“It’s one of our biggest disasters ever.” Well, at least the Rs can admit THAT. (Of course their biggest disaster ever is tffg.) Surreally awful, porny histrionics from Katie Britt (I won't use "Senator" to describe her). Wonderful send up by Scarlett Johansson on Saturday Night Live.
Friday night, on Newsmax, Donald Trump Jr. recorded a video announcing that the old Republican Party “no longer exists outside of the D.C. beltway…. The move that happened today…that’s the final blow. People have to understand that America First, the MAGA movement is the new Republican Party. That is conservatism today.” Regurgitating America First tells us everything we need to know about the traitor family and the cult that intends to begin rounding up immigrants on day 1 of his dictatorship. This is not who we are. It’s the chaos campaign of evil.
Gigi, he may have said conservative, but they are far right regressive. They represent all of the worst aspects of human beings and death star has not a shred of human decency. When he came to power, all of the maggots and worms came out of the swamp and woodwork. I think many people were shocked to find out how awful many of their relatives and friends really were because death star gave them carte blanche to be their totally prejudiced unforgiving selves.
Michele, you've nailed it and it doesn't get said enough: "I think many people were shocked to find out how awful many of their relatives and friends really were because death star gave them carte blanche to be their totally prejudiced unforgiving selves."
"Far right regressive."That's a good description. They are not Republicans, the Grand Old Party, aka GOP, or conservatives. I don't even want to give them "rebels," since that has mostly positive, virtuous connotations in my mind. Their own titles like the Make America Great movement, aka MAGA, the America First Party and all that is nonsense. I'm not sure if we've settled on a name yet. I try to be respectful to all, because I believe that as human beings, we all deserve some basic level of respect. These folks challenge me though and I find myself partial to MAGGATS.
What the Right (conservative has lost all its meaning in American politics) realized, starting with Reagan, how gullible some in the
American public are owing to their lack of critical thinking skills, lack of knowledge about history and government, and their inclination to discriminate against certain groups: non-Protestants, minorities, women's and gay rights' advocates, immigrants and others, they "put the pedal to the metal" and began their disinformation and misinformation campaigns, plundering the national treasury of trillions of dollars. G.W. Bush was right: "you can fool some of the people all of the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on."
I agree with DTJr. It's definitely NOT the party of Lincoln. I have to laugh. Someone who read that Lincoln was a republican and did so much for blacks forgot to read beyond the chosen fact where the democrats become republicans and voted for legalizing segregation. Ironically where seem to have the most the most segregation is in the South which are republicans.
These clowns are idiots. Declaring a victory before the battle is over is stupid. They only have as much power as is given by us, the citizens. Most of us are not their lemmings (debatable, I realize - lol). We won't follow them off the cliff. I am nervous that such a large percentage of us are though. But we'll se. I have a feeling the elections will go in democracy's favor. I don't believe the polls. But I don't know how off they are. So, I am kinda biting my nails till we get the election results.
Donald junior proves that we still have social mobility in America: even total idiots get their day in the sun. I am not sure these horny guys have tongues. But this R.I.N.O. (i.e., me) takes pleasure in sticking his out at the whole corrupted klan. EDIT: I want to say junior Donald but that implies that there is a superlative BELOW Donald senior.
His drooling praise over Orban proves him to be the aspirational autocratic, and as junior confirmed, the formerly GOP is now America First, the party of MAGA and its attendant fascism.
Trump speaks with certainty at his rallies that he'll be elected in November, saying he doesn't need or indeed want the votes of Haley supporters. If true, then Orban's visit to Mar a Mango may be as tutor for what happens at 12:01 p.m. on Jan 20, 2025. What does he have up his sleeve to make sure that happens? Might it have some connection to the source of trompy's bond in the Carroll matter?
I am VERY worried about their planned shenanigans. We are gaining the VOTE, but we need to keep an eye on whatever else they are plotting … [it’s not planning anymore with the MAGAs; it is plotting]
Recently I read an article how Russia (Putin) and Saudi Aribia (Mohammed bin Salman) are planning on reducing the supply chain beginning in July. Then come October, MBS is taking the Fort Henry oil plant in Texas off line for "maintenance". Sorry I can't find the article to include the link but the moral of the article was not only the timing of this but more importantly how our adversaries are interfering with our elections. This is not a a coincidence ~ just prior to the election? This is planned so it can be used against the Biden administration just before the election.
Good thing I'm not President or I would take a page from the Trump playbook and use an Executive Order to seize the Fort Henry plant claiming it is for National Security then let them take the matter to the Court and delay, delay and delay. Last I checked MBS was a person of interest in a murder investigation???
Hey, that’s actually not a bad idea. Maybe we should float it to the president. As long as it’s legal {and National Security, and having it off-line, it could be!! 😯😯😯}
I’m kind of serious about floating it to the president. Anybody can write to him on the Whitehouse.gov web site. Go to “contact” and send a message to the president.
I do hope SOMEONE is reading those, and maybe paying attention to the good ones.
YES, Mim, he is. And they’re setting it up with the benefit of hindsight to correct past shortcomings, and even more people in on the scheme.
We need to seriously get out the vote this year, but we need to SERIOUSLY be wary of a sneak attack from behind, too. We can’t turn our backs on these guys. They are not constrained by integrity, or anything else for that matter.
They need to be watched, their strategies need to be revealed, and we need to head ‘em off at the pass.
I can’t stress enough how much I am concerned about the modern-day heirs to The Dirty Tricks gang — with Roger Stone still around, too.
" ... never seems to sink in " despite losses in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & now in 2024. What's next, MAGA fratricide over followers that are not pure enough?
maybe he is afraid for his family with death threats and white powder. Extremists are getting more bold. Maybe afraid of being part of the purge trump has promised.
I think you are correct Karen, "Extremist ... may be afraid of being part of the purge [tffg] has promised". We saw this before in Germany 1933-34.
Your concern was what I was alluding to in my comment above, "The Knight of the Long Knives" ... "Nacht Der Langen" circa the last days of May into June 1934. The "Rohm Purge" meaning the murder of Rohm & his followers in Germany while Hitler was still a 'Chancellor'.but, was consolidating supreme power under Himmler & Others.
To make things even more complex and complicated, Lankford has now endorsed Trump for president! Well, not very complex and complicated after all. Apparently,all GOP members are afraid of Trump and/or how he might influence their own elections if they go against him. So much for character and integrity!!!! Add little goodie, goodie two shoes from Alabama to the mix and matters get worse! She follows the pattern of lies and conspiracy theories that have served MAGA so well!
Add GOP Representative, Nancy Mace to my list of Republicans who’ve done a total about face on Trump. Once she said he should cast out because of his leadership of the January 6 insurrection. Now, she fully supports him! She admittedly says she’s a rape victim, but supports a man who has been convicted of multiple assaults on women. Go figure is about all I can say!
It’s going to be interesting when the RNC’s coffers are emptied to pay for tRump’s legal fees and fines and there isn’t enough left over for MAGA politicians to fund their campaigns. Their loyalty won’t do them much good when they are replaced in the House and Senate by Democrats. I can’t wait.
But that's why their god created billionaires! If I were a billionaire, I'd be wary of entrusting my $$$ to the RNC. I'd rather be, say, buying a house for "Justice" Thomas's mother to live in or taking "Justice" Alito on expensive trips.
Yes! Neither can I! Does anyone remember what we were when Dems held both houses and SCOTUS gave US voting rights and Roe? Also imagine where we might be if we hadn’t had Citizens United and watered down voting rights by the Roberts court.
I dunno. Robert Mercer, Peter Thiel, Koch, all have enough billons and minions to keep it going to November. Now they know they dont have to pay the court judgements, just the lawyer fees. And from observation, tFfg's lawyers are the talented nor expensive ones anymore.
I would add the murderous House of Saud and Putin to your list of bad guy billionaires all too eager to open up the vaults to help out the Seditionist Sociopath, Ted.
If you saw her conversation with George Stephanopoulous yesterday, she repeatedly accused him of “shaming “ her bc he asked how she, a victim of rape, could support tfg. She was raving and, to use an overused word, unhinged.
Yep, that's "politics"! Loyalty to Trump now infuses the GOP, as Trump Jr cited the other day and eg MSNBC commentators have been saying for a rather long time now. Wither now, Haley? Well, some Dems have been known to flip into Republican territory.....
Frankly, Haley should stay in her corner. We (D's) don't need her support (which will still come at a price that I am not willing to pay and honestly I don't think most of us will want to follow pretty much ANYTHING she supports EXCEPT that she is opposed to tRump).
Well, Ms. Haley, I am glad someone in your party is willing to stand against fascism but please do it in your own party, not ours. We shouldn't get all excited that there are a few GOPers who might actually NOT support a fascistic idiot like tRump (like Haley, Cheney, Romney, etc.). If they want to come to our side and actually adopt even our middle-of-the-road positions (no need to become "progressive") that's fine, but don't bring any hateful, isolationist, evangelical positions with you. I think most Democrats do NOT want that anywhere near their party.
It seems like this calls for a big investigative reporting project. Find out why some of the high profile guys have flipped from being trump critics to trump lapdogs. What are they afraid of? I bet there’s an interesting range of threats and fears.
tRump already has a mixed track record on influencing elections. Nevertheless I think you’re right, at least in some cases. I suspect tRump may have dirt on some people — that there might be other fears for some.
Until you said that Lankford had endorsed Trump he had grown in my estimation. No more. He’s the same as all the rest. I’m glad they caught him on camera agreeing with Joe Biden at the SOTU. He can’t run away from that.
They are afraid, mostly, of his followers. This from a former GOP operative now living abroad for that very reason. Something not spoken about, the degree of fear motivating GOP members you might expect to behave differently.
Yes Joy, I agree that fear now permeates the GOP. Tfg wants the identity of the juryers at his pending trials so they can be intimidated. The same with election workers. The entire mechanism of democracy is at risk. Tfg's behaviour is becoming more erratic, more outrageous, and more revealing of his true nature as the screws of justice squeeze him, his organization, and his advisors but it does not seem to affect the polls. I blame the cable news networks who do not give adequate coverage to the dangers that tfg represents.
And in the am and weekends, Rev Al, Ali Velshi, Katie Phang, Jonathon Capehart, Alicia Menendez, Michael Steele, Yasoo Vasoogian( sorry for the spelling)
All the stuff Roy Cohn taught him. Roy was lawyer to the NCY Genovese and Gambino Mafia families. Before that he as a prosecutor working for Sen Joe "Tailgunner Joe" McCarthy. Fred Trump never had the Union strikes and problems at his construction projects. Roy made sure Fred "understood" how things worked. Donnie is definitely getting worse. A life of lying has to have a degenerative effect on grasping reality. To continue to defame E Jean after 91 Million judgement and while the NY judgment of another $450 million....Does he even grasp the enormity of these sums? Does he think he can just break even by fire selling/merging Truth Social and other properties? The amount of money being thrown around by billionaires is really a shame. Whether it is spent on lawsuits, hush money, judgements, political campaigns, etc, it is just so unfortunate. What good that capital could do it if was spent constructively on real problems? We seem to be ripe for tffg to take advantage of the system we have allowed to be created in the first place. Too much mass delusion of the real problems and complexity of reality. erghhh
Ah Roy Cohn... the demonic hypocrite of the 50s GOP! Cohn stood up for all of those great GOP positions... well ALMOST all. He was a semi-closeted homosexual at a time when the GOP wasn't all that enamored with gays (hell, I guess that is true all the way up until today judging by Ms. Britt's rebuttal to Biden's SOTU address LOL).
Of course, Cohn didn't like to THINK of himself as a homosexual because that was anathema to the GOP.
But he is attributed with one of his most famous "lines" (likely apocryphal): "I am NOT homosexual. I just like to f**k young boys!"
For the record, that line is actually taken from the play Angels in America and there is great dispute whether Cohn actually ever said anything really LIKE that. I like to think that at the very least, it is what he truly believed.
Why not single out the cable news networks and other media outlets who actively and intentionally *promote* Trump? Starting with Fox and the Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Except MSNBC! If you haven’t tried it and you want “in the weeds” lawyers’ discussions, it’s fascinating. I try CNN, but the level of discussion there is rarely up to that on MSNBC.
They’re mostly colorless is my primary objection. Corporate America rules over all of them, constantly interrupting with commercials to make sure we stay “very afraid” if we’re not taking lots of drugs or buying showers for the infirm.
I used to think Republicans were just afraid of losing their cushy jobs. Now I think they're just afraid - for their lives and the lives of their families.
We're witnessing the hostile takeover of America by organized crime, with the international autocrats like Orban and Putin ready to move in and form alliances once the deed is done.
As to the Orban matter, read a few quotes of what actual Hungarians feel about him. The split there seems the same as here and the good half is leaving:
"He's driving away valuable people from Hungary. It's impossible to make a living there, and even if you could, the general vibe in the country is just repulsive. The electoral system is heavily favouring the governing party, corruption is hitting levels never seen before, while the PM says he has absolutely no savings what so ever (yet, his suit costs roughly 1,000,000 HUF), the government openly supports Russia and wants to import measures from them, such as controlling the media, and recriminalisation of homosexuality."
I'm wondering why the EU and NATO hasn't yet traded Hungry for Ukraine.
Why is NATO/the US/EU protecting Orban and Hungry? Need to start turning some real thumb screws on Orban. I think Austria conservatives tried something similar, and Austria took action to enforce the law on those corrupt conservative politicians that were taking Russian Oligarch money.
Joy, what I expected was elected officials with enough backbone and commitment to fight for our country. Instead, they’ve either succumbed or run away. If this generation of Republicans had been on the battlefields in WWII, we’d be speaking German or Japanese.
Joy I thought all these conservatives were supposed to be manly men, supported by their righteous women! Guess they're all really just chickenhawks at heart.
Agreed and to expand on that fear, many in this blog are fans of author Chauncey DeVega of Salon. This covers that fear and much more. A must read for HCR readers.
Except that isn't really true. What they can NOT accept is switching allegiance to a party they KNOW is NOT what they want (Democrats) so they are willing to endure whatever awful fate they might have (if they even believe that might happen) as long as they stay loyal to the MagaT. People like Stephen Miller and Hershel Walker and Mark Robinson will be shocked when they finally are put in the same concentration camps that their liberal opposition have been put in. They will be singing that tune "but we LOVE Trump" completely oblivious to the fact that Trump NEVER loved them, not ever, he just put up with them to get what he wanted.
I personally would like to be the one marching Stephen Miller to a jail cell. You know, sane Jew locking up a tyrannical Jew. Befitting, don’t you think?
Heather has chronicled the descent of the Republican Party to an organization in which power is the organizing principle and the sole criterion. In Trump’s hands it has become a criminal organization. Perhaps after the election the DOJ will initiate a RICO investigation of the whole damn thing.
Sadly, that is one thing that even Biden knows is not a good idea. This country, NOT being led by fanatic dictators (at least for now) seems to still understand that political opposition should not be directly investigated, as under our constitution people have a right to believe politically whatever they want as long as it doesn't result in violent insurrection. We can investigate Jan 6, but we can't investigate the GOP itself (if we did, it would then "justify" the GOP investigating us if they ever came back to power).
Got it, Jon :) Based on your posts, I really think you should read this article. You'll "get it" I am sure. I posted it earlier but, nobody read it because it's a bit longer read than most.
I've been saying for years that the Republican Party is in a death spiral. That was true before Trump, and it's only more true now--and his mental decline (which the media are finally starting to notice) will only accelerated matters.
Well Lankford at least turned against the election deniers after Jan 6, at least according to Wiki. Supporting Trump is his only viable option at this point, if we wants to stay Republican. No way can he support Democrats if you read his career.
Correct, and frankly, no way any Democrat would want his right-wing-nut viewpoints to be associated with their party. Ditto for Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney. We can tacitly accept their support against tRump, but in the end, they really have no place in the current Democratic party (even allowing for middle-of-the-roaders and conservatives).
Democracy’s Blue Wave Warriors Looking to Our National Elections
From: WAPO, 202 Early, the paper’s morning newsletter
'President Biden and former president Donald Trump will spend the next eight months battling over six states that are likely to determine the presidential election: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.'
'Several of those states are also at the center of a battleground that’s gotten much less attention: the fight for control of state legislatures.'
'Democrats are trying to flip the state House and Senate in Arizona after Democrat Katie Hobbs won the governorship in 2022, giving the party control of state government.'
'In Pennsylvania, Republicans are working to flip a single seat to retake the state House, which Democrats won in 2022.'
'And Republicans are seeking to recapture the state House and state Senate in Michigan, which Democrats won in 2022, allowing Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to pass her agenda through the legislature.'
'THE BATTLE IN WISCONSIN'
'The latest battleground is Wisconsin, where Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed new maps into law last month that both parties agree will allow Democrats to win more seats in November. “I think we can win the Assembly,” Evers told us last month.'
'The new maps mean “it’ll be difficult, but it’ll be equally difficult on both sides,” he added.'
'Taking back the Wisconsin Senate will be tougher because only half the seats are up for reelection this year, with the other half up in 2026.'
'But Evers said he hopes that taking back the Assembly and narrowing Republicans’ margin in the state Senate might allow him to achieve his top priority: expanding Medicaid in the state. Wisconsin is one of 10 states that haven’t expanded Medicaid since the Affordable Care Act provisions allowing states to cover more residents under the program took effect a decade ago.'
“I know there are Republicans that understand the issue of Medicaid expansion who I’ve talked to,” 'Evers said'. “Can we pick off a couple of ones to get that done? Absolutely.”
'REPUBLICAN CONFIDENCE'
'Robin Vos, the longtime Assembly speaker, scoffed at the idea Democrats would win back the chamber.'
“We consistently see that Republican Assembly members outrun the top of the ticket by anywhere from three to six points,” Vos said. “So if Wisconsin is again a 50-50 state, either won by President Trump or won by President Biden, that means we’ll probably win most of the competitive races.”
'Still, Republicans' 'margins will depend to some extent on how strong Trump and Biden run, he said.'
'Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer said Democrats heard from more than 100 people interested in running for the Assembly in the first week after Evers signed the new maps.
Biden carried 49 of the 99 newly drawn Assembly districts in 2020, according to Wisconsin Democrats — but Evers carried 52 when he won reelection in 2022. Control of the Assembly could come down to which party does a better job of running ahead of the top of the ticket.
But state legislative candidates’ door-knocking could also help Biden or Trump carry Wisconsin.'
“We understand that everyone who we get out to the ballot is very likely to vote for Sen. Tammy Baldwin and President Joe Biden, as well,'” Neubauer said. “They understand that they want to see our candidates be successful, too. So I think we do all see our fates as tied.”
'THE BIG PICTURE'
'Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which coordinates the party’s efforts in state legislative races across the country, has not gone as far as Evers in predicting Democrats can retake the Assembly. The DLCC is assessing the new maps, she said.'
“We’ve got opportunities to make real, meaningful gains,” 'Williams told us.'
'Democrats are prioritizing state legislatures after gerrymandering helped Republicans win unified control of the governorship and the legislature in 23 states by 2014, while Democrats controlled only seven. Republicans still control 23 state capitals, but Democrats are in control in 17 states now. (Nine state capitals are under divided control, while Nebraska’s legislature is nonpartisan.)'
'Along with races in swing states, Democrats’ top targets this cycle are holding on to their majorities in the Minnesota House and retaking control of both chambers in New Hampshire. They’re also seeking to break Republicans’ veto-proof legislative majorities in Kansas and North Carolina, both of which have Democratic governors, and make gains in Georgia and other states.'
'The Republican State Leadership Committee didn’t respond to a request for comment.'
'But in a January memo, the RSLC argued Republicans need to invest more in early and mail voting.'
“The days of complacency have come to an end,” 'the memo reads.' “Democrats were able to overtake our largest ever investment into Virginia by committing to spend over $7 million dollars in three weeks down the final stretch of the Virginia elections. The only way to defend our majorities, reclaim majorities, and grow our party is direct investment into state legislative races to counter outside national liberal groups who are pouring more money into the states year after year.”
'ARIZONA: A SUPER BATTLEGROUND'
'There are few places where the fights for control of Washington and state legislatures align more than in Tucson’s northern suburbs.'
'Arizona is a presidential swing state.'
'There’s a crucial race for the seat Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I) is relinquishing.'
'Freshman Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R) is running for reelection in a district Biden barely won in 2020.'
'Abortion rights advocates are working to get a measure on the ballot.
And Democrats are targeting state House and Senate seats in the 17th District.'
'Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly and Hobbs carried the 17th District when they won in 2022, and Democrats are making it a top target this year. The party needs to flip only two seats in the state House and two in the Senate to win a trifecta (as it’s called when one party controls the governorship and the legislature).'
'Kevin Volk, a housing developer who’s running for state House as a Democrat, started knocking on doors in January and estimates he’s hit about 500 so far. He’s emphasizing three issues in his campaign: abortion rights, water and education.'
“Arizona politically seems like the belle of the ball for the first time,” Volk said, referring to the competitive races at the state and federal levels. “And that’s translated to a lot of on-the-ground enthusiasm.” (WAPO, Analysis by Theodoric Meyer and Leigh Ann Caldwell with research by Tobi Raji) Copied in full.
Just playing a part in keeping democracy alive in the US and beyond in Ukraine, in Israel, wherever we can by way of spreading the facts/news, on the battlefield, writing postcards, voting ...volunteering, donating ...working together.
Speaking of the battlefield, last night a Feature Documentary, won an Oscar for "20 Days in Mariupol". The Academy Award was the first Oscar for the Associated Press (AP) & PBS' FRONTLINE. The first-person documentary was produced at GBH in Boston, Mass. Season 2023, Episode 22.
I received a Link from FRONTLINE this am to watch the film again, but "20 Days in Mariupol" is streaming & widely available. "Russians have entered the City".
What I loved most about that was when producer/director Mstyslav Chernov, accepting the award for his entire team, said "This is one Oscar that I wish I hadn't won," meaning his real hope was/is for ending this horrible war and having peace restored for all. It was one of the most touching moments in the show.
re THIS: "after gerrymandering helped Republicans win unified control of the governorship and the legislature in 23 states by 2014, while Democrats controlled only seven. "
I keep telling myself to look forward, to donate where I can to state-level folks (and yes I do postcards as well) and to stop crying over spilled milk. But I still cannot NOT be angry at the Natl Democratic Party's blind arrogance after Obama won - to utterly ignore the states. I think of it, and the word DISGRACEFUL keeps coming to mind. ok, now I've vented (lol)
Deb A, I think by paying attention to the posted report and the mistakes made by the Democratic Party, you are focusing on what you/we need to do. You will identify the states and the candidates for seats in the Senate and the House that you will support in the ways that you can. We are in a war against fascism; you know that, so, in communicating with folks you'll be friendly, listen and exchange thoughts. You are an engaged citizen, learning what you can do and do your best. You encourage me, Deb A.., to be at my best as well. Cheers!
- plus, I'm really old (LOL) so a lot of it is in *my* personal history; it's not merely "history"
EX: Here's a memory: Hearing My mom (who with my Dad, was in the St Louis Orch way back when, when I was a toddler, as baby Unions were trying to get silly things such as breaks (!)...)-- as she would tell me how back in St Louis, the McCarthyites came knocking on our door looking for (she quoted them) "Commies and Union Organizers"
I like to think of it as coming from 'good union stock'
anyhoo, I'll let you go now - thx again for your wonderful post
Deb A, your words, background, humor and HISTORY! brought a deep, wide smile to me inside and out! Thank you! I love 'good union stock'; the smile got bigger. Thank you!
Marlene, I smiled warmly at your dear compliment; in part because I was not a born optimist, and, in another part, I'm still not. I take what I can from the good teachers here and there. Your support, humor, realism, curiosity, determination, care and love are unbeatable. Thank you!
It’s one of their biggest disasters because it clearly demonstrates Republican’s con job right in front of people’s eyes.
Here we have a woman “real estate agent” talking from her ugly but expensive kitchen in her affluent, protected neighborhood, who has a powerful job as a Senator in real life, but knuckled subserviently under to sell other women on moving to Gilead.
Eventually everyone gets thrown under the bus….yet… they stay screwed ..is it by or to MAGA?
You Republicans so patiently wait for the knife put in your back.
I wrestled most the night about fine lines. How to weigh dissent, how to better present the only choice left. With 7 years of consistent ‘disastrous’ leadership of what used to be the Republican Party …the lies, the excuses, the blatant dictatorship is the ONLY elephant in the room.
Scarlett Johansen should have received the Oscar last night for her SNL performance of the most pathetic political lie (masquerading as a rebuttal) ever. Now it's up to the liberal media to talk about the lie Britt told and the truth Heather researched and revealed.
Langford, Romney, even Cheney - when they come out and plead emphatically to Republicans to VOTE for Biden in November; when they hit the campaign trail for Joe, then maybe I’ll trust them a little. Until then, they’re just posturing for leadership in the future - if the Republican party survives this election.
Agreed, Until they stand up and without ANY caveats endorse a Democratic vote/win in November, they have zero credibility with me for simply saying they won't support tRump. For me, that is such a given that it doesn't even get any notice from me.
As soon as Britt's video was viewed, the immediate comments on youtube were about the anticipation of an SNL parody. Everyone thought it was so bazaar.
Just now tried to find your comment, can't even find my own, or the one I was responding to. If you could put your link in a reply to me, I'd greatly appreciate it!
I've put a couple to open in separate tabs and really got a kick out of Politics Gal's video of Mr Bearded Guy pointing to Law after Law after Law, which women needed - but that Rs voted against. Brilliant!
BTW - I am also not on Twitter/X, but note for others such as Diane who just posted here, that one may CC and paste any particular Twitter/X link into an Email that you send to others. (yay!)
Said Twitter/X link will open and can be read; it's only the replies which no longer appear thanks to Elon.
Ken Burns interviewed Cassidy Hutchinson who, to me, with a bit of face blindness and bad hearing sounds more like Katie Britt and had a similar "conservative" background and beliefs. Cassidy, though is further along in reevaluating her loyalty and principles in a way I hope Katie Britt can, the sooner the better.
Cassidy can sound very similar to Katie Britt, but the observations and changes in views she came to by being so close to the highest inner workings as White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows' Assistant, give me hope that people like Katie Britt can become a bit more enlightened about honoring oaths and doing the right thing at the right time despite what the party might wish they would ignore. They don't have to change their basic conservative principles, just follow their conscience and honor their oaths to do it at least within the bounds of laws and principled ethics.
I remember a bit of my parents' and grandparents' appreciation of Margaret Chase Smith when she called out Joe McCarthy (and a Professor who I'd have a bite to eat with after economics class). The Professor had campaigned for Joe McCarthy and worked for or with him (as had Robert Kennedy) for a while though it seemed he was helping both the HUAC House Committee and the Senate Subcommittee chaired by McCarthy. Both the Professor and RFK seemed to resign when McCarthy went off the deep end with wilder accusations about 3 years in. I'd like to know more, especially about the timings to see how it might relate to: https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/investigations/mccarthy-hearings/a-declaration-of-conscience.htm
"...Four months earlier, McCarthy had rocketed to national attention. In a well-publicized speech in Wheeling, West Virginia, he claimed to possess the names of 205 card-carrying communists in the State Department. Smith, like many of her colleagues, shared McCarthy's concerns about communist subversion, but she grew skeptical when he repeatedly ignored her requests for evidence to back-up his accusations. “It was then,” she recalled, “that I began to wonder about the validity... and fairness of Joseph McCarthy’s charges...”
Katie 'cahcah' Britt! Put her in a closet with Santos. And, while we're at it, make sure Rikers (Island prison) is preparing a table unto "him"... #45.
You can read more Republican comments here, but it doesn't sound like you're open to convincing. As someone who lives half in the UK and is married to a UK journalist, I would say most people in Europe aren't -betting- that criminal wins. What they are is -terrified- he will steal the election.
Republicans know they can't win statewide races they can't gerrymander without stealing, and they are working diligently to ensure they are successful this time, like Bush vs Gore.
I just don't know. I fear that it will take things going in the tank before business leaders realize their customers are dying or going broke before they come to their senses.
June, I believe the origin was with President Biden, when he refers to his "predecessor" as "the former guy". Some folks add a "colorful metaphor" for fornication as the second "f".
100%. "Of course their biggest disaster ever is ttfg".
Amazing, their unawareness and disconnectedness of the R party. It is a mass delusion based on the big lie. How long can so many live in this delusional world ttfg has created for them? What is the real cost to the masses of true believers? How much damage is this doing to their psyche's, families, work, and communities? Do they ever experience any joy away from their politics of paranoia, delusion, and domination? I think we need to call the Big Lie something else as it has evolved and the masses now believe the big lie to be fact. "The Big Delusion".
I agree, Alexandra. People like Romney and Lankford are too afraid to leave the party they once knew. It doesn’t exist anymore because the likes of Trump have destroyed it. There are those who felt a tremendous embarrassment about Britt’s pathetic rebuttal. What’s more important though, is that Biden delivered a fiery speech. As they say, the proof is in the pudding, he and Harris have been delivering progress based on promises they made with energy, climate, and manufacturing. I loved that he referenced his age as using new ideas instead of old ones. Change is coming in spite of Putin’s puppets and it’s going to be great!
Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA), I loved it too that he went head on at the topic of age and thought it was brilliant of the speechwriter or whomever to reframe it as old ideas vs new ideas. It was perfect because it not only described President Biden positively with specific admirable characteristics but it tied the undesirable characteristics of old thinking/ideas directly to the R's and the former guy. Take that, Dark Brandon is in the House!
Marlene, 100% agree. Great speech by Biden, just the ticket! And everyone had to admit it. You could tell how effective it was just watching Johnson's face getting more and more sour as it went on.
lol i couldn't help laughing, it was so cringeworthy! Hey, remember when Nancy demonstratively tore up Trump's State of the Union copies behind his back for all to see!
Remember when we were kids( all those years ago)? And there was that lonely pitiful kid who everyone picked on cause he was so obnoxious and whiny and offensive. You felt sorry for him and may have stood up for him or made excuses for the poor creature. But you never noticed that that kid ,when given the chance , dominated kids weaker than him? Well that kid and others like him are now in positions of power and threatening our democracy. Why because they feel entitled and because they can. Sadly my little kid self would probably still protect him.
It was just theater. It happens at every State of the Union address by a Democrat. It is sickening that people with this much power and influence need to cravenly perform for their deplorable cultists.
When Mitch capitulated to the final humiliation, I was surprised because I thought he hated chump as much as I do. But I guess a republican Frankenstein is better than any democrat. That has been their position since Rupert hit our shores. Now it seems that Lachlan continues the anti-democracy crusade since daddy is contemplating another marriage to a retired Russian scientist, with ties to money and mob. Too bad abortion can’t be retroactive to the date of that devil’s conception.
Mitch, like Lankford and so many others, are Southern Baptists out and out, Trump's win gave Mitch just the political ammunition and cunning to turn the Supremes into a right-wing anti-abortion supermajority, who consistently lied abt the issues during their confirmation hearings. Sue Collins wasn't happy, but whatever, who's she on the map anyway?
"Orbán’s takeover of the press, elimination of rival political parties, partisan gerrymandering, capture of the courts, and control of Hungary’s government are not just ideological, though, but also economic. Corruption and the capture of valuable factories and properties for cronies have allowed Orbán and his allies to amass fortunes. "
TFFG's meeting with Urban must have thrilled him no end. There is no way that TFFG can meet with Putin before the election. Instead, he has someone better that had actually done all of the things that TFFG dreams about.
We the People are fighting an uphill battle right now. TFFG is grifting his hats, shirts, shoes and any other trinket he can sell for 100 times its value.
And he still struggled to come up with the first $90 million bond. Warrant Buffett loves to make loans like the bond with Trump. He almost got the Williams Pipeline several years ago when they were grossly overextended. Instead he only made 9% on the loan.
The bond holders could end up with dozens of pieces of Trump's empire and they sure as heck won't leave his name on them. If he's still alive when that happens he will never recover.
Unless his dementia has progressed to the point he has no clue what is going on.
Seth’s substack is called “Proof.” I think he’s offering a 7-day free trial? (I’m on phone right now …) First article about this topic was I think Friday.
Nope, you have to pay, but thanks for the reveal about the Greenbergs. If they’re Jewish, and I suspect they are, they are probably Ultra orthodox which is a big UGH for me.
"The party they once knew" is a true fallacy. The GOP of the 50s and 60s was a stringent white right-wing party which put on a good "face" but they were as closed to blacks and other people of color and gays and women as were conservative supper clubs of that era.
The only real difference I see between the GOP of the 50s-70s and the MagaTs of today is that today no one is even worried about just coming out and boldly calling for racism and fascism. "Deport the libs". No one said that back in the 50s, but believe me, they all believed it and wanted it.
Being raised Jewish in a Southern Baptist NC town, we were not permitted, nor were blacks, to join any country clubs. But blacks, of course, were employed as janitors, dishwashers, servers, and lawn keepers but God forbid be invited to become a member!
A "slave without being a slave" economy, yup. Somewhere along the journey, the GOP minions decided to show a "kinder, gentler" side by permitting a FEW blacks and jews and others (the ones who knew how to behave, like Clarence Thomas and Stephen Miller) to join, but I believe in the long run, they will still show their true colors and frankly they still don't even LIKE let alone LOVE their fellow humans no matter what their color or religion or viewpoints.
“There’s nobody that’s better, smarter or a better leader than Viktor Orbán. He’s fantastic,” Trump said on Friday. Trump said that Orbán simply says, “‘This is the way it’s going to be,’ and that’s the end of it, right? He’s the boss and…he’s a great leader, fantastic leader. In Europe and around the world, they respect him.”
Thank you, Heather, for reporting on this. This excerpt above should be a clear warning sign.
The admiration of autocratic tendencies under the guise of strong leadership is indeed a worrying trend that starkly contrasts with the core values of American democracy. The United States, founded on principles of freedom, equality, and the rule of law, cannot afford to glamorize or endorse leaders who consolidate power at the expense of democratic institutions and civil liberties.
The systematic dismantling of democratic checks and balances, as observed in Hungary under Viktor Orbán's rule, should serve as a cautionary tale, not a blueprint for governance. The concentration of power, suppression of dissent, and manipulation of the electoral system erode the very foundations of a free society. When leaders prioritize personal and political gain over the public good, democracy is in peril.
American democracy thrives on pluralism, the rule of law, and a vibrant civil society. These principles enable constructive debate, hold leaders accountable, and ensure that power remains in the hands of the people. Endorsing a leader who undermines these ideals not only betrays the spirit of American democracy but also emboldens those who seek to weaken democratic institutions worldwide.
It's crucial that we recognize the importance of safeguarding democratic norms and processes. The admiration for autocratic leaders reflects a misunderstanding of what true leadership entails. Leadership is about serving the people, not subjugating them; it's about building consensus, not consolidating power; it's about championing the rights of all citizens, not enriching a select few.
As citizens committed to the ideals of democracy, it is our responsibility to stand against authoritarian tendencies and to promote a governance model that respects freedom, ensures accountability, and upholds justice. Let us remember the lessons of history and reaffirm our commitment to a democratic society that values the dignity and rights of every individual.
Orban and Putin have a lot in common. Eliminate opposition. Enrich the oligarchs. Not a lot different than the kings of yesteryear. Find some nobles to fight for you. Give them some of the taxes in exchange for support.
Does anyone know if there is a meaningful active opposition to Orban functioning in Hungary now? Is revolution possible?
Those three are on top of it. Sadly, they are not getting the attention/following they have earned. Maybe a few quotes from their writings would be well received here, Rickey.
Unfortunately there is no meaningful active opposition to in Hungary. At least not one with any hope of ousting Orban.
From an article (link below):
“Hungary is not a democracy anymore, The parliament is a decoration for a one-party state.” Quoted from a member of the Hungarian parliament who had left office.
“In order for a Hungarian-style system to come to America, the GOP — not just Trump, but the party as a whole — would need to play a significant role. And Republican legislators, at both the state and national level, have shown a willingness to deploy Fidesz-like tactics that undermine the fairness of the democratic system.” (Note: Fideesz is the ruling party in Hungary)
“The similarities between [Trump and Orban] are hard to miss. Trump, like Orbán, is personally disdainful of constraints on his power and the free press. Trump, like Orbán, has built his political career around anti-immigrant populism.” (When in office) “Trump, like Orbán, has bent the powers of state toward personal enrichment — and allowed his top officials to do the same.”
“But what worries me the most isn’t the obvious Trump-Orbán similarities. It’s the parallels between the Republican Party and Fidesz.”
While written six years ago it’s as pertinent today as when it was written. If you read it you’ll understand what’s going on with the Trump, the GOP, and Orban. I really wish everyone would read it. We’d All have a much much better understanding of what we’re up against.
George T is correct; Orban's 'Fidesz" party has a supermajority, now he's gerrymandered the country. BUT the country may grow tired of the blatant corruption and horrifying sex scandals (one may hope)
Here is POLITICO/EU from a couple weeks back
Roiled by scandal, Hungary names new president
Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party chooses obscure judge to replace Katalin Novák after sex-abuse pardon case.
When the rule of law !!APPEARS!! unenforceable, thieves create the time to take it all. The absolute necessity of democracy carefully, accurately, institutionally slow walking individual rights to accountability becomes the perfection cancelling the good of resolution for victims of the violation. Ethics. Yeah, right. We apparently won't live that long.
At a time like this -- a turning point -- the best and the worst come into their own.
I first saw this a long, long time ago.
After the Hungarian uprising in 1956 against Soviet-imposed dictatorship, those who escaped to the West were among the country's best... and criminals for whom chaos is their element.
Our society may be sick, but... WE'RE ALIVE... approaching crisis now, and determined to come through if we can.
One way or another, we may lose battles, but we shall overcome.
To your point: The rise of crime and the lowering of governments able to protect it's citizen. To wit, well armed and organized gangs that are stronger than Haiti's government, the none-state Hamas waging war in its own territory and against its own people, militia style cartels and criminals capable of taking control over towns and regions, ISSIS as a non-nation force capable of gaining power and control within countries where is breeds, theocracies that become the within-nation governing powers that replace legitimate conservative or liberal governments, Putin ignoring international laws in favor of a capacity to gain new territories with minor concern among US Congressmen, the emptiness of a nation's pledge to support its allies when the party out of power shows who can invalidate our claim to being a country led by its duly elected President.
The rule of law or rule by law. Putin rules by law as does Obran. They took the law and used it to rule. Do what I ask, give me my cut or I have the police shut you down. Bill Browder spelled it out in Red Notice.
Kind of like how the mob controlled the unions and communities offering "protection" from criminals.
Any resemblance between law and what the Putin regime calls law is fortuitous. Everything is an extension of the Executive, legislature, judges, police, the military, all doing what the Thing-at-the-Top orders them to.
“It’s one of our biggest disasters ever.” Well, at least the Rs can admit THAT. (Of course their biggest disaster ever is tffg.) Surreally awful, porny histrionics from Katie Britt (I won't use "Senator" to describe her). Wonderful send up by Scarlett Johansson on Saturday Night Live.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCfLpuLdF8Q&t=332s
As for Lankford, you'd think this humiliation at the hands of his own party might turn him against it, finally. But somehow that never happens.
Scarlett Johansson is superb!
Yes, their biggest disaster is the tffg, AKA the oathbreaking insurrectionist. That never seems to sink in with them.
He said, Go home. We love you. It was like "Thanks, guys, for being there." What's an oath or two to them? Do they know the difference?
Friday night, on Newsmax, Donald Trump Jr. recorded a video announcing that the old Republican Party “no longer exists outside of the D.C. beltway…. The move that happened today…that’s the final blow. People have to understand that America First, the MAGA movement is the new Republican Party. That is conservatism today.” Regurgitating America First tells us everything we need to know about the traitor family and the cult that intends to begin rounding up immigrants on day 1 of his dictatorship. This is not who we are. It’s the chaos campaign of evil.
Gigi, he may have said conservative, but they are far right regressive. They represent all of the worst aspects of human beings and death star has not a shred of human decency. When he came to power, all of the maggots and worms came out of the swamp and woodwork. I think many people were shocked to find out how awful many of their relatives and friends really were because death star gave them carte blanche to be their totally prejudiced unforgiving selves.
Michele, you've nailed it and it doesn't get said enough: "I think many people were shocked to find out how awful many of their relatives and friends really were because death star gave them carte blanche to be their totally prejudiced unforgiving selves."
"....shocked to find out how awful many of their friends and relatives really were...."
"When he came to power, all of the maggots and worms came out of the swamp and woodwork."
This reminds me of the line from Robert Graves' "I Claudius", which applies to any Trump administration:
"Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud, hatch out!"
"Far right regressive."That's a good description. They are not Republicans, the Grand Old Party, aka GOP, or conservatives. I don't even want to give them "rebels," since that has mostly positive, virtuous connotations in my mind. Their own titles like the Make America Great movement, aka MAGA, the America First Party and all that is nonsense. I'm not sure if we've settled on a name yet. I try to be respectful to all, because I believe that as human beings, we all deserve some basic level of respect. These folks challenge me though and I find myself partial to MAGGATS.
What the Right (conservative has lost all its meaning in American politics) realized, starting with Reagan, how gullible some in the
American public are owing to their lack of critical thinking skills, lack of knowledge about history and government, and their inclination to discriminate against certain groups: non-Protestants, minorities, women's and gay rights' advocates, immigrants and others, they "put the pedal to the metal" and began their disinformation and misinformation campaigns, plundering the national treasury of trillions of dollars. G.W. Bush was right: "you can fool some of the people all of the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on."
Far Wrong agressives.
Gigi, from what I am seeing from my vocal MAGAt friends, this is exactly who they are.
I agree with DTJr. It's definitely NOT the party of Lincoln. I have to laugh. Someone who read that Lincoln was a republican and did so much for blacks forgot to read beyond the chosen fact where the democrats become republicans and voted for legalizing segregation. Ironically where seem to have the most the most segregation is in the South which are republicans.
Exactly. That's the kind of disinformation you get when Rs erase history.
These clowns are idiots. Declaring a victory before the battle is over is stupid. They only have as much power as is given by us, the citizens. Most of us are not their lemmings (debatable, I realize - lol). We won't follow them off the cliff. I am nervous that such a large percentage of us are though. But we'll se. I have a feeling the elections will go in democracy's favor. I don't believe the polls. But I don't know how off they are. So, I am kinda biting my nails till we get the election results.
Amen!
Donald junior proves that we still have social mobility in America: even total idiots get their day in the sun. I am not sure these horny guys have tongues. But this R.I.N.O. (i.e., me) takes pleasure in sticking his out at the whole corrupted klan. EDIT: I want to say junior Donald but that implies that there is a superlative BELOW Donald senior.
It was like he was hosting a cocktail party, had a headache, and told everyone to leave...
His drooling praise over Orban proves him to be the aspirational autocratic, and as junior confirmed, the formerly GOP is now America First, the party of MAGA and its attendant fascism.
Trump speaks with certainty at his rallies that he'll be elected in November, saying he doesn't need or indeed want the votes of Haley supporters. If true, then Orban's visit to Mar a Mango may be as tutor for what happens at 12:01 p.m. on Jan 20, 2025. What does he have up his sleeve to make sure that happens? Might it have some connection to the source of trompy's bond in the Carroll matter?
I am VERY worried about their planned shenanigans. We are gaining the VOTE, but we need to keep an eye on whatever else they are plotting … [it’s not planning anymore with the MAGAs; it is plotting]
Recently I read an article how Russia (Putin) and Saudi Aribia (Mohammed bin Salman) are planning on reducing the supply chain beginning in July. Then come October, MBS is taking the Fort Henry oil plant in Texas off line for "maintenance". Sorry I can't find the article to include the link but the moral of the article was not only the timing of this but more importantly how our adversaries are interfering with our elections. This is not a a coincidence ~ just prior to the election? This is planned so it can be used against the Biden administration just before the election.
Good thing I'm not President or I would take a page from the Trump playbook and use an Executive Order to seize the Fort Henry plant claiming it is for National Security then let them take the matter to the Court and delay, delay and delay. Last I checked MBS was a person of interest in a murder investigation???
Hey, that’s actually not a bad idea. Maybe we should float it to the president. As long as it’s legal {and National Security, and having it off-line, it could be!! 😯😯😯}
I’m kind of serious about floating it to the president. Anybody can write to him on the Whitehouse.gov web site. Go to “contact” and send a message to the president.
I do hope SOMEONE is reading those, and maybe paying attention to the good ones.
😎
I bet so...
"The Plot Against America" -Philip Roth
It is, and they are less and less hiding the fact of it …
And TFFG is setting things up pretty much the same way as he did before the 2020 election.
{Proofread this and fixed typo}
YES, Mim, he is. And they’re setting it up with the benefit of hindsight to correct past shortcomings, and even more people in on the scheme.
We need to seriously get out the vote this year, but we need to SERIOUSLY be wary of a sneak attack from behind, too. We can’t turn our backs on these guys. They are not constrained by integrity, or anything else for that matter.
They need to be watched, their strategies need to be revealed, and we need to head ‘em off at the pass.
I can’t stress enough how much I am concerned about the modern-day heirs to The Dirty Tricks gang — with Roger Stone still around, too.
" ... never seems to sink in " despite losses in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & now in 2024. What's next, MAGA fratricide over followers that are not pure enough?
Nothing would surprise me at this point!
trump failed at more than 4 time in business at lest 6 times if not more.
Shhhhh...
Don't discourage them. Let them be themselves.
maybe he is afraid for his family with death threats and white powder. Extremists are getting more bold. Maybe afraid of being part of the purge trump has promised.
I think you are correct Karen, "Extremist ... may be afraid of being part of the purge [tffg] has promised". We saw this before in Germany 1933-34.
Your concern was what I was alluding to in my comment above, "The Knight of the Long Knives" ... "Nacht Der Langen" circa the last days of May into June 1934. The "Rohm Purge" meaning the murder of Rohm & his followers in Germany while Hitler was still a 'Chancellor'.but, was consolidating supreme power under Himmler & Others.
Your comment seems to have lost its mooring rope - I'm not Alexandra.
Hmm, confusing yes, your comment was answering Alexandra. I think I've moved it now 🙂
Nope, it comes out in the same place when I comment below her
Uncontrollable force of nature. Mine sometimes vanish before I can click on Post.
To make things even more complex and complicated, Lankford has now endorsed Trump for president! Well, not very complex and complicated after all. Apparently,all GOP members are afraid of Trump and/or how he might influence their own elections if they go against him. So much for character and integrity!!!! Add little goodie, goodie two shoes from Alabama to the mix and matters get worse! She follows the pattern of lies and conspiracy theories that have served MAGA so well!
Add GOP Representative, Nancy Mace to my list of Republicans who’ve done a total about face on Trump. Once she said he should cast out because of his leadership of the January 6 insurrection. Now, she fully supports him! She admittedly says she’s a rape victim, but supports a man who has been convicted of multiple assaults on women. Go figure is about all I can say!
It’s going to be interesting when the RNC’s coffers are emptied to pay for tRump’s legal fees and fines and there isn’t enough left over for MAGA politicians to fund their campaigns. Their loyalty won’t do them much good when they are replaced in the House and Senate by Democrats. I can’t wait.
But that's why their god created billionaires! If I were a billionaire, I'd be wary of entrusting my $$$ to the RNC. I'd rather be, say, buying a house for "Justice" Thomas's mother to live in or taking "Justice" Alito on expensive trips.
I do hope ProPublica or another investigative news outlet finds out what's behind the $91 million bond Trump posted to appeal the verdict in E. Jean Carroll's defamation case. See for instance this Newsweek story about it: https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-may-beholden-those-behind-his-bond-1877700
Evelyn, from your lips to God’s ear.
Yes! Neither can I! Does anyone remember what we were when Dems held both houses and SCOTUS gave US voting rights and Roe? Also imagine where we might be if we hadn’t had Citizens United and watered down voting rights by the Roberts court.
I dunno. Robert Mercer, Peter Thiel, Koch, all have enough billons and minions to keep it going to November. Now they know they dont have to pay the court judgements, just the lawyer fees. And from observation, tFfg's lawyers are the talented nor expensive ones anymore.
I would add the murderous House of Saud and Putin to your list of bad guy billionaires all too eager to open up the vaults to help out the Seditionist Sociopath, Ted.
If you saw her conversation with George Stephanopoulous yesterday, she repeatedly accused him of “shaming “ her bc he asked how she, a victim of rape, could support tfg. She was raving and, to use an overused word, unhinged.
Trying to defend the defenseless is not easy. It causes an overreaction and a rise in temperament!
Yep, that's "politics"! Loyalty to Trump now infuses the GOP, as Trump Jr cited the other day and eg MSNBC commentators have been saying for a rather long time now. Wither now, Haley? Well, some Dems have been known to flip into Republican territory.....
Frankly, Haley should stay in her corner. We (D's) don't need her support (which will still come at a price that I am not willing to pay and honestly I don't think most of us will want to follow pretty much ANYTHING she supports EXCEPT that she is opposed to tRump).
Well, Ms. Haley, I am glad someone in your party is willing to stand against fascism but please do it in your own party, not ours. We shouldn't get all excited that there are a few GOPers who might actually NOT support a fascistic idiot like tRump (like Haley, Cheney, Romney, etc.). If they want to come to our side and actually adopt even our middle-of-the-road positions (no need to become "progressive") that's fine, but don't bring any hateful, isolationist, evangelical positions with you. I think most Democrats do NOT want that anywhere near their party.
It seems like this calls for a big investigative reporting project. Find out why some of the high profile guys have flipped from being trump critics to trump lapdogs. What are they afraid of? I bet there’s an interesting range of threats and fears.
Think they’re afraid of losing votes from MAGA supporters in all red states. If they had real integrity, they’d let the chips fall where they may!
tRump already has a mixed track record on influencing elections. Nevertheless I think you’re right, at least in some cases. I suspect tRump may have dirt on some people — that there might be other fears for some.
Trump has no scruples and will resort to anything to get elected, ANYTHING! Gotta be stopped ‼️
Until you said that Lankford had endorsed Trump he had grown in my estimation. No more. He’s the same as all the rest. I’m glad they caught him on camera agreeing with Joe Biden at the SOTU. He can’t run away from that.
Yup. Remember that "the enemy of my enemy is NOT necessarily my friend".
Great thought!
Seeing him in the sea of reds, he looked awfully grim, knowing that his compatriots will probably not really trust him.
They are afraid, mostly, of his followers. This from a former GOP operative now living abroad for that very reason. Something not spoken about, the degree of fear motivating GOP members you might expect to behave differently.
Yes Joy, I agree that fear now permeates the GOP. Tfg wants the identity of the juryers at his pending trials so they can be intimidated. The same with election workers. The entire mechanism of democracy is at risk. Tfg's behaviour is becoming more erratic, more outrageous, and more revealing of his true nature as the screws of justice squeeze him, his organization, and his advisors but it does not seem to affect the polls. I blame the cable news networks who do not give adequate coverage to the dangers that tfg represents.
Mr Baum, I agree with what you have written except that MSNBC has been calling Trump out for years on his dangerous behavior.
Nicole Wallace, Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O'Donnell. Joe Scarborough
Also Ari Melbur, Joy Reed, Chris Hayes, Alex Wagner, Stephanie Ruhle. The whole evening lineup.
And in the am and weekends, Rev Al, Ali Velshi, Katie Phang, Jonathon Capehart, Alicia Menendez, Michael Steele, Yasoo Vasoogian( sorry for the spelling)
All the stuff Roy Cohn taught him. Roy was lawyer to the NCY Genovese and Gambino Mafia families. Before that he as a prosecutor working for Sen Joe "Tailgunner Joe" McCarthy. Fred Trump never had the Union strikes and problems at his construction projects. Roy made sure Fred "understood" how things worked. Donnie is definitely getting worse. A life of lying has to have a degenerative effect on grasping reality. To continue to defame E Jean after 91 Million judgement and while the NY judgment of another $450 million....Does he even grasp the enormity of these sums? Does he think he can just break even by fire selling/merging Truth Social and other properties? The amount of money being thrown around by billionaires is really a shame. Whether it is spent on lawsuits, hush money, judgements, political campaigns, etc, it is just so unfortunate. What good that capital could do it if was spent constructively on real problems? We seem to be ripe for tffg to take advantage of the system we have allowed to be created in the first place. Too much mass delusion of the real problems and complexity of reality. erghhh
Ah Roy Cohn... the demonic hypocrite of the 50s GOP! Cohn stood up for all of those great GOP positions... well ALMOST all. He was a semi-closeted homosexual at a time when the GOP wasn't all that enamored with gays (hell, I guess that is true all the way up until today judging by Ms. Britt's rebuttal to Biden's SOTU address LOL).
Of course, Cohn didn't like to THINK of himself as a homosexual because that was anathema to the GOP.
But he is attributed with one of his most famous "lines" (likely apocryphal): "I am NOT homosexual. I just like to f**k young boys!"
For the record, that line is actually taken from the play Angels in America and there is great dispute whether Cohn actually ever said anything really LIKE that. I like to think that at the very least, it is what he truly believed.
Why not single out the cable news networks and other media outlets who actively and intentionally *promote* Trump? Starting with Fox and the Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Except MSNBC! If you haven’t tried it and you want “in the weeds” lawyers’ discussions, it’s fascinating. I try CNN, but the level of discussion there is rarely up to that on MSNBC.
I don’t even bother with CNN anymore. It’s sad where they are headed.
They’re mostly colorless is my primary objection. Corporate America rules over all of them, constantly interrupting with commercials to make sure we stay “very afraid” if we’re not taking lots of drugs or buying showers for the infirm.
I agree Joy, I think the threats and fear for their families are taking precedence.
I used to think Republicans were just afraid of losing their cushy jobs. Now I think they're just afraid - for their lives and the lives of their families.
We're witnessing the hostile takeover of America by organized crime, with the international autocrats like Orban and Putin ready to move in and form alliances once the deed is done.
As to the Orban matter, read a few quotes of what actual Hungarians feel about him. The split there seems the same as here and the good half is leaving:
https://www.reddit.com/r/hungary/comments/y1c49g/what_do_hungarians_think_of_viktor_orban/?rdt=36788
from theykilledkenny99:
"He's driving away valuable people from Hungary. It's impossible to make a living there, and even if you could, the general vibe in the country is just repulsive. The electoral system is heavily favouring the governing party, corruption is hitting levels never seen before, while the PM says he has absolutely no savings what so ever (yet, his suit costs roughly 1,000,000 HUF), the government openly supports Russia and wants to import measures from them, such as controlling the media, and recriminalisation of homosexuality."
So we give maga immigration papers for Hungary, and we swap them for all the talent fleeing Hungary.
Excellent! However if our magas knew what they’d be getting into, they’d probably wake up. Or would they?
Now, there’s an idea!
I'm wondering why the EU and NATO hasn't yet traded Hungry for Ukraine.
Why is NATO/the US/EU protecting Orban and Hungry? Need to start turning some real thumb screws on Orban. I think Austria conservatives tried something similar, and Austria took action to enforce the law on those corrupt conservative politicians that were taking Russian Oligarch money.
There but for the grace of god goes the GOP.
As are Russians. Are we preparing for global war to make the world “safe”?
Yikes!
yes, the Magats are armed and dangerous.
Joy, what I expected was elected officials with enough backbone and commitment to fight for our country. Instead, they’ve either succumbed or run away. If this generation of Republicans had been on the battlefields in WWII, we’d be speaking German or Japanese.
Joy I thought all these conservatives were supposed to be manly men, supported by their righteous women! Guess they're all really just chickenhawks at heart.
Agreed and to expand on that fear, many in this blog are fans of author Chauncey DeVega of Salon. This covers that fear and much more. A must read for HCR readers.
https://www.salon.com/2024/03/11/the-cant-leave-maga--americans-must-electorally-mercy-the-party/
It's just unfathomable. Do they not realize there are more of them than of that pathetic loser?
Except that isn't really true. What they can NOT accept is switching allegiance to a party they KNOW is NOT what they want (Democrats) so they are willing to endure whatever awful fate they might have (if they even believe that might happen) as long as they stay loyal to the MagaT. People like Stephen Miller and Hershel Walker and Mark Robinson will be shocked when they finally are put in the same concentration camps that their liberal opposition have been put in. They will be singing that tune "but we LOVE Trump" completely oblivious to the fact that Trump NEVER loved them, not ever, he just put up with them to get what he wanted.
I personally would like to be the one marching Stephen Miller to a jail cell. You know, sane Jew locking up a tyrannical Jew. Befitting, don’t you think?
Heather has chronicled the descent of the Republican Party to an organization in which power is the organizing principle and the sole criterion. In Trump’s hands it has become a criminal organization. Perhaps after the election the DOJ will initiate a RICO investigation of the whole damn thing.
Sadly, that is one thing that even Biden knows is not a good idea. This country, NOT being led by fanatic dictators (at least for now) seems to still understand that political opposition should not be directly investigated, as under our constitution people have a right to believe politically whatever they want as long as it doesn't result in violent insurrection. We can investigate Jan 6, but we can't investigate the GOP itself (if we did, it would then "justify" the GOP investigating us if they ever came back to power).
Psst. I wasn't being entirely serious. But let's just keep that between us. OK?
Got it, Jon :) Based on your posts, I really think you should read this article. You'll "get it" I am sure. I posted it earlier but, nobody read it because it's a bit longer read than most.
https://www.salon.com/2024/03/11/the-cant-leave-maga--americans-must-electorally-mercy-the-party/
I've been saying for years that the Republican Party is in a death spiral. That was true before Trump, and it's only more true now--and his mental decline (which the media are finally starting to notice) will only accelerated matters.
Well Lankford at least turned against the election deniers after Jan 6, at least according to Wiki. Supporting Trump is his only viable option at this point, if we wants to stay Republican. No way can he support Democrats if you read his career.
Correct, and frankly, no way any Democrat would want his right-wing-nut viewpoints to be associated with their party. Ditto for Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney. We can tacitly accept their support against tRump, but in the end, they really have no place in the current Democratic party (even allowing for middle-of-the-roaders and conservatives).
Anthony, OH MY, are you questioning Britt’s religious purity?
Porny histrionics... perfect.
And Johansson perfectly satirized it!
They need to persuade her to make this a reoccurring character during this election season. Remember Tina Fey’s send up of Sarah Palin?
That was hilarious
I will be looking at the top shelve of my fridge....where i have jam, yogurt, walnuts, etc.
Yes, I loved that too, Sabrina. The memes were coming fast afterwards much to the delight of all of us who are not in the cult.
Democracy’s Blue Wave Warriors Looking to Our National Elections
From: WAPO, 202 Early, the paper’s morning newsletter
'President Biden and former president Donald Trump will spend the next eight months battling over six states that are likely to determine the presidential election: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.'
'Several of those states are also at the center of a battleground that’s gotten much less attention: the fight for control of state legislatures.'
'Democrats are trying to flip the state House and Senate in Arizona after Democrat Katie Hobbs won the governorship in 2022, giving the party control of state government.'
'In Pennsylvania, Republicans are working to flip a single seat to retake the state House, which Democrats won in 2022.'
'And Republicans are seeking to recapture the state House and state Senate in Michigan, which Democrats won in 2022, allowing Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to pass her agenda through the legislature.'
'THE BATTLE IN WISCONSIN'
'The latest battleground is Wisconsin, where Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed new maps into law last month that both parties agree will allow Democrats to win more seats in November. “I think we can win the Assembly,” Evers told us last month.'
'The new maps mean “it’ll be difficult, but it’ll be equally difficult on both sides,” he added.'
'Taking back the Wisconsin Senate will be tougher because only half the seats are up for reelection this year, with the other half up in 2026.'
'But Evers said he hopes that taking back the Assembly and narrowing Republicans’ margin in the state Senate might allow him to achieve his top priority: expanding Medicaid in the state. Wisconsin is one of 10 states that haven’t expanded Medicaid since the Affordable Care Act provisions allowing states to cover more residents under the program took effect a decade ago.'
“I know there are Republicans that understand the issue of Medicaid expansion who I’ve talked to,” 'Evers said'. “Can we pick off a couple of ones to get that done? Absolutely.”
'REPUBLICAN CONFIDENCE'
'Robin Vos, the longtime Assembly speaker, scoffed at the idea Democrats would win back the chamber.'
“We consistently see that Republican Assembly members outrun the top of the ticket by anywhere from three to six points,” Vos said. “So if Wisconsin is again a 50-50 state, either won by President Trump or won by President Biden, that means we’ll probably win most of the competitive races.”
'Still, Republicans' 'margins will depend to some extent on how strong Trump and Biden run, he said.'
'Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer said Democrats heard from more than 100 people interested in running for the Assembly in the first week after Evers signed the new maps.
Biden carried 49 of the 99 newly drawn Assembly districts in 2020, according to Wisconsin Democrats — but Evers carried 52 when he won reelection in 2022. Control of the Assembly could come down to which party does a better job of running ahead of the top of the ticket.
But state legislative candidates’ door-knocking could also help Biden or Trump carry Wisconsin.'
“We understand that everyone who we get out to the ballot is very likely to vote for Sen. Tammy Baldwin and President Joe Biden, as well,'” Neubauer said. “They understand that they want to see our candidates be successful, too. So I think we do all see our fates as tied.”
'THE BIG PICTURE'
'Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which coordinates the party’s efforts in state legislative races across the country, has not gone as far as Evers in predicting Democrats can retake the Assembly. The DLCC is assessing the new maps, she said.'
“We’ve got opportunities to make real, meaningful gains,” 'Williams told us.'
'Democrats are prioritizing state legislatures after gerrymandering helped Republicans win unified control of the governorship and the legislature in 23 states by 2014, while Democrats controlled only seven. Republicans still control 23 state capitals, but Democrats are in control in 17 states now. (Nine state capitals are under divided control, while Nebraska’s legislature is nonpartisan.)'
'Along with races in swing states, Democrats’ top targets this cycle are holding on to their majorities in the Minnesota House and retaking control of both chambers in New Hampshire. They’re also seeking to break Republicans’ veto-proof legislative majorities in Kansas and North Carolina, both of which have Democratic governors, and make gains in Georgia and other states.'
'The Republican State Leadership Committee didn’t respond to a request for comment.'
'But in a January memo, the RSLC argued Republicans need to invest more in early and mail voting.'
“The days of complacency have come to an end,” 'the memo reads.' “Democrats were able to overtake our largest ever investment into Virginia by committing to spend over $7 million dollars in three weeks down the final stretch of the Virginia elections. The only way to defend our majorities, reclaim majorities, and grow our party is direct investment into state legislative races to counter outside national liberal groups who are pouring more money into the states year after year.”
'ARIZONA: A SUPER BATTLEGROUND'
'There are few places where the fights for control of Washington and state legislatures align more than in Tucson’s northern suburbs.'
'Arizona is a presidential swing state.'
'There’s a crucial race for the seat Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I) is relinquishing.'
'Freshman Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R) is running for reelection in a district Biden barely won in 2020.'
'Abortion rights advocates are working to get a measure on the ballot.
And Democrats are targeting state House and Senate seats in the 17th District.'
'Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly and Hobbs carried the 17th District when they won in 2022, and Democrats are making it a top target this year. The party needs to flip only two seats in the state House and two in the Senate to win a trifecta (as it’s called when one party controls the governorship and the legislature).'
'Kevin Volk, a housing developer who’s running for state House as a Democrat, started knocking on doors in January and estimates he’s hit about 500 so far. He’s emphasizing three issues in his campaign: abortion rights, water and education.'
“Arizona politically seems like the belle of the ball for the first time,” Volk said, referring to the competitive races at the state and federal levels. “And that’s translated to a lot of on-the-ground enthusiasm.” (WAPO, Analysis by Theodoric Meyer and Leigh Ann Caldwell with research by Tobi Raji) Copied in full.
Where in all this are you active, Fern, directly or indirectly
Just playing a part in keeping democracy alive in the US and beyond in Ukraine, in Israel, wherever we can by way of spreading the facts/news, on the battlefield, writing postcards, voting ...volunteering, donating ...working together.
Speaking of the battlefield, last night a Feature Documentary, won an Oscar for "20 Days in Mariupol". The Academy Award was the first Oscar for the Associated Press (AP) & PBS' FRONTLINE. The first-person documentary was produced at GBH in Boston, Mass. Season 2023, Episode 22.
I received a Link from FRONTLINE this am to watch the film again, but "20 Days in Mariupol" is streaming & widely available. "Russians have entered the City".
"I have no illusions".
What I loved most about that was when producer/director Mstyslav Chernov, accepting the award for his entire team, said "This is one Oscar that I wish I hadn't won," meaning his real hope was/is for ending this horrible war and having peace restored for all. It was one of the most touching moments in the show.
Great to alert us to viewing opportunities to see '20 Days in Mariupol', thank you, Bryan Sean McKown
Hearty congratulations to the AP and Frontline. The award was well deserved.
Thank you for posting this.
re THIS: "after gerrymandering helped Republicans win unified control of the governorship and the legislature in 23 states by 2014, while Democrats controlled only seven. "
I keep telling myself to look forward, to donate where I can to state-level folks (and yes I do postcards as well) and to stop crying over spilled milk. But I still cannot NOT be angry at the Natl Democratic Party's blind arrogance after Obama won - to utterly ignore the states. I think of it, and the word DISGRACEFUL keeps coming to mind. ok, now I've vented (lol)
Deb A, I think by paying attention to the posted report and the mistakes made by the Democratic Party, you are focusing on what you/we need to do. You will identify the states and the candidates for seats in the Senate and the House that you will support in the ways that you can. We are in a war against fascism; you know that, so, in communicating with folks you'll be friendly, listen and exchange thoughts. You are an engaged citizen, learning what you can do and do your best. You encourage me, Deb A.., to be at my best as well. Cheers!
- plus, I'm really old (LOL) so a lot of it is in *my* personal history; it's not merely "history"
EX: Here's a memory: Hearing My mom (who with my Dad, was in the St Louis Orch way back when, when I was a toddler, as baby Unions were trying to get silly things such as breaks (!)...)-- as she would tell me how back in St Louis, the McCarthyites came knocking on our door looking for (she quoted them) "Commies and Union Organizers"
I like to think of it as coming from 'good union stock'
anyhoo, I'll let you go now - thx again for your wonderful post
-dsa
Deb A, your words, background, humor and HISTORY! brought a deep, wide smile to me inside and out! Thank you! I love 'good union stock'; the smile got bigger. Thank you!
Fern, I love you! You are a born optimist and one I adore rubbing shoulders with!
Marlene, I smiled warmly at your dear compliment; in part because I was not a born optimist, and, in another part, I'm still not. I take what I can from the good teachers here and there. Your support, humor, realism, curiosity, determination, care and love are unbeatable. Thank you!
It’s one of their biggest disasters because it clearly demonstrates Republican’s con job right in front of people’s eyes.
Here we have a woman “real estate agent” talking from her ugly but expensive kitchen in her affluent, protected neighborhood, who has a powerful job as a Senator in real life, but knuckled subserviently under to sell other women on moving to Gilead.
HA! Her kitchen was ugly, wasn’t it? Devoid of any plants, color, or warmth. Bet it was not her kitchen…
That is the issue.
Eventually everyone gets thrown under the bus….yet… they stay screwed ..is it by or to MAGA?
You Republicans so patiently wait for the knife put in your back.
I wrestled most the night about fine lines. How to weigh dissent, how to better present the only choice left. With 7 years of consistent ‘disastrous’ leadership of what used to be the Republican Party …the lies, the excuses, the blatant dictatorship is the ONLY elephant in the room.
Their baby got thrown out with the muddied water.
Principle vs loyalty.
Democracy vs Autocracy
Love vs Control
Freedom vs Submission
💙VOTE ALL THE COMPLICIT OUT💙
Scarlett Johansen should have received the Oscar last night for her SNL performance of the most pathetic political lie (masquerading as a rebuttal) ever. Now it's up to the liberal media to talk about the lie Britt told and the truth Heather researched and revealed.
Langford, Romney, even Cheney - when they come out and plead emphatically to Republicans to VOTE for Biden in November; when they hit the campaign trail for Joe, then maybe I’ll trust them a little. Until then, they’re just posturing for leadership in the future - if the Republican party survives this election.
Agreed, Until they stand up and without ANY caveats endorse a Democratic vote/win in November, they have zero credibility with me for simply saying they won't support tRump. For me, that is such a given that it doesn't even get any notice from me.
As soon as Britt's video was viewed, the immediate comments on youtube were about the anticipation of an SNL parody. Everyone thought it was so bazaar.
Well, it WAS an attempt to sell... something.
Giliad.
😂
Hi Alexandra,
I’m copying my general comment here to share more videos:
“Some feedback on Britt’s SOTU rebuttal and of and of anti-woman [and other] Republicanism legislations such as axing IVF.
https://x.com/sfpelosi/status/1766589745079939412?s=46
https://x.com/fridaghitis/status/1766645353325940904?s=46
https://x.com/jessanderson4va/status/1766099839786312169?s=46
https://x.com/rachelbitecofer/status/1766297908754931820?s=46
https://x.com/kanngera/status/1766302168196243458?s=46
https://x.com/politicsusa46/status/1766402578064060605?s=46
https://x.com/aprilajoyr/status/1766227092012703853?s=46
https://x.com/bowmaninc/status/1766019380310163785?s=46
( YouTube version https://youtu.be/UJ129K0Q0-Q?si=jQfEZqcG4kjhLU5W )
https://x.com/achangewillcome/status/1766491095486124509?s=46
https://x.com/nickknudsenus/status/1766308578904998127?s=46
With some Fundie Baby Voice:
https://x.com/aprilajoyr/status/1765510365859713332?s=46
https://x.com/smoke_nd_pearlz/status/1766848129574285324?s=46
On Infrastructure Bill outcome: https://x.com/notcapnamerica/status/1765101940172591198?s=46
Republicans don’t like women: https://x.com/iampoliticsgirl/status/1762889587675029834?s=46 “””
Listened to a few, Fridi Gitis was at the top of her game, no fooling. Alas, it's Culture Wars ...
Her reply was spot on.
Thank you for the research!
That last one, republicans don't like women, spells it out thru recent history. I'm not on X/twitter or I'd resend it to everyone.
You could copy and paste my link from my comment and share it that way.
Just now tried to find your comment, can't even find my own, or the one I was responding to. If you could put your link in a reply to me, I'd greatly appreciate it!
Lisa thank you for these!
I've put a couple to open in separate tabs and really got a kick out of Politics Gal's video of Mr Bearded Guy pointing to Law after Law after Law, which women needed - but that Rs voted against. Brilliant!
BTW - I am also not on Twitter/X, but note for others such as Diane who just posted here, that one may CC and paste any particular Twitter/X link into an Email that you send to others. (yay!)
Said Twitter/X link will open and can be read; it's only the replies which no longer appear thanks to Elon.
Ken Burns interviewed Cassidy Hutchinson who, to me, with a bit of face blindness and bad hearing sounds more like Katie Britt and had a similar "conservative" background and beliefs. Cassidy, though is further along in reevaluating her loyalty and principles in a way I hope Katie Britt can, the sooner the better.
I watched the first video of the interview which had the machine generated "imperfect transcript" but found the same video at: https://www.pbs.org/video/unum-chat-ken-burns-and-cassidy-hutchinson-ksd93f/
That version has the same video but added access to the human corrected transcript at: https://ga.pbs-video.pbs.org/captions/unum/3aa731d4-0e4f-4cfd-8b96-3737ee59ca14/captions/MmRKQ1_caption_en.txt
Cassidy can sound very similar to Katie Britt, but the observations and changes in views she came to by being so close to the highest inner workings as White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows' Assistant, give me hope that people like Katie Britt can become a bit more enlightened about honoring oaths and doing the right thing at the right time despite what the party might wish they would ignore. They don't have to change their basic conservative principles, just follow their conscience and honor their oaths to do it at least within the bounds of laws and principled ethics.
I remember a bit of my parents' and grandparents' appreciation of Margaret Chase Smith when she called out Joe McCarthy (and a Professor who I'd have a bite to eat with after economics class). The Professor had campaigned for Joe McCarthy and worked for or with him (as had Robert Kennedy) for a while though it seemed he was helping both the HUAC House Committee and the Senate Subcommittee chaired by McCarthy. Both the Professor and RFK seemed to resign when McCarthy went off the deep end with wilder accusations about 3 years in. I'd like to know more, especially about the timings to see how it might relate to: https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/investigations/mccarthy-hearings/a-declaration-of-conscience.htm
"...Four months earlier, McCarthy had rocketed to national attention. In a well-publicized speech in Wheeling, West Virginia, he claimed to possess the names of 205 card-carrying communists in the State Department. Smith, like many of her colleagues, shared McCarthy's concerns about communist subversion, but she grew skeptical when he repeatedly ignored her requests for evidence to back-up his accusations. “It was then,” she recalled, “that I began to wonder about the validity... and fairness of Joseph McCarthy’s charges...”
Katie 'cahcah' Britt! Put her in a closet with Santos. And, while we're at it, make sure Rikers (Island prison) is preparing a table unto "him"... #45.
Nobody admitted anything Alexandra.
One guy said that.
They dont even have to get the most votes.
Most people in Europe are betting Trump wins - the American people are certainly capable of electing him.
You can read more Republican comments here, but it doesn't sound like you're open to convincing. As someone who lives half in the UK and is married to a UK journalist, I would say most people in Europe aren't -betting- that criminal wins. What they are is -terrified- he will steal the election.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/08/katie-britt-sotu-reaction
Me too, or his minions who have spent much time and many $$$ on Project 2025.
Alexandra, I love The Guardian and this link was fabulous! :)
Thanks for the link. I often read that paper.
Yes, Charlie Kirk - the white supremacist anti-education guy. He has a big voice, he shouldn't be taken as seriously as he is.
.
He thinks he could have done better, but that's only because he's a misogynist too.
Charlie KIrk is Tucker in drag. He’s an obnoxious POS!
Republicans know they can't win statewide races they can't gerrymander without stealing, and they are working diligently to ensure they are successful this time, like Bush vs Gore.
Well they seem to be getting away with it, Tracy.
Is there nothing we can do to save civilisation?
Degerrymanderization?
I just don't know. I fear that it will take things going in the tank before business leaders realize their customers are dying or going broke before they come to their senses.
i think the word is "terrified".
True that, Alexandra!
Scarlett Johansson's spoof was soooo good, she should have won a previously unannounced Academy Award last night!!
When she said" I'm the craziest bitch in the Target parking lot", I nearly lost it, I was laughing so hard
WTH (what the hell) is tffg? Have you ever googled it? I just did. Is it “Truth for the final generation”?? Please FMI (fill me in)Thank you!
If it means that HCR lays out here that if Trump is not done for then we are, I agree.
I thought it meant The F**king Former Guy…referring to Trump. Oh my, did I make that up?
No, you didn’t. That’s correct.
Thank you. I knew I wasn’t that creative!!
😝
June, I believe the origin was with President Biden, when he refers to his "predecessor" as "the former guy". Some folks add a "colorful metaphor" for fornication as the second "f".
Thank you!
I see LFAA has filled you in, June! I don't like to use his name.
100%. "Of course their biggest disaster ever is ttfg".
Amazing, their unawareness and disconnectedness of the R party. It is a mass delusion based on the big lie. How long can so many live in this delusional world ttfg has created for them? What is the real cost to the masses of true believers? How much damage is this doing to their psyche's, families, work, and communities? Do they ever experience any joy away from their politics of paranoia, delusion, and domination? I think we need to call the Big Lie something else as it has evolved and the masses now believe the big lie to be fact. "The Big Delusion".
I agree, Alexandra. People like Romney and Lankford are too afraid to leave the party they once knew. It doesn’t exist anymore because the likes of Trump have destroyed it. There are those who felt a tremendous embarrassment about Britt’s pathetic rebuttal. What’s more important though, is that Biden delivered a fiery speech. As they say, the proof is in the pudding, he and Harris have been delivering progress based on promises they made with energy, climate, and manufacturing. I loved that he referenced his age as using new ideas instead of old ones. Change is coming in spite of Putin’s puppets and it’s going to be great!
Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA), I loved it too that he went head on at the topic of age and thought it was brilliant of the speechwriter or whomever to reframe it as old ideas vs new ideas. It was perfect because it not only described President Biden positively with specific admirable characteristics but it tied the undesirable characteristics of old thinking/ideas directly to the R's and the former guy. Take that, Dark Brandon is in the House!
yes! Old ideas, of fear and hate, not love and family, and progress, and science, and caring, and helping. We need to re-frame the focus!
Marlene, 100% agree. Great speech by Biden, just the ticket! And everyone had to admit it. You could tell how effective it was just watching Johnson's face getting more and more sour as it went on.
I loved watching Johnson’s reaction to that speech!!What a jerk!!I can’t stand him!!
lol i couldn't help laughing, it was so cringeworthy! Hey, remember when Nancy demonstratively tore up Trump's State of the Union copies behind his back for all to see!
As I did Thursday night I will think of Nancy tearing up the papers every time I watch the SOTU.
lol
Remember when we were kids( all those years ago)? And there was that lonely pitiful kid who everyone picked on cause he was so obnoxious and whiny and offensive. You felt sorry for him and may have stood up for him or made excuses for the poor creature. But you never noticed that that kid ,when given the chance , dominated kids weaker than him? Well that kid and others like him are now in positions of power and threatening our democracy. Why because they feel entitled and because they can. Sadly my little kid self would probably still protect him.
It was just theater. It happens at every State of the Union address by a Democrat. It is sickening that people with this much power and influence need to cravenly perform for their deplorable cultists.
Raspberries!
A good idea is a good idea if it's accurate, beneficial and it works. Old, new, young. old, we're all part of what makes America worth the effort.
It sounds like there are people getting onboard with the Democrats because of his amazing speech!!He’s an Amazing president!!Vote blue!!💙
''Change is coming in spite of Putin’s puppets and it’s going to be great!'' Exactly right. Thank you for your positivity!
When Mitch capitulated to the final humiliation, I was surprised because I thought he hated chump as much as I do. But I guess a republican Frankenstein is better than any democrat. That has been their position since Rupert hit our shores. Now it seems that Lachlan continues the anti-democracy crusade since daddy is contemplating another marriage to a retired Russian scientist, with ties to money and mob. Too bad abortion can’t be retroactive to the date of that devil’s conception.
Mitch, like Lankford and so many others, are Southern Baptists out and out, Trump's win gave Mitch just the political ammunition and cunning to turn the Supremes into a right-wing anti-abortion supermajority, who consistently lied abt the issues during their confirmation hearings. Sue Collins wasn't happy, but whatever, who's she on the map anyway?
She was “concerned.”
And clutching her pearls...
Your last line, Jeri…👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼!!
"Orbán’s takeover of the press, elimination of rival political parties, partisan gerrymandering, capture of the courts, and control of Hungary’s government are not just ideological, though, but also economic. Corruption and the capture of valuable factories and properties for cronies have allowed Orbán and his allies to amass fortunes. "
TFFG's meeting with Urban must have thrilled him no end. There is no way that TFFG can meet with Putin before the election. Instead, he has someone better that had actually done all of the things that TFFG dreams about.
We the People are fighting an uphill battle right now. TFFG is grifting his hats, shirts, shoes and any other trinket he can sell for 100 times its value.
And he still struggled to come up with the first $90 million bond. Warrant Buffett loves to make loans like the bond with Trump. He almost got the Williams Pipeline several years ago when they were grossly overextended. Instead he only made 9% on the loan.
The bond holders could end up with dozens of pieces of Trump's empire and they sure as heck won't leave his name on them. If he's still alive when that happens he will never recover.
Unless his dementia has progressed to the point he has no clue what is going on.
Oh, wat! /S
https://open.substack.com/pub/sethabramson/p/experts-said-for-weeks-that-trump?r=3hwn3&utm_medium=ios
Where the money came from and what it means.
Couldn’t read the whole article but I want to know about the Greenbergs!! Can you fill us in as Seth has a subscription to his page?
Seth’s substack is called “Proof.” I think he’s offering a 7-day free trial? (I’m on phone right now …) First article about this topic was I think Friday.
Nope, you have to pay, but thanks for the reveal about the Greenbergs. If they’re Jewish, and I suspect they are, they are probably Ultra orthodox which is a big UGH for me.
I’m sorry. No way to gift that I can see.
"The party they once knew" is a true fallacy. The GOP of the 50s and 60s was a stringent white right-wing party which put on a good "face" but they were as closed to blacks and other people of color and gays and women as were conservative supper clubs of that era.
The only real difference I see between the GOP of the 50s-70s and the MagaTs of today is that today no one is even worried about just coming out and boldly calling for racism and fascism. "Deport the libs". No one said that back in the 50s, but believe me, they all believed it and wanted it.
Being raised Jewish in a Southern Baptist NC town, we were not permitted, nor were blacks, to join any country clubs. But blacks, of course, were employed as janitors, dishwashers, servers, and lawn keepers but God forbid be invited to become a member!
A "slave without being a slave" economy, yup. Somewhere along the journey, the GOP minions decided to show a "kinder, gentler" side by permitting a FEW blacks and jews and others (the ones who knew how to behave, like Clarence Thomas and Stephen Miller) to join, but I believe in the long run, they will still show their true colors and frankly they still don't even LIKE let alone LOVE their fellow humans no matter what their color or religion or viewpoints.
I hope you are correct. God do i hope it.
“There’s nobody that’s better, smarter or a better leader than Viktor Orbán. He’s fantastic,” Trump said on Friday. Trump said that Orbán simply says, “‘This is the way it’s going to be,’ and that’s the end of it, right? He’s the boss and…he’s a great leader, fantastic leader. In Europe and around the world, they respect him.”
Thank you, Heather, for reporting on this. This excerpt above should be a clear warning sign.
The admiration of autocratic tendencies under the guise of strong leadership is indeed a worrying trend that starkly contrasts with the core values of American democracy. The United States, founded on principles of freedom, equality, and the rule of law, cannot afford to glamorize or endorse leaders who consolidate power at the expense of democratic institutions and civil liberties.
The systematic dismantling of democratic checks and balances, as observed in Hungary under Viktor Orbán's rule, should serve as a cautionary tale, not a blueprint for governance. The concentration of power, suppression of dissent, and manipulation of the electoral system erode the very foundations of a free society. When leaders prioritize personal and political gain over the public good, democracy is in peril.
American democracy thrives on pluralism, the rule of law, and a vibrant civil society. These principles enable constructive debate, hold leaders accountable, and ensure that power remains in the hands of the people. Endorsing a leader who undermines these ideals not only betrays the spirit of American democracy but also emboldens those who seek to weaken democratic institutions worldwide.
It's crucial that we recognize the importance of safeguarding democratic norms and processes. The admiration for autocratic leaders reflects a misunderstanding of what true leadership entails. Leadership is about serving the people, not subjugating them; it's about building consensus, not consolidating power; it's about championing the rights of all citizens, not enriching a select few.
As citizens committed to the ideals of democracy, it is our responsibility to stand against authoritarian tendencies and to promote a governance model that respects freedom, ensures accountability, and upholds justice. Let us remember the lessons of history and reaffirm our commitment to a democratic society that values the dignity and rights of every individual.
Speak up. Speak out. Vote. Pray.
"Autocratic rule"?
The man's a thief.
A thief who's stolen a country.
Orban and Putin have a lot in common. Eliminate opposition. Enrich the oligarchs. Not a lot different than the kings of yesteryear. Find some nobles to fight for you. Give them some of the taxes in exchange for support.
Does anyone know if there is a meaningful active opposition to Orban functioning in Hungary now? Is revolution possible?
If you read about how he came to this place - Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat has documented his process well as has Anne Applebaum and Masha Gessen.
Those three are on top of it. Sadly, they are not getting the attention/following they have earned. Maybe a few quotes from their writings would be well received here, Rickey.
Unfortunately there is no meaningful active opposition to in Hungary. At least not one with any hope of ousting Orban.
From an article (link below):
“Hungary is not a democracy anymore, The parliament is a decoration for a one-party state.” Quoted from a member of the Hungarian parliament who had left office.
“In order for a Hungarian-style system to come to America, the GOP — not just Trump, but the party as a whole — would need to play a significant role. And Republican legislators, at both the state and national level, have shown a willingness to deploy Fidesz-like tactics that undermine the fairness of the democratic system.” (Note: Fideesz is the ruling party in Hungary)
“The similarities between [Trump and Orban] are hard to miss. Trump, like Orbán, is personally disdainful of constraints on his power and the free press. Trump, like Orbán, has built his political career around anti-immigrant populism.” (When in office) “Trump, like Orbán, has bent the powers of state toward personal enrichment — and allowed his top officials to do the same.”
“But what worries me the most isn’t the obvious Trump-Orbán similarities. It’s the parallels between the Republican Party and Fidesz.”
Here’s the link:
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/9/13/17823488/hungary-democracy-authoritarianism-trump
While written six years ago it’s as pertinent today as when it was written. If you read it you’ll understand what’s going on with the Trump, the GOP, and Orban. I really wish everyone would read it. We’d All have a much much better understanding of what we’re up against.
Thank you!
Hey Bill,
George T is correct; Orban's 'Fidesz" party has a supermajority, now he's gerrymandered the country. BUT the country may grow tired of the blatant corruption and horrifying sex scandals (one may hope)
Here is POLITICO/EU from a couple weeks back
Roiled by scandal, Hungary names new president
Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party chooses obscure judge to replace Katalin Novák after sex-abuse pardon case.
https://www.politico.eu/article/roiled-by-scandal-hungary-names-new-president/
When the rule of law !!APPEARS!! unenforceable, thieves create the time to take it all. The absolute necessity of democracy carefully, accurately, institutionally slow walking individual rights to accountability becomes the perfection cancelling the good of resolution for victims of the violation. Ethics. Yeah, right. We apparently won't live that long.
Marilyn,
At a time like this -- a turning point -- the best and the worst come into their own.
I first saw this a long, long time ago.
After the Hungarian uprising in 1956 against Soviet-imposed dictatorship, those who escaped to the West were among the country's best... and criminals for whom chaos is their element.
Our society may be sick, but... WE'RE ALIVE... approaching crisis now, and determined to come through if we can.
One way or another, we may lose battles, but we shall overcome.
I've spelled it elsewhere in this thread.
What we are up against now are the scrapings at the bottom of the capitalist barrel:
Worldwide organized crime.
You could call it INTERCRIME.
Like INTERPOL, only more powerful.
But let's not grace the Mob with any higher name, like fascism...
The sooner our leaders, our judges, the DOJ, the FBI and law enforcement in general wake up to the vile reality, the better.
Wake up and act... if they can still remember what action is and means...
To your point: The rise of crime and the lowering of governments able to protect it's citizen. To wit, well armed and organized gangs that are stronger than Haiti's government, the none-state Hamas waging war in its own territory and against its own people, militia style cartels and criminals capable of taking control over towns and regions, ISSIS as a non-nation force capable of gaining power and control within countries where is breeds, theocracies that become the within-nation governing powers that replace legitimate conservative or liberal governments, Putin ignoring international laws in favor of a capacity to gain new territories with minor concern among US Congressmen, the emptiness of a nation's pledge to support its allies when the party out of power shows who can invalidate our claim to being a country led by its duly elected President.
Let me add to your statements…they’re all men! MEN!
Reaganomics = The rise of crime and the lowering of governments able to protect it's citizen.
The rule of law or rule by law. Putin rules by law as does Obran. They took the law and used it to rule. Do what I ask, give me my cut or I have the police shut you down. Bill Browder spelled it out in Red Notice.
Kind of like how the mob controlled the unions and communities offering "protection" from criminals.
RULE of men, not of law. Edict, not social contract.
Any resemblance between law and what the Putin regime calls law is fortuitous. Everything is an extension of the Executive, legislature, judges, police, the military, all doing what the Thing-at-the-Top orders them to.