Today news broke that Anthony Aguero, who was in the Capitol on January 6 and who is close to Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), joined Republican members of the right-wing Republican Study Committee when they traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border Tuesday night.
It seems obvious to me that every hurdle the Republicans install to make voting harder has a counter move. We as Democrats have to stop looking for easier voting and institute actions to meet those austere standards.
Of course I believe voting should be as frictionless as possible and someday will be, but until then we have to rise to the challenge. Where it's not possible to legislatively correct the Republican's draconian laws, we organize to help those voters meet the criteria.
-If states demand photo ID's, then help those targeted by this law to get one.
-If states limit voting days and hours then do whatever possible to get the targeted voters to the polls
-If lines are too long then document it with live video feeds and flood the media contrasting the hours long lines in low income precincts vs the champagne and caviar conditions in the rich.
Don't lie down and just take. Don't give up and just accept it. Get up, Standup, Standup for your Rights!
Southern Democrat Dixiecrat racism then, nationwide Republican racism now, Caste and Class and slavery worldwide in all its forms, the Holocaust and Holocaust deniers, MTG, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, DeSantis, Kevin and Mitch, Mussolini & Hitler, Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson and Joe McCarthy, Putin and Trump, Orval Faubus and Pres. Eisenhower, LBJ and Great Society, Obama, Biden, Biden, Harris, Joe Knows Us, segregation now, segregation forever, AG Nick Katzenbach and George C. Wallace, Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, MLK and FDR and JFK and RFK, Nobel Nadia Murad and @SBLewisSB - Greta and Gov. Abbot - the arc of our story today in Texas, Arizona, of my story now coming, of history as told here, finally, now, here by HCR, of Kenneth Bancroft Clark and Mamie Phipps Clark, Bill Clinton on his last day in office, Stanley James Evans MD, Douglas S. Eakeley, Bill Bradley, USD Judges Mary Johnson Lowe and William C. Conner, January 6th, July 4th, Juneteenth, Trump at the border, Pelosi and The House, Cheney and Cheney, John Robert Lewis and Matt Gaetz, Floyd George and Emmet Till, Abraham Lincoln and Lincoln Douglas, Civil War and 1813 and January 6th… the Negro Wet Nurse, first sex for white boys, KKK, our tortured past and present.
To truth. To Pericles Oration, the Gettysburg Address, I Have a dream.
To Heather for her nightly labors, let’s put her on The Court. She can teach there.
To Adam Liptak. Willy Rashbaum. Suzanne Craig. David Barstow.
Another tour de force "Letter" from Dr. Richardson. She compares and contrasts current events with the history of my country of 140 years ago that I was never taught. As such, she both enlightens me and shows me how ignorant I am!
I have not yet read any other comments here today. Something in this letter triggered a memory of the following quote:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
I’ve spent my lifetime working on environmental issues and been privileged to see small groups actually change the world - in this case change policy and make things better. The truth is I’d like nothing better than to stand down and truly retire. Instead, today I’m going to participate in a meeting with other committed citizens talking about what to do for our democracy. After that, I will write out ten postcards to voters in Alabama in a special election there and after that, go water and weed my poor neglected garden since the drought here in Minnesota is wreaking havoc. Climate change? Makes my life harder every day. And given how many just died in the Pacific Northwest of heat related illnesses, I’m not the only one!
I come here every day for comfort and inspiration - and find it. I see that I am not only not alone but among titans. Knowledgeable, capable, smart and obviously committed to the Great Experiment.
Please reach down deep and find ways to DO today and going forward. Democracy needs active citizens and many here could be just the lever that moves the ball forward. Thanks for being here. Y’all give me hope!
“In 1879, when voters spent several months watching extremists of one party try to suppress the vote and take over the country, they rejected that party so thoroughly that it had to reinvent itself.”
Jaw dropping history to someone whose history lessons always seemed to focus on the Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving. Thank you HCR for continuing our education.
Prof, I'm liking your optimism in this one. Between your upbeat implication at the end of today's essay, and Paul Krugman's suggestion that voters will like the current 600k-per-month job growth, I'm having a moment of feeling something close to hopeful about our country. A weird unfamiliar feeling.
The key point of the explanation of this vicious historical cycle by Heather is that the people carried the day and forced the dastardly both to back down and to "change their spots". What did it was a massive vote by the people against all the Democrats candidates and election of the Republicans to put the situation right. How things change but stay essentially the same but for a couple of name changes!
Getting all the people on the voters register and getting them out to vote is the key regardless of the "difficulties". Then they express their will. Massed, popular, peaceful vigilence at the counting and the certification to make sure that noboby "backslides" is the second step and similar "support" to Congress when they complete the proces is the icing on the cake.
Making sure this happens need both orchestrated information campaigns, Op-eds in every media, public speaking campaigns, investigative journalist "bulldog" attacks and a great deal of street side work to make sure that the people know what this is about and do something about it.
I am curious. We, here, one could say, are “preaching to the choir”. The January 6 Investigating committee are “preaching to the choir”. CNN, MSNBC and others are doing the same. New York’s AG office is right on board. I am on board, HCR and you reading this are on board(I assume). I will acknowledge that without studying history, we will not learn from the past. But what do we do with all this knowledge and history? What are the practical and real steps that need to be made against the “insurrection”? What I am afraid of is the name calling. Shouting out the words “Insurrection, Treason, etc.” is not going to change the minds and behavior of those who are standing behind Trump. The NY AG’s office claim against Trump’s organization smells like a publicity stunt and more importantly will only end up strengthening the will of those that continue to stand by Trump. I certainly can guess what autocratic leaders would and have done in their countries. We all remember how Erdogen responded to the Insurrection in Turkey. So here, in the United States, the response certainly has to follow the “Rule of Law”. But at this moment, I feel like a whinny child(read: Democrats) who will soon be sent to his room for a timeout, while the parents(read: Republicans) are partying in the living room. Color me frustrated.
I do hope that the select committee is able to fully investigate congressional involvement in and support of the events of 6 January. (Every time I see it refereed to as "1/6" I keep looing for "2/6" and "3/6". Do I spend too much time on Twitter?
I cannot say enough how I appreciate the comparisons of "then and now" that Professor Richardson makes. I can only hope that there are enough voters to rise up against this autocratic garbage and vote every one of these "legislators" out of office, and give a solid Democratic majority in the house and senate.
PBS had a documentary on James Garfield a few years ago, and I was amazed to learn what an extraordinary human he was, showing early signs that he could become one of America's most visionary and humane Presidents. It's not streaming anymore but here is the link: https://www.pbs.org/video/american-experience-murder-president/ The shooting of this man, followed by his treatment by doctors whose incompetence apparently killed him, is an
American tragedy of the first order. I hope you can find the film to watch. You too will be amazed by Garfield.
On March 25, 2021, CNN reported that Anthony Aguero, during the attack on the Capitol, was among the rioters chanting "heave ho" trying to break into the West side of the Capitol building. CNN also reported that Aguero was later among the rioters chanting "our house" during the siege on the East side of the building.
Professor, thank you for helping us to learn and understand. I usually mock the right by calling them Retrumplicans, but they behaved this way before Trump's ascendence and have to be thought of as Republicans. They are on a rudderless ship with cracked masts and tattered sails. And, as you conclude, "In 1879, when voters spent several months watching extremists of one party try to suppress the vote and take over the country, they rejected that party so thoroughly that it had to reinvent itself."
It seems obvious to me that every hurdle the Republicans install to make voting harder has a counter move. We as Democrats have to stop looking for easier voting and institute actions to meet those austere standards.
Of course I believe voting should be as frictionless as possible and someday will be, but until then we have to rise to the challenge. Where it's not possible to legislatively correct the Republican's draconian laws, we organize to help those voters meet the criteria.
-If states demand photo ID's, then help those targeted by this law to get one.
-If states limit voting days and hours then do whatever possible to get the targeted voters to the polls
-If lines are too long then document it with live video feeds and flood the media contrasting the hours long lines in low income precincts vs the champagne and caviar conditions in the rich.
Don't lie down and just take. Don't give up and just accept it. Get up, Standup, Standup for your Rights!
Southern Democrat Dixiecrat racism then, nationwide Republican racism now, Caste and Class and slavery worldwide in all its forms, the Holocaust and Holocaust deniers, MTG, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, DeSantis, Kevin and Mitch, Mussolini & Hitler, Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson and Joe McCarthy, Putin and Trump, Orval Faubus and Pres. Eisenhower, LBJ and Great Society, Obama, Biden, Biden, Harris, Joe Knows Us, segregation now, segregation forever, AG Nick Katzenbach and George C. Wallace, Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, MLK and FDR and JFK and RFK, Nobel Nadia Murad and @SBLewisSB - Greta and Gov. Abbot - the arc of our story today in Texas, Arizona, of my story now coming, of history as told here, finally, now, here by HCR, of Kenneth Bancroft Clark and Mamie Phipps Clark, Bill Clinton on his last day in office, Stanley James Evans MD, Douglas S. Eakeley, Bill Bradley, USD Judges Mary Johnson Lowe and William C. Conner, January 6th, July 4th, Juneteenth, Trump at the border, Pelosi and The House, Cheney and Cheney, John Robert Lewis and Matt Gaetz, Floyd George and Emmet Till, Abraham Lincoln and Lincoln Douglas, Civil War and 1813 and January 6th… the Negro Wet Nurse, first sex for white boys, KKK, our tortured past and present.
To truth. To Pericles Oration, the Gettysburg Address, I Have a dream.
To Heather for her nightly labors, let’s put her on The Court. She can teach there.
To Adam Liptak. Willy Rashbaum. Suzanne Craig. David Barstow.
To NY State RICO, to Federal RICO.
The arc of history is bending.
Love thy neighbor, hope springs.
One Art. Elizabeth Bishop.
Another tour de force "Letter" from Dr. Richardson. She compares and contrasts current events with the history of my country of 140 years ago that I was never taught. As such, she both enlightens me and shows me how ignorant I am!
I have not yet read any other comments here today. Something in this letter triggered a memory of the following quote:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
I’ve spent my lifetime working on environmental issues and been privileged to see small groups actually change the world - in this case change policy and make things better. The truth is I’d like nothing better than to stand down and truly retire. Instead, today I’m going to participate in a meeting with other committed citizens talking about what to do for our democracy. After that, I will write out ten postcards to voters in Alabama in a special election there and after that, go water and weed my poor neglected garden since the drought here in Minnesota is wreaking havoc. Climate change? Makes my life harder every day. And given how many just died in the Pacific Northwest of heat related illnesses, I’m not the only one!
I come here every day for comfort and inspiration - and find it. I see that I am not only not alone but among titans. Knowledgeable, capable, smart and obviously committed to the Great Experiment.
Please reach down deep and find ways to DO today and going forward. Democracy needs active citizens and many here could be just the lever that moves the ball forward. Thanks for being here. Y’all give me hope!
“In 1879, when voters spent several months watching extremists of one party try to suppress the vote and take over the country, they rejected that party so thoroughly that it had to reinvent itself.”
Here’s hoping history will repeat itself.
Jaw dropping history to someone whose history lessons always seemed to focus on the Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving. Thank you HCR for continuing our education.
Prof, I'm liking your optimism in this one. Between your upbeat implication at the end of today's essay, and Paul Krugman's suggestion that voters will like the current 600k-per-month job growth, I'm having a moment of feeling something close to hopeful about our country. A weird unfamiliar feeling.
A clip from Bill Moyers regarding the Civil Rights Act signed into law by President Johnson on July 2, 1964.
https://billmoyers.com/2014/04/10/a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-the-civil-rights-act-of-1964/?fbclid=IwAR2iMHWbKkm4fxwO_j8CgsX9TNnPeOCBzkGV_7QVT-8w1wFY_OWe-umaVQU
The key point of the explanation of this vicious historical cycle by Heather is that the people carried the day and forced the dastardly both to back down and to "change their spots". What did it was a massive vote by the people against all the Democrats candidates and election of the Republicans to put the situation right. How things change but stay essentially the same but for a couple of name changes!
Getting all the people on the voters register and getting them out to vote is the key regardless of the "difficulties". Then they express their will. Massed, popular, peaceful vigilence at the counting and the certification to make sure that noboby "backslides" is the second step and similar "support" to Congress when they complete the proces is the icing on the cake.
Making sure this happens need both orchestrated information campaigns, Op-eds in every media, public speaking campaigns, investigative journalist "bulldog" attacks and a great deal of street side work to make sure that the people know what this is about and do something about it.
I suspect you are right, that the Republicans are overplaying their hand.
I am curious. We, here, one could say, are “preaching to the choir”. The January 6 Investigating committee are “preaching to the choir”. CNN, MSNBC and others are doing the same. New York’s AG office is right on board. I am on board, HCR and you reading this are on board(I assume). I will acknowledge that without studying history, we will not learn from the past. But what do we do with all this knowledge and history? What are the practical and real steps that need to be made against the “insurrection”? What I am afraid of is the name calling. Shouting out the words “Insurrection, Treason, etc.” is not going to change the minds and behavior of those who are standing behind Trump. The NY AG’s office claim against Trump’s organization smells like a publicity stunt and more importantly will only end up strengthening the will of those that continue to stand by Trump. I certainly can guess what autocratic leaders would and have done in their countries. We all remember how Erdogen responded to the Insurrection in Turkey. So here, in the United States, the response certainly has to follow the “Rule of Law”. But at this moment, I feel like a whinny child(read: Democrats) who will soon be sent to his room for a timeout, while the parents(read: Republicans) are partying in the living room. Color me frustrated.
I do hope that the select committee is able to fully investigate congressional involvement in and support of the events of 6 January. (Every time I see it refereed to as "1/6" I keep looing for "2/6" and "3/6". Do I spend too much time on Twitter?
I cannot say enough how I appreciate the comparisons of "then and now" that Professor Richardson makes. I can only hope that there are enough voters to rise up against this autocratic garbage and vote every one of these "legislators" out of office, and give a solid Democratic majority in the house and senate.
PBS had a documentary on James Garfield a few years ago, and I was amazed to learn what an extraordinary human he was, showing early signs that he could become one of America's most visionary and humane Presidents. It's not streaming anymore but here is the link: https://www.pbs.org/video/american-experience-murder-president/ The shooting of this man, followed by his treatment by doctors whose incompetence apparently killed him, is an
American tragedy of the first order. I hope you can find the film to watch. You too will be amazed by Garfield.
On March 25, 2021, CNN reported that Anthony Aguero, during the attack on the Capitol, was among the rioters chanting "heave ho" trying to break into the West side of the Capitol building. CNN also reported that Aguero was later among the rioters chanting "our house" during the siege on the East side of the building.
Professor, thank you for helping us to learn and understand. I usually mock the right by calling them Retrumplicans, but they behaved this way before Trump's ascendence and have to be thought of as Republicans. They are on a rudderless ship with cracked masts and tattered sails. And, as you conclude, "In 1879, when voters spent several months watching extremists of one party try to suppress the vote and take over the country, they rejected that party so thoroughly that it had to reinvent itself."
Is this the same Anthony Aguero, the "close ally" of MTG?
"He's the guy that has been harassing immigrants that have been dumped at the Greyhound station in the cold and middle of the night."
https://thelionstarblog.blogspot.com/2019/01/republican-hypocrisy-anthony-aguero.html