At 3:00 today, Washington D.C., time, Special Counsel Jack Smith delivered a statement about the recently unsealed indictment charging former president Donald J. Trump on 37 counts of violating national security laws as well as participating in a conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Once again, you put this incredible news together like no one else manages to do. While the pundits and experts I’ve listened to today have been good, none lay it out as compellingly and clearly as you have done. Why I’m here. Thank you.
💯 This is always the first thing I read in the morning to get Heather’s insight on these appalling times in which we live. Not sure if it’s the coffee or HCR that makes me better about the craziness. Probably both 😀
I read her WHILE coffee is brewing, because she's always clear enough I don’t need the caffeine to understand it. Then, frequently, later in the day when the news has me completely frazzled, like HCR I take my kayak out to recover.
LOL. Thank you. I didn't know you had a column, "Dave's Brooklyn Style Espresso". My favorite summertime morning ritual is to make my Peet's Italian Roast cappuccino, get my laptop, and read Heather and Joyce Vance (and sometimes Timothy Snyder) on the back patio, with my beautiful garden smiling at me.
That's Dave's Brooklyn Style Espresso Jernt. Substack clipped off that last word. And in fact, I never signed up to write a substack. They signed me up, probably hoping that I'd do it. I've encountered others who've had the same experience. But since they kept taking me with "Write's Dave's Substack," I decided I'd make it sound a bit more interesting, even if I wasn't going to write anything here. So far I have about seven subscribers.
And, yeah, I drink my espresso while I'm reading HCR, Robert Hubbell, Joyce Vance, Thom Hartmann, Jennifer Rubin, and the comics. HCR was the first. I highly recommend Hubbell. And Hartmann often has important perspectives I don't get elsewhere.
Me too Avery & this digital Community has demonstrated the sum is greater than the parts. <
Note, HCR's Paragraph 1, Jack Smith has filed a "National Security" indictment with granular specificty, a speaking indictmenmt with photos.
The national security boxes stacked up on center stage of the MAL Ballroom tells any juror instantly DJT had a Co-conspirator. That named Co-defendant with Naval experience had the physical ability to carry out the intentional overt acts as instructed by the Perp.
Thank you HCR thank this Community, thank you very much Jack Smith & Team. Job well done.
This digital platform is indeed a Community. I come to this (for me) coffee house and sit, usually over two cups of coffee, and digest the letter, offer opinions occasionally, and read the other comments of readers who, like me, are community here.
Espionage sounds about right. With his campaign speeches about bringing peace in Ukraine, it sounds like his plan was to kow tow to Putin and the Saudis as well.
The terrible part is that the Republicans in the House are ready to follow. Knew many should have been indicted with the rioters, just as it has been impossible to do so. Our Founding Fathers did not imagine we would elect traitors.
Exactly. How could the Founding Fathers have known? MTG and her ilk are in too far to back out now. Their inflammatory rhetoric and the extremists' call to violence is a big worry.
The Founding Fathers anticipated a demagogue. They disliked political parties, but knew they were inevitable. They did not anticipate an entire political party choosing the demagogue over the nation
Not only in the House. Have you heard anything from Senate Republicans? I haven't. They all have to be voted out of office, even the so-called "reasonable" ones, such as Romney.
The founders never imagined the level of corruption in Congress today. The flaws of the Constitution have been revealed over time by Republicans gaming the rules to give themselves power that they could not get through fair elections.
500 people showed up @ Ravalli Co Fairgrounds to rake one of the very best most honest Election official over the coals re the 2020 election as being "stolen". The big lie is alive & well in Montana & how many other states.
That’s really good news Carole. Where do you suppose the other 15000 people who live and work in Hamilton were. Not to mention the other 75000 residents of Ravalli County. You made my day. I think I will at least go watch high water to celebrate.
They did imagine the corruption as they agonized over how far to try to control it without going too far. They had been dragged through corruption as colonists in subservience to the king as well as the big money corrupting their peers. Although fairly young these were men well educated and quite well to do on average. They even heard the rumble of Trumps jet searching for the runway the Brits were using by imagining change the future was destined to bring. I imagine they were a bit shaky at times, fearing if their adequacy would stand.
We should be careful how we say the "Jared 2 billion thing" or we begin to sound like Trump and the GOP. Mr. Kushner is being paid 25 million per year to invest the 2 billion of Saudi Sovereign Wealth funds. Saudi Arabia still owns the 2 billion, or it's decreased or increased value, not Kushner. Still 25 million a year is a lot of money for settling up a savings account.
If Jared charges an annual "management fee," a 1% fee on $2 Billion is $20 million, and due to "carried interest" Jarel will pay taxes on that income at the capital gains rate.
Or traded a look for having the Liv gold tournaments at his courses. This, in my opinion, is why the merger of the pga and Liv is such a betrayal to our country.
And yet, we still have 'friendly" relations with this backward patriarchy. It says a lot about how our leadership feels about women - not much apparently.
Well, it probably also has something to do with how our leadership feels about having a military base in Saudi Arabia with about 4000 soldiers and a butt-load of missiles. And as ambivalent as I am about the military being a tool of diplomacy, that's exactly what they are.
Of course they can come up with a lot of reasons for maintaining this relationship, including having access to oil. But it doesn't negate the statement it makes about women's human rights, which are easily swept aside for more "important" concerns.
I certainly human rights/women rights are important but we are getting less andless oil from SA. It seems we are "managing" this to slowly get weaned off? But not go on for 8 decades as he states here.
John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications: "As I said, I think, a few weeks ago, there's going to be issues where we don't agree with Saudi Arabia and we have the kind of relationship where we can express those concerns directly and we do all, all the time. But we're focused on the future. Saudi Arabia's still a strategic partner, has been for eight decades, will be for the next eight decades and we're managing that relationship going forward. That's what our focus is on," Kirby said. Our dependcy on Saudi Arabia's oil has decreased steadily
This was my first thought after hearing the news of the merger. A sad day for the game and deep concerns about what it foretells. Bad people sucking up life and money like a giant vacuum into their black and greedy hearts.
Fishing, golf. Fishing, golf? What do think kids? You wanna saddle up some ponies and head up to Lena Lake and go fishing or do you wanna go to the golf course with those old men over there. If she has her mothers permission your pal can go too.
A boat on open water, a small party on the wide open spaces of a golf course. What two better settings for passing top secret documents between friends under the guise of innocent recreational activities, unobserved. Beautiful.
George Carlin: “Golf Courses!!!….land that is currently being wasted on a meaningless, mindless activity, engaged in primarily by white, well-to-do, male businessmen who use the game to get together to make deals to carve this country up a little finer among themselves.”
But I don't think money was why he stole the stuff. His motivations were the same as Jack Teixeira's: they were things he could show off, to prove what a big man he was. He couldn't keep a secret, what's the point of possessing secret documents if you can't tell someone that you have them? They both have the consciousness -- and conscience -- of a five-year-old. (But it must be said that the stuff Teixeira stole was chicken feed compared to what the Duck stole. We should show some mercy to the one but none to the other.)
Trump has certainly demonstrated his pride at thumbing his nose at propriety and the law; much of it with the eager aid of the "GOP". They're still at it, but Trump is playing out of his league. Jack Smith and all that are aiding him is altering the course of history. HCR has underlined words for future history books:
"We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone. Applying those laws. Collecting facts. That’s what determines the outcome of an investigation. Nothing more. Nothing less."
I'm wondering if half of those Republican 'lawmakers' have seen those classified documents and passed it on to the rest of those interested. Or do they get that information on their Intelligent briefings?
Showing off and making money have always gone hand in hand with Donald Trump. The two motives are bound together, as so much of his ego is tied up in being a rich and genius dealmaker.
Think Trumps mental developmental age of about 7 years old, in part explains these horrors…as an extremely spoiled and thoroughly rejected child he ‘retaliates against any blockage to his wishes in these gross and horribly immature ways….
If he were just a disturbed ‘jerk’ in the periphera we’d be OK …but he’s not, he’s a huge threat to our country and the world as he is the repository actor for similarly aggrieved and developmentally profoundly damaged folks worldwide.
This is why I call him death star. He is a festering cancer on the body politic and even with this damning indictment, nearly all in the party of death are defending him, the worst of them calling for violence. What he took is indeed so damaging to us and I think he intended to sell them, if he hasn't sold some already. The bathroom picture would be funny if it weren't so awful with boxes peeking over the top of the shower. From the get go, it was obvious to me and many others that this monster should never be president and yet.....thanks to several factors, here we are. Jack Smith was quite succinct in his speech although I doubt the cult heard the importance of what he was saying. These are the same hypocrites who pretend to be patriots and Christians.
The bathroom was not only a storage place but the toilet is still accessible...so, was used by guests at one of the many many events/parties/ weddings?
Comparing trump's mental development to that of children is demeaning and insulting to them as they have a much better grasp of reality.
However, your reference to him as the personification of evil is right on. In another post here I refer to him as the definitive definition of the Anti-Christ....
Personally, I've always had the notion that the Anti-Christ would be a LOT smarter and much more competent than Ol' Yamface. Donald, you are no Anti-Christ.
What Donald is: a cheap and sleazy wannabe mobster who thinks he's invincible and has the mentality of a spoilt five year old.
From a human development perspective, Trump’s behavior appears to me to be fixated in a very prepubescent and ‘blocked’ state and I agree it’s insulting to normally developing kids to draw the inference..but I’m at a loss to ‘locate’ his behavior anywhere beyond that description.
Chris Christie described Trump as a spoiled child in that he ‘retaliates’ in an exceedingly childish manner…hitting Christie and his ‘weight’ issues with a smorgasbord video….about 5 iI think…
After that stunt of closing a major commuter bridge just to hurt a couple of political opponents, Christie is a great, big, pot talking about an even larger kettle.
I truly believe that he is a narcissistic sociopath. Anyone with a normal, functioning brain and psyche is never going to understand someone like this. He doesn't see anyone other that himself as real, and therefore, all that exists are his whims, his impulsive desires, and the things that make him feel good.
How can anyone who isn't like this possibly grasp how a creature like this processes information? We can't. He is an empty, screaming void inside. That's why he can rattle off such lies so fast: they aren't things he's consciously thinking of to say, he's just saying whatever pops into his head.
The emptiness of his supporters is the thing that confounds ME. HOW can they not see what he is??? I just don't understand it.
Yet I read yesterday the Baptists have renewed with zeal their support. I just don’t get an established religious denomination supporting this manchild.
I believe the Southern Baptist Convention issues a strongly worded official rebuke to Trump. From WaPo: "Brent Leatherwood, head of the Southern Baptist Convention's policy arm, issued a rebuke of former president Donald Trump, saying the charges against him “are incredibly serious and, if proven, would constitute an ethical and national security breach of stunning proportion.” Let's hope this is true.
The enormity of his messes -- surpassed only by those of his exemplar and probable boss in the Kremlin -- brings to mind the tale of the Sorceror's Apprentice.
Setting off a sewage tide that cannot be stopped.
*
The German High Command put Lenin on a sealed train and sent him north... like a virus, to take Russia out of the war...
Could this weird being be Putin's virus of counter-revolution, sent to wreck the American republic?
Last comment, he always has been. At first I thought he was just a reality show joke, but Fox made him a hero to the cult. And such a huge cult with not a thought that the “leader” didn’t plant.
It could be that Trump was and has been blackmailed by Putin from the get-go, with photos of Trump trysting in Moscow hotel rooms with Russian babes. That is an almost certainty. How else to explain his obsequousness to Putin, particularly at Helsinki?
Thank you, Richard Sutherland. I have never doubted the Steele Dossier. It fits DT to a T. The Republican propaganda machine is, with the exception of the Kremlin’s, the best I know of since Goebbels. And it may be the death of US.
Have you wondered (silly question) about the topics Putin and Trump covered in their 2-hour private meeting after that, where Trump confiscated the interpreter’s notes? No record.
What's that line? Something like, "Doubt is the chastity of the mind." Fortunately, whatever is in the Steele dossier is merely makeweight after all he's done since. I don't feel a need to puzzle over the credibility of that troublesome expose'.
Cripes, why would Drump care about that? His trial (the Stormy Daniels payoff) proved to him that he can pay off his mistresses and his cult fans still send him $$$. I think if Putin is holding anything at all over Drump's head, the material would almost have to be graphic and include really shockingly indecent acts or involve girls/children under the age of consent, to move the needle at all.
Yeah, exactly. He's so bizarre about being what he thinks is "strong" that he might even be proud of trysts with actual women, so if there is something, it has to be beyond the pale.
My perspective: Trump is never ashamed of his sexual misconduct, in fact, seems to revel in it. But, Putin has promoted Trump's power needs and did much to pollute our social media with bots and fake groups that espoused anti Hillary sentiments and outright distortions of her behavior. Putin apparently made his tech experts brilliance available to the Trump team.
Wow! Now that is definitely thinking outside the box. But, I don't think so. It's the beautiful babes that catch his eye - I think. It's difficult to know when dealing with a malignant narcisist.
Revenge is his modus operandus. His taking of them and his callous disregard for the contents was a fuck you to the United States of America. He did it to hurt people. Most people are not going to be able to understand/accept that he is that malicious but it is the TRUTH we are faced with. Ask the experts
And good, smart people who made a career of understanding this subject were aggressively opposed in their attempts to warn us years ago.
If a democracy wants to remain a democracy they better figure out how to elevate the voice/knowledge of experts and prevent the greedy vengeful bturds from spewing 💩💩💩 over the land
Although I agree with you 100% about his motivations and his ego being his downfall, it is not right to insult five-year-olds who have a much better grasp of reality.
I remember when many Obama-haters referred to Obama as the Anti-Christ. What I understood the Anti-Christ to refer to was a charismatic figure who would dupe his followers into literally acting against everything Christ stood for. Yet, I have not heard one reference to trump as the Anti-Christ--someone who truly fits the bill....
I stumbled upon this on the internet buffet--it's both entertaining and scary:
I did see a video a while back that was created by some preacher guy whose name escapes me, all about how tfg EXACTLY fits the bill for being the Anti-Christ, right down to the "mark of the beast on his followers foreheads (red MAGA hats)".
Perhaps, but he’s always proven to be transactional. Hearing all this now, my question is, how he was able to accumulate all these documents...I believed there was protocol as to how these documents were to be handled? That needs to be investigated as well... immediately!
I've long thought that he took the documents for 2 reasons: 1. to show them off..."my pretty" and 2. to sell them/or the information they contain, if the opportunity arises.
I hope that the National Archives develops a better system for controlling all documents. Why not air tags on the most sensitive?
HCR reports: "There is also substantial risk that other countries will be reluctant to share intelligence with the United States in the future. At the very least, it is an unfortunate coincidence that the Central Intelligence Agency in October 2021 reported an unusually high rate of capture or death for foreign informants recruited to spy for the United States."
Some of the jackets found at Mar-a-Lago were empty. Where are they, in Putin's desk drawer? Does their missing explain the mysterious deaths last year of some who were close to Putin and giving info to U.S. Intelligence? Probably. Trump's crimes may also include treason.
Probably in special guest packages for "friends" of Loose Lip Donny? Imagine a three-night stay at MAL or Bedminster (or some other Trump property) ranging in price from say $1million to $18m that includes meals, golf, lodging, drinks, and entertainment: e.g., a peek show at the Document Room, fondling of Classified Documents, selfies with military defense plans, photo-ops, camera included, document copying and transfers, actual souvineer documents, time with tfg, breakfast with Ivanka, tickets to the next Orban election rally. My anger and fears consume me now.
Richard, given how the boxes were stored; the insecurity of all locations; TFG's compulsion to show them off and his transactional nature, I believe that we have to assume that every one of the contents in those boxes is known. Like a spy whose cover is blown, all the contents in those boxes are essentially "blown."
This is a national security nightmare and a crippling blow to our intelligence services. No opposing nation will admit having our information, because it's only valuable to them if we are still operating under the assumption it's unknown. We have no idea who has what, how much of it they have and who else they've shared it with. Absolutely devastating.
With a foreign enemy like Putin, who pays and trains multiple goons well to bring home that kind of information, being able to snap photos of anything in those boxes stacked in public places, it seems unlikely tffg is looking to get paid. The level of disrespect for our country, our allies, and intelligence personnel, is shattering. It feels like the worst kind of imaginable “eff you” to the US of America. Trump pissed all over everyone including the MAGA’s. And now our allies know how much despicable contempt tffg had for them as well. 😩 It’s the stuff of nightmares💔
Putin owns trump and trump's only interest is himself and money. He does not give a hoot about the country or his beloved uneducated supporters. In his own words ,on the rare occasion he speaks the truth, he said essentially, that the full extent of the law should be brought to bare on HRC for her emails. So, I say "look him up". He has never been held accountable for all of his many crimes, let the chickens come home to roost!!!
Given how deranged he seems much of the time, I doubt Trump even knows how many people own him. All Putin had to say on that first meeting was, "Da, you big man now, Donny-boy!" After wiping the tears of joy from his eyes, the fool probably offered military secrets just to prove it.
Which is further evidence of his intention ... and the understanding of the severity of the materials in which he was taking ... he Knew it and Did it anyway ...
I applaud Mr. Smith's decision to bring the case in the Southern District of Florida, despite what I understand were options to bring the matter to the D.C. Circuit. Instead, he's taken the case into the heart of a MAGA/DeSantis stronghold, showing that there are still enough honest people in Florida to staff a grand jury. Let any civil disturbances be DeSantis' problem. Let the people of Florida see, in their own Miami courtroom, exactly what their most famous resident did to them and their country.
"...showing that there are still enough honest people in Florida to staff a grand jury. " That remains to be seen. Is it true that convictions of these accounts require unanimous verdicts? And how about Judge Cannon? Are you kidding me? If she presides over all this, I have every reason to think she will make it very tough on the prosecution for very poor reasons. I do, however, agree that the choice of venue is overall the right thing.
If the federal appeals court threw out her rulings regarding the "special master" to oversee going through the documents, they could probably act again should she be seen as too lenient to the person who appointed her to that position. She could/should recuse herself to stay out of the maelstrom that such a high-level trial surely will be.
The trials. NYC (sexual assault), Miami (espionage and obstruction of justice), Atlanta (election fraud), DC (sedition and attempt to overthrow election). The outcome. Maximum Security Imprisonment and candidate in 2028 Presidential Election?
"Legal scholar Joyce White Vance noted that it was 'extremely sad for our country that this isn’t a bipartisan statement being made by leaders from both parties.'"
Which is reality: two "parties" or "one party and a criminal cartel gang posing as a party-- sponsored by the most ruthless segment of the ruling class?"
There are criminal political parties in the world; but the once "Party of Lincoln" has abandoned both decency and legitimacy and rejected rule of law. If they, as a party, should at some point turn their back on the man they enabled, shielded, and continue to claim allegiance to despite knowing perfectly well what he was, they will still remain un-indicted co-conspirators.
Well said, JL Graham, and thank you. Every time I hear another member of the House speak out condemning the Smith Report, I feel sick. Can we survive the traitors?
Is Jon Tester not only the only farmer in Congress, but also the only Democrat in MT? (Oops. Is it Idaho I’m thinking of? Truly I don’t care as long as I’m reminding everyone who reads this post to think of climate change and send what you can to the senator. The country needs him.)
It is both states that are flaming red! Jon Tester is the only native MT & a farmer that the ingrate Gov, & congressional rep are vowing to take out. He is the only Dem from Mt in Congress. I hope the national Dem Com gets solidly behind him. We had a strong woman Monica Tranel running but was not as well funded as Zinke (as in ride your horse in DC & resign in disgrace) & she narrowly lost. It takes a lot of fortitude to be & run as a dem in Mt. Even Independents supported by both parties can't win. It is god & guns & $$$$$$$ here.
Thank you, Carol. I have sent a small donation to Jon Tester and wish I had more to send. Not only is he the only MT farmer, but also it is my understanding that he is the only farmer period. My mission is trying to get people to understand that food inflation is here to stay unless we have price controls and rationing as in WWII. In a nation where children are going to bed hungry and the old and poor are being exploited, it is time to find a fair way to distribute food that is and will be available.
This is a ghastly level of criminality, even for Trump. I also like that Jack Smith reminded everyone that Trump wasn't indicted by Biden or Garland, but by a grand jury in Trump Florida. Given the details and evidence listed in the indictment papers--I read them before posting here--his goose is cooked so badly that prison cooks will serve it l'orange.
Nah, got it straightaway! This is a smart bunch here! I too thought first of "canard à l'orange" (which I LOVE!), since tfg is referred to as "Duck" on here.
After reading the indictment it’s hard to imagine what his defense will be. And the charges carry potentially long prison sentences. With such a clear prosecution case, most defendants would be seriously discussing a plea bargain.
I don't think Trump would ever take a plea, as it would deprive him of his very favorite pastime--crying "me me me" on TV. Does Florida allow cameras inside courtrooms? If so, he'd never pass up the chance to fundraise and brag even if he got 20 years for doing it ...
Thanks, Lorraine. His inability to admit he's wrong is what's going to put him in jail. Someone with full maturity and reasoning would have told the Archives, "Oh, damn, I had no idea. Come get them, my guys will help you load the vans. Sure, search the place, make sure you have everything." Had he done that, this would have been a Nothingburger and he would not face charges. Instead, he doubled down on "I'm In Charge, Not You, Get Lost" and now he will pay the price. His problem is thinking that the Justice Department would slink away like all the little contractors he stiffed over the years.
The worst possible thing Trump could do at trial would be to take the stand, under oath, in his own defense. I'm quite sure that he will do exactly that.
“At the very least, it is an unfortunate coincidence that the Central Intelligence Agency in October 2021 reported an unusually high rate of capture or death for foreign informants recruited to spy for the United States.”
If these deaths can be directly connected to tfg’s panhandling with top secret documents, could he be tried for murder in the third degree?
I remember when the high murder rate, under Trump, was originally reported and figured it was Trump bleeding information in exchange for money.
However, Rose, it will be/would be very difficult to find evidence that those murders are associated with Trump, not because Trump won't bleed information but because the services in the countries that performed the murders/assassinations will be lock tight about information.
Plus, the US itself has a long history of murder and assassination in foreign countries, and possibly in this country under J Edgar Hoover, as part of US policy, especially when accusations of "communism" were used to murder people that did not do what the US wanted.
Example: when the US had the duly elected, by a democratic process, leader of Iran murdered in 1953 because he was not aligned with US oil interests. That guy, wanted to use the oil for his own people in Iran and was assassinated by the US because that made him a "communist".
Today, in general, the US tries to use Israel to do its dirty work of assassination since Israel maintains a group for that purpose for its own "defense".
Unfortunately, very true, Mike S. The book The Last Honest Man: The CIA, the FBI, the Mafia, and the Kennedys—and One Senator's Fight to Save Democracy, by (Pulitzer Prize winner) James Risen, covers these types of assassinations. The last honest man was Senator Frank Church, whose committee investigated the government agencies AND presidents who ordered or executed these murders. Ken Burns calls Risen’s book a “gripping . . . spectacular piece of reporting.”
Thanks for sharing these links; I will read them next.
Reminding us of Mossadegh is excellent. Then there is the CIA in Chile. (Sorry. I didn’t go to your references yet. Thank you very much for reminding us of our sins, but whataboutism is deadly at this moment.
Thanks for the counterpoint, Mike S. Remember when the U.S. invaded Russia in 1918? It is hard to claim with a straight face that Putin doesn't have reason to distrust, well, everybody. 'Still not a good reason to invade Ukraine, though...
DeSantis should be next on the chopping block! His rulings are blatantly hateful and discriminatory! If there is a Christian god at the helm of these religious wing-nuts, I am sure he/she does not preach hate thy neighbor.
Yes, he is a very dangerous enemy of the United States of America. He’s also a broken toy, an agent of chaos, a wrecker of lives, a buffoon and a fool. That is why he is very dangerous to our country. He’s more of a danger than a fully functional intelligent person would be.
To say we're in unchartered territory is a cliché but one that perfectly describes the situation. First, I applaud Jack Smith's thoroughness, speed, clarity, and nothing-but-the-facts approach. And kudos to Merrick Garland for appointing him.
Questions: Will the inept and partisan Judge Cannon end up trying the case and seek, at the very least, to slow it down enough to delay the trial until after the election, as some legal experts have speculated? Will we ever learn if some of the most sensitive documents ended up the hands of adversaries, and if so did Trump profit from the transfer?
That doesn't make sense. He is one of Biden's staunchest supporters and in every Newsletter reminds us how lucky we are to have him as President. Not sure where you got that.
A pattern of innuendo making quite clear that Joe Biden’s age and infirmity made him unfit for office. He surrounded that suggestion with lavish praise for Joe. This at a time when the pundits claimed Joe Biden was a poor choice to lead. It occurred again and again and what’s his name put it in each of his discourses again heaping praise. I challenged him to quit the innuendo as it was disingenuous and I felt damaging Joe Biden. He strongly disagreed and told me not to bother responding as I had been removed from his forum. He is an assiduous attorney who crafts his language. The Biden Slurs were as cutting as he dared. This was/is his show as respondents are free to agree with him. He made it quite clear that those who didn’t agree couldn’t use his court. I don’t know what his methodology is now but at the time he imaged himself as a follow up to HCR as though he was a franchise offshoot. I gather his blather is about the money. Perhaps the insurance business wasn’t lucrative. He is a smart man. He fooled me but really I took Sandy’s recommendation to join. Now that others are pedaling his wares I though I should warn. I’m glad he works for you as your voice is a good one.
I've only been reading Hubbell's Newsletter daily for about 6 months now. In that time I have not seen the innuendo to which you refer. Even on Substack, I ALWAYS read things with open eyes and ears, ALWAYS stay vigilant for spin or manipulation of facts to fit someone's agenda. I approach Hubbell's column in the same fashion as I do writings by HCR, Jay Kuo, Joyce Vance, Dan Rather, Mary Trump, Robert Reich, Simon Rosenberg, Politicus, The Bulwark, etc. etc. My fairly precarious pecuniary status of being on a fixed income dictates that I can't financially support them all. Occasionally someone might render an opinion on something which I might not agree with, but, in a similar way with what friends post on their pages other social media, since it is their page I don't always take them to task. Again, I stay vigilant and always try and consider where someone is coming from in their opinions. *IF* they can back up what they say with a fair amount of reliable sources, then I will take it all into consideration, again, considering the sources.
With regard to Mr. Hubbell, in his writings thus far I find myself in total agreement with him on almost everything he says. Plus, he very astutely tends to provide a LOT of accompanying links to other sites to back up what he says. Once again, I have not seen him lambasting Biden's age or infirmity at all. Indeed, he posted a link to the interview with the 3 appointees Biden had with him on the debt ceiling negotiations. Hubbell went on to remark how all 3 of them were floored at to how astute and sharp Biden was and how he had THEM on their toes because of how informed he was. Hubbell even said that if anyone had any doubts as to Biden's abilities and his fitness for handling the office that they needed to listen to this interview. Perhaps Hubbell has changed his tune with regard to Biden's competence? It's certainly possible. I'm prepared to give people the benefit of the doubt that their opinions can evolve. I know mine have. Be that as it may, I continue to read Hubbell and others here, but always with open mind, eyes, and ears. What I appreciate most about Hubbell is his instilling hope that things will get better and his calm assurance that we ARE winning more than we might think. That said, I appreciate your warning and heads up call.
The rules of the district are that she gets it because she had the other cases. That is something Smith likely took into consideration already. He's a better prosecutor than she is a judge. Also, getting smacked as she did before. May have chastened her.
Renowned law professor Laurence Tribe said tonight on Lawrence O'Donnell's MSNBC show that he believes Cannon will read the indictment before Tuesday's arraignment and conclude that the evidence against Trump is overwhelming and act accordingly. Tribe also mentioned your point that she must be indeed chastened by appellate court rulings and will also have an eye on history.
My hope is that Cannon, at this point, understands that it is not likely that Trump will be in any position to reward her for a favorable ruling by appointing her to the Supreme Court.
I thought I was the only one who knew such people--and I know many (but I know many people!) (and many of them are VERY well educated!). I guess this familiarity gives us added perspective.
I predict that everyone involved -- Cannon and the 11th Cir. Appeals -- will treat this one completely "by the book." Defense will object to every bit of evidence and unless it's blatantly inadmissible, Cannon will overrule. After conviction, the appellate court will simply repeat Cannon's rulings.
They know their only hope in this particular case is for either a Supreme Court fiat or a Republican President's pardon.
Nobody who has had any sort of affiliation with TI-TI Trump (Twice Impeached, Twice Indicted) is chaste, although some have become chastened ;-) Cheers!
HA! That occurred to me too! As a child that's what "tee-tee" meant. And given T***p's reported fetishes regarding Russian prostitutes, it did make me giggle.
Yes, she "earned" this spot...Jack Smith must have known it was coming. But, "may have chastened her"...did Trump ever select anyone who could be "chastened" by anything?
Politico says: "The decision to file charges in Miami eliminates what would have been a considerable risk to the politically fraught case: a legal fight over where the charges would be filed."
I recall that Kid Rock tweeted that Trumps son showed him classified documents, then he quickly took the post down. The Trump team started to gaslight people who were calling attention to it. Saying you can’t believe everything of social media. This has probably already been vetted by the prosecutors, there has been no further word about it. They are focused on the “Rat” which by the way, I learned that was the mob bosses nick name in his peer group.
I read the indictment immediately.
It is shocking. Worse when all of his efforts are told in print. The public should read the indictment it is easy to understand and lays out the case against him.
I hope the judge recuses herself and the rat goes to jail for the rest of his life.
It is a sad day that the American people elected the cheating lying rat traitor insurrectionist who risked the safety and security of our country and Allies.
As much as i thought I would rejoice with the news of some accountability I realized reading the brief that we are in a terrible way in this country. We still have the radical authoritarians in the house and senate to expel. This is our long-term threat.
Joy Reid also spelled out the radicalization in Florida and the threat the fascists pose in the months ahead.
"it is a sad day that the American people elected the cheating lying rat traitor insurrectionist who risked the safety and security of our country and Allies."
Mine is less eloquent: "The Problem with America is Americans".
LOL! to the sentence "elegant and well written"...still giggling. But, YES, our problem is us. Those who voted for and still defend Trump reflect a portion of the American psyche. We would do well to take a good look at "this" and stop projecting "it" onto others.
Elaine, reading your comment made me think of a line in a 1980’s movie “Protocol”, a comedy starring Goldie Hawn as a ditzy cocktail waitress who becomes embroiled in US
State Dept/Middle Eastern interactions. She becomes aware (woke!) of her obligations as a citizen and, in the final scene testifying before Congress, tells them that she will be watching THEM “like a hawk”. We ALL need to stay aware, pay attention and be watching the players in our system of gov’t “like a hawk”.
40 years of lies and hyperbolic slander about Democrats, liberals, and the Left, which has become the fabric of their DNA. They REALLY believe this stuff. They are quite literally blinded by their hatred. How else could any sane individual with half a brain cell still even remotely support that lying POS.
Cults can lead people to do absolutely crazy things. I think of cult dynamics as mental malware, and we humans are vulnerable to it, perhaps all of us to some degree. Critical thinking is a good "vaccine" (real vaccines are a kind if heads up for the immune system, forewarned -forearmed).
I suspect that those who have been deliberately terrified into their set of beliefs from birth in authoritarian households are especially vulnerable, and those strung along with the flattery of being called the only true patriots, the righteous, and the master race.
Yes, dark money accounts for much, as do fear and the hatred and aggression that grow out of it, systematic superficiality and an obsession with quickfix, zappit-if-it-moves solutions, idiot conformism, the total absence of insight and taboos forbidding introspection, the work of perverted legal minds, ingrained judgmentalism and myriad other factors, including the switch some forty years ago from "What's in it for US?" to an exclusive "What's in it for ME ME ME?"
Then comes The American Dream. Some idealism there, some expression of high hopes and intentions, but at the same time, we've seen the masses being taken for a ride, we've seen inculcated expectations... and the guaranteed failure of said expectations.
Then come those two huge holes in our bucket shown up by Schopenhauer:
Money is human happiness in the abstract:
he, then, who is no longer capable
of enjoying human happiness in the concrete
devotes himself utterly to money.
*
Wealth is like sea water; the more we drink, the thirstier we become; and the same is true of fame.
The guarantee of dissatisfaction that comes with setting our sights on the wrong goals...
Finally, however, there is one source of fear, unhappiness, frustration, rage and confusion that has proved too much for most of us poor human beings:
THE UNPRECEDENTED SPEED AND ACCELERATION OF CHANGE.
Both physically and mentally, we are ill-equipped to cope with this, all the more so given our false notions of fixity and our tendency to mistake concepts, beliefs and prejudices for realities. Inevitably, people have fight-or-flight reactions.
And the human beings best equipped to take advantage of the confusion are the criminal classes, conmen, profiteers and exploiters, tyrants and tyrannical bosses, self-advertized "strongmen" selling oversimplified solutions to all life's problems.
And everywhere, everywhere, the grossest narcissistic perverts have been springing up like mushrooms after rain.
Highly toxic mushrooms like Ted Cruz and almost all GOP candidates for high office.
Massive amounts of dark money (BILLIONS) going to control state (and now local) elections and judges. Strong successful messaging based on making people afraid and giving them someone to blame. All of this done deliberately over at least the last 20 years. Fixing this will take time and determination. And money.
See my comment about DeSantis--straight from the executive of our group, who has NO political alignment (there's also my AA friend, retired government and longtime FL resident, who is now leaving, yes, due to what is going on there). Agree--vigilance must be our watchword; our daily state of mind. Agree, there is NOTHING to celebrate; not even close. Didn't understand your reference to the judge recusal, so thank you--I'll have to look into that. Some sort of past C-o-I vis-a-vis Trump?
Excellent summary and why HCR's letters should be required reading! Waiting for this letter (sleepless in Massachusetts) I was perusing the first "Letters" from November 2019. I have credited HCR (and contributions from the Substack community) with saving my sanity while providing an unprecedented education. I listened to Fox for 10 intolerable minutes (30 seconds once or twice a year has been my max!) on Thursday night (yes, I now need a brain transfusion!) and still could not believe what was being spewed. That there are people out there who think Fox is the gospel continues to blow my mind.
When trump first appeared on the political scene, my brothers and I noted that he seemed ripe to become a puppet of putin and perhaps was already a bona fide Russian agent. As the years have gone by, little doubt in our minds that he is in fact an enemy agent selling out to the the largest bidders.
What he (and his minions) has done to the security of this country is beyond the pale with a great deal of it irreparable damage on a global basis. I do have confidence that Special Counsel, Jack Smith will nail his hind end to the wall!
Janet, I don't expect that most Faux readers look at the actual reporting, and most of the articles on their webpage are puff pieces, but I've been surprised at some of the straight reporting they're doing at least online. A direct link to a pdf of the indictment at the top, at first(more accessible than on other online journals) and this lead article now:
TURLEY: It is an extremely damning indictment. There are indictments that are sometimes called narrative or speaking indictments. These are indictments that are really meant to make a point as to the depth of the evidence. There are some indictments that are just bare bones. This is not. The special counsel knew that there would be a lot of people who were going to allege that the Department of Justice was acting in a biased or politically motivated way.
This is clearly an indictment that was drafted to answer those questions. It’s overwhelming in details. And, you know, the Trump team should not fool itself, these are hits below the waterline. These are witnesses who apparently testified under oath, gave statements to federal investigators, both of which can be criminally charged if they’re false. Those witnesses are directly quoting the president in encouraging others not to look for documents or allegedly to conceal them. It’s damaging.
This is not simply a well put together case against a known liar, this is a blockbuster. It is amazing that Jack Smith and his team have assembles all these puzzle pieces, but they have gleaned incredible detail and depth as well. I am once again proud to be a citizen of a country that can decide to cooperate so fully in such an important case fraught with polarization of viewpoint and opinion. The Truth Shall Set You Free...
Having just learned of the judge assigned to the case, my enthusiasm has been dampened, but not defeated...
I am thinking that Jack Smith is smart enough to know Cannon is going to do the right thing whatever this is. Jack Smith did not work this hard assembling this case to have a wayward judge tank it. I am thinking this because hope feels better than despair.
He also showed how smart he is by making a statement and releasing the indictment. I believe he is trying to get ahead of Team Trump, which, as usual, is creating their own narrative.
Today's Letter mirrored the sobriety, commitment to our country and the rule of law expressed by Special Counsel Jack Smith in his statement to the nation about the recently unsealed indictment charging former president Donald J. Trump on 37 counts of violating national security laws as well as participating in a conspiracy to obstruct justice.
There is a deep sense of relief and pride as our country faces down the recklessness, lack of respect and harm to the US done by the former president and those with similar inclinations. We are standing up for democracy and the wellbeing of the people.
Thank you Heather Cox Richardson of apprising us of the indictment and our role as citizens, which includes respect and care for one another.
Thanks Fern! Mr. Smith goes to Florida and delivers an almost flawless indictment. Then, I hear that Judge Cannon will preside over the case. It's like arriving at the doctor's office to discover that your PCP has been replaced by someone sporting a rebel flag stitched to the back of their lab coat with a mail order medical degree hung on the wall. We'll see.
Jack Smith is also investigating the possibility of wire fraud for all the money he's received after leaving office. It's a relief that the indictment has finally arrived, but there's still so much more to make right the egregious disregard for the rule of law by the ex president. I'm still appalled at the number of people in power (congress and the courts) who won't accept reality. It will be interesting to see how the judge handles this - who was appointed by Trump and who has ruled ridiculously in the past being overturned by the 7th (?)District Court. Sigh. Thank you for the reporting.
"I'm still appalled at the number of people in power (congress and the courts) who won't accept reality. "
The truly tragic aspect of the Republican Party is that they DO accept the reality that Donald Trump is a full blown crook. Republicans completely understand that to be true.
They simply do not care because he role models the thoughts and behaviors Republicans value: Hate, Discord, Superiority, Racism, etc.
Republicans are not blind to Trump. They see who he really is and?
I used to think that too. There is some of that of course. I found out recently that they believe that Trump is good and right and that it IS a witch hunt. They believe the exact opposite of the truth and the facts. They can not be persuaded. Our side is evil to them.
Trump is righteous and honorable to these people. It’s sickening.
I am simply gobsmacked by how many people believe as you say, Ms. Burgess. You are also 100% correct. How ANYONE with two working brain cells can view that corrupt, lying, gasbag and bully as righteous and honorable, just staggers the imagination.
It truly boggles the mind. I suppose desperation must play into it. Also many of these knuckleheads take on the role of victim. It is my experience victims either stay bitter or stop playing victim and get better.
Mike, I have avoided thinking they (Republicans) value these things for real, because it's so unnecessary. I keep hoping it's just because they're brain washed, but when I look at the militias being created and reality, I see you have reality called out.
Scary and so unnecessary since we all live on the same planet. It's so much easier to care about everyone! (a little kindness...)
I believe it was the 11th District Court here in Atlanta, that handed her head back to her on a platter, twice, not an auspicious start to a hoped for long career as a jurist. Walk on eggs, anyone?
I disbelieve in coincidences, and had already heard this bit of news before -
"At the very least, it is an unfortunate coincidence that the Central Intelligence Agency in October 2021 reported an unusually high rate of capture or death for foreign informants recruited to spy for the United States."
Horrifying to speculate what other information from all of those documents TFG might have already sold out to hostile countries - and going forward, how can other countries ever trust us again, that we allowed this very unstable not-genius to simply walk out of the WH with boxes and boxes of documents that should have been better safeguarded?
As for the indictments, it has been very satisfying news to hear today, and we can only hope that despite the loose Cannon judge, the jury will be his peers but more intelligent as well as capable of critical thinking, and justice will FINALLY be served. We the People can hope..... because Jack Smith sounds exceedingly thorough and meticulous.
The system for security in tracking and controlling sensitive government documents needs much tightening.
That a man so clearly deranged that hundreds of mental health professionals risked a standard of ethic to collectively sign a public letter alerting to tfg’s unfitness of mental health to be president was ignored conveys the flaw of not assessing competence to serve. Mental health is critical. Mary Trump PhD warned us.
The system for tracking documents is already strong enough. It's the people using the system who need proper training in it. T****'s staff was either a) not competent or b) criminally disposed to ignore that system. For the rank-and-file employees of the government, the handling of classified material is of great importance. But when you elect a crook, you have to understand that you get an entire entourage of ne'er-do-wells as part of the package. We, the people, made the wrong decision in 2016, and we have to take responsibility for it, and do what we can to correct it. Putting T**** behind bars and away from any media access is just one of many corrections we must make.
Unfortunately, T**** is/was merely a symptom, the superficial and incisable boil. HCR and world history conveys the pathology of fascism is deeply metastasizing. I continue to reflect on just which book and chapter of Rowling's Harry Potter series we are currently in.
I think there's a "c)" reason, too -- some people were planning an insurrection, the trained personnel were being overruled by their untrained bosses, nobody was permitted to begin transitioning to a new administration, and the furor over the election was layered on top of the mess. In other words, the White House was probably in complete chaos. I bet that if the WH had been bombed around the first part of January, 2021, they wouldn't have even known how many people were in the building.
Based on the sheer number of boxes in the pictures from Mar-a-Lago, I think they were more organized than it appears. Controlled chaos, perhaps - but that makes the behavior fall under option b, criminally disposed to ignore the system. Those who packed up the boxes were not long-term government civil servants, who cherish their jobs too much to violate the rules governing classified documents. No, the packers were T**** staffers, with fealty to the orange one, not to the Constitution or rule of law. Their jobs were ending, and they probably didn't care enough to protest even if they did know the rules.
Yah, you're right. I've heard that the entire civil service was appalled and demoralized by the way they were vilified, ignored, and dubbed "The Deep State." I feel so sorry for them.
Yes, they were treated shabbily by T**** and his minions. I know some in the DOJ, and I can assure you that, on January 20, 2021, there was much rejoicing in the halls of Justice. O frabjous day, Callooh, Callay!
Double whammy of chickens coming home to roost today, with the UK's odious Boris Johnson preemptively resigning as MP once he got a look at the "Partygate" report. I am stunned, horrified, sickened - but not at all surprised that tfg was hoarding nuclear and military secrets. OF COURSE HE DID. That's who he is. Did he sell them to Putin yet? Or a higher bidder?
I am also stunned, horrified, sickened - but not at all surprised that "Judge" Cannon is on the case. That is one powerful BUT... to this story.
As to who Trump was wooing pre-indictment with these sensitive documents he held onto in violation of the pertinent statute, I suspect Putin and the Saudis. No coincidence that weasely Jared reaped billions from the latter.
I just saw this morning where thousands of photos of Hunter Biden are being released, most redacted because of the nudity. Hmm . . . coincidence, ya think??
Thanks for the heads-up! Of course, there's no coincidence, but it's still mysterious. Why are these photos interesting, especially since they've apparently redacted the "interesting" parts? Is anyone alleging that these photos are evidence of any wrongdoing that affected anyone beyond the Bidens themselves?
I guess they don't figure anyone will notice about the timing. It's your basic smoke-screen. Honestly, these people are such rank amateurs when it comes to trying to manipulate public opinions!
Boris Johnson was once described as “Trump with a thesaurus”. I am no fan of his but I like to think that his egregiousness does not come within a million miles of Trump’s.
Boris is enough to ruin the reputation of Eton College, where he was taught that accent. Remember Trump's press conference in England? Standing beside his hostess, prime minister Theresa May, he said he thought Boris Johnson would make a very good British prime minister. Boris engineered the Aukus mess to make himself look big league, and got away with it because the then Australian prime minister was trying to do likewise. I won't retell that off-topic story, but he's left an ugly footprint in this part of the world as well. We got rid of that Prime Minister at the last federal elections. The last pleasure Queen Elizabeth had in her official life must have been accepting his resignation. She was almost too weak to stand. She died two days later.
Yes and No. We do not technically vote for a prime minister. We vote for the party and whoever heads the party at the time becomes prime minister. That will explain to a bewildered world why we have had so many prime ministers of late. PS don't hold me personally responsible for Johnson. I did not vote for his party!
I am not too troubled about the reputation of Eton College. Sadly you are not quite right about the timing of Johnson's resignation. The Queen died on 8 September 2022 but Johnson resigned on 7 July . HOWEVER, Liz Truss was appointed prime minister 2 days before the Queen died. It is quite possible that Truss becoming prime minister was the last straw for the queen!
Actually I think we are both right - but you are more right! Johnson announced his resignation on 7 July then hung on till Truss was appointed, so the Queen must have had them both at Balmoral at about the same time - probably enough to bring down even someone in good health, so no wonder she succumbed.
(My goodness, another night owl!) Indeed, first one and then the other. Mind you, she had a sharp sense of humour. And I am right, and you are right, and everything is quite correct!
And Johnson used the term "witch hunt" as well with regard to investigations into "Party-gate". Amazing how ANY investigation into right-wingers' wrongdoing is ALWAYS labeled a "witch hunt", idnit??
Be ready, everyone. Between now and November 2024, be ready. Sadly, probably after too, but especially until then.
As I read Heather's piece, I was struck again by the utter narcissism of the man; and a reminder of something I said to a friend only a week ago: Trump will not stop until he is in jail...or perhaps even only when dead. I don't say that to monger violence, or imply a specific threat. I say it because I believe it to factually be the case. The man cannot, ever, be told no, and he now embodies a movement of too many people who simply cannot be told no. When reality no longer allows what they want; they decide, shades of 1921 Tulsa, to just threaten, destroy, burn or kill that reality. I fear that, even in jail, Trump could serve as some evil Nelson Mandela figure for the darkness that is growing. And it IS growing.
I support a nascent, but highly-effective group that works against extremist groups; we had a discreet meeting online a week ago. We only deal in facts; we are cold rationalists who also happen to love our country, but do so outside of politics. The fact is, despite our efforts and those of many others, yes, extremist group membership is growing in our country.
So, BE READY, folks. Be vigilant, not dismissive. WATCH and READ what is going on (yes, you're here now--but that includes reading things you don't agree with or like as well), don't do the "oh, there's so much negativity I don't want to see that," thing. Yes, our darling media have been bathing us in daily excitement (AKA negativity sells!) for so long, they've been unwitting agents helping a REAL bad guy ascend to power like it's no big deal. They've been turning up the heat, except WE are the frog in the boiling pot telling them to do it. Nope, we can't do it anymore. If people think "leaders" like Higgins, Jim Jordan et al can't/won't stoke widespread violence... Ask Heather about the things that went on during Reconstruction.
Oh, forgot to mention: one of the more revealing bits of data brought up in our meeting: know who "dog whistles" more than just about anyone? DeSantis, lest anyone have any doubt. Clearly, frequently, for intended purpose.
To paraphrase David Ortiz in 2013: it's OUR f***ing country.
"Trump will not stop until he is in jail...or perhaps even only when dead. I don't say that to monger violence, or imply a specific threat. I say it because I believe it to factually be the case. The man cannot, ever, be told no, and he now embodies a movement of too many people who simply cannot be told no."
Robert,
Very well written four sentences. Sadly, I completely concur with your pesepective.
One of the sad outcomes of the American experiment is the generation of a subset of people who WERE above the law, for hundreds of years and often remain above the law. I have spoken about whom that subset is before and will not add that perspective here.
But, When a country allows, for hundreds of years, horrible corrupt crimes to be promulgated on both people and the economic system, then, modern consequences are not surprising.
Trump is a natural consequence of American History.
"Struck by the utter narcissism..." Yes. Pardon what might seem like levity to some, but I think that Trump is fascinated by bright, shiny objects - like power bombs and garrish fancy everything. The man is sick and dangerous.
He clearly is. I could posit he's an existential threat to humanity and not be one bit hyperbolic in saying so. And the fact we (and it's WE. Either we who support him openly or the we who don't exert enough will to remove him forever from public service) continue to indulge him. He's the spoiled child borne of our own spoiled childishness as a nation. He is, in a dark, fun-house mirror sort of way, a reflection of what we have become as a society (again, it's a we, not a they or other. We ALL have gotten us here and need to start accepting some responsibility as a populace), and simultaneously also the perfect, penultimate Boomer (yes, I'm holding out hope there will be one--and only one because they need to retire--more significant Boomer leader in our lives who does something surprisingly positive). And because Trump is a "we" problem it will take ALL of us to get rid of. And that must be part of a full reckoning as a nation that we've never fully undertaken. We've undergone several, significant reckonings--it's a major difference between us and, say, Russia--but never a full one (see Heather's histories on Post-Civil War and Reconstruction). Well, here we are now. Everyone NEEDS to understand the gravity, long-term nature and investment this will take.
Exactly! Countries often get the leaders they deserve and we sure as hell birthed this bastard. We allowed and enabled the culture that produced him. I hope it's not too late to try and right the ship.
Once again, you put this incredible news together like no one else manages to do. While the pundits and experts I’ve listened to today have been good, none lay it out as compellingly and clearly as you have done. Why I’m here. Thank you.
💯 This is always the first thing I read in the morning to get Heather’s insight on these appalling times in which we live. Not sure if it’s the coffee or HCR that makes me better about the craziness. Probably both 😀
I read her WHILE coffee is brewing, because she's always clear enough I don’t need the caffeine to understand it. Then, frequently, later in the day when the news has me completely frazzled, like HCR I take my kayak out to recover.
And I read Heather while having my morning cappuccino.
I'm still sipping on my espresso macchiato.
That's quite a compliment you gave HCR!
LOL. Thank you. I didn't know you had a column, "Dave's Brooklyn Style Espresso". My favorite summertime morning ritual is to make my Peet's Italian Roast cappuccino, get my laptop, and read Heather and Joyce Vance (and sometimes Timothy Snyder) on the back patio, with my beautiful garden smiling at me.
That's Dave's Brooklyn Style Espresso Jernt. Substack clipped off that last word. And in fact, I never signed up to write a substack. They signed me up, probably hoping that I'd do it. I've encountered others who've had the same experience. But since they kept taking me with "Write's Dave's Substack," I decided I'd make it sound a bit more interesting, even if I wasn't going to write anything here. So far I have about seven subscribers.
And, yeah, I drink my espresso while I'm reading HCR, Robert Hubbell, Joyce Vance, Thom Hartmann, Jennifer Rubin, and the comics. HCR was the first. I highly recommend Hubbell. And Hartmann often has important perspectives I don't get elsewhere.
I do write, but all over the place, so I don't think it would work in a substack. For ex: https://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/The-home-forum/2020/0805/heeding-her-invitation-six-decades-later
📖🤓
Why I’m here, too. 👏🏼
Me too Avery & this digital Community has demonstrated the sum is greater than the parts. <
Note, HCR's Paragraph 1, Jack Smith has filed a "National Security" indictment with granular specificty, a speaking indictmenmt with photos.
The national security boxes stacked up on center stage of the MAL Ballroom tells any juror instantly DJT had a Co-conspirator. That named Co-defendant with Naval experience had the physical ability to carry out the intentional overt acts as instructed by the Perp.
Thank you HCR thank this Community, thank you very much Jack Smith & Team. Job well done.
.
And thank merrick Garland for the perfect choice in Jack smith!
This digital platform is indeed a Community. I come to this (for me) coffee house and sit, usually over two cups of coffee, and digest the letter, offer opinions occasionally, and read the other comments of readers who, like me, are community here.
Sounds idyllic, Ally. I'm on my first espresso macchiato, but at my desk!
And, he will play videos and tapes for the jury as well!
I got here late, sorry. But why I'm here too
I agree!
Absolutely, Avery
With the Russians crawling all over Mar-a-Lago and probably Bedminster, I’d be more surprised if classified documents DIDN’T fall into enemy hands.
And you can’t discount the possibility that Trump sold them for cash.
Jared Kushner got TWO BILLION DOLLARS from the Saudi Crown Prince in exchange for (....?)
His sage counsel?
Jared got paid for being a good useful idiot, like tRump. In other words, he was paid for being a good stooge.
Also his consciencelessness and access to power.
unlike Hunter Biden, who may have some conscience
🤣 Good one
Ha!
🤣🤣🤣
Espionage sounds about right. With his campaign speeches about bringing peace in Ukraine, it sounds like his plan was to kow tow to Putin and the Saudis as well.
The terrible part is that the Republicans in the House are ready to follow. Knew many should have been indicted with the rioters, just as it has been impossible to do so. Our Founding Fathers did not imagine we would elect traitors.
Exactly. How could the Founding Fathers have known? MTG and her ilk are in too far to back out now. Their inflammatory rhetoric and the extremists' call to violence is a big worry.
The Founding Fathers anticipated a demagogue. They disliked political parties, but knew they were inevitable. They did not anticipate an entire political party choosing the demagogue over the nation
Not only in the House. Have you heard anything from Senate Republicans? I haven't. They all have to be voted out of office, even the so-called "reasonable" ones, such as Romney.
You nailed the real problem. Someone in the USA (and a lot of them) thought it was a good idea to vote for these yahoos.
The founders never imagined the level of corruption in Congress today. The flaws of the Constitution have been revealed over time by Republicans gaming the rules to give themselves power that they could not get through fair elections.
And they do not want fair elections, reference the Repub voter “integrity” crap all around the land.
500 people showed up @ Ravalli Co Fairgrounds to rake one of the very best most honest Election official over the coals re the 2020 election as being "stolen". The big lie is alive & well in Montana & how many other states.
Thanks, it's important that we learn about all that is going on outside our personal radiuses. Love Jon Tester!
The propaganda and targeting the amygdalae has taken root.
That’s really good news Carole. Where do you suppose the other 15000 people who live and work in Hamilton were. Not to mention the other 75000 residents of Ravalli County. You made my day. I think I will at least go watch high water to celebrate.
Governor DeSantis: "If you become the next President, will you also help yourself to truck loads of classified files?"
Ask that of every Republican who is running for that office.
They did imagine the corruption as they agonized over how far to try to control it without going too far. They had been dragged through corruption as colonists in subservience to the king as well as the big money corrupting their peers. Although fairly young these were men well educated and quite well to do on average. They even heard the rumble of Trumps jet searching for the runway the Brits were using by imagining change the future was destined to bring. I imagine they were a bit shaky at times, fearing if their adequacy would stand.
We should be careful how we say the "Jared 2 billion thing" or we begin to sound like Trump and the GOP. Mr. Kushner is being paid 25 million per year to invest the 2 billion of Saudi Sovereign Wealth funds. Saudi Arabia still owns the 2 billion, or it's decreased or increased value, not Kushner. Still 25 million a year is a lot of money for settling up a savings account.
Thanks...did not know that!
Has been told that he gave MBS information which allowed the Saudi to arrest those in his way to claiming the leadership (dictator) of the country.
Interesting. Do you remember where you heard that?
To be clear, the "he" is Jared not TFG!
If Jared charges an annual "management fee," a 1% fee on $2 Billion is $20 million, and due to "carried interest" Jarel will pay taxes on that income at the capital gains rate.
Cue the Sherlock theme song.
Yes, we have been wondering about Jared and what the Saudi's got in return for two billion dollars. It's breathtaking. Now we might surmise...
Or traded a look for having the Liv gold tournaments at his courses. This, in my opinion, is why the merger of the pga and Liv is such a betrayal to our country.
Good Morning!
FYI - LIV is the Roman numeral 54, representing scoring in a round of golf...birdie every hole.
To me LIV = deadly, dirty Saudi money now sadly ruling pro golf
And yet, we still have 'friendly" relations with this backward patriarchy. It says a lot about how our leadership feels about women - not much apparently.
Well, it probably also has something to do with how our leadership feels about having a military base in Saudi Arabia with about 4000 soldiers and a butt-load of missiles. And as ambivalent as I am about the military being a tool of diplomacy, that's exactly what they are.
Of course they can come up with a lot of reasons for maintaining this relationship, including having access to oil. But it doesn't negate the statement it makes about women's human rights, which are easily swept aside for more "important" concerns.
And doesn’t negate the “in your face” evil.
I certainly human rights/women rights are important but we are getting less andless oil from SA. It seems we are "managing" this to slowly get weaned off? But not go on for 8 decades as he states here.
John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications: "As I said, I think, a few weeks ago, there's going to be issues where we don't agree with Saudi Arabia and we have the kind of relationship where we can express those concerns directly and we do all, all the time. But we're focused on the future. Saudi Arabia's still a strategic partner, has been for eight decades, will be for the next eight decades and we're managing that relationship going forward. That's what our focus is on," Kirby said. Our dependcy on Saudi Arabia's oil has decreased steadily
Depressing, Dick.
True, but try not to think about it too much. Thanks for the comment!
Btw, it's "Dirk."
This was my first thought after hearing the news of the merger. A sad day for the game and deep concerns about what it foretells. Bad people sucking up life and money like a giant vacuum into their black and greedy hearts.
Sherrie,
Admiring your ‘giant vacuum;
and on that note what once was ‘a hole in one’ has become a black hole.
No golf, never again
Fishing, golf. Fishing, golf? What do think kids? You wanna saddle up some ponies and head up to Lena Lake and go fishing or do you wanna go to the golf course with those old men over there. If she has her mothers permission your pal can go too.
A boat on open water, a small party on the wide open spaces of a golf course. What two better settings for passing top secret documents between friends under the guise of innocent recreational activities, unobserved. Beautiful.
All kinds of nefarious deals get cut on the golf course.
George Carlin: “Golf Courses!!!….land that is currently being wasted on a meaningless, mindless activity, engaged in primarily by white, well-to-do, male businessmen who use the game to get together to make deals to carve this country up a little finer among themselves.”
Lord, how I miss that man! If you’ve never heard his diatribe on golf and don’t mind profanity, here’s a link to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GchEbLSY9FY
Loved Carlin.
Someone described golf as “a good walk ruined.”
I hadn’t thought of that. Of course!!!
And, a major critic who is mincing no words, Rory McElroy, is a Brit! [N. Ireland]
But I don't think money was why he stole the stuff. His motivations were the same as Jack Teixeira's: they were things he could show off, to prove what a big man he was. He couldn't keep a secret, what's the point of possessing secret documents if you can't tell someone that you have them? They both have the consciousness -- and conscience -- of a five-year-old. (But it must be said that the stuff Teixeira stole was chicken feed compared to what the Duck stole. We should show some mercy to the one but none to the other.)
Trump has certainly demonstrated his pride at thumbing his nose at propriety and the law; much of it with the eager aid of the "GOP". They're still at it, but Trump is playing out of his league. Jack Smith and all that are aiding him is altering the course of history. HCR has underlined words for future history books:
"We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone. Applying those laws. Collecting facts. That’s what determines the outcome of an investigation. Nothing more. Nothing less."
Yes J L! Absolutely historic! Jack Smith - and his aides- are already heroes/heroines!
Kathy Jack Smith provides an inspiring sequel to the movie “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”
I'm wondering if half of those Republican 'lawmakers' have seen those classified documents and passed it on to the rest of those interested. Or do they get that information on their Intelligent briefings?
Showing off and making money have always gone hand in hand with Donald Trump. The two motives are bound together, as so much of his ego is tied up in being a rich and genius dealmaker.
Think Trumps mental developmental age of about 7 years old, in part explains these horrors…as an extremely spoiled and thoroughly rejected child he ‘retaliates against any blockage to his wishes in these gross and horribly immature ways….
If he were just a disturbed ‘jerk’ in the periphera we’d be OK …but he’s not, he’s a huge threat to our country and the world as he is the repository actor for similarly aggrieved and developmentally profoundly damaged folks worldwide.
In some ways he’s the personification of evil.
This is why I call him death star. He is a festering cancer on the body politic and even with this damning indictment, nearly all in the party of death are defending him, the worst of them calling for violence. What he took is indeed so damaging to us and I think he intended to sell them, if he hasn't sold some already. The bathroom picture would be funny if it weren't so awful with boxes peeking over the top of the shower. From the get go, it was obvious to me and many others that this monster should never be president and yet.....thanks to several factors, here we are. Jack Smith was quite succinct in his speech although I doubt the cult heard the importance of what he was saying. These are the same hypocrites who pretend to be patriots and Christians.
Fox didn’t tell
The bathroom was not only a storage place but the toilet is still accessible...so, was used by guests at one of the many many events/parties/ weddings?
I am assume it was accessible to anyone.
Comparing trump's mental development to that of children is demeaning and insulting to them as they have a much better grasp of reality.
However, your reference to him as the personification of evil is right on. In another post here I refer to him as the definitive definition of the Anti-Christ....
Personally, I've always had the notion that the Anti-Christ would be a LOT smarter and much more competent than Ol' Yamface. Donald, you are no Anti-Christ.
What Donald is: a cheap and sleazy wannabe mobster who thinks he's invincible and has the mentality of a spoilt five year old.
From a human development perspective, Trump’s behavior appears to me to be fixated in a very prepubescent and ‘blocked’ state and I agree it’s insulting to normally developing kids to draw the inference..but I’m at a loss to ‘locate’ his behavior anywhere beyond that description.
Chris Christie described Trump as a spoiled child in that he ‘retaliates’ in an exceedingly childish manner…hitting Christie and his ‘weight’ issues with a smorgasbord video….about 5 iI think…
Absolutely no question about the ‘evil’ deal….
After that stunt of closing a major commuter bridge just to hurt a couple of political opponents, Christie is a great, big, pot talking about an even larger kettle.
I truly believe that he is a narcissistic sociopath. Anyone with a normal, functioning brain and psyche is never going to understand someone like this. He doesn't see anyone other that himself as real, and therefore, all that exists are his whims, his impulsive desires, and the things that make him feel good.
How can anyone who isn't like this possibly grasp how a creature like this processes information? We can't. He is an empty, screaming void inside. That's why he can rattle off such lies so fast: they aren't things he's consciously thinking of to say, he's just saying whatever pops into his head.
The emptiness of his supporters is the thing that confounds ME. HOW can they not see what he is??? I just don't understand it.
Add to that he spouts name calling to the equivalent of potty names of that 5 y.o. spoiled child.
Yet I read yesterday the Baptists have renewed with zeal their support. I just don’t get an established religious denomination supporting this manchild.
I believe the Southern Baptist Convention issues a strongly worded official rebuke to Trump. From WaPo: "Brent Leatherwood, head of the Southern Baptist Convention's policy arm, issued a rebuke of former president Donald Trump, saying the charges against him “are incredibly serious and, if proven, would constitute an ethical and national security breach of stunning proportion.” Let's hope this is true.
The Methodist church I went to was fine until the Baptist song leader became a Repub nut, ran for my life.
It's only the religious followers that are into showmanship rather than the essence of what they're supposed to be adhering to that support him....
Which Baptists? Perhaps the Southern Baptists, but unlikely it is the American Baptists whose principles are very different from the Southerns.
I had not read the comment which followed and states the reality in more detail.
Apprentice Antichrist.
The enormity of his messes -- surpassed only by those of his exemplar and probable boss in the Kremlin -- brings to mind the tale of the Sorceror's Apprentice.
Setting off a sewage tide that cannot be stopped.
*
The German High Command put Lenin on a sealed train and sent him north... like a virus, to take Russia out of the war...
Could this weird being be Putin's virus of counter-revolution, sent to wreck the American republic?
Last comment, he always has been. At first I thought he was just a reality show joke, but Fox made him a hero to the cult. And such a huge cult with not a thought that the “leader” didn’t plant.
Yes, but the golf deal with Saudi Arabia is surely set up to benefit DJT without the obvious crassness of simply handing him a huge check!
It could be that Trump was and has been blackmailed by Putin from the get-go, with photos of Trump trysting in Moscow hotel rooms with Russian babes. That is an almost certainty. How else to explain his obsequousness to Putin, particularly at Helsinki?
Thank you, Richard Sutherland. I have never doubted the Steele Dossier. It fits DT to a T. The Republican propaganda machine is, with the exception of the Kremlin’s, the best I know of since Goebbels. And it may be the death of US.
200% right
I have doubted parts of the Dossier, but never doubted Putin has some hold over Trump.
Have you wondered (silly question) about the topics Putin and Trump covered in their 2-hour private meeting after that, where Trump confiscated the interpreter’s notes? No record.
I always assumed it was directions from Putin to Trump how to get the items on Putin’s wish list accomplished
What's that line? Something like, "Doubt is the chastity of the mind." Fortunately, whatever is in the Steele dossier is merely makeweight after all he's done since. I don't feel a need to puzzle over the credibility of that troublesome expose'.
Cripes, why would Drump care about that? His trial (the Stormy Daniels payoff) proved to him that he can pay off his mistresses and his cult fans still send him $$$. I think if Putin is holding anything at all over Drump's head, the material would almost have to be graphic and include really shockingly indecent acts or involve girls/children under the age of consent, to move the needle at all.
Yeah, exactly. He's so bizarre about being what he thinks is "strong" that he might even be proud of trysts with actual women, so if there is something, it has to be beyond the pale.
Putin is so clever; why wouldn't he set Trump up with teenagers and video surveillance?
One of the girls he raped was 13 in the US. Could be that he raped the same in Russia and it was filmed.
It’s worse than blackmail. Trump looks up to Putin as his Big Boss.
In Trump we literally had a Russian agent in the White House.
Disastrously true.
My perspective: Trump is never ashamed of his sexual misconduct, in fact, seems to revel in it. But, Putin has promoted Trump's power needs and did much to pollute our social media with bots and fake groups that espoused anti Hillary sentiments and outright distortions of her behavior. Putin apparently made his tech experts brilliance available to the Trump team.
I bet we'll find that his tryst was with another male, maybe Putin.
I would think that screwing multiple babes would be a feather in his cap. You may be on to something here
Wow! Now that is definitely thinking outside the box. But, I don't think so. It's the beautiful babes that catch his eye - I think. It's difficult to know when dealing with a malignant narcisist.
Golden showers anyone? Don’t you know they have everything on tape.
I'd be willing to bet all of my daughters' inheritance that they do. Absolutely no doubt.
I stayed at what I believe is the same Moscow hotel and was warned in advance that they had videotape capability.
I’ve always believed that was the stick that kept Putin’s dog at heel.
Revenge is his modus operandus. His taking of them and his callous disregard for the contents was a fuck you to the United States of America. He did it to hurt people. Most people are not going to be able to understand/accept that he is that malicious but it is the TRUTH we are faced with. Ask the experts
Trump is a malicious narcissi. =incurable
And good, smart people who made a career of understanding this subject were aggressively opposed in their attempts to warn us years ago.
If a democracy wants to remain a democracy they better figure out how to elevate the voice/knowledge of experts and prevent the greedy vengeful bturds from spewing 💩💩💩 over the land
And this is scary the way he has the support of the "gun lovin" fools!
YES INDEED: The NRA (National Republican Army) and their millions of myopic followers. Profitable business being the Lords of War, eh?
Even more - maliciously malignant narcissist.
Although I agree with you 100% about his motivations and his ego being his downfall, it is not right to insult five-year-olds who have a much better grasp of reality.
I remember when many Obama-haters referred to Obama as the Anti-Christ. What I understood the Anti-Christ to refer to was a charismatic figure who would dupe his followers into literally acting against everything Christ stood for. Yet, I have not heard one reference to trump as the Anti-Christ--someone who truly fits the bill....
I stumbled upon this on the internet buffet--it's both entertaining and scary:
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/end-times/who-is-the-antichrist-lawlessness.html
I did see a video a while back that was created by some preacher guy whose name escapes me, all about how tfg EXACTLY fits the bill for being the Anti-Christ, right down to the "mark of the beast on his followers foreheads (red MAGA hats)".
It's probably still out in the ether somewhere.
Amen. I heard that and was blocked by some of my so called in name only "Christian friends". It was their choice. However, I remember who they are!
Clifford I agree that what Teixeira stole was’ chicken feed compared to what the Duck stole.’ It’s time to pluck this Duck.
Perhaps, but he’s always proven to be transactional. Hearing all this now, my question is, how he was able to accumulate all these documents...I believed there was protocol as to how these documents were to be handled? That needs to be investigated as well... immediately!
No mercy to either
Sadly true. He'd give away nuclear launch codes if Putin would rub his tummy.
I've long thought that he took the documents for 2 reasons: 1. to show them off..."my pretty" and 2. to sell them/or the information they contain, if the opportunity arises.
I hope that the National Archives develops a better system for controlling all documents. Why not air tags on the most sensitive?
HCR reports: "There is also substantial risk that other countries will be reluctant to share intelligence with the United States in the future. At the very least, it is an unfortunate coincidence that the Central Intelligence Agency in October 2021 reported an unusually high rate of capture or death for foreign informants recruited to spy for the United States."
Some of the jackets found at Mar-a-Lago were empty. Where are they, in Putin's desk drawer? Does their missing explain the mysterious deaths last year of some who were close to Putin and giving info to U.S. Intelligence? Probably. Trump's crimes may also include treason.
Probably in special guest packages for "friends" of Loose Lip Donny? Imagine a three-night stay at MAL or Bedminster (or some other Trump property) ranging in price from say $1million to $18m that includes meals, golf, lodging, drinks, and entertainment: e.g., a peek show at the Document Room, fondling of Classified Documents, selfies with military defense plans, photo-ops, camera included, document copying and transfers, actual souvineer documents, time with tfg, breakfast with Ivanka, tickets to the next Orban election rally. My anger and fears consume me now.
And, they should. We are literally figuratively "fiddling while Rome burns."
Richard, given how the boxes were stored; the insecurity of all locations; TFG's compulsion to show them off and his transactional nature, I believe that we have to assume that every one of the contents in those boxes is known. Like a spy whose cover is blown, all the contents in those boxes are essentially "blown."
This is a national security nightmare and a crippling blow to our intelligence services. No opposing nation will admit having our information, because it's only valuable to them if we are still operating under the assumption it's unknown. We have no idea who has what, how much of it they have and who else they've shared it with. Absolutely devastating.
With a foreign enemy like Putin, who pays and trains multiple goons well to bring home that kind of information, being able to snap photos of anything in those boxes stacked in public places, it seems unlikely tffg is looking to get paid. The level of disrespect for our country, our allies, and intelligence personnel, is shattering. It feels like the worst kind of imaginable “eff you” to the US of America. Trump pissed all over everyone including the MAGA’s. And now our allies know how much despicable contempt tffg had for them as well. 😩 It’s the stuff of nightmares💔
The MAGAs seem to like it when he pisses on them -- they're glad to have a shared interest.
Putin owns trump and trump's only interest is himself and money. He does not give a hoot about the country or his beloved uneducated supporters. In his own words ,on the rare occasion he speaks the truth, he said essentially, that the full extent of the law should be brought to bare on HRC for her emails. So, I say "look him up". He has never been held accountable for all of his many crimes, let the chickens come home to roost!!!
Given how deranged he seems much of the time, I doubt Trump even knows how many people own him. All Putin had to say on that first meeting was, "Da, you big man now, Donny-boy!" After wiping the tears of joy from his eyes, the fool probably offered military secrets just to prove it.
One of his lawyers (now resigned!) kept giving the excuse they were photocopies, not originals. Oh, that’s a relief. Duh.
Which is further evidence of his intention ... and the understanding of the severity of the materials in which he was taking ... he Knew it and Did it anyway ...
or for the LIV golf business and building of hotels in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.
If his buddy sleaze ball Manfort is not in jail, then surely he saw the material!
Selling them for $$ would certainly be very like him.
A source noted today a long tradition of trying to break into presidents’ second homes. :(
All anyone needed was a tiny camera, leaving the actual documents there.
And I’d say most probably
Yup
I applaud Mr. Smith's decision to bring the case in the Southern District of Florida, despite what I understand were options to bring the matter to the D.C. Circuit. Instead, he's taken the case into the heart of a MAGA/DeSantis stronghold, showing that there are still enough honest people in Florida to staff a grand jury. Let any civil disturbances be DeSantis' problem. Let the people of Florida see, in their own Miami courtroom, exactly what their most famous resident did to them and their country.
“… if I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere…”
Smith’s Grand Jury which recommended the charges was out of southern FL.
"...showing that there are still enough honest people in Florida to staff a grand jury. " That remains to be seen. Is it true that convictions of these accounts require unanimous verdicts? And how about Judge Cannon? Are you kidding me? If she presides over all this, I have every reason to think she will make it very tough on the prosecution for very poor reasons. I do, however, agree that the choice of venue is overall the right thing.
If the federal appeals court threw out her rulings regarding the "special master" to oversee going through the documents, they could probably act again should she be seen as too lenient to the person who appointed her to that position. She could/should recuse herself to stay out of the maelstrom that such a high-level trial surely will be.
Cannon is a MAGAt, WTF
Does Cannon have the power to determine the sentencing if T is convicted by a jury?
I believe it is just the arraignment. But then, I only know what I know from Law and Order.
The trials. NYC (sexual assault), Miami (espionage and obstruction of justice), Atlanta (election fraud), DC (sedition and attempt to overthrow election). The outcome. Maximum Security Imprisonment and candidate in 2028 Presidential Election?
I know some in Florida, good luck to Jack
"Legal scholar Joyce White Vance noted that it was 'extremely sad for our country that this isn’t a bipartisan statement being made by leaders from both parties.'"
Which is reality: two "parties" or "one party and a criminal cartel gang posing as a party-- sponsored by the most ruthless segment of the ruling class?"
There are criminal political parties in the world; but the once "Party of Lincoln" has abandoned both decency and legitimacy and rejected rule of law. If they, as a party, should at some point turn their back on the man they enabled, shielded, and continue to claim allegiance to despite knowing perfectly well what he was, they will still remain un-indicted co-conspirators.
Well said, JL Graham, and thank you. Every time I hear another member of the House speak out condemning the Smith Report, I feel sick. Can we survive the traitors?
I’m hoping that when the J6 case against tfg is brought, some of them will also be charged—like Nauta was in this case.
Yes. Scott Perry and Mike Kelly, I'm looking at you.
Exactly!
Well, that's a hopeful note.
Both Daines & Rosendale of MT voice condemnations of the indictment on their FB page to their supporters.
Is Jon Tester not only the only farmer in Congress, but also the only Democrat in MT? (Oops. Is it Idaho I’m thinking of? Truly I don’t care as long as I’m reminding everyone who reads this post to think of climate change and send what you can to the senator. The country needs him.)
It is both states that are flaming red! Jon Tester is the only native MT & a farmer that the ingrate Gov, & congressional rep are vowing to take out. He is the only Dem from Mt in Congress. I hope the national Dem Com gets solidly behind him. We had a strong woman Monica Tranel running but was not as well funded as Zinke (as in ride your horse in DC & resign in disgrace) & she narrowly lost. It takes a lot of fortitude to be & run as a dem in Mt. Even Independents supported by both parties can't win. It is god & guns & $$$$$$$ here.
Thank you, Carol. I have sent a small donation to Jon Tester and wish I had more to send. Not only is he the only MT farmer, but also it is my understanding that he is the only farmer period. My mission is trying to get people to understand that food inflation is here to stay unless we have price controls and rationing as in WWII. In a nation where children are going to bed hungry and the old and poor are being exploited, it is time to find a fair way to distribute food that is and will be available.
That is absolutely disgusting.
I hope so; with focus, resolve and solidarity.
J L Graham: " . . . un-indicted co-conspirators." Yes--Exactly.
This is a ghastly level of criminality, even for Trump. I also like that Jack Smith reminded everyone that Trump wasn't indicted by Biden or Garland, but by a grand jury in Trump Florida. Given the details and evidence listed in the indictment papers--I read them before posting here--his goose is cooked so badly that prison cooks will serve it l'orange.
ISWYDT
?
I see what you did there. Goose a l’orange... T💩p’s favorite skin tone is orange ...
Yes! I freely admit it was pretty obscure--duck l'orange is something my grandfather used to make--but you guys got it. Smart folks here.
Nah, got it straightaway! This is a smart bunch here! I too thought first of "canard à l'orange" (which I LOVE!), since tfg is referred to as "Duck" on here.
High fives for the smart people, Bruce!
Virginia, I often have to resort to Google or the Urban Dictionary when confronted with something like that.
Thank you for the Urban Dictionary reference. As a longtime researcher, I am not enchanted with google, often using it with one eye, as it were.
I See What You Did There.
Thanks.
After reading the indictment it’s hard to imagine what his defense will be. And the charges carry potentially long prison sentences. With such a clear prosecution case, most defendants would be seriously discussing a plea bargain.
I don't think Trump would ever take a plea, as it would deprive him of his very favorite pastime--crying "me me me" on TV. Does Florida allow cameras inside courtrooms? If so, he'd never pass up the chance to fundraise and brag even if he got 20 years for doing it ...
Shane- I think you’re right. And he seems to be incapable of admitting that he is ever wrong.
Thanks, Lorraine. His inability to admit he's wrong is what's going to put him in jail. Someone with full maturity and reasoning would have told the Archives, "Oh, damn, I had no idea. Come get them, my guys will help you load the vans. Sure, search the place, make sure you have everything." Had he done that, this would have been a Nothingburger and he would not face charges. Instead, he doubled down on "I'm In Charge, Not You, Get Lost" and now he will pay the price. His problem is thinking that the Justice Department would slink away like all the little contractors he stiffed over the years.
The worst possible thing Trump could do at trial would be to take the stand, under oath, in his own defense. I'm quite sure that he will do exactly that.
Oh God, please let it be televised.
I believe Florida allows trials to be televised. But I don't know if that applies only to state courts, or federal, or both.
Goose a La Orange!! LOL
Thanks, Meredith. It seemed fitting ...
Yup...
“At the very least, it is an unfortunate coincidence that the Central Intelligence Agency in October 2021 reported an unusually high rate of capture or death for foreign informants recruited to spy for the United States.”
If these deaths can be directly connected to tfg’s panhandling with top secret documents, could he be tried for murder in the third degree?
I remember when the high murder rate, under Trump, was originally reported and figured it was Trump bleeding information in exchange for money.
However, Rose, it will be/would be very difficult to find evidence that those murders are associated with Trump, not because Trump won't bleed information but because the services in the countries that performed the murders/assassinations will be lock tight about information.
Plus, the US itself has a long history of murder and assassination in foreign countries, and possibly in this country under J Edgar Hoover, as part of US policy, especially when accusations of "communism" were used to murder people that did not do what the US wanted.
Example: when the US had the duly elected, by a democratic process, leader of Iran murdered in 1953 because he was not aligned with US oil interests. That guy, wanted to use the oil for his own people in Iran and was assassinated by the US because that made him a "communist".
https://www.npr.org/2019/02/07/692259096/new-npr-podcast-examines-the-animosity-between-the-u-s-and-iran
There is also the more recent assassination of an Iranian citizen by the US.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Qasem_Soleimani#:~:text=Soleimani%20was%20commander%20of%20the,to%20Supreme%20Leader%20Ali%20Khamenei.
And many more.
Today, in general, the US tries to use Israel to do its dirty work of assassination since Israel maintains a group for that purpose for its own "defense".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Mahmoud_Al-Mabhouh
Unfortunately, very true, Mike S. The book The Last Honest Man: The CIA, the FBI, the Mafia, and the Kennedys—and One Senator's Fight to Save Democracy, by (Pulitzer Prize winner) James Risen, covers these types of assassinations. The last honest man was Senator Frank Church, whose committee investigated the government agencies AND presidents who ordered or executed these murders. Ken Burns calls Risen’s book a “gripping . . . spectacular piece of reporting.”
Thanks for sharing these links; I will read them next.
Thank you for your added info!
Reminding us of Mossadegh is excellent. Then there is the CIA in Chile. (Sorry. I didn’t go to your references yet. Thank you very much for reminding us of our sins, but whataboutism is deadly at this moment.
Virginia.
Accurate memories of history are no threat.
It is when history is forgotten that bad things happen.
Trump’s support for other countries by laundering information for money is simple treason.
Hard to prove tho.
Thank you, Mike S. Been collecting history since preWWII, so sometimes I remember my reaction instead of precise dates. Now if I just kept googling…
Thanks for the counterpoint, Mike S. Remember when the U.S. invaded Russia in 1918? It is hard to claim with a straight face that Putin doesn't have reason to distrust, well, everybody. 'Still not a good reason to invade Ukraine, though...
Odd to me that because Trump ordered the assassination of Quasem Soleiman, I don't think of it as an American atrocity.....but, of course, it is!
Assassination outside of declared war is a questionable approach.
However, apparently many countries do it.
We simply cannot rid the world of Putin and his henchmen....the deadliest and most barbaric (except Hitler and his team).
How likely is it that the Florida Legislature is at this moment in a panic to draft legislation to shield Trump from just such a possible liability
DeSantis should be next on the chopping block! His rulings are blatantly hateful and discriminatory! If there is a Christian god at the helm of these religious wing-nuts, I am sure he/she does not preach hate thy neighbor.
Very likely. Then again, presidential contender DeSantis’s authoritarian whim could interrupt that process…
Treason.
Yes,
Trump is the very heart and soul of Treason.
The Leader of the Republican Party. A Party in full throated support of his treason.
Yes, he is a very dangerous enemy of the United States of America. He’s also a broken toy, an agent of chaos, a wrecker of lives, a buffoon and a fool. That is why he is very dangerous to our country. He’s more of a danger than a fully functional intelligent person would be.
Kinda like the blood on his hands during Covid?
To say we're in unchartered territory is a cliché but one that perfectly describes the situation. First, I applaud Jack Smith's thoroughness, speed, clarity, and nothing-but-the-facts approach. And kudos to Merrick Garland for appointing him.
Questions: Will the inept and partisan Judge Cannon end up trying the case and seek, at the very least, to slow it down enough to delay the trial until after the election, as some legal experts have speculated? Will we ever learn if some of the most sensitive documents ended up the hands of adversaries, and if so did Trump profit from the transfer?
Robert Hubble has some worthwhile thoughts about "Lucuy" Cannon tonight.
Thanks for the Hubble recommend - excellent Substack!!
Well worth a paid subscription.
Indeed. Hubble has a world view that is insightful and amazing.
He's become my new "spirit animal".
No!
No.
Huh? Has Hubble changed his mind or is he still posturing to dump Biden?
That doesn't make sense. He is one of Biden's staunchest supporters and in every Newsletter reminds us how lucky we are to have him as President. Not sure where you got that.
A pattern of innuendo making quite clear that Joe Biden’s age and infirmity made him unfit for office. He surrounded that suggestion with lavish praise for Joe. This at a time when the pundits claimed Joe Biden was a poor choice to lead. It occurred again and again and what’s his name put it in each of his discourses again heaping praise. I challenged him to quit the innuendo as it was disingenuous and I felt damaging Joe Biden. He strongly disagreed and told me not to bother responding as I had been removed from his forum. He is an assiduous attorney who crafts his language. The Biden Slurs were as cutting as he dared. This was/is his show as respondents are free to agree with him. He made it quite clear that those who didn’t agree couldn’t use his court. I don’t know what his methodology is now but at the time he imaged himself as a follow up to HCR as though he was a franchise offshoot. I gather his blather is about the money. Perhaps the insurance business wasn’t lucrative. He is a smart man. He fooled me but really I took Sandy’s recommendation to join. Now that others are pedaling his wares I though I should warn. I’m glad he works for you as your voice is a good one.
Many thanks for your last line.
I've only been reading Hubbell's Newsletter daily for about 6 months now. In that time I have not seen the innuendo to which you refer. Even on Substack, I ALWAYS read things with open eyes and ears, ALWAYS stay vigilant for spin or manipulation of facts to fit someone's agenda. I approach Hubbell's column in the same fashion as I do writings by HCR, Jay Kuo, Joyce Vance, Dan Rather, Mary Trump, Robert Reich, Simon Rosenberg, Politicus, The Bulwark, etc. etc. My fairly precarious pecuniary status of being on a fixed income dictates that I can't financially support them all. Occasionally someone might render an opinion on something which I might not agree with, but, in a similar way with what friends post on their pages other social media, since it is their page I don't always take them to task. Again, I stay vigilant and always try and consider where someone is coming from in their opinions. *IF* they can back up what they say with a fair amount of reliable sources, then I will take it all into consideration, again, considering the sources.
With regard to Mr. Hubbell, in his writings thus far I find myself in total agreement with him on almost everything he says. Plus, he very astutely tends to provide a LOT of accompanying links to other sites to back up what he says. Once again, I have not seen him lambasting Biden's age or infirmity at all. Indeed, he posted a link to the interview with the 3 appointees Biden had with him on the debt ceiling negotiations. Hubbell went on to remark how all 3 of them were floored at to how astute and sharp Biden was and how he had THEM on their toes because of how informed he was. Hubbell even said that if anyone had any doubts as to Biden's abilities and his fitness for handling the office that they needed to listen to this interview. Perhaps Hubbell has changed his tune with regard to Biden's competence? It's certainly possible. I'm prepared to give people the benefit of the doubt that their opinions can evolve. I know mine have. Be that as it may, I continue to read Hubbell and others here, but always with open mind, eyes, and ears. What I appreciate most about Hubbell is his instilling hope that things will get better and his calm assurance that we ARE winning more than we might think. That said, I appreciate your warning and heads up call.
Why do you think so?
Who appointed Judge Cannon? (after her last debacle).
The rules of the district are that she gets it because she had the other cases. That is something Smith likely took into consideration already. He's a better prosecutor than she is a judge. Also, getting smacked as she did before. May have chastened her.
Renowned law professor Laurence Tribe said tonight on Lawrence O'Donnell's MSNBC show that he believes Cannon will read the indictment before Tuesday's arraignment and conclude that the evidence against Trump is overwhelming and act accordingly. Tribe also mentioned your point that she must be indeed chastened by appellate court rulings and will also have an eye on history.
My hope is that Cannon, at this point, understands that it is not likely that Trump will be in any position to reward her for a favorable ruling by appointing her to the Supreme Court.
Rich,
None of my Republican friends in have, in any way, wavered in their support for Trump.
He is very likely to be elected President again.
Republicans LOVE Trump more than they love they own family members.
So, .....well.....be ready.
True
NOOOO!
"Very likely"? My 8-ball says, "Ask again later." Maybe I didn't shake it enough...
I thought I was the only one who knew such people--and I know many (but I know many people!) (and many of them are VERY well educated!). I guess this familiarity gives us added perspective.
Disagree. Biden will win comfortably unless third party candidates do well in key states.
Does Cannon have sentencing power?
If she presides over the trial, yes..
I think that Laurence Tribe no longer posts on Twitter...? Does anyone know on what vehicle he now posts? I used to get frequent alerts, now none.
I hope you're right, TCinLA. Hard to believe that "chastened" is part of her emotional vocabulary any more than it's part of tfg's.
I predict that everyone involved -- Cannon and the 11th Cir. Appeals -- will treat this one completely "by the book." Defense will object to every bit of evidence and unless it's blatantly inadmissible, Cannon will overrule. After conviction, the appellate court will simply repeat Cannon's rulings.
They know their only hope in this particular case is for either a Supreme Court fiat or a Republican President's pardon.
Then let's hope that is so and she's now suitably chaste.
Nobody who has had any sort of affiliation with TI-TI Trump (Twice Impeached, Twice Indicted) is chaste, although some have become chastened ;-) Cheers!
(Long laugh) OK. Cheers!
Doug, I don't know if it is so in your world, but when I was a kid "ti-ti" was a euphonism for urinating.
HA! That occurred to me too! As a child that's what "tee-tee" meant. And given T***p's reported fetishes regarding Russian prostitutes, it did make me giggle.
Ha hah! No, New to me! It may be appropriate in this instance.
Yes, she "earned" this spot...Jack Smith must have known it was coming. But, "may have chastened her"...did Trump ever select anyone who could be "chastened" by anything?
Actually I read the opposite, that it doesn't need to go to her.
Politico says: "The decision to file charges in Miami eliminates what would have been a considerable risk to the politically fraught case: a legal fight over where the charges would be filed."
Good questions.
I recall that Kid Rock tweeted that Trumps son showed him classified documents, then he quickly took the post down. The Trump team started to gaslight people who were calling attention to it. Saying you can’t believe everything of social media. This has probably already been vetted by the prosecutors, there has been no further word about it. They are focused on the “Rat” which by the way, I learned that was the mob bosses nick name in his peer group.
I read the indictment immediately.
It is shocking. Worse when all of his efforts are told in print. The public should read the indictment it is easy to understand and lays out the case against him.
I hope the judge recuses herself and the rat goes to jail for the rest of his life.
It is a sad day that the American people elected the cheating lying rat traitor insurrectionist who risked the safety and security of our country and Allies.
As much as i thought I would rejoice with the news of some accountability I realized reading the brief that we are in a terrible way in this country. We still have the radical authoritarians in the house and senate to expel. This is our long-term threat.
Joy Reid also spelled out the radicalization in Florida and the threat the fascists pose in the months ahead.
No we cannot celebrate, we must be vigilant.
Your sentence elegant and well written:
"it is a sad day that the American people elected the cheating lying rat traitor insurrectionist who risked the safety and security of our country and Allies."
Mine is less eloquent: "The Problem with America is Americans".
LOL! to the sentence "elegant and well written"...still giggling. But, YES, our problem is us. Those who voted for and still defend Trump reflect a portion of the American psyche. We would do well to take a good look at "this" and stop projecting "it" onto others.
Elaine, reading your comment made me think of a line in a 1980’s movie “Protocol”, a comedy starring Goldie Hawn as a ditzy cocktail waitress who becomes embroiled in US
State Dept/Middle Eastern interactions. She becomes aware (woke!) of her obligations as a citizen and, in the final scene testifying before Congress, tells them that she will be watching THEM “like a hawk”. We ALL need to stay aware, pay attention and be watching the players in our system of gov’t “like a hawk”.
Love Goldie Hawn! A brilliant combination of comedy and intelligence.
At least it was a technically a minority of voter who elected Trump, with the help of the electoral College.
J L,
Yes, A small bit of comfort that 73 MILLION people voted for him.
small indeed.
What do you think is the real reason so many people support Trump, DeSantis, the Republicans?
40 years of Nazification at the hands of Rush Limbaugh, Pat Robertson י״ש and Republicans gutting critical thinking skills from school curricula.
40 years of lies and hyperbolic slander about Democrats, liberals, and the Left, which has become the fabric of their DNA. They REALLY believe this stuff. They are quite literally blinded by their hatred. How else could any sane individual with half a brain cell still even remotely support that lying POS.
Cults can lead people to do absolutely crazy things. I think of cult dynamics as mental malware, and we humans are vulnerable to it, perhaps all of us to some degree. Critical thinking is a good "vaccine" (real vaccines are a kind if heads up for the immune system, forewarned -forearmed).
I suspect that those who have been deliberately terrified into their set of beliefs from birth in authoritarian households are especially vulnerable, and those strung along with the flattery of being called the only true patriots, the righteous, and the master race.
Fear.
Lack of empathy for humanity.
Lack of interest in self-reflection (Know Thyself).
Laziness about reading and listening to other (than FOX et.al) sources.
Wikipedia on the Temple at Delphi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythia
"Inscribed on a column in the pronaos (forecourt) of the temple were an enigmatic 'E' and three maxims:
Know thyself
Nothing to excess
Surety brings ruin"
I think you just identified the three major markers of psychopathy. Was it intentional?
Yes, dark money accounts for much, as do fear and the hatred and aggression that grow out of it, systematic superficiality and an obsession with quickfix, zappit-if-it-moves solutions, idiot conformism, the total absence of insight and taboos forbidding introspection, the work of perverted legal minds, ingrained judgmentalism and myriad other factors, including the switch some forty years ago from "What's in it for US?" to an exclusive "What's in it for ME ME ME?"
Then comes The American Dream. Some idealism there, some expression of high hopes and intentions, but at the same time, we've seen the masses being taken for a ride, we've seen inculcated expectations... and the guaranteed failure of said expectations.
Then come those two huge holes in our bucket shown up by Schopenhauer:
Money is human happiness in the abstract:
he, then, who is no longer capable
of enjoying human happiness in the concrete
devotes himself utterly to money.
*
Wealth is like sea water; the more we drink, the thirstier we become; and the same is true of fame.
The guarantee of dissatisfaction that comes with setting our sights on the wrong goals...
Finally, however, there is one source of fear, unhappiness, frustration, rage and confusion that has proved too much for most of us poor human beings:
THE UNPRECEDENTED SPEED AND ACCELERATION OF CHANGE.
Both physically and mentally, we are ill-equipped to cope with this, all the more so given our false notions of fixity and our tendency to mistake concepts, beliefs and prejudices for realities. Inevitably, people have fight-or-flight reactions.
And the human beings best equipped to take advantage of the confusion are the criminal classes, conmen, profiteers and exploiters, tyrants and tyrannical bosses, self-advertized "strongmen" selling oversimplified solutions to all life's problems.
And everywhere, everywhere, the grossest narcissistic perverts have been springing up like mushrooms after rain.
Highly toxic mushrooms like Ted Cruz and almost all GOP candidates for high office.
And a certain bloated orange toadstool...
Massive amounts of dark money (BILLIONS) going to control state (and now local) elections and judges. Strong successful messaging based on making people afraid and giving them someone to blame. All of this done deliberately over at least the last 20 years. Fixing this will take time and determination. And money.
See my comment about DeSantis--straight from the executive of our group, who has NO political alignment (there's also my AA friend, retired government and longtime FL resident, who is now leaving, yes, due to what is going on there). Agree--vigilance must be our watchword; our daily state of mind. Agree, there is NOTHING to celebrate; not even close. Didn't understand your reference to the judge recusal, so thank you--I'll have to look into that. Some sort of past C-o-I vis-a-vis Trump?
Excellent summary and why HCR's letters should be required reading! Waiting for this letter (sleepless in Massachusetts) I was perusing the first "Letters" from November 2019. I have credited HCR (and contributions from the Substack community) with saving my sanity while providing an unprecedented education. I listened to Fox for 10 intolerable minutes (30 seconds once or twice a year has been my max!) on Thursday night (yes, I now need a brain transfusion!) and still could not believe what was being spewed. That there are people out there who think Fox is the gospel continues to blow my mind.
When trump first appeared on the political scene, my brothers and I noted that he seemed ripe to become a puppet of putin and perhaps was already a bona fide Russian agent. As the years have gone by, little doubt in our minds that he is in fact an enemy agent selling out to the the largest bidders.
What he (and his minions) has done to the security of this country is beyond the pale with a great deal of it irreparable damage on a global basis. I do have confidence that Special Counsel, Jack Smith will nail his hind end to the wall!
Janet, I don't expect that most Faux readers look at the actual reporting, and most of the articles on their webpage are puff pieces, but I've been surprised at some of the straight reporting they're doing at least online. A direct link to a pdf of the indictment at the top, at first(more accessible than on other online journals) and this lead article now:
TURLEY: It is an extremely damning indictment. There are indictments that are sometimes called narrative or speaking indictments. These are indictments that are really meant to make a point as to the depth of the evidence. There are some indictments that are just bare bones. This is not. The special counsel knew that there would be a lot of people who were going to allege that the Department of Justice was acting in a biased or politically motivated way.
This is clearly an indictment that was drafted to answer those questions. It’s overwhelming in details. And, you know, the Trump team should not fool itself, these are hits below the waterline. These are witnesses who apparently testified under oath, gave statements to federal investigators, both of which can be criminally charged if they’re false. Those witnesses are directly quoting the president in encouraging others not to look for documents or allegedly to conceal them. It’s damaging.
You mean the wall he didn't build?
Yes! LOL
The Russians call him "a useful idiot"--there's a popular Russian term for it.
Thank you for the excellent summary, Heather. I pray for our country and that people will open their eyes to what is happening.
Me too. Every single day.
This is not simply a well put together case against a known liar, this is a blockbuster. It is amazing that Jack Smith and his team have assembles all these puzzle pieces, but they have gleaned incredible detail and depth as well. I am once again proud to be a citizen of a country that can decide to cooperate so fully in such an important case fraught with polarization of viewpoint and opinion. The Truth Shall Set You Free...
Having just learned of the judge assigned to the case, my enthusiasm has been dampened, but not defeated...
I am thinking that Jack Smith is smart enough to know Cannon is going to do the right thing whatever this is. Jack Smith did not work this hard assembling this case to have a wayward judge tank it. I am thinking this because hope feels better than despair.
He also showed how smart he is by making a statement and releasing the indictment. I believe he is trying to get ahead of Team Trump, which, as usual, is creating their own narrative.
Dampened since she is a MAGAt at heart
Today's Letter mirrored the sobriety, commitment to our country and the rule of law expressed by Special Counsel Jack Smith in his statement to the nation about the recently unsealed indictment charging former president Donald J. Trump on 37 counts of violating national security laws as well as participating in a conspiracy to obstruct justice.
There is a deep sense of relief and pride as our country faces down the recklessness, lack of respect and harm to the US done by the former president and those with similar inclinations. We are standing up for democracy and the wellbeing of the people.
Thank you Heather Cox Richardson of apprising us of the indictment and our role as citizens, which includes respect and care for one another.
Thanks Fern! Mr. Smith goes to Florida and delivers an almost flawless indictment. Then, I hear that Judge Cannon will preside over the case. It's like arriving at the doctor's office to discover that your PCP has been replaced by someone sporting a rebel flag stitched to the back of their lab coat with a mail order medical degree hung on the wall. We'll see.
So good to see you, Steve. I feel as though we the people are holding hands and looking forward together. Cheers!
My thoughts exactly
Often you quote others, Fern, but your own words are more clear, precise, and powerful. You bring an undeniable clarity. Thank you.
Thank you, Pat. Good morning and good cheer. : > )
I can't help but wonder how HR Clinton feels?
Probably vindicated.
And is popping corn even as we speak . . .
Jack Smith is also investigating the possibility of wire fraud for all the money he's received after leaving office. It's a relief that the indictment has finally arrived, but there's still so much more to make right the egregious disregard for the rule of law by the ex president. I'm still appalled at the number of people in power (congress and the courts) who won't accept reality. It will be interesting to see how the judge handles this - who was appointed by Trump and who has ruled ridiculously in the past being overturned by the 7th (?)District Court. Sigh. Thank you for the reporting.
Debbie,
"I'm still appalled at the number of people in power (congress and the courts) who won't accept reality. "
The truly tragic aspect of the Republican Party is that they DO accept the reality that Donald Trump is a full blown crook. Republicans completely understand that to be true.
They simply do not care because he role models the thoughts and behaviors Republicans value: Hate, Discord, Superiority, Racism, etc.
Republicans are not blind to Trump. They see who he really is and?
They love him.
Mike, they love him because he made the expression hatred, racism, and misogyny OK again.
I used to think that too. There is some of that of course. I found out recently that they believe that Trump is good and right and that it IS a witch hunt. They believe the exact opposite of the truth and the facts. They can not be persuaded. Our side is evil to them.
Trump is righteous and honorable to these people. It’s sickening.
I am simply gobsmacked by how many people believe as you say, Ms. Burgess. You are also 100% correct. How ANYONE with two working brain cells can view that corrupt, lying, gasbag and bully as righteous and honorable, just staggers the imagination.
It truly boggles the mind. I suppose desperation must play into it. Also many of these knuckleheads take on the role of victim. It is my experience victims either stay bitter or stop playing victim and get better.
Yes, that is true. It breaks my heart to say this of fellow Americans, but you are 100% correct, Mike S.
Mike, I have avoided thinking they (Republicans) value these things for real, because it's so unnecessary. I keep hoping it's just because they're brain washed, but when I look at the militias being created and reality, I see you have reality called out.
Scary and so unnecessary since we all live on the same planet. It's so much easier to care about everyone! (a little kindness...)
I believe it was the 11th District Court here in Atlanta, that handed her head back to her on a platter, twice, not an auspicious start to a hoped for long career as a jurist. Walk on eggs, anyone?
Yep . . . the 11th is probably going to have to deal with the indictments here in Georgia, so strap on your seat-belts for that one!
Thanks - couldn't remember which court...
I disbelieve in coincidences, and had already heard this bit of news before -
"At the very least, it is an unfortunate coincidence that the Central Intelligence Agency in October 2021 reported an unusually high rate of capture or death for foreign informants recruited to spy for the United States."
Horrifying to speculate what other information from all of those documents TFG might have already sold out to hostile countries - and going forward, how can other countries ever trust us again, that we allowed this very unstable not-genius to simply walk out of the WH with boxes and boxes of documents that should have been better safeguarded?
As for the indictments, it has been very satisfying news to hear today, and we can only hope that despite the loose Cannon judge, the jury will be his peers but more intelligent as well as capable of critical thinking, and justice will FINALLY be served. We the People can hope..... because Jack Smith sounds exceedingly thorough and meticulous.
Your points warrant attention.
The system for security in tracking and controlling sensitive government documents needs much tightening.
That a man so clearly deranged that hundreds of mental health professionals risked a standard of ethic to collectively sign a public letter alerting to tfg’s unfitness of mental health to be president was ignored conveys the flaw of not assessing competence to serve. Mental health is critical. Mary Trump PhD warned us.
The system for tracking documents is already strong enough. It's the people using the system who need proper training in it. T****'s staff was either a) not competent or b) criminally disposed to ignore that system. For the rank-and-file employees of the government, the handling of classified material is of great importance. But when you elect a crook, you have to understand that you get an entire entourage of ne'er-do-wells as part of the package. We, the people, made the wrong decision in 2016, and we have to take responsibility for it, and do what we can to correct it. Putting T**** behind bars and away from any media access is just one of many corrections we must make.
"T****'s staff was either a) not competent or b) criminally disposed to ignore that system."
I select: B
C) Both of the above.
Unfortunately, T**** is/was merely a symptom, the superficial and incisable boil. HCR and world history conveys the pathology of fascism is deeply metastasizing. I continue to reflect on just which book and chapter of Rowling's Harry Potter series we are currently in.
I think there's a "c)" reason, too -- some people were planning an insurrection, the trained personnel were being overruled by their untrained bosses, nobody was permitted to begin transitioning to a new administration, and the furor over the election was layered on top of the mess. In other words, the White House was probably in complete chaos. I bet that if the WH had been bombed around the first part of January, 2021, they wouldn't have even known how many people were in the building.
Based on the sheer number of boxes in the pictures from Mar-a-Lago, I think they were more organized than it appears. Controlled chaos, perhaps - but that makes the behavior fall under option b, criminally disposed to ignore the system. Those who packed up the boxes were not long-term government civil servants, who cherish their jobs too much to violate the rules governing classified documents. No, the packers were T**** staffers, with fealty to the orange one, not to the Constitution or rule of law. Their jobs were ending, and they probably didn't care enough to protest even if they did know the rules.
Yah, you're right. I've heard that the entire civil service was appalled and demoralized by the way they were vilified, ignored, and dubbed "The Deep State." I feel so sorry for them.
Yes, they were treated shabbily by T**** and his minions. I know some in the DOJ, and I can assure you that, on January 20, 2021, there was much rejoicing in the halls of Justice. O frabjous day, Callooh, Callay!
Double whammy of chickens coming home to roost today, with the UK's odious Boris Johnson preemptively resigning as MP once he got a look at the "Partygate" report. I am stunned, horrified, sickened - but not at all surprised that tfg was hoarding nuclear and military secrets. OF COURSE HE DID. That's who he is. Did he sell them to Putin yet? Or a higher bidder?
I am also stunned, horrified, sickened - but not at all surprised that "Judge" Cannon is on the case. That is one powerful BUT... to this story.
Double whammy indeed, Alexandra.
As to who Trump was wooing pre-indictment with these sensitive documents he held onto in violation of the pertinent statute, I suspect Putin and the Saudis. No coincidence that weasely Jared reaped billions from the latter.
Someone (here?) said: "The biggest grift in the history of grifting." Jared makes my skin crawl.
But but but…..Hunter Biden! s/
I just saw this morning where thousands of photos of Hunter Biden are being released, most redacted because of the nudity. Hmm . . . coincidence, ya think??
Thanks for the heads-up! Of course, there's no coincidence, but it's still mysterious. Why are these photos interesting, especially since they've apparently redacted the "interesting" parts? Is anyone alleging that these photos are evidence of any wrongdoing that affected anyone beyond the Bidens themselves?
I guess they don't figure anyone will notice about the timing. It's your basic smoke-screen. Honestly, these people are such rank amateurs when it comes to trying to manipulate public opinions!
Me too! We must be dermatologically similar!
Re:Jarod - follow the money, and $2b is a big lot of “dirty” money to follow.
Boris Johnson was once described as “Trump with a thesaurus”. I am no fan of his but I like to think that his egregiousness does not come within a million miles of Trump’s.
Boris is enough to ruin the reputation of Eton College, where he was taught that accent. Remember Trump's press conference in England? Standing beside his hostess, prime minister Theresa May, he said he thought Boris Johnson would make a very good British prime minister. Boris engineered the Aukus mess to make himself look big league, and got away with it because the then Australian prime minister was trying to do likewise. I won't retell that off-topic story, but he's left an ugly footprint in this part of the world as well. We got rid of that Prime Minister at the last federal elections. The last pleasure Queen Elizabeth had in her official life must have been accepting his resignation. She was almost too weak to stand. She died two days later.
Boris Johnson is bad for sure.
But, like in the US, he is not responsible for being elected.
The British people are responsible for that.
Just like Americans are responsible for the rise of Trump.
Fox put clothes on the naked vermin
Invisible ones.
Yes and No. We do not technically vote for a prime minister. We vote for the party and whoever heads the party at the time becomes prime minister. That will explain to a bewildered world why we have had so many prime ministers of late. PS don't hold me personally responsible for Johnson. I did not vote for his party!
I am not too troubled about the reputation of Eton College. Sadly you are not quite right about the timing of Johnson's resignation. The Queen died on 8 September 2022 but Johnson resigned on 7 July . HOWEVER, Liz Truss was appointed prime minister 2 days before the Queen died. It is quite possible that Truss becoming prime minister was the last straw for the queen!
I think I hit the wrong button and deleted my reply... sorry, but you're mistaken. I think the sight of Liz Truss, or anybody else saying they were the next PM, may have been a moment of respite, after enduring the last torment of a visit from BoJo and his lady wife (clad in clinging and virtually transparent pink). https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-06/johnson-in-balmoral-to-resign-as-prime-minister#xj4y7vzkg
Actually I think we are both right - but you are more right! Johnson announced his resignation on 7 July then hung on till Truss was appointed, so the Queen must have had them both at Balmoral at about the same time - probably enough to bring down even someone in good health, so no wonder she succumbed.
(My goodness, another night owl!) Indeed, first one and then the other. Mind you, she had a sharp sense of humour. And I am right, and you are right, and everything is quite correct!
He had less world power so less damage could be done. But I agree, tfg is a unique kind of monstrousness.
I love that word, Alexandra: monstrousness!
:) I like weird constructions.
Boris Johnson resigns from Parliament…..latest from AP News: https://apnews.com/article/boris-johnson-resignation-honors-list-e82c6897b3786e46252190e28ca6686c?user_email=7665a9836211a49d31ce9d5cf82c9f20e8cd6bdf785376a632c9a824ff30a276&utm_medium=Afternoon_Wire&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_campaign=AfternoonWire_June9_2023&utm_term=Afternoon%20Wire
And Johnson used the term "witch hunt" as well with regard to investigations into "Party-gate". Amazing how ANY investigation into right-wingers' wrongdoing is ALWAYS labeled a "witch hunt", idnit??
Be ready, everyone. Between now and November 2024, be ready. Sadly, probably after too, but especially until then.
As I read Heather's piece, I was struck again by the utter narcissism of the man; and a reminder of something I said to a friend only a week ago: Trump will not stop until he is in jail...or perhaps even only when dead. I don't say that to monger violence, or imply a specific threat. I say it because I believe it to factually be the case. The man cannot, ever, be told no, and he now embodies a movement of too many people who simply cannot be told no. When reality no longer allows what they want; they decide, shades of 1921 Tulsa, to just threaten, destroy, burn or kill that reality. I fear that, even in jail, Trump could serve as some evil Nelson Mandela figure for the darkness that is growing. And it IS growing.
I support a nascent, but highly-effective group that works against extremist groups; we had a discreet meeting online a week ago. We only deal in facts; we are cold rationalists who also happen to love our country, but do so outside of politics. The fact is, despite our efforts and those of many others, yes, extremist group membership is growing in our country.
So, BE READY, folks. Be vigilant, not dismissive. WATCH and READ what is going on (yes, you're here now--but that includes reading things you don't agree with or like as well), don't do the "oh, there's so much negativity I don't want to see that," thing. Yes, our darling media have been bathing us in daily excitement (AKA negativity sells!) for so long, they've been unwitting agents helping a REAL bad guy ascend to power like it's no big deal. They've been turning up the heat, except WE are the frog in the boiling pot telling them to do it. Nope, we can't do it anymore. If people think "leaders" like Higgins, Jim Jordan et al can't/won't stoke widespread violence... Ask Heather about the things that went on during Reconstruction.
Oh, forgot to mention: one of the more revealing bits of data brought up in our meeting: know who "dog whistles" more than just about anyone? DeSantis, lest anyone have any doubt. Clearly, frequently, for intended purpose.
To paraphrase David Ortiz in 2013: it's OUR f***ing country.
"Trump will not stop until he is in jail...or perhaps even only when dead. I don't say that to monger violence, or imply a specific threat. I say it because I believe it to factually be the case. The man cannot, ever, be told no, and he now embodies a movement of too many people who simply cannot be told no."
Robert,
Very well written four sentences. Sadly, I completely concur with your pesepective.
One of the sad outcomes of the American experiment is the generation of a subset of people who WERE above the law, for hundreds of years and often remain above the law. I have spoken about whom that subset is before and will not add that perspective here.
But, When a country allows, for hundreds of years, horrible corrupt crimes to be promulgated on both people and the economic system, then, modern consequences are not surprising.
Trump is a natural consequence of American History.
Thinking this morning that the reversal of Citizens United is necessary for our survival. John Roberts should recognize that.
"Struck by the utter narcissism..." Yes. Pardon what might seem like levity to some, but I think that Trump is fascinated by bright, shiny objects - like power bombs and garrish fancy everything. The man is sick and dangerous.
He clearly is. I could posit he's an existential threat to humanity and not be one bit hyperbolic in saying so. And the fact we (and it's WE. Either we who support him openly or the we who don't exert enough will to remove him forever from public service) continue to indulge him. He's the spoiled child borne of our own spoiled childishness as a nation. He is, in a dark, fun-house mirror sort of way, a reflection of what we have become as a society (again, it's a we, not a they or other. We ALL have gotten us here and need to start accepting some responsibility as a populace), and simultaneously also the perfect, penultimate Boomer (yes, I'm holding out hope there will be one--and only one because they need to retire--more significant Boomer leader in our lives who does something surprisingly positive). And because Trump is a "we" problem it will take ALL of us to get rid of. And that must be part of a full reckoning as a nation that we've never fully undertaken. We've undergone several, significant reckonings--it's a major difference between us and, say, Russia--but never a full one (see Heather's histories on Post-Civil War and Reconstruction). Well, here we are now. Everyone NEEDS to understand the gravity, long-term nature and investment this will take.
Very well said, Robert. Thanks.
"He's the spoiled child borne of our own spoiled childishness as a nation."
A brilliantly crafted English sentence that is a perfect summary of much of America and American history.
Exactly! Countries often get the leaders they deserve and we sure as hell birthed this bastard. We allowed and enabled the culture that produced him. I hope it's not too late to try and right the ship.
Thanks. Subscribed to you--interested to read what you have to say.