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!
Christopher, thanks! I've been saying this for a long time. We are the majority party, and can't allow ourselves to be intimidated. So far, the Supreme Court hasn't said that minorities can't vote, only that it's permissible to make it more difficult. If that's the hand that's been dealt, play it, and enable the affected voters to participate. It might be more difficult, but minorities doggedly decided to vote to dump TFG, control the Senate, and defy the worst pandemic in 100 years. We have the number, so stop wringing your hands.
This absolutely spot on. If the "patriots" could organize to overthrow our democracy on jan. 6th, we can organize to maintain our democracy! We need to target areas that need help and then hire buses and carpool, all flying our democracy flag (tbd), and go help in numbers. I'm in.
Not much of a leader, but I can follow. Too early yet til '22, but I wouldn't be surprised if folks like Black Voters Matter would coordinate buses to the polls
If we really cared about voting, the cities would provide free city bus transportation to the polls! Why not! And all employers would give a day off for those who voted. Voting machine would spit out a "receipt" to be taken to the employer for verification and a (voting)day's pay.
Yes they absolutely do matter. And another thing that matters is helping people feel empowered, feel good about doing the civic duty, feel supported in doing their civic duty, feel that their vote does matter.
I don't know. It would need to be an alliance of blue state blue folks and red state blue folks. It would be a big undertaking to make a difference but how cool would its be???!!! Can you just see us in a cavalcade streaming our flags, standing up for democracy, helping folks who need help...As I said in another similar post, let those Texas boys try to run us off the road with their pickup trucks! We have kindness and love on our side!
Thanks for this link, Lynell. This is the kind of thing I hope more folks like Beto, who are not in political office but are known and respected, will do more often…to counter the right’s narrative.
Oh awesome Bruce! Thanks for sharing! There is just too much to keep up with, but from time to time it pops into my head, "shouldn't that be a lawsuit???" Yay!
I did some of phone banking prior to the presidential election and had mixed feelings about the productivity of that. But those organizations were definitely on it--getting people involved, keeping in touch, setting it all up online, etc. But then again, the Jan 6th folks were just organizing on social media. I guess that wasn't quite as complicated in some ways. If a town needing help could register somewhere, indicate what they need, then people wanting to help could be matched. Of course, who knows what will be illegal by then!
Friends, I am old enough to remember the voter ID ploy when it was clearly racist. Please be aware that, in most cases, this refers to a driver's license and/or passport with a photo, which is government-issued, too expensive for the poor, and requires some weeks or months of waiting before one is obtained. There is nothing wrong with an ID per se but it should be accessible to everyone, free of charge and tamper-proof. In my mind, this is a national registration card and will be a huge undertaking that is not likely to happen anytime soon. (Guess who will be the likely adversaries?)
Making a government-issued ID free, while useful, would only solve part of the problem, I'm afraid. The other part is the documentation required to obtain it. See the documents required here in Georgia for a "Real ID," the term used for the secured ID mandated, I think, by Homeland Security post-9/11. https://dds.georgia.gov/list-acceptable-real-id-documents
You've gotta be pretty settled down to have these documents ready at hand. For instance, I'd be hard pressed to find my marriage license -- do you have yours handy? I'm quite sure that one's ability to assemble proof of identity is heavily influenced with income, level of transience, location, education, etc. How that skews the voter pool is probably very complicated and not necessarily intuitive.
And as alarming as restrictive voter ID requirements may be, not having to prove that you are, in fact, the person named on the voter registration roll seems...well, insecure, to put it mildly. I suspect that the end result will always be that a certain segment of potential voters will inevitably be excluded simply because they are too disorganized and poor to participate.
When they did the post 9/11 "security" horseshit, I had to arrange to get an ID for my father.
Born in 1913, he was in his late 80's, and was already suffering from early dementia. They insisted on his birth certificate. He had a copy. They said the copy was no good, they needed an "original." Gosh. Did they actually keep those original records from 1913?
My father served in WWII, and after he passed, I found his honorable discharge papers. Those would probably have been insufficient, too. He had lived in the same house in the same town for almost fifty years. Everyone in the neighborhood knew him. One of the clerks processing these was our neighbor. She took me aside and said, "I'll take care fo this."
That's how "identification" works in police states.
I'm one of those people who shouldn't be impacted by getting a "real ID" and it still cost me $40 and six weeks to get an official copy of my birth certificate from Texas, as well as $35 for the license. I will say (thank you, COVID-19!) that the California DMV instituted a great system during the pandemic, which I hope they'll retain in the future: getting it all done online, no visit to teh @#$#@!! DMV office - if you don't have any moving violations during the period of the old license, you go online, create an account, answer their questions, take a photo of the birth certificate and upload it, and 2 weeks later there it is in the mail: your new drivers license/real ID.
And I'll bet it doesn't work like that in Jawjah or Tejas.
Another complication: the Indiana DMV would not accept my valid marriage license b/c it was issued and signed by the church official even though the minister was also an authorized state official with an official state seal. I had to get a copy from the county clerk's office where we had applied and lived at the time. I was told that since 9/11, "church" issued licenses aren't accepted. This feels like Republican sh*t to me.
In the otherwise regressive bill proposed in Washington State was included the option of a voter ID card issued upon registration. I'd have to go back and look at the requirements for getting that card, but it was not as onerous as I'd expected - although possibly still beyond some people's ability.
I know in Florida, one can obtain a state ID if one has no interest in driving privileges. Works as proper ID, gets one registered to vote, and does not take as long as a drivers license or passport.
And another thing. If the GOP says they are addressing "fears of election fraud in order to reassure voters," then let them. Then when the next election comes along, they will have no excuses for losing! How can they then claim a Big Lie again? Meanwhile we will do our work to make sure that everyone who wants to vote, is able to.
As for the Supreme Court decision this week, one of the angst in Arizona was the voting in the wrong polling place. Arizona has a bad habit of changing polling places in heavily Democratic areas on a whim. So voting in the wrong polling place is to be an expected mistake. Let's work on more polling places in more permanent places.
I don't understand this mentality of you must go to the voting place in which you are assigned. In Texas so long as you go to one in the same county, it's no big deal.... hopefully Abbott, et al., aren't trying to change that flexibility! I've voted by mail, at a local university, and at all sorts of libraries. Early voting is 3 weeks long, so there's not a ton of pressure to go vote NOW - if the line is too long, check out a different library or come back a different day. Or do like Colorado and mail out ballots to every citizen a month early - so you get more active participation in local elections where your power really matters but are easy to miss if you don't pay attention to local news.
The Texas approach is good and very doable in the computer age where information sharing is instant and secure. Still I don't see the harm in having to go to your local precinct. It should be and probably is the law to notify voters if their polling place has changed. Mine changes depending on the party in power but I always get a notice in the mail.
Mine changed during the pandemic - maybe even the day before the primary, which then got postponed. I used to vote at a nursing home; it was a sensible change.
I don't see how they can allow that to happen. When I go to vote they verify me on the voter roll. AZ is in need of a major overhaul if someone can walk into the wrong precinct and be able to vote unchallenged.
In AZ, it is also difficult to get an ID. DMV sites have been reduced, requiring hours of travel. Online does not work. Getting appointments is impossible. And I am a highly mobile person.
Thanks so much for posting this, Lanita! Although a 1980 song, it sure has totally appropriateness for today -- in the US and Canada! (I'm a dual citizen.) Love Bob Marley!
I went to see him at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle on his 1979 tour - on my birthday!!! - and I just found a recording of that concert. Wow! It was an amazing evening - I'm not sure I sat down once the whole time. I have such a strong memory of his dreads spreading out like sunrays when he danced. Gonna listen to that concert right now!!!
I am in complete agreement with you Christopher. It is up to us, "the people " to continue the work to form "a more perfect Union ". While we can hope for good results from our elected representatives, it is up to us to take up the cause of ensuring that every American who wants to vote complies with their state requirements, are able to get to the polls, and vote! Boots on the ground for each of us who is able.
Well said, Christopher. However, If other states are like Ohio, you have to have numerous documents with you (some certified/original) to get either an ID or a Drivers License. The push being recommended is right on target, but it requires a lot of preparation and documents that many folks don't have easy access to. A real problem......
It's not like that in the Ohio where I live. First I always vote absentee and don't need a reason. On the application I usually just give my SSN last four because I'm too lazy to pull out my Driver's License. I haven't been a poll judge for a while but when I was, in the absence of a photo ID you only needed a utility bill with your name and address. You can find all the acceptable ones here: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/id-requirements/?
So, every voter can vote absentee or in person without a major hassle as you seemed to imply.
Somethings are best not left to the states. Maybe the whole process doesn't need to be federalized but the question of proving who you are definitely should be.
Many, too many things are left to the states. What is the point of being the "United" states when states can make up their own rules about such basic needs/rights as voting, adequate health care and free quality K-12 education?
Agreed. It allows things like pockets of the virus flourishing while the rest of us comply with masks, etc. A democracy requires that everyone be vaccinated and/or comply with rules to protect our fellow citizens. The notion that democracy means total independence from government rules has gone off the charts. States' rights people are milking it for all it's worth.
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.
As truth, as facts, as history reminds us that current nefarious tactics are not new or shiny, Sandy, then hope does spring. Historians remind us of action put into motion during another era that corrected course. We are reminded that we are a community of neighbors on the watch for each other.
Thank you for your comments today. I hope HCR and the likes of her will be able to record our history of this year as being the arc bending towards Lady Justice.
Careful with counting on "hope" springing wherever or whenever. The full Pope couplet reads "Hope springs eternal in the human breast, Man NEVER IS, but always TO BE blessed." Which I take to mean that you'll never catch the right train if you're waiting on the wrong platform.
Mr. Grantham's comment (immediately below) is spot on, though as he surely recognizes there is no possibility that Mr. Lewis will mend his tiresome ways. One way to understand the poverty of Mr. Lewis's comments is to appreciate that all of them are all about him: he is a showy writer, the goal of his word salad screeds, which are largely incoherent--he is unable to mount an extended narrative, compare id. with Ms. Richardson's narratives-- is to show off what he perceives to be his intellectual depth and breadth. But it is not breadth and depth that are shown, but the lack of same: he is a vain dilettante, not remotely in Ms. Richardson's league on any front, which explains in part why he is so jealous of her.
I admire the efforts of HCR. As a historian she is B+. Thucydides is A+.
Jealous? She’s unappealing in every way for me, but she’s honest. I’ve loved academics that survived Auschwitz, Dachau, Buchenwald. With a few good exceptions, I’ve not found a Phillips Exeter graduate well rounded. We have three in our nuclear family. The stuff they have that makes them special came later. Not one loves the memory of PEA. Two hate it. Summa cum laude at Princeton and D. Phil at Oxford, law at Yale and medical school.. not one loved the snots at PEA.
I am not a writer. I’ve written and have been asked by the best to do that. I speak. Writing requires patience I do not have.
Jealous? I am jealous of few. At 82, I’ve coped well will my handicaps. I seek no approval. I provoke.
As I see it, we live for those to come and we are failing badly. I would destroy millions if I felt that by doing so I might cleanse the human race of Trump, Giuliani, Putin, and thousands of others. I do not feel that killing solves anything.
The idiots that jabber nonsense here are a form of obnoxious bum fluff.
Those that struggle to make sense here have potential.
This Substack works the elderly. It does not reach students. I try. If we do not reach deeply those now being educated, planet earth 🌍 will burn up.
If we allow the GOP to rule, it’s Civil War. Trump et al will be jailed, or we will again experience January 6th. And worse.
Getting into a pissing fight with a skunk 🦨 is silly, Robert Lerner. I pass.
"This Substack works the elderly. It does not reach students. I try. If we do not reach deeply those now being educated, planet earth 🌍 will burn up."
But HOW the hell do we do that?? I totally agree, but in a world with more diversions than Leggo pieces, getting attention is kinda difficult. I am remined of a recent cartoon - Small spaceship lands on what looks like a Uni lawn. Students everywhere, intently looking at their phones. Alien 1 to Alien 2 " You see, I told you they'd never notice us" ! Some care, most don't.
Sandy, not being one of the cognoscenti, you posts lose me. Such a shame, as I'm sure there is so much in them. Maybe you can find some one to filter them first? We'd all benefit, I'm sure.
I re-read that 2012 Times article and Sandy Lewis has credibility that cannot be ignored. As for his 'stream of consciousness' style, imagine that you are at a magnificent buffet table of great length. The tempting items are too numerous to sample them all, but certainly, whatever you select to eat will be delicious.
Abuse? Bull shit. People in the public sphere are open to criticism. Idiots reading here are responding to their needs, not hers. She has broad shoulders… and she is guilty, as are many of us, of latent racism. Boston College the same. We will not whip the vicious racism spreading again over Europe and the USA… with passive crap that does not rip it, front and center. The best German Jews thought Hitler was a joke. Never again? Well, it’s ramping right now… and Trump and the racist GOP and the passive historians that fear controversy are of the problem, not of the solution. Most readers here are silent… and do not pay $5 or $50 to comment or read the comments. They come and go. The hard core play here, with us… and I am amused to read the garbage from the latent racists that seek to protect the Million Dollar Historian that will not challenge racism, front and center. Passive resistance worked for MKG. It will not work in our Senate or our nation,.
I find Sandy’s posts often confusing, yet compelling. Reading this one, I see a composite of faces and events in our history that lead to today. It makes me remember, and think. It’s a patchwork quilt that often doesn’t match patterns and there might be a few stay threads, but it sure covers a lot. I’m thankful we have someone like him in our midst.
Charlie Grantham, you have a physician in your community - who did not choose to give his famous father a memorial service… That physician is first class. And well liked… and he is dying of lung cancer… we last saw each other in December 1949.. his father hired and fired me… and I liked him. He was not brilliant. His uncle Arthur was.
As for you, Charlie, look in the mirror and tell me what color your cheeks are.
Common knowledge. Slave women before and after emancipation were used to get white boys started. Their sperm produced what the old Negro wanted. Their experience destroyed their respect for women and created an ownership syndrome that drives white supremacy to this day. Racist white men like to do it with the willing. It’s not rape. It’s not love. It’s Bill Clinton, pure and simple. And he knows it.
When the first such experience forms expectations, subsequent efforts do not result in happiness. The men orgasm. It’s a pit stop mentality. Their women rarely do, regardless of color.
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!
Thank you! We need to be reminded that while things look bleak, there are good people doing good things and there are good changes afoot. And that the small steps are every bit important as the big steps because the small steps can add up. We all must just do something and never think it's too little.
Sheila B, you are "the cat's meow!" I have been trying to make things - democracy, planet earth - a little better, inch by inch. Not as accomplished as you seem to be, but every little bit helps? You are so right that we are among titans here on Letters From an American, with Heather at the helm!
Lynell, thank you. I'm really not, just well trained and therefore well able to respond. But Bilbo, my 15 yr old tabby, who is sitting on my desk next to the computer, HE thinks I'm the cat's meow. Smart enough NOT to bite the hand that feeds him - unlike some Republicans I know - smile.
Sheila, which postcard-writing group are you working with? I just checked Postcards to Voters, and they don't have any current campaigns. I have postcards and stamps on hand. . . .
I work with postcards to voters too. I got my assignment early in the week. Good news, in some ways, they don’t need help temporarily. But to Annette’s point below, I have been impressed with the messaging at Postcards to Voters. Brief, direct and clear. I’ve done postcards to Miami area dems twice, reminding them to request their mail in ballot by the deadline (critical in Florida), and now for a state campaign in Alabama, also critical in my opinion. Maybe just check in daily. Something else will crop up soon. Or check with your state Dems. Maybe they have assignments - my US Representative, Angie Craig, was in the 5th closest race in the country last year. Already she is gearing up door to door assignments. Not for everyone, I know, but the Ex marine running against Craig is a Trump Republican and an egregious liar. I’m going to training soon. Have to. Gotta beat these rascals and their autocratic ambitions back. We The People. All of Us This Time. Thank you for what you are doing!
I've just ordered 200 postcard Forever stamps which I will use on the numerous unused postcards collected during travels over the years. Hopefully, the cards themselves will catch the attention of recipients.
Ruth, you have asked an interesting question. I think with so many of the "postcards" groups, we should now try to identify the good ones vs. the mediocre ones. I signed up with a group "Postcards to Swing States" and have been sorely disappointed. The smallest number of cards requested was 200 (although I have just learned that a fellow Floridian sent a message requesting only 100 which I wish I could have known). And the script is awful. I have changed it a bit, but it still is not a "call to action" that is meaningful. The final straw is that my "drop dead" date to mail is this Wednesday. So I have been furiously writing out the cards and feeling that my time is being wasted.
Lynn, the group I write postcards for is Postcards to Voters. You have to apply to them, send in a photo with their sample script written on postcard sized paper, and if approved, you will be given the contact information to request addresses and scripting information. Here's the link: https://postcardstovoters.mypostcard.com/blogs/ptv-faq/how-to-get-addresses
I have bad handwriting, by the way. They might like someone who has pretty handwriting!!
Your tip to check their website more often is a good one. My timing has been off and after Ossoff/Warnock/Blackman, I've only been able to participate in one campaign. I have a stack of cards and will check more often.
Annette D. - postcards to voters send only 10 addresses at a time, so it's possible to pace yourself. For the GA runoff, I was getting a new list every day and kept going right up until the deadline for mailing the last batch. I managed 100!!
Judith Swink - I love your idea of using old postcards from you travels. I recently bought a huge stack of old travel postcards at a yard sale - this would be a perfect use for them.
“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.”
The difference today is that with the advent of instant information, 24 hour news cycles, social media, and engineered bifurcation of the public, many of today's registered Republqans think that this is hunky-dory. There are no longer critical thinking skills. Only emotional reactions.
But the more they do this, the more they end up in an echo chamber that pleases themselves but alienates moderate and conservative independents (yes, they exist). Then the more people turn to things like the Bulwark or HCR or Tangle or simply NPR to get out of the echo chamber. They can echo chamber all they want, but if their rabid 25% meets the 40% of engaged 2020 voters, they will continue to lose. What Dems have to pray for as the umbrella under which everyone from AOC to Manchin has to fit is that no alienated moderates create their own party quickly enough to break the duopoly that forces independents to parley with the Dems.
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.
Hey, Paul. This is stellar. Pardon me while I excise a few quotes from it here. They're too good to get lost!
"Bill (Moyers) recalls Johnson (LBJ) facing down a Congress controlled by Southern Democrats who were 'die-hard racists—all of them, including some of his old mentors, white supremacists who threatened to bring the government, if not the country, to its knees before they would see blacks eat at the same restaurants, go to the same schools, drink from the same fountains, and live in the same neighborhoods as whites.'”
And from one of LBJ's speeches: "There is no inevitability to history. Someone has to seize and turn it."
Morning Lynell. It takes a very special person to "seize and turn it". We are all scratching our heads wondering where he or she will come from.....as much in Europe as in the US as the horizen is horribly unclear at present. We seem to have built political systems that discourage it and encourage both the extremist and the mouse. Hopefully, Joe Biden is up to it.
True leadership in such circumstance is open to us all at our own levels. Being abble to bing everyone at all levels and driving them forward is a little rarer.
Yes and this is why we need those rare people to step out of the crowd and lead us right now, everywhere. These are the people that HCR writes about and why they are remembered through the ages. It’s another critical moment in world history and we are calling for them.
And may our executive branch lead us, the American people, to seizing our democracy firmly in our hands and rejecting any entity from within or without or any party’s attempt to destroy it.
And yet he felt he could not get the votes he needed in congress without satisfying hawks and widening the war in Vietnam. And so, the gulf of Tonkin. Well, It’s not the first time a man’s brain turned to jelly once he was president.
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.
Politicians go where the votes are, and so will the Supreme Court. Keep voting, keep up the pressure. These are venal people who will suddenly see the light and change their tune. They are good at that. Meanwhile, let us not forget, “southern slavery is an institution that is in earnest. Northern freedom is an institution that is not in earnest.” & “I am not a member of any organized political party; I’m a democrat.”
Not only will we be fighting the political aim of the Republiquans, we are fighting the base that believes what they say with every true believing drop of blood in their veins. I hope that their numbers will be overcome with ours, but I don't hold out a lot of hope based upon what I see from my former law enforcement community and their "reasonable" views.
We believe in our goals with every drop of blood, too, and although we aren't showing up to beat the tar out of the other side, literally, if we refuse to be intimidated, WE WIN!!
Yes. We must now work even harder to register voters, get out the vote, end the filibuster and pass the John Lewis Act and S1. Failure is not an option here.
I echo Mr. Herrick below. We mustn't forget that a large segment of our electorate read "The Handmaid's Tale" and said to themselves, "You know, there's some pretty good ideas in here..."
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.
Part of the reason we are where we are, John, is the fact that, as a nation, we have not used specific, truthful language to describe events or conditions, both political and social. And, face it, the misuse of language and outright lies didn't magically start to occur during Trump's four year stint in the White House, but the Trump White House was masterful in its use of hyperbole and not so veiled racist rhetoric. Are Republicans the only ones who bend the truth or outright lie? No. But, hands down, they are the grand prize winners.
As for the investigation against the Trump Organization, your assertion that it's a publicity stunt is almost silly. There are decades of evidence pointing to the organizations dirty dealings. That Trump would offer to give House Democrats a peek at his financials to call off the dogs is a clear cut act of desperate defiance. Weisselberg keeping (at least) 2 sets of books and not declaring perks is tax evasion. Trump not paying taxes for x number of years is tax evasion. So, tell me, why should everyday people get audited and hounded for 50k in back taxes when people like Trump skate?
I get your frustration but not using the appropriate words to name events and conditions and letting Trump slide because he and his base will cry witch hunt is craziness. We can't fix our country if we don't speak the truth.
Thank you, Daria. I agree that the Trump Organization has never been so well investigated. As someone who falls short of investigative skills and patience, I applaud the work behind the charges.
“As for the investigation against the Trump Organization, your assertion that it's a publicity stunt is almost silly.” I will explain why I consider it nearly a publicity stunt. I have no doubt that there are a vast number of choices that were made within the Trump organization which will result in a civil fine. But I equally doubt that any of the accusations will result in a criminal sentence. I equally believe that the vast vast majority of extremely wealthy individuals function quite comfortably in the gray area between what is legal and what is illegal, the area known as “interpretations” of the IRS Code. People with great sums of money constantly are paying lawyers and tax accountants to find loopholes and reasonable interpretations of the IRS Code so as to avoid a criminal offense but perhaps will result in a civil fine and penalty. I do not believe Trump’s organization is any different than most in this regard. But the reason the AG’s office is going after Trump rather than someone else is clearly politically motivated in my mind. AGs are known for loving high profile cases that enhance their own motives and I am positive that Vance knew full well that if he investigated hard enough he would find something worth pursuing. That is what I consider a “publicity stunt” and my assertion is not silly as you claim. It is not that I believe the Trump Organization should be ignored or not pursued. They should, as well should be many many other wealthy individuals and organizations that function within the gray area known as “interpretations” of a very complex tax code that consists of thousands of loopholes(which, of course, is a tasty subject for another discussion.). So, to sum it up, Vance initially went after Trump, in my opinion, because it is a high profile case of a high profile individual that the AG found personally reprehensible. That is my reason for calling it a publicity stunt. It has nothing at all to do with whether I believe Trump and his organization broke the law. I hope this clarifies my statement.
When the president of the USA is a felon and a liar, a rapist and a con… he deserves attention. Trump and his team are going to jail… and Biden will pardon none of them, at first.
Yours is an interesting comment, John. I agree we are all -- in more or less informative and useful ways -- preaching to the HCR Choir. We have each -- I assume -- paid 5 bucks for the privilege of commenting on HCR's take on current events as she filters them through her knowledge of American history, and we are united in our dislike/mistrust/fear -- even hatred -- of Trump and the GOP and their immediate lackeys. We believe these are important times in human history (There's nothing like the present to hold our attention!), that what happens during the Biden presidency will determine our beloved country's fate and that things are not looking particularly good at the moment.
Many of us are losing faith (or have already lost it) in our hallowed institutions and founding documents. We see a yawning abyss opening ever wider between what we believe and what an apparently sizeable number of our compatriots (those in that other choir) believe. And things are trending badly as there appears to no longer be a neutral arbiter. The Supreme Court has become the judicial wing of the GOP.
So I agree that shouting "Treason! Insurrection!" etc. may not change anything, least of all the thinking of the traitors and insurrectionists, but certain behaviors leave us little choice but to describe them with the words our common language gives us. Avoidance of exaggeration is no virtue when our democracy hangs in the balance, and the occasional expletive will probably not matter one way or the other once the dust clears.
But what leads you see a publicity stunt in the arrest of the Trump organization's chief financial officer who is accused of violating state and federal law? A grand jury signed off on it; what other choice does the AG's office have? Should we go light on rich folks when they evade taxes? Will it surprise us if Trump and his toadies fight like hell to stay out of jail? I think our will has to be stronger than theirs. We have no other choice.
I'm not sure what your reference to Erdogan's response to to an attempted coup means in this context. Given that the Turkish dictator has done his best to dismantle democracy in Turkey, I was disappointed the coup failed. But Joe Biden is no dictator and Donald Trump is no longer President, and we will soon see if we still have the rule of law in our country.
I agree this is all very, very frustrating, but we have no choice but to see it through.
It isn't as much shouting "insurrection" that is the problem; that is calling the event what it was. Referring to it in any other way would be akin to calling the Civil War the "War of Northern Aggression". Your observation that we no longer have an impartial arbiter in the SCOTUS is chilling. Your comment that those on the other side are on the opposite side of a widening abyss is spot on; I see this in my former law enforcement collogues.
We know that SCOTUS has been subsumed by the Republican party. Leonard Leo and the dark money behind the Federalist Society have apparently succeeded in overturning the judicial system into a party hack group.
I think that part of the Republican effort has been exactly to erode our faith and trust in our institutions. That way, they can change them - to allow them, and only them, to win.
I wonder if T****'s mental degeneration is due to the same disease Al Capone died of - his flagrant philandering makes it not impossible (but medicince has advanced so far since the 1930s that neurosyphilis is unlikely - besides, I wouldn't wish that disease on any of his sexual partners or victims).
Change the color of crayon you are using, John. WE, the parents have made a mistake. We have put the whiny child (read: Republicans) in the center of the circle and bestowed an inordinate amount of attention on them and their greedy needs. Parents are to be smack dab in the center of the family’s circle as the leaders and the most important people. Children are to be on the outside attached and guided by that center and certainly not noticed enough or given the ability to thwart any loving guidance or discipline meted out by the parents to raise children with values that respect and nurture relationships with others.
In other words, in plain English, we must place these bratty, recalcitrant “children” in the proper place.
My guess is that the former pres, McCarthy and the likes of his Republican wannabes were raised thinking they do not have to earn their “center” of the circle. They can just take it. In their grubby, sweaty, dirty little mitts.
That was similar to my method when my nieces and nephews were in the car with me. When they acted up, I’d pull over and stop. They would ask me why we were stopped, I’d tell them they were making too much noice for me to concentrate on driving. Usually within a minute, they were quite. From that point on, they quieted each other.
Find what the Republicans want and take it away until they behave. Strength doesn’t require violence, only determination.
This reminds me of a story I heard years ago about a couple who, after some verbal warnings, would pull over when their kids were misbehaving in the backseat and start making out. The kids were so horrified they immediately changed their behavior. I don't imagine the parents had to do this too many times ;-)
Parental PDA!!! The worst. Actually, when I was a kid I thought it was pretty cute when my parents were lovey-dovey. It meant they loved each other. But then, they didn't indulge in public on the side of the road - pretty sure that would have been embarrassing.
I did the same thing and it worked beautifully. Consistency was key and yes, sometimes we arrived a little later than planned. No shouting involved - just quiet determination. Doesn’t this seem like President Biden’s approach?
I found that doing that, and in addition making certain to give praise when "good/right behavior" had been done really cemented things. As my ex-wife said when she convinced me to adopt that policy, "everybody goes for recognition - if they can't get recognition for good things, they'll do bad things for the recognition they get."
That’s the point of the capable adults being in the center. Praise, management, affection, teaching, modeling behavior etc….who in the world thinks a child or totally self absorbed irresponsible fear mongering brat adult can do this?
Ha! Yes Diane. There was one incident where my son was acting like a heathen in the grocery store. Cart was almost full, list almost all checked. I finally looked him right in the eye and said, “one more time with the nonsense, we are leaving.” He pushed it, I yanked him out of cart and carried him under my arm to car. Left ALL the groceries behind and that hurt. I didn’t give his “shop with mommy” privilege back for a month. Guess who is the center in our stories, Diane and Charlie?
Similar story when my daughter was 4. Old enough to take warning. Got to 3 and I scooped her up, left the cart in the cold aisle and left. We had PB&J for dinner that night instead of the homemade mac&cheese she'd been hoping for. We had many more challenging days but never again in the grocery store.
I was a kid back in the day when parents left their kids in the car - and since there were 5 of us, I guess we were pretty safe. However, if our folks stayed in the store too long, we started honking the horn. Obnoxious little brats that we were. And yet, my parents were shocked at the parents who put their toddlers on a leash. Hm. Parenting is really, really hard.
Hahahahaha. Exactly Papa Charlie. I’ve preached that word to so many parents in my career. Do not let your child occupy the spotlight in the center of the circle. That light is so the child can see you!
Even though it was tiny in scope, look what the Benghazi select committee did to Clinton. McCarthy admitted its purpose too. But here there are real crimes committed and we need to know how far the organizers reached into the executive, legislative and judicial branches as well as the military. I’m not sure Pelosi’s wouldn’t ask the Capitol police to haul those that ignore subpoenas in either. They might be happy to do so.
Grace, my concern (it's not my only one) is that the Dems will be too nice in this investigation (and have been with getting legislation done). My vision of the parenting styles of the two parties are like this: Thuglicans do what some parents do when their kids step out of line (ie McConnell & McCarthy)--they whip out the belt and beat them back into submission. Dems, on the other hand, try to reason with and cajole and use the 'ole 1...2...3 method and do they end up with healthier relationships? Yes, but some children take their individualism to the far boundaries and stretch the limits and sometimes that family can't function well in situations. The Dems have to get TOUGH here. They have to do what the Thugs did to both Clintons. Stop being Nice!
I understand your POV, Barbara; we nice guys appear weak. When Gandhi led oppressed people of India and became a leader recognized throughout the world, he was firm in his belief that ends and means must be the same. To achieve peace one must be a peaceful example. We cannot fight for justice by stooping to the underhanded tactics of Trump. Another Ghandi aphorism is "Be strong as granite, soft as a lotus." I have confidence in the perseverance of those like Nancy Pelosi, who methodically and intelligently illuminates the evil inherent in Trump and Republican actions and behaviors.
One adjective I have never used for Nancy Pelosi, Liz Cheney, or Amy Klobuchar is “too nice”. There are some tough women in this fight. From both sides. And I am glad. The stereotype of the damsel in distress wringing their hands was, is, and always will
Agreed, 100% and you've named just a very few. We are all suffering because we cant see the process up close. But we do have some strong articulate dedicated people in the fray. On the other hand, IMHO, the state government takeovers across the nation by the Republicans thru determined long range strategic planning has thrown us into a difficult bind with the failure of FTP Act. So back to wringing our hands wondering if there's a rabbit in a hat somewhere.
I am not talking about a lack of fierce individuals, of which there are some. I'm talking about a cohesive, intelligent, assertive, offensive stance that seems to be lacking with the Dems as a group. They don't have to resort to lying or threats as the other side does in order to present a solid, coherent and Forceful Offense in government. It is not helpful to me to have all fingers crossed hoping that "things" are going on "behind the scenes" to counter the seemingly impenetrable wall of obstruction by the Thuglicans.
One problem we have is taking the right's word that they are legion. The hard-line T****ists are not the full complement of the GOP, and the GOP is a minority. I think that rather than paying so much attention to them, we should get to work making sure that as many Democrats and independents and non-T**** GOP get the message that government can work when it is of, by, and for the people, all of us, all of the time. By which I mean, we need to stop responding to the bait set by the right to hook us into using their rhetoric, their talking points, their "positions", and develop, spread, propogate our own positive, values-based, inclusive programs, ideas, and accomplishments. We don't need to get into their ring and punch it out with them (according to their rules, with their referees, on their time-lines) to win. We need long-term goals and plans that will bend that arc toward justice - it won't happen unless we make it happen. My apologies for the inarticulate mixing of metaphors.
I see the intent, the purpose, of the Select Committee as putting in front of the American people the facts as they are uncovered about who, in government or otherwise, was involved in, supported, aided and abetted the attack on Congress.
I would also like to see Democratic Senators and Representatives making numerous public statements and giving talks regarding the principles of the Democratic Party and how these strengthen our country and help individuals and families. Our messaging needs to be consistent, coherent and delivered constantly. Watching CSpan I see coverage of people like Tom Cotton and Pence, speaking to conservative and other groups like the National Press Club, laying out their arguments for their conservative philosophy. I can’t recall seeing any Democrat doing this. We can’t rely on the President to be the only one representing the party.
As for us ordinary folks, we need to do what has been suggested here many times, by many people. Be active in our state and local elections, help to register voters, join get out the vote campaigns and continue to loudly oppose voter restrictions and gerrymandering. And continue to come here for the knowledge and perspective HCR provides and the support and ideas of other members.
I looked up Buckley Carlson, and the only mention of this guy is that he's Tucker Carlson's brother. Perhaps he named his son after his brother or there is no son named Buckley.
Tucker's father was a newscaster who was a rather nasty character like his son. Watch "The Lady and the Dale" on HBO to see him uncover a trans person with uncommon hate. The apple doesn't seem to fall far...
I had the same thought about CSpan in particular as Republican Sens. and Reps. and other conservative right wing speakers e.g. Heritage Foundation show up there a lot. But, I think there’s a good possibility Dems. and left-leaning organizations just aren’t putting themselves out there as much. Another example of Republicans being more coordinated, aggressive, organized?
Could it be, Gina, because Dems are working for the people, not talking? I really don't know. But when I get emails from my Senator (Warner) it's all about what he's been doing on the committees he sits on. And it's a lot. So not sure how much time they can spend talking when they are doing the job we sent them there to do. Just my two cents.
Yes, another investigating committee that, as in 1879, keeps bringing the Republican criminality and treason into view of the voters over the next 12 months.
Maybe we have to be careful not to get too hung up on the committee and what it accomplishes. Perhaps, let them do it, see what they do, and then criticize heavily if they let us down. Get it all on the historical record. But keep our eyes on the prize. There is a larger picture out there, and if we get too narrowly focused we may lose the prize.
That's one thing those of us who use social media can commit to doing. Watch it on C-SPAN ourselves when we are able to and frequently share links to each day's hearings with our own comments. Has anyone any idea when they will begin hearings? I will look to see what information I can find.
If this is something I decide to do myself - share links with my own comments on the proceedings, my goal will be to post comments that point out successful questioning by those on the committee who are getting at the truth, not to boost GOP/T****ist lies and hot air (which is what I often do hear in committee hearings from those on the "right").
I usually feel as frustrated as you indicate here, John. I've given up hope that the minds or hearts of trumpians, politicians or voters, can be budged. BUT there are still a whole lot of citizens out there who still aren't voting or getting involved in the stand to protect democracy, mainly because they don't feel empowered to do so, and are just exhausting themselves trying to keep their own heads above water. I believe most of these people would lean toward that side once they are overwhelmed by the necessity to do so and that is why we need to keep on sharing the knowledge and history and current events that are happening, including the "name calling". It's not really name calling, as I know you know. It's calling it what it is, stating the truth without being polite about it any longer. You're right that this may strengthen the will of tfg's supporters but hopefully it will also strengthen the number of democracy's supporters who take action where they haven't before. What other choice do we have?
As HCR's piece showed, the Republicans(then Democrats) have been at this for a long long time. It is not a fight just fo this moment. We have to keep chipping away, with intelligence and patience. It's one for the long haul. The results of the committee will be recorded for history. That's important. We have to find ways to fight smarter. Look at what Stacey Abrams accomplished in GA of all places. Frustration, while a valid emotion, should serve as a motivation to do better.
My grandfather, born at the end of the 19th century in Georgia, was a Republican. This was unheard of in the old solid south. He was a very ethical person that passed away in 1956. Fast forward to the Reagan “revolution” and the solid south moving from the Democratic Party to the Republican party after Brown v. Board of Education, and my personal family history completely fits in to HCR’s historical account today. It is important that people are made aware of this continual sleight of hand that has kept our country from coming to terms with the fact that “the south shall rise again” into much more than a quaintly humorless saying.
I have a friend whose family roots are in Arkansas, who has always voted Republican because "my father was a Republican and he fought those assholes who were Democrats back home." After he voted for Trump in 2016 on that reasoning, despite the fact he's the opposite as a person, I did a little history lecture with him about the transformation of the south since 1968, and managed to get him to see that "the assholes" his father had opposed in Arkansas when they were Democrats are now the Republicans he'd been voting for. He hasn't become a Democrat, but he's no longer a registered Republican, and he didn't vote for Trump in 2020.
You should be sent to your room for not noticing that if Trumpty-dumpty hadn't been stupid enough to run for president, nobody would have ever looked at his two-bit frauds. :-)
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.
Thanks for that info. I learn so much history from HCR and it makes me want to learn more. Garfield was just another name I passed over in history class. Now I want to learn much more about him, as well as others. Seeing history “come alive” here, and how it parallels our own times is both fascinating and disturbing. I hope I can find this old episode you mention somewhere. PBS’ “American Experience” is a treasure.
Years ago, I took our kids to tour the Garfield House in Mentor, Ohio, as part of a fourth grade assignment to visit historical sites in Ohio. It was an amazing tour. If anyone lives nearby, it is well worth the visit.
Thank you, Dr. Angle. It's "unavailable" in my area but it mentioned Candice Millard's bestselling and award-winning Destiny of the Republic on which it's based. What a shame that a deluded madman can change the course of history, which smacks of our own day as well, of course. Every day we learn more about the biases we were taught in our schools! Why has Garfield not not been lauded as the defender of minorities' rights?
But we are in a day of reckoning and so need to learn and teach true history, the whole story, regardless of how painful or disillusioning. As a retired teacher, I hope to see us walk through this, our day of reckoning, to a day with new history books, books which tell a truer story of the United States of America, regardless of how painful or disillusioning..
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.
Not only should he be arrested, his "connection" to these odious Republicans MUST be made public, loud and clear. We are being far too "nice" and need to bring these folks into the sunlight...like cockroaches.
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."
He’s a real peach alright, it makes me wonder 💭 which rock 🪨 he and his ilk keep crawling out from under, his karma will be fearsome to witness, there’s a balance to the universe after all.
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!
Christopher, thanks! I've been saying this for a long time. We are the majority party, and can't allow ourselves to be intimidated. So far, the Supreme Court hasn't said that minorities can't vote, only that it's permissible to make it more difficult. If that's the hand that's been dealt, play it, and enable the affected voters to participate. It might be more difficult, but minorities doggedly decided to vote to dump TFG, control the Senate, and defy the worst pandemic in 100 years. We have the number, so stop wringing your hands.
We can all help make the “more difficult “ possible.
... and less difficult.
This absolutely spot on. If the "patriots" could organize to overthrow our democracy on jan. 6th, we can organize to maintain our democracy! We need to target areas that need help and then hire buses and carpool, all flying our democracy flag (tbd), and go help in numbers. I'm in.
See, Kimberly, you did/do have a great idea!
Thanks Lynell! You remembered! Now how to make it happen!
Not much of a leader, but I can follow. Too early yet til '22, but I wouldn't be surprised if folks like Black Voters Matter would coordinate buses to the polls
If we really cared about voting, the cities would provide free city bus transportation to the polls! Why not! And all employers would give a day off for those who voted. Voting machine would spit out a "receipt" to be taken to the employer for verification and a (voting)day's pay.
Now you're on to something, Mary...why not, indeed!
I am too… but CT is a blue state, and we’re near to NYC, which is also blue. How can I find an area where I could be useful?!
Margins matter everywhere, even in solid blue or solid red states. Every vote matters.
Yes they absolutely do matter. And another thing that matters is helping people feel empowered, feel good about doing the civic duty, feel supported in doing their civic duty, feel that their vote does matter.
This is the United States. You mobilize the blues to make the voice LOUD in Connecticut, Cynthia. They will hear it in Alabama.
Especially coming from me...My voice REALLY CARRIES!
I don't know. It would need to be an alliance of blue state blue folks and red state blue folks. It would be a big undertaking to make a difference but how cool would its be???!!! Can you just see us in a cavalcade streaming our flags, standing up for democracy, helping folks who need help...As I said in another similar post, let those Texas boys try to run us off the road with their pickup trucks! We have kindness and love on our side!
Here is an example of Texans fighting back against those trying to run us off the road with their pickup trucks.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/24/politics/trump-train-lawsuit-biden-campaign-workers/index.html
We do fight back. Don't give up on Texas. We are definitely in the fight.
Beta O'Rourke isn't giving up. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/03/beto-o-rourke-interview-texas-politics
Thanks for this link, Lynell. This is the kind of thing I hope more folks like Beto, who are not in political office but are known and respected, will do more often…to counter the right’s narrative.
And no, I am not giving up on Texas!
Oh awesome Bruce! Thanks for sharing! There is just too much to keep up with, but from time to time it pops into my head, "shouldn't that be a lawsuit???" Yay!
Maybe a way to start would be to coordinate with Stacy Abrams. Set up a system and then expand it to other red states.
thanks! I was thinking about that~
I did some of phone banking prior to the presidential election and had mixed feelings about the productivity of that. But those organizations were definitely on it--getting people involved, keeping in touch, setting it all up online, etc. But then again, the Jan 6th folks were just organizing on social media. I guess that wasn't quite as complicated in some ways. If a town needing help could register somewhere, indicate what they need, then people wanting to help could be matched. Of course, who knows what will be illegal by then!
With you!
Friends, I am old enough to remember the voter ID ploy when it was clearly racist. Please be aware that, in most cases, this refers to a driver's license and/or passport with a photo, which is government-issued, too expensive for the poor, and requires some weeks or months of waiting before one is obtained. There is nothing wrong with an ID per se but it should be accessible to everyone, free of charge and tamper-proof. In my mind, this is a national registration card and will be a huge undertaking that is not likely to happen anytime soon. (Guess who will be the likely adversaries?)
Agree. If a state or national ID is required, it should be free.
Making a government-issued ID free, while useful, would only solve part of the problem, I'm afraid. The other part is the documentation required to obtain it. See the documents required here in Georgia for a "Real ID," the term used for the secured ID mandated, I think, by Homeland Security post-9/11. https://dds.georgia.gov/list-acceptable-real-id-documents
You've gotta be pretty settled down to have these documents ready at hand. For instance, I'd be hard pressed to find my marriage license -- do you have yours handy? I'm quite sure that one's ability to assemble proof of identity is heavily influenced with income, level of transience, location, education, etc. How that skews the voter pool is probably very complicated and not necessarily intuitive.
And as alarming as restrictive voter ID requirements may be, not having to prove that you are, in fact, the person named on the voter registration roll seems...well, insecure, to put it mildly. I suspect that the end result will always be that a certain segment of potential voters will inevitably be excluded simply because they are too disorganized and poor to participate.
When they did the post 9/11 "security" horseshit, I had to arrange to get an ID for my father.
Born in 1913, he was in his late 80's, and was already suffering from early dementia. They insisted on his birth certificate. He had a copy. They said the copy was no good, they needed an "original." Gosh. Did they actually keep those original records from 1913?
My father served in WWII, and after he passed, I found his honorable discharge papers. Those would probably have been insufficient, too. He had lived in the same house in the same town for almost fifty years. Everyone in the neighborhood knew him. One of the clerks processing these was our neighbor. She took me aside and said, "I'll take care fo this."
That's how "identification" works in police states.
I'm one of those people who shouldn't be impacted by getting a "real ID" and it still cost me $40 and six weeks to get an official copy of my birth certificate from Texas, as well as $35 for the license. I will say (thank you, COVID-19!) that the California DMV instituted a great system during the pandemic, which I hope they'll retain in the future: getting it all done online, no visit to teh @#$#@!! DMV office - if you don't have any moving violations during the period of the old license, you go online, create an account, answer their questions, take a photo of the birth certificate and upload it, and 2 weeks later there it is in the mail: your new drivers license/real ID.
And I'll bet it doesn't work like that in Jawjah or Tejas.
Another complication: the Indiana DMV would not accept my valid marriage license b/c it was issued and signed by the church official even though the minister was also an authorized state official with an official state seal. I had to get a copy from the county clerk's office where we had applied and lived at the time. I was told that since 9/11, "church" issued licenses aren't accepted. This feels like Republican sh*t to me.
In the otherwise regressive bill proposed in Washington State was included the option of a voter ID card issued upon registration. I'd have to go back and look at the requirements for getting that card, but it was not as onerous as I'd expected - although possibly still beyond some people's ability.
What you say is true, imo, personal experience too, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't begin. The system can be tweaked over time.
Totally agree. I know people in that certain segment.
I know in Florida, one can obtain a state ID if one has no interest in driving privileges. Works as proper ID, gets one registered to vote, and does not take as long as a drivers license or passport.
And another thing. If the GOP says they are addressing "fears of election fraud in order to reassure voters," then let them. Then when the next election comes along, they will have no excuses for losing! How can they then claim a Big Lie again? Meanwhile we will do our work to make sure that everyone who wants to vote, is able to.
Oh they will anyway Kimberly. Have you ever seen facts sway the opinion of a Republican?
Point well placed. But there may be a few Lincoln Project Republicans who can push that idea.
And who cares if they do? We will be celebrating our greater majority for Pres Biden to work with.
As for the Supreme Court decision this week, one of the angst in Arizona was the voting in the wrong polling place. Arizona has a bad habit of changing polling places in heavily Democratic areas on a whim. So voting in the wrong polling place is to be an expected mistake. Let's work on more polling places in more permanent places.
I don't understand this mentality of you must go to the voting place in which you are assigned. In Texas so long as you go to one in the same county, it's no big deal.... hopefully Abbott, et al., aren't trying to change that flexibility! I've voted by mail, at a local university, and at all sorts of libraries. Early voting is 3 weeks long, so there's not a ton of pressure to go vote NOW - if the line is too long, check out a different library or come back a different day. Or do like Colorado and mail out ballots to every citizen a month early - so you get more active participation in local elections where your power really matters but are easy to miss if you don't pay attention to local news.
The Texas approach is good and very doable in the computer age where information sharing is instant and secure. Still I don't see the harm in having to go to your local precinct. It should be and probably is the law to notify voters if their polling place has changed. Mine changes depending on the party in power but I always get a notice in the mail.
Mine changed during the pandemic - maybe even the day before the primary, which then got postponed. I used to vote at a nursing home; it was a sensible change.
I don't see how they can allow that to happen. When I go to vote they verify me on the voter roll. AZ is in need of a major overhaul if someone can walk into the wrong precinct and be able to vote unchallenged.
In AZ, it is also difficult to get an ID. DMV sites have been reduced, requiring hours of travel. Online does not work. Getting appointments is impossible. And I am a highly mobile person.
Yes, Christopher. I believe Stacey is thinking along the same lines you are.
Bob Marley in Munich in 1980 sang it! Get up, Stand Up, Don't Give Up the The Fight!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhJ0q7X3DLM
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight, oh
Preacher man, don't tell me
Heaven is under the earth
I know you don't know
What life is really worth
It's not all that glitter is gold
'Alf the story has never been told
So now you see the light
You stand up for your right
Get up, stand up (oh)
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
And I say, most people think
A great God will come from the sky
Take away everything
And make everybody feel high
But if you know what life is worth
You will look for yours on earth
And now you see the light
I want you to stand up for your right, ay
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your right
Get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight
We sick an' tired of your bullshit game
To die and go to Heaven inna Jesus name
We know when we understand
Almighty God is a living man
You fool some people sometimes, yeah
But you can't fool all the people all the time
So now we see the light
We gonna stand up for our rights
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights (yeah)
Get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight
Wish Bob Marley had been alive and performed Get up, Stand Up, Don't Give Up the The Fight! all over Germany in the 1930's.
Thanks so much for posting this, Lanita! Although a 1980 song, it sure has totally appropriateness for today -- in the US and Canada! (I'm a dual citizen.) Love Bob Marley!
Face towards the light…..been sayin’ it. That’s where the Love is.
Love this one. ❤️🤍💙
Thanks, Lanita!! I knew those words sounded familiar. Bob Marley, a consummate activist.
I went to see him at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle on his 1979 tour - on my birthday!!! - and I just found a recording of that concert. Wow! It was an amazing evening - I'm not sure I sat down once the whole time. I have such a strong memory of his dreads spreading out like sunrays when he danced. Gonna listen to that concert right now!!!
https://seattlepalate.com/bob-marley-the-wailers-live-at-paramount-theatre-seattle-wa-u-s-a-20-11-1979/
Oh, my, Lanita...lucky you!
The song has been in my head all day, since I read Christopher’s post this morning 🙂
I am in complete agreement with you Christopher. It is up to us, "the people " to continue the work to form "a more perfect Union ". While we can hope for good results from our elected representatives, it is up to us to take up the cause of ensuring that every American who wants to vote complies with their state requirements, are able to get to the polls, and vote! Boots on the ground for each of us who is able.
100% on target! Prepare for the worst as well as fight for the best!
Yes, Christopher. I want to believe this significant forum of voices is thinking along the same lines as you are.
Well said, Christopher. However, If other states are like Ohio, you have to have numerous documents with you (some certified/original) to get either an ID or a Drivers License. The push being recommended is right on target, but it requires a lot of preparation and documents that many folks don't have easy access to. A real problem......
It's not like that in the Ohio where I live. First I always vote absentee and don't need a reason. On the application I usually just give my SSN last four because I'm too lazy to pull out my Driver's License. I haven't been a poll judge for a while but when I was, in the absence of a photo ID you only needed a utility bill with your name and address. You can find all the acceptable ones here: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/id-requirements/?
Absentee voting is even easier imho: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/absentee-voting/
So, every voter can vote absentee or in person without a major hassle as you seemed to imply.
Somethings are best not left to the states. Maybe the whole process doesn't need to be federalized but the question of proving who you are definitely should be.
Many, too many things are left to the states. What is the point of being the "United" states when states can make up their own rules about such basic needs/rights as voting, adequate health care and free quality K-12 education?
Agreed. It allows things like pockets of the virus flourishing while the rest of us comply with masks, etc. A democracy requires that everyone be vaccinated and/or comply with rules to protect our fellow citizens. The notion that democracy means total independence from government rules has gone off the charts. States' rights people are milking it for all it's worth.
Exactly!
Yes !
Excellent, Christopher! (I love that song)
Yes!
I love this attitude! 👏🏻✊🏻
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.
As truth, as facts, as history reminds us that current nefarious tactics are not new or shiny, Sandy, then hope does spring. Historians remind us of action put into motion during another era that corrected course. We are reminded that we are a community of neighbors on the watch for each other.
Thank you for your comments today. I hope HCR and the likes of her will be able to record our history of this year as being the arc bending towards Lady Justice.
Happy 4th weekend, Sandy. Woohoo!
Careful with counting on "hope" springing wherever or whenever. The full Pope couplet reads "Hope springs eternal in the human breast, Man NEVER IS, but always TO BE blessed." Which I take to mean that you'll never catch the right train if you're waiting on the wrong platform.
I’m not on the wrong platform.
Blessings!
Mr. Grantham's comment (immediately below) is spot on, though as he surely recognizes there is no possibility that Mr. Lewis will mend his tiresome ways. One way to understand the poverty of Mr. Lewis's comments is to appreciate that all of them are all about him: he is a showy writer, the goal of his word salad screeds, which are largely incoherent--he is unable to mount an extended narrative, compare id. with Ms. Richardson's narratives-- is to show off what he perceives to be his intellectual depth and breadth. But it is not breadth and depth that are shown, but the lack of same: he is a vain dilettante, not remotely in Ms. Richardson's league on any front, which explains in part why he is so jealous of her.
Spot on.
I admire the efforts of HCR. As a historian she is B+. Thucydides is A+.
Jealous? She’s unappealing in every way for me, but she’s honest. I’ve loved academics that survived Auschwitz, Dachau, Buchenwald. With a few good exceptions, I’ve not found a Phillips Exeter graduate well rounded. We have three in our nuclear family. The stuff they have that makes them special came later. Not one loves the memory of PEA. Two hate it. Summa cum laude at Princeton and D. Phil at Oxford, law at Yale and medical school.. not one loved the snots at PEA.
I am not a writer. I’ve written and have been asked by the best to do that. I speak. Writing requires patience I do not have.
Jealous? I am jealous of few. At 82, I’ve coped well will my handicaps. I seek no approval. I provoke.
As I see it, we live for those to come and we are failing badly. I would destroy millions if I felt that by doing so I might cleanse the human race of Trump, Giuliani, Putin, and thousands of others. I do not feel that killing solves anything.
The idiots that jabber nonsense here are a form of obnoxious bum fluff.
Those that struggle to make sense here have potential.
This Substack works the elderly. It does not reach students. I try. If we do not reach deeply those now being educated, planet earth 🌍 will burn up.
If we allow the GOP to rule, it’s Civil War. Trump et al will be jailed, or we will again experience January 6th. And worse.
Getting into a pissing fight with a skunk 🦨 is silly, Robert Lerner. I pass.
Sandy
"This Substack works the elderly. It does not reach students. I try. If we do not reach deeply those now being educated, planet earth 🌍 will burn up."
But HOW the hell do we do that?? I totally agree, but in a world with more diversions than Leggo pieces, getting attention is kinda difficult. I am remined of a recent cartoon - Small spaceship lands on what looks like a Uni lawn. Students everywhere, intently looking at their phones. Alien 1 to Alien 2 " You see, I told you they'd never notice us" ! Some care, most don't.
Horse shit.
Sandy, not being one of the cognoscenti, you posts lose me. Such a shame, as I'm sure there is so much in them. Maybe you can find some one to filter them first? We'd all benefit, I'm sure.
Mr. Lewis deserves better: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/nyregion/the-lonely-redemption-of-sandy-lewis-wall-street-provocateur.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
I re-read that 2012 Times article and Sandy Lewis has credibility that cannot be ignored. As for his 'stream of consciousness' style, imagine that you are at a magnificent buffet table of great length. The tempting items are too numerous to sample them all, but certainly, whatever you select to eat will be delicious.
The Year They Sold Wall Street, by Tim Carrington… is his best effort to capture me… Want a copy?
Thanks ... but just ordered a used copy online for under $5.
Well that was fascinating, thank you. It doesn't shed any light on his abuse of HCR but it explains a lot of other things.
Abuse? Bull shit. People in the public sphere are open to criticism. Idiots reading here are responding to their needs, not hers. She has broad shoulders… and she is guilty, as are many of us, of latent racism. Boston College the same. We will not whip the vicious racism spreading again over Europe and the USA… with passive crap that does not rip it, front and center. The best German Jews thought Hitler was a joke. Never again? Well, it’s ramping right now… and Trump and the racist GOP and the passive historians that fear controversy are of the problem, not of the solution. Most readers here are silent… and do not pay $5 or $50 to comment or read the comments. They come and go. The hard core play here, with us… and I am amused to read the garbage from the latent racists that seek to protect the Million Dollar Historian that will not challenge racism, front and center. Passive resistance worked for MKG. It will not work in our Senate or our nation,.
Hey, send in sanitation, Sandy. You're making a mess and losing our respect. Stop crapping on you allies.
Thanks, Molly. The article speaks of his incredible integrity and genius. Definitely worth a read.
Thanks Molly, that read helped make sense of Sandy’s comments, I too write stream of consciousness, but not as brilliantly 🤷♂️
The first three words of the NYT article reads "Angry Sandy Lewis" Kinda sums it all up right there.
Thanks for that - I had the previous article - but have lost the link. We all need Sandys - however tre difficile they might be to us mortals!
I find Sandy’s posts often confusing, yet compelling. Reading this one, I see a composite of faces and events in our history that lead to today. It makes me remember, and think. It’s a patchwork quilt that often doesn’t match patterns and there might be a few stay threads, but it sure covers a lot. I’m thankful we have someone like him in our midst.
Basically, he is saying good and evil have always existed in our politics. Nevertheless, imperfect people do good and good prevails.
Hi Hugh those posts lose me too — happy 4th everyone.
Shall I please the agent and a publisher? Does anything matter today?
Well, now, that's an idea, Sandy, put Heather on the Court!
Dude, Get a new shtick. You have grown tiresome and very predictable. I'll take a side order of humility dressing with your word salad.
Charlie Grantham, you have a physician in your community - who did not choose to give his famous father a memorial service… That physician is first class. And well liked… and he is dying of lung cancer… we last saw each other in December 1949.. his father hired and fired me… and I liked him. He was not brilliant. His uncle Arthur was.
As for you, Charlie, look in the mirror and tell me what color your cheeks are.
First sex for white boys?
Yes. Of course. After he's taken the pill from girls and taught them to just say no. Please refer to his outrageous post of A few days ago.
He was listing the odious ways whites have used BIPOC in this nation.
Common knowledge. Slave women before and after emancipation were used to get white boys started. Their sperm produced what the old Negro wanted. Their experience destroyed their respect for women and created an ownership syndrome that drives white supremacy to this day. Racist white men like to do it with the willing. It’s not rape. It’s not love. It’s Bill Clinton, pure and simple. And he knows it.
When the first such experience forms expectations, subsequent efforts do not result in happiness. The men orgasm. It’s a pit stop mentality. Their women rarely do, regardless of color.
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!
Thank you! We need to be reminded that while things look bleak, there are good people doing good things and there are good changes afoot. And that the small steps are every bit important as the big steps because the small steps can add up. We all must just do something and never think it's too little.
Sheila B, you are "the cat's meow!" I have been trying to make things - democracy, planet earth - a little better, inch by inch. Not as accomplished as you seem to be, but every little bit helps? You are so right that we are among titans here on Letters From an American, with Heather at the helm!
Lynell, thank you. I'm really not, just well trained and therefore well able to respond. But Bilbo, my 15 yr old tabby, who is sitting on my desk next to the computer, HE thinks I'm the cat's meow. Smart enough NOT to bite the hand that feeds him - unlike some Republicans I know - smile.
Hahahahaha. Gotta love the cats. So smart.
We are "staff" to two cats who live in our house. One's a Casanova; the other does bite the hand that feeds him!
Sheila, which postcard-writing group are you working with? I just checked Postcards to Voters, and they don't have any current campaigns. I have postcards and stamps on hand. . . .
I work with postcards to voters too. I got my assignment early in the week. Good news, in some ways, they don’t need help temporarily. But to Annette’s point below, I have been impressed with the messaging at Postcards to Voters. Brief, direct and clear. I’ve done postcards to Miami area dems twice, reminding them to request their mail in ballot by the deadline (critical in Florida), and now for a state campaign in Alabama, also critical in my opinion. Maybe just check in daily. Something else will crop up soon. Or check with your state Dems. Maybe they have assignments - my US Representative, Angie Craig, was in the 5th closest race in the country last year. Already she is gearing up door to door assignments. Not for everyone, I know, but the Ex marine running against Craig is a Trump Republican and an egregious liar. I’m going to training soon. Have to. Gotta beat these rascals and their autocratic ambitions back. We The People. All of Us This Time. Thank you for what you are doing!
I've just ordered 200 postcard Forever stamps which I will use on the numerous unused postcards collected during travels over the years. Hopefully, the cards themselves will catch the attention of recipients.
Ruth, you have asked an interesting question. I think with so many of the "postcards" groups, we should now try to identify the good ones vs. the mediocre ones. I signed up with a group "Postcards to Swing States" and have been sorely disappointed. The smallest number of cards requested was 200 (although I have just learned that a fellow Floridian sent a message requesting only 100 which I wish I could have known). And the script is awful. I have changed it a bit, but it still is not a "call to action" that is meaningful. The final straw is that my "drop dead" date to mail is this Wednesday. So I have been furiously writing out the cards and feeling that my time is being wasted.
Sheila, can you tell us more about your postcard campaign? I have pretty handwriting and would love to help. :)
Lynn, the group I write postcards for is Postcards to Voters. You have to apply to them, send in a photo with their sample script written on postcard sized paper, and if approved, you will be given the contact information to request addresses and scripting information. Here's the link: https://postcardstovoters.mypostcard.com/blogs/ptv-faq/how-to-get-addresses
I have bad handwriting, by the way. They might like someone who has pretty handwriting!!
Your tip to check their website more often is a good one. My timing has been off and after Ossoff/Warnock/Blackman, I've only been able to participate in one campaign. I have a stack of cards and will check more often.
Annette D. - postcards to voters send only 10 addresses at a time, so it's possible to pace yourself. For the GA runoff, I was getting a new list every day and kept going right up until the deadline for mailing the last batch. I managed 100!!
Judith Swink - I love your idea of using old postcards from you travels. I recently bought a huge stack of old travel postcards at a yard sale - this would be a perfect use for them.
A group of HCR Substackers has formed to turn good discussion into effective action in support of democracy. For more info on this community, email:
heathersherd@gmail.com
Thanks, Sheila, and yes to all this.
You are ringing the bell, Sheila B.
“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.
The difference today is that with the advent of instant information, 24 hour news cycles, social media, and engineered bifurcation of the public, many of today's registered Republqans think that this is hunky-dory. There are no longer critical thinking skills. Only emotional reactions.
But the more they do this, the more they end up in an echo chamber that pleases themselves but alienates moderate and conservative independents (yes, they exist). Then the more people turn to things like the Bulwark or HCR or Tangle or simply NPR to get out of the echo chamber. They can echo chamber all they want, but if their rabid 25% meets the 40% of engaged 2020 voters, they will continue to lose. What Dems have to pray for as the umbrella under which everyone from AOC to Manchin has to fit is that no alienated moderates create their own party quickly enough to break the duopoly that forces independents to parley with the Dems.
Exactly. Thank you, Ally.
Jaw dropping history to someone whose history lessons always seemed to focus on the Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving. Thank you HCR for continuing our education.
I can still see that picture of the pilgrims/indians in my history book!
Me too Lynell. Pure innocence.
Innocence based on lies we were taught. Makes me sad every time I think of my elementary and high school texts.
Lol, we must have had the same textbooks and teachers Gigi
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.
Hope through history is a Jon Meacham podcast looking back. But I believe we are going though a time which will give him lots more to talk about.
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
Hey, Paul. This is stellar. Pardon me while I excise a few quotes from it here. They're too good to get lost!
"Bill (Moyers) recalls Johnson (LBJ) facing down a Congress controlled by Southern Democrats who were 'die-hard racists—all of them, including some of his old mentors, white supremacists who threatened to bring the government, if not the country, to its knees before they would see blacks eat at the same restaurants, go to the same schools, drink from the same fountains, and live in the same neighborhoods as whites.'”
And from one of LBJ's speeches: "There is no inevitability to history. Someone has to seize and turn it."
Morning Lynell. It takes a very special person to "seize and turn it". We are all scratching our heads wondering where he or she will come from.....as much in Europe as in the US as the horizen is horribly unclear at present. We seem to have built political systems that discourage it and encourage both the extremist and the mouse. Hopefully, Joe Biden is up to it.
I’m thinking “someone” was intended more as anyone/everyone (all of us) not a singular person.
Exactly my thought, too, Christy! "Someone" is us!!
True leadership in such circumstance is open to us all at our own levels. Being abble to bing everyone at all levels and driving them forward is a little rarer.
Yes and this is why we need those rare people to step out of the crowd and lead us right now, everywhere. These are the people that HCR writes about and why they are remembered through the ages. It’s another critical moment in world history and we are calling for them.
Agreed.
Biden with OAC, et al behind him and pushing him over the goal line.
AOC, did you mean?
Morning Lynell. May it be Pres Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris.
And may our executive branch lead us, the American people, to seizing our democracy firmly in our hands and rejecting any entity from within or without or any party’s attempt to destroy it.
And all of us in our own way, in our own place, do the same.
I second that emotion.
Thank you—love that Johnson quote— he was one of a kind.
And yet he felt he could not get the votes he needed in congress without satisfying hawks and widening the war in Vietnam. And so, the gulf of Tonkin. Well, It’s not the first time a man’s brain turned to jelly once he was president.
Thank you for sharing. We need to look deeper at this era to understand today.
Thanks!
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.
Perhaps using the NYTimes.com “Day of Rage” documentary on the insurrection will be a good education tool.
Politicians go where the votes are, and so will the Supreme Court. Keep voting, keep up the pressure. These are venal people who will suddenly see the light and change their tune. They are good at that. Meanwhile, let us not forget, “southern slavery is an institution that is in earnest. Northern freedom is an institution that is not in earnest.” & “I am not a member of any organized political party; I’m a democrat.”
Not only will we be fighting the political aim of the Republiquans, we are fighting the base that believes what they say with every true believing drop of blood in their veins. I hope that their numbers will be overcome with ours, but I don't hold out a lot of hope based upon what I see from my former law enforcement community and their "reasonable" views.
Hint: Reasonable isn't. Q it is.
We believe in our goals with every drop of blood, too, and although we aren't showing up to beat the tar out of the other side, literally, if we refuse to be intimidated, WE WIN!!
I just don’t get it! How did they succumb to this insanity?
Ugh
Yes. We must now work even harder to register voters, get out the vote, end the filibuster and pass the John Lewis Act and S1. Failure is not an option here.
I suspect you are right, that the Republicans are overplaying their hand.
I echo Mr. Herrick below. We mustn't forget that a large segment of our electorate read "The Handmaid's Tale" and said to themselves, "You know, there's some pretty good ideas in here..."
Binge-watching it now. Truly horrifying. Again, I say, call Ms Atwood in for Testimony /s
Truth.
Chilling.
Here's hoping.
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.
Part of the reason we are where we are, John, is the fact that, as a nation, we have not used specific, truthful language to describe events or conditions, both political and social. And, face it, the misuse of language and outright lies didn't magically start to occur during Trump's four year stint in the White House, but the Trump White House was masterful in its use of hyperbole and not so veiled racist rhetoric. Are Republicans the only ones who bend the truth or outright lie? No. But, hands down, they are the grand prize winners.
As for the investigation against the Trump Organization, your assertion that it's a publicity stunt is almost silly. There are decades of evidence pointing to the organizations dirty dealings. That Trump would offer to give House Democrats a peek at his financials to call off the dogs is a clear cut act of desperate defiance. Weisselberg keeping (at least) 2 sets of books and not declaring perks is tax evasion. Trump not paying taxes for x number of years is tax evasion. So, tell me, why should everyday people get audited and hounded for 50k in back taxes when people like Trump skate?
I get your frustration but not using the appropriate words to name events and conditions and letting Trump slide because he and his base will cry witch hunt is craziness. We can't fix our country if we don't speak the truth.
Thank you, Daria. I agree that the Trump Organization has never been so well investigated. As someone who falls short of investigative skills and patience, I applaud the work behind the charges.
Forgot the peek citation.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/trump-taxes-financial-statements-hearing/2021/07/01/78166a2c-da9f-11eb-9bbb-37c30dcf9363_story.html
Thank you, Daria.
“As for the investigation against the Trump Organization, your assertion that it's a publicity stunt is almost silly.” I will explain why I consider it nearly a publicity stunt. I have no doubt that there are a vast number of choices that were made within the Trump organization which will result in a civil fine. But I equally doubt that any of the accusations will result in a criminal sentence. I equally believe that the vast vast majority of extremely wealthy individuals function quite comfortably in the gray area between what is legal and what is illegal, the area known as “interpretations” of the IRS Code. People with great sums of money constantly are paying lawyers and tax accountants to find loopholes and reasonable interpretations of the IRS Code so as to avoid a criminal offense but perhaps will result in a civil fine and penalty. I do not believe Trump’s organization is any different than most in this regard. But the reason the AG’s office is going after Trump rather than someone else is clearly politically motivated in my mind. AGs are known for loving high profile cases that enhance their own motives and I am positive that Vance knew full well that if he investigated hard enough he would find something worth pursuing. That is what I consider a “publicity stunt” and my assertion is not silly as you claim. It is not that I believe the Trump Organization should be ignored or not pursued. They should, as well should be many many other wealthy individuals and organizations that function within the gray area known as “interpretations” of a very complex tax code that consists of thousands of loopholes(which, of course, is a tasty subject for another discussion.). So, to sum it up, Vance initially went after Trump, in my opinion, because it is a high profile case of a high profile individual that the AG found personally reprehensible. That is my reason for calling it a publicity stunt. It has nothing at all to do with whether I believe Trump and his organization broke the law. I hope this clarifies my statement.
All of that still doesn't make it a "publicity stunt."
When the president of the USA is a felon and a liar, a rapist and a con… he deserves attention. Trump and his team are going to jail… and Biden will pardon none of them, at first.
Hopefully, Biden will not pardon any of that cabal, ever.
Thank you for your clarifying statement.
Yours is an interesting comment, John. I agree we are all -- in more or less informative and useful ways -- preaching to the HCR Choir. We have each -- I assume -- paid 5 bucks for the privilege of commenting on HCR's take on current events as she filters them through her knowledge of American history, and we are united in our dislike/mistrust/fear -- even hatred -- of Trump and the GOP and their immediate lackeys. We believe these are important times in human history (There's nothing like the present to hold our attention!), that what happens during the Biden presidency will determine our beloved country's fate and that things are not looking particularly good at the moment.
Many of us are losing faith (or have already lost it) in our hallowed institutions and founding documents. We see a yawning abyss opening ever wider between what we believe and what an apparently sizeable number of our compatriots (those in that other choir) believe. And things are trending badly as there appears to no longer be a neutral arbiter. The Supreme Court has become the judicial wing of the GOP.
So I agree that shouting "Treason! Insurrection!" etc. may not change anything, least of all the thinking of the traitors and insurrectionists, but certain behaviors leave us little choice but to describe them with the words our common language gives us. Avoidance of exaggeration is no virtue when our democracy hangs in the balance, and the occasional expletive will probably not matter one way or the other once the dust clears.
But what leads you see a publicity stunt in the arrest of the Trump organization's chief financial officer who is accused of violating state and federal law? A grand jury signed off on it; what other choice does the AG's office have? Should we go light on rich folks when they evade taxes? Will it surprise us if Trump and his toadies fight like hell to stay out of jail? I think our will has to be stronger than theirs. We have no other choice.
I'm not sure what your reference to Erdogan's response to to an attempted coup means in this context. Given that the Turkish dictator has done his best to dismantle democracy in Turkey, I was disappointed the coup failed. But Joe Biden is no dictator and Donald Trump is no longer President, and we will soon see if we still have the rule of law in our country.
I agree this is all very, very frustrating, but we have no choice but to see it through.
It isn't as much shouting "insurrection" that is the problem; that is calling the event what it was. Referring to it in any other way would be akin to calling the Civil War the "War of Northern Aggression". Your observation that we no longer have an impartial arbiter in the SCOTUS is chilling. Your comment that those on the other side are on the opposite side of a widening abyss is spot on; I see this in my former law enforcement collogues.
We know that SCOTUS has been subsumed by the Republican party. Leonard Leo and the dark money behind the Federalist Society have apparently succeeded in overturning the judicial system into a party hack group.
I think that part of the Republican effort has been exactly to erode our faith and trust in our institutions. That way, they can change them - to allow them, and only them, to win.
I think Trump's organization is as deserving of being charged with tax evasion as was Al Capone.
I wonder if T****'s mental degeneration is due to the same disease Al Capone died of - his flagrant philandering makes it not impossible (but medicince has advanced so far since the 1930s that neurosyphilis is unlikely - besides, I wouldn't wish that disease on any of his sexual partners or victims).
Change the color of crayon you are using, John. WE, the parents have made a mistake. We have put the whiny child (read: Republicans) in the center of the circle and bestowed an inordinate amount of attention on them and their greedy needs. Parents are to be smack dab in the center of the family’s circle as the leaders and the most important people. Children are to be on the outside attached and guided by that center and certainly not noticed enough or given the ability to thwart any loving guidance or discipline meted out by the parents to raise children with values that respect and nurture relationships with others.
In other words, in plain English, we must place these bratty, recalcitrant “children” in the proper place.
My guess is that the former pres, McCarthy and the likes of his Republican wannabes were raised thinking they do not have to earn their “center” of the circle. They can just take it. In their grubby, sweaty, dirty little mitts.
Take their toys away and make them sit in the corner with no one talking to them. Worked with my kids when they got all bratty.
That was similar to my method when my nieces and nephews were in the car with me. When they acted up, I’d pull over and stop. They would ask me why we were stopped, I’d tell them they were making too much noice for me to concentrate on driving. Usually within a minute, they were quite. From that point on, they quieted each other.
Find what the Republicans want and take it away until they behave. Strength doesn’t require violence, only determination.
This reminds me of a story I heard years ago about a couple who, after some verbal warnings, would pull over when their kids were misbehaving in the backseat and start making out. The kids were so horrified they immediately changed their behavior. I don't imagine the parents had to do this too many times ;-)
Let's bring back Love-ins!
LOL, Beth! Great response from those parents.
Parental PDA!!! The worst. Actually, when I was a kid I thought it was pretty cute when my parents were lovey-dovey. It meant they loved each other. But then, they didn't indulge in public on the side of the road - pretty sure that would have been embarrassing.
I did the same thing and it worked beautifully. Consistency was key and yes, sometimes we arrived a little later than planned. No shouting involved - just quiet determination. Doesn’t this seem like President Biden’s approach?
It has been my observation that Pres. Biden is filling a “father” role in his approach to governing, and many are responding favorably.
I found that doing that, and in addition making certain to give praise when "good/right behavior" had been done really cemented things. As my ex-wife said when she convinced me to adopt that policy, "everybody goes for recognition - if they can't get recognition for good things, they'll do bad things for the recognition they get."
That’s the point of the capable adults being in the center. Praise, management, affection, teaching, modeling behavior etc….who in the world thinks a child or totally self absorbed irresponsible fear mongering brat adult can do this?
Ha! Yes Diane. There was one incident where my son was acting like a heathen in the grocery store. Cart was almost full, list almost all checked. I finally looked him right in the eye and said, “one more time with the nonsense, we are leaving.” He pushed it, I yanked him out of cart and carried him under my arm to car. Left ALL the groceries behind and that hurt. I didn’t give his “shop with mommy” privilege back for a month. Guess who is the center in our stories, Diane and Charlie?
We must not relinquish that center.
Similar story when my daughter was 4. Old enough to take warning. Got to 3 and I scooped her up, left the cart in the cold aisle and left. We had PB&J for dinner that night instead of the homemade mac&cheese she'd been hoping for. We had many more challenging days but never again in the grocery store.
I was a kid back in the day when parents left their kids in the car - and since there were 5 of us, I guess we were pretty safe. However, if our folks stayed in the store too long, we started honking the horn. Obnoxious little brats that we were. And yet, my parents were shocked at the parents who put their toddlers on a leash. Hm. Parenting is really, really hard.
Hahahahaha. Exactly Papa Charlie. I’ve preached that word to so many parents in my career. Do not let your child occupy the spotlight in the center of the circle. That light is so the child can see you!
Agreed…..but how? What is the plan? Another investigating committee? What is the intent?
Even though it was tiny in scope, look what the Benghazi select committee did to Clinton. McCarthy admitted its purpose too. But here there are real crimes committed and we need to know how far the organizers reached into the executive, legislative and judicial branches as well as the military. I’m not sure Pelosi’s wouldn’t ask the Capitol police to haul those that ignore subpoenas in either. They might be happy to do so.
Grace, my concern (it's not my only one) is that the Dems will be too nice in this investigation (and have been with getting legislation done). My vision of the parenting styles of the two parties are like this: Thuglicans do what some parents do when their kids step out of line (ie McConnell & McCarthy)--they whip out the belt and beat them back into submission. Dems, on the other hand, try to reason with and cajole and use the 'ole 1...2...3 method and do they end up with healthier relationships? Yes, but some children take their individualism to the far boundaries and stretch the limits and sometimes that family can't function well in situations. The Dems have to get TOUGH here. They have to do what the Thugs did to both Clintons. Stop being Nice!
I understand your POV, Barbara; we nice guys appear weak. When Gandhi led oppressed people of India and became a leader recognized throughout the world, he was firm in his belief that ends and means must be the same. To achieve peace one must be a peaceful example. We cannot fight for justice by stooping to the underhanded tactics of Trump. Another Ghandi aphorism is "Be strong as granite, soft as a lotus." I have confidence in the perseverance of those like Nancy Pelosi, who methodically and intelligently illuminates the evil inherent in Trump and Republican actions and behaviors.
One adjective I have never used for Nancy Pelosi, Liz Cheney, or Amy Klobuchar is “too nice”. There are some tough women in this fight. From both sides. And I am glad. The stereotype of the damsel in distress wringing their hands was, is, and always will
be false.
Agreed, 100% and you've named just a very few. We are all suffering because we cant see the process up close. But we do have some strong articulate dedicated people in the fray. On the other hand, IMHO, the state government takeovers across the nation by the Republicans thru determined long range strategic planning has thrown us into a difficult bind with the failure of FTP Act. So back to wringing our hands wondering if there's a rabbit in a hat somewhere.
I am not talking about a lack of fierce individuals, of which there are some. I'm talking about a cohesive, intelligent, assertive, offensive stance that seems to be lacking with the Dems as a group. They don't have to resort to lying or threats as the other side does in order to present a solid, coherent and Forceful Offense in government. It is not helpful to me to have all fingers crossed hoping that "things" are going on "behind the scenes" to counter the seemingly impenetrable wall of obstruction by the Thuglicans.
One problem we have is taking the right's word that they are legion. The hard-line T****ists are not the full complement of the GOP, and the GOP is a minority. I think that rather than paying so much attention to them, we should get to work making sure that as many Democrats and independents and non-T**** GOP get the message that government can work when it is of, by, and for the people, all of us, all of the time. By which I mean, we need to stop responding to the bait set by the right to hook us into using their rhetoric, their talking points, their "positions", and develop, spread, propogate our own positive, values-based, inclusive programs, ideas, and accomplishments. We don't need to get into their ring and punch it out with them (according to their rules, with their referees, on their time-lines) to win. We need long-term goals and plans that will bend that arc toward justice - it won't happen unless we make it happen. My apologies for the inarticulate mixing of metaphors.
I see the intent, the purpose, of the Select Committee as putting in front of the American people the facts as they are uncovered about who, in government or otherwise, was involved in, supported, aided and abetted the attack on Congress.
I would also like to see Democratic Senators and Representatives making numerous public statements and giving talks regarding the principles of the Democratic Party and how these strengthen our country and help individuals and families. Our messaging needs to be consistent, coherent and delivered constantly. Watching CSpan I see coverage of people like Tom Cotton and Pence, speaking to conservative and other groups like the National Press Club, laying out their arguments for their conservative philosophy. I can’t recall seeing any Democrat doing this. We can’t rely on the President to be the only one representing the party.
As for us ordinary folks, we need to do what has been suggested here many times, by many people. Be active in our state and local elections, help to register voters, join get out the vote campaigns and continue to loudly oppose voter restrictions and gerrymandering. And continue to come here for the knowledge and perspective HCR provides and the support and ideas of other members.
Prob is, as I stated yesterday, media is covering “Pence and Cotton” talks much more than strong Democratic efforts of success and leadership.
Get it together media. Fake foxes give enough coverage to the seditionists. (Tucker Carlson’s son…that’s just too rich.)
I looked up Buckley Carlson, and the only mention of this guy is that he's Tucker Carlson's brother. Perhaps he named his son after his brother or there is no son named Buckley.
Tucker's father was a newscaster who was a rather nasty character like his son. Watch "The Lady and the Dale" on HBO to see him uncover a trans person with uncommon hate. The apple doesn't seem to fall far...
I had the same thought about CSpan in particular as Republican Sens. and Reps. and other conservative right wing speakers e.g. Heritage Foundation show up there a lot. But, I think there’s a good possibility Dems. and left-leaning organizations just aren’t putting themselves out there as much. Another example of Republicans being more coordinated, aggressive, organized?
Could it be, Gina, because Dems are working for the people, not talking? I really don't know. But when I get emails from my Senator (Warner) it's all about what he's been doing on the committees he sits on. And it's a lot. So not sure how much time they can spend talking when they are doing the job we sent them there to do. Just my two cents.
Yes, another investigating committee that, as in 1879, keeps bringing the Republican criminality and treason into view of the voters over the next 12 months.
Let's make that 16 months, please.
Maybe we have to be careful not to get too hung up on the committee and what it accomplishes. Perhaps, let them do it, see what they do, and then criticize heavily if they let us down. Get it all on the historical record. But keep our eyes on the prize. There is a larger picture out there, and if we get too narrowly focused we may lose the prize.
I want it televised. And to drag on into 2022.
It should be live on C-SPAN and the fact of how easy it is to watch be widely and frequently publicized.
That's one thing those of us who use social media can commit to doing. Watch it on C-SPAN ourselves when we are able to and frequently share links to each day's hearings with our own comments. Has anyone any idea when they will begin hearings? I will look to see what information I can find.
If this is something I decide to do myself - share links with my own comments on the proceedings, my goal will be to post comments that point out successful questioning by those on the committee who are getting at the truth, not to boost GOP/T****ist lies and hot air (which is what I often do hear in committee hearings from those on the "right").
I usually feel as frustrated as you indicate here, John. I've given up hope that the minds or hearts of trumpians, politicians or voters, can be budged. BUT there are still a whole lot of citizens out there who still aren't voting or getting involved in the stand to protect democracy, mainly because they don't feel empowered to do so, and are just exhausting themselves trying to keep their own heads above water. I believe most of these people would lean toward that side once they are overwhelmed by the necessity to do so and that is why we need to keep on sharing the knowledge and history and current events that are happening, including the "name calling". It's not really name calling, as I know you know. It's calling it what it is, stating the truth without being polite about it any longer. You're right that this may strengthen the will of tfg's supporters but hopefully it will also strengthen the number of democracy's supporters who take action where they haven't before. What other choice do we have?
As HCR's piece showed, the Republicans(then Democrats) have been at this for a long long time. It is not a fight just fo this moment. We have to keep chipping away, with intelligence and patience. It's one for the long haul. The results of the committee will be recorded for history. That's important. We have to find ways to fight smarter. Look at what Stacey Abrams accomplished in GA of all places. Frustration, while a valid emotion, should serve as a motivation to do better.
My grandfather, born at the end of the 19th century in Georgia, was a Republican. This was unheard of in the old solid south. He was a very ethical person that passed away in 1956. Fast forward to the Reagan “revolution” and the solid south moving from the Democratic Party to the Republican party after Brown v. Board of Education, and my personal family history completely fits in to HCR’s historical account today. It is important that people are made aware of this continual sleight of hand that has kept our country from coming to terms with the fact that “the south shall rise again” into much more than a quaintly humorless saying.
I have a friend whose family roots are in Arkansas, who has always voted Republican because "my father was a Republican and he fought those assholes who were Democrats back home." After he voted for Trump in 2016 on that reasoning, despite the fact he's the opposite as a person, I did a little history lecture with him about the transformation of the south since 1968, and managed to get him to see that "the assholes" his father had opposed in Arkansas when they were Democrats are now the Republicans he'd been voting for. He hasn't become a Democrat, but he's no longer a registered Republican, and he didn't vote for Trump in 2020.
Amazing grace, TC.
You should be sent to your room for not noticing that if Trumpty-dumpty hadn't been stupid enough to run for president, nobody would have ever looked at his two-bit frauds. :-)
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.
They will, Ally. The more Americans are told they Can’t, the more they will be determined.
Sizzlin’ point and so true. Thanks, Cathy Mc.
Morning, Ally!! I can't help but figure the select committee will be successful in their work. They just have to be.
Took me quite a while to figure out that "1/6, 2/6" Twitter thing. Slow learner here!
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.
Thanks for that info. I learn so much history from HCR and it makes me want to learn more. Garfield was just another name I passed over in history class. Now I want to learn much more about him, as well as others. Seeing history “come alive” here, and how it parallels our own times is both fascinating and disturbing. I hope I can find this old episode you mention somewhere. PBS’ “American Experience” is a treasure.
Years ago, I took our kids to tour the Garfield House in Mentor, Ohio, as part of a fourth grade assignment to visit historical sites in Ohio. It was an amazing tour. If anyone lives nearby, it is well worth the visit.
https://www.nps.gov/jaga/index.htm
I just checked and it's available for purchase from pbs for $24.99. https://shop.pbs.org/WA9702.html
Thank you, Dr. Angle. It's "unavailable" in my area but it mentioned Candice Millard's bestselling and award-winning Destiny of the Republic on which it's based. What a shame that a deluded madman can change the course of history, which smacks of our own day as well, of course. Every day we learn more about the biases we were taught in our schools! Why has Garfield not not been lauded as the defender of minorities' rights?
But we are in a day of reckoning and so need to learn and teach true history, the whole story, regardless of how painful or disillusioning. As a retired teacher, I hope to see us walk through this, our day of reckoning, to a day with new history books, books which tell a truer story of the United States of America, regardless of how painful or disillusioning..
Thank you for link. Will seek.
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.
Why has he not been arrested???
If he is arrested at some point, will his presence at the border with these despicable congress critters taint them??
Not only should he be arrested, his "connection" to these odious Republicans MUST be made public, loud and clear. We are being far too "nice" and need to bring these folks into the sunlight...like cockroaches.
Probably, those who care already despise them while those who agree with them will get all fired up.
You’re probably right; my Pollyanna “slip” is showing😉
It’s a badge of honor to be with an insurrectionist in upside down world
Yes, why hasn’t he??
Here's a link to the CNN article highlighting his presences. I, also, wonder why he has not been arrested as he has clearly been identified as entering the Capitol and apparently brags about it. Maybe the publicity from this report will finally lead to charges re Jan. 6. Ever the optimist.... https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/02/politics/kfile-anthony-aguero-accompanied-members-of-congress-to-border/index.html
That is correct.
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."
Exactly. Republican bad behavior did not begin with Trump it simply was/is amplified through him.
My mocking is Republiqans. It ain't a typo. These times.
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
Yes, Lynell.
Wow. What a guy.
He’s a real peach alright, it makes me wonder 💭 which rock 🪨 he and his ilk keep crawling out from under, his karma will be fearsome to witness, there’s a balance to the universe after all.
Yes, it is.