If yesterday was a news storm, today was a lot of follow-up. Tensions in the Middle East continue to tighten with the explosion of two bombs at a ceremony today honoring prominent Iranian general Qassem Soleimani on the fourth anniversary of his death from a U.S. drone strike in Iraq. At least 95 people were killed. No one has claimed responsibility for the bombings. Iran-backed militias, including Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hezbollah in Lebanon, are aligned against Israel.
Professor, didn’t something else happen today? An article in Politico said that you joined a group of historians for lunch with President Biden. I’m sure you will have more to say when you are able to. Thank you for your contribution to helping save our democracy.
Thanks 🙏 very much !!! I take away that we’ll have to wait some more to get out... maybe through his speech on Friday the 6th... wow... Thank God! There was a « lively exchange of ideas » !!! That’s what we need. Frankly isn’t that exactly what we live for and fight for?!
... <<...Attendees were tight-lipped about what was discussed at the gathering. One would only go so far as to say they “talked about American history and its bearing on the present — a lively exchange of ideas.”
Another person in the room,
who like the others was not authorized to speak publicly about a private meeting,
said the historians urged the president “to call out the moment for what it is.” In blunt terms, the academics discussed looming threats to the nation’s democracy and warned about the slow crawl of authoritarianism around the globe....>>...
It may be “The slow crawl of authoritarianism around the globe,” but it is evolving into a sprint in the United States. "It’s a wild power grab. And it is apparently being done with an eye to 2024. “ Rep Tom Nehis, R-Texas.
To be clear, the MAGA dominated Republican party can now be justifiably called the “Fascist Party.” Now that those Republicans who do not fall into line fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones, we see fascism in action. I submit we no longer use the term MAGA, for that movement has nothing to do with making America great. MAGA is fascism and we should call it that. Those who are deluded into darkness hate the light of truth. Those of us who do not currently have to fear for our safety…yet, should shine the light of truth brightly and take control of the narrative and simply call the GOP what it is, The Fascist Party of the United States.
Marc Nevas, you're a brave one. I liked your reasoning. If the politicians, judges, etc are so fearful of violence against themselves or their family that they can't do what is right, their party has crossed the rubicon. They are The Fascist Party.
Actually, Lenin wasn't a fascist, but a totalitarian communist. Fascism was represented by Mussolini, Tojo and Hitler. tfg is the present day face of fascism. He and the GOP have joined the axis of evil.
Totalitarianism, whatever scheme it's attached to, is the ultimate enemy of humanity, left, right, or theocratic. An engaged, honest, and caring democracy seems to be the only sustainable cure.
To your point JL & per a United States Department of State "Media Note" this 1/5 morning, a substantial $10 Million "Awards for Justice" program, has been offered internationally " ... for Information on Hamas' Financial Networks."
Red Sea shipping attacks continue this morning originating from YEMEN.
Earlier today in IRAQ, the US targeted & killed a factional leader & international operative located in Baghdad, IRAQ.
Despite the repeated cautionary notes by many, the Middle East Wars [plural] are expanding rapidly.
Did the American fascists of World War 2 BULLY people like today’s fascists? Is it because of easy to obtain weapons, social media, or the idea that they are “good Christians”? Whatever it is, the DOJ and the msm need to start publicizing that the bully fascists are paying the price. Tell us what happened to the rioters who were caught and tried, Mr. Pelosi’s attacker, people who made threats against poll workers, ad nauseam. And lock up/shut up the manbaby who has violated the terms of his parole again and again. We all watched the Jan 6 insurrection riot live on tv. Tfg is unfit for command and everyone knows it. Justice Matters says Glen Kirschner.
The "Brownshirts" of the Hitler rise in Germany are growing rapidly. They threaten anyone and everyone from the top politicians to the local election officials. There must be an organizing group behind them. We need to find out who that is. They are a big reason for "Insurrection Trump's" continuing success.
I never thought I'd live to see someone like Donald Trump try to take over our country and make it HIS country. I never thought I'd live to see so many people worship someone like Donald Trump. He has brought out and condoned all the hate, narrow-mindedness, racism and entitlement that these people have felt for so long. He has urged them to be as mean and cruel as he is.
I never thought I would see so-called intelligent and law-abiding members of Congress forget their values and sell their souls to someone like Trump. It's just sickening that they have no spine to stand up and say, " This is not right!!"
I like to watch "Entitled people who get owned." on Youtube. While they're screaming racial slurs and feeling entitled to do or say anything they want, they often scream, "I voted for Trump!!" or "Trump is coming back!!!! " These crazy people are examples of Trump supporters--loud, vulgar, crass, disrespectful, hateful people who think the world revoves around them and their beliefs.
On the videos, I love to see these people being called out by someone in the crowd who dares confront them, which usually results in a tirade of ," Mind your GD business." or " What the F is it to you?" I dearly love to see them being hauled off by police while still screaming their entitement. " I know my rights!! " is a favorite defense.
When I watch these videos, I have a sense of "right " winning for a time. In these times and under the circumstances of Trump's maniacal hold on people, I seldom feel that "right is winning."
With his hold on the Republicans who don't have a spine to stand up and say, "This is NOT right!", I feel a sense of despair that our democracy is in danger, because these blind followers of Trump are not being held accountable.
"Trump is coming back!!!!" are some of the most frightening words I've heard.
Time to watch some more entitled people get owned.:)
Frustration with the Legal system that endorses the bribing of elected officials, which floods billionaire money into the greed grubbers; drowning out the voices of average citizens. Our problem is the Supreme Court, bought and paid for Leonard Leo’s henchmen
The American people were put under siege by Ronnie RayGun’s union busting, destroying the living wage concept. Workers were forced into legal slavery where ANY job, regardless of pay was acceptable. Corporations pushed workers to the limit of their sanity and the result is the anger and violence we see today. The mythical savior, strongman Donnie has them convinced their lives will be better when he puts all “the others” in prison or floating dead in the Rio Grande
Of course, the push to destroy public education has not helped
Let's not forget that the abundance of corporate and dark money in our politics can be traced directly to the actions of the Roberts Court, one of the worst Supreme Courts in history. All to support #SmelloYellow
Pam-Your well articulated description of Trump supporters are just the way we can describe their "leader". They are a reflection of him-add lawless to the description since they think they can do anything they want. The law is there to protect their "rights". They don't want the law to protect the rights of others.
The quiet, behind the scenes supporters are the scariest. They're pulling out all the stops to elect someone who says he wants to be a dictator. They're counting on his ability to keep us all divided so they can wield their power over "we the people". You're right-our democracy is indeed in danger...
I think the published thoughts of Lincoln and other respected American theorists contrast starkly with with the whole canon of "Republican" utterances and that compare and contrast packs a wallop. For that matter, what in fact is a "republic" and which party is now supporting one?
Hi Pam, you write 1000% exactly what I feel. I wish this group had a zoom call once a month or so so that we could all actually talk and share some of our feelings of extreme frustration, fear, anger and maybe a bit of hope here and there too. I read these comments each day and usually feel a bit heartened, but I also feel increasingly hopeless and pretty alone in this faceless online world we now all exist in. Anyway, thanks for your--everyone's--comments to HCR's daily dose of sanity, it helps. I hope our country will be ok come Nov, but I fear it won't. Anyway, I'm trying to say hopeful and help where I can. --Prof S (in DC)
What are the so called normal Republicans afraid of besides their job ..what is really going on behind the scenes..can’t believe they won’t denounce what is happening
I have been calling it thus for months now. And I use my FB page as a platform for doing so, having succeeded in weeding out the trolls! Next, I'm going to consider a bumper sticker of some sort.
And the acronym is...Fascist PUS? Seriously though, we need to speak out loudly and broadly (not just to each other) about what “Liberty” and “Freedom” really mean in the hands of American Fascists. Freedom means they are free to make death threats to swing elections. Freedom means they can say whatever they want (who cares if it’s not true), but you can’t. Add to the list: Freedom means...
What are the so called normal Republicans afraid of besides their job ..what is really going on behind the scenes..can’t believe they won’t denounce what is happening
"...maybe through his speech on Friday the 6th". Let's hope that speech is a very clear and convincing sequence of statements what America and Americans stand for!
I sure hope none of those historians offered Joe a free drink as that would give the REPUBLICAN'TS evidence of corruption for impeachment. It is so laughable when Congress person after Congress person is asked on camera what the crime for impeachment of Joe is and they have to admit, on camera, that they have nothing.
"... they have nothing". Nothing at all. Those REPUBLICANts have nothing and have had nothing but hate and corruption and vile comments ... that's all their contributions to today's government. Shame on them to be ruled by money pressure and anarchists and - yes, - fascists, not to mention tfg who should have been seriously stopped in his tracks and in jail long time ago.
Many of the MAGANAZI's read at a 6th grade level or below, so they CAN'T read. That's why FOX NEWS and other right wing media get the message out ad nauseam.
I'm on Instagram for friends and family. I don't post anything. However, I love the interviews with wet brain Trump supporters. They are hysterical. Especially when Jordan Klemper hands their words back to them. This is where rape apologists gather. They vote. Oh the fuckery.
This is one encouraging sign from a brutal days of news...it is good to know what is happening in the world, even better to bbc "build beloved communities" in our own circles of influence.
I truly believe “building beloved communities “ is the way forward. Let’s make hate yesterday’s news. It’s never been done before, but there are some 7billion of us who could benefit from it right now.
He needs more than cerebral historians. He needs savvy media creators to infect the maga-soaked and besotted public space anr enter the mental space of the many who are not paying attention. I'm talking about youngsters who only get their news from social media. Also all the newly employed who may feel they're too busy to vote. We need anti-MAGA activists to enter MAGA space and argue against Trumpism and for the common citizen. I try, but my blood pressure rises as my blood boils from the mindless comments I read.
So I'm very glad to read that Biden is gathering ideas from the likes of HCR, but I despair from the thought that this cerebral exercise will not affect those who think with their gut (or another appendage).
No, these meetings are not mere "cerebral exercises". Biden is seeking a wide range of input so that he can better understand American needs. In fact, Biden confers with various groups so this isn't exactly a unique event. And there's an awful lot going on outside of official channels and parties that address the questions you raise. So I'd suggest enlarging the range of your reading.
I found your dismissal of historians as "cerebral" rather odd, especially applied to HCR. I find historians fascinating in the dedication they have to illuminating the present through the prism of the past- often including humor. Some of HCR's talks on video and live presentations offer good examples.
Please set aside your stereotypical view of people who spend their lives trying to illuminate our past, our history, the impacts of various factors on who and where we are. They are largely simply human beings with a vast curiousity they are willing to share with others- including us. I am grateful.
Oy vey, Annie! If I wrote in a way that implies I'm dismissive of HCR or other historians, I must apologize since that's the opposite of how I feel and what I follow and read.
What I meant to state is that though Biden's policies and speeches are rooted in a rich universe of empirically correct information (the "Bidenverse"), they are nowhere near enough to penetrate the thick shell surrounding the information-poor MAGA-verse. If you know of "influencers" that are effectively engaging with those who get their news only from social media without alienating them with cerebral thoughts that turn them off, let me know who they might be so I can follow, like, repost, or whatever it takes to amplify their message.
Jerry this is what you wrote: "He needs more than cerebral historians....
So I'm very glad to read that Biden is gathering ideas from the likes of HCR, but I despair from the thought that this cerebral exercise will not affect those who think with their gut (or another appendage)."
That sounds pretty dismissive to me.
You also wrote about the need to reach out to the "Magaverse" on their terms. Not sure I agree with you. We've talked a lot on this (and other forums) about the fact that most of the people drawn to Trump have vested themselves in his version of reality, and are not reachable. Some quietly peel away, and become receptive to other sources of information- which is what people like us are providing. Few make it here, but are most likely to be reached by the many grass-roots projects that us ordinary citizens are involved in.
Setting the hardline Trumpists aside, there are many people out there who are simply living their lives and have not yet gotten caught up in election hysteria. They may not even have thought about voting. Those are the people our projects are reaching out to, with information about voting and raising questions about personal priorities for people to think about. We showed in 2022 the power of this kind of reaching out: it works. The election results in 2022 proved it: no red wave. Local and state offices taken by Dems. MSM scratched their heads and started looking around. They are finally getting it. This is not a horserace. Trump's "base" is not the issue. We are, and we are running on issues that matter to people's lives, and it is working. We can do it again.
There are a bunch of groups focussed on this kind of action. The entire year before the 2022 elections, there were lists posted here regularly. Maybe it's time to do that again.
Here are a few I have, but there are more.
"Hopium Chronicles", by Simon Rosenburg (substack) Support for activists with some positive things to share.
Swing Left has published their list of flippable seats in the US House along with 6 Democratic seats we need to hold. It can be found here: https://swingleft.org/p/house
Activate America (www.activateamerica.vote) : postcards to flip seats in local/state elections. Several active now.
Letter-writing to get out vote in critical races in other states. Just starting to organize for 2024
PostCardsToVoters Linktr.ee (https://linktr.ee/postcardstovoters) to see how to joinPostcards To Voters. If you have already joined, remember that Abby the Bot is not texting but you can get addresses via the PTV linktr.ee)
Jerry- I so agree about the need to reach people, especially youth, through public spaces and technology. When the anti-slavery faction started using the churches, public spaces, theater etc., John C. Calhoun from South Carolina was highly upset that they were winning the "mental space" and drawing more and more people to their cause.
We have to give Trump and the Republicans credit for being some of the best spin doctors out there. As Sweet Honey in the Rock sings, "we who believe in freedom cannot rest". Let's hope that in addition to listening to cerebral historians, that Biden (and all of us) put the turret out there to counter the spin that's capitalizing on division, cruelty and hate.
I know it will be hard to switch from MAGA to fascist, for me too, and fascist doesn't pinpoint who you mean , the way MAGA does. Still, we should try to switch. Maybe ' today's fascists' or 'American fascists.'
Interesting. For a while, I was calling all Trumpists the American Taliban. There are also, as you point out, the American Fascists. Should we add the American Kleptocrats?
These tranches could probably be further subdivided into
a) knowledgeable and thus dangerous
B) clueless and thus reachable.
I do believe that labels are important because they create feedback that penetrates their bubbles. For instance, I was engaged in TikTok before the 2020 election, and the label "American Taliban" actually got responses from creators. Did that change any minds? I have no clue, but hope that a moment of introspection might would occasionally be repeated.
I love that Biden gathered this group, including the professor. The more attention focused on the very real threat of a fascist takeover, the better.
However, the president absolutely must take the immigration issue head on. The GOP is controlling the narrative to the detriment of Biden's re-election chances as well as those of Democrats running for Congress.
Biden must go big by proposing major reforms in a national address, knowing full well that the GOP will do nothing. Then he and his surrogates can hammer them repeatedly for failing to act. In this election, absolutely nothing should be left to chance.
Your suggestion is more than a little cynical, but absolutely true. Immigration law is the responsibility of Congress and the fact that there has been no reform in spite of many attempts means that it's more valuable as a bone of contention than it is a serious problem.
It's perceived as a serious problem, and I think it is too, though a much more multi-faceted one than do-nothing-but complain Republicans. Why else would Biden and the Senate be willing to spend many billions of dollars to address it? Also, the nation's immigration laws have not been seriously reformed in many years thanks to GOP shenanigans and outright deception.
Some 2.5 million authorized people entering the country last year, a record, is overwhelming the system.
Yes, the system is overwhelmed, because it is seriously underfunded, not because it doesn't work. Yes, there could be improvements made, but adequate funding alone would be a great improvement and that hasn't even been tried. Immigration has always been a good thing for the US.
All Federal immigration laws have been racist beginning with the first one in 1875 that was designed to keep Chinese women from joining the Chinese men that had been brought to the US to work.
Today's political hysteria isn't about immigration; it's about racism. When was the last time anyone wanted to talk about people crossing from Canada? When was the last time anyone wanted to talk about people arriving by airplane? If we're really interested in reforming immigration why are we only talking about the border with Mexico?
Generally agree. And yes racism is a major issue. That said, the sheer number of people arriving on foot is overwhelming various places. It's not sustainable.
Nor does it need to be; the numbers are high for a number of reasons but mainly because of pent up need from Trump's really horrific policies. Long term, the rate of immigration, especially at the southern border is highly variable.
And we must not forget how much responsibility the US has for the conditions in Central American states that drive much of the immigration from those areas.
There is a wonderful and vibrant cross border culture that is invisible to most of the rest of the US. Of course it has no political value, especially in Texas.
If you get a chance, "La Frontera with Pati Jinich" is a wonderful introduction via food and I think you can find it on You Tube
Substack has nothing to do with Microsoft. Becoming paid subscribers supports the authors and their work. I'm proud to support a half-dozen Substack writers, some of whom I've read for decades, and whose books I've loved.
Channeling Fern here. The text copied and pasted below:
By LAUREN EGAN and JONATHAN LEMIRE
01/03/2024 09:31 PM EST
"President Joe Biden hosted a small group of scholars and historians for lunch on Wednesday as he gears up for a speech framing the upcoming election as a battle for the nation’s democracy.
The discussion revolved around “ongoing threats to democracy and democratic institutions both here in America and around the world, as well as the opportunities we face as a nation,” the White House said in a statement.
Princeton’s Eddie Glaude Jr. and Sean Wilentz, Harvard’s Annette Gordon-Reed, Yale’s Beverly Gage and Boston College’s Heather Cox Richardson were among the attendees, as well as presidential biographer — and occasional Biden speech writer — Jon Meacham.
Attendees were tight-lipped about what was discussed at the gathering. One would only go so far as to say they “talked about American history and its bearing on the present — a lively exchange of ideas.”
Another person in the room, who like the others was not authorized to speak publicly about a private meeting, said the historians urged the president “to call out the moment for what it is.” In blunt terms, the academics discussed looming threats to the nation’s democracy and warned about the slow crawl of authoritarianism around the globe.
Biden listened intently and asked questions, the participant said. “This is something that he cares about deeply,” the person said.
Over the course of his presidency, Biden has periodically convened groups of top scholars and historians for big-picture conversations about his legacy, as well as existential threats to the country. Wednesday’s lunch meeting comes ahead of Biden’s speech this Friday in Valley Forge, Pa., marking the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
“This is something that he tends to do, especially as we head towards an important day like Jan. 6,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during Wednesday’s press briefing.
The subject matter is familiar for Biden. He has repeatedly declared that he vowed to run for president after watching the racist demonstrators march on Charlottesville, Va., in 2017 when then-President Donald Trump declared there were good people “on both sides” of the protests. He called that race a battle for the “very soul of the nation” and now believes the stakes are higher.
Biden watched the U.S. Capitol insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, from his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Del. He had hoped that the riot would bring the Trump era to an end. But since then, the former president has tightened his grip on the Republican Party. Biden has repeatedly warned that the dangers of anti-democratic forces have grown, using his speeches to mark the two previous anniversaries of the insurrection — one delivered from the Capitol.
The president also made it central to his efforts to aid Democrats in 2022’s midterm elections — which included a speech at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall — and credited it in part for the party’s surprisingly strong showing. He returned to the theme last year at the McCain Institute and will revisit it at another historically symbolic venue this weekend at the headquarters of General George Washington’s Continental Army during the American Revolution.
Ally-Thanks for sharing this...it's so interesting how as they say "history rhymes". In 1860 BEFORE Lincoln was inaugurated seven states seceded from the Union and engaged in insurrection/rebellion (now called the Civil War) against the government. In 2020, the losing presidential candidate planned and incited an insurrection to stop the "peaceful transfer of power" BEFORE Biden was inaugurated. Violence reigned both times. Insurrectionists continue their quest to divide so they can conquer.
Kudos to Biden for inviting discussion about our past and how it impacts on our present and future. The group of scholars mentioned are seasoned and diverse in numerous ways. What an interesting conversation it must have been...
May Americans who really care about this country (and not just their own power/privilege) rise up to stem the tide of fascism now aimed at us by people-foreign and domestic-who want to tear down the possibilities of "perfecting our union".
This is where we reach the crossroads between journalism and history. I don’t know if I should worry that HCR is becoming close to the current president. The role of an historian may augur in favor of such a relationship, but I do worry about potential loss of objectivity.
If one doesn't "objectively" see Trump and the MAGA movement as a violent threat to our nation and its fragile democratic experiment, then one is a fascist or an accessory to a fascist - at the very least an unwitting accomplice.
William, in a perfect world where we would be discussing something like old school conservative philosophies vs old school liberal social policies - I would strongly agree with your concern. Historians should provide historical facts and interesting, helpful perspectives. Teach - not pontificate.
But this is now a war. This is Germany in the early 20th century. These historians are reminding President Biden that he is at the center of our effort to stop fascism in its tracks.
The old two party system is gone. The old friendly debates between colleagues of different persuasions are impossible now. The glove has slapped the face of our Constitution. Choose your non-lethal weapon.
Historians and everyone else: climb aboard the Democratic train or prepare to live in a totalitarian nightmare. Prepare to watch the US descend into an attack on our environment and the existence of millions of species - including our own. We're talking about survival here. Not just political philosophies. I hope Heather and her colleagues MAKE some history.
We have one of our major political parties that no longer believes in constitutional government, and they are willing to blow it all up to retain whatever they think they deserve to have. We definitely are at a cross between authoritarianism and self-government. We must save ourselves with as much knowledge and information we have. No one else will do it.
It’s the other way around: she has his ear. It is beneficial for a sitting president to receive and heed the big picture lessons and insights of history and historians.
I appreciate President Biden’s heeding the lessons of history and teaming with historians to understand what lessons our past holds for our future. That is intelligent and shows thoughtful action.
I don't worry about the objectivity of historians per se. Woodward, for example, being given direct access to Trump, becomes a source of information to historians, and deliberation on Woodward's objectivity isn't much different from a historian's deliberation on their own ability to remain objective.
At this point, decrepit Joe Biden is merely a placeholder. Will Gavin Newsom replace the hapless Kamala as his running mate?
Meanwhile, Trump is dying a death of a thousand cuts in our legal system. Are the pair of them -- Trump and Biden -- emblematic of America as the geriatric global thug who can't get it up anymore?
Biden will be the Democratic nominee, the way things are shaping up. If you think he’s decrepit, please watch a video of him being interviewed, any video. You’ll see someone who’s very capable. It’s democracy (Biden and Harris) or fascism (tRump and whatever sellout stands in to the VP slot). Your choice.
"Corporate Joe " Biden, the election-stealing Vampire Liberal, is neo-fascism. Thete is no choice, except which flavor of fascism you prefer.
Watching Biden at a scripted, pre-packaged interview isn't the real test.
"Recent gaffes by President Joe Biden have 'made a significant impact' on the polls and are 'reinforcing fears within Democratic ranks' that he's too old to serve a second White House term, according to one political scientist."
You're correct, that one has been a sporadic but long-time troll on here, with a pattern of repetitively posting the same links or phrases onto others' comments in the same issue.
Simply continue to decline to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent."
Propaganda shills like HCR use phrases like "faith in our electoral system," as if it was our civic duty to BELIEVE that Biden didn't steal the nomination from Bernie Sanders.
Dishonest propaganda shills like HCR never talk about that old Democratic classic "Votescam: The Stealing of America":
I was rather expecting Ms. Willis to indict Sen. Graham for his shameful phone call, but even the grand jury recommended it, she did not do so. I’m wondering if she felt she might feel the case showed insufficient probable cause.
I rarely agree with the high holy parasite linnie, but the orange monster is trying to destroy our destroy of experiment with democracy! Since making that statement, l’ll linnie is totally on board the maga Nazi bus!
It is remarkable to me that a small group of extremists can not only stop any progress in the United States toward equity, justice, and democracy, their grandstanding can cause America to abandon its allies. This is not a pure Trump problem, this is an America problem. People who are voting for Trump, Tuberville, Comer, Johnson, Jordon, Taylor Greene, Boebert, Perry, Gosar, Biggs, and far too many more.
There are treasonous or bordering on treasonous examples everywhere -all beyond January 6th. Whether it is that so-called Senator in Alabama refusing to pass critical military promotions for our servicemembers, the House initiating an impeachment inquiry with no evidence of wrongdoing, the appointment of extremist judges who seek to turn the judicial branch of government into another legislative branch, or will provide rulings on the basis of luxurious gifts.
What is next? I suspect soon a future LFAA will be covering things like:
We won't fund NATO until Social Security is privatized.
We will defund school districts whose superintendents support the teaching of evolution, or actual U.S. History.
Disaster relief will no longer be available in Blue states until Federal funding for school lunches is terminated.
And as a reminder, competence to lead is not a factor for willfully ignorant 'MAGA' voters. In 2020, the criminal Trump had 9 million more votes than he had in 2016. That was after he attempted to extort allies, obstructed justice, and was impeached (based upon actual evidence of crimes). In the 2022 U.S. Senate race between Senator Warnock and the violently abusive Herschel Walker -it was 1.94 million votes to 1.91 million votes. And the fact that Lauren Boebert can win any election of significance in America -even if she has to switch Congressional Districts to do so -because apparently, GOP voters in another district are even more ignorant than those who sent her to Congress twice -should tell us the American experiment is failing.
During all of this I keep thinking that this is important evidence to future societies who attempt or aspire toward democracy, equity, and justice, that a society must prioritize an educated, informed, and engaged society (and cannot support policies that lead to extreme wealth concentration).
It may be too late for the so-called United States -the 2024 elections might be the last fork in the road voters encounter.
The school district where I live, is Patriot Mobile stacked school board. A school board member resigned due to the moves of this conservative group of trustees. Giving teachers the right to carry concealed handguns, banning books, chaplains in schools. They quietly called for a surprise board meeting to replace her. In the Facebook banter on the thread, a woman openly admitted that churches influenced the election of the school board members. And that churches have always influenced elections. I told her she just opened her church up for losing their tax free status. I don’t think she knew that!
Texas politics is local politics. And we are definitely in a downward spiral!
2) Sex is a sin that will send you straight to hale.
3) Books cause young people to sin and sin will send you straight to hale.
4) Banning books glorifies God's will.
5) Slavery is OK and is supported by the Bible.
6) God will punish YOU Denise.
Seriously Denise, that is what people actually think who were born in one tiny spot in the south and never went anywhere but to the Southern Baptist Church and Walmart after that birth.
My bro went to NY once, parked and looked around and never left his NC home again. That one tiny spot in the South is all he knows. A smart man who embraces ignorance. They are all over.
Yes Jeri, I spent years in a small Southern Baptist Church down in East TX as you know. The stuff I heard from the pulpit would literally singe your hair off.
To be honest, I was afraid to even go into a bar at Texas A&M LITERALLY afraid if I did I might suddenly teleport to hell.
It was during my pursuit of the Ph.D., where I learned research methods, proofs, mathematics and slowly began to understand the difference between "Belief" and "data supported Reality" that I sort of jumped off the track of looking at everything through the who is going to heaven and who is going to hell. In fact, over time I tossed those two unproven and unsupported by evidence existences.
Long story short, after a substantial effort to "prove" the resurrection occurred, I gave up. Not possible.
Then, I carefully separated my reality space from my belief space and walked away from the Protestant churches permanently. I choose to believe there may be something after, but, I recognize there is no evidence whatsoever of that possibility. Further, I think hell was invented by nasty preachers to control their "flock". I doubt hell exists because it only makes sense in the context of some big dude in the sky intent on retribution all the time. Why would a God be spending all his or her time on retribution? Retribution is too human for a God.
Also, I met my beautiful wife who is Greek and started attending her church where the entire service is in GREEK.
PERFECT. I have no idea what they are saying and don't care one bit.
Perfect indeed. Yes, reason eventually overwhelmed me. The UU church is what I needed. No shysters no where. My NC family still loves them. A mystery to me since chump is the poorest example of any type of Christian, except the Jimmy Swigert types. Hey, just solved the mystery.
I, too, was raised in a Southern Baptist church in very rural LA. At about 20, after a few years studying at college and reading a LOT one summer Sunday evening I walked to the front of the church, thanked them for everything and said I would not be returning. A CLEAN CUT. It has worked out well. Now I just wonder when I hear "professing Christians" make excuses for their allegiance to the disgusting trash that is Donald Trump. The Christ/Trump anomaly is just too great for me to comprehend.
My Ex stood in front of his Southern Baptist church and told them he was appalled by their preaching. Never went back. But he did eventually tell me I had no god other than him and I should be thanking him for my very life. So guess he left a church to become his own god.
I was taught by the good nuns and the Baltimore catechism that the new born babies soul’s would be in limbo, if they should tragically die before they were baptised.
Perhaps, those so called evangelicals see the orange monster as a savior of pagan babies from limbo!
I sent my C’ya letter when women were denied the pulpit and Averett College’s funding was threatened for teaching evolution, although I’d not been through the door for many preceding years. That post a stop in a random church for a post 911 memorial service and being told it was god’s punishment for gays. Walked right out of that one. Now these maniacs want to rule.
My dad was a bacteriologist and a tolerant man who devoted his life to public health. He was an iconoclast and an agnostic. I asked him if he believed in anything spiritual and he replied, “Yes, but it’s not that big, white Methodist god I was raised with.”
The trend right now has evolved beyond Southern Baptist. Gateway, Cornerstone, Fellowship are non denominational cult like groups. They push the christian nationalist agenda and really don’t try to hide it. I once argued for abortion rights with a Gateway member. Her numbers of how many babies are lost each year were astronomical! I said where did you get that number? That’s more than people on the planet! She said her minister gave the congregation that figure so they could fight with facts.
Adam Kinzinger of Illinois in his book Renegade has eye-opening descriptions of the Independent Fundamental Baptist church he was raised in. It’s not just the south. IFB is a very scary super conservative real thing.
It is deeply disturbing, and, as you say Denise, the trend is a downward spiral. I do recall a number of progressive 501c3 (tax-qualified non-profits) were threatened during the George W. Bush administration (speaking of Texas exports) -while his administration made it easier for faith-based conservative groups to receive federal funds: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jesus/president/faithbased.html
The unholy alliance between the GOP and narrowly-specific Christian conservatives is the objective for a patriarchal society of obedient hyper-consumers where the man is the 'breadwinner' and the woman is 'the birth vessel'.
Remember Hillary's quote: “I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession." The right-wing response was baking cookies is exactly what you are SUPPOSED to do. (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/us/politics/hillary-clinton-cookies.html)
It is an accelerating downward spiral -and I fear we are nowhere near the floor.
Last week, after sending essays by HCR and Joyce Vance to a very MAGA (fascist) cousin, she, who was baking cookies at the time, told me I needed to get a life. I responded that I read to become an intelligent & informed voter. It broke my heart, but our relationship is over.... and I’m not baking any cookies!
I can get “lost” in reading while food is in the oven or on the stove….that’s why I got a VERY annoyingly loud & effective timer to keep me from ruining what I’m cooking. Preparing some foods I dare not crack a book or pick up my iPad lest they end up inedible!
Thank you for saying "churches" instead of "Christian". These people are NOT Christians.
We're rewatching "The Handmaid's Tale" and they make the point that in Gilead, they only print the Old Testament. A lot of violence and revenge and very little love for your fellow humans.
This question is intended with utmost respect: What would you call these churches, then? I asked the googles, and I got this as one of several similar replies:
"What are the 12 types of Christianity?
Together, Catholicism and Protestantism (with major traditions including Adventism, Anabaptism, Anglicanism, Baptists, Lutheranism, Methodism, Moravianism, Pentecostalism, Plymouth Brethren, Quakerism, Reformed, and Waldensianism) compose Western Christianity."
When my daughter was about 4 we attended a church in Lincoln NE -- Old Cheney Alliance Church. I went to Sunday school and the teacher was probably the most learned person on the Bible and the history of each of the books of the Bible I have ever known. She was the HCR of the Bible. Her teachings were the end of my beliefs in the Christian God or any God for that matter. Kind of ironic.
Anyway, my 4 year old was asked why her mom didn't come to church. She told her because she doesn't believe in God which my wife had discussed with her. The teacher told her that my mom wouldn't go to heaven unless she believed in God. My daughter burst into tears and was inconsolable. We never went back to that church or any so-called Christian church. That was in 1998.
I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but I have enough knowledge of the Bible to know that many church attenders are not Christians and know diddly squat about what is in the Bible.
Gary, I am so so so grateful to have been born into a at least three generations deep secular family…my beloved granny born in So Cal in 1898…and extended outward through her children, grand & great-grandchildren….we also all pretty much lean left of center-liberal. Sounds like I sidestepped a lot of potential baggage!
That's a good question. I was raised in the Lutheran church and they disliked the Catholics. My mom and dad weren't allowed to date anyone that was Catholic. My sisters are both very active in the Methodist and Lutheran churches in PA and NE. They know I am a non-theist and they don't care. The sister that is Lutheran has 4 kids and none of them attended church.
TFFG and TFFGism have ripped so many churches apart. So there are the fire and brimstone vengeance loving Old Testamenters and the Love thy neighbor New Testament Christians.
Otherwise, I don't know what I would call these churches.
After a day of reading about all the shit going on in this country I listen to this new app I got called CALM for 30 minutes before I go to sleep. It clears the stress out of my head and I sleep well and wake up in the morning refreshed and ready to get pissed off all over again. I'm not a stress junkie but since Trump came into the picture.....
Thanks for that endorsement. I usually listen to a stress resilience relaxation then a healthful sleep guided imagery tracks from one of the practitioners that I have heard speak; they run about 38 minutes. I've been considering something else, since I can almost recite these verbatim.
Add ‘Frankie’ Graham, son of Billy, who took his crusade to every state during 2016 to get out the vote for the anti-abortion candidate for President !
Why are these charlatans still getting tax breaks as a charity?
Check out Americans United and organization focused on the separation of church and state and attacks on this all important separation by Christian nationalists aka republicans.
Hi Denise, Check out Seniors Taking Action.org. We’re committed to helping everyone, but particularly folks in “Red States “ preserve democracy. We’d love to hear your thoughts on Texas.Lots of us are grandparents so you know how inter generational that makes us. 😊
The Nazis were a small minority in Germany - until they weren't.
The fear expressed by politicians and poll workers is all the hint we need to see that a totalitarian movement is gaining steam. It must be crushed like a scorpion. Snuffed out like the stinky candle it is.
Germany had good Christians too. They called them Nazis. The other day I said that we are are dealing with psychological terrorism. This abuse distorts everything we hold true about humanity. This is gaslighting, projection, nonsensical conversations from hell, blanket statements, deliberately misrepresenting your thoughts to the point of absurdity, moving the goal posts, evading accountability, covert and overt threats, name-calling, destructive conditioning, smear campaigns, stalking, I love you bombs, devaluation, preemptive defense, triangulation, bait and feign innocence, boundary smashers, aggressive jabs disguised as jokes, condescending sarcasm, shaming, and control.
This is Agent Orange, his followers and the GQP. And it's even worse than that. Our jails and domestic abuse shelters are filled with these people. And now they want to elect one of their own.
Thank you for that Les. Sadly I've dealt with this since I entered this world. I deal with it everyday. This is my family. Not all Narcissist Personality Disorder comes from trauma. It's genetic in my family. They are the worst abusers out there. Some days all I can do is eat some edibles and listen to Joni Mitchell. Now the whole world is feeling the pain of Agent Orange and the GQP.
Yes-psychological terrorism along with physical and spiritual terrorism. That's a great list of the cruel and abusive nonsense we have to endure daily...
Cruelty is the name of the game. And when I hold a mirror up to them the wrath of Satan appears. Revenge comes next. This is our rinse and repeat political living breathing worst nightmare.
It's too bad three of the House Republicans can't take a ride in a car that stalls out on the tracks just ahead of a train - boom! - problem solved, they don't have a majority and sanity takes over. Perhaps someone could bribe two of them to become cow college presidents like the one who's leaving soon.
The irony, losing the House majority when struck by the nation's crumbling infrastructure they refuse to fund. And of course the humor. Is the country on the right track?
Well, that train sure was.
Of course my preference is for the extremist members to be expelled -either by the DOJ for their part in the insurrection, or acting as accessories after the fact in the cover-up, or by voters who experience an epiphany.
If the SCOTUS removes Trump from the ballot (as it should) members of the electorate should immediately move to remove all of his accomplices from the halls of government. The Hawley's, Cruz's, and Graham's (to name just three) are also unfit to govern a democracy since it is obvious they prefer to work toward a dictatorship. Make it easier for Constitutional Republicans to return to leadership positions.
Well said George-this is our fork in the road. It's not all about Biden either-we'll soon see if "we the people" really have any power in our "democracy".
Yes. And when the Senate has a near equal number of R and D, statewide elections, how can this be accounted for? We can add voter suppression to this evidence.
I agree with you completely. I hope it’s not to late to turn this around and I’m going to operate on those batteries going forward. Plus it would be an insult to every bone in my body not to fight against ignorance, greed, and bullies.
Trump seems ever more emboldened in his bid for power. It's classic authoritarianism. How ordinary Americans aren't hitting the roof over his support for Putin in direct conflict with so much that we stand for is terribly worrying.
I believe it is now just a matter of time before “militia” maniacs, or perhaps even a state-controlled entity, simply start shooting people at the Southern border. Scenarios like The Boston Massacre or Kent State come to mind. “Somebody” will fire a first shot. Even if they are ultimately identified, they will not be held accountable. They will claim they felt threatened, as police sometimes do. The MAGA Crowd and enabling cowards in Congress and at the state level will cheer the shootings as the best way to stop the “invasion” of migrants. Trump will lead the cheering and will be rewarded politically for it. He wasn’t speaking in hyperbole when he talked about shooting someone on 5th Ave. It’s his ultimate, sick wet dream.
Dave, your assessment is accurate. There will be some "concerned citizens" (possibly "militia" maniacs, but potentially professionals at arms, either military or civilian law enforcement) who will make those decisions, and will be able to articulate those actions as being reasonable responses to a threat.
The justification of "threatened" is established constitutional law, arising out of Graham v. Conner (1989). Law enforcement has corrupted the analysis of not judging police actions from a position of "20-20 hindsight" and rather the perceptions of an officer in "tense, rapidly evolving circumstances". It has done this by taking the level of justification for force from reasonable to articulable.
Ally, it’s hard to “like” your comment, but agree, I have long worried this exact thing happening. With the increase—ever growing—of global climate refugees escaping unlivable conditions (even citizens within our borders), many countries will be grappling with this & I fear increased aggression will result. Unfortunately inter-and-intra national squabbling over “whatever” keeps a concerted effort at planning/mitigation of this looming reality not even on the table for discussion. We humans are our own worst enemies.
Folks, While I gather these thugs exist and must be dealt with I have to see this as blown up significantly by the news media. The fear these articles generate is possibly just more "click bait".
My reason for so thinking is that I have been writing weekly letters to the editor for years in rural 5th district VA (my Congressman now heads the Freedom Caucus) condemning Donald Trump in the severest of terms. While other citizens have written disagreeing with me NEVER have I been threatened by anyone about my letters: 100% of the reactions I've gotten from fellow citizens have been positive. Will I be threatened tomorrow? Who knows but what I do know today is that I will continue to write as I have been. The Smelly Orange Monster must never get near the levers of political power again.
I agree, Stephen. I feel like leaving everything behind, and getting the heck out of the United States. I would feel much safer in New Zealand or Australia. I am appalled that a large faction of people here in the USA have morphed into outright terrorists that want to resort to violence and death threats in defense of a crazed and insane maniac named Donald TUMP. Their outrageous threats to control women's rights is horrifying to extreme levels of hate that i cannot imagine. I just don't know how much longer i can tolerate this extremism that has taken hold here, and all because of these barbarians that are infatuated with an Orange creature they have been brainwashed by, and lied to and have anointed as their almighty Lord and savior.
The 5th Circuit’s naked direction that pregnant women in extremis should be allowed to die shocked me, and I thought I was well past that point. If it wasn’t clear before, it is abundantly clear now the Dobbs decision is literally a war on women.
Lisa, thank you for my first laugh-out-loud of the day! Perfect image, and I know a couple of fellows who have passed kidney stones….apparently they need not be 10 lbs, but I get your drift!
My husband keeps telling me, "You can't live in fear," but sometimes I wish we could leave the U.S. and go somewhere else. There are so many "what ifs" in my mind.
Derek, I have wanted to go to NZ since the late 60’s. My grandmother visited there and loved it & had a high school friend who lived & taught school there for a number of years & was very impressed. My then husband and I picked up a couple of hitchhikers traveling the USA in the early 70’s & brought them to his folks house where we were visiting (our hometown); they stayed for a few days & we showed them around the small beach town. They told us a lot about their country & explained how hard it is for non-citizens to buy property there, especially on the coast. It’s on my bucket wish list!
Actually both classic and modern authoritarians have used both death and threats to my understanding. Recall too the 13 federal executions towards the end of Trump's presidency: a statement loud and clear.
Yes, it was unbelievably horrible and disgusting - I think we were all focused on just getting him OUT as fast as possible. I remember my half-sister's shock (lives in Washington State) in the e-mail she sent me on 6 January: "Insurrection!" But she'd been living in abject despair ever since Comey decided he'd just better have another look at Hillary's e-mails... Enough, America! Bad situation.
I came to dread every time Trump encountered another setback, because I knew that he would order another execution, and make sure it got a lot of press. The man was assuaging his own feelings of powerlessness by killing a person who had no control.
It sickened me, and yet I do not recall the press ever pointing out this very obvious connection.
Right now I do believe that Trump feels powerless and that is why he repeatedly implies or outright threatens violence. He may not be in jail (yet), but he is not in control of his own life: it is controlled by the constant calls to appear in court and the increasing lawsuits which must be answered. Never mind that the uncertaintly in which he lives is self-inflicted. It still means he has very little control over where he must be and when, and the range of responses available to him is also restricted.
He is a frightened man in a corner. That is unnerving, especially when his own fear infects the fears of people who are angry already.
My own sense (because I do not limit my sources of information to those mired in despair) is that Trump will not win, and that his campaign will flicker out. Despite the angst I am reading here today, I see too many people actively working to get out the Dem vote, busy doing the grunt work, helping to organize the upcoming campaigns. Their message is being heard,
All the Maga-repubs are able to do is mouth the same old stuff, which is appealing only to the same limited base as usual. Much of the corporate media is following the Maga train wreck, but gradually some are realizing that something else is going on.
It's our job to help that part of the story get heard.
Annie, I think in reality he’s a sniveling coward. There are vids of him some years ago doing a scripted “smack down” of someone at a boxing ring….heh, I’d like to see him IN the ring with a real WWE/MMA opponent and see him cringe and wail & hightail it out the exit with his tail tucked in!
Please, Stephen, please everyone here, STOP using that damned label for what is in reality Hitlerism.
It is flattering.
After all, mafiosi may be authoritarian but authoritarians are not necessarily criminal. They may even represent the still respectable rules-obsessed end of the conservative spectrum -- NOT far-right anarchy.
If we really MUST use overlong words that most users don't seem to have fully understood and which will go above most readers' and hearers' heads, TOTALITARIAN fits the bill.
There's a world of difference between that and "authoritarian".
Some criminals may be strict fathers, many will have had such fathers, but there's nothing criminal about being a strict father...
Thank you for writing about the 5th Circuit’s EMTALA related decision, which violates both the spirit and the letter of the law. I wrote about what EMTALA is, and is not, in 2017 after Rep. Mark Meadows falsely stated on CNN “There’s a federal law right now that if you show up at a hospital, you get coverage.” That’s false. You will be seen and stabilized, but there is no financial “coverage” for any associated financial costs.
It’s also false to assert that EMTALA doesn’t protect women w/ pregnancy related emergency medical conditions. If Republicans want to repeal EMTALA then follow the proper procedures and repeal it, but let’s not pretend there is some abortion related ambiguity in this law. There is not. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5468057/
Thank you, Dr. Sawyer for clearing this up and for reminding us of what Trump’s “cheaper, better” health insurance policy (AHCA) looked like in 2017. A giveaway to the insurance companies, it would have reversed Obamacare’s provision that forbids insurers to refuse to cover preexisting or to hike up your insurance rates if you have one. Right now, insurance companies can’t refuse to cover pregnancies for a period of time unless you pay extra. They can’t refuse to pay for future cardiac interventions (stents, ablations, pacemakers, etc.) if you’ve had a previous heart attack They can’t refuse to pay if your cancer comes back or if you get another type of cancer. The Republican healthcare bill would have allowed all this —returning us to the “good old days” <sarcasm>.
And, by the way, highlights precisely the sort of bog-standard character of all fascism. That bill was handcrafted by the insurance industry essentially to do 2 basic things: save them money, and reduce their oversight by government. This is at bottom all fascism asks for: maximize private profit and minimize public scrutiny.
Fascism is NOT about the jackboots – it is only about the wingtips. The jackboots are simply cosplay theater for the rubes.
As a publicly traded, for profit corporation, UnitedHealth Group has a fiduciary responsibility to do what’s in the best interest of their shareholders, certainly not patients. That seems antithetical to any healthcare system. I wrote about this issue in 2017:
In the U.S. “Healthcare” Is Now Strictly a Business Term
The 5th Circuit has become a 7 Mountains philosophy centered court. The original judge that set this ruling in action is a former student of mine and it is a sad day. He was taught much better at his high school.
Wow. As a retired teacher, I always wonder how my students will live their lives. I can imagine your disappointment. Didn't know of the 7 mountains so looked it up - yikes!
The Houthis attacking international shipping, Trump getting his MAGA followers and spineless congressional enablers all to heed stochastic attacks and calls for attacks, Texas ideologues turning courts into death attacks on women, and the boy Howdy Doody Speaker of the U.S. House speaking for the only southern border program MAGA-trons will OK: attacks on, closure to, hatred of all (non-white) immigrants.
Hate oozes. Even the nod to the need for Mideast peace again overlooks the far-right Israeli settlers also dedicated to hostility, hate -- attacking Palestinians whose lands they steal.
The world seems united in these organized, systematized aggressions on "others." Such incredible tilt to vulgarity. Peace possible anywhere? Human relations among people with respect for "others" as if they might be individuals -- as if schools somewhere, anywhere in this perfidious world might teach that literacy?
Elsewhere, the idea of naming the mafia-hijacked Republican party "Fascist".
Your last paragraph shows up the fact that such a label would be flattering -- even when comparing America's would-be dictator with the Duce gone to seed and transformed into a Hitler adjunct.
After he'd imprisoned Khodorkovsky for talking politics out of turn, Putin, who'd made spurious tax evasion the pretext for locking up a serious potential rival, cited the case of Al Capone as a precedent.
I recall my reaction at the time...
"But Capone never made it to President of the United States."
Of course, I was thinking of the Russian president, without then knowing about the implant he had in mind for America...
“But as the war has progressed and more than 22,000 Palestinians have been killed—almost half of them children—with weapons that Biden provided, the image of an American president that wants a cease-fire but is stumbling to find the leverage to force an end to fighting has fallen apart. Biden has shipped more than 10,000 tons of weapons and ammunition to Israel, twice sidestepped congressional oversight to expedite the arms transfers, twice vetoed resolutions at the UN Security Council calling for a cease-fire, and even studied how to permanently transfer 2.3 million Palestinians from Gaza to the desert in the Sinai. While Biden has condemned Israeli cabinet ministers when they openly speak of their plans of ethnic cleansing, it has become increasingly clear that he’s never wanted a cease-fire, because he has bought into the feasibility and legitimacy of Israel’s maximalist war objective: the complete military destruction of Hamas, come what may. Biden wants Israel to do to Hamas what the US couldn’t do to the Taliban.”
thank you, Tom. I have scrolled down 3/4 of the way and this is the FIRST mention of GAZA. This is a repeat of what I wrote above: I don’t understand this “restack” button. But the first paragraph of HCR bothered me. Here we have USA helping Israel fight the GAZA conflict but you people get all upset about the Houtis, Hezbala, etc. helping Hamas. And when will USA see thru the mistruths that Israel continues to spread. Oct. 7th was NOT the start of this conflict; it started in 1948, or 1917 when Mr. Balfour got involved, maybe back at the time of the Crusades or even Abraham in the Bible.
Charming, Tom, how you conclude as to "what the US couldn't do to the Taliban."
We might all use a reminder here as to how al-Qaeda and the Taliban both grew out of local frustration at what local dictators, tyrants, royal murderers, and the former Shah were all doing to their people. U.S. high finance, fossil fuelers, and arms industry all cooperated with the ruling thugs. The C.I.A. and the School of the Americas at Ft. Benning trained the thugs' secret police and torturers.
A long, sordid, sorry history, with the U.S. on the wrong side almost always.
Indeed. Note that Dr. Richardson is using her professional expertise to lay down event markers that will help historians of the future to trace the events that are antecedant to whatever comes at us in the near future. This is similar to William Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Unfortunately, today's news elicits the feeling that we could be headed in that direction.
Yet more proof that Republicans are headed straight for The Night of the Long Knives once Trump is back in office. Then, after the weak Republicans are disposed of, the camps will pop up all over the southwest with Kommandant Stephen Miller in charge. Fearful Republicans KNOW that the thugs are out there waiting for them. The rest of us are fools not to see this.
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding Nazi Germany is the involvement of German physicians, who wholeheartedly embraced Hitler’s rise to the Chancellery in 1933. This outstanding article, and many other articles and books detail the profession’s fervent support of Nazi ideology including eugenics, forced sterilizations, and racial cleansing.
Not a slippery slope or sudden subversion: German medicine and National Socialism in 1933.
offered a formal apology for German physician’s role in Nazi atrocities.
German Medical Association Finally Apologizes for Atrocities Committed by German Physicians Under the Nazis. A Milestone in Medical History.
“Almost seven decades after the end of World War II, the German Medical Association has made a long overdue apology for its participation in human rights violations and
atrocities under the Nazi regime. In a stunning admission the Declaration states that German doctors from all strata of the profession enthusiastically supported Nazi ideology
and were not coerced to support Hitler.
The Declaration of May 12, 2012, which was
unanimously adopted by the delegates of the Physician’s Congress declared: “In contrast to still widely accepted view, the initiative for the most serious human rights violations did not originate from the political authorities
at the time, but rather from the physicians themselves… German doctors “were guilty of scores of human rights violations”… “The crimes were simply not the acts of individual doctors, but rather took place with the substantial involvement of leading representatives of the
medical association and medical specialist bodies as well as considerable representatives of university medicine and renowned biomedical research facilities.”
The same thing is happening in America right now. Trump’s doctors have been spreading heinous disinformation for nearly 4 years, calling for Nuremberg 2.0 based on COVID19 related atrocities that never happened. They have all kinds of false accusations and conspiracy theories they tell their followers about vaccine advocates, physicians, scientists and public health officials who rely on evidence to form conclusions and generate solutions.
The medical boards have failed to enforce their legal statutes, and federal agencies have failed to stop the fraudulent sale of medications like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin. Medical societies have not only failed to take a firm stance on the issue, but the majority of them are funding 2024 Republican candidates.
Understanding that German Physicians embraced Nazi Germany, and that it wasn’t just a few bad actors is an indication that it can happen again. The donations don’t lie:
Here are just a few examples of the conspiracies these U.S. licensed and board certified doctors spread:
Here is Dr. Paul Alexander. He spent time in the Trump White House silencing government scientists using bullying and intimidation tactics (Per the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis staff report).
The most troubling aspect in your letter today is the surge in political violence in the United States and the MAGA party's explicit effort to subvert our democratic principles, transforming the nation into a platform solely for promoting Trump. The distressing scenes of threats against election workers, officials, and the erosion of abortion rights through biased court rulings raise serious concerns.
The MAGA party's immigration plan further unveils their agenda to reshape America, marked by substantial cuts to asylum programs, the elimination of online application systems, the cessation of refugee parole programs, and the contentious seizure of private land for a border wall. Their failure to provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, despite widespread public support for such a measure, adds to the disappointment.
What infuriates me the most is the House Republicans' act of holding Ukraine hostage for their immigration agenda. It represents an audacious power move, prioritizing partisan interests over the crucial national security matter of supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. It seems like their sole focus is on the political landscape of 2024, disregarding the well-being of our nation.
He absolutely would. Project 2025 is the brainchild of several think tanks, most notably The Heritage Foundation. If you have not yet read Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right by Anne Nelson I highly recommend it. It’s a must read (or listen) for anyone interested in understanding the forces driving the current right wing movement, which started in 1981.
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, the citations in the Project 2025 document link to The Heritage Foundation’s own blog or to Substack articles. It’s all ideology, contrary to popular opinion on nearly all issues and certainly not grounded in science or any verifiable evidence.
I agree. I have Anne Nelson’s book and think it’s excellent. I saw it referenced first in Sojourners Magazine. One important point she makes is that rural and urban residents don’t even rely upon the same sources for news. Rural residents may listen to Christian radio, right wing talk radio or Fox News, while urban viewers may be more likely to watch TV news. I tend to read newspapers, whether online or paper copies. I tend to think of TV news as too superficial and entertainment motivated, although MSNBC (which is what my parents watch) does feature important discussions that don’t come across as superficial. The Heritage Foundation’s entire goal is to destroy the regulatory system the New Deal helped to create for the protection of the public.
That's the part of the iceberg above water. I'm hopeful Biden does something while still in office to inoculate the confidential resources (presidential emergency action documents, or PEAD's) against someone like Trump who could use them to cement authoritarian control over the country's infrastructure and heaven knows what else. See the Brennan Center's article on presidential unchecked emergency powers.
These seem to have the potential to be a modern-day version of the Weimar Constitution's Article 48 that allowed Von Hindenburg and 'der kleine Korporal' to destroy democracy in 1933 Germany.
The devil behind this is the allure of the strong man, fascism's promise of ease for the dominant -- Putin et al. Republicans in the United States are responding to money and violence promises and threats from anti-democratic forces, pro-Putin forces. China is still providing Russia with critical CNC machinery for manufacturing weaponry. Russians have had influencers across the world for decades, their work documented in various conflicts and uprisings, including Brexit. There must be some way to override the pro-Putin forces for being a threat to national security. We are the neighbors, We the People, we have the power with our vote and with our money, even with our physical presence in the streets or non-presence in stores and other businesses running with the pro-Putin crowd. If Ukraine can keep Russia at bay, even decimating its forces and resources, then we can mount some sort of action against our own Russian influencers.
Heather, tonight’s letter is pretty unnerving and I somehow felt desperation in your writing. Hope and perseverance is all we have to fight the evil that seems to be metastasizing. I can’t help but think this has been Putin’s plan all along. After all, he caused Brexit and has disrupted our law and order. His hand is in the Hamas-Israeli war too, I will bet my life on it!
I too, heard that all of our country’s historians met with Biden. I can only imagine that the theme was connecting the dots to democracy by way of referring to how things were dealt with 100, 200 years ago. I look forward to Biden’s speech on the 6th which will be exactly 3 years ago when we witnessed a horrific plan to overtake our government by a rogue character. May we prevail in kicking these evildoers out!
thank you, Marlene. Your mention of Hamas-Israeli war was the SECOND time it appeared in these comments, besides mine. Why is Israel such a sacred cow...with all of its propaganda???
Israel is not a sacred cow but was once revered for its technology, its agriculture, its scientists, its breakthrough medicines. With Bibi at the helm, it has fallen from grace. Hamas is solely responsible for all of the atrocities to innocent Israelis. It is also responsible for the innocent Palestinian people becoming homeless. But It is the IDF generals, the Likud Party, and Netanyahu who must be held in tribunal courts for atrocities against the Palestinian people. I am Jewish, the daughter of Holocaust victims, and I cannot stomach what I now see everyday. 22,000 mostly women and children killed. For what?? Men and their inflated egos!
Have you heard about the book "Wounds into Wisdom" by Rabbi T Firestone, on healing intergenerational Jewish trauma? I am hoping it helps my Native American trauma...great grandmother in boarding schools for 10 years.
I may have used "sacred cow" loosely but it does mean immune from criticism. I am sorry about what is happening to Israel under Bibi. It is also happening here-Joe Biden is NOT listening to a large part of US. Although Hamas may have overreached (the truth of Oct. 7th is not yet known), I consider them resistance fighters. Oppression has been going on for 75 years. Native Americans are still looking for their land.
The truth about Oct. 7th is known, Beverly. Hamas breached the gates where peaceful loving people lived and breathed. Many helped Palestinians get proper medical care, food, jobs, etc. It is appalling to me that you call them “resistance fighters”! They are murderers, rapists, and terrorists! You must educate yourself about their history, please. They want every Jew eliminated from the world and that is a fact.
Yes, Native Americans have always been taken advantage of and it is sickening. Unfortunately, our government has been very slow in rewarding Native Americans their rights, just as they haven’t done with African Americans. Biden has done more than any president to right those wrongs and he continues to do so. For once, we now have Deb Haaland as our cabinet Secretary of the Interior who is guiding Biden.
I wouldn't vote for DJT if someone held a loaded pistol to my head. In my 68 years of life on earth, i have never hated and despised no one like i do DJT. He is a walking, breathing disaster like no other, maybe except Adolf Hitler. I am dumbfounded and confused at why so many are hopelessly obsessed with that despicable piece of putrid garbage, DJT. Is it some kind mind control he has???
This is true. He definitely did it when he came down the escalator at Trump Tower to announce his campaign, and I also think he has some of his groupies show up at his rallies and hires actors to fill up his crowds. Unfortunately, his hiring actors has not been able to hide the fact that attendance at some of his rallies has been sparse at times.
I agree, Kathy. It would be amusing if only about 10 or 15 of his lunatic followers showed up at his lying, propaganda crap show rallies. I would love to see the look on his putrid, ugly, orange rust face. I am still at a loss why so many people are infatuated by that hard-core loser.
I am also stunned. Too many people here in the USA idolize buffoons like him because he was on TV reality program, or was a Major League baseball player, or a star NFL player. Some examples of this are, Helmut OZ, Steve Garvey ,Jessie Ventura, Hershel Walker, Tommy Tuberville, Ronald Raegan, just to name a few that have infected politics here in the USA that were stars on TV or in the professional sports world. Gullible, uneducated, people are easily taken in by them and automatically think just because they were great at sports, or popular celebrities on some silly overrated reality show, they would be good leaders in the political system of a state or, the United States. We all have witnessed what a disaster that DJT was, and still is because of gullible, ignorant people idolizing their TV idols. The many years that the media hyped up and praised DJT, emboldened him even further make him think he is the most beloved and envied person on the face of the earth. The fact really is, DJT is really a greedy, selfish, narcissistic, arrogant, lying, dishonest thief. Even more than 35 years ago, when i would hear the media brag and rant about his so-called accomplishments, i suspected he was a greedy slime bag that was rotten to the core. I thought to myself, is this idiot for real? To our dismay, he is for real, and has almost destroyed our beloved United States.
Fall of 2015, a friend said “I like Trump because he’s a business man.” I was shocked that he was so stupid. He likes FOX and he knows I disagree. Don’t see him much and avoid politics when I do. But even I, a west coast busy working single mom, knew he was a despicable character BEFORE The Apprentice. And I find reality TV insulting so that didn’t help my opinion. You make such a good point. What makes a celebrity or sports figure a good politician? The stupidity is most disconcerting.
Most self-employed fail the first time and go through Chapter 11, reorganizational bankruptcy. Going through it teaches them what not to do the next time. DJT, OTOH, made it part of his business model. He stiffed everyone, including American banks. Eventually, they shut him off and he had to seek foreign money.
bluesyfish, i also would disagree with your friend about DJT. He was a businessman alright, cheating, stealing, and using extremely dishonest ways to get way ahead of everyone he could by refusing to pay contractors and anyone else that he could get one over them. He borrowed huge sums from banks and other financial institutions and then file for bankruptcy to get out of a financial bind. He hardly ever paid any income tax. Donald TUMP was not a businessman, he was a con artist to the extreme, and got rich by stealing money all of his retched, sorry life.
When that ''Apprentice'' joke of a reality TV show premiered, my wife at the time, couldn't wait to see it, and begged me to watch it with her, after 15 minutes of watching that arrogant creep TUMP bully and intimidate contestants on there, i told my wife i was going to vomit if i watched it any longer. That had to be the very worst TV show i had ever watched. I never watched it again. I just can't understand why anyone,( except for other slime bags that are similar to him,) are so attracted to such a horrible excuse for a human being named, Donald TUMP. I just don't get it. How have so many people here in the USA been conned by this creature of tremendous hate and evil?? I am appalled and disgusted by DJT and the stupid and evil people that are his followers. I am sick and dismayed by all of these school shootings and killing by those that worship DJT. The same people that say TUMP is a businessman would probably think, Al Capone, Bin Laden, Saddam Hussien, Vladimir Putin, Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler were businessmen too.
Bandy X. Lee has an excellent book on him. I also recently saw an hour long interview with her on YT. He can't get enough praise and attention. The only emotion he experiences is anger/rage. I consider him a Dark Tetrad. Machiavellianism, Malignant Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Sadism. There is a shared psychosis between him and his followers.
He’s not smart enough to know anything about mind control. The one thing he’s doing successfully is revealing just how fucked up we as a nation really are. I know that I have never loathed any other American as much as I loathe him.
Hitler wasn't smart either. He was a fomenter. In the 20s he shunned taking a leadership role, urging it on others, knowing that his talents were in rallying people. Similarly, when Trump actually took power he made incredible blunders - far more political and personal blunders than Hitler did - incredibly without apparent negative consequences, and he remains the figurehead because the organization is so huge and unstoppable. We are about to find out what that feels like, for real.
He has created a cult, John. People who willingly drank the Kool-Aid, promising them that they are better than everyone else, and that their hatred of "others" is a good, positive thing for them to have.
He may not have as many billions as he claims, but he has “friends” who are funding his crap. He will be kicked to the curb when no longer useful. Project 2025.
I don't hate him. I think he's a Dark Tetrad. In psychology that is a combo of Machiavellianism, Malignant Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Sadism (Internet trolls are Sadists).
WOW, and he was born in Hollywood (FL) ... I spent two years (1967-69) in that area and it was pretty bad back then - one would think that things might have improved ... but then again, it’s not referred to as the armpit of the Nation for no reason!
When I lived in Texas, the Republicans were relatively sane, and there were no Greg Abbotts or Dan (Goeb) Patricks. Something got into the water there.
The Lakoff - Durran Frame Lab has another insightful post in Sub Stack today. They focus on describing successful methods to counter TFG & Frank Luntz type communication without accidently reinforcing the issue frame set up by our opponents and largely amplified by mass media. Frame Lab methods may be effective for situations other than MSM & blogging but Karin Tamerius’ group, Smart Politics published and has zoom sessions on effective quidance / communicating with persuadable people one on one or in small groups. https://open.substack.com/pub/framelab/p/why-trump-wants-you-to-compare-him?r=41pd0&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Thank you, Dr. Richardson, although this is a gloomy report, we need to know. I suspect the infantile temper tantrums will continue unabated until November 6 when we should (hopefully) hear the last of trump's demands for a lifetime dictatorship. I hope most of the MAGA's in the House of Representatives, and well as any MAGA's up for reelection in the Senate lose too.
The one piece of good news not noted was that since 2020, the majority of deaths have been Republicans due to their anti-science anti-vax beliefs. If we can't get rid of them any other way, we at least can let their own moron stupidity take them away. Good riddance!
Just received word the Brigham / Mass General Partners group have re mandated staff to wear masks, it is still optional for patients. I wear a mask in crowded settings now.
I have decided to resign from my local dem meeting. Very hard decision to make, as I am chair, something I wanted very much to get my town active (it has been moribund for years). There are people who want live meetings. But I am high-risk, and recently my family went through Covid. One of them dismissed my concerns and said I could "just wear a mask". I sent her an NIH article about masking and transmission. She responded with an even more dismissive (and insulting) reply.
I gave a great deal of thought to my decision. My state is safely blue. My town is going to be what it is (the dem party is not the only problem it has). I am still a JoP, so will be participating in the election, likely mostly monitoring and counting ballots, activities that can be done masked and distanced. Almost everyone here votes by mail. So I have no guilt about resigning. I need to take care of myself, and I need to distance myself from petty personal politics.
But I am still in the game. I realized I have freed myself to use my energies to continue what I'd done for the last several years: helping to inform people, counter misinformation, writing postcards, writing letters to the editor, writing small articles, staying in touch with people doing the same so that we can support and encourage one another as we do what we can together to preserve democracy and help it stay meaningful.
I am very doubtful any government entity will institute a mask mandate. Private entities, such as hospitals, medical practices, businesses, etc can and should to keep employees and patrons/patients safe. Between vaccination and people actually having COVID over the past 4+ years, something like 90% of the population has some form of immunity - at a cost of something like 600 - 800K unnecessary deaths due mostly to vaccine hesitancy, along with resistance to wearing masks and social distancing.
On that encouraging note, a good nights sleep is in order, if possible. Thank you dear Professor for keepng us up to speed and my new blue Wooden Boat cap keeps the hair out of my eyes.
Ransom, you may be asleep now but, allow me to annotate the Professor's report on the 5th Circuit ruling essentially, 'Texas Law Trumps EMTALA Federal Regulations'.
1st, you guessed it, the Texas attack is led by TX AG Ken Paxton & 2 Antiabortion Medical (sic) Associations. Per Reuters' BRENDAN PIERSON & in the wake of Kates' case & her escape to another state, Texas is dealing with a follow-up lawsuit by 22 Texas women ('Boots Were Made for Walkin') on the scope of the mother's medical emergency exception.
Meanwhile, later in January 2024, the 9th Circuit will hear & rule on the same issues out of Idaho setting up a conflict in the Circuits, 9th Circuit vs 5th Circuit. Thus, the case is destined for SCOTUS, post-Dobbs & the majority's shortsighted effort to destroy National 'Roe' real world guidelines.
Hat Tip to Reuters' Editors, ALEXIA GARAMFALVI & DAVID GREGARIO for precise & professional editing work.
Thanks Bryan, but I did read about all that during the day. With all the T-appointed judges making it up as they need to, getting back the congressional majority is of life saving importance. Joyce and Robert Hubble went into it also. (before I hit the sack)
So what happens if republicans reps with half a spine get together and act as a block within their own party to offer what they actually know to be some reasonableness for the upcoming budget needs?
Johnson has only two votes left on the margins - very squeaky. It's perhaps a bit harder to effectively target a larger group ... and has the FBI got any bead on the other
or bomb threats against officials around the country?
What happens to them is someone tries to kill them, and at a minimum they commit personal professional suicide, like the other "sane" Republicans already did.
That's why I suggested a block group. It works together if they can find any courage within themselves. They can multiply it a little bit. I'm not talking about Lincoln Republicans, though wondering if that group is offering outreach support...
Professor, didn’t something else happen today? An article in Politico said that you joined a group of historians for lunch with President Biden. I’m sure you will have more to say when you are able to. Thank you for your contribution to helping save our democracy.
The first link is direct to Politico.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/03/historians-scholars-biden-lunch-democracy-00133765
I had originally posted this link via MSN.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/here-are-the-historians-and-scholars-biden-dined-with-today/ar-AA1mqWw2
The next link is the same article accessed through Yahoo News.
https://news.yahoo.com/historians-scholars-biden-dined-today-023156951.html
Also, this luncheon was mentioned in the daily White House news briefing, without naming those in attendance.
Thanks 🙏 very much !!! I take away that we’ll have to wait some more to get out... maybe through his speech on Friday the 6th... wow... Thank God! There was a « lively exchange of ideas » !!! That’s what we need. Frankly isn’t that exactly what we live for and fight for?!
... <<...Attendees were tight-lipped about what was discussed at the gathering. One would only go so far as to say they “talked about American history and its bearing on the present — a lively exchange of ideas.”
Another person in the room,
who like the others was not authorized to speak publicly about a private meeting,
said the historians urged the president “to call out the moment for what it is.” In blunt terms, the academics discussed looming threats to the nation’s democracy and warned about the slow crawl of authoritarianism around the globe....>>...
It may be “The slow crawl of authoritarianism around the globe,” but it is evolving into a sprint in the United States. "It’s a wild power grab. And it is apparently being done with an eye to 2024. “ Rep Tom Nehis, R-Texas.
To be clear, the MAGA dominated Republican party can now be justifiably called the “Fascist Party.” Now that those Republicans who do not fall into line fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones, we see fascism in action. I submit we no longer use the term MAGA, for that movement has nothing to do with making America great. MAGA is fascism and we should call it that. Those who are deluded into darkness hate the light of truth. Those of us who do not currently have to fear for our safety…yet, should shine the light of truth brightly and take control of the narrative and simply call the GOP what it is, The Fascist Party of the United States.
Marc Nevas, you're a brave one. I liked your reasoning. If the politicians, judges, etc are so fearful of violence against themselves or their family that they can't do what is right, their party has crossed the rubicon. They are The Fascist Party.
Leninist Fascist party. Destroy the state. Create disorder. Install a minority and rule with corrupt power. Voters wake up
Actually, Lenin wasn't a fascist, but a totalitarian communist. Fascism was represented by Mussolini, Tojo and Hitler. tfg is the present day face of fascism. He and the GOP have joined the axis of evil.
Totalitarianism, whatever scheme it's attached to, is the ultimate enemy of humanity, left, right, or theocratic. An engaged, honest, and caring democracy seems to be the only sustainable cure.
To your point JL & per a United States Department of State "Media Note" this 1/5 morning, a substantial $10 Million "Awards for Justice" program, has been offered internationally " ... for Information on Hamas' Financial Networks."
Red Sea shipping attacks continue this morning originating from YEMEN.
Earlier today in IRAQ, the US targeted & killed a factional leader & international operative located in Baghdad, IRAQ.
Despite the repeated cautionary notes by many, the Middle East Wars [plural] are expanding rapidly.
Did the American fascists of World War 2 BULLY people like today’s fascists? Is it because of easy to obtain weapons, social media, or the idea that they are “good Christians”? Whatever it is, the DOJ and the msm need to start publicizing that the bully fascists are paying the price. Tell us what happened to the rioters who were caught and tried, Mr. Pelosi’s attacker, people who made threats against poll workers, ad nauseam. And lock up/shut up the manbaby who has violated the terms of his parole again and again. We all watched the Jan 6 insurrection riot live on tv. Tfg is unfit for command and everyone knows it. Justice Matters says Glen Kirschner.
The "Brownshirts" of the Hitler rise in Germany are growing rapidly. They threaten anyone and everyone from the top politicians to the local election officials. There must be an organizing group behind them. We need to find out who that is. They are a big reason for "Insurrection Trump's" continuing success.
Marc, The RED Shirts lurking in the shadows. The Man Baby’s henchmen spawning the fear of fear
The GOP accomplices who have learned that refusing to do anything at all accomplishes their ambitions. We live in interesting times
Dave, interesting times Iindeed!
I never thought I'd live to see someone like Donald Trump try to take over our country and make it HIS country. I never thought I'd live to see so many people worship someone like Donald Trump. He has brought out and condoned all the hate, narrow-mindedness, racism and entitlement that these people have felt for so long. He has urged them to be as mean and cruel as he is.
I never thought I would see so-called intelligent and law-abiding members of Congress forget their values and sell their souls to someone like Trump. It's just sickening that they have no spine to stand up and say, " This is not right!!"
I like to watch "Entitled people who get owned." on Youtube. While they're screaming racial slurs and feeling entitled to do or say anything they want, they often scream, "I voted for Trump!!" or "Trump is coming back!!!! " These crazy people are examples of Trump supporters--loud, vulgar, crass, disrespectful, hateful people who think the world revoves around them and their beliefs.
On the videos, I love to see these people being called out by someone in the crowd who dares confront them, which usually results in a tirade of ," Mind your GD business." or " What the F is it to you?" I dearly love to see them being hauled off by police while still screaming their entitement. " I know my rights!! " is a favorite defense.
When I watch these videos, I have a sense of "right " winning for a time. In these times and under the circumstances of Trump's maniacal hold on people, I seldom feel that "right is winning."
With his hold on the Republicans who don't have a spine to stand up and say, "This is NOT right!", I feel a sense of despair that our democracy is in danger, because these blind followers of Trump are not being held accountable.
"Trump is coming back!!!!" are some of the most frightening words I've heard.
Time to watch some more entitled people get owned.:)
Frustration with the Legal system that endorses the bribing of elected officials, which floods billionaire money into the greed grubbers; drowning out the voices of average citizens. Our problem is the Supreme Court, bought and paid for Leonard Leo’s henchmen
The American people were put under siege by Ronnie RayGun’s union busting, destroying the living wage concept. Workers were forced into legal slavery where ANY job, regardless of pay was acceptable. Corporations pushed workers to the limit of their sanity and the result is the anger and violence we see today. The mythical savior, strongman Donnie has them convinced their lives will be better when he puts all “the others” in prison or floating dead in the Rio Grande
Of course, the push to destroy public education has not helped
Let's not forget that the abundance of corporate and dark money in our politics can be traced directly to the actions of the Roberts Court, one of the worst Supreme Courts in history. All to support #SmelloYellow
Amen and Amen!
Pam-Your well articulated description of Trump supporters are just the way we can describe their "leader". They are a reflection of him-add lawless to the description since they think they can do anything they want. The law is there to protect their "rights". They don't want the law to protect the rights of others.
The quiet, behind the scenes supporters are the scariest. They're pulling out all the stops to elect someone who says he wants to be a dictator. They're counting on his ability to keep us all divided so they can wield their power over "we the people". You're right-our democracy is indeed in danger...
I think the published thoughts of Lincoln and other respected American theorists contrast starkly with with the whole canon of "Republican" utterances and that compare and contrast packs a wallop. For that matter, what in fact is a "republic" and which party is now supporting one?
Gina, thanks for your comments.
It's always good to hear from people who see the truth about what's going on in America.
Hi Pam, you write 1000% exactly what I feel. I wish this group had a zoom call once a month or so so that we could all actually talk and share some of our feelings of extreme frustration, fear, anger and maybe a bit of hope here and there too. I read these comments each day and usually feel a bit heartened, but I also feel increasingly hopeless and pretty alone in this faceless online world we now all exist in. Anyway, thanks for your--everyone's--comments to HCR's daily dose of sanity, it helps. I hope our country will be ok come Nov, but I fear it won't. Anyway, I'm trying to say hopeful and help where I can. --Prof S (in DC)
Professor S, thanks for your comments!
We do need hope to keep our sanity during these days of confusion and turmoil.
No longer lurking! They are flaunting their intent on destroying our experiment with democracy!
ancient Chinese curse ... may he live in...
Well, we live in the curse of interesting times along with the “he” a cursed. Proximity to the contagion
Spot on!!!! FOA= Fascists of America. Not name calling just calling it what it is.
And the leader of the Fascist Party of the United States is none other than our #SmelloYellow!
What are the so called normal Republicans afraid of besides their job ..what is really going on behind the scenes..can’t believe they won’t denounce what is happening
I have been calling it thus for months now. And I use my FB page as a platform for doing so, having succeeded in weeding out the trolls! Next, I'm going to consider a bumper sticker of some sort.
And the acronym is...Fascist PUS? Seriously though, we need to speak out loudly and broadly (not just to each other) about what “Liberty” and “Freedom” really mean in the hands of American Fascists. Freedom means they are free to make death threats to swing elections. Freedom means they can say whatever they want (who cares if it’s not true), but you can’t. Add to the list: Freedom means...
I still believe that Trump will fulfill his campaign promise to "drain the swamp" by taking all of his supporters down with him.
What are the so called normal Republicans afraid of besides their job ..what is really going on behind the scenes..can’t believe they won’t denounce what is happening
"...maybe through his speech on Friday the 6th". Let's hope that speech is a very clear and convincing sequence of statements what America and Americans stand for!
Freedom!
The rule of law!
She never promotes herself. So refreshing, so rare, so real. She's stuck with me for life.
I sure hope none of those historians offered Joe a free drink as that would give the REPUBLICAN'TS evidence of corruption for impeachment. It is so laughable when Congress person after Congress person is asked on camera what the crime for impeachment of Joe is and they have to admit, on camera, that they have nothing.
"... they have nothing". Nothing at all. Those REPUBLICANts have nothing and have had nothing but hate and corruption and vile comments ... that's all their contributions to today's government. Shame on them to be ruled by money pressure and anarchists and - yes, - fascists, not to mention tfg who should have been seriously stopped in his tracks and in jail long time ago.
They don’t need anything, just headlines
Many of the MAGANAZI's read at a 6th grade level or below, so they CAN'T read. That's why FOX NEWS and other right wing media get the message out ad nauseam.
I'm on Instagram for friends and family. I don't post anything. However, I love the interviews with wet brain Trump supporters. They are hysterical. Especially when Jordan Klemper hands their words back to them. This is where rape apologists gather. They vote. Oh the fuckery.
This is one encouraging sign from a brutal days of news...it is good to know what is happening in the world, even better to bbc "build beloved communities" in our own circles of influence.
I truly believe “building beloved communities “ is the way forward. Let’s make hate yesterday’s news. It’s never been done before, but there are some 7billion of us who could benefit from it right now.
I was wondering if Biden reads the Letters, after he announced his intent to speak at Valley Forge. That he had lunch with historians is encouraging.
Can you imagine dumpty having lunch with historians ? He’d be much happier with the fake wrestling guys.
He had lunch with a college sports ball team ... and tried to feed them lukewarm fast-food.
I remember seeing the video, and they all looked confused and disappointed.
Read it on Politico: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/03/historians-scholars-biden-lunch-democracy-00133765
He needs more than cerebral historians. He needs savvy media creators to infect the maga-soaked and besotted public space anr enter the mental space of the many who are not paying attention. I'm talking about youngsters who only get their news from social media. Also all the newly employed who may feel they're too busy to vote. We need anti-MAGA activists to enter MAGA space and argue against Trumpism and for the common citizen. I try, but my blood pressure rises as my blood boils from the mindless comments I read.
So I'm very glad to read that Biden is gathering ideas from the likes of HCR, but I despair from the thought that this cerebral exercise will not affect those who think with their gut (or another appendage).
No, these meetings are not mere "cerebral exercises". Biden is seeking a wide range of input so that he can better understand American needs. In fact, Biden confers with various groups so this isn't exactly a unique event. And there's an awful lot going on outside of official channels and parties that address the questions you raise. So I'd suggest enlarging the range of your reading.
I found your dismissal of historians as "cerebral" rather odd, especially applied to HCR. I find historians fascinating in the dedication they have to illuminating the present through the prism of the past- often including humor. Some of HCR's talks on video and live presentations offer good examples.
Please set aside your stereotypical view of people who spend their lives trying to illuminate our past, our history, the impacts of various factors on who and where we are. They are largely simply human beings with a vast curiousity they are willing to share with others- including us. I am grateful.
Oy vey, Annie! If I wrote in a way that implies I'm dismissive of HCR or other historians, I must apologize since that's the opposite of how I feel and what I follow and read.
What I meant to state is that though Biden's policies and speeches are rooted in a rich universe of empirically correct information (the "Bidenverse"), they are nowhere near enough to penetrate the thick shell surrounding the information-poor MAGA-verse. If you know of "influencers" that are effectively engaging with those who get their news only from social media without alienating them with cerebral thoughts that turn them off, let me know who they might be so I can follow, like, repost, or whatever it takes to amplify their message.
Jerry Helfand
6 hrs ago
Jerry this is what you wrote: "He needs more than cerebral historians....
So I'm very glad to read that Biden is gathering ideas from the likes of HCR, but I despair from the thought that this cerebral exercise will not affect those who think with their gut (or another appendage)."
That sounds pretty dismissive to me.
You also wrote about the need to reach out to the "Magaverse" on their terms. Not sure I agree with you. We've talked a lot on this (and other forums) about the fact that most of the people drawn to Trump have vested themselves in his version of reality, and are not reachable. Some quietly peel away, and become receptive to other sources of information- which is what people like us are providing. Few make it here, but are most likely to be reached by the many grass-roots projects that us ordinary citizens are involved in.
Setting the hardline Trumpists aside, there are many people out there who are simply living their lives and have not yet gotten caught up in election hysteria. They may not even have thought about voting. Those are the people our projects are reaching out to, with information about voting and raising questions about personal priorities for people to think about. We showed in 2022 the power of this kind of reaching out: it works. The election results in 2022 proved it: no red wave. Local and state offices taken by Dems. MSM scratched their heads and started looking around. They are finally getting it. This is not a horserace. Trump's "base" is not the issue. We are, and we are running on issues that matter to people's lives, and it is working. We can do it again.
There are a bunch of groups focussed on this kind of action. The entire year before the 2022 elections, there were lists posted here regularly. Maybe it's time to do that again.
Here are a few I have, but there are more.
"Hopium Chronicles", by Simon Rosenburg (substack) Support for activists with some positive things to share.
Swing Left has published their list of flippable seats in the US House along with 6 Democratic seats we need to hold. It can be found here: https://swingleft.org/p/house
Activate America (www.activateamerica.vote) : postcards to flip seats in local/state elections. Several active now.
https://votefwd.org/
Letter-writing to get out vote in critical races in other states. Just starting to organize for 2024
PostCardsToVoters Linktr.ee (https://linktr.ee/postcardstovoters) to see how to joinPostcards To Voters. If you have already joined, remember that Abby the Bot is not texting but you can get addresses via the PTV linktr.ee)
https://statesproject.org/
Focus on states rather than WaDC. Great for talking points ! Some really good pointers.
https://democracytoolkit.press/
Not just for journalists: Lots of good tips for activists for reaching out, working with press, engaging other people.
Lots of others, but there's a start. It's really us doing these small things, Jerry. They add up.
Annie, thank you for your reply. I will follow ask the links you provided.
Jerry- I so agree about the need to reach people, especially youth, through public spaces and technology. When the anti-slavery faction started using the churches, public spaces, theater etc., John C. Calhoun from South Carolina was highly upset that they were winning the "mental space" and drawing more and more people to their cause.
We have to give Trump and the Republicans credit for being some of the best spin doctors out there. As Sweet Honey in the Rock sings, "we who believe in freedom cannot rest". Let's hope that in addition to listening to cerebral historians, that Biden (and all of us) put the turret out there to counter the spin that's capitalizing on division, cruelty and hate.
I know it will be hard to switch from MAGA to fascist, for me too, and fascist doesn't pinpoint who you mean , the way MAGA does. Still, we should try to switch. Maybe ' today's fascists' or 'American fascists.'
Interesting. For a while, I was calling all Trumpists the American Taliban. There are also, as you point out, the American Fascists. Should we add the American Kleptocrats?
These tranches could probably be further subdivided into
a) knowledgeable and thus dangerous
B) clueless and thus reachable.
I do believe that labels are important because they create feedback that penetrates their bubbles. For instance, I was engaged in TikTok before the 2020 election, and the label "American Taliban" actually got responses from creators. Did that change any minds? I have no clue, but hope that a moment of introspection might would occasionally be repeated.
My reply got pasted above yours. I'm saying if American Taliban worked or at least seemed to, the experiment is worth trying again.
What about Trump Fascists or MAGA Fascists?
I love that Biden gathered this group, including the professor. The more attention focused on the very real threat of a fascist takeover, the better.
However, the president absolutely must take the immigration issue head on. The GOP is controlling the narrative to the detriment of Biden's re-election chances as well as those of Democrats running for Congress.
Biden must go big by proposing major reforms in a national address, knowing full well that the GOP will do nothing. Then he and his surrogates can hammer them repeatedly for failing to act. In this election, absolutely nothing should be left to chance.
Your suggestion is more than a little cynical, but absolutely true. Immigration law is the responsibility of Congress and the fact that there has been no reform in spite of many attempts means that it's more valuable as a bone of contention than it is a serious problem.
It's perceived as a serious problem, and I think it is too, though a much more multi-faceted one than do-nothing-but complain Republicans. Why else would Biden and the Senate be willing to spend many billions of dollars to address it? Also, the nation's immigration laws have not been seriously reformed in many years thanks to GOP shenanigans and outright deception.
Some 2.5 million authorized people entering the country last year, a record, is overwhelming the system.
Yes, the system is overwhelmed, because it is seriously underfunded, not because it doesn't work. Yes, there could be improvements made, but adequate funding alone would be a great improvement and that hasn't even been tried. Immigration has always been a good thing for the US.
All Federal immigration laws have been racist beginning with the first one in 1875 that was designed to keep Chinese women from joining the Chinese men that had been brought to the US to work.
Today's political hysteria isn't about immigration; it's about racism. When was the last time anyone wanted to talk about people crossing from Canada? When was the last time anyone wanted to talk about people arriving by airplane? If we're really interested in reforming immigration why are we only talking about the border with Mexico?
Generally agree. And yes racism is a major issue. That said, the sheer number of people arriving on foot is overwhelming various places. It's not sustainable.
Nor does it need to be; the numbers are high for a number of reasons but mainly because of pent up need from Trump's really horrific policies. Long term, the rate of immigration, especially at the southern border is highly variable.
And we must not forget how much responsibility the US has for the conditions in Central American states that drive much of the immigration from those areas.
There is a wonderful and vibrant cross border culture that is invisible to most of the rest of the US. Of course it has no political value, especially in Texas.
If you get a chance, "La Frontera with Pati Jinich" is a wonderful introduction via food and I think you can find it on You Tube
Too bad we aren’t able to read the article w/o subscribing...supporting Microsoft... any way around this ? Thanks
Substack has nothing to do with Microsoft. Becoming paid subscribers supports the authors and their work. I'm proud to support a half-dozen Substack writers, some of whom I've read for decades, and whose books I've loved.
I was able to read “expand” the article without the app or signing up.
I had no problems, either.
Without a problem ? Maybe it’s because I’m in France ?
Channeling Fern here. The text copied and pasted below:
By LAUREN EGAN and JONATHAN LEMIRE
01/03/2024 09:31 PM EST
"President Joe Biden hosted a small group of scholars and historians for lunch on Wednesday as he gears up for a speech framing the upcoming election as a battle for the nation’s democracy.
The discussion revolved around “ongoing threats to democracy and democratic institutions both here in America and around the world, as well as the opportunities we face as a nation,” the White House said in a statement.
Princeton’s Eddie Glaude Jr. and Sean Wilentz, Harvard’s Annette Gordon-Reed, Yale’s Beverly Gage and Boston College’s Heather Cox Richardson were among the attendees, as well as presidential biographer — and occasional Biden speech writer — Jon Meacham.
Attendees were tight-lipped about what was discussed at the gathering. One would only go so far as to say they “talked about American history and its bearing on the present — a lively exchange of ideas.”
Another person in the room, who like the others was not authorized to speak publicly about a private meeting, said the historians urged the president “to call out the moment for what it is.” In blunt terms, the academics discussed looming threats to the nation’s democracy and warned about the slow crawl of authoritarianism around the globe.
Biden listened intently and asked questions, the participant said. “This is something that he cares about deeply,” the person said.
Over the course of his presidency, Biden has periodically convened groups of top scholars and historians for big-picture conversations about his legacy, as well as existential threats to the country. Wednesday’s lunch meeting comes ahead of Biden’s speech this Friday in Valley Forge, Pa., marking the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
“This is something that he tends to do, especially as we head towards an important day like Jan. 6,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during Wednesday’s press briefing.
The subject matter is familiar for Biden. He has repeatedly declared that he vowed to run for president after watching the racist demonstrators march on Charlottesville, Va., in 2017 when then-President Donald Trump declared there were good people “on both sides” of the protests. He called that race a battle for the “very soul of the nation” and now believes the stakes are higher.
Biden watched the U.S. Capitol insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, from his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Del. He had hoped that the riot would bring the Trump era to an end. But since then, the former president has tightened his grip on the Republican Party. Biden has repeatedly warned that the dangers of anti-democratic forces have grown, using his speeches to mark the two previous anniversaries of the insurrection — one delivered from the Capitol.
The president also made it central to his efforts to aid Democrats in 2022’s midterm elections — which included a speech at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall — and credited it in part for the party’s surprisingly strong showing. He returned to the theme last year at the McCain Institute and will revisit it at another historically symbolic venue this weekend at the headquarters of General George Washington’s Continental Army during the American Revolution.
Eugene Daniels contributed reporting."
Ally-Thanks for sharing this...it's so interesting how as they say "history rhymes". In 1860 BEFORE Lincoln was inaugurated seven states seceded from the Union and engaged in insurrection/rebellion (now called the Civil War) against the government. In 2020, the losing presidential candidate planned and incited an insurrection to stop the "peaceful transfer of power" BEFORE Biden was inaugurated. Violence reigned both times. Insurrectionists continue their quest to divide so they can conquer.
Kudos to Biden for inviting discussion about our past and how it impacts on our present and future. The group of scholars mentioned are seasoned and diverse in numerous ways. What an interesting conversation it must have been...
May Americans who really care about this country (and not just their own power/privilege) rise up to stem the tide of fascism now aimed at us by people-foreign and domestic-who want to tear down the possibilities of "perfecting our union".
Thanks, Ally
Thanks
I’ve added another link to my comment that may get you around whatever is blocking you.
I’m not signed in and am able to read it. I do subscribe, so I can’t test it otherwise. Maybe others will chime in.
Thanks Gary ... it also looks as if there are few right-wingers who also read - or at least subscribe to Politico.
Trolls, likely
This is where we reach the crossroads between journalism and history. I don’t know if I should worry that HCR is becoming close to the current president. The role of an historian may augur in favor of such a relationship, but I do worry about potential loss of objectivity.
If one doesn't "objectively" see Trump and the MAGA movement as a violent threat to our nation and its fragile democratic experiment, then one is a fascist or an accessory to a fascist - at the very least an unwitting accomplice.
William, in a perfect world where we would be discussing something like old school conservative philosophies vs old school liberal social policies - I would strongly agree with your concern. Historians should provide historical facts and interesting, helpful perspectives. Teach - not pontificate.
But this is now a war. This is Germany in the early 20th century. These historians are reminding President Biden that he is at the center of our effort to stop fascism in its tracks.
The old two party system is gone. The old friendly debates between colleagues of different persuasions are impossible now. The glove has slapped the face of our Constitution. Choose your non-lethal weapon.
Historians and everyone else: climb aboard the Democratic train or prepare to live in a totalitarian nightmare. Prepare to watch the US descend into an attack on our environment and the existence of millions of species - including our own. We're talking about survival here. Not just political philosophies. I hope Heather and her colleagues MAKE some history.
We have one of our major political parties that no longer believes in constitutional government, and they are willing to blow it all up to retain whatever they think they deserve to have. We definitely are at a cross between authoritarianism and self-government. We must save ourselves with as much knowledge and information we have. No one else will do it.
You make some entirely legitimate points. When faced with an existential threat, I guess we need to be more flexible. Thank you for your comment.
Bill,
Very, very well said. Thank you.
It’s the other way around: she has his ear. It is beneficial for a sitting president to receive and heed the big picture lessons and insights of history and historians.
I appreciate President Biden’s heeding the lessons of history and teaming with historians to understand what lessons our past holds for our future. That is intelligent and shows thoughtful action.
Well stated! All to many ‘historians’ who become chummy with a President say out loud what should be confidential between the two parties!
She is on the side of America. I think Joe is too.
Recall Doris Kearns (missing a name) fawned over that grade B actor Ronnie (Nancy what should I do) Reagan!
I don't worry about the objectivity of historians per se. Woodward, for example, being given direct access to Trump, becomes a source of information to historians, and deliberation on Woodward's objectivity isn't much different from a historian's deliberation on their own ability to remain objective.
Thank you Gary for reporting this event. Our voices have found a way to President through Professor. I hope Biden will schedule another one soon.
At this point, decrepit Joe Biden is merely a placeholder. Will Gavin Newsom replace the hapless Kamala as his running mate?
Meanwhile, Trump is dying a death of a thousand cuts in our legal system. Are the pair of them -- Trump and Biden -- emblematic of America as the geriatric global thug who can't get it up anymore?
Biden will be the Democratic nominee, the way things are shaping up. If you think he’s decrepit, please watch a video of him being interviewed, any video. You’ll see someone who’s very capable. It’s democracy (Biden and Harris) or fascism (tRump and whatever sellout stands in to the VP slot). Your choice.
"Corporate Joe " Biden, the election-stealing Vampire Liberal, is neo-fascism. Thete is no choice, except which flavor of fascism you prefer.
Watching Biden at a scripted, pre-packaged interview isn't the real test.
"Recent gaffes by President Joe Biden have 'made a significant impact' on the polls and are 'reinforcing fears within Democratic ranks' that he's too old to serve a second White House term, according to one political scientist."
https://www.newsweek.com/joe-bidens-gaffes-are-getting-harder-ignore-1830312
Your response has all of the hallmarks of trolling. You will probably have the last word. To others, don’t feed the troll.
You're correct, that one has been a sporadic but long-time troll on here, with a pattern of repetitively posting the same links or phrases onto others' comments in the same issue.
Simply continue to decline to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent."
Your response has all the hallmarks of a party-line talking pointer who has nothing to say in opposition to my documented point.
https://www.newsweek.com/joe-bidens-gaffes-are-getting-harder-ignore-1830312
Propaganda shills like HCR use phrases like "faith in our electoral system," as if it was our civic duty to BELIEVE that Biden didn't steal the nomination from Bernie Sanders.
Dishonest propaganda shills like HCR never talk about that old Democratic classic "Votescam: The Stealing of America":
https://books.google.com/books/about/Votescam.html?id=ZxpZCgAAQBAJ
Lindsey Graham: “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed.......and we will deserve it.” 5/3/16. https://x.com/lindseygrahamsc/status/727604522156228608?s=46
A prediction that will come to pass this year, I certainly hope it finishes weak kneed Lindsey too
I was rather expecting Ms. Willis to indict Sen. Graham for his shameful phone call, but even the grand jury recommended it, she did not do so. I’m wondering if she felt she might feel the case showed insufficient probable cause.
Poor Lindsey, he can’t help it, he was born with a split tongue in his mouth ... whatever that might mean or how one might interpret it.
Reminds me of the frequent comment by an Indian in a movie: "He speaks with a forked tongue".
Thank you Lindsey, thank yuo very much (said with an Elvis accent , of course)
Lordy, but it's taking a long time for that destruction, and it's also smashing trust in democracy!
I don’t deserve it and either do my children and grandchildren.
I rarely agree with the high holy parasite linnie, but the orange monster is trying to destroy our destroy of experiment with democracy! Since making that statement, l’ll linnie is totally on board the maga Nazi bus!
We’ll, at last Lindsay Graham said something I agree with. I don’t want the rest of us to be destroyed along with them.
Thank you Heather.
It is remarkable to me that a small group of extremists can not only stop any progress in the United States toward equity, justice, and democracy, their grandstanding can cause America to abandon its allies. This is not a pure Trump problem, this is an America problem. People who are voting for Trump, Tuberville, Comer, Johnson, Jordon, Taylor Greene, Boebert, Perry, Gosar, Biggs, and far too many more.
There are treasonous or bordering on treasonous examples everywhere -all beyond January 6th. Whether it is that so-called Senator in Alabama refusing to pass critical military promotions for our servicemembers, the House initiating an impeachment inquiry with no evidence of wrongdoing, the appointment of extremist judges who seek to turn the judicial branch of government into another legislative branch, or will provide rulings on the basis of luxurious gifts.
What is next? I suspect soon a future LFAA will be covering things like:
We won't fund NATO until Social Security is privatized.
We will defund school districts whose superintendents support the teaching of evolution, or actual U.S. History.
Disaster relief will no longer be available in Blue states until Federal funding for school lunches is terminated.
And as a reminder, competence to lead is not a factor for willfully ignorant 'MAGA' voters. In 2020, the criminal Trump had 9 million more votes than he had in 2016. That was after he attempted to extort allies, obstructed justice, and was impeached (based upon actual evidence of crimes). In the 2022 U.S. Senate race between Senator Warnock and the violently abusive Herschel Walker -it was 1.94 million votes to 1.91 million votes. And the fact that Lauren Boebert can win any election of significance in America -even if she has to switch Congressional Districts to do so -because apparently, GOP voters in another district are even more ignorant than those who sent her to Congress twice -should tell us the American experiment is failing.
During all of this I keep thinking that this is important evidence to future societies who attempt or aspire toward democracy, equity, and justice, that a society must prioritize an educated, informed, and engaged society (and cannot support policies that lead to extreme wealth concentration).
It may be too late for the so-called United States -the 2024 elections might be the last fork in the road voters encounter.
The school district where I live, is Patriot Mobile stacked school board. A school board member resigned due to the moves of this conservative group of trustees. Giving teachers the right to carry concealed handguns, banning books, chaplains in schools. They quietly called for a surprise board meeting to replace her. In the Facebook banter on the thread, a woman openly admitted that churches influenced the election of the school board members. And that churches have always influenced elections. I told her she just opened her church up for losing their tax free status. I don’t think she knew that!
Texas politics is local politics. And we are definitely in a downward spiral!
But Denise, GOD wants kids to know that:
1) White folks are superior
2) Sex is a sin that will send you straight to hale.
3) Books cause young people to sin and sin will send you straight to hale.
4) Banning books glorifies God's will.
5) Slavery is OK and is supported by the Bible.
6) God will punish YOU Denise.
Seriously Denise, that is what people actually think who were born in one tiny spot in the south and never went anywhere but to the Southern Baptist Church and Walmart after that birth.
My bro went to NY once, parked and looked around and never left his NC home again. That one tiny spot in the South is all he knows. A smart man who embraces ignorance. They are all over.
Yes Jeri, I spent years in a small Southern Baptist Church down in East TX as you know. The stuff I heard from the pulpit would literally singe your hair off.
To be honest, I was afraid to even go into a bar at Texas A&M LITERALLY afraid if I did I might suddenly teleport to hell.
It was during my pursuit of the Ph.D., where I learned research methods, proofs, mathematics and slowly began to understand the difference between "Belief" and "data supported Reality" that I sort of jumped off the track of looking at everything through the who is going to heaven and who is going to hell. In fact, over time I tossed those two unproven and unsupported by evidence existences.
Long story short, after a substantial effort to "prove" the resurrection occurred, I gave up. Not possible.
Then, I carefully separated my reality space from my belief space and walked away from the Protestant churches permanently. I choose to believe there may be something after, but, I recognize there is no evidence whatsoever of that possibility. Further, I think hell was invented by nasty preachers to control their "flock". I doubt hell exists because it only makes sense in the context of some big dude in the sky intent on retribution all the time. Why would a God be spending all his or her time on retribution? Retribution is too human for a God.
Also, I met my beautiful wife who is Greek and started attending her church where the entire service is in GREEK.
PERFECT. I have no idea what they are saying and don't care one bit.
:-)
Perfect indeed. Yes, reason eventually overwhelmed me. The UU church is what I needed. No shysters no where. My NC family still loves them. A mystery to me since chump is the poorest example of any type of Christian, except the Jimmy Swigert types. Hey, just solved the mystery.
Wow,
Have not seen "Jimmy" in years!! maybe 40 or so.
There is a guy who knew how to get rich selling hellfire and brimstone.
I, too, was raised in a Southern Baptist church in very rural LA. At about 20, after a few years studying at college and reading a LOT one summer Sunday evening I walked to the front of the church, thanked them for everything and said I would not be returning. A CLEAN CUT. It has worked out well. Now I just wonder when I hear "professing Christians" make excuses for their allegiance to the disgusting trash that is Donald Trump. The Christ/Trump anomaly is just too great for me to comprehend.
My Ex stood in front of his Southern Baptist church and told them he was appalled by their preaching. Never went back. But he did eventually tell me I had no god other than him and I should be thanking him for my very life. So guess he left a church to become his own god.
I was taught by the good nuns and the Baltimore catechism that the new born babies soul’s would be in limbo, if they should tragically die before they were baptised.
Perhaps, those so called evangelicals see the orange monster as a savior of pagan babies from limbo!
I sent my C’ya letter when women were denied the pulpit and Averett College’s funding was threatened for teaching evolution, although I’d not been through the door for many preceding years. That post a stop in a random church for a post 911 memorial service and being told it was god’s punishment for gays. Walked right out of that one. Now these maniacs want to rule.
Mike, are you saying the Southern Baptist Church violates the Johnson Amendment? I am so shocked.
My dad was a bacteriologist and a tolerant man who devoted his life to public health. He was an iconoclast and an agnostic. I asked him if he believed in anything spiritual and he replied, “Yes, but it’s not that big, white Methodist god I was raised with.”
Sex is only a crime for women, especially if they use birth control.
The trend right now has evolved beyond Southern Baptist. Gateway, Cornerstone, Fellowship are non denominational cult like groups. They push the christian nationalist agenda and really don’t try to hide it. I once argued for abortion rights with a Gateway member. Her numbers of how many babies are lost each year were astronomical! I said where did you get that number? That’s more than people on the planet! She said her minister gave the congregation that figure so they could fight with facts.
Wow!
Adam Kinzinger of Illinois in his book Renegade has eye-opening descriptions of the Independent Fundamental Baptist church he was raised in. It’s not just the south. IFB is a very scary super conservative real thing.
Faithful America is an ecumenical group fighting against that crap and calling Christian Nationalism as blasphemy.
It is deeply disturbing, and, as you say Denise, the trend is a downward spiral. I do recall a number of progressive 501c3 (tax-qualified non-profits) were threatened during the George W. Bush administration (speaking of Texas exports) -while his administration made it easier for faith-based conservative groups to receive federal funds: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jesus/president/faithbased.html
The criminal Trump then went further: https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN18024Y/
The unholy alliance between the GOP and narrowly-specific Christian conservatives is the objective for a patriarchal society of obedient hyper-consumers where the man is the 'breadwinner' and the woman is 'the birth vessel'.
Remember Hillary's quote: “I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession." The right-wing response was baking cookies is exactly what you are SUPPOSED to do. (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/us/politics/hillary-clinton-cookies.html)
It is an accelerating downward spiral -and I fear we are nowhere near the floor.
Last week, after sending essays by HCR and Joyce Vance to a very MAGA (fascist) cousin, she, who was baking cookies at the time, told me I needed to get a life. I responded that I read to become an intelligent & informed voter. It broke my heart, but our relationship is over.... and I’m not baking any cookies!
Sorry to hear of any family rift (which are becoming commonplace). It is unfortunate your cousin can’t read a bit while the oven is preheating.
I can get “lost” in reading while food is in the oven or on the stove….that’s why I got a VERY annoyingly loud & effective timer to keep me from ruining what I’m cooking. Preparing some foods I dare not crack a book or pick up my iPad lest they end up inedible!
My microwave has forced me into speed reading!
Thank you for saying "churches" instead of "Christian". These people are NOT Christians.
We're rewatching "The Handmaid's Tale" and they make the point that in Gilead, they only print the Old Testament. A lot of violence and revenge and very little love for your fellow humans.
Think the crusades!
This question is intended with utmost respect: What would you call these churches, then? I asked the googles, and I got this as one of several similar replies:
"What are the 12 types of Christianity?
Together, Catholicism and Protestantism (with major traditions including Adventism, Anabaptism, Anglicanism, Baptists, Lutheranism, Methodism, Moravianism, Pentecostalism, Plymouth Brethren, Quakerism, Reformed, and Waldensianism) compose Western Christianity."
When my daughter was about 4 we attended a church in Lincoln NE -- Old Cheney Alliance Church. I went to Sunday school and the teacher was probably the most learned person on the Bible and the history of each of the books of the Bible I have ever known. She was the HCR of the Bible. Her teachings were the end of my beliefs in the Christian God or any God for that matter. Kind of ironic.
Anyway, my 4 year old was asked why her mom didn't come to church. She told her because she doesn't believe in God which my wife had discussed with her. The teacher told her that my mom wouldn't go to heaven unless she believed in God. My daughter burst into tears and was inconsolable. We never went back to that church or any so-called Christian church. That was in 1998.
I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but I have enough knowledge of the Bible to know that many church attenders are not Christians and know diddly squat about what is in the Bible.
Gary, I am so so so grateful to have been born into a at least three generations deep secular family…my beloved granny born in So Cal in 1898…and extended outward through her children, grand & great-grandchildren….we also all pretty much lean left of center-liberal. Sounds like I sidestepped a lot of potential baggage!
That's a good question. I was raised in the Lutheran church and they disliked the Catholics. My mom and dad weren't allowed to date anyone that was Catholic. My sisters are both very active in the Methodist and Lutheran churches in PA and NE. They know I am a non-theist and they don't care. The sister that is Lutheran has 4 kids and none of them attended church.
TFFG and TFFGism have ripped so many churches apart. So there are the fire and brimstone vengeance loving Old Testamenters and the Love thy neighbor New Testament Christians.
Otherwise, I don't know what I would call these churches.
Hmmm....I was raised Presbyterian. Don't see that on the list. 😈
Maybe the Presbytery dropped the ball....
No clue why it isn't there. My sister is an Elder at her tiny "First Presbyterian Church on Second Street" in Phoenix....Oregon. Population 4300
Churches became arms of the Repub party in 2004 when Rove used then to re-elect W. Ran for my life.
After a day of reading about all the shit going on in this country I listen to this new app I got called CALM for 30 minutes before I go to sleep. It clears the stress out of my head and I sleep well and wake up in the morning refreshed and ready to get pissed off all over again. I'm not a stress junkie but since Trump came into the picture.....
Thinking of trying CALM. Thanks for the endorsement.
Thanks for that endorsement. I usually listen to a stress resilience relaxation then a healthful sleep guided imagery tracks from one of the practitioners that I have heard speak; they run about 38 minutes. I've been considering something else, since I can almost recite these verbatim.
In this trying time we all need good mental armor.
Indeed we do!
Add ‘Frankie’ Graham, son of Billy, who took his crusade to every state during 2016 to get out the vote for the anti-abortion candidate for President !
Why are these charlatans still getting tax breaks as a charity?
Check out Americans United and organization focused on the separation of church and state and attacks on this all important separation by Christian nationalists aka republicans.
Hi Denise, Check out Seniors Taking Action.org. We’re committed to helping everyone, but particularly folks in “Red States “ preserve democracy. We’d love to hear your thoughts on Texas.Lots of us are grandparents so you know how inter generational that makes us. 😊
The Nazis were a small minority in Germany - until they weren't.
The fear expressed by politicians and poll workers is all the hint we need to see that a totalitarian movement is gaining steam. It must be crushed like a scorpion. Snuffed out like the stinky candle it is.
Germany had good Christians too. They called them Nazis. The other day I said that we are are dealing with psychological terrorism. This abuse distorts everything we hold true about humanity. This is gaslighting, projection, nonsensical conversations from hell, blanket statements, deliberately misrepresenting your thoughts to the point of absurdity, moving the goal posts, evading accountability, covert and overt threats, name-calling, destructive conditioning, smear campaigns, stalking, I love you bombs, devaluation, preemptive defense, triangulation, bait and feign innocence, boundary smashers, aggressive jabs disguised as jokes, condescending sarcasm, shaming, and control.
This is Agent Orange, his followers and the GQP. And it's even worse than that. Our jails and domestic abuse shelters are filled with these people. And now they want to elect one of their own.
I appreciate how much thought went into your words.
Thank you for that Les. Sadly I've dealt with this since I entered this world. I deal with it everyday. This is my family. Not all Narcissist Personality Disorder comes from trauma. It's genetic in my family. They are the worst abusers out there. Some days all I can do is eat some edibles and listen to Joni Mitchell. Now the whole world is feeling the pain of Agent Orange and the GQP.
Lisa
Yes-psychological terrorism along with physical and spiritual terrorism. That's a great list of the cruel and abusive nonsense we have to endure daily...
Cruelty is the name of the game. And when I hold a mirror up to them the wrath of Satan appears. Revenge comes next. This is our rinse and repeat political living breathing worst nightmare.
It's too bad three of the House Republicans can't take a ride in a car that stalls out on the tracks just ahead of a train - boom! - problem solved, they don't have a majority and sanity takes over. Perhaps someone could bribe two of them to become cow college presidents like the one who's leaving soon.
The irony, losing the House majority when struck by the nation's crumbling infrastructure they refuse to fund. And of course the humor. Is the country on the right track?
Well, that train sure was.
Of course my preference is for the extremist members to be expelled -either by the DOJ for their part in the insurrection, or acting as accessories after the fact in the cover-up, or by voters who experience an epiphany.
Well said.
If the SCOTUS removes Trump from the ballot (as it should) members of the electorate should immediately move to remove all of his accomplices from the halls of government. The Hawley's, Cruz's, and Graham's (to name just three) are also unfit to govern a democracy since it is obvious they prefer to work toward a dictatorship. Make it easier for Constitutional Republicans to return to leadership positions.
Sad, but likely true
Well said George-this is our fork in the road. It's not all about Biden either-we'll soon see if "we the people" really have any power in our "democracy".
Yes. And when the Senate has a near equal number of R and D, statewide elections, how can this be accounted for? We can add voter suppression to this evidence.
I agree with you completely. I hope it’s not to late to turn this around and I’m going to operate on those batteries going forward. Plus it would be an insult to every bone in my body not to fight against ignorance, greed, and bullies.
Trump seems ever more emboldened in his bid for power. It's classic authoritarianism. How ordinary Americans aren't hitting the roof over his support for Putin in direct conflict with so much that we stand for is terribly worrying.
It appears trump has an army of jack-booted thugs threatening violence to anyone who dares stand up to him. This is scary stuff.
I believe it is now just a matter of time before “militia” maniacs, or perhaps even a state-controlled entity, simply start shooting people at the Southern border. Scenarios like The Boston Massacre or Kent State come to mind. “Somebody” will fire a first shot. Even if they are ultimately identified, they will not be held accountable. They will claim they felt threatened, as police sometimes do. The MAGA Crowd and enabling cowards in Congress and at the state level will cheer the shootings as the best way to stop the “invasion” of migrants. Trump will lead the cheering and will be rewarded politically for it. He wasn’t speaking in hyperbole when he talked about shooting someone on 5th Ave. It’s his ultimate, sick wet dream.
Dave, your assessment is accurate. There will be some "concerned citizens" (possibly "militia" maniacs, but potentially professionals at arms, either military or civilian law enforcement) who will make those decisions, and will be able to articulate those actions as being reasonable responses to a threat.
The justification of "threatened" is established constitutional law, arising out of Graham v. Conner (1989). Law enforcement has corrupted the analysis of not judging police actions from a position of "20-20 hindsight" and rather the perceptions of an officer in "tense, rapidly evolving circumstances". It has done this by taking the level of justification for force from reasonable to articulable.
Ally, it’s hard to “like” your comment, but agree, I have long worried this exact thing happening. With the increase—ever growing—of global climate refugees escaping unlivable conditions (even citizens within our borders), many countries will be grappling with this & I fear increased aggression will result. Unfortunately inter-and-intra national squabbling over “whatever” keeps a concerted effort at planning/mitigation of this looming reality not even on the table for discussion. We humans are our own worst enemies.
In case noone else brings up Kyle Rittenhouse, I will.
Folks, While I gather these thugs exist and must be dealt with I have to see this as blown up significantly by the news media. The fear these articles generate is possibly just more "click bait".
My reason for so thinking is that I have been writing weekly letters to the editor for years in rural 5th district VA (my Congressman now heads the Freedom Caucus) condemning Donald Trump in the severest of terms. While other citizens have written disagreeing with me NEVER have I been threatened by anyone about my letters: 100% of the reactions I've gotten from fellow citizens have been positive. Will I be threatened tomorrow? Who knows but what I do know today is that I will continue to write as I have been. The Smelly Orange Monster must never get near the levers of political power again.
Tragic!
I agree, Stephen. I feel like leaving everything behind, and getting the heck out of the United States. I would feel much safer in New Zealand or Australia. I am appalled that a large faction of people here in the USA have morphed into outright terrorists that want to resort to violence and death threats in defense of a crazed and insane maniac named Donald TUMP. Their outrageous threats to control women's rights is horrifying to extreme levels of hate that i cannot imagine. I just don't know how much longer i can tolerate this extremism that has taken hold here, and all because of these barbarians that are infatuated with an Orange creature they have been brainwashed by, and lied to and have anointed as their almighty Lord and savior.
The 5th Circuit’s naked direction that pregnant women in extremis should be allowed to die shocked me, and I thought I was well past that point. If it wasn’t clear before, it is abundantly clear now the Dobbs decision is literally a war on women.
I felt physically sick when I read that. My wish for them is to pass a 10lb kidney stone without pain medicine.
Lisa, thank you for my first laugh-out-loud of the day! Perfect image, and I know a couple of fellows who have passed kidney stones….apparently they need not be 10 lbs, but I get your drift!
Literally gave me shivers, and I had to reread it three times to believe what it was saying. Do those 3 judges have wives or daughters?
Oh if it happens in their family they will see that it is taken care of.
My thoughts exactly….ok for me, but not for thee. An age old reality granted the “right” people.
They would probably sneak them down to Mexico - or let them die 🤯
Clear as a bell.
My husband keeps telling me, "You can't live in fear," but sometimes I wish we could leave the U.S. and go somewhere else. There are so many "what ifs" in my mind.
Immigration to New Zealand is difficult, and there are strict requirements. Have a look here: https://www.immigration.govt.nz
Immigration to Australia seems less onerous: https://worldwidemigrationpartners.com/moving-to-australia-from-the-usa/
Derek, I have wanted to go to NZ since the late 60’s. My grandmother visited there and loved it & had a high school friend who lived & taught school there for a number of years & was very impressed. My then husband and I picked up a couple of hitchhikers traveling the USA in the early 70’s & brought them to his folks house where we were visiting (our hometown); they stayed for a few days & we showed them around the small beach town. They told us a lot about their country & explained how hard it is for non-citizens to buy property there, especially on the coast. It’s on my bucket wish list!
Death threats are a step worse than classic authoritarianism. Help!
Actually both classic and modern authoritarians have used both death and threats to my understanding. Recall too the 13 federal executions towards the end of Trump's presidency: a statement loud and clear.
Yes, it was unbelievably horrible and disgusting - I think we were all focused on just getting him OUT as fast as possible. I remember my half-sister's shock (lives in Washington State) in the e-mail she sent me on 6 January: "Insurrection!" But she'd been living in abject despair ever since Comey decided he'd just better have another look at Hillary's e-mails... Enough, America! Bad situation.
I came to dread every time Trump encountered another setback, because I knew that he would order another execution, and make sure it got a lot of press. The man was assuaging his own feelings of powerlessness by killing a person who had no control.
It sickened me, and yet I do not recall the press ever pointing out this very obvious connection.
Right now I do believe that Trump feels powerless and that is why he repeatedly implies or outright threatens violence. He may not be in jail (yet), but he is not in control of his own life: it is controlled by the constant calls to appear in court and the increasing lawsuits which must be answered. Never mind that the uncertaintly in which he lives is self-inflicted. It still means he has very little control over where he must be and when, and the range of responses available to him is also restricted.
He is a frightened man in a corner. That is unnerving, especially when his own fear infects the fears of people who are angry already.
My own sense (because I do not limit my sources of information to those mired in despair) is that Trump will not win, and that his campaign will flicker out. Despite the angst I am reading here today, I see too many people actively working to get out the Dem vote, busy doing the grunt work, helping to organize the upcoming campaigns. Their message is being heard,
All the Maga-repubs are able to do is mouth the same old stuff, which is appealing only to the same limited base as usual. Much of the corporate media is following the Maga train wreck, but gradually some are realizing that something else is going on.
It's our job to help that part of the story get heard.
Annie, I think in reality he’s a sniveling coward. There are vids of him some years ago doing a scripted “smack down” of someone at a boxing ring….heh, I’d like to see him IN the ring with a real WWE/MMA opponent and see him cringe and wail & hightail it out the exit with his tail tucked in!
Please, Stephen, please everyone here, STOP using that damned label for what is in reality Hitlerism.
It is flattering.
After all, mafiosi may be authoritarian but authoritarians are not necessarily criminal. They may even represent the still respectable rules-obsessed end of the conservative spectrum -- NOT far-right anarchy.
If we really MUST use overlong words that most users don't seem to have fully understood and which will go above most readers' and hearers' heads, TOTALITARIAN fits the bill.
There's a world of difference between that and "authoritarian".
Some criminals may be strict fathers, many will have had such fathers, but there's nothing criminal about being a strict father...
I like the term “dictator” because, um, he is such a “dick”. Kinda says it all.
Thank you for writing about the 5th Circuit’s EMTALA related decision, which violates both the spirit and the letter of the law. I wrote about what EMTALA is, and is not, in 2017 after Rep. Mark Meadows falsely stated on CNN “There’s a federal law right now that if you show up at a hospital, you get coverage.” That’s false. You will be seen and stabilized, but there is no financial “coverage” for any associated financial costs.
It’s also false to assert that EMTALA doesn’t protect women w/ pregnancy related emergency medical conditions. If Republicans want to repeal EMTALA then follow the proper procedures and repeal it, but let’s not pretend there is some abortion related ambiguity in this law. There is not. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5468057/
Thank you, Dr. Sawyer for clearing this up and for reminding us of what Trump’s “cheaper, better” health insurance policy (AHCA) looked like in 2017. A giveaway to the insurance companies, it would have reversed Obamacare’s provision that forbids insurers to refuse to cover preexisting or to hike up your insurance rates if you have one. Right now, insurance companies can’t refuse to cover pregnancies for a period of time unless you pay extra. They can’t refuse to pay for future cardiac interventions (stents, ablations, pacemakers, etc.) if you’ve had a previous heart attack They can’t refuse to pay if your cancer comes back or if you get another type of cancer. The Republican healthcare bill would have allowed all this —returning us to the “good old days” <sarcasm>.
And, by the way, highlights precisely the sort of bog-standard character of all fascism. That bill was handcrafted by the insurance industry essentially to do 2 basic things: save them money, and reduce their oversight by government. This is at bottom all fascism asks for: maximize private profit and minimize public scrutiny.
Fascism is NOT about the jackboots – it is only about the wingtips. The jackboots are simply cosplay theater for the rubes.
Great turn of phrase! Wingtips using jackboots. And the jackboots are too dumb to realize it.
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), one of the U.S. “Big 5” health insurance corporations paid out $5.8 billion in common stock dividends in Q3 2023. (https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231013141462/en/UnitedHealth-Group-Reports-Third-Quarter-2023-Results)
As a publicly traded, for profit corporation, UnitedHealth Group has a fiduciary responsibility to do what’s in the best interest of their shareholders, certainly not patients. That seems antithetical to any healthcare system. I wrote about this issue in 2017:
In the U.S. “Healthcare” Is Now Strictly a Business Term
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5942015/
So right-health care is not about health-it's about wealth!
Ah yesssss....
W E A L T H C A R E
Wow! Thanks for sharing this!
The 5th Circuit has become a 7 Mountains philosophy centered court. The original judge that set this ruling in action is a former student of mine and it is a sad day. He was taught much better at his high school.
Wow. As a retired teacher, I always wonder how my students will live their lives. I can imagine your disappointment. Didn't know of the 7 mountains so looked it up - yikes!
Thank you, doctor.
I appreciate your report on EMTALA.
Amazing, perfidious coherence.
The Houthis attacking international shipping, Trump getting his MAGA followers and spineless congressional enablers all to heed stochastic attacks and calls for attacks, Texas ideologues turning courts into death attacks on women, and the boy Howdy Doody Speaker of the U.S. House speaking for the only southern border program MAGA-trons will OK: attacks on, closure to, hatred of all (non-white) immigrants.
Hate oozes. Even the nod to the need for Mideast peace again overlooks the far-right Israeli settlers also dedicated to hostility, hate -- attacking Palestinians whose lands they steal.
The world seems united in these organized, systematized aggressions on "others." Such incredible tilt to vulgarity. Peace possible anywhere? Human relations among people with respect for "others" as if they might be individuals -- as if schools somewhere, anywhere in this perfidious world might teach that literacy?
Elsewhere, the idea of naming the mafia-hijacked Republican party "Fascist".
Your last paragraph shows up the fact that such a label would be flattering -- even when comparing America's would-be dictator with the Duce gone to seed and transformed into a Hitler adjunct.
After he'd imprisoned Khodorkovsky for talking politics out of turn, Putin, who'd made spurious tax evasion the pretext for locking up a serious potential rival, cited the case of Al Capone as a precedent.
I recall my reaction at the time...
"But Capone never made it to President of the United States."
Of course, I was thinking of the Russian president, without then knowing about the implant he had in mind for America...
Yes, dear Peter, so beyond our best imaginations, our times, our ruling vulgar.
We might have chaos long before November, and hate might have far less to do with it than geopolitical stupidity.
https://www.thenation.com/article/world/israel-hamas-hezbollah-iran/
“But as the war has progressed and more than 22,000 Palestinians have been killed—almost half of them children—with weapons that Biden provided, the image of an American president that wants a cease-fire but is stumbling to find the leverage to force an end to fighting has fallen apart. Biden has shipped more than 10,000 tons of weapons and ammunition to Israel, twice sidestepped congressional oversight to expedite the arms transfers, twice vetoed resolutions at the UN Security Council calling for a cease-fire, and even studied how to permanently transfer 2.3 million Palestinians from Gaza to the desert in the Sinai. While Biden has condemned Israeli cabinet ministers when they openly speak of their plans of ethnic cleansing, it has become increasingly clear that he’s never wanted a cease-fire, because he has bought into the feasibility and legitimacy of Israel’s maximalist war objective: the complete military destruction of Hamas, come what may. Biden wants Israel to do to Hamas what the US couldn’t do to the Taliban.”
thank you, Tom. I have scrolled down 3/4 of the way and this is the FIRST mention of GAZA. This is a repeat of what I wrote above: I don’t understand this “restack” button. But the first paragraph of HCR bothered me. Here we have USA helping Israel fight the GAZA conflict but you people get all upset about the Houtis, Hezbala, etc. helping Hamas. And when will USA see thru the mistruths that Israel continues to spread. Oct. 7th was NOT the start of this conflict; it started in 1948, or 1917 when Mr. Balfour got involved, maybe back at the time of the Crusades or even Abraham in the Bible.
Charming, Tom, how you conclude as to "what the US couldn't do to the Taliban."
We might all use a reminder here as to how al-Qaeda and the Taliban both grew out of local frustration at what local dictators, tyrants, royal murderers, and the former Shah were all doing to their people. U.S. high finance, fossil fuelers, and arms industry all cooperated with the ruling thugs. The C.I.A. and the School of the Americas at Ft. Benning trained the thugs' secret police and torturers.
A long, sordid, sorry history, with the U.S. on the wrong side almost always.
You make it sound like WWIII. Maybe you’re right. I don’t know.
Indeed. Note that Dr. Richardson is using her professional expertise to lay down event markers that will help historians of the future to trace the events that are antecedant to whatever comes at us in the near future. This is similar to William Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Unfortunately, today's news elicits the feeling that we could be headed in that direction.
Yet more proof that Republicans are headed straight for The Night of the Long Knives once Trump is back in office. Then, after the weak Republicans are disposed of, the camps will pop up all over the southwest with Kommandant Stephen Miller in charge. Fearful Republicans KNOW that the thugs are out there waiting for them. The rest of us are fools not to see this.
Some see.
The Republicans have created a MAGA mob that even they fear.
Just like Germany in the 1930s.
Yes, exactly.
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding Nazi Germany is the involvement of German physicians, who wholeheartedly embraced Hitler’s rise to the Chancellery in 1933. This outstanding article, and many other articles and books detail the profession’s fervent support of Nazi ideology including eugenics, forced sterilizations, and racial cleansing.
Not a slippery slope or sudden subversion: German medicine and National Socialism in 1933.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2352969/pdf/bmj00571-0043.pdf
Further, in 2012 the German Medical Association
offered a formal apology for German physician’s role in Nazi atrocities.
German Medical Association Finally Apologizes for Atrocities Committed by German Physicians Under the Nazis. A Milestone in Medical History.
“Almost seven decades after the end of World War II, the German Medical Association has made a long overdue apology for its participation in human rights violations and
atrocities under the Nazi regime. In a stunning admission the Declaration states that German doctors from all strata of the profession enthusiastically supported Nazi ideology
and were not coerced to support Hitler.
The Declaration of May 12, 2012, which was
unanimously adopted by the delegates of the Physician’s Congress declared: “In contrast to still widely accepted view, the initiative for the most serious human rights violations did not originate from the political authorities
at the time, but rather from the physicians themselves… German doctors “were guilty of scores of human rights violations”… “The crimes were simply not the acts of individual doctors, but rather took place with the substantial involvement of leading representatives of the
medical association and medical specialist bodies as well as considerable representatives of university medicine and renowned biomedical research facilities.”
See p. 14: https://slmms.org/wp-content/uploads/magazines/slmms_dec12_magazine.pdf
What exactly is your point in the present context?
The same thing is happening in America right now. Trump’s doctors have been spreading heinous disinformation for nearly 4 years, calling for Nuremberg 2.0 based on COVID19 related atrocities that never happened. They have all kinds of false accusations and conspiracy theories they tell their followers about vaccine advocates, physicians, scientists and public health officials who rely on evidence to form conclusions and generate solutions.
The medical boards have failed to enforce their legal statutes, and federal agencies have failed to stop the fraudulent sale of medications like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin. Medical societies have not only failed to take a firm stance on the issue, but the majority of them are funding 2024 Republican candidates.
Understanding that German Physicians embraced Nazi Germany, and that it wasn’t just a few bad actors is an indication that it can happen again. The donations don’t lie:
https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus?cycle=2024&ind=H01
Here are just a few examples of the conspiracies these U.S. licensed and board certified doctors spread:
Here is Dr. Paul Alexander. He spent time in the Trump White House silencing government scientists using bullying and intimidation tactics (Per the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis staff report).
https://open.substack.com/pub/palexander/p/76-years-ago-we-hanged-7-doctors?r=2nuj4f&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
https://americasfrontlinedoctors.org/videos/post/frontline-flashtm-ep-1023-what-is-vaids-weekend-edition-with-john-strand
https://twitter.com/HeartlandSignal/status/1521549634170195968?s=20&t=BCGZg97JapnAX1De5jCozQ
https://web.archive.org/web/20211228040719/https://www.thedesertreview.com/opinion/columnists/hospital-death-camps-exposed/article_97776276-674f-11ec-85d0-f33f634331c8.html
The examples are endless.
The most troubling aspect in your letter today is the surge in political violence in the United States and the MAGA party's explicit effort to subvert our democratic principles, transforming the nation into a platform solely for promoting Trump. The distressing scenes of threats against election workers, officials, and the erosion of abortion rights through biased court rulings raise serious concerns.
The MAGA party's immigration plan further unveils their agenda to reshape America, marked by substantial cuts to asylum programs, the elimination of online application systems, the cessation of refugee parole programs, and the contentious seizure of private land for a border wall. Their failure to provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, despite widespread public support for such a measure, adds to the disappointment.
What infuriates me the most is the House Republicans' act of holding Ukraine hostage for their immigration agenda. It represents an audacious power move, prioritizing partisan interests over the crucial national security matter of supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. It seems like their sole focus is on the political landscape of 2024, disregarding the well-being of our nation.
What is national security, when the Republican hero has compromised national security with every breath.
Project 2025
I take Trump at his word that he would implement it.
He absolutely would. Project 2025 is the brainchild of several think tanks, most notably The Heritage Foundation. If you have not yet read Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right by Anne Nelson I highly recommend it. It’s a must read (or listen) for anyone interested in understanding the forces driving the current right wing movement, which started in 1981.
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, the citations in the Project 2025 document link to The Heritage Foundation’s own blog or to Substack articles. It’s all ideology, contrary to popular opinion on nearly all issues and certainly not grounded in science or any verifiable evidence.
https://www.npr.org/2019/10/29/774133071/shadow-network-offers-a-lesson-on-the-american-rights-mastery-of-politics
I agree. I have Anne Nelson’s book and think it’s excellent. I saw it referenced first in Sojourners Magazine. One important point she makes is that rural and urban residents don’t even rely upon the same sources for news. Rural residents may listen to Christian radio, right wing talk radio or Fox News, while urban viewers may be more likely to watch TV news. I tend to read newspapers, whether online or paper copies. I tend to think of TV news as too superficial and entertainment motivated, although MSNBC (which is what my parents watch) does feature important discussions that don’t come across as superficial. The Heritage Foundation’s entire goal is to destroy the regulatory system the New Deal helped to create for the protection of the public.
That's the part of the iceberg above water. I'm hopeful Biden does something while still in office to inoculate the confidential resources (presidential emergency action documents, or PEAD's) against someone like Trump who could use them to cement authoritarian control over the country's infrastructure and heaven knows what else. See the Brennan Center's article on presidential unchecked emergency powers.
These seem to have the potential to be a modern-day version of the Weimar Constitution's Article 48 that allowed Von Hindenburg and 'der kleine Korporal' to destroy democracy in 1933 Germany.
The devil behind this is the allure of the strong man, fascism's promise of ease for the dominant -- Putin et al. Republicans in the United States are responding to money and violence promises and threats from anti-democratic forces, pro-Putin forces. China is still providing Russia with critical CNC machinery for manufacturing weaponry. Russians have had influencers across the world for decades, their work documented in various conflicts and uprisings, including Brexit. There must be some way to override the pro-Putin forces for being a threat to national security. We are the neighbors, We the People, we have the power with our vote and with our money, even with our physical presence in the streets or non-presence in stores and other businesses running with the pro-Putin crowd. If Ukraine can keep Russia at bay, even decimating its forces and resources, then we can mount some sort of action against our own Russian influencers.
Heather, tonight’s letter is pretty unnerving and I somehow felt desperation in your writing. Hope and perseverance is all we have to fight the evil that seems to be metastasizing. I can’t help but think this has been Putin’s plan all along. After all, he caused Brexit and has disrupted our law and order. His hand is in the Hamas-Israeli war too, I will bet my life on it!
I too, heard that all of our country’s historians met with Biden. I can only imagine that the theme was connecting the dots to democracy by way of referring to how things were dealt with 100, 200 years ago. I look forward to Biden’s speech on the 6th which will be exactly 3 years ago when we witnessed a horrific plan to overtake our government by a rogue character. May we prevail in kicking these evildoers out!
thank you, Marlene. Your mention of Hamas-Israeli war was the SECOND time it appeared in these comments, besides mine. Why is Israel such a sacred cow...with all of its propaganda???
Israel is not a sacred cow but was once revered for its technology, its agriculture, its scientists, its breakthrough medicines. With Bibi at the helm, it has fallen from grace. Hamas is solely responsible for all of the atrocities to innocent Israelis. It is also responsible for the innocent Palestinian people becoming homeless. But It is the IDF generals, the Likud Party, and Netanyahu who must be held in tribunal courts for atrocities against the Palestinian people. I am Jewish, the daughter of Holocaust victims, and I cannot stomach what I now see everyday. 22,000 mostly women and children killed. For what?? Men and their inflated egos!
Have you heard about the book "Wounds into Wisdom" by Rabbi T Firestone, on healing intergenerational Jewish trauma? I am hoping it helps my Native American trauma...great grandmother in boarding schools for 10 years.
No I have not.
I may have used "sacred cow" loosely but it does mean immune from criticism. I am sorry about what is happening to Israel under Bibi. It is also happening here-Joe Biden is NOT listening to a large part of US. Although Hamas may have overreached (the truth of Oct. 7th is not yet known), I consider them resistance fighters. Oppression has been going on for 75 years. Native Americans are still looking for their land.
The truth about Oct. 7th is known, Beverly. Hamas breached the gates where peaceful loving people lived and breathed. Many helped Palestinians get proper medical care, food, jobs, etc. It is appalling to me that you call them “resistance fighters”! They are murderers, rapists, and terrorists! You must educate yourself about their history, please. They want every Jew eliminated from the world and that is a fact.
Yes, Native Americans have always been taken advantage of and it is sickening. Unfortunately, our government has been very slow in rewarding Native Americans their rights, just as they haven’t done with African Americans. Biden has done more than any president to right those wrongs and he continues to do so. For once, we now have Deb Haaland as our cabinet Secretary of the Interior who is guiding Biden.
There isn't enough money in the world to get me to vote for DJT or move to TX. It's bad enough living in Matt Gaetz's district.
I wouldn't vote for DJT if someone held a loaded pistol to my head. In my 68 years of life on earth, i have never hated and despised no one like i do DJT. He is a walking, breathing disaster like no other, maybe except Adolf Hitler. I am dumbfounded and confused at why so many are hopelessly obsessed with that despicable piece of putrid garbage, DJT. Is it some kind mind control he has???
I agree. How can anyone watch the man speak and not see what he is? That escalator ride was so many years ago but I am still stunned.
Perpetually stunned. I keep thinking that we aren’t that stupid, but so many are.
And the crowd cheering him were paid actors.
Kathy, i also read somewhere that he has paid actors to cheer that loud mouthed cretin on. DJT is a phony and the ultimate con artist.
This is true. He definitely did it when he came down the escalator at Trump Tower to announce his campaign, and I also think he has some of his groupies show up at his rallies and hires actors to fill up his crowds. Unfortunately, his hiring actors has not been able to hide the fact that attendance at some of his rallies has been sparse at times.
I agree, Kathy. It would be amusing if only about 10 or 15 of his lunatic followers showed up at his lying, propaganda crap show rallies. I would love to see the look on his putrid, ugly, orange rust face. I am still at a loss why so many people are infatuated by that hard-core loser.
I am also stunned. Too many people here in the USA idolize buffoons like him because he was on TV reality program, or was a Major League baseball player, or a star NFL player. Some examples of this are, Helmut OZ, Steve Garvey ,Jessie Ventura, Hershel Walker, Tommy Tuberville, Ronald Raegan, just to name a few that have infected politics here in the USA that were stars on TV or in the professional sports world. Gullible, uneducated, people are easily taken in by them and automatically think just because they were great at sports, or popular celebrities on some silly overrated reality show, they would be good leaders in the political system of a state or, the United States. We all have witnessed what a disaster that DJT was, and still is because of gullible, ignorant people idolizing their TV idols. The many years that the media hyped up and praised DJT, emboldened him even further make him think he is the most beloved and envied person on the face of the earth. The fact really is, DJT is really a greedy, selfish, narcissistic, arrogant, lying, dishonest thief. Even more than 35 years ago, when i would hear the media brag and rant about his so-called accomplishments, i suspected he was a greedy slime bag that was rotten to the core. I thought to myself, is this idiot for real? To our dismay, he is for real, and has almost destroyed our beloved United States.
Fall of 2015, a friend said “I like Trump because he’s a business man.” I was shocked that he was so stupid. He likes FOX and he knows I disagree. Don’t see him much and avoid politics when I do. But even I, a west coast busy working single mom, knew he was a despicable character BEFORE The Apprentice. And I find reality TV insulting so that didn’t help my opinion. You make such a good point. What makes a celebrity or sports figure a good politician? The stupidity is most disconcerting.
Most self-employed fail the first time and go through Chapter 11, reorganizational bankruptcy. Going through it teaches them what not to do the next time. DJT, OTOH, made it part of his business model. He stiffed everyone, including American banks. Eventually, they shut him off and he had to seek foreign money.
bluesyfish, i also would disagree with your friend about DJT. He was a businessman alright, cheating, stealing, and using extremely dishonest ways to get way ahead of everyone he could by refusing to pay contractors and anyone else that he could get one over them. He borrowed huge sums from banks and other financial institutions and then file for bankruptcy to get out of a financial bind. He hardly ever paid any income tax. Donald TUMP was not a businessman, he was a con artist to the extreme, and got rich by stealing money all of his retched, sorry life.
When that ''Apprentice'' joke of a reality TV show premiered, my wife at the time, couldn't wait to see it, and begged me to watch it with her, after 15 minutes of watching that arrogant creep TUMP bully and intimidate contestants on there, i told my wife i was going to vomit if i watched it any longer. That had to be the very worst TV show i had ever watched. I never watched it again. I just can't understand why anyone,( except for other slime bags that are similar to him,) are so attracted to such a horrible excuse for a human being named, Donald TUMP. I just don't get it. How have so many people here in the USA been conned by this creature of tremendous hate and evil?? I am appalled and disgusted by DJT and the stupid and evil people that are his followers. I am sick and dismayed by all of these school shootings and killing by those that worship DJT. The same people that say TUMP is a businessman would probably think, Al Capone, Bin Laden, Saddam Hussien, Vladimir Putin, Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler were businessmen too.
Bandy X. Lee has an excellent book on him. I also recently saw an hour long interview with her on YT. He can't get enough praise and attention. The only emotion he experiences is anger/rage. I consider him a Dark Tetrad. Machiavellianism, Malignant Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Sadism. There is a shared psychosis between him and his followers.
He’s not smart enough to know anything about mind control. The one thing he’s doing successfully is revealing just how fucked up we as a nation really are. I know that I have never loathed any other American as much as I loathe him.
Hitler wasn't smart either. He was a fomenter. In the 20s he shunned taking a leadership role, urging it on others, knowing that his talents were in rallying people. Similarly, when Trump actually took power he made incredible blunders - far more political and personal blunders than Hitler did - incredibly without apparent negative consequences, and he remains the figurehead because the organization is so huge and unstoppable. We are about to find out what that feels like, for real.
He has created a cult, John. People who willingly drank the Kool-Aid, promising them that they are better than everyone else, and that their hatred of "others" is a good, positive thing for them to have.
He may not have as many billions as he claims, but he has “friends” who are funding his crap. He will be kicked to the curb when no longer useful. Project 2025.
You aren’t the only one who feels this way.
John, here’s an old song that may explain it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvUU44SmjnA
I don't hate him. I think he's a Dark Tetrad. In psychology that is a combo of Machiavellianism, Malignant Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Sadism (Internet trolls are Sadists).
WOW, and he was born in Hollywood (FL) ... I spent two years (1967-69) in that area and it was pretty bad back then - one would think that things might have improved ... but then again, it’s not referred to as the armpit of the Nation for no reason!
Who was born in Hollywood, FL? It wasn't #45.
Armpit?
When I lived in Texas, the Republicans were relatively sane, and there were no Greg Abbotts or Dan (Goeb) Patricks. Something got into the water there.
It's pathetic when an American citizen has to seek political asylum in another state to save her life (Kate Cox).
It definitely Is.
Fascism is here now.
It’s been here since the late 1930’s, John. The people have just been hiding but now are emerging from under their rocks. It’s very frightening!
I agree. Long, well documented history.
"Prequel".
The Lakoff - Durran Frame Lab has another insightful post in Sub Stack today. They focus on describing successful methods to counter TFG & Frank Luntz type communication without accidently reinforcing the issue frame set up by our opponents and largely amplified by mass media. Frame Lab methods may be effective for situations other than MSM & blogging but Karin Tamerius’ group, Smart Politics published and has zoom sessions on effective quidance / communicating with persuadable people one on one or in small groups. https://open.substack.com/pub/framelab/p/why-trump-wants-you-to-compare-him?r=41pd0&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Thank you, Dr. Richardson, although this is a gloomy report, we need to know. I suspect the infantile temper tantrums will continue unabated until November 6 when we should (hopefully) hear the last of trump's demands for a lifetime dictatorship. I hope most of the MAGA's in the House of Representatives, and well as any MAGA's up for reelection in the Senate lose too.
Unfortunately there are backups in the wings.
That's the scary part - on top of the rest of the scary part.
State legislatures are vital to preserving voting rights and safe elections.
The one piece of good news not noted was that since 2020, the majority of deaths have been Republicans due to their anti-science anti-vax beliefs. If we can't get rid of them any other way, we at least can let their own moron stupidity take them away. Good riddance!
Ladapo wants to deny assess to Covid vaccinations in Florida. Guess faith healing will be the go to.
Mandated masks may be back. Republicans will use that against Biden.
Ignorance is bliss, or as I told my bro, Ignorance is artificial bliss.
Artificial indeed.
I am watching for the second time HCR speak at Danforth Center for religion and politics. was https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWgKmGfRfWs
To skip all the FB ads (5 minutes worth) try this link, which goes straight to the event:
https://rap.wustl.edu/events/heather-cox-richardson/
Does it ever. Elders possessing wisdom is rare these days. And I'm saying that as an elder. Hopefully not ignorant.
Just received word the Brigham / Mass General Partners group have re mandated staff to wear masks, it is still optional for patients. I wear a mask in crowded settings now.
I have decided to resign from my local dem meeting. Very hard decision to make, as I am chair, something I wanted very much to get my town active (it has been moribund for years). There are people who want live meetings. But I am high-risk, and recently my family went through Covid. One of them dismissed my concerns and said I could "just wear a mask". I sent her an NIH article about masking and transmission. She responded with an even more dismissive (and insulting) reply.
I gave a great deal of thought to my decision. My state is safely blue. My town is going to be what it is (the dem party is not the only problem it has). I am still a JoP, so will be participating in the election, likely mostly monitoring and counting ballots, activities that can be done masked and distanced. Almost everyone here votes by mail. So I have no guilt about resigning. I need to take care of myself, and I need to distance myself from petty personal politics.
But I am still in the game. I realized I have freed myself to use my energies to continue what I'd done for the last several years: helping to inform people, counter misinformation, writing postcards, writing letters to the editor, writing small articles, staying in touch with people doing the same so that we can support and encourage one another as we do what we can together to preserve democracy and help it stay meaningful.
Same for LA County health and I still mask everywhere inside.
I have a niece who is a nurse at MGH. She tested positive for COVID after her 12 hour shift yesterday!
I am very doubtful any government entity will institute a mask mandate. Private entities, such as hospitals, medical practices, businesses, etc can and should to keep employees and patrons/patients safe. Between vaccination and people actually having COVID over the past 4+ years, something like 90% of the population has some form of immunity - at a cost of something like 600 - 800K unnecessary deaths due mostly to vaccine hesitancy, along with resistance to wearing masks and social distancing.
On that encouraging note, a good nights sleep is in order, if possible. Thank you dear Professor for keepng us up to speed and my new blue Wooden Boat cap keeps the hair out of my eyes.
Ransom, you may be asleep now but, allow me to annotate the Professor's report on the 5th Circuit ruling essentially, 'Texas Law Trumps EMTALA Federal Regulations'.
1st, you guessed it, the Texas attack is led by TX AG Ken Paxton & 2 Antiabortion Medical (sic) Associations. Per Reuters' BRENDAN PIERSON & in the wake of Kates' case & her escape to another state, Texas is dealing with a follow-up lawsuit by 22 Texas women ('Boots Were Made for Walkin') on the scope of the mother's medical emergency exception.
Meanwhile, later in January 2024, the 9th Circuit will hear & rule on the same issues out of Idaho setting up a conflict in the Circuits, 9th Circuit vs 5th Circuit. Thus, the case is destined for SCOTUS, post-Dobbs & the majority's shortsighted effort to destroy National 'Roe' real world guidelines.
Hat Tip to Reuters' Editors, ALEXIA GARAMFALVI & DAVID GREGARIO for precise & professional editing work.
I would not blame Kate Cox if she decided to stay out of Texas for good, because Paxton would try prosecuting her for certain.
Thanks Bryan, but I did read about all that during the day. With all the T-appointed judges making it up as they need to, getting back the congressional majority is of life saving importance. Joyce and Robert Hubble went into it also. (before I hit the sack)
P.S. your comments are always on the mark.
So what happens if republicans reps with half a spine get together and act as a block within their own party to offer what they actually know to be some reasonableness for the upcoming budget needs?
Johnson has only two votes left on the margins - very squeaky. It's perhaps a bit harder to effectively target a larger group ... and has the FBI got any bead on the other
or bomb threats against officials around the country?
What happens to them is someone tries to kill them, and at a minimum they commit personal professional suicide, like the other "sane" Republicans already did.
That's why I suggested a block group. It works together if they can find any courage within themselves. They can multiply it a little bit. I'm not talking about Lincoln Republicans, though wondering if that group is offering outreach support...
My feelings on this are so strong I can't allow myself to speak beyond what you already said.
betrayal, feeling cheated, hopelessness, fury, disgust - for starters ...
and outrage, rage...listening to the doomsday clock ticking down, where did the time go?
If Biden can circumvent Congress and give millions of dollars to Israel, why can’t Biden send millions to Ukraine?
Why can't he enact federal voting rights? Why can't he stack the Supreme Court?
thank you, Shana. This is only the third time this conflict has been mentioned on this whole page.
From what I understand he’s using all avenues open to him.