I really don't think he does. His pathology makes it so he's like a little kid without the sweetness: he just says what pops into his head. There's no real assessment of the situation in any depth. Just a reaction to the reaction of what he said/did previously.
He really IS crazy. He should never have had any positions of responsibility anywhere, let alone the presidency. It's literally impossible for him to behave in a way that isn't wholly self-interested.
It's endlessly horrifying to me that there are STILL people out there that think he's a genius.
As I watched him saying this today, I felt a burst of outrage rise in me. I am so tired of tfg’s rabid mob saying Biden is too old, senile, and a bumbling fool! tfg is only three years younger than Biden and he appears to be mad as a hatter! Oh please may he implode soon…
That's more horrifying to me than TFG himself, and even *more* horrifying are the people who bankroll and otherwise enable him while knowing bloody well that he's nowhere close to a genius. That would include most of the GOP -- the ones that aren't either frothing at the mouth or brain-dead.
But to tell a lie, one has to know what the truth is, right? That's why I asked the question. "La vérité c'est moi" means literally "I am the truth" (which echoes, tellingly, words attributed to Jesus). If one really is (in one's own mind) "the truth," by definition one cannot lie.
SJS, I am still thinking about your points as you are on to an important observation. I'm a JD not a MD but, I do have access to a pyscho neurologist, Phd, MD. Still working on it ....
Medical residents tell me that it is customary to name medical discoveries after their DISCOVERER. My proposal is to call this discovery " "SURGIS SYNDROME". See LFAA, thread today under 'JL Grahm' for additional clinical observations.
One thing we all must realize he try. TFG has motives, and he will say what needs to be said that moves that motive the way he desires it to move.
His main motive, as it’s been all his life, is MONEY. He hasn’t gotten his hands dirty one single day of his life. He’s been a “suit” ever since he was big enough for his daddy to put him in one. It’s been drilled into his head. Everything evolves around money. If he’s not making money off of a project, he gets rid of it. If he can’t make money off of this lie, he changes the lie. Everything he dues makes him money in one fashion or the other.
Case in point. Look at all of his past recent court appearances. On the first E. Jean Carroll case, which he lost and had to pay her $5 million dollars. His bad mouthing E. Jean Carroll right after the verdict netted him over $10 million dollars!!! His court appearances on later cases have netted him millions of dollars. All from his ‘sheep’ that he’s fleecing every single time that he opens his mouth and tells them to send money, sends them emails telling them he needs money, or his robocalls telling them his dad story and telling them to get the check in the mail/go to the website and donate, donate, donate!
That’s who’s sick, and needs a lot of help in this country. We need to lock TFG, and all his stooges up, throw away the key , and forbid them any access internet, electronics, telephones, computers, nothing. And, we need to make sure we have a lot of physiatrist trained and ready. They’ll have about 74 million patients right off the bat!
But the writers have reason to strike: “On March 14, the WGA released a report titled “Writers Are Not Keeping Up.” It details how compensation for writing has been negatively impacted by the advent (and takeover) of streaming. “On TV staffs, more writers are working at minimum regardless of experience, often for fewer weeks, or in mini-rooms, while showrunners are left without a writing staff to complete the season,” the report states. “And while series budgets have soared over the past decade, median writer-producer pay has fallen.”
Please understand, Rose, I’m not grumping about the strike. But these talk show host can’t even write their own stuff!
Geeze, I’m not a literary genius, and I can write stuff from the news for them every night. They should be able to be smart enough to write a 15 minute commentary for the beginning of their shows. Actually, throw in the commercials that 15 minutes is cut to about 7 minutes.
I had no knowledge about what the strike was all about, but these talk shows and other programs these folks wrote for have won all kinds of awards. They should be able to pay these writers. Plus give them benefits.
There’s not one excuse these desk-hugging millionaires can say. All they’re interested in is the money, and it has to be from big into their pocket. It’s ridiculous.
If he wasn't so dangerous and close to getting a 2nd term I could almost feel sorry for him. It must be hell, well deserved, to be in his head. Oh to be a psychologist! Though it's really obvious to a layperson he is really demented. Now if the veil could be torn away from his followers they would see the emporer has no clothes!!!
Oh no, he can lie just by thinking about it, the same way he declassifies documents and changes them into golf course plans. That's what was in all those boxes at Mar-a-liego
I didn't know General Milley designed golf courses! Since he claimed the papers he held were written by Milley. Maybe Milley should take that up after he retires. :-)
What is the constitutional authority for presidents with regarding to declassification of documents? What was the classification of the document in question? What does the Presidential records act say? Is it criminal or civil?
What is the history? Has anyone ever been prosecuted and if not, why? What was Comey's rationale for not prosecuting Clinton?
Why would Heather address such questions when any well-informed reader already knows the answers? You're a propagandist intent on sowing confusion, not clarity.
What a stupid comment. A historian posts about a Supreme Court decision, where she has no idea about the law, yet offers an opinion she lifted from another site.
There is no scholarship or original thought? That's a joke.
And Comey didnt prosecute Clinton as the FBI found she was innocent (twice - once right beforecthe election) . Besides, the 33000 email figure was pulled out of the air just like all REPUBLICAN'TS alternative facts and kind of pales beside the 500k+ emails that George W Bush deleted.
I actually read his book The Art of the Deal in 2015 and he says right out that he lies. In the book he negotiates by saying whatever he thinks the customer/business contact wants to hear.
NB/ I may not explain the Russian influence fully here because it gets buried under several comments.
Instead, you can subscribe to my newsletter as I have comprehensively written this issue with deep insights and notify you.
Otherwise, I always appreciate this community 🙏
The strenght of the country is dependent on the immunity of the institutions.
The country will always have individuals with twisted characters and it is upon the Constitution to stamp its authority.
Trump has always find a way to win over anything even through unconstitutional means
A case in point is the Wagner Group. It is not new to America only
The Wagner Group is a Russian private military company that has been involved in various conflicts around the world, often operating in support of Russian interests. They have been active in countries like Ukraine, Syria, and Libya, among others. The Wagner Group is known for its role in providing military support, training, and security services to governments or non-state actors.
As a private paramilitary with links to Kremlin, Wagner Group has had its footprints in Africa since 2017 and often acts as the propagator of the Russia's foreign policies. Its intention is to offer military support to some of the African countries embroiled in unendless conflicts, alongside propaganda.
Established by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a business mogul, in 2014 during Russia's annexation of Crimea, the Wagner Group is a complex network of business men with links to the Russian military. Evidence suggests that the entity has more than 5000 members comprising foreign nationals, former military officers, and convicts.
"The Wagner Group got involved in Africa for its own reasons, [such as] private money making. But more recently, the Kremlin has found this a useful adjunct to what it’s trying to do diplomatically.” Graham Thomas, the head of CFR said. Russia has always wanted to bypass the United Nations through Africa by staging its presence in the continent.
The Wagner Group started its operations in Aftican countries such as Mali, Sudan, Central African Republic, and Libya, as these countries are still engrossed in deep internal conflicts. Russia understands that these African countries have strenuous relationships with the West, especially the United States because of political differences and colonial injustices.
How Wagner Group Works
The Wagner Group often targets rebels as well as regimes, by offering them with either financial resources and asking them to concede some of the resources.
Security Support
The Wagner Group often train militaries of the vulnerable regimes as recently seen in CAR whereby Touadera hires them to provide personal security as well as training its CAR army in order to capture its coup. They were granted logging rights and access to the Ndassuma gold mines. Similarly, since 2027, the Wagner Group has been protecting the government of imprisoned Omar El Bashir by targeting those opposed to him, safeguarding mineral resources. In return, the Russian government benefited from the gold. Similarly, in Mali, the Group has granted its aircraft military to the government.
Propaganda
The Internet Research Agency (IRA) and the Association for Free Research and International Cooperation (AFRIC) are owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin and they are mostly involved in spreading misinformation. These agencies worked with individuals drawn from Ghana and Nigeria to meddle with the US 2016 elections. They have worked in African countries such as Zimbabwe and Mozambique. These agencies have as well staged anti-French protests and anti-Western unrests.
Repercussions
The Wagner Group has been accused of violating human rights and further worsening the security of the region. In Tripoli, while working with Libyan National Army carried out extra judicial killings and implanting bombs or land mines in civilian regions.
Excellent summary of the Wagner Group. They have been deforesting Africa for a while now and also becoming involved in mining.
Anyone disagrees with them? Dead.
The odd thing about the Wagner group is how long they have been on the loose with no push back or other Western interference.
Maybe the Wagner group looks a little familiar to the West? Since, we (the west) USED to treat Africa and its resources as it if we owned them, and, if you don't like it?
Mike S, if Wagner Group activities seem familiar, some of that familiarity may derive from American organizations like the Blackwater Security group, founded by ex-Navy SEAL Erik Prince, whose organization seems to keep morphing into other holding companies, shell companies and conglomerates (aka: Xe Services, Academi, Constellis Holdings) all apparently bent on profits derived from "violence for hire" kinds of arrangements.
Colette, I was about to point out that Betsy DeVos is his sister, and did her best to program public education to the detriment of our children. Thanks for pointing that out.
Thank you so much for this link. As I read, all I could think of was the extreme weaponization to which the US has transitioned. The covert aspect of the progression of this private security entity is stunning as it shifts its name, its reach and its governing with a board of directors that include John Ashcroft and other Bush era affiliated members. The depth, scope of its weaponizing and profiteering (aided by massive US government contracts) is exhausting.
My thread with Keith Wheelock alongside this community is rich with information about the Wagner Group and its operations.
Again, I am thankful to Keith Wheelock for such a candid conversation. Coincidentally, Keith Wheelock has set its foot in war-torn countries like Angola and I will find time to interview and get primary data about private military operations.
Subscribe to my newsletter to get fuller and hard-to-find information about Africa and the rest of the world.
The Kremlin has been using The Wagner Group to foster its foreign interests. As an authoritative country, its wants to have its way by masquerading as offering security in warn-torn countries. The Western has fears regarding reactions from Russia since it believes it can trigger another World War that it is not ready to do in the 21st century.
Some of you have been emailing me separately about this subject. This week, following the breaking news that the Wagner Group wanted to oust Vladimir Putin, I will deeply, detail by detail, expound on the economic, human rights, and social atrocities committed by this private military group. I will also explain how it meddled with the US 2016 elections. If you have time, you can follow my newsletter for free and get one on one engagement with my community as well plus broad perspectives🙏
My thread with Keith Wheelock is rich with information about the Wagner Group and its operations. Again, I am thankful to Keith Wheelock for such a candid conversation. Coincidentally, Keith Wheelock has set its foot in war-torn countries like Angola and I will find time to interview and get primary data about private military operations.
Subscribe to my newsletter to get fuller and hard-to-find information about Africa and the rest of the world.
Edwin, I, too, find Keith’s contributions here, based on his vast experience on the world stage, to be fascinating and interesting. He is a wealth of knowledge and brings a perspective of a “world” I know nothing about.
Keith Wheelock has been in Africa, especially Angola and CAR. He brings primary and behind-the-scenes information about the Wagner Group. I will carry out an interview with Keith Wheelock to bring more issues to light. My engagement with him is topnotch.
Subscribe to my newsletter for I will talk with him.
Edwin I read that the name of the Wagner Group related to a neo-Nazi group and Wagner was the national composer who was highlighted during Hitler’s reign.
Keith, FYI regarding the name 'Wagner'. ''A 2021 BBC investigation highlighted the suspected involvement of former Russian army officer Dmitri Utkin.'
'A veteran of Russia's wars in Chechnya, he is thought to have been Wagner's first field commander, and to have named the group after his former radio call sign.'
Yes, the Wagner bears resemblance to the German names and I think the group draws a lot of inspiration from the earliest Nazi Group. It gathers intelligence from the war-torn countries and used it to their advantage. I will write about that composer.
Pleasure to know that. But, could it be possible that they also draw inspiration from Richard Wagner, the German artist whom the Nazis used his songs to wage their anti-semitic campaign?
Why spread rumors? I think it is better to state the facts. You may be correct, but I prefer evidence as scapegoating is so common and harmful as you well know of the Nazis using it to such lethal effect.
I saw that as well. I had to confess that I like some of Wagner's music. There is a new book out called Monsters, which I have not read, which deals about artists, writers, composers, who were not nice people.
Actually, it is evidenced that Richard Wagner (which I believe the Russian group used, though I am not sure,) was an artist, writer, and song composer. He was an anti-semitic, but his work was only used by the Nazi regime to justify their heinous actions after he had died.
He was most known for his music and very long operas about Nordic myths. And yes, he was anti-Semitic and used by the Nazis who purged the concert repertoire of anything written by Jews. Most people would recognize The Ride of the Valkyries, used in Apocalypse Now.
Is there a nascient group like the Wagner Group in the US? If tfg is as certain that he is the chosen leader for America, would he trust the establishment military to back him? Or, is there a force being formed to ensure his will be done in the US? We do have some strong traditions in paramilitary groups and in subcontracting functions once only provided through government agnenices. Tfg was,a great admirer of Putin, his style, and other dictators who sought to have their own security or army (e.g., DeSantis, I jest).
The Wagner Group has been financed by the Russian state. Putin appears to be figuring out control of it since the splint with Yevgeny Prigozhin.
What is to happen to Wagner Group? Is Putin the one to be figuring that out now?
Below are summaries of the history and function of the Group. We do not know its future or that of Prigozhin and, perhaps, even Putin.
The following are reports covering the past year and a half, will provide a sense of it as a service as well as a tool for Putin, Prigozhin and Russia.
'What is Russia's Wagner group of mercenaries and why did it march on Moscow?'
__ 'The Wagner group was first identified in 2014, when it started backing pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. It is thought to have helped Russia annex Crimea in the same year.'
'Wagner forces have also been active in Africa and the Middle East.'
'Yevgeny Prigozhin claims he founded Wagner in 2014. A wealthy businessman and convicted criminal, he is nicknamed "Putin's chef" because he provided catering for the Kremlin.'
'A 2021 BBC investigation highlighted the suspected involvement of former Russian army officer Dmitri Utkin.'
'A veteran of Russia's wars in Chechnya, he is thought to have been Wagner's first field commander, and to have named the group after his former radio call sign.'
Mr Prigozhin boosted Wagner's numbers in 2022 by recruiting Russian prisoners.
'Where else does Wagner operate?'
'Since 2015, Wagner mercenaries have been in Syria, fighting alongside pro-government forces and guarding oilfields.'
'It also has troops in Libya, supporting the forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar.
The Central African Republic (CAR) uses Wagner to guard diamond mine. The group is also thought to protect gold mines in Sudan.'
'The government of Mali, in West Africa, uses the group against Islamic militant groups.
It is not yet clear who will now take command of these troops.'
'How does Wagner make money?'
'Russia paid Mr Prigozhin for providing Wagner troops to fight in Ukraine, says Dr Miron.
"He is one of several wealthy Russians who run private mercenary forces," she says. "Even the defence minister owns a mercenary company."
'According to President Putin, Wagner was given 86.26bn roubles ($1bn) from the defence ministry and state budget between May 2022 and May 2023 to pay wages.
He said authorities would investigate how the money paid to Wagner was spent.
Mr Prigozhin has also made money from Wagner's presence in other foreign countries, according to the US Treasury.'
'His companies are said to have profited from gold and diamond mines in the CAR and Sudan.'
'US authorities also say that an energy company linked to Mr Prigozhin was offered a 25% stake in all oil or gas fields in Syria which Wagner won back from Isis control.'
The US has announced sanctions against several of his companies
• What interests do Russian mercenaries have in Sudan?
• US sanctions boss of Wagner group in Mali (BBC) See link below
'Russia's Wagner Group in Africa: More than mercenaries'
"Wagner itself has developed over time as an organization that's gone from being a purely private military contracting entity into a multiplicity of business alliances and relations, and a network of companies. Some of them front companies across the countries in which they operate on the African continent," analyst Julian Rademeyer told DW recently at the Munich Security Conference. "It operates in this legal gray zone between illicit activities and more legal illicit activities. And it straddled those quite, quite effectively."
'Sudan: Russia's 'key to Africa'
'Sudan has long been a particular focus for Wagner mercenaries, and there are many of them there. Back during the rule of the dictator Omar al-Bashir, who was in power from 1993 to 2019, licences already went to the Russian firm "M-Invest," which is probably under the control of oligarchs, including Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. This led to Wagner members being given the job of protecting the M-Invest gold mines in Sudan.'
'According to various media reports, observers are saying that Russia is mostly concerned with securing access to Sudan's valuable resources, which include manganese and silicon, alongside gold. Russia is also particularly interested in the uranium deposits, with which
'Africa's hunger for energy is also to be assuaged.'
'Wagner Group: A vehicle for Russian influence'
'Rademeyer, who works at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), sees the Wagner Group as primarily a Kremlin military tool to boost Russia's economic and military influence in Africa. Sudan is just one of many countries where it is being employed.'
'With his colleagues at GI-TOC, he recently published a report on Wagner in Africa. "We argue in the report that the Wagner mercenary group, the Wagner private military group, is the most influential Russian actor operating in Africa today, and that its activities and the network of front companies that bolster it are a malign influence on the continent,” he said.'
'Central African Republic: Rare woods, gold, sugar and alcohol'
'International research has found that the Wagner brand is active in areas that extend far beyond security. In July, All Eyes on Wagner partnered with 11 European media outlets to uncover how the group has been raking in massive profits with precious tropical timber from the Central African Republic. According to the report, the government in Bangui granted a subsidiary unrestricted logging rights across 187,000 hectares (722 square miles).'
'The case of the Ndassima gold mine, also in the Central African Republic, is similar. Reports say that a concession was withdrawn from a Canadian mining company in favor of one from Madagascar that appears in the GI-TOC report as a Wagner subsidiary. Research by The Africa Report magazine traces how the Wagner network allegedly imported heavy mining equipment through the Cameroonian seaport of Douala. Up to three truck convoys are organized weekly from Bangui to Douala to transport the raw materials, under the protection of Wagner members with heavy weapons.'
'Follow the money'
'The Wagner Group appears to be ever diversifying its businesses in the Central Africa Republic. Trying, for example, to force French sugar company SUCAF out of the market, said Joseph Bendounga, head of the MDREC opposition party there.'
'Another example: "They are in the process of framing the French brewery Castel for supporting and financing terrorist forces," he told DW. "In all areas that bring in money, including customs and taxes, the Russians are the masters."
'The First Industrial Company, which produces beer and spirits in Bangui — and, according to the GI-TOC report, is apparently registered to a Russian businessman tied to Wagner — could benefit from this. (Deutsche Welle (DW) is Germany's international broadcaster and one of the most successful international media outlets. We provide impartial news and information, giving people worldwide the opportunity to form their own opinions, assess issues of local and global significance and participate in social debates as active and informed citizens.)
When I encounter a new source, which is informative, I check out its background and learned the following about DW.
‘Funding and regulation DW is funded through the German federal tax budget. Regulated by the Deutsche Welle Act, DW fulfills its program mission free from government influence. DW has about 4,000 employees worldwide and 16 global offices Brussels; Washington D.C.; London; Beirut; Kyiv; Lagos; Cape Town; Riga (formerly Moscow); Nairobi; New Delhi; Taipei; Bogotá; Warsaw; Jerusalem; Istanbul.'
''What we do As an international broadcaster, DW provides impartial news and information so that people can form their own opinions, assess local and global issues and participate in social debates as active and informed citizens. We produce distinctive, regionally relevant and dialogue–oriented content in 32 languages focussing on six topics: freedom and human rights, democracy and good governance, free trade and social justice, technology and innovation, health education, nutrition and environmental protection, and German and European culture.'
'Who we are We stand for human rights, democracy and freedom, especially freedom of speech and of the press. We take a clear stance against all forms of discrimination, racism, extremism and antisemitism.'
All Eyes On Wagner is another source for information.
'Open source research for accountability.'
'Our mission'
'All Eyes On Wagner is a project focusing on Wagner mercenaries: tracking their activities and verifying claims of human rights and economic abuses. We rely on open source information and witnesses accounts/leads sent to us which are collected, archived and verified. Our objective is to become a reliable source of information on Wagner mercenaries for key human rights organisations'
'Who we are'
'The project has been historically initiated by OpenFacto, a French not for profit organisation with expertise in open-source investigations (OSINT). AEOW is today independent and does not have any financial support.'
'It is managed on a voluntary-basis by a group of 8 volunteers on their free time from different nationalities and backgrounds: journalists, investigators, experts on disinformation, students, humanitarian and academics. Friends and contacts often provide an extra hand: graphism, research, editing, good advice.'
Very true. The Wagner Group has an extensive network intertwined with security military operations. It seems their target is resources to exploit based on their happenings. Their victims are vulnerable countries with rebels.
Sure. It's a typo error. It is 2017. Welcome and you can subscribe to my newsletter for free to get independent, indeph analysis. I will expound on this Wagner Group further
The Wagner Group presence in Africa comes with huge, defrauding economic concessions that have plunged African countries into poverty, and ultimately conflicts, with a point of no return.
Mali
CAR
Mozambique
Zimbabwe
Chad
Libya
Thereafter, Russia again appears in the form of security to 'support military operations ' but with exchange of material concessions.
Edwin My hunch is that Putin was delighted to spread Russian influence in Africa and elsewhere with a cohesive mercenary group. Whether it was Putin’s idea and he encouraged his puppy dog Prigozhin to implement this program we may never know.
What strikes me is the broad range of these mercenaries—from serving as Praetorian Guards to some African dictators to organizing lucrative mineral looting operations.
Publicly we have no info on how these foreign Wagner Groups are organized and operate. I doubt that Prigozhin, physically isolated in Belarus and, presuming with funds—including his own—cut off, will be running multi-national operations.
Yevgeny Prigozhin is the founder of The Wagner Group but it has since morphed into Russian military wing and incorporated a network of business men with interests in economic resources in Africa. It is the modern-day scramble for Africa but with the use of intelligence. Little is known about how Wagner operates but as days goes by, the names of other members will be known. I will try as much as possible to get that intelligence.
“Publicly we have no info on how these foreign Wagner Groups are organized and operate. I doubt that Prigozhin, physically isolated in Belarus and, presuming with funds—including his own—cut off, will be running multi-national operations.”
Will his funds be cut off? I have wondered if his lucrative and less constrained work in Africa may have been the carrot that led him to want to get out of Ukraine. I suppose we won’t know (at least not very soon) how independently he can continue his plundering there. But, also I wondered if Putin, being increasingly desperate for💰 might want to keep Prig’s existing infrastructure running in those vulnerable areas? So happy to read of the Biden admin’s sanctions there!
Edwin, I have not yet read thru all the comments so my apologies if you have already weighed in on these sanctions on Wagner associated companies that Heather referenced in today’s letter. I wonder if you have an opinion on them, particularly, whether they might be meaningful.
You ain't late. Welcome. And Yes, sanctions placed on Wagner-associated companies can be one of the major steps towards taming their influence on Africa and Middle East. But, I am also afraid that Russia might finance them when these sanctions are place. Lessening their presence in Africa and Middle East is a multifaceted issue that needs to be dealt by different countries. It can also include involving rebels through diplomatic means.
You can correct typos and make other edits to any of your own posts: click on the three dots (ellipsis) to the right of the Reply link at the bottom of the post and "Edit" will be an option.
Of course, Vladimir Putin has always been relying on private intelligence agencies to advance the Russian interests. The Wagner Group is a tip of the ice bag. And wherever they are present, they are not concerned with human rights. Extra judicial killings have been common in where Russia is present
Following yesterday's thread about the Wagner Group, I have prepared a special newsletter with detailed understanding of how Russia is deploying PMCs as its foreign policy tool.
Check my newsletter and subscribe to get novel perspectives about Africa and its relations with the rest of the world 🌎.
" It (referring back to the U.S. Treasury I believe) also sanctioned Industrial Resources General Trading, a Dubai-based company that has funded Prigozhin, as well as a Russian firm and a Russian national working in Mali TO FORCE THOSE STANDING AGAINST THE WAGNER GROUP OUT OF AFRICA."
force those standing AGAINST Wagner out? not force out those SUPPORTING Wagner?
In the next days, together with Keith Wheelock (since she has been to Africa with first hand info), I will interview him about The Wagner Group to further shed light on this.
I'd like to see him make that argument in court, to so accomplished an attorney as Jack Smith. But if I were the Duck's lawyer, I might not allow him to even attend court, much less testify! He will, when the time come, be the worst defendant imaginable.
Clifford, we needn't wait for "when the time comes" if one simply looks at the procession of lawyers who have resigned, been fired, thrown under the bus and/or stiffed for their fees to KNOW he is already the worst defendant imaginable!
I have been thinking that for awhile. Obviously he has some kind of mental disorder over which he can't control, maybe oppositional defiant disorder. Possibly he has obsessive-compulsive disorder or some kind of hoarding disorder. In any event, he shouldn't be allowed to run for president again due to 1/6.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder is not a d/o of adulthood. Kids with this diagnosis can then be diagnosed with conduct disorder (in adolescence)which in adulthood likely becomes Antisocial Personality Disorder, which is sociopathy and/or psychopathy or both. This, along with Narcissistic Personality Disorder fit tfg perfectly. The Antisocial P.D. accounts for his committing crimes without feeling guilt (no conscience). His constant lying is also part of Antisocial Personality Disorder as well as his huge need for attention which is part of his narcissism. This is what accounts for his telling on himself in interviews. His appetite for attention is insatiable.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder. No treatment for that, it’s just who he is, likely from preschool, or at least young adulthood. But he may rewrite the criteria…
Does no treatment for this disorder mean that those afflicted can't understand they have this disorder and therefore can't try to change the behaviors?
As I understand from grad school and working in the field. Of course, that was when God was a baby. Things change, but I think chump is proof that that hasn’t.
And like Calvin and Hobbes, he can transmogrify. Can it be possible that his ardent followers have no idea of his crimes? Witnesses on January 6 still supporting him are treasonous, delirious and most probably threatened in the same way he threatened Prosecutor Smith, his family and associates. A judge warned him about that. It's time to put tfg in solitary confinement.
When Trump used the word "bravado" he meant "lying" - so when he said "if you want to know the truth, it was bravado" he meant: if you want to know the truth, it was lying.
That would seem to describe the whole republican party, such as what they define as "ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse". Certain SCOTUS judges are past masters. Scalia intimated he could channel the dead.
I don't believe TFG is clever enough to have come up with this dodge on his own. Could he possibly be taking advice from those who are (far) more aware of the situation than he is? Providing, of course, that there are any such people left in his orbit . . .
I posted in another place here today that people fall into categories of either being good, bad, terrible (or horrendous) or just confused. Question: In what category do you trump supporters fall?
I know good people that voted for Trump. It made me question their authenticity because I could not believe they would vote for a clearly racists, misogynist, criminal, dim wit to hold the most important job in America, maybe the world. I thought it was so irresponsible of them and couldn't, wouldn't speak to them for a very long time and I cut the ones that really didn't matter that much to me from my life. I did so to prove the depth of my disgust. I will never trust them ever again. I felt so deceived. But I never thought they were bad people. I just didn't like them anymore. I don't think they were confused or brainwashed. Hypocrites? Some. Without conscience? No. Many still refuse to see they did a stupid, stupid thing. Not unusual. Most have quit politics because they plan to not vote or vote Republican again, if not for Trump. Ask him about the Trump administrations policies and they can't answer you. They didn't partake in J6 but understand that those people were misinformed as to the legality of their actions and the lies Trump told.
Do I know I know bad people? What makes a person bad, some sort of mix between good and terrible? Yes I have known/know a few of those. Do I know they voted for Trump? No. I would put my money on that most of them did. I think most of the Republicans in the house fall into this category. I don't think they are confused or brainwashed. Hypocrites? Yes. Without conscience? Yes. They refuse to see the consequences of what they did and would vote for Trump again no problem.
I don't know any terrible people if by terrible you mean no redeeming qualities. That is just not my world. I would be surprised if terrible people even vote. They don't care about anything much less who the president is because that means they think beyond themselves. It is this category that disturbs me because I think several members of the house and Senate and wannabes fall into this category. You all know who I mean. Not confused at all. Hypocrisy, lying, dehumanizing people are tools of the trade for terrible people.
Saying Trump voters were/are confused let's them off the hook. I don't think any of them were/are confused. Everyone knew about pgate, melon legs, and Stormy. They gave that a pass. The only thing they disbelieved was conspiring with the Russians because you couldn't give it a pass if you believed it.
"Most have quit politics because they plan to not vote or vote Republican again, if not for Trump." The people you so aptly describe will take their bats and balls and go home. They will hide their humiliation under the guise of "all those politicians are corrupt". They will become non participants. Good.
And that is one of the ways we will win big time next year. The other tool in our tool box is the youth vote. We need to work hard to continue the strong trend of younger people voting. They don't suffer fools as easily as the Trumper Cult.
Of course, there's a sucker born every day. Just read about the momentum in RFKs campaign.
Martha Woods, As we have seen in the House, party dictates so much. The fact remains that if one caucuses with the GOP, one will be pressured into supporting many of the same policies for which Trump was just a figurehead. And it ought to be apparent that the GOP leadership are at best synchophants and at worst even more committed to repression than he was, because while they live in lofty places, they are still vulnerable. Voting for the GOP but not for Trump is naive thinking, because the group that passes the laws and confirms judges will still be in power. For myself,I think there is a difference between “nice” people and “good” people, and one of the prime differences is just how much one’s actions are rooted in concern for one’s fellow man
My question is always do they walk their talk. I have had several people express to me how shocked they were when people they thought were good supported and still support him.
Martha, I appreciate your comment. I think that (in my corner of the world, which includes a boatload of white male cops), the "tipping point" for them moving from being "conservative" to whatever descriptor can be applied to today's RepubliQan party was the 2008 election when the US elected a Black man to the office of President. The hatred and fear was palpable. Then, in the election of 2016 where the presidential choice was between a woman and tfg, the die was cast. Further, tfg gave his permission for expressing hatred and anger let loose the torrent we are seeing today. Couple that with the intentional divide in our country via the use of social media by forces from both within and outside the US, and you see the morass we're in today.
Ally House, I have said many times that when we elected President Obama it scared the hell out of white males, especially ones that tended to be insecure in the first place. Hillary Clinton was the most qualified person to ever run for president in my book but she was a woman and insecure white people (men and women) were groomed by Agent Chaos (my new name for the former guy) to hate and loath her. She still beat him by 3M votes and yet, we were stuck with him and may be again unless we get everyone to vote again! Hopefully, we can conquer the hate that he uncovered and emboldened in our country.
Colette, I looked at the 2008 Democratic primary as an interesting experiment: who was the lesser of evils, a Black man or a white woman. The Black guy got elected to two terms; the white woman (in the subsequent non-incumbent election) won by 3 million votes, but lost in the archaic Electoral College, and I got my answer.
Yes, I agree. The election of Obama brought forth loads of racist hatred. We were in Charleston on election night in 2008. When we were in the bar having dinner and the returns were starting to come in, the white people in the bar were not cheering. At midnight, when the election was finally declared, we heard lots of people celebrating in the streets as we were at the Francis Marion hotel which is in a fairly black area. College of Charleston just around the corner and the church where the terrible murders took place on the other side of the square which of course had a big statue of John Calhoun in it. We took a couple tours of Charleston, one led by a white guy and one focused on the black heritage. Interesting what they had to say about some of the same places. We were in Savannah just before the election and heard one guy bragging that he had just voted for Sarah....remember her.
I agree with you completely. They never expected a person of color could get elected and they looked around and saw that people of color were working their way up and even dominating some fields, like medicine and sports. I did not understand that where I saw something wonderful some of my friends and co-workers (predominantly male and white) saw a threat to their way of life. As for Hillary, well my co-workers in VA were largely white women that voted for sweet Laura Bush instead of that haughty french woman. I almost fell out of my chair the first time I was told that. They didn't care about the Iraq war at all and that Republicans had fabricated a reason to invade. Heavens no. And the men thought Kerry was unacceptable because he had experienced war and said WTF while Cheney couldn't wait to invade Iraq on behalf of Haliburton. Go figure. Did you read the NYT opinion piece on what Republicans think is a lie? If it weren't true. It would be funny.
I think I would like your wife:) It is hard for people to admit they are wrong, particularly if they don't see it. Just not an easy thing to do...to see through the fog.
Sometimes I think that people who work in environments where the path to success depends on doing what bosses say they want become immune to the defects of the organization, its goals, and ways of implementing their aims. So people end up working for thugs, knowing they are thugs and knowing that their work is not for anything good, but they do it anyway. Maybe partly because they don't see alternatives, fear quitting and starting over somewhere else, and generally accept pretty shitty Faustian bargains for their labor. I've seen it in a corporate setting, which I couldn’t abide after realizing how dangerous the quicksand was to personal integrity, and quit. My colleagues were stunned that I'd leave such a 'cushy' situation and wondered where I thought I'd find something as 'rewarding'….certainly only meaning in terms of $$$. People know Trump is lying…they expect it, but for weird reasons of their own, they give it and many of his other transgressions a pass. It's a mass psychosis, in my view, but so is the 'loyalty' to other entities and their people about which/whom similar bad things have been exposed…churches, companies, rulers, sports teams?
Your assessment mirrors one which Mike S has espoused: If you grow up doing what the white man at the front of the church tells you to do, it is natural and normal for you to do what you're told to do by the white guy in charge of whatever you're in, be it church, employment, or home.
Sounds familiar….as a recovering Catholic for 60:years, I partly attribute my deprogramming from parochial school and CDC ( Christian Doctrine Classes) to my father who was a bit of an iconoclast. His pithy assessments of the people of the cloth sort of gave permission to toss it all into the rubbish heap. The rejection would have happened sooner but for trying to assuage Mama.
I am so grateful to have grown up in a “none” household….goes back to my wonderful granny born in 1898 (and extended to her progeny—now 5 generations); open-hearted, open-minded & lack of dogma of any kind….well, except to be kind, do good, pay attention, lend a hand when needed & carry your own weight as long as you are able—oh, and garden! As a kid—junior high years—went w/ friends a couple of times to their church services & although pleasant enough, it didn’t stick (would have rather been at the beach body surfing!).
I don't let any of them off the hook...I know several Rs who did not vote for him because they could see how bad he was. None of them defended him either. Those that continue to support him are those who are unhappy because they think they have lost their unmerited place as merely being white, or they loved the class clown, or they are just as racist, misogynistic, and biased against queer people who finally have a few rights. The drag queen business is nonsense because many of them love the idea of men dressing up as women. Some of them are religious zealots who want to control the behavior of everyone including what they read and learn in school. This has always existed beneath the surface or at times like the 1920s in plain sight. They love death star because he has given them carte blanche to be awful without hiding it. And they can oppose any and all government programs because helping the less fortunate and making society better for everyone is socialism.
Beth, and that’s rub many Evangelicals don’t get. Sin is sin. God doesn’t rank them; men do; and as such Men take on the mantle of God in such decision making. I’m pretty sure that was not the plan of the God Evangelicals worship
Such self-righteous glee and condemnation over the misfortune of the powerless. And always against the woman (or girl), never the other party who must never be named.
I think the majority of US bishops are republicans bc their “pre-eminent” issue has been abortion (even when the pope and others reminded them there are MANY important issues). And a few loudmouths are mad at Pelosi (woman in power, dem) and Biden for “supporting” abortion (confused with I will not impose my belief system on the country (see, for example, Alito and Thomas)).
Yes and it is not the fascist Christian Nationalism. Read some of the posts by Mormon Women for Ethic Gov. Many of their statements etc are well written & not rabid R propaganda. I am not LDS & dont adhere to their beliefs however I think that we share concerns over some of the same issues.
I think the supporters vary, and that some could become disabused of their folly. I think the architects of the big lies and treachery are legitimately evil.
I don't buy the notion that evil is somehow connect to a devil with goat horns and a tail; but personally, when I think of behavior that could be called "evil" I could also label it aggressively sociopathic, when only one's own whims are sovereign even when one actions harm others. The extreme and self -congratulatory tortures inflicted by WWII Nazis could be, in my opinion, be assigned either label.
We all "pursue" happiness and we all possess self-interest, even in heroic behaviors. But who and what else do we care about? That sphere of concern and action makes all the difference between an adult said to be emotionally "really small" and one described as having a "big heart". We tend to leave that to theologians and philosophers to puzzle out; but our survival as a species may require a better and clearer personal understanding of our own human nature.
I don't disagree, but too often their "folly" is analogous to "pushing a rope"! I'm weary of the energy, airtime, and "hope" that they might eventually get it . . .
So true JL and some were legitimately pardoned by manbaby massmurderer. Some people are just hateful bullies who believe they are better than everyone else. But "Conservative Christians" are a phenomenon I cannot understand or explain.
I detect two salient themes in religions, one hubrisitic and cruel and the other humble and compassionate. We call them both by the same name, but they are diametrically opposed. Some of the most sociopathic events in history wear a religious cover story, and there are also religiously motivated acts of kindness and sacrifice. One seeks to subjugate and the other to liberate. One to ideologically and ethnically "cleanse" and the other to bond. It's easy to find examples of both.
Excellent point!!! It does boggle the mind how opposite sides of the coin are both called religion. Glad I never dipped my toe in that world; neither did those on my family tree going back 5 generations…how they sidestepped it I never thought to ask my elders (those of my generation are the elders now) before they passed.
I’d like to hear a knowledgeable analysis of how three SCOTUS justices managed to conclude that the “independent state legislature doctrine” correctly interprets the Constitution.
Well, yes, TCin LA. That does explain it but is not the legal analysis that I was looking for of the dissent they wrote from that position, which must have been hard to pull out with their heads blocking the way.
I am stunned that people are so focused on the dissenters instead of this amazing victory. There were 3 conservative Justices who voted for Democracy today. Let's celebrate that!
Here is an interesting article on John Roberts in Slate. "John Roberts Has Wrested Back Control of the Supreme Court"
Jeri, I take the celebrations where and when I can. It's fuel to keep going.
I can't live under a cloud. Frankly, there is always going to be something somewhere. We've been in this battle going on 7 years now for the soul of this Country. Let's take the wins where they pop up.
John Roberts is deeply invested in white supremacist mythology. He occasionally sends diversionary signals in the vain hope of hiding his underpinnings from future historians. But he did pick a good time to send out a flare. Lucky for American democracy, that’s for sure.
True, I think there are some Buddhist quotes re the duality of our nature & the world of being able to hold both, complimentary not oppositional. " Expect nothing & be ready for anything" or something like that.
This is essentially what my husband says whenever I lament what's going on with tfg, SCOTUS, et al. "There's nothing you can do about it," except vote. Doesn't make me feel better, though.
It’s frustrating to depend on voting to make the change that most want because of the ways those who want to remain in power futz with the system to reduce our impact. Doesn’t stop me tho’, only makes me want to try harder!
Thomas and Alito seem willing to destroy democracy for their benefactors. They are solutions waiting for the right cases to be imposed. Thomas in particular seems full of hate ( self hatred?) and semi-nihilism.
Yes. It also could be that there are essential personality traits that were physically left out at birth. The capacity for simple empathy and a sense of justice for the majority of the down trodden. They don't follow a Jesus I read about. They, along with Barrett and Gorsuch, are right out of a Dan Brown novel.
What they really care about is fishing with rich guys. And private plane rides. Being treated as if they were important. They are shallow wanna be elitists.
Thomas and Alito both seem to be very angry, unhappy men--goodness only knows why. Alito's Catholicism is not a comfort to him as one's religion is supposed to be. Thomas's anger...self-hatred, perhaps?
“The Supreme Court's long-awaited decision in Moore v. Harper is a resounding, reverberating victory for American Democracy.” Thanks, HCR, for pointing out this statement by Judge Luttig, and by ending today's letter with the authoritarian jitters around the world, and giving the last words on democracy to Pres. Biden.
I don't think they care one bit. Lifetime appointment and evidently, they have no ethics, moral compass, or understanding of "conflict of interest". And frankly why should they - it has been clearly shown their power and influence is not at risk.
I think these three justices prove the case for reforming the SC. 1) Increase the number of justices to 13, commensurate with the number of federal districts. 2) Institute term limits. The 18 year plan has much to recommend it. 3)The SC should have to follow the ethics rules of the federal judiciary.
Yes would be a great improvement, 25 probably even better. I guess 435 would be awkward but kinda find it attractive, anyway, especially if Biden got to appoint all of them.
We live in an extraordinary time; one of the most exciting times in my personal history. So many consequential acts, decisions, and wild natural events have grabbed our collective attention with I grip I have never felt before. Today marks a turn in the fate of fairness in elections, and with that some major changes in American life. Not all of it will be easy, but my hope is that most of it pushes humanity forward in a balance with the planet we occupy.
I guess I am old but I wouldn’t exactly call it “exciting times” quite yet, anyway. I have called it “trying times” because a lot of us have had our securities and minds uprooted in the last 7 years. What Fake 45 and his ilk have done makes Nixon, Agnew, and Watergate seem like docile sheep. Watergate was a big turning point in our history and I don’t think any of us would have dreamed for a moment of what occurred on J6 as a comparison. But there, you have it!
I just finished watching the 1976 movie "All the President's Men" (saw it when it came out and lived through those times). Compared to Trump, Nixon was a "boy scout" - albeit a paranoid law breaking one!
But at least, even those in his own party recognized he was unfit to hold office and were a part of convincing him to resign. Although, I think former president Gerald Ford was a decent guy and I don't think he personally had nefarious intentions, but in hindsight it was a mistake to have pardoned Nixon.
It is beyond obvious today's GOP is far below the bar of sanity. They willingly advocate putting a criminal madman back in the WH. They (and the followers) were evil in 2016 and they are evil today. It really is batshit crazy and so dangerous. Meanwhile the MSM continues to feed the monster by giving trump 24/7 coverage. Just lock this guy up until his trial and let Jack Smith at him in court sooner vs. later!
"Trump’s troubles are growing serious enough that House speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) suggested on CNBC this morning that Trump might not be the best candidate for the Republican Party in 2024. But then, revealing Trump’s continuing support in the party, he promptly backtracked to say that Trump is the “strongest political opponent” against President Biden."
Most of the GOP sold their souls to Trump from 2016 to 2020 just to kiss 💋 ass and brown nose. And not get a negative Tweet from the Don.
But one has to wonder if Trump did not do us all a favor? By being the overbearing dictator he forced / or gave them a chance to show their true colors, which they had probably been hiding for years.
Racist, misogynistic and entitled mostly white folks with social attitudes right out the 1950s.
"It is beyond obvious today's GOP is far below the bar of sanity"
That, right there. Both those elected and those doing the electing. We are seeing the results of unfettered propaganda, lies masking as news or information, and the permission to hate granted by fpotus come home to roost.
I will only disagree with your comment that Gerald Ford was a decent guy who didn't have nefarious intentions. I asked Gerald Ford a question once...actually I asked the same question three times and never got an answer; Gerald Ford was a tool. He was neither decent nor nefarious; he was incapable of original thought. The pardon was a mistake, but wasn't actually his idea.
May I ask what the question was you put to him that he didn’t answer….and how was it that you were in the position to do so? [Inquiring minds want to know—sounds interesting!]
My husband was on the Beaverton School Board 1980 to 1988. The Republicans were starting their campaign of raising up people in politics by starting in local elected offices. So we were invited to some event where Ford was the speaker and Beaverton had a table pretty close to the front. He said a bunch of stuff but what caught my attention was what he probably considered a throw away line about wanting to get good people into local offices but not people who were "too intelligent".
So I raised my hand when it was opened up for questions, and asked him what he meant by too intelligent. He, of course, did not answer my question, rambling on repeating his core message. And since I was at a table right in front I asked him again to explain what he meant by too intelligent, and then a third time when he didn't answer my question again. By then my husband was nudging me so I gave up.
Whatever you want to call the times we live in, it certainly has knocked the ho hum out of many of us & moved us from sitting on the sidelines to political activism, to voting in every election.
Very "interesting"; though my sense is that not all the trends are bad. Alas the bad is big and bad and likely to insure a rough ride. The fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves. May our species prove resilient and open to improvement.
It is an extraordinary time, but for the pandemic Trump might now be president. Like disease, the reality of climate change is coming home to roost in severe storms, rising oceans and extreme heat. We need unity and leadership through these times.
Thank you. Any discussion beyond restoring democracy that doesn't include the Climate Crisis is actually a waste of time. Because our time is running out. We should be preparing. But we are literally ignoring the tsunami of horrors headed our way.
We should be planning the retreats from the coast lines and areas around major rivers. We should be constructing alternate ways to feed billions of people as crops are failing. Our mono crop farming using enormous amounts of fertilizer is killing the waters surrounding Florida and in the Gulf.
The ocean is being over-fished - and its ecosystem is collapsing due to unexpectedly fast warming. Coral reefs and mangroves where ocean life begins are dying.
The human migration we are seeing is just a tiny preview of the millions and millions of desperate humans who will have no choice but to leave their homes. We are short of workers, so logically, we turn them away. That's a mystery that apparently can only be solved by Hunter Biden's laptop.
We are all talking about the sad story of 5 rich people who tragically died on a sight seeing tour of a sunken ship. But how much attention was given to the 500 who died off the coast of Greece? 500 desperate humans who were fleeing for their lives. Where is the discussion of why they were risking their lives?
Perhaps all this disaster is just too much for our spoiled little minds to process. But I am just naive enough to think that just like in a good sci-fi movie, the right leaders could sound the alarm and rally most of us to start focusing on the real threats and devising some clever solutions.
But I guess it's more fun to look at pictures of Classified Documents in a bathroom with a chandelier. Of course, I want to see the orange toad locked up. But in the long run we are indeed ignoring the "universal threat".
Thank you for an eloquent statement of who and where we are. It could go on the front page of any newspaper (or editorial page) in America to the advantage of all of US. Might you send it out? At least to your own?
Bill, your assessment is accurate. There is no Planet B. This is what we've got, and we are ignoring those threats you so clearly articulate. (I am referring to the global "we" as I know many of us here are absolutely concerned with the health of the planet.)
Bill, you nailed it. Watching this unfold is worrying and dispiriting. I am losing hope, and see that caring for each other and our fellow creatures & ecosystems is still being thwarted by greed and ignorance. I’ve read that the Uber-rich are developing their hide-y holes in “safe” places….might help for awhile, but the global scope of this will not allow them to run and hide for long. I fear, too, that we can’t “techno” our way out of this…at least not soon enough to avoid massive pain and disruption. I despair at the hubris of humankind…
What they are building are luxury prison cells, all the comforts of home except for any sort of freedom worthy of the name. The space ships might provide an exit into hellish exile, or a nasty demise. Its one thing to be an intrepid explorer and another to see what spring is like on Jupiter or Mars. Like so many MAGAs in COVID, we snoozing while losing.
Yes, and will they be able to trust those they hire to make this possible & take care of their ongoing needs? I’ll bet they will not/do not plan to make it on their “own”.
Bill I think you are exactly correct in your assessment of the catastrophic crisis of which the scientists have been warning us for more than 40 years (think Rachel Carson), however, I suspect the most important activity we can embark upon is finding ways to separate people's personal interests in employment in or by polluting industries. This includes anyone and everyone involved in selling or promoting use of internal combustion engines in cars, trucks, aircraft, boats, RVs, or motorcycles as well as promoting travel in general. It also should involve persuading us all of the benefits of reducing our dependence on meat and dairy products in our diets and the value of buying produce locally whenever possible. This represents a HUGE portion of our country's population shifting not only their attitudes but their actual employment and sources of income. That's a huge lift and yet it all involves individual choice, the very essence of a free democracy.
yes, as I get older, I have less of a need for meat (which I hunted and shot) and rely on fish I can catch and freeze, can, and smoke. I am lucky. Homemade bread is a staple. The local farmers markets have a great supply of vegetables. But I am fortunate to be able to choose this lifestyle; others are not.
Good assessment! May I add encouraging adoption instead of procreation and building ships to cross oceans. My husband (green before Rachel Carson) spoke of engines run on recycled steam.
And meanwhile, an 18 year veteran meteorologist in Des Moines resigned because as he tried to explain weather patterns and how climate change was causing so many issues with the weather, he received death threats and hate filled emails and voicemails from people that watched his broadcasts...
"But how much attention was given to the 500 who died off the coast of Greece? 500 desperate humans who were fleeing for their lives. Where is the discussion of why they were risking their lives? "
Excellent question and metaphor. The rivets are showing signs of failure in our submersible "bubble".
Very well-said, Bill. Meanwhile, instead of addressing climate change (or even acknowledging that it exists), Republicans are busy banning books and denigrating drag queens.
We need to focus, and I'm saying so as a pretty scattered person. I think the primary power of great democratic leaders, in office or "grass roots" movements, is focus. That was what one young Swedish girl was able to very disproportionately pull together.
Does it not seem that focus in essential to wisdom? To justice? Combined with an open mind, to creativity and resilience? Science, which is in my blood, can reveal and clarify what is real and illusion, what what is likely to work and likely to fail, but it cannot, in the end decide for us what most matters. It can sort it out, but not speak for us.
That's where human experiential sentience and empathy come in. We collectively must focus on what, in the end, makes life worth living, and whether this human awareness of our vast and amazing universe will prove sustainable at all. As a species, compared to dinosaurs, we have just arrived on the scene, and capacity for deliberate agency is a wondrous blessing and a curse. Where is humility and wisdom in all this?
I like Churchill's comment that he was an optimist. Of what use is it to be anything else. But that was paired with a fighting spirit that we all need.
For the first time in about 9 years, I feel hopeful that the citizens of America will get a fair choice in representation in 2024, so that good government will heal our divide over time. I know that there is so much more we have to grind for, but it is actually working. This is no time to rest on our laurels; in fact we should all push harder to bear out the liars, and to show that living with equity doesn’t disenfranchise anybody; or that paying taxes is patriotic; or that we can live with new energy resources. IT ALL STARTS WITH FAIR ELECTIONS!
We are persnickety about performance enhancing drugs used by athletes but ignore gross funding bias, self-evident and screaming conflicts of interest, and dishonest "dirty tricks". It turns out that they won't even let you kneecap your opponent in the Olympics; but politics dramatically shapes our future, and the Olympics, despite showcasing remarkable human accomplishments, does not.
True that….tho to be honest, some athletes (and handlers/coaches/etc) DO try to put their thumb on the scale and is why, when it comes out, folks are appalled at the lack of “sportsmanship”. Now if we could just take that “sportsmanship” model and apply it to politics (oh, and everyday life too!).
After the Jan 6th event, judge Luttig named Trump as a ‘clear and present danger’ to our Republic and shocked conservatives who were Trumpies……(because Luttig is seen by just about everyone in the conservative legal world as the most significant legal mind on constitutional matters in the US ….) today I heard Luttig indicate that this Moore v. Harper verdict AND ECA decision that recently occurred essentially have stopped Trumpies from repeating the recent attempted horrors and safe guarded our election system for NOW.
Which is clearly a good thing…more will need to be done and other such attempts are possible if we are stupid enough to elect a similar sociopath. God willing we aren’t so stupid….
NEAL KATYAL did the live work at SCOTUS. Neal has a NEW Platform at Substack that was announced on Joyce Vance's Civil Discourse yesterday (good timing). Neal promises weekly in depth legal analysis.
I have already signed up for an annual Sub which comes with a significant discount. I have received three (3) posts. Neal is at the apex of his appellate skills.
I saw him interviewed this eve on, I think it was Lawrence O’Donnell’s MSNBC show & Lawrence said he’d give Neal a standing ovation for his SCOTUS legal victory if he wasn’t so wired up (mic’s, etc), so I stood in my kitchen and gave Neal a big rousing applause. If I recall correctly, Lawrence mentioned that Neal probably has a good 30 year or so career ahead of him….perhaps even to someday be nominated to sit on the court! Yes, job well done!
Biden wound up winning by a healthy margin, but it was a nail biter in some of the crucial states; and the Electoral College is just patently anti-democratic and has really delivered some duds. The future is too precious to play games with. I think media has dulled our repulsion to gross dishonesty. Contrast public reaction to Nixon's misdeeds vs to current GOP "leading lights". Investigation and prosecution of abuses in the Savings and Loan scandal vs the Subprime con. Corruption left unsuccessfully resisted tends to spread. Maybe more us are waking up to how close the the brim we have come.
It feels to me that the ‘guardrails’ barely held …and another Trump ‘adventure’ would ruin us..in my family there is discussion of a move to Canada if Trump wins in 24…serious talk.
It is interesting to me that the Articles of Confederation do not seem to have mentioned elections to National Office; rather it talks about state "appointments." In the Constitution (as later amended) both the House and Senate are "elected by the people of the State." This change seems to make it clear that the intention of the Constitution is that Electors are to be chosen based on popular vote, doesn't it?
I am so grateful for the many people who continue to press the cases challenging gerrymandering and other schemes designed to limit voting access based on race. I am so sad that bigotry is such a factor hampering our human potential.
Seems to me that most of us learned in grade school that cheating to win isn’t good or fair…but then again there are those who learned to seize the “win by any means” mantra.
Trump’s tone changed today as he claimed that he didn’t have a secret document in his hands when he said he did. “I would say it was bravado, if you want to know the truth, it was bravado"
Trump? Truth? In the same sentence? Are his lips moving? If so, he is lying.
An absolute nightmare for a client, cannot keep his mouth shut, makes constantly conflicting statements that the prosecutor loves. Give some folks enough rope and they will hang themselves.
I loved the twitter video today of OJ telling Trump that he was going to pass on the best legal advice he had gotten from the "greatest lawyers of my lifetime" (his defense team in the murder trial), and that advice was "don't say a word about the case."
Dismissing the audio as “Bravado” is the same as dismissing the Access Hollywood tape as “Locker room talk.” It will be sufficient for his base. In both cases, it’s obvious that he’s lying about lying. And so odd that his best defense is “I lie all the time.”
“The Constitution is above Politics…” Neal Katyal reacts to Supreme Court decision on N.C.congressional maps. Justice! “In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court rejected GOP lawmakers’ bid to give politicians sweeping authority in drawing congressional maps and regulating federal elections. Former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal who argued Moore v Harper in front of the Supreme Court ….discusses the major Supreme Court Decision .” YES!
I have been a nervous wreck ever since I first heard about the Moore v Harper ruling to come. The relief I feel now is profound!!! I am beyond grateful to Neal Katyal and Mark Elias.
At the risk of stating something that is perfectly obvious, TFG is seriously mentally ill, and the idea that he has even the slightest chance of winning in 2024 is grotesque. How much are the media responsible, for hyping that possibility up excessively to keep people in a state of perpetual "breathlessness" and gin up their sales?
The media gave us TFG. If Congress wants to put a stop to putting profit ahead of journalism, they can. They placed employee45 on the screen for better ratings and profits. The demagogue draws an audience.
The power of rebus. In the great Canadian comedy/human commentary series "Slings and Arrows" there is debate about whether Banquo's ghost in "McBeth" should be portrayed by a player or an empty chair. Sometimes suggestion is the more more powerful answer, though I spell things out on occasion.
Republicans use lots of innuendo, though they are increasingly blatant bullies; and we need to call them out by their proper name.
Personality Disorder is a different type of mental illness, the type for which there is no effective treatment. Don’t paint all mental illness with the chump brush. As long as repubs push him to the fore, MSM will have him front and center. Sad to say
Perhaps this is why the Powers That Be have been holding onto Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee: They need a weak candidate so they can throw the election to Trump.
Biden's supporters are in a state of denial regarding Biden's obvious mental and physical decline. Here's a news clip from Australia suggesting that doddering, confused Biden belongs in a nursing home:
Biden has never appeared to be confused or doddering when i have seen him on TV. He seems to be articulate and very intelligent to me. That news clip you mentioned must have meant TUMP instead of Biden. He is the one that is confused and delusional and telling a continous string of blatant lies and making up things out of thin air to defend himself. Also, TUMP supporters that are in a state of denial thinking TUMP has not broken the law and is innocent of ANY wrongdoings. And Biden is in much better shape than TUMP physically and mentally. Much better all the way around. Go troll elsewhere.. Donald TUMP is the last thing we need to be President, or in his instance, Dictator TUMP. If elected, TUMP would finish the job of destroying the United States. He is a disgrace and a very corrupt criminal and belongs in prison for the rest of his sorry rotten life.
NO, it's not denial, its the truth. Have you ever seen the fat blob of orange goo ride a bicycle?? Hell no, he would fall off in a big orange blob. TUMP supporters are in the worst state of denial for supporting a life long criminal. They are the ones that are fanatics. GO TROLL elsewhere, TROLL, TROLL.. Take your disinformation elsewhere... TROLL.
I do not doubt Joe Biden would be a better CANDIDATE if he had all of his experience and judgment of today, but in his body of twenty years ago. JFK and FDR had physical limits that needed to be hidden from a public that expected their president to be in perfect condition.
Report him. He's getting more deranged, just like Trump. His usual multiple-copy/paste posts have settled down, but his insults of the rest of the readers is getting worse. Everyone should report his but especially those who he is insulting. Do a copy/paste on him, and put it in your report to the forum. I've been doing it. It takes awhile but he will be blocked.
Surely you know that there are hundreds of malicious, manipulated videos of Biden circulating on the internet, making him look like a fool. If you sent me a photo of yourself, I could photoshop it to make you look like the village idiot, too.
Perhaps you can Google a video of Biden's 2023 State of the Union speech. This might make you change your mind. As a commenter said recently on The Bulwark: "Old Sleepy Joe, simultaneously a demented old man, AND also an international man of mystery - able to set up a multi-faceted financial empire that would take years to unravel."
I notice that you avoided saying you believed that anything in that video was inauthentic.
Sky News, for whatever it's worth, strives to be perceived as a respected purveyor of news. I just found out that they are more British than Australian:
Pay no attention to the troll behind the curtain. If that ''Sky news'' is the Fox of Australia, what they report is most likely lies and disinformation. That guy is a troll and a projectionist like 99 percent of Rethugs are.
Rethug the Troll lovvvves Corporate Joe ("Creepy Snuggles") Biden, the Deep State swamp creature mired in Ukrainian sleaze, from tiny corporatist Delaware, where the grass-roots voters work in corporate headquarters buildings.
Rethug the Troll is in a state of denial about Biden's frailty, and he'll grunt and snarl at you if you try to point out the obvious.
My point is that these video clips demonstrating Biden's public mental and physical frailty are OUT THERE making an impression, and Biden's supporters are in a state of denial.
If something is OUT THERE, it must be significant, you think? And accurate?
We Biden supporters do not deny that his age isn’t something to consider.
But I am Trump’s age, 77, and neither of us are as fit and healthy as Joe Biden, three years older. Any of the Republicans challenging Trump for the nomination are just too Republican for me.
Biden's Not Weak! He has done MORE for the American People than any President in US History since FDR! You're a weak Schmeeckle for believing a false narrative, and worse, disseminating that false narrative as Word. Do Your Research!!!
My grandmother was FDR's fourth cousin (through the Delano family). Biden is no FDR.
Corporate Joe Biden, after he stole the nomination from Bernie Sanders, embraced much of Bernie's agenda so progressives would actually vote for him. Biden the Vampire Liberal isn't shy about sucking money from around the world (thanks to the Almighty Dollar) to fund Worthwhile Projects so ignorant liberals will applaud him.
p.s. I hope you're not a deluded Cureton.
p.p.s. I hope you have enough conscience to feel uncomfortable dogpiling on me with the I.M.F. Holocaust deniers.
AND he is not shy (for years) about sharing his struggle to overcome a serious speech impediment (stuttering) and how, in his sharing this, he had and has inspired those with the same condition to persevere & not be ashamed. I recall seeing a video where a young boy approached him and thanked him for being a role model for him and helping him to know what is possible. That there are remnants of this showing when he speaks makes those who are unaware (or just cruel) think it is his mental acuity. It’s not. At. All.
It’s nice to see the writhing of TFG and McQarthy… Yes, I admit, that’s Schadenfreude all the way. Maybe, authoritarianism isn’t such a great alternative for democracy after all, Mr. Putin?
As many observers noted today, the only way Trump could assert the "bravado" defense to the tape in his coming trial would be to take the stand. No lawyer with an active brain cell would ever allow him on the stand, as he has been torn apart by the other side every time he does, and also asserts his own failures (best current example is the tape of him used in the E. Jean Carroll case, where he was the best witness against himself). And since he cannot take the stand to assert the "bravado" defense, it's just more Trump bullshit.
If it was pay-per-view of Mar-a-Lardo Fats on the stand and the funds raised went to the national debt--I do believe we could wipe out the deficit. Damn I'd pay to watch that--and invite my friends on limited income to come over and watch on my big screen.
Surprised Trump knows what the word bravado means. Wonder who told him.
Biden's timing on sanctions on the Wagner companies in Africa is perfect. Hard for Putin to argue against it when he called Prigozhin a traitor even if he has now come to an accommodation with him. That cuts off the financial resources that have allowed Wagner (and Putin) to fund their anti-democracy efforts in Africa and world wide. It has allowed them to milk off the natural resources of whole countries using populations that are essentially enslaved under their control for the cheap cost of buying off corrupt government officials. Those funds were also supplying ammo, weapons and materiel to Wagner units in Ukraine.
The solution to our quadrennial quandry over representative elections is deceptively simple; one person, one vote, end of discussion. One unifrom criterion to determine voting eligibilty without regard to geographic location or political affiliation. Abolish the antiquated and warped electoral college system, it only benefits the two major political parties. Let the Republicans scream and protest; they are the ones who seem to win elections only when they load the dice as they did in 2016, and look at the price we paid.
The president and vice president are supposed to represent all of the people, not just a party. In any case, every citizen is affected and every citizen ought to get an equal vote.
Strikes me that a man known to avoid reading ended up with boxes full of things to read...mixed in with his shirts and other belongings? Stretches the bounds of credibility.
It's the possession -- MY boxes -- that counts. I read that the boxes also included clothing, framed pictures and the like. Doubt seriously that he read any of it. He who has the most boxes wins.
Waiting for your post, now I’m going to sleep like a baby who knows not yet the dangers inherit in this world. Your talent for parsing so succinctly the pieces today give me hope AGAIN that our Republic can withstand these assaults from within and outside our nation. Bless you and good night! 😴
The decision in Moore v. Harper wasn’t 9-0 (as it should have been). It was 6-3. We should not overlook the fact that three justices - Alito, Thomas and Gorsuch - voted to allow Republican state legislatures the power to overrule the will of the people, and declare their preferred winners in federal elections. These three justices were fine with throwing out the Constitution. These three justices are illegitimate - Thomas committed perjury during his confirmation, and has committed corruption for over 20 years. Alito is similarly corrupt. Gorsuch sits in a stolen seat. These three should be removed from the court.
"when he used the word “plans” with the people in his office, he meant “plans of buildings…plans of a golf course.”
Trump can transmute the content of documents utterly, just by thinking about it.
How can you tell when tfg is lying?
His lips are moving.
Trump can lie just by thinking about it.
Haha, you made me laugh out loud. Thank you for that.
Actually, you can tell he’s lying if he wakes up in the morning!
Sill ... tfg's compulsive mendascity is stunning.
Does he even know what the truth is? With him it's "L'état c'est moi, la constitution c'est moi, la vérité c'est moi."
I really don't think he does. His pathology makes it so he's like a little kid without the sweetness: he just says what pops into his head. There's no real assessment of the situation in any depth. Just a reaction to the reaction of what he said/did previously.
He really IS crazy. He should never have had any positions of responsibility anywhere, let alone the presidency. It's literally impossible for him to behave in a way that isn't wholly self-interested.
It's endlessly horrifying to me that there are STILL people out there that think he's a genius.
As I watched him saying this today, I felt a burst of outrage rise in me. I am so tired of tfg’s rabid mob saying Biden is too old, senile, and a bumbling fool! tfg is only three years younger than Biden and he appears to be mad as a hatter! Oh please may he implode soon…
That's more horrifying to me than TFG himself, and even *more* horrifying are the people who bankroll and otherwise enable him while knowing bloody well that he's nowhere close to a genius. That would include most of the GOP -- the ones that aren't either frothing at the mouth or brain-dead.
Like those that believe in Hitler! It is totally amazing to me!
… a “stable” genius, at that.
I think he actually does believe every word he is saying, even as he makes it up out of whole cloth.
I don't think he cares if it is true. He only says what he says because he thinks it benefits him. Truth is meaningless.
I agree Susan, like all personality disorders, if it leaves his mouth it is true. He could probably pass a lie detector test.
"You [tfg] don't know what the truth is".
Mendacity means lying.
But to tell a lie, one has to know what the truth is, right? That's why I asked the question. "La vérité c'est moi" means literally "I am the truth" (which echoes, tellingly, words attributed to Jesus). If one really is (in one's own mind) "the truth," by definition one cannot lie.
SJS, I am still thinking about your points as you are on to an important observation. I'm a JD not a MD but, I do have access to a pyscho neurologist, Phd, MD. Still working on it ....
Medical residents tell me that it is customary to name medical discoveries after their DISCOVERER. My proposal is to call this discovery " "SURGIS SYNDROME". See LFAA, thread today under 'JL Grahm' for additional clinical observations.
One thing we all must realize he try. TFG has motives, and he will say what needs to be said that moves that motive the way he desires it to move.
His main motive, as it’s been all his life, is MONEY. He hasn’t gotten his hands dirty one single day of his life. He’s been a “suit” ever since he was big enough for his daddy to put him in one. It’s been drilled into his head. Everything evolves around money. If he’s not making money off of a project, he gets rid of it. If he can’t make money off of this lie, he changes the lie. Everything he dues makes him money in one fashion or the other.
Case in point. Look at all of his past recent court appearances. On the first E. Jean Carroll case, which he lost and had to pay her $5 million dollars. His bad mouthing E. Jean Carroll right after the verdict netted him over $10 million dollars!!! His court appearances on later cases have netted him millions of dollars. All from his ‘sheep’ that he’s fleecing every single time that he opens his mouth and tells them to send money, sends them emails telling them he needs money, or his robocalls telling them his dad story and telling them to get the check in the mail/go to the website and donate, donate, donate!
That’s who’s sick, and needs a lot of help in this country. We need to lock TFG, and all his stooges up, throw away the key , and forbid them any access internet, electronics, telephones, computers, nothing. And, we need to make sure we have a lot of physiatrist trained and ready. They’ll have about 74 million patients right off the bat!
LOL,
Just "read his lips". Too funny. Republicans are better than a night of stand up comedy.
They'd be hilarious if they happened in some other country...maybe Mordor.
unlike Floridor, you mean?
Or Mordoristan.
Except some have legislative and/or judicial power.
And also the inspiration of many late-night comedians.
The Writers strike needs to end. We need Steven Colbert back now. He’s missed so many golden moments the last few weeks.
Bit they are all fuming with this good material, being unused by them at any rate.
And, I’ll be so glad when these late night comedians get their added back to work. I’m tired of all these reruns due to the writers strike!
But the writers have reason to strike: “On March 14, the WGA released a report titled “Writers Are Not Keeping Up.” It details how compensation for writing has been negatively impacted by the advent (and takeover) of streaming. “On TV staffs, more writers are working at minimum regardless of experience, often for fewer weeks, or in mini-rooms, while showrunners are left without a writing staff to complete the season,” the report states. “And while series budgets have soared over the past decade, median writer-producer pay has fallen.”
https://www.vulture.com/article/wga-strike-2023.html
Please understand, Rose, I’m not grumping about the strike. But these talk show host can’t even write their own stuff!
Geeze, I’m not a literary genius, and I can write stuff from the news for them every night. They should be able to be smart enough to write a 15 minute commentary for the beginning of their shows. Actually, throw in the commercials that 15 minutes is cut to about 7 minutes.
I had no knowledge about what the strike was all about, but these talk shows and other programs these folks wrote for have won all kinds of awards. They should be able to pay these writers. Plus give them benefits.
There’s not one excuse these desk-hugging millionaires can say. All they’re interested in is the money, and it has to be from big into their pocket. It’s ridiculous.
"I'm a legitimate person." Donald Trump, 6/27/23.
If he wasn't so dangerous and close to getting a 2nd term I could almost feel sorry for him. It must be hell, well deserved, to be in his head. Oh to be a psychologist! Though it's really obvious to a layperson he is really demented. Now if the veil could be torn away from his followers they would see the emporer has no clothes!!!
And definitely 45 has no brains, but maybe his “followers” suffer the same fate.
Absolutely! : )
We need a bit of humor with the writers strike still going on. Haven’t heard much about that event.
It is not funny, it is our national tragedy.
Except for the horror.
Oh no, he can lie just by thinking about it, the same way he declassifies documents and changes them into golf course plans. That's what was in all those boxes at Mar-a-liego
I didn't know General Milley designed golf courses! Since he claimed the papers he held were written by Milley. Maybe Milley should take that up after he retires. :-)
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
What is the constitutional authority for presidents with regarding to declassification of documents? What was the classification of the document in question? What does the Presidential records act say? Is it criminal or civil?
What is the history? Has anyone ever been prosecuted and if not, why? What was Comey's rationale for not prosecuting Clinton?
Why would Heather address such questions when any well-informed reader already knows the answers? You're a propagandist intent on sowing confusion, not clarity.
Don't feed the troll. This guy is a cut and paste propagandist who pops up there parroting right wing talking points, presumably to "own the libs."
And someone paid at least $50 for him to do so
Try looking it up yourself.
AMEN !!!
What a stupid comment. A historian posts about a Supreme Court decision, where she has no idea about the law, yet offers an opinion she lifted from another site.
There is no scholarship or original thought? That's a joke.
BTW I did read the opinion. Did you?
Yes, I did. Fool. You're a condescending asshole to assume that others commenting here have not
And Comey didnt prosecute Clinton as the FBI found she was innocent (twice - once right beforecthe election) . Besides, the 33000 email figure was pulled out of the air just like all REPUBLICAN'TS alternative facts and kind of pales beside the 500k+ emails that George W Bush deleted.
Clinton did not have classified document on the server.
How can you be so stupid. Its embarrassing. Time to get out of your bubble.
I've attached a video of FBI director James Comey detailing the SPECIFICS of the classified
material found on Hillary's server. At least 110 emails including 8 that were "Top Secret", 36 contained "Secret Information".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79txF6dUBwE
The FBI believed her server was hacked because of negligence.
After the server was subpoenaed Hillary scrubbed the server and destroyed all of her cell phones.
Why infest Heather's commenting section with your "important info.".......No one is interested. Do you have no subscribers to your James's Newsletter?
Sorry. You are incorrect, but I won't accuse you of being stupid. Name calling belongs to a certain group.
TFG can't help it (the lying). It's congenital.
I actually read his book The Art of the Deal in 2015 and he says right out that he lies. In the book he negotiates by saying whatever he thinks the customer/business contact wants to hear.
That’s a really good one.
JL, he is such an embarrassment, not to mention an abomination.....
NB/ I may not explain the Russian influence fully here because it gets buried under several comments.
Instead, you can subscribe to my newsletter as I have comprehensively written this issue with deep insights and notify you.
Otherwise, I always appreciate this community 🙏
The strenght of the country is dependent on the immunity of the institutions.
The country will always have individuals with twisted characters and it is upon the Constitution to stamp its authority.
Trump has always find a way to win over anything even through unconstitutional means
A case in point is the Wagner Group. It is not new to America only
The Wagner Group is a Russian private military company that has been involved in various conflicts around the world, often operating in support of Russian interests. They have been active in countries like Ukraine, Syria, and Libya, among others. The Wagner Group is known for its role in providing military support, training, and security services to governments or non-state actors.
As a private paramilitary with links to Kremlin, Wagner Group has had its footprints in Africa since 2017 and often acts as the propagator of the Russia's foreign policies. Its intention is to offer military support to some of the African countries embroiled in unendless conflicts, alongside propaganda.
Established by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a business mogul, in 2014 during Russia's annexation of Crimea, the Wagner Group is a complex network of business men with links to the Russian military. Evidence suggests that the entity has more than 5000 members comprising foreign nationals, former military officers, and convicts.
"The Wagner Group got involved in Africa for its own reasons, [such as] private money making. But more recently, the Kremlin has found this a useful adjunct to what it’s trying to do diplomatically.” Graham Thomas, the head of CFR said. Russia has always wanted to bypass the United Nations through Africa by staging its presence in the continent.
The Wagner Group started its operations in Aftican countries such as Mali, Sudan, Central African Republic, and Libya, as these countries are still engrossed in deep internal conflicts. Russia understands that these African countries have strenuous relationships with the West, especially the United States because of political differences and colonial injustices.
How Wagner Group Works
The Wagner Group often targets rebels as well as regimes, by offering them with either financial resources and asking them to concede some of the resources.
Security Support
The Wagner Group often train militaries of the vulnerable regimes as recently seen in CAR whereby Touadera hires them to provide personal security as well as training its CAR army in order to capture its coup. They were granted logging rights and access to the Ndassuma gold mines. Similarly, since 2027, the Wagner Group has been protecting the government of imprisoned Omar El Bashir by targeting those opposed to him, safeguarding mineral resources. In return, the Russian government benefited from the gold. Similarly, in Mali, the Group has granted its aircraft military to the government.
Propaganda
The Internet Research Agency (IRA) and the Association for Free Research and International Cooperation (AFRIC) are owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin and they are mostly involved in spreading misinformation. These agencies worked with individuals drawn from Ghana and Nigeria to meddle with the US 2016 elections. They have worked in African countries such as Zimbabwe and Mozambique. These agencies have as well staged anti-French protests and anti-Western unrests.
Repercussions
The Wagner Group has been accused of violating human rights and further worsening the security of the region. In Tripoli, while working with Libyan National Army carried out extra judicial killings and implanting bombs or land mines in civilian regions.
Excellent summary of the Wagner Group. They have been deforesting Africa for a while now and also becoming involved in mining.
Anyone disagrees with them? Dead.
The odd thing about the Wagner group is how long they have been on the loose with no push back or other Western interference.
Maybe the Wagner group looks a little familiar to the West? Since, we (the west) USED to treat Africa and its resources as it if we owned them, and, if you don't like it?
Dead.
Mike S, if Wagner Group activities seem familiar, some of that familiarity may derive from American organizations like the Blackwater Security group, founded by ex-Navy SEAL Erik Prince, whose organization seems to keep morphing into other holding companies, shell companies and conglomerates (aka: Xe Services, Academi, Constellis Holdings) all apparently bent on profits derived from "violence for hire" kinds of arrangements.
See Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwater_(company)
Let's not forget that Erik Prince's sister is Betsy DeVos...and we all know who she "kissed up to".
Colette, I was about to point out that Betsy DeVos is his sister, and did her best to program public education to the detriment of our children. Thanks for pointing that out.
Thank you so much for this link. As I read, all I could think of was the extreme weaponization to which the US has transitioned. The covert aspect of the progression of this private security entity is stunning as it shifts its name, its reach and its governing with a board of directors that include John Ashcroft and other Bush era affiliated members. The depth, scope of its weaponizing and profiteering (aided by massive US government contracts) is exhausting.
My thread with Keith Wheelock alongside this community is rich with information about the Wagner Group and its operations.
Again, I am thankful to Keith Wheelock for such a candid conversation. Coincidentally, Keith Wheelock has set its foot in war-torn countries like Angola and I will find time to interview and get primary data about private military operations.
Subscribe to my newsletter to get fuller and hard-to-find information about Africa and the rest of the world.
They seem to be copying the same strategies of entering into war-torn countries and economically benefiting from the resources.
The Kremlin has been using The Wagner Group to foster its foreign interests. As an authoritative country, its wants to have its way by masquerading as offering security in warn-torn countries. The Western has fears regarding reactions from Russia since it believes it can trigger another World War that it is not ready to do in the 21st century.
Prigozhin may have overplayed his hand. US Treasury just levied the first ever sanctions against his financiers, with I believe more to come.
Some of you have been emailing me separately about this subject. This week, following the breaking news that the Wagner Group wanted to oust Vladimir Putin, I will deeply, detail by detail, expound on the economic, human rights, and social atrocities committed by this private military group. I will also explain how it meddled with the US 2016 elections. If you have time, you can follow my newsletter for free and get one on one engagement with my community as well plus broad perspectives🙏
My thread with Keith Wheelock is rich with information about the Wagner Group and its operations. Again, I am thankful to Keith Wheelock for such a candid conversation. Coincidentally, Keith Wheelock has set its foot in war-torn countries like Angola and I will find time to interview and get primary data about private military operations.
Subscribe to my newsletter to get fuller and hard-to-find information about Africa and the rest of the world.
Edwin, I, too, find Keith’s contributions here, based on his vast experience on the world stage, to be fascinating and interesting. He is a wealth of knowledge and brings a perspective of a “world” I know nothing about.
Keith Wheelock has been in Africa, especially Angola and CAR. He brings primary and behind-the-scenes information about the Wagner Group. I will carry out an interview with Keith Wheelock to bring more issues to light. My engagement with him is topnotch.
Subscribe to my newsletter for I will talk with him.
Done!
Edwin I read that the name of the Wagner Group related to a neo-Nazi group and Wagner was the national composer who was highlighted during Hitler’s reign.
Keith, FYI regarding the name 'Wagner'. ''A 2021 BBC investigation highlighted the suspected involvement of former Russian army officer Dmitri Utkin.'
'A veteran of Russia's wars in Chechnya, he is thought to have been Wagner's first field commander, and to have named the group after his former radio call sign.'
Yes, the Wagner bears resemblance to the German names and I think the group draws a lot of inspiration from the earliest Nazi Group. It gathers intelligence from the war-torn countries and used it to their advantage. I will write about that composer.
Edwin, the name 'Wagner' was chosen by Wagner's first commander, who named it 'Wagner' after his radio call sign.
Pleasure to know that. But, could it be possible that they also draw inspiration from Richard Wagner, the German artist whom the Nazis used his songs to wage their anti-semitic campaign?
Why spread rumors? I think it is better to state the facts. You may be correct, but I prefer evidence as scapegoating is so common and harmful as you well know of the Nazis using it to such lethal effect.
I saw that as well. I had to confess that I like some of Wagner's music. There is a new book out called Monsters, which I have not read, which deals about artists, writers, composers, who were not nice people.
Actually, it is evidenced that Richard Wagner (which I believe the Russian group used, though I am not sure,) was an artist, writer, and song composer. He was an anti-semitic, but his work was only used by the Nazi regime to justify their heinous actions after he had died.
He was most known for his music and very long operas about Nordic myths. And yes, he was anti-Semitic and used by the Nazis who purged the concert repertoire of anything written by Jews. Most people would recognize The Ride of the Valkyries, used in Apocalypse Now.
Wilhelm Richard Wagner who is most famous for The Ring of the Niberlung operas, was born in1813 and died in 1883.
While he was undoubtedly antisemitic he lived long before Hitler and is remembered mainly for his glorious music.
Is there a nascient group like the Wagner Group in the US? If tfg is as certain that he is the chosen leader for America, would he trust the establishment military to back him? Or, is there a force being formed to ensure his will be done in the US? We do have some strong traditions in paramilitary groups and in subcontracting functions once only provided through government agnenices. Tfg was,a great admirer of Putin, his style, and other dictators who sought to have their own security or army (e.g., DeSantis, I jest).
The Wagner Group has been financed by the Russian state. Putin appears to be figuring out control of it since the splint with Yevgeny Prigozhin.
What is to happen to Wagner Group? Is Putin the one to be figuring that out now?
Below are summaries of the history and function of the Group. We do not know its future or that of Prigozhin and, perhaps, even Putin.
The following are reports covering the past year and a half, will provide a sense of it as a service as well as a tool for Putin, Prigozhin and Russia.
'What is Russia's Wagner group of mercenaries and why did it march on Moscow?'
__ 'The Wagner group was first identified in 2014, when it started backing pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. It is thought to have helped Russia annex Crimea in the same year.'
'Wagner forces have also been active in Africa and the Middle East.'
'Yevgeny Prigozhin claims he founded Wagner in 2014. A wealthy businessman and convicted criminal, he is nicknamed "Putin's chef" because he provided catering for the Kremlin.'
'A 2021 BBC investigation highlighted the suspected involvement of former Russian army officer Dmitri Utkin.'
'A veteran of Russia's wars in Chechnya, he is thought to have been Wagner's first field commander, and to have named the group after his former radio call sign.'
Mr Prigozhin boosted Wagner's numbers in 2022 by recruiting Russian prisoners.
'Where else does Wagner operate?'
'Since 2015, Wagner mercenaries have been in Syria, fighting alongside pro-government forces and guarding oilfields.'
'It also has troops in Libya, supporting the forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar.
The Central African Republic (CAR) uses Wagner to guard diamond mine. The group is also thought to protect gold mines in Sudan.'
'The government of Mali, in West Africa, uses the group against Islamic militant groups.
It is not yet clear who will now take command of these troops.'
'How does Wagner make money?'
'Russia paid Mr Prigozhin for providing Wagner troops to fight in Ukraine, says Dr Miron.
"He is one of several wealthy Russians who run private mercenary forces," she says. "Even the defence minister owns a mercenary company."
'According to President Putin, Wagner was given 86.26bn roubles ($1bn) from the defence ministry and state budget between May 2022 and May 2023 to pay wages.
He said authorities would investigate how the money paid to Wagner was spent.
Mr Prigozhin has also made money from Wagner's presence in other foreign countries, according to the US Treasury.'
'His companies are said to have profited from gold and diamond mines in the CAR and Sudan.'
'US authorities also say that an energy company linked to Mr Prigozhin was offered a 25% stake in all oil or gas fields in Syria which Wagner won back from Isis control.'
The US has announced sanctions against several of his companies
• What interests do Russian mercenaries have in Sudan?
• US sanctions boss of Wagner group in Mali (BBC) See link below
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60947877
'Russia's Wagner Group in Africa: More than mercenaries'
"Wagner itself has developed over time as an organization that's gone from being a purely private military contracting entity into a multiplicity of business alliances and relations, and a network of companies. Some of them front companies across the countries in which they operate on the African continent," analyst Julian Rademeyer told DW recently at the Munich Security Conference. "It operates in this legal gray zone between illicit activities and more legal illicit activities. And it straddled those quite, quite effectively."
'Sudan: Russia's 'key to Africa'
'Sudan has long been a particular focus for Wagner mercenaries, and there are many of them there. Back during the rule of the dictator Omar al-Bashir, who was in power from 1993 to 2019, licences already went to the Russian firm "M-Invest," which is probably under the control of oligarchs, including Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. This led to Wagner members being given the job of protecting the M-Invest gold mines in Sudan.'
'According to various media reports, observers are saying that Russia is mostly concerned with securing access to Sudan's valuable resources, which include manganese and silicon, alongside gold. Russia is also particularly interested in the uranium deposits, with which
'Africa's hunger for energy is also to be assuaged.'
'Wagner Group: A vehicle for Russian influence'
'Rademeyer, who works at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), sees the Wagner Group as primarily a Kremlin military tool to boost Russia's economic and military influence in Africa. Sudan is just one of many countries where it is being employed.'
'With his colleagues at GI-TOC, he recently published a report on Wagner in Africa. "We argue in the report that the Wagner mercenary group, the Wagner private military group, is the most influential Russian actor operating in Africa today, and that its activities and the network of front companies that bolster it are a malign influence on the continent,” he said.'
'Central African Republic: Rare woods, gold, sugar and alcohol'
'International research has found that the Wagner brand is active in areas that extend far beyond security. In July, All Eyes on Wagner partnered with 11 European media outlets to uncover how the group has been raking in massive profits with precious tropical timber from the Central African Republic. According to the report, the government in Bangui granted a subsidiary unrestricted logging rights across 187,000 hectares (722 square miles).'
'The case of the Ndassima gold mine, also in the Central African Republic, is similar. Reports say that a concession was withdrawn from a Canadian mining company in favor of one from Madagascar that appears in the GI-TOC report as a Wagner subsidiary. Research by The Africa Report magazine traces how the Wagner network allegedly imported heavy mining equipment through the Cameroonian seaport of Douala. Up to three truck convoys are organized weekly from Bangui to Douala to transport the raw materials, under the protection of Wagner members with heavy weapons.'
'Follow the money'
'The Wagner Group appears to be ever diversifying its businesses in the Central Africa Republic. Trying, for example, to force French sugar company SUCAF out of the market, said Joseph Bendounga, head of the MDREC opposition party there.'
'Another example: "They are in the process of framing the French brewery Castel for supporting and financing terrorist forces," he told DW. "In all areas that bring in money, including customs and taxes, the Russians are the masters."
'The First Industrial Company, which produces beer and spirits in Bangui — and, according to the GI-TOC report, is apparently registered to a Russian businessman tied to Wagner — could benefit from this. (Deutsche Welle (DW) is Germany's international broadcaster and one of the most successful international media outlets. We provide impartial news and information, giving people worldwide the opportunity to form their own opinions, assess issues of local and global significance and participate in social debates as active and informed citizens.)
https://www.dw.com/en/russias-wagner-group-in-africa-more-than-mercenaries/a-64822234
When I encounter a new source, which is informative, I check out its background and learned the following about DW.
‘Funding and regulation DW is funded through the German federal tax budget. Regulated by the Deutsche Welle Act, DW fulfills its program mission free from government influence. DW has about 4,000 employees worldwide and 16 global offices Brussels; Washington D.C.; London; Beirut; Kyiv; Lagos; Cape Town; Riga (formerly Moscow); Nairobi; New Delhi; Taipei; Bogotá; Warsaw; Jerusalem; Istanbul.'
''What we do As an international broadcaster, DW provides impartial news and information so that people can form their own opinions, assess local and global issues and participate in social debates as active and informed citizens. We produce distinctive, regionally relevant and dialogue–oriented content in 32 languages focussing on six topics: freedom and human rights, democracy and good governance, free trade and social justice, technology and innovation, health education, nutrition and environmental protection, and German and European culture.'
'Who we are We stand for human rights, democracy and freedom, especially freedom of speech and of the press. We take a clear stance against all forms of discrimination, racism, extremism and antisemitism.'
All Eyes On Wagner is another source for information.
'Open source research for accountability.'
'Our mission'
'All Eyes On Wagner is a project focusing on Wagner mercenaries: tracking their activities and verifying claims of human rights and economic abuses. We rely on open source information and witnesses accounts/leads sent to us which are collected, archived and verified. Our objective is to become a reliable source of information on Wagner mercenaries for key human rights organisations'
'Who we are'
'The project has been historically initiated by OpenFacto, a French not for profit organisation with expertise in open-source investigations (OSINT). AEOW is today independent and does not have any financial support.'
'It is managed on a voluntary-basis by a group of 8 volunteers on their free time from different nationalities and backgrounds: journalists, investigators, experts on disinformation, students, humanitarian and academics. Friends and contacts often provide an extra hand: graphism, research, editing, good advice.'
For question regarding our publications/ right of answer: Sophie Gawner – sophie@alleyesonwagner.org
Website host – WordPress by Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States of America
https://alleyesonwagner.org/
Very true. The Wagner Group has an extensive network intertwined with security military operations. It seems their target is resources to exploit based on their happenings. Their victims are vulnerable countries with rebels.
i suspect that by “Since 2027” you meant 2017. Thanks for this helpful summary, Edwin.
Sure. It's a typo error. It is 2017. Welcome and you can subscribe to my newsletter for free to get independent, indeph analysis. I will expound on this Wagner Group further
The Wagner Group presence in Africa comes with huge, defrauding economic concessions that have plunged African countries into poverty, and ultimately conflicts, with a point of no return.
Mali
CAR
Mozambique
Zimbabwe
Chad
Libya
Thereafter, Russia again appears in the form of security to 'support military operations ' but with exchange of material concessions.
Edwin My hunch is that Putin was delighted to spread Russian influence in Africa and elsewhere with a cohesive mercenary group. Whether it was Putin’s idea and he encouraged his puppy dog Prigozhin to implement this program we may never know.
What strikes me is the broad range of these mercenaries—from serving as Praetorian Guards to some African dictators to organizing lucrative mineral looting operations.
Publicly we have no info on how these foreign Wagner Groups are organized and operate. I doubt that Prigozhin, physically isolated in Belarus and, presuming with funds—including his own—cut off, will be running multi-national operations.
Yevgeny Prigozhin is the founder of The Wagner Group but it has since morphed into Russian military wing and incorporated a network of business men with interests in economic resources in Africa. It is the modern-day scramble for Africa but with the use of intelligence. Little is known about how Wagner operates but as days goes by, the names of other members will be known. I will try as much as possible to get that intelligence.
Keith this is exactly what I am curious about:
“Publicly we have no info on how these foreign Wagner Groups are organized and operate. I doubt that Prigozhin, physically isolated in Belarus and, presuming with funds—including his own—cut off, will be running multi-national operations.”
Will his funds be cut off? I have wondered if his lucrative and less constrained work in Africa may have been the carrot that led him to want to get out of Ukraine. I suppose we won’t know (at least not very soon) how independently he can continue his plundering there. But, also I wondered if Putin, being increasingly desperate for💰 might want to keep Prig’s existing infrastructure running in those vulnerable areas? So happy to read of the Biden admin’s sanctions there!
Edwin, I have not yet read thru all the comments so my apologies if you have already weighed in on these sanctions on Wagner associated companies that Heather referenced in today’s letter. I wonder if you have an opinion on them, particularly, whether they might be meaningful.
You ain't late. Welcome. And Yes, sanctions placed on Wagner-associated companies can be one of the major steps towards taming their influence on Africa and Middle East. But, I am also afraid that Russia might finance them when these sanctions are place. Lessening their presence in Africa and Middle East is a multifaceted issue that needs to be dealt by different countries. It can also include involving rebels through diplomatic means.
You can correct typos and make other edits to any of your own posts: click on the three dots (ellipsis) to the right of the Reply link at the bottom of the post and "Edit" will be an option.
Thanks so much, I will. Happy to have a community with you.👏
You're welcome! This is an awesome thread. Thank you and Keith Wheelock!
You then need to click Refresh to see the corrected version.
Pirates for hire.
Of course, they were hired to disrupt peace and get material possession in return.
He is a championship devil in human form. Like Hitler, like so many leaders that stupid humans let run stuff.
Of course, Vladimir Putin has always been relying on private intelligence agencies to advance the Russian interests. The Wagner Group is a tip of the ice bag. And wherever they are present, they are not concerned with human rights. Extra judicial killings have been common in where Russia is present
Thank you for this.
Welcome @susan troy
I will interview Keith Wheelock to get extra information about the Wagner Group since she has been to Angola and CAR targeted by The Wagner Group.
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Hello community 👋
Following yesterday's thread about the Wagner Group, I have prepared a special newsletter with detailed understanding of how Russia is deploying PMCs as its foreign policy tool.
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I'm confused. Is there a typo here?
" It (referring back to the U.S. Treasury I believe) also sanctioned Industrial Resources General Trading, a Dubai-based company that has funded Prigozhin, as well as a Russian firm and a Russian national working in Mali TO FORCE THOSE STANDING AGAINST THE WAGNER GROUP OUT OF AFRICA."
force those standing AGAINST Wagner out? not force out those SUPPORTING Wagner?
Please help.
thank you anyone
Likely a typo. Welcome
In the next days, together with Keith Wheelock (since she has been to Africa with first hand info), I will interview him about The Wagner Group to further shed light on this.
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I'd like to see him make that argument in court, to so accomplished an attorney as Jack Smith. But if I were the Duck's lawyer, I might not allow him to even attend court, much less testify! He will, when the time come, be the worst defendant imaginable.
S.P. J. Smith no doubt has a witness who saw the Classified Documents markings & said as much during their interview with him.
Baby Trump will presumably find himself way out of his depth.
TFFG is being weighed down by his own poop filled diaper.
Where’s that Baby Trump balloon when needed?
Clifford, we needn't wait for "when the time comes" if one simply looks at the procession of lawyers who have resigned, been fired, thrown under the bus and/or stiffed for their fees to KNOW he is already the worst defendant imaginable!
Guilty but insane?
Preparing the ground for an insanity plea?
I have been thinking that for awhile. Obviously he has some kind of mental disorder over which he can't control, maybe oppositional defiant disorder. Possibly he has obsessive-compulsive disorder or some kind of hoarding disorder. In any event, he shouldn't be allowed to run for president again due to 1/6.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder is not a d/o of adulthood. Kids with this diagnosis can then be diagnosed with conduct disorder (in adolescence)which in adulthood likely becomes Antisocial Personality Disorder, which is sociopathy and/or psychopathy or both. This, along with Narcissistic Personality Disorder fit tfg perfectly. The Antisocial P.D. accounts for his committing crimes without feeling guilt (no conscience). His constant lying is also part of Antisocial Personality Disorder as well as his huge need for attention which is part of his narcissism. This is what accounts for his telling on himself in interviews. His appetite for attention is insatiable.
Thanks for the education. How many with the same psych profile are in prison? The public needs to be protected from this sick man.
It's also called the "I was trained by Roy Cohn" disorder.
Randy And Steve Miller was Roy Cohn without as law degree.
That too!
Or “My dad was friends with Roy Cohn” disorder.
I don’t know the statistics, but I would guess that many with Anti-Social Personality Disorder run into trouble with law enforcement.
Maggie Haberman has a thorough picture of the personality and motives of this man. As well as his niece, Mary.
Thank you! Spoken like an expert!
EXACTLY.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder. No treatment for that, it’s just who he is, likely from preschool, or at least young adulthood. But he may rewrite the criteria…
Malignant narcissistic personality disorder. Read an interesting article on that.
He is the very definition of malignant. How we avoid malignancy in everything else, and the cult embraces it.
Oooh I must look this up! THX!
Does no treatment for this disorder mean that those afflicted can't understand they have this disorder and therefore can't try to change the behaviors?
Yes. His niece, Mary Trump (a psychologist) talks about it some.
As I understand from grad school and working in the field. Of course, that was when God was a baby. Things change, but I think chump is proof that that hasn’t.
I pray for Trump to be the candidate in 2024. It's a small risk, but it may be the only way Biden can get re-elected.
Incompetent to stand for trial might work.
I think his lawyers would certainly LIKE to do that, but I don't think his ego would ever allow it.
I love it, Peter! Don't put it past him.
And like Calvin and Hobbes, he can transmogrify. Can it be possible that his ardent followers have no idea of his crimes? Witnesses on January 6 still supporting him are treasonous, delirious and most probably threatened in the same way he threatened Prosecutor Smith, his family and associates. A judge warned him about that. It's time to put tfg in solitary confinement.
Yesterday would not have been soon enough!
Trump has always been dodgy: https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/05/donald-trump-2016-mob-organized-crime-213910/
HA! You nailed it! What a soothsayer good ole Fake 45 is.
When Trump used the word "bravado" he meant "lying" - so when he said "if you want to know the truth, it was bravado" he meant: if you want to know the truth, it was lying.
It's the Sydney Powell defense; I'm an obvious liar. The judge wasn't buying it.
JL, as he transmutes the meaning of words in real time to sycophants not used to comprehending the concept of dictionaries
Yeah, he can transmute words “just by thinking about it” (to quote his methodology).
That would seem to describe the whole republican party, such as what they define as "ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse". Certain SCOTUS judges are past masters. Scalia intimated he could channel the dead.
Shock and awe!
Appropriate. And I thought I was shocked and awed by the unmitigated gall of W/Dickie
I don't believe TFG is clever enough to have come up with this dodge on his own. Could he possibly be taking advice from those who are (far) more aware of the situation than he is? Providing, of course, that there are any such people left in his orbit . . .
Is Putin still on board?
🤣👍
I posted in another place here today that people fall into categories of either being good, bad, terrible (or horrendous) or just confused. Question: In what category do you trump supporters fall?
I know good people that voted for Trump. It made me question their authenticity because I could not believe they would vote for a clearly racists, misogynist, criminal, dim wit to hold the most important job in America, maybe the world. I thought it was so irresponsible of them and couldn't, wouldn't speak to them for a very long time and I cut the ones that really didn't matter that much to me from my life. I did so to prove the depth of my disgust. I will never trust them ever again. I felt so deceived. But I never thought they were bad people. I just didn't like them anymore. I don't think they were confused or brainwashed. Hypocrites? Some. Without conscience? No. Many still refuse to see they did a stupid, stupid thing. Not unusual. Most have quit politics because they plan to not vote or vote Republican again, if not for Trump. Ask him about the Trump administrations policies and they can't answer you. They didn't partake in J6 but understand that those people were misinformed as to the legality of their actions and the lies Trump told.
Do I know I know bad people? What makes a person bad, some sort of mix between good and terrible? Yes I have known/know a few of those. Do I know they voted for Trump? No. I would put my money on that most of them did. I think most of the Republicans in the house fall into this category. I don't think they are confused or brainwashed. Hypocrites? Yes. Without conscience? Yes. They refuse to see the consequences of what they did and would vote for Trump again no problem.
I don't know any terrible people if by terrible you mean no redeeming qualities. That is just not my world. I would be surprised if terrible people even vote. They don't care about anything much less who the president is because that means they think beyond themselves. It is this category that disturbs me because I think several members of the house and Senate and wannabes fall into this category. You all know who I mean. Not confused at all. Hypocrisy, lying, dehumanizing people are tools of the trade for terrible people.
Saying Trump voters were/are confused let's them off the hook. I don't think any of them were/are confused. Everyone knew about pgate, melon legs, and Stormy. They gave that a pass. The only thing they disbelieved was conspiring with the Russians because you couldn't give it a pass if you believed it.
"Most have quit politics because they plan to not vote or vote Republican again, if not for Trump." The people you so aptly describe will take their bats and balls and go home. They will hide their humiliation under the guise of "all those politicians are corrupt". They will become non participants. Good.
And that is one of the ways we will win big time next year. The other tool in our tool box is the youth vote. We need to work hard to continue the strong trend of younger people voting. They don't suffer fools as easily as the Trumper Cult.
Of course, there's a sucker born every day. Just read about the momentum in RFKs campaign.
Martha Woods, As we have seen in the House, party dictates so much. The fact remains that if one caucuses with the GOP, one will be pressured into supporting many of the same policies for which Trump was just a figurehead. And it ought to be apparent that the GOP leadership are at best synchophants and at worst even more committed to repression than he was, because while they live in lofty places, they are still vulnerable. Voting for the GOP but not for Trump is naive thinking, because the group that passes the laws and confirms judges will still be in power. For myself,I think there is a difference between “nice” people and “good” people, and one of the prime differences is just how much one’s actions are rooted in concern for one’s fellow man
My question is always do they walk their talk. I have had several people express to me how shocked they were when people they thought were good supported and still support him.
I HOPE they're going home and refusing to play. Not so sure, though.
That guy is totally off the wall and has been for a long time.
Martha, I appreciate your comment. I think that (in my corner of the world, which includes a boatload of white male cops), the "tipping point" for them moving from being "conservative" to whatever descriptor can be applied to today's RepubliQan party was the 2008 election when the US elected a Black man to the office of President. The hatred and fear was palpable. Then, in the election of 2016 where the presidential choice was between a woman and tfg, the die was cast. Further, tfg gave his permission for expressing hatred and anger let loose the torrent we are seeing today. Couple that with the intentional divide in our country via the use of social media by forces from both within and outside the US, and you see the morass we're in today.
Ally House, I have said many times that when we elected President Obama it scared the hell out of white males, especially ones that tended to be insecure in the first place. Hillary Clinton was the most qualified person to ever run for president in my book but she was a woman and insecure white people (men and women) were groomed by Agent Chaos (my new name for the former guy) to hate and loath her. She still beat him by 3M votes and yet, we were stuck with him and may be again unless we get everyone to vote again! Hopefully, we can conquer the hate that he uncovered and emboldened in our country.
Colette, I looked at the 2008 Democratic primary as an interesting experiment: who was the lesser of evils, a Black man or a white woman. The Black guy got elected to two terms; the white woman (in the subsequent non-incumbent election) won by 3 million votes, but lost in the archaic Electoral College, and I got my answer.
And the church does not have as much power when democrats win.
Why the Extreme court decision is so important for 2024. Now to change or do away with the electoral college so we the people's vote matters
Yes, I agree. The election of Obama brought forth loads of racist hatred. We were in Charleston on election night in 2008. When we were in the bar having dinner and the returns were starting to come in, the white people in the bar were not cheering. At midnight, when the election was finally declared, we heard lots of people celebrating in the streets as we were at the Francis Marion hotel which is in a fairly black area. College of Charleston just around the corner and the church where the terrible murders took place on the other side of the square which of course had a big statue of John Calhoun in it. We took a couple tours of Charleston, one led by a white guy and one focused on the black heritage. Interesting what they had to say about some of the same places. We were in Savannah just before the election and heard one guy bragging that he had just voted for Sarah....remember her.
I agree with you completely. They never expected a person of color could get elected and they looked around and saw that people of color were working their way up and even dominating some fields, like medicine and sports. I did not understand that where I saw something wonderful some of my friends and co-workers (predominantly male and white) saw a threat to their way of life. As for Hillary, well my co-workers in VA were largely white women that voted for sweet Laura Bush instead of that haughty french woman. I almost fell out of my chair the first time I was told that. They didn't care about the Iraq war at all and that Republicans had fabricated a reason to invade. Heavens no. And the men thought Kerry was unacceptable because he had experienced war and said WTF while Cheney couldn't wait to invade Iraq on behalf of Haliburton. Go figure. Did you read the NYT opinion piece on what Republicans think is a lie? If it weren't true. It would be funny.
So true....
Martha,
"Many still refuse to see they did a stupid, stupid thing."
For sure, when I do something dumb Martha, especially if my wife is there to observe it, I never admit to it.
:-)
I did not vote for Trump though. She would have kicked me out.
I think I would like your wife:) It is hard for people to admit they are wrong, particularly if they don't see it. Just not an easy thing to do...to see through the fog.
Sometimes I think that people who work in environments where the path to success depends on doing what bosses say they want become immune to the defects of the organization, its goals, and ways of implementing their aims. So people end up working for thugs, knowing they are thugs and knowing that their work is not for anything good, but they do it anyway. Maybe partly because they don't see alternatives, fear quitting and starting over somewhere else, and generally accept pretty shitty Faustian bargains for their labor. I've seen it in a corporate setting, which I couldn’t abide after realizing how dangerous the quicksand was to personal integrity, and quit. My colleagues were stunned that I'd leave such a 'cushy' situation and wondered where I thought I'd find something as 'rewarding'….certainly only meaning in terms of $$$. People know Trump is lying…they expect it, but for weird reasons of their own, they give it and many of his other transgressions a pass. It's a mass psychosis, in my view, but so is the 'loyalty' to other entities and their people about which/whom similar bad things have been exposed…churches, companies, rulers, sports teams?
Your assessment mirrors one which Mike S has espoused: If you grow up doing what the white man at the front of the church tells you to do, it is natural and normal for you to do what you're told to do by the white guy in charge of whatever you're in, be it church, employment, or home.
Sounds familiar….as a recovering Catholic for 60:years, I partly attribute my deprogramming from parochial school and CDC ( Christian Doctrine Classes) to my father who was a bit of an iconoclast. His pithy assessments of the people of the cloth sort of gave permission to toss it all into the rubbish heap. The rejection would have happened sooner but for trying to assuage Mama.
I am so grateful to have grown up in a “none” household….goes back to my wonderful granny born in 1898 (and extended to her progeny—now 5 generations); open-hearted, open-minded & lack of dogma of any kind….well, except to be kind, do good, pay attention, lend a hand when needed & carry your own weight as long as you are able—oh, and garden! As a kid—junior high years—went w/ friends a couple of times to their church services & although pleasant enough, it didn’t stick (would have rather been at the beach body surfing!).
I don't let any of them off the hook...I know several Rs who did not vote for him because they could see how bad he was. None of them defended him either. Those that continue to support him are those who are unhappy because they think they have lost their unmerited place as merely being white, or they loved the class clown, or they are just as racist, misogynistic, and biased against queer people who finally have a few rights. The drag queen business is nonsense because many of them love the idea of men dressing up as women. Some of them are religious zealots who want to control the behavior of everyone including what they read and learn in school. This has always existed beneath the surface or at times like the 1920s in plain sight. They love death star because he has given them carte blanche to be awful without hiding it. And they can oppose any and all government programs because helping the less fortunate and making society better for everyone is socialism.
I know the majority of the people I know who voted for him are or were raised Catholic. Abortion being the greatest sin ever.
Most evangelicals claim that they hate sin. My smart Trump friends are wealthy and don’t want to be taxed “to support lazy people.”
Beth, and that’s rub many Evangelicals don’t get. Sin is sin. God doesn’t rank them; men do; and as such Men take on the mantle of God in such decision making. I’m pretty sure that was not the plan of the God Evangelicals worship
They made up their own idol, me thinks
for them he is the anti-christ
More likely the second coming…
Such self-righteous glee and condemnation over the misfortune of the powerless. And always against the woman (or girl), never the other party who must never be named.
Actually, surveys show Catholics are quite divided about Trump. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2016/02/23/u-s-religious-groups-and-their-political-leanings/
FWIW, the most Republican leaning church affiliation is Mormon, according to Pew research.
I think the majority of US bishops are republicans bc their “pre-eminent” issue has been abortion (even when the pope and others reminded them there are MANY important issues). And a few loudmouths are mad at Pelosi (woman in power, dem) and Biden for “supporting” abortion (confused with I will not impose my belief system on the country (see, for example, Alito and Thomas)).
I think you are right on.
Excellent assessment.
In Whitehead & Perry's book & based on the Brennan Center research, the LDS as a Christian Church was less likely to adhere to Christian Nationalism.
Carole, the LDS has it's own in-house white male nationalism.
Yes and it is not the fascist Christian Nationalism. Read some of the posts by Mormon Women for Ethic Gov. Many of their statements etc are well written & not rabid R propaganda. I am not LDS & dont adhere to their beliefs however I think that we share concerns over some of the same issues.
Evil.
I think the supporters vary, and that some could become disabused of their folly. I think the architects of the big lies and treachery are legitimately evil.
not evil, self serving and greedy
And add "willfully ignorant".
I don't buy the notion that evil is somehow connect to a devil with goat horns and a tail; but personally, when I think of behavior that could be called "evil" I could also label it aggressively sociopathic, when only one's own whims are sovereign even when one actions harm others. The extreme and self -congratulatory tortures inflicted by WWII Nazis could be, in my opinion, be assigned either label.
We all "pursue" happiness and we all possess self-interest, even in heroic behaviors. But who and what else do we care about? That sphere of concern and action makes all the difference between an adult said to be emotionally "really small" and one described as having a "big heart". We tend to leave that to theologians and philosophers to puzzle out; but our survival as a species may require a better and clearer personal understanding of our own human nature.
I don't disagree, but too often their "folly" is analogous to "pushing a rope"! I'm weary of the energy, airtime, and "hope" that they might eventually get it . . .
So true JL and some were legitimately pardoned by manbaby massmurderer. Some people are just hateful bullies who believe they are better than everyone else. But "Conservative Christians" are a phenomenon I cannot understand or explain.
I detect two salient themes in religions, one hubrisitic and cruel and the other humble and compassionate. We call them both by the same name, but they are diametrically opposed. Some of the most sociopathic events in history wear a religious cover story, and there are also religiously motivated acts of kindness and sacrifice. One seeks to subjugate and the other to liberate. One to ideologically and ethnically "cleanse" and the other to bond. It's easy to find examples of both.
Excellent point!!! It does boggle the mind how opposite sides of the coin are both called religion. Glad I never dipped my toe in that world; neither did those on my family tree going back 5 generations…how they sidestepped it I never thought to ask my elders (those of my generation are the elders now) before they passed.
conned
He is so much like a toddler, weaving fantasies to stay in the center of attention, yet out of trouble.
What a fool. Anyone who listens to the tape, including jurors at his trial, will know he's lying.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Seems like SCOTUS may be on good behavior after seeing it's reputation plummet after Dobbs.
Interesting that the 3 dissents, in Moore v. Harper, Thomas, Alito and Gorsuch, all have had financial ethics issues in the news. Just sayin'.
Yes! Bravo for writing the connection!
I’d like to hear a knowledgeable analysis of how three SCOTUS justices managed to conclude that the “independent state legislature doctrine” correctly interprets the Constitution.
It was Thomas, Alito and Gorsuch. The explanation is that they were born with their heads up their asses and have remained in that position since.
Tom And so let the light shine. Alito and Thomas are such world-class ass holes that Gorsuch must scurry to catch up.
Well, yes, TCin LA. That does explain it but is not the legal analysis that I was looking for of the dissent they wrote from that position, which must have been hard to pull out with their heads blocking the way.
I laughed out loud.
Glad I finished my tea before I read your comment or I’d be cursing while I mopped up my keyboard!!!!! Need some eye bleach now too!
“The explanation is that they were born with their heads up their asses and have remained in that position since.”
It also explains/ shows they are bought and sold for stooges doing their rich “patrons” bidding(s).
And, for a pittance.
I am stunned that people are so focused on the dissenters instead of this amazing victory. There were 3 conservative Justices who voted for Democracy today. Let's celebrate that!
Here is an interesting article on John Roberts in Slate. "John Roberts Has Wrested Back Control of the Supreme Court"
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/06/john-roberts-supreme-court-kavanaugh-barrett-allies.html#:~:text=John%20Roberts%20Has%20Wrested%20Back%20Control%20of%20the%20Supreme%20Court
Don’t celebrate too much, the SC crisis is not over by a long shot, as my Daddy used to say.
Jeri, I take the celebrations where and when I can. It's fuel to keep going.
I can't live under a cloud. Frankly, there is always going to be something somewhere. We've been in this battle going on 7 years now for the soul of this Country. Let's take the wins where they pop up.
great, fuel is great
A sincere thank you.
I both celebrate the decision (starting with a sigh of relief), and continue my concern.
Nah. I celebrate full tilt. Then keep working for Democracy.
Barbara M -- Neal Katyal was the very brilliant and forceful lawyer who argued before SCOTUS! Very Very very High Praise!
I am ever grateful to him and to Mark Elias/Democracy Docket!!!
Mark Elias has been talking about getting this decision for months.
John Roberts is deeply invested in white supremacist mythology. He occasionally sends diversionary signals in the vain hope of hiding his underpinnings from future historians. But he did pick a good time to send out a flare. Lucky for American democracy, that’s for sure.
We can hold both the good & bad
Good and bad what? I am talking about an attitude towards everything that happens. I refuse to worry about things outside my control.
"If you can do something about it why worry.
If you can't do anything about it why worry."
Buddhism
True, I think there are some Buddhist quotes re the duality of our nature & the world of being able to hold both, complimentary not oppositional. " Expect nothing & be ready for anything" or something like that.
This is essentially what my husband says whenever I lament what's going on with tfg, SCOTUS, et al. "There's nothing you can do about it," except vote. Doesn't make me feel better, though.
It’s frustrating to depend on voting to make the change that most want because of the ways those who want to remain in power futz with the system to reduce our impact. Doesn’t stop me tho’, only makes me want to try harder!
Jeri and Barbara, you are playing out the exact debate going on in my head right now!
YES!
Thomas and Alito seem willing to destroy democracy for their benefactors. They are solutions waiting for the right cases to be imposed. Thomas in particular seems full of hate ( self hatred?) and semi-nihilism.
Yes. It also could be that there are essential personality traits that were physically left out at birth. The capacity for simple empathy and a sense of justice for the majority of the down trodden. They don't follow a Jesus I read about. They, along with Barrett and Gorsuch, are right out of a Dan Brown novel.
What they really care about is fishing with rich guys. And private plane rides. Being treated as if they were important. They are shallow wanna be elitists.
Thomas and Alito both seem to be very angry, unhappy men--goodness only knows why. Alito's Catholicism is not a comfort to him as one's religion is supposed to be. Thomas's anger...self-hatred, perhaps?
They are used to shouting bull Schitt. Rupert has been giving a master class for almost 30 years
“The Supreme Court's long-awaited decision in Moore v. Harper is a resounding, reverberating victory for American Democracy.” Thanks, HCR, for pointing out this statement by Judge Luttig, and by ending today's letter with the authoritarian jitters around the world, and giving the last words on democracy to Pres. Biden.
The widespread bad press concerning Mr and Mrs Thomas may also have something to do with it.
I don't think they care one bit. Lifetime appointment and evidently, they have no ethics, moral compass, or understanding of "conflict of interest". And frankly why should they - it has been clearly shown their power and influence is not at risk.
I think these three justices prove the case for reforming the SC. 1) Increase the number of justices to 13, commensurate with the number of federal districts. 2) Institute term limits. The 18 year plan has much to recommend it. 3)The SC should have to follow the ethics rules of the federal judiciary.
Yes would be a great improvement, 25 probably even better. I guess 435 would be awkward but kinda find it attractive, anyway, especially if Biden got to appoint all of them.
Their examination interviews indicate that you're correct.
I think the scandals likely weigh on "Conservative's" urge to brazen it out.
I agree.
I think it may be in part that they don't want to diminish the power of the Judiciary. After all, they are the judiciary.
Or they just felt the need to support state courts?
We live in an extraordinary time; one of the most exciting times in my personal history. So many consequential acts, decisions, and wild natural events have grabbed our collective attention with I grip I have never felt before. Today marks a turn in the fate of fairness in elections, and with that some major changes in American life. Not all of it will be easy, but my hope is that most of it pushes humanity forward in a balance with the planet we occupy.
I guess I am old but I wouldn’t exactly call it “exciting times” quite yet, anyway. I have called it “trying times” because a lot of us have had our securities and minds uprooted in the last 7 years. What Fake 45 and his ilk have done makes Nixon, Agnew, and Watergate seem like docile sheep. Watergate was a big turning point in our history and I don’t think any of us would have dreamed for a moment of what occurred on J6 as a comparison. But there, you have it!
I just finished watching the 1976 movie "All the President's Men" (saw it when it came out and lived through those times). Compared to Trump, Nixon was a "boy scout" - albeit a paranoid law breaking one!
But at least, even those in his own party recognized he was unfit to hold office and were a part of convincing him to resign. Although, I think former president Gerald Ford was a decent guy and I don't think he personally had nefarious intentions, but in hindsight it was a mistake to have pardoned Nixon.
It is beyond obvious today's GOP is far below the bar of sanity. They willingly advocate putting a criminal madman back in the WH. They (and the followers) were evil in 2016 and they are evil today. It really is batshit crazy and so dangerous. Meanwhile the MSM continues to feed the monster by giving trump 24/7 coverage. Just lock this guy up until his trial and let Jack Smith at him in court sooner vs. later!
"Trump’s troubles are growing serious enough that House speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) suggested on CNBC this morning that Trump might not be the best candidate for the Republican Party in 2024. But then, revealing Trump’s continuing support in the party, he promptly backtracked to say that Trump is the “strongest political opponent” against President Biden."
Never good to diminish Nixon’s evil, or W, or yes, Reagan
McCarthy needs a good surgeon - to install a spine. Amazing he can stand upright.
Every time McCarthy says something semi-intelligent he walks it back to again reveal his self-serving cowardice.
Some intelligence, just not enough spine and moral compass.
Spot on. Dangerous combination. Reminds me of a disturbing number of my fellow lawyers.
He needs his soul returned. He sold it in his quest for the Speaker job.
I don't think they are going to give it back.
Most of the GOP sold their souls to Trump from 2016 to 2020 just to kiss 💋 ass and brown nose. And not get a negative Tweet from the Don.
But one has to wonder if Trump did not do us all a favor? By being the overbearing dictator he forced / or gave them a chance to show their true colors, which they had probably been hiding for years.
Racist, misogynistic and entitled mostly white folks with social attitudes right out the 1950s.
He’s an embarrASSment for us Californians.
Wonder what will be rumbling ‘round his mind in his later years as he reflects back on his life….in the end was it really worth it?
Don't know if anyone here watched "Game of Thrones", but there are several memes floating about of McCarthy with the "My name is Reek" theme. :D
Oh, nice analogy!
I saw that but didn’t know what it meant. Thanks!
"It is beyond obvious today's GOP is far below the bar of sanity"
That, right there. Both those elected and those doing the electing. We are seeing the results of unfettered propaganda, lies masking as news or information, and the permission to hate granted by fpotus come home to roost.
I will only disagree with your comment that Gerald Ford was a decent guy who didn't have nefarious intentions. I asked Gerald Ford a question once...actually I asked the same question three times and never got an answer; Gerald Ford was a tool. He was neither decent nor nefarious; he was incapable of original thought. The pardon was a mistake, but wasn't actually his idea.
May I ask what the question was you put to him that he didn’t answer….and how was it that you were in the position to do so? [Inquiring minds want to know—sounds interesting!]
My husband was on the Beaverton School Board 1980 to 1988. The Republicans were starting their campaign of raising up people in politics by starting in local elected offices. So we were invited to some event where Ford was the speaker and Beaverton had a table pretty close to the front. He said a bunch of stuff but what caught my attention was what he probably considered a throw away line about wanting to get good people into local offices but not people who were "too intelligent".
So I raised my hand when it was opened up for questions, and asked him what he meant by too intelligent. He, of course, did not answer my question, rambling on repeating his core message. And since I was at a table right in front I asked him again to explain what he meant by too intelligent, and then a third time when he didn't answer my question again. By then my husband was nudging me so I gave up.
I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Thanks for explaining….the image in my mind is of you holding his feet to the fire! Well done!
Beginning in 2015 I have spent way too much time on Trump and Republicans.
Whatever you want to call the times we live in, it certainly has knocked the ho hum out of many of us & moved us from sitting on the sidelines to political activism, to voting in every election.
Yeah, Carol, a big wake up call that our democracy can’t be taken for granted & that it is meant to be participatory!
The proper term is "interesting times," uttered as a curse.
Very "interesting"; though my sense is that not all the trends are bad. Alas the bad is big and bad and likely to insure a rough ride. The fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves. May our species prove resilient and open to improvement.
Good call 🙏🌎
It is an extraordinary time, but for the pandemic Trump might now be president. Like disease, the reality of climate change is coming home to roost in severe storms, rising oceans and extreme heat. We need unity and leadership through these times.
And NEVER FORGET that so far the GOP refuses to admit the reality of climate change, a universal threat
Thank you. Any discussion beyond restoring democracy that doesn't include the Climate Crisis is actually a waste of time. Because our time is running out. We should be preparing. But we are literally ignoring the tsunami of horrors headed our way.
We should be planning the retreats from the coast lines and areas around major rivers. We should be constructing alternate ways to feed billions of people as crops are failing. Our mono crop farming using enormous amounts of fertilizer is killing the waters surrounding Florida and in the Gulf.
The ocean is being over-fished - and its ecosystem is collapsing due to unexpectedly fast warming. Coral reefs and mangroves where ocean life begins are dying.
The human migration we are seeing is just a tiny preview of the millions and millions of desperate humans who will have no choice but to leave their homes. We are short of workers, so logically, we turn them away. That's a mystery that apparently can only be solved by Hunter Biden's laptop.
We are all talking about the sad story of 5 rich people who tragically died on a sight seeing tour of a sunken ship. But how much attention was given to the 500 who died off the coast of Greece? 500 desperate humans who were fleeing for their lives. Where is the discussion of why they were risking their lives?
Perhaps all this disaster is just too much for our spoiled little minds to process. But I am just naive enough to think that just like in a good sci-fi movie, the right leaders could sound the alarm and rally most of us to start focusing on the real threats and devising some clever solutions.
But I guess it's more fun to look at pictures of Classified Documents in a bathroom with a chandelier. Of course, I want to see the orange toad locked up. But in the long run we are indeed ignoring the "universal threat".
Thank you for an eloquent statement of who and where we are. It could go on the front page of any newspaper (or editorial page) in America to the advantage of all of US. Might you send it out? At least to your own?
Bill, your assessment is accurate. There is no Planet B. This is what we've got, and we are ignoring those threats you so clearly articulate. (I am referring to the global "we" as I know many of us here are absolutely concerned with the health of the planet.)
Bill, you nailed it. Watching this unfold is worrying and dispiriting. I am losing hope, and see that caring for each other and our fellow creatures & ecosystems is still being thwarted by greed and ignorance. I’ve read that the Uber-rich are developing their hide-y holes in “safe” places….might help for awhile, but the global scope of this will not allow them to run and hide for long. I fear, too, that we can’t “techno” our way out of this…at least not soon enough to avoid massive pain and disruption. I despair at the hubris of humankind…
Yep,
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/sep/04/super-rich-prepper-bunkers-apocalypse-survival-richest-rushkoff
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/12/superyacht-industry-booms-during-covid-pandemic
What they are building are luxury prison cells, all the comforts of home except for any sort of freedom worthy of the name. The space ships might provide an exit into hellish exile, or a nasty demise. Its one thing to be an intrepid explorer and another to see what spring is like on Jupiter or Mars. Like so many MAGAs in COVID, we snoozing while losing.
Yes, and will they be able to trust those they hire to make this possible & take care of their ongoing needs? I’ll bet they will not/do not plan to make it on their “own”.
Bill I think you are exactly correct in your assessment of the catastrophic crisis of which the scientists have been warning us for more than 40 years (think Rachel Carson), however, I suspect the most important activity we can embark upon is finding ways to separate people's personal interests in employment in or by polluting industries. This includes anyone and everyone involved in selling or promoting use of internal combustion engines in cars, trucks, aircraft, boats, RVs, or motorcycles as well as promoting travel in general. It also should involve persuading us all of the benefits of reducing our dependence on meat and dairy products in our diets and the value of buying produce locally whenever possible. This represents a HUGE portion of our country's population shifting not only their attitudes but their actual employment and sources of income. That's a huge lift and yet it all involves individual choice, the very essence of a free democracy.
yes, as I get older, I have less of a need for meat (which I hunted and shot) and rely on fish I can catch and freeze, can, and smoke. I am lucky. Homemade bread is a staple. The local farmers markets have a great supply of vegetables. But I am fortunate to be able to choose this lifestyle; others are not.
Good assessment! May I add encouraging adoption instead of procreation and building ships to cross oceans. My husband (green before Rachel Carson) spoke of engines run on recycled steam.
And meanwhile, an 18 year veteran meteorologist in Des Moines resigned because as he tried to explain weather patterns and how climate change was causing so many issues with the weather, he received death threats and hate filled emails and voicemails from people that watched his broadcasts...
Thank you for reporting this. Climate change denial is likely from fear. Question: how to get Americans involved instead of fearful.
And some folks just don’t believe in science (ever evolving w/ new data/observations)…I’ve talked with a few…they are non-curious IMHO.
I smell Canada burning.
And Calif & the mountain west, Italy, Australia, Africa, the Amazon and the Arctic….it’s pretty much the whole world now.
We're in big trouble. Don't do it if you don't have to drive to it. Vote. Reduce, reuse, downgrade. Save the earth while there's earth left to save.
Yes. And President Biden is coming to Chicago where we have 180 dirty air.
"But how much attention was given to the 500 who died off the coast of Greece? 500 desperate humans who were fleeing for their lives. Where is the discussion of why they were risking their lives? "
Excellent question and metaphor. The rivets are showing signs of failure in our submersible "bubble".
Very well-said, Bill. Meanwhile, instead of addressing climate change (or even acknowledging that it exists), Republicans are busy banning books and denigrating drag queens.
Canadian fires and a"disasters" around the world is the "smoking gun" and data strongly suggests we are seeing a trend, see graphic: https://climate.nasa.gov/climate_resources/300/video-climate-spiral-1880-2022/ . We need to run to put out fires and we need a plan to stop the arson.
We need to focus, and I'm saying so as a pretty scattered person. I think the primary power of great democratic leaders, in office or "grass roots" movements, is focus. That was what one young Swedish girl was able to very disproportionately pull together.
Does it not seem that focus in essential to wisdom? To justice? Combined with an open mind, to creativity and resilience? Science, which is in my blood, can reveal and clarify what is real and illusion, what what is likely to work and likely to fail, but it cannot, in the end decide for us what most matters. It can sort it out, but not speak for us.
That's where human experiential sentience and empathy come in. We collectively must focus on what, in the end, makes life worth living, and whether this human awareness of our vast and amazing universe will prove sustainable at all. As a species, compared to dinosaurs, we have just arrived on the scene, and capacity for deliberate agency is a wondrous blessing and a curse. Where is humility and wisdom in all this?
We may have the dubious distinction of being the first species to arrange our own mass extinction.
AND be doing it eyes-wide-open! Kinda makes me wonder if we really are all that intelligent!!!
JL, human hubris may do us in.
I would say excruciating, with an occasional breath allowing a modicum of hope
A little bit more than a "modicum", please. We need a way out. Emily D.: "Hope is a thing with feathers . . . "
I like Churchill's comment that he was an optimist. Of what use is it to be anything else. But that was paired with a fighting spirit that we all need.
As they say in British pubs, "Take Courage." Thanks, Jeri, for your wisdom born of courage.
A heart, a brain and courage is a fine basic kit.
I recall Jessie Jackson saying that you don't drown until you stop swimming. People do drown of course, but being able to swim tilts the odds.
For the first time in about 9 years, I feel hopeful that the citizens of America will get a fair choice in representation in 2024, so that good government will heal our divide over time. I know that there is so much more we have to grind for, but it is actually working. This is no time to rest on our laurels; in fact we should all push harder to bear out the liars, and to show that living with equity doesn’t disenfranchise anybody; or that paying taxes is patriotic; or that we can live with new energy resources. IT ALL STARTS WITH FAIR ELECTIONS!
We are persnickety about performance enhancing drugs used by athletes but ignore gross funding bias, self-evident and screaming conflicts of interest, and dishonest "dirty tricks". It turns out that they won't even let you kneecap your opponent in the Olympics; but politics dramatically shapes our future, and the Olympics, despite showcasing remarkable human accomplishments, does not.
True that….tho to be honest, some athletes (and handlers/coaches/etc) DO try to put their thumb on the scale and is why, when it comes out, folks are appalled at the lack of “sportsmanship”. Now if we could just take that “sportsmanship” model and apply it to politics (oh, and everyday life too!).
After the Jan 6th event, judge Luttig named Trump as a ‘clear and present danger’ to our Republic and shocked conservatives who were Trumpies……(because Luttig is seen by just about everyone in the conservative legal world as the most significant legal mind on constitutional matters in the US ….) today I heard Luttig indicate that this Moore v. Harper verdict AND ECA decision that recently occurred essentially have stopped Trumpies from repeating the recent attempted horrors and safe guarded our election system for NOW.
Which is clearly a good thing…more will need to be done and other such attempts are possible if we are stupid enough to elect a similar sociopath. God willing we aren’t so stupid….
This could have been so much worse!
Most significant *conservative* legal mind. There's always Laurence Tribe.
NEAL KATYAL did the live work at SCOTUS. Neal has a NEW Platform at Substack that was announced on Joyce Vance's Civil Discourse yesterday (good timing). Neal promises weekly in depth legal analysis.
I have already signed up for an annual Sub which comes with a significant discount. I have received three (3) posts. Neal is at the apex of his appellate skills.
I saw him interviewed this eve on, I think it was Lawrence O’Donnell’s MSNBC show & Lawrence said he’d give Neal a standing ovation for his SCOTUS legal victory if he wasn’t so wired up (mic’s, etc), so I stood in my kitchen and gave Neal a big rousing applause. If I recall correctly, Lawrence mentioned that Neal probably has a good 30 year or so career ahead of him….perhaps even to someday be nominated to sit on the court! Yes, job well done!
Neal has already made fifty that's five (5) ... zero (0) - 50 appearances before SCOTUS which is exactly 50 more than me..
Counsellor, what is the name of Mr. Katyal's Substack? I gotta get there.
Courtside
Bryan am trying to locate Katyal’s new platform….name please?
COURTSIDE with Neal Katyal. :)
Thanks!
Neal's last apperanance at SCOTUS was the best oral argument at any appellate level I have ever witnessed in an over 30 year career.
I see him regularly on MSNBC. He and Andrew Weismann make a great comedy team talking about DT.
For NOW
EXACTLY
Biden wound up winning by a healthy margin, but it was a nail biter in some of the crucial states; and the Electoral College is just patently anti-democratic and has really delivered some duds. The future is too precious to play games with. I think media has dulled our repulsion to gross dishonesty. Contrast public reaction to Nixon's misdeeds vs to current GOP "leading lights". Investigation and prosecution of abuses in the Savings and Loan scandal vs the Subprime con. Corruption left unsuccessfully resisted tends to spread. Maybe more us are waking up to how close the the brim we have come.
It feels to me that the ‘guardrails’ barely held …and another Trump ‘adventure’ would ruin us..in my family there is discussion of a move to Canada if Trump wins in 24…serious talk.
It is interesting to me that the Articles of Confederation do not seem to have mentioned elections to National Office; rather it talks about state "appointments." In the Constitution (as later amended) both the House and Senate are "elected by the people of the State." This change seems to make it clear that the intention of the Constitution is that Electors are to be chosen based on popular vote, doesn't it?
I am so grateful for the many people who continue to press the cases challenging gerrymandering and other schemes designed to limit voting access based on race. I am so sad that bigotry is such a factor hampering our human potential.
Yes! Gerrymandering allows Republican fools to control Wisconsin.
Seems to me that most of us learned in grade school that cheating to win isn’t good or fair…but then again there are those who learned to seize the “win by any means” mantra.
And Ohio...
Trump’s tone changed today as he claimed that he didn’t have a secret document in his hands when he said he did. “I would say it was bravado, if you want to know the truth, it was bravado"
Trump? Truth? In the same sentence? Are his lips moving? If so, he is lying.
An absolute nightmare for a client, cannot keep his mouth shut, makes constantly conflicting statements that the prosecutor loves. Give some folks enough rope and they will hang themselves.
I loved the twitter video today of OJ telling Trump that he was going to pass on the best legal advice he had gotten from the "greatest lawyers of my lifetime" (his defense team in the murder trial), and that advice was "don't say a word about the case."
Dismissing the audio as “Bravado” is the same as dismissing the Access Hollywood tape as “Locker room talk.” It will be sufficient for his base. In both cases, it’s obvious that he’s lying about lying. And so odd that his best defense is “I lie all the time.”
He even uses his own compulsive lying as his defense, though true to form, he covers it with the word "bravado".
My Mama would have washed our mouths out if we “tooted our own horn” too much. The sign of an insecure bore, and consummate liar.
Stuck in the second stage of psychosexual development??? But don't let tfg suck all the oxygen out of what truly matters.
I'm with Bill A. It's the Climate, stupid!
Still wondering if the insanity defense is being considered.
“The Constitution is above Politics…” Neal Katyal reacts to Supreme Court decision on N.C.congressional maps. Justice! “In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court rejected GOP lawmakers’ bid to give politicians sweeping authority in drawing congressional maps and regulating federal elections. Former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal who argued Moore v Harper in front of the Supreme Court ….discusses the major Supreme Court Decision .” YES!
https://youtu.be/xJwWaNe_FXo
Thank god for Neal Katyal - as he said to Lawrence tonight, Moore v Harper was the most important case he will ever argue at the court.
I'd love it if Lawrence's "prediction" came true and it was "Mr. Justice Katyal" some day.
I have been a nervous wreck ever since I first heard about the Moore v Harper ruling to come. The relief I feel now is profound!!! I am beyond grateful to Neal Katyal and Mark Elias.
At the risk of stating something that is perfectly obvious, TFG is seriously mentally ill, and the idea that he has even the slightest chance of winning in 2024 is grotesque. How much are the media responsible, for hyping that possibility up excessively to keep people in a state of perpetual "breathlessness" and gin up their sales?
The media gave us TFG. If Congress wants to put a stop to putting profit ahead of journalism, they can. They placed employee45 on the screen for better ratings and profits. The demagogue draws an audience.
It's bat-guano crazy to pine for a just democracy and allow the massive influence of excessive money to warp our politics as much as it does.
And secret money that supports false-information media and secretly own$ several in Congress.
Ahhh, one of my favorite sayings sanitized for more formal situations. Thank you, JL. I sometimes call upon emoticons for my expression: 🦇💩 crazy.
The power of rebus. In the great Canadian comedy/human commentary series "Slings and Arrows" there is debate about whether Banquo's ghost in "McBeth" should be portrayed by a player or an empty chair. Sometimes suggestion is the more more powerful answer, though I spell things out on occasion.
Republicans use lots of innuendo, though they are increasingly blatant bullies; and we need to call them out by their proper name.
Personality Disorder is a different type of mental illness, the type for which there is no effective treatment. Don’t paint all mental illness with the chump brush. As long as repubs push him to the fore, MSM will have him front and center. Sad to say
Perhaps this is why the Powers That Be have been holding onto Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee: They need a weak candidate so they can throw the election to Trump.
Biden's supporters are in a state of denial regarding Biden's obvious mental and physical decline. Here's a news clip from Australia suggesting that doddering, confused Biden belongs in a nursing home:
youtu.be/wqwrjJLGYd0
Biden has never appeared to be confused or doddering when i have seen him on TV. He seems to be articulate and very intelligent to me. That news clip you mentioned must have meant TUMP instead of Biden. He is the one that is confused and delusional and telling a continous string of blatant lies and making up things out of thin air to defend himself. Also, TUMP supporters that are in a state of denial thinking TUMP has not broken the law and is innocent of ANY wrongdoings. And Biden is in much better shape than TUMP physically and mentally. Much better all the way around. Go troll elsewhere.. Donald TUMP is the last thing we need to be President, or in his instance, Dictator TUMP. If elected, TUMP would finish the job of destroying the United States. He is a disgrace and a very corrupt criminal and belongs in prison for the rest of his sorry rotten life.
You prove my point that Biden supporters are in a state of denial. "Fanaticism is a symptom of doubt."
NO, it's not denial, its the truth. Have you ever seen the fat blob of orange goo ride a bicycle?? Hell no, he would fall off in a big orange blob. TUMP supporters are in the worst state of denial for supporting a life long criminal. They are the ones that are fanatics. GO TROLL elsewhere, TROLL, TROLL.. Take your disinformation elsewhere... TROLL.
Rethug the Troll, after his epileptic paroxysm, needs to check his blood pressure. Perhaps it's not too early for a stiff drink...
Who is a fanatic?
I do not doubt Joe Biden would be a better CANDIDATE if he had all of his experience and judgment of today, but in his body of twenty years ago. JFK and FDR had physical limits that needed to be hidden from a public that expected their president to be in perfect condition.
Perhaps you didn't watch that video...
With “nursing home” in the title, I decided to give it a miss. I didn’t watch 20,000 Mules, either. The silliness factor.
Vampire troll on the horizon
Ignoring him may be the best. He obviously wants attention. Reminds me of another attention craver.
you are right, sorry
No apologies necessary.
Actually, I want Davison Budhoo to get some attention:
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-15-2023/comment/11967315
Too bad you wanted to be seen as part of the I.M.F Holocaust deniers' dogpile.
...said Thugly the Troll, hoping that one of her Vampire Liberal troll buddies will show up to dogpile.
Would you STOP insulting other commenters?
Report him. He's getting more deranged, just like Trump. His usual multiple-copy/paste posts have settled down, but his insults of the rest of the readers is getting worse. Everyone should report his but especially those who he is insulting. Do a copy/paste on him, and put it in your report to the forum. I've been doing it. It takes awhile but he will be blocked.
Watch and see how long it takes for him to give me more insults to report to the forum!!
I replied in kind, to the vicious troll who routinely uses expletives, but I didn't go there.
Surely you know that there are hundreds of malicious, manipulated videos of Biden circulating on the internet, making him look like a fool. If you sent me a photo of yourself, I could photoshop it to make you look like the village idiot, too.
Perhaps you can Google a video of Biden's 2023 State of the Union speech. This might make you change your mind. As a commenter said recently on The Bulwark: "Old Sleepy Joe, simultaneously a demented old man, AND also an international man of mystery - able to set up a multi-faceted financial empire that would take years to unravel."
I notice that you avoided saying you believed that anything in that video was inauthentic.
Sky News, for whatever it's worth, strives to be perceived as a respected purveyor of news. I just found out that they are more British than Australian:
https://news.sky.com/info/policies-and-standards
Sky news is the Fox of Australia. Did they also analyse Trump?
Pay no attention to the troll behind the curtain. If that ''Sky news'' is the Fox of Australia, what they report is most likely lies and disinformation. That guy is a troll and a projectionist like 99 percent of Rethugs are.
Rethug the Troll lovvvves Corporate Joe ("Creepy Snuggles") Biden, the Deep State swamp creature mired in Ukrainian sleaze, from tiny corporatist Delaware, where the grass-roots voters work in corporate headquarters buildings.
Rethug the Troll is in a state of denial about Biden's frailty, and he'll grunt and snarl at you if you try to point out the obvious.
My point is that these video clips demonstrating Biden's public mental and physical frailty are OUT THERE making an impression, and Biden's supporters are in a state of denial.
If something is OUT THERE, it must be significant, you think? And accurate?
We Biden supporters do not deny that his age isn’t something to consider.
But I am Trump’s age, 77, and neither of us are as fit and healthy as Joe Biden, three years older. Any of the Republicans challenging Trump for the nomination are just too Republican for me.
Last time around, during the primaries, I sent Tulsi Gabbard $25 every now and then. I'm just a working man.
Next year, I'll probably be giving my little bit to RFK.
Corporate Joe Biden is worse than Trump.
RFKjr? Really? Thanks for making it explicit EXACTLY how fucked up your intellectual and moral compass actually is.
I find it sad that you represent yourself as being a fellow citizen. I find it pathetic that you think that you matter.
Biden's Not Weak! He has done MORE for the American People than any President in US History since FDR! You're a weak Schmeeckle for believing a false narrative, and worse, disseminating that false narrative as Word. Do Your Research!!!
You use my name as an insult.
My grandmother was FDR's fourth cousin (through the Delano family). Biden is no FDR.
Corporate Joe Biden, after he stole the nomination from Bernie Sanders, embraced much of Bernie's agenda so progressives would actually vote for him. Biden the Vampire Liberal isn't shy about sucking money from around the world (thanks to the Almighty Dollar) to fund Worthwhile Projects so ignorant liberals will applaud him.
p.s. I hope you're not a deluded Cureton.
p.p.s. I hope you have enough conscience to feel uncomfortable dogpiling on me with the I.M.F. Holocaust deniers.
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-15-2023/comment/11967315
Don’t feed the troll.
Perhaps Hypocrite the Troll will look in the mirror instead of dogpiling with I.M.F. Holocaust deniers.
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-15-2023/comment/11967315
p.s. Do you think HCR is an I.M.F. Holocaust denier?
And I suppose you never stumble in speaking or appear tired. Biden is far from doddering and is a wise and consummate statesman.
There are many people his age and older who are very successful.
Get over it! It is a weak excuse.
AND he is not shy (for years) about sharing his struggle to overcome a serious speech impediment (stuttering) and how, in his sharing this, he had and has inspired those with the same condition to persevere & not be ashamed. I recall seeing a video where a young boy approached him and thanked him for being a role model for him and helping him to know what is possible. That there are remnants of this showing when he speaks makes those who are unaware (or just cruel) think it is his mental acuity. It’s not. At. All.
Corporate Joe Biden the consjmmate statesman?? That sounds like a profession of faith, or perhaps you're on the payroll.
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/june-27-2023/comment/17863271
Just read with dismay the kindergarten poo-throwing match that my comment seems to have started. Good grief. Can't we be civil?
The phrase “duck and cover” has new meaning these days!
It’s nice to see the writhing of TFG and McQarthy… Yes, I admit, that’s Schadenfreude all the way. Maybe, authoritarianism isn’t such a great alternative for democracy after all, Mr. Putin?
As many observers noted today, the only way Trump could assert the "bravado" defense to the tape in his coming trial would be to take the stand. No lawyer with an active brain cell would ever allow him on the stand, as he has been torn apart by the other side every time he does, and also asserts his own failures (best current example is the tape of him used in the E. Jean Carroll case, where he was the best witness against himself). And since he cannot take the stand to assert the "bravado" defense, it's just more Trump bullshit.
If it was pay-per-view of Mar-a-Lardo Fats on the stand and the funds raised went to the national debt--I do believe we could wipe out the deficit. Damn I'd pay to watch that--and invite my friends on limited income to come over and watch on my big screen.
I laughed out loud.
Could his lawyer(s) say that he is a consummate liar, first for everything?
"Consummate" lire means he's good at it. As we all know, his lying is as obvious as the morning sun.
Professional liar
A huge sigh of relief on Moore v. Harper.
Surprised Trump knows what the word bravado means. Wonder who told him.
Biden's timing on sanctions on the Wagner companies in Africa is perfect. Hard for Putin to argue against it when he called Prigozhin a traitor even if he has now come to an accommodation with him. That cuts off the financial resources that have allowed Wagner (and Putin) to fund their anti-democracy efforts in Africa and world wide. It has allowed them to milk off the natural resources of whole countries using populations that are essentially enslaved under their control for the cheap cost of buying off corrupt government officials. Those funds were also supplying ammo, weapons and materiel to Wagner units in Ukraine.
I've noticed a few polysyllabics lately. Someone is editing him.
That’s been my immediate thought each time. “Bravado” just wow for so many reasons, all pointed out here today.
The solution to our quadrennial quandry over representative elections is deceptively simple; one person, one vote, end of discussion. One unifrom criterion to determine voting eligibilty without regard to geographic location or political affiliation. Abolish the antiquated and warped electoral college system, it only benefits the two major political parties. Let the Republicans scream and protest; they are the ones who seem to win elections only when they load the dice as they did in 2016, and look at the price we paid.
The president and vice president are supposed to represent all of the people, not just a party. In any case, every citizen is affected and every citizen ought to get an equal vote.
Donald Trump never represented me nor will he ever represent me. The president and vice president also are supposed to honest, competent people.
Yes.
Some wins for the good guys.
New trend? Not before time.
Strikes me that a man known to avoid reading ended up with boxes full of things to read...mixed in with his shirts and other belongings? Stretches the bounds of credibility.
It's the possession -- MY boxes -- that counts. I read that the boxes also included clothing, framed pictures and the like. Doubt seriously that he read any of it. He who has the most boxes wins.
Excellent point, cameron.
Waiting for your post, now I’m going to sleep like a baby who knows not yet the dangers inherit in this world. Your talent for parsing so succinctly the pieces today give me hope AGAIN that our Republic can withstand these assaults from within and outside our nation. Bless you and good night! 😴
The decision in Moore v. Harper wasn’t 9-0 (as it should have been). It was 6-3. We should not overlook the fact that three justices - Alito, Thomas and Gorsuch - voted to allow Republican state legislatures the power to overrule the will of the people, and declare their preferred winners in federal elections. These three justices were fine with throwing out the Constitution. These three justices are illegitimate - Thomas committed perjury during his confirmation, and has committed corruption for over 20 years. Alito is similarly corrupt. Gorsuch sits in a stolen seat. These three should be removed from the court.