Thank you, Heather. Unfortunately, none of this is at all surprising, in part because of the people involved (Barr, Trump, Trump's incompetent entourage, corrupt GOP congressional leaders) and in part because of what is by now a long tradition of abuse of power by the executive branch. Our Constitution is in urgent need of repair and mod…
Thank you, Heather. Unfortunately, none of this is at all surprising, in part because of the people involved (Barr, Trump, Trump's incompetent entourage, corrupt GOP congressional leaders) and in part because of what is by now a long tradition of abuse of power by the executive branch. Our Constitution is in urgent need of repair and modernization, and a large, hard-of-thinking segment of our population desperately needs help.
I like "hard-of-thinking" - like hard-of-hearing - a useful way to approach the terribly sticky problem of how to revive a sense of community among Americans (and I'm not talking about "bipartisanship" - the damage doesn't stop, the desecration of language continues even as the desecrator shrivels away)
Thanks Susan. For two months I've been deep-diving into 20C European history, both reading and writing, prompted by concerns arising from several years' normalization of political violence -- disturbingly like the Nazis during the Weimar Republic. (Also buying relevant used books at an appalling rate.) Dr R doesn't write about Europe much, unlike e.g. Tim Snyder or Mark Mazower. So more time goes to them and their colleagues, less to LFAA. If only we could read every good book, and avoid the baddies.
I agree about the need for modernization of the Constitution, but I do not trust anyone in either party these days to do it, above all in the Republican party. What we need to do is to defeat the authoritarian elected officials in the Republican Party, the ones who do not tell the truth and who support the Big Lie. Until those in the Republican Party who would break the law and distort the Constitution are defeated the Republic will be in danger as it as never been before. There is no one in the leadership of the Republican party today who could be an honest partner. The honest ones have been expelled from leadership.
I agree with your distrust, above all, in Republicans (not just the party) in the event a Constitutional Convention is called. The process is already underway for an Article V "Convention of States", theoretically to be focused on a Balanced Budget Amendment. If convened, what assurance would there be that this would be the only revision pursued? Not my preferred news source but all need to read this article: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mark-meckler-article-five-constitutional-convention_n_6086c380e4b09cce6c143b10
Also, for something even scarier (not linking it here), take a look at ConstitutionofStates dot com, collecting signatures supporting a Constitution of States.
Oh, no! I just checked and I gave the wrong URL! That's what happens when one doesn't verify and goes solely by memory! It's Conventionofstates dot com. Please, everyone who may have tried the wrong one, accept my apology.
My error reminds me of a lesson taught me in my earliest days working reference in a library. Always have the print source (this was the 60s) in front of you when you provide an answer to a question; don't rely on your memory alone.
Thank you, Heather. Unfortunately, none of this is at all surprising, in part because of the people involved (Barr, Trump, Trump's incompetent entourage, corrupt GOP congressional leaders) and in part because of what is by now a long tradition of abuse of power by the executive branch. Our Constitution is in urgent need of repair and modernization, and a large, hard-of-thinking segment of our population desperately needs help.
I like "hard-of-thinking" - like hard-of-hearing - a useful way to approach the terribly sticky problem of how to revive a sense of community among Americans (and I'm not talking about "bipartisanship" - the damage doesn't stop, the desecration of language continues even as the desecrator shrivels away)
Some people are hard of hearing, others are hard of listening.
Welcome back TPJ! I missed you.
Thanks Susan. For two months I've been deep-diving into 20C European history, both reading and writing, prompted by concerns arising from several years' normalization of political violence -- disturbingly like the Nazis during the Weimar Republic. (Also buying relevant used books at an appalling rate.) Dr R doesn't write about Europe much, unlike e.g. Tim Snyder or Mark Mazower. So more time goes to them and their colleagues, less to LFAA. If only we could read every good book, and avoid the baddies.
I agree about the need for modernization of the Constitution, but I do not trust anyone in either party these days to do it, above all in the Republican party. What we need to do is to defeat the authoritarian elected officials in the Republican Party, the ones who do not tell the truth and who support the Big Lie. Until those in the Republican Party who would break the law and distort the Constitution are defeated the Republic will be in danger as it as never been before. There is no one in the leadership of the Republican party today who could be an honest partner. The honest ones have been expelled from leadership.
Revising the Constitution… think about our current Supreme Court….ugh
I agree with your distrust, above all, in Republicans (not just the party) in the event a Constitutional Convention is called. The process is already underway for an Article V "Convention of States", theoretically to be focused on a Balanced Budget Amendment. If convened, what assurance would there be that this would be the only revision pursued? Not my preferred news source but all need to read this article: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mark-meckler-article-five-constitutional-convention_n_6086c380e4b09cce6c143b10
Also, for something even scarier (not linking it here), take a look at ConstitutionofStates dot com, collecting signatures supporting a Constitution of States.
When I tried to go to the constitution of states.com, weird message appeared about a security check and a change of default search engine. No go.
Oh, no! I just checked and I gave the wrong URL! That's what happens when one doesn't verify and goes solely by memory! It's Conventionofstates dot com. Please, everyone who may have tried the wrong one, accept my apology.
My error reminds me of a lesson taught me in my earliest days working reference in a library. Always have the print source (this was the 60s) in front of you when you provide an answer to a question; don't rely on your memory alone.