After news broke yesterday that President Joe Biden’s lawyers had found a second batch of documents in his home in Wilmington, Delaware, Attorney General Merrick Garland today appointed Robert Hur as special counsel to investigate Biden’s handling of classified documents.
I used to hold off until morning on reading the Letters because so many bad things were always happening in that I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I tackled tonight’s Letter just fine and was right to do so. I can sleep just fine knowing things are finally on the right path. Wow. What a time to be alive and aware enough to really appreciate this History we are going through. I was so in the dark during the Nixon years and started to catch on during the Reagan years, but without someone like Dr. Richardson giving us all this background and context ... well, I am simply so grateful. Thank you!
Being grateful is excellent and I recommend that attitude in general for anyone not living in Jackson, Mississippi or the Republic of Congo.
Having said that, I highly recommend you watch Fox News intermittently so that you can see what half of America is hanging on every day.
IF you do that, possibly, depending on your natural perspective, the sense of being "on the right path" may suffer a bit of wither. I randomly managed to watch Fox News two days back at a diner I stopped into for breakfast that had four TV's all of them running Fox News without sound the entire time.
The picture that Fox presents? Is pretty dire. As an example...
1) "Biden's Border Crisis": The static headline and underline of a lengthy "story" they are running. Migrants are overwhelming states. Lots of images of brown people walking and sitting around to scare all the old white folks out of their easy chair long enough to get the Social Security check out of the mailbox. Now, there actually IS a problem at the border and that will get worse as climate change and gangs takeover more countries. BUT, to refer to that problem as "Biden's Border Crisis" is BS of the highest order....and....while using a static bold headline across the whole story.
Plus, the President in American History who most aggressively deported the MOST migrants? Yep. Barack Obama.
2) Hunter Biden appears to be some kind of large scale villain of the order of the Joker in the "Batman" comic series. I thought Hunter Biden was just a low life drug addict with little impact on the world having ruined his life with stupid choices. But, NO, Hunter Biden is the root of most of American evil now having had all kinds of stuff on his laptop implicating all manner of people in all manner of crimes that the FBI refuses to investigate because (whatever). Sadly, apparently Joe Biden, like I probably would do, helped his son get some plum jobs doing nothing for a few countries. Not illegal and WAY less than installing Jared Kushner in a hall down from the Oval Office to collect money from ALL visitors.
I could go on, BUT, rather than wearing out my keyboard, just watch Fox News sometime. Also, Kellyanne Conway has published some drivel about Trump at none other than the NY Times today. I will, of course, not read it since it will all be lies. I am stunned to see that stuff at the NY Times.
That will cure your sense of good cheer and well being. Completely.
Because HALF of American voters believe those lies and thinks Joe Biden and Satan are one and the same. I am NOT joking.
Mike, you and I are quite well aligned. I think sampling Fox occasionally for a harsh dose of the garbage their viewers revel in is a good idea. But let's have some perspective.
The Folks who watch Fox News are dying. This from Wiki:
"The median age of a prime-time viewer was 68 as of 2015. A 2019 Pew Research Center survey showed that among those who named Fox News as their main source for political news, 69% are aged 50 or older. According to a 2013 Gallup poll, 94% of Fox viewers "either identify as or lean Republican".
In fact, cable news itself is dying. Fox leads MSNBC and CNN for sure. But advertisers are fleeing cable TV for streaming channels. For further confirmation, read about the folks dumping their Comcast "bundles" for just internet. We did that last year. Signed up for internet only with Fios. $39.99 a month.
Most of Gen Y or Z just don't care about ANY TV news. They get their news from their phones. They don't use cable TV and they stream their entertainment. The future is brighter than we sometimes think... Fox is on borrowed time. As they shift to streaming, they will enter a world of monthly fee competition. How many of these bozos will pay $9.99 a month for "news". Of course, there will always be diners to visit...
If Gen X and Y are getting their news "from their phones," what websites are they looking at? Can they discern an objective, legitimate news story from lies and misinformation?
And my husband alleges that I'm a dinosaur because I still subscribe to a daily newspaper. If Gen X and Y aren't reading them, whether in print or online, what does that mean for the future of local newspapers? Are we all going to be stuck with USA Today and no local news? This is not good news (pun intended) for our democracy.
Local newspapers are going rapidly. Just this week my hometown Medford (OR) Mail Tribune is shutting down by the end of the month. It had been purchased by Gannett (as my local paper, the Eugene Register Guard was), and then sold to an investor. They quit print within the past 6 months, and are now closing down permanently. The RG is now a USA Today "news" source, with anywhere from 6-8 local (to Eugene and Salem) articles per issue.
Of our 3 local TV stations, 2 are owned by Sinclair. Local reporting is horrible.
It seems like the only way to find truth that is well documented and reasonably priced is on substack, like here and another good example is Your Local Epidemiologist. Our local Seattle Times is still honest and fairly strong, but much of the news that's national comes from NY Times and Wa Post. I try to avoid papers like the Epoch Times and Reddit because the twisting of facts and totally inappropriate documentation nauseates me. Clearly, the way to worm propaganda into the hearts of those who support the destruction of democracy is to make lies sound "truthy". There is now a proposal in Wa to make newspapers exempt from B& O taxes. Maybe they should seek 501c(3) status too.
Sinclair is a Republican organ. Find YouTube video of all local Sinclair “journalists” across the nation having to say the same propaganda statement on air. Scary
The worst radio broadcasters in the business! I had a career in radio for about 25 years, with a hiatus when I had my daughter. Radio ownership has gone the way of the publishing industry. A few pac men have gobbled up all the small time players. Advertisers don't know how to reach their target audience! Everything is so fractionalized. Podcasts, social media platforms, people have dozens, hundreds of choices to choose from.
Remember the power house radio stations, especially those with the big 1A clear channels? Overnight you could drive across the country and follow these signals for hundreds of miles! Big name personalities, local weather, traffic, news reports... Now a radio personality goes into a booth and records 3 or 4 hours of talk and syndicated music from the various genres we all recognize,,, adult contemporary, rock, country music etc.... The engineer goes to the station in the morning, flips on the switch, local affiliates have traffic and news reporters that they contract with... so sad. Radio was always such a fabulous medium... until Wall Street discovered it 😞 Radio stations were cash cows, and they were such a part of our lives...
Why wouldn't children be able to sort out what is "legitimate"?
Is it legitimate because it is written on paper?
Isn't it more legitimate if the public can vet the information and provide support or contrary evidence?
I think public forums are the reason that newspapers and television are losing subscribers.
A few years back, television news programs began a campaign urging viewers to "join the conversation." The only problem was that they never heard my side of the conversation, no matter how loudly I yelled at the screen. It seemed as if they were all deaf.
Kidding aside, a one-way "conversation" is not a conversation at all. It was another big lie. It was, and still is propaganda, a sales pitch, or deception, pick your poison.
It may have worked for a while, but a one way conversation has never been very satisfying and the ratings show it. We deserve and demand interaction.
I'm curious about all the new words gaining popularity, including "misinformation", "disinformation", "credible" and "legitimate".
How do you define these words?
And which of the ten or more biographies of John Adams is credible?
Just one more example of capitalism unregulated and monopolies thriving - at our expense. IMO, internet should be a utility like public water or electricity - and run by local authorities.
But at a minimum, a community should have a cable committee that encourages competitive providers. That's a rare thing, sadly.
From reading comments here over the past couple of years, my sense is that many commenters here, perhaps most, are also "over 68", maybe even over 80 (as I am). Also, whatever their benefits, I have read that streaming is an intensive user of electricity, i.e., worse than cable or ordinary TV for the environment. If someone here knows more about this, I would be interested. I want to say "Happy New Year" to all, but feel queasy about the word 'Happy'; perhaps "Contented" instead.
“I have read that streaming is an intensive user of electricity, i.e., worse than cable or ordinary TV for the environment …”
Hmm. No. Don’t think there is anything to worry about WRT energy use and “streaming” media, but I’m uncertain what you’re concern is. If A big plasma TV uses 500 watts of electricity, an LED modern TV a fraction of that, and a cell phone less than 1/100 of that. “Streaming” content itself is not enough of energy consumption to worry over. The modem in your home that connects to the internet is using very little energy, but it is always on, always doing something. And “streaming” content is a non-issue when compared to your refrigerator, an electric clothes dryer or stove or oven, or the energy used (fuel) to drive a car (electric or gasoline).
No worries.
[edit added a couple days later:]. On second thought, a nugget of truth behind the statement, "streaming is an intensive user of electricity." So, imagine before Internet.
Entertainment on TV and radio was transmitted live over towers, cable or satellite TV beamed live material in real-time. When you add Internet to that, and streaming over the internet, on-demand: all these media providers now maintain or hire out for huge server farms to store, and "stream," all that content on demand. So, the kernel of truth to your statement, is yes, these server farms are huge consumers of power. They are not cheap to operate. (Crypto currency "miners" are coming under fire now for similar and worse power usage - in theory the bigger your "mine" the more power it consumes but the more "money" it will produce so "miners" are building server farms bigger and faster and as power-hungry as a small town to make more "money"... using the term "money" very loosely here.)
So, does streaming media increase the consumption of electricity? Countering my own original argument, sure, yes it does. Perhaps more at the provider end than the consumer end, I guess. If you have a TV screen turned on, it consumes power, roughly the same whether it's showing an on-air program, cable program, or streaming through a tiny 20-watt modem connected to your ISP.
I'm guessing the statement you read, "streaming is an intensive user of electricity," didn't provide the valuable context. If someone is saying disconnect from media because it's using too much energy, I'd say, no, it's better to stay informed and connected and educated than to be in the dark. Can you do anything about streaming media use of energy? Probably not, on the consumer end. But take comfort that the introduction of LED light bulbs in the home has probably done more to reduce CONSUMER home energy use (and commercial lighting) across the globe than the internet streaming services will ever consume. As does the replacement of tube TVs and Plasma Screen TVs with LED-based TVs (of the same size). Computers and laptops and phones and pads have taken a similar energy diet. A "net win" via the advance of technology.
Thank you Bill; I think I got it ... first FIOS or alternative then purchase your favorite Third-party Apps, Prime Video, Disney, Peacock, Brit Box, whatever ... for a minor fee.
Yes. The challenge is how many of theses "streaming channels" can one afford? And if you don't subscribe to the same ones as your friends, you can't share recommendations and reviews - which is half the fun. I think I am getting close to a total that eclipses the old cable bill! Not so minor when you add it up.
Yep, It's TikTok more than any place. It's even cutting in to Netflix, Disney and other streaming services because their shows range from half and hour to three hours. TikTok is usually about 15 to 30 seconds.
Something came past me yesterday (sorry I can't remember the reference) that suggested we not call the program Fox NEWS. It certainly isn't "News." so are we adding legitimacy where perhaps it shouldn't be? Fox Entertainment?
Correct. I just call it FOX when speaking to my FOX-addicted sister and brother-in-law. I've told them it's an entertainment network, but it's like talking to a brick wall. So freaking sad that so many people can't see through the propaganda. Stupid Americans watching evil in real time. Sorry to call people stupid but what else is it?
There's too much hate, too much. So that even hating the hateful, even hating hatred itself... is TOO MUCH.
These benighted fools have already brought their world to an end, collapsing under the weight of excessive so-called wealth, so much cruelty, cheating and lies.
Let's stop attending to them and their excrement, to them and their world on the way out. Let us think of the world soon to be born and how we can contribute to making it fit for posterity.
Mike We will be hearing a lot about Hunter Biden in the Republican Animal House ‘investigations.’
Hunter would have been an embarrassment to any family.—drugs, high flying financial shenanigans, affair with his death brother’s wife, coasting into situations as the vice president’s son, not paying taxes on his ‘influence-related-handouts.’
Now the Department of Justice is considering civil/criminal charges against Hunter Biden. I find that appropriate. By contrast, Jackass Jordan is contemplating a Benghazi-type ‘investigation’ of Hunter Biden to suggest that then-vice president Biden had personally benefitted from Hunter’s haplessness.
In recent years there has been absolutely no evidence that Joe Biden was benefiting from Hunter’s haplessness. Pitbull Jordan’s House fishing trip should be sharply curbed from the outset. The thought that the Biden family acted with Trump-like irresponsibility is laughable.
These forthcoming House ‘hearings’ are a travesty which the media should underscore.
I am sure that Biden is not, in any way, benefitting from his son's slow rolling failure, like you say.
I am not sure what Hunter Biden would have done, successfully, in the criminal world since staying alive as a a criminal among international thieves and being junkie is actually not so easy to do.
At any rate, Fox News will pound old man Biden to death with the sins of his son.
C60 I remember that Nixon had a troublesome brother. Didn’t Bill have some link with Libyans, would pee wherever, and had some financial arrangements, including Billy Beer, that were ‘untoward?’
Mike, with respect, please cite your source for claiming that half of all Americans watch Fox. More than 155 million people? Really? Wouldn’t they love to be able to claim that!
Generations find their news very differently. Had you stated that half of Boomers watch Fox, I would find that credible if sad beyond repair. Boomers tend tend to watch the news on broadcast TV. Not Millennials. Certainly not GenZ. Nor even half of Gen X/Y.
Please remember that more than 100 million eligible voters in the US do not vote regularly. The largest group of voters identify as Independents. There is no monolithic “half of all Americans” that agree on much of anything in the studies I review. (I usually start with Pew if it matters.)
Your cynicism is always thick Mike, but this is over the top. You might want to head to Field Team 6’s website www.fieldteam6.org and click under actions. They provide training in how to push back against false media allegations. Push true narratives rather than bemoaning false ones. Do what you can rather than advise folks to watch Fox’s lies. Please.
Let’s spend our very precious time, talent and treasure defending democracy.
Not quite, Mike. According to Forbes, average nightly viewership for Fox evening programs was 2.33M, MSNBC was 1.22M and CNN was 730,000 in 2022. Is Fox a problem? Yes, absolutely. So is the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, One America Network, and every podcast by bozos like Bannon and Joe Rogan. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are rife with disinformation. TikTok is honestly terrifying since there is little to no regulation of content - one only has to look at the statistics on teens with eating disorders being trolled via TikTok to see the horrors of disinformation. Or check the stats on death from COVID in blue counties vs red. The actual problem is lack of content regulation on the thousands of content programs produced and aired whether TV, radio, streaming services, internet, social media or the broadcast of your church service on Sunday morning. When anyone can produce “content” and put out on the net, without regard for accuracy, huge problems result. “The agenda setting power of the media.” People watch, listen and view what reinforces what they want to believe. That’s the problem. Fox produces a particularly toxic brew of lies, deceit and BS. They are in vast company in doing so.
How do we regulate what people read or watch without becoming a totalitarian state?
As you wrote, people view programs they want to believe. What body will be the one who determines what we can read, watch and believe?
No person has this authority, which is why the first amendment is nearly absolute.
Like it or not, at least in the U. S., we all enjoy and benefit from free speech. We do not have the right to exclude others from exercising their identical right. Equity has no exceptions or it is no longer equity.
People leave their whole lives behind to come to America because of our freedoms. If we give up these freedoms there will be no refuge left in the world for people longing to live free.
Yes, Mike, I actually do know these things and am not sticking my head in the sand io any way. I just am buoyed to see some good news when we can get it. And getting enough sleep is a luxury for we, the privileged, because we have roofs over our heads and food in the pantry and refrigerator. I know that. I get that. And due to shenanigans in Oregon, Nicholas Kristof is back at the times getting to the horrible realities still going on in our world. I read him, too, after I get enough sleep to handle it and become part of the solutions in any ways that I can. Here is an excerpt from my own writing about how people form their viewpoints and how it impacts the lives of the children they raise:
<<A final introductory concept [from ch. 6 in my book] regarding viewpoints comes from the work of social scientist Leon Festinger. He developed the concept of cognitive dissonance. Generally, cognitive dissonance is what happens when someone has a long-held, fixed view about something and then something happens to make them question whether they may have been wrong. As Festinger first wrote in 1957,
"A man with a conviction is a hard man to change. Tell him you disagree, and he turns away. Show him facts or figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point."
Festinger’s theory helps to explain why it is so difficult to change people’s minds. This matters because people—like many of the parents in this study—may agree with the ideas this book or an expert they choose to help them with their children recommend, but if the idea runs counter to lifelong values and beliefs, it usually will not shift their thinking quickly, if at all. You will notice many examples of this from individual and family member quotes as you continue reading.>>
First, it was not my intent to appear to indicate you were not plugged into reality and my apology.
My intent was to indicate that anyone, at all, who feels that the American nation is not under constant threat from the "far right", every day, is not taking the far right as serious as it is.
Perhaps that is not you. Me? I never relax, never feel that America is not at the edge of a precipice. I am working, every day, to lower the credibility of anything the far right says and any information they put out.
I never feel, even for a second, that the wolf is not at my door.
I wasn't offended, Mike, and it is kind of you to check in and apologize. Very sweet really. Thank you. I keep the traumas and issues of the world high in my own mind, too, and my writing projects all include observations, comments, and caveats about equity, access, inner growth and development, etc. I hope that makes sense. There are so many different ways to make a difference toward a better future for us all.
Actually, it is only 35% of Americans who are brainwashed, but they are impenetrably brainwashed. It is impossible to have a civil discussion or debate with them because they provide no facts but fox/trump propaganda spews. I take heart at Bill Alstrom's message to you--about the demise of fox...cannot happen soon enough.
I have not watched television (other than local weather) in over two years, so you are not talking about me. I'm here to discuss specifics if you have any.
Do you watch television? If so, what is your preferred propaganda outlet?
I have a running theory that one can be hypnotized via television. Therapists use hypnosis videos to cure many ills, and repeated watching reinforces the therapy. Like any technology, it can be used for good or ill. If you think that TV giants wouldn't try that I have a bridge to sell you.
So what you are calling brainwashing could just as easily be attributed to mass hypnosis. Regardless of which, there are many more left outlets than right, but combining all of the left and right viewer numbers does not amount to anything near 35% of Americans as regular viewers. I conclude that your assertion is incorrect.
Perhaps the reality is that the basic political philosophy of people in major metropolitan areas lean toward Democrat Socialism, and people in rural areas lean philosophically toward less government intrusion (most identify as libertarians, but register as Republican).
Urban dwellers require more government services for good reason, because central park would be a mess without strict rules. Rural dwellers have no need for such regulation, and it is more often than not an impediment to progress.
The real problem comes when Urban dwellers think that their rules must apply to rural dwellers. Could it be that they are jealous that others have more freedom than they do, and they want to burden everyone with their rules? I can think of no logical reason for a person to want to impose their rules on others. That is what radical Islamists do, with obvious poor results shown by thousands of years of historical misery.
Furthermore, Democrats pay lip service to cultural diversity, while attempting to create a monoculture burdened by their rules. The people of Martha's Vineyard, strongly Democratic, demonstrated their brand of hypocrisy by declaring themselves a sanctuary city for immigrants and then turning a single busload of them away before the had set. More blacks live in the South because they know where they are not wanted, and they are especially not wanted in the coastal blue areas. A little demographic research reveals this disparity clearly.
In contrast, rural dwellers do not care that urban dwellers want more restrictions, they just want to run their own lives. Clearly, our nation was established with strong state's rights for this very reason. What is good for the goose is not always good for the gander.
Oh I know you are not joking. I have acquaintances (not friends, but folks I see more than seldomly) who seem to be ordinary good folks. They're just conservative. But they post absolutely venomous stuff on FB (and probably elsewhere) against Biden. All the time. It's just crazy. Absolutely crazy.
I also check in with FOX every few days. You have described that world perfectly. I still don't let it ruin my day. I view it as a reality check.
Another reality check? CNN. What a mess they are. They are copying the FOX format. They are willing to throw Biden, Democratic Party or anyone else overboard for a news bite or headline. Chuck Todd is the worst. My point is that it's not just FOX. There are many many news organizations and media figures willing to betray for money.
I just wish that I didn't have so many friends and family that are "Foxy"! I have a friend that her granddaughter married Pompeo's son recently...that was very hard to take.
You haven't missed anything except the continual screams from the loud deflecting house party and Fox News that "Hunter's laptop" is all of the United States's problem, It's been going on for several years nows.......
Apparently there is an ongoing DOJ investigation. But so far, no cigar. I suspect he will be found to have used his name to make some money. Oh no, say it isn't true. That's never happened before, eh?
All of the networks have agreed that the laptop is real.
The twitter files have also revealed that our own government conspired with media to conceal the fact prior to the 2020 election.
Our own government damaged the election to a far greater degree than the common narrative of "russian bots".
Clearly, we have agencies in need of a house cleaning. They have been using their talents in the field of nation building on us, their client. This cannot stand.
Yes, Joe Biden clearly had poor judgement around his own kid.
But, who has great judgement where helping their kids out is relevant?
Lastly: If Jared Kushner can sit 50 ft from the Oval office and collect money from every single arse kisser that showed up at Trump's feet, what's the big deal about Hunter Biden?
There has apparently been an investigation ongoing by David Weiss US attorney for Delaware, appointed by Trump in 2017. There was a lengthy piece in The NY Times about HB a few days ago. It tells what looks to be the most likely charges against HB.
I believe it is linked above by Linda Hanson. It is thorough and puts things in perspective. Hunter might face charges related to filing some taxes late and checking a box when purchasing a handgun saying he wasn’t using drugs when he might not have been totally clean yet. There is also some other minor sounding tax issue about $30,000 in expenses claimed.
As if your half doesn't think Trump is Satan? Pot calling the kettle black. Clinton kept a private server with classified documents, attached to the internet. This document business is nothing new. It's also a nothingburger distracting from serious issues.
So when do we get past this whataboutism and agree that corruption exists in the seat of our government? It will never be eliminated, but if we were to limit the powers if government as the founders intended then we would remive the incentive for much of the corruption.
Government should not be bailing out people every time they fail. Failure should be a learning opportunity. As it stands today, failure can be highly profitable thanks to good old Uncle Sam. The bailout of financial institutions should have been the last straw.
If we were to limit government powers to basic infrastructure, law enforcement and a minimalist social safety net there would be little need for the heated rhetoric in politics. It would be more like hiring a maintenance man.
There is also a need to reduce the scope of our intelligence community. They have learned to manipulate the culture in foreign lands, drawing the disdain of the very people we thought we were helping. We must stop meddling in the affairs of others while our own house is in disorder. These same agencies have now taken what they learned in foreign lands and applied it to their own client' we the people. They have tainted our most essential right as a democracy, our vote. How can we continue to have an agency which, by design, must hold secrets from it's own client? The answer is obvious, we cannot. No agency if our government can be above transparency. We cannot continue lying to ourselves via an unaccountable agency. It's completly illogical and a recipe for exactly what has happened. Mass manipulation has the people serving government, which is the opposite of what our constitution requires.
Without secure and auditable elections, a balanced budget without defensible borders, we have no nation. This should be common sense to Democrats, Republicans and independents.
You'd be a lot more credible, whoever you are, if you used a real name like most of the rest of us on this feed. There are some reasonable talking points here but your us-v-them presentation is inappropriate.
Sometimes he makes an interesting point. But it often gets lost in the rant. And no specifics or facts make it hard to take the points seriously. But he has fun trolling.
BTW, I am really Bill - nice to meet you, real person :)
Ha, yes, I get on a passionate rant now and then. This may be another....
Passion is what drives our most important ventures. Passion is what makes a person forget about sleeping when pursuing an important goal. Some of our greatest leaders and inventors were passionate, driven people. Same for some of the most despicable ones.
Most of my writing is off the cuff. I'm in my later years and have studied many topics. I retain information well but I do look things up when not sure. I place links occasionally, and when questioned on specifics I provide examples and/or links.
When I am wrong I admit it and move forward with the new knowledge. Please read the "Disclaimer" on my substack page. It goes into greater detail about my views on what is fact and what is opinion.
Basically, there is a base physical reality that we refer to as "truth". Each of us views this truth from a limited and unique perspective. None of us has the same perspective (in science we refer to this as a "point of reference".) Because of our unique perspective, and our limited brain power, we each form a different opinion if what is "truth". Sometime my opinion will conflict with your opinion, and other times we will be in full agreement.
So, just as science has discovered relativity, we today are discovering that the same very real world can appear different when viewed from another perspective. If we listen to others and walk a mile in their shoes then we benefit from having more than just two eyes and two ears. Essentially, via undistorted and trustworthy conversation we gain a broader perspective, like the wide array telescopes in the attached link
It would be beneficial if you posted resources when you make significant claims. Otherwise, you just repeat what is spewed on propaganda stations. Which is really not a truth unless you live in their alternative reality where up is down and vs/vs.
Actually, as a long time software developer and AI developer, I can assure you that a an AI bot can offer not only the appearance of substance but the reality of substance depending on the training set.
My goodness. A guy who has no idea what AI can do these days making ignorant pronouncements.
Linda he’s nothing but a troll. Yes he’s intelligent but a troll nonetheless. Don’t waste your time reading or responding to anything this clown writes. His only objective is to suck you in.
Linda I think his anonymous name is Goofy Gadfly. He adulterates his comments with absolute crap. The fact that he has a separate opinion blog I find chilling.
Is there anything specific in my blog that you find chilling, other than the prospect of another deep glacial cycle?
I will gladly discuss any issue without personal attacks such as yours. Personal attacks are a sign of one suffering either from dogmatic religious belief or a fear of intelligence. Perhaps even both.
I'm no DaVinci, but he was a great example of how a culture of ignorance tends to fear intelligence. Elon Musk is learning of this today. The Jewish People are among the most intelligent people, on average, on the planet. You know what happened to them, right?
Thank you Linda. Your opinion is welcomed and encouraged, pro or con.
It's obvious that I am not a bot.
It would be irresponsible of me to use my real name, given the propensity of certain caracters to doxx and threaten people. I have family and they are my top priority.
My social posts are my contribution to society. Some may disagree, and i am always open to dissenting opinions. i will not, however, risk my life or the lives of my family for secondary concerns.
Anonymity is the safer option for me. If it reduces my credibility level a bit, then so be it. My words and opinions require no certificates of authority, they stand on their own.
Anonymity also gives me greater freedom to express opinions which some may find offensive and which may even draw violent retribution. Often the most controvercial issues are the ones we should be discussing rather than supressing.
I've faced violent threats on rare occasions and i don't want to be silenced by fear. Even some of my family do not agree with my opinions, and I don't want to alienate or unnecessarily challenge them. Again, the greater good of society is secondary to the safety of and loving relationships with my own friends and family.
So rest assured, you are conversing with a real American who is working toward finding the highest standards civilization can achieve.
Instead, why not discuss qualities of a decent human being? Just because someone is a celebrity and rich does not make them a kind person or capable of running a country or a mass social media organization. Especially when you lean towards malignant narcissism or have autistic leanings where owning a global social platform is just. Not. A. Good. Idea. As we are seeing-- power corrupts and we are witnessing before our eyes in so many parts of our government and society.
I think a lot of people have escaped the bonds of religious dogma inly to replace it with another form of religion which still seeks angels and demons.
Yes, there are people who do both good and bad things. Some become more powerful than others. The bad and the good within gains power at the same time. This is the struggle of all men, rich and poor.
Is it our place to judge? The bible says judge not lest ye be judged. I'm no biblical scholar, but as one who has sinned, I tend to agree.
So do you see that although we are all capable in both honorable and despicable behavior- I rather stay away from "good" and "bad"- some people lean more heavily in one direction than the other. If those who lean more heavily into the despicable and become powerful they can wreak a lot of havoc. I have a very difficult time seeing anything honorable about the former guy. The long list of his despicable behaviors often resulting in terrible suffering and death, as in so many people particularly in red states dying from COVID because of his lies about it, and the unleashing of hatred toward so many Americans because they didn't fit what was thought of as acceptable are just the tip of the iceberg. There hasn't been a president who has been this unabashedly hateful toward so many in my memory - which is pretty long. And that so many in his party not only remained silent or joined his chorus and continue to do so, instead of actually wanting to govern is evidence enough that that party is broken and dangerous to the well being of this country.
You are still taking in only one side of the issues and demonizing. Trump was the bad daddy our country needed. Strength is not hatred. It was not the time for phony gentlemen toasting one another. He was strong with China, Russia and NATO. They all respected that strength and there were no new wars. Today we have the left war mongering in Ukraine. What happened to my once peace loving liberal party? I believe it was abducted by vested interest and has become the establishment it once hated.
There is only one way to remove the power from vested interests like Big Pharma (largest sponsor of nightly news and congress). We must limit the powers of government according to the intent of the founders. That removes the incentive of the vested interests to contribute, bribe, blackmail and murder for the sake of favorable legislation.
If government were limited as intended, to infrastructure, law enforcement and minimal social safety net, then there would be little political rancor in our country. No one has heated arguments over how well or badly the janitor cleans the restroom.
It is our place to judge when it involves our democracy which we pay for with our taxes. When the inmates of the asylum are running roughshod over our Constitution and our rights, thinking they are above the laws, it is judgement time. And time for a LOT of indictments for criminals, seditionists and traitors to America.
I need to wait for an AM coffee to read the news. I like to clear my head at night - think happy personal thoughts to set the stage for some good dreams. This does not always work :)
Anyway...here are my caffeine driven thoughts:
All of this "whataboutism" will dim and fade as minor background chatter among the "Q crew. Biden is being open and forthright - following the rules as NARA requires. It is a nothing burger.
Soon there will be news eclipsing all this nonsense including the "theater" at the House of Representatives. Santos will be a joke of a memory. Jordan and company will be busted. And there is a real possibility that the GQP will lose their majority as a result.
Headline names: Jack Smith, Fanni Willis. And Letitia James may not be done. Patience will pay off.
Trumps mental illness will lead to even more bizarre comments which will become even more damaging and self incriminating. Keep in mind that there are no "professional tenders" guarding "Don the Con". No daughter or son-in-law to protect him from himself. No credible legal team. No advisors who have the guts to influence this bag of BS. He is surrounded by third string wobbly kneed sycophants. It's a recipe for self destruction. Let's pull up a chair and patiently watch the show.
I woke up this Friday 13th thinking of Jack Smith and his speedy and aggressive investigations. We already know, thanks to the meticulous work of the J6 committee and the testimonies of thousands of witnesses (under oath), that certain members of the House (Gosar, Jordan, Biggs, Green to name a few) were involved in efforts to overthrow the 2020 election and now we can see the handwriting on the wall for the poor little liar, Santos. By my count, that's at least FIVE, if not more that may be ending their political careers sooner than later. WHEN that occurs, the House might then be able to return to normal and get some actual legislation done. That's my hope anyway.
Deborah and Bill. I too remain hopeful while expecting a lot of theatre and get back at the establishment for not carrying out the platforms of the right. The Senate will remain a check, the Executive branch has considerable power, the press and media will provide good and poorly curated news, and we have Heather, TC, and Dan Rather to commiserate with. A receipe for sanity retained. Afterall, politics is the hobby of the old, those old enough to watched failed ideologies regain new life, successful innovations collapse under the weight of poor replications, and the belief that simple is always the answer to whatever the problem might be, especially if the government is involved.
One thing that makes me pleased today is that Garland quickly appointed a special counsel to follow wherever the evidence leads with respect to Mr Biden's potential mishandling of then or now sensitive national material. That Mr Biden's lawyers reported finds when they occurred to NARA is commendable, but not proof of no wrongdoing. His lawyers followed the law, as far as we know. And, the WH made a political decision as to when to disclose the finds. Chide them though we might, do we know for real any requirement, other than a political expectation that Mr Biden commit suicide for his party about disclosing evidence in the middle of a heated election? I remember a certain prosecutor who released some rumors in 2016 and that went sideways and had little to do with the fitness of a certain candidate for high office. I feel a certain contentment that we might just be back to handling things in a boring, straightforward way in DC.
I was in the dark during all of those years. It wasn't until I went to work as an auditor for the State of Indiana and I had to tell them if I was a Democrat or a Republican....I had no idea....but I answered the question correctly....the State was Republican at the time. I answered Republican but soon found out that I should be a Democrat!
And appointing a special counsel was brilliant. It takes the wind out of Republican sails. It also means Biden and Trump are being treated similarly. One comment on Substack even showed how to talk to Republicans as they criticize Biden, who is being treated the same as Trump by the Justice Department.
I've been wondering what grounds Republicans would find to impeach Biden. With the rabid focus on Hunter Biden, I thought it would be linked to that. But now my fictional spidey sense is up. I've wondered if the documents found at the Penn Biden Center weren't planted to deliberately discredit and suggest forensic analysis of them to find out.
However, Biden's team found them and implemented the standard process for return. Now, I see this was the scenario Republicans planned to use for impeachment. Suspicion that if Biden hadn't discovered the documents that Republicans would have staged a raid, discovered them, and launched into impeachment proceedings. They're already trying to diminish Trump's culpability by comparing this situation to Trump's obstruction fight which involved Court cases and a search to find documents that Trump has variously claimed he declassified and are his. Moreover, we're talking about 10 or so documents versus 300 that Trump had. Kind of like the difference between a paper cut and a knife wound.
I would not be so sure about the sequence of events and timelines. It’s already being reported that their was a delay of weeks between discovery and reporting. And the special prosecutor is perhaps a great tactical move until he wants to prosecute someone. Recognizing the justice department is on record that they won’t prosecute a sitting President, there could be others involved that do not enjoy that protection.
Whilst we are talking about justice, please note that Jim Jordan (and others) refused to obey a subpoena for the Jan 6 attack on the Capitol investigation and now he will be in control of the judiciary committee. The arc of injustice moves very quickly. https://judiciary.house.gov/committee/chairman
I love your 'inmates running the asylum.' Jordan may finally meet his match with Jack Smith. If he receives a subpoena from the Gran d Jury he won't be able to wriggle out of it and if lies under oath he'll be returned in handcuffs. Yay, that would stop his eternal lying
Marj In principle I’d say yes in responding to Animal House subpoenas, BUT not when they are fishing far beyond the legitimate fishing grounds. For example—President Biden’s financial records for 10 years.
There needs to be appropriate push back to prevent a series of Benghazi shooting-dead-fish-in-a- barrel. Decorum in the Republican Animal House? I’d faint if I saw it.
The Republicans just can't deal with government officials doing the right thing, which Garland has done. I have no doubt the special counsel will learn the truth and be guided by the law. Still, I'm troubled that Biden didn't launch a review of his files after the Trump scandal broke. He's inadvertently handed the extremists a gift.
Meanwhile, after reading more of Trump's intensifying nut-job blather about Jack Smith, I'm struck how he is slowly but surely falling to pieces. He's going to take the Humpty Dumpty route when he's finally indicted.
There you have it: Democrats concerned with running the country. Republicans creating constant turmoil. Why? Because Republicans want our Democracy to fail so they can re-crate Christian Democracy like they have in Budapest! Look it up!
Yes, Gailee. Do government employees who are removed from office due to criminal activity retain their healthcare and pensions? They shouldn't, on the our (the taxpayer's) dime.
Yup, and a nice pension later on, no matter how short the term. (I think it is pro-rated though.) Only exception is for removal due to something criminal. Hmmm.
I believe a "Congresscritter" (Heather's term, not mine), newly fledged this year and without other federal service, isn't vested before five years, so unless Santos has been or later becomes a federal civil servant, he'd have to be elected to the House twice more to get anything more than a handshake by way of House retirement. Of course, he could also choose to continue his contributions to Social Security instead; if I were advising this lad, that's what I'd recommend.
This is my visual. I can´t even spend any more time on the festering clown show anymore. It does no good for mental, emotional, or physical health anymore. They are lethal buffoons with legions of brain dead followers who cannot be reasoned with.
I disagree. Remember what it took to end apartheid in S. Africa: people on both sides sat in the same room to work things out.
I also have in mind psychological studies of the differences between brain structures of Republicans and Democrats which prompted advice on how to engage in argument. First firsty first, find common ground.
Sorry I can’t link you to the studies. If any of you readers can, please do.
By common ground… the Rs in my area, i just don’t talk politics and try to find other topics for common ground. So that they know me as a human being. Common interests. Only can reason with some of my neighbors if I first am seen as human, with common ground. And I can see them the same way, and get along.
Oh my gosh, I think this is coming close to a definition of the notorious “midwest nice.” Argh!
Yes, Daryl. The majority of Democrats are very “concerned with running the country”. It is the Repugnants that seem to be “just remaining in a state of constant turmoil”. We will all be better off after the People see what s**mbags the Repugs really are.
Daryl, as you know they are drunk over their power and the money they can steal from their fellow citizens....this is not a new concept. It is rare to find a decent, moral person in any form of governance....anywhere.
Professor Richardson, thanks for reminding us what a brilliant AG Garland is and his team seems to be top notch as well. May the PBs go down and take DT down with them!
I agree, if you investigate one you must the other and see where chips fall!
But the bigger picture for me is, is there no accounting system for removal of classified documents (by whom, when, where and date returned, etc?)? Then if not returned by specified date, some sort of follow up be done? Maybe have an extension but all documented!?? For me, if there was a good accountability system, neither one would be in this predicament!??
One stops. Makes sure no one is hurt and exchanges insurance information with the other driver.
The other drives away without stopping. Later when the police come to his home he tells them the dent in his fender happened when he backed into a hedge of roses. When they continue to interrogate him, he calls them racist names.
At first I was dismayed at the DOJ for appointing a special counsel to investigate the discovery of classified documents in Biden's quarters after he and his aides followed the rules and immediately notified the National Archives and returned them--the direct opposite of trump's behavior of refusing to comply. I have now come to see it as a God-send. When trump-appointed special counsel Hur declares there's nothing there to prosecute, we just might hear a deafening silence from the other side that gleefully compared Biden's actions to trump's. There is a quiet sense of satisfaction of what goes around comes around...let's see!
Music to my ears...from a guy positioned to hear the music: Trump posted "Smith is known as 'an unfair Savage'"..."Jack Smith hates me". Sounds like Trump needs a change of underwear!
Product idea: Trump steaks, university, ties, etc. all went bust. BUT Trump adult diapers, perhaps marked with MAGA slogan and an infomercial by Trump 'since Jack Smith was appointed I have worn these diapers daily, I can attest to their quality. Buy them now!'
Since it's well-known that poor ole drumpy either can't or won't read much, I'd hazard a guess that his florid adjectives are lifted directly from old comic books.
Has anyone seen a “word cloud” diagram to TFGs emissions? That would be precious to see. Say just of his twitter feed and his speeches. Somebody, get on generating that data!
Wonderful idea. I have a “Demented Memento" collection with many quirky things (a hamster litter box and an airplane barf bag that also could be used to mail in film to be developed from years ago are a couple of examples). A box of Trump diapers would be a perfect addition to my collection.
Thank you again ,Heather, for illuminating what we should know going forward.That he who unleashed the mob is still free and walking about fomenting hatred lo 2 long years ago when he and his mob tried to overthrow our government and tried to negate my legally caste ballot is troubling.I am not a conspiracy theorist but I find it quite odd and intriguing that this document “find” comes right at the heels of Jack Smith amping up his investigation and hiring several new prosecutors.
Victoria, if my memory is correct, the documents at PennBiden were found in the Fall of 2022, before Jack Smith was appointed special counsel. I think it will also come out that President Biden initiated the search of his homes and offices.
I hope folks don’t take this the wrong way. And, after I say what I have to say, I’ll try my best to explain why I say this. But, “here goes nothin” as they say.
I have some reservations about these “classified documents” being located in President Biden’s old office he had after leaving the Vice Presidency. And then another document located in his home I’m Maryland, beside his Corvette.
First. Why are these documents all of a sudden showing up at locations affiliated with President Biden?
Second. I’m very cautious of the comparison to the documents which Trump had located. At his home in Mar-a-Lago, and in a “locked public storage shed”. Seems very suspicious to me that this is ideally about the same as President Biden documents being found.
Third. Just exactly what is the level of this “classification” of all these so-called documents?
Now, let’s look at these documents cases side be side.
Trump was asked to return all his documents to the National Archives. He supposedly returned some and said that was all he had. The National Archives disagreed and requested all documents be returned. Trump refused, which inevitably led to the Federal Search Warrant being served and his home searched. Here “hundreds” of “highly classified”, “top secret”, and “classified” documents were located, most being in Trumps office. Others scattered about the home in different locations, all of which had access by just about anyone. Oh, I must EMT further the ones also located in a “storage area” of the home. Again, accessible by just about anyone.
A short time later, more of Trumps “highly classified”, “top secret” documents are located at a PUBLIC STORAGE LOCKER in West Palm Beach! Now, folks, if you know anything about these storage facilities, they are truly constructed to be able to house “top secret” “highly classified” documents. These facilities are so secure that a 20 year old could walk into one of them, if he so desired.
Now, here we have documents found in Trumps office and in his home in Mar-a-Lago. In comparison classified documents are located in Biden’s office he worked out of after his service as Vice President.
Documents are located in a public storage facility which Trump had. In comparison, a document is located “beside President Biden’s Corvette in a locked garage at his home in Maryland.
Something stinks about this whole thing to me. This is way to much identical comparison for me.
Now, you have Trump screaming about his documents were taken from his home, his office, and his storage facility, and he’s being “persecuted” because of it. Trump immediately screams that Biden should get the same treatment as he’s receiving from the DOJ.
Really, Donny baby?
He reminds me of a “Don” that had evidence “planted” to get attention from him to someone else. And this is exactly what this looks like to me.
How many years has it been since President Biden was Vice President?
Don’t you believe that if there were “classified”, “top secret”, “highly classified” documents missing from the National Archives that Biden had, the Archives would have acted before now to get them back? Exactly as they did with Trump?
I hope what I have here makes sense to you, but as a retired law enforcement officer, I’m extremely “suspicious” of this all of a sudden showing up “on Biden’s doorstep” so to speak. I have a lot of questions I’d like answered, and I’m afraid the people I need to ask would claim “the 5th” and not answer anything.
If you read Dr. Richardson's entire report or any of the printed news reports, the first Biden documents were found by his own lawyers who had been sent by President Biden to clean out his office preparatory to vacating it. The lawyers immediately turned the documents over to National Archives. President Biden, concerned that he might have other documents in his possession requested his lawyers to look in other places he might have any documents stored. Please also remember Joe Biden's son Beau had just recently died when he left the Vice-Presidency. It was for this reason he did not run for the Presidency in 2016. Having lost all 4 of my adult children I can tell you from experience it is a shock too horrible to imagine. It turned me into a walking automaton. So, no it doesn't surprise me that the President might have forgotten some documents he intended to use, prior to returning to the National Archives. Maybe the Country needs a check out system similar to libraries to keep better track.
Thank you for your comment. No parent should ever have to go through that. My brother-in-law had his oldest daughter die from diabetes complications (unable to get her insulin pump repaired; Type 1 diabetic from the time she was 10. Oregon Health Plan wouldn't cover its replacement and she was in an appeal process.) I have seen that first hand; you have my deepest condolences.
Fay, I cannot imagine your experience. My own was bad enough, but nothing like yours. I felt as if my brain was stuffed with cotton. My checkbook was a mess. Grief and loss do strange things to us. I am so sorry for yours.
I realize what you are saying here, and I fully agree. The point I am making is this: "found by his own lawyers who had been sent by President Biden to clean out his office...."
President Biden had VACATED his office. When was the last time he was in it, we have no idea, do we? But, no matter when it was, it still leaves time from the last time he, or anyone else was in that office until his attorneys arrived there to clean it out for anyone to get into it and 'plant' incriminating evidence.
Questions arise from this:
A. Who actually was the last persons in the office, and when?
B. Where were these few "classified" documents actually located? Were they hidden, lying on a desk, on the floor, in a filing cabinet?
C. Who has(d) keys to this office?
D. Who has(d) access to the office?
E. Security system installed? Cameras?
Yes, his attorneys did the right thing, thankfully, in immediately contacting the Archives and returning the few documents they found, and they also did the right thing in searching everywhere else that docum,entrs could have possibly been, finding the one document in the locked garage where the Corvette is kept.
And, just so you are aware, I do agree with you on one thing. Yes, the country needs to fix the Archives system where they can keep better track of the documents. Maybe, if someone wants to view them for any reason, they go to the archives to view them. They never leave the buildIng. Or, if the President needs to view them, they are taken to him by someone from the archives, and that person stay with the documents until they are returned.
Who knows?
Faye, I deeply apologize for being so crass, and rude. I feel for you in the loss of your children. They always say that parents aren’t supposed to bury their children, but the children should bury their parents. It’s tough losing a loved one, no matter the situation. I lost my wife March, 2022. Being totally disabled, homebound, and confined pretty much to a hospital bed snd breathing machines in my room, I was unable to care for, visit, or even attend to her funeral arrange nor even be there. I was, and have been, a total wreck since then. So, yes, I fully understand.
This said, I hadn’t realized this was the time that he had lost his son. I had forgotten that. Thanks for letting me know because that in itself could explain why the fee documents were left in the office and his home.
But, there still remains the idea in my mind that someone else could have planted them there to avert attention from Trump, and to cast doubt in everyone’s mind about the documents that were purposefully removed and kept by Trump. We all have to admit. He’s definitely not beyond having that done. He has proven that already. Having others do his dirty work and suffer the consequences do he supposedly keeps his hands clean.
My thoughts exactly, where has Roger Stone been? He is plenty clever enough, evil, and has contacts God knows where.” At one time I would have thought such musing irrational, but repubs have taught me to take nothing at face value.
My very first thought upon reading that “classified documents” had been found in facilities belonging to Pres. Biden was, “It sounds like Roger Stone has been a busy man.”
It could be one big reason why the House Republicans want to investigate Biden themselves, and not use a special prosecutor. I am also wondering why the National Archives did not ask Biden for the documents, as they did for Trump. He's had them for at least 5 years now. From what I know of archivists, they do not lose track of anything... ever.
I believe I know why the House Republicans want to investigate Biden themselves. They don't have the common sense to look at anything objectively. They look at it one-sided, and their minds are already made up before they start 'investigating' anything.
Daniel, a "law enforcement officer" does not rule on 5th Amendmet privileges nor any kind of constitutional rights regardless of your "suspicions". 2nd you're not an Article 2 Judge. 3rd you not an Executive Branch Prosecutor; you DO have "law enforcement official" experience. "Bob" Hur has substantial experience & is properly licensed to do his assigned job & report to Garland who has over 20 years (that's 2 decades Daniel) as a Federal Judge. Your officer's badge is not a doctorate of jurisprudence. But, good news-your opinions are not actionable.
You are absolutely correct, Bryan. But, it takes investigation, at any level, to get it to the end result, no matter what that result may be. I also realize that investigations are tremendously different these days than they were in my day. Back in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. But the end result is still the same. Whatever the State Attorneys, or in this case, the DOJ decides.
Daniel, my youngest brother was a Sgt with a math major and spent his last 5 years of service as a Sheriff in mobile, digital communications in mass incidents, Before then he had completed over 600 reports of major car crashes. He read crime scenes including deceased victims & reported the details like it was an episode of Silent Witness. Another family member wss a Captain who worked as a senior Baliff in a major, metropolitan Superior Court district. I am vividly aware police are sometimes capable of complex deductive reasoning, can act quickly under exteme pressure, can catch the escapee, secure the Perp, interview witnesses, report in detail before turning over further proceedings to a separate branch of government. Ethical police work is a huge part of real due process.
At times the intrigue is so clever and at other times it seems so poorly written. I thought it was all unbelievable when 45 was changing the leaders of every conceivable cabinet, post and department almost on a monthly basis. Trying to put the why’s in place with all the historical facts and data that Heather shares with us pretty much daily is now so helpful! It’s made this American wonder at times if anyone was in charge of the asylum after November 2016. No one could’ve written a more unbelievable story and yet the perpetrator of it all is acting even crazier and he’s still not in jail. Pretty incredible
On Nicole Wallace MSNBC today, Michael Schmidt talked about John Kelly's first reaction to meeting Trump, and that Trump was much dumber and more amoral than Kelly expected: "I didn't know they made people like that." And Kelly told Trump when he left not to hire a bootlicker to replace him ( guess Trump didn't listen to him, because he hired Mick Mulvany and then Mark Meadows)
Factually, there’s a huge difference, and people of good faith would accept that that but politically, especially these days, if you’re explaining, you’re losing.
I used to hold off until morning on reading the Letters because so many bad things were always happening in that I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I tackled tonight’s Letter just fine and was right to do so. I can sleep just fine knowing things are finally on the right path. Wow. What a time to be alive and aware enough to really appreciate this History we are going through. I was so in the dark during the Nixon years and started to catch on during the Reagan years, but without someone like Dr. Richardson giving us all this background and context ... well, I am simply so grateful. Thank you!
Deborah,
Being grateful is excellent and I recommend that attitude in general for anyone not living in Jackson, Mississippi or the Republic of Congo.
Having said that, I highly recommend you watch Fox News intermittently so that you can see what half of America is hanging on every day.
IF you do that, possibly, depending on your natural perspective, the sense of being "on the right path" may suffer a bit of wither. I randomly managed to watch Fox News two days back at a diner I stopped into for breakfast that had four TV's all of them running Fox News without sound the entire time.
The picture that Fox presents? Is pretty dire. As an example...
1) "Biden's Border Crisis": The static headline and underline of a lengthy "story" they are running. Migrants are overwhelming states. Lots of images of brown people walking and sitting around to scare all the old white folks out of their easy chair long enough to get the Social Security check out of the mailbox. Now, there actually IS a problem at the border and that will get worse as climate change and gangs takeover more countries. BUT, to refer to that problem as "Biden's Border Crisis" is BS of the highest order....and....while using a static bold headline across the whole story.
Plus, the President in American History who most aggressively deported the MOST migrants? Yep. Barack Obama.
2) Hunter Biden appears to be some kind of large scale villain of the order of the Joker in the "Batman" comic series. I thought Hunter Biden was just a low life drug addict with little impact on the world having ruined his life with stupid choices. But, NO, Hunter Biden is the root of most of American evil now having had all kinds of stuff on his laptop implicating all manner of people in all manner of crimes that the FBI refuses to investigate because (whatever). Sadly, apparently Joe Biden, like I probably would do, helped his son get some plum jobs doing nothing for a few countries. Not illegal and WAY less than installing Jared Kushner in a hall down from the Oval Office to collect money from ALL visitors.
I could go on, BUT, rather than wearing out my keyboard, just watch Fox News sometime. Also, Kellyanne Conway has published some drivel about Trump at none other than the NY Times today. I will, of course, not read it since it will all be lies. I am stunned to see that stuff at the NY Times.
That will cure your sense of good cheer and well being. Completely.
Because HALF of American voters believe those lies and thinks Joe Biden and Satan are one and the same. I am NOT joking.
Mike, you and I are quite well aligned. I think sampling Fox occasionally for a harsh dose of the garbage their viewers revel in is a good idea. But let's have some perspective.
The Folks who watch Fox News are dying. This from Wiki:
"The median age of a prime-time viewer was 68 as of 2015. A 2019 Pew Research Center survey showed that among those who named Fox News as their main source for political news, 69% are aged 50 or older. According to a 2013 Gallup poll, 94% of Fox viewers "either identify as or lean Republican".
In fact, cable news itself is dying. Fox leads MSNBC and CNN for sure. But advertisers are fleeing cable TV for streaming channels. For further confirmation, read about the folks dumping their Comcast "bundles" for just internet. We did that last year. Signed up for internet only with Fios. $39.99 a month.
Most of Gen Y or Z just don't care about ANY TV news. They get their news from their phones. They don't use cable TV and they stream their entertainment. The future is brighter than we sometimes think... Fox is on borrowed time. As they shift to streaming, they will enter a world of monthly fee competition. How many of these bozos will pay $9.99 a month for "news". Of course, there will always be diners to visit...
Just trying to cheer you up, friend :)
Good news and bad news. :)
If Gen X and Y are getting their news "from their phones," what websites are they looking at? Can they discern an objective, legitimate news story from lies and misinformation?
And my husband alleges that I'm a dinosaur because I still subscribe to a daily newspaper. If Gen X and Y aren't reading them, whether in print or online, what does that mean for the future of local newspapers? Are we all going to be stuck with USA Today and no local news? This is not good news (pun intended) for our democracy.
Sorry to be a Debbie Downer!
Local newspapers are going rapidly. Just this week my hometown Medford (OR) Mail Tribune is shutting down by the end of the month. It had been purchased by Gannett (as my local paper, the Eugene Register Guard was), and then sold to an investor. They quit print within the past 6 months, and are now closing down permanently. The RG is now a USA Today "news" source, with anywhere from 6-8 local (to Eugene and Salem) articles per issue.
Of our 3 local TV stations, 2 are owned by Sinclair. Local reporting is horrible.
It seems like the only way to find truth that is well documented and reasonably priced is on substack, like here and another good example is Your Local Epidemiologist. Our local Seattle Times is still honest and fairly strong, but much of the news that's national comes from NY Times and Wa Post. I try to avoid papers like the Epoch Times and Reddit because the twisting of facts and totally inappropriate documentation nauseates me. Clearly, the way to worm propaganda into the hearts of those who support the destruction of democracy is to make lies sound "truthy". There is now a proposal in Wa to make newspapers exempt from B& O taxes. Maybe they should seek 501c(3) status too.
Sinclair is a Republican organ. Find YouTube video of all local Sinclair “journalists” across the nation having to say the same propaganda statement on air. Scary
Yeah, it’s pretty awful.
The worst radio broadcasters in the business! I had a career in radio for about 25 years, with a hiatus when I had my daughter. Radio ownership has gone the way of the publishing industry. A few pac men have gobbled up all the small time players. Advertisers don't know how to reach their target audience! Everything is so fractionalized. Podcasts, social media platforms, people have dozens, hundreds of choices to choose from.
Remember the power house radio stations, especially those with the big 1A clear channels? Overnight you could drive across the country and follow these signals for hundreds of miles! Big name personalities, local weather, traffic, news reports... Now a radio personality goes into a booth and records 3 or 4 hours of talk and syndicated music from the various genres we all recognize,,, adult contemporary, rock, country music etc.... The engineer goes to the station in the morning, flips on the switch, local affiliates have traffic and news reporters that they contract with... so sad. Radio was always such a fabulous medium... until Wall Street discovered it 😞 Radio stations were cash cows, and they were such a part of our lives...
KLCC ? Transponder to the Oregon Coast? Somehere on a peak above the Siuslaw?
KLCC, KRVM, and KWAX are all public radio stations. They are fine!
I don’t know if that’s KLCC or KWAX (Classical music).
Why wouldn't children be able to sort out what is "legitimate"?
Is it legitimate because it is written on paper?
Isn't it more legitimate if the public can vet the information and provide support or contrary evidence?
I think public forums are the reason that newspapers and television are losing subscribers.
A few years back, television news programs began a campaign urging viewers to "join the conversation." The only problem was that they never heard my side of the conversation, no matter how loudly I yelled at the screen. It seemed as if they were all deaf.
Kidding aside, a one-way "conversation" is not a conversation at all. It was another big lie. It was, and still is propaganda, a sales pitch, or deception, pick your poison.
It may have worked for a while, but a one way conversation has never been very satisfying and the ratings show it. We deserve and demand interaction.
I'm curious about all the new words gaining popularity, including "misinformation", "disinformation", "credible" and "legitimate".
How do you define these words?
And which of the ten or more biographies of John Adams is credible?
Which of the 10 biographies of John Adams are credible??
EASY. The one written by a woman!!
John Adams
Catherine Drinker Bowen
No doubt about it.
Ha ha....a woman and a drinker!
Agreed!
Well said and analyzed. I agree 100%.
“ Most of Gen Y or Z just don't care about ANY TV news. They get their news from their phones.”
I’d add that they get it more from Social Media than anywhere else.
Good grief I have to pay 95. a month for just internet from Comcast bc we don't have FIOS in my area. Lucky you!
Just one more example of capitalism unregulated and monopolies thriving - at our expense. IMO, internet should be a utility like public water or electricity - and run by local authorities.
But at a minimum, a community should have a cable committee that encourages competitive providers. That's a rare thing, sadly.
Local authorities like the ones in Jackson, MS?
From reading comments here over the past couple of years, my sense is that many commenters here, perhaps most, are also "over 68", maybe even over 80 (as I am). Also, whatever their benefits, I have read that streaming is an intensive user of electricity, i.e., worse than cable or ordinary TV for the environment. If someone here knows more about this, I would be interested. I want to say "Happy New Year" to all, but feel queasy about the word 'Happy'; perhaps "Contented" instead.
“I have read that streaming is an intensive user of electricity, i.e., worse than cable or ordinary TV for the environment …”
Hmm. No. Don’t think there is anything to worry about WRT energy use and “streaming” media, but I’m uncertain what you’re concern is. If A big plasma TV uses 500 watts of electricity, an LED modern TV a fraction of that, and a cell phone less than 1/100 of that. “Streaming” content itself is not enough of energy consumption to worry over. The modem in your home that connects to the internet is using very little energy, but it is always on, always doing something. And “streaming” content is a non-issue when compared to your refrigerator, an electric clothes dryer or stove or oven, or the energy used (fuel) to drive a car (electric or gasoline).
No worries.
[edit added a couple days later:]. On second thought, a nugget of truth behind the statement, "streaming is an intensive user of electricity." So, imagine before Internet.
Entertainment on TV and radio was transmitted live over towers, cable or satellite TV beamed live material in real-time. When you add Internet to that, and streaming over the internet, on-demand: all these media providers now maintain or hire out for huge server farms to store, and "stream," all that content on demand. So, the kernel of truth to your statement, is yes, these server farms are huge consumers of power. They are not cheap to operate. (Crypto currency "miners" are coming under fire now for similar and worse power usage - in theory the bigger your "mine" the more power it consumes but the more "money" it will produce so "miners" are building server farms bigger and faster and as power-hungry as a small town to make more "money"... using the term "money" very loosely here.)
So, does streaming media increase the consumption of electricity? Countering my own original argument, sure, yes it does. Perhaps more at the provider end than the consumer end, I guess. If you have a TV screen turned on, it consumes power, roughly the same whether it's showing an on-air program, cable program, or streaming through a tiny 20-watt modem connected to your ISP.
I'm guessing the statement you read, "streaming is an intensive user of electricity," didn't provide the valuable context. If someone is saying disconnect from media because it's using too much energy, I'd say, no, it's better to stay informed and connected and educated than to be in the dark. Can you do anything about streaming media use of energy? Probably not, on the consumer end. But take comfort that the introduction of LED light bulbs in the home has probably done more to reduce CONSUMER home energy use (and commercial lighting) across the globe than the internet streaming services will ever consume. As does the replacement of tube TVs and Plasma Screen TVs with LED-based TVs (of the same size). Computers and laptops and phones and pads have taken a similar energy diet. A "net win" via the advance of technology.
Thank you Bill; I think I got it ... first FIOS or alternative then purchase your favorite Third-party Apps, Prime Video, Disney, Peacock, Brit Box, whatever ... for a minor fee.
Yes. The challenge is how many of theses "streaming channels" can one afford? And if you don't subscribe to the same ones as your friends, you can't share recommendations and reviews - which is half the fun. I think I am getting close to a total that eclipses the old cable bill! Not so minor when you add it up.
Bill,
Many thanks for your good cheer!!
Thank you. :-)
As to your l2nd to last line, I hope so, but I fear idiots who buy NFTs and send their fealty to the orange idiot will fork over the $9.99.
I dumped cable TV years ago, got sick of the garbage. Internet only, life is much better.
Yep, It's TikTok more than any place. It's even cutting in to Netflix, Disney and other streaming services because their shows range from half and hour to three hours. TikTok is usually about 15 to 30 seconds.
"... installing Jared Kushner in a hall down from the Oval Office to collect money from ALL visitors."
👋 👋 👋 👋 👋 👋 👋
And Kushner couldn’t get security clearance. Didn’t his father-in-law override it so he could be installed down the hall after all?
Yes. Neither Jared nor Ivanka qualified for any level of security clearance. Daddy ordered it
not sure what that imoji means - it doesn't look like clapping
Something came past me yesterday (sorry I can't remember the reference) that suggested we not call the program Fox NEWS. It certainly isn't "News." so are we adding legitimacy where perhaps it shouldn't be? Fox Entertainment?
Correct. I just call it FOX when speaking to my FOX-addicted sister and brother-in-law. I've told them it's an entertainment network, but it's like talking to a brick wall. So freaking sad that so many people can't see through the propaganda. Stupid Americans watching evil in real time. Sorry to call people stupid but what else is it?
Actually "stupid" is a good word to use, it you see it as Bonhoeffer defined it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww47bR86wSc
Wow, good video.
Faux Snooze.
Faux News
I call it fox propaganda
I have always called this fox entertainment and I use this word lightly bc I see nothing entertaining about duping folks.
Joan,
How about Fox "Lies".
I'm in.
I call it Faux News. Works for me!
I've deleted what I wrote here.
There's too much hate, too much. So that even hating the hateful, even hating hatred itself... is TOO MUCH.
These benighted fools have already brought their world to an end, collapsing under the weight of excessive so-called wealth, so much cruelty, cheating and lies.
Let's stop attending to them and their excrement, to them and their world on the way out. Let us think of the world soon to be born and how we can contribute to making it fit for posterity.
How about calling it Faux News; that’s French for “fake”.
Mike We will be hearing a lot about Hunter Biden in the Republican Animal House ‘investigations.’
Hunter would have been an embarrassment to any family.—drugs, high flying financial shenanigans, affair with his death brother’s wife, coasting into situations as the vice president’s son, not paying taxes on his ‘influence-related-handouts.’
Now the Department of Justice is considering civil/criminal charges against Hunter Biden. I find that appropriate. By contrast, Jackass Jordan is contemplating a Benghazi-type ‘investigation’ of Hunter Biden to suggest that then-vice president Biden had personally benefitted from Hunter’s haplessness.
In recent years there has been absolutely no evidence that Joe Biden was benefiting from Hunter’s haplessness. Pitbull Jordan’s House fishing trip should be sharply curbed from the outset. The thought that the Biden family acted with Trump-like irresponsibility is laughable.
These forthcoming House ‘hearings’ are a travesty which the media should underscore.
Keith,
I am sure that Biden is not, in any way, benefitting from his son's slow rolling failure, like you say.
I am not sure what Hunter Biden would have done, successfully, in the criminal world since staying alive as a a criminal among international thieves and being junkie is actually not so easy to do.
At any rate, Fox News will pound old man Biden to death with the sins of his son.
It is like reading the Old Testament.
However, the media will use any travesty to make $$s. How else is the Republicans going to get free air time?
Hunter Biden is today’s Billy Carter
C60 I remember that Nixon had a troublesome brother. Didn’t Bill have some link with Libyans, would pee wherever, and had some financial arrangements, including Billy Beer, that were ‘untoward?’
Let the whataboutism begin! LOL
Was Billy selling his beer to China and Russia?
The term "absolutely no evidence" has become quite popular with Democrats, but they have worn it out. You simply are looking the other way.
In the immortal words of Andy Dufrene: "How can you be so obtuse, is it deliberate?"
https://youtu.be/I7wREOySaxU
Good old Andy, finding redemption even today.
https://youtu.be/cjEpBQkfMzM
Mike, with respect, please cite your source for claiming that half of all Americans watch Fox. More than 155 million people? Really? Wouldn’t they love to be able to claim that!
Generations find their news very differently. Had you stated that half of Boomers watch Fox, I would find that credible if sad beyond repair. Boomers tend tend to watch the news on broadcast TV. Not Millennials. Certainly not GenZ. Nor even half of Gen X/Y.
Please remember that more than 100 million eligible voters in the US do not vote regularly. The largest group of voters identify as Independents. There is no monolithic “half of all Americans” that agree on much of anything in the studies I review. (I usually start with Pew if it matters.)
Your cynicism is always thick Mike, but this is over the top. You might want to head to Field Team 6’s website www.fieldteam6.org and click under actions. They provide training in how to push back against false media allegations. Push true narratives rather than bemoaning false ones. Do what you can rather than advise folks to watch Fox’s lies. Please.
Let’s spend our very precious time, talent and treasure defending democracy.
Sheila,
You caught me!! I should have said half of all voters which is a fraction of the total American population.
But, that half happens to be the population that is relevant where the future of the Republic is relevant.
But, you are right. I should have said half of all voters.
I have amended my original comment and stand chastised appropriately.
Not quite, Mike. According to Forbes, average nightly viewership for Fox evening programs was 2.33M, MSNBC was 1.22M and CNN was 730,000 in 2022. Is Fox a problem? Yes, absolutely. So is the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, One America Network, and every podcast by bozos like Bannon and Joe Rogan. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are rife with disinformation. TikTok is honestly terrifying since there is little to no regulation of content - one only has to look at the statistics on teens with eating disorders being trolled via TikTok to see the horrors of disinformation. Or check the stats on death from COVID in blue counties vs red. The actual problem is lack of content regulation on the thousands of content programs produced and aired whether TV, radio, streaming services, internet, social media or the broadcast of your church service on Sunday morning. When anyone can produce “content” and put out on the net, without regard for accuracy, huge problems result. “The agenda setting power of the media.” People watch, listen and view what reinforces what they want to believe. That’s the problem. Fox produces a particularly toxic brew of lies, deceit and BS. They are in vast company in doing so.
How do we regulate what people read or watch without becoming a totalitarian state?
As you wrote, people view programs they want to believe. What body will be the one who determines what we can read, watch and believe?
No person has this authority, which is why the first amendment is nearly absolute.
Like it or not, at least in the U. S., we all enjoy and benefit from free speech. We do not have the right to exclude others from exercising their identical right. Equity has no exceptions or it is no longer equity.
People leave their whole lives behind to come to America because of our freedoms. If we give up these freedoms there will be no refuge left in the world for people longing to live free.
Yes, Mike, I actually do know these things and am not sticking my head in the sand io any way. I just am buoyed to see some good news when we can get it. And getting enough sleep is a luxury for we, the privileged, because we have roofs over our heads and food in the pantry and refrigerator. I know that. I get that. And due to shenanigans in Oregon, Nicholas Kristof is back at the times getting to the horrible realities still going on in our world. I read him, too, after I get enough sleep to handle it and become part of the solutions in any ways that I can. Here is an excerpt from my own writing about how people form their viewpoints and how it impacts the lives of the children they raise:
<<A final introductory concept [from ch. 6 in my book] regarding viewpoints comes from the work of social scientist Leon Festinger. He developed the concept of cognitive dissonance. Generally, cognitive dissonance is what happens when someone has a long-held, fixed view about something and then something happens to make them question whether they may have been wrong. As Festinger first wrote in 1957,
"A man with a conviction is a hard man to change. Tell him you disagree, and he turns away. Show him facts or figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point."
Festinger’s theory helps to explain why it is so difficult to change people’s minds. This matters because people—like many of the parents in this study—may agree with the ideas this book or an expert they choose to help them with their children recommend, but if the idea runs counter to lifelong values and beliefs, it usually will not shift their thinking quickly, if at all. You will notice many examples of this from individual and family member quotes as you continue reading.>>
So, yes, I hear you.
Deborah,
First, it was not my intent to appear to indicate you were not plugged into reality and my apology.
My intent was to indicate that anyone, at all, who feels that the American nation is not under constant threat from the "far right", every day, is not taking the far right as serious as it is.
Perhaps that is not you. Me? I never relax, never feel that America is not at the edge of a precipice. I am working, every day, to lower the credibility of anything the far right says and any information they put out.
I never feel, even for a second, that the wolf is not at my door.
I wasn't offended, Mike, and it is kind of you to check in and apologize. Very sweet really. Thank you. I keep the traumas and issues of the world high in my own mind, too, and my writing projects all include observations, comments, and caveats about equity, access, inner growth and development, etc. I hope that makes sense. There are so many different ways to make a difference toward a better future for us all.
Actually, it is only 35% of Americans who are brainwashed, but they are impenetrably brainwashed. It is impossible to have a civil discussion or debate with them because they provide no facts but fox/trump propaganda spews. I take heart at Bill Alstrom's message to you--about the demise of fox...cannot happen soon enough.
I have not watched television (other than local weather) in over two years, so you are not talking about me. I'm here to discuss specifics if you have any.
Do you watch television? If so, what is your preferred propaganda outlet?
I have a running theory that one can be hypnotized via television. Therapists use hypnosis videos to cure many ills, and repeated watching reinforces the therapy. Like any technology, it can be used for good or ill. If you think that TV giants wouldn't try that I have a bridge to sell you.
So what you are calling brainwashing could just as easily be attributed to mass hypnosis. Regardless of which, there are many more left outlets than right, but combining all of the left and right viewer numbers does not amount to anything near 35% of Americans as regular viewers. I conclude that your assertion is incorrect.
Perhaps the reality is that the basic political philosophy of people in major metropolitan areas lean toward Democrat Socialism, and people in rural areas lean philosophically toward less government intrusion (most identify as libertarians, but register as Republican).
Urban dwellers require more government services for good reason, because central park would be a mess without strict rules. Rural dwellers have no need for such regulation, and it is more often than not an impediment to progress.
The real problem comes when Urban dwellers think that their rules must apply to rural dwellers. Could it be that they are jealous that others have more freedom than they do, and they want to burden everyone with their rules? I can think of no logical reason for a person to want to impose their rules on others. That is what radical Islamists do, with obvious poor results shown by thousands of years of historical misery.
Furthermore, Democrats pay lip service to cultural diversity, while attempting to create a monoculture burdened by their rules. The people of Martha's Vineyard, strongly Democratic, demonstrated their brand of hypocrisy by declaring themselves a sanctuary city for immigrants and then turning a single busload of them away before the had set. More blacks live in the South because they know where they are not wanted, and they are especially not wanted in the coastal blue areas. A little demographic research reveals this disparity clearly.
In contrast, rural dwellers do not care that urban dwellers want more restrictions, they just want to run their own lives. Clearly, our nation was established with strong state's rights for this very reason. What is good for the goose is not always good for the gander.
I always wonder about the point of comments that make false equivalencies and repeat lies without critique.
Spread propaganda in another venue
Agree. It’s vital to see both sides of ongoing “reporting” to assess the situation for yourself. That’s the heart of our informed electorate.
Oh I know you are not joking. I have acquaintances (not friends, but folks I see more than seldomly) who seem to be ordinary good folks. They're just conservative. But they post absolutely venomous stuff on FB (and probably elsewhere) against Biden. All the time. It's just crazy. Absolutely crazy.
I also check in with FOX every few days. You have described that world perfectly. I still don't let it ruin my day. I view it as a reality check.
Another reality check? CNN. What a mess they are. They are copying the FOX format. They are willing to throw Biden, Democratic Party or anyone else overboard for a news bite or headline. Chuck Todd is the worst. My point is that it's not just FOX. There are many many news organizations and media figures willing to betray for money.
I've become quite fond of the reporting Ali Veshi does on MSNBC.
CNN must be doing terribly. First the right hated them, now hated by the left? How does one alienate all of his customers and stay in business?
Thank you, Mike...my blood pressure goes too high when I accidentally get it turned on instead of MSNBC.
Fox is designed to make the blood boil.
On the right and the left.
Angst and anger is huge money.
Sharon Delighted to reaffirm that you are not Foxy.
LOL. Now, now.
I just wish that I didn't have so many friends and family that are "Foxy"! I have a friend that her granddaughter married Pompeo's son recently...that was very hard to take.
Just to have a "fair and balanced view"
You are WAY FOXY.
:-)
may suffer a bit of wither!
Love the choice of words!
I think I might be missing something about Hunter...has anything been revealed? Is there (prior to this new Congress) been any investigation?
You haven't missed anything except the continual screams from the loud deflecting house party and Fox News that "Hunter's laptop" is all of the United States's problem, It's been going on for several years nows.......
Oh, I know.... but I thought perhaps something 'real' had been revealed. Who's in possession of it anyway?
maybe rephrase that question as to "Who hasn't been in possession of that laptop".
Apparently there is an ongoing DOJ investigation. But so far, no cigar. I suspect he will be found to have used his name to make some money. Oh no, say it isn't true. That's never happened before, eh?
Gotta watch Fox News for all of the breathless breaking news on Biden, Hunter and Biden's crises.
:-)
All of the networks have agreed that the laptop is real.
The twitter files have also revealed that our own government conspired with media to conceal the fact prior to the 2020 election.
Our own government damaged the election to a far greater degree than the common narrative of "russian bots".
Clearly, we have agencies in need of a house cleaning. They have been using their talents in the field of nation building on us, their client. This cannot stand.
Gadafi,
Always good to hear from you. Diversity is certainly the spice of life, no doubt.
"All of the networks have agreed the laptop is real".
Now this sentence brought a true and hearty laugh Gadafi!! No joke!!
Hunter Biden had a laptop!!! Who Knew??!
But, wait? I am puzzled, most 8th graders and some 4th graders also have a laptop now.
Shall we arrest all 8th graders (and throw in those 4th grader criminals in jail too) with laptops?
Hmmm......maybe Fox will start investigating local 8th graders for owning laptops?
You know? I bet Republicans WILL start investigating children with laptops. All that nefarious goings on while they write their term papers.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO..
Gadafi, I cannot thank you enough for the best laugh of the week.
The laptop as an object may give you a belly laugh, but the contents are givng some folks a belly ache.
Are you aware of the contents of the laptop?
If so, then I can only echo the immortal words of Andy Dufrene, "How can you be so obtuse, is it deliberate?"
https://youtu.be/I7wREOySaxU
Hope those of you who are interested can open this RE Hunter Biden:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/11/us/politics/hunter-biden-investigations.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfqIhkSVUaAibIRp8_qRmHmfnE2_s8m3niITLQQzdOwuJQAo6e9lzRZKVqe9o02S_dRMNENPVnYs1O-dJlHh4nTRi08NzDkY4ZIi4xpMW5VG1mjsmRBPVooWPgKzS0dbw6zbOzs1fZaWfrX_aL0yIqI1t1sNAyIwHRrH8IxKzHG-5_08AvnqtyQ8AnGkpTIXWCrPLqCB9hOd2Zbhu66gM-Wu5RXT-7jsfLovtbM10UUQSaOSs5tWUs69pcOscVPLL_KXMjesn8hrYWDA94PTXzLQpMzFx__yP_9C_PZ6s&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
good post.
Yes, Joe Biden clearly had poor judgement around his own kid.
But, who has great judgement where helping their kids out is relevant?
Lastly: If Jared Kushner can sit 50 ft from the Oval office and collect money from every single arse kisser that showed up at Trump's feet, what's the big deal about Hunter Biden?
Good Mike. In earlier comment, you took on non-gandalf today. So annoying like a gnat bot.
Salud!
🗽
Good old whataboutism! LOL.
Gadafi,
What about Trump?
It's complicated I see, Linda! A comprehensive article.
Thanks!
There has apparently been an investigation ongoing by David Weiss US attorney for Delaware, appointed by Trump in 2017. There was a lengthy piece in The NY Times about HB a few days ago. It tells what looks to be the most likely charges against HB.
I believe it is linked above by Linda Hanson. It is thorough and puts things in perspective. Hunter might face charges related to filing some taxes late and checking a box when purchasing a handgun saying he wasn’t using drugs when he might not have been totally clean yet. There is also some other minor sounding tax issue about $30,000 in expenses claimed.
Thank you! I will find it...
I am stunned that you watch FOX.
E I would be even more stunned if I watched Fox.
As if your half doesn't think Trump is Satan? Pot calling the kettle black. Clinton kept a private server with classified documents, attached to the internet. This document business is nothing new. It's also a nothingburger distracting from serious issues.
So when do we get past this whataboutism and agree that corruption exists in the seat of our government? It will never be eliminated, but if we were to limit the powers if government as the founders intended then we would remive the incentive for much of the corruption.
Government should not be bailing out people every time they fail. Failure should be a learning opportunity. As it stands today, failure can be highly profitable thanks to good old Uncle Sam. The bailout of financial institutions should have been the last straw.
If we were to limit government powers to basic infrastructure, law enforcement and a minimalist social safety net there would be little need for the heated rhetoric in politics. It would be more like hiring a maintenance man.
There is also a need to reduce the scope of our intelligence community. They have learned to manipulate the culture in foreign lands, drawing the disdain of the very people we thought we were helping. We must stop meddling in the affairs of others while our own house is in disorder. These same agencies have now taken what they learned in foreign lands and applied it to their own client' we the people. They have tainted our most essential right as a democracy, our vote. How can we continue to have an agency which, by design, must hold secrets from it's own client? The answer is obvious, we cannot. No agency if our government can be above transparency. We cannot continue lying to ourselves via an unaccountable agency. It's completly illogical and a recipe for exactly what has happened. Mass manipulation has the people serving government, which is the opposite of what our constitution requires.
Without secure and auditable elections, a balanced budget without defensible borders, we have no nation. This should be common sense to Democrats, Republicans and independents.
You'd be a lot more credible, whoever you are, if you used a real name like most of the rest of us on this feed. There are some reasonable talking points here but your us-v-them presentation is inappropriate.
Sometimes he makes an interesting point. But it often gets lost in the rant. And no specifics or facts make it hard to take the points seriously. But he has fun trolling.
BTW, I am really Bill - nice to meet you, real person :)
Ha, yes, I get on a passionate rant now and then. This may be another....
Passion is what drives our most important ventures. Passion is what makes a person forget about sleeping when pursuing an important goal. Some of our greatest leaders and inventors were passionate, driven people. Same for some of the most despicable ones.
Most of my writing is off the cuff. I'm in my later years and have studied many topics. I retain information well but I do look things up when not sure. I place links occasionally, and when questioned on specifics I provide examples and/or links.
When I am wrong I admit it and move forward with the new knowledge. Please read the "Disclaimer" on my substack page. It goes into greater detail about my views on what is fact and what is opinion.
Basically, there is a base physical reality that we refer to as "truth". Each of us views this truth from a limited and unique perspective. None of us has the same perspective (in science we refer to this as a "point of reference".) Because of our unique perspective, and our limited brain power, we each form a different opinion if what is "truth". Sometime my opinion will conflict with your opinion, and other times we will be in full agreement.
So, just as science has discovered relativity, we today are discovering that the same very real world can appear different when viewed from another perspective. If we listen to others and walk a mile in their shoes then we benefit from having more than just two eyes and two ears. Essentially, via undistorted and trustworthy conversation we gain a broader perspective, like the wide array telescopes in the attached link
https://public.nrao.edu/telescopes/vla/
It would be beneficial if you posted resources when you make significant claims. Otherwise, you just repeat what is spewed on propaganda stations. Which is really not a truth unless you live in their alternative reality where up is down and vs/vs.
Passion is what drives teenagers to drive too fast.
Passion is what causes husbands (or wives) to commit murder.
Passion is what causes most unwanted pregnancy.
Educated Reasoning is what makes the world go around.
Morning Linda.
He’s a wannabe bot.
Have a good weekend.
🗽
I am a human being and you are rude.
A bot is an automatic programmed web crawler. Typically they cannot offer anything of substance in the context of a thread.
It's fine, free speech is a good thing. It allows even fools to self-identify.
Gadafi,
Actually, as a long time software developer and AI developer, I can assure you that a an AI bot can offer not only the appearance of substance but the reality of substance depending on the training set.
My goodness. A guy who has no idea what AI can do these days making ignorant pronouncements.
Linda he’s nothing but a troll. Yes he’s intelligent but a troll nonetheless. Don’t waste your time reading or responding to anything this clown writes. His only objective is to suck you in.
A compliment embedded into a personal attack. That's a fresh approach! LOL
Still, nothing specific or contextual.
Free speech is a great thing. It allows fools to self-identify.
Speaking of fools.
Linda I think his anonymous name is Goofy Gadfly. He adulterates his comments with absolute crap. The fact that he has a separate opinion blog I find chilling.
Is there anything specific in my blog that you find chilling, other than the prospect of another deep glacial cycle?
I will gladly discuss any issue without personal attacks such as yours. Personal attacks are a sign of one suffering either from dogmatic religious belief or a fear of intelligence. Perhaps even both.
I'm no DaVinci, but he was a great example of how a culture of ignorance tends to fear intelligence. Elon Musk is learning of this today. The Jewish People are among the most intelligent people, on average, on the planet. You know what happened to them, right?
https://www.livescience.com/49193-facts-about-leonardo-da-vinci.html
Finally a post with some good writing in it.
Thank you Linda. Your opinion is welcomed and encouraged, pro or con.
It's obvious that I am not a bot.
It would be irresponsible of me to use my real name, given the propensity of certain caracters to doxx and threaten people. I have family and they are my top priority.
My social posts are my contribution to society. Some may disagree, and i am always open to dissenting opinions. i will not, however, risk my life or the lives of my family for secondary concerns.
Anonymity is the safer option for me. If it reduces my credibility level a bit, then so be it. My words and opinions require no certificates of authority, they stand on their own.
Anonymity also gives me greater freedom to express opinions which some may find offensive and which may even draw violent retribution. Often the most controvercial issues are the ones we should be discussing rather than supressing.
I've faced violent threats on rare occasions and i don't want to be silenced by fear. Even some of my family do not agree with my opinions, and I don't want to alienate or unnecessarily challenge them. Again, the greater good of society is secondary to the safety of and loving relationships with my own friends and family.
So rest assured, you are conversing with a real American who is working toward finding the highest standards civilization can achieve.
Keep working at it!
Indeed it is obvious that you are not an AI or even an I bot.
trump is a close run up to satan imho.
How does Elon Musk rank with you?
Have his good deeds exceeded his bad? We all know his good deeds, but which do you consider bad? Let's avoid religious dogma and discuss actual deeds.
Instead, why not discuss qualities of a decent human being? Just because someone is a celebrity and rich does not make them a kind person or capable of running a country or a mass social media organization. Especially when you lean towards malignant narcissism or have autistic leanings where owning a global social platform is just. Not. A. Good. Idea. As we are seeing-- power corrupts and we are witnessing before our eyes in so many parts of our government and society.
I think a lot of people have escaped the bonds of religious dogma inly to replace it with another form of religion which still seeks angels and demons.
Yes, there are people who do both good and bad things. Some become more powerful than others. The bad and the good within gains power at the same time. This is the struggle of all men, rich and poor.
Is it our place to judge? The bible says judge not lest ye be judged. I'm no biblical scholar, but as one who has sinned, I tend to agree.
So do you see that although we are all capable in both honorable and despicable behavior- I rather stay away from "good" and "bad"- some people lean more heavily in one direction than the other. If those who lean more heavily into the despicable and become powerful they can wreak a lot of havoc. I have a very difficult time seeing anything honorable about the former guy. The long list of his despicable behaviors often resulting in terrible suffering and death, as in so many people particularly in red states dying from COVID because of his lies about it, and the unleashing of hatred toward so many Americans because they didn't fit what was thought of as acceptable are just the tip of the iceberg. There hasn't been a president who has been this unabashedly hateful toward so many in my memory - which is pretty long. And that so many in his party not only remained silent or joined his chorus and continue to do so, instead of actually wanting to govern is evidence enough that that party is broken and dangerous to the well being of this country.
You are still taking in only one side of the issues and demonizing. Trump was the bad daddy our country needed. Strength is not hatred. It was not the time for phony gentlemen toasting one another. He was strong with China, Russia and NATO. They all respected that strength and there were no new wars. Today we have the left war mongering in Ukraine. What happened to my once peace loving liberal party? I believe it was abducted by vested interest and has become the establishment it once hated.
There is only one way to remove the power from vested interests like Big Pharma (largest sponsor of nightly news and congress). We must limit the powers of government according to the intent of the founders. That removes the incentive of the vested interests to contribute, bribe, blackmail and murder for the sake of favorable legislation.
If government were limited as intended, to infrastructure, law enforcement and minimal social safety net, then there would be little political rancor in our country. No one has heated arguments over how well or badly the janitor cleans the restroom.
It is our place to judge when it involves our democracy which we pay for with our taxes. When the inmates of the asylum are running roughshod over our Constitution and our rights, thinking they are above the laws, it is judgement time. And time for a LOT of indictments for criminals, seditionists and traitors to America.
Dang,
Gadafi,
You must have some serious quality time to waste today.
It's Gandalf and my time is mine to do with as I please.
Gadafi,
Well, when one sees Satan and then one calls Satan Satan is the kettle black?
Harvard philosophers have worked on this problem for 350 years.
Morning Deborah,
I need to wait for an AM coffee to read the news. I like to clear my head at night - think happy personal thoughts to set the stage for some good dreams. This does not always work :)
Anyway...here are my caffeine driven thoughts:
All of this "whataboutism" will dim and fade as minor background chatter among the "Q crew. Biden is being open and forthright - following the rules as NARA requires. It is a nothing burger.
Soon there will be news eclipsing all this nonsense including the "theater" at the House of Representatives. Santos will be a joke of a memory. Jordan and company will be busted. And there is a real possibility that the GQP will lose their majority as a result.
Headline names: Jack Smith, Fanni Willis. And Letitia James may not be done. Patience will pay off.
Trumps mental illness will lead to even more bizarre comments which will become even more damaging and self incriminating. Keep in mind that there are no "professional tenders" guarding "Don the Con". No daughter or son-in-law to protect him from himself. No credible legal team. No advisors who have the guts to influence this bag of BS. He is surrounded by third string wobbly kneed sycophants. It's a recipe for self destruction. Let's pull up a chair and patiently watch the show.
I woke up this Friday 13th thinking of Jack Smith and his speedy and aggressive investigations. We already know, thanks to the meticulous work of the J6 committee and the testimonies of thousands of witnesses (under oath), that certain members of the House (Gosar, Jordan, Biggs, Green to name a few) were involved in efforts to overthrow the 2020 election and now we can see the handwriting on the wall for the poor little liar, Santos. By my count, that's at least FIVE, if not more that may be ending their political careers sooner than later. WHEN that occurs, the House might then be able to return to normal and get some actual legislation done. That's my hope anyway.
Deborah and Bill. I too remain hopeful while expecting a lot of theatre and get back at the establishment for not carrying out the platforms of the right. The Senate will remain a check, the Executive branch has considerable power, the press and media will provide good and poorly curated news, and we have Heather, TC, and Dan Rather to commiserate with. A receipe for sanity retained. Afterall, politics is the hobby of the old, those old enough to watched failed ideologies regain new life, successful innovations collapse under the weight of poor replications, and the belief that simple is always the answer to whatever the problem might be, especially if the government is involved.
One thing that makes me pleased today is that Garland quickly appointed a special counsel to follow wherever the evidence leads with respect to Mr Biden's potential mishandling of then or now sensitive national material. That Mr Biden's lawyers reported finds when they occurred to NARA is commendable, but not proof of no wrongdoing. His lawyers followed the law, as far as we know. And, the WH made a political decision as to when to disclose the finds. Chide them though we might, do we know for real any requirement, other than a political expectation that Mr Biden commit suicide for his party about disclosing evidence in the middle of a heated election? I remember a certain prosecutor who released some rumors in 2016 and that went sideways and had little to do with the fitness of a certain candidate for high office. I feel a certain contentment that we might just be back to handling things in a boring, straightforward way in DC.
Bill,
Are you an ordained prophet of the party of no religion but politics?
??
too much of that pot smoking will result in random posts apparently linked to no discussion.
Well, stop doing that!
We must hope so.
We are things of a feather who are bound together by our mutual hope unchecked and unconditionally.
About the time that Rupert took over from Walter Cronkite. I remember
History in context & in real time with citations & a supporting community!
Ditto
I was in the dark during all of those years. It wasn't until I went to work as an auditor for the State of Indiana and I had to tell them if I was a Democrat or a Republican....I had no idea....but I answered the question correctly....the State was Republican at the time. I answered Republican but soon found out that I should be a Democrat!
There’s a huge difference between cooperation and obstruction or withholding classified documents that don’t belong to you.
What Attorney General Garland arguably lacks in forceful personality, he more than makes up for as a litigation tactician of the first magnitude.
And appointing a special counsel was brilliant. It takes the wind out of Republican sails. It also means Biden and Trump are being treated similarly. One comment on Substack even showed how to talk to Republicans as they criticize Biden, who is being treated the same as Trump by the Justice Department.
I've been wondering what grounds Republicans would find to impeach Biden. With the rabid focus on Hunter Biden, I thought it would be linked to that. But now my fictional spidey sense is up. I've wondered if the documents found at the Penn Biden Center weren't planted to deliberately discredit and suggest forensic analysis of them to find out.
However, Biden's team found them and implemented the standard process for return. Now, I see this was the scenario Republicans planned to use for impeachment. Suspicion that if Biden hadn't discovered the documents that Republicans would have staged a raid, discovered them, and launched into impeachment proceedings. They're already trying to diminish Trump's culpability by comparing this situation to Trump's obstruction fight which involved Court cases and a search to find documents that Trump has variously claimed he declassified and are his. Moreover, we're talking about 10 or so documents versus 300 that Trump had. Kind of like the difference between a paper cut and a knife wound.
I would not be so sure about the sequence of events and timelines. It’s already being reported that their was a delay of weeks between discovery and reporting. And the special prosecutor is perhaps a great tactical move until he wants to prosecute someone. Recognizing the justice department is on record that they won’t prosecute a sitting President, there could be others involved that do not enjoy that protection.
Well spoken.
Except that a shrewd litigation tactician knows when to file a case.
Whilst we are talking about justice, please note that Jim Jordan (and others) refused to obey a subpoena for the Jan 6 attack on the Capitol investigation and now he will be in control of the judiciary committee. The arc of injustice moves very quickly. https://judiciary.house.gov/committee/chairman
Inmates running the asylum ?
I love your 'inmates running the asylum.' Jordan may finally meet his match with Jack Smith. If he receives a subpoena from the Gran d Jury he won't be able to wriggle out of it and if lies under oath he'll be returned in handcuffs. Yay, that would stop his eternal lying
And there'd be dancing in the streets!
I love "Whilst..."
Same here; I try to work it into correspondence myself!
Oh, and Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, Ally!
Happy New Year Ellie! Good to see you here.
Happy New Year, Gigi!
Gigi Marat Sade explored the question of whether the inmates are running the asylum. Might Jackass Jordan be a modern Nurse Rachet?
Should Democrats obey Republican subpoenas these next two years?
Yes.
We should all be held to the letter of the law. I have often questioned myself if dt was elected as a Dem would I feel the same about him.
The answer is Yes.
Marj In principle I’d say yes in responding to Animal House subpoenas, BUT not when they are fishing far beyond the legitimate fishing grounds. For example—President Biden’s financial records for 10 years.
There needs to be appropriate push back to prevent a series of Benghazi shooting-dead-fish-in-a- barrel. Decorum in the Republican Animal House? I’d faint if I saw it.
The Republicans just can't deal with government officials doing the right thing, which Garland has done. I have no doubt the special counsel will learn the truth and be guided by the law. Still, I'm troubled that Biden didn't launch a review of his files after the Trump scandal broke. He's inadvertently handed the extremists a gift.
Meanwhile, after reading more of Trump's intensifying nut-job blather about Jack Smith, I'm struck how he is slowly but surely falling to pieces. He's going to take the Humpty Dumpty route when he's finally indicted.
By Humpty Dumpty route, do you mean off his “Mexico paid for it” wall in ‘crack up’ position?
I do agree that he is decompensating.
I read that as "decomposing." My bad.
Ed, I like your verb better!
But he is not doing either one fast enough....
LOL! Thanks!
Michael, they will have to use a helicopter or a crane to put him on the tiny piece of wall that Mexico never paid for.
You know--so he can break his crown....
And who'll come tumbling after?
All of them?
Are any politicians actually concerned with running the country or just remaining in a state of constant turmoil ?
There you have it: Democrats concerned with running the country. Republicans creating constant turmoil. Why? Because Republicans want our Democracy to fail so they can re-crate Christian Democracy like they have in Budapest! Look it up!
You mean Hungary?
Ooops! I meant Budapest Hungary. That's where they had their CPAC conference. Trump and Viktor Orban. Pense was happy to be there.... Scary stuff!
They want to keep their $174,000 seat and the reserved parking space at the airport. For many that is it. Somehow the good ones keep things running.
We need to change this. If they are not working FOR the people, they need to be penalized, including no healthcare or pension package on our dime.
Yes, Gailee. Do government employees who are removed from office due to criminal activity retain their healthcare and pensions? They shouldn't, on the our (the taxpayer's) dime.
That is pathetic and also the truth. And then there are those who just want more power.
Like McCarthy who has however ended up Squeaker of the House, as Colbert puts it.
Yup, and a nice pension later on, no matter how short the term. (I think it is pro-rated though.) Only exception is for removal due to something criminal. Hmmm.
And that may explain why Santos won’t quit…
Santos is obviously on a solid foundation.
I believe a "Congresscritter" (Heather's term, not mine), newly fledged this year and without other federal service, isn't vested before five years, so unless Santos has been or later becomes a federal civil servant, he'd have to be elected to the House twice more to get anything more than a handshake by way of House retirement. Of course, he could also choose to continue his contributions to Social Security instead; if I were advising this lad, that's what I'd recommend.
What a great term. I haven't seen the five year update, but I will ask my brand new Rep!
To say nothing of the benefits and bribes from lobbyists
This is my visual. I can´t even spend any more time on the festering clown show anymore. It does no good for mental, emotional, or physical health anymore. They are lethal buffoons with legions of brain dead followers who cannot be reasoned with.
I disagree. Remember what it took to end apartheid in S. Africa: people on both sides sat in the same room to work things out.
I also have in mind psychological studies of the differences between brain structures of Republicans and Democrats which prompted advice on how to engage in argument. First firsty first, find common ground.
Sorry I can’t link you to the studies. If any of you readers can, please do.
Common ground, how can my brain compute with Nazi style propaganda
Has anyone here been able to successfully utilize that strategy?
No. My first came back to some iteration of the welfare queen Reagan trope, the other just got louder and wouldn’t let me get a word in edgewise. 🙄
Precisely, Jeri.
By common ground… the Rs in my area, i just don’t talk politics and try to find other topics for common ground. So that they know me as a human being. Common interests. Only can reason with some of my neighbors if I first am seen as human, with common ground. And I can see them the same way, and get along.
Oh my gosh, I think this is coming close to a definition of the notorious “midwest nice.” Argh!
Yes, Daryl. The majority of Democrats are very “concerned with running the country”. It is the Repugnants that seem to be “just remaining in a state of constant turmoil”. We will all be better off after the People see what s**mbags the Repugs really are.
Turmoil it seems, repubs thrive on it
It may make headlines, but it doesn't govern the nation.
Daryl, as you know they are drunk over their power and the money they can steal from their fellow citizens....this is not a new concept. It is rare to find a decent, moral person in any form of governance....anywhere.
Professor Richardson, thanks for reminding us what a brilliant AG Garland is and his team seems to be top notch as well. May the PBs go down and take DT down with them!
I agree, if you investigate one you must the other and see where chips fall!
But the bigger picture for me is, is there no accounting system for removal of classified documents (by whom, when, where and date returned, etc?)? Then if not returned by specified date, some sort of follow up be done? Maybe have an extension but all documented!?? For me, if there was a good accountability system, neither one would be in this predicament!??
How about we put AirTags on all classified documents. Or microchips or .....
Two people get into car accidents.
One stops. Makes sure no one is hurt and exchanges insurance information with the other driver.
The other drives away without stopping. Later when the police come to his home he tells them the dent in his fender happened when he backed into a hedge of roses. When they continue to interrogate him, he calls them racist names.
Which one is Donald J. Trump?
Great analogy, or he would say, how dare you accuse me, you probably dented my car….
At first I was dismayed at the DOJ for appointing a special counsel to investigate the discovery of classified documents in Biden's quarters after he and his aides followed the rules and immediately notified the National Archives and returned them--the direct opposite of trump's behavior of refusing to comply. I have now come to see it as a God-send. When trump-appointed special counsel Hur declares there's nothing there to prosecute, we just might hear a deafening silence from the other side that gleefully compared Biden's actions to trump's. There is a quiet sense of satisfaction of what goes around comes around...let's see!
Let’s see, indeed
Music to my ears...from a guy positioned to hear the music: Trump posted "Smith is known as 'an unfair Savage'"..."Jack Smith hates me". Sounds like Trump needs a change of underwear!
Product idea: Trump steaks, university, ties, etc. all went bust. BUT Trump adult diapers, perhaps marked with MAGA slogan and an infomercial by Trump 'since Jack Smith was appointed I have worn these diapers daily, I can attest to their quality. Buy them now!'
Where in the world does he get the florid language he uses? Savage! Vicious! Killer! It’s either romance novels or old comic books from the 40s.
.
I am certain that death star does not write all the comments we see.
He is illiterate, must be on TV, most likely on Fox.
I'd go with the comic books. Requires less reading.
Since it's well-known that poor ole drumpy either can't or won't read much, I'd hazard a guess that his florid adjectives are lifted directly from old comic books.
More likely brain rot which results in reversion to a 10 yr old state of mind.
Has anyone seen a “word cloud” diagram to TFGs emissions? That would be precious to see. Say just of his twitter feed and his speeches. Somebody, get on generating that data!
Oh gosh, here is one,
https://medium.com/@kyawsawhtoon/a-wordcloud-for-trumps-tweets-f40c350271b4
Not quite what I expected. Scroll down through a few pages of techy geek stuff, the word cloud is at the end.
Here are a couple more. The word cloud is based solely on the choice of text that the cloud-creator gave as input to the program.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/07/this-donald-trump-word-cloud-will-take-your-breath-away/
https://www.indy100.com/news/donald-trump-tweets-word-cloud-reddit-7525476
Comics.
You are in top form tonight, 100Panthers. Love the diapers idea. Making me smile before i go to bed.
Wonderful idea. I have a “Demented Memento" collection with many quirky things (a hamster litter box and an airplane barf bag that also could be used to mail in film to be developed from years ago are a couple of examples). A box of Trump diapers would be a perfect addition to my collection.
Speaking of barf bags, I haven’t notice them on planes in years.
I still have a roll of "Dump Trump" toilet paper that was given to me as a gift. I think it might be worth a lot someday.
As long as the MAGA slogans ate printed on the inside only.
Half off the Trump Diaper genie if you buy two cases of the extra large. 
LOL, I'm surprised he didn't sell MAGA diapers as a fundraiser!!
🤣🤣🤣👏👏
Lol, lol!
Thank you again ,Heather, for illuminating what we should know going forward.That he who unleashed the mob is still free and walking about fomenting hatred lo 2 long years ago when he and his mob tried to overthrow our government and tried to negate my legally caste ballot is troubling.I am not a conspiracy theorist but I find it quite odd and intriguing that this document “find” comes right at the heels of Jack Smith amping up his investigation and hiring several new prosecutors.
I think that we are increasingly numerous to share this thought.
"...and tried to negate my legally caste ballot." Exactly, Victoria. Mine, too!
Victoria, if my memory is correct, the documents at PennBiden were found in the Fall of 2022, before Jack Smith was appointed special counsel. I think it will also come out that President Biden initiated the search of his homes and offices.
Oh, my. My thoughts exactly several days ago, Janet!
Janet, I take your point. It could get ugly. Very ugly....
Now we sound like a bunch of MAGA QAnon whackos. Is this conspiracy BS spreading🤨☹️
I was referring to all the jabber here about documents being planted in Joes old office
“Savage Jack Smith.” What a weird adjective to use.
But “unfair” is often in his lexicon.
If he didn't laugh when he read that, I'm sure he'll have raised one eyebrow.
MLMinET, Wasn't there a fictional character named 'Jack Savage?'
I am pretty sure there would be enough context in the doc to date them to the Obama era or not
❗️ ❗️ ❗️
I hope folks don’t take this the wrong way. And, after I say what I have to say, I’ll try my best to explain why I say this. But, “here goes nothin” as they say.
I have some reservations about these “classified documents” being located in President Biden’s old office he had after leaving the Vice Presidency. And then another document located in his home I’m Maryland, beside his Corvette.
First. Why are these documents all of a sudden showing up at locations affiliated with President Biden?
Second. I’m very cautious of the comparison to the documents which Trump had located. At his home in Mar-a-Lago, and in a “locked public storage shed”. Seems very suspicious to me that this is ideally about the same as President Biden documents being found.
Third. Just exactly what is the level of this “classification” of all these so-called documents?
Now, let’s look at these documents cases side be side.
Trump was asked to return all his documents to the National Archives. He supposedly returned some and said that was all he had. The National Archives disagreed and requested all documents be returned. Trump refused, which inevitably led to the Federal Search Warrant being served and his home searched. Here “hundreds” of “highly classified”, “top secret”, and “classified” documents were located, most being in Trumps office. Others scattered about the home in different locations, all of which had access by just about anyone. Oh, I must EMT further the ones also located in a “storage area” of the home. Again, accessible by just about anyone.
A short time later, more of Trumps “highly classified”, “top secret” documents are located at a PUBLIC STORAGE LOCKER in West Palm Beach! Now, folks, if you know anything about these storage facilities, they are truly constructed to be able to house “top secret” “highly classified” documents. These facilities are so secure that a 20 year old could walk into one of them, if he so desired.
Now, here we have documents found in Trumps office and in his home in Mar-a-Lago. In comparison classified documents are located in Biden’s office he worked out of after his service as Vice President.
Documents are located in a public storage facility which Trump had. In comparison, a document is located “beside President Biden’s Corvette in a locked garage at his home in Maryland.
Something stinks about this whole thing to me. This is way to much identical comparison for me.
Now, you have Trump screaming about his documents were taken from his home, his office, and his storage facility, and he’s being “persecuted” because of it. Trump immediately screams that Biden should get the same treatment as he’s receiving from the DOJ.
Really, Donny baby?
He reminds me of a “Don” that had evidence “planted” to get attention from him to someone else. And this is exactly what this looks like to me.
How many years has it been since President Biden was Vice President?
Don’t you believe that if there were “classified”, “top secret”, “highly classified” documents missing from the National Archives that Biden had, the Archives would have acted before now to get them back? Exactly as they did with Trump?
I hope what I have here makes sense to you, but as a retired law enforcement officer, I’m extremely “suspicious” of this all of a sudden showing up “on Biden’s doorstep” so to speak. I have a lot of questions I’d like answered, and I’m afraid the people I need to ask would claim “the 5th” and not answer anything.
If you read Dr. Richardson's entire report or any of the printed news reports, the first Biden documents were found by his own lawyers who had been sent by President Biden to clean out his office preparatory to vacating it. The lawyers immediately turned the documents over to National Archives. President Biden, concerned that he might have other documents in his possession requested his lawyers to look in other places he might have any documents stored. Please also remember Joe Biden's son Beau had just recently died when he left the Vice-Presidency. It was for this reason he did not run for the Presidency in 2016. Having lost all 4 of my adult children I can tell you from experience it is a shock too horrible to imagine. It turned me into a walking automaton. So, no it doesn't surprise me that the President might have forgotten some documents he intended to use, prior to returning to the National Archives. Maybe the Country needs a check out system similar to libraries to keep better track.
Oh I’m so sorry Fay! I could not cope either. All four …
Fay, I just wanted to say how deeply and truly sorry I am for your losses. I pray their memories bless you.
My God, I'm so sorry. And that is a valid point...
Sanity, it seems to me.
Thank you for your comment. No parent should ever have to go through that. My brother-in-law had his oldest daughter die from diabetes complications (unable to get her insulin pump repaired; Type 1 diabetic from the time she was 10. Oregon Health Plan wouldn't cover its replacement and she was in an appeal process.) I have seen that first hand; you have my deepest condolences.
Fay, I cannot imagine your experience. My own was bad enough, but nothing like yours. I felt as if my brain was stuffed with cotton. My checkbook was a mess. Grief and loss do strange things to us. I am so sorry for yours.
I realize what you are saying here, and I fully agree. The point I am making is this: "found by his own lawyers who had been sent by President Biden to clean out his office...."
President Biden had VACATED his office. When was the last time he was in it, we have no idea, do we? But, no matter when it was, it still leaves time from the last time he, or anyone else was in that office until his attorneys arrived there to clean it out for anyone to get into it and 'plant' incriminating evidence.
Questions arise from this:
A. Who actually was the last persons in the office, and when?
B. Where were these few "classified" documents actually located? Were they hidden, lying on a desk, on the floor, in a filing cabinet?
C. Who has(d) keys to this office?
D. Who has(d) access to the office?
E. Security system installed? Cameras?
Yes, his attorneys did the right thing, thankfully, in immediately contacting the Archives and returning the few documents they found, and they also did the right thing in searching everywhere else that docum,entrs could have possibly been, finding the one document in the locked garage where the Corvette is kept.
And, just so you are aware, I do agree with you on one thing. Yes, the country needs to fix the Archives system where they can keep better track of the documents. Maybe, if someone wants to view them for any reason, they go to the archives to view them. They never leave the buildIng. Or, if the President needs to view them, they are taken to him by someone from the archives, and that person stay with the documents until they are returned.
Who knows?
Faye, I deeply apologize for being so crass, and rude. I feel for you in the loss of your children. They always say that parents aren’t supposed to bury their children, but the children should bury their parents. It’s tough losing a loved one, no matter the situation. I lost my wife March, 2022. Being totally disabled, homebound, and confined pretty much to a hospital bed snd breathing machines in my room, I was unable to care for, visit, or even attend to her funeral arrange nor even be there. I was, and have been, a total wreck since then. So, yes, I fully understand.
This said, I hadn’t realized this was the time that he had lost his son. I had forgotten that. Thanks for letting me know because that in itself could explain why the fee documents were left in the office and his home.
But, there still remains the idea in my mind that someone else could have planted them there to avert attention from Trump, and to cast doubt in everyone’s mind about the documents that were purposefully removed and kept by Trump. We all have to admit. He’s definitely not beyond having that done. He has proven that already. Having others do his dirty work and suffer the consequences do he supposedly keeps his hands clean.
My thoughts exactly, where has Roger Stone been? He is plenty clever enough, evil, and has contacts God knows where.” At one time I would have thought such musing irrational, but repubs have taught me to take nothing at face value.
My very first thought upon reading that “classified documents” had been found in facilities belonging to Pres. Biden was, “It sounds like Roger Stone has been a busy man.”
My Thoughts, exactly!
laying low, and looking over his shoulder for Jack Smith, and shaking in his boots........ I hope he gets arrested AGAIN with NO PARDON this time
Daniel, an excellent and eye-opening comment. Thank you.
It could be one big reason why the House Republicans want to investigate Biden themselves, and not use a special prosecutor. I am also wondering why the National Archives did not ask Biden for the documents, as they did for Trump. He's had them for at least 5 years now. From what I know of archivists, they do not lose track of anything... ever.
I believe I know why the House Republicans want to investigate Biden themselves. They don't have the common sense to look at anything objectively. They look at it one-sided, and their minds are already made up before they start 'investigating' anything.
Delaware, Biden’s home in Delaware. Please, we may be little, but we Delawareans are proud of our state and “our” president. He’s not from Maryland.
My deepest apologies to you and all Delawareans. I meant no disrespect at all to you folks.
Daniel, a "law enforcement officer" does not rule on 5th Amendmet privileges nor any kind of constitutional rights regardless of your "suspicions". 2nd you're not an Article 2 Judge. 3rd you not an Executive Branch Prosecutor; you DO have "law enforcement official" experience. "Bob" Hur has substantial experience & is properly licensed to do his assigned job & report to Garland who has over 20 years (that's 2 decades Daniel) as a Federal Judge. Your officer's badge is not a doctorate of jurisprudence. But, good news-your opinions are not actionable.
You are absolutely correct, Bryan. But, it takes investigation, at any level, to get it to the end result, no matter what that result may be. I also realize that investigations are tremendously different these days than they were in my day. Back in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. But the end result is still the same. Whatever the State Attorneys, or in this case, the DOJ decides.
Daniel, my youngest brother was a Sgt with a math major and spent his last 5 years of service as a Sheriff in mobile, digital communications in mass incidents, Before then he had completed over 600 reports of major car crashes. He read crime scenes including deceased victims & reported the details like it was an episode of Silent Witness. Another family member wss a Captain who worked as a senior Baliff in a major, metropolitan Superior Court district. I am vividly aware police are sometimes capable of complex deductive reasoning, can act quickly under exteme pressure, can catch the escapee, secure the Perp, interview witnesses, report in detail before turning over further proceedings to a separate branch of government. Ethical police work is a huge part of real due process.
Biden doesn’t have a home in Maryland--his home is in Delaware--as is his beach home.
Thank you for correcting me in my error. No disrespect was intended by any means.
At times the intrigue is so clever and at other times it seems so poorly written. I thought it was all unbelievable when 45 was changing the leaders of every conceivable cabinet, post and department almost on a monthly basis. Trying to put the why’s in place with all the historical facts and data that Heather shares with us pretty much daily is now so helpful! It’s made this American wonder at times if anyone was in charge of the asylum after November 2016. No one could’ve written a more unbelievable story and yet the perpetrator of it all is acting even crazier and he’s still not in jail. Pretty incredible
On Nicole Wallace MSNBC today, Michael Schmidt talked about John Kelly's first reaction to meeting Trump, and that Trump was much dumber and more amoral than Kelly expected: "I didn't know they made people like that." And Kelly told Trump when he left not to hire a bootlicker to replace him ( guess Trump didn't listen to him, because he hired Mick Mulvany and then Mark Meadows)
“Dumber and more amoral”. Says it all, and so many “fine people” sign on to that, along with the bootlickers. Has shocked me to my core.
Factually, there’s a huge difference, and people of good faith would accept that that but politically, especially these days, if you’re explaining, you’re losing.
Sad but true
Early night for you HCR, hope that means you are getting some much needed rest.
Thank you for the excellent synopsis as always. Wishing you and this community the very best as we move forward with the 118th congress.