Marc Caputo of Axios reported today that Trump’s decision to pardon or commute the sentences of all the January 6 rioters convicted of crimes for that day’s events, including those who attacked police officers, was a spur of the moment decision by Trump apparently designed to get the issue behind him quickly.
On Monday Bishop Budde looked evil directly in the eye and spoke truth. Later Trump, hiding in the WH spewed out venom in response. Who was courageous and who was a coward?
thank you--I want the paperback which is out of stock for now, so I'm on the wait list, but the Kindle version is available. I also posted on my BlueSky account!
Thank you, Jane, for gently reminding us folks to BUY from LOCAL small businesses. I personally am cementing my attention to not buy ANYTHING, as much as realistically possible, from big corporations and nothing from the many big corporations that donated solely to Trump (i. e. GEICO, Tractor Supply, Smuckers, L L. Bean, and so many more).
Let's support our communities, and even if it seems like a mere gesture, eschew big business that cares not a whit about us.
There is an app called Goods Unite Us that lists Republican vs Democrat % contributions of many companies. LL Bean and Tractor Supply both give more to Republicans
I should have, D, found a local bookstore, but we don't have one in Calvert Co., MD. I could have looked for a local bookstore near me but didn't think of that before ordering from Penguin Random House. Darn!
Powell's has a great online ordering site; they were one of the first independent bookstores to go online. They also shelve used with new, so you can sometimes get a bargain!
Eileen, as an atheist/agnostic, I get troubled whenever I hear the expression "god is on their side". It's been used to justify inhumanity for centuries. Trump himself said in his 2nd inaugural rant that he was saved from death by god after his ear was nicked.
I watched the good bishop's homily on YouTube, and found it powerful.
If there is a god, I hope that the felon is soon raptured or otherwise taken from us.
Doug, she has good on her side. I would love to see many people raptured including that abusive drunk candidate for Defense who is now praying with his wife. Vomit. As for death star, I very seldom wish to see someone depart this earth, but there are a few exceptions.
"Taken from us"? No.., I hope he gets replaced. I like to "hope" he and his SICK-O-FANtzzzz have their (R)noses rubbed in his crap, while the collateral-damage is shoved up their elephant butts. That clown needs to be held accountable. He belongs in Leavenworth.., Lock him up!
Thanks Dave. I was never a big Dylan fan but always loved his lyrics. I hadn't heard that song in quite a while, but listening to it again I was in awe at his guitar strumming — frenetic at times, slow at others. As one who has played guitar since 1968-ish (and who should be much better than I am) it stuck out as much as his lyrics did.
True grit.., she's got it! I'll bet "The Bishop" doesn't need to own a FanJet Falcon and fly up to 38,000 feet to speak directly to God, either. Religious hypocracy has been a player and payer bolstering this totally bull-s--t administration and MAGA-bowel-movement. More importantly, she spoke directly to The Hypocrit in Charge, even tho it went in one ear and out the other.
If so, you may be able to find it on the app Libro. I recently downloaded an audiobook by George Lakoff through the app. They use local bookstores if you want physical books.
The last time something like this happened on this scale, someone wrote a book. Although Viktor Frankl’s entire family was murdered in the holocaust, he managed to survive by setting himself the task of understanding why otherwise ordinary people supported leaders who acted callously, inhumanly, and without any limitations of conscience. In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, originally published in 1946, he came very close. His insights made him one of the giants of the first century of the new field of psychology, and a target for criticism within his own community of holocaust survivors for daring to try to understand evil.
From a hindsight perspective, Frankl has probably gotten closer than anyone, but he was at a disadvantage. It was not until the 1980s that Benjamin Libet would conduct the most important experiment in the short history of the field of psychology, and since then, the collective that is the field of psychology has failed to put the pieces together. As a result, in our war against evil, we’ve been treating the symptoms when we should be curing the disease. Curing the disease means understanding its root cause.
To read Frankl’s book, and I’m sure the same is true of Bishop Budde’s book, is to gain insights into the importance of the task at hand and the enemy we face, but they are both operating at the level of symptoms in lieu of cause. We still have a small window of opportunity to fix this. We need a collective understanding of the root cause. If someone out there knows what that is, please let us know. But if you're buying and reading Bishop Budde’s book, I'm suggesting you also do something less expensive and time consuming.
I’m not charging a subscription fee for my newsletter. I am publishing a weekly series of short (< 1,200 word) essays explaining the root cause of the authoritarian disease. Yesterday’s edition describes Libet’s experiment, which in turn describes what might appear to be the limit of our scientific knowledge of how the human mind works.
If all you want to do is complain, then pardon the interruption. If you think I’m delusional, and you’re smart enough to pass high school biology, then please subscribe, identify the flaw in my simple logic, and let me know. I’m all ears. Otherwise, if you want to cure the authoritarian disease, then please subscribe and let’s talk.
James R. Carey -- Viktor Frankl's book, "Man's Search for Meaning", has been on my bookshelves since the 1970s. Time to read it again! (For maybe the 4th or 5th time.)
Having been a toddler in Germany when my dad was stationed there from 47 to 1950 (during the Nuremberg Trials and Berlin Airlift). I grew up with some memories and stories from my mother, in particular, about visiting Dachau. Some of the history passed on was about Viktor Frankl but it was years after she passed that I read the book and found out more of his history, enough for me to consider him the suicide counselor in Nazi death camps, keeping people from giving up despite the horrendous situations they were in.
I mentioned it to a criminal psychologist I knew, who was known for using yoga to help inmates turn their attention to knowing themselves better and substantially reducing recidivism. He seems to have been able to help many with very long prison sentences, also. When I mentioned Frankl, he kind of melted, and told me how much he was in awe of him. He had one very depressed inmate serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole. Well into the session that was not going well, the prisoner was distraught and was allowed to call Viktor Frankl collect. Frankl accepted the charges and talked to the prisoner (and a bit to the psychologist) for over two hours. It became apparent to the psychologist that Frankl did that often.
This is a superb post James. Your few likes here reflects our sometimes pause at lengthy ones. Dr Frankl’s family was shot while he was forced to watch. I like Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman too for a look at hot trumpet gained such enormous appeal. All here might check your blue light exposure if you’re losing sleep. Strong hearts, brave hearts, we step in to the fires.
I bought my husband a book for Christmas about Germany from after the war to I think, 2022. I may be wrong about the date. It is an excellent book about guilt and shame and how some Germans have handled their past. I will also in a vote for the works of Timothy Snyder who also does online commentary.
Joan, thank you for bringing Gabor Mate to my attention. He does add plenty to our understanding. However, as I assumed, he is doing what everyone in the field of psychology does. They try something they hope will work. If it works, then they keep doing it and iterate. If something doesn't work, they (hopefully) stop doing it. What they don't do is understand the real root cause because they misunderstand the most important experiment is the history of the field of psychology. Or I'm overlooking something simple that no one is bothering to bring to my attention.
James, your approach is far too academic for my abilities. I prefer to look at history, social and political history of why do people do what they do. Why does a person take a selfie stand g at a cliff and fall off?
My understanding is that birth sides of a political struggle tango and both sides become damaged. If the society is well off, more then likely it will moderate itself. Germany chose a dictator on account of the punishment meted to the nation from the WWI Versailles Agreements. In our nation we have suffered under several inferior leaderships that has cost the US dearly. We invaded not one but two nations under W Bush. His daddy invaded another in the Golf War. Our foreign policies have destabilized the Middle East and now it has destabilized Europe. The Reagan period ushered in less regulation and opened the door to savage quest for riches by the wealthy.
The democrats have pushed so far to the left we don’t even realize how far we have gone. The Democratic Party was once the party of the working class and largely white working class but we have abandoned them and we don’t even realize it. So they turned to the party that does not have their interests at all. Zero.
Trump is not conservative or liberal. He has no ethics. He will sell his dead mother for peanuts if she was worth such peanuts. Money is his only quest.
In my opinion, our side (I do identify as liberal/conservative) must change our obtuse ways or we will be condemned to continue making the same mistakes. And frankly, I don’t think we will make the necessary changes to return to significant majorities to rule for the foreseeable future. I have been specific with positions needed to be made and I have been thoroughly castigated for them which leads me to believe that we are unable to understand what is taking place and to make accommodations in order to bring us back to a degree of sanity. I don’t see this happening anytime soon. It’s human nature to continue making the same missteps.
Bill, if it helps for me to keep it simple, here you go: Love yourself despite your faults, and love your neighbor in the same way. That is the true nature of being human. We are misguided when and because we've convinced ourselves our true human nature doesn't work. That's my simple conclusion. That is not how the conclusion was drawn, which is a bit more complicated.
I fear that you are correct in your assessment. However, much of Congress May get the picture and persuade a move to invoke 25. At least we can push for that. Getting out of the climate accords is suicidal!
I think it is likely that inherently the hardest thing for human beings to do is to fully understand the nature of our own awareness; understating the nature and limitations of our own understanding observed and processed of necessity though the limitations our own understanding. that said, I think there is some very useful work out there, Frankl's included. Also much that is questionable. I claim no special expertise, but think we need to pay a lot more attention to our own systems of values, at our own inherent narcissism and how it can both serve and become toxic and the necessity for the preservation of our species of conscience and compassion.
At a particularly low point in my life, I decided to occupy my mind with an assignment, to keep my mind from going to even darker places. The assignment was to compose a listing of 15 statements describing my thoughts about Life – my truths, if you will. Each statement could contain no more and no less than 15 words. It took weeks to finish the assignment, which I titled "Fifteen Times Fifteen."
Your comment reminded me of one of those statements, found in the very center of the piece I wrote.
"In people, in things or in ideas, the greatest strength is also the greatest weakness."
Joan, I'm sure it does. I'll check it out. However, my argument is that adding "plenty to the understanding" built on an unstable foundation is not what we need in this moment. What we need in this moment is the stable foundation. See my first (351 word) newsletter:
I'm not arguing; I'm investigating, and I appreciate science while knowing that the instruments for monitoring and quantifying (and legitimizing) some kinds of brain functions are lagging behind this time of stimulated neural functioning. Seeing the brain as parts in slow motion is unlike seeing the potential of an intuitive artist in the midst of creating (one example). The computing power of monitoring brain functioning isn't up to speed, even while it's surging ahead. I spent several hours at Harvard's Lichtman Lab years ago, where I began comprehending glia while watching Google-funded equipment try to capture the micro-dynamics of our chemical and electrical systems. I now have a better grasp of what I do not know.
As it applies to our social behavior, nothing beats self-reflection, but wounds skew our abilities to focus. I recommended Gabor Mate because he's done so much work with humans in pain, in the grips of addiction, ruled by trauma -- I'm not idolizing, I'm saluting his ability to be present as a compassionate witness which is a needed skill for complementing more mechanistic models for understanding.
Bringing psychedelics into the conversation makes sense because many billionaires in tech (some of whom are now holding political power up front and behind the scenes in our country) have admitted to using them; they shift consciousness and I'm guessing, often bypass polarized concepts like left/right brain and conscious/unconscious functioning.
James, I have not yet read your linked post, but I will, and expect that I will become a subscriber.
I have read Mary L. Trump's book, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man," and it filled gaps in my prior knowledge about Donald and his family, gained from years of reading NYC-based publications. (I am an ex-pat New Yorker interned in a hillbilly state, presumably as punishment for all the bad things I've done in my life.)
Donald was born with severe mental defects into a dysfunctional family headed by a sociopathic father, himself the product of a dysfunctional family headed by a pimp. Donald's mother was a self-absorbed hypochondriac who spent more time in the hospital than at home. Neither Fred nor Mary Anne had even a vestige of a moral compass. Donald's early boyhood was the equivalent of a dog being chained to a tree in the backyard. His mental disabilities metastasized into psychological and emotional disabilities.
In summary, Donald was so unloved that he didn't even have a concept of what love is. His psychosis was exacerbated by and glossed-over by Fred's enormous wealth, which also isolated Donald from extra-familial relationships that might expose him to genuine love.
Donald's entire life has been dominated by his search for the love that was denied him from birth. But he has no idea what it is. With no models to inform him, he mistakes wealth, fandom and obeisance for love. Even when he acquires these things, they still leave him empty and craving something more. This, I believe, is what creates an autocrat.
What causes multitudes to fall under an autocrat's spell is beyond my understanding or imagination.
"This, I believe, is what creates an autocrat. What causes multitudes to fall under an autocrat's spell is beyond my understanding or imagination." It may be beyond your current understanding and imagination, but it is certainly not beyond your capacity. Your comment tells me you already understand more complicated things. IMHO, the only question you need to ask yourself is whether you want—or would prefer not—to know.
I am sure Frankl's strength of mind helped him survive. But survival in the camps depended greatly on chance, luck, and an extra few calories of food.
That said, those so brutalized and traumatized that they became fatalistic were termed 'Muselmanner.' And had an higher incidence of death.
"Viktor Frankl, who survived internment in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, wrote in his memoirs that the term was first used by camp's prisoners to refer to the Kapos –prisoners assigned to supervise forced labor by the SS guards− as to them, the term "Muslim" carried a connotation of barbarism.[5] On the other hand, Eugen Kogon, who survived internment in Buchenwald, wrote that the term originated from Nazi staff-members, who ascribed the Muselmann's apparent apathy to their circumstances (likely the result of weakness and acute hunger) to Islamic fatalism."
You are correct. Part of Frankl's survival was due to luck and the other part was due to his pragmatic optimism. Authoritarians don't care if we're naively optimistic or cynically pessimistic, but pragmatic optimism is their kryptonite.
James, you might try looking at laziness (sloth?) as a starting point. Eve was too lazy to ask permission re: eating an apple and Adam was too lazy to check things out when offered said apple. Racism is largely a result of lazy thinking. Despotism, weather in a small group, a town, or a nation, is just a bunch of people trying to take a short cut to real leadership and power. The same can be said about cult members and their leaders. Of course, there is far more involved than this in the genesis of evil, but I believe this is where it starts.
Your description is accurate, but what is the obvious and effective cure for laziness? If you don't know how to cure what you've identified as the cause, then you've identified a symptom. If you've identified the root cause, then what needs to be done is obvious. In other words, at least to me, laziness is just one of many symptoms.
Thank-you, James, for posing this question, and for making me think. There are a couple of concepts that come to mind. The physical notion of inertia, that we tend to keep doing what we do until some force is applied, or Buckminster Fuller's idea of a basic shape making up everything - in his case a tetrahedron, as a way to look at the basic building blocks of everything. What is the 'tetrahedron' of human interactions? What forces act on them? One school of thought is that all thoughts and actions are either an act of love or a cry for it. Is my reply to you a loving act or the admission of the need for love? Being able to identify this in ourselves is key, as is the correct loving response. Responding to someone's cry for love with our own cries builds strife, as does an an act of love that does not address a crier's need - this in fact can be quite damaging.
Am I still describing symptoms? Probably. I doubt I can solve this problem/dilemma on my own. Maybe we can get farther together.
Yes. By my count, about 400 generations (aka 100 centuries), but our species is much older. To the best of our knowledge, our species emerged roughly 12,000 generations ago, and hunter-gatherer bands are invariably egalitarian in lieu of authoritarian. So, proportionately, our species is like a 13-year-old trying to adjust to a new reality less than half a year after childhood's end.
Without getting into specifics, only a few people are smart enough to be brain surgeons and rocket scientists, but literally everyone is capable of being sufficiently wise, and that's all that is necessary.
It's better go slow in the right direction than to go fast in the wrong direction, and it is likewise better to be wise with a low IQ than to be Elon Musk.
Excellent post! BTW, I once was in charge of organizing a workshop focused on mental retardation(70's). There were 4 psychologists at our hospital/school. Getting them to agree on anything was like herding cats!
Bishop Budde is a polemicist of just the right kind in reactionary America which is being unfurled in T 2.0 . Here also is a short bio on her.... Mariann Edgar Budde: A Bishop of Justice Defending LGBTQ+ and Immigrant Rights Kindle Edition
Per the WaPo: “ In a break from years past, Tuesday’s service was planned last summer, so that the readings and speaker list would be more or less the same regardless of who won the presidency. “That was very much by design,” said cathedral spokesperson Kevin Eckstrom. ‘This is a service for the nation, it is a service for all Americans. Not for a particular person.’ “
As the Bishop of Washington, DC, Bishop Budde is the logical person to preach at the National Cathedral in Washington for this traditional Service of Prayer for the Nation held on the day after a presidential inauguration. The Bishop is the head of the Episopal Church in that diocese, and the Cathedral is the "seat" of the Bishop .
Yes, we can all be glad that she is the Bishop there for "a time such as this."
I think she spoke because she is the Bishop of Washington (DC) which is the top person of the Episcopal Church in that area (her Diocese). The National Cathedral, where the event took place, is an Episcopal Cathedral. Many other clerics spoke as well (from different faiths) but she was the host. Proud Episcopalian here.
lol well she tops Presbyterians in the USA - the Washington DC cathedral. but her record sure speaks for itself! I gather the Ts haven't got their claws on presidential prayer breakfasts, but I'm sure they'll work hard. As far as american presbyterians are concerned, i hope they back her and her sentiments
Frank, my sister is an Elder in her tiny Presbyterian Church in Phoenix, Oregon (First Presbyterian on Second St. as they say.) It is an incredibly progressive church (all 14 of them).
I don’t know if the Presbyterian Church, USA has made any statements about the election, but I’m an elder in a local PCUSA Church, and the denomination is pretty progressive. Unfortunately, there are several other iterations of Presbyterian churches that are far more conservative. Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) for example. For now, let’s celebrate a woman who spoke God’s truth, as she sees it, to power, in the most brave and lovely way possible. She is a hero to me and many others.
God works in ways we will never fully understand.........he answers prayers.........there must be many living in fear now and looking to heaven for protection from the demonic satanic forces unleashed Jan 20.
I began reading Heather's letter today with my usual cup of coffee and bowl of blueberries. I started tearing up 🥲 with the first paragraph and was bawling into my blueberries by the time I finished reading. As WJB says, I am living in fear, and I'm not an immigrant or a DEI hire fearing for my life and/job. With the stroke of a pen, Donald Trump, along with the creators of Project 2025, are trying to strip us of our peace, our security, and of course our freedoms that we never thought we'd lose. I know I can't wallow in my fear and anger. I'm so appreciative of the lawyers and others who will fight for these injustices to be righted. I am surrounded by Trump cultists and if I hadn't found Heather, Meidas Touch, Anthony Davis, Tennesee Brando and other truth tellers, I would be in a depression. I feel when watching these posts that I'm not alone in my astonishment, disillusionment, disappointment, and anger at what has come upon us. I have tried talking with Trumpers. I have sent letters and emails to legislators in my district and state. Nobody seems to want to hear the truth about Trump- one of the most arrogant, despicable men who's ever lived. That these people can't see this truth is what's so frustrating to me.
Oh well. I will get a fresh bowl of blueberries, another cup of coffee, and try to keep my chin (chins- I'm 76 ☺️) up.
Thanks to all on this post who see the truth and are trying to share it.
I don't think she was "chosen", they just went to her church. She's a bishop, that's pretty high up there, right? (I know zip about organized religion and while I certainly respect what she said, her position discounts it for me.)
Exactly so, Jon. The National Cathedral is an Episcopal church. Her Grace is the Presiding Bishop of the Diocese of Washington, D.C. She wasn’t the one out of place, he was.
Just FYI Audible is a subsidiary of Amazon. As is Kindle. We and our representatives have let this monopoly happen. Unregulated capitalism is not good for anyone.
You can purchase the book directly from the publisher.
Audible is owned by Amazon so not a good alternative for me. It’s probably available on Libby or Hoopla, the digital version from our local library system.
Thanks Rhonda - In North Carolina we have a lot to fight for-need to be brave and bold! Republican state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin will not be allowed to bypass a state trial court in his effort to block 65,000 or more votes from counting in his election against Democrat Allison Riggs. The state’s highest court issued an order Wednesday sending the case back to Wake County Superior Court to address his election challenge.
The 5-1 decision prompted four justices to write separate opinions. The North Carolina Supreme Court acted as the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals prepares for oral arguments Monday dealing with the same dispute.
gawd no, please do not put one more dollar into Jeff Bezos’ pocket (one reasonably presumes these days that “I ordered the book” usually means “I clicked on an Amazon link”).
Please visit your local bookstore with the book's info: they are nice people who deserve our support, who can get it to you fast —or they might just have copies sitting on the shelf.
I was able to find the real book, not an ebook, written by Bishop Budde and ordered it. I hope the publisher realizes the thirst others have to speak out as Bishop Budde did and starts publishing it again.
She accomplished a great deal! It's amazing how many people, some of whom have never heard of the Episcopal Church, have seen at least the last few minutes of her Sermon and are either celebrating or outraged!
Trump is an evil person and Bishop Busse is not. No apology necessary. The American people need more Bishop Buddes. Maybe. We should all become our own version of the Bishop. We cannot wait for someone to do this for us. It won’t happen.
It is not that he has no shame. He is a psychopath. Framing his behavior as a lack of shame is an act of wilfull ignorance and as such contributes to keeping yourself powerless to fight him.
Trump to Bishop Budde: “How dare you implore me to be kind to American citizens? I’ve never been kind to anyone. I’ve always been an asshole. And I will continue to be an asshole!”
I was intrigued that he found the service unexciting. Then I remembered that just before Christmas he muscled his way into the Notre Dame de Paris consecration, which was a display, a full-on show with orchestra and even Lang-Lang(!) Macron loves theatre, but I don't think the Olympic Games designer was the best choice for that occasion. Anyway, Trump may have imagined that he was going to be similarly glorified. Not very used to church - unless it's where they lay hands on him and pray aloud while he stands smirking like a cat being tickled under the chin.
It’s his malignant narcissism. If he’s not the center of attention, forget about it. I see that as a potential problem between Trump and his new bff Muskrat.
Those people are frauds-worshippers at the prosperity gospel altar,which is a scam. If you want to view these people in biblical or religious terms they personify some or all of the seven deadly sins.
As I have said to many of my Christian family members & friends that support Sideshow Don ... If Jesus returned to us today, his 1st words would be "Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot !
The execution of Jesus was political. The Romans used the cross to terrify people. This is what happens when you defy Rome. The Cross and the Lynching Tree. James Cone. January 6th: they erected a noose and a put up a cross. Lynching is much the same as a crucifiction . GOP=Romans
That story, uniquely in John, is a great one. Scholarship suggests it was inserted after the original work, what i like about it was that instead of being a "miraculous" add on, it was an icon of psychological reframing. Of course, was then and still is axiomatic that less than perfect human beings have to define, implement and maintain rules , customs, laws which is another way of defining humanity as a "rule making"species. Stoning was never stopped other than by larger scale authorities which took on the job for themselves. On the side, Jesus may have had special sympathy for the adulterous woman, he may well have been "illegitimately" conceived himself, and he may also have noted some double standards involved.
Interesting thoughts there, Frank. Nice to hear from you. The next part of the story -- if my shrinking grey matters still funxions -- is that J.C. said to the broken, humiliated woman to go an sin so more. Not only re-framing the present but also the future; one can start over.
Yes indeed. lol just google woman caught in adultery eg will take you straight to John, i used google so much on this site, and looked it up when reflecting on the story.
I remember reading a midrash or J.C.-related folk-tale that had Jesus as a little brat with super power, wiping out flocks of birds to impress other kids and, perhaps, disabling kids. Joseph gets wind of this and makes J.C. restore everything. I can imagine it and giggle. Joseph drags J.C. out into the village yelling, "Joshua! How times do we have to tell you that with your powers comes responsibility. Fix this immediately! Then no dinner and you are grounded for month."
"Jeez louise, Dad . . . ."
"Do not take your name in vain you little brat. Grounded for two months!"
Thank you Lynell! I sent a card as did several people I know.
It would be wonderful if thousands upon thousands of thank you cards arrived there.
I hope that would be covered in the news, mailbags piled up, and even better, notes posted on a wall(s) somewhere. Visual media coverage! Pictures speak louder than words!
Thank her for what exactly? Making statements from a protected and privileged position but doing absolutely nothing? Her words and the religious communities pearl clutching has accomplished what deterrent to what is happening in this country?
But Trump, in his delusional state, has said that the fact that the marksman back in Michigan had bad aim means that God has chosen him to make over the world in his (Trump's) own image.
Maybe Bishop Budde should fact-check with God on that.
She might also tell us what became of the boy on the roof, when he had been shot twice and died. No family? We usually get a page of petty details, with pictures.
I tend to agree. Unless it was staged. That's my little detour into conspiracy world. The thing is how do you know with a guy like that, who walks through his life making up things?
"Do not ascribe to conspiracy that which is just as easily ascribed to pure chance. "
Words to live by. The abilities of that "marksman" to accurately hit Trump closely enough to make him bleed but not kill him is virtually impossible to imagine. He was just a very poor marksman.
Nah, Lan, given James R Carey’s analysis of Livet’s experiments, all even a superb marksman would need to miss is for his target to move, flinch even a tiny bit within the half second he was pulling the trigger.
Trump doesn't even remember which state he almost died in. I almost pity the Crooks kid who died on that roof in Pennsylvania. He got off eight rounds from an assault rifle. It's a shame he was so incompetent.
At least they didn't make him suffer the embarrassment of a trial.
I took it more as a WARNING from God for Trump to change his ways.
As for the shooting being staged, who knows? I'm more concerned about someone of power addressing the comments Trump made prior to election of "having a secret" and then just the other day saying that Musk "knows the computers."
I find it interesting that the bible-thumpers who adore Donald seem to have forgotten that the antichrist described in Revelation was a celebrity who cheated death.
The shooter was a poor shot. I believe he tried to get on his high school rifle team but didn’t make it. He did kill at least one man, a father protecting his family. I didn’t hear any mention of that man at the inauguration…I don’t think it was divine intervention that kills one man to save another…just dumb luck on Trump’s part and really bad luck on the dead man and his family. May his memory be blessed.
Trump is in direct opposition to everything Christ taught . . . in fact, take this for what you will, but we might even call him an anti-Christ. Whether you want to use the definite article and put a cap on the anti- is a theological question I leave to others . . . .
I don’t know about that, but I do know he’s spent his whole life indulging in every one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Greed, gluttony and lust come to mind here.
Ooops Philo, let's not elevate him thus far, all the Evangelicals wait with baited breath for End Times, for which they need to get their hands on a suitable candidate! anyway, anti-christ was generally a pejorative term antagonists hurled at their opponents . Eg Luther on the pope, not that he started the practice!
Neil Brown, she emulated Jesus beautifully. And a loving God. Her strength to love shone brightly in that space. And as a loving action does, it has illuminated many hearts far beyond.
Where was her and your god when the 1600 violent seditionists were released into their communities? Is your god going to prevent future violence against women and those who are maginalized? NOPE.
Sabrina Hanan, something I've learned in life is that, people who believe in a loving God and/or aspire to the loving role model of Jesus, put more love out into the world than those who believe in an angry, judgmental, and vengefuĺ God. You are concerned for the safety of women and minorities, an honorable position. But yet, you demean a person who is trying to protect and defend said people, because she is inspired to be loving and compassionate by her belief in a loving God.
Would you prefer she was emulating a belief in an angry, cruel, and vengeful God? Why is it a problem that she is putting love, understanding, and compassion out into the world? Is it not the absense of these that are endangering women and minorities?
We all know (or as adults, should know) his type. The mediocrity who hides his smallness and insecurity behind a show of bravado. If he thinks at all, he thinks nobody can see the truth of what he is. The guy who always has a clever rejoinder but never walks the walk. The guy whose momma never loved him enough and whose successful daddy gave him a wad of money and wrote him off. The school yard bully who runs away or backs down if anyone has the temerity to challenge him.
Maybe I should feel sorry for this pathetic piece of garbage - this waste of harvestable organs. I'm proud to say that I don't think I can. There is a great world full of real people who deserve whatever tiny bit of empathy I could muster.
It's all I can do to understand how forty percent of my "peers" miserably FAILED to discharge the ONLY responsibility they have as American citizens.
>> Serve in the military? Something to avoid.
>> Pay your income tax? Only if you can't afford a legal professional to rep you.
>> Take care of your kids? Cheaper than serial divorce.
I'll stay in this shithole nation because the people I love cannot easily move with me.
I'll stay because I'm too f**king stubborn to leave.
I'll stay because a life of work has earned me enough to afford to escape, should I wish to.
I'll stay because I'm a foolish optimist and believe, against all evidence to the contrary, that NEXT TIME we will all be responsible adults and vote if we have another opportunity to do so.
Thirty percent (30%) - a smidge over seventy million of us - voted to destroy America.
Thirty percent (30%) - a smidge under seventy million of us - voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Forty percent (40%) - eighty million people, give or take a few thousand - CHOSE not to vote. Suppression? Sure. Dirty tricks, fraud, and criminal tampering? I'm sure a bit of that too. But election after election, every couple of years, we (the people) take the American promise for granted.
Sixty five percent (65%) is the high water mark for voting. I know that, by and large, we suck at math in this Great Land. If the average citizen could count to twenty without taking their socks off, we might still be able to compete in a world grounded in science and technology.
For myself, I need little and have enough to get by for another 10 or 20 years. The kids have pride and accomplishment and enough to float their boats. I'll settle in and appreciate the blessings of living in interesting times.
Shad had their full attention. Our felon-in-chief, slump-shouldered, slack jawed, a vacant stare on his umbrage was certainly on a "hot" seat in an unfamiliar location. Bishop Budde showed immense courage to say those piercing, heartfelt words, so necessary for a terrified populace.
Brava and kudos for her action. As a devout agnostic, I can honestly praise her Christian values. It will be remembered as turning point. Thank you beaucoups.
See, you're a perfect example of the antagonistic non-theist I do not want to be. I daresay you have no idea what Bishop Budde does when she's not in the pulpit. You might be surprised that she is engaged in lots of action. Her actions may not prevent atrocities, but they may relieve pain caused by poverty or other injustices.
Further, words do have power. When no one "talks back," an autocrat assumes he has a mandate. When someone speaks up, those words may not stop an autocrat, but they may give courage to others to speak up. When enough people speak up, their words may give others enough courage to take action. When enough people take action, an autocrat can be stopped and expelled. It all starts with someone speaking up.
Where are all the other leaders of organized religion on this? What a shame they are. Why aren’t they asserting the same teachings of Christianity? IF THE HISTORICAL CHRIST MADE THESE PLEAS HERE AND NOW ? So much of the focus of organized Christianity is on sex and reproductive rights. Why aren’t they organizing and marching and praying for an end to the continuing barrage of bad behavior and greed and corruption by corporate leaders. Yes corporations. Fowling our water and air ! Adding more and more co2 to the air . Cheating and duping incentive people? Where is their outrage ?
As an atheist, I have little interest in what organizers of religion do or say. But I will admit it is sad that the days of people like the Berrigan brothers seem to be mostly long gone, with a few like Bishop Budde excepted. It seems like most of this started during the tenure of Reagan, another (like Trump) who overpromoted his religiosity while acting wholly antithetical to any actual idealistic aspect of religion.
As a non-theist, I have a tiny bit of interest in what followers of the one god say from time to time. John Pavlovitz is another worth paying attention to.
George, yes! Episcopal Bishop Budde, a female, has more balls than all of the 441 U.S. Roman Catholic Bishops taken together. The U.S. Bishops Conference is even headquartered in DC!! There is strength in numbers and, if nothing else, they ought to be screaming in every diocese of the US about the latest "Donny move" to make it legal for ICE to grab people out of churches. Instead, we get silence from them. They jumped into bed with MAGA on the abortion issue and trapped themselves into a corner. I am not " Catholic bashing" as I am a Catholic myself and know we need to have better leadership in the U.S. Even the Pope spoke out but these guys here are either paralyzed by fear or cozying up to Donny ( see Cardinal Dolan).
Carol, I absolutely agree! I call myself an “estranged Catholic” because I still love the best of Catholicism but I disagree with the Bishops on reproductive rights and LGBT rights. I’m appalled at how the US Bishops have openly allied with the GOP - I have long considered moving to the Episcopal Church.
I've made this recommendation to the "LFAA Bookclub" here before: I highly recommend Roland Merullo's book--published in 2008 no less!--"American Savior".
The plot is that Jesus returns in the flesh to run for POTUS. Merullo tucks in a few digs to some easily recognized right-wing pundits, and by plot gives some life-lessons to think about.
Besides that, Roland is a very kind man who I've had the pleasure of meeting. In these trying times we live in, if you need a heartwarming lift, I suggest his Buddha series (Breakfast with Buddha, Lunch with Buddha, etc. Must read in order.)
If like me, you enjoy reading the thoughtful conversations that are frequently part of the LFAA forum, you might like to check out his Substack "Hi Zan, Hi Pa" where he and his daughter discuss deep issues with the perspectives of each of their representative generations.
Many are too busy planting their lips on the Trump thing's derriere to speak. But when some of the so called ministers in my area do manage to speak, you wouldn't believe some of the things that come out of their mouths.
Amen Neil. Bishop Budde has made herself an icon for all that is right and humane about dealing with immigrants (most of whom contribute to the American economy) , DEI, and human rights in general. On the side, I love how, in a little eastern Canadian province she has been posted over and over, myself included. I needn't bother detailing how repelled commentators were on T 2.0 himself.
Lisa Murkowski just came out with a statement that she will not be supporting Pete Hegseth’s confirmation. Maybe she got a little injection of courage from Bishop Budde’s words. Words have power, Sabrina.
If Franklin Graham said it, it might mean something. Need an ecumenical coalition. How about a canonical order!
Excommunicate MAGATs! “The Catholic Church’s foundational teaching calls us to uphold the sacredness of human life and the God-given dignity of the human person.” The bishops, who remain adamantly anti-abortion, nevertheless reminded us that “care for immigrants, refugees, and the poor is part of the same teaching of the Church that requires us to protect the most vulnerable among us, especially unborn children, the elderly and the infirm.” In short, you cannot be “pro-life” and go after the poor, the infirm and immigrants living peaceably within our borders.
I'm not a believer, but I sent her an email thanking and praising her bold, courageous stand. I greatly admire her for standing up to evil and staring it down. May she live long and prosper.
Trump has put bullseyes on the backs of policemen. This is so outrageous especially when there was no response from the Law and Order party, the Republicans. If I were a member of the Secret Service, how could I be expected to take a bullet for Trump, a man who has absolutely no respect for our police or military? We must resist and fight this man every step of the way or else we are complicit.
The Heritage Foundation (who take credit for authorizing Project 2025) labeled their group as a “Think Tank” in order to sound intelligent. Let’s list every Corporation and every single contributing PROJECT 2025 author publicly and broadcast it on Substack for a daily advertisement of their Anti-Democratic recklessness that goes against the Constitution’s OATH OF OFFICE.
The Heritage Foundation, which is tax exempt as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization under the Internal Revenue Code, should lose its tax exempt status. I looked at a recent Heritage Foundation Form 990, which is the tax report 501(c)(3) organizations are required to file annually and learned this fact: of over $100,000,000 in gross revenues (exempt from taxation) Heritage Foundation spent over $60,000,000 on lobbying. 501(c)(3)s are enjoined to spend no more than an "insubstantial amount," usually interpreted to mean no more than 20 percent, of their gross income on activities like lobbying. Complaints about exempt organization improprieties can be filed using IRS Form 33909 (I think I remember the form number correctly but it can easily be found online). The form must be supported by evidence but the organization's Form 990 annual filings are public record and can be submitted to support a complaint. The Heritage Foundation should be put out of business
List these companies Publicly where? If you have the list try asking the “legacy” media to publish them, or even better get every local newspaper, ask AARP to run the list in its magazine etc. More importantly, explain what each company of the list does AND what may be its particular benefit by having supported Project 2025.
I've often thought that although print media is on the decline, I wish someone would start a magazine that would cover these governmental issues, and offer each side of the aisle perhaps 500 words to succinctly sum up their stance on it.
The Biden administration tried to get coverage, but it wasn't outrageous like Trump, so it seems that people thought he was asleep.
Remember the shooting at the Capitol in 1998? (I bet a lot of people have forgotten it.) TIME had in-depth coverage and even included diagrams of the incident.
Sadly, I saw some of the clip of the presser that Trump gave and regarding the California fires, he literally said they need to "turn the faucet on." (And as usual, the water is "beautiful". I stand by my theory he's in a stage of dementia where aphasia is starting to manifest, exemplified by his limited and repetitive vocabulary). I'd love to see an article that explains the history of the water systems; the implications of agriculture, politics and climate change; and information such as why you can't just "rake the forest".
Where? Is the question I am constantly asking. Where can MY voice be heard? I appreciate the advice of alternative media saying resist, resist, resist. I don't have a pulpit, I am not a legislator or even a lawyer...so how do I resist.
Mike Johnson says 'Republicans are not looking back' and OMB nominee Russell Vought, Project 2025 co-author, said 'certainly Trump's executive orders have nothing to do with Project 2025.' As if.
Lie Lie Lie is the Trump nominee MO. Smirk is the Trump nominee accessory du jour.
Watch Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse question the truculent Vought on executive orders (even Chair Lindsay Graham wanted an answer):
Vought is an amplifier of the unconstitutional unified executive theory - which proclaims that in his person the president is the executive branch. L'etat c'est moi. But Vought doesn't stop at the executive. He's also intent on castrating the legislative branch by cutting off Congress' power of the purse and giving it to Trump - through the unconstitutional theory of impoundment. Impoundment lets the executive freeze funds appropriated by Congress Impoundment of funds appropriated for Ukraine is part of what got Trump impeached the first time. He's at it again.
Freezing funds appropriated under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021.
During a 90-day review period, each agencies are to submit recommendations to both the Director of the National Economic Council (NEC) Kevin Hasett*( and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) RUSSELL VOUGHT Disbursements may resume only if deemed consistent with any adopted recommendations.
*Hassett is primarily an American Enterprise hack and Trump sycophant who coauthored the 1999 ' Dow 36,000', arguing that the stock market was about to have a massive swing upward and would reach 36,000 by 2004. In fact, the dot-com bubble burst in 2000, causing a massive decline in stock market prices. For 2 years the Dow hovered at about 2000. The Dow did not reach 36,000 until late 2021.
As a Trump advisor Hassett built a model that indicated that COVID-19 deaths would drop off to near zero by May 2020. Hassett's model contradicted known scientific assessments and in fact Covid deaths spiked between 2020 and 2022.
The Republican MO has been to lie since the 1920’s. The Republicans brought us the Great Depression and the Great Recession. They also brought us traitorous politicians like Nixon, and Reagan. The Republicans have REDMAPPED the country into this sh@tshow which has led to a criminal presidency. Harry Truman was right; the only good Republicans are pushing up daisies.”
Trump has now used his public office to create a private militia of domestic terrorists. And a tool for new recruitment.
Just as the Federalist Society Supreme Court put Trump above the law, Trump's Project 2025 executive branch will put Trump terrorists under the shield of government.
While the GOP legislature will give up its legislative authority and power of the purse to Russell Vought OMB unconstitutional impoundment - where Trump can just take funds appropriated by Congress through negotiation.
Of Note, Vivek Ramaswamy is out of DOGE... Elon Musk is now feuding with DJT over DJT's big A.I. Announcement of 'StarGate'.... We'll see if Elon gets ejected... The Pardons were apparently a Rash-Decision... Seems DJT has no patience... They were a Spur-Of-Moment Rash Decision... DJT has little Patience, DJT doesn't think through... Psychologists have said that DJT thinks of himself as a Cartoon SuperHero... His Advancing Dementia Is Not Helping....
His ego might think superhero but Donold is the embodiment of a supervillain Incessant rantings and hateful rhetoric to cause division and strife, seeming to take glee in inflicting pain and suffering on others, scheming, bilking, grifting, hell bent on destroying our Nation. Surrounding himself with sycophants and other equally malicious supervillains, like an actual Legion of Doom. Taking the form of a fascist regime with actual Nazis, like Elon the Ketamine Kid giving a 'sieg heil' salute--twice! or the Proud Boys & Oathkeepers as brownshirt shock troops...
Horhai... This is a Good Post... I just saw his Davos Speech... The Audience seemed Awestruck, Numb... Seems that they can't tell the Difference Between DJT's Lies, and Delusions...
Hello BitchyBitchyBitchy... I agree besides sounding Drugged, his Ignorance was Breathtaking, and this was 'Reading' off a Teleprompter!!!... The 'Atlantic' reported today that DJT also wants to take the Scandinavian Countries as well as Canada, and Greenland... DJT is on an Insane Death Trip...
Actually signing the pardons may have been rash but he touted his intention to pardon all these criminals that he called “political prisoners “ for months while campaigning. Now he has really unleashed criminals out onto our streets.
Colette, on a better note, one of them from my own state of NH, was given jail time and a 3-year probation for entering the Capitol and stealing the Senate book of procedure. (He said he was drinking during the event.) However, he says that he shouldn't have been pardoned: that what he did was wrong and he deserved the punishment. How many others were contrite? Doubtful that there are more than a handful.
Absolutely, Mike, and all the cops and other LEOs who stood behind him, both literally and figuratively, should be ashamed of themselves if they are at all surprised.
I don't think anything about the pardons was rash. He said he'd do it. He did it. Afterall, he just freed his army. This is how they begin to prepare for civil war.
De Wine gave Jon Husted Vance’s senate seat, even though Ramaswamy wanted it, and now Ramaswamy wants to run for governor since De Wine is term limited from running again. Unfortunately we have plenty of other obnoxious potential candidates. Ramaswamy would perhaps be too obnoxious for even the GQP to consider him.
My hope is, Swarmy is the GOP pick in '26. Even in The Most Corrupt State of Ohio, he is a hated POS, and it should open the door for Dr. Amy Acton to be elected. And, as an added bonus, we'll also have the honor of voting WhoSaid out of the Senate, just before he's busted for corruption, and takes the cell next to former Speaker Householder.
Won't Sherrod Brown run in 26 to regain a Democratic Ohio Senate seat? He was always extremely popular in Ohio. I love women candidates but I would think Brown has the best shot at defeating someone like Swarmy
He hasn't said anything as of yet, so I don't know. I personally would like to see either him or Tim Ryan run against WhoSaid for the Senate seat. Of course, this IS Ohio, and trying to find logic here is like trying to find a whale in Lake Erie! But I'm all in with Dr. Acton for Gov!
Apache ‘Vivek Ramaswamy is out of DOGE’ sounds like a 1948s Western movie.
The Orange Orangutan’s ‘Spur-of-the-moment-rash-decision’ is indicative of his AR 15 irresponsible shooting 23 round clips. Lot of blood on the floor.
In the Mr. Bitcoin vs. MUSKrat bromance, I actually support Musk’s demand that the Mars flight be given higher priority than returning to the moon for the first time since 1972.
My one requirement is that Musk be on the first Mars flight (3 year outward trip with absolutely no certainty of return).
Trust me, Vance is more intelligent and dangerous than Trump. He believes in Curtis Yarvin and Peter Thiel’s obnoxiously anti democratic and authoritarian social philosophies, and Thiel bought Vance his Senate seat in Ohio.
So true, listen to Curtis on the NYT Daily podcast last week for a taste… my vote, women’s votes and Black votes done to start. Then the king takes over, no more elections. Sound like anything tRump mentioned during a rally?
You mean James Donald Bowman? (After all, it's in keeping with the MAGA viewpoint that a person should not be allowed to decide for themselves how they should be called, so he should be stuck with his originally given name.)
Apache, are you at all surprised that the darker skinned (and arguably the smarter and more self made billionaire) of the two is the one that gets ousted?
Not defending Ramaswamy, it just crossed my mind.
Let's see if the current first lady has the same rapport with Vance's wife as Jill and Michelle had. Doubt it.
lin*, as to your last paragraph, I suspect there's going to be pushback by Congress. A lot, if not most, of the IRA and CHIPS money has gone/is going to red states
The Secret Service is complicit with him. As is Fools & Buffoons, Inc., as I used to call them 50 years ago. I'm sure they'll be quite happy to start COINTELPRO over again, at his request.
COINTELPRO was an FBI operation directed by Hoover, and we only know about it because some people burglarized the FBI office in Media, PA., and they disclosed the information to a press that was then unafraid to disclose it. I could definitely see Kash Patel running an operation like that. The FBI directors are limited to 10 year terms because no one wants another FBI director like Hoover.
Not agents out in the field whose positions will be shared with Putin who would never be so foolish as to reveal the positions of his agents, or North Korea, or China, or Iran.
Sorry to say Laurie but, if Ca$h Patel is confirmed as FBI director, he is going to employ everyone of them to serve as stormtroopers against his " enemy list ".
My Proud Boy neighbor down the road, who literally "went postal" 30 years ago at a USPS job, and is on disability and is not allowed to have guns or ammunition, has both. He has been doing target practice in his back woods. What will he be hunting?
The same argument about J6 pardoned convicts with respect to the Secret Service would apply to the FBI. It's a fun meme but I can't see it having any basis in reality.
I have to believe that even in a Trump administration, anyone with a criminal conviction, even if pardoned, wouldn't be able to get close to being assigned to the Secret Service.
Perhaps not, Jon, but they'll be given assignments to intimidate protesters at demonstrations, the homes of Congresspeople who don't comply with Hair Furor, and so on.
The Policemen helped to put this bullseye on their backs by endorsing and presumably voting for Trump. They got what they asked for. Of course the rest of us got it too. As for Law and Order, just because they claim it does not make the Republicans the party of Law and Order. In fact, since the Republican party is also the party of lies, what they say tends to patently not be true except when they tell us they want to create terrible laws and policies.
Trump is in the presidency for 2 reasons. Second is to avoid prison, first is to make himself the richest man in the world by openly monetizing the role, and tying himself to dark monies there is going to be no accounting for his wealth from his grifting presidency. I believe he wants to surpass Musk and Putin for wealth, and perhaps to become the first trillionaire.
How do we protect ourselves? Not just at home with militias being given carte blanche to commit violent crimes and murder. What will happen with air travel? Why fire the head of TSA? How will that effect security? Will this person be replaced with someone who wants to change procedures? Trump does not have to worry about the safety of planes he flies in because he and his family will all be flying in private planes.
Spot on, Linda. Another thing that really concerns me is his throttling of medical research and communications to the public about emerging health threats such as Avian Flu and whatever else is coming at us (viral evolution stops for nobody/nothing.)
I'm further concerned about funding for research into human diseases such as cancer. My eldest son was diagnosed nearly 3 years ago with colorectal cancer which has spread to his liver 😪😪😪 and has been participating in clinical trials. The felons actions may not further harm my son, but might deny future cancer patients potentially life-saving cures.
Doug, I am so sorry about your son. That is really hard. I totally agree with you that the health piece of it is concerning. From medical research which we have heard is largely being shut down, to huge implications for the health of all Americans, to the lack of information about diseases.
We read that Georgia was just going to post Avian flu results yesterday but their website are already shut down of the Centers for Disease Control. Also, the website have been scrubbed of information.
In Project 2025 they say that Health and Human Services will become The Department of Life, and pretty much be concerned with policing women's reproduction, and will I fear be tied to the criminal justice system in either you breed against your will, you abstain from sex or you end up in prison, or get the death penalty. That would be a way to get rid of a gender that is clearly hated by this administration.
If they cancel childhood vaccinations I would be moving to another country with young children where these vaccines are still considered normal. It is going to be catastrophic if Polio returns. Plus, as you rightly point out there can be all sorts of new viruses up the turnpike and I would not want to be absent any research into controlling or curing. Again we see the huge effects of the Christian Nationalists, who are setting us up for seeing illness as God's punishment. It is truly unfortunate.
Yep. Ironically, you're going to have to live by the creep's own words: "You're gonna have to fight like hell, or you're not gonna have a country anymore." By next week, Xitter and Facebook will be the official government communication tools, and every medium that doesn't say nice things about Donny-boy will be forbidden. Journalists who publish nasty things about him can expect the Proud Boys on their door steps. Honestly, I really fear for Professor Richardson's life (amongst others)...
Dutch, I fear for us all, one way or another. But threats to the outspoken among us will be chilling. It's the autocratic way of controlling truth and dissent.
It's what Nazis do. But if you compared Trump to Hitler before the election it was always noooo, that's not fair, he isn't like Hitler, we should give him a chance, etc etc (looking sideways at Ricky Return-to-Sender here). Well, here we are. Good luck, Trump voters, let's hope HE gives YOU a chance (probably not).
Yeah, I already returned to Mr. Sender. I enjoy having exchanges with people whose opinion I may not share, but some folks are time wasters — there are some tools and fools out there.
Honestly, anyone that is a member of the Secret Service, FBI, Military, US Government, Capital Police or general PD that supported and voted for Trump knew what they were getting. I am so tired of hearing that these people are surprised, or now they want to speak out. Trump told us all exactly who he was going to be. They just all thought they were Trump whisperers, and we were exaggerating because their perceived social grievances matter more than democracy and rule of law. The Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Trump because he supports unlimited qualified immunity and wants to let them have carte blanche as a backlash to the BLM movement and holding officers accountable. They viewed the tradeoff worth it, they don't get to complain now, I don't want to hear it.
I only have sympathy for Jackson Reffitt and the others like him, who turned in these nutjobs, some of whom may have been family or friends. Their life may be at risk, all of these white supremacists, extremists and domestic terrorists are now going to feel enabled and supported by Trump, and rest assured they are standing by and looking forward to committing more crimes to support him. Which is kind of hilarious because if he wanted to, he could have pardoned them before he left his first term, but he didn't. He has no shame and is more emboldened than he was before.
This just further proves as well that Presidential Pardon power is bullshit and we should work towards a constitutional amendment to get rid of it. Finally, Merrick Garland really failed us, additionally the fact that conservative news outlets, social media outlets and party members aren't speaking out over the fact that the leader of the Oath Keepers Stewart Rhodes who wanted to incite a civil war was just casually meeting with lawmakers is just crazy to me. These are not people who mean well or are wanting to engage in being responsible, they want to tear the system down and replace with a social hierarchy built around white supremacy and money. I refuse to lose my country to these bigots.
There are many in law enforcement who individually or as a group through their organizations supported and still support him and the MAGA movement. My brother was a patrolman in the NYPD in the 1970’s .And resigned in disgust after several years of having to deal with his fellow officers who behaved like thugs more interested in the power and their pocket books. He left to work for the US Border Patrol where the agents were more professional and empathic in their duties. There were far fewer agents then but the border was more secure and not so politicized.
I asked a Trump supporter today what she thought of him pardoning men who violently assaulted police officers on Jan 6. I was especially curious because she has spent years working in a prison. Her response was, it’s the same as Biden letting all those criminals across the border. That’s it for me. She’s clearly so brainwashed by the cult that she cannot remember what’s really important any longer. It did not give me a lot of hope that his supporters will have an issue with the pardons.
Yep they have a stupid, shallow, vacuous, and utterly irrelevant whataboutism for everything. Anytime one of them tries to run one up the flagpole with me, it’s an instant conversation ender.
Remember, they are the ones stupid enough to think the most willfully-ignorant moron in history is smart. Which makes them all "dumber than shit." I hope the birdflu virus kills them all.
It's a matter of time until they destroy each other. How much time? At what cost? No one knows. But stupidity and corruption this grotesque will not hold. To answer my own questions, I think it will take years and cost hundreds of lives (millions if it takes WW3 to end it).
Idiocracy is right. But my favorite part here is the quote by Heather Thomas: “So when all was said and done, the only country that opened [its] prisons and sent crazy murderous criminals to prey upon innocent American citizens, was us.” Exactly. And who did that? Trump and immigrant Musk.
Heather - or someone - has explained why he talks about immigrants including people "from mental institutions" - he doesn't know the meaning of "asylum".
Yes, I pointed that out to my husband when T started going off about "asylum". Either he doesn't know what the word means, or he's betting his base of followers don't know what it means. Either way, it's an idiocracy.
Deb, that was my first thought when I heard what the felon did. As I've never considered myself the smartest person in the room (pretty much any room), I'm surprised more folks didn't come out with that, including Dem members of Congress.
FAFO. I don’t feel bad for the FOP or the Police Union or anyone who voted for the convicted felon. They got what they voted for. All they had to do was listen to the felon and they would have known that this would happen. Oh well……
Susan, it is what they wanted; they believe the garbage they have consumed that there was a peaceful demonstration and a tour of the capitol. I am stunned.
So part of his plan to dismantle the Federal government includes making it unsafe to fly? That ought to make for an interesting few years. Maybe he and his billionaire buddies want to keep the airways free for their private planes.
With the damage he's doing to the aviation industry with those actions, even flying private will become markedly more dangerous. I'm retired from the airline industry and I'm starting to think twice about flying after that Executive Disorder.
I have to admit, of all the horrible things I imagined for our future when the voters opted to put this man back in the White House, I hadn’t come up with planes falling out of the sky.
This level of psychosis deserves its own chapter in the DSM-6 when it comes out. At the rate Trump is going, he'll be eligible for his third impeachment before another week is out.
I'm sure there are already more than enough diagnoses throughout the DSM to classify his aberrant behavior than there are potential articles of impeachment, but yeah let's add another one.
As a retired Fed, the requirement to rat on a colleague disgusts me no end. Gestapo, anyone? KGB?
I'm guessing that Trump et al are poster kids for antisocial personality disorder; but as bad as it gets, and worthy of a new subcategory, such as "Trump Syndrome".
Perhaps presciently, "Trumped up" is already a synonym for "bogus".
Not only is trump and his administration threatening many (or even most) Americans, he is creating the potential for disaster in so many areas, particularly by silencing Health and Human Services. Does he want to make sure that we are all as unprepared for the next pandemic as we were for Covid 19? I suppose it's just more magical thinking on the part of FOTUS, who really doesn't ever think beyond satisfying whatever his latest grudge happens to be.
He is going to face a bird flu pandemic and he and RFK Jr. will collectively handle it as incompetently as Trump behaved with COViD. He had a vaccine created, but it became an item of fealty to Trump not to take it, even as social media teemed with antivax nonsense.
Easy. If another pandemic breaks out, they'll blame it on the Dems and the illegal immigrants, and the Proud Boys will have all the more reasons to go out and lynch these people. Problem solved.
Thank you for commenting on this. I check the CDC website, and at least of this moment, the weekly Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report which would be published today is not up on the CDC website. I posted a link to the WaPo article about this yesterday.
He’s been even more hopeless than I expected, which took serious effort. Now we have a mob of Project 2025 henchmen surrounding their useful idiot in the WH and dropping their fever dream EOs in front of him, with little chance that his squirrel-like attention span will cause any sort of reflection before he wields the Sharpie. It’s going to be a long four years, or however long until Vance is installed while Mango Gramps shuffles off to his Florida senior living facility.
We were all forewarned that (Liar, Fraud, Con, Grifter, Sex-abuser, Scumbag, Convicted Felon) Trump’s re-election would bring on another four-year-long shit show.
My dad and I don’t think Trump plans on leaving office. After all, no one timely held him accountable for his first insurrection, and I would not recommend using their tactics.
When do Trump and his children receive their monthly stipends from Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, and Hungary? Has he decided which of those countries get the next Trump resort and golf course? Does Elisa Stefanik have a tip jar at her UN office so diplomats can express their appreciation for Trump? I assume Trump's tip jars are spread throughout the White House.
Love Heather's litany of today's ongoing criminality from our convicted criminal in chief.
Best, for those of us keeping tabs, is not only how the billionaires suck up to the convicted criminal, but so, too, have a lot of mainstream, legacy media -- today's chief instance being CNN boss Mark Thompson redefining his journalists' need for “being open.”
As he warned Jake Tapper, Anderson Cooper, and other top journalists there, being open now means suck up, kiss up to the convicted criminal – ignoring, skittering around, playing dumb towards history, forgetting the convicted criminal’s still operant threats, vows, and public intentions.
Those of us who don’t get paid anything may say what we like to each other. We may note the fat orange felon’s continuing criminality, his longstanding stirring up of racism, goading stochastic violence, virulent hatreds, and his total absence of any concern for any public good.
Gotta love billionaires and kiss-ups like this CNN boss demanding bows to the world’s #1 criminal-in-chief.
No offense to the fat orange one’s pals Putin, Orban, Netanyahu, Xi, Kim, Mohammed bin Salman, Sisi, Erdogan, Duterte, Milei, and Meloni.
CNN anchor Jim Acosta repeatedly asked Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) whether violent Jan 6 insurrectionists should be let released. At first, Burchett said, “If they were truly violent, no,” but then immediately claimed that he just didn’t know if they were, in fact, violent. When Acosta noted CNNN was simultaneously airing footage of the violence and that Burchett was there that day, Burchett instantly tried a politician’s pivot by asking why Acosta wasn’t condemning Biden’s preemptive pardons. Acosta wasn’t having it and repeatedly pressed Burchett to “take a stand.” Burchett then tried dodging the question by asserting Trump hadn’t issued blanket pardons, apparently referring to the commutations of Proud Boy and Oath Keeper criminals. So Acosta asked specifically whether the leaders of those self-styled militias should be released. Burchett again dodged by peddling the lie that FBI agents “were in that mess” and should have been prosecuted. When Acosta asked how Republicans can still claim to support the police while also supporting Trump’s mass pardon of people who attacked police Burchett tried another classic “whataboutism” move by lying that nobody was prosecuted for violence during protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. He then launched into a broad, fact-free attack on CNN, to which Acosta replied. “We (CNN) didn’t storm the Capitol. These people did! And President Trump let them out of jail! Why not just say: ‘You were wrong, Mr. President?’ Why can’t you say it?” Of course, Burchett couldn’t say it. Asked whether he is concerned any of the released insurrectionists would commit more crimes, Burchett insisted they’d “go back to jail” unless “Joe Biden appointed judges” or “Soros-backed” district attorneys oversaw the cases.
Thanks for this, Dave. It is similar to the jousting I have been doing with my retired cop cohort; in one, both a former rangemaster and a former coworker claim that Ashleigh Babbitt was murdered.
I told them (in much more detail than this) that if they believed that, I had failed as a use of force instructor.
From the Clarence court, which lies to the country as to favorite criminal being above the law, to Dems who did control the Senate but hadn't the heart to vote on the verity of the Constitution's Article 14, Section Three -- which would have disqualified that fat chunk of lard.
From most of mainstream, legacy media ever playing both-sides-ism to the billionaires insanely grotesquely backing only the criminal side.
From Republicans all sycophants for their lying fat orange guy to Dems with so totally zero grounding in any humanities as to America's working classes as to cede all that vote to the guy playing garbage man, the guy playing McDonald's French fry boy, the guy maligning all immigrants with the criminal status he himself has multiply earned for his own criminal self.
Accuse me, too, of both-sides-ism because I malign Dems for their out-of-touch elite dehumanization in the same sentence I malign Republicans for that and so much worse?
"Whereas, Representatives Cheney and Kinzinger are participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse," - "GOP"
And had BLM engaged in precisely the same style of legitimate political discourse?
Remember MSNBC's Brian Williams opening line for his show The Eleventh Hour during Trump's first term: "Day 3 of the Trump administration." Unfortunately, there's nothing even a little bit surprising about what Trump has done so far. All very consistent with what he said he would do and/or what other knowledgeable people said he would do. The people who got it wrong are Trump allies and apologists who said it was all rhetoric and he would never do any of it.
On Monday Bishop Budde looked evil directly in the eye and spoke truth. Later Trump, hiding in the WH spewed out venom in response. Who was courageous and who was a coward?
Bishop Budde has actually written a book called, “ How to Be Brave” . She put that into action from the pulpit on Tuesday. I just ordered the book…
thank you--I want the paperback which is out of stock for now, so I'm on the wait list, but the Kindle version is available. I also posted on my BlueSky account!
I will order Bishop Mariann Budde’s book and the bio FROM my LOCAL bookstore today.
Thank you, Jane, for gently reminding us folks to BUY from LOCAL small businesses. I personally am cementing my attention to not buy ANYTHING, as much as realistically possible, from big corporations and nothing from the many big corporations that donated solely to Trump (i. e. GEICO, Tractor Supply, Smuckers, L L. Bean, and so many more).
Let's support our communities, and even if it seems like a mere gesture, eschew big business that cares not a whit about us.
Kitterman. Consumer boycotts of big is one of our most effective tools,
Please order the book from your local book store or a well known great bookstore in Portland OR, Powell's.
D Kitterman, is there a list somewhere of the corps that supported 45/47 FELON/
There is an app called Goods Unite Us that lists Republican vs Democrat % contributions of many companies. LL Bean and Tractor Supply both give more to Republicans
Thank you for your comment to support our communities, I am in solidarity with you 100%. Together we stand strong!
I should have, D, found a local bookstore, but we don't have one in Calvert Co., MD. I could have looked for a local bookstore near me but didn't think of that before ordering from Penguin Random House. Darn!
Powell's has a great online ordering site; they were one of the first independent bookstores to go online. They also shelve used with new, so you can sometimes get a bargain!
Jane -- Not supporting those who directly put small bookstore owners out of business. Thank you!
The Bishop is brave because she is right. Trump only has his rattling tongue which only spouts lies. The Bishop has God on her side.
Eileen, as an atheist/agnostic, I get troubled whenever I hear the expression "god is on their side". It's been used to justify inhumanity for centuries. Trump himself said in his 2nd inaugural rant that he was saved from death by god after his ear was nicked.
I watched the good bishop's homily on YouTube, and found it powerful.
If there is a god, I hope that the felon is soon raptured or otherwise taken from us.
Doug, she has good on her side. I would love to see many people raptured including that abusive drunk candidate for Defense who is now praying with his wife. Vomit. As for death star, I very seldom wish to see someone depart this earth, but there are a few exceptions.
Michele, I fully agree with all of this.
"Taken from us"? No.., I hope he gets replaced. I like to "hope" he and his SICK-O-FANtzzzz have their (R)noses rubbed in his crap, while the collateral-damage is shoved up their elephant butts. That clown needs to be held accountable. He belongs in Leavenworth.., Lock him up!
MadRussian, as happy as that would make me and millions of others, it ain’t gonna happen.
Which side God supports has been a question for quite a while:
https://youtu.be/5y2FuDY6Q4M?si=q6j3jlmFMKs2eab2
Let's just not discuss it here, please.
Apparently God is also deeply invested in the success of many Texas high school football programs.
Thanks Dave. I was never a big Dylan fan but always loved his lyrics. I hadn't heard that song in quite a while, but listening to it again I was in awe at his guitar strumming — frenetic at times, slow at others. As one who has played guitar since 1968-ish (and who should be much better than I am) it stuck out as much as his lyrics did.
True grit.., she's got it! I'll bet "The Bishop" doesn't need to own a FanJet Falcon and fly up to 38,000 feet to speak directly to God, either. Religious hypocracy has been a player and payer bolstering this totally bull-s--t administration and MAGA-bowel-movement. More importantly, she spoke directly to The Hypocrit in Charge, even tho it went in one ear and out the other.
Trump has the U.S. Army, currently deployed along the border with Mexico, on his. Thoughts and prayers are probably not going to win this one.
Audible and kindle are both subsidiaries of Amazon. The book is published by Avery a division of Penguin and you can buy directly from them.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705987/how-we-learn-to-be-brave-by-mariann-edgar-budde/
A lot of the rest of the world uses Kobo e-readers.
Nice to have a reader that doesn't involve Amazon
Thank you Eve--I just ordered from them. I live in a rural area with no local bookstore or I would do that!
It’s available on audiobooks.
If so, you may be able to find it on the app Libro. I recently downloaded an audiobook by George Lakoff through the app. They use local bookstores if you want physical books.
The last time something like this happened on this scale, someone wrote a book. Although Viktor Frankl’s entire family was murdered in the holocaust, he managed to survive by setting himself the task of understanding why otherwise ordinary people supported leaders who acted callously, inhumanly, and without any limitations of conscience. In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, originally published in 1946, he came very close. His insights made him one of the giants of the first century of the new field of psychology, and a target for criticism within his own community of holocaust survivors for daring to try to understand evil.
From a hindsight perspective, Frankl has probably gotten closer than anyone, but he was at a disadvantage. It was not until the 1980s that Benjamin Libet would conduct the most important experiment in the short history of the field of psychology, and since then, the collective that is the field of psychology has failed to put the pieces together. As a result, in our war against evil, we’ve been treating the symptoms when we should be curing the disease. Curing the disease means understanding its root cause.
To read Frankl’s book, and I’m sure the same is true of Bishop Budde’s book, is to gain insights into the importance of the task at hand and the enemy we face, but they are both operating at the level of symptoms in lieu of cause. We still have a small window of opportunity to fix this. We need a collective understanding of the root cause. If someone out there knows what that is, please let us know. But if you're buying and reading Bishop Budde’s book, I'm suggesting you also do something less expensive and time consuming.
I’m not charging a subscription fee for my newsletter. I am publishing a weekly series of short (< 1,200 word) essays explaining the root cause of the authoritarian disease. Yesterday’s edition describes Libet’s experiment, which in turn describes what might appear to be the limit of our scientific knowledge of how the human mind works.
If all you want to do is complain, then pardon the interruption. If you think I’m delusional, and you’re smart enough to pass high school biology, then please subscribe, identify the flaw in my simple logic, and let me know. I’m all ears. Otherwise, if you want to cure the authoritarian disease, then please subscribe and let’s talk.
Here’s a link to yesterday’s newsletter: https://open.substack.com/pub/jamesrcarey/p/the-libet-experiment-e02?r=2nayrh&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=post%20viewer
James R. Carey -- Viktor Frankl's book, "Man's Search for Meaning", has been on my bookshelves since the 1970s. Time to read it again! (For maybe the 4th or 5th time.)
I was going to say the same thing. I'm pretty certain I read the book for the first time when I was in high school.
Having been a toddler in Germany when my dad was stationed there from 47 to 1950 (during the Nuremberg Trials and Berlin Airlift). I grew up with some memories and stories from my mother, in particular, about visiting Dachau. Some of the history passed on was about Viktor Frankl but it was years after she passed that I read the book and found out more of his history, enough for me to consider him the suicide counselor in Nazi death camps, keeping people from giving up despite the horrendous situations they were in.
I mentioned it to a criminal psychologist I knew, who was known for using yoga to help inmates turn their attention to knowing themselves better and substantially reducing recidivism. He seems to have been able to help many with very long prison sentences, also. When I mentioned Frankl, he kind of melted, and told me how much he was in awe of him. He had one very depressed inmate serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole. Well into the session that was not going well, the prisoner was distraught and was allowed to call Viktor Frankl collect. Frankl accepted the charges and talked to the prisoner (and a bit to the psychologist) for over two hours. It became apparent to the psychologist that Frankl did that often.
Also check Edith Egar, another Holocaust survivor who became a therapist and author and close ally of Victor Frankl.
This is a superb post James. Your few likes here reflects our sometimes pause at lengthy ones. Dr Frankl’s family was shot while he was forced to watch. I like Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman too for a look at hot trumpet gained such enormous appeal. All here might check your blue light exposure if you’re losing sleep. Strong hearts, brave hearts, we step in to the fires.
I bought my husband a book for Christmas about Germany from after the war to I think, 2022. I may be wrong about the date. It is an excellent book about guilt and shame and how some Germans have handled their past. I will also in a vote for the works of Timothy Snyder who also does online commentary.
I'll take a look and add that Gabor Mate's work, however you investigate it (books, YouTube videos, webinars) adds plenty to the understanding.
Joan, thank you for bringing Gabor Mate to my attention. He does add plenty to our understanding. However, as I assumed, he is doing what everyone in the field of psychology does. They try something they hope will work. If it works, then they keep doing it and iterate. If something doesn't work, they (hopefully) stop doing it. What they don't do is understand the real root cause because they misunderstand the most important experiment is the history of the field of psychology. Or I'm overlooking something simple that no one is bothering to bring to my attention.
James, your approach is far too academic for my abilities. I prefer to look at history, social and political history of why do people do what they do. Why does a person take a selfie stand g at a cliff and fall off?
My understanding is that birth sides of a political struggle tango and both sides become damaged. If the society is well off, more then likely it will moderate itself. Germany chose a dictator on account of the punishment meted to the nation from the WWI Versailles Agreements. In our nation we have suffered under several inferior leaderships that has cost the US dearly. We invaded not one but two nations under W Bush. His daddy invaded another in the Golf War. Our foreign policies have destabilized the Middle East and now it has destabilized Europe. The Reagan period ushered in less regulation and opened the door to savage quest for riches by the wealthy.
The democrats have pushed so far to the left we don’t even realize how far we have gone. The Democratic Party was once the party of the working class and largely white working class but we have abandoned them and we don’t even realize it. So they turned to the party that does not have their interests at all. Zero.
Trump is not conservative or liberal. He has no ethics. He will sell his dead mother for peanuts if she was worth such peanuts. Money is his only quest.
In my opinion, our side (I do identify as liberal/conservative) must change our obtuse ways or we will be condemned to continue making the same mistakes. And frankly, I don’t think we will make the necessary changes to return to significant majorities to rule for the foreseeable future. I have been specific with positions needed to be made and I have been thoroughly castigated for them which leads me to believe that we are unable to understand what is taking place and to make accommodations in order to bring us back to a degree of sanity. I don’t see this happening anytime soon. It’s human nature to continue making the same missteps.
Bill, if it helps for me to keep it simple, here you go: Love yourself despite your faults, and love your neighbor in the same way. That is the true nature of being human. We are misguided when and because we've convinced ourselves our true human nature doesn't work. That's my simple conclusion. That is not how the conclusion was drawn, which is a bit more complicated.
I fear that you are correct in your assessment. However, much of Congress May get the picture and persuade a move to invoke 25. At least we can push for that. Getting out of the climate accords is suicidal!
I think it is likely that inherently the hardest thing for human beings to do is to fully understand the nature of our own awareness; understating the nature and limitations of our own understanding observed and processed of necessity though the limitations our own understanding. that said, I think there is some very useful work out there, Frankl's included. Also much that is questionable. I claim no special expertise, but think we need to pay a lot more attention to our own systems of values, at our own inherent narcissism and how it can both serve and become toxic and the necessity for the preservation of our species of conscience and compassion.
At a particularly low point in my life, I decided to occupy my mind with an assignment, to keep my mind from going to even darker places. The assignment was to compose a listing of 15 statements describing my thoughts about Life – my truths, if you will. Each statement could contain no more and no less than 15 words. It took weeks to finish the assignment, which I titled "Fifteen Times Fifteen."
Your comment reminded me of one of those statements, found in the very center of the piece I wrote.
"In people, in things or in ideas, the greatest strength is also the greatest weakness."
Joan, I'm sure it does. I'll check it out. However, my argument is that adding "plenty to the understanding" built on an unstable foundation is not what we need in this moment. What we need in this moment is the stable foundation. See my first (351 word) newsletter:
Link: https://jamesrcarey.substack.com/p/a-stable-foundation-e01?r=2nayrh
I'm not arguing; I'm investigating, and I appreciate science while knowing that the instruments for monitoring and quantifying (and legitimizing) some kinds of brain functions are lagging behind this time of stimulated neural functioning. Seeing the brain as parts in slow motion is unlike seeing the potential of an intuitive artist in the midst of creating (one example). The computing power of monitoring brain functioning isn't up to speed, even while it's surging ahead. I spent several hours at Harvard's Lichtman Lab years ago, where I began comprehending glia while watching Google-funded equipment try to capture the micro-dynamics of our chemical and electrical systems. I now have a better grasp of what I do not know.
As it applies to our social behavior, nothing beats self-reflection, but wounds skew our abilities to focus. I recommended Gabor Mate because he's done so much work with humans in pain, in the grips of addiction, ruled by trauma -- I'm not idolizing, I'm saluting his ability to be present as a compassionate witness which is a needed skill for complementing more mechanistic models for understanding.
Bringing psychedelics into the conversation makes sense because many billionaires in tech (some of whom are now holding political power up front and behind the scenes in our country) have admitted to using them; they shift consciousness and I'm guessing, often bypass polarized concepts like left/right brain and conscious/unconscious functioning.
James, I have not yet read your linked post, but I will, and expect that I will become a subscriber.
I have read Mary L. Trump's book, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man," and it filled gaps in my prior knowledge about Donald and his family, gained from years of reading NYC-based publications. (I am an ex-pat New Yorker interned in a hillbilly state, presumably as punishment for all the bad things I've done in my life.)
Donald was born with severe mental defects into a dysfunctional family headed by a sociopathic father, himself the product of a dysfunctional family headed by a pimp. Donald's mother was a self-absorbed hypochondriac who spent more time in the hospital than at home. Neither Fred nor Mary Anne had even a vestige of a moral compass. Donald's early boyhood was the equivalent of a dog being chained to a tree in the backyard. His mental disabilities metastasized into psychological and emotional disabilities.
In summary, Donald was so unloved that he didn't even have a concept of what love is. His psychosis was exacerbated by and glossed-over by Fred's enormous wealth, which also isolated Donald from extra-familial relationships that might expose him to genuine love.
Donald's entire life has been dominated by his search for the love that was denied him from birth. But he has no idea what it is. With no models to inform him, he mistakes wealth, fandom and obeisance for love. Even when he acquires these things, they still leave him empty and craving something more. This, I believe, is what creates an autocrat.
What causes multitudes to fall under an autocrat's spell is beyond my understanding or imagination.
"This, I believe, is what creates an autocrat. What causes multitudes to fall under an autocrat's spell is beyond my understanding or imagination." It may be beyond your current understanding and imagination, but it is certainly not beyond your capacity. Your comment tells me you already understand more complicated things. IMHO, the only question you need to ask yourself is whether you want—or would prefer not—to know.
I am sure Frankl's strength of mind helped him survive. But survival in the camps depended greatly on chance, luck, and an extra few calories of food.
That said, those so brutalized and traumatized that they became fatalistic were termed 'Muselmanner.' And had an higher incidence of death.
"Viktor Frankl, who survived internment in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, wrote in his memoirs that the term was first used by camp's prisoners to refer to the Kapos –prisoners assigned to supervise forced labor by the SS guards− as to them, the term "Muslim" carried a connotation of barbarism.[5] On the other hand, Eugen Kogon, who survived internment in Buchenwald, wrote that the term originated from Nazi staff-members, who ascribed the Muselmann's apparent apathy to their circumstances (likely the result of weakness and acute hunger) to Islamic fatalism."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muselmann
You are correct. Part of Frankl's survival was due to luck and the other part was due to his pragmatic optimism. Authoritarians don't care if we're naively optimistic or cynically pessimistic, but pragmatic optimism is their kryptonite.
James, you might try looking at laziness (sloth?) as a starting point. Eve was too lazy to ask permission re: eating an apple and Adam was too lazy to check things out when offered said apple. Racism is largely a result of lazy thinking. Despotism, weather in a small group, a town, or a nation, is just a bunch of people trying to take a short cut to real leadership and power. The same can be said about cult members and their leaders. Of course, there is far more involved than this in the genesis of evil, but I believe this is where it starts.
Your description is accurate, but what is the obvious and effective cure for laziness? If you don't know how to cure what you've identified as the cause, then you've identified a symptom. If you've identified the root cause, then what needs to be done is obvious. In other words, at least to me, laziness is just one of many symptoms.
Thank-you, James, for posing this question, and for making me think. There are a couple of concepts that come to mind. The physical notion of inertia, that we tend to keep doing what we do until some force is applied, or Buckminster Fuller's idea of a basic shape making up everything - in his case a tetrahedron, as a way to look at the basic building blocks of everything. What is the 'tetrahedron' of human interactions? What forces act on them? One school of thought is that all thoughts and actions are either an act of love or a cry for it. Is my reply to you a loving act or the admission of the need for love? Being able to identify this in ourselves is key, as is the correct loving response. Responding to someone's cry for love with our own cries builds strife, as does an an act of love that does not address a crier's need - this in fact can be quite damaging.
Am I still describing symptoms? Probably. I doubt I can solve this problem/dilemma on my own. Maybe we can get farther together.
I am a part-time professor at a university in Montreal. This book is on my reading list. I will add Bishop Budde's "How to Be Brave"...to it today...
Noted, James, good for you. You likely well know that this sort of thing has a very long history in the annals of humankind.
Yes. By my count, about 400 generations (aka 100 centuries), but our species is much older. To the best of our knowledge, our species emerged roughly 12,000 generations ago, and hunter-gatherer bands are invariably egalitarian in lieu of authoritarian. So, proportionately, our species is like a 13-year-old trying to adjust to a new reality less than half a year after childhood's end.
More importantly? is human precociousness across the board. More likely an evolutionary quantum leap than just being a teenager.
Without getting into specifics, only a few people are smart enough to be brain surgeons and rocket scientists, but literally everyone is capable of being sufficiently wise, and that's all that is necessary.
It's better go slow in the right direction than to go fast in the wrong direction, and it is likewise better to be wise with a low IQ than to be Elon Musk.
Excellent post! BTW, I once was in charge of organizing a workshop focused on mental retardation(70's). There were 4 psychologists at our hospital/school. Getting them to agree on anything was like herding cats!
Interesting concepts here, James. Thank you. I look forward to learning more.
thank you, will check out your writing...
The book, “How to Learn to Be Brave,” is also available on Audible. Bishop Budde is the reader.
Bishop Budde is a polemicist of just the right kind in reactionary America which is being unfurled in T 2.0 . Here also is a short bio on her.... Mariann Edgar Budde: A Bishop of Justice Defending LGBTQ+ and Immigrant Rights Kindle Edition
I wonder how she was chosen to speak? Someone didn't do their research? That is kind of perfect!
Per the WaPo: “ In a break from years past, Tuesday’s service was planned last summer, so that the readings and speaker list would be more or less the same regardless of who won the presidency. “That was very much by design,” said cathedral spokesperson Kevin Eckstrom. ‘This is a service for the nation, it is a service for all Americans. Not for a particular person.’ “
As the Bishop of Washington, DC, Bishop Budde is the logical person to preach at the National Cathedral in Washington for this traditional Service of Prayer for the Nation held on the day after a presidential inauguration. The Bishop is the head of the Episopal Church in that diocese, and the Cathedral is the "seat" of the Bishop .
Yes, we can all be glad that she is the Bishop there for "a time such as this."
I think she spoke because she is the Bishop of Washington (DC) which is the top person of the Episcopal Church in that area (her Diocese). The National Cathedral, where the event took place, is an Episcopal Cathedral. Many other clerics spoke as well (from different faiths) but she was the host. Proud Episcopalian here.
lol well she tops Presbyterians in the USA - the Washington DC cathedral. but her record sure speaks for itself! I gather the Ts haven't got their claws on presidential prayer breakfasts, but I'm sure they'll work hard. As far as american presbyterians are concerned, i hope they back her and her sentiments
Frank, my sister is an Elder in her tiny Presbyterian Church in Phoenix, Oregon (First Presbyterian on Second St. as they say.) It is an incredibly progressive church (all 14 of them).
I don’t know if the Presbyterian Church, USA has made any statements about the election, but I’m an elder in a local PCUSA Church, and the denomination is pretty progressive. Unfortunately, there are several other iterations of Presbyterian churches that are far more conservative. Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) for example. For now, let’s celebrate a woman who spoke God’s truth, as she sees it, to power, in the most brave and lovely way possible. She is a hero to me and many others.
She is an Episcopal bishop.
God works in ways we will never fully understand.........he answers prayers.........there must be many living in fear now and looking to heaven for protection from the demonic satanic forces unleashed Jan 20.
I began reading Heather's letter today with my usual cup of coffee and bowl of blueberries. I started tearing up 🥲 with the first paragraph and was bawling into my blueberries by the time I finished reading. As WJB says, I am living in fear, and I'm not an immigrant or a DEI hire fearing for my life and/job. With the stroke of a pen, Donald Trump, along with the creators of Project 2025, are trying to strip us of our peace, our security, and of course our freedoms that we never thought we'd lose. I know I can't wallow in my fear and anger. I'm so appreciative of the lawyers and others who will fight for these injustices to be righted. I am surrounded by Trump cultists and if I hadn't found Heather, Meidas Touch, Anthony Davis, Tennesee Brando and other truth tellers, I would be in a depression. I feel when watching these posts that I'm not alone in my astonishment, disillusionment, disappointment, and anger at what has come upon us. I have tried talking with Trumpers. I have sent letters and emails to legislators in my district and state. Nobody seems to want to hear the truth about Trump- one of the most arrogant, despicable men who's ever lived. That these people can't see this truth is what's so frustrating to me.
Oh well. I will get a fresh bowl of blueberries, another cup of coffee, and try to keep my chin (chins- I'm 76 ☺️) up.
Thanks to all on this post who see the truth and are trying to share it.
The best advice i ever heard on prayers is "God helps them who helps themselves"
I don't think she was "chosen", they just went to her church. She's a bishop, that's pretty high up there, right? (I know zip about organized religion and while I certainly respect what she said, her position discounts it for me.)
Exactly so, Jon. The National Cathedral is an Episcopal church. Her Grace is the Presiding Bishop of the Diocese of Washington, D.C. She wasn’t the one out of place, he was.
Jon, why discount her position. It allowed her a forum for speaking truth to power.
Jon, why does her position discount what she said for you?
I checked my library and reserved the audio version. “It will be available for checkout in less than 5 YEARS”!😆
Just FYI Audible is a subsidiary of Amazon. As is Kindle. We and our representatives have let this monopoly happen. Unregulated capitalism is not good for anyone.
You can purchase the book directly from the publisher.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705987/how-we-learn-to-be-brave-by-mariann-edgar-budde/
Thanks, just bought it!
Audible is owned by Amazon so not a good alternative for me. It’s probably available on Libby or Hoopla, the digital version from our local library system.
I didn’t find it on Libby through the San Diego county library.
I’ve ordered her book too!
Thanks Rhonda - In North Carolina we have a lot to fight for-need to be brave and bold! Republican state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin will not be allowed to bypass a state trial court in his effort to block 65,000 or more votes from counting in his election against Democrat Allison Riggs. The state’s highest court issued an order Wednesday sending the case back to Wake County Superior Court to address his election challenge.
The 5-1 decision prompted four justices to write separate opinions. The North Carolina Supreme Court acted as the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals prepares for oral arguments Monday dealing with the same dispute.
“I just ordered the book…”
gawd no, please do not put one more dollar into Jeff Bezos’ pocket (one reasonably presumes these days that “I ordered the book” usually means “I clicked on an Amazon link”).
Please visit your local bookstore with the book's info: they are nice people who deserve our support, who can get it to you fast —or they might just have copies sitting on the shelf.
It’s actually called “Learn How to Be Brave”…She most certainly learned well!!!
I was able to find the real book, not an ebook, written by Bishop Budde and ordered it. I hope the publisher realizes the thirst others have to speak out as Bishop Budde did and starts publishing it again.
I’ll do so as well. She’s also featured on a podcast on Faithful America, which is where I first heard her speak in 2023.
I just bought the hardcover from Penguin Random House for $28, no shipping cost.
She accomplished absolutely nothing neither did all the pearl clutching of the religious communities.
She accomplished a great deal! It's amazing how many people, some of whom have never heard of the Episcopal Church, have seen at least the last few minutes of her Sermon and are either celebrating or outraged!
Yes and then trump had the shamelessness to say SHE should apologize to the American people. There is no limit to his ability to make me sick.
He has no shame, and his definition of who’s American is much narrower than anyone else’s.
Reactionary and atavistic white at every level.
Kathy, malignant narcissists do not feel shame. Expect his behavior to worsen as his health deteriorates.
Well, some are sicker than others, though Trump may elevate his sickness to a superlative.
no limit, indeed, B Evans! You aren't the only person repulsed by T 2.0
“There is no limit to his ability to make me sick.”
Great line, which I'm going to swipe if you don't mind.
Unhappily we are going to need it over the next 48 months. (It would make a dandy single-statement stand-alone bumper sticker, come to think of it.)
Ok! How do we produce that bumper sticker? And if we can, B. Evans do we have your permission?
1,458 days.
Trump is an evil person and Bishop Busse is not. No apology necessary. The American people need more Bishop Buddes. Maybe. We should all become our own version of the Bishop. We cannot wait for someone to do this for us. It won’t happen.
It is not that he has no shame. He is a psychopath. Framing his behavior as a lack of shame is an act of wilfull ignorance and as such contributes to keeping yourself powerless to fight him.
I could not think of a more descriptive word to say how I felt about it. But THere may be one.
Bishop Budde hurt Trump's oh so fragile ego. He's nothing but malice and greed, a hollow man.
Trump to Bishop Budde: “How dare you implore me to be kind to American citizens? I’ve never been kind to anyone. I’ve always been an asshole. And I will continue to be an asshole!”
I was intrigued that he found the service unexciting. Then I remembered that just before Christmas he muscled his way into the Notre Dame de Paris consecration, which was a display, a full-on show with orchestra and even Lang-Lang(!) Macron loves theatre, but I don't think the Olympic Games designer was the best choice for that occasion. Anyway, Trump may have imagined that he was going to be similarly glorified. Not very used to church - unless it's where they lay hands on him and pray aloud while he stands smirking like a cat being tickled under the chin.
It’s his malignant narcissism. If he’s not the center of attention, forget about it. I see that as a potential problem between Trump and his new bff Muskrat.
Wasn't he the center of attention when the good bishop was dumping on him?
I so shake my head of those images of all those fine evangelical ministers laying their hands on him "in prayer"....
Those people are frauds-worshippers at the prosperity gospel altar,which is a scam. If you want to view these people in biblical or religious terms they personify some or all of the seven deadly sins.
Correction: I will continue to be a sadistic sexual predatory psychopath.
A brave, brave lady in deed and in fact.
Hey, J.C. brought religion into politics when he asked a mob: "Let he who is without sin cast the stone."
Jesus did not shy from calling out abusers, but stood for the abused. That would put him (for sure) on Trump's Enemies List.
Indeed, Jesus, the original DEI proponent. The hypocrisy of these crazed so called "christians" is downright nauseating.
As I have said to many of my Christian family members & friends that support Sideshow Don ... If Jesus returned to us today, his 1st words would be "Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot !
And then he’d slap his forehead and say “time to start over.”
The execution of Jesus was political. The Romans used the cross to terrify people. This is what happens when you defy Rome. The Cross and the Lynching Tree. James Cone. January 6th: they erected a noose and a put up a cross. Lynching is much the same as a crucifiction . GOP=Romans
Interesting insight there, Martha. Thanks!
Jesus - the "wokest" of the woke!
He’s probably already on it!
That story, uniquely in John, is a great one. Scholarship suggests it was inserted after the original work, what i like about it was that instead of being a "miraculous" add on, it was an icon of psychological reframing. Of course, was then and still is axiomatic that less than perfect human beings have to define, implement and maintain rules , customs, laws which is another way of defining humanity as a "rule making"species. Stoning was never stopped other than by larger scale authorities which took on the job for themselves. On the side, Jesus may have had special sympathy for the adulterous woman, he may well have been "illegitimately" conceived himself, and he may also have noted some double standards involved.
Interesting thoughts there, Frank. Nice to hear from you. The next part of the story -- if my shrinking grey matters still funxions -- is that J.C. said to the broken, humiliated woman to go an sin so more. Not only re-framing the present but also the future; one can start over.
Yes indeed. lol just google woman caught in adultery eg will take you straight to John, i used google so much on this site, and looked it up when reflecting on the story.
Levity insert: Upon a single rock flying towards Him, Jesus says "Mom, I hate it when you do that!"
I remember reading a midrash or J.C.-related folk-tale that had Jesus as a little brat with super power, wiping out flocks of birds to impress other kids and, perhaps, disabling kids. Joseph gets wind of this and makes J.C. restore everything. I can imagine it and giggle. Joseph drags J.C. out into the village yelling, "Joshua! How times do we have to tell you that with your powers comes responsibility. Fix this immediately! Then no dinner and you are grounded for month."
"Jeez louise, Dad . . . ."
"Do not take your name in vain you little brat. Grounded for two months!"
A classic joke! 😆Well understood especially by Catholics (who are taught that Mary was without sin from conception)
Hahahahaha!
Bravery is doing something. Her sermon had absolutely no actual effect on the violence occurring in this country.
Words are powerful! In fact, THEIR power is why we are debating 'information bubbles'.
She used her position and her voice when she had the opportunity.
Thank you for triple-A comment, triple-B!
Someone provided an address for those of us who want to send a thank-you card to the Reverend:
Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde
Episcopal Diocese of Washington, DC
3101 Wisconsin Ave, N.W.
Washington, DC 20116
Or to donate to support Bishop Budde’s diocese, here’s a link:
https://edow.org/give/
You can designate your donation in honor of Bishop Budde’s courage and integrity if you wish.
Thanks for repeating the address.
Sorry to forget who first posted it. Was it you, Susan? If so, thank you!
Susan, I couldn't get through 680 comments yesterday; glad Lynell repeated it.
Thank you Lynell! I sent a card as did several people I know.
It would be wonderful if thousands upon thousands of thank you cards arrived there.
I hope that would be covered in the news, mailbags piled up, and even better, notes posted on a wall(s) somewhere. Visual media coverage! Pictures speak louder than words!
Will write the address now. Send the note tomorrow.
Thank her for what exactly? Making statements from a protected and privileged position but doing absolutely nothing? Her words and the religious communities pearl clutching has accomplished what deterrent to what is happening in this country?
Done! Thank you.
Morning, Lynell, and thank you!
But Trump, in his delusional state, has said that the fact that the marksman back in Michigan had bad aim means that God has chosen him to make over the world in his (Trump's) own image.
Maybe Bishop Budde should fact-check with God on that.
She might also tell us what became of the boy on the roof, when he had been shot twice and died. No family? We usually get a page of petty details, with pictures.
Very goood question!
In my opinion, that whole thing was staged anyway.
I'm tending to that view myself.
But I'm an old guy and entitled to my conspiracy theories.
Now, about that "grassy knoll" business down in Dallas . . . .
Robert Phillips -- Thanks for an early morning chuckle!
😉
Susan, one of the truisms I have found in life true is never attribute to malice what can more easily be attributed to simple incompetence.
Everything points to it.
Of look up how many times Hitler was "spared" in the many assassination attempts on his life!!!
that is so right! and sometimes, esp the suitcase attempt, SO close.
If I did it God wanted it. If you did it, no.
Stupid "marksman" used the wrong gun. Trump would have died if a good shooter was using the right rifle.
I tend to agree. Unless it was staged. That's my little detour into conspiracy world. The thing is how do you know with a guy like that, who walks through his life making up things?
"Do not ascribe to conspiracy that which is just as easily ascribed to pure chance. "
Words to live by. The abilities of that "marksman" to accurately hit Trump closely enough to make him bleed but not kill him is virtually impossible to imagine. He was just a very poor marksman.
Lan Mosher -- And then Trump would qualify as a martyr and live on in infamy.
Nah, Lan, given James R Carey’s analysis of Livet’s experiments, all even a superb marksman would need to miss is for his target to move, flinch even a tiny bit within the half second he was pulling the trigger.
Trump, instead of the man standing with his family, just behind him, who was blasted into oblivion.
Trump doesn't even remember which state he almost died in. I almost pity the Crooks kid who died on that roof in Pennsylvania. He got off eight rounds from an assault rifle. It's a shame he was so incompetent.
At least they didn't make him suffer the embarrassment of a trial.
Trump couldn’t spare a thought for the man who died or another man who was seriously injured.
I took it more as a WARNING from God for Trump to change his ways.
As for the shooting being staged, who knows? I'm more concerned about someone of power addressing the comments Trump made prior to election of "having a secret" and then just the other day saying that Musk "knows the computers."
I find it interesting that the bible-thumpers who adore Donald seem to have forgotten that the antichrist described in Revelation was a celebrity who cheated death.
Didn't work out to well for the fireman who was took a bullet meant for Trump though.
lol, very good, the marksman "just missed".... with no higher explanation, whatever regrets some of us might now have.
The shooter was a poor shot. I believe he tried to get on his high school rifle team but didn’t make it. He did kill at least one man, a father protecting his family. I didn’t hear any mention of that man at the inauguration…I don’t think it was divine intervention that kills one man to save another…just dumb luck on Trump’s part and really bad luck on the dead man and his family. May his memory be blessed.
pure unadorned luck, Michele Trump did express sentiment for the murdered man at the Republican Convention, and wounded others.
Trump is in direct opposition to everything Christ taught . . . in fact, take this for what you will, but we might even call him an anti-Christ. Whether you want to use the definite article and put a cap on the anti- is a theological question I leave to others . . . .
I don’t know about that, but I do know he’s spent his whole life indulging in every one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Greed, gluttony and lust come to mind here.
THIS!
I just cannot wrap my mind around how Christian society has flipped; everything that was bad is exalted!
"Christian society" is not a monolith, Bishop Budde's Sermon is proof of that.
Ooops Philo, let's not elevate him thus far, all the Evangelicals wait with baited breath for End Times, for which they need to get their hands on a suitable candidate! anyway, anti-christ was generally a pejorative term antagonists hurled at their opponents . Eg Luther on the pope, not that he started the practice!
Neil Brown, she emulated Jesus beautifully. And a loving God. Her strength to love shone brightly in that space. And as a loving action does, it has illuminated many hearts far beyond.
Where was her and your god when the 1600 violent seditionists were released into their communities? Is your god going to prevent future violence against women and those who are maginalized? NOPE.
Sabrina Hanan, something I've learned in life is that, people who believe in a loving God and/or aspire to the loving role model of Jesus, put more love out into the world than those who believe in an angry, judgmental, and vengefuĺ God. You are concerned for the safety of women and minorities, an honorable position. But yet, you demean a person who is trying to protect and defend said people, because she is inspired to be loving and compassionate by her belief in a loving God.
Would you prefer she was emulating a belief in an angry, cruel, and vengeful God? Why is it a problem that she is putting love, understanding, and compassion out into the world? Is it not the absense of these that are endangering women and minorities?
Donald John Trump is the epitome of cowardice.
We all know (or as adults, should know) his type. The mediocrity who hides his smallness and insecurity behind a show of bravado. If he thinks at all, he thinks nobody can see the truth of what he is. The guy who always has a clever rejoinder but never walks the walk. The guy whose momma never loved him enough and whose successful daddy gave him a wad of money and wrote him off. The school yard bully who runs away or backs down if anyone has the temerity to challenge him.
Maybe I should feel sorry for this pathetic piece of garbage - this waste of harvestable organs. I'm proud to say that I don't think I can. There is a great world full of real people who deserve whatever tiny bit of empathy I could muster.
It's all I can do to understand how forty percent of my "peers" miserably FAILED to discharge the ONLY responsibility they have as American citizens.
>> Serve in the military? Something to avoid.
>> Pay your income tax? Only if you can't afford a legal professional to rep you.
>> Take care of your kids? Cheaper than serial divorce.
I'll stay in this shithole nation because the people I love cannot easily move with me.
I'll stay because I'm too f**king stubborn to leave.
I'll stay because a life of work has earned me enough to afford to escape, should I wish to.
I'll stay because I'm a foolish optimist and believe, against all evidence to the contrary, that NEXT TIME we will all be responsible adults and vote if we have another opportunity to do so.
Thirty percent (30%) - a smidge over seventy million of us - voted to destroy America.
Thirty percent (30%) - a smidge under seventy million of us - voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Forty percent (40%) - eighty million people, give or take a few thousand - CHOSE not to vote. Suppression? Sure. Dirty tricks, fraud, and criminal tampering? I'm sure a bit of that too. But election after election, every couple of years, we (the people) take the American promise for granted.
Sixty five percent (65%) is the high water mark for voting. I know that, by and large, we suck at math in this Great Land. If the average citizen could count to twenty without taking their socks off, we might still be able to compete in a world grounded in science and technology.
For myself, I need little and have enough to get by for another 10 or 20 years. The kids have pride and accomplishment and enough to float their boats. I'll settle in and appreciate the blessings of living in interesting times.
Organs definitely not salvageable!
Exactly so. Who would want that heart?
Shad had their full attention. Our felon-in-chief, slump-shouldered, slack jawed, a vacant stare on his umbrage was certainly on a "hot" seat in an unfamiliar location. Bishop Budde showed immense courage to say those piercing, heartfelt words, so necessary for a terrified populace.
Brava and kudos for her action. As a devout agnostic, I can honestly praise her Christian values. It will be remembered as turning point. Thank you beaucoups.
Courage and bravery require action. Her words did nothing to deter anything that is happening.
See, you're a perfect example of the antagonistic non-theist I do not want to be. I daresay you have no idea what Bishop Budde does when she's not in the pulpit. You might be surprised that she is engaged in lots of action. Her actions may not prevent atrocities, but they may relieve pain caused by poverty or other injustices.
Further, words do have power. When no one "talks back," an autocrat assumes he has a mandate. When someone speaks up, those words may not stop an autocrat, but they may give courage to others to speak up. When enough people speak up, their words may give others enough courage to take action. When enough people take action, an autocrat can be stopped and expelled. It all starts with someone speaking up.
Where are all the other leaders of organized religion on this? What a shame they are. Why aren’t they asserting the same teachings of Christianity? IF THE HISTORICAL CHRIST MADE THESE PLEAS HERE AND NOW ? So much of the focus of organized Christianity is on sex and reproductive rights. Why aren’t they organizing and marching and praying for an end to the continuing barrage of bad behavior and greed and corruption by corporate leaders. Yes corporations. Fowling our water and air ! Adding more and more co2 to the air . Cheating and duping incentive people? Where is their outrage ?
As an atheist, I have little interest in what organizers of religion do or say. But I will admit it is sad that the days of people like the Berrigan brothers seem to be mostly long gone, with a few like Bishop Budde excepted. It seems like most of this started during the tenure of Reagan, another (like Trump) who overpromoted his religiosity while acting wholly antithetical to any actual idealistic aspect of religion.
As a non-theist, I have a tiny bit of interest in what followers of the one god say from time to time. John Pavlovitz is another worth paying attention to.
George, yes! Episcopal Bishop Budde, a female, has more balls than all of the 441 U.S. Roman Catholic Bishops taken together. The U.S. Bishops Conference is even headquartered in DC!! There is strength in numbers and, if nothing else, they ought to be screaming in every diocese of the US about the latest "Donny move" to make it legal for ICE to grab people out of churches. Instead, we get silence from them. They jumped into bed with MAGA on the abortion issue and trapped themselves into a corner. I am not " Catholic bashing" as I am a Catholic myself and know we need to have better leadership in the U.S. Even the Pope spoke out but these guys here are either paralyzed by fear or cozying up to Donny ( see Cardinal Dolan).
Carol, I absolutely agree! I call myself an “estranged Catholic” because I still love the best of Catholicism but I disagree with the Bishops on reproductive rights and LGBT rights. I’m appalled at how the US Bishops have openly allied with the GOP - I have long considered moving to the Episcopal Church.
I've made this recommendation to the "LFAA Bookclub" here before: I highly recommend Roland Merullo's book--published in 2008 no less!--"American Savior".
The plot is that Jesus returns in the flesh to run for POTUS. Merullo tucks in a few digs to some easily recognized right-wing pundits, and by plot gives some life-lessons to think about.
Besides that, Roland is a very kind man who I've had the pleasure of meeting. In these trying times we live in, if you need a heartwarming lift, I suggest his Buddha series (Breakfast with Buddha, Lunch with Buddha, etc. Must read in order.)
If like me, you enjoy reading the thoughtful conversations that are frequently part of the LFAA forum, you might like to check out his Substack "Hi Zan, Hi Pa" where he and his daughter discuss deep issues with the perspectives of each of their representative generations.
https://merullo.substack.com/p/follow-your-dreams?utm_campaign=email-post&r=ithz2&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Moselle, so agree with your post. American Patriot is both thought provoking and humorous!
Many are too busy planting their lips on the Trump thing's derriere to speak. But when some of the so called ministers in my area do manage to speak, you wouldn't believe some of the things that come out of their mouths.
As noted by Ned McDoodle: ‘Hey, J.C. brought religion into politics when he asked a mob’: "Let he who is without sin cast the stone."
Or as in the Stone’s recording of ‘Sympathy For The Devil’
When after all it was you and me
Amen Neil. Bishop Budde has made herself an icon for all that is right and humane about dealing with immigrants (most of whom contribute to the American economy) , DEI, and human rights in general. On the side, I love how, in a little eastern Canadian province she has been posted over and over, myself included. I needn't bother detailing how repelled commentators were on T 2.0 himself.
What have her words accomplished? Please provide researchable evidence of how her words in any way have deterred what the psychopath is doing?
Sabrina,you keep complaining, but you don't offer any solutions, either.
Lisa Murkowski just came out with a statement that she will not be supporting Pete Hegseth’s confirmation. Maybe she got a little injection of courage from Bishop Budde’s words. Words have power, Sabrina.
ℍ𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕊𝕒𝕥𝕒𝕟.
Great font.
"My name is legion . . . "
No just a minion.
If Franklin Graham said it, it might mean something. Need an ecumenical coalition. How about a canonical order!
Excommunicate MAGATs! “The Catholic Church’s foundational teaching calls us to uphold the sacredness of human life and the God-given dignity of the human person.” The bishops, who remain adamantly anti-abortion, nevertheless reminded us that “care for immigrants, refugees, and the poor is part of the same teaching of the Church that requires us to protect the most vulnerable among us, especially unborn children, the elderly and the infirm.” In short, you cannot be “pro-life” and go after the poor, the infirm and immigrants living peaceably within our borders.
Well ok now what? Words are just words wo action.
You are using “words”. Where is your action? I, for one would be happy for a suggestion of action from you instead of “words”!
I'm not a believer, but I sent her an email thanking and praising her bold, courageous stand. I greatly admire her for standing up to evil and staring it down. May she live long and prosper.
The courageous speaking truth to power...
Trump has put bullseyes on the backs of policemen. This is so outrageous especially when there was no response from the Law and Order party, the Republicans. If I were a member of the Secret Service, how could I be expected to take a bullet for Trump, a man who has absolutely no respect for our police or military? We must resist and fight this man every step of the way or else we are complicit.
The Heritage Foundation (who take credit for authorizing Project 2025) labeled their group as a “Think Tank” in order to sound intelligent. Let’s list every Corporation and every single contributing PROJECT 2025 author publicly and broadcast it on Substack for a daily advertisement of their Anti-Democratic recklessness that goes against the Constitution’s OATH OF OFFICE.
The Heritage Foundation, which is tax exempt as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization under the Internal Revenue Code, should lose its tax exempt status. I looked at a recent Heritage Foundation Form 990, which is the tax report 501(c)(3) organizations are required to file annually and learned this fact: of over $100,000,000 in gross revenues (exempt from taxation) Heritage Foundation spent over $60,000,000 on lobbying. 501(c)(3)s are enjoined to spend no more than an "insubstantial amount," usually interpreted to mean no more than 20 percent, of their gross income on activities like lobbying. Complaints about exempt organization improprieties can be filed using IRS Form 33909 (I think I remember the form number correctly but it can easily be found online). The form must be supported by evidence but the organization's Form 990 annual filings are public record and can be submitted to support a complaint. The Heritage Foundation should be put out of business
They wouldn't be put out of business, they would just lose their tax exemption. They probably would have to pay some back taxes too.
List these companies Publicly where? If you have the list try asking the “legacy” media to publish them, or even better get every local newspaper, ask AARP to run the list in its magazine etc. More importantly, explain what each company of the list does AND what may be its particular benefit by having supported Project 2025.
The AARP is non-partisan.
I've often thought that although print media is on the decline, I wish someone would start a magazine that would cover these governmental issues, and offer each side of the aisle perhaps 500 words to succinctly sum up their stance on it.
The Biden administration tried to get coverage, but it wasn't outrageous like Trump, so it seems that people thought he was asleep.
Remember the shooting at the Capitol in 1998? (I bet a lot of people have forgotten it.) TIME had in-depth coverage and even included diagrams of the incident.
Sadly, I saw some of the clip of the presser that Trump gave and regarding the California fires, he literally said they need to "turn the faucet on." (And as usual, the water is "beautiful". I stand by my theory he's in a stage of dementia where aphasia is starting to manifest, exemplified by his limited and repetitive vocabulary). I'd love to see an article that explains the history of the water systems; the implications of agriculture, politics and climate change; and information such as why you can't just "rake the forest".
Where? Is the question I am constantly asking. Where can MY voice be heard? I appreciate the advice of alternative media saying resist, resist, resist. I don't have a pulpit, I am not a legislator or even a lawyer...so how do I resist.
Mike Johnson says 'Republicans are not looking back' and OMB nominee Russell Vought, Project 2025 co-author, said 'certainly Trump's executive orders have nothing to do with Project 2025.' As if.
Lie Lie Lie is the Trump nominee MO. Smirk is the Trump nominee accessory du jour.
Watch Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse question the truculent Vought on executive orders (even Chair Lindsay Graham wanted an answer):
https://youtu.be/I5eJaZafSMQ?si=uPYWAJGkUM0FAhpz
Watch Sen. Patty Murray question the truculent Vought on impoundment:
https://youtu.be/Qv_lF0q7rbI?si=D5w1W85om6tWD80q
Vought is an amplifier of the unconstitutional unified executive theory - which proclaims that in his person the president is the executive branch. L'etat c'est moi. But Vought doesn't stop at the executive. He's also intent on castrating the legislative branch by cutting off Congress' power of the purse and giving it to Trump - through the unconstitutional theory of impoundment. Impoundment lets the executive freeze funds appropriated by Congress Impoundment of funds appropriated for Ukraine is part of what got Trump impeached the first time. He's at it again.
Freezing funds appropriated under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021.
During a 90-day review period, each agencies are to submit recommendations to both the Director of the National Economic Council (NEC) Kevin Hasett*( and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) RUSSELL VOUGHT Disbursements may resume only if deemed consistent with any adopted recommendations.
*Hassett is primarily an American Enterprise hack and Trump sycophant who coauthored the 1999 ' Dow 36,000', arguing that the stock market was about to have a massive swing upward and would reach 36,000 by 2004. In fact, the dot-com bubble burst in 2000, causing a massive decline in stock market prices. For 2 years the Dow hovered at about 2000. The Dow did not reach 36,000 until late 2021.
As a Trump advisor Hassett built a model that indicated that COVID-19 deaths would drop off to near zero by May 2020. Hassett's model contradicted known scientific assessments and in fact Covid deaths spiked between 2020 and 2022.
The Republican MO has been to lie since the 1920’s. The Republicans brought us the Great Depression and the Great Recession. They also brought us traitorous politicians like Nixon, and Reagan. The Republicans have REDMAPPED the country into this sh@tshow which has led to a criminal presidency. Harry Truman was right; the only good Republicans are pushing up daisies.”
lin• -- Thanks so much for your two YouTube links! Senator Whitehouse is incredible, as always.
Trump has now used his public office to create a private militia of domestic terrorists. And a tool for new recruitment.
Just as the Federalist Society Supreme Court put Trump above the law, Trump's Project 2025 executive branch will put Trump terrorists under the shield of government.
While the GOP legislature will give up its legislative authority and power of the purse to Russell Vought OMB unconstitutional impoundment - where Trump can just take funds appropriated by Congress through negotiation.
Of Note, Vivek Ramaswamy is out of DOGE... Elon Musk is now feuding with DJT over DJT's big A.I. Announcement of 'StarGate'.... We'll see if Elon gets ejected... The Pardons were apparently a Rash-Decision... Seems DJT has no patience... They were a Spur-Of-Moment Rash Decision... DJT has little Patience, DJT doesn't think through... Psychologists have said that DJT thinks of himself as a Cartoon SuperHero... His Advancing Dementia Is Not Helping....
His ego might think superhero but Donold is the embodiment of a supervillain Incessant rantings and hateful rhetoric to cause division and strife, seeming to take glee in inflicting pain and suffering on others, scheming, bilking, grifting, hell bent on destroying our Nation. Surrounding himself with sycophants and other equally malicious supervillains, like an actual Legion of Doom. Taking the form of a fascist regime with actual Nazis, like Elon the Ketamine Kid giving a 'sieg heil' salute--twice! or the Proud Boys & Oathkeepers as brownshirt shock troops...
Horhai... This is a Good Post... I just saw his Davos Speech... The Audience seemed Awestruck, Numb... Seems that they can't tell the Difference Between DJT's Lies, and Delusions...
Thanks Apache!
Not sure if Donold can even tell the difference anymore, just a steady onslaught of lies and delusion.
Or maybe dumbstruck....
I just saw a brief except and thought that Trump almost sounded drugged.
Hello BitchyBitchyBitchy... I agree besides sounding Drugged, his Ignorance was Breathtaking, and this was 'Reading' off a Teleprompter!!!... The 'Atlantic' reported today that DJT also wants to take the Scandinavian Countries as well as Canada, and Greenland... DJT is on an Insane Death Trip...
Actually signing the pardons may have been rash but he touted his intention to pardon all these criminals that he called “political prisoners “ for months while campaigning. Now he has really unleashed criminals out onto our streets.
Colette, on a better note, one of them from my own state of NH, was given jail time and a 3-year probation for entering the Capitol and stealing the Senate book of procedure. (He said he was drinking during the event.) However, he says that he shouldn't have been pardoned: that what he did was wrong and he deserved the punishment. How many others were contrite? Doubtful that there are more than a handful.
That wasn't a warning, about those "hundreds of criminals and murderers roaming our streets", it was a promise.
Absolutely, Mike, and all the cops and other LEOs who stood behind him, both literally and figuratively, should be ashamed of themselves if they are at all surprised.
If they are surprised they must be pathologically naive...
I don't think anything about the pardons was rash. He said he'd do it. He did it. Afterall, he just freed his army. This is how they begin to prepare for civil war.
De Wine gave Jon Husted Vance’s senate seat, even though Ramaswamy wanted it, and now Ramaswamy wants to run for governor since De Wine is term limited from running again. Unfortunately we have plenty of other obnoxious potential candidates. Ramaswamy would perhaps be too obnoxious for even the GQP to consider him.
My hope is, Swarmy is the GOP pick in '26. Even in The Most Corrupt State of Ohio, he is a hated POS, and it should open the door for Dr. Amy Acton to be elected. And, as an added bonus, we'll also have the honor of voting WhoSaid out of the Senate, just before he's busted for corruption, and takes the cell next to former Speaker Householder.
Won't Sherrod Brown run in 26 to regain a Democratic Ohio Senate seat? He was always extremely popular in Ohio. I love women candidates but I would think Brown has the best shot at defeating someone like Swarmy
He hasn't said anything as of yet, so I don't know. I personally would like to see either him or Tim Ryan run against WhoSaid for the Senate seat. Of course, this IS Ohio, and trying to find logic here is like trying to find a whale in Lake Erie! But I'm all in with Dr. Acton for Gov!
Apache ‘Vivek Ramaswamy is out of DOGE’ sounds like a 1948s Western movie.
The Orange Orangutan’s ‘Spur-of-the-moment-rash-decision’ is indicative of his AR 15 irresponsible shooting 23 round clips. Lot of blood on the floor.
In the Mr. Bitcoin vs. MUSKrat bromance, I actually support Musk’s demand that the Mars flight be given higher priority than returning to the moon for the first time since 1972.
My one requirement is that Musk be on the first Mars flight (3 year outward trip with absolutely no certainty of return).
James David Vance is looking better each day.
Trust me, Vance is more intelligent and dangerous than Trump. He believes in Curtis Yarvin and Peter Thiel’s obnoxiously anti democratic and authoritarian social philosophies, and Thiel bought Vance his Senate seat in Ohio.
So true, listen to Curtis on the NYT Daily podcast last week for a taste… my vote, women’s votes and Black votes done to start. Then the king takes over, no more elections. Sound like anything tRump mentioned during a rally?
We Are Not In A Good Place... It has been said, that the Creator Protects Babes, And The United States...
Not in the least. He is not impulsive; he is calculating and well-managed.
You mean James Donald Bowman? (After all, it's in keeping with the MAGA viewpoint that a person should not be allowed to decide for themselves how they should be called, so he should be stuck with his originally given name.)
Apache, are you at all surprised that the darker skinned (and arguably the smarter and more self made billionaire) of the two is the one that gets ousted?
Not defending Ramaswamy, it just crossed my mind.
Let's see if the current first lady has the same rapport with Vance's wife as Jill and Michelle had. Doubt it.
Ramaswamy is still a turd, regardless of his ethnicity.
Super-Hero or Super-Villain? Super-Villains are cruel and vain. Heroes have better manners.
DJT refuses to do the work! He just signs orders.
😵🤯😡
lin*, as to your last paragraph, I suspect there's going to be pushback by Congress. A lot, if not most, of the IRA and CHIPS money has gone/is going to red states
Hope you’re right!
Elizabeth, I heard even Rand Paul is saying that Congress has control of the purse strings.
Of course, if any the Secret Service agents resign, Trump will replace them w/ Proud Boys.
The Secret Service is complicit with him. As is Fools & Buffoons, Inc., as I used to call them 50 years ago. I'm sure they'll be quite happy to start COINTELPRO over again, at his request.
Remember their deleted texts after Jan 6th?
COINTELPRO was an FBI operation directed by Hoover, and we only know about it because some people burglarized the FBI office in Media, PA., and they disclosed the information to a press that was then unafraid to disclose it. I could definitely see Kash Patel running an operation like that. The FBI directors are limited to 10 year terms because no one wants another FBI director like Hoover.
Add that the FBI's nasty practice of burglary was also exposed by the Socialist Workers Party lawsuit against the FBI.
Kathy, 10 years or less, given recent history. That position is once again no longer arm's length from the president.
Not agents out in the field whose positions will be shared with Putin who would never be so foolish as to reveal the positions of his agents, or North Korea, or China, or Iran.
Sorry to say Laurie but, if Ca$h Patel is confirmed as FBI director, he is going to employ everyone of them to serve as stormtroopers against his " enemy list ".
Here’s the Wikipedia page on the Sturmabteilung: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturmabteilung
The Brownshirts are coming.
I believe it.
My Proud Boy neighbor down the road, who literally "went postal" 30 years ago at a USPS job, and is on disability and is not allowed to have guns or ammunition, has both. He has been doing target practice in his back woods. What will he be hunting?
Thanks Derek.
The same argument about J6 pardoned convicts with respect to the Secret Service would apply to the FBI. It's a fun meme but I can't see it having any basis in reality.
Jon, don't waste your time, nothing coming from them has any basis in reality.
No joke.
I have to believe that even in a Trump administration, anyone with a criminal conviction, even if pardoned, wouldn't be able to get close to being assigned to the Secret Service.
Don't need them, Jon. They are already there, sworn.
Perhaps not, Jon, but they'll be given assignments to intimidate protesters at demonstrations, the homes of Congresspeople who don't comply with Hair Furor, and so on.
Self preservation. See: Caligula. Praetorian Guard.
Rep. Raskin had something to say about this: https://open.substack.com/pub/politicususanews/p/jamie-raskin-demolishes-republicans?r=nnpdg&utm_medium=ios
Thanks for the link, Dave A.
Dave, thanks!
Excellent! Go Raskin!!! Thanks, Dave!
Excellent link, Dave. Thank you!
The Policemen helped to put this bullseye on their backs by endorsing and presumably voting for Trump. They got what they asked for. Of course the rest of us got it too. As for Law and Order, just because they claim it does not make the Republicans the party of Law and Order. In fact, since the Republican party is also the party of lies, what they say tends to patently not be true except when they tell us they want to create terrible laws and policies.
Trump is in the presidency for 2 reasons. Second is to avoid prison, first is to make himself the richest man in the world by openly monetizing the role, and tying himself to dark monies there is going to be no accounting for his wealth from his grifting presidency. I believe he wants to surpass Musk and Putin for wealth, and perhaps to become the first trillionaire.
How do we protect ourselves? Not just at home with militias being given carte blanche to commit violent crimes and murder. What will happen with air travel? Why fire the head of TSA? How will that effect security? Will this person be replaced with someone who wants to change procedures? Trump does not have to worry about the safety of planes he flies in because he and his family will all be flying in private planes.
Spot on, Linda. Another thing that really concerns me is his throttling of medical research and communications to the public about emerging health threats such as Avian Flu and whatever else is coming at us (viral evolution stops for nobody/nothing.)
I'm further concerned about funding for research into human diseases such as cancer. My eldest son was diagnosed nearly 3 years ago with colorectal cancer which has spread to his liver 😪😪😪 and has been participating in clinical trials. The felons actions may not further harm my son, but might deny future cancer patients potentially life-saving cures.
Doug, I am so sorry about your son. That is really hard. I totally agree with you that the health piece of it is concerning. From medical research which we have heard is largely being shut down, to huge implications for the health of all Americans, to the lack of information about diseases.
We read that Georgia was just going to post Avian flu results yesterday but their website are already shut down of the Centers for Disease Control. Also, the website have been scrubbed of information.
In Project 2025 they say that Health and Human Services will become The Department of Life, and pretty much be concerned with policing women's reproduction, and will I fear be tied to the criminal justice system in either you breed against your will, you abstain from sex or you end up in prison, or get the death penalty. That would be a way to get rid of a gender that is clearly hated by this administration.
If they cancel childhood vaccinations I would be moving to another country with young children where these vaccines are still considered normal. It is going to be catastrophic if Polio returns. Plus, as you rightly point out there can be all sorts of new viruses up the turnpike and I would not want to be absent any research into controlling or curing. Again we see the huge effects of the Christian Nationalists, who are setting us up for seeing illness as God's punishment. It is truly unfortunate.
Linda: “The Department of Life”. Irony is officially dead.
'Tis Nazi U.S.A. as per Charles Mingus from fifty years ago. 😱
https://youtu.be/OTRf9Ef6nuA 😵
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7287916064569495552/ 🤢
What Trump just did with the pardons. 🖕
Remember the word "frag?"
Yup
Yep. Ironically, you're going to have to live by the creep's own words: "You're gonna have to fight like hell, or you're not gonna have a country anymore." By next week, Xitter and Facebook will be the official government communication tools, and every medium that doesn't say nice things about Donny-boy will be forbidden. Journalists who publish nasty things about him can expect the Proud Boys on their door steps. Honestly, I really fear for Professor Richardson's life (amongst others)...
Dutch, I fear for us all, one way or another. But threats to the outspoken among us will be chilling. It's the autocratic way of controlling truth and dissent.
It's what Nazis do. But if you compared Trump to Hitler before the election it was always noooo, that's not fair, he isn't like Hitler, we should give him a chance, etc etc (looking sideways at Ricky Return-to-Sender here). Well, here we are. Good luck, Trump voters, let's hope HE gives YOU a chance (probably not).
Yeah, I already returned to Mr. Sender. I enjoy having exchanges with people whose opinion I may not share, but some folks are time wasters — there are some tools and fools out there.
Well one reason is that you are likely to get promoted, like Sean Curran who now leads the secret service.
Trump wants his own brownshirts.
Honestly, anyone that is a member of the Secret Service, FBI, Military, US Government, Capital Police or general PD that supported and voted for Trump knew what they were getting. I am so tired of hearing that these people are surprised, or now they want to speak out. Trump told us all exactly who he was going to be. They just all thought they were Trump whisperers, and we were exaggerating because their perceived social grievances matter more than democracy and rule of law. The Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Trump because he supports unlimited qualified immunity and wants to let them have carte blanche as a backlash to the BLM movement and holding officers accountable. They viewed the tradeoff worth it, they don't get to complain now, I don't want to hear it.
I only have sympathy for Jackson Reffitt and the others like him, who turned in these nutjobs, some of whom may have been family or friends. Their life may be at risk, all of these white supremacists, extremists and domestic terrorists are now going to feel enabled and supported by Trump, and rest assured they are standing by and looking forward to committing more crimes to support him. Which is kind of hilarious because if he wanted to, he could have pardoned them before he left his first term, but he didn't. He has no shame and is more emboldened than he was before.
This just further proves as well that Presidential Pardon power is bullshit and we should work towards a constitutional amendment to get rid of it. Finally, Merrick Garland really failed us, additionally the fact that conservative news outlets, social media outlets and party members aren't speaking out over the fact that the leader of the Oath Keepers Stewart Rhodes who wanted to incite a civil war was just casually meeting with lawmakers is just crazy to me. These are not people who mean well or are wanting to engage in being responsible, they want to tear the system down and replace with a social hierarchy built around white supremacy and money. I refuse to lose my country to these bigots.
There are many in law enforcement who individually or as a group through their organizations supported and still support him and the MAGA movement. My brother was a patrolman in the NYPD in the 1970’s .And resigned in disgust after several years of having to deal with his fellow officers who behaved like thugs more interested in the power and their pocket books. He left to work for the US Border Patrol where the agents were more professional and empathic in their duties. There were far fewer agents then but the border was more secure and not so politicized.
I asked a Trump supporter today what she thought of him pardoning men who violently assaulted police officers on Jan 6. I was especially curious because she has spent years working in a prison. Her response was, it’s the same as Biden letting all those criminals across the border. That’s it for me. She’s clearly so brainwashed by the cult that she cannot remember what’s really important any longer. It did not give me a lot of hope that his supporters will have an issue with the pardons.
They have a pat answer for everything, don’t they. There must be a bathroom compendium of MAGA comebacks.
Yep they have a stupid, shallow, vacuous, and utterly irrelevant whataboutism for everything. Anytime one of them tries to run one up the flagpole with me, it’s an instant conversation ender.
🏆
Remember, they are the ones stupid enough to think the most willfully-ignorant moron in history is smart. Which makes them all "dumber than shit." I hope the birdflu virus kills them all.
It's a matter of time until they destroy each other. How much time? At what cost? No one knows. But stupidity and corruption this grotesque will not hold. To answer my own questions, I think it will take years and cost hundreds of lives (millions if it takes WW3 to end it).
So do I
Yeah, but the hope is that they don’t take any of the rest of us with them as collateral damage.
Did you remind her that more people crossed the border when Trump was in office 2016-2020?
Truly a delusional, gullible idiot, one who is deeply under the spell of Trump's hateful bullshit!
If Trump says it’s not a crime, it’s not a crime. If he says something is a crime, then it’s a crime. A very simple system. Divine right of Trump.
If Trump says something is a crime, it almost certainly isn't, and vise versa.
I get the same thing from my retired cop cohort. Utter and complete garbage.
Idiocracy is right. But my favorite part here is the quote by Heather Thomas: “So when all was said and done, the only country that opened [its] prisons and sent crazy murderous criminals to prey upon innocent American citizens, was us.” Exactly. And who did that? Trump and immigrant Musk.
Heather - or someone - has explained why he talks about immigrants including people "from mental institutions" - he doesn't know the meaning of "asylum".
Yes, I pointed that out to my husband when T started going off about "asylum". Either he doesn't know what the word means, or he's betting his base of followers don't know what it means. Either way, it's an idiocracy.
Exactly right. As always, GQP accusations are actually confessions.
Deb, that was my first thought when I heard what the felon did. As I've never considered myself the smartest person in the room (pretty much any room), I'm surprised more folks didn't come out with that, including Dem members of Congress.
Oh the FOP’s are now upset about this release of prisoners? The FOP’s are who supported Trump, remember?
FAFO. I don’t feel bad for the FOP or the Police Union or anyone who voted for the convicted felon. They got what they voted for. All they had to do was listen to the felon and they would have known that this would happen. Oh well……
Susan, it is what they wanted; they believe the garbage they have consumed that there was a peaceful demonstration and a tour of the capitol. I am stunned.
What I see in my cohort (retired cops and their spouses) is that they firmly believe the firehose of disinformation that they have consumed willingly.
I am completely and utterly disgusted with them.
So part of his plan to dismantle the Federal government includes making it unsafe to fly? That ought to make for an interesting few years. Maybe he and his billionaire buddies want to keep the airways free for their private planes.
Well, yeah. Even better: make it so they are the ONLY ones who can fly from one place to another because they’re so very important.
Though they might wonder if Trump is picking up pointers from his sponsor, Putin. Piss off Putin and anything can (and does) happen.
With the damage he's doing to the aviation industry with those actions, even flying private will become markedly more dangerous. I'm retired from the airline industry and I'm starting to think twice about flying after that Executive Disorder.
I have to admit, of all the horrible things I imagined for our future when the voters opted to put this man back in the White House, I hadn’t come up with planes falling out of the sky.
This level of psychosis deserves its own chapter in the DSM-6 when it comes out. At the rate Trump is going, he'll be eligible for his third impeachment before another week is out.
I'm sure there are already more than enough diagnoses throughout the DSM to classify his aberrant behavior than there are potential articles of impeachment, but yeah let's add another one.
As a retired Fed, the requirement to rat on a colleague disgusts me no end. Gestapo, anyone? KGB?
I'm guessing that Trump et al are poster kids for antisocial personality disorder; but as bad as it gets, and worthy of a new subcategory, such as "Trump Syndrome".
Perhaps presciently, "Trumped up" is already a synonym for "bogus".
Which won't happen and if it did would be a waste of time. Talk about impeachment when there are 66 Democrats in the Senate.
Punishment seems to escape him.
DJT is the Anti-Christ...
𝕐𝕦𝕡. i’ve been calling him Satan for years.
That will absolutely be part of the next four years at least once, and I’m betting sooner than later.
DSM-6 will be rewritten by PrezMusk’s AI to demonstrate Donnie’s brilliance soundness of mind.
Not only is trump and his administration threatening many (or even most) Americans, he is creating the potential for disaster in so many areas, particularly by silencing Health and Human Services. Does he want to make sure that we are all as unprepared for the next pandemic as we were for Covid 19? I suppose it's just more magical thinking on the part of FOTUS, who really doesn't ever think beyond satisfying whatever his latest grudge happens to be.
Maybe this time all the anti-vaxxers will die when they flunk evolution's IQ test. I hope so.
The problem with un-vaxxed nutcases: they infect innocent, vulnerable victims and perpetuate spread of virus worldwide.
He is going to face a bird flu pandemic and he and RFK Jr. will collectively handle it as incompetently as Trump behaved with COViD. He had a vaccine created, but it became an item of fealty to Trump not to take it, even as social media teemed with antivax nonsense.
Easy. If another pandemic breaks out, they'll blame it on the Dems and the illegal immigrants, and the Proud Boys will have all the more reasons to go out and lynch these people. Problem solved.
Thank you for commenting on this. I check the CDC website, and at least of this moment, the weekly Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report which would be published today is not up on the CDC website. I posted a link to the WaPo article about this yesterday.
He’s been even more hopeless than I expected, which took serious effort. Now we have a mob of Project 2025 henchmen surrounding their useful idiot in the WH and dropping their fever dream EOs in front of him, with little chance that his squirrel-like attention span will cause any sort of reflection before he wields the Sharpie. It’s going to be a long four years, or however long until Vance is installed while Mango Gramps shuffles off to his Florida senior living facility.
Damn. I have about 50 black Sharpies in my office. Does anybody have a line on an equivalent permanent markers I can use?
It ain't Sharpie's fault, any more that it is McDonald's fault.
I do get where you're coming from, though. Maybe stickers that say "not it" or somesuch.
I forgot the /s tag.
😆
It’s outrageous that these insurgents were pardoned and sentences commuted when only 2 out of 10 Americans support their release.
And they're probably all in the 30% who cannot read and comprehend at a 5th grade level.
He does not care.
We were all forewarned that (Liar, Fraud, Con, Grifter, Sex-abuser, Scumbag, Convicted Felon) Trump’s re-election would bring on another four-year-long shit show.
Sadly, we’re now just at the beginning.
RESIST!!!
And there’s no assurance it’s simply for 4 years…
My dad and I don’t think Trump plans on leaving office. After all, no one timely held him accountable for his first insurrection, and I would not recommend using their tactics.
He'll be dead before then
👊
When do Trump and his children receive their monthly stipends from Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, and Hungary? Has he decided which of those countries get the next Trump resort and golf course? Does Elisa Stefanik have a tip jar at her UN office so diplomats can express their appreciation for Trump? I assume Trump's tip jars are spread throughout the White House.
He doesn't need a tip jar anymore. He has his cryptocurrency. His preferred method of bribery.
until it vaporizes, then poof
I’m convinced that unregulated cryptocurrency will bring on Great Depression 2.0.
Please share any suggestions you may have for how individuals can be prepared for that possibility Kathy. Thank you
stock up on physical silver and gold
That won’t work in the day that is rapidly approaching.
Proverbs 11:4– “Wealth will be of no benefit on the day of fury, But righteousness is what will rescue from death.”
They will throw their silver and gold into the streets and flee in terror on the day of divine justice. (paraphrase of Ezekiel 7:19.)
Eric is working very hard on Hungary.
Breaking News…it’s OK to assault police if you are white and hate blacks…and Jews…
Love Heather's litany of today's ongoing criminality from our convicted criminal in chief.
Best, for those of us keeping tabs, is not only how the billionaires suck up to the convicted criminal, but so, too, have a lot of mainstream, legacy media -- today's chief instance being CNN boss Mark Thompson redefining his journalists' need for “being open.”
As he warned Jake Tapper, Anderson Cooper, and other top journalists there, being open now means suck up, kiss up to the convicted criminal – ignoring, skittering around, playing dumb towards history, forgetting the convicted criminal’s still operant threats, vows, and public intentions.
Those of us who don’t get paid anything may say what we like to each other. We may note the fat orange felon’s continuing criminality, his longstanding stirring up of racism, goading stochastic violence, virulent hatreds, and his total absence of any concern for any public good.
Gotta love billionaires and kiss-ups like this CNN boss demanding bows to the world’s #1 criminal-in-chief.
No offense to the fat orange one’s pals Putin, Orban, Netanyahu, Xi, Kim, Mohammed bin Salman, Sisi, Erdogan, Duterte, Milei, and Meloni.
I think calling this gaggle of global gansters oligarchs has gone to their heads.
They may think it's a distinction, something like a higher university degree!
BS degree in gogg
Jim Acosta at CNN (who I love) won’t last long then. His contempt for TFG is deep…
Yes, I remember how Trump used to yell at him during those chaotic WH press conferences.
CNN anchor Jim Acosta repeatedly asked Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) whether violent Jan 6 insurrectionists should be let released. At first, Burchett said, “If they were truly violent, no,” but then immediately claimed that he just didn’t know if they were, in fact, violent. When Acosta noted CNNN was simultaneously airing footage of the violence and that Burchett was there that day, Burchett instantly tried a politician’s pivot by asking why Acosta wasn’t condemning Biden’s preemptive pardons. Acosta wasn’t having it and repeatedly pressed Burchett to “take a stand.” Burchett then tried dodging the question by asserting Trump hadn’t issued blanket pardons, apparently referring to the commutations of Proud Boy and Oath Keeper criminals. So Acosta asked specifically whether the leaders of those self-styled militias should be released. Burchett again dodged by peddling the lie that FBI agents “were in that mess” and should have been prosecuted. When Acosta asked how Republicans can still claim to support the police while also supporting Trump’s mass pardon of people who attacked police Burchett tried another classic “whataboutism” move by lying that nobody was prosecuted for violence during protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. He then launched into a broad, fact-free attack on CNN, to which Acosta replied. “We (CNN) didn’t storm the Capitol. These people did! And President Trump let them out of jail! Why not just say: ‘You were wrong, Mr. President?’ Why can’t you say it?” Of course, Burchett couldn’t say it. Asked whether he is concerned any of the released insurrectionists would commit more crimes, Burchett insisted they’d “go back to jail” unless “Joe Biden appointed judges” or “Soros-backed” district attorneys oversaw the cases.
Thanks for this, Dave. It is similar to the jousting I have been doing with my retired cop cohort; in one, both a former rangemaster and a former coworker claim that Ashleigh Babbitt was murdered.
I told them (in much more detail than this) that if they believed that, I had failed as a use of force instructor.
Very good recitation on your part, Dave.
Truth has indeed taken a mortal hit.
From the Clarence court, which lies to the country as to favorite criminal being above the law, to Dems who did control the Senate but hadn't the heart to vote on the verity of the Constitution's Article 14, Section Three -- which would have disqualified that fat chunk of lard.
From most of mainstream, legacy media ever playing both-sides-ism to the billionaires insanely grotesquely backing only the criminal side.
From Republicans all sycophants for their lying fat orange guy to Dems with so totally zero grounding in any humanities as to America's working classes as to cede all that vote to the guy playing garbage man, the guy playing McDonald's French fry boy, the guy maligning all immigrants with the criminal status he himself has multiply earned for his own criminal self.
Accuse me, too, of both-sides-ism because I malign Dems for their out-of-touch elite dehumanization in the same sentence I malign Republicans for that and so much worse?
"Whereas, Representatives Cheney and Kinzinger are participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse," - "GOP"
And had BLM engaged in precisely the same style of legitimate political discourse?
Thanks, Dave. The what about pivots are built into the psyche of those pulling their forelocks to the king.
Unfortunately CNN has relegated Jim Acosta to the graveyard shift in an attempt to please Trump.
I read today that we are in a “Vichy Regime”!
Remember MSNBC's Brian Williams opening line for his show The Eleventh Hour during Trump's first term: "Day 3 of the Trump administration." Unfortunately, there's nothing even a little bit surprising about what Trump has done so far. All very consistent with what he said he would do and/or what other knowledgeable people said he would do. The people who got it wrong are Trump allies and apologists who said it was all rhetoric and he would never do any of it.
“Oh, it’s ***** being *****. I still hear it daily from too many.
Project 2025 is in full swing