is providing shards of sunshine. After two dreadful pandemic years, we are emerging into greater light. More and more people have gainful employment and the predictions of economic disaster are, once again, false.
My children are doing fine and my grand kids are back in their college and school classes. My wife’s leg pains have subsided and I am perambulating with my three-wheeled walker. I feel fine as I (and we) deal with dark spots on the horizon. In the series Death in Paradise, the detective inspector is confronted with a seemingly impossible situation at the outset and, after 50 minutes, arrives at a brilliant solution. I have hope that something similar will occur here in America.
I am not a Pollyanna. Like everyone, I have experienced dark times. [My entire family, except my sister, died suddenly and unexpectedly before I graduated college.] I have faced life and death situations. Through it all, I have been guided by Churchill’s NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP.
I teared up reading about your family, Keith. That’s quite a loss to survive. So glad you are able to carry on with such a positive attitude. Inspiring.
Thank you for sharing a little bit of yourself, Keith. You have a wonderful attitude. Just continue to take care of yourself. We often don’t do that enough these days.
I am in my late 70s. I am often dismayed at what is going on, but know that I can't do anything about it. I have stepped away from a lot of news that I used to read. I do the crossword to relax and read mysteries and nonfiction that is not about the politics of today. My husband is also often consumed by the gloom and I often remind him that we can't do anything about it. Yesterday I began seeding plants in my greenhouse....onions and asters, and gardening is part of my escape as well as a way of connecting to nature. We also enjoy All Classical in Portland all day which has a tremendous variety of music old and new. I woke up this am to Hildegard von Bingen and on the first day of Black History Month, they played a lot of music by black composers and artists. And we also enjoy Death in Paradise and any number of streamed series.
Until my arthritis gets worse, I can and do write postcards to get out the vote. My current set, through postcardstovoters.com, is for a progressive young woman running for a seat in the Kentucky state house in a special election later this month.
Other than that, I feel like my main contribution these days is reminding people that the onslaught of negative news has a big component of psych ops against us, and in any case we are better off doing what we can now than waiting for things to get worse. Even the news has material for hope: massive job creation, anti-voter-suppression victories in the courts, more and more public exposure of the dastardly deeds of that party that can't decide if their preferred role model is Himmler or Stalin...
I was wondering yesterday what election your postcard writing is for. Kudos for doing this. We contribute to campaigns all over the country as a way of helping. I have some aches and pains that are making gardening more challenging, but I am not ready to give it up yet. I said I wasn't going to order many seeds this year and then got taken up with zinnias in particular, so I will be busy in the greenhouse for some time to come.
Michele Kudos for finding ways to avoid the staccato media focus of bad and upsetting news. Gardening, crosswords, and music are marvelous diversions. In mid-September, 2021 I decided, during my nightly physical therapy exercises, to stop watching CNN and MSNBC. I had been addicted to Rachel and others, as they highlighted the day’s disturbing news. Instead, I immersed myself in DVDs and VHS ranging from Kenneth Clark’s Civilisation to MGM’s That’s Entertainment.
For me, this was a most welcome relief. I kept abreast of daily happenings by reading vociferously, not only spot news but by rereading some of my favorite books. There are some truly bad times in history—Black Plague, Hundred Years War, sack of Rome, American Revolution, Civil War, world wars, Holocaust….Somehow, we have survived all of this.
There are both dark and bright aspects of today’s world. You and I must find ways to maintain our personal balance while these events play out.
We love Rachel, but gave that up sometime ago because we could no longer cope with it. Now the nightly national news is on the block. We still watch the local news. We are both voracious readers and read lots of history. He likes World War I and I like English history especially the Tudors, but don't confine ourselves to those periods. For Christmas we buy each other ten books or so and then hand them out one at a time as we finish them. I am also working on our rather large library as we were just shoving books above and against other books. Now I have found some books I want to read. I don't reread because I have too many new ones to read. I did reread Wuthering Heights recently because I reading something else that had a chapter on Emily Bronte. And kudos back at you for finding ways also.
No, I have resisted that. I have friends who are doing it. I do the NY Times crossword every day. On Sundays if they have an acrostic or split definitions, I do those. I learn a lot by doing the crossword.
Ashley I ain’t no ‘Doc.’ While my NASSER’S NEW EGYPT: A. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (1960) was accepted as my doctoral dissertation, I skipped the other requirements to join the Foreign Service and spend 1960-1966 working in/on Congo. [I was bonkers at an early age.] Other than incessant reading, my education has come from slogging around. Finally, as history/economics professor 1992-2013 I had an opportunity to learn about and reflect on what I should have known when I was in positions of responsibility.
Were I to have an opportunity to become a ‘Doc,’ I might choose psychiatry, since I am gobsmacked by what superficially ‘intelligent’ folks do. Perhaps my speciality would be herd mentality, focusing on facts vs. ‘false facts,’
“To be optimistic is to assume things will work out. To be hopeful is to realize things can work out if you work at them. Hope requires responsibility and agency; optimism relieves us of both. In rooting for your sports team, choose optimism. In rooting for democracy, choose hope.”
Optimism is in short supply if you root for the Toronto Maple Leafs. You have the odd, near panicky moment when you think they might upend their normal course of losing in the playoffs, as you wonder how on earth you would handle their success.
As for hope in democracy, I think it’s looking up in America. But from a low vantage point. It’s been a mess and had to become a near death experience for Americans to realize what they could potentially lose.
Unless the water you land in is Lake Superior, lol. That sort of wake up call is a bit much for me these days…. But yes to everything you say here. Anyone can do it at any age.
That might depend on the water temperature. My kayaking is nearly all on the Charles River in warm weather, which is very different from our friends on Lake Superior.
It sickens me. I find all of them revolting. It is a party of rich old whte men who don't give a damn about the people they are supposed to serve. Service to the People.
Then there’s the not rich, the ignorant, who follow TFG, no matter, Truth or Fiction, and you have to wonder at this point: do they know the difference?
What Planet did this come from? “Offhandedly, blithe sexism against men?” Though it’s true that McConnell is aided and abetted by HIS rich, younger wife—in exchange for shady agreements that protect her family’s shipping company (and the drugs smuggled on board…) And some of the rich women are older AND ARE PART OF THE KKKOCH Gang of Billionaires, like Betsy DeVos, Linda Bean of LLBean, the heiress daughter of Publix, Julie Jenkins Fancelli. You would do well to read WELL RESEARCHED AND DOCUMENTED books like “Dark Money” before bantering about GOP trigger words like “liberal” and airing imagined grievances of sexism.
Please, take a moment to imagine! Imagine that [ugh] DJT was president over the last year. Now imagine what he might be saying and doing with respect to the remarkable performance of the US economy. Right! Pounding his chest about these remarkable REPUBLICAN results! Endless blather about which he knows so little. But it strikes home to the millions of idiots who follow him in some kind of idolatry.
So, NOW ask yourselves ... where is our actual President? Why does he choose silence when he has the bully pulpit?
I feel like a defector but can't help wondering what the hell is wrong with the DNC. And it's not just our tormented leader Biden. It's the crazy divisions among Dems. This is the only time, RIGHT NOW, to build the strength to defeat the maniacal Republican attempt to trash democracy.
Shipping companies are raking in profits during the pandemic. Freight on Ocean containers ( if u can find one) have gone up more than 100% from ‘19 to ‘20. And 200-300% for 2021.
Have you taken a serious look at the Republican Party? They have a token POC and very few women and so far the only ones that seem to think for themselves are Cheney, Kinzinger, and Murkowski. Romney puts out words like he has some different opinion but then does exactly what he’s told. The women in the party are showpieces that spout exactly what they’re told to spout. Some of them even come from a Talent agency. They are racist and if you listen to their committee meetings you will see clearly that they are prepubescent bullies who pretend they have morals and follow God but every time they open their mouths they show just what slime they are. And yes, the majority of them are old, white, men. Everyone is privileged and comes from money or is bought and paid for by the right wing dark money machines. If we get dark money out of politics maybe we could get real leaders and real thinkers in Congress. The silver spoon, elitist crowd has the temerity to call Democrats elitist while they suck on that spoon and have never worked a day in their life for anything.
Sharon, You have been a caring friend to me and, if I remember correctly, a friend, supporter, guide and loving storyteller of your grandson. Your expression of bigotry toward white men was very disturbing to me. In terms of seeing, the core of your belief has, I think, nothing to do with eyesight. I am looking for a way for us to find an opening about this. Salud, Sharon
Plenty of rich old women too. They just aren't quite so noisy but they control a lot of money. Plenty of the most racist folks I have met are women, it is an equal opportunity sin.
It certainly is. I sat next door a couple summers ago and listened to two women make racist remarks about Afro-Americans and Native Americans, not knowing the one of us has Native American ancestry. I did remain silent as it was not my house nor were they my friends and felt guilty about not saying something.
I condemn them all regardless of gender. I once had to tell my basketball team to lock up their stuff as they didn't think they had to because we were at a religious school, that people are either good or bad, no matter where you find them.
As a female, personal experience has been with sexist males. A thought also is that if their wives are younger, they were not rich until they married the male. This is with observation of people I know.
When there is male/female parity with those governing our lives through the laws that are made which are now not equitable. Neither racially nor gender specific. While there are evil females, the world is a patriarchy. The fate of most women and children is controlled by the male. Our government is no different .
For how many centuries might we endorse a matriarchal rule before we can learn if we might be better off in a controlled experiment?? A matriarchy, though EQUAL, would be minus testosterone and plus estrogen so inherently different/diverse. That difference/diversity is more frightening than death for so many, and that is the sheer crazy part. After centuries, culture is hard to change.
LOL. Hmmm. Assumptions. Also it sounds like you’re assuming my premise is within your last statement. I think that’s what many of us estrogenized humans would feel has been labeled as “mansplaining”. But what do I know 🤷🏻♀️
Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Best would be a balance of qualified individuals who reflect the current population and understand their needs as employers, employees, families, & individuals.
Daria: They really put their footsies in it with the "ratting out" line, didn't they?!!!
And BRAVA, Heather, whose point at the end is so well taken: " It seems that we might be able to choose better leaders than ones who are leaving us at the end of this day in 2022 with the truly legitimate political question: “Ratting him out for what?"
💙Go, Ron! He resigned his DeSantis-appointed position on a judicial nom committee over the treatment of FL Covid data analyst. A (former) Republican with a spine !
Mayer is a national treasure in my book. Her deeply researched article about Ginni Thomas shows how corrupt Thomas is and how financially incestuous the GOP has become. Imagine when, not if, the Supreme Court must rule on any case regarding the insurrection and Justice Clarence Thomas doesn't recuse himself.
Also, I'm surprised that news yesterday that Clarence Thomas having frequent email contact with Ron DeSantis hasn't become a much bigger story. The court, shockingly, has no code of ethics.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻On Jane Mayer’s Dark Money work! Her recent NYKer piece on Ginni and extreme conservative enterprises was eye opening. Also appreciate Sen. Whitehouse’s continued effort to keep hi beams on the donor/power conservative network.
Glanced at an interesting article in the Nation on the wells of “dark money”
in both parties. Can’t find it now but will keep searching. This seems like such a critical democratic issue.
It is interesting to note that the DOJ set his trial date out so far - one theory being that they plan to add charges to his indictment as new facts get nailed down.
"But in the 1980s, Republicans argued that this system stifled economic development by hampering the ability of producers to put their money where they thought it would do the most good."
In their own pockets. And now, any business that our federal legislative bodies might need to tackle that doesn't put more money into those pockets is irrelevant, unnecessary and "socialist" and therefore doesn't deserve their time, attention or participation. The stagnation this party has brought about to the running of this country, the rebuilding of our crumbling infrastructure, and support to those in need is criminal. And the most disgusting part is they see themselves as patriots. As doing the people's work. What a load of crap. The only two Republican representatives doing work for their constituents just got clobbered by their own party. The rest of them just want power, money and the pension and they don't give a rat's ass who they destroy to get it.
Love your use of "slithering out of the wood pile" considering that Gingrich is from Georgia and "in the wood pile" has a very racists history in Georgia. (I live just 10 miles north of the northern Georgia boarder - in bright red country.)
Not in anyway, my meaning was that Gingrich is the type who would use the comment "N-word in a wood pile" in private conversation. I grew up in northern Illinois and it was a common racists saying even there. Today we worry about it being a copperhead snake around here. Interesting that copperhead had a very political meaning at the time of the civil war. Quoting from Wikipedia "In the 1860s, the Copperheads, also known as Peace Democrats,[1] were a faction of Democrats in the Union who opposed the American Civil War and wanted an immediate peace settlement with the Confederates."
Wonderfully brilliant wisdom succinctly expressed for our better understanding to strengthen our resolve putting forth every effort we possess to rid America of each of those R's bent on destroying America's democracy.
Good morning, Daria. Yes, it is mind boggling that Heather can calmly follow the days news everyday. And then give it to us in a most objective way possible. Kind of wonder why her head's not blowing up. I must admit that the rethuglicans describing the insurrection as "legitimate political discourse" makes my head explode. WTF!
One of my teachers recently said that we are in a moment when we must be prepared to respond with the words, "Of course..." As in, "Of course that's what these bullies would say." We can expect nothing other than what is already painfully evident in the malignant tactics that characterize Republican politics in our times.
In other words, no need to waste energy on being/feeling shocked and thus distracted from what we want to build. Scams are distracting and are intended to be distracting. That's how they get you...
Pam, very good morning to you. It's amazing, Heather never turns her back on a day. Even when she takes a night off I imagine there is a place in her brain where she's mulling over the day's events and analyzing them...all those puzzle pieces that are history being pieced together one by one.
Wouldn’t today be a good day to begin maximum effort to save American democracy…here might be one of the many efforts we, as a determined group of sincere patriots, might consider doing today to insure our votes will be accounted for in every election in which we choose to participate:
(1). PROVEN TO BE THE VERY MOST EFFECTIVE METHODS:
I use exclusively my ACTBLUE to donate to any and every candidate, incumbent or legislative issue I choose to support.
Simply select the candidate or incumbent or issue of your choice and push three buttons on the ACTBLUE web site without referring to any of your financial reference numbers after completing your first donation (e. g. credit card numbers, address, etc. etc. etc.), then receive almost instantaneously their emailed receipt to you acknowledging your donation.
A record of every donation you will have ever donated is posted in a permanent ACTBLUE web page account that you can reference at any time you want too. So far 13,892,727 Democratic donors have saved their payment information with an ACTBLUE personal account.
DURING 2021:
4.5 million unique donors gave 35.3 million contributions to 17,876 incumbents or candidates or legislative issue campaigns and organizations, totaling $1.3 billion.
(2). THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the independent regulatory agency charged with administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance law. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House, Senate, Presidency and the Vice Presidency.
A message I sent you in December hit a nerve with Fox News and the Republican Party. Last week, I found out that Fox News officials had read my message—and that it sent Fox News and the Republican Party scrambling, starting with writing a hit piece about it.
1 You see, MoveOn is doing something it's never done in its 23-year history. The powerhouse grassroots organization has launched a multimillion-dollar campaign to protect our elections by stopping Donald Trump from replacing the top election officials in battleground states with his own loyalists.
2 You may remember from my message in December that Trump is focusing on a previously obscure elected state official: the secretary of state, who in most states oversees vote counting and certifies—or decertifies—election results.
3 At his first rally of the year, Trump stated outright: "There's a famous statement: 'Sometimes the vote counter is more important than the candidate.'"
4 Trump has already endorsed candidates for secretary of state in multiple battleground states, and the candidates all spout the Big Lie of a stolen election.
5 As disturbing as it is, you need to know that candidates endorsed by Trump nearly always win the GOP nomination—98% of the time.
6 That's why MoveOn's campaign meets the moment and why our message last month hit a nerve over at Fox News. A GOP spokesperson responded to MoveOn's campaign by saying the GOP will "accelerate our fundraising efforts so we can stop them."
7 That's what is concerning, and it's why I'm writing to you again today. Because if we allow Republicans, their billionaire donors, and dark-money groups to steamroll our efforts with their fundraising, Trump's plot to use secretaries of state to install him to another term as president might just work.
Will you join me in rushing an emergency donation of $20 to MoveOn to power their campaign to defeat Trump-backed secretaries of state? On top of fueling this critical effort, your donation will show the GOP and Fox News that their tactics won't intimidate us.
Let me tell you a little bit about just two of the candidates that Trump is working overtime to elect to these positions.
In Arizona, Trump has endorsed an extremist named Mark Finchem, a GOP state lawmaker who attended the January 6 insurrection; continues to work to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Arizona; and is linked to the Oath Keepers, the white supremacist extremist group whose leaders were charged earlier this month with "seditious conspiracy" related to their involvement in the insurrection.
Finchem spoke at a Trump rally this month in Arizona, parroting Trump's lies about a stolen election and saying, "With all the evidence we have, the Arizona election should be decertified with cause...."
And in Georgia, where Trump famously asked then-Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find 11,780 votes" for him in 2020, Trump has endorsed Jody Hice, a member of Congress who attempted to stop the certification of Georgia's election in 2020, has supported the blatantly racist voter suppression laws being passed in the state, and claimed that Raffensperger "compromised" the 2020 election by refusing to bow to Trump's attempted coup.
Imagine how different the 2020 election could have ended if Jody Hice had been secretary of state in Georgia and agreed to "find" those votes for Trump, or if Mark Finchem refused to certify President Biden's victory in Arizona?
That is what is at stake in these midterm elections, and why—for the first time in its 23-year history—MoveOn is dedicating millions of dollars to help elect secretaries of state who will put our democracy first and stand up to wannabe tyrants like Trump.
Please, if you are able, will you chip in $20—or whatever you can—to take down Trump's plot to put his loyalists in charge of overseeing elections? Thanks for all you do. –Robert Reich Sources:
Donald Trump's preparations for being able to steal the presidency in 2024 are well underway and include working to replace top election officials in battleground states with his own loyalists.
Which is why MoveOn is doing something we've never done in our 23-year history: We're launching a powerful, multimillion-dollar effort to defeat Trump-backed secretaries of state across the country and elect individuals who will count every vote and ensure fair elections. Will you chip in to power our campaign to defeat Trump and protect our elections in 2022? https://front.moveon.org/
Absolutely! When has "ratting out" ever represented the truth of a matter? It appears the Other Guy and his tribe have given up pretending the Big Lie is real. Their team is buying loyalty, as is evident in my state of Michigan where the Other Guy's team went over the legal limit on campaign finance for Michigan Republican candidates. By law, they have to give his money back.
Given up pretending, yes, maybe. How politically convenient and a little late. But now we hear this repub voice of sanity. At least we think we hear it.
I can't rest...our democracy is under attack by very rich, very evil, very crazy, very greedy creepy people.
Wouldn’t today be a good day to begin maximum effort to save American democracy…here might be one of the many efforts we, as a determined group of sincere patriots, might consider doing today to insure our votes will be accounted for in every election in which we choose to participate:
(1). PROVEN TO BE THE VERY MOST EFFECTIVE METHODS:
I use exclusively my ACTBLUE to donate to any and every candidate, incumbent or legislative issue I choose to support.
Simply select the candidate or incumbent or issue of your choice and push three buttons on the ACTBLUE web site without referring to any of your financial reference numbers after completing your first donation (e. g. credit card numbers, address, etc. etc. etc.), then receive almost instantaneously their emailed receipt to you acknowledging your donation.
A record of every donation you will have ever donated is posted in a permanent ACTBLUE web page account that you can reference at any time you want too. So far 13,892,727 Democratic donors have saved their payment information with an ACTBLUE personal account.
DURING 2021:
4.5 million unique donors gave 35.3 million contributions to 17,876 incumbents or candidates or legislative issue campaigns and organizations, totaling $1.3 billion.
(2). THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the independent regulatory agency charged with administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance law. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House, Senate, Presidency and the Vice Presidency.
A message I sent you in December hit a nerve with Fox News and the Republican Party. Last week, I found out that Fox News officials had read my message—and that it sent Fox News and the Republican Party scrambling, starting with writing a hit piece about it.
1 You see, MoveOn is doing something it's never done in its 23-year history. The powerhouse grassroots organization has launched a multimillion-dollar campaign to protect our elections by stopping Donald Trump from replacing the top election officials in battleground states with his own loyalists.
2 You may remember from my message in December that Trump is focusing on a previously obscure elected state official: the secretary of state, who in most states oversees vote counting and certifies—or decertifies—election results.
3 At his first rally of the year, Trump stated outright: "There's a famous statement: 'Sometimes the vote counter is more important than the candidate.'"
4 Trump has already endorsed candidates for secretary of state in multiple battleground states, and the candidates all spout the Big Lie of a stolen election.
5 As disturbing as it is, you need to know that candidates endorsed by Trump nearly always win the GOP nomination—98% of the time.
6 That's why MoveOn's campaign meets the moment and why our message last month hit a nerve over at Fox News. A GOP spokesperson responded to MoveOn's campaign by saying the GOP will "accelerate our fundraising efforts so we can stop them."
7 That's what is concerning, and it's why I'm writing to you again today. Because if we allow Republicans, their billionaire donors, and dark-money groups to steamroll our efforts with their fundraising, Trump's plot to use secretaries of state to install him to another term as president might just work.
Will you join me in rushing an emergency donation of $20 to MoveOn to power their campaign to defeat Trump-backed secretaries of state? On top of fueling this critical effort, your donation will show the GOP and Fox News that their tactics won't intimidate us.
Let me tell you a little bit about just two of the candidates that Trump is working overtime to elect to these positions.
In Arizona, Trump has endorsed an extremist named Mark Finchem, a GOP state lawmaker who attended the January 6 insurrection; continues to work to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Arizona; and is linked to the Oath Keepers, the white supremacist extremist group whose leaders were charged earlier this month with "seditious conspiracy" related to their involvement in the insurrection.
Finchem spoke at a Trump rally this month in Arizona, parroting Trump's lies about a stolen election and saying, "With all the evidence we have, the Arizona election should be decertified with cause...."
And in Georgia, where Trump famously asked then-Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find 11,780 votes" for him in 2020, Trump has endorsed Jody Hice, a member of Congress who attempted to stop the certification of Georgia's election in 2020, has supported the blatantly racist voter suppression laws being passed in the state, and claimed that Raffensperger "compromised" the 2020 election by refusing to bow to Trump's attempted coup.
Imagine how different the 2020 election could have ended if Jody Hice had been secretary of state in Georgia and agreed to "find" those votes for Trump, or if Mark Finchem refused to certify President Biden's victory in Arizona?
That is what is at stake in these midterm elections, and why—for the first time in its 23-year history—MoveOn is dedicating millions of dollars to help elect secretaries of state who will put our democracy first and stand up to wannabe tyrants like Trump.
Please, if you are able, will you chip in $20—or whatever you can—to take down Trump's plot to put his loyalists in charge of overseeing elections? Thanks for all you do. –Robert Reich Sources:
Donald Trump's preparations for being able to steal the presidency in 2024 are well underway and include working to replace top election officials in battleground states with his own loyalists.
Which is why MoveOn is doing something we've never done in our 23-year history: We're launching a powerful, multimillion-dollar effort to defeat Trump-backed secretaries of state across the country and elect individuals who will count every vote and ensure fair elections. Will you chip in to power our campaign to defeat Trump and protect our elections in 2022? https://front.moveon.org/
Mr. Dobbs, I love your opening advocacy for action with links to ActBlue. But from there, copy and paste of a very long, dense email from MoveOn, speaking for myself, becomes unreadable. I'd rather read a brief summary and then click on the link for more info. I do not write this for my ego or my way, but for what generally seems more effective to engage people to agree with your point. Because your point is great and so necessary!
Ellie, I am a very desperate American voter who knows if we all do not do all we can possibly do this November then game over!
It only takes a few minutes to understand my posting, and I hope everyone thereby realizes the life threatening reality being forced upon the survival of American Democracy.
If Democrats loose the House, then the next death nail will be the Senate and America will never again be the United States of America again...
We are all convinced that others will become inspired by our most sincere form of commenting no matter what style is chosen, Eh!?
What a reveal to say "ratting out" instead of "lying about"! Imho, that's an admission that Pence & Short are telling the truth, and that loyalty, not truth, is what's important to the Repugs. Indeed, as it is with criminals.
Daria Can you hearing the frantic squealing of piglets as they are being indicted for ‘sedition’ and endeavoring to wiggle out of House 1/6 Committee subpoenas that are encircling them? I can imagine that the big pigs, as they hear these terrified squeals, might be having nightmares about becoming barbecued spare ribs (perhaps with Rikers orange booties). Yum yum. I am ready with a shelf full of BBQ sauce.
I’m so happy for you both! It’s 15 degrees here, my husband is out skiing, and I’m planning to mostly stay inside and work on taxes. I might take the wild puppy to the park, if I can bundle up enough! No riding today - too damn cold.
The REAL "rats" are the ones who are cowardly hiding from the J6 Committee. This is the Chinese "Year of the Water Tiger." I would submit that those real "rats" should be very wary of 9 people sitting on that committee who are as cunning as tigers and who have already sniffed out the rodents from their mountainous "droppings."
OK Democrats, where is your response? The political ads write themselves - "legitimate political discourse" in the classroom, the schoolyard, the workplace, the subway, on the street. Heck, just do a voice-over to video of the riot itself, and of the speeches of Trump and others to promote it. Dramatize what the Republicans have just said, which may be the most outrageous political statement that has ever been endorsed by an American political party.
In 2000, the Republicans delayed healthcare reform by ten years when they ran their "Harry and Louise" ads. Just two married people discussing healthcare issues over the kitchen table. Issues like death panels and the government forcing healthcare decisions on ordinary citizens. A few months of those ads generated popular resistance that killed the Clinton Administration's initiatives to fix healthcare, and limited the ability of Obama to create a system that was as fair and national as it could be. It was an incredibly effective ad campaign that was not tied to any candidate - just an attempt to change the national dialogue.
So, DNC, this is your Harry and Louise moment. Public relations and advertising can focus people on this outrage without damaging the legal battles taking place to punish those who caused this violent riot. Anyone who does not understand in the face of overwhelming evidence that January 6th was not legitimate, or political, or discourse, will never be convinced. If the battle over core American values can be won, this is the issue.
The RNC has given those who believe in American values a golden opportunity. Do not squander it. The fight must be fought here.
This is more than going low. It is one of the two major political parties publicly endorsing seditious violence to overturn the will of the American people. If Democrats do not respond to that just as publicly, our country is at the mercy of one party that endorses autocracy and one that is incapable of defending democracy. It's pretty clear how that story ends.
No. Left leaning third party/independent candidate voters are exactly passionate. They vote with their gut instead of their brains. And give wins to the GOP.
Extremists coopted the GOP through a clever long game - through strategy not passion. And the GOP coopts government through strategy. McConnell, Murdoch, Reed, and Leo have done more long term harm than Trump.
reminds me of what my father used to say when someone tried to excuse a scoundrel's actions by claiming, "But he's so sincere." My dad said, " A rattlesnake is sincere when it's trying to bite you."
Sarcasm and mockery are so tempting, but political messaging expert Anat Shenker Osorio recommends to stick to shared values, e.g. economic progress, jobs increase, and do not use the far right's language. We have to figure this one out better. Quickly.
I respect the desire to stay above it - to go high when they go low - but consider the track record of that approach. Making high-minded, policy-based arguments to people who have been raised with short attention spans has not worked, and the reason is pretty obvious. Our opposition knows that we can talk ourselves blue in the face and they can instantly steal the spotlight by launching a new bright shiny object. In that way, Trump was their ideal candidate, and the ideal person to distract the country from their authoritarian agenda.
We are in the midst of economic progress and increasing employment, exactly your formula, but the public's attention is drawn to the MTG-Gosar-Cruz-Bannon-Stone-Pence clown car, and the people actually pulling the strings are slipping in the message that the Biden administration is failing on all fronts. This is not a coincidence.
Sometimes you have to adopt the tactics of the other side, particularly if their tactics are working and yours aren't.
Add today's Editorial from the WaPo........"GOP formally declares that truth is fiction and patriots are traitors"...."they have exposed the dark, festering core of what their party is becoming: an unruly revolt against fact and reason....."
Excellent, I will pass that on up through the Lincoln Project, I’m sure we can start that ball rolling, not so sure that the DNC will run with it, but we know how to do it.
Thanks! This does seem tailor-made for what the Lincoln Project does, but it seems like an opportunity to reach people who have already tuned out the LP and other "liberal" channels. "Harry and Louise" ran as ads in heavy rotation on popular TV shows and poisoned the political center against health insurance reform for a decade. "Legitimate political discourse" has at least as much power, and deserves at least as much distribution to people who are more centrist than the typical Lincoln Project viewer.
The Lincoln Project is a good place to start, but this is the biggest ammunition the Republicans have given us in a long time - and by us, I mean "sane people". We may not get another chance like this.
Day 6 here in Tampa Bay Times world and still not one story on the false electors and other crimes that Trump’s minions committed to overturn the election. It’s really hard to wake up the people here when they’re not being told the truth.
How about these Harry & Louise type ads running on Fox News constantly. I don’t understand why Fox News ads are not completely bought up with real facts presented as entertainment
YES!!! T-shirts! Stickers! The brilliant legal scholar and activist, Dean Spade, once said that stickers were among their most powerful tools as an activist. Think about the "Silence=Death" sticker with pink triangle - for those of us who were around in the 80's and experiencing the AIDS epidemic.
Since I heard the following thought in September, 2020, it has informed the direction of my search for the truth about this whole mess, asking why the republicans had so completely surrendered and fallen on their knees in worshipful thrall to the orange man. My search led me to Dr. Richardson — and all of you — my refuge of scholarship and veracity. Since I scribbled these words in my field notebook on 9/7/20 I have carried them in my pocket every single day and I read them often, with many other statements that I judge to be true and factual, as a way of recalibrating my probity compass. Every time I read them I tell myself, “I gotta share this with the group someday.” Today the time is right:
“Trump is a pussing boil on a very badly diseased body politic that has problems on a scale that dwarfs even his presidency, that made him possible.” (Anand Giridharadas, Time Ed. at Large, on All In with Chris Hayes, MSNBC, 09072020).
Today’s events, and Dr. Richardson’s excellent Letter, mark history: the Republican Party is in open, take-no-prisoners warfare against Democracy itself, and all of us socialists who stand in their way. The Orange Man is going down, and his controllers have come fully out from their stronghold. Many of us have predicted this; now it comes to pass. They are afraid that those “Koch people” (No relation!) are not just ratting out trump, they are ratting out the whole dang party! Just “legitimate political discourse” indeed.
The words that follow were written in 1936 by a man one might describe as a spiritual ancestor of Liz Cheney, a very conservative German squireling who detested the Nazis with all his being and ended up being shot by them less than three months before the end of the war:
... How much do we really know about the vaults and caverns which lie somewhere under the structure of a great nation—about these psychic catacombs in which all our concealed desires, our fearful dreams and evil spirits, our vices and our forgotten and unexpiated sins, have been buried for generations? In healthy times, these emerge as the spectres in our dreams. ... But suppose, now, that all of these things generally kept buried in our subconscious were to push their way to the surface, as in the blood-cleansing function of a boil? Suppose that this underworld now and again liberated by Satan bursts forth, and the evil spirits escape the Pandora's box?
Friedrich Reck-Malleczewen
In August 1936, from Diary of a Man in Despair
I strongly recommend members of this community to read the book.
Friedrich Reck-Malleczewen's book looks fascinating. I had never before heard that Hindenburg's decision to let Hitler become Chancellor was the result of Hindenburg's financial problems and shady transactions.
Right you are ... and they know we aren't all socialists, but it justifies their behavior to pretend that we are. Starting next month or so, as they swirl further down the drain, we'll all become communists in their diseased minds. But anyone who still believes in 'supply side' trickle-down economics, the Laffer curve's encouragement of tax reduction for the wealthy, and Milton Friedman's disproven economic theories, will believe anything ... and that is the problem. As you say, we'd better get this right.
As Prof. R points out, it seems that socialism is a relative concept. If the government act to assist real people, it is socialism. If government assistance goes to the wealthy and large corporations, it's capitalism. Chew on that for a while...
HCR pointed out that a member of Ike's administration 70 years ago (wow, has it been that long!) said that 'if a job has to be done to meet the needs of people, and no one else can do it, then it is a proper function of the federal government.' The key words there that Ike's party refuses to accept today are 'the needs of the people.' Anyway you look at it, that's not putting the means of production and distribution into the hands of the government, the historic definition of socialism.
Gus, You are right. I think what we witnessing now is the internal destruction of the "Republican Party". The oldy tradtionalist (Romney, Bush et. al) see it coming but are powerless to stop it. By November or maybe earlier it will be just a smoking hulk of political dysfunction - but indeed “legitimate political discourse”.
Democrats are so bad at this. That’s why the best anti-Trump anti-republican messages are coming from the Lincoln project, former Republicans. Thank goodness for them!
I agree with you. Many of the comment makers on LFAA can do a far better job with anti-trump and anti-republican messages than the Democratic party organization does. While I almost always vote for Democrats, and work to register voters as Democrats, I've changed my own registration to "No Party Affiliation" because of the local and State Democratic party's ineptitude ... but that's another story.
Chris, I just wrote you a long answer, and then accidentally deleted it by hitting the Cancel button while trying to move the cursor for an edit. No time to do it again!
Just watch and wait. This year is just beginning, and the Orange Scapegoat is going down — but the movement conservatives will continue their war against Democracy. It is going to be BRUTAL, and I have no idea if we will prevail, or not....
During the Trump administration, it felt like America had no federal government. The events unfolding confirm the adage "trust your feelings." Instead of government, what we had was a period of control by the Mob.
Stop calling the Bannon-Spicer-etc. group assembled in Utah "a political party." It's a macabre gangster organization masquerading as a party and frightening because it might actually merit the label "too big to fail."
HCR's recent questions about what is being reported and not reported by mainstream news media reminds us that we still do not have a functionally free press.
Not just a feeling. Trump, in plain sight, was dismantling the government. And he’s been aided and abetted by the silence of his party. Too little, too late. We can hope.
Ed, how about the “White supremacy movement conservative xenophobic lying kill Democracy party.” Too long for even initials: WSMCXLKDP....? Okay, okay, have it your way: MOBP.
MOB Party. Only, the Don-ald is going down. Either way, we are in a struggle for Democracy and we’d better do it right, all of us. This isn’t political theater, and we can’t be the audience or critics anymore.
Everyone seems to think that Pence's statement was a repudiation of the Jan 6 coup. If you listen to his statement, he actually makes a bid to be Trump's replacement. He raises the specter of those demon Democrats trying to federalize elections, then praises the states' rights to run the elections as they see fit, and then he praises the improvements to election security that Republican legislatures have put in place across the country. Those improvements actually ensure continued Republican rule in the key battle-ground states, and confirm that if elections don't go in favor of the GOP, the state can simply and quite constitutionally disregard the popular vote and put forth their own, more correct results.
That’s exactly what he’s saying, I was wondering where his pet fly was, it must have been down deeper in its nest, which is a good indication that he is full of s…
Great analysis Pete.. Makes you wish Pence had just said TFG was wrong, and then just went back to being catatonic again....but this is what we're up against.
Plead to the lesser and skate on the major crime. Now I am your pure and righteous leader. Sad about tgf, he seemed so strong. I know and can correct this country's spiral and return it to the bright sunshine of ... Indiana!
Yes, I'm still hoping the R's shred themselves to bits fighting for control of their party. But whoever's left standing in the end sure ain't gonna be a peach!
Well, Steve,so sorry to hear that your head’s blowing up. We knew you could dish it out, but now you say you can’t take it? Dismantling the administrative state is not as easy as you thought?
They are additionally accused of “advancing a political agenda to buoy the Democrat Party’s bleak prospects in the upcoming midterm elections.” They are also accused of “...both using their past professed political affiliation . . .
“Professed.”
This is not a stray word. It’s an accusation that Cheney and Kinzinger were never real Republicans, that they were imposters the whole time; that their actions over the past year represent not a break in behavior, but a revelation of their true selves.
This is actual, flat-out Stalinism. After consolidating his power in 1929, Stalin declared war on Soviets he considered tainted by their connections to the political movements that had come before him. Beginning in 1934 he wiped out an ever-changing group of political “enemies.” They were always accused of having never been the loyal revolutionaries they “professed” themselves to be.
Folks, we are waaaaayyyy beyond Hitler and the Nazis now. They never made their enemies into “unpersons” who had never existed, where photographic evidence of their existence was officially erased. But that’s where Ronna Romney and the rest of the RNC are headed.
"Author of RNC Resolution Censuring Kinzinger/Cheney for Investigating January 6 Conspiracy and Calling Capitol Riot “Legitimate Political Discourse” Is David Bossie—Who Insurrectionist Charles Herbster Places in Trump’s Insurrection Eve War Room"
I thought there was a law that this kind of info couldn’t be shared until polls closed in the west. No way the idjt took the news of a possible loss so quietly in 2016 after what we’ve seen recently.
Interesting link. Info was shared by a Trump supporter within ABC who had been promoted after the previous man got in trouble for “erroneously” reporting that Trump had told Mike Flynn to contact the Russians. Which we now know was not erroneous at all….
What a leaky ship. And repubs scream about leaks and the press. Again we learn what we knew all along. A Corrupt party won’t go quietly into the night. Even before the election is officially called, the repubs are plotting.
Wow. That's chilling on several levels. Particularly the association of defenestration with Russia, where there are persistent rumors of dissident types "choosing" to leap from upper floor windows of buildings.
Some politicians have believed that "BS" is "legitimate political discourse" for a very long time. If such people treat these institutions with such lack of respect, it is hardly surprising that some enraged, fantasizing vagabonds do likewise despoiling and polluting such hallowed ground.
Time for a very good brush and a clean sweep of those elected who are lying to the people to further their own interests or hide their crimes. I thought lying to Congress was already a crime.....DOJ please note!
So many people in Washington consider that the law is not made to control them....just the little folk! So many in the DOJ apparently think that it is a waste of time going after the "big fish" for small delinquent acts...what's the Hatch Act after all when you are perhaps thinking of Rico or Treason. Time for some real "legitimate political discourse and some straightforward representation of the people....and some respect for our laws and constitution.
And when this comes before the courts, Hah! time to ban judges from political affiliations and end the farce of court stuffing by any party . If you want to be a judge then to learn the the text and the spirit of the law and precedents plus the Constitution guide your decisions and not the whims of any loud-mouthed, passing political phase or icon.The North Carolina Supreme Court just rejected the State's new gerrymandering political map by a 4-3 split....along party lines....excellent decision..... but "Along party lines" ...what is the possible credibility and perenity of such a division and therefore such a judgement as it would inevitably be dependent on the next election.
What is sad about the NC Supreme Court decision along party lines is the Republican minority, led by the Court's elected Chief Justice (elected by 401 votes) failure to recognize the unconstitutional gerrymandering (unconstitutional by NC's constitution). The Ohio Supreme Court was closer to reality. They, too, rejected the legislature's gerrymandering. Their rejection was also by a 4-3 majority. They, too, were led by their elected Chief Justice. In this case, though, their Chief Justice is a Republican. Because Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor voted as she did, the Ohio Supreme Court did not vote by party lines. Because Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor voted as she did, the Ohio Supreme Court was faithful to its state constitution.
To my mind, we shouldn't even be aware of the poitical opinions of these judges let alone allow a public allegiance to one party or the other. Politics is very rarely about justice...just passing laws and this is very often not the same thing.
BS spread all over the place might just be their 'means to an end'. The fact that mush-mouth Pence avoided words that could be construed he might be committing hari-kari... words listened to by the 'minders' in the back row. That clever omission My friends should tell you how afraid that worthless POS* is. Please.., let the Heads blow sky high. *P-piece O-of S-(you guessed it). The Koch Bro'..s, worth over $100 billion, can pretty-much have their way with Americans(?) of that caliber.
Brilliant Looks like a few R s ,either with a recently found conscience or fear or ambition, or beginning to step off the ship Just today two making moral decisions in North Carolina and Arizona Hoping and praying for our democracy and for real journalists that tell the truth based on facts not sensationalism Thanks again for beautifully putting together the facts of a most interesting day😊👏
I HATE WHEN I MAKE CORRECT FRIGHTENING OBSERVATIONS
Feb 20, 2016
“If you have not figured it out by now that the Repugnicants are not leaders or even workers for the United States but partisan hacks who are only interested in supporting the very rich 1% who pay their campaigns at the expense of the rest of us, then you are as STUPID as the ppl who rally around the likes of Donald Trump, Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio.”
Mar 1, 2016
“Just a few months ago many of us thot that Donald Trump was a joke, a mediocre, boorish business man who dabbled in crap TV shows out of boredom. Now, he is becoming a frightening figure, not entirely by himself but because of his rabid following of ignorant, low-life fascists whom he is dangerously egging on with his hate rhetoric and failure to distance himself from known white supremacy hate groups.”
Dec 17, 2016
“STILL PISSED AT THE FOOLS WHO MADE THIS MESS
I have been meaning to write something of this devastating election, the most frightening in my lifetime of voting in a dozen presidential elections.
It was unbelievable that this unqualified and vile man won the election. I tried reasoning with ppl whom I knew were supportive of him or even those on the lib side who "voted their conscience" instead of voting for his opponent. But, to no avail - ignorance and naiveté won the day and now we all must suffer for the abject stupidity of fools.”
Feb 5, 2022
After Six years of watching what “Can’t Happen Here” Happening, I feel that it is over for Democracy and even Sanity in the United States. A century past, the Germans took this course, abandoned democracy and reason and replaced it with Fascism led by a charismatic, insane cult leader, with the horrendous murder of millions with millions more dying in war. I was born near the end of that war and the assurance that it “Can’t Happen Here.”
And now I have seen the Repugnant Party embrace an Insane Cult Leader; embrace hatred, racism and bigotry that we had slowly pushed back over the course of my life. And, a year after this Insane Cult leader’s followers attempted to wrest the democratic process by force on January 6, 2021, this COMPLICIT REPUGNANT PARTY, is obstructing the investigation of that INSURRECTION, and excusing the murderous rabble who attacked our seat of government just as the Fascist Nazis of a century past as “LEGITIMATE POLITICAL DISCOURSE.” Why this Repugnant Party is not labeled a Fascist Terrorist Organization after this proves to me that it is over for democracy, sanity & decency in this nation. I fear for my grandchildren in the years to come if something is not done soon to stop what is happening here.
Rob, thank you; all you write resonates (with me) but the saddest and most critical to me, “I fear for my grandchildren…”. That is my reason to continue this battle for Truth and Justice. Sounds like I’m waiting for Superman. Superwoman. Maybe that’s true.
Chronicler of the demise of a once great form of government. That you might be the biographer as we add our chapters to this historic tragedy from our respective diaries, Rob.
My thoughts upon reading Stephen Bannon's statement, "My head’s blowing up" - I wish it were true! If he could self-destruct, the world would be a better place!
Hahahahahaha. I know Janet. Especially with his carefully crafted disheveled look as if he’s so busy with “legit political discourse”, he has no time to shave or groom. Ewwww
Oh Professor Richardson….I’ve said it before. You end a letter sometimes with such a ball buster that it ends up being the envelope for the entire Letter…”It seems that we might be able to choose better leaders than ones who are leaving us at the end of this day in 2022 with the truly legitimate political question: “Ratting him out for what?”
How does that translate to all of you?
For me it’s vote, vote, vote. In spite of. Keep the majority and add to it. In spite of. Make sure Pres Biden’s 4 yrs exist as a supreme counter chess move to the former’s checker game. In spite of. For every bozo dissing the economy and jobs report, correct them with facts. In spite of. With every effort to indoctrinate children and burn books and teachers’ professional status and rewrite history books, support our schools and push push push back. In spite of.
In spite of what? What appears to be overwhelming odds at times? What appears to be the power of the Repubs and a notion of weak-assed Dems? In spite of perception that the entire DOJ is twiddling thumbs?
Nope. In spite of the fact that the American people elected a rat to the Office of President and could not get rid of him through impeachment. It is about who we elect as a leader. And we cannot allow a rat into The House again. Or a complicit aspiring mouse like Pence and his rat Koch.
Please. Let us be an American people whose choices are worthy of the Light that has its hand guiding us. That is what the truth, not the fight, is about.
I really appreciate your defiance, Christine. It is consistent through all your posts and I think it rallies the morose. And the midterm is an inflection point where the votes of the morose are desperately needed.
Having said that, the last paragraph of your post is troubling to me. Those of us who aren’t American find the concept of American exceptionalism dangerous at times, and hilarious at other moments. It’s hard enough believing in God at all (as I assume your reference to “the Light” was to be taken), without also having to believe that S(He) particularly chose to favor one landmass and its people at one moment in time to be his pet project. It becomes even harder when an objective observer would find American exceptionalism to be as often disgraceful as it is laudable.
All countries produce their share of dupes, rascals, idealists and saints. All are tied integrally to their history and their geography. America was, in its Caucasian origin story, brilliantly favored in its geographic vastness and the oceans which bounded it. This encouraged white settlement, and generations of Americans left their mark for better or for worse. And here it stands today, attempting a phoenix-like revival from the ashes left behind by a particularly demonic American.
This where you, and people of of your ilk, come in. The course ahead seems fraught with danger, and at best uncertain in outcome. But you persistently refuse to turn away from it and encourage others to the same effort.
God’s not keeping score, but you are. God won’t affect the outcome, but you might. I truly admire that.
Yes, brilliant. And thank you and Heather for pointing out the big question: “Ratting him out for what?” We, the People, including those good peeps on both sides, better come up with an answer. And soon. Until then, There’s a mouse in the house and we better continue to beware, pay attention. I find believing to be a challenge.
"The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves -- in their separate, and individual capacities."
Abraham Lincoln
--July 1, 1854 [?] Fragment on Government
I think Ike paraphrased Lincoln on his purpose of government comment. It's one of my favorite sayings.
Lincoln - America's 1st Liberal Progressive President
So the Koch bunch want a 'legitimate' party to purchase? Expectations of some R Phoenix rising? Is the Federalist Society abandoning idjt? As Gorsuch evidences his funders...in the dark.
Loving the split R party...split the votes, perhaps D's will prevail in the polity.
gratitude to you, Heather, ever and always, for knowledge and perspective!
Absolutely brilliant, as Always, the Real Truth by Holly Near. Thank you, Kim, for sharing. We have a way of hearing, seeing the Truth through music and Lit. And that tune stays. Coup D’etat. Love Holly Near. I’ll sing it all day. Make it a theme song for some party.
Oh so now it's "Legitimate political discourse", eh? This telling a lie over and over again until you tell it so many times that the people believe it is a fascistic tactic used by Hitler and others. One might say that only a fool would believe it but we know what happened to regimes in the past. I am beyond sickened by this group. If their lies weren't so dangerous they would be laughable. It seems to me that this committee has already received a trove of incriminating information. What I fear is that if Republicans gain control of either the House or the Senate, that this information will not see the light of day. This sordid tale is becoming a giant scandal and I cannot wait for each of HCR's letters every day.
"On his podcast, Bannon addressed Pence, saying: “You are a stone cold coward…. My head’s blowing up.... I can’t take Pence…and Marc Short and all these Koch guys up there ratting out Trump up on Capitol Hill right now.”
Ratting out Trump. That's rich. One of Trump's own stooges finally fesses up and tells it like it is. Heather, I don't know how you can sift through this muck day in and day out and maintain a semblance of sanity. I realize it's your passion, but my God, you must have nerves of steel! Thank you for every moment you devote to untangling our past and present to get to the truth.
“ratting out Trump” caught me too. If you did nothing illegal, why would one use that expression?
I'm in my 70's and never thought American politics would come to this. I have to keep going back to "they have no logic", or my head explodes too! If the Democrats had instigated the insurrection, there would be screams and yelling from all Republicans, and calls for executions. Wait... they already are doing that, despite being the instigators! Thank you, Heather, yet again.
I’m older than dirt and I saw it coming, Bill Moyers warned us.
I remember when Bill Moyers retired one time 10 or 15 years ago, an interviewer asked him what kept him up at night. He answered, a civil war.
He saw the seeds being planted when few others did, kept me awake at night too as I watched the evil spread under the guise of patriotism and religious fervor. I wonder if he’s the most depressed man in America.
He did an interview recently and he is hopeful. Will try to remember and let you know, Amanpour or PBS Newshour most likely or NPR.
Speaking of quality news, I really miss Tim Russert also, taken from us way too soon!
God bless Tim Russert.
Agreed ❤️
Yes, Tim Russert is sorely missed!
Oh Bill Moyers we need you now. 60 Minutes has deteriorated to an entertainment show.
Exactly. And if you did nothing illegal, you would be falling all over yourself to speak to the committee, turn over your records, etc.
They are like a criminal mob or a gang where there is a concerted effort to intimidate and punish anyone who is talking. Right now I am reading a Swedish noir novel and most of it is about how they induce kids into the gang and then put them through hoops to become full members as they become older. This may include punishing the rats...in this case, shooting knee caps and the one in prison a murder made to look like suicide. As I read, I did wonder how many of our criminal gang have resorted to some kind intimidation.
"...and the one in prison a murder made to look like a suicide..."
Hmmm
Just like Epstein, EH!?
The criminal mob consisting of the most "Elite" moneyed fat white rich old men that remain in the shadows of social respectability while sneaking illegal perversions permanently defiling innocents' self-perception.
And
Suffering no legal consequence except for the very brief embarrassment of "Breaking News" headline quietly snuffed out by the same power who snuffed out Epstein while incarcerated in a highly secure "Lock-Down" cell with 24hr surveillance!
Suicide, INDEED!!
HA!
He was murdered for sure. A sleeping guard? Two broken cameras and the only surveillance video “accidentally erased?” It’s so obvious it’s laughable! It makes me sick.
INDEED...and NO investigating news follow up...it is as if it never happened...and now we see the enormous power of the moneyed elite fat old white perverted men's control of American justice system, Eh!?
“…moneyed elite fat old white perverted men…” sounds like TFG. And how did he (completely unqualified) get nominated in the first place, his name even conjured up in a backroom hideaway?
In Russia, the mob is an informal off the books part of the intelligence services. Both for fundraising from illegal activity and enforcement of political adversaries, and dirty tricks, etc.
Yes and they have had long practice.
of intimidation, not kind intimidation. Wish we could correct.
Michele, you can correct! Look below your comment and there is an edit option!
Yes, I see that now. Thanks.
We can now! Tap the …
Thanks for the heads up.
Now do Twitter!!
They have the best teacher!
Indeed....carte blanche for being awful.
MLM, they are just plain stupid I think.
Hmmm...not stupid. Arrogant, cunning, for sure. Bannon is a sociopath, like Drumpf, the Mercers, Charles Koch, Stephen Schwarzman and their lesser known oligarch parasites.
The leaders are sociopaths the sheep are stupid.
And their stupidity compels them to self-incrimination whenever they think it will boost their ratings or clicks.
“The wicked web’s been weaved.”
Daria . . . Agree. I don't know how Heather's head doesn't explode! I'm nowhere near as immersed and while her letters and videos have brought order to chaos, periodically I have to step away to keep my sanity. I also find kayaking (when I don't fall in the water getting in or out!) helps calm the mind. As a former colleague said to me years ago when we were going through very tough times at work, "you're in your 50's so you still think there's "effin" hope. By the time you hit your mid-60's that reality changes." I still waffle between hope and reality and am in complete denial regarding age! 🙄
I’m in my 70s, and I still practice hope. It’s part temperament, part spiritual discipline, part political action. Anyone can do it. For that matter, I’ve also found landing in the water when kayaking to be very helpful in focusing the mind.
Joan In my late 80s I still emit hope. [My aunt and great aunt were named Hope, so, perhaps, I was blessed at birth.] I have witnessed and personally experienced lots of downs and ups in my life. There have been periods of despair and moments of joy. I find joy with my grand kids and despair from daily headlines.
I believe that an upbeat attitude can change one’s personal chemistry and positively affect those around us. While my wife often is consumed by the gloom of the moment, almost like a duck much of this rolls off my back. I am profoundly distressed by some happenings in my country and around the world. Unlike Lazarus (and God’s bet with the devil), I have yet to succumb to the ‘inevitable.’
After the doom and gloom of Trump, Biden is providing shards of sunshine. After two dreadful pandemic years, we are emerging into greater light. More and more people have gainful employment and the predictions of economic disaster are, once again, false.
My children are doing fine and my grand kids are back in their college and school classes. My wife’s leg pains have subsided and I am perambulating with my three-wheeled walker. I feel fine as I (and we) deal with dark spots on the horizon. In the series Death in Paradise, the detective inspector is confronted with a seemingly impossible situation at the outset and, after 50 minutes, arrives at a brilliant solution. I have hope that something similar will occur here in America.
I am not a Pollyanna. Like everyone, I have experienced dark times. [My entire family, except my sister, died suddenly and unexpectedly before I graduated college.] I have faced life and death situations. Through it all, I have been guided by Churchill’s NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP.
I teared up reading about your family, Keith. That’s quite a loss to survive. So glad you are able to carry on with such a positive attitude. Inspiring.
Thank you for sharing a little bit of yourself, Keith. You have a wonderful attitude. Just continue to take care of yourself. We often don’t do that enough these days.
Bravo, Keith! Keep on keeping on!
I agree! Never give up!
I am in my late 70s. I am often dismayed at what is going on, but know that I can't do anything about it. I have stepped away from a lot of news that I used to read. I do the crossword to relax and read mysteries and nonfiction that is not about the politics of today. My husband is also often consumed by the gloom and I often remind him that we can't do anything about it. Yesterday I began seeding plants in my greenhouse....onions and asters, and gardening is part of my escape as well as a way of connecting to nature. We also enjoy All Classical in Portland all day which has a tremendous variety of music old and new. I woke up this am to Hildegard von Bingen and on the first day of Black History Month, they played a lot of music by black composers and artists. And we also enjoy Death in Paradise and any number of streamed series.
Until my arthritis gets worse, I can and do write postcards to get out the vote. My current set, through postcardstovoters.com, is for a progressive young woman running for a seat in the Kentucky state house in a special election later this month.
Other than that, I feel like my main contribution these days is reminding people that the onslaught of negative news has a big component of psych ops against us, and in any case we are better off doing what we can now than waiting for things to get worse. Even the news has material for hope: massive job creation, anti-voter-suppression victories in the courts, more and more public exposure of the dastardly deeds of that party that can't decide if their preferred role model is Himmler or Stalin...
I was wondering yesterday what election your postcard writing is for. Kudos for doing this. We contribute to campaigns all over the country as a way of helping. I have some aches and pains that are making gardening more challenging, but I am not ready to give it up yet. I said I wasn't going to order many seeds this year and then got taken up with zinnias in particular, so I will be busy in the greenhouse for some time to come.
Michele Kudos for finding ways to avoid the staccato media focus of bad and upsetting news. Gardening, crosswords, and music are marvelous diversions. In mid-September, 2021 I decided, during my nightly physical therapy exercises, to stop watching CNN and MSNBC. I had been addicted to Rachel and others, as they highlighted the day’s disturbing news. Instead, I immersed myself in DVDs and VHS ranging from Kenneth Clark’s Civilisation to MGM’s That’s Entertainment.
For me, this was a most welcome relief. I kept abreast of daily happenings by reading vociferously, not only spot news but by rereading some of my favorite books. There are some truly bad times in history—Black Plague, Hundred Years War, sack of Rome, American Revolution, Civil War, world wars, Holocaust….Somehow, we have survived all of this.
There are both dark and bright aspects of today’s world. You and I must find ways to maintain our personal balance while these events play out.
We love Rachel, but gave that up sometime ago because we could no longer cope with it. Now the nightly national news is on the block. We still watch the local news. We are both voracious readers and read lots of history. He likes World War I and I like English history especially the Tudors, but don't confine ourselves to those periods. For Christmas we buy each other ten books or so and then hand them out one at a time as we finish them. I am also working on our rather large library as we were just shoving books above and against other books. Now I have found some books I want to read. I don't reread because I have too many new ones to read. I did reread Wuthering Heights recently because I reading something else that had a chapter on Emily Bronte. And kudos back at you for finding ways also.
And Wordle, I trust? If you do crosswords… :)
Our family's obsession. It's also grease for a creaky brain.
No, I have resisted that. I have friends who are doing it. I do the NY Times crossword every day. On Sundays if they have an acrostic or split definitions, I do those. I learn a lot by doing the crossword.
Dear Doc Wheelock,
Thank you!
Once again, you have me poking my head through the gloomy clouds. Biden’s “shards of sunshine do pierce the dark spots on the horizon!”
Here’s to positivity improving our own chemistry and giving a dose of hope to those around us. 💙
Ashley I ain’t no ‘Doc.’ While my NASSER’S NEW EGYPT: A. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (1960) was accepted as my doctoral dissertation, I skipped the other requirements to join the Foreign Service and spend 1960-1966 working in/on Congo. [I was bonkers at an early age.] Other than incessant reading, my education has come from slogging around. Finally, as history/economics professor 1992-2013 I had an opportunity to learn about and reflect on what I should have known when I was in positions of responsibility.
Were I to have an opportunity to become a ‘Doc,’ I might choose psychiatry, since I am gobsmacked by what superficially ‘intelligent’ folks do. Perhaps my speciality would be herd mentality, focusing on facts vs. ‘false facts,’
The "heart" is not working today. Love this! Oops! Just showed up. I guess it's on "delay"!
Keith💙!
I recalled your mention of your professorial days, ASSuMEd doctorate.
I’m moved by the colorful life you’ve lived thus far. Please keep sharing glimpses!
“To be optimistic is to assume things will work out. To be hopeful is to realize things can work out if you work at them. Hope requires responsibility and agency; optimism relieves us of both. In rooting for your sports team, choose optimism. In rooting for democracy, choose hope.”
Optimism is in short supply if you root for the Toronto Maple Leafs. You have the odd, near panicky moment when you think they might upend their normal course of losing in the playoffs, as you wonder how on earth you would handle their success.
As for hope in democracy, I think it’s looking up in America. But from a low vantage point. It’s been a mess and had to become a near death experience for Americans to realize what they could potentially lose.
I love this statement of responsibility and agency required for hope. Did you author this or is it someone else's quote?
Eric Lui, writer and former Clinton official wrote this.
Thank you. Just started following Eric Lui and his Citizen University for civic engagement:
https://citizenuniversity.us/news/be-not-afraid/
@CitizenUniv
Unless the water you land in is Lake Superior, lol. That sort of wake up call is a bit much for me these days…. But yes to everything you say here. Anyone can do it at any age.
I can see Lake Superior out my window and yes!
My dad was born and raised in Grand Marais. Love that lake!!
Cool, the North Shore rocks!
The mind might become focused when dumped in the water, but the body is no longer on the same page :)
That might depend on the water temperature. My kayaking is nearly all on the Charles River in warm weather, which is very different from our friends on Lake Superior.
Even more focusing than a cold shower!
Hope…always. ❤️
Love this...."am in complete denial regarding age!" me too, until i need to go to the dentist.
LOL!
Janet, I'm in the same boat. Being in my late 60s I sometimes let reality take the upper hand. Sigh😐
It sickens me. I find all of them revolting. It is a party of rich old whte men who don't give a damn about the people they are supposed to serve. Service to the People.
Most of them are rich it is true...but not all of them are old; Hawley, Gaetz, Greene. Those repellent folk are cynical, amoral users, seeking power.
Then there’s the not rich, the ignorant, who follow TFG, no matter, Truth or Fiction, and you have to wonder at this point: do they know the difference?
Why do you think the GOP is down on public education? Keep the masses just ignorant enough!
Yep! It’s not even an original idea. That policy has worked for centuries!
I don't think they do.
You are right
You forgot "WHITE", old WHITE men and women!
I did! It was in my head
It’s also the party of Ronna (Romney) McDaniel, who stopped using her birth name to appease tfg. Obsequiousness knows no gender difference in GOP.
Ronna takes orders from Robert Mercer.
Nor care about the rule of law.
Emphasis on “old.”
Emphasis also on “don’t give a damn. “ Add to that “out of touch”.
What Planet did this come from? “Offhandedly, blithe sexism against men?” Though it’s true that McConnell is aided and abetted by HIS rich, younger wife—in exchange for shady agreements that protect her family’s shipping company (and the drugs smuggled on board…) And some of the rich women are older AND ARE PART OF THE KKKOCH Gang of Billionaires, like Betsy DeVos, Linda Bean of LLBean, the heiress daughter of Publix, Julie Jenkins Fancelli. You would do well to read WELL RESEARCHED AND DOCUMENTED books like “Dark Money” before bantering about GOP trigger words like “liberal” and airing imagined grievances of sexism.
SMACK DOWN! 😉
Please, take a moment to imagine! Imagine that [ugh] DJT was president over the last year. Now imagine what he might be saying and doing with respect to the remarkable performance of the US economy. Right! Pounding his chest about these remarkable REPUBLICAN results! Endless blather about which he knows so little. But it strikes home to the millions of idiots who follow him in some kind of idolatry.
So, NOW ask yourselves ... where is our actual President? Why does he choose silence when he has the bully pulpit?
I feel like a defector but can't help wondering what the hell is wrong with the DNC. And it's not just our tormented leader Biden. It's the crazy divisions among Dems. This is the only time, RIGHT NOW, to build the strength to defeat the maniacal Republican attempt to trash democracy.
Shipping companies are raking in profits during the pandemic. Freight on Ocean containers ( if u can find one) have gone up more than 100% from ‘19 to ‘20. And 200-300% for 2021.
Not planet — But under the mountain troll?
Not sure if this is in direct relation to HCR's paper today.
Have you taken a serious look at the Republican Party? They have a token POC and very few women and so far the only ones that seem to think for themselves are Cheney, Kinzinger, and Murkowski. Romney puts out words like he has some different opinion but then does exactly what he’s told. The women in the party are showpieces that spout exactly what they’re told to spout. Some of them even come from a Talent agency. They are racist and if you listen to their committee meetings you will see clearly that they are prepubescent bullies who pretend they have morals and follow God but every time they open their mouths they show just what slime they are. And yes, the majority of them are old, white, men. Everyone is privileged and comes from money or is bought and paid for by the right wing dark money machines. If we get dark money out of politics maybe we could get real leaders and real thinkers in Congress. The silver spoon, elitist crowd has the temerity to call Democrats elitist while they suck on that spoon and have never worked a day in their life for anything.
Sharon, You have been a caring friend to me and, if I remember correctly, a friend, supporter, guide and loving storyteller of your grandson. Your expression of bigotry toward white men was very disturbing to me. In terms of seeing, the core of your belief has, I think, nothing to do with eyesight. I am looking for a way for us to find an opening about this. Salud, Sharon
Plenty of rich old women too. They just aren't quite so noisy but they control a lot of money. Plenty of the most racist folks I have met are women, it is an equal opportunity sin.
Don’t ever forget Ginni Thomas
Or the sainted Bush wives.
Puke, especially Barbara
And middle aged. Ronna Romney...
George Romney would be horrified by his granddaughter.
As a Michigander, I agree.
yes, what is her problem?
Love of power. She shares that with Mittens.
It certainly is. I sat next door a couple summers ago and listened to two women make racist remarks about Afro-Americans and Native Americans, not knowing the one of us has Native American ancestry. I did remain silent as it was not my house nor were they my friends and felt guilty about not saying something.
😔
I condemn them all regardless of gender. I once had to tell my basketball team to lock up their stuff as they didn't think they had to because we were at a religious school, that people are either good or bad, no matter where you find them.
Men. 🙄
As a female, personal experience has been with sexist males. A thought also is that if their wives are younger, they were not rich until they married the male. This is with observation of people I know.
When there is male/female parity with those governing our lives through the laws that are made which are now not equitable. Neither racially nor gender specific. While there are evil females, the world is a patriarchy. The fate of most women and children is controlled by the male. Our government is no different .
For how many centuries might we endorse a matriarchal rule before we can learn if we might be better off in a controlled experiment?? A matriarchy, though EQUAL, would be minus testosterone and plus estrogen so inherently different/diverse. That difference/diversity is more frightening than death for so many, and that is the sheer crazy part. After centuries, culture is hard to change.
After eons of acculturation to patriarchy it’s impossible to even imagine something different. So there is not much risk of knowing a true matriarchy in my lifetime. But it’s interesting to learn about variations. https://www.yesmagazine.org/health-happiness/2020/11/09/china-himalayas-grandmothers-mosuo?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=YESDaily_20210507&utm_content=YESDaily_20210507+CID_f6cea2802eb7d4f83ae5659b8ec87316&utm_source=CM&utm_term=Read%20the%20full%20story
LOL. Hmmm. Assumptions. Also it sounds like you’re assuming my premise is within your last statement. I think that’s what many of us estrogenized humans would feel has been labeled as “mansplaining”. But what do I know 🤷🏻♀️
Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Best would be a balance of qualified individuals who reflect the current population and understand their needs as employers, employees, families, & individuals.
Daria: They really put their footsies in it with the "ratting out" line, didn't they?!!!
And BRAVA, Heather, whose point at the end is so well taken: " It seems that we might be able to choose better leaders than ones who are leaving us at the end of this day in 2022 with the truly legitimate political question: “Ratting him out for what?"
Rowshan, EXACTLY! "Ratting him out for what?" These people are insidious but they are also patently stupid.
As if tfg and his minions didn’t already resemble the mafia, Brannon just confirmed that they are with that pithy little remark.
Pardons are an admission of guilt. Bannon is a felon fraudster.
Rats eating rats. I think that’s their future.
Here's Ron Filipkowski who also wades deep in the muck. Know thy enemy.
https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1489796668186890242?s=20&t=EO00M_HDNtTXCeAheLROAA
💙Go, Ron! He resigned his DeSantis-appointed position on a judicial nom committee over the treatment of FL Covid data analyst. A (former) Republican with a spine !
A spine AND a conscience!
Yes! I’ve followed him on Twitter for quite some time after learning that.
Thanks for this news about Ron Filipkowski; great stuff!
Thank you, Ellie. ❤️🤍💙
On " these Koch guys", see Jane Mayer`s Dark Money ; the money is not so dark.
And did you see her great reporting on Ginni Thomas?
Mayer is a national treasure in my book. Her deeply researched article about Ginni Thomas shows how corrupt Thomas is and how financially incestuous the GOP has become. Imagine when, not if, the Supreme Court must rule on any case regarding the insurrection and Justice Clarence Thomas doesn't recuse himself.
Also, I'm surprised that news yesterday that Clarence Thomas having frequent email contact with Ron DeSantis hasn't become a much bigger story. The court, shockingly, has no code of ethics.
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/clarence-thomas-ron-desantis-communication-new-emails-1295354/
Is Ginni Thomas a Threat to the Supreme Court?" , Jane Mayer 1/31/22. Super Jane.
Thanks.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻On Jane Mayer’s Dark Money work! Her recent NYKer piece on Ginni and extreme conservative enterprises was eye opening. Also appreciate Sen. Whitehouse’s continued effort to keep hi beams on the donor/power conservative network.
Glanced at an interesting article in the Nation on the wells of “dark money”
in both parties. Can’t find it now but will keep searching. This seems like such a critical democratic issue.
Such a scary book.
If Bannon’s ass was in jail like it should be, he couldn’t broadcast his crap on his podcast!
Amen.
It is interesting to note that the DOJ set his trial date out so far - one theory being that they plan to add charges to his indictment as new facts get nailed down.
"But in the 1980s, Republicans argued that this system stifled economic development by hampering the ability of producers to put their money where they thought it would do the most good."
In their own pockets. And now, any business that our federal legislative bodies might need to tackle that doesn't put more money into those pockets is irrelevant, unnecessary and "socialist" and therefore doesn't deserve their time, attention or participation. The stagnation this party has brought about to the running of this country, the rebuilding of our crumbling infrastructure, and support to those in need is criminal. And the most disgusting part is they see themselves as patriots. As doing the people's work. What a load of crap. The only two Republican representatives doing work for their constituents just got clobbered by their own party. The rest of them just want power, money and the pension and they don't give a rat's ass who they destroy to get it.
Truth. And now we have Newt Gingrich slithering out of the wood pile to add his venom to the mix.
It’s amazing to me that Newt can survive in sunlight for this long.
Love your use of "slithering out of the wood pile" considering that Gingrich is from Georgia and "in the wood pile" has a very racists history in Georgia. (I live just 10 miles north of the northern Georgia boarder - in bright red country.)
Uh oh, I'm not from the south. Did I commit a grave offense?
Not in anyway, my meaning was that Gingrich is the type who would use the comment "N-word in a wood pile" in private conversation. I grew up in northern Illinois and it was a common racists saying even there. Today we worry about it being a copperhead snake around here. Interesting that copperhead had a very political meaning at the time of the civil war. Quoting from Wikipedia "In the 1860s, the Copperheads, also known as Peace Democrats,[1] were a faction of Democrats in the Union who opposed the American Civil War and wanted an immediate peace settlement with the Confederates."
Ugh.
Wonderfully brilliant wisdom succinctly expressed for our better understanding to strengthen our resolve putting forth every effort we possess to rid America of each of those R's bent on destroying America's democracy.
Thanks Carolyn.
Good morning, Daria. Yes, it is mind boggling that Heather can calmly follow the days news everyday. And then give it to us in a most objective way possible. Kind of wonder why her head's not blowing up. I must admit that the rethuglicans describing the insurrection as "legitimate political discourse" makes my head explode. WTF!
One of my teachers recently said that we are in a moment when we must be prepared to respond with the words, "Of course..." As in, "Of course that's what these bullies would say." We can expect nothing other than what is already painfully evident in the malignant tactics that characterize Republican politics in our times.
In other words, no need to waste energy on being/feeling shocked and thus distracted from what we want to build. Scams are distracting and are intended to be distracting. That's how they get you...
Very sound advice. Thank you, PG.
distracting leading to deception...then who to trust...
Pam, very good morning to you. It's amazing, Heather never turns her back on a day. Even when she takes a night off I imagine there is a place in her brain where she's mulling over the day's events and analyzing them...all those puzzle pieces that are history being pieced together one by one.
Another possible sticker idea - "Vote for your life!"
(and add these last few words: "Because your life DOES depend on it!"
Wouldn’t today be a good day to begin maximum effort to save American democracy…here might be one of the many efforts we, as a determined group of sincere patriots, might consider doing today to insure our votes will be accounted for in every election in which we choose to participate:
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HERE IS A SECURE PROVEN PRACTICAL METHOD TO RID AMERICA OF ALL OF THE CORRUPT R's IN CONGRESS
SEE LINK: https://front.moveon.org/
Dear MoveOn member,
A message I sent you in December hit a nerve with Fox News and the Republican Party. Last week, I found out that Fox News officials had read my message—and that it sent Fox News and the Republican Party scrambling, starting with writing a hit piece about it.
1 You see, MoveOn is doing something it's never done in its 23-year history. The powerhouse grassroots organization has launched a multimillion-dollar campaign to protect our elections by stopping Donald Trump from replacing the top election officials in battleground states with his own loyalists.
2 You may remember from my message in December that Trump is focusing on a previously obscure elected state official: the secretary of state, who in most states oversees vote counting and certifies—or decertifies—election results.
3 At his first rally of the year, Trump stated outright: "There's a famous statement: 'Sometimes the vote counter is more important than the candidate.'"
4 Trump has already endorsed candidates for secretary of state in multiple battleground states, and the candidates all spout the Big Lie of a stolen election.
5 As disturbing as it is, you need to know that candidates endorsed by Trump nearly always win the GOP nomination—98% of the time.
6 That's why MoveOn's campaign meets the moment and why our message last month hit a nerve over at Fox News. A GOP spokesperson responded to MoveOn's campaign by saying the GOP will "accelerate our fundraising efforts so we can stop them."
7 That's what is concerning, and it's why I'm writing to you again today. Because if we allow Republicans, their billionaire donors, and dark-money groups to steamroll our efforts with their fundraising, Trump's plot to use secretaries of state to install him to another term as president might just work.
Will you join me in rushing an emergency donation of $20 to MoveOn to power their campaign to defeat Trump-backed secretaries of state? On top of fueling this critical effort, your donation will show the GOP and Fox News that their tactics won't intimidate us.
Let me tell you a little bit about just two of the candidates that Trump is working overtime to elect to these positions.
In Arizona, Trump has endorsed an extremist named Mark Finchem, a GOP state lawmaker who attended the January 6 insurrection; continues to work to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Arizona; and is linked to the Oath Keepers, the white supremacist extremist group whose leaders were charged earlier this month with "seditious conspiracy" related to their involvement in the insurrection.
Finchem spoke at a Trump rally this month in Arizona, parroting Trump's lies about a stolen election and saying, "With all the evidence we have, the Arizona election should be decertified with cause...."
And in Georgia, where Trump famously asked then-Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find 11,780 votes" for him in 2020, Trump has endorsed Jody Hice, a member of Congress who attempted to stop the certification of Georgia's election in 2020, has supported the blatantly racist voter suppression laws being passed in the state, and claimed that Raffensperger "compromised" the 2020 election by refusing to bow to Trump's attempted coup.
Imagine how different the 2020 election could have ended if Jody Hice had been secretary of state in Georgia and agreed to "find" those votes for Trump, or if Mark Finchem refused to certify President Biden's victory in Arizona?
That is what is at stake in these midterm elections, and why—for the first time in its 23-year history—MoveOn is dedicating millions of dollars to help elect secretaries of state who will put our democracy first and stand up to wannabe tyrants like Trump.
Please, if you are able, will you chip in $20—or whatever you can—to take down Trump's plot to put his loyalists in charge of overseeing elections? Thanks for all you do. –Robert Reich Sources:
"Trump helps thrust once-ignored secretary of state campaigns into big donor spotlight," Fox News, January 10, 2022 https://act.moveon.org/go/160149?t=4&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
2. "How Trump-backed secretary of state candidates would change elections in the United States," The Washington Post, December 1, 2021 https://act.moveon.org/go/159806?t=6&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
3. "After attacks on the 2020 election, secretary of state races take on new urgency," NPR, November 4, 2021 https://act.moveon.org/go/160153?t=8&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
4. "An Arizona Trump rally and voting rights march underscore the fight for democracy," CNN, January 17, 2022 https://act.moveon.org/go/160078?t=10&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
5. "How Republicans became the party of Trump’s election lie after Jan. 6," The Washington Post, January 5, 2022 https://act.moveon.org/go/160080?t=12&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
6. "Almost Everyone Trump Endorses Wins Their Primary … But Is He Padding His Record?" FiveThirtyEight, August 26, 2020 https://act.moveon.org/go/159840?t=14&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
7. "Trump helps thrust once-ignored secretary of state campaigns into big donor spotlight," Fox News, January 10, 2022 https://act.moveon.org/go/160149?t=16&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
8. "An Arizona Trump rally and voting rights march underscore the fight for democracy," CNN, January 17, 2022 https://act.moveon.org/go/160078?t=18&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
9. Trump gives endorsement in Arizona secretary of state race," Associated Press, September 13, 2021 https://act.moveon.org/go/160079?t=20&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
10. "An Arizona Trump rally and voting rights march underscore the fight for democracy," CNN, January 17, 2022 https://act.moveon.org/go/160078?t=22&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
11. "Jody Hice tried to overturn the 2020 election. Now he wants to be in charge of Georgia’s elections." Vox, March 22, 2021 https://act.moveon.org/go/160152?t=24&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
12. "After attacks on the 2020 election, secretary of state races take on new urgency," NPR, November 4, 2021 https://act.moveon.org/go/160153?t=26&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
Do you want to support MoveOn's work?
Donald Trump's preparations for being able to steal the presidency in 2024 are well underway and include working to replace top election officials in battleground states with his own loyalists.
Which is why MoveOn is doing something we've never done in our 23-year history: We're launching a powerful, multimillion-dollar effort to defeat Trump-backed secretaries of state across the country and elect individuals who will count every vote and ensure fair elections. Will you chip in to power our campaign to defeat Trump and protect our elections in 2022? https://front.moveon.org/
Absolutely! When has "ratting out" ever represented the truth of a matter? It appears the Other Guy and his tribe have given up pretending the Big Lie is real. Their team is buying loyalty, as is evident in my state of Michigan where the Other Guy's team went over the legal limit on campaign finance for Michigan Republican candidates. By law, they have to give his money back.
Let me know when that happens.
Given up pretending, yes, maybe. How politically convenient and a little late. But now we hear this repub voice of sanity. At least we think we hear it.
I can't rest...our democracy is under attack by very rich, very evil, very crazy, very greedy creepy people.
Wouldn’t today be a good day to begin maximum effort to save American democracy…here might be one of the many efforts we, as a determined group of sincere patriots, might consider doing today to insure our votes will be accounted for in every election in which we choose to participate:
(1). PROVEN TO BE THE VERY MOST EFFECTIVE METHODS:
ACTBLUE — Billions raised online since 2004
https://secure.actblue.com
https://support.actblue.com
I use exclusively my ACTBLUE to donate to any and every candidate, incumbent or legislative issue I choose to support.
Simply select the candidate or incumbent or issue of your choice and push three buttons on the ACTBLUE web site without referring to any of your financial reference numbers after completing your first donation (e. g. credit card numbers, address, etc. etc. etc.), then receive almost instantaneously their emailed receipt to you acknowledging your donation.
A record of every donation you will have ever donated is posted in a permanent ACTBLUE web page account that you can reference at any time you want too. So far 13,892,727 Democratic donors have saved their payment information with an ACTBLUE personal account.
DURING 2021:
4.5 million unique donors gave 35.3 million contributions to 17,876 incumbents or candidates or legislative issue campaigns and organizations, totaling $1.3 billion.
(2). THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the independent regulatory agency charged with administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance law. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House, Senate, Presidency and the Vice Presidency.
AND:
(3). https://ballotpedia.org/Survey
HERE IS A SECURE PROVEN PRACTICAL METHOD TO RID AMERICA OF ALL OF THE CORRUPT R's IN CONGRESS
SEE LINK: https://front.moveon.org/
Dear MoveOn member,
A message I sent you in December hit a nerve with Fox News and the Republican Party. Last week, I found out that Fox News officials had read my message—and that it sent Fox News and the Republican Party scrambling, starting with writing a hit piece about it.
1 You see, MoveOn is doing something it's never done in its 23-year history. The powerhouse grassroots organization has launched a multimillion-dollar campaign to protect our elections by stopping Donald Trump from replacing the top election officials in battleground states with his own loyalists.
2 You may remember from my message in December that Trump is focusing on a previously obscure elected state official: the secretary of state, who in most states oversees vote counting and certifies—or decertifies—election results.
3 At his first rally of the year, Trump stated outright: "There's a famous statement: 'Sometimes the vote counter is more important than the candidate.'"
4 Trump has already endorsed candidates for secretary of state in multiple battleground states, and the candidates all spout the Big Lie of a stolen election.
5 As disturbing as it is, you need to know that candidates endorsed by Trump nearly always win the GOP nomination—98% of the time.
6 That's why MoveOn's campaign meets the moment and why our message last month hit a nerve over at Fox News. A GOP spokesperson responded to MoveOn's campaign by saying the GOP will "accelerate our fundraising efforts so we can stop them."
7 That's what is concerning, and it's why I'm writing to you again today. Because if we allow Republicans, their billionaire donors, and dark-money groups to steamroll our efforts with their fundraising, Trump's plot to use secretaries of state to install him to another term as president might just work.
Will you join me in rushing an emergency donation of $20 to MoveOn to power their campaign to defeat Trump-backed secretaries of state? On top of fueling this critical effort, your donation will show the GOP and Fox News that their tactics won't intimidate us.
Let me tell you a little bit about just two of the candidates that Trump is working overtime to elect to these positions.
In Arizona, Trump has endorsed an extremist named Mark Finchem, a GOP state lawmaker who attended the January 6 insurrection; continues to work to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Arizona; and is linked to the Oath Keepers, the white supremacist extremist group whose leaders were charged earlier this month with "seditious conspiracy" related to their involvement in the insurrection.
Finchem spoke at a Trump rally this month in Arizona, parroting Trump's lies about a stolen election and saying, "With all the evidence we have, the Arizona election should be decertified with cause...."
And in Georgia, where Trump famously asked then-Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find 11,780 votes" for him in 2020, Trump has endorsed Jody Hice, a member of Congress who attempted to stop the certification of Georgia's election in 2020, has supported the blatantly racist voter suppression laws being passed in the state, and claimed that Raffensperger "compromised" the 2020 election by refusing to bow to Trump's attempted coup.
Imagine how different the 2020 election could have ended if Jody Hice had been secretary of state in Georgia and agreed to "find" those votes for Trump, or if Mark Finchem refused to certify President Biden's victory in Arizona?
That is what is at stake in these midterm elections, and why—for the first time in its 23-year history—MoveOn is dedicating millions of dollars to help elect secretaries of state who will put our democracy first and stand up to wannabe tyrants like Trump.
Please, if you are able, will you chip in $20—or whatever you can—to take down Trump's plot to put his loyalists in charge of overseeing elections? Thanks for all you do. –Robert Reich Sources:
"Trump helps thrust once-ignored secretary of state campaigns into big donor spotlight," Fox News, January 10, 2022 https://act.moveon.org/go/160149?t=4&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
2. "How Trump-backed secretary of state candidates would change elections in the United States," The Washington Post, December 1, 2021 https://act.moveon.org/go/159806?t=6&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
3. "After attacks on the 2020 election, secretary of state races take on new urgency," NPR, November 4, 2021 https://act.moveon.org/go/160153?t=8&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
4. "An Arizona Trump rally and voting rights march underscore the fight for democracy," CNN, January 17, 2022 https://act.moveon.org/go/160078?t=10&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
5. "How Republicans became the party of Trump’s election lie after Jan. 6," The Washington Post, January 5, 2022 https://act.moveon.org/go/160080?t=12&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
6. "Almost Everyone Trump Endorses Wins Their Primary … But Is He Padding His Record?" FiveThirtyEight, August 26, 2020 https://act.moveon.org/go/159840?t=14&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
7. "Trump helps thrust once-ignored secretary of state campaigns into big donor spotlight," Fox News, January 10, 2022 https://act.moveon.org/go/160149?t=16&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
8. "An Arizona Trump rally and voting rights march underscore the fight for democracy," CNN, January 17, 2022 https://act.moveon.org/go/160078?t=18&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
9. Trump gives endorsement in Arizona secretary of state race," Associated Press, September 13, 2021 https://act.moveon.org/go/160079?t=20&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
10. "An Arizona Trump rally and voting rights march underscore the fight for democracy," CNN, January 17, 2022 https://act.moveon.org/go/160078?t=22&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
11. "Jody Hice tried to overturn the 2020 election. Now he wants to be in charge of Georgia’s elections." Vox, March 22, 2021 https://act.moveon.org/go/160152?t=24&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
12. "After attacks on the 2020 election, secretary of state races take on new urgency," NPR, November 4, 2021 https://act.moveon.org/go/160153?t=26&akid=315558%2E34742813%2EgUT24r
Do you want to support MoveOn's work?
Donald Trump's preparations for being able to steal the presidency in 2024 are well underway and include working to replace top election officials in battleground states with his own loyalists.
Which is why MoveOn is doing something we've never done in our 23-year history: We're launching a powerful, multimillion-dollar effort to defeat Trump-backed secretaries of state across the country and elect individuals who will count every vote and ensure fair elections. Will you chip in to power our campaign to defeat Trump and protect our elections in 2022? https://front.moveon.org/
Acted Blue by specifically donating to "Dr. Bob's" Town Halls on the Lower Michigan Peninsula now,
Mr. Dobbs, I love your opening advocacy for action with links to ActBlue. But from there, copy and paste of a very long, dense email from MoveOn, speaking for myself, becomes unreadable. I'd rather read a brief summary and then click on the link for more info. I do not write this for my ego or my way, but for what generally seems more effective to engage people to agree with your point. Because your point is great and so necessary!
Ellie, I am a very desperate American voter who knows if we all do not do all we can possibly do this November then game over!
It only takes a few minutes to understand my posting, and I hope everyone thereby realizes the life threatening reality being forced upon the survival of American Democracy.
If Democrats loose the House, then the next death nail will be the Senate and America will never again be the United States of America again...
We are all convinced that others will become inspired by our most sincere form of commenting no matter what style is chosen, Eh!?
Thank you for doing all you can!
Ditto for all of your very best you will be doing for the next TEN months!
What a reveal to say "ratting out" instead of "lying about"! Imho, that's an admission that Pence & Short are telling the truth, and that loyalty, not truth, is what's important to the Repugs. Indeed, as it is with criminals.
Daria Can you hearing the frantic squealing of piglets as they are being indicted for ‘sedition’ and endeavoring to wiggle out of House 1/6 Committee subpoenas that are encircling them? I can imagine that the big pigs, as they hear these terrified squeals, might be having nightmares about becoming barbecued spare ribs (perhaps with Rikers orange booties). Yum yum. I am ready with a shelf full of BBQ sauce.
I had to laugh and cringe at the same time as this image formed in my mind.
Keith, I can hear the squealing and it is dee light ful!
How about sqweee-lightful
Right, Daria? She’s amazing. Good morning. All well in the Yucatán?
There was quite a rainstorm last night. Daria and I got to have lunch yesterday (with our spouses) in Mérida and had a lovely time!
Fabulous! Salud!
Ok I’m officially jealous. I’d love to meet both of you! Especially in warm Mexico.
Me, too, KR. There are so many here whom I consider"friends" whom I've never met. Would love to seomday.
Heather's Herd, just sayin'...
Yes, yes, and yes💙💙💙!
Ellie, I'm not sure Heather's Herd can allow me to meet folks in person.
Realky, KR, it was a grand afternoon! Stay toasty up that way!
I’m so happy for you both! It’s 15 degrees here, my husband is out skiing, and I’m planning to mostly stay inside and work on taxes. I might take the wild puppy to the park, if I can bundle up enough! No riding today - too damn cold.
KR, we are resurfacing from a heavy icing here in West TN, ick! Let’s head to Mexico?! 😉
how lovely to think of you two, whom I now consider online friends, together in gorgeous Merida
Ally, we had wind and not one drop of rain and we're but 7 km from your hotel!
There was quite a rainstorm last night in St. John USVI. A thunder clap woke us up!
Envious!!
Good morning, Christine! Yes indeedy, all is well and, as Ally mentioned, we met for lunch and had a really nice visit.
I would have loved to meet you and Ally for lunch there! So glad you got together.
The REAL "rats" are the ones who are cowardly hiding from the J6 Committee. This is the Chinese "Year of the Water Tiger." I would submit that those real "rats" should be very wary of 9 people sitting on that committee who are as cunning as tigers and who have already sniffed out the rodents from their mountainous "droppings."
Love this, Ellen.
If only his head would blow up!
OK Democrats, where is your response? The political ads write themselves - "legitimate political discourse" in the classroom, the schoolyard, the workplace, the subway, on the street. Heck, just do a voice-over to video of the riot itself, and of the speeches of Trump and others to promote it. Dramatize what the Republicans have just said, which may be the most outrageous political statement that has ever been endorsed by an American political party.
In 2000, the Republicans delayed healthcare reform by ten years when they ran their "Harry and Louise" ads. Just two married people discussing healthcare issues over the kitchen table. Issues like death panels and the government forcing healthcare decisions on ordinary citizens. A few months of those ads generated popular resistance that killed the Clinton Administration's initiatives to fix healthcare, and limited the ability of Obama to create a system that was as fair and national as it could be. It was an incredibly effective ad campaign that was not tied to any candidate - just an attempt to change the national dialogue.
So, DNC, this is your Harry and Louise moment. Public relations and advertising can focus people on this outrage without damaging the legal battles taking place to punish those who caused this violent riot. Anyone who does not understand in the face of overwhelming evidence that January 6th was not legitimate, or political, or discourse, will never be convinced. If the battle over core American values can be won, this is the issue.
The RNC has given those who believe in American values a golden opportunity. Do not squander it. The fight must be fought here.
After this are the Dems still playing by the naive rules of “When they go low, we go high?”
NO! When they go low, Stomp their ass!
This is more than going low. It is one of the two major political parties publicly endorsing seditious violence to overturn the will of the American people. If Democrats do not respond to that just as publicly, our country is at the mercy of one party that endorses autocracy and one that is incapable of defending democracy. It's pretty clear how that story ends.
In case I didn't make myself clear, the people who show more passion win.
Repubs are passionate in their evil, we had better top that with passionate governing. Joe is trying but the message needs to be clear and loud
No. Left leaning third party/independent candidate voters are exactly passionate. They vote with their gut instead of their brains. And give wins to the GOP.
Extremists coopted the GOP through a clever long game - through strategy not passion. And the GOP coopts government through strategy. McConnell, Murdoch, Reed, and Leo have done more long term harm than Trump.
Like the writhing death throes of a dying rattlesnake that endures into the next day, the RNC has attracted the gutter dwellers to their forefront.
reminds me of what my father used to say when someone tried to excuse a scoundrel's actions by claiming, "But he's so sincere." My dad said, " A rattlesnake is sincere when it's trying to bite you."
With track shoes.
No, with sharp hockey skate blades.
How about we turn "legitimate political discourse" into a comic tagline?
"The Bruins-Sabres game last night was interrupted when both teams engaged in five minutes of legitimate political discourse."
"Police were called to Joe's Bar last night to break up an incident of legitimate political discourse."
"History was changed on April 4, 1865 when John Wilkes Booth had a round of legitimate political discourse with Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater."
Sorry, probably too soon for that last one.
Sarcasm and mockery are so tempting, but political messaging expert Anat Shenker Osorio recommends to stick to shared values, e.g. economic progress, jobs increase, and do not use the far right's language. We have to figure this one out better. Quickly.
https://communitychange.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/C3-Messaging-This-Moment-Handbook.pdf
https://www.volts.wtf/p/volts-podcast-how-the-left-can-suck
I respect the desire to stay above it - to go high when they go low - but consider the track record of that approach. Making high-minded, policy-based arguments to people who have been raised with short attention spans has not worked, and the reason is pretty obvious. Our opposition knows that we can talk ourselves blue in the face and they can instantly steal the spotlight by launching a new bright shiny object. In that way, Trump was their ideal candidate, and the ideal person to distract the country from their authoritarian agenda.
We are in the midst of economic progress and increasing employment, exactly your formula, but the public's attention is drawn to the MTG-Gosar-Cruz-Bannon-Stone-Pence clown car, and the people actually pulling the strings are slipping in the message that the Biden administration is failing on all fronts. This is not a coincidence.
Sometimes you have to adopt the tactics of the other side, particularly if their tactics are working and yours aren't.
Timothy Snyder does point out that mockery is a tool against tyrants.
Here's a similar take: Robert Hubbell's obituary of the Republican Party. Date of death: February 4, 2022.
https://roberthubbell.substack.com/p/declaring-the-time-of-death-for-the?r=874j7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Add today's Editorial from the WaPo........"GOP formally declares that truth is fiction and patriots are traitors"...."they have exposed the dark, festering core of what their party is becoming: an unruly revolt against fact and reason....."
Kathy, "festering" like, a boil?
He said it far more eloquently than I could.
Thanks for that. So true.
I couldn't agree more with him.
Excellent, I will pass that on up through the Lincoln Project, I’m sure we can start that ball rolling, not so sure that the DNC will run with it, but we know how to do it.
Thanks! This does seem tailor-made for what the Lincoln Project does, but it seems like an opportunity to reach people who have already tuned out the LP and other "liberal" channels. "Harry and Louise" ran as ads in heavy rotation on popular TV shows and poisoned the political center against health insurance reform for a decade. "Legitimate political discourse" has at least as much power, and deserves at least as much distribution to people who are more centrist than the typical Lincoln Project viewer.
The Lincoln Project is a good place to start, but this is the biggest ammunition the Republicans have given us in a long time - and by us, I mean "sane people". We may not get another chance like this.
Mobiguy, let's all use it then. Open source!
to Dick Montague. Thank you for alerting me to the Lincoln Project.
If Dems let this opportunity go by, they are toast, as are we all
Yes it is time to fight back, make noise, wake up the 30% who don't care about politics as it was just another sittrag.
Day 6 here in Tampa Bay Times world and still not one story on the false electors and other crimes that Trump’s minions committed to overturn the election. It’s really hard to wake up the people here when they’re not being told the truth.
How about these Harry & Louise type ads running on Fox News constantly. I don’t understand why Fox News ads are not completely bought up with real facts presented as entertainment
The Lincoln Project and Liz Cheney know how to do it (because it's the Republicans who know how to do this shit).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://twitter.com/RepLizCheney/status/1489691175883882496?s=20&t=0GjQPkJFvgDGcIVI07AkmA
The Lincoln Project makes the best commercials. They are not afraid to tell the truth.
Maybe for big bucks, Frank Luntz could be bought. He has been the genius behind republicans making Schitt smell like roses - for decades
YES!!! T-shirts! Stickers! The brilliant legal scholar and activist, Dean Spade, once said that stickers were among their most powerful tools as an activist. Think about the "Silence=Death" sticker with pink triangle - for those of us who were around in the 80's and experiencing the AIDS epidemic.
Bravo!
I think they need to re-run that amazing video put together by the NYT (I think) of January 6. Every week, if necessary. Clips during the Super Bowl.
I never knew using the halls of Congress as a toilet was legitimate political discourse. Silly me.
Ha, ha, ha. Good one, Terri.
Since I heard the following thought in September, 2020, it has informed the direction of my search for the truth about this whole mess, asking why the republicans had so completely surrendered and fallen on their knees in worshipful thrall to the orange man. My search led me to Dr. Richardson — and all of you — my refuge of scholarship and veracity. Since I scribbled these words in my field notebook on 9/7/20 I have carried them in my pocket every single day and I read them often, with many other statements that I judge to be true and factual, as a way of recalibrating my probity compass. Every time I read them I tell myself, “I gotta share this with the group someday.” Today the time is right:
“Trump is a pussing boil on a very badly diseased body politic that has problems on a scale that dwarfs even his presidency, that made him possible.” (Anand Giridharadas, Time Ed. at Large, on All In with Chris Hayes, MSNBC, 09072020).
Today’s events, and Dr. Richardson’s excellent Letter, mark history: the Republican Party is in open, take-no-prisoners warfare against Democracy itself, and all of us socialists who stand in their way. The Orange Man is going down, and his controllers have come fully out from their stronghold. Many of us have predicted this; now it comes to pass. They are afraid that those “Koch people” (No relation!) are not just ratting out trump, they are ratting out the whole dang party! Just “legitimate political discourse” indeed.
We’d better get this right....
Pussing boil.
How precise.
Precisely.....
That boil...
The words that follow were written in 1936 by a man one might describe as a spiritual ancestor of Liz Cheney, a very conservative German squireling who detested the Nazis with all his being and ended up being shot by them less than three months before the end of the war:
... How much do we really know about the vaults and caverns which lie somewhere under the structure of a great nation—about these psychic catacombs in which all our concealed desires, our fearful dreams and evil spirits, our vices and our forgotten and unexpiated sins, have been buried for generations? In healthy times, these emerge as the spectres in our dreams. ... But suppose, now, that all of these things generally kept buried in our subconscious were to push their way to the surface, as in the blood-cleansing function of a boil? Suppose that this underworld now and again liberated by Satan bursts forth, and the evil spirits escape the Pandora's box?
Friedrich Reck-Malleczewen
In August 1936, from Diary of a Man in Despair
I strongly recommend members of this community to read the book.
That title could attract a few of us interested in “how could that happen.”
That's why I posted it again. But it is a painful story. So hard to live with hatred... even of what is beyond hateful.
The stories of those who resisted Nazis in the 30's are painful, prescient and instructive for us in the throes of the onrushing evil of today.
Friedrich Reck-Malleczewen's book looks fascinating. I had never before heard that Hindenburg's decision to let Hitler become Chancellor was the result of Hindenburg's financial problems and shady transactions.
Great bit of writing. Thanks.
Right you are ... and they know we aren't all socialists, but it justifies their behavior to pretend that we are. Starting next month or so, as they swirl further down the drain, we'll all become communists in their diseased minds. But anyone who still believes in 'supply side' trickle-down economics, the Laffer curve's encouragement of tax reduction for the wealthy, and Milton Friedman's disproven economic theories, will believe anything ... and that is the problem. As you say, we'd better get this right.
As Prof. R points out, it seems that socialism is a relative concept. If the government act to assist real people, it is socialism. If government assistance goes to the wealthy and large corporations, it's capitalism. Chew on that for a while...
HCR pointed out that a member of Ike's administration 70 years ago (wow, has it been that long!) said that 'if a job has to be done to meet the needs of people, and no one else can do it, then it is a proper function of the federal government.' The key words there that Ike's party refuses to accept today are 'the needs of the people.' Anyway you look at it, that's not putting the means of production and distribution into the hands of the government, the historic definition of socialism.
Don’t lose that field notebook. I’m sure it is filled with some selected Gus zingers! Good weekend to you, Gus.
Light and Love
Gus, You are right. I think what we witnessing now is the internal destruction of the "Republican Party". The oldy tradtionalist (Romney, Bush et. al) see it coming but are powerless to stop it. By November or maybe earlier it will be just a smoking hulk of political dysfunction - but indeed “legitimate political discourse”.
Jeez, what a PR gift that phrase is.
“(No relation!)” — priceless, Gus. Thank you for the chuckle.
Democrats are so bad at this. That’s why the best anti-Trump anti-republican messages are coming from the Lincoln project, former Republicans. Thank goodness for them!
I agree with you. Many of the comment makers on LFAA can do a far better job with anti-trump and anti-republican messages than the Democratic party organization does. While I almost always vote for Democrats, and work to register voters as Democrats, I've changed my own registration to "No Party Affiliation" because of the local and State Democratic party's ineptitude ... but that's another story.
Maryann, Steve Schmidt is one of my citizen heroes.
Well said Gus. Thanks.
Ms. McDanial may be riding the wrong tiger. No platform save “America First”?
Chris, I just wrote you a long answer, and then accidentally deleted it by hitting the Cancel button while trying to move the cursor for an edit. No time to do it again!
Just watch and wait. This year is just beginning, and the Orange Scapegoat is going down — but the movement conservatives will continue their war against Democracy. It is going to be BRUTAL, and I have no idea if we will prevail, or not....
It is up to each one of us.
During the Trump administration, it felt like America had no federal government. The events unfolding confirm the adage "trust your feelings." Instead of government, what we had was a period of control by the Mob.
Stop calling the Bannon-Spicer-etc. group assembled in Utah "a political party." It's a macabre gangster organization masquerading as a party and frightening because it might actually merit the label "too big to fail."
Why is it the media fails to call a spade a spade? Doing better but falling short in my opinion.
ABSOLUTELY!!!
HCR's recent questions about what is being reported and not reported by mainstream news media reminds us that we still do not have a functionally free press.
Not just a feeling. Trump, in plain sight, was dismantling the government. And he’s been aided and abetted by the silence of his party. Too little, too late. We can hope.
Exactly
Ed, how about the “White supremacy movement conservative xenophobic lying kill Democracy party.” Too long for even initials: WSMCXLKDP....? Okay, okay, have it your way: MOBP.
MOB Party. Only, the Don-ald is going down. Either way, we are in a struggle for Democracy and we’d better do it right, all of us. This isn’t political theater, and we can’t be the audience or critics anymore.
Everyone seems to think that Pence's statement was a repudiation of the Jan 6 coup. If you listen to his statement, he actually makes a bid to be Trump's replacement. He raises the specter of those demon Democrats trying to federalize elections, then praises the states' rights to run the elections as they see fit, and then he praises the improvements to election security that Republican legislatures have put in place across the country. Those improvements actually ensure continued Republican rule in the key battle-ground states, and confirm that if elections don't go in favor of the GOP, the state can simply and quite constitutionally disregard the popular vote and put forth their own, more correct results.
Yes! Let’s not forget that Pence is a KKKoch Sucker for the Libertarian traitors.
And he never said that the election WASN’T stolen. 😡
That’s exactly what he’s saying, I was wondering where his pet fly was, it must have been down deeper in its nest, which is a good indication that he is full of s…
Peter, umm, thanks for the extra clarification on how bad it really is......
Dang.....
Great analysis Pete.. Makes you wish Pence had just said TFG was wrong, and then just went back to being catatonic again....but this is what we're up against.
Plead to the lesser and skate on the major crime. Now I am your pure and righteous leader. Sad about tgf, he seemed so strong. I know and can correct this country's spiral and return it to the bright sunshine of ... Indiana!
Yes, I'm still hoping the R's shred themselves to bits fighting for control of their party. But whoever's left standing in the end sure ain't gonna be a peach!
Well, Steve,so sorry to hear that your head’s blowing up. We knew you could dish it out, but now you say you can’t take it? Dismantling the administrative state is not as easy as you thought?
Carol, I just wish Steve could hear you say that!
I just wish his head would literally blow up!
If you look at him, you can almost see how close it's coming!
Quoting from my post today over at TAFM:
They are additionally accused of “advancing a political agenda to buoy the Democrat Party’s bleak prospects in the upcoming midterm elections.” They are also accused of “...both using their past professed political affiliation . . .
“Professed.”
This is not a stray word. It’s an accusation that Cheney and Kinzinger were never real Republicans, that they were imposters the whole time; that their actions over the past year represent not a break in behavior, but a revelation of their true selves.
This is actual, flat-out Stalinism. After consolidating his power in 1929, Stalin declared war on Soviets he considered tainted by their connections to the political movements that had come before him. Beginning in 1934 he wiped out an ever-changing group of political “enemies.” They were always accused of having never been the loyal revolutionaries they “professed” themselves to be.
Folks, we are waaaaayyyy beyond Hitler and the Nazis now. They never made their enemies into “unpersons” who had never existed, where photographic evidence of their existence was officially erased. But that’s where Ronna Romney and the rest of the RNC are headed.
Bill Kristol quotes Stalin:
"The defenestration of the deviationist traitor Masaryk was an act of legitimate political discourse by forces of the international proletariat…”
https://twitter.com/BillKristol/status/1489808876610404356?s=20&t=EO00M_HDNtTXCeAheLROAA
"Author of RNC Resolution Censuring Kinzinger/Cheney for Investigating January 6 Conspiracy and Calling Capitol Riot “Legitimate Political Discourse” Is David Bossie—Who Insurrectionist Charles Herbster Places in Trump’s Insurrection Eve War Room"
https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/1489776253515223041?s=20&t=EO00M_HDNtTXCeAheLROAA
Bossie will be taking over for Ronna soon. Her time is up. He thinks Citizens United time is here. He’s a scheming rat on the sh*t ship.
Bossie’s treacherous tentacles: http://politi.co/2iytyoa
I thought there was a law that this kind of info couldn’t be shared until polls closed in the west. No way the idjt took the news of a possible loss so quietly in 2016 after what we’ve seen recently.
Interesting link. Info was shared by a Trump supporter within ABC who had been promoted after the previous man got in trouble for “erroneously” reporting that Trump had told Mike Flynn to contact the Russians. Which we now know was not erroneous at all….
What a leaky ship. And repubs scream about leaks and the press. Again we learn what we knew all along. A Corrupt party won’t go quietly into the night. Even before the election is officially called, the repubs are plotting.
Wow. Just wow. I just started following Seth Abramson. Thanks
Thanks!
Holy S*#t.
Good grief.......glad you shared this.
Wow. That's chilling on several levels. Particularly the association of defenestration with Russia, where there are persistent rumors of dissident types "choosing" to leap from upper floor windows of buildings.
Very sobering but sizzlin’ at the same time assessment, TC.
Yes! Thank you, TCinLA for connecting those historical dots for me. ❤️🤍💙
Great post by the way.
Some politicians have believed that "BS" is "legitimate political discourse" for a very long time. If such people treat these institutions with such lack of respect, it is hardly surprising that some enraged, fantasizing vagabonds do likewise despoiling and polluting such hallowed ground.
Time for a very good brush and a clean sweep of those elected who are lying to the people to further their own interests or hide their crimes. I thought lying to Congress was already a crime.....DOJ please note!
So many people in Washington consider that the law is not made to control them....just the little folk! So many in the DOJ apparently think that it is a waste of time going after the "big fish" for small delinquent acts...what's the Hatch Act after all when you are perhaps thinking of Rico or Treason. Time for some real "legitimate political discourse and some straightforward representation of the people....and some respect for our laws and constitution.
And when this comes before the courts, Hah! time to ban judges from political affiliations and end the farce of court stuffing by any party . If you want to be a judge then to learn the the text and the spirit of the law and precedents plus the Constitution guide your decisions and not the whims of any loud-mouthed, passing political phase or icon.The North Carolina Supreme Court just rejected the State's new gerrymandering political map by a 4-3 split....along party lines....excellent decision..... but "Along party lines" ...what is the possible credibility and perenity of such a division and therefore such a judgement as it would inevitably be dependent on the next election.
What is sad about the NC Supreme Court decision along party lines is the Republican minority, led by the Court's elected Chief Justice (elected by 401 votes) failure to recognize the unconstitutional gerrymandering (unconstitutional by NC's constitution). The Ohio Supreme Court was closer to reality. They, too, rejected the legislature's gerrymandering. Their rejection was also by a 4-3 majority. They, too, were led by their elected Chief Justice. In this case, though, their Chief Justice is a Republican. Because Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor voted as she did, the Ohio Supreme Court did not vote by party lines. Because Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor voted as she did, the Ohio Supreme Court was faithful to its state constitution.
To my mind, we shouldn't even be aware of the poitical opinions of these judges let alone allow a public allegiance to one party or the other. Politics is very rarely about justice...just passing laws and this is very often not the same thing.
So true
BS spread all over the place might just be their 'means to an end'. The fact that mush-mouth Pence avoided words that could be construed he might be committing hari-kari... words listened to by the 'minders' in the back row. That clever omission My friends should tell you how afraid that worthless POS* is. Please.., let the Heads blow sky high. *P-piece O-of S-(you guessed it). The Koch Bro'..s, worth over $100 billion, can pretty-much have their way with Americans(?) of that caliber.
Brilliant Looks like a few R s ,either with a recently found conscience or fear or ambition, or beginning to step off the ship Just today two making moral decisions in North Carolina and Arizona Hoping and praying for our democracy and for real journalists that tell the truth based on facts not sensationalism Thanks again for beautifully putting together the facts of a most interesting day😊👏
These late to the party repubs are hoping it’s not too late.
I HATE WHEN I MAKE CORRECT FRIGHTENING OBSERVATIONS
Feb 20, 2016
“If you have not figured it out by now that the Repugnicants are not leaders or even workers for the United States but partisan hacks who are only interested in supporting the very rich 1% who pay their campaigns at the expense of the rest of us, then you are as STUPID as the ppl who rally around the likes of Donald Trump, Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio.”
Mar 1, 2016
“Just a few months ago many of us thot that Donald Trump was a joke, a mediocre, boorish business man who dabbled in crap TV shows out of boredom. Now, he is becoming a frightening figure, not entirely by himself but because of his rabid following of ignorant, low-life fascists whom he is dangerously egging on with his hate rhetoric and failure to distance himself from known white supremacy hate groups.”
Dec 17, 2016
“STILL PISSED AT THE FOOLS WHO MADE THIS MESS
I have been meaning to write something of this devastating election, the most frightening in my lifetime of voting in a dozen presidential elections.
It was unbelievable that this unqualified and vile man won the election. I tried reasoning with ppl whom I knew were supportive of him or even those on the lib side who "voted their conscience" instead of voting for his opponent. But, to no avail - ignorance and naiveté won the day and now we all must suffer for the abject stupidity of fools.”
Feb 5, 2022
After Six years of watching what “Can’t Happen Here” Happening, I feel that it is over for Democracy and even Sanity in the United States. A century past, the Germans took this course, abandoned democracy and reason and replaced it with Fascism led by a charismatic, insane cult leader, with the horrendous murder of millions with millions more dying in war. I was born near the end of that war and the assurance that it “Can’t Happen Here.”
And now I have seen the Repugnant Party embrace an Insane Cult Leader; embrace hatred, racism and bigotry that we had slowly pushed back over the course of my life. And, a year after this Insane Cult leader’s followers attempted to wrest the democratic process by force on January 6, 2021, this COMPLICIT REPUGNANT PARTY, is obstructing the investigation of that INSURRECTION, and excusing the murderous rabble who attacked our seat of government just as the Fascist Nazis of a century past as “LEGITIMATE POLITICAL DISCOURSE.” Why this Repugnant Party is not labeled a Fascist Terrorist Organization after this proves to me that it is over for democracy, sanity & decency in this nation. I fear for my grandchildren in the years to come if something is not done soon to stop what is happening here.
Rob, thank you; all you write resonates (with me) but the saddest and most critical to me, “I fear for my grandchildren…”. That is my reason to continue this battle for Truth and Justice. Sounds like I’m waiting for Superman. Superwoman. Maybe that’s true.
Rob, this is frightening and SPOT ON!
Chronicler of the demise of a once great form of government. That you might be the biographer as we add our chapters to this historic tragedy from our respective diaries, Rob.
You nailed what I remember
My thoughts upon reading Stephen Bannon's statement, "My head’s blowing up" - I wish it were true! If he could self-destruct, the world would be a better place!
My head blows up just seeing a picture of that POS!!
Hahahahahaha. I know Janet. Especially with his carefully crafted disheveled look as if he’s so busy with “legit political discourse”, he has no time to shave or groom. Ewwww
Hmmm...on Bannon's "look", I thought that Bannon continuously looks like a frowzy unmade bed as the natural result of unending weekend benders.
Yes TL. As in what the heck is in his coffee cup. Obv he changes receptacles, but not the beverage. Literally and figuratively.
Me too!!
Boom boom Bannon. BBB.
Oh Professor Richardson….I’ve said it before. You end a letter sometimes with such a ball buster that it ends up being the envelope for the entire Letter…”It seems that we might be able to choose better leaders than ones who are leaving us at the end of this day in 2022 with the truly legitimate political question: “Ratting him out for what?”
How does that translate to all of you?
For me it’s vote, vote, vote. In spite of. Keep the majority and add to it. In spite of. Make sure Pres Biden’s 4 yrs exist as a supreme counter chess move to the former’s checker game. In spite of. For every bozo dissing the economy and jobs report, correct them with facts. In spite of. With every effort to indoctrinate children and burn books and teachers’ professional status and rewrite history books, support our schools and push push push back. In spite of.
In spite of what? What appears to be overwhelming odds at times? What appears to be the power of the Repubs and a notion of weak-assed Dems? In spite of perception that the entire DOJ is twiddling thumbs?
Nope. In spite of the fact that the American people elected a rat to the Office of President and could not get rid of him through impeachment. It is about who we elect as a leader. And we cannot allow a rat into The House again. Or a complicit aspiring mouse like Pence and his rat Koch.
Please. Let us be an American people whose choices are worthy of the Light that has its hand guiding us. That is what the truth, not the fight, is about.
Thank you HCR. Brilliant.
yes, These letters are truly amazing.
I really appreciate your defiance, Christine. It is consistent through all your posts and I think it rallies the morose. And the midterm is an inflection point where the votes of the morose are desperately needed.
Having said that, the last paragraph of your post is troubling to me. Those of us who aren’t American find the concept of American exceptionalism dangerous at times, and hilarious at other moments. It’s hard enough believing in God at all (as I assume your reference to “the Light” was to be taken), without also having to believe that S(He) particularly chose to favor one landmass and its people at one moment in time to be his pet project. It becomes even harder when an objective observer would find American exceptionalism to be as often disgraceful as it is laudable.
All countries produce their share of dupes, rascals, idealists and saints. All are tied integrally to their history and their geography. America was, in its Caucasian origin story, brilliantly favored in its geographic vastness and the oceans which bounded it. This encouraged white settlement, and generations of Americans left their mark for better or for worse. And here it stands today, attempting a phoenix-like revival from the ashes left behind by a particularly demonic American.
This where you, and people of of your ilk, come in. The course ahead seems fraught with danger, and at best uncertain in outcome. But you persistently refuse to turn away from it and encourage others to the same effort.
God’s not keeping score, but you are. God won’t affect the outcome, but you might. I truly admire that.
Yes, brilliant. And thank you and Heather for pointing out the big question: “Ratting him out for what?” We, the People, including those good peeps on both sides, better come up with an answer. And soon. Until then, There’s a mouse in the house and we better continue to beware, pay attention. I find believing to be a challenge.
"The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves -- in their separate, and individual capacities."
Abraham Lincoln
--July 1, 1854 [?] Fragment on Government
I think Ike paraphrased Lincoln on his purpose of government comment. It's one of my favorite sayings.
Lincoln - America's 1st Liberal Progressive President
Rich, the "ratting out" part.
So many implications therein. Like culpability. Veracity.
Here is Holly Near on the subject:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW7CwCpcKkA
So the Koch bunch want a 'legitimate' party to purchase? Expectations of some R Phoenix rising? Is the Federalist Society abandoning idjt? As Gorsuch evidences his funders...in the dark.
Loving the split R party...split the votes, perhaps D's will prevail in the polity.
gratitude to you, Heather, ever and always, for knowledge and perspective!
Brilliant Holly Near video!!
Absolutely brilliant, as Always, the Real Truth by Holly Near. Thank you, Kim, for sharing. We have a way of hearing, seeing the Truth through music and Lit. And that tune stays. Coup D’etat. Love Holly Near. I’ll sing it all day. Make it a theme song for some party.
Oh so now it's "Legitimate political discourse", eh? This telling a lie over and over again until you tell it so many times that the people believe it is a fascistic tactic used by Hitler and others. One might say that only a fool would believe it but we know what happened to regimes in the past. I am beyond sickened by this group. If their lies weren't so dangerous they would be laughable. It seems to me that this committee has already received a trove of incriminating information. What I fear is that if Republicans gain control of either the House or the Senate, that this information will not see the light of day. This sordid tale is becoming a giant scandal and I cannot wait for each of HCR's letters every day.
We’ve seen this play before, how many times??? Watching idiots replay history is one of life’s saddest moments.