We are now a week into the Biden administration, and President Biden has set some clear and surprisingly dominant markers at the beginning of his presidency.
It’s amazing what a difference a week can make. These past four years have felt like living with an abusive stepfather. Never knowing what mood he’d come home in or what chaos he’d create. I feel such relief to know the White House is in competent hands. All the hard work remains, but, the active destruction has abated, the toxic stream of lies has stopped and some measure of calm restored.
Biden is moving quickly and smartly to dispel the false image of him created by the right as a doddering old man. He also knows he has a limited time to move his key agenda items forward before the fickle media starts looking for a new angle on him. Right now, he’s doing it just right. Go, Joe!
Well said, Mary. You use "doddering" appropriately, but its misuse isn't confined to Repug haters. It's a deployed as a fairly routine insult, but it properly means nothing beyond being unsteady on one's feet due to various medical conditions. It is not a personal, let alone moral failing.
I get curious about words, so I looked it up in four dictionaries. Word originated in 17th century, means either physical or mental unsteadiness, usually due to old age. Mostly I think of it as physical, but it has always had the mental unsteadiness element. Unfortunately, now I have to reconsider my own self-definition.
Good work, Annie; I looked it up too. A friend once called me doddering and it wasn't appreciated. As for reconsidering definitions or self-definitions, sometimes it's fortunate, not unfortunate. We both should now have better command of vocabulary. Stay strong on your feet!
Interesting analysis from Josh Marshall about the whole filibuster business.
So, interesting developments over night in the Senate. Both sides are portraying the agreement as a win. But basically McConnell caved. So chalk up a win for Chuck Schumer.
McConnell said that he got the assurances he needed when Joe Manchin and (less volubly) Kirsten Sinema said they absolutely positively won’t ever support getting rid of the filibuster. But they’d already said that. And unfortunately they made it clear from the outset that they’re not ready to get rid of the legislative filibuster during this Congress.
What McConnell wanted was for the Democrats to agree as part of the organizing resolution to take it off the table entirely for the next two years. The whole thing boils down to symbolism, in any case, since the majority cannot actually bind itself in this way. The majority can only always decide to change the rules on a majority vote. But as I argued yesterday these points of symbolism are very important. For whatever reason McConnell decided to call off the stand off.
That leaves us where we expected to be. The filibuster remains the rule of the Senate and will remain that way unless and until at least Manchin decides otherwise. That means Biden should have a pretty free hand getting his nominees confirmed. The Democrats can and will use the ‘reconciliation’ process to push through COVID relief and other budget relevant items on straight majority votes.
The next thing the Democrats need to focus on is making the filibuster more visible, which is partly a matter of floor votes but also a matter of working the press. Republicans have done a great job of making it impossible for the government to function and then running against its dysfunction. Political junkies know about the filibuster and that most legislation, in practice, requires 60 votes. But in most cases this just amounts to a lot of things never happening. In practice, that last point is all that counts. A lot of Republicans are up for reelection next year. It is critical to find a way to structure a lot of votes, and work press coverage of them, to make Republicans own their opposition to popular legislation. That’s next.
"A lot of Republicans are up for reelection next year. It is critical to find a way to structure a lot of votes, and work press coverage of them, to make Republicans own their opposition to popular legislation. That’s next."
That is the critical point - can't be stressed enough. The price of obstructing the work of the people must be made too high to bear.
The least they can do to make it visible is to reinstate the rule that the Senators have to physically speak to maintain the filibuster. They might also introduce a possibility for Harris to "censure" a speaker when he or she is "off subject"!
Agreed. McConnell has protected Republican Senators from voting against popular bills for over a decade. All legislation he didn’t approve of simply died in his hands. Now they will all have to publicly vote and show their hands. The only objective McConnell ever had was to keep the Senate in Republican hands at whatever cost. Legislation be damned.
and now when they have to vote on serious matters, such as impeachment, they're so flustered about having to take a stand and ACTUALLY VOTE on something!
In today's New York Times (1/27), David Leonhardt addressed the problem of Senate rules which allow the filibuster. He quoted Alexander Hamilon: “What at first sight may seem a remedy,” Hamilton wrote, referring to supermajority rule, “is, in reality, a poison.” If a majority could not govern, he explained, it would lead to “tedious delays; continual negotiation and intrigue; contemptible compromises of the public good.” That is the 'poison' dispensed by Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans.
Gee TC: when you stop cursing at all of us you actually say interesting and useful things! I agree with all of this: the obstruction has to be made transparent by outing it when it happens other than hiding it through procedure.
Be careful before you write TC off. He expresses rage a lot, and this past week was not a good one for him, but let me tell ya I've been reading him for over a month and I like what I see. Bring excellent outside opinion and commentary into the discussion, and also some biting and clever and unique names that I love seeing.
OK! This is where my head is at and what I’m trying to understand and direct my grassroots energy toward. Thank you TCinLA😘 for your analysis of the Schumer-McConnell showdown. I wish I had more confidence in Schumer, but maybe he’ll surprise me. ❤️🤍💙
Thank you Heather, I am finally able to step back and get perspective. Living under 45 was synonymous with being in an abusive relationship. I could see what was happening the lies, the abuse of power, the lack of boundaries. What I did not realize was how I was losing hope that it is possible to have a leader with clear boundaries who could lead by taking action with clarity about what needs to be done in a respectful manner. I can finally begin to breathe that we have a leader with a moral compass. Thank you 45 for underlining how important clear boundaries, kindness and a moral compass are. Joe Biden was not my choice but I am sure he is just what this county and I needed at this time. I can trust him as I watch him choose his people and have such clear boundaries.
I too chose another candidate and Heartily agree with Susan’s sentiments. I am breathing easier with the immediate results of Biden’s presidency illustrated in Heather’s letter today.
David, It is such a relief. I am breathing with an ease I have not felt for a long time. I feel so lucky to have found Heather’s letters to help put events in a historical perspective.
Violating boundaries is a major hallmark of abusers and bullies. They will not or cannot stop, but they can be stopped. The 2020 election stopped Trumpsky's run as a bullying, abusive president. Good luck to the shrinking number of people that he still can dominate, they'll need it.
I feel the same as you. Trump’s entire presidency reminded me and triggered me just like being back in my abusive 25-year marriage. Toward the end of 3rd year I felt myself slipping into apathy re politics. And I love my politics. It reminded me of what people like Trump can and did do to many..killed their desire to care anymore.
Heather, I have a question I’d love you to explore one day. Both Amendments 1 & 2 are being interpreted in ways that put us in actual danger.
The interpretation of the “Right to Bear Arms” has allowed an astonishing proliferation of guns - many unregulated - in our nation with the NRA playing a major roll. Gun violence is our other pandemic.
Now the abuse of “Freedom of Speech” in Amendment 1 has allowed lies and facts to be treated as equivalent. Without a framework of mutual facts as a basis, how can we agree upon, let alone build anything? Conspiracy theories, lies and distortion have always been with us, but, with the help of social media, they have grown exponentially and now pose a real threat to democracy. Now that we’ve opened this can of worms, what can we do?
Part of the problem is that deception has always been with us but now it is boosted by the stunning powers of illusion available to even a seventh grader with a phone. When I was teaching third graders back in the late 80s a man in our community made a video for children that explained and demonstrated how photography and video could exaggerate the size and power of toy cars and other toys that were popular that year. He gave a copy to every school librarian in our area, and they arranged for every classroom in their school to see and discuss the video. This foregrounding of the deception of advertising in an area of interest to students was very effective in introducing the skills of questioning and debunking that should be foundational in education at all levels.
As I listened to HCR yesterday afternoon on the Politics Hour, I saw signs of her nudging us towards "adulting" for ourselves, becoming more independently active in making the world we want, whether through working to change the tax code, fixing gerrymandering, or any other of dozens of vital needs for a more perfect union. (This may have been her way of pointing out that rather than "giving a man a fish, she has been teaching us how to fish for ourselves, at last - and here's to effective education). So I would suggest that this topic is a vital one for exploration. False equivalences and outright falsehoods have been employed to distort the core truths of the right to speak/write/believe as you choose without government suppression, and to defend your community. How do we re-educate our citizens and the world?
Yes and no. Facts are indeed limited by our understanding. There is so much we don’t know about our universe so we’re always expanding our knowledge. Truth is more subjective and relays on mutual agreement. But, there are verifiable facts that simply exist and we abandon them at our peril. Gravity is fact on earth, whether we agree or not. And yes, it’s become far too easy to live in your own private Idaho.
I am sorry to counter your point, but facts are facts and untruths are untruths, not "alternative facts." Yes, it is essential for a healthy discussion that we agree on the relevant facts as a foundation for that discussion. However, some disagreeing with the facts, does not mean they are not facts.
Fact (noun) - a thing that is known or proved to be true.
There is no room within the definition of fact for the idea that we must all agree on that point in order for a thing to be known or proven to be true. If it is known or proven to be true, it is a fact, whether some dispute it or not.
This misunderstanding of the definition of fact is responsible for so much misinformation today that many have lost the capability for rational discussion or critical thinking.
An interesting point, Bruce. I remember, mennnny moons ago, when visiting my parents during an internship on Capitol Hill, describing the politics of 1982 as one not needing to know too much. I made a fist and said, here is the core issue (perhaps factual).
Then imaginarily wrapping my one hand around the other and saying, "Then there are core perceptions." They were finite in number.
Then, slowly gesturing my hand around the room, I said, "And the rest of the room is interpretations, counter-interpretations, counter-counter-interpretations, etc. It gets so you can hardly breathe, you know?" Such is the way of complexifying.
So, I often wonder whether one is prone to confuse the "etc." with the fact(s) shrouded completely by layers of justifications, interpretations, and yet another etc. Part of the linguistic problem is that one says 'you' rather than 'one', which starts to confuse general statements with particulars.
Another part for people like me is, perhaps, too often keeping statements in the "I". The intention for me, at least a long time ago, was to avoid saying you and taking ownership of the statement being said. People can understandably view that habit, perhaps correctly, as self absorption, often sparking a contest of wills.
The question you (not one) might help me with is: ¿Is the statement, 'I do not know', a factual one?
Ah, a philosophical question? I am carefully listening for the sound of a tree falling somewhere in a far away forest.
I suppose as I sit here, carefully splitting the hairs I am pulling out if my head at present, I would classify the statement as factual describing a condition of not knowing the answer to a particular question that it references. This makes the statement itself factual. However, it does not mean the referenced question is unanswerable to someone else who may know the facts required to correctly answer it.
I so relate. Though I separated a very long time ago, I am still leery when around people I know think like my (former) relatives in Idaho, not matter where they are now.
Because Republicans in the Senate will not go along with what is necessary to stem this threat to democracy, it will be up to the Department of Justice. Convicted domestic terrorists belong in Guantanamo, along with foreign terrorists.
The peculiar thing there is that there are no *convicted* foreign terrorists at Guantanamo. They are "detainees" and "suspects" who are considered outside the US military justice system and not subject to the Geneva convention. Are we ready to open that can of worms again? (I personally am all for it, because it should have been closed decades ago. Or never created at all).
We need to own the fact that citizens of the United States broke numerous federal laws and attempted to bring down our government through violent action. These people should be tried openly in US courts. We absolutely should NOT compare that to what we did in Guantanamo to people who were not even given trials and are being held against international law. We'd lose whatever respect we've gained by getting rid of our own despot through a fair and honest election.
Guantanamo persists in legal limbo. It occupies a liminal space in international law, created by invading Cuba and extorting its cession in an unequal treaty. For 100 years it was ignored as an oddity and anomaly, but since Sept 11 the sinister aspects of its ambiguous status are all too clear. Detentions there should have ended long ago, but lack of political will is a major obstacle. Not even Trumpsky and his insurrectionist flying monkeys should be incarcerated there.
Thanks, TPI. I so agree. When I hear people say "That's not us." my immediate response is "Yes, it is, and always has been." Like to refer them to Jill Lepore's book "In the Name of War", history of the early New England colonies from a different perspective.
Hi Annie, you have good taste in history books. It's true, it IS us, but it doesn't have to be that way. Lincoln's immortal phrase "better angels of our nature" implies that there are worse angels (devils?) but that we can rise above them. One way, among others, is to practice anti-racism. Cf. Ibram Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist. Cheers!
The far right white supremacists seem to have caught on that the words "amendment rights" are their ticket to asserting privilege. Clear signs of impending violence for Jan.6 were ignored under the label of 'first amendment rights." Funny how the peaceful protesters for Black Lives Matter got attacked without any mention of their first amendment rights.
Wow, Diane, very well put. I have wondered about the wording of the 2nd Amdt as well. To me, people is used as a collective noun as in the people of a joining state not as the plural of an individual. If my shrinking grey matter is still worth a damn, the original text of the Constitutions uses 'persons' for the plural of an individual.
I remember doing research on the 1st Amdt and some writers, likely conservative, were saying that the 1st Amdt protected "protected speech" only. Great reminders, Diane, thank you.
You all don't take too long of a breather. 45 senators?! I voiced my objection to my own two "unrepresentatives" yesterday. Will do again daily until trump is out of their court. (Why hasn't he been arrested yet by NY state courts as an aside?)
Our government system says a sitting president can't (shouldn't) be arrested, and now that he's an ex president, our government (almost) said he shouldn't be tried?
I am not yet sleeping soundly. I feel like I’m in one of those gangster movies, sleeping with one eye open. If anyone thinks the threat is past, think again. That under the rock worm, Ken Paxton, the Texas AG, not only filed the lawsuit against Biden’s deportation halt and won, he is crowing about it. He is saying the deportation halt is the real left wing seditious insurrection. I would like to say “unbelievable “ but it isn’t
I also am sleeping with one eye open. While everyone else is celebrating and surely Biden Schumer and Pelosi are leading us well I know there are 70 million including my husband and his family who believe the election was stolen. That doesn't just disappear overnight
Typically, it is the highest jurisprudence that has first crack., or the one with the most egregious crime. That's us, the people of the United States.
I sign plenty of petitions, but seldom call my Congresspeople. I'm fortunate to have Warren, Markey, Pressley and mostly trust them to act well on their own initiative. They are arguably the best group of MA leaders since Sens. Charles Sumner, Henry Wilson and Gov. John Andrew in the 1860s.
TPJ, calling and writing directly to your congresspeople is way more effective than petitions (which I've come to think of as fund-raisers). You have good people, but I can tell you from all the good politicians I've spoken to, they need most of all to hear from people like you. And especially when you agree with them, let them know. Otherwise they get mainly the growsers, the complainers, the people who make threats, subtle or overt. Without people like you getting in touch, they have no real way of knowing what their constituency thinks and what's important to them. I've seen a friend go from despondent to (relatively) relaxed on hearing from a constituent who gave a pat on the back. It makes a difference.
Agreed. I grew up in CT or, more precisely, spent my youth there (growing up is a lifelong process) with activist liberal parents. I've watched with interest as CT steadily moved from classic swing state to true blue. Alas, it's not just progress but also a sign of increasing polarization. Alas!
No, but I am wondering as well. And, you know who might have a sense of what’s going on with the indictments that will start raining on him like anvils...Preet Bharara, formerly the U.S. Attorney for the SDNY. He will be so on this that trump won’t even know what hit him.
Why, oh why? Please don’t relax and turn away from the continuing nightmare. Mitch McConnell is evil and has to be taken down. He enabled Trump. Trump enabled him. They’re just 2 sides of the same coin. One just more cunning and intelligent. 2022. ❤️🤍💙
Relaxing does not have to mean turning away. It means take a deep breath, appreciate the end of 45's constant presidential abusiveness, then go back to work to make improvements.
Hi, Joan. It is certainly a relief to have 45 out of eye- and ear-shot. But, for me, after what McConnell did to Obama, it's as The Who sang, "Won't Get Fooled Again". xD
Yes, and while some are warning that we should not relax, and I agree, Biden is not being distracted. I see nothing wrong with acknowledging his focus and accomplishments thus far, while recognizing that evil lurks, and we need to resolve to fight it tooth and nail, ultimately rendering it impotent. It will be a long haul, and for the moment we need to focus on the goals that will repair our democracy, and offer unity and healing only when it is earned.
Being President of the United States is among the most difficult and demanding jobs I can imagine. The number of challenges arriving on the Resolute desk, the pace of their arrival, their gravity, the broad spectrum of issues and challenges requiring attention must be overwhelming for anyone to cope with them. This helps to explain why Donald Trump, perhaps the least serious and most incompetent individual ever to sit in the Oval Office, eve n during a social call let alone fulfilling the responsibilities of the Presidency was so bad at it. Frankly while many have noted and complained about the portion of his time devoted to his golf game, I have prayed daily to see him spend more time golfing.
I find Trump’s threat to form a new Patriot political party laughable. This is a man with an attention span that makes it a virtual impossibility to complete a coherent sentence, let alone fulfill the tasks and responsibilities of launching and sustaining a political party. I suppose there are those with a genuine interest in seeing such a thing come to pass, no matter the nihilistic nature of such an aspiration. However if you had the funding capability and intellectual capacity to undertake such an effort, why in the world would you pick Donald Trump as the vessel into which to pour that ambition and effort.
Trump is quickly becoming yesterday’s news and it seems already the stink is setting in and the flies are circling like it is three day old trash left too long in the hot sun.
The contrast of Biden’s attention to the job of being President and Trump’s unserious approach to it are increasingly evident. It matters not if you agree or disagree with Biden’s policies or actions, in judging his effectiveness and attention to the business of being President. I am so thankful to see competence, commitment, and compassion return to the Presidency. Not just the U.S. but the entire world has missed this enormously.
Your approach in acknowledging the fresh air that we are all breathing is, in my opinion, the correct one. That doesn't mean that any of us should ignore the many threats that are aimed at our democracy. As you point out, Trump would never have been able to be a good president, even if his intentions were the best. Biden is putting the wheels back on the wagon and, so far, has appointed skillful guards to be on the lookout for enemies. I believe that people of good will the world over are happy with our return to civilization.
Yes. Biden’s first week has made Trump’s 4 years look worse than ever. It is very hard work being the POTUS. And now we must all join Biden after our collective exhales and do more for our country than ever before. I don’t want Americans to sit back and relax. We can’t do that.
Trump may well be the worst POTUS, not being a historian, I’m not informed enough on all President’s past. However, with the support of millions who connected with him on an emotional/moral level, it seems foolish to think won’t continue on his path of dividing our country with hate/rancor/racism/misogyny and conflict. His platform may be smaller but his vengeance greater
I'm a historian and, while the consensus is still forming, I and colleagues feel certain that in the long term Trumpsky will be considered the Worst President Ever. Pierce, Buchanan, Johnson I, Harding, Nixon, Bush II will all have their "advocates," but the cascade of his disasters (some continuing well past 1/20/21) is unprecedented. The favorable views will die along with his deluded admirers; the dismal legacy will endure. In the future people will marvel at the harm done and wonder how it was allowed to happen.
I agree, TPJ and Bruce. Right now I suspect that many of us still have a kind of PTSD reaction whenever Trump or one of the many power brokers stick their heads out and make threatening sounds. But that will abate and we can start relazing- which all by itself can help relegate these guys to the historical trash bin. (I mean, that guy from MO? (already having a hard time remembering his name) He's trying so very hard to be taken seriously, but it won't be long he won't even be a footnote in somebody's thesis.
LOL. Yeah. I was going to add a correction, but figured people would figure it out (and I'm tired). I love that you not only figured it out, but took it to a new level!
The 2018 Siena poll of 157 presidential scholars reported George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Thomas Jefferson as the top five US presidents, with SCRI director Don Levy stating, "The top five, Mount Rushmore plus FDR, is carved in granite with presidential historians...." Donald Trump—entering the SCRI survey for the first time—joined Andrew Johnson, James Buchanan, Warren G. Harding, and Franklin Pierce among the bottom five US presidents. George W. Bush, whom presidential scholars had rated among the bottom five in the previous 2010 survey, improved to a position in the third quartile. Perhaps that improvement is by virtue of his now comparison to Donald Trump who puts the rating of his Presidency in an entirely new perspective.
Here is a full discussion and a complete list of the ratings over time by various surveys of historians and Presidential scholars:
W might have been given credit for breaking with his party and publicly eviscerating Trump, who, by comparison, makes the Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld combo look almost competent - maybe saintly.
As a life long Republican, I voted for Biden (and the two new Democrat senators from GA). I try to assess an individual on character before party. Will the candidate support the constitution and do their best to do what is right for our citizens and residents? I can not and will not fall prey to supporting a demagogue...I did that once before about 20 years ago in 2016. I have not switched parties although I have entertained the idea because the Republican Party has swung so far toward Trump (in this instance, being left or right doesn’t matter because Trump is his own direction). I hope the paranoia that seemingly intelligent people are in will dissipate as time goes on. I hope that company leaders will use political catnip ($$) to drive the country back to center. I hope true American Patriots will vote for candidate character and support of the constitution. I hope those of us who watched the insurrection of Jan 6 will no longer sit idly by...we must vote, we must march, we must be vocal, and we must never let this happen again. I may not know who or what I am fighting against. I do know that I fight for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...Non sibi sed patriae!
How can we (the USA) be a "leader" for the rule of law and order, around the world or even in our own backyard, when 45 old white men can say incitement to insurrection is a partisan witch hunt??? I despair of our entire system if this egregious behavior by the former president is allowed to go unpunished and worse, is actually rewarded as he will still have all the perks of an ex-president. Trump is a.criminal many many times over and should be convicted in the senate of incitement to insurrection!!!
I fit that much maligned category, too. Something tells me that Trump was a scrubbing donkey as a young man and would have been so in any other demographic.
All of the 45 are neither old nor white although Sen. Scott stands alone in a crowd I don't think he'll be happy in for long. Some of them are young, venal and apparently more concerned with their personal success than that of the country.
Regarding the Senate vote today on constitutionality of the impeachment, I and most likely all of you (and, surprisingly, HRC) read it wrong. That's because the Senate rules are arcane and most all have no clue how they work. Fortunately, Lawrence O'Donnell, former senior Senate staffer, does know them and how they work, and he explained that today's vote on a Motion to Table is not the same as a vote on conviction, or even a vote on whether the impeachment is unconstitutional, and that it is not necessarily a harbinger of the final vote. Senator Portman's tweet saying that his vote against tabling the motion today should not be seen as his statement on how he will finally vote, demonstrates Lawrence was right.
That doesn't mean there are 12 Republicans planning to convict hiding in plain sight among the 45 who voted not to table - I will personally be flabbergasted if the Republican vote comes to 8-10 for conviction. but - to mix metaphors - it's not time yet to get the cart before the horse and go asses over teakettles.
Thanks, Lawrence, for teaching me something actually new that I didn't know, today.
YEP! Now that attention is focused on Congress, Lawrence O’Donnell is going to become a relevant talking head voice. His tenure for Senator Moynihan in the good ole days gave him a LOT of experience and perspective and sheer knowledge. And, LOD knows how to tell a story. ❤️🤍💙
Biden charged out of the gate taking back the reins of the nation and steering it back on course. He's a markedly different man now than the sometimes gaff-prone campaigner. He exemplifies leadership in everything he does and he's doing more things each day than his predecessor did, well ever.
I was going to say the old Biden is back, but that's not right. This is Biden 2.0 and I like it!
On one of the two days during 9/11 when I was glued to the tv, I remember a shot of a senator standing on a bit of a hill outside the Pentagon where smoke was billowing up from the airplane attack. It was Joe Biden. He calmly said to the camera that the nation was going to be okay, that we would get through this. At that moment, I gave thanks that term limits were not in effect because I was deeply comforted by someone who knew the job ahead, knew how government worked, knew how to keep a steady keel. I didn't know much about him at that time but I could see his strength, and that was all I needed at that moment. Now I give thanks that he is in the White House. His strength and knowledge is exactly what we need.
I think it's actually Biden 3.0. The role of a senator is different. Melinda Quivik (right below this as I type) sums up her observation of Biden following 9/11 very nicely. As Vice President, Biden served that role in a manner that supported President Obama, the Nation, and allowed him to carve out some of the things that he could. Both of those missions (as well as being the man that he is with the life experiences that he's had) serve him well as POTUS.
The campaign trail is grueling. I bet he was always exhausted. He was a steady VP for Obama. Obama’s book highlights the same leader we are now seeing in just a week.
Biden was impressively effective as VP. He repeatedly gave Obama the nudges he needed, especially on gay marriage and Afghanistan. Those presumed "gaffes" had significant positive influence.
If affairs go well, Biden may become the greatest one-term president (move over James K Polk), unless there's a second. He also could be among the most beloved presidents.
That's marvellous. You can feel the Alpha Horse's "presence from the photo.....i've stiil got his "force" in much in my minds eye. It imposes!
Real leaders don't need a yellow jersey, a peaked cap or a STOP sign that they can twizzle in the wind. They impose by something special they have in their spirit, by charactor, personality and an ability to see far beyond the end of their nose where they should be heading, what it will look like when they get there and what are the stages and possible pitfalls on the way. Not too many around these days unfortunately!
I recently had the opportunity to observe a small group of deputies who are in a transition period of moving from corrections to patrol. In my agency, they are assigned to the court transport section (where I labor(!) as Court Security, a section of retired law enforcement who move about the courthouse and grounds as a general position of keeping unruly folks in line. This group had decided on a rather stupid "team building" exercise (eating Ghost Peppers). One of the group had been on scheduled time off, and was (on my one day per week) being "teased" about his unwillingness to eat a pepper. It should be said that two of the participants missed a work day due to "intestinal distress" and two others missed partial days. As this young man essentially stood firm in his decision not to join in, one of the others (not one who missed any time from work) said generally "well someone in this group has to be the leader, and it is obviously me". The young man did not back down from his "no pepper" stance, and I decided that I'd leave that environment (the office) and go wander about. I looked at No Pepper guy and said "just remember not to follow someone who has to tell you they're the leader. Leaders don't tell, they show".
Your assessment of how true leaders act is spot on.
Exactly so! Real leaders are not shouting, pushing to get their way. Real leaders show through example, through their support of others, and through working in the trenches with their workers. This is Joe 3.0! I am So proud to call him my President.
You've captured it precisely, to my mind, Stuart. The stallion may keep the herd safe (law) but it's really the boss mare who manages the herd (order)!🐎
Um, that was me who pointed out that alpha horse is female. The stallions are at the edge of the herd to guard, and keep their ears pricked for orders. It only takes a certain knicker.
Looking at it from the outside, i've always thought of NYC as somthing apart which one should not use as a yardstick to judge America. Sometimes New York needs a lesson from the rest of the family....at least in humility!
I lived in NYC and NY state for 34 years and loved it, but that was a different era. Visiting my son, who still lives there, before the election I was thrilled to see so many Biden-Harris signs so we should be grateful to them!
Hopefully, Biden has not forgotten the importance of Teddy Roosevelt's Bully Pulpit; the key role of public opinion for bringing recalcitrant Senators into line. He has a role to build that public support and "incite, with significant force that they neglect at their peril," the Senate to pass his agenda, be it taking new directions, respect for the law, improving on obvious inequities, removing injustices....or prosecuting criminal Presidents....past or present! He should not renounce this important part of his constitutional role.
Use of the Bully Pulpit is required indeed. Properly done it could be as effective as tRump’s tWeets ever were. I am actively looking for words issuing from that Pulpit. I am not easily finding them in the morass that is our/my internet.
That's because that's not what the internet is for. Try looking elsewhere.
As for Bully pulpit, here is Wikipedia's definition, which captures it's origin, history, and purpose:
"A bully pulpit is a conspicuous position that provides an opportunity to speak out and be listened to. This term was coined by United States President Theodore Roosevelt, who referred to his office as a "bully pulpit", by which he meant a terrific platform from which to advocate an agenda. Roosevelt used the word bully as an adjective meaning "superb" or "wonderful", a more common usage at that time."
Twitter was Trump's bully pulpit: his opening to the media. We made the mistake of letting the media get away with that kind of lazy reporting.
"We are now a week into the Biden administration..."
It's a change to hear news that Biden is operating within his Constitutional role in a constructive manner.
It's also not unexpected to hear that the GOP wasted no time in reverting to form by taking an onstructionist position on power sharing.
And it's really unfortunate to hear that in their haste to avoid their own culpability in enabling the last Administration, they've again decided, in advance, to pass on holding Trump accountable for what, in effect, was a treasonous act.
And finally, it's taken the internet trolls less than a week to begin blaming Biden for deficiencies in the vaccine rollout and immigration. There appears to be a widespread epidemic of childlike truculence whereby victimization is preferable to collective engagement.
Although every indication points to acquittal (45 - 55 so the trial in the Senate proceeds), I think the Republicans are caught in a bind, damned if they do, damned if they don't. I think the Republicans are depending on the short public memory.
Democracy requires truth telling. The trial should replay the riots and the Trumps instigating them. Bring in large TVs make the cowards and the American people watch
I think the Republicans who voted against having the trial are setting themselves up for a nightmare. They’re basically telling the entire world they can be bought into doing the wrong thing or threatened into doing the wrong thing. They’ve seriously endangered themselves, their families, and Americans. They’re a National Security threat. They need to resign or be removed.
I concur 100%! The five Senators that are, supposedly, in favor of impeachment should be acknowledged for their courage in standing up for the Constitution of the United State and the rule of law upon which it is based. The high crime of sedition committed by Trump and his minions in Congress should be prosecuted at the highest level! Doing the right thing is not always easy but this kind of criminal activity and threat to our Democracy must not be allowed to happen in the future again!
Republicans won't be damned if they vote to convict and restrict, the worst that might happen is they wouldn't be re-elected and Peter Meijer already answered that objection. The 45 are still looking for an easy way out of a situation most are unused to confronting - the need to make a positive moral and ethical decision.
The very fact that the whole discussion is about how to use their vote to protect themselves from losing a job that they can't be bothered to do - it's reprehensible.
One of my Congressman is Republican and he was one of the ten who voted yes. My state has 8 distinct geographical climates and my / his district is primarily farmland and high desert climate. I’ve watched his work for years and he has done a pretty good job. He works hard. He’s very visible and has a strong following. He doesn’t always represent my personal interests as I wish he would, but I’ve voted for him and will continue. He’s competent and knows the area he represents very well.
I immediately emailed him (his website crashed actually) after he voted yes and thanked him. He sent back a form email, no doubt, but it listed timelines and behaviors of Trump that showed the facts and he connected it to the constitution. Then I watched him being interviewed on PBS and he spoke of morals and values and not worrying about his job as much as protecting the integrity of the constitution.
As a Democrat, I couldn’t be more proud of my Republican Congressman.
That's how I feel about my Republican governor. He's called out not only Trump, but also other Republicans for not standing up for what's right. He's doing an incredibly good job with the pandemic. I still don't agree with him on economic issues, but I've noticed that some of his ideas for rebuilding our economy are surprisingly progressive. One never knows.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott. Good man. Just came out of quarantine after possible Covid exposure; tested no. He refuse to jump the line to be vaccinated, prefers to wait until his "age band" comes up. He doesn't want to deprive someone older and more vulnerable of access to the vaccine. Except while being quarantined, he does a 2 hour Covid update on public radio and CCTV twice a week along with other state officials, and call-in questions from news reporters from around the state, and sometimes email from viewers. Vermonters are probably the best informed of any state. One major reason we are consistently at the bottom of the list in terms of cases and deaths. We are informed, and we are careful.
Won’t be MA. The vaccine rollout here i slower than 42 other states. A small state with advanced medical infrastructure should be doing better. Plus Bake’s record is far from progressive.
Dave, I think there is another layer to the fear of losing their job. One of the residuals of Jan 6's level of violence--actual and potential-- is a fear for their lives and safety and that of their families. We have seen how threats in the cyber world of social media sometimes get played out in the physical world by acolytes. Trumpism has acolytes aplenty ready to do what they surmise their leader wants. Juliette Kayyem says Trump uses "stochastic terrorism", a tactic that uses ambiguous rhetoric to incite random acts of extreme violence. Then said leader backs away from his words. We have seen Trump do this over and over again. This diminishing of the power of the rhetoric ("I was only joking") will most likely be a large part of Trump's defense in the Senate trial.
This is certainly true. It is also true that these Senators who did not convict Tя☭mp the first time bear a great deal of responsibility for the increased violence of his supporters.
Totall agree. That failure emboldened Trump Inc. and along with his increasing inciting rhetoric at "rallies" built up to the violence and death of 1/06.
I don't disagree Carol but that has always been an unfortunate aspect of public life as far back as history is recorded and there has yet to be a documented occasion when yielding to the threat ameliorated the situation. Putting the former president inside for a long while and the identified insurrectionists with him would be more effective than the tack that Republicans have taken so far. I recognize also that such a sentiment is easier held when the outcome is unlikely but I've been there and survived. Bullies are not known for their bravery when challenged.
Oh I do agree that threats have always been part of being a public person. I say that from experience of being stalked and accosted when I was a local TV news anchor and verbally when I ran for Congress in 1984. But that was 40+ years ago and the ante has been upped by the confluence of Trumpism and social media. After Jan 6 I am convinced that anything can happen on the violence spectrum. However, I do heartily agree that the better part of leadership valor would be to break through the fear and face the bullies and the Bully in chief and "de-commission" them. But, still am haunted by the Judge whose son opened the front door and lost his life for her. Or, the thwarted plan to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer. Or the terrifying videos of people being shot and trampled on the 6th. Lots of PTSD to climb over this time. Thanks for the reply.
I agree that the potential for violence against Congresspeople is real. Still, acting against a threat is a better defense than cowering before it. Death threats, let alone storming the Capitol, demonstrate that Trumpskyites are a menace to all who don't show total, abject loyalty to their beloved tyrant. Cf. "Hang Mike Pence!"
I detest the phrase "just saying." it signals that someone wants to have it both ways. People who use it mean "if you approve, I'm serious. If not, then I'm 'just saying.'" Bah.
Exactly! I have been incredulous for 4+ years as he denies, jokes about, or otherwise dismisses his lies. I can’t help but wonder how he stumbled onto that M.O.? It’s like a 14 year old boy, as are almost all of his deviant behavior patterns. It always worked... ‘Who, me?!?’ Let’s have Mary Trump weigh in on this?
What a superb idea!!! She is experienced, knowledgeable and is able to expand the scope of terrorist tactics. Why aren't they asking us to run this trial????
Regarding short public memory, I have been thinking the same. I hope that during the Senate trial the Dems will replay scenes from the attack as much as possible. Also, perhaps the DNC or other organizations can put together videos of the attack to be played on TV and on social media sites. The horror of that day does fade even if the memory persists.
How indelibly etched in our minds is the image of the airplane crashing into the World Trade Center. Let the images of January 6 be replayed and recalled until they are impossible to forget or deny.
“I would simply say to all of my colleagues: Make no mistake, there will be a trial, and the evidence against the former president will be presented in living color for the nation and every one of us to see once again.”
The trial rules need to be updated so we don’t have the same foolishness as the last trial. Republicans left the floor en made when Democrats spoke. Repubs put ridiculous charts full of lies behind their seats to play to the home audience. 45’s entire speech needs to be played first with everyone in their seats. And maybe someone will say— this is what we’re talkin’ about. Capitol Hill switchboard— 202-224-3121. Wait for operator to contact anyone.
I would like to see a rule that everyone being in their seats for the entire trial. They could be excused to use the restroom one at a time, like school children. Also it would be helpful to restrict use of laptops and cell phones. It should function with the same rules as a jury trial in court.
Yes! Of course! How rude for any one of them to be looking at their phones! My Gawd, and who knows what would be communicated to them from whomever?! No, no, no
There are so many things that they should play...I wish they could use the phone conversation with Raffensperger , perhaps on a loop like background music, and turn it up when they take a break and blast it!
But, but?! And McCarthy, who for about 20 seconds had a whiff of an awakening but the the vials of kool-aid were distributed and the script was delivered. They really make me sick... so disgusted.
It occurred to me this morning that they may be trying to get the trial thrown out to avoid having to go on record, as Senators and jurors, either for or against Trump. If there's no trial, they merely objected to process. Fortunately, forty-five senators does not a majority make. It's a Hail Mary pass, and hopefully, it will fail. Which means there will be a trial. There will be evidence presented, of a crime most heinous. And the Senators will have to vote, on the record, each by name, to convict or acquit.
It isn't clear that there will be 45 votes to acquit if they're acting as jurors in the face of evidence: that's really bad optics, and there is no excuse for it.
I hope you are right. But I think back over this nightmare and I am saddened by the number of times that I thought, ‘whew, now we have him/them’ and yet ...always the ‘man behind the curtain’ sprinkles on the black magic dust and it is a mute point.
Can we ever get this back to.... a better state of affairs? We are so distracted by all this insanity and it continues !?
I want to scream! We are being eaten alive by a maniacal virus, maniacal people, and our planet is dying very quickly?!? Will those who care stand up, and those who don’t, will you please leave!?!
The Republicans are smart to depend on the short public memory. They'll do everything they can to distract the public from the impeachment. Just hoping Media doesn't run after them like damn sheep.
How much do we have to fear still? With the state Republican Parties becoming so Q'd, what is the strength of the conspiracy wing of the Republican Party vs. the business portion of the party. How widespread is the Q phenomenon? Why are so many Republicans, the ones who were so willing to play the turn-over the election, still afraid of these DT conspiracists and are ready to sacrifice democracy itself just to stay in power? I'm finding this all very depressing despite all the good things President Biden is doing. When are we going to feel like we have a stable democracy again, if ever?
The "Business wing" - according to the guys at the Bulwark who are in a far better position to know this stuff - is a definite minority in the GOP now and growing more minority. Also, Politico pointed out a study that shows the withdrawal of business PAC political contributions - which generally don't come with an ideological loyalty requirement - increases partisanship, since those who lose those contributions turn to other sources that are far more ideologically committed in their giving and demanding of total loyalty in return for the contribution.
“ the withdrawal of business PAC political contributions - which generally don't come with an ideological loyalty requirement - increases partisanship...”
Unfortunately, going back to the way we were is hardly an inspiring vision for the future....after the initial relief of surmounting and restructuring the chaos wears off. In 6 months time, when the Covid panic subsides, we are going to need something a little more stirring to draw the people together and get them to support a common "American Dream".
That's one thing I hated about MAGA. No, I didn't want to go back when women were treated as second class citizens or having to break the glass ceiling again or having to prove that "woman" and "engineer" were not mutually exclusive stereotypes. No, it is time to go forward and embrace the future and the technology revolution, a new economic system, a new responsibility to sustainability, a new era of social justice for all. Our education systems are wholly inadequate and underfunded for the future world ... or the present on for that matter. The Q-bists are ignorant and uneducated, dangerously so. Most of our elected officials can't think beyond the political calculation of the next election and have no ethical convictions pass the moment it is useful. Will we find some visionary leadership or will we have to go through a frightful time of upheaval before we're really to address the inevitable changes and either make a new, more positive world order or wither on the vine and see America fall like Rome.
Where is this gullibility coming from? Is it from too much virtual vs. real reality and social media algorithms which may really be brainwashing by encasing us in little bubbles and repeat repeat repeat untruths.
I have watched this emerging over the last 3-4 years. The Q thing is a relatively new addition to the mix. It started with some Republican power plays to stall legislation and escalated from there. There are some serious kooks elected from remote places who were pulled into the reactionary wing of the Republicans. Somehow the kooks hooked the reactionaries into the Q thing. No one saw that coming.
Since I am familiar with most of these people and know some of them, I am going to hazard a guess that the reactionaries thought they were getting allies for their power plays and put them in the kind of positions that lead to power and influence. I suspect they saw the new people as ignorant country bumpkins they could control. Alas, the bumpkins may believe some idiotic conspiracy theories, but they picked up on tricks pretty quickly.
Basically, I suspect that there are now technically 3 parties in the Oregon legislature, but the session just started, so it's hard to tell. This is going to be one hell of a session. Hard to believe we had people like Mark Hatfield, Victor Atiyah, Tom McCall... the list goes on, including some remarkable women. Now we have this.
On the positive side: a sizable and effective POC caucus, a legilature that is majority women, female governor and sec of state. The boneheads trying to take control: all male with a female they selected as caucus leader and another who goes along to get along. That so few people could disrupt a legislature with so many fine people is astonishing. And all by either manipulating rules, or simply ignoring them. I used to be proud to call Oregon my home state. I still really love the place, but it's hard to be proud of this.
It’s amazing what a difference a week can make. These past four years have felt like living with an abusive stepfather. Never knowing what mood he’d come home in or what chaos he’d create. I feel such relief to know the White House is in competent hands. All the hard work remains, but, the active destruction has abated, the toxic stream of lies has stopped and some measure of calm restored.
Biden is moving quickly and smartly to dispel the false image of him created by the right as a doddering old man. He also knows he has a limited time to move his key agenda items forward before the fickle media starts looking for a new angle on him. Right now, he’s doing it just right. Go, Joe!
Well said, Mary. You use "doddering" appropriately, but its misuse isn't confined to Repug haters. It's a deployed as a fairly routine insult, but it properly means nothing beyond being unsteady on one's feet due to various medical conditions. It is not a personal, let alone moral failing.
I get curious about words, so I looked it up in four dictionaries. Word originated in 17th century, means either physical or mental unsteadiness, usually due to old age. Mostly I think of it as physical, but it has always had the mental unsteadiness element. Unfortunately, now I have to reconsider my own self-definition.
Good work, Annie; I looked it up too. A friend once called me doddering and it wasn't appreciated. As for reconsidering definitions or self-definitions, sometimes it's fortunate, not unfortunate. We both should now have better command of vocabulary. Stay strong on your feet!
Interesting analysis from Josh Marshall about the whole filibuster business.
So, interesting developments over night in the Senate. Both sides are portraying the agreement as a win. But basically McConnell caved. So chalk up a win for Chuck Schumer.
McConnell said that he got the assurances he needed when Joe Manchin and (less volubly) Kirsten Sinema said they absolutely positively won’t ever support getting rid of the filibuster. But they’d already said that. And unfortunately they made it clear from the outset that they’re not ready to get rid of the legislative filibuster during this Congress.
What McConnell wanted was for the Democrats to agree as part of the organizing resolution to take it off the table entirely for the next two years. The whole thing boils down to symbolism, in any case, since the majority cannot actually bind itself in this way. The majority can only always decide to change the rules on a majority vote. But as I argued yesterday these points of symbolism are very important. For whatever reason McConnell decided to call off the stand off.
That leaves us where we expected to be. The filibuster remains the rule of the Senate and will remain that way unless and until at least Manchin decides otherwise. That means Biden should have a pretty free hand getting his nominees confirmed. The Democrats can and will use the ‘reconciliation’ process to push through COVID relief and other budget relevant items on straight majority votes.
The next thing the Democrats need to focus on is making the filibuster more visible, which is partly a matter of floor votes but also a matter of working the press. Republicans have done a great job of making it impossible for the government to function and then running against its dysfunction. Political junkies know about the filibuster and that most legislation, in practice, requires 60 votes. But in most cases this just amounts to a lot of things never happening. In practice, that last point is all that counts. A lot of Republicans are up for reelection next year. It is critical to find a way to structure a lot of votes, and work press coverage of them, to make Republicans own their opposition to popular legislation. That’s next.
"A lot of Republicans are up for reelection next year. It is critical to find a way to structure a lot of votes, and work press coverage of them, to make Republicans own their opposition to popular legislation. That’s next."
That is the critical point - can't be stressed enough. The price of obstructing the work of the people must be made too high to bear.
The least they can do to make it visible is to reinstate the rule that the Senators have to physically speak to maintain the filibuster. They might also introduce a possibility for Harris to "censure" a speaker when he or she is "off subject"!
💗 both of these ideas.
I agree, Stuart, that, at a minimum, they should return to the verbal filibuster rule, if they don’t have the votes to eliminate it.
I love this idea. Do you know how easy/difficult doing this might be?
A simple majority vote to change the rules of the Senate.
Thanks. I hope they do this if the Rs continue their destructive obstruction.
Two good points here!
Agreed. McConnell has protected Republican Senators from voting against popular bills for over a decade. All legislation he didn’t approve of simply died in his hands. Now they will all have to publicly vote and show their hands. The only objective McConnell ever had was to keep the Senate in Republican hands at whatever cost. Legislation be damned.
and now when they have to vote on serious matters, such as impeachment, they're so flustered about having to take a stand and ACTUALLY VOTE on something!
In today's New York Times (1/27), David Leonhardt addressed the problem of Senate rules which allow the filibuster. He quoted Alexander Hamilon: “What at first sight may seem a remedy,” Hamilton wrote, referring to supermajority rule, “is, in reality, a poison.” If a majority could not govern, he explained, it would lead to “tedious delays; continual negotiation and intrigue; contemptible compromises of the public good.” That is the 'poison' dispensed by Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans.
The Hamilton quote comes from Federalist Papers #22, which I am now re-reading. He makes a lot of other good points in it as well.
Gee TC: when you stop cursing at all of us you actually say interesting and useful things! I agree with all of this: the obstruction has to be made transparent by outing it when it happens other than hiding it through procedure.
I've been here for less than a week and it's already clear that TC is an outlier.
Yep. But in one way or another, all of us here are. Makes it interesting.
Be careful before you write TC off. He expresses rage a lot, and this past week was not a good one for him, but let me tell ya I've been reading him for over a month and I like what I see. Bring excellent outside opinion and commentary into the discussion, and also some biting and clever and unique names that I love seeing.
Yes and outliers are a critical, if challenging, part of any worthwhile conversation.
Thank you Diane, my sentiments exactly. Yay for outliers‼️🥰
He was quoting someone else. But I agree; it was well worth reading, so TC gets credit for not swearing AND for quoting something worthwhile. :-]
OK! This is where my head is at and what I’m trying to understand and direct my grassroots energy toward. Thank you TCinLA😘 for your analysis of the Schumer-McConnell showdown. I wish I had more confidence in Schumer, but maybe he’ll surprise me. ❤️🤍💙
Watch Rachel Maddow interview with Schumer on 1.27 -- I was very impressed. He's more than a old guy talking through granny glasses.
Could you share a link?
Here's a link to the interview- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E126AU8V3I
Thank you!
Thanks for this.
Dang. Should have read it yesterday. I crashed and went to bed. Its down now- taken down by the poster.
Thanks, Jane! I'll take a listen. xDeborah
Thank you Heather, I am finally able to step back and get perspective. Living under 45 was synonymous with being in an abusive relationship. I could see what was happening the lies, the abuse of power, the lack of boundaries. What I did not realize was how I was losing hope that it is possible to have a leader with clear boundaries who could lead by taking action with clarity about what needs to be done in a respectful manner. I can finally begin to breathe that we have a leader with a moral compass. Thank you 45 for underlining how important clear boundaries, kindness and a moral compass are. Joe Biden was not my choice but I am sure he is just what this county and I needed at this time. I can trust him as I watch him choose his people and have such clear boundaries.
I too chose another candidate and Heartily agree with Susan’s sentiments. I am breathing easier with the immediate results of Biden’s presidency illustrated in Heather’s letter today.
David, It is such a relief. I am breathing with an ease I have not felt for a long time. I feel so lucky to have found Heather’s letters to help put events in a historical perspective.
Violating boundaries is a major hallmark of abusers and bullies. They will not or cannot stop, but they can be stopped. The 2020 election stopped Trumpsky's run as a bullying, abusive president. Good luck to the shrinking number of people that he still can dominate, they'll need it.
I feel the same as you. Trump’s entire presidency reminded me and triggered me just like being back in my abusive 25-year marriage. Toward the end of 3rd year I felt myself slipping into apathy re politics. And I love my politics. It reminded me of what people like Trump can and did do to many..killed their desire to care anymore.
Heather, I have a question I’d love you to explore one day. Both Amendments 1 & 2 are being interpreted in ways that put us in actual danger.
The interpretation of the “Right to Bear Arms” has allowed an astonishing proliferation of guns - many unregulated - in our nation with the NRA playing a major roll. Gun violence is our other pandemic.
Now the abuse of “Freedom of Speech” in Amendment 1 has allowed lies and facts to be treated as equivalent. Without a framework of mutual facts as a basis, how can we agree upon, let alone build anything? Conspiracy theories, lies and distortion have always been with us, but, with the help of social media, they have grown exponentially and now pose a real threat to democracy. Now that we’ve opened this can of worms, what can we do?
Part of the problem is that deception has always been with us but now it is boosted by the stunning powers of illusion available to even a seventh grader with a phone. When I was teaching third graders back in the late 80s a man in our community made a video for children that explained and demonstrated how photography and video could exaggerate the size and power of toy cars and other toys that were popular that year. He gave a copy to every school librarian in our area, and they arranged for every classroom in their school to see and discuss the video. This foregrounding of the deception of advertising in an area of interest to students was very effective in introducing the skills of questioning and debunking that should be foundational in education at all levels.
As I listened to HCR yesterday afternoon on the Politics Hour, I saw signs of her nudging us towards "adulting" for ourselves, becoming more independently active in making the world we want, whether through working to change the tax code, fixing gerrymandering, or any other of dozens of vital needs for a more perfect union. (This may have been her way of pointing out that rather than "giving a man a fish, she has been teaching us how to fish for ourselves, at last - and here's to effective education). So I would suggest that this topic is a vital one for exploration. False equivalences and outright falsehoods have been employed to distort the core truths of the right to speak/write/believe as you choose without government suppression, and to defend your community. How do we re-educate our citizens and the world?
Adults in the White House instead of an adulterer. Sweet!
Facts are facts only if agreed upon. They are simply stepping stones to conversation. If only it wasn’t so easy to live in your own private Idaho.
Yes and no. Facts are indeed limited by our understanding. There is so much we don’t know about our universe so we’re always expanding our knowledge. Truth is more subjective and relays on mutual agreement. But, there are verifiable facts that simply exist and we abandon them at our peril. Gravity is fact on earth, whether we agree or not. And yes, it’s become far too easy to live in your own private Idaho.
I am sorry to counter your point, but facts are facts and untruths are untruths, not "alternative facts." Yes, it is essential for a healthy discussion that we agree on the relevant facts as a foundation for that discussion. However, some disagreeing with the facts, does not mean they are not facts.
Fact (noun) - a thing that is known or proved to be true.
There is no room within the definition of fact for the idea that we must all agree on that point in order for a thing to be known or proven to be true. If it is known or proven to be true, it is a fact, whether some dispute it or not.
This misunderstanding of the definition of fact is responsible for so much misinformation today that many have lost the capability for rational discussion or critical thinking.
An interesting point, Bruce. I remember, mennnny moons ago, when visiting my parents during an internship on Capitol Hill, describing the politics of 1982 as one not needing to know too much. I made a fist and said, here is the core issue (perhaps factual).
Then imaginarily wrapping my one hand around the other and saying, "Then there are core perceptions." They were finite in number.
Then, slowly gesturing my hand around the room, I said, "And the rest of the room is interpretations, counter-interpretations, counter-counter-interpretations, etc. It gets so you can hardly breathe, you know?" Such is the way of complexifying.
So, I often wonder whether one is prone to confuse the "etc." with the fact(s) shrouded completely by layers of justifications, interpretations, and yet another etc. Part of the linguistic problem is that one says 'you' rather than 'one', which starts to confuse general statements with particulars.
Another part for people like me is, perhaps, too often keeping statements in the "I". The intention for me, at least a long time ago, was to avoid saying you and taking ownership of the statement being said. People can understandably view that habit, perhaps correctly, as self absorption, often sparking a contest of wills.
The question you (not one) might help me with is: ¿Is the statement, 'I do not know', a factual one?
Ah, a philosophical question? I am carefully listening for the sound of a tree falling somewhere in a far away forest.
I suppose as I sit here, carefully splitting the hairs I am pulling out if my head at present, I would classify the statement as factual describing a condition of not knowing the answer to a particular question that it references. This makes the statement itself factual. However, it does not mean the referenced question is unanswerable to someone else who may know the facts required to correctly answer it.
Ha! Your own private Idaho. Perfectly describes a large number of my family there and whom I just had to stop visiting a couple of years ago.
I so relate. Though I separated a very long time ago, I am still leery when around people I know think like my (former) relatives in Idaho, not matter where they are now.
Have to call that nonsense as stated, David.
Though understandings may vary, facts remain facts. 2 + 2 = 4 no matter what Trumpsky says or a zillion Deplorables believe.
PS, I'm concerned by our own public Idaho!
Because Republicans in the Senate will not go along with what is necessary to stem this threat to democracy, it will be up to the Department of Justice. Convicted domestic terrorists belong in Guantanamo, along with foreign terrorists.
The peculiar thing there is that there are no *convicted* foreign terrorists at Guantanamo. They are "detainees" and "suspects" who are considered outside the US military justice system and not subject to the Geneva convention. Are we ready to open that can of worms again? (I personally am all for it, because it should have been closed decades ago. Or never created at all).
We need to own the fact that citizens of the United States broke numerous federal laws and attempted to bring down our government through violent action. These people should be tried openly in US courts. We absolutely should NOT compare that to what we did in Guantanamo to people who were not even given trials and are being held against international law. We'd lose whatever respect we've gained by getting rid of our own despot through a fair and honest election.
Guantanamo persists in legal limbo. It occupies a liminal space in international law, created by invading Cuba and extorting its cession in an unequal treaty. For 100 years it was ignored as an oddity and anomaly, but since Sept 11 the sinister aspects of its ambiguous status are all too clear. Detentions there should have ended long ago, but lack of political will is a major obstacle. Not even Trumpsky and his insurrectionist flying monkeys should be incarcerated there.
Thanks, TPI. I so agree. When I hear people say "That's not us." my immediate response is "Yes, it is, and always has been." Like to refer them to Jill Lepore's book "In the Name of War", history of the early New England colonies from a different perspective.
Hi Annie, you have good taste in history books. It's true, it IS us, but it doesn't have to be that way. Lincoln's immortal phrase "better angels of our nature" implies that there are worse angels (devils?) but that we can rise above them. One way, among others, is to practice anti-racism. Cf. Ibram Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist. Cheers!
Yep. Book club last year, but I've already read it. Good book, better than "White Fragility". (Also, I've lived it.)
Excellent questions!
The far right white supremacists seem to have caught on that the words "amendment rights" are their ticket to asserting privilege. Clear signs of impending violence for Jan.6 were ignored under the label of 'first amendment rights." Funny how the peaceful protesters for Black Lives Matter got attacked without any mention of their first amendment rights.
Wow, Diane, very well put. I have wondered about the wording of the 2nd Amdt as well. To me, people is used as a collective noun as in the people of a joining state not as the plural of an individual. If my shrinking grey matter is still worth a damn, the original text of the Constitutions uses 'persons' for the plural of an individual.
I remember doing research on the 1st Amdt and some writers, likely conservative, were saying that the 1st Amdt protected "protected speech" only. Great reminders, Diane, thank you.
You all don't take too long of a breather. 45 senators?! I voiced my objection to my own two "unrepresentatives" yesterday. Will do again daily until trump is out of their court. (Why hasn't he been arrested yet by NY state courts as an aside?)
Our government system says a sitting president can't (shouldn't) be arrested, and now that he's an ex president, our government (almost) said he shouldn't be tried?
C'mon, wtf!
Lynn, I’m also wondering when NY is going to act. They’ve had plenty of time to prepare.
I am not yet sleeping soundly. I feel like I’m in one of those gangster movies, sleeping with one eye open. If anyone thinks the threat is past, think again. That under the rock worm, Ken Paxton, the Texas AG, not only filed the lawsuit against Biden’s deportation halt and won, he is crowing about it. He is saying the deportation halt is the real left wing seditious insurrection. I would like to say “unbelievable “ but it isn’t
I also am sleeping with one eye open. While everyone else is celebrating and surely Biden Schumer and Pelosi are leading us well I know there are 70 million including my husband and his family who believe the election was stolen. That doesn't just disappear overnight
I agree with you. Right feels like the rush of relief people may have felt when Senator Henry Clay would proclaim, "Here I come to save the day!"
Typically, it is the highest jurisprudence that has first crack., or the one with the most egregious crime. That's us, the people of the United States.
Ty! That actually makes sense
I'm happy to say that PA's two senators, Toomey (R) and Casey (D) both voted "yea".
I agree and call my congresspeople. I think the Senators who supported the insurrection need to be held accountable for their behavior as should 45.
I sign plenty of petitions, but seldom call my Congresspeople. I'm fortunate to have Warren, Markey, Pressley and mostly trust them to act well on their own initiative. They are arguably the best group of MA leaders since Sens. Charles Sumner, Henry Wilson and Gov. John Andrew in the 1860s.
TPJ, calling and writing directly to your congresspeople is way more effective than petitions (which I've come to think of as fund-raisers). You have good people, but I can tell you from all the good politicians I've spoken to, they need most of all to hear from people like you. And especially when you agree with them, let them know. Otherwise they get mainly the growsers, the complainers, the people who make threats, subtle or overt. Without people like you getting in touch, they have no real way of knowing what their constituency thinks and what's important to them. I've seen a friend go from despondent to (relatively) relaxed on hearing from a constituent who gave a pat on the back. It makes a difference.
Thank you Annie. I will reconsider based on your sound advice.
Connecticut Senators, particularly Chris Murphy, are the real mahogany!
Agreed. I grew up in CT or, more precisely, spent my youth there (growing up is a lifelong process) with activist liberal parents. I've watched with interest as CT steadily moved from classic swing state to true blue. Alas, it's not just progress but also a sign of increasing polarization. Alas!
I wonder if the DOJ will wait for the results of the impeachment trial before taking action. I don't know the procedure for this. Anyone?
No, but I am wondering as well. And, you know who might have a sense of what’s going on with the indictments that will start raining on him like anvils...Preet Bharara, formerly the U.S. Attorney for the SDNY. He will be so on this that trump won’t even know what hit him.
"raining on him like anvils"
Wow, thanks for this vivid image. As Capt Picard says, "Make it so!"
Good point! I follow him on social media. Tish James the AG of NY is one to follow as well.
Great, thanks!
Lynn, "TF" is, they don't want to touch this with a barge pole. They want to bury it hard and deep.
The relief I feel cannot be overstated. I am concentrating on my family and my work more. I’m so grateful for President Biden.
Don't get all comfortable. The war is far from over, and the other side has no plans to concede anything.
Why, oh why? Please don’t relax and turn away from the continuing nightmare. Mitch McConnell is evil and has to be taken down. He enabled Trump. Trump enabled him. They’re just 2 sides of the same coin. One just more cunning and intelligent. 2022. ❤️🤍💙
Relaxing does not have to mean turning away. It means take a deep breath, appreciate the end of 45's constant presidential abusiveness, then go back to work to make improvements.
Hi, Joan. It is certainly a relief to have 45 out of eye- and ear-shot. But, for me, after what McConnell did to Obama, it's as The Who sang, "Won't Get Fooled Again". xD
Spot on. Their belief in the Big Lie confounds me. A lot of the folks in my world have fallen for that hook, line, sinker, pole, and reel.
Along that line: Chauncey DeVega at Salon.com "Trumps horror show isn't nearly over; the coup wasn't defeated, only slowed down."
It's been four years since we last saw a president act ... presidential. Four long years.
4 long years since we saw a president act HUMAN!
Check and double-check
Yes, and while some are warning that we should not relax, and I agree, Biden is not being distracted. I see nothing wrong with acknowledging his focus and accomplishments thus far, while recognizing that evil lurks, and we need to resolve to fight it tooth and nail, ultimately rendering it impotent. It will be a long haul, and for the moment we need to focus on the goals that will repair our democracy, and offer unity and healing only when it is earned.
So true
The silencing of ddt's bullhorn is a source of immense calm.
Being President of the United States is among the most difficult and demanding jobs I can imagine. The number of challenges arriving on the Resolute desk, the pace of their arrival, their gravity, the broad spectrum of issues and challenges requiring attention must be overwhelming for anyone to cope with them. This helps to explain why Donald Trump, perhaps the least serious and most incompetent individual ever to sit in the Oval Office, eve n during a social call let alone fulfilling the responsibilities of the Presidency was so bad at it. Frankly while many have noted and complained about the portion of his time devoted to his golf game, I have prayed daily to see him spend more time golfing.
I find Trump’s threat to form a new Patriot political party laughable. This is a man with an attention span that makes it a virtual impossibility to complete a coherent sentence, let alone fulfill the tasks and responsibilities of launching and sustaining a political party. I suppose there are those with a genuine interest in seeing such a thing come to pass, no matter the nihilistic nature of such an aspiration. However if you had the funding capability and intellectual capacity to undertake such an effort, why in the world would you pick Donald Trump as the vessel into which to pour that ambition and effort.
Trump is quickly becoming yesterday’s news and it seems already the stink is setting in and the flies are circling like it is three day old trash left too long in the hot sun.
The contrast of Biden’s attention to the job of being President and Trump’s unserious approach to it are increasingly evident. It matters not if you agree or disagree with Biden’s policies or actions, in judging his effectiveness and attention to the business of being President. I am so thankful to see competence, commitment, and compassion return to the Presidency. Not just the U.S. but the entire world has missed this enormously.
Your approach in acknowledging the fresh air that we are all breathing is, in my opinion, the correct one. That doesn't mean that any of us should ignore the many threats that are aimed at our democracy. As you point out, Trump would never have been able to be a good president, even if his intentions were the best. Biden is putting the wheels back on the wagon and, so far, has appointed skillful guards to be on the lookout for enemies. I believe that people of good will the world over are happy with our return to civilization.
Yes. Biden’s first week has made Trump’s 4 years look worse than ever. It is very hard work being the POTUS. And now we must all join Biden after our collective exhales and do more for our country than ever before. I don’t want Americans to sit back and relax. We can’t do that.
No, it’s time to roll up our sleeves. Apologies to Gym Jordan.
Trump may well be the worst POTUS, not being a historian, I’m not informed enough on all President’s past. However, with the support of millions who connected with him on an emotional/moral level, it seems foolish to think won’t continue on his path of dividing our country with hate/rancor/racism/misogyny and conflict. His platform may be smaller but his vengeance greater
I'm a historian and, while the consensus is still forming, I and colleagues feel certain that in the long term Trumpsky will be considered the Worst President Ever. Pierce, Buchanan, Johnson I, Harding, Nixon, Bush II will all have their "advocates," but the cascade of his disasters (some continuing well past 1/20/21) is unprecedented. The favorable views will die along with his deluded admirers; the dismal legacy will endure. In the future people will marvel at the harm done and wonder how it was allowed to happen.
I agree, TPJ and Bruce. Right now I suspect that many of us still have a kind of PTSD reaction whenever Trump or one of the many power brokers stick their heads out and make threatening sounds. But that will abate and we can start relazing- which all by itself can help relegate these guys to the historical trash bin. (I mean, that guy from MO? (already having a hard time remembering his name) He's trying so very hard to be taken seriously, but it won't be long he won't even be a footnote in somebody's thesis.
You probably meant "relaxing", but I like "relazing" - a new word!
At this very moment Trumpsky is "relazing" at Mega-Lardo.
LOL. Yeah. I was going to add a correction, but figured people would figure it out (and I'm tired). I love that you not only figured it out, but took it to a new level!
The 2018 Siena poll of 157 presidential scholars reported George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Thomas Jefferson as the top five US presidents, with SCRI director Don Levy stating, "The top five, Mount Rushmore plus FDR, is carved in granite with presidential historians...." Donald Trump—entering the SCRI survey for the first time—joined Andrew Johnson, James Buchanan, Warren G. Harding, and Franklin Pierce among the bottom five US presidents. George W. Bush, whom presidential scholars had rated among the bottom five in the previous 2010 survey, improved to a position in the third quartile. Perhaps that improvement is by virtue of his now comparison to Donald Trump who puts the rating of his Presidency in an entirely new perspective.
Here is a full discussion and a complete list of the ratings over time by various surveys of historians and Presidential scholars:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_rankings_of_presidents_of_the_United_States
W might have been given credit for breaking with his party and publicly eviscerating Trump, who, by comparison, makes the Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld combo look almost competent - maybe saintly.
Indeed clan Buchanan both in PA and the 'wee bit' olde countrie are throwing penultimate parties (mini-haha).
I don't worry about him as much as those who surround him and use his platform and reach for their own devious purposes.
Well said! I think everyone feels better when there is a parent in the room and actions have consequences.
Lol! Your prayers were answered as he did indeed play lots of golf!
Nicely stated, good and faithful savant!
As a life long Republican, I voted for Biden (and the two new Democrat senators from GA). I try to assess an individual on character before party. Will the candidate support the constitution and do their best to do what is right for our citizens and residents? I can not and will not fall prey to supporting a demagogue...I did that once before about 20 years ago in 2016. I have not switched parties although I have entertained the idea because the Republican Party has swung so far toward Trump (in this instance, being left or right doesn’t matter because Trump is his own direction). I hope the paranoia that seemingly intelligent people are in will dissipate as time goes on. I hope that company leaders will use political catnip ($$) to drive the country back to center. I hope true American Patriots will vote for candidate character and support of the constitution. I hope those of us who watched the insurrection of Jan 6 will no longer sit idly by...we must vote, we must march, we must be vocal, and we must never let this happen again. I may not know who or what I am fighting against. I do know that I fight for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...Non sibi sed patriae!
Thank you for your patriotism. We owe Republicans like you a very great debt.
How can we (the USA) be a "leader" for the rule of law and order, around the world or even in our own backyard, when 45 old white men can say incitement to insurrection is a partisan witch hunt??? I despair of our entire system if this egregious behavior by the former president is allowed to go unpunished and worse, is actually rewarded as he will still have all the perks of an ex-president. Trump is a.criminal many many times over and should be convicted in the senate of incitement to insurrection!!!
Easy with that "Old White Men." Like President Biden, I am an old white man and nothing like the former asswipe posing as president.
I fit that much maligned category, too. Something tells me that Trump was a scrubbing donkey as a young man and would have been so in any other demographic.
All of the 45 are neither old nor white although Sen. Scott stands alone in a crowd I don't think he'll be happy in for long. Some of them are young, venal and apparently more concerned with their personal success than that of the country.
White people in the Senate, not just old or male.
Regarding the Senate vote today on constitutionality of the impeachment, I and most likely all of you (and, surprisingly, HRC) read it wrong. That's because the Senate rules are arcane and most all have no clue how they work. Fortunately, Lawrence O'Donnell, former senior Senate staffer, does know them and how they work, and he explained that today's vote on a Motion to Table is not the same as a vote on conviction, or even a vote on whether the impeachment is unconstitutional, and that it is not necessarily a harbinger of the final vote. Senator Portman's tweet saying that his vote against tabling the motion today should not be seen as his statement on how he will finally vote, demonstrates Lawrence was right.
That doesn't mean there are 12 Republicans planning to convict hiding in plain sight among the 45 who voted not to table - I will personally be flabbergasted if the Republican vote comes to 8-10 for conviction. but - to mix metaphors - it's not time yet to get the cart before the horse and go asses over teakettles.
Thanks, Lawrence, for teaching me something actually new that I didn't know, today.
YEP! Now that attention is focused on Congress, Lawrence O’Donnell is going to become a relevant talking head voice. His tenure for Senator Moynihan in the good ole days gave him a LOT of experience and perspective and sheer knowledge. And, LOD knows how to tell a story. ❤️🤍💙
FWIW, I did not write about this because I did not get it wrong, either. The vote following the table vote was, to me, the interesting one.
So, it was a motion to dismiss the trial altogether?
Morning, all!! Morning, Dr. R!! Note the photo in this link of the alpha horse keeping his herd safe as they cross the road. Leadership: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_41.htm
Won't be surrendering my Biden/Harris coffee mug anytime soon.
Biden charged out of the gate taking back the reins of the nation and steering it back on course. He's a markedly different man now than the sometimes gaff-prone campaigner. He exemplifies leadership in everything he does and he's doing more things each day than his predecessor did, well ever.
I was going to say the old Biden is back, but that's not right. This is Biden 2.0 and I like it!
On one of the two days during 9/11 when I was glued to the tv, I remember a shot of a senator standing on a bit of a hill outside the Pentagon where smoke was billowing up from the airplane attack. It was Joe Biden. He calmly said to the camera that the nation was going to be okay, that we would get through this. At that moment, I gave thanks that term limits were not in effect because I was deeply comforted by someone who knew the job ahead, knew how government worked, knew how to keep a steady keel. I didn't know much about him at that time but I could see his strength, and that was all I needed at that moment. Now I give thanks that he is in the White House. His strength and knowledge is exactly what we need.
I think it's actually Biden 3.0. The role of a senator is different. Melinda Quivik (right below this as I type) sums up her observation of Biden following 9/11 very nicely. As Vice President, Biden served that role in a manner that supported President Obama, the Nation, and allowed him to carve out some of the things that he could. Both of those missions (as well as being the man that he is with the life experiences that he's had) serve him well as POTUS.
The campaign trail is grueling. I bet he was always exhausted. He was a steady VP for Obama. Obama’s book highlights the same leader we are now seeing in just a week.
Biden was impressively effective as VP. He repeatedly gave Obama the nudges he needed, especially on gay marriage and Afghanistan. Those presumed "gaffes" had significant positive influence.
If affairs go well, Biden may become the greatest one-term president (move over James K Polk), unless there's a second. He also could be among the most beloved presidents.
That's marvellous. You can feel the Alpha Horse's "presence from the photo.....i've stiil got his "force" in much in my minds eye. It imposes!
Real leaders don't need a yellow jersey, a peaked cap or a STOP sign that they can twizzle in the wind. They impose by something special they have in their spirit, by charactor, personality and an ability to see far beyond the end of their nose where they should be heading, what it will look like when they get there and what are the stages and possible pitfalls on the way. Not too many around these days unfortunately!
I recently had the opportunity to observe a small group of deputies who are in a transition period of moving from corrections to patrol. In my agency, they are assigned to the court transport section (where I labor(!) as Court Security, a section of retired law enforcement who move about the courthouse and grounds as a general position of keeping unruly folks in line. This group had decided on a rather stupid "team building" exercise (eating Ghost Peppers). One of the group had been on scheduled time off, and was (on my one day per week) being "teased" about his unwillingness to eat a pepper. It should be said that two of the participants missed a work day due to "intestinal distress" and two others missed partial days. As this young man essentially stood firm in his decision not to join in, one of the others (not one who missed any time from work) said generally "well someone in this group has to be the leader, and it is obviously me". The young man did not back down from his "no pepper" stance, and I decided that I'd leave that environment (the office) and go wander about. I looked at No Pepper guy and said "just remember not to follow someone who has to tell you they're the leader. Leaders don't tell, they show".
Your assessment of how true leaders act is spot on.
Exactly so! Real leaders are not shouting, pushing to get their way. Real leaders show through example, through their support of others, and through working in the trenches with their workers. This is Joe 3.0! I am So proud to call him my President.
You've captured it precisely, to my mind, Stuart. The stallion may keep the herd safe (law) but it's really the boss mare who manages the herd (order)!🐎
Just as "parenting" should be.
Um, that was me who pointed out that alpha horse is female. The stallions are at the edge of the herd to guard, and keep their ears pricked for orders. It only takes a certain knicker.
My last mug came from my step-daughter's last trip to New York.....an "I Love NY" mug.
Having lived in MD, DC and VA, I've always thought of New York as the proverbial Big Brother to us little guys!
Looking at it from the outside, i've always thought of NYC as somthing apart which one should not use as a yardstick to judge America. Sometimes New York needs a lesson from the rest of the family....at least in humility!
New York itself doesn't - but when we make bad apples, they are BIGLY bad apples!
Always outsized, that's New York!
And I'm sure there are some in this community who are from NY but not from NYC who would agree with you.
Thats true!
I lived in NYC and NY state for 34 years and loved it, but that was a different era. Visiting my son, who still lives there, before the election I was thrilled to see so many Biden-Harris signs so we should be grateful to them!
Thanks for the link! Such a good one!
Actually, the alpha horse of a herd is female. Just so you know.
True, thanks, Annie.
I have one too, a birthday present from my husband!
Good article. I shared it with my FB friends. Thanks!
Hopefully, Biden has not forgotten the importance of Teddy Roosevelt's Bully Pulpit; the key role of public opinion for bringing recalcitrant Senators into line. He has a role to build that public support and "incite, with significant force that they neglect at their peril," the Senate to pass his agenda, be it taking new directions, respect for the law, improving on obvious inequities, removing injustices....or prosecuting criminal Presidents....past or present! He should not renounce this important part of his constitutional role.
This. This is SO key.
Use of the Bully Pulpit is required indeed. Properly done it could be as effective as tRump’s tWeets ever were. I am actively looking for words issuing from that Pulpit. I am not easily finding them in the morass that is our/my internet.
That's because that's not what the internet is for. Try looking elsewhere.
As for Bully pulpit, here is Wikipedia's definition, which captures it's origin, history, and purpose:
"A bully pulpit is a conspicuous position that provides an opportunity to speak out and be listened to. This term was coined by United States President Theodore Roosevelt, who referred to his office as a "bully pulpit", by which he meant a terrific platform from which to advocate an agenda. Roosevelt used the word bully as an adjective meaning "superb" or "wonderful", a more common usage at that time."
Twitter was Trump's bully pulpit: his opening to the media. We made the mistake of letting the media get away with that kind of lazy reporting.
Trump’s was an Abuse Pulpit.
"We are now a week into the Biden administration..."
It's a change to hear news that Biden is operating within his Constitutional role in a constructive manner.
It's also not unexpected to hear that the GOP wasted no time in reverting to form by taking an onstructionist position on power sharing.
And it's really unfortunate to hear that in their haste to avoid their own culpability in enabling the last Administration, they've again decided, in advance, to pass on holding Trump accountable for what, in effect, was a treasonous act.
And finally, it's taken the internet trolls less than a week to begin blaming Biden for deficiencies in the vaccine rollout and immigration. There appears to be a widespread epidemic of childlike truculence whereby victimization is preferable to collective engagement.
The ship is turning. Slow and steady. Feels good to have a new captain and strong crew in place. We will weather this storm!
I love optimists - their screams of agony when reality comes up and smacks them over the head are so resounding. (/snark)
Pure snark indeed TC, reel in in please. Allow us to have a moment of joy and relief. The dirty dishes will always be there.
Although every indication points to acquittal (45 - 55 so the trial in the Senate proceeds), I think the Republicans are caught in a bind, damned if they do, damned if they don't. I think the Republicans are depending on the short public memory.
Democracy requires truth telling. The trial should replay the riots and the Trumps instigating them. Bring in large TVs make the cowards and the American people watch
Required fare for government.
I hope they find more incriminating evidence, and play it up for all it's worth.
I think the Republicans who voted against having the trial are setting themselves up for a nightmare. They’re basically telling the entire world they can be bought into doing the wrong thing or threatened into doing the wrong thing. They’ve seriously endangered themselves, their families, and Americans. They’re a National Security threat. They need to resign or be removed.
I concur 100%! The five Senators that are, supposedly, in favor of impeachment should be acknowledged for their courage in standing up for the Constitution of the United State and the rule of law upon which it is based. The high crime of sedition committed by Trump and his minions in Congress should be prosecuted at the highest level! Doing the right thing is not always easy but this kind of criminal activity and threat to our Democracy must not be allowed to happen in the future again!
yes, although they seem to be just fine with that.
I agree. That's why I said damned if they do, damned if they don't.
Republicans won't be damned if they vote to convict and restrict, the worst that might happen is they wouldn't be re-elected and Peter Meijer already answered that objection. The 45 are still looking for an easy way out of a situation most are unused to confronting - the need to make a positive moral and ethical decision.
The very fact that the whole discussion is about how to use their vote to protect themselves from losing a job that they can't be bothered to do - it's reprehensible.
One of my Congressman is Republican and he was one of the ten who voted yes. My state has 8 distinct geographical climates and my / his district is primarily farmland and high desert climate. I’ve watched his work for years and he has done a pretty good job. He works hard. He’s very visible and has a strong following. He doesn’t always represent my personal interests as I wish he would, but I’ve voted for him and will continue. He’s competent and knows the area he represents very well.
I immediately emailed him (his website crashed actually) after he voted yes and thanked him. He sent back a form email, no doubt, but it listed timelines and behaviors of Trump that showed the facts and he connected it to the constitution. Then I watched him being interviewed on PBS and he spoke of morals and values and not worrying about his job as much as protecting the integrity of the constitution.
As a Democrat, I couldn’t be more proud of my Republican Congressman.
Wow, he’s a rare bird!
Actually, he is one of quite a few who've spoken out. The news just wasn't covering it. Odd, eh?
That's how I feel about my Republican governor. He's called out not only Trump, but also other Republicans for not standing up for what's right. He's doing an incredibly good job with the pandemic. I still don't agree with him on economic issues, but I've noticed that some of his ideas for rebuilding our economy are surprisingly progressive. One never knows.
MA, MD or AZ?
I can't recall the others at this late hour.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott. Good man. Just came out of quarantine after possible Covid exposure; tested no. He refuse to jump the line to be vaccinated, prefers to wait until his "age band" comes up. He doesn't want to deprive someone older and more vulnerable of access to the vaccine. Except while being quarantined, he does a 2 hour Covid update on public radio and CCTV twice a week along with other state officials, and call-in questions from news reporters from around the state, and sometimes email from viewers. Vermonters are probably the best informed of any state. One major reason we are consistently at the bottom of the list in terms of cases and deaths. We are informed, and we are careful.
Won’t be MA. The vaccine rollout here i slower than 42 other states. A small state with advanced medical infrastructure should be doing better. Plus Bake’s record is far from progressive.
Dave, I think there is another layer to the fear of losing their job. One of the residuals of Jan 6's level of violence--actual and potential-- is a fear for their lives and safety and that of their families. We have seen how threats in the cyber world of social media sometimes get played out in the physical world by acolytes. Trumpism has acolytes aplenty ready to do what they surmise their leader wants. Juliette Kayyem says Trump uses "stochastic terrorism", a tactic that uses ambiguous rhetoric to incite random acts of extreme violence. Then said leader backs away from his words. We have seen Trump do this over and over again. This diminishing of the power of the rhetoric ("I was only joking") will most likely be a large part of Trump's defense in the Senate trial.
This is certainly true. It is also true that these Senators who did not convict Tя☭mp the first time bear a great deal of responsibility for the increased violence of his supporters.
Totall agree. That failure emboldened Trump Inc. and along with his increasing inciting rhetoric at "rallies" built up to the violence and death of 1/06.
I don't disagree Carol but that has always been an unfortunate aspect of public life as far back as history is recorded and there has yet to be a documented occasion when yielding to the threat ameliorated the situation. Putting the former president inside for a long while and the identified insurrectionists with him would be more effective than the tack that Republicans have taken so far. I recognize also that such a sentiment is easier held when the outcome is unlikely but I've been there and survived. Bullies are not known for their bravery when challenged.
Oh I do agree that threats have always been part of being a public person. I say that from experience of being stalked and accosted when I was a local TV news anchor and verbally when I ran for Congress in 1984. But that was 40+ years ago and the ante has been upped by the confluence of Trumpism and social media. After Jan 6 I am convinced that anything can happen on the violence spectrum. However, I do heartily agree that the better part of leadership valor would be to break through the fear and face the bullies and the Bully in chief and "de-commission" them. But, still am haunted by the Judge whose son opened the front door and lost his life for her. Or, the thwarted plan to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer. Or the terrifying videos of people being shot and trampled on the 6th. Lots of PTSD to climb over this time. Thanks for the reply.
I agree that the potential for violence against Congresspeople is real. Still, acting against a threat is a better defense than cowering before it. Death threats, let alone storming the Capitol, demonstrate that Trumpskyites are a menace to all who don't show total, abject loyalty to their beloved tyrant. Cf. "Hang Mike Pence!"
I detest the phrase "just saying." it signals that someone wants to have it both ways. People who use it mean "if you approve, I'm serious. If not, then I'm 'just saying.'" Bah.
Exactly! I have been incredulous for 4+ years as he denies, jokes about, or otherwise dismisses his lies. I can’t help but wonder how he stumbled onto that M.O.? It’s like a 14 year old boy, as are almost all of his deviant behavior patterns. It always worked... ‘Who, me?!?’ Let’s have Mary Trump weigh in on this?
Have Juliette Kayyem testify in the trial as an expert?
What a superb idea!!! She is experienced, knowledgeable and is able to expand the scope of terrorist tactics. Why aren't they asking us to run this trial????
Regarding short public memory, I have been thinking the same. I hope that during the Senate trial the Dems will replay scenes from the attack as much as possible. Also, perhaps the DNC or other organizations can put together videos of the attack to be played on TV and on social media sites. The horror of that day does fade even if the memory persists.
I imagine that the Lincoln Project, if no one else, will make sure the appropriate video is widely available.
Yes! Yay for them!
How indelibly etched in our minds is the image of the airplane crashing into the World Trade Center. Let the images of January 6 be replayed and recalled until they are impossible to forget or deny.
This just in from the Washington Post:
"Schumer said in remarks on the Senate floor."
“I would simply say to all of my colleagues: Make no mistake, there will be a trial, and the evidence against the former president will be presented in living color for the nation and every one of us to see once again.”
And hopefully the vote count will be in living color for all Americans as well.
The trial rules need to be updated so we don’t have the same foolishness as the last trial. Republicans left the floor en made when Democrats spoke. Repubs put ridiculous charts full of lies behind their seats to play to the home audience. 45’s entire speech needs to be played first with everyone in their seats. And maybe someone will say— this is what we’re talkin’ about. Capitol Hill switchboard— 202-224-3121. Wait for operator to contact anyone.
I would like to see a rule that everyone being in their seats for the entire trial. They could be excused to use the restroom one at a time, like school children. Also it would be helpful to restrict use of laptops and cell phones. It should function with the same rules as a jury trial in court.
Yes! Of course! How rude for any one of them to be looking at their phones! My Gawd, and who knows what would be communicated to them from whomever?! No, no, no
Absolutely. The jurors need to stay put and see all the evidence.
Republicans left the floor en masse ... please Ms Spellcheck.
Chain Repugs to their desks while court is in session.
Yes!
There are so many things that they should play...I wish they could use the phone conversation with Raffensperger , perhaps on a loop like background music, and turn it up when they take a break and blast it!
Good idea!
I don’t know about the Majority but I will never forget.
Me either....
There’s a long list of unforgettable events that add up to conviction without a doubt.
But, but?! And McCarthy, who for about 20 seconds had a whiff of an awakening but the the vials of kool-aid were distributed and the script was delivered. They really make me sick... so disgusted.
It occurred to me this morning that they may be trying to get the trial thrown out to avoid having to go on record, as Senators and jurors, either for or against Trump. If there's no trial, they merely objected to process. Fortunately, forty-five senators does not a majority make. It's a Hail Mary pass, and hopefully, it will fail. Which means there will be a trial. There will be evidence presented, of a crime most heinous. And the Senators will have to vote, on the record, each by name, to convict or acquit.
It isn't clear that there will be 45 votes to acquit if they're acting as jurors in the face of evidence: that's really bad optics, and there is no excuse for it.
I hope you are right. But I think back over this nightmare and I am saddened by the number of times that I thought, ‘whew, now we have him/them’ and yet ...always the ‘man behind the curtain’ sprinkles on the black magic dust and it is a mute point.
Can we ever get this back to.... a better state of affairs? We are so distracted by all this insanity and it continues !?
I want to scream! We are being eaten alive by a maniacal virus, maniacal people, and our planet is dying very quickly?!? Will those who care stand up, and those who don’t, will you please leave!?!
Good luck with that?!
The Republicans are smart to depend on the short public memory. They'll do everything they can to distract the public from the impeachment. Just hoping Media doesn't run after them like damn sheep.
!!!!!
How much do we have to fear still? With the state Republican Parties becoming so Q'd, what is the strength of the conspiracy wing of the Republican Party vs. the business portion of the party. How widespread is the Q phenomenon? Why are so many Republicans, the ones who were so willing to play the turn-over the election, still afraid of these DT conspiracists and are ready to sacrifice democracy itself just to stay in power? I'm finding this all very depressing despite all the good things President Biden is doing. When are we going to feel like we have a stable democracy again, if ever?
The "Business wing" - according to the guys at the Bulwark who are in a far better position to know this stuff - is a definite minority in the GOP now and growing more minority. Also, Politico pointed out a study that shows the withdrawal of business PAC political contributions - which generally don't come with an ideological loyalty requirement - increases partisanship, since those who lose those contributions turn to other sources that are far more ideologically committed in their giving and demanding of total loyalty in return for the contribution.
“ the withdrawal of business PAC political contributions - which generally don't come with an ideological loyalty requirement - increases partisanship...”
Interesting point.
Unfortunately, going back to the way we were is hardly an inspiring vision for the future....after the initial relief of surmounting and restructuring the chaos wears off. In 6 months time, when the Covid panic subsides, we are going to need something a little more stirring to draw the people together and get them to support a common "American Dream".
That's one thing I hated about MAGA. No, I didn't want to go back when women were treated as second class citizens or having to break the glass ceiling again or having to prove that "woman" and "engineer" were not mutually exclusive stereotypes. No, it is time to go forward and embrace the future and the technology revolution, a new economic system, a new responsibility to sustainability, a new era of social justice for all. Our education systems are wholly inadequate and underfunded for the future world ... or the present on for that matter. The Q-bists are ignorant and uneducated, dangerously so. Most of our elected officials can't think beyond the political calculation of the next election and have no ethical convictions pass the moment it is useful. Will we find some visionary leadership or will we have to go through a frightful time of upheaval before we're really to address the inevitable changes and either make a new, more positive world order or wither on the vine and see America fall like Rome.
I am losing faith in Oregon's republicans. To have so wholeheartedly dived into the Q-reality is disheartening.
Where is this gullibility coming from? Is it from too much virtual vs. real reality and social media algorithms which may really be brainwashing by encasing us in little bubbles and repeat repeat repeat untruths.
I have watched this emerging over the last 3-4 years. The Q thing is a relatively new addition to the mix. It started with some Republican power plays to stall legislation and escalated from there. There are some serious kooks elected from remote places who were pulled into the reactionary wing of the Republicans. Somehow the kooks hooked the reactionaries into the Q thing. No one saw that coming.
Since I am familiar with most of these people and know some of them, I am going to hazard a guess that the reactionaries thought they were getting allies for their power plays and put them in the kind of positions that lead to power and influence. I suspect they saw the new people as ignorant country bumpkins they could control. Alas, the bumpkins may believe some idiotic conspiracy theories, but they picked up on tricks pretty quickly.
Basically, I suspect that there are now technically 3 parties in the Oregon legislature, but the session just started, so it's hard to tell. This is going to be one hell of a session. Hard to believe we had people like Mark Hatfield, Victor Atiyah, Tom McCall... the list goes on, including some remarkable women. Now we have this.
On the positive side: a sizable and effective POC caucus, a legilature that is majority women, female governor and sec of state. The boneheads trying to take control: all male with a female they selected as caucus leader and another who goes along to get along. That so few people could disrupt a legislature with so many fine people is astonishing. And all by either manipulating rules, or simply ignoring them. I used to be proud to call Oregon my home state. I still really love the place, but it's hard to be proud of this.
Thank you Annie, That's helpful.