"sworn he will not do, on a text he's never read, that contains a religious ethos that is the polar opposite of everything he believes in or practices."
Don't worry, he and EloX signed the Bible he's swearing on and he's not a Christian so not sworn to tell the truth or uphold the law especially now that he has SCOTUS support. We're not "going to lose this country". We've already lost it.
If only someone could convince him to open that Bible and read from it. Let's start with the Old Testament, where Micah tells us that our role in life is to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly.
тАЬPower always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak; and that it is doing GodтАЩs service when it is violating all his laws.тАЭ
Lady, I am not sure he does anything that the rest of us would call thinking. To me he is the reptilian brain hissing and striking at anything and anyone who comes near. As the 20th nears, I feel a heavy sickness coming on. I do like the idea that the flags will be at half staff (in most places, Abbott and little Johnson). it is MLK Day which strikes me as some kind of irony. And I do think that that the national football championship is that day also. I also like the idea that certain people will not attend the travesty of his inauguration. I saw a headline from The Telegraph this am that seemed to be castigating Michelle Obama.
The Telegraph is slightly more Right Wing than Genghis Khan. It's owned by Redbird, a US group mostly funded by Abu Dhabi. Hardly surprising that it's not a fan of Mrs. Obama. "Any stick to beat a dog with."
Trump has Papa PutinтАЩs applause. Maybe watch for Trump Tower Moscow. With the Chinese at the Inauguration the new world is looking like 1939. Sadly most Americans have no idea how they have voted for a pack of lies.
I will not buy from Amazon. I will not ever buy a Telsa. I will not be a consumer for buying products enriches the billionaire class. At least as much as I can I will not spend to help the economy grow.
John Adams drew a conclusion and found conclusion-confirming evidence. I could do thatтАФeven when it was obvious in hindsight that I was wrongтАФwhen I was 5. It probably wasn't until grade 5 that I changed. Now I draw a conclusion and look at the evidence to discover if it confirms or refutes my conclusion, and I think it's made me even smarter than that 5th grader.
I understand what Adams meant, but if power is always as he describes, then there is no hope. Don't be naively optimistic, but cynical pessimism is a self-fulfilling prophesy. Instead, be pragmatically optimistic.
If you're looking for a valid reason to be optimistic, or if you just want me to know I've overlooked relevant evidence, subscribe to my weekly no-fee newsletter.
To speak strictly accurately I suppose it would be best to "always" avoid the word "always", especially when human behavior is involved. Yet I think the larger point is in bring attention to the hubris, and frequent cruelty, that often afflicts those who gain or were brought up with exceptional wealth and power. Counter-examples? Sure; but one will encounter a lot of examples of narrow-minded, self congratulation and classist thinking among supposed aristocracy. The word "commoner" was not a compliment.
As for cynicsim, I fully agree, it's self-defeating. I don't see cynicism, however, in pointing to a disturbing pattern often seen among people become excessively powerful. Here's one of many examples:
тАЬ 'Homeless is a misnomer. It implies that someone got a little bit behind on their mortgage, and if you just gave them a job, theyтАЩd be back on their feet,' he told former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson in October. 'What you actually have are violent drug zombies with dead eyes, and needles and human feces on the street.'
The more money spent combating homelessness, 'the worse it gets', according to Musk"
In addition to the (good) rule that there is variation in virtually every common human behavior pattern, I would add that the exception proves the rule. But is there an exception? If you conclude there are no exceptions, then you will find confirming evidence even when there is an exception. Conversely, if you allow the evidence to determine whether it confirms or refutes your conclusion, then you will discover the truth, although it may be inconvenient.
I think the important point is the exception, and I think the exception is we always have the same two options. We all seek the truth until we get close enough to recognize itтАЩs inconvenient, then the wise keep going and the unwise turn the other way.
On the other hand, maybe IтАЩve overlooked something. My logic is in the series of short essays. You responded to the comment with the link to the first essay. If you subscribe (no fee) and discover a flaw in my logic, then I will thank you.
By extension, thereтАЩs one more two-option exception.
The unwise option involves associating unwise behavior with an identifiable group. ItтАЩs efficient and popular because itтАЩs a bit easier in the short term. Why? Because the problem is instantly тАЬthemтАЭ in lieu of тАЬus,тАЭ and the solution is for тАЬthemтАЭ to stop being unwise and start being wise. But it is also ineffective because itтАЩs significantly harder in the long term due to the easy-to-ignore implicit message, which is, тАЬYou need to stop being bad. I donтАЩt because youтАЩre better at it than me.тАЭ
The wise option involves continuing to seek the inconvenient truths. ItтАЩs inefficient and unpopular because itтАЩs a bit harder in the short term, and itтАЩs effective because itтАЩs significantly easier in the long term.
Yes, that's a favorite. And for those who like to beat us over the head with the Ten Commandments, let's add: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." (John 13:34)
You know all that "love stuff" is really for "suckers and losers".
It is all about how much we can TAKE! It is all about power! Forget about the future ....children....the elderly....the helpless.... Forget about friends all over the earth and our trusted alliances with them...friends who have respected us for...our reputation and character....that stuff is for those who are weak!!!!
Let's see: take from the citizenry....take from the earth....take from our water systems.....take from the air....we can even take from one another until only the most evil and deceptive of the wealthy population are standing.....after all "only the strong survive"!
.....they will destroy everyone and everything they can....for selfish gain!
Barbara Stumpf - "let's add: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." (John 13:34)"
This commandment is similar to Leviticus 19:18, but it applies to anyone.
Huh? He understands. Surely you jest. People channeling what he believes, what he will do , could do well to understand he is a Crazy Maker of the very highest order. All forms of power, and chaos are aimed solely by him, at you, at us. The US he hates Trump is essentially the alien we fear. The seemingly invincible bag of skin he is enclosed in appears to be Trojan horse uniform. Walk into the fire boldly. After the air clears when something goes wrong, you will forever be able to say "I've seen worse, far worse!"
The niece of Donald t, Mary Trump, wrote a sequel to her first book, *Too Much and Never Enough*. The new one is entitled *Who Could Ever Love You*. She shows how damaged her uncle is, how he emotionally damaged her and others, and finally how she recovered. By implication, Mary has wise counsel for those under t's psychic domination--and all voters who want to regain democratic liberty.
Trump does not understand justice, mercy much less love & much less anything else. F-Elon34X latest tactic is to appoint two (2) "Ambassadors to Hollywood". Not a joke but, I can think of a few.
Friendly correction: THREE ambassadors to Hollywood: Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight. jeez. Is this his idea of a Ministry of Propaganda?
I firmly believe that trump loathes America - and is trying to do everything in his power to make it a world wide laughing stock. And then destroy it. . .
All those "nasty" comments about him over the years have turned him into a bitter old man.
Hah.. Ms MisTBlu, a million here a million there, no biggy. As for you an me, we miss onemore payment on that rusted out Nissen Pathfinder and the repo-man/woman/TG/etc is gonna click onto it and haul it back to the bank. No love lost there.
Nope. Cave is exactly the right word. If she remembers her oath, she will not vote for him. If she has a shard of integrity, she won't vote for him. She has no integrity and has no oath but to her own aggrandizement.
Oh piffle. Read what I mean, you never know if the author misspelled, or if autocorrect autocorrected badly, and you might mis something important while focusing on the wrong thibg,you know what I mean? That sort off cognitive rigidity results in many misunderstandings. And the willingness to discount a message because of spelling errors mainly suggests looking for any excuse to discount the message, didn't it?
Whoa! Dial back on the coffee, Notes! I was simply complimenting you on your correct spelling - I don't give a shit if people use "tenants" - it's just nice to see that someone got the right word!
Jeez, I'll stop saying nice things to people in future. . .
I disagree, Notes. Sometimes people are unaware of, for instance, that tenents and tenants describe different things. Or unaware that a flag flies at half mast only aboard a vessel on the water; it flies at half staff on land. Or that Republican is both a noun and an adjective, while Democrat is a noun and Democratic is an adjective.
When someone, like an earlier poster, uses the noun, Democrat, instead of the adjective, Democratic, I can hear the Cult spitting out Democrat like an insult. You may be generous and think that it's a typo. You may even be generous and think that it's a lack of education. But I can only hear it (or read it) as something intentionally mean and malicious.
Reading the Bible is only valuable if one pays attention to what is being read. I'd suggest "thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself", followed by the story of the good Samaritan.
First, that assumes he can readтАж second, the actual Christian part of the bible would be appropriate, despite it seeming to be foreign to right wing so called тАШChristiansтАЩ- the message, over and over, is тАШLove Thy NeighborтАЩ
Stop asking yourself Rhonda how this happened, rather ask how someone like Mu$k,that made 170 billion in 40 days since election day ,vowed to cut 2 trillion from the US budget even if it inflicted "hardship" on the American people.
Ricardo, I've been saying for a few weeks now that, in order for a massive shift away from trumpism (and its attendant oligarchy, etc.) to happen in this country, we must collectively endure hardship. The Guardian just published an opinion piece stating the same, and suggests that Congressional Dems no longer help out the Republicans-- no more votes to keep the country funded, or for any other purpose includong Senate confirmations. Let them try to govern on their own. Yes, hardship will ensue, but given that that's what they want, perhaps voters will finally get it and vote them out in 2026 and 2028.
I believe that my prayer will be answered: the GOP will self-implode. I see the schism already taking place--the egos at play are truly large and unhealthy....
40% of Americans do not have and could not borrow $400 to deal with an unexpected crisis. An oil change, heater core flush and battery replacement for my 14yo car would leave them unable to pay their rent. I do understand that it may take GOP failure to rid us of their control. But I canтАЩt imagine that we can morally help them fail. Too many people are living too close to the edge, and homelessness can be a traumatic event. When they lose their housing over the lack of $400, how will they secure the $3-5,000 it will cost them for first/last monthтАЩs rent, security deposit, utility hookup, etc?
Marge, those you describe are already suffering. I'm suggesting that it include those better off -- i.e., middle class America.
I don't wish suffering on anybody, believe me -- especially the most vulnerable. But Maga and the mumpers are ok with it, and their policies will likely induce it.
It saddens me to drive by dilapidated houses in our area and see Trump signs, banners and flags proudly displayed in front.
"Unless we change direction, we will likely end up where we are headed."
Thank you, Notes On Useful Beauty. I've been convinced from the very beginning that Harris won. And there are other sites analyzing the data that clearly show something was amiss. My question is why this hasn't been made public by people who could make things happen to get things corrected. With each passing day, my heart sinks further. We are living a Shakespearean tragedy and are being forced into a nightmare that was a cleverly executed con job of the highest order that probably included outside forces (countries) as well. My philosophical self says it is happening for a reason of a higher order we cannot possibly understand right now. Hoping I can live long enough to see the shift happen towards a better planet for us all. In the meantime, we have to stay safe and do well unto others.
I don't know why this is not being picked up by major media. I just keep pasting it everywhere it seems even slightly appropriate. Hopefully the right eyes will see it sooner or later. I have sent it to many public figures who have email addresses. Please help spread the word.
It's not being picked up because it is speculative bullshit. To suggest some kind of massive vote counting fraud across ALL the precincts in North Carolina is such BS that it doesnt deserve any kind of response.
How would that even happen without a massive conspiracy? Voting machines are carefully guarded and there are literally thousands of them.
And IF you were going to conduct that kind of conspiracy WHY would you ONLY do it in the Presidential race and NOT in the AG race and Governors race too? Those are important statewide races so if you COULD fix the Presidential race then might as well while you are at it get your GOP governor and AG in too.
The obvious answer is that people in NC wanted the Democratic candidates for Gov and AG and didn't want KHarris as President. That just MIGHT be a better and more accurate explanation for a statewide trend that voted for the local Democrats but not for the national one.
Another reason is TRUMP is famous and has already been President and people wanted him (not sure WHY but obviously they did) but didn't know or like the GOP candidates for other offices.
Get over it. There was no conspiracy. There almost never Is a conspiracy except a conspiracy of ignorance. It's tough to accept but the majority of people in the US voted for Trump.
Time to move on and start worrying how to save our country rather than fretting over what you can't change.
Senator Ossoff of Georgia noted in a hearing this week that bomb threats on election day deterred voting in a predominantly Black district near Atlanta. The question may beg that this was emblematic of other incidents. Enough to sway the election? Likely not. Trump almost certainly won fair and square but not by a land-slide. тЪЦя╕П
Yet this incident, likely isolated, should serve as a warning. The people opposed to the rest of us (conservatives, moderates, and liberals alike) -- and this is where Xian nationalism may be crucial -- believe their ends (with G-D on their side) justify the means. And that is a death to democracy if they hold on to their illegitimate power. ЁЯШ▒
If that 'Ark' will float.., then get it floated. That'll be the take-down of the century. But, right now, it looks like another cure for ED... 6 bottles for$49. Better to Stop/Look/Listen.., cause a train-wreck is going to occur, one way or another.., "Wait for it".
Of course it happened. It happened the same way Biden beat Trump in 2020. People voted. 7 million FEWER people voted for Harris than Biden. You don't make that many votes "disappear" by magic. They disappeared because people were pissed at Biden and by implication Harris and decided to sit this one out.
And oh yeah, she's black and a woman. That sadly had SOMETHING to do with it too.
I'm a student of history and I can see how it happened. It's not that I'm any sort of historian. The basics are always the same. It's only the names and some of the techniques that change. We're going back to the 1920s (or maybe the 1850s) socially and economically. We came close to second revolution in during the Great Depression during the 30s. FDR prevented it with the New Deal even though the rich fought him. I don't know if we'll be that lucky a second time.
I learned about the Holocaust in grade school and asked the same question. Leafing through Life Magazine I remember coming across a photo of Hitler and thousands of people saluting him, thinking: they all look so normal, how could they possibly not see the evil, certainly this could never happen here. And yet, here it is happening in real time. What is truly indigestible is that it happened via God-given free will....
The final sentence is the most telling. The GOP abandoning financial support of public education, coupled with the passage by SCOTUS of the Orwellian-named тАЬCitizenтАЩs UnitedтАЭ has created the voting block that twice now have rejected competent female leaders when contrasted with a side-show huckster.
Forehead slap!
We are living once again, in the long arc of the moral universe bendingтАж.towards the amoral
Words of Benjamin FranklinтАжтАж. тАЬI think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government, but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered; and believe further, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government.тАЭ
Democracy works if we can keep it and тАЬweтАЭ have let our guard down.
We may not be laughing but what are we doing about it. That moron is in favor of martial law and thinks Tienmen (sp) Square was a good way to treat peaceful protesters. It's time for another revolution.
The first revolution was against an overseas monarchy that used muskets and sailing vessels (motorized boats hadn't been invented yet).
A current revolution would be against a resident monarch (or dictator is you prefer) that has a 2 million strong military with nuclear weapons, machine guns and jet fighters.
It's not a fight I think we could even START let alone win.
The only way to beat these folks is with words. And it won't be easy.
Yassss.....the bible on which he will swear his oath, will be, no doubt, one that he sold to the Chief Justice with the fake leather binding of which he so glowingly crowed. They may just as well not use a bible; let him simply say that: "I promise to do all that stuff that you guys expected my predecessors to do. That should suffice." (Of course, except one of his predecessors, which was him.)
In a perfect world, or fantasy world, the moment that criminal puts his hand on that Bible, held by the supreme crooked justice, the crowd would call out, in one voice тАж. LIAR!
No Christopher - we are not laughing. Tomorrow this dangerous fool will state the first lie of his new administration the second it begins, by swearing on the Bible to uphold this nation. There will be thousands to follow. I want to offer up a special thanks to all those Americans, who if not for their mal-informed votes, this would not be taking place. The whole world indeed will be looking on aghast.
He will probably have his Bible to swear on which further brings out his lies because supposedly he has the constitution in the Commandments in there the commandments are in the Bible, but he doesnтАЩt know how to follow any of that. He is never true to his word, heтАЩs an fuxxing ЁЯде liar
We been having a growing oligarchy since the Regan 's years Mary. The gap between them and us growing bigger even under democratic administrators. We are as guilty as they are for "what tragic day for America "
except - as Heather says in this column and many others - that Biden and Harris have NOT beeng just as guilty. They have been working to turn it around, and did start to turn it around. Unfortunately, that turn is about to be reversed.
FDR, with his long tenure in office, was able to see some of the good of his policies come to life. He had the very able assistance of Frances Perkins.
John, unfortunately President Biden was no physically fit to complete another four years and his policies didn't bear fruit yet. Had he and Kamala Harris able to keep administrating this country, it would be comparable to the Roosevelt years.
Widow of opportunity. Maine. тАЬDo you want to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office?тАЭ
This will be appealed. Since Buckley v. Valeo in 1976, the Supreme Court has allowed contributions to be regulated when there is a risk of тАЬquid pro quoтАЭ corruption, essentially a favor for a favor. In the case of elections, if there is a risk someone could be making a donation to a candidate in exchange for a favor, only then can Congress regulate that contribution. In 2010, the Supreme Court extended this reasoning to corporations and unions in Citizens United v. Federal Election Campaign Act.
Three months later, in SpeechNow.org v. FEC, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld that contributions to groups making independent expenditures canтАЩt corrupt or create the appearance of corruption. That decision essentially created the тАЬsuper PAC,тАЭ which can receive unlimited contributions but canтАЩt contribute directly to candidates. Other lower federal and state courts followed suit, and the ruling was never reviewed by the Supreme Court.
In 2012, SCOTUS reversed a decision of the Montana Supreme Court that had upheld a Montana state law prohibiting corporations from making expenditures supporting or opposing candidates or political parties. The Court held that the Montana decision was inconsistent with the high courtтАЩs ruling in Citizens United. Montana state law prohibited corporations from making contributions or expenditures in тАЬconnection with a candidate or a political committee that supports or opposes a candidate or a political party.тАЭ Under that law, corporations may instead establish political action committees (PACs) known as separate segregated funds in order to make political contributions or expenditures.
The worst example is the Colorado ballot case -- Anderson. 10th Amendment: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Voting is a state matter. Not preempted. All the rules relating to voting according to SCOTUS precedent are state matters unless discrimination is involved. E.G. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gill_v._Whitford
I understand that 83 billionaires made donations to Kamala Harris's campaign so although it's doubtless true that some uber-wealthy tycoons are likely to exert a more profound influence on the policies of the incoming administration than ever before there is clearly a much bigger problem with American politics. The Citizens United case in 2010 opened the door to new avenues through which these people were able to bankroll their pet politicians to advance their own interests, but this was already happening as more and more wealthy people established ersatz charitable foundations (Scaife, Koch, DeVos etc.) that are used to channel support to right-wing think tanks and lobby groups. The whole enterprise is covered in great detail by the New Yorker's Jane Mayer in her book, 'Dark Money'. I would also recommend historian Nancy MacLean's 'Democracy in Chains'. They make for some chilling reading. A change of political control isn't going to fix this.
The horrible political situation we are now in is definitely a result of Citizens United. The pieces of this robber baron takeover have been assembled a little at a time, until they spring their trap. Wresting the government back from these evil folks will be long, difficult, and dangerous. They are the тАЬplanter classтАЭ of the 21st century. They have the same mindset as James Henry Hammond with his тАЬmudsill theory.тАЭ You know, some people are just meant to be on the bottom of society. Others, like Hammond were better and meant to be on top. Google John Henry Hammond.
Russell it's undoubtedly true that there's a problem with America politics. Those 83 billonathat donated to the Kamala campaign most likely did the same to the other party, a common practice just in case. It's also true that Citizens United made the influence of money in politics much worse.
Thanks for your rational replay and the information provided.
False Equivalence Russell. The office is called the Executive and what we would prefer is voting in someone who is offering to provide service and efficient management to the country. Harris was that candidate, Trump was there to save himself from jail and to line his pockets. One was a genuine candidate and the other was an outlaw. If billionaires were hedging their bets, that sucks but that is the state of politics now...MONEY, either way.
And yet Trump won. Why did he win? Was it simply by lying effectively, an undoubted skill he possesses? Or was there some degree of receptivity amonst electors to the message he offered and, if so, what was the reason for this? Perhaps working class Americans do not see a false equivalence when it comes to the pernicious influence of money in US elections. Matthew King, a fellow at the German Marshall Fund, in a blog post wrote that Trump could exploit working-class anxieties because he тАЬknew that pride in God, family, and country would resonate in a way that the progressive messages of other candidates didnтАЩtтАЭ. The fact is that Americans have lost jobs as industries have moved their operations overseas. It has happened when Obama and Biden were in office and even when Trump was last in office. The cruel effects of inflation have compounded their misery. Polls clearly show low levels of trust in politics and institutions, and Trump has actively and relentlessly encouraged this dangerous trend, preparing the ground for his hegemony. Biden is right about the threats but he and the Democrats have failed to convince because they haven't sought the high ground - ask Bernie Sanders!
I apologise for not making myself clear. What I meant was that it seems to me that neither of the two political parties is serious about meaningful electoral reform. What one can do as citizens is to demand that your representatives take this issue seriously by raising the issue in public forums. I know this will seem a little glib, but you will need critical mass to achieve results. Look. for instance, at what happened when the Republicans sought to remove key benefits from the Affordable Care Act last time Trump was in office - there were angry town hall protests up and down the country and Trump wisely dropped the bill like a hot potato. Trump and the Republicans have actively encouraged Americans to be distrustful of government and other institutions but this is like grabbing a tiger by its tail - you can't let go for fear of being eaten.
You are ЁЯТп % correct Russell. People will finally react to the results of the billionaires policies and we have to be ready for that moment. We have to pressure our leaders and legislators in Congress to be ready as well.
It's kind of an iron rule of populism that to remain successful a populist has to continue to be popular. Trump manages to avoid the pitfalls of populism by blaming others for his own failings and sadly they mostly seem to accept the blame. Many members of his previous administration are now publicly rueing their fecklessness, some even to the point of denouncing him.
If history is an indicator, then a total economic and social collapse of the American Empire is the only event that will bring about change.
Keep in mind that tycoons are not vivifiers, but parasites on a society. When the host is no longer viable, they will also expire or move on to another host.
We've had an oligarchy for some time. Now, they control 99% of the pie, rather than just 90%, and limitless hubris has led a few of them to 'go public'. The corruption will be astounding. Hang on to your loved ones, your sanity, and your wallets.
Another "Royal F---ing". Howz that.? The "royals" screwed the people in England and Europe and the "people" came to America to let their asses heal. Now look what has happened.., we have a royal shithead in charge. Bend over, Rover is taking over.
Well, at best it was presumed legitimacy enforced by violence; unless it like England, where the monarchy is more like a heritage museum. Constitution says that's not how we do things here.
It's way too early for cynicism. Trump won because of inflation. He did not win by much. People want to know what oligarchy means. I can relate. I didn't really know what it meant until I read Synder's piece comparing Trump's team to Gilligan's Island. Resistance + administrational dysfunction are going to be on our side. Do not give in to cynicism. Self-care!
"MuskтАЩs investment has paid off: Faiz Siddiqui and Trisha Thadani of the Washington Post reported that he made more than $170 billion in the weeks between the election and December 15."
The 'good news'? All oligarchies are unsustainable because capitalism is inherently unsustainable. The pressing issue is how to combat them, minimize their damage, and restore democracy. Read Timothy Snyder's body of works starting with Tyranny. Then Google: ''Resourceism'' (with two E's) for a way to both preserve democracy and improve it.
An interesting interview I watched on dw.com. ЁЯдФ The author of a book -- using a broader definition of oligarchy -- on America's gaping divergence of wealth stated his belief that the United States started out as an oligarchy. ЁЯШ▓The struggle we face today, albeit acute, is one with which the Republic has had to contend for two hundred, fifty years. ЁЯлг Part of our national story. тЬНя╕П
Which is why he doesn't sell it. He just uses his companies to pay for everything and take loans against the value of his stocks. It's all a game to them.
One sobering point about three men with a trillion dollars of net worth. That combined wealth is larger amount than the G.D.P.s of all but seventeen countries; it corresponds to the level of the Netherlands. That is comparing apples and oranges in comparing a balance sheet (i.e., net worth) with an income statement (G.D.P.). It serves to illustrate the scale of wealth. тЪЦя╕П
Mr Bessent is qualified and should be confirmed, though I do not welcome his answers. He strikes me as having the integrity to stand up to Trump when the chips are down, much like for Attorneys General Sessions and Barr ultimately did.
(Oligarchy has been a long time coming. Building strength and concentrating forces in industry Since 1981. ItтАЩs this new merger with information technology and social media that has cemented their power. They now have direct power over the masses with unregulated mass communications and military grade persuasion targeting and tools at their fingertips. The Mining of personal data is the new currency. The Tech Reich is upon us.)
I love that last sentence. "Last night, after President BidenтАЩs warning, Google searches for the meaning of the word тАЬoligarchyтАЭ spiked."
Social contracts, governments of one kind or another and other forms of rule and control: Oligarchy. Patriarchy, Authoritarianism, Hegemony, Autocracy, Totalitarianism, Theocracy, Imperialism, Dictatorship, Despotism, Monarchy, Fascism, Dystopian whatever, Republicanism, Communism, Socialism annnnd the thing that most of the developing world gravitated to: A Liberal Democracy. Unfortunately that form is vulnerable to most of those previous forms. Me, I guess the best examples of what I would like see would be what the Scandinavian countries have developed but they are just as vulnerable to being torn down by the far right and disaffected populations as any of the countries that are succumbing to the right wing nowadays. We (America) wanted to proselytize Liberal Democracy, sell it to all the rest of the worlds' countries but we have succumb to the avarice of the few wealthy. The richest man in the world can put $200,000,000. down on a "bet" and not think about it, see it as a cheap investment. AND HE IS NOT AN AMERICAN!
Mary - or we could look at this moment as our great awakening to remedy this farcical scenario by going forth in unity to defend our democracy without fear or favor. Hail. Hail. The liberty bell for freedom rings across all the world for the light of truth and justice for all and in this moment our faith and courage prevail ЁЯеБЁЯЗ║ЁЯЗ╕ЁЯЧ╜тЭдя╕ПЁЯХпя╕ПЁЯМ╗ЁЯХКя╕П
Dear Mary - Indeed the oligarchy begins. I've finally landed upon an article that describes where the nation is headed beginning this month. It is entitled "Countering Nationalist Oligarchy." This particular passage captures perfectly what we can expect, "Oligarchies remain in power through two strategies: first, using divide-and-conquer tactics to ensure that a majority doesnтАЩt coalesce, and second, by rigging the political system to make it harder for any emerging majority to overthrow them. " The election rigging is already underway in red states and the rigging is desperately trying to gain prominence in blue states. This cannot be good for the majority of Americans.
And so the oligarchy begins. What a tragic day for America.
So next you have a man who is going to swear on the bible that he will not do what he has already sworn that he will not do.
And then in the end he did it.
And he is going to swear in the very place that was stormed by his thugs.
The world looks on aghast
It is not funny, we are not laughing.
"sworn he will not do, on a text he's never read, that contains a religious ethos that is the polar opposite of everything he believes in or practices."
There, fixed it for you.
Don't worry, he and EloX signed the Bible he's swearing on and he's not a Christian so not sworn to tell the truth or uphold the law especially now that he has SCOTUS support. We're not "going to lose this country". We've already lost it.
If only someone could convince him to open that Bible and read from it. Let's start with the Old Testament, where Micah tells us that our role in life is to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly.
тАЬPower always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak; and that it is doing GodтАЩs service when it is violating all his laws.тАЭ
тАУ John Adams
Not sure that's what trump thinks. I reckon he just thinks "Heh! Heh! Heh! - got away with THAT again!
His stay out of jail card.
Lady, I am not sure he does anything that the rest of us would call thinking. To me he is the reptilian brain hissing and striking at anything and anyone who comes near. As the 20th nears, I feel a heavy sickness coming on. I do like the idea that the flags will be at half staff (in most places, Abbott and little Johnson). it is MLK Day which strikes me as some kind of irony. And I do think that that the national football championship is that day also. I also like the idea that certain people will not attend the travesty of his inauguration. I saw a headline from The Telegraph this am that seemed to be castigating Michelle Obama.
Michele, I noticed yesterday that the flag at our local Catholic Grades 1-8 school was flying at full staff. I am utterly and completely disgusted.
I saw a headline that said that because of the cold, the inauguration will be held indoors. I guess that limits the crowd size lies...
The Telegraph is slightly more Right Wing than Genghis Khan. It's owned by Redbird, a US group mostly funded by Abu Dhabi. Hardly surprising that it's not a fan of Mrs. Obama. "Any stick to beat a dog with."
And no Guardrails THIS time! ( of course he capitalizes guardrails)
Trump has Papa PutinтАЩs applause. Maybe watch for Trump Tower Moscow. With the Chinese at the Inauguration the new world is looking like 1939. Sadly most Americans have no idea how they have voted for a pack of lies.
Look for statues of Putin and Robert E Lee on the National Mall.
I think he lives for those you-can't-catch-me moments.
e.g., what Scott Bessent said at his confirmation hearing.
I will not buy from Amazon. I will not ever buy a Telsa. I will not be a consumer for buying products enriches the billionaire class. At least as much as I can I will not spend to help the economy grow.
But I will accumulate wealth and only spend it with small business owners,
Bill Katz, as a fellow boycotter, let me give you a laugh today: thanks to the John Birch Society, I still boycott Carnation.
John Adams drew a conclusion and found conclusion-confirming evidence. I could do thatтАФeven when it was obvious in hindsight that I was wrongтАФwhen I was 5. It probably wasn't until grade 5 that I changed. Now I draw a conclusion and look at the evidence to discover if it confirms or refutes my conclusion, and I think it's made me even smarter than that 5th grader.
I understand what Adams meant, but if power is always as he describes, then there is no hope. Don't be naively optimistic, but cynical pessimism is a self-fulfilling prophesy. Instead, be pragmatically optimistic.
If you're looking for a valid reason to be optimistic, or if you just want me to know I've overlooked relevant evidence, subscribe to my weekly no-fee newsletter.
Link: https://substack.com/home/post/p-154848354
To speak strictly accurately I suppose it would be best to "always" avoid the word "always", especially when human behavior is involved. Yet I think the larger point is in bring attention to the hubris, and frequent cruelty, that often afflicts those who gain or were brought up with exceptional wealth and power. Counter-examples? Sure; but one will encounter a lot of examples of narrow-minded, self congratulation and classist thinking among supposed aristocracy. The word "commoner" was not a compliment.
As for cynicsim, I fully agree, it's self-defeating. I don't see cynicism, however, in pointing to a disturbing pattern often seen among people become excessively powerful. Here's one of many examples:
тАЬ 'Homeless is a misnomer. It implies that someone got a little bit behind on their mortgage, and if you just gave them a job, theyтАЩd be back on their feet,' he told former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson in October. 'What you actually have are violent drug zombies with dead eyes, and needles and human feces on the street.'
The more money spent combating homelessness, 'the worse it gets', according to Musk"
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-homeless-trump-vivek-ramaswamy-b2663740.html
In addition to the (good) rule that there is variation in virtually every common human behavior pattern, I would add that the exception proves the rule. But is there an exception? If you conclude there are no exceptions, then you will find confirming evidence even when there is an exception. Conversely, if you allow the evidence to determine whether it confirms or refutes your conclusion, then you will discover the truth, although it may be inconvenient.
I think the important point is the exception, and I think the exception is we always have the same two options. We all seek the truth until we get close enough to recognize itтАЩs inconvenient, then the wise keep going and the unwise turn the other way.
On the other hand, maybe IтАЩve overlooked something. My logic is in the series of short essays. You responded to the comment with the link to the first essay. If you subscribe (no fee) and discover a flaw in my logic, then I will thank you.
By extension, thereтАЩs one more two-option exception.
The unwise option involves associating unwise behavior with an identifiable group. ItтАЩs efficient and popular because itтАЩs a bit easier in the short term. Why? Because the problem is instantly тАЬthemтАЭ in lieu of тАЬus,тАЭ and the solution is for тАЬthemтАЭ to stop being unwise and start being wise. But it is also ineffective because itтАЩs significantly harder in the long term due to the easy-to-ignore implicit message, which is, тАЬYou need to stop being bad. I donтАЩt because youтАЩre better at it than me.тАЭ
The wise option involves continuing to seek the inconvenient truths. ItтАЩs inefficient and unpopular because itтАЩs a bit harder in the short term, and itтАЩs effective because itтАЩs significantly easier in the long term.
Yes, that's a favorite. And for those who like to beat us over the head with the Ten Commandments, let's add: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." (John 13:34)
Barbara Stumpf,
You know all that "love stuff" is really for "suckers and losers".
It is all about how much we can TAKE! It is all about power! Forget about the future ....children....the elderly....the helpless.... Forget about friends all over the earth and our trusted alliances with them...friends who have respected us for...our reputation and character....that stuff is for those who are weak!!!!
Let's see: take from the citizenry....take from the earth....take from our water systems.....take from the air....we can even take from one another until only the most evil and deceptive of the wealthy population are standing.....after all "only the strong survive"!
.....they will destroy everyone and everything they can....for selfish gain!
Emily, yes, and in the end not even heaps of money will save them from the destruction they have wrought on the planet.
That, of course, was JesusтАЩs sole commandment. The others come from the old testament.
Barbara Stumpf - "let's add: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." (John 13:34)"
This commandment is similar to Leviticus 19:18, but it applies to anyone.
тАЬЁЭСМЁЭСЬЁЭСв ЁЭСатДОЁЭСОЁЭСЩЁЭСЩ ЁЭСЫЁЭСЬЁЭСб ЁЭСбЁЭСОЁЭСШЁЭСТ ЁЭСгЁЭСТЁЭСЫЁЭСФЁЭСТЁЭСОЁЭСЫЁЭСРЁЭСТ ЁЭСЬЁЭСЯ ЁЭСПЁЭСТЁЭСОЁЭСЯ ЁЭСО ЁЭСФЁЭСЯЁЭСвЁЭССЁЭСФЁЭСТ ЁЭСОЁЭСФЁЭСОЁЭСЦЁЭСЫЁЭСаЁЭСб ЁЭСОЁЭСЫЁЭСж ЁЭСЬЁЭСУ ЁЭСжЁЭСЬЁЭСвЁЭСЯ ЁЭСЭЁЭСТЁЭСЬЁЭСЭЁЭСЩЁЭСТ, ЁЭСПЁЭСвЁЭСб ЁЭСжЁЭСЬЁЭСв ЁЭСатДОЁЭСОЁЭСЩЁЭСЩ ЁЭСЩЁЭСЬЁЭСгЁЭСТ ЁЭСжЁЭСЬЁЭСвЁЭСЯ ЁЭСЫЁЭСТЁЭСЦЁЭСФтДОЁЭСПЁЭСЬЁЭСЯ ЁЭСОЁЭСа ЁЭСжЁЭСЬЁЭСвЁЭСЯЁЭСаЁЭСТЁЭСЩЁЭСУ.тАЭ --Leviticus 19:18 (kjv)
Is the problem a lack of self-love? True self-love, security in one's actions and beliefs, not self-adulation or the need to be adored by others.
Amen
Trump may know the words but he has no ability to understand the concepts of justice, mercy or love.
Trump reads English the way I read Spanish. Yeah, I can sound them out but I only understand a few of them.
Eva, thank you for my first smile this am. I bet I could do a word salad in German without having any idea of what i am talking about.
Boy, is that a great analogy. Brought a smile to my face!
Huh? He understands. Surely you jest. People channeling what he believes, what he will do , could do well to understand he is a Crazy Maker of the very highest order. All forms of power, and chaos are aimed solely by him, at you, at us. The US he hates Trump is essentially the alien we fear. The seemingly invincible bag of skin he is enclosed in appears to be Trojan horse uniform. Walk into the fire boldly. After the air clears when something goes wrong, you will forever be able to say "I've seen worse, far worse!"
The niece of Donald t, Mary Trump, wrote a sequel to her first book, *Too Much and Never Enough*. The new one is entitled *Who Could Ever Love You*. She shows how damaged her uncle is, how he emotionally damaged her and others, and finally how she recovered. By implication, Mary has wise counsel for those under t's psychic domination--and all voters who want to regain democratic liberty.
Trump does not understand justice, mercy much less love & much less anything else. F-Elon34X latest tactic is to appoint two (2) "Ambassadors to Hollywood". Not a joke but, I can think of a few.
Friendly correction: THREE ambassadors to Hollywood: Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight. jeez. Is this his idea of a Ministry of Propaganda?
I firmly believe that trump loathes America - and is trying to do everything in his power to make it a world wide laughing stock. And then destroy it. . .
All those "nasty" comments about him over the years have turned him into a bitter old man.
Hah.. Ms MisTBlu, a million here a million there, no biggy. As for you an me, we miss onemore payment on that rusted out Nissen Pathfinder and the repo-man/woman/TG/etc is gonna click onto it and haul it back to the bank. No love lost there.
He has no concept of justice, mercy or love. He only loves himself.
Trumps take on that would be _ "OK for thee - but not for me. . . "
And "do as I say; not as I do"
Man! It's been a long time since I've heard that one! So good. right there!
As against the other view point - "What's yours is mine - and what's mine's my own. . ."
Yes. My Dad used to say those two expressions!
WhatтАЩs mine is mine. WhatтАЩs yours is mine also. I got mine; you get yours the best way you can.
Just curious, Lady Emsworth, do you think Joni Ernst will cave and vote for Hegeseth? Maybe i shouldn't have used the word "cave".
Nope. Cave is exactly the right word. If she remembers her oath, she will not vote for him. If she has a shard of integrity, she won't vote for him. She has no integrity and has no oath but to her own aggrandizement.
Ernst already announced she will vote for him. Nothing new there. Hegseth is going to head the US military which is beyond any possible belief IMHO.
How low we have sunk...
Well, she's already said she WILL vote for him - and, as you know, Republicans never lie. . .
Yes, she announced it on a radio interview a couple of nights ago. Ernst is a stooge for Trump - she just tries to appear open minded.
Lady, the bells of hell....
If he were to open it and read it, he would only twist the words to favor himself.
The parts he couldn't do that with, he would claim the Bible was weaponizing against him.
Laughing out loud. When asked, "┬┐Do your prefer the new or old testament?", Trump would shout, "┬бI have bigger testicles than little Marco!" ЁЯдн
Then the interviewer would add, "No, I meant the Xian gospel versus the Torah . . . ." ЁЯЩД
To which Trump would lose it and bellow, "Damn Japs -- ┬бthey'll pay for Pearl Harbor!" ЁЯЩВ
1. He probably can't read well enough to understand new ideas.
2. He doesn't believe in the tenets of the Bible. The one you mention would be anathema to him.
3. Given those points, now what do you suggest for dealing with him?
Oh, how nice to see "tenets" used - rather than "tenants"!
I've also seen "anathema" spelled "anasthma" as in "an asthma"!
Autocorrect is as mindless, and as evil, as AI.
Oh piffle. Read what I mean, you never know if the author misspelled, or if autocorrect autocorrected badly, and you might mis something important while focusing on the wrong thibg,you know what I mean? That sort off cognitive rigidity results in many misunderstandings. And the willingness to discount a message because of spelling errors mainly suggests looking for any excuse to discount the message, didn't it?
Whoa! Dial back on the coffee, Notes! I was simply complimenting you on your correct spelling - I don't give a shit if people use "tenants" - it's just nice to see that someone got the right word!
Jeez, I'll stop saying nice things to people in future. . .
I disagree, Notes. Sometimes people are unaware of, for instance, that tenents and tenants describe different things. Or unaware that a flag flies at half mast only aboard a vessel on the water; it flies at half staff on land. Or that Republican is both a noun and an adjective, while Democrat is a noun and Democratic is an adjective.
When someone, like an earlier poster, uses the noun, Democrat, instead of the adjective, Democratic, I can hear the Cult spitting out Democrat like an insult. You may be generous and think that it's a typo. You may even be generous and think that it's a lack of education. But I can only hear it (or read it) as something intentionally mean and malicious.
Thatsa Beauty. /Much bette then saying anything.
Join a labor union, as soon as possible!
Gregg, I'm retired and work for my wife now. The boss says no to any unions, apart from marital.
Reading the Bible is only valuable if one pays attention to what is being read. I'd suggest "thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself", followed by the story of the good Samaritan.
Dave, as well as what Jesus said about rich people and much more that is never practiced by mega preachers and their acolytes.
That might be awkward, lot of eye for an eye stuff in there... he will take it literally because he sees himself as god...
It would take a miracle for 45 to open the Bible and take its words to heart. His pathology is too deep and strong for that.
Betsy, one problem with your solution. He can't read and most bibles don't have that many pictures.
Doubt he would ever read it and if he did, doubt it would ever make an impression.
Or quite simply where Jesus tells his followers to love one another-and that thatтАЩs how theyтАЩll be known to be his followers-by their LOVE.
First, that assumes he can readтАж second, the actual Christian part of the bible would be appropriate, despite it seeming to be foreign to right wing so called тАШChristiansтАЩ- the message, over and over, is тАШLove Thy NeighborтАЩ
Ha ha Betsy. That is a good one. Winner of the internet, and before dawn! If wishes were horses beggars would ride.
He would not know what any of it means.
And I keep asking myself, тАЬHow could this possibly have happened?тАЭ
Stop asking yourself Rhonda how this happened, rather ask how someone like Mu$k,that made 170 billion in 40 days since election day ,vowed to cut 2 trillion from the US budget even if it inflicted "hardship" on the American people.
Ricardo, I've been saying for a few weeks now that, in order for a massive shift away from trumpism (and its attendant oligarchy, etc.) to happen in this country, we must collectively endure hardship. The Guardian just published an opinion piece stating the same, and suggests that Congressional Dems no longer help out the Republicans-- no more votes to keep the country funded, or for any other purpose includong Senate confirmations. Let them try to govern on their own. Yes, hardship will ensue, but given that that's what they want, perhaps voters will finally get it and vote them out in 2026 and 2028.
I believe that my prayer will be answered: the GOP will self-implode. I see the schism already taking place--the egos at play are truly large and unhealthy....
ЁЯТп % on target Doug. Let them own the consequences. Thanks
40% of Americans do not have and could not borrow $400 to deal with an unexpected crisis. An oil change, heater core flush and battery replacement for my 14yo car would leave them unable to pay their rent. I do understand that it may take GOP failure to rid us of their control. But I canтАЩt imagine that we can morally help them fail. Too many people are living too close to the edge, and homelessness can be a traumatic event. When they lose their housing over the lack of $400, how will they secure the $3-5,000 it will cost them for first/last monthтАЩs rent, security deposit, utility hookup, etc?
Marge, those you describe are already suffering. I'm suggesting that it include those better off -- i.e., middle class America.
I don't wish suffering on anybody, believe me -- especially the most vulnerable. But Maga and the mumpers are ok with it, and their policies will likely induce it.
It saddens me to drive by dilapidated houses in our area and see Trump signs, banners and flags proudly displayed in front.
"Unless we change direction, we will likely end up where we are headed."
Look at this site for a possible explanation. https://open.substack.com/pub/smartelections/p/so-clean?r=dvl80&utm_medium=ios
Thank you, Notes On Useful Beauty. I've been convinced from the very beginning that Harris won. And there are other sites analyzing the data that clearly show something was amiss. My question is why this hasn't been made public by people who could make things happen to get things corrected. With each passing day, my heart sinks further. We are living a Shakespearean tragedy and are being forced into a nightmare that was a cleverly executed con job of the highest order that probably included outside forces (countries) as well. My philosophical self says it is happening for a reason of a higher order we cannot possibly understand right now. Hoping I can live long enough to see the shift happen towards a better planet for us all. In the meantime, we have to stay safe and do well unto others.
I don't know why this is not being picked up by major media. I just keep pasting it everywhere it seems even slightly appropriate. Hopefully the right eyes will see it sooner or later. I have sent it to many public figures who have email addresses. Please help spread the word.
It's not being picked up because it is speculative bullshit. To suggest some kind of massive vote counting fraud across ALL the precincts in North Carolina is such BS that it doesnt deserve any kind of response.
How would that even happen without a massive conspiracy? Voting machines are carefully guarded and there are literally thousands of them.
And IF you were going to conduct that kind of conspiracy WHY would you ONLY do it in the Presidential race and NOT in the AG race and Governors race too? Those are important statewide races so if you COULD fix the Presidential race then might as well while you are at it get your GOP governor and AG in too.
The obvious answer is that people in NC wanted the Democratic candidates for Gov and AG and didn't want KHarris as President. That just MIGHT be a better and more accurate explanation for a statewide trend that voted for the local Democrats but not for the national one.
Another reason is TRUMP is famous and has already been President and people wanted him (not sure WHY but obviously they did) but didn't know or like the GOP candidates for other offices.
Get over it. There was no conspiracy. There almost never Is a conspiracy except a conspiracy of ignorance. It's tough to accept but the majority of people in the US voted for Trump.
Time to move on and start worrying how to save our country rather than fretting over what you can't change.
Senator Ossoff of Georgia noted in a hearing this week that bomb threats on election day deterred voting in a predominantly Black district near Atlanta. The question may beg that this was emblematic of other incidents. Enough to sway the election? Likely not. Trump almost certainly won fair and square but not by a land-slide. тЪЦя╕П
Yet this incident, likely isolated, should serve as a warning. The people opposed to the rest of us (conservatives, moderates, and liberals alike) -- and this is where Xian nationalism may be crucial -- believe their ends (with G-D on their side) justify the means. And that is a death to democracy if they hold on to their illegitimate power. ЁЯШ▒
If that 'Ark' will float.., then get it floated. That'll be the take-down of the century. But, right now, it looks like another cure for ED... 6 bottles for$49. Better to Stop/Look/Listen.., cause a train-wreck is going to occur, one way or another.., "Wait for it".
Exactly, did it really happen? IтАЩm not convinced тАж.
Of course it happened. It happened the same way Biden beat Trump in 2020. People voted. 7 million FEWER people voted for Harris than Biden. You don't make that many votes "disappear" by magic. They disappeared because people were pissed at Biden and by implication Harris and decided to sit this one out.
And oh yeah, she's black and a woman. That sadly had SOMETHING to do with it too.
I'm a student of history and I can see how it happened. It's not that I'm any sort of historian. The basics are always the same. It's only the names and some of the techniques that change. We're going back to the 1920s (or maybe the 1850s) socially and economically. We came close to second revolution in during the Great Depression during the 30s. FDR prevented it with the New Deal even though the rich fought him. I don't know if we'll be that lucky a second time.
I learned about the Holocaust in grade school and asked the same question. Leafing through Life Magazine I remember coming across a photo of Hitler and thousands of people saluting him, thinking: they all look so normal, how could they possibly not see the evil, certainly this could never happen here. And yet, here it is happening in real time. What is truly indigestible is that it happened via God-given free will....
Regarding how this happened, maybe the answer is that maga Republicans are a laud orde and democrats are a quiet herd . That needs to change.
Laud orde? You mean Loud Herd??? ЁЯЩГ
You made your point clear Jon ЁЯСМ
The final sentence is the most telling. The GOP abandoning financial support of public education, coupled with the passage by SCOTUS of the Orwellian-named тАЬCitizenтАЩs UnitedтАЭ has created the voting block that twice now have rejected competent female leaders when contrasted with a side-show huckster.
Forehead slap!
We are living once again, in the long arc of the moral universe bendingтАж.towards the amoral
Words of Benjamin FranklinтАжтАж. тАЬI think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government, but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered; and believe further, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government.тАЭ
Democracy works if we can keep it and тАЬweтАЭ have let our guard down.
You encapsulated the hypocrisy spot onтАж.
Now the word, hypocrisy, needs to be goggled by the masses.
Oaths are the domain of honorable people
Why bother with this charade?
Bang !!!
It would be great if he swears to uphold the constitution and the Bible spontaneously combusts into flames.
We may not be laughing but what are we doing about it. That moron is in favor of martial law and thinks Tienmen (sp) Square was a good way to treat peaceful protesters. It's time for another revolution.
The first revolution was against an overseas monarchy that used muskets and sailing vessels (motorized boats hadn't been invented yet).
A current revolution would be against a resident monarch (or dictator is you prefer) that has a 2 million strong military with nuclear weapons, machine guns and jet fighters.
It's not a fight I think we could even START let alone win.
The only way to beat these folks is with words. And it won't be easy.
I keep wondering if it'll be one of his Bibles that he'll then auction off, or demand it be put in a special case at the Smithsonian.
Sadly, their "oath" is just words on the page. They could not even define the meaning of the word. That is the CONservatives.
I'm a minister (Presbyterian, ret.), and I wish they would use something other than a Bible for the occasion. It's almost sinful!
In my opinion it is unconstitutional. The language of the oath gives the option to either "swear or affirm" but why on a Bible?
Yassss.....the bible on which he will swear his oath, will be, no doubt, one that he sold to the Chief Justice with the fake leather binding of which he so glowingly crowed. They may just as well not use a bible; let him simply say that: "I promise to do all that stuff that you guys expected my predecessors to do. That should suffice." (Of course, except one of his predecessors, which was him.)
In a perfect world, or fantasy world, the moment that criminal puts his hand on that Bible, held by the supreme crooked justice, the crowd would call out, in one voice тАж. LIAR!
No, and we need to be ready to fight. It will come to that if the traitor has his way. He needs to be imprisoned, not awarded.
No Christopher - we are not laughing. Tomorrow this dangerous fool will state the first lie of his new administration the second it begins, by swearing on the Bible to uphold this nation. There will be thousands to follow. I want to offer up a special thanks to all those Americans, who if not for their mal-informed votes, this would not be taking place. The whole world indeed will be looking on aghast.
And we must not give up on our Democracy. Ever.
FRIDAY MORNING 10 AM Eastern:
SCOTUS has UPHELD the Tok Tok Ban in an unsigned Opinion. The case is Tok Tok vs. Garland.
Note that many users have already migrated to 'RedNote' -- no pun intended.
He will probably have his Bible to swear on which further brings out his lies because supposedly he has the constitution in the Commandments in there the commandments are in the Bible, but he doesnтАЩt know how to follow any of that. He is never true to his word, heтАЩs an fuxxing ЁЯде liar
We been having a growing oligarchy since the Regan 's years Mary. The gap between them and us growing bigger even under democratic administrators. We are as guilty as they are for "what tragic day for America "
except - as Heather says in this column and many others - that Biden and Harris have NOT beeng just as guilty. They have been working to turn it around, and did start to turn it around. Unfortunately, that turn is about to be reversed.
FDR, with his long tenure in office, was able to see some of the good of his policies come to life. He had the very able assistance of Frances Perkins.
John, unfortunately President Biden was no physically fit to complete another four years and his policies didn't bear fruit yet. Had he and Kamala Harris able to keep administrating this country, it would be comparable to the Roosevelt years.
Widow of opportunity. Maine. тАЬDo you want to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office?тАЭ
https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/21-a/title21-Asec1015.html
This will be appealed. Since Buckley v. Valeo in 1976, the Supreme Court has allowed contributions to be regulated when there is a risk of тАЬquid pro quoтАЭ corruption, essentially a favor for a favor. In the case of elections, if there is a risk someone could be making a donation to a candidate in exchange for a favor, only then can Congress regulate that contribution. In 2010, the Supreme Court extended this reasoning to corporations and unions in Citizens United v. Federal Election Campaign Act.
Three months later, in SpeechNow.org v. FEC, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld that contributions to groups making independent expenditures canтАЩt corrupt or create the appearance of corruption. That decision essentially created the тАЬsuper PAC,тАЭ which can receive unlimited contributions but canтАЩt contribute directly to candidates. Other lower federal and state courts followed suit, and the ruling was never reviewed by the Supreme Court.
In 2012, SCOTUS reversed a decision of the Montana Supreme Court that had upheld a Montana state law prohibiting corporations from making expenditures supporting or opposing candidates or political parties. The Court held that the Montana decision was inconsistent with the high courtтАЩs ruling in Citizens United. Montana state law prohibited corporations from making contributions or expenditures in тАЬconnection with a candidate or a political committee that supports or opposes a candidate or a political party.тАЭ Under that law, corporations may instead establish political action committees (PACs) known as separate segregated funds in order to make political contributions or expenditures.
So, state's rights only apply when it is beneficial to those currently holding the control levers.
So far.....
The worst example is the Colorado ballot case -- Anderson. 10th Amendment: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Voting is a state matter. Not preempted. All the rules relating to voting according to SCOTUS precedent are state matters unless discrimination is involved. E.G. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gill_v._Whitford
YES! And anywhere else in the world, that 'decision' would have brought the masses into the streets. But here, alas...
'Twas ever thus.
But hopefully with our vigilance, the turn will be temporary. We can do this if only we donтАЩt give up
I understand that 83 billionaires made donations to Kamala Harris's campaign so although it's doubtless true that some uber-wealthy tycoons are likely to exert a more profound influence on the policies of the incoming administration than ever before there is clearly a much bigger problem with American politics. The Citizens United case in 2010 opened the door to new avenues through which these people were able to bankroll their pet politicians to advance their own interests, but this was already happening as more and more wealthy people established ersatz charitable foundations (Scaife, Koch, DeVos etc.) that are used to channel support to right-wing think tanks and lobby groups. The whole enterprise is covered in great detail by the New Yorker's Jane Mayer in her book, 'Dark Money'. I would also recommend historian Nancy MacLean's 'Democracy in Chains'. They make for some chilling reading. A change of political control isn't going to fix this.
The horrible political situation we are now in is definitely a result of Citizens United. The pieces of this robber baron takeover have been assembled a little at a time, until they spring their trap. Wresting the government back from these evil folks will be long, difficult, and dangerous. They are the тАЬplanter classтАЭ of the 21st century. They have the same mindset as James Henry Hammond with his тАЬmudsill theory.тАЭ You know, some people are just meant to be on the bottom of society. Others, like Hammond were better and meant to be on top. Google John Henry Hammond.
Yes, I think he must have been a fan of Plato's 'Noble Lie' i.e. the so-called myth of the metals.
Russell it's undoubtedly true that there's a problem with America politics. Those 83 billonathat donated to the Kamala campaign most likely did the same to the other party, a common practice just in case. It's also true that Citizens United made the influence of money in politics much worse.
Thanks for your rational replay and the information provided.
You're very welcome, Ricardo.
DidnтАЩt read Dark Money but Democracy in Chains is a horror story.
False Equivalence Russell. The office is called the Executive and what we would prefer is voting in someone who is offering to provide service and efficient management to the country. Harris was that candidate, Trump was there to save himself from jail and to line his pockets. One was a genuine candidate and the other was an outlaw. If billionaires were hedging their bets, that sucks but that is the state of politics now...MONEY, either way.
And yet Trump won. Why did he win? Was it simply by lying effectively, an undoubted skill he possesses? Or was there some degree of receptivity amonst electors to the message he offered and, if so, what was the reason for this? Perhaps working class Americans do not see a false equivalence when it comes to the pernicious influence of money in US elections. Matthew King, a fellow at the German Marshall Fund, in a blog post wrote that Trump could exploit working-class anxieties because he тАЬknew that pride in God, family, and country would resonate in a way that the progressive messages of other candidates didnтАЩtтАЭ. The fact is that Americans have lost jobs as industries have moved their operations overseas. It has happened when Obama and Biden were in office and even when Trump was last in office. The cruel effects of inflation have compounded their misery. Polls clearly show low levels of trust in politics and institutions, and Trump has actively and relentlessly encouraged this dangerous trend, preparing the ground for his hegemony. Biden is right about the threats but he and the Democrats have failed to convince because they haven't sought the high ground - ask Bernie Sanders!
If a change in political control won't make a change, what will?
I apologise for not making myself clear. What I meant was that it seems to me that neither of the two political parties is serious about meaningful electoral reform. What one can do as citizens is to demand that your representatives take this issue seriously by raising the issue in public forums. I know this will seem a little glib, but you will need critical mass to achieve results. Look. for instance, at what happened when the Republicans sought to remove key benefits from the Affordable Care Act last time Trump was in office - there were angry town hall protests up and down the country and Trump wisely dropped the bill like a hot potato. Trump and the Republicans have actively encouraged Americans to be distrustful of government and other institutions but this is like grabbing a tiger by its tail - you can't let go for fear of being eaten.
You are ЁЯТп % correct Russell. People will finally react to the results of the billionaires policies and we have to be ready for that moment. We have to pressure our leaders and legislators in Congress to be ready as well.
It's kind of an iron rule of populism that to remain successful a populist has to continue to be popular. Trump manages to avoid the pitfalls of populism by blaming others for his own failings and sadly they mostly seem to accept the blame. Many members of his previous administration are now publicly rueing their fecklessness, some even to the point of denouncing him.
If history is an indicator, then a total economic and social collapse of the American Empire is the only event that will bring about change.
Keep in mind that tycoons are not vivifiers, but parasites on a society. When the host is no longer viable, they will also expire or move on to another host.
We've had an oligarchy for some time. Now, they control 99% of the pie, rather than just 90%, and limitless hubris has led a few of them to 'go public'. The corruption will be astounding. Hang on to your loved ones, your sanity, and your wallets.
They control the pie - and the pie cutter.
Our wallets will be empty soon. Thanks for your advice anyway Steve ЁЯСН
Or at least becomes official. This coronation has been in the works at least since the Powell Memo.
Coronation is a poor word choice, with too many connotations of prior legitimacy. What's a better word for what you mean?
Another "Royal F---ing". Howz that.? The "royals" screwed the people in England and Europe and the "people" came to America to let their asses heal. Now look what has happened.., we have a royal shithead in charge. Bend over, Rover is taking over.
I don't know about better alternative for "coronation" but maybe I have a better title for the job, King Felon the 34.
Well, at best it was presumed legitimacy enforced by violence; unless it like England, where the monarchy is more like a heritage museum. Constitution says that's not how we do things here.
The google report of the spike in тАЬoligarch,тАЭ definition surges explains why oligarchy triumphs.
People voted for harmful concepts they didnтАЩt understand.
Oligarchy has quietly been going on for decades. A SCOTUS decision here or there, tax cuts for the wealthy, Citizens United, etc.
It's way too early for cynicism. Trump won because of inflation. He did not win by much. People want to know what oligarchy means. I can relate. I didn't really know what it meant until I read Synder's piece comparing Trump's team to Gilligan's Island. Resistance + administrational dysfunction are going to be on our side. Do not give in to cynicism. Self-care!
- Pulled Quote -
"MuskтАЩs investment has paid off: Faiz Siddiqui and Trisha Thadani of the Washington Post reported that he made more than $170 billion in the weeks between the election and December 15."
The 'good news'? All oligarchies are unsustainable because capitalism is inherently unsustainable. The pressing issue is how to combat them, minimize their damage, and restore democracy. Read Timothy Snyder's body of works starting with Tyranny. Then Google: ''Resourceism'' (with two E's) for a way to both preserve democracy and improve it.
An interesting interview I watched on dw.com. ЁЯдФ The author of a book -- using a broader definition of oligarchy -- on America's gaping divergence of wealth stated his belief that the United States started out as an oligarchy. ЁЯШ▓The struggle we face today, albeit acute, is one with which the Republic has had to contend for two hundred, fifty years. ЁЯлг Part of our national story. тЬНя╕П
How did Musk make that $170 billion? What was the source of that money...and why?
I suspect it was in stock valuation.
Which is why it won't be taxed...
Which is why he doesn't sell it. He just uses his companies to pay for everything and take loans against the value of his stocks. It's all a game to them.
Increase in the price of the stock he owns on his various companies.
At least people searching the meaning of oligarchy now know what to call where we are headed. Tragic, indeed.
Yes, I was shocked by Senator Sanders's questioning of the Treasury Secretary designate, Mr Scott Bessent. Here is that exchange. ЁЯШ│
https://www.c-span.org/clip/senate-committee/user-clip-senator-sanders-and-treasury-secretary-nominee/5149763
One sobering point about three men with a trillion dollars of net worth. That combined wealth is larger amount than the G.D.P.s of all but seventeen countries; it corresponds to the level of the Netherlands. That is comparing apples and oranges in comparing a balance sheet (i.e., net worth) with an income statement (G.D.P.). It serves to illustrate the scale of wealth. тЪЦя╕П
Mr Bessent is qualified and should be confirmed, though I do not welcome his answers. He strikes me as having the integrity to stand up to Trump when the chips are down, much like for Attorneys General Sessions and Barr ultimately did.
(Oligarchy has been a long time coming. Building strength and concentrating forces in industry Since 1981. ItтАЩs this new merger with information technology and social media that has cemented their power. They now have direct power over the masses with unregulated mass communications and military grade persuasion targeting and tools at their fingertips. The Mining of personal data is the new currency. The Tech Reich is upon us.)
Actually, reading this Letter, IтАЩm thinking that just maybe the oligarchy is soon to be exposed and brought down.
I love that last sentence. "Last night, after President BidenтАЩs warning, Google searches for the meaning of the word тАЬoligarchyтАЭ spiked."
Social contracts, governments of one kind or another and other forms of rule and control: Oligarchy. Patriarchy, Authoritarianism, Hegemony, Autocracy, Totalitarianism, Theocracy, Imperialism, Dictatorship, Despotism, Monarchy, Fascism, Dystopian whatever, Republicanism, Communism, Socialism annnnd the thing that most of the developing world gravitated to: A Liberal Democracy. Unfortunately that form is vulnerable to most of those previous forms. Me, I guess the best examples of what I would like see would be what the Scandinavian countries have developed but they are just as vulnerable to being torn down by the far right and disaffected populations as any of the countries that are succumbing to the right wing nowadays. We (America) wanted to proselytize Liberal Democracy, sell it to all the rest of the worlds' countries but we have succumb to the avarice of the few wealthy. The richest man in the world can put $200,000,000. down on a "bet" and not think about it, see it as a cheap investment. AND HE IS NOT AN AMERICAN!
Mary - or we could look at this moment as our great awakening to remedy this farcical scenario by going forth in unity to defend our democracy without fear or favor. Hail. Hail. The liberty bell for freedom rings across all the world for the light of truth and justice for all and in this moment our faith and courage prevail ЁЯеБЁЯЗ║ЁЯЗ╕ЁЯЧ╜тЭдя╕ПЁЯХпя╕ПЁЯМ╗ЁЯХКя╕П
Dear Mary - Indeed the oligarchy begins. I've finally landed upon an article that describes where the nation is headed beginning this month. It is entitled "Countering Nationalist Oligarchy." This particular passage captures perfectly what we can expect, "Oligarchies remain in power through two strategies: first, using divide-and-conquer tactics to ensure that a majority doesnтАЩt coalesce, and second, by rigging the political system to make it harder for any emerging majority to overthrow them. " The election rigging is already underway in red states and the rigging is desperately trying to gain prominence in blue states. This cannot be good for the majority of Americans.