The fallout over the Republican National Committee’s statement censuring Representatives Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) for “participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse” continues to rain down on the Republican Party.
Water is coming over the gunwales and the rats are jumping ship. Storm clouds are building around the once proud grand old party. You know if McConnell is getting out from under, it's going to come down hard. Another superb letter, and another early night for you Heather! Firing on all cylinders. Thank you.
It's an ugly mess and it's not just big money vs the whacko-fringe. There's a battle between the billionaires too. Peter Thiel leaving the board of Meta to focus on getting trumpian troll elected is but one example of the oligarchical right's extreme faction vs the more sensible big business pro-government billionaires.
Peter Thiel really is an awful. person and I love his professed love for the future of the US when he applied for and was granted New Zealand citizenship a few years ago. He is likely to be surprised when he finds out how progressive a country it is and led by a strong woman to boot.
I only realized yesterday that he was on the board of Fuckerberg and Co. Birds of a feather flock together. Maybe something more than a drop in stock value is headed in Meta's direction and I think it is going to be ugly.
Was I wrong to think Thiel sees the writing on the wall re:Meta and is just jumping from a sinking ship to the militarized rat infested pirate ship in hopes of growing his fortune?
"Isn't thinking in monetary terms?" Grace, like all rich folks, you can bet Thiel is thinking in monetary terms every single second of the day, including his dreams.
Christy, I followed Thiel and his money, to learn what he has been up to.
'Peter Thiel Leaving Meta Board To Focus On Pro-Trump Politics'
'TOPLINE Billionaire Peter Thiel—one of Facebook’s earliest investors—plans to leave Meta’s board of directors, the company announced Monday, and plans to focus on influencing November’s midterm elections in favor of Trump-aligned candidates, according to an unnamed source cited by the New York Times'
'Thiel became increasingly outspoken in favor of Trump, speaking at the 2016 Republican National Convention and defending Trump’s “Muslim ban” in 2017, and as Facebook moved to ban Trump from its platform, his position on the board became increasingly contentious.' (Forbes)
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!
'Who is Peter Thiel, the tech billionaire trying to push the U.S. to the right?'
'Thiel has been participating in national politics for most of his life, helping create a conservative journal at Stanford University in the 1980s before diving into tech investing and helping found PayPal. He used the money from PayPal’s sale to invest in other tech companies, becoming the first major outside investor in Facebook and seeing his wealth and influence rocket upward as Big Tech’s dominance grew over the past 20 years.'
'In 2016, Thiel supported Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and later served on his transition team. Now he’s playing an even more direct role in politics, funding the Senate campaigns of two of his close associates, J.D. Vance in Ohio and Blake Masters in Arizona. At the same time, he’s still a force in tech investing and plays a major role in companies including data-harvesting firm Palantir, where he serves as chairman.'
'Straddling the worlds of Silicon Valley and conservative politics has made Thiel a uniquely influential and polarizing individual, though he’s not as widely known as other well-documented political funders such as the Koch brothers. That’s likely to change as he dives deeper into U.S. politics.' (WashingtonPost)
How will Thiel use is tech smarts to be be invaluable to Trump and the right-wing candidates he is supporting?
'Since launching in 2013, Rumble, a Canadian video-sharing platform that presents itself as an alternative to YouTube, has become a right-wing haven. The site saw significant growth following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with monthly viewership surging from 1.6 million users in fall 2020 to 31.9 million by the end of 2021’s first quarter. It has since received backing from a group of prominent conservative venture capitalists including Peter Thiel and Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance.'
'After Rumble announced on Dec. 1 that it was planning to go public at an initial enterprise value of $2.1 billion, Trump Media and Technology Group shared on Dec. 14 that Donald Trump’s proposed social media platform, TRUTH Social, had partnered with Rumble.' (YahooNews)
'Thiel, whose net worth according to Bloomberg News is about $8 billion, also has a serious interest in shaping tax policy. Last year, ProPublica documented how Thiel has shielded billions of his own money from taxation by running his investments out of a Roth individual retirement account. Last year, Democrats in Congress proposed a bill that would force Thiel and other wealthy people using Roth accounts to pay huge tax bills if they ever withdraw their money. Thiel has also given money directly to anti-tax advocacy organizations, such as the Club for Growth.'
Trump has some very valuable supporters, without a doubt.
Yikes! Without a doubt!! Thanks for sharing all this Fern! I’m afraid to wonder how many more of these thugs on a mission are hiding under rocks. I’d seen where he sold most of his shares of FB stock years ago (maybe a pre-arranged agreement?-though I’m not sure I understood that right)
If we ever win at Voting Rights we desperately need to put all our weight behind Citizen’s United. Scary that they have seated so many extremist judges, and increasingly have these rich resources to brainwash the masses
He is definitely an SOB! He was successful in sucking our money out of our pockets into his and now has given us the proverbial third finger. Let’s take them all down!
I was watching CNN last night and both Van Jones and the noxious Mike Shields agreed that the Jan. 6 Committee report will not be a factor in the midterms.
I was more than mildly perplexed. I am anticipating riveting public hearings this spring. When the story is put together in toto and then memorialized in a later report, the stage will be set for a solid swing of voters jumping to the Democrats. It seems certain that Republicans will elect many disagreeable characters in the primary, people whose “views” are repellent and backgrounds dubious. (Sorry DJT, you’re not getting “only the best”.)
It seems too much to hope for “big name” indictments, but were there to be a string of those, I’d put hard cash on the Democrats winning House and Senate. Unless, of course, they find a new way to shoot themselves in the foot.
I respectfully and forcefully disagree. This kind of statement has found its way into the nomenclature in the USA. Very simply I refer you to the Democratic Party taking the White House, Senate and House in 2020. This in the face of a corrupt Postmaster General DeJoy and a raging Pandemic.
The Democrats have steadfastly engineered and executed an investigative Committee that is shaking the very foundations of the RNC and the Republican Party; and the January 6 Committee hasn't even begun public hearings. The vastness of their investigation alone is historical.
I was raised to stand up for the people and what I believed in. The popular pastime of disparaging the Democratic weakens public opinion and provides fuel for the opposition. Can we please stop doing this?
100% agree with you, Barbara -- so tired of people doing this. Focus on the amazing work that has been accomplished. The MSM is doing enough focusing on the alleged bad for everyone.
Im in Portugal with the same problem and more. It turns out Russia has cyner attacked Europe’s biggest server Vodophone for the last three weeks. Our fire, police, government, hospitals, etc went to a radio backup system within 12 hours . I have lost fb, email .
Surely they will be carried on CSPAN? Can we make a unified very loud effort to have all public places switch the channel to CSPAN to watch our government live??
Nobody who watches Fox is going to flip blue no matter what facts they learn. We just need to get out the vote, especially now that it will be so much more difficult to do so. I’m still hopeful, or wouldn’t be bothering with races at all.
Thanks. What can I say: I'm that depraved creature, a bluewater sailor, and I second Isak Dinesen when she says, The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea
After Ronald Reagan had been caught out in so many lies that floating the idea that he might be in the early stages of senile dementia seemed a way out, one of his biographers generously termed Reagan a 'fabulist.' Although fables have morals. While the take away from the devolution of the GOP is that whereas Nixon had to deny being a crook for appearances sake, by Reagan it was more like 'so you're not a crook, good there's more for me.' Nixon was teased about putting ketchup on his cottage cheese. Reagan classified ketchup a vegetable for school lunches.
So now we have a Republican congressional caucus with what William Faulkner would call 'a kitchen full of Snopeses.' Let's just say, not top drawer.
McConnell knew exactly what happened on Jan 6 and calls it what is was. Many Republicans do. They just pretend Trump and his loyalists and lackeys - that is many of their Republican colleagues - had nothing to do with it. Republicans have long floated all sorts of lies to see what would fly. Pigs now have their own flight paths.
During the debate on civil rights legislation Republicans used their time to celebrate the end of Roe and the beginning of their reign of terror on women. The author of a new book about 'how the Republicans lost their party and got everything they wanted' said that when he interviewed people in the religious right - the GOP base - about whether after Jan 6 they still thought running with Trump was worth it, they said yes.
My kingdom for a horse.
Our democracy for a fetus.
Ketchup as a vegetable in school lunches. Trump as the second coming of Christ, Reagan, and Rambo. The Church Militant as a militia in kilts graffitiing each others' butt cheeks. And a handmaid on the Supreme Court.
Christ may be weeping. But Big Money Funnel Opus Dei Federalist Leonard Leo, the Kochs, Mercers, et al are rolling in the aisles. Diddling while Rome burns and hedging their bets they'll survive when the roof caves in. Or just that Democrats will save the day, again.
You ROCK! so much of what you write is worthy of excellence. Gratitude to you for making me laugh, making me grounded, once again, in the reality of this mess Heather continues to make sense of. Methinks the Kochs are not pleased with idjt, unloosed.
The handmaid on the SCOTUS is like icing on the cake. Empty calories.
At 15 weeks in TX. Had to look up pedant and good heavens, I do like to use words correctly but didn't think of myself as: "person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning," especially not the last definition!
smv1540, I was just riffing on lin's use of that word, and Jeri's reply to her. I had to look it up too! In your case I was using the "precise" part, not the latter definition. Good day to you! Humor helps....
Does it ever! My dad's goal was to make my mother laugh at least 2x after she came home for the evening. He maintained that his entire life up until he passed at 102!
Wow. Thank you, Lin. Fabulous piece rife with the best kind of satire. Clarity that downsizes the the edge of worry that keeps most humans in the trenches squirming a bit.
You also are well informed and clear in your analysis - as a qualified political idiot, I appreciate your views - you help me see more clearly - deep thanks to (and for) you lin ....
One of my relatives on the religious right, who thinks highly of Mike Pence, in February 2021 simply denied that there had been an insurrection that threatened his life. “It was no worse than the BLM demonstrations.” :(
Fantastic. I’d also like to remind the sedition caucus of the words of Ed Meese, noted legal firebrand and Reagan’s AG: “ They would not be suspects if they weren’t guilty”.
I had the same problem for a while here in Portugal. Then al my fb came up in Dutch. Then Russia hacked Europe’s biggest server Vodophone stsrting a month ago - I’ve lost the ability to “heart”, fb, email, other icons one by one. Portugal has a backup plan they used for government, fire, police, hospitals, taxis etc within 12 hours. No one else on Vodophone had phones for a while and they’re still working on it. The other three servers here were not attacked.
I do believe Steve Peha, who teaches writing to school students. He said that he tells them that learning to write effectively can change your life. Her comment is proof positive.
I wonder whether Republican Representative Troy Nehls even noticed that, in his zeal to discredit Capitol Police, he let slip that January 6 was a “riot” —contrary to the “legislative political discourse” label many in his party are euphemistically spinning. Hilarious!
Not a peep since January 6, 2020 and NOW some of these despicable republicans say a few words in between not doing one iota of work while sitting on their asses in Congress. Every last republican is a disgrace. As has been said so many times, the democrats need to step up the game, stop the ad nauseam discussion and start actively showing their base, through indictments, that they are serious about defending democracy.
In what other world does our judicial system insist on hearing from the criminals and accomplices before arresting and putting them on trial?! The paper trails are endless, there are videos, telephone recordings, first hand witness statements, etc., etc., etc. There is more than enough evidence; let's get down to the business of putting these people on trial and stop having them suck all the oxygen out of the room. We really need to move forward with infrastructure, social policies, climate change, Russia, China, virus's, and the rest of the mayhem that encompasses the world.
I hear you Janet—all the flip flopping of words when not a one cares about truth. We have all the reams of evidence for Treaon. How about some action— like arrests and indictments? I have a strange numbness creeping in. Anyway, thank you dear Heather.
Yes, unfortunately people have long become numb with all the "revelations", "breaking news", "the wheels of justice grind slowly" . . . . It really has been laid out by the NYT's, WaPo, Heather, other historians, Rachel Maddow, media, authors, politicians and supposedly sometime in March - May, the January 6th committee is going to go through weeks of "testimony" and then pass it along to the DOJ where there will be even more deliberation?! It is amazing the collective attention span has lasted this long but enough already . . . this country deserves action because without it, these criminals (particularly the higher ups) go free and clear.
Question. If the commission on January 6 hands everything over to DOJ then is it not ready for the justice department to investigate? And if the Republicans take both houses in the midterm and decide to disband the January 6 commission everything will be rolled up in the justice department and will keep going right?
Thank you! I Keep feeling that nobody has control over the sandbox. Our law and order people. And that any minute we as Americans will be kicked aside by the bad people.
I am so concerned about SCOTUS' decision about gerrymandering. GA is already thinking those lawsuits can now be thrown out. If the Republicans can win in the 2024 they will throw everything out and pardon anyone who might be indicted. Not getting the voting act passed is devastating. I know there is a good chance it will have people come out in mass to vote, but if the Republican legislatures can throw out any and all votes they deem to have a problem, then how do we fight this?
Prediction: By the end of this drama, the name "Republicans" will join the "Whigs", the "Know Nothings" and the "Bull Moosers" in the dustbin of history.
Any day now, someone with the guts to do it will see the opening and run down the field with a new party and new name. I suspect it will be called the "New Conservatives". Maybe they will support democracy and the rule of law.
I could be wrong. It happens all the time. Just ask my wife:)
As you do, I know your wife is right ... I mean correct. My wife advises me on all things true and grammatically accurate. Come May, the New Republican will emerge from the zygote and destroyed stem cells of the real Republican base in all their lovely babyhood, pure and unadulterated by the past errors and mistaken, but good intents, of their brethren. Ah shucks, we gotta take the high road, and put this unfortunate mess in the rear view. And go ahead and take the House and the Senate with clones of the same cast they elected to change America back to the 1950s. Always believe your wife, Bill.
“Benghazi!” You reminded me that I bought that “but her emails” mug this morning and I plan to sip tea out of it every day until Jim Jordan is brought to carpet and figuratively (or literally, if needed) horsewhipped in the town square.
Oh, I understand that! But you appear more knowledgeable and connected to that archipelago of islands, such as Nauru. Are you connected in anyway to the refugee/immigrants, past or current, on Nauru? And have you been on Kirimati island? I would love to visit that part of the southern hemisphere one day...
What stood out to me was Dr. Richardson’s qualifier about that letter, signed by “more than 140 former Republican officials and leaders…” That word: Former. That tells us where the Republicans are. Former political leaders aren’t subject to threats from insurrectionists, aren’t punished at the polls, and they don’t have a vote in Congress. The silence of many, many current federal and state leaders is deafening, horrifying.
They're all cowards, spineless cowards. Chief among cowards is Ron DeSantis, who will take a stand backing either Trump or Pence until he feels a hurricane force wind blowing in one direction or the other.
It's incredibly obvious that the Republicans have become a party of opportunists who are interested in nothing but the preservation of their own permanent, unassailable power. Right-wing media, the same. They are leeches who feed off each other's ability to sway the masses, and will say anything that will keep the gravy train rolling.
It will be a true shame of history if these parasites have found democracy's weak spot and succeed in sucking it dry. But all recent signs point to exactly that happening.
Interesting! Provoked another realization. “Formers” do not have to raise money anymore. They can speak with their conscience. Incumbents always have an advantage in reelection. This creates a dilemma for the PACS and distribution of funds. Which replacement candidate does Ronna give money to? Does she allocate to the radical former guy sycophants or to moderate “Rhinos”?
And what about losing the moderate donors because moderates are retiring and their supporters are turned of by the QOP crazies? Inherit in political retirements loss of revenue for the new candidates from donations. So to re-stimulate donations, the fastest replacement
Strategy is red meat demagoguery of the big lie, support of Jan 6 political violence, identity issues, no substance, which creates more uncertainty and anxiety for some of the big donors and scary to moderates.
I have a hunch that the splits within the party are higher up to the biggest donors. They are splintering on who to spend on and how to spend it. Rats fighting over every last bit of cheese.
Hadn't read your comment before I said something above about corporate campaign contributions. I think they're key to where the majority of elected Republicans decide to land. (Then again, the oligarchs also have a big say on campaign spending, too.) Let's say Trump is criminally charged and some of his congressional minions are at least formally implicated, Big Money won't want to be associated with them.
The splintering you mention seems very likely to grow, both inside the GOP and among its donors. McConnell likely sees that he can't return to power unless the party makes a clean break from the traitors.
If and when Republicans in office see their corporate owners turn off the flow of campaign money will determine where they stand — with Trump or against him. What will it take for companies to act? If polls after the Jan. 6 committee finishes its work show public sentiment decidedly against Trump. That said, no matter the findings or even criminal charges from the various investigations there will always be a small hardcore base supporting TFG.
There must be a better description of Bannon than the usual "Trump loyalist". I'd never use the word "loyal" in connection with that lawless, unkempt figure of malevolence on a world scale.
You’re making a new contracture 2 days in a row Ted! Webster’s won’t be able to keep up with you. On the other hand, these times call for new words to describe things — evil things, scandalous absurdities — that sometimes the whole English language just can’t convey.
I’ve heard reports of thesauruses catching fire on commentator’s desks....
I don’t trust Mitch McConnell; he talks from both sides of his mouth. I have asked myself countless times how he, Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, et al, can live with themselves. Don’t they get that they eroded their characters and can’t claim to have any real integrity. Very disappointing.
You and me, both....That a majority of Maine voters sent her back to Washington, D.C. after all of her waffling BS not to mention her votes against TFG's first impeachment, to let DeVos out of committee, for "I Love Beer" Kavanaugh, the Handmaiden, plus Collins' various other stab-the-constituents-in-their-backs votes...it's a embarrassment. Those Maine voters should be thoroughly ashamed.
Rita, I don't trust him either. If the wind is blowing too hard in some direction, he catches that current, only to be drawn back if the wind changes direction. My first thought when I read his statement...." I wonder when he'll retract that."
The Liars Poker Game has no cards. They’ve tried everything. Even destroyed the US Post Office.
Our Ding Dong Don Fascist Heel Spur Draft Dodger Labeled The Donald is bimbo bonkers. Pays off hookers, gropes pussy, sports the yellow $79,000 hair do, the orange face, rapes a women in Bergdorf’s Fifth Avenue changing room, launders Russian money, supports killer MBS for money, sells out to Putin, loves the North Korean Psycho, drives up our deficit, kills hundreds of thousands with Covid-19, cheats his creditors, lies all the time, runs scared and terrifies fellow white racist Republican wimps…
Color me intrigued about Troy Nehls's whiteboard. This is the first I've heard of a Capitol police officer stumbling upon it. Something tells me that Nehls doth protest too much.
Has anyone made an effort to determine if, indeed, there's an ice machine adjacent to the Capitol entrance marked with an X on the whiteboard? Seems an odd location plus just how far is it from Nehls' office to the X-marked spot?
Beware of republicans who sign off on letters suggesting that ‘a once great movement has ceded control to grifters and extremists.’ This time in which we find ourselves has been decades in the making. Pence, McConnell, Romney and those like them, past and present, have been ‘grifting’ their voters for years. They are grifters and extremists of a different stripe than the insurrectionists, and perhaps no less dangerous to Democracy, the Constitution and rule of law. Their apparent willingness to distance themselves from the whackanoodle wing of their party should put them no further than arm’s length.
Yes! They are distancing themselves from the inevitable results of their own dishonest, greedy policies which have been poisoning our democracy for decades.
They are in a hell of their own making, and how the heck do they get out? It reminds me of the play “No Exit” written by Jean-Paul Sartre in 1944. It all takes place in a drawing room in hell with three despicable people who deserve each other - and they can never leave.
Excellent comparison. i have heard the idea that hell is other people. And I like the idea that they can't leave although some of them are finally making feeble too late attempts to do so.
Hey, Google knows. Reminds me of George Sanders acceptance speech quote. “What seems other is actually not other at all, just us on a different day.” The scariest thought ever, but one that requires some introspection…
"Three damned souls, Garcin, Inez, and Estelle are brought to the same room in hell by a mysterious Valet" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Exit#Characters We, of course, could substitute our own choices, from the past or from today.
Reps Gohmert and Nehls' complaints indicates that DOJ is indeed investigating them. Nehls' whiteboard looks extremely suspicious and Gohmert called for blood in the streets prior to J6. On another note, I am sickened that American Congressmen are supporting the Canadian Truckers in stopping the flow of goods across borders...they are supporting an attack on interstate and international business as well as an attack on the Canadian Government. Canada is our closest friend and ally. I am deeply ashamed of these Republican members of Congress.
As a Canadian in the U.S., i too find this abhorrent! To see confederate and nazi flags flying in a protest in Canada and supported by American "law makers" makes me think this mindset is as much a pandemic as Covid!
Water is coming over the gunwales and the rats are jumping ship. Storm clouds are building around the once proud grand old party. You know if McConnell is getting out from under, it's going to come down hard. Another superb letter, and another early night for you Heather! Firing on all cylinders. Thank you.
It's an ugly mess and it's not just big money vs the whacko-fringe. There's a battle between the billionaires too. Peter Thiel leaving the board of Meta to focus on getting trumpian troll elected is but one example of the oligarchical right's extreme faction vs the more sensible big business pro-government billionaires.
It's really an ugly hot mess.
Yes, I long for the days when the billionaires just wanted to beat us down economically. Sigh.
Peter Thiel really is an awful. person and I love his professed love for the future of the US when he applied for and was granted New Zealand citizenship a few years ago. He is likely to be surprised when he finds out how progressive a country it is and led by a strong woman to boot.
If a libertarian thinks he will thrive in NZ, it only proves billionaires are not all that smart.
I only realized yesterday that he was on the board of Fuckerberg and Co. Birds of a feather flock together. Maybe something more than a drop in stock value is headed in Meta's direction and I think it is going to be ugly.
Now Martha, I thought I was the only one calling him by his proper last name. 😉
Was I wrong to think Thiel sees the writing on the wall re:Meta and is just jumping from a sinking ship to the militarized rat infested pirate ship in hopes of growing his fortune?
Maybe he just hates women and democracy and isn’t thinking in monetary terms.
Thiel’s allegiance to TFG assures us of the first two, but I’m pretty sure he’s not capable of “isn’t thinking in monetary terms” 😁.
Perhaps Zuckerberg is hoping his worth will stop plummeting if he dumps Thiel?
I think Meta losing money is just rewards for Zuck.
"Isn't thinking in monetary terms?" Grace, like all rich folks, you can bet Thiel is thinking in monetary terms every single second of the day, including his dreams.
I think he might consider destroying democracy a fun but expensive hobby.
Christy, I followed Thiel and his money, to learn what he has been up to.
'Peter Thiel Leaving Meta Board To Focus On Pro-Trump Politics'
'TOPLINE Billionaire Peter Thiel—one of Facebook’s earliest investors—plans to leave Meta’s board of directors, the company announced Monday, and plans to focus on influencing November’s midterm elections in favor of Trump-aligned candidates, according to an unnamed source cited by the New York Times'
'Thiel became increasingly outspoken in favor of Trump, speaking at the 2016 Republican National Convention and defending Trump’s “Muslim ban” in 2017, and as Facebook moved to ban Trump from its platform, his position on the board became increasingly contentious.' (Forbes)
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!
'Who is Peter Thiel, the tech billionaire trying to push the U.S. to the right?'
'Thiel has been participating in national politics for most of his life, helping create a conservative journal at Stanford University in the 1980s before diving into tech investing and helping found PayPal. He used the money from PayPal’s sale to invest in other tech companies, becoming the first major outside investor in Facebook and seeing his wealth and influence rocket upward as Big Tech’s dominance grew over the past 20 years.'
'In 2016, Thiel supported Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and later served on his transition team. Now he’s playing an even more direct role in politics, funding the Senate campaigns of two of his close associates, J.D. Vance in Ohio and Blake Masters in Arizona. At the same time, he’s still a force in tech investing and plays a major role in companies including data-harvesting firm Palantir, where he serves as chairman.'
'Straddling the worlds of Silicon Valley and conservative politics has made Thiel a uniquely influential and polarizing individual, though he’s not as widely known as other well-documented political funders such as the Koch brothers. That’s likely to change as he dives deeper into U.S. politics.' (WashingtonPost)
How will Thiel use is tech smarts to be be invaluable to Trump and the right-wing candidates he is supporting?
'Since launching in 2013, Rumble, a Canadian video-sharing platform that presents itself as an alternative to YouTube, has become a right-wing haven. The site saw significant growth following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with monthly viewership surging from 1.6 million users in fall 2020 to 31.9 million by the end of 2021’s first quarter. It has since received backing from a group of prominent conservative venture capitalists including Peter Thiel and Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance.'
'After Rumble announced on Dec. 1 that it was planning to go public at an initial enterprise value of $2.1 billion, Trump Media and Technology Group shared on Dec. 14 that Donald Trump’s proposed social media platform, TRUTH Social, had partnered with Rumble.' (YahooNews)
'Thiel, whose net worth according to Bloomberg News is about $8 billion, also has a serious interest in shaping tax policy. Last year, ProPublica documented how Thiel has shielded billions of his own money from taxation by running his investments out of a Roth individual retirement account. Last year, Democrats in Congress proposed a bill that would force Thiel and other wealthy people using Roth accounts to pay huge tax bills if they ever withdraw their money. Thiel has also given money directly to anti-tax advocacy organizations, such as the Club for Growth.'
Trump has some very valuable supporters, without a doubt.
Yikes! Without a doubt!! Thanks for sharing all this Fern! I’m afraid to wonder how many more of these thugs on a mission are hiding under rocks. I’d seen where he sold most of his shares of FB stock years ago (maybe a pre-arranged agreement?-though I’m not sure I understood that right)
If we ever win at Voting Rights we desperately need to put all our weight behind Citizen’s United. Scary that they have seated so many extremist judges, and increasingly have these rich resources to brainwash the masses
Couldn't agree more. Thiel is big time trouble.
Joy Reid just spent some time on Thiel. He’s even worse than I knew.
Trump met with Thiel and a group of wealthy tech founders/CEOs 12/14/16. Not the bumbling fool so many took him for sadly.
He is definitely an SOB! He was successful in sucking our money out of our pockets into his and now has given us the proverbial third finger. Let’s take them all down!
Christopher, it is and it's getting worse.
True, but remember which side has history on its side.
Agree on all points. Thanks Richard.
I was watching CNN last night and both Van Jones and the noxious Mike Shields agreed that the Jan. 6 Committee report will not be a factor in the midterms.
I was more than mildly perplexed. I am anticipating riveting public hearings this spring. When the story is put together in toto and then memorialized in a later report, the stage will be set for a solid swing of voters jumping to the Democrats. It seems certain that Republicans will elect many disagreeable characters in the primary, people whose “views” are repellent and backgrounds dubious. (Sorry DJT, you’re not getting “only the best”.)
It seems too much to hope for “big name” indictments, but were there to be a string of those, I’d put hard cash on the Democrats winning House and Senate. Unless, of course, they find a new way to shoot themselves in the foot.
Dems not only shoot themselves in the foot but often do so with the foot in their mouth. That's my folks, dammit.
I respectfully and forcefully disagree. This kind of statement has found its way into the nomenclature in the USA. Very simply I refer you to the Democratic Party taking the White House, Senate and House in 2020. This in the face of a corrupt Postmaster General DeJoy and a raging Pandemic.
The Democrats have steadfastly engineered and executed an investigative Committee that is shaking the very foundations of the RNC and the Republican Party; and the January 6 Committee hasn't even begun public hearings. The vastness of their investigation alone is historical.
I was raised to stand up for the people and what I believed in. The popular pastime of disparaging the Democratic weakens public opinion and provides fuel for the opposition. Can we please stop doing this?
Hear, hear Barbara. Strongly agree. United front!
100% agree with you, Barbara -- so tired of people doing this. Focus on the amazing work that has been accomplished. The MSM is doing enough focusing on the alleged bad for everyone.
Hmm. I believe you're right and my impulse for snark got the better of me. Thanks for the heads up!
We all sure get carried away in the heat of the political moment. I know I have.
The mark of a true critical thinker -- the ability to review something and change their mind, based on the evidence. Thank you, Richard.
Barbara I can’t “heart” you bur I agree with you, wholeheartedly!
Im in Portugal with the same problem and more. It turns out Russia has cyner attacked Europe’s biggest server Vodophone for the last three weeks. Our fire, police, government, hospitals, etc went to a radio backup system within 12 hours . I have lost fb, email .
That's awful, and yet another "why aren't we hearing about this in our news?"
It's Substack's servers. I was having trouble too
Suspect the two think so as the hearings will probably not be carried on Fox?
Surely they will be carried on CSPAN? Can we make a unified very loud effort to have all public places switch the channel to CSPAN to watch our government live??
Nobody who watches Fox is going to flip blue no matter what facts they learn. We just need to get out the vote, especially now that it will be so much more difficult to do so. I’m still hopeful, or wouldn’t be bothering with races at all.
It just needs to happen a bit faster. Mid-terns are looming, and that could spell disaster for the continuation of this very important work.
That is the Republican plan!
Love the metaphors Dr. Bearman ... have a Melvillean (sic) ring to them.
Thanks. What can I say: I'm that depraved creature, a bluewater sailor, and I second Isak Dinesen when she says, The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea
BTW, the MD is for Maryland, but thanks for the promotion!
🤣🤣
I, too, was wondering if you meant M.D. or Maryland, my old haunts.
That would be really nice.
The cost of that deal might be more than we want to pay.
Wishful thinking? Fingers crossed!!!
We can only hope….
That would be a shock!
After Ronald Reagan had been caught out in so many lies that floating the idea that he might be in the early stages of senile dementia seemed a way out, one of his biographers generously termed Reagan a 'fabulist.' Although fables have morals. While the take away from the devolution of the GOP is that whereas Nixon had to deny being a crook for appearances sake, by Reagan it was more like 'so you're not a crook, good there's more for me.' Nixon was teased about putting ketchup on his cottage cheese. Reagan classified ketchup a vegetable for school lunches.
So now we have a Republican congressional caucus with what William Faulkner would call 'a kitchen full of Snopeses.' Let's just say, not top drawer.
McConnell knew exactly what happened on Jan 6 and calls it what is was. Many Republicans do. They just pretend Trump and his loyalists and lackeys - that is many of their Republican colleagues - had nothing to do with it. Republicans have long floated all sorts of lies to see what would fly. Pigs now have their own flight paths.
During the debate on civil rights legislation Republicans used their time to celebrate the end of Roe and the beginning of their reign of terror on women. The author of a new book about 'how the Republicans lost their party and got everything they wanted' said that when he interviewed people in the religious right - the GOP base - about whether after Jan 6 they still thought running with Trump was worth it, they said yes.
My kingdom for a horse.
Our democracy for a fetus.
Ketchup as a vegetable in school lunches. Trump as the second coming of Christ, Reagan, and Rambo. The Church Militant as a militia in kilts graffitiing each others' butt cheeks. And a handmaid on the Supreme Court.
Christ may be weeping. But Big Money Funnel Opus Dei Federalist Leonard Leo, the Kochs, Mercers, et al are rolling in the aisles. Diddling while Rome burns and hedging their bets they'll survive when the roof caves in. Or just that Democrats will save the day, again.
"Pigs now have their own flight paths."
You ROCK! so much of what you write is worthy of excellence. Gratitude to you for making me laugh, making me grounded, once again, in the reality of this mess Heather continues to make sense of. Methinks the Kochs are not pleased with idjt, unloosed.
The handmaid on the SCOTUS is like icing on the cake. Empty calories.
Lin, I simply have no one-liners to do justice to your post! Hold on, I’m trying to steal one from somebody....
Me too! Lin, you said it best! They are the worst.
My favorite: "Pigs now have their own flight paths."
Yes, that line is classic.
Lordy, Lordy, Lordy, can you become a spokesmodel for Dems. One change I would make. Our democracy for a zygote
More precisely!
smv 1540, Spoken like a true pedant!
At 15 weeks in TX. Had to look up pedant and good heavens, I do like to use words correctly but didn't think of myself as: "person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning," especially not the last definition!
smv1540, I was just riffing on lin's use of that word, and Jeri's reply to her. I had to look it up too! In your case I was using the "precise" part, not the latter definition. Good day to you! Humor helps....
Does it ever! My dad's goal was to make my mother laugh at least 2x after she came home for the evening. He maintained that his entire life up until he passed at 102!
Wonderful, lin…wonderful!!👍🏼👊🏼👏🏼
It's an amazing thing to watch the Republican Party act out "The Emperor's New Clothes," isn't it?
Where I live (NTx), the lies are believed with such passion. Hate rules the cult fools
Or relive Pickwick Papers.
Wow. Thank you, Lin. Fabulous piece rife with the best kind of satire. Clarity that downsizes the the edge of worry that keeps most humans in the trenches squirming a bit.
Salud.
ThankYou.
It takes a lot to make me smile before the sun rises and before the coffee kicks in. But you certainly did. Great wordsmithing!
Are you a writer for Colbert? Or better yet, Bill Maher?
ThankYou. HaHa. A gadfly writing for myself. Harumph Harumph take a letter to the editor. This is my first blog community attempt.
Don't stop now!
Yes, keep going!
Please don't get your hopes up. Mostly I am plodding, prolix, and pedantic. When I'm not off my nut.
You’re in terrific company, lin. Glad you’re here.
You also are well informed and clear in your analysis - as a qualified political idiot, I appreciate your views - you help me see more clearly - deep thanks to (and for) you lin ....
Good things take time. Stews taste better when theyve spent some time on the back burner on a low flame.
Welcome. I would have caved in years ago without this blog. It’s been a life line.
One of my relatives on the religious right, who thinks highly of Mike Pence, in February 2021 simply denied that there had been an insurrection that threatened his life. “It was no worse than the BLM demonstrations.” :(
Cognitive Dissonance Impairment should be considered a psych disorder.
Does boggle the mind
Cult world, Rupert’s take on the treason
I wonder if we’re related, Joan! Although most of my family is still in the Midwest.
They wanted to hang Pence for not following trumps plan.
They did indeed, never forget that
Fantastic. I’d also like to remind the sedition caucus of the words of Ed Meese, noted legal firebrand and Reagan’s AG: “ They would not be suspects if they weren’t guilty”.
Boy, did the Reagan nuts have the script for every contingency. Have people forgotten Peggy Noonan??? Of course, Meese had his own “logic.”
Can’t seem to “heart” any of your comments, Jeri!😤
I had the same problem for a while here in Portugal. Then al my fb came up in Dutch. Then Russia hacked Europe’s biggest server Vodophone stsrting a month ago - I’ve lost the ability to “heart”, fb, email, other icons one by one. Portugal has a backup plan they used for government, fire, police, hospitals, taxis etc within 12 hours. No one else on Vodophone had phones for a while and they’re still working on it. The other three servers here were not attacked.
Lin, you are simply the best. I look forward to your comments.
I agree with you, Betsy!
So many good lines in here. My favorite: "Diddling while Rome burns."
Lin, I join the chorus of praise. Wonderful comment, thank you. Wow, you can write!
I do believe Steve Peha, who teaches writing to school students. He said that he tells them that learning to write effectively can change your life. Her comment is proof positive.
Pigs as in “Animal Farm” and who’s running the show? Experts in gaslighting, before we knew the real meaning.
Lin, you're always a breath of fresh air. Thank you.
Lin, you made my morning!
ThankYou. Right back at ya.
I wonder whether Republican Representative Troy Nehls even noticed that, in his zeal to discredit Capitol Police, he let slip that January 6 was a “riot” —contrary to the “legislative political discourse” label many in his party are euphemistically spinning. Hilarious!
McCarty to Nehls, “ dammit man, didn’t you read the memo? No talking to reporters in the hall”
... too easy to make a slip of the tongue...
I wondered the same thing, Rose.
Not a peep since January 6, 2020 and NOW some of these despicable republicans say a few words in between not doing one iota of work while sitting on their asses in Congress. Every last republican is a disgrace. As has been said so many times, the democrats need to step up the game, stop the ad nauseam discussion and start actively showing their base, through indictments, that they are serious about defending democracy.
In what other world does our judicial system insist on hearing from the criminals and accomplices before arresting and putting them on trial?! The paper trails are endless, there are videos, telephone recordings, first hand witness statements, etc., etc., etc. There is more than enough evidence; let's get down to the business of putting these people on trial and stop having them suck all the oxygen out of the room. We really need to move forward with infrastructure, social policies, climate change, Russia, China, virus's, and the rest of the mayhem that encompasses the world.
I hear you Janet—all the flip flopping of words when not a one cares about truth. We have all the reams of evidence for Treaon. How about some action— like arrests and indictments? I have a strange numbness creeping in. Anyway, thank you dear Heather.
Yes, unfortunately people have long become numb with all the "revelations", "breaking news", "the wheels of justice grind slowly" . . . . It really has been laid out by the NYT's, WaPo, Heather, other historians, Rachel Maddow, media, authors, politicians and supposedly sometime in March - May, the January 6th committee is going to go through weeks of "testimony" and then pass it along to the DOJ where there will be even more deliberation?! It is amazing the collective attention span has lasted this long but enough already . . . this country deserves action because without it, these criminals (particularly the higher ups) go free and clear.
Question. If the commission on January 6 hands everything over to DOJ then is it not ready for the justice department to investigate? And if the Republicans take both houses in the midterm and decide to disband the January 6 commission everything will be rolled up in the justice department and will keep going right?
The committee has already said the DOJ has enough evidence, and that the DOJ does not need to wait for them to finish their investigations.
And the GOP wouldn’t control DOJ in any case.
Thank you! I Keep feeling that nobody has control over the sandbox. Our law and order people. And that any minute we as Americans will be kicked aside by the bad people.
I am so concerned about SCOTUS' decision about gerrymandering. GA is already thinking those lawsuits can now be thrown out. If the Republicans can win in the 2024 they will throw everything out and pardon anyone who might be indicted. Not getting the voting act passed is devastating. I know there is a good chance it will have people come out in mass to vote, but if the Republican legislatures can throw out any and all votes they deem to have a problem, then how do we fight this?
Yes. How 'bout our "pound of flesh"!
https://terikanefield.com/will-someone-please-do-something/
Hakeem Jeffries called it right today: it's not the Republican National Committee anymore, it's the Republican National Cult.
Or the “RIP”…. Republican Insurrection Party
We’ll have to quote you, K Barnes! That’s a good one!
Yes. May it Rest in a Pogrom of their own making.
Like that! Perfect new words for RNC!
Prediction: By the end of this drama, the name "Republicans" will join the "Whigs", the "Know Nothings" and the "Bull Moosers" in the dustbin of history.
Any day now, someone with the guts to do it will see the opening and run down the field with a new party and new name. I suspect it will be called the "New Conservatives". Maybe they will support democracy and the rule of law.
I could be wrong. It happens all the time. Just ask my wife:)
As you do, I know your wife is right ... I mean correct. My wife advises me on all things true and grammatically accurate. Come May, the New Republican will emerge from the zygote and destroyed stem cells of the real Republican base in all their lovely babyhood, pure and unadulterated by the past errors and mistaken, but good intents, of their brethren. Ah shucks, we gotta take the high road, and put this unfortunate mess in the rear view. And go ahead and take the House and the Senate with clones of the same cast they elected to change America back to the 1950s. Always believe your wife, Bill.
Well, I hope your prediction comes true---they need to be has-beens. Always appreciate your comments!
"McCarthy “ran down that hall like he was being chased by a bunch of white dudes looking for some ‘legitimate political discourse.’”)"
I got such a good laugh from that.
Also, every time I hear about Jim Jordan complaining about the Jan 6 Committee, I want to yell, Benghazi, Benghazi, Bengahzi!
I take heart that investigations at all levels appear to be moving ahead. There are times I just wish they could speed up a little.
“Benghazi!” You reminded me that I bought that “but her emails” mug this morning and I plan to sip tea out of it every day until Jim Jordan is brought to carpet and figuratively (or literally, if needed) horsewhipped in the town square.
I tried to buy one, but they send them to every country in the world (including some very odd little spots) except Australia.
Ah! You are from Australia! I was wondering---makes sense about Nauru and your great sense of humor!
I am in Australia. Not quite the same thing.
Oh, I understand that! But you appear more knowledgeable and connected to that archipelago of islands, such as Nauru. Are you connected in anyway to the refugee/immigrants, past or current, on Nauru? And have you been on Kirimati island? I would love to visit that part of the southern hemisphere one day...
(USPS has decided that it can't mail stuff to Australia these days)
Seriously? Why is that?
I saw a pic of that mug and immediately wanted it.
I loved the description of Jordan on Fox "sounding more frantic than usual." Perfect.
What stood out to me was Dr. Richardson’s qualifier about that letter, signed by “more than 140 former Republican officials and leaders…” That word: Former. That tells us where the Republicans are. Former political leaders aren’t subject to threats from insurrectionists, aren’t punished at the polls, and they don’t have a vote in Congress. The silence of many, many current federal and state leaders is deafening, horrifying.
Mark, I agree that the silence from current, seated rethuglicans is deafening. Although I did get a laugh from McCarthy "running away" from reporters.
McCarthy is a self serving coward!
They're all cowards, spineless cowards. Chief among cowards is Ron DeSantis, who will take a stand backing either Trump or Pence until he feels a hurricane force wind blowing in one direction or the other.
It's incredibly obvious that the Republicans have become a party of opportunists who are interested in nothing but the preservation of their own permanent, unassailable power. Right-wing media, the same. They are leeches who feed off each other's ability to sway the masses, and will say anything that will keep the gravy train rolling.
It will be a true shame of history if these parasites have found democracy's weak spot and succeed in sucking it dry. But all recent signs point to exactly that happening.
The term “leaders” does not apply to Republicans in Congress. “Lemmings” would fit better.
Interesting! Provoked another realization. “Formers” do not have to raise money anymore. They can speak with their conscience. Incumbents always have an advantage in reelection. This creates a dilemma for the PACS and distribution of funds. Which replacement candidate does Ronna give money to? Does she allocate to the radical former guy sycophants or to moderate “Rhinos”?
And what about losing the moderate donors because moderates are retiring and their supporters are turned of by the QOP crazies? Inherit in political retirements loss of revenue for the new candidates from donations. So to re-stimulate donations, the fastest replacement
Strategy is red meat demagoguery of the big lie, support of Jan 6 political violence, identity issues, no substance, which creates more uncertainty and anxiety for some of the big donors and scary to moderates.
I have a hunch that the splits within the party are higher up to the biggest donors. They are splintering on who to spend on and how to spend it. Rats fighting over every last bit of cheese.
Hadn't read your comment before I said something above about corporate campaign contributions. I think they're key to where the majority of elected Republicans decide to land. (Then again, the oligarchs also have a big say on campaign spending, too.) Let's say Trump is criminally charged and some of his congressional minions are at least formally implicated, Big Money won't want to be associated with them.
The splintering you mention seems very likely to grow, both inside the GOP and among its donors. McConnell likely sees that he can't return to power unless the party makes a clean break from the traitors.
Present Senators and Rep. could get constituent letters today, en masse, and attempt to further dent and demise the Rad Republicans. Just doit.
If and when Republicans in office see their corporate owners turn off the flow of campaign money will determine where they stand — with Trump or against him. What will it take for companies to act? If polls after the Jan. 6 committee finishes its work show public sentiment decidedly against Trump. That said, no matter the findings or even criminal charges from the various investigations there will always be a small hardcore base supporting TFG.
There must be a better description of Bannon than the usual "Trump loyalist". I'd never use the word "loyal" in connection with that lawless, unkempt figure of malevolence on a world scale.
Trumpscum.
“FatsSputin” ( Banon +Rasputin)
You’re making a new contracture 2 days in a row Ted! Webster’s won’t be able to keep up with you. On the other hand, these times call for new words to describe things — evil things, scandalous absurdities — that sometimes the whole English language just can’t convey.
I’ve heard reports of thesauruses catching fire on commentator’s desks....
Oh, I interpreted that even further: he's not unknown in Moscow.
Be fair - he's better-groomed than Boris Johnson!
O.K. Guys, we’ve combed through that one quite enough. Is dandruff catching?
Not through an N95 mask....
Ouch!
That's a moot point.
Nah, but close call, both make “white supremacist” the biggest joke ever
"Intellectually underequipped"
I don’t trust Mitch McConnell; he talks from both sides of his mouth. I have asked myself countless times how he, Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, et al, can live with themselves. Don’t they get that they eroded their characters and can’t claim to have any real integrity. Very disappointing.
Susan Collins is such a pearl-clutcher.
She’s the part of Maine I can’t stand. She’s like a Mitch with pearls.
LOL!
You and me, both....That a majority of Maine voters sent her back to Washington, D.C. after all of her waffling BS not to mention her votes against TFG's first impeachment, to let DeVos out of committee, for "I Love Beer" Kavanaugh, the Handmaiden, plus Collins' various other stab-the-constituents-in-their-backs votes...it's a embarrassment. Those Maine voters should be thoroughly ashamed.
My recollection is that the vote was pretty close—my best friend in Maine also wouldn’t vote for her.
what about mud season in ME?
Exactly, I can imagine Mitch with pears, in his tan suit.
Trying so hard to click that heart. I love that image "Mitch with Pearls".
Me too Annie and twirling them ?
What is character to republicans? Why should they care as long as they can win power?
Rita you don’t trust Mitch??? But isn’t he the soul of sincerity??? Oh I’m sorry I just felt a torrent of sarcasm.
A lot of that among the acolytes today. Yummy.
Rita, I don't trust him either. If the wind is blowing too hard in some direction, he catches that current, only to be drawn back if the wind changes direction. My first thought when I read his statement...." I wonder when he'll retract that."
More rust-encrusted republican souls.
Their souls have evaporated from the rust.
The Liars Poker Game has no cards. They’ve tried everything. Even destroyed the US Post Office.
Our Ding Dong Don Fascist Heel Spur Draft Dodger Labeled The Donald is bimbo bonkers. Pays off hookers, gropes pussy, sports the yellow $79,000 hair do, the orange face, rapes a women in Bergdorf’s Fifth Avenue changing room, launders Russian money, supports killer MBS for money, sells out to Putin, loves the North Korean Psycho, drives up our deficit, kills hundreds of thousands with Covid-19, cheats his creditors, lies all the time, runs scared and terrifies fellow white racist Republican wimps…
Nicely done, SANDY‼️
Résumé of Trump, courtesy of Greg Olear
https://gregolear.substack.com/p/portrait-of-an-american-strongman
Great bio of the biggest shyster the world has known, any competitors with his reach…
Wow, what a paragraph, and he’s still the ugliest and biggest loser on planet earth.
Sandy, your best in a long time.
Sandy,
What's not to like?
Color me puzzled?
:-)
Wow Sandy! I hope I grow up to be just like you!
Thank you,
An apprentice curmudgeon.
Today’s sarcasm and wit are almost edible. High on carbs and protein, but low in sugars. Yum.
And that is only the beginning...
Color me intrigued about Troy Nehls's whiteboard. This is the first I've heard of a Capitol police officer stumbling upon it. Something tells me that Nehls doth protest too much.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/08/capitol-police-nehl-investigation/
Bingo! I imagine what the Cap Police dream about doing to these traitors.
One can only hope the Capitol Police will be invited to serve the arrest warrants when (and if) the time comes.
Kinda like this.....
https://youtu.be/xrmtsaOEGo8
“As a member of Congress, I should feel safe and secure.”
This is part of Nehl’s response that leaped out at me, remembering all the lawmakers hiding behind desks, or being rushed to a safe place on Jan 6
Has anyone made an effort to determine if, indeed, there's an ice machine adjacent to the Capitol entrance marked with an X on the whiteboard? Seems an odd location plus just how far is it from Nehls' office to the X-marked spot?
That was a thought I had too!
Order the intern to answer questions from the House January 6 committee. Good training.
hold on a sec, I'll ask Ashli Babbit....she was just trying to get that ice.
Some vivid descriptions in this writeup (e.g., "strode speedily away...")! Thank you, Heather! I think I'm starting to exhale.
Running from the truth is a race no one wins. Saw the clip. McCarthy looked like a scared little boy who knows he's screwed. One hell of a leader.
On my knees to pray for such an outcome. Better still, donate to Raskin
McCarthy = pond scum.
Beware of republicans who sign off on letters suggesting that ‘a once great movement has ceded control to grifters and extremists.’ This time in which we find ourselves has been decades in the making. Pence, McConnell, Romney and those like them, past and present, have been ‘grifting’ their voters for years. They are grifters and extremists of a different stripe than the insurrectionists, and perhaps no less dangerous to Democracy, the Constitution and rule of law. Their apparent willingness to distance themselves from the whackanoodle wing of their party should put them no further than arm’s length.
Yes! They are distancing themselves from the inevitable results of their own dishonest, greedy policies which have been poisoning our democracy for decades.
You cannot make this stuff up. Unbelievable.
Those in the GOP are on a faraway planet, in their minds.
If only they WERE on another planet!
They are in a hell of their own making, and how the heck do they get out? It reminds me of the play “No Exit” written by Jean-Paul Sartre in 1944. It all takes place in a drawing room in hell with three despicable people who deserve each other - and they can never leave.
Excellent comparison. i have heard the idea that hell is other people. And I like the idea that they can't leave although some of them are finally making feeble too late attempts to do so.
1944, wonder who those 3 people were???
Hey, Google knows. Reminds me of George Sanders acceptance speech quote. “What seems other is actually not other at all, just us on a different day.” The scariest thought ever, but one that requires some introspection…
"Three damned souls, Garcin, Inez, and Estelle are brought to the same room in hell by a mysterious Valet" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Exit#Characters We, of course, could substitute our own choices, from the past or from today.
They are down the rabbit hole. And as Joan says below I wish they were on another planet too.
Any such script would have been trashed as garbage. And garbage is what they offer.
Reps Gohmert and Nehls' complaints indicates that DOJ is indeed investigating them. Nehls' whiteboard looks extremely suspicious and Gohmert called for blood in the streets prior to J6. On another note, I am sickened that American Congressmen are supporting the Canadian Truckers in stopping the flow of goods across borders...they are supporting an attack on interstate and international business as well as an attack on the Canadian Government. Canada is our closest friend and ally. I am deeply ashamed of these Republican members of Congress.
As a Canadian in the U.S., i too find this abhorrent! To see confederate and nazi flags flying in a protest in Canada and supported by American "law makers" makes me think this mindset is as much a pandemic as Covid!
Pretty sure it is!
Dear HCR, thank you for enriching so many of us on the regular.