I feel its important that we acknowledge that the plan to keep Trump viable in this race is expressed. He isn't going away. His cult is willing to stake their existence by rallying around him regardless of what he says next. This nonsense with putting the 10 Commandments in schools is nothing more than testing the waters…
I feel its important that we acknowledge that the plan to keep Trump viable in this race is expressed. He isn't going away. His cult is willing to stake their existence by rallying around him regardless of what he says next. This nonsense with putting the 10 Commandments in schools is nothing more than testing the waters for the implementation of Project 2025. The Supreme Court is more than willing to help this gameplan if necessary.
It should be clear to all that when Judge Cannon refused to step aside from the Trump case, the fix was in.
Project 2025 is a conservative plan for a future Republican president. It aims to reverse Democratic policies, strengthen presidential power, and potentially shrink agencies like the EPA. Critics fear it weakens institutions and harms social programs, while supporters see it as restoring conservative values.
Michael, having recently started collecting SS and being on Medicare has reinforced what an amazing job this agency is doing. When I have had any questions or issues, they are there to help.
About a month ago my sister-in-law and I went to the local SS office. We took a number and our wait time was about 20 minutes. While we waited, there were a couple of ladies who had not received their most recent payments. They were both on SS disability and the SS agent was able to resolve their issues. Imagine, depending on SS disability for 100% of your needs and not receiving a payment as expected.
And now imagine an incompetent fool like Louis DeJoy running the SS administration.
In 2022 almost 71 million people received benefits from SS and there were over 5.5 million new SS recipient in 2022.
Project 2025 wants to replace 50000 seasoned Federal government workers with far-right religious zealots. CFDT could care less about people becoming homeless or hungry so it's likely to get very ugly very quickly.
The USPS service in ME is awful and getting worse since DeJoy took over and has dismantled it. No one seems to have put 2 and 2 together to figure out that part of the package delivery issues were caused by USPS changes under DeJoy.
The CFDT campaign is feeding on fear from the barrage of misinformation, hate and anger spewed from CFDT and the Murdoch's. It's past time the media starts to report on Project 2025 and what we can expect to happen with the Federal agencies if CFDT is elected.
Past time, Gary. I have had similar experiences in the just over a year that I have been on my "entitlements" programs of Medicare and Social Security.
Confession: I was stumped by "CFDT", even after reading your comment three times. Then (speed reader confession here) i read the last 4 words of your post. The thought that we could elect a convicted felon as president makes my blood run cold, and that doesn't take into account the individual there that is the convicted felon.
Good morning Ally. You pointed out several months ago that "white Christian Nationalists" should own the moniker when I was conflicted about using the word Christian. I thought faux-Christian was more appropriate at the time.
However, I have come around and I think you are correct about them "owning" it.
So, thank you for your comment back then. It allowed me to almost always use "convicted felon Donald Trump" and CFDT so they can own it.
Thanks for sharing the link Patrick, even though the contents of the interview were quite disturbing. As I recall this story didn't get much press or not as much as the Catholic Church pedophile story did.
One of the local men was quite involved with uncovering (no pun intended) the priests committing pedophilia in the Springfield, MA area. He had three teenage sons one of whom was being groomed by their priest. Fortunately, the dad believed the son's story and eventually over 80 priests had been identified. Eventually Archbishop Law who had been aware of the crimes for over 20 years resigned in 2002.
In so many parts of the country the Catholic Church is so powerful, crimes committed by the priests are overlooked and rarely prosecuted.
😀 I am so fortunate to have found this comment board. There are so many wise and experienced people that enlighten us every day. And the camaraderie is a bonus.
You've touched on something that bothers me so much: Trump and his cohorts' sheer incompetency and willful intent to sabotage. One indicator of personality disorders (narcissism, borderline, et al.) is using destructiveness as a way to prevail. (Think of the mythological war gods. ) Building up good for all takes dedication, insight, and teamwork. That is a sign of a healthy mind.
We did really well in eliminating the infamous, dark driven No Labels Party. We can broadcast far and wide the Project 2025 document. We can do this by publishing sections of the documents. That way instead of the amorphous Project 2025 thing it gets real for people.
For Example:
" Implement nuclear modernization and expansion. The United States
manifestly needs to modernize, adapt, and expand its nuclear arsenal. "
And
"Improve military recruiters’ access to secondary schools and require
completion of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
(ASVAB)—the military entrance examination—by all students in schools
that receive federal funding."
There is an awful lot of philosophical verbiage and clear propaganda in the Project 2025 paper. However, by scanning through the paper stuff jumps out like the 2 examples I cited above.
Barbara, I am really perplexed by one of the statements you took from Project 25. I think I see the logic of what you’re implying; however, I’d like to offer another perspective. This is regarding the ASVAB and high school students. I retired from teaching high school in 2002. The majority of those years was 11th and 12th grade English (American and English lit.) twenty-two of my 36 years full-time teaching included Journalism ( newspaper and yearbook) and work Experience. I was in a high school attendance area of blue collar workers, as well as professionals in upper middle class. We were ethnically mixed and peaceful.
I developed a program over the years to help my senior students form a plan for post-graduation. I wanted to see what choices they had, and to assess their own abilities and interests. Literature didn’t suffer. They heard weekly speakers that described their careers. I used many of my former students from same community to stress what was possible. I had for-profit technical schools represented, as well as law enforcement and firefighters. The other people I had come in, with permission from administration, were recruiters from all the services. So many of my students could not afford college or were not sure about anything. I started having the ASVAB given on campus every spring. I was not preparing them for nuclear warfare. 1. They got an assessment of English and Math skills. 2. Their vocational strengths and preferences were presented. 3. They had a document to show their parents when discussing their next move after graduation. 4. If they did decide to go into the military, they learned the skill they wanted; they got money for college when the fulfilled their contract ( our son did this.) By the way, I didn’t demand they take the test; I offered extra credit points.
The success rate was tremendous. My students who did join a branch of the military have had impressive careers or just learned the skills necessary to join the American workforce and successfully provide for their families. A few did more than that. One ( female) served as part of military guard at the White House. Another young man who had nothing, been kicked out of house in sr. year by alcoholic father and walked to school daily from uncle’s house 5 miles away, went into motor division of the Army and learned everything about large trucks that gave him a valued skill and stability to raise his family. My favorite is currently just completing a 20- year career in the Navy as a Russian language expert (went and taught at their Foreign Language School in Monterey, as well as sent to Russia as interpreter. ) She is completing career in DC directly under Chief of Navy as a high ranking Chief Petty Officer.
I admit this was just prior to invasion of Iraq and years in Afghanistan. My point is that joining the military is not to be denigrated. The ASVAB is still a useful tool. We absolutely should not allow these Project 25 monster-creators to obscure and negatively change our pride in the military or not see their importance. Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. Let’s all fight to rid our country of those trying to destroy it. I’m in.
Your work was amazing, Sue, and the outcomes life changing! I fear the 2025 plan's take on it, however, is to REQUIRE ALL students to be READYVTO BE DRAFYED for the many wars the U.S. oligarchs intend to stage.
What a great program for those young people! I wish that those choices had been presented to me as well as my classmates those many years ago. Most of us just stumbled around and did what our friends did. We were generally middle class with many opportunities, but innocent ignorance, of our parents as well as the school system, no doubt prevented us from reaching for so much more.
Look at it positively: the fact that N. Korea, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, US, UK, ..., are all modernizing their nuclear arsenals, and even talking about using them, will take our minds off of global warming, plastic pollution, overpopulation,... . Every cloud has a silver lining.
It isn't out there near enough. I heard that Heather was on The 11:00 Hour on MSNBC the other night discussing the Project 2025. She needs to be and others need to talk about it every day of the week! I don't think it is discussed on Fox Entertainment and those other fake news programs!
Heather WAS on MSNBC at 11.00 pm. I stayed awake to get my first really good look at her. As impressive “in person” as her writing. We are as lucky to have her as we think we are!
Virginia Witmer, you can catch her most weeks on Tuesdays giving an informal chat in the afternoon on Facebook. It is worth being on Facebook to have that opportunity to listen to these chats. They are taped and you can watch past chats. I am hooked. Recently I have had to watch after the fact....but they are filled with so much information that we don't get in the letters and what is happening today. Look for Heather Cox Richardson and make sure you get her actual page. There is a fake one out there too. She warns about it. Hers has her picture. I wish I knew how to post a link. When she is on the road with promoting her book she may not be able to connect and she is a busy lady! She is a bit younger than my daughter but she is my hero and keeps me fairly sane...or as much as possible. She is down to earth and so honest. I dearly love her!
I'm hearing Project 2025 referenced by many hosts and guests on the MSNBC programs I watch. Problem is that those who watch regularly are more likely to be in the 'choir'.
I am seeing more on MSNBC this weekend. It needs to be continually talked about! We need to get the word out. Hopefully, those that need it will catch on before November! Prayers for all, our country and God Bless our Troops!
Susan, that is very true. When I mentioned Heather's Substack daily Letter to a Trumper, he had never heard of it , but was so quick to classify it as an "underground newspaper".
My wife is hesitant to use Substack because they allowed self labeled Nazi's to post on Substack. So there must me some far right readers and posters out here.
My daughter works for Social Security. She is so helpful to those with issues. She goes way beyond what others do. She lives her job! It is her life! I am so proud of her. She has a hearing disability but is totally amazing!
Andra Watkins is a NYT bestselling author who “escaped” Christian Nationalism years ago.She has read and dissected the almost 1000 page, Project 2025 “Presidential Transition Project” document.
Anyone who thinks that Trump/Putin will not destroy the America we have known since the 18th century is delusional. The outreach of the “useful idiot” to Putin, the bromance with North Korea and the intrasigeance of the “groupies of Putin” have weakened US internationally beyond the imagination of many if not most Americans. Time to think beyond higher prices for food and gasoline, and organize to fight Trump and Climate Change.
Prof Joyce Vance said in her Substack she is planning on doing a book club of the 920 page Project 2025 document. I mentioned this to my leader of Democrats Abroad Germany and he thought we should do a book club of it too. I think there should be book clubs all over America and the Expat world of people reading this document.
Those "big plans" are nothing new. The Republican Study Group and the Federalist Society have been making the same suggestions, sometimes reducing them to writing in legislation. Before Trump won in 2016 the Federalist society identified about 150 judicial positions where Trump could eliminate civil service, eliminate the jobs, and apply the spoils system to appoint nothing but loyalists. My job was one of them. He wasn't able to replace us , but eliminated "merit selection" of judges appointed under Article 2 Section 2 of the constitution. The "Federal register" comprised of people who had commensurate trial experience and could pass a background security test, pass a test on administrative law, have the experienced scored and rated and undergo a staged interview by agency representatives someone representing the public and the ABA. Typically if an opening occurred, a best qualified list of 3 candidates would be sent to the agency for selection.
In anticipation of litigation Trump killed merit selection. Executive Order (E.O.) 13843 titled, “Excepting Administrative Law Judges from the Competitive Service” (83 FR 32755). E.O. 13843 states “that conditions of good administration make necessary an exception to the competitive hiring rules and examinations for the position of ALJ.https://www.govinfo.gov/link/cpd/executiveorder/13843
The rule today. No tests. No trial qualifications. No evaluations of experience. No FBI investigations. The only qualification is loyalty.
Our fate as a nation may be decided in the SDFL hearing before Judge Cannon today.
Old wine, new bottles. GWB threatened to do it. Trump needed an "emergency" to execute the "unitary executive" theory. Usurp Congress and the judiciary.
While I see Trump as the five alarm fire he is for worldwide democracy, I also fear that not having him in the picture will not end the danger for America. As long as there is a Project 2025 agenda in the republicans’ platform, any elected Republican president will do for them what they seek. They won’t let anyone but a purist ideologue get close to the nomination. I fear that their domination of our government is not an “if” but a “when”. If not Trump, the next Republican president. And in American politics it is unrealistic to believe democrats can hold the presidency through enough election cycles for this to die down. Certainly not when it is the culmination of more than fifty years of planning and funding by those with the means, and now the levers of power, to pull it off.
Agreed Sandy, DJT is just the tip of the spear. He’s useful to the powers behind him, but, he’s replaceable. Extremists have taken control of key parts of the judiciary, including SCOTUS. If and when they purge the civil service, our democratic institutions will fold quickly. Just watching how Judge Cannon has gamed the system to delay and perhaps circumvent justice is a warning shot of what’s to come.
Those who can't win election because of the repulsiveness of their ideas had the brilliant idea of legislating via the unelected judicial system. While hamstringing congress with paid for via citizens United whores.
And the next person likely will be smarter, more educated, more self-disciplined, less distracted, and more capable of making and executing an actual plan.
Kinda Trump holding the Bible upside down, but more serious. I can no longer remember but as a kid, 70 or so years ago, religious posters etc were pro forma in Canadian schools, Ten Commandments? not sure. but the Lords Prayer was recited regularly over speakers, and in auditoriums. Funny they don't go on and institute slavery was OK, polygamy just the way it was!
Jenn, thank you for stating this. Good people of faith should be absolutely livid about what is happening. Too often people of faith are judged by the hypocrites and crass opportunists among them.
Jenn, I agree, but I am also concerned about the myriad lessons Jesus teaches and how the white Christian Nationalists act like the Bible is all about hate and anger instead of love, compassion and empathy.
But the media is using Convicted Felon Donald Trump's omnipresence against him more and more. Jennifer Rubin of the WAPO, Joyce Vance, Maggie Haberman, John Fugelseng, Heather Cox Richardson and so many others are constantly reinforcing CFDT's foibles and fails.
The problem being each side live in silos, trust more live in a more secular, religiously tolerant world than those in the MAGA / Evangelical world and that carries through come Nov.
But the mainline newspapers play into the maga handbook and tens of millions of people only get news from social media sources, Fox and Newsmax. In the latter scenario, they are told what to think, they are not informed, and it dulls critical thinking.
Sure, and this may in fact get to independents (it appears to be) but the rest of the crowd is in the fox/newmax silo. Unless a group like The Lincoln Project (or better yet, the Biden campaign) starts creating ads enumerating this stuff and placing them on right wing "news," I fear that this is all just yelling into the void.
"It should be clear to all that when Judge Cannon refused to step aside from the Trump case, the fix was in." Oh it is clear. It continues to amaze me that this kind of corruption can happen in our system of justice. Right before our eyes, and there is nothing that can be done about it. A gigantic loophole in our democratic form of government that has to be fixed if only our governemt had the ability to. Which it currently doesn't thanks to Republicans.
Yep--right on the money, Linda! I admit that I don't engage here as much--although I read the letter every day and a lot of the comments--because the firehose of news is so debilitating.
Many of Trump's henchmen and sycophants have either stated openly, or have been surreptitiously recorded indicating that MAGA Republicans are planning - by hook or crook, to stymie voting, or throw legal wrenches into the gears of our electoral process in order to gain a last gasp win in November. And if they can't "win" by cheating that way, to aggressively attempt to discredit the outcome and/or promote threats of violence against election workers, and possibly intimidate voters. These are desperate moves by a party that no longer has anything meaningful or important to offer. Indeed, the Republican Party, which ought to at least be honest by rebranding as "The New Confederacy", offers nothing but hate, lies, confusion and chaos - in complete service I should add, to Putin and the uniting forces of global authoritarianism.
Yea for Louisiana- the Repubs are pounding nails into their OWN coffins. Sorry Joe has to "debate" with a nutcase, but at least it is on his terms. The more exposure of the insanity before the election, the better.
Something lame for everyone except that M.A.G.A. base that is the cognitive under-class. I suspect the excuse will be that fake media is rigging the debate for fake news.
Ten commandments themselves are the basic behavioral laws that shape the society - in particular 5 to 10. Trump is clearly violating them, and hece 1 to 4.
Thank you Heather
I feel its important that we acknowledge that the plan to keep Trump viable in this race is expressed. He isn't going away. His cult is willing to stake their existence by rallying around him regardless of what he says next. This nonsense with putting the 10 Commandments in schools is nothing more than testing the waters for the implementation of Project 2025. The Supreme Court is more than willing to help this gameplan if necessary.
It should be clear to all that when Judge Cannon refused to step aside from the Trump case, the fix was in.
Here we are.
Be safe. Be well.
Project 2025 is a conservative plan for a future Republican president. It aims to reverse Democratic policies, strengthen presidential power, and potentially shrink agencies like the EPA. Critics fear it weakens institutions and harms social programs, while supporters see it as restoring conservative values.
For a critical view, you can explore resources from the Center for American Progress https://www.americanprogress.org/series/project-2025-exposing-the-far-right-assault-on-america/.
For the project's perspective, you can visit their official website https://www.project2025.org/.
Michael, having recently started collecting SS and being on Medicare has reinforced what an amazing job this agency is doing. When I have had any questions or issues, they are there to help.
About a month ago my sister-in-law and I went to the local SS office. We took a number and our wait time was about 20 minutes. While we waited, there were a couple of ladies who had not received their most recent payments. They were both on SS disability and the SS agent was able to resolve their issues. Imagine, depending on SS disability for 100% of your needs and not receiving a payment as expected.
And now imagine an incompetent fool like Louis DeJoy running the SS administration.
In 2022 almost 71 million people received benefits from SS and there were over 5.5 million new SS recipient in 2022.
Project 2025 wants to replace 50000 seasoned Federal government workers with far-right religious zealots. CFDT could care less about people becoming homeless or hungry so it's likely to get very ugly very quickly.
The USPS service in ME is awful and getting worse since DeJoy took over and has dismantled it. No one seems to have put 2 and 2 together to figure out that part of the package delivery issues were caused by USPS changes under DeJoy.
The CFDT campaign is feeding on fear from the barrage of misinformation, hate and anger spewed from CFDT and the Murdoch's. It's past time the media starts to report on Project 2025 and what we can expect to happen with the Federal agencies if CFDT is elected.
Past time, Gary. I have had similar experiences in the just over a year that I have been on my "entitlements" programs of Medicare and Social Security.
Confession: I was stumped by "CFDT", even after reading your comment three times. Then (speed reader confession here) i read the last 4 words of your post. The thought that we could elect a convicted felon as president makes my blood run cold, and that doesn't take into account the individual there that is the convicted felon.
Good morning Ally. You pointed out several months ago that "white Christian Nationalists" should own the moniker when I was conflicted about using the word Christian. I thought faux-Christian was more appropriate at the time.
However, I have come around and I think you are correct about them "owning" it.
So, thank you for your comment back then. It allowed me to almost always use "convicted felon Donald Trump" and CFDT so they can own it.
As for the 10 Commandments, I checked the list of states for ranking quality of life, Louisiana is dead last at 50. Seems like their governor might have other things to worry about. As for "Christians", here is a link to the the Southern Baptist sexual scandals. 700 named abusers. https://www.npr.org/2022/06/02/1102621352/how-the-southern-baptist-convention-covered-up-its-widespread-sexual-abuse-scand
And one can also recall the problems in the Roman Catholic church.
I seem to recall that Jesus was opposed to to churches.
Thanks for sharing the link Patrick, even though the contents of the interview were quite disturbing. As I recall this story didn't get much press or not as much as the Catholic Church pedophile story did.
One of the local men was quite involved with uncovering (no pun intended) the priests committing pedophilia in the Springfield, MA area. He had three teenage sons one of whom was being groomed by their priest. Fortunately, the dad believed the son's story and eventually over 80 priests had been identified. Eventually Archbishop Law who had been aware of the crimes for over 20 years resigned in 2002.
In so many parts of the country the Catholic Church is so powerful, crimes committed by the priests are overlooked and rarely prosecuted.
Then there are U.S. Catholic Dioceses which are filing bankruptcy to protect themselves going forward.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258007/san-diego-diocese-files-for-bankruptcy-to-address-sexual-abuse-claims
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253644/which-us-dioceses-have-declared-bankruptcy-here-s-a-map
I love that, Gary!!
😀 I am so fortunate to have found this comment board. There are so many wise and experienced people that enlighten us every day. And the camaraderie is a bonus.
Gary, for me, since his felony conviction I have upped my TFFG to TFFFG—The Felonious F**king Former Guy!
It is deliberate and calculated, and will get worse if people don’t wake up.
You've touched on something that bothers me so much: Trump and his cohorts' sheer incompetency and willful intent to sabotage. One indicator of personality disorders (narcissism, borderline, et al.) is using destructiveness as a way to prevail. (Think of the mythological war gods. ) Building up good for all takes dedication, insight, and teamwork. That is a sign of a healthy mind.
I am grateful to the many Substack writers who are reporting daily on Project 2025.
We did really well in eliminating the infamous, dark driven No Labels Party. We can broadcast far and wide the Project 2025 document. We can do this by publishing sections of the documents. That way instead of the amorphous Project 2025 thing it gets real for people.
For Example:
" Implement nuclear modernization and expansion. The United States
manifestly needs to modernize, adapt, and expand its nuclear arsenal. "
And
"Improve military recruiters’ access to secondary schools and require
completion of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
(ASVAB)—the military entrance examination—by all students in schools
that receive federal funding."
There is an awful lot of philosophical verbiage and clear propaganda in the Project 2025 paper. However, by scanning through the paper stuff jumps out like the 2 examples I cited above.
Barbara, I am really perplexed by one of the statements you took from Project 25. I think I see the logic of what you’re implying; however, I’d like to offer another perspective. This is regarding the ASVAB and high school students. I retired from teaching high school in 2002. The majority of those years was 11th and 12th grade English (American and English lit.) twenty-two of my 36 years full-time teaching included Journalism ( newspaper and yearbook) and work Experience. I was in a high school attendance area of blue collar workers, as well as professionals in upper middle class. We were ethnically mixed and peaceful.
I developed a program over the years to help my senior students form a plan for post-graduation. I wanted to see what choices they had, and to assess their own abilities and interests. Literature didn’t suffer. They heard weekly speakers that described their careers. I used many of my former students from same community to stress what was possible. I had for-profit technical schools represented, as well as law enforcement and firefighters. The other people I had come in, with permission from administration, were recruiters from all the services. So many of my students could not afford college or were not sure about anything. I started having the ASVAB given on campus every spring. I was not preparing them for nuclear warfare. 1. They got an assessment of English and Math skills. 2. Their vocational strengths and preferences were presented. 3. They had a document to show their parents when discussing their next move after graduation. 4. If they did decide to go into the military, they learned the skill they wanted; they got money for college when the fulfilled their contract ( our son did this.) By the way, I didn’t demand they take the test; I offered extra credit points.
The success rate was tremendous. My students who did join a branch of the military have had impressive careers or just learned the skills necessary to join the American workforce and successfully provide for their families. A few did more than that. One ( female) served as part of military guard at the White House. Another young man who had nothing, been kicked out of house in sr. year by alcoholic father and walked to school daily from uncle’s house 5 miles away, went into motor division of the Army and learned everything about large trucks that gave him a valued skill and stability to raise his family. My favorite is currently just completing a 20- year career in the Navy as a Russian language expert (went and taught at their Foreign Language School in Monterey, as well as sent to Russia as interpreter. ) She is completing career in DC directly under Chief of Navy as a high ranking Chief Petty Officer.
I admit this was just prior to invasion of Iraq and years in Afghanistan. My point is that joining the military is not to be denigrated. The ASVAB is still a useful tool. We absolutely should not allow these Project 25 monster-creators to obscure and negatively change our pride in the military or not see their importance. Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. Let’s all fight to rid our country of those trying to destroy it. I’m in.
Your work was amazing, Sue, and the outcomes life changing! I fear the 2025 plan's take on it, however, is to REQUIRE ALL students to be READYVTO BE DRAFYED for the many wars the U.S. oligarchs intend to stage.
I am not implying anything nor did I denigrate the military. What I am doing is directly quoting from the Project 2025 document.
Making this mandatory if a school receives federal funding is interesting.
What a great program for those young people! I wish that those choices had been presented to me as well as my classmates those many years ago. Most of us just stumbled around and did what our friends did. We were generally middle class with many opportunities, but innocent ignorance, of our parents as well as the school system, no doubt prevented us from reaching for so much more.
Thank You, Barbara! I am copying and forwarding your Project 2025 nuggets today. Headline may be: "Under a Trump presidency:"
What a great idea. The two example you gave made my hair stand up on end. We have to stop this.
Wow! Reads like Hitlerjungen.
Look at it positively: the fact that N. Korea, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, US, UK, ..., are all modernizing their nuclear arsenals, and even talking about using them, will take our minds off of global warming, plastic pollution, overpopulation,... . Every cloud has a silver lining.
Or every cloud could have a radioactive lining...
It isn't out there near enough. I heard that Heather was on The 11:00 Hour on MSNBC the other night discussing the Project 2025. She needs to be and others need to talk about it every day of the week! I don't think it is discussed on Fox Entertainment and those other fake news programs!
Heather WAS on MSNBC at 11.00 pm. I stayed awake to get my first really good look at her. As impressive “in person” as her writing. We are as lucky to have her as we think we are!
Virginia Witmer, you can catch her most weeks on Tuesdays giving an informal chat in the afternoon on Facebook. It is worth being on Facebook to have that opportunity to listen to these chats. They are taped and you can watch past chats. I am hooked. Recently I have had to watch after the fact....but they are filled with so much information that we don't get in the letters and what is happening today. Look for Heather Cox Richardson and make sure you get her actual page. There is a fake one out there too. She warns about it. Hers has her picture. I wish I knew how to post a link. When she is on the road with promoting her book she may not be able to connect and she is a busy lady! She is a bit younger than my daughter but she is my hero and keeps me fairly sane...or as much as possible. She is down to earth and so honest. I dearly love her!
I'm hearing Project 2025 referenced by many hosts and guests on the MSNBC programs I watch. Problem is that those who watch regularly are more likely to be in the 'choir'.
If Project 2025 is discussed on Fox it is to laud it.
I am seeing more on MSNBC this weekend. It needs to be continually talked about! We need to get the word out. Hopefully, those that need it will catch on before November! Prayers for all, our country and God Bless our Troops!
Just thinking that very few - if any - Trump supporters even know what Substack is, much less read any of them.
Susan, that is very true. When I mentioned Heather's Substack daily Letter to a Trumper, he had never heard of it , but was so quick to classify it as an "underground newspaper".
I haven't heard that term since the late 70's. 😆
My wife is hesitant to use Substack because they allowed self labeled Nazi's to post on Substack. So there must me some far right readers and posters out here.
I share on Facebook nearly every day. I have a few friends that follow but ...I am not sure if many even care! So damn sad!
Likewise..I think most of them have blocked me by now!
Amen!
My daughter works for Social Security. She is so helpful to those with issues. She goes way beyond what others do. She lives her job! It is her life! I am so proud of her. She has a hearing disability but is totally amazing!
This a really cogent look at the situation Gary. Spread the word.
Gary, you should post this comment in every Letter to the Editor section of newspapers all over the country!
Gary Loft: "CFDT could care less about people"
(a) What is CFDT?
(b) You probably mean "couldn't care less". A common mistake.
Convicted Felon Donald Trump. I use it as a constant reminder that he is a felon who was convicted by 12 people based on facts and evidence.
Call it what it is - fascist take over.
Andra Watkins is a NYT bestselling author who “escaped” Christian Nationalism years ago.She has read and dissected the almost 1000 page, Project 2025 “Presidential Transition Project” document.
https://project2025istheocracy.substack.com/
John Oliver is hysterically serious about Project 2025.
https://x.com/BlueATLGeorgia/status/1802904289783767542
John nails everything he aims at
Thank you Kathy for mentioning the “John Oliver” think tank!!! Fab!!
Michael, thank you for the links.
Anyone who thinks that Trump/Putin will not destroy the America we have known since the 18th century is delusional. The outreach of the “useful idiot” to Putin, the bromance with North Korea and the intrasigeance of the “groupies of Putin” have weakened US internationally beyond the imagination of many if not most Americans. Time to think beyond higher prices for food and gasoline, and organize to fight Trump and Climate Change.
Prof Joyce Vance said in her Substack she is planning on doing a book club of the 920 page Project 2025 document. I mentioned this to my leader of Democrats Abroad Germany and he thought we should do a book club of it too. I think there should be book clubs all over America and the Expat world of people reading this document.
@ Michel Corthell.
Those "big plans" are nothing new. The Republican Study Group and the Federalist Society have been making the same suggestions, sometimes reducing them to writing in legislation. Before Trump won in 2016 the Federalist society identified about 150 judicial positions where Trump could eliminate civil service, eliminate the jobs, and apply the spoils system to appoint nothing but loyalists. My job was one of them. He wasn't able to replace us , but eliminated "merit selection" of judges appointed under Article 2 Section 2 of the constitution. The "Federal register" comprised of people who had commensurate trial experience and could pass a background security test, pass a test on administrative law, have the experienced scored and rated and undergo a staged interview by agency representatives someone representing the public and the ABA. Typically if an opening occurred, a best qualified list of 3 candidates would be sent to the agency for selection.
In anticipation of litigation Trump killed merit selection. Executive Order (E.O.) 13843 titled, “Excepting Administrative Law Judges from the Competitive Service” (83 FR 32755). E.O. 13843 states “that conditions of good administration make necessary an exception to the competitive hiring rules and examinations for the position of ALJ.https://www.govinfo.gov/link/cpd/executiveorder/13843
The rule today. No tests. No trial qualifications. No evaluations of experience. No FBI investigations. The only qualification is loyalty.
Our fate as a nation may be decided in the SDFL hearing before Judge Cannon today.
https://danielsolomon.substack.com/p/register-democrats-to-save-administrative?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=742145&post_id=145721077&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=zc69i&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
This IS something new. Have you read through the Project 2025 document?
Executive order can be overturned which President Biden did in his first days in office.
Project outlines the installation of a fascist State here in America.
Old wine, new bottles. GWB threatened to do it. Trump needed an "emergency" to execute the "unitary executive" theory. Usurp Congress and the judiciary.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_executive_theory#:~:text=Proponents%20of%20a%20strongly%20unitary,from%20presidential%20control%20is%20limited.
It's an over 900 page document. Let's not get stuck in minutiae. I invite you to look through the Project 2025 document.
AS IF I HAVENT!
Read my substack.
While I see Trump as the five alarm fire he is for worldwide democracy, I also fear that not having him in the picture will not end the danger for America. As long as there is a Project 2025 agenda in the republicans’ platform, any elected Republican president will do for them what they seek. They won’t let anyone but a purist ideologue get close to the nomination. I fear that their domination of our government is not an “if” but a “when”. If not Trump, the next Republican president. And in American politics it is unrealistic to believe democrats can hold the presidency through enough election cycles for this to die down. Certainly not when it is the culmination of more than fifty years of planning and funding by those with the means, and now the levers of power, to pull it off.
Agreed Sandy, DJT is just the tip of the spear. He’s useful to the powers behind him, but, he’s replaceable. Extremists have taken control of key parts of the judiciary, including SCOTUS. If and when they purge the civil service, our democratic institutions will fold quickly. Just watching how Judge Cannon has gamed the system to delay and perhaps circumvent justice is a warning shot of what’s to come.
Those who can't win election because of the repulsiveness of their ideas had the brilliant idea of legislating via the unelected judicial system. While hamstringing congress with paid for via citizens United whores.
And the next person likely will be smarter, more educated, more self-disciplined, less distracted, and more capable of making and executing an actual plan.
and the current person is too dumb to realize he is a short timer, he thinks he is going to be king.
Look at Mike johnson
You are right, he is the useful fool, clown with a flamethrower
yes, but he is also quiet, patient and dangerous.
There are plenty waiting in the wings
Spot on, Sandy. Culmination of fifty years of planning and funding on display.
Yes Sandy, you are clearly seeing the dangers about us.
As a person of faith, I resent that items of my faith, like the Ten Commandments, are being weaponized to score political points.
This is a great,short ad to share from the Lincoln Project : “Donald Trump is a living Affront To The Ten Commandments”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWGIJscEpUU
So is every Repub in this current crop, especially the SC cretins
Kinda Trump holding the Bible upside down, but more serious. I can no longer remember but as a kid, 70 or so years ago, religious posters etc were pro forma in Canadian schools, Ten Commandments? not sure. but the Lords Prayer was recited regularly over speakers, and in auditoriums. Funny they don't go on and institute slavery was OK, polygamy just the way it was!
Dear god, deliver us from religious zealots.
If they'd be so kind
Yes, from another Canadian. We said the Lord’s Prayer every morning before classes started. It’s not like that now.
What ended that anyway? Gradual? Charter of Rights from the 70s?
Yes, and yes.
It’s a bad joke since they have no intention of following them but want everybody else to.
Jenn, thank you for stating this. Good people of faith should be absolutely livid about what is happening. Too often people of faith are judged by the hypocrites and crass opportunists among them.
Jenn, I agree, but I am also concerned about the myriad lessons Jesus teaches and how the white Christian Nationalists act like the Bible is all about hate and anger instead of love, compassion and empathy.
But the media is using Convicted Felon Donald Trump's omnipresence against him more and more. Jennifer Rubin of the WAPO, Joyce Vance, Maggie Haberman, John Fugelseng, Heather Cox Richardson and so many others are constantly reinforcing CFDT's foibles and fails.
The problem being each side live in silos, trust more live in a more secular, religiously tolerant world than those in the MAGA / Evangelical world and that carries through come Nov.
But the mainline newspapers play into the maga handbook and tens of millions of people only get news from social media sources, Fox and Newsmax. In the latter scenario, they are told what to think, they are not informed, and it dulls critical thinking.
Has been true for Fox since my BFF’s family had it on 24/7 since it went on the air. Rupert rules, and it’s not just fools
Sure, and this may in fact get to independents (it appears to be) but the rest of the crowd is in the fox/newmax silo. Unless a group like The Lincoln Project (or better yet, the Biden campaign) starts creating ads enumerating this stuff and placing them on right wing "news," I fear that this is all just yelling into the void.
Thank you for some penetrating insights, Linda. You nail it.
As always, Beau of the Fifth Column has a great YouTube clip on this situation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcn2kEtoEEM
Anyone who uses social media, please do post the clip!
I love this guy. Thank you, Miselle!
https://youtu.be/TqWRcmxa-IU
EDIT: Sir Beau just released this interesting five minute vid. on an effort to repeal the Comstock Act. Quite a little surprise tucked inside.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/pill-anthony-comstocks-chastity-laws/
"It should be clear to all that when Judge Cannon refused to step aside from the Trump case, the fix was in." Oh it is clear. It continues to amaze me that this kind of corruption can happen in our system of justice. Right before our eyes, and there is nothing that can be done about it. A gigantic loophole in our democratic form of government that has to be fixed if only our governemt had the ability to. Which it currently doesn't thanks to Republicans.
Here we are indeed, Linda. The fix is in, and the $COTUS is willing to assist as need be.
They certainly are Ally.
Yep--right on the money, Linda! I admit that I don't engage here as much--although I read the letter every day and a lot of the comments--because the firehose of news is so debilitating.
I truly wish that the repubs, especially those SC idiots, would follow the ten comnandments
Fat chance! I bet they can’t even name the Ten Commandments!
No chance in hell, I would guess
Many of Trump's henchmen and sycophants have either stated openly, or have been surreptitiously recorded indicating that MAGA Republicans are planning - by hook or crook, to stymie voting, or throw legal wrenches into the gears of our electoral process in order to gain a last gasp win in November. And if they can't "win" by cheating that way, to aggressively attempt to discredit the outcome and/or promote threats of violence against election workers, and possibly intimidate voters. These are desperate moves by a party that no longer has anything meaningful or important to offer. Indeed, the Republican Party, which ought to at least be honest by rebranding as "The New Confederacy", offers nothing but hate, lies, confusion and chaos - in complete service I should add, to Putin and the uniting forces of global authoritarianism.
Yea for Louisiana- the Repubs are pounding nails into their OWN coffins. Sorry Joe has to "debate" with a nutcase, but at least it is on his terms. The more exposure of the insanity before the election, the better.
With the rules in place, I suspect that Trump will cut-&-run.
https://www.voanews.com/a/rules-for-upcoming-us-presidential-debate-include-mic-muting-and-no-live-audience/7663801.html
Wonder what the excuse will be?
Something lame for everyone except that M.A.G.A. base that is the cognitive under-class. I suspect the excuse will be that fake media is rigging the debate for fake news.
Ten commandments themselves are the basic behavioral laws that shape the society - in particular 5 to 10. Trump is clearly violating them, and hece 1 to 4.
Trump cannot remeber what he said a minute ago. His close circuit can simply use him to control power among themselves. That is even more scary.