Drat. Was really hoping MTG would get to chair the House Committee on Science, Space, Technology and Jewish Space Lasers Committee.
Again, my loathing lies not with these talking imbeciles, but the American voters who put them there, *and* the American voters who took a pass by choice. Those are the real traitors to our country - we just don't know their names.
Public education is at the bottom of this. In Chicago we have a school vouchers type running for mayor after 50 schools have been closed. It isn’t only what Bernie Sanders is saying all of which is true. It’s our failure to learn from Europeans (thinking of Tony Judt, who taught at NYU and whose dear friend, Timothy Snyder, is doing all he can to help to preserve our democracy.) But we have poisoned our soils, retained medicine for profit, prioritized drugs over exercise, and television over community. Can we recover?
I also think that education is to blame for this. So sad that the US is SO far down in the world as far as public school quality. But we HAVE to think that we can recover and raise our standards for our kids and deal with these problems. Definitely an uphill battle considering the work to do, but we have to have hope and not give up.
I agree with what you are saying about education. But we also know that an uneducated society is a compliant one. This goes back to Saint Ronnie under whose administration funding for public schools was drastically cut. This trend is continuing today full speed ahead allowing nit wits like Marjorie Taylor Green to win elections and people in her state to vote for her.
True -I bet any sentence that has the word "critical" in it automatically stirs up these yahoos ( boy are there other descriptive words & phrases I could use)!
I agree regarding education (and btw, CA Dem Senator Dianne Feinstein promoted vouchers for parochial D.C. schools), but I also know that in addition to my public schooling, I was home schooled, before it was called such a thing. Unfortunately, too many parents appear to think it is the school's job alone to teach their children. As uneducated children become uneducated parents though, meaningful teaching at home sadly becomes an impossibility. Summary: We're screwed.
Naive statement here perhaps, but isn’t it true that some of these ‘unfit for public service’ individuals bought their seats in Congress? With plenty of $$ assistance from those ‘who shall not be named’ due to Citizens United’s ruling?
Diane, you mean like George DeVoldemort’s $700k he “loaned” to his campaign, but now seen to be from a Russian oligarch close to Putin????? Like that? OMG.
So, true! Reagonomics had Unions in its cross hairs. The GQP destroyed the middle class, and produced the huge loss of middle class for a growing billionaires who don't pay their fair share of taxes. They spend their money on overseas business and their taxes, which they can't avoid.
First, we need to get rid of the ridiculous testing that goes on...a boon for testing companies, but not for teachers or kids. Next, we need to rethink the role of sports. Nearly all the bad teachers we had were because the district hired a football coach or basketball coach. We had a group, the coaching corner, that thought all coaches should be on staff and they had a name for anyone not on staff...rent-a-coach. The local booster club helped hire the head football coach and they picked some real dimwits, liars, and people totally lacking in professionalism.
No, we do not. Were we to get rid of testing there would be no means of holding iDJioT legislators accountable.
Does it need to change - and the bevy of legislation those same legislators have put into force to punish schools and societal supports they refuse to adequately fund? Yes, but it needs to be done by Rational legislators not by those, often gerrymandered, iDJioT legislators who have risen far above their "Peter Principle" level.
I disagree about getting rid of standardized testing. It helps neither teachers nor students. All it does is cause teachers to teach for test and make money for testing companies. I was in eduction when the state was always changing what we had to do in terms of testing as part of graduation requirements. We spent lots of time preparing those tests and then administering them. Then the state would change what they wanted us to do. Most of the people I know have retired, but before they did, they complained nonstop about what we have now. We still have a friend who teachers in a town nearby that is heavily Hispanic and Russian. He is a wonderful teacher and he has nothing good to say about the testing regime schools have now. To his credit and the envy of his colleagues, he has managed to carve out a class where he and the kids can thrive.
I don't know why you think standardized testing holds legislators accountable. It doesn't. Added to this, we now have fights at school board meetings and nut cases trying to take over boards or board meetings. Our local school board does not hold in person board meetings anymore because the adults cannot behave. Then we have the Stench Court deciding that it's OK for a public school employee to lead prayer.
Finally, both of us are tier one (the best benefits) PERS recipients. PERS is the public employee retirement fund here in Oregon. Since then the legislature has decreased the benefits and many are now tier two or tier three. People rant about PERS al the time. They can look up what any former public employee gets per month. The highest paid PERS recipient is the former Oregon head football coach, but no one complains about the huge salaries as long as these people win. The next people who get the most are doctors from OHSU and in my mind, they deserve excellent salaries. Also the problems are compounded by the original law saying investment had to be here in Oregon and various ways of public entities paying in. At our neighborhood dinner (disbanded after this one), we were treated to a PERS rant by one of our neighbors and then another joined in, neither of whom would last five minutes in a classroom. They were respectively in the mortgage and banking industries. Not saying they didn't do a good job, but those industries both have had lots of problems.
"Teaching to the test" is not education. It is training. It is also notably lacking in teaching other things; critical thinking, ethics, and (ultimately) morality, by which I mean knowing right from wrong, truth from lies, and the fundamental understanding that we are all one people.
I, too, am and "evil Tier One" PERS retiree. Mike Belotti (former Oregon football coach) makes more money in a month than I make in a year. He was not a "public employee" in the sense of the common usage of that term. His employer was nominally the University, but he was Phil Knight's "employee". There's a retired OSHU Doc who makes even more money, at least as far as I remember it.
Tests should be generated by teachers in the classroom. Every class is as different as the people in it, so every class should be quizzed by the person who knows them best - their teacher. Repeating here for those who despise the testing businesses: Urban Tignor Holmes, international medievalist, larger than life professor, “taught” us that he graduated from Harvard “while it was still a university,” the year before the business school was added. Unforgettable!
Sorry, I failed to point out that WE have to make their 'Good ol' White, Christian Boy' testing into an accounting of the Legislators who do not adequately provide the Funding and Support for Public Education.
They have been blaming Teachers for decades. It is time to turn the tables. I was AFT because they pitched grenades right back at the Enemies who scapegoated Teachers. We need to return to that.
I was living in Oregon when the switch of tiers happened. I was amazed at the resentment shown by people working in the private sector. In part, their salaries were being trimmed by the $ imbalance between CEOs and staff. It seemed no one figured that out, but put the blame on "Commie" public employees for raiding their taxes.
NYS apparently still "uses" Common Core" in the schools. I remember looking at one of my grandson's homework "math" problems a few years ago - he was probably 10 or 11 at the time. It was idiotic! The convoluted way he was supposed to "solve" the problems? Obviously I would have been no help to him at all because even if he got the correct answer - it wouldnt be - if he didnt do it their way-period! I know I'm not explaining it very clearly - but boy if you could have seen this homework paper - you would get it! I know - I'm from the age where we had times tables - anyone remember? I'm thinking this might explain why some young cashiers in the stores dont know how to make change - without the register telling them!!!
Now on the other hand, a friend who was an English teacher at the time loved Common Core - it worked great for her.
Freshman algebra 1 teacher: football coach. Driver’s Ed teacher ( when that was an actual class): football coach. Health: football coach. I did learn something practical in Driver’s Ed, but not in the other two. Placeholder classes for the athletic department, that’s all they were. Thank god, none of them were teaching English or History.
The head of the social studies department was always angry about this as he was stuck with the head football coach chosen by the booster club. There were some social studies teachers who were also good teachers, but the head football coach with one exception (hired from within) wasn't one of them. They were to a person, awful. One of them in a faculty meeting told us to get the hell out of his way. This was the same person who persuaded the principal to order me to buy the textbooks for a class he was taking, for the library. I had told him no and I also told the principal what he was doing to no avail. The principal said he would assign them to people and he never did, so there they sat, no one checking them out, but this guy. At some point, he had a motorcycle accident, but if I am remembering correctly, he managed to work the system in his favor, but not the kids' favor. He was worse than he had been. Now the poor guy has dementia and managed to get out of his facility and wander across a major highway before they found him.
I am sorry about the dementia, but he was still a lousy teacher.
I think we’re all missing the point. I have friends who are hard Republicans who won’t read the NYTimes or WashPost, and so their only source of information is the right-wing media. They’re well-educated and smart, they run businesses and have done well in life, and there are some things I actually agree with them on. But we’ve become so segmented as a country that there’s no ability to mix and match ideas. Honestly, who do we’all read and watch? Correct. Mostly those we agree with. I don’t watch Fox news cause it makes me nuts to do so. And my social media lens is pretty much limited in the same way.
"The fairness doctrine of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), introduced in 1949, was a policy that required the holders of broadcast licenses both to present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that fairly reflected differing viewpoints."
The best news channel I have available is cable: MSNBC. The public servants - - I could write “ex-public servants,” but their very appearance to speak with their expertise gives them continuing public servant status -- who appear day after day to expand public knowledge, is the best I have found since the days of Walter Cronkite and Huntley-Brinkley.
I think that the divide you describe has been created, from forces both within and without this country to weaken us. "Right wing" media does indeed foster a world where hate and fear are the overriding emotions; your well-educated and smart friends have that hatred and fear imbedded in their psyches. For the uneducated or poorly educated, hate and fear is all they have, since everything else has been taken from them by corporate greed engineered by those "well-educated and smart" friends of yours cohort.
I think you’re probably right, though I don’t think that’s all of it. Some, I believe, is just simple tribalism brought to its nth degree by the increasing segmentation of the nation’s media.
I would strongly argue that your apparent equivalence of NY Times and WashPost with Fox News.
I would say ANYONE at all can benefit from reading the NY Times and I have done so since I was 23. The stories are vetted for facts and designed to inform.
Not True for Fox News. Fox is propaganda that is often not true or vetted. Just BS that Rupert wants people to believe.
Your friends are not watching Fox News because they agree.
Your friends are just afraid of the facts of any issue and prefer to hear their own opinion reflected.
I agree with you generally on this, but there's a matter of degree. For a number of years, the NYT was totally slanted on immigration. In the late '00s, and for most of the teens, I wrote repeatedly to each of 5 consecutive ombuds at the NYT, pointing out this obvious bias in many articles.
Two ombuds eventually responded to me, telling me that they were thinking of writing up my concerns. Both of them were gone within about six weeks or writing to me, so my concerns never got aired. I've read that in slanting immigration so that the NYT was basically providing PR for the proponents of mass immigration, it was following the dictates of Sulzberger Jr. (This wsa not a problem during Sulzberger Sr. time running the paper.) The NYT was publishing what Jr. wanted people to believe on immigration.
To the NYT's credit during these periods, they published a significant numbers of letters to the editor that I wrote.
Additionally, this sort of thing was mostly not a problem with the NYT in other areas, to my knowledge. (But I follow immigration more closely than most.) Whereas Fox News seems totally biased, as you imply.
Other major mainstream media that I follow--NPR, the Boston Globe, and the Washington Post had similar problems. The WaPo no longer has much, if any bias. NPR does. I'm not following the Globe as closely as I used to.
Thank you for this broad look at news media generally. Having left NPR (although still contributing monthly to my local station) because of the “equal” reporting c.2016, I still believe that we need national public radio.
We have pitiful hyper-Ignorant, Partisan State legislators refusing to raise Teacher Salaries, yet they raise their own. They berate Teachers publicly. They force Village Idiot changes to our Schools' curriculum, and they violate the Founders intent by providing Public Monies to fund parochial and segregationist schools, which defunds Public Education. But, don't question them, they are self-described 'patriots'.
As Dr Samuel Johnson defined 'patriot' in his 1st "A Dictionary of the English Language" (1755) "n. the last refuge of scoundrels" .
Some words in the English Language, like 'woke', change meaning on iDJioT whims , others remain the same for centuries...
100%. Must recover the votes first. Voter suppression is the key. The key to ending inequality in education, health care, racial, and economic is access to the ballot! gerrymandering and nefarious suppression efforts must end. Then reform campaign finance, dark money, and begin a new era of transparency. I don’t just want to see the candidates tax returns what I want to see transparency in their campaign finances, who donated, and why, only then will my ears be open to listening to their message, but not before.
Public education became a political football some time ago. Parents became the "experts", challenging and even assaulting teachers and the public teaching system. Turning U.S. society and culture into a dumbed-down populace works to the advantage of those in wealth and power. I had the benefit of growing up in the fifties, coming of age in the sixities during which time I also served in our Military. Over time we have become morally and ethically compromised and corrupt, with intention. There is no "putting this genie back in the bottle".
Public education became a victim under Ronald Reagan in the 1980s when it was defunded. Ronald Reagan and the GOP were playing the long game with the goal of privatizing education and control over what was in the curriculum.
Reagan was a death star to our republic. Add to his damage to public education his closing of homeless shelters and mental health facilities, turning the mentally and financially disenfranchised onto the streets; his blantant racism; his hatred of gays leading to a massive AIDS death spiral among gays. Add to his legacy slicing to bare minimum corporate taxation while ADDING taxation to Social Security Income. And, THEN, there is his not-so-darling wife Nancy who consulted with the palm readers at the start of eacy day.
Thank you! Reagan's supporters considered him the "Knight in shining armor".. The fact is that Reagan was phony to his core. I remember when, as a young lad, I listened to his voice over for Twenty Mule Team Borax, the sponsor of "Death Valley Days". Even as a kid, I despised the man. When Reagan was confirmed as president, a coworker asked why was I so upset? "Because," I responded, "this is one of the darkest moments in our nation's history."
… then just add guns. Massive amounts of guns. Sell them to anybody of any mental state over 18. These school shootings and doing nothing is just another tactic to destroy public education, create apathetic populace, and concentrate more power for the powerful/wealthy 1%.
This is not confined solely to the NRA. Gun manufacturers have enjoyed a perpetual heyday ever since. 400+ million guns on the streets of the nation, and counting.
Yes, absolutely true! Now police scream about defunding their departments, but they are probably fine we the long 4 decades of defunding public schools. During my last 20 years of teaching, not only did I not receive even a cost of living raise, I was also expected to supply my classroom from my own pocket!
The "system'" such as it is has failed at mutliple levels in multiple layers. Teachers having to pay for and bringing to class supplies those items necessary to teach effectively is an abomination.
Many Parents today are a product of education defunding since 1980. Their ignorance and lack of understanding what has happened to the educational system and thus them, has left them vulnerable to all kinds of demagoguery, conspiracy, and who is at fault for our deteriorating Public Education system. The solution is funding. Build temples of learning. Pay well, attract talent back to and add respect the teaching profession, add more counselors, pay top dollar for executive and administrators so that that talent and passion solves the downstream problems. And get some reasonable gun legislation Nation wide. Super fund school sports, activities, social support. We can get it done.
In Iowa, our legislature is about to pass a school voucher law that will further hamper public education. What was once an exemplar of excellence in education, Iowa's public schools ratings have slipped to the middle 21st in the nation - most favorable- to as low as 41st in the course of ten years of GOP dominance. Yes, education is failing by design.
It's complicated. Tyrants always control what their subjects get to know. I sensed that deregulation of mass media would be trouble as soon as I heard about, but when the seeds of this madness were being planted, it did not seem to have commanded much attention. I see hope for most of the manipulated, but believe that most of the fault lies with sociopathic manipulators, and we all were too passive as that malign process advanced across our society.
I actually don't see hope for the manipulated, because it appears the bulk of that was facilitated by a combination of willful ignorance, laziness, and implicit racism.
John Rochat, J L Graham: "...willful ignorance, laziness, and implicit racism", yes! And "...hope for most of the manipulated"? Not without a wholesale reintroduction of critical thinking skills, K thru 12. Small, incremental changes might nudge the ship around but it will take a herculean effort in education over generations to get out of this mess. And the more insane the actions of the Republican Right become, the sooner that process may start, but it's absolutely critical to keep both the Senate and the Executive branch out of their hands or we will be in deep doo doo.
There are all kinds of insects that cause damage. Termites can destroy the foundation of a building. Emerald ash borers can kill trees. These bigoted Republicans are like destructive insects, chewing away at our foundations in so many places. We really are teetering on a very damaged foundation because no corrective action has been taken. Those 20 people-20 people for God's sake-are holding the rest of us hostage.
Yes, Jenn, but they are also performing a valuable service in exhibiting to the entire world the depth of their sheer incompetance and pettiness. When a few trees topple, wiser heads will prevail and the insecticide will be administered. The trick is to keep the damage contained (within the House) and not let it spread. Even the most sordid Republican hack will eventually realize that by enabling these nutcases like MTG they are shooting themselves in the foot.
I wish i shared your confidence. I see these people that vote these idiots into congress. They are motivated by hate and greed, and will support them to the nth degree. It is what they WANT.
Mr. Surlamont, we can only hope that there is enough intelligence in that bunch of “nutcases” that bringing down the country on a whim will ultimately not appeal to them. Even the relatives of some of them must be warning.
I fear that you are right. And I fear ending like one of Annie Proulx’s short story last lines.. After reading “The Shipping News” had sworn never to read her again, but a New Yorker story seduced me. The last line has haunted ever since. Anyone who read the story will probably remember it also.
‘For if Jack Buggit could escape from the pickle jar, if a bird with a broken neck could fly away, what else might be possible? Water may be older than light, diamonds crack in hot goat's blood, mountaintops give off cold fire, forests appear in mid-ocean, it may happen that a crab is caught with the shadow of a hand on its back, that the wind be imprisoned in a bit of knotted string. And it may be that love sometimes occurs without pain or misery.’
I wholeheartedly agree with you. I call them intellectually lazy…no care to question, research, or even try. Another is society’s reluctance to pay for preventative measures. No, we wait until it’s a crisis and then we rush to throw money at the crisis. I’ve never in my 77 years been afraid of the consequences of my government’s decisions. I always believed good will triumph. Not so much now. I’m at the tail end of my life but I leave behind innocent human beings who will inherit the results of our mistakes.
As a woman of your same age, I am grateful for your words that speak what is in my heart. I am so sad about what we are leaving behind for our children, grandchildren, and greats. I do believe we will eventually evolve to a better place, but unfortunately not in my lifetime. However, I will continue to work towards raising consciousness towards a more positive outcome for the next generations (and they are really what will save this planet, after all). For me, there is no other choice. We are all here at this time of history for a reason. Just having these discussions among us raises consciousness on many levels.
Hope springs eternal and like you, I prefer to hope! Our actions have made a difference and the young of this nation are so much more diverse and have lived through school massacres, devastating climate change, and a threat to their democracy....we baby boomers reaped the benefit of a government that actually worked for “we the people” ( albeit mostly for “white” people ). I have to believe they want what this country was created for...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness..and equality for all. They will fight for the rights this current SCOTUS is bent on taking from all of us. We can lend them a hand with our continued actions but they need to take up the lead.
Demographics have changed. Millennials are more diverse and progressive. Baby boomers were handed a lot and much in life was set up for them to succeed, and yes, succeed as white folks.
Brava! All of US of a certain age need to do whatever we can politically for the next generation. I can only participate in local rallies and write GOTV postcards - my first marches were Vietnam War. marching days ended just before Covid, but I am supporting Presidents Biden and Zelenskyy in every way possible, challenged by Republicans who think everyone of Social Security age should die as quickly as possible.
Only in the House. Not in the thinly held Senate, or Governorship. Those should be landslides, but they're not??? The DNC would like everyone to think it's always about gerrymandering, but that's just not enough to explain their failures.
Well, the mess with map in New York State did not help. I was listening to a news roundup on NPR the Democratic Party in New York State was asleep at the wheel.
First thanks for the laugh on MTG, and second I agree the ones to 'blame' are the voters who thoughtlessly put them there. We need to get decent viable Democrats to run in these 'red' districts in the next 6 months (anyone at the DCCC or DNC listening?)
Your comment implies that more voters would swing the outcome. I work the polls and for the past two election cycles the turnout has jumped from about 20% to 55% and the spread between winners and losers increased by a wide margin. Be careful what you wish for.
You are correct. Turnout is not a problem. Actually, there is no problem.
Democrats may think there is a problem when other states don't want to act like California.
As they are fond to point out, they are the smartest persons in the room, so anyone with differing opinions must therefor be an idiot, needing to be "re-educated".
Thank you. Where I live, a Republican stronghold, very few who voted would admit to casting a ballot out-of-party. However, the number of voters is not large enough to make a difference.
A Dem to run in District 14 where MTG is from? Perhaps Strom Thurmond or James Eastland if you could revive them. This is the NW corner of the state, on the AL-GA state line. Now that the carpet mills have closed, their chief exports are Grits and Pellagra. Culturally, this area thinks it’s 1930.
I reached out to a die-hard Republican relative this holiday season. Tired of the mutual animosity, I suggested we put politics aside when we have to see each other. It was mostly out of concern for my own mental health that I did this.) It worked. We are now friendly at gatherings. Oh, but he did give me his sage advice; I should stop blaming, and being furious with Republican voters. I should blame the politicians instead. This, I should do if I didn’t want what happened between us to “happen with other relatives.”
I was fascinated by his ability to absolve himself and fellow right wing voters of all culpability. I was fascinated by his placing the blame for our feud on my anger towards Republican voters, and not him, and the votes he casts supporting these anti-democracy bastards. I loath the voters too, John, and the politicians.
I have the same experience. A cousin I have loved all my life. We recently declared a truce with the understanding no religion, politics, etc.. The problem is I can’t forgive their willful stupidity in only watching FOX and believing every word. I can’t bring myself to initiate a conversation. How do you do that when you believe that someone you love has participated in the attempted destruction of our democracy? If she were a stranger I’d never speak to her again.
We need to demand that Civics be taught once again in public schools. Too many Americans are oblivious to the fact that it takes effort to live in and hold on to a democracy.
I have a meeting at 2 today at the high school with the Student Senate advisor to see if I can get the kids to give me two well thought out questions for the fall election of city councilor and school board forums. The town next to us teaches government and those kids do forums for State Reps. A lot of work needs to happen to move the needle for more citizen engagement and education.
Update: The advisor turned out to be the US History teacher and she was very enthusiastic. The school is considering adding history electives, now, Civics is top of the list. Our youth are very concerned about issues. There is hope. Looks like I’ll get the students questions and the kids to stand up and ask them at the city council candidate and school board LWV Forums we’ll do in the fall. Baby steps. .
I heard her comment yesterday when asked about her history and affection with Q. "Oh I was sucked into some internet conspiracy theories, but Ive changed now." Heck, you can put a skunk in your garage, but your house will still smell like....skunk!
I think she's trying to now position, or project, herself as some kind of intermediary between the "Freedom Caucus" nut-bags and the more mainstream, moderate wings of the GOP. That can explain when she's been back-tracking a bit from some of her previous Q-conspiracy "nut-baggery". Do I trust her? Not for one effing minute.
And to the Republicans who say nothing. They could turn the American voters who believe the cable entertainment propaganda. Instead they will let the country burn down just to keep power.
So true. I’m glad that Mr. Biden isn’t negotiating with the terrorists. Like in the Clinton era…. If the government shuts down that’s on the GOP and their supporters
And other than serving on the Jan 6th committee - both Cheney & Kinzinger always stuck with their party! Even though they lost their elections - Still voted Repub line.
I cringe listening to what heroes they were for that. BUT absolutely no veering from the party line other than that - NONE. When its possible if they had really stood for the betterment of this country rather than their party - could have made a difference.
John, I agree about the responsibility of the American voters, but they are de facto traitors. What I mean is. Do you think they have a clue about the information that Heather has laid out today. We need more persuasive speakers, in more places to tell the American public in concise, very concise, simple, easy to understand concepts what is happening in our democracy. How many people do you think even understand that the debt ceiling has to do with paying debts already incurred?  I suspect the ordinary person is busy with their day-to-day life, troubles, concerns that have an immediate direct effect on them and their families like paying bills, taking and picking up their children from school, day care, getting a job, illness etc etc.. we need to find a way to educate these people. We need to find better ways to  Educate our children from grade school up not only to know what is going on in our democracy, but how they should be involved.
I was brought up in the South, evangelical, Republican, straight, white, male. Had it made. Then I got curious and started asking difficult questions and all holy hell broke loose. Californians have little true understanding of the white South, as I suspect is generally true in other areas of the country. It's just pathologic through and through.
John, while I live now on the left coast and have since 1969, I lived much of my life growing up on a non working farm outside of Memphis, HS in Memphis, college in Birmingham AL in the 60s. I am a white male. Perhaps because I lived with my Aunt, as a result of my parents early deaths, , I was left to form my own opinions as I saw the world at that time. I understood and understand the white South the good and evil and in between. While generalities as are, as you have described them, they are far too much of a broad brush, maybe not based on your personal lived experience, but I would not condemn white southerners as you have. I have very close, very liberal, friends living in Birmingham and Natchez. On my last visit to Birmingham there was black mayor and a museum dedicated to civil rights. My college and the restaurants in B’ham were fully integrated. Make no mistake I fully understand your experience and in no way is this a criticism of your opinion based on that experience. I felt that I should state mine. I am sure we have a lot to talk about this topic and share much. I for one would be more interested in yours.
I think you have a good point. White Southerners will often point to their acceptance of and daily integration with Blacks, while Northeastern folks just talk about it.
Over the past month or so (it seems), LAAF Commenteers (yes, for fun, I spell that word like Mouseketeers or Musketeers - no offense meant to Comments, Mice, or Muskets) have hoisted the failures of today’s American Dilemmas and Disfunction (AD&D) onto the shoulders of “education.” (Full disclosure: I am a retired public elementary school teacher - 35 years, having retired 22 years ago.)
That “hoisting” seems to me to be convenient, disingenuous, misplaced, and/or flawed and foggy. Some questions for you:
1.) Are we blaming “education” of TODAY? Or, education yesterday? Or….?
2.) Are we blaming “education” all over the US or just in “certain parts” of the US?
3.) Was “education” in the 50’s and 60’s (like when I was a student) far superior to “education” today?
4.) Was “education” in the late 60’s, the 70’s, the 80’s, the 90’s, and the early 00’s (like when I was a teacher) far superior to “education” today?
5.) Are we blaming the educational failures of the 163,839 people who voted for Lauren Boebert in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District and heralding the educational successes of the 163,293 people who voted for Adam Frisch? (This election had results of 50.1% to 49.9%.) Or, are we disparaging and criticizing the educations of the 142,673 George Santos voters and lauding the educations of the 121,094 Robert Zimmerman voters (NY 3rd Congressional District)? Note: There is an excellent possibility that the MANY of the voters in these two Districts - on either “side” - got similar educations and even went to the same schools and sat right next to each other….(same - separate but equal - bathrooms, drinking fountains, playgrounds, and cafeterias….)
6.) Are the TEACHERS at fault? The STUDENTS? The Administration? The Boards of Education? The taxpayers (who voted down referenda)? The parents? The governments - local, state, federal? The Private Schools? ALL/SOME OF THE ABOVE?
I could go on and on, after all I am a teacher….
To me, there DOES seem to be a “learning divide” here in the US. We Americans can’t seem to look at the same data, documents, and reports with a Common Eye, Understanding, or Agreement. Take one very recent, pervasive, and common experience (in the US and the World): COVID-19. We STILL cannot come to any common agreement about vaccines, boosters, masks, prevention, precautions, etc., let alone “Who let the bugs out?”
Is this an “education” problem? Perhaps. I remember as a elementary school student, even to this day, experiencing a unit of study on PROPAGANDA and how to distinguish Truth from Propagandized Truth. (Of course, this was during the height of the Communist Scare when we were also trained to hide under our desks when the air raid sirens were blasted. Talk about educational shortfalls, huh? Under my desk to shield me from nuclear fallout?) (Of course, we had Walter Cronkite at that time WHILE Tucker Carlson was still messing his diapers in the early 70’s. Note: I have no specific data on Tucker’s diapers, but….just speculatin’)
Could it be that our educational system has not adequately prepared us for the media systems in place today? Hmmmm, a free press vs government-controlled media….
Point taken, Paul. I also taught in elementary school and believe there are many factors leading to the dysfunction of our public schools. Not one entity that you listed is to blame. My comment was simply “Civics” should still be taught. I do believe education became too bent on teaching for test scores. Teachers hands have been tied to rigid scheduling … when you are in a moment of having their minds excited about a lesson or intrigued with a science experiment but need to stick to that schedule …“close your books it’s time for social studies”. No wavering, no “let’s take 10 more minutes” while I’ve truly got your attention and stick with language arts! Then there are the overworked and often underpaid parents who can’t take the time to be engaged…they used to be our partners but now they barely have time to check the homework. Dress code… what dress code… come in your pajamas… and I don’t mean just on “pajama day”…respect for school and teachers has often times been lost on students because the parental partnership once felt was also lost. Also, none of us were adequately prepared for the likes of Fox News or Rush Limbaugh or FACEBOOK and Twitter. The Fairness Doctrine used to keep media in line with giving both sides of controversial issues. Once that was thrown out the window, media was simply given the ok to sell its airtime to the highest bidder.
I guess what I’m trying to say is public education is broken just as immigration policy is broken just as SCOTUS is broken just as the electoral college is broken just as Proportional Representation is broken just as gerrymandering has broken our electoral districts just as the filibuster is broken….if you get my drift. I certainly didn’t intend to insult teachers by my comment. I applaud any person who would go into the profession knowing full well it is a thankless job. ❤️
I have been thinking the same thing for a very long time as we read about the daily destruction of norms and decency in the 118th Congress. These crazy's didn't just walk in they were voted in by American voters...yes gerrymandering and voter suppression but still they got the votes!!
When will the republican voters see the damages that are being thrust upon all of us and move away from this toxic party?!
John, I am afraid that it is going to take those republican voters experiencing the lose of their life lines like Medicare and S.S. The closing of the National Parks where they put their big gas guzzling motorhomes, RVs, loaded with guns and Monnpies!
Jay Kuo today said that Biden and the Dems should reframe the debt ceiling as the “deadbeat ceiling.” His point is that it’s analogous to buying a car and then refusing to make the payments. Or basically the way the former guy handled all his business - stiffing people to whom he owed contracted money.
As a follower of George Lakoff, I find Kuo’s approach excellent. It reframes the debt in terms that put the burden on those who would refuse to pay what they contracted for rather than implying that we are acquiring new debt that the Repugs are preventing. Those budgets were legally passed and those debts legally contracted.
More importantly I don’t understand why we’re not hearing more about the 14th Amendment. As others have argued, Biden following the 14th amendment would be following the spending plan legally passed by the Congress thereby upholding the House’s “power of the purse.” To do otherwise is to violate the Constitution.
I admire Biden for not negotiating. Obama negotiated and it was a nightmare. The Constitution is on Joe’s side. Let the House try to take him to Court.
Joan Ehrlich, thank you so much for that link, and for introducing (to me, anyway) Jay Kuo whom I'd never head of before. He really drives home the meaning of Debt limit!! -- a true wake up. For me, I thought I knew what it meant but his examples, and Claire McAskill's, truly do. Jolly Good Show!
I like your comment today, Andrea, because I consider it a more “active” response than the usual “hand-wringing” response reviewed one too many times by me on this forum. Robert Hubbell says it quite succinctly on his Substack today. “The Elephant in the Room”.
I agree and have spent my week talking to Republican acquaintances, friends, and family members suggesting they leave the party. The broad stroke of the Republican leadership in Congress demands loyalty to nonsense that has become, quite frankly, an embarrassment to any that even mildly try to evade it.
Maybe Biden should proactively take it to the SCOTUS as an "emergency application." Let them try to wriggle around upholding the 14th when the language is right in there.
Hope you’re better soon. I’m now no longer a “post surgical” patient, and on the road to full rehab for my hip. Not using cane/crutches and PT twice a day.
I do not want to live in a deadbeat defaulter country. BUT. I do not want to negotiation on raising the debt ceiling. The expenditures were duly signed into law. The money is committed and must be paid. I do not want the Democrats, the Senate Republicans or the White House to negotiate with these bullies, anarchists, and traitors.
And investigations and impeachments? Really? That is how you plan to spend your time to “help the people back home?”
They say we should never negotiate with terrorists.. I think (and there are protocols for this) that it makes sense to communicate with threatening persons, but as a policy, you can't bargain away what matters. No compromise with extortionists.
JL, I spent 20 of my 28 years in law enforcement as a Crisis Negotiator. One of my earliest training classes in that discipline was on identifying the three basic types of hostage situation that local law enforcement would run into: Barricade Situations, Hostage Situations, and Terrorist Situations. A barricade situation was usually driven by a person who felt that taking someone important to them and holding them against their will to make them "understand" how wrong they were could be dealt with in several ways, usually by listening to them, suggesting things, and eventually, coming up with a way of surrender that would help them "save face". In these cases, we (LE) had something to offer them in exchange for their victim. A hostage situation (think bank robbery gone bad) also has something that LE can give them (in this case, freedom). In these two cases, by establishing rapport with the suspect, finding the "hook" that will let you manipulate them to surrender, and engineering that "safe" resolution. The technique for Terrorist Situations was simple: don't negotiate with terrorists. We have nothing to "offer" them. They have what they want, and are willing to go to extremes to achieve their goals. The "negotiation" strategy is to buy time until a tactical resolution can be undertaken.
You cannot negotiate with terrorists. You cannot reason with unreasonable people.
Sky I agree that blackmail and hostage taking are unAmerican. I-earned-the-speakership-McCarthy succumbed to outrageous blackmail from 20 renegade Republicans to win his toilet seat. Now he should be shat upon.
I'm beginning to wonder whether the array of impeachment proceedings in prospect - since surely the House majority understands that impeachment is not conviction and that, barring compelling evidence, the likelihood of convictions in the Senate is effectively zero - are intended to out-J6-Committee the J6 Committee by sheer quantity, while simultaneously yielding an unending lode of sound bites for 2024.
Do not negotiate! Read Robert Reich. He was there!!! Do not negotiate. Let the criminals solve the crime with their own blood! You do not negotiate with the mob. You do not get blackmailed by the meanest , low life! Please Do Read....
This opportunity for a few Republicans to coalesce with Democrats over at least a bit of common ground is an amazing gift, a chance to prove not all of them are characterized by mind boggling incompetency nor supportive of violent extremism. Perhaps House members like Brian Fitzpatrick, Anthony D’Esposito, David Valadeo, Mike Garcia, and Mike Lawler will recognize this opportunity for what it is. If not, hope the Biden Administration follows the advice of StatusKuo and Professor Tribe, and makes full use of the 14th Amendment.
I keep hoping that there are some sane Republicans in the House that actually want to DO something and work with the Democrats, but I'm not holding my breath.
While reading today’s letter, Lincoln’s warning kept popping into my head: “A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand.” It is nearly surreal to witness the Republican cabal unconscionably engaged in the design to destroy our nation (theirs, too!) in order to display their might—and to get back at Democrats for impeaching and investigating their CRIME boss. What’s right and true is still right and true! History will not be kind to them. I do pray that their narcissistic agendas do not destroy our nation beyond repair…
All that political dog and pony show theatrics. When the string pullers, Big Money, Big Banks, Monopolistic Corporations, the War Machine pop their champagne corks behind the curtains. Relying on us hand wringers to sit on our computer chairs then shift to the couch when we're not grousing on line. And do nothing. Watching the drama and more hand wringing. More complaining. How come we're not in the streets demanding the traitors in Congress who've denied the will of the people be ousted? How come we're not in the streets demanding no more war? no more drilling in public lands? no more stock buy-backs? but money for public housing? IRS funding to nail the corporate tax dodgers? Medicare for All? bring back the draft? ........you name it .....
Selina Sweet. I, for one have to work for a living. I work because I have to pay my bills. My gross income is 36k a year. I would love to devote my days to protesting and demanding the traitors be ousted……….but I have to lay my head at night. It’s not an excuse, its my reality
Excellent questions, Selina! Other than local Women Marches and Black Lives Matter peaceful protests, I have chosen to stay away from situations that could threaten my personal comfort zone. I suspect most people feel the same: still comfortable enough. You’re right in warning us that we may live to regret it. Thanks for the prod!
The rest of the world always wonders why we are not out in the streets livid over our policies. We must be in more of a police state than realized or too big and divided amongst ourselves.
Obviously the majority does not really want it enough yet. It takes a long time to move the masses - general rule: when there is 3 days in a row no food on the table the end is near. Still a long way to go.
Rose Isn’t it ironic that the party of Lincoln, who endured a bloody civil war to unite America, is now the party of national dividers. Today Lincoln would choose to be a Democrat supportive of President Biden’s commitment to serving all Americans.
Fully agree, Keith! His old party now openly brags about the success of their efforts to suppress Black voting and shamelessly spins the blame of the national debt onto Democrats. I’ve lived through and studied similar scenarios in “Third World” countries now ruled by autocrats. It’s depressing to see it happening at home! Wonder what the Lincoln Project is up to these days; haven’t seen any if their ads since the 2020 election.
Reagan wanted to be be done with Democracy "which he called "government") and restore a sort of neofeudalism. That's the "GOP" raison d'etat, Who or what is ruined is a distant side issue (when not the goal) to their complete domination of everything.
J L Graham, you echo what I’ve been listening to by “David Troy Presents” podcast series “Oil, Gold, Crypto & Fascism: How We Got Here”. Neofeudalism hits it on the head. The gop and their puppet masters will not be satisfied until that is achieved. The repercussions for the Planet and human life on it are dire. The capture was well crafted, multi-pronged, and full of perfected misdirection, smoke, mirrors, and calculated theatrical entertainment.
And the MSM just blathers on, as do I. Been “raising the alarm” for half of my long life. On Jan 6, I thought, well, now it’s all out there for everyone to see what they are. On video, with sound and fury. Yet, here we are with the inmates safely ensconced in the power offices of the asylum. And Rupert still broadcasting evil, the MSM blathering about Dem problems, and the electorate apparently confused as to who the bad guys are, even though, to this day, repubs advocate and perpetuate violence against any who oppose their evil. Do I hear “good” repubs, like W, Rove, Luntz, Romney, rise up and join the Lincoln Project. Nah. Hunker down, America is under siege by those wrapped in a flag (likely Nazi or confederate) and carrying a Bible. Who said that…
It rather reminds me of the “gods” of Mt. Olympus. They were deeply flawed characters, but occupied the highest realm of power. And when they fought,-or were bored and needed amusement- woe be to the world!
Substack's Jay Kuo calls the Debt Ceiling Limit, the "deadbeat limit" quoting former Senator Claire McCaskill: This is not about raising your Credit Limit; this is about making your car payment".
I think part of the idiocy of "Idiocracy" was that the Gatorade Company owned all the sources of water and the government as well. The movie used to seem ridiculous...
House "Speaker Discharge". On msnbc''s 'Deadline White House' today, Representative Swalwell finally identified the needed House Majority, 212 Dems & whatever number is needed to obtain 5 or 6 R votes, to override McCarthy's Nihilism. "SPEAKER DISCHARGE" get to know those words ... a lawful House method to get work done now.
These seditious R’s who got appointments to our most precious secrets may, in fact, never serve in that capacity. They are being investigated by Jack Smith. The timing would be perfect if he were to crash their parade, yes? In the meantime, the title to this HBO series is called “Havoc in the House”. You can watch it Sun-Sat at any time.
Sorry Janet. You well know a criminal history is required now for all incoming Republican congressmen . Republican congresswomen must be devoid of intelligence. Again sorry, I don’t make the rules. The standup inflatable comedienne from Bakersfield has been laughed at since he took the job of madam in the house of the rising sun.
I’m starting to realize the Roman Empire was taken over by Republicans leading to ruins. I wonder how D.C. will compare. Will the ruins inspire tourism? Will Jordon conduct wrestling matches in the coliseum? Will the Republican rewrite of history give Jimmy the gold? Will Green Green Be going away to graze grass that’s greener still. Oh what will they do…….next! Quick Oregonians duck! Whew, that was a space laser. Am I really in the midst of this turmoil! Why in the hell did I ever leave the wilderness for this utter madness. I know it’s the dead of winter but I put the snowshoe frames in the steamer tomorrow and I’ll have a new pair to wear. When the next snowstorm hits my tracks will be covered.
I am seriously building snowshoes. With the rattlesnakes and grizzlies asleep I’ll only have to contend with lions wolves and wolverines. At least they are honest company. A few nights on the continental divide are in order.
Every last one of these people needs to be arrested, frog-marched out of their congressional offices in handcuffs, perp-walked down the steps of the capitol, charged with treason and held without bail in the DC jail as a flight risk (Hungary or Russia).
Actually, I'm more in favor of standing them against the wall of the capitol and executing them publicly as the traitors they are.
Tom I always appreciate your tasteful suggestions as to how to treat those with whom you disagree. “Frog marching’ and ‘perp walking!’ Might I also suggest ‘ass dragging?”
As I’ve told you before, violence is never the answer, TC. Every time I read some violent rhetoric in your posts, I -will- comment on it and call you out.
You are right - but sometimes - what is the alternative? What if you are an Ukrainian family in Mariopol? Will you tell your children to die with the proud knowledge never having been violent or will you start throwing mollies? It's time we all ask ourselves the questions - how are we going to deal with worldwide ever increasing violence?
Apple to oranges, Sabine. If my family and country was under siege from another country, I'd be on the front lines, fearlessly fighting tooth and nail until we prevailed or die in the process.
Fellow citizens who violate established laws, foment and participate in insurrection, put their own greed ahead of the country, and even their own party, deserve to spend the rest of their lives in a dark, solitary cell with no chance of parole.
Peace, Sabine
~
"All you need is Love." Lennon/McCartney
"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend." - MLK Jr.
"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." - Paul Muad'Dib
I'd prefer the judicial process; as more comes out about the "visitor logs" and who got to do what in December (20( and early January (21), it appears that there is strong evidence of seditious conspiracy to overthrow the government. Some of those people are sitting in congress and (most likely) on the very committees charged with investigating that traitorous activity.
Isn’t that the same thought process of the gop guy who shot bullets through his dem opponents houses in NM? We need to be better than that. And it starts with our words. You’re better than this TCinLA. WE need you to be better than this.
MLR Tom is a late middle aged Hollywood guy. There’s a chance that he will mellow after playing old Beatles songs. As a kid I remember cowboy and Indian movies where there were no blood or vivid bodies and no horse poop on the streets. Much later James Bond when he was suave with minimal blood and gore.
We said it before. We shall repeat it. “Hold on to your a** folks. It’s fixing to get rough!”
McFarty is a joke. MTG is an idiot. The rest if this bunch is totally lost, and SANTOS (if that’s even his real name) is a complete waste of good air, and space.
McFarty has given these people spots on these committees, not even realizing what he’s done. But, actually, I doubt he even cares. He’s absolutely clueless to what’s going on around him.
Is there a way that we, the people, can ‘impeach’ all of this bunch, causing emergency elections to get some people in there that can hopefully straighten all this out before they screw it up so bad it can’t be fixed? There has to be something we can do.
This is fixing to get really bad if we don’t do something. AG Garland better get off his backside and get to work. Three-quarters of these people need to be in jail.
Very true. Even though he gave all his power away to get his beloved ‘Speaker of the House’ title, and get to hold the gavel. He’s worse than a 2 year old child.
A true republican. We need to make him the poster child of republicanism. Start running ads where someone discovers their heart surgeon is totally bogus right before surgery. Where the astronauts find out the rocket scientist was totally bogus before they lift off. You get the idea.
To answer your question: 'Is there a way we the people.......' the answer is not really. The electorate that voted in that individual can start a recall campaign, members of the House Ethics Committee that McCarthy (aka McFarty) just de-balled, can advise impeachment or any currently sitting members of the House of Representatives can submit a bill of Impeachment. But since we (the Democrats) only have 212 House members we would need at least 6 courageous Republicans to cosign such a bill. Good luck with that.
That’s what I thought. So, the only other way is for Garland to get off his ass and do his job. These people can be arrested, and jailed. And that needs to be done in a very public manner, on the House floor, during session, on national television.
That would be nice and very entertaining, Daniel. But in a Country based on established law and precedent, we don't want to go all "trumpster" First, I don't know if the Department of Justice personnel have the legal right to arrest anyone (one of the lawyers in this forum will need to set this straight) I think only a law enforcement officer who has attained a warrant based on probable cause can arrest an individual in their jurisdiction - perhaps the FBI (a division of the DOJ) can. The Attorney General directs the collection of evidence that will 'stand up' in court - in other words you don't arrest someone because "everyone knows they are guilty" You need to have undeniable evidence the person willingly and at least should have known their acts had criminal intent. That is difficult to prove in court when the defendants are a bunch of slimy, lowest of the low, but legally trained thugs. Remember that in the Congress as a whole attorneys outnumber other occupations. I hope, when and if the DOJ is able to establish such evidence those who treasonously, and criminally attacked, or aided and abetted the treacherous attack on our Capitol are frog marched off to jail in they full eye of the National TV.
Yes, I’m aware of all this. Being in law enforcement for 29+ years I pretty well am aware. And, yes, the FBI is who would be serving arrest warrants issued by federal judges on information gathered and submitted by the DOJ. I’m just saying that Garland has had plenty of time to get this done. Not, it’s to the point that he’s dragging his feet, wasting time, and a lot of taxpayer money.
Thank you for clarifying the arrest duties. Merrick Garland does appear to be moving slowly, although he wasted no time appointing Hur to investigate President Biden. I won't be deeply concerned until June 2023, that to me is the deadline to start getting court action on these unAmericans.
Yes. I understand starting at the bottom and working up to get the bigger fish. But, with these Proud Boys, and all the others that named THG as the instigator, that, to me, seems enough to take it all to a Grand Jury. Not to mention all the testimony from the White House staff, the video from the all of the news outlets, plus the video from the infamous ‘fake news outlet’ FOX News, where all of the instigators were in there lying their asses off to cover up everything.
Seems to me there’s plenty of evidence for arrest warrants. In the outside regular law enforcement world, they would have already been arrested, tried, convicted, and almost two years into their several life sentences they world be serving.
No I actually meant bc one of the apparently 1009 concessions was that it took only one member of the house to force a recall of his speakership. They can keep doing this ad nauseum. We all know recalling a member of the house is next to impossible even if they commit treason.
Linda I'm with you--and apparently (according to reports in the NYTimes and the WaPo, also picked up by The Guardian) the guy has been using multiple variations on his name for many years, mostly to gain loans, credit cards, and other kinds of grifts. How that works--when presumably he has only one SSN (Gee that is another avenue to follow, eh? Since it is a felony to have fake ones??)--is hard to figure out. Also, his marriage (to a woman even though he is presenting himself as a rightwing gay icon) has turned up as suspicious since he has always "presented" as gay and was all the time (until they divorced quite recently) married to a woman. The suspicion is that it was a "green card" marriage, which is also a felony. And the Times reported this morning that he has decided to join himself to the wingnuts--he is now spouting all their talking points, even though I bet the elderly population he is supposedly representing would be a wee bit upset about the idea of cutting Medicare and Social Security. My hope is that an attempt to do something that stupid when the Boomer population is now all over 60 and they are identified as responsible for putting these morons into office will be the thing that backfires. But only if the Dems figure out a way to prevent Schlox "News" from sucking all the air out of the room.
Linda, this man has literally no good qualities. He is fodder for memes and Saturday Night Live. Yet, there is no way McCarthy will cut him lose. He can't afford to.
I can't say it enough, can you imagine what the GOP would do if "Santos" were a Democrat?
Theoretically, the 14th Amendment gives us that tool. In practice, not a snowball's chance on a hot day. There is no rational RepubliQan leadership. The inmates are running the asylum.
This is why I’m preaching that things need to be changed. We, the people, elect these folks to public office to do a job we hired them to do. It’s my opinion (and yes, I realize what that is. About as good as a snowball’s chance on a hit day, as you so eloquently stated) that we the people should have the right to remove them from office. In essence, we should be able to FIRE THEIR ASS!
Hey, Santos has even more to offer: "SAO PAULO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative George Santos competed as a drag queen in Brazilian beauty pageants 15 years ago, two acquaintances told Reuters on Wednesday, "
This is exactly what we expected. I already emailed my Congressman on Sunday and asked him that if forced to make reductions in spending to start with cuts to the Military Budget, military/industrial complex budget items that affect industries in he GOP representatives locations. A large amount of these expenditures are forced on the military to accommodate the wealthy donors of the district representative. Of course, for me it's easy, I live in California and my Congressman is a Democrat for whom I campaigned in 2010, 2012, and 2014.
Lucky you. Mine are Cruz, Cornyn, and Granger. All members in good standing of the cult. Granger hung up on me during a phone town hall, Cruz sent me conspiracy blather, and Cornyn tries to make Schitt smell like roses. I have supported the opposition to all three, but lies win in Texas
I'm so sorry Jeri, There's always Austin to be proud of and Dallas, Houston, El Paso, San Antonio are getting pretty good. You've just too darned many counties (254) populated by cows and humans with even less intelligence.
DFW area is purple, the cows are being replaced with MAGA idiots. So sorry that Universal is planning another “Disney distraction” in the area. Bye bye more cows and wildlife…the Texas trio of evil still rules. I yearn for the days of Ann Richards and Molly Ivins, before Rove foisted W on us and the world.
I agree. I lived in TX when Gov. Richard’s was Voted out of office. TX has gone down hill since.
I write my congressman, and all I get is blaming Biden administration for the country’s problems.
It is a sad state of affaires that the goverment doesn’t face the root causes not having a balanced budget. We can write all the letters we want, but the people/ companies
who benefit (military) from government contract are one of thos root causes
Another idea is to pressure one's Democratic House member and/or state or local Democratic committee to start issuing daily communiques each of which identifies a specific state/local program or population or bridge or the like that stands to suffer unless the debt ceiling is dealt with.
There is only one thing we can do when the situation is this desparate--organize massive PEACEFUL protests at Republican Representative's offices in person on a daily basis and plan a massive March on DC to protect the Social Safety Net that helps the vast majority of Americans at some point in their lives. We need to push the "deadbeat" ceiling analogy of not paying your car payment after you signed the lease. at every opportunity with EVERY person we know. And the DC March has to have millions of seniors in grey trucker caps with a slogan like "Grey Matters" and young people in green "Green Matters" trucker caps--a whole rainbow! Republicans know they have lost most younger voters, seniors are where they have had the edge. They have to see that edge disappearing. along with the possibility that they get voted out of power.
Everyone speaks ill of the Russian people. No words can be hard enough.
But Americans should look at themselves now. And look back to what Russians did in August 1991. And follow that example, WHILE THEY STILL CAN.
In August 1991, a bunch of Communist Party throwbacks attempted a putsch against Gorbatchev.
In Moscow, in Saint Petersburg, people came out in their hundreds of thousands. In Moscow, they blocked the movement of tanks sent by the putschists.
Now, if there is one thing that scared Stalin, it was a repeat in any form of the October Revolution.
If there is one thing that scares the backyard bandit who has ruled Russia for decades now, it is every form of freedom, it is any form of revolution, it is any threat to his ill-gotten billions. He has screwed down the lid on any breath of freedom. He would rather send all his people to their death than loosen his grasp on his hoard.
If there is one thing that scares the paymasters of the conspiracy against America's institutions, it is every form of genuine freedom, as opposed to the chaos and destruction they have ordered.
If Americans fail to wake up now and do what Russians did when they still could, America could go the same way as Russia and become a prison of the peoples. A very American prison, with FREEDOM inscribed above its gates.
Freedom reserved for the few, the very few, those who paid to make it their monopoly. Prison for the rest. Meanwhile, the Communist diehards of 1991 come to look more like human beings than the psychiatric cases in Congress. In Russia's zombie Duma, they don't rave and froth at the mouth, they just press buttons and buy themselves bigger houses, bigger yachts.
Good plan though why not do the picketing and calling and marching in each CD of those possibly moderate Rs-- that’s where the pressure spot is in order to “find” a group who will work out a compromise with Hakim?
I like it. Very good visuals. The seniors need to be in the front ranks, very strongly supported by the young green hats, arm in arm grey/green/grey where practicable.
I know that US history has it's ups and downs, and in many ways a lot to answer for, but was any significant political party in our history ever this thoroughly corrupt?
Yes in the early and again in the late 19th Century the Democrats were pretty darned corrupt (think KKK and boss Tweed), but then in the early twentieth Century they flipped and the Republicans embraced corruption and Democrats took the high road. As always there were some exceptions in both parties, Teddy Roosevelt, Nelson Rockefeller and John McCain were three exceptions that come to mind. There were some Democrats in the 20th Century who were bad apples too. Senator Long of Louisiana for one.
J L Remember that the American Party (nicknamed ‘the no nothing party), in the mid 1850s morphed with the remainder of the Whigs into the Republican Party. It seems that the Republicans are returning to their American Party roots.
I suspect Putin learned from Goebbels. It only took a very small percentage of voters to convince because the margins are always small. A weakened and internally split US is exactly what he wants. So far we here outside are lucky that China is by far more interested in doing business than fighting wars, else we would be even deeper in the pooh. But China certainly will use all advantages that's provided for it in the current situation, and who can blame them?
If they could, these criminal lunatics would bomb the Federal Government, as their predecessor bombed the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City. They are trying...
Fortunately, they are reduced to setting off damp squibs until they are removed to places better suited to the treatment of their pathology.
Unfortunately, America and our world are in danger and can ill afford this entertainment for idiots or any other kind of diversion. At this time, action grounded in responsibility is called for as never before.
Now, if you haven't yet understood that psychoses are as infectious and potentially even more dangerous than Covid and most physical pathogens, where have you been? You can only have been asleep and dreaming.
America must wake up and get its house in order. Urgently. Even before this disgraceful nonsense, your country was proving incapable of looking after itself, Now you have no more lunatic asylums -- except at the heart of Congress.
For heaven's sake.
History's repeating itself as farce. Before rebounding to tragedy.
Peter, I have always followed your comments here on LFAA since I found this newsletter. Your comment “America must wake up and get its house in order. Urgently.” has really made me stop and mull over the past 23 years. Ever since W Bush crafted the steal of the 2000 election, I have been politically awake and active. The past eight years since trump descended the golden elevator, life here in ‘Murica has been like living in a shit soup blender. With the saturation of social media in our daily lives, our actual human lives have been inextricably altered. Yes, many Americans have not engaged in actual political action to push for accountability. Yet there are many Americans who believe they are doing exactly that, but have been persuaded by false prophets. And then there are those like myself and many fellow travelers, who are out there doing what we can and what we know how to do. But it doesn’t seem to be enough. At the risk of sounding foolish, I must admit, I conclude that America is up against a well-funded, psychological-manipulation effort unimagined by most average Americans. We don’t know HOW to fight effectively against it. Donating, calling, marching, voting, writing, protesting has amounted to saving the sinking ship by tossing out spoonfuls of water. I, like many here, will stay in this flight and morph to new methods as we are made aware of them. But I’ll tell you from the ground view here where I sit, “action grounded in responsibility” - in light of the crafted psychosis we are living amidst- is being tried.
This June 3.3 Million high school seniors graduate largely unregistered to vote; June 2024 another 3.5 Million graduate; there are Millions of College students who are not registered in the competitive states where colleges are--these 10 Million can produce 4 or 5 Million new voters in 24--some key states have passed AVR (Automatic Voter Registration) if you have a driver’s license but several millions of these kids are inner city or poor and of color- I’m organizing a campaign to get those AVR state Governors and legislators to expand AVR to all high school and college students who are age-eligible? Youth voting will save our Democracy--will you start /join this effort in your state?IraLechner@yahoo.com
Major contributor to this thread, not, I think, present today, but very proficient at helping readers find practical networks and organisations that help citizens exercise their democratic rights.
Maybe I shouldn't mention readers who don't seem to be online, but your idea does sound well worth taking up and there are several contributors who are very clued up. I can't help, being a foreigner, living in another country.
Good luck with this. These youngsters need all the help and encouragement they can get because the more we go on, the more difficult life is going to be for them and those who come after them. They can say "thank you for nothing" to our generation. All the more reason for us to do what we can.
I'm very much in favor of alliances between the old and experienced and the young and dynamic, as with Bernie Sanders,, because so many people in the intermediate generations are so busy treading water in our wonderful economic dispensation that they never have the time or energy to think matters through. And those who "count" (but can't count) don't want anyone to think, let alone to think matters through. They want to control education so as to produce obedient, thoroughly conditioned human cattle.
Many many thanks; I will follow up as I am very experienced in voter reg of high school seniors; my foundation just registered its 100,000th high school senior in competitive states nonpartisan of course!where do you live?
You have more than derision and a way with words. Words with content.
Crafted psychosis, crafted pychosis... As in Russia where, at the center of it all stands a man terrified of his own long shadow, terrified of those nearest and of those farthest, cornered by the hellish consequences of his own deeds, surviving in utmost paranoia and sending more and more young men to die... for nothing.
Those lines in Shakespeare's Macbeth that end with the words "...signifying nothing".
And in America's parallel universe, another demonic figure, a Coney Island demon, wondering, wondering now, if he missed any patch of his body when he bathed in the witches' cauldron.
Ah, give us a break! A breath of life, a breath of love and freedom!
Drat. Was really hoping MTG would get to chair the House Committee on Science, Space, Technology and Jewish Space Lasers Committee.
Again, my loathing lies not with these talking imbeciles, but the American voters who put them there, *and* the American voters who took a pass by choice. Those are the real traitors to our country - we just don't know their names.
Public education is at the bottom of this. In Chicago we have a school vouchers type running for mayor after 50 schools have been closed. It isn’t only what Bernie Sanders is saying all of which is true. It’s our failure to learn from Europeans (thinking of Tony Judt, who taught at NYU and whose dear friend, Timothy Snyder, is doing all he can to help to preserve our democracy.) But we have poisoned our soils, retained medicine for profit, prioritized drugs over exercise, and television over community. Can we recover?
I also think that education is to blame for this. So sad that the US is SO far down in the world as far as public school quality. But we HAVE to think that we can recover and raise our standards for our kids and deal with these problems. Definitely an uphill battle considering the work to do, but we have to have hope and not give up.
I agree with what you are saying about education. But we also know that an uneducated society is a compliant one. This goes back to Saint Ronnie under whose administration funding for public schools was drastically cut. This trend is continuing today full speed ahead allowing nit wits like Marjorie Taylor Green to win elections and people in her state to vote for her.
Lack of good publicly funded critical thinking education and a heavy dose of religious ideology and hatefulness, is the problem in one sentence.
True -I bet any sentence that has the word "critical" in it automatically stirs up these yahoos ( boy are there other descriptive words & phrases I could use)!
I agree regarding education (and btw, CA Dem Senator Dianne Feinstein promoted vouchers for parochial D.C. schools), but I also know that in addition to my public schooling, I was home schooled, before it was called such a thing. Unfortunately, too many parents appear to think it is the school's job alone to teach their children. As uneducated children become uneducated parents though, meaningful teaching at home sadly becomes an impossibility. Summary: We're screwed.
Naive statement here perhaps, but isn’t it true that some of these ‘unfit for public service’ individuals bought their seats in Congress? With plenty of $$ assistance from those ‘who shall not be named’ due to Citizens United’s ruling?
Diane, you mean like George DeVoldemort’s $700k he “loaned” to his campaign, but now seen to be from a Russian oligarch close to Putin????? Like that? OMG.
Absolutely true! SCOTUS is crap! It's run by ALEC.
So, true! Reagonomics had Unions in its cross hairs. The GQP destroyed the middle class, and produced the huge loss of middle class for a growing billionaires who don't pay their fair share of taxes. They spend their money on overseas business and their taxes, which they can't avoid.
First, we need to get rid of the ridiculous testing that goes on...a boon for testing companies, but not for teachers or kids. Next, we need to rethink the role of sports. Nearly all the bad teachers we had were because the district hired a football coach or basketball coach. We had a group, the coaching corner, that thought all coaches should be on staff and they had a name for anyone not on staff...rent-a-coach. The local booster club helped hire the head football coach and they picked some real dimwits, liars, and people totally lacking in professionalism.
No, we do not. Were we to get rid of testing there would be no means of holding iDJioT legislators accountable.
Does it need to change - and the bevy of legislation those same legislators have put into force to punish schools and societal supports they refuse to adequately fund? Yes, but it needs to be done by Rational legislators not by those, often gerrymandered, iDJioT legislators who have risen far above their "Peter Principle" level.
I disagree about getting rid of standardized testing. It helps neither teachers nor students. All it does is cause teachers to teach for test and make money for testing companies. I was in eduction when the state was always changing what we had to do in terms of testing as part of graduation requirements. We spent lots of time preparing those tests and then administering them. Then the state would change what they wanted us to do. Most of the people I know have retired, but before they did, they complained nonstop about what we have now. We still have a friend who teachers in a town nearby that is heavily Hispanic and Russian. He is a wonderful teacher and he has nothing good to say about the testing regime schools have now. To his credit and the envy of his colleagues, he has managed to carve out a class where he and the kids can thrive.
I don't know why you think standardized testing holds legislators accountable. It doesn't. Added to this, we now have fights at school board meetings and nut cases trying to take over boards or board meetings. Our local school board does not hold in person board meetings anymore because the adults cannot behave. Then we have the Stench Court deciding that it's OK for a public school employee to lead prayer.
Finally, both of us are tier one (the best benefits) PERS recipients. PERS is the public employee retirement fund here in Oregon. Since then the legislature has decreased the benefits and many are now tier two or tier three. People rant about PERS al the time. They can look up what any former public employee gets per month. The highest paid PERS recipient is the former Oregon head football coach, but no one complains about the huge salaries as long as these people win. The next people who get the most are doctors from OHSU and in my mind, they deserve excellent salaries. Also the problems are compounded by the original law saying investment had to be here in Oregon and various ways of public entities paying in. At our neighborhood dinner (disbanded after this one), we were treated to a PERS rant by one of our neighbors and then another joined in, neither of whom would last five minutes in a classroom. They were respectively in the mortgage and banking industries. Not saying they didn't do a good job, but those industries both have had lots of problems.
"Teaching to the test" is not education. It is training. It is also notably lacking in teaching other things; critical thinking, ethics, and (ultimately) morality, by which I mean knowing right from wrong, truth from lies, and the fundamental understanding that we are all one people.
I, too, am and "evil Tier One" PERS retiree. Mike Belotti (former Oregon football coach) makes more money in a month than I make in a year. He was not a "public employee" in the sense of the common usage of that term. His employer was nominally the University, but he was Phil Knight's "employee". There's a retired OSHU Doc who makes even more money, at least as far as I remember it.
Tests should be generated by teachers in the classroom. Every class is as different as the people in it, so every class should be quizzed by the person who knows them best - their teacher. Repeating here for those who despise the testing businesses: Urban Tignor Holmes, international medievalist, larger than life professor, “taught” us that he graduated from Harvard “while it was still a university,” the year before the business school was added. Unforgettable!
Sorry, I failed to point out that WE have to make their 'Good ol' White, Christian Boy' testing into an accounting of the Legislators who do not adequately provide the Funding and Support for Public Education.
They have been blaming Teachers for decades. It is time to turn the tables. I was AFT because they pitched grenades right back at the Enemies who scapegoated Teachers. We need to return to that.
I was living in Oregon when the switch of tiers happened. I was amazed at the resentment shown by people working in the private sector. In part, their salaries were being trimmed by the $ imbalance between CEOs and staff. It seemed no one figured that out, but put the blame on "Commie" public employees for raiding their taxes.
Yep.
No child left untested.
NYS apparently still "uses" Common Core" in the schools. I remember looking at one of my grandson's homework "math" problems a few years ago - he was probably 10 or 11 at the time. It was idiotic! The convoluted way he was supposed to "solve" the problems? Obviously I would have been no help to him at all because even if he got the correct answer - it wouldnt be - if he didnt do it their way-period! I know I'm not explaining it very clearly - but boy if you could have seen this homework paper - you would get it! I know - I'm from the age where we had times tables - anyone remember? I'm thinking this might explain why some young cashiers in the stores dont know how to make change - without the register telling them!!!
Now on the other hand, a friend who was an English teacher at the time loved Common Core - it worked great for her.
Freshman algebra 1 teacher: football coach. Driver’s Ed teacher ( when that was an actual class): football coach. Health: football coach. I did learn something practical in Driver’s Ed, but not in the other two. Placeholder classes for the athletic department, that’s all they were. Thank god, none of them were teaching English or History.
Our social studies department always got the football coach while the booster club was making the decisions.
In some cases if you wanted to teach history you also had to be a good coach! My worst history teachers were coaches.
The coaches were much better at Drivers Ed...
LOL.
The head of the social studies department was always angry about this as he was stuck with the head football coach chosen by the booster club. There were some social studies teachers who were also good teachers, but the head football coach with one exception (hired from within) wasn't one of them. They were to a person, awful. One of them in a faculty meeting told us to get the hell out of his way. This was the same person who persuaded the principal to order me to buy the textbooks for a class he was taking, for the library. I had told him no and I also told the principal what he was doing to no avail. The principal said he would assign them to people and he never did, so there they sat, no one checking them out, but this guy. At some point, he had a motorcycle accident, but if I am remembering correctly, he managed to work the system in his favor, but not the kids' favor. He was worse than he had been. Now the poor guy has dementia and managed to get out of his facility and wander across a major highway before they found him.
I am sorry about the dementia, but he was still a lousy teacher.
I think we’re all missing the point. I have friends who are hard Republicans who won’t read the NYTimes or WashPost, and so their only source of information is the right-wing media. They’re well-educated and smart, they run businesses and have done well in life, and there are some things I actually agree with them on. But we’ve become so segmented as a country that there’s no ability to mix and match ideas. Honestly, who do we’all read and watch? Correct. Mostly those we agree with. I don’t watch Fox news cause it makes me nuts to do so. And my social media lens is pretty much limited in the same way.
I blame Reagan for ending the Fairness Doctrine.
"The fairness doctrine of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), introduced in 1949, was a policy that required the holders of broadcast licenses both to present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that fairly reflected differing viewpoints."
Doesn’t apply to cable tv. Buy a channel and broadcast almost anything you want, from porn to propaganda
The best news channel I have available is cable: MSNBC. The public servants - - I could write “ex-public servants,” but their very appearance to speak with their expertise gives them continuing public servant status -- who appear day after day to expand public knowledge, is the best I have found since the days of Walter Cronkite and Huntley-Brinkley.
Absolutely! Why on earth would you do that unless your intention was to lie, and produce the propaganda machine that is Faux News!
I think that the divide you describe has been created, from forces both within and without this country to weaken us. "Right wing" media does indeed foster a world where hate and fear are the overriding emotions; your well-educated and smart friends have that hatred and fear imbedded in their psyches. For the uneducated or poorly educated, hate and fear is all they have, since everything else has been taken from them by corporate greed engineered by those "well-educated and smart" friends of yours cohort.
I think you’re probably right, though I don’t think that’s all of it. Some, I believe, is just simple tribalism brought to its nth degree by the increasing segmentation of the nation’s media.
Amen! Perfectly stated!
Reg,
I would strongly argue that your apparent equivalence of NY Times and WashPost with Fox News.
I would say ANYONE at all can benefit from reading the NY Times and I have done so since I was 23. The stories are vetted for facts and designed to inform.
Not True for Fox News. Fox is propaganda that is often not true or vetted. Just BS that Rupert wants people to believe.
Your friends are not watching Fox News because they agree.
Your friends are just afraid of the facts of any issue and prefer to hear their own opinion reflected.
I agree with you generally on this, but there's a matter of degree. For a number of years, the NYT was totally slanted on immigration. In the late '00s, and for most of the teens, I wrote repeatedly to each of 5 consecutive ombuds at the NYT, pointing out this obvious bias in many articles.
Two ombuds eventually responded to me, telling me that they were thinking of writing up my concerns. Both of them were gone within about six weeks or writing to me, so my concerns never got aired. I've read that in slanting immigration so that the NYT was basically providing PR for the proponents of mass immigration, it was following the dictates of Sulzberger Jr. (This wsa not a problem during Sulzberger Sr. time running the paper.) The NYT was publishing what Jr. wanted people to believe on immigration.
To the NYT's credit during these periods, they published a significant numbers of letters to the editor that I wrote.
Additionally, this sort of thing was mostly not a problem with the NYT in other areas, to my knowledge. (But I follow immigration more closely than most.) Whereas Fox News seems totally biased, as you imply.
Other major mainstream media that I follow--NPR, the Boston Globe, and the Washington Post had similar problems. The WaPo no longer has much, if any bias. NPR does. I'm not following the Globe as closely as I used to.
Thank you for this broad look at news media generally. Having left NPR (although still contributing monthly to my local station) because of the “equal” reporting c.2016, I still believe that we need national public radio.
We have pitiful hyper-Ignorant, Partisan State legislators refusing to raise Teacher Salaries, yet they raise their own. They berate Teachers publicly. They force Village Idiot changes to our Schools' curriculum, and they violate the Founders intent by providing Public Monies to fund parochial and segregationist schools, which defunds Public Education. But, don't question them, they are self-described 'patriots'.
As Dr Samuel Johnson defined 'patriot' in his 1st "A Dictionary of the English Language" (1755) "n. the last refuge of scoundrels" .
Some words in the English Language, like 'woke', change meaning on iDJioT whims , others remain the same for centuries...
100%. Must recover the votes first. Voter suppression is the key. The key to ending inequality in education, health care, racial, and economic is access to the ballot! gerrymandering and nefarious suppression efforts must end. Then reform campaign finance, dark money, and begin a new era of transparency. I don’t just want to see the candidates tax returns what I want to see transparency in their campaign finances, who donated, and why, only then will my ears be open to listening to their message, but not before.
I agree wholeheartedly - passage of federal VOTING RIGHTS LEGISLATION IS PRIORITY NUMBER ONE.
And Number Two must be killing Citizens United -- another stain on the Roberts court.
Yes, yes, yes!
Public education became a political football some time ago. Parents became the "experts", challenging and even assaulting teachers and the public teaching system. Turning U.S. society and culture into a dumbed-down populace works to the advantage of those in wealth and power. I had the benefit of growing up in the fifties, coming of age in the sixities during which time I also served in our Military. Over time we have become morally and ethically compromised and corrupt, with intention. There is no "putting this genie back in the bottle".
Public education became a victim under Ronald Reagan in the 1980s when it was defunded. Ronald Reagan and the GOP were playing the long game with the goal of privatizing education and control over what was in the curriculum.
Reagan was a death star to our republic. Add to his damage to public education his closing of homeless shelters and mental health facilities, turning the mentally and financially disenfranchised onto the streets; his blantant racism; his hatred of gays leading to a massive AIDS death spiral among gays. Add to his legacy slicing to bare minimum corporate taxation while ADDING taxation to Social Security Income. And, THEN, there is his not-so-darling wife Nancy who consulted with the palm readers at the start of eacy day.
Well done. But you didn’t add his sanctification by the Republican Party.
Thank you! Reagan's supporters considered him the "Knight in shining armor".. The fact is that Reagan was phony to his core. I remember when, as a young lad, I listened to his voice over for Twenty Mule Team Borax, the sponsor of "Death Valley Days". Even as a kid, I despised the man. When Reagan was confirmed as president, a coworker asked why was I so upset? "Because," I responded, "this is one of the darkest moments in our nation's history."
Yes! And the GQP love Saint Ronnie for all of this!
… then just add guns. Massive amounts of guns. Sell them to anybody of any mental state over 18. These school shootings and doing nothing is just another tactic to destroy public education, create apathetic populace, and concentrate more power for the powerful/wealthy 1%.
This is not confined solely to the NRA. Gun manufacturers have enjoyed a perpetual heyday ever since. 400+ million guns on the streets of the nation, and counting.
Yes, absolutely true! Now police scream about defunding their departments, but they are probably fine we the long 4 decades of defunding public schools. During my last 20 years of teaching, not only did I not receive even a cost of living raise, I was also expected to supply my classroom from my own pocket!
The "system'" such as it is has failed at mutliple levels in multiple layers. Teachers having to pay for and bringing to class supplies those items necessary to teach effectively is an abomination.
It is with huge sadness that I agree with you, Sir.
Many Parents today are a product of education defunding since 1980. Their ignorance and lack of understanding what has happened to the educational system and thus them, has left them vulnerable to all kinds of demagoguery, conspiracy, and who is at fault for our deteriorating Public Education system. The solution is funding. Build temples of learning. Pay well, attract talent back to and add respect the teaching profession, add more counselors, pay top dollar for executive and administrators so that that talent and passion solves the downstream problems. And get some reasonable gun legislation Nation wide. Super fund school sports, activities, social support. We can get it done.
Your "we can get it done" relies on those who CAN get it done but won't.
In Iowa, our legislature is about to pass a school voucher law that will further hamper public education. What was once an exemplar of excellence in education, Iowa's public schools ratings have slipped to the middle 21st in the nation - most favorable- to as low as 41st in the course of ten years of GOP dominance. Yes, education is failing by design.
Hard to read, and vital to spread to my community of friends. Be well..
It's complicated. Tyrants always control what their subjects get to know. I sensed that deregulation of mass media would be trouble as soon as I heard about, but when the seeds of this madness were being planted, it did not seem to have commanded much attention. I see hope for most of the manipulated, but believe that most of the fault lies with sociopathic manipulators, and we all were too passive as that malign process advanced across our society.
I actually don't see hope for the manipulated, because it appears the bulk of that was facilitated by a combination of willful ignorance, laziness, and implicit racism.
John Rochat, J L Graham: "...willful ignorance, laziness, and implicit racism", yes! And "...hope for most of the manipulated"? Not without a wholesale reintroduction of critical thinking skills, K thru 12. Small, incremental changes might nudge the ship around but it will take a herculean effort in education over generations to get out of this mess. And the more insane the actions of the Republican Right become, the sooner that process may start, but it's absolutely critical to keep both the Senate and the Executive branch out of their hands or we will be in deep doo doo.
There are all kinds of insects that cause damage. Termites can destroy the foundation of a building. Emerald ash borers can kill trees. These bigoted Republicans are like destructive insects, chewing away at our foundations in so many places. We really are teetering on a very damaged foundation because no corrective action has been taken. Those 20 people-20 people for God's sake-are holding the rest of us hostage.
Yes, Jenn, but they are also performing a valuable service in exhibiting to the entire world the depth of their sheer incompetance and pettiness. When a few trees topple, wiser heads will prevail and the insecticide will be administered. The trick is to keep the damage contained (within the House) and not let it spread. Even the most sordid Republican hack will eventually realize that by enabling these nutcases like MTG they are shooting themselves in the foot.
I wish i shared your confidence. I see these people that vote these idiots into congress. They are motivated by hate and greed, and will support them to the nth degree. It is what they WANT.
Mr. Surlamont, we can only hope that there is enough intelligence in that bunch of “nutcases” that bringing down the country on a whim will ultimately not appeal to them. Even the relatives of some of them must be warning.
Been a tsunami on the horizon for decades. The floods coming…
And there are no flood gates.
Figurative and literally.
I fear that you are right. And I fear ending like one of Annie Proulx’s short story last lines.. After reading “The Shipping News” had sworn never to read her again, but a New Yorker story seduced me. The last line has haunted ever since. Anyone who read the story will probably remember it also.
‘For if Jack Buggit could escape from the pickle jar, if a bird with a broken neck could fly away, what else might be possible? Water may be older than light, diamonds crack in hot goat's blood, mountaintops give off cold fire, forests appear in mid-ocean, it may happen that a crab is caught with the shadow of a hand on its back, that the wind be imprisoned in a bit of knotted string. And it may be that love sometimes occurs without pain or misery.’
And the sociopathic manipulators continue-Desantis and Abbott as prime examples. 😔
Reagan ended the Fairness Doctrine
I wholeheartedly agree with you. I call them intellectually lazy…no care to question, research, or even try. Another is society’s reluctance to pay for preventative measures. No, we wait until it’s a crisis and then we rush to throw money at the crisis. I’ve never in my 77 years been afraid of the consequences of my government’s decisions. I always believed good will triumph. Not so much now. I’m at the tail end of my life but I leave behind innocent human beings who will inherit the results of our mistakes.
As a woman of your same age, I am grateful for your words that speak what is in my heart. I am so sad about what we are leaving behind for our children, grandchildren, and greats. I do believe we will eventually evolve to a better place, but unfortunately not in my lifetime. However, I will continue to work towards raising consciousness towards a more positive outcome for the next generations (and they are really what will save this planet, after all). For me, there is no other choice. We are all here at this time of history for a reason. Just having these discussions among us raises consciousness on many levels.
Hope springs eternal and like you, I prefer to hope! Our actions have made a difference and the young of this nation are so much more diverse and have lived through school massacres, devastating climate change, and a threat to their democracy....we baby boomers reaped the benefit of a government that actually worked for “we the people” ( albeit mostly for “white” people ). I have to believe they want what this country was created for...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness..and equality for all. They will fight for the rights this current SCOTUS is bent on taking from all of us. We can lend them a hand with our continued actions but they need to take up the lead.
Demographics have changed. Millennials are more diverse and progressive. Baby boomers were handed a lot and much in life was set up for them to succeed, and yes, succeed as white folks.
Brava! All of US of a certain age need to do whatever we can politically for the next generation. I can only participate in local rallies and write GOTV postcards - my first marches were Vietnam War. marching days ended just before Covid, but I am supporting Presidents Biden and Zelenskyy in every way possible, challenged by Republicans who think everyone of Social Security age should die as quickly as possible.
Amen
Gerrymandering is the problem.
Only in the House. Not in the thinly held Senate, or Governorship. Those should be landslides, but they're not??? The DNC would like everyone to think it's always about gerrymandering, but that's just not enough to explain their failures.
Well, the mess with map in New York State did not help. I was listening to a news roundup on NPR the Democratic Party in New York State was asleep at the wheel.
Sharon 1000% correct.
It goes a long way
That’s not the only problem at this point.
But only a part of it.
First thanks for the laugh on MTG, and second I agree the ones to 'blame' are the voters who thoughtlessly put them there. We need to get decent viable Democrats to run in these 'red' districts in the next 6 months (anyone at the DCCC or DNC listening?)
And the voters that put them there by not voting.
This is my beef. The apathetic non voters that 'hate politics'. I get so frustrated when people say they can't do a thing that matters.
Your comment implies that more voters would swing the outcome. I work the polls and for the past two election cycles the turnout has jumped from about 20% to 55% and the spread between winners and losers increased by a wide margin. Be careful what you wish for.
You are correct. Turnout is not a problem. Actually, there is no problem.
Democrats may think there is a problem when other states don't want to act like California.
As they are fond to point out, they are the smartest persons in the room, so anyone with differing opinions must therefor be an idiot, needing to be "re-educated".
Thank you. Where I live, a Republican stronghold, very few who voted would admit to casting a ballot out-of-party. However, the number of voters is not large enough to make a difference.
Excellent point.
A Dem to run in District 14 where MTG is from? Perhaps Strom Thurmond or James Eastland if you could revive them. This is the NW corner of the state, on the AL-GA state line. Now that the carpet mills have closed, their chief exports are Grits and Pellagra. Culturally, this area thinks it’s 1930.
I reached out to a die-hard Republican relative this holiday season. Tired of the mutual animosity, I suggested we put politics aside when we have to see each other. It was mostly out of concern for my own mental health that I did this.) It worked. We are now friendly at gatherings. Oh, but he did give me his sage advice; I should stop blaming, and being furious with Republican voters. I should blame the politicians instead. This, I should do if I didn’t want what happened between us to “happen with other relatives.”
I was fascinated by his ability to absolve himself and fellow right wing voters of all culpability. I was fascinated by his placing the blame for our feud on my anger towards Republican voters, and not him, and the votes he casts supporting these anti-democracy bastards. I loath the voters too, John, and the politicians.
I have the same experience. A cousin I have loved all my life. We recently declared a truce with the understanding no religion, politics, etc.. The problem is I can’t forgive their willful stupidity in only watching FOX and believing every word. I can’t bring myself to initiate a conversation. How do you do that when you believe that someone you love has participated in the attempted destruction of our democracy? If she were a stranger I’d never speak to her again.
Ah yes, classic projection. It’s not me, it’s you and your attitude that causes the problem…
We need to demand that Civics be taught once again in public schools. Too many Americans are oblivious to the fact that it takes effort to live in and hold on to a democracy.
I have a meeting at 2 today at the high school with the Student Senate advisor to see if I can get the kids to give me two well thought out questions for the fall election of city councilor and school board forums. The town next to us teaches government and those kids do forums for State Reps. A lot of work needs to happen to move the needle for more citizen engagement and education.
Update: The advisor turned out to be the US History teacher and she was very enthusiastic. The school is considering adding history electives, now, Civics is top of the list. Our youth are very concerned about issues. There is hope. Looks like I’ll get the students questions and the kids to stand up and ask them at the city council candidate and school board LWV Forums we’ll do in the fall. Baby steps. .
I heard her comment yesterday when asked about her history and affection with Q. "Oh I was sucked into some internet conspiracy theories, but Ive changed now." Heck, you can put a skunk in your garage, but your house will still smell like....skunk!
I think she's trying to now position, or project, herself as some kind of intermediary between the "Freedom Caucus" nut-bags and the more mainstream, moderate wings of the GOP. That can explain when she's been back-tracking a bit from some of her previous Q-conspiracy "nut-baggery". Do I trust her? Not for one effing minute.
And to the Republicans who say nothing. They could turn the American voters who believe the cable entertainment propaganda. Instead they will let the country burn down just to keep power.
So true. I’m glad that Mr. Biden isn’t negotiating with the terrorists. Like in the Clinton era…. If the government shuts down that’s on the GOP and their supporters
And other than serving on the Jan 6th committee - both Cheney & Kinzinger always stuck with their party! Even though they lost their elections - Still voted Repub line.
I cringe listening to what heroes they were for that. BUT absolutely no veering from the party line other than that - NONE. When its possible if they had really stood for the betterment of this country rather than their party - could have made a difference.
John, I agree about the responsibility of the American voters, but they are de facto traitors. What I mean is. Do you think they have a clue about the information that Heather has laid out today. We need more persuasive speakers, in more places to tell the American public in concise, very concise, simple, easy to understand concepts what is happening in our democracy. How many people do you think even understand that the debt ceiling has to do with paying debts already incurred?  I suspect the ordinary person is busy with their day-to-day life, troubles, concerns that have an immediate direct effect on them and their families like paying bills, taking and picking up their children from school, day care, getting a job, illness etc etc.. we need to find a way to educate these people. We need to find better ways to  Educate our children from grade school up not only to know what is going on in our democracy, but how they should be involved.
I was brought up in the South, evangelical, Republican, straight, white, male. Had it made. Then I got curious and started asking difficult questions and all holy hell broke loose. Californians have little true understanding of the white South, as I suspect is generally true in other areas of the country. It's just pathologic through and through.
John, while I live now on the left coast and have since 1969, I lived much of my life growing up on a non working farm outside of Memphis, HS in Memphis, college in Birmingham AL in the 60s. I am a white male. Perhaps because I lived with my Aunt, as a result of my parents early deaths, , I was left to form my own opinions as I saw the world at that time. I understood and understand the white South the good and evil and in between. While generalities as are, as you have described them, they are far too much of a broad brush, maybe not based on your personal lived experience, but I would not condemn white southerners as you have. I have very close, very liberal, friends living in Birmingham and Natchez. On my last visit to Birmingham there was black mayor and a museum dedicated to civil rights. My college and the restaurants in B’ham were fully integrated. Make no mistake I fully understand your experience and in no way is this a criticism of your opinion based on that experience. I felt that I should state mine. I am sure we have a lot to talk about this topic and share much. I for one would be more interested in yours.
I think you have a good point. White Southerners will often point to their acceptance of and daily integration with Blacks, while Northeastern folks just talk about it.
Over the past month or so (it seems), LAAF Commenteers (yes, for fun, I spell that word like Mouseketeers or Musketeers - no offense meant to Comments, Mice, or Muskets) have hoisted the failures of today’s American Dilemmas and Disfunction (AD&D) onto the shoulders of “education.” (Full disclosure: I am a retired public elementary school teacher - 35 years, having retired 22 years ago.)
That “hoisting” seems to me to be convenient, disingenuous, misplaced, and/or flawed and foggy. Some questions for you:
1.) Are we blaming “education” of TODAY? Or, education yesterday? Or….?
2.) Are we blaming “education” all over the US or just in “certain parts” of the US?
3.) Was “education” in the 50’s and 60’s (like when I was a student) far superior to “education” today?
4.) Was “education” in the late 60’s, the 70’s, the 80’s, the 90’s, and the early 00’s (like when I was a teacher) far superior to “education” today?
5.) Are we blaming the educational failures of the 163,839 people who voted for Lauren Boebert in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District and heralding the educational successes of the 163,293 people who voted for Adam Frisch? (This election had results of 50.1% to 49.9%.) Or, are we disparaging and criticizing the educations of the 142,673 George Santos voters and lauding the educations of the 121,094 Robert Zimmerman voters (NY 3rd Congressional District)? Note: There is an excellent possibility that the MANY of the voters in these two Districts - on either “side” - got similar educations and even went to the same schools and sat right next to each other….(same - separate but equal - bathrooms, drinking fountains, playgrounds, and cafeterias….)
6.) Are the TEACHERS at fault? The STUDENTS? The Administration? The Boards of Education? The taxpayers (who voted down referenda)? The parents? The governments - local, state, federal? The Private Schools? ALL/SOME OF THE ABOVE?
I could go on and on, after all I am a teacher….
To me, there DOES seem to be a “learning divide” here in the US. We Americans can’t seem to look at the same data, documents, and reports with a Common Eye, Understanding, or Agreement. Take one very recent, pervasive, and common experience (in the US and the World): COVID-19. We STILL cannot come to any common agreement about vaccines, boosters, masks, prevention, precautions, etc., let alone “Who let the bugs out?”
Is this an “education” problem? Perhaps. I remember as a elementary school student, even to this day, experiencing a unit of study on PROPAGANDA and how to distinguish Truth from Propagandized Truth. (Of course, this was during the height of the Communist Scare when we were also trained to hide under our desks when the air raid sirens were blasted. Talk about educational shortfalls, huh? Under my desk to shield me from nuclear fallout?) (Of course, we had Walter Cronkite at that time WHILE Tucker Carlson was still messing his diapers in the early 70’s. Note: I have no specific data on Tucker’s diapers, but….just speculatin’)
Could it be that our educational system has not adequately prepared us for the media systems in place today? Hmmmm, a free press vs government-controlled media….
Point taken, Paul. I also taught in elementary school and believe there are many factors leading to the dysfunction of our public schools. Not one entity that you listed is to blame. My comment was simply “Civics” should still be taught. I do believe education became too bent on teaching for test scores. Teachers hands have been tied to rigid scheduling … when you are in a moment of having their minds excited about a lesson or intrigued with a science experiment but need to stick to that schedule …“close your books it’s time for social studies”. No wavering, no “let’s take 10 more minutes” while I’ve truly got your attention and stick with language arts! Then there are the overworked and often underpaid parents who can’t take the time to be engaged…they used to be our partners but now they barely have time to check the homework. Dress code… what dress code… come in your pajamas… and I don’t mean just on “pajama day”…respect for school and teachers has often times been lost on students because the parental partnership once felt was also lost. Also, none of us were adequately prepared for the likes of Fox News or Rush Limbaugh or FACEBOOK and Twitter. The Fairness Doctrine used to keep media in line with giving both sides of controversial issues. Once that was thrown out the window, media was simply given the ok to sell its airtime to the highest bidder.
I guess what I’m trying to say is public education is broken just as immigration policy is broken just as SCOTUS is broken just as the electoral college is broken just as Proportional Representation is broken just as gerrymandering has broken our electoral districts just as the filibuster is broken….if you get my drift. I certainly didn’t intend to insult teachers by my comment. I applaud any person who would go into the profession knowing full well it is a thankless job. ❤️
Well said!
Like you, I find myself increasingly angrier at the voters who put these malevolent hateful people in power.
In Greene’s district, she won 65.9% out of the 258,000 votes cast. A lot of people drinking the cool-aid!
It’s Georgia…the haters abound! They’re still talking about Sherman’s March to the Sea.
John,
I have been thinking the same thing for a very long time as we read about the daily destruction of norms and decency in the 118th Congress. These crazy's didn't just walk in they were voted in by American voters...yes gerrymandering and voter suppression but still they got the votes!!
When will the republican voters see the damages that are being thrust upon all of us and move away from this toxic party?!
John, I am afraid that it is going to take those republican voters experiencing the lose of their life lines like Medicare and S.S. The closing of the National Parks where they put their big gas guzzling motorhomes, RVs, loaded with guns and Monnpies!
Nope, even then they won't get it, because somehow it will be the "Demoncrats'" fault.
Nailed it!
MTG certainly is a Space Cadet!
100%. MTG should be chairman of the white trash dumbass committee.
Jay Kuo today said that Biden and the Dems should reframe the debt ceiling as the “deadbeat ceiling.” His point is that it’s analogous to buying a car and then refusing to make the payments. Or basically the way the former guy handled all his business - stiffing people to whom he owed contracted money.
As a follower of George Lakoff, I find Kuo’s approach excellent. It reframes the debt in terms that put the burden on those who would refuse to pay what they contracted for rather than implying that we are acquiring new debt that the Repugs are preventing. Those budgets were legally passed and those debts legally contracted.
More importantly I don’t understand why we’re not hearing more about the 14th Amendment. As others have argued, Biden following the 14th amendment would be following the spending plan legally passed by the Congress thereby upholding the House’s “power of the purse.” To do otherwise is to violate the Constitution.
I admire Biden for not negotiating. Obama negotiated and it was a nightmare. The Constitution is on Joe’s side. Let the House try to take him to Court.
That link:
https://statuskuo.substack.com/p/the-deadbeat-limit/comments?show_reaction_upsell=true
Thanks for the link, this concept and messaging make perfect sense! Hope Biden administration is listening!
Thank you! I've reposted everywhere.
Joan Ehrlich, thank you so much for that link, and for introducing (to me, anyway) Jay Kuo whom I'd never head of before. He really drives home the meaning of Debt limit!! -- a true wake up. For me, I thought I knew what it meant but his examples, and Claire McAskill's, truly do. Jolly Good Show!
The Republicans are underestimating Biden.
Seems that there is more underestimating Biden then just the GOP.
I like your comment today, Andrea, because I consider it a more “active” response than the usual “hand-wringing” response reviewed one too many times by me on this forum. Robert Hubbell says it quite succinctly on his Substack today. “The Elephant in the Room”.
I agree and have spent my week talking to Republican acquaintances, friends, and family members suggesting they leave the party. The broad stroke of the Republican leadership in Congress demands loyalty to nonsense that has become, quite frankly, an embarrassment to any that even mildly try to evade it.
https://open.substack.com/pub/roberthubbell/p/the-elephant-in-the-room?
Who will join me in the active rank of dissenters to the shit show of the dismantling of democracy in the House of Cards?
Salud!
🗽
I agree Christine. Thanks for posting this.
Another observation. The number of handwringing, cursing folks leaving comments on Dr. Richardson's blog this morning has sharply increased.
My question for folks is this: "What did you think was going to happen?!"
True ‘dat.
Salud, Barbara.
🗽
Aye, don't think of an elephant!
There is one in the room, that's for sure.
Think of a Mastodon instead...
Or, perhaps more correctly in the sense of the debt ceiling, a mammoth.
Maybe Biden should proactively take it to the SCOTUS as an "emergency application." Let them try to wriggle around upholding the 14th when the language is right in there.
I'd like to see Article III of Amendment XIV activated as well. Use the whole amendment!!
Agree Ally.
I have a nasty cold or flu and am employing chicken soup as well as spirits.
🗽
Hope you’re better soon. I’m now no longer a “post surgical” patient, and on the road to full rehab for my hip. Not using cane/crutches and PT twice a day.
I am so glad.
Fast healing!
🗽
Ugly politics, i fear our house divided cannot stand.
Jay Kuo’s analysis, along with Robert Reich’s, is clear, insightful, and brilliant!
The situation described makes me physically ill.
I do not want to live in a deadbeat defaulter country. BUT. I do not want to negotiation on raising the debt ceiling. The expenditures were duly signed into law. The money is committed and must be paid. I do not want the Democrats, the Senate Republicans or the White House to negotiate with these bullies, anarchists, and traitors.
And investigations and impeachments? Really? That is how you plan to spend your time to “help the people back home?”
They say we should never negotiate with terrorists.. I think (and there are protocols for this) that it makes sense to communicate with threatening persons, but as a policy, you can't bargain away what matters. No compromise with extortionists.
JL, I spent 20 of my 28 years in law enforcement as a Crisis Negotiator. One of my earliest training classes in that discipline was on identifying the three basic types of hostage situation that local law enforcement would run into: Barricade Situations, Hostage Situations, and Terrorist Situations. A barricade situation was usually driven by a person who felt that taking someone important to them and holding them against their will to make them "understand" how wrong they were could be dealt with in several ways, usually by listening to them, suggesting things, and eventually, coming up with a way of surrender that would help them "save face". In these cases, we (LE) had something to offer them in exchange for their victim. A hostage situation (think bank robbery gone bad) also has something that LE can give them (in this case, freedom). In these two cases, by establishing rapport with the suspect, finding the "hook" that will let you manipulate them to surrender, and engineering that "safe" resolution. The technique for Terrorist Situations was simple: don't negotiate with terrorists. We have nothing to "offer" them. They have what they want, and are willing to go to extremes to achieve their goals. The "negotiation" strategy is to buy time until a tactical resolution can be undertaken.
You cannot negotiate with terrorists. You cannot reason with unreasonable people.
Thank you for sharing your training and experience.
Your last line says it all for me about the current GOP house caucus: “you can not reason with unreasonable people.”
Sky I agree that blackmail and hostage taking are unAmerican. I-earned-the-speakership-McCarthy succumbed to outrageous blackmail from 20 renegade Republicans to win his toilet seat. Now he should be shat upon.
Start taxing the rich finally appropriately, that would be an idea. But doesn't look like either side has the balls - or the intention.
I think Biden is working on that, which is why we need to protect him. The traitors must be overcome, both those in Congress and the super rich..
Collect the taxes due would make a rather big dint.
I'm beginning to wonder whether the array of impeachment proceedings in prospect - since surely the House majority understands that impeachment is not conviction and that, barring compelling evidence, the likelihood of convictions in the Senate is effectively zero - are intended to out-J6-Committee the J6 Committee by sheer quantity, while simultaneously yielding an unending lode of sound bites for 2024.
Quizt, but is that not what we did to Trump? It proved to be nothing more than a show, twice.
There was clear evidence to impeach trump both times. There was nothing performative about it
Ignoring trump’s crimes because the McConnell Senate wouldn’t convict, would have been dereliction
Of duty
Point being, nothing came of it . If anything it's emboldened him.
I disagree. Much came of of it, even though politics prevented the desired results
Exposing corruption is the right thing to do
Do not negotiate! Read Robert Reich. He was there!!! Do not negotiate. Let the criminals solve the crime with their own blood! You do not negotiate with the mob. You do not get blackmailed by the meanest , low life! Please Do Read....
"The people back home" voted for these people to entertain them, not to legislate.
It’s time for a few sane Republicans to join with the Democrats in a coalition to move the country forward.
Buchanan, etc. would rather resign, because it's never about the country, but about their self-centered power grabs. Greed Over People.
Greed Over People...perfect definition of GOP!
Well, Grand Old Party is certainly GWTW.
I see what you did there... ;)
A monomaniacal lust for Absolute Power.
Self-destruction. No iceberg, the giant ship sinks.
This opportunity for a few Republicans to coalesce with Democrats over at least a bit of common ground is an amazing gift, a chance to prove not all of them are characterized by mind boggling incompetency nor supportive of violent extremism. Perhaps House members like Brian Fitzpatrick, Anthony D’Esposito, David Valadeo, Mike Garcia, and Mike Lawler will recognize this opportunity for what it is. If not, hope the Biden Administration follows the advice of StatusKuo and Professor Tribe, and makes full use of the 14th Amendment.
Does anyone know of a Dem strategy that is ongoing like this?
Been waiting for decades
But where is "forward"? Nothing is capable of growing forever.
That is the only way to go. Hopefully more of them will stand up and state the obvious.
Hear, Hear!!
I keep hoping that there are some sane Republicans in the House that actually want to DO something and work with the Democrats, but I'm not holding my breath.
At some point they MAY realize that it is politically necessary . Hopefully that day will come
Sadly, there are no "sane" RepubliQans". There are a scant handful of those that are not 🦇 💩 crazy, but they are not "sane" as the saying goes.
That's what I thought might happen during the voting for McCarthy.
Yes, me too! Members in districts that Biden won have a lot at stake, hopefully they will see the light!
While reading today’s letter, Lincoln’s warning kept popping into my head: “A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand.” It is nearly surreal to witness the Republican cabal unconscionably engaged in the design to destroy our nation (theirs, too!) in order to display their might—and to get back at Democrats for impeaching and investigating their CRIME boss. What’s right and true is still right and true! History will not be kind to them. I do pray that their narcissistic agendas do not destroy our nation beyond repair…
All that political dog and pony show theatrics. When the string pullers, Big Money, Big Banks, Monopolistic Corporations, the War Machine pop their champagne corks behind the curtains. Relying on us hand wringers to sit on our computer chairs then shift to the couch when we're not grousing on line. And do nothing. Watching the drama and more hand wringing. More complaining. How come we're not in the streets demanding the traitors in Congress who've denied the will of the people be ousted? How come we're not in the streets demanding no more war? no more drilling in public lands? no more stock buy-backs? but money for public housing? IRS funding to nail the corporate tax dodgers? Medicare for All? bring back the draft? ........you name it .....
Selina Sweet. I, for one have to work for a living. I work because I have to pay my bills. My gross income is 36k a year. I would love to devote my days to protesting and demanding the traitors be ousted……….but I have to lay my head at night. It’s not an excuse, its my reality
Excellent questions, Selina! Other than local Women Marches and Black Lives Matter peaceful protests, I have chosen to stay away from situations that could threaten my personal comfort zone. I suspect most people feel the same: still comfortable enough. You’re right in warning us that we may live to regret it. Thanks for the prod!
The rest of the world always wonders why we are not out in the streets livid over our policies. We must be in more of a police state than realized or too big and divided amongst ourselves.
Too big and divided. And the private arsenals give pause for reflection.
Obviously the majority does not really want it enough yet. It takes a long time to move the masses - general rule: when there is 3 days in a row no food on the table the end is near. Still a long way to go.
Rose Isn’t it ironic that the party of Lincoln, who endured a bloody civil war to unite America, is now the party of national dividers. Today Lincoln would choose to be a Democrat supportive of President Biden’s commitment to serving all Americans.
Fully agree, Keith! His old party now openly brags about the success of their efforts to suppress Black voting and shamelessly spins the blame of the national debt onto Democrats. I’ve lived through and studied similar scenarios in “Third World” countries now ruled by autocrats. It’s depressing to see it happening at home! Wonder what the Lincoln Project is up to these days; haven’t seen any if their ads since the 2020 election.
Reagan wanted to be be done with Democracy "which he called "government") and restore a sort of neofeudalism. That's the "GOP" raison d'etat, Who or what is ruined is a distant side issue (when not the goal) to their complete domination of everything.
J L Graham, you echo what I’ve been listening to by “David Troy Presents” podcast series “Oil, Gold, Crypto & Fascism: How We Got Here”. Neofeudalism hits it on the head. The gop and their puppet masters will not be satisfied until that is achieved. The repercussions for the Planet and human life on it are dire. The capture was well crafted, multi-pronged, and full of perfected misdirection, smoke, mirrors, and calculated theatrical entertainment.
Ironically, their goals, if met, sooner or later will lead to self-destruction.
And the MSM just blathers on, as do I. Been “raising the alarm” for half of my long life. On Jan 6, I thought, well, now it’s all out there for everyone to see what they are. On video, with sound and fury. Yet, here we are with the inmates safely ensconced in the power offices of the asylum. And Rupert still broadcasting evil, the MSM blathering about Dem problems, and the electorate apparently confused as to who the bad guys are, even though, to this day, repubs advocate and perpetuate violence against any who oppose their evil. Do I hear “good” repubs, like W, Rove, Luntz, Romney, rise up and join the Lincoln Project. Nah. Hunker down, America is under siege by those wrapped in a flag (likely Nazi or confederate) and carrying a Bible. Who said that…
It rather reminds me of the “gods” of Mt. Olympus. They were deeply flawed characters, but occupied the highest realm of power. And when they fought,-or were bored and needed amusement- woe be to the world!
Gerald L.K. Smith and Mrs. Gerald L.K. Smith; founders of the "America First" movement.
Hey Repubs! Instead of cutting Social Security and Medicare, why don't we freeze paychecks for Representatives? Bet you'd raise the debt ceiling then!
Substack's Jay Kuo calls the Debt Ceiling Limit, the "deadbeat limit" quoting former Senator Claire McCaskill: This is not about raising your Credit Limit; this is about making your car payment".
I call it extortion.
YES!!!
The irony of MTG being on the Homeland Security Committee is not wasted on us.
This is far from ironic, it is a serious threat to our national security , and alliances, responses to threats, and more.
Kakistocracy personified.
*using my lookup tool.
"government by the least suitable or competent citizens of a state.
"the danger is that this will reduce us to kakistocracy"
Thankss J L.
Here's a little additional insight on the origin of the word from the Online Etymology Dictionary: https://www.etymonline.com/word/kakistocracy
I fear we may soon have "kakonomia "a bad system of laws and government."
That’s the point, no doubt.
"Send in the clowns. There gotta be clowns."
Now. All present and accounted for. The 118th Clown Show will now convene.
"Master Inquisitioner. You may bring in the Usual Suspects."
"Let's get this show underway, afore the ices melts in they lemonade."
The whole scenario makes the film "Idiocracy" seem perfectly reasonable in comparison.
The fields are drying up, the reservoirs are empty. Break out the Gatorade, folks.
We won't be able to drink Gatorade-no water...
I think part of the idiocy of "Idiocracy" was that the Gatorade Company owned all the sources of water and the government as well. The movie used to seem ridiculous...
House "Speaker Discharge". On msnbc''s 'Deadline White House' today, Representative Swalwell finally identified the needed House Majority, 212 Dems & whatever number is needed to obtain 5 or 6 R votes, to override McCarthy's Nihilism. "SPEAKER DISCHARGE" get to know those words ... a lawful House method to get work done now.
These seditious R’s who got appointments to our most precious secrets may, in fact, never serve in that capacity. They are being investigated by Jack Smith. The timing would be perfect if he were to crash their parade, yes? In the meantime, the title to this HBO series is called “Havoc in the House”. You can watch it Sun-Sat at any time.
House of the rising sun
🎵"Theres js a place in New 'Awlins they call ... 🎵
"It's bin the roon of many a poor boy/gal..."
Sorry Janet. You well know a criminal history is required now for all incoming Republican congressmen . Republican congresswomen must be devoid of intelligence. Again sorry, I don’t make the rules. The standup inflatable comedienne from Bakersfield has been laughed at since he took the job of madam in the house of the rising sun.
I’m starting to realize the Roman Empire was taken over by Republicans leading to ruins. I wonder how D.C. will compare. Will the ruins inspire tourism? Will Jordon conduct wrestling matches in the coliseum? Will the Republican rewrite of history give Jimmy the gold? Will Green Green Be going away to graze grass that’s greener still. Oh what will they do…….next! Quick Oregonians duck! Whew, that was a space laser. Am I really in the midst of this turmoil! Why in the hell did I ever leave the wilderness for this utter madness. I know it’s the dead of winter but I put the snowshoe frames in the steamer tomorrow and I’ll have a new pair to wear. When the next snowstorm hits my tracks will be covered.
😂😂
I am seriously building snowshoes. With the rattlesnakes and grizzlies asleep I’ll only have to contend with lions wolves and wolverines. At least they are honest company. A few nights on the continental divide are in order.
Every last one of these people needs to be arrested, frog-marched out of their congressional offices in handcuffs, perp-walked down the steps of the capitol, charged with treason and held without bail in the DC jail as a flight risk (Hungary or Russia).
Actually, I'm more in favor of standing them against the wall of the capitol and executing them publicly as the traitors they are.
I would prefer if you didnt talk about vigilante execution. It a tactic the jan6 insurrectionist used and not anything democrats would consider.
Tom I always appreciate your tasteful suggestions as to how to treat those with whom you disagree. “Frog marching’ and ‘perp walking!’ Might I also suggest ‘ass dragging?”
As I’ve told you before, violence is never the answer, TC. Every time I read some violent rhetoric in your posts, I -will- comment on it and call you out.
You are right - but sometimes - what is the alternative? What if you are an Ukrainian family in Mariopol? Will you tell your children to die with the proud knowledge never having been violent or will you start throwing mollies? It's time we all ask ourselves the questions - how are we going to deal with worldwide ever increasing violence?
Apple to oranges, Sabine. If my family and country was under siege from another country, I'd be on the front lines, fearlessly fighting tooth and nail until we prevailed or die in the process.
Fellow citizens who violate established laws, foment and participate in insurrection, put their own greed ahead of the country, and even their own party, deserve to spend the rest of their lives in a dark, solitary cell with no chance of parole.
Peace, Sabine
~
"All you need is Love." Lennon/McCartney
"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend." - MLK Jr.
"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." - Paul Muad'Dib
I'd prefer the judicial process; as more comes out about the "visitor logs" and who got to do what in December (20( and early January (21), it appears that there is strong evidence of seditious conspiracy to overthrow the government. Some of those people are sitting in congress and (most likely) on the very committees charged with investigating that traitorous activity.
Treason in plain sight, with video
Isn’t that the same thought process of the gop guy who shot bullets through his dem opponents houses in NM? We need to be better than that. And it starts with our words. You’re better than this TCinLA. WE need you to be better than this.
MLR Tom is a late middle aged Hollywood guy. There’s a chance that he will mellow after playing old Beatles songs. As a kid I remember cowboy and Indian movies where there were no blood or vivid bodies and no horse poop on the streets. Much later James Bond when he was suave with minimal blood and gore.
Perhaps our rhetoric has also escalated.
Thinking it and saying it are 2 different things……my thoughts go there too……
We said it before. We shall repeat it. “Hold on to your a** folks. It’s fixing to get rough!”
McFarty is a joke. MTG is an idiot. The rest if this bunch is totally lost, and SANTOS (if that’s even his real name) is a complete waste of good air, and space.
McFarty has given these people spots on these committees, not even realizing what he’s done. But, actually, I doubt he even cares. He’s absolutely clueless to what’s going on around him.
Is there a way that we, the people, can ‘impeach’ all of this bunch, causing emergency elections to get some people in there that can hopefully straighten all this out before they screw it up so bad it can’t be fixed? There has to be something we can do.
This is fixing to get really bad if we don’t do something. AG Garland better get off his backside and get to work. Three-quarters of these people need to be in jail.
Actually he does know what he did. He just doesn’t give a .... he has power (for now).
Very true. Even though he gave all his power away to get his beloved ‘Speaker of the House’ title, and get to hold the gavel. He’s worse than a 2 year old child.
True. Because an 2 yo eventually grows up.
And, can be disciplined!
A true republican. We need to make him the poster child of republicanism. Start running ads where someone discovers their heart surgeon is totally bogus right before surgery. Where the astronauts find out the rocket scientist was totally bogus before they lift off. You get the idea.
Love that
Absolutely.
I agree. He was willing to do ANYTHING to be speaker.
To answer your question: 'Is there a way we the people.......' the answer is not really. The electorate that voted in that individual can start a recall campaign, members of the House Ethics Committee that McCarthy (aka McFarty) just de-balled, can advise impeachment or any currently sitting members of the House of Representatives can submit a bill of Impeachment. But since we (the Democrats) only have 212 House members we would need at least 6 courageous Republicans to cosign such a bill. Good luck with that.
That’s what I thought. So, the only other way is for Garland to get off his ass and do his job. These people can be arrested, and jailed. And that needs to be done in a very public manner, on the House floor, during session, on national television.
Way overdue.
Boy, would I love to see that!
Calling Jack Smith....
That would be nice and very entertaining, Daniel. But in a Country based on established law and precedent, we don't want to go all "trumpster" First, I don't know if the Department of Justice personnel have the legal right to arrest anyone (one of the lawyers in this forum will need to set this straight) I think only a law enforcement officer who has attained a warrant based on probable cause can arrest an individual in their jurisdiction - perhaps the FBI (a division of the DOJ) can. The Attorney General directs the collection of evidence that will 'stand up' in court - in other words you don't arrest someone because "everyone knows they are guilty" You need to have undeniable evidence the person willingly and at least should have known their acts had criminal intent. That is difficult to prove in court when the defendants are a bunch of slimy, lowest of the low, but legally trained thugs. Remember that in the Congress as a whole attorneys outnumber other occupations. I hope, when and if the DOJ is able to establish such evidence those who treasonously, and criminally attacked, or aided and abetted the treacherous attack on our Capitol are frog marched off to jail in they full eye of the National TV.
Yes, I’m aware of all this. Being in law enforcement for 29+ years I pretty well am aware. And, yes, the FBI is who would be serving arrest warrants issued by federal judges on information gathered and submitted by the DOJ. I’m just saying that Garland has had plenty of time to get this done. Not, it’s to the point that he’s dragging his feet, wasting time, and a lot of taxpayer money.
Thank you for clarifying the arrest duties. Merrick Garland does appear to be moving slowly, although he wasted no time appointing Hur to investigate President Biden. I won't be deeply concerned until June 2023, that to me is the deadline to start getting court action on these unAmericans.
Yes. I understand starting at the bottom and working up to get the bigger fish. But, with these Proud Boys, and all the others that named THG as the instigator, that, to me, seems enough to take it all to a Grand Jury. Not to mention all the testimony from the White House staff, the video from the all of the news outlets, plus the video from the infamous ‘fake news outlet’ FOX News, where all of the instigators were in there lying their asses off to cover up everything.
Seems to me there’s plenty of evidence for arrest warrants. In the outside regular law enforcement world, they would have already been arrested, tried, convicted, and almost two years into their several life sentences they world be serving.
No elected US official can be recalled: there's no provision for that in -federal- election law.
There needs to be. Here again, another law that needs some revisions.
No I actually meant bc one of the apparently 1009 concessions was that it took only one member of the house to force a recall of his speakership. They can keep doing this ad nauseum. We all know recalling a member of the house is next to impossible even if they commit treason.
Daniel, I've said how bad this will get and honestly it fell on deaf ears. Perhaps on ears that didn't want to hear it.
Minimizing the take over of the House was a big freaking mistake.
Can we fix this? No. Is it going to get worse? Hell yeah.
Keep in mind everything the GOP is doing, is exactly what they said they would.
By the way, I watched an interview with an ex-room mate of Santos yesterday. He never knew him by the name of George Santos.
Linda I'm with you--and apparently (according to reports in the NYTimes and the WaPo, also picked up by The Guardian) the guy has been using multiple variations on his name for many years, mostly to gain loans, credit cards, and other kinds of grifts. How that works--when presumably he has only one SSN (Gee that is another avenue to follow, eh? Since it is a felony to have fake ones??)--is hard to figure out. Also, his marriage (to a woman even though he is presenting himself as a rightwing gay icon) has turned up as suspicious since he has always "presented" as gay and was all the time (until they divorced quite recently) married to a woman. The suspicion is that it was a "green card" marriage, which is also a felony. And the Times reported this morning that he has decided to join himself to the wingnuts--he is now spouting all their talking points, even though I bet the elderly population he is supposedly representing would be a wee bit upset about the idea of cutting Medicare and Social Security. My hope is that an attempt to do something that stupid when the Boomer population is now all over 60 and they are identified as responsible for putting these morons into office will be the thing that backfires. But only if the Dems figure out a way to prevent Schlox "News" from sucking all the air out of the room.
Linda, this man has literally no good qualities. He is fodder for memes and Saturday Night Live. Yet, there is no way McCarthy will cut him lose. He can't afford to.
I can't say it enough, can you imagine what the GOP would do if "Santos" were a Democrat?
The hypocrisy is breathtaking.
The hypocrisy is breathtaking at every freaking turn.
McCarthy knows, just like the previous McCarthy knew. A power play, pure and simple.
Theoretically, the 14th Amendment gives us that tool. In practice, not a snowball's chance on a hot day. There is no rational RepubliQan leadership. The inmates are running the asylum.
This is why I’m preaching that things need to be changed. We, the people, elect these folks to public office to do a job we hired them to do. It’s my opinion (and yes, I realize what that is. About as good as a snowball’s chance on a hit day, as you so eloquently stated) that we the people should have the right to remove them from office. In essence, we should be able to FIRE THEIR ASS!
Hey, Santos has even more to offer: "SAO PAULO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative George Santos competed as a drag queen in Brazilian beauty pageants 15 years ago, two acquaintances told Reuters on Wednesday, "
This is exactly what we expected. I already emailed my Congressman on Sunday and asked him that if forced to make reductions in spending to start with cuts to the Military Budget, military/industrial complex budget items that affect industries in he GOP representatives locations. A large amount of these expenditures are forced on the military to accommodate the wealthy donors of the district representative. Of course, for me it's easy, I live in California and my Congressman is a Democrat for whom I campaigned in 2010, 2012, and 2014.
Lucky you. Mine are Cruz, Cornyn, and Granger. All members in good standing of the cult. Granger hung up on me during a phone town hall, Cruz sent me conspiracy blather, and Cornyn tries to make Schitt smell like roses. I have supported the opposition to all three, but lies win in Texas
I'm so sorry Jeri, There's always Austin to be proud of and Dallas, Houston, El Paso, San Antonio are getting pretty good. You've just too darned many counties (254) populated by cows and humans with even less intelligence.
DFW area is purple, the cows are being replaced with MAGA idiots. So sorry that Universal is planning another “Disney distraction” in the area. Bye bye more cows and wildlife…the Texas trio of evil still rules. I yearn for the days of Ann Richards and Molly Ivins, before Rove foisted W on us and the world.
Same here, Jeri. Gods, I miss Molly Ivens!
Molly had no problem telling it like it was! Her "Bushwhacked" is what opened my naive eyes.
I agree. I lived in TX when Gov. Richard’s was Voted out of office. TX has gone down hill since.
I write my congressman, and all I get is blaming Biden administration for the country’s problems.
It is a sad state of affaires that the goverment doesn’t face the root causes not having a balanced budget. We can write all the letters we want, but the people/ companies
who benefit (military) from government contract are one of thos root causes
Another idea is to pressure one's Democratic House member and/or state or local Democratic committee to start issuing daily communiques each of which identifies a specific state/local program or population or bridge or the like that stands to suffer unless the debt ceiling is dealt with.
This focuses on the Dem strategy but it must be publicly articulated NOW!
YES.
There is only one thing we can do when the situation is this desparate--organize massive PEACEFUL protests at Republican Representative's offices in person on a daily basis and plan a massive March on DC to protect the Social Safety Net that helps the vast majority of Americans at some point in their lives. We need to push the "deadbeat" ceiling analogy of not paying your car payment after you signed the lease. at every opportunity with EVERY person we know. And the DC March has to have millions of seniors in grey trucker caps with a slogan like "Grey Matters" and young people in green "Green Matters" trucker caps--a whole rainbow! Republicans know they have lost most younger voters, seniors are where they have had the edge. They have to see that edge disappearing. along with the possibility that they get voted out of power.
Everyone speaks ill of the Russian people. No words can be hard enough.
But Americans should look at themselves now. And look back to what Russians did in August 1991. And follow that example, WHILE THEY STILL CAN.
In August 1991, a bunch of Communist Party throwbacks attempted a putsch against Gorbatchev.
In Moscow, in Saint Petersburg, people came out in their hundreds of thousands. In Moscow, they blocked the movement of tanks sent by the putschists.
Now, if there is one thing that scared Stalin, it was a repeat in any form of the October Revolution.
If there is one thing that scares the backyard bandit who has ruled Russia for decades now, it is every form of freedom, it is any form of revolution, it is any threat to his ill-gotten billions. He has screwed down the lid on any breath of freedom. He would rather send all his people to their death than loosen his grasp on his hoard.
If there is one thing that scares the paymasters of the conspiracy against America's institutions, it is every form of genuine freedom, as opposed to the chaos and destruction they have ordered.
If Americans fail to wake up now and do what Russians did when they still could, America could go the same way as Russia and become a prison of the peoples. A very American prison, with FREEDOM inscribed above its gates.
Freedom reserved for the few, the very few, those who paid to make it their monopoly. Prison for the rest. Meanwhile, the Communist diehards of 1991 come to look more like human beings than the psychiatric cases in Congress. In Russia's zombie Duma, they don't rave and froth at the mouth, they just press buttons and buy themselves bigger houses, bigger yachts.
I’ll join up. Need a “Gray Matters” tee shirt for starters
Good plan though why not do the picketing and calling and marching in each CD of those possibly moderate Rs-- that’s where the pressure spot is in order to “find” a group who will work out a compromise with Hakim?
Yes--thanks for clarifying--I meant the local offices.
sign me up!
I like it. Very good visuals. The seniors need to be in the front ranks, very strongly supported by the young green hats, arm in arm grey/green/grey where practicable.
I know that US history has it's ups and downs, and in many ways a lot to answer for, but was any significant political party in our history ever this thoroughly corrupt?
Yes in the early and again in the late 19th Century the Democrats were pretty darned corrupt (think KKK and boss Tweed), but then in the early twentieth Century they flipped and the Republicans embraced corruption and Democrats took the high road. As always there were some exceptions in both parties, Teddy Roosevelt, Nelson Rockefeller and John McCain were three exceptions that come to mind. There were some Democrats in the 20th Century who were bad apples too. Senator Long of Louisiana for one.
J L Remember that the American Party (nicknamed ‘the no nothing party), in the mid 1850s morphed with the remainder of the Whigs into the Republican Party. It seems that the Republicans are returning to their American Party roots.
(For clarification-it was the KNOW Nothing party.)
Barbara I KNOW that, but my brain didn’t at 5 am.
Anyway, the word NO is always appropriate when talking of this bunch of cant-do-won't-do nursery-school misfits.
Some tried, but the propaganda machines were not as evil. They learned from Goebbels
I suspect Putin learned from Goebbels. It only took a very small percentage of voters to convince because the margins are always small. A weakened and internally split US is exactly what he wants. So far we here outside are lucky that China is by far more interested in doing business than fighting wars, else we would be even deeper in the pooh. But China certainly will use all advantages that's provided for it in the current situation, and who can blame them?
If they could, these criminal lunatics would bomb the Federal Government, as their predecessor bombed the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City. They are trying...
Fortunately, they are reduced to setting off damp squibs until they are removed to places better suited to the treatment of their pathology.
Unfortunately, America and our world are in danger and can ill afford this entertainment for idiots or any other kind of diversion. At this time, action grounded in responsibility is called for as never before.
Now, if you haven't yet understood that psychoses are as infectious and potentially even more dangerous than Covid and most physical pathogens, where have you been? You can only have been asleep and dreaming.
America must wake up and get its house in order. Urgently. Even before this disgraceful nonsense, your country was proving incapable of looking after itself, Now you have no more lunatic asylums -- except at the heart of Congress.
For heaven's sake.
History's repeating itself as farce. Before rebounding to tragedy.
Peter, I have always followed your comments here on LFAA since I found this newsletter. Your comment “America must wake up and get its house in order. Urgently.” has really made me stop and mull over the past 23 years. Ever since W Bush crafted the steal of the 2000 election, I have been politically awake and active. The past eight years since trump descended the golden elevator, life here in ‘Murica has been like living in a shit soup blender. With the saturation of social media in our daily lives, our actual human lives have been inextricably altered. Yes, many Americans have not engaged in actual political action to push for accountability. Yet there are many Americans who believe they are doing exactly that, but have been persuaded by false prophets. And then there are those like myself and many fellow travelers, who are out there doing what we can and what we know how to do. But it doesn’t seem to be enough. At the risk of sounding foolish, I must admit, I conclude that America is up against a well-funded, psychological-manipulation effort unimagined by most average Americans. We don’t know HOW to fight effectively against it. Donating, calling, marching, voting, writing, protesting has amounted to saving the sinking ship by tossing out spoonfuls of water. I, like many here, will stay in this flight and morph to new methods as we are made aware of them. But I’ll tell you from the ground view here where I sit, “action grounded in responsibility” - in light of the crafted psychosis we are living amidst- is being tried.
This June 3.3 Million high school seniors graduate largely unregistered to vote; June 2024 another 3.5 Million graduate; there are Millions of College students who are not registered in the competitive states where colleges are--these 10 Million can produce 4 or 5 Million new voters in 24--some key states have passed AVR (Automatic Voter Registration) if you have a driver’s license but several millions of these kids are inner city or poor and of color- I’m organizing a campaign to get those AVR state Governors and legislators to expand AVR to all high school and college students who are age-eligible? Youth voting will save our Democracy--will you start /join this effort in your state?IraLechner@yahoo.com
Way to go!
Bring it to the attention of Ellie Kona!
Who is she?
Major contributor to this thread, not, I think, present today, but very proficient at helping readers find practical networks and organisations that help citizens exercise their democratic rights.
Maybe I shouldn't mention readers who don't seem to be online, but your idea does sound well worth taking up and there are several contributors who are very clued up. I can't help, being a foreigner, living in another country.
Good luck with this. These youngsters need all the help and encouragement they can get because the more we go on, the more difficult life is going to be for them and those who come after them. They can say "thank you for nothing" to our generation. All the more reason for us to do what we can.
I'm very much in favor of alliances between the old and experienced and the young and dynamic, as with Bernie Sanders,, because so many people in the intermediate generations are so busy treading water in our wonderful economic dispensation that they never have the time or energy to think matters through. And those who "count" (but can't count) don't want anyone to think, let alone to think matters through. They want to control education so as to produce obedient, thoroughly conditioned human cattle.
Many many thanks; I will follow up as I am very experienced in voter reg of high school seniors; my foundation just registered its 100,000th high school senior in competitive states nonpartisan of course!where do you live?
Bernie Sanders and AOC, grey hat and green hat.
"Living in a shit soup blender..."
Oh my...
"The crafted psychosis we are living amidst..."
You have more than derision and a way with words. Words with content.
Crafted psychosis, crafted pychosis... As in Russia where, at the center of it all stands a man terrified of his own long shadow, terrified of those nearest and of those farthest, cornered by the hellish consequences of his own deeds, surviving in utmost paranoia and sending more and more young men to die... for nothing.
Those lines in Shakespeare's Macbeth that end with the words "...signifying nothing".
And in America's parallel universe, another demonic figure, a Coney Island demon, wondering, wondering now, if he missed any patch of his body when he bathed in the witches' cauldron.
Ah, give us a break! A breath of life, a breath of love and freedom!
More lines from Macbeth - Act 5, Scene 3 - I wonder if that lone figure in the Kremlin knows Shakespeare? "I have lived long enough: my way of life
Is fall'n into the sere, the yellow leaf;
And that which should accompany old age,
As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends,
I must not look to have; but, in their stead,
Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath,
Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not."
OK, I have a new phrase that I am shamelessly stealing: "Shit soup blender".
Ah... Not yet a Registered Trade Mark...
I'm in total agreement with you, even if your name is unpronounceable. If only Chomsky were in his fifties again.
We are still in a stupor