Today, President Joe Biden signed proclamations that create the Chuckwalla National Monument and the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument, protecting 848,000 acres (about 3,430 square kilometers) of land in southern California’s Eastern Coachella Valley.
Thanks Heather, I am embarrassed by what the next four years will bring to our standing in the world. We are entering a period of the GOP clown show but it will be the evil clowns. They want to destroy the environment, the middle class and democracy as well as creating instability throughout the world. If there ever was a time for the phrase “ God help us!” It is now.
And God bless appeals court judge Ellen Gesmer in rejecting Trump's attempt to stop his sentencing. May we celebrate small wins and the courageous few willing to say NO to bullies.
She isn’t letting Trump escape the consequences of his own crimes. I hope there are people fighting hard to keep Judge Cannon from suppressing the January 6 report. If anyone should know, it should be the public. Unfortunately, all of this shows just what sort of lawlessness and lying we are in for.
She has no standing, so why she issued the hold is questionable. But anything to gum up the works in favor of DT. I hope she faces severe consequences of her own, as so many have in his inner circle. And that one day we get back to fair and orderly rule of law.
Even more questionable is why, since she has no standing, anyone other than the media would pay attention to the order. It would be a step toward re-establishing the rule of law and reason if AG Garland took the brave step of releasing the report and, if he lacks the courage, President Biden should instruct him, publicly and in words of one syllable, to release it now.
If she has no standing then HOW can she issue a hold? Besides the fact that she is apparently beholden to him for life? Is that even legal? I don’t know enough about the law to answer that????
Unfortunately standing means little…look at the mifepristone being considered by scotus. they had zero standing. SCOTUS took that in the idea they would ban it but the backlash and those pesky deaths of the lower class women made them pivo but just kicked the can down the road to hear it again.
Cannon is claiming Smith has no at ding as a special prosecutor so all his investigations will be invalidated by scotus and we will never see any of the evidence he gathered. If by some diving democratic interventions, scotus rules it to be made public, Thomas will almost certainly be forced to resign in disgrace because of how involved his wife is but that works for trump who will nominate someone younger and has no dirty to laws or facts, just like Judge Cannon. As an historian, Ms. Cox Richardson, can you cite an example of a less deserving person like Cannon having such a profound effect on American and world history?
Our democracy and the future of the world hinge on characters with no character like Musk, Zuckerberg, Bezos, and Cannon being used as demons to the devil Trump.
Garland needs to release the report. Clearly, following the rules has not resulted in any attempt to hold T accountable. I am pretty sure it will make little difference to the public....those that might be swayed won't see it, MSM will ignore it, MAGA will deny it. But posterity will have it.
Susan, you might be right, but if Garland does release the report it will be a tangible, even if small victory in the fight against Trump/MAGA. We need even small wins.
Emilie, this reminds me of a school administrator I i once worked for who went to things where he clearly was not wanted or had a fit if someone had an event off campus to which he was not invited.
And so many of us wish we were in a position to push back....in meaningful ways. I'm old, I've had a good life, I cherish the story of America's potential. So I think I would put myself in harms way. But I understand cowardice if family is threatened.
People need to be fighting to impeach Cannon. She is no judge, she's s simple minded toadie and probably headed to a seat on SCOTUS to join the other 5.
I really hope that somebody somewhere who has a shred of decency and a dim hope that democracy can survive with DJT and Musk at the top of the heap will have the intestinal fortitude to do what "Deep Throat" did, and get the report into the hands of a covert hack-tivist group, such as Anonymous, WikiLeaks, or OWS, who will then put it out on the Internet for the world to see what Cannon et al are determined to keep hidden from view.
Why is Cannon involved in the J6 report/case anyways. She was involved in the documents case so she may have jurisdiction there. But for the J6 case, thats Judge Chutkin. Wouldn’t it be a DC Appeals court?
Let the Trump pay-to-play administration begin. The tech side of MAGA will get tax breaks with no regulations. The blue collar side will get the Trump circus.
The supreme court is why we now have Donny dent head in office. They allowed him free reign. They gave him the get outta jail free card. Permitting him to run for office. Imagine a convicted felon as president. How insane is this?
I told ya so…a statement that will be frequented to many.
So, how to engage the public , the non voters, the disenfranchised , when such whitewashing has deadened most, tired of the chaos, not listening anymore, it’s been a continuous din for 9 years!!!!! I’m pretty well on board with disgust . Seems the chatter after the fact, same as the chaos after a mental hygiene, after the red flags weren’t used , buried in paperwork or denials, ( Pearl Harbor, 911, Ukraine…) really stand far better chance from ‘leaks’ or leakers…same as whistleblowers I assume. And yet redactions , public disclosure of facts , or the security people don’t message out ?
Seriously , my recurrent nightmare of waking up in a cruel joke…is front and center!
The ‘news’ ,especially today, remind me of yesteryear songs ‘There’s no hiding place down here’ …’slip sliding away’ , ‘ a change is gonna come’ remembering …protest in so many countries was barely tolerated/allowed through song..while the minorities were/are chastised , their songs stood boldly popular , only the celebrities got limelight.
The leveling of the playing field happens so rarely,so slowly, and often reneged…has never been given its due.
You're right. Just saw that Trump is petitioning them to step in to halt his sentencing. It's Wednesday, sentencing is Friday. Watch them take this on, and rule in his favor, in the next 36 hours.
For months and years, Trump has been protected by those who are using him to do their bidding. He is nothing more than a chosen "place holder" for those who are taking over our country .....destroying it and our Democracy for themselves!!!....As we watch!!!!
How long do they think we will live? Do they not realize there are babies being born everyday!!!! What kind of life will they have to look forward to??? These actions will not only cause serious problems now but for the long term future of our entire country and for the world.
It takes all of us to create a working, successful country as well as participate in the care of our global family!!!!
Trump and his minions are only looking out for themselves in the "here and now".
Trump needs to be prosecuted. He reminds me of myself and my little brother who were always getting into mischief . My mom would run after us to give us the punishment WE WELL DESERVED!!!! We would each run to our dad and each of us would grab a leg of his trousers and plead our case.
He would always take our side. We were always guilty!!! .....then one day, we became parents!
I do not believe Trump will ever grow up and he keeps getting away with his serious mischief....this is much more serious than that I and my little brother placed upon my dear mom....it will bring about the demise of our once great nation.
There is a reason why Trumps parents sent him away to military school as soon as they could. According to his niece Mary Trump, even as a child he was uncontrollable.
We are the ones who can help us (ourselves). As Rick Wilson highlighted on YT yesterday, we have power to RESIST. STAY in the fight. Resistance hinders Trump. Oh. And PERSIST. You are not powerless.
Steve, Because I was just about to comment similarly, I simply would add that we are faced with a real challenge where the results of a seemingly democratic election stand in real tension and contrast with the principles of the Constitution. And I think we as a nation need to figure out how we navigate that tension in the weeks and months and years ahead if we are to preserve consensual governance in this country.
While I don’t have all the answers, I am certain where people retreat into their private, personal spaces and no longer invest in the “small d” democratic work of being part of communities that engage publicly, democracy perishes.
Barbara, this is exactly my internal battle. And the desire to just say it’s hopeless & walk away is strong. However, I’ve been roused by a friend to organize a People’s Rally here in southeastern CT in conjunction with the national effort on January 18th. We cannot go away quietly. We have to stand in solidarity with those on the side of democracy. Connecticut’s Attorney General Tong is already anticipating constitutional overreach and leading the charge to stop it. We are reaching out to him to come & speak. We need to hear these voices and know there are people standing up for truth and the constitution. We are in the battle of a lifetime but this old bird is battle tested!
Claire I deeply appreciate your gutsy determination. I will think of you on the 18th, as we here in Massachusetts also are planning marches throughout the state to show support for the National People’s March.
Btw, we’re well aware of the leadership role your AG has assumed in creating coalitions with other state AGs.
It's media brainwashing, sanewashing. The Enquirer news media has everyone believing in humans birthing aliens....so crazy goes on. This country doesn't know it's ass from its head because they listen to lies consistently. And then believe them. The answer, is turn off the media. TURN IT OFF
While, at my age, the “fight” is more difficult, your words resonate with me, Barbara. Actually, they often do! I will not be giving-up. When you love something, you cannot give-up.
Democracy in this country has almost 250 years of inertia that will need to be overcome by the Donvict, et al. In New England, the tradition of town meetings will not disappear in the next 4 years. The people there are too crusty and salty for that. City, town, and county governments will still have to function, most have no other way to do this except through local elections. Revamping this will take decades, not weeks. Blue states and some purple states will remain democracies - the very places where the federal and red state oligarchies receive most of their funding from.
People are still talking about the 2026 elections. Due to the incompetence and potential for massive corruption I've seen in the cabinet picks, they will probably not go too well for '47. If the incoming administration tries to cancel those elections, it will go even worse for them.
Steve, it's a giving that they are going to either cancel or disrupt the 2026 midterms, specially if project 2025 ,the corruption and their inability to do anything right, affects the pockets of the general population .
What a great idea, Joanna. Take the uninfected press with you and camp out. Let US hope you will be joined by hundreds if not thousands. Remember the army of WWI veterans who marched on DC? But now there will be photographs!
HOW do we resist? My voting all blue and my sharing articles on FB seem to have done no good. How do we resist? P.S. I've pondered getting off of FB in the past but I am doing it today.
Getting off all meta controlled social media is wise at this point. Deleted my FB right after the election. Substack and YT have become the best way to read the true news. Local community gatherings and like-minded groups are really our best form of resistance for now. Stay strong!
Is it better to get off of FB and stay silent? Or is it better to stay on FB and post info about what Donass is doing? People have made up their minds to be for or against that lunatic, but I feel it helps those who are against him to see that there are others who agree. I really don't know anymore.
congratulations I left Facebook over a month ago and feel good about it. More so since Zuckerberg tore down more fact checking yesterday. You will have to ignore thier email notices on friends posts. I suspect this is their way of keeping their fangs in you.
Join your local Indivisible group or start one. This is an organization with outstanding infrastructure to support grassroots groups and the focus is on taking action that builds power for ordinary Americans.
As Goebbels knew, institutions can bend and sway. Insanity can rule as the Trojan Horses, take over and run roughshod over our every humane impulse. Be prepared.
Resistance is a long game. We are running out of time with our environment and deadly wars and international land grabs. I'm not seeing a path forward.
A community of ethnic Aymara shamans in Bolivia called amautas, or “wise ones” in the indigenous Quechua language, are refusing to abandon their cliffside homes.
Called “suicide shacks,” these huts in the Andean city of El Alto sit a few feet from the edge of a steep cliff. Heavy rains and other weather phenomena threaten to erode the few feet between them and oblivion. Officials are now determining whether they should force the shamans out to save their lives, the BBC reported.
The situation could be a metaphor for the precarious situation in the South American country, as Bolivians debate who should lead them out of their current economic and political crises.
Former Bolivian President Evo Morales is seeking to return to office by running in the August 2025 presidential election on the campaign pledge of making the country great again. An ethnic Aymara who was the country’s first elected indigenous president, Morales held office for 14 years. He pursued a leftist agenda that redistributed the country’s vast mineral and other resources, spreading prosperity – at least temporarily.
But Morales resigned from office in 2019 after protests over a disputed election and his attempts to circumvent term limits. He claimed he was ousted in a coup but wanted to tone down the violence from protests arising from allegations that his rival had meddled in the election. Morales then went into exile in Mexico. He has since returned to the country and now faces charges of statutory rape that he says are politically motivated. Bolivia’s top court has ruled that he can’t run for office again, Al Jazeera reported, but he appears to be preparing to try.
“They don’t want me to be the candidate because they know I’ll win,” Morales said in an interview with the Associated Press. “We’re in a state of total siege, morally, legally, and politically.”
Meanwhile, Morales’ former protégé, President Luis Arce, who is running for reelection, is struggling to improve the country’s dismal economy, Reuters explained. Inflation is at a 10-year high, natural gas exports are decreasing as old fields have dried up and new ones remain unexplored, the central bank is bereft of foreign reserves, and fuel imports are up.
The fuel crisis is becoming especially destabilizing, noted Voice of America. Protests have been breaking out between Morales and Arce supporters who both claim their man should lead the country, the New York Times added. Perhaps most importantly, the country’s socialist government lacks the revenues it would like to parcel out to the people. Since Arce served as Morales’ economy minister, both are responsible for the situation, which is spiraling, argued Global Americans.
“Shortages and price increases; falling purchasing power and rising poverty; deterioration of the social mood,” Gabriel Espinoza, a former director at Bolivia’s central bank, told the Economist. “The question is when and how this will morph into conflict in the streets.”
It's a competition between the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen, the 10th anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, and Trump's unhinged press conference though close on the heels of that is Musk's hostile takeover of the planet and the patently obvious fact that we have handed our future over to malevolent billionaire overlords who are all sucking up to Trump.
Here are two examples from Le Monde:
Donald Trump ou la rhétorique d'un nouvel impérialisme américain
Après Musk et Bezos . . . Zuckerberg: la tech en ordre du marche derrière Trump
My professional assessment is that the planet has come down with a terminal case of stupidity from which it is about to die.
It’s not being on the spectrum that makes them who they are. It’s the desire for control and power and the money to assert it. Musk is a drug abuser, I don’t know about Zuck. I do know Zuck did more work to build his companies while Musk just bought everything. They both pay people for their intelligence while being credited as brilliant geniuses.
I knew several autistic teens when I worked at high school. None had the vile characteristics of muskrat and zuck. One was brilliant, but never took actions that would hurt anyone.
As Louis XV said, “Après moi, le déluge.” I actually think those words are apt today. Tfg is uniquely hideous. There will be no replacement when he shuffles off this mortal coil. The quarreling minions will be at each other’s throats with no sun king to bind them together in a throng.
So true. But what is his appeal? I am dumbfounded beyond words. I find him grotesque. A liar, con artist, thief. They tried him once and he failed spectacularly to deliver. What does he bring to the table, except allowing to express their worst instincts, which may bring momentary perverse glee, but no long-term improvement to their lives. And the infighting and destruction will be painful and possibly permanent.
If we remember that humans are just members of the animal world, we can begin to understand Donald Trump. While most animals are prey, some are not. They have some unique natural defense that makes them immune to being preyed upon by other animals. Hummingbirds aren't prey because they can fly too fast to be caught by a would-be predator. Porcupines aren't prey due to their being covered in sharp quills. There are many other examples.
Donald Trump has no appealing characteristics, but as with non-prey animals, he exploits not one, but various defense mechanisms. Among them are blackmail, bullying, bribery, legal delays, and more. Intelligence is not one of them.
As Mary L. Trump described in her book, Fred and Mary Anne Trump gave birth to a defective boy whose defects were glossed over by money and whose base instincts were encouraged by self-absorbed parents with no moral compass. As a youngster, Donald experienced nothing resembling love. He experienced only wealth and domination, and came to equate those with love, which is the only thing he seeks, although he has no idea what it is.
In his drive for wealth and domination, Donald uses his arsenal of defense mechanisms to get what he wants. If one doesn't work, he instinctively tries another until he finally "wins." Only someone like him will stop him.
I, too, am fascinated by this. Last night I read an interesting article about “Strict Father Morality.” Why people follow someone like him. This is a hierarchical view of the world, obeying a dictator-like patriarch whose word is law. And the appeal crosses racial, ethnic, and gender lines. This was created by theframelab.org. And for years I have read many articles comparing him to an abusive father who family members appease, fear, and protect from the outside world.
People that come from small towns and are bored will talk about how they are destructive and got into trouble all the time because they are bored. They didn’t channel that boredom into good things but grew into bullies. When “reality tv” came along they fell for the con that this was real life hook, line and sinker. They hold Trump up as a hero for his hate.
Imagine if all the hate were turned to good and all the money being spent on the inauguration and pandering to Trump were spent on good works. None of it creates jobs or feeds people. None of it builds housing.
After Katrina people were displaced, given shelter in stadiums and left without jobs. Some got enough money to move to other cities, Houston grew. What should have been done is that every one of those unemployed people with no future should have been trained in skills to build housing and open small businesses. The majority were capable. NOLA was left to wither.
We don’t want people on handouts but refuse to train them and then complain. Musk and Zuck will never do anything to provide housing and training. Musk admits he’ll just hire foreign workers.
This was in my inbox this morning. Thought it quite insightful and seems to address your question about his appeal. Sadly, all cults end, usually in a tragic way. Hoping he doesn’t take the entire world with him 😵💫
Late update tonight: I see in the news that hundreds gathered in the Place de la Republique in Paris last night and popped champagne to celebrate Le Pen's passing, because in their view he tried to undermine the principles of the Republic.
And...I've assumed for awhile that His MAGAsty will use his superpower (the naming of which is uncouth, so you'll hafta guess) to invent Trumpy products with his personal brand affixed and then force the national gummint to contract (at vastly inflated costs) with sleazy, on-the-make enterprises produce them for sale at usurious prices to the public. And yes, one of those products will be Trumpwater.
Thus, at some point down the line, as we watch our friends and lovers fleeing the country we will have the small-beans satisfaction of throwing Trumpwater bottles in the ashcan, just like Cpt Reneau...
Dear Doctor of Classics, You and your ilk hold the key to our health. If liberal arts curricula had not been so disrespected and disregarded, it is highly doubtful that we would find ourselves in our current situation with stupid traitors in Congress and uneducated voters who put them there. The remaining Koch brother is supporting Russia after destroying American public universities (“Starving The Beast”) and now we have a racist Afrikaner (please excuse the redundancy) holding up the diapered balloon (the Brits got it right) we have as “president.”
Organizing resistance cells in our universities may be impossible, but that would be an excellent education for students.
Of course, he made two glaring gaffs that seem to sail right over people's heads. First, is that only on board a vessel do flags fly at half mast. On land they fly at half staff. The second is his bleat that this is the "first time ever". Nope. The flags were flying at half staff on January 20, 1973 following President Truman's death when Nixon was sworn in.
As I consider that the nation was in mourning for both of these events, and only these two inaugural events, for the two worst presidents, at least in my book. Seems to be quite appropriate.
Either Bush has made Nixon look like an angel from above even though he was a devil from below but not as far below as the Bush clan. They have destabilized the Middle East in perpetuity with their wars.
Enough stupid Americans were seduced into voting for the worse pig slut in history which will no create mayhem never to be outdone by anyone and our only hope now is a military coup by our good generals and I defy anyone to disagree that this is not the preferred and only option at out disposal to save us from ourselves. Feel free to disagree but remember these words.
No it is not our only hope and in fact it is truly a terrible idea. You've bandied around this military coup scenario too often really, so I probably won't change your mind. But what is the difference of who or how a military coup takes over a nation and its governance if it nullifies any chance for democracy while it's in power? What military coup would just relinquish power because suddenly everything is alright again?
The internet would most likely be shut down, so no more commenting here or anywhere, and no more of Heather's informative, inspiring, helpful letters she writes for us nearly everyday. Curfews on the streets and other restrictions on normal freedoms we take for granted, no protesting or speaking out against injustices, the Constitution suspended or done away with entirely, these are all things that can be expected from a military coup.
Which is exactly what Trump, the fascist cabal and sycophantic minions want. You're playing right into his hands by even suggesting a military coup, it's what THEY want!
It's a republic if WE can keep it! As a veteran, I have finally realized that my oath to uphold and protect the Constitution of these United States has never ended and never will...
Well, those of us who learned cursive writing, especially those of us whose penmanship is nearly illegible except to close family and friends (like me) will be of value.
I have taken pride in my penmanship over the years, but with the inexorable march of time, found it to very closely resembles my grandmother's writing and difficult to decipher! Very curious that is....!
The republic is likely gone. Watch and you might learn something. So you have a constitution to protect you? Tell that to the Russians they too have a constitution. Oh but we have amendments? They are about to be amended. Watch.
It ain't over til it's over...the U.S. Constitution is the Law of the land and has been for 235 years, it is indeed what is supposed to protect all of us American citizens. Russia has only had a constitution for a few decades, since the dissolution of the USSR, so never given a real chance to have any meaning with Putin in power so long.
And if you still think military coups are going to save our republic just ask the Chileans how that went with Pinochet and decades of military dictatorship. Ask Cambodians how Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge was for them. Generalissimo Franco took over Spain in a military coup before World War II even began and ruled there until the mid 70s!
For a lot of CN's it is all about power, which attracts some of them to the military. And for many CN's it is especially about white power. That is why they voted for the Groper-in-Chief instead of for THAT BLACK FEMALE.
I think the military and law enforcement attract individuals who struggle with independence and disorder. The Chain of Command provides order and reduces the amount of decision-making required to get through one's day. One just follows orders. In the Chain of Command, there is only right and wrong. Likewise in christianity, there is only right and wrong. There are only friendlies and enemies. Believers and non-believers. Someone is either "for us or against us."
For people who believe in a black-and-white world, shades of gray are nearly impossible to navigate.
Let me quickly emphasize that not everyone who enters military or law-enforcement life is one of these "black-and-white" people. Obviously many pursue these careers out of a sense of duty, patriotism and a desire to make the world safer. But we have to acknowledge ALL the motivations.
I agree. I think that's why so many 'christians' are following trump. They have learned to do what they're told and to have blind faith and not question anything. No sense in searching for the truth. Their leader has all the truth they need. This is so sickening.
That makes some sense— can’t handle disorder and nuance. Hasn’t thought of that though I’ve certainly known ppl whose life derailed when they weren’t working from a yes/no checklist.
I am embarrassed and heartsick. It is one thing to have to deal with the attempted destruction of our own country's democratic norms, but now to have to watch while he tries to destroy the sovereignty of our good neighbors, possibly by force, is a waking nightmare. Our allies will never trust us again...nor should they. We are still the most powerful country in the world, but no longer the greatest and, sadly, no longer either good or trustworthy in our dealings with our neighbors.
Trump is attempting to copy from his idol, Putin's, playbook in threatening to take over our neighbor's sovereign lands. Anyone still wondering about those 7 private calls with Putin in the past four years? For me, it's no longer a mystery.
This has been happening for years. One party wants all the power and not for all the people. We have reached a crescendo. Trump took over the shell of the GOP along with the party loyalists who have not left plus Republican voters. Trump will not govern for the good of the country, but for his oligarchy through his cabinet picks that the Senate will ratify. Trump personally will be all revenge and retribution, his own pledge. He will be divisive and hateful trying to split us even more deeply. He will use the media, and the Congress, those that fearing his power, will help to make that power even stronger. Talk about standing in the world? How we deal with this or acquiesce to it informs our standing in the world. That is secondary to how we here internally survive it. Can our constitutional representative democracy survive? This was/is an experiment. This is a test.
''...Constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe noted that the order “has no legal basis and ought to be reversed quickly—but these days nobody can be confident that law will matter.”...''
The law does not matter to Donald Trump but it matters to all patriotic Americans. We, the people, decide. Let's get to work, stay focused, and hold all the lawless accountable!
They want to take everything away from the rest of us and leave us with nothing, and Elongated Muskrat is blatantly using his influence not only here, but also abroad.
Alas the Biden administration has not done nearly enough for as Heather noted above US fossil fuel production is at an all time high. Simply put it means that the atmospheric GHG concentration is increasing and with it the temperature. Another example of centrist Democrats putting lipstick on a pig.
If nobody gags the muskrat, your standing will plummet, and the world will become even more dangerous for democratic people, in Europe, North America and elsewhere.
That press conference was living proof that it is well past time for the men in white jackets with nets to intervene. November 5 wasn't an election. It was a collective suicide.
Europe won't protect you from what's going to happen here, they are going to be greatly affected as well. Besides, don't forget that the maga/billionaires project includes Europe ,otherwise how you explain Mu$k interference in the UK, Germany, Hungary etc.
There are long waiting lists at the Italian consulates for reviewing applications. You should grab an appointment asap if you know for sure that you qualify. Your parent or parents descended from your Italian born immigrant grandparents must have been born before the grandparent naturalized otherwise the chain for citizenship through blood is broken. Good luck.
I have her naturalization document and my mother was around 6 years old at the time. In my reading on the Italian consulate page I found no such exclusion. In any case it doesn’t apply to me. I have asked them what is the cost for this process devoid of the costs of certified government (Pestilles) documentation which runs about $30.00 per document. Do you know what the Italian government charges for finalization?
The costs are going up.In October 2023 it cost me $326. In Oct the Ministero del Interno issued a circolare now called the “minor issue” which affects millions of previously eligible applicants, including myself. If the descendant of the immigrant was a minor < 21, the chain of jus sanguinis was broken. This situation may change depending on the Italian courts.
really. Holy crapola. Why I would think they would want nice white people with Italian heritage/S. Well good to know before I begin spending on Pistilles.
Quand j'etudiais francais, souvent, je parlais espangnol au lieu de francais. Le lundi, je parlais avec ma femme de menage, et je lui ai dit, comment s'etait passe ton Noel, en italien! Ma femme de menage vient du Mexique!
Confessio plena: ego professor latinae eram et latinam XL annos legi. mane latinam iam lego. Nunc Ammianum Marcellinum et Juvenalem lego. et graecam antiquam lego (nunc mane non solum Demosthenem et Plutarchem, sed etiam Homerum). Credo litteras antiquas solacium magnum aevi mali esse. Et latina fundamentum linguae Italiae, Hispaniae, et Galliae modernae est. Et metto in LibroVultus (i.e. "Facebook") quid velim cum latina difficilis LibroVultus est.
E, che catso fai, lol. We are permitted to cuss in Italian. Of course my last name is a cuss word. And we had a Fiona living in the casa in Florence. She was English. We had a Fiona. A catso. What else.
Yes, I suppose a surname like yours might raise a few eyebrows in Italy. A good conversation starter in a bar. The important thing is to jump into it without fear, as most Italians will appreciate your desire to communicate with them in their own language.
Hating Republicans won’t help. Getting your fellow academicians organized to teach history and civics (Ancient Greek, of course) would be really useful. I have a Ukrainian artist practicing on my grand piano at the moment— the beginning of my resistance. Indivisible will also rise to the occasion.
Living in CT,I drove to the prison where he was incarcerated the day of release with a big sign but the prison released him at 3:30 in the morning in order to circumvent protests. Dag I was disappointed.
Funny. After not getting very far I the language school at the university for foreigners, in Florence in 1977/78, I went hope and took words from an Italian dictionary and made up sentences. Later when I hitch hiked down through the south and Sicily, I had to use ever damn word I knew in order to communicate. That was my ultimate test. I partially failed it but I developed a little more confidence and that is important when trying to converse in another language. Otherwise, I’m just the typical lazy American. Let’s be real here.
This afternoons DJT Rant seems to have revealed that DJT 2.0 will be about Revenge, and Destruction... Watching DJT Totter to the Podium, and Garble from it, seems to reveal Accelerating Decline... Seizing Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal will Alienate NATO, if not outright cause it to Crumble, and taking the Panama Canal will alienate Latin America further... How would their Citizens feel about losing their Independence? In DJT 1.0, DJT had explored AirStrikes against Mexico... Much of the Good Work of the Post WW2 World Based Order will be undone... Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, and Merrick Garland failed in their Duty to Uphold the 'Rule-Of-Law'... DJT is not Immortal, but he will leave much Carnage as his Legacy...
This (Donny Convict’s bizarre ramblings) is all a smokescreen; all bright, shiny objects over here.
While everyone is all, oh, no, he can’t do that, yada yada yada; behind the scenes, they’re getting ready to pass tax cuts for corporations and millionaires/billionaires and hoping we won’t notice because we’re all distracted by talk of invading Greenland.
Yes, you are exactly right.This is a page out of the tired playbook of Trump used ad nauseam during his first term.Throw out some really wild stuff, get the people all up in arms and then do some really vile other stuff hoping a lot of folks with be caught up in the wild stuff.It just gets more than tedious and I am not looking forward to 4 years of it especially since he hasn’t even been inaugurated.smh
Exactly - open for business - bring on the bribes and flattery, as demo'd by Facebook yesterday. And the bills about to flood Congress. But his blathering is concerning - his mental capacity is in decline, if it was ever at competence. He is not fit for the office, and who will be running the show there is worrisome. We will not have a functioning Executive Branch per se. Will it be Suzie Wiles, who knows what she is doing, but is now tied to this bunch of crooks and oligarchs. What are her real goals? And can she supersede Vance and Musk? Is is Project 2025 and The Heritage Foundation ? I don't know where her allegiances lie.
I doubt that project 2025 was a surprise to her. The cult morons know exactly what they signed on to. Maybe not in 2016, but they surely did this time…
Marla, they are going to do both, the distraction is going to become a reality and they are going to push for a tax cut that will increase the budget deficit by 5 trillion and subsequent cuts in Medicare, SS and Medicaid. What do we have to loose?
Ally, your reply is correct and well taken but I meant my question at the end of my comment as a joke . I probably should have included an emoji like this one,😉.
I would never, ever underestimate the Convicted Orange Felon's sheer malice. He is the Antichrist and has set out to destroy the entire world, just for his ego and his pleasure ("look what I did, daddy!").
Marla... DJT will definitely travel his Revenge Trip first... The Major DJT 1.0 Accomplishments were his Tax Cuts, and over 1-Million COVID Deaths... I suspect that the Oligarchs are frightened about what DJT can do to their Businesses, for example Mark Zuckerberg, and I fear for the Ukrainians... DJT will be the worst President for this Country so far...
Bill, switching channels yesterday, I noticed he was giving a "conference" but it's didn't have the stomach to watch. I just couldn't believe that we are going to have this aberration again.
Rhetorical question: why are these broadcast? I guess either so we can see his decline for ourselves or because the broadcasters are complicit (or have obeyed in advance).
The gaunt comes from Ozempic and the rest comes from all the drugs he takes. You can’t mix weight loss with the same dosage of drugs. It killed my bipolar MIL.
I read an article about how Jr. is 5 years (or some number) sober but I have never seen a video of him where he isn’t high as a kite. Pretending not drinking alcohol makes you sober is par for the course for those who judged Hunter Biden for being a recovering addict.
Don't forget injecting bleach as a great idea to control Covid and use nuclear bombs against hurricanes. Didn't we learn enough of this guy the first time?
It strikes me that annexing Canada would shift the balance of power towards the democrats, no? Maybe we could finally get universal health care?
All joking aside, I think you’re right, Marla. That was astute, and hadn’t occurred to me in my dismay about Trump 2.0; I’d kind of forgotten how awful the chaos was and I’m not looking forward to this at all.
They were saying Bernie Sanders was in support of it because of the healthcare but that isn’t exactly what he said. But they’re desperate to portray Democrats as being in favor all while ignoring he’s an independent.
The first thing they would do is take away their healthcare.
It sure was. The Convicted Orange Felon will put the final nail in cilmate’s coffin. In four years, there will be nothing left to protect, but hey, at least the oil companies made a killing (pardon the pun) and Darth Musk got his spaceship to Mars, right?
Thanks. But we should all realise that the billionaires, especially Mr. Muskolini, do NOT want to save the planet. They want to suck it (and us, therefore) dry to the last drop, so they can live out the climate catastrophe in their bunkers with their riches. They are playing the end game full throttle: grab all you can before all hell breaks loose. The goal? To escape space or time. Musk wants to escape to Mars, others want to freeze their brains in the hopes of having it thawed in 1000 or 10.000 years and implanted in a new body. And no, I didn't make this up. Wish it were so: these people really put their money on these kind of sci-fi scenarios... Reductionist-materialistic thinking to the max. They want to live forever, and we, the rest? We can go f*ck ourselves in the face, as Musk so often says. They believe they are the new gods, and we can die in the flood or fires for whatever they care.
National suicide, orchestrated by Rupert and a like gang of self-righteous greedy bastards. Watched it happen as Fox entertained us all into a brain-washed alternative universe. Typical cult strategy, but national suicide instead of a “Jim Jones style kool-aid party.”
Many voters (mainly young white males) were tricked into voting for Trump through targeted social media manipulative disinformation blasts through X! That's a form of cheating, right? It should be!!! As hard as it already is, those who voted for the convicted felon, rapist, and misogynistic tyrant will be eating it along with the rest of us. Midterms can't come soon enough!
One can nail the day too. When he stopped whining about Joe dropping out and immediately they started on misogynistic and racial vitriol. It happened almost overnight. And he seemed assured that he would win, no more whining. Money came to the rescue
Having grown up with ugly “strip pits” in which the coal was extracted and the tailings left mounded around the ugly holes filled with rainwater, I applaud President Biden’s efforts today to protect shorelines and inland Native American land animal habitats.
Having experienced the ever-present large electricity demands here in Texas for crypto currency data centers, I’m afraid that Trump has once again sold Americans down the river for a chance to enrich himself with monies from DAMAC Properties. Only after electric grids are tested by climate change/data centers and found wanting will the American people realize that Dubai has offloaded an electricity hog to our detriment.
Ms. Hardt, I grew up in Carbondale, Pa. which is a small town about seven miles from Scranton where Joe Biden, Bob Casey and Robert Reich grew up. I saw what coal mining either underground or strip can do to the environment. Carbondale is the home of probably the first underground mine fire. To extinguish this fire the mining companies were permitted to dig up the West Side of our town to access the coal. Our West Side was a beautiful section of our town with many trees and hills and homes built by people who immigrated from Italy, Ireland, Eastern Europe. These people were forced to leave these homes which were in their families since they were built. Once demolished the are was open for strip mining.
Thanks Professor, what a load of …politics… you have waded through for us today. The juxtaposition between the two administrations hurts my heart deeply. I believe our survival in the next four years will depend a lot on us not responding to triggers; the struggle for our democracy begins.
I have lamented since nearly the beginning of Biden's term that Garland was appointed AG. I don't of course know Biden's mind, but I assume that it was a consolation prize for how the Garland nomination for SC, by Obama, was torpedoed by McConnell and his minions. And why not Garland as AG, on its face? He has stellar credentials and a great legal mind. The problem became quickly clear, however, when it came to prosecuting Trump, that Garland is/was simply too cerebral and too methodical, too determined to cross every t and dot every i before taking action. What we needed in that position during Biden's term was a bulldog... not a reckless one who would lose the Trump cases out of carelessness, but one who would move with great alacrity. Trump's predilection for delay tactics is well known, and Garland needed all the time he could garner (prior to the coming election) instead of dancing around the sombrero.
I also fault Garland for not doing something about various hijinks of federal judges clearly favoring Trump by sidestepping or flouting legal precedents, procedures, and the law itself... though I admit to not knowing the chain of authority and what power Garland would have had to remove, or recommend removal of judges like Aileen Cannon and Matthew Kacsmaryk. If he had the power to do so, but was worried about looking "too political", what the heck has the GOP been doing? I've often said one can't bring a nerf bat to a knife fight. Taking the high road for its own sake is meaningless when the other side doesn't give a damn.
I believe that Trump out lawyered every move with money that brought delay after delay because there's no limitations on how many itsy bitsy rules of law can be constructed to delay real proceedings. If it wasn't his money he used to pay so many lawyers who did even using funds raised for his presidential campaign to pay his legal bills! At least in the state of New York it's been thanks to real consistent law that he's a permanent Felon. Is there no way to use this to stop his inauguration legally? No way at all??
Michael, I share your dismay and would add my understanding that Biden, very much an institutionalist, quite deliberately chose Garland, fully expecting, despite sufficient predication, Garland would delay opening up criminal investigations into Trump and the other top-tiered 1/6 organizers.
Barbara Jo.... Thanks for that. I didn't even consider the fact that Biden is very much the institutionalist, as we have often seen in his own hesitance on other matters in which he should have acted, or acted differently. (The Israel - Gaza conflict comes to mind, as does Ukraine.) Perhaps this can also be said of much of the top, elderly (!) Democratic leadership.
We could also get into discussions about senior Democratic resistance to dumping the filibuster, out of their own desire to use it or out of the fear of what Republicans might do when they control Congress (once again, the nerf bat analogy), when Repubs will not hesitate to dump it if it serves their purpose at this time, especially with Project 2025 looming.
Trudy, When remarks from sources I respect comport with observable behaviors, I present them, not as fact, but as my understanding. Accordingly, while I’m open to discussion, I have no patience for accusations such as promoting “disinformation” or “reading propaganda.”
Biden could have mitigated Garland's hesitance to bringing cases against Republicans including Trump by appointing a special team dedicated to going after the Trump appointees. Of course, Garland's justice department prosecuted around 1500 people with only 2 being acquitted.
The tragedy is that Trump will likely pardon or commute their sentences by the end of this month. Probably not all of them and fortunately their suffering has extended to their families and even their friends. Some of their kids will grow up to be just like mom or dad, but most won't. These people are followers and not leaders. They are haters and not lovers. 250 years ago, they would have been shot or hung but ruining them financially is the best we can hope for.
Michael, Biden appointed a judge when he needed a prosecutor. Garland has a good prosecutorial record but is more suited by temperament to be a judge. We needed prosecutorial fire and got judicial restraint.
The AG does not have the power to impeach federal judges. Only the Constitutional impeachment process can do that.
Ally... Agree regarding Garland's temperament. He actually would have been a great SC Justice. And I had forgotten that the AG cannot remove federal judges. But, he may have the power to reassign them, or reassign cases that they are working on. And in any case, the AG could weigh in on an impeachment, outlining what the judge has done wrong, in violation of professional ethics and/or the law.
Taking the high road for its own sake is meaningless when the other side doesn't give a damn. That appears to be the democratic way and we are getting rolled over!!!
Michael H, I have been preaching the same sermon for as long as you have. Garland's methodical attention to detail and insistence on not appearing partisan were perfect qualities for a district attorney or supreme court justice. But he lacks the aggressive "killer instinct" to go after powerful criminals and take them down required of an attorney general. His T crossing and I dotting may have cost the U.S. its democracy – and much more.
Jane, I was about to post the same comment, referencing Joy Reid, who, Tuesday night, not counting on SCOTUS, justifiably, to do the right thing, stated we have to hope the documents leak.
Stephen, While you’re right, I mostly am focused on our Constitution’s checks and balances that were structured to ensure that when we as voters hand our power over to a representative it’s only temporary and constrained by safeguards that help to ensure the ultimate power remains with the people to render their verdict every 2 and 4 years of whether or not their representatives do a good job.
As Lawrence O'Donnell of MSNBC said, the US Constitution was a Gentleman's Agreement written over 230years ago... They couldn't conceive of a Criminal like DJT Demagoguing a 1/3 of the Electorate to put him in Power... Remember another 1/3 did not Vote... They could not conceive of People taking Pride in Ignorance... The Constitution only has Power if the People uphold it...
Apache, I wholly agree with your last remark. And, while I don’t have all the answers, I am certain if people retreat into their private personal spaces and no longer invest in the “small d” democratic work of being part of communities that engage publicly, our constitutional republic will perish.
Apache-- And the People are the federal and state courts. The Biden administration made a dent in filling the vacancies in the Federal court system and several states have Democrat majorities in their Supreme Courts that haven't for at least a decade.
It's clear that many Republican justices are extremely partisan and care nothing about precedent. This is the tragedy of the Republicans taking over the WH and the Senate.
I think the real tragedy is that the Republicans don't give a wit about the Constitution, only how much power they can glean from the weaknesses they have exploited within it. All their bluster about patriotism and being the "true" Americans is just that.
Maybe since we don't have to conceive anything because we are being hit by this aberration on a daily basis, it's time to actualize the Constitution to this new reality. If we have ever a decent Congress, they should give it a try.
This is nonsense. The entire premise of the Constitution was to empower and (twas hoped) enshrine demagoguery as the central feature of this here nation. No other way could enslaving people be a legal thing. No other way could withholding the right of full citizenship for most citizens be a thing. No other way could mass murder be an acceptable way of expanding political authority.
Sandra, I have no idea why you would presume my ignorance of the obvious. My point was to underscore our challenge given the results of the 2024 seemingly democratic election that stand in profound contrast with the principles of the Constitution.
I'd like to see JD Vance try to read a transcript of Trump's remarks to a small group of Trump voters, then have them try to write out what it means to them (if they can make any sense out of it at all).
The biggest "problem" we have with our Condensing Boiler, combined Central Heating and Domestic Hot Water (sinks showers, dish and clothes washers), is it makes it too comfortable. We are often shocked stepping outside in bright sunlight but unexpectedly bitterly cold outside compared to the warm house.
We had planned to replace the system with heat pumps (to get rid of the last need for natural gas), taking advantage of rebates and incentives to help pay for the whole house system (since partial or auxiliary systems don't qualify), and add solar, though we would need to replace the roof before adding the solar panels.
It seems the gas being cheaper than electricity (for now) has kept many, including us, from making the change to electricity, which I had planned on easing by at least installing enough solar to bring the energy cost lower, even if that meant just installing heat pump units for the second floor (without any rebates or incentives). That makes sense to me in Maine, where there is a lot more need for heat in the winter than there is for cooling in the summer. Using only upstairs heat pump units to get the benefits of cool air that will descend to the lower floor seems adequate for homes like ours that never needed air conditioning for more than a day or two.
So what are the plans when it seems rebates and incentives are at risk, and the climate seems certain to become more out of control (extreme) than it has already, greatly increasing cooling (and even some heating) requirements? Do we bite the bullet and invest everything we can into our own solar and heat pumps so we can get completely off gas (making our small contribution to holding back a bit of worse global warming/climate chaos), or study up on how to best make seasonal adjustments to tweak a little more efficiency out of our gas condensing boiler heat and hot water system?
The most distressing MAGA turd dropping in this newsletter: "As Siler noted in a May article in Outside, Chief Justice John Roberts has expressed an eagerness to revisit the legality of the Antiquities Act the presidents use to protect land—as Biden did today—suggesting he would be willing to side with the states against the federal government."
John “Balls and strikes” Roberts is an unprincipled hypocrite. He was openly hostile to and gunning for the Voting Rights Act since he was a young lawyer in the Reagan administration. He put his ducks in line to precipitate a case that he could use to achieve his goal.
Unfortunately, this is absolutely true. We need a national voting rights act, and the right to vote should be recognized as a fundamental right. For all our priding ourselves on our constitution, it’s embarrassing we don’t care any more about having our students learn how their government is supposed to work, learning accurate history, and encouraging them to exercise their right to vote. We have a whole host of dirty tricks and practices that were deliberately designed to disenfranchise people, and the Republicans are using them. The reality is that for too many people, they don’t think everyone should be allowed to vote.
Voting should be a requirement by law for every person of voting age just as it is in Australia. And we should have a national holiday day for that purpose.
Ya know, if someone does not vote because they don't care, are uninformed and don't care to do their civic duty to learn the issues...then fine, don't vote!! Good! It's suppression of people who want to vote that destroys our democracy. Coincidentally, those that are supressed tend to be people of color!
Voting should be a legal requirement! You WILL vote; it should be a national day of voting. Unless you have a medical reason for not voting, you will be fined, and it will be substantial. That fully one third of our neighbors 'couldn't be bothered' is a national disgrace, and needs to change immediately. But alas, it's now probably too late.
The whole MAGA cohort are turds, who now post election think they're hot sh*t. But as the saying goes, 'You can roll a turd in glitter but you'll never make it shine.'
It’s people like Roberts, to say nothing of Alito and Thomas, who have destroyed the Supreme Court’s image and respect for the rule of law, as they have proven adept at giving the Orange Menace what he wants. I’d argue US v Trump is unconstitutional in itself as the entire bogus unitary executive theory violates the separation of powers and the fundamental premise the president is not above the law.
If you need proof that John Roberts is a mental midget, read his opinion on the immunity decision. You can save time by reading the first couple of pages, because it doesn't get any better.
I'm not sure who assisted him in writing the decision, but they should all be embarrassed.
Roberts is not a mental midget. He is very intelligent. The problem is his system of values. He favors the wealthy and their corporate interests over average citizens.
Indeed as of several years ago when the court had only 5 GOP members, there were 80 cases where the interests of rich Republican donors and their corporate interests were pitted against the interests of average American citizens where the Court split 5-4.
The Roberts court favored Republican donor interests 80 times, and those of average Americans 0 times.
In "Alice in Wonderland," the famous line regarding a verdict before a trial is "Sentence first - verdict afterwards," spoken by the Queen of Hearts during the trial of the Knave of Hearts, essentially meaning she wants to decide the punishment before hearing all the evidence.
Key points about this line:
Satire on unfair justice:
This phrase is a satirical commentary on a lack of due process and a system where power dictates the outcome regardless of facts.
Alice's reaction:
Alice is shocked by this absurd notion and challenges the Queen's authority, further highlighting the illogical nature of the trial.”
Well, I guess, Let the games begin....the next 4 yrs of skating on the edge of criminal acts and getting away with it.
Trump has had 70 yrs of grifting training and experience vs the innocents following the rule of law.
Anyway, in contrast , today's procession and memorial tributes to Jimmy Carter were beautiful and would surely top Donnie's inauguration festivities , a fact that must have rankled the orange one. VP Harris gave a beautiful eulogy describing the character and achievements of Carter, the exact opposite of Trumps attributes.
So! Here's what a guy over on BlueSky said about Biden releasing Jack Smith's report(s).
"Honestly, Biden has presidential immunity so this is a perfect place to employ it.
Just release the report.
If they impeach and remove Biden from office, it will elevate Harris to 47th president and screw up Trump's new 45-47 merch.
Win-win." ~Ed Moltzen
My contribution to democracy involves the results of Virginia's special election this past Tuesday. We won! The candidates I postcarded for who kept Virginia blue are Senator-elect Kannan Srinivasan and Delegate-Elect JJ Singh.
This, from the Loudoun Democrats:
"Loudoun Democrats are thrilled to announce a resounding victory in today’s Special Elections. With control of both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates on the line, Loudoun voters have once again chosen leaders who champion reproductive freedom, marriage equality, and the strengthening of public education."
Any tiny breach in Trump's apparent invincibility will feel good--sentencing as a felon counts toward feeling like law still matters some, even if not to Judge Aileen Cannon.
It's not a done deal yet Richard. It was a "secret" conversation between corrupt Alito and felon trump yesterday that was promptly leaked regarding tomorrow's sentencing. Just hold your breath and hope that this leak complicated this illegitimate maneuver. 🤞
I laughed when I heard those words fall out of his mouth. How ridiculous. How absurd. I feel like I’m in aplay written by a moron and it is beyond time to close the curtain. And about the 40 million going to our First Lady. I’m no longer an Amazon customer.
Most of you saying that you won't be a customer of Amazon already are even if you don't buy from the retail business. The AWS platform is the underpinning of most internet sites of any size because it's probably the best of the several ones. IMHO. AWS is the bulk of Bezos the business revenue more like 65%>. AND of the Internet shopping sites probably the best. Walmart is the truly economic hurtful business with recent proof they leave the communities they take over poorer than they were before using their clout to kill local businesses.
All should ditch Amazon. The least we can do for our country. W said we should shop for our country. I say we should piss on Amazon and Tesla for our country
That's a direct payment for access. Who will be really interested in watching a documentary about this woman?
And,incidentally, Bezos fired 4% of the WaPo working force. He needed the money he is saving for the 40 millions to be pay to Melania to document all her accomplishments. Maybe a 30 seconds long documentary, counting credits?
He's totally clueless that the United States is but one of the countries part of the continent of America and if they chose, anyone who lives on this continent is an American not just us. AND the said Gulf was named when Mexico owned most of the land that surrounded it or Spain did including Florida itself. His ignorance of history is astounding. Of course his lack of respect for national boundaries comes from his own Germanic past. His own Father was a member of the American Bund which organization stopped in part or delayed on our defense of Europe during WW II. To me these pronouncements of taking sovereign countries just because is proof of his losing any sanity he might have had.
Never had an iota of humanity or sanity. The best example of the damage that inherited entitlement can do. Worse than brain worms. Starts in toddlerhood and Grows into a monster worse than any Frankenstein
« Of course his lack of respect for national boundaries comes from his own Germanic past. »
Seriously? In 2025? How xenophobic can you get?
Or have you forgotten that Manifest Destiny isn’t a German word or concept? So will you blame it on John O’Sullivan’s Irish ancestry? Or Andrew Jackson’s Scottish ancestry ?
Trump is a jerk, but he’s all yours. A pure product of the United States, as is his late revival of Manifest Destiny.
I don’t forget him. He was born in the US nearly 10 years before the First World War. I appreciate Fred was brought up by a German father - one who apparently fled Germany to avoid the Kaiser’s national service draft - but Old Man Trump’s political education was American, and he was at some point a KKK sympathiser. His racism and antisemitism we’re common in 1920s-1930s America, and the Musk of his era - Henry Ford - was a huge proponent. Expansionism of the type Donald mentions is more a descendant of Manifest Destiny and before that, British colonial ideology. Which isn’t to deny Prussian then German expansionism history.
I understand that the Trump family are originally Bavarian rather than Prussian. Ultra conservative Land, nationalistic to this day, but would that have influenced young Donald?
Do Americans know that our official language is called "English", and that it is absolutely riddled with foreign words and roots? We need an exclusively home-grown replacement. Call it "TrumpSpeak".
Or maybe we should try to learn Navajo. It's authentically a product of this continent. and kept the Germans guessing.
Agreed, Kathy. However ridiculous that press conference was the significance really is that his comments are totally reckless. To know this person is going to be president in a few short days is an abomination and damn scary 😱. I often think he is purposeful in that it is distracting to what is going on behind the scenes.
Check this map for the Public Lands and National Parks that Project 2025 Proposes To Sell Off.
The Republican Platform calls for "open limited portions of Federal Lands" (Page 14). In plain English that means "it proposes pawning some of them off" explains the Society of Environmental Journalists. The scheme mirrors plans in Trump's Project 2025, to take your public lands and sell it to billionaires. Imagine you may not be able to visit Yellow Stone or their may be oil rigs all over the Grand Canyon!
Back in 1970 I met the grandfather of my future wife, one of the last active members and hereditary holder of shares of the East Jersey Board of Proprietors, he had received received a call from Harry Truman, and shooed us out of the room. I was curious why Truman would be calling him, a lifelong Republican. I don't remember the details but in the course of the discussion, he told me about how he and the Board Proprietors Corporation were still managing the land they owned to protect the watershed areas.
One of his best friends was Harold L. Ickes (another Teddy Roosevelt/Progressive), Republican until he became a Democrat when he joined the Franklin Roosevelt administration as Secretary of the Interior. While in charge of major relief program (the Public Works Administration), he was in charge of the federal government's environmental efforts, so I assume they were both dedicated environmentalists, especially compared to worst unregulated exploiters of natural resources that wanted to have their way with as much public and private land as they could get away with.
"...The longer we wait, the more expensive the problem will be to solve. New Jersey taxpayers and ratepayers will bear those rising costs.
Finally — and importantly — we must ensure that today’s solutions can withstand tomorrow’s wetter, more dangerous climate and the dryer spells. Hurricanes Helene and Milton remind us that so-called 100-year storms now arrive with frightening regularity. Periods of heavy rains and drought conditions make it clear that New Jersey is not immune to such weather fluctuations.
We have a strong team of collaborators and well-thought-out plans. What we need now is a greater sense of urgency and funding to get the job done right. Today, we are dealing with a drought; tomorrow, we could be coping with the aftereffects of contaminated floodwaters. Regardless of the condition, let’s agree to work together on water infrastructure issues in New Jersey..."
The fires in California today, are also, to me, the consequences of new weather fluctuations, short periods of heavier rain than ever spiking growth of what then become dangerous levels of fuels for "wild" fires (now in urban areas more often), when we have the extended droughts.
While parts of Southern California burn in the middle of winter you have would be king saying "drill baby drill". The problem with denying reality, is that it doesn't change that reality. Failure to manage is simply failure.
Ironically, mosta the oil is coming from the Permian basin, via wells drilled long ago, and the industry powerhouses like it that way (and for all I know there is not much interest among the big guys to spend a ton of money developing anywhere else, unless the gummint pays for it, which, come to think of it, would be par for the course, so forget I said anything...)
We are already experiencing it, with the flooding of Helene, rising sea levels, and more intense storms. Trump is willing to let these people trash the planet for $1B a peace, and too many Americans have been propagandized into believing climate change is not real. Unfortunately it is.
They’re all setting up trust funds to cushion their children and grandchildren. Heck these billionaires that helped Trump buy the election have multiple citizenships- why do you think that is? They’ll all be off to their private fiefdoms in New Zealand etc when the s*** really hits the fan.
It would be a disgrace for a democracy, the foremost example, on the planet, to let Trump’s actions escape their just comeuppance. Many were negligent in letting this happen.
I worked my way through college and continue to enjoy learning. I have learned so much from reading HCR and from reading all your comments. I repeat, how very sad. I guess I’m just old school, I was taught to think critically.
Thanks Heather, I am embarrassed by what the next four years will bring to our standing in the world. We are entering a period of the GOP clown show but it will be the evil clowns. They want to destroy the environment, the middle class and democracy as well as creating instability throughout the world. If there ever was a time for the phrase “ God help us!” It is now.
And God bless appeals court judge Ellen Gesmer in rejecting Trump's attempt to stop his sentencing. May we celebrate small wins and the courageous few willing to say NO to bullies.
She isn’t letting Trump escape the consequences of his own crimes. I hope there are people fighting hard to keep Judge Cannon from suppressing the January 6 report. If anyone should know, it should be the public. Unfortunately, all of this shows just what sort of lawlessness and lying we are in for.
She has no standing, so why she issued the hold is questionable. But anything to gum up the works in favor of DT. I hope she faces severe consequences of her own, as so many have in his inner circle. And that one day we get back to fair and orderly rule of law.
Even more questionable is why, since she has no standing, anyone other than the media would pay attention to the order. It would be a step toward re-establishing the rule of law and reason if AG Garland took the brave step of releasing the report and, if he lacks the courage, President Biden should instruct him, publicly and in words of one syllable, to release it now.
Her “consequence” might be an appointment by Trump to SCOTUS.
Ken, OMG, perish this thought. She is awful, but I guess that makes her a prime candidate for the Supreme nonsense we see now
Yup. My thoughts, exactly. I worry about Sonia Sotomayor's health (adult diabetes for many years).
If she has no standing then HOW can she issue a hold? Besides the fact that she is apparently beholden to him for life? Is that even legal? I don’t know enough about the law to answer that????
The Law is “there is no law but me”
Thats the law,
Or as Louis XIV put it: "L'etat, c'est moi."
Legal schmegal - what are you talking about?
Unfortunately standing means little…look at the mifepristone being considered by scotus. they had zero standing. SCOTUS took that in the idea they would ban it but the backlash and those pesky deaths of the lower class women made them pivo but just kicked the can down the road to hear it again.
Cannon is claiming Smith has no at ding as a special prosecutor so all his investigations will be invalidated by scotus and we will never see any of the evidence he gathered. If by some diving democratic interventions, scotus rules it to be made public, Thomas will almost certainly be forced to resign in disgrace because of how involved his wife is but that works for trump who will nominate someone younger and has no dirty to laws or facts, just like Judge Cannon. As an historian, Ms. Cox Richardson, can you cite an example of a less deserving person like Cannon having such a profound effect on American and world history?
Our democracy and the future of the world hinge on characters with no character like Musk, Zuckerberg, Bezos, and Cannon being used as demons to the devil Trump.
Garland needs to release the report. Clearly, following the rules has not resulted in any attempt to hold T accountable. I am pretty sure it will make little difference to the public....those that might be swayed won't see it, MSM will ignore it, MAGA will deny it. But posterity will have it.
Susan, you might be right, but if Garland does release the report it will be a tangible, even if small victory in the fight against Trump/MAGA. We need even small wins.
Don't hold your breath.
It would be nice if he did that today. It might prevent us seeing the clown at Carter's funeral.
Emilie, this reminds me of a school administrator I i once worked for who went to things where he clearly was not wanted or had a fit if someone had an event off campus to which he was not invited.
Susan,
It is difficult for me to say, but Garland is just a "place holder". He is fearful for himself, as are so many who must face Trump's minions.
We have a few men and women who are literally laying out their lives for this country....but it is the few!!!
And so many of us wish we were in a position to push back....in meaningful ways. I'm old, I've had a good life, I cherish the story of America's potential. So I think I would put myself in harms way. But I understand cowardice if family is threatened.
If there’s any time to leak a document, it’s now.
Remember -- Biden is president and has immunity for official acts ...
But Biden doesn't have the report.
Garland is Biden's Attorney General, for Pete's sake! Can't Biden just ask for the Jack Smith report?
Where’s the Lone Ranger , we need you now!
Batman. The Michael Keaton version.
People need to be fighting to impeach Cannon. She is no judge, she's s simple minded toadie and probably headed to a seat on SCOTUS to join the other 5.
I really hope that somebody somewhere who has a shred of decency and a dim hope that democracy can survive with DJT and Musk at the top of the heap will have the intestinal fortitude to do what "Deep Throat" did, and get the report into the hands of a covert hack-tivist group, such as Anonymous, WikiLeaks, or OWS, who will then put it out on the Internet for the world to see what Cannon et al are determined to keep hidden from view.
Why is Cannon involved in the J6 report/case anyways. She was involved in the documents case so she may have jurisdiction there. But for the J6 case, thats Judge Chutkin. Wouldn’t it be a DC Appeals court?
Let the Trump pay-to-play administration begin. The tech side of MAGA will get tax breaks with no regulations. The blue collar side will get the Trump circus.
Jazz, what a contrast between Judge Gesmer and Cannon ,alost the same as between President Biden and Trump.
They are few and far between, we will miss the justice that one should expect from our SC. Slip sliding away…
The supreme court is why we now have Donny dent head in office. They allowed him free reign. They gave him the get outta jail free card. Permitting him to run for office. Imagine a convicted felon as president. How insane is this?
Six docile sheep… following one deranged shepherd
They are not docile, they are complicit
I told ya so…a statement that will be frequented to many.
So, how to engage the public , the non voters, the disenfranchised , when such whitewashing has deadened most, tired of the chaos, not listening anymore, it’s been a continuous din for 9 years!!!!! I’m pretty well on board with disgust . Seems the chatter after the fact, same as the chaos after a mental hygiene, after the red flags weren’t used , buried in paperwork or denials, ( Pearl Harbor, 911, Ukraine…) really stand far better chance from ‘leaks’ or leakers…same as whistleblowers I assume. And yet redactions , public disclosure of facts , or the security people don’t message out ?
Seriously , my recurrent nightmare of waking up in a cruel joke…is front and center!
The ‘news’ ,especially today, remind me of yesteryear songs ‘There’s no hiding place down here’ …’slip sliding away’ , ‘ a change is gonna come’ remembering …protest in so many countries was barely tolerated/allowed through song..while the minorities were/are chastised , their songs stood boldly popular , only the celebrities got limelight.
The leveling of the playing field happens so rarely,so slowly, and often reneged…has never been given its due.
Insane rules us all now.
Damn straight, Kazz!
Unfortunately we still have the corrupt scotus to contend with…..don’t bet against them upending everything before Friday😡
You're right. Just saw that Trump is petitioning them to step in to halt his sentencing. It's Wednesday, sentencing is Friday. Watch them take this on, and rule in his favor, in the next 36 hours.
Rebecca Warner,
For months and years, Trump has been protected by those who are using him to do their bidding. He is nothing more than a chosen "place holder" for those who are taking over our country .....destroying it and our Democracy for themselves!!!....As we watch!!!!
How long do they think we will live? Do they not realize there are babies being born everyday!!!! What kind of life will they have to look forward to??? These actions will not only cause serious problems now but for the long term future of our entire country and for the world.
It takes all of us to create a working, successful country as well as participate in the care of our global family!!!!
Trump and his minions are only looking out for themselves in the "here and now".
Trump needs to be prosecuted. He reminds me of myself and my little brother who were always getting into mischief . My mom would run after us to give us the punishment WE WELL DESERVED!!!! We would each run to our dad and each of us would grab a leg of his trousers and plead our case.
He would always take our side. We were always guilty!!! .....then one day, we became parents!
I do not believe Trump will ever grow up and he keeps getting away with his serious mischief....this is much more serious than that I and my little brother placed upon my dear mom....it will bring about the demise of our once great nation.
There is a reason why Trumps parents sent him away to military school as soon as they could. According to his niece Mary Trump, even as a child he was uncontrollable.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/08/nyregion/trump-sentencing-supreme-court.html
And Trump asks the Supreme Court for help.
And just like that, he’s appealed it to the Supreme Court.
Curious- as a convicted felon, will he be eligible to vote?
A little win is better than none at all. What say? We have am10 cent stake for the next round of Snooker America.
We are the ones who can help us (ourselves). As Rick Wilson highlighted on YT yesterday, we have power to RESIST. STAY in the fight. Resistance hinders Trump. Oh. And PERSIST. You are not powerless.
Steve, Because I was just about to comment similarly, I simply would add that we are faced with a real challenge where the results of a seemingly democratic election stand in real tension and contrast with the principles of the Constitution. And I think we as a nation need to figure out how we navigate that tension in the weeks and months and years ahead if we are to preserve consensual governance in this country.
While I don’t have all the answers, I am certain where people retreat into their private, personal spaces and no longer invest in the “small d” democratic work of being part of communities that engage publicly, democracy perishes.
Barbara, this is exactly my internal battle. And the desire to just say it’s hopeless & walk away is strong. However, I’ve been roused by a friend to organize a People’s Rally here in southeastern CT in conjunction with the national effort on January 18th. We cannot go away quietly. We have to stand in solidarity with those on the side of democracy. Connecticut’s Attorney General Tong is already anticipating constitutional overreach and leading the charge to stop it. We are reaching out to him to come & speak. We need to hear these voices and know there are people standing up for truth and the constitution. We are in the battle of a lifetime but this old bird is battle tested!
Claire I deeply appreciate your gutsy determination. I will think of you on the 18th, as we here in Massachusetts also are planning marches throughout the state to show support for the National People’s March.
Btw, we’re well aware of the leadership role your AG has assumed in creating coalitions with other state AGs.
It's media brainwashing, sanewashing. The Enquirer news media has everyone believing in humans birthing aliens....so crazy goes on. This country doesn't know it's ass from its head because they listen to lies consistently. And then believe them. The answer, is turn off the media. TURN IT OFF
Joanne, With all due respect, in my view, one remedy is to cultivate and spread the acumen to view media critically.
While, at my age, the “fight” is more difficult, your words resonate with me, Barbara. Actually, they often do! I will not be giving-up. When you love something, you cannot give-up.
Democracy in this country has almost 250 years of inertia that will need to be overcome by the Donvict, et al. In New England, the tradition of town meetings will not disappear in the next 4 years. The people there are too crusty and salty for that. City, town, and county governments will still have to function, most have no other way to do this except through local elections. Revamping this will take decades, not weeks. Blue states and some purple states will remain democracies - the very places where the federal and red state oligarchies receive most of their funding from.
People are still talking about the 2026 elections. Due to the incompetence and potential for massive corruption I've seen in the cabinet picks, they will probably not go too well for '47. If the incoming administration tries to cancel those elections, it will go even worse for them.
Steve, it's a giving that they are going to either cancel or disrupt the 2026 midterms, specially if project 2025 ,the corruption and their inability to do anything right, affects the pockets of the general population .
If this happens, I will buy a 4 season tent and plant my ass on the white house lawn until he dies or is gone.
What a great idea, Joanna. Take the uninfected press with you and camp out. Let US hope you will be joined by hundreds if not thousands. Remember the army of WWI veterans who marched on DC? But now there will be photographs!
HOW do we resist? My voting all blue and my sharing articles on FB seem to have done no good. How do we resist? P.S. I've pondered getting off of FB in the past but I am doing it today.
Getting off all meta controlled social media is wise at this point. Deleted my FB right after the election. Substack and YT have become the best way to read the true news. Local community gatherings and like-minded groups are really our best form of resistance for now. Stay strong!
Is it better to get off of FB and stay silent? Or is it better to stay on FB and post info about what Donass is doing? People have made up their minds to be for or against that lunatic, but I feel it helps those who are against him to see that there are others who agree. I really don't know anymore.
I did that a few years ago Debbie and am happy about it. FB makes it difficult!
congratulations I left Facebook over a month ago and feel good about it. More so since Zuckerberg tore down more fact checking yesterday. You will have to ignore thier email notices on friends posts. I suspect this is their way of keeping their fangs in you.
Join your local Indivisible group or start one. This is an organization with outstanding infrastructure to support grassroots groups and the focus is on taking action that builds power for ordinary Americans.
Thanks! I never heard of this organization. Will look into it.
I agree. We tried to save ourselves, but our institutions are not up to the task.
As Goebbels knew, institutions can bend and sway. Insanity can rule as the Trojan Horses, take over and run roughshod over our every humane impulse. Be prepared.
Not one Dem in Congress inserted Paragraph 3, 14th Amendment into the Frderal Register on Monday.
With Merrick Garland as AG who needs power....?
I often walk to this acapella version of "We Are the Ones We've Been Waiting For" by Sweet Honey and the Rock. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUHLA-_Us6c
Resistance is a long game. We are running out of time with our environment and deadly wars and international land grabs. I'm not seeing a path forward.
So, Steve, I agree with you. The real question is WHAT and HOW. I am open to specifics.
Exactly. Please host or join a people’s March on 1/18 to demonstrate your resistance.
We shouldn't put too much responsibility on a deity. Just remember: The Lord helps those who help themselves.
Like Job, for instance?
Oh my friend, you should read the papers here in France this morning . . . .
Oh, please do tell, Monsieur Philoctetes!
Reading this on Yahoo yesterday was pretty bad. Good grief.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-struggles-understand-appliances-bizarre-175004536.html
Gaaa-reminds me of his rant about low flow toilets. Embarrassing doesn't cover it. The international stuff is too bizarre!
Meanwile in Bolivia......
A community of ethnic Aymara shamans in Bolivia called amautas, or “wise ones” in the indigenous Quechua language, are refusing to abandon their cliffside homes.
Called “suicide shacks,” these huts in the Andean city of El Alto sit a few feet from the edge of a steep cliff. Heavy rains and other weather phenomena threaten to erode the few feet between them and oblivion. Officials are now determining whether they should force the shamans out to save their lives, the BBC reported.
The situation could be a metaphor for the precarious situation in the South American country, as Bolivians debate who should lead them out of their current economic and political crises.
Former Bolivian President Evo Morales is seeking to return to office by running in the August 2025 presidential election on the campaign pledge of making the country great again. An ethnic Aymara who was the country’s first elected indigenous president, Morales held office for 14 years. He pursued a leftist agenda that redistributed the country’s vast mineral and other resources, spreading prosperity – at least temporarily.
But Morales resigned from office in 2019 after protests over a disputed election and his attempts to circumvent term limits. He claimed he was ousted in a coup but wanted to tone down the violence from protests arising from allegations that his rival had meddled in the election. Morales then went into exile in Mexico. He has since returned to the country and now faces charges of statutory rape that he says are politically motivated. Bolivia’s top court has ruled that he can’t run for office again, Al Jazeera reported, but he appears to be preparing to try.
“They don’t want me to be the candidate because they know I’ll win,” Morales said in an interview with the Associated Press. “We’re in a state of total siege, morally, legally, and politically.”
Meanwhile, Morales’ former protégé, President Luis Arce, who is running for reelection, is struggling to improve the country’s dismal economy, Reuters explained. Inflation is at a 10-year high, natural gas exports are decreasing as old fields have dried up and new ones remain unexplored, the central bank is bereft of foreign reserves, and fuel imports are up.
The fuel crisis is becoming especially destabilizing, noted Voice of America. Protests have been breaking out between Morales and Arce supporters who both claim their man should lead the country, the New York Times added. Perhaps most importantly, the country’s socialist government lacks the revenues it would like to parcel out to the people. Since Arce served as Morales’ economy minister, both are responsible for the situation, which is spiraling, argued Global Americans.
“Shortages and price increases; falling purchasing power and rising poverty; deterioration of the social mood,” Gabriel Espinoza, a former director at Bolivia’s central bank, told the Economist. “The question is when and how this will morph into conflict in the streets.”
Death of Le Pen?
It's a competition between the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen, the 10th anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, and Trump's unhinged press conference though close on the heels of that is Musk's hostile takeover of the planet and the patently obvious fact that we have handed our future over to malevolent billionaire overlords who are all sucking up to Trump.
Here are two examples from Le Monde:
Donald Trump ou la rhétorique d'un nouvel impérialisme américain
Après Musk et Bezos . . . Zuckerberg: la tech en ordre du marche derrière Trump
My professional assessment is that the planet has come down with a terminal case of stupidity from which it is about to die.
Trust me, I'm a doctor (um, of Classics).
Zuck has always sucked. Now he is a full-fledged cult creep
Autism is and autism does. Musk and Zukerberg. both on the spectrum with limited social skills.
My husband is on the spectrum and is a beautiful soul. Please refrain from generalizations
It’s not being on the spectrum that makes them who they are. It’s the desire for control and power and the money to assert it. Musk is a drug abuser, I don’t know about Zuck. I do know Zuck did more work to build his companies while Musk just bought everything. They both pay people for their intelligence while being credited as brilliant geniuses.
I knew several autistic teens when I worked at high school. None had the vile characteristics of muskrat and zuck. One was brilliant, but never took actions that would hurt anyone.
As Louis XV said, “Après moi, le déluge.” I actually think those words are apt today. Tfg is uniquely hideous. There will be no replacement when he shuffles off this mortal coil. The quarreling minions will be at each other’s throats with no sun king to bind them together in a throng.
So true. But what is his appeal? I am dumbfounded beyond words. I find him grotesque. A liar, con artist, thief. They tried him once and he failed spectacularly to deliver. What does he bring to the table, except allowing to express their worst instincts, which may bring momentary perverse glee, but no long-term improvement to their lives. And the infighting and destruction will be painful and possibly permanent.
If we remember that humans are just members of the animal world, we can begin to understand Donald Trump. While most animals are prey, some are not. They have some unique natural defense that makes them immune to being preyed upon by other animals. Hummingbirds aren't prey because they can fly too fast to be caught by a would-be predator. Porcupines aren't prey due to their being covered in sharp quills. There are many other examples.
Donald Trump has no appealing characteristics, but as with non-prey animals, he exploits not one, but various defense mechanisms. Among them are blackmail, bullying, bribery, legal delays, and more. Intelligence is not one of them.
As Mary L. Trump described in her book, Fred and Mary Anne Trump gave birth to a defective boy whose defects were glossed over by money and whose base instincts were encouraged by self-absorbed parents with no moral compass. As a youngster, Donald experienced nothing resembling love. He experienced only wealth and domination, and came to equate those with love, which is the only thing he seeks, although he has no idea what it is.
In his drive for wealth and domination, Donald uses his arsenal of defense mechanisms to get what he wants. If one doesn't work, he instinctively tries another until he finally "wins." Only someone like him will stop him.
I, too, am fascinated by this. Last night I read an interesting article about “Strict Father Morality.” Why people follow someone like him. This is a hierarchical view of the world, obeying a dictator-like patriarch whose word is law. And the appeal crosses racial, ethnic, and gender lines. This was created by theframelab.org. And for years I have read many articles comparing him to an abusive father who family members appease, fear, and protect from the outside world.
People that come from small towns and are bored will talk about how they are destructive and got into trouble all the time because they are bored. They didn’t channel that boredom into good things but grew into bullies. When “reality tv” came along they fell for the con that this was real life hook, line and sinker. They hold Trump up as a hero for his hate.
Imagine if all the hate were turned to good and all the money being spent on the inauguration and pandering to Trump were spent on good works. None of it creates jobs or feeds people. None of it builds housing.
After Katrina people were displaced, given shelter in stadiums and left without jobs. Some got enough money to move to other cities, Houston grew. What should have been done is that every one of those unemployed people with no future should have been trained in skills to build housing and open small businesses. The majority were capable. NOLA was left to wither.
We don’t want people on handouts but refuse to train them and then complain. Musk and Zuck will never do anything to provide housing and training. Musk admits he’ll just hire foreign workers.
This was in my inbox this morning. Thought it quite insightful and seems to address your question about his appeal. Sadly, all cults end, usually in a tragic way. Hoping he doesn’t take the entire world with him 😵💫
https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=2985201&post_id=154234651&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&action=share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true&r=463md&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo3MDAzMDkzLCJwb3N0X2lkIjoxNTQyMzQ2NTEsImlhdCI6MTczNjMzNDAwMCwiZXhwIjoxNzM4OTI2MDAwLCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMjk4NTIwMSIsInN1YiI6InBvc3QtcmVhY3Rpb24ifQ.8zNfeHdPWelcXpLFWrtsMYDbdPmtxHXhFFzctmqZyGM
Merde!
Merci
Blind, deaf and dumb. The American spirit. The American brain. So brainwashed that they would sell their soul to the devils.
Late update tonight: I see in the news that hundreds gathered in the Place de la Republique in Paris last night and popped champagne to celebrate Le Pen's passing, because in their view he tried to undermine the principles of the Republic.
Sacre´Bleu!
And...I've assumed for awhile that His MAGAsty will use his superpower (the naming of which is uncouth, so you'll hafta guess) to invent Trumpy products with his personal brand affixed and then force the national gummint to contract (at vastly inflated costs) with sleazy, on-the-make enterprises produce them for sale at usurious prices to the public. And yes, one of those products will be Trumpwater.
Thus, at some point down the line, as we watch our friends and lovers fleeing the country we will have the small-beans satisfaction of throwing Trumpwater bottles in the ashcan, just like Cpt Reneau...
Dear Doctor of Classics, You and your ilk hold the key to our health. If liberal arts curricula had not been so disrespected and disregarded, it is highly doubtful that we would find ourselves in our current situation with stupid traitors in Congress and uneducated voters who put them there. The remaining Koch brother is supporting Russia after destroying American public universities (“Starving The Beast”) and now we have a racist Afrikaner (please excuse the redundancy) holding up the diapered balloon (the Brits got it right) we have as “president.”
Organizing resistance cells in our universities may be impossible, but that would be an excellent education for students.
Good luck to US all!
Mon dieu!
Merci.
He lived for too long and left a worse and more slime seed, his daughter.
I think your diagnosis is absolutely correct.
Yes do tell us, moname.
Thank you for your typically insightful commentary. BTW, how does one pronounce your screen name?
Phi-lok-teh-tees
Thanks. Origin?
Please send summaries!
I prefer not to.....it would be too embarrassing.
Did anyone else share my laughter that “ flags will be at half mast for his inauguration” ?
I found this appropriate irony!
( thanks, Jimmy😉)
Of course, he made two glaring gaffs that seem to sail right over people's heads. First, is that only on board a vessel do flags fly at half mast. On land they fly at half staff. The second is his bleat that this is the "first time ever". Nope. The flags were flying at half staff on January 20, 1973 following President Truman's death when Nixon was sworn in.
As I consider that the nation was in mourning for both of these events, and only these two inaugural events, for the two worst presidents, at least in my book. Seems to be quite appropriate.
Either Bush has made Nixon look like an angel from above even though he was a devil from below but not as far below as the Bush clan. They have destabilized the Middle East in perpetuity with their wars.
Enough stupid Americans were seduced into voting for the worse pig slut in history which will no create mayhem never to be outdone by anyone and our only hope now is a military coup by our good generals and I defy anyone to disagree that this is not the preferred and only option at out disposal to save us from ourselves. Feel free to disagree but remember these words.
No it is not our only hope and in fact it is truly a terrible idea. You've bandied around this military coup scenario too often really, so I probably won't change your mind. But what is the difference of who or how a military coup takes over a nation and its governance if it nullifies any chance for democracy while it's in power? What military coup would just relinquish power because suddenly everything is alright again?
The internet would most likely be shut down, so no more commenting here or anywhere, and no more of Heather's informative, inspiring, helpful letters she writes for us nearly everyday. Curfews on the streets and other restrictions on normal freedoms we take for granted, no protesting or speaking out against injustices, the Constitution suspended or done away with entirely, these are all things that can be expected from a military coup.
Which is exactly what Trump, the fascist cabal and sycophantic minions want. You're playing right into his hands by even suggesting a military coup, it's what THEY want!
It's a republic if WE can keep it! As a veteran, I have finally realized that my oath to uphold and protect the Constitution of these United States has never ended and never will...
If free speech is blocked on the internet, America will have to use pre-internet modes of communication.
Well, those of us who learned cursive writing, especially those of us whose penmanship is nearly illegible except to close family and friends (like me) will be of value.
I have taken pride in my penmanship over the years, but with the inexorable march of time, found it to very closely resembles my grandmother's writing and difficult to decipher! Very curious that is....!
Mine either, horhai.
The republic is likely gone. Watch and you might learn something. So you have a constitution to protect you? Tell that to the Russians they too have a constitution. Oh but we have amendments? They are about to be amended. Watch.
It ain't over til it's over...the U.S. Constitution is the Law of the land and has been for 235 years, it is indeed what is supposed to protect all of us American citizens. Russia has only had a constitution for a few decades, since the dissolution of the USSR, so never given a real chance to have any meaning with Putin in power so long.
And if you still think military coups are going to save our republic just ask the Chileans how that went with Pinochet and decades of military dictatorship. Ask Cambodians how Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge was for them. Generalissimo Franco took over Spain in a military coup before World War II even began and ruled there until the mid 70s!
I don’t think there would be a coup, and there is a strong Christian Nationalist presence in the military.
Yeah, that’s a separate issue I’ve wondered about—what is it about the military that attracts or turns these people into CNs? That is just terrifying.
For a lot of CN's it is all about power, which attracts some of them to the military. And for many CN's it is especially about white power. That is why they voted for the Groper-in-Chief instead of for THAT BLACK FEMALE.
I think the military and law enforcement attract individuals who struggle with independence and disorder. The Chain of Command provides order and reduces the amount of decision-making required to get through one's day. One just follows orders. In the Chain of Command, there is only right and wrong. Likewise in christianity, there is only right and wrong. There are only friendlies and enemies. Believers and non-believers. Someone is either "for us or against us."
For people who believe in a black-and-white world, shades of gray are nearly impossible to navigate.
Let me quickly emphasize that not everyone who enters military or law-enforcement life is one of these "black-and-white" people. Obviously many pursue these careers out of a sense of duty, patriotism and a desire to make the world safer. But we have to acknowledge ALL the motivations.
I agree. I think that's why so many 'christians' are following trump. They have learned to do what they're told and to have blind faith and not question anything. No sense in searching for the truth. Their leader has all the truth they need. This is so sickening.
That makes some sense— can’t handle disorder and nuance. Hasn’t thought of that though I’ve certainly known ppl whose life derailed when they weren’t working from a yes/no checklist.
I am embarrassed and heartsick. It is one thing to have to deal with the attempted destruction of our own country's democratic norms, but now to have to watch while he tries to destroy the sovereignty of our good neighbors, possibly by force, is a waking nightmare. Our allies will never trust us again...nor should they. We are still the most powerful country in the world, but no longer the greatest and, sadly, no longer either good or trustworthy in our dealings with our neighbors.
Trump is attempting to copy from his idol, Putin's, playbook in threatening to take over our neighbor's sovereign lands. Anyone still wondering about those 7 private calls with Putin in the past four years? For me, it's no longer a mystery.
This has been happening for years. One party wants all the power and not for all the people. We have reached a crescendo. Trump took over the shell of the GOP along with the party loyalists who have not left plus Republican voters. Trump will not govern for the good of the country, but for his oligarchy through his cabinet picks that the Senate will ratify. Trump personally will be all revenge and retribution, his own pledge. He will be divisive and hateful trying to split us even more deeply. He will use the media, and the Congress, those that fearing his power, will help to make that power even stronger. Talk about standing in the world? How we deal with this or acquiesce to it informs our standing in the world. That is secondary to how we here internally survive it. Can our constitutional representative democracy survive? This was/is an experiment. This is a test.
- Pulled Quote -
''...Constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe noted that the order “has no legal basis and ought to be reversed quickly—but these days nobody can be confident that law will matter.”...''
The law does not matter to Donald Trump but it matters to all patriotic Americans. We, the people, decide. Let's get to work, stay focused, and hold all the lawless accountable!
Their ultimate goal is to help the rich get richer. They get paid by us and by their $upporter$.
They want to take everything away from the rest of us and leave us with nothing, and Elongated Muskrat is blatantly using his influence not only here, but also abroad.
Alas the Biden administration has not done nearly enough for as Heather noted above US fossil fuel production is at an all time high. Simply put it means that the atmospheric GHG concentration is increasing and with it the temperature. Another example of centrist Democrats putting lipstick on a pig.
Catch Heather on Politics Girl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXpORF73n_8
I want to scream: IT WAS THE RUSSIAN PSY OPS that tilted the election.
If nobody gags the muskrat, your standing will plummet, and the world will become even more dangerous for democratic people, in Europe, North America and elsewhere.
Christopher, God will help us under one condition. God helps those who help themselves.
No kidding
😂
That press conference was living proof that it is well past time for the men in white jackets with nets to intervene. November 5 wasn't an election. It was a collective suicide.
I wish to be a European. My grandparents were born in Italy and by law, I can apply for Italian citizenship. Boun Jorno.
Europe won't protect you from what's going to happen here, they are going to be greatly affected as well. Besides, don't forget that the maga/billionaires project includes Europe ,otherwise how you explain Mu$k interference in the UK, Germany, Hungary etc.
There are long waiting lists at the Italian consulates for reviewing applications. You should grab an appointment asap if you know for sure that you qualify. Your parent or parents descended from your Italian born immigrant grandparents must have been born before the grandparent naturalized otherwise the chain for citizenship through blood is broken. Good luck.
I have her naturalization document and my mother was around 6 years old at the time. In my reading on the Italian consulate page I found no such exclusion. In any case it doesn’t apply to me. I have asked them what is the cost for this process devoid of the costs of certified government (Pestilles) documentation which runs about $30.00 per document. Do you know what the Italian government charges for finalization?
The costs are going up.In October 2023 it cost me $326. In Oct the Ministero del Interno issued a circolare now called the “minor issue” which affects millions of previously eligible applicants, including myself. If the descendant of the immigrant was a minor < 21, the chain of jus sanguinis was broken. This situation may change depending on the Italian courts.
really. Holy crapola. Why I would think they would want nice white people with Italian heritage/S. Well good to know before I begin spending on Pistilles.
Update to fees: application through consulate now is 600 euros per adult. See https://youtu.be/IqYC7S_Qgz8?si=m3othOuxBq2-geK- Also, minor issued explained in more detail here https://youtu.be/gPuS49ajwDc?si=Nq_zPpb5A2W96G0P.
You need to speak better Italian than that.
May I suggest Duolingo or Babble?
Giorno I can’t spell also in English.
Io posso parlare Italiano pui buorno anche fare un discorso con poco dificile.
C'era una volta quando io ho parlato italiano molto bene! C'est plus facile que français, mais en étudiant fançais j'ai oublié presque tout!
Quand j'etudiais francais, souvent, je parlais espangnol au lieu de francais. Le lundi, je parlais avec ma femme de menage, et je lui ai dit, comment s'etait passe ton Noel, en italien! Ma femme de menage vient du Mexique!
Probabilmente ti avrà capito! Parliamo in italiano nel Messico e la Spagna spesso, e più o meno funziona.
Confessio plena: ego professor latinae eram et latinam XL annos legi. mane latinam iam lego. Nunc Ammianum Marcellinum et Juvenalem lego. et graecam antiquam lego (nunc mane non solum Demosthenem et Plutarchem, sed etiam Homerum). Credo litteras antiquas solacium magnum aevi mali esse. Et latina fundamentum linguae Italiae, Hispaniae, et Galliae modernae est. Et metto in LibroVultus (i.e. "Facebook") quid velim cum latina difficilis LibroVultus est.
E, che catso fai, lol. We are permitted to cuss in Italian. Of course my last name is a cuss word. And we had a Fiona living in the casa in Florence. She was English. We had a Fiona. A catso. What else.
Yes, I suppose a surname like yours might raise a few eyebrows in Italy. A good conversation starter in a bar. The important thing is to jump into it without fear, as most Italians will appreciate your desire to communicate with them in their own language.
Good try!!!😁
😄
Do you want to read my Spanish don’t get me started
Actually, it may be buona notte for us.
"for all of us". There, fixed it. By the way, just have to say it:God I hate all Republicans and the people who voted for them.
Hating Republicans won’t help. Getting your fellow academicians organized to teach history and civics (Ancient Greek, of course) would be really useful. I have a Ukrainian artist practicing on my grand piano at the moment— the beginning of my resistance. Indivisible will also rise to the occasion.
But I have to do business with some of them.
Good luck in Meloni’s Italy. You might even rub shoulders with Steve Bannon there.
Living in CT,I drove to the prison where he was incarcerated the day of release with a big sign but the prison released him at 3:30 in the morning in order to circumvent protests. Dag I was disappointed.
They've gone full Fascisti.
Of course, if you move to Italy you will want to learn good conversational Italian.
Funny. After not getting very far I the language school at the university for foreigners, in Florence in 1977/78, I went hope and took words from an Italian dictionary and made up sentences. Later when I hitch hiked down through the south and Sicily, I had to use ever damn word I knew in order to communicate. That was my ultimate test. I partially failed it but I developed a little more confidence and that is important when trying to converse in another language. Otherwise, I’m just the typical lazy American. Let’s be real here.
And I wouldn’t need to live there since as one with Italian citizenship, one can live most anywhere in the European Union.
This afternoons DJT Rant seems to have revealed that DJT 2.0 will be about Revenge, and Destruction... Watching DJT Totter to the Podium, and Garble from it, seems to reveal Accelerating Decline... Seizing Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal will Alienate NATO, if not outright cause it to Crumble, and taking the Panama Canal will alienate Latin America further... How would their Citizens feel about losing their Independence? In DJT 1.0, DJT had explored AirStrikes against Mexico... Much of the Good Work of the Post WW2 World Based Order will be undone... Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, and Merrick Garland failed in their Duty to Uphold the 'Rule-Of-Law'... DJT is not Immortal, but he will leave much Carnage as his Legacy...
This (Donny Convict’s bizarre ramblings) is all a smokescreen; all bright, shiny objects over here.
While everyone is all, oh, no, he can’t do that, yada yada yada; behind the scenes, they’re getting ready to pass tax cuts for corporations and millionaires/billionaires and hoping we won’t notice because we’re all distracted by talk of invading Greenland.
Don’t fall for it.
Yes, you are exactly right.This is a page out of the tired playbook of Trump used ad nauseam during his first term.Throw out some really wild stuff, get the people all up in arms and then do some really vile other stuff hoping a lot of folks with be caught up in the wild stuff.It just gets more than tedious and I am not looking forward to 4 years of it especially since he hasn’t even been inaugurated.smh
Do ‘t assume that he won’t try. But you are right, the money will start flowing before Day 1. The tap is open
Exactly - open for business - bring on the bribes and flattery, as demo'd by Facebook yesterday. And the bills about to flood Congress. But his blathering is concerning - his mental capacity is in decline, if it was ever at competence. He is not fit for the office, and who will be running the show there is worrisome. We will not have a functioning Executive Branch per se. Will it be Suzie Wiles, who knows what she is doing, but is now tied to this bunch of crooks and oligarchs. What are her real goals? And can she supersede Vance and Musk? Is is Project 2025 and The Heritage Foundation ? I don't know where her allegiances lie.
I doubt that project 2025 was a surprise to her. The cult morons know exactly what they signed on to. Maybe not in 2016, but they surely did this time…
Marla, they are going to do both, the distraction is going to become a reality and they are going to push for a tax cut that will increase the budget deficit by 5 trillion and subsequent cuts in Medicare, SS and Medicaid. What do we have to loose?
Only our country, and perhaps our lives before that.
Ally, your reply is correct and well taken but I meant my question at the end of my comment as a joke . I probably should have included an emoji like this one,😉.
Oops. Maybe I should stand on a chair so stuff doesn’t go over my head! 😜
I would never, ever underestimate the Convicted Orange Felon's sheer malice. He is the Antichrist and has set out to destroy the entire world, just for his ego and his pleasure ("look what I did, daddy!").
Marla... DJT will definitely travel his Revenge Trip first... The Major DJT 1.0 Accomplishments were his Tax Cuts, and over 1-Million COVID Deaths... I suspect that the Oligarchs are frightened about what DJT can do to their Businesses, for example Mark Zuckerberg, and I fear for the Ukrainians... DJT will be the worst President for this Country so far...
If we were to visit a nursing home and there was a guy saying the stuff "DJT" just said, I think the staff would be ready with drugs and restraints.
He looked sweaty and gaunt. The men in the white coats? Where are they when we need them?
This is feeling like a Stephen KIng novel.
Bill, switching channels yesterday, I noticed he was giving a "conference" but it's didn't have the stomach to watch. I just couldn't believe that we are going to have this aberration again.
Rhetorical question: why are these broadcast? I guess either so we can see his decline for ourselves or because the broadcasters are complicit (or have obeyed in advance).
The last option is the more likely reason and the unintended consequence of being able to see his decline is the first option
Yesterday, asking myself the same question, after about five minutes of the effluvia, I concluded that the network thought we should see it.
The gaunt comes from Ozempic and the rest comes from all the drugs he takes. You can’t mix weight loss with the same dosage of drugs. It killed my bipolar MIL.
I read an article about how Jr. is 5 years (or some number) sober but I have never seen a video of him where he isn’t high as a kite. Pretending not drinking alcohol makes you sober is par for the course for those who judged Hunter Biden for being a recovering addict.
Don't forget injecting bleach as a great idea to control Covid and use nuclear bombs against hurricanes. Didn't we learn enough of this guy the first time?
It strikes me that annexing Canada would shift the balance of power towards the democrats, no? Maybe we could finally get universal health care?
All joking aside, I think you’re right, Marla. That was astute, and hadn’t occurred to me in my dismay about Trump 2.0; I’d kind of forgotten how awful the chaos was and I’m not looking forward to this at all.
They were saying Bernie Sanders was in support of it because of the healthcare but that isn’t exactly what he said. But they’re desperate to portray Democrats as being in favor all while ignoring he’s an independent.
The first thing they would do is take away their healthcare.
KR (OH),
Reality check....who said, "I am going to be DICTATOR on Day 1....ON DAY 1"!!!
It sure was. The Convicted Orange Felon will put the final nail in cilmate’s coffin. In four years, there will be nothing left to protect, but hey, at least the oil companies made a killing (pardon the pun) and Darth Musk got his spaceship to Mars, right?
Well done, Dutch Mike. Your sarcasm is perfectly expressed (and appreciated by this reader).
Thanks. But we should all realise that the billionaires, especially Mr. Muskolini, do NOT want to save the planet. They want to suck it (and us, therefore) dry to the last drop, so they can live out the climate catastrophe in their bunkers with their riches. They are playing the end game full throttle: grab all you can before all hell breaks loose. The goal? To escape space or time. Musk wants to escape to Mars, others want to freeze their brains in the hopes of having it thawed in 1000 or 10.000 years and implanted in a new body. And no, I didn't make this up. Wish it were so: these people really put their money on these kind of sci-fi scenarios... Reductionist-materialistic thinking to the max. They want to live forever, and we, the rest? We can go f*ck ourselves in the face, as Musk so often says. They believe they are the new gods, and we can die in the flood or fires for whatever they care.
National suicide, orchestrated by Rupert and a like gang of self-righteous greedy bastards. Watched it happen as Fox entertained us all into a brain-washed alternative universe. Typical cult strategy, but national suicide instead of a “Jim Jones style kool-aid party.”
"Cult strategy". That nails it, JD.
A cult as vicious as the Goebbels creation
At least!
You are quite right but not just the suicidal ignorant will pay the consequences, it's all of us.
Many voters (mainly young white males) were tricked into voting for Trump through targeted social media manipulative disinformation blasts through X! That's a form of cheating, right? It should be!!! As hard as it already is, those who voted for the convicted felon, rapist, and misogynistic tyrant will be eating it along with the rest of us. Midterms can't come soon enough!
One can nail the day too. When he stopped whining about Joe dropping out and immediately they started on misogynistic and racial vitriol. It happened almost overnight. And he seemed assured that he would win, no more whining. Money came to the rescue
Amen!
Having grown up with ugly “strip pits” in which the coal was extracted and the tailings left mounded around the ugly holes filled with rainwater, I applaud President Biden’s efforts today to protect shorelines and inland Native American land animal habitats.
Having experienced the ever-present large electricity demands here in Texas for crypto currency data centers, I’m afraid that Trump has once again sold Americans down the river for a chance to enrich himself with monies from DAMAC Properties. Only after electric grids are tested by climate change/data centers and found wanting will the American people realize that Dubai has offloaded an electricity hog to our detriment.
Unregulated cryptocurrency will destroy our economy.
More crucially, it’ll destroy your environment. Try eating without a functioning ecosystem.
Likely their plan
That's why "Crypt" is in the name. It is DEATH
And our world.
Ms. Hardt, I grew up in Carbondale, Pa. which is a small town about seven miles from Scranton where Joe Biden, Bob Casey and Robert Reich grew up. I saw what coal mining either underground or strip can do to the environment. Carbondale is the home of probably the first underground mine fire. To extinguish this fire the mining companies were permitted to dig up the West Side of our town to access the coal. Our West Side was a beautiful section of our town with many trees and hills and homes built by people who immigrated from Italy, Ireland, Eastern Europe. These people were forced to leave these homes which were in their families since they were built. Once demolished the are was open for strip mining.
Still Mary, good part of the American people would be celebrating. 😢
Thanks Professor, what a load of …politics… you have waded through for us today. The juxtaposition between the two administrations hurts my heart deeply. I believe our survival in the next four years will depend a lot on us not responding to triggers; the struggle for our democracy begins.
Why Merrick Garland has not already released the two volumes about January 6th is beyond me.
If they're blocked from public release, Jack Smith should sign with a publishing house for a two-book deal.
Jack Smith and Ellen Gesmer, quiet intensities doing their best -- they inspire me.
Joan, two that inspire against a crowd that depress.
I have lamented since nearly the beginning of Biden's term that Garland was appointed AG. I don't of course know Biden's mind, but I assume that it was a consolation prize for how the Garland nomination for SC, by Obama, was torpedoed by McConnell and his minions. And why not Garland as AG, on its face? He has stellar credentials and a great legal mind. The problem became quickly clear, however, when it came to prosecuting Trump, that Garland is/was simply too cerebral and too methodical, too determined to cross every t and dot every i before taking action. What we needed in that position during Biden's term was a bulldog... not a reckless one who would lose the Trump cases out of carelessness, but one who would move with great alacrity. Trump's predilection for delay tactics is well known, and Garland needed all the time he could garner (prior to the coming election) instead of dancing around the sombrero.
I also fault Garland for not doing something about various hijinks of federal judges clearly favoring Trump by sidestepping or flouting legal precedents, procedures, and the law itself... though I admit to not knowing the chain of authority and what power Garland would have had to remove, or recommend removal of judges like Aileen Cannon and Matthew Kacsmaryk. If he had the power to do so, but was worried about looking "too political", what the heck has the GOP been doing? I've often said one can't bring a nerf bat to a knife fight. Taking the high road for its own sake is meaningless when the other side doesn't give a damn.
I believe that Trump out lawyered every move with money that brought delay after delay because there's no limitations on how many itsy bitsy rules of law can be constructed to delay real proceedings. If it wasn't his money he used to pay so many lawyers who did even using funds raised for his presidential campaign to pay his legal bills! At least in the state of New York it's been thanks to real consistent law that he's a permanent Felon. Is there no way to use this to stop his inauguration legally? No way at all??
Michael, I share your dismay and would add my understanding that Biden, very much an institutionalist, quite deliberately chose Garland, fully expecting, despite sufficient predication, Garland would delay opening up criminal investigations into Trump and the other top-tiered 1/6 organizers.
Federal judges would have to be impeached in the house and convicted in the senate, and it would be unlikely to go anywhere for that reason.
Kathy, Merrick Garland is Attorney General, not a federal judge. Biden can replace him at will.
I never understood his choice. Isn’t Garland a member of the Federalist Society that is trying to destroy democracy?
Barbara Jo.... Thanks for that. I didn't even consider the fact that Biden is very much the institutionalist, as we have often seen in his own hesitance on other matters in which he should have acted, or acted differently. (The Israel - Gaza conflict comes to mind, as does Ukraine.) Perhaps this can also be said of much of the top, elderly (!) Democratic leadership.
We could also get into discussions about senior Democratic resistance to dumping the filibuster, out of their own desire to use it or out of the fear of what Republicans might do when they control Congress (once again, the nerf bat analogy), when Repubs will not hesitate to dump it if it serves their purpose at this time, especially with Project 2025 looming.
You're reading propaganda. Without appropriate references, please do not continue to they disinformation.
Trudy, When remarks from sources I respect comport with observable behaviors, I present them, not as fact, but as my understanding. Accordingly, while I’m open to discussion, I have no patience for accusations such as promoting “disinformation” or “reading propaganda.”
Biden could have mitigated Garland's hesitance to bringing cases against Republicans including Trump by appointing a special team dedicated to going after the Trump appointees. Of course, Garland's justice department prosecuted around 1500 people with only 2 being acquitted.
The tragedy is that Trump will likely pardon or commute their sentences by the end of this month. Probably not all of them and fortunately their suffering has extended to their families and even their friends. Some of their kids will grow up to be just like mom or dad, but most won't. These people are followers and not leaders. They are haters and not lovers. 250 years ago, they would have been shot or hung but ruining them financially is the best we can hope for.
Michael, Biden appointed a judge when he needed a prosecutor. Garland has a good prosecutorial record but is more suited by temperament to be a judge. We needed prosecutorial fire and got judicial restraint.
The AG does not have the power to impeach federal judges. Only the Constitutional impeachment process can do that.
Ally... Agree regarding Garland's temperament. He actually would have been a great SC Justice. And I had forgotten that the AG cannot remove federal judges. But, he may have the power to reassign them, or reassign cases that they are working on. And in any case, the AG could weigh in on an impeachment, outlining what the judge has done wrong, in violation of professional ethics and/or the law.
Taking the high road for its own sake is meaningless when the other side doesn't give a damn. That appears to be the democratic way and we are getting rolled over!!!
Dems guilty of your closing. A tad of ruthlessness is desperately needed. Yet Raskin is pushing for a democratic summer camp. I am gobsmacked
Michael H, I have been preaching the same sermon for as long as you have. Garland's methodical attention to detail and insistence on not appearing partisan were perfect qualities for a district attorney or supreme court justice. But he lacks the aggressive "killer instinct" to go after powerful criminals and take them down required of an attorney general. His T crossing and I dotting may have cost the U.S. its democracy – and much more.
Dale... Agree. An appropriate person in that position might actually have been Jack Smith.
Yes. You can never win a contest where the other side cheats.
He has made such a mess of bringing any sense of Justice to the Trump circus. I hope these documents are leaked and soon.
Jane, I was about to post the same comment, referencing Joy Reid, who, Tuesday night, not counting on SCOTUS, justifiably, to do the right thing, stated we have to hope the documents leak.
Barbara, from your mouth to you know where....🙄
Ricardo, Given none of this is in our hands, I imagine we all would welcome a bit of divine intervention.
I'm not a believer Barbara, but at this point, I take any and every help no matter where is coming from. 😁.
Thanks for your reply 👍
Ricardo, Nor am I. However, I’ve lived long enough to know that I don’t know everything.
And it's we the tax payers who foot the bill.
I agree with Laurence Tribe that Cannon doesn’t have the power to seal the report, Smith should run, not walk to the 11th circuit for an appeal.
Kathy, The problem doesn’t reside with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals: it resides with SCOTUS whom we can’t bank on doing the right thing.
Be positive Barbara ,at least we can bank on scotus doing the wrong thing. 😄
Ricardo, Thank you for writing. I’m comforted by your assurance that I can believe in something.
He already has.
And Merrick Garland should put his pants on and do the right thing.!!!!!
Stephen, While you’re right, I mostly am focused on our Constitution’s checks and balances that were structured to ensure that when we as voters hand our power over to a representative it’s only temporary and constrained by safeguards that help to ensure the ultimate power remains with the people to render their verdict every 2 and 4 years of whether or not their representatives do a good job.
As Lawrence O'Donnell of MSNBC said, the US Constitution was a Gentleman's Agreement written over 230years ago... They couldn't conceive of a Criminal like DJT Demagoguing a 1/3 of the Electorate to put him in Power... Remember another 1/3 did not Vote... They could not conceive of People taking Pride in Ignorance... The Constitution only has Power if the People uphold it...
Apache, I wholly agree with your last remark. And, while I don’t have all the answers, I am certain if people retreat into their private personal spaces and no longer invest in the “small d” democratic work of being part of communities that engage publicly, our constitutional republic will perish.
Hello Barbara... Was it Ben Franklin that said, "The Cost Of Freedom Is Eternal Vigilance" ?... Stay In The Fight.... Know Your Friends...
Apache-- And the People are the federal and state courts. The Biden administration made a dent in filling the vacancies in the Federal court system and several states have Democrat majorities in their Supreme Courts that haven't for at least a decade.
It's clear that many Republican justices are extremely partisan and care nothing about precedent. This is the tragedy of the Republicans taking over the WH and the Senate.
I think the real tragedy is that the Republicans don't give a wit about the Constitution, only how much power they can glean from the weaknesses they have exploited within it. All their bluster about patriotism and being the "true" Americans is just that.
Maybe since we don't have to conceive anything because we are being hit by this aberration on a daily basis, it's time to actualize the Constitution to this new reality. If we have ever a decent Congress, they should give it a try.
This is nonsense. The entire premise of the Constitution was to empower and (twas hoped) enshrine demagoguery as the central feature of this here nation. No other way could enslaving people be a legal thing. No other way could withholding the right of full citizenship for most citizens be a thing. No other way could mass murder be an acceptable way of expanding political authority.
You’re assuming trump, maga, scotus, project 2025 promoters, et al respect the Constitution, which they obviously don’t.
Sandra, I have no idea why you would presume my ignorance of the obvious. My point was to underscore our challenge given the results of the 2024 seemingly democratic election that stand in profound contrast with the principles of the Constitution.
He won't. He is a coward and will just run out the clock like he always has.
I agree Matt. May the clock tick even faster on his dementia and may the corporate media dwell on it like they did with Biden. The guy is cray-cray.
Indeed! This!:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-struggles-understand-appliances-bizarre-175004536.html
I'd like to see JD Vance try to read a transcript of Trump's remarks to a small group of Trump voters, then have them try to write out what it means to them (if they can make any sense out of it at all).
The biggest "problem" we have with our Condensing Boiler, combined Central Heating and Domestic Hot Water (sinks showers, dish and clothes washers), is it makes it too comfortable. We are often shocked stepping outside in bright sunlight but unexpectedly bitterly cold outside compared to the warm house.
We had planned to replace the system with heat pumps (to get rid of the last need for natural gas), taking advantage of rebates and incentives to help pay for the whole house system (since partial or auxiliary systems don't qualify), and add solar, though we would need to replace the roof before adding the solar panels.
It seems the gas being cheaper than electricity (for now) has kept many, including us, from making the change to electricity, which I had planned on easing by at least installing enough solar to bring the energy cost lower, even if that meant just installing heat pump units for the second floor (without any rebates or incentives). That makes sense to me in Maine, where there is a lot more need for heat in the winter than there is for cooling in the summer. Using only upstairs heat pump units to get the benefits of cool air that will descend to the lower floor seems adequate for homes like ours that never needed air conditioning for more than a day or two.
So what are the plans when it seems rebates and incentives are at risk, and the climate seems certain to become more out of control (extreme) than it has already, greatly increasing cooling (and even some heating) requirements? Do we bite the bullet and invest everything we can into our own solar and heat pumps so we can get completely off gas (making our small contribution to holding back a bit of worse global warming/climate chaos), or study up on how to best make seasonal adjustments to tweak a little more efficiency out of our gas condensing boiler heat and hot water system?
I expect to be seeing how well my technical education has prepared me to learn and use the material in https://ashraephilly.org/images/downloads/CTTC_Articles/1710_cttc.pdf
I'd love to hear Trump try to explain it to me or anyone else.
Merrick Garland should have quickly released his report before the Trump legal team had a chance to petition Judge Cannon.
Another example of Garland's slow- footedness. He waited too long to do EVERYTHING!
The most distressing MAGA turd dropping in this newsletter: "As Siler noted in a May article in Outside, Chief Justice John Roberts has expressed an eagerness to revisit the legality of the Antiquities Act the presidents use to protect land—as Biden did today—suggesting he would be willing to side with the states against the federal government."
John “Balls and strikes” Roberts is an unprincipled hypocrite. He was openly hostile to and gunning for the Voting Rights Act since he was a young lawyer in the Reagan administration. He put his ducks in line to precipitate a case that he could use to achieve his goal.
Deplorable.
Unfortunately, this is absolutely true. We need a national voting rights act, and the right to vote should be recognized as a fundamental right. For all our priding ourselves on our constitution, it’s embarrassing we don’t care any more about having our students learn how their government is supposed to work, learning accurate history, and encouraging them to exercise their right to vote. We have a whole host of dirty tricks and practices that were deliberately designed to disenfranchise people, and the Republicans are using them. The reality is that for too many people, they don’t think everyone should be allowed to vote.
True, Texas is proof. The “voting integrity” laws are just suppression, pure and simple.
Voting should be a requirement by law for every person of voting age just as it is in Australia. And we should have a national holiday day for that purpose.
Ya know, if someone does not vote because they don't care, are uninformed and don't care to do their civic duty to learn the issues...then fine, don't vote!! Good! It's suppression of people who want to vote that destroys our democracy. Coincidentally, those that are supressed tend to be people of color!
Voting should be a legal requirement! You WILL vote; it should be a national day of voting. Unless you have a medical reason for not voting, you will be fined, and it will be substantial. That fully one third of our neighbors 'couldn't be bothered' is a national disgrace, and needs to change immediately. But alas, it's now probably too late.
How does that man sleep at night?
No conscience, no morals, no worries, nop problem. A MAGA turd in a black robe.
The whole MAGA cohort are turds, who now post election think they're hot sh*t. But as the saying goes, 'You can roll a turd in glitter but you'll never make it shine.'
LMAO! Never heard that, but it's added to my lexicon.
It’s people like Roberts, to say nothing of Alito and Thomas, who have destroyed the Supreme Court’s image and respect for the rule of law, as they have proven adept at giving the Orange Menace what he wants. I’d argue US v Trump is unconstitutional in itself as the entire bogus unitary executive theory violates the separation of powers and the fundamental premise the president is not above the law.
The Injustices 6.
If you need proof that John Roberts is a mental midget, read his opinion on the immunity decision. You can save time by reading the first couple of pages, because it doesn't get any better.
I'm not sure who assisted him in writing the decision, but they should all be embarrassed.
Roberts is not a mental midget. He is very intelligent. The problem is his system of values. He favors the wealthy and their corporate interests over average citizens.
Indeed as of several years ago when the court had only 5 GOP members, there were 80 cases where the interests of rich Republican donors and their corporate interests were pitted against the interests of average American citizens where the Court split 5-4.
The Roberts court favored Republican donor interests 80 times, and those of average Americans 0 times.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8dNKqB9j000&pp=ygU5c2hlbGRvbiB3aGl0ZWhvdXNlIHN1cHJlbWUgY291cnQgcm9iZXJ0cyBjb3VydCB2cyBhdmVyc2dl
A judgment before a trial...great John Robert's.
Sounds like Alice in Wonderland.
"Sentence first - verdict afterwards,"!!!
“AI Overview
In "Alice in Wonderland," the famous line regarding a verdict before a trial is "Sentence first - verdict afterwards," spoken by the Queen of Hearts during the trial of the Knave of Hearts, essentially meaning she wants to decide the punishment before hearing all the evidence.
Key points about this line:
Satire on unfair justice:
This phrase is a satirical commentary on a lack of due process and a system where power dictates the outcome regardless of facts.
Alice's reaction:
Alice is shocked by this absurd notion and challenges the Queen's authority, further highlighting the illogical nature of the trial.”
It's been like that since we have the corrupt majority in the scotus. From a serious fantasy book to reality. 😤
Yep, a zinger but no surprise
Well, I guess, Let the games begin....the next 4 yrs of skating on the edge of criminal acts and getting away with it.
Trump has had 70 yrs of grifting training and experience vs the innocents following the rule of law.
Anyway, in contrast , today's procession and memorial tributes to Jimmy Carter were beautiful and would surely top Donnie's inauguration festivities , a fact that must have rankled the orange one. VP Harris gave a beautiful eulogy describing the character and achievements of Carter, the exact opposite of Trumps attributes.
Like the malignant narcissist he is, Donald hates it when he isn’t the center of attention.
I watched some of that after a small ensemble rehearsal. Very moving.
Well said Patricia 👏
So! Here's what a guy over on BlueSky said about Biden releasing Jack Smith's report(s).
"Honestly, Biden has presidential immunity so this is a perfect place to employ it.
Just release the report.
If they impeach and remove Biden from office, it will elevate Harris to 47th president and screw up Trump's new 45-47 merch.
Win-win." ~Ed Moltzen
My contribution to democracy involves the results of Virginia's special election this past Tuesday. We won! The candidates I postcarded for who kept Virginia blue are Senator-elect Kannan Srinivasan and Delegate-Elect JJ Singh.
This, from the Loudoun Democrats:
"Loudoun Democrats are thrilled to announce a resounding victory in today’s Special Elections. With control of both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates on the line, Loudoun voters have once again chosen leaders who champion reproductive freedom, marriage equality, and the strengthening of public education."
Such great news! Now to get Spanberger elected and bid good riddance to vest man!
Oh, yes, definitely, Gail!
Congratulations, that is wonderful news!
YAY!!!
Good news, Lynell!
Any tiny breach in Trump's apparent invincibility will feel good--sentencing as a felon counts toward feeling like law still matters some, even if not to Judge Aileen Cannon.
Yes, and thanks to appeals court judge Ellen Gesmer rejected Trump’s attempt to stop the sentencing. It will go forward on Friday as planned.
It's not a done deal yet Richard. It was a "secret" conversation between corrupt Alito and felon trump yesterday that was promptly leaked regarding tomorrow's sentencing. Just hold your breath and hope that this leak complicated this illegitimate maneuver. 🤞
And wants to rename Gulf of Mexico to gulf of America.I look forward to the day I read his obit.
I laughed when I heard those words fall out of his mouth. How ridiculous. How absurd. I feel like I’m in aplay written by a moron and it is beyond time to close the curtain. And about the 40 million going to our First Lady. I’m no longer an Amazon customer.
Most of you saying that you won't be a customer of Amazon already are even if you don't buy from the retail business. The AWS platform is the underpinning of most internet sites of any size because it's probably the best of the several ones. IMHO. AWS is the bulk of Bezos the business revenue more like 65%>. AND of the Internet shopping sites probably the best. Walmart is the truly economic hurtful business with recent proof they leave the communities they take over poorer than they were before using their clout to kill local businesses.
All should ditch Amazon. The least we can do for our country. W said we should shop for our country. I say we should piss on Amazon and Tesla for our country
Don't forget...his grave...
Bern, do we have to wait long for that?
Indeed
I feel much the same way.
That's a direct payment for access. Who will be really interested in watching a documentary about this woman?
And,incidentally, Bezos fired 4% of the WaPo working force. He needed the money he is saving for the 40 millions to be pay to Melania to document all her accomplishments. Maybe a 30 seconds long documentary, counting credits?
OMG.
He's totally clueless that the United States is but one of the countries part of the continent of America and if they chose, anyone who lives on this continent is an American not just us. AND the said Gulf was named when Mexico owned most of the land that surrounded it or Spain did including Florida itself. His ignorance of history is astounding. Of course his lack of respect for national boundaries comes from his own Germanic past. His own Father was a member of the American Bund which organization stopped in part or delayed on our defense of Europe during WW II. To me these pronouncements of taking sovereign countries just because is proof of his losing any sanity he might have had.
Never had an iota of humanity or sanity. The best example of the damage that inherited entitlement can do. Worse than brain worms. Starts in toddlerhood and Grows into a monster worse than any Frankenstein
« Of course his lack of respect for national boundaries comes from his own Germanic past. »
Seriously? In 2025? How xenophobic can you get?
Or have you forgotten that Manifest Destiny isn’t a German word or concept? So will you blame it on John O’Sullivan’s Irish ancestry? Or Andrew Jackson’s Scottish ancestry ?
Trump is a jerk, but he’s all yours. A pure product of the United States, as is his late revival of Manifest Destiny.
You are 💯 % right Sophie 👍
Cue Sigrid Schultz – "Germany Will Try It Again", published 1944. I did not anticipate the strategy that eventually played out, but here we are.
You can buy it on Amazon...
Except that Trump is using an American concept, not German. 🙄
Forget not his sire.
But yeah, German nazis from the get took their cues in large measure from US 'thinkers'.
Indeed. Their model was the Jim Crow laws.
And Manifest Destiny.
I don’t forget him. He was born in the US nearly 10 years before the First World War. I appreciate Fred was brought up by a German father - one who apparently fled Germany to avoid the Kaiser’s national service draft - but Old Man Trump’s political education was American, and he was at some point a KKK sympathiser. His racism and antisemitism we’re common in 1920s-1930s America, and the Musk of his era - Henry Ford - was a huge proponent. Expansionism of the type Donald mentions is more a descendant of Manifest Destiny and before that, British colonial ideology. Which isn’t to deny Prussian then German expansionism history.
I understand that the Trump family are originally Bavarian rather than Prussian. Ultra conservative Land, nationalistic to this day, but would that have influenced young Donald?
😄
Do Americans know that our official language is called "English", and that it is absolutely riddled with foreign words and roots? We need an exclusively home-grown replacement. Call it "TrumpSpeak".
Or maybe we should try to learn Navajo. It's authentically a product of this continent. and kept the Germans guessing.
JL...The US does not have an "official" language.
https://www.usa.gov/official-language-of-us
Good point. The most used language. The one in which Trump typically speaks.
That is a sign of his ridiculous ego, and also it distracts from the other things he’s doing to wreck the nation for his benefit.
Agreed, Kathy. However ridiculous that press conference was the significance really is that his comments are totally reckless. To know this person is going to be president in a few short days is an abomination and damn scary 😱. I often think he is purposeful in that it is distracting to what is going on behind the scenes.
You have to recognize this guy is genius, he can distract us and at the same time he is destroying everything around!!!😉
Aren't you proud Christine of this great accomplishment by America first policy? 😤
Hi Christine, don’t forget Canada, a sovereign nation, becoming the 51 state! I wonder how the people of Canada feel that comment.
Pray he eats the fatal hamberder by the evening of January 19.
Yeah, but his VP is even worse.
True but no one likes him.
But his VP JD is a clown. Most of the Republicans Senators have no respect for him so he is likely to be grossly ineffective. GO HAMBERDERS!!
Rex you are being too nice by calling this guy "worse"
AND fatally suffers the permanent results thereof.
Should the non believers like me pray just in case? 😁
Yes. Join me in unbelief..
Check this map for the Public Lands and National Parks that Project 2025 Proposes To Sell Off.
The Republican Platform calls for "open limited portions of Federal Lands" (Page 14). In plain English that means "it proposes pawning some of them off" explains the Society of Environmental Journalists. The scheme mirrors plans in Trump's Project 2025, to take your public lands and sell it to billionaires. Imagine you may not be able to visit Yellow Stone or their may be oil rigs all over the Grand Canyon!
https://thedemlabs.org/2024/07/18/biggest-land-grab-ever-project-2025-to-sell-off-your-public-lands/
Back in 1970 I met the grandfather of my future wife, one of the last active members and hereditary holder of shares of the East Jersey Board of Proprietors, he had received received a call from Harry Truman, and shooed us out of the room. I was curious why Truman would be calling him, a lifelong Republican. I don't remember the details but in the course of the discussion, he told me about how he and the Board Proprietors Corporation were still managing the land they owned to protect the watershed areas.
One of his best friends was Harold L. Ickes (another Teddy Roosevelt/Progressive), Republican until he became a Democrat when he joined the Franklin Roosevelt administration as Secretary of the Interior. While in charge of major relief program (the Public Works Administration), he was in charge of the federal government's environmental efforts, so I assume they were both dedicated environmentalists, especially compared to worst unregulated exploiters of natural resources that wanted to have their way with as much public and private land as they could get away with.
See https://www.amboyguardian.com/2017/06/02/historic-building-converted-to-new-perth-amboy-museum/ and https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-sep-03-fi-19151-story.html also https://www.nj.gov/state/archives/pdf/proprietors.pdf
Then there is the person I held out hope for if I was ever going to consider going back to the Republican Party (I gave up that idea sometime after Christie Todd Whitman quit as the 9th Administer of the EPA in June of 2003), but have at least been encouraged to see her current Op-Ed at https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2024/12/former-nj-gov-christine-todd-whitman-highlights-serious-combined-sewer-overflow-threat/
"...The longer we wait, the more expensive the problem will be to solve. New Jersey taxpayers and ratepayers will bear those rising costs.
Finally — and importantly — we must ensure that today’s solutions can withstand tomorrow’s wetter, more dangerous climate and the dryer spells. Hurricanes Helene and Milton remind us that so-called 100-year storms now arrive with frightening regularity. Periods of heavy rains and drought conditions make it clear that New Jersey is not immune to such weather fluctuations.
We have a strong team of collaborators and well-thought-out plans. What we need now is a greater sense of urgency and funding to get the job done right. Today, we are dealing with a drought; tomorrow, we could be coping with the aftereffects of contaminated floodwaters. Regardless of the condition, let’s agree to work together on water infrastructure issues in New Jersey..."
The fires in California today, are also, to me, the consequences of new weather fluctuations, short periods of heavier rain than ever spiking growth of what then become dangerous levels of fuels for "wild" fires (now in urban areas more often), when we have the extended droughts.
While parts of Southern California burn in the middle of winter you have would be king saying "drill baby drill". The problem with denying reality, is that it doesn't change that reality. Failure to manage is simply failure.
Ironically, mosta the oil is coming from the Permian basin, via wells drilled long ago, and the industry powerhouses like it that way (and for all I know there is not much interest among the big guys to spend a ton of money developing anywhere else, unless the gummint pays for it, which, come to think of it, would be par for the course, so forget I said anything...)
Frank, he doesn't care about reality much less about changing reality.
The shortsightedness of escalated environmental destruction will be felt by these maggots' grandchildren, who will curse them for it.
We are already experiencing it, with the flooding of Helene, rising sea levels, and more intense storms. Trump is willing to let these people trash the planet for $1B a peace, and too many Americans have been propagandized into believing climate change is not real. Unfortunately it is.
Thank Rupert for our national ignorance
They’re all setting up trust funds to cushion their children and grandchildren. Heck these billionaires that helped Trump buy the election have multiple citizenships- why do you think that is? They’ll all be off to their private fiefdoms in New Zealand etc when the s*** really hits the fan.
I hate that they will ruin New Zealand.
Don't think so KEm, the grandchildren would be in another planet thanks to Bezos and Mu$k's rockets...😄
It would be a disgrace for a democracy, the foremost example, on the planet, to let Trump’s actions escape their just comeuppance. Many were negligent in letting this happen.
Not Jack Smith. We need Daniel Ellsberg!
Hello...Daniel Ellsburg, I have a job for you.
Hello American citizens, you do not deserve your high school diplomas.
What about the college graduates that voted for this idiot? They should return their diplomats as well! And the circus begins.
Diplomas may (or may not) contribute to wisdom, but do not confer it.
Most Americans are going to college to get a job, not to learn.
As a retired educator, how sad.
I worked my way through college and continue to enjoy learning. I have learned so much from reading HCR and from reading all your comments. I repeat, how very sad. I guess I’m just old school, I was taught to think critically.
It is sad.
I know some, no excuses