I find it deeply disturbing that statements like those attributed to Madison, made by Republicans like Barr and those on the committee questioning Justice Jackson, are not corrected and clarified to the greater public. Where are the headlines and stories telling the truth? I fear that my
children and grandchildren will lose the rights we…
I find it deeply disturbing that statements like those attributed to Madison, made by Republicans like Barr and those on the committee questioning Justice Jackson, are not corrected and clarified to the greater public. Where are the headlines and stories telling the truth? I fear that my
children and grandchildren will lose the rights we thought were guaranteed by the Constitution and the Supreme Court.
"Madison was on to something when he warned that there was a connection between establishing a religion and destroying American democracy. At the same time Republican lawmakers are now talking about rolling back popular civil rights in order to serve Christianity, they are also taking away the right to vote and appear to be looking to set a minority into power over the majority."
The GOP are destroying every single democratic lifeline in this country! They are hell bent on ruling and immersing the US into totalitarian mire!
Rowshan, With each reading of your comment, I grow increasingly outraged that far too many, despite apparent threats nearly everywhere we look, don’t fully appreciate how precious basic liberal democracy is, how hard it is to cultivate, and how hard it is to sustain.
If we’re now in an era wherein liberal democracy and openness between nations is backsliding, then what’s largely going to rescue us is us and, perhaps, the Ukrainians, who, in large measure, are showing us the way. Accordingly, let’s give them everything they say they need short of us provoking a shooting war with a nuclear power.
Barbara, what I'm afraid of is that we already have given them everything they say they need. We didn't give it willingly; it was cleverly taken from us. Now we are alarmed that our democracy is at risk. I didn't see much alarm before the grand theater and threat of nuclear war and a full-out war in Europe.
Americans are remarkable at not seeing what is unpleasant and might cause us any discomfort and, so, since Mr. Reagan, since Nixon's Southern Strategy, since ever single Republican since then, the proverbial handwriting has been on the wall. These folks are not even subtle or secretive about what they are doing. They don't have to be.
Dean, If one believes, as I do, that were Putin to annex Ukraine, he would expand his fascist mission, then short of putting American and NATO troops on the ground or in the air, in my view, we must 1) continue to resupply Ukraine with needed munitions and 2) provide the weaponry Ukraine requires to enforce its own no-fly zone.
Barbara, I mostly agree and have reservations only about the no-fly zone which I think most people, clamoring for one, dom't understand--which you clearly do. Too many I've talked to, seem to have the idea that we declare a no-fly zone snd they don't fly. Whew
George, Though I appreciate your kinds words, I would note that I referenced the Ukrainians because, against all odds, they are resisting Putin’s efforts to humiliate them and bring them to their knees until they have no choice but to agree to be who he says they are.
I have to add an interesting fact. I have been registered as an independent since age 18, but I voted for Reagan, twice, because of his tough stance on Russia. I was afraid of what they could do then! The irony of this is now brought home every day. There is no LeCarre novel where a Democratic president and a band of Ukrainian fighters take down a Russian autocrat! It breaks my heart that what’s left of the “greatest generation” is willing to follow a baboon off a cliff, but I have deep and abiding hope that Biden and Zeilinsky will lead the rest of us to a better world.
In the spirit of AG Barr let me rephrase his words: The law, I say, “is being used as a battering ram to break down traditional democratic values” through judicial interpretation. I (we) call for saving that extraordinarily unique American experiment of the right of the people to govern themselves by recentering and reinvigorating that essential American democratic ideal.
That’s why we have to organize, register voters, organize, canvass, organize, phone bank, never rest for the midterms. Mitch can NOT get the reins back or he’ll Garland the rest of SC.
If we had only done those things even a decade ago, but it's late in the game now. The Supreme Court has cut any federal backup for voting rights right out from under us as, state by state, they are manipulated and destroyed. I've lost track of the number of states passing these laws that will make it very hard to vote or to tally votes with any integrity.
Dean, I think you will see the GOP start over riding votes during the midterms in the 19 States they have effectively voter suppressed. They have made it clear they are out for blood and will stop at nothing to get it.
The Federalist Society has been around in one form or another for a long time. They are the folks who had a list of young, alt-right, judges--many with no experience at all--waiting for Mr. Trump's election. They gave the list to McConnell who used it to bargain with the new president for a few items he wanted. The list was long enough to fill the empty federal benches coast to coast. Young, untried, grateful, many not too bright, appointed for life. And if you want a skin-crawling experience (I lasted not quite ten minutes) go to YouTube and watch Mike Pence's speech. That man has been handled, polished, and rehearsed. I had one moment during my ten when I thought I was watching a clip from The Manchurian candidate.
Mr. Pence is bankrolled by the remaining Koch brother who has renounced Trump but not his policies.
Rowshan, I agree entirely. That Bill Barr stated that "people are inherently evil," and he apparently fraternizes with only Republicans, I can see how his thinking has been corrupted by the evil in those that he supports, i.e., Donald Trump and most of the current GOP legislators. The utopia that he envisions is one in which the president has unlimited power, and the minority will be able to rule with unfettered power. Apparently, even Christianity isn't a valid prerequisite, since so many that he admires couldn't possibly qualify. So many who claim to be Christians are anything but that. Since he claims to be such a scholar, we should assume that his Madison comments were deliberately misconstrued, and not taken from the original text.
These folks are incredibly well organized and have worked themselves into positions of power. Their greatest weakness seems to be that they are certifiably unwell. They have come close to a coup on our precious democracy and we should all take them very seriously. This is worth a look. https://mobile.twitter.com/DempseyTwo/status/1507499972165517316
I agree with you.These lies being attributed to Madison and other Founding Fathers need to be pointed out by the mainstream media as the lies that they are.Separation of church and state is clearly talked about in the U S Constitution.I am appalled that these right wing extremists are talking about Jesus Christ as if he would agree with any of the things being attributed to him.It just keeps getting worse with these zealots.
For me, it seems to boil down to a need to eliminate Citizen's United. Transparency is emphatically needed for the voter to actually understand the larger, now essentially invisible, forces that grab for power and influence in our government. IMHO, it frequently seems that the radical religious right will not be happy until they can once again (as in Europe from which our founding father fled)dictate their version of reality and morality). Barr's comments were stunning in 2019 and I never understood why it did not cause more public outcry from .....????
Agree. Some are calling out Christian leadership as if leadership believes in the teachings of Jesus. The political Christians USE…they are the bishops in this political chess game and it has been true since at least the first crusades, in order to gain resources and revenue for the crown. Payout for the church. Pawns … the general mostly white small town public, won’t likely gain this understanding until in some fashion, they are willing to cross cultural lines / even by reading/ meeting people/ to understand the point of view and history of people that were killed or enslaved, people not in their cultural group. We have to risk being uncomfortable. Without question, Christians and the right are in the judicial process of whitewashing…banning all that think differently and those that see the scam for a reason….the right makes it abt gender differences and race and immigration and bug infestations and disease… because that is what populations fear and will fight against. Anything to divide, conquer and separate is useful to they that want control… their minions will hand it to them because they are fearful of stepping outside comfort zones
As long there are cars, alcohol, sugar, fast food and tv… many see life as good…
My question is : who is representing the crown? Who will stand to profit most from the complete social ransacking we will surely get?
They talk of freedom as if it is for we the people. It is freedom from us, for them. Who is them? Who are these oppressors?
I am hopeful more people will see through this giant social scam, and stop trading away their rights to those that will eventually eat them for dinner.
Oh wow K. Barnes your comment struck like both hinds to the forehead. The image of religion being the ultimate demise of European royalty has been banging around in my head all morning.
Of course, I was referring to the idea that our earliest forefathers struck out across the ocean in order to escape the Royal dictates of oppressive state religions. Full circle it would seem. Does that help your head?
Victoria, I agree, however, it appears to me that too many of the talking heads in today's MSM are as clueless of the history and correct context as that segment of their audience who needs such instruction! There seems to be a real dearth of intellectual curiosity among the public. Maybe it was always there and I just missed it.
I wrote about this yesterday...so many Americans, especially on the Right, are seemingly content to let the talking heads interpret everything FOR them rather than taking the effort to read or research things for themselves. It is intellectual laziness. They'll argue a point because they saw/heard it on right-wing media, without going to the source themselves to check for validity. They can't be bothered with the truth. They only ascribe to the truth AS TOLD TO THEM. Responsible citizens, especially now in these days of so much misinformation and manipulation of information, owe it to themselves to expend a little effort to get to the facts. They need to stop letting the "nattering nabobs" (wasn't that a Spiro Agnew turn of phrase?) of their press determine everything they believe and stop accepting anything they hear as factual. As has so often been said "democracy is NOT a spectator sport"!
We train children to believe the “truth” AS TOLD TO THEM in fundamentalist and evangelical churches. Then we wonder why they don’t question talking heads that start with statements that they’ve already heard delivered with the same emphasis as that used by their favorite preacher.
Again, people who go to fundamentalist/evangelical/Pentecostal churches don't seem to question what their clergy tells them. It's the same sort of authoritarianism--letting their leaders define EVERYTHING for them so they don't have to expend any energy searching for the truth--like we see in how they approach current events. A reminder: these are the same people who favour LITERAL interpretation of the Bible...no arguments, no dissent, no questions...believe these words just as they are...or else! (No use trying to tell them their "version" is a translation of a translation of a translation of a translation of a translation etc.) It's keeping your "flock" in line by scaring them to death. If you have to resort to fear to get your adherents to trust in what you're preaching, then you've got a faulty product you're trying to sell. This atmosphere of churches run by spiritual dictatorships is one of the main reasons I turned my back on these sects long ago, became a confirmed Episcopalian/Anglican, and never looked back.
The talking heads need to read these letters for historical perspective, but so many are interested in what sells. With the internet a lot of the public have become experts in science, medicine, international relations, and the Constitution, etc. I was at the dentist fairly recently and listened to an ignoramus tout his "scientific" background while denying global warming. I was there for a cleaning, not an argument, so I just listened and rolled my eyes. In the debates I have had on other threads, it's always know-it-alls who insist they have done the research, but usually default to personal insults because they have nothing. However, I know many people who I would not describe as intellectual who understand how awful and regressive Rs are which gives me hope.
Jesus (that I grew up with) has NO resemblance to the evil of today. They are not true believers in the biblical Jesus or they would be in fear for their immortal soul. It’s all in the Bible folks, you know, the Gospels
However, like the constitution they cherry-pick the bits and pieces of the scriptures that support their talking points. The evil genius of the repugs is they are ALL able to get behind a message (wrong though it may be) and control the airwaves and propaganda being spewed to the masses.
Money talks and money in politics distorts: follow the money: look at the websites for Donor's Trust and Federalist Society or the Koch Foundation. Frightening
Jeri, YES. The Good News. Still works, as simply defined by “that Nazarene.”
I haven’t labeled myself a “Christian” for a long time. Simply a follower of Christ. Absolutely fine with the real Madison, not the Barrian lie. (As I said to Mike S: Barr and his ilk want an intolerant autocratic theocracy to replace our beloved democracy. Their deity is the Self, not the Creator — whether they realize it or not. And it is always about heaven or hell, isn’t it.)
Judging is way, way above my pay grade; however, we are given the ability to “know” (Paul) the wolves, and call them out — and RUN.
I had to carefully read several times this letter in order to understand the subtleties of Madison’s thinking. I doubt that MSM with it’s need for concise sound bites that don’t really connect ideas of any complexity either understand or have the ability to educate the public on something that requires real thinking. We are becoming a nation of moronic sheep, led by charlatans who in truth are despicable, evidence of that was on full display during the Jackson hearing’s earlier this week, that woman has the patience of a saint, the scum that were questioning her integrity weren’t fit to polish her shoes much less sit in judgment about her fitness for the SC.
Rachel Maddow has chosen a bad time to leave her show!! She’s been doing the crucial work that we desperately need to understand these issues. Does she have any blogs or podcasts on current events that you know of?
Chris Hayes is trying to expand his coverage of the deeper problems we are facing, and I’ve appreciated his efforts.
She's working so hard on her production regarding Spiro Agnew ("Bag Man") - who knew all this would come up right when she took the leave to do that work?? She was back for a few days at the start of the Ukraine war, but was gone again too soon. I miss her too, but it seems to me the rest of her team is doing their best to fill the space. Sigh.
the media have no interest in fact-checking. first off, too many facts to check. second, they want people upset, yelling and throwing popcorn at the screen. they want a horse race. it's good for ratings. when things are explained, people calm down. that's called, bad tv.
Thank you Leslie, I strongly encourage that the Jan 6th Committe serve a subpoena to Ginni Thomas to come testify under oath about her "well doing" before, during & after the Jan 6th attack on the constitutional rule of law. There are many more Ginni Thomas communications to be published.
Not only Ginni Thomas should be subpoenaed but her husband, as well. Nobody can tell me he and “his bride”, as he calls her, didn’t quietly discuss her (their) plans. Isn’t it just so convenient that Clarence suddenly became ill after Ginni’s emails were leaked?
He should recuse himself from more than just the Jan6th cases. Thomas Clarence was the only SCOTUS vote against a discovery subpoena served on tfg. Per NYT's Johnny Diaz today, Clarence has been discharged from Sibley Sibley Memorial Hospital after being treated for an unspecified infection. I believe it was for virulent conflicts of interest.
He's not going to recuse himself unless Chief Justice Roberts insists. And probably not even then. Has it occurred to him and to his white wife that reinstating laws making interracial marriage illegal would make their own marriage illegal?
Thank you Michael for the Link. FYI, the Jan 6th Committee is
looking closely at Ginni Thomas's text to Mark Meadows referencing her talk with her " ... closest best friend just now" & other coordination & overt acts.
Why are the lies not corrected? Well, for one thing, not enough of us are standing up and correcting them, and insisting that mass media do so. And we can do that. Those of you who are on social media can post on your Facebook or Instagram or, Heaven forfend, your TikTok pages your protests against the lies, and your support for democracy. Those of us too old fashioned (or perhaps smart) for such outlets can write letters and to the editor and contribute to online comments calling out editors who do not respect truth. Those of use who take such actions already can do more of them.
If a substantial majority of Americans would protect a woman’s right to control of her own body, the right to freedom from religion as well as freedom of religion, and above all the right to choose those who lead us, why are those rights in danger? Because we do not work hard enough to defeat those who would shout us down. It really is that simple.
I use FB primarily for keeping in touch with friends and watching Heather's talks, and checking up on local issues. I need to reach beyond that silo if I am going to make a difference.
So I write letters directly to the writer or the editor, not with name-calling or blaming, but by pointing out what I object to and why, and point them to resources they could have used. This works for me because I read a lot across a variety of platforms, and sometimes actually become a resource.
But they need to hear from people who simply want more accurate and equitable coverage. They need to understand that is what we need and expect. I highly advise to leave out the snark and focus on building a relationship with media. My letters often result in real changes in how things are covered.
I also write supportive letters to politicians and nonprofits, even ones I don't belong to who are working for right causes, because so much of what they get is flak, and it wears them down. I don't have a lot of money, but I do give what I can as I can to support what they do for my grandchildren's future.
I think a lot of newer folk might not know, having come here by referral. You can find her easily: just type in Heather Cox Richardson in the search box and she should just pop up. The letters are in her posts, and have a different discussion group than substack.
And the treasure: look under the Video tab for her talks (she doesn't like to call them lectures, but they make for wonderful listening and learning). She does them live, usually twice a week, believe it or not, and each is around an hour, often a little more. Tuesday at 4, and I think Thursday at 2 (Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong about the time on this one- it changed recently with Heather's schedule and I'm not sure I've got it right).
One is a talk based on questions solicited from the folks who follow her. She selects several and stitches together a story with her answers. The other is a straight history talk on subjects she chooses, sometimes around the history behind current events and sometimes straight history, primarily in her specialty, the history of American politics. She is a terrific story-teller.
Welcome: you are just about to step into history wonderland.
She also does a podcast with another historian (and I apologize that her name escapes me: I'm never strong on names and I am tired*), the link to which is often posted on her FB page.
(* This just means that as soon as I go to bed, the other name will pop into my head)
Leslie, thank you for making this point. Other than a writer like Dr. Richardson, and those of us who have discovered her, I don't believe I've ever seen this sort of distortion of truth confronted in the media. There will occasionally be an op-ed piece in the NYTimes but where are the headlines?
"Investigation Into Clinton's Emails Re-Opened" two weeks before the election. Front page. Lead article.
"Investigation Opened: In An Attempt to Explain That America was Intended to have a National Religion, William Barr Uses Falsified Statements from Constitution Framer, James Madison" From page? Lead article?
I have never seen any such thing. Our mainstream media are remarkably silent on subjects like this, and the 24-hour news cycle guarantees that they disappear quickly.
I am afraid that we had lost this war before most of us realized it was much more than a skirmish. I look at my grandson, almost seven, and cannot imagine either his life so far or the world that lies ahead for him.
Dean, as a rational (?) grandparent I cannot imagine even the next two years for my family, or anyone else’s. Afraid you could be right, yet fighting hard because we must. Thank you, for saying out loud without resignation, what we all are are dealing with in our heads. Fight on, the kids deserve it!
Cliches don't make change and don't solve problems.
There are plenty of responsible media outlets out there, struggling to keep going. Try reading some. Try contributing to some: many of the best have become non-profits. Some of the very best are produced on a shoestring by people who are amazingly dedicated, or they would not be willing to do the work they do for what they get paid.
Let’s see… I support The Nation Mother Jones, TPM, The American Prospect, Anand Giridharadas, Laura Flanders, The Intercept, The New Republic, LFAA, all the podcasts at Cafe and more, but the problem with small outlets is there are so many, the competition for scarce dollars limits their ability.
I also subscribe to The Independent (guilty tabloid junky), NYT, WaPo and The Guardian. I’m knowledge rich and subscription poor.
I prefer to keep my posts short and snappy vs. some long drawn out tome. My H.S. English teacher taught me that if you can’t say it in a 50 word paragraph, maybe you don’t have anything to say.
Christopher, sounds like rationalization to me. Tell me: did you think a cliche was saying something meaningful to the conversation? Your HS teacher may have been right with his idea of a 50 word paragraph, but the way I was taught that is that by putting something down in a few sentences, you begin to see the relationships between thoughts. I was also taught to just begin writing: usually the theme becomes clear after getting the bits and pieces down. Often I found that the piece I was writing began in the third paragraph; the first two were just leading me there. You might try that and discover you actually have something other people might want to hear instead of stuff just taking up space.
Inherent Racism On Display by Republicans in Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Confirmation Hearings -
Conservative Republicans, including our own Texas Governor Abbott and Senator Ted Cruz, continue to object to all discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion as lies designed to convince Americans that we are an inherently racist nation not just historically but today as well. Then they put that inherent racism on display continually in legislation they propose and pass, and this week in their shameful performance in the questioning of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson during her confirmation hearings.
It was an embarrassment to watch Republican performative questioning and comments during this week’s confirmation hearings. Add to this such outrages as Indiana Republican Senator Mike Braun opining publicly in an interview this week that “the question of permitting interracial marriage should be left up to individual states.” Republican racism and white supremacist tendencies on public display. Instead of worrying about CRT being taught in public schools we should immediately begin teaching it along with classes in Constitutional Law in both houses of Congress.
For the benefit of those who do not recognize the evidence of systemic racism in American society not simply historically but today, I strongly suggest checking the resources available through the Urban Institute here:
The Urban Institute is a nonprofit research organization that provides data and evidence to help advance upward mobility and equity. They are a trusted source for changemakers who seek to strengthen decisionmaking, create inclusive economic growth, and improve the well-being of families and communities. For more than 50 years, the Urban Institute has delivered facts that inspire solutions. Their Mission: To open minds, shape decisions, and offer solutions through economic and social policy research.
We have significant and deeply embedded systemic, inherent racism in American society. Failing to acknowledge and confront that reality serves only to perpetuate it. That is morally wrong and weakens us as a nation and diminishes us as a society.
So here are my own thoughts on inherent racism in America stated briefly. Inherent, systemic racism has and continues to exist in America. We must, not just should, but must recognize that, it is a moral imperative. Inherent, systemic racism is morally wrong. Should we be pursuing, teaching, and stressing diversity, equity, and inclusion training and teaching efforts? Yes. To whom should we be teaching it? Everyone, everywhere, everyday. Today would be a great day to start, tomorrow would be good if we need time to organize and prepare the lessons. When should we start that training for youngsters? My own view is preschool and daycare is not too early to put it in practice, habits and attitudes are formed early in children. Are there any groups requiring special attention and remedial education in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts? Well … do you really want my opinion on that question? … OK, for all those who may think this is not their problem but only is something others suffer, everyone is part of the problem and no one is exempt. If you do not recognize that reality, you are part of the problem. Until we all recognize that truth and commit to addressing it we will not make progress addressing it. Every time I hear someone say, “I am not a racist …”. My thought is yes, you are and not realizing it is a part of the problem. Allowing the existence of inherent, systemic racism to continue to exist without acknowledging its existence and working to overcome it makes us all a part of the problem.
That is so true, Leslie. The Democrats should hire Heather as a consultant. They clearly need her factual historical input. Heather's description of the Republicans questioning Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as abusive was spot on. By not calling out and stopping their verbal and psychological abuse, the Dems enabled it.
Not sure I agree with that, Imogene. First, the Dems did and are calling out the abuse. Second, the smartest move is not to engage in it. THAT would be enabling it, but treating it as a threat to the process when what it is really are extremists afraid of losing their jobs in the upcoming election. They are performing for the people who they think are their base. This looks like it might backfire on them, big time. Best to let them hoist themselves on their own petard, as the old saying goes
Thank you Heather. You finally clarified what "originalism" and "originalists" are. It is the act of bending the words and meaning of dead men by living originalist (idiots also come to mind) men in pursuit of verity for their original ephianny. Rather like the guy who can't correctly read Greek preparing a factual (the originalist) translation of parts of the Bible. Brilliant is Barr, until someone like HCR comes along with the actual text and context to debunk this originalist's malarkey.
Barr remains a licensed attorney in good standing with not even one reprimand!
Attorneys are most certainly a strange brotherhood, Eh!?
Barr’s deceptiveness is his clever distortion of historic fact into palatable lies to underhandedly ensnare those gullible misguided fools into contributing money into the coffers for one purpose without realizing that it is all swallowed up and gulped down by the most despicable of the human accident.
It is beyond obvious that the R’s god is that printed folding paper they daily sell their soul for to jam into their over-stuffed bulging wallets…their creed is the hypocrisy they proudly pontificate aloud upon the pedestal of continuous lies, “Do what I say, not what you catch me doing.”
The R’s do not know who GOD is as evidenced by the arrogance of their self-aggrandizement’s bragging about the higher elite status they have “Earned” by their good deeds as compared to the “Others.”
Everything from Bill Barr and indeed from all the "originalists" and the supporters of Trump depends on some squirrely way of turning the truth on its head, whether it's a simple insistence on Fox that Trump won the election or a deviously constructed interpretation of the founding fathers at a religious symposium. But if we stand back in astonishment at these things and pinch ourselves, aren't we inclined to laugh at their foolishness?
Why can't we simply demolish the arguments that they have laboriously patched together and imposed on us through political manipulation and dark-money spending? This occurs to me especially at this moment when Professor Richardson cites the overwhelming support among our people for all the things the far right wants to overthrow.
We know that the Fox propagandists and Barr and even Trump are in disarray after Trump's 2020 defeat and Biden's response to Russian aggression. We have resistance in many states to Republican gerrymanders and ill-conceived voter-suppression measures, and I think this will only grow. We have finally prevailed on Facebook and Twitter to somewhat rein in the so-called free speech of propagandists.
What we need now, I think, in addition to what we are already doing, is for mainstream Christians who are not Dominionists and who support such things as the separation of church and state to come out and unequivocably say so. I am not myself a Christian but I am quite confident that mainstream Christians must be troubled by the direction that the originalists are trying to take us. They are in a better position in many ways than I am to say why the Dominionists are wrong and should be resisted.
William Bart’s “legal theories” are bs conspiracy type theories and exactly the opposite of what the the framers were trying to do. So far the only truthful thing to come out of Barr’s mouth is the voter fraud in the 2020 election was bullshit.
Way more extreme than that. These Dominionists (I know that spelling is wrong) are serious whackos. I didn't know much about Barr and had no idea that he had this religious pathology. Nor did I know what it was. Once I looked it us, I was horrified. Dangerous folks, spouting Scripture, quoting founding documents and principles--all twisted but smooth. As a cradle Episcopalian and now a former Episcopalian and former Christian, I can say with confidence that none of what Barr espouses religiously has anything remotely to do with Christianity. I agree with Nevoustrumpezpas that people who are Christians need to howl as loud as they can to shut this craziness down.
I thought it was implied he belongs to those "dark side" groups. Simply put he's the kind of Catholic who would hook up with Nazis....in the name of the lord of course.
It is disturbing. Have you thought of writing a letter to a newspaper reporter or editor, or a tv news dept expressing your concerns? You could use exactly the same language that you used in your comment. Your words express your concern elegantly. I think that is the sort of thing that can make a media outlet rethink how they are doing things. And it may be one of the strongest tools we have.
“My reports didn’t contain lies, but that’s exactly how propaganda works: You take reliable facts, mix them up, and a big lie comes together. Facts are true, but their mix is propaganda.”
- Zhanna Agalakova, Russian Channel One news anchor and foreign correspondent
I had not read this about Barr. But it's not surprising. He and the rest of his radical right-wing theocrats have no problems lying grotesquely in service of their goals.
I find it deeply disturbing that statements like those attributed to Madison, made by Republicans like Barr and those on the committee questioning Justice Jackson, are not corrected and clarified to the greater public. Where are the headlines and stories telling the truth? I fear that my
children and grandchildren will lose the rights we thought were guaranteed by the Constitution and the Supreme Court.
"Madison was on to something when he warned that there was a connection between establishing a religion and destroying American democracy. At the same time Republican lawmakers are now talking about rolling back popular civil rights in order to serve Christianity, they are also taking away the right to vote and appear to be looking to set a minority into power over the majority."
The GOP are destroying every single democratic lifeline in this country! They are hell bent on ruling and immersing the US into totalitarian mire!
Rowshan, With each reading of your comment, I grow increasingly outraged that far too many, despite apparent threats nearly everywhere we look, don’t fully appreciate how precious basic liberal democracy is, how hard it is to cultivate, and how hard it is to sustain.
If we’re now in an era wherein liberal democracy and openness between nations is backsliding, then what’s largely going to rescue us is us and, perhaps, the Ukrainians, who, in large measure, are showing us the way. Accordingly, let’s give them everything they say they need short of us provoking a shooting war with a nuclear power.
Barbara, what I'm afraid of is that we already have given them everything they say they need. We didn't give it willingly; it was cleverly taken from us. Now we are alarmed that our democracy is at risk. I didn't see much alarm before the grand theater and threat of nuclear war and a full-out war in Europe.
Americans are remarkable at not seeing what is unpleasant and might cause us any discomfort and, so, since Mr. Reagan, since Nixon's Southern Strategy, since ever single Republican since then, the proverbial handwriting has been on the wall. These folks are not even subtle or secretive about what they are doing. They don't have to be.
Oh, dear.
Dean, If one believes, as I do, that were Putin to annex Ukraine, he would expand his fascist mission, then short of putting American and NATO troops on the ground or in the air, in my view, we must 1) continue to resupply Ukraine with needed munitions and 2) provide the weaponry Ukraine requires to enforce its own no-fly zone.
Barbara, I mostly agree and have reservations only about the no-fly zone which I think most people, clamoring for one, dom't understand--which you clearly do. Too many I've talked to, seem to have the idea that we declare a no-fly zone snd they don't fly. Whew
☢️🔥
Barbara Jo Krieger:
Actually it is you BJK.
It is you and the millions like you who are showing us the way...
The only way is the same way we are loved by our FATHER in Heaven!
George, Though I appreciate your kinds words, I would note that I referenced the Ukrainians because, against all odds, they are resisting Putin’s efforts to humiliate them and bring them to their knees until they have no choice but to agree to be who he says they are.
Has been the goal since Reagan, and all republicans have signed on to it, every last one that I have knowledge of.
I have to add an interesting fact. I have been registered as an independent since age 18, but I voted for Reagan, twice, because of his tough stance on Russia. I was afraid of what they could do then! The irony of this is now brought home every day. There is no LeCarre novel where a Democratic president and a band of Ukrainian fighters take down a Russian autocrat! It breaks my heart that what’s left of the “greatest generation” is willing to follow a baboon off a cliff, but I have deep and abiding hope that Biden and Zeilinsky will lead the rest of us to a better world.
Yes. That “Moral Majority” Party 🤬💵🤬💵!
The “Moral Majority”…they are neither!!
You’re right but they’re like that squeaky wheel so they get all the press, right or wrong. Mostly wrong of course.
Penn State, 1977
In the spirit of AG Barr let me rephrase his words: The law, I say, “is being used as a battering ram to break down traditional democratic values” through judicial interpretation. I (we) call for saving that extraordinarily unique American experiment of the right of the people to govern themselves by recentering and reinvigorating that essential American democratic ideal.
The SC is on their side, MITCH RULED IT SO
That’s why we have to organize, register voters, organize, canvass, organize, phone bank, never rest for the midterms. Mitch can NOT get the reins back or he’ll Garland the rest of SC.
Laura, Mitch never turned over the reins to Schumer.
I’d appreciate some schooling on this please? Sure I’m not the only one?
If we had only done those things even a decade ago, but it's late in the game now. The Supreme Court has cut any federal backup for voting rights right out from under us as, state by state, they are manipulated and destroyed. I've lost track of the number of states passing these laws that will make it very hard to vote or to tally votes with any integrity.
Dean, I think you will see the GOP start over riding votes during the midterms in the 19 States they have effectively voter suppressed. They have made it clear they are out for blood and will stop at nothing to get it.
The current score is:
The Bad Guys: 21 states
THE GOOD GUYS: 29 STATES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
❤💛💙
INDEED!
VOTE INTELLIGENTLY!
DO IT!
PLEASE.
And the Federalist Society.
Federalist Society awash in dark money. Must pass something to at least diminish that ability
The Federalist Society has been around in one form or another for a long time. They are the folks who had a list of young, alt-right, judges--many with no experience at all--waiting for Mr. Trump's election. They gave the list to McConnell who used it to bargain with the new president for a few items he wanted. The list was long enough to fill the empty federal benches coast to coast. Young, untried, grateful, many not too bright, appointed for life. And if you want a skin-crawling experience (I lasted not quite ten minutes) go to YouTube and watch Mike Pence's speech. That man has been handled, polished, and rehearsed. I had one moment during my ten when I thought I was watching a clip from The Manchurian candidate.
Mr. Pence is bankrolled by the remaining Koch brother who has renounced Trump but not his policies.
We walk in an alien landscape.
And those folks, for a very very long time, have been in charge of casting, stage sets, costumes, the whole show.
Right on (Write on) Rowshan. Barr on Madison is simply a liar---despite his "religious" credentials......
We already knew Barr not squeamish about lying—Mueller Report
😂😂👍
Rowshan, I agree entirely. That Bill Barr stated that "people are inherently evil," and he apparently fraternizes with only Republicans, I can see how his thinking has been corrupted by the evil in those that he supports, i.e., Donald Trump and most of the current GOP legislators. The utopia that he envisions is one in which the president has unlimited power, and the minority will be able to rule with unfettered power. Apparently, even Christianity isn't a valid prerequisite, since so many that he admires couldn't possibly qualify. So many who claim to be Christians are anything but that. Since he claims to be such a scholar, we should assume that his Madison comments were deliberately misconstrued, and not taken from the original text.
These folks are incredibly well organized and have worked themselves into positions of power. Their greatest weakness seems to be that they are certifiably unwell. They have come close to a coup on our precious democracy and we should all take them very seriously. This is worth a look. https://mobile.twitter.com/DempseyTwo/status/1507499972165517316
I agree with you.These lies being attributed to Madison and other Founding Fathers need to be pointed out by the mainstream media as the lies that they are.Separation of church and state is clearly talked about in the U S Constitution.I am appalled that these right wing extremists are talking about Jesus Christ as if he would agree with any of the things being attributed to him.It just keeps getting worse with these zealots.
For me, it seems to boil down to a need to eliminate Citizen's United. Transparency is emphatically needed for the voter to actually understand the larger, now essentially invisible, forces that grab for power and influence in our government. IMHO, it frequently seems that the radical religious right will not be happy until they can once again (as in Europe from which our founding father fled)dictate their version of reality and morality). Barr's comments were stunning in 2019 and I never understood why it did not cause more public outcry from .....????
Agree. Some are calling out Christian leadership as if leadership believes in the teachings of Jesus. The political Christians USE…they are the bishops in this political chess game and it has been true since at least the first crusades, in order to gain resources and revenue for the crown. Payout for the church. Pawns … the general mostly white small town public, won’t likely gain this understanding until in some fashion, they are willing to cross cultural lines / even by reading/ meeting people/ to understand the point of view and history of people that were killed or enslaved, people not in their cultural group. We have to risk being uncomfortable. Without question, Christians and the right are in the judicial process of whitewashing…banning all that think differently and those that see the scam for a reason….the right makes it abt gender differences and race and immigration and bug infestations and disease… because that is what populations fear and will fight against. Anything to divide, conquer and separate is useful to they that want control… their minions will hand it to them because they are fearful of stepping outside comfort zones
As long there are cars, alcohol, sugar, fast food and tv… many see life as good…
My question is : who is representing the crown? Who will stand to profit most from the complete social ransacking we will surely get?
They talk of freedom as if it is for we the people. It is freedom from us, for them. Who is them? Who are these oppressors?
I am hopeful more people will see through this giant social scam, and stop trading away their rights to those that will eventually eat them for dinner.
Oh wow K. Barnes your comment struck like both hinds to the forehead. The image of religion being the ultimate demise of European royalty has been banging around in my head all morning.
Of course, I was referring to the idea that our earliest forefathers struck out across the ocean in order to escape the Royal dictates of oppressive state religions. Full circle it would seem. Does that help your head?
"Both Hinds to The Forehead" Great line!👍
LOL
They were too busy chasing other squirrels no doubt.
Thank you +1 and rem acu tetigisti!!!
Victoria, I agree, however, it appears to me that too many of the talking heads in today's MSM are as clueless of the history and correct context as that segment of their audience who needs such instruction! There seems to be a real dearth of intellectual curiosity among the public. Maybe it was always there and I just missed it.
I wrote about this yesterday...so many Americans, especially on the Right, are seemingly content to let the talking heads interpret everything FOR them rather than taking the effort to read or research things for themselves. It is intellectual laziness. They'll argue a point because they saw/heard it on right-wing media, without going to the source themselves to check for validity. They can't be bothered with the truth. They only ascribe to the truth AS TOLD TO THEM. Responsible citizens, especially now in these days of so much misinformation and manipulation of information, owe it to themselves to expend a little effort to get to the facts. They need to stop letting the "nattering nabobs" (wasn't that a Spiro Agnew turn of phrase?) of their press determine everything they believe and stop accepting anything they hear as factual. As has so often been said "democracy is NOT a spectator sport"!
We train children to believe the “truth” AS TOLD TO THEM in fundamentalist and evangelical churches. Then we wonder why they don’t question talking heads that start with statements that they’ve already heard delivered with the same emphasis as that used by their favorite preacher.
Again, people who go to fundamentalist/evangelical/Pentecostal churches don't seem to question what their clergy tells them. It's the same sort of authoritarianism--letting their leaders define EVERYTHING for them so they don't have to expend any energy searching for the truth--like we see in how they approach current events. A reminder: these are the same people who favour LITERAL interpretation of the Bible...no arguments, no dissent, no questions...believe these words just as they are...or else! (No use trying to tell them their "version" is a translation of a translation of a translation of a translation of a translation etc.) It's keeping your "flock" in line by scaring them to death. If you have to resort to fear to get your adherents to trust in what you're preaching, then you've got a faulty product you're trying to sell. This atmosphere of churches run by spiritual dictatorships is one of the main reasons I turned my back on these sects long ago, became a confirmed Episcopalian/Anglican, and never looked back.
Yep. Trained to believe the white man at the front of the church (making up stuff).
Like: Tucker Carlson
"nattering nabobs of negativity" From Wikipedia: Agnew pleaded no contest to a single felony charge of tax evasion and resigned from office.
Another Republican luminary.
Perhaps you could share my talk with your contacts... if the pictures of the hurdles to the ballot box don't attract concern, we are doomed.
Alice, could you provide a link?
The talking heads need to read these letters for historical perspective, but so many are interested in what sells. With the internet a lot of the public have become experts in science, medicine, international relations, and the Constitution, etc. I was at the dentist fairly recently and listened to an ignoramus tout his "scientific" background while denying global warming. I was there for a cleaning, not an argument, so I just listened and rolled my eyes. In the debates I have had on other threads, it's always know-it-alls who insist they have done the research, but usually default to personal insults because they have nothing. However, I know many people who I would not describe as intellectual who understand how awful and regressive Rs are which gives me hope.
📣📣📣📣the Professor! You awaken curiosity by teaching, posting/commenting/sharing her wisdom
Thus: thx redux Prof Dr HCR❤️📣❤️
Jesus (that I grew up with) has NO resemblance to the evil of today. They are not true believers in the biblical Jesus or they would be in fear for their immortal soul. It’s all in the Bible folks, you know, the Gospels
However, like the constitution they cherry-pick the bits and pieces of the scriptures that support their talking points. The evil genius of the repugs is they are ALL able to get behind a message (wrong though it may be) and control the airwaves and propaganda being spewed to the masses.
Money talks and money in politics distorts: follow the money: look at the websites for Donor's Trust and Federalist Society or the Koch Foundation. Frightening
Cherry-pick then reinterpret to support their own "talking points".
Yes yes yes we have to organize even where that means holding our noses locally (I live in NYC so believe me,,our shit stinks)
Republicans “line up” very well. Have sine Ross Perot
Jeri, YES. The Good News. Still works, as simply defined by “that Nazarene.”
I haven’t labeled myself a “Christian” for a long time. Simply a follower of Christ. Absolutely fine with the real Madison, not the Barrian lie. (As I said to Mike S: Barr and his ilk want an intolerant autocratic theocracy to replace our beloved democracy. Their deity is the Self, not the Creator — whether they realize it or not. And it is always about heaven or hell, isn’t it.)
Judging is way, way above my pay grade; however, we are given the ability to “know” (Paul) the wolves, and call them out — and RUN.
FAST
I had to carefully read several times this letter in order to understand the subtleties of Madison’s thinking. I doubt that MSM with it’s need for concise sound bites that don’t really connect ideas of any complexity either understand or have the ability to educate the public on something that requires real thinking. We are becoming a nation of moronic sheep, led by charlatans who in truth are despicable, evidence of that was on full display during the Jackson hearing’s earlier this week, that woman has the patience of a saint, the scum that were questioning her integrity weren’t fit to polish her shoes much less sit in judgment about her fitness for the SC.
Rachel maddow tried
Rachel Maddow has chosen a bad time to leave her show!! She’s been doing the crucial work that we desperately need to understand these issues. Does she have any blogs or podcasts on current events that you know of?
Chris Hayes is trying to expand his coverage of the deeper problems we are facing, and I’ve appreciated his efforts.
Chris, unfortunately, doesn’t have Dr Maddow’s gravitas. Ari Melber comes closer on presence and at least has initials after his name
I agree, and unfortunately no one else does either, though they do try.
I had high hopes for Joshua Johnson to have a place on MSNBC but he was pulled away for some reason. He was developing a good program.
She's working so hard on her production regarding Spiro Agnew ("Bag Man") - who knew all this would come up right when she took the leave to do that work?? She was back for a few days at the start of the Ukraine war, but was gone again too soon. I miss her too, but it seems to me the rest of her team is doing their best to fill the space. Sigh.
Thanks for the update…Spiro Agnew’s story is worthwhile to document, but the timing isn’t too great considering the issues at hand.
❤️
the media have no interest in fact-checking. first off, too many facts to check. second, they want people upset, yelling and throwing popcorn at the screen. they want a horse race. it's good for ratings. when things are explained, people calm down. that's called, bad tv.
Amen
Thank you Leslie, I strongly encourage that the Jan 6th Committe serve a subpoena to Ginni Thomas to come testify under oath about her "well doing" before, during & after the Jan 6th attack on the constitutional rule of law. There are many more Ginni Thomas communications to be published.
Not only Ginni Thomas should be subpoenaed but her husband, as well. Nobody can tell me he and “his bride”, as he calls her, didn’t quietly discuss her (their) plans. Isn’t it just so convenient that Clarence suddenly became ill after Ginni’s emails were leaked?
He should resign. He has to recuse from all Jan 6th cases.
He should recuse himself from more than just the Jan6th cases. Thomas Clarence was the only SCOTUS vote against a discovery subpoena served on tfg. Per NYT's Johnny Diaz today, Clarence has been discharged from Sibley Sibley Memorial Hospital after being treated for an unspecified infection. I believe it was for virulent conflicts of interest.
First laugh of the am...thank you.
Yes!
😄
He's not going to recuse himself unless Chief Justice Roberts insists. And probably not even then. Has it occurred to him and to his white wife that reinstating laws making interracial marriage illegal would make their own marriage illegal?
HA! That is such a great point!
There is a move-on petition for him to be impeached.
Yes, the Constitutonal remedy: Impeachment.
Move-on petition Worthless —Biden can’t do anything.
Article 124
Clarence Thomas appears to have broken federal law by not recusing himself from two cases. The indomitable Jane Mayer explains. https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/legal-scholars-are-shocked-by-ginni-thomass-stop-the-steal-texts
Thank you Michael for the Link. FYI, the Jan 6th Committee is
looking closely at Ginni Thomas's text to Mark Meadows referencing her talk with her " ... closest best friend just now" & other coordination & overt acts.
Yeah Jane Myers!!!
That they were leaked probably made him very sick. He is an infection as far as I am concerned.
Dang straight!!
Word seems they call one another "best friend", implying he's the subject in her emails that she kept well informed of her actions.
I agree
Article 124 the asshole if Covid doesn’t kill him
Yes, after Clarence's recusal from pending related cases, many cases.
A good rule of thumb when countering anything said by Republicans:
Assume the opposite is true and find the proof to discredit them just as HCR did today with what Madison really said.
Why are the lies not corrected? Well, for one thing, not enough of us are standing up and correcting them, and insisting that mass media do so. And we can do that. Those of you who are on social media can post on your Facebook or Instagram or, Heaven forfend, your TikTok pages your protests against the lies, and your support for democracy. Those of us too old fashioned (or perhaps smart) for such outlets can write letters and to the editor and contribute to online comments calling out editors who do not respect truth. Those of use who take such actions already can do more of them.
If a substantial majority of Americans would protect a woman’s right to control of her own body, the right to freedom from religion as well as freedom of religion, and above all the right to choose those who lead us, why are those rights in danger? Because we do not work hard enough to defeat those who would shout us down. It really is that simple.
I use FB primarily for keeping in touch with friends and watching Heather's talks, and checking up on local issues. I need to reach beyond that silo if I am going to make a difference.
So I write letters directly to the writer or the editor, not with name-calling or blaming, but by pointing out what I object to and why, and point them to resources they could have used. This works for me because I read a lot across a variety of platforms, and sometimes actually become a resource.
But they need to hear from people who simply want more accurate and equitable coverage. They need to understand that is what we need and expect. I highly advise to leave out the snark and focus on building a relationship with media. My letters often result in real changes in how things are covered.
I also write supportive letters to politicians and nonprofits, even ones I don't belong to who are working for right causes, because so much of what they get is flak, and it wears them down. I don't have a lot of money, but I do give what I can as I can to support what they do for my grandchildren's future.
I must be the only one here who doesn’t know Heather has talks on FB. Rarely on it. Will try to find them. Thanks
I think a lot of newer folk might not know, having come here by referral. You can find her easily: just type in Heather Cox Richardson in the search box and she should just pop up. The letters are in her posts, and have a different discussion group than substack.
And the treasure: look under the Video tab for her talks (she doesn't like to call them lectures, but they make for wonderful listening and learning). She does them live, usually twice a week, believe it or not, and each is around an hour, often a little more. Tuesday at 4, and I think Thursday at 2 (Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong about the time on this one- it changed recently with Heather's schedule and I'm not sure I've got it right).
One is a talk based on questions solicited from the folks who follow her. She selects several and stitches together a story with her answers. The other is a straight history talk on subjects she chooses, sometimes around the history behind current events and sometimes straight history, primarily in her specialty, the history of American politics. She is a terrific story-teller.
Welcome: you are just about to step into history wonderland.
She also does a podcast with another historian (and I apologize that her name escapes me: I'm never strong on names and I am tired*), the link to which is often posted on her FB page.
(* This just means that as soon as I go to bed, the other name will pop into my head)
I’m looking forward to Republicans/SCOTUS reversing its own decision that UNmarried have access to birth control as married women had at the time.
Leslie, thank you for making this point. Other than a writer like Dr. Richardson, and those of us who have discovered her, I don't believe I've ever seen this sort of distortion of truth confronted in the media. There will occasionally be an op-ed piece in the NYTimes but where are the headlines?
"Investigation Into Clinton's Emails Re-Opened" two weeks before the election. Front page. Lead article.
"Investigation Opened: In An Attempt to Explain That America was Intended to have a National Religion, William Barr Uses Falsified Statements from Constitution Framer, James Madison" From page? Lead article?
I have never seen any such thing. Our mainstream media are remarkably silent on subjects like this, and the 24-hour news cycle guarantees that they disappear quickly.
I am afraid that we had lost this war before most of us realized it was much more than a skirmish. I look at my grandson, almost seven, and cannot imagine either his life so far or the world that lies ahead for him.
Again, thank you for your comment.
Dean, as a rational (?) grandparent I cannot imagine even the next two years for my family, or anyone else’s. Afraid you could be right, yet fighting hard because we must. Thank you, for saying out loud without resignation, what we all are are dealing with in our heads. Fight on, the kids deserve it!
We will fight them in the streets, we will fight them at the polling stations…we will never give up
They do. Thanks, Gus.
The business of news today isn't news, the business of news is business.
Cliches don't make change and don't solve problems.
There are plenty of responsible media outlets out there, struggling to keep going. Try reading some. Try contributing to some: many of the best have become non-profits. Some of the very best are produced on a shoestring by people who are amazingly dedicated, or they would not be willing to do the work they do for what they get paid.
Let’s see… I support The Nation Mother Jones, TPM, The American Prospect, Anand Giridharadas, Laura Flanders, The Intercept, The New Republic, LFAA, all the podcasts at Cafe and more, but the problem with small outlets is there are so many, the competition for scarce dollars limits their ability.
I also subscribe to The Independent (guilty tabloid junky), NYT, WaPo and The Guardian. I’m knowledge rich and subscription poor.
I prefer to keep my posts short and snappy vs. some long drawn out tome. My H.S. English teacher taught me that if you can’t say it in a 50 word paragraph, maybe you don’t have anything to say.
Now I’ve broken my own rule, and so it goes.
Christopher, sounds like rationalization to me. Tell me: did you think a cliche was saying something meaningful to the conversation? Your HS teacher may have been right with his idea of a 50 word paragraph, but the way I was taught that is that by putting something down in a few sentences, you begin to see the relationships between thoughts. I was also taught to just begin writing: usually the theme becomes clear after getting the bits and pieces down. Often I found that the piece I was writing began in the third paragraph; the first two were just leading me there. You might try that and discover you actually have something other people might want to hear instead of stuff just taking up space.
Inherent Racism On Display by Republicans in Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Confirmation Hearings -
Conservative Republicans, including our own Texas Governor Abbott and Senator Ted Cruz, continue to object to all discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion as lies designed to convince Americans that we are an inherently racist nation not just historically but today as well. Then they put that inherent racism on display continually in legislation they propose and pass, and this week in their shameful performance in the questioning of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson during her confirmation hearings.
It was an embarrassment to watch Republican performative questioning and comments during this week’s confirmation hearings. Add to this such outrages as Indiana Republican Senator Mike Braun opining publicly in an interview this week that “the question of permitting interracial marriage should be left up to individual states.” Republican racism and white supremacist tendencies on public display. Instead of worrying about CRT being taught in public schools we should immediately begin teaching it along with classes in Constitutional Law in both houses of Congress.
For the benefit of those who do not recognize the evidence of systemic racism in American society not simply historically but today, I strongly suggest checking the resources available through the Urban Institute here:
https://www.urban.org/features/structural-racism-america
The Urban Institute is a nonprofit research organization that provides data and evidence to help advance upward mobility and equity. They are a trusted source for changemakers who seek to strengthen decisionmaking, create inclusive economic growth, and improve the well-being of families and communities. For more than 50 years, the Urban Institute has delivered facts that inspire solutions. Their Mission: To open minds, shape decisions, and offer solutions through economic and social policy research.
We have significant and deeply embedded systemic, inherent racism in American society. Failing to acknowledge and confront that reality serves only to perpetuate it. That is morally wrong and weakens us as a nation and diminishes us as a society.
So here are my own thoughts on inherent racism in America stated briefly. Inherent, systemic racism has and continues to exist in America. We must, not just should, but must recognize that, it is a moral imperative. Inherent, systemic racism is morally wrong. Should we be pursuing, teaching, and stressing diversity, equity, and inclusion training and teaching efforts? Yes. To whom should we be teaching it? Everyone, everywhere, everyday. Today would be a great day to start, tomorrow would be good if we need time to organize and prepare the lessons. When should we start that training for youngsters? My own view is preschool and daycare is not too early to put it in practice, habits and attitudes are formed early in children. Are there any groups requiring special attention and remedial education in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts? Well … do you really want my opinion on that question? … OK, for all those who may think this is not their problem but only is something others suffer, everyone is part of the problem and no one is exempt. If you do not recognize that reality, you are part of the problem. Until we all recognize that truth and commit to addressing it we will not make progress addressing it. Every time I hear someone say, “I am not a racist …”. My thought is yes, you are and not realizing it is a part of the problem. Allowing the existence of inherent, systemic racism to continue to exist without acknowledging its existence and working to overcome it makes us all a part of the problem.
“Inherent, systemic racism has and continues to exist in America.”
Correct.
That is so true, Leslie. The Democrats should hire Heather as a consultant. They clearly need her factual historical input. Heather's description of the Republicans questioning Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as abusive was spot on. By not calling out and stopping their verbal and psychological abuse, the Dems enabled it.
Not sure I agree with that, Imogene. First, the Dems did and are calling out the abuse. Second, the smartest move is not to engage in it. THAT would be enabling it, but treating it as a threat to the process when what it is really are extremists afraid of losing their jobs in the upcoming election. They are performing for the people who they think are their base. This looks like it might backfire on them, big time. Best to let them hoist themselves on their own petard, as the old saying goes
Agree.
Thank you Heather. You finally clarified what "originalism" and "originalists" are. It is the act of bending the words and meaning of dead men by living originalist (idiots also come to mind) men in pursuit of verity for their original ephianny. Rather like the guy who can't correctly read Greek preparing a factual (the originalist) translation of parts of the Bible. Brilliant is Barr, until someone like HCR comes along with the actual text and context to debunk this originalist's malarkey.
It strikes me that if the folks who wrote the Constitution had been originalists, they’d have brought back the monarchy.
Especially to prevent future originalists from perverting their unanimously decided upon form of governance. Tee hee.
Leslie Peltz:
Here is what is destroying American democracy:
Barr remains a licensed attorney in good standing with not even one reprimand!
Attorneys are most certainly a strange brotherhood, Eh!?
Barr’s deceptiveness is his clever distortion of historic fact into palatable lies to underhandedly ensnare those gullible misguided fools into contributing money into the coffers for one purpose without realizing that it is all swallowed up and gulped down by the most despicable of the human accident.
It is beyond obvious that the R’s god is that printed folding paper they daily sell their soul for to jam into their over-stuffed bulging wallets…their creed is the hypocrisy they proudly pontificate aloud upon the pedestal of continuous lies, “Do what I say, not what you catch me doing.”
The R’s do not know who GOD is as evidenced by the arrogance of their self-aggrandizement’s bragging about the higher elite status they have “Earned” by their good deeds as compared to the “Others.”
Please vote them all out of office!
VOTE INTELLIGENTLY!
DO IT!!!
Everything from Bill Barr and indeed from all the "originalists" and the supporters of Trump depends on some squirrely way of turning the truth on its head, whether it's a simple insistence on Fox that Trump won the election or a deviously constructed interpretation of the founding fathers at a religious symposium. But if we stand back in astonishment at these things and pinch ourselves, aren't we inclined to laugh at their foolishness?
Why can't we simply demolish the arguments that they have laboriously patched together and imposed on us through political manipulation and dark-money spending? This occurs to me especially at this moment when Professor Richardson cites the overwhelming support among our people for all the things the far right wants to overthrow.
We know that the Fox propagandists and Barr and even Trump are in disarray after Trump's 2020 defeat and Biden's response to Russian aggression. We have resistance in many states to Republican gerrymanders and ill-conceived voter-suppression measures, and I think this will only grow. We have finally prevailed on Facebook and Twitter to somewhat rein in the so-called free speech of propagandists.
What we need now, I think, in addition to what we are already doing, is for mainstream Christians who are not Dominionists and who support such things as the separation of church and state to come out and unequivocably say so. I am not myself a Christian but I am quite confident that mainstream Christians must be troubled by the direction that the originalists are trying to take us. They are in a better position in many ways than I am to say why the Dominionists are wrong and should be resisted.
William Bart’s “legal theories” are bs conspiracy type theories and exactly the opposite of what the the framers were trying to do. So far the only truthful thing to come out of Barr’s mouth is the voter fraud in the 2020 election was bullshit.
He's old school Catholic conservatism
Way more extreme than that. These Dominionists (I know that spelling is wrong) are serious whackos. I didn't know much about Barr and had no idea that he had this religious pathology. Nor did I know what it was. Once I looked it us, I was horrified. Dangerous folks, spouting Scripture, quoting founding documents and principles--all twisted but smooth. As a cradle Episcopalian and now a former Episcopalian and former Christian, I can say with confidence that none of what Barr espouses religiously has anything remotely to do with Christianity. I agree with Nevoustrumpezpas that people who are Christians need to howl as loud as they can to shut this craziness down.
I thought it was implied he belongs to those "dark side" groups. Simply put he's the kind of Catholic who would hook up with Nazis....in the name of the lord of course.
It is disturbing. Have you thought of writing a letter to a newspaper reporter or editor, or a tv news dept expressing your concerns? You could use exactly the same language that you used in your comment. Your words express your concern elegantly. I think that is the sort of thing that can make a media outlet rethink how they are doing things. And it may be one of the strongest tools we have.
Thank you Annie for your encouraging reply.
Most of my comments are sent to many locations including my Oregon Senators where I am fairly well known.
“My reports didn’t contain lies, but that’s exactly how propaganda works: You take reliable facts, mix them up, and a big lie comes together. Facts are true, but their mix is propaganda.”
- Zhanna Agalakova, Russian Channel One news anchor and foreign correspondent
I had not read this about Barr. But it's not surprising. He and the rest of his radical right-wing theocrats have no problems lying grotesquely in service of their goals.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!