Far-right Republican representatives from the House Freedom Caucus today launched a battle against House speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), accusing him of violating the agreement he made with them in order to get their backing for the speakership.
“Mr. Meadows has maintained a commitment to tell the truth where he has a legal obligation to do so.” So, basically his lawyer is saying that the only way Mr. Meadows is committed to telling the truth is when he is under oath. Once again, someone is saying the quiet parts out loud.
I wonder if Meadows learned to lie from TFG, or if he was already equipped for the job, having seen how far his predecessors strayed from the truth in the commission of their duties.
American politicians love to say "God Bless America". Seems to me, as an outsider from the land Down Under, that it should be "God Help America, please!"
The sooner we realize that a god will not bless or help America with the problems we, ourselves, created -the sooner we will come together to solve those problems ourselves, together. We have no one to blame, or credit, but ourselves.
I don't think of the little heart symbol as a "like"; I think of the " heart symbol ping" as a signal to all of the Community that the comments is worth readingto to help the conversation go deeper.
A "Spot On" reply is a public reward for cognitive reasoning, putting 3 or more facts together to make a sound conclusion while citing sources Just like HCR.
Peter understands that is actually America that is down under & in need of intervention if not divine.
I accept your belief that God doesn't exist. I, however, believe there is someone/something "out there" overseeing all that we do. Who knows, maybe God is karma and, if so, we've set ourselves up for karma to kick us in the ass.
and by the way, most of the well-loved sayings of Jesus probably weren't said by him either. All of the gospels and (other pseudepigraphia) were written between 70 and 110 c.e., give or take. Chances are that Jesus didn't say some, if not most, of the wisdom he is credited with. I wasn't there - like Marie Antoinette: wasn't there either.
Why are you people fighting each other about these silly trivialities? Save your ire for the Republicans! I get so tired of all this jockeying for position and I'm sure Marie and Jesus are sick of it too.
Sad truth Peter; our version of 'capitalism' has been threatening to consume us for decades now. Truth can't be hidden forever though, despite the best efforts to keep it concealed by those who profited past, present, and future. I've always thought that to be the ugly truth underpinning all that's been brewing here.
HCR reports today: "One of his lawyers refused to comment but told the New York Times reporters that “Mr. Meadows has maintained a commitment to tell the truth where he has a legal obligation to do so.” In other words, he probably claimed the Fifth Amendment and Attorney-client privilege at times, if not all. His "testimony" may have been worthless.
Yep; out the window along with any construction solutions, honor, integrity. All those petty trivialities that used to count for something amongst those of the gop flavor of kool-aid.
When he was first in Congress, he worked to get Boehner ousted as Speaker, lied when it failed, and then lied about supporting Boehner before voting to oust him
I recall during Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony before the J6 committee, she painted a picture of a man (Meadows) who seemed to her to be out of touch with reality while she was trying to convince him of their boss' (45's) traitor-like actions.
Cognitive dissonance? Or a cognitive breakdown? How do these people sleep at night? How do they maintain relationships with their families knowing how far off the deep end their actions have penetrated decency?
Ted, in Meadows' case, remember that he hosted a 70-guest indoor wedding for his daughter in late 2020, before vaccines were available. Apparently, his family assumed that their entitled status (and God) would protect them - damn everyone else.
Once we have Jack Smith' "Classified Document" or "Mar-a-Lago" charging allegations revealed at the Arraignment, the nation will understand the scope & detail of Jack Smith's prosecutorial work. Although Meadows was not present at the 7/20/21 Bedminster Meeting with tfg & 2 of Meadows' biographers, I expect some new facts on the Iran War Plan document tfg was waving around that is still missing to this day. Those charging counts are likely sourced from General Milley's 4 intense concerns in the weeks after Biden's election to J6. Want to have an impact on a Jury? Then put a gruff, hard nosed National Security Joint Chief (Milley) on the stand in uniform to talk about his chats with Meadows & tfg.
Aka: "45", the former President, "Co- conspirator No:1, the Malignant Narcissist, the Orange Blob, the Dorian Grey of Mar-a-Lago & Defendant, Donald J. Trump.
Or a new one yesterday from former AG, Bill Barr: "Mirror Hog".
TFG is a "polite" way to refer to someone we all would rather not name. I suspect most people here would prefer never to hear from, see or think about tfg again, but unfortunately he just won't go away.
As Bryan graciously shares, it's the kindest, most GP moniker we could hang on the former occupant of our White House - #45. We all have many alternate monikers for it, but we highly respect our hostess here Dr. Richardson. As such, we try hard to keep ourselves PG rated. And thank you Bryan...
Tfg. has a "45" Bar he opened in his NY Building wherein he used an empty classified document folder as poster for folks paying $25 a drink; water is extra.
Understand, that is one of the reasons a trial attorney takes a witness's deposition BEFORE a trial in Court. I once planned to call a local SF priest as the first trial witness in a real estate case, but the case settled.
Watch Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley Jr. trade insults on live television.
Avatar
By Walker Caplan
June 15, 2021, 1:04pm
On this day in 2008, in an interview with The New York Times, when asked to comment on conservative commentator William F. Buckley, Jr.’s passing, the legendary Gore Vidal said that “hell is bound to be a livelier place, as he joins forever those whom he served in life, applauding their prejudices and fanning their hatred.”
Ouch. Of course, Vidal was known for his witty insults, even when his friends were the targets—but this one has more bite to it, as it follows years of impassioned political rivalry. It started in 1968, when ABC News sought to boost their flagging ratings through flashy programming; they hired Vidal, a leftist provocateur, to regularly debate Buckley, founder and editor of National review and host of “Firing Line.”
The debates were filled with ad-hominem style as well as substance. Vidal told Buckley that he inspired Vidal’s character Myra Breckinridge—“passionate and irrelevant”. Buckley revealed a note from the newly deceased Robert F. Kennedy suggesting Vidal be deported to Vietnam; Vidal, looking at the upward-slanted handwriting, called it a “sign of a manic-depressive.” In the below clip, Vidal called Buckley Jr. a “crypto-Nazi”; Buckley called Vidal a “queer “and threatened to “sock [him] in the goddamn face”.
Watching the clip, it’s easy to see it as a precursor to panel shows, now a staple of political television; there are also flickers of the sensationalism of more recent election cycles. But it’s also a pleasant throwback, to when intellectuals were able to get together and debate on television and the network simply televised it—as opposed to the siloed, distorted media of today.
Meadows lied about his residence in North Carolina. The trailer address he swore was his residence was not his. He was not a legal resident of North Carolina qualified to vote there. His residence was DC. How’s that’s work for being Chief of Staff claiming election fraud by the opposition? The guy is a known liar, a horrible person with no integrity. Exactly what TFG looks for as his advisors. The only reward system for these people is lie, cheat, and steal.
Mary, he is just like Orange Julius and nearly everyone else in 45's entourage. TFG had the opportunity to testify, both in the Mueller investigation and in the rape case versus E. Jean Carroll, and in both he was silent and/or absent. Why? He's generally incapable of telling the truth. The only time you can get that menace to clam up is under oath, if the option of invoking the fifth is available, because his flapping gums regularly spew a torrent of lies.
God Bless Heather and the United States of America. We were fortunate at this time of crisis to have real adults leading us. Real adults do what needs to be done and take responsibility, children do what pleases them and not concerned for the welfare of others. In our current political morass we know who the adults and who the children are!
I have worked in education for over 20 years. I can assure you, children have a much better sense of morality and a basic understanding of right and wrong than the Pubbies.
Rethuglicans behave like Chimps and Baboons more than anything else, and Marjorie Traitor Goon looks like a female baboon. Our children are much more mature and intelligent than all Rethuglicans.
It's because they too think like children. They want what they want when they want it. They don't really give a rat's ass about others, and they're scared of anyone who is different, and scared of any changes to what they're expecting. And, alas, many of them or concrete thinkers, so not capable of appreciating subtleties and complexities.
Republicans see ordinary voters as “children” who will vote for foolish gimme stuff they want--like health care. Then, of course, the rich guys will be taxed to pay for it.
You seem to be talking, not about children but about problem kids going through one or other of the most awkward stages in their development and about tfg-type cases of arrested development.
Here, tfg also means toddlers for good, tantrums for good... and "for good" means we're dealing with lifelong no-goods.
This may sound hard to understand but I can assure readers that some of the most remarkable human beings I have met in the past quarter century have been small children. Meanwhile, we are all suffering from the inadequacies of most adults, including ourselves... Including even the best of us, men like Eisenhower or my own father... who was one of the many planners of Operation Overlord, but did not take part in it, having been selected for what he saw as a far harder challenge: the invasion of Japan.
I would be comfortable putting the 2024 election in the hands of some kids. (If they hadn't been raised by wolves or MAGA maniacs). They are growing up in a world where diversity is normal and the impacts of the Climate Crisis are in the news daily. I think they would vote wisely.
I stand corrected :) Wolves might actually be better parents in some circumstances. We just finished the series finale of "Succession". Wolves would have been better parents than Logan Roy and his first wife, for sure.
Definitely not fair to kids! I understand why we so often use the adults v. children analogy, but in reality, the fascist Repubs are not innocent. They are scheming, conniving, power-hungry authoritarians who are also nihilistic and care for nothing other than their own power.
Children are mostly innocent of that sort of thing and are prone to curiosity and learning, except where they have been taught to hate.
I intended not to slander children but adults who act like children when they are called to a higher responsibility of self sacrifice to the greater good. Your point well taken!
It is unfair and simplistic to compare the Freedom Caucus GOP to children. They are adults who have given up on dignity, honesty, and integrity for the spotlight and for a place near power. I understand human weakness but how they are willing to savage a country and the welfare of so many people for the brief moments of fame is beyond my acceptance and understanding. Trump has corrupted us morally.
Ouch Peter ! "Meanwhile, we are all suffering from the inadequacies of most adults, including ourselves... Including even the best of us, men like Eisenhower or my own father... who was one of the many planners..." Now that's painful truth - even the best of us. I like that Pete - that's humble honesty.
This is, in most ways, correct, but "childish" is a good description of Biden's approach to the environment and, in particular, the climate disaster. It ain't going to go away, Joe, no matter how hard you try to ignore it, and being "even-handed" and balancing one good deed with a bad one will not save our posterity. Right now, I think Biden is a net negative on the environment -- atmospheric carbon continues its upward trend. I'll still vote for him, I expect, he's still better than the alternative (does that need saying?), but I'm not happy about it. He is, like all of his predecessors, driving us off a cliff.
According to the "Investing in America" website, of the $479B in investments mentioned by Heather, $231B is going to electric vehicles and batteries and clean energy projects. So are you sure you're barking up the right tree? Biden only has so much control over climate, but it seems to me he's doing what he can here, and has done much more than anybody who has come before him.
When the hostage economy crashed, manufacturing here would slow to a crawl, millions out of work would not use gas to drive there, people would have no money for heat or electricity thus drawing down the resultant carbon spillage into the atmosphere
What a big win for climate mitigation!!!!
Of course, as our weakened position put us a security risk, our nukes would protect us from aggressors, right?
Clifford, as we observe the good, President Biden and his team have done regarding climate change and approving work/funds to "Build Back Better", we have no idea how difficult the process actually is in fulfilling these goals. Engineers and planners are struggling to find not only well-trained men and women to accomplish this tedious work for our future but also excellent supplies to fulfill the physical work that needs to be done.
We have neglected our railways, our systems of communication, our citizens in cities and remote areas regarding medical and educational needs. We have neglected the organizational needs to improve immigraton. Immigration is NOT about Republicans or Democrats, it is about human lives: good, bad or indifferent....people who have left everything behind to flee for their lives ...to find some kind of "hope" for their future.
Meanwhile, as the tedious work is being done, we have elected adults who are more interested in brandishing their weapons with raised empty but very loud voices and using the power of their votes to destroy our country.
We really need to face the serious issues of our country....get off of social media.....improve our education system and elect serious people to serve in our government. We are wasting time on petty distractions.....our enemies are loving it!
I fear Joe needs to keep a lot of different pieces of the 3 dimensional chess game that is America's (and the world's) economy moving toward a net improvement. Clifford, do you still drive an internal combustion engine driven car? Do you still heat your home with gas, oil, coal or wood? Do you still use motor boats, 3 and 4-wheelers and off-road vehicles to "get out in nature"? Do you take airline flights to visit family, go on business trips or worse, go on vacation? Do your mow your lawn with a gas mower? Until Biden and his successors can engineer some way to get all those who seek and who make their livings from selling these activities, we are all stuck with supporting those who CAN play that complex chess game of trade-offs. The alternative is to be stuck with those who deny there is a problem with the climate o that we need to do anything about it.
Hang on - be fair. You can't expect a leopard to change its spots. Biden, and most of the crew around him have no knowledge of environment at all, not taught in law school then. They are still (because of the dominant culture) "growth-ists". Sadly, the reality is that we have to be happy that the progress that is being made, is happening. Will the next crew be any the wiser? Interesting question.
The problem with this statement - God Bless whomever- is that is suggests that some are not blessed and that if good or bad things happen to whomever, it's not their own doing. How about - thank you Heather and "Let's hope for the United State of America to survive."
Thanks for your comment and yes your suggestion much more elegant and I thank you for that. However, I don’t think that this statement has ever been meant to be exclusive and what America implies is this working for the promise of what the country could be.
___private companies have announced $479 billion in investments under the new system
___the government has directed more than $220 billion towards roads, bridges, airports, public transportation, addressing climate change, and providing clean water.
___ The website locates and identifies the more than 32,000 new projects underway.
___ It highlights the high rates of employment in the U.S.
___new manufacturing jobs, as well as lower costs for prescription drugs and health insurance.
“INVESTING IN THE COUNTRY BENEFITS EVERYONE”
Go to 'INVESTING IN AMERICA': it is a site like no other! (See link below)
I keep saying, Biden is the best pres of my lifetime, which began in Ike's first year! It's like having the wind at my back and it keeps getting stronger!
David Truman assumed the presidency with virtually no training from FDR. He was faced immediately with the Manhattan Project. He concluded WW II, proceeded with UN, and some got in stride with George Kennan’s ‘containment’ in the Cold War.
His initial effort to foster a post-war ‘New Deal,’ which was squashed. Ditto after his re-election.
The rapid demobilization of about 12 million troops provoked an economic brouhaha which would have floored anyone.
Truman was gutsy and outspoken. He pursued social initiatives that were especially not popular with Republicans and Southerners. By executive order, he desegregated the military.
On Korea, he got the UN involved at the outset. He had the guts, with General George Marshall’s support, to fire McArthur and block nuclear bomb speculation.
Truman was propelled into the presidency during a highly volatile period. As a ‘common man,’ he took commonsense decisions (Berlin /Airlift) and was a ‘progressive’ when this was not in style.
He polled very badly at the end of his presidency and, 70 years later is rated by C-Span historians/political scientists as ‘near great.’
David Are you serious about Berlin Airlift? In 1948 Stalin blocked Allied access to Berlin, except for several air routes. The purpose was to force the Allies to surrender four-part Berlin to the Soviets.
General Lucious Clay initially proposed sending an armored brigade into Berlin to ‘test’ the Soviets. Finally, Truman authorized the risky and highly uncertain Berlin Airlift with the Brits.
Who could have imagined that the West Berliners could be supplied with up to-11,000 tons of food and supplies daily by air. Finally, Stalin succumbed and soon after West Germany became a country.
Might you try Wikipedia next time? Of course I lived through the tense Berlin Airlift, which is integral to the Cold War.
I'm sure there are companies around the country that need the USA to have a middleclass, plenty of customers for their products and are thrilled by Biden's campaign on behalf of Americans and American businesses
You are assuming corporate America can see past the current quarter. They can't and don't want to. As long as they can make money now they're not too concerned about tomorrow.
Stephen Strange, all businesses are not corporations. You are speaking for me, which I don't believe appropriate as you are speaking for all corporations. Altogether, I am not favorably disposed to your opinions concerning this subject.
You are correct. All business are not corporations. But that wasn't my point.
My point is that corporate offices are where the serious political money originates. An excessive reliance on quick the ROI, an obsession with the day's stock prices, and an extreme focus on short-term profitability have plagued that world for decades. I was a corporate IT manager for three decades and had plenty of opportunities to see that kind of thinking at close range.
Tease that apart. Dems improve the company but MAGAs give tax cuts and largess that give corporate short term spikes in share price which goes immediately to upper management's' wallet. Think of all the money that went to stock buybacks via Trump that quickly vaporized but not before management exercised stock options and cashed out. In corporate America it is 1-self 2-company 3-who cares.
Most companies may (if they see beyond taxes), but the super-rich are still owing too many politicians. They don’t want taxes, regulations, or IRS “spies”.
Yes, it's fine for us to know all about Investing in America, but will it reach those whose minds are already made up that the Dems have nothing to offer them?
Take a look at the website, Betsy. What a pleasure to see what our country is accomplishing. Dig in. It is the best Made In America. It is the proof in the pudding!
Fern, I voted for our President Biden and I will vote for him again and with him the many men and women who love our country and freedom and who have been working tirelessly to recover so much we have lost as well as keep our nose above water during these troublesome times.
What I can't ignore is what has been happening during past republican dominance and the destruction of our country, our freedoms, our education system, our transportation systems: roads. rail, shipping, air....,our priorites in supporting democracies around the world, our environment.....how much we need to change....how much we need to recover, modernize and continue improving.
President Biden and his team are addressing these long neglected concerns!!!! The world continues with it's struggles with powerful oligarchs robbing the treasures that should be used to contribute to the well-being of the nations from which these treasures are found. Little ones and old ones are dying from starvation and disease. Citizens of these countries in which riches are found are forced into slavery. Government officials selling their souls for power and a small "kick back".
Only President Biden and his amazing team have cared enough, along with other similar spirited world leaders , to want to garner support for freedom and self government for those who suffer under tyranny.
Yes, I am overwhelmed with so much....and the need for so much wisdom and the need for so much goodness. WE WILL NOT FIND THIS AMONG the republican party members and I also know that as long as we are fallible human beings, which we each and all are, these problems will exist.
At this time, President Joe Biden leads the way towards better for our country and the world.
Betsy, as proof of what you say, if it wasn't for this Letter (and Fern!) I would not have known about the White House's Investing in America website. It behooves us to spread the word (website) muchly!
This anti-Dem crap is reinforced intensively by right-wing media. Kids growing up in many parts of the country are brainwashed by it. I am always proud when I meet a person from my North Dakota who did not accept the local newspaper, Rush-radio, and Fox distortions of the world.
Respectfully I disagree that people in general 'are not open to even thinking'. Perhaps a modest amount of folks are dug in to the lies. I have to believe there are more good folks than evil.
Marj There may be more ‘good people than evil.’ However, as Tom Hanks stated in his Harvard commencement speech, the danger, in protecting truth, is the vast number of ‘indifferent people,’ who do not act to protect ‘truth’ and the soul of America. A few evil folks can devastate our society.
Marj, I have seen many of my former work cohort "dug in" to the lies and propaganda. They are so invested in their hopes that "Christ" will win out and that all of the "social evils" will be driven away that I cannot reason with them. One, a former sergeant of mine says "Everything you believe about us (in that the propaganda and lies have influenced them), we believe about you."
I can appreciate your optimism that there are more good than evil people. However they are not the ones representing us! I wish I could find that hope.
But no one knows it—at least those who only understand simple sentences with words of two syllables or less and cannot grasp the concept that investing in America means them.
From a Tweet by Ron Filipkowski, quoting President Biden's D-Day anniversary statement:
"The troops who stormed the shores of Normandy 79 years ago represent the greatest generation in our history. They answered the free world's call at its greatest hour of need. They kept the ultimate faith to our country and democracy, and we must keep our sacred obligation to them."
Meanwhile, the President* before Biden had this to say on the D-Day anniversary:
"ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!! Don't let it happen."
Once again, the true leader's light shines ever brighter.
President Biden’s predecessor referred to our soldiers as ‘suckers’ and ‘losers.’ As a ‘sucker’ and almost ‘loser,’ I can’t imagine Bone Spur Donald within a country mile of D-Day heroism. His focus is coiffure rather than courage.
ALLY ! Truth Inspired Soldiers ( VETERANS) Who " Answered the Call" & some, NOT ABLE, to " come back HOME " Salute All, for giving Credit, to KNOW, True SACRIFICE ! for Our Country ( A " Living " VN Vet ....)
Message received as a person who was not permitted to enlist in the Navy (that whole gay thing) but served her community for 35 years in law enforcement.
AMEN !! , on That ! CALLING OUR VETERANS, ON " THE WALL " and Holding OUR FREEDOMS _ suckers & Losers - SHOWS ! The PERFECT VACUUM, in TFG s NumbSkull !! Thanks ! Keith !
I think you're thinking of the centennial observation of the end of WWII -- where the lazy MF skipped out on the ceremony honoring the Marines at Belleau Wood.
Supposedly because it was raining.
Gen. Kelly should have hauled his fat carcass down there willy nilly, screaming and kicking like a toddler.
The contrast between Meadows and Eisenhower is stark and ‘telling’.
Eisenhower took responsibility for ‘life and death’ tough decisions that had to be made to preserve and protect our democracy….
Meadows was a craven coward promoting authoritarianism, fascism and ‘operational treason’. The sooner we ALL understand the range of this CONTRAST, the better!
I'd amend to say the last good Republican *president*. There were other good Republicans later: I'm thinking of senators Edward Brooke, Charles Percy, and the like. They did exist.
I fully and totally agree with your first sentence there, TC. Not so sure about the second. While the list of "Good Republicans" was somewhat sparse even pre-Despicable Don, there certainly were a decent number then. Post Despicable Don, no doubt the list gets as small as the heart of Ron DeSantis.
"Good Republicans" - I have a theory about that; I will try to be brief! There was a time when Republicanism was better than now. I am not talking about back in Lincoln's time, where in many ways the R's of then are basically the D's of now. I am talking about before Reagan. Back then, Republicans, most of them, were not as extreme as today. There was some overlap with progressives. We were in a post-war world where it was recovering from the largest human conflict in human history - an existential conflict against Fascism. A common enemy to all those who claim to support democracy. And the post-war USSR was another existential threat we could all agree on (mostly). We also didn't realize that our climate was being put at risk. We had not completely come to grips (an understatement) with the racism that permeated the country (still does only to a lesser extent). And FDR's transformation of our government still dominated. Things were not right back then, only fewer of us realized it. Watch a '60's half-hour sitcom and it becomes evident. I would posit that there is no such thing today as a good Republican. Any good Republican today has fled the party, or at least the MAGA element - like Adam Kinzinger for instance. Colin Powell actually switched to Democrat. Many other examples. Look at the Lincoln project - they won't say it, but they have in effect turned Democrat. No, there are no good Republicans. If you are to truthfully call yourself a Republican today, you must somehow counter inconvenient truths and the skeletons in the closet as they develop or get exposed. Republicanism is all about resistance to change - thinking you know already how the world turns (interpreted often from the unerring Bible, BTW); anything that runs counter to it, you need to resist because by definition it isn't right. Resistant to new revelations or realizations. Not only that, but they have decided to throw their lot in with the richer among us rather than the less so. Republicans cling to the notion so dominant in slave-state America, and Jim Crow America, where not everyone is supposed to be equal (why racism is more prevalent among R's, than D's). Some are by design more privileged than others, they will submit. They are pro-unfettered capitalism when it is abundantly clear the dangers of same. They are pro-small government, and keep it local, when increasingly our societal and environmental problems require a larger and more active approach. And, such a restricted approach makes all of us more vulnerable to the most greedy and conniving among us. With such a world view, it is hard to be a "good" person. You must deny science if it threatens your pocketbook (hence climate denial). You will refuse to acknowledge that "humanness" is something that develops in the womb, as opposed to an instantaneous soul at conception - which largely explains extreme anti-scientific stances on abortion. You will not be very inclined to level the playing field for those less fortunate especially people of color. You will more likely be supportive of white-washing our history, because so many of our sins (slavery and Jim Crow being the worst) took place under conservative watch. That slippery slope leads to book banning and manipulation and control of our institutions of higher learning. You will have to find ways to spin and obfuscate your motives and actions because they are not going to be popular with the majority of Americans. Hence the proliferation of scandals and lies so prevalent in Republican politics. Today's Republicanism is a threat to our country as we know it, and a road block to all the improvements we need to make to make it better still. Liz Cheney, Chris Christie, Tim Scott, and other Republicans who supposedly represent a more sane approach have a ton of explaining to do, if it comes to that. Well - so much for briefness....
Well articulated and well thought out piece, Jay. Your fellow Rambling Wrecks would be proud.
I respond to add a point, and to disagree with your conclusion albeit not your thoughts that led to same.
In the immediate wake of Despicable Don's 2017 inaugural "address", I noticed something that stuck with me. As he left the podium and commenced back up the Capitol steps to depart, he saw Sen. Bob Dole and Elizabeth seated in one of the upper rows, most of the way down from the aisle steps. He stopped, executed one of his choppy handed, small digited waves quickly, then continued his plodding exit. A minute later, the Obamas were departing, and Barack saw the Doles as well, turned and walked down the row to them so as to acknowledge and shake hands with the enfeebled former Senate leader, and greeted Elizabeth as well.
The difference in the behavior of the just turned former President and the new President was stark and alarming. The latter was crass, lazy and reflexively disrespectful to a major former leader of his Party, a man whose very stricken body reflected his devotion to Country. The former was classy and fully respectful of Senator Dole, both personally and symbolically.
I bring this up because one of the lesser noted facets of the Trumpian capture of the GOP, way beyond the ignorance, racism, simplistic thinking etc., is the pure crassness and vulgarity that seems to be predominantly prevalent, and the first club out of the bag at every turn.
The "good Republicans" that I previously cited do not possess this lesser grade affect.
I think it is important for us as Democrats and more importantly as Americans, to acknowledge this in the minority of Republicans. As long as we are all locked into a Party duopoly, it is important that the opposition Party is sane, rational and protective of American values. The Trumpian majority possesses none of the foregoing attributes. As Democrats, it is not to our advantage to simply rail at the lunacy of the GOP. We also cannot write off the 74 million Americans who somehow, someway voted for the Seditionist Sociopath and pretend that we can then claim the mantle of the moral high ground.
While I agree we must find a way to get along, I still maintain that the Republican platform of today, no matter who declares to be a Republican, no matter how "good", is antithetical to any serious approach to today's gigantic problems, nationwide and worldwide. Conversely, the Democratic platform is congruent with the realities of today, and tomorrow. What we need is another version of the two-party system, where Republicans are centrist Democrats (Biden, Obama, Pelosi), and Democrats are the Bernie Sanders and AOC wing. THEN - we can get something done. Wonderful things. But the Republican Party? It must be relegated, somehow, to the dustbin of history. It is not rooted in reality.
No real heroes in this Congress, only a few dozen members that are determined to get their way, no matter what that way would mean to the rest of the world. A real hero would humbly search for truth and defend it like the little boy who stood up to tell the emperor he had no clothes...
There are real heroes. One example is Representative Jamie Raskin who has battled chemo treatments and still showed up in Congress doing brilliant battle against the MAGAs.
Congress took their seats on the evening of January 6 to certify the 2020 election. They were traumatized and terrorized by the events of the day and yet they gathered once again to do their jobs. There are many, many examples of Democratic Congress persons effectively combating Jim Jordan in his Committee.
There are 435 members of the House of Representatives. About 20 are MAGAs. There are 212 Democratic members of the House. They are working very hard every day combatting the fascists in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Thank you, Barbara, for mentioning Jamie Raskin, my hero. He never lost a beat when his son died nor when he was getting chemo treatments. Truly, a remarkable and dedicated human being.
As I'm from Connecticut I'd like to point out my Senators and Representatives as examples of good congress people - Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, and Representatives Jahana Hayes, Jim Himes, Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro and John Larson- good Democrats all. I am fortunate.
Chip Roy from Texas is a loud mouth, uncouth, extremely undiplomatic Republican who started his career claiming he saw politics "as an avocation, a sort of interest, but not something I would do anytime soon, if ever", and hasn't seemed to change. What would you call a man who acts like a spoiled brat who complains with such vulgarity when he doesn't get what he wants?
Chip wants to cut spending? As he does nothing and promises more of the same, he should eliminate his staff and cut his pay to minimum hourly wage. Ignorant hypocrites, the gop, one and all.
Although, he has been elected, so he probably reflects the types of people who vote for him. Politicians tend to shape themselves to please their constituents.
Kathy, perhaps we need to find a way to support the majority of Repubs and Dems who supported McCarthy's effort to meet Biden somewhere in the middle, perhaps a tad to the left of the middle in saving the country (and the world) from an economic catastrophe.
"If the far right is trying to dismantle the federal government ..."
*If*
Dismantling government is the GOP endgame. Repurposing a democratic republic as a clerical fascist state is a side gig. Unburdening the oligarchs of the inconveniences of democracy - regulation, taxation, equality before the law, equal representation - is the Republican purpose.
^^^This!!!!^^^ Although I was a child when Ike was prez, I have a few dim memories. I was telling a friend several years ago that Ike was the last Republican president that I admired—she exclaimed “that’s just what I told the kid (her adult daughter) today”—seems we were having the same thought simultaneously, albeit from opposite sides of the country! Give me quiet, humble competence over flash-in-the-pan bravado any day!
Our parents took us to Washington on Easter in 1953 or 1954. We sat in the row behind Ike at the Presbyterian Church for Easter Service. He was a great man.
It does seem that the Republican Party offers some pretty awful people as candidates for president. Men who are either, not very smart, blindered by their own biases, unable to think beyond the box, and usually looking to pick a fight somewhere in the world.
IDo Senator Feinstein’s on and of absences do real harm to Biden having as much positive and long term impact on this country as the former guy had ito our detriment?
President Eisenhower was a decent person, who rendered honorable public service. Politicians today prostitute themselves to the highest bidder. There are no Eisenhowers in the current MAGA extremist fascist party. Lincoln and Eisenhower would be appalled at the likes of the "Freedom" Caucus. They want to not be constrained by any rules or laws. That's not really freedom.
Actually, they want their version of Freedom in order to constrain us within their perverted ideas of society, freedom, responsibility, education, and all the rest of culture.......
It is necessary to denounce Fascism for what it really is AND to call out the NeoLiberal ideas about wealth, society, regulations, and all the rest-----NeoLiberalism is at the root of the current context in which we are living. More to say on this later---perhaps Heather (and TCinLA who is reading and commenting here) could address this issue and lay it out clearly. Time to gun the engine (car or plane) and get going......
It seems to me that the only freedom worthy of the name is universal. “Freedom for me, but not for thee” is just abuse, or tyranny. MAGAs that demand impunity are strangely eager to restrict the choices of everyone else, as in "don't say gay".
Those politicians are clinging to lobbyists who have relentless access to their brains. I would like to see lobbyists completely curtailed from any contact with members of Congress. I understand there are decent ones but it appears the nasties outweigh them.
Ike was President when I was a little girl. He was exactly the leader America needed at the time. Joe is our leader now and boy, we are sure lucky!
While I respect the role those two played in the J6 committee, and their standing up to their peers, drawing a line at violent overthrow of the government - they remain far right in their policies, supporting voter suppression and the destruction of women’s reproductive rights. Liz Cheney celebrated the Dobbs decision and publicly accused Democrats of killing babies. Do not confuse Cheney or Kinzinger with centrists.
Correction: my great grand father and brothers played with the Eisenhower brothers. My grandfathers brothers fought in the pacific during WWII One losing their life on the USS Hadley.
My father and uncles fought in WWII. I am forever grateful that the Allies won. I hope that as we face a fascist threat again, we will not be found lacking.
Thank you for another superb essay shining the light of your clear thought and prose on the continuing moral darkness that envelops the GOP. The Path of Truth and Justice, as opposed to the Path of Lies and Criminal Behavior, is becoming clearer and clearer. Hopefully the Path of Lies and Criminal Behavior will lead a good number of members of the GOP to a Time of Reckoning, Accountability, and Prison. May Truth Prevail. May Mark Meadows have a special reckoning---a man who tells the truth "where he has a legal obligation to do so." He really is a slime bag, to speak in the language of a younger generation...... About par for someone who "reportedly sought to conceal the cases (of Covid among the White House staff), including his own." (Wikipedia)
Dwight Eisenhower must be rotating in his grave, at the sham of politics which has poisoned America and turned it towards the fascism he so valiantly opposed. I Like Ike, more now, than ever before.
“Rotating”? Ike and all of the “Greatest Generation” who gave their lives and honor so their children and grandchildren, only 2 generations removed, could take up the mantle of Hitler, are on spin cycle.
Why can't sane Republicans and Democrats join together and defang the Freedom Caucus??? I ask this because you report that "Angry at the passage of the deal to suspend the debt ceiling and keep the United States from defaulting, they blocked two bills today and apparently have decided to oppose all legislation that comes before the House unless McCarthy puts in writing what they understand to be the deal they made."
Because there are no more sane Republicans. Even Nancy Mace, who tried to present herself as sane, ultimately caved to the far right loudmouth. The sane people left the party when it nominated Trump.
Really? All three have shown such courage, speaking out against the outrageous change in the Republican Party. Especially Colllins, such backbone. And Romney: my father had no use for his father when he was governor of Michigan (I'm a Michigander); years later, after moving to Massachusetts, I was disappointed to see him elected governor. Really? I don't think 'sane' is the word you want to use. Cowardly is more like it. Lacking in real principles. Not strong enough to stand up for democracy, the lot of them.
Well, I don't think I cited their courage, although I think Cheney has certainly demonstrated that. Sane is the word I used. They all voted to impeach Despicable Don. Murkowski's lonely vote against Kavanaugh should be noted too.
Owning the libs has temporarily taken second place to chastising McCarthy. Victimhood is an underlying principle of the HFC, and, by extension, of all Republican'ts these days. Governing is not in their sights. Saying "No" is the the only thing that they are capable of.
We have been. Please see the 2018, 2020 and 2022 elections where the Democrats won. The Democrats stopped the red tsunami dead in the 2022 midterms. The Democrats defeated trump's far right MAGA candidates in the 2022 midterms. A Democratic Mayor was just elected in Jacksonville Florida.
This is just a sampling. Please start following Simon Rosenberg on his substack Hopium.
What sane Republicans that still remain in the House, and Senate for that matter, are few, and very far between.
Those very few have chosen to take the unorthodox path of no return. Siding with the Trumpublicans in everything they do. They have chosen not to do anything to benefit America, democracy, or our freedom.
"WHEREAS , Representatives Cheney and Kinzinger are participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse , and they are both utilizing their past professed political affiliation to mask Democrat abuse of prosecutorial power for partisan purposes, therefore, be it RESOLVED , That the Republican National Committee hereby formally censures Representatives Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and shall immediately cease any and all support of them as members of the Republican Party for their behavior which has been destructive to the institution of the U.S. House of Representatives , the Republican Party and our republic, and is inconsistent with the position of the Conference "
What is this "freedom caucus" business anyway? Freedom from what? That's a rhetorical question - HCR's letter today answers it very plainly. Less government. We don't need no education, teacher leave them kids alone. How long ago was that? The eighties? I don't like Mondays. 1979. It's got worse, and a generation has grown up.
Unless McCarthy has the sense to reach out to the much larger center of congress, repubs AND Dems in a bipartisan way to pass the bills he seeks. He is, after all, Speaker of the House, not just speaker of the Repubs.
I see him as a laser, focused, intense & will burn away the bullsh*t to reveal the core truth. I like that he is reserved, quiet and mum about the proceedings….that said, pundits love to speculate! Just a gut feeling, but I trust him (and hope it’s not indigestion!).
“Mr. Meadows has maintained a commitment to tell the truth where he has a legal obligation to do so.” So, basically his lawyer is saying that the only way Mr. Meadows is committed to telling the truth is when he is under oath. Once again, someone is saying the quiet parts out loud.
I wonder if Meadows learned to lie from TFG, or if he was already equipped for the job, having seen how far his predecessors strayed from the truth in the commission of their duties.
American politicians love to say "God Bless America". Seems to me, as an outsider from the land Down Under, that it should be "God Help America, please!"
The sooner we realize that a god will not bless or help America with the problems we, ourselves, created -the sooner we will come together to solve those problems ourselves, together. We have no one to blame, or credit, but ourselves.
Only 11 likes including mine. Compared to 200 for Peter Radon -also including mine, ???????????????????????????????????????????????/////
L&B&L
17 now!
Now up to 40!
I don't think of the little heart symbol as a "like"; I think of the " heart symbol ping" as a signal to all of the Community that the comments is worth readingto to help the conversation go deeper.
A "Spot On" reply is a public reward for cognitive reasoning, putting 3 or more facts together to make a sound conclusion while citing sources Just like HCR.
Peter understands that is actually America that is down under & in need of intervention if not divine.
Another sad truth Michael. See above my comments to Peter Radan. ↑
God has blessed America but that might not last much longer as He tires of dealing with the ungrateful brats some of us have become. :(
God doesn't exist, so how do we know what "he" tires of?
Ironically, the countries where the most religious societies live tend to be the poorest and most chaotic.
I accept your belief that God doesn't exist. I, however, believe there is someone/something "out there" overseeing all that we do. Who knows, maybe God is karma and, if so, we've set ourselves up for karma to kick us in the ass.
Thank you, Peter, Great laugh.
Marie Antoinette's silly epithet, "let them eat cake," comes to mind.
She didn’t say it.
It doesn't matter - or were you there?
and by the way, most of the well-loved sayings of Jesus probably weren't said by him either. All of the gospels and (other pseudepigraphia) were written between 70 and 110 c.e., give or take. Chances are that Jesus didn't say some, if not most, of the wisdom he is credited with. I wasn't there - like Marie Antoinette: wasn't there either.
Why are you people fighting each other about these silly trivialities? Save your ire for the Republicans! I get so tired of all this jockeying for position and I'm sure Marie and Jesus are sick of it too.
Peace
Pseudepigraphia is an excellent word! I wrote it down and will attempt to use it in a sentence soon. Thank you.
lol
Get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?
I don’t enjoy being corrected, but I like inaccuracy less.
I don't like being corrected.
In other words, a pompous petulant ass.
I got up on the right side of the bed. Thanks for your kind words.
LOL
good for you, Zella. Whoever takes these silly sayings as pure gospel...
well, it doesn't matter.
Sad truth Peter; our version of 'capitalism' has been threatening to consume us for decades now. Truth can't be hidden forever though, despite the best efforts to keep it concealed by those who profited past, present, and future. I've always thought that to be the ugly truth underpinning all that's been brewing here.
Amen!
What about the moral obligation that Meadow has to testify? Oh, silly me, basic morality is a foreign concept in Republican circles.
Michael Moral Meadows is an oxymoron, with emphasis on ox and moron..
Same words crossed my mind. Verbatim. Except I like oxen so I went with moron.
A winner !
Sending you a morning hug! Great statement too!
LOL. First smile of the am.
lol - touche Keith ~
HCR reports today: "One of his lawyers refused to comment but told the New York Times reporters that “Mr. Meadows has maintained a commitment to tell the truth where he has a legal obligation to do so.” In other words, he probably claimed the Fifth Amendment and Attorney-client privilege at times, if not all. His "testimony" may have been worthless.
When obligated? Otherwise BS.
If Meadows took that route, he's going to prison for longer than he might otherwise if, as expected, he cut a deal.
I hope that you are right.
And the PGA
I’m disgusted.
I don't watch golf and if I did, I would not be watching it anymore. Money.
Yep; out the window along with any construction solutions, honor, integrity. All those petty trivialities that used to count for something amongst those of the gop flavor of kool-aid.
He committed voter fraud.
When he was first in Congress, he worked to get Boehner ousted as Speaker, lied when it failed, and then lied about supporting Boehner before voting to oust him
Boehner thought he was schizoid.
Meadows was a liar before Trump ever showed up.
Trump helped him fine tune his lying and for that he has always been grateful.
Awesome memory Bridget !
Yep, so basically, can we expect Meadows to be truthful? It depends.
I recall during Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony before the J6 committee, she painted a picture of a man (Meadows) who seemed to her to be out of touch with reality while she was trying to convince him of their boss' (45's) traitor-like actions.
Cognitive dissonance? Or a cognitive breakdown? How do these people sleep at night? How do they maintain relationships with their families knowing how far off the deep end their actions have penetrated decency?
Ted, in Meadows' case, remember that he hosted a 70-guest indoor wedding for his daughter in late 2020, before vaccines were available. Apparently, his family assumed that their entitled status (and God) would protect them - damn everyone else.
Once we have Jack Smith' "Classified Document" or "Mar-a-Lago" charging allegations revealed at the Arraignment, the nation will understand the scope & detail of Jack Smith's prosecutorial work. Although Meadows was not present at the 7/20/21 Bedminster Meeting with tfg & 2 of Meadows' biographers, I expect some new facts on the Iran War Plan document tfg was waving around that is still missing to this day. Those charging counts are likely sourced from General Milley's 4 intense concerns in the weeks after Biden's election to J6. Want to have an impact on a Jury? Then put a gruff, hard nosed National Security Joint Chief (Milley) on the stand in uniform to talk about his chats with Meadows & tfg.
Forgive me, who is TFG?
No worries ...
The (T) Former (F) Guy (G) = tfg.
Aka: "45", the former President, "Co- conspirator No:1, the Malignant Narcissist, the Orange Blob, the Dorian Grey of Mar-a-Lago & Defendant, Donald J. Trump.
Or a new one yesterday from former AG, Bill Barr: "Mirror Hog".
I prefer what someone (here I think?) suggested: The Indicted One.
You left out one of my faves - "Cheeto Jesus"
(though it has the unfortunate effect of being defamatory to both Cheetos and Jesus)
TFG is a "polite" way to refer to someone we all would rather not name. I suspect most people here would prefer never to hear from, see or think about tfg again, but unfortunately he just won't go away.
Abbreviation for "the former guy", i.e. trump.
Ah, it has an air. Quite poetic as well. ;)
Lol Jennifer ! Yes, 'it' and all of his acolytes have 'airs' about them - mostly foul. The poetic justice is what we all await.
As Bryan graciously shares, it's the kindest, most GP moniker we could hang on the former occupant of our White House - #45. We all have many alternate monikers for it, but we highly respect our hostess here Dr. Richardson. As such, we try hard to keep ourselves PG rated. And thank you Bryan...
Tfg. has a "45" Bar he opened in his NY Building wherein he used an empty classified document folder as poster for folks paying $25 a drink; water is extra.
Is that true Bryan - that bar, etc., actually exist - and there is evidence ? I don't doubt it in the least !
not a fan of milley's! the park walk with trump!
Miley was caught off-guard in the moment, later realized what a mistake he’d made and publicly expressed his regrets.
Understand, that is one of the reasons a trial attorney takes a witness's deposition BEFORE a trial in Court. I once planned to call a local SF priest as the first trial witness in a real estate case, but the case settled.
Only when forced . . .
Or when confronted with evidence that makes it difficult to lie.
or could send him to Supermax if he got caught.
Mary, he's a Christofascist. Well established b4 Dump.
Love your allusion to Vidal's comment on Buckley ;-)
?
"Vidal's comment on Buckley" ? Not familiar Susan... enlighten me please.
Watch Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley Jr. trade insults on live television.
Avatar
By Walker Caplan
June 15, 2021, 1:04pm
On this day in 2008, in an interview with The New York Times, when asked to comment on conservative commentator William F. Buckley, Jr.’s passing, the legendary Gore Vidal said that “hell is bound to be a livelier place, as he joins forever those whom he served in life, applauding their prejudices and fanning their hatred.”
Ouch. Of course, Vidal was known for his witty insults, even when his friends were the targets—but this one has more bite to it, as it follows years of impassioned political rivalry. It started in 1968, when ABC News sought to boost their flagging ratings through flashy programming; they hired Vidal, a leftist provocateur, to regularly debate Buckley, founder and editor of National review and host of “Firing Line.”
The debates were filled with ad-hominem style as well as substance. Vidal told Buckley that he inspired Vidal’s character Myra Breckinridge—“passionate and irrelevant”. Buckley revealed a note from the newly deceased Robert F. Kennedy suggesting Vidal be deported to Vietnam; Vidal, looking at the upward-slanted handwriting, called it a “sign of a manic-depressive.” In the below clip, Vidal called Buckley Jr. a “crypto-Nazi”; Buckley called Vidal a “queer “and threatened to “sock [him] in the goddamn face”.
Watching the clip, it’s easy to see it as a precursor to panel shows, now a staple of political television; there are also flickers of the sensationalism of more recent election cycles. But it’s also a pleasant throwback, to when intellectuals were able to get together and debate on television and the network simply televised it—as opposed to the siloed, distorted media of today.
Thank you; I'd forgotten the particulars. Lol.. Thanks Liz !
Meadows lied about his residence in North Carolina. The trailer address he swore was his residence was not his. He was not a legal resident of North Carolina qualified to vote there. His residence was DC. How’s that’s work for being Chief of Staff claiming election fraud by the opposition? The guy is a known liar, a horrible person with no integrity. Exactly what TFG looks for as his advisors. The only reward system for these people is lie, cheat, and steal.
Mary Testifying under oath with a Fifth is an oaf’s oath.
Mary, he is just like Orange Julius and nearly everyone else in 45's entourage. TFG had the opportunity to testify, both in the Mueller investigation and in the rape case versus E. Jean Carroll, and in both he was silent and/or absent. Why? He's generally incapable of telling the truth. The only time you can get that menace to clam up is under oath, if the option of invoking the fifth is available, because his flapping gums regularly spew a torrent of lies.
They no doubt had tfg mindset...and worshiped their lord and savior.
nah, truth is a 4 letter word to the sniveling markie mapo!
God Bless Heather and the United States of America. We were fortunate at this time of crisis to have real adults leading us. Real adults do what needs to be done and take responsibility, children do what pleases them and not concerned for the welfare of others. In our current political morass we know who the adults and who the children are!
Unfortunately a significant number of the population continues to vote for children.
I have a much higher view of children than the current crop of Republicans, though.
I have worked in education for over 20 years. I can assure you, children have a much better sense of morality and a basic understanding of right and wrong than the Pubbies.
I agree, these people are Fascists and comparing them to children is to miss the mark.
Rethuglicans behave like Chimps and Baboons more than anything else, and Marjorie Traitor Goon looks like a female baboon. Our children are much more mature and intelligent than all Rethuglicans.
can we be more precise: "children". Thanks
If one 'cared' to be even 'more precise', the correct-ish term would be 'adolescent children.' ... and delinquent would get tossed in also.
It's because they too think like children. They want what they want when they want it. They don't really give a rat's ass about others, and they're scared of anyone who is different, and scared of any changes to what they're expecting. And, alas, many of them or concrete thinkers, so not capable of appreciating subtleties and complexities.
Republicans see ordinary voters as “children” who will vote for foolish gimme stuff they want--like health care. Then, of course, the rich guys will be taxed to pay for it.
Like in Montana!https://montanafreepress.org/2023/06/06/ravalli-county-officials-hear-election-integrity-concerns/?utm_medium=email&mc_cid=388cc2f4da&mc_eid=b057f2cdc6
Not fair to kids...
You seem to be talking, not about children but about problem kids going through one or other of the most awkward stages in their development and about tfg-type cases of arrested development.
Here, tfg also means toddlers for good, tantrums for good... and "for good" means we're dealing with lifelong no-goods.
This may sound hard to understand but I can assure readers that some of the most remarkable human beings I have met in the past quarter century have been small children. Meanwhile, we are all suffering from the inadequacies of most adults, including ourselves... Including even the best of us, men like Eisenhower or my own father... who was one of the many planners of Operation Overlord, but did not take part in it, having been selected for what he saw as a far harder challenge: the invasion of Japan.
I would be comfortable putting the 2024 election in the hands of some kids. (If they hadn't been raised by wolves or MAGA maniacs). They are growing up in a world where diversity is normal and the impacts of the Climate Crisis are in the news daily. I think they would vote wisely.
I might be okay with children raised by wolves but not MAGA maniacs.
I stand corrected :) Wolves might actually be better parents in some circumstances. We just finished the series finale of "Succession". Wolves would have been better parents than Logan Roy and his first wife, for sure.
Definitely not fair to kids! I understand why we so often use the adults v. children analogy, but in reality, the fascist Repubs are not innocent. They are scheming, conniving, power-hungry authoritarians who are also nihilistic and care for nothing other than their own power.
Children are mostly innocent of that sort of thing and are prone to curiosity and learning, except where they have been taught to hate.
I intended not to slander children but adults who act like children when they are called to a higher responsibility of self sacrifice to the greater good. Your point well taken!
It is unfair and simplistic to compare the Freedom Caucus GOP to children. They are adults who have given up on dignity, honesty, and integrity for the spotlight and for a place near power. I understand human weakness but how they are willing to savage a country and the welfare of so many people for the brief moments of fame is beyond my acceptance and understanding. Trump has corrupted us morally.
Ouch Peter ! "Meanwhile, we are all suffering from the inadequacies of most adults, including ourselves... Including even the best of us, men like Eisenhower or my own father... who was one of the many planners..." Now that's painful truth - even the best of us. I like that Pete - that's humble honesty.
This is, in most ways, correct, but "childish" is a good description of Biden's approach to the environment and, in particular, the climate disaster. It ain't going to go away, Joe, no matter how hard you try to ignore it, and being "even-handed" and balancing one good deed with a bad one will not save our posterity. Right now, I think Biden is a net negative on the environment -- atmospheric carbon continues its upward trend. I'll still vote for him, I expect, he's still better than the alternative (does that need saying?), but I'm not happy about it. He is, like all of his predecessors, driving us off a cliff.
According to the "Investing in America" website, of the $479B in investments mentioned by Heather, $231B is going to electric vehicles and batteries and clean energy projects. So are you sure you're barking up the right tree? Biden only has so much control over climate, but it seems to me he's doing what he can here, and has done much more than anybody who has come before him.
When the hostage economy crashed, manufacturing here would slow to a crawl, millions out of work would not use gas to drive there, people would have no money for heat or electricity thus drawing down the resultant carbon spillage into the atmosphere
What a big win for climate mitigation!!!!
Of course, as our weakened position put us a security risk, our nukes would protect us from aggressors, right?
Clifford, as we observe the good, President Biden and his team have done regarding climate change and approving work/funds to "Build Back Better", we have no idea how difficult the process actually is in fulfilling these goals. Engineers and planners are struggling to find not only well-trained men and women to accomplish this tedious work for our future but also excellent supplies to fulfill the physical work that needs to be done.
We have neglected our railways, our systems of communication, our citizens in cities and remote areas regarding medical and educational needs. We have neglected the organizational needs to improve immigraton. Immigration is NOT about Republicans or Democrats, it is about human lives: good, bad or indifferent....people who have left everything behind to flee for their lives ...to find some kind of "hope" for their future.
Meanwhile, as the tedious work is being done, we have elected adults who are more interested in brandishing their weapons with raised empty but very loud voices and using the power of their votes to destroy our country.
We really need to face the serious issues of our country....get off of social media.....improve our education system and elect serious people to serve in our government. We are wasting time on petty distractions.....our enemies are loving it!
I fear Joe needs to keep a lot of different pieces of the 3 dimensional chess game that is America's (and the world's) economy moving toward a net improvement. Clifford, do you still drive an internal combustion engine driven car? Do you still heat your home with gas, oil, coal or wood? Do you still use motor boats, 3 and 4-wheelers and off-road vehicles to "get out in nature"? Do you take airline flights to visit family, go on business trips or worse, go on vacation? Do your mow your lawn with a gas mower? Until Biden and his successors can engineer some way to get all those who seek and who make their livings from selling these activities, we are all stuck with supporting those who CAN play that complex chess game of trade-offs. The alternative is to be stuck with those who deny there is a problem with the climate o that we need to do anything about it.
Hang on - be fair. You can't expect a leopard to change its spots. Biden, and most of the crew around him have no knowledge of environment at all, not taught in law school then. They are still (because of the dominant culture) "growth-ists". Sadly, the reality is that we have to be happy that the progress that is being made, is happening. Will the next crew be any the wiser? Interesting question.
I'll make it brief- capitalism requires growth.
And so does cancer.
The problem with this statement - God Bless whomever- is that is suggests that some are not blessed and that if good or bad things happen to whomever, it's not their own doing. How about - thank you Heather and "Let's hope for the United State of America to survive."
Thanks for your comment and yes your suggestion much more elegant and I thank you for that. However, I don’t think that this statement has ever been meant to be exclusive and what America implies is this working for the promise of what the country could be.
“Investing in America.”
___private companies have announced $479 billion in investments under the new system
___the government has directed more than $220 billion towards roads, bridges, airports, public transportation, addressing climate change, and providing clean water.
___ The website locates and identifies the more than 32,000 new projects underway.
___ It highlights the high rates of employment in the U.S.
___new manufacturing jobs, as well as lower costs for prescription drugs and health insurance.
“INVESTING IN THE COUNTRY BENEFITS EVERYONE”
Go to 'INVESTING IN AMERICA': it is a site like no other! (See link below)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/invest/
I keep saying, Biden is the best pres of my lifetime, which began in Ike's first year! It's like having the wind at my back and it keeps getting stronger!
David As someone longer in the tooth than you, I find FDR, Truman, and Biden as three presidential aces.
FDR definitely. Truman? Pls elaborate.
David Truman assumed the presidency with virtually no training from FDR. He was faced immediately with the Manhattan Project. He concluded WW II, proceeded with UN, and some got in stride with George Kennan’s ‘containment’ in the Cold War.
His initial effort to foster a post-war ‘New Deal,’ which was squashed. Ditto after his re-election.
The rapid demobilization of about 12 million troops provoked an economic brouhaha which would have floored anyone.
Truman was gutsy and outspoken. He pursued social initiatives that were especially not popular with Republicans and Southerners. By executive order, he desegregated the military.
On Korea, he got the UN involved at the outset. He had the guts, with General George Marshall’s support, to fire McArthur and block nuclear bomb speculation.
Truman was propelled into the presidency during a highly volatile period. As a ‘common man,’ he took commonsense decisions (Berlin /Airlift) and was a ‘progressive’ when this was not in style.
He polled very badly at the end of his presidency and, 70 years later is rated by C-Span historians/political scientists as ‘near great.’
What was "Berlin/Airlift" about?
What other social initiatives?
Tx
David Are you serious about Berlin Airlift? In 1948 Stalin blocked Allied access to Berlin, except for several air routes. The purpose was to force the Allies to surrender four-part Berlin to the Soviets.
General Lucious Clay initially proposed sending an armored brigade into Berlin to ‘test’ the Soviets. Finally, Truman authorized the risky and highly uncertain Berlin Airlift with the Brits.
Who could have imagined that the West Berliners could be supplied with up to-11,000 tons of food and supplies daily by air. Finally, Stalin succumbed and soon after West Germany became a country.
Might you try Wikipedia next time? Of course I lived through the tense Berlin Airlift, which is integral to the Cold War.
One would think companies would see that Biden and the Democrats are far better for their bottom lines and contribute and lobby accordingly.
I'm sure there are companies around the country that need the USA to have a middleclass, plenty of customers for their products and are thrilled by Biden's campaign on behalf of Americans and American businesses
You are assuming corporate America can see past the current quarter. They can't and don't want to. As long as they can make money now they're not too concerned about tomorrow.
Stephen Strange, all businesses are not corporations. You are speaking for me, which I don't believe appropriate as you are speaking for all corporations. Altogether, I am not favorably disposed to your opinions concerning this subject.
You are correct. All business are not corporations. But that wasn't my point.
My point is that corporate offices are where the serious political money originates. An excessive reliance on quick the ROI, an obsession with the day's stock prices, and an extreme focus on short-term profitability have plagued that world for decades. I was a corporate IT manager for three decades and had plenty of opportunities to see that kind of thinking at close range.
My broader point is that the vast majority or our nation's wealth is now in the hands of an increasingly small minority of the hyper-rich (https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/01/09/trends-in-income-and-wealth-inequality/). Those people do not live in the same world we do. They are residents of Richistan (https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/books/review/Beam-t.html), where fascism, climate change, pandemics, and other issues are things that only happen to the peasantry. They believe that, no matter how awful things get, their money and influence will always protect them.
Tease that apart. Dems improve the company but MAGAs give tax cuts and largess that give corporate short term spikes in share price which goes immediately to upper management's' wallet. Think of all the money that went to stock buybacks via Trump that quickly vaporized but not before management exercised stock options and cashed out. In corporate America it is 1-self 2-company 3-who cares.
Good points. Greed wins.
We all remember Aunt Lisa's desert, not Mother Alice's broccoli souffle.
Add 1.5 my immediate family.
Companies don't want to pay taxes. That (dare I say the word?) trumps everything.
Michael this is the mystery that confounds me.
One would think. But, as Megan Trainer might say, it's "all about the [taxes]."
Most companies may (if they see beyond taxes), but the super-rich are still owing too many politicians. They don’t want taxes, regulations, or IRS “spies”.
One would think.
Yes, it's fine for us to know all about Investing in America, but will it reach those whose minds are already made up that the Dems have nothing to offer them?
Take a look at the website, Betsy. What a pleasure to see what our country is accomplishing. Dig in. It is the best Made In America. It is the proof in the pudding!
Fern, what can I say.....needed your positive "kick" this morning.
Emily, thank you. I was simply following the leads provided by President Biden and our esteemed historian, Heather Cox Richardson.
Fern, I voted for our President Biden and I will vote for him again and with him the many men and women who love our country and freedom and who have been working tirelessly to recover so much we have lost as well as keep our nose above water during these troublesome times.
What I can't ignore is what has been happening during past republican dominance and the destruction of our country, our freedoms, our education system, our transportation systems: roads. rail, shipping, air....,our priorites in supporting democracies around the world, our environment.....how much we need to change....how much we need to recover, modernize and continue improving.
President Biden and his team are addressing these long neglected concerns!!!! The world continues with it's struggles with powerful oligarchs robbing the treasures that should be used to contribute to the well-being of the nations from which these treasures are found. Little ones and old ones are dying from starvation and disease. Citizens of these countries in which riches are found are forced into slavery. Government officials selling their souls for power and a small "kick back".
Only President Biden and his amazing team have cared enough, along with other similar spirited world leaders , to want to garner support for freedom and self government for those who suffer under tyranny.
Yes, I am overwhelmed with so much....and the need for so much wisdom and the need for so much goodness. WE WILL NOT FIND THIS AMONG the republican party members and I also know that as long as we are fallible human beings, which we each and all are, these problems will exist.
At this time, President Joe Biden leads the way towards better for our country and the world.
Betsy, as proof of what you say, if it wasn't for this Letter (and Fern!) I would not have known about the White House's Investing in America website. It behooves us to spread the word (website) muchly!
Me either! Thanks to all the educational posts and comments.
This anti-Dem crap is reinforced intensively by right-wing media. Kids growing up in many parts of the country are brainwashed by it. I am always proud when I meet a person from my North Dakota who did not accept the local newspaper, Rush-radio, and Fox distortions of the world.
No it won’t. People believe what suits their mindsets and are not open to even thinking, never mind changing their minds.
Respectfully I disagree that people in general 'are not open to even thinking'. Perhaps a modest amount of folks are dug in to the lies. I have to believe there are more good folks than evil.
Marj There may be more ‘good people than evil.’ However, as Tom Hanks stated in his Harvard commencement speech, the danger, in protecting truth, is the vast number of ‘indifferent people,’ who do not act to protect ‘truth’ and the soul of America. A few evil folks can devastate our society.
Marj, I have seen many of my former work cohort "dug in" to the lies and propaganda. They are so invested in their hopes that "Christ" will win out and that all of the "social evils" will be driven away that I cannot reason with them. One, a former sergeant of mine says "Everything you believe about us (in that the propaganda and lies have influenced them), we believe about you."
I can appreciate your optimism that there are more good than evil people. However they are not the ones representing us! I wish I could find that hope.
Yes....AWESOME illustration of how many projects are being done in this country and it sure is 'needed' ....Thankfully Biden got it done!!!
Thankfully, he does get things done.
But no one knows it—at least those who only understand simple sentences with words of two syllables or less and cannot grasp the concept that investing in America means them.
Then it is up to us to help spread the word. https://www.whitehouse.gov/therecord/
They live in Dogpatch.
Thank you for the URL, Fern.
I'm with Fay, Fern. You rock!
Fern, thanks for the link!
From a Tweet by Ron Filipkowski, quoting President Biden's D-Day anniversary statement:
"The troops who stormed the shores of Normandy 79 years ago represent the greatest generation in our history. They answered the free world's call at its greatest hour of need. They kept the ultimate faith to our country and democracy, and we must keep our sacred obligation to them."
Meanwhile, the President* before Biden had this to say on the D-Day anniversary:
"ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!! Don't let it happen."
Once again, the true leader's light shines ever brighter.
President Biden’s predecessor referred to our soldiers as ‘suckers’ and ‘losers.’ As a ‘sucker’ and almost ‘loser,’ I can’t imagine Bone Spur Donald within a country mile of D-Day heroism. His focus is coiffure rather than courage.
I'm glad you're not a "loser", Keith. I honor that you went through that quagmire and are with us today.
I cannot fathom that we are fighting fascism again, this time coming from duly elected members of congress.
ALLY ! Truth Inspired Soldiers ( VETERANS) Who " Answered the Call" & some, NOT ABLE, to " come back HOME " Salute All, for giving Credit, to KNOW, True SACRIFICE ! for Our Country ( A " Living " VN Vet ....)
Message received as a person who was not permitted to enlist in the Navy (that whole gay thing) but served her community for 35 years in law enforcement.
In knowledge there is power.
In valor there is hope.
AMEN !! , on That ! CALLING OUR VETERANS, ON " THE WALL " and Holding OUR FREEDOMS _ suckers & Losers - SHOWS ! The PERFECT VACUUM, in TFG s NumbSkull !! Thanks ! Keith !
Good call, Bruce.
Didn't Despicable Don also bail out of a D Day event because he would have had to walk through the cemetery in the rain and didn't want to do it?!
I think you're thinking of the centennial observation of the end of WWII -- where the lazy MF skipped out on the ceremony honoring the Marines at Belleau Wood.
Supposedly because it was raining.
Gen. Kelly should have hauled his fat carcass down there willy nilly, screaming and kicking like a toddler.
WWI not WWII.
I hate autocorrect.
You're right, Bridget
The hair! Think of getting it and the makeup wet!
YESS ! AWWWW ! WAA WAA ! right ON ! Craig..
The contrast between Meadows and Eisenhower is stark and ‘telling’.
Eisenhower took responsibility for ‘life and death’ tough decisions that had to be made to preserve and protect our democracy….
Meadows was a craven coward promoting authoritarianism, fascism and ‘operational treason’. The sooner we ALL understand the range of this CONTRAST, the better!
Thanks again, Heather!
Eisenhower's letter is a model of what real leadership is. And why he is the last Good Republican.
TC, that was one of my Dad's early lessons to me. Take ownership of what you do and the decisions you make.
This lesson is so important in life. i wish i knew how to spread it.
I'd amend to say the last good Republican *president*. There were other good Republicans later: I'm thinking of senators Edward Brooke, Charles Percy, and the like. They did exist.
Everet Dirksen
Howard Baker
I fully and totally agree with your first sentence there, TC. Not so sure about the second. While the list of "Good Republicans" was somewhat sparse even pre-Despicable Don, there certainly were a decent number then. Post Despicable Don, no doubt the list gets as small as the heart of Ron DeSantis.
"Good Republicans" - I have a theory about that; I will try to be brief! There was a time when Republicanism was better than now. I am not talking about back in Lincoln's time, where in many ways the R's of then are basically the D's of now. I am talking about before Reagan. Back then, Republicans, most of them, were not as extreme as today. There was some overlap with progressives. We were in a post-war world where it was recovering from the largest human conflict in human history - an existential conflict against Fascism. A common enemy to all those who claim to support democracy. And the post-war USSR was another existential threat we could all agree on (mostly). We also didn't realize that our climate was being put at risk. We had not completely come to grips (an understatement) with the racism that permeated the country (still does only to a lesser extent). And FDR's transformation of our government still dominated. Things were not right back then, only fewer of us realized it. Watch a '60's half-hour sitcom and it becomes evident. I would posit that there is no such thing today as a good Republican. Any good Republican today has fled the party, or at least the MAGA element - like Adam Kinzinger for instance. Colin Powell actually switched to Democrat. Many other examples. Look at the Lincoln project - they won't say it, but they have in effect turned Democrat. No, there are no good Republicans. If you are to truthfully call yourself a Republican today, you must somehow counter inconvenient truths and the skeletons in the closet as they develop or get exposed. Republicanism is all about resistance to change - thinking you know already how the world turns (interpreted often from the unerring Bible, BTW); anything that runs counter to it, you need to resist because by definition it isn't right. Resistant to new revelations or realizations. Not only that, but they have decided to throw their lot in with the richer among us rather than the less so. Republicans cling to the notion so dominant in slave-state America, and Jim Crow America, where not everyone is supposed to be equal (why racism is more prevalent among R's, than D's). Some are by design more privileged than others, they will submit. They are pro-unfettered capitalism when it is abundantly clear the dangers of same. They are pro-small government, and keep it local, when increasingly our societal and environmental problems require a larger and more active approach. And, such a restricted approach makes all of us more vulnerable to the most greedy and conniving among us. With such a world view, it is hard to be a "good" person. You must deny science if it threatens your pocketbook (hence climate denial). You will refuse to acknowledge that "humanness" is something that develops in the womb, as opposed to an instantaneous soul at conception - which largely explains extreme anti-scientific stances on abortion. You will not be very inclined to level the playing field for those less fortunate especially people of color. You will more likely be supportive of white-washing our history, because so many of our sins (slavery and Jim Crow being the worst) took place under conservative watch. That slippery slope leads to book banning and manipulation and control of our institutions of higher learning. You will have to find ways to spin and obfuscate your motives and actions because they are not going to be popular with the majority of Americans. Hence the proliferation of scandals and lies so prevalent in Republican politics. Today's Republicanism is a threat to our country as we know it, and a road block to all the improvements we need to make to make it better still. Liz Cheney, Chris Christie, Tim Scott, and other Republicans who supposedly represent a more sane approach have a ton of explaining to do, if it comes to that. Well - so much for briefness....
Well articulated and well thought out piece, Jay. Your fellow Rambling Wrecks would be proud.
I respond to add a point, and to disagree with your conclusion albeit not your thoughts that led to same.
In the immediate wake of Despicable Don's 2017 inaugural "address", I noticed something that stuck with me. As he left the podium and commenced back up the Capitol steps to depart, he saw Sen. Bob Dole and Elizabeth seated in one of the upper rows, most of the way down from the aisle steps. He stopped, executed one of his choppy handed, small digited waves quickly, then continued his plodding exit. A minute later, the Obamas were departing, and Barack saw the Doles as well, turned and walked down the row to them so as to acknowledge and shake hands with the enfeebled former Senate leader, and greeted Elizabeth as well.
The difference in the behavior of the just turned former President and the new President was stark and alarming. The latter was crass, lazy and reflexively disrespectful to a major former leader of his Party, a man whose very stricken body reflected his devotion to Country. The former was classy and fully respectful of Senator Dole, both personally and symbolically.
I bring this up because one of the lesser noted facets of the Trumpian capture of the GOP, way beyond the ignorance, racism, simplistic thinking etc., is the pure crassness and vulgarity that seems to be predominantly prevalent, and the first club out of the bag at every turn.
The "good Republicans" that I previously cited do not possess this lesser grade affect.
I think it is important for us as Democrats and more importantly as Americans, to acknowledge this in the minority of Republicans. As long as we are all locked into a Party duopoly, it is important that the opposition Party is sane, rational and protective of American values. The Trumpian majority possesses none of the foregoing attributes. As Democrats, it is not to our advantage to simply rail at the lunacy of the GOP. We also cannot write off the 74 million Americans who somehow, someway voted for the Seditionist Sociopath and pretend that we can then claim the mantle of the moral high ground.
While I agree we must find a way to get along, I still maintain that the Republican platform of today, no matter who declares to be a Republican, no matter how "good", is antithetical to any serious approach to today's gigantic problems, nationwide and worldwide. Conversely, the Democratic platform is congruent with the realities of today, and tomorrow. What we need is another version of the two-party system, where Republicans are centrist Democrats (Biden, Obama, Pelosi), and Democrats are the Bernie Sanders and AOC wing. THEN - we can get something done. Wonderful things. But the Republican Party? It must be relegated, somehow, to the dustbin of history. It is not rooted in reality.
Hard to argue with that, Jay.
Brief??
I know.... :)
Maybe we need to coin the term LGR--the Last Good Republican.
No real heroes in this Congress, only a few dozen members that are determined to get their way, no matter what that way would mean to the rest of the world. A real hero would humbly search for truth and defend it like the little boy who stood up to tell the emperor he had no clothes...
There are real heroes. One example is Representative Jamie Raskin who has battled chemo treatments and still showed up in Congress doing brilliant battle against the MAGAs.
Congress took their seats on the evening of January 6 to certify the 2020 election. They were traumatized and terrorized by the events of the day and yet they gathered once again to do their jobs. There are many, many examples of Democratic Congress persons effectively combating Jim Jordan in his Committee.
There are 435 members of the House of Representatives. About 20 are MAGAs. There are 212 Democratic members of the House. They are working very hard every day combatting the fascists in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Jamie Raskin! It's hard to find words simple enough and fine enough.
Thank you, Barbara, for mentioning Jamie Raskin, my hero. He never lost a beat when his son died nor when he was getting chemo treatments. Truly, a remarkable and dedicated human being.
And a good congressman for his constituents.
Jamie: great brain, stout heart and thick skin!
Thanks for the examples of adults with some ethics.
Sometimes it is hard to see anything but the noise of the nuts.
There are a ton of them, Mike. I could write a book of them. And you are right--the noisy ones get all the attention.
The January 6 Committee received death threats.
As I'm from Connecticut I'd like to point out my Senators and Representatives as examples of good congress people - Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, and Representatives Jahana Hayes, Jim Himes, Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro and John Larson- good Democrats all. I am fortunate.
...and they voted together to forestall debt default keeping our country's best interests foremost in their decision.
PRAISE GOD !! Thanks ! Barb !
Please listen to CSpan. There are remarkable Democrats from across the country who come in every day and really are heroic in their fortitude.
Dam right - a treasure trove of excellent leaders in the Dem caucus.
Absolutely! Vote Blue.
Chip Roy from Texas is a loud mouth, uncouth, extremely undiplomatic Republican who started his career claiming he saw politics "as an avocation, a sort of interest, but not something I would do anytime soon, if ever", and hasn't seemed to change. What would you call a man who acts like a spoiled brat who complains with such vulgarity when he doesn't get what he wants?
Chip wants to cut spending? As he does nothing and promises more of the same, he should eliminate his staff and cut his pay to minimum hourly wage. Ignorant hypocrites, the gop, one and all.
A child that needs his ass tore up.
I fully agree with that! Chip Roy is loudmouthed a-hole if there ever was one. I despise that SOB.
Although, he has been elected, so he probably reflects the types of people who vote for him. Politicians tend to shape themselves to please their constituents.
POS
A Republican representative from Texas.
An American in Paris
Kathy, perhaps we need to find a way to support the majority of Repubs and Dems who supported McCarthy's effort to meet Biden somewhere in the middle, perhaps a tad to the left of the middle in saving the country (and the world) from an economic catastrophe.
"If the far right is trying to dismantle the federal government ..."
*If*
Dismantling government is the GOP endgame. Repurposing a democratic republic as a clerical fascist state is a side gig. Unburdening the oligarchs of the inconveniences of democracy - regulation, taxation, equality before the law, equal representation - is the Republican purpose.
Deregulation, creating caosi in the USA, is also the Russian purpose.
Sadly, not just Russia.
Clearly, Republicans do not believe that all Citizens should be allowed to vote. They do not trust Democracy.
Simply and concisely said. Thanks.
Joe, you are our man, as was Ike.
^^^This!!!!^^^ Although I was a child when Ike was prez, I have a few dim memories. I was telling a friend several years ago that Ike was the last Republican president that I admired—she exclaimed “that’s just what I told the kid (her adult daughter) today”—seems we were having the same thought simultaneously, albeit from opposite sides of the country! Give me quiet, humble competence over flash-in-the-pan bravado any day!
"Let them make headlines. Joe Biden is making headway." So sayeth Jim Clyburn, Democratic Rep from South Carolina.
Agreed about Ike. Only Republican I ever voted for for president.
Our parents took us to Washington on Easter in 1953 or 1954. We sat in the row behind Ike at the Presbyterian Church for Easter Service. He was a great man.
Awesome!!
It does seem that the Republican Party offers some pretty awful people as candidates for president. Men who are either, not very smart, blindered by their own biases, unable to think beyond the box, and usually looking to pick a fight somewhere in the world.
IDo Senator Feinstein’s on and of absences do real harm to Biden having as much positive and long term impact on this country as the former guy had ito our detriment?
Has Newsome picked a replacement?
President Eisenhower was a decent person, who rendered honorable public service. Politicians today prostitute themselves to the highest bidder. There are no Eisenhowers in the current MAGA extremist fascist party. Lincoln and Eisenhower would be appalled at the likes of the "Freedom" Caucus. They want to not be constrained by any rules or laws. That's not really freedom.
Actually, they want their version of Freedom in order to constrain us within their perverted ideas of society, freedom, responsibility, education, and all the rest of culture.......
It is necessary to denounce Fascism for what it really is AND to call out the NeoLiberal ideas about wealth, society, regulations, and all the rest-----NeoLiberalism is at the root of the current context in which we are living. More to say on this later---perhaps Heather (and TCinLA who is reading and commenting here) could address this issue and lay it out clearly. Time to gun the engine (car or plane) and get going......
By deeds and actions, they are saying “freedom for me, but not for thee”. What hubris!
It seems to me that the only freedom worthy of the name is universal. “Freedom for me, but not for thee” is just abuse, or tyranny. MAGAs that demand impunity are strangely eager to restrict the choices of everyone else, as in "don't say gay".
Those politicians are clinging to lobbyists who have relentless access to their brains. I would like to see lobbyists completely curtailed from any contact with members of Congress. I understand there are decent ones but it appears the nasties outweigh them.
Ike was President when I was a little girl. He was exactly the leader America needed at the time. Joe is our leader now and boy, we are sure lucky!
I fear it ain't the lobbyists Marlene, it is the dark money courtesy of Citizens United.
Just follow the money; better yet, make it public!
John, those are the lobbyists!
Marlene There is NO Such thing , as luck ! RATHER ... WE are BLESSED !
Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney....and...I'll get back to you on that.
While I respect the role those two played in the J6 committee, and their standing up to their peers, drawing a line at violent overthrow of the government - they remain far right in their policies, supporting voter suppression and the destruction of women’s reproductive rights. Liz Cheney celebrated the Dobbs decision and publicly accused Democrats of killing babies. Do not confuse Cheney or Kinzinger with centrists.
Nor is it consistent with the notion of a Republic.
President General Dwight D. Eisenhower
A man among men.
Taking full responsibility for one’s actions and decisions.
My grandfather and brothers played with the Eisenhower brothers when they were children.
May we see men and women who are brave humble and intelligent willing to make hard decisions to continue to support and defend our democracy.
Correction: my great grand father and brothers played with the Eisenhower brothers. My grandfathers brothers fought in the pacific during WWII One losing their life on the USS Hadley.
Nice family history.
My father and uncles fought in WWII. I am forever grateful that the Allies won. I hope that as we face a fascist threat again, we will not be found lacking.
Same, Sky 777 (do you fly one of those? My sister-in-law does)
Thank you for another superb essay shining the light of your clear thought and prose on the continuing moral darkness that envelops the GOP. The Path of Truth and Justice, as opposed to the Path of Lies and Criminal Behavior, is becoming clearer and clearer. Hopefully the Path of Lies and Criminal Behavior will lead a good number of members of the GOP to a Time of Reckoning, Accountability, and Prison. May Truth Prevail. May Mark Meadows have a special reckoning---a man who tells the truth "where he has a legal obligation to do so." He really is a slime bag, to speak in the language of a younger generation...... About par for someone who "reportedly sought to conceal the cases (of Covid among the White House staff), including his own." (Wikipedia)
Dwight Eisenhower must be rotating in his grave, at the sham of politics which has poisoned America and turned it towards the fascism he so valiantly opposed. I Like Ike, more now, than ever before.
“Rotating”? Ike and all of the “Greatest Generation” who gave their lives and honor so their children and grandchildren, only 2 generations removed, could take up the mantle of Hitler, are on spin cycle.
He did, in fact predict some version of this on parting from his 2nd term when warning us all of the "military-industrial complex!" https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-infospace-051&ei=UTF-8&hsimp=yhs-051&hspart=infospace¶m1=7h2xevfvaktuftdgf6iqe0d2&p=beware+the+military+industrial+complex+speech+eisenhower&type=ud-c-us--s-p-6wim7x3k--exp-none--subid-none#id=1&vid=ab2f0067ae2f45e7ee9c7d16a8c7eb3e&action=click
Why can't sane Republicans and Democrats join together and defang the Freedom Caucus??? I ask this because you report that "Angry at the passage of the deal to suspend the debt ceiling and keep the United States from defaulting, they blocked two bills today and apparently have decided to oppose all legislation that comes before the House unless McCarthy puts in writing what they understand to be the deal they made."
Because there are no more sane Republicans. Even Nancy Mace, who tried to present herself as sane, ultimately caved to the far right loudmouth. The sane people left the party when it nominated Trump.
I would put Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins (to a lesser extent) in the sane Republican category. Along with Liz Cheney of course.
Really? All three have shown such courage, speaking out against the outrageous change in the Republican Party. Especially Colllins, such backbone. And Romney: my father had no use for his father when he was governor of Michigan (I'm a Michigander); years later, after moving to Massachusetts, I was disappointed to see him elected governor. Really? I don't think 'sane' is the word you want to use. Cowardly is more like it. Lacking in real principles. Not strong enough to stand up for democracy, the lot of them.
Well, I don't think I cited their courage, although I think Cheney has certainly demonstrated that. Sane is the word I used. They all voted to impeach Despicable Don. Murkowski's lonely vote against Kavanaugh should be noted too.
Does Susan Collins think Trump has "learned his lesson, yet"?
I agree with you on Murkowski and Romney.
She may be harboring some "concern", yet.
McConnell is sane. He had his own agenda.
Yep, she’s horrible too. I thought she was halfway decent but no, she’s as indecent as they come.
Owning the libs has temporarily taken second place to chastising McCarthy. Victimhood is an underlying principle of the HFC, and, by extension, of all Republican'ts these days. Governing is not in their sights. Saying "No" is the the only thing that they are capable of.
Isn’t saying”no” what two-year-olds do?
Both toddlers and adolescents have "No" as their most used vocabulary word...
And “you’re not the boss of me” is their most used phrase. Don the con/manbaby probably says or thinks it more than anyone on the planet. 💩
“you’re not the boss of me”
"I'm the boss of you"
Seems to be the modern Republican motto (in so many words).
For Republican representatives and senators, living in fear of the Trump voters, when Trump is more popular with their voters than they are.
We have been. Please see the 2018, 2020 and 2022 elections where the Democrats won. The Democrats stopped the red tsunami dead in the 2022 midterms. The Democrats defeated trump's far right MAGA candidates in the 2022 midterms. A Democratic Mayor was just elected in Jacksonville Florida.
This is just a sampling. Please start following Simon Rosenberg on his substack Hopium.
What sane Republicans that still remain in the House, and Senate for that matter, are few, and very far between.
Those very few have chosen to take the unorthodox path of no return. Siding with the Trumpublicans in everything they do. They have chosen not to do anything to benefit America, democracy, or our freedom.
"WHEREAS , Representatives Cheney and Kinzinger are participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse , and they are both utilizing their past professed political affiliation to mask Democrat abuse of prosecutorial power for partisan purposes, therefore, be it RESOLVED , That the Republican National Committee hereby formally censures Representatives Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and shall immediately cease any and all support of them as members of the Republican Party for their behavior which has been destructive to the institution of the U.S. House of Representatives , the Republican Party and our republic, and is inconsistent with the position of the Conference "
The RNC just sucks big time. It has an incompetent person at the wheel.
It seems that they throw anyone with a modicum adult competence and integrity out of the club.
What is this "freedom caucus" business anyway? Freedom from what? That's a rhetorical question - HCR's letter today answers it very plainly. Less government. We don't need no education, teacher leave them kids alone. How long ago was that? The eighties? I don't like Mondays. 1979. It's got worse, and a generation has grown up.
SUSAN ! a " house Divided, ... CANNOT STAND ! " and it Won't !
Unless McCarthy has the sense to reach out to the much larger center of congress, repubs AND Dems in a bipartisan way to pass the bills he seeks. He is, after all, Speaker of the House, not just speaker of the Repubs.
The bills blocked by squabbling would prevent the government from regulating gas stoves. They are nothing more than talking points for fox not-news.
It is yet to be seen if truth and democracy wins this fight.I am holding Jack Smith to a higher light and am hoping this position will be justified.
I see him as a laser, focused, intense & will burn away the bullsh*t to reveal the core truth. I like that he is reserved, quiet and mum about the proceedings….that said, pundits love to speculate! Just a gut feeling, but I trust him (and hope it’s not indigestion!).
His official photos suggest a "no BS" personality.